The Role Of Storytelling In Literature

The storytelling role of storytelling challenges preconceptions, and oftentimes what we learn sparks new ideas about ourselves and the wider world. The Merchant of Venice, a tragicomedy of the Elizabethan period, explores justice and mercy and its propensity to challenge preconceptions of morality, igniting new concepts of the human experience through self-reflection. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin was written in 1984, the Victorian era, and scrutinizes self-discovery which challenges assumptions of society’s values regarding femininity, and stimulates new ideas through self-realization.

The Merchant of Venice exemplifies justice and mercy, challenging suppositions of morality and igniting ideas about the world and ourselves. Shakespeare fulfils his role as an entertainer through storytelling. Antonio’s deal with Shylock unveils the inconsistencies in human behavior and judgment, as Antonio enters a bond involving trust despite continually degrading Shylock. The antagonist’s soliloquy humanizes his persona, evoking pathos with modern audiences, juxtaposing with reactions of traditional viewers, whose anti-sematic views hindered their empathy. Additionally, Shylock’s relationship with Jessica sparks new ideas regarding familial connections. Responders question their relationships once observing Shylock’s restrictive nature. The motif of revenge as Shylock strives to ‘execute villainy’ to achieve his perception of justice, disrupts collective ideals, and challenges assumptions of morality, as we question where our values lay, and whether justice should overrule mercy. Portia stresses mercy’s superiority; her approach is paradoxical, as to challenge societal values in a city symbolic of masculinity, Portia must be disguised as a man. Ultimately mercy seems to transcend, hence sparking new ideas within responders, as we re-evaluate ethics due to the depiction of past ordeals, hence constructing new perceptions of the human experience.

The Story of an Hour scrutinizes self discovery, and tests assumptions of society’s perceptions of women, fueling new ideas via self-realization. The author, Kate Chopin originated from a female-dominated setting, hence was not an orthodox product of her times and rejected collective ideals in her work. Louise Mallard, the protagonist learns of her husband’s death and grieves in an anomalistic manner, revealing the inconsistencies in human behavior as she doesn’t react as others would, with “paralyzed inability to accept its significance”. Rather, she isolates herself, paradoxically discovering the beauty of “spring life” in the midst of trauma, symbolic of her own self-awakening. Mr Mallard’s death birthed self-discovery in Louise, evident by her gasps “free, free, free”. This anaphora emphasises the epiphany she achieves from her husband’s demise, as she can now “live for herself”, thus challenging the self-sacrificing Victorian ideal, as her submission to her husband’s blind persistence had the facade of love. Mrs Mallard’s awakening sparks ideas in audiences, urging them to reassess their own lives, particularly relationships, by showing past ordeals. The story ends with a paradox; her husband is alive and upon seeing him, Mrs. Mallard dies of “a joy that kills” – the birth of individual self and elation murdered her.

Both texts utilize the role of storytelling, hence unveiling the complex nature of human experiences. Assumptions of societal beliefs are tested, as the Merchant of Venice challenges suppositions of morality, as to display mercy rather than desire justice, we surpass the capabilities of many individuals, whereas the Story of an Hour tests preconceptions of women’s roles. Hence responders can question morals and values by confronting past afflictions, expanding human experiences. Self-realization overcomes Shylock, Portia and Mrs. Mallard, as their identity develops, igniting new ideas as responders reassess their own lives due to the depiction of past ordeals, ultimately causing transformation. Both texts inspect patriarchy and paradoxes, as Mrs. Mallard’s awakening leads to the release of suppressed self-reflection, which is brutally terminated upon seeing her husband. Whilst The Merchant of Venice ironically strips Shylock of his money and religion, as Antonio anticipated mercy from Shylock yet failed to deliver his own. Each text fulfils the role of storytelling, by challenging preconceptions and sparking new ideas within readers and the wider world.