Hardship In The Last Paradise

One of the most popular themes in literature is the impact of hardship on character's values and traits. Oftentimes, in both reality and literature, hard times will alter behaviors and attitudes as characters deal with the struggle at hand. In The Last Paradise by [insert author here], this theme is explored in depth. Beginning in the United States in 193[0], the main character, Jack Beilis, finds himself in a very desperate situation that results in him immigrating to the Soviet Union. His friend, Walter [insert last name here], immigrates at the same time. Although they begin as friends, tension grows between them as their stay in the Soviet Union lengthens, and in the end a sinister plot is uncovered. The best example of a behavior change …show more content…
Jack happens to know the piece of machinery well, and instructs crew members on how to dismantle the bulky piece of equipment to free the man's crushed arm, saving it from amputation. The man, Wilbur Hewitt, happens to be an industrialist on his way to the Avtozavod, a new Soviet car factory. After witnessing Jack's knowledge of the machinery, he offers Jack a high paying job at the factory. But, for Jack, more enticing than the job is Hewitt's niece, Elizabeth, who is travelling to the Soviet Union with her uncle. A beautiful girl with no other living family, Jack is enamored with her and does everything he can to win her favor. When he first makes his interest apparent, she takes no interest, thinking of him as a nobody. However, when she learns of his position at the factory and his previous position at the Ford manufacturing plant in Dearborn, her interest increases. Some feelings arise between them, but they make nothing serious of their relationship- she prefers the luxury of a high ranking Russian officer's dacha to the standard government housing that Jack is assigned to. That is, until the officer kicks her out after Hewitt is accused of sabotage at the factory. With no home and her uncle in prison possibly facing death, Elizabeth returns to Jack to beg for help proving her uncle's innocence. She promises Jack anything he wants, and pleads that he take …show more content…
At the beginning of the story Walter is unhappy with his life in the United States, like many others, and wishes to move to the Soviet Union. He is enraptured with the vision of a perfect society where everybody has a job, a nice house and a happy life. However, he has no knowledge of the Russian language. He tries to convince Jack to make the journey with him, but he is unsuccessful. Until Jack unintentionally shoots Kowalski, that is. Jack goes into hiding while Walter finds out what happened. He discovers that Kowalski suffered only a minor injury, but lies to Jack and tells him that the landlord is dead. Fearing his arrest and likely death sentence, Jack finally agrees to accompany Walter. Throughout their journey, their friendship becomes strained due to various reasons. Walter is jealous of Jack's high paying job, and suspicious of his feelings towards Walter's fiancée Sue. Walter eventually finds a job as an underling in the Soviet secret police, the OGPU. This alienates him from his fellow Americans and ultimately turns him against Jack. Eager to see Wilbur Hewitt executed for fabricated crimes, Walter goes so far as to threaten Elizabeth and Jack when he finds that they have evidence proving his innocence. Brandishing a gun, Walter demands that Jack hand over the evidence he has or Elizabeth will be killed. Once the evidence is destroyed Walter tells Jack about