Tuesday, January 28, 2020
How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife Essay Example for Free
How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife Essay My brother Leon was returning to Nagrebcan from far away Manila, bringing home his young bride who had been born and had grown up in the big city. Father would not accept her for a daughter-in-law unless he taught her worthy to live in Nagrebcan. Father devised an ingenious way to find out, and waited for the result. She stepped down from the carretela of Ca Celin with a quick, delicate grace. She was lovely. She was tall. She looked up to my brother with a smile, and her forehead was on a level with his mouth ââ¬Å"You are Baldo. â⬠She said and placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. Her nails were long, but they were not painted. She was fragrant like a morning when papayas are in bloom. And a small dimple appeared momentarily high up on her cheek. ââ¬Å"And this is Labang, of whom I have heard so much. â⬠She held the wrist of one hand with the other and looked at Labang, and Labang never stopped chewing his cud. He swallowed and brought up to his mouth more cud, and the sound of his inside was like a drum. I laid a hand on Labangââ¬â¢s massive neck and said to her: ââ¬Å"You may scratch his forehead now. ââ¬Å"She hesitated and I saw that her eyes were on the long curving horns. But she came and touched Labangââ¬â¢s forehead with her long fingers, and Labang never stopped chewing his cud except that his big eyes were half closed. And by and by, she was scratching his forehead very daintly. My brother Leon put down the two trunks on the grassy side of the road. He paid Ca Celin twice the usual fare from the station to the edge of Nagrebcan. Then he was standing beside us, and she turned to him eagerly. I watched Ca Celin, where he stood in front of his horse, and he ran his fingers through its forelock and could not keep his eyes away from her. Mariaââ¬âââ¬Å" my brother Leon said. Read more:à How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel Arguilla Essay He did not say Maring. He did not say Mayang. I knew then that he had always called her Maria; and in my mind I said, ââ¬Å"Maria,â⬠and it was a beautiful name. â⬠Yes,Noelâ⬠Now where did she get that name? I pondered the matter quietly to myself, thinking Father might not like it. But it was only the name of my brother Leon said backwards, and it sounded much better that way. ââ¬Å"There is Nagrebcan, Mariaâ⬠my brother said gesturing widely toward the west. She moved close to him. And after a while she said quietly: You love Nagrebcan, donââ¬â¢t you, Noel? Ca Celin drove away hi-yi-ing to his horse loudly. At the bend of the camino real where the big duhat tree grew, he rattled the handle of his braided rattan whip against the spokes of the wheel. We stood alone on the roadside. The sun was in our eyes, for it was dipping into the bright sea. The sky was wide deep and very blue above us; but along the saw-tooth rim of the Katayaghan hills to the southwest flamed huge masses of clouds. Before us the fields swam in a golden haze through which floated big purple and red and yellow bubbles when I looked at the sinking sun. Labangââ¬â¢s white coat, which I had washed and brushed that morning with coconut husk, glistened like beaten cotton under the lamplight and his horns appeared tipped with fire. He faced the sun and from his mouth came a call so loud and vibrant that the earth seemed to tremble underfoot. And far way in the middle of the fields a cow lowed soflty in answer. ââ¬Å"Hitch him to the cart, Baldo,â⬠my brother Leon said, laughing and she laughed with him a bit uncertainly, and I saw he had put his arms around her shoulders. ââ¬Å"Why does he make that sound? â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"I have never heard the like of it. â⬠ââ¬Å"There is not another like it,â⬠my brother Leon said. I have yet to hear another bull call like Labang. In all the world there is no other bull like him. â⬠She was smiling at him, and I stopped in the act of tying the vinca across Labangââ¬â¢s neck to the opposite end of the yoke, because her teeth was very white, her eyes were so full of laughter, and there was a small dimple high up on her right cheek. ââ¬Å"If you continue to talk about him like that, either I shall fall in love with him or become very jealous. â⬠My brother Leon laughed and she laughed and they looked at each other and it seemed to me there was a world of laughter between them and in them. I climbed into the cart over the wheel and Labang would have bolted for he was always like that, but I kept firm hold on his rope. He was restless and would not stand still. , so that ny brother Leon had to say ââ¬Å"Labangâ⬠again, my brother Leon lifted the trunks into the cart, placing the smaller one on top. She looked down once on her high heeled shoes, then she gave her left hand to my brother Leon, placed a foot on the hub of the wheel, and in one breath she had swung into the cart. Oh, the fragrance of her! But Labang was fairly dancing with impatience and it was all I could do to keep him from running away. Give us the rope, Baldo,â⬠my brother Leon said. ââ¬Å" Maria , set on the hay and hold on to anything. â⬠Then he put a foot on the left shaft and that instant Labang leaped forward. My brother Leon laughed as he drew himself up to the top of the side of the cart and made the slack of the rope hiss above the back of Labang. The wind whistled against my cheeks and the rattling of the wheels on the pebbly road echoed in my ears. She sat up straight on the bottom of the cart, legs bent together to one side, her skirt spread over them so that only the toes and the heels of her shoes were visible. Her eyes were on my brother Leonââ¬â¢s back; I saw the wind on her hair. When Labang slowed down, my brother Leon handed me the rope. I knelt on the straw inside the cart and pulled on the rope until Labang was merely shuffling along, then I made him turn around. ââ¬Å"What is it you have forgotten now, Baldo? â⬠my brother Leon said. I did not say anything but tickled with my fingers the rump of Labang; and away we went back to where I had in hitched and waited for them. The sun had sunk and down from the wooded sides of the Katayaghan hills shadows were stealing into the fields. When I sent Labang down the deep cut that would take us to the dry bed of the Waig, which could be used as a path to our place during the dry season, my brother Leon laid a hand on my shoulder and said sternly: ââ¬Å"Who told you to drive through the fields tonight? ââ¬Å"His hand was heavy on my shoulder, but I did not look at him or utter a word until we were on the rocky bottom of the Waig. ââ¬Å"Baldo, you fool, answer me before I lay the rope of Labang on you. Why do you follow the Waig instead of the Camino real? â⬠His fingers bit into my shoulder. ââ¬Å"Father- he told me to follow the Waig tonight, Manong. Swiftly his hand fell away from my shoulder and he reached for the rope of Labang. Then my brother Leon laughed, and he sat back, and laughing still, he said: ââ¬Å"And I suppose Father also told you to hitch Labang to the cart and meet us with him instead of the Castano and the calesa. â⬠Without waiting forn me to answer, he turned to her and said, ââ¬Å"Maria, why do you think Father should do that, now? â⬠He laughed and added, ââ¬Å"Have you ever seen so many stars before? â⬠I looked back and they were sitting side by side, leaning against the trunks, hands clasped across the knees. Seemingly but a manââ¬â¢s height above the tops of the steep banks of the Waig, hung the stars. But in the deep gorge the shadows had fallen heavily, and even the white of Labangââ¬â¢s coat was chirped from their homes in the cracks in the banks. The thick, unpleasant smell of dangla bushes and cooling sun-heated earth mingled with the clean, sharp scent of arrais roots exposed to the night air and of the hay inside the cart. ââ¬Å"Look, Noel, yonder is our star! â⬠Deep surprise and gladness were in her voice. Very low in the west, almost touching the ragged edge of the bank, was the star, the biggest and brightest in the sky. I have been looking at it,â⬠my brother Leon said. ââ¬Å"Do you remember how I would tell you that when you want to see stars you must come to Nagrebcan? â⬠. ââ¬Å"Yes, Noel,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Look at it she murmured, half to herself. ââ¬Å"It is so many times bigger than it was at Ermita beach. â⬠The air here is clean and free of dust smoke. â⬠So it is Noel,â⬠she said,drawing a long breath. ââ¬Å"Making fun of me, Maria? ââ¬Å"She laughed then, and they laughed together and she took my brother Leonââ¬â¢s hand and put it against her face. I stopped Labang, climbed down, and lighted the lantern that hung from the cart, and my heart sang. Now the shadows took fright and did not crowd so near. Clumps of andadasi and arias flashed into view and quickly disappeared as we passed by. Ahead, the elongated shadow of Labang bobbled up and down and swayed drunkenly from side to side, for the lantern rocked jerkily with the cart. ââ¬Å"Have we far to go yet, Noel? â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"Ask Baldo,â⬠my brother Leon said,â⬠we have been neglecting him. â⬠ââ¬Å"I am asking you, Baldo,â⬠she said. Without looking back, I answered, picking my words slowly: ââ¬Å"Soon we will get out of the Waig and pass into the fields. After the fields is home ââ¬â Manang. ââ¬Å"So near already. â⬠I did not say anything more, because I did not know what to make of the tone of her voice as she said her last words. All the laughter seemed to have gone out of her. I waited for my brother Leon to say something, but he was not saying anything. Suddenly he broke out into song and the song was ââ¬Å"Sky Sown with Starsâ⬠ââ¬âthe same that he and father sang when he cut hay in the fields of nights before he went away to study. He must have taught her the song because she joined him, and her voice flowed into him like a gentle stream meeting a stronger one. And each time the wheel encountered a big rock, a voice would catch in her throat, but my brother Leon would sing on, until, laughing softly, she would join him again. Then we were climbing out into the fields, and through the spokes of the wheels the light of the lantern mocked the shadows. Labang quickened his steps. The jolting became more frequent and painful as we crossed the low dikes. ââ¬Å"But it is so very wide here,â⬠she said. The light of the stars broke and scattered the darkness so that one could see far on every side, though indistinctly. You miss the houses, and the cars, and the people and the noise, donââ¬â¢t you? â⬠My brother Leon stopped singing. ââ¬Å"Yes, but in a different way. I am glad they are not here. â⬠With difficulty, I turned Labang to the left, for he wanted to go straight on. He was breathing hard, but I knew he was more thirsty than tired. In a little while , we drove up the grassy side onto the camino real. ââ¬Å"-you see,â⬠my brother Leon was explaining, ââ¬Å"the camino real curves around the foot of the Katayaghan hills and passes by our house. We drove through the fields, because- but Iââ¬â¢ll be asking father as soon as we get homeâ⬠ââ¬Å"Noel,â⬠she said. Yes, Maria. â⬠ââ¬Å"I am afraid. He may not like me. â⬠ââ¬Å"Does that worry you still, Maria? â⬠my brother said. ââ¬Å"From the way you talk, he might be an ogre, for all the world. Except when his leg that was wounded in the revolution is troubling him, Father is the mildest tempered, gentlest man I know. â⬠We came to the house of Lacay Julian and I spoke to Labang loudly, but Moning did not come to the window, so I surmised she must be eating with the rest of her fam ily. And I thought of the food being made ready at home and my mouth watered. We met the twins, Urong and Celin, and I said ââ¬Å" Hoy,â⬠calling them by name. And they shouted back and asked if my brother Leon and his wife were with me. And my brother Leon shouted to them and then told me to make Labang run; their answers were lost in the noise of the wheels. I stopped Labang on the road before our house and would have gotten down, but my brother Leon took the rope and told me to stay in the cart. He turned Labang into the open gate and we dashed into our yard. I thought we would crash into the bole of the camachile tree, but my brother Leon reined in Labang in time. There was light downstairs in the kitchen, and Mother stood in the doorway, and I could see her smiling shyly. My brother Leon was helping Maria over the wheel. The first words that fell from his lips after he had kissed Motherââ¬â¢s hand were: ââ¬Å"Father ââ¬â where is he? â⬠ââ¬Å"He is in his room upstairs,â⬠Mother said, her face becoming serious. ââ¬Å"His leg is bothering him again. â⬠I did not hear anything more because I had to go back to the cart to unhitch Labang. But I had hardly tied him under the barn when I heard Father calling me. I met my brother Leon going to bring up the trunks. As I passed through the kitchen, there were Mother and my sister Aurelia and Maria, and it seemed to me they were crying, all of them. There was no light in Fatherââ¬â¢s room. There was no movement. He sat in the big armchair by the eastern window, and a star shone directly though it. He was smoking, but he removed the roll of tobacco from his mouth when he saw me. He laid it carefully on the windowsill before speaking. ââ¬Å"Did you meet anybody on the way? â⬠ââ¬Å"No, Father,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Nobody passes through the Waig at night. â⬠He reached for his roll of tobacco and hitched himself up in the chair. ââ¬Å"She is very beautiful, Father. ââ¬Å"Was she afraid of Labang? â⬠My father had not raised his voice, but the room seemed to resound with it. And again I saw her eyes on the long curving horns and the arm off my brother Leon around her shoulders. ââ¬Å"No, Father, she was not afraid. â⬠ââ¬Å"On the way-ââ¬Å"ââ¬Å"She looked at the stars, Father And Manong Leon sang. â⬠ââ¬Å"What did he sing? â⬠ââ¬Å"Sky Sown with Stars. â⬠She sang with him. He was silent again. I could hear the low voices of Mother and my sister Aurelia downstairs. There was also the voice of my brother Leon, and I thought that Fatherââ¬â¢s voice must have been like it when he was young. He had laid the roll of tobacco on the windowsill once more. I watched the smoke waver faintly upward from the lighted end and vanish slowly into the night outside. The door opened and my brother Leon and Maria came in. ââ¬Å"Have you watered Labang? â⬠Father spoke to me. I told him that Labang was resting yet under the barn. ââ¬Å"It is time you watered him, my son. â⬠My father said. I looked at Maria and she was lovely. She was tall. Beside my brother Leon, she was tall and very still. Then I went out, and in the darkened hall the fragrance of her was like a morning when papayas are in bloom.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Frankenstein: The Impact of God-like Sciences Stemming from Modern Tech
Frankenstein: The Impact of God-like Sciences Stemming from Modern Technology In Mary Shelleyââ¬â¢s novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankensteinââ¬â¢s life story is the heart of the tale. As a young Swiss boy, he grew up in Geneva reading the works of the ancient and outdated alchemists, a background that serves him ill when he attends university at Ingolstadt. There he learns about modern science and, within a few years, masters all that his professors have to teach him. He becomes fascinated with the ââ¬Å"secret of life,â⬠discovers it, and brings a hideous monster into the world. The monster proceeds to kill Victorââ¬â¢s youngest brother, best friend, and wife; he also indirectly causes the deaths of two other innocents, including Victorââ¬â¢s father. Though torn by remorse, shame, and guilt, Victor refuses to admit to anyone the horror of what he has created, even as he sees the ramifications of his experiment spiraling out of control. This paper focuses on the God-like sciences that are portrayed in the novel. ââ¬Å"Learn from me. . . at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allowâ⬠(Shelley 101). Victorââ¬â¢s attempt to play God and Creator is most plainly seen through the perceptions and actions of his creation. The creature is born into the world as if it is a baby, knowing nothing of life. This creature's first experience as a living existence is being shunned by its own creator. I beheld the wretch---the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on meâ⬠¦ He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped and rushed downstairs (Shelley 43). The monster is reaching out to the only thing he knows thus far, his creator, and is met with disgust. Victor, being merely human, cannot offer this creature the unconditional love and guidance that God bestows on His creatures. This, in turn, leads to the imminent immoral actions of the creature. As technology advances, civilization grows farther from religious beliefs, attempting to become ââ¬ËGod-likeââ¬â¢. Instead of living off what is here, humans build their own habitats. Instead of accepting disease and death, hum... ...saac. "The Scientist as Villian." Asimov on Science Fiction. New York: Granada, 1983. 65-68. Brooks, Peter. "Godlike Science/ Unhallowed Arts: Language and Monstrosity in Frankenstein." New Literary History (Spring 1978) 591-605. Fellman, Gordon. "The Truths of Frankenstein: Technologism and Images of Destruction." Psychohistory Review 19 (1991): 177231. Gilbert, Sandra M., and Gubar, Susan. "Horror's Twin: Mary Shelley's Monstrous Eve." The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984. 213-247. http://encarta.msn.com- "Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft," Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2005. http://encarta.msn.com à © 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation. Joseph, M.K. Introduction. Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley. Ed. M.K. Joseph. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1969. i-xx. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Ed. M.K. Joseph. Oxford: Oxford Up, 1969. Spector, Robert Donald. Introduction. Seven Masterpieces of Gothic Horror. New York: Bantam, 1963. 1-12. Tillyard, E.M.W. Myth and the English Mind. New York: Collier Books, 1961.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Large Corporations Essay
Large corporations such as Wal-Mart or Home Depot often come under criticism for putting mom-and-pop shops out of business. While this may be a valid criticism, the consumers neglect to realize that they play the biggest part in shutting these businesses down. Consumers across the country are always looking for the best deals or the lowest prices, and in most cases the larger corporations are where products can be found at the lowest price. Many small business owners and the populations of small towns dislike large corporations moving into the area because they believe it negatively effects the local economy. In reality, we should embrace large corporations moving into our communities because they boost the local economy, they lower prices on products we use every day, and they create hundreds of jobs. Some believe that large corporations harm the local economy. While this is true in some cases, studies have shown that placing a Wal-Mart in an area actually increased sales for businesses in or around the area. In a study conducted in 2002 by Jim Simmons, a retired University of Toronto geography professor, the professor states: ââ¬Å"We tried to see if there was a substantial sales decline in the nearby areas, but it was difficult to find,â⬠said Mr. Simmons. ââ¬Å"We couldnââ¬â¢t find any situation where people lost sales or went out of business.â⬠(Shaw, H. 2002). This is just one of the many findings from the study. In an effort to further boost the local economies of the areas new Wal-marts are opened in, Wal-Mart has implemented a Locally Grown program that has been enacted since 2008. Pam Kohn, who is a senior vice president and general grocery merchandise manager, had this to say about the program. ââ¬Å"At Walmart we are committed to increasing our locally grown offerings and the number of local small farms we work with. Through this program we are able to cut shipping costs and decrease food miles, but most importantly we are offering our customers an opportunity to support their local farmers without worrying about the impact on their wallets.â⬠(Economics Week, 2008) This means that not only are they benefitting the stores around the area, but also the farmers in the area as well. This leads to a stronger local economy, and ultimately a thriving community. Stores like Wal-Mart are famous for keeping their prices so low. This is one reason why they are able to maintain a grip on the consumers of an area. They accomplish this by keeping the cost to produce and transport the goods low. In January, a study by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. found that, ââ¬Å"an individual family could save $589 a year on groceries by shopping at a supercenter. Overall, shoppers could save $3.76 billion in merchandise nationwide.â⬠(Blazier, A, 2004) A major reason they can keep prices lower than mom-and-pop run businesses is their ability to buy merchandise in bulk. Buying in bulk works the same way it does for a consumer. The more of a product that is purchased, the less the cost is per unit. Consumers see this every day when they go to stores like Samââ¬â¢s Club or Costco. When they buy their merchandise in bulk, they are able to offer it to the consumer at a lower price. (Kale, 2011) This is what could eventually drive the mom-and-pop owned businesses out of the area, and draw a negative criticism from the public. The interesting thing about this criticism is that the public complains about Wal-Mart driving these smaller businesses out, yet continue to shop at the Wal-Mart to save money. It would seem as though all that would be needed to be done would be to stop shopping at Wal-Mart and start shopping at the locally owned businesses. On the topic of jobs, there is a general increase in the availability of jobs after a large corporation moves in. Going back to the Wal-Mart example, a study was conducted to show how Wal-Mart affected job creation. In a study conducted by University of Missouri-Columbia professor Emek Basker, Wal-Mart creates a net value of 50 jobs more than it ââ¬Å"destroys.â⬠In her study, she presents these findings: ââ¬Å"I find that immediately after entry, retail employment in the county increases by approximately 100 jobs; this figure declines by half over the next five years as some small and medium-sized retail establishments close. Wholesale employment declines by approximately 20 jobs over five years. Restaurant employment increases slightly; there is no change in employment in manufacturing or in automobile dealerships and service stations.â⬠(Basker, 2005) In addition to the new jobs that are created, most Wal-Mart employees can enroll in health benefit programs, whether part time or full time workers. This means that smaller communities where health insurance options may have been limited will now have jobs where health insurance is a benefit. Also the low income families who can not afford pricey health insurance have the opportunity to receive benefits. Another benefit of having a Wal-Mart move into a community is the money it brings into the area. As with all businesses, large corporations have to pay taxes that go to local governments in the area they operate. In a bi-monthly publishing by the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Mitch Renkow writes, ââ¬Å"Wal-Mart generates substantial sales tax and property tax revenues for the county in which it locates. This could potentially be of great benefit to the fiscal well-being of the local government in the town or county where the Wal-Mart is located.â⬠(Renkow, 2005) This means that there is more money being generated for local spending, With all of the business that Wal-Mart can do, that is that much more money for the local area, much more than any mom-and-pop shops could provide. We should embrace bigger corporations moving into the area because it ultimately creates a stronger local economy. These corporations bring in products from around the world to communities that would have never gotten a chance to purchase them. They also keep the prices low so that low income families can afford them. Through job creation, slashing prices, and the attention to the area that comes with a big store such as Wal-Mart, it can be said that local economies benefit from these new stores opening in the area. WORKS CITED: Shaw, H. (2002). Wal-mart boosts local economies: Study: Finding shows retail behemoth benefits neighbouring stores. National Post. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/329926525?accountid=32521 Sailee, Kale (2011) How Does Walmart Keep Its Prices So Low? Retrieved from: http://www.business-online-news.com/how-does-walmart-keep-its-prices-so-low.html Blazier, A. (2004, Apr 15). Study concludes Wal-Mart creates more jobs than Retail chain chases away. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/464131659?accountid=32521 Matthews, C. (2012, 07). Ten Ways Wal-Mart Changed the World. Retrieved from http://business.time.com/2012/07/02/ten-ways-walmart-changed-the-world/#ixzz2IYS1yFFm Renkow, M. (2005). N.C. State Economist. Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics. retrieved from: www.ag-econ.ncsu.edu/VIRTUAL_LIBRARY/ECONOMIST/novdec05.pdf Basker, Emek, (2005) Job Creation or Destruction? Labor-Market Effects of Wal-Mart Expansion. Review of Economics and Statistics, Vol. 87, No. 1, February 2005. retrieved from SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=371102 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.371102
Saturday, January 4, 2020
William Blakes London and William Wordsworths London, 1802
William Blakes London and William Wordsworths London, 1802 The figure of the poet as it pertains to William Blake and William Wordsworth is different according to the perception of most analysts. Blake addresses a universal audience in a prophetic voice, taking the role of the poet upon himself often using a mystical tone. In contrast Wordsworth uses language specific to all and directs his writing to ordinary people writing as an ordinary person reacting to his own personal experiences. It is notable that these two poets who write from such different perspectives both ably and similarly portray the dark side of human existence ensuing from the drastic changes attending the transformation ofâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦He establishes himself as an observer when he says, I mark I see I meet and I hear and addresses a universal audience. His observations call up a London suffering from the monstrous consequences of the Industrial Revolution and sympathize with her people who must bear the burden of the injustices resulting from commercial ex ploitation and a materialistic attitude. Freedman claims Blakes tightly structured quatrains as well as his self-consciously elaborate poetic figures are signs of just how much intense intellectual labour is required to comprehend the city (3) and indeed the notion that the poet is struggling to come to terms with the wounds he perceives is very clear. He questions how conditions can possibly have reached the state they are in while castigating the institutions that have permitted things to degenerate to such a level. The first eight lines of the poem are the poets cry of horror for the pall that hangs over London and her people and express sympathy for their inability to escape the manacles (8.35) that bind them to their fate. The tone changes in the final eight and expresses his anger and contempt for the oppressors who have created and imposed the manacles (8.35). The term chartered used inShow MoreRelatedComparison Between ââ¬Å"Londonâ⬠by William Blake and ââ¬Å"Composed Upon Westminster Bridgeâ⬠by William Wordsworth850 Words à |à 4 PagesComparison between ââ¬Å"Londonâ⬠by William Blake and ââ¬Å"Composed Upon Westminster Bridgeâ⬠by William Wordsworth The city of London has inspired many poets throughout the ages. Two of the most distinctive portrayals are William Blakeââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Londonâ⬠published in Songs of Experience in 1974 and ââ¬Å"Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802â⬠by William Wordsworth. While both Blake and Wordsworth comment on the conflict between appearance and reality, Blake shows the gloomy ugliness by taking down Londonââ¬â¢sRead MoreEssay on Compare London and Composed upon Westminster Bridge2519 Words à |à 11 PagesCompare London by William Blake and Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3rd 1802 by William Wordsworth. As a part of my coursework for GCSE English, I will be comparing two poems written about London in nineteenth century. The two poems I have chosen to write about are: London by William Blake and Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3rd 1802 by William Wordsworth. Both poems give their own, different accounts of London at around the same period. One is written with aRead MoreComparison and contrast between Blake and Wordsworths views on London with poems London and London, 1802 respectively.1454 Words à |à 6 Pagesrevolution era. London was the haven to this revolution, and the hell to all poetry. William Wordsworth and William Blake both denounced Londons new environment with their poems London, 1802 and London respectively. Both authors were against this transformation of the city because it destroyed all beauty and happiness, both of which they were very fond of. But, their writings went about different ways of showing their feelings of dissent towards the mechanical lifestyle of London. In both poemsRead MoreComparing the Poets Use of Language To Present Their View of London in Composed Upon Westminster Bridge by Wordsworth and London by Blake1571 Words à |à 7 PagesPresent Their View of London in Composed Upon Westminster Bridge by Wordsworth and London by Blake London was, is and undoubtedly always will be, a city of enormous interest and controversy, especially for those employed in the field of writing. The two poems, Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, 1802, by William Wordsworth and London, 1794, by William Blake, demonstrate this through their opposing views. The intention of both William Blake and William Wordsworth was to portrayRead More God Speaks Through The Mouths Of Poets Essay2009 Words à |à 9 Pagesin the beautiful themes in poetry. In this essay, I will compare the poems of William Blake and William Wordsworth with the written Word of God, in five poems: The Lamb, The Chimney Sweeper, The Tyger, My Heart Leaps Up, and London 1802. My aim is to show that the writings of great poets are truly the words of God. Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? These begin the words of William Blakes The Lamb. Just as God asks us, Blake questions our understanding of our creatorRead More Comparison of The Old Cumberland Beggar and Holy Thursday Essay1776 Words à |à 8 PagesComparison of The Old Cumberland Beggar and Holy Thursday Compare Wordsworthââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËThe Old Cumberland Beggar. A Descriptionââ¬â¢ (Romantic Writings: An Anthology, pp.78-82) with Blakeââ¬â¢s two ââ¬ËHoly Thursday poems (Romantic Writings: An Anthology, pp.17 and 32). How do the three poems differ in their treatment of the theme of poverty? The title ââ¬ËThe Old Cumberland Beggarââ¬â¢ (hereafter TOCB) immediately gives us the concept that the poem relates in some way to poverty. The words ââ¬Ëoldââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëbeggarââ¬â¢Read MoreEssay on The Gothic Genre and What it Entails6177 Words à |à 25 Pagesfrantic novels, sickly and stupid German Tragedies, and deluges of idle and extravagant stories in verse. The human mind is capable of being excited without the application of gross and violent stimulants.. William Wordsworth, Preface to The Lyrical Ballads, 1802. ..Phantasmagoric kind of fiction, whatever one may think of it, is not without merit: twas the inevitable result of revolutionary shocks throughout Europe thus to compose works of interest, one had to call
Friday, December 27, 2019
Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet
E. Nesbit offers this adaptation of the famous play, Romeo, and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Overview of the Montagu and Capulet Families Once upon a time there lived in Verona two great families named Montagu and Capulet. They were both rich, and weà suppose they were as sensible, in most things, as other rich people. But for one thing, they were extremely silly. There was an old, old quarrel between the two families, and instead of making it up like reasonable folks, they made a sort of pet of their quarrel, and would not let it die out. So that a Montagu wouldnt speak to a Capulet if he met one in the streetââ¬ânor a Capulet to a Montaguââ¬âor if they did speak, it was to say rude and unpleasant things, which often ended in a fight. And their relations and servants were just as foolish, so that street fights and duels and uncomfortableness of that kind were always growing out of the Montagu-and-Capulet quarrel. Lord Capulets Grand Supper and Dance Now Lord Capulet, the head of that family, gave a partyââ¬âa grand supper and a danceââ¬âand he was so hospitable that he said anyone might come to it except (of course) the Montagues. But there was a young Montagu named Romeo, who very much wanted to be there, because Rosaline, the lady he loved, had been asked. This lady had never been at all kind to him, and he had no reason to love her; but the fact was that he wanted to love somebody, and as he hadnt seen the right lady, he was obliged to love the wrong one. So to the Capulets grand party, he came, with his friends Mercutio and Benvolio. Old Capulet welcomed him and his two friends very kindlyââ¬âand young Romeo moved about among the crowd of courtly folk dressed in their velvets and satins, the men with jeweled sword hilts and collars, and the ladies with brilliant gems on breast and arms, and stones of price set in their bright girdles. Romeo was in his best too, and though he wore a black mask over his eyes and nose, everyone could see by his mouth and his hair, and the way he held his head, that he was twelve times more handsome than anyone else in the room. When Romeo LaidEyes on Juliet Amid the dancers, he saw a lady so beautiful and so lovable that from that moment he never again gave one thought to that Rosaline whom he had thought he loved. And he looked at this other fair lady, as she moved in the dance in her white satin and pearls, and all the world seemed vain and worthless to him compared with her. And he was saying this, or something like it, when Tybalt, Lady Capulets nephew, hearing his voice, knew him to be Romeo. Tybalt, being very angry, went at once to his uncle, and told him how a Montagu had come uninvited to the feast; but old Capulet was too fine a gentleman to be discourteous to any man under his own roof, and he bade Tybalt be quiet. But this young man only waited for a chance to quarrel with Romeo. In the meantime, Romeo made his way to the fair lady, and told her in sweet words that he loved her, and kissed her. Just then her mother sent for her, and then Romeo found out that the lady on whom he had set his hearts hopes was Juliet, the daughter of Lord Capulet, his sworn foe. So he went away, sorrowing indeed, but loving her none the less. Then Juliet said to her nurse: Who is that gentleman that would not dance? His name is Romeo, and a Montagu, the only son of your great enemy, answered the nurse. The Balcony Scene Then Juliet went to her room, and looked out of her window, over the beautiful green-grey garden, where the moon was shining. And Romeo was hidden in that garden among the treesââ¬âbecause he could not bear to go right away without trying to see her again. So sheââ¬ânot knowing him to be there--spoke her secret thought aloud, and told the quiet garden how she loved Romeo. And Romeo heard and was glad beyond measure. Hidden below, he looked up and saw her fair face in the moonlight, framed in the blossoming creepers that grew round her window, and as he looked and listened, he felt as though he had been carried away in a dream, and set down by some magician in that beautiful and enchanted garden. Ahââ¬âwhy are you called Romeo? said Juliet. Since I love you, what does it matter what you are called? Call me but love, and Ill be new baptizedââ¬âhenceforth I never will be Romeo, he cried, stepping into the full white moonlight from the shade of the cypresses and oleanders that had hidden him. She was frightened at first, but when she saw that it was Romeo himself, and no stranger, she too was glad, and, he standing in the garden below and she leaning from the window, they spoke long together, each one trying to find the sweetest words in the world, to make that pleasant talk that lovers use. And the tale of all they said, and the sweet music their voices made together, is all set down in a golden book, where your children may read it for yourselves some day. And the time passed so quickly, as it does for folk who love each other and are together, that when the time came to part, it seemed as though they had met but that momentââ¬âand indeed they hardly knew how to part. I will send to you to-morrow, said Juliet. And so at last, with lingering and longing, they said good-bye. Juliet went into her room, and a dark curtain bid her bright window. Romeo went away through the still and dewy garden like a man in a dream. The Marriage The next morning, very early, Romeo went to Friar Laurence, a priest, and, telling him all the story, begged him to marry him to Juliet without delay. And this, after some talk, the priest consented to do. So when Juliet sent her old nurse to Romeo that day to know what he purposed to do, the old woman took back a message that all was well, and all things ready for the marriage of Juliet and Romeo on the next morning. The young lovers were afraid to ask their parents consent to their marriage, as young people should do, because of this foolish old quarrel between the Capulets and the Montagues. And Friar Laurence was willing to help the young lovers secretly because he thought that when they were once married their parents might soon be told, and that the match might put a happy end to the old quarrel. So the next morning early, Romeo and Juliet were married at Friar Laurences cell and parted with tears and kisses. And Romeo promised to come into the garden that evening, and the nurse got ready a rope-ladder to let down from the window so that Romeo could climb up and talk to his dear wife quietly and alone. But that very day a dreadful thing happened. The Death of Tybalt, Juliets Cousin Tybalt, the young man who had been so vexed at Romeos going to the Capulets feast, met him and his two friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, in the street, called Romeo a villain and asked him to fight. Romeo had no wish to fight with Juliets cousin, but Mercutio drew his sword, and he and Tybalt fought. And Mercutio was killed. When Romeo saw that this friend was dead, he forgot everything except anger at the man who had killed him, and he and Tybalt fought till Tybalt fell dead. Romeos Banishment So, on the very day of his wedding, Romeo killed his dear Juliets cousin and was sentenced to be banished. Poor Juliet and her young husband met that night indeed; he climbed the rope-ladder among the flowers and found her window, but their meeting was a sad one, and they parted with bitter tears and hearts heavy because they could not know when they should meet again. Now Juliets father, who, of course, had no idea that she was married, wished her to wed a gentleman named Paris and was so angry when she refused, that she hurried away to ask Friar Laurence what she should do. He advised her to pretend to consent, and then he said: I will give you a draught that will make you seem to be dead for two days, and then when they take you to church it will be to bury you, and not to marry you. They will put you in the vault thinking you are dead, and before you wake up Romeo and I will be there to take care of you. Will you do this, or are you afraid? I will do it; talk not to me of fear! said Juliet. And she went home and told her father she would marry Paris. If she had spoken out and told her father the truth . . . well, then this would have been a different story. Lord Capulet was very much pleased to get his own way, and set about inviting his friends and getting the wedding feast ready. Everyone stayed up all night, for there was a great deal to do and very little time to do it in. Lord Capulet was anxious to get Juliet married because he saw she was very unhappy. Of course, she was really fretting about her husband Romeo, but her father thought she was grieving for the death of her cousin Tybalt, and he thought marriage would give her something else to think about. The Tragedy Early in the morning, the nurse came to call Juliet, and to dress her for her wedding; but she would not wake, and at last the nurse cried out suddenlyââ¬âAlas! alas! help! help! my ladys dead! Oh, well-a-day that ever I was born! Lady Capulet came running in, and then Lord Capulet, and Lord Paris, the bridegroom. There lay Juliet cold and white and lifeless, and all their weeping could not wake her. So it was a burying that day instead of a marrying. Meantime Friar Laurence had sent a messenger to Mantua with a letter to Romeo telling him of all these things; and all would have been well, only the messenger was delayed, and could not go. But ill news travels fast. Romeos servant who knew the secret of the marriage, but not of Juliets pretended death, heard of her funeral and hurried to Mantua to tell Romeo how his young wife was dead and lying in the grave. Is it so? cried Romeo, heart-broken. Then I will lie by Juliets side to-night. And he bought himself a poison and went straight back to Verona. He hastened to the tomb where Juliet was lying. It was not a grave, but a vault. He broke open the door and was just going down the stone steps that led to the vault where all the dead Capulets lay when he heard a voice behind him calling on him to stop. It was Count Paris, who was to have married Juliet that very day. How dare you come here and disturb the dead bodies of the Capulets, you vile Montagu? cried Paris. Poor Romeo, half mad with sorrow, yet tried to answer gently. You were told, said Paris, that if you returned to Verona you must die. I must indeed, said Romeo. I came here for nothing else. Good, gentle youthââ¬âleave me! Oh, goââ¬âbefore I do you any harm! I love you better than myselfââ¬âgo--leave me hereââ¬â Then Paris said, I defy you, and I arrest you as a felon, and Romeo, in his anger and despair, drew his sword. They fought, and Paris was killed. As Romeos sword pierced him, Paris criedââ¬âOh, I am slain! If thou be merciful, open the tomb, and lay me with Juliet! And Romeo said, In faith, I will. And he carried the dead man into the tomb and laid him by the dear Juliets side. Then he kneeled by Juliet and spoke to her, and held her in his arms, and kissed her cold lips, believing that she was dead, while all the while she was coming nearer and nearer to the time of her awakening. Then he drank the poison and died beside his sweetheart and wife. Now came Friar Laurence when it was too late, and saw all that had happened--and then poor Juliet woke out of her sleep to find her husband and her friend both dead beside her. The noise of the fight had brought other folks to the place too, and Friar Laurence, hearing them, ran away, and Juliet was left alone. She saw the cup that had held the poison and knew how all had happened, and since no poison was left for her, she drew her Romeos dagger and thrust it through her heart--and so, falling with her head on her Romeos breast, she died. And here ends the story of these faithful and most unhappy lovers. * * * * * * * And when the old folks knew from Friar Laurence of all that had befallen, they sorrowed exceedingly, and now, seeing all the mischief their wicked quarrel had wrought, they repented them of it, and over the bodies of their dead children, they clasped hands at last, in friendship and forgiveness.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Both Mary Shelleys ÃFrankenstein and Bram Stokers...
Both Mary Shelleys ÃâFrankenstein and Bram Stokers ÃâDracula are concerned with representations of evil. Which creation/character do you find most frightening and why? Evil features in both ÃâDracula and ÃâFrankenstein but the personification of this evil is different in both novels. A feeling of menace and doom pervades ÃâDracula because of his supernatural powers. One feels that he has control of the evil and he has the power to manipulate the environment and people for his own ends. ÃâFrankenstein centres on the creation of a monster made from parts of dead bodies and the fear created by the monster due to circumstance and the ignorance of society. Also, one feels a certain amount of apprehension that the monster is deserted byâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Mina realises this and pleads with the men to not tell her anything that might give their plans away. I found Dracula particularly vivid in detail, this contributed to making the novel more frightening, the horror and blood-filled images were described so brilliantly that I could not help but imagine them. Her white night-dress was smeared with blood, and a thin stream trickled down the mans bare breast, which was shown by his torn open dress. The attitude of the two had a terrible resemblance to a child forcing a kittens nose into a saucer of milk to compel it to drink. This horrifying scene continues, His eyes flamed red with devilish passion, his aquiline nose opened wide and quivered at the edges; and the white sharp teeth, behind the full lips of the blood-dripping mouth, champed together like those of a wild beast. In ÃâFrankenstein the monster does not wish to spill blood and uses strangulation as his only method of killing, the murder scenes are not described in as much horrific detail and this leads to a less frightening view of the novel. To me, Dracula is a corrupt person, devoid of any human feelings, he does not wish to and cannot feel compassion for any other living soul, he is completely self-involved and lives a solitary life, the only companions of his kind are the three female vampires. The difference with Frankensteins monster is that he is a creature corrupted by
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Digital Piracy free essay sample
Music Industry Imagine hearing your favorite bands new song on the radio for the first time. You love it, and the moment you get home you head straight for your computer and find the song on Tunes. Upset with the fact that you would have to pay $1. 29 for the song, you search the Internet and find one of the many digital piracy websites and download the song illegally. Sure, you may have obtained the song for free, but you have also Just stolen from your favorite band. Growing up surrounded by music and Ewing an aspiring musician myself, I quickly developed a great appreciation for the art. Because my father Is a business manager for several bands, I went to quite a few concerts in my childhood: watching the artists perform on stage commanded my love and respect for what they were doing. As a true fan of the art of music, I was both shocked and disappointed when I learned that people were cheating the hard- working musicians by Illegally downloading music via the Internet. Musicians work long hours and spend thousands of dollars writing, recording, and producing their USIA so stealing from them is no different from stealing from any store.Digital piracy is unethical because not only is the practice against the law, but it also has negative repercussions on the music Industry as it yields little financial return to musicians and depicts a negative shift in consumer traditions. One of the biggest issues today with digital piracy, according to Poll Guppy, professor of marketing at Wright State university in Dayton, Ohio, is that people feel less guilty stealing from Impersonal and invisible others than they do from visible persons (Guppy 258).Many people dont view illegal downloading as stealing because they are not physically taking something from someone else they are simply downloading a file from the Internet, invisible to both the musicians and authorities. Globally, 10. 6 million songs are downloaded illegally every hour (Guppy 264). Due to the millions of people worldwide stealing music every day, the music Industry has been In a constant period of regression for the past TV. 0 decades.According to the manager of world- renowned rock band 02, Paul Mugginess, digital piracy is degrading the music industry 5% of music obtained around the world is downloaded illegally and unpaid for (Mugginess). Because downloading music online for free has become so easy, people are no longer buying albums; instead, they only download the songs they want. This has shot down the profits of all musicians, as they no longer can rely on selling records to make money.Although digital piracy is not crippling highly successful bands, such as 02, young, developing artists are struggling to get started and malting enough funds to continue making music. As Mugginess points out, today, control over their work is exactly what young bands are losing. Its not their fault. It is because of piracy and the way the Internet has devalued their work (Mugginess). It Is becoming harder and harder for bands to sign with record companies because the record labels do not want to Invest money In bands that arena going to produce profits. Because fewer bands are getting record labels and already established bands arent selling as many albums, musicians are losing money I OFF seventies, eighties, and nineties produced at least ten albums in their careers; today, the most successful artists produce no more than four or five albums (Nipper 45). This is causing record stores all around the country to lose money, go out of business, and shut down. According to Steve Nipper, a regular contributor to Rolling Stone magazine, nearly three quarters of all independent music shops have shut down in the last decade Only thirteen percent of people buy CDC from record stores now (Nipper 45). With fewer people buying albums, record labels have even less incentive to give bands money to make CDC. Not are record labels hesitant to produce albums, but the artists also have less incentive to put in the time and effort to make albums. Some bands take years to put together albums and spend most of their money doing so (Mugginess). With only thirteen percent of people buying albums these days, many musicians believe the costs of making a new CD significantly outweigh the benefits.One of the major consequences of decreased record sales is an increase in the prices of concert tickets and merchandise. In order to make up for the loss of profits surrounding album sales, musicians are forced to increase tour duration and/or Jack up the prices of their concert tickets and merchandise. Since touring is very time consuming and exhausting, most musicians apt to simply raise their prices something that concert goers are increasingly unhappy about. It is these same people, statistically and ironically, that are illegally downloading the artists music and causing them to raise the prices. Ethics have become seemingly inexistent in our culture today it is no surprise that the same people that complain about the prices of music and concerts and merchandise also actively participate in digital music piracy (Guppy 272). This lack of ethics pointed out by Dry. Guppy depicts a negative shift in consumer traditions, stemming from legally downloading music. People in our society take for granted things such as music a business that is not often thought of as a business.For example, someone may think he or she is a die-hard supporter of his or her favorite band, listening to the artists music or hanging up concert posters, but that same person might also download all of their music illegally. Without monetary support, businesses like the music industry cannot survive. Everything musicians do, from putting out albums to going on tour, is for the public. Everyone has the liberty to enjoy music, but many people believe they can free ride to have this liberty.If people continue to take advantage of and exploit the music industry, eventually there will be no more music (Mugginess). It is widely accepted in the media world that any publicity is good publicity; for this reason, many people argue that although digital piracy is leading to a loss of revenue for bands, it is actually beneficial to them because more people listen to their music and become supportive fans. With this additional publicity, bands are able to sell more tickets to their concerts and in the long run make up for cost revenue from album sales.Despite the validity of this argument, stealing is still stealing and is against the law. Not caring about stealing or breaking laws represents a negative change in consumer traditions we have been experiencing over the last decade or two. It starts with digital piracy, but who knows where it will go next? With the Internet rap idly expanding, it is only a matter of time before all digitized merchandise can and will be stolen. In addition, even if bands can make up material to tour on without the short-term financial return an album can provide.Roughly half of a bands profit will come from record sales, and, as a business, a band cannot survive with the loss of these profits, no matter the circumstances :Mugginess). Every choice comes with a consequence, whether its eating that last piece of pie or studying all day to secure a good grade. Knowing the potential consequences of a choice often plays a large role in the eventual decision. 7. 7 million people each year choose to download music illegally, habitually and without paying any attention to the consequences (Guppy 264). If this continues, the music industryNail keep disintegrating until there is nothing left of it. Only the consumer can implement the changes necessary to reverse the current trends of the declination of the music industry. Will you be one of the 7. 7 million? Or will you have the initiative for change? The future of your favorite bands has a grim outlook; stop stealing from them so they can continue to make music and the music industry can once again thrive. Eliminating illegal downloading will recharge the music industry and may determine whether that favorite band was ever discovered in the first place.
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