Abstract This paper explores the character of Delia Ralston in the Edith Wharton novel "The Old Maid". The paper discusses the novel's portrayal of the struggle between romanticism and realism. The paper shows how Delia, the novel's main character, learns a bitter lesson that her romantic visions will not survive unless they are supported by money -- aka "reality". The paper then attempts to understand whether it is society's limitations that cause Delia's heartbreak or her own cowardice. The paper concentrates on Delia's three romantic options: being an old maid (and rejected by society), being the wife of a starving artist (and rejected by society), or marrying a wealthy man she does not love (and being accepted by society).
From the Paper "The major focus of the novel "The Old Maid" is the main protagonist, or Delia, whose survival in the world is difficult because of her romantic nature, trials and tribulations to realize her vision of love in any way possible. Delia longs for romance in her life. Her longing for romance (with Clement Spender) is manifested in the novel with the descriptions of how Delia looks at the things she associates with the man she loves, Clement Spender. He is (to her) "her one missed vision [of love, romance], her forfeited reality [...]" (150). When Charlotte speaks about how a woman manifests her love for a man without words, she says: "[..]'A woman never stops thinking of the man she loves. She thinks of him years afterward, in all sorts of unconscious ways, in thinking of sorts of things-books, pictures, sunsets, a flower or a ribbon-or the clock on the mantlepiece', Charlotte broke off with her sneering laugh [..]" (175)."
Abstract C.S. Lewis, in "English Literature in the Sixteenth Century", dismissed Daniel's "Delia" on the grounds that: "It offers no ideas, no psychology, and of course no story: it is simply a masterpiece of phrasing and melody" (Lewis 491). Samuel Daniel's sonnet sequence, "Delia" (1592), is undeniably remarkable for its phrasing and melody. However, one can take issue with Lewis' depiction of Daniel's achievement. This essay will argue that, contrary to Lewis' statement, Daniel's "Delia" reveals a complex level of interlocking patterns of thematic ideas and imagery. One cannot assert broad generalizations about a poet's entire work, much less the poetic production of an entire era, from the textual analysis of a single work. Includes annotated bibliography.
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of Samuel Daniel's "Delia" through its structure and the creation of the modern sonnet. The author explores Daniel's influences including Sir Philip Sidney and Shakespeare, and his use of the Petrarchan writing mechanisms. Further this paper examines the significance of the sonnet to the English Renaissance and European poetry.
From the paper:
"Samuel Daniel's Delia presents to the modern reader a nearly perfect mechanism through which to contemplate the structure of the sonnet in English as it first came to be incorporated into the common practice of this language. His use of Petrarchan forms and metrical traditions demonstrates that the sonnet when it first entered into wide use in the Renaissance was indeed a direct carry-over from the Italian, a mimicking by English writers of the Italianate structure of neoclassicism, a harkening back to Rome and so to Athens."
Abstract This paper is an analysis of Samuel Daniel's work "Delia". It references several other works in order to make the correct analysis such as: Sidney's "Astrophel and Stella", Petrach's "Canzoniere" and more. It details the sonnet in the English Renaissance, the Petrarchan sonnet and how it became a major influence on European poetry, the typical Elizabethan use of the sonnet , and more.
From the Paper "Samuel Daniel's ''Delia?? presents to the modern reader a nearly perfect mechanism through which to contemplate the structure of the sonnet in English as it first came to be incorporated into the common practice of this language. His use of Petrarchan forms and metrical traditions demonstrates that the sonnet when it first entered into wide use in the Renaissance was indeed a direct carry-over from the Italian, a mimicking by English writers of the Italianate structure of neoclassicism, a harkening back to Rome and so to Athens. By examining Daniel, we hear a twinning of neoclassical and English forms that would be lost almost entirely by Shakespeare's later sonnets ? so much more familiar to most of us. Shakespeare made the sonnet into a native form for English speakers, made it a part of our own language, as natural as a lullaby sung from one generation to the next. But before Shakespeare could have done this, there had to be writers like Daniel. This paper examines Samuel's great work "Delia", looking particularly at the influence of Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel and Stella on Samuel's work."
Abstract This paper will discuss the poem by Samuel Daniel's about the nature of his lowly esteem for the lady that he mentions in the poem. By understanding his humble approach to her memory, we can see how the writer clearly makes use of his rhyme schemes and sonnet form to show the meaning of this man's love for Delia.
Abstract This paper discusses one of the sonnets that appeared in Samuel Daniel's work "Delia". The poem is a classic example of Elizabethan poetry and contains all the elements normally associated with the poetry of that era such as imagery, symbolism, love and dejection.
Abstract The paper explains that Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" is usually read as a story of Delia and her troubles. The paper demonstrates, however, how it is also Sykes' story. The paper portrays how Sykes, the otherwise tyrant husband of Delia, suffers from an extreme loss of pride that resulted from the kind of economic and social conditions the black community faced during the early decades of the 20th century. The paper shows how, stripped of his pride, Sykes uses Delia to vent his frustration and anger. The paper points out how Sykes could have improved this situation by altering his mental state, his mindset and his behavior. The paper concludes that with a positive frame of mind, sometimes even the impossible turns a lot easier.
From the Paper "The story opens with Delia sorting clothes as Sykes returns from a day with his mistress, Bertha. On the one hand we have Delia who is condemned to "sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!" (75) And on the other, you have Sykes who ridicules his wife, torments her and represents oppression and still gallivants with his mistress. So on the surface, Delia is the victim and she really is. But when we study the life situation in which Sykes had found himself, we could see how the circumstances were torturing and tormenting his pride and his masculine self. He wanted to be the provider for his family but still Delia got to be the chief breadwinner. This was something Sykes couldn't come to terms with and hence his behavior. By this, we absolutely do not want to justify Sykes' behavior but rather we want to be able to study the other side of the situation shown in the story."
Abstract This paper examines how "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston was written at a time when Blacks were unequal in every way; they were considered second-class citizens. In particular, the paper looks at how what is so profound about Zora Neale Hurston's book is that she is able to show us another side of inequality - the inequality in marriage. She wrote this at a time when blacks and whites were not equals, but the chains around the protagonist Delia are because of her husband. The paper examines how Delia does her part in society as a hard-working, faithful, God-fearing woman and how it is her husband's exploitation of her that keeps her down and how the feminism in "Sweat" is an underlying current that is carried along by the courageous heroine Delia.
From the Paper "Delia's oppression is one that many black females have had to deal with: Delia works for white women, cleaning their clothes. The book's title carries obvious irony; while Delia cleans women's clothes, making them fresh and white, her own clothes are stained with sweat and blood. Hurston hi-lites here the inherent inequality present not only in the structure of slavery in the past, but the mentality of the white employers and Delia, a mentality seemingly mimiced by her own husband. "Sweat" exposes not only the exploitation of blacks and the lower-class people who must sweat for the rich, but the story is about gender exploitation and how Sykes exploits Delia, benefiting from her sweat. The story is an inexorable condemnation of the economic and personal humiliation of marriage in a society that is both racist and sexist."
Abstract This paper discusses the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" by Nora and Delia Ephron. The paper examines how the entire plot is based on feminism, beginning with the moment the boy calls the radio station and continuing until the moment Tom Hanks, Beg Ryan and Ross Malinger are together. The paper points out that feminism can be seen in the characters of Annie, Sam and Jonah. The paper explains that Annie must find a man who excites her and not settle for someone who is stable and offers security while Sam must find a perfect love like he had with his wife.
From the Paper "The "superwoman" must have the "superman" to have a life that is happy and blessed. Pure feminism is that the only way a woman can be happy is through marrying the "right" man. Feminism is seen throughout the movie of "Sleepless in Seattle" by Nora and Delia Ephron. Imagine a young boy making a phone call to a radio talk show to talk about the depression his father is feeling after losing the boy's mother. Feminism is seen in the social relations in this movie such as a superwoman who has a career and wants a superman and the feminist viewpoint that single fathers do not make good parents so Jonah needs a mother. Ephron begins the movie with a young boy, Jonah, who is worried about his father, Sam. Sam and his son recently left Chicago and started a new life in Seattle, after the death of Sam's wife."
This paper reviews and examines the themes of racial and gender inequality present in William Faulkner's "That Evening Sun" and Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat."
Abstract The writer of this paper focuses on Nancy and Delia, the main characters in "That Evening Sun" by William Faulkner and "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston, respectively. This paper analyzes how both authors deal with issues of gender and racial injustice in America in the early 1900s and show how two different solutions to a similar problem can lead to two very distinct outcomes. The repression of women by men is prevalent throughout both novels and clearly cited in this paper. This paper reviews the plots of both novels, while at the same time detailing the many similarities between Delia and Nancy, which underscore the role that race, gender and social class play in each of their suffering. Nancy is a housekeeper while Delia is a wash-woman. Their jobs are similarly menial. The writer discusses the manner in which both Nancy and Delia essentially share the problem of social injustice toward black women as well as how each woman resolves the situation she's in. The writer contends that Faulkner lets the reader see the silence, acceptance of inequality and re-activity in Nancy's solution while Hurston shows speaking-up, denial of inequality and pro-activity, which leads to a better life for Delia.
From the Paper "The many similarities between Nancy and Delia underscore the role that race, gender, and social class play in each of their suffering. Nancy is a housekeeper; Delia is a washwoman. Their jobs are similarly menial. Such jobs were typical for black women in the American South at the time, and, for most black women. In most cases, this was the only kind of work they could find. Faulkner and Hurston each choose black women as main characters in order to illustrate how black women in particular were treated by men at this time. Nancy and Delia have one very serious common problem: each is violently abused, and violently repressed by her husband. Delia works very hard to own her dream home, but Sykes still feels that because he is the man of the house, he has the right to control Delia. Jesus and Sykes each act as leaders of their households, not because Nancy and Delia want to be followers, but because they, as men, insist on dominating their wives."
Abstract This paper discusses the feminist approach to Hurston's short story, which is related to the cruel and dominating male authority that she found in her own life. The author points out that, although Hurston reflects in her own life a woman that is liberated from these troubles, in the character of Delia, she invariably reflects her own failed marriages. The paper relates that the crucial interrelationship of Delia and Hurston reflect their similarities of lifestyle in a realistic experiential narrative the reflects the plight of women to find equality in love.
From the Paper "This study examines how the life of Zora Neale Hurston reflects upon her literary writings within her story "Sweat." By realizing the mental and physical abuse that Hurston survived with her own marriages, Hurston reflects a feminist mode of thought in "Sweat", relating to how she had experienced men within her own life. By counteracting the dominating influence of men within her biography, Hurston reflects her own aspirations and feminist freedoms within the misogynist environment that resides in this story. The life of Hurston was one that was troubled "by a great many patriarchal and dominating men throughout her lifetime." (Bloom p.155) Hurston was extremely aware of the nature of violent men and their abusive ways."
Abstract This paper introduces early twentieth century writer, Zora Neal Hurston. It provides a biography of her life in Florida and her interest in Southern black folklore which led to her writing her short novel, "Sweat". This paper analyzes the themes and characters in "Sweat" and then compares the story with another of Hurston's works, her 1937 book "Their Eyes Were Watching God", which was criticized by black readers who felt she did not portray the south realistically. The paper also discusses the revival of an interest in Hurston's literature following a book on her life by famous African-American writer, Alice Walker.
From the Paper "The snake theme will weave its way through the story, with "S" words present in nearly every sentence. "A remarkable transformation in iconography can be seen in the prevalence of S, with its resemblance to the snake symbolizing Damballah Wedo, the serpent deity of Voodoo" (Hill 196). Sykes brings home a live rattlesnake to further torment Delia, hoping it will chase her out of the house, but the snake ends up killing Sykes instead, in an ironic twist at the end, and Delia does nothing to stop it. She is finally free of Sykes and his evil, and can continue her life in the little home she has created for herself."
Reviews the film "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", directed by Ken Kwapis, screenplay by Delia Ephron and Elizabeth Chandler based on the novel by Ann Brashares.
Abstract This paper analyzes the characters, castings and the setting of the film, "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". The paper first explains that the film is the story of four young women, who have been friends all their lives, and share one pair of pants that serves as a focal point throughout the film. The paper then describes the writer's emotional engagement with these characters. Although the film has had its critics, as noted in the paper, the writer states that the film was thoroughly entertaining, which she believes is the primary purpose of fictional cinema.
From the Paper "A more legitimate criticism is the above-mentioned element of time, as mentioned by King. While the elements of connection make up for this flaw, it is nonetheless true that there is too little time to bring out the full potential of the story. There are simply too many main characters with too many individual problems. Indeed, this very fact is at the basis of the extremely negative criticism launched by O'Sullivan and particularly Bradshaw. While I do not believe that their criticism is focused at the true problems of the film, one can however recognize that their reviews are not without grounds."
