Irony and Social Commentary in Pride and Prejudice Essay -- Jane Auste

Irony and social commentary in â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† Like any other society, nineteenth-century England had its share of foppish fools and fawning leeches, hot-blooded lovers and garrulous, gossiping women. While few people exhibit these failings with abandonment, few escape their taint altogether. In the novel â€Å"Pride and Prejudice,† the author Jane Austen satirizes these instances of – not social evils– rather, unpleasant social peculiarities, via a most careful use of irony in the dialogues and thoughts of some of her most delightful characters. The main character indulging in this precious commodity is Mr. Bennet, whom Austen considers important enough that a razor-sharp wit forms a necessary part of his personality. The irony is chiefly exhibited in two ways: a general ambience that results from a frequent use of satirical language (as for instance, the incessant use of antithesis in the conversations) and brief but concentrated attacks by Mr. Bennet against all forms of foolishness – harmless or otherwise. All the formulaic mannerisms affected by the people in his society as well as the social obligations that create them become the target of Mr. Bennet’s criticism. However, it is clear that Mr. Bennet is very much a part of the society that he so readily despises. That he persists in making fun of it is what makes his ripostes so rife with incongruity. The novel contains a large array of conversations between different characters; these conversations are, in keeping with the style that prevailed in that period, quite elaborate, indeed sometimes to the point of tedium. Austen portrays an attitude of unflagging boredom in Mr. Bennet when confronted with such speeches, through his incessant ironic asides. T... ...eaning in these seemingly innocuous words, for the former implies prostitution and the latter – a dishonorable pregnancy with a bastard child. Given the venomous character of such fairly commonplace gossip – even among the presumably ‘respectable’ rural middle-class – ’tis no wonder that Austen rallies against such a harmful form of frivolity. Austen therefore uses the difficult tool of irony to great effect in portraying the foolishness – both harmful and harmless – which afflicts most people. In doing so, she effectively delivers social commentary presumably for the purpose of correcting these defects in character of her fellow Englishmen. Along the way, the reader is delightfully entertained by the fools inhabiting â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† as well as the personalities that persist in denouncing it, in a manner that is at times more farcical than satirical. 6

Critical Response to “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller Essay

From its ominous opening, to its dad ending, â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller is a play driven by fear and desire, mirroring the McCarthy trials of the Communist hating 1950s. Though its set in 1692, the tone of the play and the themes of intolerance, hysteria, and ruined reputation were very prominently felt during 1953, when the play was published. The title, and the actual item of a crucible, suggests something seemingly solid melting away under immense stress. The hard structure of society in puritanical America and the spotless reputations of many good folk melt away to nothing in the fire of fear and trials caused by accusations of witchcraft. Miller uses the imagery of the crucible in the play also, in a quote from Mr. Danforth, We burn a hot fire here, it melts down all concealment, though what ends up being revealed is the fear and intolerance that control their society. The protagonist, John Proctor, has before the opening if the play had and ended an affair with the Antagonist, Abigail Williams. In this telling of the beginning of the witch trials, it is Abigails desire for revenge that leads the girls into the woods to perform a magic spell against Johns wife Elizabeth. It is dialogue between Abigail and John, and later dialogue of the confession of some of the girls, which reveals the affair between them and Abigails deep desire to have John back at any cost. John is attempting to right his wrong in the affair between himself and Abigail, but spurning her only causes more tension. When Abigail cannot easily win john back, and faces punishment for her actions in the woods, she turns the towns fear of witchcraft and the girls hysteria into her own device for revenge, at any cost. The playwright reveals the depth of his characters; Abigails ruthlessness, Johns remorse, and Elizabeths faith, through dialogue. Parentheticals within the text reveal ton e and motivation behind simple words said, from emotion words such as enraged to the simple act of a character folding their hands or sitting. Miller has worked in these small gestures and nuances in his lines, giving each character a subtext. The characters change as the plot progresses, Abigail goes from dismissing the girls hysteria to using it for her own ends to nearly buying into it herself, beating and hurting herself convinced that what she is doing will win John back and save them both. We see Abigails maniacal conviction in her own motivations in the scene between her and John alone in the forest.  Abigail is convinced John still wants her and will do anything, even accuse him of witchcraft in the end, to have John for herself and no one else. The conflict between Abigail and John mirrors the larger conflict of the play between the real truth and the truth society in its fear wants to believe. Abigail greed and covetousness is that of their society, and Johns struggle to do the right thing is the plight of the honest man within that society, caught by the tide of accusation. Each new action within the play such as the initial accusation, the meetings of Abigail and John, and the confession of Mary Warren drive the characters in different ways, and their reactions to those actions create a domino effect that further drives the plot and action of the play. THE CRUCIBLE does not have a happy conclusion, Abigail run away from the horror she has caused and John, along with many other honest people, dies at the hands of the supposed saviors of their society. But a play such as this, and the lesson it teaches, does not need a happy ending. In his play, Arthur Miller has held up a dark mirror to the society of that time and his own, showing how fear and intolerance can kill innocent people, and people who tout right and just motivations can be the real vehicles of destruction that they seek to stamp out. Source: Miller, Arthur. THE CRUCIBLE. Dramatist Play Service, 1982.

Two Ways to Belong

Two Ways to Belong in America Tiffany Detter PRPE 108 October 3, 2012 Caparas Mukherjee states, â€Å"In one family, from two sisters alike as peas in a pod, there could not be a wider divergence of immigrant experience. † (p. 282). Bharati Mukherjee was born and raised in Calcutta, India and immigrated to the United States in 1961 to earn an M. F. A. and a Ph. D. in literature. In â€Å"Two Ways to Belong in America,† Mukherjee addresses the issues that confront immigrants in America. In this passage we see how two of the same people can suddenly feel or experience the same thing in two different ways.Mira and Bharati immigrants from Calcutta have lived in the United States for some 35 years. The Mukherjee sisters find themselves on different sides in the current debate over the status of immigrants. Bharati is an American citizen and Mira is not. When the Mukherjee sisters moved from India they were almost identical in appearance and attitude. Their original plan was to endure two years in America, secure their degrees, then return to India to marry the grooms of their fathers choosing.However, Mira ended up marrying an Indian student and acquired the labor certifications necessary for the green card. Mira lives in Detroit, is nationally recognized for her involvement in the fields of pre-school education and parent-teacher relationships. After 36 years as a legal immigrant she clings passionately to her Indian citizenship and has hopes to return to India when she retires. Bharati married an American of Canadian parentage. She was able to bypass the labor-certification requirements and the race-related â€Å"quota† system.The Mukherjee sisters have remained sisterly close by phone. They probably pitied one another. Mira, for the lack of structure in Bharati’s life, the erasure of Indianness, the absence of an unvarying daily core. Bharati, for the narrowness of Mira’s perspective, her uninvolvement with the mythic depths or the superficial pop culture of this society. Mira feels manipulated and discarded. She believes its such an unfair way to treat a person who was invited to stay and work. Mira’s employer went to I. N. S. and petitioned for the labor certification.She believes that if America wants to make rules curtailing benefits of legal immigrants they should only apply to immigrants who arrive after the rules are in place. Mira’s voice is not just the voice of the South Asian community but of an immigrant community of the millions who have stayed rooted in one job, one city, one house, one ancestral culture, one cuisine, for the entirety of their productive years. Nearly 20 years prior Bharati was living in her husbands ancestral homeland of Canada where she too was always well-employed but never allowed to truly feel part of the Canadian society.Through a green paper that invited a national referendum on the unwanted side effects of â€Å"nontraditional† immigration, the go vernment officially turned against its immigrant communities, particularly those from South Asia. Bharati was able to feel the same feeling Mira currently has and will never be able to forget the pain of that sudden turn. A sense of betrayal had its desired effects and drove Bharati and thousands others from the country.Although the Mukerjee sisters differ, Mira being happier to live in America as expatriate Indian than as an immigrant American and Bharati have the need to feel like a part of the community in which she has adopted. The price that the immigrant pays is the trauma of self-transformation. My sister and I came to face similar hardships as the Mukerjee sisters only in a different way. There is one thing in life all kids eventually have to endure, that is unless you are home schooled. This place can be the most evil place or it can be fun and exciting. No matter what your outlook on this place is, you will have to go.We call this place HIGH SCHOOL!. It is the place of pee r pressure, cliques, different classes and TONS of students roaming the hallways. My sister, Brittany, and I went through this process, and that’s where the most evil thing happened. This is when our close relationship was turned upside down. Brittany was â€Å"cool† and â€Å"popular†. How could she not be? She had the looks, long blonde hair, super model figure, and a dark tint to her skin. Plus she was a cheerleader. Everyone loved the cheerleaders, or so it seemed. I on the other hand was know as â€Å"the brain† or even sometimes â€Å"nerd†.I had to everything to make it through those four dreadful years, only problem was everything was all up in my head and not in the looks. When we entered high school we promised each other that nothing would split us up. We ALWAYS did everything together. BOY WAS THAT A JOKE! This promise was soon to be broken. I wasn’t considered â€Å"cool† enough to hang out with Brittany and her â€Å"po sse†. No one wanted the little sister around or even the â€Å"nerd† to be interfering. Brittany even asked one day at home, â€Å"Why do you HAVE to hang out with me don’t you have your own friends? † So we parted our separate ways.I made friends and Brittany stuck to her group. We were still very close at home when it came to being around family but we were never caught around each other if her friends were around. It wasn’t until Brittany had graduated high school that some of her friends realized that I was more than just â€Å"the brain. † It was as if they had opened up their eyes and realized that I was actually pretty cool in my own way. I had all the quirks and qualities Brittany had except I had none of the drama. It took them constantly asking about Brittany in order for them to realize this fact though.Although I had learned how to cope on my own through high school, Brittany and I still kept our close connection behind closed doo rs. Just like the Mukerjee sisters, Brittany and I â€Å"have stayed sisterly close† (p. 281). We speak on the phone just about every week mostly about our families and children, and when we are with family we are always together. Brittany has showed me how to spice up my wardrobe as I have helped her learn to memorize and maintain her professional job as a nurse. Even though you may experience one thing two different ways you will always know how it feels when met with a situation that another is going through.

Statement of purpose essay

Statement of purpose essay Statement of purpose essay A statement of purpose essay is exactly what it claims to be-a statement of your purpose in life. What is it that you want to achieve by choosing a particular course or college? And how will this help you to fulfill your purpose? Before starting to write a statement of purpose essay it is essential for you to do some soul searching. What kind of a person are you? Are you driven by a strong drive to help the poor and needy? Then this would be an adequate reason for looking for admission in to a social work course. Also, you can read:http://.com/blog/law-school-personal-statement Short is sweet The golden rule is that if you can say it in six words, dont use twenty. Ensure that what you say is relevant and interesting. If it is not-dont say it-this is one time when silence really proves golden. Tips for success Write on an aspect of life that you have knowledge and interest in. Enjoyment while writing ensures reading enjoyment. If you are a practical down to earth person-use your power of observation to reinforce your central point. If you are more bent towards the why of things then look at the esoteric aspects Make your writing style unique and gripping. Do not repeat points or incidents as this can bore the reader who will quickly loose interest Illustrate your statement of purpose essaywith your past experience and achievements that have left you better equipped to fulfill your goal in life. Examine how future plans and long term goals will get realized if you are given a chance in your chosen college. Motivate the admissions committee to read through your statement of purpose essayby weaving a human interest story around it. Mention specific incidents in which you made a difference. Do not just list your qualities without narrating what helped you to discover your purpose in life. Ensure that your statement of purpose essay has a proper structure with the introductory paragraph stating your purpose and following paragraphs highlighting the logical steps you undertook to reaffirm your purpose. The concluding paragraph should leave the admissions committee feeling that you are the logical choice for admission. Ensure that your statement of purpose essay sounds enthusiastic and positive. Do this by zeroing in on your winning qualities and playing down your negative points. Additional topics: Informative Essay Writing Drama Coursework Help Media Studies Coursework Case Study Analysis Critical Thinking Essay

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character 8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character Even the most fast-paced, action-driven novels need compelling characters to keep readers engaged. Of course, readers will never â€Å"get to know† a character if the author doesn’t have a thorough understanding of who they are and what is driving them first. To this end, we’re about to get real close and personal with a few character development exercises.Character development exercises are a great way to give yourself a better understanding of the person you are creating with pen and paper (or â€Å"fingers and keyboard,† more likely). They also help you create resources that you can pull from during the writing process. In order to help bring your character to life, we are breaking character development down into three stages:Establish your character’s current emotional motivationsPut your character into contextBring your character to life Even the most fast-paced, action-driven novels need compelling characters to keep readers engaged. Establishing your character’s internal motivationsNailing down your character's fundamental goal - the thing that is truly important to them - will help you see what is driving them right now and why their story is worth telling at this moment in their lives. Without an internal goal to achieve, your story will lack a narrative arc. Perhaps even worse, your characters will come off as flat. How to Create a Character Profile: the Ultimate Guide (with Template) Read post Exercise #6: Break the iceThink about it: how many times have you been asked in one form or another, â€Å"So, tell me about yourself?† It’s a classic ice-breaker question, and, these days, with social media and the overwhelming variety of ways for us to â€Å"present ourselves† to the world, the stakes of â€Å"tell me about yourself† have never been higher. Of course, we change the way we answer this question based on who we’re talking to. Further chip away at your character and establish how they present themselves to others by imagining how they would briefly describe themselves in the following situations: In a job interviewOn a first dateCatching up with an old friendFlirting with someone at a partyIn their Twitter bioAt the border between the US and MexicoExercise #7: A little less conversation, a little more actionWhen you meet someone, you do not start by announcing your height, weight, hair, and eye color, so please do not introduce your c haracter to readers like this. But how to avoid describing looks and physicality without chunks of exposition? Consider this line from James Joyce’s Ulysses: â€Å"He looked in Stephen's face as he spoke. A light wind passed his brow, fanning softly his fair uncombed hair and stirring silver points of anxiety in his eyes.†Joyce takes advantage of a moment of action to shed light on Stephen’s looks and his anxious demeanor. Try your hand at conveying your character through action by first writing a list of physical traits that apply to your character. Next, with that list at hand, write a scene where something is happening - whether it’s a conversation, laundry-folding, cooking, etc. Weave references to your character’s physicality into the action.Exercise #8: Take them on a test-driveSometimes a bad case of writer’s block boils down to a broken connection between you and your protagonist, and the solution can be a change of scenery. Not for you - for your character! Writing prompts are a good way to get the creative juices flowing and can help you clear out the block so your character can continue down your story’s path.For a weekly supply of fresh writing prompts, head here. For your protagonist to shine through the page, they need to have their own voice. It’s only once you have acquired a thorough understanding of your protagonist, that a compelling and realistic character will shine through the page. However, there is disagreement in the world of writing communities regarding what information is or is not relevant for an author to know about a character. While we believe it’s probably unnecessary for an author know the number of hairs on their character’s head, we also believe you can never know too much about your protagonist. What’s important is discerning what information is significant to the current story you’re writing. As Ray Bradbury wrote in Zen in the Art of Writing: â€Å"Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.†If you’ve tried any of our suggested character development exercises, or if you have favorite tricks of your own, let us know in the comments!

Camping out Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Camping out - Essay Example Camping may be sturdy or even impracticable, but this should not be the issue, it should be fun and enjoyable. Going on audacious activities, discovering nature, all these can be attained in camping only if a person goes camping with the right mind. There is no hot shower in camps; one has to bathe in rivers, lakes and any other alternative. When one thinks about camping, he or she should think of both the affirmative and the downbeat sides. The activities in camping, which are fishing and gathering wild fruits are quite audacious. These can be the healthiest foods one takes in the span of a year. Contrast these foods with the canned foods people carry when going camping. The canned foods do not have nutrients they are just like junk food, but the fish and the wild fruits are fresh and have many nutrients. These activities should not be tough on a person. Someone should do them as fun activities, by doing so they become fun, and the activities make people appreciate nature. People should stop living on their placate zone, by allowing themselves to be adventurous. An example is Earnest’s statement that any man of average office intelligence can make at least as good a pie as his wife (Thurston 201). The challenges that people face when going out on camps should add fun to their activities. Being attacked by mosquitoes and bugs and even camping in flies infested areas should be thrilling. This sounds sickening and horrendous, but why should a person go camping if he or she will not be able to stand these challenges. The presence of insects is because; most of camping activities take place in forests and sometimes on top of hills and mountains. When the activities take place in the forest, it is expectable to find insects like flies, because this is where they cohabit. Camping is tough and sometimes the activities look unattainable. These activities serve to make going out on camps gratifying and fulfilling. There is no need of going out on a camp when

The primate pattern Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The primate pattern - Essay Example There are various hypotheses that attempt to explicate the original evolutionary divergence of the privates but the three hypotheses are the main in the evolutionary process. The Arboreal Hypothesis was advanced by the Elliot Smith and was later supported by Wood Jones. The Elliot Smith hypothesized that the ancient primates were terrestrial animals that at the end came to dwell in arboreal habitant because of the selective pressure divergent from their original terrestrial way of life (Srivastava 18). In the arboreal environments, the primate vision and the sense of touch became greater senses compared to the sense of smell that led to developing new methods of adaptation essential in the arboreal settings. The functional arboreal hypothesis lacked supportive and clear evidence to explain how primate adapted their terrestrial style into the arboreal environment; therefore, criticism led to evolution of other alternative hypotheses. Cartmill introduced alternative hypothesis called Visual Predation that would explicate the progression of primates. He demonstrated that the morphological pattern of the primates do not indicate arboreal adaption as shown by Smith, rather adaptation to feeding mode to bushy forest in the ground where they hunted for fruits and insects. Therefore, it is clear that little primitive, mainly insectivorous and ancient primate were capable to reach for the branches using their prehensile limbs and catch prey with a forelimb while judging the way with close-set eyes (Ravosa and Dagosto 12). Consequently, it is comprehensible from that ancient primate relied deeply on the sense of vision that why the theory is known as visual predation hypothesis. Similar to the first hypothesis, the Cartmill hypothesis was criticized because it was yet to be proven and the primate pre-adapted for the arboreal living. However, it is harmless to point out that the arboreal and visual predations are not mutu ally exclusive