The themes of rationality and morality are evident in the short stories 'An Avenger' by Anton
Chekhov and 'Spunk' by Zora Neale Hurston, but they are portrayed in different ways.
In 'An Avenger' by Anton Chekhov, the main character, Grigory, is driven by a sense of
rationality and logic in his quest for justice. He is motivated by the murder of his son and the
subsequent acquittal of the accused killer due to lack of evidence. Grigory is determined to find
a way to prove the guilt of the killer and bring him to justice. He is a rational thinker and his
actions are based on logical reasoning and analysis. However, his pursuit of justice becomes
obsessive and he loses sight of morality. He becomes willing to commit murder himself in order
to achieve his goal. In this way, the story explores the tension between rationality and morality,
and how rationality can be used to justify immoral actions.
In contrast, the main character in 'Spunk' by Zora Neale Hurston, Spunk, is driven by moral
principles and the desire to uphold traditional values. Spunk is portrayed as a strong and
confident man who is respected by the community. He is committed to his traditional values,
and this is evident in his rejection of the other woman's advances. He is willing to risk his life to
protect his honor, and his actions are motivated by a sense of morality. He is also portrayed as
a rational thinker who makes logical decisions.
In conclusion, both stories explore the theme of rationality and morality, but in different ways.
While "An Avenger" illustrates how rationality can be used to justify immoral actions, "Spunk"
illustrates how morality and rationality can coexist and how they drive the characters to make
the decisions they make. It also shows the importance of tradition and honor in the AfricanAmerican community. The stories also show the difference between rationality that is based on
logic and rationality that is based on emotions and how it can lead to different outcome.