The Marquis de Sade was a controversial writer from the Enlightenment period. His works were highly controversial at the time although he did acquire some sort of a cult following. The Marquis de Sade uses a variety of techniques in his writing to great effect. The passage being analysed is an extract from The Philosophy of the Bedroom published in 1795. Throughout the passage the style of writing comes across as quite argumentative and analytical, yet the content and his ideas, at the time of writing, would have been quite outrageous. He offers to `... analyse modesty...' (p. 131) giving the impression that he will go about the whole business in something of a scientific way. However, the extremeness of his ideas makes one wonder just how serious he was about it. At another point the Marquis de Sade brings up some objections that people may have and then proceeds to break them down. He aims to `... treat these two questions separately...' (p. 134). By breaking down the argument as such, the reader is perhaps forced to consider the possibility that there is some form of logic in de Sade's thinking. It is also possible that this technique was used to add shock value, fool the reader into thinking that he has a serious argument and then shocking them all with his ideas. There is also an odd sort of logic used by the Marquis de Sade in the first paragraph of the selected passage. He is trying to convince us that it is against man's instinct to be modest. By referring back to the state in which we were born- perhaps the most natural and untainted state for all humans- he implies that it must be wrong for men to be modest if Nature intended us to be born naked. His argument here is really quite logical when you think about ... ... middle of paper ... ...er, the use of such techniques all the time does give you the impression that perhaps even de Sade doesn't quite think that his ideas hold their weight. If they were sound ideas then shouldn't it simply be enough to state them, maybe giving some support for them. Because de Sade goes to such great lengths to give his ideas credibility it almost makes you question the writer's own belief in his ideas. The Marquis de Sade, madman or genius? The jury's still out. As shown in the selected passage, the Marquis had an amazing ability for writing and drawing in the reader. His use of dramatic language is captivating and adds a sense of excitement to the passage. The logical layout of many of his arguments is often juxtaposed with the madness of many of his ideas. However, he writes in such a way that the reader is often drawn into his mad world without realising it.
The essay starts off by stating, “One could say that the dominant scientific world-view going into the 16th century was not all that “scientific” in the modern sense of the
Allusions to philosophers and other authors pepper “Create Dangerously,” reflecting how the people use the words of those that came before them to make the best of their own reality. The most highlighted philosopher within the paper is Albert Camus, by whom the title “Create Dangerously” was inspired. Not only does Danticat quote and speak of Camus within the essay, but tells of how the people of Haiti would put on his play quietly, quietly in the basements of their homes in secret, finding invigoration in the philosopher’s absurdist and poignant words. " 'Execution relieves and liberates. It is a universal tonic, just in precept as in practice. A man dies because he is guilty. A man is guilty because he is one of Caligula’s subjects. Ergo all men are guilty and shall die. It is only a matter of time and patience' " quotes Danticat in reference to “quietly, quietly.”. By picking this quote, Danticat draws parallels to the death sentences given to the people of Haiti by the dictatorship, including Numa and Drouin, perpetuating the consistency of Danticat’s message. Camus was part of a dialogue that was strikingly similar to that of the people battling the Haitian dictatorship. He himself opposed the Nazi regime by editing an underground newspaper in France (Kellman 2011). Danticat’s affinity for Camus’ work is made more palpable seeing the similarities in what they have faced through their lifetime. Inciting small forms of rebellion is a lifeline for those faced with domination, more specifically an autocracy. The overall theme of the story is the importance of literature, especially in times of oppression and pain, and how it can be used to aid the human
In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, we, as readers, increasingly question the sanity of the protagonist, Hamlet, as the play continues. His seemingly psychotic banter with the other characters in the play begins to convince us that Hamlet is, indeed, insane. Hamlet, however, states, “How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself, as I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on” (1.5.171). He specifically tells Horatio and Marcellus that he will be acting mad, as a front. Hamlet has an exceptional grasp on mental philosophy and the uses and effects of logic, more so than the other characters in the play.
Hamlet Essay- Truly Mad, Feigned Madness? Throughout Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, must seek revenge for the murder of his father. Hamlet decides to portray an act of insanity, as part of his plan to murder Claudius.
This paper will illustrate a brief summary of two chapters and give a critical analysis of the readings. In addition I would conclude the paper by briefly discussing my opinion on the readings.
In “The Perils of Indifference” Elie Wiesel uses several techniques to get his point across. Three of them in the speech are Ethos, Repetition, and Pathos. He uses a combination of the three elements throughout the paragraphs of his speech to attract the readers. The combination of these elements help draw the reader’s emotions and interest towards his subject. He focuses on word choice that would pertain to his audience’s level of vocabulary.
He uses the appeal to authority by showing that he lived through great suffering in World War Two as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp where he suffered greatly and experienced the indifference shown by the world first-hand. He then used the appeal to facts by first defining the word “indifference,” and then stating the facts of several events that took place showing the lack of immediate concern that was shown by the United States towards the prisoners when the United States discovered what the Nazis were doing. Wiesel also uses the appeal to emotion while he laces his entire speech with many different emotionally charged words. He tries to elicit a strong emotional response from the audience so as to move them towards action against indifference. His goal can still be achieved today if each person who reads his speech was to actively see the suffering that others experience and work ease it to the best of their ability. This would result in a more unified community, nation, and world culture where those suffering would no longer feel alone and unimportant but instead they would be acknowledged and
“…Hawthorne’s attitude is so removed and imperturbable that nothing in the story can be taken simply; in “The Birthmark” he reaches his furthest rage of disengagement” (Fogle 118). It is through the intellectual and moral development of Georgiana, not the scientists own actions or words, that the reader comes to understand that although twisted in his methods, Aylmer does possess a kind of “noble” love.
In the story of “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, there are many literary themes that can be analyzed such as love, racism, gender inequality, and miscegenation. What this analysis will focus on is primarily on the central male character, Armand Aubigny, and on his views towards racism. More specifically, what this essay will aim to prove is that Armand Aubigny looked down upon the African race to the point where he hated them. One of the biggest driving points to aid this idea is how his family name shaped his behavior and actions according to the societal normalities of his time period. Another important aspect that will be considered is his very relationship towards his slaves in how he treated them cruelly even to the point where he is described as “having the spirit of Satan” (Chopin 3). In addition to this, the reader will also see Armand’s negative reaction to being aware of the implications of his son and wife having mixed blood in where he practically disowns them. With all this culminating to Armand finding out the ugly truth that the race he had treated so horribly is actually a part of his very own blood as well.
I was gratified to see that this critic agreed with my interpretation of the Duchess’s demise, viz., the Duke had her murdered. The theory advanced by my brilliant and magnificent Professor had been that the Duke gave her so many orders and restrictions that she pined away. I had been looking at his famous line “And I choose/never to stoop.” He married her for her beauty but would never lower himself to tell her when she angered him.
The unchanged splendor of their toilettes and the opulence of their flesh signified the social status and the monetary power of their fathers, husbands, or lovers, who amassed wealth but did not exhibit it.”
As previously mentioned the anatomy had a great deal to do with how sensibility was addressed. In the comprehension of the cult of sensibility, an awareness of the effects of the nerves in one’s body is imperative. As such, sexual organs had a strong impact on the sensible individual’s thought process. Inasmuch as most novels from the period do not delve into the particulars of the impact of one’s private parts, the charged interactions between characters drew from their particular
... fabulous piece remembered long after his time. This was accepted instead of looked down upon because of the shift from dogma to humanism that took place between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
...r the reader to notice the parallels between them and the differences from everyone else. He also does this so that we can see the contribution it has on the characters. The madness of each individual is not itself realistic, but the idea that death, grievance, and revenge can drive someone to do things that seem to be mad or make them do things out of their nature.
Guy de Maupassant is a realist whose claim to fame is the style in which he conveys political and socioeconomic themes in his literary publications. He achieves his writing style by putting small unfortunate life events under a spotlight. His literary performance is described in his biography from Cambridge, the writer says “He exposes with piercing clarity the small tragedies and pathetic incidents of everyday life, taking a clear-sighted though pessimistic view of humanity” (Halsey, par. 1). Guy de Maupassant’s story The Necklace is a great representation of the style he uses. In The Necklace the main character Mathilde Loisel a beautiful but impoverished woman married to a clerk is in conflict with her lack of wealth and desire to acquire