Modernist writers and the the dilemmas of the modern man - Admission/Application Essay Example

number Modern Man dilemmas Study shows that the story, “The Rocking Horse by D.H Lawrence” outlines the extent of sacrifice people make to please their friends and family happy. The story is about Hester, hard worker who is the family’s breadwinner. Hester is a commercial artist whose job does not pay as much as she would wish for. Her husband is a disappointment owing to the failures he put the family through (Lawrence 12). Hester has to take care for the family and ensure the family needs are met.

The family expenses seem to outweigh her capabilities and deprive her off the joys of life. However, her son, Paul is intelligent in choosing which horse would win a race and pursues his desires through betting. His first bet ends up being right and he convinces his uncle to place more bet on a horse, which eventually wins. He loves his mother and after hitting a jackpot to make her happy.A close study of the story shows how mothers value and care for their children. Hester is concerned about Paul’s health and every time before Paul makes a bet her mother checks up on her to make sure he is okay.

She warned him not to endanger his life in the process of making their family rich. Despite Hester’s little income, she feels its best for her to take up her husband’s role and care for the family. Hester is sad after Paul’s death and regrets deeply. She can only recall her brother’s voice telling her she is eighty thousand pounds richer but at the expense of losing her son.A brief summary on Kew Gardens by Virginia Woolf point at a man eat man society. The story is based on a flowerbed where different people pass by and seem to remember a phase in their life.

The first couple is Simon and Eleanor. Simon recalls a long lost love. He proposed to Lily but she turned down his request. Eleanor on the other hand remembers her moments at the shore of the lake where she was kissed on her neck (Woolf 32). The person who appears after Simon’s family is an old man. He took part in the army owing to his reference to war. He is delusional and rushes to William thinking that it was a woman. Also, the story outlines two elderly women of low status in the society.

One of the women, who were supposed to have tea, neglects the idea of having tea and springs to enjoy the gardens. That is why the story returns to the snail, which is squashed by a couple as they leave the flowerbed.Using close analysis the modern man’s dilemma as depicted in The Rocking Horse is the value of love and sacrifice. The book revolves around the sacrifice people make to please others. Paul has the initiative to help the woman and save her from difficulty in maintaining the family needs.

Paul decides to spend his time with the horses and making sure his bets are perfect to avoid loss. Paul is also zealous and loving enough to get her a gift. He tries to make her mother’s life happier at his own expense. However, he gets sick and eventually dies while pursuing his ambitions of making her mother happy. Hester makes sure the family is taken care of though she fears that she might not be able to maintain the family. She opts to visit Paul, who reveals to her his secret on how he knew which horse would win.

A close evaluation of the Kew Gardens shows what the good life offers; the ambience and enjoyment that human being desire. That is why the garden and the flowerbed offer symbolically good conditions for human productivity. However, the problem evolves when everyone wants to achieve their roles with disregard to the others. For instance, the snail is squashed while attempting to cross over the flowerbed. This reflects a man eat man society. The snail being down in the food chain lacks any power to protect itself.

The statement shows that greater people in the society eliminate the smaller without regard (Ballenas 9). Simon reflects back to his long love, Lily. This picture portrays a dilemma since Simon is unable to get true happiness from her initial lover. The elderly man recalls wartime and talks of sugar, flour kippers and greens. These are constituents of delicacies say pancakes. Their mention is figurative to resemble the man’s view towards women. He mumbles with the woman, though in the real sense is William.

An evaluation of the novel also reflects hope of a future generation. However, the future generation will experience the same problem lest change is adopted. The problem is when people seek to quench their desires with no consideration to others. The couples that pass by display their love by holding hands and enjoying the garden (Duncan, n.d). However, this is a cover for their selfish needs and wants because each person bears in mind what they need from the other party. This is evident when one woman from the duo leaves her partner to take pleasure in the garden not considering what her friend wished to per take.

In conclusion, the story, ‘The Kew Gardens’ focuses on how every individual tries to extort their needs from their colleagues. The garden displays the pleasure life offered where the people’s love to achieve self-desire kills the ambience making it hard for everyone to reach their target. The story also has some unfortunate unfolding suggesting that life is not a matter of luck. The story of the Rocking Horse winner tries to point out a society where people are conscious of other’s needs.

Such mindset leads the people to sacrifice their own joy to put a smile on another’s face. In addition, the society mindset used in Rocking Horse story allows for community growth and care. Works CitedBallenas, Carla. Kew Gardens. USA: Arcadia Publishing, 2011. Print.Duncan, Lindsay. Good reads. 12 October 2013. Retrieved on 05 May 2014 from .Lawrence, D.H. The Rocking Horse Winner. Boston: Bedford/StMartins, 2011. Print.Woolf, Virginia. Kew Gardens. New York: Royal Botanic Gardens, 1919. Print.