Challenges are a major part in everybody's life. You have two choices, take the cowards way out and quit, or you can take it by the horns and do what you have to do to overcome. In both "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing and "The Utterly Perfect Murder" by Ray Bradbury, Doug and Jerry were presented with a challenge and had to overcome.
In the short story "Through the Tunnel" Jerry was challenged with trying to make it through an underground tunnel. He felt he needed to accomplish this because he had seen a couple of boys made it through with ease. After several attempts Jerry eventually trained himself to hold his breath long enough to make through the tunnel. "I thought I must learn to control my breathing
my chest was burning" Jerry said. (Doris Lessing p. 98) Jerry wanted to prove to himself he had the stamina and courage to make it through the tunnel. He proved that with hard work and dedication you can accomplish anything. These thoughts going through his head prove he was calmly and positively thinking about what actions he needed to take to increase his stamina and lung capacity. "Jerry exercised his lungs as if everything, the whole of his life depended on it, again his nose bleed at night". (Doris Lessing p. 98) This could be a life or death undertaking perseverance and wanting to prove his manliness to himself helped him meet his challenge of swimming through the tunnel. "He drifted to the surface
He was gasping like a fish, He felt he would sink now and drown" (Doris Lessing p. 101). As he accomplished his goal He felt no need to be rewarded by anyone he didn't need anyone to clap for him or say "good job" all he needed was the satisfaction of making it through the tunnel.
In the short story "The Utterly Perfect Murder" there was many instances where the theme of challenge is presented. After 36 years the main character, Doug, is faced with the idea of killing his childhood friend.. Doug felt that it was necessary to kill Ralph...