American Literature

In the course of a persons life, he or she is able to experience different trials, conflicts and issues. There are instances that the experiences of the person create huge difference in their perspectives, values, personalities and interests. Furthermore, experiences are important parts of individuals life in order develop for the better. However, there are also instances that change could create negative results. Moreover, this paper would be providing different information regarding the healing process of various persons depending on the experiences that they had. Therefore, different literatures written by Dorothy Allison such as Two to Three Things I Know for Sure as well as Skin Talking About Sex, Class And Literature are different literatures which discusses same issues with ones self. In addition to this Odysseus in America, a book written by John Shay shall also be discussed in order to attain an analysis of the different experiences of characters in the book written by Allison. Thus, the investigation regarding the topic of healing shall be focused.

In the book Two to Three Things I Know for Sure, Dorothy Allison highlights social class as the ability to be empowered and be abused. Those who are seen as poor are often judged and abused in order for higher social classes to be empowered and feel better about themselves. On the other hand, it is very significant to also view Skins Taking About Sex and Literature as a book which provides series of essays which will mentions the issue of being different. Hence being different leads to seclusion later on unaccepted in the society. Furthermore, looking at the issues being discussed it is very evident that social class as well the society plays a huge role in the life of a person.

Similar to what is mentioned by Jonathan Shay, war veterans had widely experienced different traumas after the war. During the war, they are able to see deaths and kill individuals who they do not even know. War veterans also experienced losing different people who had became their friends during the time of war. In addition to this, war veterans often experience paranoia of danger in different places even at their own home. It is written by Allison in the book Two to Three Things I Know for Sure mentions that the character escapes from her own house in order to feel free and relieved from people who are often judging and abusing her due to her social class. Moreover, such kind of criticism towards other people is very important in the psychological state of these people. Being at the receiving end of negative criticisms makes a person unable to trust others and isolate him- or herself from society. Thus, she is often yearning to have a place where she could be herself without any qualms. Through traveling and walking in different areas outside of her community, it is clear that her exploration somehow means freedom in her perspective. Through the stories she makes up, the character becomes free. Unlike the moments when she is within her home or community, the girl feels free to talk to anyone and experience everything for no one knows her (Allison, 20).

Hence, the character needs to be healed for she often feels untrusting and vulnerable towards other people.
The main characters desire for freedom, can be explained by the experiences of the soldiers discussed in Jonathan Shays Odysseus in America Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming. According to Shay, since society has its unstated norms, people tend to criticize individuals (159). To justify his claim, Shay cites the soldiers in different wars as examples. People from the war are very sensitive in terms of their achievements and experiences. For instance, the American soldiers who are unable to go home to the United States with success are often criticized by the community. Likewise, during the Korean War, soldiers were seen as individuals weaker than other soldiers put to war for they were seen as weak against their enemies.  On the other hand, there were soldiers in the Vietnam War who were persecuted by the people when they came home due to the lives they took during the war. Although the United States was triumphant in the wars, the number of people who died in the war is important. Hence, soldiers are seen as monsters and murderers. Such kind of judgment and experiences significantly influence the psychological state of soldiers to the point that they become untrusting of other people (Shay 154-155). This is one of the many symptoms of PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder).

PTSD is a common psychological disorder that manifest among soldiers who survived the horrors of war.  There are moments when a veteran soldier bursts out from his peacefulness and disrupts the silence of the community. There are also instances when they become paranoid and deal with daily matters as if they are still fighting in the war. In the book Skin Talking About Sex and Literature it is very clear that there are cases in which a PTSD patient could go ballistic due to simple reasons. The people affected by this psychological disease are paranoid and helpless regarding their emotions. Furthermore, impulsive reactions to situations tend to result in violent and negative results (Allison 59). Dorothy presented the vulnerability of a person who is seen by the society as different. Through being different, cases of insecurity, vulnerability within a certain society. Hence, this kind of conflict with ones self results to seclusion and non trust to other people.

Therefore, these kinds of issues are important to be healed.

Mention first how is healing related to the previous paragraph and that there is a need to be healed ( Healing is similar to accepting reality. Though past experiences are important in the present, accepting former actions is important to attain freedom in the present. To achieve this, Shay suggests that soldiers who recently came from war must undergo a purification process after the battle (244). Purification involves attaining connection with oneself and with ones spirit, which is important to let go of and accept the experiences that have been psychologically distressing for the individual. Through the realization that people need help, ones distrust and paranoia shall be healed. To heal oneself, Shay also suggests that one should be at home (246). For a person who does not trust and have faith during certain situations, it is important to be in a place where an individual is contented and calm. Hence, similar to the characters of the books provided, healing is an important process which must be attained by issues at hand. The characters are chattered by the societys judgments and standards. Looking upon this, acceptance and healing must be done to take away the past that still hurt the characters of the stories.

Conclusion
Healing is an important process that individuals have to go through, especially those who have been under psychological strain. One must face certain disturbances and irregularities in life such as disasters, heartaches, rejection, seclusion and the likes in order to heal from different kinds of psychological issues. In Allisons Two or Three Things I Know for Sure, it is very clear that she wrote for people who suffered or are suffering still from emotional or physical violence. Through violence and abuse, people become vulnerable and tattered. Thus, upon experiencing such kind of hurt could lead to revenge or different violent reactions. Furthermore, acceptance is also important to the steps of healing and forgiveness. A person must be willing to accept that experiences happen for a reason and such reason could only be realized in the future. Also, it is important for a person to show respect towards another. In cases of psychological issues, most individuals hate themselves because they are unlike others.  Hence, while people who experienced violence are mostly shattered, it is only through respect and openness will other individuals could be able to resolve conflicts.

Kerouac and Hemmingway consistently deal with topics of value and morality in the dimension of poverty, promiscuity, lack of vision, criminality, luminal life, alcoholism and disregard of societal values of the traditional American society. As they present the decay in the society through conduct, Hemingway dwells on the effects of the World War I on the moral standards of  modern America while Kerouac takes the perspective of improper moral structures that relaxes peoples value on moral standard. On the Road by Kerouac is a riveting account about the new nature of humanity as everybody in the society is morally deceitful and naturally dishonest. On the other hand, The Sun also Rises by Hemmingway demonstrates the futility of life as human being struggles with effects of the post war as they embody the feeling of emptiness and lack of meaning in life.

These two novels narrows down to the question of how morality and value systems are disregarded in the modern society. In light of this, Hemmingway handles his moral and value themes in terms of destruction of sex, aimlessness among members of the society, male insecurity, false friendship and excessive irresponsible drinking. Similarly, Kerouac portrays the American society as having lost of moral value through themes like madness, drug and alcoholic abuse, sexual immorality and criminality.

The Sun also Rises treats the theme of morality through aimlessness in the generation that is lost. Hemmingway uses irony to satirize the follies of the aimlessness that characterizes the modern American society as a result of the World War I. According to Wagner (2005), the traditional concept of morality gave meaning to the men and women of America. However, after the First World War, the concept of morality became lost and human being began wandering aimlessness in the society in what is inarguably a meaningless world. In light of this, aimlessness is a moral question that should be avoided because it leads people to lack focus, lack ambition and lack dream. As a result, men and women in the society operate on absurd angles since their time is spent on inconsequential activities like drinking and engaging in all kinds of wickedness. For example, Jake and his friends in the Sun also Rises lead empty lives because they constantly party and drink to afford some meaning and attain a bit of happiness. Although this is not explicitly physical, Hemmingway was in a way implying that Jake and his friends portray aimlessness through their emotional and mental lives (Hemmingway, 1995).

Similarly, Kerouac addresses morality by exploring dissatisfaction and restlessness that is rooted in the insanity of beat generation. In this case, characters experience the need to move through time and space a concept that originates from dissatisfaction. For instance, as Dean is motivated to move through time, Sal move in line with space (Kerouac, 1957). However, it is plausible to argue that their movement is aimless and that is why they do not find satisfaction wherever and whenever they go. As a result, Dean and Sal finds no true heaven after their traveling comes to an end and it is even more evident that lack of focus and absurd lifestyle is manifested in romantic relationships of characters. They feel more dissatisfied with women a factor which sets them in the mood of a variety of women (Kerouac, 1957).

The Sun also Rises can be seen to resonate the decline in value system of the American society through male insecurity. Hemmingway uses satire to expose the decay system of the society. This is through how the First World War provided way for the reevaluation of what is perceived to be masculine. Before the war, the masculine ideals bordered the precincts of bravery and stoicism which had some relevance in the brutal context of the war. As a consequence, soldiers suffered a great deal as the enemy raided them. In light of this, they became more insecure due to the conceptualization that they depended on luck and not bravery for their survival (Wagner, 2005). The realities of the war therefore undermined the traditional concept of masculinity. For instance, Jakes manhood is undermined as a result of the injuries he sustained on his male organ thus representing the cultural change of the value system. He is burdened b the feeling of being less than a man thereby nursing a strong sense of inadequacy (Hemmingway, 1995). In addition, other veterans in the novel The Sun also Rises feel a great sense of insecurity due to their manhood. Hemmingway underscores this theme by highlighting that the male insecurity become stronger when characters became envious of others (Nigel, 2005). For example, Jake as well as his  friends are unhappy with Cohn and subsequently abuse him because of his engagement in their unmanly behaviors because he follows Brett around (Hemmingway, 1995).Jake, Bill and Mike are unsure of their masculinity and they somehow cope with their fear by attacking  people like Cohn for behaving in the traditional masculine way.

Moreover, Kerouacs On the Road embodies this reversed value system by portraying sadness and insecurity in the world. For instance, Sal understands that the American society makes one constantly sad. In light of this, Sal sees everybody to be sad and as the source of his sadness. Worst of all is that his own dreams resonate the whole aspect of sadness (Kerouac, 1957).According to Swartz (1999), the element of sadness in the lives of the American people is a question of loneliness and failure to embrace societal values of togetherness as well as connecting with those around through warm dialogue. Kerouac closely mirrored what Hemmingway dealt with because sadness in any community is a feature in the relationship of men and women. Arguably, Sadness manifests the understanding of being low in spirits and given that it is more evident in the beat generation, it brings out the element of being defeated in life. A case in point is when Sal yearns for a warm and poignant connection with women (Kerouac, 1957).This explains how he is not sure of his position in the society and views life on a pessimistic angle a factor that manifests itself through sadness.

Another important point is the question of sex and how it is destructive in the modern American society. In the Sun also Rises, Hemmingway presents a clear picture of how the aspect of sex is not only powerful but also very destructive. Accordingly, Nigel (2005) notes that this destructive nature of sex comes out clear in the way characters in this novel expresses strong sexual jealousy. For instance, because of the untamed sexual jealousy, Cohn is forced to violate the principles of value and consequently attack Romero, Jake and Mike (Hemmingway, 1995). In addition, the illicit cravings for sex block Brett from building a healthy relationship with Jake. Primarily, these two examples show that sex weakens the honor that Cohn has as well as the love between Jake and Brett. Moreover, Brett engages in multiple sexual relationships with men and does not want to get serious with any of them. This constantly nags her, makes both Jake miserable and leads Cohn to be violent (Hemmingway, 1995). In this view, Hemmingway clarifies that the contemporary society has given leeway to its members to engage in perverse sexual behaviors with come with daring effects. Arguably, Hemmingway also underscores that with the advent of independence and gender equity, many women are becoming more sexually perverse.

On the same note, Kerouac in On the Road, treats his theme of sexual immorality by exploring inability of the characters in his novel to differentiate between love and sex. The understanding here is that in the American society, moral values have been swept under the carpet thus making Americans to weaken the values of the marriage institution. According to Upton (2003), there is no such a thing like respect for marriage in the novel On the Road because sex overrides every factor that leads to marriage and love. In this case, lust and sexual escapades forms the order of the day and those who engage in these immoral activities claim to be expressing love. For instance, Deans is so lustful that he wants to marry every woman he lusts (Kerouac, 1957). On this premise, Kerouac presents sex without attachment which reduces the spiritual dimension of sex. The fact that Dean lusts after every woman suggests a perverse notion that women are sexual objects to satisfy the sexual desires of men.

Alcoholism and drug abuse is another element of moral decay. In the Sun also Rises, Hemmingway shows all characters being alcoholic therefore symbolizing the rottenness of the society. Almost all the friends of Jake are drunkards because they drink in excess at everywhere they go. Somehow, it is through this excessive drinking that they promote their escapist tendency. Wagner (2005) outlines that it drinking which gives Jake and his friends a sense of purpose and satisfaction. This implies that Hemmingway wanted to underscore on the consequences of excessive drinking because as seen in the Sun also Rises, alcoholism only brings out the worst these characters especially mike. For instance, he turns out to be nasty, intoxicated and violent (Hemmingway, 1995). In light of this, alcoholism in the Sun also Rises disadvantages the mental well being of a person and thus heightening the confusion, sadness and lack of purpose that plagues Jake as well as his friends. This is construed on the premise that drinking helps the characters to avoid the reality in their lives.

On the same note, Kerouac in On the Road shares that alcoholism is a healthy activity if taken in moderation. This is evident in the fact that there are a variety of alcohols and a few characters who abuse alcoholism like Dean and his missing father are the ones who suffer a myriad of problems like poverty. Upton (2003) underlines that alcoholism is a dangerous venture if it takes the priority of food as well as other necessities in the life of a character. The relationship of Sal and Dean is shaped by alcoholism because, they comes a sharp contrast when the two dreams (Kerouac, 1957). Their actions, behaviors and dreams when they are sober become totally different when they are drunk. Alcoholism therefore forms the foundation of madness which is seen to aggravate the question of absurdity and lack of focus in the society.

Another facet of comparison in the morals themes in the two literary pieces lies in the paradigm of false friendship. Hemmingway embodies the element of friendship to be built around deceptive and selfish motives. A number of these friendships are found on no affection. As Jake met the team manager, and they planned to meet the following morning so that they continue with their conversation, Jake skives the meeting on the ground that he will never see the manager again (Hemmingway, 1995). Another dark false friendship is exemplified in Jake and Cohn. With regard to the values of friend, Jake is false to his friend. Although Cohn likes Jake, Jake is false and operates in a mask.  He harbors some hostility to Cohn which increases and more vivid in jakes silent jealousy to Cohn as pertains Brett (Hemmingway, 1995). The inability to build true friendship jeopardizes the social survival of Jake and his friends. It is ironical that Hemmingway that atrocities, jealousy and opportunistic characteristics form an immoral pedestals upon which Hemmingway treats this theme.

In the same vein, Kerouac gives us a glimpse on the nature of friendship based on hero worship. A case in point is Sal who positions Dean on certain class, struggles to equal his friends (Kerouac, 1957).Although Sal and Dean are friends, it is evident that they are uncomfortable with each other especially when Sal thinks that Dean has a low profile. In this case, their friendship suffers but somehow, Dean makes up by building an intellectual friendship with Carlo. This somehow heals his wounded heart because, unlike ah of Sal, it is based on mutual interest (Kerouac, 1957).

However, Hemmingway differs slightly with Kerouac in addressing the moral themes with regard to criminality and spirituality. For example, as Hemmingway portrays that characters loses on morals in terms of failure in communication, Kerouac address the aspect of failed vision of the American dream. In the Sun also Rise, the conversation that Jake and his friends engage in does not mirror honesty. They constantly struggle to hide their feelings all under the cover of civilization.  In addition, it is clear that these friends are tormented by the effects of the war but can not mutually share this in a mutual communication (Hemmingway, 1995).

However, the instance of true communication where the characters speaks their true feeling comes out under the influence of alcohol. For instance, when Mike is drunk, that is the time he can tell Cohn how he detests his presence. According to Wagner (2005), the question of lack of communication does not provide ground for growth in the society. As such, members of the society constantly live in the dark not understanding others and not sharing their feeling which inarguably facilitates the growth of the society I light of social, economic and cultural dimensions. Hemmingway thus suggests that in lie of the traditional value, The Sun also Rises mirrors the concept of lack of unity, individualism, and selfishness all which do not contribute to the well being of the society.

Contrastively, Kerouac addresses this aspect in a different model of lack of vision for the American dream. Sal sees the American society through various lenses which leaves him comparing it with other worlds he regards better like Mexico (Kerouac, 1957).According to Swartz (1999), this gives Sal no chance of constructively and positively thinking of how to build his society. The American dream of a sound economic development thus is shattered by this retrogressive thinking. As a result, the lack of vision is analogous to lack of dream a factor that introduces other vices and immoral activities like criminality, distorted versions of reality and poverty. Policemen become so abusive and power hungry thereby showing that they think little bout these people in their service and the ideals of the society. This nature further fuels criminality witch sees Dean in jail. Moreover, characters think that the only cause of their problems and misfortunes which arguably is a distorted version of reality. All these formulations narrow down to poverty which appears to be everywhere according to the perception of Sal. Lack of vision towards the American dream has left many characters homeless camping on the roadside and depending on the musician to entertain them. Lack of vision also lands Sal in deep poverty because when he travels, he can not purposely manage his money and thus squanders it (Kerouac, 1957). Sal and his friends finally ca not establish any middle ground to earn a living and relies on asking his Aunt for money. All these are a feature and effect of lack of vision for the America dream.

To recap, both Hemmingway and Kerouac deal with moral themes that resonate the traditional notion of value system. Most of their understanding and portray of these themes is similar because they attribute to what is sociological applicable in the contemporary society. Such themes affect the American society in a myriad of ways ranging from lack of vision for the American dram, lack of believe in self, deceptive attitudes and friendship, opportunism, despair and lack of communication. However, there is a slight difference in how they address this themes which is in their style which evidently narrows down to failed vision as in the case of Kerouac as well as failed communication in the case of Hemmingway. The two facets of morality contribute to the unity and strength of the social, economic and cultural institution in the society. Their absence paves way for the manifestation of other vices like individualism, poverty, and criminality and reduces characters to leading luminal lives.

The tale of Aladdin and the Magic lamp is regarded as one of the best fairy tales in the vast archives of childrens literature. Aladdins adventures which taught him to be brave and decide for himself has never ceased in fascinating readers of any age all these times. Perhaps it helps that Aladdin has overcome his internal weaknesses in order to have a happy ending with the love of his life. Moreover, it might have also helped that the setting of this fantastic tale was a place known for its exotic culture and superb scenic spots  India.

Since Aladdin and the magic lamp is a fairy tale that is, it is supposed to have fantastic elements that can provide an exhilarating twist to the story, authenticity in terms of cultural presentation is already troublesome. First, there was no large-scale presentation of the Indian culture to begin with. We only get the idea that we are led in an Indian context through the help of the physical appearances of the character, the titles of the royalty members and the architectures of the castles.  Definitely, the totality of a culture can not be encompassed merely by these details. It involves a whole lot of things that range from the concrete to the abstract. It is comprised of the traditions and beliefs of the people, their distinct rituals, food, literatures, among others. If we go on in mentioning all the other components of culture, we will only see how the story Aladdin and the magic lamp has fell way short in covering the culture of India.

In trying to share to the readers the culture of India, the author of the story mainly stayed on a perspective that comes from the inside. Except of the settings which resulted from magical transformations, quite a voluminous part of the storys setting was in India. By using this technique and working from that perspective, the author became more able to control the presentation of the culture. The cultural markers the author added have helped the readers identify with the Indian culture. The distinctly Indian look of the characters and the grotesque forms of the royal castles can make the readers effortlessly realize that they are reading a story reflecting the Indian culture.

In terms of promoting certain cultural stereotypes, Aladdin and the magic lamp ahs eventually lacked. It was already said earlier that the story itself lacked in authentic cultural details. That is the reason why there was also not much room to promote cultural stereotypes. For how can you promote something when that something are supposed to promote is lacking The only notable cultural detail that was seemingly promoted in the story is the stereotypical perception of Indians appearances. They have dark skins and rarely have straight hair. These traits can be visualized in Aladdin and his loved one.

Lastly, it was the Indian culture that was attempted to be described n this story. Although the fact that it was a fairytale spoiled its chance to optimize the presentation of that culture. The characters looks, the specialized setting and their costumes  these all point to the Indian elements which are unmistakably inserted in this classic tale.

In order to answer these questions, we discuss and analyze that until the end of the story, the narrator has a hard time connecting with any individual, especially his wife. Throughout the story he is deploring about his wife, and her allegedly irrational obsession and companionship with, the blind man Robert. He tosses in sarcastic remarks about her verses, her ex-husband, and much else. He does not seem to be connected to his wife. (Carver, 2007)

In Cathedral, Robert, the blind man, could be said to represent the narrators that is the husbands prejudices.  Prejudice, in spite of everything, is a sort of blindness.  The husband, as the story continues, discovers that Robert is not just a blind man he is a special human being, one who occurs to joke, smokes and wear a beard. (Carver, 2007)

Immediately upon Roberts entrance, the narrator offers him a drink, and mentions that liquor is a bit of a pastime for him.  Possibly, the narrator is a drinker.  They resolve in and attractive rapidly have some drinks.  This assists to relax up the narrator a bit it places him at ease, and makes him less anxious about Roberts visit.  They smoke marijuana after dinner and that relaxed the narrator even more. He becomes easy-going and comfortable with Robert, although normally he is an uptight and picky man. This provides him to be open to the experience that ends up impacting him so significantly, the drawing of the cathedral with his eyes closed.  If he hadnt been calm and alleviated through liquor and marijuana he might not have allowed to letting a man catch his hand and direct him through drawing a cathedral.  The smokes and drinks relieve his apprehension and through the drawing of the cathedral, he has a very subterranean experience.  He is able to glimpse certain things from somebody elses perspective for the first time in his life.  (Carver, 2007)

The narrator has a life-changing experience, or an epiphany, at the end of Cathedral, while endeavoring to notify Robert what a cathedral appears to be. The narrator, when first endeavoring to interpret what the cathedral looks like, fumbles for words. However, upon Roberts support, loosens up, and sketches the cathedral with Robert, directing his hand with a pencil onto a paper. (Carver, 2007)

The world of Allen Ginsbergs  Howl  is equal parts vibrant and bleak. The world he represents is not clear-cut but an amalgamation of drugs, sex, madness, desperation, celebration, and individuality. The last is perhaps the most important, as it is a unifying factor in the modern experience of self and the world. Through the poem, he seems to be seeking a way in which to portray the new ideas of culture, art, and life that he sees embodied within mans experience of the world. Ginsbergs world, as presented in  Howl,  is peopled with madness, drugs, music, and a kind of mysticism. In many respects, when one looks beyond the strength of the imagery in such phrases  reincarnate in the ghostly clothes of jazz in the goldhorn shadow of the band  (ll.77), there is a concrete world beneath.

There is no doubt that Ginsberg employs the use of hyperbole but only as a way to give new truth and depth to old concepts of society, art, and culture as whole.  Howl,  can be tied into the post-modern ideas of combined fiction, realism, multiculturalism, and experimentation through the combined non-fictional (autobiographical) elements of Ginsbergs personal life with an awareness of changing and expanding cultural ideas as represented by post-World War II society and culture, which create a new perspective on humanity. By representing his own friends and world through this series of complex imagery, Ginsberg seems to be attempting to mythologize the world in order to make it more real. Jack Kerouac, Carl Solomon, even Ginsberg himself becomes a product of experience and, more importantly, the interpretation of experience. Ginsberg shows through his unique, free flowing form the necessity of re-ordering the world within the context of the contemporary awareness of the world.

Look out there, Cassie girl. All that belongs to you. You aint never had to live on nobodys place but your own and long as I live and the family survives, youll never have to (Taylor, Mildred D., Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry 6).

I choose this passage because, through it, I can sense the strong determination of the Logans, particularly the father, revealing the pride and self confidence that the family carries.

The passage reveals that the author is giving importance to the family values. This fits the theme of the story strong family ties. Throughout the story, the Logans experience extremely unfair treatments from the whites. In the center of all this, the author infuses balance to the situation by establishing healthy relationship within the family that allows the Logans to survive and stay on course. It bonds them to act as one, to be united in overcoming any difficulties. Strong family attachment keeps them rational during turmoil, allowing themselves to endure in humility if only to avoid further trouble. Family value also permits them to know the meaning of sacrifice as Papa burns their cotton field to save TJ Avery from being killed by an angry mob of whites. TJ is not a Logan, but Papa values the friendship of Stacy and TJ, so he considers the Avery boy as a part of his family. Good relationship in the family protects the children from the harshness of racism. It does not attempt to conceal the reality from their young minds rather it keeps their self-respect and confidence intact.

The passage also typifies the setting of the story, which is during the Great Depression period.

As the black population is the most affected by the economic slump, it shows the importance of the land for their survival. Since the Logans own a parcel of land, they suffer constant harassment from Mr. Granger. However, Papa is determined to keep it no matter what the consequences may be. This he promises to Cassie.

We Logans dont have much to do with white folks. You know why Cause white folks mean trouble. (Ib 134)

I like this passage for its straightforwardness. It directly labels the whites as the bad people in the story. It does not even contain any trace of remorse or attempt to conceal the truth.

The author portrays the gloomy mood of the novel through, among others, the dialogues of her characters, and this passage is one of those. Uttered by Papa as he talks with Stacy regarding his sons friendship with a white boy, this statement exemplifies the discrimination being experienced by the blacks. They are struggling to survive the depression, but their struggle is made even more difficult by the rampant racism. The Logans and other African-American in the novel undergo discrimination in almost all fronts in the workplace, in stores, in public places and in schools. This is preceded by the burning of Mr. Berry and highlighted by the beating of TJ Avery. Taylor has successfully presented a dark picture of life during the depression.

The passage also reveals the characterization of the story. The white people are depicted as mean and brutal individuals who are continuously harassing their black neighbors, particularly the Logans. It seems that their sole role is to antagonize the blacks. There are whites who side with the colored people, like Jeremy Simms and Mr. Jamison, but they are greatly overwhelmed by the brutal light-skinned individuals. This kind of portrayal can be seen as the authors way of expressing her bitterness towards racial discrimination. Perhaps, as a black American herself, the author might have suffered injustice during her time, and the novel is her way of letting her anger out. On the other hand, the author puts a balance by portraying the Logans as confident black individuals who are no pushovers. From the oldest Logan down to the youngest, nobody in the family is afraid to confront a white person face to face. This is probably an attempt of the author to give the African-Americans strong characters.

I had never liked T.J., but he had always been there, a part of my life, just like the mud and the rain. Yet the mud and the rain and the dust would all pass. What had happened to T.J. in the night I did not understand, but I knew that it would not pass. And I cried for those things which had happened in the night and would not pass (Ib 163).

I choose this passage for its innocence, which is only appropriate for a nine year old narrator. Good thing that Taylor does not portray Cassie as a wise character who knows everything that transpires around her.
The passage proves that the story is seen in the point of view of a nine year old girl, Cassie. Taylor may have put a young girl as the narrator of the story to lighten the effect of the great depression and racial discrimination. The narration is comprised mainly on the perception of a young mind, and the factual information is provided by her old folks. Cassie is naive, and she has many questions regarding racism. He cannot understand why the whites get all the nice things, and the blacks are always the losers who are forced to settle for leftovers. This naivety gives realism to the story as the author does not allow the gloomy mood of the novel to deprive the young protagonist the natural characteristics appropriate for a child of her age.

Taylor is clever to fit Cassie with loving parents who provide answers to her questions.

The passage is also appropriate for the plot that shows series of events and conflicts that go without being solved. Cruelty of racism happens everywhere in the story, yet justice is nowhere to be found. The burning of Mr. Berry and other unsettled conflicts accumulated until they become almost impossible to deal with already. The climax of the story, the beating of TJ, is another event that finds no solution. Fittingly, the novel starts with Cassie wondering about the importance of the land, and it ends leaving the narrator confused and unable to do anything but feel sorry for all the victims of injustice that her tender mind cannot grasp.

Right and wrong. Good versus bad. Those are the conflicting beliefs that can be found within the human mind. Every day, humans are confronted with this conflict in relation to their every thought and action corresponding to a specific situation. The choices one makes reflects on ones belief and how its interpreted. The issue of morality is a point of obsession for people around the world. What is the right thing to do What makes a specific act morally right from an individuals perspective and wrong in others eyes These are questions that, I believe, can never be fully answered. In this paper, I will discuss the moral issues in Shakespeares play Hamlet and Sophocles tragedy Antigone. The two classical works show the role of moral obligations and moral conflict in the actions of the main characters whereas Antigones moral values resolutely demand that she obey the laws of the gods over the laws of man, while Hamlet struggles with the moral conflicts that surround his desire to avenge his fathers death. This paper will also discuss the conflict found in the two plays as pertaining to family and law, revenge, injustice, and so on.

In the next part of this paper, I will provide a background story of the two plays in order to get a better understanding of what this paper is all about followed by a comparative analysis of the moral issues that can be observed in the two plays.

Background
William Shakespeares Hamlet  is a tragic tale of ghosts, murder and the quest for vengeance. The character of Prince Hamlet of Denmark can be described as enigmatic and complex and is the subject of detailed analysis more than any other character in the English literature. In the beginning of the play, we see Prince Hamlet of Denmark troubled by everything that is going on around him. His fathers sudden death the chance to ascend the throne in his fathers place taken away from him when his late fathers brother, Claudius, was proclaimed as King of Denmark and, his disgust at the hasty marriage between his mother, Queen Gertrude, and King Claudius, which he considers as incestuous. Later on, he is visited by his dead fathers ghost and is made aware of his fathers treacherous death by the hand of his brother, Claudius. As the story progresses, we find Hamlet feigning madness as part of his plot to murder Claudius his confrontation with his mother the murder of Polonius, a member of the Kings council the death of Ophelia, daughter of Polonius and the plot of Claudius to dispose of Hamlet. The tragic story ends with the duel and death of Hamlet and Laertes, son of Polonius, who wishes to avenge the death of his father from the hands of Hamlet and the death of Gertrude, Hamlets mother, and King Claudius.

Meanwhile, in Antigone by Sophocles, the opening scene of the play shows Antigone and her sister, Ismene, daughters of Oedipus, the former King of Thebes, in front of the palace gates in Thebes. The time is at daybreak on the morning after the fall of their two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, during the battle between Thebes and the Argives. Polyneices has sided with the Argives while Eteocles defended Thebes. The brothers die at the hands of each other and the victorious King Creon of Thebes ordered the preparation for the burial of Eteocles and, at the same time, issued an order to leave the corpse of Polyneices for the carrions to feast upon, which he thinks is fitting as Polyneices betrayed his homeland and does not deserve funeral rites or burial. Antigone, despite Creons edict, attempted to secure a burial for his brother, Polyneices. The progress of the play shows the confrontation between Creon and Antigone when he discovered what she is trying to do the confrontation between Creon and his son, Haemon, who is betrothed to Antigone and the confrontation between Creon and the blind prophet, Teiresias. The tragic play ends with the death of Antigone and Haemon the suicide of Eurydice, wife of King Creon and the lamentation of Creon.

According to Bates (112), in the Antigone, contempt of death enables a weak maiden to conquer a powerful ruler, who, proud of his wisdom, ventures in his unbounded insolence to pit his royal word against divine law and human sentiment, and learns all too late, by the destruction of his house, that Fate in due course brings fit punishment on outrage.

Discussion
In the two plays, we can see the moral issues that arose in relation to the role foisted on the protagonists. In Hamlets case, it is the role of son and avenger, while Antigones role is a loving sister and a devoted follower of the Gods.

The procrastination displayed by Hamlet with regard to getting his revenge with Claudius shows the moral struggle he is facing. In Act 2 Scene 2, Hamlet remarks
Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, And can say nothing no, not for a king, Upon whose property and most dear life A damnd defeat was made. Am I a coward Who calls me villain breaks my pate across Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face Tweaks me by the nose gives me the lie i the throat, As deep as to the lungs who does me this

In the same scene, Hamlet also exhibited doubts regarding his mission and the ghost that he saw, which can be connected to his Christian beliefs, as he contemplates
The spirit that I have seen May be the devil and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me.

There is another scene wherein Hamlet shows his hesitation in killing Claudius seeing as he has the chance right then and there when he catches Claudius alone and praying. In Act 3 Scene 3
Now might I do it pat, now he is praying And now Ill dot. And so he goes to heaven And so am I revenged. That would be scannd A villain kills my father and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven.

This scene has had various interpretations by literary scholars. One notable interpretation is that Hamlet delayed the killing not because he does not want Claudius to go to heaven as a result of his deed, but rather due to the struggle that is warring inside of him where conflicting emotions attack him from every side as his desire to avenge his father clashes that killing a person is wrong.

Another evidence of the struggle being faced by Prince Hamlet concerning his cause can be seen in his remark in his most famous soliloquy in Act 3 Scene 1
To be, or not to be that is the question Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied oer with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.

In this scene, Hamlet experiences a sense of confusion as he argues with himself about what is the right thing to do. He questions his course of action, as he debates whether to proceed with murder or to just let justice take its own time.

The character of Prince Hamlet constantly questions his cause, of whether he should fulfill the conflicting moral duties of blood revenge, the Christian ethic of not killing and leaving vengeance to God, the political duties of Machiavellis Prince, or be true to himself Shakespeares genius is to have Claudius repeatedly invoke the codes he has broken, thereby reinforcing our sympathy for Hamlets crisis and cause against his uncle (Pupavac, 2008).

On the other hand, the character of Antigone is rooted in familial love and a sense of moral righteousness. The character of Antigone represents the moral idealist who is absolutely unbending in the values that she deems eternal and imagines being more important than life itself. The moralist sacrifices efficacy for unflinching values, as opposed to the realist who sacrifices the right for the useful (ctd. in Story, 2008). Her sense of moral duty to her dead brother is so strong that, in the beginning of the play, in her conversation with her sister, she stated that
Gladly will I meet death in my sacred duty to the dead. Longer time have I to spend with them than with those who live upon the earth. Seek not to argue with me nothing so terrible can come to me but that an honored death remains. (Bates 112).

The central theme in Antigone is the relation of the law which has its sanction in political authority and the law which has its sanction in the private conscience, the relation of the obligations imposed on human beings as citizens and members of the state, and the obligations imposed on them in the home and as members of families. And both these laws presenting themselves in their most crucial form are in direct collision  (Collins, 1906).

According to Collins (1906), the decision of Antigone to choose divine law over mans law can be seen as a sacred duty in the eyes of the Greeks. Since she looks at it as a divine commission, she believes that she had a right to assert that in defying the edit of Creon, she was loyal to an unwritten law which had a higher sanction than mans will.

In terms of similarities, there are several aspects of the two plays wherein morality plays a major part. One particular aspect that can be found in both plays is how the kings equate restoration of order to their kingdom with the deaths of their perceived law disrupters. In Hamlet, King Claudius, fearing that his heinous deeds will be found out by Prince Hamlet and thus, disrupting the peace of the kingdom, orders the Prince to be escorted in England where he plots for him to be murdered once he steps on to English soil. In Act 4 Scene 3, the King is seen as sending a letter to the King of England conveying his royal wish for the death of Hamlet. On the other hand, Antigone was sentenced to death by Creon for disobeying his orders which he sees as a sign of rebellion against him. He sentenced Antigone to be led to the dungeon, where she is to die of starvation, and thus bewails her fate (Bates 116).

However, a contrast can also be seen in the way which the two kings handled the disposal of the protagonists. In Hamlet, Claudius proceeds in a treacherous manner as Prince Hamlet was unaware that the Kings orders for him to be transported to England would result in his murder. Compared to that, King Creon issued a death sentence in the form of a royal decree on Antigone for disobeying his royal orders.

The revenge theme which is the main focus in the play Hamlet can also be seen in Antigone as Creon refuses to perform burial rites on Polyneices. This is his act of revenge against the man which he thinks is right since Polyneices, a son of Thebes, turned against them.

The concepts of heroism and martyrdom, which can be seen in the two plays, as well, are also connected to morality. In Hamlets case, he believes that avenging the death of his father is the heroic thing to do and disregards the teachings of the Christian faith, in which he follows, and his duty to his living family. Meanwhile, the actions of Antigone is mostly based on self-sacrifice. She makes no attempt to conciliate Creon, but maintains throughout a most defiant attitude, glorying alike in her deed and in its penalty Antigone not merely braves but courts death (Collins, 1906).

The conflict of family and law can be seen more in the play Antigone. According to Collins (1906), the conflict lies between Antigone and Creon in what they perceived is their right. As ruler of the state, Creon was perfectly justified in issuing the edict which deprived Polyneices of his funeral rites. The young man had fallen in the act of committing the most heinous crime of which a citizen could be guilty, and Creon, as the responsible head of the state, very naturally supposed that exemplary punishment was the culprits rightful due. The decree issued with its annexed penalty became law, and as the law it was incumbent on every citizen to obey it. Antigone, on the other hand, looks at it from a family members perspective, and believes that the duty she undertook can be delegated to no one else.

Up to this point, then, both are in the right, and neither deserves punishment. Had reason and right feeling ruled Creon, he would have seen that Antigone was perfectly justified in disobeying his edict had reason ruled Antigone, she would have seen that he was perfectly justified in issuing it (Collins, 1906).

Collins (1906) further states that The terrible calamities, then, which overtake Creon are not the result of his exalting the law of the state over the unwritten and divine law which Antigone vindicates, but are the result of his harsh, imperious and intemperate character. It was his intemperance which made him impervious to the impressions which the conduct and position of Antigone ought to have made on him, which made him deaf to the appeals of Haemon, and which led him to disregard till it was too late the warnings of Teiresias it was his intemperance which was his ruin.

Conclusion
The role of morality in the thought and actions of the protagonists in the two plays contribute to their tragic demise. One acts on her moral obligation while the other questions and hesitates. This is what defines moral duty and moral conflict. The desire to do what is right is what prompted the protagonists into action. Collins (1906) advises us to remember that if a poet or writer is a moralist and a teacher he is primarily an artist. The writer, through his works, allows the reader or viewers to look into hisher moral values. The two plays were successful in this regard in that it made us see ourselves and determine what is right and what is wrong from a personal perspective, from a social perspective and from a divine perspective.