Finding Meaning in Characters of Stories, Essay Example

When it comes to writing stories for reading, it is essential that authors are able to get the gist of the themes that they are trying to present to their audience. For instance, the authors have the command on whether or not their narratives would be accepted as weird or relatively functional for their readers to understand. Nevertheless, it is most often than not that authors hope to not only entertain but to provide a piece of themselves to their readers through their writing. This means that there are instances when authors try to thrive on a new realm of presenting their narratives that is strongly farfetched from what has been considered “regular” or common in the field of storytelling or narrating events as they happen. One way of doing so is through presenting characters and giving them a valuable recognition under uncanny situations and making the message of the story come out from the characters’ being. Two of the works to be discussed herein include Olsen’s 10:01 and Danielewski’s “Only Revolution”.

The pattern of uncommon approach to characterization could be duly observed on the works of both Olsen and Denelewsi, both noted for their excellence in writing narratives that are directly compelling to their readers. Olsen’s “10:01” takes a different stage of pointing out how the American dream is depicted in the screen and how the common audiences respond to such reflective representations. Meanwhile, Denielewski tries to create a picture of the future of his two characters through playing with verbal presentations and manifesting courses of irregularities in the aspect of defining the situations that each character faces. In the discussion that follows, a presentation on the strategies of narration utilized by each author shall be given particular attention to. In relation to this, the effect of such strategies shall be weighed in reference to how the audience specifically responds to the narrative stories that they have presented. When narrating events, the authors have the decision to whether or not focus the story on the character, the plot or the setting of the situations that they ought to present in each turn of event.

For Olsen’s “10:01” novel, it was clear how he wants to highlight the setting itself and how it shall take an important role in the development of the story. However, although the author himself highlighted this particular aspect of the story at the beginning, it could be realized how he transitioned from focusing on the setting to giving attention to each of the character he represents in the story. This could be further realized as the author takes the reader into the mind of each movie-goer who stays in the theater for an almost realistic film that is presented in what is likened to a modern movie theater in a supposedly typical American mall in the future.

Considering the idea of capitalism taking over the society, Olsen tries to create a scenario that takes place in one setting but branches out towards the more in depth representation on what the reality of American life was all about. To do this, the author used disjointed documentaries on the life of each person presented in each chapter; each part replicating a sense of depiction on how social dilemma causes mindful disillusion among humans. Take for example the characters of Betty and Jerry Roemer, two retired school teachers who happen to be sitting beside each other in the theater. Although seemingly not knowing each other, both are studying history of movies at the Normandale Community College. Looking through a film they were assigned to watch, both were hoping to gain more insight into the subject. However, along the completion of the film, both individuals had developed different points of interest and were thus pushed to put their thoughts on other matters during the time that specifically identified the situations that they came across with in the days that came after the said incident. Along the process of representing the attitude of the characters Olsen gives a defining element that makes the readers view these two aged viewers to be likely feeling uncomfortable about the mall, and yet feels secure in it due to its regularity in aesthetic which is common among malls. While the places and locations may be different, the stores, food courts, shops and the theater are common finds in such places which is one of the most comforting aspects of being in a mall. In this part of the novel, it is as if Olsen uses his characters to present a message to his readers. One of it being that people from all walks of life, whether or not they share the same idea or not, come together in a mall [even so, in a movie theater]. While there are those who are not that comfortable with staying with someone they do not fully know of, the thought of being in a mall specifically gives them a sense of not-resisting what has become a common thing in a capitalist’s world. At this point, the attitude of his characters in the story has been utilized by Olsen to point out the changes in culture that malls have been establishing in the society since the beginning of time. In the future, such culture of capitalism in commerce specifically shown in obvious illustration through malls, is expected to create a massive difference on how humans see each other and how they would prefer to stay alongside each other not knowing who the other person is. The supposed comfort that capitalism provides seemingly creates a bridge between people of different attitudes and uniqueness, which is used by commercial institutions to gain profit for themselves.

On the part of Danielewski’s story on “Only Revolutions” focuses on two main characters alone. Sam and Hailey, supposedly a couple who never grows old, or at least that’s what the author implies, are used in the story as an epitome of the ever developing society and how humans tend to embrace such matter. Unlike Olsen’s one-setting approach, Danielewski decides to take on the single-path of characterization as a common matter in the story and the setting to be rather unstructured. Travelling from one place to another, the author takes his readers into a journey that brings them to several options of realization in life. What is evident in the chaotic set up of the introducing the different settings in the story is the fact that each time Sam and Hailey meet a new situation, they tend to adapt into it. Although the book was separately outlined, presenting Sam’s and Hailey’s understanding of the situations in separate aspects, it could be observed how they end up together amidst all the differences in perception they may have. In this case, it could be analyzed that Danielewski is trying to consider the fact that when it comes to development, people do have different perceptions. They develop different opinions about the changes brought about by such differing conditions. Nevertheless, there is a common ground that keeps the society of unique individuals together, the manner by which they adapt to the situations as the developments happen.

At this point, it could then be realized that Olsen and Danielewski tried to make great use of their characters to mirror the natural being of humans. Although both authors used uncanny situations and settings to represent their characters, it is evident how all these elements worked together to present a common ground that defined their stories, a mirror of real life. Narratives of stories and novels are expected to establish a certain meaning that readers would be able to respond to in a reflective manner. In the case of Olsen and Danielewski and their written works, it could be realized how effective characterization could bring out deep meaning of messages they ought to share to their readers amidst the existence of uncanny events and situations that envelope the whole theme of the story.