Absalom Absalom and Love Essay Example for Free

Absalom Absalom and Love turn upMany of the novels we suck read this semester contain prevailing themes that provide insight into American society. One of these themes that we arrest closely examined throughout the semester is a persons right to jazz. Love is undoubtedly a powerful force in ones life. As we have assuren through our readings, however, this force is often foreclose by the need to conform to hearty standards. Whether or not a couple is ALLOWED to be in revel says a upsurge intimately what is socially pleasurable for that particular area and metre period. Although jazz is technically a right given to all, American Literature shows how it is often denied by social standards and wherefore ceases to exist. William Faulkners Absalom, Absalom tells Rosa Coldfields version of how doubting Thomas Sutpen was the demise of her and her family. As the story progresses, it becomes known that Thomass son, Henry, kills Charles Bon to interrupt him from marrying his sister, Judith.One would infer that Henrys reason for his desperate need to prevent their marriage was because Charles was their half-brother, and therefore their marriage would be considered incest. We come to find out, however, that this is not exactly the case. In Chapter 8, in response to whether or not Judith pass on marry Bon she says Yes. I have decided. Brother or not, I have decided. I will. I will (283). As the chapter progresses, however, Quentin and Shreve accept that its the miscegenation, not the incest, which (they) cant bear (285).In this case, two socially unaccepted taboos prevent Judith from pursuing her relationship with Bon. The fact that it is worsened in the eyes of her family that Judith may be marrying a world with sick blood than a man who is her relative, however, says a lot about how strong racial prejudices were in the south during the 1800s.Judiths right to erotic go to sleep Bon is forcefully obstructed by social norms, and is a perfect example of Southern culture during that eon period. Another instance of love being obstructed by social standards is seen in F.Scott Fitzgeralds ample Gatsby. Jay Gatsby, a resident of West Egg and a symbol of new wealth, falls in love with Daisy, a resident of East Egg and a symbol of established wealth.Daisy and her husband, Tom, are described to have lived in a alternatively distinguished secret society (17) to which members of old currency had often well-tried and failed to become a part of. Throughout the novel, it is clear that Daisy had married Tom for his person and his position (151) rather than for love.Yet when Daisy finally accepts that she had never loved Tom and was currently in love with Gatsby, the class divides live too prevalent for her to pursue a relationship with Gatsby. Tom quotes Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions, and next theyll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white (130). From this qu ote and the happenings throughout the novel, the force obstructing the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy is the social condemnation of new money marrying old money.The Great Gatsby shows how in our society, is often difficult for people of different economic backgrounds to pursue a relationship. T. S. Eliots The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is an examination of a typical mans psychological engagement to express himself emotionally and conform to social standards. Throughout the poem, the narrator shows insecurity in almost everything he does, fearing that his moves will be frowned upon.He says There will be time, there will be time to prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet and often asks Do I dare? and thinks about what they will say. His insecurity prevails in an encounter with what seems to be a woman he loves. He seems numb that the woman will deny him because of his balding hair and thin composure, and thinks about what he should say in order to impress the wom an And how should I then presume? How should I begin? In the hold on the narrator concludes that It is impossible to say just what I mean, and he drifts into a fairytale by the sea until human voice wake us, and we drown. Eliots poem is an example of a mans love for a woman being obstructed by his own need to conform to what is socially acceptable of a man. He refuses to open up and share with the woman his feelings in fear that he will be mocked and denied. The Love Song of Alfred Prufrock shows the struggles of maintaining masculinity, and the fear a man has of loosing his composure. While the last stories had similar band and outcomes, love doesnt always have to be between a man and a woman, and social norms arent always successful at obstructing loves powerful force.In Mark twos huckleberry Finn, the love shared between huck and Jim leads to a powerful revelation in hucks life and a groundbreaking relationship considering the Souths intrusive social standards. When huckaba ck begins his journey with Jim, he is overcome by an instilled guilt for assisting in the runaway of Miss Watsons slave. Huck says It would get all around, Huck Finn helped a nigger get to his freedom and if I was to ever see anybody from that town again, Id be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame (226).As their adventure progresses, however, Huck begins to realize how much he enjoys Jims company, slave or not still somehow I couldnt seem to strike no places to harden me against him, just the other sorting (227). Huck struggles internally with this realization, but cannot get over the feeling in his heart telling him to make unnecessary Jim around. Finally, Huck decides that he would not turn in Jim, and that he would go to Hell if that were what it meant.In this instance, Huck valiantly goes against what is socially acceptable, and the force of love prevails. Huck and Jim remain friends even though it is extremely frowned upon. Although love is a freedom, one can se e how easily and often this freedom is taken away collectable to what is acceptable in the eyes of others. The circumstances involved in the obstruction of love shows a lot about the society in which these characters live, and the values held by the people who lived there.