Abstract This paper closely examines former First Ladies Eleanor Roosevelt and Barbara Bush. The similar backgrounds and passions of these two women are revealed through this in-depth comparison.
From the Paper "Eleanor Roosevelt and Barbara Bush were two extraordinary former first ladies who helped to shape today's American society. Both of these women played active roles while they were First Ladies of the United States. Although these two women lived in different time periods and concentrated their abilities in different areas, both were influential in their own unique ways. A liberal Democrat, Eleanor Roosevelt was very active during her years in the political spotlight. While in the White House, Eleanor Roosevelt had many issues that were important to her, including concern for young people, the poor, the unemployed, and racial equality. She was also involved in the women's movement. After her years in the White House, Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated her time to humanitarian causes. A Republican, Barbara Bush was also active during her years in the political spotlight. Barbara Bush devoted her time to issues such as literacy and volunteerism. Before and during their times in the White House, these two women had many similarities as well as many differences, both lifestyle-wise and political-wise. Both were profoundly unique women who used their talents to take them far."
Abstract This essay discusses how the characterizations of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are enhanced by contrast in the scenes that precede and follow the murder of Duncan in Act 11. Macbeth undergoes a frightening change in his fortune -- a change for which he himself bears at least a partial responsibility. Lady Macbeth is directly involved in this transition.
Abstract This paper examines some of the more famous "death portraits" or daguerreotypes, which were photographed in the early 20th century. It analyzes the psychological reasons why people chose to have these done and the socio-economic reasons as well. Reasons include that the photograph was cheaper than a painting and quicker. The excitement at the new technology of photographing gave rise to this new trend.
From the Paper "Death portraits, like the one presented here, did not just depict the dead, but also included, or even focused on the living mourners. These portraits didn?t just focus on the death, but the process of mourning itself. Daguerreotypes like these were not popular at first, but became popular later in the century. At least two women in the 1840's posed in daguerreotypes with their dead children; and by the end of the century, this had become a convention. The process had come full circle; the photograph now documented a convention in which it had a part."
Abstract This paper considers who painted the portrait of Dr. Shortt, a painting that belongs to the City of Toronto but whose provenance is in some doubt. it explains that there are no signatures or marks on the painting to indicate who painted it and no one interviewed for this report knew who the artist was. The paper claims that there is speculation on the subject, however, and two artists in particular have been identified as possibly the artist of this work.
From the Paper "The purpose of this paper is to report on an investigation into the search for the name of the artist who painted a portrait of Dr. Shortt, a painting that belongs to the City of Toronto but whose provenance is in some doubt. To discover more about the artist, I conducted province research to try and determine who the artist was. There are no signatures or marks on the painting to indicate who painted it, and no one interviewed for this report knew who the artist was. There has been speculation on the subject, however, and two artists in particular have been identified as possibly the artist of this work. The first mentioned was Paul Kane, though Dennis Reid, a ..."
Abstract This paper examines the existential trends in the New York literally scene of the late seventies as exemplified in Richard Price?s, "The Ladies Man". It also describes the character of Patrice Mersault in the "Stranger" by Albert Camus as an existentialist character.
From the Paper "Richard Price emerged into the literary scene with his first novel in 1947, which was known as The Wanderers, an episodic account of the world of a teenage gang and social club during the early sixties. One of his many novels is the famous one "The Ladies Man", which appeared in the year 1978. The Ladies Man is a tale of sexual loneliness and anxiety with the main character being essentially an existentialist living in the city of New York. "
Abstract An analysis of A Lost Lady by Willa Cathers that elucidates the mythic attributes to manifest Destiny in the early pioneers of America. By showing the realities of pioneer life, we can see how Cather portrays a grim notion of survival in the move to colonize the west.
Abstract This literary study examines the short story "The Lady and the Pet Dog" by Anton Chekhov. By learning of the sexist and often misogynistic behavior of Gurov toward women, one can realize his love for Anna revokes his views of gender stereotypes. By understanding how women can be seen as individuals with intelligence and beauty, Gurov invariably cannot hold onto these naive gender belief systems in Chekhov's narrative. The paper explains that, in essence, the basis of Chekhov's short story creates a larger perspective relating to how Gurov transforms his gender based misogyny in his love for Anna. Gurov is a male that has a great tendency to make generalizations about women and then places them within a certain category in society.
Abstract This essay discusses Henry James' writing style in "The Portrait of a Lady" and "Aspern Papers." Overall, we see a great talent in subtle and penetrating character descriptions. James focuses on one individual to paint a portrait of surrounding characters and events.
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the tendencies of Henry James in his writings. "The Beast in The Jungle", "The Jolly Corner", and "The Portrait of a Lady" are three of James' works that are examined in detail. In particular, this paper focuses on the protagonists of each of the writings respectively. A strong comparison is made between the three protagonists of these writings, and their miserable lives. On the other hand, the protagonist of James' story "The Tragic Muse" is shown to lead a life of happiness and success. The paper notes the clear differences between this story and the others, therefore explaining what leads the character on a different path.
From the Paper "In contrast, Portrait of a Lady presents Ralph as an invalid who lives vicariously through a woman named Isabel Archer whom he leads to doom. He bestows upon her a large sum of money, despite his father's warning that fortune hunters will target her for it. Ralph replies, "That's a risk, and it has entered into my calculation...I'm prepared to take it" (p. 161). Ralph is financially generous to Isabel not out of love but out of a morbid fascination. He wants to see what she will do with it. When Isabel marries a gold-digger, she fulfills the victim role that Ralph's father had feared. Ralph's fascination with Isabel's life overcomes any concern he might have had for her welfare."
Abstract This paper explores several important and distinctive similarities between ?Portrait of a Lady,? and "The American" both written by Henry James and shows how both stories possess aspects, which are very similar to James" own life. It focuses mainly on the similarities between the two stories in four aspects, how both stories were set in the same time period, the idea of the individual versus society, the collision of the New World and Europe and the idea of the two main characters, Christopher Newman and Isabel Archer as two fish out of water.
From the Paper "Both stories were set in the nineteenth century aristocratic period circa 1860s (sparknotes.com). This was the period of time in, which a feeling of obligation to society was prevalent and a period in which shared beliefs were more important than personal opinion (sparknotes.com). Public life mattered more than one's private life in that people cared very much about their social reputations, in many cases more so than they care about their personal whims or desires. These were times in, which social etiquette, one's station in life and one's social reputation held definitive value."
Abstract This essay reviews Henry James' "The Portrait of a Lady." It examines how Isabel's freedom ultimately arrived through the negation of choice. By finally making her own decision, she freed herself from the tyranny of multiple choice.
Abstract This paper explains that "Portrait of a Lady", seen by many as the first truly modernist American novel, was published only 16 years after the end of the American Civil War, during a period of great social change and unrest, particularly for women and minorities. The author describes the female characters illustrated in this book as Isabel Archer, the confused woman in search of her true self; Henrietta Stackpole, an "independent woman" seeking to change the world through her eye-catching and brutally honest journalism; Madame Merle, the devious and sly possessor of a scandalous secret, and Pansy Osmond, shy and continually controlled by her overbearing father. The paper relates that James' intentions for this novel's impact and legacy are still widely debated; some argue that the fate, which befalls each of his women, clearly displays his anti-feminist attitude but others argue that the freedom of choice he has given his female characters, allowing them to make their own mistakes, finally paints women as fellow human beings.
From the Paper "One of the first female characters introduced to readers in "The Portrait of a Lady" is also one of the most anachronistic: Mrs. Touchett. Though married, she spends much of her time abroad while her husband and invalid son uncomplainingly reside in England's Gardencourt Manor. She and Mr. Touchett have been virtually separated since the beginning of their marriage, although Mrs. Touchett does spend one month per year at Gardencourt with her husband. Claiming she despises England's food and culture, she permits herself to flit about Europe with nearly unfettered access to freedoms normally only extended to men."
Abstract The paper analyzes the idealism of Isabel Archer in Henry James' "Portrait of a Lady." The paper explains Isabel's self-serving behavior and James' view of what constitutes the "good life."
From the Paper "The idealism of Henry James is apparent in his characterization of Isabel Archer in "Portrait of a Lady." Within the novel we see that James expresses an idealistic worldview that embraces respect and humility, emotion, good conscience, freedom and affection for country and family. However, within James' idealism we find that the author ascribes to a belief that there is a narrow path toward what constitutes the good life and the few there are that discover it."
Tags: romanticism, naivety, Americanness, individualism, identity, social conventions, refinement, relationships
