Absalom Absalom and Love Essay

Many of the novels we have analyze this semester contain prevailing themes that provide insight into Ameri endure society. genius of these themes that we have closely examined end-to-end the semester is a persons responsibility to sack out. Love is undoubtedly a powerful forcefulness in adepts intent. As we have seen through our readings, however, this force is often obstructed by the need to adjust to social standards. Whether or non a couple is ALLOWED to be in love expresss a mass intimately what is socially acceptable for that secernateicular area and time period.Although love is technically a right given to all, American Literature shows how it is often denied by social standards and therefore ceases to exist. William Faulkners Absalom, Absalom tells Rosa Coldfields version of how Thomas Sutpen was the demise of her and her family. As the story progresses, it becomes known that Thomass son, Henry, kills Charles Bon to prevent him from marrying his sister, Judith.One would infer that Henrys reason for his desperate need to prevent their union was because Charles was their half-brother, and therefore their marriage would be considered incest. We come to find out, however, that this is not exactly the case. In Chapter 8, in response to whether or not Judith will marry Bon she says Yes. I have decided. Brother or not, I have decided. I will. I will (283). As the chapter progresses, however, Quentin and Shreve accept that its the miscegenation, not the incest, which (they) cant bear (285).In this case, 2 socially unaccepted taboos prevent Judith from pursuing her relationship with Bon. The fact that it is worse in the eyeball of her family that Judith may be marrying a man with black blood than a man who is her relative, however, says a lot about how strong racial prejudices were in the south during the 1800s.Judiths right to love Bon is forcefully obstructed by social norms, and is a perfect example of Southern culture during that time period . Another instance of love universe obstructed by social standards is seen in F.Scott Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby, a resident of westerly Egg and a symbol of new wealth, falls in love with Daisy, a resident of atomic number 99 Egg and a symbol of established wealth.Daisy and her husband, Tom, are described to have lived in a rather distinguished secret society (17) to which members of old money had often tried and failed to become a part of. Throughout the novel, it is clear that Daisy had married Tom for his person and his position (151) rather than for love.Yet when Daisy finally accepts that she had never loved Tom and was currently in love with Gatsby, the class divides remain too prevalent for her to mesh a relationship with Gatsby. Tom quotes Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions, and next theyll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white (130). From this quote and the happenings throughout the n ovel, the force obstructing the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy is the social condemnation of new money marrying old money.The Great Gatsby shows how in our society, is often difficult for people of different economic backgrounds to pursue a relationship. T. S. Eliots The Love melodic line of J. Alfred Prufrock is an examination of a typical mans psychological struggle to express himself emotionally and set to social standards. Throughout the poem, the narrator shows insecurity in almost everything he does, fearing that his moves will be frowned upon.He says There will be time, there will be time to prepare a organisation to meet the faces that you meet and often asks Do I dare? and thinks about what they will say. His insecurity prevails in an encounter with what seems to be a char he loves. He seems afraid that the woman will track him because of his balding hair and thin composure, and thinks about what he should say in order to impress the woman And how should I then presume? How should I begin? In the end the narrator concludes that It is impossible to say just what I mean, and he drifts into a fairytale by the sea until human voice combust us, and we drown. Eliots poem is an example of a mans love for a woman being obstructed by his own need to conform to what is socially acceptable of a man. He refuses to cave in up and share with the woman his feelings in fear that he will be mocked and denied. The Love call option of Alfred Prufrock shows the struggles of maintaining masculinity, and the fear a man has of loosing his composure. While the last stories had similar circumstances and outcomes, love doesnt forever have to be between a man and a woman, and social norms arent always prospering at obstructing loves powerful force.In Mark Twains huckabackleberry Finn, the love shared between Huck and Jim leads to a powerful revelation in Hucks life and a groundbreaking relationship considering the Souths intrusive social standards. When Huc k begins his journey with Jim, he is get the best by an instilled guilt for assisting in the runaway of Miss Watsons slave. Huck says It would get all around, Huck Finn helped a nigger get to his freedom and if I was to ever see anybody from that town again, Id be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame (226).As their adventure progresses, however, Huck begins to fetch how much he enjoys Jims company, slave or not But somehow I couldnt seem to strike no places to harden me against him, just the other kind (227). Huck struggles internally with this realization, merely cannot get over the feeling in his heart telling him to keep Jim around. Finally, Huck decides that he would not turn in Jim, and that he would go to Hell if that were what it meant.In this instance, Huck valiantly goes against what is socially acceptable, and the force of love prevails. Huck and Jim remain friends even though it is extremely frowned upon. Although love is a freedom, one can see how easily and often this freedom is taken away due to what is acceptable in the eyes of others. The circumstances involved in the obstruction of love shows a lot about the society in which these characters live, and the values held by the people who lived there.