A Christmas Memory and The Three questions

The most important factor in life is to treat other’s however you wish to be treated. The most important factor to do, to do good, as a result of for the purpose alone was man sent into his life. Both authors grew up, having hard times and having absent parents. Tolstoy’s mother, aunt, and father died in his early life. Capote parents neglected him and was not involved in his life. He then grew up with his cousin, which made them have a close bond.

Later in life, he also wrote about his historical novel, called “War and Peace.”

Truman Capote’s story A Christmas Memory, is about Capote’s childhood memory of a particular holiday season and how he enjoyed that moment in time with a special friend. Capote is illustrated by the main character, Buddy. Buddy and his distant cousin have a bonding friendship and tell of their exploits during that Christmas. They pick out a very special Christmas tree, make each other presents, and make fruitcakes.

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The story reveals things about the nature of friendship, and the power of love. The king knew that hermit, which is who helped him, was his enemy. Yet he was still willing to help him and forgive him for his wrong doings. Everything Buddy did, was to make sure everyone had a perfect Christmas. He walked miles just to find the perfect tree, then made homemade ornaments. Both the King and Buddy showed love to stranger’s and friendships that started out bad, ended up good.

The main characters throughout the story are Buddy and his cousin. They are characterized indirectly and directly and are both stationary characters, because they really do not change from the beginning to the end of the story. The story is written in the first-person narrative. The narrator is a little boy talking about his own life. He also uses his cousin to further emphasize this idea of appreciating the things he has and realizing that the simple events in our life are the ones that have a lasting impression. Capote himself has used Buddy and the cousin to tell this historical story of his life.

It showed the struggle the character’s dealt with. For example, Buddy had a best friend who once died before he became close with his cousin. After the first best friend died, his second best friend died. On top of the dog and it is ironic name, which is Queenie. Despite the dog’s royal name, the dog is in poor conditions and only looks forward to a bone for Christmas.

The King needed the answers for the three questions, to succeed in life and not to fail, so without the correct answer’s he felt as if he could not succeed. (1. What is the right time to start anything in life? 2. Who is the most important person in one’s life? 3. What is the most important thing to do first?) The answers he needed, he thought would give him hope to avoid failure in anything he did. He also wanted to know how to lead a successful life. The answers he received, some morals were deeper and valuable than others. The King knew that the man he helped was his enemy, yet he was still willing to choose to help him and forgive him for his wrong doings. The most important business was to help the person, and the most important time was “now that is, the present moment.” The young boy searched for an understanding of the moral dimension of his life. He searched for the answers that led him to seek the help for someone he believes is wiser than himself, who helps to decide that the meaning of life rests in the relationships we form, and the way we treat others.

Live the moment, not the past or the future. “When the man ran into us, the most important time was when you were attending him. If you had not bound up his wounds, he would have died without making peace with you.” The king asked the hermit the three questions. But the hermit did not answer and he was just digging the ground. The hermit was old, so the king helped him. At that time, a wounded man came running there. He was bleeding and struggling for life. The king dressed his wound and saved him. It was growing night. Both the hermit and the king took the wounded person to the bed. The king fell asleep due to tiredness and loss of energy. Next day, the king came to know that the wounded person was actually his enemy. He had come to kill the king to take revenge. However now he became king’s friend. The hermit now explained to the king that his questions were already answered. When somebody needs help, that is the right time. The suffering person is the most important person before us. To help him is the most important thing to do first. The king had helped the hermit. He had helped the wounded person. Thus, he got answers.

Both “A Christmas Memory and The Three questions”, explained everything detail by detail. It evoked a sense of caring, loss, and forgiveness. It is touching due to the bond, love, and friendship. It reminds you that nothing last forever, but if you’re lucky, memories do. Always pay attention to the people you’re with now, you may not see them again. 'It's bad enough in life to do without something you want; but confound it, what gets my goat is not being able to give somebody something you want them to have.' They both worked hard to fulfill their dreams. The King wanted the answers to them three questions, and Buddy wanted everyone to have a perfect Christmas.

Even when there is a loss, everyday life still continues. The fond memories of the friend and Queenie helped carry Buddy along. Queenie is back where love to be and friend as well with the Lord. “The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else. And the most important thing to do is, to do good, because for the purpose alone was man sent into this life.” When Buddy realizes that the Lord is “in everything”, and in order to see him, she doesn’t have to wait until her passing. They spend their last Christmas together. Buddy goes to military school and they keep in contact through letters. Queenie passes and not too long after friend passes.

When you read “A Christmas Memory”, it starts off with them trying to have the perfect Christmas, but when reading “The Three Questions”, he is searching for the answers. Both stories had things in common, but the main point they had in common was the bonds they had with the other characters. When the story ended both the King helped wound the Hermit and made peace with him, and Buddy and his best friend bond was close despite the age differences.

“Rather like hearts a lost pair of kites hurrying towards heaven. This quote is about the communication of Capote feelings towards his friend. It also showed how Buddy felt when he heard about her death. He said it is as if something was irreplaceable. Always pay attention to the people you’re with now, you may not see them again. “The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will have dealings with anyone else.”

“Remember that there is only one important time and it is now. The perfect moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” The most important person is always with whom you are, who is right for you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? The most important pursuit is making that person standing beside you happy, that’s the pursuit of life.

“A Christmas Memory” had a kite, which symbolized the gift Buddy and his best friend gave each other. They had fruitcakes that they gave to the strangers as a Christmas gift and also a baby carriage, which showed how Buddy was neglected when he was younger. “The Three Questions” had three questions that needed to be answered, in order to succeed. As a King, he could not fail, and refused to fail. He wanted to ensure he would never fail at anything he attempted. Both stories taught you to make the most of what you have, that. Life continues after a loss. Money does not buy love and is not the most important thing in life. Through, the king’s pursuit of answers and Buddy’s realization of the value of his friendship, the two authors suggest that it is only through one’s experience’s that a person can truly gain knowledge.