Beyond The Bayou Analysis

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Family is something unique to everyone, people in the same family may even have a different interpretation of what it is. The same way no two people have the same fingerprints equates to the number of feasible ways to define what family means to an individual. Even though Chopin’s “Beyond the Bayou” and Bradbury’s “The Last Night of the World” stories have critical similarities while revolving around the same theme of family, they both depict family values, reactions to difficult circumstances, and display reactions to events that impact those closest to a family. Dictionary.com emphasizes that a family value is “the moral and ethical principle traditionally upheld and transmitted within a family (Random House, Inc.).” In “Beyond the Bayou” Jacqueline is not established as a direct family member, but she is shown to have a close relationship with …show more content…

“The Last Night of the World” as the name implies refers to a doomsday eve of sorts. Knowing what was coming the news was processed as calmly as they possibly could, “are you afraid? No. Not even for the children. I always thought I would be frightened to death, but I'm not” (Bradbury, line 56-58). Imagine being told the world was ending; it wouldn’t be stretch to think that panic and fear would set in. The opposite happens, and the main characters are as reserved as they can be as if nothing were slated to happen. “Beyond the Bayou” places Cheri in danger with Jacqueline coming to the rescue, “she found Cheri stretched upon the ground, he moaned piteously, “I’m dead, I’m gone” ” (Chopin, 48-49). Both stories display the stark contrast between potential reactions to adverse situations. One is calm and collected with the end of the world looming, and the other is more panicky having fear and panic set it. Nonetheless, they take action consistent with keeping their families best interest at

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