In this excerpt from The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1751) by Tobias Smollet, Mr. Pickle and Gauntlet begin to quarrel regarding Gauntlet’s questioning of Mr. Pickle’s intentions towards his sister Emilia. While attempting to maintain some respect towards each other, the two men are soon so taken over by their emotions and need for superiority that they decide to end their quarrel over a sword fight. Smollet comments on society’s overvaluation of social standing and its subsequent dehumanization through his usage of dialogue and animalistic diction.
Smollett uses dialogue to illustrate the initial interaction between Mr.Pickle and Gauntlet where they attempt to remain proper with each other but their seemingly civil confrontation quickly
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Pickle’s emotional rage. Primarily, they demonstrate attempts at maintain aging propriety as before their sword fight they “helped to pull off each other’s boots,” and, inconsideration to Mr. Pickle’s disadvantage, Gauntlet admits his regard as an “expert swordsman”, and suggests that they fight using “pistols” to be “more equal.” Smollett contrasts Gauntlets consideration and propriety with the previous insults Mr. Pickles placed upon him, and sheds light upon the depth of Mr.Pickle’s need for superiority especially as he refuses to change to pistols due to him being “too confident of his own skills.” Mr. Pickle was too overtaken by his ego to realize the necessity for this propriety as he is now in a disadvantaged position, refusing to admit inferiority in something to Gauntlet; a man of lower class. Additionally, Smollett chooses specific animalistic diction that show this sense of dehumanization where Mr. Pickles thinks to “punish” Gauntlet for his suggestion with a “horsewhip,” using such degrading words that reveals the beginning of Mr. Pickle’s loss to his pride. Furthermore, Smollett describes their fight using “attacked” and “ferocity,” which have connotations of animalistic behavior, furthering this metaphor of dehumanization. Smollett comments on Mr. Pickle’s detachment from social propriety and humanity due to his lust for feeling superior and the overall dehumanization of stripping an individual down to their class rather than judging them as a person. This illustration of animalistic behavior is furthered with Smollett’s descriptions of Mr. Pickle being “transported with rage at the sight of his own blood,” which mimics that of a wild animal in a fight, motivated by blood lust and dominance to secure being the ‘alpha’ of a territory. This parallels Mr. Pickle’s actions as he
If the black soldier was an animal, what that animal would be—an animal that’s friendly at a time, but precarious at another; an animal that forgives at one time, but retaliates at another; and an animal that exhibits both rationality and brutality? 3. The school-mistress says the village
In addition to the use of symbolism, Ellison utilizes visual imagery to illustrate examples of corruption and the Harlequin’s role in inciting rebellion. One example, of visual imagery is when the Harlequin is described as having “an elfish grin spread across his tanned features, and his dimples appeared for a moment. Scratching at his thatch of auburn hair, he shrugged within his motley,” (Ellison 3). In this example, Ellison demonstrates the awkward nature of the Harlequin, which contributes to his inability to conform to the rest of society. This predisposition to looking different than normal, contributes to the Harlequin’s thoughts of rebellion to the norms of the Tick Tock Man’s timely society.
Wednesday Wars Respond to Literature Essay Have you ever read the book “The Wednesday Wars”, by Gary D. Schmidt? In “The Wednesday Wars”, the main character, Holling Hoodhood, seems to form opinions about people pretty quickly, especially Mrs.Baker, Holling’s new 7th teacher. This leads you to having the same opinion about certain characters in the book. However, you should never judge people based on first impressions. The world contains many people, you never do know who they really are and what they are capable of until you them.
Through the Eyes of the Insiders In the novel In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, the author displays how the lives of the people who live in Holocomb are severely contrast than the lives of Dick and Perry. Capote has a way of letting the readers know by his text who is telling their story from their view, whether its insiders from Holocomb, including its citizens and law enforcement or Dick and Perry or their parents or relatives. It is obvious to realize who is telling their story by who they say they are and the way they speak. The people of Holocomb tend to speak in a way that is of concern and question and unknowingly hostile towards Dick and Perry.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Maycomb is described as a ‘tired old town’. This tells the reader that Maycomb and its justice system are set in their old-fashioned ways. Similarly, in Jasper Jones, the red dirt, Australian wildlife and run down buildings show that Corrigan is also a ‘tired old town’. This mise en scene serves as a background as Jasper is manhandled by the police, further showing the prejudiced justice systems. By showing us the rural towns of the texts, Lee and Perkins are able to portray the systemic prejudice present.
In “Battle Royal”, the narrator realizes the aristocratic men only want to hear about topics they agree with, while in “Greasy Lake” the boys understand they are not the bad boys they want to appear as. In his final speech towards the white men, the narrator of “Battle Royal” says, “We of the younger generation extol the wisdom of that great leader and educator who first spoke these flaming words of wisdom” (Ellison 10). This quote shows how the narrator is lying about how he feels to deceive the people around him. He realizes he can escape from the world he is trapped in by giving them what they want. On the other hand, the narrator in “Greasy Lake” says, "I looked back.
On page 95 it states that “Dozens of starving men fought each other to the death for a few crumbs.” (Wiesel) These men were so deprived of food they acted like beasts. They were no longer aware of right or wrong, only the need to survive. Their behavior resembled the aggressive nature of the animal kingdom, not human society.
The depiction of each character and the handicaps placed on them uncovers the harsh contrast between Harrison and the citizens of his society, while simultaneously exposing the actual inequalities of the society. George Bergeron, having a higher
Priestley demonstrates the theme of wealth, power and influence as Mr Birling acts callously towards the Inspector. However he is not affected by Mr Birling’s cruel disregard for the lower class and indifference towards the wellbeing of those he considers as inferior to himself, linking to the theme of class politics. For example, at the end of act 3, the Inspector delivers his final speech, telling the Birlings that “If men do not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”, which once again links to class politics. Priestley is essentially warning the audience of the consequences of capitalism, showing the audience that if the bourgeoisie do not change their ways and treat the lower class more fairly and equally, they will face endless adversity and destruction; fundamentally manipulating the audience into believing one has to either be socialistic or capitalistic. The metaphor “fire and blood and anguish” gives a compelling image that insinuates conflict and the words, “fire”, “blood” and “anguish” also hints at a religious evaluation, as if the Inspector was a messenger from god.
Stephen's father and the majority of the pulp cutting crew all share the belief that men are only men if they show both physical and emotional masculinity. In their world, “the saw [is] the most important thing in the world”, and “men [do] not tender apologies”. Due to Stephen and Leka’s dissimilarity to the standards of man, they are forced to either conform and wield the “ax [to pretend] to be something [they are not]”, or to hold on to their individuality and live in their world of wonders. Being different from others subjects one to the pressure of mainstream prejudice and discrimination, and can cause one to break and conform. The conflict of choosing between following their own path or conforming to society creates internal turmoil in the individual.
Even though there may be compelling evidence that may lead a reader to think that color imagery is the best technique used by both authors to show dehumanization, a closer examination of the text reveals that there is more evidence supporting the fact that characterization of the social classes is, in fact, the best technique used. The fact that the a recurring topic within both The Grapes of Wrath and The Great Gatsby is about the characterization of the social classes. The characterization of the classes is more relevant to discuss in today’s society. Dehumanization is one of the results of the characterization of the social classes because members of one social class characterize members of the other sometimes in negative ways that causes a picture of a member in the opposite class as something less than human and easier to clash with. The Joad’s neighbor, Muley Graves, had a picture in his mind of the wealthy and he described them as a monster who could not be stopped.
In the passage from the novel, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, Tobias Smollet portrays how people succumb to the pressure of social expectations. As Mr. Pickle and Godfrey Gauntlet quarrel, they reach a peak at which they surge past gentlemen-like behavior due to their emotions getting the best of them. To maintain good standing in the public eye, they move to settle their disagreement in a duel. Both parties see themselves as the character which must defend their honor, which leads to a steady incline of conflict. Their relationship reaches a level of complexity when both men strive to attain dignity whilst not falling out of the high social ranking.
Mrs. Lepellier is also indirectly characterized as angry through the negative connotation and the denotation of the verb “abuse”, to treat with cruelty or violence. Gene’s rambling personality, indirectly characterized through asyndeton and run-on sentences, transforms Mrs. Lepellier from angry to pleased. As Mrs. Lepellier helps Leper up, Gene attempts to apologize and stutters, “I’m terribly—it was a mistake” I listened objectively to my own voice, “he said something crazy. I forgot my self—I forgot that he’s, there’s something the matter with his nerves, isn’t there? He didn’t know what he was saying.”
In which we had to think carefully and cohesively about the characters and their backgrounds. Although Harper Lee proves the point that social prejudice was a highly regarded prejudice. Harper Lees’ novel helps us to become more aware of prejudicial situations that occurred in the
In the novel, ‘To kill a mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates the small, imaginary town, the Maycomb County, as a place where racism and social inequality happens in the background of 1930s America. Not only the segregation between whites and blacks, but also the poor lived in a harsh state of living. As Scout, the young narrator, tells the story, Lee introduces and highlights the effects of racism and social inequality on the citizens of Maycomb County by using various characters such as Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Mayella Ewell. Firstly, Harper Lee portrays Boo Radley as a victim of social inequality through adjectives and metaphor in the phrase, “There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten;” ‘Long jagged scar that ran across his face’ tells us that Boo Radley has stereotype about his appearance, which forces to imagine Boo as a scary and threatening person. The phrase, ‘yellow and rotten’ make the readers think as if Boo Radley is poor and low in a social hierarchy, as he cannot afford to brush his teeth.