Alexander the Great was one of the most successful military commanders in history; by the time of his death, he had conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks. Alexander was one of the greatest generals of all time, noted for his brilliance as a tactician and troop leader and for the rapidity with which he could traverse great expanses of territory. His fame has endured the passing of centuries, and he will forever be lauded as the "greatest military genius of all times". His achievements would never have been attained if he was not determined to pass all the obstacles presented before him. His unwavering determination brought him his achievements. Similarly but on a much smaller scale, Jerry, from "Through the Tunnel", accomplished his own personal conquest though his unyielding determination. In "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing, the author uses vivid details and elaborate diction to emphasis the determination of the protagonist, Jerry, in his endeavor to accomplish his personal goal despite the numerous obstacles.
Parthenon from west
Jerry Kirkhart's Montaña de Oro Hazard Tidepool D...
Doris Lessing, Cologne, 2006A common obstacle met by every individual is the parental barrier; every parent, whether animal or human, shares the common attribute being protective of their young. Jerry, a callow youth, was on a vacation with his mother, a widow. Jerry's mother has an impregnable instinct of protecting Jerry, which is implemented not only by her parental impulses but the loss of her husband. On the first day of the trip, the child already has an urge to dive into the salty waters of the ocean. All day "as he played on the salty beach... he was thinking of [the wild bay]" (Lessing 76) yet he restrained himself. The only reason why he was restraining himself from diving into the deep ocean was his conscience in going against...