An Analysis Of 'The Drowned Giant' By J. G. Ballard

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The drowned giant is a unique work of art by the amazing author J.G. Ballard. He illustrates science fiction and compares the human beings to mythical creatures. The existence of a being better the human race was never heard of, nor seen. He also makes the main character reflect upon the human kind and their unusual behaviors put in specific context. This short story also shows the fear of mankind towards the existence of a superior being. From the perspective of the speaker, the giant represents a symbol of superiority and perfection compared to the town people and that’s why they disrespect his body in various ways. First of all, by using comparisons, the narrator portrays the giant as a superior and stronger version of a human. “We spectators …show more content…

This literature isn’t only showing the gap in physical capability between the giant and the humans, but can also be perceived as a cultural difference. As if the giant was more cultured and civilized than the humans. “A small pool of water lay in the palm, like the residue of another world” (page 643) the narrator here has given characteristic of a Grecian god to the giant. In other words, is saying the giant is a mighty and spiritual being. The narrator further says, “the giant seemed a more authentic image of one of the drowned Argonauts or heroes of the Odyssey” this comparison shows this being’s importance. By saying “more authentic image” he means a better version of the drowned Argonauts or heroes of the Odyssey, he in other words called them less authentic. Those heroes that fought among the Greek heroes at Troy, he had the guts to call them less authentic and the giant better than them. This shows how much the narrator appreciated this colossal being. He says in other occasions “its Graecian profile” (page 642) “illustrated in the Graecian features of the face” (page 643). Considering Graecian race is a superior race, to compare the giant to this race is a huge significance and shows how the narrator looks up to him and his Graecian

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