A specific message through scripting various texts
A specific message is intended to be communicated to the audience through the scripting of various texts. A specific collection of behaviors is intended to be critiqued, mocked, or condemned in specific works of art. Linguists point out that the author of any work of art has the responsibility of ensuring that the plot moves smoothly and that the reader gains some knowledge or information as a result.
The Black Box and Lust as works of art
Jennifer Egan and Susan Minot are no exception, as they both have a variety of experiences and are aware of the best practices for drawing readers into their work. The two authors have been applauded as a result of the various stylistic features, the creativity and the passage of message which is done comprehensively and in a particular channel. The Black Box and Lust have been named as one of the best works of art that have been produced by the two authors. Therefore, this paper seeks to analyze the contextual content of The Black Box and Lust and formulate some similarities and critiques from the two texts as provided by the author.
The Black Box by Jennifer Egan
The Black Box by Jennifer Egan talks about a middle-aged girl whose work is to spy and collect information from a deadly and ruthless terrorist. The narrator involves herself with precarious business which can lead her to her grave very easily. The narrator can get out information from the terrorist by the use of various techniques which work to maintain her cover (Egan, 56). The most dominant method which she tends to apply is the seduction and submission technique which helps to remove doubts and questions from the terrorist. Additionally, the lady makes use of recording technology by the use of sophisticated techniques which are implanted inside her body. Metaphorically, she is the real Black Box just as the title of the story suggests and through this, the author tries to pass to the audience how women are sometimes objectified in society.
Lust by Susan Minot
Susan Minot also skillfully attempts to narrate the story of a middle-aged girl who has had several sexual encounters with a lot of men. The young lady hails from a well off family suggested by the fact she attends Casey Academy and that most of her vacations are spent in Ski Resorts and does camping in Colorado. From the text, it is evident that the young lady does not fear pregnancy owing to the fact she has had various sexual encounters but has been making use of birth control methods since she was around fifteen years old. The narrator, in this case, takes the reader through the various sexual encounters which she had with close to fifteen boys and goes onto vividly explain how the experiences have shaped his life (Minot, 87). Throughout the entire narration, the reader is filled with the thought of how the narrator has an admirable world, but we come to learn that the boy whom she is attracted to does not take notice of her presence. All in all, the story provides an analysis of how different sexual escapades can influence the life of a given individual.
Metaphorical reflection of character in the texts
By critically analyzing the two narratives, it is evident that the headings provide a metaphorical overview of the content of the stories. The Black Box highlights the plight of a woman who is used as a tool for collecting information for a given organization. Through the narration, the character tries to convince the readers how comfortable she is given the fact she 'Volunteers' to take part in the work of extracting information from the terrorist. On the other hand, Susan introduces us to a spoiled little teenager whose lust for sex has driven her to have sex with over a dozen individuals. Owing to the fact she was wealthy, she also becomes a sexual object which is used by various men to satisfy their sexual cravings. Later on, we learn that the narrator was a member of the sexual revolution of the 1960s. The narrator takes us through the escapades and how she sees the whole flurry of activities provided her young age. Thus, fact-checking on both texts it is clear that the headings tend to metaphorically reflect on the characters of the narrators in the text.
Abnormal male-female relationships in the texts
In both texts, it is evident there is an abnormal male-female relationship which exists in both The Black Box and Lust. The women are portrayed as cunning characters that can get anything provided sex is on the table. It is evident from the texts that the two women use their bodies to get what they want and satisfy their needs. Additionally, it is evident that the two characters, through their sexual prowess, they can gain dominance or power over men, and this forms a basis for conflict in the minds of the reader. From this point, the reader generates various hypotheses about the behavior of the girls, and therefore this creates a sense of tension (Minot, 79). The Black Box character extracts information from a very lethal and dangerous terrorist which means that the sexual relationship confuses the individual to the extent he can reveal all the dark secrets he upholds. On the other hand, the narrator in Lust is a member of the sexual revolution of 1960 of which the parents are unaware. She feels that she can gain anything if she has the sexual power over the other person. Therefore, by the use of these illustrations, it is essential to note that sexual power is a possible force or a source of conflict which an individual can use.
Psychological torture in the narratives
Psychological torture is also an element evident in the two narratives. Through the various escapades at the end, women tend to regret the actions which they took in the process of satisfying their needs. Both women feel used, neglected, and worthless after the many interactions with loads of men. The narrator of The Black Box is a divorcee who struggles to forget the previous husband even though she is in bed with another man. With the recurring memories of the spouse, it goes without question that the lady is undergoing a lot of stress given how remorseful she becomes (Egan, 67). Additionally, planting of the devices in the body of the lady also affects the psychological balance of the lady as they inflict pain and also act as visible scars of the brutal days she has passed. On the other hand, the narrator in Lust also feels rejected and used by the various men she has been intimate with over the years. Despite her efforts to bring to the table all, she has, soon after sex been left by those men and this has stressed her. From the last chapter, the narrator points that in most cases, she is usually emotionally absent during the experience which implies that the whole ordeal brought more harm than good.
Creating tension in the minds of the audience
By fact-checking both texts, it is evident that there are various instances where tension is created in the mind of the reader. The authors provide cases where one is caught in between some important decisions. For example, in the first parts of The Black Box narrative one can become indeed convinced that the only way to extract information from an individual is through sex and seduction. Additionally, such sentiments also instill the mind of the audience with the fact that sex has a lot of power when an individual aims at something dearly. The fact can also be backed up when fact-checking the Lust narration. The narrator chooses to use sex with the goal of gaining intimacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that the creation of tension is an essential element in any linguistic or artwork. The incorporation of pressure seeks to enhance the concentration and the criticism of the audience towards a particular subject. In this instance, the concept of female sexuality and its dominance over men is the central issue of concern. The narrative provides various cases where individual tries to fulfill the desires of their hearts through incorporating sex as a strategy. Despite the efforts, it is apparent that none of the parties benefit from such arrangements. Even though one enjoys the success of the moment, it is clear that there are long-life scars which immensely affect the concerned parties.
Works cited
Egan, Jennifer. Black Box. London: Corsair/Corsairle & Robinson, 2012. Internet resource.
Minot, Susan. Lust: & Other Stories. New York, NY: Open Road Integrated Media, 2013. Internet resource.
