¶ … Mulvaneys
The narrator of Joyce Carol Oates' novel We Were the Mulvaneys is youngest son Judd. In this particular passage from near the end of the novel, Judd Mulvaney is contemplating his life and the truth of human nature and human existence. In order to convey the importance of Judd's discovery, Oates utilizes certain literary devises which are intended to inform the reader and to manipulate how that reader sees the narrative. The most important literary techniques used in this passage are first person narration, epiphany, and bildungsroman in order to tell the story of how Judd Mulvaney changed from an innocent young boy into a jaded and unfortunately knowledgeable young man.
A first person narrator is a literary technique which authors use to add voracity and honesty to the events that they write about. Using the first person puts the reader into the position where they witness the events through the eyes of this chosen character. In this scene, Judd is watching nature, the falling leaves and the water...
Although one could write a gritty, objective tale about either boxing or farm workers, and although Joyce could have interviewed either the authors she critiques or the boxers she chronicles, her concerns are now more of a metaphysical nature, and her prose reflects this -- Joyce is now less a writer in the field of contemporary journalist, than a cultural critic who considers her subjectivity a strength rather than
The system, the attorneys and the jury seem to be too biased in their assessment of the case, obviously swerving from the real purpose that any trial should have, that is, reaching justice. Racism which is inherently present even in modern, present-day society is even a part of the system of justice, as Oates observes. Instead of a fair outcome, the result of the trial is the huge confusion
Joyce Carol Oates sees "The Picture of Dorian Gray" as a revelation as to another side of Wilde; one that questioned the aestheticism professed by Lord Henry and other characters in the novel. She claims that the book evokes Faust and the devil, as the portrait of Dorian Gray was surely evil and the aesthetic beauty of Dorian corrupted by demonic influence. In this light, A Picture of Dorian Gray is
Joyce Carol Oates and the Traits of the Mid-Twentieth Century Writer Just as society changes over time, writing changes over time. Writers today rarely write in the same forms as Shakespeare once did. As well as style, the subjects of writing change, with this expected since society has changed over time. For example, it is hardly likely that Shakespeare would have written about the issue of feminism. Even looking at writing
Joyce Carol Oates story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? The writer of this paper explores why society sometimes punishes those who are different using the story as an example. Society has always treated people who are differently with a less welcome attitude than those who are like everybody else. It has held true in almost every life setting from school classrooms, to work environments to social gatherings.
Worried about You," by Joyce Carol Oates. Specifically, it will summarize the story, and the characters in the story. "We Were Worried about You" is a story of family, but it is also a story of what people ignore in their lives, and how it affects them. WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOU The characters in Oates short story are seemingly a normal and happy middle class family. They identify with their
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