Tuesday, November 19, 2013

All in the Family

Family is an integral part of life that holds many different forms. It takes many forms-- different religions, countries, and races all have unique family models that can vary greatly or not at all. However, one thing is inevitable when dealing with families: conflict. Emotions run high when people are inextricably linked together, and even those who love and adore each other can clash when the situation goes awry. Thus, my big question is: 

How does familial conflict reveal a protagonist's character?

Literature is so rich with complex characters that I wanted to find a way to isolate some of their most obvious traits. Part of my inspiration was the saying that advises, "If you go to lunch with someone, observe how they treat the waiter." Our attitudes towards our family reveal our deepest thoughts, feelings, inclinations, and, most importantly, our true selves. Even when our family acts out of love, we sometimes react in harsh ways that indicate an inner issue or doubt; conversely, when family members are spiteful or malicious, the character's feelings may remain affectionate, therefore proving their loyalty. Essentially, man's responses to the actions of those he calls kin denote his own psyche, and by analyzing this in multiple pieces of literature, we can deepen our understanding of character motives and development.

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