All That Is Solid Melts Into Air

All That Is Solid Melts Into Air The works of Djuna Barnes and Joseph Conrad will be discussed in this essay, with regard to "All that is Solid Melts into Air", which is one of the numerous descriptions of modernism. This statement can be interpreted in a number of ways, and one of the most obvious interpretations appears to be that everything around us is constantly evolving with time. Here, I shall attempt to show that Barnes' novel, Nightwood, as well as Conrad's short story, The End of the Tether, are good illustrations of this statement, as I am of the opinion that they both touch on various issues that were once taken for granted and were hardly ever challenged.The two writers have, in their own ways, managed to manipulate these issues in such a way that readers, on a small scale, and society on a larger one, are now being forced out of their original comfort zones, and made to question and re-evaluate their lives in which no one has ever dared or cared enough to defy convention.Illustration from The Book of R epulsive WomenTradition has become a thing of the past, and it is perhaps the ultimate aim of these writers, through their writings, to bring people to the simple, yet often overlooked realization that nothing can, nor should, be assumed to be real and constant.Both of the texts that I have chosen, deal with the assumption that relationships, of any sort, are generally "solid", or rather, are dependable and would not fail those who are involved in these relationships. The characters appear to have a certain naivety about them, as they seem to believe that just as long as some form of effort is put into the maintenance of their relationships with others, there is no reason for these relationships to disintegrate into nothing. It is as though...

Free Essays on Library Card

In the story, â€Å"The library Card,† Richard Wright took one step closer to achieving the American dream. However, in order to fully understand how he did so, one must first understand exactly what the American Dream is. I asked a few of my closest friends what their best definition of the American Dream was. They all came up with fairly similar answers to this question. The American Dream is having a good job, good family, and just pretty much well off. It is being wealthy and the best at what you do. It is being knowledgeable. The books that Richard Wright tried so desperately to attain helped him to get a better handle on the American dream. If Richard Wright had never read those books, chances are, he would never have made the effort to pick up his life and move it along. Upon reading Mencken and other great authors, he found out more about why white people acted the way that they had. He had a better grasp on why they treated him the way that they had. Wright then became more knowledgeable. In order to attain the American dream, you must have knowledge because knowledge is power. The books that Wright read introduced new obstacles in his life. The major one that he had to overcome was the fact that he knew what people thought of him, yet he was still unable to say anything about it. He had to live his life the exact same way and it killed him inside. He longed to say something to the white men, but knew better. Sometimes, silence kills. In this case, it was a huge obstacle that Richard Wright may never have overcome.... Free Essays on Library Card Free Essays on Library Card In the story, â€Å"The library Card,† Richard Wright took one step closer to achieving the American dream. However, in order to fully understand how he did so, one must first understand exactly what the American Dream is. I asked a few of my closest friends what their best definition of the American Dream was. They all came up with fairly similar answers to this question. The American Dream is having a good job, good family, and just pretty much well off. It is being wealthy and the best at what you do. It is being knowledgeable. The books that Richard Wright tried so desperately to attain helped him to get a better handle on the American dream. If Richard Wright had never read those books, chances are, he would never have made the effort to pick up his life and move it along. Upon reading Mencken and other great authors, he found out more about why white people acted the way that they had. He had a better grasp on why they treated him the way that they had. Wright then became more knowledgeable. In order to attain the American dream, you must have knowledge because knowledge is power. The books that Wright read introduced new obstacles in his life. The major one that he had to overcome was the fact that he knew what people thought of him, yet he was still unable to say anything about it. He had to live his life the exact same way and it killed him inside. He longed to say something to the white men, but knew better. Sometimes, silence kills. In this case, it was a huge obstacle that Richard Wright may never have overcome....