The Theme of Second Life

Book Review # 104691

Literature > English

A look at second life experience through literature.

2,614 words () | 3 sources | APA | 2008

Paper Summary:

This study discusses the theme of second life as depicted in three stories, namely: "The Lady of Glenwith Grange" by Wilkie Collins, "The Lottery" by Maria Edgeworth and "The Gardener" by Rudyard Kipling. The author provides outlines of these three stores and explains how the main characters are faced with a second life by means of their luck, relations or other reasons. The author specifically focuses on the source and reasons for the changes in the characters' lives as well as the results of their second lives on their personalities.

From the Paper:

"The theme of second life stands for the significant change in the life course of a person. For some reason or other, a human can experience a new way in his life, can redirect his course of life which results in profound and serious changes in his life style, living standarts and in the end personality. Similarly, the main characters of the stories are faced with a second life by means of their luck, relations or other reason. The source and reasons of this change are my focus point as well as the results of their second life on their personality.
"In Collins story, The Lady of Glenwith Grange, an unusual experience of a small English family, Welwyns, is introduced. Welwyns live a quiet ordinary life in Grange, England. They have a daughter, Ida, but at the birth of their second daughter, Rosamod, Mrs. Welwyn dies. She makes her elder daughter promise that she will be like a mother to Rosamond. Rosamond grows up and becomes a beautiful lady. She marries to a Frenchman, Franval. He immediately receives the respect of Mr. Welwyn and Rosamond but the unnamed narrator of the story and Ida mysteriously dislike him."

Sample of Sources Used:

Collins, Wilkie. HorrorMasters. 7 May 2008 <http://www.horrormasters.com/Text/a2991.pdf>.
Edgeworth, Maria. Project Gutenberg. 6 May 2008 <www.gutenberg.org>.
Kipling, Rudyard. The Gardener. n.d.