Discoveries that challenge what one does in everyday life and what one considers acceptable allows them to reevaluate their place in the world and forces a greater comprehension. Looking at the world with new eyes gives us insight into something that may have previously been ignored or hidden. The composers explore how discoveries encourage the re-evaluation of situations, evident in the poems "Late Ferry" and "The Meatworks" by Robert Gray, an Australian Imagist poet, where he delves into the consequences of economic progress despite it being widely accepted in modern society, allowing the reader to formulate informed opinions on the topic. Similarly, in the short story "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield, a wealthy modernist writer, the reader is taken on a journey as the character reflects on her privileged lifestyle and, in turn, causes the reader to reevaluate their life.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Reflection on the simple beauty of nature as opposed to the overwhelming consumerism in society leads to a deeper understanding and appreciation of life. By separating yourself from everyday life you are able to reevaluate popular opinion and what society values. In the poem "Late Ferry", Gray takes the reader on the ferry's journey into the "huge, dark harbour", which becomes a catalyst for Gray's views. The ferry itself represents the fragility of humanity, bombarded by the drive towards materialism. Gray uses personification and simile to describe how the city is both fascinating and dangerous. In the lines “Come on,/the red neon trembles/down in the water/like ice”, Gray alludes to 'red light districts' to symbolize the lust of humanity, but also how this creates discomfort for the artificial that it becomes consuming. The city is a cloak of seduction, distracting us from the fact that what it advertises as contentment actually brings the opposite: incessant greed. Gray argues that freeing ourselves from societal constructs and appreciating nature helps create satisfaction in life. By concluding the poem with the use of synesthesia and simile, he demonstrates the intense yet calming power of reflection. “I can find it while it is in the darkness, / like the flavor of a honeycomb, / full as it is of its yellow light.” This communicates the idea that clarity comes from darkness, that is, from the lack of artificial distractions, and that life can be enriched by understanding nature. The color yellow is often associated with joy and calm, so ending with this shows that peace is found with contemplation. Gray uses the character to reveal the discoveries he made while living in Sydney. Similarly, in the short story "The Garden Party", Katherine uses the character of Laura to show her own discoveries as she questioned and learned more about the world, which she did while growing up in a privileged family in the late 1800s. She uses the death of the poor neighbor as a means of confronting both the character and the reader with the harshness of life, but at the same time with its beauty. By allowing Lauren to briefly separate from her sheltered lifestyle and expose her to reality, both she and the reader can gain a new awareness of the delicacy of existence itself and the prospect of life after death. The use of rhetorical questions after Lauren sees the dead man highlights the realization: "What did garden parties and baskets and lace dresses matter to him?" This brings to attention how, although the company aligns financial success directly.
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