Greasy Lake Analysis

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Society’s Burdens Social influences have shaped the way humans function since the beginning of time. Whether it be by style of dress, religious beliefs, musical choice, or language, society has played a vital role on how people decide to live. In the short stories “Greasy Lake” by T. Coraghessan Boyle and “Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, both demonstrate how society can influence our decisions and can lead to devastating mistakes. A boy in “Greasy Lake “exudes a “bad boy” persona which leads him to commit crimes, and see the negative consequences of his decisions, in “Hills like White Elephants” a woman becomes entranced by an American philosopher and loses her self-dignity to fit in with in with him. The young man in “Greasy Lake” portrays himself as a “tough guy” by changing his demeanor and wardrobe. Although in reality this boy, is college…show more content…
Sadly, the pressures and expectations that the boy in “Greasy Lake” tries to live up to not only disturb him emotionally but lead to devastation for others as well. For the woman in “Hills like White Elephants” she is compliant and willing to lose everything she is worth to be brought in by a group of nomads, and commit her life to someone who does not love her as much as she loves him. Unfortunately, the themes displayed in these short stories can be transcribed to reality and many people have fallen to the pressures they face in society. Some pressures throughout history have been disastrous and lead to deaths, irrevocable mistakes, disease, and remorse. It is important for people to love who they are and embrace themselves first. It is vital to stay true to ourselves and don’t let others change who you are. The beauty of mankind is that we are all unique in society and that is what makes life

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