Midterm Written Celebration: Jane Austen
Maureen McKenzie Jane Austen Chesley 29 October 2008 Midterm Written Celebration Mansfield Park: What role does sense play in character development? Jane Austen used sense and sensibility as personality gauges for her characters within her novel. Sense was a measurement of a character's intellect, judgment, and self-knowledge, while sensibility was a measurement of emotions, taste, and responses. These characteristics are used to define characters as to their virtue in the Jane Austen world. The sense shown in the relationship between Edmund, Fanny, and Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park is an example of how Jane Austen uses sense and one's change in sense to define her characters' virtue and how the character's personal storyline turns out in the end. Edmund Bertram is a character who fluctuates in his sense, but as long as he fluctuates back to good sense, he is worthy of a wedding in the Jane Austen world. Fanny Price is the character who displays good sense. She displays intellect, good judgment, and has a sense of self; though by modern definitions her muteness would probably not be counted as such great sense. But the modern woman wouldn't be deemed to be so sensible in Jane Austen's time. Mary Crawford, with her outspokenness and willfulness should not be mistaken for the modern feminist. In Jane Austen's time this disregard for sense was a strike to Mary's
In order to perform a textual analysis of chapter 5 "Incident of the Letter" within Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde several issues need to be considered.
In order to perform a textual analysis of chapter 5 "Incident of the Letter" within Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde several issues need to be considered. Such as the concept of discourse within the narration of the chapter, the theoretical/ analytical tools of figurative language and genre. Also the meanings of the chapter need to be discussed such as the structure and language use, the broader cultural and representational issues and the chapters relationship with the rest of the novel. And lastly what broader and thematic roles it plays. Concept of Discourse "Discourses are ways of speaking associated with particular institutions and the conventions and values of those institutions." (Schirato and Yell, 2003, pg 61). Within chapter 5 there is evidence of at least three different discourses. The Homosexual discourse, the medical discourse and the legal discourse. The chapter is made up of two very distinct discourses. The first half has evidence of the medical discourse and the second half has the legal discourse. Throughout there are also hidden indications of the homosexual discourse. The medical discourse is seen very early on for the chapter starts off with Utterson being led to Dr Jekyll's medical lab by Poole where he conducted his experiments. On his way Utterson pays close attention to all he sees, noticing that the lab is set up for chemical experiments rather than
Trans-American Voices of Feminity: the Strengths and Angsts of Mujica’s “Frida” and Wurtzel’s “Prozac Nation”.
EXTENDED ESSAY Subject: English Literature Presented by: Catalina Echeverri TRANS-AMERICAN VOICES OF FEMINITY:THE STRENGTHS AND ANGSTS OF MUJICA'S "FRIDA" AND WURTZEL'S "PROZAC NATION" Number of Words: 3012 November 2003 ANGLO COLOMBIAN SCHOOL Bogotá, Colombia ONTENT Contents .... Page 1 Extract .... Page 2 Main Body .... Page 3 Bibliography .... Page 13 "Prozac Nation" by Elizabeth Wurtzel and "Frida" by Barbara Mujica are two amazingly similar texts, deriving from unbelievably different socio-cultural contexts. Elizabeth Wurtzel is a character of amazing wit and courage who is trapped between the bars of clinical depression. Through a profound and touching biography, Wurtzel portrays the typical life of young females in contemporary America. Frida Kahlo is a woman of admirable intelligence and unique personality, constantly tortured by a physically mutilated figure. Despite obvious contrasts of location and upbringing, both principal protagonists' experience remarkably parallel sentiments in terms of vulnerability and
Compare and contrast the ways in which women writes connect 'writing' with'the body'.
Compare and contrast the ways in which women writes connect 'writing' with 'the body'. The two texts that I am going to consider are Jeanette Winterson's 'Written on the Body' and Charlotte Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'. They will form some interesting contrasts and unexpected comparisons, due to the context, of different time periods. Bronte's references to the body are somewhat subtler and do not reveal explicit sexual references, but it will be fascinating to contemplate whether either text conforms to the conventions and ideas of the body within the romantic genre. I will delve into the writes attitudes to the body and how they divulge these through style, language, metaphors and above all the major theme of love. I will additionally take into account the feminist perception, particularly that of Judith Butler, and literacy criticism of the body and furthermore, touch on Freud's theory and its connection to the texts. The body has numerous definitions but even the body itself as "a. The entire material or physical structure of an organism, especially of a human or animal. b. The physical part of a person. c. A corpse or carcass."1 denotes a great deal. The body can signify numerous things within a narrative due to its sexual connotations, complexity, social values and above all connection to our identity. Both, Winterson's 'Written on the Body' and Bronte's 'Wuthering
One of the first letters we see in Pride and Prejudice is the letter from Mr. Collins to the Bennet family explaining of his wishing to come and stay with them. As soon as the letter is read we see Mr. Collins
24/05/05 Pride and Prejudice Set in the early 1800's, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of the upper-class society of the 5 Bennet sisters whose key aim in life is to marry into status. In the 1800's the only real ways of communication were either in person, although this could not be done alone very well and your only thoughts and feelings could not really be discussed. Or by letter, this method was a much better way of putting your character and feelings towards the subject matter across. This is shown in the 40+ letters that Pride and Prejudice contains. This was not unusual at the time, in most novels, but, Jane Austen has constructed the letters in such a way as to develop the plot and also the characters develop through the letters that we see throughout the novel. The letters are also a way for the characters to convey their thoughts and feelings and for the reader to explore their inner thoughts. Without the letters the plot would move on very slowly and the reader would not be able to understand the complicated plot line. The letters are a record of things previously said and so can be looked back upon, as such the letters are a good way for the story to be explained again or to recap on what has already happened but not been told to the reader. It is also a permanent record of who wrote the letter and as such is constructed very well to convey personality.
"Gothic...reflects humanity's quest to aspire to great things, but also to hide in shadowy spaces. It represents perpetual human ambition, and the constant threat of human failure"
"Gothic...reflects humanity's quest to aspire to great things, but also to hide in shadowy spaces. It represents perpetual human ambition, and the constant threat of human failure" The Gothic novel is characterised by horror, transgressive violence, supernatural effects and a taste for the mediaeval. Horace Walpole heralded the arrival of the gothic genre in 1764 with his archetypal novel: The Castle Of Otranto. The success of this catastrophic story led the way for an analogous torrent of gothic releases such as William Beckford's Vathek (1786) and Mathew Lewis' The Monk (1796). By 1818, Mary Shelley's perennial masterpiece; Frankenstein had been released, its arrival marked a new chapter in the gothic genre; by combining her knowledge of feminist authors such as Radcliffe and her reading of patriarchal tales such as those listed above, Shelly was able to actively critique previous gothic traditions while still managing to create a great myth. Like many of the stories before, Frankenstein reflects humanity's quest to aspire to great things. Shelley subtitled her novel; The Modern Prometheus, by doing this she is reinforcing her protagonist's great endeavours while infusing inevitable failure. The subtitle refers to the figure in Greek mythology who was responsible for a conflict between mankind and the gods. Prometheus stole fire from Zeus in order to help people
In the light of these two critical readings, discus the presentation of the unnamed Rochester in 'Wide Sargasso Sea'.
In the light of these two critical readings, discus the presentation of the unnamed Rochester in 'Wide Sargasso Sea'. Is he really a character that 'wields' 'economic and legal power, uninformed by compassion' or is he 'not portrayed as an evil tyrant but as a proud and bigoted younger brother betrayed by his family into a loveless marriage'? Rhys' novel presents the opportunity for an alternative account of Rochester's marriage to be presented. Rhys gives Antoinette Cosway the chance to present her feelings and views and confronts the unexplored issues from 'Jane Eyre' liberating all that is contained, to give an alternative view and make the reasoning behind Bertha evident. In not naming Rochester Rhys refuses him an identity as he later refuses Antoinette. It distances him from the reader and from Rhys' own opinion forcing us to form our own and weigh up his actions to see whether he is vindictive or victimised. The novel neglects the linear autobiographical narrative, preferring the trisect form where parts one and three are attributed to Antoinette and part two is Rochester's which dominates the novel. The disjointed narrative juxtaposes the conflicting opinions to create an overall impression of Rochester's marriage. These allows Rhys to open out the narrow views of events in 'Jane Eyre' and gives the reader an awareness of cultural differences and have sympathy
Discuss Woolf's evocation of time and space in the captured 'moments' of art and consciousness.
Discuss Woolf's evocation of time and space in the captured 'moments' of art and consciousness. 'A match burning in a crocus' (Mrs. Dalloway) 'The white spaces that lie between hour and hour' (The Waves) Discuss Woolf's evocation of time and space in the captured 'moments' of art and consciousness. Forged from the duality between solitude and communion, Woolf's novels are rich in struggles for, and reflections on self-identification. This recurrent idea can take many forms. Social identification is one of the most obvious: take Mrs. Dalloway's party, or Jinny's affirmative: "This is my calling. This is my world."[1] A modification of that brings identification in regard to a tradition: Lady Bruton's Victorian past, or Mr. Ramsay's desire to be among those thinkers who reach the latter letters of the alphabet. Consider also familial identification, particularly James' hatred, or Elizabeth Dalloway's trip on the omnibus. Sexual identification (the latent homosexuality in Mrs. Dalloway, or the reverberating childhood kiss of The Waves) and emotional identification have a more personal edge. Yet underpinning all of these is a form of metaphysical self-identification, summed up in all its ineffable futility by Lily Briscoe; "The old question which traversed the sky of the soul perpetually, the vast, the general question, which was apt to particularise itself at such moments as
The narrative of popular romance simultaneously challenges and reaffirms traditional male-female rel
The narrative of popular romance simultaneously challenges and reaffirms traditional male-female rel The theory that popular art as a whole exists to reinforce the status quo and keep its audience happy with it is one that has long been espoused by critics. This attitude is one which was especially championed by the Marxist oriented Frankfurt school of thought led by Horkheimer, Adorno and Herbert Marcuse, who argued that only "high" art could give us a view of a better tomorrow. In her book "Loving with a Vengeance"(-henceforth referred to as LWAV) Tania Modleski argues that, in this sense, contempt for 'mass' art is seen as a politically pro~ressive attitude (pg.30) Howeve~ she goes on to say that Robert Jameson showed that mass art often contained many specific criticisms of ~everyday life.Therefore, in order to effectively answer the question above the extent to which the popular romance criticises or celebrates the traditional relations between the sexes must be determined. In this essay I will attempt to examine this closely, looking firstly at how far the novels in question can be said to be reaffirming the traditional roles between the sexes then going on to examine the possible challenges they offer. It would be useful to firstly ascertain what is meant by the traditional relations between the sexes." The hero in Mills and Boon and Harlequin novels must be, in order
How do the two houses, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, relate to the major characters and themes in Wuthering Heights?
How do the two houses, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, relate to the major characters and themes in Wuthering Heights? Wuthering Heights the novel is full of many themes. There is passion, revenge, and destruction within the novel. There are also darkness and light, heaven and hell, storm and calm, love and hate, crime and punishment, ignorance versus education, nature versus culture and life and death within it. The main contrasts in the book are between the two houses that are the homes to most characters in the novel, Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights with the former representing heaven, light and peace, and the latter more reminiscent of hell, dark and hostility. The houses feature so much in this novel, with even the title "Wuthering Heights" being the name of one of them, it could be said that the two houses almost take place as characters themselves. The book (as well as many of the characters contained within it) has a sensation of the wild and desolate. The actual physical landscape of the novel is described in such a way that it reflects the emotional landscapes of many of those who live within it. Emily Brontë wrote Wuthering Heights in the mid 19th Century, a time when Gothic novels were popular. A typical Gothic novel has elements of horror, supernatural, cruelty, terror and suspense. Usually set in monasteries or castles, Gothic novels and