Love in Literature
Love in Literature
We live in a complex world, where love and logic do not always exist cohesively, however, literature often brings these two elements together. Authors sometimes use the concept of love as a theme for their work, logically, and methodically using it as a tool in their writing. The different forms of love are often used by authors as a catalyst for positive character development. In this essay, works by different authors will be used to demonstrate some of the forms of love used in literature.
In Simon May’s “Love: A History”, May mentions agape love, defining it, stating that “This love is compassionate and giving: the love of neighbor shown by the Good Samaritan” (May pg.177). The use of agape love as a catalyst for positive character development is evident in Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral”. The narrator of the story, who is ignorant and closed–minded, encounters a blind man whose name is Robert. Robert recognizes the narrators closed-mindedness, but is not repelled by it, in fact he seems drawn to the narrator. Robert helps the narrator to open his mind to the world, and to see more than just what is there but to also see the beauty of it. The narrator is transported out of his mind “I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything” (Carver pg.525). Robert’s actions can be seen as an act of agape love, he could have allowed the narrator to stay in his self-imposed blindness. In Kirk Nesset’s essay “Insularity and self-enlargement in Raymond Carver 's Cathedral”, the writer also expostulates about Raymond’s act of kindness “The subject of their mutual efforts‑‑the cathedral‑‑as a symbol represents a kind of common humanity and benevolence, and of human patience and fortitude” Robert’s act of love causes the narrator’s mind to transcend to a new level.
Familial Love, is the type of love between family members, such for example the love between parent and child or between siblings. This type of love is evident in
We live in a complex world, where love and logic do not always exist cohesively, however, literature often brings these two elements together. Authors sometimes use the concept of love as a theme for their work, logically, and methodically using it as a tool in their writing. The different forms of love are often used by authors as a catalyst for positive character development. In this essay, works by different authors will be used to demonstrate some of the forms of love used in literature.
In Simon May’s “Love: A History”, May mentions agape love, defining it, stating that “This love is compassionate and giving: the love of neighbor shown by the Good Samaritan” (May pg.177). The use of agape love as a catalyst for positive character development is evident in Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral”. The narrator of the story, who is ignorant and closed–minded, encounters a blind man whose name is Robert. Robert recognizes the narrators closed-mindedness, but is not repelled by it, in fact he seems drawn to the narrator. Robert helps the narrator to open his mind to the world, and to see more than just what is there but to also see the beauty of it. The narrator is transported out of his mind “I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything” (Carver pg.525). Robert’s actions can be seen as an act of agape love, he could have allowed the narrator to stay in his self-imposed blindness. In Kirk Nesset’s essay “Insularity and self-enlargement in Raymond Carver 's Cathedral”, the writer also expostulates about Raymond’s act of kindness “The subject of their mutual efforts‑‑the cathedral‑‑as a symbol represents a kind of common humanity and benevolence, and of human patience and fortitude” Robert’s act of love causes the narrator’s mind to transcend to a new level.
Familial Love, is the type of love between family members, such for example the love between parent and child or between siblings. This type of love is evident in
Cited: May, Simon. Love: A History. 1st ed. Great Britain: Yale University Press, 2011. Print. Nesset, Kirk Tackach, James. "THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF JAMES BALDWIN 'S "SONNY 'S BLUES"."Renascence. 59.2 (2007): n. page. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://udini.proquest.com/read/doc:5171c8d08d2093ee601322ff/>. 15 April, 2013 The Ship Who Sang 15 April, 2013 “Repent Harlequin” Said the Ticktockman