Literary/Self Criticism

Yes, Bannadonna from Melville’s “The Bell-Tower” and Aylmer from Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark” symbolize humanity’s desire to create perfection in both themselves and the machines they create, but I am more intrigued by the authors’ belief that such stories should be presented so simply. I’m always pushing myself to create more and more interesting stories, but can my endeavors be simply captured to turn me into a symbol for the endless journey? I’d like to think that I’m a maelstrom of influences, desires, and emotions. But I suppose societal critiques in literature are bound to take form in one-dimensional characters.