Theme To understand a story a person must first realize the theme behind the story. The theme can be defined as the overall purpose or reason. A theme describes a central idea, thought or point of discussion that the author wishes or intends to communicate to the audience. Such a point of discussion can be presented in a literary work, song or a movie. Therefore, the theme is the message that is presented as the moral lesson in a story. Many stories were written to convey a message to their readers whether it is for entertainment purposes or educational enlightenment. (dspsweb). Themes can be used to provide the main idea or motif of a piece of work. Kate Chopin's "The Storm", Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "Harrison Bergeron" were all reviewed for the purpose of theme. Understanding the theme behind each of these pieces is important when analyzing the author's true purpose for their piece. Kate Chopin's “The Storm" was a piece designed to show how the events in life can have profuse effects on tomorrow but if all is well when "the storm" passes, then tomorrow may continue just as today did. “So the storm passed and everyone was happy”. (Kennedy and Gioia 100). The storms that Kate spoke of served both superficial and realistic natures. The storms faced by people each and every day can be viewed through Chopin’s perspective of troubled weather. The two characters continued to confess their suppressed desires for each other and how the marriage arrangement inhibited the two, Calixta and Alcee, from sharing passionate moments. (Dipeolu and Cole 1). There was no sense of self-control during the entire storm; as both Calixta and Alcee made the best out of the storm. The effects caused by each storm are directly related to the damage caused and the truths realized after them. Just as with the storms in Chopin’s piece, the café in Hemmingway’s short story also give testament to the emotions surrounding possessions of heart and significance. Ernest Hemmingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" was a story centered on the concept of possessions that create wealth and belonging. Without anything to hold sacred a man will often find his assets to be nothing. "Hail nothing full of nothing, nothing is with thee". (Kennedy and Gioia 146). Hemingway used his character, the gaged waiter to prove his point that “It was a; a nothing and man was a nothing too.” The waiter lamented on the nothingness when he replaced the nada, Spanish word, in his prayer “Our nada who art in nada.” The prayers eliminated the idea of God, as well as the thought of heaven in a single breath. The revelation of nothingness is not apparent to every individual; as a young waiter who spent his entire energy hustling through life. Desperation is described as the central state of people who believe in the nothingness of life. The waiter was able to appreciate the old man's liking for the cafe over other bars to drink in as his own loneliness was a constant reminder of what happens once all the nice cafes close. The idea behind his self-experienced loneliness helped to personify just how important having others, whether people or places, is important to the way a person perceives their life and its activities. Finally, Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "Harrison Bergeron” was a piece designed to show how independence and differences help to make the world what it is. Each person must dare to be different or have nothing at all matter to them. “There were tears on Hazel’s cheeks, but she had forgotten for the moment what they were about”. (Kennedy and Gioia 217). Vonnegut dismisses the idea of complete equality as a dangerous objective, which is risky in both outcomes, as well as execution. Primarily, the government tortures its populace in its quest to achieve physical and mental equality among Americans. (Hattenhauer 6). The pretty people are required to wear masks that hide their beauty while the intelligent people are compelled to listen to indistinct noises, which bar their reasoning competence. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. “Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. (Hattenhauer 5). And everybody was really, really boring.” Therefore, the persistence of equality forces people into adopting pretentious behaviors, which hide the real personalities of the individuals, and exceptional attributes. Vonnegut asserts that the achievement of equality will reduce Americans to a mass of cowards who fear punishment from the government. On the other end, the government will destroy the brilliant and gifted people, without any fear. In such a case, equality will be attained at the cost of the liberty of people of the land. Without different goals to strive for based on the world's difference people and their different capacities, the world could easily become a dull and disoriented place to be in. In conclusion, the theme behind each of these stories gives testament to the events everyday people must endure in order to move forward. Although themes are not related, owing to the fact that they are presented in different stories by different authors, the purposes of the themes in the three stories are evidenced. (Bunyi). Despite which light a person walks in, the outcome or shadow it leaves will be dependent on how big they stand. If a person can endure and overcome what ails them then it should be possible for them to continue forth in life without a second notion of the heart. Each situation in life is unique and requires just as unique of an outlook when placing them into perspective. What helps us see tomorrow or guides us to our truest potential is ultimately what we will live and die by. The perspective we take in life must be chosen accordingly.
Works Cited
Bunyi, Angela. "Finding the Message: Grasping Themes in Literature." Teachers: Where Teachers Come From. 18 Feb 201118 Feb 2011: n. page. Web. <http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2011/02/helping-students-grasp-themes-in-literature>.
Dipeolu, Motunrayo and Cole, A. Leonard. Critical Essay on "The Storm" by Kate Chopin. 2011. Print. dspsweb, . "Identifying Topics, Main Ideas, and Supporting Details." Academic Support. (2003): n. page. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. <https://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/308.HTM>.
Hattenhauer, Darryl. The politics of Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron Critical Essay. American Literature at Arizona State University West. 2004. Print.
"Kate Chopin: Her Novels and Stories." Kate Chopin.org. Kate Chopin International Society, 13 Apr 2014. Web. 13 Apr 2014. <http://www.katechopin.org/>.
Kennedy, X.J, and Dana Gioia. Backpack Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing. 4. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson, 2012. Print.
"Kurt Vonnegut Biography." About Kurt Vonnegut. Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, 13 Apr 2014. Web. 13 Apr 2014. <http://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/about/>.
Phillip, Arthur. "Hemingway at Sea." New York Times. 10 November 2011:. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/books/review/arthur-phillips-on-new-books-about-ernest-hemingway.html?_r=0>.