Question

In your Discussion post, identify in one of the three assigned stories, (Cofer, Marquez, and Hemingway), a situation in which two or more cultural or

social forces or ideas come into opposition, creating a tension important to the overall story. Clearly identify the two opposed forces or ideas, and then
examine the implications of that opposition for the work as a whole.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's take "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez as an example. In this story, there is a tension between the supernatural and the mundane. On one hand, there is the old man with enormous wings, who is a supernatural being, and on the other hand, there is the village where he lands, which represents the mundane world. The two forces come into opposition because the people of the village are unable to reconcile the reality of the old man with their limited understanding of the world.

The implications of this opposition are important to the overall story because they reflect the struggle between our desire to believe in the extraordinary and our need to make sense of our experiences through rational explanation. The people of the village try to explain the old man as a logical phenomenon, but they are unable to do so, which highlights the limitations of human reason. In the end, the old man is seen as both a miracle and a disappointment, reflecting the duality of the human experience and our inability to fully understand the world around us.

This opposition between the supernatural and the mundane creates a tension that is central to the overall story and highlights the complexity of our relationship with the world and our own beliefs.

Answer 2

In "The handsomest Drowned Man in the World" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, two opposing cultural and social forces are the village's conservative and isolated way of life and the arrival of a mysterious and exotic figure.

The conservative and isolated way of life of the village is embodied in the villagers' daily routines and their strict adherence to tradition. They are content with their simple existence and do not see the need for change or improvement.

The arrival of the drowned man, on the other hand, represents exoticism and change. The man is from a different place and has lived a life unlike anything the villagers have ever known. He is taller, stronger, and more handsome than anyone they have ever seen.

The tension between these two opposing forces is important to the overall story because it forces the villagers to question their own way of life. The drowned man represents a challenge to their traditional beliefs and way of life, and they are faced with a choice between embracing change or sticking to their old ways.

The implications of this opposition for the work as a whole are significant. Marquez uses the drowned man as a symbol for the arrival of the outside world and the changes it brings. Through the villagers' reactions to the drowned man, Marquez shows how people often resist change and cling to tradition, even when faced with something new and exciting. He also shows how people can be transformed by new experiences, and how they can learn to embrace change.

Overall, the opposition between the village's traditional way of life and the arrival of the drowned man creates a tension that is central to the story's themes and serves as a commentary on the human condition.