Ever heard the term silver-tongue? The term silver tongue refers to those who are both eloquent, and persuasive speakers, and who can use their speech to get what they desire. Both Dr. Landis in the short story “My Sister’s Marriage” by Cynthia Marshall Rich and Blake in the short story “The Five-Forty-Eight” by John Cheever from the collection of short stories “Points of View” by James Moffett , and Kenneth R. McElheny are silver-tongued men with bad intentions who abuse their positions of power to get what they desire. Both Dr. Landis in “My Sister’s Marriage” and Blake in “The Five-Forty-Eight” are similar because they both manipulate women, they both have a hidden agenda, and they both end up learning a lesson by the end of each story because of their deceit. The difference between the two men is that Dr. Landis uses his smooth speech to manipulate his daughters, Olive, and Sarah Ann. Blake uses his smooth speech to manipulate an unstable women whom he had just hired into sleeping with him only before firing her then taking a vacation and he manipulates his wife into thinking he is loyal. Both men end up disturbed by the end of each story because of how each women reacts to being manipulated. Dr. Landis from “My Sister’s Marriage” and Blake from “The Five-Forty-Eight” manipulate women in both stories and think it is okay. Dr. Landis manipulates both of his daughters, Olive, and Sarah Ann into thinking he is some omniscient being and that any questions they need
The two passages, Breaking Tradition by Kathleen Ernest and A Family Affair by Gina DeAngelis and Lisa Ballinger, portray the changing role of women during the Civil War and World War II. Each passage shows how war transformed women’s roles in society in the 1800’s. In the 1800’s, women’s opinions and decisions were restricted during the Civil War and World War II, due to laws and traditions.
In both novels we experience a high sense of the women lacking in control, one significant being the lack of control over their marriages.
My Sister’s Marriage” by Cynthia Marshall Rich portraits characters that have many family problems. The father Doctor Landis is a total control freak. He decides every little things in his two daughters, Olivia and Sarah Ann, life. The restrictions that the father puts upon on his two daughters have different consequence on both. Olivia, the oldest daughter, starts having rebellious feeling due to suffocated restrictions, while, Sarah Ann, the youngest daughter, starts to internalize the restrictions and value her limited opportunities. Everywhere in the story, we can see that, the daughters pass through so many intestinal conflicts that result in either imprisonment or liberation. Since the father is so controlling, he has instructed his daughters to have a perverted view of love which emotionally demolished and imprisons one,
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen introduces the major thematic concept of marriage and financial wealth. Throughout the novel, Austen depicts various relationships that exhibit the two recurring themes. Set during the regency period, the perception of marriage revolves around a universal truth. Austen claims that a single man “must be in want of a wife.” Hence, the social stature and wealth of men were of principal importance for women. Austen, however, hints that the opposite may prove more exact: a single woman, under the social limitations, is in want of a husband. Through this speculation, Austen acknowledges that the economic pressure of social acceptance serves as a foundation for a proper marriage.
2016: Many works of literature contain a character who intentionally deceives others. The character’s dishonesty may be intended either to help or to hurt. Such a character, for example, may choose to mislead others for personal safety, to spare someone’s feelings, or to carry out a crime. Choose a novel or play in which a character deceives others. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the motives for that character’s deception and discuss how the deception contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
Marriage has changed dramatically over time in the many years it has been around. What do think Marriage was like 100 years ago? The article, “American Marriage in Transition”, describes how many different types of marriage there are and how people have changed their view on it. Andrew Cherlin (the sociologist of the article) does a great job going in depth explaining American marriage. He arranges the different marriages in three different categories; Institutionalized which was the earliest type of marriage, then Companionship around World War II, and currently we are considered Individualized.
Deception is the act of deceiving; it takes the shape of an underlying theme in each of the texts. It is a common occurrence in literature such as Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘On Chesil beach’ but in almost every incident, the degree of deception is different. Deception is performed by all characters to different extents and purposes, depending on the context of the situation. Othello displays deception between colleagues, whereby Iago uses deceit to cause carnage in the lives of his associates. Tennessee Williams illustrates deception within a family in his play A Streetcar Named Desire, as the main protagonist Blanche, lies to her own family about her sinful past. Finally, Deception is conveyed in Ian McEwan’s
In Pride and Prejudice Author Jane Austen claims that marriage should be between a man and women who love each other equally. Austen's disgust of Marriage and decorum in British culture is written through the eyes of main the main character in Pride and Prejudice, Miss Elizabeth Bennett. It is sad to think that marriage could be bought or in Elizabeth Bennett’s case not afforded. Marriage shouldn’t be the only measure of worth for women. Someone should not feel “repugnance” for a marriage due to situation.
Throughout our lives, everyone that we share bonds with and interact with on a regular basis, either forms or has some sort of influence on our identity. Consequently, the majority of us naturally find ourselves striving to fit in with these people, especially during the tough transition from childhood to adulthood. It is this part of the human condition that makes us feel as though we must forge ties with something outside of ourselves in order to establish a strong sense of existence and a clear understanding of who we are. Although most individuals are able to make these connections with others naturally, others who stray from the social norm might not be so fortunate, but rather than
In her book Marriage a History Stephanie Coontz explains the male breadwinner family model and its dominance in family life during the 40’s, 50’s, and early 60’s. An illustration of the male breadwinner model is composed of a father, mother, and two children; typically a boy and girl close in age. Funded by their father’s well paying middle class salary, the wife and children live a comfortable life in suburbia and participate regularly in consumer trends. Perceived as the head of the household, the father was the sole financial provider. On the other hand the mother was the head of domestic life and was responsible for the children. The popular 1950’s TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet exemplified this family model. With regard to the male breadwinner family model, imagine having eight other brothers and sisters. Imagine growing up without a mother, and with a father who worked constantly. Then consider living this life alongside your peers who come from the “normal” male breadwinner families Coontz describes… How would your family differ from your peers? What would be your thoughts and feelings towards family life? More importantly, how would these unique circumstances change your perception of the nuclear family?
Two short novels “The Wife of Martin Guerre” by Janet Lewis and “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Conner have very different plots, however, many connections can be made between certain characters. A strong example of this would be Arnaud (posing as Martin), and Manley, two antagonists from each of the novels listed above, respectively. In Janet Lewis’ short novel “The Wife of Martin Guerre” the main character Bertrande is taken on an emotional roller coaster as her husband Martin doesn’t return from a trip he promised would only be a week. Just as she is learning to embrace being the head of the household and a single mother, a man claiming to be the Martin who left her eight long years ago appears out of the blue, throwing her life and emotions into complete chaos. In Flannery O’Conners short story “Good Country People” a woman named Hulga, who is unpleasant to the majority of people, is seduced by a young man, claiming to be nothing more than a simple country boy selling bibles. Later in these short stories, it is revealed that both of these men are not who they claim to be, and their lies caused rather dreadful repercussions. These two antagonists delude Hulga and Bertrande in their respective stories by enticing them with desirable amounts of knowledge and causing them to lose perception of reality by using manipulation throughout the entire plot.
The art of deception is an essential skill, especially in moments such as political debates and commercial promotions. In today's society, artifice is a widely utilized skill to persuade the public. The commercial market connects producers to consumers through propaganda which appeals to consumers through elements such as pathos, ethos, and logos. Utilizing these elements, the audience is immediately drawn into the viewpoint of the deceiver. Politicians tried to appear as ordinary and modest as possible to seem more appealing to their audience. But, it can be a deception. As Chris Hedges said in his Empire of Illusion, a story is the best form of artifice because the “consistency and emotional appeal of the story are paramount.” Often politicians tell stories to create a persona making themselves look more trustworthy.
In society, deception, cunningness, and other uses of trickery are quite common. Whether these themes are seen easily or are placed more discreetly, they are found in society often. Simply take a look at any political ad, certain sexual assault cases, or any form of social media, especially dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. More often than not, political advertisements, sexual assault cases, and social media involve extraordinary amounts of deception, cunning words, and lies to call someone to a certain action. Political advertisements contain propaganda to push a political view. Sexual assault cases frequently begin with cunning, seductive words used to draw someone into an act they do not desire to commit. Social media is possibly the most common form of deception as countless amounts of people edit their photos to attain a desired body image or skin tone, essentially cat-fishing anyone who follows them. Furthermore, deception and cunningness are not only common in society, but is also present in literature in several ways. In Geoffrey Chaucer’s epic poem, “The Canterbury Tales,” Chaucer uses seduction, craftiness, and trickery as a form of persuasion, revenge, and to prove tricks do not come without consequences.
Love makes us do crazy things. It makes us become people we never thought we were. Love gives us an ultimatum about our life. Love is a powerful bond and wicked curse. When we love, we love hard. We will do anything for love and to be loved. In “My Sister’s Marriage,” Cynthia Marshall Rich presents the different views of love upon similar yet different characters. Two sisters, who share a loving yet manipulative Father show the different ways love affects us. Sarah-Ann and Olive have many similar and different relationships with love, their dreams, and their traits.
To My Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me ye women if you can.