The point of view used in Frank O' Conner's "The Drunkard" is 1st person. The story is told through the eyes of a child but also includes reflection from the child as an adult. The theme of the story is a drunk father who is able to stay sober for long periods of time only to succumb to alcohol periodically. The son shares great acts of kindness that his father performs during his sober stretches.
The reflection as an adult about his own childhood is necessary because the child is an unreliable narrator because of his age and also because he is drunk at the time.
The inciting incident in this story is the death of the father's friend. After the man's funeral the father figures it is a deserving time to race to the bar and have a drink. The son accompanies his father to the pub and steals a drink causing him to become greatly intoxicated himself. The father then has to face an angry public when it becomes obvious that he allowed his son to get drunk. Seeing the affects of his action the boy actually becomes a lesson to the father and he is compelled to stop drinking.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
"The Supper" by Tadeusz Borowski
Tadeusz Borokowski author of "The Supper" suffered tremendously during his short life, surviving one of the most torturous environments in human history, a Nazi concentration camp.
Foreshadowing is used in this story as Borowski defines the absolute insanity humans will show when deprived of food. The concentration camp was used to get free labor from prisoners while starving them to death. Borowski uses sensory images in the first paragraph, foreshadowing how cold and dark this existence is. He needed his readers to understand what limits man will cross when faced with hopelessness and starvation, coupled with the will to survive.
Cannibalism is performed by the Jews when Soviet soldiers are executed, it is a terribly bleak yet appropriate message written by a man who knew this sort of desperation entirely too well.
Foreshadowing is used in this story as Borowski defines the absolute insanity humans will show when deprived of food. The concentration camp was used to get free labor from prisoners while starving them to death. Borowski uses sensory images in the first paragraph, foreshadowing how cold and dark this existence is. He needed his readers to understand what limits man will cross when faced with hopelessness and starvation, coupled with the will to survive.
Cannibalism is performed by the Jews when Soviet soldiers are executed, it is a terribly bleak yet appropriate message written by a man who knew this sort of desperation entirely too well.
"The Piano" by Anibal Machado
"The Piano" by Anibal Machado is written in 3rd person omniscient point of view.
Joao is the proud owner of an old piano that he views as almost priceless. This value is defined because it was passed down to him by his family. Joao's character is structured to show a passionate man who wants to do the right thing for his daughter, and this means he must get rid of the piano to create room in his small house for his newly married daughter and son in law.
The conflict in this story is Joao versus himself. He simply needs to get rid of something he greatly treasures.
Irony is used heavily because Joao dumps the piano in the ocean because he cannot find anyone that will pay him a fair price for it. After the piano is gone Joao discovers that his new son in law loves to play the piano and would love to own one. Another irony is when a buyer for the piano comes soon after it is set in the ocean.
The piano is used symbolically as a representation of freedom and softness while Joao and his family are living through a war which his son in law is a fighter.
Joao is the proud owner of an old piano that he views as almost priceless. This value is defined because it was passed down to him by his family. Joao's character is structured to show a passionate man who wants to do the right thing for his daughter, and this means he must get rid of the piano to create room in his small house for his newly married daughter and son in law.
The conflict in this story is Joao versus himself. He simply needs to get rid of something he greatly treasures.
Irony is used heavily because Joao dumps the piano in the ocean because he cannot find anyone that will pay him a fair price for it. After the piano is gone Joao discovers that his new son in law loves to play the piano and would love to own one. Another irony is when a buyer for the piano comes soon after it is set in the ocean.
The piano is used symbolically as a representation of freedom and softness while Joao and his family are living through a war which his son in law is a fighter.
"In the Penal Colony" by Franz Kafka
"In the Penal Colony" by Franz Kafka is written in 3rd person omniscient point of view. The main character in the story is the commandant, one of the most sadistic characters I have ever read about. The Commandant designed a "device" that tortures a person for twelve hours slowly cutting the person in half. The antagonist in this story is the commandant. The explorer who is introduced as a witness to this device is expected to give criticism and to state his horror when a prisoner is about to face this torture. The characters in this story represent different parts of society.
The imagery surrounding this device is well crafted. Kafka describes to the reader a device that is so complicated as well as foreign expertly until the reader can actually imagine the device.
The main conflict for the commandant is that he is a member of an old dying regime and he finds himself on the outs with new leadership. He doesn't need to use the device but he loves it dearly. The sickness and the dialogue in this story is amazing to me.
The imagery surrounding this device is well crafted. Kafka describes to the reader a device that is so complicated as well as foreign expertly until the reader can actually imagine the device.
The main conflict for the commandant is that he is a member of an old dying regime and he finds himself on the outs with new leadership. He doesn't need to use the device but he loves it dearly. The sickness and the dialogue in this story is amazing to me.
"Thirst" Ivo Andric
Thirst is written in the 3rd person Omniscient point of view, this P.O.V is used so the audience can see different character's thoughts of the brutality regarding a prisoner being held without food or water.
This story is about a powerful leader of an outlaw clan being caught by a commander. He is suffering from infection and he smells of rotting flesh. The commander is a dynamic character situated between a loving husband who wants to go home to his wife and a stern leader who kills his enemies without guilt. The commander's wife feels tremendous sorrow and pity when she hears the outlaw begging a guard outside her bedroom for a simple drink of water. During the night the wife cannot sleep because of the prisoner but her husband is sleeping soundly. The wife is a round character.
Imagery is used in the writing when the narrator describes the awful smell coming from the outlaw's wound. Imagery is also used when the wife hears the sounds of the outlaw begging for water and the different ways the outlaw tries to get sympathy for his situation.
Conflict in this story centers around the commander and the outlaw, also the commander and his wife.
This story is about a powerful leader of an outlaw clan being caught by a commander. He is suffering from infection and he smells of rotting flesh. The commander is a dynamic character situated between a loving husband who wants to go home to his wife and a stern leader who kills his enemies without guilt. The commander's wife feels tremendous sorrow and pity when she hears the outlaw begging a guard outside her bedroom for a simple drink of water. During the night the wife cannot sleep because of the prisoner but her husband is sleeping soundly. The wife is a round character.
Imagery is used in the writing when the narrator describes the awful smell coming from the outlaw's wound. Imagery is also used when the wife hears the sounds of the outlaw begging for water and the different ways the outlaw tries to get sympathy for his situation.
Conflict in this story centers around the commander and the outlaw, also the commander and his wife.
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