In Einstein's Dreams, Alan Lightman criticizes people's efforts to keep time through hyperbole, nameless characters, average themes, and simplistic syntax. The people in Lightman's cartoons have a common problem: how to slow down time; whether to hold onto youth or reserve a moment for eternity. Although they sometimes cannot name the cause of their dissatisfaction, the characters are constantly tormented by the feeling of not living life to the fullest and feel trapped in time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One method that Lightman uses effectively to make his point in Einstein's Dreams is hyperbole. The cartoon showing people living in tall houses simply to stay young seems ridiculous at first glance; however, upon reflection, it is not as absurd as it seems. The people in the cartoon try to live life to the fullest by building their homes on stilts on top of mountains because they have heard that time passes more slowly as one moves away from the earth. (22) In today's society, people do bizarre things to look and feel younger: men sometimes struggle with midlife crises by trying out a new car, sport, or even finding new, younger women to feel younger. For women, this is often more noticeable in terms of appearance, in the form of haircut, clothing or cosmetic surgery. The irony of the tall house vignettes is that the people in them gradually lose sight of why they live in these difficult ways, but continue their lifestyle, which causes them to become “thin as air, bony, old ahead of time." (24) In this vignette, Lightman compares these people to those in today's society who pack their bags to get the most opportunities, ultimately giving themselves more stress and causing them to age faster. The nameless characters and repeated scenarios in Einstein's Dreams convey a sense of universal frustration for the characters in the cartoons. He continually references scenarios involving nameless lovers, parents, and children struggling with the same issues; growing old without truly experiencing life and losing loved ones. Although these people live in fantasy worlds that the reader can barely imagine, their lives have a personal connection with the reader because the difficulties they face are things every person faces, whether it's buying new clothes or losing a Work. (27) Lightman's nameless characters carry a strong sense of the insignificant: they are shopkeepers, lawyers and chemists. They make love to their wives and get up to go to work every morning; they return home every night for dinner, stopping at the market along the way to do some shopping. In other words, I am every person. On May 4, 1905, Einstein dreams of two wealthy, dissatisfied couples who go to dinner every year. They discuss food, business, and their children; perhaps the same topics discussed last year. (36) Although they have achieved everything that society desires, these people live boring and banal lives. Through this story, Lightman proves that success isn't always as sweet as it seems; even those who should be happy are tormented by a sense of discontent. Lightman's simplistic use of language and syntax conveys a dull and ordinary feeling to his cartoons, reinforcing the universal feeling of the stories. Overall, his use of verbs is simple and to the point; rather than using flowery words: “A cloud floats in the sky. A sparrow flutters. Nobody talks." (45) The sentences are short and concise, revealing the scenarios,.