A famous country singer once twanged the refrain, "Just call me Cleopatra cause I 'm the Queen of Denial”. In fact this performer is one of many vocal artists to employ this pun in some way. Even politicians like Al Gore have used the phrase, "denial ain 't no river in Africa". The ubiquitous image of an ostrich with its head buried in the sand is another icon of denial. Perhaps no human failing is more ubiquitous and insidious than the propensity to ignore the truth and deny reality. Consequently, authors often create masterpieces that tinker with this compelling topic. The clever use of symbolism, the inspired adoption of intricate plot constructs, and the nuances of style are all ways that denial has been illustrated in literature in the
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Cultural anthropologists hypothesize that the style may have been created solely as a means of instruction for the uneducated masses. Today however, the heavy moral lessons are of less value because there are few universal moral norms, as the societal fabric has become more a tapestry and less a broadcloth. Conversely, there has been a rise in interest in reading about psychological failings instead of societal ones. One such tale is Oates 's "Where are You Going, Where Have You Been". In this truer the life yarn there are many important themes, both moral and psychological. The protagonist in this tale is a teenage girl who has convinced herself that she is mature enough to tackle whatever the world has to offer, and is beyond heeding her mothers ' advice, rather assuming that her mother is envious of her youth and beauty thus is not interested in her wellbeing. Yet this is a delusion, and because of the macabre nature of the story, the author illustrates this truth to great effect in her cautionary narrative, thus providing a beacon of truth for all young women.
While few universal moral truths remain, the golden rule, "do unto others", is one that has. In some stories the author employs the style of parable, to flesh out the details of the core message. Furthermore these messages can be enhanced by the ingenious development of characterization. In " A Good Man is Hard to Find, O 'Connor does this with aplomb. The main character of this story is imperious, supercilious, insensitive and self centered. Thus, this multifaceted character becomes the perfect sacrificial lamb with which to anchor the moral
Cultural anthropologists hypothesize that the style may have been created solely as a means of instruction for the uneducated masses. Today however, the heavy moral lessons are of less value because there are few universal moral norms, as the societal fabric has become more a tapestry and less a broadcloth. Conversely, there has been a rise in interest in reading about psychological failings instead of societal ones. One such tale is Oates 's "Where are You Going, Where Have You Been". In this truer the life yarn there are many important themes, both moral and psychological. The protagonist in this tale is a teenage girl who has convinced herself that she is mature enough to tackle whatever the world has to offer, and is beyond heeding her mothers ' advice, rather assuming that her mother is envious of her youth and beauty thus is not interested in her wellbeing. Yet this is a delusion, and because of the macabre nature of the story, the author illustrates this truth to great effect in her cautionary narrative, thus providing a beacon of truth for all young women.
While few universal moral truths remain, the golden rule, "do unto others", is one that has. In some stories the author employs the style of parable, to flesh out the details of the core message. Furthermore these messages can be enhanced by the ingenious development of characterization. In " A Good Man is Hard to Find, O 'Connor does this with aplomb. The main character of this story is imperious, supercilious, insensitive and self centered. Thus, this multifaceted character becomes the perfect sacrificial lamb with which to anchor the moral