Aphra Behns Oroonoko as the First Modern Novel Essay -- Oroonoko Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚   During the seventeenth century, the art of writing was like uncharted waters for women, in which most who ventured were rendered pathetically unsuccessful.   No matter the quality, publications written by women were typically ridiculed by their male contenders.   However, a handful of women defied the common standards and were prosperous; one of these was Aprha Behn.   Virgina Wolf says of Behn, "All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds."   Although she was a woman of outstanding accomplishments, one of her publications truly glistens.   Oroonoko (1688), the epic tale of a heroic black slave, has often been dubbed the first modern novel in that it displays qualities utterly matchless for the seventeenth century.    Although one may not realize it, several aspects work harmoniously in constructing the modern novel.   According to Ian Watt, three of these are particularity, unity of design, and rejection of traditional plots.   A novel must focus on specific characters and has to occur in a distinct time frame.   Furthermore, a novel should have a plot unlike others of the era.   One common idea or theme should also rule the work.   All of these characteristics are vividly expressed in Oroonoko.    Particularity, Watt states, is "the amount of attention it [the novel] habitually accords to both the individualism of its characters and to the detailed presentation of their environment."   Behn puts an emphasis on only a few main characters; these being Oroonoko (Caesar), the narrator who is a white mistress, and Imoinda, Oroonoko's love.   The writer goes to great lengths to brilliantly paint a picture of Oroonoko for the readers, ... ...el - distinctiveness, unity of design, and rejection of traditional plots. Behn's accomplishment in writing Oroonoko both paved the way for future female writers and set an example for prospective novelists.   Truly her impassioned account of a maltreated slave who died for liberty will forever be revered and cherished as the first modern novel.    Works Cited Behn, Aphra and Janet Todd.   Oroonoko, The Rover and Other Works. England: Penguin Classics, 1992. Hunter, Paul J.   "Before Novels".   The Aphra Behn Page.   <http://www.lit-arts.com/rmn/behn/novel.htm> 22 July 1999. Watt, Ian.   "The beginnings of the English novel".   The Aphra Behn Page. <http://www.lit-arts.com/rmn/behn/novel.htm>19 July 1999. Wolf, Virginia.   "A Room of One's Own".   The Virginia Wolf Society of Great Britian. <http://orlando.jp.org/VWSGB/> 22 July 1999.

The Ideal State of Today Essay -- Philosophy, Lao-Tzu

The search for the ideal state has been an on going mission for leaders since the creation of the first government. For a state to be truly ideal, its administration and chief must have the right characteristics. A government is a system that governs a state. A leader is someone who operates the administration. Although this seems simple, historical and current chiefs and regimes have proven it is not. The teachings of men such as Lao-Tzu and Niccolo Machiavelli include specific details on the traits a leader must posses in order to run and maintain a government where he or she is happy as well as the citizens. However, several of the traits classified as necessary for both a leader and government, by Lao and Machiavelli are undesirable in the path to the ideal state. In his work, â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching,† Lao-Tzu discusses the Tao. Lao believes the Tao or â€Å"the way† to be the most effective method into developing a leader fit to manage a government in which everyone is content and is at peace. According to Lao, â€Å"the Master doesn’t talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say, Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!† (25). Therefore, the chief, in order to run the administration, he must govern the people in ways that they are barely aware of his presence and ruling. The people, when they forget their superior, â€Å"goodness and piety appear† (25). Subjects living under such a government, turn to a higher supreme power, which they believe is responsible for their accomplishments, which creates religious devotion. Niccolo Machiavelli, in â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince,† discusses whether a prince should keep his word to his people. Machiavelli said, â€Å"the princes who have accomplished great deeds are those who have cared ... ...ch speculators prosper while farmers lose their land, government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures, when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn-all this is robbery and chaos† (Lao-Tzu 29). In addition, this is complete capitalism and, therefore, the government will not succeed. One country that has united the two types of administrations is China, which is the world’s second-largest economy and has become known as the â€Å"world’s factory† (Bin 2). According to Prof Alok Bhargava in â€Å"Persuade Beijing of need for democracy,† â€Å"China is now more capitalist than communist. The Chinese economic policies have lowered production costs and brought prosperity† (16). China’s use of dual administrations demonstrates the positive outcomes of doing so, even though; China considers itself completely a communist country.

Compare the ways in which the authors present the main characters “Growing Up” and “Flight” as learning something new

The two stories are very similar in many ways. Both are about learning new things and the changing attitudes between the old and the young. Also the main learners in both stories are the older generation. In Flight it is the Grandfather while in Flight it is Robert Quick. Also in both stories the secondary learners are the younger generation Jenny in Growing Up and the mother of the younger generations seem to have already learned and accepted the lessons. However there is a slight difference I feel that in â€Å"Flight† it is more about accepting new concepts than about learning. In flight the first thing Quick realizes is that his daughters have grown up, he realizes this due to their lack of response to him and their lack of affection. This is how in lines 4 to 6 â€Å"He had hoped indeed that they might, as often before, been waiting at the corner of the road† and in line 25 to 26 â€Å"He shouted ‘Hullo, hullo, children.' There was no reply. And he stopped, in surprise.† He expects the children to be the same as they were when they were younger but they have changed. This is also shown from lines 34 to 49 where the children are very unresponsive towards their father, Jenny answers by having â€Å"peered at him through her hair† and a â€Å"slight wiggle of her behind† and Kate answers him only by â€Å"faint, muffled†¦ ‘Hullo'†. The Grandfather in Flight learns that his granddaughter has grown up as well in lines 116 and in lines 119 to 122 what makes him realize this is their â€Å"grown up seriousness†. The author shows this by contrasting the grand father being â€Å"shut-out† by their â€Å"grown up seriousness† while they are â€Å"tumbling like puppies on the grass†. This contrast shows that although they appear to be the same the grandfather has learnt that inside his granddaughter has changed. Mr. Quick also learns that his daughters can be hurtful and learns not to have fixed expectations of them. He learns of their hurtful ness in lines 75 to 105 when the girls first torture snort and then begin to attack him. But he then learns not to have fixed expectations of them when shortly after that in lines 125 to 136 they then begin to take care of him and nurse his wounds. A similar thing happens in Flight when the granddaughter first taunts her grandfather in lines 47 to 51, but then later 103 to 105 bring him a present as a peace offering showing him not to have fixed expectations either. Both the granddaughter in Flight and Jenny in Growing Up also learn something new by the end of the stories. The granddaughter realizes that her grandfather does not wish to spite her (as it seems in lines25 to 39) and is only trying to prevent her from getting married because he truly loves her, and he does not wish her to be unhappy. The author has presented this at the very end of the play, so that it has a lingering effect on the reader. Doris Lessing shows this not by any words but by an action, namely when the grandfather releases the birds (which have been made to symbolize the granddaughter) free in lines126 to 145, symbolizing setting his granddaughter free to do as she pleases. In turn she realizes this and reacts to it and is said to be having â€Å"tears run shivering off her face† showing the profound impact it has on her. Joyce Cary author of growing up also shows Jenny's new understanding at the end of the story. He leaves the reader with a sense of uncertainty concerning Jenny, unsure as to what exactly she is thinking, leaving it at â€Å"she also was struck by something new and unexpected†. I believe that Jenny gained a new understanding of Quick, perhaps one of vulnerability. This is perhaps due to the fact that quick towards the end is shown as fearing his children. In lines 174 to 175 he is shown as unsure what to think of what Jenny was doing, which may be the base of her new understanding Another similarity between the stories upon comparison is the resemblance in the roles of the Daughter in Flight and Mrs. Quick in Growing Up. The authors of both stories show them as being superior and show them as already understanding what the other characters are yet to learn. In Growing Up when Mr. Quick tells Mrs. Quick about the events of the day which have shocked him she merely replies â€Å"All you children- amusing her selves while we run the world.† As if the events were perfectly normal and natural, because she already knows to expect it. The same is true for the Daughter in Flight she too shows that she understands both sides and knows what to expect when she converses with her father in lines 75 to 100 when she appears to have al the answers to the grandfather's questions. Both stories have a lot in common in the way the authors present the way in which the characters learn new things. This is especially true in terms of structure where the layout is close to identical. Though both stories seem to be about different themes they are very similar in comparison.

Mla Format – Abortion

Jean Lin Ms. Kasababian Language Arts Honors 30 November 2012 Abortion In 2008, twelve women taking resident in the U. S. died due to legal abortions performed during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. Abortion should be available to all females living in the United States, but must be a legal citizen to have late abortions, which are during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. Abortion is a right that women have, and the Fourth Amendment â€Å"Search and Seizure† supports it.Fewer women will exercise abortion if it is kept legal in the U. S. Late abortions are dangerous, so only legal citizens of the U. S. may have second or third trimester abortions. In the 1820’s, various ideas against abortions began forming in the United States. Connecticut passed a statute targeting apothecaries who sold poisons to women for purposes of abortion, and New York made abortions a felony eight years later. The criminalization of abortions accelerated throughout the 18 60’s all the way to the 1900’s.Some states did allow abortions to generally protect a woman's life or pregnancies due to rape or incest. The famous Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade in 1973 legalized abortions throughout the U. S. The Court argued that the First, Fourth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s zone of privacy. On Jan. 24th, 2005, Hillary Clinton made a speech addressing her thoughts about abortion. â€Å"Let’s defend the right to an abortion while doing all we can to ensure that fewer and fewer women exercise it. The Fourth Amendment, â€Å"Search and Seizure,† applies to a woman’s right to have an abortion: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person s or things to be seized. (Mount 1) Note that the fourth amendment specifies that authorities must have a warrant to scour a person of his/her belongings.The baby belongs to the mother, and therefore she has a right to decide whether to have an abortion (to have a doctor â€Å"search† her) or not. NARAL Pro-Choice America (National Abortion Rights Action League) â€Å"believes in keeping abortion legal and safe. † NARAL also believes in lessening the need for abortion, which means keeping the access to contraception, or birth control, wide open. Even pro-life persons believe in access to birth control. Hillary Clinton stated in her speech in 2005, â€Å"The pro-life Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, has a bill called the Prevention First Act that would expand access to birth control. Access to birth control does not act in the same way as an abortion does, however. Many CPCs (Crisis Pregnancy Centers) mislead women into thinking that abortions cause breast cancer, t hat birth-control pills cause abortions, and that abortion can lead to sterility. CPCs do anything to talk a woman out of having a legal abortion. Late abortions are performed during the second or third trimesters. A method of late abortion is a saline injection. This is when a needle is inserted into the uterus through the abdominal wall.Amniotic fluid, which is the â€Å"egg white† that provides nutrients for the baby, is drained from the uterus and replaced with concentrated salt water to kill the fetus. The amniotic fluid drained is said to be dangerous if it were released into the woman’s body. The woman can die, but has a very low risk of being infected. One idea brought up by pro-life activists is that abortion is murder. According to the 14th Amendment, people born and naturalized as citizens in the U. S. are protected under the law. A fetus is not yet born.Just because it has a life doesn’t mean the fetus is protected under the law. The mother is, but t he â€Å"unborn baby† is not protected as an individual. Therefore, abortion is not murder, and abortion is not illegal. Everyone, either pro-choice or pro-life, wants to lower the amount of abortions practiced: According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control, since 1990 the number of reported legal abortions dropped from 1. 4 million a year to 853,000 in 2001. The number of abortions for every 1,000 live births dropped from 344 to 246. Sullivan 1) Abortion should be a right and privilege for every woman, but it also comes with great risk and responsibility. Works Cited â€Å"Abortion – When and How Abortions Are Performed† JRank. 2008. Abortion – When And How Abortions Are Performed Haeberle, Erwin J. â€Å"The Sex Atlas. † 1983. ; http://www2. hu-berlin. de/sexology/ATLAS_EN/html/abortion_methods. html ; McBride, Alex. â€Å"Roe v. Wade (1973). † No date. ; http://www. pbs. org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_roe. html; Sullivan, Andrew. â€Å"The Case for Compromise on Abortion. † Time 27 Feb. 2005

First Tuesday Book Club Essay

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak ranks number two on a list of â€Å"Ten Aussie Books to Read Before You Die† voted for by viewers of the ABC’s First Tuesday Book Club. Discuss the Significant Features of the novel that have contributed to its success, analysing and evaluating their contribution. The novel, â€Å"The Book Thief† by Markus Zusak was first published in 2005. The story is set in Germany, 1939, the time of World War Two. Many significant characters are revealed though out the novel such as Death, Hans Hubermann, and Liesel Meminger. These characters are memorable as well as lovable, but also bring out the idea’s and style of the Novel. Death is one of the major characters in The Book Thief as not only does he give the book a certain style but also the book is set from his perspective. â€Å"It’s the story of one of those perpetual survivors.† (Markus 2005, p.6) Death is shown as impatient and spills in the beginning the main events in the book such as the bombing raid the takes place, the death of the American fighter pilot as well as the fate of important characters. Death even notices it and apologises. By him being exposed as impatient, Zusak has been able to use the literary style of foreshadowing. Markus Zusak mentions in one of his interviews, â€Å"I deliberately made Death let the plot out of the bag. It lends to the idea of his knowingness, and that he is not human. He does not function exactly how a human would in his story-telling†¦ There was also the idea that knowing what would happen in advance might soften the blow, and it’s also a challenge to myself.† (Little Willow 2006) Death uses colours to not only describe certain moments, but also the colour of the sky when people are dying. There are three moments in the book where Death comes across Liesel and he uses three colours to describe these moments, when her brother died it was white, â€Å"It felt as though the whole globe was dressed in snow.† (Markus 2005, p.7) When the American fighter pilot died it was black, â€Å"It was the darkest moment before the dawn.†(Markus 2005, p.10) There was the last time when he encountered Liesel, when the sky was red, â€Å"The sky was like soup boiling and stirring. In some places it was burnt.†(Markus 2005, p.13) the use of colours creates a style which sets the mood. Whether the mood should be silent, soft and still, or it should make you angry. Death isn’t given a gender in the the novel and although he has feelings, it gives the idea as well as shows he is not human. There are other ways that Death shows he is not human. He clearly states â€Å"I am haunted by humans† which separates him from humanity. â€Å"To prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it.† (Markus 2005, p.16) Death acknowledges the idea of whether humans are worth it. Throughout the Book Thief it is noticed that there are many characters that truely are worthy such as Hans and clearly Liesel. Death illustrates that through all the ugliness that is happening at that time, even though the story is set at the time of the Holocaust as well as World War Two, that there is beauty that shines. It makes a difference. â€Å"†¦ He had the ability to appear in the background†¦ He was always just there. Not noticeable†¦ There was most definitely a value in him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Markus 2005, p.34) Hans wasn’t a main character within The Book Thief, but was an important character. He creates the love and joy within The Book Thief. â€Å"I nearly wrote you a reply and signed your mother’s name†¦ I couldn’t. I couldn’t bring myself.† Hans is a caring, and gentle. This stands out as the book thief has many sad moments by him being caring and gentle it gives you another view of what life was like in World War two as Hans is an average German man, but he disagrees with what is currently happening in Germany. â€Å"When he looks at me and smiles and breathes, I hear notes.† Hans’s accordion was not only a symbol of his kindness, but also is a part of him. Markus Zusak has carefully placed this in the book by writing about Rosa clinging to it at night when Hans works for the military and Liesel mentioning that she sometimes imagines Hans as an accordion when he plays. Liesel is the main character who still finds happiness out of an awful situation. â€Å"The words. Why did they have to exist? Without them, there wouldn’t be any of this. Without words, the Fuhrer was nothing. There would be no limping prisoners, no need for consolation or worldly tricks to make us feel better.† (Markus 2005, p.521) Although at age 9 Liesel is illiterate she soon learns the power that words have to heal and save such as Liesel reading books to Frau Holtzapel to heal the pain she felt. â€Å"It’s the story of one of those perpetual survivors- an expert at being left behind.†(Markus 2005, p.6) Liesel is seen as a â€Å"perpetual survivor† because despite many people dying and all the suffering she manages to still have pure happiness. The style and ideas are shown through the characters and the book is unusual in so many ways as it tackles ideas most don’t want to think about such as the ugliness and beauty of humans and whether some deserve to live. It also shows the power humans have through words and what we believe in. It looks at a different perspective of death so instead of humans being afraid of death, Death is afraid of humans. It’s a sad, depressing story where many good characters die, but it shows lightness. Good people who stand out even if not important. The novel is beautifully written as it flows like a poem with such power. These are the significant features that have contributed to its success. Zusak, M 2005, The Book Thief, PanMacillan, Sydney. Little Willow 2006, ‘Interview: Markus Zusak’, Blog post, interview, 4 June, accessed 22 May 2013, .

Digital Fortress Chapter 48

â€Å"What?† Midge sputtered in disbelief. â€Å"Strathmore claims our data is wrong?† Brinkerhoff nodded and hung up the phone. â€Å"Strathmore denied that TRANSLTR's been stuck on one file for eighteen hours?† â€Å"He was quite pleasant about the whole thing.† Brinkerhoff beamed, pleased with himself for surviving the phone call. â€Å"He assured me TRANSLTR was working fine. Said it was breaking codes every six minutes even as we speak. Thanked me for checking up on him.† â€Å"He's lying,† Midge snapped. â€Å"I've been running these Crypto stats for two years. The data is never wrong.† â€Å"First time for everything,† he said casually. She shot him a disapproving look. â€Å"I run all data twice.† â€Å"Well†¦ you know what they say about computers. When they screw up, at least they're consistent about it.† Midge spun and faced him. â€Å"This isn't funny, Chad! The DDO just told a blatant lie to the director's office. I want to know why!† Brinkerhoff suddenly wished he hadn't called her back in. Strathmore's phone call had set her off. Ever since Skipjack, whenever Midge had a sense that something suspicious was going on, she made an eerie transition from flirt to fiend. There was no stopping her until she sorted it out. â€Å"Midge, it is possible our data is off,† Brinkerhoff said firmly. â€Å"I mean, think about it-a file that ties up TRANSLTR for eighteen hours? It's unheard of. Go home. It's late.† She gave him a haughty look and tossed the report on the counter. â€Å"I trust the data. Instinct says it's right.† Brinkerhoff frowned. Not even the director questioned Midge Milken's instincts anymore-she had an uncanny habit of always being right. â€Å"Something's up,† she declared. â€Å"And I intend to find out what it is.†

English Lit – Descriptive Writing

Describe the scene at a train station It is 8 o’clock in the morning at Liverpool train station, the busiest hour throughout the whole day, it’s also known as the rush hour. Trains of all imaginable colours gradually draw to a halt, causing a slightly burned smell from the brakes. As the automatic doors fly open, continuous flows start of people shoving and pushing, rushing to get off into the already crowded station. The noise of the tannoy is hidden beneath the murmur of the crowds of people.Mothers franticly scan for their lost children, while groups of people and tourists rush out eagerly ready to explore the city. Teenagers huddled together by the walls giggle to each other while on their new, shiny blackberry mobiles. People sigh due to the now prolonged waiting for the toilets as the queues start to grow. Unfortunately the smell of urine diffuses into the air from the toilets. Business people in their smart suits and briefcases march through the station, obliviou s to anything that is going on.Impatient men and women stomp their fingers on the touch screen ticket machine, hoping that by doing so it will work faster. They then become even more frustrated when they then discover the escalator is not working and have to drag their entire luggage down it. Before the exits, there are many food and drink shops, such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. There’s a fighting battle for smells as people walk through the centre. Greasy fries and burger smells emmiting from MsDonalds, followed by coffee and cakes from Starbucks, then Pizza and burned wedges from Pizza Hut.