In a revisit to Homer’s eighth century epic poem "Illiad", David Malouf’s "Ransom" > explores the worlds of royalty, war and the common man. Although Malouf explores > the original themes of revenge, redemption and fate, he > predominately > focuses on the human connections, relationships and inner thoughts of his > characters. Malouf contends that Somax is the true hero of the novel, > "Ransom", through the events he participates in, > his disposition and the characteristics he displays, > > > > Somax, a mere > commoner that Malouf has added into his novel, gives Priam an insight into > the > world he was missing out on. His chatter, whether about ‘[the] little cakes’ > or > his ‘pretty daughter-in-law’, is always intriguing to Priam. After Somax > successfully > persuades Priam to do a number of things, such as getting him to waddle in > the > stream and nibble on some griddlecakes, he describes Priam as 'like a > child’.
Claudius purposefully set out to murder his own flesh and blood, which proves his selfishness, similar to the biblical reference of the serpent. The ghost goes on to say, “With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts… So to seduce! -- won to his shameful lust.” This further emphasizes the reference to Adam and Eve because Claudius acted as the serpent that tempted Eve with the poisonous fruits in the Garden of Eden, the “orchard,” to “win his shameful lust.” By expressing diction to metaphorically relate Claudius to the serpent, it helps align the reader with Hamlet and the Ghost in their contempt for Claudius and the Queen and heightens the reader’s sense of vengeance. Furthermore, in the passage, Shakespeare applies imagery to show Hamlet and the ghost's abhorrence towards Claudius and the Queen's corrupt nature. By presenting Claudius as the unfaithful serpent, it gives readers the connotation that he is evil, betraying and loathsome, correlating to the ghost’s and Hamlet’s feelings.
Michael Blasl Introduction to Analytical Writing 10:25-11:20 October 8th 2009 Love on the Rocks: An Ironic Rite of Passage In both John Updike’s “A&P” and Alice Munro’s “How I Met My Husband” the authors use the literary devices of irony and theme in their stories. In the following essay, this writer will analyze and compare both characters rite of passage, and how the use of irony leads them towards their completion of that rite. First, Sammy’s naïve and inexperienced persona cause him to make several poor choices such as quitting his job and force him to see how his actions can have very serious consequences. Second, this writer will compare his rite of passage to that of Edie’s.
Orwell’s perspective as a reluctant and disgusted colonizer shapes his essay’s development, detail and main thesis. The essay’s first-person narrative, causal analysis and the detail it employs obviously produce a powerful condemnation of British colonialism. However, while Orwell briefly lists the obvious abuses of colonialism---the torture of prisoners, the appalling conditions in imperial jails, the destruction of the colonized’s spirit---he focuses his essay’s detail and development on colonialism’s effects on himself as colonizer, how this system causes his degradation and corruption as a human being. He presents his younger self as tormented by his role in this system, but also as someone who has absorbed its racist attitudes. He emphasizes his “intolerable sense of guilt” (313), but also his contradictory hatred of the Burmese, those “evil-spirited little beasts” (314), as well as his callous disregard for the native man killed by the elephant (319).
Chillingworth’s physical and mental state changes as the story progresses from his choice to seek revenge, to the methods he uses to achieve his goals, to the end result of Chillingworth’s plans. Chillingworth yearns to achieve vengeance against Dimmsedale because this man had an affair with his young, beautiful wife Hester Prynne. When Chillingworth arrives in Boston, he is outraged to find his wife “Hester Prynne, standing up, a statue of ignominy, before the people” because she had a child out of wedlock (Hawthorne 69). Chillingworth, formerly a scholar of great intelligence in Europe, is angry at himself for letting this occur. He realizes how foolish it was to let a beautiful young woman come to America and simply hope she remains faithful.
Set in a recognisable time, the story showcases the complications of life caused by family breakdowns, treacherous weather, unstable governments, pandemic virus attacks, technology run amuck and other uncertainties of the future. These fundamental concerns are purposely encompassed in this novel to question to what extent do we hold our integrity in difficult circumstances, surviving in situations humanity struggles to both comprehend and control. The novel questions when is it acceptable to lie, cheat and steal. The ‘truth’ is to be found in each vignette as the characters face the challenges to their very existence and suggests the confrontation of circumstances is what determines our moral choices. The problems we face compel us to behave in immoral ways but that may not always excuse or justify such behaviour.
This quote portrays the greed contained in people, "He was on the point of foreclosing a mortgage, by which he would complete the ruin of an unlucky land-speculator for whom he had professed the greatest friendship." (Irving 8). Tom had basically been the Devil himself, supporting the fact that the Devil is a mere isomer of his counterpart,
Name Removed IBH English A1 26 October 2008 ----- Essay Outline ----- Title: Through which elements/characters is the “real” conflict portrayed in The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne? Introduction: a. Central Idea: Hawthorne uses three main characters to portray the main conflict present at the heart of the novel. b. Thesis statement: The underlying conflict in the story is portrayed by the three main characters who serve as conflicts in and of themselves: Hester, who stands for sin versus purity (Pearl), Dimmesdale who stands for affection and affliction (hate/dislike), and Chillingworth who stands for good versus bad – or evil, rather. Body: a. Hester who is depicted as an adulterer and unlawful sinner gives birth to her daughter, Pearl, who is described throughout the book as a fairy/imp/cheerful/joyful creation.
Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel, The Kite Runner, is a novel initially set in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Kite Runner addresses volatile issues in Islamic culture such as racism, class systems, and oppression, while also expanding on universal human themes such as friendship, guilt, and redemption. The novel gives insight into the multifaceted relationships and psychological impact of Amir, the privileged son, who only seems to have a charmed life. Hosseini’s novel is rich with beautiful imagery and settings. The Kite Runner tells a tale of human experience, a slice of life, where evil exists in the world and shows the dark sins found in humanity; yet, resonates with the power of redemption and hope.
In the play script, “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare, the idea of internal conflict is clearly presented through the main protagonist, Macbeth. In the text, Macbeth, a highly recognized general, strives blindly in attempt to achieve power, driven by his “vaulting ambition.” Throughout the text, Macbeth faces internal conflict and insecurity as he slowly follows a path of corruption. Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s internal conflict to explore the theme; “absolute power corrupts absolutely” after hearing the witches’ prophecy, after the murder of Duncan and after the murder of Banquo. The first example of Macbeth’s internal conflict was when he encountered the weird sisters. Their manipulative characters was used by Shakespeare when they