Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men, penned by John Steinbeck, is a literary classic that portrays the harsh and often heart-wrenching realities faced by two migrant workers during the Great Depression. Set against the backdrop of rural California, this novel explores themes such as the American Dream, loneliness and isolation, and the power dynamics rooted in societal discrimination and prejudice. Let's dive into this evocative tale and unravel its layers with a sprinkle of humor and insight.

Rural California during the Great Depression was anything but glamorous, much like morning breath. Steinbeck's exquisite descriptions of this harsh landscape make you feel the dust in your mouth and the economic hardship pounding like a headache after a rollercoaster ride. But amidst these barren fields, the American Dream beckons, albeit dimly.

George and Lennie's friendship is the heart of the story, an unlikely bond akin to peanut butter and pickles—unexpected yet strangely compelling. With loyalty that's rarer than a sunny British holiday, they navigate a world where friendship often seems like a mirage.

Chasing the American Dream in this novel feels like reaching for a carrot at the end of a stick; it's frustratingly elusive. George and Lennie dream of owning a piece of land, where Lennie can tend rabbits. This hope is a flicker of light in their despair, but reality frequently stomps on it like a lumbering elephant.

If loneliness were a person, they'd be the most overworked entity in the story. Characters, from the outcast Crooks to the dreamer Curley’s wife, are drenched in isolation. They interact like ships in the night, with connections as rare as winning the lottery twice.

Friendship in the novel is like mint chocolate chip ice cream: not everyone’s cup of tea. It's precious yet fragile, providing strength and yet laden with responsibilities. For George, loyalty to Lennie is both an anchor and an albatross.

The ranch is a microcosm of society with power plays slicker than a lawyer's argument. Curley struts around like a rooster in a henhouse, while the workers tread the tightrope of economic hardship. The imbalance is as glaring as a full moon on a clear night.

Racism, sexism, and ableism stroll into the narrative like uninvited guests at a wedding. Crooks, Curley's wife, and Lennie all experience the stings of prejudice, underscoring societal injustices woven into the very fabric of the era.

With wallets emptier than a politician's promises, the characters embody the financial struggles of the Great Depression. Their lives are a testament to the relentless grip of poverty, where a steady meal feels like a luxury.

The novel spins cycles of hope and despair as if stuck on loop—and not the fun rollercoaster kind. George and Lennie's dreams cycle through moments of possibility, crushed by reality's relentless hammer.

Migrant workers shuffle through the pages, carrying hopes as light as feathers yet burdened by harsh reality. Their plight is a poignant reminder of the transient and insecure life of laborers searching for dignity and belonging.

The setting here isn't just a mere backdrop; it captures the rough charm of rural California with more dust and grit than your average vacuum cleaner. The novel’s landscape is painted vividly—a character in its own right.

Hope flutters through the narrative like a fragile butterfly, only to be squashed with brutal efficiency. George and Lennie's dream farm symbolizes hope, yet it is fated to wither under the harsh glare of reality. Hope in Of Mice and Men always seems to wear a sign saying "Handle with Care." It's the fine line between oppressing despair and a lifeline, yet breaks easily—like cheap plastic cutlery.

- Desperation can forge unlikely friendships.

- Prejudice runs deep, affecting life on levels akin to Wi-Fi in its reach.

- Economic hardship reduces dreams to mere whispers in the wind.

- Power is often more about perception than substance.

- Loneliness can bind, as much as it separates.

The story is engulfed in conflict as intense as a vampire's aversion to daylight. It resolves with a poignant ending that is both inevitable and shocking—a reminder of the brutal realities faced by those swept under the economic tides.

The Gentle Spirit

"The Gentle Spirit" is a moving and thought-provoking novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky that examines the intricacies of guilt, repentance, and the human mind. Dostoevsky skillfully creates a story that is both a psychological analysis and a biting indictment of social conventions through the protagonist's internal conflict and philosophical reflections. This study will provide a thorough examination of Dostoevsky's masterwork by delving into the novella's themes, symbolism, psychological insight, and critique.

The plot focusses around a young woman known simply as "the gentle spirit," who is driven insane and eventually commits suicide. The story is told through a sequence of letters and diary entries that offer a unique glimpse into the protagonist's inner life. The gentle spirit represents a young lady who has been rejected by her family and society because of her "sinful" background. She is coping with her own guilt and humiliation, as well as the cultural demands imposed on her. 

Fyodor Dostoevsky skillfully combines a number of subjects, such as guilt, social expectations, redemption and insanity. The gentle spirit’s guilt is a crushing force that finally brings her to ruin. Dostoevsky emphasises the terrible results of letting guilt rule our lives. There are various social limitation which always limits and hinders our ways of life. These social rules that prescribe how the gentle spirit should act imprison her. 

Dostoevsky criticises the double standards and hypocrisy of a culture that severely punishes women for their prior transgressions. Dostoevsky demonstrates how love and acceptance may be a potent remedy for guilt and shame via the interactions of the gentle spirit with others. The protagonist’s spiral into insanity brings up significant issues of what constitutes sane and insanity as well as how social pressures might push people over the edge into insanity. The gentle spirit herself is a representation of purity and sensitivity, and her untimely death is a biting critique of a culture that values appearance above genuineness.

Dostoevsky's writing offers a sophisticated examination of the human psyche and is notable for its psychological insight. The inner turbulence of the gentle heart is a psychological narrative virtuoso, as Dostoevsky skilfully captures the intricacies of her motivations, feelings, and ideas. The kind heart is a very realistic character because of her battles with shame, remorse, and social expectations.

The novella's shortness is its one weakness, if there is one. One can't help but feel a feeling of loss as the story ends since Dostoevsky's prose is so captivating and descriptive. Furthermore, the protagonist's compulsive self-deprecation may occasionally be difficult for certain readers to read.

Dostoevsky uses a number of motifs and symbols throughout the novella, such as: White: The colour white is linked to the gentle heart, emphasising her innate kindness and signifying innocence and purity. The cross, which stands for forgiveness and redemption, is a potent symbol that emphasises the compassionate heart's pursuit of salvation. Nature: The shifting seasons and landscapes reflect the gentle heart's emotional state, and the natural world provides a backdrop for her inner anguish.  

The conceptual profundity of Dostoevsky's writing is well known, and "The Gentle Spirit" is no exception. Important issues about the nature of morality, free choice, and the human condition are brought up throughout the novella. Dostoevsky provides a sophisticated analysis of the human condition through his particularly remarkable investigation of guilt, humiliation, and salvation.

To sum up, "The Gentle Spirit" is a literary fiction classic that exemplifies Dostoevsky's extraordinary storytelling and philosophical abilities. Anyone interested in philosophy, psychological literature, or just good storytelling should read this novella. Dostoevsky's writings are still relevant today because they provide a compelling, thought-provoking, and eerie examination of the human condition.

 

Slave Ship

Being one of the first book of Shame & Glory Saga by Jerrold Mundis, “Slave Ship” is a story of horror and graphic violence regarding slave trade common in 18^th century West coast of Africa. This story focus on voyage of such a slave ship called “Jubilation”, the ship where the men of different colour and flat noses are considered just a “valuable piece of merchandise”.

At the start an African tribe called Fanti enslave their own brother tribe called Ashanti Story’s main character Adoko and his whole tribe called Ashanti are captivated by their own brother tribe called Fanti. Fantis sell Adoko’s tribe to slave traders who are destined to transport them to United States. This issue reminded me of a quotation by Will Durrant where he has stated "A great civilisation is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within”.  

The novel primarily consists of three parts. The first part introduces the main characters, sub-characters and sets out the story. Main characters are Adoko, the commander of Ashanti tribe; Horneby, the ship captain and a cruel man; Mr. Wilkes, the chief surgeon; and Virgil Dunbar, a brilliant journalist disguised as a newly inducted seaman. Dunbar wants to write a first-hand account of the slave trade. 

Second part of this historical fiction addresses the voyage and the treatment of slaves by captain and other seamen. This part is interesting as well gory because the portrayal of slaves is so explicit that a faint-hearted will shed tears of blood. The enslaved are kept in inhuman conditions even worse than animals. The slaves also attempt resistance to this unjust and treacherous treatment but fail. Rebels are punished severely for this act but their brother fight for survival even in captivity. The slaves do not want to lose their identity, freedom, dignity.

There are two incidents in part two which are worthy of consideration. Firstly, the Captain buys five white girls from Mount Celestial and intends to sell them. On surgeon’s concern about white girls being sold to the negros the Captain replies “…..they are not going to the niggers. As you well know, you can’t even give a white woman to a black merchant, let alone sell her.” This sentence of the Captain shows the sense of superiority of white men over the colour of skin of other human beings. During trade of those girls to a Moorish trader, such a tragic incident happen which leaves a deep scar on the heart of sensitive Dr. Wilkes. Eventually, he cannot bear this guilt any longer and commits suicide.

Secondly, a slave girl named Leana thinks, “The whites were not human. It was senseless trying to understand them”. This a sentence is worth of hundred thousand dollars is a question mark over humanity. It shows what an enslaved human being thinks about her captivators. Such an evil behaviour makes a slave think like this about the white men. So a human beings skin colour does not determine of his being a civilized. His attitude decided this.

Third part brings story closer to the conclusion, which is quite unexpected. I will not add any spoiler regarding conclusion. Some novels carry two characters. This story carries many characters of different sort with it.  All those characters are connected to the main theme and concluded in a justified manner.

There is no place for a sensitive person on a slave ship. Spread ofplague of blindness among slaves and masters on board becomes another issue while the ship is steering to its destination.

This novel is a powerful story of love, deception, slavery, betrayal, guilt and hatred. It is an equally  powerful portrayal of an ugly and unbearable face of racism and oppression in the shape of transatlantic slave trade pervasive in 18^th century with thought-provoking themes. However, this novel is a part of Shame and Glory Saga but there is more shame than glory in it.

Galina

Well, it was first time since I saw any book by Alexander Serafimovich. Writer attracted me de to his Russian name. Alexander Serafimovich is also a very great Russian writer such as his contemporaries Gorky, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Gogol, Solzhenitsyn and many others. He was much praised by almost all of his contemporaries. Lenin, Tolstoy, Sholokhov and many other notable Russian people praised literary work of Serafimovich greatly.

So, here we are talking about Serafimovich' long story or rather it can be called a novel titled "Galina" which is a character-driven story of pre-revolution country side of Russia. Based upon social realism, the novel is an account of a female character named "Galina" who is transferred to a remote village in Russia. 

Galina observes backwardness, submission of people in fate, helplessness, family dynamics, tragedy, student enrollment issues, heath issues, debt of farmers, exploitation of farmers by landlord, inhuman human conditions, inflation, deteriorating condition of roads, young-old relationship, human sufferings and over-population among others. Apart from Galina, a church clerk and a doctor are also main characters in this novel. 

Key theme of novel is "Teacher as a Social reformer". The account narrates unexpected difficulties and challenges faced by Galina in the village. During her interaction with teachers appointed at other schools in neighbouring villages, she feels they do not care much about children and human lives over there. She clearly realises her colleagues' insensitivity. However, Galina strongly realises her morality and ethics to perform her duty honestly. With her spark and hard work she seems a positive change in her students' academic activities. 

As the author has strived to portray pre-revolution Russia, therefore, he has mainly focused on Russian villages, condition of education, identity, class struggle, social change, personal growth, transformation, the human condition, existential crisis, the search for meaning which, collectively altogether when achieved, pave the way for revolution. The story invites dispersed human beings to be collective and united f they want to achieve something greater for the society. This is not necessarily a revolutionary y novel yet it invites collective human thinking to bring revolution for a greater good. 

I don't know why but I have always been fascinated by Russian literature. Perhaps, it always reflects my own country. It is true.. Whenever, I read any Russian novel of 19th or 20th century I always see the reflection of my own homeland in that piece of literature. Russian values, traditions, behaviours and attitudes of people always remind me that we people are still at the behest of those issues which were faced by Russians in 19th century. 

This novel, though short in length, speaks volumes of conditions of millions of people still today in many developing countries. My homeland is one of them. This novel wholly reflects many developing countries where education and village reforms have never been part of any government's plan. Many Western people may find this novel irrelevant in 21st century. Yet it is still very much relevant for almost half of the globe. 

Russia developed after the revolution, perhaps it seems, many other nations are still looking forward to the path of revolution as well. Only revolution can lead to getting our identities by bringing a social change. 

Requiem for a Woman’s Soul

Never have I read a novel, which has made me shed tears of blood and made me shudder every time I tried to read it. Though containing only 100 pages, but this book made me utterly difficult to finish. I have to leave it unfinished many times due to the degree of violence portrayed by author. Anyway, finally I succeeded to finish this literary masterpiece written by Argentinian author and journalist Omar Rivabella.

Once I read a review on Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” where the reviewer stated that she started contemplating suicide after finishing the said book. She was wrong in saying so about Conrad’s famous work. However, the statement can assertively be given about Rivabella’s literary fiction for this is the tale that will unfailingly make you feel how brutal is the world. It offers a psychological insight into violence individually as well as collectively.

One cannot authoritatively claim this account is based upon a true story but, simultaneously, it must be based upon true events. Because everyone knows it what happened in Argentine during dictatorial regime of Jorge Rafael Videla (1974-1983). Vidala ordered to conduct an infamous military operation known as “Operation Condor” through which political dissidents were abducted, tortured and murdered in various concentration camps. Since, Omar Rivabella is a journalist therefore he must have had enough interactions with survivors of those concentration camps. From there he got the idea of writing this novel.

The story is set in an unknown Argentinian village where brutalities, atrocities, torture and violence are inflicted upon ‘dissents of the state’ by making them disappear enforcedly. This novel encapsulates such incidents by portraying a main character of a literature student called Suzanne. Suzanne anyhow manages to write a diary in prison and smuggles it out to prison to a trustworthy Father Anotnio. Father Antonio tries his level best to serialise that uneven account of prison memoirs because the diary is written on small papers, matchbox, cigarette pocket, toilet papers and all other things, which were available to the inmate in the prison. Thus starts an emotional journey of a character enduring every type of violence in the prison.

Initially Father Antonio starts working on received jail diary reluctantly. Slowly and gradually, he manages to recall Suzanne. Then Antonio works tirelessly upon the diary without even taking care of his own health. Because, it seems, Father Antonio and Suzanne share the same suffering and bond of violence. During working on the diary, father Antonio himself falls ill due to the effects of violence he reads and feels.

Since I do not like to add spoilers in my review. Therefore, keeping in view my tradition, I will not write here much about the climax and the way of storytelling of the author. This is the story of trauma, recovery, grief, mourning, self-discovery, spirituality, symbolism. The novel symbolises Suzanne not an individual victim but a symbol of those all people who have remained victims of violence throughout the world.

Published first in 1986 in English, this novel became an instant best seller throughout the world. This novel does not tend to answer many questions regarding any brutal dictator society. Instead, it dares ask questions about it. It asks many questions regarding, attitude of torturers towards victim, behaviours of torturers toward society, the role of torturers in their own homes, and mainly the psychological state of victim. 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson is popularly known for his famous works such as “Kidnapped”, “Treasure Island”, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and many others. Above mentioned three works are his most famous works. Today, we are going to review the last one. “The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a classic novelette which is full of suspense, psychological thriller case of two mentioned characters.

Commonly known as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” falls in the category of Gothic horror. Gothic horror refers to loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. Well, maybe it is not considered horror in 21^st century but the time when this novelette was published it fell under the category of horror that’s why it is categorized as Gothic horror. Main themes of this story are good vs. evil and dual identity.

The story is set in London where a lawyer Mr. Utterson notices a dwarfish and devilish man named Mr. Hyde. Utterson remembers that his closest friend Dr. Henry Jekyll has named this Hyde as his successor in his will. Upon discussion with Dr. Henry Jekyll on the subject, Utterson finds Dr. Jekyll at ease. The story takes a good turn when Mr. Hyde murders flees the city after murdering a famous political celebrity. Police is unable to find him. 

Due to some substantial evidences, Mr. Utterson becomes suspicious that Dr. Jekyll is trying to forge for a murderer. After this incident Dr. Jekyll gets into seclusion and stops seeing anyone one not even his best friends. Upon Utterson’s inquiry via letter, Dr. Jekyll responds him that “he brought on himself a punishment and danger which he cannot name”.

Mr. Utterson receives a letter from deceased friend Dr. Lanyon which reads that it must not be opened till disappearance or death of Dr. Henry Jekyll. Likewise, after Hyde’s suicide, the lawyer receives another letter from Dr. Jekyll asking him to read the Dr. Lanyon’s letter first and then read Jekyll’s confession. These two letters contain the secrets of the whole story and last two chapters of the novel are based upon these letters. It is interesting to read those two chapters and disclose heart of the story before reader. I am not going to add any spoiler in my review and urge reader to read the novel themselves so that they may enjoy it fully.

The story is full of suspense. The reader never knows the reality of two characters until he has read more than two/third of the novelette. The last chapter of the novel is the most interesting one. Chapter is titled as “Full statement of Dr. Henry Jekyll. It discloses the suspense and secret of whole story but here I am not going to write about it. The potential reader will lose interest otherwise in the story.

Sometime the story sounds boring but with a little consistency a reader can enjoy a good read. Strange incidents happen which are told in third person. With every page readers’ curiosity arouses about where Mr. Hyde has disappeared and what has happened to Dr. Jekyll. Why such a lively person has become secluded in his house. Sometimes feelings of horror come over a reader and sometimes psychological thriller pushes reader to read more and more of it.

The Old Man and The Sea

American journalist, short story writer and novelist Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) has written extensively. His genres include journalistic writings, short stories, drama and many novels. His major novels include “The Sun Also Rises”, “For Whom The Bell Tolls”, A Farewell to Arms”. Today, we are going to present a review for our audience on one of his most famous novel titled “The Old Man and The Sea”.

This novel’s protagonist is an old fisherman called Santiago whose sail is patched and gives the impression of permanent defeat. His whole body is wrinkled and leaves an impression of oldness and tiredness. But his eyes are full of brightness, cheerfulness and undefeated. His shoulders are old but still powerful.

Once called ‘El Campeon’ (The Champion) in his youth, now Santiago is considered a ‘Sulao’ (The worst form of being unlucky). Santiago goes eighty-four days without catching a fish. But he is never disappointed or hopeless. He believes eighty fifth day will surely bring luck because in the past it has happened once. Then this story starts from eighty fifth day of Santiago at sea. It definitely brings luck for Santiago. He goes too far in the sea. He catches a big fish even bigger than his own skiff.  He has never caught such a big fish. With his limited resources at hand, it becomes very difficult for him to keep the catch.

Then it starts. One of the truly greatest stories of twentieth century. The old man spends four days alone at the sea with scarce resources and manpower except himself. During his struggle, the old man faces many physical as well as psychological issues. He is alone at the sea and that is difficult for him. His hands are injured by the fishing line. One hand becomes cramped. But even then he does not lose his will and continue his mission. I will not mention the full story here. It might contain some spoilers.

Like George Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm”, this is also a symbolical novel in which the author has tried to express in his best form the power of human strength and will. The old man named Santiago represents human will, hope, confidence and strength. The sea represents a deluge of problems faced by every man in their life time. The fish is achievement of any man after a long span of hardships and struggle. The sharks attacking on Santiago’s catch are those hurdles you face while bringing home your achievement.

Its thesis statement is “A man can be destroyed but cannot be defeated”. Some feminist friends and gender activist might take it as offensive and may raise the question why only “man” is mentioned. So the man does not necessarily refer to gender of man here but it refers to whole human being.

Though it is a shorter novel (Less than one hundred pages), but it always keeps reader captivating and every one will not leave the book after he has started it. It does not allow your attention to wander here and there at all. When Santiago is waiting for the fish to appear, he keeps talking to himself which is a wonderful monologue. Or sometimes he thinks about his past and recently caught fish.

This book is among those inspiring and encouraging novels which revive human soul with enthusiasm and new sort of energy. This novel is strongly recommended for people of every age and profession. I will give it five out of five stars.

“Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”

“It was considered a virtue not to talk unnecessarily at sea and the old man had always considered it so and respected it”.

“No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. But it is unavoidable”.

“I will show him what a man can do and what a man endures.”

Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez never fails to surprise and astonish his readers with moving tales of different aspects of life. His pen is so strengthened that he always keeps readers’ attention in the grip and never lets it loose and wander here and there. His readers must not have forgotten the magical realism in “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and a romantic story spanning to more then fifty three years in “Love in the Time of Cholera”.

Today we are going to review Marquez’s (1981) novella titled “Chronicle of a death foretold”. The story is not about a murder mystery. Nor does it seek to solve murder or find the real culprits. On the contrary, it tells us how the murder takes place and why it happens. Till end, you will not have to wait for the murder to be committed because it is done in the starting of the novel. So when the murder is committed in the first pages, the question arises then what is the novel about? That seems like a valid question. But only new readers dare and care to ask this question. Readers already aware of the writing style and narrative of Marquez will not think about it.
The story is narrated by an unnamed narrator who returned to his home village after twenty seven years to collect the data for this chronicle from various sources. The story is not written in linear way. It would have seemed more like a tale in this way. The story is written beautifully in a non-linear way which sometimes creates suspense and raises some questions in mind of readers. The curiosity leads reader to read more and more of a novel and finish it in one sitting.
Story of the novella is very simple and quite interesting one. On the night of their wedding, Bayardo San Roman, finds out that his bride Angela Vicario is not virgin. Bayardo feels disgusted and humiliated. He returns his bride on the very first night to her parents. Angela’s mother beats her savagely. Angela’s brother wants to know the name of her perpetrator and she names Santiago Nasar. Santiago is 21, an Arab descent, a wealthy man of society and owner of a cattle ranch.
Angela’s brothers set out to kill Santiago in the name of honour at three o’clock in the morning. Surprisingly, they do not keep it a secret but tell everyone who happens to meet them about their plans. They disclose their plans, motives and place of crime so openly that before day break dozens of people in the town know abut it except Santiago. Perhaps, it seems, they wanted to be stopped. Even then, no one, not even a single soul, strives to intervene or stop the crime despite of having full knowledge of culprits’ plans and motives.
Three hours before the murder takes place, almost dozens of people in the town know that Vicario brothers are going to kill Santiago. Yet nobody comes forward to intervene in and stop the catastrophe. Nor does anyone care to warn the victim. Every one thinks since whole town knows about the coming tragedy, how come victim himself is not aware of it. It seemed impossible to all that Santiago has not been informed or warned beforehand.

As the title suggests the death is foretold. Not only once but countless times. Firstly, the death is foretold in the victim Santiago’s dreams few days before his murder. His mother, despite being an accurate interpreter of dreams, does not see it coming. ‘Nor did Santiago recognize the omen in his dreams.

Some unknown person leaves a letter at Santiago’s home early morning. The letter is left unnoticed. A beggar woman informs his maid but the maid thinks ‘its’ a drunkard’s talk’. Despite of being renowned as an accurate interpreter of dreams, Santiago’s mother do not see any bad omen or augury in her son’s dreams which he tells her preceding his death. “…… at the moment of misfortune a thin drizzle like the one Santiago Nasar had seen in his dream grove was falling.”

Well, there are few things in the novella which are confusing for a reader or do not become clear till end. Firstly, the character of Santiago has been established as a open-hearted, plain and wise man for whom an indecent act of taking virginity of a girl does not seem fit. Then why does Angela names him as her perpetrator? If yes, how, when and where it happened. It is not established. Secondly, during her stay at Riohacha, Angela sees her ex-husband Bayardo San Roman comes back to her. Is it a dream? A thought? Or a truth.

Any way this is one the most interesting story I have come across. So I will recommend this book to every novel lover.

 

Here are few quotes from the novel:

“You always have to take side of the dead”.

“…..there was no public misfortune more shameful for a woman to be jilted in bridal gown”.

“There has never been a death more foretold”.

The Cry of the Graves

Kahlil Gibran is the author who has highest degree of eloquence and strong voice. He is considered one of the most influential authors of twentieth century. He has written about numerous human and social issues which make him a universal author. His short story “The Cry of The Graves” is one of his best creation where he has addresses issue of social justice.

The issue seems very trivial one, yet it is one of the most important elements of any society. Gibran asks the question in the story such as: Why does justice system and judges see the criminals only? Why the motive of the crime is not considered serious as the crime itself? With Gibran’s typical style and narrative, these question are addresses with a beautiful artistic way.

At the beginning, three criminals, two male and one female, are brought to the court of justice separately. Males have committed crimes of murder and theft. While the woman is accused of adultery. They all are condemned to death by the honourable judge.

Next day, the narrator visits far area of the city and see those three corpses. To his utter surprise, one by one victims’ mourners come and bury their corpses. Out of curiosity, he does not help asking those people about their relation with the deceased. Once known, the narrator becomes disillusioned with the so-called system of justice.

In this sense, Kahlil Gibran aptly raises the question such as: A murdered is a murderer indeed but what about sanctity of the judge and police system who sentence him to death? A man who is denied of his livelihood by the stronger ones is left with no option other than stealing bread for his children. A girl who is sold to a richer persona is left with no other option but to meet her lover. A person murders Ameer’s soldier who cast a unholy glance at his fiancée will surely fight with the Ameer’s man.

This man-made law does not consider anything else but catching the accused and sentencing him. Even then this law is not equal for all citizens. It prevails for weaker only. Stronger always get escape from it. Gibran has slashed the existing law and justice system by calling it a discriminatory for treating men and women differently, weaker and stronger differently. One of the most vital question raised by Gibran is “Who has allowed human beings in position to judge fellow human beings and determine their crimes and characters?”

Quotations:

"Three creatures whom ignorance made wrongdoers because they were weak; whom Law destroyed because it was strong".

"When a man destroys his fellow, people say that such a one is a murderer. When one set in authority destroys, it is said that thus one is a faithful judge".

After the Dance

“… And you say that a man cannot, of himself, understand what is good and evil; that it is all environment, that the environment swamps the man. But I believe it is all chance. Take my own case . .

.”. thus starts Tolstoy’s wonderful social commentary titled “After The Dance” or “After The Ball” which offers a psychological insight human soul and addresses two questions: Can a man not, on his own, differentiate between good and evil? Is environment the main determinant of making a man what he is?

These both are indeed the most important questions faced by human beings throughout their survival. Many people always blame their atmosphere and surroundings for their deeds as well as misdeeds. However, Count Tolstoy disagrees and he believes that only a moment is enough in human being’s life to change him.

Tolstoy’s name is known globally for his longer novel such as “Anna Karenina”, “War and Peace”, “Kreutzer Sonata”, “Hadji Murat”, “Family Happiness” and many others. Author’s shorter works are also no longer irrelevant. I got the opportunity of reading short works of Tolstoy and, believe me, I enjoyed them a great deal. Today, we are going to review for you Tolstoy’s short story titled “After The Ball”.

Like many of his other works, Tolstoy has also told this story via its protagonist who oppose with other companions on above mentioned statement and emphasises otherwise. Ivan Vasilievich, a decent Russian rich man, tells one of the anecdote from his life which changed him forever. After that he stops blaming atmosphere and surroundings.

One evening of his life, he is dancing in a party with a very beautiful woman. He likes that woman very much. Woman’s father was also there in the party. He was handsome, well-preserved old man and he behaved like a gentle man. Ivan likes that man greatly. But on the very next morning he sees the same person in a uniform and beholds a completely different man.

After this event, Ivan stops believing in people’s exterior faces and nature and he always tries to look beyond what seemingly appears to be. This was not the same person whom Ivan had seen last night at the ball. This one night completely changes Ivan’s life and he does not ever blame surroundings for ever.

Like many other of his stories, here too Tolstoy has shown a psychological aspect of human behaviour. And he has shown the ways how a man’s attitude and behaviour changes completely in different surroundings and power structures. This story is highly recommended for all those who are interested in 19^th century Russian literature and those who seek to study fiction on human behaviour. I will rate it 4 out of 5 stars. 

Heart of Darkness

Well, I had heard and read a great deal about Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”. It was recommended by many friends. I also got impressed after reading reviews. But the novel disappointed me a great deal. If someone asks me to define the book in one word; I would directly say ‘Overrated’. Why it is so, I will explain later. Lets’ first have an over view of the book.

The story is narrated by a seaman named Charlie Marlow who gets appointed as captain of a steamboat destined to Congo River. During his stay at various stations of his company he witnesses two things: firstly, he witnesses exploitation and deplorable condition of native and, secondly, he often hears one name a certain Mr. Kurtz.

While talking about the natives we must keep in mind that they are sons of the soil and should be one of the main concerns of the book. However, for the author, this important issue of exploitation of natives under imperialism merits only two paragraphs. This approach shows an ugly face of European narrative on the colonies and the natives. It shows a racist and one-sided approach of the author. Though, we do not expect much from the Western authors to write for rights of the natives, but, at least natives deserve more than one paragraph.

And secondly Mr. Kurtz is shown as a first-class agent, a great supplier of ivory, in charge of a very important station. Since Kurtz was born of a half French mother and half British father, the author describes him as ‘All Europe contributed in making of Kurtz. Kurtz is presented as a symbol of European colonialism. Yet he holds a godly sway over the natives. Natives love him; they adore him and even don’t want him to leave.

Here the writer again has shown an attitude of supremacy of colonizers over the colonized victims. This colonialism and imperialism has often been justified in the names of progress, development, civilization etc. but all these are ‘words, words and words’. It is far beyond from morality and ethics.  

The novel portrays corruption of individuals at individual level. European agents’ “only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had, so that they could earn percentages. They intrigued and slandered and hated each other”. It missed to portray corruption of colonial powers at highest systematic level. How can one forget exploitation of Asian, African and Latin American countries by colonial powers? Genocide and exploitation of Congo for the mere sake of ivory and diamonds is unforgettable and unforgivable sin.

As far as the novel is concerned, it is boring one in many senses. First of all, author’s language is not fascinating and does not succeed to draw attention of reader for a long time. Reader finally gets exhausted with tasteless diction. Secondly, the first chapter discloses about Mr. Kurtz and reader waits for something big is coming up. Yet, till third chapter nothing big comes up and finally the reader gets frustrated.

I still recommend this novel to the readers of international literature in the developing countries so that they may see how European writers describe their colonialism in a soft way.

Metamorphosis

“Metamorphosis” tells the story of a reluctant albeit hardworking salesman named Gregor Samsa. One morning Gregor finds himself transformed into an ugly vermin. Now place yourself at the position of Gregor and think: How absurd this sounds? How will your family react to this transformation of yours?” How will you react to reaction of your family? How will you show your intentions of friendliness to your family since they are unable to understand you? Will your family and society be ready to take your burden? Financially as well as socially.

All these questions have been addressed by Franz Kafka, a celebrated Czech author who has influenced almost all the writers of twentieth century. Gregor’s family, at first, becomes worried about him on his transformation. They provide him food and do not allow him to get out of his room. However, with the passage of time, family members become indifferent to him mainly because they have to feed him now. Gregor starts to have feelings about identity crisis and being burden upon the people whom he has been feeding since years. He feels isolation and loneliness. 

The rise of capitalism has given birth to the alienation where even a creator does not possess any sensitivity toward his own creation but it becomes a part of market. Such alienation has also insensitivity in blood relations where relations are treated in terms of marketing instead of feelings. Very alienation is greatly felt by Gregor once he is unable to earn for his family. On the other hand, his family becomes ashamed of him.   

The story is a beautifully social commentary on family dynamics. Authority is one of the major themes always addressed very beautifully by Kafka. He himself fell victim to his father’s authoritarian nature which is clearly depicted in his letters to his father. In “Metamorphosis”, he has shown authority of Gregor’s father. Though protagonist’s father loses enough in a business and is a liability on Gregor, yet, as head of the family, he exercises his authority over every family member and especially over Gregor. Greta is Gregor’s loving sister for whom Gregor used to have a great concern, care and affection. She also becomes annoyed at Gregor’s incomprehensible transformation and finally calls him a ‘shame for family’.

Despite of strong disliking his job, Gregor keeps doing it because of his family’s debt. He devotes his whole life for getting rid of that debt. Gregor’s good-for-nothing father ventilates his anger at him after Gregor’s transformation and often reacts as if now Gregor has become a liability over him. Actually here the author presents Gregor as a symbol and wishes to record the emotions of a person who out of a sudden is trapped in a dilemma and unable to take responsibility of life. 

Metamorphosis is a psychological thriller exploring the subthemes suffering, identity, belonging, rejection, guilt, shame, responsibility and burden. A very beautiful novella and treated in equally beautifully by writer, "Metamorphosis" is recommended strongly to all lovers of literature. 

 Title: The Metamorphosis

Author: Franz Kafka

Translator: Susan BerNofsky

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, US

ISBN: 978-0-393-34709-8

The Old Woman and Her Cat

This short story is about homelessness, loneliness, isolation, old age, of children abandoning their parents and parents, in turn, making pets their children instead. This is first time I read something from Lessing and believe me it made my eyes tearful and my heart weep. I was unaware of Lessing's power of putting feelings into words. But now she has become one of my favourite authors.

Housing is a universal issue in developing as well as developed nations. In developing nations, people keep their parents with them as a guide and as a blessing. While developed nations have quit this idea and they feel ashamed of their parents and keep them at old houses provided by the Councils concerned. Over there, the older people have nothing else to do but gossiping, keeping and loving pets. The love and blessings which are destined for their children are achieved by pets.

This is story of an old woman called Hetty, a lively soul with a gipsy blood, a defiant woman. She is abandoned by her children because they get embarrassed by her strange 'habits'. Her children are always fearful of her gipsy might express its worst. Hetty dies at the age of seventy. The story narrates last years of her life living in loneliness with her cat whom she calls Tibby. The story is just like an psychological insight into human-human and human-animal relationship. 

After her husband’s death, she is moved by the Council to a smaller flat. Thus she has to leave the area where she has been living for thirty years. Second time, she moves secretly to another place due to not being able to pay the rent. Third time, she and other tenants are made to leave that area and move to a Home run by authorities. Hetty comes to know that pets are not allowed in the Home. So what she should do now? She hides herself somewhere and decides to keep living in the same building until it is demolished. One night when she sees a builder’s truck, she moves herself to a ruin in nearby area where her destiny is written.

This is not story of Hetty only but hundreds of thousands of such people who are victims of homelessness, loneliness, empathy at old age. People who are not taken care of by their children. And children who have no compassion for their parents. It is a heart-rending story of a world based on materialism. And addresses the question how that materialistic world treats it’s older people and why senior citizens discover themselves through pets instead their loved ones. 

Following is my favourite quotation from the story:

“There are men in London who, between the hours of two and five in the morning, when the real citizens are asleep, who should not be disturbed by such unpleasantness as the corpses of the poor, make the rounds of all the empty, rotting houses they know about, to collect the dead, and to warn the living that they ought not to be there at all, inviting them to one of the official Homes or lodgings for the homeless”.

Title: The Old Woman and Her Cat

Author: Doris Lessing

Publisher: FOURTH STATE, LONDON

ISBN: 9780007525768

The Dream of A Ridiculous Man

The story is a psychological insight into human nature narrated by an unnamed/unknown narrator who is a nihilist. (Nihilism is a philosophical idea which upholds that nothing in this world does matter. Nor any thing related with the world. Be it relations, feelings, ideologies etc.). The narrator claims to have known the truth one year ago with a chance encounter with a young girl. Being a nihilist, he is supposed to feel indifference towards the pleading girl, he tries too but he can not. 
On that dismal evening, he had intended to commit suicide by shooting himself. That night the narrator embarks upon an inner journey via a dream which makes him conscious and beholds the truth.
On that inner journey he beholds a new world which is unstained by sin such as men's world before the original sin. After that the narrator tells us about that new earth and its residents. The tale is quite fascinating and interesting.
First written in 1877, only four years before his death, Dostoevsky seems to have put maximum experience of his life in this philosophical fiction. As usual the author has beautifully stated the idea of nihilism and their sub-ideas later on to oppose them at the full. Dostoevsky is an artist of great value. His miserable life taught him many lessons and he expressed all those lessons in his writings in different ways. In this story he has shown and opposed the idea of nihilism by portraying an analogy of this world and another world and through this analogy he has shown how absurd are the ideas indifference based on nihilism. The story touches both ideas of absurdism and existentialism as well. It is about redemption, personal growth, spiritual awakening written in symbolical way. 

In this story Dostoevsky has once again emphasised on man's meaning for life, man's inner beauty of goodness and virtue beautifully. And he asserts humanity in man's character no matter what may hinder him. And indeed this is beauty of humankind. It is a very nice allegory and social commentary. 
Here are few quotations from the short story:

1. “Oh, how hard it is to be the only man to know the truth!”

1. “The consciousness of life is higher than life. The knowledge of happiness is higher than happiness”- that is what we have to fight against.

Dostoevsky, you are immortal.