You ever heard anyone say they experienced an epiphany, however appear completely off? They think they found a truth about themselves –not really. You try to tell them the truth, but they cut you off. So far in denial, nothing you say can make them change their mind. The short story “The Epiphany Machine” written by David Burr Gerrard provides great depth of characterization to develop the theme, adding figurative language to enhance secondary meanings to different situations and objects. These two elements come together to prove the theme the truth may not set you free but, make you more in denial.
First, in “The Epiphany Machine” the figurative language used helps enhance the secondary meaning of different situations and objects. One
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of the first uses of figurative language starts when, the author uses a simile comparing the epiphany machine to a sewing machine. The author in “The Epiphany Machine” states “When most people look at our device, it reminds them of an antique sewing machine” (Gerrard para. 4) hinting that the epiphany machine resembles a sewing machine. Both machines seem similar in the way that they both help piece things together, however, an epiphany, defined by the dictionary as, “a moment of revelation ad insight” (“epiphany” def. 4) But in order to get an epiphany you need to gather clues about yourself and piece them together, like a sewing machine would piece together fabric, to conclude the epiphany. Irony comes into play at the very end of the story. When the protagonist comes to visit the antagonist, he remains very adamant about not using the machine and how only low people use it. However, at the end of the story the irony happens when the protagonist uses the epiphany machine, not only that but he finds out his epiphany and then tries to deny it which proves the theme of the story. The main character Venter wants to deny his truth, even though the actual truth lingers on. Personification gives more life to the story by giving non-living objects living characteristics. By giving the machine the ability to “talk” to the main character it makes the truth seem more apparent. As the epiphany machine wrote on Venter he recalled it speaking to him, asking him for what his thoughts on what the tattoo should read. He as well recalls feeling the writing, but not describing it as painful. Although he never explains, we can take away him feeling it as him knowing the truth. Psychology today posted an article that states “It is undeniable that feeling the truth — the conscious experience of knowing the truth — is a big part of how we know we are in touch with truth.” (Dietrich para.4 ) When the machine “speaks” to him, he learns the machine tells the truth. Especially about his epiphany when he emphasizes that he could feel the machine working. You must feel the truth to know the truth. Lastly, the characters in the story help guide readers to the theme.
The protagonist represents the feelings that most would retain towards the machine. He feels the machine happens to make up the meanings up and insist the epiphanies ensue lies. Venter as stated before hates the machine, he finds it stupid. The audience can perceive Venters feelings as scared which they then can relate to. Finding out the truth about yourself can scare anyone. Venter persisted on not wanting to use the machine, but he does and after he uses it he finds out that he tends to worry a lot about what people think of him. His epiphany can apply to many, although they don’t want to admit it just like Venter, therefore making him relatable. Characters also guide the story by showing their true nature through words and actions, such as the actions taken by the protagonist that follow the theme of denying one’s truth. His words say one thing but his action show another. Venter wants to deny his truth because he doesn’t want to succumb to it. He doesn’t want to face his problem because basking in denial makes life easier then confronting the truth. In the scholarly journal “Reconstructing the Internal World of the Eating-disordered Individual: Overcoming Denial and Distortion in Self-report” states. “The most common interpretation of denial in anorexia nervosa is that it represents a conscious, willful misrepresentation of the facts that is undertaken to shield anorexic symptomatology from outside influence.” (Vitousek et al p. 649) The article basically says that we sometimes deny the truth, so by obligation we do not deal with the steps to fix it. In the story “The Epiphany Machine” the antagonist, which the readers can conclude as the epiphany machine operator Adam Loyns, represents an obstacle when he gets in the way of Venter finding his mother. However, Adam represents much more than that. Towards the end of the story he finds himself the reason as to why Venter got his tattoo.
He convinces the protagonist to use the epiphany machine and in doing so helps him change –not really. In conclusion the short story “The Epiphany Machine” written by David Burr Gerrard provides great depth of characterization to develop the theme, adding figurative language to enhance secondary meanings to different situations and objects. These two elements come together to prove the theme the truth may not set you free but, make you more in denial. In the first paragraph, figurative language emphasizes secondary meaning to situations and objects. The author uses a simile to compare the epiphany machine to a sewing machine. Irony helped reveal the shock factor of the protagonist using the machine and then denying his truth. Then personification tied everything together to reveal that his tattoo tells the truth. Lastly, the characters in the story help guide readers to the theme. The protagonist possessed several relatable qualities that makes the audience self-identify with the story. The words and actions taken by the charters also reveal their true nature. And proven by the psychological scholarly journal, people tend to deny, keeping them from facing the truth. The protagonist adds in the anger when he represents an obstacle in the story, but slowly turns into a good guy when he changes the main character. All though he really doesn’t. The epiphany machine really opens people’s eyes to see just how much we want to deny the truth. So, do you deny your truth?
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