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In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Either from your own reading or from the list below, choose a work of fiction in which the reader is confronted with a scene or scenes of violence.
In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Either from your own reading or from the list below, choose a work of fiction in which the reader is confronted with a scene or scenes of violence.
FRQ 3-
FRQ 3-
In the fiction horror novel Gerald’s Game, by Stephen King, King employs scenes of violence towards Jessie in order to convey that mental growth can come through violent situations and that violence can heal past wounds, ultimately illustrating that there are benefits that come through traumatic events.
In the fiction horror novel Gerald’s Game, by Stephen King, King employs scenes of violence towards Jessie in order to convey that mental growth can come through violent situations and that violence can heal past wounds, ultimately illustrating that there are benefits that come through traumatic events.
Throughout the novel, King consistently puts Jessie in traumatic situations to force her to grow as a person.
Throughout the novel, King consistently puts Jessie in traumatic situations to force her to grow as a person.
Evidence 1
Evidence 1
The first noticeable scene of violence is the rape and death of Jessie’s husband Gerald. Gerald attempts to rape Jessie, but Jessie defends herself in this attack by kicking Gerald, ultimately causing him to have a heart attack and come to his own demise. Because of this traumatic event Jessie is put into a dissociative state of mind where she reflects on her life and actions. Consequently this reflection forces Jessie to realize her self worth; she is more than just a wife, but a smart, successful, and independent woman. Therefore, King uses Jessie's violent encounter to emphasize his belief that trauma can engage self-awareness, suggesting that violence serves a transformative purpose in the novel.
Similarly, Gerald’s violence is not the only way Jessie learns to grow her inner being.
Similarly, Gerald’s violence is not the only way Jessie learns to grow her inner being.
Evidence 2
Evidence 2
Post Gerald's death, Jessie finds herself in a rather tricky predicament; she is handcuffed to the bed with no immediate signs to relieve herself of her entrapment. After struggling to free herself for days, Jessie ends up removing the skin from her hand in order to slip herself free. Because of the drastic measures Jessie took in order to save herself, she came to recognize her inner strength. Since she was able to realize that she was capable of what she once thought impossible for herself, she came to see herself as a better version of what she once believed. Thus, the traumatic self-inflicted harm Jessie put herself through proved that she was far more capable than she believed, ultimately revealing that traumatic situations can carry a multitude of positives for the people involved.
On a related note, violence doesn't just promote inner growth, but also the growth of healing ones past traumas.
On a related note, violence doesn't just promote inner growth, but also the growth of healing ones past traumas.
Present throughout the novel, Jessie struggles with her identity due to open wounds from her childhood.
Present throughout the novel, Jessie struggles with her identity due to open wounds from her childhood.
Evidence 3
Evidence 3
Jessie consistently struggles with the violence her father put her through In one instance, Jessie decides to cut herself with a glass shard due to a hallucination memory of the sexual abuse her father put her through that gives her a hint into how to escape. Because this moment of self inflicted harm reminded Jessie of her past trauma she was able to look back on it and reflect inwardly. Consequently, this reflection on past trauma aided her in her recovery of the mental toll the trauma held on her. Therefore, the violent act aided her past wounds, due to a moment of resemblance that ultimately shows that violence can lead to healing of past traumas.
Moreover, Jessie not only uses the glass as a way to get over the trauma caused by her father but also the Moonlight Man.
Moreover, Jessie not only uses the glass as a way to get over the trauma caused by her father but also the Moonlight Man.
Evidence 4
Evidence 4
While entrapped on the bed by the handcuffs, Jessie is visited by a disfigured man she names the Moonlight Man. The man stalks and mentally tortures Jessie while she is confined to the bed. Jessie, in a state of disillusionment, believes the man to be her late father, the man that abused her all those years ago. Because Jessie believes this man to be her father she ends up confronting him about all the things he did to her as a child. Since Jessie confronted her fears, she came to no longer fear her father and found strength to stand up to him, even though he was not physically there. Thus, King uses the Moonlight Man's torture as a catalyst for Jessie's psychological breakthrough, implying that confronting deep fears can force people to reclaim power over their past.
Overall, humans can find meaning and strength even in the darkest circumstances like violent situations. As noted in Gerald’s Game, violence not only is able to promote and create mental growth but also heal past traumas. Ultimately creating the idea that traumatic while awful can have benefits on the people who experience them. Relating to the idea that there is sometimes a rainbow after a storm.
Overall, humans can find meaning and strength even in the darkest circumstances like violent situations. As noted in Gerald’s Game, violence not only is able to promote and create mental growth but also heal past traumas. Ultimately creating the idea that traumatic while awful can have benefits on the people who experience them. Relating to the idea that there is sometimes a rainbow after a storm.
FRQ 3 #2
FRQ 3 #2
In many works of fiction houses take on symbolic importance. Such houses may be literal houses or unconventional ones (e.g., hotels, monasteries, or boats).
In many works of fiction houses take on symbolic importance. Such houses may be literal houses or unconventional ones (e.g., hotels, monasteries, or boats).
In many works of fiction houses take on symbolic importance. Such houses may be literal houses or unconventional ones (e.g., hotels, monasteries, or boats).
In many works of fiction houses take on symbolic importance. Such houses may be literal houses or unconventional ones (e.g., hotels, monasteries, or boats).
In the fiction novel Rose Madder, Stephen King employs the usage of Symbolism to standard houses as well as figurative houses in order to convey that homes have a connection to people's environment, ultimately illustrating that people's homes and houses correlate to their overall well being.
In the fiction novel Rose Madder, Stephen King employs the usage of Symbolism to standard houses as well as figurative houses in order to convey that homes have a connection to people's environment, ultimately illustrating that people's homes and houses correlate to their overall well being.
In the beginning of the novel King displays how Rose's life consists of being in her husband Norman’s house all day long, and that isolation has direct correlation to her mental health.
In the beginning of the novel King displays how Rose's life consists of being in her husband Norman’s house all day long, and that isolation has direct correlation to her mental health.
Evidence 1
Evidence 1
Initially in the novel, the setting is set to be Norman's house that Rose is always in. Rose does not have much of any connection to the outside world, nor does she consider the house her own home. To understand Rose, King lets the audience know that she is in an extremely abusive marriage and is the stereotypical "Trad Wife”. Because Rose is stuck in the home all day, she is consistently lonely, no friends to call, no family to reach out to, no pets or kids to spend the day with, completely alone till Norman gets off of work. Consequently, this house symbolizes the isolation and fear she has in the outside world. Rose is terrified to leave because it is now unfamiliar to her. Therefore, throughout the novel as a whole Rose’s experience shows that when people are trapped in a bad environment, even when they escape, there are still evident traumas and triggers they now have to understand and mend.
On the other hand, when Rose finally decides to leave Norman, she ends up with a real home that she can call her own, her very own apartment; and this apartment has the opposite effect on her well-being when compared to Norman's house.
On the other hand, when Rose finally decides to leave Norman, she ends up with a real home that she can call her own, her very own apartment; and this apartment has the opposite effect on her well-being when compared to Norman's house.
Evidence 2
Evidence 2
After graduating from the women's shelter’s program, Rosie is able to rent her own one bedroom apartment. With her new environment, she makes friends, goes out, and even finds a new man she is interested in. Because Rosie's home is so different from Norman’s house, her overall manner is completely juxtaposed by the end of the novel compared to her at the beginning. Since the change in homes also comes with a change in mental health, it is evident that King wants to portray that a home is not just four walls and a roof, yet a reflection of one's mental health. Thus depicting that what someone’s environment is can have a direct correlation to their mental health, and that if that environment changes, so can their well being.
On a similar note, King not only uses the standard house to symbolise homes, but also unconventional spaces that people can consider a home.
On a similar note, King not only uses the standard house to symbolise homes, but also unconventional spaces that people can consider a home.
Rosie hated Norman’s house, it was not her home, but she couldn’t leave; so instead she found comfort and a home in the shower.
Rosie hated Norman’s house, it was not her home, but she couldn’t leave; so instead she found comfort and a home in the shower.
Evidence 3
Evidence 3
The one place Rose found comfort and stability in Norman’s house was the shower. She would find herself showering up most of eight times a day, and usually with the lights off. She found her losing track of multiple hours while in there every single day. Because Rosie, like all people, needed a place to call home, she decided on the only place she felt safe in, the shower. Consequently, this unconventional home emphasizes the idea how with a change in environment comes a change in mood; Rose was terrified when she was in the house, even having frequent panic attacks, but in the shower her mind was able to be at ease. Therefore the shift in environments that King portrays with his character Rose, can directly correlate to society, in that a change in scenery can have a direct impact on people's perceptions and health.
Moreover, King depicts the woman’s shelter, Daughters and Sisters, as another unconventional home for Rosie, where she learns to ground herself and find pleasure in her life once more.
Moreover, King depicts the woman’s shelter, Daughters and Sisters, as another unconventional home for Rosie, where she learns to ground herself and find pleasure in her life once more.
Evidence 4
Evidence 4
After abandoning Norman’s house, Rosie ultimately abandons her life. She moves to a city hundreds of miles away from Norman, and in that city she finds a home in Daughters and Sisters. She is entrusted with her own personal space, provided with support groups, given a job opportunity, and most importantly accepted into a friend group that she can call her family. Because Rose initially had nothing while she was with Norman, this new home helps to bring out the old Rose, the Rosie pre Norman with all it has to offer her. Since this new environment is so positively important to Rosie, it gives her the motivation to want more, ultimately leading her to have her own personal apartment. Thus contributing to the idea that king portrays in that, when people are introduced to an environment it can directly interplay with their thought process, health, and overall decisions.
Overall houses and homes are symbolic reflections on the character that resides in them, and with a change in environment comes a change in that character which can be seen through novels, like Rose Madder as she goes through many houses and homes in the story. Homes and houses are complex because they show how connected a character is to their environment and their mental health, a house can show disconnect, while a home has the opposite effect, connection. Ultimately depicting that in society, as people go through life and different environments, their sense of self shifts in key with the changes in environment.
Overall houses and homes are symbolic reflections on the character that resides in them, and with a change in environment comes a change in that character which can be seen through novels, like Rose Madder as she goes through many houses and homes in the story. Homes and houses are complex because they show how connected a character is to their environment and their mental health, a house can show disconnect, while a home has the opposite effect, connection. Ultimately depicting that in society, as people go through life and different environments, their sense of self shifts in key with the changes in environment.
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