Can you recommend some 'man vs society' short stories?
One well - known'man vs society' short story is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. In this story, a small town has an annual lottery where the winner is stoned to death. It shows how the individual, Tessie Hutchinson, is pitted against the long - held and blindly - followed traditions of the society. Another is 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut. It presents a dystopian society where everyone is made equal by handicapping the more intelligent, strong, or beautiful. The protagonist, Harrison, rebels against this forced equality which is a clear case of man against society. And 'A&P' by John Updike also falls into this category. Sammy, the young cashier, quits his job in a supermarket in a moment of rebellion against the stodgy social norms and expectations represented by his manager and the customers.
A good example is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The female narrator is oppressed by the medical and social norms of her time which prescribe rest cure for her supposed 'hysteria'. Her growing insanity as she rebels against the restrictions placed on her by society, mainly through the symbol of the yellow wallpaper, is a powerful portrayal of man (or in this case woman) vs society. Additionally, 'Rip Van Winkle' by Washington Irving can be seen in this light. Rip wakes up after a long sleep to find a changed society, and has some trouble adjusting, representing the clash between an individual and a new social order.
Sure. 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' by Ursula K. Le Guin is a great'man vs society' short story. In Omelas, the happiness of the whole city depends on the suffering of one child. Some people accept this social construct, but those who can't bear it walk away, representing the conflict between the individual's moral compass and the society's way of functioning. Also, 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' by Herman Melville. Bartleby's passive resistance, constantly answering 'I would prefer not to' in the face of the demands of his work and society, shows the struggle of an individual against the norms and pressures of the work - oriented society.
Can you recommend some 'man vs society conflict short stories'?
One such short story is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. In this story, the society has a long - held tradition of a lottery where the 'winner' is stoned to death. The main character, Tessie Hutchinson, initially goes along with the lottery like everyone else but when her family is chosen, she protests. It shows the conflict between an individual's sense of right and wrong and the power of a blindly followed tradition in society.
Can you recommend some 'individual vs society short stories'?
Another great one is 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut. In this dystopian short story, society enforces complete equality, which means handicapping the more talented individuals. Harrison Bergeron is an individual who rebels against this forced equality, highlighting the conflict between his individuality and the over - controlling society.
Can you recommend some man vs man short stories?
Another one is 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London. Although it's mainly about man vs nature, there is also an element of man vs man in a sense. The man in the story is pitted against his own pride and lack of respect for the wilderness which can be seen as an internal 'man' he is fighting against, leading to his downfall.
Can you recommend some man vs man short stories?
Sure. 'The Most Dangerous Game' is a great man vs man short story. It's about a hunter who becomes the hunted on an island. Another one is 'The Cask of Amontillado' where one man takes revenge on another in a very chilling way. Also, 'To Build a Fire' can be seen as a man vs man story in a sense, as the man battles against the unforgiving nature which can be considered as an adversary, just like another man would be.
Can you give some examples of 'man vs society stories'?
Sure. In 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley, John the Savage battles the hedonistic and highly stratified society. He finds the values of this world, like casual sex and drug - use for pleasure, completely against his own. Another instance is 'The Hunger Games' where Katniss Everdeen stands up to the Capitol, a society that forces children to fight to the death for entertainment. And then there's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' where Atticus Finch challenges the racist society in which he lives when he defends a black man.
Can you recommend some good man vs man short stories?
Sure. 'The Most Dangerous Game' is a great one. It's about a hunter who becomes the hunted on an island. Another is 'The Cask of Amontillado', where one man takes revenge on another in a very dark and creepy way. And 'To Build a Fire' shows a man's struggle against another man's overconfidence in the face of nature.
What are the common themes in'man vs society' short stories?
One common theme is the struggle for individuality. In'man vs society' stories, the protagonist often tries to break free from the conformist mold that society has set. For example, in 'The Catcher in the Rye' Holden Caulfield rebels against the phony society he sees around him. Another theme is the fight for justice. The individual may oppose a society that is unjust or corrupt. In short stories like 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (which can be considered in part a man vs society story), Atticus Finch battles against the racist society in his town. Also, the theme of alienation is common. The character may feel alienated from society because of their different beliefs or values, like in Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' where Gregor Samsa, after his transformation, is completely alienated from his family and the society he once belonged to.
Can you recommend some 'man vs nature short stories'?
Sure. 'The Law of Life' by Jack London is a great 'man vs nature' short story. It shows an old man left behind by his tribe in the cold, facing nature's harshness. There's also 'A Sound of Thunder' by Ray Bradbury. In this story, time travel is involved, and the small changes made by man during the travel lead to huge consequences in nature. And 'The Snow - Image: A Childish Miracle' also has elements of man interacting with nature in a rather unique way.
Can you recommend some 'Man vs Himself' short stories?
One famous 'Man vs Himself' short story is 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson. In this story, Dr. Jekyll creates a potion that unleashes his alter ego, Mr. Hyde, representing his inner dark side. It shows the struggle within a man as he battles his own repressed desires and the duality of human nature.
Can you recommend some 'man vs supernatural' short stories?
One great 'man vs supernatural' short story is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It's about a family who comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that grants wishes but with horrible consequences. Another is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, where the narrator's guilt over his supernatural - like perception of the old man's eye drives him to madness. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' can also be considered in this category as the woman's descent into madness seems to be influenced by some sort of supernatural force within the wallpaper.