Introduction
The stories “The Lawsuit” by N. Mahfouz, “A Telephone Call” by D. Parker, “Loyalty, Betrayal & Revenge” by S. Wong, and “Saga, Vol. 1” by B. K. Vaughan is one great examples of a comparative evaluation. They were written in different settings and cultures, presented different perspectives, and employed different literary techniques; however, similarities between them can also be found. The evaluation of distinctive merits presents an interesting challenge and the more interesting the findings. The stories attempt to explore obsession more (“A Telephone Call”) or less (“The Lawsuit”) obviously, at the same time dealing with the relationship and family issues (“Loyalty, Betrayal & Revenge,” “Saga, Vol. 1”).
Analysis
“The Lawsuit,” at first sight, draws attention to the world’s underlying inequalities and injustices. The only competent son became the object of a lawsuit, and throughout the story, it became clear that the main character’s motivation is an obsession with vengeance – “This woman robbed us”; “I won’t let this happen again.” The narrative is portrayed in the form of a first-person discussion. The narrator is desperate for vengeance, but when he finally gets his hands on it, he realizes how hollow his desire is.
Dorothy Parker employs language, tone, and point of view in “A Telephone Call” to reveal the obsession and gives it a voice. Parker employs diction to draw out the many signs and symptoms of obsession – “Please keep me stop telephoning him.” She also employs first-person narrative in “A Telephone Call” and utilizes this story to focus on a certain point of view, that of a lady with an obsession.
Brian K. Vaughan has also used first-person narration in his text, which includes subjects like an obsession, problematic relationships, and parenting. The core concept is that two individuals join forces to produce something unique. “Despite what you may have heard, nice things are hard to come by,” they devote their lives to helping him (the child) grow even under tough circumstances.
Raymond Ding’s life and romantic entanglements are followed in “Loyalty, Betrayal, & Revenge.” Throughout the story, there are several family ties, the majority of which are nuanced, complex concerns of divorce, the search for love, and greed. Another constant subject is identification, with all of the main protagonists being Asian Americans who, as members of an ethnic minority, are torn between many identities – “Who am I really?”
The purpose of Dorothy Parker’s story “A Telephone Call” is to take a careful look at obsession and give it a voice. Mahfouz’s tale also revolves around the first-person narrator, who, although going on a rampage throughout the novel, appears to be at peace with himself and his choices. Vaughan was able to create a truly intimate and touching analysis of what it means to be a parent. Wong’s narrative was inspired by a search for identity, as well as challenging relationships with parents and lovers. All these stories show different perspectives of obsession and relationships – some of them portraying the hardships, and some of them the complexity. All of them employ a single-person narrative to enhance the feeling of intimacy of the story. The difference between the stories is obvious due to the settings, literary style, and writing (“Saga” is a comic book). However, even within seemingly different stories with different backgrounds, the distinctive merits overlap to some extent.
Conclusion
The question of which stories are more effective and interesting to read is complex. In terms of effectiveness, “A Telephone Call” certainly deserves more attention due to the vocabulary and style employed by the author. Mahfouz’s story is dry and pedantic compared to the woman’s sorrows in Parker’s story. “Saga” is an interesting visual novel, while Wong’s work looks more modern in its style. These pieces are unquestionably distinct, but they share similarities in narrative and topic that the authors attempt to examine from several perspectives.