Category: Literature

Introduction

The essay is a critical examination of Hunter Thompsons experiences and writing style. The current events, activities and procedures have a strong link with the contributions of all those who came before us. Their experiences as well as the manner with which they did their activities have a bearing with what we are currently doing in the corresponding fields.

According to Nocera 44 Hunter Stockton Thomson was a great American journalist of his time. He was behind the publication of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as well as Fear and Loathing on Campaign Trail in the years 1971 and 1973 respectively.

He was born in July 18, 1937 in Louisville, Kentucky as the first son of Robert Thomson (a public insurance adjuster) and Virginia Davison (a librarian). His father died when he was only fourteen years.

Hunter joined Louisville Castlewood Athletic Club where he was a pro in baseball. He also attended I.N Bloom Elementary School. He later joined Highland Middle School before transferred to Atherton High School then moved to Louisville Male High School. At the school he joined Athenaeum Literary Association where he contributed immensely in development of the yearbook of the club.

However he lost his membership after being accused of robbery. He later joined Air Force and his quest to be an aviator was not realized. While in service he was a sports editor. This gave him an opportunity to travel across the United States of America. However he was honourably discharged from service in 1958.

Thomson continued working as a sports editor although with different employers. He got married to his long-term girlfriend Conklin in 1963. Through his work, he came up with a writing style known as Gonzo journalism which entails a concept where a reporter actively involves him/herself in the action to such a degree that he becomes central figures of their stories (Thomson 91)

Hunter Thompsons experiences

He lacked the affection of his father. In my humble opinion, Hunter had trouble in school; this can be depicted by the several numbers of schools he attended. Despite his contribution to the clubs yearbook, he lost membership when he was found in a stolen car. This landed him a jail term of two months.

After joining the Air Force he studied electronics but his desire to be an aviator was thwarted forcing him to transfer to Eglin Air Force Base. He gained interest in being a sports editor and worked for The Command Courier covering base football team.

After four years of service, he was honourably discharged from service and the ground of dismissal is summarized; This airman, although talented, will not be guided by policy& Sometimes his rebel and superior attitude seems to rub off on other airmen staff members (Nocera 49).

He landed a job as a sports editor in Jersey Shore. Moving to New York City he enrolled for part-time studies in Columbia University School of General Studies studying creative writing.

Working for Times as a copy boy he engaged himself in trying to understand the writing styles of such great artists as Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. He was later fired for insubordination. He moved on and worked for The Middletown Daily Records but was fired when he destroyed a candy machine (Nocera 45).

Thomson relocated to Puerto Rico and got a job with El Sportivo magazine, the company later collapsed forcing him to look for a job elsewhere leading to The San Juan Star.

Thomson later returned to the United States of America and worked as a security guard in Big Sur, California. During this time he published an article feature in Rogue magazine. His article was about artisan and bohemian culture of Big Sur. This kind of undesired publicity made him loss his job.

Two novels were written immediately he lost his job- Prince Jellyfish and The Rum Diary. His efforts to submit several short stories for publication hit a snag. He moved to South America and worked as a correspondent for National Observer newspaper. Additionally he worked as a reporter in Brazil.

After marrying his long-term girlfriend, they managed to give birth to a son. The desire to have additional children was not achieved as the pregnancy was either miscarried or the infants died immediately after birth. After 17 years of marriage the two divorced. His family relocated to California in 1964 where he continued working with the National Observer.

He fell out with his employer after his work The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby was not published. This prompted him to move to San Francisco where he was a drug addict and took a job as a writer for The Spyder (Nocera 44).

Hunter was offered a chance to write a story by McWilliams who by then was the editor of The Nation; the article was his (Hunters) experience while he was working with Hells Angel motorcycle club. After the publication, Hunter received numerous book offers. However things turned out the other way round when the gang established that Hunter would gain from such partnership.

This prompted them to demand for a share of the profit Hunter accrued leading to an argument. He was thoroughly beaten up. This happened in 1965. With the success of Hells Angel, Hunter was able to publish numerous works in well known and established magazines.

In 1968, he is remembered for vowing not to pay tax raising serious concerns about the war in Vietnam. During the same time, he was among the team that was trailing the presidential campaign and from his hotel room; he saw the fight between the civilians and the police. This shaped his political stand.

The desire to publish the book was never realize, however the theme was of American dream was evident in his later works. He published his first book; Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in 1972. A year after moving to Colarado he ran for a local office but narrowly lost. The Rolling Stone magazine shown Hunter carrying beer which he claimed was used to derail his campaign.

A year after publishing his famous book, he worked for Rolling Stone and extensively covered presidential campaign of Nixon. His desire to provide the same coverage to the magazine he was working for with presidential campaign 3 years later did not see the light as an advance check was pulled out by the companys publisher (Nocera 46).

He was later sent to Vietnam to cover stories related to the war. His health insurance and financial support was withheld by the same publisher making his life difficult prompted him to distance himself from the magazine. Thereafter, Hunter engaged in other literal works such as novel, short stories as well as movies.

In several occasions he found himself in the wrong side with the authorities, however most cases brought forth against him were dismissed. I believe all these experiences are what contributed to his writing style where he expressed his feelings while reporting-the Gonzo writing style.

His writing style

One thing that made and will continue making Hunter so famous at his time, now and even in the future is his journalist style the Gonzo. Writing style that blurs distinctions between fiction and nonfiction that came to the limelight between 1960s and 1970s. His efforts aimed at changing the objective style mainstream reporting during his time (Thomson 74).

Most of his work was written in first person accompanied by personal experiences as well as emotions. A close look at his work reveals that they were colourful, hilarious and peculiar with lots of exaggeration to attract the attention of readers. Hunter acknowledged that;

[I have stolen more quotes and thoughts and purely elegant little starbursts of writing from the Book of Revelation than anything else in the English language& because l love the wild power of the language and the purity of the madness that governs it and makes it music.] (Nocera 49).

The concept of language and madness are evident in his work. His style of reporting took the form of volatile denunciatory literary jeremiads, challenging and reproving conventional morality, politics, and culture (Nocera 48).

The use of certain words in his work for instance certain death, total failure among others made people feels nauseous and he hinted that such words are worth listening to. In this style of journalism the reporter take the role of a performer and this is summarized by what he said True Gonzo reporting needs the talents of a master journalist, the eye of an artist/photographer and the heavy balls of an actor (Thomson 125).

A typical example of his writing style was depicted in the book titled Hells Angel in which he narrated his experiences with the motorcycle gang in which he used such strong words as riding, loafing, plotting, and eventually being stomped (Thomson 279).

It is no doubt that he injected himself as an active participant in narrations which was closely linked with invention of metaphoric element that led to a product that brought with it amalgam of facts and fiction notable for the deliberately blurred lines between one and the other (Nocera 50).

Additionally his writing style was full of weird humour as well as strident invective. This contributed to making his work distinct from the normal straight forward reporting. To him satire and humour contribute to creation of a good work that will leave readers at the edge of their seat trying to establish what is in the next line.

Hunter managed to wields them with deadly and hilarious vengeance (Nocera 47). There are some examples that clearly illustrate this concept. In reference to George Bush he wrote;

[He has the instincts of a dung beetle. No living politician can match his talent for soiling himself in public. Bush will seek out filth wherever it lives& and when he finds a new heap he will fall down and wallow crazily in it, making snorting sounds out of his nose and rolling over on his back and kicking his legs up in the air like a wild hog coming to water] (Thomson 228).

On the same note Hunter more often than not used harsh and strong words words to make his points. For instance in a case where he was denouncing televangelist he said that these individuals are nothing but the scum of the earth who act like a gang of baboon.

Although it has been suggested that Hunters style of writing and reportage had roots from Wolfes the later said of the formers style, &part journalism and part personal memoir admixed with powers of wild invention and wilder rhetoric (Nocera 49)

It is worth mentioning that other journalists were of the view that Hunter was undermining the professional way of reportage and he was branded quintessential outlaw journalist. However there were those who praised his work, for instance Nocera noted Hunters work led to a new reportage with a new general form that would merge fact writing and opinion-writing (Nocera 45)

Impact to journalism

It is no doubt that Hunters Gonzo writing style had tremendous influence in what is happening in the field of journalism. He paved way for contemporary journalism in which reporters actively got involved in their stories.

This continuously makes the readers to grasp a better sense of happenings and situations. The style has made it possible for current journalists to witness an event and immediately record it making the magazines and other print media to be understood into facts and opinions.

Additionally his writing style made it possible for the field of journalism to come to terms with the fact that reporting or writing in first person is acceptable. The contribution of this was a product or article that logically flow and unique. Similarly the desire to use humour, colour, metaphor, satire as well as personal peculiar accounts made journalism to be not only informative but entertaining.

More importantly, his writing style went a head in trying to seek the highest degree of truth. His efforts yielded higher levels of truth compared to conventional journalism. His influence in journalism can be seen through the efforts of current journalists who have tried but failed to impress and fit into his shoes.

Conclusion

From the review of experiences and writing style of Hunter Thomson, it is evident that his writing style Gonzo was shaped by what he went through while in school and the numerous jobs he took.

He is credited for coming up with a reportage style in which the reporter takes the role of a performer and fully indulge himself in writing using the first person. Hunter is known to use very harsh words to air his views. It is apparent that his work has been described as full of satire, humour, bizarre account that contributed in making his work informative and entertaining.

It is no doubt that his efforts had a clear impact on contemporary reporting, although some criticized him. His style of reporting resulted to soliciting for higher truth. Future generations will continue going through his work since there is no other work that can match Hunters as it gives truthful insight on American life.

Works Cited

Nocera, Joseph. How Hunter Thompson killed new journalism. Washington Monthly, 13.2 (1981), 44-50. Print.

Thompson, Hunter. Hells Angels: A strange and terrible saga. New York: Random House, 1966. Print

Bluebeard is strikingly an interesting fairy tale with elements of life that everyone particularly the young yearn to get and own. The following quote is particularly interesting:But this man was so unlucky as to have a blue beard, which made him so frightfully ugly that all the women and girls ran away from him. It is fascinating because even though Bluebeard was wealthy and had life trappings that could endear him to any woman, all women and girls could not stand the thoughts of marrying an ugly rich man with a blue beard.

Amusingly it shows that riches alone without physical attractiveness can put off women and girls from a man of great means and wealth. It is interesting that women and girls read more about the even uglier inner side of the murderous wealthy man. Through the blue beard, their intuitions rightly enabled them to see beyond the tempting wealth of this loveless and evil man.

Interestingly, affluence has its way always because Bluebeard managed to win affection of many ladies including Annes sister who was coincidentally rescued from the deadly sword of his husband by her brothers who came at the right moment.

This fairy tale shows that the evil can get away with their wicked deeds for some time but they surely pay dearly for their wicked ways when the right time comes. Bluebeard had killed many innocent women and girls and was not remorseful for it even for a single moment. He always went unpunished but when the right time for what is done secretly in darkness to be exposed he surely died by the same sword that he had used to murder many without cause.

How this Fairy Tale Resonates in my Life

This fairy tale reflects how material possessions can mislead us in to intimate engagements, as well as, business dealings with utterly dangerous people. It also shows how dangerous it can be to make important life decisions with haste. For instance, in real life it can particularly be tragic to make decisions about life commitments like marriage quickly.

Annes sister quick change of heart regarding the personality and character of Bluebeard because of the one and only good treatment they received from him together with her friends and acquaintances almost cost her life. She was only lucky that on the fateful day when she would have died in the hands of her treacherous husband their brothers arrived at the right time.

In real life we should always take our time when we are making important decisions rest we put ourselves into regretful dangers because of our haste. We should not disregard our natural feelings regarding a person or an issue all over sudden before ensuring that our previous attitude about someone or an issue was absolutely misguided. We should embrace a slow-but-sure attitude when making important life decisions or risk our lives irreversibly.

Even though we are naturally curious beings by virtue of the fact that our minds have the ability to process information, it is important to exercise some control up on our curiosity in some situations. Annes sister would have held up her curiosity for instance given the way her husband warned her against opening the small closet in the ground floor.

She would have taken her time to find out what was inside that closet using other means and thereby safe herself from the wrath of her husband that left her almost dead. Generally, we should guard our curiosity because as the wise said curiosity killed the cat.

Folk and fairy tales are stories which have to do with everyday and may include magic and fantasy. This tales often have hidden morals that we can apply in our lives. Sleeping Beauty is one of the classical fairy tales that I have read and enjoyed.

In this paper, I shall provide a brief discussion following my reading of the fairy tale. Particularly, I shall elaborate on a quote from Sleeping Beauty that I found particularly interesting. In addition to this, I will discuss how this story resonates in my life.

Quote that Interested me

The quotation that I find particularly interesting from Sleeping Beauty is The king, to avoid the misfortune foretold by the old fairy, caused immediately proclamation to be made, whereby everybody was forbidden, on pain of death, to spin with a distaff and spindle, or to have so much as any spindle in their houses (Perrault).

I find it interesting the King was willing to take the gifts from the seven fairies and yet expect that he could cheat fate and avoid the curse by the old fairy. Since the gifts by the seven fairies were realized in the princesses life, it would stand to reason that the gift by the old fairy would also be inevitable.

Another thing that I find interesting in this quote is that the king went into the trouble of having all spindles destroyed and yet failed to tell the princess of the curse placed upon her. It is conceivable that the princess would have avoided her fate had she been informed about the curse place upon her by the old fairy.

How the Tale Resonates in my Life

One of the notions that resonate in my life from this fairy tale is the concept of good triumphing over evil. In the tale, the princesses had her detractors who wished her unhappiness.

While the seven fairies wished the princess well and bestowed upon her magnificent gifts, the old fairy wished her ill. After her marriage to the prince, the princess and her children were still troubled by the princes mother who sought to eat them.

Even so, the princess managed to overcome evil and emerge triumphant. In my life as well, there are people who wish me well and those who wish me ill. While those who wish me ill may scheme against me and appear to succeed in their mission, they mostly end up failing for I emerge victories such like Sleeping Beauty.

Another moral that I relate with from the tale is that adversity brings about success. In sleeping Beauty, the princess was able to meet with her handsome prince whom she was destined to marry after the curse was lifted. I can relate to this since according to me, every unpleasant experience that I experience only draws me closer to achieving real success in my life.

Conclusion

While Sleeping Beauty is a classical tale written long time ago, it still continues to interest people to date. The tale also contains morals and aspects that resonate with our lives.

In this essay, I have highlighted the quote from Sleeping Beauty which interested me the most and illustrated why I found it interesting. I have also highlighted how the concept of good triumphing over evil, which is contained in the fairy tale, resonates with me.

Works Cited

Perrault, Charles. The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood. 1998. Web.

Literary works including short stories, novels, poems and narratives provide us with lenses through which we can see and understand human nature and various cultural, social, and political aspects of our society which are critical to our societal well-being.

They are a mirror through which a society can attain self realization more so in relation to its desired destiny in terms of social, political and economic development.

Academically, they are usually a creative and constructive way of criticizing and attacking evils such as corruption, impunity, gender violence, and discrimination among others which are understandably a stumbling block to realization of societal dreams in the eyes of the wise people and intellectuals, as well as political leaders, of good will.

Due to their critical contribution towards progress of a society authors should strive to be clear in their writings so that readers of different intellectual and educational caliber can understand what they are trying to articulate through their works.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss theme of religion versus science in Arthur C. Clarkes short story titled The Star published in 1955 which won him Hugo Award in 1956.

Religion versus science

Human beings are inherently curious beings who have always endeavored to comprehend not only themselves in terms of their origin, existence and destiny but also to understand the cause of the universe and everything therein since the very humble beginnings of human civilizations.

A long side his physical and cultural evolution religious, traditional and scientific theories have been put forward during different epochs of the history of humankind which attempts to explain the origin of the universe and everything found in it, as well as the destiny of humanity. Currently, religious theories and the scientific evolution theory put forward by Sir.

Charles Darwin during the peak of scientific revolution in 19^th century are the most popular in virtually all communities of the world in terms of explaining the origin of the universe, living organisms and humanitys fate. However, there is an outcry and great concern particularly from the western clergy that religion is losing its influence up on peoples life especially in Western societies.

Arthur C. Clarkes short story titled The Star is a perfect representation of humanitys grapple with the puzzle of whether it is religion or science that holds the right key to solutions regarding mysteries of this universe, fate of humanity, as well as remedies to perpetual social, political and economic problems-some of which are catastrophic-facing human societies.

It shows perfectly how scientific discoveries can impact both positively and negatively up on our religious beliefs like in the case of the chief astrophysicist leading the group of explorers in The Star who was a Jesuit priest and who suffered a serious crisis of faith brought about by some undisclosed event during the expedition to the remote star system.

Even though there are scientists who have managed to successfully balance the confrontation of scales between religious philosophies and science, a considerable number of scientists probably because of being overwhelmed by reality about complexity of the universe that is revealed through scientific endeavors ever since renaissance have dismissed the idea of God entirely.

In other words, complexities of the universe and human life brought to light by scientific discoveries have made religious teachings about universe and life appear too simple and superficial to be true or worth believing to a considerable number of scientists.

These explains the line of division between and among the group of explorers coming back from expedition narrated about in Arthur C. Clarkes fictional masterpiece- The Star.

Conclusion

Surprisingly there are many scientists of no mean reputation both in western societies and other parts of the world who have appreciated the fact that science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind in real life.

They recognize convincingly that human societies requires an emancipating religion and objective science in order to deal fairly well with problems facing them as they strive to attain self realization regarding their place and purpose of existence in this universe.

White teeth address the aspect of human psyche through the encounters of unassimilated immigrants in a humorous manner. The novel addresses some aspects of genetic engineering that relates to interaction between various cultures, which results to diversity, health as well as strength.

However, in London, prejudice is manifest and has ruined all this, making assimilation almost impossible since the immigrants histories keeps on haunting them. However, this hybridization seems vital for human since genetic variation enhances survival, but like genetic engineering, it could be manipulated to meet selfish needs (Smith 283).

The role of the flashback at the end of the novel further depicts humor and the immigrants dilemma in the new social setup. The British cultures are contrasted in a satirical way. Archie Jones is a man forty seven years of age, who contemplate on the mentorship he continues to have from Samad.

The two were together in the army and are immigrants to Britain following the Second World War. Archie becomes aware that in fact, he has entirely relied on Samad for decision making in his entire life. This is when he realizes the identity of a former scientist named Dr. Marc-Pierre Perret, a Nazi physician since the Second World War. Archie and Samad were in the army, being against one enemy.

Samad was not aware that Archie did not shoot the German doctor as seen from the flashback. The doctor is now the leading scientist of the mouse project as Marcus. Archie observe that Millat is gazing at him, and instead sees the aged scientist shedding bloody tears.

Millat could have shot the scientist to end the human pride once and for all but he instead shoots Archies thigh. Samad now realizes that Dr. Perret is instead, Dr.Sick and becomes aware that the foundation of their friendship with Archie is not real.

From the flashback to WWII, Archie guides Dr. Perret in the dark to shoot him although he is nervous and dislikes the act. As a result, Dr. Perret utilizes the chance to he drift Archies attention to the moral predicament he is in, on whether to remain loyal to his nation as well as Samad or to respect the persons right to life irrespective of his conduct which might change.

Archie realizes the coin he has in his pocket and tosses it to determine the fate of the doctor where the head would symbolize his murder while the tail his survival.

As he place the gun down to flip the coin over his shoulder and on bending to get it, he is shot by Dr. Perret on his thigh. He reaches for his gun as he criticizes Dr. Perrets actions, which he terms as unnecessary since the coin was already a tail. Following the flashback, Archie is shot by Millat as he falls and damages the mouses cage to release the mouse (Smith 289).

The flashback helps to emphasize on the idea of heredity. During the conference the attendants are supposed to pay recognition to a scientist who could control the destiny of the mouse.

This helps us to understand that immigrants are out of control of their own destiny or identity. Coincidence is brought up in the flashback as individuals actions as well as emotions are emphasized while in the conference room. Dr. Perret changes drastically from being a Nazi conspirator to a kind pioneer.

This offers optimism that even the immigrants, like the mouse, will once overcome their suppressors. The doomed subject can change their destiny through self realization and re-invention. Similar to a mouse, the socially depraved Dr. Perret could change his fate by becoming benevolent.

Likewise, indecisive Archie could become impetuous by revealing freedom at the right time, as he liberates the mouse out of the cage and becomes a hero. The flashback depicts the immigrants who keeps on being haunted by their past.

This explains their current actions and experiences in pursuit of ethnic identity following colonization. Archies dilemma on whether to kill Dr. Perret is conflict on whether to become assimilated, preserve the culture or whether to underscore the value of human relationship due to ethnic differences.

Work Cited

Smith, Zadie. White teeth: a novel. New York: Random House Inc., 2000. Print.

The poem, We wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar is my most favorite of the five poems provided. The poem provides me with intrinsic satisfaction when I read it.

For instance, the message the poet provides through the poem is touching as it demonstrates clearly the picture of how the black people in America lived in pretence by hiding their agony and problems that they faced. The mask is a figurative word which refers to their confinement.

Although the poem depicts a somber mood, I find it encouraging and motivating, as it provides a big challenge for those people who feel oppressed to rise up and defend their own rights. Pretence, the spirit the author postulates through the poem, provides encouragement and gives me the strength to carry on with my goals irrespective of the situations.

Therefore, this poem has provided a clear picture of how the black people were treated thereby helping me in understanding the benefit of providing every race with the freedom to engage in activities without making their lives difficult. It has further clarified on the issue behind goodwill, as every person needs a peace of mind, love and part of the larger society. Notwithstanding, I acknowledge the author of his background and creativity in his compilation of poems.

The poet is a well renowned author who has received acceptance from a multiplicity of poets and readers for producing good and quality chef-doeuvres. For Instance, his poem We Wear the Mask presents the situation in America during his time when he witnessed the way the blacks suffered in silent.

Therefore, I like his poem because of the content, the educational aspect it carries and more importantly, the way he addresses his poem relating it to the daily occurrences of the time. Having composed it at times when racial discrimination was at par, the author seems keen while portraying the situation as it then stood.

In addition, I favor this poem because of the way the author has adapted to simple language which is easily understandable. I am mean to believe that, the author was conscious about the audience in mind. The poem is written in a systematic and captivating way as author tries to bring out a clear picture of how the situation was which enhances understandability.

His choice of words fosters clarity, as various people of different education levels have testified how easy it appears upon reading and understanding the poem. As for me, the poet uses simple words which make the message clear. For instance, in this poem the first line, We wear the mask that grins and lies, is simple.

Any person sees how the black Americans lived a life of pretence as they could not rise up and defend their rights or comment on any issue that pertained to them. They lived in cocoons, denoted as mask by pretending in order to void any instances of seclusion or harassment (Connelly and Trimmer 30). This simplicity and use of easy understandable languages explains the reason behind my favor of the poem.

The poem further provides motivation for me to continue fighting on with life. Life has a lot of problems and it comes with agony, discouragements and all sorts of enemies. Reading it has always been my pleasure and my source of relief.

It motivates me like the blacks although they faced hard times in coping with their lives. However, they had no otherwise but to behave in the way they did to survive, which they did by putting on masks. Therefore, the poems message to me concerning my entire life as an individual makes me prefer it to the other poems.

It therefore passes for favorite as the author compiled it in a creative manner and attaching the evident relevant message that reveals the anger and agony our black colleagues went through. It therefore seeks to encourage people to love their colleagues regardless of their races or any differences that they have in regard to their affiliations, color, and gender among others.

Works Cited

Connelly, Mark, and Trimmer, Joseph. Reading For English 2. Thomson and

Heinle, Boston: Massachusetts, 1998.

Introduction: On Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality

Though in the modern world, all people are considered free and possessing equal rights, it has not always been this way. The road to the existing society where people enjoy equal rights and freedoms has been long and exhausting. Although there is a considerable gap between the Ancient Greece and the XIX-century world, the problem of liberty, not only physical, but also moral, intertwines these two epochs. That is why there is so much in common between Antigone, Sophocless drama, and Dolls House, the creation of Henrik Ibsen.

To some extent, it must be admitted, each of the books suggests the ideas of feminism  in their embryo, of course, yet there can be no doubt that Doll House is one of the books that were the first heralds of the feminist epoch coming on. However, it must be admitted that the feminist ideas are shifted into the background of watch story, whereas in the center the demand for recognizing human rights is placed.

Indeed, it would be rather unreasonable to interpret the play only as an anthem for feminist movement. In comparison to this story, Antigone, the drama by Sophocles, offers another idea of liberty, yet it aims at the same effect  the recognition of peoples rights, namely, the right to be self-sufficient and do the things that one considers right.

However, despite the common ideas, each author chooses his own symbols to convey these ideas to the public. Comparing the methods of the Ancient Greek philosopher and the XIX-century playwright, one can see the distinct difference between the methods that the two utilize, and at the same time trace the similarities between their approaches.

Burying Secrets: Antigone. Behind the Shadow of Death

The rich symbolism of the Greek tragedy offers a plethora of food for speculations. One of the most thought-provoking creations, the drama by Sophocles is saturated with metaphors, using the symbols that leave the most vivid and memorable impressions.

Considering the drama, one can notice instantly that the key symbol of Antigone is the death itself. Interpreted in a number of ways, this name makes the essence of the afterlife, the mysterious Hereafter  the world of the dead.

The world of the dead in Sophocless drama is considered as the place where one can be completely free  in constant to the life on earth, where each of the mere mortals is bound by the restrictions cats either by the gender issues, or by the political ideas, or any other ideas that prevent people to live their full life. Calling this place in a number of ways, Sophocles still leaves the basic idea of the mysterious afterlife interwoven into the drama.

Travelling down the land of the dead, Antigone claims: Who did the deed the underworld knows well: A friend in word is never friend of mine (Sophocles 53) Thus, exposing the underworld as the place where people obtain their freedom and where nothing can be concealed from the watchful eye of Hades, Sophocles raises the topic of freedom on earth.

Another peculiar recurrent symbol in the drama is birds  a large variety of birds that the reader can spot on the book pages. Describing the ease of their flight, Sophocles makes the reader compare these free creatures to people and realize how despicable the freedom of the humankind is.

Living in a Dollhouse: Ibsen and His Protest

Depicting the same idea of obtaining the needed liberty, Ibsen uses quite different means. Let along the striking difference of the lead characters in the two stories, the determined and decisive Antigone and the cowardice, chicken-hearted Nora, the books differ in the symbols they use.

Considering the symbolic means that were at Ibsens disposal, one can claim with certainty that Ibsen created a masterpiece of refinement and sad sarcasm.

If there is anything that can symbolize the lack of responsibility, self-sufficiency and liberty better than Nora herself, that is the Christmas tree used to decorate the Dolls, that is, Noras, house.

Indeed, the beautiful and at the same time helpless, completely useless attribute of the holiday, the tree is much like the hostess of the house  just as weak and dependent on the support: The Christmas Tree is in the corner by the piano, stripped of its ornaments and with burnt-down candle-ends on its disheveled branches. Noras cloak and hat lying on the sofa (Ibsen 39).

Such quick is the transition from the tree to Noras clothes  and, in fact, Nora herself  that the parallels drawn between the hostess and the article of the house decoration that it becomes obvious: Nora has never been a human being in its full sense  she has always led the life of complete dependence.

However, it would be erroneous to think that the symbols in Antigone and Dolls House have nothing in common  at certain point they coincide, depicting the same things. A good example of such coincidence is the symbol of death that is also present in Dolls House. However, in this drama, a black cross (Ibsen 48) serves as a symbol of passing away.

The last, but not the least is the name of the play  Dolls House as a symbol of the state of dependence that Nora used to be in and that she escaped from so painfully. Though she is filled with the intense grief, Nora is still willing to get rid of the humiliating environment that she has been living in for so long. Thus, freeing herself, she comes close to the character of Sophocles drama, Antigone.

Conclusion: The Jailbreak

Despite the time gap between the two dramas, there is the common idea that intertwines them, making each story closer to the other. However, each of the authors reaches the highest level of expressivity with different means.

Resorting to the use of symbolism in their stories, the two writers create a range of metaphors that serve as the clues for the reader to follow. Triggering a number of associations and creating the vision of the epoch, these tiny details reveal what used to be hidden under the cover of the storyline.

It cannot be doubted that the symbols used by the writers are strikingly different, yet each of the metaphor used serves the same purpose, namely, emphasizing womens dependence. It is quite remarkable that, despite the years passed since the times of Sophocles, the problem remains topical.

Perhaps, even with Ibsens attempts to free those that lack liberty in their own life, the issue still needs solution. No matter how hard it might be to admit it, this is the hard truth the humankind has to live with  or fight it until every single person can feel freed.

Works Cited

Ibsen, Henric. A Dolls House: Unabridged. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House, Inc., 2005. Print.

Sophocles. Antigone. New York City, NY: ReadHowYouWant, 2008. Print.

Tasting the Fruits: The Poem, the Images, and the Ideas

It is pitch dark. Even though the lights are on, the United Fruit Co. casts the shadow that does not let the sun in the lives of millions of people. In his striking poem, The United Fruit Co., Pablo Neruda draws the sketch of a monster named injustice  the monster that devoured a great number of people, and seized the power over the entire universe.

Despite the poet knows that the fight is already lost, for the monster is far too influential, and his face is under a perfect disguise, Neruda still depicts the crimes of those prepossessing power.

Each word a loud cry, the poem is filled with grief and rage. In each line, the fury is building more and more until it reaches the top pitch, to subside then slowly into a sad ending. The incredible tension pierces the novel right through, as the poet balances between the anger for those ruining the lives of hundreds of people, and the grief for these lives broken.

Sarcastic and sad, the poem shapes the image of The United Fruit Co. as the barbarians who came to break the rest of the people down, to make them submit and follow the orders of the company.

The poem sounds like a cadence of images  it seems as if Neruda was threading beads to make a string of the saddest story ever. Listening more carefully to the poem, one can hear the distinct lament of the people, their pleas for mercy  but the monster they are calling to is deaf and blind, with no heart to understand them. Nerudas cartridges are blank, and he knows that well enough.

Nerudas Life Path: A Long Way to Heaven

One of the people who shaped the literature of XX century Chile and contributed to the world literature as the man who saw woes and misery, Neruda followed specific life track that predetermined his creative work. Growing under the hot Chile sun and learning what the vicissitudes of life can be, the poet-to-be was destined to become a world-recognized personality.

With help of his unique experience and the specific manner of perceiving and understanding the events that occurred in the world and in his own life, Neruda was born to become a poet  or, it would be better to say, he was born a poet, literally (Urrutia).

One of the details that strike most about the poets biography is the strain in his relationships with the family. Neftali (the poets real name) was much like a medium between the earth and the underworld, with his incredible ability to feel the world at the tip of his fingers:

He heard footsteps. Was it Father? He had been away, working on the railroad for a week, and was due home today. Neftalis heart pounded and his round brown eyes grew large with panic. The footsteps came closer [&] (Ryan 5)

Each of us experiences the time when the childhood fears and ideas fade away like the morning dew. That is the inevitable cost of growing up and becoming the part of the world. Yet that did not happen to Neruda  he never was the part of this world; the poet could be rather described as a creature thrown into the heart of the Earth to test the humankind for humanity.

This incredible ability of his  the ability to understand and give the piece of his without demanding anything back  acme as the boy grew into a poet. However, the dreamer within his was not gone. There was still a piece of the little boy whom he used to be:

Nefati sat, rubbed his eyes, and looked around the room. The words were no longer there. He slid from the bed, tiptoed to the drawer, and opened it. All of the words were sleeping (Ryan 23).

The words were still there. It was just that he had to convey them to the adults this time, being an adult himself. In fact, this proved harder than he expected.

Together with the specifics of the adult life, the political problems and the concern fro the native land came, which literally tore Neruda apart. As soon as the head of Chile signed the agreement with the U.S. and practically sold the country to the entrepreneurs from the United States, Neruda felt that he could not take the half-baked decisions of the government any longer. As a result of this long-lasting conflict, The United Fruit Co., the poetic masterpiece in Nerudas treasure chest, appeared:

There was considerable political tension, nevertheless, arising from the United States commercial involvement in the country, particularly through the United Fruit Company. Shortly before Nerudas arrival, the municipality in Barranquilla had passed a resolution to expropriate the American firm that operated its public utilities (Feinstein 171).

Nerudas unique brainchild, this poem is ridden with the fear for the future of the country, and the indignation for the invaders. The flies seized power over the entire country, which Neruda could not bear  and he never did.

Balancing Between Scylla and Charybdis: Where the Truth Lurks

Like many other great poets, Neruda is perceived as either the man who proclaimed Latin freedom from the Western expansion, or the Communist agent that was going to undermine the most progressive and prominent activities of the United Sattes; yet none of the critics deny the geniality of the poet.

It is worth mentioning that there are two basic points of view concerning Nerudas poem; the rest of the considerations either dub the existing ones, or touch upon the issues that were not topical for the author. Thus, it would be a good idea to consider the two key ideas that critics had about the United Fruit Co., the two opposing views that were represented by Marc Mascia and Jeffrey Gray.

Considering one of the most conventional viewpoints offered by Jeffrey Gray, one must note that, to some extent, this is a tribute to the late poet. Indeed his greatness cannot be doubted, which triggers the specific attitude to the poem.

Seized by the fear for his nation and the desire to protect people from the danger of being enslaved, Neruda did everything possible to prevent the consumerism from devouring the society. Such patriotic goals are worth appreciation, no matter whether they were correct or erroneous. Indeed, it is hard to deny that the impact of the companys operations left much to be desired, which meant that the poet was guided by the noblest ideas.

According to Jeffrey Gray, United Fruit Co. is depicting a dictators betrayal of revolutionary aspirations, and emphasizing the hope that lay, for Neruda, in socialism (201-202). Therefore, it was not only the expansion o the Americans in the country, but also the home policy of the political leaders that troubled Neruda and that he expressed in his poem, Grey emphasizes.

Could the famous writer err? In contrast to Grey, famous Mark Mascia criticizes the poem in quite different manner, suggesting another way of interpreting it. According to his article, the poet resorted to the ideas that were totally Utopian from the very beginning, choosing the path of socialism to heal the wounds of the country:

His desire to conquer is, as mentioned above, one to overcome grief (both individual, as an exiled writer, and collective, as a self-declared man of the people) and to conquer happiness. But is this conquest of a better world not itself a universal utopian dream? (Mascia 74)

Despite the credibility of Mascias argument, it is still more reasonable to consider the poem from the viewpoint that Grey offers. Although Mascia sounds rather impressive, it still seems that his ideas are cluttered with the prejudice for the Socialism.

After all, it must be admitted that the Socialism theory was the last resort for the collapsing state and the opportunity to fight the insistent attempts of the United States to establish the consumerist lifestyle in the country.

Nevertheless, each paper allows to consider the work of the poet deeper. Knowing the ideas that made Neruda write United Fruit Co., one can evaluate the work more objectively and enjoy the vision of the words gaining unpredictable shades of meaning. Although the viewpoints of each critic can be considered somewhat subjective, their papers still contribute to the overall understanding of the poem.

Two and Two, Put Together: Picking the Fruits

Summarizing the creation of Neruda, one can claim with certainty that the incredible power of the [poets words drove the attention of the entire state. With help of his talent, Neruda managed to break new grounds in peoples vision of the USA invasion.

Making it clear that the economical aggression of the foreigners will bring nothing but the troubles for the state, Neruda tried to explain his ideas to the people, yet  no one would listen. A heart-rending and impressive poem, it was a cry of despair and an attempt to bring the country and the people together, making them a unified entity.

With a number of metaphors for the country explored by the foreigners, Neruda managed to depict the shock and the helplessness of the nation, make the lament of those in despair reach everyone. However, it is worth mentioning as well that the poem was not only about the policy of the invaders, but also about the propaganda that they seeded.

To teach this poem for someone who is unaware of the life and struggle of the poet, I would use the visual aids and the literature sources to tell the story of Neruda. I would try to incorporate the movies shot about the poet and his creations and the information about his life, both personal and political. It could also be a good idea to demonstrate the influence of the United Fruit Co., which I would do with help of PowerPoint presentations and the articles about the company.

Works Cited

Gray, Jeffrey. United Fruit Co., Canto Generale, and Nerudas Critique of

Capitalism. Ed. Harold Bloom, Exploration and Colonization. New York City, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2010: 201-212. Print.

Feinstein, Adam. Pablo Neruda: A Passion for Life. New York City, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2005. Print.

Mascia, Mark. Pablo Neruda and the Construction of Past and Future Utopias in the Canto General. Utopian Studies, 12.1: 65-81. Print.

Neruda, Pablo. United Fruit Co. Stone Soup. July 16 2004. Web. Web.

Ryan, Pam Muoz, and Peter Sis. The Dreamer. New York City, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2010. Print.

Urrutia, Matilde. My Life with Pablo Neruda. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press, 2004. Print.

John Maxwell Coetzee, a renowned writer and academic from South Africa, has recently moved to Australia where he has become a citizen. His background and experiences both in South Africa and outside have influenced greatly on the themes that he chooses to portray in all his literary works. For instance, in his narrative Disgrace, Coetzee seems inspired by the political situation in his home country South Africa with the happenings in the novel reflecting those of the post- apartheid South Africa.

The historical context of his motherland as well as his own experiences significantly influences the themes, characters and the writing style that he adopts in his works. The unfolds Coetzees background as reflected in the novel Disgrace with the intention of determining its contribution to the account he presents in the novel.

Coetzee came into the international limelight through his constant criticism of the US policy in Vietnam thus explaining the candid manner in which the post apartheid South Africa stands out in the novel. In the account, Coetzee enters the mind of his main character, the twice-divorced scholar, David Lurie, telling the story of the experiences that the character goes through.

David Lurie, as portrayed by Coetzee struggles with the societal impediments at the expense of the fulfillment of his personal sexual desires. Upon his firing from his job as a professor in Cape Town, he instead decides to go and live with his daughter, a Romantic literature specialist, in Salem. A worse experience enters when violence attacks and Lucy Lurie, the daughter, is gang-raped by three black men.

The crime and poverty depicted in this novel reflect the real incidences of post apartheid South Africa with the rates doubling each passing day. Murders and carjacking rates increased especially during the years after Nelson Mandela became the president. This depicts the manner of reception of the novel by the South African government: It suffered a good deal of criticism based on its portrayal of the country as in a pessimistic condition.

The writing style that Coetzee uses in this novel is that of third person narration. He does this deliberately with the intention of portraying fine details as the style gives him the chance to present not only Luries spoken words but also his thoughts.

With the style, Coetzee stands a good position to depict clearly the context of the story, which seems inspired by his history while in South Africa. Since Luries experiences, passions, desires and discourse guide the audience into understanding the conditions as they stood then, Coetzees input appears clear in each one of them.

The characters that Coetzee creates in this novel seem inspired by the conditions that he feels make sense to him. For instance, the main character David Lurie in this novel stands as a university Professor the same as Coetzee himself. This shows how Coetzee tells the story in the context that he understands best. This characters discourse is scholarly and he is generally portrayed as a thinking character.

To some extent, the reader can argue that Coetzee gets the chance to tell his own story through the character of David Lurie. The claim stands out through certain events that shape the characters life.

For instance, despite his specialty being in Romantic poetry in the university where he teaches, he receives a demotion into a Communications professor with only one elective course to teach per semester because of the demolition of his department of modern languages based on the policies issued by the government to rationalize educational resources.

This indicates the beginning of the professors displacement long before he chooses to go to exile in Salem. Associating the experiences of Lurie to his general life reveals his spending of most of his career years teaching in alien countries rather than his own and later his adoption of a new nationality. The professor David Lurie has experienced divorce two times, a case that also rhymes with the life of Coetzee.

The historical racial tensions that dominated the post apartheid South Africa form a very important discussion in this novel. However, despite his absence at that particular time of happening of these injustices, the experiences of the whites in the hands of black criminals was indescribable.

Considering that Coetzee had relatives back in South Africa, he constantly followed the social and political happenings in South Africa from abroad. In the novel, Luries daughter has to give up her sexual freedom to pay the price of owning property in her own country. Lurie says that it was &a risk to own anything: a car, a pair of shoes, and a packet of cigarettes. Not enough to go around, not enough cars, shoes, cigarettes (Coetzee 245).

Her sexual orientation provides the evidence that Coetzee creates characters to represent highly sensitive matters such as human rights. He in fact stands out as a strong crusader of human rights and equality regardless of the persons ethnicity, sexual orientation or political ideologies.

Having a clear knowledge of the background of Coetzee is inevitable when one wants to understand the book, which reflects his experiences and ideologies. This stands out through his style of writing, the characters that he creates in the book and through the themes that he tackles.

Works Cited

Coetzee, John. Disgrace. London: Secker & Warburg, 1999.

Introduction

David Rieff in his book, A Bed for the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis, presents the idea that the concept of an international community is moot and nothing more than a fanciful notion. In the book Rieff elaborates on the following notions:

A.)That there is no world consensus on most matters of true importance (Rieff, 9).

B.)That acquiescence for international action is done through a give and take principle. C.)That international treaty regimes are an expression of power not community (Rieff, 9).

D.)That there is a distinct lack of moral consensus with no means of international institutional enforcement (Rieff, 9).

The culmination of these observations is the notion that states and international organizations are part of an international community in name but not in spirit and action (Rieff, 9  16).

What must be understood is that the observations of Rieff echo that of the theory of Realism which states that the international system is anarchic, that states are the primary actors in international relations and act only towards their own national interest and that there is no international actor above the state which can exert a degree of control over it.

Based on the view of Rieff and the tenets of the theory of Realism it can be stated that states cannot be relied on to act altruistically in matters involving humanitarianism because they always have some form of underlying interest which is self-beneficial.

As such international humanitarian organizations (Doctors without Borders, Red Cross etc.) thus bear the responsibility of being neutral parties in providing humanitarian aid to various conflict zones and poverty ridden areas due to their ability to act without being unduly influenced by some inherent state driven directive or national interest.

Defining the concept of humanitarian

The most well know definition the term humanitarian specifically states it as being an individual who promotes human welfare and social reform in areas where it is needed. The term itself originates from the concept of humanitarianism which can be described as a form of ethos that espouses kindness, racial and ethnic acceptance, benevolence and the belief that all humans have an inherent right towards happiness and peace.

As such, to be a humanitarian is to espouse such values through both word and deed. This can take the form of either direct action as seen in the act of volunteering ones skills and services to help people in strife stricken areas or through the creation of various works which try to change social mindsets in order to encourage aide to be given to people that need it the most.

At the present, humanitarianism has evolved beyond mere individualism in that instead of it being an initiative coming from a singular individual the current trend in humanitarian aide has been one based off a multilateral platform of organizational coordination and assistance wherein humanitarian action in various areas in the world is coordinated by international organizations who enable and efficient and systematic distribution of aid and resources.

Unfortunately, as mentioned by Rieff, the neutrality of international organizations has increasingly become compromised through the influences of various states and international organizations resulting in a previously neutral concept of aide now taking sides in various global conflicts.

Not only does this violate the concept of neutrality but it increasingly places aide workers at risk since once an organization takes a specific side it becomes a target for possible aggression.

The History and Relationship between Human Rights and Humanitarianism

The initial development of the concept of humanitarianism and humanitarian law can historically be traced back to the Geneva Convention of 1864 wherein the concept was utilized as a means of providing a codified set of rules regarding the treatment and condition of wounded soldiers during war.

In fact, humanitarian law itself can actually be traced further back in western history as a law of war or armed conflict which sought to civilize the concept of war by humanizing the act of conflict and restraining combatants from committing unnecessary acts of cruelty or ruthlessness.

Thus the concept of humane warfare evolved resulting in generally accepted civilized actions during times of conflict. This took the form of non-aggression against civilian populations, ensuring the continued well-being of prisoners of war, the abolishment of certain types of weapons on battlefields etc.

These actions resulted in the subsequent codification of humanitarian law during times of warfare as seen in the Geneva trend (discussed the conditions of war victims), the Hague trend (discussed appropriate and permissible means and methods to be utilized in war) and the New York trend (by the United Nations which further enhances the humanitarian aspect of the code of armed conflict).

The basis of human rights on the other hand can be seen stemming from various religious and non-religious backgrounds however all of them have the same assertion that by virtue of being human all individuals have inherent rights which thus forms the basis of human rights and human rights law which became codified in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

What must be understood is that humanitarianism originally came from following notions related to civilized behavior expected from professional armies during times of war while human rights originate from a far less defined origins and have different forms of applicability depending on the region in question.

As such humanitarianism today is seen more along the lines of sparing people from the horrors of war while human rights on the other hand considers the concept of war a violation of a persons right to live.

Thus it can be seen that humanitarianism works within the present system of conflict while human rights works outside of it. It must be noted though that human rights and humanitarianism often overlap in the sense that in defense of human rights humanitarianism is often utilized as means of justifying certain actions. Such a connection can be seen in the following scenarios:

a.) Its application in terrorist scenarios where it becomes necessary to prohibit negative actions on civilian populations which is a form of humanitarianism but also proscribes to the tenets of human rights.

b.) The current refugee system as stated in the 4th Geneva convention which protects individual driven from their homes due to conflict yet overlaps with the concept of protecting a persons right to life.

c.) The current prohibition against torture in several countries which is a form of both humanitarianism and human rights.

Humanitarian Intervention and Collaboration with the Military

The concept of humanitarian intervention is defined as the use of military force by another state in order to prevent or stop continued human rights violations within a particular state.

As is the case in this particular type of intervention there are 3 scenarios that may occur: one where the intervention is done with a distinct absence of consent from the state performing the violations, the other is when the action being performed is done in accordance to a role of punishing the state for the violations being committed and lastly when the intervention itself is sanctioned by the UN security council.

One of the first cases of humanitarian intervention can be seen in the 1824 intervention of Russia, Britain and France in the Greek war of independence as well as the subsequent interventions seen in Syria, Haiti and the Congo.

In such cases intervention was often met with a distinctly hostile interaction between the military and the intervening state however as of late as seen in the interventions conducted in Yugoslavia by NATO in 1999, the UNTAET in East Timor in 1999 and the coalition forces in Libya at the present there has been a distinct interaction between the coordination of efforts between NGO (non-governmental organizations) and the military in providing aid to civilian populations.

The reason behind this can actually be traced back to the fact that as humanitarianism has shifted from an individualistic to a more organizational structure this has in effect enabled a far better means of collaboration and interaction which as a result has saved countless lives through the interaction between military forces and NGOs.

Personal Conclusion

For me the various facts presented present two distinct trains of thought, in one I agree with the notion of Rieff when he stated that the concept of an international community is nothing more than a fanciful notion since all states tend to act in their own self-interest on the other hand I also disagree with Rieff in that as I see it humanitarianism accomplished by various NGOs does indicate that an international community is in place but not one defined through state relations but rather through inter-social considerations.

For me, the very fact that people from other countries are willing to be altruistic, helpful and benevolent to people they dont even know, who are from other countries and vastly different social and ethnic backgrounds is indicative of the fact that a type of community does exist, since this particular form of altruism does indicate as much, but as of yet there is still no way in which to actually define its shape or form which might be due to its infancy and the fact that people are still trying to create a definition for the international community on the basis of traditional community based definitions which are not applicable in this particular case.

Works Cited

Rieff, David. A Bed for the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis. (2002). New York