2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

adults his age. This positions readers to temporarily see him as a maimed soul, rather than the snarky thief he was at the time. This again, alludes to the complex and intertwining relationship between good and evil in humanity.

However, Donald Ray Pollock, focuses more on the mundanity that surrounds even the most ‘unusual’ acts of Knockemstiff . Instead of crafting certain moments purely for readers to feel empathy for the character, Pollock introduces each plotline with a sense of carelessness – to shamelessly highlight the lack of awareness toward the ultimate ‘good and evil’. Although stunted, the residents of Knockemstiff often mention their desire to escape the small town and into the real world. In Real Life, when Bobby mentions the way his dad despises movies, as he blurts “what the hell is wrong with real life?” 27 . This creates a sense of irony as it defies the central theme of complacency throughout the book. Similarly, in Blessed, Bobby mentions how “a lot of people get the wrong impression, think there’s something romantic … about hitting rock bottom.” 28 The contrast between something that is “romantic” 29 and “rock bottom” 30 , alludes to the beauty of human perspective, and the fact that it is completely malleable – just like one’s outlook on what is deemed good or evil. The assimilations of all 18 frenzied stories remind readers that throughout all the chaos and fragments of barbarism, being good or evil are only qualities that we all share as a part of being human. Pollock draws attention to the beauty of nature, in terms of how widely accessible everyone is to their own natural tendencies, as we all possess the same basic human qualities, yet it is what we make of it that ultimately shapes our unique identity.

27 (Bullock, 2008) Knockemstiff pg. 2 28 (Bullock, 2008) Knockemstiff pg. 195 29 (Bullock, 2008) Knockemstiff pg. 195 30 (Bullock, 2008) Knockemstiff pg. 195

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