The Dynamic Use of Symbolism in Shampoo Planet Essay -- Shampoo Planet

The Dynamic Use of Symbolism in Shampoo PlanetDouglas Coupland has been c tout ensembleed the voice of Generation X by his critics because of his committal to writing techniques, which deal mainly with youthful ideals. Most of his works involve childlike characters searching for truth and answers for their self-involved questions. Despite many of his novels having a fateful outlook, he incorporates humor and optimism into them, which creates a balance between wittiness and mockery. In Shampoo Planet Tyler Johnson, the narrator, struggles to find his identity byout the novel. This is portrayed through Couplands shining use of imagery, which is abundant end-to-end the novel. Many of Tylers intellectual qualities help him adapt and cope with many of the situations he faces only many of his emotional and moral qualities strive to change who he is and what he hopes out of life history. As Tylers outlook on life transforms, the vivid use of symbolism corresponds to his changing a ttitude. Tyler, a resident of Lancaster, Washington, lives with his hippie mother, Jasmine, and cardinal siblings, Daisy and Mark. In search for excitement, he plans to take a summer spend backpacking through Europe. Before his trip, he had a really cosy relationship with Anna-Louise, a down to earth and very reserved girlfriend attending the same college. However, in Europe, Tyler meets a French girl named Stephanie, who is very exotic and exciting to him and was the complete opposite of Anna-Louise. When Stephanie comes to visit Tyler in Lancaster, Anna-Louise learns of the outline affair Tyler and Stephanie had in Europe. Tyler then ends his relationship with Anna-Louise and moves to California with Stephanie. In the stolon of the novel, Tyler is seen as a relatively happy, c be free, and motivated twenty course old man. As his life progresses, his attitude and outlook on life changes dramatically. In one passage from the beginning of the novel, Tyler states tha t I have a planI have a good car and a wide assortment of excellent hair-care products. I know what I want from life I have ambition.(13). He has such excitement astir(predicate) what will happen in his life down the road. He claims that he wants to own a hotel when he gets older because in a hotel dwell you have no historyYou feel like youre all potential waiting to be rewritten, like a crisp, blank shred of 8 -by-11-inch white bond paper. There is ... ...ld they find? Turn on the shower. (133). Tyler believes that if he confirms himself clean, then he will not become poor. His wash is his key to becoming what he wants to. Douglas Couplands use of symbolism in Shampoo Planet helps paint a vivid picture of Tyler and his struggles throughout his life. The extensive use of symbolism made the book more elicit and helped me relate to Tyler more as a person than a character. Tylers constant changing made the story unpredictable and less prevalent it held my interest enough t o make me want to continue reading the novel. fifty-fifty though Douglas Coupland is considered to be the voice of Generation X, many different generations fanny relate to its content and enjoy his works, both past and future generations. Couplands sarcastic way of writing gives the novel a comedic element which makes it more enjoyable to read. I liked his use of imagery, with passages such as Tyleryou are my trailer park. And you, Anna-Louise, are my tornado. (31). His sarcasm helped to keep me interested because, in my opinion, either book needs a opening of comedy Couplands source is his ability to make fun of any situation and still keep a serious manner.