POEM: I carry thee on my scrawny back

I carry thee on my scrawny back.

Her prematurely aborted dreams,

Her skyscraping expectations,

Her heart quaking disappointments,

Her blood secreting sacrifices

Her ocean filling buckets of tears.

A decade protracted excursion up Golgotha

And we have yet to reach the crucifix.

Clawing herself into my soul and mind,

Pleading for Veronica, a mere reverberation

Bawling at my creator in retaliation.

One misstep shall eternally disintegrate me

One clash against vocation and she dies.

One seraph’s voice and organ of faith,

One purpose of my subsistence

One billion taxing strides before me lay.

Far-off the mahogany wood looms

Calling my name, bearing her face.

Bright Star, Choose Something Like a Star

The poem Choose Something Like a Star contains an allusion to a previously written poem by John Keats called Bright Star. Through their styles of writing differ, the poems share common themes.

Both poems are similar in that they spark the human fascination in the celestial word, which intertwines with life and meaning on Earth. In Keats’ poem, the speaker is talking to a star, wishing it was “steadfast” like it. The speaker’s main agenda is to make sure to never change like the star. This idea is manifested through the fact that he never wants to leave lying on his beloved’s bosom. The first poem also seems to have a bit of religious undertones and themes, as indicated by lines (5-6),  The moving waters at their priestlike task Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores”. The statement itself symbolizes the idea of nature cleansing humanity from sin, just like a priest would.

In the poem Choose Something Like a Star by Robert Frost, the star can be characterized as an outlet of belief and dependence. The speaker begs the star to talk to him, and be his trusty confidant. However the star seems to lack any legitimate passion or answer. Likewise, this poem seems to seem to be reflective of the religious idea of going to God for answers and meaning. The speaker is the obvious symbol of humanity, and how we often go to a higher power to reassure ourselves and guide us in decision making. However, because the star only answers simply, “I burn”, questions its overall knowledge and certification to even be worthy in the process of serving as a guide for others.

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop

                Elizabeth Bishop’s villanelle poem, One Art talks about the process of learning and coming to terms with loss. The Speaker seems to be comfortably composed, and experienced in the art of losing throughout most of the poem. However in the final stanza she displays her true vulnerability and ability to act human when it comes to displaying her true emotions over the loss of presumably, a loved one.

                Lines 1-15 of the poem or the first four stanzas are simply a means of self-deception. The Speaker tries to reinforce the simple fact that “the art of losing isn’t hard to master” nor is it a “disaster”.  The Speaker’s confident attitude in these ideas is demonstrated through her tackling the little issues of loss, in order to show their lack of importance and emotion to her. For example, “lost door keys, the hour badly spent.” As the poem progresses the Speaker encourages us to practice losing inconsequential things like, “places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel.” By practicing to lose the minor things early on, the Speaker feels that we will be more ready for weighty losses in the future, and won’t see it as such a calamity. In stanzas four and five, the Speaker begins mentioning belonging that are seemingly more considerable and personal to her, such as her “mother’s watch”, “three loved houses”, “two cities”, “some realms”, and “two rivers, a continent”. Losing this and not feeling grief seems to show that the Speaker has built up a type of thick skin, and is immune to great pain might bring to the average individual. Her headstrong, unfeeling attitude is reflective of this.

                However the final stanza offers a much different glimpse into the Speaker’s true feelings and attitude. The poet writes, “Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan't have lied.  It's evident the art of losing's not too hard to master.” It is obvious that the Speaker is not above having natural emotions when it comes to loss. She is not a “Master” at repressing feelings of sorrow, when it comes to her beloved. While she may try to convince herself that losing minor things have to significant impact or value on her life, she cannot apply the same attitude towards another human being. By urging her readers to “(Write it!) like disaster” demonstrates her finally coming to terms, and reinforcing her feelings. Though her previous claims at “losing isn’t hard to master” may have shown her attitude to be hypocritical, the final stanza reaffirms her humaneness and thus invokes the reader’s sympathy.

Clocks and Lovers by WH Auden

The 1983 poem Clocks and Lovers by W.H. Auden presents two different takes on love, which are that of the actual Lovers (the speaker) and the Clock(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”, “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 as 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 himself, and 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 loving 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.

Questions Essay

           What defines an existentialist? Is the state of isolation, indifference, and ignorance of the “true” human existence enough to label a character as such? Can Monsieur Meursault from the Stranger, and Gregor Samsa from Metamorphosis be portrayed as such? In what ways are they so different, yet fundamentally identical in state of mind? What situations and experiences change their lives forever? Does anyone contribute to their journey as protagonists? What overall outcome does existentialism have upon their lives?

How do the characters’ moral duties reflect their outlook on life? Does the pressure of being his family’s financial provider ultimately lead Gregor to his beetle state? Why does nonchalant Mersault decide to smoke and reject to see his mother when at her funeral? Should one always abide by the “accepted” moral code that society established for us? Does Mersault’s smoking then resemble his disobedient nature, or lack of proper morals? To what extent can society dictate the lives of these characters, without overstepping the boundaries of personal freedom? Is the workforce justified in prosecuting a worker if he commits the slightest negligence or absence? Is it then safe to say that Gregor’s human life is not technically his own, but indebted to his boss and family’s cause?

If that is the case, why does Gregor’s family shun him once he turns into a beetle? What does their immediate reaction to his appearance demonstrate about human beings in general? Are we quick to fear that which we cannot understand? Does Grete’s assertion of Gregor’s disposition paint him to be just a tool that the family abuses? Is it this abuse Gregor receives from the isolation, and realization of humanity’s corrupt ways which lead him to die? Or is it simply his physical state and “survival of the fittest” that lead to his demise?

On the contrary, doesn’t Mersault’s rejection of his mother and eventually his lover clearly display his existentialist nature? Does then the climatic act of him killing the Arab display his disillusionment, or indifference to the value of human life? If he is in fact an existentialist, and his life is absurd, is does his killing become justified? Does his rejection of God add to his sense of invincibleness? Is sex his replacement for the power and rejuvenation that religion brings? Is his realization that he cannot take responsibility for his actions in court, his defining moment? Was the act of killing truly spur of the moment, or overall his destiny?

bleak house powerpoint

The Mystery of the Caves

The poem “The Mystery of the Caves” incorporates the story of a young speaker reading about a boy who was “lost wandering the labyrinths of caverns”. The poem makes good use of images and symbols to join the predicament of the lost boy, to the actual matters that the young speaker. Overall the boy in the story offers the speaker a sense of comfort as he’s suffering through the turbulent lifestyle of his parent’s dysfunctional marriage. The young speaker has the ability to connect to the story, to the point where the speaker and the character in his text become one and the same entity.

When the speaker describes the boy in the book as being “lost” in “labyrinths and caverns”, he indirectly introduces the state of his own affairs. These images serve to demonstrate the inner turmoil that he comes across later on in the poem. Floating toward the “light”(line 6)  symbolizes the peace the speaker dreams of having. Somersaulting back into the “black river”(line 8) however, represents the cyclical chain of challenges he encounters at home. The poem elaborates on the speaker’s difficulties in the subsequent quatrains, as he describes his mother leaving his father. The poet writes “the boy found it impossible to see, which passage lead to safety” (lines 15-16). This imagery serves as the metaphor for the situation that the speaker is in. Trapped, between the crises of his parents’ relationship, he finds it tough to find a path of clarity, and a solid outlet to which he could resort to. The boy’s “last match”(line 18) in turn becomes the speakers means of a final spark, or chance at an escape from suffering. The sixth quatrain symbolizes the toll the speaker’s parents’ physical abuse upon another, has in turn on him. Again, the use of imagery, by using the boy’s story displays the emotions that the speaker feels. Incapable to “breathe”(line 23) and thinking he wanted “help” (line 24), symbolizes the speaker’s own screams for help, as he deals with the suffocating situation at home.

The last two quatrains could also argue that the speaker has matured, and is recollecting his past memories through the boy. Although he cannot recall the whole tale, he worries that the boy is “still searching below the earth”(line 35). This imagery symbolizes the idea that even though he’s matured, the speaker is still trying to find a place of peace, and genuine happiness. The ”volumes of water” and “stone” (line 37-38) are just mere obstacles, and hardships that he must overcome. Crying his name among “blind fish” (line 39), symbolizes a world that’s at chaos, and not listening to him, just like his parents. The final line reaffirms that what the speaker is yearning for the most is a place of stability and harmony, “home”. Thus the labyrinth of caves is overall a symbolism for the struggles which center around the speaker’s family, and lead him on a pursuit of a true “home”.

existentialism journal questions

first 5   Journal questions:
I disagree about existence being absurd and that the true meaning is impossible. I believe that God put us all here on earth to serve a specific purpose. Whether it is serving as CEO of a billion dollar company, or just being a homeless person on the street, we were all put here to experience life and take our part as children of God. Although not everyone gets to have the equal opportunity at wealth and success, our existence still serves all the more meaningful to our creator. Often we fail to see our purpose in life, and lack to find any actual connotation. However it certainly is not impossible. For some it might happen later than others. Then there are people that find a spiritual calling from God, and choose a path of servitude, like priesthood or joining the convent. That in essence I think is probably the most beautiful and devoted route in life one might take. Most people find their true meaning in life to be their family. Family life although common is nonetheless rewarding and important. Knowing that one has brought new life into the world, and now has the responsibility of crafting a baby into an intelligent individual is one of the most satisfying opportunities one can experience.

I agree that our day to day existence could be filled with anxiety and fear. Children are always worrying what a new school day might bring, what grade they’ll receive, how their games will turn out. Adults are always running up and about at their jobs, trying to put money on the table, having mouths to feed, keeping up a healthy relationship with their spouse or significant other, maintaining the home and physique, worrying about the crumbling economy and unemployment. The elderly have their health to keep them worried, lack of good benefits, health insurance, death! I don’t think a day passes by without us working about a certain aspect in our lives. Even when ones on vacation, there are always thoughts of “did I feed the dog” or “did I lock up the doors”. Our current economic situation has by far added to our day to day worries. Anxiety and fear however are all just a part of life, just like loving and laughing and crying. Some people might experience anxiety and fear more than others. However we live in a society where information, and expression travels faster than light so we as humans are bound to feel anxiety and fear at any given moment.
 
Obtaining a true meaning in life differs in every single person I think. Some people have to reach rock bottom to find some self-worth and emerge with a brand new life purpose or “meaning”. For example some alcoholics or drug addicts have to reach their brink or a serious, almost life threating pitfall, in order to stop the abuse, and emerge with a new state of mind. That collapse is in their case the “nothingness”. Many drug addicts then turn their life around and go on to become motivational speakers, or reborn in their religion. Others, might just lead perfectly average lives and suddenly come across their purpose in life, find it in college, or receive a calling from God. Reaching a state of “nothingness” could possibly also work if a person does great amounts of soul searching, relaxation, and spiritual cleansing. I think if one has the ability to transcend the real world, and enter a new sort of “zen” haven, their path to true meaning might become that much more clearer.

Judging from the amount of people that are either of the Christian or Islam faith, as compared to those that are atheists, it is safe to say that most people do in fact believe in God, and his existence. I am one of them. The questions that modern society might throw at the authenticity and legitimacy of God’s existence don’t faze me. Yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. This is why God created free will. Looking at it from my religious perspective, saying that God doesn’t exist would be like saying that I don’t exist. As a Christian, Catholic, I am a child of God. He is and forever shall be my spiritual father. If one looks at all the miracles that God allows to happen every day, shows proof of how great his power and existence truly is. If God didn’t give people the choice of free will, people wouldn’t have the ability to event question his existence, because the power of questioning and choosing wouldn’t exist. Thus in my opinion, it all comes down to the will and existence of the almighty.

When it comes to political philosophies, religious dogma, and societal beliefs, I believe all are important and do indeed define me. In today’s society you’re either a liberal Democrat, or a conservative Republican. I personally find myself to be a Republican due to their often religious agenda, and “old-school” stance on issues such as abortion and death penalty. I don’t see it being a problem if a person is defined by their political stance on government. Most people don’t mind being represented by a certain political party. It’s what defines them as Americans in our country’s government. However I think it’s wrong if people solely define themselves by means of political parties and get carried away by political propaganda. There’s more to the individual than just their stance on the issues. Society and especially religion also define me. I live by what the Bible tells us Catholics to do, to my best abilities. I take pride in my religion and I’m able to defend it if necessary. I don’t skew far from societal beliefs and expectations. Although some of my viewpoints are more conservative than the way modern society perceives them to be, I still find that “happy medium” between my beliefs and that of today’s society.

“An Echo Sonnet” by Robert Peck

The poem “An Echo Sonnet” by Robert Peck is characterized by two discrete speeches, that of the “Voice” and the “Echo”. While the Speaker’s “Voice” poses direct thoughts, the “Echo” seems to work as the force behind the actual “Voice”. Overall the poem offers multiple uses of literary techniques such as imagery, symbolism, rhetorical question, and metaphor to convey its overall ideas.

The first quatrain consists solely of rhetorical questions. The Voice displays a sense of confusion and hesitation as it contemplates starting life over. The Echo in this quatrain serves as a means of symbolism in that it reemphasizes only the meaningful parts of the statements that the Voice makes. Through this means, the Echo also seems to answer the rhetorical questions being presented. The first question also seems to set the melancholy, and depressing tone of the poem through words such as “emptiness” and “grief”.

The second quatrain incorporates more imagery as the leaf is described. The leaf serves to be a symbol for all of nature in general, which seems to bring the Voice comfort. Still a pessimistic tone is felt through the Voice’s rhetorical contemplation about death being the “enemy”. The Echo in this case seems to reinforce the fact that death is in fact not the enemy. Death actually becomes the metaphor for being an outlet of escape and ease. Therefore the Echo symbolizes the voice of reason in helping the Voice realize that the real enemy is actually is the Voice itself and the negative energy it brings out.

The third quatrain offers a turn in the poem. Peck makes further use of rhetorical questions which become geared towards the idea of giving in to death. The “leap” as suggested by the Echo is a symbol Peck uses to demonstrate a chance one must take into the unknown realm of death. A leap is also a metaphor for the intangible future that awaits us all. Consequently the Echo could be viewed as a symbol of contradiction in that despite the fact that it tempts the Voice towards death, it will still miss the Voice’s existence after its demise. The final couplet however, seems to affirm that the Voice has indeed succumbed to death, at the hand of the influential Echo. Thus the Echo becomes the metaphor for our unconscious that has the power to singlehandedly dictate all of humanity.

sonnet 116

In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, the idea of true love is defended through multiple metaphors, and personification. Shakespeare manages to personify love as being an “ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken” as well as “the star to every wandering bark.” Love also takes on the metaphor of longevity, in the sense that it prevails despite the shortage of time on earth.  Though all the sonnet’s metaphors and literary devices are relatively simple in context, they serve the overall purpose of exposing Shakespeare’s conviction of love in the most genuine yet poetic way.

 By calling love an “ever-fixed mark”, Shakespeare is trying to play upon the idea of love being a constant and dependable instrument. The line “the star to every wandering bark” also corresponds with this idea. Because the star’s “worth is unknown, although his height be taken” love’s true nature might also sometimes be ambiguous. Nevertheless its progress and longevity can be measured in years. Then he establishes that “Love's not Time's fool” though its beauty, “rosy lips” come with its “bending sickle’s compass,” which is the inevitability of diminishing time. Through this metaphor, Shakespeare is trying induce the idea that despite time as a limitation, love prevails till one meets their doom or “sickle”. Overall the metaphors Shakespeare uses in this sonnet, can also be interpreted to be fundamental qualities one hopes to find in love which are quality, dependability, stability, and longevity. Thus the sonnet’s metaphors resonate with its readers personally, yet more deeply.

Sonnet 39 Essay

Theme Analysis: Sonnet 39

No other force has the ability to transport everyone on Earth to different dimensions other than sleep. The process of dreaming gives us the ability to experience the surreal aspects of life, which we are incapable of experiencing here on earth. The Sonnet 39, from Astrophel and Stella by Sir Philip Sidney encapsulates just that. The idea of experiencing love through a supernatural force is what the main character, Astrophel longs for the most. Since only Sleep give him the ability to feel this way and escape reality, Sidney uses the theme of sleep as the prevailing factor over Astrophel’s existence.

Sleep befalls on everyone as night approaches. The darkness is blind and undiscriminating towards its subjects on Earth. Whether it be the aristocracy or the average Joe, we all must face the inevitable slumber. Sidney personifies Sleep as, “The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release, The indifferent judge between the high and low.” With this statement Sidney cleverly portrays sleep to be an unprejudiced entity. Unlike materialistic things like money which separate people into social classes, Sleep represents how we are all equal.  With the theme of sleep, Sidney also gives the sonnet a means of a certain “peacefulness” factor. Not only does it provide people with a sense of equality and harmony in their existence, but it also serves as the main form of tranquility and happiness for most.

The primary theme of the sonnet that Sidney establishes is the idea of using sleep as an outlet to escape loneliness and pain. Sleeping transports the human psyche away from the stresses and agitation of the real world. Sidney creates Sleep to be an extended metaphor for a safe haven in which people can transcend their innermost thoughts. There, they could experience them through s means of a mental fantasy. Sidney writes, “With shield of proof, shield me from the prease  Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw; O make in me those civil wars to cease; I will good tribute pay, if thou do so.” In this case Astrophel asks Sleep to befall on him so that he can escape the sorrow that he feels from his unrequited love for Estella. Sleep has the ability to cure his heartache and pain. Thus sleep is the only form of happiness that he could experience. This is due to the fact that only Sleep offers him the chance to be with Stella, a task otherwise impossible in real life.

The theme of sleep in this sonnet resonated with me on multiple levels. Not only do we all experience sleep on a daily basis, but we’re given the ability to escape reality by means of dreaming. Likewise Astrophel cannot wait for this “phenomenon” to visit and take control of his psyche. Sidney’s entire concept of using Sleep as an escape mechanism, adds to one’s overall appreciation and understanding of Astrophel’s thinking. His feeling of sorrow as a character evokes my pity and sympathy towards him throughout the sonnet. The deal he strikes with Sleep at the end of the sonnet shows that despite it all, requited love is sometimes best manifested in illusory forms.

revised essay bleak house

 

In the novel Bleak House by Charles Dickens, a supporting character’s, Mrs. Jellyby’s greatest passion is also her greatest flaw. Because of the fact that she’s so engulfed and passionate about a “pointless” cause, she loses track of what is really important, and that is the dedication to family. She fails to grasp the concept of the pain that she brings to her family, which reveals her to be the epitome of ignorance. By means of this story, Charles Dickens is trying to play on the fact of the weak “matriarch” figure and comically shows how difficult life would be without a loving “mom”.

                A maternal purpose should lie within the comfort of the home, and not within a distant country. This is the case with Mrs. Jellyby. She dedicates every hour of the day into being the mother of a cause that should come second to most others, which is volunteering. Paradoxically, she bestows herself to saving those abroad in Africa, when she should have been paying attention to and caring for her own family. However she proves herself to be flawed in the fact, that she lacks the proper skills in being both a good Africa activist and mother. In terms of Africa, she lacks the proper voice, and motivation to incite a drastic change. Mrs. Jellyby doesn’t take opportunity of the power she has as mother, to make changes at home, but wastes it on Africa. She fails to show any logical thinking on matters of vital importance. Even the name of her project in Africa named “Borrioboola-Gha venture” seems to raise eyebrows at the question of her morality. Why would an adult mother be so convinced that nothing is more worthwhile than a social issue abroad? Ironically, Mrs. Jellby’s agenda is overall foolish because it does not seem to aid the African peoples at all. This proves her cause to be futile. Mrs. Jellyby fails to grasp the actual problem of the matter which is taking place right under his nose, proving her lack of parenting skills.               

The absence of a strong matriarch runs the entire household amok. When the main character Esther enters the Jellyby home, she finds Mrs. Jellyby’s youngest son stuck in between the railing.  Meanwhile Mrs. Jellyby continues her never-ending letter dictation to her daughter, on how she plans to save Africa by educating its people, and bestow them with the ability to grow coffee. Esther is also marveled at how messy, and cold the Jellyby house is. Mrs. Jellyby fails to feed children and guests with actual “cooked food”. Being a suitable hostess and mother is the least of her worries. Because she is so absorbed in a “useless cause” her house suffers dramatically. Mrs. Jellyby proves to be a failure in homemaking, an ability which is usually one of the main priorities of mothers. The type of lifestyle that she was essentially trying to change in Africa, manifests itself right in her home. However unlike Africa, she lacks “passion” for home. Her neglect takes the biggest toll on her children, who are turning “savage” like some African beasts on both the inside and out. Likewise, her husband seems to be “trapped” like an African bird in its poacher “cage” that his wife has turned his house into.

            In general, Mrs. Jellyby’s younger children fail to develop a close bond that most youngsters have with their mothers. However they are not at fault for this. The cause of the problem is Mrs. Jellyby’s ignorance and selfishness. If a parent fails to reach out to their child from early on in their development, there’s a good possibility that their relationship will be eternally strained. The idea of this occurring however doesn’t seem to phase Mrs. Jellyby. Her absence as a parent causes her to be blind to how her children respond to her; especially her oldest daughter Caddy. Everyday, Mrs. Jellyby requires Caddy to be her “letter writer” as she dictates her plans for Africa. Deep inside, Caddy resents her mother for making her write, and her lack of responsibility. As a result, Caddy has an emotional meltdown, which could be interpreted as a child’s call for help and love, after being “indirectly” mistreated and neglected by a mother. The same applies to Mr. Jellyby. He seems to be almost a nonentity, as he let’s his wife’s passion and solid personality take over his household. He is very secluded, quiet, and standoffish. It seems that the mere fact of his wife’s Africa agenda makes him want to commit suicide.

Most women find motherhood to be their greatest passion in life. Not only does it make them feel fulfilled, but also gives them a sense of purpose in life. However in the novel Bleak House, this is the exact opposite. Mrs. Jellyby devotes her life purpose to a cause that’s a thousand miles away instead of focusing on the one that’s calling her name right within her house. Her lack of responsibility and love towards her children thus shows that she is a flawed character and her title as mother is undeserved.

Hamlet essay

In Act 5 Scene 1 of Hamlet, the grave diggers discuss the sin of suicide, the sustainability of our actions and products, the religious aspect of suicide, as well as make jokes about death. Their back and forth banter serves a meaningful purpose if analyzed thoroughly. Not only do the grave diggers provide an outlet for comedy, but they also serve as a voice of morality and reason throughout the complex plot of the play. Their argument about Ophelia’s burial, comes to question the idea of religion, whether it truly is honest and genuine. Their riddle about the grave-maker being the strongest plays upon the power of potential death that awaits every human being. Together the ideas of suicide, religion, and death make up the overall themes of the novel, which also are all aspects of existentialism.

Shakespeare writes, “Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she willfully seeks her own salvation?”. The gravediggers understood that Ophelia committed suicide. Suicide would normally be punished by means of not giving the victim a proper burial. This was a standard code of ethics and religion. Suicide is a crime against God. No one is in the rightful position to take their own life away other than the almighty; thus it becomes a sin. Because Ophelia sinned, she had no right to be buried in a Christian cemetery. The gravediggers knew this, and were marveled at the fact that just because she was the nobility, Ophelia got a proper burial. In this case, money overpowered religion, which is wrong. The gravedigger’s argument about her suicide shows that religion is unfair and corrupt because it has the ability to be altered by money. Religion in this case it shows to lack firm a strong stance in its establishment. If religion is so easily influenced, it can cause many more believers to lose faith in it. That is where the creation and belief in existentialism can arise. Sadly, the grave-diggers would have never received the same treatment if they were to commit suicide as Ophelia. They clearly say “Do you want to know the truth? If this woman hadn’t been rich, she wouldn’t have been given a Christian burial.” The grave diggers also joke about “ Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter?” The answer to this riddle is of course “A grave-maker.” With this riddle, the gravedigger are implying that no matter what type of person someone might be during their time on earth, it all comes down to death at the end. It is the grave maker that makes something so everlasting, and inescapable, thus they hold the most power.

Later on in the play, Hamlet also rummages through the commentary and wonders who the skulls belonged to. Hamlet says “That skull had a tongue in it once and could sing. That jackass is throwing it around as if it belonged to Cain, who did the first murder! It might be the skull of a politician once capable of talking his way around God, right? And now this idiot is pulling rank on him. .. Or a courtier.” No matter what type of life one leads on earth, whether it is an easy life of privilege or a difficult toil through poverty, death is inevitable. Nothing can be preserved once death comes for us. We were created from “ashes” and “ashes” are what we will eventually become. Hamlet says “Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returned to dust, the dust is earth, of earth we make loam—and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer barrel?” This quote reinforces the idea that despite life on earth is overall meaningless. One’s name and wealth will perish along with the accomplishments. Even a marvelous figure like Alexander the Great is nothing when death comes to take him.

These ideas can then be taken and tied into the overall idea of existentialism. Existentialism is founded on the idea that people are free to make their own choices, and are responsible for their own lives. Thus it is the human being that dictates his own future. This conception eliminates the need for a God and his ability to predetermine the future. This then ties back into the case of revenge and suicide by means of Hamlet’s attack on Claudius, as well as Ophelia killing herself. Hamlet was very much entitled to his and Claudius’s future and legacy. With the statement “To be, or not to be, that is the question”, he is contemplating his life, whether to live it or not. From an existentialist perspective whether he lives or dies is meaningless because everyone is bound to succumb to it in the end. Like a true existentialist he has a chance for revenge, and the ability to take a life of another in an instant. Because Hamlet stalls in his plan shows that he is still in touch with his religious side. However contemplation and religion ironically are not aspects of existentialism, so all in all it doesn’t matter when or how Hamlet commits revenge. Instead it is the thought of having the power to instantaneously end life which matters. The same concept applies with Yorick. Though Yorick was once an admired jester, the only thing that remained of him after death swallowed him up is his skull.  In Ophelia’s case, her autonomous suicide also holds no value even though it is shunned by her religion. Everyone is bound to die at some point or another which is the basic meaning of mortality. Thus the way she carried out her death in actuality shows to have no real purpose. Though the deaths in Hamlet are characterized by tragedy, they are all in fact a part of life, waiting to strike and dominate at any given moment.

literary terms second half

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16 terms

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Grendel Test Question

One of the major themes that appears in Grendel is that of good versus evil. While most would believe that a monster that commits countless murders without any remorse is always the evil force, it might not always be the case. Spanning from Biblical times, Satan has challenged God with free will. In Grendel, Grendel challenges society and eventually Beowulf. Although it might seem that Beowulf is the savior, and terminator of all wickedness from the outside perspective, on the inside he seems to be driven by an evil forces which are lust and greed for fame. Beowulf’s inner motive is inherently evil, which then overpowers Grendel’s inner motive for killing, simply because he’s misunderstood. Thus the real versus evil stereotype becomes the exact opposite of what one might think it to be simply by physical appearance.

Grendel, like the character of Frankenstein is simply misconstrued. Both are shunned from society by being different, and are horrid looking. Like Frankenstein, Grendel seems to be cursed by the creator, for being the epitome of disgust. God indirectly plays a part in Grendel’s creation by giving Grendel’s forefather Cain, free will, and thus the ability to kill. Both Victor and God turn their backs on their monsters. Without any support from society, or justification for why his life is as harsh as it is, Grendel resorts to homicide like Frankenstein. Although Grendel’s actions portray him as a menace, he’s in fact humane and intellectual on the inside. Because his feelings are never compensated or understood, he rebels against the world out of spite.

Although his actions of killing Grendel might seem valiant, and only have the best intentions in mind, selfish glory is what catapults Beowulf to sail to the Danish lands.  The archetypal braggart, Beowulf always seems to find opportunity to boast of his mighty strength and swimming ability in order to prove himself and boost his ego. Choosing to fight Grendel unarmed shows a cocky side of Beowulf. Not only does he put his life on the line, but as well his entire reputation. Overall, his motives greatly come into question as he takes on the challenge of the decade. However his egotistical nature symbolically outweighs the evil that helpless Grendel poses to a corrupt society. Beowulf is a mere product of this medieval society, and thus becomes the antagonist.

The resolution of the novel is characterized by Beowulf killing Grendel. The gruesome murder of Grendel can be characterized as a closure; closure from suffering, closure from corruption, closure from society. Though Beowulf was praised for saving the kingdom of the Danes, he could also be indirectly praised for giving Grendel a piece of mind. No longer was Grendel trapped in an imprudent cycle of the chaotic human society.  He comes to question the world, and if there is any real purpose for creatures like him in it, despite the uncontrolled social cycle of life. However with his sudden death at the hands of Beowulf, Grendel grasps once and for all that he himself cannot alter his fate in the world.

Free-Will Leads to Evil

Evil lives in every corner of the world. Many often question God’s power due to its existence. If God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent, why did he choose to bring evil into the world? The truth of the matter is that God did not directly bring “evil” into the world; instead he gave the world “free will”. Biblically, evil manifests itself in the shape of the devil. The devil was once an angel worthy of God’s respect and love. However it is free-will that God gave to all his creatures that led to the devil’s fall from grace. Free-will catapulted the devil to rise up and challenge God, causing him to be condemned to hell. Taking advantage of God’s free-will is what truly resulted in evil’s creation. This became a lesson for the devil, which in turn became the prime symbol of “evil”.  Thus the evil which spans from free-will is a test that God created for all creatures.

Evil which manifests itself in the form of free-will serves one ultimate purpose for all of humanity. Evil pushes humans to the brink of their limits. It chooses it victims at random.  The strength of people becomes tested as challenges are thrown in their path. The idea of evil befalling on the “good” is the greatest dilemma that arises by those who strongly adhere to the fact that God is omnibenevolent. Evil is God’s medium of testing one’s morale and faith in him. By giving in to the challenges that evil brings, means losing touch with the almighty. Despite any setbacks that it might bring with it, evil occurrences are what lead humanity on a path of learning and enlightenment.  

This same philosophy applies to character of Grendel in Beowulf. Like the devil, Grendel is a symbol of evil in the world. Both characters also have Biblical roots. Grendel is a direct descendant of Cain who through free-will, killed his brother and became the world’s first murderer. Grendel takes advantage of free-will by partaking in guilt-free manslaughter. An act like this is shunned by the eyes of God. Though Grendel is a menace to society, him taking the lives of countless innocent victims serves a common purpose. Like Satan, he seems to enjoy and has no repentance for his crime. His existence poses a threat to the function of society by instilling a fear into the minds of civilians just like Satan and “evil” do to the world. Grendel’s influence on king Hrothgar is the threat of losing his kingdom, and his life. Seeing the daily deaths of his subjects only leads Hrothgar to the inner realization that he might too be next. In this case, an evil power is testing a man’s vulnerability. In terms of Beowulf, the strength of the individual is being tested. The evil that is Grendel, challenges his physical and mental perseverance as he is chooses to fight the monster unarmed. Defeating Grendel only boosts his morale, and reinforces his purpose of being worthy enough to surmount any encountered “evil” or enemy.

Overall supernatural characters like Grendel exist in literature solely to serve as God’s obstacles for the protagonist. Every character, regardless of condition or status must be kept in check by means of an “evil” occurrence that tests their power and self-worth. Their struggle consequently reinforces the fact that they shall forever remain mortals, inferior to God in knowledge and supremacy.

Imperial Adam Paragraph

“This plump gourd severed from his virile root,
She promised on the turf of Paradise
Delicious pulp of the forbidden fruit;
Sly as the snake she loosed her sinuous thighs,”

The supernatural force that is God is everywhere and knows everything. It was in his plans to bring a woman into the world that would be the cause of the original sin. A.D. Hope writes, “Delicious pulp of the forbidden fruit; Sly as the snake she loosed her sinuous thighs.” The motives behind Eve’s creation go further than just providing Adam a companionship. Eve serves as the object made for Adam to fulfill the natural animal behavior which is sex. Most importantly, by having Adam eat the “forbidden fruit” Eve unleashes disobedience aimed at God. Both scenarios have wicked connotations and share the same underlying idea, temptation. Creating Eve was God’s way of unleashing temptation into the world, which continues to test men like Adam throughout life.

AP English Invisible Man Essay

Invisible Man Test

The conclusion that the Invisible Man comes to by the end of the novel is that he accepts the fact that he is invisible, and learns that he will have to take on like regardless of it. His views on society as a result of his experiences are that man is ignorant. His biggest flaw, his naïve nature, is what leads to his downfall, and teaches him how cruel the real world can be. He realizes that despite how society reacts to or treats him, its morale and thinking cannot be changed. He must continue to move on, and live life despite any racist obstacles people set for him.

The Invisible Man was a product of his times. As a young man, he thought by yessing the white man, and trying to earn a status through education, he might be seen worthy. However this was never the case, because in the eyes of the white man, he was just another Negro. In the Brotherhood he was blinded by the fact that for the first time he was part of something greater, the civil rights cause which he cared so much about. His association with the Brotherhood only exploited him by using him as a tool for advertisment. By realizing that the Brotherhood had hidden “racist” motives, the narrator’s entire way of thinking came “crashing down”. He once and for all came face the harsh truth that his grandfather had instilled in him years before.

Because of the fact that humanity had failed and exploited him constantly, his frustration and disappointment in man is justified. The narrator acts as a normal human being, acting out on years of oppression. However, by realizing that man cannot ever change is what causes the Invisible Man to come full circle. By coming to terms of the statu quo of his time, is what gives him the strength to come into the world once again, with at least a neutral outlook on life.