A Shape Changers Point of View - Assignment Example

Topic: Approaches to life from a shape changer’s point of view Introduction This paper seeks to compare and contrast Ventura’s ideas from the theme shape changing into different forms which leads to survival, success and character. It also seeks to discuss the themes used in the shape changer by Michael Ventura that reflects the Anglo Saxon period. Thesis statement: Ventura’s shape changing roots or stem is derived from an unstable and cruel aspect that attracted injustice, loss and sadness. However, these events also helped to change the young generation’s character and life’s. Ventura’s ideas and definition of shape changing The shape changing period is a time when Americans were prosecuted or executed for becoming radicals or communists. Ventura approaches the life changer concept from an eight year old point of view. In this way, he brings out the theme of a life changing aspect from a Childs point of view. This shows a period of heroic struggle which produced political ideals and many historical events that have added essence to literature as an art work. The author opens up a whole new world that awaits discovery, a place where experience and magic is captured in words and expressions. Shape changer is therefore an expression of art in different ways and forms. It is not only a beautiful aspect or prospect of life but also a truth that reflects important qualities in the world. It is important to note the very essence of human beings and races can be reflected in challenges and life’s lessons. This is clearly seen in the quote “Thank you mama. You taught me how compatible it is to play it safe, but the lesson wasn’t in cruelty of the loss; it was in the dignity of the risk” (Ventura, Part 1.pg.2). This quote clearly shows the lessons and impact of the same that has never lost its essence and beauty. However, the burden of pain and cruelty cannot be ignored. Ventura’s shape changing stems The life the Americans were used to was a life full of storms, struggle, cruelty, risks and a country that was terrorized by or with racism, impunity and hypocrisy. Therefore, Ventura’s shape changing roots or stem is derived from an unstable and cruel aspect that attracted injustice, loss and sadness. However, these events also helped to change the young generation’s character and life’s. This is clearly brought out from the quote “How many children have sat like I did, with one of their parents taken” (Ventura, Part 1,pg.3) Additionally, the quote “ you share my pride at how hard we are to kill” (Ventura, Part 1, pg3) clearly shows how the experiences have changed their lives. Sedaris’s experiences It is important to note that in every high culture literary genre chivalric style is used in order to bring out the effects on the narrative of the verse and the heroic prose. Heroic codes have been largely used in this tale to bring out Ventura & Sedaris as super heroes. The characters do not only possess chivalric ideals but also try to define the heroic theme during the period. However, Ventura’s experiences are more traumatic due to the fact that he was only 5 years old. This is clearly seen in the quote “such a feeling in a child blocks out all others, like a seizure and leaves the child dazed and alone in a frightening way” (Ventura, 1993, P1, pg.6). In the quote, “A child’s face at 7 will be another face at 17. A child is a shape changer. (Ventura, 1993, P1, pg.6) clearly explains how at the age of seven the child was transformed into s shape changer. However, the lessons were hard learnt. Effects of the shape changing genre There are numerous themes that are used in this story. These themes include; nature and human society, futility of human constructions, faith in God, pagan sources and Christian overlay, loss of innocence and fall of man, questioning societal values. The theme of nature and human society entails the conflicts and the forces that pushed the writer to confront the external and internal forces of nature. The challenges were brought about by his fear of death, survival and his painful experiences. In the book, the writer realizes the distinction between human believes, the power of nature, world’s mockery and world’s tolerance. The futility of human constructions is depicted in the technical sense and the ritualism of the tough experience, unsure future and contests of judgments. This simply means that there is a superficial questioning of the purpose for human constructs in this book. The viability of changing values is a very vital aspect in the story. The chivalric codes used in human constructions are the main embodiment in the context of the same. There is a big contrast between the chivalric code and the questionable nature of faith in God. The parodies of these elements seem to be excessive and deliberate in relation to shape changing. These themes help to satirize the language used in the book. Quotes; “ The kitchen in 1953 taught me that I could no longer afford my walk” (Ventura, 1993 P.III pg.8) and “ if I continued to walk that way through the world, whatever had come after my parents would come after me” (Ventura, P.III,pg 8). These quotes clearly show that the writer had no choice but to change his life. Sedaris ‘plague of tics’ The ‘plague of tics’ raises the question is whether the version of reality theme explores a blurring difference between reality and a myth using a magical realism genre. According to the themes in the book, the author tries to explain that most people turn to myths as a way of explaining what is unexplainable. However, the unknown seems accessible and easy to interpret. In this way, the community shares a collective experience. The author tries to explain that myths can be turned in to reality. The theme of isolation explores methods and ways of how to overcome personal isolation collectively as a community. As a shape changer, Ventura believes that at the age of seven, it was his responsibility to help her mother to survive. This is evident in the quote: “my mother will be too crazy to help me survive. I will help her in fact” (Ventura. PIII, pg.9) However, Sedaris uses his experiences to protect himself and try to survive. Ventura insists in one quote that “he had to find himself in the voice, walk, thoughts and heart, find the swift, intent fierce forces that played around him” (Ventura, 1993, PIII, pg 9). On the other hand, Sedaris used his experiences to survive. Successful life experiences Both Ventura and Sedaris end up as successful writers with a concern and humor for humanity. This is because of the shape changing experiences they both went through in their lives. This evident in the quote: “could the awkward walker have written what I have written?”(Ventura, 1993, Pg 10) and I’ll express myself there, we’ll meet in the last paragraph” (Ventura, 1993, pg 10). The two went through almost similar experiences and ended up with almost similar lives. Conclusion The author uses a familiar language and innovative language to develop the major or the principal thematic concerns. The thematic concerns were; oppression and survival in a society and the realities of being different in a society. Many critics have praised the author’s works. This is because of the honesty, passion, musicality, mastery of words and originality. However, other reviews have suggested that the author’s works have numerous punctuations which are distracting. In answer to these questions, the author suggests that the book’s title conveys the theme and the tempting label of the same. Works Cited Michael.V , The shape Changer,Parts I,II,and III, LA Weekly, 1993 David Sedaris , dress your family in corduroy,Parts LA Weekly, 2004 Allem.P, delving into sedaris world, The sacramental bee, 2013, pg 138 Read More