Day: September 23, 2023

The Realm of Possibility: Body Image

Each person has a different experience with growing up and becoming the person they are meant to be as shown by Levithan in The Realm of Possibility.

Introduction to Body Image in The Realm of Possibility

Each person has a different experience with growing up and becoming the person they are meant to be as shown by David Levithan in The Realm of Possibility.  Many times, childhood experiences shape and define how we view the world and interpret our experiences.  The Realm of Possibility, the book by David Levithan, shows the experiences of childhood and young adulthood are combined into a beautiful and descriptive work of poetry that demonstrates the experiences of young adults from many different backgrounds whose experiences are different in and of themselves and which all show a different side of the individual struggle to find oneself.  Throughout childhood, images and ideas of physical perfection come at children and young adults from every angle.  Through this, individuals are able to create an idea of how it is socially acceptable to look and what images and representations of physical characteristics should be followed and emulated.  These images and interpretations of how one should look are often confusing and frustrating, leading many to be unsatisfied with themselves and their bodies, constantly striving for perfection that they will never be able to obtain.  In this book The Realm of Possibility, Levithan addresses these issues and pressures head-on in three of his poems entitled “Tinder Heart”, “Suburban Myths” and “Strong”.

The Realm of Possibility and “Tinder Heart”

“Tinder Heart” in The Realm of Possibility is a poem dedicated to the fragility of the heart and how closely this relates to body image, specifically the development of an eating disorder.  The poem begins with Mary who does not allow herself to love a boy.  This comes from her dissatisfaction with herself and her body.  Throughout the poem, Mary is constantly observing the bodies of others, both men and women.  She notices her friend Elizabeth and how she does not worry herself about how she looks.  It seems as if Mary cannot comprehend this, but is still a little jealous.  She is constantly in denial of her problem, despite her friends and the boy that she loves telling her that they are worried about her.  At one point in the poem, she begins to realize the extent of her obsession when she questions the meaning behind size zero. She says, “Who was it who invented size zero?” adding “Who was it who promised that if you got to a certain point you would no longer be there?” (Levithan). In this moment of self-realization, she seems to be both hopeful and disgusted; hoping for a size zero herself, yet disgusted by the fact that someone could decide on a size that would mean that you no longer existed on that scale.  The poem ends with her looking into the refrigerator and breaking down.  She then goes to the boy who loves her and says “I need help”.  Her opinion of herself was created by what she wanted to be but could never achieve.  Because she would never be able to achieve her goal of size zero, she deprived herself of everything good to the point of even depriving herself of human interaction.

“Suburban Myths” in The Realm of Possibility

“Suburban Myths” in The Realm of Possibility is a mixture of very short stories, each telling their own story of a certain aspect of society that has been perpetuated.  One such story in this collection is of a woman who would never leave her house.  The only people seen going to and from her door were those who would bring her food, such as the pizza delivery man or the Chinese food delivery man.   Those on the outside judged her and would make comments about this fact, despite not knowing her actual situation and what had driven her to become this way.  They assumed she was lazy and that she was stupid for staying that way all day.  They also assumed the obvious, that she was very large.  Although they knew little about her, the people in the neighborhood knew that she loved to eat.  When some young boys decided to break into her house as a prank, she played the ultimate prank on them by being dead.  The boys noticed that the woman had brought her bed into the kitchen, therefore dying surrounded by the things she loved.  The lifestyle of this woman was stigmatized due to the seeming non-conformity of her choices with what society valued.  It is clear from her conversation that she was capable of love and any other human emotion, but was confined to her house by her own decisions, which eventually resulted in her inability to leave her house, as is clear from her behavior shown in the first story.  However, society plays an important role and further stigmatizes this woman. It made her a victim of its customs, norms, and traditions and ultimately she succumbed due to being of a weaker nature. Hence her life was deeply affected, which resulted in her death.

“Strong” in The Realm of Possibility

Although young women are pressured to look a certain way, so are young men.  In the poem “Strong” in The Realm of Possibility, a boy recounts his story of how his quest for strength and physical perfection changed his life.  From a young age, the boy had decided that he wanted to be the apex of physical perfection.  In his mind, a boy without a strong body, one that was “well-defined” was “nothing”.  The boy was complimented on his physique and rewarded for his hard work, often being rewarded because of it and envied by both men and women.  One day he sees Mary and falls in love with her.  In line with society’s expectations, Mary is thin as a rail and seems as if she is ready to break, fragile in every way.  The boy comes to the realization that Mary and the human relation is more important than the strength of his body and the way he looks.  “To get something, you must give something away,” he says in realization at the end of the poem.

Conclusion

In the collection of stories The Realm of Possibility, author David Levithan explored the role of body image in defining the lives of young adults.  He examines the pain and inadequacy they can feel, as well as the advantages physical perfection can bring.  Through the lives of three young people, Levithan explores all of these things and more.  This book accurately depicts the conflicted nature of growing up in modern society, where physical perfection is demanded, but role models are created by Photoshop.

Works Cited
  1. Levithan, David. The Realm of the Possibility. Random House. 2004. Print.
  1. How does David Levithan, in his book “The Realm of Possibility,” address the issues and pressures faced by young people in today’s world through the poems “Tinder Heart,” “Suburban Myths,” and “Strong”?
  2. What themes and messages does Levithan convey in the poems “Tinder Heart,” “Suburban Myths,” and “Strong” from his book “The Realm of Possibility” regarding the challenges and dilemmas young individuals encounter?
  3. In “The Realm of Possibility” by David Levithan, how do the poems “Tinder Heart,” “Suburban Myths,” and “Strong” contribute to the exploration and discussion of contemporary issues and pressures facing the characters and their generation?

Beowulf as an Epic  

Generally, an epic is a long narrative poem, a la Beowulf as an epic,  written about the journey/adventures of a hero, in dactylic hexameter.

Introduction to Beowulf as an Epic

Generally, an epic is a long narrative poem, a la Beowulf as an epic,  written about the journey or adventures of a hero, in dactylic hexameter and spanned over twelve or more books. The hero is often a larger-than-life figure who comes out victorious in every sort of expedition, more than often aided by gods and fate but has human qualities. The events relate to the history and society in which they are set. If judged on these yards sticks, it seems that at least in some respects, Beowulf comes up to the standard of an epic. As it is one of the oldest surviving pieces in English Literature, it seems that it has some of the basic qualities that an epic should have in English according to the yardsticks of definition, conventions, qualities of a hero, and social climate that an epic should have.

Oral Traditions in the Making of Beowulf as an Epic

As far as Beowulf as an epic is concerned, it has come to us in oral traditions with having the hands of several writers in writing it. The objective of these oral traditions jotted down together into a story is to narrate and record the events, exploits, and adventures of the old Anglo-Saxon heroes specifically Beowulf and others who joined the national ideals through several strains used in it. It is a long narrative poem having 3,182 lines with several portions missing which shows that it must have been long enough to be called an epic. It has a grand style and extended similes that an epic should have such as the comparison of the feelings of King Hrethel with a father whose son is about to be hanged and melting of the way like that of ice. The other Aristotelian requirements of unity and the entirety of action and its grandeur are also present in it but not as Aristotle demands. For example, there is a unity of action but somewhere the action goes in some other direction with two separate narratives such as that of King Horathghar’s and Beowulf’s who is a young prince of Geats. The second is entirety which means that this Beowulf as an epic does not start from the in medias res as other epics do and also that the story does not have a proper beginning, a middle, and an end like other epics as Odyssey and Aeneid have. It is also that although the action is somewhat grand but not like that of Paradise Lost and Odyssey, for the hero loses his life at the end.

Hero in Beowulf as an Epic

The second point is the qualities of a hero and in this respect, this comes up to the standard of an epic hero. The hero of an epic is a larger than life figure or a great legend when reading Beowulf as an epic. He shows unusual courage and power and Beowulf fits into this category. A hero must be aided by deus ex machina and it is also that Beowulf is helped in several ways at several places. His physical courage, strength, and far superior acumen make him a perfect hero but not that of the category of Odysseus and Aeneas. It is also that he dies at the end in his fight against a dragon after living and ruling for several years. This makes him a lesser than a hero, but still, he retains some of the qualities of legends.

Epic Conventions in Beowulf as an Epic

The claim of Beowulf as an epic is not short of examples in several other ways such as epic conventions. Epics display a good use of war vocabulary and Beowulf is rich in it. Its best instance is when Beowulf fights against Grendel and his mother. His sabers, armor, and helmets have specific names. His sword Hrunting does well in his fight against Grendal’s mother and their fight in the boiling lake water and then in the swampy jungle is also a reminder of the great fights of great epics. The journey that the prince takes from Geats to Denmark is a long one and then his fights over there to assist King Horathghar are also legendary.

Conclusion

As far as the culture and social context of Beowulf as an Epic are concerned, Beowulf is full of themes regarding Anglo-Saxon culture, beliefs, and codes. It was a traditional theme to help good versus evil and Beowulf commits himself to help good and fight evil such as demons, dragons, and monsters. Other important themes are reputation and heroism.  Beowulf commits himself to fight the monster Grendel and he does so at every peril even to his own life. The second one is that he fights like a hero with passion and courage even at the risk of death. Other such themes as loyalty and the elegiac nature of human beings are also tied to Anglo-Saxon period. Other female characters such as Wealhtheow and Hildeburgh also demonstrate that hospitality, honor, and importance of female figures in society were given much importance.

Works Cited
  1. Lawrence, William Witherle. Beowulf and Epic Tradition. Harvard University Press, 1928.
Relevant Questions about Beowulf as an Epic  
  1. How does Beowulf as an epic reflect the values and heroic code of its time?
  2. In what ways do the supernatural battles in Beowulf contribute to its epic quality?
  3. How does the unique poetic structure of Beowulf as an epic enhance its literary significance?
You may read more on Short Essays below:

Paper Pills and Nobody Knows: Aggressive Males

Sherwood Anderson is popular for weaving cobwebs for his characters as he has done in two stories “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”.

Introduction to “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”

Sherwood Anderson is popular for weaving cobwebs for his characters as he has done in two stories “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”. However, mostly he has demonstrated male characters who are aggressive, and bold and show their adventurism in case of confrontation with female characters. In fact, this is not merely an encounter, it is a phenomenon that has taken place in the world of fiction and Sherwood Anderson did not stay unaffected by feminism. His both stories “Nobody Knows” and “Paper Pills” show two male characters.  It is another case that there are two extra male characters in “Paper Pills” but they also show the sinister side of the male nature. However, the rest of the two protagonists dominate the female characters at the end but they both demonstrate their aggressiveness, boldness, and dominating nature.

Males in “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”

Males are naturally aggressive and it is in their nature to be so in both stories “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”. It is in their nature that whenever they see a female, they get aggressive due to a psychological bent of mind. George Willard in “Nobody Knows” is a male of adventurous nature, which clearly shows that he should be aggressive, and he is that he shows at the end. Although he is not so courageous that he should get aggressive, as “he did not dare think” (Anderson 20) . He is first timid to face Louise Trunnion when he goes there. However, at the end when they met, “he became wholly the male, bold and aggressive” (22). Similar is the case of Doctor Reefy when he makes paper balls and says, “This is to confound you” (7) which is said when confronting a female. Both male characters show their dominance in their aggression and both females suffer due to their aggressive behavior, though in the case of Willard, Louise does not suffer, but their secret love affair does not mature, while in the case of the doctor, the girl dies after marrying him. This is a sign of male aggression.

Boldness of Male Characters in “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”

The second thing is boldness which is also natural to a male when confronting a female. Anderson has shown this male character trait in both stories “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”. This is clear in case of George Willard when he meets Louise and goes to her house. He thinks differently than he actually does as he thinks “I am not very bold” (22) by which he means that he is not actually a bold person that he should take such a huge step to meet the lady secretly. However, when he meets her, he becomes bold and courageous saying her, “Ah, come on, it’ll be all right” (22) which shows that he is showing her that he is a bold fellow. His last predictive sentence that “She hasn’t got anything on me” is also a demonstration of his boldness. Similarly, it is the boldness of Doctor Reefy that he has formed a truth in his mind out of his thoughts and knows that “the truth clouded the world” which is a sign of boldness.

Dominating Males in “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”

The third point is that male is always dominating in one or the other way, as in the case of George Willard, he not only invites the girl but also meets and after meeting her he has his own ways.  It is because domination is necessary for having sex and his coaxing the girl to come with him that nothing would happen is a sign of his domination over females. However, it is another issue that it proves meaningless. Similarly, Doctor Reefy in “Paper Pills” and meets the dark little girl who has already been made pregnant by a silent young man instead of the chatterbox to whom she gave most of her time. However, when the doctor proves his domination, she got attracted to him. It is quite another matter that she shortly died after that, leave the doctor alone. His domination could not let him enjoy love and he is left without anybody to take care of him.

Conclusion to Male Characters of Anderson in “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”

In a nutshell, Sherwood Anderson has given a fine touch to his male characters that sometimes seems bordering on feminism which means that he is favoring female characters. This somewhat shows that his tendency is to demonstrate male in bold terms. However, it is quite natural that male is always dominant, bold, and aggressive when confronting female. This not only happens in the world of ours, but also happens in the animal world where male is found dominating the female even when courting for sex. George and Doctor Reefy both play their male games in order to court their females and they succeed in their adventures. However, the point is that they show all the masculine qualities that female loves to see in men. That is why Louise is attracted to George and the dark little girl to Doctor Reefy though it could not be found whether the young man having made pregnant was also dominating and bold or not. This is not shown in the story.

Works Cited
  1. Anderson, Sherwood. Winsesburg, Ohio. Penguin. New York. 2010. Print.
Relevant Questions about “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows”: Bold and Aggressive Males
  1. How do the characters in “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows” exemplify the portrayal of bold and aggressive males, and how do these traits impact their relationships and interactions within the respective narratives?
  2. In “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows,” how do the depictions of bold and aggressive males shed light on the broader themes of masculinity, vulnerability, and power dynamics in Sherwood Anderson’s storytelling?
  3. What parallels and differences can be drawn between the bold and aggressive males presented in “Paper Pills” and “Nobody Knows,” and how do these characters contribute to the overall exploration of human nature and behavior in Anderson’s works?