There are books that will be forgotten immediately you close the last page. Others will have a lasting impact on your reading career years down the line. Behind the Blue Curtain is a marvelous title by Steven Millhauser. It features a young boy as the protagonist and opens as the boy makes a trip to the movie theater. He is usually accompanied by the father for these Saturday night movies but this time it is different.
The boy seeks to set own path by going beginning to go the movies alone. This unique path is also exemplified by his hunger for enlightenment and higher knowledge instead of material possessions. In fact, this boy appears to be way ahead of his peers in his actions and the things he seeks.
The author has cleverly used the first person narrative approach. The aim is to make it appear as though you are listening to a story straight from the mouth of the boy. This is different from reading a book or hearing about third parties. The style makes it easier to relate to the quest or journey of this main character. It is a journey of discovery because he feels that his father is protecting him from something dark.
The setting remains a matter of deduction. We are not told when or where. However, you can tell that it is summer of some year in the twentieth century. The choice of movie theater as a setting also helps to build the idea of existence of a mystery behind curtains. While the main character is a young boy, the author is not exploring boyhood fantasies. The themes perfectly target an adult audience.
A woman appears midway and is described as a reflection, to add a twist to the tale. The emphasis on mirrors by Steven is exemplary and stylistically ingenious. Though the boy and the woman portray conflicting personalities, their personalities and fate reflect on each other. There are similarities that are stylistically positioned to point at Mirror Reflections as a hidden literary image.
Conflict in the narrative is pronounced as one is placed in a tricky position where you have to choose whether to live in the hidden past or embrace the new knowledge already acquired. A part of the protagonist has to die since he has acquired new knowledge. His is signified in him sleeping at the office of the janitor and waking up in a dream.
The theme of transformation is perfectly explored in his desire to shed boyhood ignorance and gain knowledge or light. The author uses the image of light and walking through the candelabras to signify this transformation. The writer has also perfectly developed his characters especially the description given to this boy. The reader has a clear picture of who he or she is dealing with and can judge the actions of this boy in the required fashion.
Steven has done a great job in the story because it is easy for readers to relate. The curiosity in the boy existed in everyone at a certain point but is rewarded with knowledge and enlightenment. This is a story that everyone around the world can relate and also makes an excellent academic piece.
The boy seeks to set own path by going beginning to go the movies alone. This unique path is also exemplified by his hunger for enlightenment and higher knowledge instead of material possessions. In fact, this boy appears to be way ahead of his peers in his actions and the things he seeks.
The author has cleverly used the first person narrative approach. The aim is to make it appear as though you are listening to a story straight from the mouth of the boy. This is different from reading a book or hearing about third parties. The style makes it easier to relate to the quest or journey of this main character. It is a journey of discovery because he feels that his father is protecting him from something dark.
The setting remains a matter of deduction. We are not told when or where. However, you can tell that it is summer of some year in the twentieth century. The choice of movie theater as a setting also helps to build the idea of existence of a mystery behind curtains. While the main character is a young boy, the author is not exploring boyhood fantasies. The themes perfectly target an adult audience.
A woman appears midway and is described as a reflection, to add a twist to the tale. The emphasis on mirrors by Steven is exemplary and stylistically ingenious. Though the boy and the woman portray conflicting personalities, their personalities and fate reflect on each other. There are similarities that are stylistically positioned to point at Mirror Reflections as a hidden literary image.
Conflict in the narrative is pronounced as one is placed in a tricky position where you have to choose whether to live in the hidden past or embrace the new knowledge already acquired. A part of the protagonist has to die since he has acquired new knowledge. His is signified in him sleeping at the office of the janitor and waking up in a dream.
The theme of transformation is perfectly explored in his desire to shed boyhood ignorance and gain knowledge or light. The author uses the image of light and walking through the candelabras to signify this transformation. The writer has also perfectly developed his characters especially the description given to this boy. The reader has a clear picture of who he or she is dealing with and can judge the actions of this boy in the required fashion.
Steven has done a great job in the story because it is easy for readers to relate. The curiosity in the boy existed in everyone at a certain point but is rewarded with knowledge and enlightenment. This is a story that everyone around the world can relate and also makes an excellent academic piece.
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