Abstract This paper analyzes why Jane Austen concentrates so much on dialogue and personal interaction in "Pride And Prejudice" whereas HonoredeBalzac in "Pere Goriot" focuses on social description.
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes "Jude the Obscure," by Thomas Hardy and "Lost Illusions," by HonoredeBalzac. Specifically, it compares the theme of illusions in these two texts, citing textual evidence. The author discusses how the two protagonists, Jude and Lucien, are spurned into action because of their illusions; however, along their journeys of becoming a poet and a scholar, Lucien loses his illusions, whereas Jude does not. The writer concludes that although there is nothing wrong with illusions, the works both seem to say that when you use them to dominate and rule your life, you will ultimately fail.
From the Paper "Poor Jude, he is a tragic victim of his illusions from the first page of "Jude the Obscure" until the last. Everything he has sought in his life has been nothing but an illusion. From the moment his teacher leaves Marygreen and tells him about the university in Christminster, Jude is doomed. He longs to study at the university, and this is his first illusion, that Christminster is the wonderland where his future will become complete. His aunt adds to the already growing illusion, by telling him he should have gone with the schoolmaster, and education runs in the family."
Tags: thomas, hardy, jude, lucien, honore, balzac, victim, obscure, lost
A comparison and analysis of the works of HonoredeBalzac, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Gustav Flaubert and how they reflected the literary movements of Realism, Romanticism, and Naturalism.
Abstract This paper summarizes, compares and analyzes works by HonoredeBalzac, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Gustav Flaubert. The paper explains that all three authors wished to encourage their readers to live their lives more fully and in a more heightened fashion, by becoming more conscious of the details of the world around them, but that each author had his own unique approach to doing this. The paper illustrates their different approaches through analysis of a work from each of the authors.
From the Paper "To teach the reader to be a more critical reader of society, throughout Balzac's story, to underline the realistic nature of the tale, Balzac functions as an authoritative commentator on the society and behavior of the world he creates for the reader: "I forgave her stifled laugh." (Balzac 4) Even a reader unfamiliar with the society of Balzac's Paris can appreciate the spectacle of pampered daughters kept by an ugly and social-climbing man, daughters whose manners are taught and forced, rather than natural, although at times Balzac's presence as a narrator can feel oppressive, rather than merely instructive."
Abstract This paper looks at how Balzac used his works to express his views regarding French social life, particularly in relation to families. The paper examines "Cousin Bette", "Father Goriat", and "Lost Illusions". By using these sources, the paper demonstrates Balzac's belief that modern society, with its greed, corruption, and temptation, threatened the basic family structure, making families into monetary units of far less importance than they had been in previous days.
From the Paper "In Cousin Bette (Balzac, 1991), the main character, Lisbeth "Bette" Fischer, is a homely, middle-aged spinster who has lived her whole life in envy of her pretty cousin Adeline, who is married to Baron Hector Hulot DErvy, a prestigious military and government official who does not make a lot of money and is a complete womanizer. Hector has a slew of mistresses, despite his wife's loyalty and devotion to him. Their daughter, Hortense, develops a crush on Bette's "boyfriend," Wenceslas Steinbock, a young Polish sculptor, and marries him, convinced that his dreams of becoming a rich artist will someday come true. Bette, still wounded by her years as the homely cousin, decides that the Hulot family has upstaged her too many times and concocts an elaborate revenge scheme."
Abstract The paper explores the theme of the absurd in Voltaire's "Candide", Balzac's "Pere Goriot" and Kafka's "The Trial" in reference to their respective landscapes, situations and characters. The paper explains that the point of writing with the absurd is to present an accurate portrayal of life, with all of its degrading and humiliating parts. The paper also brings out how all three of these novels conclude with the protagonists' self-realization.
From the Paper "In Kafka's novel The Trial, the main character Joseph K, or simply K lives through a series of unfortunate events of which the first he is accused of some ambiguous crime on his 30th birthday. One year later he is killed in the name of the law and K, for his part does not object to the killing. The absurd as a theme in this event is very overtly portrayed. The ambiguous nature of the actions of the other characters in the novel prove to be ridiculous and a definite parody of real life trial situations. The trial itself is a charade because everyone in the courtroom including K already know the outcome; they are merely going through the actions because it is something of a tradition to do so. Thus, the characters are focused, not on the truth of the matter, did K commit a crime, but merely on the trial itself and their part in the facade."
Abstract This paper discusses the French play "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond
Rostand set in 1640. The paper explores the romantic adventures of the soldier Cyrano, an idealist, who causes conflict through his naive actions as he loses control with the way the world is in reality and punishes those who oppose his views.
From the Paper "Idealism is the way one wishes things could be or believes that they should be, while realism is the embracement of fact and reality with the rejection of fiction or fantasy. In the world of literature authors often use one concept or the other to provide their point. In the play Cyrano de Bergarac is filled with the concept of idealism."
Abstract This paper discusses male honor codes in ancient Greek society, focusing on seven areas-- prowess in battle, to be able to speak eloquently and convincingly, to honor duty to family and townspeople, to be kind to supplicants, to honor the gods, to be loyal to friends and fellow soldiers and to be recognized as an honorable warrior both through material and non-material acknowledgment.
From the Paper "The code of honor that the warriors of the Illiad lived by was complex and oftentimes contradictory. The rules of male honor in the Greek society portrayed in the poem required a man to have prowess in battle, to be able to speak eloquently and convincingly, to honor his duty to his family and townspeople, to be kind to supplicants, to honor the gods, to be loyal to friends and fellow soldiers and to be recognized as an honorable warrior both through material and non-material acknowledgment. These seven characteristics are not an exhaustive list of the qualities expected from a Greek man, but I believe them to be the most significant in relation to the Illiad. I will outline the Greek warrior code using examples from the Illiad and I will then discuss Achilleus? responses to the expectations that the honor code placed upon him. The code of honor in the Illiad is by no means simple and I will explore its complexity and the possible critique that the poem has of this honor code."
A discussion of how various characters such as Hotspur, Prince Hal and Falstaff represent different manifestations of the concept of honor in Shakespeare's 'Henry VI'.
Abstract Honor, the central theme in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, is embodied primarily in the two main characters. This essay compares and contrasts the concept of honor as lived by Hotspur and Prince Hall, making frequent use of quotes to substantiate claims. Other characters, King Henry and Falstaff, who Shakespeare finds useful in this major treatment of honor, are also discussed.
From the Paper "One of the main themes around which Shakespeare dramatizes the history of his country in The First Part of King Henry IV is honor. To the Elizabethans honor was a major topic of debate as it had been to Englishmen of all ages. Honor is a complex subject, highly personal to some, highly public to others. Honor can be something for which one quietly stands, or about which one shouts in flowery language. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast some of the various forms taken by honor as represented in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I."
Tags: falstaff, hal, hotspur, prince, Shakespeare, Henry, IV, honor, Elizanethans
Abstract The paper discusses the concept of honor in Homer's "The Iliad" and Virgil's "The Aeneid."
From the Paper ""The Iliad" and "The Aeneid" are undoubtedly two of the greatest epics ever written. They form part of the foundation from which the entire western classical tradition was erected and are considered to be among the world's canonical masterpieces. Both epics are focused on the exploits of a man who is half-god and half-mortal, in "The Iliad" the Greek hero Achilles is the focal point of the narrative; in "The Aeneid" the Roman hero Aeneas is the principal actor."
Abstract On 13 September 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera launched a successful and bloodless coup d'etat, beginning seven years of dictatorship in Spain. Primo de Rivera was a maladroit politician filled with the fervor of Spanish patriotism thought sufficient to navigate his dictatorship through the murky waters of politics. This paper will argue that the regime was more of a developmental dictatorship than one based in the usual fundamentals of autocracy. It concerns itself instead with describing the political realities in which the Primo de Rivera dictatorship was based, before moving on to discuss the objectives and achievements of the regime. The paper concludes by suggesting ways in which the dictatorship may have influenced the cataclysmic developments that drew the nation into Civil War less than a decade after the collapse of the Primo de Rivera regime.
Abstract This essay considers the life and philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir. A brief overview of de Beauvoir's life is offered here, followed by a critical consideration of de Beauvoir's relations to existentialism.
Abstract Research centering on Alcide de Gasperi centers primarily upon secondary accounts of historical record in which the political decisions, speeches, and records are maintained. De Gasperi formed a new government coalition in consequence of his attitude in interior and foreign policy. Alcide de Gasperi oversaw Italy's entry into the Cold War. Within Italy, Gasperi was forced to deal with a polarized nation. The Christian Democrats were forced to change Italy into an actively Western state. Gasperi is credited with bringing Italy into the fold of Western capitalism and Democracy.
Abstract This paper examines how and why the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo protested to draw attention to the atrocities committed upon their children and their significant role in the international denunciation of the military regime of Argentina and its downfall.
From the Paper "The group that came to be known as the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo the Mothers demonstrates the power that a formerly voiceless sector of society can wield when it refuses to go unheard. The Mothers were able initially to avoid the ..."
Tags: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo, Argentina
Abstract This paper describes the Mexican holiday known as Cinco de Mayo. It then goes on to place Cinco de May in its historical context, recounting the events that led to the Mexican victory at Puebla in 1862. Finally, it discusses Cinco de Mayo as a present day tradition and how it is celebrated both in Mexico and the United States.
From the Paper "The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more than just a day of celebration, it is a day when Mexicans around the world recall, maintain and reaffirm their roots. It is a tradition that marks the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla over the French. Since that time no foreign power has ever invaded Mexico and Cinco de Mayo has come to symbolize an end to foreign intervention. According to the American Heritage Dictionary Fourth Edition a tradition is defined as ..."
Tags: Cinco, de, Mayo, Battle, of, Puebla, tradition
Abstract This paper examines the life of Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of the sixteenth century French king, Henry II. The author notes that Diane de Poitiers emerged as a power in the French court of King Henry II because of her beauty, great insight, and political astuteness, and used them skillfully to forge an ever stronger relationship with the King. As the years passed she acquired so much influence that she became the queen of France in all but name, was the brains behind the throne, and was even placed in charge of educating the royal children of Henry and Catherine.
Tags: EUROPEAN STUDIES (HISTORY, CULTURE) / FRANCE, diane de poitiers
