Professor Amy Dallmann-Jones
HUM 2250
05 August 2014
Ace vs News Today
“Power and violence are opposites; where the one rules absolutely, the other is absent. Violence appears where power is in jeopardy, but left to its own course it ends in power 's disappearance -Hannah Arendt.” After reading the story Ace by Joyce Carol Oates it is very clear to seek out the message behind the story. What Oates writes is a story of a violent act that is unnecessary, and gives and inside look into how the victim feels going through each step. News today lacks the type of emotion truly needed to understand what is happening. The way the violence is described in Ace is heartfelt and emotional. This paper will compare how news today has …show more content…
When the leader is grazed with a few bullets she paints the picture of mass chaos that you can visualize greatly. What Oates does that is truly amazing is she continues the story from the point of view of the victim, she describes the horrific aftermath that the victim has to face on his own. The way she describes how his heart is beating, how he is weak in the knees, the way he feels as the doctors and nurses are trying to help him. Not only is it important to know what the violent act is but I believe it is very important to understand the effect that it has on the person who experiences the event. Every detail that is written is almost as if you were side by side during Ace’s entire journey from beginning to …show more content…
Oates does not focus on the violent act as much as she focuses on the after math of the violent attack. She describes the attack in more of an emotional matter than a gruesome bloody act. Her follow up with how Ace feels as he is walking looking to find help but afraid to accept it is almost hear wrenching. She paints a picture of this strong man who is a tough guy, someone who doesn’t need help, someone who can do anything on his own. When this man is faced with a violent attack he has no idea what to do or how to handle it, that the very thought of people helping him panics him even more. Everything leading up to his tachycardia attack at the end is a pure picture of the types of emotions one would feel after such a traumatic event. The best part of the story is Ace being back at the park overcoming his fears, ignoring the laughter and critics and being able to take a step forward in life. Something as simple as knowing that he is ok and is heading in the right direction is something our news articles lack. Oates did a wonderful job by putting emotions and violence together in this story, giving a true perspective on how most news articles should be. Why should it always be depressing? Why not follow up with how well someone is coping, or how an act of violence is overcome by strength, love and