Research Paper on David Henry Hwang an Example of the Topic Literature Essays by

Research Paper on David Henry Hwang David Henry Hwang as an American Playwright David Henry Hwang was born on August 11, 1957. He was born in Los Angeles, California ("M. Butterfly: Author Biography). He took his education at the Stanford University and at the Yale School of Drama. He is commonly known of being an American playwright. He specializes in writing dramatic literature or drama which also branded him as a dramatist. Need essay sample on "Research Paper on David Henry Hwang" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Most of the plays done by David Henry Hwang were concentrated to the role of the Chinese-American and Asian American in the modern day world. His first play entitled Fresh-Off the Boat won the Off-Broadway Theater Awards. The play had portrayed the conflicts between the Asian American and the Fresh-Off the Boat novice immigrants. Many more plays were produced by Hwang after the successful Fresh-Off the Boat. The play entitled The Dance and the Railroad was a Pulitzer Prize nominee. The drama is all about the story of former Chinese opera star who worked as a coolie laborer in the mid 1800s. The drama entitled Family Endeavor focused on the darkly comic take on the effects of the Western religion on a Chinese family. Among the many awards he have received throughout his life an a playwright are the awards from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the association for Asian Pacific American Artists, the Museums of Chinese in the America, the East West Players and the Organization of the Chinese Americans, the Media Action Network for Asian Americans and many other important awards from many institutions. He had also played the role as spokesmen for the community he had grown up. As a spokesman for the Asian American community, he was somewhat considered it as an opportunity at the same time a burden. The reason for this is that he was compared to Maxine Hong Kingston. People always thought that he knows everything about what Asians really feel (Albert 2). Inclusion of David Henry Hwang in todays Literary Canon Literary canon is defined as a body of literature and art that is considered to characterize the civilization by a widespread agreement. Moreover, literary canon also is referred to as the established body of works which are known to be the major or the best and as acknowledged to as literary classics by agreement of critics, scholars and teachers (Goodvin 1).The inclusion of a particular author say for example of the American playwright David Henry Hwang means that he had certain privileges that seemed to be obvious. The board of decision makers of the literary canon includes people like influential critics, directors of the museums together with their board of trustees. Lowly teachers and scholars also made up the gatekeepers of the stronghold culture included in the literary canon. The inclusion to the canon means that an author is awarded the assurance of quality and most specially assurance of high artistic quality. The aut hor being assured of high artistic quality means that he had also gained a promise and an agreement that his piece is something to be acknowledged as an artistic one as announced to the all the viewers. A drama, poem, sonata, or dance that had been included in the literary canon had already established a powerful division from the others since it will survive in the any situation (Landow 3-4). The literary canon is considered to be a deep flawed. This is one important argument in the courses of the debates against the literary canon. The canon had many flaws such that it only includes works done by the male. To where will the important works of the female writers will go if they are abandoned by the canon. Another important flaw of the literary canon is that it is only concentrated in the Western culture. How about the important works that was done in the South America, India or China? The bias between the literary canons which is simply referred to as the Western culture had created a notion that the Western culture is above other cultures since it was greatly popularized than the other cultures. The inclusion of David Henry Hwang in the literary canon is I think valid enough (at least in the gatekeepers of high cultures point of view) since the Southern culture is what is included in most of the works he had done. But the argument that I will present regarding the inclusion of such a very good playwright in the literary canon is that it is not appropriate to include him in the literary canon (as my point of view). The reason behind this thinking is that when an author is included in the literary canon, his works will be appreciated mostly by all the viewers since it is the ones recommended only for reading and viewing. It was also stated earlier that the literary canon is most commonly referred to as the Western culture. This means that his works will only be circulating upon the walls of the Western culture. Since the Southern culture, the Indian, and all the other culture had been considering that the literary canon is the Western culture, they will not be able to read or view the works done by those authors included in the canon. The reason for this is they will not patronize the culture that had shown unbiased judging to their culture. Another reason why I dont agree to the inclusion of David Henry Hwang in the literary canon is that the feminist who question the inclusion of only white male authors in the canon. I agree to the point of the many believers about the inclusion of anyones work in the literary canon should be the thing to happen and bias of choosing who are in the canon should be eliminated. Everybodys works no matter what race and gender they belong should be fairly treated by the gatekeepers of the literary canon. Another important tissue that I would like to include in the disagreement of the inclusion of Henry David Hwang in the literary canon is that the entrance and exit of the works in the literary canon is continuously happening. This is because when a new one (new piece) is included in the canon, an old one which is already in the canon should be removed to give a place to the new one. The works done by David Henry Hwang were one the best in terms of drama that should be kept in the literary canon for a lifetime and not to be removed when something new will arrive. The works done by this author should be acknowledged for a lifetime since they are created without any hesitations of combining the Chinese and the American culture. In my point of view, even though that the works of David Henry Hwang were not being able to included in the literary canon, the works can still stand alone because it will be patronize by many viewers and readers. The name of David Henry Hwang is already establis hed in the society of arts so he will not have any problems in promoting his works. It was stated in the aims of the literary canon that if a work is being included in the canon, it is secured that it will be the ones prioritized for reading and viewing. The literary canon had been somewhat mistaken in these insight. The people are the readers and the viewers, and as for me, I am a viewer or maybe a reader, I will choose neither the books I will read nor the plays I will view that would suit my likes. I dont agree by the claim that when someone authoritatively recommended a book or a play to a particular person, that person will follow what is recommended. For the intelligent and educated readers and viewers, their choice will not only cover those in the recommended books or plays but their choice will focus a wide array despite if it is included or not in the literary canon. As a contribution to the ethnic theater, the plays created by David Henry Hwang had showcased a radiant and multifaceted analysis which was purely centered to issues concerning race and gender. Most of the plays written by David Henry Hwang depict an ideological duality with each other. Critics have always identified his plays as a confrontation between two opposing characters or sometimes two opposing cultures that emphasizes that one is weaker and the other one is stronger. David Henry Hwang justified that his plays were not depicting the confrontation of two opposing characters but it is more than that. He has said in his one of the interview that In The Dance and the Railroad play, the issue that was prevalent is that the trading positions of the two characters. In the play, the two positions were not clearly defined but they are related in terms of their power. His plays were almost concentrated with two cultures, the American and the Chinese culture. This is not one of the aim or objective of the literary canon. The literary canon is simply branded as the Western Culture and Chinese culture is not included in the works chosen to be included in the canon. But David Henry Hwang had successfully included the two cultures in his plays, whereas, his work should not be included in the literary canon for that reason alone. Most of the plays done by David Henry Hwang were also very sympathetic to the gender (women characteristics) and were conscious of se and gender issues. This is another issue that is with conflict with the literary canon inclusion of the works of Hwang. The literary canon is sensitive in the issues regarding gender and racism. Thus, literary canon is not very considerate when it comes to the issues regarding sex and race. The justification that David Henry Hwang had given by this claim is that he grew up surrounded with a lot of strong women. He also pointed out that the traditional culture of the Chinese were really cruel to women. This is the reason why he doesnt believe that women are submissive to men. Even though the culture of the Chinese is oppressive to women, the Chinese women in return have survival ways on how to suppress the cruelty they have experienced. These background of the Chinese cultures have pushed him to include about the characters that portrays the women and t hat is why he became sensitive of the issues regarding the sexism and even gender. He aimed to his plays that women should be given respect as compared to the respect he is gaining as an American (Albert 4-5). Works Cited: Albert, Michael. The Canon. Fairleigh Dickinson University. (1999) Goodvin, Renee. A Canon of Classic Novels. The Literary Explorer. (2005) Landow, George. The Literary Canon. (1989). 29 July 2007.http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/canon/litcan.html Lyons, Bonnie. Making His Muscles Work for Himself: An Interview with David Henry Hwang. (Asian American Playwright). The Literary Review (1999). "M. Butterfly: Author Biography." Drama for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 11. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com.

The eNotes Blog Beyond The Great AmericanRead

Beyond The Great AmericanRead Prejudice and Tolerance If you weren’t following PBS’s The Great American Read, it’s worth catching up: this eight-part series discussed America’s best-loved novels as users voted for their favorite books. Some of us at even wrote about our personal choices for The Great American Read. Just this week, we learned which book was voted as America’s #1 favorite book: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. And no wonder- to quote host Meredith Vieira, the book â€Å"is a mirror of who we are in all our complexity. It shows us at our worst, and it ends tragically. But it also offers a way forward.† To Kill A Mockingbird is well known for the challenging themes it presents throughout the novel. Now, this may be because we’re huge book lovers here at - but we wanted so many of the books to win! To celebrate TKAM’s win and encourage more reading, we’re showcasing some of the other books from the original 100 that touch on similar themes. Prejudice and Tolerance #4: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Unsurprisingly, prejudice reappears again and again as an important theme in Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth continually makes hasty decisions, misreads others, and literally pre-judges others according to her own prescribed moral values- until someone else snaps her out of it, that is. #72: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison A story of self-discovery and identity, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison asks serious questions about race and prejudice as well as broader questions about who we think we are and what we can do in the face of injustice. Guilt and Innocence #19: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Christie’s classic murder mystery invites the reader to join each of the characters in questioning who is innocent and who is guilty. She further complicates the question by writing moral ambiguities into the story at every turn. #64: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky Crime and Punishment examines of the psyche of the guilty. The novel asks the question, â€Å"Could someone get away with murder?† and then follows Raskolnikov as his guilt steadily drives him into deeper levels of mental instability. Knowledge and Ignorance #18: 1984 by George Orwell This dystopian novel follows an employee of the Ministry of Truth, a branch of the all-powerful government that edits historical documents and withholds information from the public. Although he works for the very branch that obscures reality, Winston of 1984 craves to learn the objective truth. #34: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Another dystopian tale, The Handmaid’s Tale first toys with the theme of knowledge and ignorance by being told by unreliable narrator and protagonist, Offred. As a member of the lowest class- literally a â€Å"walking womb†- Offred is kept uninformed of real news, and as a woman, she is not allowed to read or write. Courage and Cowardice #50: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Tolstoys ambitious novel explores myriad characters through times of, you guessed it, war and peace. Each character grapples with battling cowardice in order to find courage amidst the chaos of a country at war. Loss of Innocence #43: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Mary Shelleys Frankenstein has long captivated the imagination of readers. While popularized as an exploration of science gone awry, Shelleys novel does much more: it explores how a dream of a better tomorrow can be corrupted by pride and ambition, resulting in a loss of innocence and, tragically, life. #83: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad A ship’s commander for a trading company, Marlow travels deeper and deeper into Africa. He becomes appalled by the living conditions for black slaves and, as he travels deeper inland, becomes more suspect of everything he encounters. By the end of the novel, Marlow is changed.

A Roman Revolution Essay Example for Free

A Roman Revolution Essay ? It was May 30, 1347.  Ã‚   The city was once at the center of the world, and varying nations vied to pay homage.  Ã‚   Since that time, however, its institutions, its buildings, and its very name seem to have been forgotten by time.  Ã‚   Local nobility compete for control while the rest of the populace starved, and banditry thrived.  Ã‚   The religious shrines and public buildings were dilapidated, and worn out from neglect.   From this one day, however, and from one such ruin, issued a declaration from a man who stirred hope in people’s breast.   Ã‚   Cola di Rienzo, who in the course of time would ambitiously set himself up as a virtual dictator in the city, at that moment declared the restitution of the Roman Republic, to the cheers of an excited throng.  Ã‚   The restless crowd seemed far disconnected from the reality of a Holy Roman Empire, independent Italian city-states, Norman and Spanish sovereignty in the south, or the hundred more kingdoms and treaties that kept Italy divided and the Republic from becoming reality, but no one cared.   A brief, tragic drama began to unfold, taking hold of the city and its dreamer alike.  Ã‚   For a few months, the Roman Republic seemed to breathe life and its Dictator Rienzo came close to uniting Italy.  Ã‚   The smaller city-states and principalities all sent their delegations and intentions to forming a loose federation with Rome.  Ã‚   And the Dictator put ambitious reforms and decrees, which championed the cause of the people.   His pride, however, got the better of him, and he soon alienated the senators and the Church.  Ã‚   The senators amassed armies against him, and the Pope called to the people to reject him.  Ã‚   Having lost all his allies, he fled the city, wandering Italy to find people to rally for his cause.   Ã‚  Dejected, beaten, his spirit finally broken, he surrendered to the Pope in Avignon, and was allowed to return to Rome where the people could not long stomach his disillusionment and killed him as a traitor[1].    This brief Roman Revolution was an early experiment of that age to attempt the reconstitution of an age that seemed lost in time.  Ã‚   The people of the Renaissance, from the artisan to the poet, was fascinated with ancient Greek traditions and culture and created works of art that mimicked Classic styles.  Ã‚   Ancient texts were gathered from the libraries where it was copied and preserved, and crude attempts at translation were made to introduce these historical artifacts to the world.  Ã‚   Most of the entire Renaissance was electrified at the thought of the old â€Å"heroic† Roman Republic, and the Caesars and Ciceros that once walked the Forum.    In due course, this paper would seek to identify the sources of the ideology behind the Italian Renaissance’s fascination with the ancient Greco-Roman, and how it seemed to suit their needs.  Ã‚   The paper will then explain the various attempts to reconstitute the past in the present, and how close they were in succeeding.    The thought of a restored Rome was not unique to Renaissance thought.  Ã‚   Even as the western portion of the empire collapsed under the pressure of barbarian migrations, the eastern emperor Justinian drafted ambitious plans of gaining back the lost lands of Gaul, Italy, Spain and Africa. This having failed, the Frankish kings, and later the German emperors, stylized themselves as Caesars that had legitimacy given to them by the authority of the Pope and the acquiescence of the eastern emperor.   Italian dreams of Rome, however, had political and cultural context.   They loathed the plain ugliness of Gothic and barbarian architecture, and largely preserved the Roman tradition and culture.   They lamented Italian as a bastardized form of Latin, and deplored Dante’s use of the former as the vernacular. Italian writers, at the beginning of the Renaissance, began to collect ancient texts from faraway libraries[2].  Ã‚   Petrarch, the Father of the Renaissance, was the first of the writers to amass Greek and Latin texts, and encouraged a fellow writer, Boccaccio, to pore into Greek research.   Unique also in the Renaissance, was the way the ancient texts were interpreted. In the medieval ages, the various ancient works of art were interpreted in Christian context.  Ã‚   Pagan ideals and traditions were explained with a Christian theme. Thus, a Hercules-like figure would be used to represent Christ.  Ã‚   The Renaissance began to separate the contemporary Christian thought from the ancient texts, and began to appreciate the latter in their historical context. They read into classical texts their appropriate classical meaning; they did not allegorize Latin writings as one to justify medieval Christian Europe, but in the context of ancient Rome[3].   The thought of a united Italy was sometimes reconciled with the restoration of the ancient Greco-Roman tradition.   Ã‚  Rienzo certainly thought of this when he donned the garb of the old senatorial toga and declared the return of the Roman Republic. Petrarch saw it when he asked King Charles IV of Bohemia to unite all of Italy [4] , and many might have seen it when the son Alexander VI, Cesare Borgia, began a long campaign to win back much of the lost cities of the Papal States.    For all the dreams and ideals of the Renaissance Italians, a Roman Republic could not be reconstituted from 14 th to 15 th century Europe.  Ã‚   The Holy Roman Empire, primarily, would not stand for a united Italy outside of their control or power, as they would, and have claimed, Italy as an integral part of the empire. Neither, however, can the Holy Roman emperors be able to unite Italy, as they become too embroiled in disputes with the Pope, who has nominal sway over the Italian city-states.  Ã‚   And the Popes, for all their universal spiritual authority, would not be able to wrest control of all of Italy from powerful independent Italian city-states, the Normans and the Spanish, the Germans and the French, and even the Greeks until their collapse in the latter half of the 15 th century.   The Italian Renaissance sought to reintroduce ancient Greco-Roman thought into the mainstream, envisioning a past that was nobly glorious.  Ã‚   Several hundred years brings distance and unreality to history, even when taken from historical context.   The Italian city-states of the Renaissance was freer in practice with its people than the ancient Roman Republic, which countless times brought down reformer tribunes, and curbed attempts to relieve the proletariat in keeping the wealthy in their state.  Ã‚   The ancient Roman Empire was less free as the centuries passed, and its economy was in nightmarish shambles, a thought that the Renaissance Italians might have shuddered at.   In the end, the Renaissance Italians might have fallen in the same way their medieval counterparts have: to see the ancient culture in their contemporary values.   Certainly the Renaissance wanted to detach itself from the â€Å"barbarism† and disunity, which seemed to plague Europe, but the reforms of a Rienzo would have shocked the ancient Roman aristocracy, and Byzantine intrigue would be far closer to Roman court morals than the Renaissance Italian sensibilities.   A final word must be said of the Renaissance dream: in the 16 th century, one man came closest to uniting Italy and much of Christendom under a loose â€Å"Roman empire†.  Ã‚   Politics and religion, in the end, got in the way, and Charles V of the Hapsburg dynasty and his successors would find himself humbled by an alliance of French, Turks, Protestants and even the Pope[5]. Durant, Will. The Renaissance . New York: Simon and Schuster, 1953. Durant, Will, Caesar and Christ . New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935. Rice, Eugene Jr., The Foundations of Early Modern Europe, 1460-1559 . New York: W.W. Norton and Company,1971. Krailsheimer, A.J., The Continental Renaissance: 1500-1600 . Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1970. [1] Durant, Will, The Renaissance (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1953) 16-21. [2] Durant, Will, The Renaissance (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1953) 67-69. [3] Rice, Eugene Jr., The Foundations of Early Modern Europe, 1460-1559 (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1970) 72-76. [4] Durant, Will, The Renaissance (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1953) 46. [5] Krailsheimer, A.J.,   The Continental Renaissance: 1500-1600 (Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1971) 93-98. A Roman Revolution. (2017, Apr 01).

Neurorehabilitation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Neurorehabilitation - Essay Example In addition, such programs call for intricate installations as well as competent personnel, reasonably dissimilar from the sports services provided by gymnasia as well as the like at the moment (Perez et al., 2007, p.143). Besides, numerous chronic MS patients find it exceptionally hard to depart from their homes as well as access places with the suitable facilities, thus hampering observance to programs (Perez et al., 2007, p. 144). Currently, there is no known treatment for the condition. However, various studies have suggested physiotherapy for primary progressive MS. In essence, my review critically evaluates a case report whose objective of was to present as well as test successful communal incorporation after physiotherapy intervention with a bias on enhancing autonomous workout routine in ameliorating of a person with MS. Moreover, RW (the patients’ name due to anonymity purposes), presented in this case study, is a fifty-year-old man diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis five years prior to self-referral to a pro bono physiotherapy clinic (Zalewski, 2007, p.40). During the intervention, RW (not his real initials) was a 58-year-old man diagnosed with primary progressive MS five years prior self-referral to a pro bono physical therapy clinic. RW reported that his inception of MS was unexpected as well as incapacitating; whilst at work as an electrician, RW underwent an unexpected electrocution that led to in inability to utilize his legs. He accepted as true he had been electrocuted in completing his work and was taken without delay to the hospital for assessment. Through consult as well as follow-up with a neurologist, he was notified that the symptoms experienced did not correlate to a potential electrocution, and he received his diagnosis of MS. RW stated that he never recovered entirely after that preliminary attack and

Advertising and Segmentation Brief Analysis Essay

Advertising and Segmentation Brief Analysis - Essay Example It has become a household brand and a generic name that always signifies the product as a window or glass cleaner. Recently it has also widened its range by even being used for other surface cleaners like the counter tops. 2) Create a detailed profile of the consumers that would likely purchase this item Windex range offers four products, a powdered or crystal form of Windex that can be used to clean bathtubs, wash basins, and kitchen sinks, a multi surface cleaner in the spray bottle that can be used to clean any smooth surface specially kitchen counters, marble tops, patios, stoves, Windex original is used to clean glass surfaces of windows and other glass tops as well in fact Windex is used as glass cleaner in general. The most innovative and the market leading product is the Windex outdoor, it has mop like cloth piece that can be attached to a rod that can be used to clean lawn’s glass doors. The product is like a gift from heaven for everyone. The most targeted customers are the housewives; they are the ones who are the main customers when households are concerned. They are usually responsible for the purchasing of grocery and other such house maintenance goods. The other users for Windex are bar owner and hoteliers; they purchase Windex in larger quantities for the mirrors in the lobbies, washrooms and bedrooms. Every person who is willing to have their glass surfaces cleaned is the target market for Windex. It’s a medium priced product and therefore, there are no affordability issues. It is a generic brand but not a premium brand and therefore, an affordable one(Muniz &O’Guinn, 2001). 3) Clearly identify which segment the attached advertisements are targeting and the bases for the segmentation. The segment that Windex targets are household and it also targets the whole of the window cleaning industry. But majorly they are targeting only glass users. They have been around in the industry for so long that despite people trying to make their own place in the industry they have practically failed to get hold of the market share of Windex. Windex came forward and introduced the all surface cleaner, this helped people again go for the Windex brand as it had already an established and trusted image in the cleaning sector. People went for the one brand that is already trusted. Their basic target markets are families and the offices at a lower level, at a major level their major target market is the window cleaning businesses. They had recently launched a pouch refill as well. This helped them make their own product more economical, this was specifically done to target the households. Mothers/wives found it better to purchase the bottled Windex once only then later use pouches to refill them. This way they also project a more environmental friendly image as they reduced the usage of bottles. 4) Identify the details in the advertisements that suggest the common needs of the consumers. The most conveyed message through th e ads of Windex is the importance of clear glass. They have conveyed this ad through a few demonstrations that they did in the middle of the city and which surprised the citizens. The technique that they have used here is a very unique one, it is guerilla marketing that is being used to target the customers. Similarly the recent ad about the cleaning of the window which uses two birds who decide to annoy the person at home spending his time leisurely, so that he spends rest of his time cleaning the glass, the person has Windex he sprays it on the glass and the spot disappears in seconds and the birds are disappointed. This type of portrayal of the product emphasizes the fact that the product cleans the spots or smudges very swiftly and without much effort. 5) Identify any cues and why they may used. In

The sacrificial Egg Essay -- essays research papers

Chinua Achebe’s short story â€Å"The sacrificial Egg† illustrates the life of a young African native Julius Obi, and the arising conflicts between two cultures. This short story takes place in a very small village in Africa, called Umuru in the mid 1900’s. This young African Native, although no native of Umuru finds himself trapped between his own culture, beliefs and the westernized culture. Although Julius has embraced the western culture, after certain events he eventually finds himself coming back to his own beliefs. Achebe, uses these two very different cultures to demonstrate the clash it produces in this young men’s life and, how no matter how hard he has embraced the western culture he was always going to go back to his own beliefs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The small African village in this story has being taken over by the western culture. Westernization is shown in the beginning of the story. â€Å"Julius Obi sat gazing at his typewriter.† â€Å"There was an empty basket on the giant weighing machine.† In these two quotes the typewriter and the weighing machine, odd objects for the African native of this village show perfectly how this town has being westernized. â€Å"Julius Obi was not a native of Umuru. He had come like countless others from some bush village island. Having passed his Standard Six in a mission school he had come to Umuru to work as a clerk in the offices of the powerful European trading company †¦Ã¢â‚¬ This quote shows how Julius has himself being westernized. Westernization wasn’t welcomed by many of the Umuru natives. The natives had long prayed for their town to prosper and grow. â€Å"The strangers who came to Umuru came for the trade and money, not in search of duties to perform†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This shows that people who now came to town, came strictly for business and money, which tells the reader how the town isn’t what it used to be. â€Å"And as if it did not suffice, the young sons and daughters of Umuru soil, encouraged by schools and churches were behaving no better than the strangers. They neglected all their old tasks and kept only the revelries.† This show how even the young ones of this village have being westernized to the point, where they completely neglect their own traditions and beliefs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The small African village located on the bank of the river Niger has a story of its own, that only the old and wise are able to des... .... â€Å"He immediately set out for home, half-walking and half-running, for night-masks were not matter of superstition; they were real.† This shows how suddenly Julius, although westernized finds himself face to face with this culture he had decided to put aside. While running, Julius finds himself stepping on to something and realizes that he has stepped onto this egg, this egg that was brought for offering. Soon enough Julius finds himself onto the ground hiding from these night-masks fearing for the worst. You can see that Julius who had tried to run away from his old beliefs had finally come back to them and knew that by stepping onto the egg he had wronged Kitikpa.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This story in general shows how people more often than we think forget about their origin, where they came from, and what their cultures and traditions are. â€Å"The trouble was that the disobedient youths had never yet experienced the power of Kitikpa themselves; they had only heard of it.† Julius being there that night had experienced the power of Kitikpa himself. He knew his life would now be forever changed. Julius was now going to respect these beliefs he had long forgotten about.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, ambition, strength, and insanity play major roles in how the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth behave and react. In this twisted story about man slaughter and the thirst for power both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth represent all 3 of these behaviors at some point. However, their behaviors progress in very different ways. Throughout the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth gradually evolve into each other bringing out opposite personality traits from their previous opinions. It is well known that simply wanting something is not enough to actually get it. One must have the desire, the ambition and must work towards obtaining a certain goal. In the beginning of the play Macbeth has the desire to become king, but lacks the motivation and ambition to work for it. He doesn’t have the violent drive that Lady Macbeth possesses and is frankly just a moral man with moral values. He acquires the ability to see right from wrong and shows that he has a very strong conscience when he says, â€Å"I am Thane of Cawdor. / If good, why do I yield to that suggestion/[thought of killing Duncan] whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ and make my seated heart knock at my ribs/ against the use of nature? â€Å"(1. 3. 146-150). Here Macbeth shows that the thought of killing Duncan makes him uneasy, nervous and frightened. Already his senses are warning him that what he is thinking is wrong, but unfortunately enough for Macbeth he is mentally weak and easily convinced. Lady Macbeth on the other hand has all the strength, ambition, motivation and desire to become royalty. She knows her husband well and knows that he will not take action against Duncan, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. Lady Macbeth calls upon the forces of evil to â€Å"unsex [her] here, / and fill [her] from the crown to the toe top- full/ of direst cruelty. Make thick [her] blood, / stop the passage to remorse† (1. 5. 48-51). In this speech there is no perplexity that Lady Macbeth is clearly willing to do whatever necessary to take hold of the throne. Her strength of purpose is contrasted with her husband’s tendency to waver and it will be her ambition and strength that questions his manhood, which will drive him forward to a life of misery and violence. Macbeth is a mentally weak character that undergoes a drastic mental change after committing cold blooded murder. He is progressively becoming more evil as his inhuman deeds allow his evil nature to take control of his thoughts and actions. Macbeth becomes paranoid about losing power and obsessed with proving his manhood. He associates manhood with fighting and bloodshed when he says, â€Å"What man dare, I dare. / Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,/ The armed rhinoceros, or th’ Nyrean tiger,/Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves/ Shall never tremble. † (3. 4. 121-125) Just as Lady Macbeth was, Macbeth becomes a manipulative mastermind who is so power thirsty and driven by violence that he would kill anyone, even his best friend, to get what he wants. As Macbeth’s mind relocates to a state of paranoia and violence, Lady Macbeth’s conscience slowly starts to eat her away forcing her to resort to a life of misery, insanity, and eventually death. Her guilt is so strong that she is haunted in her sleep by the image of blood. Lady Macbeth could not rest peacefully without trying to wash all the blood off of her hands, â€Å"Out, damned spot; out, I say†(5. 1. 30) she would mutter as she wandered around the castle carrying a candlestick for light and rubbing her hands together trying to rub off all of the guilt. Shakespeare makes a valid point in this play that the future of your life does not depend on someone else, but is in entirely your hands. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth could have avoided their own misery and downfall if only they did things differently. Don’t get too caught up in yourself but be patient and be grateful for what you have because a lot of people would love to be in your position than their own. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth gradually become different people, one for the better and one for the worse.