On the other hand, the protagonist’s name in TS is Jack Torrance. At first, readers build empathy towards this character considering Jack happens to be a normal individual confronted with similar situations of everyday life. The different themes explored in TS evolve around real social concerns such as family matters, alcoholism, violence, child abuse and insanity. Motives of selfishness in a battle against nurturing behaviours are what confront Jack in his decision-making. Clasen argues that these conflicts ‘are rooted in human nature and reflect evolutionarily recurrent adaptive problems’ (Hauntings of Human Nature 3). The shifting points of view push readers to change their mind rapidly about the protagonist. Unreliability and evilness reside …show more content…
Therefore, the inherent emotions of the human species made a way to ethics ‘the capacity for morality is ultimately based upon a species’ emotional wiring as much as on its cognitive abilities’ (Turner 1997 220). The difference between humans and animals is that humans can achieve control over their emotions. However, Jack has a difficult time keeping his temper. This happens once when he catches a student shredding the tire of his car, he fought with the student and ‘the French teacher, holding Jack’s arms, crying, screaming: “Stop it, Jack! You’re going to kill him!”’ (TS 165). There lies a similarity between Jack and the boiler. However, Jack seems incapable of control. For example, ‘The boiler had a pressure gauge: old, cracked, clotted with grease, but still workable, Jack had none’ (TS 282). Buss and Shackelford state that according to biological explanations, ‘aggressive energy is said to be an instinctual drive that builds up until it explodes. Conversely, ‘an evolved psychology takes in specific forms of input, operates on that input with decision rules, and then produces an output (Buss and Shackelford 2015 607). Jack’s tendency to alcoholism combined with a haunting past, his father ‘had beaten their mother for no good reason at all’ (TS 329), and the fact that he is obsessed with having a higher status ‘his wife […] had opted for the poisonously active task of trying to destroy his last and best chance to become a member of the Overlook’s staff, and possibly to rise’ (TS 563), lead him to behave violently. A prominent factor regarding the functions of aggression is that it can ‘increase one’s status or power within existing social hierarchies’ (Buss and Shackelford 1997 610). As though this was not enough, he contemplates the murder of his wife ‘in bed the night before, lying there and suddenly he had been contemplating the murder of his wife’ (TS
At this point in the novel, Davies has created an interesting story of a boy who is, in effect, explaining human nature through symbolism. Dunstan’s many conflicts with man and society are very effective in maintaining the readers interest in the novel and make the plot more exciting.
... also come to the conclusion that complete understanding is not only impossible but also undesirable. As a result, Jack agrees with Ellis Burden who reasons that “Separateness [from God] is identity,” and since only God knows everything, ignorance is a quality all humans share (Warren 659). It is ironic that the world seems clearer to Jack when he realizes that men are naturally ignorant than when he sought to understand everything. Jack’s progress lies in his ability to “distinguish the pursuit of knowledge from Complete Knowledge itself” (Wolf). Jack realizes that it is only human have the freedom to pursue knowledge, while the possession of Complete Knowledge destroys the purpose of life. Jack’s epiphanies occur at the expense of others, namely Judge Irwin, Willie, and Adam, but it is necessary for Jack to learn that freedom comes from the realization of truth.
Human nature has many elements that reveal the growth and personality of a person. In Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief”, the author successfully portrays various aspects of human nature through Hans’ conflicts that originate from the tough reality that he lives in. Elements of human nature can be seen as a result of Hans’ constant struggles with guilt, kindness, and love.
She presents two contradictory images of society in most of her fiction: one in which the power and prevalence of evil seem so deeply embedded that only destruction may root it out, and another in which the community or even an aggregate of individuals, though radically flawed, may discover within itself the potential for regeneration. (34)
Jack is made the leader of the hunting tribe. He and his hunters have much trouble trying to hunt and kill a pig. Since he was raised as part of a sophisticated and wealthy family in England, he has not had any experience with hunting before. He struggles to become a hunter. But Jack is shown to have savage urges early. The author says, "he [Jack] tried to convey the...
Consequently speaking, Jack demonstrates parallels that are similar to the aspect of a bully. “He took a step, and able at last to hit someone, stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach. Piggy sat down with a grunt. Jack stood over him. His voice was vicious was humiliation”(Golding 71). As every liquid has a boiling point, so does Jack’s temper for violence against others. This act of violence represents Jack’s attitude against his stubbornness and regretful nature. Jack is being verbally attacked for his careless behavior about surviving on the island. He has been put up against a wall, testing his ability for receiving constructive criticism. The arrogance Jack projects onto the others creates him to act violently to hide his vulnerability. Instead of ignoring Piggy’s remarks, he defends himself by displacing his anger on Piggy, who happens to be the weakest of the children, from Jack’s perspectives. “Children who fear expressing anger against their parents may displace it by kicking the family pet. Students upset over an exam may snap at a roomate” (Myers 600). The defense mechanism of displacement diverts aggression towards a less threatening object or person. In this case, Jack displaces Piggy. As most bullies do, they project their anger towards people who are weaker to make them look more confident and stronger than
These characters, however different they lie on the morality scale, all share the sinful trait of greed. They all ask, and take too much, ruining what the good that they had in their lives. Understanding their mistakes offers its useful readers a lesson, not to demand too much of the things we are offered. The characters struggle with their desires, each of them succombing to their passions.
In spite of this, this novel proves that civilization has the power to keep one’s innate cruelty under control. The instance of a society running rampant with evil is seen when the group of boys abandon the civilized behaviors of the adult world, and predominately begin to take in Jack’s vicious influence on them. Thus, as the boys began to act more barbaric and savage, they do not feel the need to listen to Ralph's wisdom and guidance anymore. If they had listened to him, Piggy and Simon, in all likelihood, would not have had to die, and many wise plans would have been followed. Overall, the author reveals that due to the savage and violent nature of humans, qualities of physical power are more prominent than the often under looked qualities of civility and common intelligence in
Tyler’s failure as a businessperson and his overall frustration with the societal functions in the United States led him to conform to regular societal norms. Jack Moore, a contrasting character, who suffers from insomnia as a result of frustration with a standardized and plain lifestyle. Both Jack and Tyler eventually conform from society through different avenues, each with unique and contrasting impacts on their lives. Jack and Tyler engage in co...
Golding is right in his underlying belief that the evil and hatred lies in us all along. The evidence from the paragraph shows that Jack is now acting only in his own rage and determination to kill A pig. Even from the beginning Jack has always been this way, but the binding of society has held him from acting in his full force. However, as the tithings to society are slowly disappearing we are seeing his natural actions that make up his true feelings and
Remembering his encounter with the pig, Jack feels as if it was one of the happiest moments of his life. The fact that Jack is relating murder to a thirst quenching drink is concerning because it means that he had had a throbbing desire to kill, and that he is no longer tied to civility. During Jack’s first encounter to kill a pig, he is unsuccessful because he pauses for just a moment, still feeling connected to the rules of civilization. After Jack’s first successful kill, his innocence is completely gone, suggesting that humans adapt in ways deemed appropriate to their specific environment. One’s environment can get them to do things they would never expect, such as when Jack, “with full intention, hurl[s] his spear at Ralph” (181). Jack purposefully threw his spear at someone, who earlier in the novel, had tried to help him, had tried to help the group as a whole get rescued. At first, Jack kills pigs, but it soon progresses to the point where he feels inclined to go as far as trying to kill his once companion. As Jack gains more power and falls further into savagery, he starts to commit more savage acts. This implies that the environment can cause people to adjust, allowing their once
One of the most useful in advancing this story is the typical, powerful character. Whether it be supernatural or cunning this character always comes out on top in the situation and holds the most control over others and their actions. The “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” , “Leda and the Swan”, and “Harrison Bergeron” all utilize an archetypical powerful character to create tension from how each character uses their power.
The corruption of innocence and humane instincts is expressed through the progression of the hunting of pigs. The boys retain their innocence as they first arrive, which forestalls them from causing harm to the pigs. As the story progresses and the need of food takes over, they are capable of killing the pigs. As an example, during his first few hunting attempts, Jack finds it difficult to kill the pigs. This is because he hesitates when hunting which shows us how he still has humanity and mercy for pigs. As the book progresses they give into their hunger and more blood is spilled. Jack becomes desensitized to the violence and loses sympathy for the pigs, which allows him to do what he could not do before. The more they kill, the easier it
We are constantly being affected our surroundings. As a result, our attitudes and personalities are a product of our experiences and the various environments in which they occurred . Furthermore, the society we live in presents to us a set of standards, values, and givens that we may or may not agree with. In literature, the society plays a major role in affecting the characters' thoughts and actions. In The Sailor who Fell From Grace with the Sea, The Stranger, and "Medea", the characters are affected by their society, and their actions reflect their conformity (or non-conformity) to it. Ultimately, non-conformity in these works create the conflicts that make the plots interesting.
Michael Henchard’s constant exercise of jealousy, pride, immature actions and overwhelming emotions bring him to his tragic end. Although Henchard might have you think he is a victim, the reader can see that his personality leads to the conclusion of his downfall and that Henchard’s inability to learn from his first mistakes takes him down a path no one wants to face. He might have been able to survive his mistakes had he not been so self-destructive. But because of the combination of his personality traits and the complexity of his character’s mind, he is eventually led to the nothingness that engulfs him.