Elements Of Struggle Between Passion And Reason

Elements Of Struggle Between Passion And ReasonIn nineteenth century literature a lot of importance was devoted to passion and emotional appeal in preference to reason and logic. seminal authorship and fiction were usually charged with passion and struck a chord with the readers. For any work of fiction or non-fiction the main fill needs to retain a reasoncap qualified plot, nucleotide, structure and organization for it to be of sustained popularity and wide readership. The books included in this study, Cry, the Beloved Coun bear witness by Alan Paton and Frankenstein by bloody shame Shelley have elements of some(prenominal) passion and reason hitherto though a clash betwixt these two elements is evident in both stories.Cry, the earnest country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him non love the earth besides deeply. Let him not laugh in addition gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the mise en scene sun mak es red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his sum total to a mountain or a valley. For fear impart knock off him of all if he gives too much (Paton 101).In the above lines from the trading floor, the writer brings about the struggle amid the ruleings of ownership and belonging of the protagonist, Stephen Kumalo, and the fear of his beloved country falling apart because of racial discrimination and racial hostilities betwixt the whites and the obtuses in confederation Africa. The other theme of clash is between the pathway to progress and development for the blacks in urban centers like Johannesburg at the follow of the breaking up of families and tribes in rural South Africa. The dichotomy is between progress and urbanization on the one hand and preserving traditions and strengthening relationships on the other. The main themes are of the clash between the privileged and the colonized, the haves and th e have-nots.In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley has drawn the readers attention towards the clash between science and the occult. Victor Frankenstein who creates the hulk represents reason and the monster represents passion.Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at to the lowest degree by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his aboriginal town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow (Shelley 50).In the above lines, the author has tried to elaborate on the pitfalls that the mere quest for knowledge devoid of responsibility and control trick have on mortal lives. So the struggle in this story is between reason in the form of science and scientific origination against the passion of the monster which is a creation of the scientist. Frankenstein is a story of an dictatorial scientist who in the pursuit of knowledge creates a monster that nobody is able to control and the monster continues to perpetrate atrocities and chaos. It is a lesson for the reader to bear in mind that curiosity and the mission to gain knowledge is good pass ond the seeker of knowledge must also be capable of taking responsibility and have courage to bear negative consequences in flake a need arises.There are a couple of everyday themes in both these novels. The colonizing of black people in South Africa and disbanding families and tribes in order to profit from cheap labor created the monster of racial malicious mischief and lawlessness in Johannesburg. The whites created the black labor force but did nought to ensure that they remain happy and rooted. The abject poerty and dire nutrition conditions of the black workers created the rift between the rich mine and factory owners and the displaced black laborers. Similarly in Frankenstein Victor Frankenstein created the monster but did nothing to provide a sense of belonging and ownership which encouraged the monster to feel diso wned and become wild.The themes of colonialism and imperialism are present in both novels. It is the struggle between the white and black, the rich and poor, the rulers and the ruled in Alan Patons story dapple the theme of the creator and the created permeates Mary Shelleys novel. Isolation and the sense of lack of belonging have created both the monster and Absalom. The monster seeks the love and acknowledgment of his creator while Absalom leaves his village, Ndotsheni, to seek knowledge and employment. So both the monster and Absalom feel set-apart from their people and take to ways that harms others more than they can control.Stephen Kumalo is the pastor of a small village in South Africa and lives in his own world, sort of disconnected with the times and happenings in urbanized centers like Johannesburg. When he comes to Johannesburg to dish out rehabilitate his sister, Gertrude, he is brought face to face with the realities of life in South Africa. He realizes that his wor ld was collapsing and that the main tragedy of his people was that things like relationships and innocence were breaking down and no one was doing anything to mend them. He says, It worthy the white man to break the tribe, but it has not suited him to wee-wee something in its place (Paton 46). Stephen Kumalo is a man obsessed with a mirthful quest to seek his son and rebuild the community. Similarly, Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with desire knowledge and acquiring power. He wanted to play God and bear witness his ability to give life to an animal (Shelley 51).The conclusion of both the stories engenders placid and relative hold. In the end Absalom realizes his mistake and is reconciled to his fate and Stephen Kumalo is able to bring his sister and Absaloms pregnant wife back to the village to try and rebuild his tribe with the help of James Jarvis. The monster in Frankenstein grieves over the death of his creator and is reconciled to his self-imposed exile in the uniting Pole and subsequent death. He realizes that his atrocities in order to seek vindicate did not yield the desired results and he continued to be attached and isolated. In both stories, there is a sense of catharsis with Absalom writing home to his parents and the monster grieving over his master. Even though both ends are tragic there is a faint ray of hope in both novels.