Everyday Use: Defining African-American Heritage
"Everyday Use": Defining African-American Heritage In "Everyday Use," Alice Walker tells a story of a mother's conflicted relationship with her two daughters. On its surface, "Everyday Use" tells how a mother gradually rejects the superficial values of her older, successful daughter in favor of the practical values of her younger, less fortunate daughter. On a deeper level, Alice Walker is exploring the concept of heritage as it applies to African-Americans. "Everyday Use" is set in the late '60s or early '70s. This was a time when African-Americans were struggling to define their personal identities in cultural terms. The term "Negro" had been recently removed from the vocabulary, and had been replaced with "Black." There was "Black Power," "Black Nationalism," and "Black Pride." Many blacks wanted to rediscover their African roots, and were ready to reject and deny their American heritage, which was filled with stories of pain and injustice. In "Everyday Use," Alice Walker argues that an African-American is both African and American, and to deny the American side of one's heritage is disrespectful of one's ancestors and, consequently, harmful to one's self. She uses the principal characters of Mama, Dee (Wangero), and Maggie to clarify this theme. Mama narrates the story. Mama describes herself as "a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands. In the
Write about the ways Shakespeare explores different characters experiences of love in Act 1, Scene 2 of Richard III and Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet.
Write about the ways Shakespeare explores different characters’ experiences of love in Act 1, Scene 2 of ‘Richard III’ and Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Love is the seminal theme in the romantic tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet’ written by Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare. It is love that is the driving force of the plays actions, in the same way it is love that brings about the tragic end of the two central protagonists. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ experience love euphorically and as a powerful emotion. In Richard III love is used for political gain and to increase his positioning to the throne after he fought and won the war of the roses against the Lancaster’s. Richard perceives love as an opportunity to increase his status and to elevate his self closer to the throne of England and he does not marry lady Anne because he genuinely loves her unlike ‘Romeo and Juliet’, but because he needs a queen to become King and he sees her as the person who makes him more reputable and of more importance. Shakespeare starts ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with a prologue which provides the audience with an overview of what is to come. Shakespeare carefully structures Romeo and Juliet for dramatic effect which creates
Compare and contrast the writers presentation of the consequences of obsessive love in: Othello, Notes on a Scandal and The Yellow Wallpape
Compare and contrast the writers' presentation of the consequences of obsessive love in: Othello, 'Notes on a Scandal' and 'The Yellow Wallpaper' In Othello, 'Notes on a Scandal', 'The Yellow Wallpaper', there is a theme of obsessive love. The writer presents obsessive love through the characters' speech and actions. All texts present love through different periods of history, 'Othello' written in 1602, ''The Yellow Wallpaper'' written in 1899 and 'Notes on a Scandal' written in the late 20th century. This shows us that obsessive love has always been a major theme in society and will continue to be as 'Notes on a Scandal', the most recent novel shows. Obsessive love will also have consequences and these consequences may always be dangerous to those concerned. In 'Othello' we learn that Othello was 'one who loved not wisely, but too well'. He allowed his heart to control his mind. A Shakespearean hero always leads directly to suffering and destruction. Here the destruction comes from Othello's jealousy, which has led to his obsessive love with Desdemona. Othello at the start of the play is portrayed by Shakespeare, as a man with great calmness and control. 'Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will
Compare how Nathaniel Hawthorne & Alice Walker portray the struggles of the central character to achieve fulfilment.
Compare how Nathaniel Hawthorne & Alice Walker portray the struggles of the central character to achieve fulfilment in The Scarlet Letter and The Color Purple. Both novels are a celebration of American literature and explore the morals and values of the era in which they were set. The Color Purple being written in 1950 portrays the repression of black women especially in the South. Walker manipulates the character of Celie in order to exhibit a young woman's journey through life and the trials and tribulations she faces whilst fighting the social hierarchy women were expected to accept. While Hawthorne's use of the character of Hester Prynne, an adulteress and foreigner evidences the religious oppression that Hester is forced to confront (ironically through the moral weakness of a churchman.) The Color Purple is written in epistolary form with the letters at the beginning of the novel written to God from Celie however later in the novel the letters are written by the character of Nettie. Throughout, Sofia's story and the final return of Celie's adult children with Nettie are also explored in this way. The Scarlet Letter however is written in third person narrative - where the narrator is a strong presence. Hawthorne's pretence that the story is based upon a document found when he was surveyor of the Custom House in Salem enables him to speculate with the reader about
Translations and Things Fall Apart, examine how Friel and Achebe present the issue of linguistic imperialism and how successful they are.
"...a civilisation can be imprisoned in a linguistic contour which no longer matches the landscape of...fact." With reference to your independent research and critical opinion, examine how Friel and Achebe present the issue of linguistic imperialism and how successful they are. Linguistic imperialism can be defined as the enforcement or imposition of one language onto another; it tends to be a key tool of the colonialist seeking to mend the 'backward' societies that they find, generally to their own purpose. Thus, writers such as Friel and Achebe have sought to rectify the still ever present colonialist perceptions of the west by attacking the use of language in their societies, for example, Hiberno-English in Translations. Furthermore, it is necessary to analyse the form and structure of the primary texts, for instance, how Achebe and Friel both manage to structure their texts in such a way that it gives a distinctly 'foreign' aesthetic, whilst still creating a subtly intelligent and critical narrative. Also, it is important to look at the literary techniques and devices that are used within Translations and Things Fall Apart, for example, dramatic irony (e.g. the reference to the potato famine in Translations) or symbols like Mr. Brown in Things Fall Apart, who represent a could-have-been harmonious presence between two vastly different cultures. In addition, it is
The Language of Protest
The Language of Protest The language of political protest and pressure has taken many forms. I shall try to show this range and variety by analyzing four examples that have very different historical contexts and which take very different approaches: Martin Luther King's famous `I Have a Dream' speech; Jonathan Swift's satire `A Modest Proposal'; and contemporary tests from New Internationalist magazine and from a Friends of the Earth advertisement. King's speech shows all the oratorical mastery than made him so indispensable to the US Civil Rights movement of the sixties. The language is that of the Baptist preacher, often biblical in tone, rich with metaphor and a great array of rhetorical techniques. It is appropriate to the circumstances: the charismatic leader heading a great crusade. Although the text appears to have been fully written - every phrase is carefully crafted - the sense of the audience is evident throughout, above all in the way that King contrives to build fervour and excitement. It is not so much intended to persuade (he was addressing supporters) but to inspire. King initiates his speech by uniting his audience by using noble abstract nouns and dignified words. He carefully calculates the emotions of his audience as he speaks, and in doing so he milks cheers from them, thus showing their support for the cause. King begins: "I am
Comparing the Role of Women in Sense and Sensibility and Othello
Role of Women in Sense and Sensibility and Othello It is very interesting how different time periods can produce similar behaviors in women just like in Othello by William Shakespeare which was written in 1603 and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen in 1811. Despite the different time periods, the two texts have a connection with each other. Though set in different time periods, Sense and Sensibility and Othello placed the characters of the women in each text in roles that required them to act a certain way due to society's norms and be dependent on men. The women in these two texts have portrayed such traits by acting depending on their class, and the way they are treated by men in their lives. Subsequently, the actions of the women characters shape the plot in both the texts. To begin with, the way the women act around other people mostly depends on the society`s norms and act according to their class. Elinor of Sense and Sensibility accomplished much she stayed within her social status, married a rich guy with whom she is in love. "He is very far from being independent. What his mother ... really is we cannot know; but, from Fanny's occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have never been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very much mistaken if Edward is not himself aware that there would be many difficulties in his way, if he were to wish to marry a
Discuss the ways in which Frayn introduces the key features of Spies in the opening chapter.
Discuss the ways in which Frayn introduces the key features of Spies in the opening chapter. The key features of Spies are introduced and highlighted by the use of different narrative techniques which occur throughout the novel. One of the most important features in the novel is mystery; this is created largely due to the fact that Stephen is not a reliable narrator. His uncertainty means that we are not told the truth at times. This very aspect portrays Spies as a modern novel. By creating ambiguity there is no certainty or clarity in the plot, despite the narrator having lived through the story. This enables Frayn to comment on perception, an important theme in the novel. Childhood is also a vital aspect in this novel as it helps readers discover Stephen's past and acknowledge the way in which he has grown up. It also assists readers in drawing differences between Stephen as a youth and an old man narrator; furthermore it helps Frayn to comment on identity which is another key feature. Relationships are also significant as they are either made or broken in Spies. Moreover the structure of the novel in itself is fundamental and acts as a key feature, largely because it creates suspense and helps introduce the key features. The opening chapter is written in two different tenses; the present in which we establish the effect the smell of a plant has on the narrator who is an
Compare and contrast the presentation of religious ideas in The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Compare and contrast the presentation of religious ideas in The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson Religion, 'a system of ideas and rules for behavior based on supernatural explanations'. The concept of religious belief is one that takes raw faith and packages it in an attempt to standardize something that exists independent of proof or explanation. It can be both wholly fulfilling and entirely destructive to an individual as it forces one to conform to specified guidelines for conduct and belief. Some thrive under these conditions as they give them something to grasp and understand, others flounder under the weight of expectation and obedience. Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and The Color Purple are two novels which explore the emotional and physical journeys of human beings living within a social group that is subordinate to the religious beliefs imposed upon it. Jeanette Winterson and Alice Walker place religious ideas at the centre of their novels and use them both as a method for exploring their characters' development and as a symbolic gesture that adds richness and depth to their tales. Both of these novels contain a short commentary from their author, explaining their intentions and giving important context to their works. The Color Purple is a self-proclaimed 'theological work' that explores the emotional journey
Analysis of the three short stories, The Hanged Man's Bride, written in 1860, The Trial For Murder, written in 1865 and Confession Found in a Prison, written in 1842.
Richard Tandy March 2004 Buile Hill High School Centre Number 33321 English Coursework Charles Dickens Assignment Introduction Based on my study of Charles Dickens, I have decided to focus upon three short stories to write about in detail. These are: The Hanged Man's Bride, written in 1860, The Trial For Murder, written in 1865 and Confession Found in a Prison, written in 1842. To enable me to understand the stories better and also Dicken's interests and motivations, I have carried out necessary research on historical, literacy contexts and other biographical details. Charles Dickens stories could be said to be a reflection of his own childhood because of the intensity in which he writes about the subject - his early years were full of upheaval and uncertainty. He was born in 1812 into a middle-class family, however, his father was declared bankrupt in 1824. His family was sent to the Marshalsea Prison for debtors in London. Charles, however, at the age of 12 was sent to work in a blacking factory, labeling bottles. He lived in lodgings in semi-squalor in an attic room. However, his father borrowed money and Dickens was then sent to a public school called Wellington House, but the masters were savage and academic standards were low. Dickens got a job at 15 as a clerk for a
