Concerning Lessing's "Through the Tunnel," you should be cautious if you're looking for a cliche or a one-liner that tells the reader how to live life. Fables and other kinds of literature do that, but sophisticated contemporary literature usually does not. Life is more ambiguous than that, and sophisticated literature usually reflects that.
Theme in "Through the Tunnel" relates to the ideas raised.
First, the issues of parental control and protection and a child's independence are raised. Jerry is apparently a little overprotected at the beginning of the story and his mom knows this. The mother struggles with trying to give Jerry some freedom, and Jerry struggles with trying to be independent.
Second, Jerry's self-determination is featured. He is immature at the beginning of the story, but grows tremendously during the course of the plot. He trains himself in order to swim through the tunnel, and succeeds in doing so. He accomplishes his goal in spite of great physical obstacles. He has grown up.
In the resolution, Jerry is no longer interested in going to the bay because he no longer needs to. He accomplished what he needed to, and proved what he needed to.
No comments:
Post a Comment