``The Rise of Silas Lapham by Dean Howells Essay Example for Free

The Rise of Silas Lapham by Dean Howells Essay Argumentative thesis : In Dean Howells The Rise of Silas Lapham, Silas was a man victimized of the Gilded age as seem through the sudden immigration of his family to Boston and his obscure and ambitious attempt of permeating the upper social strata by means of having his daughters marry an elite of the aspired social ground, and having his business on a set back. All of which points a significance in the development of the Gilded age. Introduction The Gilded Age in American history is marked by the growth of industry and wave of immigrants along the territorial arena. Coined by Mark Twain, the age refers to the period of conspicuous luxury yet corrupted beneath. There was a development in railroad industry, and steel and oil production instantly were in great demand during this period. Some men, hence, has been prominently a subject to opportunities of formidable opulence and wealth. To name, there was John D. Rockefeller famed for his oil success and Arnold Carnegie renowned for his steel undertakings. known both as robber barons (people who acquired wealth and fortune through various ruthless business deals). While several people distinctively wore diamonds, there are however still a number of people who clothed rags. And as a consequence of the well-offs immodesty towards the working class of the time, revolts ideal of and accompanied by revenge were instilled upon the urban poors psyche. Point of view of Howells The Rise of Silas Lapham by W.D. Howells portrays the societal views of discrimination during the Gilded era. Furthermore, it highlights the changing roles of women in the context of traditional society, consequently partitioning rights unto feminists. W.D. Howells The Rise of Silas Lapham is a story about the materialist rise of an American man through the establishment of his fortune upon his fathers discovery of a vast amount of mineral grade. The narrative focuses on the societal differences distinctively acknowledged by both newly-rich and old-rich milieu. In addition, the book draws attention to the clashing and shifting of moral and financial profits of the newly-rich and the substantial growth of the old-rich society. The newly-rich social order has managed to rise above the old-rich yet still far less in culture and manners. on the other hand, it was the refinement and social sophistication that the old-rich tries and ventures to maintain. Howells’ protagonists The storys protagonist, Silas, despite being a man of affluence, still happens to possess no social standard typical of the rich ones. He still further finds it difficult to adjust his and his familys lifestyle into the new realm of wealth they have in their newfound place. Seemingly, this first and foremost conflict brought about by his sudden rise in the social class, puts him into a victims shoe during the Gilded age. Consequently, the blinding actuality of luxury and wealth deprives Silas of the notion of morality. Silas Lapham tries to attain such a social standard through the venture of having his two daughters marry an elite class from the Aristocratic family of the Corey. This particular area of the novel, however tracks down Silas fatality as a businessman. Apparently the distinct division or societal strata imposed upon by the time significantly poses the realist and materialist subjugation of Silas Lapham towards the nature and effects of the Gilded age. Archetypal of the Gilded age was the height of economic prowess among the people of America and the relocations to other places by the rich. This immigration flight is paralleled to Silas Laphams immediate acquisition of wealth and his familys resettlement to Boston. Subsequently, such reposition corrupted Silas Lapham of his previous moral obligations as seen on the first chapter of the book.   We quote a passage from the book most which most illustrative,   â€Å"she [mother] was a little frail thing, not bigger than a good-sized intermediate school-girl but she did the whole work of a family of boys, and boarded the hired men besides. Silas’ mother was depicted as frail yet did all the housework alone including taking care of the hired men. And still she managed to have time for church and teach her sons to read the Bible (Howells, 1993). Silas’ mother was good but apparently, the image and picture of a mother did not in anyway affected Silas. This despite the imagery which was highlighted by Howells wherein Silas narrated or viewing her mother kneeling while in a church service and it reminded him of his mother cleaning him up for bed on her knees washing his dirty feet. An non-immutable class Evidently, Silas at a younger age seemed to have a manner of neglect on his mothers moral inculcations while running bare all day and having then the luxury of being fixed decent for bed by his mother. This same attitude exuded by Silas appears to be distinguished upon his sudden fortune. Drowned in luxury, he administered his business in paint and ignored the goodwill of being such a business-oriented individual during the time. Furthermore, Silas Laphams extravagant objective of entering the class-above through the marriage of one of his daughters to Tom Corey, a wealthy Aristocrat in the truest sense, signaled the downfall of his entrepreneurship. This fall is significant also to the constituents of the Gilded Era. Howells’ prose is full of powerful imageries hence the book is not so a discourse but a depiction of the fundamental conflict which gave the Gilded Era its characteristic trait. Thus adversity is a friend but it took away the hope of a social success.   Wealth made the new rich but it is no guarantee of social acceptance. Hence redemption is through failure, a return to the fundamental trait and character.   Manhood to Howells’ Lapham was taken away by prosperity but prosperity was the alpha and the omega of the Gilded Age. Emptiness could be the thematic running through the lines of The Rise of Silas Lapham (Howells, 1993). This part of the book correlates the failure of Silas to belong and be among the respected class in his society. Despite the fat that Silass daughter Penelope, had accepted the marriage proffered by Tom Corey, it is evident that such means of penetrating the upper classs culture still is not enough to sustain his grasp from fortune. This could be due to the fact that the Coreys and Laphams are incongruent in class. Tom Corey could not let go of his class, could not betray class loyalty as if class is something permanent. We could see this on a passage of Howells depicting the feeling of Corey on their basic difference with Lapham. Howells offered an insight to the psyche of the aristocrat. Corey deliberated snubbed Lapham by going into the larger office, a symbolic place unreachable to Lapham.   In this scene, Corey was furious at Lapham for no other reason than culture as this passage described, â€Å"he thought of him the night before in the company of those ladies and gentlemen, and he quivered in resentment of his vulgar, braggart, uncouth nature (Howells, 1993).† The question of class of being born into was delved further by Howell. He explored allegiance to the â€Å"exclusiveness to which he was born and bred, as a man perceives his duty to his country when her rights are invaded (Howells, 1993).† The seeming innocence of Lapham, the simplicity of his social breeding has made the Corey character detest not Lapham personally but what he represents. Thus this passage of Howells depicting such social conflict connected pride, social traditions, suppressed emotions and feelings in the persona of Corey, we quote thus, â€Å"the stings and flashes of his wounded pride, all the social traditions, all the habits of feeling, which he had silenced more and more by force of will during the past months, asserted their natural sway, and he rioted in his contempt of the offensive boor, who was even more offensive in his shame than in his trespass (Howell, 1993).† As a matter of speaking in fact, one can view this attitude of Tom towards Lapham as the truth behind every breed man, that you can take an individual from his class, but you cannot take the class itself from the individual. Rather interrogating the value of his class as Why are there effective markers designated to delineate each class? Tom simply stitched himself up with his classs doctrine to have a delineation or barrier among other classes. This mindset was among the Gilded Ages contribution to American vista and notion of social stratification, unmistakably portrayed in W.D. Howells The Rise of Silas Lapham. As a player in the said age of mental framework, Silas, nevertheless, have been sightless of the potential features and indication of his forthcoming downfall. Because of being at hand with invariable riches, and mentally bolstered to acquire even more, Silas had failed to point the rationalities of his actions. He made his purchased wealth as the object of his desires, thus, casting a victimized light upon the identity of Silas himself. The way it began, hope for change To further apprehend the casualty on Silas Laphams life, we point the fall of his business and his suppression to bankruptcy. Moreover, we can aim at the abrupt shift of control over his household as he turned ill. His wife, Peris has to slot in as to what had befallen the business and run the household herself. This instance indicates the strength cultivation and advancement of women in the society. In general, the Gilded Era has been portrayed by W.D. Howell in his book The Rise of Silas Lapham. The typical recurrences of events, social state of mind and the distinction of classes of the time as participated by Silas in the story envelopes well the idea of how people have geared and approached the materialism of the present time. References Herring, R. (2005-12-05 ). The Business of Marriage in The Rise of Silas Lapham (Publication. Retrieved 20 July 2007: http://locus.cwrl.utexas.edu/herring/node/9 Howells, W. D. (1983). The Rise of Silas Lapham : Penguin Books. THE RISE OF SILAS LAPHAM by William Dean Howells Library of America PB (Publication.: http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Rise-Of-Silas-Lapham-by-William-Dean-Howells-1991_W0QQitemZ160138548936QQihZ006QQcategoryZ377QQcmdZViewItem (Publication. Retrieved 20 July 2007: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~de271296/SilasLapham.htm (Publication. Retrieved 20 July 2007: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/gilded (Publication. Retrieved 20 July 2007: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/gilded_age/index.cfm (Publication retrieved 20 July 2007: http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext94/silap10.htm (Publication retieved 20 July 2007: http://locus.cwrl.utexas.edu/herring/node/9

All Quiet on the Western Front Essays: Two Years :: All Quiet on the Western Front Essays

All Quiet on the Western Front   Two Years      The book I chose to read was All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque. The story told in All Quiet on the Western Front occurs during the two years just before the Armistice ended World War I in November 1918. By 1916 when the story begins, World War I had already been underway for two years. From the beginning, World War I was fought in two areas, named for their geographical relationship to Germany. The Eastern Front extended into Russia, and the Western Front extended through Belgium into Northern France. The main character is a young man named Paul Baumer who is a 19 year-old private in the German army. It follows Paul trough the horrors of World War I. Paul joins the army after a recruiter named Kantorek pumps him and his friends full of glory and honor. Glory and honor they can get by joining up. Paul is excited that he is going off to war.   Once he arrives at the front he begins to understand the â€Å"terrible thing called war.† He realizes that war isn’t all glory, there is death and destruction. Paul learns to deal with the deaths of all his friends and how to keep his mind clear without turning into an animal. One of the big issues in the book was Kemmerich’s leather boots. At his death everybody was squabbling over who would get them. Remarque, in my opinion, shows you the pettiness between good friends because of war. Remarque kind of slips in these themes, some others are how terrible war really is, friendship is a must to stay alive on the battlefield, and World War I destroyed a generation.   During the time period of All Quiet on the Western Front the Russian were rebelling against Czar Nicholas II. Eventually him and his entire family were killed, and so began communist Russia. Also during this time European countries were colonizing Asia and Africa which was one of the causes of World War I. The Ottoman Empire collapses and the introduction of Henry Ford’s Model T.   If there was one thing that I learned from this book it is that war is not pretty. Despite what the recruiters and military personnel say, if there is a war you can die.

General Environmental Pollution and the KyotoProtocol

What is environmental pollution? It can be defined as the act of environmental contamination, usually caused by man-made wastes. The Environment and Opportunity Cost At first thought, these two concepts seem to be fairly unrelated. However, both of these concepts come down to one single principle – Scarcity. As economists, we have seen that society tries to make the best arrangements between various resources in order to gain maximum benefit. Unfortunately, these arrangements which provide maximum benefit to an individual or firm can have detrimental side effects to other individuals and/or firms. Environmental problems would not arise if there was a superabundance of resources. There would be no worries about running out of supplies. Most waste products could be easily and harmlessly dispersed if there were boundless oceans and atmosphere. Many of our environmental problems occur simply because we have tended to treat world resources as if they were limitless. Scarcity forces upon us the necessity of making choices by comparing alternatives. We are all aware that if limited resources are fully employed, an increase in the output of one commodity or service can only be achieved by having less of another – more resources being used to clean-up the environment will mean fewer resources available for consumer goods. (Explain opportunity cost and trade off) (Explain shifting of PPC inwards in long run due to unhealthy workforce and hence less productivity of workforce – should we locate at A or at B? – Most developed nations would aim for B whilst most developing nations would really produce at A) (Explain minimum consumption limited – why points below/above are unachievable) Economic Causes of Environmental Pollution Environmental pollution is basically caused due to economic actions of a firm – i.e. production of a good or service. Environmental pollution is a form of a negative externality. Most economic actions of firms contribute towards some external cost. This is illustrated below. The cost of producing oil, to a firm is C. However, this is only the private cost of production of oil – i.e. the cost of manufacturing oil to the firm, which includes its fixed and variable costs. The firm pays C to produce an output of Q. However, it does not take into account the social cost of producing oil. The social cost is the private cost plus any external costs. In this case, the external cost is the vertical distance between the two supply curves, E1T. The oil factory emits harmful chemicals which damages the environment. This, in the long run, causes health problems for the local residents, as it contaminates the air, soil and water. These infected inhabitants will need to be treated at the NHS. This is ultimately funded by the government, who pays the cost of cleanup. In order to bare this cost on the firm, the government must try to equate MPC with MSC, as the product is currently being overproduced, from society's point of view. In order to do this, it must set policies to shift the MPC curve leftwards to the MSC curve, by basically reducing supply. At this point, the cost to the firm will be C1 at an output level of Q1. At this reduced output level, a social optimum point will be reached. However, reducing production can lead to a firms cost increasing, as it moves leftwards on the AC curve. If such an increase in costs comes from a more vital product, say oil, it can cause cost-push inflation in the economy. We shall now take a real-life example of the French oil industry and a French oil company called TotalFinaElf. TFE has consistently been leading the list for the worst French polluters, followed by other French oil firms. The French government, a couple of years ago decided to implement more stringent policies in order to reduce pollution and environmental damage. The policies that were implemented have been discussed below. 1. The first policy implemented was a flat rate tax. The tax leads to an increase in the cost of production, a reduction in production and hence a reduction in pollution. The social optimum point of production is at OQ, where the firm pays tax equal to EQ. This is equal to its marginal profit in pollution and hence there is no profit on the last unit. However, the French government soon realised that such a policy was not very effective for a number of reasons. It placed the same amount of tax on producers regardless of their size and regardless how much they individually polluted the atmosphere. It was very difficult to place a monetary value on the extent of the damage and hence the tax rate. Oil is a necessity and has an inelastic demand. For this reason, the oil producers were able to pass on most of the tax cost onto the consumer and hence it had no effect on reducing pollution caused by these firms. 2. Another policy that was thought of, but not implemented was a form of regulation. Under this policy the French government would allow production of oil of OQ barrels. Beyond this limit, the French government decided to ban production of oil. However, this policy was not put into effect because of the fact that demand for oil is inelastic. Reducing supply, would lead to an increase in price and hence cost-push inflation. (Draw diag.) The French government has still not decided on an appropriate policy to implement. The French government is trying to implement a policy which combines property rights and environmental taxes. They have realised that it is very difficult to extend property rights and identify the polluter. The Kyoto Protocol The policies implemented by various nations, to limit greenhouse gas emissions have had a fairly adverse effect on their economies and industries. The Kyoto Protocol was set up to alleviate these adverse effects and to continue pursuing the goal of reducing pollution and environmental degradation. The purpose of the mechanisms described in the protocol, entails channeling investments in energy efficient and energy conservation to countries and projects where the cost per unit of emissions reduction is lowest. This concept would entail a large-scale resource transfer from relatively energy-efficient, high cost countries to energy-inefficient, low cost countries. The pact requires industrialised countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 8% of the 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012 The establishment of emissions reduction targets was a very complicated issue in the early phase of the international negotiations. Many countries could point to special circumstances that justified a more lax treatment of them compared to other countries. This argument was accepted to a limited extent. Notably, Russia and the Ukraine were given a zero target as opposed to the western industrialized countries that would have to reduce their emissions by 2010. The Kyoto Protocol uses a system of pollution permits which can be traded on an international market. The USA is opposed to this treaty, because it claims that it will have a devastating effect on its economy. It claims that it will lead to serious job losses, inflation and a fall in GDP. How – We have seen that pollution occurs because of overproduction and over consumption. Reducing production will lead to more factors of production becoming unemployed, and also a fall in GDP. This has brought various criticisms, especially from the UK. All nations claim that the USA, by a large margin, is the world's largest polluter and hence should sign the treaty for the well-being of future generations. â€Å"The US contains 4% of the world's population but produces about 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions. By comparison, Britain emits 3% – about the same as India which has 15 times as many people† Source: BBC President Bush â€Å"Under the Protocol, the U.S. is supposed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by seven percent. With four percent of the world's population, the country accounts for about 25 percent of the Earth's greenhouse gas emissions† European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½m says ‘But this ignorant, short sighted and selfish politician, long since firmly jammed into the pockets of the oil lobby, clearly couldn't care less. The talks in Bonn in July must now concentrate on world action independent of the U.S.' â€Å"

Writing Prompts for 5th Gradeers

By fifth grade, students are developing basic fluency as writers. In order to hone their skills, fifth  graders should practice supporting claims with factual information, conveying information clearly, and writing narratives in a logical order. The following fifth-grade writing prompts encourage students to develop their skills through topics that are meaningful to them. Narrative Essay Writing Prompts Narrative essays tell a story based on a student’s personal experience. They encourage students to use descriptive writing to reflect on their experiences, explain them in a logical manner, and draw conclusions from them. New Beginnings.  This is your  last year of elementary school. What are you most excited or most nervous about when you think of starting middle school?Betwixt. Students in 5th grade are often referred to as â€Å"tweens,† meaning that they are between the young child and the teen years. What is the hardest thing about being a tween in today’s society?Besties.  What is the best book you’ve ever read? What made it so special?Reflections.  Do  you remember your first-ever day of school? Describe one vivid memory from that day.Bullies. Have you ever witnessed someone bullying another student? What happened and how did it make you feel?Man’s Best Friend.  Do you share a bond with your dog or other pet? Describe your pet, and explain what makes your relationship unique.Families.  A family isn’t always a mom, a dad, and their children.  Write about the ways your family is the same as and different from  other types of families  and wha t makes your bonds so strong.Holiday Memories.  Think about one of your favorite holiday-related memories. Write an essay describing it and tell why it is so unforgettable.Guilty.  Think about a time you did something that made you feel guilty. Describe what happened.The Ultimate Field Trip.  If you could choose anywhere in the world to go on a field trip, where would you choose and why?Family Game Night.  Do you enjoy playing games with your family? Describe your favorite family game or activity.Tasty Treats.  What is your favorite food? Describe it as if you were introducing it to someone who has never seen or tasted it.Someday.  Have you thought about what you want to be when you grow up? Write an essay explaining why you think you’d like that career. Persuasive Essay Writing Prompts Persuasive essays are those written to convince another person to agree with the writer or take action. These persuasive essay prompts inspire 5th graders to share their passions with an audience. Pets Day.  You’ve just gone to work with your parent for â€Å"bring your child to work day.† Write an essay convincing your school to have a â€Å"bring your pet to school† day.Yuck.  What is your least-favorite cafeteria food? Give three compelling reasons why your school should quit serving it.Let’s Trade.  Your friend’s lunches from home always look better than yours. Write an essay convincing  your buddy  that you should start swapping meals every day. Be sure to  highlight the benefits of the food you bring!Home Alone. Write an essay convincing your parents that you are old enough and responsible enough to stay at home alone.Sunny Day.  The weather outside is beautiful for the first time in weeks. Persuade your teacher not to assign any homework so that you’ll have time to go out to play.The Sequel.  The long-awaited sequel to your favorite book or video game is now available. Convince your brother or sister to do your c hores this week so that you have plenty of time for reading or gaming.Seating Chart.  Because of your teacher’s seating chart, you’re not going to be able to sit next to your friend all year! Persuade your teacher to let students choose their seats.Birth Order. Are you an only child, the oldest sibling, the youngest, or the middle? What makes your birth order the best?The Ultimate Game.  What is the best video game on the planet? Explain why it’s better than similar games.Life Lessons.  What are the three most important lessons parents should teach their children and why?Test Time.  Do you think standardized tests  are helpful or harmful? Explain your answer.Tunes.  Some studies have shown that listening to music can help students concentrate. Should students be allowed to listen to music using headphones during independent work times at school? Persuade the reader of your answer.Catch-22.  You’re not a big fan of writing. Write an essay   convincing  your teacher that you shouldn’t have to write any more essays this year. Expository Essay Writing Prompts Expository essays are often called how-to essays. They usually teach the reader something or provide facts about a particular topic. Let’s Play. Your family frequently attends community theater productions, but your friend has never seen one. Write an essay describing what he or she can expect during the evening.Band. Youre graduating elementary school, and a younger student is taking your spot in the school band. Explain to him or her how to clean and care for your  musical  instrument.Lessons Learned. Write an essay to a younger sibling explaining two or three key strategies for having a positive 5th-grade experience.Class Pet.  You’ve cared for your class pet this week, but now it’s another classmate’s turn. Explain how to feed and care for the pet properly.Upgrade Ahead.  You have an idea to improve your school. Explain it.Safety Zone.  Explain three of the best steps kids can take to be safe online.Family Traditions.  Does your family have any customs or traditions that might be unfamiliar to a classmate? Describe them.Pen Pal.  Describe for your pen  pal who lives in another state an  animal native to your area, including its physical characteristics, behaviors, and any sounds that it makes.Creepy Crawlies.  Compare and contrast two insects or animals that are similar, but have different characteristics such as a bumblebee and a yellow jacket or a horse and a mule. How are they alike and how are they different?Clean Up.  Your class is going to spend a day cleaning up at a local park. You’ve done this with another group before, but some of your classmates haven’t. Explain the process.Action.  Your favorite book was made into a movie. Compare and contrast the film and book versions.Team Players.  Explain how contributing responsibly helps or how it hurts a group when someone doesn’t do his part.Tell and Show.  Your class is having a â€Å"tell and show† day. You have to describe your item in as much detail as possible without naming it. Only when the class guesses or gives up can you show your item. Write out the description of your item. Creative Writing Essay Prompts Creative writing allows students to engage their imaginations and story-telling skills while also practicing vital writing skills such as sequence and description. Magic Lamp.  You’ve just found a  magic lamp. What happens when you rub it?Say Cheese.  You are given an exceptional camera. Everything you take a picture of becomes yours, but you can only take three pictures. Tell a story about the photos you take.Invisible Man. One morning, you glance in the mirror and realize that you don’t have a reflection. You’ve become invisible! Write a story about your day.Gone to the Dogs.  Write a story from your pet’s point of view.All Hail the King.  Imagine that you discover an uncharted land that you claim as a new country. And, you’re the ruler! Describe your country, its people, and your newfound position of power.Part of the Story.  One night, you doze off after reading the latest book in your favorite series. When you wake, you discover that you’re in the story! Write about your adventures.Before or After. Imagine that you live either 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future. What is yo ur life like?Dr. Doolittle.  You’re walking through a pet store when you  discover that you can talk to the animals.  What happens next?Meet and Greet. Imagine that you can meet anyone you’re studying in school right now from famous scientists to historical figures to the characters in the class read-aloud. Write a story about your meeting with that person.Switcheroo. If you could switch lives with anyone in your school, who would it be? Write about your day in the life of that person.Holiday Loop.  Imagine you get to relive your favorite holiday every day. What’s that like?Tall Tales. Tall tales are possibly true stories that contain  highly exaggerated actions or events. Create a tall tale about something that happened in your family.Teachers Pet. Imagine that your teacher is actually your parent. Describe a day in class.

Henrik Ibsen s A Doll House - 1067 Words

In this play A Doll House, Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen exposes the social structure and the gender role of late nineteenth century. In this literary work, Ibsen attempts to inspire women to bring individualism and freedom to their lives from suppression. The play focuses on Nora Helmer, who struggles to live an independent life as a woman in a male dominant society. Nora sacrifices for her husband Torvald by secretly borrowing money to save his life. However, for Torvald, Nora was merely a â€Å"doll† which must follow his orders and fulfil his desires. This oppression on woman appears to end when Nora left Torvald on realizing deprivation of her identity. Thus, Ibsen in A Doll House portrayed the realism of gender roles and boldly reflected the message of women empowerment and resistance of gender inequality by contradicting the moral values. Ibsen reveals the social beliefs of that era by representing a masculine superiority in Helmer’s house. During the nineteenth century, after a marriage woman’s rights, her property, and even her identity almost ceased to exist (â€Å"Historical†). This foundation can be observed in A Doll House. The plays opens with Nora lending the money to the delivery boy and secretly eating macaroons like a child. She approaches Torvald study room and hears him, saying, â€Å"Is that my little lark twittering out there?† (Ibsen 787). Nora in response tolerates Torvalds stereotype behavior and says yes. Throughout the play, by calling her with different petShow MoreRelatedHenrik Ibsen s A Doll House1563 Words   |  7 Pages In the play, A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen, the title itself symbolizes the dependent and degraded role of the wife within traditional marriages. Ibsen portrayed the generous nature root into women by society, as well as the significant action of this nature, and lastly the need for them to find their own voice in a world ruled by men. Ibsen wrote this play in 1879, this is the era where women were obedient to men, tend the children until their husband came home, and stood by the Cult of DomesticityRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1717 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Doll, a Partner, and a Change† Social movement of women liberation toward equal rights and independence has been a big subject in human history. It happens not only in Europe but also all over the world. Though making progress, this movement has been advancing slowly and encountered backslashes from time to time. Maybe there is something deeply hidden which the society has not figured out yet, even women themselves. What do women want, freedom or good life? Most of the time, they are notRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1291 Words   |  6 Pages A Doll s House by Henrik Ibsen, is a play that has been written to withstand all time. In this play Ibsen highlights the importance of women’s rights. During the time period of the play these rights were neglected. Ibsen depicts the role of the woman was to stay at home, raise the children and attend to her husband during the 19th century. Nora is the woman in A Doll House who plays is portrayed as a victim. Michael Meyers said of Henrik Ibsen s plays: The common denominator in many of IbsenRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1288 Words   |  6 Pages Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is based in the Victorian society of the 19th century. It assesses the many struggles and hardships that women faced because of marriage â€Å"laws† that were crucial during that time period. The society was male- dominated with no equality. Nora is the protagonist in A Doll’s House and the wife of a man named Torvald. This play is about Nora’s voyage to recognizing her self- determination and independence. She transforms from a traditional, reserved woman to a new, independentRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1298 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"There is beauty in truth, even if it s painful. Those who lie, twist life so that it looks tasty to the lazy, brilliant to the ignorant, and powerful to the weak. But lies only strengthen our defects. They don t teach anything, help anything, fix anything or cure anything. Nor do they develop one s character, one s mind, one s heart or one s soul.† (Josà © N. Harris). Nora Helmer’s choice to lie and deceive is inappropriate and wrong for women to do to her husband during this time period; itRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1037 Words   |  5 PagesHenrik Ibsen s A Doll s House is a work of literature genius. This three-act play involves many literary technics that are undermined by the average reader such as the fact that the plot shows the main characters Torvald and his wife Nora live the perfect life. An ironic paradox based around the fact that Nora and Torvald’s relationship is the complete opposite of perfect. Also, bringing upon a conflict as well, appearance versus reality. These little hidden meanings within stories are what areRead MoreHenrik Ibsen s A Doll House Essay1501 Words   |  7 PagesHenrik Ibsen’s play â€Å"A Doll House† was set in the Victorian era, a time where women were highly respected. Women in this time period did not work, they had nannies to take care of their children and maids to take care of their homes. Many women had no real responsibilities, they spent their time having tea parties and socializing with their friends. Henrik Ibsen dared to show the realism of the Victorian era while everyone else would only focus on the romantic aspect. 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The protagonist of A Doll’s House is a woman named Nora Helmer. Ibsen shows how Nora’s design of perfect life gradually transforms when her sec ret unravels. InRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen876 Words   |  4 PagesA Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen A Doll’s House takes place in the home of Torvald and Nora Helmer. Through conversation with Nora’s good friend Kristine Linde it is revealed that Mr. Helmer was ill around the same time Nora’s father died. Luckily Nora’s father left her enough money that Torvald and Nora could go on a life saving trip to Italy. But the truth comes out when we find out Nora’s father did not leave her a penny. We find out that Nora got a hold of the money through a loan but she signed

Review Of Dracula By Bram Stoker - 1188 Words

In the diverse categories of monsters, there are specific types of monsters which are â€Å"cursed by a bite†Ã¢â‚¬â€Vampires, Zombies and Werewolves (Kaplan 2012: 136). Perhaps vampires are the most interesting of all. Vampires don`t morph into a howling hairy creature at the sight of full-moon and they are not controlled together by a sorcerer; rather they assimilate among us as gentle cannibals. The term vampire has been around for centuries. From Dracula (Stoker 1897) to Twilight (Meyer 2005), vampire culture has seduced fiction lovers all over the world. The main target for this craze is women. Before it was Dracula`s â€Å"otherness† that provoked fears in 19th century, â€Å"otherness† returns in the vampires of 20th century as a source of empathy and†¦show more content†¦As Milly was arguing Louis`s unwanted status is a sign of victimhood; he came to inhabit the category of â€Å"evil† vampire as a result of Lestat`s actions. This sign of victimhood and innocence is something humans can relate to, therefore Louis deserves our sympathy. There was a time when America had a traumatic events during and after Vietnam War. We see soldiers ordered to kill the innocents and didn`t have the option to distinguish good and evil. Like Louis, they were put into this situation regardless of their desire. They are good people in a bad place. Our awareness of how easy it is for good people to go bad could have increased our interest in vampires and started to view them positively. The true horror in the movie is not the gruesomeness and nudity, it is the monotony of eternal life. As a contrast to our recent obsession with immortal beauty, vampires themselves don`t appreciate their features as much. Though eternal youth and beauty is really something humans can only wish for. Before the arrival of vampire beauty, ageing was a major concern in the American society in 1980s. Plastic surgery promoters soon awakened our deeply embedded desire of sexual attractiveness and took it even further to women`s career goals, mental health and marriage. Connections were made between evangelical Christians and a culture of dieting and exercising, as a result bodily transcendence became a

Jane Eyre Essay Example For Students

Jane Eyre Essay Jane Eyre is often regarded as a modern day fairy tale when viewed superficially . However, the complexity of the story lines and characters represented a phenomenal breakthrough in story writing techniques during the Victorian period. Brontes creation of a new and powerful woman created a stirr amoungst Victorian Critics. Raised in this repressive male-dominated society, some critics like Elizabeth Rigby,suggested that Charlotte Brontes characterisation of Jane Eyre demonstrated her rebellion against male repression . Elizabeth Rigby was very critical of the woman portrayed by Bronte describin Jane as an unregenerate and undisciplined spirit, reflecting a typical critical Victorian response to Janes assertive and independent nature. To interpret this as a feminst critique reflects a more positive response to Janes independence. R. B Martin, a modern critic of the 1970s, suggests that the most dominant theme in the novel Jane Eyre, is the fight for equality and that Janes character illustrates the emergence of feminism during the Victorian Period. It has been argued that Jane Eyre is a wild and undisciplined spirit. Janes ideals and actions greatly contradicted Victorian expectations of womens social role. Her failure to be subordinate to men and desirew for social equality is clearly shown in her relationship with Rochester and St. John. This, together with frequent shows of aggression and wild temper were seen as a threat to the ideals of women in Victorian Society and were greatly and widely criticised. Sandra M. Gilbert aptly described Jane Eyre as a larger than life emblem of passionate, barely disguisable rebelliousness. Critics of the late nineteenth century were angered at Janes absolute refusal to submit to her social destiny- a life of drudgery and conformity to the rules of society made by men. With Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte introduced a new type of heroine to English Romanticism. Jane Eyre is a heroine endowed with intelligence and pluck; attributes all seen to be totally unacceptable for a woman at this time. From the opening words of the novel, the reader can experience the anger and brutish energies demonstrated in Janes aptly described undisciplined spirit, as she dares to challenge the man of the house, Master Reed. Janedares to confront Reed in an attempt to put a stop to the torment she endures from him. My terror had passed its climax, other feelings succeeded Wicked and cruel boy i said. you are like a morderer. Janes lanugage in this passage is very abrupt, heartfelt and meaningful. it is almost as if this speech is the climax of many years of pent-up anger and frustration that has finally been released. Janes later use of the expression you are like a slave driver suggest her feelings of confidement under the authority of Reed and the other more poerful individuals within her household. This speech along and violent episode represent Janes first rebellion against the suppressive powers in her house and to some critics this highlighted the view of Jane as unregenerate as it not ony demonsrates power and agression from a young woman but using this power against a man of higher social standing, a challenging concept in Victorian Society. This violent episode highlights a view of Jane as being unregenerate as it not only demonstrates violence from a woman, but violence against a man of higher social standing than herself, a most challenging concept in Victorian Society. nother challanging concept was janes different outlook on life compared to the other women srrondfing her in the novel. These other female characters, such as Blanche Ingram and Adele Varens, accentuate the description of Jane as a larger than life emblem of passionate and barely describable rebelliousness. Unlike Jane, they desire fashionable gowns, jewels and money rather than love or freedom. He produced a casket and opened it and showed magnificant bracelets and earrings; she acted astonishment amd admiration , kneeling he laidthe treasure at her feet; incredulty and delight were expressed by her looks and gestures. but these material gestures are certainly not what Jane desires. it is Janes implicit desire for love and freedom that sets her appart from these women, a desire that challanged the boundries set for women and the fulfillment of their needs; replacing jewels with equalty and affection. Critics of the late nineteenth century not only compared Jane with female characters within the novel, but other predominant female characters introduced onto the literary scene at this time. Dickens characters are a marvellous example of such women. Choice of the African character EssayThis tells us that Jane is a shattered person and her life is meaningless. In the same way All John Reeds tyrannies, All his proud indifferences, All his mothers diversion shows how much hatred Jane has for the Reeds this also shows that they are family however they treat each other like foe. Moreover repetition of the word All symbolises the fact that the entire world is after her and she is like a prey to all the predators out there hunting for her and she has nowhere to hide. The word All also shows that there is no one to give her protection and she is isolated. Moreover this shows that Jane is like an endangered animal that is at risk of getting hunted and soon maybe destroyed because of the environment around her. Jane is made to feel dissimilar just because she is an orphan and is poor she is like a mad cat show that the family dont talk directly to Jane and they take her to be like an animal. She is treated brutally however everyone witnesses this yet they choose not to do anything about it. Everyone turns a blind eye to the truth and once again the innocent and poor Jane has to suffer in silence. This is constant pain even as a small child Jane knew what was happening to her, she knew that she was abused however she was afraid to speak up. She is shown no humanity and is given the image of an animal not just by the family but by everyone who comes across Jane. The Victorians believed that the poor were treated like dirt and the poor were not allowed to engage in any relationship with the rich this shows the differences between the people in the 19th century and also shows that Jane was a victim of this inequality. In chapter 1 symbolism is used to help create sympathy for Jane red moreen curtains show the isolation and loneliness Jane is made to feel which shows the extent of Janes pain. There is a limit to abuse and Jane has experienced many things on her life which have exceeded this limit. It alkso shows that there is a barrier between her and the family and also the outside world. Jane is completely turned away from the outside world and she does not know what the outside world even looks like. Also she does not know what it is like to be free as she is like an imprisoned bird that has always been kept in a cage. Jane has nowhere in the world whwere she can be at peace besides the red room this is the only hiding place jane has and it is the only place she can call home. This symbolises passion and the feelings of peace and contentment for the first time. Jane is put into the red room to be punished however, as Jane is afraid of crowds, she prefers to stay there than anywhere else in the world. She is fervent about reading however all the Reeds wish for is getting rid of Jane and distancing her away from themselves as far as possible. The red room is a barrier between Jane and the family. Likewise, in the 19th century women were meant to be beautiful to be given the status of a woman this shows that Jane had none of these things and was therefore taken to be inferior. This creates sympathy for Jane as we know what the truth is and it makes us want to speak out for Jane and sympathise with her. Moreover, symbolism is used to create sympathy for Jane And a half moon setting shows that a new beginning for Jane and a new life. Finally Jane is able to feel some of the joys of life and is gradually starting to endure life. Jane is living life like every other ordinary person. Jane never knew that she would ever enjoy life but now that she is experiencing this joy it is beyond words Even for me life had its gleams of sunshine shows that Jane degrades herself and holds a minute status for herself. This also shows that behind all the happiness that Jane feels she knows that deep down there is going to be an end to this contentment at least one day. However gleams of sunshine shows an indication of hope and guidance for Jane. Now that Jane is going to school there have been new doors opened for her. However under all this joy we dont know what surprises life has wrapped for her. Similarly in the 19th century the law sent an order to eradicate child abuse this is the time when everything began to improve for the children in them times. Therefore, Janes life is starting to improve and Jane has started to enjoy life. Even the happiness in Janes life creates sympathy because we feel happy for her and we begin to believe that Jane deserves the joy that she is getting. Coming to a conclusion, I believe that in the book Jane Eyre, from the chapters 1-5 Jane is a very strong person and she is a fighter. Jane has had to tolerate many problems all throughout her life and she has faced every problem successfully. The amount of trouble that Jane had to go through perhaps no one would have been able to endure the way she did. Jane has shown a lot of courage all throughout her life and has faced all the obstacles that came in her path with tolerance and patience. Jane was never loved by anyone and even the most merciful person, God, was put against her. However she believed in herself and rose above the problems. Finally, I believe that the novel Jane Eyre is a very inspirational book and the character of Jane was very powerful moreover, it is an example to me, to become strong and face every challenge with endurance.