english http://www.bookstove.com/tags/english New posts about english The Wife of Bath http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/The-Wife-of-Bath.350585 For centuries, the fight for sexual superiority has raged on, especially in the text, The Wife of Bath. In that text, the main character, Allison or the Wife of Bath, goes on to present a case of how to “live happily in marriage” through her tale and prologue. Through flamboyant exaggerations, such as ones seen in the fight scene, her prologue and her tale, the wife of bath tries to manipulate her audience into believing women's superiority over men. Though Chaucer may have used these exaggerations to portray the unfairness of women's positions during his time, these exaggerations are clearly too biased to actually be considered as a support for him to be considered a proto-feminist; he actually seems to be quite the opposite. The Wife of Bath always has a great way of defending her actions through her story telling.

Allison is a very clever story teller; she always manages to make her point across, even though she has a few mistakes. For example; she never explained how she tried to abuse Janekin, her fifth husband, like she had her previous husbands, but she did show the abuse he returned to her. He read a book of “wicked wives,” and

“whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyneTo reden on this cursed book al nyght Al sodeynly thre leves have I plight Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke I with my fest so took hym on the cheke.”

She carefully explained how he started this brawl by provoking her and abusing her while she was the “innocent” victim. Throughout the prologue and tale, she shows how women are superior by explaining her techniques of “controlling” her previous husbands when in actuality she was receiving the same kind of abuse from Janekin. The thing that makes her story so effective for passive listeners is that she never actually says what she did wrong. This way, a lot of things are overlooked, and her story builds up to promote some sense of sympathy from the listener such as not mentioning she ripped three pages from Janekin's book until she got to the subject itself. She also knows her tale is for entertainment, so she keeps a jolly tone with colloquial language, such as her constant allusions to sex and joy. She also tends to make rash generalizations in appointing herself as the universal wife who simply “tells it as it is,” and since she is the only wife among the pilgrims, she has a bit of an advantage since none of the other pilgrims would know that point of view.

“In th'olde dayes of the Kyng Arthour, Of which that Britons speken greet honour… Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place, And yaf hym to the queene al at hir wille.”

She even uses King Arthur to justify her single point; if women have sovereignty

in a relationship, then the results can only be positive for everyone. From that quote it is obvious that men are the troublemakers, while women, the queen in this case, are the forgiving angels, teaching the men how to repent and live happily.

“Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan? How manye myghte she have in mariage?”

Her constant use of rhetorical devices also tends to add strength to her argument, such as the Hypophora above used to justify her five marriages, especially with the repetitions of sovereign women leading to men's happiness. Allison also manipulates the pace of narration, thus making the audience go through what she had to go through; she sped up the pace as she got closer to the climax in the fight scene, and then she began a syllabic repetition thus emphasizing her tearing out the pages from Janekin's book. Although she doesn't wander away from the topic in the fight scene, throughout most of the play, she tends to digress, especially in her tale. These digressions show a deeper insight into how the Wife of Bath thinks, basically an eye for an eye since most of her digressions are just attacks on either men or the pilgrims who interrupt her, an example being how friars killed all of the fairies.

Allison tends to generalize men in an exaggerated negative manner. In the fight scene, she also shows men as wild and impulsive when she said,” And he up-stirte as dootha wood leoun.” Allison uses a dramatic tone with some exaggerations to enforce her points of men and their impulsiveness. Allison's tale also follows the lines of the passage in the fact that the knight was impulsive enough to rape the innocent girl. Allison was clearly degrading Janekin as nothing more than an animal, and then went on to explain how “with his fest he smoot me on the heed That in the floor I lay, as I were deed.” She shows how strong and wild men are, but then goes on to insult men by saying how cowardly they are-“ And whan he saugh how stille that I lay, He was agast, and wolde han fled his way.” Her tale goes on to follow in the footsteps of this passage; the knight also tries to run away from his promise to the old lady. Allison tends to tell things men do wrong, then says her wrongs in order to be seen as acceptable for only following the “eye for an eye” motto. In both her prologue and tale, both the men commit some sort of treason against their wives, and in the end both men end up living “happily ever after” due to their wives loyalty and mercy. Allison keeps sure to follow a set order of things in her story. She always has the couples with a dominant wife as a successful one, such as King Arthur and his queen, and while showing the female as the stronger, dominant, compassionate and forgiving figure:

“By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed… But that the queene and othere ladyes mo Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place, And yaf hym to the queene al at hir wille”

Basically, the Wife of Bath just wants to say that men are creatures that need to be taken care of in order to be happy, but also implies that they're only positive quality is the ability to please women in bed; that being the man's wife alone:

“I have the power durynge al my lyf Upon his propre body, and noght he. Right thus the Apostel tolde it unto me, And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.”

Allison only wants sex from a man, nothing else since the times didn't have anything else to offer.

“How pitously a-nyght I made hem swynke… They had me yeven hir gold and hir tresoor.”

She demands loyalty and respect from men, as seen in how she withheld sex for money in the quote above with the men “swynke-ing,” but due to the times, those were rare privileges. Knowing this, she always portrays a happy ending for the men who grant women these privileges, such as the knight, Janekin, and her first three husbands of whom we hear were happy:

“I governed hem so wel after my lawe, That ech of hem ful blisful was, and fawe.”

Allison's narrative order tends to be repetitive, but reveals much about her character.

The Wife of Bath tends to have the most peculiar style of story telling among the pilgrims and through these idiosyncrasies, she is able to persuade people at little a slight amount. She tends to draw on sympathy first, such as “For, lordynges, sith I twelf yeer was of age,” The Wife of Bath then proceeds to draw on faulty logic, supported by misinterpreted passages of the bible. An example of a misinterpreted bible statement is when she misinterpreted what Jesus said about a marriage and the Solomon the wise king story, along with what Peter said in Corinthians. She twisted the meanings of the stories to fit her point of view and tried to impose that view onto the audience. With her view being imposed onto the audience, she hoped for some sympathy as she tried to justify herself, as when she was paralleling herself with Solomon. Her main point is to show how women are better than men, and she even went on to say in line 145, “Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man.” The Wife of Bath then proceeds to tell a bad action men perform, then how she responds to the action with a wrong action, and finally how she was superior in the end of the situation. Her first example was with her first husband, when he began asking questions about her constant absence, to which she wittingly responded with a phrase much like this:

“You're out at your friend's wife's house a lot, but if I go to see my friend's husband you automatically assume I am cheating? How do I know you're not cheating?”

Allison manages to always keep a dramatic and a serious mood when she has drama in the stories, since she is trying to entertain and tell a story at the same time. She tries to keep the audience interested, but at the same time never stops talking. The passage seems to parallel the tale, keeping the tone, diction, and moods similar but changing the characters and setting only. The way she presents events in the story are also very similar to the tale; the man starts by doing something incredibly wrong, then his wife does something in protest to his action, after a few exchanges the husband asks for forgiveness and in the end they live happily ever after.

Allison may seem to be a hysterical figure to Chaucer's audience, because many Allison was a common name among widows. She also seems to fit right into a hysterical figure with her constant talking and jolly attitude, along with the constant exaggerations which make her seem like a funny character because of her absurd arguments and misinterpretations of the biblical texts. Allison tends to enforce her points through her narrative methods, but her position in the story seems to seem odd to the male audience. Chaucer could have intended to portray the unfairness towards women during his time period, but the Wife of Bath's style seems to be crude and too exaggerated to fit the part throughout most of her narrations. The Wife of Bath uses many different techniques to make her points shine, but to the audience of Chaucer's day, her points and repetitions must have seemed hilarious.

]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:03:59 PST On Edgar Allen Poe's "ms. Found in a Bottle" http://www.bookstove.com/Poetry/On-Edgar-Allen-Poes-ms-Found-in-a-Bottle.347719     In “MS. Found in a Bottle,” by Edgar Allan Poe, an unnamed narrator writes his tale; he sails on a ship that gets hit by a hurricane, throwing all but him and a Swede overboard. For five days they endure the hurricane until the sun disappears and “eternal night” surrounds the two. Another ship, glowing red, appears, and a huge wave sweeps away the Swede and tosses the narrator on board, where an aged and feeble crew seems unable to see or hear him. With them he stays until the ship meets a whirlpool and sinks into the darkness, presumably ending the narrator’s life. Throughout the story, the narrator states and restates his clinical mind’s lack of imagination. Poe underlines this levelheadedness to give the reader confidence in the words of the narrator. This enables Poe to incorporate supernatural images subtly. The purposeful deaths of the crew and unwilling death of a confused narrator then catch the reader off guard. A matter-of-fact portrayal and gradual incorporation of the bizarre brings an eerie realism to the narrator’s hellish end.
    “MS. Found in a Bottle” opens with the narrater explaining that he has no sense of imagination, no appreciation for superstition, logic overwhelming fantasy. “Indeed, a strong relish for physical philosophy has, I fear, tinctured my mind with a very common error of this age --I mean the habit of referring occurrences, even the least susceptible of such reference, to the principles of that science. Upon the whole, no person could be less liable than myself to be led away from the severe precincts of truth by the ignes fatui of superstition.” Eloquence and imagination mean nothing to this man but a waste of time. Well-off by birth yet emotionally and physically distant from his family and from his country, he feels no particular attachment for these or anything else. His family’s great wealth afforded him, however, a good education. Therefore, logic, rather than love, remains the dominating force behind all of the narrator’s actions.
    His mind is entirely oriented to the analytical. Constantly he thinks and speaks scientifically. “...we are whirling dizzily, in immense concentric circles, round and round the borders of a gigantic amphitheatre, the summit of whose walls is lost in the darkness and the distance.” Even while about to die, the narrator speaks with superiority. Poe’s success in creating a startling tale stem from his unequaled aptitude at assisting the reader in suspension of disbelief. Prefacing the story with such descriptions does just this; bringing an air of technicality through to the end adds a level of plausibility to the story.
    Eeriness begins with a depiction of abnormalities in the sky. “... I observed a very singular, isolated cloud, to the N.W. It... spread all at once to the eastward and westward, girting in the horizon with a narrow strip of vapor, and looking like a long line of low beach. My notice was soon afterwards attracted by the dusky-red appearance of the moon, and the peculiar character of the sea.” Learning that this threat comes from a hurricane exemplifies the narrator’s pragmatism in fearing only what is logically worthy of fear.  Such descriptions tie the other-worldly hell the narrator eventually encounters to reality. The creepy yet scientific images become increasingly phantasmagoric, and Poe seamlessly glides the reader from a world of order into an universe of darkness and ghouls; “... their eyes have an eager and uneasy meaning; and when their fingers fall athwart my path in the wild glare of the battle-lanterns, I feel as I have never felt before... I have been all my life a dealer in antiquities... until my very soul has become a ruin.” As the story goes on, an inability to comprehend his surroundings pulls the narrator into another side of himself, and he brings the reader with him to a fearful but quiet acceptance. Whether it is to death or to an eternity of silence, never being noticed by these creatures with muted voices, doom is certain.
    Practical and frigid, the narrator is accustomed to a mundane world of rules. The icy, uninhabited southern pole represents an escape. He falls in line with the frail, tentative, crew, waiting anxiously for the ruin he senses coming upon them, or rather the ruin they are speeding to find. “It is evident that we are hurrying onwards to some exciting knowledge --some never-to-be-imparted secret, whose attainment is destruction.” Although he fails to understand where or why the ship is going, he knows “destruction” is the outcome. However, he feels neither fearful nor distressed. “The crew pace the deck with unquiet and tremulous step; but there is upon their countenances an expression more of the eagerness of hope than of the apathy of despair.” Mirroring the crew, he anticipates the end with exhilaration. When the ice disappears and the ship begins to spin, falling into darkness, the ocean spirals down into death, into nothingness. He is shaken only slightly, even in the last words he writes, and his and and the crew’s calmness about their eminent doom displays a grotesque masochism, an unnervingly enticing suicidal nature.
    Poe’s use of language and character gently persuades the reader, turning his daunting abyss from surreal into conceivable. The transition from normality to another world is gradual and methodic, creating a realistic ending that leaves the reader in shock. “But little time will be left me to ponder upon my destiny --the circles rapidly grow small --we are plunging madly within the grasp of the whirlpool --and amid a roaring, and bellowing, and thundering of ocean and of tempest, the ship is quivering, oh God! and --going down.” After such rational and systematic language throughout the story, Poe’s sudden transition from the calm of attempting to explain the strange occurrences into frenzied ranting is startling. The reader is left with the hauntingly realistic image of a hell on earth.

]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:30:06 PST Like Father, Like Son: a Look at the Relationship Between Huck and Jim http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/Like-Father-Like-Son-a-Look-at-the-Relationship-Between-Huck-and-Jim.338963 In Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn," the relationship between protagonists, Huck and Jim, may be classified in many different ways. The correlation between the adolescent, premature boy and the runaway slave is a brotherly, paternal, and racially tolerant bond. Huck and Jim's relationship exhibits brotherly qualities in the way and the extent to which they care and look out for each other. The boy and man's relationship exhibits father-son qualities in the way that Jim, although sometimes acting like just another one of Huck's immature friends, teaches Huck about life just as a father would teach his son. The trouble-making duo's affiliation exhibits racially tolerant qualities in the way that the two reverse the common social ladder of society and completely overlook the master-slave relationship.

The bond between Huck and Jim displays fraternal elements. The component of brotherly protection and care shows itself when Huck defends Jim from the men on the raft by telling them that no black men are with him.

"'Is your man white or black?' I didn't answer up prompt. I tried to, but the words wouldn't come. I tried for a second or two to brace up and out with it, but I warn't man enough--hadn't the spunk of a rabbit. I see I was weakening; so I just give up trying, and up and says: "He"s white'" (Twain 89).

The magnificent level of trust within a fraternal connection is reflected in Huck and Jim's relationship when Huck assures his companion that he will not tell anyone about Jim running away. "Well, I did. I said I wouldn't, and I'll stick to it. Honest injun, I will" (43). The repetition of the promise that Huck will not tell anyone and keep Jim's secret, further emphasizes the trust between the two and the genuineness of their brother-like relationship.

The anti-institutional boy and the runaway slave's affiliation exhibit some father-son features. The quality of eternal love present in a paternal relationship comes through when Jim describes his feelings when Huck was lost out in the river. "When I got all wore out with work, en wid de callin' for you, en went to sleep, my heart wuz mos' broke bekase you wuz los', en I didn't k'yer no' mo' what become er me en da raf'" (85). Jim uses a common image of a "broken heart" to describe the emotional tear he felt throughout this confusion. The image of the "broken heart" is a powerful one and the love behind it could only be expressed in a paternalistic correlation. The protection and safety sought out by fathers for their sons is a magnificent part of any fatherly relationship. Jim mocks this struggle to keep Huck safe when the two come across a dead body in the floating house. Jim tries to protect Huck from the sight of the body, fearing Huck's emotional and psychological disposition just like a real father. "It's a dead man. Yes, indeedy; naked, too. He's ben shot in de back. I reck'n he's ben dead two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan' look at his face--it's too gashly" (50). These elements of a paternal relationship are present and shown within the relationship of Huck and Jim.

The interracial connection between Huck and Jim is nothing like that of the time, as both Huck and Jim are tolerant toward each other at the least. The reverse of societal rolls as master and slave reverses when Huck "humbles himself" to Jim. At this time in history, a white male no matter how old would never feel this way towards a black person. Huck essentially states that he cares about Jim no matter what color his skin is. "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't every sorry for it afterward neither" (86). Also within the same passage, Huck mentally apologizes to Jim and feels sorry for the emotional stress Huck put over Jim. "I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd "a" knowed it would make him feel that way" (86). Huck realizes that Jim was very scared and detached over Huck' trick; Huck is sorry for the grief and states that he would have never done it if he knew Jim would feel this way. Huck's simple, guilt-stricken thoughts toward Jim reflect the tolerance the two show toward each other's skin color. The generalization and common ethics of society do not influence the way Huck and Jim feel about each other.

Different types of relationships, fraternal, paternal, and tolerant, show through in the close bond between Huck and Jim. Many may argue that the relationships between Huck and Jim go only as far as that of two traveling companions escaping to the same place and nothing deeper. However, Jim graciously fills the absence of a true friend and an authoritative, paternal figure throughout Huck's life and the runaway slave is perfect for the missing characters. Jim, lacking a brother and a trusted friend in his life, unites well with Huck because the two desperately need each other. Their relationships are mutual; the two men give each other exactly what the other needs most.

]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:44:56 PST Lord of the Flies: A Quick Summary http://www.bookstove.com/Book-Talk/Lord-of-the-Flies-A-Quick-Summary.335347 Chapter 1

In the middle of a war, a transport plane carrying a group of English boys from Britain was shot down over the ocean and it crashed in thick jungle on a deserted island. Scattered by the wreck, the surviving boys lost each other and cannot find the pilot. The story starts with Ralph who meets with a chubby boy named Piggy. Ralph and Piggy look around the beach, wondering what has become of the other boys from the plane. They discover a large cream colored conch shell, which Piggy realizes could be used as a kind of fake trumpet. He convinces Ralph to blow through the shell to find the other boys. The boys were summoned by the blast of sound from the shell and they staggered onto the beach. The oldest among them are around twelve and the youngest are around six. Then a choir led by Jack shows up and all the assembled boys decide to elect a leader or Chief. Ralph is elected chief but with serious opposition from Jack and in order to satisfy Jack, Ralph appoints Jack and his choirboys as the hunters of the "tribe." He then takes Simon, and Jack to explore the island. They find a mountain and explored the land and they return to the beach.

Chapter 2

Ralph returns and tells everyone that the island has no adults that all have to learn to live together. They also agreed on meetings whenever the couch is blown and that, at meetings, the conch shell would be used to determine who has the right to speak. The boy holds the conch shell will speak, and the others will listen silently until they receive the shell in their turn. Even Jack agrees with this idea. Then one of the little kids claims that he saw a "beastie" on the island, which puts fear and scares everyone. Ralph tells the group to build a large signal fire on top of the mountain on the island so that any passing ships might see the fire and know that someone is on the island. Piggy tries to reason with the group about survival but they all ignored him.

Chapter 3

Jack follows and tries to kill a pig but he fails. He returns and finds that Ralph is busy with building the hut with Simon. Ralph is annoyed that boys are unwilling to work on the huts and Jack promises Ralph that they will have better luck with the pig next time. Ralph implies that Jack and the hunters are using their hunting duties as an excuse to avoid the real work. Jack responds to Ralph's complaints by commenting that the boys want meat. Jack and Ralph continue to bicker and grow increasingly hostile toward each other. Simon goes off by himself and finds a place where he can peacefully stay.

Chapter 4

The little kids now called "Littluns" plays all day long and at night has frightful experiences. Ralph is worried about this. The large amounts of fruit that they eat cause them to be sick in the stomach and get diarrhea. Roger and Maurice torture little kids by destroying their sand castles. Jack who is obsessed with catching a pig goes off with his hunters to get a pig. While they were gone, Piggy and Ralph spots a ships that passes by and finds that while the boys were out for the hunt, the fire on the mountain went out ending with the ship passing by without their rescue. Ralph is angry but the boys brought the pig back from the hunt and roasted it and gave it to everyone. Jack is now resenting Ralph and his leadership.

Chapter 5

Ralph goes to the beach and calls a meeting in order to bring the boys into line. Ralph tells them about their failure in duty and that they should do their duty. Ralph also tries to tell the young boys that there is no beast and that they should not be afraid but it failed. The little ones say that the beast hides at day and at night come out of the ocean to haunt the kids and that these kids are in danger. Suddenly, Jack proclaims that if there is a beast then he and his hunters will hunt it down and kill it. Then the group breaks away while Ralph tells Piggy and Simon that he might cease this leadership but they tell Ralph that he need to be leader or Jack might go on a rampage.

Chapter 6

In the darkness, military planes fight in the air above the island but the boys were sleeping so they miss it and they also miss when a parachute lands with a dead person onto the island. When Sam and Eric woke up, in the flickering firelight, they see the twisted form of the dead parachutist and mistake the shadowy image for the figure of the dreaded beast. They rush back to the camp, wake Ralph, and tell him what they have seen. Ralph immediately calls for a meeting, at which the twins reiterate their claim that a monster assaulted them. They look for the monster and when they get to the place where they did not explore the island, the boys start to play around so Ralph gets angry with them.

Chapter 7

As the boys eat, Ralph look at the sea without hope but Simon reassures him that he will get home safe. The boys go boar hunting as they chase the beast and Ralph gets excited when he get a "snot" at the boar's snout with his spear. The group frenzied with the hunt, reenacts the hunt with a boy named Robert as the pig and he gets almost killed before the boys realize what they are doing. Ralph sends Simon back to Piggy to tell him that the group will be back after dark. The group climbs to the mountain and Jack goes to the summit while Ralph and Roger wait at the mountain. Jack tells Ralph that he saw the beast and Ralph also checks it out and sees a beast too so they go to warn the group.

Chapter 8

The next morning, they call a meeting and Jack tells everyone that there is really a beast. He also goes to tell everyone that Ralph is a coward and a scared loser and he tries to vote him out of power and be the new chief but no one cares to remove Ralph. Then Jack goes off with his own followers. The boys wanted the fire back so Piggy suggests building a fire on the beach and they build one. At night, many boys go off to join Jack and Piggy tells Ralph that it is good that the deserters left. Then Jack declares himself the chief of his tribe and they hunt a pig and impale its head on a stick. Then they raid Ralph's tribe and steals fire while Jack invites them to come to his tribe and eat the feast and join them. Meanwhile, Simon sees the head on the stick and feels as it is talking to him so he faints.

Chapter 9

Simon then comes upon the dead body of the parachutist and he sees how the boys got mistaken about the beast so he takes the parachute to the feast by jack to tell them about it. At the feast, the boys eat and have fun and Jack invites Ralph's followers to join his tribe and many do even though Ralph tries to stop them. Ralph also tells them that in the storm, where will his tribe stay and jack ignore him. As the boys are dancing and reenacting the pig hunt, Simon comes to the party with the parachute but the boys did not see him but sees his shadow and thinks he is the beast and kills him. Then the wind blows the parachutist's body unto the beach and they run off scared.

Chapter 10

The next day, Ralph is feeling guilty over the death of Simon while Piggy claims it as a small accident. Many of Ralph's followers joined Jack's tribe and now Ralph and Piggy are almost alone. Jack made his base at Castle Rock and he is the true ruler. He commands his tribe to be on the guard against the beast since it can assume anyone's shape (they believe Simon is the Beast) and since it is not truly dead. He also tells roger and Maurice to go to Ralph's camp and steal the fire. Jack's hunters steal the fire and Piggy glasses and beats Ralph and his tribe.

Chapter 11

The boys at Ralph's tribe try to light the fire but fails. So they go to Jack's tribe where the encounter Jack coming back from the hunt with a pig. Jack tells Ralph to leave but Ralph tries to reason with him but ends in failure. They fight. Jack them orders the twins Sam and Eric to be ties up, leading Ralph into rage causing another fight. Piggy tried to reason with them but they continued fighting. Roger pushed a boulder at them and Ralph doges them but it breaks the couch and knocks Piggy off the mountainside into the rocks (he dies). Ralph runs into the jungle as Jack and others in the tribe attacks him. Sam and Eric started to get tortured as they were forced to join Jack and his tribe.

Chapter 12

Ralph hides in the jungle and then he goes back to jack's camp. The twins, who were the guards, see Ralph and gives him food but doesn't join up with him. They tell him that Jack is going to send the whole tribe after him tomorrow. Ralph hides in a jungle thicket. The boys try to get through but the thicket was too dense so jack sets it on fire. Ralph come out and fights his way past jack and his hunters. He runs and at last collapses on the beach after frantically trying to find a hiding place. Ralph look up and sees a navy officer standing there. The officer tells him that he saw the smoke and came to check the island out. Them Jack and his boys arrive and Ralph tells the officer everything that had happened and he was amazed how civilized boys turned into nothing more than barbaric savages. They get saved.

]]> Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:26:29 PST Macbeth http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/Macbeth.317149 Definitions

Theme: Essential ideas to the book, or a unifying idea

Motif: A motif is a structure or literary device used to keep the plot moving, or inform readers of something

Symbol: A symbol is a real-life, concrete version of an abstract idea

Themes: Unchecked ambition: Macbeth starts out as a good fellow, but once the witches prophesy he will be king and his wife starts telling him Macbeth becomes deluded, and once he is king he has no legal system to stop him committing more crimes ; Absolute power corrupts absolutely: Macbeth commits a heinous crime to become king, but once he is in that position he commits many more terrible acts that add to his conscience, he runs Macduff out of the country and kills his family so that Macduff cannot speak or act against him, he kills his once close friend Banquo and tries to kill Banquo’s son so that Macbeth’s line will rule and not Banquo’s.

Motifs: Hallucinations: Macbeth’s hallucinations show the readers that he is not cut out to be a murderer and that he is slowly losing his sanity, they also reveal things that could not be revealed otherwise; Violence, Macbeth is one of the most violent plays (books for that matter, too) that I have read, Macbeth kills everyone, women and children and friends and family.

Symbols: The environment: when Macbeth does something bad storms brew, and when Hecate and the witches are around the weather acts up too, Duncan’s star horses ate each other and attacked their handlers.; Guilt and Blood: the blood symbolizes their guilt, with Lady Macbeth constantly washing her hands and Macbeth seeing bloody things.

Connecting Theme, Motif, and Symbol

Theme: Absolute Power

Motif: Violence

Symbol: Guilt/Blood

Relation between the three:

These all relate to each other because they all cause each other. When Macbeth becomes king he kills more and more thus: absolute power à violence, but the more Lady Macbeth and Macbeth kill the guiltier they get and the more insane and blood-ridden their lives become, leading to Absolute Power à Violence à Blood (Insanity and Guilt).

Motif exemplifying the theme and symbol:

As stated earlier in the relation section they are all interconnected. Violence leads to absolute power at the beginning and starts the whole cycle it is also this violence that creates Lady Macbeth syndrome. So, basically it all stems from this violence.

]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:36:00 PST Frankenstein http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/Frankenstein.304837 It is for me extremely fascinating how the novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley was published for the first time in 1818 in London, and it works with some issues that are still controversial in today's society. In the story, the scientist Victor Frankenstein discovers the secret of life and creates a living monster out of dead human pieces. The idea that a mortal human being could “play God” as some could say, and be successful in creating human life, at least in a physical or genetic level, is not only controversial, but also very dangerous. Even so, some scientists today seem to be perhaps a little too interested in the topic. I found a BBC News (world edition) article on the Internet named “Scientists call for life creation debate”2 that revealed the intention of a group of scientist to make an experiment that may result in the creation of human life.

The experiment basically consists in “trying to synthesize an artificial bacterium in the lab - for scientists to create life from non-living chemicals”. The scientists implicated in the experiment agreed that they would not proceed to start with this experiment until a publicly open debate about the moral and ethical side of the issue is discussed, and also until all the consequences that the same could bring to the whole world are taking into account and consideration; as said by Dr Craig Venter, the founder of Tigr and now head of the Celera Genomics Corporation: "We are not going to carry out this experiment until there has been a broader debate on the issue." But when interviewed, he also admitted the following to the BBC News Channel: "Will we eventually get to a molecular definition of life? I hope that will happen, yes,”

The connection between these two works of literature and writing is very transparent. They are both at the same time proof and an example of that curiosity humans have demonstrated to have throughout history. One might call it a thirst for knowledge. Trying to discover the unknown. Looking for the explanation of why do we exist, or more exactly how do we exist. We have come up with different believes through the years regarding our creation, such as the Big Bang, and all the different religious believes as well. But still, we don't yet know what exactly is it that gives us life. What is it that makes our organism function? What makes us think and have feelings? Some call it spirit, and others call it soul. But no matter what you call it, and regardless of religions or believes, it exists. It's in you, it's in me, and it's nature. It's part of the world, and for me that all that there is to it. But for others, well I guess humanity will have to just wait and see. See what experiments like this one leads science to. See where books like “Frankenstein” leads literature to. See where they both lead cultures and humanity to. And until then just keep thinking, writing, discovering and living.

]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:38:08 PST The Bible as a Classic http://www.bookstove.com/Book-Talk/The-Bible-as-a-Classic.219001 What volume of classical English literature remains the world's all-time, best selling book? Which book do experts acknowledge to be the most widely distributed book in history, and regard the same volume to be the most widely read book in history? (World Book Encyclopedia, volume 2, 1989 edition, page 279, 2000 edition.)

Which book compares more than favourably with the ilk of Shakespeare and Milton, regarded by experts as two of the world's greatest poets. Yes, it is the Bible!

Although it has lost much of its importance in a secular post-modern world, it remains "the most influential book in history." (World Book Encyclopedia, volume 2, p 219, 1989 edition.) It is said that, "The Bible in Latin shaped the thought and life of western people for a 1,000 years." (Encyclopedia Britannica Macropedia, volume two, 1991 edition, p 756,1 15th edition.)

Appraising Scripture purely from a literary viewpoint, it is one of the world's finest examples of excellence in fine literature. World Book Encyclopedia comments that, "Scholars value the books of the Bible not only as important religious writings but also as great literary works." (World Book Encyclopedia, volume two, p 279, 2000 edition.)

What can account for the universal appeal and popularity of the Scripture that its influence should extend over barriers of race, culture, and language? The answer must be due, in part, to its timeless nature. The Word of God offers answers to life's greatest questions, questions that have plagued humanity for 1,000s of years. Questions like where do we come from? What is the meaning of life? Why does evil exist? How will the world end?

Within the Bible is a rich variety of genres of literature that includes history, biography, narrative, hymns, riddles, essays, fiction, law, salty wise sayings, letters, philosophy, proverbs, prophecy, parables, poetry, prayers, stories, and some science.

The authors were sages, fishermen, shepherds, prophets, priests, kings, and poets. They display a wide diversity of literary talents, expressing some of the loftiest thoughts and sentiments ever penned. They display a virtuosity, a brilliance, and breadth of mind rarely equalled. The poetry and prose of Scripture contain some beautiful, grand, and majestic thoughts that have never been excelled.

The King James Version, (1611) was largely the craftsmanship of William Tyndale, who was a master wordsmith of the English language. It is a masterpiece of English prose with an old world beauty, charm, and grace. It is said to be "one of the worlds great treasures of the English language." (World Book Encyclopedia, volume two, p 286, 1989 edition.)

Although the idiom of the King James Version is archaic and dated, re-examined in the newer translations it never need be difficult or incomprehensible. In the newer versions like the New International Version, we find it a literary treasure trove.

The Bible contains the wisdom of the ages, yet it is not hoary with age. Although it is a spiritual book that must be spiritually discerned, it will unfold its treasures to all who apply themselves to it with education and application.

The Scriptures are more than a relic of antiquity; more than a repository of the history of man; more than a source of delightful human-interest stories; and more than a religious manuscript.

The Bible is a source of delightful literature that has educated, enthused, and enlightened generations. Men of literature, historians, scientists, philosophers, scholars, archeologists, thespians, atheists, and skeptics have read its pages with profit.

'Literary critics have praised it for its beautiful poetry and stirring calls for faith.' World Book Encyclopedia, volume two, p 239, 2000 edition.

What has the mighty cleaver of truth achieved in its 3,500 year history?

No one could deny that the Holy Bible has had an imponderable moral, legal, and spiritual power throughout its history. The influence of the Ten Commandments permeates the common law of England and other English nations.

The Bible, through the vivifying influence of the Holy Spirit and holy men of God; men like John Wesley and George Whitefield who helped redeem 17th century England from the deleterious effects of the Gin era, and the Industrial Revolution. Historians readily admit that these forces could have spawned another bloody revolution for England, just as France experienced in the opening of the eighteenth century. The Bible's influence led to the freeing of the slaves through men like William Wilberforce in 18th century England, and Abraham Lincoln in 19th century America.

Scripture has been a preserver of society, law, freedom, liberty, justice, and the equality of man. It has inspired a countless quantity and quality of high literature, ennobling music, and fine arts.

It has inspired millions of lives with faith, hope and love in some of life's darkest hours. It has engendered countless good deeds which has ennobled the human race. It has helped redeem millions of lost, hopeless, and soul blighted lives. It has provided the life purpose and life direction that a ruined humanity lost in Eden.

John Wycliffe, who in the late 14th century rendered the Bible into the vernacular, made it available to the peoples of Europe. The Bible in their language made the English the most literate people in Europe. From the 16th century onward, it fostered reading habits and reflection. Its study led to freedoms of thought, interpretation, and study that are indispensable to democratic freedom.

With the resurgence of the Christian faith in formerly strong Communist lands like Russia in 1989, and later in China, there is a new emphasis on the Bible. There has been a resurgence of Christian faith in reaction to the spiritual poverty of soul induced by a state enforced religion of atheism. India, with its millions of gods is craving the good news of the Bible.

What can account for the rising interest in the New Age movement and angels? Mankind has lost his spirituality, which only God and the Bible can restore. Augustine, the fifth century Bishop of Hippo, wrote "Thou hast created us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they repose in Thee." This original thinker also wrote that man has a "God shaped hole" that only God can satisfy. The Bible can help you fill that void.

America's most prolific female religious author wrote that, “As a means of intellectual training, the Bible is more effective than any other book. No other study can impact such mental power…The mind thus brought into contact with the Infinite cannot but expand and strengthen.” (Education, Ellen G White, 1901, p 124.)

In its pages we may soar on eagles wings to the eternal heights, for God's ways are higher than mans ways, and God's thoughts are higher than mans thoughts: even as high as the heavens are above the earth. See Isaiah 55:8-9.

“As an educator, the Holy Scriptures are without a rival. The Bible is the most ancient and the most comprehensive history that men possess. It came fresh from the Fountain of eternal truth; and that throughout the ages a divine hand has preserved its purity…in the Word of God the mind finds subjects for the deepest thought, the loftiest aspirations. Here we may…listen to the voice of the eternal.” (Education, Ellen G White, 1901, p 263.)

In the Bible, there are rich fields of thought to inspire the mind, stimulate the intellect, and quicken the faculties. It has conveyed a wealth of reading pleasure and enlightenment.

It is not some relic of antiquity, or a dry dusty tome. Those who search its sacred pages as for hid treasures, find it of more worth than all the world's silver and gold. It is most interesting to intellects trained in the study of it. There is spiritual power in feeding upon the word.

In its pages, we read of a God of love who has an infinite pity for those who need Him most. He yearns over mankind as the lover of their souls. Christ left a paradise of glory to win back the pearl of great price, the salvation of a ruined world. He gave His all to win back a planet locked in rebellion against the legitimate government of heaven.

The Christian is advised, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15. The truth of God lies not always on the surface, we need to be earnest in the study of it, it not enough to read the Scriptures.

Read the sensuous love poetry of the Song of Solomon, or discover the beauty and comfort of the 23rd psalm. You can read the inspiring story of Joseph in Genesis, or the beauty and majesty of Isaiah, the gospel prophet's vivid page. Open the book that elevates the mind to the eternal and to the divine.

The Bible illumines the pathway to the Fathers glorious kingdom. The psalmist says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps 119:105. Jesus said "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." Mt 4.4.

There was little time for formal education for Abraham Lincoln, textbooks were scarce; but with a thirst for knowledge, he read from his first textbook, the Bible; and from it, he produced a learning that not only changed his nations life, and affected the thinking of his day. If the Bible can do this for all them, what can it do for you?

I commend to you dear reader Holy Writ, for Jesus says, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Jn 5:39. If we would know Jesus, we must know that old black Book. It is chart and compass to the travelling pilgrim who would walk at last into the city of lights beyond the stars and spend an eternity with Him in paradise. It is an unerring guide that cannot fail.

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:57:47 PST Analysis of the Pupil by Henry James http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/Analysis-of-the-Pupil-by-Henry-James.204069 In the passage from “the Pupil” by Henry James, the author depicts the 3 characters and their relationships toward each other in varying lights. Pemberton, Morgan Moreen and Mrs. Moreen is introduced here through dialogue and interaction with each other and the story uses variation of tone and the unique point of view from Pemberton to show his uncertainties and also to show the characteristics of the relationships. The use of detail also helps convene an image of how Mrs. Moreen looks like and how Morgan is.

Pemberton is being introduced here as Mrs. Moreen is here explaining to him everything he needed to know to tutor Morgan, everything except his salary. This in itself seems a bit what would be not normal, as seen by Pemberton's nervousness and hesitation. From the reference to Nice, we can know that Pemberton is an Oxford graduate who is a “poor young man” and is thus looking for some form of money. Through this interaction, we can see that Mrs. Moreen is trying to hide something or be elusive and is not being frank to Pemberton about his wages and Pemberton is too nervous to speak up about it until the end, showing that his reluctance may due to the fact that he wanted to make money but then again, his employer might be too imposing to his character. Thus Pemberton's relationship to Mrs. Moreen can simply be of an employee to an employer.

However the relationship of Mrs. Moreen to her son is quite different when she sends him to “fetch” her fan. She thinks very lowly of him and this is true when Pemberton says that she uttered things that a “boy of eleven shouldn't catch.” Then she mentions a “weakness” with her son and from what Pemberton is thinking, we can gather that is some heart condition. This can help characterize Mrs. Moreen, who knows about her son's condition and thus is hiring someone to educate her son and not discussing the wages, probably because she is not able to pay him. Mrs. Moreen's relationship with Morgan is of a very loving parent who wants to teach Morgan things in life, even though he is at the “mercy of a weakness” and she is going to do this by hiring Pemberton and promising him that his wages will be “quite regular.” What is ironical and perhaps foreshadowing what will happen is when Pemberton says that people have varying perception of what is “quite regular.”

Pemberton and Morgan seems to share a special connection compared to the mother. When Morgan sees him first, he is giving Pemberton a look of confusion and looks straight at Pemberton for “taking his education in hand.” The first reaction or analysis of Pemberton is to teach Morgan how to address his mother in his response, not causally. Right away, Pemberton begins a role as a teacher without even fully taking charge of his pupil. Pemberton begins to analyze and connect the “dots” with Morgan, as to why he is not so “robust” and how he seems to look intelligent but a bit “unpleasant.” Right away Pemberton seems to connect to Morgan and Morgan to Pemberton and this is evident especially when Mrs. Morgan gets up to leave and Pemberton takes the job without a definite salary being promised to him, very unlikely for others in his field of work.

The whole tone of the passage is filled with curiosity as one character seems to probe and explore his new pupil and his family. From Pemberton's point of view, we can see that Morgan is quite sickly boy that needs attention and that he is also intelligent and clever. Also from Pemberton's point of view, we can understand that Mrs. Moreen's family might not be so good because Morgan did not have a proper education as seen by his casual response to his mother. The dialogue between Pemberton and Mrs. Moreen also facilitates much of what happens in the story and sheds light onto Morgan, who is never directly involved in interaction with Pemberton.

Pemberton and Morgan seems to develop a new bond and Mrs. Moreen seems to be a bit shady character as she promises a salary but never defines exactly what it is. Pemberton's point of view sheds light onto Morgan who is a very sickly character and Mrs. Moreen who seems to be a “large addable lady.” A very peculiar inquiring tone is seen in this passage by Henry James and Pemberton seems to be reluctant and at the same time enjoying this new charge that has been given to him. Overall, Henry James uses variety of techniques including Tone, Point of View and Dialogue to show the unique relationship between Pemberton, Mrs. Moreen and Morgan Moreen throughout his passage from the novel, “The Pupil.”

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:38:16 PST A Separate Peace by John Knowles http://www.bookstove.com/Classics/A-Separate-Peace-by-John-Knowles.193849 Setting

Somewhere amidst the vast lands of New Hampshire, most of the story takes place in and around the many dormitories and premises of the institution, known formally as Devon School, a boarding school located on Gilman Street. Its storyline through World War II moves transitionally from the fields of Devon School to the home of Elwin "Leper" Lepellier in Virginia.

Themes

A Separate Peace by John Knowles brings forth many themes that can be carefully observed as set points for connecting the reader to the writer's intention and motifs. In this novel one of the main highlights include

"Sometimes through codependency you find your identity"

"A war is not always a battle of the arms or the body but rather of the heart through which its emotions are expressed, an internal struggle"

"Respect for an other's ability can and is the only thing that will bring those of two different identities in unison agreement."

Character

Taking part in this epic novel were some dramatic characters such as: Gene Forrester, Finny, Brinker Hadley, and Leper Lepellier. Their actions and roles consequently affected the lives of each other throughout the novel.

Conflict

The series of conflict throughout this novel is seen to bean internal as well as external conflict of sorts, influenced and pressurized by the many causes that led to the climax. At first Gene Forrester befriended Finny with joy but his doubts camewhen he judged Finny by who he was physically, that is a strong athlete, and his disruptions in his daily life was because of Finny's influence on his life. Then later to understand Finny's sincere actions were to help him. As time passed an occasion arrived in which Finny and Gene decided to climb the tree and jump in the water but this time together. In their moment of happiness together, Gene accidentally shook the branch accidentally causing Finny to lose balance and fall altogether damaging himself. From there on, the story goes where Gene is running away from everyone who is saying he was responsible for Finny's lost ability to barely walk, and at the same time Gene triesto find his identity whether he truly did kill him, what Finny thought of this, how will he be accepted after this incident.

 

Symbols

In this novel many things can be seen to stand out as powerful symbols.Some things include:

Devon School - Overtaking their lives since their young age, this boarding
becomes a central part of their lives, and it comes to be that anything
outside of it is seen as "fake", something that is only heard and seen in
newspapers, the rest was the tragedies, the adventures, the roles, and
the power held at Devon School.

World War II - Came to be a symbol, a door into the free world, for once
you entered no longer did you have to think of school but rather touring
the world and the adventures that accompanied it, it became every boy's dream
it marked their adulthood.

Tree by the lake - A strong symbolism of friendship, and the binding factor
between the two friends Gene and Finny, even though it divided them
once, it brought them together and both cherished the moments and
their close friendship that came to be because of their meetings and
other activities at this tree.

 

 

 

 

]]> Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:14:07 PST Annabel Lee: Symbols of Love and Death in the Poem http://www.bookstove.com/Poetry/Annabel-Lee-Symbols-of-Love-and-Death-in-the-Poem.177973 Edgar Allan Poe was known for writing poems and stories with a dominant central theme of death, and "Annabel Lee" is no exception. Scholars, critics, and people who love his work generally believe that the poem was written in reference to Poe's deceased wife, Virginia Clemm, who died of tuberculosis before even reaching full womanhood. This morbid poem is full of symbols about love and death - two themes with equal importance and magnitude (even the Bible itself states that “love is as strong as death”). The poem Annabel Lee presents these two equally strong themes, beautifully interwoven in symbolism.

While many biographers conclude that Poe's wife was the real Annabel Lee, it is also possible that she was a fictional character. Annabel Lee was the main figure being spoken of in the poem, but she could also be considered as a symbol of a rare, pure and tender love. There was something about her description that evokes innocence, purity and childlikeness (characteristics that Virginia Clemm possibly had). It is indeed strange that Poe, an orphan and drunkard who had experienced so much cruelty from life, should marry a thirteen year old sickly girl. Perhaps, in his mind, there was an undying ideal, a longing to find tenderness and innocence in a woman and become united with her. This ideal notion was symbolized by Annabel Lee, and if she was indeed Virginia Clemm, we can say that Clemm was the only true love that Poe ever had.

In the first line of the poem, we can read, “it was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea”. The sea here was used to represent the speaker's memory. The entire phrase suggests that Annabel Lee's death occurred a very long time ago, but the sea speaks of reminiscence and an undying memory of love. This particular pattern was repeated in the succeeding stanzas, where each time the “kingdom by the sea” was mentioned, there was also a mention of things which belonged to a distant past. Poe wrote in the second stanza, “I was a child and she was a child, in this kingdom by the sea”. At the time this poem was written, Poe cannot be considered a child, as he was way past his early twenties. Clearly, he was simply using the word "sea" as a vehicle to illustrate unfading memory of a loved one which cannot be erased by time. He seems to be implying that the memory of love he had for his woman cannot be erased even after the pain of loss and death. Thus at the end of the poem, we can find him staying beside the dead girl's sepulchre by the sea.

The poem suggests that the speaker's love for Annabel Lee was of such divine and everlasting nature that it disturbed divine creatures themselves. The jealousy of the “winged seraphs of heaven” speaks strongly about the magnitude of the couple's love for each other. Obviously, the love was too much (it was a love that was more than love) that the heavenly beings chose to inflict death on poor Annabel. It is possible that the “winged seraphs” personify ill fate, and the “highborn kinsman” represents God Himself. The reason for the jealousy was not explained in the poem. Either Poe merely used it as a plausible excuse to justify an untimely death, or he simply wanted to blame ill fate, or possibly God, for the loss of his love. Or perhaps, poet as he was, he was just trying to sound a little bit more poetic. We can only surmise, because only Poe, dead in his grave and his love long been buried, has all the answers to the questions that belie "Annabel Lee".

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