You have no respect for anything. You drink yourselves to death.” This quote typifies the Lost Generation. These writers, artists, and performers living in Europe as expatriates, had lost their way in the world. Their belief in their fellow man and the existence of God, or any other guiding force, was shaken. The devastating experiences of World War I and the death of so many of their generation’s best and brightest young men caused disillusionment with the American way of life.
He is unhappy with his marriage to Zeena but he never tells anyone how he feels. He just goes on with his life as if nothing is wrong. This is an example of irony because Ethan has the ability to change his life, which he is unhappy with, however, he chooses not to. Meanwhile, he keeps all of that depression and sadness inside. This not only hurts himself, but Zeena as well.
The Valley of Ashes is also shown as the failure of the American dream as it is a place where real working class Americans are working and are unhappy and lifeless. George Wilson’s characterisation shows detail of this as he is described of having a ‘damp gleam of hope’ (pg 17) in his eyes but he is a ‘spiritless’ and ‘anemic’ man showing that he wishes for something more but the Valley of Ashes have his life and he can’t get out. In truth no one can escape the Valley of Ashes as we see Myrtle getting killed as she tries to escape from there, George Wilson keeps his wife captive in their house as she wants to leave ‘I’ve got my wife locked up in there’ (pg 87) but when Myrtle does try to escape she ends up getting killed by Daisy, ‘thick dark blood with the dust’ (pg 88) this symbolises that although Daisy hit her with Gatsby’s car it was actually the Valley of Ashes that killed her because she tried to escape and be more than a working class American failing the American dream. The ‘ash’ also symbolises death and it
He would not tell anyone of the reason behind his sorrow, and this secrecy and guilt would manifest itself through illness. Every time someone dies, Victor feels more sorrowful and guiltier, yet he never reveals why he feels this way and quickly falls ill. He becomes a burden to those who care, as they have to take care of him. This time, it’s different, (which can be interpreted as an indicator that the climax is near), and by the end of the passage, Victor doesn’t feel that he’s helpless in this situation, in fact, he is determined to do something for his loved ones instead, and this time, Victor is not afraid of the monster, he will face the monster. This is indicated at the end of the passage, as Victor realizes that postponing the wedding will not bind the monster, and it may get revenge in some other, more horrifying way.
He makes the anticipation of bad news worse than the bad news itself. As Kumalo “arrives” at the point of sorrow, it is a relief because although he still feels crushed to know all that has become of his son is a murderer, he at least stands on solid ground. This is shown when he goes to visit his son before the trial and loses respect for his brother because his brother refuses to try to grieve. He knows that by refusing to do so, his brother is also refusing to heal. Kumalo knows that there is no purpose in extending the journey, because then he would just be extending the pain.
Effects of War on Returning Soldiers For many Americans, the Vietnam War is over and long forgotten. However that is still not true for everyone. Of the nearly three million Americans who served in Vietnam, a large portion of them have suffered or continue to suffer from their war experiences long after the fighting ended. Among those still suffering are several veterans who have felt forgotten, unappreciated, and even discriminated against. For some of them the trauma of their battle experiences or their physical disabilities has shattered their lives.
Although Hemingway does not describe much about what Krebs experienced during the war, it is obvious that this man went through a transformation, and returned with what an outsider looking in would call extreme apathy. Harold Krebs, along with millions of other men and women, experienced war, an undertaking many can and will never know. Because of his service, he will never be able to truly return home, return to fulfilling society’s wants, return to the old Harold Krebs. Those who have never experienced what Krebs has, such as his own mother, will never understand what it was like, and will continue to force him to satisfy their standards of what is normal. Krebs’ sense of compassion and emotion was scarred in the war.
This hurt that arises within people is characterized by the feeling of unhappiness. This idea is shown in Ann Beattie her short stories “Janus” and “The Burning House” where characters live in concealment in their everyday lives. Beattie believes that living a personal and public life of secrecy will generate unhappiness. This causes characters within Beattie’s stories to find themselves unsatisfied with their lives and their marriages. No character within Beattie’s novels have found marriage the answer to their happiness, and so “secret liaisons abound in Beattie’s fiction supporting characters with intimacy they cannot find in their more public marriages or cohabitations” (Cannon).People are so desperate to be happy in life , they seek other methods to find happiness; they have affairs and live in secret, but in the end they are only left with unhappiness.
We explore how retelling the stories bring up the pain from war experience, and it lets the soldiers work through it after the war had ended. The protagonist is unable to tell his war experiences and therefore drives silently around; this lack of audience prevents him from arriving at a similar understanding. Norman Bower is finding himself at a loss, he comes home to nothing, his friends are all dead, his girlfriend is married and he has nobody to share his wartime stories with. The structural framework that the narrator is represented in is; that his life goes in circles, he is constantly thinking about the traumatizing experiences the
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman follows travelling salesman Willy Loman’s reluctant expedition into despair as he battles with his delusions. He ultimately loses this war and commits suicide. Suffice it to say, Willy was a victim to his fate because his failure to achieve the American Dream and his relationships forced him to inevitably commit suicide. For Willy Loman, the American Dream –– the opportunity of prosperity and success through hard work –– was an attainable goal. However, after years of diligence and patience, Willy unfortunately floundered on his climb towards success and was left high and dry.