Modern America

Modern America

Annie Proulx - The Half Skinned Steer

Half around the hoop he spied the interstate entrance ramp, veered for it, collided with a panel truck emblazoned STOP SMOKING! HYPNOSIS THAT WORKS!, was rammed from behind by a stretch limo, the limo in its turn rear-ended by a yawning hydroblast operator in a company pickup (Proulx, 1997).

This quote identifies the dream and flashback in which Mero is caught up while he is packing to get to Rollo's funeral. This dream of his was one that took him into his past and he realized what life he lived. The quote explains a part of his dream and a small part of his life, as well. It is important to note that this quote does not directly explain the past of Mero; however, highlights a part of his past. This means that his past is something that he does not want to remember. It is important for him to realize that his past does not belong to him anymore and that his present and future is everything.

The central theme and idea that is presented in this story is that people should not indulge in their past too much and should focus on their present and work for their future. This will help them in realizing the importance of present in their life. Furthermore, flashbacks of his past have made him realize his relations with his family, particularly with his younger brother, Rollo and his father. He remembered the love triangle that happened between his father, his girlfriend and Rollo. Mero does not get flashbacks of his past continuously throughout the story. He is on his way to his younger brother's funeral and something or the other makes him remember a part of his past.

The combination of getting back into the present and going back into the past causes confusion for him and he causes an accident due to this. By the time he reaches his family's ranch, he forgets the entrance and gets stuck in snow. Next, he sees a cattle in the field near the ranch and thinks that the animal is there to get him. This story depicts the American culture that people get indulged in their past and are impacted by it in such a huge manner and they do not realize that they are wasting and spoiling their present due to it. Although, it is human nature that a person is impacted by his past; however, he should make sure that the present is focused and worked upon.

Ursula K. LeGuin - The Ones who walk Away from Omelas

The place they go towards is a place even less imaginable to most of us than the city of happiness. I cannot describe it at all. It is possible that it does not exist. But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.(Guin, 1993).

The quote above is the one on which the story ends. The author has made sure that he ends the ...