English Literature (no specific topic) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English Literature (no specific topic) - Essay Example onversation and his impression of the other characters and their observable behavior: his wife Fran, his friend Bob, Bob’s wife Olla, their baby Harold and their exotic pet peacock Joey. However, a deeper study makes one realize that, just as much of Carver’s story remains untold, Jack’s narration leaves much unsaid to his audience. Jack is the antithesis of what one expects in a normally effective narrator: openness and a frank discourse on the unfolding narrative. Although he is the narrator, Jack, as a character, is uncommunicative, acquiescent and lacking in initiative. Jack’s character is enveloped by silence. His relationship with Fran is marred by his inability to communicate his feelings. The diversions of his married life, before the dinner, are confined to activities which require no talking – watching television or going to the movies. This silence only intensifies after the visit to Bud’s. Although, as the narrator, he says, â€Å"I couldn’t wait to be alone with Fran to tell her what I was feeling† (page 264), he admits later that â€Å"We don’t talk about it. What’s to say?† (page 265). As a narrator, he makes it obvious that he is often critical of Fran. He disagrees with her stand â€Å"Why do we need other people?† (Carver, page 252) as he values his friendship with Bob. But his habit of silence extends to his friend also and makes him â€Å"careful with what I say to him† (page 265). Although Fran’s tirade against the car race program on television, and her o vert attention to the plaster-of-Paris teeth, are distasteful to him, he remains silent and does not reprimand her. Jack, the character, only admits â€Å"I thought about those plastic teeth† (page 259), whereas Jack, the narrator, provides a lurid description of the teeth. Likewise, the peacock makes a strong impression on him, but he confines himself to a laconic â€Å"‘Goddamn’ ---There was nothing else to say† (page 254). Here again, the narrator indulges in effusive

Were Romans Obsessed with Violence? :: Ancient Rome Roman History

Were Romans Obsessed with Violence? In many modern books written about Ancient Rome and her people, the Romans are often portrayed as brutal and unforgiving people who enjoyed violence and thought it amusing to see people being injured and killed to the point of obsession. It is my aim to establish whether this classification is justified or if it is simply an exaggeration of what a small group of people enjoyed. While it is known that in Rome there were gladiatorial fights, public beatings and the keeping of slaves was legal (and common), it is also important to understand just exactly how advanced the Romans were. The Longman Dictionary of the English Language defines civilised as "of or being peoples of nations in a state of civilisation." And then defines civilisation as "a relatively high level of cultural development; specifically the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of records is attained." I think that by this definition, the Romans were civilised, the educated being able to write and detailed records being kept by many historians. The Romans also had written laws and government, including (later) an assembly for the poorer classes. In fact, their system of law was actually quite advanced (even if it was designed to help the rich) - "The idea was accepted that a man's intentions ought to be taken into account, and there was less importance attached to what he did and what he meant to do. The next thing to become established was the notion that all men must be treated equally." This way of thinking was very advanced and not barbaric or uncivilised at all, in fact the same notion that all men should be treated equally was not established in America, Australia and other countries for many years. It is now common knowledge that, in Ancient Rome, people often attended (and enjoyed) gladiatorial fights to the death, wild beast hunts, naval battles and chariot racing, all which often had religious origins. During the reign of Caesar, thousands of men and animals were butchered just to make a Roman holiday! The Romans also enjoyed pantomimes and plays which too were often very violent in nature - "It was not uncommon for a condemned criminal to be executed [on stage] as part of the play." In modern sources, it is often portrayed that slaves were treated more harshly than was actually the case.

Library Statement of Goals Essay

I have submitted my application for admission into the Kent State School of Library and Information Science as an avenue for professional growth within my current career. As a former Spanish teacher and currently a computer technology teacher, it is important to pursue the MLIS as current librarians seek retirement and technology continues to infiltrate libraries across our nation. I am currently interested in pursuing the MLIS plus the K-12 licensure in order to serve in an urban school library setting. My current teaching assignment of computer technology lends itself to a smooth transition from the classroom to a librarian position as our school district places more emphasis on digital media. I remain fully committed to providing instruction to students; however, with teachers and school librarians retiring in droves, I fear that our schools will be left with overworked teachers and no librarians in our schools. By completing the MLIS degree, I will be accomplishing an additional career objective. I remain committed to my career goals that were previously established many years ago. My first goal was accomplished by completing my undergraduate course of study at the University of Cincinnati. My second career goal was to obtain my M. Ed. In School Administration and I accomplished that particular goal in the year 2000. My third goal, albeit somewhat personal, was to earn my private pilot’s license, and I successfully completed that task in 2001. My fourth career oriented goal was to transition from teaching Spanish to teaching computer science with an ultimate goal of finishing the required courses to earn the MLIS degree. I am currently in the middle of this goal. After speaking to our retiring librarian, she suggested that I apply my technology expertise and apply for the vacant school librarian position. Our current librarian highly encouraged me to seek at least the minimum courses for K-12 certification. After speaking with Dr. Sarah Harper and educating myself about the MLIS program and learning about the additional career opportunities associated with the MLIS, I have decided to pursue this additional graduate degree. The role of the librarian appears to be shifting from the traditional aspects of managing a library to more of the role as a librarian media technologist. An important current issue of the library is to also serve as a digital media center due to the increased technology needs facing libraries. I am greatly interested in this transition as many school librarians almost double as the digital media technologist. Colleges and universities are also adopting the model of librarian media technologist to enhance the needs of such educational institutions. As our digital technology library needs grow, I foresee a point where the current traditional school librarian could potentially be at a slight disadvantage without minimal technology background. I firmly support digital media; however, print media is equally as important. It will be the role of the librarian to determine which media shall remain in print edition for students, and which media will transition to digital media. Another current issue that is important is to fully integrate the school library as an extension of the classroom. It is important to fully utilize the library beyond the common routine of â€Å"pulling books† for a specific course. Instead, it would be beneficial to teachers and students if the library were to be established as an academic department. Establishing meaningful collaboration between the library personnel and teachers will foster a learning environment conducive to learning. As a school librarian, a goal should be to create a library setting that embeds the role of the library into the classrooms. Instead of thinking of the library as an independent space of a school, the library now serves as an extension of the classroom. However, it is equally important to keep in mind, the school librarian is not able to provide content specific instruction, but rather, instruction on how to locate the resources required for the specific content. It is important for the librarian to serve as an instructional partner in the learning process. Finally, another current issue that I believe is important is increasing the mobility of the library. Technology has advanced to where it is no longer required to leave the house and go to the library to seek and acquire information. With nearly all of our students owning a mobile device, whether it is a cellular telephone, iPad, Nook, mobile devices are changing the way information is delivered and accessed. While students easily have access to the internet through mobile devices, it is equally important that students have access to digital records housed in the library. Furthermore, many library users have learned the convenience of downloadable e-books. As teachers, students, and others navigate away from the traditional book delivered in print, it will be important for the librarian to explore new ideas and collaboratively implement a plan to cost effectively deliver more data via mobile devices.

Gambling Effects On Gamblers - 1994 Words

Gambling: Effects on Gamblers For centuries, people have allowed themselves to enjoy a particular pleasure in the form of gambling through activities including; poker, sporting events, lottery, bingo, and slot machine. Gambling has become more widespread in the modern times than it was in the 1920s’. However, modern technology has revolutionized gambling, which allowed it to prevail throughout time. Technology has been able to help gambling to evolve from a game that is played at a casino to a game that can be played from a computer in your own home. Gambling has created many great opportunities for certain states: it has created millions of jobs, people have benefited from the huge payouts, and has provided people a very luxurious life. While gambling has provided certain people with many opportunities, for a compulsive gambler it provided many personal problems. The history of gambling throughout the world has become more prominent, there are several stories about how ancient people would gamble. This ancient act of gambling has grown at an increased rate. Within the United States, about 3% of adults in the United States and 20% of the world s population are compulsive gamblers with mental disorders. Approximately 90% of addicted gamblers have started around their mid to late teenage years. The impact of gambling can be very addicting for a person to control. A compulsive gambler will do almost anything for the thrill. People with this addiction and their familiesShow MoreRelatedEssay on Gambling Creates Lots of Problems896 Words   |  4 Pagesstress and need entertainment to release it. Since gambling is one of the entertainment can release stress, the population of gambler has become millions. However, problem gambling has become a serious social problem. This essay will discuss the negative effects of gambling which include financial an d health problems. Then it will discuss the solution for gambling, which includes governments’ regulation, self-control and education. Problem gambling causes financial problem, which can lead to crimeRead MoreEssay about Cause and Effect: Gambling774 Words   |  4 PagesCause and Effect: Gambling Throughout life we take chances with many different things. We take chances for ourselves, and we take chances for others close to us. Chances are things which will give you so much good in your life if you go for the right things and succeed when taking the chance. As is everything in this life taking chances are all and only good within moderation. When you take yourself to an abusive level with anything it becomes dangerous for you and all who surround you. An unsuccessfulRead MoreDid You Know That There Is Such A Thing Called Problem1570 Words   |  7 Pagesproblem gambling otherwise known as gambling addiction? According to psychguides.com, â€Å"gambling is a diverse activity, so different types of gambling addiction exist as well†. Gambling addiction is a problem where it begins slowly and grows overtime until the victim’s life has become difficult to control. Only recently has this disorder been recognized as an addiction. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"Prob lem gambling (or ludomania, but usually referred to as gambling addiction or compulsive gambling) isRead MoreHow Gambling Can Grow Stronger Over Time1237 Words   |  5 Pagesaddiction is not as bad as another. Such as gambling. Could gambling be as bad as an addiction to alcohol? These addictions may not be related substance wise, but the effects of both addictions go hand in hand as will be shown. Some results include but are not limited to, financial ruin, legal issues, family issues, and medical issues. It will then be evident that gambling, even though it is not involving consumption, is as harmful as alcoholism. Gambling is to play games of chance for money. WhenRead MoreEffects Of Gambling On The Future965 Words   |  4 Pagesform of gambling. While gambling goes against what many economists would consider rational behavior, it still has a way of drawing people. Maybe it’s the thrill of playing, or a chance at hitting the jackpot. People are even drawn to gambling whilst under serious economic stress, such as living with a small budget. Do these gamblers think about their own budget constraints when putting large sums of money on the table? Why are brick and mortar gambling institutions legal while online gambling was bannedRead MoreGambling Essay824 Words   |  4 PagesGambling Gambling is defined as risking money or something of value on the outcome of an event involving chance when probability of winning or losing is less than certain.[i] Over the past ten years, Ontario has undergone a dramatic change in gambling attitudes. Since the legalization of gambling in Ontario in 1994, there has been an explosion of gambling opportunitiesRead MoreGambling Is A Part Of All Of The Characters1343 Words   |  6 PagesGamblers This film explicitly demonstrates that gambling is a part of all of the characters’ lives.. The one character who does not gamble for most of the Film is Bernie because he had such bad luck and was a recovering problem gambler. Even Bernie caves into gambling at the end of the film by betting all of the money he had on the craps table. The film does not focus on any specific character gambling and shows hundreds of men and women gambling during the movie. The different faces gambling onlyRead MoreEffects of Gambling1138 Words   |  5 PagesTHE EFFECTS OF GAMBLING Most people with gambling problems say they lost control over how much time and money they spend gambling. Meanwhile, they ignored other responsibilities. For them, gambling is an activity that are important to them. Those who gamble excessively often bring problems for the one they love. The effects of gambling can be classified into individuals, family and the society. Each of them had different aspect. With the problems that been brought by thoseRead MoreThe Ethics Of Gambling And Gambling1556 Words   |  7 Pagesregarding the ethics of gambling whether in an online setting or in a public setting. Gambling has many benefits for both gamblers and casinos, but it’s crucial to acknowledge the psychological repercussions of gambling as it isn’t always just â€Å"harmless fun.† We can consider the negative and positive implications of gambling on non-gamblers as well. However, how would ethical theories and perspectives differ in their approach to the effects of gambling? When people think of gambling, they usually see flashingRead MoreGambling Is An Extremely Well Liked And Entertaining Activity For The Canadian Population1530 Words   |  7 PagesGambling is an extremely well liked and entertaining activity for the Canadian population . In theory, gambling can be a sense of fun and games, yet it has always been inevitably linked to the Canadian Criminal Code. It has been noticed that, â€Å"Canadians spend more on legal, government-promoted gambling than on clothing, shoes and medicine combined† (Hutchison, 1999). In 1892 all forms of gambling were banned in Canada, with the exception of horse racing (Stevens, R., 2005). Throughout the years Canadians

The Adonis Effect On The Lgbt Community - 1330 Words

The Adonis Effect and its impact on the LGBT community while doing research for my hot topic, I stumbled upon an interesting topic that I had almost completely forgotten about. When I was in high school, I watched clips taken from a documentary called the Adonis Effect. The Adonis Effect documentary took a hard look at the Gay community, specifically Gay men and their â€Å"obsession† with physical perfection, and what lengths men will go to to achieve this unrealistic ideal. I mentioned in the introduction that I had watched clips from a documentary called the Adonis Effect. The clips were of men talking about their own experiences, some who love the attention and fit the perfect mold. Others were of men who had tried for years to attain physical perfection and never could. And there were some who had completely rejected the notion of perfection and embraced who they are. This was the extent of my formal knowledge about the â€Å"Adonis Factor† but after watching thos e I can see very obvious themes in my own life that pertain to this phenomenon. I know from my own personal experience that gay men are more susceptible to eating disorders. I grew up hearing my mom and my aunt constantly comment about their own weight, which made me hyper aware of my own. Also while dating my ex-boyfriend, I was constantly told that if I ever got fat that he would leave me. Both of these, I believe, are the root of my eating disorder. To prepare to write this paper, I watched the entire documentary

The Rise and Fall of Existentialism - 1287 Words

The Rise and Fall of Existentialism Existential literature often focuses on the personal journey towards existential awareness. Common themes in existential works, such as alienation and confrontation with death, often lead the anti-hero towards a climactic choice that defines whether they have reached true understanding. The themes within existential literature are reflected from the world at large, and the works themselves are a metaphor for a grander shift in Western philosophy. Intellectualism in post-war Europe had a sort of existential realization of its own, paralleling the experiences of its literary figures. The philosophy of existentialism had its roots in late nineteenth century philosophers such as†¦show more content†¦The existential attitude itself is not so much chosen as arrived at, writes Porfirio, ...the threat of imminent death... forces the individual to re-examine his life (88) The threat of mortality is particularly pungent in existentialism, because the philosophy strips away all dressings of an afterlife or the hope that any morality transcends existence. The night before Pablo is to be placed before The Wall, he re-evaluates all of the relationships, loyalties, and faiths that he had held during life and finds them all to be false when compared to the absoluteness of death (Sartre). When he finally accepts his lifes meaninglessness, he is rewarded with rebirth. War seems to have been a particularly strong influence of existential sentiment. Both A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway, and The Wall, by Sartre, were set during the Spanish civil war, and the characterizations reflect the fear and alienation inflicted by the senseless violence of the wars raging around them. Catch-22 was written about the absurdity of World War II, and even The Stranger was set in an Algeria torn by racial animosity. During World War II, the entire world was well acquainted with the senseless slaughter of millions of people, and the pervading sense of death helped a existential realization for our whole society. Each individual assumes responsibility for his life through the act of choosing between twoShow MoreRelated Existentialism in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay1635 Words   |  7 PagesExistentialism in Things Fall Apart      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Chinua Achebe presents his audience with an interesting twist to a contemporary school of thought in his work Things Fall Apart.   This post-colonization narrative incorporates several traits that revolt against normative philosophic systems and tralititious theories and beliefs of the existence of man and his place in the universe.   Achebes efforts are characterized by a small diverse group of writers that purge realizations of predestinationRead MoreLiterary Theories And Literary Criticism1318 Words   |  6 PagesKill a Mockingbird. †¢ Based on the Post-colonial theories of Fanon, Foucault, Said. †¢ Harper Lee, the author, reveals the attitudes of white people towards the black people, showing how prejudice the white people are towards the black people. Existentialism 1. †¢ Soren Kierkegaard considered to be the first existential philosopher. †¢ Philosophical theory that emphasizes the existence of a free and responsible individual who determines their own paths and development through acts of free will. †¢ PrimaryRead MoreThe Stranger by Albert Camus Essay1554 Words   |  7 Pages The Word existence comes from the Latin root â€Å"ex† out, and sistere from stare, which means to stand (rise up). Existentialism literally means pertaining to existence or in logic, predicating existence. Philosophically existentialism applies to a vision of the condition and existence or lack of one, with God. According to Kierkegaard, Christian existentialism is all meaning and serenity which comes through one’s relationship with God by putting our selves in his hands and finding freedom from tensionsRead MoreThe Importance of Themes in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway803 Words   |  4 Pagesus from nada; pues nada.† After reciting this prayer he finds himself at a bar, ironically he doesn’t like bars and he mentions to the bartender who lacks persona that the bar is not clean. He realizes that he will soon be home, to fall asleep as the sun comes r ises. He finds himself telling the reader that he has insomnia which is a common problem, most likely because he is afraid of admitting that he has a much larger problem. We come to realize that the Older waiter sees himself in the OldRead MoreExistentialist traits in works of Henrik Ibsen1442 Words   |  6 PagesExistentialism is a major twentieth century continental European philosophical movement. The label was inspired by the tendency of some of the writers like Kierkegaard, Heidegger , Sartre and Nietzsche to use the term existence for a kind of being or life unique, in their view, to human beings. Only in the case of human beings is the conduct of their life an issue for them; only they can stand out - exstare, the Latin word from which exist comes - from their lives and reflect upon them; andRead MoreCommentary on Candide by Voltaire and Irrational Man by William Barrett1406 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscussing is Candide which is a satire written by the philosopher Franà §ois Marie Arouet who is known by his pseudonym Voltaire. Candide main characters adapt the idea that everything happens for the best, no matter how bad it is. It talks about a man who falls in love with a woman and after that he goes through a lot of hardships as he travels the world with his many companions. The novelattacks the church through irony and satire, it mentions how the church punishes people for having heretical ideas, whichRead MoreThe Rise of National Socialism Essay1162 Words   |  5 PagesThe Rise of National Socialism The rise of National Socialism in Germany resulted in World War II and the Holocaust. The signing of the Treaty of Versisad in 1919 proclaimed that over 10 million were killed in the first World War and Germany must take the blame and pay for all the damage. This meeting set up three goals: Repayment from Germany for all the damage occurred (12-13 billion dollars), to ensure the Germany wouldRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Dover Beach `` And `` Plymouth Of The Spotless Mind `` By Charlie Kauffman Essay1694 Words   |  7 PagesExistentialism is defined as a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. This school of philosophy has time and time again been explored in literature and film, as it is the answer to the defining question of the human experience: why am I here? The doctrine of existentialism is the core theme of the films Synecdoche, New York, writtenRead MoreThe Philosophy of Suicide: Albert Camus vs. Arthur Schopenhauer2338 Words   |  10 Pagesaccording to Sartre, â€Å"an opportunity to stake out our understanding of our essence as individuals in a godless world† (Stanford, 2004). Fundamentally, existentialism argues all individuals are free and therefore responsible for their actions. Thus, it is up to the individual to create an ethos of personal ideology, which is the only way one is able to rise above the human condition of suffering, death and finality (Guigon, 2001). Suicide is seen as the individual’s act of giving in to the absurdity ofRead MoreThe Theory Of Social Science936 Words   |  4 Pagesthe existing world. There is a more fundamental basis to understanding social science than accepting a macro-social order of human nature as the disconnect of social sciences previous to the rise of existentialism reduces these personal experiences. How a person understands and recognizes the world does not fall passively to norms or values as a structural functionalist would believe nor the surrounding economic system as Marxists recognized. Instead, it is the continual interaction in a social environment

Mr. Darcy Free Essays

Mr. Darcy  is an intelligent, tall, fine, handsome, wealthy and reserved gentleman, who often appears haughty or proud to strangers. Mr. We will write a custom essay sample on Mr. Darcy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Darcy has a strong moral fibre and a natural and somewhat embarrassed kindness. Mr. Darcy is the owner of the fictional estate of  Pemberley, he is described as the perfect landlord, a sensible and honourable manager of the estate. He has a great responsibility to keep the estate running – and the locals who depend on it for a livelihood are lucky to have such a good master. Mr. Darcy’s inflated personal pride, snobbish indifference and arrogance causes him to consider  Elizabeth Bennet  as low-born and plain, â€Å"tolerable† and â€Å"not handsome enough to tempt him†. However, afterwards he becomes attracted to Elizabeth, and courts her clumsily while struggling against his continuing feelings of superiority. His arrogance and rudeness enhance his desirability, and they are reconsidered later as a sign of his repressed passion for Elizabeth. Pride and Prejudice Writing Style Surprising Turns of Phrase, Sarcastic, Subtle, Pointed Austen is the total master of the slow, subtle burn. It’s like poetry in motion – you just watch as sentence after sentence starts out nice and predictable and then – BAM! – right in the kisser. Let’s watch and learn how a pro does it in this paragraph that introduces Sir William Lucas, Charlotte’s dad: Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty. The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, in quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. James’s had made him courteous. (5. 1) First we go swimmingly along, as Sir William is shown to be a well-off guy who even gets to make a speech in front of the king. Then, though, check out the long third sentence, as the narrator asterfully goes from Sir William’s point of view (he now finds actually working for a living â€Å"disgusting† and moves to a house in the country) to an outside perspective on Sir William’s growing egotism (all he does now is â€Å"think with pleasure of his own importance†), and then, finally, rounds it off with an amazing judgment on the way climbing the social ladder creates a useless man out of an industrious one (Sir William is free from the â€Å"shackles† of his work and now just spends his time being â€Å"civil†). Funny – but we’re not done yet. The problem isn’t really just that Sir William himself has become totally purposeless ever since getting his knighthood and becoming too high class for his business. The narrator next expands the issue further, pointing to the culture at large, which is more than happy to go along with Sir William and his new attitude. Check out how, because he’s all fancy and titled, in the eyes of his neighbors he gets a fancier adjective to describe his behavior (instead of simply â€Å"friendly† he’s become â€Å"courteous,† which also carries the pun of â€Å"court† (as in royal court) inside it – the place where Sir William has picked up his new status). By the ‘two themes’ I assume you mean pride as one theme and prejudice as the other? Because there are many, many more themes to the text than that: don’t be led astray into thinking they’re the only ones (or the most important; the novel’s title is somewhat arbitrary). One of my personal favourite ways Austen plays with language in PP is how, once married, Charlotte Lucas is often lumped into conversation as if she is property and little more than an animal (the quote that comes to mind is something about Lady Lucas enquiring of the ‘welfare and poultry of her eldest daughter’ after the visit to Rosings — apologies I don’t have to text to hand to find the exact quote). If you’re looking for Irony, look carefully at practically anything Elizabeth says, particularly in conversations with her mother. Elizabeth says an awful lot in jest, where as her mother is very literal and very closed-minded. In fact, any exchange that involves Mrs Bennet tends to include some irony as she never realises she is being laughed at. Take a story’s temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful? Ironic, arch, wry, full of witticisms and bon-mots, arm’s length Reading this novel is kind of like having a conversation with someone who says snarky things in a deadpan voice while onstantly raising her eyebrow. You know what we mean? Austen is just so clearly amused by her characters and their nonsense and also totally committed to discretely pointing out their foibles. It’s not that she hates them or is disinterested or anything, but her narrator definitely keeps a distance and functions as an observer who is always elbowing the reader to look at the next funny thing. Check out this description of the aftermath of Mr. Collins proposing to Charlotte: In as short a time as Mr. Collins’s long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waived for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained. 22. 2) Both Charlotte and Mr. Collins are clearly mocked here, although, obviously, Mr. Collins is a much easier and bigger target. Look at the different ways the mockery works, though. First, we’ve got the overhead view, meaning the narrator takes in the scene and shows us the ridiculous in all its glory: it’s funny to try to picture just how not â€Å"short† Mr. Collins’s â€Å"long speech† would be. There’s also that great joke in the idea that the proposal is â€Å"settled to the satisfaction of both† (because the satisfaction is kind of pragmatic since Charlotte is Mr. Collins’s third choice and he is her choice only because he’s got a job and a house and it beats living at mom and dad’s). Next, we get to laugh at Mr. Collins more from Charlotte’s point of view. Even though they aren’t in quotes, the words about his â€Å"stupidity† and the lack of â€Å"charm† in his â€Å"courtship† are clearly her thoughts as he goes on and on in his pompous way. Finally, we circle back around to the narrator mocking the characters again, as we check out how Charlotte is going to deal with the fact that she can see how lame Mr. Collins is. Answer: she’s going to wait as long as possible to actually get married. ) What’s Up With the Title? You know what’s funny about this title? Well, you know how nowadays, the book jackets for novels written by the same author are usually really similar – same font, same general layout, and so on? (Think about those endless  John Grisham novels . ) That’s because publishers are going for an if-you-liked-that-you’ll-also-love-this approach. Pride and Prejudice  is basically the result of the same kind of thing, turn of the 19th century-style. Originally, the novel was going to be calledFirst Impressions, but after Austen hit the big time with the blockbuster sales of  Sense and Sensibility, her publisher asked if they could try for a little branding magic by sticking to the same title formula: noun-and-noun. This is all well and good, and sure enough, this new novel went over like gangbusters. Does anything change, though, about how we might see the novel when we go from the first title to the second? Well, with  First Impressions, readers are right off the bat being shown things from the characters’ point of view. After all, it’s Darcy and Elizabeth that are going be to be making and having these impressions, and, this title suggests, we’re going to experience these impressions right alongside them. Also, think about what first impressions are all about – people interacting with each other. A novel called  First Impressions  puts the idea of people meeting with and reacting to other people front and center. The focus is on manners, behavior, and outward appearance. Not to mention, oftentimes first impression are wrong. On the other hand,  Pride and Prejudice  turns the thing around 180 degrees. With a title like that, we’re no longer looking at things through the characters’ eyes. Instead, the title sounds like someone is being called names – and it’s up to the reader to try to figure out who is who. The reader isn’t buddy-buddy with the characters any more, but is instead totally supposed to be all judgy and superior from the get-go. With  Pride and Prejudice  as the title, our novel BFFs aren’t Darcy or Elizabeth at all. Instead, our main pal is the narrator, who knows ahead of time that someone’s full of pride and someone else is probably full of prejudice. Also, we’ve now moved into some deep psychological territory here. Feeling prideful and being prejudicial are things we do in the privacy of our thoughts, not things we wear on our sleeve. A novel named in this way makes readers immediately get ready for being all up in the characters thoughts, seeing how they make decisions and what their value systems are all about. Which title do you prefer? Why? ————————————————- Style Pride and Prejudice, like most of Jane Austen’s works, employs the narrative technique of  free indirect speech. This has been defined as â€Å"the free representation of a character’s speech, by which one means, not words actually spoken by a character, but the words that typify the character’s thoughts, or the way the character would think or speak, if she thought or spoke†. [8]  By using narrative that adopts the tone and vocabulary of a particular character (in this case, that of Elizabeth), Austen invites the reader to follow events from Elizabeth’s viewpoint, sharing her prejudices and misapprehensions. The learning curve, while undergone by both protagonists, is disclosed to us solely through Elizabeth’s point of view and her free indirect speech is essential  Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ for it is through it that we remain caught, if not stuck, within Elizabeth’s misprisions. â€Å". [8] Clear, Witty, Sarcastic In this dialogue-driven novel, wit and sarcasm predominate the text. Pride and Prejudice is often an exercise in reading between the lines, as Austenâ⠂¬â„¢s characters must almost always use polite language to mask their true intentions. The greatest exception is, of course, when Elizabeth chews Darcy out after his proposal. ) We’ll offer two examples up for you. Mr. Bennet’s response to his wife after she subjects him to a play-by-play of Mr. Bingley’s actions at the ball: â€Å"If he had had any compassion for me,† cried her husband impatiently, â€Å"he would not have danced half so much! For God’s sake, say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained his ankle in the first place! † Mr. Bennet clearly doesn’t mean these things. What he’s really saying is that he wishes his wife would spare him the details. The following snippet of conversation between  Lady Catherine  and Elizabeth takes place at the end of a long interrogation from Lady Catherine. â€Å"‘Upon my word,’ said her ladyship, ‘you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. Pray, what is your age? ’ ‘With three younger sisters grown up,’ replied Elizabeth, smiling, ‘your ladyship can hardly expect me to own it. ’ Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence. See what we mean? Elizabeth dodges Lady Catherine’s question, but does so in the politest way possible. We call it†¦polite resistance, and it requires a great deal of quick thinking. STYLE Jane Austen’s graceful, economical narrative style was unique in her time. It was an era in literature given to flowery wordiness and emotional exce ss. Readers of the day could take their choice among collections of sermons to improve their minds, tales of sin and punishment to improve their morals, and horror stories to stimulate their circulation. Pride and Prejudice is told in a readable prose without a single superfluous word, and it frequently breaks into dialogue so lively and so revealing of characters that entire scenes have been lifted bodily from the novel and reproduced in dramatized versions for stage and screen. In some passages the author enters into the mind of one or another of her characters, most often into her heroine Elizabeth’s, and there she reveals her character’s capacity for humor and self-criticism. Austen’s style is so deceptively lucid that we can hardly believe she submitted her writing to so much polishing and revision. | POINT OF VIEW Pride and Prejudice is mostly written from the objective view of an external observer. However, from time to time the novel departs from this objective storytelling approach to explore the thoughts and feelings of a character-either Darcy as he slips little by little into love with Elizabeth, or Elizabeth as she considers her own behavior and the behavior of others. Whatever the approach whether through Elizabeth’s mind or through the voice of a narrator, the point of view is always and unmistakably Jane Austen’s. It is always her sharply critical eye, youthful though it was when she wrote the novel, that observes and subtly comments on her society’s follies and foibles, making us laugh but also making us aware. When we finish her book we know very well the defects she saw in the people of her world, but we also know how much she enjoyed her life among them, faults and all. FORM AND STRUCTURE Like her writing style, the structure of Jane Austen’s novel is deceptively simple. She appears to be telling a straightforward story, character by character and happening by happening, exactly as it occurred in chronological sequence. We can in fact read the novel that way. But on closer look we find that Pride and Prejudice is not merely a record of events. Instead, it is an interweaving of plot and subplots, an intricate pattern with various threads. The main plot follows the far from smooth course of the romance between Elizabeth and Darcy and the conflict of his pride and her prejudice. Their feelings, born of first impressions, are not the only obstacles between them. Three subplots complicate their relationship. The first is Bingley’s attraction to Jane Bennet and Darcy’s intervention to save his friend from what he sees as an undesirable marriage. The second is Wickham’s involvement with the Darcy family, and his ability to charm Elizabeth and deepen her prejudice against Darcy. The third is Charlotte Lucas’ marriage to Mr. Collins, which throws Elizabeth and Darcy together and sharpens their differences. Elizabeth ends up rejecting Darcy in what we come to see as the first dramatic climax of the story. The Wickham subplot brings on the second dramatic climax: his elopement with Lydia and the scandal and probable ruin of the entire Bennet family. Austen maintains an air of suspense to the very end. She also keeps her three subplots alive with a novelist’s juggling skill. In the end, all three subplots contribute to the resolution of the principal plot, and the hero and heroine come together in happiness at last Writing Style: In Pride and Prejudice there is very little focus on natural surroundings such as trees, bushes, flowers, or descriptions of the weather. Rarely does Austen describe character’s psychological states, instead this aspect of the characters is revealed through dialogue. The unnaturally flowery language in Pride and Prejudice may be seen by modern audiences as â€Å"cold† or â€Å"sterile,† but it is this use of language that helps to develop the characters and themes. Exaggeration and hyperboles (in a melodramatic form) are also common writing styles of Austen. In terms of style conventions, the usage of â€Å"Miss† and â€Å"Mr. † in Pride and Prejudice makes it at times unclear which character is talking, and therefore at times very confusing to follow the story. The frequent dialogue between characters also makes it difficult to distinguish which character is speaking. A number of plot points are also advanced in Pride and Prejudice through the writing of letters between essential characters, which tend to be some sort of monologue regarding a possible theme or conflict in the story. How to cite Mr. Darcy, Papers