Roxane Gay is a prolific writer of feminist stories that explore the struggles of women in the modern-day society. Gay explores themes of “feminism, identity, and pop culture,” as well as “sexual violence and rape culture” (Ostberg). These themes, especially sexual violence, are present throughout the story. Gay’s short story, “The Mark of Cain” highlights the cycle of abuse through the symbolic title, Gay’s personal experiences, and the recurring theme of abuse. The title, “The Mark of Cain” symbolizes the cycle of abuse through its reference to the story of Cain and Abel. In short, the story of Cain and Abel is a biblical story within Genesis about two brothers, one of whom, Cain, kills Abel in a fit of rage after “the Lord accepted the offering …show more content…
The. Although the original mark of Cain is not known whether it was physical or metaphorical, the title of Gay’s short story is a metaphor for the mark placed on the abused. If someone were to kill Cain, then they would suffer greater pain than Cain, despite Cain’s own crime. This is a cycle of continual suffering where the murderer suffers a painful fate as a result of their actions. Caleb and Jacob, just like Cain and Abel, are also brothers, with Caleb aligning with Cain and Jacob aligning with Abel. Despite the two brothers representing Cain and Abel, that is where the similarities end as they merely represent the idea of Cain and Abel. In addition, the metaphorical mark of Cain works in reverse in Gay’s story as the abuser passes the mark on instead of an abuser receiving the mark because of their own actions. The father of Caleb and Jacob passed the metaphorical mark to his son Caleb through his constant physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Then Caleb passed the mark to the unnamed protagonist, with the conclusion of the story setting up the protagonist’s children to suffer the mark in a vicious cycle of never-ending abuse. Gay draws upon her own personal experience of sexual abuse to highlight the horrific and tragic cycle of …show more content…
Consequently, Gay uses her own experience with rape to make an example of how detrimental abuse as a whole is for an entire lineage. Gay demonstrates this through Caleb and Jacob’s father, as he is the catalyst for Caleb’s abuse and Jacob’s neglectfulness. The father of the twins was incredibly abusive as he was a drunkard who beat the twins and had some part in the death of their mother, whether intentional or because of the abuse (Gay). Despite the severe abuse, the twins “rewrote their past until they had beatified their father's memory,” though this was most likely a coping method for the severe trauma they endured in addition to the sudden death of their father (Gay). Just like Gay herself, the twins have a coping mechanism, although the methods of coping are different. Unfortunately, Caleb falls victim to the cycle of abuse through his constant physical and sexual abuse of the protagonist. The reoccurring theme of abuse through the characters within the story highlights the cycle of abuse that plagues society. At the beginning of the story, the first sentence explains how Caleb “is not a kind man”
“Parker’s Back” by Flannery O’Conner, has many biblical allusions. The story of “Parker’s Back” describes a man’s unsatisfied life. At the age of fourteen Park inspired by a tattooed man at the fair. “Parker has never before felt the least motion of wonder in himself” when he saw the man with “breast and flower” tattoo (O’Connor 572). The “breast and flower,” “a single intricate design of brilliant color” represents the Garden of Eden (572). Parker assumed tattoos will make him happy, however, he never satisfies with his tattoos. The story of Adam and Eve symbolize the Biblical allusion of dissatisfaction. Adam and Eve’s dissatisfaction lead them to commit sin, as a result “he drove the man out” of the Garden of Eden (Gen.3). Parker also discontents
Throughout the chapters of John Knowles novel “A Separate Peace” there are many biblical allusions. In particular, the story of Cain and Abel. Phineas and Gene are based on story of Cain and Able. Cain and Abel are brothers such as Genes and Phineas’ friendship. In the story one is filled with jealousy like Gene and one brother kills the other also like Gene.
Two people with two completely different characteristics have something alike. Both Dally and Johnny are mentally tough because of their parents. Johnny and Dally’s parents both do not care for them and could care less about them. For example, during Dally’s childhood he went to jail, been in a gang, and has been in many fights and his dad still would not care for him even if he won the lottery. Dally also talks about his dad's disgrace towards him in the car with Johnny and Ponyboy, “‘ Shoot, my dad don’t give a hang whether I’m in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in a gutter...’”(88). Dally could easily live without his dad and he does for the most part. Dally just hangs around with his friends and stays at their place. Similarly, Johnny's parents use him like a rag doll to blow off steam, “his father always beating him up”(14). The gang knows what happenes in Johnny’s house. Once Ponyboy was witnessing, “Johnny take a whipping with a two-by-four from his old man”(33). Ponyboy talks about how loud and mean Johnny's mom is and,“you can...
I am Grendel who once lived at the Danish neighborhood ruled by the righteous king Hrothgar who was just and fair in his kingship. I came from Cain’s ancestry. According to the bible, Cain is popularly known by Christians as the first person to commit murder. I was in isolation from humans because I came from a cursed lineage. I could not change the perception Hereots had about me as an evil monster. I did not prefer to be from Cain’s bloodline. People thought I was evil because I came from Cain’s lineage and as a result, they deemed me an outcast and did not want to associate with me.
Born into the Okimasis clan of the Cree First Nations tribe, Jeremiah and Gabriel share a host of similarities and differences. One thing the two brothers have in common is the magnitude of sexual abuse they receive while attending residential school. Jeremiah is noticeably traumatized by the events that occur, as he locks his memories in a "chamber deep inside his mind." (80) In contrast, Gabriel seems to accept the abuse he receives, as he imagines himself falling "down on his knees," clinging to his vision of seeing "God the Father, sitting large and naked in his black leather armchair." (83) Another ...
John Steinbeck frequently expresses his idea of a reoccurring cycle between the struggles of good and evil. It seems fairly apparent that Steinbeck had passed the persistent loop of Cain and Abel’s story from Charles and Adam onto the next generation of brothers, Caleb and Aron Trask. In order to sustain his continuous biblical allusions, Steinbeck uses the metaphor of the man who was “smart as Satan.” This allows for a reestablished pattern of the biblical story, Cain and Abel. By doing so, Steinbeck effectively adds a new element towards his predetermined design of the novel.
Born Sinner Aren’t we all sinners? We all have committed acts of violence at some points in our lives, and our answer we are human, we are wired that way or it is our instinct. People have a habit of hurting one another and it comes naturally to them. After reading Flight by Sherman Alexie, violence is a prominent theme throughout the novel. This idea of aggression is represented in many different ways, shapes, and forms.
Symbolism is very prominent over the course of this story, giving it that much more meaning. Knowles makes not only one, but several instances to religious principles and more precisely in this case, Adam and Eve. These of jealousy, greed, and selfishness are prominent throughout both stories as well is a significant fall whether it would be as monstrous as humanity or on the smaller scale of relationships. The disruption of peace and harmony are also evident in the two. In addition, it is interesting how the author finds a way to tie them all into each other.
story from ancient literature-it is an allusion of the well-known story of Cain and Abel in the Bible.
Adam breaks the cycle of fathers picking favorites and brothers hating each other by accepting Cal. Lee said, “Help him, Adam—help him. Give him his chance. Let him be free.” (438) The chance that Lee is asking Adam to give is very important to the resolution of the conflict. The chance that Adam gives Cal shows that he equally accepts his two children by giving them both the opportunity to succeed. The conclusion helps showcase the themes of rejection, good vs. evil, and favoritism. The conclusion also provides peace to the reader by making the Trask family break the cycle of paternal rejection. Overall the conclusion helps the reader also understand that the Trask family is not as bad as they are portrayed because they overcome their mistakes and move on to overcome the rejection and evil they faced earlier in their
Gandhi once said, “I have also seen children successfully surmounting the effects of an evil inheritance. That is due to purity being an inherent attribute of the soul”.
One's knowledge and beliefs in religion can affect who you really are and your destiny. The main character, Sara Louise Bradshaw, feels like she is unloved by her family members and friends or at the very least, loved less compared to her twin sister, Caroline. [Sara] Louise's strong belief in the Roman Catholic bible has affected her mind on a fixed impression and has changed her inner outer-appearance. For as it says, " "Romans nine thirteen, "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." " (Paterson 178) This quote refers to the Christian bible story of Abraham, and the rivalry of his two sons, Jacob and Esau. Religion teaches one their general morals, however when one cannot rely on religious beliefs to control their life and their soul in universal concept.
Weisl, Angela Jane. ""Quiting" Eve: Violence Against Women in the Canterbury Tales." Violence Against Women in Medieval Texts. Ed. Anna Roberts. University of Florida Press, 1998. Print.
There came a day when Cain and Abel both went to make an offering unto Jehovah; Abel made an offering from his flocks while Cain made an offering from the first fruits of his harvest. Cain’s offering was rejected by Jehovah, Cain became jealous of Abel and his favor with Jehovah. In a jealous rage Cain slew Abel.