Final answer:
The excerpts discuss themes of willpower, strength, and authority in literature. They use the metaphor of iron being tempered and becoming brittle to symbolize human determination and potential downfall. The imagery illustrates the complexity of human nature in the face of authoritarian challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpts you've provided explore themes of willpower, strength, authority, rebellion, and the nature of human resolve. They reflect on the idea that both staunch determination and rigid strength have their breaking points. Just as the toughest iron becomes brittle when overheated, a strong will may shatter under extreme pressure.
These themes are common in literature, where characters often face internal and external battles that test their endurance and beliefs.
In times of conflict, characters may find that their firm stance either sustains them or causes their downfall, revealing the complexities of human nature and the diverse responses to authoritarian challenges. The examples imply that balance might be preferable than extreme rigidness or defiance, conveying a message of moderation and the potential for adaptation and compromise.
Literature frequently uses metaphors to symbolize the human experience, and the passages you've quoted compare human resilience and willpower to iron being tempered and the consequences of unyielding stubbornness. The imagery of heated iron and its susceptibility to breakage is a powerful metaphor for the fragility of determination when it lacks flexibility.