The poem, “The Swimmer’s Moment” details that when given the opportunity to take risks, one should take them moderately. In our daily lives, everyone encounters scenarios similar to the whirlpool, or, where they have the option to take a risk and weigh the positives vs. negatives. The whirlpool in itself is a risk, as one could end up in the, “black pit” or, “ominous centre” as a consequence for their actions. For example, they could end up in the figurative, “black pit” filled with consequences of their actions, therefore giving reason as to why before taking a risk, it should be calculated so that they do not end up regretting it. For those who do not take risks, however, they, “will not recognize” and will not get to experience the thrill of …show more content…
For those who dare take such a risk, they could be met with, “an eternal boon of privacy” or the, “silver reaches of the estuary”, possibly signifying a silver lining at the end of the tunnel. With two contrasting outcomes to a singular situation, the author, Avison, continually pushes the fact that these risks are dangerous, which is exactly only why, “one or two have won” this so called game of a whirlpool. Avision also adds that when a risk-taker becomes defeated by the whirlpool, they, “turn away from their defeat” and most likely become the people who sit, “on the rim of suction” afraid to make another mistake or face the consequences of another uncalculated or miscalculated risk. The, “despair” that people feel as a result of a failure is simply a consequence of enduring the whirlpool, with the “death” described signifying the death of their wonder at what is past the whirlpool in the silver estuary. The second stanza serves to Avison as a continuation of first stanza ideals, with the addition of consequences or benefits of the
The author shows the reader the sea just as the sailor does as death, but more than death
...He is still anchored to his past and transmits the message that one makes their own choices and should be satisfied with their lives. Moreover, the story shows that one should not be extremely rigid and refuse to change their beliefs and that people should be willing to adapt to new customs in order to prevent isolation. Lastly, reader is able to understand that sacrifice is an important part of life and that nothing can be achieved without it. Boats are often used as symbols to represent a journey through life, and like a captain of a boat which is setting sail, the narrator feels that his journey is only just beginning and realizes that everyone is in charge of their own life. Despite the wind that can sometimes blow feverishly and the waves that may slow the journey, the boat should not change its course and is ultimately responsible for completing its voyage.
winning the spiritual battle, despite a bleak image of the future. Alone on the desolate river isle,
If we look back to the title now, it is fairly clear, that the ocean full of bowling balls presents polar opposites. It presents both life and death, and the bowling balls present all the joys of life and all its burdens. At the same time they also portray the relief from the burdens of life and cruel separation from the joys the life brings us. No matter how hard we try, we can’t escape the ocean, for it presents both, life and death. We can only try to swim or resign and drown.
The ocean is mysterious to mankind. The unfathomable vastness of the ocean intrigues humanity into exploring it. In life, the immense possibilities that lie in the future compel us to reach for the stars. In the poem “The Story” by Karen Connelly, an individual willingly swims into deep waters even though they are fearful of what may exist in the waters. The swimmer later finds out that their fears were foolish, which illustrates the human tendency to venture into the unknown. The theme conveyed in this poem is that life is like a rough, uncertain, uncontrollable ocean that we must find get through with experience.
When individuals face obstacles in life, there is often two ways to respond to those hardships: some people choose to escape from the reality and live in an illusive world. Others choose to fight against the adversities and find a solution to solve the problems. These two ways may lead the individuals to a whole new perception. Those people who decide to escape may find themselves trapped into a worse or even disastrous situation and eventually lose all of their perceptions and hops to the world, and those who choose to fight against the obstacles may find themselves a good solution to the tragic world and turn their hopelessness into hopes. Margaret Laurence in her short story Horses of the Night discusses the idea of how individual’s responses
Death is an inevitable part at the end of human life, despite how many people try to avoid it. Sometimes death is seen as a sacrifice, as noticed in “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst. However, not all sacrifices are deaths, as seen in “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. In both stories, upon analysis and comparison, one can see the similarities and differences involving the theme of sacrifice. When the two stories are put side by side, one will see that Connell and Hurst both use death in a way that displays character development. This is shown when Brother of “The Scarlet Ibis” becomes regretful and Rainsford of “The Most Dangerous Game” becomes what he once hated, the reader will also realize how the characters’ personality traits
“The Swimmer,” a short fiction by John Cheever, presents a theme to the reader about the unavoidable changes of life. The story focuses on the round character by the name of Neddy Merrill who is in extreme denial about the reality of his life. He has lost his youth, wealth, and family yet only at the end of the story does he develop the most by experiencing a glimpse of realization on all that he has indeed lost. In the short story “The Swimmer,” John Cheever uses point of view, setting and symbolism to show the value of true relationships and the moments of life that are taken for granted.
In John Cheever’s short story, “The Swimmer” he conveys the transformation of the character through the use of the literary element of setting. The story begins in an American, middle class, suburbs. After what seems to be a night of partying and drinking. Neddy Merrill, the main character initially appears very optimistic; he has a perfect family, high social status and very few problems in his life. In spite of his age, he feels young and energetic therefore decides to swim across town through the neighborhood pools. However, his journey becomes less and less enjoyable as the day unfolds. The water become murky, uninviting and he becomes exhausted. Also the people in his surrounding become less cordial including his mistress who wants nothing to do with him. His voyage then comes to an end when he arrives to an empty, abandoned home. The central idea suggests that an unhealthy obsession with the materialistic aspects of life can lead to alienation.
...e environment, such as with Eos and Poseidon, or to foreshadow events like Aschenbach’s death, with Charon or Narcissus. Myths create an extreme situation followed by extreme repercussions for ones choices in these situations, that aim to educate or inform the reader of the “what can happen”, and what is deemed proper behaviour to avoid these horrible outcomes. In the case of Narcissus, don’t love yourself too much or you will end up killing yourself, if you love someone truly and completely, such as Semele did for Zeus you will eventually be rewarded. In conclusion, the myths placed throughout this novella guide the reader through all of Aschenbach’s deepest thoughts and feelings and eventually lead us to his final end. They demonstrate in a variety of ways the range of emotions that one can feel for a person, and the integration of old beliefs into modern works.
Through metaphors, the speaker proclaims of her longing to be one with the sea. As she notices The mermaids in the basement,(3) and frigates- in the upper floor,(5) it seems as though she is associating these particular daydreams with her house. She becomes entranced with these spectacles and starts to contemplate suicide.
In fact, the daily life of human beings is at the mercy of the uncontrollable waves of the sea; while, at the same time, the essential part of reality remains unknown to feeble, helpless humans. The human voyage into life is feeble, vulnerable, and uncontrollable. Since the crew on a dangerous sea without hope are depicted as "the babes of the sea", it can be inferred that we are likely to be ignorant strangers in the universe. In addition to the dangers we face, we also have to overcome the new challenges of the waves in the daily life. These waves are "most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall", requiring "a new leap, and a leap."
Many people in life have different fantasies of what they want to do with their life. The tricky part about living our dreams is that every action we make has some sort of consequence. In the poem Gold Mountain by Anonymous and the story Tears of Autumn by Yoshiko Uchida, the characters realize this downside of living the dream.
" Everyone puts on a mask, hiding ourselves amongst the sea of flowers, ready to follow through on the actions that we take with as much virtiality as a serpent about to strike. Knowing the consequences that will follow, but viewing them as a means to
I dip my toes in—feels cold. My nerves rise up and spread like fire throughout my body while I watch—while I wait. Stomach hurts. All those butterflies clash and crowd. They come every time that I race—it never fails. There is so much noise—the splash of water, talking, yelling, whistling, cheering.