American Theme-Individualism :: essays research papers

American Theme-Individualism     Literary works reflect the main ideas of the American mind. An American theme that is seen in unlike works of literature is individuality. Individuality is comported in three different literary works from Frost, Chopin, and Paine. These works of literature aid us in maturation an open mind about what the American people should expect in society. Following others doesnt guide us in any way because it does not allow for us to express our innermost feelings. Throughout these three works, individualism is expressed in various ways. Although all three works do expound the idea of individualism, Paine seems to approach it in a different way.Robert Frosts poem, "The Road Not Taken", is an insightful idealistic attempt to illustrate the problem of free will. In the first line, Frost uses the metaphor "Two roads diverged" (1), to establish not only the hard decision the traveler must quarter in the poem, but life itse lf. The decisions we make in life, like the traveler in this poem, are not to be taken carelessly. Many have a desire to be adventurous, yet fear possibilities of failing if we are different from others. In this poem, the road that he decides to take wanted wear. This road is not a well-traveled path and no one has taken it before. The central idea of Frosts poem is individualism. Frost shows that being his own person makes life so much less difficult because he is able to act the way he would like to without worrying about everyone else. Frost shows us that we should all express our feelings and be our own person, even if no one else will follow. He took the path that no one else did and that has made all the difference.Similarly, in Kate Chopins miserable story "The Story of an Hour," the central theme of individuality is also expressed. When Mrs. Mallard received the news of her husband s death, she was in a deep declare of grief. After she realized that she would now h ave freedom, she began to rejoice. Even though she loved her husband and will weep for him once more, one thought comes to her over and over again free, free, free(546). Mrs. Mallard realizes at that instant that her life from now on is her own to live as she chooses no more will she have to move over in to the needs and wishes of her husband.