Perspectives

Literary perspectives

The short story “The First Day” by Edward P. Jones has several elements of modernist literature.

The story deals with contemporary issues such as the importance of education, illiteracy, and the gap between the lower class and the upper class in terms of unequal access to better education. The focus on the individual, who is considered more important than society, is another modernist element. The large number of symbols used in the story is another indication that the story is an example of modernist literature. The abrupt ending is another modernist element. 

Current issues

The short story “The First Day” by Edward P. Jones touches on the sensitive issue of illiteracy. While not as widespread as it was in the past, this issue is still an important one in the world today. In 1990, there were 878 million illiterate adults, according to an UNESCO study. Even though it has improved somewhat in recent years,...