The concept of evil is presented throughout many of the novels that we have read this semester. The way that evil is defined differs between Self-Reliance, Bless Me Ultima, Siddhartha and Their Eyes Were Watching God. These various novels use evil either as a noun or as a verb and the definition differs depending which novel one looks at. That in which is evil brought upon fear and the individuals who encountered it “had been afraid of the awful presence”.(Bless Me Ultima, 2.36-37) Evil is presented as a force that either doesn’t exist, a physical entity that exists outside of oneself or as good left undone.
Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya shows evil as an institution. Evil is seen in a way that benefits and is an understandable characteristic …show more content…
Siddhartha experiences this when he realizes that he is a terrible father; he is lacking good. Siddhartha is not evil; he just lacks the common sense to be a good father to Kamala. “You also do not love—how else could you practice love as a craft? Perhaps, people of our kind can't love. The childlike people can; that's their secret." (Siddhartha, 6.50) Siddhartha proves that he has passed the test of spirituality and that the love between Kamala and himself is universal and mutually beneficial. Siddhartha denounces everything and ultimately finds enlightenment through this by having renounced his “home and parents, you have renounced your own will, you have renounced friendship. That is what the teachings preach, that is the will of the Illustrious One. That is what you wished for yourself.” (Siddhartha, 3.25) This quote explains how Siddhartha fulfills the empty space that he would have replaced with worldly possessions and evil with enlightenment. If Siddhartha was not enlightened then evil would fill the void that he has created. The concept of evil in Siddhartha is just the remainder of what is left empty. If there is empty space in Siddhartha’s world; then evil will almost always fill it if one is not …show more content…
Hurston writes her novel in such a way that the reader does not victimize Janie; the reader sympathizes with her plight. The reader is also lead to not hate or place blame on any of the other characters in the novel that act awfully such as Logan, Jody, and even Tea Cake. The concept of evil is not present because the realization of what each of the characters wants and what their goals are is evident. The reader does not loathe Logan because he is stuck in his ways and expects a traditional submissive wife. The reader does not shun Jody because of his oppressive ways because he has a goal to be successful and does not seem to know any better. Janie states to Jody that “You oughter have some sympathy ‘bout yo’self. You ain’t no hog” (Their Eyes Were Watching God, 8.26-28); Jody is a hypocrite and has no sympathy for Janie but he is pursuing his dreams and only considering herself. The reader takes on a less than pleasant view of Jody Killicks but it is understandable that he is not evil for following his goals although he is a “hog”. When Tea Cake takes Janie’s money and gambles it away he explains and pleads with Janie that he’ll get the money back. He promises “From now on, you gointuh eat whutever mah money can buy uh and wear de same. When Ah ain’t got nothin’ you don’t git nothin’.”(Their Eyes Were Watching God,13.76-77) and the reader as well as Janie submits
Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya shows evil as an institution. Evil is seen in a way that benefits and is an understandable characteristic …show more content…
Siddhartha experiences this when he realizes that he is a terrible father; he is lacking good. Siddhartha is not evil; he just lacks the common sense to be a good father to Kamala. “You also do not love—how else could you practice love as a craft? Perhaps, people of our kind can't love. The childlike people can; that's their secret." (Siddhartha, 6.50) Siddhartha proves that he has passed the test of spirituality and that the love between Kamala and himself is universal and mutually beneficial. Siddhartha denounces everything and ultimately finds enlightenment through this by having renounced his “home and parents, you have renounced your own will, you have renounced friendship. That is what the teachings preach, that is the will of the Illustrious One. That is what you wished for yourself.” (Siddhartha, 3.25) This quote explains how Siddhartha fulfills the empty space that he would have replaced with worldly possessions and evil with enlightenment. If Siddhartha was not enlightened then evil would fill the void that he has created. The concept of evil in Siddhartha is just the remainder of what is left empty. If there is empty space in Siddhartha’s world; then evil will almost always fill it if one is not …show more content…
Hurston writes her novel in such a way that the reader does not victimize Janie; the reader sympathizes with her plight. The reader is also lead to not hate or place blame on any of the other characters in the novel that act awfully such as Logan, Jody, and even Tea Cake. The concept of evil is not present because the realization of what each of the characters wants and what their goals are is evident. The reader does not loathe Logan because he is stuck in his ways and expects a traditional submissive wife. The reader does not shun Jody because of his oppressive ways because he has a goal to be successful and does not seem to know any better. Janie states to Jody that “You oughter have some sympathy ‘bout yo’self. You ain’t no hog” (Their Eyes Were Watching God, 8.26-28); Jody is a hypocrite and has no sympathy for Janie but he is pursuing his dreams and only considering herself. The reader takes on a less than pleasant view of Jody Killicks but it is understandable that he is not evil for following his goals although he is a “hog”. When Tea Cake takes Janie’s money and gambles it away he explains and pleads with Janie that he’ll get the money back. He promises “From now on, you gointuh eat whutever mah money can buy uh and wear de same. When Ah ain’t got nothin’ you don’t git nothin’.”(Their Eyes Were Watching God,13.76-77) and the reader as well as Janie submits