Prompt Number Three

Discuss one of the three course themes that you have not discussed in any other prompt. Limit yourself to a computer-generated essay of 400 – 500 words comparing and contrasting either (a) two different significant texts, or (b) two different cultural genres from one period, (c) two like cultural genres from two periods, or (d) two consecutive historical periods.
The framework for all lasting story is the Hero’s Journey. Whether reflected in early myth or in modern dystiopc novels the catching stories are the ones that have an anticipated cycle of the hero’s journey. Two books that follow this preset journey are Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451. Hamlet is the troubled prince of Denmark called to action and contemplation by his father’s death, his mother’s wedding to his uncle and the apparition he has seen of his late father. All around Hamlet is confusion as he suspects there are underlying deceits he cannot see. Hamlet is called out of mourning and confusion to avenge is father’s murder, but is cautioned against hurting his mother and tainting his character. Hamlet holds a great responsibility on his shoulders, and several people’s fate (and hearts) in his hand. His feigned madness is called into question by the readers. Is it truly false, or did it only begin so, and has his acting became the reality? Through his intrigues he loses his self and finds he has not and cannot keep the promise he made to his father. He betrays his feelings for Ophelia by spurning her, kills a less than guilty Polonius and frightens his mother. In the climax of these whirling events Laretes duels with Hamlet and strikes him with a poisoned blade, and his mother falls dead to poison meant for Hamlet. Through this journey Hamlet loses himself, hurts his mother with his accusations and fails to avenge his father’s murder. Yet he is our hero, a triumph over self because he after losing the one good thing he loved, he finds his reason again. He holds to honor and tries to amend the mistakes he’s made, even though it costs him his life and his quest. Through restoring his honor he redeems himself and ends his hero’s journey.
Guy Montag is a fireman, a public official in charge of setting fires. His hero’s journey begins by meeting his new neighbor, and inquisitive young woman named Clarisse. She is an introduction to a mindset and lifestyle completely unknown to him. Where other people immerse themselves in frivoulous entertainment and indulge in no thought, Clarisse gladly engages in methodical thought and whimsy. through talking together, Clarisse plants the idea of something different in Guy’s mind. He starts to repeat her questions to his co-workers on their professions history and at the next fire they set he unthinkingly grabs a book and hides it. His growing discontentment with is life gnaws at him, and he begins to question the value of his relationship with his wife. After Clarisse dies, Guy receives a visit from his superior at work who simultaneously tries to defend their profession and condemn thinkers like Clarisse and her family, claiming that Clarisse is better off dead than in a family of free thinkers. But Guy, now awakened to his dismal existence and the possibility of a better reality won’t accept it. As he seeks for answers he is met at every turn with the denial of the value of books and knowledge and is instead offered a life of pleasure, entertainment and mindless equality. He is betrayed by his wife and soon deemed a danger to society, a criminal of danger to everyone. With the help of a professor he makes it away from the chase and mindlessness of the city and finds a group of “homeless intellectuals” who made it their goal to keep mental copies of books. Guy finds the beginnings of a purposeful life with these men and finds out there are more like them. The men are part of an underground network with plans to wait out the hedonistic mindset of mankind until books are wanted again. Guy has come home to a place he didn’t know he needed and has completed his journey.

Word Count: 642