Interpretive Essay on The Dark Night of the Soul
Bailey Price
Professor Edward Maietta
English 1101
April 17, 2014
Richard Miller's essay "The Dark Night of the Soul", contains a variety of authors and writing styles.
He includes five stories all relating to the subjects of violence, racism, crime, ect, of the modern day world.
In these five essays Miller gives several shocking examples of how these subjects of violence can have such
a large infuence on today's behavior in society. In an enviroment filled with much evil the question poses,
"what is the outcome of a society at large that displays these ills?" Some might say it could lead to larger,
more threating problems, or maybe it can teach us a lesson and give society rejuvination or peace.
The first of Mller's essays begins with the events that occured at Columbine High School in
1999. Two young men, before both commtting suicide killed twelve students and a teacher. In
addition to the shootings the planned attack involved a fire bomb and 99 other explosive devices.
The personal writings of the perpatrators depict motives of wishing to rival with the Okalahoma
City bombing. Instead of just accepting the actualy evidence of something this large many
memebers of society such as newsreporters, writers, or movies try to cope by looking for blame
of many kinds. Blaming these acts of violnece on violent movies, video games, or a certain kind
of music, bullying, inattentive parents, the internets, or religion.
Miller asks, "What legal or educational reponse could be equal to the challenge of controling
the behavior of so many student from such varied backgroubds?" ( 421. Miller). With such a
system so corrupt of the wrong reponces to events, such as Columbine, it's merely impossible to
predict or even stop someone from trying to escpae from normal surroundings through violence
and crime. The boys chose to escape from reality through reading, writing, TV, and
Professor Edward Maietta
English 1101
April 17, 2014
Richard Miller's essay "The Dark Night of the Soul", contains a variety of authors and writing styles.
He includes five stories all relating to the subjects of violence, racism, crime, ect, of the modern day world.
In these five essays Miller gives several shocking examples of how these subjects of violence can have such
a large infuence on today's behavior in society. In an enviroment filled with much evil the question poses,
"what is the outcome of a society at large that displays these ills?" Some might say it could lead to larger,
more threating problems, or maybe it can teach us a lesson and give society rejuvination or peace.
The first of Mller's essays begins with the events that occured at Columbine High School in
1999. Two young men, before both commtting suicide killed twelve students and a teacher. In
addition to the shootings the planned attack involved a fire bomb and 99 other explosive devices.
The personal writings of the perpatrators depict motives of wishing to rival with the Okalahoma
City bombing. Instead of just accepting the actualy evidence of something this large many
memebers of society such as newsreporters, writers, or movies try to cope by looking for blame
of many kinds. Blaming these acts of violnece on violent movies, video games, or a certain kind
of music, bullying, inattentive parents, the internets, or religion.
Miller asks, "What legal or educational reponse could be equal to the challenge of controling
the behavior of so many student from such varied backgroubds?" ( 421. Miller). With such a
system so corrupt of the wrong reponces to events, such as Columbine, it's merely impossible to
predict or even stop someone from trying to escpae from normal surroundings through violence
and crime. The boys chose to escape from reality through reading, writing, TV, and