Part one of term paper
The heroes of both As For Me And My House and Surfacing exist within dualistic realities; there is a constant tension between the rational and religious realms. In both books, this duality creates extreme emotional consequences that threatens the quality of life for both heroes. The hero's must therefore search for an answer, an escape or ...

Part two of term paper
... the town is described by Mrs. Bentley in the following passage: "[Horizon] is a fundamentalist town. To the letter it believes in the Old Testament stories that we [Mr. and Mrs. Bentley] wisely, or presumptuously choose to accept only as tales and allegories" (Ross 146). For Mr. and Mrs. Bentley, the beliefs of the town are not in harmony with their own. The conflict that this causes is made all the more palpable by the fact that Mr. Bentley is Horizon's minister. Religion is a system of belie ...