"Boys and Girls" and Symbolism

A truly powerful piece of literature incorporates symbolism throughout the work that ties together the main ideas portrayed by the author. In the short story "Boys and Girls" by Alice Munro, the reader can pick up on two influential and potent symbols, which play a huge role in revealing the theme of gender roles and in revealing character. The foxes are an effective symbol of the narrator and protagonist of this story, a young nameless girl who is living on a fox farm with her family. The fact that she is nameless also reiterates the foxes as an efficacious symbol, because a fox would not receive a name until it served a purpose for the narrator's father. Through this connection it is easy to see that in her father's eyes she serves no purpose because she is not a male. The foxes are trapped in pens of her father's design, isolated and enclosed, which is how the narrator feels because of her gender. As a woman she is assumed to spend her life in the house, cooking and cleaning. The house represents the fox pen, a prison that the narrator sees no escape from. The second symbol is Flora, a bright and animated horse who is sentenced to be slaughtered. The narrator allows Flora to escape at the last minute, opening the gate wide and letting her run free. Flora is also a symbol for the protagonist, she is vivacious and energetic but constantly confined by man. When the narrator allows Flora to run through the gate, it is symbolic of her want for freedom and escape from the farm and the limitations of societal roles. Flora's freedom is short lived, and she returns home to the farm  cut "up in fifty pieces". This illustrates the idea that there is no escape from the gender roles society has put in place. The foxes and Flora the horse agglomerate together to enforce the theme of gender roles and reveal the character of the protagonist in an impactful and compelling way.

"Boys and Girls" and Gender Roles

Gender roles have been around for so long that it is sometimes easy to overlook them. It's true, boys and girls are notably different from each other, and not just in the biological sense. The short story "Boys and Girls" by Alice Munro explores the stereotypical gender roles, and how limiting and emotionally upsetting society's standards can be for a young woman. The protagonist, who remains nameless throughout the story, is an ambitious and lively girl living on a fox farm. In the beginning of the story she is unfamiliar with the pressure of being a woman, and considers herself no different than her younger brother, Laird. As her tale progresses we see her repeatedly in situations where a boy is viewed as more valuable than a girl. She begins to comprehend what it means to be a female,  "It was a definition, always touched with emphasis, with reproach and disappointment." The narrator learns that working beside her father on the farm is only tentative, until her brother becomes old enough to take her place. Her "rightful" place, it seemed, is in the house with her mother: cooking, cleaning and sewing. She hates it inside the house and the kitchen, she would much rather be outdoors helping her father with the foxes. To the narrator "work in the house was endless, dreary, and peculiarly depressing; work done out of doors, and in [her] father's service, was ritualistically important.” This is the opposite of what society believes a girl her age, or any age, should think. The narrator becomes conflicted between what she feels and what is expected of a young woman. By the end of the story, she accepts that she is different from a boy and she recognizes differences in herself. In her bedtime stories she does not dream of being the hero anymore, but of being rescued by a boy. The narrator accepts the role society had decided for her from birth, the role her family has pressed onto her; she accepts that "She is only a girl."  

"The Red Convertable: An Execellent Example of an Evolving Symbol

Lyman's and Henry's "red, red Olds" is where the short story "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdich gets its title, and it is also a powerful and prevailing symbol throughout the piece. However, the red convertible is not a static symbol, it is constantly changing as the characters of the story transform. The car is purchased on a whim by the two brothers, Lyman and Henry. The car starts off initially as a symbol of brotherhood, friendship and exemplifies the strong bond shared between the two young men. It symbolizes excitement, travel and endless opportunities. As the story progresses, Henry is sent off to war and returns a broken man. He is changed completely as a person and this alteration effects his relationship with Lyman. When Henry returns he throws the keys of the convertible to his brother, accompanied with the comment "it's yours", showing the distance that as been put between the brothers because of the war. The car, that was a symbol of their strong relationship, morphs into a symbol of how broken their relationship has become. Lyman tries to restore their relationship, and his brother, to what it was before the war. His attempts prove futile when on a trip in the car his brother jumps into a fast flowing river. Henry drowns calmly, he had accepted that he was barely living anyway since his return from Vietnam. Lyman pushes the car in after him so it could share the same death as it's half owner; the car filling with water just as Henry's boots had. At this point the car becomes a symbol of acceptance. Lyman relates his brother and the strong bond they had to that red convertible, so it seemed right to him that they should die together. He had accepted the fact that he could not bring the old Henry back, and the car symbolizes him accepting that part of his life to be over. It is easy to see what a dynamic symbol the red convertible proves to be throughout this story and how essential it is to connecting characters, emotions and themes together.

"Aunt Jennifer's Tigers": Symbolic Importance Exemplified

"Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by Adrienne Rich is a  poem that utilizes the complete power of symbolism to illustrate the complex ideas portrayed in this piece. Two major symbols in this poem are the tigers and Aunt Jennifer's wedding ring. The tigers which prance and pace along Aunt Jennifer's tapestries are symbolic of the person Aunt Jennifer wishes she could be. The tigers are strong, proud, and courageous. Aunt Jennifer wishes she could be as carefree and tenacious as the "topaz denizens" of her artwork. She lives vicariously through her tapestries as tigers who have no fear or uncertainty. Her artwork and her tigers symbolize everything that Aunt Jennifer wishes she had in her life, and she knows that her memory will be carried on through her tapestries long after she is gone. A wedding ring is a universal symbol of love and commitment. Wedding rings are typically a positive symbol, however in this poem Aunt Jennifer's wedding ring is viewed negatively. It is described as a "massive weight" sitting heavily upon her hand. The wedding ring is a symbol of constraint and control. It mirrors Aunt Jennifer's anxiety and the melancholy relationship she has with her husband. These two symbols work together to exemplify Aunt Jennifer's attempts of escaping her unhappy marriage through the means of her artwork. These symbols are essential in revealing the ideas woven carefully through this piece of literature. Through the tigers and the wedding ring the reader can truly begin to understand the depths of Aunt Jennifer's emotions and together they make this a very powerful poem to read.

"Sonnet 130": Insultingly Romantic

William Shakespeare, the undeniable "King of Literature", changed the world with beautiful words, unheard of phrases, and works incomparable to any other. Shakespeare could make nearly anything sound enticing and magnificent. It is for this reason that "Sonnet 130: My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing like the Sun" is such an fascinating piece that still manages to create the powerful impact that most love poems strive for. The first twelve lines of the sonnet describe a woman in a very unflattering and insulting way. Her hair is like "black wires", her complexion is drab and pale, her eyes lack an alluring glow and quite frankly, she "reeks". This is the picture of an average human woman, nothing extraordinary.  If one were to stop reading at this point they would believe this sonnet to be speaking of a woman Shakespeare must dislike. However, the last two lines of the sonnet do exactly as they should; they change the pace and tone completely. Shakespeare says his "love [is] as rare" as any, and the reader begins to understand Shakespeare's intention in this piece. The characteristics that seemed unremarkable and ordinary, even arguably unpleasant, are characteristics that he truly loves about this woman. Shakespeare manages to completely explain unconditional love without sounding whimsical and unrealistic, as most love poetry does. What initially seemed critical, negative and slightly cruel ended up being the base for something incontestably romantic. This poem illustrates the idea that love is not perfect, but is born from imperfections and differences. This is certainty a realistic, and in it's own way, beautiful description of true love.

"Pride and Prejudice": Character Transformation at its Finest

"Pride and Prejudice", one of Jane Austin's best pieces of work, has a cornucopia of colorful characters which tie together the novel. Some characters are easy to define and understand, like the hard-headed, quick-witted and lovely protagonist, Elizabeth Bennett. Elizabeth's charm and honesty make her an easy character to admire and fall in love with. Other characters are not as easy to understand, like the brooding and misunderstood Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy undergoes a total character transformation throughout this novel. Initially Mr. Darcy is seen as pompous and haughty, at the ball he refuses to dance with Elizabeth and insults her. The entire town speaks of him negatively and believes him to have the airy, self-righteous personality that typically accompanies those of high class. In the beginning it is hard for the reader to understand Mr. Darcy's actions and thoughts, or even appreciate him as a character. Slowly, it is revealed that Mr. Darcy is not a callous man of stone, but in actuality is very caring. He begins to form a deep attachment to the alluring and headstrong Elizabeth, who seems static in her ethical values and personality. She, however, still views Mr. Darcy as a cruel man because of scandalous rumors, and has yet to see the softer side of him. Naturally when he unexpectedly proposes to her she declines. This event seems to shake Mr. Darcy, and from that point on he continually becomes a more amiable character. He explains himself fully in a letter to Elizabeth, and she feels guilt for the prejudice she had constructed towards him. In her presence after his rejection, Mr. Darcy is polite and cordial. When Elizabeth's wild younger sister disgraces the family by running off with a man of poor character, Mr. Darcy manages to reinstate the family's honor by paying the man off to marry her. Time and time again Mr. Darcy proves to be benevolent and kind, which is very different from his initial characterization. It is revealed eventually that Mr. Darcy is perfect for Elizabeth. Although it was hard to see at first, their personalities are identical and when he proposes for the second time Elizabeth delightfully agrees. Without revealing the depths of Mr. Darcy's true character this story's plot would have had a hard time progressing. Mr. Darcy started as a man of great pride, felt the sting of unjust prejudice and transformed into a man that any lady, especially Elizabeth Bennett, could fall in love with.

"Wuthering Heights": Love, Loss and Social Advancement

The classic novel "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë is overflowing with themes and emotions that readers can still relate to today, over 200 years after the story's setting. Falling in love with a person whom society views as wrong for you is the theme of countless modern movies and books. Those feelings of anguish, heartbreak and disappointment are universal and unchanging, no matter what time period the piece is set. In "Wuthering Heights" the character Heathcliff is introduced immediately as a threat to Hindley and a probable sweetheart to Catherine. Catherine and Hindley's father, Mr. Earnshaw, brings home the dark-skinned gypsy child from a trip and announces that he is to be raised in their family. Heathcliff is constantly favored by  Mr. Earnshaw over his biological son, Hindley, which causes a deep dislike to blossom from the latter child. After Mr. Earnshaw passes away, Hindley inherits the property of Wuthering Heights and sentences his adversary, Heathcliff, to work in the fields as a common laborer. This does not discourage young Catherine's affection and love for the boy, they still spend much time adventuring together and enjoying each other's company. The change in Catherine's values and beliefs arises from one of their adventures which takes a wrong turn. When visiting the Linton house and spying on Edgar and Isabella Linton through a window, Catherine gets bitten by their dog and is forced to stay at the Linton estate until she is healed. In this period of time she is taught the importance of social classes from the respected Linton family, and upon returning home begins to view Heathcliff as a person beneath her. This change in Catherine slowly begins to break Heathcliff's heart, and when Catherine announces her engagement to Edgar Linton, Heathcliff runs away. Catherine agrees to this engagement to step up the social ladder and attempts to convince herself that she is not in love with Heathcliff anymore. However, Edgar on the other hand is completely enamored with Miss Catherine and all seems fine in their relationship until Heathcliff moves back home. At the sight of her past love Catherine's old feelings surface once again and she is torn between her husband, who society approves of, and the true love of her heart. She begins to regret selling out her feelings for the sake of social advancement and feels immense guilt for bringing sweet Edgar into this mess. She loves Edgar, but that love does not compare to her overpowering feelings for Heathcliff. Catherine falls into depression and begins to hate herself for the vain decisions she had made. She is pregnant with Edgar's child in the midst of all this turmoil and grows very weak. Catherine gives birth to her premature daughter and dies a few hours after, leaving two broken hearted men and an infant without a mother. Heathcliff spends the remainder of his life bitter, hateful and broken hearted. The sense of betrayal and disappointment Heathcliff feels because of Catherine selfishly choosing to do what society views fit, over true love, is a feeling that nearly everyone can relate to. The only feeling worse than unrequited love, is mutual love that is abandoned because of society's influence.

"Frankenstein": Who is the Monster?

It is common knowledge that the riveting and terrifying novel "Frankenstein", by Mary Shelley, is the mother of the monster many people see adorning the walls and windows of the homes decorated for Halloween.  However, that astonishing piece of literary brilliance and pop culture's ideas of "Frankenstein" are as different in details as night and day. A young child could point to and identify the media's perception of the monster: a tall and bulky creature, with pale green skin, typically black hair, a very pronounced brow bone, and metal bolts protruding from either the neck or the forehead. That same child would name the previously described creature as "Frankenstein". This is a common misconception, bred through children's movies and television shows; the beast in the novel is so horrific that it never receives the grace of a name.  The confusion stems from the name of the monster's creator, Victor Frankenstein. He is oftentimes seen in pop culture as a mad scientist, with gray hair standing on its ends as if he had been electrocuted. He is portrayed as someone diabolical with the intent of creating a monster to terrorize the world. In the novel Frankenstein is kind, intelligent, tranquil, and very ambitious, but not in an insane way. He creates the monster in an attempt to further scientific knowledge and place himself within the leagues of respected scientists of his time. When he realizes the atrocity he unknowingly gave birth to, he flees in terror and then falls ill due to depression and remorse. The novel never mentions the actual scientific reasoning behind the monster's spark of life, as Frankenstein refuses to repeat it in fear someone trying to recreate his hideous experiment. It does make reference to the power of electricity and a massive lightning bolt that destroyed a tree in Frankenstein's yard, which is where I assume the media took the idea of the monster being born through lightning. The monster the media names "Frankenstein" is known to be slow, dull witted and has difficulty moving the limbs that were strung together for him. The monster in the novel is intelligent, agile and has a depth of feelings equal to man. The creature teaches himself to speak and comprehend the humans he is surrounded by because of his deep desire to fit in amongst them. He is constantly faced with prejudice and fear at every attempt to assimilate himself into the society of man, and feels completely abandoned by his creator. This steers him towards violence and aggression, and he vows to destroy all those that mean something to his creator because he does not have anyone in his life to value and respect him. The media's monster is something that seems fragile in form and easy to constrain and deal with. However, in the novel the monster was created from carefully selected body parts and joints, making him stronger and faster than a human. His cadaver skin allows him to survive in extremely cold environments and he does not require as much sustenance as man for survival. He is truly a threat and a fiendish creature to be feared, unlike the dimwitted and friendly creature the media constructed for children. The media intended to make the monster into a passive and likable creature for children to dress up as for Halloween, that is why the name of the creator was given to the monster. "Frankenstein", due to pop culture, will forever be seen as the green, misunderstood monster, instead of the creator of a creature so dreadfully heinous that he could not even bring himself to name it.

"The Mortal Instruments- City of Bones": Murdering a Fantastic Book with a less than Fantastic Movie

"City of Bones", book one in The Mortal Instruments Series, is a novel with plot twists so dramatic and genuinely surprising that it will leave you feeling as if you had just stepped off of a cliff, landed in a rollercoaster and then somehow ended up dangling from your ankles out of a tree. The first time I read through this book I had to close it multiple times and let what had just happened sink in. Cassandra Clare, the seriously brilliant and witty author of the series, has talent that surely cannot be understated. The Mortal Instruments still sits proudly on it's pedestal as one of my top three favorite series of all time, so it is blatantly obvious that this was a movie I had anticipated for years. The disappointment I felt throughout the film was a heavy blow to both myself and the massive part of my heart that is reserved for Jace and Clary. I understand time constraint is a pressing issue for movie adaptations, but the entire film felt rushed and so many beautiful details were completely ignored. Those details that were not ignored were altered in hideous ways, changing them from marvellously crafted pieces of art into boring background noise. One main destructive change was setting of the final fight scene, which was supposed to happen at Valentine's lair but for some unimaginable reason was set in the Institute. This threw the entire story off and, if there even is another movie made, it will pose challenges in connecting the rest of the books to that first awful movie. The book defined the theme of good and evil in a way that seemed palpable, yet the movie made the line between those extremes seem blurred and unclear. The novel also painted Clary as an ideal role model because of her strength, sense of equality and her moral belief system. However, the movie made these ideas hard to grasp by cutting out many of her heroic and selfless actions. Finally the biggest heart- crushing disappointment was the cavalier way that the most important plot twist of the book was revealed. It was almost as if mentioning that Jace and Clary were siblings was an uninteresting side note to the story. It did complete injustice to the incredible, jaw-dropping reveal that Cassandra Clare had so expertly devised in the novel. The film as a whole proved to be an injustice to the magnificent book that "City of Bones" is and it should have never been produced.

"The Great Gatsby": A Film Adaptation Actually Worthy of the Novel

The history of humanity proves time and time again that the written word is the most effective way to portray a story. However with the technological advances we have today, the world of film can sometimes bring a story to life in a way that comes to par with it's literary brother. The cinematic interpretation of “The Great Gatsby” is an excellent example of Hollywood “doing it right”. It is a rare treat when you watch a movie adaptation and by the end of the film have that same satisfied feeling that accompanied finishing the book. “The Great Gatsby” by Scott Fitzgerald tells the enticing story of Mr. Jay Gatsby through the eyes of the very tolerant and observant narrator, Nick Carroway. The book deals with the ideas of the hollow ethical and moral values of the upper class and the difficulty of kindling a love between people of different social classes. The novel created the illusion that the reader was actually living and breathing in the bustling, growing city of New York in the 1920's. Surprisingly the film adaptation managed to bring the same feeling to life. The director chose the ideal actors and actresses to become the characters of Gatsby, Nick, Daisy, Tom and Jordan. The Gatsby manor in the film was everything that a reader could dream, massive and elegant, managing to be ostentatious in a way that still came across with class and grace. It was stupendously easy to fall for Leonardo DiCaprio's sophistication and charm as "The Great Gatsby" himself, within minutes of his introduction one could be convinced that he actually was the confident and generous Gatsby. The decision to lift quotes directly from the novel itself and place the identical copy into the script is a small detail that actually means quite a lot to those who adore this book. The choice of music for the film was something of an issue at first, replacing the alluring and sensual music of the 1920's for something much more modern. However, it was soon easy to recognize the famous artist Jay-Z throughout the movie and that made the change in music a little easier to swallow. Jay-Z is the icon of New York City, and including him in a film set in “his” city seemed right in a way that superseded the lack of vintage music. Overall, the film adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” was impressive and extensively detailed. Any book fanatic would have difficulty finding something to complain about for this movie; if every cinematic adaptation could be so wonderfully done as this one the world would be a much better place.