In the short story “White Angel” by Michael Cunningham, the author creates a theme of light and dark contrast. The story begins with foreshadowing the rest of the story with a light to dark contrast: “It was the sixties - out radios sang out long all day long. This of course is history. It happened before the city of Cleveland went broke, before it’s river caught fire.” (Cunningham 229). This predicts the happiness of the story and how it slowly falls apart. More specifically, it predicts the loving relationship between Frisco and his brother, Carlton and how it ends dramatically and quickly. Not only does this foreshadow the relationship of Carlton and Frisco, but it also symbolizes the up and down relationship of Carlton and his parents. …show more content…
A more apparent form of juxtaposition between light and dark is when the narrator says, “We lived in a tract called Woodlawn - neat one - two story houses painted optimistic colors. Our tract bordered a cemetery.” ( 229). I believe that this example is much more obvious because is sets a happy scene for the readers than quickly transitions to something that is sad and dark. Not only does this juxtapose the light and dark theme, but it also represents how easy it is for something to go from great to terrible. This is shown mostly to me in the scene when Carlton dies. This part of the story begins as something that is supposed to be happy and exciting but ends in a sad and depressing
“Dr. Guthrie sheds light on the embarrassment that was early psychology and its extraordinary dedication to racism and, with his work, changed that discipline forever,” states William Grier’s forward for Robert Guthrie’s own Even the Rat Was White: A Historical View of Psychology (Grier, p. xi). After attending Florida A & M University in 1948 for his bachelor’s degree, Guthrie joined the military to fulfill draft requirements before returning to finish his degree (O’Connor, 2001. He went on to earn his Masters degree at the University of Kentucky followed by his doctorate in psychology at the U.S. International University in 1970 (O’Connor, 2001. He was the first African-American professor at San Diego Mesa College and one of the founding members of the Association of Black
...ial bland, white, powerless male; nothing is present that distinguishes Mr. Williams from the rest of the seemingly dominant white society. Roman, on the other hand, despite the fact that he lives in poverty, possesses more liveliness and power than Mr. Williams could ever possess. For instance, Roman shows up to take the CAT wearing his “red, yellow, white, and blue grass-dance outfit” because Roman’s grandmother “told [him Mr. William’s] test was culturally biased and that [he] might need a little extra power to do [his] best.” Unlike Mr. Williams, Roman recognizes the power that color possesses, even after death, for Roman vividly remembers “the yellow headlights of the red truck that smashed head-on into his father’s blue Chevy,” his mother’s “red blood coughed into the folds of a white handkerchief,” and the fact that his mother “was buried in a purple dress.”
In Sharon Old’s, “On The Subway,” the speaker compares her life to a black boy. She compares their different lives and the different positive or negative connotations that may be associated with them. Olds does this with her use of metaphors, similes, and imagery.
in the book is very dark, and it helps set the awful mood for the rest
Women have traditionally been known as the less dominant sex. Through history women have fought for equal rights and freedom. They have been stereotyped as being housewives, and bearers of children. Only with the push of the Equal Rights Amendment have women had a strong hold on the workplace alongside men. Many interesting characters in literature are conceived from the tension women have faced with men. This tension comes from men, society, in general, and within a woman herself. Two interesting short stories, “The Yellow Wall-paper" and “The Story of an Hour," focus on a woman’s fix near the turn of the 19th century. This era is especially interesting
The Light-Dark relationship is prominent throughout the story and demonstratively uses the polar opposites hope and despair. The relationship between good and evil is the most basic example of this symbolism. In Beloved, it
We can see a reoccurring dark tone in the theme of person vs self. We can see this theme in the poem "Before I Could Call Myself Ángel González". The narrator Compares himself with everyone in this example. "Walking streets that go nowhere. The success of all failures. The insane force of dismay"(González 483). She is walking
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the author of Idylls of the King, uses motifs in his works to give a deeper understanding of his epic poem. One of his motifs in Idylls of the King is a light and dark binary. Light is seen as bright and beautiful with a new beginning. It also symbolizes the past staying in the past and having a fresh start. Night is when it is dark, and that is when all of the creatures and monsters come out, so to say. Darkness is full of pain, but Tennyson does not always portray it as so. The motif of light and dark takes on several different meanings. Tennyson uses dark with its true meaning, manages to put light into the darkness and use light with its true meaning, and he gives light the darkness that corrupts it.
“The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson was a mix between two stories that overall worked well together. The stories worked together to convey the true overall meaning of the theme good versus evil. Good and evil are seen everywhere throughout the novel, even in the most obvious of places such as the title. Good and evil, dark and light, they all stand for the same thing. White is normally found to be pure and good. By the author naming the book, The Devil in the White City, he is trying to tell the reader that the novel is about how even in truly pure places evil will follow. Although, good and evil is the main theme of this novel, I found that if you look deeply into the way he tells the story, he is also trying to tell his reader about other themes. These other themes that you can find all throughout the book are things such as pride and determination. These other themes were very prominent and played very well into the plot and the theme of the story.
Short stories are a form of literature works that authors use to communicate various themes and issues to the reader. As such, it is common for different short stories authored by different people to have a central meaning or theme that differs from each other. In addition, the way the author portrays his/her central theme or meaning would differ from the way other authors would craft their short stories to best portray their central meaning. While some would use characterization as a means of portraying the theme of their story, other authors employ the use of symbols to better communicate their theme. However, some slight similarities can always be drawn between short stories. ‘Hills like White
Light and darkness represent the tragedies that took place throughout the play. Light represents the good things that happen and darkness represents bad or evil things. One example of light is when Macbeth was given the thane of Gladis he was very elated and there was sunshine at that time. But for darkness its the opposite all the bad events took place during the night for example when Macbeth goes to kill king Duncan because of greed he wasn't happy with the position he received he wanted to be king so he can have more power . Another example of Darkness is when the witches come to tell him his prophecy (I, iii, 125). This is a type of tragic situation because if the witches hadn't appeared and told Macbeth that he would be king he wouldn't have so much lust. In this scene Macbeth describes the witch as an ugly old lady dressed in black. The color black represents the witch’s evil nature. Shakespeare used this traditional symbol through the play to focus on the Elizabethan concept of the Great Chain. When the chain is in order everything is good and there is light. When the chain is violated bad things happen and there is evil and darkness. When Macbeth committed the act of killing Banqu...
... a dark setting used which involved supernatural events, while the light setting was used for last battle, when Macbeth was slain at the end to show the restoration of peace and honesty. Thus the symbolism of light and darkness representing good and evil in the play emphasizes the theme of corruption of power.
Linked with colour is the important use of light and dark ni the play to
Darkness is often used at times in the play when a tragic event has occurred. The morning after Macbeth killed Duncan remained in darkness, because the sun did not rise. "Is ‘t the night’s predominance or the day’s shame that darkness does the face of the earth entomb when living light should kiss it?" (2:4, 10-12) Ross said these words referring to the unusual darkness of the day. He wondered if the night had become stronger than the day, and overcome it, so that the sun could no longer shine. He mused that it seemed as though the earth was shrouded with the darkness, when the light of the sun that brings life should have ensconced it. In this quote, darkness symbolizes death and light symbolizes life. It suggests that the whole country is as good as dead since their king has been killed, because the natural order has been disturbed. The disturbance to the natural order caused all of nature is disturbed, d...
Within the poem Poe divides the characters and imagery into two conflicting aspects of light and dark. Almost everything in the poem reflects one world or the other. For example, Lenore, who is repeatedly described as ?radiant? epitomizes the world of light along with the angels she has joined. Another image of light would be the lamplight the character uses to light his chamber, his refuge from the darkness of the outside. However, The Raven, as well as the dreary December night shows signs of darkness. These images of light and darkness go even further to represent life and death, the man?s hope of an afterlife with Lenore and his fear of everlasting loneliness.