Literature as a Looking Glass

Perhaps it is the aim of every clothator to leave their reader a little changed after having read the tales they so c atomic number 18fully weave. But how many authors can actually achieve this? difference their au glide bynce with a story that broadens the mind, asks deep questions, and probes into the way we work is not easily d 1. The ability to move us from i plane to other is what distinguishes a really great writer from a storyteller. For many, Stephen King is such an author. Some may say even more so beca phthisis of the put on of his genre of the marvelous, the horrific and the grue almost. Exploring the darker parts of our psyches, and our everyday lives, he manages to lead us along the path to contemplate difficult social questions. Always go away them open for us to determine the answers for ourselves.In a comparison of his two works, The tenacious thousand grayback and Hearts of Atlantis, we can search his work of the fantastical as an opportunity to raise t hought provoking social questions. Although two discs, also interestingly two written as a series, atomic number 18 very different in nature, they sh are the common theme of determination the extraordinary in ordinary life. Each book finds the hero that seems to overcloud in everyday circumstances while at the corresponding age forcing us to look at several of the fixingss that shape our lives, for the good or the bad. As mentioned by Jonathan Davis in his work, Stephen Kings America, While some of his stories focus more on one area than others, a fill up reading of his works will often show that King seldom fails to include a wide view of American rules of order. (Davis)The Long reverse lightning Mile is a prime example of Kings use of storytelling as social commentary. In the book the briny characters are themselves symbols of the society in which we live. John Coffey, and innocent man sent to death wrangle for a crime he didnt commit. Is it because he is simple, or because he is black? As Sharon Russell states in her critical review, Revisiting Stephen King , While Coffey dominates the go through, he remains an enigma, a symbol of a good beyond understanding. (Russell)And his opaque gift to heal is starkly contrasted with William Whartons ability to destroy. Just as Coffey is the symbol for good, so is Wharton the symbol for evil.Moreover, the underlying theme that resonates throughout the book is just that the nature of good and evil. And Stephen King shows us how that combat rages in many arenas of our lives. One obvious question is that of racism. Was Coffey found guilty because he was black? Another character in the story, a white parentage man, was released from a murder he obviously committed. There was nothing to stain to Coffey but the fact that he was found with the girls. Was racism a factor?Also, the question of the death penalty raises its head several times. Delacroix, a slimy man, suffered death in the electric chair. Howev er, the brine filled sponge that was hypothetic to admit the electrocution quick and painless was omitted purposefully by one of the jailers. This resulted in a horrific and torturous death by Delacroix. Was his ugly justifiable?Delving a little more deeply we probe the plain senseless death of Janice who had just escaped death by the rattling(a) hands of Coffey. After all the trouble and the wondrous miracle that saved her life, to die in a bus accident leaves lingering questions of human justness versus divine justice.Similarly, in Hearts of Atlantis King dances the fine line surrounded by fantasy and reality, although in a different way. Although some of the characters are recurring, we are able to see them forming the opinions and beliefs that will be the basis of their actions in the future. Also, once again King searchs the realm and power of childhood. In The Long Green Mile Coffey is used and explored as childlike and also, interestingly, he is the one that has the my stical and unchallenged healing power. In Hearts of Atlantis we see the children as they are and soak up their struggle with reality and fantasy defines them.Those transitional moments are very spare in the first story of Bobby and Carol. Bobby was an everyday hero, Stephen King style. The ordinary fabric of society, hiding heros in every thread. However, King goes one step further by reintroducing the few key characters throughout a string of seemingly unrelated stories. By doing this he shows us the connectivity of individuals. How the actions we make today nurse huge impacts on others and shape their lives. Bobbys bravery inspired Carols courage to stand up for what she believed posterior in life.By looking closely at the lives of the characters we could see how the past could have drastic effects on the future. Although with the case of Carol it empowers her, it is not the same for everyone. This is illustrated in the story, Blind Willie. Bill relives each day trying to c alve the regret for his past actions. We see the old baseball glove of Bobbys that Blind Willie uses to collect the money he earns as a embarrassed Vietnam veteran while his wife and family believe him to be a palmy business man busy at the office. Willie tries to find answers by donjon a double life.Moreover, King uses the opportunity to stir up a social commentary on the effects the Vietnam War had on batch specifically and then society as a whole. He uses the series of stories to look at different aspects of reaction. From the earliest stages, when war is just vie in the background, as in the case with Bobby in Low work force in Yellow Coats and then also with young adults drifting in and out of adulthood and drafting such as was portrayed in Hearts in Atlantis.Although it seems to be a simple peek into the issues that line of work college aged kids trying to leap into adulthood, the story sells its moral in the end, as stated by Russell, The story ends with an incident lon g after the main eventsa reunion between Pete and one of his college friends. No matter what happened, they both agree that they tried during that period. They were not the big heroes, but they did somethingjust as Bobby saved Carol but failed with Ted. King suggests that any positive action is important even if it is not truly heroic. (Russell)Davis, Johnathan. Stephen kings America. wheel Green Bowling Green State University, 1994.Russell, Sharon. Revisiting Stephen King. Wesport, CT Greenwood Press, 2002.Davis, Johnathan. Stephen kings America. Bowling Green Bowling Green State University, 1994.Russell, Sharon. Revisiting Stephen King. Wesport, CT Greenwood Press, 2002.In this way, everyone has the opportunity to be a type of hero, no matter how small the action, the effects can be long lasting.While an all-embracing look at any authors works reveals a repeating and recurring theme or message that appears to be rudimentary in their writing, it is Stephen Kings use of his parti cular genre that continually draws in his readers again and again. The parallel of the darker side of humanity with the fantastical opens windows to explore and question the reasons we think, act and believe as we do. Perhaps it is just that use of the darker and less explored side of humanity that holds such a fascination.Russell comments, The ongoing battle in Kings fantastic universe to follow the distribute and keep the world from falling apart is mirrored by by and by actions in the real world. So, in addition to his use of the genre to explore our social fabric, his consistent use of our interconnectedness and how the past affects the present are major recurring themes. By playing on our fears and opening up our minds to the impossible, we are able to look openly at issues that affect our lives without judgment, and by chance emerge a better person.