As W.H. Auden said “Those to whom evil is done/ Do evil in return” (Auden “September” 21-22). Similarly to Auden’s work on the effects of dictators, Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, shows the effects of one class having excessive wealth or power above another. Throughout the novel, Dickens demonstrates that when one estate has the excess power, they feel obligated to treat others inhumanely, as if they are irrelevant. However, when treated with the utmost disrespect, people will feel obliged not to change the system justly, but to change it in benefit for their personal revenge.
To counter this feeling, these people enforce their own views of society. The two novels, Alice in Wonderland and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court explore the theme of having the desire to amend the surrounding. In Alice in Wonderland, Alice is (thrust/shoved) into a world of insanity and bewilderment.
Throughout the entire novel of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland the author demonstrates symbolism and meaning in all of his many characters. For example, the Queen of Hearts can be interpreted as a caricature for Queen Victoria, but she can also be a metaphor for why anger and wrath can destroy a person or a reputation. The Mad Hatter is used as a advocate for the theory that life has no meaning, his confusing personalities and various unsolvable riddles. The main character, Alice, was used as a lesson upon why when you grow up you do not have to let go of your childhood dreams, as long as you remain open enough you can hold onto that child like imagination. Each character in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland carries their own fantastic symbolism to the
No matter how advanced people in a society believe to be in comparison to what has come before -- flaws are always present in a society, particularly in the Antebellum South. Not surprisingly, the use of satire figures in literature is intended to shed light on a writer 's’ opinions regarding a corrupt society. The use of such ridicule characters is perfectly epitomized in Mark Twain’s, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In this composition, Twain exposes the shortcomings and faults of society through certain aspects of society during . Known as one of the Great American Novels, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a satirical novel about a young boy trying to make sense of the confusing world he lives in.
Stephanie Schatz reflects on the “link between childhood flights of fancy and ‘mental derangement in mature life’” (Schats 93) shown through Alice’s interactions within the novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Carroll’s Alice had “difficulty in differentiating fiction from reality” (Schatz 103) due to her imagination which was an argued issue among Victorian medical communities. Many believed that “childhood imagination was very quickly morphing into evidence of a weakened constitution and a possible indication of a nervous disorder-both precursors of madness” (Schatz 97) that Carroll wished to challenge. Carroll fought the Victorian educational system that “trivialized imaginative pursuits” (Schatz 105) with his novels that turned away from didactic literature that focused solely on teachings to novels that welcome the “value of childhood imagination” (Schatz
Although, poor Billy was once mesmerized by the old lady, failing to realize her real, haunting self. “Not in the least,” she said. “I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away. Will you have another cup of tea?” “No, thank you,” Billy said. The tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds, and he didn’t much care for it.”(Dahl, 2) Billy shows his naive characteristics as he does not question as he learned his landlady stuffs her animals.
When the Industrial Revolution took off, the people assumed that it was making man evil, so they rebelled against it. They changed how they wrote and also acted in ways that included focusing on emotions, the celebration of the individual, promotion of the imagination, chivalry, and a focus on the common man. All these attributes appeared in their writing and their actions, and are grouped into a time period now referred to as the Romantic period. Washington Irving makes fun of Romanticism with one of his stories called “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” through the ideas of the supernatural and emotion.“The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” is one of
An example of a stereotypic character traits being displayed in the influence of medieval romantic literature on modern films would be, as stated in Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’ Arthur, “come on fiercely and slay the traitor” Mordred, for I in no wise trust him”(187). This example represents the stereotypic traits of a King because it shows how kings are looked at to be honorable and his people respected that. The people of England would do anything their King asked which is a common stereotype in modern films such as “Braveheart” (Giles, par 3). Another example would be on pg. 39 in the article “About Beowulf”, he was described as a young warrior of great strength and courage” fighting off Grendel, a “bloodthirsty foe”.
Specifically, I will be using two major works of Thomas Hardy, written during these times. I chose Thomas Hardy because one of his prominent goals in his writings was to point out all the wrongs with the Victorian Era, such as women’s placement in the world, and the idea of marriage. His writings were critiques of the Victorian Era. The Mayor of Casterbridge and The Return of the Native, both by Thomas Hardy, exemplify his goal of exposing the Victorian Era’s truths and wrongs. By evaluating and analyzing these works, I intend to show what Hardy believed was wrong, and how it differs from times today.
Opposition of Ideals: Lady Audley’s Duality Every masterpiece in literature reflects the ideals and concerns of the period of time in which the text was produced. During the Victorian age, the perceptions of purity and scandal were the two ideas that crashed against each other. The sensation novel became popular at the time for it reflected an English society always trying to show the perfection of the noble homeland and its people. Characters in literature usually stick to similar traits that converge in the characters’ archetypal figure, which could be the wise man, the hero, the villain, the damsel in distress, the femme fatale, and the angel in the house, to mention just a few. Interestingly, the two latter archetypes gather in one same character: Lady Audley’s.