Abstract This paper explains that George Orwell, who began his career as a political writer during the Second World War, published his satirical novel "Animal Farm" in 1945, addressing issues about socialism, repression, and implicitly, cynicism. The author relates that Orwell used animal characters to explicate and illustrate his ideas, which makes the novel an "animallegory". The paper points out Orwell's two central theses that develop the progress of the novel, which involved human realities portrayed through 'animal interaction': (1) All social orders created and developed by human societies, which suffer repression, continue to prevail thereby making these so-called social orders, as in the case of the novel--capitalism, socialism and totalitarianism, ineffective and (2) in the perpetuation of repression and suffering in human societies, cynicism is the only way in which these can be alleviated.
From the Paper "Under Napoleon's leadership, Animal Farm became totalitarian. Animals no longer worked for the sake of their community, but rather, for the sake of Napoleon and his military of dogs, as well as the privileged 'class' in the farm-the pigs. This social order was once again proved ineffective because of the oppressive nature of Napoleon's leadership. Ironically, Man, the enemy of animals, began establishing good relations with Napoleon and the pigs, an occurrence that proved how the farm had once again returned to its first social order (capitalism) under a new leader and regulations. In fact, conditions in the farm worsened than ever before, with the animals working now as slaves only for the sake of Napoleon and his 'comrades': the pigs and humans."
Abstract This paper discusses how, in his fictional, yet highly autobiographical novel "Ham on Rye", Charles Bukowski allows the reader to experience the development of his cynically riveting ability to tell the truth. It looks at how Bukowski utilizes the protagonist and perpetual literary altar ego Henry Chinaski to demonstrate the development of a powerful literary tool - truth combined with cynicism - and how the development and application of truthful cynicism allows the author to challenge and attack the unspeakable cultural truths.
From the Paper "First, the reader learns the origins of Henry's truthful, yet cynical character development. Beginning with the first day of his fifth-grade class, young Henry learns the true nature of telling a lie. The teacher commands the students to describe their father's employment. However, the height of the Great Depression as rendered the students' fathers unemployed. In order to avoid shame, all of the students creatively invent occupations for their father's, except for the last student who actually tells the truth. Henry reacts to the truth by thinking, "I wish I had thought of that" (81). Young Henry realizes that by revealing the ugly truth of a situation, he will empower himself to establish a unique personal identity. "
Abstract The paper gives examples from Donne's poems of imagery involving comparisons that are often far-fetched, yet intellectual. The writer asserts that these poems are written records of Donne's inner-turmoil. The paper shows that Donne's love poems fall into two distinct categories-- passionate poems and cynical poems.
From the Paper "Just as Donne wrote passionate poems of the sacredness of love, he wrote cynical poems of the hypocrisies of love. His "concern for the ?honesties of love' turned him into a rebel and atheist of love" (Williamson 55). It is in the works of this time that Jack Donne, trapped between his idealistic conception of holy love and the reality of superficial love, which seemed so prevalent in society, can be seen at his best. Under his attack were women; he scorned both faithlessness and faithfulness and wrote of women with contempt. "At this time he despised them equally for yielding to his lust or for denying themselves to him" (Keast 124). Such disdain can be seen in his poem "The Apparition," in which he addresses a murderess of his love, cursing her so that she will feel his presence when she is in the bed of another. In his "Song," Donne challenges any man to find " . . . a woman true and fair" (Abrams 1064), an impossible feat, since "Though she were true when you met her . . . she/Will be I False . . ." (Abrams 1064). As Jack matures into John, his perceptions of love become more realistic, as lovers are never perfect soul mates."
Abstract This paper examines how Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" details the temptation and eventual disillusionment of a young Puritan man, who, when confronted with the massive possible hypocrisy of the community in which he lives, is unable to adapt successfully to a portrait of the world that does not live up to his romantic ideals. It looks at how Hawthorne weaves enough structural ambiguity into the story to make it unclear for both the reader and for Brown just what the actual reality is and how, at its conclusion, we are left to a realm of unknowns and suspicion as much as he is. It shows how, ultimately, the story of "Young Goodman Brown" is the story of a young man who, once his romantic ideals about the world are tested, lapses instead into a cynicism and frustration that represents the completely opposite end of the spectrum.
From the Paper "Nathaniel Hawthorne's Story "Young Goodman Brown" opens with a brief exchange between Young Goodman Brown and his wife, Faith, whose very name points to an obvious symbolic dimension of her character in the story. We discover quickly in their exchange of dialogue that they are newlyweds, very much in love. Indeed, the fact that they are newly married, as well as the title of "young" that precedes Goodman Brown's name all inform us that the are both new to the world of independent experience, that the still possess many romantic illusions about life, and that they are generally inexperienced. Yet, at their otherwise sweet parting, there is a strangeness. Faith asks her husband not to depart on his unspecified errand and suggests that she has had some sort of premonition, a premonition that Young Goodman Brown himself seems to share."
Abstract This paper explains that an authoritarian military style of management of the police officers used in earlier days worked efficiently as the officers were unskilled, lower educated, and sometimes unethical. Police officers today are more educated and technically competent than they were in the past and require a different style of management. The author believes that the role officers can play in their own motivation is to want to improve and show cooperation with the administrators; the rest of the role in motivation still lies with the police administrators. The paper states that the major challenge in the motivation of police officers lies in reducing cynicism and motivating officers to perform better.
Table of Contents
Relationship between the Amount of Supervision and Control
Balance between Control and Motivation
The Case of Lt. Morse and an Accountability System
Officers Role in Creating a Motivating Environment
Does Motivation Only Come From Within?
Role Of Police Administrators in Motivation
Unique Issues within Police Organizations
From the Paper "As the two of the concerns are indirectly related, it is important for police supervisors to balance the increase in one with the increase in the other. The increasing level of supervision and accountability leaves officer demoralized if motivational measures are not taken up to balance the situation. It is very important that officers are motivated due to the nature of the job. Officers need to be constantly motivated to control crime on the streets. Inefficiencies of officers may trigger a wave of crime in the society. Thus, supervisors must employ various measures to sustain officer morale."
This paper provides evidence for the "Merchant as Cynic" argument put forth by some top Chaucer scholars in considering Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales".
Abstract Beginning with the Merchant's description in the General Prologue, the paper moves through the main themes of the "Merchant's Tale", including blindness, chivalry, and most importantly, marital love. It describes in detail how the Merchant re-interprets the "Knight's", "Wife's", and "Clerk's Tales" to fit his own cynical views on these subjects.
From the Paper "In his essay ?Narration and Doctrine in the Merchant's Tale,? Robert Edwards describes the tale as a "bleak and savagely ironic story"that led?J.S.P. Tatlock to remark on its "unrelieved acidity"? (Edwards 342). The narrative dialogue of the previous tales leads readers to expect more of the same. However, the most direct response to a tale that readers have seen so far is the Miller's response to the Knight. This response, while obviously seeking to undermine the chivalric values of the ?Knight's Tale,? is presented as a lighthearted jape, poking fun at the ideas of love and marriage but lacking the cynical tone of the ?Merchant's Tale.?"
Abstract This paper explains that the character, Holden Caulfield, comes to maturity over the course of Salinger's novel, "Catcher in the Rye", with witty humor and cynicism, moving from being depressed to finally being happy. The author points out the theme of idealism: Holden thinks everyone wants their kid to be the poster child of the "perfect kid" when, in fact, there is no such thing. The paper relates that Phoebe's reality check helped Holden realize that, no matter how hard you try and how much you care, you cannot change society; there will always be corruption.
From the Paper "In the beginning of the novel, Holden is very sarcastic toward everything. He is also cynical and has a hopeless outlook on life. Holden is being kicked out of Pencey Prep for failing all of his classes. Holden goes to his History teacher who begins lecturing Holden on his lousy term paper. Holden, however, sees only the comical part, ?he was holding my paper like it was a turd or something,? (11), because he can"t take things seriously. Holden believes that everyone is phony or fake. On the train ride to New York, Holden meets one of his classmate's mothers. He lies to her and says how nice her son is. Holden can believe this woman doesn"t know her son well enough to know he is lying, ?that guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a goddam toilet seat,? (55). Holden thing it's ridiculous that parents don?t pay enough attention to their kid's personality to know when someone is lying about their kid."
Abstract This paper explains that modernist literature is characterized chiefly by a rejection of 19th-century traditions; thereby, the World War I poets reinvented the conventions of poetic prose, turning ballads of war glory into vivid accounts of horrific tragedy and painful suffering. The author points out that, in Siegfried Sassoon's poem, "On Passing the New Menin Gate" (1928), a short fourteen-line response to the Great War, disenchantment is manifested as cynicism, which establishes the context of the poem as post-war criticism, creating the stylistic technique of poetic social commentary. The paper relates that, while Victorian poetry attempts to criticize the conditions of society, modernism focuses on concrete issues such as Sassoon's contrast of the dehumanizing war and the dehumanizing wall, each a product of man's will to enhance civilization on two different levels.
From the Paper "War exists in Sassoon's poem as a transforming image for poetry and the perception of its reality. In condemning Menin Gate, there manifests an overall disapproval for mankind. Sassoon writes, "Paid are its dim defenders by this pomp; / Paid, with a pile of peace-complacent stone," mocking the excuse which is to replace what has been lost. Following this line he states, "The armies who endured that sullen swamp," a line that is isolated within the poem but comes after this explanation of how the wall is to honor the fallen soldiers. It is possible that Sassoon does this to show the inadequacy of the wall or any memorial in respect to the tribulations the soldiers went through."
Abstract This paper explains that, in William Shakespeare's problem comedy "Measure for Measure", there is a certain sense of Shakespeare's discomfort or downright cynicism toward the concepts of religion such as Providence, divine mercy and the afterlife. The author analyzes the way the actions of the characters of Duke Vincentio, Isabella and Claudio reflect the religious skepticism that Shakespeare so frequently insinuated into his work. The paper concludes that Claudio is the only one for whom the play ends with a truly happy ending; insinuating that perhaps for all of those, who deny their true nature and insist on living their lives to achieve the impossible standards of religion, perhaps there is no happy ending.
From the Paper "The questionable actions of Isabella, too, can be construed as Shakespeare commenting on divine mercy. For instance, when dealing with her brother Claudio, Isabella shows little or no pity toward his eminent death when it is directly weighed against her chastity. Yet when Angelo is condemned for basically an identical crime for which he doomed Claudio, Isabella pleads to the Duke that Angelo might be spared because Angelo did not, for all intents and purposes, actually succeed in his objective. Since Isabella did not stand to lose anything in her defense of Angelo, she made it willingly. When Isabella was forced to give up something precious to herself, however, she chose her own salvation over her brother's salvation."
Abstract The paper looks at Ernest Hemingway's "Across the River and into the Trees" and conveys how the text does an admirable job of capturing the weariness, the cynicism, the lingering shadows and the potentiality of Italy in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The paper looks at this book relative to Hemingway's other books as well as its relationship to the work of other writers from the period.
From the Paper "To begin with, Across the River and into the Trees was released in 1950. At that time, Italy was less than a decade removed from the Second World War and from the disastrous reign of Benito Mussolini. As a result of this, many of the old wounds - wounds caused by the association with Hitler, the disastrous reign of Il Duce, the country's heavy losses in history's most costly war- were still fresh, still sore. Beyond that, the country was going through a period of relative upheaval, with the dramatic ascendancy of the "New Left" and with the deliberate purging of anyone involved with Mussolini's fascist party. Finally, the country wracked with concern (or at least its allies were wracked with concern) over the ability of democracy to flourish in a land that had no real tradition (at least in recent decades) of democratic governance (Salvati, 556-559)."
Abstract The following paper examines how the character of Holden Caulfield still reminds us that cynicism and self-doubt are not characteristics that are proprietary to adults. The writer examines how teen-age Holden is cynical, defiant, and blind to what is actually going on around him, yet to the very end of the novel he continues to berate the "phoniness" of others, particularly adults. The irony of Holden's seeing the faults and foibles of others while not being able to recognize them in himself is Salinger's comment on the way society views the human condition . This paper discusses how society always views the human condition as "the other guy".
From the Paper "The novel begins with Holden proving this point: We"re introduced to Holden by his telling us that he doesn?t want to talk about his "lousy childhood" -- he doesn?t "feel like going into it" (Salinger 1). Holden is self-destructing but doesn?t realize it because he's so intent on blaming everyone else for his problems. These psychological battles within Holden's own head serve as the basis for critical argument. As we read and learn more about Holden's situation, we must accept that society does indeed fail us because the finger is always pointed toward someone other than ourselves, whether it's to help someone in need or accept that we ourselves need help. Holden's character has sometimes been criticized for possessing the same characteristics he abhors in other people, but that, as I see it, is the point ? he is a teenager and as such, rather self-centered. He doesn?t choose to see that the very qualities he finds fault with in other people.?
Abstract This paper analyzes and reviews "Happy Endings," a short story by Margaret Atwood about a couple named John and Mary. Atwood presents six succinct scenes, centralized around the couple, and illustrates possible avenues their relationship may undergo. The reviewer notes Atwood's feminist perspective in this work, and Atwood's cynical and satirical tone. The writer sees Atwood as using cynicism to convey her belief in the nonexistence of fairy tale endings.
From the Paper "Atwood's cynical attitude about the insignificance of life is evident in the third story when she explains the reason John purchased a handgun is "the thin part of the plot and can be explained later" (219). Atwood does not place impact on the events leading to death. Instead she concentrates on the "happy ending" itself, for all that matters is that the ill-fated lovers do die, it does not matter how. This reinforces Atwood's notion that life is simply a means to the "happy" end."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the Julia Barnes' somewhat cynical view of reality as a human construction in her novel "England, England". The paper focuses on the characters' attempts to cope with reality and their desire to look past the constructions in their own and others' lives.
From the Paper "In "England, England", Julian Barnes theorizes that what people perceive to be reality is merely a construction. He argues that people create this construction for themselves because of a desire to simplify their lives. What people consider to be true memories and actual history are distortions, no more real than stories, except in that people believe these memories and histories to be real."
Abstract This paper presents an in depth look at the authoritarian personality types and its defining characteristics. The author examines characteristics such as persuasion, the use of threat, cynicism and obsession with power. Includes details about genetics and environmental influences.
From the Paper "The contempt-respect dichotomy that is the essence of authoritarianism is difficult to observe"it is not often that one sees submissiveness to authority followed immediately by aggressiveness to a subordinate"so the purpose of the current research is to find other ways of identifying individuals with this trait. Among its defining characteristics are submission, aggression, close-mindedness, superstition and stereotypy, fascination with power and authority, cynicism and destructiveness, sexual repression, belief in a dangerous world, and preference for convention. Authoritarians have extremely conservative views, are often racist, respond more strongly to threats than to rewards, and reject those outside of their narrow definition of ?acceptable.? These findings can positively influence the accuracy of an observer's judgments in everyday life, and, in doing so, can facilitate dealing with others."
Abstract In this paper the author examines the work of Voltaire and looks at social evil as demonstrated in Candide. The author makes mention of what happened to Candide and suggest that human beings are able, through great philosophical effort and not through mere creed and dogma, to create some good out of the sweat of one's own brow and the effort of one's own mind.
From the paper:
?Voltaire is secular in the sense that he mocks religion and is anti-Catholic in the sense that he does not believe in innate human goodness. Yet his belief that the only value lies in acceptance of the world as it is, which Candide finally achieves, also shows that he is not entirely a cynic.?
