Dark Night of the Soul
Pat Key
Eric Rupert
WRI121
October 11, 2011
Summary Dark Night of the Soul Dark Night of the Soul written by Richard E. Miller is a compilation of essays written about people that express themselves through writings of their own or by others. In Miller’s first essay we get a glimpse of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold’s lives and how fantasy becomes reality when Harris and Klebold open fire on Columbine High School murdering many innocent people. Harris writes in his diary that no one is to blame for what they did. Is it possible that thru violent video games and books available they acted out this fantasy of theirs? Yes it is possible. Young people get so involved with violence in video games, television shows and writings that they can become disconnected from society and feel there is no way out but to resort to violence. The Prince of Darkness compares the lives of two writers, one successful and the other not. We have Richard Tull who is unsuccessful in his literary career no matter how hard he tries and Gwyn Barry who Miller refers to as “vapid and soulless” in his writings but becomes a literary success. Tull sets out to destroy his rivals literary fame but is unsuccessful no matter how hard he tries. In Miller’s “Following the Word” he writes about Chris McCandless and his journey into the wilderness subsequently leading to his death. Chris McCandless lived and breathed by what he read. McCandless became disenchanted with his life and made the decision to leave it all behind. He traveled to Mexico, California and ultimately landed up in Alaska meeting people along the way who he proudly talked with about the books he so believed in. In the end, McCandless dies after eating seeds that he did not know were poisonous. Joining the Liars’ Club is written by Mary Karr who through her writing is attempting to come to terms with her life growing up. She recalls bits and pieces of her childhood, some real and others not. Through her memoirs she is able to
Eric Rupert
WRI121
October 11, 2011
Summary Dark Night of the Soul Dark Night of the Soul written by Richard E. Miller is a compilation of essays written about people that express themselves through writings of their own or by others. In Miller’s first essay we get a glimpse of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold’s lives and how fantasy becomes reality when Harris and Klebold open fire on Columbine High School murdering many innocent people. Harris writes in his diary that no one is to blame for what they did. Is it possible that thru violent video games and books available they acted out this fantasy of theirs? Yes it is possible. Young people get so involved with violence in video games, television shows and writings that they can become disconnected from society and feel there is no way out but to resort to violence. The Prince of Darkness compares the lives of two writers, one successful and the other not. We have Richard Tull who is unsuccessful in his literary career no matter how hard he tries and Gwyn Barry who Miller refers to as “vapid and soulless” in his writings but becomes a literary success. Tull sets out to destroy his rivals literary fame but is unsuccessful no matter how hard he tries. In Miller’s “Following the Word” he writes about Chris McCandless and his journey into the wilderness subsequently leading to his death. Chris McCandless lived and breathed by what he read. McCandless became disenchanted with his life and made the decision to leave it all behind. He traveled to Mexico, California and ultimately landed up in Alaska meeting people along the way who he proudly talked with about the books he so believed in. In the end, McCandless dies after eating seeds that he did not know were poisonous. Joining the Liars’ Club is written by Mary Karr who through her writing is attempting to come to terms with her life growing up. She recalls bits and pieces of her childhood, some real and others not. Through her memoirs she is able to