Monday, July 22, 2019
How Literature Reflects Communities Essay Example for Free
How Literature Reflects Communities Essay Authors have historically used various literary works to reflect the societies in which their live. To this end, the actions of characters in literary works reflect existing social concepts whereas the surrounding societyââ¬â¢s behavior mirrors on specific charactersââ¬â¢ behaviors. In essence, societies and communities are normally depicted as mutually affecting each other. Notable cases of literary works in which such reciprocal interaction is demonstrated are the three short stories namely: William Faulknerââ¬â¢s A Rose for Emily; Flannery OConnorââ¬â¢s Good Country People; and Toni Cade Bambaraââ¬â¢s The Lesson. To illustrate, through his A Rose for Emily story, Faulkner describes Emily Grierson as being negatively affected by her surrounding society. In turn, Emilyââ¬â¢s actions negatively impact of her compatriots. Likewise, through the Good Country People story, OConnor describes the character named Joy Hopewell as negatively impacting on the people around her. Consecutively, the society in which Hopewell lives demonstrates an attitude that negatively affects her. In a similar version, Toni Cade Bambaraââ¬â¢s The Lesson story illustrates the character called Miss Moore being negatively affected by her surrounding society. In response, Miss Moore demonstrates behaviors and attitudes that negatively impact on her compatriots. All in all, OConnor through Good Country People Faulkner through A Rose for Emily ââ¬â as well as Bambara ââ¬â through The Lesson short stories describe their protagonists as reciprocally affecting and being affected by their societies in a negative way. For example, in Bambaraââ¬â¢s The Lesson story, Miss Mooreââ¬â¢s condescending opinion towards her compatriots especially the children with which she spends most of her time attracts disproval from the surrounding community. Consequently, both the children as well as the adults disrespect Miss Moore. For instance, Bambara notes that ââ¬Ëthe grown-ups (talk) â⬠¦.. when â⬠¦. behind her back like a dog,ââ¬â¢ thus showing utter disrespect for Miss Moore (). Mooreââ¬â¢s irritatingly patronizing nature is evident when she ââ¬Ëlooks atââ¬â¢ her students ââ¬Ë like she readin tea leavesââ¬â¢ (). The author thus presents a picture of an individual and the surrounding society mutually affecting each other in a negative manner. Likewise, through the A Rose for Emily story, Faulkner shows that Emilyââ¬â¢s unbecoming behavior invites rude responses from her compatriots. For instance, Emily demonstrates impoliteness when she demonstrates stubbornness towards her societyââ¬â¢s pleas that she pays taxes. She even firmly removes the societyââ¬â¢s representatives from her house. Abruptly summoning Tobe her manservant Emily instructs him to ââ¬ËShow these gentlemen outââ¬â¢ (). In reaction, the society demonstrates indifference towards her as is evident from the narratorââ¬â¢s assertions that the society does not know of Emilyââ¬â¢s sickness. To this end, the narrator remarks ââ¬ËWe did not even know she was sickââ¬â¢ (). Similarly, through his Good Country People story, OConnor depicts Joy Hopewell as a character who demonstrates haughtiness towards her compatriots notably Mrs. Freeman and Hopewell ââ¬Ës mother the result being that she becomes painfully alienated from her society. For example, because she is educated , Hopewell mocks all people around her as is evident from her remark that her mother is ââ¬Ëbloated, rude, and squint-eyedââ¬â¢ (). In reaction, society alienates Hopewell , thus making her to beg her mother to wholesomely accept her. A deeply remorseful Hopewell cries out to the mother saying ââ¬Ëlike I amââ¬â¢ take me (). In conclusion, the issue of individuals negatively reacting with their surrounding communities is clearly evident through the 3 stories, Good Country People, The Lesson, as well as A Rose for Emily. Good Country Peopleââ¬â¢s Hopewell suffers segregation due to her arrogant attitude towards her compatriots. Likewise, A Rose for Emilyââ¬â¢s Emily suffers segregation due to her condescending view of her society. Lastly, The Lessonââ¬â¢s Miss Mooreââ¬â¢s is disrespected by society owing to her attitude of viewing her compatriots as being unknowledgeable.
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