Elda Williamsson, who mistakes the peddler for a previously known friend and Captain, invites the peddler to stay with her family for Christmas and helps the peddler to become more confident and trusting towards the world. The peddler is a petty thief. Accordingly, he has stolen money from an old, benevolent farmer. Consequently, his actions have the peddler lost physically and spiritual in the woods and in his guilt. By the end of the story, Elda’s trust has transformed from a thief to an honorable man, as illustrated when the iron master asks the valet if the peddler has taken anything. Not surprisingly, the Ironmaster wholeheartedly anticipates that the peddler has stolen from him, but the valet confirms that, “the fellow had gone and
Lost in the monotony of high society, Newland Archer found intrigue and mystery in the exotic Countess Olenska. Archer’s existence in the tedious routine of snipes and canards had slowly begun to pull him deeper into a “black abyss” of ennui. Ellen Olenska became a light in the abyss, pulling Archer out and giving him a reason for existence. He saw the path that all his friends had followed, unhappy
The course of action an individual pursues is due to one’s motivation, weather that may be personal influences, or influences from others in the community. The motivation one finds helps them to jumpstart their chosen course of action, and guide them through the journey. In Margaret Laurence’s short story “Horses of the Night” Chris, demonstrates how his motivation conducts him through his excursion of life. The varying sources help to influence and guide him through these decisions and impact hid course of action. Chris’ motivation is revealed through his need of escapism, hints of pathetic fallacy, and how his family situation affects him and helps develop his chosen actions.
Through all the scathing looks and judgmental remarks, Lena remains resilient and true to her identity throughout her travels. Mr. Armstid meets Lena on the road, offers to to let her stay the night at his home with him and his wife. He notices her confident attitude as she rides with him in his wagon, commenting, "Her own self one of the first ones to cut the ground from under a sister woman, she 'll walk the public country herself without shame because she knows that folks, menfolks, will take care of her" (14). Despite the divides between Lena and the populace her pregnancy creates, she is not afraid to take charge of her life and defy the expectations of the people around her. Faulkner addresses Lena’s conviction in an interview with the Heavenly Herald’s Charlie Bevis, stating, “She was resourceful, occasionally conniving, sometimes manipulative, but certainly not helpless” (220). With her bravery and determination, she leaves everything she knows behind and sets out on the seemingly impossible task of finding Lucas Burch, ignoring the delicate and scandalized way people treat her and using their pity to her advantage. Although the gifts she receives from others serve as only another reminder to her solitary position, she sees the good intentions of others and does not let their sympathy deter her from her goals. Even
The sister in Jean Howarth’s short story “The Novitiate”, is young, eager to please and naïve. She tries to win her brothers approval on the afternoon he is forced to take his sister along with him. Initially, she is naïve about how gopher tails are obtained and that they require the life of the gopher to be sacrificed. Her desire for a relationship with her brother clouds her ability to recognize the reality of the afternoon; however, when she witnesses the cruel and dramatic death of the gopher, she realizes what she is going to have to do to make her brother proud. Consequently, she must decide whether to sacrifice her morals in order to please her brother or to stand firm in her beliefs. Finally, she decides to snare the gopher in the hopes
In the short story Walk Well, My Brother the author, Farley Mowat, develops the idea that a significant experience can lead to a change in how one individual views another individual. The story shows us how a person can learn from another person that is very different from them and be moved by their selflessness into becoming a better person. It also shows us how important it is for people not to judge others for superficial reasons.
After leaving Eldorado with numerous sheep packed with goods and “fifty loaded with gold, jewels, and diamonds” they are only left with two after a hundred days march that strained the convoy to its limits of starvation (Voltaire 39). They reach a Dutch town where they learn that Miss Cunegonde is a mistress to the governor in Buenos Aires and set out to find a merchant ship to set sail. The Spanish merchant Candide and Cacambo hire to transport them tells them they must not return for fear of being hanged and instead sends Cacambo with several millions to purchase her away. The men were to rendezvous in Italy once Candide secured a second vessel to take him. He finally procures a Dutch ship captained by a Mr. Vanderdendur who offers to take Candide to Italy for “ten thousand piasters”, notices the ease at which he agrees and soon increases the fee to twenty then “thirty thousand piasters” (Voltaire 41). He soon figures out that the sheep must be holding all the money and boards
Within seconds of his scathing condemnation though, Torvald learns that his reputation will not suffer from Nora’s actions and he “forgives” her with an open and willing heart. How could one not crack under such pressure as this? Willy, like Nora, had a dream. Willy dreamt of success: personal success, success in his family life, and success for his sons. For him, salesmanship was the measure of his success; throughout the many flashbacks he would often exaggerate his sales, boosting his image in the eyes of his children. He felt as though his place as a meaningful member of society hinged on this success. Therefore, he would only admit his shortcomings to Linda, who understood and never judged him. In the eyes of his young children, Willy could do no wrong: he made top sales records; he was “well-liked,” nothing could defeat him, further adding to his societal pressures (Miller 1.509). Willy also had to deal with the pressure from his brother who had struck diamonds in Africa by mistake, constantly living in that shadow, that stigma as the “little brother” who turned down the chance of a lifetime and instead became a salesman. Pressured to pursue his American Dream, Willy gives himself over to the overwhelming waters of society, drowning himself in its expectations and demands.
Different events, positive and negative, changed his thoughts and helped him become more mature, and a responsible person. Watching his home going to the work made him realize he should do something in his life. Once he started working, he learned to be respectful and reliable even if it took a while for him to change. Once he became more familiar with Penny, she starts to trust him. She starts to give more responsibility. With that in mind, the accident that Penny had changed everything. It ended the relationship between him and Kentucky. However, he moved on without much difficulty. At the end, he was still thinking about his father's words and what he said about the white boys. He never forgot him. Perhaps, the father also had a positive effect on
Evyn was a slave, a new slave that was working for Harold and Lady Ealdgyth. Evyn had his tongue cut off by the Gryffin sons because his uncle killed one of the gryffin sons. Evyn could not talk, and when he was working for Harold, he fell and broke his arm. So, Lady Ealdgyth took him to her surgeon’s. He fixed up Evyn and Lady Ealdgyth suggested that he should be taken to the monastery to learn how to read and write instead of using sounds from his mouth. Evyn eventually learned how to read and write. One day, Harold came by to the monastery,
The narrator throughout the story was ashamed that Doodle his brother was paralympic so he tried to help Doodle walk for the benefit of his self-esteem. For example, in the story, the narrator says,¨ They did not know that I did it for myself; that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their voices, and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother.” The narrator expressed himself to help his brother in the way that it would seem as if he is the hero, but he did it so that he wouldn't have to go through life with a paralympic brother. The narrator knew what he was doing was bad, but didn't care enough to make it all about Doodle.
Growing up in a neighborhood where crime rate and social disorganization existed contributed to Elijah’s actions. Elijah’s friends were high school dropouts, sold drugs at the corner of the neighborhood and caused many ruckuses. Elijah has a disability; he is unable to walk, so growing up and being on a wheel chair had its
After begrudgingly attempting to teach his brother to climb, swim, and row a boat with no success, the narrator’s bitterness began to boil over. His final straw was having his heels stepped on by his brother while walking through the woods causing him to run away from his brother in the pouring rain, ignoring his brother’s pleas for help. These events are evidence enough to point the blame towards the narrator for his brother’s
The host of the pilgrimage ask each pilgrim to tell a story of their own to create a good mood for the start of the journey which didn’t turn out the way he expected. The pilgrims are referred by their professions. Characters with cunning and disgraceful acts are presented in “The Reeve’s Tale”, “The Friar’s Tale”, and in “The Summoner’s Tale”. Those characters take advantage
His family’s confidence never dwindled; time after time, they joined a crusade to save Richard’s soul. Tensions began to increase when Aunt Addie enrolled Richard in the religious school where she taught. Labeled as a black sheep, Richard continued to defy the iron fist of his family. The conflict between Aunt Addie and Richard exploded when he was accused of eating walnuts in class. Richard knew the boy in front of him was guilty, but he abided by the “street code” and said nothing. Despite Richard’s denial, Aunt Addie did not conduct an investigation and immediately beat Richard in front of the class. After submitting to his aunt, he finally confessed the guilty suspect. Rather than to commend Richard for the truth, Aunt Addie attempted to beat him again after school. However, brandishing a knife, Richard defended himself. He had stood up for his dignity and pride, something that was worth more to him than anything.
On the other hand, the main part of Elesin’s tragic fate originates from his own flaws. Elesin is just an ordinary person who has the pursuit of various things such as food and wine, dance and women. However, everyone believes that Elesin is the hero born with his mission to lead them peace and also with no selfish motives. When he is in the market with women and Praise-singer, he indicates that the others compare his eyes into a hawk in perpetual hunger. “Split an iroko tree in two, hide a woman’s beauty in its heartwood and seal it up again-Elesin, journeying by, would make his camp beside that tree of all the shades in the forest.”(14) This is a vivid description of Elesin’s desire of the living world. Even in the farewell, he