Literature enlightens us with topics such as light and darkness that symbolizes good and bad morality. Light and darkness are common themes that relate to questions about human nature. In the age of Christianity, God is always pertaining to light representing goodness and the Devil is in association with darkness, representing the evil. It is the reason why it is popular and common in fantasy literature. Additionally, it is a universal theme that relates to the aspects of the world we know and even the realm of our imaginations that go beyond the existing reality. J.R.R. Tolkien and Bram Stoker explore the concept of light and darkness in the fantasy novels, The Hobbit and Dracula, respectively. Both authors shed light on the aspect of symbolism in light and darkness as a metaphor for morality. In The Hobbit, Gandalf represents light and thus goodness, whereas the Goblins represent darkness and evil and similarly, in Dracula, Abraham Van Helsing represents light and therefore, goodness whereas Dracula represents darkness and therefore evil.
In this paper, symbolism is referring to objects or situations that can represent an idea. Such as the light of morning is a metaphor for the hope found in the life of a new day, and how that is in contrast with the blackness of night that brings forth fears of the unknown that is typically associated with death. Morality is defining the standard of what is deemed right and wrong. As life is commonly seen in a celebratory way, the light of morning represents the aspect that is morally good. Typically, society avoids and fears death in order to emphasize the striving for life and therefore the night that puts people to sleep can be seen as immoral. Additionally, Tolkien uses the symbolism of ni...
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...nd destruction of evil. From their creations we are able to see its influence in the imagination of the authors, and it’s exemplified through the idea that “creativity and the imagination are intrinsic to human nature as God intended in such endowment.” (183). The conflict of light against darkness, representing the noble heroes versus the sinful enemies is a consistently relatable and influential theme in society, due to its popularization by Christian faith. However, its religious appeal is what supported the widespread of the theme to continually exist, becoming a classic in literature.
Works Cited
Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Hobbit. London: HarperCollins, 2006. Print.
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. New York: Penguin, 2007. Print.
Morrow, Jeffrey L.. “J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis in Light of Hans Urs Von Balthasar” Renascence 56.3 (2004) : 181-196. Print.
The idea that man's relationship with good and evil is not predestined is a central idea in this novel. The conflict between good and evil is a universal battle. Many characters in the novel, East of Eden, struggle both internally and externally with Good versus evil.
From the beginning of creation to the fictitious lands created by J. R. R. Tolkien himself, the distinctions between good and evil rise from the shadows and into the light. Specifically, in the Confessions of St. Augustine all things created through the light of God are seen as wholly good, while the absence of such light and goodness is considered evil. Tolkien’s novel elaborates on the work of Augustine and establishes the differences between forces of good and evil in the land of Middle Earth. Augustine and Tolkien in their works Saint. Augustine Confessions and The Fellowship of the Ring address the issues that arise from an individual 's struggle to escape the temptations of evil and succumbing to their lust for power rather than asserting
The paper will begin with a look at the life of Tolkien. This will serve the purpose of providing some context for the novel. Looking into the life of Tolkien will also serve to give the reader some insight into the mind that gave birth to such a rich land and why the novel may have some importance for sufferers of mental illness. Next will likely be a short summation of the
Everyone remembers the nasty villains that terrorize the happy people in fairy tales. Indeed, many of these fairy tales are defined by their clearly defined good and bad archetypes, using clichéd physical stereotypes. What is noteworthy is that these fairy tales are predominately either old themselves or based on stories of antiquity. Modern stories and epics do not offer these clear definitions; they force the reader to continually redefine the definitions of morality to the hero that is not fully good and the villain that is not so despicable. From Dante’s Inferno, through the winding mental visions in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, spiraling through the labyrinth in Kafka’s The Trial, and culminating in Joyce’s abstract realization of morality in “The Dead,” authors grapple with this development. In the literary progression to the modern world, the increasing abstraction of evil from its classic archetype to a foreign, supernatural entity without bounds or cure is strongly suggestive of the pugnacious assault on individualism in the face of literature’s dualistic, thematically oligopolistic heritage.
It can be argued that the theme of light VS darkness is used to good
the recurring theme of night and darkness is used to symbolize guilt and conscience such
As a result of the missions of good and evil forces is completely divergent to one another, there is continuously a battle stuck between the two. This equilibrium of good and evil rise and fall over time is never stable. The effects of good and evil are felt transversely all the sections of the world. The classic Beowulf makes an effort to illustrate both sides of these cultures of good and evil. It also conveys the eternal battle between the two. “Grendel, a monster who lives at the bottom of a nearby mere, is provoked by the singing and celebrating of Hrothgar's followers” (http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/story.html). Beowulf, prince of the Geats, hears about “Hrothgar's troubles, gathers fourteen of the bravest Geat warriors, and sets sail from his home in southern Sweden” (http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/story.html). In Beowulf, the author uses light and darkness to accentuate good and evil in the world.
Tolkien, J. R. R., and Douglas A. Anderson. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin,
Stoker uses psychological and visual reckoning of light and dark; which establishes a perpetual mêlée amongst pure and evil. In Count Dracula’s mansion Jonathan Harker writes that “he has suffered from the night [and] how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning…..” is to him (Stoker 52). The daytime consist of pure neutral happenings; in contrast to night time there are mystifying paranormal events materializing. From the unnatural events at night Jonathan is petrified and prefers the morning. That is to say that wickedness is the strength that bedlam utilizes towards jurisdiction, and the moral is the compel that enlightens. The readers can surmise that in the commencement of the tome, “…the day and night system...
Since the beginning of time, fairy tales, stories and legends have shared a common theme where good and evil are played against each other. In the story of “Beowulf”, translated by, “Burton Raffel”, there is a hero who plays as a good character, and there is also a demon who rules the dark side. The hero Beowulf, agrees to take a journey to conquer the evil monster Grendel. But when Beowulf is trying to defeat the beast, Grendel fights back, causing integrity and generosity to vanish. The common theme in various tales like in Beowulf is, good vs. evil.
As Marlow assists the reader in understanding the story he tells, many inversions and contrasts are utilized in order to increase apperception of the true meaning it holds. One of the most commonly occurring divergences is the un orthodox implications that light and dark embody. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness brims with paradoxes and symbolism throughout its entirety, with the intent of assisting the reader in comprehending the truth of not only human nature, but of the world.
Symbolism is commonly used by authors that make short stories. Guin is a prime example of how much symbolism is used in short stories such as “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” and “Sur.” In both of these stories Guin uses symbolism to show hidden meanings and ideas. In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” there is a perfect Utopian city, yet in this perfect city there is a child locked in a broom closet and it is never let out. A few people leave the city when they find out about the child, but most people stay. Furthermore, in “Sur” there is a group of girls that travel to the South Pole and reach it before anyone else, yet they leave no sign or marker at the South Pole. Guin’s stories are very farfetched and use many symbols. Both “Sur” and “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” have many symbols such as colors, characters, objects, and weather. The four types of symbols that Guin uses help the readers understand the themes in her short stories. Although her stories are farfetched, they need symbolism in them or the reader would not understand the theme; therefore the symbols make Guin’s stories much more enjoyable.
In the tale of Beauty and the Beast, one could use certain parts of this fairytale and apply it to John’s theme of Light and Darkness, Bear with me now, I know this is not your typical thematic paper here, but I wanted to make this as interesting as possible. Gaston, in a way, could be compared to what the Pharisees and the Jews are, selfish, blind, a hypocrite. In a way, we
Wicked, dishonorable, corrupt, villainous, malicious, and vicious all have one thing in common: they define evil. A person or a group of people that display these qualities are often defined as evil beings or creatures. Two people that have many of these characteristics developed within them are Iago from Shakespeare’s Othello and Lucifer from the Bible. Both Iago and Lucifer are developed with many “evil” qualities woven intricately into their character development. The representation of each “evil” characteristic gives them something they have in common, allowing the description and portrayal of both Iago and Lucifer in literature show the audience they share common “evil” characteristics and that they lead to chaos and downfall.
In the novel Heart of Darkness, there are several themes including Good versus Evil, Power, Femininity, and Fate. Two themes are further prevalent and significant. These themes are restraint and identity. They are the two most noteworthy themes in the book because both capitalize on the complexity and flaws of human nature.