Introduction
Thinking is a complex process that takes place in the human mind and, therefore, is weakly studied by scholars. The ability to think critically, at the same time, is an obvious phenomenon that is manifested in the judgments a person makes and the bases he/she has for those judgments. The five stories under analysis allow seeing how critical thinking can be differentiated from pseudo-critical and unsupported ideas of inexperienced people.
Sammy from “A & P” by John Updike
The first example of the latter is Sammy from “A & P” by John Updike. His judgments and actions are inconsistent and fluctuating as he criticizes his employers but then realizes how hard his life would be without work. In Sammy’s thinking, there are no rational support, mere impulses, and emotions. The same can be said about the unnamed narrator in “Araby” by Joyce or the younger waiter in Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”. All these characters are inexperienced people and to a great extent due to this their judgments and thoughts have no basis under them: there is just no experience to base any consideration on.
Mrs. Mallard from “The Story of an Hour” by Chopin and the townspeople from “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner
Thus, what unites all the mentioned characters with each other and with Mrs. Mallard from “The Story of an Hour” by Chopin and the townspeople from “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner, is that they all lack experience, either due to the young age or to not facing similar situations in the past. Generally speaking, all the mentioned characters consider their views to be unique and based on their “experiences”.
Characters are “imprint of other people’s ideas and beliefs”
However, as there is no experience yet, there is no basis for judgment, and all the ideas by Mrs. Mallard or by Sammy can be united under a laconic definition. These were the first ideas that these characters managed to generate while facing the need to make decisions or define what is good or bad for them. In some cases, like with the townspeople or a Hemingway’s waiter, these ideas are prejudiced opinions. For Sammy and Mrs. Mallard, these are just too fast decisions they further regretted, while the unnamed narrator’s judgment was just an expression of anger, not an experience-based activity. Accordingly, thoughts and opinions by all the discussed characters are “imprints of other people’s ideas and beliefs” rather than unique ideas.
The human memory distorts facts
Further on, all the characters under analysis illustrate the point that the human memory distorts facts, the quality of which, in its turn, depends on the information serving as the memory’s basis. For example, when the unnamed narrator from “Araby” formed his idea about love as an abstract phenomenon and Mangan’s sister as his beloved one, he had no obvious information to back his perceptions up. He imagine something, analyzed the created image, and faced severe disappointment when the reality turned out to be different from what he fantasized about. At the same time, the positions of Faulkner’s townspeople were backed up essentially, but the quality of that backing was way too doubtful. The townspeople judged based on their prejudice, and nothing is surprising that their ideas turned out to be false.
Conclusion
Accordingly, all the characters discussed present the rich field of study of the human mind and psychology. Examining these characters’ actions and judgments, one can learn to base his/her opinions on facts or at least personal experiences, but not on unsupported abstract notions.