As one of the most treasured modes of creative expression, literature possesses a remarkable power to illustrate the human condition in all of its nuanced and resplendent forms. With such power, however, comes an enormous responsibility, a duty to arouse the consciousness of the reader in a way that precipitates true emotion and contemplation. In effectuating this end, literature must transcend the literality of mere words and sentences, and instead provide the reader with a vigorous and truthful tableau of what it means to be a human being. These high standards, which all literature must fulfill, are perhaps best exemplified by E.M. Forster’s novel A Passage to India, which recounts the story of several characters trying to make sense of a …show more content…
Perhaps the most prominent and elusive of symbols in the text, the echo produced by the Marabar Cave, “entirely devoid of distinction” (163), helps to enkindle meaningful contemplation in the mind of the reader. Mentioning the disquieting nature that the “boum” of the echo has on Mrs. Moore, Forster writes, “…The echo began in some indescribable way to undermine her hold on life…It had managed to murmur, ‘Pathos, piety, courage – they exist, but are identical, and so is filth…’ If one had spoken vileness in that place, or quoted lofty poetry, the comment would have been the same – ‘ou-boum’” (165). In using the echo to elucidate the sudden change in Mrs. Moore, Forster mystifyingly requires the reader to define the symbol, representing nothingness, and then to relate it to the concrete transformation of the character. Other tangibles, such as the green bird that Adela and Ronny look to identify to “somehow solace their hearts” (91) also have symbolic qualities meant to represent abstract ideas. In discussing the wild bird, Forster subtly correlates it with the inexplicable qualities of India. As with the other symbols in the book, the reader is left to determine what the object signifies and how it relates to the text. Consequently, the utilization of symbolism in A …show more content…
Forster’s complex work continues to exist as a paragon of literature, confounding the human mind and revealing to readers the unbidden consequences of the clash between two antithetical cultures. Perhaps appearing upon cursory glance to be merely a requiem for a bygone era, A Passage to India is in fact an affecting and enduring story that addresses not just one group or creed, but humankind as an entirety. Just like the variegated strokes of a piece of art, true works of literature generously open themselves to the world, beckoning all to uncover what it is to be human. So profoundly stirring the mind and soul, only when one brings such literature into their lives can the choking tendrils, the shroud of ignorance humankind has of its own condition, be finally blown
It is a beautiful day in the area modernly known as southern Mississippi. The birds are chirping, the plants are growing, and the sun is shining. The day starts off like any other in this Native American community. The women began to tend the fields and the men are preparing for the next hunt. Suddenly, many strange figures appear at the entrance of the village. These figures appear to be men but these men are far different from any Native Americans they have seen. In the beginning, these men appear to be friendly and even exchange gifts with the local groups. Not for long these relationships began to change these white men began to disrespect the local chiefs and began to dominate the lands. Interaction of this kind was common along the Native Americans and the European settlers, however, it is not exact with every Native American group.
As I have read the primary sources, it became clear to me that African Americans and Indians wants to be treated equally and fairly. As I read "An Indian's View of Indian Affairs" by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, the main thing that caught my attention was "Treat all men alike. Give them the same laws." This caught my attention because he clearly talked about the way he was tired of white men having all of the authority and the chiefs who would always talk about equality or fairness, but fails to show it with their actions. Also, he went on to say that everyone should be treated as one because essentially everyone is one and was born the same way. Basically, his view was an argument to state that it's not right to treat one person better or
Margaret Laurence's A Bird in the House is a collection of short stories that is rich in symbols and similes. Descriptions like "claw hand", "flyaway manner" and "hair bound grotesquely like white-fingered wings" are found abundantly in the writer's novel. The Oxford English Dictionary defines symbols as, "something that stands for, represents, or denotes something else (not by exact resemblance, but by vague suggestion, or by some accidental or conventional relation)" (reference). Yet, there is nothing coincidental about Margaret Laurence's diction and her usage of symbols in "A Bird in the House" and "The Mask of the Bear". These revealing titles effectively foreshadow the plot and character conflicts that occur in their stories.
The first words of the book convey a parrot that spoke “a language which nobody understood”, and Edna’s husband “had the privilege of quitting [the parrot] when [it] ceased to be entertaining” (11). In the same light, Edna speaks of and wishes for a life that nobody apprehends. Her husband also possesses the moral, objectifying liberty to quiet Edna when she did not provide leisure, as one can turn off a song once it grows into a tedious nuisance. A further exemplification comes about when Old Monsieur Farival, a man, “insisted upon having [a] bird. . . consigned to regions of darkness” due to its shrieking outside (42). As a repercussion, the parrot “offered no more interruption to the entertainment” (42). The recurrence of the parrot evolves Edna’s state of stagnance as a consequence of being put to a halt by others despite her endeavor of breaking free. Ultimately, as Edna edges out towards the water to her death, a bird is depicted with “a broken wing” and is “beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water” (159). This recurrence parallels the beaten bird to a suffering Edna. She has “despondency [that] came upon her there in the wakeful night” that never alleviates (159). Dejection is put to action when Edna wanders out into the water, “the shore. . . far behind her” (159). Motif of birds articulates her suicide by its association with
The Long Island Sound is the barrier between people and their wants, dreams, and desires. Many early novels portray ideas and thoughts that are confusing at times and are even unjustified. Symbolism throughout the novel can be used to uncover the main premise the author is writing about. Comparing their true value to each and every character can help reveal the unseen and obscure characteristics of the more complex and complex characters. Turning to symbolism is the most proficient way to attempt to discover the author’s morals portrayed throughout the book and his characters.
This extended metaphor likens the explorer’s desire for peace to an unravelling fabric. Once very beautiful, the satin, representing his want for quiet and calm, has worn down, and the man is left chasing a remnant of his former dream. Brooks also uses personification to show the power that inanimate objects hold over him. “A room of wily hush” eludes the man (7), and he hears “[t]he scream of nervous affairs” behind doors (13). The choices he fears to take “cried to be taken” (17). In the real world, rooms, affairs, and choices make no sound and have no human-like characteristics, but by giving them human attributes, Brooks makes them even more powerful and more personal than they ever could have been alone. They carry weight and meaning, just like in real life. Though rooms cannot be purposely deceitful and choices and affairs make no sound, these aspects of l...
The Transformation of the “Indian Problem”. In this paper, I plan to examine the marked transformation and the history of the so-called “Indian Problem.” The idea of an “Indian Problem” began with the arrival of white settlers in North America, and for them, it was a problem of safety, security, and land acquisition. Around 1890, the “Indian Problem” became an issue of how to help the Indians go extinct humanely, or to assimilate into white culture.
In the Third and Final Continent, Jhumpa Lahiri uses her own experiences of being from an immigrant family to illustrate to her readers how heritage, cultural influences and adaptation play a major role in finding your true identity. The Third and Final Continent is the ninth narration in a collection of stories called the Interpreter of Maladies. In this story, it discusses themes such as marriage, family, society, language and identity. In this story, we focus on an East Asian man of Bengali descent who wants to have a better future for himself so he leaves India and travels to London, England to pursue a higher education. His pursuit for higher education takes place on three different continents. In India, he feels safe in his home country and welcomed, but when he travels abroad he starts to have fear and anxiety. Through his narrations, we learn how he adapts to the European and American and through these experiences he learns to assimilate and to adapt to the new culture he travels to.
Imperialism in India British imperialism in India had many positive and negative effects on both the mother country, Britain and the colony, India. Many people would argue which effects were more prominent in these countries, and some would agree that they were equal. But in both cases, there were actually both. In India, the British colonization had more positive effects than negative. For instance, when the British colonized India they built 40,000 miles of railroad and 70,000 miles of paved roadway.
Often times, literature has enough power for the reader to generate their own reality through the writer’s beliefs although most of the times the reality generated by the readers are not correct. In a TED talk called “the Danger of a Single Story,” Chimannda Adichie discussed about how literature affected her views on people, and then through life experience she had figured out that the reality she was creating was all false. She had grown up in Nigeria where at young age she was able to come across western literature. She was an inspired writer, and had realized all her inspirations came from British and American literature because most of her pieces were based of British and American literature such as having her characters...
Throughout ‘To the Welsh Critic Who Doesn’t Find Me Identifiably Indian’, Arundhati Subramaniam argues that the “the business of language”, or the language that one speaks, should not dictate one’s identity. This becomes crucial in her poem as she uses this argument in response to a Welsh Critic, who does not identify her as being Indian. The poem substantiates her perspective of language through various techniques. For instance: Subramaniam reinforces the critic’s cultural assumptions in a defiant tone; she questions him, repeatedly, about language and eventually she challenges him, insisting he should explain to her how he would receive her as “Identifiably Indian”.
In “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter,” symbols are used to fulfill the quest of happiness and love. This love story has many symbols, which show hidden meaning. One can fully understand a story, if one can point out certain symbols. Symbols create ideas and images for the reader to better understand the story. (Symbol)Mabel, one of the two main characters in this story, is depressed and suicidal. After her mother died, she feels like there is nothing to live for. Her mother was the love and joy in her life; without her, she is lost. All she has left is her house, which she is extremely proud of, and her brother, which she seems not to care for. She decides to release herself from her troubles by drowning herself in a pond. The other main character, Dr. Fergusson, sees her and tries to save her life. This pond is a strong symbol with many meanings. It is a start of a new experience, and a change of two people’s lives.
Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut, sailing via the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. This marked the beginning of
The British invasion formed into a historical development of British colonialism in India. Despite India under the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi played an important role in gaining Independence. He not only changed India but also strongly fought for India's independence, using various strategies. The British Empire ruled as long as they could to reform India both politically and socially.
The early years of the twentieth century saw the rise of the novel as a popular genre in the literature of the war-struck Edwardian England. Novelists like Joseph Conrad, E.M.Forster, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce and D.H. Lawrence gave the form new dimensions. Among these writers E.M. Forster made a mark in the literature of his age through his last novel A Passage to India (1924), which was entirely different from Forster's other novels in that it dealt with the political occupation of India by the British, a colonial domination that ended soon after the publication of this novel. Forster, a liberal and humanist in outlook, emphasised the importance of love and understanding at the personal level in this novel.