His self-torture leads him to walk “under the influence of a species of somnambulism”, thinking irrationally in a way not like himself. His pent up agony causes Dimmesdale to act out in ways like this that could reveal his secret. Dimmesdale’s psychological agony partly stems from a form of spiritual alienation. As a minister, he has a close relationship with God and has a strong sense of spirituality. Due to his sin, his relationship with God suffers in the way that his sin separates him from the teachings of Jesus.
Anse Bundren is an uneducated farmer whose selfish tendencies in his personality result in poor parenting and relations with others. Anse is extremely selfish as well as stubborn and throughout the book he butts heads with the other characters. For Anse his wife's death is just bad luck and he seems only to feel bad for himself, not for the loss of her. Even his intentions for her burial are laced with selfishness because he will acquire a new set of false teeth. Anse’s exaggerated traits of selfishness distance him from the other characters and others tend to dislike him because of his self-centered personality.
When comparing the emotional aspects of the characters in both stories it is clear that their characteristics affect the plot of the stories. For instance; Trevor, although not the leader of the Wormsley Gang, but clearly desiring to be, becomes angry after visiting the home of Mr. Thomas. “T” as he is called, convinces the other gang members to help him destroy the home of Mr. Thomas’, also known as “Old Misery”. It was clear that “T” and the gang were somewhat disgusted in Old Misery’s obsession with hording his wealth while neglecting his house. In “The Rocking Horse Winner” Paul’s mother desperately desires a richer life that cannot be supported on her husband’s income, and blames him for her despairing life.
Spiegelman's portrayal of Vladek reinforces the stereotype of the miserly Jew. Discuss Whilst Vladek’s views and values can be closely associated with those of the stereotypical ‘miserly Jew’, Spiegleman’s uncensored portrayal of his father and his own authorial ‘voice’ withinThe CompleteMaus serve to question rather than reinforce this stereotype. Further, Spieglemen juxtaposes other survivors against Vladek demonstrating that not all Jewish people conform to this stereotype. Moreover, Vladek at times also exhibits admirable traits that serve to dispel claims that Vladek simply mirrors the racial exaggeration of the stingy Jew. Consequently, becauseSpieglemancasts Vladek as both overly concerned with money but also highly grateful and generous towards those who helped him survive, Maus ultimately exposes this racist caricature rather than reiterating it.
It must needs be a delusion. What can a ruined soul, like mine, effect towards the redemption of other souls? Or a polluted soul, towards their purification?’” (131) He was looked at by the townspeople as a leader, a good man, and even the purest of them all. The reality though, was that he was a man in love, lying, and not doing as he
Sophocles characterizes Creon as a sexist ruler who has little value for women, which consequently leads to his downfall. This ultimately reveals that possessing discriminatory traits can result in one’s demise. Sophocles characterizes Creon as a sexist man that consequently endures a harsh downfall when he displays his arrogant attitude about himself being king and his belittling attitude towards women. During his argument with Antigone, he says that because he is a man, he will never submit to a woman. Creon quotes, “Then get you down thither, and love, if you must love, the dead!
Crooks really resents this fact which has made him cruel, self-pity, gruff and accepting the stage of being less human than the others. As he says "If I say something, why it's just a nigger sayin' it" showing his anger about being pushed to the side. He says to Lennie "You got no right to come in my room.....You go on get outa my room. I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse and you ain't wanted in my room." He continues by saying that the whites believe he stinks and one can interpret this as a way of saying that the whites would find it a disgrace that a nigger should breathe the same bunkhouse air as them.
Because the poem places a large emphasis on Satan and the fall of man, it could give a sense of rebellion to an uneducated reader, which it certainly did with the monster. However, if Paradise Lost was replaced with the Bible, this influence would be reversed with many positive influences, including “Thou shalt not kill,” and “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” Plutarch’s Lives is a collections of historic retellings of the lives of famous Greek and Roman figures. While there are many positive stories, there are also many negative influences. Many tales of betrayal create negative precedents that the monster followed. However, if a different selection of Lives were chosen, then the monster could have learned of valor and honor.
Likewise, Kabuo distrusts his white neighbours so much that he refuses to cooperate with Art Moran’s investigation of Carl’s death. He has past experience of great prejudice and realises he must defend himself as no one else will trust a “jap”. His defensive mechanism however, which is to be still and proud, is culturally misinterpreted at his trail and instead he just appears cold and arrogant. Guterson suggests that prejudice runs in circles, with each biased action and attitude reinforcing prejudice. Characters that are surrounded by such resentments start to internalise them, allowing them to seep into other parts of their life.
Through the actions of his characters, Steinbeck aims to show the self-destruction of humanity by its greed for power. Nearly all of the characters admit to having a profound sense of loneliness and isolation. Each desires the comfort of a friend, but is unwilling to accept others. In the novella, Curley’s wife admits that she is unhappily married, yet she makes herself into a threatening figure. Crooks tells Lennie that life is no good without a companion to turn to in times of confusion and need, but he displays himself as rude and unwelcoming.