At times humanity are selfish for unreasonable reasons, which can cause suffering mentally and physically to those that are attentive about morality. The Renegade, by Shirley Jackson provides readers a narration that emphasizes society’s inhumaneness through the mindset of the protagonist Mrs. Walpole. Readers acquire background on the family that “They had not lived in the country town long enough…” (pg. 74), showing that she is still adjusting to the new environment. The author presents the readers with Mrs. Walpole’s point of view and attitude towards people by exploring the interactions she encounters with the other characters in the story. When her dog, Lady was accused of killing chickens Mrs. Walpole reaches to her neighbors for advice
In the short story “Do Seek Their Meat From God”, the author, Charles G.D. Roberts comments on the theme of human nature. First, the author shows how humans are compassionate towards others. As the settler was walking home and heard the cries from the boy, rather than ignoring him and continuing home, he felt compassion for the scared child, and stayed back to help. Next, the author shows how people can be prejudice. When the settler heard the boy, he assumed it was his drunk neighbour’s kid, he muttered, “‘I reckon his precious father’s drunk down at ‘the Corners’, and him crying for loneliness!” (page 194). But, in reality, it was his own son, and he was being quick to judge. Finally, the author demonstrates how sometimes humans do things
Charles Chesnutt’s “The Passing of Grandison” is a satirical short story about southern plantation life in the early 1850s. Dick Owens, the spoiled first-born son of a rich Kentucky slaveholder named Colonel Owens wants to impress a young woman named Charity Lomax enough to get her to marry him. To do so, Dick decides to secretly free one of his father’s slaves. With his father’s permission, Dick travels North with one of the slaves named Grandison. He does not tell anyone that he intends to leave Grandison behind in a free state. Although Grandison has no intention of escaping, claiming to love his life as a slave, Dick manages to leave him in Canada. Dick returns home and marries Charity Lomax, having mildly impressed her with his act. A few weeks later, Grandison returns to the plantation, telling the story of his perilous journey home. Colonel Owens fawns over his lost slave and rewards him with tobacco and whiskey. A few weeks later, however, Grandison and all his family escape to freedom. In this story, Chesnutt changes the reader’s initial perception of Grandison and pokes fun at the concept of plantation life and the attitudes of slaveholders, all while commenting on relevant topics to the time period.
Kiefer, Christian. "Unneighborly behavior: Blood Meridian, Lonesome Dove, and the problem of reader sympathy." Southwestern American Literature 33.1 (2007): 39+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 8 May 2014.
Novels that exhibit what the life is like for the people at ranch can help readers reflect on how they might react in comparable situation. George and Lennie who struggle to transcend the plight of inerrant farmworkers are followed by the novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck. Readers are positioned to respond to themes through Steinbeck’s use of conventions that are dispirit. Themes such as Freedom and confinement, loneliness, and racism are pivotal in the novel and draw out a range of responses from the readers.
“Master Harold”…and the Boys, St. Joan, and An Enemy of the People show that society shows hate and cruelty to people who are different or who do not share similar ideas as other people do. For example, in “Master Harold”…and the Boys, Hally’s racist attitude toward Sam and Willie is a result of his experiences in society. In Frankenstein, society is cruel and hateful to the monster because he looks different than other people. In An Enemy of the People, society persecutes Dr. Stockman because he attempts to gain support for the repair of the Baths. The stories that are presented here illustrate the cruelty and hatefulness of society.
Heroes are not always credited for their honesty and righteousness. This is the view towards society that Robert Cormier exhibits in the novel ¡§I am the Cheese¡¨, where the individual is punished for standing up to himself. In this society, the non-valiant are rewarded for their ignorance and compliance, narrated through the characters of Grey and Whipper. Moreover, Robert Cormier portrays this society to be void of truth and justice. This is seen through exploring the innocence behind Adam¡¦s parents¡¦ suffering and death. Nevertheless, the author holds reserve for truth and justice when Adam tries to complete the puzzle of his past.
The author uses Celia’s story to raise issues about American slavery as a whole, the book forces the reader to acknowledge the extenuating circumstances that slavery drove its victims to doing actions that were unthinkable otherwise. The book also showed how the meaning of crime was confusing, it was terrible being a female slave that had no rights to her own body.
Throughout Marilynne Robinson’s works, readers are often reminded of themes that defy the status quo of popular ideas at the time. She explores transience and loneliness, amongst other ideas as a way of expressing that being individual, and going against what is deemed normal in society is acceptable. Robinson utilizes traditional literary devices in order to highlight these concepts.
As Mark Twain once stated, “The more I know about people, the better I like my dog.” This sentiment is often echoed by general society; people seem to have lost faith in humanity. However, John Steinbeck illustrates his more optimistic opinion about “the perfectibility of man” by suggesting how man can improve. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, two tenants called George and Lennie go through many hardships all while chasing their dream of possessing their own farm. While they work at a farm, they meet an old swamper called Candy who offers to help them achieve their dream; he does so to ensure that he will have a future after he is fired for being too old. On page 60, Candy discusses the recent death of his dog and asks to join in on George and Lennie’s dream. Through this passage, Steinbeck proves that humans have an animalistic tendency of eliminating those who are weaker than them. This is depicted through the details connecting Candy to his dog as well as Candy’s diction when describing his potential future life. Steinbeck’s negative attitude towards man’s predatory nature implies that society needs to improve and prevent such oppressive behavior from occurring.
In her essay, “Loopholes of Resistance,” Michelle Burnham argues that “Aunt Marthy’s garret does not offer a retreat from the oppressive conditions of slavery – as, one might argue, the communal life in Aunt Marthy’s house does – so much as it enacts a repetition of them…[Thus] Harriet Jacobs escapes reigning discourses in structures only in the very process of affirming them” (289). In order to support this, one must first agree that Aunt Marthy’s house provides a retreat from slavery. I do not. Burnham seems to view the life inside Aunt Marthy’s house as one outside of and apart from slavery where family structure can exist, the mind can find some rest, comfort can be given, and a sense of peace and humanity can be achieved. In contrast, Burnham views the garret as a physical embodiment of the horrors of slavery, a place where family can only dream about being together, the mind is subjected to psychological warfare, comfort is non-existent, and only the fear and apprehension of inhumanity can be found. It is true that Aunt Marthy’s house paints and entirely different, much less severe, picture of slavery than that of the garret, but still, it is a picture of slavery differing only in that it temporarily masks the harsh realities of slavery whereas the garret openly portrays them. The garret’s close proximity to the house is symbolic of the ever-lurking presence of slavery and its power to break down and destroy families and lives until there is nothing left. Throughout her novel, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs presents these and several other structures that suggest a possible retreat from slavery, may appear from the outside to provide such a retreat, but ideally never can. Among these structures are religion, literacy, family, self, and freedom.
Jones, C. (1996). The Mad Dog as Symbol. In T. O'Neill (Ed.), Readings on To Kill A MockingBird (pp. 36). San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, Inc.
The adult world is a cold and terrifying place. There are robberies, shootings, murders, suicides, and much more. If you were to be a small child, perhaps age 5, and you were to look in at this world, you would never know how bad it actually was, just from a single glance. Children have a small slice of ignorant bliss, which helps to keep them away from the harsh of reality. It isn’t until later, when they encounter something that opens their eyes and shows them, that they truly start to understand the world we live it. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird shows the many differences between the simplicity of being a kid and the tough decisions and problems that adults must face every day.
"It is impossible to conceive of a human creature more wholly desolate and forlorn than Eliza, when she turned her footsteps from Uncle Tom's cabin. Her husband's suffering and dangers, and the danger of her child, all blended in her mind, with a confused and stunning sense of the risk she was running, in leaving the only home she had ever known, and cutting loose from the protection of a friend whom she loved and revered. "
In “The Passing of Grandison” by Charles Chestnut, various perceptions are examined. As Dick Owens wishes to fulfill the “heroic” image perceived by Charity Lomax, this motive transcends the plot of the story. Through his attempt to win her heart, Dick Owens devises a plan in order to help one of his father’s slaves escape. The slave, Grandison, is chosen due to the perception that he is more trustworthy and loyal than the other slaves. Despite these preconceptions, it is revealed at the conclusion of the story that Grandison's loyalty sided with his family.
Anderson makes effective use of fantasy to teach a moral lesson. He builds up the story in such a way that the reader does not care for the validity of the incidents. The moral lesson is that the proud and the disobedient must suffer.