'Literature as a Looking Glass\r'

'Perhaps it is the bring forth of all fictionteller to leave their reader a little changed after having read the tales they so guardedly weave.  But how spelly authors send word actually succeed this? Leaving their audience with a story that broadens the mind, asks fatheaded questions, and probes into the way we work is not easily d single.  The great dea fieldss intimationer to move us from one plane to other is what distinguishes a really great writer from a storyteller.  For many, Stephen king is much(prenominal) an author.  Some may express even more(prenominal) so because of the use of his writing style of the antic, the horrific and the gruesome. Exploring the darker parts of our psyches, and our everyday lives, he manages to lead us along the path to contemplate demanding social questions. Always leaving them open for us to determine the answers for ourselves.In a comparison of his two working, The pertinacious Green Mile and Hearts of Atlantis , we can research his use of the fantastical as an opportunity to countermand thought provoking social questions.  Although both books, overly interestingly both written as a serial, argon very contrastive in disposition, they theatrical role the common theme of finding the extraordinary in ordinary life.  Each book finds the hero that realizems to obliterate in everyday circumstances while at the same time forcing us to look at several of the factors that shape our lives, for the good or the bad. As mentioned by Jonathan Davis in his work, Stephen King’s America, â€Å" bit some of his stories focus more on one ara than others, a close reading of his works will often show that King rarely fails to include a wide view of American society.” (Davis)The large Green Mile is a immemorial example of King’s use of storytelling as social commentary.  In the book the main suitsetters cases are themselves symbolisms of the society in which we live .  John Coffey, and innocent man sent to termination row for a abuse he didn’t commit. Is it because he is simple, or because he is black? As Sharon Russell states in her critical review, Revisiting Stephen King , â€Å"While Coffey dominates the operation, he remains an enigma, a symbol of a good beyond understanding.” (Russell)And his mysterious yield to heal is starkly contrasted with William Wharton’s ability to destroy.  safe as Coffey is the symbol for good, so is Wharton the symbol for evil.Moreover, the primal theme that resonates throughout the book is just that; the nature of good and evil. And Stephen King shows us how that action rages in many arenas of our lives. One obvious question is that of racism. Was Coffey demonstrate guilty because he was black? Another character in the story, a white business man, was released from a murder he obviously committed. There was nix to point to Coffey but the fact that he was set with the girls. Was racism a factor?Also, the question of the finale penalty raises its head several times. Delacroix, a worthless man, suffered death in the electric chair. However, the brine fill sponge that was supposed to make the electrocution immediate and painless was omitted purposefully by one of the jailers. This resulted in a horrific and torturous death by Delacroix.  Was his suffering justifiable?Delving a little more deeply we probe the convergemingly senseless death of Janice who had just escaped death by the rattling(a) hands of Coffey.  After all the trouble and the toppingly miracle that saved her life, to die in a bus accident leaves lingering questions of human justice versus betoken justice.Similarly, in Hearts of Atlantis  King dances the fine line between fantasy and reality, although in a different way.  Although some of the characters are pass, 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 explores the realm and power of childhood.  In The Long Green Mile Coffey is used and explored as simple and also, interestingly, he is the one that has the mystical and unquestioned give out power.  In Hearts of Atlantis  we see the children as they are and watch their struggle with reality and fantasy defines them.Those transitional moments are very apparent in the offset printing story of Bobby and warble.  Bobby was an everyday hero, Stephen King style. The ordinary textile of society, hiding hero’s in every thread.  However, King goes one step further by reintroducing the few key characters throughout a reap of seemingly unrelated stories.  By doing this he shows us the connectivity of individuals. How the actions we make today have huge impacts on others and shape their lives. Bobby’s bravery inspired chirrup’s courage to stand up for what she believed after in life.By looking closely at the lives of the ch aracters 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, â€Å"Blind Willie”.  Bill relives each day stressful to resolve the regret for his past actions. We see the aging baseball glove of Bobby’s that Blind Willie uses to cop the money he earns as a humiliated Vietnam veteran while his wife and family believe him to be a successful business man bustling at the office.  Willie tries to find answers by living a double life.Moreover, King uses the opportunity to stir up a social commentary on the effects the Vietnam War had on people specifically and because 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 playing in the background, as in the case with Bobby in â€Å"Low Men in Yellow Coats” and then also with young adults afloa t(p) in and out of adulthood and drafting such as was portrayed in â€Å"Hearts in Atlantis”.Although it seems to be a simple peek into the issues that patronage college aged kids trying to leap into adulthood, the story sells its moralistic in the end, as stated by Russell, â€Å"The story ends with an incident long after the main eventsâ€a reunion between Pete and one of his college friends. No question what happened, they both agree that they tried during that period. They were not the freehanded heroes, but they did somethingâ€just 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 severalise 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 extensive look at any author’s works reveals a repeating and recurring theme or pass on that appears to be central in their writing, it is Stephen King’s use of his particular musical style that continually draws in his readers again and again.  The parallel of the darker position 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,  â€Å"The ongoing battle in King’s fantastic creation to follow the beam and keep the world from locomote apart is mirrored by later 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 perhaps emerge a better person.\r\n'