Love and Loneliness in Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Through the course of this story, it was a huge misunderstanding by Maria that Nemecia had killed their grandfather and hurt her own mother. However, Maria is not to blame for this misconception

In conclusion, the story of “ An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” relates better to perception and consciousness than the film version of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Bierce takes the reader from reality to one man’s perception of reality and plays each idea off the other. Meanwhile, Enrico takes the audience through the actions of this man’s reality. Both the short story and film show their views on the stage of the dying man through their own unique

In Miriam, by Truman Capote, amidst loneliness, Mrs. Miller becomes face to face with a young girl whose personality is the complete opposite to her own, a girl who is not afraid to ask for what she wants, while Mrs. Miller is recluse and avoids asking too much from other people. Gradually, as Miriam pushes Mrs. Miller over the edge, she begins to lose the polite, withdrawn part of herself who gives in to passivity. Realizing her faults, Mrs. Miller avoids any of her past characteristics and any qualities that remind her of Miriam. Through characterization, conflict, and tone, Truman Capote uses Miriam to reveal to the reader that self-preservation and detachment can tear a person apart, just as Mrs. Miller herself became a hollow shell of a person.

“On March 20, 2000, he goes to his grandmother Águeda’s house. He stands on the same porch that his mother disappeared from eleven years ago. He hugs Maria Isabel and Aunt Rosa Amelia. Then he steps off” (44).

Her whole life the Marquesa “lived alone and she thought alone” (Wilder 14). The Marquesa grew up without love and happiness in her childhood. When she married “a supercilious and ruined nobleman” (Wilder 14) she bore a daughter who she “fastened upon her idolatrous love” (Wilder 14). She chose to bestow upon her daughter all of the love that she didn’t receive. Her daughter Clara was like her father in many ways and regarded her mother “with astonishment and repulsion” (Wilder 14). When time of marriage came she “deliberately chose the one that required her removal to Spain” (Wilder 14). The Marquesa’s whole existence “lay in the burning center of her mind”(Wilder 15) and revolved around writing her daughter letters after she moved to Spain. She chose to become more secluded and to devote her time trying to connect to her daughter who would never return her

This essay will be going through the different types of love, and the power that they wield. Throughout the novel, different characters hold different powers of love. First, Clara’s love towards Ferula and Pedro Segundo will be discussed. And second, Esteban’s obsessiveness with Clara will be looked at closer. The bonds of love are stronger in relationships that aren’t acceptable compared to relationships that are acceptable in society.

Enrique’s journey begins when he is left on the porch all alone without his mother in sight. He is confused and questions “Donde esta mi mami,”(page 1)he is only 5, this confusion leads into rebellion then anger which is what finally pushes him to go on journey to find his mother, does she not love me, he questions, he wanted answers but also missed his mother so much that he does not care or even think about how hard and risky his travel will be.

Maria is a religious mother of six who throughout the book she is very close minded and unwilling to change her plans or way of life no matter the influence. Maria is a member of the Luna, a family of religious farmers and as such she wants Antonio to become the next educated priest to guide the Luna in the future. She finds comfort in the steady life of farming and finds her husband 's ideals to be idiotic and unrealistic. When arguing about their land, Gabriel sees it as a symbol of freedom but Maria says in retort “It is worthless! Look

She had her suspicions for some time, but finally Gustave admitted to falling in love with the young and attractive daughter of his boss at work. They had seen each other for some time, and many late nights he was supposedly working had been in the arms of his mistress. He left Mariabella and the two girls with nothing.

She sometimes sits out by the creek and remembers her father telling her “I am your father, I will never abandon you.” (Cisneros 1) She remembers this only after she is a mother and this is when she realizes “How when a man and a woman love each other, sometimes that love sours. But a parent’s love for a child, a child’s for its parents, is another thing entirely.” (Cisneros 1) Surely by now she feels her love souring. She can not understand why Juan must drink all time and why he continues to beat after he promises that he will never do it again.

Stephen Crane’s short story, “The Open Boat” speaks directly to Jack London’s own story, “To Build A Fire” in their applications of naturalism and views on humanity. Both writers are pessimistic in their views of humanity and are acutely aware of the natural world. The representations of their characters show humans who believe that they are strong and can ably survive, but these characters many times overestimate themselves which can lead to an understanding of their own mortality as they face down death.

The relationship between Mariam and Laila grows overtime into an unbreakable love. Mariam is a vulnerable character that experienced hardships and negativity throughout her life. Her reliance on faith and religion gave her hope. Laila however, has had a positive upbringing from modern parents. Her education is what made her a strong and intelligent girl. Their personalities contrast to bring the best out of each other. However at first, in fear of being overshadowed by Laila, Mariam says “If [Laila] thinks [she] can use [her] looks to get rid of me, [she is] wrong. [Mariam] was here first. [She] won't be thrown out” (225). As Mariam has never been a priority to anyone in her life she was very defensive over her role in the house. As jealousy embarked upon Mariam,

She gets excited when boys look at her on the streets. But her illusion of true love is destroyed by sexual violence. Her friend Sally’s behaviour towards boys contributes to Esperanza’s caution and distance by dealing with the opposite sex, too. Nevertheless, Esperanza does not stop dreaming of leaning against a car with her boyfriend in a place where that does not bother anyone. But she has set her standards higher than most of the women around her. She do not search for a man to escape from this place, she has seen too many unhappy marriages. Ruthie exemplifies such an one. She has run away from her husband and seems to be mentally disturbed. The young Rafaela is locked up by her husband because of her beauty. Nevertheless the tragic event is Sally’s which ends in abuse. Sally, Esperanza’s friend, only wanted to dream and share her love like Esperanza. Hurt and beaten by her father who just wanted to prevent the familiy’s ruin by Sally. To escape, despite of her minority, she marries a salesman. But unlike her wish, the abuse continues.

Reading and understanding literature is not as easy as it sounds. Being able to dissect each piece of information and connect it to the overall theme of the story takes lots of rereading and critical thinking. Reading the story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” takes lots of critical thinking and understanding the literature in a different point of view than the average reader would. The theme of this particular story quickly came to mind after initially concluding the reading, the author is trying to convey that nobody can escape death and how thoughts in the mind are so substantial in the consciousness that it can take over the reality. The author comes to this theme by incorporating specific literary elements such a symbol, irony,

Bernarda not only has control over her daughters, but also over the servant, Poncia. Poncia is like a surrogate mother to the daughters, often offering advice and personal opinions. Bernarda holds control over Poncia because she showed her respect given her past life, and employed her sons, giving them a better life. For this, Poncia is also held in captivity. Poncia lives in fear that is she were to leave, Bernarda would expose to the public the history of her mother and shame her from any respect she has gained being Bernarda’s servant. By giving Poncia a job knowing her family’s reputation, it is viewed to the public as an act of kindness and respect, just as Bernarda would want. However, behind the walls of the home it puts her in a position of more control and power.