Essay about Three Versions of The Demon Lover Contain a Common Message

Contemporary novels have imposed upon the love tribulations of women, throughout the exploration of genre and the romantic quest. Zora Neale Hurston’s Their eyes were watching God (1978) and Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway (2000) interplay on the various tribulations of women, throughout the conventions of the romantic quest and the search for identity. The protagonists of both texts are women and experience tribulations of their own, however, unique from the conventional romantic novels of their predecessors. Such tribulations include the submission of women and the male desire for dominance when they explore the romantic quest and furthermore, the inner struggles of women. Both texts display graphic imagery of the women’s inner experiences through confronting and engaging literary techniques, which enhance the audiences’ reading experience. Hurston’s reconstructions of the genre are demonstrated through a Southern context, which is the exploration of womanhood and innocence. Whilst Woolf’s interpretation of the romantic quest is shown through modernity and an intimate connection with the persona Clarissa Dalloway, within a patriarchal society.

When she was nineteen she made a promise to her fiancé, who her mother claimed "was set on her, not in love." A couple months after he left for war he was reported missing and presumed dead. At thirty two she met and married her current husband and had children. Now, it seems that the demon wants his "fiancé" to keep her promise. Bowen may have chosen to give her the last name of Drover, because a drover is someone who herds animals to market and it seems as though her fate will meet the same demise as the demon takes her away. Mrs. Drovers internal conflict occurred when she did not come through on the promise that she made and now, it seem she can not even recall what the promise was. She is faced with an external conflict as well because she will no longer have her family. She is in the hands of a demon. The third person objective point of view forces the reader to conclude for themself what is really happening. We can not hear her thoughts so it is impossible to know if she really remembers this "so-called promise." The two main elements that really work together to make this story felt by the reader are setting and language. The excellent use of literal imagery evokes the readers senses and sends a chilling feeling of suspense and terror down the spine, thus, creating the perfect setting. A sense of uneasiness is created

The tale of forbidden love binds itself within many famous works of literature in order to provoke the human mind into situations similar to those of Adam and Eve of the Bible. The “forbidden fruit” plays an important role in the books of Ethan Frome and Jane Eyre in the form of unattainable but beloved women, where two men, Ethan Frome and Mr. Edward Rochester, share common distinguishable attributes. Their serene sensitive nature soon explodes into a passionate cause, later revealing a bare, desperate soul that longs for their beloved “forbidden fruit.”

The story of “Ethan Frome” by Edith Wharton bring many different themes into question and conflict. One of these ideas is the dispute between ethics and morals versus personal desire. In the story, Ethan wants to leave Zeena because she is shrewish, while Mattie is kind, gentle, radiant, and a perfect match for Ethan. Ethan's desire to leave Zeena for Mattie is therefore completely understandable. Yet, because Ethan knows that society standards in this time period would cause him to be severely judged as a man who abandoned his wife. The author uses variety of literary tools to help contribute to the theme morals and ethics versus personal desires. The setting, character, and plot contribute to the theme morals and ethics versus personal desires.

When discussing loss knowing it comes in many forms can create an ubiquitous contemplation about the derivative of the characters loss. In many Dark Romantic and Gothic pieces loss can derive from a loved one, psychological torment, or even from an egotistical attribute. These attributes may seem customary to society, however these issues can take a great toll on a character. For example, in “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe, he lost his wife to a lung disease which ultimately caused the narrator to obsess in a form of grief over Annabel Lee. Moreover, in the “Demon Lover” by Elizabeth Bowen the protagonist and the antagonist essentially are the same person. Mrs. Dover while revisiting an old house she once lived in had created an entire situation that in her mind and to the reader seem real, once the reader continues the realization that Mrs. Dover created a situation all of her own due to psychological issues. Lastly, in “The Masque of

In the poem “My Wicked Wicked Ways,” Sandra Cisneros describes and bashes the philanderer behavior and its acceptance. The poem speaks volumes on how the repercussions of infidelity can manifest themselves into behaviors and lives. For example, the mother in the poem accepts the betrayal and learns to cope with her pain. Because Cisneros writes “After a while everyone will forget” (203), the poem refers to the shame and criticism caused by the infidelity, not only from family and friends, but by society as well. Furthermore, the last stanza of the poem provides insight about a child who will continue the cyclical process of her adulterous father. Therefore, the theme of the poem is intertwined with the title and the concept of illicit sex.

4. During the introduction of the characters and setting of the story, the author characterized the old woman by expressing in his own words, “She is small and sprightly, like a bantam hen; but, due to a long youthful illness, her shoulders are pitifully hunched” (Capote 338). As I read this description, I can understand that the woman is elderly and delicate because of her long-time illness, but throughout the story, I can see that her appearance does not reflect her temperament at all. She has a passion for adventure unlike most people her age, and it keeps her from recognizing her frail condition.

“Esther’s frustration is not unreasonable given the societal constrictions regarding women’s roles in mid-century America…the problem lies in her desire to have what society tells her is impossible… Esther is told again and again that her choices, while hers to make, will have repercussions she cannot control”(Badia, 2008: 133).

Relationships succeed and fail for any number of different reasons, ranging from the mundane to the truly bombastic. In the cases of Armand and Desiree from Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby,” and Jeremy and China of T.C. Boyle’s “The Love of My Life,” the straw that broke the relationship’s back was a lack a true love, a love that is grounded firmly in reality. Both relationships have one partner, Armand in Chopin’s piece, and China in Boyle’s, that specifically set themselves up for failure, and then refuse to acknowledge their role in it, and face the consequences. Healthy relationships will face their own share of rough waters throughout the course of their lifespan, it is to be expected, however when the first true “crisis” hit each of these relationships, the members all begin to unwind, turn on each other by assigning blame, and eventually fail in spectacular fashion.

The women who stray away from the preset quotas on how they must act in society are ridiculed. The author establishes this issue well in the cases of Sophie Wender, Rosalind Morton, and Aunt Harriet. These individuals are undoubtedly the most developed emotionally, as well as the most assertive and genuine representations of present day women, shown throughout the novel. Rosalind and Sophie are the closest there are to heroines in consideration of the fact they repeatedly confront and fight for their beliefs in how mutants should be treated. This is a stark contrast to the general representation, which is one of fearful, timid housewives who only do as their husbands permit them. Nevertheless their way of acting is considered “sinful”

In the passages Ralph 124C 41+ and “Rappaccini`s Daughter”, the protagonists have analogous interests and goals, while the themes match as well. Both stories are of life, death, love, and nature. In the two passages, the authors use love, specifically to create motives for the protagonists, and also to use the themes of nature and death.

       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

Ironically, Rossetti’s portrayal of seduction is in stark contrast to accepted notions of the Victorian period in that the male characters signify dangerous temptation, not the troubled females. The goblin men confirm this contradiction by representing the venomous effects that experienced seductive men have on innocent naive women. Rossetti’s ironic gender split exemplifies her progressive attitude of feminist thought while also serving as a depiction on the principles of Victorian society.

As with The Devil is an Ass, my piece takes place over the period of a single day, and reflects upon the complex plot and constant conflicts within the play. As with most short stories, there is no break in the plot of my piece, each element of it shows the continuous conflicts between the characters and highlights the theme of corruption throughout it. However, it not only shows the progression of events within the day, but also the chronological progression of Fitzdottrel’s feelings of love/lust for the woman that mirrors the emotions of the narrator of Merciless Beauty. It is through this that I have created moral to my story, which links my piece to the genre of a parable, as it shows how Fitzdottrel is given a moral dilemma and makes a bad decision which in turn leads to him facing the consequences of this at the end of my piece. It makes a clear point about life lessons and follows religious teachings of the sanctity of

“The Bard of Novyd” is a love myth about a hopeless romantic named Spero, who tries to attain love by literally giving women a piece of his heart. He is recklessly in love, often falling for people for the wrong reasons. The bard’s carelessness over choosing who to love, and his string of unsuccessful romances, implies that love clouds our decisions and makes us give up a part of ourselves, reminding the reader of the importance of personality and self-worth.