Macbeth Comparison

Sometimes in literature, a main character’s ambition oversteps moral and ethical boundaries, especially when the setout plan is evil. Two clear examples of this idea can be seen in the play Macbeth and Julius Caesar, both by William Shakespeare. In Macbeth it is Lady Macbeth that catapults her husband into capturing the crown. In Julius Caesar it is Cassius that plans the historic extermination of Caesar. In both plays, the characters’ selfish ambition for power is so extreme, that they’re willing to sacrifice innocent humanity, and their morality to accomplish their deepest desires.

Throughout the play Macbeth, ambition becomes a central theme after Macbeth receives a prophesy saying that he shall be King of Scotland from the witches. Although he thinks about killing the King, Macbeth ultimately abhors the idea and hurting him. When a new heir is announced to take the King’s Place, Macbeth writes a letter to his wife Lady Macbeth who rekindles the ambition of kinghood within him. Lady Macbeth is by far the typical woman of the Elizabethan Age. She oversteps the accepted moral boundaries on multiple occasions, which go on to expose her inner selfish ambition.

Reading Macbeth’s letter puts Lady Macbeth in a “state of authority” mentally, by making regicide her primary agenda so that she could advance up in the world as Queen. The fact that she manipulates her husband into committing a horrendous crime like regicide shows that she is way past the point of sanity and morality. She also displays a though masculine nature that trumps that is her wimpy husband when it comes to crime and death. Her prowess for blood and the crime can also be seen through her soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 5, as she says “Make thick my blood,” as she calls upon spirits to aide with her evil plot. Her masculinity is displayed through this quote, as she seems to be asking for her menstruation to be stopped so that she could take on a manly-heartless attitude that’s immune to guilt or fear of murder. Unlike a moral, submissive woman of her time, Lady Macbeth seems to be the dominating force in her marriage and thus the ultimate catalyst for convincing Macbeth to follow through with the murder of the king.

The theme of ambition also manifests itself in Julius Caesar. Lady Macbeth’s equivalent in this play is Cassius, who becomes the main conspirator in the death of Caesar. Like Lady Macbeth who was ambitious for the title of Queen and Duncan’s kingdom, Cassius deep down long s for the same type of power and respect that Caesar had received from the Romans. Even early in his life, Cassius never saw Caesar as a strong and worthy leader, and went through life thinking he was superior. Both Cassius and Lady Macbeth’s ambition for murder also seems to be strengthened right when a political change is to take place. In Macbeth it was the naming of Duncan’s heir and in Julius Caesar it was the offering of the “crown”. Nevertheless like Lady Macbeth, Cassius also finds a prey that can be manipulated in carrying out the fundamental ambition to the end. In this case it is Brutus.

Like Macbeth, Brutus is hinted to have had contemplated Caesar’s death, a feeling that he is at first “at war” with like Macbeth. Similarly at first, Brutus never really saw Caesar as a poor leader and is even good friends with him. However it is Cassius’s propaganda and convincing that eventually turn Brutus over to the “dark” side.  Once again, ambition fueled by jealousy and social-status is what overstep moral boundaries.  Both plays also revolve around similar symbols, a prophesy, a letter, and cold-blood which like in Macbeth represents evil plans. In Julius Caesar the prophesy is the Ides of March which proclaim that Caesar will be assassinated. Likewise a letter is used on behalf of Cassius to further instill in him the ambition of immorally murdering the innocent Caesar. Lastly, a “warning” dream which Caesar’s wife has before his assassination deals with his statue being covered in “blood”.  However it is one of Cassius’s conspirators who reassures him not to take the dream’s meaning to heart and come to Senate. The cover-up and “bloody dream” prove that evil has in fact infiltrated another realm. This then goes to show the degree of wicked ambition on part of Cassius and eventually Brutus as they surpass the ethical boundaries of life and decision making by parting in the murder of Rome’s greatest dictator.

ap practice test 5 essays

ESSAY 1

The poem “I have a rendezvous with Death” by Alan Seeger deals with a man coming to terms with death, and realizing that at any given moment, death could take his life away. The speaker seems to be a soldier in the military as he notes to meet up with death at a “barricade” (line2) or a “battered hill” (line 12). The speaker seems to be fully aware of his position in the military and the price he must eventually pay, which will be sacrificing his life by means of dying. Nevertheless like most soldiers, he doesn’t seem to be afraid of dying, and welcomes the idea with open arms; although the speaker brings up the thought that he would rather be sleeping next to his beloved.  The multiple repetition of “I have a rendezvous with death” supports this idea.

When it comes to diction, the poem is written in a typical easy to follow form. It doesn’t possess many poetic irregularities or complex rhyme schemes. This provides for the poem to flow smoothly and be logical to grasp. The uniform diction is also crucial when it comes to setting the tone for the poem. The tone seems to be calm yet anticipating. The speaker does not seem to be in any worry to die, but awaits it. The figurative language is characterized by personification, irony, and imagery techniques. Death overall seems to be personified as being a real-live person, that the speaker has a rendezvous with. The speaker also uses imagery when describing Spring and “the first meadow-flowers appearing.” This adds a lighter tone to the poem, and serves to counteract any emotion that the idea of Death may inflict on the reader. The poem also employs irony in lines 3-5 when it is said that a rendezvous with death will follow spring, a time that is usually associated with new life.

The poem “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson similarly deals with a “positive” outlook when it comes to death, and waiting for it to strike at any given moment. The tone like the previous poem seems to be blithe and reflective. The speaker in the poem already seems to be dead. It is then death that comes to her and takes her on a reflective journey towards places that used to probably be of sentimental value to the speaker when she was alive. Thus the revisiting of special places adds acknowledgement and closure on the fact that she’s dead.

The structure of the poem seems to be melodic, as a rhyming pattern can be seen within the stanzas. Like seen in the previous poem, this poem uses personification when it comes to death. Death is personified as being almost a type of boyfriend for the speaker, that makes time for her and takes her out driving around special places, and then delivering her home (to her grave). The sun also seems to per personified in lines (12-13) by “passing” the couple. There also seems to be a frequent use of alliteration, which adds a more harmonious touch to a poem that ironically deals with death.  Symbolism is also used by means of the “house” and “carriage”; typically in olden times it was a carriage that carried the diseased into their eternal home and that would be their grave. Although the symbolism may be dark, the diction and tone are designed to evoke a tone of impartiality.

ESSAY 2

In the excerpt, a young girl eagerly awaits the appearance of an actress she has looked forward to seeing. Over the course of time, the speaker’s opinions about the actress change. At first the speaker expects the speaker to be a plain woman, of “bony harshness”. However she is pleasantly surprised when the actress appears to be grand looking, “a shadow of a royal Vashti queen.” Nonetheless the speaker’s opinion of the actress’s radiating graceful appearance soon changes again, as she finds her to be devil like. Being captivated by her theatrical performance as an evil figure, helps strengthen the speaker’s mind about the true nature of the actress.

Most of the passage consists of the look at the actress from a negative demonic appearance. The speaker even notes that she was “torn by seven devils.. who refused to be exorcized.” The actress’s performance portrays her in a more negative perspective, than she may actually be like in reality. For example she seems to lack feelings, when it comes to tears and pain. Phrases like “before calamity she is a tigress” reinforce her powerful spirit as an actress. However the speaker does come to see to some degree a different side of her, claiming that despite her wickedness she is strong. Despite how the speaker might feel about the actress’s vile nature, her personality and aura can also be viewed as an overall act.

ESSAY 3

Sometimes in a novel a minor action or event has a disproportionate impact upon the character that experiences it. A good example of this would be in the in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. In the play, an evil teenage girl Abigail has unrequited feelings for a man which she previously had an affair with named John Proctor. When John ends and abhors the relationship, Abigail gets caught in the middle of a scheme in order to revenge and recapture the man she loves. This manifests itself in the form of conjuring she does in the woods one day with her fellow friends. Once caught in the act Abigail blames a known servant named Tituba for making her conjure up evil. However Abigail then begins accusing other people in town of conjuring up evil including John’s wife Elizabeth.

The fact that Elizabeth is blamed is crucial to this play. John for months tries to rebuilt trust and a better relationship with his wife after she finds out about his indiscretions with Abigail. Despite his adultery, John does still in fact love his wife, however she does not seem to believe this fact. Abigail’s lie meanwhile continues to snowball out of proportion, as she forces her friend Mary who is also John’s servant to bring into his house a “trick” voodoo for Elizabeth. The doll is then used as a manipulation tactic for the public to sully Elizabeth’s good name, and have her arrested so that Abigail could forever be with John.

In order to protect his wife and restore their marriage John takes it into his hands to clear his wife’s name in court, by squashing the lying hysteria started by Abigail in the whole town. He sacrifices his reputation and reveals his adultery to the townspeople. Nevertheless the revelation doesn’t stop Elizabeth from being released from jail. The blame is then thrown upon John, who is said to have been part of witchcraft, and is put in jail. Unlike other people’s, John’s ability to stay true to himself and his dignity empower him to never confess to witchcraft, even though it would guarantee him freedom. He also swears not to incriminate anyone else in town for witchcraft, knowing that a simple lie has already taken the life of multiple innocent victims. Thus heroically, John proves his genuine character to his wife, redeems himself by symbolically dying for what he believes in.

Being that it was based on the Salem Witch Trials shows how far a little dirty lie can go in term of causing harm. In terms of this literary work, multiple innocent victims died because they were accused yet stood up for what they believed in, justice and honesty. Overall this novel shows the corrupt nature, and intolerance or society as a whole, by acting irrationally and not placing truth above all else.

Jane Eyre hypocrisy

In the novel Jane Eyre, author Charlotte Bronte critiques the beliefs of her time, at they pertain to appearance and hypocrisy. This idea manifests itself best through Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. A product of his times and position, Mr. Rochester believes in bestowing his beloved with only the finest items after his engagement to Jane. However when considering which aspect drew Rochester to “plain Jane” in the first place, one could see that Mr. Rochester becomes an accidental hypocrite. Through this, Bronte tries to convey the idea that one’s social position in life correlates to one’s own hypocritical idea of what defines appearances.

Mr. Rochester falls in love with the self proclaimed “Quakerish governess” not because of her impeccable looks. Rather he is smitten with her simplicity, personality, and humility. Mr. Rochester proclaimed to Jane with conviction that "You are a beauty in my eyes.” Nevertheless he planned to shower her with fine clothes, diamonds, and bracelets. If Mr. Rochester did in fact love Jane for her plainness and thought of her as “beautiful”, he wouldn’t find the need to dress her up as a high-class marionette, which she clearly didn’t intend to be. Thus Mr. Rochester’s true love for Jane and all that she is comes into question, as he stands blind sighted by his perception of what a lady is to look like.

Being of a wealthy social class, and constantly surrounded by beautiful and privileged women like Blanche Ingram, Mr. Rochester had developed a certain idea of how money can be reflective in a woman’s appearance. Proper Victorian society stressed a certain look, and Mr. Rochester was more than obliged to craft Jane in that image. This would require her to change who she is, which tenacious Jane would never agree to. Selfishly and hypocritically, Mr. Rochester’s and Jane’s shopping experience is reflective of this. When Mr. Rochester wants to buy six new fancy dresses, Jane manages to persuade to only get two both of simple color. When he buys Jane jewels, she likewise begins to feel dishonored.

Instead of making Mr. Rochester’s society love Jane for who she is, he exaggerates that he would make the world acknowledge Jane’s beauty, by means of fancy things. By not allowing hypocritical Mr. Rochester to buy her luxuries that would make her accepted and beautiful, she shows that beauty and decency are exclusive. This rejection on Jane’s part offers a new feminist perspective on the hypocritical Victorian world she lives in, which declares that she won’t fall victim to the generalized and accepted mindset of beauty.

section 4 ap practice essays

FIRST ESSAY

The post-mortem monologue, Editor Whedon, by Edgar Lee Masters, is a dark portrayal of the underbelly of today’s society. The writer tries to get across the fact that the world is quintessentially filled with lies, dirt, and the quest for hurtful intentions. However, there is still that silver lining and people have the choice to change, and save their lives by choosing the high road in life. Through the use of tone and figurative language, the author is able to convey the theme of this haunting monologue to a wider audience, and achieves to strike a personal cord with the readers.

The tone of this monologue is nothing short of pessimism. The author is blunt when it comes to describing the fake, self-seeking, scandalous, and wicked ways humans can behave. He examines multiple corners and instances of human discourse, thus giving his monologue an exposé sort of tone. Knowing that he was probably eye-witness to most occurrences, this gives his piece a more personal tone. Nevertheless there’s a change in tone towards the end of the monologue, as the author presents the idea of triumphing over the evil; “derails the express train”, where the tone is that of hope and renewed faith in life.

The figurative language also plays a crucial role in giving this monologue greater meaning and emphasis.  The author repeats the word “To” and “To be” on multiple occasions with a technique known as anaphora. Through anaphora, humanity is portrayed to have infinite abilities of manifesting benevolence onto the world, but also the abilities to save one’s own life from this force; “to win at any cost.” The author also uses hyperboles throughout his piece to exaggerate and intensify the corruption in the world, for example “glory to the demoniac power” and “paranoiac boy”. Lastly, the author relies on juxtaposition throughout parts of the poem, allowing his readers to take on the piece in distinctly personal ways, and leaving room for ambiguity. 

SECOND ESSAY

The story of the once beautiful young woman that embarked to Milan, and ended up as a cripple years later back in her parents’ house, displays the complex character of Madeline Standhope. Her last name alone serves a paradox for something that she chooses to never do again by herself, and that is stand. Nevertheless her manipulation of people helps her regain that “hope”; and shows off the multifaceted aspect of her personality and misleading character along the way.

The “It girl” of Italy, who had captured the hearts of all. Ironically enough, Madeline choose to marry a disreputable man of “harsh temper and swarthy face” named Paulo Neroni. Just the idea that she picked Paulo over any other man shows lack of good, well thought out judgment. It also makes the reader question Madeline’s credibility, intelligence, and most importantly self-honesty. Madeline then turns into quite the conformist and “obedient wife” type as she stays in Rome with Paulo, where “his” life and career are already established. The author describes him as “vainly endeavored to induce his wife to remain behind him.” Knowing this, it seems that Madeline was willing to sacrifice her true self and character for a man she probably didn’t even love, and “probably had no alternative.”

                Six months after wards she turns home to her parents as a cripple and mother. At this point in the story, Madeline’s complex character clearly shines through. The reader can infer that she is most likely a liar when it comes to explaining how she really became a cripple to her parents. “Falling in ascending a ruin” is probably a cover up for extreme martial abuse she may have endured at the hands of Paulo. This shows that as a character she has too much pride and is most likely embarrassed to cope with her failed marriage. Madeline might also be trying to avoid having fingers pointed at her, and being criticized for her bad choice in husband. Like the readers, it can be inferred that her parents might shun her marriage, and more importantly her bad decision making when it comes to a choice of husband.

Despite being a cripple, Madeline never lets the outside world be aware of her disability. She can be viewed as peculiar in her over exaggerated techniques to come off more pretentious, especially the way she conducts herself in public at “the opera” and “saloons of the noblesse.” By using her charms, and her past life in Rome to create a less commonplace and hard life for herself, she effectively covers her disability, and the mistakes she made in her marriage. “It was impossible that have purpose could have been achieved with less” (servants and helpers).She can in this sense be viewed as cunning, and ingenious. However deep down inside, Madeline is no longer the radiant and independent teenager. In reality Madeline morphs into a superficial and manipulating personality.

THIRD ESSAY

Oftentimes, a novel centers around a “radical thinker” whose vision contradicts that of the norm. In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, this idea manifests itself best through the character of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, who becomes the victim of an internal dilemma after he commits adultery, and has a secret lovechild, Pearl, with the town exile, Hester Prynne. The conflict between what’s expected of him in society, his independent thoughts, and haunting secret are what tear Dimmesdale apart. Through him, Hawthorne employs his novel with a radical thinker, willing to challenge God and society for what he truly believes in.

Just the fact alone that a revered Reverend would commit adultery in his strict Puritan community can be considered radical of the times. It shows that even the respected and holy can fall victim to sin and evil. Nevertheless, months later as Hester Prynne is released from jail and made to stand upon a scaffold, it is Dimmesdale that exhorts her to reveal the name of the man who was her lover. This act could also be considered as radical because it shows that Dimmesdale would easily give up his respected position for what he feels is moral. This seems to also be one of the central themes of the novel. Luckily, Hester refuses to fault Dimmesdale in front of society thus protecting his reputation for nearly a decade.

As he holds the secret hidden in him, Dimmesdale physical appearance and health also seem to change significantly. Radically, he disfigures his body through self-masochism, and denigrates mentally and spiritually. After being reunited with Hester years later, Dimmesdale switches gears, as he plans that he will leave the community and move with her to Europe. This move is none the less radical, as it shows that he would easily give up one of the most respectable positions in society to be with the woman he still has feelings for. It also could be considered as drastic because he never before considered this plan. As a result the once conservative Reverend turns into an invincible man, ready to release his inhibitions and carry out his life the way he, and not society wants it.

The climax of Dimmesdale’s reign as a radical thinker comes at the end of the novel when all is revealed to the public through a sermon he gives. Dimmesdale, unable to cope with all the lies admits to being an adulterer and Pearl’s father. In the eyes of the community by breaking the law, Dimmesdale also broke God’s law. This idea portrays Dimmesdale’s society as intolerant, which shuns any form of human faults and temptations. However it is only through his confession that this radical thinker can finally find peace.

jane eyre essay

The 1847 novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, is a bildungsroman tale of the title character, Jane Eyre, that matures from childhood to womanhood in Victorian England. On her journey to adulthood she must overcome impediments, and her social status which is imperative in her world. As her fundamental quest for love lingers, she realizes that it is not her ability to love and have her love reciprocated that defines her as a woman. Instead Jane learns how to maintain her autonomy in a world dominated by men and a high class society. As a result of this coming of age novel, Jane emerges as an early feminist willing to stand her ground, and firm in her beliefs.

From a bildungsroman aspect, the novel encapsulates Jane’s experiences and emotions as she grows into adulthood. She is first portrayed as a fiery orphan, which is tormented and shunned by her cousins and aunt. By being enrolled at a boarding school at age ten, Jane exemplifies character building, and manages to keep some of her psychological demons and scaring at bay due to the caring people that she meets. As she becomes a governess as Thornwood, she enters yet another phase of her life, which is the search for true love, without sacrificing her autonomy. Her life at Thornwood serves as an important milestone in the life of Jane because it exposes her to vulnerability, social threats, and the loss of a beloved. Post Thornwood, and her abrupt sacrificial marriage termination, the new Jane emerges as a more analytical woman, sure of her position in society, and able to forgive the torture she had suffered at the hands of the Reed household.  By the end of the novel, Jane emerges as an early feminist, by accepting her newfound social role, and is no longer the once needy and penniless orphan.

By incorporating Jane’s search for autonomy in her novel, Bronte helped welcome in a new genre of literature, which subtly condemned the Victorian era of her time. This era was dominated by women who were trapped in their “subservient housewives” roles, and “proper ladies” positions. Jane Eyre however defied this stereotype on multiple occasions, which also happen to display her coming of age persona. Whether it was rebelling against authority at the Reed house or at the Lowood school, Jane was not afraid of pushing her limits as a child and then as a woman. Her defining moment of staying true to herself and her autonomy comes when she refuses Mr. Rochester’s love and marriage proposal, after finding out he was still married to another. She refuses to simply give up her own honor and dignity, in exchange for the sense of being needed, or emotionally fulfilled. This whole idea was revolutionary in the Victorian era, because it helped establish a new sense of womanhood; in terms of making one’s own decisions, and proclaiming independence from male authority.

Finally, coming to terms with herself and her role amongst the upper social classes of the Victorian era helps solidify Jane’s journey in this bildungsroman novel. Bronte’s use of the social class theme in the novel at imperative times in Jane’s life displays her progression as a character. The two most crucial times when Jane deals directly with the burdens of the upper social class are at Thornfield; first when she has to compete for the love of the man she loves, and the other when she has to make the decision to let him go. Jane receives competition for Mr. Rochester’s heart from the rich and beautiful Miss Ingram. Though Jane is by far more intelligent and more than Miss Ingram, she still serves as a hindrance and is frowned upon when in her aristocratic presence. Equality also manifests itself when Jane refuses to marry Mr. Rochester due to their different social standing; and prior seems to reject many of the articles of wealth that he tries to bestow upon her.

By realizing that poverty does not define a person’s character, Jane is able to emerge as a headstrong independent woman, and unlike her Victorian counterparts, does not need a man to provide for her and reinforce her position in life. Thus by means of this idea, Jane also takes on the role of a modern feminist.

3 essays for midterm

Bright Star by John Keats is an embodiment of a style of poetry known as Romanticism. Characterized by an unmistakable theme of nature, the poem uses the imagery of a steadfast star to demonstrate one man’s desire to be just like it. The poem also incorporates another major theme which is reflective of its Romantic nature, the idea of love and genuine human desires for a significant other. Likewise another poem, Fire and Ice by Robert Frost, written almost two centuries later incorporates similar attributes. Like Keats, Frost incorporates powerful imagery, fire and ice, that pertain to nature.  Frost’s poem embodies the human capability to experience and learn from both love and hate. He presents the idea that both of these human emotions are strong enough to kill and bring destruction.

Bright Star displays a major factor of Romanticism, which is the ability for man to connect with nature. This whole idea is evident by the fact that throughout the entire poem, the Speak is talking to a Star which thus becomes personified;  Keats writes “watching, with eternal lids apart”. Keats who was an environmentalist, and nature lover himself, incorporates multiple vivid descriptions that paint what the Star gets to see while looking down. For example, “moving waters at their priestlike task”, “round earth's human shores”, “snow upon the mountains and the moors”. The Speaker’s desire to be like a Star serves as a greater symbol for the idea that he wants to be “eternal”; eternal in the idea of loving his beloved. Lines like “Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast” and “still to hear her tender-taken breath” invoke the idea of blossoming vegetation and harmony which nature has the ability to offer to those who immerse themselves in it.

Frost who was inspired by nature and rural environment expresses his Romantic style powerfully in this short, yet captivating poem. Fire and Ice incorporates the human ability to experience both love and hate, as a result of a previous relationships and experiences. Fire and ice serve as the greater metaphor for these two emotions. The Speaker of poem can be characterized as cautious and experienced because he knows that consequences of both “Icy” human emotions, as well as “Fiery” desires. Although the poem doesn’t present many descriptions that pertain to nature, its main “Fire” and “ice” have the ability to carry the poem, and give it greater Romantic significance. Words such as “destruction ice” and “perish twice” add to the intensity that the title invokes.

In the novel The Stranger, main character Meursault is a man that is isolated from most of society in terms of feelings, thinking, and actions. His neutral and dispassionate attitude on life usually causes the reader to see him as an immoral character that lacks a true grip on what is important in society. However it is after society takes on him in a murder case, that the readers’ opinions about the one detached Meursault start to change. Meursault’s existentialist thinking become justified, and the reader gains respect and sympathy towards his detached, yet persistent nature.

In society, one might view the actions of smoking at a mother’s funeral, not knowing her age, not wanting to see her in her casket one last time, and showing no evidence of tears as immoral and coldhearted. These are just some of the few actions that Meursault takes from the beginning that paint him in a negative light. He does not give the reader the opportunity to think anymore highly of him as the following day he goes to see a comedy and has sex right after. As a society, we are bound to judge another quickly on the basis of decisions and actions that we feel stray from the norm. In order to have more of an unbiased perspective on a character one must place more emphasis on one’s mentality, than simply just actions.

Meursault gives the reader this opportunity towards the end of the novel, during the period of time he spends in jail, and days preceding his execution. Meursault makes the argument that he has stopped caring about how society perceives him to be. This displays his ability to stand as his own person without the negative influence of society,  that is quickly to place judgment on his personality. As a reader, one sees Mersault have his voice and reasoning stolen from him, as his defense lawyer is quick to enforce whatever reason the court will find plausible to clear his name. Meursault is also constantly badgered as being the antichrist by a priest who tries to enforce religion on him. Who is to say what religion one should follow? The simple fact that Meursault remains persistent in his atheistic views and unlike the priest doesn’t force or try to follow a religion paints him in a better light. Finally when Mersault approaches his death penalty and tries to conjure up an idea of a penalty that would only kill the victim 9 times out of 10, shows that he still wishes there was a single hope for him to survive. Although he is a killer, one might still sympathize with him as the question of the death penalty comes into play. Who has the right to truly take a life away? Does then Meursault, who wasn’t given a fair trial, justly deserve to die?

In the novel Metamorphosis by Czechoslovakian write Franz Kafka, the main character Gregor Samsa turns into a bug overnight. His position of being the family provider quickly changes as his appearance becomes a hindrance to the ability to perform and live a normal life. Mentally Gergor outlook on life changes significantly as the cruel influences of the outside world shun him into oblivion and potential death.  

Gregor’s horrid appearance becomes the main factor around which the entire Samsa household revolves around. His mother and father no show real compassion and eagerness to help him overcome his new troubling life. Gregor’s sister is the only person that seems to take any initiative in helping him. Her actions seem to be compassionate at first however overtime her antagonistic behavior and true colors shine through. She is disgusted at his appearance, and annoyed by the sole responsibility of having to take care of him.

From the start, Gregor only has the best intentions in mind, as he realizes that he won’t be able to support his family financially. However his family shows no real genuine emotions in return and slowly Gregor starts feeling isolation and depression. He hopes to get on good terms with the family by even placing a cloth over himself to cover up his body. However he never once receives acknowledgment, or a thank you.  Overtime Gregor becomes the by-product of everything that has been exerted upon him. As a result he himself begins thinking that his family would be better off without him. Although he takes on the world to the best of his abilities, he ends up dying in the end, proving that without a strong support system one cannot survive in society.

clocks and lover revised

Clocks and Lovers

The 1983 poem Clocks and Lovers by W.H. Auden presents two different takes on love that of the actual Lovers (the speaker) and the Clock the(voice of wisdom).  Both characters offer distinct points of view on the matter through their narration in the poem. While the first is marked by sincere infatuation, happiness, and caution, the second narration from the clock offers a more pessimistic, wise, and analytical attitude. Overall the use of these two differing perspectives works to forewarn of the dangers and inevitable end that all lovers face due to time.

The Lover initiates the poem’s narration. The way he views love reflects the Romantic genera of the poem. He is fixated on the idea that he will love his beloved for eternity. Dreamy imagery from lines nine to twenty reinforce this idea. For example the poet writes I’ll love you, dear, “ “I’ll love you Till China and Africa meet” and “I’ll love you till the ocean of folded up to dry”. The lover also uses many symbols, and impossibilities to demonstrate his unexplainable means and vast capability of loving another person. This can been seen with dreamy lines such as “Till China and Africa meet/ And the river jumps over the mountain /And the salmon sing in the street.” These impossibilities show that he believes that he can and will love forever. The lover also makes use of animal motions imagery such as “squawking like geese about the sky./ The years run like rabbits...” to show the impact time has on his relationship and innocent feelings. This imagery of rabbits and others such as “flower of ages” are reflective of the formulaic love cliques that are apparent in more poems of this Romantic genera.

Midway into the poem the lover dives further into the idea of time (the Clock) having an impact on his relationship. His once quixotic imagery shifts to a more realistic and cautious one. The poet writes, “O let not Time deceive you, You cannot conquer time”. Time transforms into a symbol of the enemy which the lover cannot escape. No longer does the lover bask on praising his beloved, but paints Time with darker imagery of a “Nightmare” that “watches from a shadow/And coughs when you would kiss.” With this perspective and imagery in mind, the poet introduces a second voice of reason to narrator, the Clock, to counter shine light on the Romantic utopia envisioned by the lover.

The Clock urges the Lover to come to grips with himselfand reexamine his love life. The commanding imagery, “plunge your hands…stare in the basin” invoke just that. The Clock helps reinforce the stressful imagery that come with love overtime such as “headaches” and “worry” which is conflicting imagery of that spoken by the Lover previously. In a sense, the use of the Clock’s language solidifies the idea that the Lover’s relationship may not have been, in fact, perfect, which is supported by “the crack in the tea-cup opens/ A lane to the land of the dead”. The Clock (time) is what leads to further deterioration in the tender relationship of the Lover. Whether it be simply a matter of dwindling time, aging, or loss of attraction, the “look.. look in the mirror look in your distress” imagery makes it clear that time is a challenging factor in a successful relationship. The final stanza and its language fully affirm the Clock’s superior power over love. “Late in the evening the lovers they were gone” confirms that despite the eternal love one may have for another, the feeling itself never outlasts time.