Theme of Diversity in Crying of Lot 49, Good-bye, Columbus, and Survivor
Diversity is an attribute that is seen among people, situations and
cultures. Everyone has encountered different situations at one time or more
during their lives that has either been pleasant or upsetting. Certain novels
written in the 1950's to the present show signs of multiformity very clearly.
In regards to culture, people are placed in unusual situations where their
diversity is shown.
Throughout the novella, "Good-bye, Columbus," written by Philip Roth,
conflicts are seen as far as social status among families. This novella was not
diverse in the written aspect, in fact I thought of it as easy reading. "Sure,
I should serve four different meals at once.... I should jump up and down twenty
different times? What am I, a workhorse?" (Roth 4) The reactions in Brenda's
house differ because they have a maid and Brenda's Mom doesn't have to pick up a
finger. Neal and Brenda's families are obviously placed in different social
brackets and this adds to the conflict that the relationship is not equal.
From the readers point of view, the tie that Neil feels toward Brenda is
one of physical attraction. "She dove beautifully and a moment later she was
swimming back to the side of the pool, her head of shortclipped auburn hair held
up, straight ahead of her, as though it were a rose on a long stem." (Roth 3)
He sees her only as a beautiful woman and allows that to get in the way of
actually realizing the true reasons for her actions. Brenda on the other hand
is using him to be her "slave." This is seen with all her actions that show
that she honestly does not care about his feelings, his wants or desires. "'
We'll be right back,' Brenda said to me. 'You have to sit with Julie.
Carlota's off.'"(Roth 13) She finds Neil very accommodating in fulfilling her
needs. Neil is constantly being thrown into predicaments for the first time,
such as Brenda's country club, where Neil is viably not accustomed to being.
"My next question was prompted by a desire to sound interested and thereby
regain civility; it didn't quite come out as I'd expected- I said it too loud.
These acts and examples show that Inman is developing back to his former self from before the war where life had meaning. Inman is on a spiritual journey rather than a mere physical journey back home. Inman’s journey is a deep part of the novel, and it is a key ingredient to the storyline. All of the examples in this paper point to the underlying conclusion that Inman is ultimately trying to redeem himself and fill in the empty beliefs that the war erased from his body.
...rson and he knows that she will take care of the little guy even if the Guy is not around. A distort desire to be free of the situation drive the whole family into tragedy and leave them grieves
...ioned “roses after roses”, which would be a metaphor for the dead amidst the beautiful roses, which is quite similar to the incident about the gun and the rose, and how all the hurtful things are beneath the beautiful things.
A recurring theme in, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is Harriet Jacobs's reflections on what slavery meant to her as well as all women in bondage. Continuously, Jacobs expresses her deep hatred of slavery, and all of its implications. She dreads such an institution so much that she sometimes regards death as a better alternative than a life in bondage. For Harriet, slavery was different than many African Americans. She did not spend her life harvesting cotton on a large plantation. She was not flogged and beaten regularly like many slaves. She was not actively kept from illiteracy. Actually, Harriet always was treated relatively well. She performed most of her work inside and was rarely ever punished, at the request of her licentious master. Furthermore, she was taught to read and sew, and to perform other tasks associated with a ?ladies? work. Outwardly, it appeared that Harriet had it pretty good, in light of what many slaves had succumbed to. However, Ironically Harriet believes these fortunes were actually her curse. The fact that she was well kept and light skinned as well as being attractive lead to her victimization as a sexual object. Consequently, Harriet became a prospective concubine for Dr. Norcom. She points out that life under slavery was as bad as any slave could hope for. Harriet talks about her life as slave by saying, ?You never knew what it is to be a slave; to be entirely unprotected by law or custom; to have the laws reduce you to the condition of chattel, entirely subject to the will of another.? (Jacobs p. 55).
same time imposes his will on her. He hinders her from having her own thoughts.
Sexual assault from the male slave owners and harassment from the female slave owners was commonplace. Many slave girls would start to be harassed and sexually assaulted around the young age of only 15, “But I had now entered my 15th year – a sad epoch in the life of a slave girl. My master began to whisper foul words into my ear” (26 Jacobs). This clearly shows that not only did female slaves have to deal with these kinds of harsh conditions; they had to begin to cope with these circumstances at a very young age. Throughout the novel Jacobs demonstrates the inner strength that these young girls had to develop to deal with their day-to-day
“I love to see you at my table, Nick. You remind me of a—of a rose an absolute rose. Doesn’t he?” She turned to Miss Baker for confirmation “An absolute rose?”
Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is one of the few narratives depicting the degradation’s endured by female slaves at the hand of brutal masters. Jacobs’ narrative is sending a message to women to come together and end the unfair treatment all women are subjected to. By bringing images of slavery and the message of unity of women to the forefront, Jacobs is attempting to end the tyranny over women perpetrated by men and the tyranny over blacks perpetrated by whites. Integrity and agency are ideals that Americans have fought for over the years. Jacobs reshapes these ideas and makes decisions and takes full reposibilities for her actions to become the ideal and representative image of womanhood.
The girls did not even talk or form any meaningful relationship with him whatsoever; they were just there to buy food and leave. She even went out of her way not to look at them, Updike states; “She must have felt in the corner of her eye me and over my shoulder Stokesie in the second slot watching but she didn’t tip, not this queen” (462). Their whole relationship was him watching her throughout the store; forming a somewhat creepy and awkward one-sided relationship. That is not how a meaningful relationship starts; stalking them like animals, peaking on them like an immature boy; and ogling at them through multiple aisles of a grocery store. He hangs on every single word that the queen bee says, analyzes her speech and tone of her voice, and vividly imagines the inside of her house. They have not even met before this day and he has not even talked to her. All of these feelings that he is feeling are unwarranted, maybe it is because that she is pretty, but he acts as if though he is in love with
In Harriet Jacobs Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the author subjects the reader to a dystopian slave narrative based on a true story of a woman’s struggle for self-identity, self-preservation and freedom. This non-fictional personal account chronicles the journey of Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897) life of servitude and degradation in the state of North Carolina to the shackle-free promise land of liberty in the North. The reoccurring theme throughout that I strive to exploit is how the women’s sphere, known as the Cult of True Womanhood (Domesticity), is a corrupt concept that is full of white bias and privilege that has been compromised by the harsh oppression of slavery’s racial barrier. Women and the female race are falling for man’s
about his home and "forces" him to have sex with her every night. She is also
mostly loses interest in him after he is engaged to another women. He did tell her about
.... He is a fool and doesn't see that she 'played' him and used him to satisfy one of her desires.
For example, Hector does not like to fight in battle, the only reason why he fights is because he is the only way Troy could ever win the war. However, Achilles loves the war. He even chose being a warrior over having a long life, something that Hector probably would not do. Achilles is drawn to war because of his anger. As I have previously stated, Hector is only fighting in the war because he has to fight for the city of Troy. Achilles on the other hand, does not have to fight for his city. This is because the Greeks are not being attacked. Also, Hector is human. Although his father is a wealthy king, he does not have any god- like powers. Achilles however, is a demi-god he is an exceptional warrior and great runner because of this. Also, because he is a demi-god he is only venerable in his heel. While Hector, being a human, is venerable everywhere. Lastly, Hector is not dictated by rage like Achilles. Even before their battle Hector showed respect towards Achilles. Hector did so by saying “With all the gods as witnesses, I swear: if Zeus gives me the victory over you, I will not dishonor your corps, only strip the armor and give the body back to the Greeks. Promise you’ll do the same.” (22. 281-285). Hector is the perfect foil for Achilles, everything Hector stands for and everything he is, is the polar opposite of
Hector is just mainly a good person. He has his flaws just like every other person who ever lived, but it seems as if his strengths outweighed his flaws. Hector loves his wife and his son more than he loves himself. He was loyal to his wife and wanted the very best for his son. He left them to go fight because he knew it was what he had to do for Troy (Homer 79). In today’s world, people do not merely look for someone who is a great warrior, but also someone who is an overall good person. Hector is very brave and reasonable. He is very courageous and will fight for his country no matter what the cost. Hector does not act like a child in difficult situations like Achilles does, but he acts like a mature man. Along with Hector being a good person, he is also a great warrior on top of all that. The modern world needs somebody they can look up to who acts in a positive way. Hector never turned against his own country like Achilles did when he wanted Zeus to be on the Trojan’s side (Homer 13). The people in ancient times chose Achilles rather than Hector merely because Achilles is an outstanding warrior and he is part god. Fighting is what Achilles excels at, and at that time, that was really the only aspect that mattered. It does not matter that Achilles is selfish, stubborn, and prideful, as long as he can fight well for his country. The Greeks were actually hurt by this because Achilles did not even end up fighting for his country until his best friend died. His stubbornness outweighed his greatness (Homer 178). Achilles was the greatest warrior physically, but he was far from the greatest