It needs to be reckoned that one of the main aspects of a fictional literary work is the characterization that goes on to bind the entire text together accentuating its affective appeal to the readers. Literary artists too have come to exude their aesthetic and literary quintessence when it comes to the question of penning characters in their respective stories. For the purpose of proper comprehension of the matter in context, one can take into reckoning three very popular short stories that have come to gain the accolades of the literary critics as well as the avid readers all over the globe. The literary works, The Open Boat, Harrison Bergeron and The Chrysanthemums can be taken as very strong examples of the exudation of literary excellence on the part of the authors in terms of characterization. A close scrutiny of the character of the correspondent from the story The Open Boat, the titular character from the story Harrison Bergeron, and the character of Elisa Allen in the story The Chrysanthemums would enable one to have a very clear idea about the power and function of characterization in a literary work. Moreover, the respective behaviors of the characters in context work toward advancing the plot of the stories and are driven by certain motives while their actions lead to specific consequences as well in the course of the narratives of the short stories.
The Open Boat is one of the most famous short stories even penned in the history of literature. One aspect of the short story that hogs the attention of the readers is the character of the correspondent. It needs to be comprehended that for the author, Stephen Crane, every crewmember is, in fact, an archetypal character. When these characters are taken together with the fellow castaways, they constitute the part of this microcosm of the society. Here, the character of the correspondent plays the role of the thinker or observer. The profession of the correspondent as a reporter goes on to suggest that he works as the voice and the eye of the story in context. Indeed, the author focuses on this point in the introduction of the various characters of the story in the first section of his writing. Thus, as the cook goes on to cower on the boat’s floor with the oiler silently working at the oar, the character of the correspondent continues to watch the waves of the sea and wonders the reason behind his getting caught up in the journey. This in turn works to show his search for the purpose of life. Keeping this central question in his mind, the character of the correspondent starts to shape the perceptions of the impediments faced by the men on the boat.
It has to be noted that in the first five parts of this sort story, the challenges to the sea are associated with the fate of human life and the will of the nature. The correspondent goes on to understand the fact that the nature and fate are not in the control of men. However, he believes that there is a purpose to the nature’s actions, and thus goes on to validate his own struggle for survival in the face of all the ordeals. This character in context initially comes to think that he has found the answer as he considers the subtle brotherhood of men that is present among the crew members in the face of the unparalleled brutality of the nature. It is at this point of time in the course of the narrative that the correspondent comes to take pleasure in the pain that is caused due to rowing in the tumultuous sea. He comes to believe that the pain has its roots in the enormous efforts at community that has been forced upon men and is really the only thing that matters. The men finally come to understand that no one would come to save them. At this, the correspondent loses his immense hope and faith in the “subtle brotherhood”- something that seemed to be the noble reason of giving in to the punishment ascertained by the nature. (Crane, 2012) Thus, it can very well be commented that this character in context enhances the perspective and affective appeal of this story by Crane. The character of the correspondent works to show how the nature and fate have omnipotent effect on the lives of people in spite of the relentless endeavors of humans to find a way to make things the way they want them to be. The story points to the predominance of the uncontrollable forces as the correspondent works to bring out the perspective and opinion of the author. The character provides the much need interpretation and explication of the scenario that gets portrayed in the course of the narrative of the story.
One can take into consideration the titular character of Harrison in the short story Harrison Bergeron in comparison to the character of the correspondent of the previous story that has been discussed. Now, it needs to be noted that Harrison goes on to represent the part of the people of America that still wants to endeavor hard, exude their attributes and outdo the peers. As such, the character in context can very well be taken to be a physical specimen as he is seven feet tall and very strong in nature, apart from having very handsome looks. One comes to know in the course of the narrative how the government goes on to exercise everything in its power so as to squelch the character in context. In fact, Harrison is forced to wear these huge earphones that distort his thought process. He is made to wear glasses so that his vision is damaged, and this also causes him headaches. He has to put on as many as three hundred pounds of metal so that he is weighed down. Moreover, the black caps for his teeth and the ridiculous nose make his condition look even worse.
However, Harrison shows promise in spite of facing all the impediments that come in his way. Even the jail cannot stop the titular character of the story in context. Harrison comes across to be a person with a very strong will to live as a complete human. As such, he even dares to escape the confinement, and comes to brim with the belief and confidence that he can very well overthrow the government. This shows the extent of his confidence and grit as a human being who has the mental strength and resolution to rise up against a very powerful institution even after being alone in his fight. But, there is more to Harrison than his remarkable will and bodily strength. The character in context is someone who has a very romantic soul and an artistic heart. Hence, he goes on to remove the empress’s handicaps with utmost care like a sculptor. Also, the character can be found giving instructions to the musicians in the craft. He shows the musicians how he wishes them to play the music and even sings to them to show the example. Apart from this, one finds him dancing very beautifully as he even manages to defy gravity and spring as much as thirty feet to the ceiling with the empresses, kissing her there. (Vonnegut, 2012) There can be no doubt about the fact that Harrison is more of a superhuman character who has the aesthetic sense of a creative soul as well. This character can very well be described to be the driving force of the entire narrative of the story in context. However, Harrison meets with an untimely end as he gets murdered. His murder shows that people who dare to go against the authority or institutionalized practices would face the wrath just like Harrison. It is his unparalleled capacity and remarkable strength that work to antagonize the authority against him. His revolutionary ambitions work to further antagonize his opponents- something that finally leads to his demise.
Having discussed about the behavioral patterns, reasons for action and the final consequences of the characters of the other famous short stories in context, one can talk about the role of Elisa Allen in the story, The Chrysanthemums. Indeed, the character of Elisa Allen is very intriguing as well as intelligent. She is a very passionate lady who has to live a life of dissatisfaction. In the course of the narrative, it becomes very clear to the avid readers that she is ignored or thwarted in everything. She is unable to have a professional career for herself. Moreover, she has no children, while her deep interest in the economic side of the ranch never gets its due importance. She even faces condescension by her husband when she offers to help him to ranch. She is someone who really wishes to see the world, but her wishes are seen to be unfit as a desire for a lady. Thus, one finds that the character of Elisa is simply confined to the life of domesticity as she focuses on maintenance of her house and the garden. There can be no denial of the fact that the pride taken by her for her housekeeping is truly very much melancholy as well as exaggerated in nature.
In the course of the narrative, one finds how she goes on to brag about her connection to the nature. But, this connection in context comes across to be forced, instead of being something that comes naturally as explicated by her in course of the story. Elisa knows a lot about plants as she is confined to the duties of the household. While her energy is channelized toward the domestic chores of life, it becomes clear that Elisa is someone who is the archetypal character portraying the impositions of the patriarchal society that overpowers the female folks with the institutionalized practices and parameters. The frustration of the character in context becomes conspicuous as she readily looks to the tinker for having a stimulating conversation. (Steinbeck, 2012) She is flirtatious with the tinker- something that can be seen as an expression of her repressed desires and aspirations that have been subdued over time by the impositions of the society. Thus, the brief show of emancipation by the lady proves the depth of her emotions and the aspirations of her heart that she has been forced to repress. However, she is turned down by the person in context, and this leads to the expression of the immense dissatisfaction that has encompassed her life as she feels constricted and subjugated in the marital bond. She is simply devastated as a female and comes across to be really desperate to break free of the bondage that has been imposed on her. She seeks to escape from the constrictions. She endeavors to banter with her husband and even goes on to express her interest in the bloody fights attended by men. However, by the end of the story, it becomes very clear to the avid readers that she would never find fulfillment in the truest sense of the term. (Cutri, 1997) Thus, Elisa comes across to be the lady who embodies the latent desires and the repressed aspirations and emotions.
Hence, it would be correct to opine that all the three stories show how the characters are guided in their actions. The narratives portray the results of the behaviors of the characters in context. The readers are deeply intrigued by the dispositions and behavioral patterns of the characters that have been discussed. While the correspondent comes across to be thinkers, working as a representative of logical thinking, Harrison in the other story embodies the hope and grit so as to portray the dichotomy between the institutionalized forces and the resolute stand of individuals who dare to go against the oppression. On the other hand, Elisa is representative of the women folks of the society and shows how they are oppressed in the institution of marriage in their lives. So, it becomes very clear that the characters accentuate the affective charm as well as the richness of the contents of the short stories that have been discussed. The stories and the characters leave a lasting impression on the minds of the avid readers of the texts in context.
References
Crane, Stephen. “The Open Boat.” In An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and
Writing, 13th Edition. (2012). Ed. XJ Kennedy. New York: Longman. p.206.
Cutri, Christopher. (1997). An Analysis and Adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The
Chrysanthemums". Pasadena: Art Center College of Design.
Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums.” In An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama,
and Writing, 13th Edition. (2012). Ed. XJ Kennedy. New York: Longman. p.237.
Vonnegut, Kurt. “Harrison Bergeron.” In An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and
Writing, 13th Edition. (2012). Ed. XJ Kennedy. New York: Longman. p.226.
