Catherine II was Russia's first ruler, who was considered as enlightened.
Catherine II was Russia's first ruler, who was considered as enlightened. As a child growing up in Germany, she was given an enlightened education. She enthusiastically read 'enlightened' literature, and soon became a disciple of the enlightenment. As Empress she continued to read the works of Locke, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. Although it is widely accepted that Catherine II was an enlightened despot, it has also been argued that she did nothing more than allow the continuation of policies that had began in the reign of Peter I; "Although she claimed to be an enlightened despot, Catherine II did no more than continue the policies of her predecessors." Another argument as to why Catherine didn't carry out more enlightened reforms was due to her not wanting to make these enlightened reforms; the policies that Catherine II adopted were not adopted because of her beliefs, and/or her desire to create an 'enlightened society', but were instead taken out to maintain her power, and to satisfy her vanity. Historians like Harris claim that Catherine only appeared to be enlightened to enhance her reputation with the philosophes. This view is also taken by R. Charques, who states that the "enlightenment in Catherine was not much deeper than her vanity; despotism on the other hand was implicit in her ambition."1 There has also been the case that Catherine had recognised the danger of
Consider one critic's comment on Wuthering Heights
Consider one critic's comment on Wuthering Heights: "The novel everywhere organizes itself according to ... patterns of sameness and difference, as in the opposition between stormy weather and calm weather; or between the roughness of the Heights and the civilized restraint of Thrushcross Grange, or between inside and outside, domestic interior and wild nature outside; or between the stories of the two Catherines, or between people of strong will like Heathcliff ... and people of weak will like Lockwood." Choose three such patterns. Then write an essay to describe how each pattern contributes to the effectiveness of the novel as a whole. Wuthering Heights is a story with patterns of sameness and difference on the importance of listening to one's heart. Catherine's choice to marry Linton because of his position, forgetting her natural love for Heathcliff who is like her angers him and so he plans a revenge. Catherine's death does not set him free from his love-hate relationship with her, which continues until his death. The marriage of Hareton and Cathy restores peace. The organization of the novel into patterns of sameness and difference shows that there can only be peace when one listens to the voice of love. The contrast between the two love relationships shows how Catherine does a mistake by choosing Linton over Heathcliff, since she is betraying her feelings. If Edgar
Do you find the first three chapters of Wuthering Heights an effective opening for this novel?
Do you find the first three chapters of Wuthering Heights an effective opening for this novel? In the first chapter of Wuthering Heights, you (the reader) can start to relate to the characters that have been introduced and the setting, Wuthering Heights. The language and the use of imagery play a big role in helping the reader understand the situation in the first few opening paragraphs. The first line reads, 'I [Lockwood] have just returned from a visit to my landlord - the solitary neighbour that I shall be trouble with.' By reading this, you can instantly get the feeling about Lockwood's impression concerning Heathcliff. By describing him as a 'solitary' man, Lockwood is saying that he is alone in his house without any companions to talk to. Therefore, the reader could gather extra information about Heathcliff from the first sentence. There are other descriptive words in the text which help you imagine what type of character Heathcliff is. When Lockwood visits Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff utters ' "Walk in"....with closed teeth', it then does on to say, 'and expressed the sentiment, "Go to the Deuce!"' This will give the reader a mindful impression of what Heathcliff is like with visitors and explains why he is a 'solitary' man. When you utter through your teeth, you often give across the idea that you are angry. In the novel, Heathcliff is an angry and tense man and it
To what extent was Catherine de Medici obsessed with keeping power at court?
To what extent was Catherine de Medici obsessed with keeping power at court? "An execrable woman whose memory will remain in bloody crepe until the end of time1". For nearly 400 years this assessment of Catherine de Medici held true. In the popular imagination she is a Machiavellian schemer using poison on those who hindered her in her quest to gain and maintain power at court, a view of Catherine reinforced in recent years by the film La Reine Margot, based on the book by Dumas. Most traditionalist historians take their information on Catherine from pamphlets such as Discours Merveilleuse de la Vie, Actions et Deportment de Catherine de Medicis, Royne Mere2. Claiming to be a strictly factual account of Catherine de Medici, the author accuses Catherine of 'rising from the dregs of society' (she came from a powerful Florentine family on her father's side and her mother was daughter of Jeanne de Bourbon-Vendôme, consequently a princess of royal blood). It accuses her of poisoning Francis I's eldest son (to make Henry, her husband, Dauphin and therefore herself Dauphine). The pamphlet also circulates the story most associated with Catherine, that she was the sole initiator of the infamous St Bartholomew Day's Massacre. The pamphlet is probably the most vitriolic of its kind, but its claims have been repeated by other, more reputable, historians such as JE Neale who
The Bellis concerned primarily with the dark conflict between sex and religion. To what extent is this true and how important is this conflict to the novel as a whole?
The Bell is concerned primarily with the dark conflict between sex and religion. To what extent is this true and how important is this conflict to the novel as a whole? Throughout Iris Murdoch's novel, 'The Bell' we are constantly being presented with conflicts, many of which relate to the discord between sex and religion which have been opposed to each other since the dawn of creation when Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation in the Garden of Eden. This conflict has particularly dark tendencies and acts as a destructive force for several characters, namely Catherine, Michael and Nick. Despite this being the primary theme of the novel we are also presented with a number of conflicts of a different nature. The main conflict of the novel is that existing between sex and religion, as embodied by Catherine and Michael. Michael is constantly confronted by the issue of his sexuality and how it affects his religion. He is always striving to live a good life and he believes that entering into the priesthood would allow him to achieve this. However he is prevented from fulfilling this wish by his homosexuality which goes completely against the Church's teaching. Michael believes that to live a good life, "One should have a conception of one's capacities ... study carefully how best to use such strength as one has". In initiating relationships with firstly Nick and then
Wuthering Heights - Point of View Number Three, Through the Eyes of Hareton Earnshaw.
MYP 10 Creative Response: Wuthering Heights Point of View Number Three, Through the Eyes of Hareton Earnshaw By: Nikita Malik 10R It's a pale yellow, windy evening in October, outside is drizzling rain, but neither of them have noticed. Inside the house, the two friends sit next to the dimly lit and crackling fire, she on the small stool by the oven, and him near the splintered and ancient dining room table. He has not spoken for a while, but she does not appear to mind the silence. He stares at his hands, rough and covered with sore blisters from fierce work. And then, he studies her, her blond hair like a halo around her head, catching the rays of light from the fire. He wonders if he could ever make her understand. "Did you love your father Cathy?" he asks in a voice which is thick with emotion. She hesitates, but not for long. "But, of course Hareton. He was the only family I ever had." "Then perhaps," he begins "You will understand what I mean when I say that Heathcliff has been to me what your father was to you." He waits for her to reply, but when she does not, he carries on, choosing his words slowly, as if he was picking up each one off the air. "My father died when I was a young boy, my mother is a distant memory, a face which I cannot remember. Heathcliff brought me up like his own son, and taught me everything that I know, making me into the man that I
Discuss the various themes in depth in Wuthering Heights.
Discuss the various themes in depth in Wuthering Heights. In the novel Wuthering Heights, a story about love turned obsession, Emily Bronte Manipulates the desolate setting and dynamic characters to examine the self-destructive Pain of compulsion. Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is a novel about lives that cross paths and are intertwined with one another. Healthcliff, an orphan, is taken in by Mr. Earnshaw, the owner of Wuthering Heights. Mr. Earnshaw has two children named Catherine and Hindley. Jealousy between Hindley and Healthcliff was always a problem. Catherine loves Healthcliff, but Hindley hates the stranger for stealing his fathers affection away. Catherine meets Edgar Linton, a young gentleman who lives at Thrushcross Grange. Despite being in love with Healthcliff she marries Edgar elevating her social standing. The characters in this novel are commingled in their relationships with Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. The series of events in Emily Bronte's early life psychologically set the tone for her fictional novel Wuthering Heights. Early in her life while living in Haworth, near the moors, her mother died. At the time she was only three. At the age of nineteen, Emily moved to Halifax to attend Law Hill School. There is confusion as of how long she stayed here, suggestions ranging from a minimum of three months to a maximum of
Wuthering Heights- Is Heathcliff a man or a devil?
Wuthering Heights- Is Heathcliff a man or a devil? "Wuthering Heights" was written by Emily Brontë and was first published in 1847, it was written during the "romantic period", it is a story of love, lust and sorrow all held together by extreme passion, love and hate. One of the main characters in the book Wuthering Heights is Heathcliff, he was a orphan who lived in Liverpool, we find very little about Heathcliff's past before he is adopted by the Earnshaw's, which makes Heathcliff a mysterious character. When Heathcliff comes to live at Wuthering Heights after being adopted by the Earnshaw's, he feels displaced as he does not know where to fit in with the family who seem to have "tight knit family system". In the beginning it is clear that Heathcliff is rejected by his older step brother Hindly and turns to Catherine for affection, but Heathcliff feels he is not worthy of the affection shown to him by his step father and the family and this causes problems with members of the family. Hindly automatically feels threatened by Heathcliff's presence and his hate for Heathcliff grows as Heathcliff gets the attention from there father that Hindly feels he deserve and this causes friction between the two characters. But Heathcliff has needs and one of these is to be loved which he feels only Catherine can do even from a very young age, they become the best of friends and feel
Gothic Story.
Holly Sumner Gothic Story 1796- The city of London was progressively expanding. In a small neighbourhood, near the edge of the city, stood the most exquisite church ever seen. Inside the church were two figures both dressed in elegant garments. They were surrounded by a numerous amount of people and an abundance of flowers and candles. It was the wedding of Jonathon Harvey and Victoria James. They had been together for two years after meeting each other at the wedding of mutual friends Daniel and Catherine Burton. Jonathon was a very handsome, 24 year old man, who was well groomed and very polite. He knew how to treat a woman. Victoria was a brunette, who displayed classic beauty, and showed much love for Jonathon. She was a mature, sensible woman considering she was only just 19 years of age. After the wedding the couple and all their guests, went to Jonathon and Victoria's house. It was a huge mansion, which had a wonderful décor. The front of the house was breathtaking, and as much could be said for the rest of the house. Looking at the house you could see there were elongated stained glass windows surrounded, and partially covered, by ivy and an assortment of other climbing plants. It was one of the many properties belonging to the couple, as they had been left many by ancestors. Inside all the guests were enjoying themselves but were getting ready to say goodbye to
Describe the Relationship Between the Family Members in Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is set in the Yorkshire moors and deals with complex emotional relationships in a Victorian household. Tensions arise when Mr Earnshaw returns from Liverpool with a street orphan whom he decides to adopt and name Heathcliff: this is initially unpopular with his wife and 2 children. Although Heathcliff forms a strong bond with Catherine, hatred builds up between him and Hindley who feels he’s classless yet poses a threat to his inheritance so seeks revenge. Whilst roaming the moors with Heathcliff, Catherine becomes aquatinted with the Lintons, a fellow family of the gentry, when she is attacked by dogs outside the Grange. The son, Edgar, falls in love with her and proposes. In spite of her love for Heathcliff she decides to marry Edgar as it’s what’s expected of her. This causes Heathcliff to disappear for years and return a changed man. When we compare the Grange to Wuthering Heights we see the vast contrast in social classes. The former is a haven of respect and civility whereas the latter is a household of disorder. However both families were members of the gentry. Therefore it’s assumed Catherine would marry someone of similar social class and when Edgar proposes, both families feel it’s a good match. At that time, a person’s position in society was important in considerations of marriage so nobody would’ve even contemplated the chance that