Comparison Of 3 Tales By Mandela,B. Head,C. Achebe

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Comparison of the tales: Robben Island: The Dark Years. (Nelson Mandela’s autobiography) The prisoner who wore glasses. (Bessie Head) Dead men’s path. (Chinua Achebe) W hen we read these stories for the first time we think of them to be very different—different setting, different characters, different endings. Then, how could we make a comparison among such different things? The answer is not to pay attention to the obvious differences but to the inner similarities. I do not mean I will not analyze those differences—which make each story exquisitely unique—but we need something to attach to in order to fulfill a comparison based on meaning rather than on structure. Surprisingly, when we change our view we can realize that the three stories are analogous, perhaps Dead men’s path in another level, but finally it is also analogous to the others. This analogy is based on internal patterns that appear to be in the three stories. Basically, the three tales show: two sides in conflict; one of the sides tries to reach an agreement with the other side (negotiate), not only to appeal for a more peaceful atmosphere but also to achieve their own objectives; the other side answers positively or negatively, and depending on that answer the result of the negotiation benefits both sides or none. In order to prove the analogy, I will show how the three tales obey the pattern mentioned above. In Robben Island: The dark years, the two groups in conflict are the prisoners of the different sections and the warders of the prison; the prisoners try to befriend the warders—even giving up dignity—to receive the same response from them and this way be able to communicate among sections, because they became less wary of them. They also ask for improvements on the poor conditions they lived, making pressure through a hunger strike; the warders unexpectedly
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