A Complicated Essay
An Argumentative Essay based on the use of literary devices in“A Complicated Kindness” by Mariam Toews
In the novel “A Complicated Kindness” by Miriam Toews lies a story of misery and grief. In a small town in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the main character Nomi Nickel, is an excitable teenage girl living in the highly-religious Mennonite community of East Village. The town, so strict on its beliefs and limited in employment, offers little opportunity for a productive and happy future. Nomi though, in all her youthful exuberance, faces these challenges as only a teenager could, with unwavering positively and plentiful amounts of snark. This is reflected in the writing of the novel, as it is told retrospectively through Nomi's …show more content…
A person's personal identity at its essence is very important, as it determines our values and beliefs, but societal pressures often attempt to influence change in the identity of the individual. Throughout the novel, many characters are subject to extreme versions of these societal pressures to change, through the harsh religious climate of East Village. This is notable in Trudie's case, when the Nomi makes an observation in this quote,”She was supposed to do all sorts of stuff at church, cook for weddings and funerals, quilt, teach Sunday school and generally get her ass in humble helping gear. They were always calling her and asking her if she could spare come time to help out. It wasn't really a question” (Toews 9). This quote explains how the Mennonite society attempts to manipulate Trudie, and countless others, into changing their own personal identities for their benefit. The use of irony in this statement is used to allow a bigger impact of this statement, insinuating choice but then taking that away, making the loss control much more impactful to the reader. Sometimes though, a change of identity is beneficial as it is apart of growing up and learning, ”My period started the day after Trudie left which means I've bled thirty-six times since they've been gone” (Toews 4). Nomi uses this symbolism to link her own physical maturity with her own maturity of thought. With Trudie recently leaving the village, this changes her state of thought from an obedient little girl to a flourishing women with flourishing thought. This elaborates on the importance of personal identity symbolizing a change in Nomi for the
An Argumentative Essay based on the use of literary devices in“A Complicated Kindness” by Mariam Toews
In the novel “A Complicated Kindness” by Miriam Toews lies a story of misery and grief. In a small town in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the main character Nomi Nickel, is an excitable teenage girl living in the highly-religious Mennonite community of East Village. The town, so strict on its beliefs and limited in employment, offers little opportunity for a productive and happy future. Nomi though, in all her youthful exuberance, faces these challenges as only a teenager could, with unwavering positively and plentiful amounts of snark. This is reflected in the writing of the novel, as it is told retrospectively through Nomi's …show more content…
A person's personal identity at its essence is very important, as it determines our values and beliefs, but societal pressures often attempt to influence change in the identity of the individual. Throughout the novel, many characters are subject to extreme versions of these societal pressures to change, through the harsh religious climate of East Village. This is notable in Trudie's case, when the Nomi makes an observation in this quote,”She was supposed to do all sorts of stuff at church, cook for weddings and funerals, quilt, teach Sunday school and generally get her ass in humble helping gear. They were always calling her and asking her if she could spare come time to help out. It wasn't really a question” (Toews 9). This quote explains how the Mennonite society attempts to manipulate Trudie, and countless others, into changing their own personal identities for their benefit. The use of irony in this statement is used to allow a bigger impact of this statement, insinuating choice but then taking that away, making the loss control much more impactful to the reader. Sometimes though, a change of identity is beneficial as it is apart of growing up and learning, ”My period started the day after Trudie left which means I've bled thirty-six times since they've been gone” (Toews 4). Nomi uses this symbolism to link her own physical maturity with her own maturity of thought. With Trudie recently leaving the village, this changes her state of thought from an obedient little girl to a flourishing women with flourishing thought. This elaborates on the importance of personal identity symbolizing a change in Nomi for the