A Perspective about life and death

Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador.
Instituto Pedagógico de Caracas.
Departamento de Idiomas Modernos.
Cátedra de Literatura y Cultura.
British Literature
A Perspective about life and death.
A Perspective about life and death.
The following essay will have the purpose of giving to know a perspective about
life and death, it is shown from two similar short-stories, the first one is called “The
Stone Cipher” written by Toni Pi, and the second one “By the Waters of the Ganga”
written by Stephen Gaskell. Both stories will be analyzed with the sociological and
psychological approaches,
Reality is the representation or expression of certain values, customs, instructions,
experiences that have contributed in the development of men. Reality is related to
demonstrations of real situations, to be more relevant to the reader, and also, to catch his /
her attention rapidly. “Reality is duplicated, simulated and at the present time, more
virtual. The representation does the real more real, and it establish anther pattern of
communication in which, knowledge is disseminated, breaking personal, uniform and
automatized languages” (Niño cited in USR, 2006, p. 26).
The analyzed stories “The Stone Cipher” written by Toni Pi, and “By the Waters of
the Ganga” by Stephen Gaskell, represent two realities under the similar contexts. They
show situations in which many persons have investigated for a log time, in turn; it
permits to relate to them with real experiences. The first story “The Stone Cipher” shows
a reality by means of a fictitious situation, where the author uses the stone statues of some
parts of the world, trying to communicate with the humanity, expounding the
preoccupation that have many persons in the universe about the end of the world. These
statues are giving messages using spoken words. “It was the same the world over: statue´s
mouths spoke a hidden message. But what? That was the mystery of the Stone Cipher”
(Pin cited in Hubbard, 2007, p.152). Some persons interpret this kind of event as signals
of the end of the world. “And look at the misery I ´ve caused already. What I told the
world then was simply that statues were speaking. Imagine the chaos if we tell them it´s a
countdown to an unknown disaster” (Pi cited in Hubbard, 2007. p 172).
The second analyzed story, “By the Waters of the Ganga” shows anther point of
view, expounding a situation related to different processes that occur in the brain or in the
conscience of the human being. One of the situations showed in this story is the
experience of “Déjà vu”, this is a phenomena related to the past, present actions,
inclusively, it can warn or give some clues about future. Likewise, the story shows
information about Reincarnation and supernatural powers, in order to find the salvation.
“This place was so real, so full of vivid sensations, and I was so different from my last
incarnation, that I barely believed those old memories myself, and was not able to express
them to another” (Gaskell cited in Hubbard, 2007, p. 319).
Both authors show similar realities, using their previous experiences or knowledge
acquired during their careers, influence of the works of some authors. In the case of the
author Toni Pi, he uses his knowledge about Linguistics and the influence of the works of
the authors (Silverberg and Zelazny) to create and show a reality about the end of the
world, the different signals that are used to give more interest to the text and to catch the
reader´s attention. On the other hand, Stephen Gaskell uses his knowledge about physics
and science to show a situation more real than the first one. This situation was developed
according to Hindu religion, whose beliefs are from India. He uses a significant
environment called The Ganga River (see annex 1), this is one of the most important river
in India, and, it is not consider just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture.
“From the devout, at the foot of the riverside ghast- immense stone steps into the river
which ran the length of the city- where I washed my body in the filthy Ganga, I learned
the mythology of the city”(Gaskell cited in Hubbard, 2007, p. 323).
In both stories, the writers are describing each moment, each action, each character,
giving a connection or coherence in the two stories. Those stories showed certain aspects
such as; social, psychological, scientific, mythological, and so on. Likewise, “The Stone
Cipher” criticizes social, mythological aspects related to the end of the world and
supported by some theories and hypothesis. “The Gaea Hypothesis suggests that all life
on Earth forms a single living planetary” (Pi cited in Hubbard, 2007, p. 170). The
criticism in “By the Waters of the Ganga” is about the mystery of the reincarnation,
applying psychological, mythological aspects. The phenomena of Déjà vu involved in
Hindu religion. “My new body and its five senses soon became a shackle rather than
liberation, and I only gave myself sustenance when the hunger became unbearable”
(Gaskell cited in Hubbard, 2007, p. 320). And finally, it is important to mention that in
both stories, the authors finish their stories with a statement and open-ended. “Revelation
is coming!” (Gaskell cited in Hubbard, 2007, p.351). “Only twilight would bring the
answer” (Pi cited in Hubbard, 2007, p. 189).
According to Lethbridge, S and Mildorf (2004) define science-fiction as a type of
prose narrative of varying length from short-story to novel. Its topic includes quests for
other world, the influence of alien being on Earth or alternate realities; they can be
utopian, dystopian or set in the past. “The Stone Cipher” and “By the Waters of the
Ganga” can be placed in the realms of science-fiction because, both authors use
information about science, theories, and hypothesis. It permits that the reader creates his /
her notion of fiction from his / her own experience in the real world, the writers mention
future events, unusual characters, and so on. “It feels too virtual with all these web feeds
and videoconference calls. Even the radio´s getting on my nerves. All this technology is
keeping me a world away from where I need to be. I need air” (Pi cited in Hubbard, 2007,
p. 153). “… I would have to face the possibility that the alien world was real, and my
visions were not the result of trauma or dream, but a true, lived life” (Gaskell cited in
Hubbard, 2007, p. 334).
There is an important element used to express the different realities, it is called Language.
Potman (1961) said that “Language is not only the vehicle for expressing thought; it is
also the driver”. Language is composed of effective and extensive vocabulary, in order to,
increase its understanding of how to use it, why does a person need to use it, and when
(space and time) to use it. On the other hand, there is another element that is used to
evoke specific reactions from the readers or the audience playing with the feelings of the
reader (this is what happened with people in real life), it is called tone, and it permits to
express intentions, reactions, and so on. And the last one is the plot that involves the steps
developed in a text. The two stories have an open-ended that is not brought to a final or
preliminary conclusion.
Some characters found in the texts can be called archetypes, such as “Asajanaka”,
“Venus de Milo”, and “Notre-Dame Cathedral”. The main characters are presented like
real people, using real names and doing different activities that any person can do. They
can become universal because their attitudes, behavior, and names can be apply to any
person, through these texts readers get the sensation that the name of the characters can
be applied to themselves. Most of the representations of modern ordinary men can be
applied to Venezuelan citicizens, because in Venezuela, there are different persons whose
beliefs are: Catholic, Christian, Mormon, Hindu, Atheist, and so on.
BIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
 Hubbard, L. R. (2007) (ed.) Writers of the Future (vol. XXIII). Hollywood,
C.A, USA: Galaxy Press, LLC.
 FEDEUPEL. (2006). Manual de Trabajos de Grados de Especialización y
Maestrías y tesis Doctorales. Caracas, Venezuela.
 USR. (2006). Ensayo y Error. Caracas, Venezuela: Nueva Etapa.
 Potman, Neil. (1961). Language and Reality. España: Teachers College Press.
 Lethbridge, S. Mildorf, J. (2005). Basic of English Studies: An introductory
course for Students of literary studies in English. South Caroline, USA.
ANNEX 1