"Is Heart of Darkness a racist novella

"Is Heart of Darkness a racist novella?" In this essay the question of racism in Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness will be discussed. Using this essay I will attempt to prove that it is not a racist novella. Liberal humanists believe that a text can be taken from the social environment of its origins, placed into any other timeframe and essentially any other environment and still be related with by its readers. Yet apply this theory to Conrad's Heart of Darkness the racial meaning within the text alters. This principal of liberal humanism is essential when considering racism in Heart of Darkness. Due to discrimination laws and human rights, Conrad's use of terms such as "nigger" would be deemed racist and derogatory in today's society, but the society at the time of the texts creation used such terms without any knowledge of the effects the term could cause and the consequences which could entail. Therefore the term had less power, less meaning and essentially in Conrad's Heart of Darkness less malice. This is important for the reader to note before analysing racism in the text. A key factor for readers and critics alike to take into consideration before

  • Word count: 1570
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Charlotte's Web": A Place in the Heart.

"Charlotte's Web": A Place in the Heart No matter their age, once a reader begins E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" they are immediately immersed in the story and eager to embark on an adventure with Wilbur and Charlotte. It is not an easy task to write a novel that can be appreciated by so many. However, within the setting of the Zuckerman's farm E.B. White creates wonderfully diverse characters that the reader can become acquainted with. With these characters the reader learns and experiences situations they have or will encounter during their lives. Charlotte's Web is not simply a story about life on a farm; there is a much deeper level to the narrative. Throughout the pages of his story, E.B. White explores several topics that have significant universal resonance; the gratification of having a loyal friend, the reality of growing up, and the subject of death, something we all fear. The intention of this paper is to exhibit the relevance of these three themes to the story and their role in providing the reader with life lessons. Firstly, I will examine the relationship of Wilbur and Charlotte and how it provides an important message to the readers. Secondly, I will discuss the maturity of Fern and how it changes throughout the novel. And finally I will explore the topic of death and how it is dealt with throughout the text. Wilbur's first encounter with Charlotte comes at a

  • Word count: 1677
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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In The Diviners, by Margaret Laurence, Morag Gunn's association with Ella Gerson provides her with opportunities to examine aspects of life that she might not have been exposed to otherwise.

Alternate Group Work Question: Write and approximately 300 word answer for the following: Morag sees a range of choices for women living in the 20th century through the female characters she meets. Choose one or two of the following characters (Mrs. Crawley, Ella Gerson, Mrs. Gerson, Julie Kazlik, Fan Brady) and describe what Morag gets from their relationship. Are there things that she both takes and leaves from her association with them? In The Diviners, by Margaret Laurence, Morag Gunn's association with Ella Gerson provides her with opportunities to examine aspects of life that she might not have been exposed to otherwise. Ella comes into Morag's life during a period of significant change and adjustment, and at a time when she needs support and friendship. Ella, like Morag, is a writer, and they first meet at University. Morag is, at the time, struggling with her insecurity as a writer and with who she is as a person. Ella is able to offer Morag emotional support and understanding that has been lacking for as long as Morag can remember, and for the first time "Morag tells - can she? she does" (196) someone about her writing, her past, and her hopes for the future. Via her friendship with Ella, Morag is exposed to the Gerson family, and to the first loving and warm family experience she has had since her parents died. Morag realizes "that she never knew until now

  • Word count: 420
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Room with a view E.M.Forster wrote 'A Room with a View' and it was published in 1908. Critically this novel has been treated as a fine example of travel literature, character development and comedy

To what extent can we define Charlotte Bartlett's attitude as Victorian; and how far can we agree with Mr Everson that Lucy Honeychurch is a 'poor muddled girl'? E.M.Forster wrote 'A Room with a View' and it was published in 1908. Critically this novel has been treated as a fine example of travel literature, character development and comedy. Forster's novel was immediately popular with early readers, as he wanted to offer his reader a significantly different perspective of females poised on the edge of a new century. Forster's infatuation with Tuscany and the Italian culture is shown throughout the novel, "Italians are born knowing the way." (Chapter 6) This is brought to life through the changing way of England's history of that time. Whereby Queen Victoria's death, brought her son King Edward VII to the throne, and it was he who worked hard to improve foreign relations and his love of foreign culture and travel ensured that people noticed this attitude and British society grew more tolerant. 'A Room with a View' is in many ways a conventional romantic novel, with any main character we see Lucy Honeychurch develop throughout the novel towards a state of self-awareness and understanding of her own character. The other character is Charlotte Bartlett, both characters hold very different values, which are apparent in their mannerisms and outlook on life. Cousin Charlotte is

  • Word count: 1422
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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An Analysis and Comparison of the reactions towards confinement and dilemma of Lindo Jong, An-Mei Hsu and Mary Maloney.

An Analysis and Comparison of the reactions towards confinement and dilemma of Lindo Jong, An-Mei Hsu and Mary Maloney The three characters I will compare and analysis include; Lindo Jong (from the short story Red Candle by Amy Tan), Mary Maloney (from the short story Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl) and An-Mei Hsu (from the short story Scar and Magpies by Amy Tan). I will be focusing on how these characters react towards their situations of confinement, which they face with different ways. They also face a dilemma and use their own methods solve their problems. The married Mary Maloney; she is a pregnant housewife whom daily waits patiently, her husband's arrival home from work. Her isolation and devotion for her husband seems at vain when her husband declares that he wants a divorce. At this point Mary turns to anger, jealousy and revenge by murdering him. She understands that if she was caught, it could lead to her death and perhaps her unborn child. Mary turns to deceit and covers up any possibility to find her guilty. At Lindo's side of the story, she goes through the terrible experience of being isolated from her family when they leave her with the signed marriage. Living with the Huang family for many years, she bears loathe of being separated from her family, ordered around by the Huangs and to live with her despised marriage. One day she decided to escape

  • Word count: 3665
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Murderers and Their Victims.

Murderers and Their Victims In this essay I am going to be comparing two pre-twentieth poems both about murders and their victims. The first is a poem called 'The Ballad of Charlotte Dymond' by Charles Causley. This is a true story of a teenage girl murdered by her lover after he found out she had been having an affair. The second of the two poems is entitled 'The Laboratory' by Robert Browning. This is of a similar nature to the 'Charlotte Dymond' poem but a lot more hatred is felt in this one. Both the poems are old as in 'The Charlotte Dymond' poem it mentions of the girl carrying shillings, which says it is not a recent poem, but more to the point, a public hanging takes place, or so it implies, which strongly suggests it is an old poem. In 'The Laboratory' there is a more obvious clue to suggest it was old. Throughout the entire poem it uses words that no longer hold a place in the English language now days. An example of some words used in the poem like this are, 'signet', which is a type of ring, 'pliest', which means to apply and 'Thus' which means here. In both poems the reason for the murder to take place is all connected to love. In the 'Charlotte Dymond' poem the love felt for Charlotte by Matthew is so immense he is heartbroken to hear of her affair, confused and upset he believes he is doing her a favour and getting rid of her sin by ending her life.

  • Word count: 1921
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Attaining Subjectivity In Beloved.

Evan Lahti ENG 201 Critical Methods English Professor Jackson May 4, 2004 Attaining Subjectivity In Beloved While the fall of enslavement in America sought to reintegrate objects (slaves) into subjects of society (free men and women), the characters of Beloved find their own passage into subjectivity fraught with many obstacles. Exploring interpretations of Beloved's identity and how it affects her own subjectivity, as well as that of Denver and Sethe is an important concept in understanding Morrison's reasons for writing. As Margaret Atwood asserts, "There's a lot more to Beloved than any one character can see, and she manages to be many things to several people" (3). Like the novel, the character Beloved defies one specific interpretation. However, if for a moment one were to disregard the multiplicity of Beloved's voice and focus instead on the voice as a single consciousness, one would find a powerful way into the novel. Morrison's style of writing allows the reader to consider another possible interpretation of Beloved's identity. In her article "Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: An American Grammar Book," Hortense Spillers describes how African people in slavery were "removed from the indigenous land and culture"; denied their African names, rituals, and kinship; and reduced to commodities instead of subjects (72-73). Morrison explores this deprivation of subjectivity and

  • Word count: 1625
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Rape in The History of MissBetsy Thoughtless

Heather J. Glazier Dr. David Oakleaf English 519.08 4 Nov. 2004 Rape in The History of MissBetsy Thoughtless I am intrigued by the number of near rape scenes that appear in The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless. Four attempted rapes actually occur and there is the suggestion of at least three more possible ones that Miss Betsy narrowly misses. This leads the reader to believe Miss Betsy is either a very foolish girl who simply does not learn from her mistakes or encourages them to search for some more elusive message that Haywood is unable to come right out and state. A closer examination of the results of these incidents reveal both the double standards of the period, and an overt acceptance of male violence and convey the idea that no matter what part a man plays in these rape incidents he is rarely punished for his actions. Each incident sustains a different result and affects the participants in a variety of ways with the exception of Miss Betsy, inevitably believed to have provoked the actions through her thoughtless behavior. The first of these adventures occurs when Betsy is visiting her brother Francis at Oxford, a male dominated environment. Rather imprudently, Betsy and Flora are persuaded to partake of dinner with a couple of Oxford students whose intentions are less than honorable. Betsy repulses the too forward advances of the gentleman-commoner after

  • Word count: 1962
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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It's all in the mind

It's all in the mind I will always remember the bright spring day when Nichola began working in this sweatshop with its heavy iron doors and its blacked out barred windows. The first time I spoke to her I realised she was beautiful from head to toe in appearance and in nature. Our first encounter was cut short by the deafening sound of the production line. Clangs, bangs, vibrations and grindings - I never knew there was so much work involved in producing the body of a Ford Escort. From this time onwards I knew she was unlike any person I had ever met before. I had a feeling that this was going to become a steadfast friendship from when we had our first conversation in the canteen. Our conversation began when I jokingly commented on her large appetite. For someone so chatty she showed obvious signs of shyness. This became apparent in the shower room, where she insisted on waiting to use one of the individual showers rather than the communal ones. Over the next fortnight our conversations became more frequent and it was becoming clear that there was something special about her. It was not her soft Norfolk accent - which was rarely heard in this region - her unblemished skin or her unflawed hair style. it was something much more subtle and underlying. Nichola and myself soon found ourselves counting down the days until Wednesday evening when we would talk and

  • Word count: 964
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Shattered Pieces".

"Shattered Pieces" There is no question that there is pain and intense suffering in this world. Some of it is explained by selfish, hateful actions on the part of others while other people are left to suffer whether it is physical, mental, or emotional pains. It is something that we do not deserve. The meaning to suffer is a sign of consequences but also can serve as a beneficial sign as in strengthen our inner faith and a reminder of our wrongdoings. One of these cases comes from the novel, Rush Home Road, by Lori Lansens where the main character, Addy Shadd faces some of these requirements and learns to overcome them the hard way. Throughout her past, Addy's three stages of struggle gradually worsen as the novel progresses. One of the struggles that cause a permanent mark in Addy's life was her difficult, unbalanced relationship with her mother. At the age of fifteen, she learns to be independent and enjoys showing off her physical appearance which her mother did not approve of. Her mother, Laisa, was concerned about her daughter becoming a grown woman and was fully aware of glances coming from older men. She quoted, "you ain't no beauty, Adelaide Shadd, and it's just as well to know that now. You got stick-out ears and hood eyes, and a long face like your Daddy," (Lansens 34). Laisa comments on this to prevent Addy from thinking thoughts of using her body as a centre of

  • Word count: 754
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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