Friday, September 6, 2019

The ABCs of Aphorisms in Kindergarten Essay Example for Free

The ABCs of Aphorisms in Kindergarten Essay An aphorism is a short statement expressing a truth or clever observation. Benjamin Franklin and Robert Fulghum both used aphorisms in things they have written. Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac uses aphorisms in a more literal way. However, Robert Fulghum uses his aphorisms in a more metaphorical way. Although the two are different, both writers have the same type of ideas on how to morally live your life. Living a balanced life is an aphorism used by Franklin and Fulghum. Although used in different context and in a slightly different way, they mean the same thing no matter who uses it. In Fulghums aphorism he says, Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and paint and draw and sing and dance and play and work everyday some. Being simpler in his words yet not in his meaning makes this an interesting aphorism. Also being a little more direct and straight to the point are Franklins words, Eat to live and not live to eat. In spite of the fact that Franklins definition may seem simpler, they are in fact saying the same thing only wording it differently. Both aphorisms mean that one must balance themselves and that you must do everything in moderation and never to excess. Taking a slightly different approach, both men got there message across in an clear and precise manner. A metaphor can be described as a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity. On the contrary, a literary term is one that can be described as very clear and one that expresses emphasis on a topic. Robert Fulghum being a more metaphorical writer, wrote his aphorisms in such a way that they seemed almost too simple to have a deeper meaning. However, that was quite the opposite. The aphorisms were meant to be that way; they were supposed to have a deeper meaning that wasnt available to someone looking at the surface writing. While, in great contrast, Benjamin Franklin wrote his aphorisms with such literal depth that it shone right through his work. Every aphorism of his has a meaning inside of a meaning. Neither of these styles were better, nor worse then the other, yet they both were productive ways of using aphorisms. Using both methods of credible writing, these two terrific men and writers are inspirational and influential in their examples of aphorisms. I personally, prefer Robert Fulghums style of writing to, Benjamin Franklins. I like looking into a statement and pulling it apart to find out what it is truly saying, and Fulghums writing exemplifies that quality in his aphorisms. I respect both styles of aphorism usage, and I think that both, literally and metaphorically, are equally interesting and are helpful incites to our lives. Aphorisms are a much more appealing way to learn about how one views their life and how they view everyone elses life as well.

There is a gradual sharing of gender roles within the family Essay Example for Free

There is a gradual sharing of gender roles within the family Essay Functionalism theories argue that society shapes its men and women into different spheres, these differences can be seen as functional to the maintenance of social stability and harmony. Functionalist argue that the traditional view of family in Britain was that of the Nuclear family, this was one in which married women were seen as housewives, they performed the domestic tasks and cared for their children. Their husbands were seen as naturally assertive the dominant male, the bread-winner and perform economically supportive tasks. Edmund Lech (1967) termed this view of the family as The Cereal Pack Norm, and criticised â€Å"the lawdry secrets† of the nuclear family. This view of gender roles and the family is a debate shared by many theorists. Young and Willmott (1973) accepted the view of the nuclear family and announced the arrival of the symmetrical family. They suggested that there was a movement towards symmetry, meaning joint conjugal roles, a sense of balance between the duties of gender tasks within the family. Conjugal roles can be jointly carried out, segregated or integrated. Ann Oakley (1974) and other feminists disagreed that conjugal roles were joint but were socially constructed, after the industrial revolution new laws were brought out restricting women and children’s working hours. Women were forced to become housewives and mothers, men were seen as the macho male. Some feminist theories suggest that society is patriarchal, a system of male power and control. Feminists argue women are pushed to the margins of an industrial economy by male dominated institutions, suggesting males are therefore insured power and authority with in gender roles and the family. The Media made many references to the New Man; this was a term applied to those men who have allegedly moved away from the stereotype image of the macho male, they allowed their natures to be more expressive, and would also share domestic and child-care tasks. Is this New Man a reality or a myth? Gender roles within the family our gradually changing but to what extent are male and female roles egalitarian? Young and Willmott (1973) published research findings, which suggested that the symmetrical family was now the typical family form in Britain. 72% of men were helping in the house and spending the equivalent amount of time on home-related tasks. It was found that gender roles did exist with more equality than in the past. Decisions about family life were shared moving towards more integrated conjugal roles. Ann Oakley (1974) criticised this as she found that full time housewives spent 77 hours a week on housework, she dismissed the caring sharing role of the new man. Ann Oakley disputed Young and Willmott’s methods claiming they were biased, as the only question they asked was, do you help at least once a week with any household tasks like washing dishes, making beds, ironing or cleaning. The answer given could overstate the amount of domestic labour that was actually being carried out. A man ironing a shirt once a week was hardly a big contribution to the sharing of gender roles. Oakley’s research showed a clear division in labour as regards to housework, she interviewed forty women with children under the age of five from different social class backgrounds, her research showed a clear division in labour with women spending more time n housework 77 hours and 30 % of men contributed to childcare tasks. Males were helping more with the children, gender identities were starting to evolve. There is evidence that there is a gradual move towards integrated roles and equality Devine (1992) carried out a small study of car workers it showed that men’s contribution to domestic labour increased when their wives re-entered paid employment. It is suggested this only came secondary above all women still remained responsible for childcare and housework. In the same year Gershuny’s research revealed a gradual increase of domestic labour tasks done by men when the wife was is in full time employment ,thus a gradual move to equality. The changing roles perspectives assume a gradual sharing of gender roles within the family. In recent years there has been a wider acceptance of these interchangeable gender roles. Seven out of ten women with children under the age of five are now in employment. The Equal Opportunities Commission show a Surprising 36% of couple’s say that the man is the main carer. Paid employment would seem to empower women within the family. However in more recent years The N. I. Social Attitudes survey (1994) and The N. I. Life and Times Survey (1998) show that even when women were in paid employment, the self reported hours on household and the provision of childcare tasks were greatly divided, with women carrying out 17. 15.hours of housework compared with men’s contribution to only 5. 92 hours. DETI (2003) also show inequalities with 69% of women without children working outside the home, these figures drop to 50% when women have three or more children, suggesting that women still primarily see childcare as their responsibility. O’Brien and Shernit (2002) in their study for Equal Opportunities Commission in Britain suggest that fathers are less likely to avail of family friendly working policies that are in place. The Family Policy Studies centre showed reports of new manism were greatly exaggerated with 90% of women still working part time. This also shows an imbalance, suggesting that women carry the dual burden of work. Research points towards women still suffering gender inequalities within the family. There is evidence that even while working women still have the burden of emotional and domestic work. In (1993) Duncombe and Marsden research revealed gender inequalities in power and domestic responsibilities. They add to their finding that women believe they make the primary ‘emotional investment’ in the family and marriage. Many of their female respondents complained that their husbands were indifferent to their role in holding the relationship together. In other words women are frequently responsible for the ‘triple shift’ meaning outside work, housework and all emotional work. Thus women suffered what they termed as emotional loneliness it was suggested men would rather bring in a wage as supposed to give emotional fulfilment. They were hesitant to discuss or show their feelings of love for their partner. Men did not recognise that emotion work was needed to keep a relationship together. Women’s larger involvement in emotion work can be a major dimension of gender inequalities in couple relationships. Edgell’s study in (1980) showed an imbalance when it came to power more important decisions were more likely to be taken by men. It was suggested that when it came down to important decisions like buying a house, car or other financial decisions the men had the power and authority they were the hierarchy the dominant male. Women may have had decisions on trivial things such as what colour she was going to paint the house or how much she was going to spend on the children’s clothing or the shopping. When it came to major decisions women views were secondary, gendered roles were segregated, men had the dominant role and the decisions of power. Domestic violence is another key element to conjugal roles; many radical feminists say that patriarchy still exists within married and cohabiting couples. The family statistics show that domestic violence accounts for a quarter of a percent of all assaults in the UK. Also one quarter of all women in the world experience this. Debash and Debash argued that wife beating was an extension of the husbands control over his wife. These percentages suggest that men used violence to gain authority over their partners. This may be misrepresented as not all assaults are reported and men also can be victims of domestic violence. In the 1970’s the feminist movement brought equality issues forward. The Sex Discrimination Act (1975) and the Equal Pay Act (1970) were introduced these acts were a product and a cause of more women working. These acts led to some women to reject the traditional housewife role and encouraged them to have fewer children and put a career first. Women’s roles started to have more of an equal status to that of her male partner. Feminists like Ann Oakley criticised Young and Willmott’s view of the symmetrical family and joint conjugal roles she thought they were biased and used incorrect methodology. Although Oakley’s own research found a gradual sharing in childcare tasks, women were still predominately responsible for housework. Feminists argue men seem to have less emotion work, more power and authority thus they benefit more from family life. Duncombe and Marsden and Edgell’s research back this theory up. Functionalists like Young and Wilmott (1973) and the Media suggest that gender roles are becoming more integrated. Devine and Gershuny’s research in (1992) suggest there is some evidence to a small move towards egalitarian relationships, with men contributing more when their wives were employed. Evidence from the Equal Opportunities Commission show a staggering 36% of males are now the main carer, this sharing of child-care presents us with evidence to a degree the new man exists. Gender roles are changing with more women joining the labour force and male attitudes towards are sharing of domestic labour are gradually becoming egalitarian. Sociologists and theorists in the 21st century argue that perceptions of gender roles within family and diversity have changed cross culturally and within societies, they suggest new families and gender roles are starting to emerge.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Relationship Between Celie And Shug The Color Purple Analysis

Relationship Between Celie And Shug The Color Purple Analysis Walker in writing this novel uses an epistolary style, which is a novel that is written as a series of documents which is usually in the form of letters or diary entries. This allows her main character to voice her personal feelings to the pain and isolation she suffers. The reader is taken through Celies journey from being an uneducated, submissive girl to a mature, independent woman. Walker also sets most of her novel in a rural farm community, focussing on the personal lives of her characters. The colour purple signifies royalty, beauty, power and independence, for the freedom of ones mind. This colour plays an important part in Celies life because the first dress she chooses is purple, the room she owns in a house is purple and when Shug explains the importance of freeing yourself from conventional male and white superiority to fully enjoy life she says I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and dont notice it. (Alice Walker, 2004, p.177) There are many themes emphasised throughout The Color Purple. These are important because they create the person Celie becomes before Shug helps her to evolve. It is set in the early twentieth century, around the 1930s, in a time when racism, oppression and sexism was at a peak. Racism was disregarded throughout the country and the laws in the South implemented segregation. Most black Americans remained alienated and were stereotypically looked down upon by members of white society. Women were also inferior to men, both black and white. Black women were then especially disadvantaged. The friction between black men and women is merely one of several themes; in The Color Purple the role of male domination in the frustration of black womens struggle for independence is clearly the focus. (Watkins, 2013) Of course not everyone showed a positive response to this novel, Such sisterly solidarity has drawn disapproval from some male critics. And Walker has been accused of reinforcing racial stereotypes in her depiction of male black characters as abusive and violent. (Bookdrum, 2013) Celie endured many difficulties reflective of this time and she suffered highly, but the novel shows us that Celie remained strong and defeated many obstacles to show the strength of a woman. Celie has suffered psychological damage through verbal abuse, physical abuse and sexual violence all her life. This caused Celie to view herself as worthless, powerless and internalize the animosity, believing her life was normal and the fear she felt for men was natural and part of life. She suffered this life with her father, who we later come to recognise is her step father, and also with Mr____. Early on in the book Celie is sexually abused by her father and bears two children to him, which he takes away from Celie. This is where we learn why Celie writes her letters to God. Her father tells her You better not never tell nobody but God (Walker. A., 2004, p.3) and she continues throughout the novel to talk to God writing as she speaks, in a colloquial manner for example naw and yall. Also writing words as she would pronounce them, for example direar and newmonya. This shows her uneducated manner, from which we learn Celies story. She also does not sign her letters which indicates her lack in showing her identity. Celie is treated as though she is property to men and as though she has no identity of her own as she is handed to Mr____ from her Pa. She is made to feel unattractive and unintelligent by her Pa. She ugly. But she aint no stranger to hard workà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ You can do everything just like you want to and she aint gunna make you feed it or clothe it. (Walker. A., 2004, p.3) He also gives Celies cow away with her to improve the deal with Mr____. Celie therefore decides the only way she can survive is if she makes herself almost invisible. It is clear that Celie does not enjoy her life and she waits only for Heaven. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦This life be over soon. Heaven lasts always. (Walker. A., 2004, p.40) A theme set in this novel is the power of strong female relationships, which is likened to a sisterhood and helps Celie to discover who she truly is through the love and support she gains from women like Sophia, Nettie and Shug. These are women that would be Celies role model of black women. They defend themselves against men and do not allow men to choose their lifestyle for them. Sewing also symbolises the power women get from channelling their creative energy. When Sofia and Celie argue about the advice which Celie had given to Harpo, Sofia suggests they make a quilt as a way of armistice. Sewing a quilt symbolises the coming together and bonding of friends and family. When Celie first lays eyes on Shug Avery, it is through a photograph of her. She thinks she looks very glamorous and instantly begins to take a liking to her. When Celie is first introduced to Shug in person we get the feeling that Shug is a very cruel individual when she turns to Celie and says You sure is ugly. (Walker. A., 2004, p.44) Shugs critical manner of speaking and life experiences she has had, gives the impression that she is quite cynical. Shug is actually a warm and caring person. This becomes clear when she falls ill and Celie takes care of her. Shug clearly enjoys the care and attention she is getting and returns the same care to Celie, showing her compassionate nature. As Shug begins to discover the person that Mr___, whom Shug names Albert, becomes, she grows fonder of Celie. Miss Walker explores the estrangement of her men and women through a triangular love affair. It is Shug Avery who forces Albert to stop brutalizing Celie, and it is Shug with whom Celie first consummates a satisfying and reciprocally loving relationship. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Shug spoke right up for you, Celie. She say, Albert, you been mistreating somebody I love. So as far as you concern, Im gone. (Watkins, 2013) This clearly shows how much Celie means to Shug and proves her loyalty to Celie. Both Shug and Celie help each other find who they really are and bring out the best in each other, as they both felt confined in their roles because of peoples perception of them. Shug becomes Celies role model and helps Celie to find a new outlook on life. Celie begins to grow stronger and find who she truly is, how to love and what it means. Shug is regarded as a metaphorical missionary in Celies life, like the missionaries in the Olinka. It is Shug who makes Mr____ stop tormenting Celie and Shug also helps Celie to find the letters from her little sister, Nettie, which Mr____ had been hiding from her. Finding these letters gives Celie the strength she needs to break free from Mr____. Shug inspires Celie to create her own business, helping her to find a new passage in her life for her passion and creativity, giving her more personal and financial freedom. This song Im bout to sing is call Miss Celies song. (Walker. A., 2004, p.70) Celie feels important for the first time when Shug dedicates and sings a song to Celie at Harpos bar, giving her a sense of identity. First time somebody made something and name it after me. (Walker. A., 2004, p.70) As the two of them become closer they begin a lesbian relationship but it is more than just sex. Shug helps to give Celie a sense of identity making her feel sexually, physically and emotionally at ease. This also symbolises motherhood because Shug is the reason Celie gains a sense of importance in the novel. With Shugs guidance and love, it made growing into an independent individual possible for Celie. Shug later leaves Celie for a nineteen year old man called Germaine, her final fling. He is very significant in Shug and Celies relationship because Celie and Albert become closer while Shug is with Germaine. Albert realises for the first time that Celie is good company and Celie equally enjoys her friendship with Albert. Then the old devil put his arms around me and just stood there on the porch with me real quietà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦He aint Shug, but he begin to be somebody I can talk to. (Walker, A., 2004, p. 250) When Shug and Germaines relationship is over, Shug returns to Celie but Celies relationship with Albert makes Shug jealous. This is an emotion Celie felt when Shug and Albert were so close earlier in the novel. Shugs time away from Celie made her realise how much she loves Celie and brought them both closer together. In referring back to the question I have pointed out that Shug and Celies relationship is indeed very significant because it helps Celie grow from an uneducated, submissive, weak girl to an independent strong woman by the end of the novel. Celies and Shugs relationship was important to Celie because Shug made Celie feel important. It improved Celies confidence and allowed her to grow into the woman she became and helped Celie find her identity. Referencing List Alice Walker, 2004, Color Purple. Edition. Phoenix Paperbacks. Some Letters Went To God, Mel Watkins, NY Times.com, 2013. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/25/books/some-letters-went-to-god-by-mel-watkins.html The Color Purple Review, Bookdrum, 2013. Available at http://www.bookdrum.com/books/the-color-purple/9780753818923/review.html

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Roald Dahls Lamb to the Slaughter and Arthur Conan Doyles The Adventure of the Speckled Band :: Slaughter Speckled Band Essays

Roald Dahl's Lamb to the Slaughter and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Speckled Band While both stories are murder stories, Lamb to the Slaughter is not a typical murder mystery. A typical murder mystery would be one where a dashing detective saves the damsel in distress from the evil murderer in an old mansion. Quite simply, that describes the story in The Adventure of the Speckled Band. On the other hand, Lamb to the Slaughter is not a bit typical. It is set in a warm home where a woman is knitting and peacefully counting away the time before her husband comes home. It could be argued that Mrs Maloney would more likely be a victim in a story, rather than a murderer. In the early part of the play she is described as: "Her skin - for this was her sixth month with child - had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger, darker than before." Dr Roylott is much more sinister, and in that way the story was quite predictable: "Violence and temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family" The character of Mrs Maloney is by far the more interesting of the two. She starts as a kind and loving housewife, and ends up as some sort of almost psychopathic killer. There are many cultural differences between The Adventure of the Speckled Band and Lamb to the Slaughter. We can see many technical advances in Lamb to the Slaughter because of the differing time setting. The Adventure of the Speckled Band has dogcarts, veils and frock coats. Contrasting with this, Lamb to the Slaughter has freezers, cars and ovens. In The Adventure of the Speckled Band, women are regarded as helpless and cannot make decisions. In contrast, Lamb to the Slaughter shows a woman who can make decisions for herself. This is shown when Mrs Maloney makes drinks. Mrs Maloney would appear to have a sort of strength of character, shown by the fact that seems to be stable and in control, even when Patrick is dead. In contrast, in The Adventure of the Speckled Band the women seem helpless and unable to choose. The mansion in The Adventure of the Speckled Band is typical of a murder mystery story. This is shown by:"two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side". The Maloney household however is not typical at all. It is a warm 1950's home. This is probably to lull you into a false sense of security, and believe that everything is calm before the shocking murder. Roald Dahl's Lamb to the Slaughter and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Speckled Band :: Slaughter Speckled Band Essays Roald Dahl's Lamb to the Slaughter and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Speckled Band While both stories are murder stories, Lamb to the Slaughter is not a typical murder mystery. A typical murder mystery would be one where a dashing detective saves the damsel in distress from the evil murderer in an old mansion. Quite simply, that describes the story in The Adventure of the Speckled Band. On the other hand, Lamb to the Slaughter is not a bit typical. It is set in a warm home where a woman is knitting and peacefully counting away the time before her husband comes home. It could be argued that Mrs Maloney would more likely be a victim in a story, rather than a murderer. In the early part of the play she is described as: "Her skin - for this was her sixth month with child - had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger, darker than before." Dr Roylott is much more sinister, and in that way the story was quite predictable: "Violence and temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family" The character of Mrs Maloney is by far the more interesting of the two. She starts as a kind and loving housewife, and ends up as some sort of almost psychopathic killer. There are many cultural differences between The Adventure of the Speckled Band and Lamb to the Slaughter. We can see many technical advances in Lamb to the Slaughter because of the differing time setting. The Adventure of the Speckled Band has dogcarts, veils and frock coats. Contrasting with this, Lamb to the Slaughter has freezers, cars and ovens. In The Adventure of the Speckled Band, women are regarded as helpless and cannot make decisions. In contrast, Lamb to the Slaughter shows a woman who can make decisions for herself. This is shown when Mrs Maloney makes drinks. Mrs Maloney would appear to have a sort of strength of character, shown by the fact that seems to be stable and in control, even when Patrick is dead. In contrast, in The Adventure of the Speckled Band the women seem helpless and unable to choose. The mansion in The Adventure of the Speckled Band is typical of a murder mystery story. This is shown by:"two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side". The Maloney household however is not typical at all. It is a warm 1950's home. This is probably to lull you into a false sense of security, and believe that everything is calm before the shocking murder.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Shakespeares Hamlet - King Claudius :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Hamlet’s King Claudius      Ã‚  Ã‚   Salvador de Madariaga in â€Å"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern† discusses from Shakespeare’s Hamlet Claudius’ relationship with the two emissaries and friends of Hamlet, who were escorting the prince to his execution in England:    The two young men receive from the King a commission which, whatever the King’s secret intentions may be, is honorable. Hamlet, the King in fact tells them, is not what he was. The cause of the change "I cannot dream of."    Therefore, I beg you so by your companies    To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather So much as from occasion you may glean Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus That opened lies within our remedy. (n. pag.)    Is Madariaga correct in saying that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were innocent pawns in the hands of a cunning king? This essay intends to present other critical points of view on this and other questions concerning the character of King Claudius.    The drama opens after Hamlet has just returned from Wittenberg, England, where he has been a student. What brought him home was the news of his father’s death and his father’s brother’s quick accession to the throne of Denmark. Philip Burton in â€Å"Hamlet† discusses Claudius’ sudden rise to the Danish throne upon the death of King Hamlet I:    The fact that Claudius has become king is not really surprising. Only late in the play does Hamlet complain that his uncle had "popped in between the election and my hopes." The country had been in a nervous state expecting an invasion by young Fortinbras, at the head of a lawless band of adventurers, in revenge for his father’s death at the hands of King Hamlet. A strong new king was immediately needed; the election of Claudius, particularly in the absence of Hamlet, was inevitable. What is more, it was immediately justified, because Claudius manages to dispel the threat of invasion by appealing to the King of Norway to curb his nephew, Fortinbras; the ambitious young soldier was the more ready to cancel the projected invasion because the object of his revenge, Hamlet’s father, was now dead, and in return he received free passage through Denmark to fight against Poland. (n. pag.)    G. Wilson Knight in "The Embassy of Death" also interprets the character of Claudius as less guilty than he appears to most critics: Shakespeare's Hamlet - King Claudius :: GCSE English Literature Coursework Hamlet’s King Claudius      Ã‚  Ã‚   Salvador de Madariaga in â€Å"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern† discusses from Shakespeare’s Hamlet Claudius’ relationship with the two emissaries and friends of Hamlet, who were escorting the prince to his execution in England:    The two young men receive from the King a commission which, whatever the King’s secret intentions may be, is honorable. Hamlet, the King in fact tells them, is not what he was. The cause of the change "I cannot dream of."    Therefore, I beg you so by your companies    To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather So much as from occasion you may glean Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus That opened lies within our remedy. (n. pag.)    Is Madariaga correct in saying that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were innocent pawns in the hands of a cunning king? This essay intends to present other critical points of view on this and other questions concerning the character of King Claudius.    The drama opens after Hamlet has just returned from Wittenberg, England, where he has been a student. What brought him home was the news of his father’s death and his father’s brother’s quick accession to the throne of Denmark. Philip Burton in â€Å"Hamlet† discusses Claudius’ sudden rise to the Danish throne upon the death of King Hamlet I:    The fact that Claudius has become king is not really surprising. Only late in the play does Hamlet complain that his uncle had "popped in between the election and my hopes." The country had been in a nervous state expecting an invasion by young Fortinbras, at the head of a lawless band of adventurers, in revenge for his father’s death at the hands of King Hamlet. A strong new king was immediately needed; the election of Claudius, particularly in the absence of Hamlet, was inevitable. What is more, it was immediately justified, because Claudius manages to dispel the threat of invasion by appealing to the King of Norway to curb his nephew, Fortinbras; the ambitious young soldier was the more ready to cancel the projected invasion because the object of his revenge, Hamlet’s father, was now dead, and in return he received free passage through Denmark to fight against Poland. (n. pag.)    G. Wilson Knight in "The Embassy of Death" also interprets the character of Claudius as less guilty than he appears to most critics:

Monday, September 2, 2019

Use Of Literary Elements :: essays research papers

Use of Literary Elements There are many important elements to The Catcher in the Rye but there are two that stand out from the rest by a great margin. These elements of the novel are the message that the book gives to reader as well as the style of writing that J.D. Salinger uses while writing the book. The messages can be seen clearly and are very important to the book, but they are not an original theme for a book. What does set the ideas in this book apart from other books with the same theme is the writing style that Salinger uses in the book; this writing style is called stream of consciousness writing. Stream of consciousness writing is a type of writing that is not typically used in books because of its well defined limits. These limits are that when using stream of consciousness narration, the story line is required to revolve around one and only one main character if the writing is to be effective. With S. of C. writing it is also required that the author develop the main character extremely well into a very believable person both emotionally and physically through thoughts and actions. To write an effective book in this writing style an author must be exceptionally talented, and thankfully Mr. Salinger is just that. The S. of C. writing style is used effectively with the character of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye because the story line Mr. Salinger developed follows Holden specifically as well as the fact that the subject matter of the book is one of an personal nature. The ideas in the book are presented as thoughts of Holden through out the story. These topics include the fakeness of the world, as well as the rebellion against the world that many teenagers have. Holden does not like the phonies in the world and constantly voices his opinion about it as well. The rebellion against the world in not a conscious thing that Holden does but it is apparent in the story line of the book. An example of this rebellion is the constant use of profanity in the book. Salinger makes good use of the constant profanity to show this rebellion but because of HoldenÕs character it is not out of context. Because Holden is upper-middle class and educated he used profanity to exemplify points that he is trying to make, not because he is swearing out of anger.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Comparative Criticism of Two Museums

Mark Moran Prof. Elizabeth Marlowe Masterpieces of Western Art November 8, 1999 Formal Comparison of Two Museums The Frick Collection and The Guggenheim Museum are both museums on 5th  Avenue in New York’s Upper East Side neighborhood, and they are both named for famous American tycoons from the early 20thcentury. But their similarities pretty much end there. The Frick Collection is the former residence of steel baron Henry Clay Frick who spent forty years assembling a large collection of artwork for his personal enjoyment.The Guggenheim Museum, on the other hand, was always intended as a public museum to display various art exhibits. These fundamental differences are most evident in the architectural design of the buildings themselves: the Frick building is a calm, warm house built for a family to live in while the Guggenheim building is a cold, public hall built to accommodate hundreds of art enthusiasts at a time. The styles of the architecture are quite different, and th ey reflect the very different styles of artwork inside.Furthermore, the shapes and layout of the buildings lend themselves to quite different viewing experiences for the visitor. From the outside, the only things the two buildings have in common is that they both dominate an entire block of 5th  Avenue and they are both white. The Frick building, designed by architect Thomas Hastings, was built from 1913-1914 in the neo-classical style prevalent in New York at the time. Classical arches, ionic columns, and outdoor gardens and fountains remind the viewer of an ancient Roman villa, much like fellow baron and art collector J. P.Getty’s museum in Malibu, CA. Elaborate decoration over the doorways and columns as well as ornamented atriums and statue niches further enhance the classic design and tranquil setting. The building is relatively horizontal, primarily one story that sprawls out much lower than the towering buildings which surround it. The Guggenheim building is just the opposite. Built in 1956 from architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s design, it is as much a vision of the future as Frick’s house is an homage to antiquity. The Guggenheim is a giant concrete and glass spiral designed with mathematical curves and no right ngles. The surfaces are all completely smooth and there is no decoration or ornamentation inside or out. The bizarre structure conjures up images of alien civilizations and challenges the viewer with its unusual shape. The Guggenheim resembles and upside-down wedding cake, which gives it a much more vertical feeling than the Frick, even though it is also shorter than the surrounding buildings. There are no living areas inside the Guggenheim, just one huge chamber with a long spiral that visitors are intended to wind down and view all the artwork from.Artwork is primarily installed along the large spiral, although there are also small rooms which come off the spiral ramp. Because visitors take the elevator to the top, they ha ve nowhere to go but to follow the spiral down. This ensures that they see the artwork in a specific order and provides the satisfying feeling that the viewer has seen all there is to see. The Frick, however, has no set order. Even though some modifications were made by architect John Russell Pope in the 1930’s to convert it for public use, the building largely retains the feeling of a house.Just as one would expect of a house, it is a mixture or narrow hallways, living areas, large banquet rooms, and outdoor courtyards which sprawl out in various directions from the entryway. The rooms are designed for comfort and practical living, not for efficiently taking a tour. Visitors are encouraged to wander through the rooms in any particular order without guidebooks, simply enjoying the pieces as Frick himself did. This provides a relaxing and laid back setting for viewing the assorted artwork inside, but also leaves the visitor unsure of when he has finished seeing the entire coll ection.Since the collection doesn’t change much, seeing it all is not the point. Relaxing in the setting is. This very different interior designs demonstrate the different priorities of the museums. The Frick Collection is primarily static; that is, it is almost entirely the varied artwork collected by Frick himself (although there is a small area in the basement for temporary exhibits). There is no unifying theme of the pieces inside and Japanese vases sit right beside European paintings. Frick’s goal was to collect pieces of art that he found pleasant to live with, regardless of their genre or origin.For this reason, he had a house built to hold his artwork rather than a museum, even though he always intended to eventually bequeath it as a public collection. The Guggenheim, on the other hand, transforms itself every several months as it rotates in a new exhibit. One month it may be almost entirely 20th  century French paintings and the next month mostly Harley-Davi dson motorcycles. That permanent collection of the Guggenheim is relatively small and not its main focus. The main focus of the Guggenheim is to show off a particular theme or genre of artwork assembled by professional museum curators.Since the exhibits only last a few months, the museum encourages repeat viewers who benefit from the spiral design that allows them to efficiently see the entire new show. What is consistent about that Guggenheim’s exhibits is that they are generally modern and challenging, just like the building. The design of the Frick residence is to inspire tranquility. The painting, sculpture, furniture, and pottery range from the Renaissance to the late 19th  century, and there are no violent or startling works in the collection.The building’s layout, from the peaceful fountains to the elegant columns and niches all enforce a feeling of serenity inside the building and out in its gardens. The constantly changing Guggenheim strives to do just the o pposite. It’s goal is to be thought-provoking and shocking which is emphasized by its strange structure and lack of benches and resting areas, which are abundant in the Frick. Because Frick’s artwork is pre-20thcentury and somewhat traditional by today’s standards, the mansion built to house the works was designed to be as classical as possible.The building itself is a classically inspired artwork. Likewise, the Guggenheim building is an abstract, thought-provoking piece of 20th  century artwork. The Guggenheim Museum and the Frick Collection are two of New York’s most famous museums. They have fundamentally different architectural designs, both inside and out, that reflect and enhance the different goals of the museums. And yet, they both interact with their environments in a similar manner. Neither building is a large rectangle like the apartment buildings and consulate offices that tower over them.Their unusual designs which dominate entire blocks in stead suggest buildings that are open to the public, just as libraries or churches do. Neither of them blends in with the surrounding buildings, and yet each one elegantly faces Central Park and adds to the neighborhood’s overall harmony. The unique shapes of these museums invite passersby to marvel at them and perhaps to come in and admire the artwork, or at least browse through the gift shops. In this sense, the different architecture of these buildings, one classical and one futuristic, produce a similar emotion in the viewer and thus achieve the same goal.