The Razor's Edge by Sommerset Maugham Essay examples

For a story by an author to be signified as a classic literature piece, it requires a timeless feature which the main passage can echo throughout the ages. Particularly, a relation to society's behavior and values. The characters, created by Washington Irving, most especially Tom Walker, gives us an insight on how his life centered predominantly on wealth up to the point where he is consumed by temptation. Tom Walker’s engagement in a deal with the Devil portrays how money-driven society has become more prominent through the times of the 1700s and today's world.

Illogical, submissive, and sensual are some of the words used to describe the view of women during the nineteenth century. In the novel The Awakening, Kate Chopin tells the controversial story of a woman, Edna Pontellier, and her spiritual growing. Throughout the story, Edna constantly battles between her heart’s desires and society’s standard. The novel shows how two women’s lives influence Edna throughout the novel. Mademoiselle Reisz and Madame Ratignolle are both in their own way strong, motherly influences in Edna’s life. Mademoiselle Reisz is Edna the mother who wants Edna to pursue her heart’s desires. Madame Ratignolle however, is the type of mother to Edna who wants Edna to do what is socially right. The way the two live

Edith Wharton is well known for her vivid descriptions of wealthy, upper class New York society and their old-fashioned mores. The Custom of the Country illustrates not only the strict values of ‘old money,' from which Wharton herself descended, but, also, the variance in customs held by those with new money, as well as those from other states and abroad. Two of the novel's main characters that attempt to join this society exemplify the conflicts they face as their imbedded small-town, yet, somewhat modern values clash with those of New York society, further demonstrating the shift of values in American society near the end of the Gilded Age. As Undine Spragg and her family move to New York in hopes of securing a fortune and social status

I work for the City Health Care Partnership within the Primary Care Medical Services, I work for 4 different GP practices as the Data Quality Manager but main base been at Kingston Medical Centre in the Central appointments team, at Kingston Medical Centre we have 4 full time GP’s, 3 Nurses, 2 Health Care Assistants, 7 Receptionists, 2 Admin members based in the Central appointments

When Ethan passes by his family’s graveyard, the narrator says, “For years that quiet company had mocked his restlessness, his desire for change and freedom” (Wharton 30). Ethan reflects on his year attending college in Worcester and working for an engineer in Florida before his marriage to Zeena. After his marriage, Ethan makes plans to move with Zeena to a big city where they can “see the world,” yet his circumstances stand in his way of his success (Wharton 42). Ethan never forgets his desire for a better life. The fifty-two year old Ethan Frome continues to buy a copy of the Bettsbridge Eagle, a magazine that tantalizingly displays ads for “Trips to the West,” business success stories, and the latest scientific discoveries (Wharton 9). However, as the young Ethan grows wiser and realizes the impossibility of life beyond Starkfield, his dream

In this both heart wrenching and slightly humorous memoir, journalist Jeannette Walls tells the bittersweet story of her rather dysfunctional and poverty stricken upbringing. Walls grows up in a family trailed by the ubiquitous presence of hunger and broken homes. Throughout the memoir she recounts memories of moving from one dilapidated neighborhood to another with her three other siblings, insanely "free sprinted" mother, and incredibly intelligent yet alcoholic father. The author focuses on her unconventional childhood with parents who were too lazy and self-absorbed to obtain decent jobs. Although Walls's childhood gushes with heartbreaking tales of searching through dumpsters for food, she remains as unbitter as possible and

“Let’s create an AIDS/HIV-free generation”, which is not only a slogan that was proposed by President Obama but also a goal that I would like to achieve on my future career path. My practicum project at the Department of Health and Human Services was to generate dataset of new AIDS/HIV cases in Houston/Harris area required by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and then to use ArcGIS software to make a map describing the new diagnosed in Houston area. The final products can be spatially lined to other sources to enhance understanding of social determinants of health affecting populations impacted by HIV. This practicum experience let me realize that AIDS spreads so quickly is because most people have insufficient knowledge or misconception about the disease and prevention. Becoming a pharmacist to provide prevention service and educate people to improve their health and wellbeing is how I want to reach the goal of creating an AIDS/HIV-free generation.

The main character, Reuben Land, is the protagonist of this novel. Everything that is happening in the novel evolves around his point of view. Reuben changes from a little eleven year old child to a mature eleven year old young man throughout the story. For example, when Davy Land murdered two thug kids, Reuben realized that their “friends” were never there for them: “Of course vindictiveness is an ugly trait and, yes, I do mean to forgive all these nice deserters; I mean, eventually, to say, to their ghosts if not their living faces, It’s all right. I understand. I might’ve done the same. Not yet, though. Let me bear witness first. Two men I remember who did not desert---no, three” (Enger 59). Reuben was mature enough to realize that only true friends will be there for you. He sees that only your true friends will stick with you during the troubled times, and the others would stay away. One thing I can’t identify with Reuben was when he was going to rat out his brother to

Larry Lasalle helps to maintain an air of conflict throughout the novel. For example in Chapter 14 (page 72-79) Francis confronts Larry; prepared to kill him for what he did to Nicole. The atmosphere in this chapter is very tense and Larry tries to defend himself but Francis is determined. To continue, in most chapters Francis' thoughts revolve around his hate for Larry and his love for Nicole. On page 77 Larry says “If I want one thing, it would be to have you look at me the way you did at the Wreck Center, when I was the big hero you say I was.” As a kid, Larry was Francis' hero but him raping Nicole changed the way he looked at him. From that

Expressions such as these only distance Tom from benign human tendencies, leaving him less worthy of receiving any compassion from his audience. By creating a character like Tom, Fitzgerald leaves the reader with the impression that one born into and consumed by wealth will become the most unappealing and bland character of all. In this way the author leaves a sense of emptiness associated with Tom and continues to sew the thread of emptiness in all other characters consumed by wealth in his story.

The documentary Forks Over Knives is one of the most interesting yet informational films I have seen regarding health and society today and I was intrigued since the second I turned it on. It made it so much easier to understand and conceptualize because the film followed patients and documented their success stories; you were forced to believe in its truth. I found it to be inspirational and motivational.

Elliott Templeton, from The Razor’s Edge, comes across in every way that his social status is the most important aspect of his life. Even the narrator notes that he may have “given the reader an impression that Elliott Templeton was a despicable character.” (6) To quite the contrary, throughout the novel Elliott demonstrates to the reader there are far more important things in his life. As a wealthier individual, he does not hesitate to spoil his friends and family or financially assist them in times of hardship. He also understands that sometimes money isn’t the only way to show kindness. Elliott shows the full extent of his kindness and generosity in the way he treats his sister Louisa, looks after his niece Isabel, and in his friendship

In life, each person, book, movie, and much more contains a worldview or outlook on life as a whole. Lao Tzu states that a worldview is, “When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad.” Despite the fact that most people, movies, books, and other components in life do not realize that they have a worldview, in reality, they actually do. One specific example of an element in society that contains a worldview, is the action-filled and world-renowned book entitled Divergent. This specific element contains a striking plotline, worldview, and purpose in order to catch the attention of people around the world.

Gray was not the man of her dreams like Larry was, but he was okay. In a conservation between the narrator and Isabel, Isabel says “Mother and Uncle Elliot approve of what I have done. Do you approve too?” (90). Isabel is seeking approval, trying to justify the loss of her love.

H.G. Wells, author of mind blowing novel The War of The Worlds, used foreshadowing and both external and internal conflicts to show the theme those humans should not assume that they are the superior race. Wells was the author of more than 100 books, almost half of them nonfiction, published over a span of 52 years.