Race and Intercultural Relations in the United States Essay -- Racism

We don't have problems understanding ourselves. We have problems understanding our interactions with others. See yourself as another sees you and you will begin to understand their viewpoint Preface The development of a culture in the United States has been a winding road of interactions between differing, oftentimes opposing cultures and races from the first footfalls of Europeans upon the American continent’s shores. Each group of settlers and immigrants have brought their own unique perspectives and underlying values to the table. Many of these perspectives have been incorporated into the mainstream way of life, many others however, have been dismissed and discarded as either foreign or outright dangerous. The patterns that have emerged from this interaction of cultures and peoples define who we are today as Americans, not a homogenous amalgam of those who came before us, but an inter-connected group of varied cultures living within the same system of democracy. Whether for good or bad, our collective interaction has defined our reference set of values and norms in our interpersonal and cultural development. The patterns that define the macroculture of the United States are deeply rooted in the intercontinental strife and politics of Europe, Africa, and Asia prior to the colonization of North America. The developing European empires and their social, cultural, commercial and religious differences set the stage for intercultural interaction and development for the next 400 years in North America. These groups religious bigotry’s (Protestant vs. Catholic vs. Islamic†¦), social inequalities (noble vs. peasant), and outright greed all combined to contribute to and define our unique American experience... ...ities and privileges to all members of society, regardless of class, race or religious belief. It is the hope that all people can live the American dream of equality and prosperity. References 1) Deconde, Rappaport & Steckel. (1973). Patterns in American History, (3rd edition), Volumes I & II. Wadsworth Publishing Co., Belmont, CA. 2) E.D. Hirsch, Jr. (1987). Cultural Literacy. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA. 3) Margaret Connell Szasz. (1988). Indian Education in the American Colonies, 1607-1783. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM. 4) J. R. Pole. (1993). The Pursuit of Equality in American History, revised edition. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA. 5) Gorton Carruth. (1993). The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates, (ninth edition). Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY.

African American Literature Essay

This process, wherein the reading of a text becomes a vehicle for self-realization and self-transformation is emphasized in the slave narratives of African American Literature. These narratives present us with accounts of individual self-transformation evident in the process wherein the individual writes his or her self into a being recognized by the dominant society. Within such works, the authors portray the process in which he or she overcomes the slaveholding society’s continuous attempts to deny or eradicate his or her identity. Despite of this, it is important to note that although such a process involves the creation of a referent, which is tantamount to the creation of an identity, such a process also involves the assimilation of the dominant culture’s norms. In this sense, slave narratives may be seen as depicting the conflict involved in the creation of an African American identity. The conflict is evident if one considers that the aforementioned assimilation of values involved in the creation of an African American identity stands in direct conflict to the individual’s experiences during and after slavery. African-American slave narratives, in this sense, provide a dramatic model of the textual construction and development of African-American identity. Such a process, on the other hand, mirrors the correlation between literature and politics and thereby allows us to consider the theoretical and ethical implications of a literary work. This is evident if one considers that African American slave narratives aide in the construction of an African American identity by raising issues regarding the comportment and formation of the self within an inscrutable literary form. In lieu of this, this paper opts to present an analysis of the textual, social, and political conditions that affect the creation of the African American identity. The paper is divided into three parts. The first part of the paper aims to explicate the aforementioned relation of the textual construction of identity evident within literary texts. The necessity of such is evident if one considers that the process sets the contextual background for the analysis of literary texts. The second part of the paper, on the other hand, opts to explicate the manner in which certain forms of slave narratives may aide in the creation of an African American identity. Such an explication involves the analysis of Frederick Douglass’ Narratives of the Life of Frederick Douglass as well as Harriet Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. The following texts will be used due to the autobiographical character of the aforementioned texts. It is important to note that the aforementioned genre provides a form of discursive control both as an authorial choice and as a privileged aesthetic and ethical discourse. This stems from the presumed unitary character of the narratives within the genre (Gilligan 89). Such a character, on the other hand, enables the promotion and presentation of a self that shares confessional discourse and an assumed interiority with an attached moral law in the examination of an individual and in the creation of the author’s individuality. In this sense, the inclusion of the aforementioned works within the genre of autobiography may be seen as political act, which mirrors the same conflicts evident in the political construction of the self that African American’s experience in the creation or formation of an identity. In this part of the paper, I will also argue that the aforementioned works enable the act of transformative recognition, which is necessary in the creation of an African American identity. The third part of the paper, on the other hand, involves the setting of the power relations that enables the conflict of identity formation amongst African Americans within the current American society. The third part of the paper thereby provides a social analysis of the aforementioned conflict in identity formation. In the last part of the paper, I will argue that such a conflict continually pervades the current American society and that the reason for such lies in the continuation of African American slavery within the 21st Century America. It is important to note that the continuation of such is enabled by the continuous perception of the African American as a slave. The continuation of slavery thereby is enabled by the continuation of the â€Å"perceived status characteristic† of the African American as a slave (Levin 227). Let us now proceed with the initial part of the paper. Due to the interconnectedness of the text and the individual, discussions of African American Literature can be placed within a theoretical and ethical arena. It becomes possible to conjoin the effects of the ethical and aesthetic character of a work in the realization of a self-identity and political identity in the reader. At the same time, this view allows us to posit the individual reading a text as someone whose ethical problematization necessitates a theoretical problematization. Through this, it also becomes possible for us to ask whether the predisposed reading of texts is in itself a mode of exercising power over the ethical predispositions of individuals and not necessarily a theory, which opts to pave the way for human emancipation. All of these will show that the spontaneous and habitual orientation of attention is inimical to the maintenance of reality. Therefore, the event of ascribing an identity towards one’s self is a reorientation of attention and a kind of ontological conversion, which affects the aesthetic, ethical, and political perceptions of the individual. In order for literature to be considered as a form of social practice, there are factors that need to exist. These are the writer, the reader, and the text. Spatiotemporal and material conditions may affect the relationship between the three. For example, not all authors know their readers and the meaning ascribed to a text is dependent upon the conditions within the society in which the text is located. There are other complexities in the relationship between the three. For example, by looking at the material conditions closely, we will see that writers normally write for a specific audience whose inclinations and attitudes they consider in the process of writing their stories. This leads to the creation of genres, which dictate how a particular form of literature will be read and considered. Of course, genre formation is not this simple but what I would like to emphasize here is that in the process of genre formation abstractions are being created and established within a system, which leads to the creation of a new set of categories and a new paradigm for assessing a literary text. Since writing occurs within a specific logonomic system, which constrains and determines the meaning of a text, it becomes important to consider whether what is being written and produced will not disrupt the dominant paradigm. That is why, within a patriarchal society, any form of literature that questions or presents another alternative to the normative form of existence becomes marginalized and silenced. True enough, there are instances wherein a space is provided for the existence of deviant perspectives. However, it should be noted that no dominant social discourse includes or exhausts all human practice, energy, and intention. On the contrary, it is a fact of all modes of domination that they select from and consequently exclude the full range of human practice. Therefore, when an excluded and marginalized discourse becomes incorporated or is allowed to exist within the dominant paradigm, it has already been reinterpreted to suit the dominant paradigm’s perspective. Such is the case of African American slave narratives. Acceptance of the aforementioned narratives within the literary sphere involves recognition of the African American existence as individual entities with their own ontology. It is important to note, that early slave narratives took the form of â€Å"spiritual autobiography, the providential tale, criminal confession, Indian captivity narrative, sea adventure story, and the picaresque novel† (Fisch 13). The religious character of such slave narratives accounts for the process of liberation [spiritual and then political] character of the aforementioned forms evident within the genre. Acceptance of the genre thereby involves a predetermined creation of an ontology for those who are depicted within the genre itself. Such an ontology is provided by the religious conversion associated with the narratives of the self evident within the aforementioned genre. According to Fisch, the acceptance of the genre was characterized by a form of â€Å"racial condescension that often takes the form of romantic primitivism† wherein the African American ex-slave is portrayed as a â€Å"’native people’ who were more virtuous since they were removed from the corrupting influences of society† (25). From this, we can see that African Literature faces the problems of categorization. Knowing that recognition will only be achieved when one is accepted within the dominant paradigm, there is a considerable desire to be a part of the canon. However, working with the knowledge that acceptance is tantamount to the loss of the subversive and revolutionary character of their writings; African American Literature strives for a form of recognition, which erases all forms of domination wherein the literary works from the centre, periphery, and the middle all possess equal ground. This is possible if we perceive African American Literature as a form of â€Å"minor literature†. Minor literature does not designate a specific literature but it refers to the recognition that all forms of literature have been placed in â€Å"revolutionary conditions†¦within the heart of what are called great (or established) literature† (Deleuze and Guattari 18). However, this recognition that all forms of literature once held a revolutionary position against the canon does not erase the dominance of a particular mode of perceiving texts. Drawing a boundary of what is or what is not African American Literature is a problematic exercise since the talk of African American writing aims to raise issues of difference by implying the presence and the absence of something that is not yet fully defined [African American identity]. Furthermore, the answer to the question is dependent upon the establishment of meaning in relation to the text. Within this perspective, meaning may exist in the identity apparent in the writer, the reader, or the text itself. However, there are problems with this viewpoint. If what is necessary for a text to be considered as African American Literature is the race of its writer, it becomes problematic when we consider a text written by a African American who has not yet identified himself with the struggles of the class and the race. Second, not all the texts produced by African American writers pertain to experiences of racism and slavery. Third, contrary to the constructivist’s account of the fluidity of identity, such a perspective is based upon the assumed fixity of identity of the writer.

Long Distance Relationships ( Ldr ) Essay - 2114 Words

Long Distance Relationships Research in long distance relationships (LDR) has seen a recent increase since it is now gaining more attention. Previously, the literature on it has been sparse. People are now more concerned about LDR since more couples are pursuing this route. For instance, between 25 percent to 50 percent of college romantic relationships are long distance (Dainton Aylor, 2001, p. 172). Some reasons why couples consider LDR may include attending different colleges, having distant jobs, or other unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately, LDR are now more feasible to maintain due to technological innovations. Because of the growing technology, couples are now able to connect easier than before. This enables LDR to be studied easier since people have more outlets available for communication. The lack of LDR research before might be due to the limited channels of communication since older LDR may have only had letters and telegraphs available. Technology has advanced LDR, but it also produced a plethora of LDR types. LDR studies are limited since there are still a lot of concepts to be explored. Different types of LDR may depend on the distance, availability of face-to-face interaction, and definitions. Two main types of LDR are â€Å"transitory† and â€Å"perpetual.† Transitory LDR is defined as distance only being a temporary state of the relationship, while perpetual is defined as the distance possibly lasting indefinitely (Maguire, 2007, p. 416). With LDR research,Show MoreRelatedThe Communication Behavior Of Long Distance Relationships Essay926 Words   |  4 Pagesthe communication behavior in long distance relationships. This paper will examine the behavior of how couples sustain their relationship being in long distance relationships and long distance relationships in military separation. How do females in the military maintain long distance relationships? Crystal Jiang, L., Hancock, J. T. (2013). Absence makes the communication grow fonder: geographic separation, interpersonal media, and intimacy in dating relationships. Journal Of CommunicationRead MoreLong Distance Relationships1595 Words   |  7 PagesLong Distance Relationships – Modern Media LuvDaSun Res/110 August 18, 2010 Christopher Benedetti Abstract Long distance relationships are no longer a thing of the past. Modern technology has made it viable for partners to stay constantly in touch during a 24-hour period. A review of five peer-reviewed journals provides a variety of perspectives of long distance relationships. The articles focus on the positive and negative aspects of Long Distance Relationships. Weaknesses, strengths and differencesRead MoreBenefits Of Long Distance Relationships1728 Words   |  7 PagesGoing Long As of this year, 14 million couples in the U.S. consider themselves to be in a long distance relationship (Guldner). There are many reasons a couple might opt to go long distance, such as military service, career goals, education choices, incarceration, and familial decisions. While the commonly held belief about long distance relationships is that they tend to be much more difficult to maintain and will likely fail within a short amount of time; that is not always the case. RatherRead MoreMy Experience With A Girl From Pennsylvania1171 Words   |  5 Pagesreasons why I attempt to maintain this unorthodox but desirable relationship. With time, surely taking its toll on my life and my odd friendship with Amber, it was time to tell someone. Nervous and excited to finally tell someone I was hit with negative feedback with my hope and faith lessening as more and more people consistently said the same thing. The thought about even being in a relationship or worse in a long distance relationship with a girl 4 years older was seen ludicrous by many includingRead MorePros and Cons of Long Distance Relationships Essay1878 Words   |  8 Pages When I entered into my long distance relationship I was nervous, I had heard about how long distance relationships are unlikely to work in the long term. The first thing I did, living in the era of the internet, was to perform a Google search to see what exactly I could find to quell my nerves. It is evident from all the resources available—from the search â€Å"long distance relationship information† over 7.3 million results were found—that many others face similar fears. If we search for those peopleRead MoreThe Importance Of A Long Distance Relationship1137 Words   |  5 Pagesin a long distance relationship (LDR) can relate to this. A long distance relationship is a romantic relationship between two people who are geographically separated. 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Although the time different is not far different and communication device is not a problem, deterioration still appearsRead MoreLong Distance Relationships1830 Words   |  8 PagesDoes Long-Distance Relationship ever Works? A relationship is said to be a connection, as in thought, concerning or regarding something or someone. Therefore a long-distance relationship (LDR) is similar to a normal relationship but differs in terms of geographic location of the couple; such location can range from 100-1000 miles, 100-3000 mile apart etc. Any dating or intimate relationship with so much distance between both parties is no doubt challenging, but that one of the things that comesRead MoreTechnology, Social Media, And Their Affect On Long-distance Relationships2210 Words   |  9 Pagescouples can manage and maintain their relationship with a simple touch of a button. 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The Negative Effects Of Tradition. Since The Early 1900S,

The Negative Effects of Tradition Since the early 1900s, â€Å"The Lottery† written by Shirley Jackson, is a haunting tale of ritualistic murder, intertwined with tradition and fear. Within this story, there are several themes to be found, such the effects of being a scapegoat, gender and family roles, and ultimately human nature. In this specific case, the short story introduces the themes of tradition. â€Å"The Lottery† asserts that the negatives of tradition can be dangerous, if followed blindly in a society that refuses to progress due to conformity, mob mentality, and a subtle, selfish enjoyment of violence. â€Å"The Lottery† demonstrates the dangers of blindly following a deep-rooted tradition due to conformity. Partially, this is purely out of†¦show more content†¦. Despite bringing up the neighboring villagers, when Tessie is surrounded and about to be stoned, â€Å"Steve Adams was in the front of the crowd of villagers, with Mrs. Graves beside him.† (The Lottery) In thi s sentence, Adams is clearly trying to prove that he is not against the lottery and is the most eager to see it through. It is a show that the minority who want the lottery to end are outnumbered by the majority who staunchly do not. Within this village also, there is a dated form of gender hierarchy, where the woman is more subservient to man, unable to represent themselves, and needing a man to do it for them; This is demonstrated when all the male heads of the household pull slips in the first drawing, and a family without a father figure must send the eldest child to go for him. â€Å"A tall boy in the crowd raised his hand. ‘Here,’ he said. ‘I m drawing for my mother and me. He blinked his eyes nervously and ducked his head as several voices in the crowd said things like ‘Good fellow, lack.’ and ‘Glad to see your mother s got a man to do it.’† (The Lottery). Women have little to no say in how this progresses, and when women such as Tessie stand out, it is treated as a humorous moment, or the husband lashes out. With the idea of a certain tradition still around and staunchlyShow MoreRelatedMarriage in Culture: Practice and Meaning Across Diverse Societies1043 Words   |  5 Pageshand, is the dissolution of a marriage by a court of law or any other competent body. Explore the Variations of Marriage in Different Cultures Marriage is an institution that has formed the foundation of families throughout history. However, the traditions that surround marriage ceremonies, choosing a marriage partner, as well as the obligations and rights of marriage differ from one culture to another. In most cultures, religion endorses monogamous and heterosexual marriages. 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Most of us currently living in the United States of America recognize our history derives from these early immigrants. This has made America a wonderfully diverse country. However, for years, illegal immigrants and legal immigrants has become a dominant issue.Read MoreThe School Entrance Examination Board Essay826 Words   |  4 Pages(Atkinson Geiser, 2009). Created in 1900, 12 prominent universities assisted in forming the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). The organization help to standardize the admission process for universities and cultivate secondary curriculum. At the time, there was widespread fear amongst elite leaders about the increasing growth of the immigrant population in the U.S. Many university administrators were concerned about the explosion and the effects this would have on their student populationsRead MoreThe Role Of Traditional School Year Schedules920 Words   |  4 Pagesschedule would be beneficial to this country’s education and future success. 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Huck As Hero Essay - 1238 Words

In all books, long as well as short, there is a character that stands above the rest. This character must demonstrate high moral character and set an example for the rest of the novels cast. Another name for this super being, is a hero, a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities (Webster). In Twains novel, Huckleberry Finn, it is evident that Huck is the hero of the novel. Throughout this book, Huck demonstrates the epitome of heroism, for the attitude that he posses, as well as his actions and willingness to change. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Huck can be called a hero for a great number or reasons throughout the book. In every chapter we notice little things that point in the favor of Huck being one. Huck does things that†¦show more content†¦When Huck lives with the widow, he is not allowed to swear, the widow is trying to straighten Huck out and this is one thing that must go. As one would think, being in a household where profanity was abolished would create clean language for Huck. As we see in chapter six, â€Å"I had stopped cussing because the widow didn’t like it, but now I took to it again, because Pap hadn’t no objection†(Twain 75), Huck does not conform to society or the widows way of living. He has a free mind and all he wants to do, is feel it. In the beginning of the novel the widow explains to Huck about prayer and being one with Jesus. Although Huck’s religion is also known as superstition, he once again, pleases the widow. Huck tried this praye r nonsense, â€Å"Miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing came out†(60), with no luck. Huck isn’t a rebel, he will try anything once, if its not for him, then that’s fine because there are always alternatives. Although Huck mocks society, he does try out these conformities of humans. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;All hero’s have one major hurtle to jump over, Huck is no different (Bellamy 98). Although free from most corruption and conformities Huck’s battle with racism was his greatest victory. At the beginning of this book, we noticed the weakness of all Twains characters; race. To the society that Huck was born and raised in, black people were no more than animals. Due toShow MoreRelatedHuck as Hero Essay1251 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing, is a hero, a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities (Webster). In Twains novel, Huckleberry Finn, it is evident that Huck is the hero of the novel. Throughout this book, Huck demonstrates the epitome of heroism, for the attitude that he posses, as well as his actions and willingness to change. Huck can be called a hero for a great number or reasons throughout the book. In every chapter we notice little things that point in the favor of Huck being one. Huck does thingsRead MoreHuck Finn is a Hero in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain560 Words   |  2 PagesA name for this character could be Hero. In the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, Huck Finn could be considered a hero for the attitude, actions, and emotions that he possesses throughout the book. In mostly every chapter of the book, Huck shows how he can be a spotlight character. The moral Huck possesses is much greater than any others, and that is something that only true heroes possess. Hucks father, Pap, would abuse Huck every now and then, I reckoned I wasRead MoreHuck Finn, a Journey946 Words   |  4 PagesHuck Finn The Hero#8217;s Journey Joseph Campbell describes a hero#8217;s journey as a cycle where the person is a hero from birth. This holds true for the character of Huck Finn because he fits the description of a hero in the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. There are different parts of the hero#8217;s journey that can be applied to Huck, such as the first stage which is known as the Innocent World of Childhood. A stage further on in the journey is the Initiation while the last stageRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1055 Words   |  5 Pages Huckleberry Finn Essay Throughout the adventures of Huck fin it is easy to see that Huck is a heroic figure. Many times through this book Huck show himself to be a hero, for not only his actions but his willingness to change his in his attitude. In every chapter you can pot a few instantaneous were Huck is beginning to change becoming more like a hero. But this challenging for Huck because he was brought up in an abusive household where he was perpetually beaten toRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1088 Words   |  5 Pagesyoung boy named Huck Finn who goes on many exciting adventures with a slave named Jim. Huck’s friendship with Jim blooms along the way, and his morality is questioned as he is faced to be the hero of the novel. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, three meaningful subjects are explored in heroism, friendship, and morality that are still relevant today. Huck Finn is a young boy with immense heroic qualities. When faced with a challenge, Huck never fails to come through as the hero. â€Å"And for a starterRead MoreComparison of Jim from Huckleberry Finn or Ethan Frome1540 Words   |  6 Pages How can you compare Jims situation from Huck FInn to Ethan Fromes situation. How are the two characters alike and how are they different. Base your answers on information regarding their genre. Which character has more of a chance of making it and why? Jim from The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn and Ethan Frome from Ethan Frome share many incidents in a indistinguishable occurrence. They also share many qualities that allow each of these two characters to have divergent and duplicate qualitiesRead MoreComparing The Adventures of Huck Finn and The Catcher in the Rye1382 Words   |  6 PagesComparing The Adventures of Huck Finn and The Catcher in the Rye The forthcoming of American literature proposes two distinct Realistic novels portraying characters which are tested with a plethora of adventures. In this essay, two great American novels are compared: The Adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain and The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger. The Adventures of Huck Finn is a novel based on the adventures of a boy named Huck Finn, who along with a slave, Jim, make their way alongRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Huckleberry Finn 943 Words   |  4 Pagesthroughout Jim and Huck’s time together in a search for freedom and a path back to Jim’s family that he left behind. While on the journey, Jim must run at night, hide during the day, and endure the loneliness of his situation constantly while taking care of Huck; this determination and personal strength despite oppression by white people make Jim one of the only respectable adults in the novel. Through courageous and selfless acts, the initially simple Jim demonstrates loyalty, love, strength, and wisdom toRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Murtagh And Huckleberry Finn 1262 Words   |  6 PagesMurtagh and Huck Finn In great works of literature many of the same traits and characteristics appear in the main characters. Adventure books where you find Heroes and villains in a constant struggle to thwart the others efforts are where you could notice the reoccurring traits the most. Heroes are often very similar, demonstrating similar strengths and weaknesses. I compare Huckleberry Finn, to Murtagh of the Inheritance series. Although Murtagh is not the main protagonist, he is most certainlyRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain880 Words   |  4 Pagesnovel. The author portrays the world and spirit of the South through the eyes and the journey of a young boy, Huck, and his friends Jim, and Tom. From the beginning, three themes friendship, conflict between society and natural life, and escape, emerge and are developed throughout the novel. Friendship underlines the entire book as the hero is essentially an orphan, Huckleberry Finn. Huck experiences the world around him with his friend Tom, a boy of the same age, and Jim, a runaway slave who lives

Frankenstein Book Report Free Essays

I. Author and Author Background 1. ) Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was born on August 30, 1797, and died February 1, 1851, at the age of fifty-four. We will write a custom essay sample on Frankenstein Book Report or any similar topic only for you Order Now She was born into a family of literary celebrities. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, and her father, William Godwin, were both distinguished authors. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of Mary Shelley’s birth, her mother died eleven days after giving birth to her due to puerperal fever. Her mother’s death left Godwin to care for Mary and her three-year-old half-sister, Fanny. Mary Shelley was eighteen, not yet nineteen, when she wrote Frankenstein. She started writing Frankenstein in 1816, which was the same year she married her husband, Percy Shelley. Mary Shelley had four children throughout her life. Unfortunately, three of them died early in their lives. Her fourth child named Percy Florence lived even longer than Mary herself. Of all the heartbreak and miseries that Mary Shelley had gone through, there had to have been some of her own personal history evident in the novel. Since there were so many deaths in her life: her sister’s suicide, her mother’s death, and her three children’s death, the monster, in my opinion, could have represented the sicknesses and the deaths that she had encountered. She may have felt like the very character she created, Victor Frankenstein, which may be the reason she portrayed the character so well. Although she encountered many deaths, like Victor Frankenstein, I believe that she felt similar to the way the monster had. After all, Mary Shelley was neglected by her father and her step-mother after the death of her birth mother. She often felt alone and unhappy just as the monster had. II. Gothic Novel 1. ) The elements of a gothic novel can be extensive, but they all are mainly the same in some shape or form. A gothic novel should have some type of mystery or suspenseful mood. Some type of supernatural occurrences should be somewhere in the story. Emotions should be on edge for some characters because the characters are often overcome by high emotions, such as sadness or terror. In many gothic novels, there are usually females in distress or some kind of overpowering male that is a threat to them. In gothic novels, something called a metonymy is used. For example, if there was a scene in a novel where the character is filled with great sorrow, there would be a dark and gloomy rainstorm. The vocabulary of a gothic novel can also play a huge role. There are some words in a gothic novel that are used very often. Anguish and hopeless are very popular words used to represent sadness, so popular, in fact, that they were used repeatedly in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. It is said that the first gothic novel originated in 1764 when the novel The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole was written. The word â€Å"goth† originally came from a Germanic tribe. The Romans regarded goths as crude and unsophisticated. Considering the meaning of the word Goth is a person of no refinement, the Romans were spot on. Since there is some sort of supernatural beings or occurrences in gothic novels, Frankenstein definitely falls into the gothic literature category. Frankenstein fits because Victor Frankenstein made his monster out of dead people’s body parts and brought it to life. In Gothic novels there are usually horrific elements of terror. In the novel, Frankenstein, the monster instills fear in people because of his threats to Victor and the murders he committed. In fact, two of the people the monster killed consisted of a naive child and an innocent woman. III. Romantic Novel 1. ) Romantic novels usually consist of different elements and characteristics. There is usually some kind of powerful love between characters. It is usually an overwhelming emotion for the character. Love occurred in Frankenstein between Victor and Elizabeth because they wanted to get married and be together. Generally the lovers have to part because of some obstacle or event that takes place. Victor and Elizabeth were indeed parted after Victor left to go to Ingolstadt to do research about different philosophical studies. Considering most romantic novels take place in a foreign setting. Frankenstein fits the characteristic, the countries that Frankenstein visits are curious and distant. The monster in Frankenstein sets up an element typically seen in Romantic novels when he threatens Victor by telling him he will be with him on his wedding night. Elizabeth ended up as a target and was killed because of the monster’s revenge towards Victor. This put emotions on edge, which is a very popular characteristic in Romantic novels. The monster is also very bizarre and unusual especially in its appearance and insight. Frankenstein’s monster is not something that would be encountered very often and it is not very believable. IV. Framework Story 1. ) In the beginning of the novel, Captain Walton is writing letters to his sister in order to inform her about the things he had encountered on his voyage. He â€Å"frames† the story because he lays down the makings of how Victor Frankenstein will be telling his story. Captain Walton informs the reader that he starts to become fond of Victor and he could tell he had gone through some hard times that had nearly drained him. 2. Starting at Chapter 1, the story is told by Victor Frankenstein. He is enlightening Captain Walton by telling him his sad and painful story of his past. 3. ) At Chapter 11, the third story was told by none other than the monster himself. His story was framed by Victor’s story because it had taken place during the same period that Victor thought he had gotten rid of the monster. 4. ) Towards the end of the novel, a fter Victor is finished with telling his story to the captain, he dies. This continues the framework of the main story because it takes place after the story is told. The novel finishes with the story being told from Captain Walton’s point of view. He finishes his story just as he started it; he continues to write to his sister telling her about his thoughts and feelings of Victor Frankenstein and his monster. V. Doppelganger 1. ) There are many possibilities why Frankenstein would want the death of his beloved family and friends. Victor is as much of a monster as the thing he created. A. Victor had the knowledge of William’s death and he knew who the murderer was. It was almost as if he wanted the monster to continue killing his family. He never tried hard in order to get rid of the monster he had created. William was almost, in a way, Victor’s way to torture himself for making the monster. William may have caused the death of Victor’s mother; this may have been a reason for Frankenstein wanting the death of William. B. Justine died because she had been set up by Victor’s secret. Justine could have lived, but in order for her vindication, Victor had to tell the truth and stop the menace. Justine had always been in the family and she had so often been accepted and loved by Victor’s family. Which may be why Victor thought it was better she die. C. Clerval died because Victor could not admit to himself that he was the reason that William and Justine both were killed. They could have been spared if Victor wasn’t so secretive and manipulative towards his family and friends. Clerval was one of the only ones who had any idea about what kind of experiments and studies Frankenstein had been orchestrating. Victor may not have wanted Clerval to tell his family and friends of what he was doing. D. Elizabeth died because Victor didn’t want to make a female for the monster. The monster wanted acceptance more than anything but Victor wouldn’t help him. Elizabeth died because of Victor’s trickery and non-acceptance towards his own creation. He didn’t even protect Elizabeth after the monster told him he would be with him on his wedding night. Elizabeth’s death may have been a way for Victor to keep her to himself. If she was dead, then no one else could have her, especially not the monster. E. Victor’s father died because Victor couldn’t come to the self-realization that he was an egotistical and selfish human being who was blaming all of the murders on the monster, when, in reality, Frankenstein was the true reason that so many people were hurt. Victor may have wanted the death of his father because he believed that his father could have done more to save his mother. VI. Allusions 1. ) The Greek myth of â€Å"Prometheus† has a connection and similarities to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Prometheus was one of the Titan gods. He wanted to create a being which was able to â€Å"absorb spirit†, and Prometheus took clay and water and shaped human beings according to the image of the gods. After another god named Athena breathed life into his work, they came alive. Unfortunately, Zeus and some fellow gods found out about the beings and wanted the humans to worship the gods. The gods promised to take care of the human beings if they adored the gods and did what they were told in order to be protected. Prometheus went to Zeus as a watcher of the human-beings to make sure that the conditions would not be too hard. But he tricked Zeus. Due to Prometheus’s trickery, Zeus punished the human beings with despair and sickness and refused them the essential fire. This did not sit well with Prometheus, so he stole a piece of the sun and brought the fire to the humans and as a result, Zeus got very angry and had Prometheus tortured. After the reading of this myth, there was no doubt that Prometheus had a connection to Frankenstein. Both Prometheus and Frankenstein went too far without thinking about the consequences of their actions. In both stories, life was given to self-made bodies. Like Prometheus, Frankenstein wants to create his own species that would be of a wonderful and happy existence. Due to their limitations, Frankenstein and Prometheus both went into isolations of their own kind. Frankenstein chose his, while Prometheus was forced to live out his life by himself, all while both were tortured. The differences between them were that Prometheus cared for his creations, while Frankenstein despised his creation and wanted nothing to do with it. VII. Theme (Universal Truths) and Quotations 1. )Revenge is a very common theme in novels. This is mostly because humans allow their anger to get the best of them at the worst possible times. When a person is overcome with rage and has revenge on their mind, they don’t think rationally. The author conveyed this in her story well because some of the characters experienced great amounts of rage and revenge. Many ambitious people are always in the pursuit of knowledge, but they don’t always find what they are looking for. Sometimes ignorance truly is better than what you discover in the long run and you don’t know that until it’s too late. Having a conflict between a child and a parent isn’t always just in teenage years. No matter what a kid and a parent do, they will never see eye to eye all the time and that is just how it is. The truth of the matter is, revenge is a desire that can overcome somebody in retaliation to something or someone who has done harm. There will always be something new to learn, which means more people in pursuit of the unknown. 2. )†You can blast my other passions; but revenge remains — revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. † 1. The monster is talking towards Frankenstein during which time the quote was said. 2. At this point in the book, Frankenstein refused the monster its request to make another creature like him and got rid of the unfinished creation. The monster is very upset and tells Frankenstein that he will have his revenge. 3. This quote is on page 123 of the novel. 4. This quote relates to the theme revenge because the monster feels so angry at Frankenstein, that he feels revenge is the only way to solve his problems. Once something angers a being, a passion for revenge is often the retaliation that occurs. 3. ) â€Å"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. † 1. Frankenstein is speaking to Captain Walton as he begins his story. 2. Captain Walton is sitting with Frankenstein during which time he is starting to tell the Captain about all of the horrific things that have happened to him and what he should learn and take with him from his story. 3. This quote resides on page 31 of Frankenstein. 4. What Frankenstein says in this quote definitely relates to the theme â€Å"pursuit of knowledge† because Victor Frankenstein wanted to learn so much, that he couldn’t see what was happening around him. His pursuit of knowledge took over him, as it does most people who are eager to learn. 4. ) â€Å"Oh! My creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit! Let me see that I excite the sympathy of some existing thing; do not deny me my request! † 1. The monster is speaking to Frankenstein earnestly. 2. The monster is asking Frankenstein for one favor so he may be accepted. He wants him to make another creature like him, only female. 3. This quote is on page 105. 4. This quote relates to the theme conflict with parent and child because it shows how the monster and Frankenstein haven’t gotten along, which is why the monster is pleading so sincerely. This is similar with parents and children today: they don’t always get along or follow each other, no matter how desperate they seem. How to cite Frankenstein Book Report, Papers

Barbed Wire by Mary Enemy Essay Example For Students

Barbed Wire by Mary Enemy Essay Mary Emenys poem, Barbed Wire, depicts war as a negative force, destroying every decent aspect of human existence. Written during the Vietnam War, the work displays Emenys negative views on war. In one way or another everyone experiences and identifies with the presence of war. Although some wars are fought for justifiable reasons, every war tears into the lives of those undeserving. The tragic effects of war consume the innocent creating an unconquerable path of entanglement. The physical effects of war overwhelm the naÃÆ'Â ¯ve causing pain and suffering. Initially, war entangles the lives of youth, destroying the innocence that they experience as an aspect of their life. The girl glid gracefully down the path 1 and the boy rid eagerly down the road 9 have their enjoyable realities striped by the harshness of war. Likewise, war enters womens lives creating turmoil. The woman who works deftly in the fields no longer is able to experience the offerings of life. The wire cuts, pushing her away from the normal flow of life. In addition, man undergoes tragic obstacles as a result of war. A man walks nobly and alone before the horrible effects of war set in on his life causing disruptions. War enters the life of man destroying the bond man shares with his beloved environment . Although a great deal of physical effects exist in Emenys work, the spiritual consequences of war serve as the most devastating ones. The will and spirit of those amidst the harshness of war diminishes because of the seriousness of war. Prior to the complexities of war, the spirit flees gleefully to the clouds, illustrating the freedom one expresses without repression. As soon as the wire catches, or the war commences, and intervenes with the lives of innocent bystanders, the innocence is lost. Furthermore, the hearts of the untainted human beings experience demolition due to the irrationality of war. Before the tragedy of war enters the picture, a heart goes openly to the street, showing the freedom that one possesses until the wire snares, and the sense of innocence disappears. Significantly, as a direct result of the entanglement of war, mans mind suffers pain and misfortune. A mans mind grows in searching preceding the brutality of war, exhibiting the ability of man to explore his surroundings without interference. Wars hampering of the innocent limits man to certain life experiences that repress his potential. . Barbed Wire illustrates how the severity of war detracts from the innocence within and surrounding humans. Men and women languish from the tangible results of war, encountering barriers when attempting to complete normal tasks. On the other hand, the spiritual consequences of war such as the repression of the mind, signify the tragedy involved when faced with war. Ultimately, war serves as an aspect of life that possesses the capacity to destroy human experiences and beliefs.