Category: Literature

The Red Convertible is a story about a man that is mentally damaged by the events of the war, and also how it affects his whole family. Henry was a happy, loving, and sane man before being drafted, but when he came back he was a completely different person. The war affected Henry in a way that many of our soldiers were affected and it went a lot deeper than medicine can go. The red in The Red Convertible is directly related to the blood, violence, and despair that caused Henry to take his own life.

Henry had many obstacles that he never seemed able to overcome. The transition from army life back into household life was very hard. It seemed as if Henry forgot how to be himself and was transformed into someone else during the war. (Chavkin, 77-80) The only things that Henry could accomplish were watching TV and working on the convertible. Even watching TV got dangerous, Once I was in the room watching TV with Henry and I heard his teeth click at something.

I looked over, and hed bitten through his lip. Henry was very tense ever since returning home from the war. The memories of the war were stuck in his head. Henry can not get out of the war even when returning home. His illness is mental and there isnt a drug to cure it. Henrys battles against his mind are the real cause of his death. Suicide allowed Henry to become himself again and overcome his obstacles.

Before Henry was drafted into the war his life was carefree. Henry and Lyman just toured around the globe in their red convertible. When asked to drive to Alaska by a hitchhiker Henrys answer was, Okay. Henry represents everything free and innocent before being drafted. When Henry was drafted his morals changed and are illustrated by his actions. The way that he isnt even able to talk to his brother tells the reader that whatever happened in the war touched Henry deeply and hard. The literature separates the innocents of normal life and the ferociousness of war. (Brenda, 119-22)

Henrys story is that of a man stripped of his innocence and freedom only to have his mind destroyed by the war. The red convertible was a symbol of Henrys freedom and that is why it died with Henry. The obstacles that were presented as a result of the war were too much for Henry to handle; therefore Henry was forced to take his life. The war isnt always over when the fighting stops, it takes longer for the mind to heal than the body. Henrys mind was damaged which left him unable to continue his life in society. The Red Convertible is an accurate account of what happens to a person when put through a traumatizing event.

On the Rainy River takes place during the time Tim is at college. Tim did not believe he should go to war but then again he believed that the U.S. should go to war that would have a good reason where you would know what you are fighting for, not just going off to fight pointless battles. Tim was not afraid to go to war, he was more afraid of what the people in his town would say if he had not gone to war. The only thing that he was afraid of was showing the feelings that he had of war and making his own decisions.

Tim is a person that always tells the truth. An example would be when he explains that a true war story could never be moral or an example of humane behavior. The war was so influential on him that he takes his daughter there as a way of remembrance of the past. The war has made the character of Tim OBrien a stronger person the war was something that influenced his life greatly. (Bonn, 2-14) He shows how war is similar to life and how people need it to survive. Tim went through many hardships he was a very strong person both mentally and physically. (Harris, 8) Going through Vietnam was a hard task and he surpassed it. Many close men he knew did not make it because they could not go through all the struggles and snapped, they just went crazy and he held strong to his senses.

Many soldiers feared shame, and as a result, have been motivated to do things that they wouldnt have regularly done on their own. For example, in the chapter On The Rainy River, Tim OBrien feels that the only reason he couldnt swim across the Rainy River to Canada was that his family members and community would think less of him. He is however against the war and does not want to take part in it because he feels it is unjust and cruel. Instead of going to war for patriotism or dedication to his county, OBrien goes because his fear of shame and appearing socially unacceptable is too great to withstand.

Works Cited

Bonn, Maria S., Can Stories Save Us? Tim OBrien and the Efficacy of the Text, in Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, Vol. 36, No. 1, 1994, pp. 2-14.

Brende, Joel Osler, and E. R. Parson, Vietnam Veterans: The Road to Recovery, Perseus Publishing, 1985. 119-22.

Chavkin, Allan Richard, ed., The Chippewa Landscape of Louise Erdrich, University of Alabama Press, 1999. 77-80.

Harris, Robert R., Too Embarrassed Not to Kill: A review of The Things They Carried, in New York Times Book Review, 1990, p. 8.

Introduction

Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid is a short story that follows the journey of a young Caribbean woman as she leaves her home to work as an au pair in the United States. From a psychoanalytic approach perspective, the story can be interpreted as a representation of Lucys psychological journey as she navigates her newfound cultural identity. Freud states that therapeutic efforts aim to strengthen the ego, to make it more independent of the super-ego, to widen its field of perception and enlarge its organization (The Dissection 99). Lucy is challenged as she tries to reconcile her Caribbean identity with the values of her new American surroundings. Her difficult adventure tells the story how she was no longer the girl she had been, but she was not yet the woman she was going to become (Kincaid 89). Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid can be interpreted from a psychoanalytic approach perspective as a representation of Lucys psychological journey as she navigates her newfound cultural identity and experiences feelings of loss, displacement, and self-discovery.

The Ego and Identity Crisis

The story reveals a number of psychoanalytic ideas, including an identity crisis, as a manifestation of the struggle with ones ego. Lucy constantly experiences an existential crisis in which her personality desperately tries to define itself in society. She notices that she is an alien and does not belong, saying: I am always on the verge of losing myself (Kincaid 95). Lucys conflict between unattainable group identity and her ego deepens when she recognizes:

I am not what they say I am, I am not what they want me to be, I am not what they think I am. I am who I am (Kincaid 59).

From a psychoanalytic perspective, Lucys identity crisis can be understood as a manifestation of her egos struggle to assert itself against the expectations imposed by the American family she works for (Kim 1027). In Sigmund Freuds Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego (1921), the concept of identification is explained as the earliest expression of an emotional tie with another person (Group Psychology 11). This idea can be applied to Lucys experiences in America as she tries to reconcile her newfound cultural identity with her Caribbean heritage.

The Concept of the Other and Trauma

In America, Lucy experiences a sense of ostracism and trauma due to her feeling of being the Other. The concept of the Other refers to the idea that individuals or groups are defined in opposition to a dominant cultural norm, resulting in feelings of alienation and otherness (Kim 1027). Lucys trauma can be attributed to her feeling of being ostracized by the American family she works for and the cultural norms she is expected to conform. In the story, the reader sees how people inflict much psychological trauma on Lucy because her appearance and culture are different. The young woman tells readers how she was screamed at, called names I had never heard before and was beaten (Kincaid 65). In addition, she was humiliated in front of all the other servants (Kincaid 45). These are multiple negative repeated experiences at different psychological and physical abuse levels that lead to a stable psychological trauma.

In the context of Lucys experiences, her feelings of alienation and otherness resulting from being the Other can be understood as emotional traumas. Freud believed that symptoms of neurosis are often residues of emotional experiences, which he referred to as psychical traumas (Five Lectures 9). The specificity of the formed sensations and reactions is explained by their relation to the traumatic scenes which were their cause (Five Lectures 9). Lucys experiences of ostracism and trauma as a result of her feeling of being the Other can be understood in the context of Freuds views on trauma. The repeated experiences of physical abuse she faces and the cultural norms she is expected to conform to can be seen as contributing to her sense of trauma. Moreover, psychological abuse was also used against her when she was treated like a child, I was not allowed to have an opinion (Kincaid 85). Understanding the root cause would require exploring her cultural and emotional experiences as a Caribbean immigrant in America.

Desire and Self-discovery

In Jamaica Kincaids Lucy, the protagonists journey of self-discovery is intertwined with her desires. The author reveals heroines strong wish to explore the world: She felt as though she was searching for something, but she did not know what it was (Kincaid 24). Lucys desire to escape her life in the Caribbean and find a better future in America is a central theme in the novel. This desire is motivated by her longing for independence, autonomy, and a sense of self-worth, all aspects of self-search. From a Freudian perspective, desire is an unconscious drive rooted in the id, the most primitive part of the psyche. The id is responsible for our basic desires, such as the desire for food, sex, and power, and the satisfaction of these desires is what drives our behavior (New Introductory Lectures 71-100). In the case of Lucy, her desire for a better life and her pursuit of self-examination is driven by her unconscious needs and desires.

As Lucy begins to explore her new life in America, she begins to uncover aspects of herself that were previously hidden. She knew herself as a Caribbean girl and was trying to become an American, but she noticed unique traits and elements in her personality. A persons ego always has characteristics suppressed by culture but inherent in the personality itself by its nature. By shifting from one culture to another, people can more clearly see these things in themselves. For example, Lucy realizes she has a strong wish for education and knowledge, which she had never considered before (Kincaid 25). Lucy finds out about her interests and passions:

I was beginning to understand that the world was a much bigger place than I had ever imagined, and that there were many things that I wanted to know about it (Kincaid 35).

This quote highlights how Lucys aspiration for knowledge and self-search leads her to a greater understanding of herself and the world around her. Her journey can be seen as an example of how unconscious desires shape our behavior and drive our pursuit of self-discovery.

Conclusion

The analysis of Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid from a psychoanalytic approach perspective provides a deep understanding of the protagonists psychological journey. Throughout the novel, Lucy navigates her newfound cultural identity and experiences feelings of loss, displacement, and searching for her new self. The author showed this continuous process in the heroines odyssey where she was finding herself, and she was losing herself, and she was doing both at the same time (Kincaid 67). The sources analyzed in this review support the idea that Lucys journey can be interpreted as a representation of her psychological journey, shaped by her experiences of trauma, identity crisis, and desire. From a Freudian approach, Lucys experiences of trauma, including physical and psychological abuse, are rooted in her feeling of being the Other. Her experiences of ostracism result in a pathological symptom of trauma, which is expressed through her feelings of loss and displacement. Lucys journey of self-discovery is also driven by her desires, rooted in her unconscious needs and desires.

Works Cited

Freud, Sigmund. The Dissection of the Psychical Personality. New Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis, Translated by James Strachey, W.W. Norton, 1995, pp. 71100.

Freud, Sigmund. Five Lectures on Psycho-Analysis. Translated by James Strachey, W.W. Norton & Company, 1989.

Freud, Sigmund. Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego. Translated by James Strachey, W.W. Norton & Company, 1990.

Kim, Mia. The Examination of Pathological Symptom of Trauma in the Context of Jamaica Kincaids novel,Lucy. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT) 12.10 (2021): 1025-1033. Web.

Kincaid, Jamaica. Lucy. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1990.

Andrew Bridges memoir Hopes Boy has been ranked as a leading bestseller by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Publishers Weekly, and The Washington Post. It is a moving memoir that illustrates the flaws that exist in the U.S foster care system.

The Memoir explores a childhood filled with horrendous sagas which are hardly spoken by many openly. The story is intertwined to bring out what the young in foster homes undergo while growing up.

This paints an elaborate picture of the Americas society dark side. Bridge was transferred to a foster home after experiencing her Schizophrenic mother, slit her wrists and paint his name with her blood (NPR 2008).

By then, Bridge was only six years and, according to the circumstances, he was placed under foster care for the remaining part of the blossoming childhood.

Despite the woes he underwent and witnessed in the foster care, Bridge fueled childhood influence in the university. Currently, Bridge has become a fulltime lawyer who specializes on matters concerning the welfare of children.

The memoir Hopes Boy portrays the childhood experiences of Bridge which depicts the U.S foster care as one which is adversely disoriented.

Bridge, who lives in Los Angeles, has continued to fight in the war to ensure that kids under foster care receive proper treatment and even have conduct with the social workers if they cannot get in touch with their biological parents (Bridge n.d). Personal experiences greatly influence the future career choice of individuals.

Personal background and atrocities can fuel the desire to pursue a certain career (Dietrich 1). For instance, Bridge is portrayed as a child from a poor family filled with devastating events.

For example, at the age of less than three years, his father and mother are jailed and, at the age of four, his father demands a separation (NPR 2008).

By the time Bridge was six, he was placed under foster care. Bridge having his childhood and parental love has vowed to fight for other children who undergo the same problems during their childhood.

This can be supported by the personal experience of Debbie Black, a parole officer, who notes that her family, experience and conflicts from within, shaped her career (Black 2008).

Having undergone divorce, living in the streets, and facing a difficult marriage, the experience is almost like Bridges. Although the life of Debbie was infringed when she was mature, the experience is the same as both face social injustices.

Bridges past has dictated the path to follow to ensure that no other child will have the same experience he had when he was young.

Anger and emotional feelings drive people to do what they think is right in their lives as a way of shadowing their past. For example, the childhood of Bridge is filled with anger and hatred for losing the only person who cared from him, his mother.

This is depicted on the title of his memoir Hopes Boy. Hope is the name of his mother in which he has dedicated his work to, despite the fact that she was not there but was willing to raise him.

The anger of his childhood leads to the belief that there is a hope that the future can be better. This drives Bridge to study law with the hope he can represent other children who undergo the same childhood as he did.

Bridges career choice has prompted him to give back to the society what he lacked love when he was a child. From his memoir, Bridge believes that we can best keep kids with their own families safe and together with the folks who know and love them best (NPR 2008).

The belief that something can be done right is what fuels people to choose certain careers. For example, Bridge believed that the best love a child could receive is from family members.

He believes that children can be loved best if they lived with their parents or folks. For this reason, Bridge has been championing for the welfare of foster children to live with their parents or, at least, get to talk with the social workers allocated to them once a month (NPR 2008).

From a personal point of view, some people follow intuition in order to make sure that they can solve problems in life. In other words, they believe that they are the saviors who can speak out on the behalf of other disadvantaged persons in the society.

To sum it up, personal past experiences contribute a lot to the choice of career path they choose to undertake, the way people have been raised, the life they have been exposed to, and the belief that one can change the world.

Emotions fueled by anger, drive people to take careers to ensure that other people are not exposed to the same atrocities or past they underwent.

This is portrayed in the Hopes Boy memoir which shows how the past can fuel one to develop a career that addresses the problems in the society. The same is shared by Debbie Black who strives to help others.

Works Cited

Black, Debbie. 2008. Personal experiences influence career Choice for Debbie Black. 2008. Web.

Bridge, Andrew. Hopes boy: A memoir. n.d. Web.

Dietrich, Cindy. Decision making: Factors that influence decision making, heuristics used, and decision outcomes. Student Pulse 2.2 (2010): 1-3. Print.

NPR. Hopes Boy a memoir of childhood in foster care. 2008. Web.

The character of King Arthur has a large role in medieval studies. This character has been portrayed many times in literature. In Malorys Le Morte dArthur and Alliterative Morte Arthure Arthur is portrayed in two different visions. This essay addresses the comparison of Arthur in these two literary works.

It is shown in the essay that Arthur differs in terms of overall appearance in both the novel and the context of his personality. The similarities are in the other characters portrayed and the predicted outcome which is the death of Arthur. In general, the essay shows that these works cover different aspects of Arthurs history.

Arthur in Malorys Le Morte dArthur

The King Arthur in Le Morte dArthur or The death of Arthur is the main character around which the plot is based. Although it can be said that through most of the tale his character is absent, and the story revolves around the intrigues around sir Lancelot, the presence of the king is evident in most of the other characters events and motifs. King Arthur is affected by Aggravain and Mordreds advice but his power was still in effect in making his own decisions.

In terms of relations to another character, it can be noticed that the relation between Lancelot and the Queen is known to Arthur but his ignorance cannot be tolerated by Aggravain and Mordred who convince him to expose this relation.

His relation with Lancelot although being tense as to the feeling of betrayal by the King respects Lancelot as a great knight and warrior,

He is a marvelous knight of prowess. Alas, me sore repenteth said the king that ever Sir Lancelot should be against me.(The Romance of Arthur p.538)

The theme is Le Morte dArthur as the title implies is the events and characters that lead to the death of the king, with the main themes being the contrast between betrayal and loyalty.

Furthermore, this theme is mostly centralized around the character of King Arthur as a hero in conventional terms of military glory, the focus frequently changes from him to Lancelot and the Queen and Lancelot and Gawain. In all these events which were not directly related to King Arthur, it could be sensed that he acts like a pivot for all the actions of the other characters.

The romance genre in which the character of King Arthur is portrayed has mixed the realism of the events while keeping the emotional and imaginative feel throughout the book. (p.530)

That writing technique helped to keep the events of the story paced as a tale while the character of the king remained believable and realistic. The actions of Arthur are measured, which gives the sense that we read about a historical biography of a real person. The use of magic in this tale was kind of limited as the only occurrence was when throwing the Excalibur

And then vanished away from the hand with the sword in the water (568)

In addition, the death of the King was portrayed giving assumption for the reader that he might have stayed alive.

Arthur in Alliterative Morte Arthure

The king Arthur portrayed in The Alliterative Morte Arthure is the courageous and glorified king who is shown to be cruel and warlike. Arthur in this poem is a king that has enormous authority, and in contrast to the previous book, he is the center of the narration.

He is in a quest to conquer the Roman Empire. The personality of the king is somewhat changed throughout the poem as he is more reasonable and wise through the beginning in contrary to the later parts he is more cruel and brutal.

However, this might be explained as the atmosphere of war has put an influence on the character.

The narrative style of Arthurs story mostly omits the relation between him and other characters, though some of the characters like Gawain re-occur frequently, most of the poem retells merely the kings adventures in a glorified epic manner. Another character that should be mention is Mordred as he has the main role of the villain and the traitor, although he has a human side showed in the Gawain death part when he stated him

He was unmatched on earth, sir, on my oath. He was Gawain the good, most gracious of men and the greatest of knights who lived under God & and showing his emotions

Then the traitor freely let fall his tears. (519)

Also, it could be noted the respect showed by Arthur to Gawain after his death admitting that he was worthy to wear his crown, is a sign of admiration of respect from Arthur to his knight. (521)

The genre of the poem as a chronicle gave the character a more colorful description that helped to show how his personality evolved or adapted through the story revealing him from a political perspective as a ruler.

References

Wilhelm, James J., ed. The Romance of Arthur, New, Expanded Edition: An Anthology of Medieval Texts in Translation. Garland Medieval Texts. n.a: Routledge, 1994. 489-576.

Imperialist ideology can be viewed as a distorted version of Western-European culture, because it emphasizes such values as liberty or dignity, but at the same time denies many people the right to humanity. This idea can be better discussed by analyzing Jean-Paul Sartres preface to the book The Wretched of the Earth written by Frantz Fanon.

Moreover, Sartres views can be compared to the arguments expressed by Jules Ferry who was an advocate of colonial policy. His speech before the French National Assembly in 1883 can be regarded as a defense of colonialism. The comparison of these two texts can highlight the contradictory nature of imperialism and explain how this political and cultural ideology influenced the countries that were under colonial rule.

One of the critical arguments put forward by Sartre is that many nations colonized by Europeans could see that the colonizers failed to live up to the ideals of humanism that they often proclaimed. The thing is that European culture lays stress on such values as liberty, equality, freedom, and dignity; however, those people, who speak about these ideas, can easily act in a cruel, biased, and selfish way. Sartre says, The yellow and black voices still spoke of our humanism but only to reproach us with our inhumanity (1961, p. 1).

To a great extent, this sentence renders the sense of disappointment that many African people had, especially after the atrocities committed both in Europe and Africa. They could not understand how the alleged values of colonizers could be reconciled with their actions. Jules Ferry also refers to the ideals of humanism; in particular, he says Europeans have the duty to civilize inferior races (Ferry as cited in Andrea & Overfield, 2011, p. 269).

It is quite possible to see the conflicting nature of this argument because Ferry refers to a particular moral duty that Europeans have toward African nations. Yet, he is unable to view them as equals. In his opinion, they do not have a right to autonomy and independence. Thus, he rejects the very ideals on which French culture was is based. In his view, egalitarian principles and racial ideology are quite compatible with one another and this is the critical flaw of his argument.

It should be noted that Jules Ferry ideas were criticized when he was addressing the National Assembly. For instance, Ferry referred the words of Camille Pelletan who said that civilization could not be imposed with cannon-balls (Ferry as cited in Andrea & Overfield, 2011, p. 269). Yet, he simply chose to overlook this criticism. Overall, his speech can give readers in-depth insights into the nature of colonialism, its ideology, and contradictions.

It should be noted that Sartres writing was influenced by independence movement in Algeria. Moreover, he shows that many Europeans were very surprised when African nations began to struggle for autonomy. Sartre manages to render this amazement in this sentence, They are able to talk by themselves? Just look at what we have made of them! (1961, p. 1).

Many people in France could not believe that Africans could actually voice their discontent. For example, Jules Ferry could hardly imagine such a situation because in his opinion, only great countries or nations had the right and ability for self-determination. This racist ideology has not disappeared even nowadays.

On the whole, in his preface to The Wretched of the Earth, Jean-Paul Sartre argues that Europeans should recognize the right of Black Africans to political and cultural independence because it is impossible to impose ones ideas and values on others.

Such a strategy is more likely to conflict or long-term hostility that can be both cultural and political. The problems discussed by Jean-Paul Sartre were urgent in 1961, and they remain relevant to modern day political life in which the rhetoric of imperialism still remains very popular.

Another idea which is also important for this discussion is that conflict was embedded in a new Algerian society; in part, it can be explained by the policies of colonial states. The thing is that they attempted to create new elite in the colonized territories. These were people who were educated in Europe, and who accepted the values of European culture.

They were supposed to become the pillars of a new Algerian society. It was believed that they could help colonizers rule the country. In his passage, Sartre refers to various historical examples of such new elite, for example he mentions Hellenized Asians or the Greco-Latin Negroes (Sartre, 1961, p. 1). However, the thing is that other people, who did not receive similar education, were treated as sub-humans.

Thus, one can assume that a society divided in such a way could hardly exist peacefully. In fact, hostility was supposed to be a part of this society. To a great extent, this situation can be explained by the so-called divide and conquer policies of European states to foster divisions in African societies because a divided community can hardly struggle against its conquerors.

This is why they promoted one class of the society at the expense of others. As a result, the Algerian society will have to cope with this legacy of colonialism, because colonialism was largely a divisive experience for this nation.

It is worth mentioning that such division of local societies was fully acceptable for the supporters of colonial policies. The conquered areas were needed mostly as provision stations, shelters, or ports for defense (Ferry as cited in Andrea & Overfield, 2011, p. 269).

This is the most honest justification of colonial policies, provided by Jules Ferry. In this sentence, he does not refer to the so-called civilization mission of European people; instead, he simply identified the economic objectives that had to be achieved.

These territories had to be controlled in some way. At that time, divide and conquer strategy was viewed as the most optimal approach. At that time, very few people thought about the ethical aspects of this decision and its long-term effects.

Thus, it is possible to say that colonialism and imperialism contradict the very ideals of European culture because these ideologies are premised on the notion that there are superior and inferior nations. The advocates of this ideology claim to bring humanistic values to colonized societies, but fail to reach the moral standards that they set themselves.

The legacies of these polices will continue to affect African countries because they relied on the division of the society into several groups that could be hostile to one another. The preface written by Jean-Paul Sartre and the speech of Jules Ferry highlight the main principles of colonialism and its implications for colonized people.

Reference List

Ferry, J. (2011). Speech before the French National Assembly. In A. Andrea & J. Overfield (ed.). The Human Record: Sources of Global History, Volume II: Since 1500. (pp. 268-269). New York: Wadsworth Publishing.

Sartre, J-P. (1951). Preface. In F. Fanon (Ed.), The Wretched of the Earth (pp. 1-13). London: Penguin Books.

Summary of the Northanger Abbey

From the provided excerpt, it is evident that Tilney invited Catherine to spend several weeks with her and she was to stay in Northanger Abbey. Unfortunately, Catherine could hardly sleep due to strange illusions that engulfed the fateful night discussed in the passage.

Initially, she thought Northanger Abbey to be strange and scary since she had previously read about it in the novel. Evidently, Henry Tilney (Catherins friend) laughed at her regarding this issue. Later it became obvious that Northanger Abbey was an enjoyable place and not gothic as thought before.

However, there were some strange rooms within the building, in particular Mrs. Tilneys rooms (Rosow, 2006). It was clear that nobody had ever gained access to those rooms.

When Catherine realized that the room belonged to Tilneys wife, she started thinking that Tilney must have killed his wife and had kept her in a chamber. This fact explained the atrocities that Catherine faced during that night.

There were numerous things that disturbed Catherine, in particular that Tilney was not concerned about the death of his mother. She then became curious about what was in the room and asked Eleanor for some directives.

In some instances, Henry Tilney suddenly arrived before Eleanor could explain what had happened to her forcing Catherine to run away for fear of being punished. However later she found her way into the rooms and realized that there was nothing strange or frightening as she had thought before.

After that Henry found the girl in the corridor questioning her presence there. Now he came to know about Catherines fears and thoughts after which he explained to her that his father had been upset by his mothers death.

In addition, he told Catherine that his father had loved his mother very much hence could not kill her (Rosow, 2006). These facts explain the sorrows and illusions exhibited in the provided excerpt.

Some of the Central Concerns of the Northanger Abbey

The Northanger Abbey has several concerns illustrated in the novel. Evidently, the place appeared very lovely. Besides it was crowded with some nicely dressed young girls. They had enough time to write letters and pay visits to some of the best houses around.

Consequently, these ladies found themselves getting married on time. Catherine Moorland (Northanger Abbey teenage star) considered getting married as well as getting closer with her family members. That was the first time Catherine was in unfamiliar environment and far from her relatives.

Being there she was trying to link up with new friends and adapt to the real world she had never seen before. That could be considered as an experience which almost everybody has come across.

A good example is when one is going to a new college, moving to a new town or country, or just gets a new job. Considered critically on should admit it being a crucial provision.

In case one visits Northanger Abbey for the first time, it is always troublesome to make good and trusted friends (Galperin, 2002). It could be considered a major concern according to the novel.

In the book, Catherine indulged in opposing rumors, manipulations, and incredible assumptions. For example, the college canteen was troubled by making wrong conclusions about people in general. Catherines conclusions were not different from those of the rest.

One can see that the literature she read brought about all these. From the novel, it is evident that almost every character is caught up making wrong judgments and assumptions at a given point.

The Northanger Abbey majorly dwells on the dangers and consequences of staying in the new strange places, or being raised in the new places, as well as falsely building new friendship relations (Galperin, 2002). The last concern one should point at in the Northanger Abbey is that the matter of relationship has not really changed much despite having been covered.

Nature of Austens Response to her Literary Context

Initially, there were numerous responses on the Northanger Abbey. Robert Hawkins had a feeling that the novel was more political comparing to some other Austens works. It is evident when one addresses affairs of state.

In addition, when he mentioned General Tinley and political gothic, it was clearly proved that the novel considered political issues. Furthermore, Hawkins said that Tilney created some anxiety between history and poetry by making some comparisons between Beechem Hill and closure of forests (Rosow, 2006).

He also argued that this comparison made the reader match the fictions in the novel with the real historical context. He further said that the political context was evident when Tilney referred to the London food riots. Susannah Carson, another author who reviewed this book, argued that Catherine and Henry were not the right characters to be used in Austens novels.

Having managed to study literary heroine, she asserted that Catherine was hardly interested in studying nature. In comparison between the real life and the novel Jane (Tilneys character) discovers that the first is, so to say, more Gothic than the second one (Galperin, 2002).

Conclusion

The content of the Northanger Abbey is easily predictable but entertaining as well. Such contrasts could be met in the other works written by Austen. The author introduces some characters in various parts of the novel.

The themes created are clearly demonstrated in various contexts (Galperin, 2002). It is important to understand these provisions with regard to the novel analysis. The studied novel also presents the idea that illusions might take a central place in various contexts.

Those who have enjoyed reading the other Austens works will definitely like the novel Northanger Abbey. However, this piece of literature has some very important qualities which are not found in the other Austens works like Sense and Sensibilities as well as Pride and Prejudice.

In particular, the Northanger Abbey reflects a real image of Austen. It shows everything she used to think of being important to her life at a given moment. Like many of Austens novels, this one clearly presents the kind of life people used to live in the late 1880s.

After reading this novel, the reader can simply draw conclusions that there is no difference between the novel and the real life. The main character (Catherine), in most cases, was caught up seeing and making wrong conclusions on gothic symbols.

The Northanger Abbey describes what Catherine imagined to be more pronounced when at one point she thought that fiction was real. As clearly illustrated in the Northanger Abbey, Austen reveals Catherines character as being independent and strong.

She managed to sail through and finally got married despite all the misfortunes. After reading the book, the obvious issue is that the plot evolution is well brought up.

References

Galperin, H. (2002). The Historical Austen. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania press.

Rosow, V. (2006). Accessing the classics: great reads for adults, teens and English language learners. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Introduction

The book review provided by Golembeski focuses on the Venters Life and Death in Rikers Island. The reviews objective was to critically assess the issues provided within the book and rationalize its value within academic circles. According to Golembeski (2020), the book offers a unique perspective on the inside of the Rikers prison and discusses its potential as student material for education. She concludes that it is valuable for researchers, policy-makers, practitioners and anyone with interest in social equity, justice, and health or corrections administration (Golembeski, 2020, p. 6). Consequently, her objective was to distinguish the most important themes and highlight essential arguments provided by Venters.

Methods

The methods used for the book review can be speculated based on the focus and structure of the article. It is evident that the author did extensive reading of the material and elicited core ideas and what she thought were the essential arguments in the book. Thus, the analysis can be described as systemic reading and evaluation of ideas.

Golembeski explores the techniques that Venters used to write the book. These techniques combine the analytical study of trials and the study of actual cases of violence and humiliation. An electronic medical record was used as a technique for documenting these cases. In addition, they examined the work of city councils, health systems, and courts and assessed their role in the existence of disciplinary practices in prisons.

Various techniques have allowed Venters and his team to collect considerable analytical data and practical observations. The data included testimonies from prisoners, medical personnel in the correctional system, a review of court decisions, and academic research. Qualitative and quantitative data were interpreted and presented as 40 peer-reviewed publications. While researching Venters book, Golembeski finds confirmation of the described facts in other academic sources. The result was a review that conceptualized the goals of correctional health care.

Results

The researchers were able to collect a large base of objective evidence. Venters found that jail-attributable deaths typically account for 10 to 20% of all annual deaths, although in some years, they account for 50% or more of all deaths. Golembeski presented a model as a result, which analyzed the Venters study from several angles. The first is bureaucratic influence, the second is the role of public health, the third is the practice of physical and sexual abuse in prisons, and the fourth is human rights (Sue, 2022). The results on bureaucratic influence were obtained using the analytical research technique. The electronic medical record was used for quantitative results on cases of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Venters concludes that the system punishes rather than reforms prisoners and proposes closing prisons on Rikers Island in favor of a transition to treatment and parole programs. Golembeski verifies these findings against the national average. According to statistics cited by Wolff and Greifinger (2020), about 56% of the inmate population is black, 33% is Hispanic, and 7.5% is white. The recidivism rate at Rikers Island Jail is 43% (Golembeski, 2020). This indicator is close to the national average and does not stand out compared to other prisons. Nevertheless, it is projected that 77% of those who are released from this prison will be rearrested within five years (Golembeski, 2020). The t-test was used to denote differences and test hypotheses between means. In addition, the developments related to the conceptualization of Venters research allowed it to give socio-historical value research.

Discussion

The results of Life and Death in Rikers Island were presented as specific recommendations. Golembeski (2020) formulated them as increasing transparency and introducing standardized dual loyalty training and support for medical staff reporting abuse and neglect. Another example is developing an innovative healthcare model that will enable the creation of a non-profit service.

The authors were able to confirm the thesis originally put forward that correctional health care emphasizes punishment rather than treatment and also creates and maintains a system of inequality. This work not only provides new information about deaths in prisons but also shows health professionals who play roles in prisons that are not their usual roles of care, punishment, and social suffering.

The significance of this study lies in its wide application. It can be used by all stakeholders involved in correctional facilities and courts. In addition, it raises the ethical issues of health care in conditions of mass incarceration. Golembeski links the results to the literature in this area. She cites Sufrin, who writes about politics that condones the cover-up of prison deaths (Golembeski, 2020). She also concludes that policy changes positively affect the level of care in prisons. Thus, Venters study confirms the observations made by other researchers.

Conclusion

Life and Death in Rikers Island gives a clear picture of the methods and techniques that the study authors used to test their hypotheses. In particular, it has been argued that the politics and administration of prisons create the conditions for violence, oppression, and humiliation to flourish. The book provided review by Golembeski confirms that the authors, having collected quantitative and qualitative data, confirmed their ideas. In addition, in her review, she gives conceptual value to the study, pushing it beyond correctional systems and health care to the level of human rights protection and lawmaking.

References

Golembeski, C. A. (2020). Life and death in Rikers Island. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019. Web.

Sue, K. L. (2022). Violence at Rikers Island: Does the doctor make it worse? A clinician ethnographers work amidst carceral structural violence. Culture, medicine, and psychiatry, 1-20. Web.

Wolff, H., & Greifinger, R. (2020). Incarceration harms health: Homer Venterss Book on Rikers Island Jails. Am J Public Health, 110(Suppl 1), S9S10.

Love can be portrayed in many ways, ranging from innocent and non-sexual to non-innocent and sexual. Deception may or may not be employed, while death and other negative aspects may likely also be the results of love. All of these elements remain similar to some degree across ages and across the various portrayals of them, while the only thing which commonly changes is the way the characters choose to interact with each other in a loving way. Time, in the general sense, seems to have no impact whatsoever on the various ways in which people choose to interact with each other in a loving manner. The same level of innocent, non-innocent, and average forms of love seem to have similar levels across ages, even in spite of the varying societal norms which are in place in these times. The works studied each portrays some aspect of love, and while many of these aspects are different in the stories, both the main underlying principles with regards to love seem to be the same while the time era and state of society apparently have little to no influence on these, with perhaps the exception of the levels of deception and secrecy. All the works studied portray a timeless element of love, and as a whole, they show the full spectrum of the elements of love.

In de Bottons story, love is a major theme mentioned in detail and throughout the story, while the young author is constantly kept busy by the emotion. The basic story is one of an affair, which obviously deals directly with love, as the affair is the majority of the plot. The narrator gives their first-person account of the process of falling in love with another character in the story, as well as a step-by-step description of the feelings of being in love and eventually falling out of it. The chapters in the story are designed so that each individual segment is a unique piece of information regarding some account of the love affair with the character of Chloe, ranging from detailed and specific information to general views on the subject. Many categories that can be related to love are discussed overall, while for some reason particular attention is paid to the more plain and boring elements and circumstances. We throw a cordon of love around the chosen one and decide that everything within it will somehow be free of our faults (DeBotton 15) is an example of such a pondering by one of the characters.

The story is even more unique in that the characters are not portrayed as what is commonly considered to be appealing as far as with physical nature or other traits people commonly associate with love, however they are used to describe the full account of the love as it is generally known. Even though the characters are not appealing and the elements of love typically mentioned are not of the commonly more interesting variety, the account is written in such a way that it still draws a level of interest and curiosity as to what will occur next. The characters go to a great extent in considering love in general, as is evident with Albert Camus suggested that we fall in love with people because, from the outside, they look so whole, physically whole and emotionally together. (DeBotton p.48). Perhaps this is best revealed in The more familiar two people become, the more the language they speak together departs from that of the ordinary, dictionary-defined discourse. Familiarity creates a new language, an in-house language of intimacy that carries a reference to the story the two lovers are weaving together and that cannot be readily understood by others. (de Botton). As the story deals with the entire process of love rather than some bits and pieces of scenarios that take place as other stories commonly do, we can see this directly in the story, and it is unique. Overall, while this story does not give a great deal of consideration to the aspects of love as they actually occur between two characters, it does consider a lot of such elements in the thoughts and random musings of the characters. In this sense, the book is rather well-rounded in regards to considering a variety of elements.

The Genji story concerns many love affairs, and these are constantly changing to some degree while regarding some forbidden aspects as well. Genjis initial love is for a stepmom but eventually, this person is loved in a more physical manner. The love is banned between them and although it is socially not acceptable the love continues anyway. Genji becomes upset that love is not allowed and eventually runs into conflict with two women who are loved to some degree by him. While Genji personally seems to believe that he is capable of being monogamous, it is apparent that he also realizes that the conditions for this to be true are so idealized that they will never happen. He does consider this activity from time to time as can be seen in the passage If you can only be so, how can I do otherwise than love you? My position also may in time be improved, and then we may enjoy greater happiness! This idealization ultimately increases while many more trivial love affairs although these techniques do not constitute love on many levels because they are ultimately less than satisfying. While Genji has great control over his actions and reactions to all his relationships, there seem to be some regard to the powerlessness in all of what he does, as is suggested in There must have been some divine mystery that predetermined the course of their love, said they, for in matters in which she is concerned he is powerless. (Shikibu p.26)

The reasons for this lack of satisfaction are actually many, sometimes because he is not allowed to have his way, sometimes because something happens to the woman and she becomes unavailable, and sometimes because his interests fade or is lost completely due to the personal and mental traits of the woman. His difficulty with the general concept and communication with another can be seen in the passage If I say I love you, you might not believe me; and yet, indeed, it is so. Do think of me! True, we are not yet quite free, and perhaps I might not be able. (Shikibu p.70) Genji overall has terrible luck both with his interest blossoming fully into love as well as being presented with a decent opportunity for working circumstances for this to take place. Genji sometimes loses his composure and is tempted to do things he would not have normally done, such as rape. In this, we can see that Genji has lost some of his typical passion for love as his passions grow in a direction that does not involve the level of care normally associated with the emotion of love. He would soon father a child with the emperors lady, while the secret aspects of his love life would increase since everyone would think the child is the emperors rather than his.

The secret would be kept as the child grew into adulthood, while Genji would have another child with his wife. Not long after Genjis wife would perish, leaving him without obligations or as much of a necessity for secrecy in that sense. While he did not apparently love his wife enough to be faithful to her in life, Genji did fully miss her in death as much as someone who had lost a loved one would. He does find another love soon and marries again. Genjis secrets in love would soon be exposed, as the first of this was with an emperors mistress. There is no jealousy in this love and while the love is not regarded enough to be avenged for breaking, as this was a mistress and not a wife, social obligations practically force the emperor to punish him regardless. Genji would justify this kind of thinking for this kind of relationship with Nevertheless, my love to your mistress was singularly deep; too deep, perhaps, to the last long. Do tell me now all you know about her; (Shikibu p.92)

Genjis ways do not cease or slow despite exposed secrets and other repercussions, and his passion for love is revealed in yet another affair with the daughter of a rich traveler. It is not until Genji is a middle-aged man that his love life begins to go downhill. He would find he needs more closure in his actions, as can be seen with Whose love you may be I know not, But Ill not stand outside your cot, and was going away, when he suddenly thought, This is too abrupt! (Shikibu p. 143). Although he marries once again, his emotions are not as wrapped up as they once were and his level of satisfaction and passion also decrease. Where my lost love may dwell unseen, Looks gloomy now to this sad eye That looks with tears on what has been (Shikibu p. 156) is an example of his views towards the end of the story. While the character of this setting was not influenced by norms or the opinions of others, he was affected by his own experiences by the end of the story and thus had been touched by love, though from a variety of unique circumstances rather than any specific generalized experience.

The Lais of Marie de France deals with love in a less organized way, mostly because the tales are split across multiple sections rather than being a sole story. Courtship is more evident in this story than in others, and thus love is more idolized while lust is not as much of a factor. The general idealization of love is shown in an earlier tale with He knew full well that, whatever the reason for her being on the ship, she was of a noble lineage, and he conceived a love for her greater than for any (Marie p.52). Love is portrayed in the actions of the main characters in an exciting manner and celebrated to a serious degree. The book does contain aspects of love not also being as well-received as it is offered, as can be seen, You may have all my love: just tell me what you desire! I grant you my love and you should be glad to have me. Lady, he said, leave me be! (Marie p.76) while a character is clearly not idealized the concept of the two of them together as the other is. Love is, as such, contrasted with the negative consequences that can result as well. Some of the stories take on these negative consequences in such a way that they serve as an effective warning about the problems that love can ultimately bring. The lack of logical thinking is also evident in love in this book in some circumstances as can be seen with I only spoke of it yesterday and now already I am begging him for his love. I think he may blame me, but if he is courtly, he will be grateful. (Marie p. 116) Overall, while only the more conceptual and idealized concepts are portrayed here, the book gives a solid account of very common themes which have been experienced since before its time and are continued to be

References

Botton, Alain, On Love, Published by Grove Atlantic Press, 2006.

Murasaki Shikibu and Kencho Suematsu, Tale of Genji, Tuttle Publishing, 2006.

Marie UK, Glyn S. Burgess, Keith Busby, The lais of Marie de France, Penguin Classics, 1999.

The history of plants is an important topic that goes way beyond the mere ecological significance of trees. Any given environment has to go through a definite period of social construction in order to achieve any positive outcomes. These insights are portrayed perfectly in Jared Farmers book titled Trees in Paradise: A California History. The author made a series of arguments regarding the longitudinal influence of Euro-American settlements and discussed the pertinence of tree history across the State of California. The current review is going to focus on how Farmer approached the impact of the settlers mentioned above and how eucalyptus trees enhanced the local environment over time. Comprehensive arguments from the book will be translated into a series of historiographical insights intended to prove that destruction and addition are equally impactful. In this paper, the rise of the Australian Eucalyptus is going to be processed to explain the changes that occurred across California. Urbanization and modernization will be treated as key predictors of the rise of local culture.

It can be safe to begin by stating that Farmers descriptions of the historiographical impact of trees are rather compelling and focus on conservationist behaviors employed by locals. Hence, thoughtful exploitation of eucalyptus altered well-being outcomes for people living in California despite the complexity of actions intended to help ecologists overcome artificial outcomes. It is important to mention that Farmer introduces detailed descriptions of eucalyptus trees to explain how watersheds could be protected and the weather could be improved. As a definite source of lumber and fuel, eucalyptus was expected to aid people in terms of successful survival, especially with strong winds being mitigated by the largest trees. The praise that eucalyptus trees receive from Farmer can be viewed through the prism of numerous plantations that became successful owing to unrestrained lodging of vital greenery. Despite being commercially irrelevant, eucalyptus trees altered the landscape and helped more people survive Californian heat.

The historiographical phenomenon of eucalyptus trees can be explained through the interface of exotic outcomes, including firestorms, for example. The damaging influence of foreign plants was balanced by numerous benefits that helped enhance human life on a daily basis. The explosive growth that affected southern California was also caused by eucalyptus trees because the latter contributed to the image of urbanization and prosperity just as much as palms. Such proliferation should be considered the primary reason why eucalyptus became symbolic even outside California. Strong afforestation efforts allowed locals to go through the two important phases. The first was the noncommercial usage of eucalyptus, which helped fuel the horticultural revolution in the 19^th century and enhance local erosion control. The second was the commercial use of eucalyptus, which was caused by the growing influence of the hardwood timber famine. Either way, eucalyptus is a critical contribution to the history of California because this tree persevered and produced enough shade and other resources for local citizens.

Careful attention to the plants that are brought to California allowed the people responsible for afforestation to focus on developing the states heritage and improving socioeconomic well-being. Compared to invasive species, eucalyptus could be controlled relatively easily, and it contributed to the transformation of the local climate on a long-term scale. Even if the outlook on plants and trees presented by Farmer is nearly idealistic, the idea is to highlight the growth of horticulture and the constantly improving image of California. The need for urban conservation pushed Californians toward an agenda where they could develop successive cultural landscapes and renovate the lands that have been considered dead. These new layers of activities were acknowledged by Farmer to explain the importance of eucalyptus and its undeniable benefits, turning the state into an economically dominant force. Capitalism-induced environmental destruction was prevented by eucalyptus, and Californian agriculture still thrives because of timely efforts intended to support further expansion. Even if the economy is going to evolve further, materialistic and non-materialistic benefits associated with eucalyptus are going to endure.

Overall, it can be concluded that Farmers outlook on eucalyptus trees includes a lot of important information that reinforces the historical significance of Californian trees. Strong afforestation efforts became the primary reason why horticultural efforts turned out successful across California. A comprehensive historical landscape becomes even richer when the influence of eucalyptus trees is discussed. Farmers arguments are consistent and interlinked, which makes it even more interesting to investigate the environmental history of California. Progressive urbanization efforts paired with eucalyptus-based afforestation can be seen as the primary strategies to improve the socioeconomic position of the State of California. The numerous connections between humans and nature pointed out by Farmer are essential because they contribute to the argument of having to conserve natural resources and focus on afforestation. Modern-day California could benefit from eucalyptus trees repeatedly, and the author of Trees in Paradise: A California History outlines the role of plants perfectly. The historiographical significance of afforestation is unquestionable, and Farmers arguments place eucalyptus in the same tier as palms and various citrus trees.

Bibliography

Farmer, Jared. Trees in Paradise: A California History. New York: Norton, 2013.

The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck centers on the lives of Elisa Allen, a disgruntled and unfulfilled housewife, and her encounter with a mechanic who values her gardening abilities. In the short novel The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara, Sylvia and her friends meet Miss Moore and understand the differences between money and poverty. A Worn Path, Eudora Welty tells the tale of Phoenix Jackson, an elderly African American lady who travels to the city to get medication for her grandson. In Chinua Achebes book Dead Mens Path, a new headmaster named Michael Obi battles with the cultural expectations of the African hamlet when he takes over a school. Worn Path has the most incredible score for enveloping Action Complexity, while The Lesson has the lowest; nevertheless, when it comes to immersion, Chrysanthemums has the best ranking, and Dead Mens Path has the least.

The A Worn Path has the highest rating for all-encompassing action complexity because of the volume of outside-world knowledge needed. The narrative occurs during the Jim Crow Souths racial injustice, poverty, and segregation (Welty, 1998). Phoenix Jacksons roadblockssuch as her age, poverty, and racismcan be better understood in light of this historical background. For readers to fully comprehend the characters motives, struggles, and difficulties, they must be aware of the social and political setting of the tale. The Lesson, however, is ranked last in terms of encompassing action complexity since understanding it required a vague understanding of circumstances outside the immediate plot. The story revolves around a group of young girls who go to a toy store and encounter a world of success and luxury (Bambara, 1972). No in-depth knowledge of the historical or social backdrop is necessary because the plot is quite simple. In addition, the narrative concentrates on the characters experiences and lessons, which makes it simpler for the reader to comprehend without going into the broader cultural backdrop.

The Chrysanthemums get the greatest score for immersion because the reader is sucked into the emotional world of the main character. The protagonist, Elisa, is extensively portrayed, and her interactions with her husband, the tinker, and her garden clearly reveal her challenges and goals (Achebe, 1953). Additionally, the backdrop is well described, allowing the reader to see the park and the little village readily. The least immersive book is Dead Mens Path, though, because there is not much of a relationship between the reader and the characters. The new headmaster, the main character, is not completely developed in terms of motivations and feelings and is not given a detailed description (Steinbeck, 2007). The dispute resolution also seems unsatisfying, and the tension between the headmaster and the people is not thoroughly explored. These elements make it challenging for the reader to fully immerse themselves in the narrative and develop a deep emotional connection to the characters and the scene.

In conclusion, the four short stories all feature varied degrees of engaging action, intricacy, and immersion. Worn Path contains the most intricate, all-encompassing action, making it the most difficult to comprehend without extensive background knowledge. Conversely, the Lesson has the least intricate, all-encompassing action since it concentrates more on the individuals and their experiences. The maximum level of immersion is found in The Chrysanthemums, where the reader instantly absorbs the main characters vivid environment and emotional world. The least amount of immersion is there in Dead Mens Path because it is difficult for the reader to relate to the characters and grasp the context. These four short stories highlight various facets of the human experience and how context and environment affect characters and the storyline.

References

Achebe, C. (1953). Dead Mens Path. Penguin Book.

Bambara, T. C. (1972). The Lesson. Bedford/St. Martins.

Steinbeck, J. (2007). The chrysanthemums. Perfection Learning.

Welty, E. (1998). A worn path. Thomson/Heinle.