Stress is something that can manipulate one’s life, to the point of suicide. Throughout the short story, “Paul’s Case” written by Willa Cather, the author reveals how the main protagonist, Paul struggles to deal with the strain societal beliefs deposited on his shoulders. Paul’s addictive nature to art brings him into a phase of rejuvenation, where he feels happiest around the theater, listening to music, or gazing at paintings. However when he is faced with reality of real life, he interprets everything as a miserable place, just like Cordelia Street. Paul displays a specific behavior of disowning the poor and respecting the rich.
“His lips were continually twitching, and he had a habit of raising his eyebrows.” Along with his attitude and behavior these facial actions made Paul’s teachers think he was crazy and psychotic. I think Paul is an interesting character. He seem’s smart at points in the story but he keeps changing through out. His dynamic personality makes it seem to the reader that Paul does not have a stable mind. At the beginning of the story Paul seems cynical toward his teachers.
Lastly, Catherine, Heathcliff and Edgar are alienated the most in the novel, Wuthering Heights. It can be said that this alienation is what causes their deaths, and all of their sorrows. Alienation makes a character desperate, and desperation can cause one to make decisions that they regret. Bad decisions are made by Hindley and Isabella because of alienation in the novel Wuthering Heights. Hindley first feels alienation as a young boy, when his father, Mr. Earnshaw returns from Liverpool with a dark haired boy, a “gipsy brat.” Hindley dislikes Heathcliff, the orphan immediately, but his hatred for him grows as he quickly becomes Mr. Earnshaw’s favourite.
Salinger shows how Holden’s childhood have shaped his attitude towards others. Through Holden’s characteristics, actions and comments Salinger shows that events in our life can affect the adults we become. Holden tends to be a pessimist teenager that always sees the bad in people, especially in adults. He has the habit to use the word “phony” to describe people, and it seems like he has difficulties having a good social life, but he doesn’t really like to be alone. He has been kicked out of school several times; it seems like he does not care about it; however, he has a decent grade in English class.
The kids seemed to be bored because they think that the work is stupid or that they are already aware of how to do it. The students also pointed out the fact that the teachers didn’t seem to know much more about what was being taught then the students themselves. On the other side of the spectrum the teachers are just as bored because they feel the students are rude and only interested in the grades. He then continues on to say that we shouldn’t blame the teachers or the students, in this case, we should blame ourselves. He says we are all to blame.
Also, by the words “real cool” this shows how arrogant the young men are, it even points out how the individuals themselves place themselves higher than others. Further, when examining the poem, line two reveals that the individuals do not like school. To illustrate in the poem the individuals relate that “We left school” this shows that the gang could care less about their education; they are not responsive of the meaning of education which will quickly become their devastation. Also, when the gang refers to leaving “school” this proves that they no longer attend school but skip
Both Catcher in the Rye and Igby Goes Down are a clear representation of the youth rejecting the value of conformity in their contextual societies. Both Salinger and Steers utilize the characterisation of their young protagonists, Holden and Igby, to epitomise non-conformity. Both characters, of wealthy background, have been expelled from numerous expensive private schools due to inability to fit with social norms. Holden cannot stand the concept of the expensive prep school moulding him into something he does not want to be and hence, he fails to apply himself and gets expelled. Holden considers Pency Prep school, a symbol of conformist society, as “phoney” and full of “morons”.
The Manifest Characters of “A&P” The more people make mistakes, the more they learn. In “A&P”, John Updike accounts for Sammy's mistake – quiting – by relaying the impulsive and immature nature of adolescent teens, then, having Sammy understand things are going to be tough now that he has no job, “...and my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter.” (32). The speaker throughout the story is Sammy himself; a young man of nineteen years whom finds his boss who is the store's manager – Lengel – to be harsh and merciless when doing his job. In effect to his manager's behavior toward three young girls, Sammy makes an impulsive and immature decision – or mistake to many – by quitting his job and walking out on the store. Updike maneuvers right into explanation of character as soon as he opens the short story.
She made demeaning remarks towards his poverty, his lack of not having a Daddy, and the way he acted during class. The teacher just assumed that he was a boy that was stupid, that was a troublemaker. She didn’t see him in
When the boys leave class one describes it as “That was weird, but different” revealing that although the boys are uncomfortable with Mr Keating’s methods, it’s still a welcome change. When Todd Anderson, the protagonist, forgot his homework and is asked by Mr Keating to ‘Yawp!’ as punishment, a close up on Todd’s facial expression reveals how shy and embarrassed he is to be in front of the class. This is another example of how un-conforming can take you out of your comfort zone. The paradoxical notion of conformity is exposed during the turning point of the movie. When the group of