Text-in-Context: Mysterious Worlds - Essay Example

Text-in-Context Essay: Mysterious Worlds The intensity of human relationships is interconnected with human perception of facts and mutualunderstanding. To be specific, world renowned authors and directors make use of this theme to unleash their literary/ artistic creativity in general. Within this scenario, the authors like Lydia Millet and Shirley Jackson depends upon the theme of human relationships in their works (say, Love in Infant Monkeys and The Lottery) to prove that empathy is important within human relationships. Similarly, Peter Weir depends upon the theme of human relationships in his film named as Dead Poets Society to prove that empathy can transform human life. The critical analysis based upon the theme of complexity of human relationships within the short stories named as Love in Infant Monkeys by Lydia Millet, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, and the film named as Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir proves that the authors and director make use of the same theme but its treatment (empathy, social criticism, and inspiration) is different in general. Critical analysis: This section is broadly divided as: Human relationships and empathy in Love in Infant Monkeys by Lydia Millet, Human relationships and social criticism in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, and Human relationships and inspiration in Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir. Human relationships and empathy in Love in Infant Monkeys by Lydia Millet From a different angle of view, the scope of empathy within human relationships is beautifully portrayed in the short story. The central character named as Harry Harlow is portrayed as psychologist, who is deeply interested in conducting experiments. Still, he knows that his interest in psychology and animal behavior is alienating him from the mainstream society. For instance, he makes use of monkeys to conduct different experiments and ignores the pain and frustration faced by these animals. He knows that people will consider him as a cruel person because he does not give any importance to the problems faced by the monkeys. On the other side, he feels that he cannot socialize with others because he is fully dedicated to his profession. When he enters a party, he feels that he is surrounded by strangers and he fails to communicate with others. But in the end, he realizes that empathy towards lesser beings is important in life. The writer makes use of the central character to unmask the unethical aspects of scientific experimentation by using animals as tools. “He was bucking the trend in American psychology, where for decades prominent experts on parenting had been advising mothers to show their children as little affection as possible” (Millet, 2009, para.2). One can see that psychologists make use of animals to study change in behavior. But they never consider their study as unethical because they consider that their aim is noble. On the other side, scientists make use of animals to test new medicines and to evaluate its effectiveness. Thousands of living things are used to conduct experiments. So, it is evident that the author makes use of the central character to unmask the cruelty against other living things including animals. In short, the author tries to prove that empathy is important within relationships. Human relationships and social criticism in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson In the short story, the author makes use of the central character named as Tessie Hutchinson to criticize the importance given to blind belief in traditional societies. Generally, the concept of ‘Lottery’ is interconnected with luck. But in the short story, lottery is symbolic of bad luck or even death. In the beginning, the author does not allow the readers to go deeper into the hidden secret behind the concept of lottery. For instance, the villagers assemble at the ground because it was a customary practice. Similarly, the villagers never grumble because they know that they cannot avoid this customary practice because it is related to their tradition. Jackson stated that, “There had been, also, a ritual salute, which the official of the lottery had had to use in addressing each person who came up to draw from the box, but this also had changed with time, until now it was felt necessary only for the official to speak to each person approaching” (p. 9). To be specific, the villagers know that they are following a traditional ritual without any meaning. Still, they never try to protest because they consider that they cannot change their fate. Within this scenario, the author reveals that lottery is conducted to select a victim, not to reward anyone. To be specific, the person who wins the lottery is cursed and others are allowed to stone the victim without any mercy. From a different angle of view, the author makes use of the theme of human relationships to criticize the society without mercy and empathy. To be specific, the villagers never consider that it is unfair to kill their fellow being. They never try to question the leadership and are ready to follow the unfair rules. Besides, the villagers know that they can feel relief by participating in the custom and by killing the victim. One can see that the author tries to expose the soulnessness of false belief and its negative effect upon human relationships in general. Human relationships and inspiration in Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir The scope of inspiration is unlimited within human relationships because inspiring personals can maintain healthy relationships. If one is ready to motivate others, it is easier to gain acceptance within the private/public domains. Within this scenario, the director of the film named as Dead Poets Society tries to prove that inspiration can transform individuals and can strengthen relationships. One can see the traditional mode of education tries to equip the student community to pursue a career in future. Within this scenario, there is no importance for feelings or inspiration. “Dead Poets Society teaches us to resolve to lead lives of passion and conviction, mindful of the fact that in the story of our lives the script is ours to write, but the ending has long been decided” (Manzoor, 2011, para. 7). But the central character in the film is totally against this sort of education in which conditioning is considered as an important tool to be used by teachers. The central character (Keating) knows that mere book centered education cannot help the students to gain wisdom. On the other side, he knows that inspiration can help students to enjoy the process of learning as a whole. To be specific, students are not allowed to experience anything with learning, but are forced to by heart everything with no use. In the film, the unexpected death of a student named as Neil Perry proves that traditional mode of education is somewhat wrong. The student’s death forces the teacher to leave the campus because all other teachers and staff were against his ideas related to teaching. To be specific, the authorities considered that the teacher is the mastermind behind the student’s suicide and he must be punished. But the students know that their teacher is the victim of traditional education. In short, the teacher is aware of the importance of inspiration in relationships, especially within teaching, but the authorities are totally against the same. So, it is evident that the director makes use of the central character named as John Keating, to share his ideas on education with the viewers. Summing, the critical analysis proves that human relationship is complex, but empathy and inspiration can dissolve this complexity. To be specific, empathy can transform human minds and force them to extend hands toward the needy. Similarly, inspiring minds can create cohesion among human relationships and inculcate innovation within human interactions. On the other side, social criticism can act as an eye opener which can motivate human beings to realize the importance of mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence. In short, the authors and the director try to prove that complex relationships can be easily changed because innovative ideas can transform human minds from ignorance to wisdom. References Jackson, S. (2008). The Lottery. Mankato, MN: The Creative Company. Millet, L. (2009). Love in Infant Monkeys: Stories. (n.p.): Soft Skull Press. Manzoor, S. (2011, November 21). My favourite film: Dead Poets Society. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/nov/21/favourite-film-dead-poets-society Read More