Author: MATTHEW SANCHEZ

Amichai and Walcott both bear witness to the more difficult aspects of human life in two different perspectives. Amichai seems to focus on the difficulties associated with conflict between two opposing groups, while Walcott shows the perspective of difficulties within one’s self. In “An Arab Shepherd Is Searching for His Goat on Mount Zion”, Amichai shows two differing groups, an Arab shepherd and a Jewish father looking for something they love. Even though the two are culturally imposed to two different sides of the war, they still show concern for one another and their loved ones. Amichai illustrates the morality of both characters who were willing to put aside their differences to achieve a similar goal. Walcott’s “The Fist”, on the other hand, focuses on the internal conflict associated with love.  Walcott compares love to a physical grip around the heart. When you are hurt by the one you love it feels as if it is being clenched and when you lose that grip you lose your sense of self. Walcott establishes that this feeling of love is necessary for you to move forward.

In “When You Are Old”, Yeats tries to persuade the reader to imagine themselves when they have grown old. Yeats uses this scenario to commentate on a person’s social and individual perception in the past, and how that perception has changed when they lose their youthfulness. He mentions how a young person is not loved for who they are, but they are loved for the beauty and grace that society perceives of them. Yeats is critical of this person for being too caught up with the attention they receive and ignoring those who actually have true love for them, regardless of age and regardless of beauty. This dismissal of true love eventually leads to the person being alone in their old age, showing how their lack of commitment in the past will lead to their isolation in the future.

Gretta is introduced as Gabriel’s wife and does not seem to have much substance to her character at first. As the story progresses, however, we get the sense of Gretta’s influence on Gabriel. Gabriel has believed that he has had power over Gretta. But as we find out, Gabriel’s power is not as strong as it seemed at first. Gretta’s youth love reveals her true perception of what love is and what it should be. It also reveals to Gabriel that he has not experienced true love and that his relationship with Gretta has been built off of lust rather than love.

Hurston gives value to these seemingly small things throughout the story to reveal the intricacies of a relationship. Each and every relationship is different. Every couple has their own inside jokes or games that they play which is unique to them. This is clearly seen within the story with Joe and Missie May’s weekend routine. Hurston’s detailed explanations regarding the couple’s relationship gives a human element that the reader can relate to. Hurston’s buildup of the relationship through these characterizations ends up giving a greater effect to the introduction of infidelity within the relationship.

In the beginning of the story, Gabriel is depicted as being superior to the rest of the characters. He carries himself as being more important than everyone else due to his position in society and his male gender. Gabriel uses his social class and his male “influence” as a way to justify his actions towards those who he perceives as being lesser than him. As the story progresses, Gabriel seems to lose his self-perceived authority in terms of his relationship with Gretta. Gretta’s past shifts Gabriel’s characterization as being in control to revealing Gabriel’s insecurities.

William Blake’s three poems illustrate his criticism of religion and the societal norms of his time (late eighteenth century England). His first piece, the excerpt from “The Gates of Paradise”, demonstrates his belief that religion hinders his sense of individualism. This idea is shown when Blake refers to God as “the Accuser”, thus characterizing God as a critical “power” rather than an accepting one. His loss of freedom due to religious constraint is referred to in the phrase,”The lost Traveller’s Dream under the Hill.” Blake’s second poem, “London” comments on the sense of oppression within the English community, which is seen his description of a mother and her unwanted child. Both the child’s and the mother’s sense of distress characterizes society’s negative perception of the powers controlling them (Church and State). Blake’s last poem, “The Chimney Sweeper”, is a commentary of the abusive nature of the Church influencing the abusive nature of adults, who use religion as a means to unfairly treat their children. Blake also shows the resentment that these children have towards their parents and, in a bigger picture, towards society. Blake’s criticism is still relevant today in terms of separating religion and society. Like Blake, I believe that religion should have zero influence on the way the public is run due to the somewhat unfair practices associated with religion.