Understanding The Negative Side of a Change

Many stories revolve around a common theme, change. The authors are able to show change in both positive and negative views; however, after analyzing, it’s obvious the authors were showing that the changes happening to the characters, and their unwillingness to accept and adapt: ultimately, led to their downfall, making the changes within the stories negative.

First, in the graphic novel, Metamorphosis, created by Peter Kuper, it is evident that the change the main character goes through, is negative. Within the novel, the main character wakes up to find himself changed into a bug-like creature. In the beginning, he attempts to completely ignore the problem instead of finding a solution or attempting to adapt. After struggling, the main character opens the door and presents himself to his family. The family visibly repulsed and upset by the change of the main character.

Next, within the article “Life after people”, written by Dolores Vasquez, the author shows that change is negative. The author writes the article based on a question they ask in the beginning, “What would the world be like if people suddenly disappeared”. The author is then able to describe the “immediate consequences” and then goes on to list events that would happen. The author continues to list what would come in the later years eventually stating that, ”at nuclear power plants, the cooling ponds for spent fuel rods get hotter and hotter. . . release radiation into the air, where it is carried by the wind. Plants and animals in affected areas die”.

Due to the changes that happened, many living things will eventually die and life would cease to exist on earth, making the change, ultimately, negative. Several counter that change is positive. For example, the Freida Kahll’s self portrait, it can be interpreted in several ways. The painting is of a women who is Mexican; however, she had to move to the U. S because of her husband. In the portrait, several can argue that the woman is happy and is embracing the new change and country; however, it shows the woman standing in a Mexican dress, showing that she favors Mexico. Also, in the background, you are able to see that the U. S side is painted in darker colors causing the U. S side to feel more bleak than the mexican side. The woman in the portrait seems to favor Mexico over the U. S and prefers to hold on to her original culture, resulting in the change being negative.

Overall, many sources are able to show that change is indeed negative.