Kristina Griffiths Ms. Faris Honors English IV 18/29 May 2015 A Dragging Feeling Every human has their own unique form of bondage from which they must break free. In Of Human Bondage, William Maugham uses main protagonist, Philip Carey, as a mortal character that serves as a thin line of difference between the world within the novel and one that Maugham himself lived in. Both Philip and Maugham serve as a parallel to each other, each portrayed with their own form of bondage tied to their humanity. From the analytical standpoint of a biographical criticism, the novel serves as a reflection of Maugham’s own life experiences, in which Philip struggles with a physical deformity over the course of his lifetime, just as Maugham struggles with his sexual identity. The comparison between Philip and Mr. Carey, his uncle, is also a paper-thin screen between Maugham and his own uncle after being orphaned at a young age on both parts. All of their struggles reflecting each other like humanities mirror, only to come to a conclusion that allows a feeling of clarity that brings them to a happier resolution about their life as a whole. Philip and Mr. Carey are the two characters that held the most resemblance to Maugham’s real life in selfness and to that of his own uncle. William Maugham was born in France, birthed as an Aquarius on January 29th, 1874 and the younger to his brother Viscount Maugham. (The Famous People) He had a Mother and Father by the names of Edith Marry (née
Many Scholars now use the term chattel slavery or also known as traditional slavery to refer to a type of slavery where a person belonged to another person. Slavery is a system that allows individuals to sell, buy, capture, and own other individuals as their own personal property. Slaves freedom to do what they wanted were taken from them, their control over their bodies were taken from them because they were considered a person’s “Property” to whoever owned them. They were forced to work and do as they are told or they would have to suffer severe and sometimes even fatal consequences and that impacted many types of relationships. ”Slavery is theft—theft of a life, theft of work, theft of any property or produce, theft even of the children a slave might have borne”(Kevin Bales, Understanding of Global Slavery). Slavery with all of its demeaning, oppressing of the black masses was a complicated force and a powerful presence when it came to numerous relationships. For example, masters and slaves, slaves and their families, masters wives and black women slaves, slaves and other slaves, and blacks and whites.
In the short allegory “The Birthmark”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a newly-wed couple becomes consumed by the existence of a small birthmark on the wife’s face. When the wife, Georgiana, allows her husband Aylmer, a scientist, to remove the birthmark, both realize that Georgiana will inevitably sacrifice her life for the sake of its removal. As the story progresses, so does the confliction of the newlyweds as they realize exactly what the birthmark symbolized to and for each other. Hawthorne’s hallmark use of symbolism also provides a ‘perfect’ glimpse into the mindset of two themes of psychological conflictions: perfectionism and codependency. Hawthorne seems to share this story as a possible moral of the hidden pathos we place upon the ones we love, and the invisible marks or standards we place upon ourselves for the ones we love.
Bragg’s dejected tone when addressing his father’s latest demeanor is satirical as the Father’s past behavior is anything but celebratory. The author’s conscious decision to compare his memories of the Father to that of a “man” and a “monster” depicts the two emotions Bragg intended to invoke from his readers through the use of tone: contentment and fear. He wanted his readers to share his contentment with his father’s past demeanor, though distressing. In contrast, Bragg hoped his readers share his fear of his father’s past demeanor, despite his innate urge
Most times, anything abnormal or odd tend to be pushed under the rug. Edgar Allan Poe subtly brings attention to topics the are typically ignored. E. A. Poe had far from a perfect childhood. His father left when he was young and his mother died when he was three. Poe also seemed to have a lonely childhood after his parents were gone. He was separated from his relatives and didn’t appear to have many friends. He attended the army and after went into West Point. His academics there were well but he was eventually kicked out because of poor handlings of his duties. Before Poe died, he struggled with depression and a drinking problem. Some believe Poe’s tragic lifetime was the inspiration for some of his stories. Such as, “The Fall of the House of Usher”. A possible theory about this story is that Roderick and the Narrator were one in the same. This essay will discuss the possibility of them being the same through plot, characterization, and personification.
Ed is described as the ‘cornerstone of mediocrity’ who lives in a ‘shack’ in a less desirable part of town, who has ‘no real potential’. Throughout the text Ed completes an array of different tasks giving the readers an inside perspective of the experiences. ‘Old lady Milla’ is one of Ed’s many tasks, he supplies her with the company she so desperately needs, but not only did he help her, she ‘put a piece of her heart inside’ him. The readers see Ed’s transformation from ‘dickhead Ed’ to a kind gentlemen willing to spend his time reading to a ‘lonely’ ‘old lady’ of which he barely knows. One of the toughest challenges Ed faces is his Ma, ‘one of his darkest hours’ as Ed is forced to confront his mother.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the representatives of the Dark Romanticism genre. The cultural and literal context, stylistic features and main themes of the Hawthorne’s short story The Birthmark will be discussed in this essay.
The author’s melancholic, yet, optimistic tone arouses mix feelings from his readers. Bragg clouts his readers’ perception of his father with harrowing, however, coveted recollections of the past. In the author’s comparative recount of the Father’s demeanor, he paints an unsettling, yet a hopeful life of his father:
Next, Foster brilliantly introduces the character of Cecil Vyse, a “medieval'; and high standing Englishman who, while is an acceptable suitor, really only sees Lucy as another pretty possession by his side. Cecil’s most important function ironically enough, is to serve as a “mirror'; for Lucy. For by seeing his snobbish and downright crude mannerisms, Lucy receives a likely image of what she herself could become if she were to marry Cecil for convention and not for passion. Becoming disgusted with Cecil’s behavior, she breaks off her engagement with him, yet still cannot distinguish whether she is doing it because of his crude and snobbish nature or because of her love for George, which she has still yet to admit.
Mr. Hooper is a Romantic character both because he rejects social norms and because he is, in turn, rejected by the society to whose norms he will not adhere. Covering his face is a clear departure from social norm, as evidenced by the responses of his parishioners when they glimpse him wearing the veil. At first, some refuse to believe that “‘it is our parson’”; others think he “‘has gone mad,’” and others still believe that “‘He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face.’” Mr. Hooper’s rejection of the norm to keep, at least, his eyes uncovered disturbs them, and their reactions indicate their discomfort. Likewise, many fail to return his morning greeting in their shock. Though there is no violence in his voice when he preaches, “the hearers quaked.” Further, “Strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy,” and Mr. Hooper no longer even receives the dinner invitations he has accepted since he first came to town. Finally, his interior life, his character, has become the major focus of his life. Despite the fact that the veil renders him a virtual outcast, except for performing only the duties associated with his
At first glance, the book “my bondage and my freedom by Frederick Douglass appeared to be extremely dull and frustrating to read. After rereading the book for a second time and paying closer attention to the little details I have realized this is one of the most impressive autobiographies I have read recently. This book possesses one of the most touching stories that I have ever read, and what astonishes me the most about the whole subject is that it's a true story of Douglass' life. “ Douglass does a masterful job of using his own experience to expose the injustice of slavery to the world. As the protagonist he is able to keep the reader interested in himself, and tell the true story of his life. As a narrator he is able to link those
Sin, a dark and powerful force, twists the soul and warps the mind to the point where it leaves society with unconquerable difficulties in everyday life. Nathaniel Hawthorne, quite successfully, uses literature to its full potential in order to express sins presence in life. He uses the short story, “The Birthmark” to express this theme. In this story, a man by name Aylmer for the first time sees a small defect in his otherwise beautiful wife, Georgiana. When Aylmer mentions it to her, she feels hurt, but it does not seem to affect her self-image. However, as time went on, the birthmark started to bother her causing her to believe she was flawed and in need of fixing. With the assistance of Aylmer's servant, Aminadab, Aylmer creates a miracle drug that would cure his wife of her imperfection: the birthmark. The possibly deadly drug incites fear in her husband; however, the blemish on her face troubles her, as well as her husband, to the point where she believes her life means nothing unless she could get it removed. After much meticulous preparation, the wife takes the cure. At first, everything seems well as her birthmark faded, however soon everything goes wrong, and Georgina has a terrible reaction. Soon after taking the cure she dies, leaving Aylmer heartbroken and alone without his wife. In, “The Birthmark,” Nathaniel Hawthorne brings to light sin’s presence in society through the use of allusions, symbolism, color, and beauty.
Many people create the notion that perfection results in ultimate satisfaction. However, sometimes, the desire of perfection may burden them and doom them to unhappiness. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birth-Mark” is a third-person narrative about Aylmer and his obsession to make his wife Georgiana perfect by removing her birthmark. Aylmer is a scientist who puts his love of science ahead of his love for his wife. His genuine, sincere, yet delusional effort to alter his wife's beauty with science illustrates the story’s theme that perfection is demoralizing which reveals within Hawthorne’s use of symbolism, characterization and the narrative point of view.
In “The Birthmark”, the relationships and behaviors of the characters play a significant role in the story by revealing more than the story itself does . Through the character’ different actions, characteristics, and behaviors, Nathaniel Hawthorne gives a deeper insight into his life, such as revealing his worldview to his readers, and also gives insight into a more relevant story. Hawthorne’s transcendentalist worldview is conveyed through Aylmer’s and Georgiana’s obsessions, Aylmer’s manipulation of nature, and the birthmark.
Of Human bondage and Frankenstein share a similarity in the way Christianity shapes the development of the central characters. In Of Human Bondage the protagonist Philip, is brought up with religion because his caretaker Mr. William Carey is a Vicar. Philips upbringing was very confined and in ridged terms of church doctrine. The fear of eternal damnation functioned as Philips moral compass through this youth, guiding him to act a certain timid manor. Upon reaching adulthood he finds himself unable to believe and his motives change, no longer confined to the religion’s lifestyle.
As the tale begins we immediately can sympathize with the repressive plight of the protagonist. Her romantic imagination is obvious as she describes the "hereditary estate" (Gilman, Wallpaper 170) or the "haunted house" (170) as she would like it to be. She tells us of her husband, John, who "scoffs" (170) at her romantic sentiments and is "practical to the extreme" (170). However, in a time