The narratives in Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese illustrate the complex and intricate process of forgiveness. Many people use the term “forgive and forget”, but it’s not that simple. The themes of responsibility and forgiveness are primarily depicted through the character of Eldon Starlight, an alcoholic father filled with unfulfilled promises. Franklin Starlight's relationship with his father Eldon was charged with unresolved anger and disappointment. After his father's past was revealed, Franklin had to grapple with the guilt of his resentment, knowing the struggles his father faced while still holding an unresolvable grudge for his father's abandonment throughout his adolescence. Franklin’s resentment towards his father was continuously …show more content…
Franklin’s sense of responsibility towards Eldon, despite their strained relationship, reflects a theme of familial duty and obligation. Eldon wanted to go on the journey due to his dire fear of being forgotten. Even though Eldon was very separated from any Indigenous culture, the act of preserving, and passing on his stories was a predominant act in his final moments: “Weren't no good old days. But you need to hear it still. It's all I got to give ya.” (Wagamese, 23). Throughout their journey, Franklin was alongside the imminent presence of his dying father. Eldon's final wish was to finally release the haunting burdens and regrets he was plagued with. Franklin was drawn into fulfilling his duty as a son, compelled by an innate sense of loyalty and wish to find an understanding towards the man that shaped his existence: “‘I’m your dad.’ The kid looked at him blandly. He took out his mask and rolled a smoke while his father and the woman watched. He lit it up with a wooden match and when he blew it out, he stuck it in one of the jelly jars filled with butts and ash. ‘Just a word to me,’ he said.” (Wagamese, 15). Throughout moments of quiet reflection and meaningful interaction, this novel explores the intricate dynamics of family ties, which delve into the complex theme of forgiveness. As Franklin grapples with the weight of his obligations, he confronts truths belonging to sacrifice and the power of reconciliation. The topic of redemption goes beyond the relationship between Franklin and his father, connecting to the old man, also known as Bunky. Bunky’s strong priority of forgiveness was displayed throughout the novel, within several factors. His character's level headedness, as well as his ability to prioritize the well being of others. Bunky took Franklin under his care, and raised him since Eldon was struck by alcoholism. Even after Eldon stole Bunky's girlfriend, he
Several characters through the course of Steinbeck's novel East of Eden demonstrate a lack of self-knowledge or corruption of the soul. A gap is created between some the character's actions and their true essence as a person. The disparity between a character's conduct and their identity as a human being is often a demonstration of the fight between good and evil within the character's own soul. Caleb, one of Adam Trask's twin boys embodies this struggle vividly throughout his life. This search for self-identity plays into a key theme of the novel, which is that of free will. Despite the fact that there is a variance in the way a character wants to act or the person who they truly are at heart and the way that they actually carry out their lives, free will offers hope. Steinbeck pushes the idea that a person's life and fate is never out of their control and that it is never too late to change the road that you are on. It can be argued either way that this break up of fundamental identity, expression and self-knowledge is the nature of man or simply provoked by the events in the character's lives. It becomes apparent through Caleb's life that the nurture of the individual seems to be the larger factor in causing this separation. Caleb Trask's character demonstrates how the struggle between good and evil within an individual can affect one's self-knowledge, which is catalyzed mainly by the nurture of the character and, ultimately, is amendable through free will.
This book (the last lecture), is filled with awe-inspiring circumstances. Of course life can come with some hurdles or challenges, but the tendency for Randy to handle his medical situation with phenomenal valor, is an outstanding qualities that shows leadership and focus on what matters to him, his family, and vision before he moved on to the next realm.
He starts to believe that a world of sameness where no one can decide or make choices for themselves is boring. Lois Lowry is warning readers that living in a world of sameness is not something to create as it is boring and dull, but if the world follows conformity and does not value diversity and difference enough, society could become that of Jonas’s. When he turns twelve, his job for the rest of his life is decided as the Receiver. His job is to receive all the memories the previous Receiver has held on to. While this is beneficial for Jonas as he is able to leave the society and his job of the Receiver behind and get freedom, the community is left without someone to take the memories from The Giver.
The Illness Narratives – Suffering and Healing and the Human Condition – Arthur Klienman, M.D – 1988 – Basic Books – USA
... the Madman, I have learned that redemption is possible, even given the most hopeless circumstances. After Minor committed a horrible crime, he fell from grace and lost his integrity. The once highly esteemed surgeon was reduced to being referred to as, “Poor Dr. Minor” (Winchester 161). Yet he was able to find restitution in contributing to the Oxford English Dictionary. He discovered a sense of purpose, in helping create the work, while he was locked away, isolated, and disheartened. Doctor Minor’s story is not solely a tale of murder and insanity, but also a message about hope and redemption.
William Carlos Williams’ passion and dedication of medicine can be seen through his literary contributions of short stories and poems. The Doctor Stories use interior monologue in a stream-of-consciousness as a tool to reflect each narrator’s experience and gives insight into the character and his appraisal of each of the situations encountered. It is through this stream-of-consciousness that we come to realize the observational nature of this doctor’s actions and thoughts.
the terrible favor life has done for the father and exposes the idea of running away from his life. The first
One of the first houses the pair enters during their journey is the father's childhood home. To the father, seeing his home brings back memories of what his life was like as a boy. This scene makes the father feel upset, as he knows his child will never get to experience a normal childhood like he did. The father reminisces on what life was like before the disaster. “On cold winter nights when the electricity was out in a storm we would sit at the fire here, me and my
With the son’s fear amongst the possibility of death being near McCarthy focuses deeply in the father’s frustration as well. “If only my heart were stone” are words McCarthy uses this as a way illustrate the emotional worries the characters had. ( McCarthy pg.11). Overall, the journey of isolation affected the boy just as the man both outward and innerly. The boys’ journey through the road made him weak and without a chance of any hope. McCarthy states, “Ever is a long time. But the boy knew what he knew. That ever is no time at all” (McCarthy pg. 28). The years of journey had got the best of both, where they no longer had much expectation for
The trauma an individual endures throughout their early stages of development is crucial to how they end up navigating the rest of their life; this is clear in Richard Wagamese’s novel Medicine Walk. The narrative revolves around two main characters, Franklin Starlight and his father, Eldon Starlight. Together they embark on a journey in which the goal is for Eldon to pass on to another life. Through this journey the audience, as well as Frank, are let in on why Eldon is the man he is today, which is not the most stable. Eldon is a raging alcoholic, avid smoker, and has a quick temper, which prevents him from being a good father towards his son; let alone being there for his son.
Throughout the novel, readers were exposed to many factors that engage with a physician’s life. Humans value love, respect and honesty in a relationship. No matter the hardships, a relationship is indeed the resource to overcome a conflict. Conflicts may also arise from the relationship itself, however, it does not mean to give up. Perceptions of others change an individual’s decision-making process and in turn may lead that individual down the wrong road. It is evident on a daily basis that relationships often become obstructed as the desires of an individual becomes conflicted with the perception of culture and family views. "Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures" by Vincent Lam displayed to the reader, in-depth, that life has its struggles. Never give up, because giving up will lead to a dead cause.
All stories, as all individuals, are embedded in a context or setting: a time, a place, and a culture. In fact, characters and their relationship to others are better understood in a specific context of time, place and atmosphere, as they relate to a proposed theme or central point of a story. Abner is revealed as a sadistic character who confronts his son with the choice of keeping his loyal ties to the family or parting for a life on his own with no familial support. Sarty is Abner's son, a young boy torn by the words of his father and the innate senses of his heart. Sarty is challenged by an internal conflict, he wants to disobey his father, yet he knows that if he leaves he will have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. We will take a look at the setting, specifically the era in which William Faulkner's "Barn Burning" took place. The circumstances surrounding Abner's barn burning also play a crucial role in finding the underlying message or the theme seeing as how it is not always the obligation of an individual to support another family member when his or her choices do not morally coincide with one's own ethical choices.
In both texts lies and cheating emerge as parents drift further from their partners and children. Norah’s affair with a man named Howard creates tension between the couple and although David is aware, he remains silent “because his own secrets were darker, more hidden, and because he believed that his secrets had created hers.” The central couple are again symbolically compared to the solar system, as they “circled each other now, fixed in their separate orbits.” David’s obsession with photography becomes a distraction from his grief, but their “lost daughter still hovered between them; their lives had shaped themselves around her absence.” Eventually, he leaves town and travels back to his childhood home in an attempt to find closure. Similarly, in Seabold’s text, Abigail has an affair with Len Freeman seeking comfort in an effort feel emotion again. In his presence, “the need to get out, to smash, destroy, rescind, overtook her.” Abigail “needed Len to drive the dead daughter out” and to take away “her rage, her loss, her despair.” These lies and secrets create a barrier between Jack and Abigail, as Susie observes how he tries to touch her “and she [pulls] away over to the edge of the bed. But how in the presence of the police she seemed to bloom.” The “pragmatic, prim mistress” that Susie knew her mother to always be “was gone. She was
(MacLeod,2024) The disassociation between the narrator and his father encourages thoughts of conflict and doubt in the narrators' dreams because he feels like he owes this to his father and if he disobeys
Jeanette’s father comes to the rescue when he busts open the door and gets the kids out, if that’s not enough after ensuring their safety, he rushes back to help put the fire out. In this instance Jeanette’s father demonstrates one of his redeeming qualities, selflessness. Although, Rex’s selflessness is easily missed because of his alcoholism, in a time of need he demonstrates for the Walls children the importance of lending a helping hand. It is times like these when it is no wonder why Jeanette looks up to her father the way she