The human condition is a powerful force of nature. Man’s will to define himself has conflicted humanity, both societal and individual, since the dawn of creation. Our inner sanctum of consciousness surges around our intrinsic complexities. In literature, revelation often spawns from our follies. It is within these errors, man’s true nature is exposed. A vibrant notion of human condition can be seen through the literary works “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway. The theme both works possess can directly correlate with the human condition portrayed in the film “Seven Pounds” starring Will Smith.
One of the most defining factors of a piece which harnesses human condition is the incorporation of human flaw. Perfection is a myth. Anything that we do as humans has a flaw within it. It is in our nature. The main conflict in “The Birthmark” relies around a small imperfection upon a woman’s cheek. Aylmer struggles to accept this minor imperfection and believes that alteration would cure the grief he has towards his wife. The obsession he harbors for perfection proves to be his ultimate flaw. “My peerless bride, it is successful! You are perfect” (Hawthorne 231). His bold attempt to rectify an imperfection grants his gratification, but claims his prize. The tragedy of his flaw leads to the demise of his wife.
Gratification within human flaw is an aspect of the human condition which should not be overlooked. Within the film “Seven Pounds”, we experience the story of a successful man. Ben Thomas is honest and caring. Whilst traveling in a car with his wife, the sudden urge to answer his cell phone proves to be overbearing. The obsession with his career became his ultimate flaw. Upon answering the phone he is distracted and veers into oncoming traffic, causing an accident. His wife is killed along with a family of six. He is the lone survivor of an accident he caused. His life, his sorrow, his grief, consumes his inner being. Loneliness, depression, guilt, burns deep within his soul. He realizes his flaw has caused irreparable harm. “I did something really bad once and I’m never gonna be the same” (Ben, Seven Pounds). The swiftness of his fate shocks him to a point of despair. “In seven days, God created the world. And in seven seconds, I shattered mine” (Ben Thomas, Seven Pounds). The pure emotion within his remorse is the essence of human condition. We see exactly how a person would react in the given circumstance. Sadness is arguably man’s most powerful emotion. It can consume you past a point of no return. “I think about dying every day” (Ben, Seven Pounds). In the end, Ben chooses to rectify his actions by saving the lives of seven people; a life, for each of the ones he took. Whether its helping a woman escape domestic violence or donating his kidney to a cancer victim, he vows to help until he can no longer. This film is the quintessence of human condition.
It is common in life for us to reach a crossroads. We often struggle to choose between running from our problems or facing our problems. It is another prime example of how human flaw and human condition helps define our humanity. In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” we are engaged in a story of a couple desperate to make a decision on their pregnancy. The characters, like many of us in real life, wish for things to be “perfectly fine.” In this story, there seems to be a fear of the unknown. The birth of a child, in the perception of the main characters, can either be good or bad. “But I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and then everything will be fine” (Hemingway 116). The conception of a child exposes the priorities of people. Some welcome the child, eager to support the next generation, while others view it as the end to their reign in this world. When confronted with the idea that the world can still be “theirs” the man replies “No, it isn’t. And once they take it away, you never get it back” (Hemingway 116). Child birth carries a massive amount of responsibility. It will be the biggest challenge many will ever face. It forces you to sacrifice your own selfishness to care for the child. Interestingly enough we see another common example seen in real life in this piece. The girl responds to the man’s avocation for the abortion with the line “Doesn’t it mean anything to you? We could get along” (Hemingway 116). The woman has a stronger bond with bearing the child then the father does. This is a profound statement that gives us extreme insight into the human condition. Each gender has a different role during pregnancy. Since the females carry the child, they tend to have a much stronger connection, thus making it harder for them to accept the terms of abortion. The topic of abortion even to this day is a touchy subject. Many believe you are killing a child while others contest you are saving them from a terrible upbringing. It should be duly noted that this piece still has relevance to modern day times. The human condition is something we have always had and will always have. Our spirit, our defining features, makes us who we are. Human condition is surely to stand the test of time as the world around it evolves.
We can see that all three stories correlate around the notion of human condition. Each story harnesses the concept of human flaw and utilizes it to explore the human spirit and how it reacts to each flaw. With three stories written in completely different time periods, I find it incredible how they can all relate to modern day issues. Even though literature is a product of its time period, we can see how the human condition has not changed over the years. I also find it interesting how the human condition can be explored even through varying plots. We have analyzed stories about human imperfections, life at a crossroads, and redemption. No matter what the circumstance may be, our nature will continue to expose itself vibrantly.
The human condition is something that is engrained within us. We cannot fight its aspects from exposing themselves through our emotions and behavior. Whether it’s our insatiable urge to correct imperfections, or rectify the mistakes caused by our flaws, our nature will shine on. Even the darkest of shadows cannot extinguish the light of truth. Our nature is self-evident. Yet we continue to embark on journeys towards self-awareness to fully understand who we are and why we do the things we do. Our behavior stems from a variety of sources. Whether it’s our morale or the environmental influence within our existence, one thing is certain. Human nature is filled with flaw.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
A&P Response Analysis
Fantasy Exposure is a dominant theme in the literary work A&P by John Updike. Sammy continuously fantasizes about the three girls; describing their looks and actions in precise detail. As he observes the group of girls, he creates a chimerical bond between him and them. Sammy becomes immersed in his own created fantasy. He has difficulty distinguishing it from reality. In an effort to win their affection, Sammy courageously quits his job on the spot. His fantasy inevitably becomes exposed as he exit’s the store. He suddenly realizes his step into reality as he states, “I look around for my girls, but their gone, of course” (Updike 414). Updike’s choice of words “of course” signifies the character’s feelings. His addition of “of course” to the line provides us with underlying evidence that Sammy does indeed realize he was indulged in a fantasy that would not come true in reality.
Human flaw is also a very prominent theme. Sammy makes a detrimental mistake allowing his fantasy to take hold over him. Sammy becomes so out of touch with reality that a short shopping experience leads to his downfall. As expressed in the aforementioned quote, Sammy believes the girls are his by stating “my girls.” Willing to sacrifice his job for an irresistible temptation of lust, Sammy succumbs to his imperfections. Sammy’s desire for their affection proves to be his biggest flaw.
We consistently see a trend of Inner consciousness/ emotion in this piece. As the story progresses Sammy’s internal thoughts run rampant. What begins as careful observations quickly evolves into a stream of consciousness. Sammy tactically announces his resignation “quickly enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero” (Updike 413). The stern lecture given by Sammy’s superior, Lengel, evoked a response based on Sammy’s moral beliefs. He felt as though he should stand up and defend their honor. Ultimately he allows his emotions to override his judgment.
Human flaw is all around us. It is what we are designed to possess as a permanent trait. It has helped create good things, and bad things. But it is a trait we have both come to love and hate. Setting aside my common pessimistic descriptions, I do but favor one historical flaw that changed the world forever. In a quest to sail to the East Indies, Christopher Columbus stumbled upon the New World by sheer accident. It was this small navigational error that sparked a global revolution. People were finally able to explore a new frontier and escape the tyranny imposed by their motherlands. Salvation and freedom for the world was granted by one man’s human flaw.
As opposed to human flaw, fantasy exposure proves to be more difficult to locate within everyday life. What is the definition of reality? Must it be something tangible; able to be perceived by the many as true, factual? Or could one’s fantasy be concluded as reality? It is no secret that many choose to live in the glory of a fantasy. Reality can be cruel and scarring. Consider it a safe haven to attacks life launches at us. Eventually we must venture outside of our protective shell and face the world. We all know people who choose to exist in their fantasy. When taken out of it, we can see an alteration of perception on life. People tend to express similar reactions to that of Sammy and Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. When exposed to reality, their moods become dull and gloomy.
Paragraph 5 on page 410 seemed to encompass a fair amount of significance. It highlights Sammy’s descriptive perception of the girls as the world around him seems to fade. Sammy becomes encased in his fantasy and lets his individual inner emotions take over. He refers to the standard customers as “sheep” further supporting his lack of interest in reality. Sammy chooses only to focus on the three girls.
Aside from characterizing Sammy, this passage also provides insight into plot development. “From the third slot I look straight up this aisle to the meat counter, and I watched them all the way” (Updike 410). We can determine Sammy’s increased obsession with girls has reached a new level. He continuously watches the girls walk the store, paying no attention to the world around him.
Most importantly of all we can deduce the author’s purpose of the work through this brief paragraph. Sammy seems to experience the same stuff day after day in A&P. He is able to recite the aisle contents implying he has completely memorized them from his lengthy experience at the store. He also notes that “the girls were walking against the usual traffic” (Updike 410) implying that the everyday customers walk the same route. Sammy seems to be most intrigued by the girls’ ability to discern themselves from the rest of the crowd. The group particularly seems to be rebelling against traditional customs by wearing their bikinis and going against the crowd. This supports the rebellious time period of the late 1960s Updike has chosen to reflect.
A&P greatly reflects its time period. In post Vietnam America, the youth were generally rebellious. They despised authority and called for universal freedom. Many youths contested the morals of the war and the acts of governmental authority. They blamed President Johnson for inducing the war to his own benefit. We can see this rebellion of authority in the girls for wearing their bikinis in the store. More importantly however, we can see Sammy inherit this rebellion by standing up to his boss and quitting for a reason he believed to be morally just.
Updike highlights all of the aspects needed to form a post-modern work of literature. The struggle of fantasy exposure, the incorporation of human flaw, and the ability to express inner consciousness all add to fulfill the requirements of a post-modern piece. All of these themes are expressed through the character Sammy. As a millennial myself, I would have to agree with Updike’s perspective. I often find myself and my peers living in a fantasy. We tend to be dreamers, whether it’s about love, our job or our future. Yet we also acknowledge our flaws, especially our controversial flaw of dreaming. Sometimes we are blind to the realities around us.
I wouldn’t change the ending because I believe it shows the true nature of a post-modern character. A post-modern character would create a fantasy realm to better cope with the harsh realities of the world. Yet they know that their world is false and continue to live within its protective walls. Everyone has their own way of coping with the traumatic experiences they may encounter. Some utilize fantasy, others drugs and some choose to meet it head on. Each way has consequences. But one thing is certain. We live in a world that we cannot escape, no matter how hard we try to. A post-modern piece is nothing without the ruthlessness of realty.
Human flaw is also a very prominent theme. Sammy makes a detrimental mistake allowing his fantasy to take hold over him. Sammy becomes so out of touch with reality that a short shopping experience leads to his downfall. As expressed in the aforementioned quote, Sammy believes the girls are his by stating “my girls.” Willing to sacrifice his job for an irresistible temptation of lust, Sammy succumbs to his imperfections. Sammy’s desire for their affection proves to be his biggest flaw.
We consistently see a trend of Inner consciousness/ emotion in this piece. As the story progresses Sammy’s internal thoughts run rampant. What begins as careful observations quickly evolves into a stream of consciousness. Sammy tactically announces his resignation “quickly enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero” (Updike 413). The stern lecture given by Sammy’s superior, Lengel, evoked a response based on Sammy’s moral beliefs. He felt as though he should stand up and defend their honor. Ultimately he allows his emotions to override his judgment.
Human flaw is all around us. It is what we are designed to possess as a permanent trait. It has helped create good things, and bad things. But it is a trait we have both come to love and hate. Setting aside my common pessimistic descriptions, I do but favor one historical flaw that changed the world forever. In a quest to sail to the East Indies, Christopher Columbus stumbled upon the New World by sheer accident. It was this small navigational error that sparked a global revolution. People were finally able to explore a new frontier and escape the tyranny imposed by their motherlands. Salvation and freedom for the world was granted by one man’s human flaw.
As opposed to human flaw, fantasy exposure proves to be more difficult to locate within everyday life. What is the definition of reality? Must it be something tangible; able to be perceived by the many as true, factual? Or could one’s fantasy be concluded as reality? It is no secret that many choose to live in the glory of a fantasy. Reality can be cruel and scarring. Consider it a safe haven to attacks life launches at us. Eventually we must venture outside of our protective shell and face the world. We all know people who choose to exist in their fantasy. When taken out of it, we can see an alteration of perception on life. People tend to express similar reactions to that of Sammy and Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. When exposed to reality, their moods become dull and gloomy.
Paragraph 5 on page 410 seemed to encompass a fair amount of significance. It highlights Sammy’s descriptive perception of the girls as the world around him seems to fade. Sammy becomes encased in his fantasy and lets his individual inner emotions take over. He refers to the standard customers as “sheep” further supporting his lack of interest in reality. Sammy chooses only to focus on the three girls.
Aside from characterizing Sammy, this passage also provides insight into plot development. “From the third slot I look straight up this aisle to the meat counter, and I watched them all the way” (Updike 410). We can determine Sammy’s increased obsession with girls has reached a new level. He continuously watches the girls walk the store, paying no attention to the world around him.
Most importantly of all we can deduce the author’s purpose of the work through this brief paragraph. Sammy seems to experience the same stuff day after day in A&P. He is able to recite the aisle contents implying he has completely memorized them from his lengthy experience at the store. He also notes that “the girls were walking against the usual traffic” (Updike 410) implying that the everyday customers walk the same route. Sammy seems to be most intrigued by the girls’ ability to discern themselves from the rest of the crowd. The group particularly seems to be rebelling against traditional customs by wearing their bikinis and going against the crowd. This supports the rebellious time period of the late 1960s Updike has chosen to reflect.
A&P greatly reflects its time period. In post Vietnam America, the youth were generally rebellious. They despised authority and called for universal freedom. Many youths contested the morals of the war and the acts of governmental authority. They blamed President Johnson for inducing the war to his own benefit. We can see this rebellion of authority in the girls for wearing their bikinis in the store. More importantly however, we can see Sammy inherit this rebellion by standing up to his boss and quitting for a reason he believed to be morally just.
Updike highlights all of the aspects needed to form a post-modern work of literature. The struggle of fantasy exposure, the incorporation of human flaw, and the ability to express inner consciousness all add to fulfill the requirements of a post-modern piece. All of these themes are expressed through the character Sammy. As a millennial myself, I would have to agree with Updike’s perspective. I often find myself and my peers living in a fantasy. We tend to be dreamers, whether it’s about love, our job or our future. Yet we also acknowledge our flaws, especially our controversial flaw of dreaming. Sometimes we are blind to the realities around us.
I wouldn’t change the ending because I believe it shows the true nature of a post-modern character. A post-modern character would create a fantasy realm to better cope with the harsh realities of the world. Yet they know that their world is false and continue to live within its protective walls. Everyone has their own way of coping with the traumatic experiences they may encounter. Some utilize fantasy, others drugs and some choose to meet it head on. Each way has consequences. But one thing is certain. We live in a world that we cannot escape, no matter how hard we try to. A post-modern piece is nothing without the ruthlessness of realty.
Gender Inequalities
Throughout history, the struggles of gender inequalities have been recorded in literature. They serve as a reflection on society during the written time and often allow the audience to take a glimpse into the era’s ideologies. In the literary works Antigone by Sophocles and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, the central theme of gender inequality is a vibrant notion that helps establish each play’s setting and time period. As we critically analyze each work, we will see sporadic instances where the concept of gender helps define a character and mold them into a product of their time.
The setting of a literary work is vital to the success of a piece. One must correctly delve into the environment of the story to build a sensible world. Sophocles’ Antigone takes the audience on a moral journey through the ancient Kingdom of Thebes. In an age when men where mighty and women were weak, gender inequalities proved to be a major influence of social establishment. Creon believes that women are inferior to men. When his own son Haemon attempts to rectify the conflict by siding with Antigone, Creon becomes infuriated. “Your nature is vile, in yielding to a woman” (Sophocles 1149). The statement provides us with insight into the social mentality of Thebes. We can see that under the beliefs of the king, lies a stark lack of reverence for women. By Creon’s moral ordinance, women are deemed unfit to hold superiority over men, especially himself.
We can see similar beliefs in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Ironically, Stanley refers to himself as a king during a heated argument when Stella demands he help clear the table. “What do you two think you are? A pair of queens?… I am the king around here, so don’t forget it” (Williams 1218). Stanley’s beliefs highlight the social hierarchy experienced by women in both works of literature. However, there is a noticeable difference between the time periods seen in both works. Stella says to Blanche “Mr. Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself” (Williams 1218) and merely gets yelled at. Antigone is sentenced to death for burying her brother in defiance of Creon’s edict. In the setting of Antigone, we can see a much more strict environment for women who openly defy men. Since Antigone takes place long before A Streetcar Named Desire, we can see an improvement in women’s rights throughout the centuries. Williams’ work encompasses a more tolerant setting. If he were to have created the play in a setting like Antigone, Stella would not have lived to see tomorrow had she called Stanley a pig. This would essentially offset the balance the settings have and incorrectly portray the time periods associated with them.
The inequalities experienced by women have a lasting effect on their characteristics. In Antigone, Ismene plays a major role in helping to establish the theme of gender inequality. Though her sister is defiant by nature, Ismene cowers at the idea of challenging men. She states “You ought to realize we are only women, not meant in nature to fight against men” (Sophocles 1131). This reveals to the audience that women were aware of the oppression they faced from men. For her understanding and compliance, Ismene is characterized as a fearful, cowardly, and weak woman. In contrast to Ismene, Antigone boasts about her daunting task. She is prideful of her deed even though she acknowledges male dominance in society. Challenging the king will surely have severe consequences as she recognizes in stating “Let me alone and my folly with me, to endure this terror” (Sophocles 1132). Antigone realizes this act of foolishness will surely lead to her demise. A young girl has no place challenging a man in Theban society.
Much like Antigone, Blanche chooses to openly defy men with recognition of their dominance. Blanche has conflicting views on her oppression by men. She believes she has the power to change her own life. After Stella is beat by Stanley, Blanche attempts to persuade Stella to leave with her, stating “I’m going to do something. Get hold of myself and make myself a new life” (Williams 1194). Williams chooses to emphasize the importance of the word “do” by italicizing it. During the time period Williams portrays in the play, women often weren’t capable of “doing” anything without the approval of a man. This classifies Blanche as more of a contemporary female as opposed to the traditional Stella. She is outgoing and daring. She holds beliefs that are beyond the current time period. As such, this causes Blanche to dive deeper into her role as an outcast of society. However, Blanche’s dependence on men is reflected later on in the play. The only way Blanche feels she can return to normalcy in society is by remarrying. Her newfound romance with Mitch proves promising and she marvels at the idea of her fantasy coming true. “Just think! If it happens! I can leave here and not be anyone’s problem” (Williams 1203). Blanche is a product of her time and though she may be able to survive financially, she will not be able to socially.
In both literary works, we can see just how much the concept of gender inequality has rooted itself within them. It truly enhances the depth of the story. From setting to characterization, the central theme of gender inequality has vastly altered and instilled concrete notions of what it is to be a woman in a mans world. It is an important theme utilized in order to establish the integrity of the piece. Without it, both works would be lacking a vital influence in the creation of their environments.
The setting of a literary work is vital to the success of a piece. One must correctly delve into the environment of the story to build a sensible world. Sophocles’ Antigone takes the audience on a moral journey through the ancient Kingdom of Thebes. In an age when men where mighty and women were weak, gender inequalities proved to be a major influence of social establishment. Creon believes that women are inferior to men. When his own son Haemon attempts to rectify the conflict by siding with Antigone, Creon becomes infuriated. “Your nature is vile, in yielding to a woman” (Sophocles 1149). The statement provides us with insight into the social mentality of Thebes. We can see that under the beliefs of the king, lies a stark lack of reverence for women. By Creon’s moral ordinance, women are deemed unfit to hold superiority over men, especially himself.
We can see similar beliefs in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Ironically, Stanley refers to himself as a king during a heated argument when Stella demands he help clear the table. “What do you two think you are? A pair of queens?… I am the king around here, so don’t forget it” (Williams 1218). Stanley’s beliefs highlight the social hierarchy experienced by women in both works of literature. However, there is a noticeable difference between the time periods seen in both works. Stella says to Blanche “Mr. Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself” (Williams 1218) and merely gets yelled at. Antigone is sentenced to death for burying her brother in defiance of Creon’s edict. In the setting of Antigone, we can see a much more strict environment for women who openly defy men. Since Antigone takes place long before A Streetcar Named Desire, we can see an improvement in women’s rights throughout the centuries. Williams’ work encompasses a more tolerant setting. If he were to have created the play in a setting like Antigone, Stella would not have lived to see tomorrow had she called Stanley a pig. This would essentially offset the balance the settings have and incorrectly portray the time periods associated with them.
The inequalities experienced by women have a lasting effect on their characteristics. In Antigone, Ismene plays a major role in helping to establish the theme of gender inequality. Though her sister is defiant by nature, Ismene cowers at the idea of challenging men. She states “You ought to realize we are only women, not meant in nature to fight against men” (Sophocles 1131). This reveals to the audience that women were aware of the oppression they faced from men. For her understanding and compliance, Ismene is characterized as a fearful, cowardly, and weak woman. In contrast to Ismene, Antigone boasts about her daunting task. She is prideful of her deed even though she acknowledges male dominance in society. Challenging the king will surely have severe consequences as she recognizes in stating “Let me alone and my folly with me, to endure this terror” (Sophocles 1132). Antigone realizes this act of foolishness will surely lead to her demise. A young girl has no place challenging a man in Theban society.
Much like Antigone, Blanche chooses to openly defy men with recognition of their dominance. Blanche has conflicting views on her oppression by men. She believes she has the power to change her own life. After Stella is beat by Stanley, Blanche attempts to persuade Stella to leave with her, stating “I’m going to do something. Get hold of myself and make myself a new life” (Williams 1194). Williams chooses to emphasize the importance of the word “do” by italicizing it. During the time period Williams portrays in the play, women often weren’t capable of “doing” anything without the approval of a man. This classifies Blanche as more of a contemporary female as opposed to the traditional Stella. She is outgoing and daring. She holds beliefs that are beyond the current time period. As such, this causes Blanche to dive deeper into her role as an outcast of society. However, Blanche’s dependence on men is reflected later on in the play. The only way Blanche feels she can return to normalcy in society is by remarrying. Her newfound romance with Mitch proves promising and she marvels at the idea of her fantasy coming true. “Just think! If it happens! I can leave here and not be anyone’s problem” (Williams 1203). Blanche is a product of her time and though she may be able to survive financially, she will not be able to socially.
In both literary works, we can see just how much the concept of gender inequality has rooted itself within them. It truly enhances the depth of the story. From setting to characterization, the central theme of gender inequality has vastly altered and instilled concrete notions of what it is to be a woman in a mans world. It is an important theme utilized in order to establish the integrity of the piece. Without it, both works would be lacking a vital influence in the creation of their environments.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)