In the short story “Sucker,” Carson McCullers conveys the message about how a loss of innocence can change not only one’s behavior, but also one’s relationships with others. This message is shown in the story through Carson’s portrayal of Pete and Sucker’s relationship. Throughout the beginning, Pete, the narrator, has been depicted as a role model to Sucker, his younger cousin. However, Sucker has no idea about how Pete views him. At one point, Pete realizes that in his relationship with Sucker, “the funny thing was that no matter how many times he got fooled he would still believe me. Not that he was dumb in other ways…”(26). Carson reveals the innocence of Sucker through this description; words such as “fooled” and “dumb” are used to describe someone who is clueless and thoughtless. This …show more content…
idea is elaborated on when Pete talks about how Sucker still believes him, no matter how many times he gets fooled. Sucker does not have any idea that Pete does not like, and therefore continues to think of him as a role model. His innocent behavior makes him think he has a symbiotic relationship with Pete. As the story progresses, Pete and Sucker become closer to each other, and Pete begins to enjoy talking to Sucker. But after Pete has an argument with his crush, he reverts back to his old self and starts to hate Sucker again.
At one point, Pete gets so angry at Sucker that he starts to yell at him. After that happens, Pete notices a change in Sucker and says, “There had never been such a look on him before. It was like every second he was getting older,”(30). Carson depicts Sucker as losing his innocence. Sucker’s new “look” reflects his new behavior. After this scene, Sucker’s behavior changes completely. He becomes more independent and distances himself from Pete. In one scene, Sucker talks with his new group of friends when Pete comes in. Pete hears one of Sucker’s friends talk about him and looks at Sucker and says, “For a minute Sucker looked surprised and his face was almost like it used to be. Then he got hard and tough again…They didn’t notice me,” (31). In the end, Carson portrays Sucker as someone who has lost his innocence. Sucker realizes that Pete has not appreciated him throughout the years, and ultimately chooses to ignore him. Innocence is a human aspect that cannot be reclaimed. Sucker’s innocence explains why a relationship between Pete and him even existed at the
start. However, now that Sucker has lost his innocence, the relationship between them is gone. In short, innocence can make a person more unaware about society, but once it is lost, that person can change in behavior and in relationships with others.
“I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!”(199), these were the last words of Chris McCandless in a picture with him smiling and waving good-bye. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer is an extension of an article first published in Outside magazine. In the book, Krakauer further explains the journey of Chris McCandless, while providing his own insight to provide the reader a better understanding of the McCandless reasoning. McCandless lived a nomadic life after he graduated from college, traveling from South Dakota to Mexico. However, his two year journey proved fatal when he took a trip to Alaska, his greatest undertaking. Among his remains several books were discovered, including a copy of Walden by Henry D. Thoreau
In Trash, Rat takes advantage of Father Juilliard even though he cares for him. Father Juilliard shows his emotion about the situation, “Raphael and Gardo were smart. But little Jun…. Rat. What he did took my breath away.” (Mulligan 91) The author illustrates
In today’s society, people are very quick to judge others based on what they look like or how they dress. Recently we have been studying “Martin”, a narrative essay, written by Nick Vaca. This narrative has many beneficial lessons within the story, but one message stands out more than the others. Vaca learns to make assumptions about people, as a result of his childhood experience with Martin.
Chris McCandless lived a life in which he disgusted by human civilization, and left it, eventually being led to his death in Alaska. McCandless entered the Alaskan wilderness severely unprepared, a brutal error that cost him his life. In the novel, Into the Wild by John Krakauer, Chris glances into his mindset by they way of his journal, history, and analysis of his life reveals that Chris McCandless as an arrogant and judgemental narcissist, while not mentally unstable, had a condescending attitude towards society and perished not only from his reckless stupidity but also from his unparalleled ego. Chris McCandless was immune to love and had an obsession with nature and society, him showing characteristics that created the appearance of McCandless
Rolph is introduced as an innocent young boy early on in the story. He “doesn’t speak up all that often” (1) and is “too young to notice” (1) the extremely sexual relationship between Mindy and Lou. The generalization Mindy brings forward for Rolph is “structural affection” (5) in which Rolph “will embrace and accept his father’s new girlfriend because he hasn’t yet learned to separate his father’s loves and desires from his own” (8). Rolph’s fragile depiction foreshadows the importance of nurturing vulnerable children. If a child is already susceptible to emotional confusion or damage in their youth, it is important to provide them with an extremely positive upbringing to give them confidence to make their own decisions as they mature. In the case of Rolph, however, he does not receive the support he needs to make a healthy transition from childhood to
In portraying Hale as a naïve outsider, Miller uses the four methods of characterization to describe him as a misled str...
Deception is present in Tennessee Williams’s drama ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, William Shakespeare’s Tragedy ‘Othello’ and L. P. Hartley’s novel ‘The Go-Between’; the writers choose to use characterisation to explore the theme in depth. Often the protagonists of each text are the primary offenders of deceit, though some supporting characters mislead as well; although Iago is the antagonist of ‘Othello’, he is incomparably the most deceitful character in the entire play. Similarly, Williams uses Blanche to develop the plot by misleading the other characters and even herself at times, though arguably, unlike Iago, Blanche is presented as a character who lacks the motivation to hurt anyone. Conversely Leo, although the protagonist and narrator of the novel, is not the most deceitful character – Ted Burgess and Marian Maudsley not only coerce him into the deceit, but they themselves are presented as masters of the game they play, however, this essay will focus on Leo as he is a unique symbol of deceit; he is unaware of the consequences of his actions.
...ausing bitterness and disappointment. Relying on their imaginations instead of reality is something both Willy and Jay struggle with and is directly related to their ability of acquiring their unique versions of the American dream. The blatant disregard for honesty leads the protagonist into a world filled with bitter disappointment and artificiality. Thus, as a result the protagonists are susceptible to destruction Dishonesty leading to disappointment and tragedy is apparent in both literary works, "Death of a Salesman," and "The Great Gatsby." Over excessive pride, adultery, and false material security are some of the issues that our protaganists are bothered with, all eventually leading to their demise. Through the works, it is shown, example by example, how dishonesty with family, friends, and most importantly yourself, is destructive to all those around you.
A teacher, who had “an indescribable air of one who knew the world”, leads Goodman Brown from the cave. His teacher continually leads him along the path to enlightenment despite Goodman Brown’s attempts “to return whence I came.” Goodman Brown learns that people are not perfect and that “good” people sometimes do “bad” things. People who Goodman Brown views as perfect, like the governor and his Sunday school teacher are exposed as imperfect people who lie and cheat and steal by using the images of a stolen broom and a promise to be queen of Hell.
Loss of Innocence is a classic theme in literature. Protagonists are forced into situations where they must sacrifice their goodness/what they believe. It is a theme that runs through both “ Young Goodman Brown” and “ The Most Dangerous Game”, though each of them happen in a different way.
In, "No One's a Mystery," by Elizabeth Tallent, a very naive eighteen-year old girl, who remains unnamed, neglects to realize the truth that is so plainly laid out before her. She is riding with Jack, and older married man with whom she has been having sex with for the past two years, and fiddling with the birthday present she received from him; a five year diary. A Cadillac that looks like his wife's is coming toward them, so he shoves her onto the floorboard of his filthy truck. Jack and his wife exchange subtle gestures as they pass, and the young girl is then given permission to get back onto the seat. When she asks how he knows his wife won't look back and see her Jack replies, "I just know...Like I know I'm going to get meatloaf for supper...Like I know what you'll be writing in that diary." Jack proceeds to tell her that within a couple of years she will not even to be able to recall his name or remember what interested her in him, other than the sex. Contrary to what Jack knows is true, the young girl imagines a sort of fairy tale life where she and Jack have a family and live happily ever after. She is totally oblivious to the truth that is so blatantly staring her in the face. Tallent demonstrates the way our heart and mind work together to blind us of the truth if we are not mature enough to see through the self created facade and face reality.
Miller’s use of personification and symbolism in the book shows the situational irony that surrounds Willy. This highlights the overall message of blind faith towards the American Dream. The major case of irony in the book is Willy’s blind faith in the American Dream. This belief is that if one is well-liked, they will become successful. The truth is actually completely opposite. The real belief is that if one works hard, with no regard to how well liked they are, they will be successful. This relationship is shown between Willy and his neighbor Charley. While Willy believes likability is the only way to success, Charley works hard and does not care how people think of him. Through his hard work, Charley started his own business, and is now very successful. Willy, however, ends up getti...
...al to peers, the world, and even one’s self. If one lies about their feeling towards another person, there is chance that person can find out. If they find out, he or she will be extremely angry and there is a chance that the friendship will be in ruins. Lying can ruin the world, as seen by the omission of the goddess Lilith and stereotypes. Finally, excessive lying can lead to a decreased self-value. Eventually you will begin to delude yourself, and find it nearly impossible to escape the never-ending cycle of lies. Ericsson incorporates these feelings of little to no self-value in the last section of her essay when she speaks of delusion and her conclusion. Her main argument is that little lies can turn into large lies, and can cause a sort of cultural cancer. She appeals to the audience through the use of self-worth in an effort to further appeal to her audience.
Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, once claimed that “nothing is more damaging to an adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future” (Krakauer). Christopher Johnson McCandless epitomises the adventurous spirit and escaped from his secure future to live in the wild Alaskan terrain to escape from reality. In the year 1990, Chris burned all of his money, abandoned his car and changed his name to Alexander Supertramp to go on an Great Alaskan Adventure where he could escape from his responsibilities and all that awaited him back home. Likewise, George, from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Montag, from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and Finny from A Separate Peace by John Knowles, all wanted to escape from the world that they were
The children couldn’t accept what they thought was so horrible. There was a lot of ignorance and carelessness portrayed throughout this short story. The theme of ungratefulness was revealed in this story; The author depicted how disrespecting someone can inturn feed you with information you may wish you never knew and how someone can do one wrong thing and it immediately erases all the good things a person did throughout their