Three Golden Apples" (Passage one) written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "Weight" (Passage two) written by Jeanette Winterson are stories of a man named Hercules who is tricked by a man named Atlas to hold up the earth, and Hercules schemes in order to give Atlas back the burden. The two of these passages share many corresponding themes and ideas. The theme of these passages is that selfishness can have its toll. As well as the pair of passages are also similar in the ways the characters act and plot ends. To start, in both of the passages the idea that selfishness has its price is developed in each passage. In passage one for example, "He threw down the golden apples, and received back the sky, from the head and shoulders of Hercules, upon his own, where it rightly belonged." This information influences the idea that a person who is fueled and controlled by greed can cause immense consequences due to their desires. Hence, Atlas being tricked back into his punishment as if it was his fate, instead of accepting this he attempts to change fate. As well as when in passage two states, …show more content…
Such as how the ending in passage one is similar from passage two. In passage one the story ends as such, "He threw down the golden apples, and received back the sky, from the head and shoulders of Hercules, upon his own, where it rightly belonged." This shows that Atlas was tricked into giving it back and ended up right back to where he belonged, holding the earth. As well as Atlas planning to leave the burden on Hercules. Hercules also did not feel any remorse and in fact ignored Atlas as he left him with his burden. On the other hand, in passage two the end goes as, "He did it with such grace and ease, with such gentleness, love almost, that Heracles was ashamed for a moment." This shows that Hercules was planning on leaving Atlas after trapping him as well, even despite his