Perhaps I missed something, but what quality is it in Willy that should make us regret his departure? Arthur Miller, who is one of the last unrepentant Marxists, obviously sees Willy as a victim of capitalism. Willy has bought into the American Dream and it has destroyed him; after a lifetime of toil in the system, he is being disposed of now that he is no longer productive. The problem with this is that, much like Jay Gatsby (see Orrin's review), Willy has simply failed to understand the promise of that dream. He believes that the recipe for success is to be "impressive" and "well-liked" and for your children to be identical to you in manner and aspiration.
In the play, Birling likes to inform others of his wealth and of the important people he knows. This suggests that he is trying to show off to Gerald Croft, as it gives the impression that he is flaunting his wealth. This shows that Birling is taking an individualist, capitalist point of view, which makes the other characters, especially the Inspector, show dislike for him because of his contrasting views.
A working class citizen is no less respectable than a gentleman in Biddy’s eyes, it is the character of the person that truly matters. Estella, however, mocks Pip and scoffs at his “coarse hands” and “thick boots”, referring to him as a “common labouring-boy” Raised with the immense fortune of Miss Havisham, Estella has become pretentious, believing Pip to be a worse person because of his social standing. When you have everything given to you in life, you lose appreciation for those around you, becoming detached and cold, Estella tells Pip that in her heart there is “no softness there, no--sympathy--sentiment--nonsense” (238). This contrasts sharply with Biddy’s tender care and help of Pip, through her advice to him and her assistance in his educating himself. Magwitch came into a large fortune through hard work and perseverance, but instead of joining the elite upper echelon of society, he bestows the fortune of Pip,
In the play ‘Educating Rita’ cruelty and cynicism feature a great deal. One of the main characters, Frank, is cynical. Frank’s personality portrays him as a miserable old man who cannot see the good in anybody, including Rita. For example, Frank thinks that Rita is only trying to change herself because it will look good to others when they meet her rather than seeing that she is really trying to change her life for the better, not for selfish reasons. When Frank is on the phone to Julia he refers to Rita as “some silly woman” and this portrays him to be cynical because even though he has never met Rita he is already making assumptions about her in a negative manner.
It also belongs to the common man—in this case the “low man,” as in Willy Loman. Willy’s tragic flaw stems from the fact that he has misinterpreted the American Dream, the belief that one can rise from rags to riches. For Willy, the success of that dream hinges on appearance rather than on substance, on wearing a white collar rather than a blue one. It is this snobbery, combined with a lack of practical knowledge, that leads to his downfall. Indeed, much of the lasting popularity of Death of a Salesman both in the world of the theater and in the canon of English literature, lies in its treatment of multiple themes.
Because prejudice builds up as time goes on, it can be magnified if the situation is not clarified immediately. When Elizabeth and Mr. Wickham talk about Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wickham lies that "the world is blinded by his (Mr. Darcy's) fortune and consequences, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen" (Austen 59). Mr. Wickham is certainly an antagonist in this story, but he
Gatsby puts away every other aspect Samra 2 of American Dream and focuses on earning enough money to get his Daisy to him. Fitzgerald shows that Gatsby is not enough to be with Daisy by writing, “He took what he could … he had no real right to touch her hand” (Fitzgerald 149). This tells readers the difference in the social standing between Daisy and Gatsby, and Gatsby gets motivated by the power of money Daisy holds to be the man who has same social standing and money as Daisy, so that he could cope up with the idol man of Daisy’s life. Fitzgerald even writes, “He knew that Daisy was extraordinary … into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby-nothing” (Fitzgerald 149). This
Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” is a short story of misfortune in which characterization is used to convey the central theme. During the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800’s, the lower class citizens were most often neglected and mistreated. Melville describes a tale of human redemption and personal growth during this time period where two distinct classes of people existed. The lawyer, who speaks of himself as a man "filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is best"(2), is given the opportunity to redeem himself as a human being and fails. He describes himself as an arrogant and money-worshipping man, who tolerates others as long as they help his reputation.
Power Corrupts; Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely “Power is pernicious”, the old woman had said. She further added: “Even when we feel it will leave us scot-free, it lams us sorely and we are left fop-doodles in this harsh world.” Another man had said: “Power often brings a mint of money but with it we are rickety. It’s a meretricious thing, which often fools us.” Well, I have come to the discernible conclusion that power, instead of bringing joy and deliriousness brings woe and demise as it wreaks havoc through one’s soul. Power is basically a hidden form of death. We may go round our history books either lambasting or extolling powerful leaders, but we will always come to the conclusion that power does corrupt a man.
Commercialisation is other side of the same coin,named modernity.It has engulfed productive thinking.it has made men,instituitions and states very greedy.It has given birth to street crimes,white color corruption and enmity among the states.Businessmen eye on becoming business taicon by selling low quality goods,government officials desire to be richest by ill means.This deplorable situation is the side effect of our speed towards