Abstract This paper examines "The Beggar's Opera" written by John Gay and first performed on 29th January 1728. It tries to ascertain how a play that depicted the society of when it was originally performed still remains popular today. It illustrates how "The Beggar's Opera" as it was mockingly named, is anything but an opera for it lacks the antiquity, seriousness and most importantly the Italian touch to qualify to be an opera. What it is, is a humorous musical which involves the character periodically busting into song, with the audience finding it hard to restraint their laughter as the play takes as many opportunities to attack the classical opera setting. It concludes that the primary reason why people still enjoy the play is the sad but obvious similarities that were all so obvious in Gay's world to the present day world and that nothing has really changed.
From the Paper "A world in which the custodians of public trust turn a blind eye to the pilferages committed by minor thieves to serve as greasing to their grand design. The characters of The Beggar's Opera employ methods of profit making, just as every kind of position holder and scoundrel employed in the 18th century and still do. One can draw distinct parallels between the mischievous behaviors of the 18th century statesmen who had access to other people's money and trust, with the corporate raiders of today."
Abstract This paper explains how Flaubert's blind beggar can be seen as an economic, romantic and/or moralistic symbol. It looks a how this is shown through symbolism in the beggar's song, appearance and voice, as well as Emma's and others' reactions. It also discusses how these all portray different aspects of Emma's life.
From the Paper "The next scene where the beggar appears is on Emma's deathbed. At this point, readers hear the entirety of the beggar's song and discover the real meaning of it. Initially, it seemed as though the song was about "birds and sunshine and leaves of green" (Flaubert 249). But the progression of the song shows the maid's petticoat flying away, exposing her in a very sexual way. The unrolling of the song in this manner is very reflective of Emma's journey from purity to sexual degradation, moral decay, and, ultimately, death. "
Abstract This paper discusses the use of satire, metaphor and simile in Gay's "The Beggar's Opera". It shows how Gay used his opera to satirize the society of his time, but that this satirization was not derogatory or moralistic enough to give much offense. It shows how Gay's entire cast of characters play the role of metaphor depicting social ills of the time.
From the Paper "In satirizing the conventions of opera and romance, the Beggar's Opera arranges a meeting of opposites. Macheath the criminal thus refers to himself as a "man of honor". Instead of the expected nobleman, this man of honor is a mere criminal, but he is more than that. Gay turns him into a metaphor for the hypocrisy of those who like to believe in their own heroics. Specifically, Macheath represents the aristocrat and the army officer. His affectations and efforts at romance later in the opera reflect this."
Abstract This paper examines Lorca's "Blood Wedding", a play that appears, at first, to be based on a fairly straightforward plot of two lovers who defy all social and moral codes of honor by allowing their passion to get the better of them. It looks at how Lorca obviously had quite a different message in mind, given his rather sudden introduction of surreal elements in the last act, and how the symbolism inherent in the young woodcutter as the moon and the Beggar Woman as Death reveals that Lorca was really making a strong comment about the fact that ultimately all human beings meet justice at the hands of Fate.
From the Paper "Lorca is obviously a master of his craft given the manner in which he artfully sets up his audience to believe that the lovers? fortunes will be dictated by the traditions and demanding laws of honor prevalent in the Spanish society of the time. This is evident in the way he develops the themes of knives, blood, nature and death throughout the play, including his very choice of the title Blood Wedding. In fact, the play begins on an ominous note with the bridegroom's mother exclaiming, ?Knives, knives./ Cursed be all knives, and the scoundrel who invented them.? (Lorca, p. 34) But perhaps the more ominous note lies in Lorca's portrayal of the bridegroom's mother as a woman who has been unable to make peace with the death of her husband and other son in an old family feud. "
Abstract Analysis of English values in the Restoration, focusing on Polly Peachum as a foil character that Gay uses as a satirical element to show the hypocrisy of London society. It explains how Gay juxtaposes the aristocracy against the thieving, working class and asks the audience "Who is who?" The character helps question whether there is really such a difference between the gentry and the criminals warehoused in London jails.
From the Paper "The aim of satire is to attack or expose human vice or hypocrisy by means of irony, sarcasm, and acerbic wit. In the Restoration play The Beggar's Opera, author John Gay satirizes early 18th century England by turning societal convention on its ear, challenging the upper stratus of government and the aristocracy, and making ridiculous the Italian opera. One of Gay's most ironic and satirical elements in the Opera is his characterization of the play's personas. The theatregoers of Gay's era were accustomed to characters who behave according to an established set of conventions that supposedly mirrored the London society in which they live. In the typical Restoration plays such as Man of Mode and The Way of the World, the upper-class male protagonists are fashionable, witty, respectable, honorable, and of good reputation. The young female leading roles are almost stock characters who are pure, chaste, virtuous, filially obedient, and have the propensity to be excellent wives. But in order to expose the hypocritical double standard that existed in London society, John Gay creates a play of inverted values. The value systems of criminals and gentle people are almost indistinguishable. The rake is replaced by a highwayman, match making parents are replaced by villainous thieves, and the honorable maiden is swapped for a would-be ingenue. This maiden, Polly Peachum is the antithesis of stock Restoration female protagonists such Millamont, Harriet, and even Margery who possess honor and respected positions in society."
Abstract This paper analyzes the hero Odysseus in Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey" and looks at how the theme of the poem is about one man's search for identity and meaning in his life. The paper relates that throughout Odysseus' wanderings, his main purpose is to establish his name and reputation. What he discovers is that his identity is one that is rooted in suffering and pain.
From the Paper "For Odysseus to ensure his victory over the suitors, he must first reveal himself to Telemakhos and enlist his help; however, his son does not recognize him or believe in his identity right away. Because of the suffering Odysseus has endured, and the stories Agamemnon has told him of family disloyalty, he must first test the loyalty of his loved ones before he can reveal himself to them. Therefore, to reveal his true identity to Telemakhos, he must first disguise himself using a stranger's story. After Odysseus hears Telemakhos speaking of his loyalty to his father, Athena instructs him to reveal himself. Seeming younger and stronger because of Athena's magic, Odysseus confides his secret to his son. Telemakhos does not recognize him or believe his claim, telling him "You cannot / be my father Odysseus" (205-206). He calls him a "stranger" (193) and mistakes him for a god, begging his forgiveness and mercy on the kingdom. Odysseus soon convinces him that he is really his father and tells him about his wanderings and sufferings. "
Abstract This paper describes the battle of the sexes through writings in English literature. It includes quotes from Chaucer, Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Milton's "Paradise Lost", and Gay's "The Beggar's Opera". The time period ranges from the middle ages, the renaissance, to the enlightenment. All quotes are from the Norton Anthology Seventh edition and are sited according to MLA format.
From the Paper "From the beginning of time, the battle of the sexes has been a ferocious conflict; a conflict where women have often been on the losing side. This is truly evident from reading early English literature. Men have had the dominate roles over their women counterparts no matter what the prevailing time period was. Although women's rights diminished and replenished over the centuries, there was never a time when men and women were considered to be equal."
Abstract The paper discusses Homer's "Odyssey" and analyzes how the different themes such as the reunion of lovers and of family and a father-son sub-theme, make their way into every element of modern life and can be extrapolated to any situation. The central theme is journeying through life's ups and downs.
From the Paper "The Odyssey begins with useful background information: Odysseus is the last remaining soldier to return home from the Trojan War. Because he incurred the wrath of Poseidon, the hero has been thrust into a whirlwind of troubles. When we first meet him, Odysseus has been held captive by the sea nymph Calypso. Calypso is madly and possessively in love with Odysseus and refuses to let him leave her island. The war hero's predicament captures the attention of Athena, who vows to help him. She petitions Zeus for aid and requests that Hermes be sent to deliver a message to Odysseus's son Telemachus."
Tags: trojan, war, poseidon, athena, zeus, ulysses, beggar
Abstract The writer of this paper provides a brief summary of the plot of the story and examines the characters in the context of the theme "good versus evil". It focuses on the characters of the doctor, the priest and the beggars in the story, and how they react to the finding of the pearl by Kino. The pearl represents all things good, as seen by Kino and his life of poverty is bad. This all changes as the story progresses.
From the Paper "The Pearl is a short novel or a parable by the famous Nobel Prize winning American author, John Steinbeck. It was first published in 1945. Critics as well as ordinary readers over the years have examined John Steinbeck's writings from different angles?each having found divergent meanings in them. This is probably due to the underlying paradox in Steinbeck's writings, The Pearl being no exception. In The Pearl Steinbeck tells the story of a poor Mexican-Indian fisherman (Kino) who finds a very large pearl ("The Pearl of the World") that is apparently Kino's ticket of deliverance from his life of abject poverty and deprivation, but which actually brings him even greater harm. One of the morals of the story is the virtue in the poor man's struggle against the forces of injustice and exploitation. The paradox is the apparent futility of the struggle."
Tags: poverty, struggle, novel, kino, racism, indian, fisherman, human
Abstract This paper examines the different social status and gender positions portrayed in seven dramas from Chinese theatre of the Yuan period. The Yuan dynasty was the period of Mongol rule in China. The dramas included portrayals of a wide range of social classes- rich, poor, officials, beggars, women, men and many more. It shows how women had a lower social status then men and were held in lower regard. Those of a higher status were mostly officials who had access to power and money while in contrast, the lower classes had to work hard for a living and face many injustices. It aims to bring forth the idea that the playwrights used these differences to illustrate moral ideas about good and evil.
From the Paper "The status of scholars and those who become officials by passing the exam is clearly illustrated here. The Chang family held scholars and officials in high regard and considered it a source of pride and social status to have a son-in-law who is an official. This could be attributed to the fact that the imperial examination was a way for someone from the lower class to raise the position of his family and himself in the social hierarchy. Passing the examination and becoming an official was to bring great honor and prestige to the family. Understandably, to gain a son-in-law who was an official would also bring prestige to the Chang family and perhaps validate or improve their social status."
Tags: art, china, chinese, culture, dynasty, society
From the Paper "This story will provide a critical analysis of the Chinese short story "The Lady Who Was A Beggar," from the twelfth or thirteenth century. The analysis will include consideration of the cultural significance of the story. Essentially, the study will argue that the story was a stern warning, on both moral and practical grounds, against class prejudice as practiced by two characters in the tale.
The cultural significance of the story shows the reader that the Chinese society of seven hundred years ago was like our own in terms of the prevalence of such prejudice, and also like our own in that wise story-tellers warned about the destructive and self-destructive nature of such bias. It also tells us that art in that era, as far as that art is represented by this story, was created not merely as entertainment but as a means of instructing.."
A detailed analysis of "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, focusing on the shared experiences of the female protagonists in each novel and the role their communities play in their development.
Abstract Toni Morrison often explores issues that have strong influences on African American women in her novels. One such issue is the role the black community plays in the development of her protagonists. In "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved", the female protagonists are unable to progress as individuals without the support of their communities. In "The Bluest Eye", the unfortunate young girl becomes an outcast beggar as the result of the black community's self-hatred. The protagonist in "Beloved" ultimately becomes free from her horrendous past with the help of a loving community. Morrison uses the contrasting endings of her novels to emphasis the important role the black community plays in the psychological development of its female members. This paper is an investigation into the reasons and effects of a community's isolation. It shows that in both novels, members of the black community use the protagonists as scapegoats for their own internal problems. In "The Bluest Eye", the protagonist is a target for the community's self-hatred. In "Beloved", the community condemns the protagonist for an act similar to many of their own actions because their condemnation helps to relieve their personal guilt.
From the Paper "In each novel, isolation and betrayal by the community have striking results. Pecola does not have a family to rely on because the black community tears her parents apart before her life even begins. Although Cholly and Pauline initially love one another, their love cannot withstand... isolation from the community" (Kubitschek 35). When the Breedloves move to Ohio, Pauline "merely wanted other women to cast favorable glances her way" (The Bluest Eye 118). Pauline cannot love herself once she accepts the standards of beauty the community imposes upon her. The black women of the community scorn her accent, her lame foot, and her hair, so Pauline only finds beauty in the home of a white family (Furman 15-6); "here she found beauty, order, cleanliness, and praise" (The Bluest Eye 127). In equating physical beauty with virtue, she stripped her mind, bound it, and collected self-contempt by the heap" (The Bluest Eye 122)."
Abstract A close reading of a passage is different than analyzing a portion of text, yet it is similar in many ways. "The candles dropped hot, acrid gouts of wax on my bare shoulders. I watched with my furious cynicism peculiar to women whom circumstances force mutely to witness folly, while my father, fired in his desperation by more and yet more draughts of the fire water they call "grappa", rids himself of the last scraps of my inheritance. When we left Russia, we owned black earth, blue forest with bear and wild boar, serfs, cornfields, farmyards, my beloved horses, white nights of cool summer, the fireworks of the northern lights. What a burden all those possessions must have been to him, because he laughs as if with glee as he beggars himself; he is in such a passion to donate all to The Beast." This paper does a close reading of the above text. It discusses punctuation, diction, features of sound, sentence types, and the sense the speaker gives to the passage.
Abstract This paper will analyze the book "Stories from a Ming Collection: The Art of Chinese Story-teller" translated by Cyril Birch. By understanding the ideas of ethical premise that are within the two stories "The Lady was a Beggar" and "The Pearl Sewn Shirt" we can compare them to better see the human relationships that exist in the tales.
Abstract This paper looks at Arthur P. Wolf's article, "Gods, Ghosts and Ancestor's", which discusses the complexities of Chinese religious beliefs and practices, and explains the main thesis of the article. The paper highlights Wolf's thesis, which asserts that the supernatural categories that the Chinese believe in, namely, gods, ghosts, and ancestors, are determined by the social structure of Chinese society. The paper shows how Wolf proves his point through case studies, personal anecdotes, interviews, and observations of ritual, custom, and lifestyle.
From the Paper "Ancestors, the second class of supernatural beings that Wolf discusses in his article, are in many ways equally revered. The spirits of the deceased watch over and protect the living members of that family line. Wolf shows that there are strict rules regarding which family members can or must be worshipped. The rank of ancestor spirits closely mirrors the rank of family members. For example, the head patriarch of a family line will be given the most prominent spot on the family altar. Those family members who are not respected as much will also not be revered as diligently during times of worship."
