Study on the lord of the flies

Study on the lord of the flies A. Ralph: Ralph brings civilization to the island with his exceptional leadership and sagacity. Through his wise decisions, he continuously pulls the boys closer to being rescued. However, Ralphs effort to bring peace miserably fails at the end, as boys gradually begin to go against his beliefs. Civilized: As an elected leader of the tribe, Ralph repeatedly attempts to coordinate civilization unlike the other boys. While others stay ignorant to the situation by focusing on having fun on the island, Ralph does not cease to pour all his strengths to civilize the boys by building huts, creating fire, and assigning duties. Unwavering: Throughout the novel, Ralph refuses to succumb to the barbaric lifestyle the other boys have yielded to, despite the given circumstances on this chaotic island. Ralph continues to keep his humanity by holding in his inner savagery, even when his own life is at stake. B. Piggy: As a fat kid with asthma, Piggy holds all the essential traits to being a stereotypical annoying child, causing many to dislike him. Although Piggy can be considered as the most intelligent one in the group, he often fails to get acknowledged and appreciated by others for the contributions he made to the island. Dependent: Despite the sensible decisions he brings to the table that would be prudent to the boys survival, Piggy always requires Jacks presence to get things done. Piggy needs Ralph to accomplish even a simplest task on the island, like giving the littluns commands. Without Jack, Piggy is not respected or accepted by others. Faithful: Through thick and thin, Piggy stays by Ralphs side as his best friend. Almost nowhere in the book can Ralph be seen without Piggy, as two seem to be inseparable throughout the whole store. Piggy devotedly guides Ralph to the right direction and stays faithful, even to the point where he sacrifices his own life. C. Simon: Simon is an alienated figure in the tribe of the boys on the island, due to his unique maturity and morality toward life. Although he prefers being alone in a deserted area away from others on the island, Simon still puts his effort to help and save the boys from trouble. Unfortunately, his innocent efforts later takes his life away at the end, akin to an image of Jesus Christ. Compassionate: Simon may look like he is apathetic toward other boys through his isolated status in the tribe, however, he clearly is not; Simon is actually very compassionate about them. While others are occupied on having fun, Simon alone pours his weak strengths to build huts for the littluns. Also, it is Simon that retrieves back Piggys flown away specs back to him when it flies away from Jacks heavy blow. Sacrificial: Simon becomes one of the first boys to die on the island, despite all his goodness. Although he never harmed others or even intended to, Simon gets killed anyway by the boys own bare hands. It can be inferred that he has been sacrificed to nature for the sins other boys have committed, making him the scapegoat of the tribe. D. Jack: After landing on the island, Jack undergoes a dramatic transition from a choirboy who likes to flaunt his ability to sing C sharp, to a savage who likes to decapitate a dead pigs body. Jack rejects to adapt to the civilization offered by Ralph, but desires to create his own fully under his power. Rebellious: In contrary to the rest of the boys, who easily agree to the decisions made by Ralph, Jack alone refuses to be a follower. Instead, he wishes to have full authority of his own, later resulting him to make his own separate tribe. Jack simply does not want to be under someone elses control, which later causes war and deaths among the boys. Charismatic: Charisma is an essential trait for all leaders. Inclined for power, Jack luckily cherishes that charismatic side in him, unlike Ralph who miserably fails to lead his boys into right direction. All his actions, like camouflaging his face with paint, seem admirable to his followers eyes. Due to Jacks such trait, he eventually obtains full control over his boys in the tribe. Minor E. Samneric: Samneric is a collective term describing Sam and Eric, who are identical twins therefore undistinguishable to others. They tend to be followers in the story to whoever is in power, whether it is Ralph or Jack. Powerless: Samneric are very insignificant to the tribe, as they have no voice or power over what they do. They are expected to obey whatever commands are given to them under any circumstances. Loyal: Although Samneric abandoned Ralph and Piggy for Jack, their loyalty toward the former two can often be seen in the novel. When Ralph is being vigilantly followed by Jacks tribe for him to be killed, Samneric chooses to support Jack, by alerting him that he is being wanted. Samnerics loyalty toward Ralph ultimately causes Jacks tribe to collapse in the end. F. Roger: As Jacks main follower and his official torturer of the tribe, Roger is a cruel boy that only sees hatred in his eyes. No matter who the target is, Roger wishes to destroy them using violence. He sheds no pity on the littluns either, as he once brutally demolishes their treasured sand castle. Sadistic: Even though he purposely misses the shots, Roger is once seen throwing dangerous rocks at Henry. Roger is fully aware that the rocks will frighten the victim in terror, however, the thought does not bother him at all. He is also the person to roll the boulder that murders Piggy. G. The Lord of the Flies: The Lord of the Flies is a voice spoken through stick-impaled sows head, and is only heard by Simon. It is unknown whether the Lord of the Flies is Simons hallucination or the islands supernatural figure. Cruel: The Lord of the Flies signify the cruelty that took over all the boys. It self-proclaims to be indestructible, and declares that it will remain among the boys eternally. It mercilessly threatens innocent Simon as well, who gets terrified of the Lords existence. 5. Settings I. The Lagoon: Blue of all shades and shadowy green and purple, the beautiful lagoon of the island serves as the opening point of the story where the scattered boys of the island come together for the first time. Described as an oasis in middle of a dry desert created by an act of God, the lagoon offers a peaceful and soothing feeling to the readers. Nothing ominous seems to happen to the boys once they are in the lagoon, in contrary to many other settings in the novel. II. The Forest: The jungle in the island can be seen as the place where savagery in the boys hatch to life. With pigs squealing, mice shrieking, and birds screaming everywhere, the forest is undoubtedly an epitome of wilderness in the novel. The boys first murder happens in the forest, as well as their very last. Whenever the forest enters the scene, readers can automatically assume that an act of savagery will take place, whether it is slaughtering a pig for food, or killing an innocent boy with bare hands. III. Castle Rock: Like a magical fortress surrounded by strange growths of coral, poly, and weed, Castle Rock initially makes an exhilarating impression on the boys with its visual enticement. Despite its outer beauty, however, Ralph slowly comes to realize that the Castle Rock is not suitable for a shelter due to lack of essential survival elements like fresh water, food, and shelter. On the other hand, Jack makes an argument that the rock is actually ideal for a shelter, as it is equipped with surplus amount of harmful weapons. Jack later claims Castle Rock as his tribes fort, making use of those very weapons to defeat their enemies like Piggy. In conclusion, the Castle Rock signify a form of savagery for the readers, as one of deathful places on the island. 6. Plot In middle of an ongoing war, a group of English boys land on an uninhabited island from an aircraft. They soon gather to the blow of the conch made by Ralph and Piggy. Led by charismatic Ralph, the boys establish a civilization by creating shelter, collecting food, and assigning duties. To higher their chance of being rescued, the boys decide to make fire as a signal. However, Jacks boys become obsessed with hunting instead, causing their existence to go unnoticed by a passing-by ship. Littluns claim that they have seen a foreign creature on the island, and calls it beastie. Unable to withstand Ralph, Jack rebels out of the tribe and forms his own. A handful amount of boys follow Ralph, leaving him and Piggy behind. The new group begins to hunt wild pigs in the jungle like savages, and even decapitates one of the sows for a gift to the beast. Through that head, the Lord of the Flies speak to Simon of how evil will not be defeated on this island. Silhouette of a fallen parachutist makes an image akin to a large living creature, terrorizing the boys. Simon discovers the true identity of this object, and attempts to tell the others about it. The boys, masked in their savagery, mistake Simons emergence as the beasts and brutally slaughters him with bare hands. The next day, Jacks boys commit to themselves to steal Piggys specs to create fire. In the progress, one of the boys throws a heavy boulder aimed directly at Piggy. Along with the conch, Piggy ends his life in ruins. Jacks boys continue to hunt for Jack in hopes of killing him. After setting the whole forest on fire in attempt to compel Ralph away from his hiding, an officer sights the smoke. The story comes to close as the boys finally get rescued. 7. Major Themes A. Importance of Civilization: A war is being waged outside the island, disrupting the civilized peace. The war then causes the boys to be dropped onto the unknown island. The boys slowly drag themselves away from being rescued due to their own rebellious acts against the leader. Unorganized life on the island ultimately leads the boys into complete catastrophe. The boys end up losing their sanity due to lack of civilization, later even killing each other. Golding emphasizes the need for civilization in order for a community to survive, whether the group is small as a tribe, or big as a country. Without order, each individuals greed and needs will soon cause corruption, resulting in total chaos that might even affect ones life. B. Corruption of Power: Jacks desire for control causes inner conflicts in the group, causing the tribe to separate into two sides: Jacks and Ralphs. As time passes, Jack abuses his newfound strength by fulfilling his needs. Jack quickly becomes corrupted with his control. He even orders his boys to murder Ralph. It is natural for a man to be thirsty for power, as the same goes for Jack. However, Golding highlights that with excessive power, comes an uncontrollable tyranny. Jack was given all the power he had ever wanted in his new tribe with no restrictions whatsoever. Unable to control his unconstrained freedom, Jack soon lets his inner greed take over him. C. The Danger of Fear: It is the terrorizing fear in the littluns that bring the beastie to life. The boys fear of the beastie causes them to takes away Simons life. Through depicting all the unfortunate outcomes caused by having fear in something, Golding dramatically shows the effect a mere emotion has over ones actions. In other words, the author suggests that one should actually fear the emotion fear itself, for its danger is immense and unpredictable. 8. Symbols A. The Conch I got the conch I got the right to speak. (Chapter 2, p.36) He put the conch to his lips and began to blow. Saves appeared, painted out of recognition (Chapter 11, p.157) The conch symbolizes authority, civilization, and order on the island. Once the conch is blown, all the boys are expected to gather at the location of the sound. It would be not an overstatement to say that the conch alone possesses more power than anyone in the tribe, with exceptions to Jack and Ralph. Also, each and every member of the tribe is enforced to obey the laws of the conch, providing a form of civilization to the island. B. The Fire If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire. (Chapter 2, p.33) All at once the lights flickering ahead of him merged together and a tall bush directly in his path burst into a great fan-shaped flame. (Chapter 12, p. 165) As one of the most vital element for survival, Ralph and Piggy become highly obsessed with the burning of fire, and even attempts to spark a battle with Jack for letting the fire go out. Fire symbolizes hope and anticipation for the boys to get rescued, as it seems to be the only way available. Ironically, Golding uses fire to depict destruction as well, as becomes a tool for savages to hunt Ralph at the end. C. Piggys Specs His specs-use them as burning glasses! (Chapter 2, p.32) You havent got Piggys specs, so you cant [start the fire again]. (Chapter 7, p. 102) In the beginning, Piggys specs are treated as an annoyance to others, since it is nothing but a mere visual aide for almost-blind Piggy. However, right at the moment when Ralph discovers its new use, his specs instantly become a must-need object for all boys survival. Piggys specs enable the boys to ignite a fire by focusing the sunlight rays, and if a group does not have this very tool, the group becomes helpless. All in all, the specs symbolize intellect in the tribe, as the tribe cannot be functional without them. 9. Imagery I. The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon. Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead. All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat. He was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird, a vision of red and yellow, flashed upwards with a witch-like cry. (Chapter 1, p.1) Marking off the beginning of the novel, Ralph makes his first appearance as a boy who clearly seems tired and fatigued. To emphasize his weak physical condition, it is depicted by the author that Ralph is trailing his taken-off shirt. Akin to dragging, the image of Ralph trailing the shirt suggests that the boy is fully drained of energy from exhaustion. Many factors around him support Ralphs tiredness, such as a bath of heat hammering him down oppressively. II. They lay there listening, at first with doubt but then with terror to the description the twins breathed at them between bouts of extreme silence. Soon the darkness was full of claws, full of the awful unknown and menace. An interminable dawn faded the stars out, and at last light, sad and grey, filtered into the shelter. They began to stir through still the world outside the shelter was impossibly dangerous. The maze of the darkness sorted into near and far, and at the high point of the sky the cloudlets were warmed with color. A single sea bird flapped upwards with a hoarse cry (Chapter 6, p. 82) In hopes of finding the beast come alive, Sam and Eric fall into the abyss of darkness as they observe the world outside in extreme silence. However, instead of a beast, only the menacing tranquil of nature greets the twins into its interminable sky. Although silent and calm, the mood is yet far from being peaceful, but rather full of claws and full of awful. Supporting this eerie atmosphere, a single sea bird alone from its flock fills the air with a hoarse cry. It seems the discomfort and fear in the boys minds are creating an awkward strange ambiance for all. III. The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. Piggy, saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt, traveled through the air sideways from the work, turning over as he went. The rock bounded twice and was lost in the forest. Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea. (Chapter 11, p. 163) In this passage, the boys and their big boulder brutally obliterates the two key figures of civilization the island has had: Piggy and the conch. Through this destruction, Golding declares the end for all civilization and humanity on the island, both ceas[ing] to exist. The power of the rebellions was clearly too strong for Piggy or Ralph to overcome, ultimately leaving them vulnerable for total defeat. Also, as expressed through thousand white fragments of the destroyed conch, the damage done seems to be irreversible for the boys. 10. Significance of title of work Although neither real or majorly significant in the story, the title of the book, Lord of the Flies actually carries a very important meaning to it. As a sacrificial head of a sow pierced with a stick, the Lord of the Flies symbolizes the indestructible fear, evil, and savagery inside all boys on the island. Those three essence of life ultimately causes the conflicts in the novel, especially between humane Ralph and savaged Jack. 11. Authors techniques Allusion Then the sleeping leviathan breathed out, the waters rose (Chapter 6. p. 93) Simon being Jesus Christ, Jack being Judas Golding uses a handful amount of biblical allusions in Lord of the Flies that are easily noticeable, major ones being the characters. It is quite evident that Simon portrays the image of Jesus Christ in the Bible, as both are known to be the innocent scapegoats in their respective story. Also, Jack partially reflects the image of Judas in the Bible, with both being the betrayer and evil in their group. Lastly, Golding often uses biblical allusions in specific sentences as well, like how he illustrated a scene of rising water as the breath of the sleeping leviathan. Leviathan is actually a sea monster in the Bible that is known to be the gatekeeper of Hell.

Is College Worth it Essay

â€Å"What is a College Degree Worth? † by Maggie Gallagher. The overall main idea of this article is that the cost of college is going up and people is taking loans out which are putting them in debt because they have to pay them off. That is the reason why some people don’t go to college, I believe the author wrote the article to inform you about why teens are in debt after they graduate college. According to Mrs. Gallagher the main reason why college debt is increasing is  because loans are available and teenagers are encouraged to borrow money. At least 700 colleges have contract with bad banks to market credit cards to students. About nine in 10 students use credit cards to help pay for their college expenses. The main reason why the increase in college debt is because colleges have taught teenagers bad financial decisions, which has caused the decrease in the worth of a college degrees. The degree I’m pursuing at this moment is my Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts. I want a better education other than a high school diploma. Me wanting to become a chef/ Pastry chef, there is nothing Flint nor Michigan for my degree. I want to be up there with the people on the Food network channel and the TLC channel as well. With me having more degrees it will most likely guarantee me a VERY nice job in the near future.

Parallels between Gilgamesh and Genesis Essay

I. Introduction: Today, we are often bombarded with various inventions and discoveries coming from different parts of the world. But it is with great amazement when we look upon the advancement made by an ancient civilization that has come to be acknowledged as the cradle of civilization, Mesopotamia, at a time when most of its neighboring people-group was pursuing a nomadic life. Not only have they revolutionized human society through its invention of the wheel, writing too, must have originated in this place as shown by the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ancient as it is, being one of the world’s earliest-known epic poetry (â€Å"Epic†) taken from Sumeria and which the Babylonians developed into a long poem, it is undoubtedly beautiful; and ancient as it may be, high respect should be given   to it as one of the literary masterpieces of mankind. Genesis on the other hand, is the first book of the Bible. Genesis is the Greek word for â€Å"beginning† or â€Å"origin†, and is a Greek translation derived from the Hebrew b’reshith meaning â€Å"in the beginning†, the first word in the Old Testament. II. Meaning and Importance A. Epic of Gilgamesh At the outset, as one reads through the poem, it would readily display the glorification of the central figure, the historical warlike king of Uruk —Gilgamesh. All throughout the poem, the reader is led through his many exploits and achievements of Gilgamesh that gives the over-all impression of a constancy of battle-like stance. This I would not find surprising since this people’s land was always subjected to crisis such as the threat of invasion or the flooding of the rivers. As to the story, it relates much on how he has overcome every opponent, obstacles, and almost everything he had set out to do. Such achievements were made possible and justifiable as the narrative describes the super-human nature of the lead figure — being two-thirds divine and one-third human. How Gilgamesh emerges as a conqueror comprises the first part of the story. It would seem that the author wants to establish the fact that all the hopes and aspirations of its people are embodied in Gilgamesh. The first part shows and proves that whatever man could aspire to achieve or be has been done by the superhuman Gilgamesh. The second part directs the story towards the king’s bid for immortality through his quest for the immortalized Uta-Napishtim. Structurally speaking, these two parts (which would almost appear as unrelated) divides the story. Both would seem to take the reader into two different directions, driving down two different points. The death of Enkidu serves as the turning point that separates the two parts. What serves for continuity for the narrative are the inherent traits of Gilgamesh’s character — his fearlessness and obstinacy to be undaunted by obstacles. What is also a unique trait of the account of Gilgamesh is that the reading of the story is through a transcription of an oral story-telling, which the narrator in the story also revealed as a transcribed oral story of ancient times. Just as Gilgamesh was described as half-human and half-divine, so is the overall nature of the story. The narrator convinces its listeners and readers alike of the real existence of the king. However, its way of convincing is ironic since it proves the authenticity of its story through the existence of the very walls of the city of Uruk which we, present-day readers would find nowhere but in the walls of our imagination (â€Å"Assro-Babylonian Mythology: Gilgamesh†). The epic serves not only as a literary feat for early civilization; it also bears the identity of the early settlers of the Tigris-Euphrates area. However, its relevance supersedes its cultural identity. This ancient story connects its people with us and all of humanity as they ponder the same question which afflicts all men — death, the destiny of every man. It also attempts to answer whether any mortal man could possibly escape it and also the mystery of what lies ahead after death. In finding the answer and conclusion to these questions lies the significance of the two parts of the story. As mentioned, the first part is given to prove the semi god-like abilities of Gilgamesh. If he then, who bears such qualities failed in his bid for immortality, as shown on the second part, how much more for ordinary mortals? The narrative convinces its hearers or readers of the inevitability of death and must resign oneself of this fact. The most that man can do is to be fearless in facing it, the way Gilgamesh triumphantly faced death together with Enkidu in the great Cedar Forest. However, its main conclusion is: that man is powerless to escape it. B. Genesis Genesis originated as part of a larger literary unit that was only later broken up into books. That larger unit is the religious history of ancient Israel, usually called the Pentateuch. In it were traced Israel’s origins from its chief formative experiences down to its settlement in the land of Palestine. Also incorporated into the narrative were law codes formulated at various times in Israelite history. The entire complex came to be ascribed to Israel’s founder and first lawgiver, Moses. This position has been modified as a result of modern Biblical scholarship. Genesis is a logical division of the original text of the Pentateuch. It represents a twofold introduction to the story of Israel’s formation as a â€Å"covenant people†Ã¢â‚¬â€God’s chosen people. The patriarchal history comprises cycles of stories relating to three major figures of the pre Israelite past, namely Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, together with supplementary traditions about other ancestors who were of secondary interest. After an introductory genealogy there appears first the story of Abraham and Isaac. Included is a fragmentary history, possibly of Moabite origin, of Lot, the ancestor of the Moabites and Ammonites, who were related to the Israelites. There is also the history of Ishmael, who is regarded as the ancestor of the Arab peoples. The second major cycle is that of Isaac and Jacob. This cycle also contains supplementary material, some of the Edomites origins, relating to Esau, ancestor of the Edomites. Finally, there is the extensive and distinctive story of Joseph, the major intrusions into which are a variant history of Judah in chapter 38 and the â€Å"blessings† of the Israelite tribes in Chapter 49. Chapter 1 tells of God’s act of creation. Chapters 2-11 record human history from Adam to Abraham and describe the Garden of Eden, the Tower of Babel, and the Flood. The connecting link between all these parts of Genesis as well as between it and the other books of the Pentateuch, which it introduces, is a concept of divine intervention in man’s history. This concept has been given the name Heitsgeschichte, â€Å"salvation history†. Israel believed itself to be the product of a history in which it had encountered a God who had made it His Covenant people. The great events of this history are traced—the Exodus from Egypt; the experiences of the Red Sea, of Sinai, and of Kadesh, where Israel waited outside the Promised Land; and the occupation of the Promised Land. All these reveal a God of mercy and kindness, though also of justice and retribution, a God who had chosen Israel out of simple, gratuitous love. This historical perspective was imposed in Genesis both on the patriarchal legends that had been derived from Palestine and on the mixed Mesopotamian- Palestinian myths and sagas from which the book’s first chapters are constructed. Thus in Genesis, Creation is seen no longer as mere myth, that is, as a religious conviction visualized in narrative. It is instead, the first in a series of God’s saving acts, by which he had brought forth an ordered universe out of primordial formlessness. Man was placed in that world as God’s image and likeness, to be its ruler. But men improved unequal to the task. His wilfulness set him in opposition to God and introduced disorder into the world. After this followed murder and the hatred of man for man, for example, Cain and Abel, Lamech and the Cainites, even cosmic disorder, which the story of the sons of God and the daughters of men attempts to, explain. The Flood is understood in Genesis as both divine retribution and mercy: it brought an end to an evil generation, but a faithful remnant was preserved in the person of the righteous Noah and those who were saved for his sake. III. Gilgamesh and the Flood in the Bible The epic makes mention of the Flood in reference with one of the oldest books of the Bible. Similarities of the two accounts were the flood, the gigantic boat, and the fact that animals and living creatures were made to come aboard along with the one human family who entered the boat. There are major disparities though as to the recounting of the event. In the account of the Bible, the coming of the Great Flood in Noah’s days was not held as a secret before men, whereas in the story of Gilgamesh, the gods have intended to have it kept as a secret. Noah was even commanded by God to preach and warn the people of its coming (as a sign of His mercy) while he builds the ark. The people however, did not listen and even taunted Noah. Such reactions may have been likely since many Bible scholars believe that prior to this incident, rain had not yet fallen on the earth. In the Bible account, the door of the ark was supernaturally closed and opened by God alone. Noah had no power or aut hority over it. In Gilgamesh’s, the sealing of the door bears no spiritual meaning. Noah’s God and the gods in Gilgamesh were shown to have deeply regretted the sending of the flood that has wiped out humanity expect for those inside the great boat. One of the gods in the epic was displeased at first with the survivors, while the God of Noah readily blessed them. IV. Conclusion The work unfolds before us the thoughts and intents of the Sumerians and the rest of the Mesopotamians. Like the rest of most societies, they give enormous significance to fame and wealth. Fearlessness is held as a great virtue, born out perhaps of their constant living in fear of antagonizing their gods who they believed caused them all their troubles. Although Mesopotamians have achieved much, they did hold a pessimistic view. Life, it seemed for them, was a constant struggle a struggle against the forces of nature and the caprices of their gods. Towards the end of the story, even the endeavors of men would come to nothing as he comes to the end of his life. â€Å"Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we shall die† would have been the guiding principle of Mesopotamians. Perhaps so, since one historian had noted that over forty percent of their grain production was used to make beer. Although we discuss this epic as an ancient story, the quest for the answers about life and death still continuous to haunt several people even to this present-day. Above all, however, Biblical critics of the 20th century are willing to measure Genesis by historical standards other than those of the 19th century. By those standards Genesis was condemned or defended in the time of the â€Å"Babel and Bible† controversy. That dispute developed when the Sumerian and Akkadian literatures of ancient Mesopotamia were discovered and deciphered in the 19th century. The conclusion was easily drawn that the message of Genesis was of no more relevance to the history of religions than the myths of Babylonia, whatever might be the other values of the book. But the 20th century idea of history is more attuned to that which inspired the authors of Genesis. This view recognizes that recording specific facts and dares is not the, real object of history writing. Rather, the aim is to discover and portray realities that challenge human experience and demand an accounting. By the criteria of historicism Moses can hardly said to have existed; yet Israel itsel f is the historical witness of Moses. Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh are two great books that could inspire people when they read it. The facts and information’s are somewhat intertwined in some ways. These two books should be treasured and cherished especially by those who want to know the history of our forefathers, their fall and how they were saved by a mighty Creator.

Pips Aspirations in Charles Dickens Great Expectations...

Pips Aspirations in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Through Great Expectations, Dickens explores the different notions of gentility in the nineteenth century and the implications of upward mobility on the lower class. One of the most radical aspects of the industrial revolution on the everyday life of nineteenth-century England was the effect on the social structure. Prior to the nineteenth century, social stratification was rigid and did not allow individuals to move from one group to another. The scientific advancement coupled with the rise of mercantile capitalism led to the increase in opportunities available for the lower class resulting in the emergence of a middle class. According to Sally Mitchells†¦show more content†¦Mrs. Joe has brought Pip up by hand (27; ch. 1). Dickens uses the term by hand to mean both that Pip was bottle-fed and that Mrs. Joe often used physical punishment to discipline Pip. Not only is Pip enduring physical abuse, but he is also suffering from emotional abuse. Mrs. Joe tells Pip that Its bad enough to be a blacksmiths wife . . . without being your mother (29; ch. 2). Mrs. Joe views Pip as a burden and offers him no affection. In contrast to Mrs. Joe, her husband Joe, demonstrates an honest affection for Pip. Joe attempts to shield Pip from Mrs. Joes rage and hurtful comments. Joe is the ideal gentleman - compassionate and protective. However, Joe is not a symbol of parental authority; Mrs. Joe dominates the household. Because Joe is not the typical male authoritative figure, Pip does not view him as a father. This characterization of Joe as an emasculated figure allows Pip to behave as a fatherless character. Pip is not bound to becoming a blacksmith like Joe. Also, because of the Industrial Revolution, boys like Pip now had the option, if financially able, of entering a trade different from that of their fathers. In Monsters of Affection: Dickens, Eliot, and Bronte on Fatherhood, Diane Sadoff suggests that during the Industrial Revolution: the father became systematically differentiated from the household. . . . This change allowed sons to compete with fathers, rather than to identity with,Show MoreRelatedGreat Expectations and a Christmas Carol: a True Gentleman Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesGreat Expectations and A Christmas Carol: A True Gentleman According to Dictionary.com, a gentleman is a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man. However, by Victorian definition, a gentleman was, perhaps most importantly, a rich man. â€Å"Charles Dickens†¦was an author of relatively humble origins who desired passionately to be recognized as a gentleman, and insisted, in consequence, upon the essential dignity of his occupation† (Victorian Web). 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The search for self, as well as knowing and trusting one’s self is echoed through out literature humanity; it could be haunting and cause great trepidation, to hold on to a vision that could alter their judgement; as well can cause a fierce storm in the supreme realm that is objective truth. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is a coming of age story of a young man named Pip, seeking to establish stability, as well as find meaning in his life through love and self identificationRead More Magwitchs Manipulations of Pip in Great Expectations Essay2512 Words   |  11 PagesMagwitchs Manipulations of Pip in Great Expectations      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens criticizes the motivation of the lower classes to rise to the level of wealth and education held by the upper classes by showing the extent to which Pip is exploited by Magwitch to meet these goals. To meet the expectations of the gentleman, Pip must leave his family and any possibility of earning his living in order to satisfy the educational and societal demands of this standard. MagwitchRead MoreCharacter Analysis in Pip in Charles Dickens ´ Great Expectations1542 Words   |  7 PagesHarvard Graduate, or the next new celebrity. But, these expectations can begin to define a person if he believes he has to conform to societys expectations. In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, young Pip feels the pressure from society and his love, Estella, to become a gentleman. By attempting to rise in his social class Pip then abandons his previous good morals and his family members when he moves to London. Each character ha s aspirations for Pip which he believes he must fulfill in orderRead More The Childhood of Charles Dickens Essay1498 Words   |  6 PagesChildhood of Charles Dickens      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I do not write resentfully or angrily: for I know all these things have worked together to make me what I am - Charles Dickens    Charles Dickenss tumultuous childhood did indeed shape the person he became, as well as have a definite impact on his literary career.   There are shades of young Dickens in many of his most beloved characters, including David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and of course, Great Expectations Pip.   LikeRead MoreEssay on Social Class in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens893 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Dickens, author of Great Expectations, provides a perfect example of the hope of class mobility. The novel portrays very diverse and varied social classes which spread from a diligent, hardworking peasant (Joe) to a good-natured middle class man (Mr. Wemmick) to a rich, beautiful young girl (Estella). Pip, in particular, elevates in the social pyramid from a common boy to a gentleman with great expectations. With his rise in society, he also alters his attitude, from being a caring childRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1320 Words   |  6 Pageslittle income they received. This essay will include the work of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, and the novel tells the story of Pip, a young orphan boy who lives with his sister and her husband who is a blacksmith, one day he is requested to play at Miss Havisham’s Manor and he falls in love with her daughter, Estella, who gives him the aspiration to become a gentleman to win her love. He then receives his great expectations from his mystery benefactor that he later finds out is a criminal