Shanghai American school Essay Example for Free

Shanghai American school Essay This commentary is based on an extract from the Penguin hardback edition of the novel, Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. The passage begins on p. 114 last paragraph I was fill with to p. 116 a selfish, envious, cankered wretch, wasnt I? Written by Jonas Hahn IB English A1 (hl) Shanghai American School I recognized that my limp was always worse and I did not want her, but it annoyed me Boy had her give the time after the First World War, of a man fighting his own battle. It can be observed, that at surface level, it is about the narrator returning from war with only one leg and not succeeding with the girl he desired. This causes him even more pain that his limp. Yet with closer examination is can be seen that this passage holds more to it, it is a power struggle between Boy and the narrator. Also it is about impressing each other and always wanting more than the other person, not just simply the return of a soldier who is wounded. Hahn 2. The entire extract is written in first person, seemingly allowing the reader to enter the state of mind and emotions the narrator is in; yet paradoxically his personal affairs are not mentioned, instead the narrator talks about boys affairs, he only mentions that he is envies. This technique of omission is extremely powerful giving the reader a different impression of the narrator. This slice of life story begins with the narrator having a sudden realization. It gives the passage a very controversial tone. The narrator omits his personal pain all through the extract except when he is [envies] of boy. Though out the extract the narrators personal life is never mention yet boys occasional weekend visits were discussed thoroughly. It is also never mentioned that he is lonely just that he is envies and jealous. This omission though out the passage implies to the reader that the narrator wants sympathy for his life with only one leg and that he cant have the girl he wants. Later in the passage the mood changes, the narrator would have given much for the strength of mind to tell him what he really thought of Boy. There is a tension between Boy and the narrator who both fight for power and existence. Boy is rubbing the fact that he has the possession of Leola, and pashes in the city and a healthy body. The narrator is trying to justify this behavior but he doesnt succeed. Instead he questions himself: why did I not find some other girl? and A selfish, envious, cankered wretch, wasnt I instead of questioning Boy about his affairs with all the gay girls. This gives the passage an extraordinary touch to it. Hahn 3 I hobbled away grumbling to myself like Diogenes. This allusion, used by the narrator is very powerful. It is very clearly stated that hr didnt want the clothes the girl or the booze yet he imprisoned himself into a situation, which couldnt be escaped. Diogenes did the exact same thing and said having too many possessions impressions you, yet this is a contradiction in this extract. The narrator has nothing yet he feels as if he were imprisoned, this is an oxymoron meaning one thing but really something else is going on. This passage moves from envies what Boy has and the narrator does not, towards jealousy that Boy has everything and the narrator has nothing, although he is a cruel person, thus the narrator deserves some sympathy. In the first paragraph the narrator describes the situation he undergoing, then moving on to the free spirit girls in Toronto, to the narrators argument amongst himself. Though out the stages of this passage the narrator is very anxious of what he doesnt have, yet he doesnt want what he doesnt have he simply wants Boy not to have it. He uses such words as deceived Leola instead of saying he lied to her. He was also a very active listener to Boy when he talked about all his girls who knew what they were doing yet he was never critical to with Boys decisions.