In Stephen Cranes The Open Boat, we find the sense of nature as an entity all her own, with whims and desires and intentions that have little or nothing to do with humankind. In this story, four men are shipwrecked and attempting to find their way back to land in an old dinghy. The four men in the boat struggle with more than just the waves and the weather, though. As they struggle to survive through rationing of food and water, fighting off the exhaustion of body and mind, and contend with the sharks that come to investigate the boat, they continuously think about nature in terms of a thinking, rational being.
The correspondent, for example, keeps asking, If I am going to be drowned if I am going to be drowned if I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees? Eventually, this character does make it to shore by swimming for it along with two of his companions in the boat, but the oiler drowns trying to get to land through the surf. The entire action of the narrative reveals the correspondents contemplation and resigned acceptance of his (humankinds) insignificance and isolation in the face of an environment that simply does not care (Adams, 1954). This effectively responds to those individuals who believe ocean levels cant rise because we would lose too much of New York as if nature would respect our wishes in this.
Works Cited
Adams, Richard P. Naturalistic Fiction: The Open Boat. Tulane Studies in English. Reprinted in Stephen Cranes Career: Perspectives and Evaluations. Thomas A. Gullason (Ed.). New York: New York, 1972.
By blue Ontarios shore is one of the 1856 poems composed by Walt Whitman, who is considered as the father of American poetry, that are full of drama. The speaker of the poem approaches greater rhetorical heights in defining true American poetry thus it takes a shape of a dramatic monologue.
The poem narrates the encounter of the speaker with a phantom on the shores of Lake Ontario who demands that; Chant me the poem& that comes from the soul of America, /chant me the carol of victory (Whitman par. 1).
There are also lots of rhetorical set pieces that can be compared to contemporaries like Lincoln and popular speeches of abolitionists in America. The writer explores his place in an expanded idea of American tradition that goes beyond politics and captures American intellectuals who stir battle of wits in their writing.
The poem therefore fuses poetry with rhetoric and this makes its uniquely interesting and the writer beckons his followers to buy his writing style; creative and pure.
Whitmans narrator takes the route of other scholars in placing American poetry alongside British and classical writings.
However Whitman trends carefully in defining a poet as seen in section ten of the poem where he defines American poet thus; Of these States the poet is the equable man (Whitman par.10) and the poem goes on to assert that a poet is an independent element who acts with a lot of freedom and that;
Nothing out of its place is good, nothing in its place is bad,/ He bestows on every object or quality its fit proportion,/ neither more nor less, / He is the arbiter of the diverse, he is the key (Whitman par.10).
The poet is therefore a product of democracy he creates and vise versa thus America has a guiding principles that shapes its democracy and poetry as an art. In this macrocosmic reduction therefore American poetry is depicted as cognizant of the democracy of the state where everything is possible as far as everyone has the drive and the personal qualities to make it happen.
Further in what can be said to be an inductive development of the American identity and function, the poem states that this democratic America is, &only you and me (Whitman par.17).
The poem therefore prescribes that for a new fresh American poetry, which would rank with the world literature, the poets vision should be an endless quest for democracy. This search is a test to be undertaken not by larger social movements but by an individual poet.
In defining the American poetry the twentieth section interrogates the prospective American bard and it starts the lesson thus; Not to call even those lofty bards here by Ontarios shores, / Have I sung so capricious and loud my savage song, / Bards for my own land only I invoke (Whitman par. 20).
In this poem, Whitman is concerned with individual poets ability to compete in the world arena and poets are charged with the task of creating from nothing, not from the works of other poets, Not for the bards of the past, not to invoke them have I launchd& (Whitman par. 20). The American poetry is therefore expected to be very original so that no one will dare challenge, Have you not imported this or the spirit of it in some ship? (Whitman par.12).
One way of creating such an original poetry worth its uniqueness as American is by ensuring that new grounds are established in epic by taking the value of individual contribution and the &days of the present (Whitman par. 8) instead of investing too much pride in the past. This way, the poem suggests that, the poet will be able to define American poetry which would qualify to sell in the world market of literature.
Works Cited
Whitman, Walt. By Blue Ontarios Shore. Leaves of Grass and Other Writings Walt Whitman. Ed. Michael Moon. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2002. Print.
In a speech and article, James Baldwin describes the time when black Americans were discriminated in society in the first quarter of the twentieth century. The author mainly focuses on how conplicated it is to be a black American writer in the society full of stereotypes and biases. The central theme of the speech and the article is the authors long-term search his place in the world and struggle to come to terms with the way he is treated in a white-dominated racial society.
The events of the collective struggle of black in America and segregation, which the writer comments on, changed the country forever. The collective struggle of blacks gave rise to the experience of African Americans with heritage. It included both spiritual, political, and artistic heritage, which caused great pride among blacks. The author does not stigmatize white people who at that time despised him and other black activists; however, this moment was, to a greater extent, a turning point. He changed the retrospective attitude towards blacks, taking as a basis the class and culture of a person. American society has altered with regard to discrimination since Baldwin created his article with apparent examples. However, racism and prejudice are still evident in American life even today.
James Baldwin claims that being an American is a difficult fate because this nation lives mainly on prejudices and stereotypes in relation to other races. Additionally, Americas history, her aspirations, her peculiar triumphs, her even more peculiar defeats, and her position in the world are all so profoundly and stubbornly unique that the very word America remains a new, controversial proper noun (Baldwin 77). For the author, it was a complex fate since he could not find a sense of identity in the midst of the racial hotbed from which America suffered for a long time. Therefore, after some time, he was forced to travel to Europe and search for self-discovery there, hoping for better fate.
Baldwin claims that the place where a person is born and raised affects his/her identity. In his speech, the author argues that the American society in which he was brought up primarily taught him to disrespect himself. He says that looking at the world, he understood that nothing in this world reflected him. For example, even in television programs, there were no blacks Americans at all; mostly, they were Hollywood productions. In the article he states a similar point, An American writer fights his way to one of the lowest rungs on the American social ladder by means of pure bull-headedness and an indescribable series of odd jobs (79). The country at this time declared that a broad nose, dark skin, and large lips were markers of an abominable race. Life in a segregated society is difficult as it affects how black people relate to the world and realize themselves later in other communities.
In conclusion, James Baldwins life and his point of view revealed in the article and speech reflect the realities of life in American society in the first quarter of the 20th century for blacks. Obviously, living in a segregated society, members of other ethnic groups may have difficulty finding an identity they can accept. After all the years of collective struggle for their place in American society, attitudes toward blacks have changed, but elements of discrimination still exist.
Work Cited
Baldwin, James. The Discovery of What It Means to Be an American. Nobody Knows My Name, 1961.
Geoffrey Chaucer is known as the father of English poetry. His Canterbury Tales, though written in verse, can be seen as a collection of stories. There is drama in it, there are all the ingredients of a novel, and it is a fine collection of social criticisms. He gathers about thirty-two pilgrims on their way to the Canterbury Shrine and makes them tell two stories each on their way up and down. Though he could not succeed in getting all the tales, whatever has come from the pilgrims is sufficient enough to reflect the social life of the people of the fourteenth century, particularly their beliefs and manners. Millers story is such a one. A critical analysis of the tale is the focus of this paper.
Millers tale is presented as a parody of the tale told by the Knight. The Knights attempt to project himself as noble and idealistic through his tale finds a contrast in Millers tale, which is down to earth. The subject matter of his story is the common mans view of sex, his practical approach to sex. Morality has no place in it. The Knight, on the other hand, projects an ideal and sublime love. This enables Miller to introduce common characters without any hypocrisy or snobbery. John, an old man marries a young woman of eighteen, named Alison. An Oxford-educated young man, named Nicholas, and a parish clerk, named Absalom, woo her. Miller says that This clerk was called the clever Nicholas (Tale). These young men differ very much in their attitude to love. Nicholas is practical, and he makes a plan to sleep with her. Absalom, on the other hand, pays attention to his dress, songs, and gifts to woo her. Miller says that In twenty manners could he trip and dance (Tale). Absalom is content with a quick kiss delivered through her window.
The story takes a turn when Nicholas weaves a plot to trap Alisons husband, John. He wants to sleep with her at least for one night for which she agrees: My husband is so full of jealousy, / Unless you will await me secretly (Tales). The word secretly , and the secret parts, are used in the poem in their social and biblical context. Bishop observes, The Tales confused orifices-backsides taken for mouths-parody the Bible storys concern with the unseen and seen, and Augustines understanding of the Bible story as an allegory of the means and limits of human knowledge (Louise). Nicholas tells John that the second flood is very close, and to save his wife he must prepare two tubs on the roof, to be ready to float on the water and save them. The poor old man obeys with all his religious honesty. Nicholas, after ensuring that the husband is sleeping soundly on the roof, comes down to share Alisons bed. The other lover, as usual, hovers around her room singing, and when he comes to kiss her through the window, he gets the taste of her arse and not her lips. To ease out his revenge, he comes back with a hot poker, but it is Nicholass buttocks that get the burns. The people gathered, after hearing his cries, are told that John is mad.
The tale is full of humor and irony. It looks obscene without being obscene. The game of making the husbands cuckold is as old as human love. Chaucer brings out various aspects of social life through this story. The fault in John is that he married a very young woman. Miller tries to remind his listeners that a certain amount of suitability in age, looks, and manners is essential to make the married life a success. Aware of the youth and beauty of his wife, the husband tries to possess his wife completely. Jealousy creeps in. Another valuable message emerging from the story is that it is never possible to keep complete control of an individual, be it ones wife. Yet another important warning is that one should know that in love sex has the upper hand. Mere platonic love cannot satisfy a woman. When the female is on the lookout, it is obvious that people like Nicholas and Absalom will hover around, seeking an opportunity. The narrator rejects Absaloms approach and punishes Nicholas after rewarding what he desired. John has little sympathy.
Chaucer very skillfully depicts the social tension he observed in his society. The Monk wanted to tell his tale to alter the Knights tale. The host also wanted to give him a chance, to be the better man. The Miller does not allow that. He is drunk and a tale from him, thinks the host, will only be bawdy and uninteresting. However, Miller, with his humorous tale, proves that he is next to none in his society. He also borrows some parts of the Knights tale with slight modifications.
Some words in the tale reflect certain social life of the people of the time. Lambdin picks up the word gnof and he explains that Perhaps it is reasonable to suggest that the word implies cuckold and is used as a foreshadowing device (Lambdin). The words used by Miller match the social status and manners of the characters. In the art of characterization, Chaucer is superb. As Hudson observed, Chaucers characters are individualized, yet their thoroughly typical quality gives unique value to Chaucers picture of men and manners in the England of his time (Hudson, 23).
The Millers Tale makes The Canterbury Tales more interesting with its rustic touch and simplicity. All the four characters in Millers tale are with flesh and blood; they are individuals. The use of irony and humor imparts great pleasure to the tale. Chaucers narrative skills helped many writers to develop their style. He is certainly the Father of English Literature.
Hudson, W. H. An Outline History of English Literature. New Delhi: A.I.T.B.S Publisher, 2006.
Lambdin, R. T. Chaucers The Millers Tale The Explicator, 1989, 47, 3.
Louise, M Bishop. Of Goddes pryvetee nor of his wyF : Confusion of Orifices in Chaucers Miller Tale , Texas Studies in Literature and Language. Austin: 2002.Vol. 44, Iss. 3; pg. 231, 16 pgs. Web.
The Harp of Burma by Michio Takeya is a novel that focuses on the experiences of Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. The soldiers established a company and trained themselves on how to sing based on their experience during the Second World War (Takeyama, 36).
The act of singing about the soldiers experiences during the time of war in Burma made them very famous among the Japanese.
Also, the soldiers trained themselves on how make music instruments and use them to make their music increasingly fascinating (Takeyama, Michio and Richard, 66).
On the contrary, In the realm of dying emperor is an insightful book written by a Japanese scholar who reveals the tribulations that the Japanese people were undergoing during the reign of Emperor Hirohito.
The book focuses on the past Japanese relationship during the time of Emperor Hirohito who died in 1989. This book tends to reveal the hidden tribulations that were experienced during the Hirohito regime.
For example, the book reveals how the owner of a supermarket set the national flag on fire. The book further reveals how the mayor of Nagasaki risked his dear life by revealing how Emperor Hirohito contributed to the emergence of the Second World War (Field, 68).
The book reveals the dissatisfactions of the citizens during the reign of Emperor Hirohito. The novel further reveals about a newspaper that published misleading information to the members of the public on how effective Emperor Hirohito ruled.
The misleading information in the newspaper was aimed at preventing the exposure of Japan to the acts of terrorist attacks (Field, 68). Therefore, this comparative book review focuses on the comparison between the Harp of Burma and In the realm of dying emperor .
Comparison between Harp of Burma verses in the realm of dying emperor
The two books mainly talk of the Second World War and the impact of this war on Japan. The books explain the mode of leadership in Japan during the Second World War.
The book In the realm of dying emperor tries to put forth the significance of the death of Emperor Hirohito who died of cancer. The book is written by Norma Field who is a professor of East Asian languages and civilization at the University of Chicago.
The author shows the importance of the death of Emperor Hirohito to Japanese history, as well as the importance of his presence prior and after the Second World War (Field, 68).
The book is meant for individuals who harbor the interest of knowing the state or condition of Japan in the Second World War period.
The book further provides significant bases for students who want to know the history of Japan in the time of the Second World War period. The book In the Realm of dying emperor discusses the tension that was being experienced in Japan during the Second World War.
In this book, Norma Field uses some case examples to substantiate his arguments on the strictness of the Emperor leadership (Field, 110).
The author depicts the case of a supermarket owner called Chibana Shoichi who set the Japanese national flag on fire. Norma Field used this case to show the dissatisfactions and frustrations of the Japanese citizens regarding the Emperors leadership.
In addition, Norma Field used the case of a Nakaya Yasuko who was against her husbands recruitment into the Japanese self defense force. It was believed that when a soldier dies, he became a defense sprit that defended the empire.
Field used this case to demonstrate how the Japanese leadership violated personal wishes, as well as the constitution by failing to separate religious and state rules (Field, 122).
In his book, Norma Field used the case of the mayor of Nagasaki called Motorhome Hitoshi. The mayor tried to tell the public how Emperor Hirohito contributed to the Second World War.
Motorhome was highly condemned and almost killed by the Japanese officials for mentioning that Emperor Hirohito was involved in the emergence of the Second World War.
Norma Field used this book to demonstrate how citizens were denied freedom of expression (Field, 271).
On the contrary, the Harp of Burma by Machio Takeyama tries to show the state or condition of Japan during the Second World War. The book tries to show that, Japanese soldiers were people like any other, and they had feelings.
The book tries to show how that the Japanese soldiers valued peace to the extent of starting to make music instruments. They used those instruments when singing their songs to communicate their experiences during the Second World War (Takeyama, 126).
The book explains how corporal Mizushima tried to persuade the Japanese unit to surrender to the British forces during the war. This happens after corporal Mizushima realized that one of his soldiers whom they considered as a symbol for good luck was missing.
The missing of this solder gave corporal Mizushimas soldiers a great understanding of the meaning of faithfulness during the time of war. The books explain how the Japanese soldiers perished under the British soldiers (Takeyama and Richard, 112).
The book further explores a sequence of scenes on the experience of Japanese solders during the war. The book expresses how the Japanese solders composed the songs to boast about their morale.
The book employs a number of well organized and distinguished characters. These characters try to bring forth how people behave when their country is experiencing the tension of being destroyed.
The book continues to explore and ask questions on whether human beings can terminate the lives of their fellow human beings once their humanity has being disclosed. Additionally, the book asks questions on whether the war is inherent to materialistic nation (Takeyama and Richard, 97).
Initially, for the Japanese scholar who wrote this book in Germany literature, his intended audience was children.
The book further explains the remorseful feeling of the scholar who sent students to the battlefield in Burma and China. During the Second World War, the students were reported to have perished after being invaded (Takeyama, 112).
The book was written to cover events of the Second World War in Japan. The intended audiences were high school students who were to be given the hope of reconstructing the destroyed Japanese empire under the leadership of emperor Mizushima.
The book can be essential while studying some courses in the university and colleges. The book further explains how the Japanese soldiers had a great desire of going back to their homes to meet their people (Takeyama and Richard, 114).
Therefore, it can be noted that the two books focused on the Second World War period.
Contrast between Harp of Burma and in the realm of dying emperor
Despite the two books having a correlation, they may be contrasted based on their content, authors, and their prices in the market among other aspects. The Harp of Burma is a book written by Michio Tekeyama, and was published by Tuttle publishers in 1993.
The book focuses on the state of affairs in Japan prior to and after the Second World War (Takeyama and Richard, 6). The book focuses on the plight of solders and how they were brutally killed by the British in Burma.
On the contrary, In the realm of dying emperor , is a book written by Norma Field and was published by Vintage press, and later translated in 2001 by Howard Hibbert. The book focuses on the state or conditions prior and after the Second World War (Field, 22).
The book explains the tension that the Japanese people were going through under the leadership of Emperor Hirohito. During the war, soldiers were recruited into military even without their consent.
The book further reveals the plight of citizens in Japan, and how they were mistreated by the government officials when they tried to air their grievances (Field, 110). There are cases where people were subjected to harassment and torture like the case of the mayor.
The content of the two books provides a significant contrast between them. The Harp of Burma also differs from In the realm of dying emperor in the sense that, the book serves two purposes.
The purpose of dialogue is expounded when the Japanese military leader, captain Mizushuima, tried to convince his solders not to continue with the war and go back to home.
The soldier responded by arguing that if they went back, it would be regarded as betrayal to other soldiers who had died in the war. In the dialogue, the soldiers strongly assert that they better perish in Burma like heroes rather than surrender to the British soldiers.
However, through this dialogue, captain Mizushuima was able to convince the soldiers to surrender (Field, 121). The books also serve the purpose of monologue whereby Mizushuima is talking to himself.
Mizushuima says that he cannot conceptualize the meaning of suffering. He took the bodies of the dead soldiers and buried them, and later he was converted to become a Buddhists priest (Field, 124).
On the contrary, the book In the Realm of dying emperor serves the purpose of explaining how important the death of Hirohito was to the people of Japan.
This is because people were not happy with his leadership since they were forcefully recruited into the military. The people were also subjected to harassment by his government officials. His death signifies a positive transformation of the ruined economy (Takeyama, 114).
It was anticipated that people will enjoy freedom under the new leadership, and this was the case. Additionally, the two books differ in terms of their market prices.
It can be observed that the book Harp of Burma is currently costing, eleven dollars and forty seven cents. On the other hand, the book In the realm of dying emperor is costing twelve dollars and forty eight cents.
This indicates that the book In the realm of dying emperor is more expensive than the Harp of Burma . The books also differ in terms of volume. The book In the realm of dying emperor contains 372 pages and is divided into various sections.
The sections discuss the tribulations that the citizens of Japan went through under the leadership of Emperor Hirohito and his administration (Field, 112).
On the other hand, the Harp of Burma contains 132 pages and is divided into sections that provide readers with vital information for understanding the brutality that the Japanese solders experienced under the British soldiers.
Towards the end of the Second World War, corporal Mizushima is trying to convince his soldiers to surrender to the British soldiers. Though the soldiers were unwilling to accept, they finally heeded to their leaders counsel (Takeyama, 128).
Conclusion
The comparative book review of the two books provides a sufficient background for understanding the condition in Japan prior to and immediately after the Second World War. Through the entire review, it can be observe that there is a significant correlation between the contents of the two books.
On the basis of the review, the tribulations that the Japanese soldiers were undergoing during the Second World War have been exposed. Japanese solders were brutally murdered by the British soldiers in Burma and China during the Second World War.
Even after being murdered, the soldiers continued with the war. They even composed some war songs that boosted their morale.
In his book In the realm of dying emperor , Norma Field provided some solid evidence to substantiate his assertions on the dissatisfactions and frustrations the Japanese citizens were undergoing during Emperor Hirohitos regime.
On the contrary, Machio Tekeya in the book Harp of Burma tries to express how the Japanese soldiers turned to be peace loving people after the war in Burma.
The book further shows how the remnant soldiers longed to return home and meet their loved ones. Therefore, the two books remain important to the Japanese history even today.
Works Cited
Field, Norma. In the Realm of a Dying Emperor. New York: Vintage Books, 1992. Print.
Takeyama, Michio. Harp of Burma. Rutland, VT: Tuttle, 1996, Print.
Takeyama, Michio and R.H. Minear. The Scars of War: Tokyo During World War II: Writings of Takeyama Michio. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. Print.
The focal point of this paper is to critically analyze the novel by Deepak Chopra named The return of Merlin: a novel published by Harmony Books in 1995. This text is a story set in modern-day Somerset, England, and tells the tale of relations between two constables, Katy Kilbride and Arthur Callum, and their approach towards a murder mystery that directs towards Arthurian lore. Here the story of King Arthur, Merlin, and the evil Mordred takes shape with a mystery linked in the distant past.
Chopra is an Indian Ayurvedic holistic guru who has written several best sellers. Here too, he is seen engaging medicinal details within the parameters of the story with rather complex grafting techniques. The approach is helped by the legends of Arthur and the royal knights like Lancelot and Guinevere. Alongside the author incorporates several popular mysteries like spells, dreams, Excalibur- Arthurs sword, Holy Grail, stone circles and sacrilege, Tarot cards, magic, and dragons. The book is a journey of murder and mystery to spirituality and hope at the end. However, the flavor of the book is more suited for corporate self-help text rather than pure literary patronage.
The plot is set in the format of good and evil and simple black and white characters. These characters go into battle to behold the ultimate victory of the good. However, all these affairs are well-knitted with splinters of wit and garnishing of insights leading to spiritual elaborations. It speaks of trust, hope, and other humane qualities that draw parables of simple notations like light touch and daylights. This is the journey of the human soul through ignorance and hate through fear and darkness that ultimately reaches the zenith of awareness, empathy, love, and trust. All these elements are present in the text but a rather simplistic manner. The entire concept appears to be a made easy formula of human dignity and the journey towards spirituality. It should be mentioned that the authors perception of the storytelling is brilliant and bold and consist of new interpretations of the Arthurian lore. However, it is particularly dependent on eastern philosophy juxtaposed with the quantum physics-related perception of the universe that is fundamentally temporally interconnected. It should be stated that is a completely new modern-day idea that is well blended with the ancient mythology of King Arthur.
It should be mentioned that whatever it is to the critics or the ardent followers, on a personal level and in the general sense it would be very safe to mention that though this is criticized apparently from various territories in the ultimate sense it is a well-written book which has been a great success in the context selling and making business worldwide. To me, the context where the book, The return of Merlin: a novel, could be best applicable is when one corporate house is going through a complete change or reconstruction and there is an immediate need for a morale boosting tool. This book serves the purpose and not only that this book serves the purpose with a spoon full of sugar to get the needed medicine go down and yes- it is in the most delightful way . Sure, I would recommend such a book to all my friends, known and semi-known persons.
Bibliography
Chopra, Deepak. The return of Merlin: a novel. New York: Harmony Books, 1995.
Both the e.e. Cummings poem, She Being Brand and Sharon Olds poem Sex Without Love address the act of love-making. However, although both use humor , rhythm, and metaphor, Cummings is less explicit.
His poem, perhaps reflecting a certain sexual modesty still prevailing in society in his decade, can be read as a straightforward love affair with a car or other motorized vehicle, rather than a metaphor for an encounter with a human woman.
More importantly, perhaps, Cummings celebrates the mutuality of the act, while Olds implies a critique of those who engage in sex purely for pleasure rather than to build a relationship.
Each poet employs a variety of techniques to evoke the act of sex. For example, Olds echoes the rhythm of approaching climax in the repetition of a phrase containing a word often used to describe that climax. Olds asks, How do they come to the/come to the come to the/ God come to the/still waters& (Olds, lines 8-10).
This three word phrase, reiterated four times, humorously reproduces the way that people under these circumstances lose the capacity to finish a sentence or a thought. They often also call on the deity at this moment.
Similarly, e.e. Cummings describes the same critical moment in an episode of intimacy as follows: I slammed on/the/internalexpanding/&/externalcontracting/ breaks Bothatonce and/ brought allofher tremB/-ling/to a:dead./stand-/Still) (Cummings, lines 28-38).
In these lines, Cummings creates a rhythm with the shoved together words describing the brakes, or breaks (Cummings, line 33). These phrases are a sly reference to the conjoined anatomy of the male and female bodies.
The shoving together of these words reminds the reader of the breathless quality of intercourse. The repetition of these shoved together words, with pauses between them, suggests the cyclical increases in intensity that intimacy often includes.
However, this use of words can also be read as the chuff-chuff of any internal combustion engine. In this respect, e.e. cummings spares his readers all embarrassment or discomfort. This use of concealing metaphor allows his readers to appreciate his poem on whatever level they feel comfortable reaching. Olds, on the other hand, comes right out and states her purpose in the title.
The secondary image to which uncommitted sex partners are compared; namely, that of joggers out to test their ability against the road, is given seven lines; or roughly a third of the poem. Her explicitness forces readers to frankly contemplate what has been lost in the era of hook-ups.
In this aspect, the poem differs most strikingly from cummings. Cummings is sharing an experience; a specific relationship with one woman, perhaps, even though his description of it is metaphorical. Olds, on the other hand, is asking a question and in the process, asserting an opinion regarding loveless sex.
She is gently derisive of this pattern of behavior. However, she gives those of whom she disapproves credit for being accomplished at what they do, calling them, beautiful as dancers,/gliding over each other like ice-skaters (Olds, lines 2-3).
Thus, the two poets seem to be trying to accomplish two very different goals. Cummings goal is describe a time and a place and an interaction. He does so with subversive references to automobile operation.
Olds, however, is offering her view of a current pattern of male-female intersection, and it is not an entirely approving view&She too, uses multiple poetic devices to compare the selfishness of serial hook-ups. Both poems are most effective.
Works Cited
Cummings, e. e. She Being Brand. The Compact Bedford Introduction to literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. Print.
Olds, Sharon. SexWithout Love. The Compact Bedford Introduction to literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th. Boston and New York: Bedfords/St. Martins, 2008. Print.
People have a significant number of daily responsibilities to perform. The routine often manifests not only the character of the person but their attitude to the world and life. This essay will examine the book Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson, demonstrating how different attitudes to simple everyday activities can reveal a persons worldview. The books main characters are a family that has lived in the same house for several generations. Grandmother Sylvia, who lived in the house all her life, her daughter Sylvie, and Lily, and Nona, younger women. Despite the routine of Housekeeping, this process reflects the characters of the novels protagonists and demonstrates the differences between generations.
The Name of the Novel Housekeeping
Throughout the novel, house cleaning is the primary action that connects all the characters. The author, Marilynne Robinson, uses this technique to reveal the character traits of each novels protagonist and highlights that there may be significant differences in worldviews, including among relatives. Therefore, housekeeping is the books title because it refers to maintaining and organizing a household, which is a central theme throughout the story (Robinson 10). The novel explores different perspectives on the concept of housekeeping and how it can shape a persons identity and relationships. Therefore, the novel is called Housekeeping because the author wanted to emphasize the importance of this action and its role in conveying the novels main idea. The following paragraph will discuss the features of character expression through the main heroines novel Housekeeping, Sylvia.
Grandmother Sylvia
Grandmother Sylvia has a traditional, old-fashioned notion of housekeeping, where cleanliness and order are of utmost importance. Moreover, she claims it is a womans duty to keep a well-run home (Robinson 11). Sylvia is willing to spend a significant amount of her life at housekeeping. She also believes that cleaning is a helpful activity, as it not only makes the house clean and tidy but contributes to the organization and productivity of the person. However, this approach is alien to other characters in the novel. Her daughter, Sylvie, is convinced that cleaning is necessary, but more important is the family. On the other hand, Lily and Nona consider housekeeping tedious and not worth spending much time on.
Sylvie, Lily and Nona
Sylvie, the storys protagonist, has a more eclectic and unconventional approach to housekeeping. She values freedom and unpredictability and sees housekeeping as an opportunity to bring creativity and playfulness into her daily life. As Robinson states, thus finely did our house become attuned to the orchard and the particularities of weather, even in the first days of Sylvies housekeeping (126). This fact confirms the peculiarities of Sylvie, which manifests itself through its relationship to the environment in the context of housekeeping. During cleaning and other housekeeping activities, she tries to give ordinary things of importance. According to Robinson, she undertook the most ordinary things with an arch, tense, tentative good will that made them seem difficult and remarkable (128). It confirms the intention of Sylvie to make the home a comfortable place where the family can feel safe. On the other hand, Lily and Nona view housekeeping as a burden and would rather spend their time pursuing other interests. As Robinson states, Lily and Nona, I think, enjoyed nothing except habit and familiarity (27). This fact emphasizes the different traits of the family members.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the novel Housekeeping explores the differing views and attitudes towards housekeeping, showing how it can impact a persons identity and relationships. Through this process, the author introduces the reader to different features of characters of novella protagonists and emphasizes how in a simple example, peoples outlook on life may differ even if they are members of the same family.
Work Cited
Robinson, Marilynne (1980). Housekeeping. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Throughout history, humanity has grappled with perfectionism, striving to attain it in all facets of life, from the physical to the spiritual, but is such a task even possible? Aylmer and Georgianas story in The Birth-Mark demonstrates that while perfectionism may be an admirable goal, it is not always achievable. In this short story, Nathaniel Hawthorne explores the concept of arete, or excellence of any kind, through the mad scientist Aylmers attempt to attain perfection. He believes that this mark symbolizes imperfection and is determined to erase it. Hawthorne utilizes ornate syntax and philosophical allusions to portray Aylmers obsession and symbolic nature. Aylmer states, Ah, upon another face & but never on yours! No, & you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this& defect & shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection (Hawthorne 367). Through these lines, Hawthorne conveys that perfection is unattainable and the futility of Aylmers pursuit. He cannot accept the reality of imperfection and attempts to erase it, which is fruitless. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of accepting ones imperfections and embracing them. Only through the flaws of human existence can one genuinely appreciate life.
Through Hawthornes ornate syntax and philosophical allusions, the story focuses on the idea of arete in pursuing perfectionism. Aylmer believes that his scientific prowess can help him attain immortality. He believes the mark is a barrier to his wifes potential and a limitation to his scientific pursuits, embodying the idea of phenomenalism. This behavior is noticed in Aylmers description of the mark being the visible mark of earthly imperfection (Hawthorne 367). Aylmer conveys that Georgianas nearly perfect face is marred by the birthmark, reminding her of her mortality and his failure to reach true perfection. The language and syntax used in Hawthornes work act as a way to shape the existentialist reality that impacts Aylmers and Georgianas reality through the illusion of perfection, leading to fatalism. For example, it is written: His love for his young wife might prove the stronger& but it could only be by intertwining itself with his love of science (Hawthorne 366). Hawthorne uses language to indicate that Aylmers pursuit of perfection is ultimately fatalistic. Thus, the quest for perfection is ultimately pointless, and it is critical to accept ones flaws, being an interpretation that emphasizes the significance of grasping the limits of human knowledge and embracing imperfection.
Shakespeares writing is still relevant today because it portrays many timeless themes and emotions of the human condition that appeal to people across centuries. His works often explore these aspects of humanity, and his characters can be seen as avatars for modern audiences who find parallels between their lives and those of Shakespeares creation. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, audiences have been drawn for centuries by the enduring theme of young love amidst a background of family feuding. This continues to resonate with viewers today, as does the range of other powerful emotions such as ambition (Macbeth), revenge (Hamlet), and betrayal (Othello).
In addition, Shakespearean language has become so embedded in everyday speech that it is often used without realizing its origin. Even though some of the words that Shakespeare used are outdated, his use of figurative language and clever wordplay still resonates with readers today. Many everyday phrases originated from Shakespeare, such as its all Greek to me and in a pickle. Even his metaphors are still in use today: for example, they call tragedies Bard-fests (alluding to the Bard himself), and even some jokes take their roots from puns made by the great playwright.
Finally, the characters that Shakespeare created have been immortalized in popular culture. His plays have been translated into countless languages and adapted for all sorts of mediafrom television series to Bollywood moviesand continue to attract audiences of all ages (Vuille 136). Through movies and television shows, modern audiences can relate to these characters as if they were their friends and family. Undoubtedly, many people are drawn to his works; everyone enjoys a good classic.
In conclusion, it is evident that William Shakespeares works still matter today. His writing can speak to different generations through its timeless themes and poetic language. His characters are beloved by many and continue to capture the hearts of modern audiences. He has left us with an enduring legacy that will continue to be appreciated for generations. Therefore, one can easily comprehend why Shakespeare is still relevant and enjoyed today.
Work Cited
Vuille, Rosine-Alice. Haider, A Bollywood Hamlet: narrating contemporary conflicts through classical theatre. Haider, A Bollywood Hamlet: narrating contemporary conflicts through classical theatre (2022): 135-146.