Good Feels in the News

Good Feels in the News

Considering the fact that most people have never been to the moon, been abducted by aliens or found a magical land in their wardrobe, it should be no surprise to anyone that fiction is often like the real world. Even though the majority may not kill their wives in and rush of blind anger or fall asleep for twenty years, the authors of these tales find their roots in real life. Now obviously a story written in the late 19th century may have little in common with the news of the modern day, but humans are creatures of habit. Regardless of the time they all tend to have the same basic emotions. Authors have nothing besides their own personal experiences and their imaginations to draw creativity from. “The Minister’s Black Veil,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “The Black Cat,” by Edgar Allen Poe are both excellent examples of how fiction is as real as the news; fiction, especially realism and dark romanticism, and the real world are directly related through the author and common experiences of world she lives in.

       Often times people will take drastic measures to prove their points and show their beliefs. “The Minister’s Black Veil,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne Rev. Hooper wears a veil to symbolize loneliness, sins, and suffering the world. While his actions are peaceful and silent, ISIS continues to post videos of them beheading its captives to fulfill its Jihad (article). Obviously Hawthorne had no idea that ISIS would ever exist, but the idea that people will do anything to prove a point is a common thought in the world. “‘Elizabeth, I will,’ said he, ‘so far as my vow may suffer me. Know, then, this veil is a type and a symbol, and I am bound to wear it ever, both in light and darkness, in solitude and before the gaze of multitudes,’”(Hawthorne) Rev Hooper says to Elizabeth when she begs him to take off the veil. The members of the terrorist group do believe that what they are doing is right in the eyes of their god Allah. They chose to kill people and post videos about it because it will spread their message more rapidly than if they relied on word of mouth transportation. So ISIS and the Reverend can be directly related because they are both people who want to share a point with the world and make  it known that they have beliefs that will change the lives of everyone around them. One decides to do this is a peaceful way and the other in a gruesome and provoking manner.

In the news acts of violence are ever present. The human tendency to succumb to emotions has always plagued the world. Edgar Allen Poe, author of “The Black Cat” describes this condition perfectly. Recently a man stabbed his roommate in the chest with a sword (article), killing him, after an argument. It can be assumed that the raw emotion felt by this man is part of the reason that he was driven to commit such a heinous act. In Poe’s story the protagonist is lead to kill his wife because of the effects that his dead cat has on him. All in all if Poe were to be alive today surely he would see the similarities between this article and the story he wrote. Even though there is some  connection between the fiction and the article the root remains the same: humans act upon extreme emotions, which can lead to the destruction of a human being and those around said person. The article talks about how an argument lead to the tragic death of the roommate and how immediately the man felt terrible about what he had done, but once it was done there was nothing that could be done to save either of the men. One died literally and one died figuratively; both tragic for different reasons and an excellent plot line to a work of fiction.

          As a whole, fiction and the news are one and the same “The Black Cat” and “The Minister’s Black Veil” are both examples of authors writing through common experiences. Pain and emotion felt in the in the world is reflected news reflects that. Often times when scanning the paper one will see stories about heroic acts and mass murders, both of which highlight the similarities between the human experiences. Most would say that they have never killed a cat out of anger and curiosity or worn a veil as a silent protest to the sins of humans, but the ideas that people need to express these emotions is a real fact of life. Fiction, which is just an extension of the life of the author, is a way that people can share their thoughts and questions with the world without coming out and saying it point blank.  There must have been something going on in the world when Hawthorne and Poe lived that lead to write about such dark and severe stories about humankind as a whole. Perhaps it was something that they read in the news or heard about in town gossip. Regardless of what it was it struck a chord in both of the them and allowed them to write the stories that they did.

        If the world were exactly like fiction, than fiction as a genre would no longer exist. This means that while fiction may find its roots in the real world at its core, the aspect that makes it so likeable and fun is its creative and imaginative nature. The reason “The Black Cat” is so provoking and intense is that it is not something that hopefully many people will not experience in their lifetimes. However, everyday on the news stories of pain and suffering grab the attention of many as they read about an event they never wish to experience. Everything in the modern day is about making money. The more money one has the better her life is said to be. News outlets are no exception to this rule; the more copies they sell the more profit they make. The only way to sell papers is to have interesting stories about the world around the reader, just like an author must make an interesting work of fiction if she wishes to be successful. These stories the root in the real world. At this point fiction and news are almost the same, on any given day the news can seem like fiction; just watch Fox.

Racial Predjudice in Fiction and Current Events

Fiction is often as real as current events. Fabricated stories can remain close to reality because many are based on real-life problems and issues. Although “Desiree's Baby” by Kate Chopin is a fictional story and the New York Times article “Reaction to Ferguson Decision shows Racial Divide Remains Over Views Of Justice,” by Michael Wines is based on an actual event, Chopin’s short story and the shooting of Michael Brown are parallel to each other because they both encompass and highlight the harmful effects of racial prejudice and discrimination, a prevalent issue in today’s society.

In “Desiree’s Baby,” Chopin exemplifies the issue of racism, a major contemporary issue. In Chopin’s short story, Aubigny Armand is a perpetrator of racial discrimination. He defines a person’s value based on the color of his skin rather than his personality and morals. Comparable to modern day society, in August of 2014, an unarmed teenager named Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson. In Wines’s article, he reports on the racial discrimination within the American political system and the injustice committed by the Grand Jury’s to not indict Wilson. The article and court decision show the flaws within the American justice system. It exposes that racial prejudice even exists within the system created to remove impartiality and ensure the rights of all Americans regardless of race. Correspondingly, “Desiree’s Baby” portrays and highlights this perpetual racism and judgement by appearance.

Similarly,”Desiree’s Baby” and the death of Michael Brown demonstrate the destructive nature of racial prejudice and discrimination. The failure to indict Mr. Wilson erupted in riots across the country. In comparison, even though Chopin’s short story is fiction, the destructive effect of Armand’s prejudice towards blacks is clear when he discovers his baby could be of mixed heritage. After Armand learns that his child is most likely not white, he transforms from a proud father to one who looks at his child without respect. As a result, his relationships with his family suffers because of his narrow-mindedness and preconceptions on what physical qualities constitute as a person of worth. His lack of respect and attitude towards his own child because his baby could potentially be biracial is comparable to the devastating consequences of racial prejudice and discrimination in the United States. In the article “Michael Brown and the deadly effect of colorism,” author Solomon Jones examines the  social and psychological effects of colorism, “the prejudging of others based on complexion.” This difference in attitude towards black Americans has caused blacks on average to have lower socioeconomic statuses and be more punished under the law. Racial bias within the political system has caused many Americans to be denied equal rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution.

In addition, nonfiction writers tend to construct works of art that emulate the world. Actual facts are used to create believable scenes that reflect the time period she is writing about.”Desirees Baby,” set in mid 19th century, exhibits how cultural and societal views influence the actions of individuals. The connection between Chopin’s short story and modern news lies within the examination of race and racial purity that results in racial discrimination. The dark reality of racism in “Desirees Baby” can be compared to the prejudiced court ruling regarding the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson.

Ever since European settlers discovered America, racial prejudice has existed. From discrimination of Native Americans to the mistreatment of slaves, America has always struggled to accept that appearance does not define character and worth. The death of Michael Brown resurfaced an intensifying frustration with the maltreatment of people of color in America. Although “Desiree’s Baby” is a work of fiction, the core themes explored by Chopin connect with major current events that have challenged the nature of race relations in America. Irrespective of plot, characters, and setting Kate Chopin’s short story is as real as the news one reads in the newspaper for its issue at hand are unfortunately realistic.

Survival of the Fittest

Jack London's Tundra Survival Guide

Jack London’s “To Build a Fire,” isn't a fictional story; it's a tundra survival guide. While the tale's labeled as a  fictional story, it's based on survival facts while exploring a man and his dog’s journey through an extremely frigid environment. The story’s layout, from portraying the extreme temperature, to the dogs bare fur coat, to the dogs instant frostbite after getting wet, exemplifies steps explored in a survival article for animals. WHNT’s article,  “Pet safety during cold weather: Animals can suffer frostbite and hypothermia despite fur coats,” by Beth Jett, does the same. “To Build a Fire” depicts faction because it displays factual steps of survival for animals through fictional experience.

The news article, “Pet safety during cold weather: Animals can suffer frostbite and hypothermia despite fur coats,” outlines tips for animal survival skills in frigid temperatures, and the short story outlines steps in a narrative form. The first tip of the article is to bring in all outdoor animals once the temperature drops below twenty degrees fahrenheit. The article explains that although some animals are born to be able to survive fully outside, veterinary experts explain once temperatures reach this extreme they should be brought inside. However, the man in “To build a fire” does just the opposite: “In reality, it was not merely colder than fifty below zero; it was colder than sixty below, than seventy below. It was seventy-five below zero,” (London 168). Accordingly, based on the fact and proved by the story’s descriptions, it was extremely dangerous for the two to be traveling outside. The use of faction portrays the propor survival necessities for the dog, and how he was not provided with those.    

The next tip from the article is to consider putting a coat or sweater with a high collar on the pet because in extreme weather their bare coat may not be enough. The fictional story portrays this as fact: “The frozen moisture of its breathing had settled on its fur in a fine powder of frost, and especially were its jowls, muzzle, and eyelashes whitened by its crystalled breath” (London 168). The dog suffers from the harsh ice settling on its coat--which by itself is not a protective layer. The short story depicts that dog would greatly benefit from another layer to block off the ice, but again, faction proves that the dog lacks proper survival protection.

The last tip from the article is that pets can get frostbite too regardless of fur coats. The fictional story, “To Build a Fire” backs up the factual example: “It had wet its forefeet and legs, and almost immediately the water that clung to it turned to ice. It made quick efforts to lick the ice off its legs, then dropped down in the snow and began to bite out the ice that had formed between the toes. This was a matter of instinct. To permit the ice to remain would mean sore feet,” (London 170). Accordingly, the fact is proven by fiction: the frostbite immediately begins to form on the dogs legs once they get wet. Again the short story usees facts to portray that the dog lacked proper protection.

Accordingly, “To Build a Fire” is a fictional story based on facts. As portrayed by the survival article, the man and the dog should not have been traveling outside. The story’s layout- the extreme temperature, to the dogs bare fur coat, to the dogs instant frostbite after getting wet-exemplifies steps explored in a survival article for animals. From the facts, readers are led to the conclusions that in this environment, one may not survive, and that is proved from the fictional story.

"Fictual" Flaws in Human Nature

          Humans, whether factual or fictional, are often defined by their flaws. As a result of these flaws, fictional characters, regardless of how unrealistic they may seem, are relatable to readers. The flaws seen in most fictional characters are founded upon imperfections in human nature. This is present in the literary genres of Dark Romanticism and Realism; specifically, in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat,” Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark,” and Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.” As seen in the works of Poe, Hawthorne, and London, the flaws of many characters in literature are founded upon shortcomings in human nature.      

           In “The Black Cat,” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator is driven by perverseness and wrath, which causes him to lose his sanity and perform monstrosities; similarly, countless real people have been impelled by rage and perverseness to commit crimes. At the outset of the story, Poe’s narrator describes his love of animals and his gentle nature. As the story continues, the narrator claims to feel an inexplicable feeling of perverseness that leads him to harm his pet cat. The narrator’s comments on the sentiment of perverseness, however, are not solely applicable to his actions in the story. The narrator accentuates the presence of perverseness in human nature when he states, “Yet I am not more sure that my soul lives, than I am that perverseness is one of the primitive impulses of the human heart--one of the indivisible primary faculties, or sentiments, which give direction to the character of Man” (http://goo.gl/4U2su). After succumbing to perverseness and gouging his cat’s eyes out, his discontent with the cat develops into a feeling of wrath. The narrator’s rage causes a complete deterioration of his mental state. His insanity and loathing of the cat cause him to murder the pet, only to take in another, and attempt to murder the new cat as well. During the narrator’s attempt to kill the second cat, his wife intervenes, and “Goaded, by the interference, into a rage more than demoniacal, [he] withdrew [his] arm from her grasp and buried the axe in her brain” (http://goo.gl/4U2su). The narrator’s rage forces him to commit an act that he never would have committed were he not defined by his human imperfections. The flaws of perverseness and rage are seen in countless people. In 2008, a seven-year-old boy stole his grandmother’s car and drove it on the streets, damaging mailboxes and two cars. When interviewed after the event, the boy claimed that he stole the car because he “got mad at [his] mom” and “because it’s fun, it’s fun to do bad things.” The interviewer then highlighted the danger the young boy placed other people’s lives in by stealing the car, to which the boy responded, “I wanted to do hoodrat stuff with my friends” (http://goo.gl/tKuWSk). This young boy was driven primarily by his anger towards his mom, and his innate propensity towards perverseness. Evidently, he succumbed to flaws in human nature, just like the narrator of “The Black Cat.” Through the presence of common human imperfections in the narrator, Poe bases a fictional story on actual sentiments. As seen in fiction and actual life, despite the fact that imperfections make people human, it is natural to attempt to fix flaws that define oneself.    

         Human nature can cause men and women, whether fictional or real, to make an effort to rid themselves of defining imperfections, regardless of risks. Every individual has an idea of at least one thing they would like to change about themselves. Often people do not realize that to unnaturally fix their imperfections is to succumb to innate impulses and to strip themselves of their defining characteristics. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Dark Romantic short story “The Birthmark,” Aylmer and his wife, Georgiana, both succumb to their natural longings for Georgiana’s perfect physical appearance. In order to bless his wife with a flawless appearance, Aylmer believes that Georgiana’s birthmark must be removed. Georgiana, who desires her husband’s approval, agrees to drink a liquid prepared by her husband that will remove her birthmark at high risk. After drinking the liquid, the birthmark does disappear, but it costs Georgiana her life. Georgiana succumbs to a flaw in human nature by removing her birthmark and desiring to rid herself of the imperfections that define her as a person. As Hawthorne explains, “The fatal hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame” (http://goo.gl/KPXqN). Although Georgiana is a fictional character, her longing to fix her human imperfections is founded upon the same desire present in all men and women. An article published by USA Today describes a woman in Miami who decided to have “minimally invasive” liposuction to lose weight and improve her physical appearance. The woman, named Kelly Lee-Howard, risked her wellbeing by using an unqualified doctor to strip herself of her natural identity and lose weight through surgery (http://goo.gl/bYC7Uk).  Kelly Lee-Howard’s desire to unnaturally better her physical appearance led to her death. Similarly to Georgiana, she succumbed to her human impulse to unnaturally fix an imperfection that was defining her. In contrast to the human desire to perfect oneself, overconfidence, or hubris, is also a popular character flaw that bridges fiction and factual life.    

             The defining characteristic of hubris can draw a bridge between fiction and fact, as seen in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.” London’s story details an unnamed man’s trek through the Yukon territory, towards camp, at seventy-five degrees below zero. Despite a warning from a native of the area, which cautioned the man against travelling without another person at such frigid temperatures, he seems confident in his ability to make it to camp safely. With only the companionship of a reluctant dog, the man undergoes the journey. At one point in the story, the man stops to build a fire and dry his feet after breaking through the snow. After successfully building the fire, the man’s hubris is apparent when London writes:The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below. Well, here he was; he had had the accident; he was alone; and he had saved himself. Those old-timers were rather womanish...he thought...Any man who was a man could travel alone. (http://goo.gl/SXmZfd)Following an unfortunate series of events, largely caused by the man’s own mistake, he is left freezing to death, without any chance of survival. After accepting his fate, the man realizes his overconfidence and contemplates that, “The old-timer on Sulphur Creek was right...after fifty below, a man should travel with a partner” (http://goo.gl/Dbm7xX). The main character’s fatal flaw in “To Build a Fire,” however, is not exclusive to fictional writing; but rather, it is seen innumerable times in the real world. A 2013 Daily News article details the freezing deaths of a man from Illinois and his two sons while hiking in the cold. The man, a veteran of the Air Force, was leading his two sons back to the family’s lodge when they missed a turn and became lost in the dark (http://goo.gl/o83jOn). While this story is extremely tragic, the man had actually denied an offer for a ride back to the lodge from a passerby because of his overconfidence in his abilities. The fatalities of the man in “To Build a Fire” and the family in Illinois are similarly tragic, but the presence of hubris in both stories profoundly bridges London’s fictional writing to factual life. 

          The fictional short stories “The Black Cat,” “The Birthmark,” and “To Build a Fire” are connected to real life through the characters’ defining human flaws. However, the works of Poe, Hawthorne, and London are not the only fictional stories founded upon reality. The accentuation of shortcomings in human nature can be seen throughout Dark Romanticism and Realism, as well as nearly every other genre of literature. The flaws of these characters are often dramatized in stories to teach readers a moral lesson. In “The Black Cat,” “The Birthmark,” and “To Build a Fire,” in addition to the three highlighted articles, the inadequacies of the characters result in either death or serious legal troubles. While the effects of these flaws are not typically as extreme, the stories serve as a warning to readers, by cautioning them to limit the influence the imperfections of human nature have on their lives. The shortcomings of the fictional characters not only bridge fact and fiction, but they also deliver applicable moral lessons to readers.

Man Powerless to Nature

                Photo: (http://goo.gl/rH1twy)

Stop reading fictional stories as if they are fairytales.  Fictional stories have truth.  Behind all of the magic, sci-fi, made up characters and fictional plots, the stories contain messages, morals, or illustrations that are true in today’s world.  In “To Build a Fire”, Jack London creates an original plot with fictional characters and events; however, what he portrays has relevance and truthfulness.  London’s theme that nature is stronger than man is factual and can be seen in modern world.

One of the fictional characters represents the challenge of nature; the main character, who is nameless, believes that he can travel when the temperature is 70 degrees below zero, even though  an “old-timer” tells him that he should not.  “The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below.” (London)  The protaginist believes that he is superior to nature and can handle the cold and all the possible obstacles.  Unfortunately, he realizes too late that the “old-timer” was right and the character perishes, submitting to the power of nature. The “old-timer” is analogous to warnings of climate change: Both illustrate that nature is powerful and can harm people.

According to a recent New York Times article and President Obama, 2014 broke the record for the hottest in recoded history.  Many believe that the increase in temperature is because of greenhouse gases.  Scientists also proclaim that most of the water on the planet has increased in temperature, and hypothesize that as a result, devastating Pacific storms have occurred.  The article goes on to state that, “The 10 warmest years have all occurred since 1997, a reflection of the relentless planetary warming that scientists say is a consequence of human activity and poses profound long-term risks to civilization and nature.” (New York Times)  It also explores the dangers involved of humans trying to manipulate nature.  Just as the “old-timer” tried to warn the man in the story, the New York Times article is trying to warn us that the temperature of the world is changing and there are harmful consequences that may not be able to be controlled by our best scientists.  Nature is more powerful than humans and the more humanity attempts to control nature --- the more nature will rebel.

The man ignores the advice of the “old-timer” just as people today ignore the warnings of global warming.  He attempts the hike and costs his life.  “Those old-timers were rather womanish, some of them, he thought.” (London)  Today, even with the warnings such as in the New York Times, companies continue to try to control nature and some are actually profiting from the changing climate.  Arctic shipping companies are profiting from melting ice caps.  New, faster, cheaper routes are being established because there is no ice in the way, which in turn saves companies like Rosatam time and money.  These companies are inadvertently pro-global warming and by extension do not regard the health and safety of animals such as the polar bear.

Another industry that benefits from global warming is agricultural biotech.  “Prolonged droughts and frosts ruin regular crops. That means extra business for companies that protect agriculture.”  (CNN) The interesting fact is that some of the “prolonged droughts and frosts” are a result of humans.  The agricultural biotech example, shows that people are trying to control nature and adapting items like food because nature is rebelling to human’s disregard for the environment.   People are ignoring the warnings of nature’s reaction to being controlled. Although the consequences are not entirely known, the more extreme weather indicates that nothing good will come from attempting to control nature.  The message conveyed in “To Build a Fire” that ignoring certain advice may have dire consequences is the same as after reading the New York Times along with the article that points out companies using global warming to their benefits.

If the man had listened to the “old-timer”, he would still be alive and have met up with his friends at the camp.  Sadly, the man realizes too late that he is not stronger than nature.  “‘You were right, old hoss; you were right,’ the man mumbled to the old-timer of Sulphur Creek.  Then the man drowsed off into what seemed to him the most comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known.” (London)  Fortunately, there are environmentalists, who are listening to the warnings and trying not to make the same mistakes.

Rose Twine, an environmentalist, and her brother are creating the “eco-stove”, that is powered by volcanic rock and solar power.  She wants to reduce deforestation and eliminate the need to burn items, such as wood, that produce thick, toxic smoke.  “It's still early days but the sustainable business has seen some local success in promoting renewable energy -- a cause of great importance to Twine.” (CNN)  London's fable does not actually describe what would have happened if the man had not gone for the hike, but it can be inferred that he would still be alive.  Thus, another true message. The eco-stove article warns that if one does listen to good advice the results are favorable.

“To Build a Fire” is a fictional story and the articles mentioned above are factual; however, there is a strong similarity between the items.  Nature is not something to mess with in life.  No one is superior to nature and messing with it is like toiling with the devil.  Reading “To Build a Fire” and then setting it down thinking, 'Oh, that was a nice, fake story,' is foolish because the truths behind the fiction are relevant and are crucial to the future.  Essentially, one should read fiction and internalize the messages that are within and apply to everyday life.

Jack London Knows Black Lives Matter

            Jack London’s short story “To Build A Fire” uses realism to show that black lives matter. The protagonist of the story’s arrogance and death are a reminder of the risk you take when you confront an entity larger than yourself, such as nature or racism in society. In order to properly confront something larger than yourself, you need help from others, and the strategy with the least risk.

            The Black Lives Matter movement is a perfect example of a group of people causing change. Theodore R. Johnson describes the movement best in his article, “Don’t Let ‘Black Lives Matter’ Become Another Ice Bucket Challenge.” (Here's the actual article) In order to battle racism in society and police brutality, Johnson writes that “With only the power of their message, strength of conviction, and social media, these young black leaders have innovated and pioneered a new form of grassroots movement, the likes of which our nation has never seen”(Johnson). This movement has not been made possible by any one person, but by the collective power of many. When the protagonist of “To Build A Fire” is close to freezing to death, he finally realizes that “Perhaps the old-timer on Sulphur Creek was right. If he had only had a trail-mate he, would have been in no danger now”(London). The protagonist takes an unnecessary risk in going on his journey to see his friends alone.
            The protagonist mentions throughout the story that he knows that he should have a traveling partner. Instead of having a trail-mate, he resolves, “Any man who is a man could travel alone”(London). He, like the Seattle Seahawks’ current offensive coordinator, makes the wrong decision at a crucial time. The Seahawks, after playing a hard fought game against the New England Patriots for the 49th Super Bowl Championship, lose the game for themselves. In Ben Shpigel’s article on the game, he writes: “Seattle advanced to the 1, but instead of handing the ball off to Lynch a second straight time, Wilson tried to sneak a pass to Ricardo Lockette. Butler jumped in front, and the Patriots’ sideline erupted”(Shpigel). The protagonist’s decision to go on his excursion alone is similar to the decision made by the Seattle Seahawks current offensive coordinator. Neither method that the two men used was hopeless, but the possibility of success with both decisions was close to nil. A travel-mate would have allowed the protagonist to do more at once, and using a run play with the strong and reliable Marshawn Lynch would have easily closed the distance of 1-yard.
            The fact that the fictional story “To Build A Fire” is relatable to articles that were written more than one-hundred years later proves not only that fictional stories hold some fact, but that all fictional stories are rooted in reality. The gamble of traveling alone in sub seventy degree weather is a mistake that any proud hiker could make. You can see the incentive of bragging to your friends and family about such a feat. Whether you're from Kansas or Seoul, human character traits and weaknesses are something that everyone can understand. This is the true binding between fact and fiction, as well as the true binding that people share with each other.

Literal and Psychological Realities

Reality can be defined simply as an actuality, thus it is hard to define a work of fiction as “real” because fiction is, by definition, something that is a fabrication as opposed to fact. Yet there are certain parts of fiction that can’t be seen as a lie. Our emotional responses to works of fiction can be similar to the response we get when reading todays most popular news articles, like a the articles about the most recent ISIS executions. Our reaction to the work shows that, in any story, there is a sense of reality. If there wasn’t, then we wouldn’t be able to feel an emotional response because connecting to the story would be impossible. All fiction, whether it’s historical, psychological, or about the nature of creatures on earth, has its basis in fact, but a piece of fiction doesn’t have to be factual to seem real to the reader.

Historical fiction is one of the most interesting sorts of fiction because it is usually based on the undeniable truths that happened in history, but still holds the intrigue and suspense because of the contrasting fabricated plot. The stories in this genre are arguably more “real” in nature because of their firm grip in the evidence of the past, but they are also realistic because of the emotions they draw up in us as we read. When Peter Farquhar was going through the stages of his execution in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” a short story by Ambrose Bierce, we can live through the moments with him as he realizes the pain and torture of death by hanging. Similarly, the recent articles and specials in the news about the ISIS executions of journalists have forced us all to think more about life and what those dying moments are like. Videos from ISIS have been sent more frequently over the past few months and are getting the attention of reporters all over the world. In the ABC article “ISIS Hostages Likely Faced Mock Executions Before Beheadings,” the writers Meek, Ross, and Schwartz focus on the emotional and mental trauma caused by the videos of various executions. The article explains how the videos themselves may not all be of the actual actions of a beheading, but instead may be staged for ransom purposes before the hostage is then killed off-camera and off-site. These new pieces of information and speculation somehow make the executions seem even more terrible because of ISIS’s most recently found type of torture: the threat of death over and over again in a video that will be seen by your loved ones. In Bierce’s short story, Farquhar thinks back to his own family moments before dying, showing the most caring side of human nature, something that tends to pluck at our heartstrings much like the stories of ISIS victims’ families and realizing the pain they must be going through. Empathy is one of the most real sensations that we can feel and tends to bring other emotions with it, such as love, hatred, and fear.

The realities of a thriller are more eerie and dark than those of a story with a historical basis and an empathetic response. A horror story doesn’t necessarily bring up an empathetic sensation or feeling, but forces the reader to think of the many darker possibilities of life, like psychosis and murder. These darker aspects of life have always been taboo subjects, swept under the metaphorical rug without another thought, but a horror story forces us to think about the terrible evils of the world. One of these psychotic breaks can be found in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat.” In this story, the main character is first depicted as an animal lover and a man who cares for his wife. Then, gradually and with the help of alcohol, he falls into a different mindset, one filled with abuse and hatred for nearly everything and everyone in his life. He becomes “more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others” (Poe) which then leads to his disregard for the first cat, Pluto, the second cat, and his wife. Similar cases can often be seen in murders, even recently. There is some catalyst for a psychotic break, and then, hours or maybe months later, death and destruction follows, like the case of Christian Longo, a man who felt too trapped by finances and snapped, murdering his wife and three young children. The most horrifying part of thrillers like “The Black Cat” is that, excluding the supernatural aspects, the story is entirely possible and realistic. Horror stories bring the most gruesome truths of society into the light, making them seem even more terribly real. They show the darker side of what we humans are capable of instead of the positive light many of us choose to see ourselves in.

Stories can give a glimpse into human nature, even when the tale itself is fictional and, if anything, a fictional tale is more relatable because of the ambiguity of the characters. This obscureness of characters makes it easier for we readers to put ourselves into the story and feel what various characters feel. Some stories can be difficult to blend into, but certain ones, like Jack London’s “To Build A Fire,” are written in a way that enhances the human qualities of the main character so we can quickly connect to the character’s actions and thoughts. While reading “To Build A Fire,” we can feel the frustration, panic, and despair as the main character does, which makes the tale seem just as real as if it happened to us. Another possible connection that makes this story seem so real is the mixture of narcissism and stubbornness before the main character falls into the feelings of desperation and defeat. The man in the story thinks that he can trek for miles alone in the terrible Yukon winter, despite the warnings of a more experienced man. His arrogance and persistence seem to work in his favor for a while, but gradually his pride and refusal to admit defeat gets him into worse and worse situations until he eventually dies. This arrogance and stubbornness is widely known throughout the world as a human quality that can get us into trouble. These few things, false confidence and nonacceptance of the need for assistance, can be seen throughout everyone, and thus create a connection that can pull us deeper into the story and make us feel all the emotions the character feels.

A story being “real” does not mean that it has to be factual, only that there is a sense of plausibility and a tangible quality to the tale. There are many levels of reality for many different people, so it is possible that a story that seems reasonable to me may be outlandish to you. Each person and each story has the option to make a connection or not, depending on the circumstances of the plot. Even the extremities of the fictional genre, such as fantasy or mythology, have an underlying lesson of reality to them in the forms of psychology and morals. These two things are a part of life that we all deal with which makes them so easily tied into tales. For fiction, the idea of walking in someone else’s shoes is what makes the story seem so real, not the presence of certainty.

The Expression of Truth

        There are many ways to communicate truth, and both fact and fantasy can express reality. Often credited as objective fact, news reports, even erroneous ones, shape peoples’ view of the world. Fictional literature is often dismissed as stories that are disconnected from the real world, yet these impossible tales address reality in another way. Although it can seem like fictional literature is unlike reality, fictional literature can be more real than the news people read because it can comment on reality and because news reports themselves are not always factual.

        To some people, works of fiction seem to have little in common with the world they live in. These stories can be set in far off lands with fantastic characters and unbelievable powers that stretch one’s imagination. J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and George Lucas’ Star Wars are both examples of fictional works set in another world with fantastic elements. It can be hard to relate to these stories, as the quests undertaken by the protagonists are often on an epic scale, so these works of fiction sometimes stay in the realm of the imaginary and are seen as simple stories written to entertain. Fictional stories, however, are so much more than this and can be a way of commenting on society’s timeless truths. 
        Fictional literature can be used to convey authors’ reflections on reality. This characteristic makes fiction more tangible and allows it to teach real lessons to its audience. In “The Birthmark,” one lesson that Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about is the consequences of greed. Aylmer, gifted with an incredible mastery of alchemy, and a beautiful wife, eventually loses the love of his life because of his greed. His insatiable nature, witnessed many times throughout the short story, blinds him from his wife’s beauty and consumes his heart with an unfulfillable desire. Aylmer’s efforts to improve his wife through alchemy result in her death at his hands. A moving tale, “The Birthmark” teaches its readers the reality of greed through a fictional story. Fictional literature allows authors to convey, without needing real examples, their reflections on reality.
        News reports are intended to educate people about reality as well, yet sometimes they do just the opposite. News reports are susceptible to error and when falsehoods are reported, can quickly convince many people to believe fallacies. Worst of all, erroneous reports are not uncommon. In 2012, both Fox News and CNN initially reported that the Supreme Court struck down Obamacare. Next year in 2013 these same stations reported erroneously that a suspect for the Boston Marathon Bombing had been arrested two days after the attack; the FBI corrected these news stations later. Some false news reports are even humorous and one local news channel once reported that the iPhone 5 would have a “laser keyboard and holographic images." Clearly, news reports are not always factual and are sometimes a poor representation of reality.
        Both news reports and fictional literature influence peoples’ view of the world. Although it can seem like fictional literature is dissimilar to the real world, works of fiction can be more real than the news people read because they can convey reflections on reality and because news reports themselves are not always reliable. The commonality of false news reports shows that news reports are not the infallible conveyors of truth many people believe them to be. Works of fiction, too, do more than some people believe they can, allowing authors, without a tangible example, to convey their reflections on reality. It seems as if the means are irrelevant; fact and fiction are both ways for people to express truth.

Fiction and Fact

Fiction and Fact

Fiction stories that people read for everyday leisure are most of the time based off of real life values that are ingrained in our society. Many works of fiction are often, at their core, factual. Fiction consists aspects of life that have been shaped from people to people’s daily interactions and cultural values. Literature works such as romanticism, dark romanticism, and realism all consists elements of life that society holds dearly to. In “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe, the believe in superstition is used to develop the violence, evil, and human fallibility triggered by a black cat. Kate Chopin mentions the element of appearance in “Désirées Baby”, presenting the nature of people’s judgemental views based on appearances. “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne further reflects on society's pursuit for perfection through the plot of the story. From the literature works above, factual evidences served as a backbone for the stories in which the authors use fiction to build upon. 

Superstition has been around in society for a long period of time. People’s believes in supernatural powers led to certain actions that shaped the society. “The Black Cat” is one of these superstitions in which it is specified in the story that “all black cats as witches in disguise” (Edgar). The perception that black cats symbolize bad luck and evil is one the main themes of the story that allowed this fiction to expand. In society today, many people have their own superstitions that effects their actions. “The Black Cat” feeds of from this superstition and uses it as a symbol that causes a family to fall into violence and destruction. Without superstition in society, it would be difficult for “The Black Cat” to develop its plot and towards its final climax. The superstition helped Edgar to draw an allusion using society’s mythology to portray people’s abuse of alcohol, retribution, and irrationality. Other elements of human instinct are also portrayed in other works of literature that uses factual evidence from society to develop a fictional story.

Although society shuns the idea of judging a book by its cover, it is nonetheless a hard act to follow by society because people are by nature judgmental. In “Desiree’s Baby” the judgement based on appearance made Armand, the father, feel disconnect to his own baby. In the beginning when the baby was just born, Armand loved Désirée and the baby for their outer beauty. However, the baby and Désirée soon became blemished as Armand discovered that the baby was not white. Armand rejected his wife and the baby because of the impurity in their appearance. The act of judging by appearances also surrounds the society in how people live today. In one news article titled “To My Daughter, About Your Birthmark” by Dawn Weber, people in the society often asks question about the author’s daughter’s birthmark like, "What happened to her? What's wrong with her face? What's that on her head?” (Weber). The article stresses that people looked at the child with weird stares because she had a birthmark on the child’s face. The author later stresses the satisfaction when the birthmark had disappeared, as her daughter got older. People care about their appearance because of the societal expectation, and “Désirée’s Baby” uses this expectation in the story to use it against Désirée and the baby. Even though Désirée and the baby might be colored, Armand shouldn’t base his love on the color of people’s skin. Armand’s action of rejecting Désirée and the baby showed that he never loved them. The fictional story of  “Désirée’s Baby” uses the factual evidence in history to portray the theme of judging by appearance and racism. Another standard in society is the perception that people want to strive for perfection, and this idea can be show in a work of dark romanticism. 

People have the natural propensity for perfection, and Hawthorne in “The Birthmark” presents such pursuit for perfection. The birthmark on the Georgiana’s face bothered Aylmer throughout their marriage. Like  “Désirée’s Baby”, Georgina's birthmark represents an imperfection in the appearance that Aylmer wants to get rid of through scientific treatments. Since Aylmer desired to make his wife perfect, he performed many experiments on her trying to defy against nature. This pursuit for perfection eventually led to Georgiana's death. In our society today, the pursuit for perfection is what drives many people forward toward their goals. However, people know that it is impossible to be perfect in what they do. “The Birthmark” reflects the impossibility of reaching perfection by stating, “he failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of time, and, living once for all in eternity, to find the perfect future in the present” (Hawthorne). The story teaches the lesson that perfection is impossible to achieve. In reality, people know that perfection is not attainable; however, they chase after perfection so that they can be successful in what they do. Because people are willing to work hard, learn from failure, and show persistence in their work, they can achieve success with perfection as the driving force.

Fiction is based of from everyday life themes, cultures, and believes. At the base of most fictional stories, factual evidence is the backbone for those fictional stories like it is in “The Black Cat”,  “Désirée’s Baby”, and “The Birthmark”. The fictional stories build its plot and lesson through everyday events and values that makes the stories relatable to the public. By making the stories relatable to the public, people can enter a different world where they experience real life problems and troubles through an invented scope. People can also experience things that they never experienced in real life because of the factual based elements in the stories that allow them to relate and learn. There is fiction that are completely invented; however, the character-to-character interactions feed off people’s minds with what is familiar to them, such as love, friendship, and hatred. Although fiction stories are fake or invented, they are in fact, sometimes at its core, factual.

Facts in Fiction

    Opposites are often far from opposite. Cats and dogs can be considered opposites, but they are both animals that are domesticated and receive our attention. Warm and cool represent subjective realities. Cool could not be defined without warm. In this fashion fact and fiction associate. Fiction is laced with facts. Stories are nothing without a base in factual material. Facts are what relate the audience to the tale: the metaphorical glue between the reader and his or her reading. In short, facts make an ambiguous story seem relatable. In the case of “To Build A Fire,” a realist short story written by Jack London in the early 20th century, the authentic qualities of man are what connect readers to the story. Few have rambled through the Alaskan wilderness in -75 degree weather, and yet, the story remains prominent in American society. The qualities that make up humans and appeal to them are what draw attention to this story and stories in the news. The story demonstrates man’s vulnerability, his ignorance, and his comprehension of his own fragility and diminutive existence in the domain of nature. Newspapers and television anchors tell stories that relate to everyday people. People look for themselves in the news. People look for themselves in literature. In both areas, the characteristics of human identity give people what they desire. “To Build A Fire” exhibits that fiction, in order to give a semblance of relatability, is often established in fact.

    Man is a vulnerable being. He can sustain himself only in the most perfect conditions. If the temperature shifts, food vanishes, and water excissicates, he will perish. His instincts tell him to survive and flourish, especially in the wilderness. Jack London knew that the fragility of human life weighed heavily in every single man and woman’s mind. His story bases its plot in the human instinct to survive. This fact of life encourages the reader to determine this particular man’s story. News stories about a war zone or a recent threat or shooting interest the public. The interest in human life, its preservation and its loss, attracts people. A story on CNN about the conflict surrounding the Saudi Arabian-Yemen border appeared as an alert on my phone and as a notification in my facebook feed. News about violence and the struggle for survival interests the people, so, more and more news like it is printed or televised. Much like this news cycle, literature preys on the vulnerability of the human spirit. In the story the unnamed man is held at nature’s whim despite his ignorance of its hold on him. The basis of the story is based on the fact that humans are vulnerable, ignorant beings.

The theme of exhibiting common human characteristics continues with the man’s ignorance. No person is capable of expelling all ignorance from themselves. Common imperfections presented in a fictional story work to assimilate the fiction to the life of the reader. With the goal of the writer to be well read and well understood, the inclusion of facts and of universal truths exclusively serves to widen the readership. Such are the goals of newspapers and television programs. By including facts and common truths in the news they publish, they will become more popular. Thus, the fiction we read and the news we hear both follow the same general principle: the more accessible and relatable the story, the more praise it will receive. In the story, the man does not comprehend the gravity of his situation: his fatal error. Ignorance in fiction and the news point to the fact that a story or news article rooted in fact and truth is a successful one.

The third and final truth hidden in “To Build a Fire” is that nature should be taken seriously. As the man learns, a disrespect for nature and her abilities ultimately leads to severe consequences. This fact, much like the two preceding examples, provides insight into why we read stories. People feel connected to a story if they feel they associate with one of the characters. Nature in this story, more so than in the news, represents again the vulnerability of humans and our insignificance in the world. With billions of people on Earth, each individual become less significant. Everyone grapples with this unpleasant truth. Thus, seeing a character in a fiction story affected by the same problems as the reader connects the two together. Facts of life bind together a reader and a fiction story.

The facts in fiction give fiction meaning. The facts provide for accessibility to otherwise improbable and seemingly exclusive stories. Much like the news in circulation today, fiction stories are meant to capture a reader and hold him or her tight the story. Ideally, a story or news article connects with the reader on the personal level. The connection can only be made, however, with the inclusion of facts.   

How Fiction is Actually Factual

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How could fiction, a made up story, relate to the news? Short stories are most often written to be relatable to an audience. The author wants to engage his or her audience and for the reader to feel a connection to the story. When one feels a connection with a story, it resonates more and leaves a lasting impact. At least one aspect of a story seems plausible, or like it may happen. These aspects of stories would be possible to see in a news article. Three different styles of writing can especially be compared to news one may read – romanticism (“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving), dark romanticism (“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe) and realism (“To Build a Fire” by Jack London.) Short stories although fiction, are often related to fact.

Literary romanticism was a literary movement in which writing was based on the imagination, was light hearted and not serious. It started to distract people from their rough, daily lives. Romantic stories were much like fairy tales in which many aspects seemed impossible and magical. However, some parts of these stories could be possible. In the story “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving (http://goo.gl/sq4H57), a man goes into the forest to get away from his nagging wife. He then comes across dwarves and drinks a potion and falls asleep for many years. When he awakes, his wife has passed away and becomes popular in his town. Although this story seems impossible, there are often news articles that can be found today that also seem like magic. One news article, written by Stephanie Gallman, can be compared to romanticism is about a cat that was hit by a car and died (cnn.com). The cat’s owner then buried his pet, however five days later the animal was found walking around in a neighboring yard. This news seems impossible, because it appears that the cat came back from the dead, however it is a true story. Although not apparent at first, there are similarities between literary romanticism and the shocking news we read today.  

Dark romanticism in literature is similar to romanticism except it has a much more gloomy and negative energy and includes things such as ghosts, vampires and other evil spirits. The stories end badly (usually in death) and emphasize that it is natural for humankind to sin. “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe (http://poestories.com/read/blackcat) is an example of a short story that falls under the category of dark romanticism. An originally sane man begins to spiral into insanity because of a haunting black cat. The cat seems possessed by an evil spirit, and begins to affect his owner's psyche which drives him to murder his wife. The story emphasizes mystery and spirits as well as insanity. One example of a real event that is comparable the “The Black Cat” are the murders by Jack the Ripper (biography.com), a now famous serial killer slaughtered many women in London during the late 1880s. His vicious butchery, mysterious notes to the police, and never being caught for his actions are similar to many characteristics of dark romanticism. The psychotic nature of the murders and the mystery of not knowing who the next victim would be and who the assassin was is similar to attributes of dark romanticism.

Realism in writing is much what it sounds like – it is meant to be realistic and give the impression of being plausible. Therefore, realism is the most easily compared to news one may read today and fact. Even more easily compared to news is literature that falls under the subcategory of naturalism, a darker form of realism. In Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” (http://www.jacklondons.net/buildafire.html) a man is traveling through the Alaskan wilderness like he has many times before. However, this time the cold is more bitter than ever, and through a series of events the man ends up dying of the cold. This story relates to realism because the man was going about his daily routine when multiple simple mistakes lead to his death. These sort of tragedies often happen in lives today. Many times, people are doing a routine thing for them when something out of the ordinary occurs. This could be seen in the Sydney hostage crisis (nbcnews.com). People were sitting in a cafe, when they suddenly find themselves in a hostage situation which lead two civilian deaths. In both London’s short story and in the Sydney hostage crisis, people go about their daily lives when they are hit with tragedy. Since naturalist stories have this characteristic, they appear possible to happen in reality.

Although fiction is not an account of reality, it is related to fact. An author's goal is usually to have his or her story resonate with the reader. Most often, a reader is more engaged and intrigued by work that is relatable in some way. Because of this, many types of literature incorporate some form of reality into the writing. It could be the nature of the protagonist, setting or event that occurs. Romanticism, dark romanticism, and realism all incorporate at least one of these factors. Since at each type of literature includes at minimum one of these characteristics, one can imagine them actually occurring.

The Line Between Fact and Fiction

Did Justin Bieber really save a Russian man from being mauled by a bear?

The line between fact and fiction can sometimes be a blurry one. With news stations stretching the truth or even completely making it up, it can be difficult to tell what is a reliable source or not. For instance, a news story that appeared on many media outlets had the headline “Justin Bieber Saves Man from Bear Attack.” These articles claimed that a Russian man was being mauled by a bear when his cellphone went off playing his ringtone which was reportedly  Justin Bieber’s song “Baby.” The articles claim that the shrill voice of Bieber was enough to scare the bear away, saving the man’s life. While this story has some believable qualities, (like the fact that the bear was not a Bieber fan) it appears that this story was in fact a hoax. It first appeared on a questionable news site, and then other sites took the story and ran with it. This suggests that half of the time the news we read is true and the other half it is false. Similar to this, most fictional short stories have elements that are factual. For instance, the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London seemingly contains the same amount of factual evidence as the news story. It takes place in a real location, accurately describes the events that occur there, and depicts real and relatable human emotions.

An aspect of “To Build a Fire” that adds to its accuracy is it’s location. The story takes place along the Yukon trail, which is an actual place. Not only does this place exist, but the story accurately describes the setting, “The Yukon lay a mile wide and hidden under three feet of ice. on tip of this ice were as many feet of snow” (London). The man in the story is trekking through bitter subzero weather, reaching -75 degrees. This description of the frigid weather that  is typical in this region adds fact to the tale. It also gives specific landmarks, including “Henderson Creek” and “Indian Creek country.” These precise details add more and more truth to what is a fictional story.

Aside from the accurate setting, the storyline could also be factual. The man is heading towards a mining camp where his buddies await him, “He would be in to camp by six o’clock; a bit after dark, it was true, but the boys would be there, a fire would be going, and a hot supper would be ready” (London). This believable and plausible story adds another element of fact to what is a fictional story.

Lastly, the story touches on real human emotion. The thoughts that go through the man’s head could be real. For instance, when he realizes that he is about to die from overexposure to the cold in the middle of nowhere, feelings of dread sink in, “... he was aware of the panicky feeling that it caused, and he was afraid of the panic. But the thought asserted itself, and persisted, until it produced a vision of his body totally frozen” (London). Every thought that goes through his head makes the story more relatable, and therefore believable.

Interestingly enough, a story can still be fiction even if it is entirely made up of fact. This is the case for “To Build a Fire.” While the events that occur in the story and the feelings that are described are completely plausible, the story is made up. The same can be said for news articles. While the article where Justin Bieber saves the life of the Russian Man was reported to be a hoax, some elements are still true. The man was attacked by a bear, but the detail regarding his Justin Bieber ringtone turns out to be fabricated. Most of the time a vague storyline can be factual, but it’s up to the details to add or subtract more truth.

The Fact in Fiction

   

     After an in-depth exploration, it’s possible to find fact within fictional stories. “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne parallels a news story regarding Bruce Jenner’s sex change written by journalists Kirthana Ramisetti and Elizabeth Vanmetre. The Dark Romantic short story explores the implications of seeking unfeasible perfection. Bruce Jenner’s popularity in the news centers around surgeries and reputable sources sparking recurring rumors that he’s becoming a woman. The two works share attributes that support an equal amount of fact in fiction and news. Both the journalists and Nathaniel Hawthorne implement relatable characters, multiple perspectives, and overarching, relevant themes to form a plausible, realistic story.

     The relatable characters in “The Birthmark” and Bruce Jenner’s news story induce realistic narratives. To build his character, Ramisetti and Vanmetre focus on Bruce Jenner’s role in the popular reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Likely, people understand the character of Bruce Jenner best by watching his TV show about family and daily life. In his show, Bruce Jenner is exposed as a loving family member who struggles with ordinary problems, like rebellious teenage daughters. His story is interesting to an audience who relates to his reality show role. Outsiders gain perspective into what it’s like to have their own family member, or whoever fills the Bruce Jenner role in their life, undergo a drastic change similar to his transformation to a woman. Similarly, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the characterization of Georgiana to create a relatable figure. Georgiana begins the story thinking that her birthmark is an asset. In reply to her husband’s criticism, she remarked, “‘To tell you the truth it has been so often called a charm that I was simple enough to imagine it to be so’” (Hawthorne). However, Georgiana undergoes such a change in mentality about her birthmark that she is uncomfortable at the mention of it. Hawthorne writes, “At the mention of the birthmark, Georgiana, as usual, shrank as if a redhot iron had touched her cheek” (Hawthorne). Georgiana’s transformation caused by Aylmer's shame of her flaw is understandable. People view themselves differently when a loved one suggests that they change. It’s especially harmful when someone has found a positive side to their flaws. Georgiana’s change in character could readily happen to any reader of “The Birthmark;” therefore, the fictional story is realistic. The portrayal of Bruce Jenner in a family-setting and the Georgiana’s change in confidence make the news article and short story applicable to real life.
     The presentation of opposing perspectives about controversial events in “The Birthmark” and the news article about Bruce Jenner contribute to their realistic portrayal. The journalists who wrote about Bruce Jenner’s transition to a women recognize the criticism that he will face from those who do not support sex changes. Conversely, they note that he’s receiving support, especially from loved ones. By providing both possible reactions, readers will most likely identify with at least one perspective in this news article. They’ll view the news story as relevant to their own lives and beliefs; thus, the news article is more real. Also, in “The Birthmark,” Aylmer and Georgiana spend extensive amounts of time and energy worrying about the birthmark on Georgiana’s face. They think that its removal will yield perfection to Georgiana’s otherwise seemingly unscathed being. Even still, the story provides a third party's view of Georgiana’s birthmark. Abinadab reflects, “‘If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark’” (Hawthorne). Readers who don’t believe in perfection as defined by Aylmer and Georgiana find the story more relatable as their own viewpoint is recognized while others who believe that physical uniformity is necessary to “perfection” will identify with Aylmer and Georgiana. Recognition of all viewpoints is necessary in daily life, and it is present in both the news article and short story. This leads to fiction’s factual side in the case of “The Birthmark.”
     The overarching theme that Nathaniel Hawthorne focuses on in “The Birthmark” is equally as realistic and prevalent as that which Ramisetti and Vanmetre focus on. Bruce Jenner’s news article focuses on the topic of a sex change. By publicising Bruce Jenner’s sex change, the journalists are contributing to the conversation about sex-change and increasingly popular movements to normalize comfort within the realms of sexuality and gender identification. As this topic becomes more popular, the news article has a more important role; its relevance makes it real and important in the individual lives of readers. “The Birthmark” focuses on an equally controversial topic. It explores the concept of perfection and the ramifications of trying to obtain it. The end of the story encompases the flaw in Aylmer’s logic, stating, “He failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of time, and, living for all in eternity, to find the perfect future in the present” (Hawthorne). By coming to a conclusion about Aylmer’s attitude towards the birthmark, the story provides input into the discussion of controversial physical alterations for the illusion of perfection. This theme is also found in real life in body positivity campaigns as well those which encourage valuing non-physical attributes. The short story provides insight about important topics in everyday life, hence making it plausible and real. Because of their prevalence in daily life, controversial topics make both “The Birthmark” and Bruce Jenner’s news article equally realistic.
      In the cases of news articles and fictional works, the reader is removed from the story to an extent. To make their writing more effective, journalists and fiction-writers alike have realistic aspects to their work. Relatable characters convey a message that resonates with readers as realistic; similarly, perspectives and controversy make the stories applicable to real life. As a result, “The Birthmark,” a fictional short story, is equally as real as the news article about Bruce Jenner’s sex change.