The Natural by Bernard Malamud - 1204 Words

In the story, The Natural, certain characters and events are portrayed in a distinctive way that makes this story unique to other books and shows the typical writing style of the narrator. The author uses a repetitive writing technique that is impossible to overlook. The writer of this book is able to catch the reader’s eye with his concept of the importance of beautiful description. The Natural, by Bernard Malamud, uses great imagery that makes the story appealing. In the beginning of The Natural, Roy Hobbs is a young man who has his whole life ahead of him. He is being picked up by a scout and is looking forward to a career in the major leagues. Malamud shows imagery in the story to highlight turning points and moments that have†¦show more content†¦The author writes, â€Å"As Roy trotted out to left, Otto Zipp was in his usual seat but looking worn and aged. His face, tilted to the warming rays of the sun, was like a pancake with a cherry nose, and tears were streaming through slits where the eyes would be† (61). This description shows the reaction of Bump’s biggest fan Otto. Otto is upset that Roy is now playing in Bump’s position, due to Bump’s recent injury. Malamud illustrates the physical and emotional toll Roy’s presence takes on the fans. Visual imagery is imperative in describing the awestruck crowd. Malamud continues his use of imagery when writing about the dying little boy whose wish is for Roy to hit a homerun for him. The narrator says â€Å"The ball shot through Toomey’s astounded legs and began to climb. The second baseman, laying back on the grass on a hunch, stabbed high for it but it leaped over his straining fingers, sailed through the light and up into the dark, like a white star seeking an old constellation† (114). The visual imagery is clearly vital in describing the event that fulfilled a boy’s wish. The imagery adds the magical and coincidental factor to the homerun. The hit would not as important to Roy’s career without this use of visual imagery. Malamud also uses imagery to show relationships between characters. This use of imagery is the most noticeable part of his writing that contains appealing imagery. The author states, â€Å"She walk out ofShow MoreRelatedThe Natural By Bernard Malamud1543 Words   |  7 Pages In The Natural by Bernard Malamud, Malamud displays the magnitude of how an individual’s decisions can influence their life. Malamud’s main protagonist, Roy Hobbs, is the leading example of this idea, as Hobbs continually faces both his internal struggles stemming from his desire for success, and external struggles attributed to his roller-coaster of a professional baseball career. Malamud uses Hobbs and the sport of baseball as a metaphor for typical American life by depicting Hobbs’ strugglesRead MoreRoy Hobbs: The Tragic Hero in â€Å"The Natural† by Bernard Malamud1750 Words   |  7 PagesDiscuss the figure of Roy Hobbs as a tragic hero. To what extent do his own flaws lead him to his fate? Does he display a kind of hubris like the characters in a Greek tragedy? Does he learn from his mistakes? The book â€Å"The Natural† talks mostly about the heroic acts of Roy Hobbs, his strength of not giving up his wish. The book is basically about the characters flaws that lead him to his fate. Hobbs wish was to become one of the most popular baseball players ever existed in history. 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While Harriet and Memo are not positive influences, and only wishes ill of Roy, Iris certainlyRead More Symbolism in Bernard Malamuds The Natural Essay2422 Words   |  10 PagesSymbolism in Bernard Malamuds The Natural   Ã‚   The role of symbolism in Bernard Malamuds The Natural is important in helping the reader understand the theme and meaning of the novel as well as the time period in which it took place.   Malamud ¡Ã‚ ¦s use of symbolism defines the character of Roy Hobbs and shows how the events occurring around him affected his decisions and, eventually, his career.   Ã‚   Symbolism in The Natural takes the form of characters, such as women who strongly influenced Roy;Read MoreEssay about The Natural1349 Words   |  6 PagesBernard Malamud was brought up in the mid 1900s, a time period when baseball played a huge role in the lives of many Americans. Americans loved baseball because it gave them a chance to stop working and simply relax while they cheered on their favorite team. It was a time when people played baseball solely for the love of the game and the thrill of hearing the fans cheer for them. Today, however, baseball is much more corrupt, and many athletes are only in it due to their own greed and selfishnessRead MoreLiterary Analysis : The Natural1682 Words   |  7 PagesLiterary Analysis: The Natural Many people believe that material things will bring you peace and happiness. That is not always that case though.Everyone at some point in their life had gone through something that they thought would have a major positive impact on their life, but ultimately, it affected them very negatively. These can include anything from money, to power, even to women. Bernard Malamud explains these example in his book, The Natural, with his character, Roy Hobbs. Roy is the KnightsRead MoreA Jew Of Gentiles By Mark Twain4267 Words   |  18 Pagesaudiences to see the Jews as one of two opposites: heroic survivors or the emotionally debilitated. Both disregard the raw emotion of the Jewish culture, that which Bernard Malamud would later prove universal. Furthermore, the critical tendency to categorize twentieth-century American authors by ethnically-oriented labels has done Malamud a great injustice, as the restrictive â€Å"Jewish writer† label causes audiences to read his works from a na rrow outlook by the nature of the appellation. Admittedly,Read MoreThe Characters Of Arthurian Hero In Bernard Mallamuds The Natural1194 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican novelist and author of The Natural Bernard Malamud once said, â€Å"Without heroes, we are all plain people and dont know how far we can go† (Brainy Quote). The Natural features a young baseball phenom named Roy Hobbs as the story’s hero. His journey to become an aspiring baseball player for the Chicago Cubs is cut short as he meets multiple enemies that bring his dream to a halt. Later in his career, Roy returns to baseball as a player for the New York Knights where he encounters even more