Hamlet- A Character Comparison. Crazy? I Think Not.

In Hamlet, one may wonder if Hamlet is pretending to be mad or if he already is mad. 

Imagine this: A few months ago, your father "passed away." Only less than one short month later, your mother decides to remarry. Not only does your mother, The Queen, remarry, but she marries your father's brother. Not only does all of this happen, but one day you hear that a ghost has requested your presence. Do you go and pay this apparition a visit? Hamlet of course does and discovers that his father was murdered by the current King, Claudius. 

Would this make you a lunatic?

But then again, is it also correct to claim that Hamlet is a lunatic? Or does his circumstances, especially the fact that he is royalty, excuse him from this label?

Unfortunately, not every character in literature receives the same privileges. 

Septimus Warren Smith in The Thing They Carried endured a similar fate. He was exposed to the horrors of War and suffered the consequences. However, the people in his novel did not feel the same empathy for Septimus as they did in Hamlet's novel. 

Both authors, Shakespeare and Time O'Brien, touch on this idea of the ability a person has to feel compassionate for others. Hamlet and Septimus are similar in the way that they have both affected by their respective troubles, but the human mind is only so capable for forgiving certain characters if they feel they are worthy of it. 

Hamlet- How Sane is Ophelia's Insanity?

Okay folks, so this afternoon I'd like to discuss the character Ophelia because, common, what is going on there?

After Polonious' death, Ophelia is driven to insanity. During Act IV, she prances around a room, adorned with flowers, and professes her sorrows to the Queen and other characters. At one moment, she even attempts to pass out the imaginary flowers to her fellow audience. Along with this, in the ballad she sings she often refers to "he," or her father that is now dead; however, since Hamlet has set out for England, Ophelia's cries may also be because of her loss of another loved.

In the end, the answer in Ophelia's mind to achieving sanity is to, unfortunately, kill herself by drowning herself in a nearby river.

So the question I ask is, how sane is Ophelia's insanity?

We can clearly see that Ophelia has become loco due to her father's death and how Hamlet was also responsible for this. But how can we, or other characters in the book, declare Ophelia's mental state when almost all of the characters have also themselves become insane? The Queen remarried her husband's brother only ONE month after his passing. Laertes and The King have plotted a death with the most intricate precision, sparring no details.

Is Ophelia actually "insane?" or is just the way that others view her before she proceeded to commit suicide?

Hamlet- To Avenge or Not to Avenge?

When Hamlet speaks to the apparition at the end of Act I, he discovers that this ghost is his deceased father, Hamlet. In fact, Hamlet's father was murdered by Claudius, the current King. The ghosts says, "Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole / With juice of cursed hebona in a vial / And in the porches of my ears did pour" (I iv 68-70). The ghost then commands his son to avenge his death in order to restore the Kingdom. He does not want the land to become, "A couch for luxury and damned incest" (I iv 90). To do this, Hamlet must kill the King and assume the throne. 

Hamlet, unfortunately, is caught in a dilemma. If he kills his uncle, Claudius, he becomes a killer, whether or not if it's his wish. The other option is to disobey his father's will, and let the murderer Claudius rule the Kingdom. With a steady conscience and hopes of pleasing everyone, which of these routes will Hamlet choose? 

Hamlet- Hamlet's Love for Ophelia

In the second act of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Polonius and Laetres warn Ophelia about Hamlet's love for her and how she must refrain from any physical or mental connection with him. Similar to many other works of Shakespeare, there is this aspect of "forbidden love." Polonius is very concerned with Hamlet's affection for his daughter, and reads a love letter Hamlet send to Ophelia to the Kind and Queen. It reads, "Doubt thou stars are fire / Doubt that the sun doth move, / Doubt truth to be a liar, / But never doubt I love. / O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not / art to reckon my groans, but that I love thee best, O / most best, believe it. Adieu. / Thine everyone, most dear lady, whilst / this machine is to him, Hamlet" (II ii 124-32). In the play, Ophelia feels obligated to follow the orders of her father and brother, not to love Hamlet. Some even question if Hamlet's love for Ophelia is even genuine. However, Hamlet continues to demonstrate that his love is in fact true. Some, such as Polonius, claim that this love is the root of Hamlet's madness, not his father's death. It is interesting to consider this, as love in the past has driven people to sanity. The question is, what will love do to Hamlet?

The Waste Land- Allusion

In "The Fire Sermon," there are allusions to many different songs and old poetic works through out the sections. At the end, there is a reference to St. Augustine's Confessions, "To Carthage then I came / … O Lord Thou pluckest me out O Lord Thou pluckest" (Lines 307-310). It is important to note that during "The Fire Sermon," the narrator proclaims himself to be the mythological creature Tiresias, one whom has both male and female features. Tiresias views an interaction between a vulnerable women and a clerk, and ultimately feels ashamed for what he has witnessed. St. Augustine's Confessions is an autobiographical work that St. Augustine contemplates and retreats his sinful youth and immoral life. At the end of The Fire Sermon, this allusion to the Confessions exemplifies that Tiresias feels remorse for what his life has come to be and all of the terrible things he has done and seen.

The Dead- Symbol

The piano playing in the background of The Dead is symbolic in the sense that the vehicle, the music playing, represents many tenors, or larger themes of the story. Originally, the pianist is playing waltzes so the dinner party feels sophisticated and classy. As the evening moves on, the songs transform and become more lively and rowdy, as do the guests. Mary Jane then plays, and Gabriel remarks on the discordance of the piece, how there seems to be no melody nor any pattern.

All of the different types of piano music symbolizes the contrasting opinions of the Irish people during this time period in history. During the early 1800's, the Irish were annexed and then lead England to be known as Great Britain. When The Dubliners was published in the early twentieth century, the Irish were in turmoil because they were underneath the British, but many wanted to gain independence. Miss Ivors criticizes Gabriel as West Briton, as Gabriel admits that he does not feel great pride for his nation. Overall, the various sounds of the piano through out the evening of the party reflect on the different opinions people feel in Irish about gaining their independence from England during this time period. Joyce hopes to exemplify this flaw in society during the turn of the century prior to the First World War. 

The Dead- A Metaphor

"The coffin is to remind them of their last end."

In this part of The Dead, by James Joyce, Aunt Kate and Mary Jane are explaining to Mr. Browne a ritual of monks: every night when the go to bed, they sleep in coffins to "make up for the sins committed by all the sinners in the outside world." The vehicle in this case in the last end and it is carrying the tenor, or the coffin. This metaphor is significant to the story because the coffin is foreshadowing a death that the readers learns about in the end.

Mrs. Dalloway- Clarissa's Fear of Aging and Death

As a human, there is an argument that we are born to fear three things: falling, loud noises, and abandonment. Although falling and loud noises can clearly be defined, abandonment can imply different things. Even though it may appear to be a stretch, researchers argue that death falls into the third category; humans are naturally afraid of abandoning life. Clarissa in "Mrs. Dalloway" struggles to cope with the fact that as life moves on, so does her sense of loneliness. In her eyes, this is common, this sense of being alone. Towards the end of the novel, Clarissa comments about the old woman in the window next door. She respects this woman for taking the time to reflect on her life, and recognizes that it is something she does more and more often. In order for a woman to feel more complete, Clarissa believes that one has to have a sense of independence and purpose. She finally comes to terms with the fact that she is growing older and that death is a part of life after she witness the old woman. It is not until she overcomes these fear until she is able to openly communicate with Peter and Sally towards the end of the party.

Mrs. Dalloway- The Pocketknife

Throughout "Mrs. Dalloway," Peter often refers to the blade of his pocketknife. In general, a knife or another weapon represents power and capabilities. In the novel, Peter often fidgets the knife around in his hand, representing his inability to handle making decisions. Also, he feels that he needs to be "armed" (both physically and mentally) while meeting Clarissa, so he must carry the knife. Ironically, when they saw one another for the first time in years, Clarissa is using scissors while sewing. Even at the party, Peter mentions the knife before he enters. Peter and the knife reflect Peter's struggle of either accepting or denying English traditions. Overall, this knife represents the larger idea of power in society and those who are capable or either obtaining it or not.

Mrs. Dalloway- A Question

Why do you think the narrator chose to tell the inner thoughts of people on this particular day?

Mrs. Dalloway- A Word

Suffering

Mrs. Dalloway- Peter Walsh, Regret and Sadness

Although in class we have discussed a great deal about Mrs. Dalloway's regrets in life, we haven't talked that much about Peter Walsh's regrets in life.

As mention in an earlier debate, one brought up the idea that "regret" is a termed used in place of "sadness," because it is society's beliefs that sadness means something more than just a feeling or characteristic: one who is sad has mental concerns beyond the stigma of what sadness should be. Woolf tries to delicately weave decades of history into hours by using stream of conscience to exemplify the feelings behind the actions of her characters. In one case, Woolf has Peter dream to take the reader into a deeper part of his mind.

During this dream, Peters imagines himself as a solitary soldier walking through different scenarios. He depicts women as sirens and different figures, indicating his loneliness and desperation for women. After her dramatically awakes, he recalls the exact moment of Clarissa's rejection of his proposal. This leads one to believe how Peters regrets and sadness in life largely derives from the pain her felt after his proposal to Clarissa.

Mrs. Dalloway- The Impact of War on the Human Mind

As seen in both Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried and Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, war plays a role in the character's mental capacities and well as their future actions.

In Mrs. Dalloway, Clarissa Dalloway and World War One Verteren, Septimus Warren Smith, see a car passing by on a London Street on a bustling, summer afternoon. One one hand, Clarissa believes that some royalty, such as the King and/or the Queen is hidden behind the curtain of the car. She says, "Was it the Prince of Whales's, the Queen's, the Prime Minister's? Whose face was it? Nobody knew" (Woolf 58). For Clarissa, this car symbolizes that of hope; after the torment of the war, others, similar to and including Clarissa, cling onto faith and tradition, as well as hope. There is this lasting belief that goodness is still possibly, and that their country and the world can unite once again.

After the monstrous war, Septimus and other war veterans see society in a divergent way: instead of holding onto hope, this feeling and similar ones are lost as well as part of their mental psychs because of their experiences. This car, to Septimus, represents that of danger; he believes that it symbolizes a potential attack and he has the duty to stay alive. In another instance, Septimus feels that someone is trying to communicate with him through code when he see the words "TOFFEE" in the sky.

Because every human mind is only capable of imagining what they have experienced, war veterans have more burden to carry because of all the sights, the smells, the sounds, the tastes, and the things they have touched. Their minds can directly link what they sense both physically and mentally to events that have occurred during the war, beyond what any "normal" mind can truly envision.

Mrs. Dalloway- Clarissa Dalloway and Freedom

       In Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, the protagonist of the story, Mrs. Dalloway demonstrates a social dilemma of being in the life she has versus the life she wants to lead. Towards the beginning of the novel, the narrator says, "She (Clarissa Dalloway) had the oddest sense of being herself invisible, unseen; unknown; there being no more marrying, nor more having of children now, but only this astonishing and rather solemn progress with the rest of them, up bond Street, this being Mrs. Dalloway; not ever Clarissa any morel this being Mrs. Richard Dalloway," (Woolf 11.) She feels trapped between a sense of freedom and a sense of social pressure. 

       During this time period, however, this feeling is quite common. In England after the first World War, women have gone from having more responsibilities at home and running businesses to returning to their "women duties," such as cooking dinner and cleaning the house. Although an end of the war usually brings peace, it brings this about the idea of being smothered as women have to go back to the home. It only seems socially acceptable to return to the way things are, but in this story, Mrs. Dalloway represents the facts that women are willing to progress with time and retain the privileges they had during the war. In this case, Mrs. Dalloway has the benefits of being in a higher class, but at the end of the road she is the one who wants to be in control of her life and who makes her own decisions. 

The Things They Carried- What I Would Carry

Many people tend to ask the question to better understand someone: What would you bring on a deserted island? While reading The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien, a similar prompt arose: what would you bring to war?

Although the two questions have their similarities, war is quite the anthesis of an island. Cross, the main narrator, hopes to demonstrate to the reader the "weight" that falls on the soldiers. The things they carry are mostly technical or military equipment. However, it is the small things that are in their bags or wrapped around their bodies that lie close to their hearts. Even though the 28-pound mine detector might physically be the heaviest, the photo of a loved-one or the good luck charm from a daughter might mentally outweigh the rest.

So the question still remains: what would I bring to war? Through the troubling times, one would need something to keep himself or herself sane. Since it would be impossible to bring a piano, I would bring an iPod with a manually, rechargeable battery filled with classical as well as trendy music to soothe my mind. Along with that, I would keep a water-proof photo album filled with memories of friends and family from over the years. Finally, I would bring a water purifier in order to maintain my hydration and health.

Overall, the three things I would bring break down into three categories: something enjoyable that could boost morals, a sentimental item that could bring hope while faced with mental obstacles, and lastly, a gadget geared for survival. What would you bring?

The Things They Carried- The Purpose of a Story

       In Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, Jim Cross, the narrator, tells many stories about the war and the lasting impacts of its memories. Through these carefully crafted representations, Cross manages to blur the line between what is fiction and what is reality. At the end of “Spin,” Cross illuminates what he believes the purpose of a story is, “Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can’t remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for the eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story,” (O’Brien 36). The point that he hopes to portray is that stories are simply reflective of what a human recalls, or at least what they want to remember. As life goes on, certain distinctive details may diminish, but what is left is the truth that wants to be told.

The Things They Carried- Beyond What The Eye Can See

The things she carried were difficult to determine, for they went beyond what the human eye is capable of seeing.

Sitting in her desk in the early morning, she was placid, the sounds of others filling into the room would not disturb her. The tick of the clock wouldn’t bring anxiety, or so it appeared. She carried a backpack, and since she was a diligent student, it was always filled to the brim, overflowing with textbooks and assignments. The backpack, usually around fifteen pounds, was only a small weight she carried in her life. What weighed much more was a delicate photo inside of her wallet, neatly tucked inside the backpack, and a red, rubber ball innocuously placed in the middle pouch. She carried a reminder of her mother’s passing. The photo was taken three months ago of her mother on her forty-seventh birthday, the last one she would ever celebrate.

He was quite the antithesis of she. He was an athlete, a jock. Others believed he was the most popular boy in the school; they almost convinced him that this was true. With one leg casually propped up on a chair, he stood there and leaned over to talk to a girl. Before any words came out, he thought to himself. He thought of how to correctly pronounce his “S,” the words of his voice coach ringing in his ears. His back was flat; his knee was support for his elbow. This effortless look concealed his mental struggle like a cautious animal not letting its guard down. He carried this weight, this horrible handicap, but nevertheless, he knew that it was his secret and his alone.

The counselor at school had the most evident load of them all. Kid One gingerly sat in the chair across the table Monday morning, shameful to admit of what he did over the weekend. He was shameful to lower himself, and to meet the counselor’s eyes. The bag that he used for drugs over the weekend was suddenly passed along to the counselor, put into her “overflow baggage” section. This was kid one’s last day. This was his last strike. This was the counselor’s last time she would ever see him, this kid one. This weekend event was now shared between the two of them. She felt she should have done more to help this kid. Now, it was to late. Now, she carried Kid One’s burden too.  

Kid Two went into the counselor’s office only one hour later. He too was responsible, and he knew what he had done was wrong. The scars on his wrist were a reminder of this. With an expulsion, his parent’s would have disowned him. With the suspension he received, he found that his own self-hatred was worse than any other punishment. He weight was too much to handle, and the counselor knew this.  He carried these self-loathing thoughts with himself as he approached the bathroom. He counted the pills, each weighing no more than a tenth of an ounce, but they felt like bricks against the palm of his hand. His weight that was once reasonable seemed to suffocate him. He put the pills down, and while he told his counselor all of this, her mouth seemed to mimic similar motions.

There was one object that every Severn student carried, and it unanimously outweighed all other burdens – the brain. The brain was a package that varied in shape and size, and that needed to make sure it included all of the necessities. Without it, the students would not have survived. It brought knowledge, courage, and passion; on the other hand, it also brought evil, jealously, and corruption.

These were the things that some Severn Students carried, and even with this tremendous weight, they were still able to walk.

Heart of Darkness: Analysis of Title and Marlow's Journey

The Heart of Darkness presents attitudes of the world from the ninteenth-century: Europe being the epitome of goodness whereas Africa is the region of darkness and despair. The alleged reason for European colonization during this time people is to implement order and civilization and to discover final prosperity. Many view during this time that it is a white European’s duty to assist and transform the underprivileged; however, this transformation commonly comes in a form of forcing natives to succumb to English traditions or to comply to labor demands. Marlow uses this theory to justify his actions—he feels that the actions he takes to conquer third world countries are excused since he’s there for the good of the people.

Although this novel is written during the time of the Enlightenment, Conrad directly goes against one of its core concepts. The Enlightenment ideals state that the heart of every man is pure and society is responsible for corrupting it. Conrad, on the other hand, believes that darkness lies within the individual and that it can emerge and overcome one under certain circumstances.

On a similar note, Conrad begins his novella on The Nellie, which is sailing on the Thames River in London. This location is supposed to represent the upmost society, but this river is still connected to the waters of Africa. By presenting this scenario, Conrad argues that darkness cannot be destroyed because it infects nearly all things.  Marlow’s journey through “the heart of darkness” helps him realize this, “The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky – seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness” (Conrad 72). At the end of the novella, Marlow stares down the Thames River and see the darkness in London itself.

Overall, Kurtz life in Africa mirrors Conrad’s view of civilization. While Kurtz is in Africa, he is seen as a heroic figure, but he also has many flaws. Marlow comments that Kurtz claims he wants only justice and believes that his death was deserved. Similar to Kurtz’s death, Conrad feels that society is subjected to the same fate and destined to be overcome by the darkness that exists in the heart of mankind.  

Unaccustomed Earth: Not Your Typical Fairytale

Commonly found in Unaccustomed Earth are endings that contradict against the structure of a typical fairy-tale. Instead of the girl eventually finding her one true love or a family reuniting, many of the shorts stories end on a depressing note, much to the reader’s chagrin. In fact, Lahiri frequently concludes her stories in way that seem to directly oppose the reader’s perception of a ‘happy ending.’ Lahiri creates moments that seem to lead in one direction; however, by reaching a dead end or a rising conflict, Lahiri’s plots take a sharp turn against the reader’s perceived path.

In the first short story “Unaccustomed Earth,” Ruma explains how although she seems to have everything, she feels nothing. To exemplify this, Ruman says, “By allowing her to leave her job, splurging on a beautiful house, agreeing to having a second baby, Adam was doing everything in his power to make Ruma happy. But nothing was making her happy,” (Lahiri 7) Adam, Ruma’s wife, has willingly done many things to bring her joy and bliss; however, only Ruma’s positive reactions to these instances will bring her true happiness. The tale ends on a semi-sweet note for Ruma discovers that her father, a widower, has fallen in love with another women by finding a note in her house that her father wrote. Normally when a widower finds a soul mate, it is known to be uplifting; however, this case reminds Ruma of her genuine mother who lost her life to cancer. Ultimately Ruma sends the letter, but it is unclear whether there is a fairytale ending. Does her father marry his newfound love?  Does Ruma eventually discover what brings her joy in life? Lahiri uses common situations to depict turning points in ones life; in spite of this, she leaves the reader to imagine what the outcome might be.

During the continuation of the novel, Lahiri does not only conceals what happens to her characters, but she bluntly tells the truth in a way that seems to directly contradict what one would hope it would be. In “A Choice of Accommodations,” husband and wife, Amit and Megan, see a wedding and unveil some difficulties that have been buried in their marriage. This wedding is on of complications because Amit admits that he once loved the bride to be, Pam, “He (Amit) had loved her (Pam), yes it was true, but because she’d never been his girlfriend there had been nothing to explain” (Lahiri 88). Amit knows that there is more to the story behind him and Pam, yet he says nothing. Lahiri continues to build the intensity of the story by having Amit expose secrets through out the evening of the wedding. He says to a women he met at the wedding, “Actually, it was after the second that our marriage sort of disappeared,” (Lahiri 113-114). Megan also inquires if Amit and Pam have ever had sex, which they have not. It is during the evening that the two discover the underlying jealousies of their marriage: Megan is envious of other women and Amit somewhat wishes that he had less children.

In the final section of Unaccustomed Earth, “Going Ashore,” Lahiri places the foundation for the quintessential love story: two people who met one another in their early life reunite and become intimate. Of course, the tragic ending leaves the reader with teary eyes and the two not only separate, but one passes away from a natural disaster.

Through all of these stories, Lahiri uses real life circumstances with a touch of fantasy to create her novel. As one discovers though, these perfectly crafted accounts commonly end in a way that can seem anywhere from perplexing to depressing, and even to repulsing.

The Heart of Darkness: Character Analysis of Kurtz and Ideas about Imperialism

In The Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, Kurtz, an iconic figure, appears to be the archetype for the European Companies and ultimately, imperialism itself. From his elusive appearance to his steadfast greed, he is willing to sacrifice the lives’ of others and his own sanity in order to retrieve what he covets. Similarly, the European Companies send men on voyages through the intimidating darkness which envelopes the Congo River in Africa in hopes of gaining riches. Along with that, Kurtz represents imperialism since he embodies the basic concepts: greed and heartlessness. At one point Marlow remarks about Kurtz, “His mother was half-English, his father was half-French. All Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz,” (Conrad 45). During the journey through the threatening river, many of the scavengers gambled with their hearts in order of finding ivory-- what the hunters coincide with success.

            Kurtz is known as the ‘universal genius’ and prodigy that will quickly climb his way to the top of the company. Although Marlow, a middle-age sailor, explorer, and narrator of the story, never formally meets Kurtz, he feels that Kurtz is a complex figure with many layers. In the novel, the harsh treatment of the natives is known as ‘civilization’ and it is viewed as a rational and sensible part of Imperialism. Some view Kurtz as a heroic figure and are perplexed by his immediate success in the field. Others see him as a vicious creature; instead of fairly trading with the natives to obtain ivory, Kurtz takes matters into his own hands by beheading his victims.

In the beginning of the second part of the novel, Marlow overhears a story, “that Kurtz had apparently intended to return himself, the station being by that time bar or food and stores, but after coming three hundred miles, had suddenly decided to go back, which he started to do alone in a small dugout with four paddlers, leaving the half-caste to continues down the river with the ivory” (Conrad 28). Neither Marlow nor anyone else can discover a motive for doing such a thing. Why would one travel such a journey, only to return when one is near the end? Also, Marlow also attributes, “His name (Kurtz), you understand, had not been pronounced once. He was ‘that man’” (Conrad 28). Kurtz, or ‘that man’, is a figure that is so well known that by a simple relative pronoun, many would know who is this person.

Overall, Kurtz represents the idea of European Companies and Imperialism because of his definitive characteristics that allow others perception about him to vary widely; however, eventually Kurtz falls ill due to the stresses he has brought upon himself along with the dangerous environment of the Congo River. From a dramatic up rise to a blissful career to an ultimate downfall, Kurtz’s life mirrors that of the fundamentals of Imperialism.

Unaccustomed Earth: Theme Guilt in "Only Goodness"

In the fourth story of Unaccustomed Earth, “Only Goodness,” Sudha told the tale of her brother, Ruhal, and his journey as an alcoholic. Her story began in a time that their game of hiding alcohol seemed innocuous; however, this small act of defiance against their parents was the catalyst for a serious addiction. There was a point where Sudha felt responsible for Ruhal’s behaviors, but ultimately she had to placate herself when she realized there was only so much she could control.

            In the first line of the short story, Sudha admitted that she was the one who introduced her brother Ruhal to alcohol. Although it started as a minor infraction, it slowly became a larger issue at hand. Before Ruhal went to college, he was the epitome of a student who only had to invest a minimal amount of time to comprehend information. With stellar grades and scores, he was accepted into Cornell University; however, it was not before long that he began to fall into what he perceived as the social norm. Drinking became a common activity, and his performance in school accurately reflected his behaviors. Eventually, Rahul’s attitude crumbled as well, and his parents asked Sudha to talk some sense into him.

            During the beginning, Sudha felt responsible that her actions caused Rahul’s addiction; however, Sudha came to the conclusion that she could only control so much, and that when she became too involved, it took a toll on her mental health. It was only when Sudha realized this that she was able to continue to live her life. Distancing herself from her brother was an arduous process, but it was the necessary action she needed to take in order to free her from living in a world with constant guilt.

Unaccustomed Earth: Only Goodness Six Word Story

Guilt is a strain- live freely.