Short Fiction: Characters & Conflict

Both authors employ rural landscapes solely as symbols of isolation impacting their respective protagonists’ fate negatively.

Pastoral settings provide solace from human cruelty uniformly throughout both novels allowing central figures temporary refuge or escape from troubles faced within society at large.

Nature acts primarily as an antagonist challenging human strength equally across both narratives due to harsh environmental conditions portrayed vividly by each author.

Hardy uses pastoral settings to highlight Tess's struggles against societal norms, while Steinbeck presents nature as a backdrop for Lennie's innocence and eventual tragedy.

It represents a stagnant backdrop that has little to no impact on the intensity of character interactions.

It symbolizes a safe haven that contrasts with the tumultuous love affairs within its confines.

It reflects the turbulent emotions and untamed nature of the characters' relationships.

It underscores the social class disparities between characters, affecting their romantic endeavors.

By shaping their personality and values

By influencing their dialogue and actions

By revealing their physical appearance

By determining their relationships with other characters

The setting is only used as background with little effect on shaping character motivations or actions.

The adversity can lead to growth or expose inner conflicts within the protagonist.

A war-torn city ensures that all characters will display unyielding optimism throughout the story.

It predominantly provides opportunities for romance between characters amidst chaos.

Dynamic character

Protagonist

Antagonist

Static character

It would reinforce the rigidity of class structures through more elaborate descriptions.

The focus on technology advancements would become the central theme.

It could introduce ambiguity and fragmentation that challenge traditional social narratives.

Characters' interactions with nature would be depicted in a more romanticized way.

The portrayal of real-life figures brings authenticity to fictional narratives about historical inevitability.

Characters' choices intersect with historical forces, illustrating the tension between human agency and destiny.

Details from history provide context for understanding character motivations without impacting plot directionality.

Familiarity with historical outcomes allows readers to focus more on character development than plot twists.

Chilly environments act equally as obstacles that physically hinder character progress in both novels.

The frigid surroundings are symbolic representations of societal coldness towards the individual, alike.

Dostoevsky uses harsh winter weather to mirror Raskolnikov's inner turmoil; Melville utilizes endless oceans to emphasize Ahab's obsessive isolation.

Each writer portrays extreme environments as mere set pieces for existential reflections.

It highlights futuristic architectural advances irrelevant to totalitarian regimes’ examination.

Airstrip One serves both as Big Brother’s power base where constant surveillance embodies total party control.

The location stands primarily for urbanization issues faced by societies during Orwell’s times.

It offers detailed insight into London post-WWII without larger political interpretation.

The setting represents the decline of old societal structures and Emily's desperate grasp on a faded past.

It emphasizes the geographical landscape of Mississippi without deeper cultural implications.

The setting reflects merely the personal financial troubles that plague Emily after her father’s death.

The plantation is symbolic of Emily's mental deterioration, not related to historical context.