Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Man Named Arnold :: essays research papers fc

Joyce Carol Oates’ â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† tells us about the life of Connie who has no guidance in life, because her family has not provided any moral support to help through her teenage life. She only knows about popular culture and not the consequences that comes with it. Without proper direction to face problems, Connie is confronted by Arnold Friend who has a plan to do some grotesque things to her. This encounter between them causes a power struggle between them that provides Connie downfall toward potential death. Arnold’s proclaimed supernatural ability controls and manipulates Connie’s mind and spirituality to strip her of any dignity that exists within.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Arnold had â€Å"a special interest in Connie† to carry his deed in taking her soul or something from her (619). He has knowledge about everything Connie is involved, because he has devil like qualities to take control of her destiny. A lack of experience to face problems or people like Arnold can affect the thought process into making a logical decision therefore doing things without knowing what will happen at the end. Arnold’s presence provides a dominant feeling to Connie who does not know Arnold’s intentions. He takes advantage of pop culture to find out how to get to her though music, clothes, and boys. Arnold was somewhat outdated to the time, but he was still close enough to trick Connie into thinking he was a teenage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bennett 2   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Connie can not possibly be prepared for what Arnold has in store for her, since she was not properly taught about having morals. The family did not have any strong ties with each other to protect Connie from any harm. She decided to â€Å"stay home alone† to avoid any conflicts with her family (617). When Arnold comes, she is drawn to him physically causing him to know that she is under his control. There is no hope for Connie since she does not know what to do about Arnold. How can this situation be avoided without a strong knowledge of the opposition? This was a question that never came into the mind of Connie. The only thing she was really worrying about was what was Arnold going to do if she did not go with him. Connie is scared to the fact that she can not believe this is happening to her. This does not happen in popular culture and music, but it happens in reality.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Albert Camus’ Political Writing and Career

Camus’s Political Writing/Career Through his political writing, Camus expresses a variety of philosophical ideologies that are in many ways similar to those expressed in â€Å"The Stranger. † In the writing, Camus explores various ideas that are reflective of how society appears to him. * 1943 Joined a French resistance called the â€Å"Combat† who opposed the Nazis. Had an underground newspaper; Camus became the editor, under the name â€Å"Beauchard,† criticized French collaboration with the Nazis †Now the only moral value is courage, which is useful here for judging the puppets and chatterboxes who pretend to speak in the name of the people†¦ – written in the newspaper The content usually tried to convince people to act with strict moral principals This is where he developed his idea that though human life may seem pointless since everyone must meet death at one point in time, it is still sacred; and each person must be responsible for their own actions and consequences. the content of newspaper likely expressed his ultimate distaste towards the actions of the Nazis and the violence erupting due to their ambition for power. Innocent people falling under their control and abuse. his goes with Camus’s ideology that men should be responsible for what they make of themselves in the universe. However, he strongly opposes the Nazis likely because they are not held responsible for the genocide; they instead, are encouraged and feared, not held accountable for the millions of deaths they’ve caused. Meursault knows that death is the ultimate consequence to murdering the Arab; he has no personal, or emotional ties with the dead man; he accepts this truth; his insensitivity actually provides a means for him to accept the idea of existentialism. This gives the impression that Meursault sees the murder as a consequence and the cause of his current problems. Also, only during his trial and imprisonment, Meursault recognizes that he is responsible for his own life, and realizes his mortality. Through writing, it can be seen that Camus’s personal political beliefs are rather left wing, though not communism. He is a socialist. Explores the morals of humankind, and his support for anti- totalitarian government. The idea of exercising control over the freedom and will of others. This is somewhat reflective of the society that Camus chooses to portray in â€Å"The Stranger. Most people conform to society, and thus society as one has specific beliefs and ideologies that are accepted by the general population and deemed as â€Å"normal behaviour. † However, Meursault is an exception; thus, he is called â€Å"The Stranger† to the society, an outlaw. He does not care about what other people think of him, or his act ions. His actions are ultimately rejected, and thought of as heartless to the rest of society. * Shortly after World War II, he publishes â€Å"Neither Victim nor Executioner† in Combat which expresses key moral questions, in a variety of essays. Relates to the idea of genocide and murder, this piece of writing mainly expresses: 1. People are living in a â€Å"murderous world† and that they must â€Å"reflect on murder† and know and accept the consequences that come with it. It can be seen that Camus is a moralist, and strongly believes in justice. Similar to his ideology in â€Å"The Stranger† in the way that Meursault, who murdered the Arab, was actually held guilty and responsible for his actions. When Meursault was put before the judge and the public official tells him to turn to Christianity, he disagrees even though his life depended on it. This displays that Meursault values emotional honesty over protecting his own life. He accepts his punishment, and the consequences that come with murder. 2. People should â€Å"carefully weigh the price that they must pay† and Camus is debating the idea of whether through world war, conflicts will actually be resolved once and for all; that if even after â€Å"several generations of sacrifice,† they will not come closer to a world society. In â€Å"The Stranger,† Meursault shows utter indifference to the man he had murdered. He did not consider the possible consequences before he shot the man, and simply instinctively kills the Arab without much consideration for what he himself would end up as. Camus explores the idea of existentialism; the role that man plays, and that he is responsible for his own actions, in the midst of a meaningless and empty world. From the ideologies expressed in â€Å"Neither Victim nor Executioner,† it seems as though Camus purposely made Meursault blind towards weighing the price he would have to pay upon murdering the Arab, and thus places focus on the process of his realization. The war can be thought of as a parallel to the physical fight that Meursault and the Arab engaged in; the ultimate conflict was not solved through murder and physical action. Society still remained the way it was, and instead of Meursault changing the views of society, he was instead forced to submit to it. * Camus wrote for â€Å"L’Express,† from 1955-1956. This was a French magazine that opposed the war in Algeria, and also the use of torture. Similar to this, â€Å"Reflections on the Guillotine† was an essay written by Camus, expressing his opinions against capital punishment, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. The absurdity of the society is reflected in its creation of a standardized justice system which uses capital punishment through the guillotine to give meaning to Meursault’s murder and actions. In order to highlight the true meaning behind the murder, society uses capital punishment to bring the matter out. The absurd overcomes rational thinking, and Meursault views death with happiness at the end, simply because he has found a genuine sense of acceptance towards the â€Å"gentle indifference of the world. †

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The World as Meditation - 977 Words

Where is the line that separates imagination and reality? Can imagination heal a wounded heart? In the poem, The World as Meditation by Wallace Stevens, Penelope, seeking to allay her irresistible longing for her husband, immerses in a metaphysical state of thought about Odysseus and their love. Her daily engagement in such form of imagination illuminates her unbending loyalty, growing yearning, and unconditional love towards her husband. Through various literary devices, Stevens shows the power of imagination to fortify one’s mind by shifting away from the cold reality and venturing into a realm of transcendental thoughts: an empowering meditation. Stevens begins the poem, emphasizing Penelope’s mixture of doubt and yearning for†¦show more content†¦Through this poem, Stevens implies that metaphysical imagination can compare as real happiness. Imagination can liberate oneself from the cold reality as long as one has the strength or else its interminable tortur e. Perhaps reminiscing the warm presence of Odysseus had made her verge into mirages and illusions; assuming that every aspect that is majestic, mended and comforting pretenses Odysseus’ presence, or she replaces them and turn it into her happiness. He has become a part of her life, in reality and imagination; for they are oneShow MoreRelatedThe World as Meditation993 Words   |  4 PagesWhere is the line that separates imagination and reality? Can imagination heal a wounded heart? In the poem, The World as Meditation by Wallace Stevens, Penelope, seeking to allay her irresistible longing for her husband, immerses in a metaphysical state of thought about Odysseus and their love. Her daily engagement in such form of imagination illuminates her unbending loyalty, growing yearning, and unconditional love towards her husband. Through various literary devices, Stevens shows the powerRead MoreThe Meditation Health Benefits Of The World1102 Words   |  5 Pagesold activity one o pens their mental and physical wellbeing to multiple benefits. â€Å"It did to my mind what going to the gym did to my body† said Dr. Hedy Kober, a neuroscientist who studies the effects of meditation, â€Å"it made it both stronger and more flexible.†(Meditation Health Benefits). Meditation is a practice that may train one’s mind to be at a state of consciousness and wholeness. Throughout history Buddhist monks and other eastern religions have been utilizing this practice for religious purposesRead MoreYoga Sutras And Early Buddhist Meditation1118 Words   |  5 Pages Both the Yoga sutras and early Buddhist meditation studies the eightfold or eight limbs practices and principles. 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