ninasilverlee

<Personal comparison between two authors based on short stories I encountered in World Literature class>       Both authors' stories appeal to the readers with unique filters they use when viewing their own world. Each story clearly has a moment of epiphany– didactic moments, and characters become mentally mature by passing through those specific moments. For instance, in ⟪The lady with the dog⟫ by Anton Chekhov, Gurov tastes a bit of true love and discovers a beauty within savagery that makes us think it is bearable to live on. In the same way, the boy in ⟪Araby⟫ by James Joyce realizes that the religious girl's reciprocation of interest is a mere hallucination created by desperation. This way, characters in both authors' stories resurrect from ignorance, paralyzed society, and from the erroneous monarch. Although moments of awareness are not superficially noticeable, they undoubtedly are melted into the story by the writers' perceptive utilization of metaphor...

    Araby, By James Joyce(1914) Rating: 7.8/10 Everyone has their own memory of 'firsts' as they're too important to be easily forgotten. First crush, first love, and first commitment will be the proof of emotional maturity as we look back on ourselves. It is natural to be discomforted at how unskilful we were when facing our 'firsts.' Sometimes reciprocation turns out to be our own hallucinations, just like the narrator had. Perhaps the author didn't specify the main characters' names to tell how everyone goes through their firsts full of mistakes.  I could enjoy the overall theme and concept of the story. Purity and impurity were contrasted, as well as the boy's innocence and his contamination. Mangan's sister was depicted as a goddess/princess who would seldom personally connect with the boy. The theme: A boy having a crush on a religious girl was interesting. However, I couldn't enjoy how there were no noticeable incidents in this story. Ther...

   The Sisters, By James Joyce(1914) Rating: 8.2/10 Paralysis halts movement, communication, and life. It suspends not only the thinkability of individuals but also of society. Society, often paralyzed by an erroneous ruler, is led to walk the wrong path. Just like how Father Flynn had the boy right under his arms blind, we might be the ones who are being domesticated and abiding by the laws that don't make sense.  Close to death, Father Flynn fails his overall religious duties, showing the signs of paralysis. Or maybe he was paralyzed from the first. Notwithstanding Father Flynn's deterioration of sanity, he remains to be respected by the majority, whatever the sin he commits. This paralysis becomes the cause to the withdrawn development of a community. It lets lies pervade and lay chaos. Freedom, however, would allow individuals reconnect and therefore truth be told. Truth is to be found.

  Gooseberries, By Anton Chekhov(1898) Rating: 7.9/10 As an animal with instinct, consisting of genes that seek to convey the most immaculate components to the next generation, mankind ought to pursue Happiness. While it is erroneous to violate moral standards, man should be allowed to attain the opportunity of seizing Happiness under the ethical codes. With Happiness as a source of motivation, they survive another day in the world of disharmony. Whether or not I should buy a new laptop to replace my old, malfunctioning laptop purely depends on the amount of Happiness I can acquire out of it. As long as I'm affordable, there is no reason for me to get mad over the laptop that freezes every 10 seconds and experience the pain of those who are unaffordable. It does no good to anyone unless the money is donated to those in need. This story simply made me feel thankful for how capable I am of feeling Happiness. Alyohin lives such an ascetic and moral life, yet he seems unhappy with self...