"Compare and contrast Orwell and Atwood's presentation of dystopian societies so far in Gilliard and Oceania"

"Compare and contrast Orwell and Atwood's presentation of dystopian societies so far in Gilliard and Oceania" Both Atwood and Orwell's novels are based in a dystopian societies, a society of a negative and undesirable nature. The novels both alert us to the economic, political and social affects this dystopia has on a society and the characters. In both books there is an immediate contrast between the living standards of both characters and their immediate surroundings. In Gilliard, Offred is living in a clean, simple white room, "A chair, a table, a lamp." Using ellipsis and a simple asyndetic list, Atwood has represented the room through language. In Oceania however Winston is living in filth, "...a swirl of gritty dust..." Orwell appeals to the senses here for us to understand how he lives. These living conditions are in very stark contrast even though they live in societies that restrict them; their restrictions are in different ways. Winston does not have a clean living space and Offred has nothing to do in hers, the in-depth description of her room immediately shows us how bored she is already. As Offred is sent to Gilliard to produce a child for the commander and his wife, she is not allowed to have simple things like cigarettes, or even caffeine, "I looked at the cigarette with longing. For me, like liquor and coffee, cigarettes re forbidden." In the dystopian

  • Word count: 963
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"Educating Rita" and "Pygmalion". Russell and Shaw present Rita and Eliza's struggle to attempt to change by learning new languages. They both develop an identity through education but they have contrasting effects as one creates happiness the other sadne

'You taught me language and my profit on't / is I know how to curse'. Evaluate the significance of this by comparing and contrasting how Rita and Eliza are learning a new language in an attempt to change. Russell and Shaw present Rita and Eliza's struggle to attempt to change by learning new languages. They both develop an identity through education but they have contrasting effects as one creates happiness the other sadness. Also both women are trapped in their social class systems which expect little from them. Frank teaches Rita the academic language and critics of essay writing; whereas Higgins teaches Eliza how to speak. Eliza's change is a superficial change because she only changes the way she speaks however Rita believes that change can't be just superficial; change has to be internal as well as external, so her change is both. Rita and Eliza are both dissatisfied with their lives; they are both 'out of step' with their social class. "I've been realisin' for ages that I was...slightly out of step..." this suggests that Rita isn't happy with her life. She wants to discover herself first, this is significant because she confides into Frank who is her only link into the world she wants to belong to. Similarly, Eliza has desires to seek an alternative way of life. "The Flower Girl: I want to be a lady" Eliza's desires set her apart from her social class. At the

  • Word count: 1896
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Which characters does Caliban compare to in translations?

The character of Caliban in 'The Tempest' can be compared to all of the Irish native inhabitants in 'Translations', by comparing the way in which Caliban resents Prospero's language, like Hugh resents English, the way in which he relies on natural resources, similarly does Manus, and also the way in which he is perceived by others, perhaps as more of a creature than a person, like Sarah is perceived as being unintelligent as she cant talk. I think mostly so Caliban can be compared to 'Owen', who too ends up being a victim of colonisation and is treated with disrespect by the colonisers. In translations, the master of the hedge school, Hugh, does not support the idea of the English language being phased into Ireland, and refers to it with very derogatory terms like 'plebeian' and see's it only suitable for business purposes, but at the end of the play, he comes to terms with the fact that the English language and the English names for towns is going to have to be accepted if everybody is to live their lives peacefully. likewise in 'The tempest' Caliban is irritated with Prospero and complains that he was taught Prospero's language but with lack of benefit to himself as it taught him to curse - 'you taught me language, and my profit on't is I know how to curse'. Although, by the end of the play, after his experience of Stephano, Trinculo and wine, he realises that Prospero

  • Word count: 967
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Is Titus Andronicus a tregic hero

Is Titus Andronicus a tragic hero? The Shakespearian tragedy "Titus Andronicus" is one of Shakespeare earliest and one of the best tragedies ever written. "Titus Andronicus" depicts a Roman general who is engaged in a cycle of revenge with his greatest enemy Tamora, the Queen of the Goths. The play is by far Shakespeare's bloodiest work. Because of its gore, Titus Andronicus lost popularity during the Victorian era and has only recently begun to revive its fortunes. Its tragic hero and main character, Titus Andronicus acts in many ways as the role model of Rome even though he makes a series of tragic errors. Titus is a hero because he is admired for his courage in wars and his achievements. He also has a high status, he is the general of greatest Rome, and the members of his family, the tribunes and us, the readers, experience his downfall with him. The people of Rome love him and they want him as their head for "headless Rome". "Romans make way. The good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, ............................................ Sound drums and trumpets". From here we know for sure that Titus is really loved and well respected by the tribunes and they are going to stick with him no matter what decision he takes. "To gratify the good Andronicus And gratulate his safe return to Rome The people will accept whom he admits". "Patron of virtue"

  • Word count: 953
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Structure of the Novel The Mayor of the Casterbridge

DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE It is often said that The Mayor of Casterbridge is the best tragic novel ever written by Thomas Hardy, though not many will agree. The measure of success of a work of fiction relies on how well or poor the author has unified his story and controlled its impact. Hence we will scrutinize on the structure of the novel and how these elements of fiction intertwine and producing its complete unified effect. It is worth to note here that the plot, character, point of view, setting and theme make up the structure of a novel. Furthermore, in discussing its themes, we will need to take the plot, character, point of view and setting into account. Therefore, we will discuss on how these elements generate themes, make a comment on human conditions and thus how they enhance The Mayor of Casterbridge. This essay contains an assessment for the themes: immortality of Fate and evolution of Casterbridge; and a final part analyzing the novel's dramatic effectiveness. Fate is indestructible in Hardy's opinion and it acts as the motivator of events or actions which bring down the main character Michael Henchard. How Fate works we will look into the author's manipulation of his characters, perspectives and plot. There is one perspective saying that the main plot of the story revolves around the main character and it cannot

  • Word count: 2357
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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1984 and Oryx and Crake

984 and Oryx and Crake Some people say that religion key in building a stable person and society. Discuss the role religion has in the books 1984 and Oryx and Crake. Religion has been the main way in which societies have been formed for thousands of years. Laws, morals and society are basely modelled on it. In both 1984 and Oryx and Crake, the future (or in the case of 1984, the future of the past) is represented as dystopias; a society based on hatred which destroys the human spirit or a society which eventually led to the destruction of itself, leaving only the main character and a small group of new beings. In 1984, Winston Smith is the main character who rebels against society. He believes that human spirit will prevail, shown when he says to O'Brien; "I know you will fail. There is something in the universe - I don't know, some spirit, some principle - that you will never overcome... The spirit of Man" This is a very religious idea; that good will always prevail over evil and that the soul lives on after the body has died. Coincidentally, this is in some relation to one of the parties' beliefs - which human people die but the body goes on forever. The dictatorship style of the Big Brother society is somewhat like that of a religious sect, or perhaps cult, where beliefs are not, using the process of doublethink, and all members must have absolute love for Big

  • Word count: 1103
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Alice Walker present Celie and Albert in the 'The Color Purple'

How does Alice Walker present Celie and Albert in the 'The Color Purple' "The Color Purple" written by Alice Walker is a bildunjiroman novel which focuses on the life developments of Celie, a poor Black American woman in the prejudice deep south of America in the beginning of the 20th century. This is done through an epistolary form with letters from both Celie and her separated sister Nettie. Most of the letters by Celie are addressed to God however like Celie's personality, knowledge and outlook on life this changes as the novel progresses. Celie is subject to both racism and sexism yet overcomes them both to reach eventual happiness. She begins the novel in enslavement but she eventually attains fulfilment and independence. Celie's husband who is mysteriously named "Mr ____", but then later revealed to be called Albert, is enslaved in a different way. Instead of open prejudice he is subject to a society that expects barbarism towards woman to prove masculinity. His father disallows him to marry the woman he loves, Shug Avery, due to her bad reputation and as he is dependant on his father he must do so, similarly to how Celie is dependant on Albert until she eventually breaks away. However as the novel advances like Celie, Albert is able to change himself and feel like a "natural man". As the novel is written in epistolary from, from the perspective of Celie it is

  • Word count: 1510
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How relationships are presented in "The Great Gatsby", "The Kite Runner" and "My Last Duchess".

Write about the way relationships are presented in three texts you have studied? Relationships that Fitzgerald depicted in his novel, The Great Gatsby symbolize the materialism and hedonism that were prevalent in 1920s American society. The relationships are marked by trouble, infidelity, and eventually sorrow among all the characters involved. Despite Tom and Daisy Buchanan's appearance of happiness, it seems that there is discontentment underlying their marriage. Daisy expresses sadness and regret due to Tom's unfaithfulness to her and wishes that her daughter be "beautiful little fool" therefore will be oblivious of the cruel things in the world. Showing that her relationship with Tom is a distressed one, and that she wishes she was unable to see the failures within her relationship. Pathetic fallacy is used when Daisy and Gatsby are due to meet, as it rains on the day that Gatsby and Daisy are due to meet representing how Gatsby feels, he becomes extremely apprehensive. Fitzgerald presents Gatsby as a man who cannot help but live in the past, he longs to stop time, as though he and Daisy had never been separated and as though she had never left him to marry Tom. During their meeting, Nick remarks that he is acting like "a little boy." In Daisy's presence, Gatsby loses his usual debonair manner and behaves like any awkward young man in love. Gatsby and Daisy's

  • Word count: 1481
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Compare and contrast the ways in which the writers of 'Frankenstein' and 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' encourage the reader to apportion blame for the crimes committed in the novels.

Compare and contrast the ways in which the writers of Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray encourage the reader to apportion blame for the crimes committed in the novels. Throughout Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray, Mary Shelley and Oscar Wilde influence the way in which blame is apportioned to certain characters for the crimes committed in order to communicate the underlying themes and morals of the novels. The apportioning of blame is necessary in both authors' examination of the causes of criminal behaviour, particularly the common 'nature vs. nurture' debate. Throughout the novels the authors question and criticise the motivations of their protagonists, contrasting the concept of an intrinsically evil being with one who is born innocent and later corrupted. Both authors strive to expose the essential duplicity of existence: the concept of the shades of light and dark contained within humanity, but also of how the expectations and pressures of society can force a person to lead a double life. It is particularly interesting to compare the characters of Frankenstein's monster and Dorian Gray in light of this, as despite their obvious differences both are depicted as committing horrific crimes. Both authors link physical appearance to an assessment of character. The initial physical description contributes to how a reader would immediately respond to a

  • Word count: 3549
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Devil In Disguise

Hannah Mumma English 113 Devil in Disguise "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates is a story about a young fifteen year old girl named Connie who knows she is very pretty. She often will check her reflection in mirrors and check other people's faces to see what they thought of hers. She has a rocky relationship with her critical mother; she has the nonattendant father, and the plain sister. Connie's parents seem to have no idea where she really goes at night, or who she spends her time with. Therefore, when Connie really needs her mother to pay attention and help her, she is not there. The symbols of Arnold Friend, his disguise, and the music that runs through the story contribute to an overall feeling of devilishness, trickery, and unease. Arnold Friend could be seen as the devil incarnate. His nose is "long and hawklike" (514) and he has a "slippery smile" (515). His "greasy" boots don't fit him right, "as if his feet don't go all the way down" (518). This could mean that he has hooves like Satan. When he draws 'his sign' - the letter X - in the air, it "stays there, almost still visible," (515) as if he has magical powers and burnt it into the air. Arnold's name can easily be changed into "An Old Fiend" which is another name for the devil, or could be seen as A. Friend, which is inviting to Connie because it makes him seem like a friend. Arnold

  • Word count: 827
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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