Body of Work Analysis
"Unless it is a match point, another point is always come along." This quote from
the text "The Right Attitude", which in addition to "The Tough of The Track" and
"Dark Trade" is one of the texts to be analyzed in this essay, highlights a central
notion that all three texts share: the concept of perseverance. "The Right
Atttitude" is a texts that heavily expounds on the main idea presented by a quote
from the reknowned athlete, Michael Strahan, that "we're our own worst enemy."
However, it is essential to first determine the lens through which the author
presents this.
The text utilizes the prominent example of an athlete in order to clearly convey
the overarching message which they wish to convey to the reader. As such, this
may lead us to conclude that the demographics that the text is aimed towards is
mainly those who play sports which is aided by the numerous analogies towards
sports. However, this confusion albeit understandable is misplaced as later on in
the text the author elaborates on the commonalities that the various examples
within the text has with real-life situations and periods besides those present
within sport. "Everybody in life goes through a rough period" is a statement by the
author which clearly communicates that "The Right Attitude" is a text aimed at all
readers, regardless of the factors of age and spacial parameters. However, despite
the author themself stating that the text is meant for all, it is more applicable to
certain demographics. The themes of purpose, stress, and the struggle to succeed,
which are everpresent within the text, all point towards a certain 'phase' which
occurs during the younger years: the state of existential crisis.
The state of an existential crisis is a state of being in which one often ponders
whether there is significance, behind every action from the most life-changing to
the most mundane tasks. Existential crises often effect teenagers and young
adults.This state is often brought about through stress and continous failure which
then leads one to question if they should still strive onwards in the wake of the
'storm.'
As such, "The Right Attitude" is a text which is not only an attempt to
communicate with a reader who may be going through such a stage of their life,
but also a hook through which the author is attempting to save said reader from
drowning in the deep wells of their own self-pity. "Most pressure is self-induced"
once again is a nod towards Michael Strahan's aforementioned quote and that the
struggles that we often take to achieve certain goals, be it winning a tournament
or winning a match, is a struggle against ourselves. For these ends, the author is
disposed towards the utilization of certain words such as "victory", "pressure",
and "failure" to prove that such factors are not opposites of each other but rather
stepping-stones towards the realization of an achievement. The seamless
implementation of such rich language to supplement the central idea lends
considerable credence towards the author's level of skill in the creation of works
of literature.
"The Tough of the Track" is a comic which centralizes itself on the sentiments of
injustice and tolerance. With no specific target audience, the text targets the
general public in an attempt to depict the various inequalities present in all
fauctes of the daily lives of people. However, the author potrays this through a
magnificent utilization of the art of characterization. To understand the contextual
reference of the text, it is imperative to understand how the text is centralized
around the notion of the main protagonist of Tupper's character and background.
The main protagonist Tupper is stated to be an orphan and one who does most of
the work in the welding shop in which he works. This emphasis on the background
of Tupper builds up his character as a whole and tells of his some traits of his
which develop as a result of his facing hardships throughout his entire life:
honesty, an outspoken dislike of injustice, and a value of hardwork.
The headstrong protagonist is portrayed as one who immediately shuts down a
percieved wrong-doing, clearly conveying his strong upholding of his personal
principles and values. However, despite this, Tupper is the one who faces the
consequences despite his attempts to deal with a wrongdoing. This portrayal of
Tupper as the villian by his fellow club members and other members of society is
an effort by the author to ingrain his own personal views within the text.
Essentially, the decision to put the character of "Tupper" was his tatamount to
declaring that his stance against injustice and inequalities. However, despite this
the depiction of Tupper as the one in the wrong by his fellow members of society
is a transparent indicator that the author strongly believes in the common saying
that "life isn't fair."
"Dark Trade" is a text through which the author renders a representation of
'struggling against all odds.' This struggle, this fight, against destiny itself is
depicted through the boxer Watson. Despite being clearly faltering and falling in
the wake of his opponent's, Eubank's, merciless onslaught of blows still he stands
up. Still he fights. Still he pushes. The author essentially gives his applause
towards such efforts by portraying himself as the speaker through a first-person
impression. "I wanted to see if Watson could survive the inevitable assault, if he
could somehow drag himself from the hole in which he'd fallen", is the author
finding beauty in the 'will to live' and that 'struggling to survive is beautiful'. As
such, the author is essentially telling the reader, albeit for his own personal
satisfaction, to persevere even when all odds are against one. That to push
forwards when even fate is seemingly against you is a true victory.
All three texts comprise a single body of work, and rightfully so. They all hold
various similarities and together, they all satisfy the overarching message that this
body of work conveys. Ultimately, the presentation of all three texts alongside one
another not only fills in the gaps within each of the texts but amplifies the various
lessons within each of them.
