Comapring Sympathy For Characters in O. Henrys Furnished Room and Chek

Sympathy For Characters in O. Henry's Furnished Room and Chekov's Vanka  Ã‚   Two Works Cited   The narrators in both O. Henry's "The Furnished Room" and Anton Chekov's "Vanka" view their protagonists as desperate and helpless in a world of cold realism. With tones rich in sympathy, the narrators in both stories take pity on their characters. Both characters have yet to understand that realistically they have little control of the dismal life they lead; instead, their surroundings have more of an impact on their life. Trapped in a harshly ironic and deceitful world, the characters become pitiable symbols in a world numb to their presence. Transforming the protagonists into symbols that touch on everyday human norms (such as unending faith and one's lodgings), the narrators promote a sense of empathy. While the young man in "The Furnished Room" represents the personified room in which he lodges, Vanka resembles a sad angel in his purity and innocence. For instance, like the worn-down room in which the young man stays, his well-being depends on people and events that pass him by. The room's personified descriptions reflect all of the young man's emotions: the young man is emotionally "chipped and bruised," (41) and "desolat" (41) like the constantly abandoned room. Also, like the room the protagonist remains anonymous, as if he means little compared to his surroundings and his lost love (all of which are given names). Vanka, though also enduring a rough life, instead possesses a beam of hope in his innocence. Kneeling before his faithful letter to his Grandfather (as if to pray), Vanka resembles a sad angel. Inspite of his constant neglect and abuse, Vanka holds steadily to his faith and wishes his Grandfather "all the blessings... ...ness of mankind. The idea of diminshing hope for both characters is the narrator's final sympathy-balming attempt. The manner in which the narrators present human nature--the dark side of a merciless world in which the characters live--as well as the naive and pathetic nature of both characters, render two stories thirsty for empathy. The naivity that both characters have towards the deceit in their surroundings, as well as their lack of control in events which they endure, cause both characters to be helpless in a cruel world. Works Cited Chekov, Anton. "Vanka." Understanding Fiction. 3rd ed. Eds. Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren. Englewood Cliff, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1979. 46-49. Henry, O. "The Furnished Room." Understanding Fiction. 3rd Edition. Eds. Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1979. 39-43.