Topic > Obsession: A New Loss of Reality

It may seem, as society describes it, that we all possess different interests. However, is it possible to believe that there can be one thing that we all share in common, such as our desires? It may seem impractical, but our desires contain the ability to control our actions. For example, young adults who seek to continue their education to obtain a certain occupation and be successful. At this point, people may believe that our desires consume us, but how far are people willing to go to feel complete, or even happy? In the next stories we will see that obsession is becoming the new loss of reality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay We encounter qualities of obsession in the following short story “Paul's Case” by Willa Cather. "The Case of Paul" involves a troubled young man named Paul, who despises his ordinary, non-luxurious life; to the point where he decides to steal money and enjoy life, he believes it is best for him. It's not long into the story where we first encounter Paul's obsession with living a lavish life. His clothes were a little too old, and the light brown velvet on the collar of his open coat was worn and threadbare; but for all that there was something of the dandy about him, and he wore an opal brooch in his well-tied black four-piece, and a red carnation in his buttonhole. (Cather 244) At this particular time, Paul has been summoned to the principal's office to discuss his bad behavior, however what is noticeably strange about his attire is the red carnation resting on him. We come to the conclusion that Paul may have worn this carnation to indicate how he is better than the people he is currently surrounded by. Paul believes that this simple flower is creating the illusion of his superiority. The red carnation was only one of the few indicators to prove Paul's obsession, but we can further argue that