Have you ever felt like you’re being controlled, and that you want to start making your own decisions? In the short story, “Star Food”, by Ethan Canin, the main character, Dade, did not feel like he was in control of his own life. Dade realized that catching the mysterious woman was not what he wanted, and that he wanted to start making his own decisions, so he let the woman go. Dade did not know what he wanted because his parents wanted two different, opposing lifestyles for him. His mother, thinking he was destined for limited fame, taught him to be a dreamer.
Mary Fragalla Mrs. Teague Honors American Literature 10 December 2015 Reading Portfolio Assignment Author’s Background and Purpose John Knowles wrote his novel "A Separate Peace" after his memories from his years at the Phillips Exter Academy in New Hampshire. John Knowles grew up in a small town in Fairmont, West Virginia. He came from a wealthy family.
A common theme in the stories is, when people are not in control of situations and things that happen in their lives, they can react in ways not typical of their character, and this can cause them to make bad decisions. Furthermore, in Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya the main character Antonio has faith that Andrew will remedy the situation, and assist them, but instead Andrew betrays him when he sees Andrew at Rosie’s place and Andrew
“You are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice.”-Ezra Taft Benson. This quote by Benson relates to the novel Tangerine by Edward Bloor. The characters in the novel don’t make good life choices and in the end, they pay for the mistake. Paul Fisher’s parents make bad decisions with treating their two sons.
He played to his strengths by encompassing many aspects of La Guardia’s time growing up, especially his personality. Jeffers’ captures La Guardia’s personality earlier in the book by utilizing quotes from other people to describe him. For example, writer Fannie Hurst remembered La Guardia’s “magnificent unrest coupled with a desire to be a leader on his own terms” (pg. 38). Jeffers’ also made sure to include La Guardia’s formative influences as a youth; in this way, it would be clear why the tenacious little man acted the way he did. Jeffers engages in little “biographies” of people like Bucky O’Neill and Theodore Roosevelt and described their efforts that led to a young Fiorello to look on in awe.
In Ross’ short stories, “The Painted Door” and “One’s A Heifer” both leading characters prove to be isolated and lonely. Particularly in, “The Painted Door” Ann demonstrates a lonely and isolated character due to her husband, setting and social life. John is a hardworking man who believes his hands are made for work. John tries his best to make Ann happy by providing her with clothes, a house and companionship. He provides Ann with all these things by constantly working, leaving Ann home alone.
Stubbornness and pride are two very similar traits that can be hard to tell the difference between, although they are both very different. These qualities and how they work together is shown in Anne Tyler’s “With All Flags Flying”. Characterization of Mr.Carpenter’s motivation and how he interacts with others shows that being stubborn about creating an individual path can be beneficial. Mr. Carpenter's motivation to stay independent is evident through his actions and thoughts. “Weakness was what got him in the end.”
He might have passed for a lion, but for his ears.” (page 45). The author portrays the stubbornness and the stern personality aspect of the slaveowners. They were adamant and would stick to their orders like a warrior, who would show least flexibility with their
Despite adversities the human spirit continues to shine through as an indelible mark of humanity. Humanity when faced with hardships either conforms to it suppressing unique individuality or rather than adapting chooses to fight in its own way. Conformity no matter how it appears on the surface rarely extinguishes what makes the core personality of an individual and whilst many confirm externally they hardly if ever truly give up their hopes and dreams. In situations like this the duality of external conforming compared the burning fire within usually results in living a splintered life. It comes about as a common aspect in the lives of both real individuals and fictional characters such as Ignacio in Jared Hess’s Nacho Libre.
In both of his short stories, Ross clearly shows how both of his characters suffer from alienation and loneliness. Particularly, in “ The Painted Door” , Ross shows how Ann is isolated in her marriage, as well as of social events. Ann is a farmer’s wife who lives isolated from civilization because of both the distance between her and her neighbours, as well as the harsh winter weather. Ann is often forced to stay alone, where “ the distant farmstead she could see only served to intensify a sense of isolation” (Ross 289) . This physical separation can be directly linked to social isolation.
“The man that brought this news had no ears, for they had been cut off, and no toes, for they had been cut off too” (16). This book displays how ruthless was this
feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights based on the equality of the sexes. Since before time women have been less than and it is shown by how women get paid less and are seen as dependent to men. In the play A Doll’s House written by Henrik Ibsen Nora was keeping a secret from her husband Helmer, but because she went behind his back brought lots of scandal to their door. In the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Jane has a problem with the wallpaper and lets it consume her to the point that she went crazy. Both stories belittled women however they differed in coping with oppression and their freedom from oppression.
The motif that motivation was a powerful effect on someone’s decisions on the course of actions they must take. Shakespeare’s play Macbeth demonstrates this idea through the protagonist, Macbeth and his interactions with other characters in order to achieve his goals. When Macbeth was told by the witches that he would be king, Macbeth so an image in his head that was a “horrid image (that) unfix(es) (his) hair” (act 1. scene.iii). The image he saw would be the death of the current king.
Shakespeare also conveyed the idea that, individuals use motivation to achieve their goals, but it can also lead one to destruction and keep him away from accomplishing his goal. However, with the use of false motivation by
In Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha struggles throughout his life to attain his goal of enlightenment. Just like everyone, Siddhartha started by following his teachers and mentors. But as he became more experienced and formed his own opinions, he began to lead himself to his goal instead of following others. Although following in the footsteps of another to reach a goal is much more simple, Hesse uses characterization and figurative language (similes and metaphors) in order to show that people who lead themselves to their goal will gain more wisdom and knowledge than following another. As people, we are all prone to follow the easiest route to success, even though we might not achieve as much if we lead ourselves.
