man vs universe stories

One example is '2001: A Space Odyssey'. In this story, man faces the vast and mysterious universe, represented by the alien monolith. The journey of the astronauts through space and their encounters with the unknown elements of the universe is a classic man vs universe situation.

They show our curiosity. In man vs universe stories, humans are often driven to explore the unknown of the universe. This reflects our in - built need to understand what lies beyond our immediate world.

Power struggle is a common theme. For example, in 'The Most Dangerous Game', the two men are fighting for power over life and death. Revenge is another, like in 'The Cask of Amontillado'. And pride, as in 'To Build a Fire', where the man's pride leads to his conflict with the unforgiving nature which can be seen as an opponent like another man.

Survival is also a theme. In some man vs man short stories, the characters are in a situation where they have to fight each other to survive. It could be in a post - apocalyptic setting or a situation like being stranded on an island. They compete for limited resources or for their own safety. And of course, pride often plays a role. A character's excessive pride might make them engage in a man vs man conflict, not wanting to back down or admit defeat.

Conflict over identity can be a theme. In some stories, characters are in conflict because they represent different identities or social classes. In 'A & P', Sammy's identity as a young rebel clashes with his boss's identity as a rule - following authority figure. Another theme is the struggle for survival, not just in a physical sense but also in a social or emotional sense. In 'The Interlopers', the two men are initially in a struggle for territorial survival, but then their situation changes to a more emotional survival as they face the unexpected together. And misunderstanding is also a common theme. When characters misunderstand each other's intentions, it can lead to man vs man conflict as in some stories where miscommunication causes enmity between two people.

One classic is 'The Iliad'. It's full of man vs man conflicts, like the battles between Achilles and Hector. Their rivalry is not just about personal glory but also represents the clash of two different ideals. Achilles is driven by his own sense of honor and pride, while Hector fights for his city and family. Another is 'Romeo and Juliet', although it's mainly a love story, the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, which is man vs man at a family level, sets the tragic backdrop for the lovers.

In short stories, the 'man vs self' conflict often shows a character's internal struggle. For example, in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Dr. Jekyll battles with his own dark side represented by Mr. Hyde. This internal fight can be about moral choices, self - identity, or overcoming personal fears. It makes the character more complex and the story more engaging as readers get to peek into the character's mind and see the battle within.

The story of the development of self - driving cars is also quite inspiring. Here, humans are trying to create machines that can drive better than them. Engineers are constantly working to improve the technology, but there are still many ethical and practical issues to consider. For example, how should a self - driving car react in a life - or - death situation? This struggle between human values and machine capabilities makes for a fascinating man vs machine story.

There are many interesting man vs machine stories. One classic is the chess matches between humans and computers. In the past, humans were considered the masters of chess, but as machines advanced, computers like Deep Blue defeated world - champion human players. This shows the amazing computational power of machines in strategic games.

One example is '1984' by George Orwell. The protagonist Winston lives in a totalitarian society where the government controls every aspect of people's lives. He rebels against the society's restrictions on individuality, freedom of thought and privacy. His struggle shows the conflict between an individual and a repressive society.