Transitions can allow individuals to uncover knowledge through the provoking of principle values, which causes one to reevaluate their position and relations in life. This can create change that allows for circumstantial acceptance, which causes monumental growth and significant personal reward for individuals and those around them. A confronting transition can force an individual to reevaluate their relations with others, due to an emotionally provocative realisation. Whilst transitions encapsulate negatively challenging ones principle values, they have the potential to allow for a ‘new start’. Additionally, one’s comprehension of values may be reformed during transitions, as an individual is forced to overcome hardships. These notions are …show more content…
However, overcoming these hardships allows paramount growth and reward to become prevalent. The statement accurately reflects these concepts within the text and extract, as transitions are explored, and change becomes prevalent due to the experience on an individual. A confronting transition can force an individual to reevaluate their values regarding relations, due to an emotionally provocative realisation. These transitions have the potential to allow individuals to accept their stances in life. When one accepts these circumstances, they can then capitalise on their lives, causing unparalleled personal reward. The Story of Tom Brennan constantly depicts these notions, as Tom has his value of family hindered, as he experiences an extremely emotional transition where his family bonds deteriorate due to the Brennan’s inability to detach themselves from their past. When Tom becomes enlightened towards this deterioration a reevaluation of this …show more content…
From this, hardships become prevalent, and when overcome, positive growth can occur. Additionally, transitions may lead to significant personal reward and change for an individual due to circumstantial acceptance. The Story of Tom Brennan displays these concepts explicitly, as Tom constantly has his value of relationships negatively hindered. However, once he overcomes his challenges brought forth by Daniels drink-driving incident, he is able to gain a ‘new start’ regarding relationships, as he is able to gain acceptance. Furthermore, Toms statement of “The Davin was my obstacle”, utilises the metaphorical obstacle of ‘Davin’, who becomes a hardship for Tom to overcome in order to ‘win’ Chrissy, and thus overcome his loneliness and reforms his values of relationships and love. Once Tom overcomes this obstacle, as evident it the truncated sentence of “Today became the day I kissed Chrissy Tulake”, positive growth occurs, as he becomes releases that he has purpose in life and that his negative past isn’t omnipresent in is everyday life. It is due to this positive transition, that Tom’s values of Relationships and love become reformed, as he becomes enlightened towards the positive effects of love, therefore leading to the paramount personal reward of gaining a relationship with Chrissy, alongside finally accepting his circumstances. Ultimately, it is
Flashbacks to Tom’s previous rugby games with his brother re-affirm the loss he feels towards his old life. Tom feels the need to have everything the way it once was, and Coghill can’t replicate the joy he found in the endless afternoon training sessions with Daniel and his father, nor the adulation of the local community.
In life, the line that separates victims from perpetrators is as clear as a window pane, but in some situations that window can crack, causing damage and danger. A victim is someone who has been harmed, or worse, due to a crime or accident. A perpetrator is a person who has committed a crime, either accidently or purposely. Three stories that capture this blurred line are Shattered, an Australian Story episode on ABC’s website, The Story of Tom Brennan, a story written by Australian author J.C.Burke, and In My Little Town, another Australian Story episode. They all share the common theme of having a blurred line between victim and perpetrator.
The story of Tom Brennan written by J.C. Burke 2005 is about how Tom is getting used to his new life after the incident. Burke uses the characterisation of Tom, Kylie and Daniel Brennan to explore the central themes of Growing up, Drink driving and Family relationships. “Daniel was going down”. At the start of the novel Daniel is unknown to the reader whilst he is painted as the reason why all their lives are miserable. As the novel progresses you see who Daniel really is and instantly dislike him whilst his mother, grandfather and uncle still remember him as the boy they raised.
This powerful characteristic that transitional phases possess have the potential to be a rewarding experience, as they provide an individual with the opportunity for growth and knowledge development through newfound relationships. In ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’, Tom exhibits this through his bond with Chrissy following the dark trauma he endures caused by his brother Daniel. Initially, Tom feels detached from his own identity as he refers to himself in third person “I missed…simple Tom Brennan”, emphasising his deteriorated mental state. However, the relationship he forms with Chrissy is instrumental in his recovery as he begins to find himself again. His passionate tone in “Today I kissed Chrissy Tulake, I felt like Tom Brennan” epitomizes how this bond empowers him to assert a stronger sense of personal identity. Burke, therefore, is able to reveal how transitional
For example, Tom finally builds up the courage and strength to get back inside because “he thought of Clare – just wordless, yearning thought – and then drew his arm back just a bit more, fist so tight his fingers pained him, and knowing he was going to do it” (19-20). The thought of seeing Clare again and spending time with her allowed him to see his life in a better perspective and to want to become a changed man. Tom’s driving force in life is no longer his passionate ambition and determination to achieve his goals, but now is his beloved wife. In addition, when Tom leaves his apartment to go find his wife, he saw “the yellow paper, the pencil flying, scooped off his desk and, unimpeded by the glassless window, sail out into the night and out of his life” (20). Tom finally let go of his yellow paper and all the pressure it bestowed on him. He sees the thing that caused him to lose numerous hours, which he could have spent with Clare, disappear from his life. He realizes that his career and his ambition to succeed are not worth it and are not as important to him anymore. As a result, Tom becomes a changed man who now knows that having something as special as a person who loves and cares about him is more rewarding than anything his career can offer
John shows a willingness to change his ways and attempt to resolve conflicts that have arose between him and his family. As John evaluates his relationships, he is able to admit to his own fault and understands his need to change if he wishes to stay apart of his family. While debating going to the event, John analyzes how “he was too preoccupied with other things to pay much heed to the boys activities.” Because of this, John feels a wash of guilt and figures “he owed it to the boy.” During the event, John tries to keep good intentions and is “anxious to create a good impression for the sake of the boy.” His effort to change and become a better person and father is clear. He is no longer looking for an outlet for his blame and know understands and thinks to himself, “No, it’s your fault. It’s always been your fault.” His acceptance of his fault is the first step in trying to change his ways in order to better his relationship with his
In the beginning, Tom’s ambitions at the beginning are to be successful and to bring in a lot of money for his family. Tom really wants to go to the movies with his wife, but feels conflicted to be with his wife, but wants to get a higher position at work by putting in extra hours for work. For example, “he was tempted to go with her; it was not actually true that he had to work tonight, though he very much wanted to,” Tom is putting his wife at the bottom of his priorities and work as his main priority. After being out on the ledge, his desires change. Tom realizes his true wish is to be safe, in warmth and to be in company with his wife. For example, he wished, then, that he had not allowed his wife to go off by herself tonight and on similar nights.He thought of all the evening he had spent away from her,working; and regretted them.” He was so caught up in his fantasies and too ambitious to appreciate what really matters to
The first part of this story establishes the setting, introduces us to our main characters, and provides the inciting incident that will lead into the rest of the story. The initial description of Tom Walker focuses heavily on his miserly tendencies, which indicates right off the bat that these are what will cause trouble for him. The negative relationship between he and his wife is an important factor of their characterization as well, as it shows that Tom is not satisfied with his current life situation and, naturally, will seek something greater when the opportunity arises.
Our attitudes and beliefs can be dramatically shifted and persuaded overtime die to the process of transitioning occurring within an individual’s lifetime. During the beginning stages it may be hard to adjust to these newfound transitions and a conflict of beliefs and attitudes may occur. Although through the support of newfound knowledge transitions may be easier to adjust and adapt to. This is certainly the case within the Stephan Daldry film Billy Elliot that features a plethora of characters who are forced to shift their preconceived attitudes and beliefs previously set by society when facing a loved ones transition. This corresponds with the short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, which puts forward the idea that the person who
The process of transitioning from one phase of life into another is one of the most emotionally complex changes a person can make. Whether this transition is personal or professional in nature, making major adjustments during the course of one's life can lead to an often overwhelming process of reflection, apprehension, and confusion. Psychologists and other researchers concerned with assisting people with the process of transition have developed various models designed to guide an individual through significant changes, with William Bridges' 3-stage Transition Model and the Spencer and Adams 7-stage Model of Personal Change having gained the most prominence among academics. Bridges' Transition Model is ordered on the first stage (ending, losing and letting go), the second stage (the neutral zone), and the third stage (the new beginning), and proscribes certain steps to help guide people through each stage of transition (Blais & Hayes, 2011). Spencer and Adams' Model of Personal Change contains seven stages (losing focus, minimizing the impact, the pit, letting go of the past, testing the limits, searching for meaning, and integration), while owing greater attention to the complex cycle of emotional instability an individual experiences during drastic changes in their life (Blais & Hayes, 2011).
Transitioning is a prolonged process involves awakening into a new world of awareness that brings appreciation of oneself and others in one’s situation. In the novel ‘Tom Brennan’ written by J.C. Burke, the protagonist Tom is striving through his hardship plagued by his past. ‘Saturday night and I was where I wanted to be. Alone.’ This symbolism depicts the barrier that inhibit his ability to progress through the confinement of his deteriorating depression.
The experience of moving into the world can challenge individuals attitudes and beliefs. Into the world explores the aspects of growth, transition and change. The novel ' The Story of Tom Brennan' by J.C Burke explores the different ways individuals grow when they are taken out of their comfort zones and venture into new experiences. This concept is also conveyed within the song 'Fast Car' By Tracy Chapman and the film 'Charlie st Cloud' Directed by Burr Steers. 'The Story of Tom Brennan' follows the lives of the Brennan family after the events of a fatal car accident, it shows how Tom the protagonist struggles to cope with his past, similarly the song 'Fast Car' is a representation of an escape, a women seeking to flee a life she finds
Transitions occur overtime which challenges an individual’s perspectives. The impact of transitions can affect their attitudes and beliefs of the past, present and future. For an individual to begin a transition, they must be prepared for challenging obstacles ahead. These obstacles must be overcame to reach the final change in an individual’s self. This is explored through the play book “Educating Rita” by Willy Russell and the film “Pleasantville” directed by Gary Ross.
The calculating Danny uses his innocence to fool most, which has led to the necessity of Tom’s cold work demeanour. In contrast Danny has developed a manipulative and dynamic character, adaptable to all environments he faces. Danny developed no real sense of identity as a child due to the abuse and turbulence he suffered, thus leading to him, ‘Borrow[ed] other people’s lives. … it was almost as if he had no shape of his own…’ (Page 171)
One of the toughest challenges we have to undergo in our lifetime is transitioning into something new. Whether it being moving to a new place, or getting a new job, change is inevitable. After reading Yeonmi Park’s novel, “In Order to Live,” I began to think about my own transitions in life. In her book, Park talks about her difficulties in escaping North Korea and beginning life as a new woman. Although my own experiences have not been as troublesome, transitioning into a woman has been one of the hardest challenges I have ever had to conquer. After reading Park’s novel, one can infer how quickly she had to mature and act like an adult at a young age. I myself may not have been as young as Park, but her and I share the similarities of transitioning