The two Rivers
THE TWO RIVERS (Veronica by Adewale Maja-Pearce) Okeke and Veronica had been friends since they were little. Although they grew up together in the same "native" village, veronica's family is poorer than Okeke's, as the following quotation shows: "Her family had been even poorer than mine." This suggests that both of them are trapped by the power of poverty but Veronica's family is considerably worse of than his. Veronica loves and cares for her family very much. This is one of the reasons why she didn't leave for the city for Okeke. She did not wish to leave behind her family as the following quotation shows: "'I can't just leave my family.' 'Why not?' 'They are my family, that's enough.'" This line expresses how Veronica feels about her family, choosing them over a chance of a lifetime, which Okeke had offered her. She led her life taking orders from her brutal father and from an early age, he beats her, as the following quotation shows: "Night after night I lay awake listening to Veronica's screams." Veronica is very weak, just like her mother, and could not stand up to the power of her father. If Veronica had been a male, her father would not have beaten her. Despite this, she still cares for him and the rest of her family deeply, as she says: "I just can't leave my family." Veronica's family was always very important to her. When Okeke came back after ten years and found
Film review of Alfonso Cuaron's Great Expectations.
You have to give a film maker credit for exhibiting the necessary chutzpah to take one of the most beloved classics in the English language, Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, and transform it into a modern-day morality play/romance. Viewers who approach this motion picture with the mistaken expectation that it's going to be the kind of rigorously faithful adaptation that David Lean produced in 1946 are likely to be disappointed. Nevertheless, while Alfonso Cuaron's Great Expectations falls considerably short of being a definitive interpretation of the novel, it still offers an entertaining two hours. Great Expectations is considered by many to be Dickens' finest novel. It is certainly among his darkest, even with the less-downbeat ending that the author's friends prompted him to include. Like Oliver Twist before it, Great Expectations draws heavily from events in the writer's own life, which in part explains its believability and strength of character. One of the book's chief themes - that of a poor boy crossing class barriers to pursue the girl of his dreams - offered Cuaron (A Little Princess) and writer Mitch Glazer their biggest challenge. With the setting changed from 19th century England to contemporary Florida and New York, the social scale of Victorian England lost its validity. Surprisingly, however, the story survived the transition relatively unscathed. Even
Explore Joe Gargery's role in Great Expectations
Explore Joe Gargery’s Role in Great Expectations In Great Expectations, Joe acts as a father figure to Pip, when he is in fact his brother-in-law, as Joe married Pip’s sister, Mrs Joe Gargery. We are introduced to Joe as a “mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow”. Pip describes him as a kind and gentle man, making the reader immediately like him. “Good-natured” and “sweet-tempered” give Joe an endearing quality, so the reader is drawn to him. However, “foolish” introduces a potentially negative side to his character, like he is stupid, although this too could be considered endearing. Perhaps Dickens does this so that we can understand Joe’s actions better, or at least don’t view him too negatively when he can’t protect Pip from Mrs Joe. In contrast to his gentle personality, he is a blacksmith, and therefore a strong man. Pip thinks of him “like the steam-hammer, that can crush a man or pat an egg shell”. He is likening Joe to a machine in the forge, giving Joe a sense of power. Although, “crush” is quite a violent word, suggesting Joe to be violent, which he definitely is not. Perhaps Dickens included this detail to make us respect Joe, which is important for later on in the novel, so we don’t just view him as a “sweet-tempered” man. But there is a sense of this good natured man in the word “pat”,
How does Dickens show his dislike for the education system in "Hard Times"?
How does Dickens show his dislike for the education system in Hard Times? In the novel, Hard Times, the education system that Dickens writes about is Utilitarian. Dickens shows the view that he disapproves of the utilitarian system he presents and shows this initial dislike throughout the novel by using satire and irony to mock the system. Dickens presents his dislike for the education system through the titles he has chosen for his chapters. Such as the chapter title ‘murdering the innocents’, this title could show the dislike because it shows that Dickens believes that this way of educating the children is ruining their childhood and making them lose the naivety and imagination that all children have when growing up. Another way Dickens portrays his dislike is by the mocking names that he chose for his characters. A main example is the character Mr Gradgrind whose name could be seen as ‘grind’ meaning to break down the children’s imagination. This could be portrayed as a comical way to show Dickens dislike for the education system because he is choosing names which could have hidden meanings which mock, but at the same time, reinforce what the education system is doing to the children. Another example could be Mr M’Choakumchild. This character name makes me think that Dickens has cleverly used a play on word since readers could view his name to be ‘choke
Essay Topic: How does Dickens examine the social problems of his age in A Christmas Carol?
English Essay Essay Topic: ‘How does Dickens examine the social problems of his age in A Christmas Carol?’ Through the character of Ebenezer Scrooge; Dickens observes the social problems of the world within the novel A Christmas Carol. Dickens examines the social problems this world faces which some of us may have thought about from time to time, however none daring enough to comment on like Dickens have done. The social problems that Dickens lays out within his novel, A Christmas Carol though the character of Ebenezer Scrooge include: Christmas is just a time of a year where you are left poorer, without money you cannot be happy in life, and finally Observes that you should look after yourself and only yourself in life. Christmas is just a time of year where you are left poorer. This examination is shown within the novel A Christmas Carol, through the character of Ebenezer Scrooge. Ebenezer Scrooge stated “What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in 'em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you?” This is one way of thinking about Christmas, however Dickens also observed Christmas in a whole lighter sense through the character of Ebenezer Scrooge’s nephew Fred. Fred shared a whole different way of
Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens tells the story of several characters, all of who are developed continuously throughout the chapters
The Power of Love Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens tells the story of several characters, all of who are developed continuously throughout the chapters. Several of the characters are greatly developed, some showing unpredictable sides to their personalities. Sydney Carton is a prime example of such a character, his delicate personality revealed when he declares his love for Lucie. He is not the only character in love with Lucie, however. Throughout Book Two, it is revealed that Stryver and Charles Darnay are also coveting Lucie. Darnay and Carton both announce their love for her, however Carton is the only one who goes directly to Lucie to tell her. In this passage, Carton is asking Lucie to not forget him and to remember that even when she is married and with kids, he will always be there for her to keep her happy. Carton’s declaration of his love for Lucie not only reveals his love and foreshadows his selfless, noble act in the later chapters, but in addition, Dickens’ use of language reveals that Sydney is no longer the “jackal,” but that he is in fact much more than that – a sensitive man with deep emotions. Dickens’ use of language in this passage brings to light the sincerity in Sydney Carton, changing the mood of the reader towards him, and the words that Dickens uses to make Carton express himself allows Carton to truly show his desire for
Industrialisation in "Hard Times". The characters of Hard Times are all affected by Coketown and what it represents.
Richmond Mary Richmond John Lowery ENG 460 May 6, 2012 Hard Times Industrialization impacts everyone. The effects of industrialization can be felt on many levels; socially, financially, educationally, and health. The characters of Hard Times are all affected by Coketown and what it represents. Many of the characters learn something of themselves or what the effects of their actions have on the citizens of Coketown. Some of the characters are better off and some characters have chosen to ignore the life lessons presented to them. One of the first characters the reader is introduced to is Sissy Jupe. Sissy is considered a poor girl, no education, and no prospects except to work in the factories. Sissy is in the school endorsed by Mr. Gradgrind. Mr. Gradgrind teaches facts and that all things can be explained by facts and reason, not emotions. One day in the school Sissy is called upon to answer a question. Mr. Gradgrind asks her name and decides she is too common and should be called Cecilia. He then proceeds to continue to call her by a number instead of her name. This further degrades Sissy. (pg. 12) Mr. Gradgrind decides that Sissy is no longer welcome at the school because she refuses to learn by fact and reason. On a visit to her house he find her father has run away and abandoned her. He decides to be charitable and takes her home to learn with his son and
“A Christmas Carol Is Nothing More Than A Children’s Fairytale?” How Far Do You Agree With This Statement?
"A Christmas Carol Is Nothing More Than A Children's Fairytale?" How Far Do You Agree With This Statement? If one was to read Christmas Carol it can be arguably interpreted as having some characteristics of what a children's fairytale would contain. If one was to analyse what was a children's fairytale it would contain things such as; it being a short story, a happy ending, being set in a land of make believe, stereotype good versus evil approach, a simple plot, simple language, character caricatures, themes of the supernatural and the most important is that it would contain a morale. However if one was to interpret the Christmas Carol and start to analyse the varied language structures of metaphors, similes and imagery this novella becomes far from a simple fairytale but a stunning piece of literature. The Christmas Carol does have some elements of a fairytale such as a simple plot in which an old miser is visited by four supernatural beings and manages to change in the course of a night into a warm human being. The Christmas Carol is also arranged quite simply in the fact that for each visit by the Ghost represents a chapter. The Christmas Carol ends happily with Scrooge saying 'the spirits of all three shall strive within me', which shows a clear characteristic to a fairytale. The third phantom ghost who visits Scrooge is probably the most heavily caricatured character
Write a comparison between Roald Dahl's 'The Hitchhiker' and the opening chapter of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations'.
Write a comparison between Roald Dahl's 'The Hitchhiker' and the opening chapter of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations'. Both writers stories were published. Charles Dickens' stories appeared in the newspaper, and Roald Dahl's stories were shown on television in a series called 'Tales of the Unexpected', consisting of short stories that he had written. Although the stories were written in completely different centuries, they still have a few similarities. Firstly, both stories feature one person who stands out - Pip in 'Great Expectations' and the Narrator in 'The Hitch Hiker'. Secondly, both of the stories are based around a criminal, although the criminal in 'Great Expectations' seems much more of a threat to the protagonist than the fingersmith in 'The Hitch Hiker'. The first chapter of 'Great Expectations' and 'The Hitchhiker' are based around the same idea. Firstly, there is a character who you are supposed to get acquainted with. Pip is the main character in 'Great Expectations', and the Narrator is the main character in 'The Hitchhiker'. But the differences are clear when you get further into the stories. In 'Great Expectations' the criminal is made to look evil, and says things to intimidate Pip. One example is when the criminal says, "Keep still you little devil, or I'll cut your throat!" This proves that this man is evil, because he would cut Pip's throat,
Show how Dickens uses settings in Great Expectations to enhance our understanding of character and the symbolic elements of the plot - Great expectations
Show how Dickens uses settings in Great Expectations to enhance our understanding of character and the symbolic elements of the plot As we notice in the novel 'Great Expectations', Charles Dickens uses many different narrative techniques other than the usual description. One of these techniques is that of describing character through a specific setting. There are a few of these very detailed descriptions in chapter eight (Satis House), chapter twenty (Mr. Jaggers' office), chapter twenty-one (Barnard's Inn), chapter twenty-five (Wemmick's castle) and chapter twenty-six (Mr. Jaggers' house). When Pip first arrives at Satis House (chapter 8 pages 52-53) we have a great description of the setting, and by looking at the adjectives we get more of an idea of the atmosphere it conforms to: "old", "dismal", "empty", "disused", "walled up, "enclosed" and "rustily barred". There is an overall sense of dilapidation, and the last three adjectives in particular remind us of the image of a prison, which appears throughout the whole book. Moreover, to confirm the presence of this imagery, the "great front entrance had two chains across it outside" (chapter 8 page 54). From the description of Satis House we understand more about the character of its inhabitant, Miss Havisham, who has made the house grow old with her, without looking after it as she doesn't look after