Porphyria’s Lover Essay - 4333 Words

Porphyria’s Lover The finest woks of Browning endeavor to explain the mechanics of human psychology. The motions of love, hate, passion, instinct, violence, desire, poverty, violence, and sex and sensuousness are raised from the dead in his poetry with a striking virility and some are even introduced with a remarkable brilliance. Thanks to the changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution, so many people living in such close quarters, poverty, violence, and sex became part of everyday life. The absence of family and community ties meant newfound personal independence; it also meant the loss of a social safety net. The mid-nineteenth century also saw the rapid growth of newspapers, which functioned not as the current-events journals†¦show more content†¦Porphyrias Lover also demonstrates several of Robert Brownings defining characteristics as a poet. It contains his criticism towards the beliefs and practices of self-restraint and his traditional use of dramatic monologue to expose a single characters personality, which in turn often provides an additional depth to his works in coordination with his use of unpoetic language. Also taking into account the authors own personal experiences with his wife, the poem can also be perceived as a representation of the development of their relationship. Brownings criticism of the idea of self-restraint is evident throughout the poem Porphyrias Lover as it was shown in the internal debates both characters underwent as they decided whether or not they should consummate the love between them. In Robert Brownings dramatic monologue, Porphyrias Lover, the love-stricken frustrations of a nameless speaker end in a passionate, annihilating response to societys scrutiny towards human sensuality. Cleverly juxtaposing Porphyrias innocent femininity and her sexual transgression, Browning succeeds in displaying societys contradictory embrace of morality next to its rejection of sensual pleasure. In an ironically tranquil domestic setting, warm comfort and affection come to reveal burning emotional perversions within confining social structures. The speakers violent display of passion ends not with external condemnation, but with the matter-of-fact sense ofShow MoreRelatedPorphyrias Lover779 Words   |  4 PagesPorphyria’s Lover is a typical dramatic monologue by Browning, where we get an insight into the narrator’s thoughts. In the poem, we get an insight into the thoughts of a man who kills his love interest out of jealousy: â€Å"Nor could to-night’s gay f east restrain.† This gives the impression of Porphyria living a very high status life, just coming from a party, and the narrator being her love interest that she is sneaking away from her life to see. On the other hand, Porphyria’s death could have beenRead MoreThe Point of View in Porphyrias Lover1396 Words   |  6 PagesPoint of View in Porphyrias Lover Porphyrias Lover is an exhilarating love story given from a lunatics point of view. It is the story of a man who is so obsessed with Porphyria that he decides to keep her for himself. The only way he feels he can keep her, though, is by killing her. Robert Brownings poem depicts the separation of social classes and describes the triumph of one man over an unjust society. As is often the case in fiction, the speaker of Porphyrias Lover does not giveRead MoreMy Last Duchess and Porphyria’s Lover714 Words   |  3 Pageshimself by surprise is explained by the fact that unconscious wishes are usually unknown to the person himself.† (Flanagan). This can help explain how the men act within the stories My Last Duchess and Porphyria’s Lover. Furthermore, this is a comparative analysis of the lover’s within Porphyria’s Lover and My Last Duchess, both by Robert Browning. In both stories, the lovers perceive the women as objects, instead of actual people. In My Last Mistress, he believes that he has given her a gift byRead More Porphyria’s Lover : Browning’s Portrait of a Madman Essay1892 Words   |  8 PagesPorphyria’s Lover : Browning’s Portrait of a Madman Robert Browning’s Porphyria’s Lover contains the methodical ramblings of a lunatic; it is a madman’s monologue that reveals the dark side of human nature. Power and passion coalesce to form the strangulation of the beautiful and innocent Porphyria, and at the same time strangle the reader’s ability to comprehend what is occurring and why it is occurring. The murder’s monologue depicts a heinous crime. The simple fact that the monologue isRead MoreCompare My Last Duchess And Porphyrias Lover1098 Words   |  5 PagesLove That Kills (Comparing and Contrasting of â€Å"My Last Duchess† and â€Å"Porphyria’s Lover†) While reading the poems â€Å"My Last Duchess† and â€Å"Porphyria’s Lover† by Robert Browning, there is a large possibility that you may be left haunted by the words that were written on the paper. â€Å" This is not to say that he was blandly optimistic, as he is sometimes portrayed. He wrote fully about the world s cruelty and vice and was quite frank that he had himself had no divine revelation. Nevertheless, he resolvedRead MorePorphyrias Lover And My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1510 Words   |  7 Pagesconsisting of trust, honesty, and respect (Denham et al. 397). Within â€Å"Porphyria’s Lover† and â€Å"My Last Duchess,† Robert Browning, a romantic poet, suggests couples do not have fully expressed and healthy relationships because of male dominance and an individual’s psychotic state of mind. The idea of male dominance as a counter to the fulfillment of relationships appears in â€Å"Porphyria’s Lover† and â€Å"My Last Duchess.† Within â€Å"Porphyria’s Lover,† the speaker says, â€Å"she too weak, for all her heart’s endeavorRead More Porphyria’s Lover, My Last Duchess and The Laboratory Essay2600 Words   |  11 PagesPorphyria’s Lover, My Last Duchess and The Laboratory In this essay I hope to prove that Robert Browning’s murder mystery poems are fulfilled with intrigue and excitement. I also hope to prove that in his poems he creates vivid characters and uses poetic techniques to expose a world of madness and wickedness. To show that the statements above are true I will be writing about the characters, the poetic features in each poem and the madness and wickedness in each poem. This essay will includeRead More A study of Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess by Robert Essay816 Words   |  4 PagesA study of Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess by Robert Browning. The first poem â€Å"Porphyria’s lover† is about class and control. A woman shows her control over her lover by seducing him to get attention, moving him to a position she likes and treating him like she is the boss of him and his possessions. The man eventually goes to extremes to get control and kills her. The second poem â€Å"My last Duchess† is also about control. The man is showing some important guests around his palaceRead MoreEssay about A Comparison of My Last Duchess and Porphyrias Lover1182 Words   |  5 Pageseveryone in the world as being equal no matter what class they are. The duke however cannot do this. He is too worried about his appearance. Porphyrias Lover is a poem in which a man describes an evening in which his lover, Porphyria, visits him and he unexpectedly murders her. In this it is unlike My Last Duchess because Porphyria worships her lover unlike the Duke From the title My Last Duchess, we immediately learn that this is a personal poem to the duke. It is a love and murderRead MoreComparing My Last Duchess and Porphyrias Lover by Robert Browning716 Words   |  3 PagesDuchess and Porphyrias Lover by Robert Browning These poems by Robert Browning were written in the Victorian era. The Victorians from the outlook seemed to live on high standards and rules, but underneath they craved for scandal and gossip. Robert Browning gave this to them through his poems. They were filled with adultery, passion, sexual tension and murder. ===================================================================== Porphyrias Lover starts off with

Liberal Arts Education Essay Summary Example For Students

Liberal Arts Education Essay Summary Second, liberal arts education gives you a chance to learn and empower you to discover the world, Also, it elevate you to increase your knowledge and teach you how to become a good leader. Finally, it shows the solitude of the Christian liberal arts education and allows to us to tint relevant quotes for different topics. Through research, have found evidence that corroborates one point of Harris article; in addition, my research has led me to think have grounds to challenge another claim of Harris refuted by another author. Liberal arts education helps us to be all that a person can be. An education in liberal arts can give a person many choices and opportunities concerning what kind of job he/she wants in the future. According to Harris Once you develop good thinking habits, you will be able to perform better in any job, but more importantly, the happier life Will be Harris suggests that liberal arts education helps to have a satisfying and comfortable life. When a person graduates from liberal arts education, he/she Will get a gratifying job that Will make him/her feel like he/she has a strong personality. Needle, CORBA. Wong, Greened et al (2007) point out that liberal arts education is a good choice for the future to have more options for jobs, which they expressed in their article Combining Arts and Science In Arts and Sciences Education published in the journal College Teaching on pages 114-120. The purpose of the article is to persuade us to study the liberal arts for a good life. The article has a positive tone because it is optimistic. The mode of the article is illustrative. The main idea of the article is to encourage people to study liberal arts because it can give them a better future, Needle et al states, Todays liberal arts education is viewed as preparing students tort the real world (114). Needle et al suggests that graduating with a degree in liberal arts will make you ready for real life. In addition, liberal arts will teach you and make you understand more about life. I found that the two articles are similar in their goal which is to talk about liberal arts and how it is important in a persons life because a liberal arts education gives you more opportunities for a great job and a better life. However, research shows that perhaps some Of Harris points can be disputed. Harris states that a liberal arts education can make a person life better. Harris article States that While a liberal arts education may not teach you how to take out an appendix or sue your neighbor, it Will teach you how to think, which is to ay, it Will teach you how to What Harris means is that you can earn a living, but the more important thing that you can get from a liberal arts education is a good life. However through research, I think I have grounds to challenge this claim of Harris. The article Theoretical analysis of Academic credibility and the hospitality curriculum: The image problem written by Abs L. Cole (BIBB) published in FLU Hospitality Review on pages 1-6 refutes Harris point. The purpose of the article is to persuade us that the liberal arts education is not good. The tone of the article is negative because it is pessimistic, The mode of the article is contrast as it compares liberal arts education to applied education. The main idea of the article is about the two types of education, applied and liberal arts education. Cole states that The author believes that it is only proponents of liberal arts education who see education in applied knowledge as being less valuable than more general liberal arts education (1). By this statement, Cole points out that only a group of people suggests that a liberal arts education is more valuable than applied education. The difference between the two articles is hat Harris article is for liberal arts education, but Coles article is for applied education. The three articles all have good points. .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 , .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .postImageUrl , .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 , .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4:hover , .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4:visited , .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4:active { border:0!important; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4:active , .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4 .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc57b93be95eb3fab4ed0e55e20bf43a4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Computer Science Government Intervention of the In EssayHowever for me, agree with Harris that a liberal arts education is better than an applied education and those liberal arts preparedly for a good life. Have a personal story about my two cousins. Both Of my cousins All, and Fad graduated from the same high school in 2001. All chose to study in liberal arts while Fad chose to study in applied education, which was accounting. They graduated in 2005 and All had many choices for a job because he studied the liberal arts education, so he had a broad type of education. However, Fad had only one choice for a job, which was to become an accountant, because he only had a narrow type of education. After a few years, All found his life was much more successful and comfortable. He could change his job because he had more knowledge, whereas Fad became unsatisfied with his life. He couldnt change his job because he only knew about accounting. I recommend that people consider studying liberal arts since it has many benefits compared to applied education. Also, you can get a better life when you choose a liberal arts education.

A Pair of Tickets Essay Example

A Pair of Tickets Essay Example A Pair of Tickets Paper A Pair of Tickets Paper Essay Topic: Literature In the short story A Pair of Tickets, by judging from the title one might think that this is a simple story more about adventure than anything else. In â€Å"A Pair of Tickets† The author Amy Tan uses a symbols to help us understand the theme the story. Family and Culture are the most important topic in this story therefore; it gives us a better understanding of the story. As stated in the context of the story â€Å"Jing-mei is on a train to China, traveling with her seventy-two-year-old father, Canning Woo. As the train enters Shenzhen, China, Jing-mei begins to feel Chinese. Their first stop will be Guangzhou. After her mothers death, a letter arrived from China from her mothers twin daughters from her first marriage. These were the two children whom she was forced to abandon on the side of the road On the hand, the internal conflict that the narrator faced while find her true identity is what helps to present the main theme of this story is ultimately love, the sacrifices that people make for love. The story takes place in china. The setting of this story is very important as it all revolts around the Chinese culture. One as a reader can be able to place oneself in the same situation and experience the feelings that are being presented in this story. The story is being told from a first person point of view. The narrator is Jing-Mei â€Å"June May† Woo. She is the 36-year old American born daughter of Suyuan a women who made the big decision which was to abandoned her twins, however she did it for love because at the time she thought she was going to die. June May is the one telling the story. We only know what the narrator thinks. We can only make inferences about the rest of the characters in the story by the way they behave. The narrator embarks an adventurous journey. Along the way she learns many things about her real roots she discovers things that she never knew before. This family is a very united family in the sense that they make decisions together and look out for each other. The author comes from a very family oriented kind of family and this reflects in â€Å"A Pair of Tickets†. This was all inside the main character in this story she has Chinese blood, she is discovering what she thought would be a new world yet, she is having an easy time coping with it. The way she was in America is different to the way she is in china. For instance when she is in the airport she is not wearing makeup. The sacrifices made for love between parent and child. Almost every character in this story made a scarified for love the main character for instance, tries to reconcile with her real roots and goes to china to carrying with her mother’s dreams of coming home. June may is going to meet her twin sisters something that her mother would of like her to do. June May is to meet the lost twins this reunion will fulfill Suyuan’s dream. She struggles to find her inner self yet she did it for love to her mother despite all the obstacles that she came across such as language and culture. In the end she understands and accepts the importance of her Chinese heritage. Another example is June May mothers she abandoned her twins because she knew they were going to be better without her because she thought she was going to die On the other hand, the family members at the hotel want to eat American food is ironical that while they are in china and June May might expect Chinese food they all want to order hamburgers and fries and this is the deciding they want to eat it not June May. She thinks that in china there are not places like that. Jing-mei is not sure of her heritage. She has been denying herself of any Chinese heritage that is that is in her, Americanizing herself as much as possible to avoid her real self. This trip to China surely change all that. At last, she realized things she never had before at her 36 years of age she has never felt so alive and fulfilled. While June May is exploring different aspects of China, she is forced to deal with the internal conflict of false impression of china, this is showed when she goes the hotel and is so luxurious. Americans think that they are the only ones that have certain things yet when you go to a less develop country you see that they have better things. It is the perfect American country that makes us believe that there is nothing better out there that we are the best of the best. The really is different and June May have to go to china to realized this to be true. The believes and assumptions that Americans carried are not realistic. When the story begins June May has a wrong image of what it means to be Chinese. It is one governed by American culture, stereotyping, and prejudice. As she learns of her mothers sacrifices and life, and she sees her Chinese family all that image starts to change. At the end she learned to understand and respect her family. In this story in not only June May that is discovering her heritage but also her father is reconnecting with his childhood in china. Finally, June May is not denying her roots she was just not exposed to it before but visiting china changed all that now June May knows what does it means to be Chinese. I wasn’t hard because it was inside her it was nothing that she had to go find because it was in her. This story show the importance of family and how the love that you get from your family is the most essential things that I human needs because it really helps to shape who you are and who you will become later on in life. In todays society peoples background are always being pushed to the background due to the pressures on people to conform and just be like everyone else. How she abandoned the twins and the words the author uses to describe this moment are very emotional. The story is thus very touching and realistic and that is due to the authors background growing up. Knowing the authors biography also help us see the story from another perspective. As a younger woman Amy Tan was very much like June May. Americans and Chinese are not only different because of the cultural background but also their values are very different than the one that American have. Amy was a Chinese girl growing up in a world where she was surrounded by Chinese and American influences. Many people have a hard time finding their true identify. Once you are born in one place and move or become citizen of a different place. You are considered that where you are is what others think you are. For instance, when I go to the Dominican republic I’m not considered what I am anymore I’m Dominican but they call me something different Dominican-York. It is hard because in this country I’m just Dominican and in my own country I’m just another Dominican-York. I belong nowhere anymore. I don’t belong here or there. In the beginning Jing-mei is not sure of her heritage. She has been denying herself of any Chinese heritage that is that is in her, Americanizing herself as much as possible to avoid her real self. This trip to China surely change all that. At last, she realized things she never had before at her 36 years of age she has never felt so alive and fulfilled. During the trip to China and while she spends time with her relatives Jing-mei begins to reflect on the Chinese side of her life. All her life she had fought her inner Chinese. All the series of events such as the death of her mother and meting her sister finally make May June Reinvent herself. In conclusion, the trip to china was changed June May’s life forever. She is not the same person after she leaves china now she wants to embrace her heritage

Chapter 4 checkpoint questions Essays

Chapter 4 checkpoint questions Essays Chapter 4 checkpoint questions Paper Chapter 4 checkpoint questions Paper Checkpoint Questions 1. Define histology: Histology is the study of tissues 2. List the four basic types of tissues in the body: a. Epithelial tissue b. Connective tissue c. Muscle tissue d. Neural tissue 3. List five important characteristics of epithelial tissue: a. The cells are bound closely together b. A free surface exposed to the environment or internal chamber/passageway c. Attachment to underlying connective tissue by a basement membrane d. The absence of blood vessels e. Continual regeneration of epithelial cells that are damaged or lost at the exposed surface 4. Identify four essential functions of epithelial tissue: a. Provide physical protection b. Control permeability c. Provide sensation d. Produce specialized secretions 5. Identify the three main types of epithelial intercellular connections: a. Tight junctions b. Gap junctions c. Desmosomes 6. What physiological functions are enhanced by the presence of microvilli or cilia on epithelial cells? The presence of microvilli on the free surface of epithelial cells greatly increases the surface area for absorption. Cilia function to move materials over the surface of epithelial cells. 7. Identify the three cell shapes characteristic of epithelial cells: a. Squamous: thin and flat b. Cuboidal: cube like c. Columnar: tall and slender 8. Using a light microscope, you examine a tissue and see a simple squamous epithelium on the outer surface. Can this be a sample of the skin surface? No. a simple squamous epithelium does not provide enough protection against infection, abrasion, and dehydration. The surface has a stratified squamous epithelium. 9. Name the two primary types of glandular epithelia: a. Endocrine glands b. Exocrine glands10. The secretory cells of sebaceous glands fill with secretions and then rupture, releasing their contents. Which mechanism of secretion occurs in sebaceous glands? Sebaceous glands exhibit holocrine secretions 11. A gland has no ducts to carry the glandular secretions, and the gland’s secretions are released directly into the extracellular fluid. Which type of gland is this? The endocrine gland 12. Identify several functions of connective tissues: a. Support and protection b. Transportation of materials c. Storage of energy reserves d. Defense of the body 13. List the three types of connective tissues: a. Connective tissue proper b. Fluid connective tissues c. Supporting connective tissues 14. Which type of connective tissue contains primarily triglycerides? Adipose tissue 15. Lack of vitamin C in the diet interferes with the ability of fibrocytes to produce collagen. What effect might this interference have on connective tissue? The reduced collagen production resulting from lack of vitamin C in the diet would cause connective tissue to be weak and prone to damage. 16. Which two types of connective tissue have a fluid matrix? a. Blood b. Lymph 17. Identify the two types of supporting connective tissue: a. Cartilage b. Bone 18. Why does cartilage heal so slowly? Cartilage heals so slowly because it has a lack of blood supply 19. Identify the four types of membranes found in the body: a. Mucous membrane b. Serous membrane c. Cutaneous membrane d. Synovial membrane 20. How does plasma (cell) membrane differ from a tissue level membrane? Plasma (cell) membranes are composed of lipid bilayers. Tissue membranes consist of a layer of epithelial tissue and a layer of connective tissue 21. What is the function of fluids produced by serous membranes? The fluids reduce friction between the serous membranes that cover the surfaces of organs and the surrounding body cavity. 22. The lining of the nasal cavity is normally moist, contains numerous goblet cells, and rests on a layer of loose connective tissue. Which type of membrane is this? A mucous membrane 23. Identify the three types of muscle tissue in the body: a. Skeletal muscle b. Cardiac muscle c. Smooth muscle tissues 24. Voluntary control is restricted to which type of muscle tissue? Skeletal muscle tissue 25. Which type of muscle tissue has small, tapering cells with single nuclei and no obvious striations? Smooth muscle tissue 26. A tissue contains irregularly shaped cells with many fibrous projections, some several centimeters long. These are probably which type of cell? A neuron 27. Why are both skeletal muscle cells and axons also called fibers? They are both relatively long and slender. 28. Identify the two phases in the response to tissue injury: a. Inflammation b. Regeneration 29. What signs and symptoms are associated with inflammation? Swelling, warmth, redness, and pain. 30. What is fibrosis? Fibrosis is the permanent replacement of normal tissues by fibrous tissues. 31. Identify some age-related factors that affect tissue repair and structure: With advancing  age, the speed and effectiveness of tissue repair decrease, the rate of energy consumption in general declines, hormonal activity is altered, and other factors contribute to changes in structure and chemical composition.

The history of tequila in mexico Research Paper

The history of tequila in mexico - Research Paper Example Known as the tree of miracles, the Agave plant is the only source of Tequila drink (Earth Bar Magazine 1) where it takes about nine years for an agave plant to be ready for harvesting, processing, and distilling to make the Tequila drink. The history of Tequila in Mexico confirms that the drink is a symbol of cultural heritage with a cultural significance that supersedes the status of alcoholic beverage (James 1). The process that produces Tequila represents a cultural blend as it defines the indigenous Prehispanic culture of Jalisco, Mexico and the emergence of the Spanish distillation process (Festa 1). This marked a Spanish and Mexican cultural blend (James 1). This cultural blend has passed to the current generation where the production and consumption of Tequila in Mexico portrays a cultural blend. The ancient tribe of Mexico, the Aztecs, the Chichimecans, the Otomies, the Toltecan’s, and the Nahuatls who drank beverages made from the Agave plant initiated the history of the Tequila in Mexico (Earth Bar Magazine 1). Indeed, the Aztecs were the first people to ferment sap from the local agave plants that made Tequila in the pre-Hispanic times (La Cava del Tequila 1). On the other hand, the Nahuatl’s worshipped the Agave plant that made Tequila (Earth Bar Magazine 1). The blue agave plant that produces sugar that later forms Tequila is native to northwestern state of Jalisco (Earth Bar Magazine 1). The arrival of the Spaniards in Tequila, which is in a region of Techinchan in the old Aztec Empire and Jalisco state of Mexico, led to the introduction of the European influence on Tequila (Earth Bar Magazine 1). In the 1000 B.C the Mayan and Aztec leaders produced and consumed pulque, which was North Americas first known alcoholic beverage (La Cava del Tequila 1). The Mayan and Aztec leaders made the pulque drink from the fermented maguey plant’s sap (La Cava del Tequila 1). The

The Complexities of Love and Life- Connections in literature Essay

The Complexities of Love and Life- Connections in literature - Essay Example It is very difficult for a father to cry and they would often just take everything like funerals â€Å"in stride† but the mere fact that the father is visibly crying must have been such a moving scene. It is therefore a scene where one forgets about society’s conventions and just be true to one’s sentiments. The pain of the death of one’s child must have therefore been extraordinarily difficult even for a father. The mother is the same, her â€Å"angry tearless sighs† (13) indicating that she has no more tears to shed after perhaps crying terribly much. Moreover, the â€Å"hard blow† (6) and the fact that the boy is â€Å"paler† now (18) somehow illustrate both the painful and sentimental aspects of death. The boy must have been hit by a car and is now looking pale and lifeless. From the tears, one can see that this pain must have been extremely hard for the parents and the speaker to bear. In the same way, in Ransom’s poem, the imagery illustrates the pain of death, but rather in the form of vexation: â€Å"†¦we are ready/ In one house we are sternly stopped/ To say we are vexed at her brown study† (Ransom 17-19). This means that the people that the girl left behind may have been somehow pretending that she is still alive. Perhaps, they are too annoyed or â€Å"vexed† now because she remains stationary in her brown study or in hear dead state. Nevertheless, it is clear that the bereaved are merely in a state of denial, as they may still not be able to painfully digest the truth of their little girl’s death. Imagery of death and sadness also abounds in Robert West’s â€Å"Early snowdrops.† In the poem, after recounting the names of young people who died early in their lives, the speaker is worried about her own children for they might have an accident early and might die. In the poem, imagery denoting death includes the line â€Å"each day must stab with random

Gender in The Importance of Being Earnest Essay Example for Free

Gender in The Importance of Being Earnest Essay Dramatic comedy originated in Ancient Greece in 5th century BC, centred around loose plot lines and exploiting certain situations through parody, farce and mockery. Comedy started developing in 4th Century BC where intricate plot lines were introduced, commonly based around love and romance and usually culminating in a satisfactory and happy resolution. This is much like the structure of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ as the play revolves around the growing relationships of both Jack and Gwendolen and Algernon and Cecily. Oscar Wilde has reversed the roles of gender in this play, the females are those who take the lead and are seen as the most dominant characters throughout – a very bizarre layout in a time period where men were seen as the head of the family and the most assertive figure. Lady Bracknell is the most domineering character throughout the play, and this a result of the eloquent and rather unnatural language she uses. She takes on the role of her husband in Act 1 when Jack asks for Gwendolen’s hand in marriage- â€Å"I feel obliged to tell you that you are not down on my list of eligible young men† this was often the father’s role. Throughout the conversation it is quite apparent that Lady Bracknell holds all the power, and Wilde does this through all the questions she asks. Additionally, her questioning seems rather irrelevant and ridiculous at times, she asks â€Å"Do you smoke?† to which Jack admits he does and Lady Bracknell replies â€Å"I am glad to hear it. A man should always have an occupation of some kind†. Here the addictive habit that Jack has taken up is being compared to a profession and is creating humour due to the nature of the question and how much apparent importance it holds. It seems as though Wilde is using Lady Bracknell to â€Å"mock those in authority† [1] by presenting her as a character with no real agenda to her long and painful questioning – other than to talk. In Act 3, Lady Bracknell makes another appearance, which only highlights her towering force in the play. She has come to Jack’s house in the country to retrieve Gwendolen and take her home and makes it quite clear that her husband does not know where Gwendolen really is â€Å"Her unhappy father is, I am glad to say, under the impression that she is attending a more than lengthy lecture by the University Extension Scheme on the influence of a  permanent income on Thought. I do not propose to undeceive him.† This would have been seen as quite unusual at a time where wives wouldn’t have gone behind their husband’s backs, thus reinforcing Lady Bracknell’s authoritative demeanour and leaving the audience amused. Furthermore, Wilde’s portrayals of both Gwendolen and Cecily run parallel to one another. They mirror each other and are the assertive half of their relationships with Jack and Algernon. This is first shown between Jack and Gwendolen when Jack proposes. Jack announces his love for Gwendolen and she in turn, offers it back. Jack then says â€Å"..I mean we must get married at once. There is no time to be lost.† To which Gwendolen replies â€Å"†¦But you haven’t proposed to me yet. Nothing has been said at all about marriage.† Gwendolen is taking control of the situation and is expressing what she desires for Jack to then grant her, her wishes. This is the same scene where Jack lies about his name once again to Gwendolen. â€Å"Selfishness and servility are the moral alternatives presented† – Katherine Worth. Gwendolen admits she could never love anyone with the name ‘Jack’ for â€Å"there is very little music in the name Ja ck†. This, to the audience seems rather pompous and shallow and is why it is humorous. And after all that Gwendolen has said, Jack does indeed go along with this though, and continues to call himself Ernest. In the scene where Cecily and Algernon first meet, Algernon also lies about his true identity – he introduces himself as Jack’s brother, Ernest. Whilst Cecily and Algernon are talking in the garden, Jack arrives home. He confides in Miss Prism and Chasuble that his younger brother ‘Ernest’ died in Paris of a severe chill. At this moment in time, the audience are taking great pleasure at the fact that they know something the characters do not – that Jack’s so called brother is in the garden. Afterwards, Cecily confesses to Algernon that they have been engaged for the past three months, and Algernon submissively accepts this to be both true and normal. This is the first indication of who the most assertive figure is in their relationship. The fact that Cecily writes to herself, on the behalf of ‘Ernest’ is rather ridiculous, and once again Algernon goes through with this. She continues on to tell him when their engagement was broken off, she  says â€Å"It would hardly have been a really serious engagement if it hadn’t have been broken off at least once. But I forgave you before the week was out† she talks about how their engagement wouldn’t have been ‘serious’, although it had never even happened and this displays marriage to be not all that serious in itself. In reply to this, Algernon thanks her for forgiving him – for something he did not do, â€Å"What a perfect angel you are Cecily.† This only highlights that he is inferior to her. When Cecily and Gwendolen meet each other at Jacks house in the country, a lot of confusion is caused for they both think they are engaged to the same man. But before they stumble across this realisation, they become ‘friends’ instantly Gwendolen says â€Å"..Something tells me that we are going to be great friends† to which Cecily replies â€Å"How nice have you to like me so much after we have known each other such a comparatively short amount of time.† The girls then find out they are ‘in competition’ with one another and their ‘friendship’ turns sour. This is comical due to the fact that just a few seconds ago they were very friendly and lovely to one another. When both Jack and Algernon approach and the matter is cleared up that neither one of them is ‘Ernest’ and that they have been lying to the women, Cecily and Gwendolen’s relationship takes a u-turn, not back to friendship, but to sisterhood. This was foreshadowed in Act 1 where Algernon says â€Å"Women only call themselves sister when they have called each other a lot of other things first†. Cecily and Gwendolen storm off into the house and Algernon and Jack cowardly hold back, where Algy begins to scoff the muffins and they start to blame one another for what just happened and it takes them a while before they approach the women in the house. However when they do it also doesn’t take long for both women to forgive them, they contradict themselves frequently in the process: Gwendolen – â€Å" But we will not speak first† Cecily – â€Å"Certainly not† Gwendolen – â€Å"Mr Worthing, I have something very particular to ask you. Much depends on your reply.† The irony of the situation is what is so amusing, the women cannot stay silent and wait for the men to speak, once again they have to be in control of the situation. However, the play began in â€Å"turmoil but (ended) in harmony† [2] as both couples were happily reunited. All throughout the play, women like to think they are the leaders and the superior, and on the surface they do appear to be, with their high demands being answered and always leading the conversations in which ever way they wish but at the end of the day, they always forgive or accept only what a man can offer, even if they demanded more. Bibliography: [1] Barbara Bleiman, Anna Sarchet and Lucy Webster: â€Å"Studying comedy† (2012) [2] Susan Snyder: â€Å"The Cambridge companion to Shakespeare† (2001)