Man vs. Himself

A detailed Summary of Man vs. Himself

Self-fulfillment is what people live for, without it how can a person live? A failed search for self-fulfillment often leads to death. Demonstrated in A Tale of Two Cites, Hamlet, and A Death of a Salesman, each novel includes one character that struggles to fulfill his life, which results in death. Self-fulfillment can include being loved, wealthy, happiness, remembered, respected, or even a being hero. Sadly if none of these objectives is met, the character seems to think death is the only way option. "Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so" as said by Charles DeGaulle, relates to each character in the three novels that they were never determined to improve their life.

The first example of failed self-fulfillment resulting in death is Willy Loman's from the novel A Death of a Salesman. Loman fails to be "well-liked" and also fails to provide for his family and decides that the only way to provide for them is to commit suicide so they can collect the insurance money. Loman spent most of his life trying to convince his family that he is the best in the business and he wants his sons, Biff and Happy to be the same. Willy tells his sons that with his succes

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

To be, or not to be-that is the question:

Although he was the reason that Charles Darnay was able to walk free of the first trial of treason, he wasn't' given any credit. Carton later with the company of Darnay at a tavern sadly says, "I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me"(Dickens, pg76). Also Carton describes himself in Darnay's view as "a dissolute dog who has never done any good, and never will."(Dickens, pg191) Once Carton realized these goals would never be achieved, he told Lucie his one love, he would sacrifice his life in order to save that of another that she loved dearly. This level of love makes the sacrifice even more valuable and brings things to closure, which he hopes will fulfill his duty in life. However this duty will result in his death, which could have been avoidable if he had been happier in life, instead of being a beat up drunk that he was. Just before Carton is beheaded, another victim in line for death tells him that she loves him for his courage and Carton is inspired this, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."(Dickens, pg352) Carton who didn't really accomplish much in his life, led him to believe that his death will be the greatest thing he has ever done. This concludes that Carton saw this sacrifice as a way to make up for his unhappiness, sacrificing his life for Darnay's, this was the only way to achieve self-fulfillment. It was achieved, yet at the cost of life.

"Oh, Ben, that's the whole beauty of it! I see it like a diamond, shining in the dark, hard and rough, that I can pick up and touch in my hand. Not like -- like an appointment! This would not be another damned-fool appointment, Ben, and it changes all the aspects. Because he thinks I'm nothing, see, and so he spites me. But the funeral -- Ben, that funeral will be massive! They'll come from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire! All the old-timers with the strange license plates -- that boy will be thunder-struck, Ben, because he never realized -- I am known! Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey -- I am known, Ben, and he'll see it with his eyes once and for all. He'll see what I am, Ben! He's in for a shock, that boy!" (Miller, II.vii)

Hamlet being confused, could not decide what to do, fulfill his duties as a son and murder Claudius, or ignore the ghost and go on living as if nothing happened. Hamlet being a weak-minded character cannot deal with such a decision and starts to question death as a solution to his problem in life.

Must give us pause. There's the respect

Sacrifice can be the attempt to fulfill one's happiness, such as Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities where he sacrifices his life for another in order to prove his love for Lucie Manette. Carton always talked about being loved and remembered, as he says to Mr. Lorry

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1998
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels