When the narrator provides some exposition, it is clear that Georg and Ulrich have inherited this family quarrel. However, they have taken that inheritance and channeled it into their own mutual hate for one another. When they first meet in the forest, that hate is present.
Each had a rifle in his hand, each had hate in his heart and murder uppermost in his mind.
But in the following sentences, the narrator adds that the men are not absolute savages in regards to their mutual hate. In fact, Georg and Ulrich show a fleeting moment of civilized behavior:
But a man who has been brought up under the code of a restraining civilization cannot easily nerve himself to shoot down his neighbor in cold blood and without a word spoken, except for an offense against his hearth and honor.
This hesitation suggests that both men are capable of civilized behavior. This hesitation also allows just enough time for the tree to fall on both men, pinning them to the ground. It is in this predicament, facing their own mortality, that both men let go of their inherited quarrel and embrace a more civilized, humanistic regard for one another:
For a space both men were silent, turning over in their minds the wonderful changes that this dramatic reconciliation would bring about.
That first hesitation is a very subtle but significant hint that there is even a remote possibility for a reconciliation.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
What are some of Georg's and Ulrich's character traits using textual evidence?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Summarize the major research findings of "Toward an experimental ecology of human development."
Based on findings of prior research, the author, Bronfenbrenner proposes that methods for natural observation research have been applied in ...
-
One way to support this thesis is to explain how these great men changed the world. Indeed, Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) was the quintes...
-
At the most basic level, thunderstorms and blizzards are specific weather phenomena that occur most frequently within particular seasonal cl...
-
x=4cost y=2sint First, take the derivative of x and y with respect to t. dx/dt=-4sint dy/dt=2cost Then, determine the first derivative dy/dx...
-
Ethno-nationalism is defined as "advocacy of or support for the political interests of a particular ethnic group, especially its nation...
-
Both boys are very charismatic and use their charisma to persuade others to follow them. The key difference of course is that Ralph uses his...
-
Find the indefinite integral $\displaystyle \int \sec^4 \left( \frac{x}{2} \right) dx$. Illustrate by graphing both the integrand and its an...
-
The most basic attitude difference between Mr. Otis and Lord Canterville is their attitude toward the ghost. The attitude difference start...
No comments:
Post a Comment