Logical Language

Even though Art Spiegelman did not experience the horrors of the holocaust first hand, he is still deeply affected by the aftershocks of it. His father is not the same person or father figure he would have been if he had not experienced the holocaust, and Art feels a sort of survivors guilt for not being with his father during that time. The past of Vladek, Art, and their family affects their day to day lives and the dynamic of their family as it intersects with the present. Spiegelman shows this intersection by use of circles throughout the novel.  The connection between the past and present is shown on page 58 of volume II. The middle comic strip shows Vladek turning in a circle for Art until in the final panel, Art has changed into the doctor judging Vladek's physical ability. Art's perceived changing of character both highlights the fact that Art was not a part of the holocaust with his father and represents the connection Art still has with the holocaust. Art feels ...

During the holocaust, Artie and Anja experience horrors that no one should have to go through. They are dragged out of their homes and called "filthy jew[s]'(33) as well as forced to watch their own family members and loved ones killed or taken by Nazi's. Due to this trauma, Anja is taken to a sanitarium in order to recover from being "hysterical or depressed"(31). The sanitarium is drawn as a very serine place to be. Anja and Artie's stay "is [more] like a luxury hotel"(34) than an asylum. They are waited on by nurses and stay in a luxurious room. The sanitarium is the only place during the time period in which Artie's father is telling the story that all races are co-existing peacefully. The drawing shows bunnies, mice, elephants, horses, pigs, mouse, and countless other animals walking around the park-like area with each other. This shows that the only place that is a safe escape from the anti-semitic views is an insane asylum, w...

Are human beings naturally caring, nice people? Or are they born with the desire to please no one but themselves? These questions have been asked by philosophers and curious minds alike since the beginning of civilization. In "This is Water" by David Foster Wallace, Wallace has the extreme belief that all human beings are naturally selfish. It is humans' "natural default-setting"(234) to be self-centered and oblivious to the feelings of others. This is due to the fact that "there is no experience you've had that you were not at the absolute center of"(233). Whether it is your own birthday party or one for your friend, it is remembered through your own mind and viewpoint. You remember every events through your owns eyes, and even if you experience the same thing as someone else, you each have your own opinions and takeaways. If Wallace's belief that humans are selfish is true, does that make humans evil? Does seeing things through your ow...

Whether it be jazz, rock, hip-hop, or classical, music has the ability to touch people in ways nothing else can. It can reach right into your soul and bring out your deepest fears, problems, or insecurities. It takes those troubles off your shoulders and carries them for you.  A while ago, a group of musicians were playing for a local nursing home. These musicians played the same songs they had been practicing for weeks and barely had to think about it. The individuals notes were played by muscle memory, and the music flowed right out of them.  During one of their more popular "old people" songs, a man began to sing along with them. The players were touched by the old man's sweet voice blending with the tune of their instruments, but overall, they didn't think about it much.  After their performance, the audience applauded and a few individuals personally thanked the musicians. One woman, the wife of the man who was singing, approached them teary eyed. She e...

Linear cenotaphs portray the victims of war in order of death and do not include a corpse in their design. Nonlinear narratives, such as The Things They Carried, tell stories in order of amplitude of impact and portray soldiers as they were, rather than how they died. Linear cenotaphs do a better job of creating an equal memorial for all soldiers and are places designated to mourn; however, nonlinear narratives are more accurate. The order of stories in a nonlinear narrative increases the accuracy because it shows events in order of influence on the war. While most people want to see all soldiers created equally, this is simply not the case. It is far more accurate to acknowledge that some soldiers were more important than others, and some soldiers made more of an impact on others. Likewise, many people don't want to contemplate the horrors of war, but that doesn't mean they didn't happen. Nonlinear narratives show these horrors in a way linear cenotaphs do not. They ...