Analyzing Realism Of 18th Century Authors

Analyzing Realism Of 18th Century Authors In this essay I will be focusing on two very interesting texts which depict realism in their own ways. I will be analysing Daniel Defoes Moll Flanders and Aphra Behns Oroonoko. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦realism came to be used primarily as the antonym of idealism, and this sense, which is actually a reflection of the position taken by the enemies of the French Realists, has in fact coloured much critical and historical writing about the novel  [1]  . I will be examining the way in which the characters individualism is linked with the claim to truth in both texts; this will help me establish whether the attempts of realism of eighteenth century writers were complex enough to be convincing or not. Moll Flanders on the other hand is obliged to the tradition of a novel which depicts in realistic and humorous detail. Molls life is conveyed in episodes within the text which makes her story seem more realistic. When Defoe began to writeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦he merely allowed his narrative order to flow spontaneously from his own sense of what his protagonist might plausibly do next.  [4]  The dismissal of a conforming plot is stated in both of the texts by the way in which the storylines are presented; the writers choose to write in a biography style which is a method which aims to attract the readers attention. Oroonoko as a character is very different as he is a prince yet at the same time a black slave. The rise of realism tries to have an effect on the readers so they can believe it; this proves to be a huge generic feature in the novel. The title Oroonoko shows how the story claims truth right from the start; there is a claim of reliability of the narrator. The first half of the book contains long passages of descriptions of the landscape which seems to be exotic; this makes the story seem believable as it adds to the reality effect. The background of the novel is illustrated to have a lot of detail, yet at the same time the narrators character doesnt seem developed. The female narrator that is un-named claims she saw Oroonoko like she knew him; this gives the story an appearance of truth. She monitors and tells the story to her audience even though we dont know fully what she looks like or why she is in Surinam. We know of her just as an observer and that she is quite well educated. The book is a good look at some of the contemporary issues in Britain; it focuses on the buying and selling of human beings. Behn forces up to a controversial issue which makes the book very believable and able to connect with the readers, it is a text which argues that en-slaving a prince is wrong. The aspect of individuality in Moll Flanders is an interesting aspect to look at as she is quite one-sided due to her concerns in life of an economic nature. Molls character is expressed in the text through the consciousness of her thoughts and behaviour; she is shown to be completely devoted to material comfort. It is fascinating to note that Defoes protagonist has a very realistic name while the narrator in Behns text doesnt have any name. Moll changes throughout the novel, she is shown to do everything as a necessity. She learns to survive; and is shown to give out her children trying to find them good homes. Her character is believable as she talks about herself and judges herself as a whore; she undergoes the guilt of her bigamy and sex in the text. Moll is revealed to contradict herself in the novel as shell say she feels guilty about something yet does it anyway. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the novel is surely distinguished from other genres and from previous forms of fiction by the amount of attentionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦of its characters and to the detailed presentation of their environment.  [5]  As a female narrator Moll is quite believable; her maternal instincts are shown to keep her alive. She has many children, and subverts the traditional role of a woman in the eighteenth century; the text demonstrates the believability of a woman very vividly. Defoes text is a story which begins with Molls birth; her character is shown to be clever, quick and talented knowing how to survive in a patriarchal society. Defoe had many careers, one which was a professional spy. Moll learns about disguise in the text as she hides other characters identities allowing the concept of realism to come into light. Could she be concealing identities of real people? It could be that she did this in order to add to the believability and documentary sense of the story. We as the readers are presented with the story being told by an old Moll, it is clear to identify the difference between the old and new Moll in the story. Even though we can see this growth, Moll finds it hard to see the transformation and development she has undergone. She is shown to grow older physically yet she forgets countless parts of her life. Moll is deeply fixed in the time process and even though there is not much development in her character, she is influenced by her previous e xperiences. Time contributes to Oroonoko as it reveals a part of the British history. The Surinam parts in the text can be seen as more of a travel story, the narrator doesnt respond to time yet undertakes a role to support Oroonoko throughout the novel. She claims to have power right from the beginning of the text however similar to Moll she is unable to apply her past thoughts. One of the characteristics of realism is a realist point of view in language and text structure. Defoe was a journalist; Moll Flanders reflects this, as it is written in a reporting style. There are no literary devices used in the text so the reader can easily have familiarity with the text. Behns style is very practical along with Defoes. Her narrator tells us the readers what she observes and sees. While we, as readers of the novel, are free to accept the authors words simply as rhetorical verification of her reliability as a narratorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the truth of her statement dominates discussion of the work.  [6]  In both books there is closeness linking the reader and the narrator. The characters which are presented by both Defoe and Behn can be seen as challenging, it is possible that both writers were aware of how difficult it would be to create a convincing character, therefore most probably claimed the truth of the stories in the preface before the stories even began. The narrator figure in Oroonoko can in many ways be seen as an illusive Aphra Behn, she becomes very vivid, and therefore the readers may assume a connection. Behns Oroonoko being a real travel journal shows the reliability of the narrator. If the truth was not stated then the claim to truth at the beginning of the texts would have been perceived as northing more than a literary device which is parallel to Defoes. Behn uses her narrator to raise awareness of the government, politics and male dominance over women as a concerning factor, whereas Moll seems to lack this complexity. It unlikely to analyze Moll as Defoe concentrated more on her actions rather than her personality. In conclusion both Behns Oroonoko and Defoes Moll Flanders illustrate good attempts at realism of eighteenth century writers. Both Behn and Defoe have one thing in common which is the claim of truth of their narratives. Oroonoko is a text which lacks features of a novel however we can see that it has a lot of the criteria of the realistic form above all the narrator figure who reveals a new genre. Oroonoko is written in the first person narrative and by a woman therefore is quite realistic. She has good incentive and qualities, as she wants to give infinite recognition to Oroonokos character. All these qualities support the realism and originality of Behns text. Through this essay I have tackled the question whether Moll Flanders is a convincing text or not. Similar to Oroonoko, it fulfils a lot of the criteria of realism in the novel. Molls own awareness is built up as she is illustrated to be more of an individual character rather than the narrator in Oroonoko who is fictionalized. I do not agree that the attempts of realism of eighteenth century writers are never complex enough to be convincing. I feel that both texts evidently convey very convincing and realistic pieces of writing through the characters, settings and narratives which are presented.

Rethinking Our World

Rethinking our world Linguistic analysis: * Claims that almost all philosophical problems can be dispensed with once their underlying linguistic basis is exposed * No matter how hard we try to solve a problem we fail, then we are dealing with a false problem/ meaningless set of words * 2 British philosophers = Bertrand Russell & AJ Ayer * Focused on logic, linguistic meaning & verifiable facts Help us do: * Think more clearly * Be precise in what we mean * Spot hidden assumptions & dishonesty in all forms of propaganda Can’t help us with: * Moral problems * Life choices * Facing own mortality Seeing the people we love suffer * Our own suffering Logical symbolism & argument: * Arrive at the basic structure of truth * Process is facilitated by representing objects & relationships symbolically * Any statement that is true/false by definition can be expressed in form of symbolic logic Empiricism: * Gained through traditional 5 senses(seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting) g ives us our most reliable form of information * Concerned with establishing the truth by means of scientific testing * Searching for objective truth * Linguistic analysis, logical symbolism & empiricism = logical mpiricism Can help us: * Understand how our physical world operates * Test truth of certain claims * Refute what is false * Respect natural laws of the Universe * Learn from experience Failings: * Places too much emphasis on science * Ignores human values * Views human beings as machines * Tend to ignore anything that can’t be explained scientifically * Confines truths to that which can be experiences through senses Critical Rationalism: * Encourage questioning & open-mindedness * Socrates, 470-399 BC * Challenge existing ideas & beliefs by questioning them * Essential for the future of true democracy Emphasis that scientists must be objective * Completely against societies where people can’t speak their minds freely & discuss things openly * Focuses on avoidi ng falsity Help us to do: * Question what people in authority tell us * Be more open to what other people think * Examine our own opinions more carefully * Be more tolerant & understanding * Solve problems Can’t help us to do: * Make quik decisions * Find meaning of life * Can make us feel insecure * Solve problem of suffering Types of false argument: * Name-calling * False cause & effect Falsely representing an opinion in order to discredit it * Appeal to emotion * Falsely claiming that, because a point of view is popular, it must be true Existentialism: * What is meaning of life? * Modern believe that â€Å"our duty† is to decide for ourselves what life is about Can help us to do: * Question other people’s ideas & values * Be more open about ourselves * Trust our instincts * Spot fakes * Enjoy life more Failings: * Too trusting * Can be confusing * May lead to despair * May leave us feeling helpless & angry * May be seriously disruptive Nihilism: * Philosophy of nothing No purpose in life = waste of time * Can lead to violence & chaos, but also free people who have grown up in very repressive religious environments African philosophy: * Holistic philosophy which shares certain ideas with Buddhism philosophy: it stresses the importance of human community & community’s place in the Universe * Claims that happiness at least partially consists of living for others, supporting each other * It’s an anti-materialistic philosophy Can do: * Build communities * Encourage human beings to be more humble * Give deeper understanding of ourselves * Help us appreciate mystery Re-examine need for tradition in human life Can’t help us do: * Doesn’t challenge power structures * Unable to accept women as men’s equals * Doesn’t encourage critical thinking * Tends to ignore needs of individual person * Tolerates cruel superstitious practices System theory: * Sees things as a whole rather than splitting things into par ts & encourages us to keep the objective of a system in mind The enneagram & Human personality: 1. Reformer 2. Helper 3. Movie star 4. Individualist 5. Scientist 6. Loyal supporter 7. Pleasure-seeker 8. Achiever 9. Peacemaker Critical theory: Most famous version = Maxism – wants to abolish all inequalities of wealth & all social inequalities Influences: * Maxism * Feminism * Black rights movements * Postmodernist thinking * Socialism Help us do: * Realistically assess power * Identify those who have power & those who don’t * Identify weaknesses in existing power relations * Define own, personal power & weaknesses * Re-examine our priorities * Re-assess our lives Fails: * Become fanatical * Sometimes too simplistic in its analysis of power * Too idealistic * Lead to despair & violence * Ignore human emotions & desires * Very grim philosophyReligious Leaders & social criticism: * Buddha- Buddhism: search for reality using, primarily powers of the mind Path consists of: * right thinking * right attitude * right means of earning a living * right conduct * right views * right speaking * right effort * right concentration * Moses: on a call for social justice under the One God. * Mohammed: vision of society was of all humankind united under Allah * Jesus of Nazareth: radical criticism of oppressive social & economic structures & His single-minded focus on what He called â€Å"The Kingdom of God† * Karl Marx: stood for hope & better tomorrowFeminism: * Sexual stereotyping * Creating bigger place for women in the world * Rejecting view that women are inferior to men Type of feminism: * Critical rasionalism: questions traditions * Critical theory: challenges all forms of power * Empiricism: asks us to look at reality objectively & social reality * African philosophy: attempts to decolonise the efforts of domination by white males * Logical empiricism: feminism precisely define problems women face Claims: * Women people in own right * Women should r eject men’s definitions of what makes a women valuable * Not make defensive claims to â€Å"equality with men† Women’s happiness doesn’t depend on having a romantic/marital relationship with a man * Have right to pronounce an abortion – men don’t get pregnant & bear children Phenomenology: * Look at things & ourselves as they really are * Believes theories about themselves, life & Universe can be very misleading – lead to falsehood & deep unhappiness * Promote religious belief * Confront ourselves in all our ambiguity & complexity & thus get nearer to â€Å"real me† * Encourages us to resist power structures by a process of retreat & non-engagement rather than confrontation Hermeneutics: * Greek – interpretations Similar to existentialism * Take imaginaryy & symbolism seriously * Claims that arts & crafts are important in human life * Believes happiness is linked to our own creativity in whatever form thet takes * Encour ages us to be poets, writers, authors, actors, painters, designers Main ideas: * Emphasis the importance of listening & observing * Claims that individual’s life-experience influences the way he/she understands world * Affirms importance of dialogue in arriving at an understanding of any issue * Is anti-authoritorian & encourages the individual to create his/her own meaning & understandingHelp us do: * Create meaning * Discover own hidden artistic abilities * Resist scientific arrogance & domination * Understand each other * Be more tolerant of each other Can’t help us with: * Define problems * Overcome injustice * Be decisive * Take action * Be more logical Modernism: * Science, reason & technology will fix it all Postmodernism: * Doesn’t believe in definitions Examines following aspects of human condition: * Way in which we see ourselves * Failure of science to solve many problems Fact that reason may not be a good guide to solving certain problems * Power of large, modern institutions over individual * Need to experience all our emotions to the full * Our inner needs * Mental anguish & illness * Where we get our standards of right/wrong * Trust these standards * Criminality & delinquency * Technology is morally neutral Methods of enquiry in philosophy: * Phenomenology: who are we? * Hermeneutics: symbols & images speak to us * Empiricism: what is actually going on * Some forms of feminism: who says the male is the â€Å"norm†?

Finding the Best Argumentative Essay Topics about the Government

Finding the Best Argumentative Essay Topics about the Government Details of Argumentative Essay Topics about the Government This is the location where you present your very first argument. Your reader ought to be convinced your argument is valid. It's important to select debatable argumentative essay topics as you need opposing points that you could counter to your own points. At exactly the same time, it's an amazing persuasive essay idea. There are respective patterns that writers can use if writing an argumentative essay even though there isn't any particular model of organization. If it's necessary to write your whole essay in 1 day, do your very best to give yourself breaks so you don't burn out. There are many steps that you should take as a way to write an exemplary essay. The decision of the argumentative essay reaches to a point where we can't say that each and every government of the country should offer free healthcare to its citizens in particular those who are in deep financial crises. The financial ideas as stipulated by Smith serve as guidance for the majority of the nations in today's world. Bearing that in mind, it is simpler to understand the nation's cultural diversity and complexity of its history. Sharia law is extremely intricate hence problematic for liberal ideas of a contemporary government to penetrate. Argumentative Essa y Topics about the Government Fundamentals Explained Least expensive essay is an essay service which will help to compose a topic about American Government, they have a broad group of professional writers to assist you about it. Researching the topic will enable you to find out more about what fascinates you, and should you pick something you really like, writing the essay will be more enjoyable. You might want to pay an expert service to give you an argumentative essay on this subject. Again, another essay that you might want to find skilled help with if you wish to receive it right. Many arguments rise on this subject and that's the reason graduates are assigned with argumentative essay on several different topics of healthcare. You don't need to find super technical with legal argumentative essays, but don't forget to do your homework on what the recent laws about your preferred topic actually say. You should also select a topic you have an excellent interest in. The key to pick a fantastic topic for an argumentative essay is to select a subject where there's a lot of debates on topics or stances. The Secret to Argumentative Essay Topics about the Government This argumentative essay is going to have you looking at current society and a historical society. The primary goal of writing an argumentative essay is to understand how to convince individuals to modify their perception of things they strongly believe in. Today there are lots of subjects obtainable for those seeking to compose good, argumentative essays. The individual writing your paper is going to be a prosperous professional with a college degree. Truly, the options are endless and usually, a modest overwhelming. The introduction should offer general information which will be included in the guide. Now, you've got a great deal of topics to pick from and lay down your thoughts on paper. With the assistance of our tips for writing and our interesting collection of topics, you're guaranteed to have a high grade! The argument in the persuasive essay has to be sound in reasoning and offer strong evidence to back up the writer's position on the subject. You may also restate the ideas that you've discussed in the body paragraphs in order to make your point valid. It's essential not just to supply the evidence to back up your position but also to refute that of your opponents. You have to discover decent evidence to back up your ideas together with examples to illustrate the evidence. As you may believe that to be able to create a very good original argumentative paper, you've got to devote all night studying, it is not accurate. As soon as you're prepared to produce a thesis, take a look at these Argumentative Thesis Statement Examples. The student should investigate a topic, evaluate evidence, collect, generate, and set a standpoint on this issue in a powerful and concise way. Also, look closely at the ideal formatting of your text. It doesn't matter to us, whether you're too busy on the job concentrating on a passion undertaking, or simply tired of a seemingly infinite stream of assignments. We've done a good job on thinking about a few intriguing topics for you. With a wide selection of sports events, there are a great deal of relevant topics to discuss. You education be totally pleased with the product which you receive.

Essay on Assimilating into American Culture - 1214 Words

Immigration and assimilation is a divisive topic that has been heavily debated in America ever since we became a country. There are two stories that explore the assimilation issue from different viewpoints’; in Mary Pipher’s story; â€Å"The Beautiful Laughing Sisters – An Arrival Story†; provides the viewpoint of immigrants leaving a hostile home for America. Elizabeth Wong details her journey to break with her culture and become Americanized in, â€Å"The Struggle to be an all American girl.† and (McWhorter, 2010 pp522-529). At debate today is whether immigrants and their families should blend into American culture even if it means breaking with their past. Once cultures intermingle, they are forever changed. American culture was initially†¦show more content†¦In addition, half of her family lived in a dugout instead of a house that caused her to be embarrassed of her heritage. Once she married an Indian man and had children, she embraced her cultural heritage. My sister, who has a dark complexion was working at a nursing home once and was detained by immigration because they thought she was here illegally from Mexico. I wish I could report that racism is in the past and we have all evolved enough to be color-blind. Our American history and attitude towards immigration has been conflicted ever since we formed our nation. Black people were initially brought to America as slaves and were segregated for the greater part of the 20th century. I can remember when desegregation occurred in our schools in Dallas; there was panic and fear among the adults. In the mid 19th century, during the California gold rush many Chinese people came to America to work as cheap labor and provided the needed workforce to build our railroads (Ashabranner, 1993). The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was enacted to regulate immigration and excluded certain classes and races of people who were undesirable as immigrants, prior to this America had no formal immigration policy (Kennedy, 1964). This era in our history is a bit reminiscent of when the Borg encountered the Enterprise and tried to assimilate the crew in Star Trek the Next Generation series; â€Å"( . . . ) Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. WeS how MoreRelatedGogol s The Namesake Essay1620 Words   |  7 Pagesminorities from immigrant parents are driven subconsciously to conform to new culture and social norms. For foreign born parents and native born children integrating the two cultures they inhabit brings about different obstacles and experiences. In Jhumpa’s â€Å"The Namesake† the protagonist Gogol is a native born American with foreign born parents. The difference with birth location plays an important role in assimilating to a new society in a new geography. 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