The theme of hope in the writings of Hemingway, Conrad

This essay will comp atomic number 18 the subject field of promise in the writings of Heming commission, Conrad, and Kafka in the novels, The Sun in any case Rises, H eart of Darkness and The Trial. The char meeters in the novels will be presented as hoping once morest the odds of write out and either fulfilling their intrust or running away from them, thus either gaining consent or the leave out of hold. The disparate avenues of hope will too be examined in that hope whitethorn turn into acts of despondency from a different burden of view, and the narrator of some of the novels will be given consideration in presenting facts to the proof commentator in their avouch point of view.Finally, this essay will debate the nature of hope, and how the characters byout the novels may either accept a desperate state and be transformed from it, or accept hope as a gift despite the fact that reality and circumstances may deny them their desires. The theme of distributively nove l will ultimately assent with transformations or realizations finished hope.In Hemingways The Sun Also Rises the narrator Jake travels finished a myriad of landscapes from Paris, to Madrid and even San Sebastian. It is d star these landscapes that the reader may witness the rising hope that Jake has, or the desperation, and even at times, of the tranquility he has or longs for in such(prenominal) scopery. The cast of characters put forwards a spectrum of different avenues of hope with Jake, his hope is to be with Brett, despite the consequences and the treatment he receives from her, uttering in the novels finale line, Yes, isnt it pretty to think so ulterior Brett states that she and Jake would micturate had a wonderful time in concert.In this statement Jake reveals to Brett, and to the consultation that although he and Brett do non hu composition beingage to come unneurotic as a couple, that in Jakes view of events they are joined together through consequences and circumstances. This is not a fulfillment by the measure of usual novels involving descents just for Hemingway, the stunted acceptance of band in the character Jake allows for conceit and realism to coexist. This means that hope cannot come to fruition save that to hushed think, and in Jakes mind to know, that to have been with Brett would have been his commodiousest bet on expresses not his lament that it never happened but that it could have happened and it would have been wonderful. This un-fulfillment is Jakes hope realized.With the character Cohn however, hope is a desperate emotion. His hope is overpowering it lies with being madly in love, or infatuation with Brett and the unrequited love of Brett drives Cohn into a furious temper for any man who is with her, or desires her. Cohn repeat follows Brett around, which conjures up images of puppy love, and blind obedience, and when Bretts fianc Mike tells Cohn again and again to lay off, Cohn refuses and tensions rise du ring the fiesta in Madrid.Cohn ignores rationality and knocks out Jake, Mike, and Bretts new lover, the bullfighter Romero. Recognizing his actions, Cohn insists on having Jake forgive him, which Jake does with reluctance and even motives Romero to reel his hand, which Romero refuses. Here, indeed is Cohns ultimate slight that hope, at to the lowest degree the benevolent that is desperate is unforgiving.Brett rebukes her fianc Mike for her new lover Romero. An interesting scene in the take hold is when Brett receives Romeros gift of a bulls ear he had slain, a bull which had earlier slaughtered an other(a) man. This ear signifies that Brett had to flash back off a piece of herself in order to abide the manner flooring she does, traveling and falling in love over and over and ever-changing her mind and by-line a different lover around until herb of grace or a new love shows up. This ear resembles Bretts hope her hope of love in constant fury.She must not go forth too much of herself with one man leastwise she become whole attached and dependent, thus, the vivisected ear is Bretts pick upt, torn off from its owner, and kept in a distant spot. Brett does not hope with commitment, but with transitory longing for new things, places, and men. Although Jake tells these rowing to Cohn well-nigh traveling to South America this following quote may be applicable to each character in the novel and the theme of hope, You cant get away from yourself by moving from one place to another. (Hemingway 11).Hemingways characters in the novel suggest constant movement in order to escape something to escape stableness in lay and environment, it is as though the characters feel that if they move becoming their desires and regrets wont be able to catch up. This is trustworthy especially for Brett and is true for Jake as well. For Cohn, it is his outdated lifestyle which is anachronistic in the lifestyle of the age in which he is living that he is hard to escape but for Brett and perhaps Jake as well, it is regret that they do want to overcome them, I thought I had paid for everything. Not akin the woman pays and pays and pays.No idea of retribution or punishment. Just ex tilt of values. You gave something up and got something else. Or you worked for something. You paid some way for everything that was any good. (Hemingway 148). In terminal scene in the car when the two are alone together and Jake says its pretty to think so, this is the solo acknowledgement of fairness the reader receives from Jake concerning his desire for Brett. Beyond the tomfoolery, bullfighting and fishing, when he is quite within himself, the mantra which pulses through him is regret. He may hope beyond it, but it is all-consuming as it would have been for Brett if she had not hidden her heart away from such devices as quality too much as Jake does, as it best exemplified with Jake stating, Couldnt we live together, Brett? Couldnt we just live together? Brett I dont think so. Id just tromper you with everybody.In Jakes utmost line to Brett, hope is dashed and cynicism is revealed. Jake has no illusions as to how his and Bretts relationship would have been since Brett has no heart to give, or it is kept at such a distance, even Jakes love could not call it into being. This is the want of hope of them, realism, cynicism, and love dashed.In Kafkas novel The Trial, the main character Joseph K, or simply K lives through a series of unfortunate events of which the number 1 he is accused of some ambiguous crime on his thirtieth birthday. One year later he is killed in the name of the jurisprudence and K, for his part does not object to the killing. The absurd as a theme in this event is very overtly portrayed. The ambiguous nature of the actions of the other characters in the novel prove to be ridiculous and a certain(prenominal) parody of real life trial situations.The trial itself is a dupery because everyone in the courtroom including K already know the outcome they are merely going through the actions because it is something of a tradition to do so. Thus, the characters are focused, not on the truth of the matter, did K commit a crime, but merely on the trial itself and their part in the faade.Ks looming fate is indistinguishable during the trial but when he is killed in the name of the rightfulness at the end of the novel he gives no protest. The absurd as a theme is best translated in this action by Kafkas character K. K does not protect his own interest but does blindly what he is told to do because it is the law. K does not question the captive of the actions, him being killed or at times even during the trial. During the novel, K is increasingly not in control of his own fate. This is shown when he kisses his neighbor after his landlady told him indirectly that he was perhaps having an affair with her. It seems that the absurd grows into its own identity in Kafkas The Trial through the way in which K is a definite pawn, adhering to other peoples wishes instead of examining his own wants.The absurd takes further shape in Kafkas novel through the inability of the other defendants awaiting news of their fate when K is given a tour of the offices by Law-Court sequent. Almost everyone in the book is ignorant well-nigh their surroundings, their own actions, their fate. Kafka deals well with disguising characters or scenes (when K goes into the Law-Court Attendants office he glances at law books that are in fact pornography) and leading the reader to believe one thing beforehand he switches and tells the reader the truth behind the scene.Kafka was a master at leading the audience down one course of instruction precisely to change course right when the reader has a glimmer of understanding about the plot or the characters intentions. To emphasize this point Ks last words before he dies are comparable a dog which describe how he dies. In essence these words state that K was expecting t o die, perhaps wanted it after the previous take year of his life during the trial and the ridiculous events in his life era the trial was persisting. His words describe his death, but in equal manner his life. He lived obediently, and as the clich goes, he licked the masters hand that beat him.In Joseph Conrads union of Darkness, the audience is presented with the character Marlow whose hope overwhelms his morality in the wait for Mr. Kurtz. Marlow appears to be a Buddha type image (at least the early Buddha, Siddhartha) in that he is searching for hope through Mr. Kurtz. Thus, Marlow is a character whose hope is tied up with a sense of adventure and courage assorted with either ignorance or just unawareness. Marlow seems to have created an acceptance of people and in return expects them to show the same regard of acceptance in silence.The community seems to think Marlows stories are elusive to a point because, to hear about one of Marlows inconclusive experiences. (pg 10). The company appears to discourage his point telling because of his disregard to the audiences wants. At the beginning of his journey into Africa, Marlow appears to be the eccentric sailor. An insightful sailor with thought patterns which reveal his character, Watching a bank as it slips by the ship is like thin nance about an secret (pg 19). Marlow presents himself to be a truth teller. Being always appalled by a lie. Marlow becomes obsessed with the idea of Mr. Kurtz. Only the want of a parley with him led Marlow on hi journey.Marlow associated himself with Kurtz by becoming an outcaste in the eyes of the managers and the dark of his mind label comes out, but it was something to have at least a choice of nightmares. (pg 105). Then coming to base with reality when coming upon Kurtzs think, Marlow says that, His end was in every way worthy of his life (pg 130).Following into Mr. Kurtzs character, it is discovered that he is not fully developed, especially in regards to hope. He is described as a misfit showing everybody up. The ivory king so to speak. An elusive devil with a charmed life. Referred to as that man. A genius of a man not forgotten only because of outrageous speeches and stunts, not for any significant contribution to humanity, nor for his character ripening or change towards hope. Kurtz is a hard man to please and only a friend when he was in the whim of being a friends.Perhaps the darkness drove Kurtz crazy and thus the audience is forces to recognize how his lose of hope twisted his character development, it had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with his great solitude-(whisper) echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core (pg 98). Kurtz then was the abyss through which hope was lost. He sucked away ideas, morality, self-preservation of an idea and the act of being a taking of hope filled Kurtz because he had no other thoughts of his own. Solitude does strange things to a man as is witnessed by Kurtzs character.Kurtz left behind him a last disciple. A light but well formed character in the way of his obsession with Mr. Kurtz. In the concept of hope, and the loss or want of hope, Kurtz epitomizes this concept through is treatment of his lady. She was in constant mourning and tears. However, despite his treatment of her, she adore him. Her life was with him.Conrads treatment of the novel, in his setting of the scene also suggests the lack of hope which prevails as a theme in warmth of Darkness. Conrad creates the setting of the sea in the beginning of the book as a painting with souls included lost souls. He sets the mood by the setting by calming words and eloquent simplicity. After this imagery the reader is taken into the journey of Marlow.The city is the first measurement in the path of discovering lack of hope in Conrads work. The city is the first step in this and right away the reader is filled with the co mplexity and mental confusion of Marlows story as the setting of the companys offices harbors a feeling of conspiracy. A setting of foreboding, or darkness with two relentless barbed guardians is presented in the text, which further allude to the lack of hope in the novel.In the first introduction of the idea of Mr. Kurtz, the person taking praises him but eh scene leads the reader to conclude that the man brings a feeling of wickedness, and a lack of morality. Perhaps Mr. Kurtz is the sea personified. In fact the feeling of hope, or lack of hope can very simply be seen in the treatment of the females in the novel. Just as in the character of Jake in Hemingways The Sun Also Rises Mr. Kurtzs character finds a reflection of himself in his female counterpart and how he treats that counterpart.There are only three close to minor female characters in Heart of Darkness Marlows aunt, Kurtzs mistress, and Kurtzs Intended. Marlow mentions these female characters in order to give the liter al sentiment of histale more substance.Towards the beginning of Marlows story he tells how he, Charlie Marlow, set the women to workto get a job.He tells this in the context that he desperately wanted to travel inthe trade industry that he did what the unthinkable (in those times). He asked a woman for financial assistance The woman, his aunt, also surpassed the tralatitious role of women in those times by telling Marlow that she would be delighted to help him and to ask her for help whenever he needed it. This happening did not have much to do with the symbolic theme of the story it simply served to tell the reader how Marlow managed to be able to travel to the congou (with a little help). On another note, Conrad intended to illustrate Marlows opinion of womens inferior role in society, which embodied traditional 19th century society.The two remaining female characters were acknowledged later in the story. When Marlow reaches the Inner Station, he jumps ahead and tells a little about The Intended, Kurtzs fiance (to say I do when he returned). The Intended woman does not appear until the very end of the story, in which Marlow visits her and lies to her about Kurtzs dying words. The last female character, Kurtzs African mistress, was presented darling the end of the novel. Her first appearance took place in the scene with Marlow talking to the Russian.She appears later when Marlow and Kurtz depart on the steamboat. After Marlow blows the whistle, she stretches her arms out towards the steamer, and that was the last time she appears. The limited depiction of female characters in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness and the way in which the three female characters are referred to by Marlow reflect Marlows view of women as inferior. Marlows opinion of women manifests the normal 19th century views of women.Perhaps his choice to lie to the Intended was because of a alike(p) femaleinfluence on his lifehis Aunt. In a way Marlow compares the Intended to his Aunt inwh ich both women are weaker than him. For a man in the early 19th century, he believesthat they are delicateand something that inescapably to be tenderly cared for. He says, It isqueer how out of touch with the truth women are.They live in a world of their own, andthere had never been anything like it, and can never be. It is too beautiful completely, andif they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset. This he says beforeever meeting Kurtz or hearing of the Intended. Upon lying to her (the Intended) he says,But I couldnt. I could not tell her. It would have been too darktoo dark altogetherMarlow protected her,he allowed her to remain innocent of Kurtz and his actions and inso doing enabled her sun to remain high rather than setting and forever engulfing her indarkness.Through the characters of each of these three novels different aspects of hope and different ways in which hope is revealed, lost, gained, or ignored the truth is that each character in one way had the chance to hope. Marlows hope and Kurtzs hope was desperation out of the thing they could not own, a womans love. Ks hope and Jakes hope both began with cynicism, and Ks hope does not change at the end of Kafkas novel, with the diction pertaining to like a dog while Jake also remains in the state of cynicism knowing that Brett could never love anyone because she was prepared to hope so high.Each novel had a point of revelation for the characters in which they must rag a choice to continue to hope, to change, or to ignore hope and mishandle in the evolution of their own character. Thus, when a character lost hope, they were blame just as Marlow and Kurtz lost hope, or lost the illusion of their life and realized they never had hope for themselves, and just as Jake realizes that perhaps he never had hope for himself and Brett after all.WORK CITEDConrad, J. Heart of Darkness. Bentley Pub, New York. 2002.Hemingway, E. The Sun Also Rises. Scribner, New York, 1996.Kafka, Franz . The Trial. Trans. Willa & Edwin Muir. Shocken. New York. 1995.