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Essay of Waiting for Barbarians
Essay of Waiting for Barbarians
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The contrast between the characters of the Magistrate who is the protagonist in the novel, Waiting for the Barbarians, and Colonel Joll who is the antagonist is a perfect example of an antithesis based on their personality and moral outlook. The conflicting attributes of the characters form the basic elements of the antithesis. Throughout the novel, the Magistrate is portrayed as a truth-seeking person whereas Colonel Joll is described as a perpetrator of violence and injustice. In the sentence, “I was the lie that Empire tells itself when times are easy, he the truth that Empire tells when harsh winds blow.” J.M Coetzee tries to introduce an antithesis to the readers by contrasting the roles of the two characters. This sentence also indicates the Empire’s hypocrisy and duplicity. In the passage, the Magistrate comes to a conclusion that he is actually similar to Colonel Joll in a way that they both are part of the Empire’s machinery. The Magistrate’s character is simply a mask that hides the ugly face of the Empire, which is represented by Colonel Joll’s image. Concisely, the Magistrate and Colonel Joll are the two sides of the same coin, as the Magistrate puts it, “Two sides of imperial rule, no more, no less.” The contrast between ‘lie’ and ‘truth’ in the second sentence of the passage is very significant because it is the fundamental element of the antithesis introduced by Coetzee. The sentence implies that the role of the Magistrate in the Empire is merely superficial and the image of Colonel Joll is the reality. In the same sentence, Coetzee uses the phrases “when times are easy” to describe a ‘peaceful time’, and “when harsh winds blow” to depict a ‘trying period’. This choice of words is effective because it gives an activ... ... middle of paper ... ...ords rustier, the watchman will sneak down from his tower to spend the night with his wife…” In this sentence, we can see how the Magistrate becomes optimistic about the future of the town. It is only a matter of time until the ‘quiet’ returns. In this sentence Coetzee associates peace with ‘quietness’. By ‘quietness’ he does not mean an absence of noise or sound but, an absence of fear and anxiety. When the ‘quiet’ returns, the townspeople will have nothing to worry. There is no need for the watchmen to be alert all the time and they can even ‘sneak down’ from the tower to be with their wives. The descriptions provided by Coetzee in this passage, although simple, are vivid and intriguing. Coetzee manages to convey his message successfully and effectively. Although the diction and vocabularies are very challenging to understand, this passage has its impact on me.
...ow this transformation extends further over time, from the quiet town of Amiens to the liberty of 1970s London. Their resistance to the horrors of the War, to patriarchal systems and to social formalities led to significant turning points in the novel, giving us the sense of a theme of revolution on a personal and social level throughout making it the core element of the novel. The differences between the pre-war and post-war period are contrasted episodically by Faulks, and via the female protagonists, he is able to represent very openly how society has transformed. Faulks is able to very cleverly wrong foot the modern reader with the initial realist portrayal of a oppressive husband, illicit relationships and the gore of war. However, it serves only to provide him a platform from where he can present a more buoyant picture of societal and personal transformation.
...ther they express the realistic conflict there is between the two. Outwardly, the characters conform, but, inwardly, they long to be free. In real life, most people do not sway to a definite side or another on the issue of conformity and rebellion, but rather, as these characters do, experience a complex inward struggle and conflict with the ideas.
In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” Geoffrey Chaucer masterfully frames an informal homily. Through the use of verbal and situational irony, Chaucer is able to accentuate the moral characteristics of the Pardoner. The essence of the story is exemplified by the blatant discrepancy between the character of the storyteller and the message of his story. By analyzing this contrast, the reader can place himself in the mind of the Pardoner in order to account for his psychology.
Elie Wiesel not only spoke on his behalf but also on behalf of all the victims of the Holocaust. His words do not only pertain to his situation but to the situations of every world crisis that has been failed to be acknowledged. Elie’s words can be related universally and makes you question, where were these people that are supposedly suppose to be the voices for the silent? The world thrives for equality but how can a world grow and unit if the people are silent. Elie makes valid points throughout the novel that can be referred to other situations in the past and are to come in the future.
...how others perceived them, especially those in power, than doing what was really in the best interest for everyone. These characters were manipulated by brutal puppet-masters that toyed with their strings to get the response that they wanted, knowing full well that all would agree to anything in order to please them. This urge to do what was wanted by those in ascendancy was so great a weight, that values were pushed aside for a chance to glimmer in the light of attention from important figures in society.
There seems to have developed a pattern in modern literature ironic and paradoxical, that involves the hero in struggle for identify in a world that almost always is rejected by him as incomprehensible or absurd. Because of the omnivorous nature of the novel as a literary form, both the intellectual theme of defiance and the metaphysical anguish are presented not only in sophisticated, cosmopolitan, intellectual settings, but also in provincial atmospheres, where daily routines, sounds, and smells are very familiar.
Experience is the hidden inspiration in all of literature. Every letter, word, and sentence formed, every plot imagined, and every conflict conceived has a trace amount of its creator’s past ingrained within it. But most of all, authors reflect themselves in the characters they create. The protagonist of any story embodies certain traits and qualities of his or her creator; the virtues and vices, ambitions and failures, strengths and weaknesses of an author are integral parts of their characters lives. When authors’ experiences differ, so do their characters, as seen with Welty and King. Both authors had distinct upbringings, each with their own forms of hardship. The contrasting nature of these authors’ struggles is why their characters are the antithetical. As a result of these
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.
...aracter in the novel has, the novel ends with him “feeling stupid.” (Coetzee, 156) The girl is gone and the conflict between the empire and the barbarians rages on; the magistrate still does not have all the answers for the world that is crumbling around him. Still, he will presumably continue to search, as Coetzee largely leaves the novel open-ended. For the magistrate however, it is not his destination that is important, but his journey. During his journey he learns a lot about the nature of humanity, and about the nature of the conflict between empire and subject. Ultimately peace will not be achieved between the empire and the barbarians until each side fully recognizes the humanity of the other side, the same way the magistrate came to recognize the humanity of the girl.
Salzburg appeals to the readers’ emotion through intense phrases. For example, when Salzburg writes that America will eventually become a “big, dumb jock on the world stage” (Salzburg) feelings of a challenge can arise. Most have heard of the term “dumb jock” and comparing America to this is not nice to know. In order to stop this, the reader knows that education has to be first in American universities. Further, this can inspire the reader to focus more on technological advances and
The use of diction and syntax sets a serious tone in this passage. In order
In the novel “The Wars” by Timothy Findley, and the poem “They” by Siegfried Sassoon, shows a comparison between the two in these texts that individuals are faced with events that cause a change in their identity, leading to a consequence of despair. As seen in “The Wars” Robert Ross was a caretaker and protector, “It was Robert’s fault. Robert was her guardian and he was locked in his bedroom.” (18) Robert blamed himself for his sister’s death even though he was not around, he was her caretaker. In the poem, it talks about how “when the boys come back they will not be the same.” The war would change the boys and their identity because of everything they experienced while at the war. Later in the novel Robert’s identity changed because of the
“He knew now that he would have to take a beating. It would last an hour or two hours, and it would be difficult, but if he modulated his inevitable resentment to the chastened attitude of the reformed sinner, he might win his point in the end” (10). “All of them felt their nerves straining, and for the first time in a year Charlie wanted a drink” (12).
The author’s purpose is to also allow the audience to understand the way the guards and superintendent felt towards the prisoners. We see this when the superintendent is upset because the execution is running late, and says, “For God’s sake hurry up, Francis.” And “The man ought to have been dead by this time.” This allows the reader to see the disrespect the authority has towards the prisoners.
Most people would lay down their life for their family, but it takes an honorable man to risk his life for the sake of his country. Honorable men risk their lives for other people, and to improve other people’s lives. Honorable People are the foundation of a strong country and good friendships. Specific characters show these qualities in the play Julius Caesar. THe way men are honorable and dishonorable are portrayed in this essay. During the time period of the play Julius Caesar there is a ruler that many people believe will become a ruthless tyrant. Some of the senators will fight back and show whether they have honorable traits. The characters that could be honorable are Brutus, Caesar, and Cassius. In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare,