Jesus Colons Little Things Are Big and Langston Hughes Thank You Mam Analysis Essay

Table of Contents Introduction Common Themes in the Two Stories Conclusion Works Cited Introduction Social relations are often premised on the interaction that usually has adverse outcomes, or even leading to different types of conflicts. Social conflicts and problems are regularly exposed in the literature to undermine the importance of favoring a positive social environment and encouraging effective decision-making.   The essay shall analyze the power of social prejudices on the basis of the analysis of â€Å"Little things Are Big† by Jesus Colon and â€Å"Thank You Ma’am† by Langston Hughes .Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Jesus Colon’s Little Things Are Big and Langston Hughes’ Thank You M’am Analysis Essay specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Common Themes in the Two Stories The two short stories represent social challenges that the heroes should overcome to under stand the problem and define how it can be solved. In this respect, both works represent three types of confrontation – individual, relational, and societal. In the narrations under the analysis, there is an explicit confrontation of the heroes with their selves. Hence, the first story by Hughes narrates the story where the boy Rogers fights with his desire to steal the purse because he wants to buy the blue suede shoes. At the same time, he realizes that stealing is not the only way to get what he wants. As the plot develops, while fighting between the two edges, the character realizes that his behavior is disruptive and will not help him achieve his goals. A similar fight occurs in the hero of Colon’s story. According to â€Å"Little Things Are Big† summary, he is a Puerto Rican and tries to fit the existing stereotypes of the ethnic group. At the same time, he is also obsessed with the existence of racial differences with people, which limits his outlook on s ocial interaction with people. Being focused on his ethnic affiliation, the hero expresses his extreme hesitations, whether he should help a woman in her early twenties or not. By convincing himself about the prejudicial attitudes of the woman, he fails to assist the woman. Both stories by the two writers also represent interpersonal conflicts revealing the meaning of relationship and interaction between people with different social and cultural backgrounds. Hence, the boy has no one to look after him, which results in inappropriate social behavior. Lack of communication and proper upbringing that lead the main character to outlaw actions against society. The woman tries to teach him how to behave in society and, as a result, she distributes roles by considering a boy her son and herself his mother: â€Å"You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong† (Hughes 71).Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In such a way, she tries to meet the existing social norms. Moreover, from the â€Å"Little Things Are Big† analysis it is clear that roles distribution is also presented in the Colon’s stories when the main hero starts defining the social status by the color of skin: â€Å"How could I, a black and a Puerto Rican, approach this lady?† (Colon 116). Looking from these perspectives, both heroes were fully aware of the social constraints but lacked sufficient understanding of social norms. Lack of social awareness and cross-cultural understanding is revealed through the conflict between the self and society, as represented in both short stories. Hence, the main hero of Hughes’s story is placed within the social setting where the main hero is deprived of care and responsibilities. As is clear from the Langston Hughes’ â€Å"Thank you M’am† analysis, the main character does not understand his fau lts and believes that his behavior is the only way to achieve his purposes. At the same time, Mrs. Jones attempts to fulfill the role of the mother because she lives in a socially isolated setting. Similarly, Colon’s hero follows social stereotypes, which prevents him from fulfilling social obligations. Conclusion In conclusion, comparative analysis of â€Å"Thank you Ma’am† by Hughes and â€Å"Little Things Are Big† by Colon   shows that both stories represent how social vices affect human relationships. Lack of social awareness and impossibility to conform to societal norms prevents the characters from making decisions. At the same time, the short stories provide a moral lesson for people and teach them to behave following the ethical and moral codes. Works Cited Colon, Jesus. ‘Little Things Are Big’ A Puerto Rican In New York and Other Sketches. US: International Publishers, 1982. Print. 116-117. Hughes, Langston, ‘Thank You M†™am’ The Best Short Stories by Black Writers: The Classic Anthology from 1899 to 1967. US: Little, Brown, 1967. Print. 71-73. This essay on Jesus Colon’s Little Things Are Big and Langston Hughes’ Thank You M’am was written and submitted by user Briley Wallace to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Frankenstein Essays (892 words) - Frankenstein,

Frankenstein By Mary Shelly Mary Shelly's Frankenstein opens with a series of letters from the arctic explorer Robert Walton to his sister Margaret Saville in England. In these letters Walton reveals his Promethean, "machismo" qualities to his sister as he heads, ambition unbridled, into an inhospitable world of ice and sea. Like Victor Frankenstein, whom he meets on the last leg of the journey of horror, Robert Walton writes unhinged from a deeper reason or wisdom. What if, though, we could enter the Frankenstein myth from the point of view of his sister, Margaret? Margaret's letter to her ambitious brother would give the reader a sense of what Robert's true nature is and what is fueling his journey. Oh dear brother, I am truly happy for your optimistic forethought's but yet there is still an itch in my heart that warns me of true danger to this celebrated voyage of your undertaking. Robert, ever since you were an infant you dreamed of altering the state of humanity. At first you studied the voyages of men like Cartier and Columbus but you grew tired of this and make a liking toward the classics. You say you wished to achieve the mastery of a poem yet even though you intrigued my fancy it was good to compare to that of Homer or Shakespeare, and thus inadequate. And now once again you wish to change the world as we perceive it by discovering the North Pole. Can you not see, Robert, that you only failed at leading the role of the poet because you set the criterion much too high? I can see this happening once again. You seem to believe it is fixed fate that you shall rise to the top of the world on an adventurous, yet dangerous journey that could very easily prove to be the demise of you or the elevation of your psyche. Oh, Robert, I mean not to depress your spirits or foretell a dark future. I only mean to see what is the best and most safe for you. Brother, I love you and wish for nothing to ever wrong to fall upon your head yet I cannot simply dismiss this feeling of dread I behold whenever I dream of you sailing off into the cold bitter ice. I'm sorry for bringing up these dark apparitions of my mind but I could not let you go without at least warning you. Do not worry Robert, by most likely circumstances I am dearly wrong and am but fortune-telling like that of a lying gypsy. On a lighter note, I just finished getting published in the London Times an article on the role of women in today's society. The publisher enjoyed my work but still wanted to make changes. He thinks that I can be a regular writer for the Times. Isn't that splendid! Of course, there are the obvious problems of being a women writer and having such fiery opinions on today's topics. I am going to be a writer and I owe it all to you, Robert. If you had not encouraged me to bring forth my creative power I would have never gotten this far. I thank you brother. I just hope that the world will know my name like they will know yours. Brother, once again I must warn you against the spectres and demons that you may encounter in your journey to the North. One more word Robert. I read those books in Uncle Tom's library at times and noticed an article that at times deemed to be interesting but now may be worth to your safety and well being. In the mid 1660's when the whole search for the pole began the governments around the world spent much time and money searching for the answer to what the climate is like at the top of the world. They discovered that the pole was cold and rigid. Myth arose of the riches that the pole possessed and many voyages to sent out to find these. The only conclusion these voyagers came upon was that the pole is a place of death and a desolate hell. Robert can you see that the North Pole is not a land of tropic leisure but a frozen death. Once again I could be wrong but even if there is a hint of truth behind what I've said then isn't that enough to question what you are doing? I reiterate that I mean not to curse you with my worries but to