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| obedience nihilism
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Friday, January 29, 2016
What Did the Nihilist Say to the Optimist?
Write an allegorical tale. I want you to include characters (at least two) from each list. Make sure you story follows Feytag's Triangle. You must have all of the elements of a good story!!! Have fun!
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Faith returned home from the worst day of school. Ever. After four months of intense dating, she had broken up with Atheism. She threw herself on the couch and sobbed for what felt like forever but was really just ten minutes. After her tears were exhausted, she decided she needed some way to get over her loss. She sent a quick text to her best friend, Hope, asking if she knew some way to counter heartbreak. A cheerful ringtone indicated that Hope had an answer for her. Dinner and a movie? That could be a great way to start moving on. She got up and put herself together, getting ready for the night out on the town. In just two short hours, she was sitting at a table with her friend, laughing and having a great time.
ReplyDeleteIn retrospect, she should have known something would go wrong as soon as her ex walked in through the front door. He was closely followed by his friend, Nihilism. The two made eye contact, and Atheism glared at the young girl. Faith lowered her eyes.
"Maybe he'll leave now that he's seen us," Hope said, but it was not to be. The host seated Atheism and his friend at the table behind theirs, and the boy simply stared at the girl who broke his heart. Faith, uncomfortable under his gaze, shifted slightly so his face was hidden behind Hope's frizzy curls.
"What are you hiding for? Feeling guilty?" Atheism moved so he could see her again.
Faith sank into her chair, "Just leave me alone, Atheism. We're done."
"No," said Atheism, moving to the girls' table with Nihilism. "You owe me an explanation. You don't just break up with someone for no reason. Tell me what happened to us."
Faith looked into the eyes of the boy she used to love and saw his pain. He was so confused, just as he always was. Without her, he had no anchor to give his life purpose and direction. He had lost everything, and was desperate to understand.
Faith's heart wilted under the agony she saw in him, and relented. "Do you really want to know why I ended it?"
He laughed shortly. "That's why I'm here."
Faith took a deep breath. "You always need proof, and proof of everything. I can't feel something or believe something without you asking why I believe in it. Sometimes you just do. I can't explain it because there is no proof."
"I thought you liked my scientific mind," he said.
"Science is limited," Faith said. "It's narrow minded and only one way to look at the world."
"I can change that," he said haughtily. "I can look at the world in other ways."
"I don't believe you," Faith said as tears welled up in her eyes. "You don't change."
"Give me a chance, Faith," he said, his voice breaking.
"No," she whispered.
Nihilism slammed his hand on the table and laughed. "I told you this was pointless."
Atheism got up slowly. "I should've listened. I'm over her. Let's get out of here."
The boys walked to the door, and Atheism turned back. "I hope this was worth it."
School became nearly impossible to get through after that night. Atheism and Nihilism were constantly harassing her in the halls. She could barely get through a day without them tormenting her. She could never be angry with him though, knowing that this was his way of coping with his loss, and remembering the pain that she knew lived within him.
I really loved this Ashley! It was so creative. I think a breakup between Faith and Atheism is very understandable, although I wonder why they got together in the first place. I feel that because they're practically two opposing forces, they'd constantly be clashing. I think this breakup was for the best. I also thought it was really cute how you included their best friends too. Great job!
DeleteAshley, I thought the use of the break up to show the separation of the two ideas. It was also easy to pick out the message of your allegory, even from the beginning. Overall, I thought this was very effective in high lighting the main points of Faith and Atheism.
DeleteOne sunny, humid, and sticky afternoon in the middle of August, Faith and Negation were slowly trudging through the desert, looking for any type of shade the desolate area had to offer. Their throats felt like sandpaper and Negation found no purpose in moving around wasting energy for shade that was not clearly visible for miles. With a horrible attitude, Negation held Faith back and they laid down in the sun, hoping for any gust of wind they could get, but it never came.
ReplyDelete"I've heard of this substance before, Negation, that is wet and cool and comes from the sky," croaked Faith, shading her eyes from the sun, "They call it precipitation... rain, to be specific."
"What is wrong with you,?" questioned negation, "That is the silliest thing I have ever heard."
"It hasn't fallen from the sky in three weeks so I have never seen it, but I do think it's up there and I do think it can take away all of our heat. Right in those clouds there, see?" said faith, motioning to the sky above them.
"I don't believe it because if rain was so nice and helpful, it would have showed up when we needed it. If rain was really as wonderful as it sounds, it wouldn't make the sky black and mean like that. I need to see it before I believe that it is real." Said Negation.
Faith continued to lie on her back in the shade that appeared when the clouds covered the sun. It was still hot but she knew that when life was the darkest, good things were supposed to follow. She heard this from her grandfather who shared his experience with her before he dried up in the sun from old age.
As much as she tried to convince Negation of this amazing cool stuff she believed in, he would not change his mind and continued to sit there moaning with the curse of nihilism. He continued with this horrible attitude until all of the sudden, Faith got hit in the head with something that felt foreign, but at the same time, amazing. "RAIN!," she yelled, leaping into the air in attempt to get as much of it as possible. It poured down her little body and she immediately felt right, but as she looked over at Negation, he still seemed to be hot. The rain was not pouring down on him because he was afraid of it and ran away from the clouds. He did not want to be wrong and wanted no part in this substance that was, in fact, real. Faith would not let this happen to her friend, as much as he doubted her. She pulled him into the rain with love and kindness and showed him the pleasure it could bring them.
"How foolish was I, to think that something this beautiful was imaginary? Only Faith had the ability to see beyond the dark clouds into this substance." Exclaimed Negation, skipping in the glory of the chilly rain.
Grace, I like your story because it was simple. I didn't have to search too hard to find the meaning, and I liked that. The clear moral made is easy to see how life is better when one has faith, instead of bemoaning everything bad that happens. The desert setting was also quite appropriate. It helped to illustrate how hard it can be to have faith. However, the faithful are always rewarded.
DeleteGrace, your story is good because of its simplicity. Everyone recognizes their need for water, and your allegory built its narrative around that need. I also like the line about how Negotiation wouldn't believe anything unless they see it. That is the attitude taken on by so many non-believers today. I just want to smack them right upside the head and tell them that you don't need to see everything in order for it to be true. All in all, I enjoyed your story very much.
DeleteThis is kind of short, but I think the point comes easily.
ReplyDeleteThere were two neighbors that lived side by side peacefully for many years. Atheism and Repudiation had a young child, Nihilism and the other neighbors, Faith and Optimism had their own child, Belief. The two families kept their distance from each other most of the time, but the two children grew curious of each other when they would see one another playing in the yard.
One day, when Belief was digging in the dirt outside, Nihilism boldly walked over to him.
"What are you doing?" Nihilism asked curiously.
"Looking for treasure," Belief responded, preoccupied.
"That's stupid! There's nothing down there!" Nihilism proclaimed.
"There might be," Belief said back, calmly.
"Even if there is, what's the point? Digging in the dirt is useless!" Nihilism said.
"Maybe to you, but to me it's important," Belief said, never looking up from the ground.
Nihilism stormed back over into his own yard and watched from the porch as Belief continued to dig in the dirt. After quite a while, Nihilism went inside and told his parents what had happened. They were very angry, calling Belief's parents and telling them to quite telling their child false things about the world. They explained angrily that their family was delusional and that their beliefs were foolish.
Nihilism's parents told everyone in town what had happened and shared their own opinions about Belief's parents. Many townspeople liked Nihilism's parents' new philosophies about the world and sided with them. However, other townspeople had known Belief's parents a very long time, and supported them even though many people were against them.
Atheism and Repudiation went home and built a wall, separating them from Faith and Optimism. This way, their children could no longer see each other and it ensured their paths never crossed again. It was impossible for them to be friends with Nihilism's family's stagnant outlook on the world, compared to Belief's greater hope. Both families realized this and made sure that they would never cross paths again and they let the townspeople make up their own minds about who they believed.
Abbey, I like how you included the idea of the wall as a separating force. It's clear that the qualities of these two families make it so they practically have to be separated. My favorite part of this was when Nihilism was telling Belief that there was nothing to dig for and Belief says simply, "there might be." I thought that was really cute. Too bad these two families will never get along. I think they both have a lot to learn about each other.
DeleteI am mad that people think like nihilism's parents. I wish people would just agree with Belief. This reminds me of a child's imagination compared to an adult's. It was so much fun to dig for treasures and play in a cardboard box when I was little, but now it seems pointless. I wish I could still be entertained that easily.
DeleteAbbey, that was a really great allegory. Through your narrative, you told a story about how nihilism and believe have basically come to just completely ignore each other. Philosophies like nihilism would benefit greatly if they would just listen to what other philosophies have to say, but instead they just shut themselves off from the world so that all they hear is their own rhetoric. Ago anyway, great job
DeleteAbbey, I really loved your use of the wall because although many people may not go out of their way to build physical walls, they certainly build mental ones to separate themselves from those views that contradict theirs or they find "offensive." Instead of learning to peacefully coexist or accept each other, the family decided to shut them out completely.
DeleteAs she whisked down the street, her eyes began brimming with tears. Obedience felt her body, which was adorned in an exceptionally plain ensemble, collapsing on the pavement leading to a dimly lit alleyway. It felt as if her heart was melting in her chest, dripping through her veins and restricting her entire body and soul. She wanted nothing more than to break free from the shackles which bound her creativity. But she could not. She must adhere to what is expected of her.
ReplyDeleteObedience was an artist. Always pleasing others with her exquisite talents, she felt eternally confined to painting according to the standards of society. That is, until that day, when she met Rejection.
"Cheer up, buttercup. Life ain't so bad. Wanna hit?" Obedience lifted her head from her tear-soaked palms, startled by the raspy voice piercing the frosty October air. The man appeared exceptionally ragged, his hollow face worn as a cloud of smoke danced freely around his head. He had stooped down so that he was only feet from the trembling figure that was Obedience. She stared. "I'll take that as a nada. Suit yourself." Without standing up, Rejection waddled over to the wall upon which Obedience rested her back. "So what's up kid? This mess of a world got ya down?" Obedience watched the man for a few moments before proceeding hesitantly. She told the man of her troubles, and of her tribulations with regards to her art. And he listened. And after a long silence during which the man closed his eyes and nodded vehemently, he spoke again. "I know whatchu need." Obedience watched the man intently, still rather sheepish as she bit her lip anxiously. Suddenly, Rejection stood up, dusting off his baggy trousers and offering to help the young girl from the pavement. He led her around the corner, and then around three more until at last they stood in a rather enclosed area, not unlike the center of a maze. But the walls surrounding the space were not simply walls. They were masterpieces. The walls stood about 20 feet above the ground, and every last centimeter was covered in messages and artwork unlike any Obedience had ever seen. She was in awe. "Welcome to my sanctuary! I think you'll find it quite inviting." The man wheezed as he stooped to the ground, snatching a can of spray paint and tossing it to Obedience, who caught it offhandedly. The girl glanced at the can, and then back up at the man, who was smiling widely, revealing only a few teeth. "It's all yours princess. Paint me a picture. Tell me a story." He leaned in closer and whispered, "Tell me your story." The girl stared at the walls before her, inclined to ask the man what he would like her to paint. But just as she turned to do so, the man pressed a single finger to his lips. "Shh. It's time to start taking orders from in here." The man tapped the girls chest before leaning on the wall that marked the entrance of the mysterious sanctuary. Obedience turned back to the wall, swallowing hard as she popped the lid off of the can. Rejection smiled once again as he watched her, nodding once again. Obedience continued to study the wall before her, flickering her gaze to the can she held within her grasp. Suddenly, and with an immense amount of passion, Obedience pressed her finger on the compressor, streaking the wall before her with color. She stared at the wall for a few moments before pressing on the can again. Her eyes lit up as a surge of new emotion overtook her. She pressed it again. And again. She felt her body overcome with purpose as she listened intently to the words of her heart, filling the wall with the colors they whispered to her.
Mary, I really loved this story. I like how rejection wasn't necessarily bad. Most people would say rejection is bad, but you put a great spin on it. I also liked how obedience felt. It can get really hard to be obedient all the time. Society often demands obedience, but sometimes we have to reject it.
DeleteOh my goodness, Mary! You are such a talented and creative author! Everything you write has a sort of elegance to it, which is extremely apparent in this blog. The symbolism here is awesome because although obedience is necessary, a person should not be tied down by everything around them. I hope you spend the rest of your life writing children's books because you definitely have a wonderful gift!
DeleteMary, this was really creative! Your use of symbolism was really effective in getting across the message of your story. Your development of the characters also added a lot to the story and made it interesting to read.
DeleteIt had been rumored that an old man by the name of Order lived in the very tall mountain adjacent to the tiny village. Belief had always been enthralled by the tales of this old man who had all of the answers to life's questions. He dreamed of scaling the mountain and meeting this wise old man for years. When Belief finally had enough money to acquire the resources necessary to go on this expedition to find Order, he was arrested. While he sat in his cell, the leader of the town, Nihilism, came to talk to him. "Belief," he asked, "Why do you feel it is necessary to scale this mountain to find this make believe old man? Surely you must realize that no one lives on that mountain." Belief looked up at Nihilism and responded, "If you're certain no one is up there, why won't you let me at least look? Why must you lock me up in this cell?" "We only arrested you to keep you safe. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you while you were up." Belief laughed at this stupid answer. "For too long, you have told the people of this town that there is nothing on top of that mountain. But, you haven't let anyone go up and see if your claims are actually true. You would rather the whole town just believe everything you say without actually even considering other possibilities. That's why you locked me up. I actually have questioned something you said, and you wanted to make an example out of me. But don't worry. Soon, the townspeople will start to question you as well, and they will set me free." Nihilism laughed and asked, "Where are the townspeople? They're not here. You are stuck here, Belief. All you have to do to get out though is just reject your crazy notion that someone lives in the mountain." Belief spat at Nihilism, and with that, Nihilism walked out.
ReplyDeleteMonths passed...
Years passed...
A decade passed...
Belief looked up and finally saw light. The villagers had come to break him out. They told him, "We finally questioned what Nihilism had to say. His lack of belief in anything outside this village had grown tiresome and we want you to climb that mountain and find Order." Belief walked out of the jail, grabbed his gear, and began climbing. The mountain had basically a vertical incline, so the climbing was already difficult. Add in the fact that the snow was coming down hard and it was extremely cold outside and anyone other than Belief would have quit climbing and just gone home. But Belief knew that Order was waiting for him, so he continued on. After days of climbing, he hoisted himself onto a ledge. Ahead was a cave, and inside of the cave there was a fire burning. Belief stumbled towards the fire and saw the old man tending it. As Belief finally got near the fire, he knelt down and stared into hot coals. Order looked at him with tender, kind eyes, but Belief couldn't say anything back, as he was on the verge of exhaustion. With that, he fell backwards, and closed his eyes...
Giz, I like how you say Belief saw light. I think light is the perfect symbol for hope and even God shining down to help people. The mountain was a great way to show belief comes with a struggle and you have to work to get what you need to find.
DeleteDisclaimer: You might think I have typos, but a lot of it is just weird Irish vernacular.
ReplyDeleteThe blight was worsening each day, so much that many citizens began naming it the Second Irish Potato Famine. Two broke farmers met outside on their desolate plots of farm land and began discussing their plans of actions.
"Yeo! What's happening, Chum?" asked Optimism.
"Yeo! The blight surely is making our season go arseways, isn't it, a chara?" said Repudiation.
"Aye, it is quare arseways, but I have faith in me land," Optimism stated.
"I'm packing me bags to go cross land. The chances of this getting better are like hen's teeth, and I suggest you do the same," said Repudiation.
"I got me some fertilizer and pesticides to weather out this blight and make some potatoes." Optimism said confidently.
So Repudiation packed his bags and moved him and his wife, Nihilism's, bags to move across the great, green lands of the Irish country. In juxtaposition, Optimism and his wife Obedience stayed in their old cottage in their village. It seemed as if their potatoes were never going to be edible or without black holes greater than those in space. But everyday Obedience fertilized the land and sprayed pesticides to kill the blight. Within weeks of their perseverance, the biggest, healthiest potatoes began to form under the Irish soil. The famished family could finally eat their fair share.
But Repudiation and Nihilism had no such luck. The land across the country was even worse than the lands they had forsaken. Nihilism felt it was pointless to try and help her husband nurture the new land because they would not be able to escape the blight. Repudiation and Nihilism moved all around Ireland searching for fertile lands instead of trying to nurture the good left in the land they had.
One day, Repudiation and Nihilism came knocking on the door of Optimism and Obedience. They were close to death from the extreme starvation they had been facing.
"Yeo! What's happening, Chum?" Optimism asked just as he did before.
"Yeo," Repudiation muttered weakly.
Optimism could see the weakness in Repudiation and Nihilism and decided to take mercy on their foolishness and weak efforts. Optimism offered them some potato soup. Repudiation graciously accepted the offer, but his wife Nihilism saw no point in accepting the soup for she felt such great disgrace over the state of their affairs. Nihilism soon died from her foolishness. Repudiation walked back into his old field and dug his hand into the old soil. When his hand reemerged, it held in it a great potato.
"How could this be?" Repudiation asked inquisitively.
"Well, a chara, while you were gone, I saw the good in your land, and I did as much as I could to make it useful. You see, a chara, the problem wasn't the blight, it was your negligence all along."