Thom Jones’s “A White Horse” is the story of a man, Ad Magic, who suffers from amnesia following epileptic episodes. He has managed to find his way to India and is completely unaware of who he is (29). This character is created by Thom Jones to portray the desire felt by most people at some point in their life to simply escape from themselves, from the realities of life, and to try and find some deeper meaning to what they have to go through and eventually find happiness. The story follows Ad Magic on this path as he becomes the want within all of us. In the beginning of “A White Horse”, the idea of escaping reality plays a crucial role. The fact that Ad Magic suffers from amnesia because of his epilepsy (Jones 29) symbolizes an escape from
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Ad Magic is willing to spend an excessive amount of money on making sure the horse is taken care of because it makes him feel like there is a meaning to his life. The doctor believes it would be best if the horse was euthanized but Ad Magic wants to save it. The doctor explains to Ad Magic how humans and animals feel pain in different ways. Humans typically feel pain through things that they remember while animals feel pain without memory. Ad Magic, like animals, lacks the ability to recall specific things in his memories. He knows that he has loved ones, but he cannot remember who they are so he is left with a sense of pain with seemingly no cause (Olson 2). The doctor gives Ad Magic a pill that seems to rejuvenate him after a small nap. This symbolizes how drugs can be a temporary escape from the pain of the world and can give happiness. Just like a drug wearing off Ad Magic comes back to the devastating reality of the situation. Once he feels like he has given his life meaning by making sure the doctor will take care of the horse and the boy with Ad Magic’s financial support, Ad Magic goes back to the hotel where he knows he will find his identity. He has achieved some sensation that his life has a deeper meaning so he is willing to accept reality. He remembers his life in California with his wife and …show more content…
It is argued that the interest society has with Jones’s stories is due in part to the stories revealing things that are typically not seen in the everyday section of society ( May 3). Most people are not comfortable discussing the idea that they are not happy with who they are; however, Thom Jones uses Ad Magic in “A White Horse to exhibit this aspect of humanity and bring it into focus. The seemingly absurd events that take place make it seem like there is less connection for the audience but the way the events play out actually ties the audience to Ad Magic. The audience feels less insulted by the deeper topics by not feeling immediately tied to the character even though they may actually feel that way. The audience does not feel like they are being directly accused of not being happy with their life and feeling like it lacks some more definite meaning. Jones is able to show this as a truth about our human
Ad Magic is willing to spend an excessive amount of money on making sure the horse is taken care of because it makes him feel like there is a meaning to his life. The doctor believes it would be best if the horse was euthanized but Ad Magic wants to save it. The doctor explains to Ad Magic how humans and animals feel pain in different ways. Humans typically feel pain through things that they remember while animals feel pain without memory. Ad Magic, like animals, lacks the ability to recall specific things in his memories. He knows that he has loved ones, but he cannot remember who they are so he is left with a sense of pain with seemingly no cause (Olson 2). The doctor gives Ad Magic a pill that seems to rejuvenate him after a small nap. This symbolizes how drugs can be a temporary escape from the pain of the world and can give happiness. Just like a drug wearing off Ad Magic comes back to the devastating reality of the situation. Once he feels like he has given his life meaning by making sure the doctor will take care of the horse and the boy with Ad Magic’s financial support, Ad Magic goes back to the hotel where he knows he will find his identity. He has achieved some sensation that his life has a deeper meaning so he is willing to accept reality. He remembers his life in California with his wife and …show more content…
It is argued that the interest society has with Jones’s stories is due in part to the stories revealing things that are typically not seen in the everyday section of society ( May 3). Most people are not comfortable discussing the idea that they are not happy with who they are; however, Thom Jones uses Ad Magic in “A White Horse to exhibit this aspect of humanity and bring it into focus. The seemingly absurd events that take place make it seem like there is less connection for the audience but the way the events play out actually ties the audience to Ad Magic. The audience feels less insulted by the deeper topics by not feeling immediately tied to the character even though they may actually feel that way. The audience does not feel like they are being directly accused of not being happy with their life and feeling like it lacks some more definite meaning. Jones is able to show this as a truth about our human