Mandy Hale once said, “[s]elf-worth is so vital to your happiness”. Often, individuals with low self-esteem can achieve contentment by gaining a sense of self-worth. The main characters, Ethan Hawley, from The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck, and Charles Gaunt, from The Last Crossing by Guy Vanderhaeghe, both attain different levels of contentment during their journey to acquire a positive self-image. The protagonists recognize the causes of their low self-esteem, face obstacles, and achieve pleasure through their gain of self-worth.
To attain a sense of self-worth an individual must realize the causes of their low self-esteem. In The Winter of Our Discontent, Ethan Hawley understands that the biggest factors are his low social and economic status. Although Ethan comes from an aristocratic family, his father loses the family fortune, placing …show more content…
Growing up, Charles does not foster a loving relationship with his father. Charles’ father wonders how “twins, [Simon and Charles] treat their father so differently. Simon so affectionate, Charles so distant” (Vanderhaeghe 14). Simon and Charles share a strong bond, but the difference in their behaviour towards their father indicates there is a conflict between Charles and his father. This conflict eventually leads to the favouritism of Simon, which causes Charles to feel meaningless, ultimately lowering his regard for himself. Moreover, Charles’ relationship with his father further emphasizes Charles’ lack of self-image when he realizes, “[s]imon Father loves. Addington he respects […]. At his warmest, father ignores me” (Vanderhaeghe 36). Charles’ father explicitly dislikes Charles, which fosters a sense of worthlessness in Charles, and degrades his self-image. In summary, the protagonists must identify and acknowledge the factors impeding their gain of self-esteem, or else they it will limit their growth of a sense of
To attain a sense of self-worth an individual must realize the causes of their low self-esteem. In The Winter of Our Discontent, Ethan Hawley understands that the biggest factors are his low social and economic status. Although Ethan comes from an aristocratic family, his father loses the family fortune, placing …show more content…
Growing up, Charles does not foster a loving relationship with his father. Charles’ father wonders how “twins, [Simon and Charles] treat their father so differently. Simon so affectionate, Charles so distant” (Vanderhaeghe 14). Simon and Charles share a strong bond, but the difference in their behaviour towards their father indicates there is a conflict between Charles and his father. This conflict eventually leads to the favouritism of Simon, which causes Charles to feel meaningless, ultimately lowering his regard for himself. Moreover, Charles’ relationship with his father further emphasizes Charles’ lack of self-image when he realizes, “[s]imon Father loves. Addington he respects […]. At his warmest, father ignores me” (Vanderhaeghe 36). Charles’ father explicitly dislikes Charles, which fosters a sense of worthlessness in Charles, and degrades his self-image. In summary, the protagonists must identify and acknowledge the factors impeding their gain of self-esteem, or else they it will limit their growth of a sense of