<span>The plot structure that allows authors to 'come late' to their own story is in medias res. It is a Latin term which basically means 'into the middle of things.' Sometimes authors don't want to bother giving their characters a backstory, but rather begin the novel in the middle. An example would be Gaiman's 'American Gods,' because we don't see each of the gods' history in the beginning.</span>
Answer:
I wonder if you could disagree. Say the punishment of wearing the scarlet letter is much less barbaric than the stoning that she might have suffered under mosaic law.
Explanation: Adultery destroys the love and trust that form the basis for a happy marriage. It causes the breakdown of families. In previous centuries, stable marriages and families were the basis for communities and civil society. Anyone who caused disruption undermined the common good. The punishment served as a deterrent.
In today's culture of pleasure-seeking and lack of commitment to long-term marriage, it may seem harsh to punish someone for "doing what comes naturally." But look at the consequences. Single parents who can hardly support themselves and their kids. Kids constantly in visitation switches between parents. Unplanned pregnancies and abortions. If adultry were less tolerated, family and community life would be more stable.
Someone standing up for what they believe in.
The part of this excerpt from Homer’s Odyssey depicts Ulysses revealing his true identity to his faithful servants Eumaeus and Philaetius is
His ragged vest then drawn aside disclosed The sign conspicuous, and the scar exposed: Eager they view'd, with joy they stood amazed With tearful eyes o'er all their master gazed: Around his neck their longing arms they cast, His head, his shoulders, and his knees embraced; Tears followed tears; no word was in their power; In solemn silence fell the kindly shower. The king too weeps, the king too grasps their hands; And moveless, as a marble fountain, stands.
In order to discover the theme of a magical realist story, the reader can analyze the recurring topics/issues characters talk about/struggle with.
An example of it can be found in Gabriel García Márquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera", which is a work of magical realism. The main character experiences unrequited love and never gives up. Throughout the whole book, the poor man keeps hoping his beloved one will some day give in to his advances. We can say the theme of this magical realist story is the invincible power of true love.
Another work by García Márquez (his most famous one), "100 years of Solitude", revolves around the Buendías, a family who lives in the fictional municipality of Macondo. It is another work of pure magical realism, since there is the rain that lasts for many years and also the woman who lives to be much more than 100 (really much more). It shows successive generations of the same family and also how certain characteristics can be inherited. The theme here is that of the relevance of kinship.
