Recognizing Contrariety
The
challenges people face during interactions include overcoming first impressions
and then up keeping relationships. Frankenstein in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Titus in
the play “Titus Andronicus” by William Shakespeare, as well as the speakers is
the poems “Theology” by Paul Laurence Dunbar and “Tableau” by Countee Cullen
deal with the struggles that result from impressions and situations that are
foreign to their own. With their current mindset they have difficulty adapting
and are forced to make realizations and change their thinking accordingly.
The
harmony of races in the poem “Tableau” by Countee Cullen is the instigating
factor for tension between whites and blacks. A white boy and a black boy
decide to be friends but the deeper meaning lies in the deep-rooted hatred by
their races. In the second stanza “from lowered blinds the dark folk stare” and
the white people speak to each other that “these two should dare In unison to
walk.” The two boys know they are walking a dangerous path in the middle ground
between the races. They know they are being judged but continue with love and
this fosters a friendship. In the poem “Theology” by Paul Laurence, the speaker
is also at a middle ground finding himself caught in a debate as to if there is
a heaven and a hell. He is pulled by his feelings and beliefs that there is a
heaven. He has a hope because he believes himself to be on the course to that
higher place. This is made certain as he explains that hell is the place designed
for his neighbors. As a black person, his neighbors that are destined for hell
could be whites. As a peaceful man of god, he may be inclined to view the hate
dealt by another race as sinful and thus believes that hate will lead to
damnation.
Power
causes one to become engrossed in oneself and miss out on the opportunities to
view others in a light that they should be seen. In Frankenstein the narrator, Frankenstein is obsessed with acquiring
knowledge and eventually the idea that he can bring the dead to life takes over
his thoughts, so much so that he no longer writes home to the people he loves.
Unfortunately, Frankenstein receives a shock when he adds the spark of life to
his creation. He is overwhelmed by the hideous frame of a man and fails to even
comprehend his accomplishments or test the creation for knowledge or abilities.
He only believes in misfortune and cannot see past the surface of his creation.
Yet this is a common theme. One word that occurs in the novel often is
countenance, meaning expression or behavior. Frankenstein assumes much about
his fellow characters from their countenances, including his professors and
even his family. This theme is also present in the play “Titus Andronicus”. The
characters are masks of their own countenances. In the beginning, the killing
of Bassianus, lover of Lavinia, sets in motion the false pretenses and
deception of the play. Soon lies are spun and the Andronici family cannot trust
anyone but themselves. This mistrust through acts of dishonor is common until
Tamora, queen of the Goths and Empress, decides to act as Revenge and visit
Titus with her sons portrayed as Murder and Rape, thinking that Titus was mad.
Instead, Titus flips the tables on the queen’s scheme and reverses the action
against Tamora. The ability to see through the lies and determine truth is what
makes Titus the hero of the story.
In
all, there are ways to gain and maintain trust. One is to not judge based on
first impressions. Judgments are only made successfully when one such as Titus
or the speaker in “Theology” has gained substantial knowledge of the studied
person. In the case of the observers in “Tableau” and Frankenstein, they are
biased based on their conformity to the rules of society around them. Anything
that goes against these principles was foreign and therefore they distinguished
them as something from which to steer away.
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