Edit and finish

Books has the unique power to evoke strong emotional reactions within us as a result of the rich, sometimes magical imagery that the author creates as a result of the creative processes involved with giving birth to literary characters. Each one of us can reflect onto past experiences that we have had with literature in order to empathize deeply with the textual sorcery that one finds within the art form. For me, personally, I always find myself experiencing the most profound reactions in response to books that plays around with concepts that are arcane to those who are not within these character’s circles. This appealed to this book of mice and men, while conveying a deeper meaning in the text about how this to men stay together and work toward their dream.

Prejudice and discrimination impacts those who are different from the general population. This is a theme that is present within various texts that we examined as a class – the tragedy of being different. These undertones that colored these texts are an aspect of the class that I will carry with me into the future.

JOHN STEINBECK’S abilities, which are one of the surface themes in the story, appealed to my favorite book.

An example of imagery from the text that particularly appealed to me is the line: “Eisenheim's own illusions became more daring and dangerous; it was as if the two of them had outsoared the confines of the magician's art and existed in some new realm of dextrous wonder, of sinister beauty” (Millhauser, p. 291). The mysterious elements of obscure, esoteric themes conjure within me stunning images of unimaginable illusions like something from out of a Las Vegas show. This imagery, furthermore reappears in the line: “The limelight went out; when it came on, the stage contained nothing but a heap of black cloth, which began to flutter and billow until it gradually assumed the shape of Passauer, who bowed coolly to tumultuous applause; but the ring of a quiet challenge was not lost in the general uproar” (Millhauser, p. 291 – 292). Eisenheim’s magical capacities captured my attention, but the more serious social commentary present within the text is what made me consider this work a masterpiece.

The themes of prejudice and discrimination against Eisenheim that Millhauser wrote into the text is a topic that, as a Mexican-American, hits close to home. The simple fact that Eisenheim was a Jew made him suspect to unfair treatment from the society in which he lived, as illustrated in the line: “It began to seem as if the policeman and the magician were engaged in a secret battle: it was said that Herr Uhl was planning a dramatic arrest, and Eisenheim a brilliant escape” (Millhauser, p. 300). The topic of the prejudice that Eisenheim experienced as a Jew in Vienna reminds me of the experiences of the undocumented migrants in Boyle’s novel The Tortilla Curtain. Boyle illustrates this in the lines: “It was crazy to refuse treatment like that, just crazy. But he had. And that meant he was illegal – go to the doctor, get deported” (Boyle, p. 10). The prejudice and oppression that people experience simply because of who they are is a poignant topic to discuss that reflects the society in which we life, appearing in both Millhauser’s and Boyle’s works. Using themes of magic and mystery to symbolize the fundamental reasons for prejudicial mistrust and discrimination against an individual helps one to understand the topic more deeply, especially for those who would not otherwise experience such discrimination in their daily lives. For this reason, works like Eisenheim the Illusionist are important texts to include in a literary curriculum. Through allegory, they impress upon individuals from all backgrounds with their fantastic imagery, which allows them to communicate these important messages to individuals from all across the board.