Billy Graham has been quoted stating, “Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has. Out of pain and problems have come the sweetest songs, and the most gripping stories.” A soft and uncomplicated life is not one that spits out astounding works of art. Rather it is one full of trials and tribulations that makes the world a better place. A nice and easy life is dull and uneventful while the one with struggles enhances the earth. This statement can apply to the two short stories Two Soldiers by William Faulkner and The Trouble by J.F. Powers. Due to the use of irony and indirect characterization, these stories depict how a tough life enriches the world.
In Two Soldiers, the author uses irony to portray how pain and suffering enriches. When the narrator whips out a knife on the officers, the lieutenant comes in and talks to the narrator like a man. This is ironic because the narrator expected him to talk down to him. Yet the lieutenant talks to the narrator like a man and he says, “I could begin to hear him now”. All children, especially preteens and teens, hate being treated like a child. This is tough on the narrator because he becomes so frustrated but it allows the world insight on how a youth's mind works. Another incident is when the narrator finally gets to see Pete; we are surprised to learn of Pete's reaction. The narrator thinks that Pete will allow him to join the army and “carry the water and wood”. However, Pete turns him away. Pete tells the narrator that someone needs to take care of his mother and help his father with the farm. Although this is heartbreaking to the narrator, it makes the story better. The world can gain from this by learning that one has to grow up and can't hang on to the things one loves forever. Because of the suffering the narrator goes through, the world gain insight, knowledge and is over all better of then before they had read the story.
In the story “The Trouble”, indirect characterization is used to support the quote. When Mr. Gorman is being chased by the black mob, Grandma lets the man inside their house. While there is no physical struggle here, there is emotional tension. The narrator had to put up with the lie Mr. Gorman had told about “just passing through” when in fact he knew the truth. From indirect characterization we learn the Grandma is forgiving and kind hearted. The narrator takes this in and learns to forgive by watching his grandmother. Had he not had to face the hard ship of the race riot and putting up with Mr. Gorman, he would have not improved as a person. The readers can also learn the same lesson. Another example was when the Father, at the end of the story says to Mr. Gorman, “You know I wouldn't hurt you” This indirectly characterizes Daddy as understanding and accepting of all races which the narrator learns. This story tells the readers to not be racist as well. Had this story not been filled with tension and troubles the narrator and the reader would not learn and the story would not enhance the world.
A life that is happy-go-lucky cannot give as much to the world and improve it as one with struggles and times of hurt. In “Two Soldiers” the pain in the narrator's heart helps us learn that we can't hold onto some things forever whether tangible or intangible. The story also teaches us not to talk down to children. In “The Trouble” indirect characterization shows Grandma and the Father to be forgiving and understanding. This teaches the narrator and the reader valuable life lessons. If these stories were happy and with out pain, the world would have not benefited from them as much as it has. Therefore, if a life has trouble in it, the best thing to do is to learn from it and to move on and know that this life will benefit and enrich the world.
