Author: John Serbalik

It may seem difficult at time to decipher just exactly what an author’s message may be. There’s a sea of themes floating around, but how do they all connect? Perhaps the easiest way is not to take highly ornate notes on a single topic, but instead, attempt to make connections with other books. Even if that book seems like the polar opposite of another, there are messages which may tie together quite nicely. The first novel that we read, Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, is drastically different from any novel following it, like Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Despite the obvious differences between these two works, there still exists similar messages from different authors. Thoreau talks about a lot of the problems he would like to fix by isolating himself from society at Walden Pond. Both narrators in Carroll and Thoreau’s works that we’ve examined seem to take on the perspective of an observer to society. Alice comes into a world that is much different than the one she is used to, being quick to judge what she sees. She quickly learns, however, that there is no true definition to what’s normal. Thoreau also removes himself from the society he’s always been a member of so he can present an outside perspective. Some may say that he isn’t truly isolated from society, for he did have visitors and it seems difficult to be completely isolated. Even if I were to lock myself away in my bedroom for a few weeks, yes I would still be in my home (society) but I would not be directly in contact with society so that I could still sit with my thoughts. Later on in the novel, Thoreau explains how his experiences of living in solitude may be in opposition to what “they say.” He recognizes that living in solitude near a pond would cause others to question his well-being, but he realizes by living alone he can view the peculiarities of human nature. In going through with his plan to live as a man of nature, he immediately can make observations that he would not have able to within society. In Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol,” the protagonist is forced to leave his current “life” and observe his surroundings through various moments in his life.  The scene where he sees himself in his “prime” is harshly contrasted to the potential fate of Scrooge. The fear that he feels is similar to the way Mrs. Dalloway often felt when she had to look back on her early years. Each of the books that we’ve read has its unique plot, but the authors all seem to be preaching a similar idea. Thoreau advises his readers to take action for their lives, warning against fate unfolding your life for you. It’s inspiring the reader to believe that there is nothing more powerful than the ability to influence your surroundings. We are given a blank journal, and it is up to us whether or not we fill this book with moral and significant chapters of our lives. The identity of the author changes with how their message is reflected in their works. They all deal with different “They says” but have their own “I say.” They give us what they believe, and we can either take it or leave. 

 

Harlem Renaissance poet, Claude McKay, presents the poem The White House on the identity struggles that oppressed Americans often face. An important issue that McKay tries to solve in this poem is how a disheartened person should feel about being an outcast. The lens of this poem examines how a member of American society feels, when they are excluded from the benefits that are offered to only some. Not only does it raise the question of what it means to be an American, but how an individual should deal with the bitterness of being excluded. Like an adolescent student feeling excluded in the school cafeteria, or being rejected membership in an exclusive club; we all have felt what it’s like to feel left out. In this case, however, the author takes it from the perspective of physically being the country of America, yet still feeling as an outcast. This is more similar to the individual who has gained membership into a club or sports team, yet is not fully accepted into the social aspect of it. Often times, this can be worse for us since we constantly work to be accepted by our peers, and having this dynamic can seriously damage our self-esteem.

Despite the unfortunate situation of many Americans not feeling that they belong to the nation’s identity, due to how they are treated, McKay offers an optimistic approach to dealing with this as an individual. He states that when society shuts its metaphorical door of opportunity and acceptance to certain people, they are compelled to be “sharp as steel with discontent.” He recognizes that nobody wants to be in this situation, yet if they are, then they have the right to be upset while keeping a level of composure in expressing their sentiments. By telling the reader, specifically one who relates to the conflicts presented, the author is creating an identity for certain Americans. It is an identity in which he gives instructions for how to attain that specific identity. Like a coach who instills values of teamwork within the athletes, McKay is attempting to give a new identity to individuals who are disheartened with being an outcast. Even if that individual experiences the “potent poison” of discrimination, the author hope to give such people an identity that he aligns with.

 

When we look at how identity can be expressed, it is easy to overlook how identity can easily be erased from others. When one group of people attempts to disenfranchise the identity of another, the effects can be disastrous. McKay realizes what it is like to be an immigrant in America, being able to establish here but not accepted by people around you. The frustrations and anger that this injustice brings to many is more than people can comprehend, but McKay offers advice to mitigate these feelings. He acknowledges that its okay to feel this way, but that one’s anger shouldn’t be a roadblock in finding their true identity. If we feel oppressed, we are not going to be comfortable expressing ourselves. The best solution for this, according to McKay, is to stay strong but remain careful not fight the fire of hate with more negativity. By keeping a peaceful approach, like Mahatma Ghandi or Martin Luther King Jr., the fire will eventually burn out. That is the identity that he hopes we will embrace for a better future.

In today’s world, it seems that we are constantly having news shoved down our throats, whether keeping up with the lives of celebrities or attempting to stay aware of the breaking news every minute of our day. As technology progress, receiving our news is becoming much easier, and ultimately integrating with our daily activities. Surprisingly, Henry David Thoreau shared a similar sentiment with current individuals back in his days at Walden Pond. There were many factors that gave Thoreau motivation to exclude himself from his community, a significant one being the much slower pace of life that Walden Pond offered him. Thoreau was no doubt a firm believer in individual thought, urging his readers to question traditional viewpoints and the current status quo. Continue reading “From the Outside, Looking In”