Texts Often Show Us That an Individual’s Understanding of Themselves, Others and the World Around Them Is Determined by Their Response to Profound Experiences.
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 04/21/2015 09:37 PM
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Texts often show us that an individual’s understanding of themselves, others and the world around them is determined by their response to profound experiences.
Texts often show us that an individual’s understanding of themselves, others and the world around them is determined by their response to profound experiences.
A profound experience is more than often a significant revelation in the way an individual perceives themselves, others and the world. In Gail Jones’ ‘Five bells’, this idea is exemplified most proficiently through the two characters Pei Xing and James. They are a great example to this concept, as they both experience hardships, but emerge with different perceptions. Another prevalent example to this branch of personal journey is in the book ‘The Great Gatsby‘ written by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Jay Gatsby is the character in this book I think best represents the shaping of a character in relation to significant past experiences, as his whole life and ambitions are molded from his childhood experiences. These two texts give us a collection of characters who all show that they are influenced by past profound experiences
Gail Jones accentuates the idea of the past determining your future through the juxtaposition of the two characters James and Pei Xing. It is obvious from the first impression of James that he has a very negative outlook on his life and surroundings. The very first words describe him as “obstinately unjoyful”, which is shadowed by his thoughts of the surrounding attractions in Circular Quay. He see’s the ‘White teeth’ and is sieged with traumatic memories from his childhood. This in itself is a testimony that the way one deals with past experiences reflects on their current mental state. After this flashback James distinguishes himself as weak and cowardly, ‘why, he wondered now, does time shudder in this way, and return him always to this inadequate boy that he was, in short pants, and afraid’, he is quite adamant that he was a...
Texts often show us that an individual’s understanding of themselves, others and the world around them is determined by their response to profound experiences.
A profound experience is more than often a significant revelation in the way an individual perceives themselves, others and the world. In Gail Jones’ ‘Five bells’, this idea is exemplified most proficiently through the two characters Pei Xing and James. They are a great example to this concept, as they both experience hardships, but emerge with different perceptions. Another prevalent example to this branch of personal journey is in the book ‘The Great Gatsby‘ written by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Jay Gatsby is the character in this book I think best represents the shaping of a character in relation to significant past experiences, as his whole life and ambitions are molded from his childhood experiences. These two texts give us a collection of characters who all show that they are influenced by past profound experiences
Gail Jones accentuates the idea of the past determining your future through the juxtaposition of the two characters James and Pei Xing. It is obvious from the first impression of James that he has a very negative outlook on his life and surroundings. The very first words describe him as “obstinately unjoyful”, which is shadowed by his thoughts of the surrounding attractions in Circular Quay. He see’s the ‘White teeth’ and is sieged with traumatic memories from his childhood. This in itself is a testimony that the way one deals with past experiences reflects on their current mental state. After this flashback James distinguishes himself as weak and cowardly, ‘why, he wondered now, does time shudder in this way, and return him always to this inadequate boy that he was, in short pants, and afraid’, he is quite adamant that he was a...