Leftovers

The modern piece of literature Leftovers by Laura Weiss is a book that focuses on the troubled adolescence of two girls, Ardith and Blair. These young women "have committed an unforgiveable act in the name on love and justice" and are paying for even second of it.

The story is based on the childhood of the two girls, and examines what could have possibly went wrong. The circumstances include alcoholic parents, abusive siblings, and forbidden friendship. Simple choices such as wearing a revealing shirt out at night, taking a different route home at night, or even deciding to start a conversation with your mother result in events such as cutting ones wrists, being locked out of the house and being forced to sleep with a padlock on your door, which result in desperation and the need for revenge, which in turn results in committing a heinous crime.

Is the crime always the fault of the criminal?

Crime And Punishment

Crime and Punishment is probably one of the most talked about pieces of literature ever, and the work's author, Fyodor Dostoevsky, has recieved much praise.

The novel is based on a man's decision to murder an old pawnbroker. This man's decision to murder was thought to produce wealth and happiness not only for the murderer, but for humanity as a whole. However, much to the murderer's (Raskolnikov) suprise, the crime gave way to months of physical and mental torment that was uncontrollable and unavoidable.

Raskolnikov committed a crime deemed the worst crime in the world, and expected to walk away unscarred. He paid for his actions through a jail sentence, mental anguish, and the loss of respect between him and those he loved. Although murder may not be and everyday action, it is still an action, and there is still a price to be paid for it.

The Awakening

Kate Chopin's literary masterpiece The Awakening addresses the question: do our everyday actions effect our lives in the long run? in a very unique and almost subtle way.

When Edna chooses to marry out of pure lust, she ends up living a life full of unwarranted passion for other men, lack of interest in her children, and udder unhappiness about her situation-despite her beauty and wealth. The novel ends with Edna's suicide, only after she is deserted by the only man she ever cared for. Edna's hasty and unreasonable marriage may have given her brief satisfaction, but her lonliness and pain were the factors that eventually ended her life. She chose to kill herself by walking into the ocean, and being unable to swim, ended up being engulfed in the waves, just as she was engulfed in her own misery and passion.

The Kite Runner

In Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner Amir makes many decisions in his early and mid childhood that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Amir's best friend Hassan is the type that will do anything for his best friend, but Amir never returns the favor. Amir treats Hassan horrendously, and stands as a witness to Hassan's violent rape without taking action. Amir's constant ignorance and eventual shunning of his best friend result in Amir's troubled adulthood and lack of trust in individuals. He feels a constant sense of dread and sadness, especially when he learns Hassan has been murdered. Despite Amir's successful life in America, he returns to Afghanistan to redeem himself by adopting Hassan's son and rescuing him from child slavery and sexual abuse.

Amir's seemingly typical childhood disregard for those who are different turned in to much more, a life wasted trying to fix his past mistakes.

King Henry

In Shakespeare's King Henry The 4th, there are many last minute decisions that change the character's life forever. For instance, Hal decides to spend all his time in bars, and ignores his duty as prince. This action may seem stupid at the time, however, his weakness only adds to his comeback as one of the greatest kings ever.

In addition, when Hal decides to avenge his father by killing Hotspur, his ultimate decision effects his father, and the entire kingdom (Hotspur wanted to usurp the throne.)

Although these decisions may not seem like typical everyday ones, they are still decisions that effect the charachters life in the long run, and in ways they might not suspect.

Ghosts

The story "Ghosts" by Henrik Ibsen relates to my big question well. My question is, How do our everyday choices effect our lives in the long run?

Osvald's father (Captain Alving) choses to have an affair with the housemaid, this spur of the moment decision not only effects Captain Alvin's life, but his son Osvlad's as well. Osvald is in love with Regina, but cannot be with her because she is his stepsister (daughter of Captain Alving as the maid.)

Mrs. Alving is effected as well, she strains herself to near death to protect her husband's secret- and his reputation.

When Osvald decides to gauge his eyes out, not only is he physically effecting his body and his life, but he breaks the heart of his mother, and Regina as well.

This web of actions effects many, not just the outcome of their lives, but the outcome of other's lives as well.

My Big Question

My big question is... How do our everyday actions effect our life in the long run?

This question is applicable to many books, songs, and can be applied to real life.

I chose this question because of its broad spectrum of answers, and the vitality of the question.

Oepidus Rex

My big question is: How do the everyday things we do effect our lives in the long run?In the play "Oedipus Rex", Sophocles addresses this question by telling the story of a man who tried to fight fate.

By going to the oracle in the first place, he set the stage for his struggle. Escaping his fate meant so much to him that he ran away. On the road, he met and killed a man who turns out to be his father. The choice of Oedipus to leave the City where he was residing and refuse to step aside for three minutes while the other pased is an example of a choice that changed his life forever. Patience is a virtue, and i feel as if he could have easily avoided "weaving his own doom".

In addition, the decision to travel to Thebes instead of any other town would have prevented him from marrying his mother. His CHOICE to try to solve the sphynx's riddle is just another example of how seeminlgy miniscule decisions can change a life forever.