“Two Kinds” “TBE” “Miss Amer”

People can be changed by the expectations and pressure of the society. The evils of our society are explored in “The Bluest Eye” and “Two Kinds”, by Amy Tan and Julia Alvarez. In “The Bluest Eye”, Pecola wanted to fit in, but the interaction she had with Maureen & Junior, as well the idea that beauty was important, led her to lose her self-esteem. Jingmei Woo also didn’t like to disappoint or fail her mother in “Two Kinds”. Her mother had moved to America so she could have better opportunities. She was devalued by her self-worth when she saw what Waverly expected of her. In contrast, the movie “I Want to Be Miss America” shows how beauty can affect a person’s self-esteem, as it can lead to self doubt. So, the interaction between the main character and other people or ideas can negatively impact their self esteem.

Pecola Breedlove is the main character and protagonist in Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”. She was raped by two men, but she also suffered abuse from almost all the characters. Pecola believes that having blue eyes and a light complexion will help her change her view of life. She feels being African American is a bad thing. Pecola’s interactions with people and her ideas had a negative impact on her self-worth after she was raped. Maureen Peal appears on page 64, as she deals with Pecola’s interactions and their argument. Maureen asked Pecola the question: “Have You ever Seen a Naked man?” Pecola, in self-defense, responded that “No father would ever be naked before his daughter. Pecola broke down when Maureen started arguing with Frieda because Maureen was obsessed with boys naked. Pecola’s head was tucked in a sad, funny and helpless way (Page 72) as a result. Maureen and Junior both denigrate Pecola. Junior invites Pecola over to his house and tells her about the kittens. Pecola is amazed that it’s possible to pet them. Junior was throwing the kitten at Pecola as he handed it to her. The result is a scar. Pecola then tries to escape, but Junior tells her that she has become his prisoner. Geraldine calls Pecola a “nasty little black b*****” (Page 92). Geraldine called Pecola a “nasty little black b*****” (Page 92). Geraldine lowered Pecola’s sense of self-worth by making a judgment about her. Pecola now wants to fit into society better, which is why she has blonde and blue hair with light skin. Jing-mei Woo’s mum wants only the best and so she began preparing her for success in America by putting together a multitude of tests. This ranged anywhere from predicting Los Angeles’ daily temperature to mentally multiplying numbers. She saw her “mother’s disappointed look… I hated her raised expectations and failed expectations… [and] she began to cry.” As she is pushed and reaches her limits, Jing-mei Woo begins to question if she could make her proud. Waverly Woo, Jing’s cousin and “Chinatown’s Littlest Chinese Chess Champion” is also invited to the talent show. Jing’s thinking that as long she looks good, people will applaud her. After the performance, “Waverly shrugged and looked away.” It was then that she said, “You’re not a genius as I am” (page 4 paragraph 53) which brought back all those uncomfortable moments when she felt she had let her mother down again.

In “I Want To Be Miss America”, Julia Alvarez feels the pain of not fitting in in a world where beauty is valued differently. The text says that she watches the Miss America Pageant live on TV. She was told that being thin and white would be the ideal beauty to win the Miss America title. Due to the ideals of society set for beauty, these women began to doubt themselves. They wanted in, but were “short and [their] hair frizzed” (page 38) while others were curvy. The narrator shows how self-doubt is a person’s worst enemy on page 44. Julia Alvarez is “feel[s] a foreigner in her country, which [she] considers now” (Page 43). Julia’s constant doubts about her abilities further diminishes her self esteem as both a woman and American.

At a young age, words and experiences have a great impact on developing self-worth and self-confidence. Pecola, in “The Bluest Eye”, is confronted by Maureen and Junior. They teach her about beauty and make her feel self-conscious. Amy Tan’s novel “Two Kinds”, which features Jing-mei Woo, is also rife with work and negatively impacts her self-esteem. She keeps disappointing her mom. In “I Want To Be Miss America”, Julia Alvarez’s self-doubt is triggered by beauty standards. The protagonists’ interactions with other people and their ideas begin to negatively impact on their self-worth.

Textual integrity refers to how the poet utilizes context, form and language in order to create a work that is meaningful and valuable. It is also something that will resonate with the audience and move them or even change their minds. In Auden’s “Spain”, “In Memory of W. B. Yeats”, he focuses a number of themes. These include: the way his poetry and that of others can reveal the reality of his time, and the horrors of modern warfare.

Auden begins his speech in Spain by referring to “yesterday”, and the many great achievements of mankind. There is the expansion into “China along trade-routes”, the great conquests, explorations, and wooden and rock man-made marvels like “the Chapel built in the Forest” and “the Carving of Angels”, as well as the growth and industrialisation of modernity. Now that ‘yesterday,’ has passed and we are now in the midst of “Today The Struggle”. Auden describes three main characters: a poor man, a writer, and a scientific researcher. The poet is eager to witness the horror of war in order to write about it. The scientist is occupied by his projects most of the time, but he worries about his friends’ lives. They spend their days in “fireless lodges”, thinking of how “our day was our loss”. Spain looks to the future, a time of romance, exploration, and simple pleasures like “the walks by the Lake”. Then, the harsh reality of today’s brutality ruins this wonderful imaginable idea. Today death and misery are the reality of life. Spain’s Future is Uncertain, It has a Glory Past but Might Not Have a Glory Future. In Memory of W.B. Auden’s thoughts about poetry and a poet in times of hardship as well as normal life struggles are expressed through Yeats. The poem is divided up into three parts. Auden begins by mourning Yeats. Auden then goes on to comment on Yeats’ poems. The first section uses Yeats’ environment to illustrate his death. For example, “brooks froze”, “airports were almost deserted”, or “snow defaced public statues”. It is a powerful way of showing how, because of Yeats, everything stopped. The wolves are also seen running through the evergreen forest, implying that the poet’s poetry will continue to live on even after his death. Yeats has lost his ability to speak up for himself. Now he’s relying on “his admirers” and his poetry is “scattered”, as ashes. But the average man is not able to be effective. Brokers yell and scream on the ground, while the poor continue suffering. Auden’s thoughts are thrown between two elements. One is that a poet can die unnoticed, and almost be insignificant. The other is that it should be a major national crisis. The second section is about the way Yeats’ poetry was shaped. “Mad Ireland Hurt You into Poetry / Now Ireland Has Her Madness and Weather Still” reinforces Auden’s belief that Yeats’ poetry will live on even after his death. Third section: a call. The “Irish vessel”, which has “emptied its poetry”, is still “barking”, indicating that war continues even though Yeats died. Auden says in the final stanza, “We need a poet to teach the free man to praise”, since Yeats has died and we now lack a powerful voice. Auden positions his audience as themselves and not something abstract or abnormal. In “Spain”, for example, he compares characters with ordinary people, such as poets, scientists or poor people. Auden uses this technique to make his audience feel his poetry and for it to stick in their mind. Auden’s dream at the end “Spain” is that “poets will explode like bombs”, implying he would like poets to possess the explosive power of bombs. Auden describes in his poetry the horrific living conditions he had to endure. Dictators suppressed freedoms, and their country was forced into a brutal war. In “In Memoriam W. B. Yeats”, he examines the role of the poet in these horrible situations. In “In Memory of W. B. Yeats”, he explains his belief in the power of poetry to “lift our spirits” and to “persuade us rejoice” despite the hardships that we may face. Auden believes that we should celebrate life now, because it could be taken away from us one day due to an event beyond our control. Death is inevitable and you cannot stop it. Auden acknowledges the importance of love, but also that death and suffering are part of life. They must exist with wonderful things like love. Auden is always commenting on how poets are used to define the way people see reality. He also comments on how their work continues even after they die. He suggests that poetry is a powerful tool to change the minds of people and therefore, the government. Auden’s “In Memory of W. B. Yeats”, the final chapter of the book, calls for other poets who can replace Yeats in his position as a string influencer. Auden’s ending to “Spain” is bleak, as if he didn’t think poets could change anything. In the end, I feel that “In memory W. B. Yeats'” has a greater impact on changing the audience’s mind.

Ray Bradbury said that he used to read his short stories at girls’ houses. You can imagine what a girl would think if you read her a story rather than slap her. Bradbury, while speaking in a humorous way, understands that short stories have power. They can create an alternative reality. Unfortunately, they are underrated compared to a novel. This is because they contain less information, have fewer pages, and less detail. The length of a story does not affect the message it conveys or its style. Reader’s reactions determine the essence of any story, no matter how long it is. Writers must use the most important elements in story telling to get the audience’s attention. These include setting, character, and theme. Stephen Crane’s story “The Open Boat”, however, reveals these three elements with a chillingly real perspective.

The historical facts about the setting and the context of the story are not only important for the context, but also because they create an authentic, disturbing reality. This story is based on a true incident that occurred in Stephen Crane’s career and life. Crane was a war journalist who traveled around the world to cover war-related events. Crane’s role in this account and in this short story is to report an incident of gunrunning by Cuban rebels to the United States just before the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898. A shipwreck diverts his attention. This information is invaluable, especially when you consider the context that the story provides. When describing the condition of water, the narrator is only hinting at the physical context. He states, “The water off the Florida coast was very cold in January. It was even colder than what he expected.” (356). It is easy to overlook a simple detail in a story that has been so long. This situation becomes more real when you understand this one detail. This story is true. Florida is a real place. It’s on our fifth-grade maps. Florida is the actual place where Crane set off to Cuba, intending to spend 30 hours in an unknowing dinghy. Deep-sea diving is dangerous if you are not prepared. Crane wrote in a report on the sinking, “The Commodore’s whistle had been blown, and the only voice of despair and mortality was that whistle” (Fact and Fiction). 43). Crane is describing a true event in the first-person perspective. This fact, which is a reality, creates an urgency that changes the tone of the story. This is because panic can lead to disaster. This story is based on real historical characters who were also fighting for their life, and united by a “subtle Brotherhood”. These counterparts add a scary element of reality to the story. In truth, Crane represents the correspondent. The cook represents the actual cook for the Commodore. This four-person crew is a real group of people, with real families, jobs and identities. According to Crane’s article in the newspaper, both Murphy & Higgins are men of exceptional character. Crane’s article would have revealed “the splendid manhood of these two men” if he had told the whole story. 72). Murphy and Higgins came close to death on the dinghy. As we’ve already said, deep sea swimming isn’t something to laugh at. Two honorable lives are also not a matter for laughter. Unfortunately, one life ends with the narrative. The short story does mention Higgins, but Crane’s newspaper article mentions the fact that he died. In the story, Crane mentions that “the oiler was lying face down,” but his newspaper article says that “Billy Higgins was lying with his head on sand which was free of water” (358). 73). The story ends with the reader having hope but then the account of history crushes that hope. This is because, although the characters were not deserving of such suffering, the historical account makes it seem even more horrifying.

This short story has a frightening theme, and the history of it adds to the fear. The struggle of man to find his purpose in the world is one of the main themes in this story. This “purpose” is something that almost all human beings have, do, or are going to ask themselves. The narrator struggles with this too. He repeats the quote throughout the story: If I’m going to drown, why was it that I came so far to contemplate trees and sand? This phrase, if not understood in context of Crane’s life purpose and his trip in particular, may lead to pity for Crane and misinterpretation. The reader might think that the narrator’s upset is due to the idea of death. But the story is much more complex than that. Crane, a historian and Commodore passenger, has a specific purpose. He was on his way to Cuba to record an important historical moment. He was supporting the cause of rebels. He was willing to help others. His purpose was instantly taken from him in an apparently random series of circumstances. Crane’s constant doubt about his existence is a result of the depth of Crane’s purpose. Losing your purpose can be depressing, but it is also a reality. Even without the shipwreck, it’s difficult to find a purpose in your life.

The cumulative effect of Crane’s writing is impressive: images, characters and setting details are all contained within just a few pages. Lessons, themes, themes, etc., can also be found. Readers can feel almost as if they are interacting with the characters even without having any personal knowledge. When the reader explores the historical context of the story, he is presented with a different, scarier perspective. These elements, including the plot, characters, and themes are all constantly at work to create an unsettling story.

Cardigan Relationship ended (cold)

Cardigan Decline in mental state (Cold) (blue)

Cardigan Emptiness/Loss (Cold), (blue

A broad range of brain diseases can cause dementia. It is a progressive, often long-term decline in thinking and memory that can be severe enough to impact daily life. The person with dementia is not the only one affected. It also impacts their family members. Many people find it difficult to cope with the loss and grief of a loved one. We often look for something meaningful in grief, such as an acritic of clothing or repeating someone’s actions. It is difficult to see someone we love lose their ability to remember you and your past.

Anne Carson’s poem, “Father’s Old Blue Cardigan”, contains heartbreaking observations about her father’s mental decline. The cardigan is used symbolically by Carson throughout the poem. The cardigan symbolizes her lost relationship, her father’s mental decline, and the feeling emptiness, loss, which Carson is trying to understand. Because she is still trying to understand the death of her father, this poem is reflective and not contemplative. The poet looks at concrete objects in order to understand abstract problems, just as a child would. Instead of discussing her father’s personality, she focuses pragmatically upon the “stamping” of his “boots. Instead of her father’s memories, the “cardigan” covers her. To cope with her father’s declining faculties she focuses on his “haystacks”. The soft, echo-like thuds “stomping”, “sat”, and “stomping,” hint at the gradual recognition of an extreme shift that is still not fully appreciated.

The structure of the poem suggests that she is uncertain. The rhyme scheme is consistent in form, but not always followed. Sentence lengths are five words, “His laws were secret” to ten. However, these rambling lines indicate incomprehension on Anne’s behalf. Anne isn’t clear about anything except her living dad “He wouldn’t have done that.” This powerful technique illustrates her confusion. The poet compares the images of her deceased and living fathers. This may be to understand her loss. Her father seems rigid and stern at first. He “stamp(s),” her solid, functional “boots”, which may be possessed of a coldness similar to the snow he shakes off. This contrasts with “the child who has been dressed in some aunt’s clothes”, for whom the overwhelming nature of life “haystacks”, shocks him. The repeated “w”, sounds of “windy”,” “will”, or “while”, suggest a wobble on the lower lips and a quiver of realization. This analogy might give the poet a better understanding.

It seems that the poet is still trying to cope with the loss of her father’s cognitive and/or physical abilities.

Geoffrey Chaucer describes a man full sin in The Canterbury Tales. Yet, he does it with humor and irony. The story is often referred to as an illustration, which helps convey its important message. The pardoner is a con artist who uses people’s faith against them and tells them that if they don’t donate money, they won’t go to Heaven. In the end, the Pardoner will do whatever he has to in order to make a profit. The Pardoner starts out by opposing anyone who drinks, blasphemys, or gambles. However, he later confesses to being guilty of these sins. It is funny because he is making a mockery of himself and people are still donating to him. Chaucer subtly makes a comment on the corruption within the church. He does this in a lighthearted way. Many people enjoy giving advice, but they don’t have the same ideas as them. The main idea in the Tale is “Radixmalorum ist cupiditas” meaning, “Greeds are the root cause of all Evil.” However, while the Pardoner preaches about avarice and making money through the exploiting of Church members, it is humorous for those who read it.

The pardoner’s tale is both about sin and corruption. It seems that the story was intended to undermine the Church’s people. Although the pardoner is an official of the Church, he clearly works for the church’s economic gain. The Pardoner, in The Prologue, makes it clear that he is greedy. The Pardoner is a sinister man who lives in cupiditas. He doesn’t care what his sermons are about, he only cares about how much money he gets after he preaches them. A Pardoner should consider the well being of those who listen and give him money. The Pardoner explains God’s prohibitions, while pointing out all traits or activities that he may have. The Pardoner is willing to lie in order to make money. The pardoner tricked people into kissing “relics,” which were not authentic. Because of his commitment to God, the Pardoner had no limit to his greed.

The message, although written over a decade ago, is still relevant today. The Pardoner does more than tell his story. He also talks about three men who lost everything because of greed. The Pardoner’s Tale’s main theme, avarice, depicts the negative consequences of greediness within society, as well as individuals, now and in the future.

Teenagers often find themselves asking questions and trying to do what is asked of them. Teenagers feel like they are part of a larger society, and that their norms are orthodox. John Updike managed to create a more mature story in which Sammy is forced into adulthood quickly by a call. We can see Sammy’s deep depravity through his thoughts, intense observations and his actions.

Sammy is your typical average boy working at your local A&P. The story opens with Sammy being incredibly self-opinionated and sarcastic. This gives us a glimpse into the deeper meanings of the story. Sammy is content to describe everything, but we are able to see a sadness in the way that he views the world and how he feels about it. Sammy’s story is mainly about three women who visit his shop. Sammy’s intense fascination with these three random women will be evident in the shot. Sammy thinks he’s just being a typical young boy. Sammy goes beyond the superficial details to gather insights into the people he sees. Sammy studies one woman more attentively than the others, and he becomes fascinated by her. He says, however, that “She was the Queen” and that her natural leadership and ability to catch attention caught everyone’s interest in a split second. The support swimsuit bra straps are what attracted his attention the most. Sammy found this extremely sensual and he was drawn to it. He uses them as clues to build a picture for his inner life. When he hears every woman speak, his imagination is ignited about the women. Sammy’s specific observations and descriptions show his prejudices as well as blind spots. Sammy’s lustful and unabashedly lustful gaze at the women shows an immatureness. He also views A&P customers as “sheep”, and “house slaves.” Sammy is equally dismissive towards Stokesie, his coworker and unimaginative drone associate. It is ironic that Sammy believes he is superior to everyone else in the store, which is why he acts as though he does. He felt the only way to show that he is different than them was to stand out from them, and he quit his job. As he watches the women, we begin to see the subtle hints he gives us. We start to understand what he is trying to tell us. Sammy often slips into the daily dream of attending her families parties. It is his way of shaming his family. Sammy hates that his family has not been able to pass him wealth over the years.

Although his family tries hard to give him a normal life, but he is still not satisfied with the A&P job, Sammy believes it isn’t enough and that he should have a happy, carefree existence. This is Sammy’s resolution. Lengel attempts to stop him from quitting. Sammy is driven to make the group happy. Sammy thinks it would have been “fatal” to not quit the gesture over Lengel’s treatment towards the women. Sammy has come to regard the gesture as the best way to be praised by the ladies. Sammy wants to quit to become Queenie, a world where he can be an expert in beauty, youth and sophistication. Sammy is convinced that if Sammy doesn’t quit, A&P will continue to teach him how to adapt, validate authority, and live in a world of shallow materialism. Sammy is aware that he is in a very lose-lose situation. He’ll either lose his identity and social norms or quit his job, not knowing when he will return.

Sammy makes his dramatic gesture. He now realizes that the consequences are unacceptable. Sammy says that he quit because women want him. Sammy then walks out, looking for women. The reader finds it unfavorable. Sammy is the only one left without praise or adoration. Sammy feels guilty for his Brobdingnagian need to quit his job, especially for women who didn’t give him enough time. Sammy’s attraction to Queenie is a natural desire of a young woman. He eventually feels the need to flee A&P and his own life. Sammy longs for more than his expertise in Queenies’ carefree, classless world. Sammy wants to make it clear that he is ready to make a significant life change. Sammy is content with his life as it is. His stance allows him to demonstrate that he has the ability to create a new, better life. Sammy will mechanically regret the call. Sammy responds in his mind to Lengel’s question, “It’s truth, I don’t.” This is where he begins to regret his call. He explains that once you’ve made a decision it can be hard to change it. Here Sammy is proud. Sammy knows what he is doing, but he can’t make him change his mind.

The story’s last sentence shows Sammy looking through the shop window, noting that Lengel was there, “…checking the sheep through. Sammy realises that those who succeed in this world are the only ones who follow the principles. Sammy looks through the window to confirm that Lengel is not jittery. Sammy sees the harshness in Lengels eyes and what he is facing in the future. The end will reveal Sammy’s real depravity. Sammy was not able change his life in the way he wanted, but he did learn some things about himself. Sammy was able see the true nature of Sammy and to understand how he would react to certain aspects of his life.

The U.S.A. can see the continuous chain of depravity within our lives through Updike’s tale. Sammy felt his life was boring. However, when he left his job, he experienced a new sense depravity. Sammy received the following results. He was asked to thank his family for allowing him to quit the job he had been assigned and to continue looking for work within the village. Sammy’s rash decision to quit his job in order to love and be loved by women he didn’t know was a sign of his desperate need to be noticed. Humans were designed to be in relationships with others. If they become too busy, they will do anything to attract attention. Sammy was used by author to connect with his readers in an exceedingly friendly approach where we tend not to forget the good things in our lives.

Scout Finch’s small hometown seemed like the perfect place for a curious, young child. The south was the setting for To Kill a Mockingbird, and her life included a lot prejudice and opinionated people. Everybody who lived in close proximity to one another knew the other. Scout’s brother Jem and her dad, Atticus, were also included in this town. All of the characters lived in Maycomb County Alabama, which was small and prejudiced. Harper Lee, author of The Death of Innocence and Coming of Age, expresses the loss of innocence through Scout’s conflict with the world.

Harper Lee describes the loss in innocence caused by Scout’s encounter with Miss Caroline. Scout loses the ability to feel a sense of purpose when she is forced to inform Miss Caroline about Walter Cunningham’s financial affairs. She feels guilty for trying too hard to be helpful, as Scout had already fallen off the wrong path. Miss Caroline says, “You’re shamein him. Walter didn’t have any quarters at home so Miss Caroline grabbed him by the collar and took me back. Jean Louise: I’m done with you, Jean Louise. Hold your hand out. I thought she was going for spit. Miss Caroline took her ruler, gave me a half dozen pats and then instructed me to stand in a corner. Victims are forced to accept that they did something they shouldn’t have done. This prompts the victim’s to think about their own shortcomings and make changes to avoid making the same mistakes. It is possible to see that Scout learned from Miss Caroline to be a good listener and not get involved in other peoples’ problems. Although the reader might infer that, Scout still decided to go after Walter for getting her into trouble. Scout had learnt a valuable lesson. Lee also expresses his grief through Scout and Aunt Alexandra. Aunt Alexandra, a side character, is always insisting that Scout dress up in ladylike attire. I would not be able to imagine being a lady wearing breeches. She said that I couldn’t do anything in a dress and that I didn’t have to wear them. Aunt Alexandra’s vision about my disposition was to play with small stoves, tea pots, and wear the Add-A-Pearl jewelry she gave me at birth. Scout was raised by her father and brother, Atticus Finch. Scout was wild and dirty while Jem was an observant and witty man. Scout didn’t know better without a mother-like influence. Scout was conscious that she behaved differently than other girls her age. Aunt Alexandra tried her best to get Scout to behave like a woman and show proper etiquette. The way Scout behaved could be used to infer that Aunt Alexandra was trying reform Scout’s lifestyle.

Harper Lee’s final words are that of an innocent child who is unable to accept the reality of racism. Scout and Jem learn about the prejudices of white women and men in Maycomb when they become involved in the case of their father, a black man. Scout and Jem, her brother, learn about equality. “Cry about how people treat others without thinking. Crying about the misery that white people can cause for people of color, while not even thinking they are people. Scout attends Tom Robinson’s trial. He is convicted and falsely accused. His only possible reason for losing the case was that he was a man of color in a preconceived universe. It was already difficult to be a man of color in his thirties. Tom Robinson needed to be tried against all white men. Atticus Scout taught him something most people don’t learn until they get older.

Harper Lee’s book, The Death of Innocence and Coming of Age, is a collection of stories about Scout and her many conflict. The book’s most important chapters focus on Miss Caroline’s problems and her anger at Aunt Alexandra. She is forced to confront prejudices racial that her small hometown faces. To Kill a Mockingbird may have many themes. The most prominent theme, however, is the death-of-innocence and the coming to terms with one’s own mortality. Scout Finch, 9 years old, had a few transformational experiences that made her mature thinker. Overall, this book offered a glimpse of life in the 1930s’ turbulent world.

To a Mother Leaving Home and Margaret Atwood’s Young Son by Death both employ imagery and symbolism to reflect the difficulties parents face. These poems capture the most difficult and distressing moments that every parent has to face. They are a reminder that parenting can prove to be the most difficult job on the planet. The two poems are very similar in terms of symbolism and imagery. They also focus on two very different difficult situations parents face.

To a daughter leaving home describes a difficult situation in which a mother realizes her daughter doesn’t need her guidance. The poem does not mention the destination of the daughter, but rather focuses on her feelings and the pain she feels at seeing her daughter go. Reminiscing about her daughter’s first experience of independence, when she was able to learn how to ride her bike on her own, years ago, she reminisces. She remembers the terror she felt when her daughter was first riding away on a bike. Her daughter vanished from her sight. She also mentions that her 16-year-old daughter was “more tolerant of distance.” This expression reflects the anxiety and fear she feels about this situation. She must accept her daughter’s departure and watch her slip from her grasp. She is nervous about her daughter going out on her own, as she is vulnerable and easily broken without her mom. The book Death of a Young Boy by Drowning depicts a much worse parenting nightmare than any parent can imagine. It’s about the feeling of loss and the emptyness that comes with it. As her hopes and dreams fell away, her mother watched (7-8). Her affection for her son was evident and she looked forward to the voyage with him. However, losing him meant that “The dreamed sailings collapsed, and ragged”. (26-27) This expression describes her feelings after losing her son. Atwood used imagery to explain her mother’s experience of the death of her son. She was unable to help her son’s funeral because it happened so quickly. She recalls him hanging in the river like an infant’s heart. The body was rescued (17-18). They retrieved the drowned body” (17-18). To a Daughter Leaving home, the author recalls her daughter’s first bike ride alone. This is to symbolise her and her daughter being separated. The poem’s last line is a metaphor. “The hair flapping behind me like a kerchief waving goodbye,” she says (21-24). She connects her daughter’s current departure to her first bike ride. It hit her in that moment that her daughter was leaving. She knew she had to let go and be strong. This analogy was a key symbol used in the poem. It helps readers understand why Atwood was thinking about her daughter riding her bike for the first time and how this moment compares to current circumstances. Margaret Atwood also employed a lot symbolism in Death of a Young Son By Drowning. She wants to show the river as a symbol of life, saying that he “navigated with great success the river of his birth.” (1-2). This phrase conveys her belief that her son was created because he navigated the river. While water is an essential element that allows life to thrive, Atwood points out that it can also destroy it. The river symbolises how calm and serene life can be, but at the same time it can cause pain and make people feel hopeless and helpless. Line 16 is where she describes how the “air locked”, and how she realized that her dreams and hopes are no more. The mother of a young child who died suddenly, she continues to say that the world must continue even though her world is halted. The poem ends with the last two lines, which are direct statements about how hopeless her mother’s life is. This is to show how terrible it must feel to lose a child so young. “My foot fell on the rock,” says the mother. The dreamed sailings fell apart, ragged” (26-27). This symbolises the moment she realizes her son has gone. The voyage was meant to be a journey of discovery and new beginnings, but she was left with her entire world crumbling after the death of her son. She said that she “planted her son in this nation like a flag” (28, 29). The flag symbolises the legacy her son left, no matter how young or old he died. While he has passed away physically, there is still a part of him spiritually. The poems are a combination of symbolism and poetry. They show two mothers in similar situations, but with very different pains.

The authors also use imagery to show mothers how emotionally affected by the circumstances being addressed. Pastan uses language throughout her poem To a Girl’s Leaving Home to create imagery. Pastan creates a visual showing a child learning how to ride a bicycle and then falling off the bike. This is the mother’s experience of one of the most difficult things as a parent. The mother says that her daughter has left and she feels sad and helpless. This visual image was created to reach the same emotional level as the mother, which is despair and a longing for the past that many others have. Atwood uses imagery and personal experiences to describe the drowning of her young son. She describes how her son died in the third stanza. She uses a lot of chilling imagery in this example. The mother is able to see the audience through her eyes and witness what happened that day. She is creating a detailed account of the experience to show how it impacted her life, and how it left her feeling hopeless.

These poems, which describe two different hardships parents will face, are contextually very different. Both poems use imagery and symbolism as a way to communicate their messages and elicit specific emotions. The poem Death of a Young Son by Drowning begins with hope and excitement for a new adventure, but ends up being a life-altering experience for the mother who loses her son. The poem’s symbols and images give us a first-hand account of the pain that the mother experienced. To a daughter leaving home, however, is less tragic. However, it still triggers sadness and despair because a mother must accept the fact her daughter has grown up without her help. Margaret Atwood’s death of a young son by drowning and Linda Pastan’sTo a Daughter leaving Home both employ imagery and symbolism to address different challenges of parenting that no parent can anticipate.

Harper Lee published To Kill a Mimickingbird in 1960. The book was a bestseller and provides valuable information. The lessons and stories in the book, despite being published fifty years ago, have remained relevant even after all these years. To Kill A Mockingbird perfectly demonstrates the culture of America’s south during the great Depression. The Ewells are a symbol for the white prejudice against African Americans, and other minorities. Tom Robinson’s character shows how an exploited Negro is found guilty of a criminal offense based on his complexion, rather than the actions that would have made him innocent. The great Depression causes social divisions and creates inequalities throughout society. Lee’s novel, which relates the American 1930s, is still highly valued.

Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird explores the theme inequality, a theme that has been a part of all history. Tom Robinson is charged with a crime he did not commit, and because of this no one will trust a man who is black over a man who is white. Due to their poverty, the Cunninghams must deal with discrimination. Scout also faces inequality while playing with Jem or Dill. Lee’s book is full of strong themes about inequality. Lee doesn’t just use inequality to define racism. She also uses it to describe discrimination based on gender and wealth. Unjust discrimination resulted in African Americans losing all their rights. In fact, white people won’t accept blacks to be equals. Tom Robinson, an innocent and benevolent black man, was accused of raping Malay Lowell (a white woman) who made advances towards a black man. Furthermore, sexual relationships between blacks and whites was strictly forbidden. Bob Lowell knows these unwritten laws well and doesn’t want to see his daughter be cast aside for refusing to follow molly accepted social customs. Bob puts the blame on time Robinson and knows that Tom will be found guilty despite being innocent. Tom is found guilty by an all-white court. This is due to Tom’s black skin and the prejudiced bias of the all white jury that believes the word of a Black man. It is clear that social inequality is illustrated through Macomb, where one’s social standing determines how they live their lives. Harper Lee shows that even though Macomb may appear perfect, there are many flaws in the town. Social status determines what kind of life one leads. Scout and Jem are shown a transition from childhood innocence to adulthood. In this perspective, they believe people are good simply because they haven’t seen evil in their lives and still care about society. They now see evil as a fact and must embrace it in their worldview. One of the most important subthemes of the book concerns the threat that emotion and prejudice create to innocent people. People like Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, aren’t ready to deal with the evil they see and they become destroyed from the social world. Jem is also affected by the fact that he discovered the evils of racism during and after his trial. Scout is able, despite Tom being convicted, to protect her fundamental faith in human nature. Jem, however, is not able and willing to accept the consequences of his conviction and retreats into a deep depression. “I wanted you see the true meaning of courage, rather than believing that courage is simply a man holding a gun. It’s when the pain is gone before you can start. But, you go on anyway. Atticus revealed that Mrs. Dubose was dependent on painkillers, but she was determined not to die from it. To distract herself from her pain, he made Jem to read to her. Jem’s view of courage is distorted by this vision. Instead of seeing courage as a struggle through difficult times, he sees it as perseverance. To Kill A Mockingbird is full of examples of bravery. Atticus, who defends a black man against threats and criticism, is shown as brave in To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus tells Scout that she must be strong and not allow others to criticize her family or her. Scout also shows bravery when Miss Maudie, The Finches neighbor, shares this wisdom with Scout. Scout inquires why Atticus told Jem to not shoot his new air rifle towards mockingbirds. They don’t eat plants, nest in corncribs and don’t eat human gardens. Scout inquires about the wisdom of Miss Maudie, the Finches’ neighbor. She shares her knowledge with Scout when she asks Atticus why he told Jem to not shoot at mockingbirds with his new air rifle. This quote was used to give the title to the novel. It tells Scout that the innocent must be respected and protected. Lee specifically names Tom Robinson, one of the innocent people in the novel. He also implies that Scout and other children are innocent. Overall, To Kill a Mockingbird is a complex work. It describes the impact of the Great Depression on the South and blacks. The book examines human morality, including social inequalities and bravery. Harper Lee uses Atticus’s defense of Tom Robinson to show bravery, despite knowing that Macomb will treat him differently for his support of a black person. Lee compares Scout and Jem the effects of good and evil. The book’s unique themes, as well as why it is so important, are illustrated by Lee.

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Stetson focuses on conflict and the effects it has on the narrator’s mental and physical health. Jane’s mind and feelings are captured in a journal format by the author. Stetson allows John to speak into Jane’s private thoughts, highlighting his control over her. Stetson’s successful portrayal of the protagonists’ internal conflict is achieved through his use symbolism.

Stetson successfully used a diary format to illustrate the impact of conflict upon the protagonist’s psychological and physical wellbeing in The Yellow Wallpaper. A diary is an account of one’s significant emotions and experiences. This was done by the author to provide readers with an intimate view of Jane’s thoughts. This is highlighted through Jane’s changing psychological condition and the author’s choice of tone. This is evident when Jane, the narrator, says that she can see the garden from one window. The word ‘riotous” refers to something wild and unpredictable, like the garden. This contrasts with what the nursey is all about. The narrator watches the trees and flowers grow constantly from there. Stetson’s language is very effective in showing the contrast between Jane’s desire to be free and her life in confinement. However, the author uses short, unconnected sentences to intensify the desperate tone towards the end. This is evident when “I quite enjoy this room, now it’s bare again.” It was quite a mess! The bedstead is quite gnawed. The bedstead is very gnawed. Stetson’s words aren’t as clear as her previous thinking. As it illustrated the gender roles at the time of the story’s publication in 1892, the author overshadowed Jane’s voice. Stetson contrasts John’s control over Jane with the words, “He is very loving and careful,” (p. 648). This implies John is a wonderful husband. The couple have an amazing relationship with John who “hardly lets me move without special direction.” In which hyperbole, readers are presented with John’s controlling nature. This highlights Jane’s submissive nature in their marriage. Stetson further exaggerates this by saying, “He is very careful and loving,” (p. 648). Stetson is presenting a picture of John’s controlling nature through hyperbole. Jane doesn’t know what she’s taking and is simply following her husband’s instructions. The author used short sentences and paragraphs that had a choppy rhythm to show Jane’s disorganized state of mind. This reinforces John’s conflict with Jane.

The yellow wallpaper used throughout Jane’s narrative best represents Jane’s internal conflict. The wallpaper depicts the structure of society, medicine, family and society within which Jane is trapped. Stetson cleverly used this horrible and frightening wallpaper to symbolize the domestic life that traps so few women. This is obvious in “There were things in this paper,” (p.652) where Stetson uses the wallpaper as a symbol for the domestic life that traps so many women. The ‘things’ in the book are an example of Stetson’s clever use of irony. They are both Jane’s vision of Jane and her disturbing ideas. The quote “nobody but me” (p. 652) reveals that Jane is afraid of her secret and “the dim shapes become clearer every day” (p. 652) is another sign she is trying to hide her growing understanding. It is clear that Jane, just like the woman she imagines, is being pulled deeper into her fantasies. The author uses second-person narration to give readers a firsthand account of Jane’s descent into madness. Personification is used to convey the pain wallpaper causes to the narrator. Stetson uses similes to show Jane the pain wallpaper causes.

Although the story was published nearly 100 years ago by Charlotte Perkins Stetson, many of its themes are still relevant today. The major one is the impact conflict has on a person’s mental and physical health. This is made clear by the journal format that is used in the story. This allows readers to get a more detailed look at the feelings and thoughts of the protagonist. Jane and John’s difficult relationship is well illustrated by the author’s ability integrate John’s thoughts into Jane’s private thoughts. This is also her way to critique late 19th-century gender roles. Stetson used literary devices like personification and symbolism to show the internal conflict of the narrator.