Thanks deswa
Original post:
Ahh, might as well post up one of my essays - got 18/20 - I ranked 5th/140 in a top 30 selective school. I think I did that well mainly because I answered the question well, which I can't really show through what I'm posting. Not my best essay - it's on area of study: change.
Transcending personal and social boundaries, change is a dynamic perception which has a profound impact upon humanity, for its ability to shape an individual’s identity and connections. T.S. Eliot’s Modernist poems The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915) and Preludes (1911) together with Ray Bradbury’s short story The Pedestrian (1951) capture the experiences of various personas that are driven by disconnection as a consequence of change. Through these texts, the responder clearly understands that a denial of change can be detrimental to an individual’s societal interactions while an acceptance can result in pleasure and social inclusion.
Eliot’s “Love Song” explicates Prufrock’s social disillusionment stemming from his inability to instigate change, a notion that shapes one’s relationships with humanity. Prufrock constantly reassures himself that there is time left
“for all the works and days of hands” through the
intertextual reference to Hesiod’s Works and Days, demonstrating his reluctance to willingly accept change, resulting in an inability to discover the human desire of kinship. The
sibilance and
anthropomorphism in the
“ragged claws” that are
“scuttling across the floors of silent seas” elucidate that Prufrock merely remarks about the world around him, yet lacks the courage to prompt change, revealing his internal rejection of change and accentuating his disconnection with his world. As Prufrock remarks upon a society where
“women who come and go”, the
binary opposition and
impersonal description emphasise his lack of meaningful connections with the world around him, portraying that a denial of change can result in an inability to fulfil the innate human desire for connections and kinships. When the women are
“talking of Michelangelo”, the
allusion to the famous artist emphasises the manner that sophistication and affluence influence one’s role in society, concerning Prufrock’s own disillusionment in a society that seeks perfection. Furthermore, the
bleak, despondent tone in Prufrock’s description of the
“restless nights in one-night cheap hotels” elucidates his lack of profound and meaningful social interactions due to his incompetence in adapting to his changing world. A
rhetorical question is employed as he asks
“so how should I presume?” reflecting Prufrock’s inability to
“force the moment to its crisis” and act upon situations in a world that is constantly transforming as a consequence of change. Thus, it is evident that change is a complex notion that can cause isolation and despondency when not actively pursued.
In “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury, change in society is explored regarding its impact upon the individual. The first indication of change is revealed as the protagonist describes that it was dangerous
“To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o'clock…”, and the
metaphor emphasises the change that has occurred to the atmosphere of the city from a bustling hub to a desolate, lifeless milieu. The simple act of walking is symbolic of the individuality of the protagonist, who is represented as noncompliant to the expectations of those in authority. This change is further conveyed as “
A metallic voice” tells the protagonist to
“Stand still. Stay where you are! Don't move! It was a police car.” The
short, sharp sentences and
high modality alludes to the fact that the police car is unmanned, this being a significant notion, portraying that society has changed to an emotionless, authoritative regime. This is demonstrated through the
harsh tone as
“No one answered him”, which displays that the protagonist is being treated with a stark disregard, where his presence is ignored, causing unhappiness, isolation and overall dissatisfaction for him. Consequently, it is clearly evident that a suppression of change can cause damage for humanity’s values of freedom and independence.
In “Preludes”, change is presented as an experience damaging to humanity, presented through the despondency of the protagonist’s existence throughout the poem, reflective of the grim context of the Industrial Revolution. Eliot uses
synecdoche as he describes
“the grimy scraps of withered leaves about your feet”, illustrating the impact that this society has on individuals, and also on nature as a whole. The withered leaves
symbolise the entirety of nature, being crushed under due to monotony, and reflect the destructiveness of change and its suppression of the innate human desire to express individuality. As Eliot speaks
“of faint stale smells of beer”, through the
olfactory imagery, he condemns his world’s physical decay, displaying a society that has been utterly disintegrated and that its people live a life lacking purpose, demonstrating the negative nature of change. Eliot's
biblical allusion to an
‘infinitely gentle, infinitely suffering thing’ is representative of Jesus, a divine source who many people of society rely on for faith and hope. Consequently, he establishes the calamities of a society that has lost its spirituality as a consequence of change. Eliot’s description of
“sawdust-trampled streets” displays his condemnation of his world’s moral and physical decay, bereft of the magnificence that he desires, with the
sibilance warning humanity of foreboding evil, and accentuating that change results in a degradation of society. Through a
bleak tone, he describes his surroundings as
“gathering fuel in vacant lots”, portraying a world that is fragmented, where the streets are lonely and shattered while its people pursue a routine that lacks meaning. Subsequently, this exemplifies that change is dangerous to the physical world, but also causes a dereliction of society’s moral values.
By examining these texts, it is evident that change is a multifaceted concept that has differing impacts upon humanity’s intrinsic desire for acceptance and connection. Therefore, we are able to appreciate the importance of environment and relationships in the process of gaining an improved insight into our worlds.