Idealism in Realistic Context Essay Example for Free

Idealism in Realistic context of use EssayHuman patternism is a predominant theme in contemporary literature. Movies such as Superman, Star Wars, Armageddon, Charlies Angels, etc. have impressed the world with their portrayal of standard human qualities as characters deal with social and individual(prenominal) conflicts of e trulyday life. The same theme can be found in the stories of Kincaid, Crane and Chabon. The stories titled, Girl, An Episode of War, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, give in the protagonists struggle towards idealism in a realistic eithery progressive ordering. Idealism, as the American Heritage Dictionary defines, is the act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form (Answers. com). This idea is in contrast with realism, which represents art or literature of objects, actions, or social conditions as they actually atomic number 18, without idealization or presentation in abstract form (as mentioned in Answers. com). In the collar stories mentioned, human characters are expected to attain ideal qualities to compensate the flaws of society. While they are depicted with idealism, the stories present at the same time the real status of society characterized by discrimination, death, and superficiality.Primarily, the society, with its history, culture, and norms, establishes limitations and requirements for human characteristics. These requirements are at once established in Kincaids, Girl. In this piece of work, the m separate embodies the society in setting standards for women. She orders her daughter what to do, from slipstream clothes, cooking pumpkin fritters, soaking salt fish, ironing her fathers clothes, to making conclusions meet (17). Although these requirements are set by a mother (Moore 2008) adhering with these is similar to fulfilling requirements set by society.Since the story does not learn a characters name, it can be inferred that the author addresses the feminine population in gene ral, and and so exempts the opposite gender of the said responsibilities. Therefore, spot ideal qualities are expected of a little girl, the standards disparage the female gender. In Cranes An Episode of War, the situation of the characters demands them to have courage in spite of personal fears of death. Seeing the lieutenants blood gushing out of his body, the soldiers are confronted with the reality of death.Despite their fears, they convey to show courage in the midst of disaster because it is what society expects of them. Similarly, the lieutenant has to face his fate with a brave heart because there is no place for cowardice in the military service. At the end of the story as he denies his pain and says, I dont suppose it matters so much as all that (11), the lieutenant submits to the standards of courage set by his society. In Chabons The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, the author presents a diametric style in embodying the society it portrays.It uses the charac ters ideas of the world expressed in their dialogue. In the story, Sammy and Joe are seen brainstorming closely a hero they would like to create. Both have the same notions of a hero based on what society has taught them. Based on their conversation, a hero is one who has supernatural qualities like Superman, but mustiness be purpose-driven like Batman to ensure that people would love him. The making of a hero thus projects the idealism in the minds of the two characters. As they construct their own hero, the two present the expectations that each of them has learned from the society.Evidently, the concept of human idealism which asserts compliance with the rules of society makes the characters lose their self-identity in the process. In the first piece, as the girl does all of what the society (or the mother) expects of a daughter, she loses the opportunity to design her life according to her own plans. In other words, the ideal characteristics that she is expected to have all l ead to losing her right to live and design her own life. The tasks that she is coast to accomplish each day thus prevent her from doing things that she wants or needs, such as attending school.In sum, these tasks imply stereotyping and gender discrimination. Stereotyping is very obvious as the story relates all the responsibilities a girl should do in a household. By advising a girl how to cook, iron clothes, or serve dinner, the mother implies check the girl to household chores and discouraging her from pursuing education and profession. In the second story, the loss of identity is vividly illustrated. The situation itself calls for pretense and deceit. As the men in the battlefield witness the wounding of the lieutenant, they suddenly puzzle strange, and at once become unable to face the situation.Besides the sergeant who nervously assists the lieutenant, the rest of the men are astound and do not know what to do. Their silence as the lieutenant is carried back to the live exp lains the sudden strangeness that they feel. Idealism prevents them from expressing fear or disgust even at a very crucial moment. In contrast, if the soldiers were only imbued by realism, they would have expressed sentiments, or some would have endorse out from their mission. However, due to idealism, they choose to pretend and bear the sacrifices brought by war.In the third story, as Sammy and Joe progress to to construct a superhero, they lose their own human identity in the process. The superficial qualities they want their superhero to be possessed of deconstruct their human characteristics. Accordingly, this motive suggests their wish for supernatural strength and escape from the ordinary ways of the world. Therefore, while they aim for a newly constructed identity, Joe and Sam attempt to abandon not only their own human characteristics but everything associated with it, including their society.Such attempt can be due to the difficulties they encounter in life, although the re is no mention of this in the excerpt. The three literary pieces from contemporary literature present different struggles of the characters in the society they live in. Highly imbued by idealism, the characters show the reality of every person to attempt to adhere to the expectations and standards of society. exchangeable many of us, although they experience the loss of identity and other social struggles, they still continue to face the challenges of life, the ideal requirements that social reality demands.