In William Manchester’s account of the Middle Ages, A World Lit Only by Fire, he describes many traits that are essential to the medieval mind. Between the decline of classical pagan culture in Western Europe and the rebirth of culture during the Renaissance, the minds of Europeans underwent many changes as they began to stray from Catholicism and divert their attentions to secular affairs under the notions of humanism. Medieval philosophy was heavily influenced by ideas from the classical works of the Greek and Roman worlds. The Middle Ages were a turning point in history that brought major changes to Europe. One of the traits Manchester believes to be essential to the medieval mind is sinfulness.
Using setting, characterization, and symbolism, Gautreaux to address a problem in society and
Voltaire offers commentary on all aspects of French society, from religion to government to the military, by creating a discourse surrounding England and their practices, as compared to the French ways. On the topic of religion, Voltaire indirectly condemns the French state’s association with the Catholic church by sharing dialogue with an English Quaker, so as to highlight the contrast between the two religions, and point out some of the absurdities of the French system. One such point of opposition is illustrated when Voltaire inquires about the Quakers not having priests in their religion, the reason being that, “We don’t pay a set of men clothed in black to assist our poor, to bury our dead, or to preach to the brethren. These offices are all of too tender a nature for us ever to entrust them to others” (Voltaire 11). By discussing the sensitive nature of a priest’s job, and by mentioning how for this very reason Quakers do not have priests, Voltaire is effectively criticizing the extent to which religious officials are involved in the affairs of the believers of the Catholic Church.
“Today’s Demon: Common Scents” Lynda Barry represents that being an individual and not conforming to societies idea of perfection is better than pretending to be someone she is not. “Common Scents” tells of a young girl, N’ako who notices the specific smell in each house; although, she is told her house has a foul smell she states that should prefer that smell because it represents her own identity. The message presented throughout the story is first shown when the young girl notices a distinct smell that is unique to each home she enters, then again when she realizes the lady who sprays air freshener in her home does this to reach an image of perfection, and finally, during a conversation with her grandmother she decides that there was no
When she was at the shop, a man walks in wearing a “stained blanket pulled up to his chin” who smells of “stale cigarettes and urine” (7). This graphic description of the man instills a feeling of disgust in the audience. He stands there until a “moody French woman” walks towards him and handing him “steaming coffee in a Styrofoam cup, and a small paper bag” of what is perhaps a croissant. He accepts the food and leaves the bread shop. Just like she did in the preceding anecdotal narrative she question why the woman demonstrated this act of compassion.
Throughout mankind history, there has not been a period of time where there was not the division between rich and poor. However, this gap increases year after year. Consequently, the writer Toni Cade Bambara uses setting and characterization to address the social inequality in her story “The Lesson.” The author uses the poor black community of Harlem as setting to aim the economic inequality.
‘A Natural History of The Senses’ by Diane Ackerman allows the readers truly appreciate the sense smell. Ackerman goes throughout history, scientific evidence and different colorations on varying aspects of smell. She therefore allows the readers believe in smell as though it was a touchable sensation. She also allows the readers to creatively visualize memories, ideas and so forth. Ackerman allows the readers to think more in depth with how smell can be used in the daily lifestyle.
The second part looks more closely at particular regions in the Early Modern World, and the way ideas from different institutions cause different effects. The areas covered as aforementioned; it could be considered that the way in which Wiesner-Hanks sets out her chapters provides clear outline of the way in which she historically contextualises the global scope. It is the way in which Merry Wiesner-Hanks uses vast geographical and historical context to structuralise her findings, which sets her book apart from others of the same variety. However, it could also be considered that this is one of the few criticisms of the book, as in order to provide a more in depth view of the world beyond Europe in the Early Modern World, Wiesner-Hanks is observed to generalise beliefs across mass geographical regions and the religious views that those within the country might have. Moreover, it is evident that Wiesner-Hanks develops the ideas of Michael Foucault, it terms of the belief that sexuality is paired with power, which ultimately is paired with the knowledge of ‘The will to know’ (book of reference,
While reading Tartuffe, I was constantly dumbfounded by the prevalence in the world today of Moliere’s, comedically portrayed, accusations regarding ignorance in arranged marriage, social class dynamics and religious hypocrisy. Moliere created the characters to the complete contrast to what society saw them as, which was intriguing and comedic. He also displayed the average practices, such as planned marriage, to be disgraceful and shameful. Lastly, but most prevalently, Moliere saturated the hypocrisy of religion by later in the story revealing the religious character’s deceitful and malign nature. In this essay, I will be using historic and literary theory to examine Moliere’s interesting views of such practices and the satire involved.
It was dominated by social antagonism between the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. The paper aims at providing an insight into the factors that caused the French revolution and the themes that emerged during the revolution. It further explores the significance of the revolution and its significance to date towards our system of thinking and interaction. This literature also examines the French revolution and how human nature was viewed. It elaborates on how human beings can be self-interested, savage and yet socially conscious or kind.
In the other two stories the duality of a person becomes intertwined with the dual image of the city. In "The Nose" and "The Overcoat" the duality reflected both in microcosm of a person and the macrocosm of the city serve as a source of characters ' madness. The duality of the city develops through the Hoffman tradition of grotesque and surrealism. Gogolian Petersburg is the city of a "struggle between the dream and materiality" . In this city the real intertwines with imaginary to such an extent that it is no longer possible to detect the borderline.
In Patrick Suskind’s Perfume, Suskind creates a postmodern mockery of Christianity and perverts the idea of Christ by elevating Grenouille onto a divine pedestal only to sequentially demonize him. Suskind illustrates a godly image of Grenouille from birth, but then contradicts this by degrading him and making him resemble the Devil. This description mocks Christianity by diluting the pure and kind image of Christ. He conjoins elements of the Devil and Christ by characterizing Grenouille as both. His sense of smell alludes to the power of God, yet later on he brings others into his sins and darkness like the Devil.
Jean- Baptiste Molière’s play “Tartuffe” is an unquestionably humorous comedy. The play defines the hypocritical acclaimed “Christians” we have in society. Daily, many people are blinded by admiration of religious figures who they believe are Gods disciples and can lead them to the gates of heaven. In “Tartuffe”, the author uses irony, satire, and tone to uncover a man follies of unreligious faith, the lust of women, money, and power.
Originating in France, ‘The Necklace’ is a short story written by French writer Guy de Maupassant in the late nineteenth century, the period where literary movements realism and naturalism dominated French fiction. Maupassant played an important role in both the realist movement and the naturalist movement through his depiction of the setting as well as the character’s decision. The short story reflects upon the rigid patriarchal society during the late nineteenth century, demonstrating how the wealth of a person can lead to their generosity and greed; thus affecting their lifestyles. Through ‘The Necklace’, Maupassant aims to depict the conflicts between the upper-class and the lower class, how their inner desires vary. This essay will analyze ‘The Necklace’ and how Maupassant uses the social context, characters and literary devices in the short story to illustrate his misogynistic viewpoints towards women.
Final Assignment of English Literature Reading BY YANG ZONGYOU, D01 “The False Gems”by the great writer Guy de Maupassant is a miracle that draws a delicate and precise image of France in the late 19th century. Written in an objective view, woven with sarcasm, this little piece of art reflects the truth of the society and humanity in its era without any obvious rhetoric, like a real old gem that shimmers constantly and gorgeously, leaving an ample space of ambiguity for readers to ponder over and over again. “The False Gems” seems to be objective, however, on the contrary, the plot of the story itself is a barrel of irony, in which the author 's opinion and emotion lies deeply — the genuine ones are found fake, while the false ones turn out to be real; knowing everything is not always good. Mrs. Lantin 's before-and-after contrary is ironic. At the very beginning of the story, everyone is convinced that Mrs. Lantin was a virtuous woman.
