"I can't live one way in town and another way in my home" Examine the attitudes, character and role of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird
"I can't live one way in town and another way in my home" Examine the attitudes, character and role of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus Finch as a mouthpiece for many of her moral ethics in her novel. He plays many roles within the novel; primarily as a father, then as a highly principled man, a respected citizen of a small town community, and finally as a lawyer trying to do his job as well as he can. As a father, Atticus is meticulous in the way he raises his children. He ensures that all the things that he wishes them to learn, in terms of morality, are always practised by himself and those around his children. For example, he gives Calpurnia the same amount of authority over the children as Atticus himself. This is portrayed when Scout grumbles about the "epic and one-sided" battles with Calpurnia, which "Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side". Through this, we see that he has no feelings of inferiority toward the black community, and he treats them just the same as all other humans. As Scout and Jem have always grown up in her company, they grow up understanding that race and colour do not make any difference to the nature of any human being. He is also very concerned about the messages his children receive from everyone around and also from himself. This is shown when he is very
"I don't see any 'American Dream'. I see an American nightmare" - Malcolm X.
"I don't see any 'American Dream'. I see an American nightmare" - Malcolm X Malcolm X sounds rather harsh, futile and far from what most of us conjure up in our minds when we think of the phrase the 'American Dream', so what exactly is this 'American Dream' that every other person seems to be having on the tip of their tongues? Webster's New World College Dictionary defines it as the "ideal according to which equality of opportunity, hard work and perseverance permits any American to aspire to high attainment and material success." This we see from the very first colonists and settlers in the 16th century who wanted freedom from oppression right up to the current inflow of immigrants searching for new and better opportunities. This so called 'American Dream' has become an integral part of the American culture and Americans seem to have become obsessed with wanting to make this dream a reality. Kurt Vonnegut, the American novelist in his book God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater says, "The 'American Dream' has turned belly up, turned green, bobbed to the scummy surface of cupidity unlimited, filled with gas, and went bang in the noonday sun" and Barbara Jordan a former US Congresswoman in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention echoed the same sentiment when she said, "The 'American Dream' ... is gasping for breath". With the ever-growing social inequality and
"I'm the King of the Castle" - An account of the change in power between Kingshaw and Hooper in chapter eight.
An account of the change in power between Kingshaw and Hooper in chapter eight. Throughout the book up till chapter eight we have come across many battles between Hooper and Kingshaw. One of the battles the boys have is one which is who gains the power over the other. So in this chapter I will be analysing every element where either Kingshaw or Hooper wins the power over the other. Hooper is the first to accumulate the power because he makes out that he has a father who dearly loves him and that he would buy anything for him and Kingshaw knows that his mother doesn't feel the same about him. He also makes himself to be more knowledgeable than Kingshaw because he wins the discussion on the prices of watches can be more than fifty pounds but Kingshaw does not believe a watch can cost more than fifty pounds. The next discussion though Kingshaw wins as he demonstrates his understanding on nature to prove that smoke kills midge bites and it is not the fire that makes the midges depart. Kingshaw wins control as he picks up a long wide stick thinking to hit Hooper but he resists since Hooper said, "You'd better try and not hit me", after his eyes had widened after Kingshaw had picked up the stick. This shows that Hooper was frightened of Kingshaw and felt vulnerable other wise he wouldn't have said such a comment. Hooper though fights back and wins control of the power as he
"In Hard Times Dickens presents a convincing analysis of the social problems that have arisen in 19th Century industrial society" - To what extent do you agree with this statement?
"In Hard Times Dickens presents a convincing analysis of the social problems that have arisen in 19th Century industrial society." To what extent do you agree with this statement? Dickens was clearly strongly influenced by many contemporary issues when writing Hard Times, as such, the book has strong political themes which are analysed in detail. We can see in Hard Times that Stephen Blackpool is intended to represent the honest hard-working, working class person. He has no aspirations to be what he is not and is not out to cause trouble. All he wants is to lead an ordinary fair life which however, he knows is almost impossible. Dickens presents many of the social problems covered in the novel through Stephen Blackpool. His problems with the divorce laws for example highlight the unfairness of the laws at the time. One could only divorce if you had the money to do so. Therefore it was the preserve of the middle and upper classes. " 'and it would cost you...I suppose from a thousand to fifteen hundred pound,' said Mr Bounderby... 'Why then, sir,' said Stephen... 'tis a muddle.'" This idea of presenting the lower classes as decent people ay have contradicted middle class beliefs of the time. Dickens seems to be attempting to dispel the myth which Bounderby perpetuates that they all crave rewards without work; and are lazy idle and selfish. "You don't expect to be set up
"In her relations with both Alec and Angel, Tess is the victim of her own conscience rather than of male cruelty and censure". Comment on this view of Hardy's portrayal of Tess and her fate in Tess Of The D'Urbervilles.
Tess Of The D'Urbervilles - Question 10. " In her relations with both Alec and Angel, Tess is the victim of her own conscience rather than of male cruelty and censure". Comment on this view of Hardy's portrayal of Tess and her fate in Tess Of The D'Urbervilles. This essay is written in response to the quote above. Since the statement is from the author, Thomas Hardy, I believe that it is necessary to look at his past and outlook on life in general first. By doing this I hope to understand where Hardy's controversy has originated, and then move on to form my own argument, based on my personal belief, and proceed to deliver evidence from the book. Thomas Hardy was born in 1840, and died in 1928. Hardy was encouraged to write by two female figures in his life, his mother, and then later his wife. Despite his talent in the portrayal of characters in perhaps a realistic sense, his works were found to be 'pessimistic'. The book ''Tess of the D'Urbervilles'' was first released as a serialised edition in 1891, a time when 'realism became the dominant form of the 19th century'. I think that as this was the realist era, we must ask ourselves if Hardy was indeed being pessimistic, or if he was falling victim to the fashion of realism, and speaking the truth. I would like to look at the word realist, according to the 'York Notes advanced': "a realist author represents the world as it
"In the Dream of the Man that was Dreaming, the Dreamt Man Woke".
Pat Gorres "In the Dream of the Man that was Dreaming, the Dreamt Man Woke" By traditional definition, perception is anything that can be known through the five senses. However, this quote adds another dimension to the idea about perception. It implies that perception is not dictated by the five senses, but by the brain. If a man perceives something, he has either seen it, heard it, felt it, smelt it, tasted it, or any combination of those. A man knows that a car has crashed because he saw the collision and heard the loud noise. He knows that he likes steak through enjoying its pleasant smell and satisfying taste. In addition, he knows that fire is hot because the nervous system allows him to feel its warmth. However, one usually forgets that it is impossible to use these senses without the brain, which controls each of these perceptions. The quote serves as a supporting reminder of this idea. Arguably, the dreaming man is able to perceive a dreamt man waking up. Yet, he does not necessarily see the man with his own eyes, because his eyelids are shut. He does not hear the dreamt man with his ears; he does not feel the man with his hands, and he certainly doesn't taste or smell the man. So how is he able to perceive him? He is able to perceive him because his brain still functions, creating the image of the dreamt man waking. Now, the reason why the brain creates the
"In their poems "Snake" and "Medallion", D.H. Lawrence and Sylvia Plath describe the snakes in detail. What thoughts and feelings do the poets communicate to you by the images they use?"
Coursework on Animal poems "In their poems "Snake" and "Medallion", D.H. Lawrence and Sylvia Plath describe the snakes in detail. What thoughts and feelings dot he poets communicate to you by the images they use?" In their poems "Snake" and "Medallion", D.H. Lawrence and Sylvia Plath describe the snakes in detail. The poets communicate many thoughts and feelings to the reader by using detailed descriptions of the snakes shown through the layout of the poem, the images and the diction used by each poet. The poem "Snake" is based on D.H. Lawrence's encounter with an innocent snake which came to drink at his own personal water trough. The snake fascinated Lawrence, however due to his ignorance the snake is forced to leave the water trough. The poet's emotions and thoughts before deciding to attack the snake by throwing a log to force it to leave and the poet's guilt are shown to the reader through many aspects. One aspect is the layout of the poem. Lawrence makes the poem seventeen stanzas long in order to give the reader his impressions of the snake. This is because the number of stanzas creates an image of the snake being very long and the detailed content of the poem again shows that the size of the snake. The stanzas are of different lengths and are of free verse. Again Lawrence communicates his feelings to the reader through the layout of the poem suggesting that the
"Is it fair to say that, in the Time Machine, Wells presents a hopeless outlook for Victorian society?"
Ben Plummer "Is it fair to say that, in the Time Machine, Wells presents a hopeless outlook for Victorian society?" In the 'Time Machine', H G Wells writes about what he depicts the future to be like. He explains in great detail his views of evolution and Dystopia. The world he has travelled to could for all he knows be another planet. It is the definition of a Dystopia, with to opposite species living against each other, one calm and peaceful whilst the other is out to destroy the calm species, needing to kill them to live. Wells writes about a future where technology has advanced so much that people become lazy causing technology to go back on itself. In the first two chapters of the novel, Wells depicts the Victorian age as a highly civilised society. This is noticeable very early on by the professions of the guests, (Psychologist, Medical Man and Provincial Mayor.) All of these professions are skills which take a very high standard of learning. The language is another way, the narrator especially uses long, complex words such as " expounding" and "instantaneous." The language used is unusual, and it varies greatly, for example "spasmodic" The way in which the narrator 'speaks' to the reader comes across as very professional and well structured. The Time traveller and his companions live a life of luxury, this is shown in the plans of the evening and the order in
"Is John Really Free compared to Brave New World Citizens?"
Literary Essay - Aldous Huxley, "Brave New World" "Is John Really Free compared to Brave New World Citizens?" One main aspect of freedom is the ability for a person to be independent enough to know, and observe what is really happening around them, so that they are able to draw conclusions, and have opinions of their own. There are two completely diverse worlds, "The Brave New World", and the "Savage Reservation", and both, the people that make up the society of the Brave New World, and the people that make up the society of the savage reservation have something in common. They are similar in that, people from both communities have thoughts of their own to only a certain extent. They are limited to their personal beliefs because of various influences, and consequently people are kept from expressing their own thoughts, and being free although I still believe that one world is more fortunate than the other, in that they have the choice to be free. The Brave New World is a place of forced, perpetual conditioning aimed at making people feel a certain way, or changing, and alternating the way people already think, and feel, therefore clearly keeping them bound to a relatively narrow minded life. Citizens of the Brave New World are not only kept from knowing, but they're also made to not want to know or care. They are predestined and given a caste as soon as they are
"Is Magwitch a Criminal or a Victim of Society
"Is Magwitch a Criminal or a Victim of Society?" In the novel of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, one of the pivotal characters is a man named Abel Magwitch. To answer the question of whether this man is a criminal or a victim of society, we must first establish what a criminal is and what a victim of society is. A criminal is someone who knowingly breaks the law for self-gratification. A victim of society is someone who is subjected to outside influences, and is generally mistreated by society. In the context of this novel, a victim of society is also someone who has never been given a chance in life, and has no control over events that occur involving them. Therefore I am going to try and decide which of these two 'categories' the character of Abel Magwitch falls into. When we first meet Magwitch in Chapter one our first impressions of him are not positive. Pip describes him as a 'fearful man' with a 'terrible voice'. Although we learn that he is in a terrible state, 'smothered in mud and lamed by stones', with a 'great iron' on his leg, indicating he has obviously escaped prison and is on the run, we as readers do not feel any sympathy for him. The reason for this is the fact that he is willing to threaten a young boy, seeming to enjoy the power he has over him is almost repulsive to us as readers, making him appear even more harsh. The fact that Magwitch is likened
