In Henry James’s “Lilippincott’s Magazine”, the protagonist happens to be passing by the funeral of a shoemaker, the tones despicable and solemn come to the mind; taking place on the streets of Piccadilly, England, when the people or the “shabbier English types” as the protagonist refers to them, give Mr. George Odger a funeral to remember him, nonetheless he protagonist describes Mr. Odger as a “radical agitator”, this idea comes from his “perverse desire” to be part of the Parliament, which only accepts burgesses. In addition, the words “shabbier”, and “perverse” reflect the protagonist’s feelings towards the multitude upon him. Nevertheless, despite the protagonist view of Mr. Odger, and the common society, he feels admiration for Mr.
It reflects Henry James irony towards George Odger. Henry James is scornful towards George Odger’s humbleness by saying that George Odger is a useful human being. “It was
In the novel The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and in the film Stranger Than Fiction the audience encounters two heros, Oscar Wao and Harold Crick. Throughout the lives of both heros I identified similarities and differences in the characteristics of each that make them their own unique hero. In Oscar’s life, he seeks for love and for someone to love him back, which he has a difficult time accomplishing. Whereas in Harold's story, he attempts to determine who is writing his story so he can prevent them from ending his life. Both heros, Oscar and Harold, proceed on journeys that determine their fate.
Regardless of the truth or legitimacy of the argument, the societal expectations played into Janie’s considerations regarding Tea Cake. Though she wanted to inquire about him, she was concerned her questions may be misinterpreted as interest which, as people later assured her, “he looked too young for her. Must be around twenty-five and here she was around forty” (Hurston 100). This age gap drove much of the gossip and some legitimate fears in the town, as well, that the reputable Mrs. Starks would end up deceived and penniless by a no-good, common man.
Thesis: F. Scott Fitzgerald accurately depicts dishonestly and hypocrisy within the upper class in his characterization of the West Eggers within “The Great Gatsby”. In the 1920’s American morality changed drastically as a result of World War I. Many young men and women were forced to leave their comforts zones, and as a result, experienced a freedom they had never experienced. Men experienced women and drinking at a young age, and women finally had a chance to enter the workforce, and as a result the mind-set shifted from family and other orientated to focusing on one the self. Many people became hypocritical, unfaithful, and dishonest, especially in the upper class.
A 10-year-old girl, Lila, narrates this story. But narration through the perspective of a 10-year-old child slightly lowlights the heaviness of the topic and its effects. The characters are witnessing the Indo-Pak war from a distance both geographically and emotionally. Lilia’s parents were worried about the conflict and War but this conflict left Lila struggling with her own life. Mr. Pirzada gave a candy to Lila as a sign of affection.
In Louisa May Alcotts novel “An Old Fashioned Girl” the main character, Polly Milton, finds herself struggling against a man versus society conflict, as she confronts the rich first class society that surrounds her. The fourteen year old country girl who ventures into the city to visit her good friend, is constantly being told she is old fashioned, poor, and too simple for the city. The basis of the conflict is that all the people Polly encounters during her time in the city, expect her to look and behave like the rest. When Polly cannot do this, people begin to tease and mock her all because she has no wealth.
The novella blatantly criticized the general public for romanticizing the war. When the narrator is on leave and goes to the performance in London, he is uncomfortable with the heroic way in which war is portrayed. The narrator thinks that “people should not be sitting laughing at jokes about plum and apple jam when boys are out dying in France.”. These people who sleep comfortably at night well fed, warm, and clean do not have the right to find comedy in war. Afterwards, when Gladys questions why the narrator would want to visit a place notorious for criminals instead of enjoying the attractions that London has to offer, he replies that he is a criminal since he has murdered someone.
In “Marigolds” by Eugenia Collier the coming of age short story where a now grown up Lizabeth reminisce her childhood especially going into Ms.Lottie’s garden. Ms. Lottie, who did not like children but treated her precious marigolds gets them destroyed by Lizabeth. After destroying them, Lizabeth realizes her errors believing she became a women in that moment. This short story has several literary device that are used in it to help deepen the meaning. The use of imagery, symbolism and metaphors in “Marigolds” helps the reader that it is important to not lose
The repetition of the word “careless” supports the idea that the upper class during the 1920s were not cautious of their actions, which lead to innocent people taking the blame; in this case, it was the death of Gatsby and Wilson because of Tom’s incompetence. The repetition also emphasizes the carelessness of the higher class in the
"Mr. George Odger, Diction Paragraph" The author's diction highlights the man's perception of Mr. George Odger and his funeral. The man thought that Mr. Odger was a "useful and honorable man," which was an ironic contrast to the mans comment on Mr. Odger, "He distinguished himself by a perverse desire to get into the Parliament. " These comments accentuate Mr. Odger's personality and behavior as he tried to achieve his goals. Then a feeling of curiosity to know more about their relationship fills the reader due to the ironic and compromising comments of the man.
How and why is a social group represented in a particular way? In his play The Importance of Being Earnest (1895, London St. James’ theater), Oscar Wilde portrays the attitudes and society of Victorian upper class through character interactions within the ‘Bunburyist’ adventures of Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing. The play’s comedic elements, in addition to the portrayal of power structures, are used as an effective medium to challenge the viewer to reflect upon Wilde’s criticism on institutions and values of the aristocracy. In conjunction to this, deeper analysis can be conducteds about marriage in Victorian aristocracy and their attitudes to members of other social groups.
When finding out about Tom’s affair with Mrytle and being forced to attend one of their parties, Nick expresses his opinion on his infidelity, “the fact that he ‘had some woman in New York’ was really less surprising… Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart” (Fitzgerald 25). As a static character, Tom’s hubristic mentality causes him to seek the excitement in having an affair as he desires more sense of dominance over those of the lower class. The use of contrast between Tom’s physical state and his mentality emphasizes on the motif the appearance versus reality, which in terms evokes a paradox between his perfect gentleman image and his veil inner self. The situational irony, where he should take pride in his physical ability as he is a successful football player cannot satisfy his enormous ego at heart, develops his hamartia to be the excessive pride that he generates based on his inherited social status.
Oscar Wilde wrote his plays against the backdrop of the Victorian English society. It therefore helps to discuss the salient aspects of the Victorian society. Victorian England is known for many paradoxes -- glaring contrasts between the rich and the poor, insistence on morality on the one hand and the practice of cynicism on the other, blooming creativity pitted against blatant constriction, imperial grandeur since Britain was then ruling almost one fifth of the total surface of the earth and domestic squalor since the majority of people did not have decent means of livelihood, and finally collectivity dictated by tradition opposed to the rapidly developing individualism. The class system denied the talented members of the lower classes access to social and economic advancement. The upper classes alone had the privilege of working in the government, the armed forces, and the church, while trade was monopolized by the rising middle class.
In Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities, Sidney Carton’s love for Lucie Manette is the driving force which ultimately redeems his character at the end of the novel; his capacity to love another person transforms his character from a self-centered alcoholic to a selfless hero. Charles Dickens quickly informs his readers of the impertinent and egoistic nature of Sidney Carton’s character. Described as “careless” and “fully half-insolent”, Carton is introduced to readers as someone who has little respect for anyone, including himself. While drunk in a tavern with Charles Darnay, Carton expresses, “‘You know I have been drinking... you shall likewise know why...
Wilde’s representation of the British upper class, its values and opinions, is presented most notably through Lady Augusta Bracknell. She is a dignified aristocratic residing fashionable London society circles. On the surface, she is very typical Victorian woman. As a mother to Gwendolen Fairfax, she has a great authority over her controlling her life. She has even a list of ”eligible young man” whom she is ready to interview in order to select a suitable partner for her daughter.