A person’s past life is really important because it shapes the individual to be the kind of person he/she will be in the future. No matter how much we try, we can’t rid ourselves of our past nor can we run away from it. It’s embedded in our memories and will always remain to do so. In the short story “Xmas”, by Russell Banks, we meet the protagonist, Gregory Dodd who tries to run away from his past and avoid it. Eventually, the reader will learn what the consequences of such an action can lead to. Through the epiphany that the protagonist, Gregory Dodd, undergoes, Banks illustrates the consequences of avoiding one’s past; the nature of the epiphany is defined by the car collision, and ultimately leads Gregory to a wakeup call and a deeper self-realization, leaving him with some heavy thinking to do about his life. The forces that contribute to intensifying the moment of epiphany are seen in the plot and symbolism.
In his story, Banks makes us meet our main character, Gregory Dodd, who is going through a psychological crisis. After ending his two previous marriages, first in adolescence and second—a fifteen-year-long marriage—in late manhood, he is now dating a woman named Susan who is ten years younger than him. Gregory’s life—as successful and fulfilled as it may seem at first glance, is far from how it is portrayed to be in actuality. On closer inspection, we see that Gregory lives in self-deception. One of his first delusion surfaces when we come across his fear of
“And it hits me, not then, but today, thirty years later. Thirty years too late”(91). Those are the words of Jessamyn Hope when speaking about her experience with regret regarding her life’s decisions, the major theme for her essay. Her essay tells the story about how she failed to overcome two life challenges, one having a direct physical impact and the other having a delayed impact. The essay “The Reverse Dive” by Jessamyn Hope is a narrative essay looking to persuade its reader through the use of analogy, empirical evidence, and appeal to emotion that one should face their challenges while they can to avoid regrets.
In Michael Oppenheimer’s short fiction “The Paring Knife” he shows how a husband and wife share a terrible incident just by finding the knife. In Williams Stafford’s poem, “Traveling through the Dark” he shows an accenti with a deer by the side of the road and what happened to it. In Sophocles’s play, “Oedipus the King” he shows what happens when a prophecy reveals a past that should have never came up. In these three stories, all have a relatable theme that consist of some truths are better kept hidden with the first one to reveal in “The Paring Knife”.
In the short story “The Half-Skinned Steer”, author Annie Proulx sets forth a tale about an older gentleman, named Mero who is returning to his childhood home and ranch for his brother’s funeral. For the majority of the story, the tale takes place on the road while Mero is traveling from Massachusetts to his hometown in Wyoming. Throughout the story, Mero reflects back on life events that had happened to him. Mero is challenged by these memories, as they easily affect his thoughts and actions, thus changing his life forever.
The evaluation of the short novel, Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff was quite an interesting subject matter when it comes to the understanding of one’s true experience with the phrase “My life flashed before my eyes”. In this novel, Wolff tells a story about a man named Anders who experiences forgotten memories in his life and realizes what he once was and what he turned out to be in the end. Wolff’s interpretation of memory in this novel made a unique remark and left a deep understanding on how someone could easily change in life without them even noticing. Throughout the course of this story, Wolff takes you to Anders’ short remainder of time in life and what psychological adventure he experiences in this short amount of time. This novel by Tobias Wolff shows a great deal of elements that one novel should need at all times.
Although your past can enhance your future for better, it can moreover reveal new details that can help link the mysterious circumstances of the present. John Harwood portrays this in his novel, The Asylum, where the fragmentation of Georgina’s flashbacks and journals presents evidence. Through this novel, Harwood employs the fragmentation technique to help readers relate incidents that occurred in the past, to events happening in the main plot.
Everyone remembers the moment in time that they absolutely refuse to acknowledge from the past. Any extremely embarrassing instance in our life could suddenly come back to the surface of our memory to humiliate us all over again. This common occurrence only serves as part of an over all process of denying the undesirable parts of ourselves for the sake of our self-esteem. “The Epiphany Machine”, written by David Burr Gerrard, focuses upon the unconscious and how repression of oneself influences the psyche. Through the use of characterization, conflict, and point of view, Venter Lowood and the epiphany machine are set up as a metaphor for the development of self-awareness of oneself as one comes of age.
The beginning of the short story, “A Christmas Memory,” starts the reader is introduced to a woman standing in the kitchen at the window. She is described as a small and lively. The author does not mention the name of the woman. The woman’s shoulders are hunched and this is due to a youtfull illness; this introduces the first theme of sadness. Buddy is the name of the character that is telling the story. He got his name from a boy who was previously one of his best friends that died in 1880 as a child. The setting is taken place in an old house in the country during the winter season. The family has several christmas traditions that take place
Hansel is reminded of his tender, loving mother and how each Christmas was filled with joy in their tiny cottage by the great forest and how it would be pervaded with warm light from flickering candles and the glow of the comforting fire, whilst their mother baked and cheerfully sang. The aromas of cinnamon and ginger would permeate the air as the children gleefully constructed elaborate gingerbread houses with miniature cupcakes for the roof and sugar candy for the doors and windows. This was one of his favorite perennial activities that he engaged in with his mother and he hankered for those loving times. Would it be usurpation to eat just a little of the candy that was in front of them, so tantalizingly teasing? He came to a snap
Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot... But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, did NOT! The Grinch hated Christmas!
25 Days Till Christmas A Connecting Devotional By Rubens Ruba TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction - The Best Of Christmas December 1 Luke 1:16–17 Getting Spiritually Prepared For Christmas December 2 Luke 1:46–55 Mary’s Song – Seeking And Celebrating December 3 Luke 1:67–71 Zechariah’s Song – Cynicism And Blindness December 4 Matthew 1:21 You Will Call His Name “Jesus” December 5 Luke 2:1–5 God Is In Control Of Christmas December 6
Did you know that people had added many lies to the Christmas narrative? Well I am the camel that carried one of the wise men. Did you know that Mary walked and there was know donkey? Did you know that the stable was in a cave? Did you know Mary was around twelve when she was with Joseph? Well in this story I see a bright star, get lots of things put on my back, and saw Herod and a little baby in a manger, you sure are in for a treat.
It was four days before when Christmas, Doug Walker turned on the radio to listen to the local traffic while he dressed for work. He listened as the announcer discussed a miracle in their small town, “Parents are in an uproar trying to convince their children Santa Claus doesn’t grant everyone’s Christmas’ wish. No one can explain the perfect gifts found on front porches all over the city.” Turning up the radio, Doug called out, “Hey, Nancy, did you hear about the ‘nutty’ things happening around here?”
The past is very important to the characters within the fictional novel The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat. Ka’s father receiving a scar in his past. Nadine’s feelings of being alone due to aborting her child.The character Anne blaming herself for the death of her brother. Each of these past experiences are very important to each character because it continues to affect them in the present. Therefor, the past is so important to the characters in the novel such as Ka’s father, Nadine and Anne because the characters have gone through traumatic experiences however can’t stop thinking about the past due to guilt and the desire for forgiveness.
When reminiscing on my past I’m able to recall the certain moments, which have led to a path where I find myself at a cross road. Searching through the databases of my mind, I’m reminded of cherished memories, though I attempt to pinpoint the times in which I have been successful in my decision making; I cannot help but deliberate whether my past conveyed such a challenging decision. My future is unpredictable, and my choices will decide my prolonged existence; positive or negative I must act on them now, or else I will miss the train to my forthcoming. Through the life changing moments, which led to my admiration for the ones close to me; I have found what identifies me as an individual. Nonetheless, will it be enough for the rapid pace at which my future emerges?
The sound of heavy rain colliding with the metal roof awoke Mia Sutton from her slumber. She tossed the pillow she was sleeping with on the amber wood floor, knocking over her book bag that was lying by her bed. Mia then rolled over flat onto her back and began to think. It was Christmas, yet she felt severely unhappy. "I thought this holiday was supposed to be joyful," she thought to herself.