Amy Foster Essay Research Paper

Amy Foster Essay, Research Paper

& # 8220 ; Amy Foster & # 8221 ; and & # 8220 ; The Mythology of Love & # 8221 ; In & # 8220 ; Amy Foster & # 8221 ; , Joseph Conrad has written a great narrative that shows the different types of love felt between Amy and Yanko as described by Joseph Campbell in his essay on & # 8220 ; The Mythology of Love & # 8221 ; . The relationship of Yanko and Amy is dynamic and alterations as the narrative progresses. At first, Amy feels compassion for Yanko ; she does non see the differences between him and the English people as the others of Brenzett do. However, subsequently in the narrative, compassion bends to passion. Amy s boy is so born ; differentiations appear and she is either no longer able to love Yanko or she loves Yanko to such an extent that she finds she is incapable of fall ining Yanko on an earthly plane as Joseph Campbell describes ( page 159 ) . Whatever the grounds may be, Amy refuses to help Yanko in his clip of demand, ensuing in Yanko s decease.

There is a great alteration of bosom from Amy s first compassion for Yanko to her unconcern of his decease. However, the consequences may hold merely been a merchandise of the different degrees of love felt by Amy for Yanko. The general population of Brenzett dainties Yanko an at large madman when he is foremost spotted in the seaside town. He is whipped, stoned and beaten by many of the

residents. In addition, he was captured and caged like a wild animal. He is described as a “drunk”, “tramp”, and “creature”. He is very different from the usual Englishman and is treated as such. He is segregated and is forced to work for Mr. Swaffer. However, one person sees through the differences. Amy, perhaps because of her stupidity or an ability to feel for Yanko, does not see a wild foreigner that screams at night and dances strangely. She saw only the similarities, the oneness of two human beings, and not the separateness. This is the basis of compassion, as Campbell shows. Thus, Amy is able to be “selfless, boundless, without ego”. This compassion shown for Yanko expresses the affection felt by Amy for the foreigner and is received by him as love. The love is returned by Yanko in his actions, when he buys Amy a green ribbon and eventually proposes marriage. This is one of the levels of love described by Joseph Campbell, compassion. It transcends differences and differences. The nature of the relationship changes after the two marry. It degrades from a “higher, spiritual order of love” to an “animal passion”. It is no longer a oneness for which Amy loves Yanko. Rather, it is the sex drive, the physical want of a male for a female and vice ve