Interpretive literature has a point, or better stated, a theme; this theme helps to centralize the story and give it purpose. Written by Isaac Bashevis Singer, “The Son from America”, centers on the pleasures of ignorance. Niel Bissoondath makes the “crisis” in mid-life crisis the crux of his story, “There Are a Lot of Ways to Die.” Philip Roth’s “Defender of the Faith” deals with the conflict of values such as justice and mercy. Theme unifies the elements of any good interpretive fiction, it also opposes or reinforces many popular notions one may hold about life.
Though the cliché, “Money is the root of all evil” could sum up “The Son from America” it would cheapen it greatly and only give half of what the theme truly means. By creating a setting in which the people participate in mass ignorance the author may show that the lack of knowledge can lead to happiness. Although, the lack of desire for worldly things and the contentment that simplicity reveals baffle the well to do son, one can see them as the corner-stone of both the characters of the parents as well as the theme. These views represent an old-world set of morals and beliefs that, to many of the new world, appear as inexplicable as the very heavens themselves. This inexplicability reveals the theme’s contrast to some popular notions that many hold.
Shattered dreams and long lost hopes underlie both the syntax and tone in “There Are Many Ways to Die.” Because these two elements give rudimentary meaning to the story one might also say they reveal a great deal about the theme. Joseph’s sense of defeat upon returning to the island reveals the more powerful undercurrent of the death of his idealism. The death of Joseph’s dreams and his growing animosity toward his wife and her friends help to illustrate the failures in his life that lead to his eventual destruction.
The Essay on John Steinbeck Outline Migrant Life Stories
John Steinbeck Outline I. John Steinbeck used his personal experiences as a laborer to write many of his novels like Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath. II. John Steinbeck's Life) Family 1. His dad served as the county treasurer. 2. His mom was a school teacher. 3. He was one four children and was the only boy. B) Childhood and Adolescence 1. Born on February 27, 19022. Began telling stories ...
“The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry,”– cliché or not this saying still reinforces an opinion held by many people.
Written as an example of the conflicts intrinsic in many people, Philip Roth’s “Defender of the Faith” deals not with a twisted plot or highly convoluted characters. Instead it centers on those aforementioned conflicts. The sergeant must struggle between the desire to help those he feels connected to and the need for justice and fairness for all of his troops. This struggle or conflict quickly becomes the focus of this short story. Although the sergeant makes an outward decision between mercy and fairness, one may see that the internal struggle continues. This story illustrates the point that life and its choices are rarely black and white but rather shades of gray.
True interpretive fiction has theme. That theme can often reveal to the reader a contradiction or an agreement to many of the popular views of life. Happiness without those material things we so cling to seems to some, little more than a fairy tale. Regardless of that which we put into life, what we get back can often leave us bitter and wanting. Rarely ever can a conflict have only two sides, more often then not the myriad of possible solutions causes us more anguish then the conflict itself. Life is full of choices. Even though so many of those put us between a rock and a hard place, one may still find joy and happiness in the simplest little things.
