Theme
4 Short Stories, 2 Novels, 4 Poems
The Misconception of Love
"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
In the various works of art that I’ve read throughout the years I have always noticed one central theme that pops up constantly; it is the misconception of love. Without this theme a novel, short story or poem isn't the same. In The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, this theme appears throughout the novel. After reading this work of literature, I truly could feel like the author was writing about me personally, like if i was illustrations and canvas of Toni Morrison’s work. There various themes that I could connect to; for example the major them of seeing verses being seen which connects with one of the major symbols which is the bluest eyes. In this story Pecola feels as if her experiences and the things she has seen mirrors how she is viewed or who she is. Her theory is that if she had the bluest eyes, the beauty of the eyes themself will cover the misery, pain, and most importantly erase the cruel events that she was witnessed. The author mirrors me in this story, which makes this one of my favorite novels I've read this year. I can relate to Pecola's charter because I feel that the things that have happened to me and the things I have witness mirrors an ugly person making me feel like if I could see the world differently or my life that maybe in some way I wouldn’t be ugly, because my eyes would show beauty. Here where this theme secondary theme connects to the central theme of misconception of love; Pecola misconception of love was shown through her misery and through sorrow. She believes that she will be lovedif has blue eyes but truly that’s not how it works.
"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
In “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne the characters Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Pynne as Christ figure for many reasons. Throughout we notice that he is an agony because of the guilt he feels for letting Hester Pynne take all the blame for the sin the both committed which was adultery. At the same time we see that he cares for his child Pearl. In the story he always meets Hester Pynne in the forest. In a way he also “came to redeem an unworthy world” in the words of Thomas Foster. Nathaniel Hawthorne write “But Hester Prynne, with a mind of native courage and activity, and for so long a period not merely estranged, but outlawed, from society, had habituated herself to such latitude of speculation as was altogether foreign to the clergyman. She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness. . . . The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers,—stern and wild ones,—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” this quote proves that she is a Christ figure to. She is in agony, good with children, known to walk (transportation), spent time alone in the wilderness, confrontation with the devil (sin), and was very forgiving.
In “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne the characters Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Pynne as Christ figure for many reasons. Throughout we notice that he is an agony because of the guilt he feels for letting Hester Pynne take all the blame for the sin the both committed which was adultery. At the same time we see that he cares for his child Pearl. In the story he always meets Hester Pynne in the forest. In a way he also “came to redeem an unworthy world” in the words of Thomas Foster. Nathaniel Hawthorne write “But Hester Prynne, with a mind of native courage and activity, and for so long a period not merely estranged, but outlawed, from society, had habituated herself to such latitude of speculation as was altogether foreign to the clergyman. She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness. . . . The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers,—stern and wild ones,—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” this quote proves that she is a Christ figure to. She is in agony, good with children, known to walk (transportation), spent time alone in the wilderness, confrontation with the devil (sin), and was very forgiving.
"How I Met My Husband" by Alice Munro
In this short story we read about the temptations between the older man “bad boy” and the young oblivious girl. A young, virginal, innocent female gets seduced by an attractive older figure, with corrupt values, which is an exact description of our two main characters. The young girl who thinks intimacy is kissing falls in love with an attractive older pilot. She is oblivious to it all that she does not take into consideration that man travels all over the world and seduces young girls.
In this short story we read about the temptations between the older man “bad boy” and the young oblivious girl. A young, virginal, innocent female gets seduced by an attractive older figure, with corrupt values, which is an exact description of our two main characters. The young girl who thinks intimacy is kissing falls in love with an attractive older pilot. She is oblivious to it all that she does not take into consideration that man travels all over the world and seduces young girls.
"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway
The idea of sex symbols. To further interrupt this story you must take note of the symbols and their meanings. In the short story the author includes many symbols. For example the main symbol of the story is the white elephants and everything else flows around it. The white elephants represent abortions or something that no one wants. This plays to the theme of the story, which is talking versus communication. This sub theme ties to my universal theme of the misconceptions of love because in order to see true love between the average American boy and his girl friend there should of been communicating in order to make such a big decision.
The idea of sex symbols. To further interrupt this story you must take note of the symbols and their meanings. In the short story the author includes many symbols. For example the main symbol of the story is the white elephants and everything else flows around it. The white elephants represent abortions or something that no one wants. This plays to the theme of the story, which is talking versus communication. This sub theme ties to my universal theme of the misconceptions of love because in order to see true love between the average American boy and his girl friend there should of been communicating in order to make such a big decision.
"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty
There is a message of hope, perseveration, and strength in the face of hardship. Old frail Phoenix is tougher then she appears and she isn’t scare easily because she has seen it all in her time but still holds hope that the world will become a better place.
A character going on a quest, not knowing it is a quest may meteorically learn a lesson or notice something they never learned before. In the short story, Welty’s writes about an old woman who is determined to take a long journey through a forest to get medicine for her already dead grandson. By the end of her trip the grandmother learns that she forgets why she was there in the first place leading her to ladder realize that she takes the journey every year on the same time just out of habit. She learns that she does it to remember her grandson.
There is a message of hope, perseveration, and strength in the face of hardship. Old frail Phoenix is tougher then she appears and she isn’t scare easily because she has seen it all in her time but still holds hope that the world will become a better place.
A character going on a quest, not knowing it is a quest may meteorically learn a lesson or notice something they never learned before. In the short story, Welty’s writes about an old woman who is determined to take a long journey through a forest to get medicine for her already dead grandson. By the end of her trip the grandmother learns that she forgets why she was there in the first place leading her to ladder realize that she takes the journey every year on the same time just out of habit. She learns that she does it to remember her grandson.
"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
In Joyce Corol Oates short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the reader must focus to determine the actual meaning of the symbols and the story. For example music, Arnold’s car and Connie’s dizziness. The music symbolizes is like Connies “bridge.” A bridge is a structure carrying a road or path over an obstetrical in comparison to Connnies bridge which is defines as a structure that carries her from reality to fantasy and back. Arnalds car symbolizes Arnalds extremeness and his dangerousness. Connies Dizzieness symbolizes relizations or awareness.
Music is a way for Connie to vanish or disappear from her reality to her fantasy world. She creates a world with the aspects of romance primarily from music; Music makes her think about sexuality and boys. She thinks boys are perfect, so she creates the faculty or an activity of imagined things. Connie creates a fantasy’s with music and mostly with things that are impossible or improbable. Connie thinks that because her and Arnold listen to the same music, that they are somehow compatible but then realizes that the fantasy she created from the fantasy in her music is much biter then reality. Connie starts of opened minded about Arnold because of music.
In Joyce Corol Oates short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the reader must focus to determine the actual meaning of the symbols and the story. For example music, Arnold’s car and Connie’s dizziness. The music symbolizes is like Connies “bridge.” A bridge is a structure carrying a road or path over an obstetrical in comparison to Connnies bridge which is defines as a structure that carries her from reality to fantasy and back. Arnalds car symbolizes Arnalds extremeness and his dangerousness. Connies Dizzieness symbolizes relizations or awareness.
Music is a way for Connie to vanish or disappear from her reality to her fantasy world. She creates a world with the aspects of romance primarily from music; Music makes her think about sexuality and boys. She thinks boys are perfect, so she creates the faculty or an activity of imagined things. Connie creates a fantasy’s with music and mostly with things that are impossible or improbable. Connie thinks that because her and Arnold listen to the same music, that they are somehow compatible but then realizes that the fantasy she created from the fantasy in her music is much biter then reality. Connie starts of opened minded about Arnold because of music.
"Ethics" by Linda Pastan
In Ethics we learned that one of the most important themes in the story was innocence. the students when first asked the question were unable to realize at first that you could not choose between between the painting and an old women, mostly when the painting has such value. this proves that as a children who were naive, the couldn't see the love you most feel for such a beautiful painting and the love you for an old elderly women therefore misconceiving the value of the question and then noticing that it was not a question that a child should answer.
In Ethics we learned that one of the most important themes in the story was innocence. the students when first asked the question were unable to realize at first that you could not choose between between the painting and an old women, mostly when the painting has such value. this proves that as a children who were naive, the couldn't see the love you most feel for such a beautiful painting and the love you for an old elderly women therefore misconceiving the value of the question and then noticing that it was not a question that a child should answer.
"My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning
The husbands misconceived love towards his life was proven when I realized that he had killed her.
The husbands misconceived love towards his life was proven when I realized that he had killed her.
"Porphyria's Lover" by Robert Browning
"A Study of Reading Habits" by Philip Larkin
His love for books was distorted when he figured out that loving books wasn't real.
His love for books was distorted when he figured out that loving books wasn't real.