Human life is so difficult and full of everyday problems that sometimes it is uneasy to figure out how to solve them. And it is even more difficult to reveal the reasons of such issues. Many people, who face with difficulties, blame others and even close persons, although the reasons of their problems lie in much deeper layer. It is possible to assume that some issues are related to the influence of society, as humans are sociable and may be easily oppressed by the opinion of others. The other opinion is related to the influence of nature that the human behavior depends on genes. Both points of view have well theoretical and practical background. And many people stand on some alternative point of view as if people’s life is controlled by means of supernatural force(s) that is called God(s), cosmological experience, spirituality, mysticism, the higher substance, etc. Many people can support this alternative point of view, mostly if they cannot explain reality and many issues that happen to them in real life. However, in the classic and modern fiction literature, we can find many examples of these three views, and they are mostly complement to each other. It is also worth to mention that supernatural forces are represented so strong in fiction literature that their power and influence on an audience are hard to deny. In most cases, supernatural forces are in fiction to create and effect on readers. In my opinion, it is hard to judge which force is the most powerful in human life (nature, society or supernatural essence), and these forces are represented in some way, in every work of literature.
For example, in the play “No Child” by Nilaja Sun the ruling force in the human life is society, “Discipline, it was really lacking in the public schools. Some of the kids couldn’t sit still for fifteen minutes. [I tried] to get them out of some of the patterns that are harming them—constantly talking in class, lack of attention, negative remarks to their teachers or about themselves. That environment creates a whirlpool of darkness.” (Sun, 2012) The central theme of this story is children’s dissatisfaction of their life and their protest against social norms. The reason of this kind of dissatisfaction is described by the author, in a very simple manner. Children cannot find their way in life, being depressed when in schools. The author of this play is a teacher, so she can deeply understand how difficult can be dealing with children when they are ruled by social issues. Society has a great impact on their fate, and it is one of the central forces in this play. The ideals of the new generation are interrupted by norms and standards of life that is full of stresses, so much that young people cannot find their way and cannot manage to deal with difficulties. Even the fact that they cannot sit for fifteen minutes proves that children are victims of circumstances.
In contrast to this, in another short-story “Wit” by Margaret Edson the power that is ruling people is wit that is given from nature, and even the reader can observe more of supernatural forces ruling by people. Here is not much criticism of the society and just hints on such criticism, nothing is described in a negative manner and it is not described negatively. In any case, the author is giving the advice for people to follow the rules and to be kind to each other and love each other: “Now is a time for, dare I say it, kindness. I thought being extremely smart would take care of it. But I see I have been found out.” (Goodreads, 2014)
According to Edson, the wit is that we cannot control, as it is given from nature. However, the human wit can serve for the better things. The author suggests the opinion that every person is guided with some power of nature. What is given naturally, can hardly be modified by others, but just improved and developed proportionally. There is no other reason but giving this power of wit dominating positions, as being smart means rearranging roles and complete reconsidering social roles. She mentions: ““, but as I am a scholar I feel obliged to document what it is like here, most of the time, between the dramatic climaxes. In truth it is like this: You cannot imagine how time can be so still. It hangs. It weighs, and yet there is so little of it. It goes so slowly and it is so scarce. If I was writing this scene it would last a full 15 minutes. I would lie here and you would sit there.” (Goodreads, 2014) If the human wit serves not to kind purposes, but to lie and invent unreal situations that are even too far from the common sense, we cannot do nothing but fight against this. Witty people should use their brain in right purposes, and not to offend the feelings of other people. For the author, having wit and being kind, love others are the same issues. Being witty means understand others, trust others, and if emotional contact with people is reached, it is easier to communicate and enjoy getting socialized.
Sometimes the society and destiny can be cruel towards people, but if they have the kind heart and the will to change life for the better, they will reach their aim. And if the person is kind enough, the light of a better life and salvation may appear on the horizon. In discussion the story about children, it is worth to mention that they are just the victims of the stressful society, where there is no motivation to thinking and education, but to playing online video games or offending classmates at breaks. However, witty children are mostly kind and they will help others in studying, so even bad company cannot spoil them. The task of teachers is to bring up the best values in children so that they can socialize very well and find their roles in life. It is not as easy task as it may seem, but it is worth it. Children should be taught to respect others and help others in need, love nature and animals, have hobbies. They will manage to find right places in society.
Works Cited
Edson, Margaret. The Wit. Goodreads Quotes. Web. http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2206-wit-a-play
Sun, Nilaja. No Child. A dramaturgical examination by Cloteal L. Horne Boston University Contemporary Drama (Spring 2012) Web. http://nilajasun-nochild.tumblr.com/
