ipl-logo

Essay Comparing Waiting For The Barbarians And Akhenaten

1667 Words7 Pages

Truth is a common theme that is present in both the novels Waiting for the Barbarians and Akhenaten. I believe truth is the most prevalent theme in each book and each protagonist’s journey to truth is the central plot in each novel. In Waiting for the Barbarians, the Magistrate is trying to find the truth about the barbarian girl and the torture that had been inflicted on her. In Akhenaten, Akhenaten is trying to find the truth about the universe and spiritual things. I argue that in both novels, the authors are using the protagonist’s journeys to truth as a way to show resistance to empire, but in Waiting for the Barbarians, it is the realization truth that leads the protagonist resists the empire, and in Akhenaten, it is in the protagonists’ resistance to the empire that he finds truth. The magistrate began as a law-abiding citizen, and a well respected one at that. When Colonel Joll first arrives, the magistrate attempts to persuade him not to go after the barbarians. The …show more content…

While Colonel Joll is inflicting punishment on those who don’t give information about the barbarians, the citizens become fearful of an attack by the barbarians. This leads to the pointing of hands, specifically to the Magistrate. Coetzee uses Colonel Joll in Waiting for the Barbarians to represent the head of the empire. It is Joll’s violent quest for truth from townspeople, specifically the barbarian girl, which initiates the Magistrate’s journey to truth and desire to resist the empire. “[After the Magistrate] discovers his fear is justified, and thereafter, he is obsessed by the brutality of the Empire and the effects of torture, not only on the victims, but also on the torturers and on those who live in a society that allows torture” (Franklin 4). This quote shows how the magistrate was not at first attempting to resist the empire, but was led to once he found out the

Show More
Related

  • Defying Empire: An Analysis

    604 Words  | 3 Pages

    The businessmen of colonial New York strove to succeed in their trade by any means possible, often resorting to violence and bribery in order to increase their profit margin. However, their methods were not limited to violence. Throughout Defying Empire the reader is often bombarded with descriptions of the mindsets of the eponymous merchants. The text goes into detail cataloging the general thought processes behind some of the most ingenious smuggling conventions of the 18th century. They utilized any tools at their disposal in order to continue their businesses including powerful connections and money.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Harrison Bergeron And By The Waters Of Babylon

    187 Words  | 1 Pages

    The “Rap-Back” Of Tech In the two stories, “Harrison Bergeron”, and “By The Waters Of Babylon”, the world is “destroyed”, or “remade”, after a technological “break-down”. Tech can very easily lead us to our own imminent demise, none the less it’s own, but usually, it may only do so with our allowing it.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast By The Waters Of Babylon And Fahrenheit 451

    736 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is a progress; working together is success,” by Henry Ford. The book Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, and the short story By the Waters of Babylon, by Stephen Vincent Benét, show how humankind isn’t always successful throughout their journey. Some stories, people, and objects could seem like they have nothing in common, completely different, but hidden underneath the surface are similarities and connections. People will make their own choices and carry through with them if they believe they are right. As things carry on throughout both stories we see they are connected more commonly through being compared to a phoenix, finding the truth and the travel.

    Read More

  • Samuel Boucher Analysis

    1491 Words  | 6 Pages

    The aforementioned quote leaves room for rulers, both legislative and executive, to rule justly on behalf of the public good of the community. Sherwood affirms this position saying, “It is of importance that all order of men be faithful in their several departments, for defending and promoting the public good.” Sherwood now identifies the present dangers he identifies in 1774 when he delivers his

    Read More

  • Gilgamesh And Braveheart Comparison Essay

    821 Words  | 4 Pages

    In a struggle for freedom, a parallel between the tale of King Gilgamesh of Uruk from the story, The Epic of Gilgamesh and the legend of William Wallace of Scotland from the movie, Braveheart, begins to emerge. However, reflection and refraction in attitude and ability to attain freedom between the two heroes are notable when taking in the effects of their rivals, the inspiration of women in their lives and close friendships that help bring courage and success in their quests. Although, the two characters diverge from similarity as, Gilgamesh has a deep desire to be liberated from death’s grip while, Wallace aspires to release himself and the people of Scotland from the oppression brought forth by England, nonetheless, it is freedom they seek. The struggle for freedom that our two characters endure results from conflict with opposing personalities.

    Read More

  • Confucian And Legalist Values In The Book 'Celebrated Cases Of Judge Dee'

    1019 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the book Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (Dee Goong An), the main character is Judge Dee, a magistrate in China’s Tang dynasty. The roles of a magistrate include but are not limited to, being a judge, detective, jury and police officer. The book follows three of Judge Dee’s cases, the Case of the Double Murder at Dawn, the Case of the Strange Corpse, and the Case of the Poisoned Bride. In order to be a distinguished and powerful magistrate, one must lead with Confucian and Legalist values. Judge Dee is an effective magistrate because he blends both Confucian and Legalist values seamlessly, and is well aware of the Tang dynasty’s social hierarchy.

    Read More

  • The Christian Critical Tradition In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

    631 Words  | 3 Pages

    When reading The Epic of Gilgamesh we can find different examples of the six criteria for evaluating works of art. Therefore we are able to hone in on a few that really prevail throughout the story that persuades the reader to think critically about what exactly the author wants the reader to understand. Three main themes of the Christian critical tradition in The Epic of Gilgamesh are truth, righteousness, and beauty. When looking at the epic of Gilgamesh and accessing the literature for truth we see that an ultimate truth is death.

    Read More

  • Why Is The Trial Of Louis Riel Unfair

    1586 Words  | 7 Pages

    In 1884, the Métis people sought help from Louis Riel to help them grab the attention of the Canadian government who had been ignoring their complaints and petitions, and treating them as lower class citizens. They needed Riel to be the effective voice to speak on their behalf in order to obtain rights to elections and such so that their land was not threatened by immigrants from the east due to past experiences. After attempting to fight the Battle of Batoche, he was accused of high treason, and a five-day trial was held of which Riel had pleaded guilty and was then sentenced to death. The trial of Louis Riel suffered many imperfections and did not contain the number of merits as one would have thought. Riel was deprived of justice and mercy

    Read More

  • Abuse Of Political Power In Jin Ha's Saboteur

    1013 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the commencement of the story Mr.Chiu is a devoted law abiding citizen. He recognizes that the duty of law enforcement is to not only enforce the law for others but it is also to abide by the laws they are there to enforce. Furthermore, He also believes that the police force are harming the citizens by not obeying the law. “He[Mr. Chiu] has trusted that those with authority will operate morally and will honor, even revere, the truth, values he upholds as well.”

    Read More

  • Theme Of Abuse In Frederick Douglass

    1838 Words  | 8 Pages

    “Yes, sir, he gives me enough, such as it is.” The colonel, after ascertaining where the slave belonged, rode on; the man also went on about his business, not dreaming that he had been conversing with his master. He thought, said, and heard nothing more of the matter, until two or three weeks afterwards. The poor man was then informed by his overseer that, for having found fault with his master, he was now to be sold to a Georgia trader. He was immediately chained and handcuffed; and thus, without a moment’s warning, he was snatched away, and forever sundered, from his family and friends, by a hand more unrelenting than death.”

    Read More

  • Revenge, Morality, And Justice In Killings By Andre Dubus

    834 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Although Dubus trains his disgust on the failures of the court, the practical shortcomings of using force as a response to injustice paradoxically emerge at the conclusion of an essay that ostensibly argues for the necessity of doing just that”

    Read More

  • Comparing Sophocles Antigone And King's Letter From Birmingham

    338 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sophocles’ play Antigone, and Martin Luther king Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail analyze the underlying truth concerning their moral situations tied in with the legal systems of their times. Antigone was faced with whether to follow her heart and go against her very own uncle, while King himself did not face any personal dilemmas but was providing the intended audience a choice, either to side with his methods or fall in to the power of their faulty legal system. In this paper, I will argue how both pieces face different moral and legal dilemmas in their own unique way which ultimately questions the jurisdictions set forth by those in power. Does law reflect morality? In this short play, Antigone is faced with the choice to either bury Polynecies

    Read More

  • Summary Of Floyd Knowles 'The Grapes Of Wrath'

    186 Words  | 1 Pages

    In this chapter, you are introduced to Floyd Knowles, a man the Joads meet while setting up tents for shelter, a Hooverville, as they are on the move along with many other families. Knowles warns them of how the police are treating certain groups with harassment. Casy decides to leave the Joads’ group because he insists that he is a burden to them, but decides to stay an extra day. Later, two men, one is a deputy, show up in a car to the tent settlement to offer fruit-picking jobs, but Knowles refuses which provokes the men. They try to falsely accuse him of breaking into a car lot so they can arrest him.

    Read More

  • Summary: The Case Against Civil Disobedience

    1290 Words  | 6 Pages

    These reasons will prevent anarchy because one has a conscience to determine which laws to follow and which ones do not; therefore, one shows loyalty to the authority of law and also loyalty to one’s

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Gilgamesh And The Iliad

    1519 Words  | 7 Pages

    The other similar characters in both the works are Patroclus and Enkidu, who were uncivilized and died for the fame of their leaders. The similarities between the themes of both these works like mortality, friendship and religion. The importance of the theme of friendship is seen in the relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh and Patroclus and Achilles. Another similarity is in the main theme of both these works. Both the characters of Gilgamesh and Achilles have the weakness of mortality.

    Read More

More about Essay Comparing Waiting For The Barbarians And Akhenaten

Open Document