Malouf's Ransom explores man's search for meaning, emphasizing the importance of hearing and telling stories as they influence fundamental human understanding and interactions. Priam's anecdotes illustrate the ability to cement our identity and reinforce that stories allow people to understand and empathize with one another. Additionally, Priam's transition from a "child" to a man throughout his journey is aided by Somax's tales of family life, prompting the former to reflect on the human condition, allowing for a heightened perception of his own experiences through the action of the second; similarly, it is the story of Patroclus that triggers a human response in Achilles. Ransom suggests that the notion of life as a story allows the king of Troy to question the fixity of his destiny, because it offers the opportunity to dictate his own story in the search for "something new". Finally, stories satisfy the need for memory, suggesting that storytellers immortalize men by sharing their stories. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayPriam's need to tell the story of his past allows him to reflect on his former self, Podarces, by increasing his consciousness of her identity and by sharing With Hécube, Malouf reinforces the necessity of shared human experience, and that stories enable this. The third-person telling of the king's story is juxtaposed with the first-hand account, emphasizing that the former concerns only the facts and lacks the personal sensations expressed by Priam's version. By disclosing these feelings that "have been secret within him for so long", the old protagonist is able to explore his duality, his life as a king and the "ghostly" path of Podarces, forcing him to realize "what this means”. means that [one’s] breath is in the mouth of another.” Priam's awareness of his current role is heightened as he understands himself more clearly while speaking of echoes of the past, ultimately prompting him to redeem a treasure for his son in an effort to cement his story. Furthermore, even though the old man acknowledges that Hecuba “must have heard [his story] a hundred times,” he nevertheless repeats it to establish a common understanding of what he felt and the ramifications he faced. The king persuades his wife to “imagine… [being] the child,” thereby heightening her emotional perception of her husband’s past; her reactions to the "stink" that "sticks" and to her husband's sudden shift from "pampered darling" to enslaved "brat" are reinforced by Priam's detailed, personal account. His feeling of disgust suggests that the couple has reached a similar level of understanding allowing a stronger bond to form between the two. Malouf suggests that Priam's anecdote paves the way for his personal development and that sharing his story with his lover allows for a deeper connection between the two in regards to the king's awareness of his history. Like the tellers of a story, the listeners, too, benefit because they are prompted to reflect on their lives and on humanity itself through the experience of others, as Priam revealed when hearing the anecdotes of the humble carter and Achilles' memories of Patroclus. Somax's positive ideas about his family life push the king to introspection in his relationships with fatherhood. His family's affection is reflected in Somax's memories, which arouse "curiosity" in Priam because he never had any dealings with his family outside the "royal sphere". In discussing the “blessed sons” and the deep sorrow that causes thecarter “sweats… at this memory,” an appeal to fatherhood establishes a connection between the two protagonists and forces Priam to reflect on the adequacy of his grief. for Hector's death, and by extension, his role as a father. Introspection reveals that the king's relationship with his children is merely "formal and symbolic", giving rise to a feeling of regret. That he did not "bind his sons" to his "affections". It is thus through Somax's anecdotes that the king assumes a new responsibility as a father which encourages him to give his son's body its rightful place. Additionally, the text suggests that stories elicit a human response from listeners, allowing them to connect more deeply with their fellow human beings. As a boy, Achilles learns to feel empathy upon hearing Patroclus' tragic story as he "remains fascinated" by his companion's fate. The third-person narrative offers Achilles a relatively objective version of the story, suggesting that his deep connection with Patroclus is all the more powerful. The warrior's pity for a boy "wearing the mask of an outcast" rekindles in him a human response that serves his purpose in his future dealings with Priam. Perhaps this is how Malouf suggests that Achilles' connection with his "soulmate" is established through a story that has the power to summarize and transform the listeners' emotions. The king, who throughout his journey defies fate with his free will, is inspired by the idea that his life is defined as a story. The text suggests that man "writes" his own narrative through his actions and choices and thus transcends (and perhaps subverts) his destiny. Priam, convinced that his actions "follow him in the form of a story", is determined to define his life separately from his role as king, pushing him to find "something new", thereby challenging his predetermined ideas. destiny with an effort for freedom. The old protagonist, by choosing to write his own story, does not modify his final destiny, but changes the path he takes to reach it, thus opening a "new" path which makes him a man rather than a automaton accomplishing a goal. Likewise, the king's initiative influences Achilles' decision to temporarily step out of his warrior role, so that the linear direction of the narrative is disrupted by his choice. An ephemeral power over their destiny allows the two protagonists to metaphorically “suspend” the inevitable progression of destiny, reflected in the truce between the Greeks and the Trojans to mourn the dead before the ultimate destiny is fulfilled. In this way, the inexorable destruction of Troy is juxtaposed with the possibility of "something new", and Malouf suggests that the intrusion of the latter upon the former is what gives Priam hope that even in a deterministic universe , where everyone's life is determined by the gods, the possibility of free will still exists. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The desire to remember is preserved through the telling of a story, questioning the fixity of mortality and thus immersing men in a metaphorical timelessness. The text suggests that storytelling through the oral tradition of storytellers such as Somax, and furthermore, the reenactment of an old legend by authors like Malouf himself makes men immortal as their actions, which "follow them in the form of a story”, are being told. Priam's assertion that "this story will be proof of what I am" reiterates man's desire not to be forgotten and that a story has the power to transcend this impending mortality. By telling the story of his.