The Role of Protagonist: a Voyage to Self-Awareness - Book Report/Review Example

The Role of Protagonist A VOYAGE TO SELF-AWARENESS Literature is a step towards eternity and whenever classic literature embraces the work of a writer, it is bound to have an impact of its own kind. Writers like Jane Austen, Mark Twain and Chaim Potok have contributed in worthy ways to the chronology of literature. Most of their works have focused on a single person, the ups and downs of his/her life. These protagonists become the life of the novel and transmit hidden truths of life to the reader. In this essay, we examine three protagonists used by three critically acclaimed writers belonging to different eras. HUCKLEBERRY FINN This beautiful and much acclaimed novel "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain was one of the first Great American Novels. It had an amazing literary feel to it, unmatched by other novels of its time. Its main character Huckleberry Finn, also known as Huck Finn, makes the journey of freedom which unknowingly becomes for him, the journey to self-awareness. Being the closest friend of the popular character Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn is adventurous, rich at the start of the novel and fighting between his consciousness and conscience. The novel encompasses his adventures together with Jim, a slave who is running away from being further sold. The literary elements that the readers will derive while going through the individuality of Huck Finn are conflict, moral and point of view. EMMA Emma is the comical attempt of Jane Austen to reveal a lighter side of her literary sense. It differs widely, in its handling and style, from other acclaimed novels of Austen, Pride and Prejudice; and Sense and Sensibility. Emma is a 21 year old maiden, well known in her village but infamous for her stupid matchmaking attempts. Throughout most of the part of the novel, she never had the lovey dovey feelings towards any man that a young adult of her age would have. She has got both beauty and brains but then again, she might use those brains in the wrong direction and purpose at times. She thinks very highly of herself and hardly anyone cares to bring her back to earth. She has determined never to marry. The literary elements that will affect the readers's perception of Emma while they observe her journey to self awareness are conflict, moral and point of view. MY NAME IS ASHER LEV Asher Lev is the strong and aesthetic protagonist of the novel "My Name is Asher Lev" penned down beautifully by Chaim Potok. The novel was such a success of its time that a sequel also came out of the plot, named "The Gift of Asher Lev". The novel showcases varying journeys of Asher be it be his journey to self awareness or his voyage from childhood to adulthood. The author has deeply followed this protagonist throughout the course of his life. Asher is an extremely talented artist who values art like his life. With time, he also gets the patronage of a skilled expert in the field so that he can polish his skills. Asher loves his parents and cherishes his gifted talent as well. As time proceeds, he is forced to make choices and take decisions that will lead him to achieve self-awareness. The literary elements that the reader could derive from the characterisation of Asher Lev are conflict, moral and point of view. GROUNDS FOR COMPARISON All three novels have strong characters as their protagonists. They are intelligent and confident enough to take decisions on their own. They follow what their heart says and basically are good human beings. There life's are a constant struggle; freedom for Huck Finn, the strive for better matchmaking for Emma Woodhouse and endeavours to save his artistic talent for Asher Lev. In this struggle, they have specific point of views on which they are persistent, there are conflicts that they have to face and go through and ultimately, the whole plot leads to a moral and self-awareness for our protagonist. GROWTH OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN At the start of the novel, Huck Finn is a rich boy who has had numerous adventures with Tom Sawyer. He is now adopted by the Widow Douglas, as her attempt to thank him for saving her life in the preceding plots. But this attempt becomes quite a torture for Finn as she starts trying to "civilize" him, which is not his idea of fun. He is kidnapped by his father for the riches, but disliking the uncivilized life that he has to live with him, he plans to run away by faking his death. This starts his journey. His partner in voyage becomes Jim, who is a runaway slave, escaping his sale. With time, Huck realizes that Jim is not just a slave, but a person like any other. He starts placing high regard to what Jim says. He feels true friendship towards Jim, rather than someone who is helping a slave escape. Moreover, during their journeys they are able to face the pathetic slavery trend in the South, which makes them stand in conflict with this issue.Themes like race and religion, dealt with throughout the book, help the growth of Huck Finn. GROWTH OF EMMA Emma Woodhouse is the heroine of this comical play. Emma's growth has not been through as dense subjects as have been the nourishment of our other two protagonist. She spends considerably most of her adult hood match making for people, just after one of her such attempt was successful. Mr. Knightley, her friend, neighbour and advisor is always warning her against matchmaking. She completely ignores the fact that she also can have a love life, considering the age she is in. She vows not to marry. Whoever proposes her or how handsome a man she sees, she cannot develop those feelings for him. She also fails in all her match making endeavours. By the end of the plot, when her friend proposes Mr. Knightley, is when she realizes she has feelings for him. She always had those feelings and that is the reason she never felt anything for any other man. GROWTH OF ASHER LEV Asher Lev is a gifted child when it comes to art. Since childhood, he is opposed by his father on the concept of art as his father and the Jewish people thinks it is a waste of time and is related with demon-like works. His father is the political advisor of the spiritual leader of the Jews, Rebbe. But fate and Rebbe give him the chance to learn art under the greatest living artist of his time, Kahn. He grows old to become one of the fine artists and paints his masterpiece. He depicts his mother's torment through the symbols of Jesus. This is when hell breaks loose and he is made to face the toughest situation of his life. His imagery offends his parents, his community, his race. He is forced to make decisions, leave his loved ones. Asher's journey of being denied to explore his art, his exposure to the grief of his mother (she has seen her brother die while working for Rebbe), his sudden fulfillment of following his art, the numerous years he spends polishing his skills, and when the same skill offends everyone he loves. He is torn between conflicting traditions and becomes aware of what he wants. He makes decisions and grows as an individual. COMPARATIVE POINT OF THE LITERARY ELEMENT (POINT OF VIEW) All three characters have strong point of views. Huck Finn is firm on his hatred for slavery and that is the reason he is so willingly helping Jim.Emma is definite about her amazing matchmaking skills. Moreover, he is a truthful boy, loyal to Jim and his cause. As quoted in the novel: "There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth." - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain Emma is definite about her amazing matchmaking skills. She believes high of herself and thinks that whatever she attempts to do, she will do it good. Asher Lev is struggling for the acceptance of his art. He wants people to accept art as a form of true expression, not as a realm of the devil. COMPARATIVE POINT OF THE LITERARY ELEMENT (CONFLICT) The protagonists are made to face all sorts of conflicts. Conflicts within themselves, conflict with the people around them, conflict with the traditions that surround them. Huck Finn is storming between the conflict of his conscience which urges him to return Jim to Miss Watson as he is her property and then his consciousness which does not allow him to do such a cruel act. Emma is struggling with the conflict of her being in love subconsciously with Mr. Knightley but never realizing that fact and the fact that she is trying to make her match with Mr. Frank just because they look good together. She is not able to fall in love just because she is already in love with Mr. Knightley. Her conflicting emotions form a major theme of the plot. As quoted in the novel: "With insufferable vanity had she believed herself in the secret of every body's feelings; with unpardonable arrogance proposed to arrange every body's destiny. She was proved to have been universally mistaken; and she had not quite done nothing - for she had done mischief. She had brought evil on Harriet, on herself, and she too much feared, on Mr. Knightley." - Emma, Jane Austen Asher Lev is caught in conflicting traditions. His sect of Hasidic is struggling for the nourishment of art while Jews consider it devilish. COMPARATIVE POINT OF THE LITERARY ELEMENT (MORAL) All three stories ultimately lead to a moral. Huckleberry Finn realizes the worth of every individual, whether he was a slave or a free soul. The racist and religious themes also give morals for the readers. It tells them that slavery is not something which should be encouraged. Emma realizes that it is not necessary that whatever she does, it will turn out to be the best. The moral is that playing with the hearts of people can ultimately hurt your own heart in dangerous ways. Lastly, Asher's story gives the moral that sometimes your most precious commodity can offend your loved ones. And at that point in time, you have to make harsh choices, preferable choosing the happiness of others, rather than yours. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Twain, M (1885). Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 2. Austen, J (1816). Emma. 3. Potok, C (1972). My Name is Asher Lev. 4. Literature: Classic - Emma. Retrieved October 16, 2007, from About.Com - Education Web site: http://www.about.com 5. Literature: Classic – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Quotes. Retrieved October 16, 2007, from About.Com - Education Web site: http://www.about.com Read More