Theme Notebook #2 Second chances allow for improved behaviour
The short story Thank You Ma’am shows that second chances allow for improved behaviour. Instead of scolding Roger, Luella brought him to her house, and taught him that by being honest you can still get things without stealing. Luella gave Roger a second chance, and getting a second chance, Roger certainly thought that he needed to improve on his behaviour. He was lucky she didn’t bring him to the cops. He knew that if he got caught again he might not get another chance, so he took this opportunity to improve his behaviour. This is not, however, the only case that second chances have improved on behaviour.
In the article Young offenders should meet victims of their crime, Adam Murray, 21 years old, was attacked in a pub and punched in the face. The attacker was sent to jail. A few days later Adam Murray got a letter sent to him saying that he could meet his attacker. At first Adam was scared and didn’t want to meet his attacker. The attacker apologized, but Adam didn’t think he was sincere and that he just wanted to get out of prison. Adam visited his attacker a second time though, and this time the attacker really made Adam feel like he was sorry. He could tell that his attacker really was a good guy. By giving Adam’s attacker a second chance to redeem himself, the attacker’s behaviour became better and had become a good guy.
August 16th 2010
One's Identity is Fragile
The statement "one's identity is fragile." is clearly shown in Roald Dahl's short story "Lamb to the Slaughter". Mary Maloney is the perfect wife, that any husband would want. She makes sure everything is ready and in place for her husband when he comes back home, with a drink and chair ready for him to relax in. Mary is always kind to her husband, and offers to do everything for him. Mary Maloney seems to be perfect, until her husband tells her he is leaving her. Mary's true identity is then shown when she uses the frozen leg of lamb that was meant to be dinner, to hit her husband's head and killing. This shows that one's identity is fragile because from the slightest action, the barrier around Mary's identity was shattered and Mary's true identity has been shown, making her identity quite fragile.
Not only did the theme of "one's identity is fragile" come in the thee short story Lamb to the Slaughter, but also in the book Ark Angel in the Alex Rider series. Nikolei Drevin, the antagonist in the book, at first seems to be the nicest business man you would ever meet, caring for his son and hosting Alex Rider to his house for his investigation. However Alex Rider soon finds out that Nikolei Drevin is the one who caused the mess in the story. No matter how hard Nikolei Drevin tried to change his identity, his identity would always be fragile and easily broken by just digging deeper in his life.
I believe that the theme"one's identity is fragile" illustrates the fact that know matter how much you try to hide your true identity, your identity will always be revealed. In Mary Maloney's case, because of her actions, her true identity was shown. Nikolei Drevin's identity was fragile because he didn't protect his identity well enough. Everyone wants to change their identity, whether it is because they want to hide somthing bad they did, or if they just don't want other people to know about their lives, but your identity is so fragile, it will always be revealed.
Not only did the theme of "one's identity is fragile" come in the thee short story Lamb to the Slaughter, but also in the book Ark Angel in the Alex Rider series. Nikolei Drevin, the antagonist in the book, at first seems to be the nicest business man you would ever meet, caring for his son and hosting Alex Rider to his house for his investigation. However Alex Rider soon finds out that Nikolei Drevin is the one who caused the mess in the story. No matter how hard Nikolei Drevin tried to change his identity, his identity would always be fragile and easily broken by just digging deeper in his life.
I believe that the theme"one's identity is fragile" illustrates the fact that know matter how much you try to hide your true identity, your identity will always be revealed. In Mary Maloney's case, because of her actions, her true identity was shown. Nikolei Drevin's identity was fragile because he didn't protect his identity well enough. Everyone wants to change their identity, whether it is because they want to hide somthing bad they did, or if they just don't want other people to know about their lives, but your identity is so fragile, it will always be revealed.
