The Tunnel And What You Pawn I Will Redeem

A coming-of-age story, Doris Lessing's "Through the Tunnel" employs three major symbols to connote Jerry's state of being and his rite of passage. In the exposition of the narrative, as Jerry is with his mother...

For this essay, I am going to be discussing the short story “Swimming” found on the New Yorker, and written by T. Cooper. I have chosen this story for many reasons, and among those reasons is the personal sadness I felt when I first read the story, almost as if the universe was placing a certain theme in my life, that only the main character could possibly understand. I am talking about running, the god given instinct felt by all men, inherent in the nature of fear, and brought out in all who feel sadness in its full intensity. Though in my short life I can not compare the sadness I have felt with that of losing a child at my own hand, but if I had been placed in that situation, if fate had tempted my soul with such a sequence of events, I would like to think I could find the strength to endure and the courage to not abandon all I had previously known. Yet I am able to reconcile the themes of grief, the mode of recovery, and the longing to escape such a terrible tale. I think in this piece, as I will discuss in later parts, the author was able to put into words a transformation we rarely get to observe in closeness, the kind of transformation that turns a kind man into a “just man” the kind of death that turns this world from a beautiful and happy place into a world that is closing in on our main character, that is forcing him to surface temporarily and gasp for air, much like he does when he finds peace in the water, wading breath after air, after sea. I firmly believe that

In life, one must overcome their fears in order to achieve or successfully attain a certain goal in their mind. The short story “Through the Tunnel”, by Doris Lessing tells us about how Jerry builds confidence and maturity throughout the story, by overcoming his fear of going through the dark and scary tunnel underneath the water. The author portrays the idea of overcoming one’s fear to achieve a goal through Jerry, who was once a childish and isolated character, had begun his risky adventure of going through the tunnel to prove his worth to a group of boys and along the way discovers what he truly wants. Over time he becomes more mature and in the end, gain self-acceptance.

While he feels the fear of death on the way, he ultimately achieves the goal of going through the tunnel. However, he never tells his mother this success. In the story, the process of growing up to an adolescent is compared to a trial of passing through a tunnel. Margaret Drabble says that the story is “a breathtaking description of a young boy on a Mediterranean summer holiday who dares himself to be reborn into the adolescent tribe by diving deeply and dangerously through an underwater channel” (Drabble 1). Going through the tunnel is a rite of passage for Jerry to become an adolescent and it must be accomplished by himself without the help of his mother because his growth to an adolescent means that he is independent from his mother. This essay examines the tunnel which symbolizes obstacles Jerry has to overcome to grow up and his growth to an adolescent in Doris Lessing’s “Through the

Everyone knew that when one stayed in the water too long, one drowned. However, that was not the case. In Alden Nowlan’s, “The Fall of the City,” Teddy was a young boy who had a very vivid imagination. Although at times it went to the dark side, it was ultimately the mistreatment from his aunt and uncle which cause Teddy to destroy his city. For example, his uncle’s threats of physical abuse leaded Teddy drowned in his imagination, the only place where he can feel safer. Although Teddy hardly spoke back to his uncle, he was still threatened that he will not “be able to sit down the rest of the week.” The threat isolated Teddy from his uncle and Teddy felt as if he has no one to turn to. Without someone who truly understands his feelings,

For many years, plenty of authors and writers have utilized symbols to invoke themes in literary content. Specifically, a very popular author, Ernest J. Gaines, is able to properly execute the portrayal of symbols and themes in his writing. In his literary work, A Lesson Before Dying, Gaines uses symbols to underscore his central theme of oppression and freedom. Throughout the novel, many symbols represent many different themes. Three important symbols that interpret freedom and oppression is the notebook, the hog, and the chair. The notebook allows Jefferson write down his thought and gives a him freedom of speech, the hog illustrates how the black population is treated and oppressed at the time, and the chair embodies how victims of racism were not allowed to live average lifestyles.

“A Rose for Emily,” “A Worn Path,” and “The Lottery” by William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Shirley Jackson all have similar writing styles in their literature. In these three short stories the authors all use contrasting nature within their literature to predict the outcome and to learn for the upcoming events in the readings. The authors take subliminal phrases and subliminal symbolic text to have the reader become more attached and understand more of what the characters, setting and theme of the story has to offer. Using these three stories the reader of this essay will understand and grasp the symbolic meanings in text of each these short stories.

Through letters between Walton, a man who aspires to explore the sea, and his sister, a story is told within a larger story.

Now comparing these stories, Jerry and the narrator of “Sixteen” are very much alike, just as they are apart. Maureen Daly and Doris Lessing really give the reader a good feel for the characters and mood, making the tone easy to comprehend. In “Sixteen”, the narrator is very serious when talking about how she is, in fact, quite smart, and knows what she’s doing when it comes to life. Along with this, Jerry is very serious about practicing his breath golding and swimming because he wants to be able to get to and go through the tunnel. It’s a goal, not a dream. Both of these characters take the reader on a very personal journey; one into the mind and heart, and one into the process of him becoming a “man”. Two very difficult things to normally talk about. The authors create anxiety for the readers when Jerry is actually in the tunnel. He begins counting, higher and higher, the longer he’s in the tunnel, making the reader think, “There’s no way he’s going to make it out.” There is also a sense of anxiety in

Alcoholism seems to be a common obstacle in everyone’s lives. Whether one is trying to overcome a problem or the possibility of knowing someone who is, which also seems to be a common characteristic for the main characters in each of the stories “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie and “The Swimmer” by John Cheever. These two stories share motifs, symbols and themes. The most obvious contrasts are as follows; the point of view for each of these stories is different. In Alexies’ story, it is told in the first person view, for a reason too.

The authors, Jack Finney and O. Henry use situations in their stories to show characterization, exemplify their authors purpose, and conflict which give the reader warning and teach a lesson that

The narrator’s life begins to go downhill when Ursula shows up. Not only does he get a hole in his foot, but his own father tries to drown his own son because of Ursula. However, he does not give up and manages to escapes only to get caught by her. The narrator gets back up and says, “I won’t come with you. You can’t make me.” (Chapter 8).

The dangers of the choices that were discussed before crossing the viaduct built tension on the audience to be left on a dramatic scene. The boys have discussed the choice either to go towards the bridge. Which is about 5 miles down and back, stated by Teddy; one of the characters. An example

Throughout the story, the author often uses literary elements such as imagery and characterization to illustrate the harshness of the ocean and the nature around the stranded men. These portray the naturalistic aspect of nature’s cruelty and brutality. The story begins with a

Bordering these waters is a remote Sea town inhabited by only women and young boys. One of these boys in particular named Nicholas decides to venture out into the deep boundless depths of this aquatic wasteland. Where he sees a rotting corpse residing at the bottom of the ocean. Shortly after seeing this Nicholas reports the sighting to his mother. Who tells him that he is simply just imagining things consequently Nicholas begins to grow suspicious about his mother and certain activities that are taking place