Identity and Self
Man vs Self (Cont.)
Man vs Man
Man vs Self
Man vs Environment
Man vs Fate
Mind-Body Problem-Renee
zz
Renee uses exploration of her philosophies to question her world.
Renee changes her world view, and her view of what she would like to do wither her existence.
Renee explores her physical body to gain a better understanding of self.
Survival in Auschwitz-Primo Levy
Survival in Auschwitz-Primo Levy
Levy must contend with the abhorrent living and working conditions of the camp and rubber factory in order to survive.
Levy competes with others for survival in camps. He must sacrifice his humanity for survival. He is imprisoned by Nazis due to being Jewish.
The imprisonment and degradation effects Levy's sense of self. He calls this the "destruction of a man " . This shame lasts throughout his life.
American Pastoral
Merry
Swede
Merry expresses her unhappiness with her family life and the world through terrorism.
Swede must question his role in the world and sense of self; the life he has made for himself, once Merry commits a bombing.
Tenants of Moonbloom-Norman Moonbloom
When thrust into his brothers employment as the rent collector of an apartment building, Norman is forced to interact with its residents, building his own personal connections to them and finding purpose through their lives.
Enormous Changes at the Last Minute-Faith
Faith's mindset is affected by New York City, as well as her time, being the Vietnam war era. She is jealous of those wit Han idyllic life, unlike hers as a single mother, and falls into toxic ways of thinking that are shared by those around her. She changes due to her own urging, as well as that of her children.
Enormous Changes at the Last Minute-Faith
Faith, partially due to her own wanting and to the time period she lives in, believes acquiring a husband will fix her qualms with life. She is jealous of carefree fathers and mothers with partners. She decides though, that due to being a single parent she just improve the world for her children.
Enemies: A Love Story-Herman
Herman marries Yadwiga due to her hiding him during the Holocaust. He does not truly love Yadwiga and takes Masha, a survivor of the camps, as his mistress. However when it turns out his first wife Tamara has miraculously survived he must balance them all. In the end, Yadwiga has a child, and names her Masha after her husband's mistress. She raises the child with Tamara after Herman runs off following Masha's suicide.
The Trial-Josef K.
Josef K. lives a hollow and inactive existence, and is generally selfish and inconsiderate toward others. He acts for himself and chases his own pleasure. Karma comes for him when he is put on a mysterious trial and deemed already guilty. This is him answering for his selfish ways. The trial ends in Josef allowing the perpetrators to kill him.
A Horse Walks Into a Bar- Dov
Dov resolves and accepts his bullying in youth by resorting to humor. When he tries to apply this same concept to adult life, becoming a stand up comic, he receives criticism from crowds and pleads to be seen beyond his humorous side.
Forced to compete with others for survival, Levy states he must strip himself of his humanity. Those who do not act selfishly and do not remove their humanity do not survive.