In five pages the ways in which characters signify either good or evil are discussed within the context of works by Whitman, Melville, and Thoreau. Seven sources are cited in the bibliography.
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them. As a direct result, readers of such works find few characters that can be called good or evil, with particular emphasis upon Melville, Thoreau and Whitman. "For
man, good is that which is proper to the life of a rational, that is, reasoning being. Evil is that which opposes, negates, or destroys life and reason" (Introduction
to Objectivism). A relevant phrase in literature that relates to the overall concept of characteristic theme is that of the human condition, which
refers -- quite logically -- to the definition of being human. Analyzing the notion of good and evil within the works of Melville, Thoreau and Whitman, one finds that
the human condition is a regular consideration, insofar as humanity is constantly in question: Is Man strong or weak, good or evil, redeemed or condemned, honorable or chicken-hearted? The
climate of the human condition is what spurs on myriad literary works that delve deeply into the conscience of humanity. Indeed, Melville, Thoreau and Whitman achieve all this and
more through their respective employment of characterization. How does the readers interpretation alter the truth of such conflict in Melville, Thoreau and Whitmans
work? If the reader proves victorious at ascertaining the entire concept as a whole, while comprehending the connection of the detailed statement as compared with the storys absolute objective,
what is left to be determined is that of the readers personal judgment. If that judgment is of an implied manner by which the interpretation of life is skewed
or ones attitude toward life is left as incomplete, then has the reader truly grasped the authors definition, or has he only incorporated his own interpretation which is opposing that