As Night And Day And The Heir Essay, Research Paper

Everyone in this world has a conscience that makes a person do bad things and good things. After a person has done a bad thing they will usually feel guilty and when they feel guilty enough they will admit to there wrong doing. Guilt exists in everyone that is human. In these stories As the Night the Day and The Heir guilt affects the two children Kojo and Sogun.

In the Story The Heir Sogun felt guilty for letting his grandfather accuse Sokpae for taking the jades when he was actually the one who took the jades. The accused had led Sokpae to leave his family during a heavy rainstorm. Since there was a heavy rainstorm the wooden bridge on the way from the village was washed away and killed Sokpae. The villagers arrived with news about Sogun s death, which terribly devastated the family. He must get away quickly because he could not face the dead body of someone virtually killed by him. (Kiwon 493) as Sogun thought while running to his room to pack. He could not help feeling the guilt of virtually killing Sokpae so he left the family. Sogun had thought that running away would make him lead a guilt free life. While leaving the house the voice of his grandfather stayed in his mind. He remembered his grandfather saying: Everything in here is yours. (Kiwon 494) Sogun knew what he did was wrong and what he did wrong led to Sokpae s death. And for this he left so that he could not cause anymore problems or troubles to his grandfather and his uncle. His guilty conscience had overcame him making him feel like everything would have been better if he hadn t gone to live with his grandfather.

In the story, As the Night the Day Kojo broke the thermometer and other s were blamed for breaking it. Not admitting to breaking the thermometer himself made everyone get punished especially Basu. Basu was blamed for breaking the thermometer because of arriving to the lab table early. No, I didn t. (Nicol 510) Basu said to Sorie who was blaming him for breaking the thermometer. Everyone blamed Basu for breaking the thermometer and wanting him to admit to the teacher that he had. For not admitting that he broke the thermometer people others began to throw books, corks, and boxes of matches at him. He felt somehow awful swelling of guilt which he could only shed be punishing himself through hurting someone (Nicol 511) as Kojo thought quietly sitting at his desk. Kojo s guilt swirled and pounded him. His guilt had tormented him and so the next day of school he admitted to his wrong doing to his teacher. Kojo had also felt guilt for not confessing earlier. His guilt had made him feel like he had committed a crime.

Guilt causes a lot of stress for people and it is best not to lie and to be honest. As people say honesty is the best policy. Guilt evolves around everyone and there is no way of stopping it unless the truth is out. Sometimes guilt can lead people to regret that they were born forcing them to leave the people they most love. For example, Sogun left because he felt as though he had killed Sokpae and to make it up to Sokpae he left the people he loved. His guilt had tormented him so much that he couldn t take it anymore. Guilt can live with a person for life and for this not to happen a person must always be true to himself or herself and be honest with others. There are many ways a person can feel guilty but if it really isn t your mistake then forget it and move on even though it s not an individual s mistake.