Literature with the theme of self-destruction - 1660 Words

The act of being self-destructive does not just come to be. It occurs slowly and takes hold in individuals to varying degrees, contingent upon how ‘cold’ they are, and by their level of self-absorption and conceited desires. A combination of these characteristics can be discerned in each of the protagonists from the literary forms I studied. Each character is self-destructive, but the consequences of their actions and the number of people they hurt tends to magnify depending on how many of these characteristics they appear to demonstrate. What unites these characters is their ultimate self-destruction, resulting in the death of three out of four characters studied here. These four characters are Macbeth, from the play ‘Macbeth’ by†¦show more content†¦When Kenny then turned the gun towards Tub, Tub’s emotions escalated into fear, which had instant consequences for Kenny, as Tub reacted on those emotions, without thinking. Society can learn from these examples. Listening to our feelings and recognising emotions, should be something we are taught to heed. They are a prime source of information, working to keep us safe. Macbeth and Kenny teach us that strong emotions like guilt and fear are therefore important because they have the power to prevent repetition of cruel acts that have negative consequences. Becoming cold and callous, by blocking access to feelings, is an important teaching tool for society. An additional flaw that facilitates the destruction of the character’s self is the egotistical, conceited self absorption the protagonists Eddie, Ben, and Macbeth have in themselves. This is evident in Eddie Carbone’s inability to compromise when he finds his incongruous desires for his Niece threatened by Rodolfo, an Italian immigrant staying in America with the Carbone family to escape the impoverished conditions in Italy. As Catherine’s relationship with Rodolfo strengthens, Eddie’s personal desires and feelings towards Catherine become increasingly more obsessive and conspicuous. He voices his resentment and antagonism towards Rodolfo, determined to preventShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Frankenstein By Mary Shelly1098 Words   |  5 Pagesmost popular formats for literature is a hero faced with seemingly insurmountable struggles who is able to overcome these obstacles and live ‘happily ever after’. However, some of the most famous books in literature have an extremely different structure to their stories. These books center on characters of questionable moral integrity, who through their own poor decisions bring about their own misery and often ultimate demise. When examined this theme of self-destruction can be seen in many of whatRead MoreThe Power of Self-Destruction in Shakespeares Othello Essay802 Words   |  4 Pageswriters known in English literature. Othello has been said to be of the most touching and intimate of Shakespeare tragedies. The source of Othello comes from Girald Cirthio’s Tall of the Moor, considering the modification of a few details, this was a manifestation of Shakespeare’s ability to take a reputable story and elevate it into poetic tragedy (Cahn 106). Othello is the story of love, deception, and power. Othello, an army general in Venice, comes into conflict with his self and social identityRead MoreSylvia Plaths Lady Lazarus1289 Words   |  6 Pagesdespondent and she co mmitted suicide by inhaling gas from her kitchen stove (â€Å"Plath, Sylvia: Introduction†). American writer Sylvia Plath had many outstanding works including â€Å"Lady Lazarus†. This work illustrates Plath’s use of autobiographical influence, theme, and style, especially her use of imagery. â€Å"Lady Lazarus† is an â€Å"extraordinarily bitter dramatic monologue in twenty-eight tercets† (Heaton). 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Rushdie includes the juxtaposition of destruction and creation, and fate and freewill, as well as themes surrounding identity crisis and fragmentation. The theme of destruction vs. creation repeatedly appears throughout the novel. The most prominent symbols of this theme are Saleem and Shiva; the boys who were switched at birth. Shiva and his dadRead More Comparing Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market and William Wordsworth’s The Thorn1713 Words   |  7 Pagesto understanding the works â€Å"Goblin Market† and â€Å"The Thorn† is recognizing the common underlying themes of sex and gender and how these themes affect perspective in both poems. In Christina Rossetti’s â€Å"Goblin Market,† the main foci are on feminism and the oppression of women by men. The first part of Rossetti’s message is given through her thoughts on feminism, which is surely a major theme in this poem. For instance, the two main characters, Laura and Lizzie, reside free of any positiveRead MoreThe Southern Gothic Genre Of Literature1528 Words   |  7 PagesThe southern gothic genre of literature can be described as â€Å"plots involving violence or hidden trauma, eccentric and often psychologically troubled characters, and an atmosphere of repression and decay† (Oxford Dictionary). This dark, depressing theme found in literature is one that highlights the harsh realities that characters face in their own geographic area. It is vital for southern gothic stories to incorporate the theme of some type of external decay. In the texts Salvage the Bones and SwamplandiaRead MoreEssay The Rites of Spring by Modris E ksteins1028 Words   |  5 Pagespolitical, social and cultural climate of the early twentieth century. His sources were not merely the more traditional sources of the historian: political, military and economic accounts; rather, he drew from the rich, heady brew of art, music, dance, literature and philosophy as well. Eksteins examined ways in which life influenced, imitated, and even became art. Eksteins argues that life and art, as well as death, became so intermeshed as to be indistinguishable from one another. The title of the bookRead MoreEssay on Modernism at Its Finest in Literature756 Words   |  4 Pagesthe twentieth century, literature changed and focused on breaking away from the typical and predicate patterns of normal literature. Poets at this time took full advantage and stretched the idea of the mind’s conscience on how the world, mind, and language interact and contradict. Many authors, such as Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and Twain, used the pain and anguish in first hand experiences to create and depict a new type of literature, modernism. In this time era, literature and art became a largerRead MoreThe Fall Of The House Of Usher : Poes And Dark Romanticism1007 Words   |  5 Pagesof the transcendentalists (Howard, 1). As consequence, its characters are prone to sin and self-destruction, since by nature, they are not wise or divine beings. One of the most representative authors of the current is Poe, who is usually considered as the one who inaugurated this current (H oward, 3). His stories are notable for his exploration of human psychology, particularly perversity and self-destruction: â€Å"They viewed the world darkly. Although some stories do contain elements of hope†¦and deal