In the book “Eye of Minds” by James Dashner, Michael the main character teams up with his friends to stop the main antagonist Kaine from taking over the VirtNet. The VirtNet is a virtual world used to escape the horrors of real life. The only flaw in the VirtNet is that it has the ability to kill players in real life while they play the game. Recently, there had been word killings caused by a person named Kaine. Now, Michael and his friends must use determination to pass Kaine’s obstacles and put an end to his terror. This is why one theme that is shown through ought the story is “using determination to drive you will help you accomplish more than you know.” To begin with, one scene in the book where Michael and his friends show this theme …show more content…
and use determination to drive them to accomplish more than they thought is on page 59-66. On pages 59-66, Michael and his friends are determined to break into a club that will help lead them to Kaine. They soon find out that breaking into the club was a lot harder than the thought. Michael, Bryson, and Sarah then retreat to an alley and devise a new plan. In this critical scene in the book it says, “ It took forty-three minutes. The three of them sat with their backs against the wall and linked up to examine the programming.”(Dashner 63). This scene is important because it shows how determined Michael and his friends were. When they couldn’t get in the club the first time, Michael had to come up with a new plan to get what he wanted. It took Michael, Bryson, and Sarah ‘forty-three’ minutes of determined effort to hack, and to their reward they finally reached their goal and broke into the club. To add to the evidence of this theme, Michael and his friends also show determination and drive on page 148. In this critical scene, while trying to find a trench that leads them to the Path in a restricted game, Michael and Bryson meet together accidentally. Since the virtual game they are in while trying to find the trenches is so gruesome and difficult with horrible deaths, Michael and Bryson discuss about how they should give up. In this very important scene Bryson starts by saying ‘“But nothing yet.’ ‘Man.’ Michael groaned. ‘This is going to take years.’” Also, Michael says, ‘“No, I hate every minute of it”’ (talking about the trenches)... ‘”Let’s just find the stupid portal.”’(Dashner 148). These direct dialogue quotes illustrate the theme very well because, although both characters would love to quit and give up, both kept moving forward in order to find the right trench even though it would be much easier to go home. The determination and drive was so powerful in Michael and Bryson, even though they searched for more than 2 whole days with no success, they kept going. Eventually these efforts pay off when they discover the trench they were looking for a day later. Alternatively, another way the author can portray his theme is by author’s craft.
In this instance, James Dashner uses dialogue through out the story to show the theme of determination in his book. One example of this is on page 148 where Bryson and Michael decide to push through their pain and find a trench. Another example of this is during a scene in a volcano. In this critical scene, Sarah is suddenly struck by a ball of lava and is on the verge of dying. While Sarah dies in Michael’s arms, Michael debates where he should continue moving forward on their quest. Sarah responds yelling ‘“No! ... ‘You…Fin…Ish!”’ (Dashner 255). Michael decides at that moment to finish what they started and push forward on his own. This means that because Michael was so determined to defeat Kaine, he was willing to leave his friends behind. The dialogue also shows the determination of Sarah, who encourages Michael to leave and let her die while Michael sets out to complete their long-journeyed …show more content…
quest. Even though someone might interpret this scene to show a theme about the sacrifices you make today will benefit later on, clearly, although it applies to the book it is not found through out the whole book. To elaborate on this, it is true that Bryson and Sarah sacrificed their lives to defeat Kaine, but their sacrifices only lasted a few mere sentences. To prove this, in the book it says, ‘” Finally, it stopped. And Michael didn’t need to know that what was left of Bryson disappeared, gone with the last breath of his Aura’s life.”’ (Dashner 205). This proves just how short these scenes were when showing sacrifice in the book. On the other hand, determination shown by three characters is found though out the whole book and lasts for pages, not sentences. To add to this, one scene that shows determination and drive is found from pages 59 all the way to 66. Not only does James Dashner use dialogue to portray the theme of determination to the reader, but he also uses symbolism.
One example of symbolism is the main antagonist Kaine. Kaine possibly could symbolize suffering, sacrifices, loss, and most important, determination. While trying to find Kaine, Michael suffers along the way while overcoming the obstacles set in his path. In the end of the book, Michael actually is left on his own after both of his companions die. He then uses determination and drive to find Kaine and fight him. This proves that Kaine could symbolize sacrifice, suffering, loss, and determination because of the loss of Michael’s friends, the suffering at the hands of Kaine, and the determination Michael uses to find him. Another way James Dashner uses Kaine as a symbol is by his name. In fact, Kaine actually means ‘Tribute’. James Dashner could have taken advantage of this name to hint at the sacrifices the main character Michael would have to make and the determination he would have to show in order to defeat Kaine. To elaborate on the idea of symbolism, another symbol could be the Path. The Path is what Michael, Bryson, and Sarah were told to find to help them find Kaine. Michael and his friends faced a series of many arduous obstacles and challenges they had to pass in order to get through the Path. Even when Michael looses his two loyal best friends, he kept on going in order to reach Kaine. This means that the Path could symbolize assiduousness and
determination. To add to this theory, the Path and it’s symbolism tie directly into this theme because Michael uses determination to drive him to help him complete the path. He also was assiduous in his efforts and never gave up. After reviewing the book, using determination to drive you will get you farther than you thought possible is a relevant theme evident through out the book. Not only is there evidence to support this, but this evidence is found through out the story, and not just in a few words. In real life (not including virtual reality) , using determination will help you accomplish many goals. If you use determination to drive you, you will be surprised at the things you can do and the dreams that you can make reality.
According to Google, symbolism in literature is defined as the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can be seen throughout media and in many pieces of literature including To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the book, the symbol of the mockingbird represents the character Boo Radley, and how his story teaches people to not always believe what others have to say about someone without being able to prove it true for themselves.
Symbolism is one of the most effective and powerful elements in writing. We see various examples of this all throughout "The Things They Carried." Symbolism enables us to tell a story one way, while all along trying to say another. I believe Tim O'Brien has achieved success in doing so in "The Things They Carried."
Important goals about life have changed significantly suggests Kohn. With goals comes the ability to be persistent, the author mentions. He describes that persistence is one characteristic among many that could become valuable when wanting to reach a goal,
A symbol is a person, object, or event that suggests more than its literal meaning. Symbols can be very useful in shedding light on a story, clarifying meaning that can’t be expressed with words. It may be hard to notice symbols at first, but while reflecting on the story or reading it a second time, the symbol is like a key that fits perfectly into a lock. The reason that symbols work so well is that we can associate something with a particular object. For example, a red rose symbolizes love and passion, and if there were red roses in a story we may associate that part of the story with love. Although many symbols can have simple meanings, such as a red rose, many have more complex meanings and require a careful reading to figure out its meaning. The first symbol that I noticed in Ethan Frome is the setting. It plays an important role in this story. The author spends much of the first few chapters describing the scene in a New England town Starkfield. When I think of a town called Starkfield, a gloomy, barren place with nothing that can grow comes to mind. As the author continues to describe this town, it just reinforces what I had originally thought.
Symbolism is a major literary device that helps people see a book through symbols that often have a deeper meaning. A symbol is used to explain something in a different way, using images, objects, etc. instead of just saying it in words. As you search for a deeper meaning in a work of art or literature, it can help you understand the authors intentions and the deeper significance of a work. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, symbols help reinforce the major themes of the book. Fire and flames have been used as symbols by many authors.
At some point in life most people have allowed at least one challenge to defeat them, if not more. Then there are those people who view these challenges as simply that, a challenge. This was the theme throughout Kyle Maynard’s novel, No Excuses, I learned that it is how we go about conquering these challenges that defines us as people. Throughout his novel he notes things will not always come easily; therefore, it is up to us to dig deep and conquer our goals. By finding alternate routes and adjusting your mindset, we are able to achieve any goal we set our minds to. Because it is not the obstacle that holds us back but it is ourselves that keeps us from fulfilling our greatest
...e of the meanings to be determined by the reader, but clearly conveys the meaning behind others. Such variety provides something or someone for any reader to relate to. Symbolism, hidden or obvious, serves to connect the reader with the characters of “The Things They Carried” and follow their development with interest and ease. In many cases, symbols answer the question which the entire story is based upon, why the men carry the things they do.
While buried, so deep beneath the cavity of adversity, finding hope is nearly impossible. But, it is the ability of decisions that aids as the last gleam of hope retrievable. After facing many struggles, it becomes almost involuntary for someone to put up a guard. With using that strategy, and the transgression of time without progress, there’s a certain ignition of comprehension. Change needs to occur, and a complete remedy of that
Any goal in life is achieved through ambition, fueled by determination, desire and hard work. Ambition maybe a driving force to success or to a pit of failure, the path chosen by an individual determines the end. Remember that any goal to be fulfilled needs desire, desire that strives to do good or greedy desire that is selfish. Also the actions that contribute to our ‘hard work’ need to be morally and ethically right to enjoy the sweet success. However, when the desire and determination is stronger than conscience, many tend to fail often reach or don’t reach what they strived for, leaving them emotionally or even physically dead. The inner lying consequence of ambition is clearly stated by Napoleon, he quotes “Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principals which direct them”. The undesirable consequence of ambition can be observed in the lives of the protagonists of ‘The Great Gatsby and Macbeth. This describes the direction in which ambition is driven could change the end result, it is simply based on the individual itself rather than the dream they seek to achieve. Therefore, the strong drive of ambition helps the seeker attain their goal but greedy desires and wrong paths taken eventually lead to downfall.
Symbolism is a way to use symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In the Lord of the Flies, by William Golding tells a story about boys who are stranded on an island after surviving a plane crash. These children come in contact with many unique elements that symbolize ideas or concepts. On the island we see conflict between Ralph and Jack ultimately symbolising civilization versus savage. The use of symbols such as the conch shell, beast, and even Piggy's specs, demonstrates that humans, when liberated from society's rules, allow their human nature become evil to dominate their idea of civilization.
Since the beginning of mankind, it has been the need to attain a specific goal, which has driven humans to work hard. Without any ambition, humans would not be inspired to overcome adversities and challenge themselves to become increasingly adaptable. When one is motivated by certain factors in their environment, the probability of them being satisfied with the results of their deeds depends on the moral value of their inspiration. If the individual is aware of the fact that their deed is immoral, then no matter how dire their circumstances which forced them to perform the actions, they will not be content. The irony establishes itself in the fact that those characters who are motivated by a cause bigger than themselves, tend to be happier,
In almost every story, one can find symbolism throughout the text to help the reader better understand what the writer wants the reader to takeout from his/her story. Symbolism is something that must be analyzed and explored to experience a deeper meaning to the story. Sometimes, symbolism throughout a story may not be noticeable when first read, but going back to analyze the text can add a deeper meaning to words and can also help to enhance the meaning behind the story line. In some instances, symbolism can leave a reader to ponder what the writer is trying to express with the symbolism used in the story; for symbolism can be interpreted differently and can have many layers of meaning to it. Some good examples of short stories that use symbolism
Symbolism is defined as the representation; treatment or interpretation of things as symbolic. In society and in particular, literature, symbolism is a prominent component that helps to illustrate a deeper meaning then perceived by the reader. Symbolism can be anything, a person, place or thing, used to portray something beyond itself. It is used to represent or foreshadow the conclusion of the story. In William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies symbolism of the main characters Ralph, Jack and Simon plays a very important role in helping to show how our society functions and the different types of personalities that exist. An examination of Simon as a symbol of good, Ralph as a symbol of the common man, and Jack as a symbol of evil, clearly illustrates that William Golding uses characters as a symbol of what is really happening in the outside world throughout the novel.
Symbolism is one of the common techniques that authors often use when writing a book. Symbolism is the usage of symbols to identify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal meaning. Many authors use this technique to add depth and meaning to a complex idea and Arthur Conan Doyle, author of The Hound of the Baskervilles is no exception. Baskerville Hall, the hound and the moor are all examples of symbolism in the detective fiction, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
All through the novel there are symbols of