P2 Really rough practice in 30 minutes

12. Explain, with reference to works you have studied, why writers are frequently drawn to tell stories about characters who are rebellious towards or in some way alienated from society.

[REALLY ROUGH THESIS STATEMENT + Outline]

In TFA and TATD, Mahfouz and Achebe choose to portray their main characters as characters that do not entirely conform to the society that they are in. Despite this, the protagonists are both very attached to their respective societies, and could even represent an ideal person of that society. However, their relatable characteristics and tragic ends provide commentary on the ideals of their societies, our own perceptions of ideals, and the dangers of rejecting our societies' opinions.

TS1

Okonkwo and Said represent their societies ideals, but challenge them, thus revealing various aspects of their own societies in a genuine and realistic way.

TS2

The fact that the protagonists represent the ideal of the societies, but still reject it and get rejected themselves teaches us that sometimes what we believe to be correct may not be.

TS3

They show us how society can be extremely harsh and unforgiving, and that rejecting it in favor of a fanatist ideology, even if it is supporting that society's ideology, may not be the right thing to do.