Category: Comparative Literature

Fiction authors utilize numerous tools and methods to catch readers attention. They can choose among different tones, use few or many characters, discuss real or imaginary settings, and others. However, such authors are only expected to preserve a single requirement that relates to ensuring that readers can absorb the intended message. Thus, this essay will demonstrate that Raymond Carvers Neighbors and Junot Diazs The Money have many differences, but they are similar because the audience successfully identifies the writers intentions.

The first difference between the two writing pieces becomes evident after reading their first sentences. It refers to the fact that Carver introduces a third-person narration about Bill and Arlene Miller and their neighbors, while Diaz presents a first-person story about a life event from his childhood. These various approaches help the authors establish different connections with the audience. On the one hand, Carver only explains his characters actions and thoughts. That is why the readers are considered outside observers of the story. On the other hand, Diaz describes his own thoughts, feelings, and actions. This way of storytelling allows the readers to believe that they are engaged in a personal conversation with the author.

The different approaches above inevitably lead to diverse tones used by the writers. Thus, Carver remains straightforward and unbiased throughout the whole story. For example, he does not offer any evaluation of the fact that Bill initiates using his neighbors bed to satisfy his sex drive (Neighbors 9). On the contrary, The Money is full of subjective vocabulary, personal thoughts, and figurative language. Examples of this claim can be found in the short story when the author describes a crime. Diaz is emotional and mentions that his parents room had been tornado tossed (par. 3). It denotes that the two writers tones are significantly different.

Finally, the stories under analysis are dissimilar according to the themes that they discuss. Carver offers his vision of freedom, escape, and control over ones life. In particular, the writer mentions that some people require specific conditions to feel free and escape from their ordinary life. It becomes evident from the case that the main characters tried to find many reasons to spend more time in their neighbors homes because they feel satisfied there. Simultaneously, The Money tells a story about financial struggles, parent-child relationships, justice, and guilt. In particular, Diaz describes that he decided to break into the thieves house to return his familys money. However, this restoration of justice made him experience guilt, and the author gave money to his mother (Diaz par. 16). The writer also describes his disappointment because the mother did not appreciate this action (Diaz par. 16). The information above has introduced some differences between the writing pieces, while the following section will comment on a few similarities.

The first shared characteristic relates to a simple plot and organization of the stories. The two authors present their events chronologically, which makes it easy for the audience to understand the cause-and-effect relationships within the works. It is possible to divide the literary works into introduction, main body, climax, and conclusion. Readers can also appreciate the fact that there are not many characters in the stories. This fact denotes that all attention can be drawn to the heroes and their actions, emotions, and feelings. Furthermore, the two authors did not use any specialized words, complex sentences, and long paragraphs. Instead of it, they presented their thoughts in a simple manner to ensure that the general public will not have any problems reading the writing pieces.

The second similarity relates to the fact that both Carver and Diaz are successful in delivering their messages to their readers. The rationale behind this suggestion comes from the parallels that have been discussed above. All these aspects contribute to the fact that the authors have designed their stories to make people decode their original intentions correctly. Thus, it is evident that Carvers lesson is that people should live their own lives without having any attempts to imitate others. The writer explains that this strategy can lead to adverse consequences. In turn, Diaz demonstrates that money is a significant element in peoples lives and that individuals can take wrong actions because of it. Furthermore, the author indicates that it is a frequent case when expectations are not matched, leading to dissatisfaction.

In conclusion, the essay has compared two short stories, including Neighbors by Raymond Carver and The Money by Junot Diaz. Both differences and similarities between the writing pieces have been identified and described. Even though the literary works vary according to narration types, tones, and themes discussed, they resemble each other because the authors have managed to make their messages clear and evident. This claim refers to the fact that a simple plot, chronologically presented events, understandable vocabulary, and explicit stories structures effectively deliver the messages. That is why the readers can easily identify that Carvers story is about freedom, while Diaz comments on money and life expectations.

Works Cited

Neighbors. Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? Raymond Carver, McGraw-Hill, 1976, pp. 7-14.

Diaz, Junot. The Money. Junot Diaz, 2012, Web.

Introduction

Weapons of mass destruction (biological, nuclear, etc.) are primarily designed to kill large quantities of humans as well as destroy natural and man-made structures and the biosphere in general. In an age in which technology ranks superior, much emphasis is placed on the actual weapons as opposed to the individuals/minds that created such lethal armaments. Such individuals/minds epitomize human savagery at the highest level. The array of violence permeating the earth today is committed not just by those in high places but amongst average/ everyday people as well. Human savagery is equally as much a weapon of mass destruction as anthrax, a nuclear weapon, etc. Since the dawn of time, human nature has without a doubt exuded a persistent vein of unwarranted violence and cruelty.

Synopsis of Work and Interconnection

Literature, as do all aspects of society, examines this unsavory element in human nature. The acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies as well as short stories The Lottery and Greasy Lake are interconnected in that illustrate various levels of human savagery in close-knit/small communities. First published in the June 26, 1948 issue of The New Yorker, The Lottery is a short story by influential American author, Shirley Jackson. By using situational irony  discrepancy between the expected result and actual result  The Lottery is unsettling not only because of the use of barbaric/primitive human sacrifice for the purpose of communal preservation but most importantly because of the acceptance/normalcy in which it is carried out. The townspeople have no sense of how barbaric the lottery process is due to the formal/elaborate ceremonial nature of it. It has become a traditional aspect of the towns culture  a horrific institution.

Where there is no order, disorder reigns as evidenced by Lord of the Flies (1954). Written by Nobel Prize-winning British author, Sir William Golding, the novel depicts how a group of British schoolboys, survivors of plane crash, care of themselves on a deserted island. Children who in essence are unable to govern themselves, the novel depicts their eventual descent into chaos and savagery. Human nature and individual welfare versus the common good is the thematic core of Lord of the Flies. The sinister nature of the novel is inferred in the title which derives from the Hebrew word, Baal-Aviv which means god of the fly, host of the fly or literally the Lord of Flies  a term often synonymous with Satan. An expose on fundamental pessimism about humanity, both pieces were written during the euphoric baby boom wave. The author of twelve novels and more than 60 short stories, American novelist/short story writer, T. Coraghessan Boyle was born the same year The Lottery was published. A mixture of social exploration and humor, Boyles works explore the unpredictability and ruthlessness of human nature as well as the appetites, addictions, and joys of the Baby Boom generation. Greasy Lake, published in 1985 as a part of an anthology, explore the superficiality of the Post Vietnam War era in the U.S as well as examines how individual desires may not be the best thing because of the consequences associated with it. The main protagonists desire the Bad Boy persona  they feel its simple good to be bad. In the end they realize that such a desire is not such a good thing after all.

Conclusion

Greasy Lake depicts the fundamental core of human savagery  the initial negative/bad thought which sparks such behavior. Lord of Flies and The Lottery symbolize the detrimental escalation of such a thought. Through their use of allegories/symbolism these literary works traverse across time and interconnect via their expose on the ambiguity as well as fragility of civilization and its unsuccessful struggle against barbarism and pointless violence. Unlike the typical vampires, werewolves, and aliens compounded with the element of the supernatural eminent in most horror fiction, the monsters in these unique horror stories are everyday people.

Bibliography

Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioai. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Pearson Education (US): 2006.

Introduction

The historical periods in the development of literature often play an important part in the creation of specific literary pieces. Various movements initiated by famous authors and poets can heavily impact the contemporary literature of that age, conveying prominent ideas and personal thoughts. The evolution of American post-modernist poetry is an essential topic of discussion for numerous scholars, who highlight the characteristics of this literary style, aiming to uncover the pertinent issues behind the authors works. Although the poems written by American post-modernists vary significantly based on the chosen topics, the main ideas represented in these pieces remain drastically similar. By addressing such themes as political campaigns, self-reflection, and fragmentation, the writers demonstrated their approach to the current society, post-World War II changes, and modernity (Yousef 34). This work focuses on Allen Ginsbergs Sunflower Sutra and Jerome Rothenbergs Der Gilgul (The Possessed), which utilize figurative language, vivid imagery, and symbolism to develop the authors perspectives on humanity, sorrow, and societys negative qualities.

The Cruelty of Man: Adverse Consequences of Conflict and Industrialization

The division between humanity and nature has proven to be a valuable debate subject for numerous authors During the era of American post-modernism. The repercussions following a mans involvement in the natural order of life, connected to the environment and the well-being of other individuals, were frequently discussed by post-modernists aiming to unravel the dark sides of humanity. The general argument in these works often refers to the cruel and negative characteristics evident in human beings, namely the abundance of violence, consumerism, and the lack of consideration for other creatures (Yousef 35). These overarching suggestions can be observed in both Sunflower Sutra and Der Gilgul, which elaborate on the nature of man.

In Sunflower Sutra, written by Allen Ginsberg, the ideas regarding the severe consequences of ones actions become explicitly clear. This poem focuses on the dramatic complications that follow the march of industrialization, resulting in the devastation of nature and people (Leddy 395). Ginsberg implements figurative language to depict how the significance of the environment is neglected by humans, who are primarily interested in technological advancements and personal gain rather than the state of the Earth. Through the use of metaphor, the author compares dusty sunflower to the current condition of the natural world, which became miserable after decades of human pollution (Ginsberg 15). Nevertheless, the flower still thrives under the burden of all that dress of dust, that veil of darkened railroad skin, that smog / of cheek, that eyelid of black misry (Ginsberg 15). Manifesting considerable strength, the plant aims to survive, resisting the onslaught of industrialization and becoming a symbol of inner beauty, resilience, and inspiration.

The symbolism of the sunflowers fight can be observed in the description of America and its current environmental state, which is remarkably altered by consumerism and human greed. The people disregard nature, compelling the flower to survive the blear thoughts of death and dusty loveless eyes and ends and withered roots below, in the home-pile of sand and sawdust, rubber dollar bills (Ginsberg 15). However, the sunflower is described as thriving, a perfect excellent lovely sunflower existence! (Ginsberg 15). Such vivid imagery excellently portrays the struggle between man and the environment, contributing to the negative qualities of contemporary society and representing natures resilience (Lee 374). In general, it is argued that the Earth will always be stronger than man, and humanity should be inspired by the natural environment.

A distinctly negative perspective on humans endeavors is manifested in Jerome Rothenbergs Der Gilgul, which conveys the repercussions of violence and consumerism. Similar to the Sunflower Sutra, such literary devices as metaphor, symbolism, and imagery are utilized to describe the gruesome consequences of greed and conflict. As the main character obtains a coin, he becomes possessed with the desire for money and affluence, innate in humans (Rothenberg 6). Even as the protagonist dies, he remains devoted to materialism, fearing that he would lose his shoes (Rothenberg 6). The Earth, covered with corpses, also suffers, as it is growing fat with / the slime of corpses green & pink / that ooze like treacle, turn / into a kind of tallow (Rothenberg 6). Nonetheless, in contrast with Sunflower Sutra, there is no retaliation from the onslaught of greed and death, and no inspiring outcome can be derived from the poem. From this perspective, the author argues that humanitys corruption negatively affects the environment, and it will consume everything if not stopped.

The concepts and main ideas discussed in these works are highly pertinent for the current evaluation. In Sunflower Sutra, the primary thoughts manifested regard how nature withstands the pressure of machinery and technological advancements, focusing on survival. The contradiction between the living thing and humanitys onslaught perfectly explains the poems topic: the dank muck and the razor-sharp artifacts passing into the past / and the gray Sunflower poised against the sunset (Ginsberg 15). Another main idea is related to the subject of survival and strength to live. Although humans substantially ignore the Earths demands, causing destruction to the environment, nature will always find a possibility to thrive and inspire, which is represented in the sunflowers prosperity. Finally, the opportunity to rise and redeem humanity is also essential for this poem. Regardless of the current image of humanity, each individual can proclaim that were not dread, bleak, dusty imageless locomotives, were golden sunflowers inside (Ginsberg 15). Therefore, all humans possess inner beauty and strength and, like the dusty sunflowers, will confront lifes challenges.

Alternatively, in Der Gilgul, a more dreary outlook is manifested. The concept of money and its drastic impact on peoples lives is highlighted through the protagonists thoughts, which revolve around the subject of losing shoes, even though he is on the verge of death. Another issue revealed in the poem is the environmental damage instigated by humans, which prompts the Earth to become fat with / the slime of corpses green & pink / that ooze like treacle (Rothenberg 6). Nevertheless, such instances as dibbik, Kaddish, and the abundance of corpses might hint at military campaigns in Jewish countries submerged in religious and political confrontations. Thus, in comparison with Sunflower Sutra, the theme of conflict is represented in this work.

Subject Similarities and Argument Resemblance

There are several evident similarities between the arguments presented in each of the poems, namely the impact of humanity on the environmental condition of the Earth. Both Sunflower Sutra and Der Gilgul discuss how industrialization and human conflict can devastate the natural order of life, creating various complications for living beings. Furthermore, the struggle between nature and mans advancements is a prominent idea that can be observed in both works. Although the overall motives behind the writings remain different, with Sunflower Sutra praising inner beauty and Der Gilgul describing the gruesome consequences of supporting greed, these confrontations are the corresponding topics of these literary pieces.

Unraveling the Hidden Notions

To fully understand the authors ideas behind the works, it is essential to consider the following questions. First of all, it is interesting for me to know the deeper meaning behind the locomotive in Allen Ginsbergs poem. How does the comparison between the sunflower and locomotive enrich the work? Furthermore, what is the significance of the sunflower dreaming of being a locomotive? Even though it seems possible that the author simply contrasts nature and human development, I believe that there is more to this conflict to be uncovered.

After that, I have several questions regarding Der Gilgul and the connections between the protagonist and corpses. At one point, Rothenberg changes the perspective of the narrative, introducing a personal overview of the events: I am / moving down the field from right to left (Rothenberg 6). Why was this distinction included? How can the author and the main character be compared? Moreover, what is the significance of the line he is hidden in the forest / in a world of nails (Rothenberg 6)? I believe that these questions could help me better ascertain the environment created by the poets, offering a more coherent understanding of the pertinent topics.

Conclusion

To conclude, the poems Sunflower Sutra by Allen Ginsberg and Der Gilgul by Jerome Rosenberg were analyzed thoroughly in this work, highlighting the most prominent arguments, concepts, and main ideas. It is evident that both of these writings capture the ideas of the American post-modernist era, reflecting on the current world environment and society. The authors excellently use vivid imagery, metaphors, and symbolism to portray the contemporary state of nature and social beliefs, outlining how devastating the ramifications of greed and personal gain can become. Furthermore, both poems use similar overarching arguments, describing the negative impact of industrialization and human materialism.

Works Cited

Ginsberg, Allen. Song & Sunflower Sutra. F. Riva, 1969.

Leddy, Michael. Illuminated Poems. World Literature Today, vol. 71, no. 2, 1997, p. 390-504.

Lee, Ben. Howl and Other Poems/: Is There Old Left in These New Beats? American Literature, vol. 76, no. 2, 2004, pp. 36789.

Yousef, Tawfiq. Modernism, Postmodernism, and Metamodernism: A Critique. International Journal of Language and Literature, vol. 5, no. 1, 2017, pp. 33-43.

Rothenberg, Jerome. Khurbn & Other Poems. New Directions, 1989.

The books assigned for reading this week have made a tremendous contribution to my understanding of the way I should arrange reading classes for children. The books we were assigned to read are Essentials of Young Adult Literature By Carl M. Tomlinson and Entering the World of Childrens Literature by Nancy Anderson  they are both dedicated the most efficient methods of structuring reading classes, choosing literature by topics and genres, and designing the reading course the way you want to achieve stipulated goals. The book of Andersen is devoted to selecting readings for junior students  children in the kindergarten, so it was especially useful for me. I am working as a kindergarten teacher and repeatedly face the challenge of choosing the right set of literary works for readers who cannot handle large volumes of information. For this reason, literature should be chosen in a very precise way for kids not to lose their interest in studies and to receive as much information, joy and pleasure from reading as possible.

The book by Tomlinson et al. is also highly helpful in handling the challenge of literature choice for young adults  it is indeed extremely difficult to get both kids and adolescents engaged in reading, so it is essential to raise their agile interest and curiosity from the very beginning of their lives. For this reason, the book provides a wonderful overview of adolescent literature by types and genres and outlines the major guidelines that can be pursued in the process of education.

Both books are well-structured and provide a comprehensive idea of the reading classes specificity and all peculiarities that an educator should take into consideration in the process of planning the classes. From the very beginning, it becomes clear that the books are written by educators for educators: they provide a set of extra-curriculum activities that can be included in the classes and make them more attractive for such fragile and changeable groups of the population as children and young adults. They include discussion topics, exercises, and hints to make the classes varied. In addition, the authors took care about the structure that may be easily altered and will correspond to the needs of individual educators and target groups.

An interesting part of the book by Andersen is dedicated to the minority writers, which constitutes its outstanding value. Indeed, this type of literature is typically neglected by the educators who teach representatives of ethnic, religious, and racial minorities. Children have the right to know their literature and to understand the motives, beliefs, and traditions their people have to develop adequately. However, they are obliged to accept the commonly designed studying curricula and have an opportunity to study the way their ancestors did only at home, under the condition that their parents pay adequate attention to their ethnic or religious education. The book Entering the World of Childrens Literature corrects this negligence and gives a successful, full, and informative collection of minority writers and their works to be studied by kids who do not suit the commonly accepted profile.

Making a conclusion from everything that has been said today, I would like to admit that the books produced an incredible impression on me and opened up a new world of alternatives that I can take up in the process of reading classes with my kids to enlarge the scope of their knowledge. In case they feel this literature is close and interesting for them they are likely to pursue their literary ventures, which raises the chance for their becoming intelligent and literate people who can expand the space of the world literature by themselves and make up their own preferences by themselves.

References

Andersen, N.A. (2009). Elementary Childrens Literature: Infancy through Age 13. Allyn & Bacon, Inc.

Tomlinson, C.M., & Lynch-Brown, C. (2006). Essentials of Young Adult Literature. Allyn & Bacon, Inc.

Introduction

Hamiltons The City Always Wins and Pamuks Istanbul are two major literary works that describe the development of cities, their historical heritage, and the way they reflect the culture of the country and its people. At first glance, the books seem different as The City Always Wins deals with a revolutionary movement bitterly suppressed by the government and Istanbul describes the influence of Western culture on the traditional Turkish city. However, there are many parallels between the two works. This paper hypothesizes that the books are united by powerful descriptions of city life and culture, and the processes of transformations that take place at all level  economic, cultural, architectural  within the cities.

Urban Environment as a Reflection of Continuity Gap

Traditionally, cities are viewed as frozen in time entities, the changes in which take place so gradually that they often go unnoticed by the inhabitants. However, if a person lives away from his or her native city and then comes back, the changes seem drastic and mostly unexpected. This fact shows that the cities are living organisms that are in the process of constant transformation. The transformation may be the result of cultural development or of drastic events within city walls, but is it always there. Hamiltons The City Always Wins and Pamuks Istanbul both show how cities change in response to the outer events, and, conversely, how the transformation of city infrastructure and look breeds the changes in city life.

Different historical contexts have different impact on the representation of the city. Thus, Constantinople has been the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for more than a thousand years, a European city with deep-rooted traditions and culture. After its seizure by the Turks, not only Constantinople became Istanbul, but it was radically transformed from European to Western city. After some decades, the city again underwent the process of westernization, vividly described by Pamuk (2017) in his novel Istanbul. The author in his book portrays the penetration of Turkish culture by European values, the process that finds reflection in the look of the city. Thus, the abundance of advertising, western names of companies, shops and magazines seem to indicate that this is a European city, but in fact Europeanization here is superficial (Almas, 2018). Mosques, dozens of minarets, calls to prayer, the whole historical entourage speak of adherence to traditions. Pamuk (2017, p. 101) writes,

[&] In Istanbul the remains of a glorious past civilization are everywhere visible. No matter how ill-kept, no matter how neglected or hemmed in they are by concrete monstrosities, the great mosques and other monuments of the city [&] inflict heartache on all who live among them.

This heartache Pamuk speaks about is caused by the destitute state of this inheritance: historical figures are pale and architecture is decaying. The author feels torn between two cultures  the destroyed Ottoman and the inculcated European. As Pamuk notes, by the name of some events it is possible to determine exactly where people are  in the East or in the West. While traces of the former great Ottoman culture are found everywhere, the artifacts of the new Europeanized culture do not give a sense of belonging to the past (Narayan, 2022). Thus, the city is torn between its historic heritage and the present time, with the transformation reflecting the culture shift from east to west.

The city always wins describes the revolutionary movement in Cairo, a city changed by an uprisal. The novel is divided into three parts: present, past, and future, each of which shows the citys transformation. The city outlook is closely connected with the events that take place there. Thus, the novel features Maspero, radio and television centers, and the morgue as main buildings around which the action takes place. This choice is not random as it allows to depict the governmental efforts to suppress the uprisal through the choice of places that Hamilton describes.

Maspero is a strategic facility that symbolizes progressive ideas and liberal transformation. The very fact that Maspero is not taken reflects the idea that freedom is yet to come and heralds defeat for revolutionary forces. The morgue, on the other hand, is a symbol of death and decay associated with the uprisal (Boehmer & Davies, 2021). The history of suppression is portrayed in buildings and streets, while revolutionary undercurrent is heard as distant echoes. Hamilton (2017, p. 147) describes Cairo as a city of thousands of years past piled high upon each moment of the living present. Thousand years of oppression seen in the citys architecture is measured against uprisal scenes and the gloom that envelops the city at present. The time planes of past, present and future are intertwined in the city look that at the same time portrays the end of past, confusion of the present and hopes for the future. Thus, Hamilton (2017, p. 10) writes,

Cairo is jazz. Not lounge jazz, not the commodified lobby jazz that works to blanch history, but the heat of New Orleans and gristle of Chicago: the jazz that is beauty in the destruction of the past, the jazz of an unknown future, the jazz that promises freedom from the bad old times.

Hamilton (2017) paints a picture of rebels who believe that the history of people, dead in the flame of revolution, will be incorporated in the city architecture. Nothing in the city history passes without a trace, and this piece of history will find its place in the cities buildings, gardens and squares. Thus, through city transformation Hamilton states that though the revolutionary movement is defeated, aspirations for freedom are likely once again to change the city look in the future.

Both books portray the city as a living organism liable to changes that reflect events, traditions and cultural shifts. Each epoque brings certain modifications to the city outlook, be these foreign signboards, new shops and architectural trends or destruction and decline caused by a revolution. In truth, the city is shaped not by designers and planners but by the people who live there, their hopes and aspirations. As these aspirations and perceptions change, the city outlook is modified in response to the demand of citizens who live there.

Urban Environment as a Reflection of Peoples Mood

The city infrastructure and look often reflect the mood of the people who live there. It is no secret that the most beautiful cities are those where urban infrastructure, transportation and monuments are well-maintained to please the eye of citizens and tourists. Vise versa, in times of crisis cities tend to have a shabby, desolate look with the walls of many buildings painted in graffiti and heaps of rubbish in the streets. Hamiltons The City Always Wins and Pamuks Istanbul both reflect this paradigm, portraying the citizens emotions through a vivid picture of the cities, one in turmoil and the other in decay.

Hamilton (2017) depicts Cairo as a heart of darkness, gloomy and noisy. The noise of the city is heard against many rebel cries, suppressing them in a united rumble of traffic, machinery and governmental propaganda. However, at the premises of the city, where the city resound subsides, voices of freedom are more pronounced and promise liberation from oppression and bonds. The uprisal brings darkness in the city, darkness of streets where rebels creep from governmental forces, and darkness of death that awaits them at every corner. Hamilton (2017) portrays the impact of many political deaths on people, the shock and incomprehension they cause, the silent awe. From the city center darkness penetrates into peoples hearts, making them gloomy and distant. People mourn their relatives, children, and friends and the association of death and darkness becomes predominant in the text (Sami, 2021). The morgue and its forbidding walls symbolize loss of all hope, however small, and victory for the governmental forces.

In Pamuks Istanbul the city is black and white, inhabited by ghosts rather than real people, a city whose geography consists of memories. By exploring the citys districts Pamuk (2006) shows the greatness and splendor of old days, dimmed by the encroach of Western civilization. Pamuks travels in his memories to the good old days have a well-defined geography of the real city, starting from Nisantashi to Jihangir and exploring ancients and modern streets, minarets and towers.

Pamuk (2006) sees Nisantashi as the center of Westernization of Turkey, its western outpost. Nisantashi was once a modern district where the richest families of the city lived and the tram line took anyone willing through the whole of Istanbul Europe  along Istiklal to the half-sleeping Bosporan villages. The newly built Hilton Hotel stood alone on a hill, towering over the Bosphorus and surrounding areas, and was the center of western culture in the city. Costumes were sewn here, European cakes were served in the pastry shop, and weddings were celebrated in the ballroom. All Western novelties appeared here for the first time, and newspapers sent their special correspondents to cover the events. However, the glory of the district has considerably dimmed casting melancholy over this area with chic but empty boutiques, and cafes unsuccessfully posing as Parisian (Deriu, 2020). People may no longer come to the district to try cola, watch movie stars or eat a hamburger, but the chairs and fountains in the huge lobby of the hotel have already become a monument to the twentieth century.

Remembering Nisantashi, however, Pamuk (2006) does not regret the closed tram line, or even the Ottoman mansions, which began to be demolished during his childhood. What he regrets is the air of joyfulness and hope that was there, and which gave way to sorrow and sadness at the sight of the decay. Not far from Nisantashi is another secret and ancient Istanbul landmark, Cezayir Soka1, or, as it is called, French Street, a narrow descent to the Bosphorus, all filled with colored tables of various cafes. This is a kind of Istanbul Pamuk describes  Istanbul, which does its best to imitate some other city. At first glance, the city seems harsh and cold, but on closer inspection it becomes clear that the city is just sad and shares the mood of its inhabitants (Deriu, 2020). It is sad about the former glory and splendor, greatness and power, sad about the past, and it is this sadness as well as the mix of cultures that make Istanbul so cozy and attractive.

At night, Istanbul belongs to memories, the melancholy of the crowd, an oppressive feeling that unites millions of people, the entire population of the huge city of Istanbul. Pamuk (2006, p. 6) writes, For me it has always been a city of ruins and of end-of-empire melancholy. Ive spent my life either battling with this melancholy or (like all 0stanbullus) making it my own. Thus, the city reflects the predominant mood of its citizens and its outer decay is a reflection of inhabitants loss of faith in the glory of their city.

Urban Infrastructures and Their Role in the Depiction of Cities

Hamiltons (2017) description of Cairo is characterized by numerous layers of planned and unplanned urbanization that allow to order and ratio and martial city space. From the city arrangements the inhabitants values and prejudices can be inferred, which are obvious in African and South American cities built by colonists. Cairos city planning reflects the ideas of British colonists who occupied Egypt in the 17^th century. The city is divided into areas of blocks of flats with segregational city panning that in the past helped the colonists to control the city (Boehmer & Davies, 2018). In his novel, Hamilton (2017) portrays how the city planning elaborated by British colonists help governmental forces to suppress the rebellion; and the intersection of present and past at this stage makes the narration more vivid and colourful.

The geometric planning of the city is associated with straight streets across which the governmental forces march to defeat rebels. At the same time, city infrastructure reminds of the seizure of Cairo by British forces. The second layer of city planning in Hamiltons novel is that of people who live in the city and change it according to their needs. Hamilton (2017, p.10) describes it as the tireless rhythms of salesmen and hawkers and car horns and gas peddlers all out in ownership of their city. This second layer is imposed on the first one, creating the city space structured on the one hand by colonial infrastructure and on the other by citizens who aspire for a better life within Cairo (Sami, 2021). This clash of two layers reflects the clash between governmental and rebel forces, so that the fight between the new and old order is reflected in the city portrayed as a living organism. Physical and emotional involvement of citizens in Cairos everyday life helps to reshape the colonial look of the city by redefining its infrastructure geared to the needs of people and not the needs of the government.

Pamuks (2006) Istanbul exhibits multiple layers of city infrastructure as well. The city planning shows how various cultures have collided and interacted in the course of historical development. The structure of the novel resembles concentric circles: starting with a story about his own home, family, his childhood and youth, the writer proceeds to describe the nearby streets and districts of the city, gradually expanding the geography of the narrative (Narayan, 2022). As a result, the author depicts Istanbul as a lost paradise, involving the reader in a journey through the old streets, canals, squares and secluded corners of the city.

Moreover, the image of Istanbul created by Pamuk (2006) is formed by the impressions of writers, artists, historians, travelers, and residents of the city. In his novel, the writer reveals not only geographical but also historical layers, telling the stories of the inhabitants of Istanbul and exploring historical signs that testify to different époques. In Istanbul, Pamuk (2006) manages to reveal new symbols of the clash and change of cultures, portraying the city as background for the development of this or that story. It can be said that the image of the city serves as a key for the understanding of the novel since it helps to create historical and cultural context through which the fate of the country and the people is considered.

Conclusion

In the modern world, the level of urbanization is constantly growing, and with it the role of cities is changing. This is due to the attraction of different types of resources  intellectual, financial, educational, industrial,  the rapid spread and development of technologies, the intensive pace of life and professional activity. Modern sociologists, urbanists and urban planners assign culture a key role in urban development and the creation of the most favorable urban environment.

City development has always remained one of the major issues that exited thinkers, writers and philosophers. Many prominent writers see cities as living organisms that reflect the events that take place within their area. Both Pamuk and Hamilton show how city infrastructure is formed by the people and how culture may shape city look. Depicting the clash of historical plats, the authors define the city as intersection of historical and geographical events, that are instrumental in forming a citys unique look. The authors assert that a city creates special atmosphere and sets mood of the citizens who live there.

References

Almas, E. (2018). Capitalizing the City: A Brief Look at Orhan Pamuks Istanbul. de genere-Rivista di studi letterari, postcoloniali e di genere, (4).

Boehmer, E., & Davies, D. ORCID: 0000-0002-3584-5789 (2018). Introduction: The City Always Wins. Boehmer, E. and Davies, D. ORCID: 0000-0002-3584-5789 (Eds.), Planned Violence: Post/Colonial Urban Infrastructures, Literature and Culture, 1-25.

Deriu, D. (2020). The City of Collective Melancholy: Revisiting Pamuks Istanbul. Architecture and Culture, 8(1), 69-93.

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Sami, H. G. (2021). The city and its martyrs: Cairo as the site of an alternative historiography in Omar Robert Hamiltons The City Always Wins. Journal of the African Literature Association, 15(3), 379-393.

Introduction

In the course of life, people have overcome some difficulties transitioning from one stage to another. Sometimes, it is rather difficult to trespass those adversities due to the limits and norms established in society. The stereotypes shaped in our life could determine the fate of those people who are incapable of boarder the line because of those prejudices. Regarding this, the story Passing by Nella Larsen and Hunger of Memory Richard Rodriguez narrates about those constraints of life that people should surpass to be full-fledged members of the community. In addition, these are the stories of crossing different social lines. Hence, the first novel presents the racial passing whereas the second one enlarges on the languages passing constraints where the author emphasizes the difference between real and false passing that is thoroughly disguised by the protagonists.

The problem of racial discrimination and racial identity

Both works touch upon the theme of race discrimination and the way protagonists of the stories treat it. Hence, in Larsons Passing, Irene Redfield is a white-skinned African-American who is not afraid to reveal her ethnic heritage she passes as white in case it is convenient for her. Her appearance gives her the possibility to take advantage of the privileges granted to the white class. Arising out of it, this passing discloses the false identity when Irene uses his color of skin as access to the elite social class. Another character of the novel, Clare Kendry, explicitly tries to mask her real origin thus referring herself to the whites. Irene and Clare are both light-skinned women; however, Irene makes up her mind to turn back to her origin and to recognize her real identity whereas Clare is a person who is substituted by her veritable heritage for the luxuries of life. Anyway, both women ignore the values of their roots and the essence of their inside world, thus only appraising the appearance given to them. The author tries to reduce the differences between the social status of whites and black in order to show the racial identity. The absence of visual interpretation reveals the image of absurdity to distinguish people by judging upon their national origin. In this respect, Irene regards such identification as absurd:

Did the woman, could that woman, somehow know that here before her eyes on the roof of the Drayton sat a Negro? Absurd! Impossible! White people were so stupid about such things for all they usually asserted that they were able to tell; and by the most ridiculous means, fingers-nails, palms of hands, shapers of ears, teeth, and other equally silly rot (Larsen 16)

The same could be seen in Rodriguezs Hunger of Memory narrating about racial issues as well. The protagonist of the story is in front of an important choice: whether to gain education or to retain family ties. If he chooses the first, he will have to study English and lose his national heritage. On mastering the English language more and more, he will lose his close relations with the family. The problem here lies in the fact that Richard will also lose his real identity, as his passing to the higher classes and to the successful life cannot be carried out without betraying with native land. Therefore, English education symbolizes here the false identity thus separating him from his Spanish origin. Richard was even more frustrated when he obtained encouragement from his family. Therefore, there may be traced the notes of irony where one idea contradicts another; Richards parents also choose the alien language to study: I was a bilingual child, a certain kind  socially disadvantaged  the son of working-class parents, both Mexican immigrant (Rodriguez 8). While learning the English language, there observes the reevaluation of the primary values in terms of the importance of learning the alien language. Richards now sees English as the only way to pass to the world of wide possibilities. He is confident now that his Spanish roots only hamper his personal improvement and self-determination. The English language now is an inherent component of successful communication and the only way to exist in English-speaking society.

When entering the English-speaking education, Richard begins perceiving differences between Mexican and American Catholicism. English Catholicism now embraces the issues that were not acceptable in hid religion. In order to gain confidence among the English society, he also abundance the Mexican peculiar religious rights and penetrate into Catholicism itself and the religion, which more personal and suitable for his new life and education. On the one hand, a writer is still a religious person with his own faith, and on the other hand, he betrays the religion that he was taught by his parents. Religion, hence, becomes the last stage of transition from one cultural environment into another.

The expression of false identity in both stories

The author refers to this moment as to the false identity, as the protagonist strives to the pseudo values that could substitute cultural and ethnic identity. The transition from his childhood to adulthood is predetermined by a gradual reconsideration of his value and the recognition of his mistakes as well as counterfeit goals: In adulthood, I am embarrassed by childhood fears (Rodriguez 9). He confesses that his ambitions and longing for education destroyed the range of values cultivated in him when he was a child. He presents the idea of unnecessary sacrifice conducted by him to become a skillful writer.

Both novels discuss the problem of gaining education because of belonging to different races. The heroines of Passing are tempted by the luxury of a life of white people thus rejecting their veritable origin. Still, after experiencing the hardships of life and the fear of discovering their secrets, the women are in a state of constant pressure as this false identity reduces their existence to the material values and the false respectable status in the society. Here, the writer emphasizes that this corrupted society is reluctant to accept African Americans and to leave a normal life on an equal basis. The conflict between races is the only reason for white-skinned girls to hide their roots and disregard their cultural and national heritage.

When the girls reached recognition in the white society, the constant fear of discovery did not allow him to enjoy a calm and full-fledged life. This fright and suspicion became the main obstacles and the shortcoming of false passing; the desire to live equally with white Americans make them pretend and disguise his veritable essence and forget about their own culture. Both girls built a sandcastle that is too fragile to remain. In particular, Clare leads a very dangerous and fake life, which is built on a lie.

The reflections on the notions of identity

If the heroine of Larsons novel follows the fake passing in order to preserve their high social status, Rodriguezs hero chooses the wrong path in order to gain this status. In the desperate quest for recognition, he fails to pursue the consequences of it. While learning English he gradually understands that he is losing the ties with his parents and ethnic real identity. On gaining the education, Richard is keen on sharing his success with his relatives. However, he encounters misunderstanding and indignation from his family part; Richard has torn apart between his longing for education and his closeness to the family. To put it in other words, the education made him abandon his cultural identity and enter the alien world where is forced to be subject to the established norms and to forget his real origin.

As it could be observed from the stories, both authors suggest their own vision of cultural and social identities. They represent the difference between real and fake crossings where the protagonists are misled by the specific norms established in the white society thus rejecting their genuine roots. To my mind, the real cultural identity lies in the persons self-awareness and self-esteem; those who support their culture and traditions will never betray them. The racial identity presented by the authors in the first half of the twentieth century cannot be regarded as real if the representatives of ethnic minorities are afraid to uncover their essence and origin due to their dependence on material values.

In that period, people were often forced to abandon their native language in order to obtain a proper education. To pursue the reason for betraying their identity, it is necessary to pursue the reason for that. As social inequality and contrast in the level of well-being of people is mostly predetermined by race and nationality, the ethnic minority has no other way out than to resort to the false way of life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Larsons Passing and Rodriguezs Hunger of Memory is the outright manifestation of the infringement of the racial identity and cultural heritage for purpose of living in the elite society. Clares longing for social welfare and recognition forced her to resort to the false identity. In this case, her desire was materially predetermined. However, there are cases when a person has to forget his origin for self-realization. Nevertheless, in both cases, the authors prove that national origin could not be replaced by material values.

Works Cited

Larsen, Nella, and Davis Thadious. Passing. US: Penguin Classics, 2003.

Rodriguez, Richard. Hunger of Memory: an education of Richard US: Bantam, 1983.

Background creating ideas

At first, let us remember all those people who struggled against unfairness within masses. Those who being accomplished with their own problems and affairs tried to serve for their country, who never ridiculed common people, but the owners of upper classes. Here logic stays straight and clear. The inequity between classes was always. The other thing is when people of proper society and social status are doing harm to one another, forgetting about the highest calling in their lives and values it contains. We usually do not pay attention on situations like that. We tend to simplify them rather quickly, but we never win without the support in our minds. Such greatest support manifests itself in art, I think. From ancient times till now humanity has not yet invented something better. The art of literature, as for me, is the most suitable medicine for such diseases as discouragement, degeneracy, immorality etc. wherever you are.

That is why I want to have some important glimpses on works of two well-known authors, namely: Walker Percys Loss of the Creature and Michael Cohens On Reading Hamlet for the First Time.

Percys work and its virtues

My interest was caught by the phenomenon of diagnosing people as simple specimens and parts of uncomplicated machines in Percys work.

In The Loss of the Creature Percy discusses the manner in which a person loses his sovereignty by becoming a scientific specimen. (Lewis A. Lawson 39) Isnt it a disaster of mankind to be involved in ominous game of the destiny, I suppose? Does it declare us as individuums or as persons. As for me, one calls himself person strictly by the manner of his thinking and realizing himself persuading that he reached the level of self-estimation and self-expression. The game is worth candles only when a person is assured going step-by-step that risk is small.

According to Percys analysis in The Loss of the Creature and other essays, the rise of a scientific and rationalistic culture in the nineteenth century led to an increasingly alienated culture in which human beings lost a meaningful relationship to their own being. The sense of creatureliness can only be restored following an apocalyptic crisis leading to the restoration of a relationship to the everydayness of existence.(6) As Percy portrays this return at the conclusion of such novels as The Second Coming and Love in the Ruins, it coincides with the establishment of an interpersonal relationship with another human being. Percy implies that the recovery of everydaynessthe recovery from a condition of suicidepoints to psychological and spiritual reintegration, including the apprehension of the mystery of human existence. (Journal article by Jeffrey J. Folks 1)

Cohens work in comparison

Another author, Michael Cohen, as a teacher saw his great mission in making highly motivated persons from tabula rasas. He examines in his work the influence of arts on mankind and sees the true energy of a deep explanation of higher virtues throughout arts. W. Shakespeare and his works is a great example of putting the idea into focus of life rethinking. Hamlet is a figure of hesitation in wallow of passions and intrigues. The epoch of Renaissance was full of free streams in Science, Literature, Pictorial art. It gave people a fresh breath after a long period of scholastic and theological invasion full of dogmas and taboos.

Cohen in his On Reading Hamlet for the First Time restricts the idea of the Universe wholeness expressed in, at least, one outburst of artistic thought with a giddy effect.

Conclusion

Both authors try to keep our minds close to the reality, nevertheless there are too many contradicting ideas bumping each other from the side of other authors. In their works all characters and circumstances tend to illuminate social trends for us to prevent such troubles in time.

Works Cited

Chesser, Delton L., Walter T. Harrison, and William R. Reichenstein. Investment Tax Planning for Retirement: How to Make Taxes Work for the Client. Journal of Accountancy 196.2 (2003): 63+. Questia. Web.

Folks, Jeffrey J. The Risks of Membership: Richard Fords The Sportswriter. The Mississippi Quarterly 52.1 (1998): 73. Questia. Web.

Lawson, Lewis A. Following Percy: Essays on Walker Percys Work. Troy, NY: Whitston Publishing, 1988. Questia. Web.

On Reading Hamlet for the First Time Michael Cohen College Literature, Vol. 19, No. 1 (Feb., 1992), pp. 48-59.

The problem of tension between duty and conscience has always been the center of the discussions. This problem is more painful in the war times when these two notions have frequently appeared in situations when a person had to kill his/her friend only because of the feeling of duty before the country, and vice versa, when a person refused to kill because of his/her passionate love to the enemy. The question is what feeling is stronger, what characteristic feature is going to win, the duty before the country, or the conscious and warm relations to the person. There are a lot of literary works that discuss this problem from different sides and expose the problem of peoples remorse after killing a friend due to the feeling of duty.

Focusing the attention on Guests of the Nation by Frank OConnor, it should be mentioned that the feeling of duty before the country was higher and stronger in the story than the friendship and personal attitude to the people. To be more specific, a summary of the story is going to be provided. The time frames in the story are the middle of a war between England and Ireland. Belcher and Hawkins, two Englishmen, were taken as hostages by the Irish. The two soldiers were made to guard them, Bonaparte and Noble, who did not understand why they were sitting with those people, as no information could be taken from them. The narrator of the story, Bonaparte, tells the story of past events. The relations between the guard and prisoners were so close, that there was even the assurance that the prisoners are even incapable to escape. Bonaparte and Noble once questioned themselves why these people were taken under the guard as there was nothing they could be useful at. The reply was shocking, I thought you knew we were keeping them as hostages (OConnor 2000-415). This means different than just prisoners, the understanding came that once, they will have to kill their new friends. The scene where the Englishmen are killed is very impressive and horrifying. Belcher and Hawkins, guarded by Bonaparte and Noble, were delivered on the place of capital punishment. Neither Belcher nor Hawkins could do anything to save their friend. They could not believe that they had to kill their friends No one can ever say of me that I let down a pal (OConnor 2000-417). But pushed by duty and fear (You would because youd know youd be shot for not doing it (OConnor 2000-417)) they had to let their friends be killed, as they did not have the inner power to kill them themselves. Belcher and Hawkins even at the gates of their death and understanding who had to kill them turned to the soldiers as chum, expressing their feelings and understanding that the duty before the country should be on the first place, We knew that was no way out (OConnor 2000-417). Even the last Bonapartes impression showed his attitude to Belcher and Hawkins, I saw Hawkins stagger at the knees and lie out flat at Nobles feet, slowly and as quiet as a kid falling asleep (OConnor 2000-417). Both prisoners and guards understood that there was no other way, that the duty before the country should be higher, as you are only one person, and the country comprises millions.

The other story, which expresses the same tension between duty and conscience but from the other perspective, is The Things they Carried by Tim OBrien. The story is the collection of different narrations, or even situations, where the same people appear with the description of the duty and conscience struggle. People are walking and everybody cares about different things, material and mental. Everybody walks with their thoughts about their usual peaceful life, and everybody dreams. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross thinks that it was his fault in Ted Lavenders death, his conscience is worried. When Ted Lavender was killed Lieutenant Jimmy Cross thought about Martha, his love. Lieutenant Cross gazed at the tunnel. But he was not there. He was buried with Martha under the white sand at the Jersey shore (OBrien 1998-12), and at this moment Lavender was shot. This feeling of guilt that Lavender was killed remained with Lieutenant Jimmy Cross even after the war, as he was sure that it was his fault, that he did not follow his duty to protect the soldier-friend. All the stories in the collection show that people have been killed because of the absence of sufficient care for them when the duty was to protect them. People suffer remounts as it was their duty, but that feeling is the only reason to be upset. Nobody would care if there was no obligation on them and the feeling of duty is the only reason people suffered. Curt Lemon, Lee Strunk, Kiowa are people who were killed and the feeling of duty was only for pity. All these stories are written from the perspective of a lot of years passed, and understanding this it comes to mind that the aim of these stories is to justify other people behavior, to release from the feeling of guilt, giving some arguments which support the innocence of those who had to follow but failed.

Guests of the Nation and The Things they Carried are two literary works that represent the reader with almost the same idea, the tension between duty and conscience. These two pieces of works dwell upon the war times when people had to make very difficult decisions. The feelings of friendship had to contest with the feeling of duty before the country, and the decisions, which were provided, were very difficult and emotional. The situation in The Things they Carried is a little bit different. His feeling of guilt was caused by the feeling of duty, and people could not release from this feeling even after a lot of years after the war.

War is killing, not only people but also souls. Those, who took part in the war, know how difficult it is to choose between the feeling of guilt and friendship, they know what it means to suffer remorse only because you did not follow the situation which was your duty. War is insidious and cruel, and people are put in situations that have no way out, but the problem is that they have to decide what to do, and whether to live with this feeling till the end of life or to try to find some explanations and to avoid conscience tortures and be happy that you managed to survive and can continue to lead a normal life in the cycle of family and friends, who will never appear before the choice whether to kill or to be killed.

References

1. OBrien, Tim. The things they carried. Broadway Books, 1998
2. OConnor, Frank. Guests of the Nation in Irish writing in the twentieth century by David Pierce. Cork University Press, 2000

Outline

This paper will compare the style and point of view of the two stories Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway and Two Kinds by Amy Tan. The two different perspectives will be examined in the context of their respective stories and symbols to understand the viewpoints and the messages that they convey. Specific examples will be also given from each of the two works in highlighting the given symbols and stories. Hills Like White Elephants is the story of a young couple and the main issue pertains to whether the girl should undergo abortion in keeping with the intention of her lover who has other priorities in life than to raise a family immediately. The story, Two Kinds by Amy Tan depicts the life of a young immigrant girl from China who lives with her family in San Francisco. The story details the mental confusion and hardships the young girl undergoes in failing to keep up with her mothers expectations from her.

Thesis statement

In Hills Like White Elephants, Hemingway has used imagery of the settings to a great extent in symbolizing the internal mental process of the young girl in making decisions about her abortion.

In Two Kinds, Amy Tan has concentrated throughout the story on representing the theme that parents should concentrate more on guiding their children rather than controlling all their actions.

Hemingways story Hills Like White Elephants, starts with the use of settings in supporting the powerful symbols he has used. The surroundings as introduced in the story become the basis for the entire story that takes place in the 1920s in Spain. The setting is typically described by Hemingway as:

The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. [&] The American and the girl with him sat at a table in the shade, outside the building. It was very hot and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went to Madrid (Machete, 2009).

The decision regarding abortion is difficult and the loneliness of the railway station symbolizes that there is no other choice; either they go for abortion or dont. But the question appears to be having far-reaching consequences for the girl and the surrounding atmosphere adds vent to the seriousness of the situation. The landscape surrounding the station plays an important role through its symbolism in depicting the inherent conflict. When the girl glances at the long white hills she tells herself that they look like white elephants, wherefrom she elatedly foresees her baby being born which she believes to be unique like the white elephant. The white color connotes the purity and innocence of the unborn child which she looks forward to. She is happy in admiring the scene surrounding the place where they sat:

The girl stood up and walked to the end of the station. Across, on the other side, were the fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro. Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain and she saw the river through the trees (Machete, 2009).

The trees and green fields symbolize fertility and hope as evidenced by her pregnant state and the life of the baby inside her. But the man wants the girl to have an abortion and as she thinks about what he wants, she glances at the dry valley which is desolate and fruitless thus symbolizing her body after she undergoes the abortion. Both the man and the girl continue to argue endlessly and the story ends with the revelation that the train will arrive in five minutes. The story ends without any decision being taken but it is quite evident that the obvious will happen much against the wish of the girl.

The story Two Kinds also describes the relationship between two people but here it is between a Chinese mother and her rebellious daughter who wants to be Americanized as soon as possible. The story depicts the details of how the girl named Jing-mei struggles in dealing with her internal and external conflicts that emanate from the pressures that her mother exerts on her. In being born a Chinese, Jing-mei has to bear the burden of being unable to keep up with the expectations of her mother. While trying to find her true self she learns a lot of lessons as she grows older. In the entire length of the story Amy Tan has represented the theme that parents should not aim at controlling their children but should concentrate on guiding them at every step in life.

Jing-meis mother is confident about her daughter being able to achieve the most difficult goals in the US if she makes sincere efforts, and keeps pushing her into becoming a prodigy. But her daughter does not share the same views as her and believes that she must establish her own unique identity in deference to what her mother desires. Jing-mei feels that she can be very successful by making her own efforts with determination and this desire leads her to become cruel, hard and stubborn. The story is plotted in San Francisco during the 1950s when lots of immigrants were settling in the city. The strongest arguments put forward by the author relate to the struggles that all children and parents have to undergo as they grow older. As the story moves forward a sense of emotional growth along with mutual respect is observed between the mother and daughter. Tan has in fact taken upon herself the role of the child in narrating from her own viewpoint. The girls mother is repeatedly heard using the Chinese words Ni-Kan, You Watch! (Amy Tan, 2002). The repeated use of these words implies that Jing-mei is the daughter of a disorderly woman. Tan has expressed the feelings as experienced by children while growing up with parents that are domineering in expecting the whole world out of them, when all they want is to just go and play with other children. The message as given by the author is clear in that the girls mother is mainly concerned about her daughter becoming famous so that she herself will be better off. It is easy to see the disguised attempts of the mother are trying to motivate her daughter for her own motives.

The story in using the first-person account appears to have been written in retrospection; that Jing-mei is making a reflection backward from around the age of thirty years thus signifying that it is too late to make changes to happen. But it is clear that the mother and daughter have different viewpoints about life. The identity of self as perceived individually by both characters also differs significantly. However the biggest irony in the story is presented in the last paragraph when JIng-mei realizes that she and her mother are two halves of the same song (Amy Tan, 2002). The timing for this was indeed very sad in depicting that her mother was dead at that point.

Both stories have similarities by way of the characters not being natives of the place where the story is plotted. The prevailing circumstances in both stories compel the character to make difficult and painful choices as also to bear the brunt of anothers decision. In Hemingways story the girl is seen as reluctantly accepting the decision of her lover in going for the abortion while in Amy Tans story the daughter is pressurized too much by her mother and has to ultimately confront her with denials in regard to the plans she had chalked out for her. Both stories provide intense mental pressures for the main characters in coping with their loved ones and in having to give in to their unjustified demands and desires. The stories depict a detailed saga of the mental and emotional pain and hurt suffered at the hands of close ones. Both stories end on a sorrowful note with the endings being sad in not meeting the motives of the main characters.

Works Cited

Amy Tan, Two Kinds: A Study Guide from Gales Short Stories for Students (Volume 09, Chapter 13), 2002, The Gale Group Machete, Hills Like White Elephants  Literary Analysis, Web.

Renner, S. Moving to the Girls Side of Hills Like White Elephants. Hemingway Review, 1995. Vol. 15.

Literature is the most responsive kind of art. Moods of society, people and changes in cultural and political life primarily appear in works of writers, dramatists and poets. Modernist literature is controversial and arguable. Nevertheless, it has some basic assumptions on the top. These very assumptions may be applied to all three works: Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden, Miss Brill by Catherine Mansfield, Trifles by Susan Keating Glaspell. In all these works we see that social progress is keeping up, but individuals are still detached from one another and become more estranged with every coming day. Miss Brill feels lonely in the crowd of people. Father in Those Winter Sundays works much, but it will never be appreciated by his son, and he is alone in his industrious heart. Mrs. Wright and other women are lonely in their efforts to overcome existing unfairness and turn their personalities to be equal with mens ambitions to rule the world. In such way Susan Glaspell investigates themes of American identity, individuality vs. social conformity (Ozieblo). Such messages sound also in the works of Catherine Mansfield and Robert Hayden.

The problems of humans freedom and responsibility in principle characters are raised. Even if in case of Trifles he never comes to stage, they are individuals, which are responsible for the meaning of their lives. For Miss Brill it comes not only to watching other people in the park, but also to imagining herself a part of their lives, although it is quite obvious that she was not a free person. She had invisible ropes of society on her body, which prevented her from being happy and telling about her problems. Remember Sundays to my father got up early&the cold splintering, breaking (Hayden). These lines introduce a serious point to the reader: a father sacrifices so many things and even his own health to create wealth and well-fed future for his son and his family. Despite nasty weather and poor conditions, the father realizes his duties and has to find more powers to help his family to start this new day more or less comfortably. Even if his actions are not noticeable for his family, somewhere inside, he knows that his efforts will be soon appreciated. So Father is responsible not only for himself, but also for his family. But this responsibility makes him not free to choose what to do the next day. All his deeds are prescribed by this very responsibility. Women in Trifles are afraid of responsibility, although they long for it and for freedom and independence and are much cleverer than their husbands. Only angst makes them decline a possibility to fight for their rights.

We can also highlight the drama of each situation described in above mentioned works. Authors do not lay claim to know everything, to give recipes or judge, they are not somewhere on the boundary between a world of fiction and the reality of the reader, but totally inside depicted reality. It helps to avoid prejudices and makes the reader decide for himself. This causes tension and makes us sympathize to the characters of the works.

We can find not only mood of angst, sometimes even anguish, in front of the future, but also doom. Doom not only because of fate, but doom caused by blind society, indifference from near and dear people and own unwillingness to change anything.

Miss Brill is a bittersweet story of a sickly woman leading an ephemeral life in Paris, which consists of observations and simple joys. Her fur stole lacks life as well as she does. Every morning she gives herself a good brush, as if she were a fur stole which spends lots of days in the wardrobe. Miss Brill lives her life in a closed space that she has made herself. And we pity this woman, because nobody sees her in spite of crowds of people around. She has been walking to the park on Sundays, where she has her special seat (Mansfield 135). Being lonely, Miss Brill has the only entertainment in her live but sharing different roles, which she takes up according the creativity of her imagination (Brown, Danson and Gupta 104). Coming to the park, Miss Brill becomes the part of the society, the part of peoples life, who walks round, but only in her imagination. Trying to watch people without being noticed, Miss Brill has created her personal reality where she is not alone and surrounded by people.

Susan Glaspell also reveals the disillusionments and hopes of aging (Ozieblo). And this unites her with themes of Catherine Mansfield. One more common feature is universal importance that all three works gain. In Trifles it is achieved by means that main characters never appear on the stage, and universal struggle between genders is transmitted by three man-characters and two women-characters. So ordinary things become unusual and draw attention. On those Winter Sundays we may apply the message of the story to all the parents in the world. Each father has to think about his familys comfort. However, this family has to take care about the father as well, but in the case depicted in the poem no one ever thanked him (Hayden). Miss Brill is quite a universal story. If we go to any park of the world, we may see old women loving in their world under confused smiles.

Loss of hope and despair are immutable, they are substituted by the values of society, but they are short-lived like everything in the world. The foreign values become ones own values, but the society is too much concerned about its own problems and it has no time to look in the souls of every individual. These works teach the reader to treat everybody carefully and sympathetically.

We all go through the same things  its all just a different kind of the same thing (Susan Glaspell Quotes). This very quotation by Susan Glaspell never better shows the message which unites all these works. Nevertheless, they also bear some peculiar features, which make them differ from each other. Those winter holidays can make the audience cry, so deep the depicted drama is. Moreover, racial problems are raised in this poem. It is full of simple but true to life epithets, which make it sound authentic. Miss Brill shows an internal monologue and we can see two worlds  imaginable and real, which are in conflict with each other. Miss Brill was non-native in France, and this deepened her loneliness from the very beginning. We understand that she could never feel at home in the circle of strangers. Miss Brill is a stream-of-consciousness narrative that gives us an excellent opportunity to look inside the principle character. Trifles show how ladies can be smarter thinking about little things than gentlemen thinking generally and solving important problems. The peculiarity about this play is that Mrs. Wright at the beginning is an unfair rude murder, but at the end of the play our view are changed, and we realize why she killed her husband. So here we can experience a metamorphosis of a principal character, a murderer becomes a victim.

Investigation of the symbols in the works helps us to look into the thesis. In Miss Brill symbolic feature is gained by the fur stole. We see that Miss Brills soul is enclosed in this fur, as it is dusty and dead like poor animal. Besides, it is mocked by strangers because it is out fashioned. Miss Brill also drags behind. By every step she drops behind, never catching up. Other people go further; she remains still on her seat for every coming day. In those Winter Sundays the symbols are cracked in Fathers hands. Industrious, reliable hands, but not appreciated by anyone. They as if live beyond the body, such a huge attention they draw. The sense of Fathers life is in these hands. Bad weather outside symbolizes life, full of dangers, obstacles and efforts. But Father is a mythic hero who is sure to overcome them. And in Trifles symbolic outline is represented in the very title of the story. As we have mentioned, trifles gain huge importance. One more symbol is knotted quilt. It bears a strong resemblance to the Gordian knot that should be cut. So many misunderstandings in the society between women and men have accumulated that they should be solved as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will lead to a disaster like in the play.

The authors experience the loneliness of their characters in front of the hostile world like their own. The depiction of ordinariness and routine helps to make quite different general conclusions from which we would have expected. In all the works a special viewpoint on the individuality and personality and the world as a whole opens due to the unsurpassed skills of the authors. The principal characters are ordinary little people but we can see a burst of emotions and rich sole in everybody. Maybe, to live without realizing a reason for life is the cruelest punishment. That is why these people find sense in everyday things, like work, stroll or relations with husband. Old world will never be the same, everything changes, and if one cannot get used to it, it will lead to disappointments and delusions. One should also learn how to become indifferent to ungrounded offenses of other people, like Miss Brill was ridiculed by a young couple, Father was dismissed by his son, and women are neglected by their husbands. This will continue until people realize that living only for others they are destroying their lives, their future and themselves because virtues are the same but differently understood by people. It is very hard to rebel alone, but only in such case one can lead other people.

To conclude, we may assume that all three works are united under the stream of modernism and have common features, but the individuality of each author makes his work sound peculiar and incomparable to other works.

Works Cited

Brown, Danson Richard and Gupta Suman. Aestheticism & modernism: debating twentieth-century literature 1900-1960. London: Routledge, 2005.

Hayden, Robert. Those Winter Sundays. Poet Seers. Web.

Mansfield, Katherine. Miss Bill in The Garden Party and Other Stories. London: BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2008.

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Ozieblo Barbara. Susan Glaspell: A Critical Biography. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2000. Web.