In the passage here presented, Arnold’s attention is focused on three different and yet closely related purposes: firstly, that of redefining the meaning of ‘culture’, proposing a new angle on traditional views; secondly, that of underlining the obstacles such a theory could encounter in the Victorian community; and thirdly, that of advancing hypothesis as to how a pursuit of culture on the part of mankind, and particularly of the British population, would result in a great improvement of social, moral, and political conditions. This essay attempts to analyse two crucial aspects of Arnold’s work: on the one hand, it will examine the essayist’s outlook on the themes of culture, its relation to religion and science, and its importance in contemporary civilisation; on the other hand, it will explore the linguistic, stylistic and structural devices of which Arnold avails himself in order to fulfil the persuasive aim of his thesis. In accosting this passage, it is necessary to instantly recognise a specific line of argument, which, following from the analysis of specific concepts, seeks to pose them into a wider perspective regarding more general theme. Before delving deeper into Arnold’s discourse, the readers are forced to familiarised themselves with two crucial terms: culture and perfection. In the first place, the author expands these ideas, defining them in his own terms, the former being perceived as ‘a disinterested study of human nature and human experience’ (Arnold, ??), while the latter assumes the meaning of ‘an harmonious expansion of all the powers which make the beauty and the worth of human nature’ (Arnold, ??). Arnold then proceeds to establish between these concepts an obvious and strong connection, describing ‘cult... ... middle of paper ... ...nstalments, like many other Victorian works, by a quarterly magazine, the Cornhill Magazine, which engaged with a variety of literary forms, comprising fiction, articles and poetry. Due to the nature of such publication, there was a necessity of making the prose of the text accessible to as ample an audience as possible, so as to involve in the reading individuals belonging to different strata of society. In this context, therefore, the author’s reference to religion can be read as an attempt to enlarge the spectre of his readership and to include in the discourse elements that might interest not only scholarly minds but also exponents of the working class. Moreover, the mentioning of Jeremiah, prophet and orator (English Standard Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 1.7), is extremely significant for it establishes a connection between the written and the oral dimension:
The concerns of Victorian England about the status of faith and manhood have left a deep mark in the literature of the period. The Picture of Dorian Gray and Dracula are good examples of this concern. In both books there is an emphasis in the corruption of the body and of the soul as maladies that haunt the greatness of England. The aristocracy is pointed as the social strata from where this decadence will spread. These books show a population of youth that lacks the guidance of parents and are apparently deprived of fertility as a consequence of the disorientation that reigns among them. This corruption is shown in conjunction with a lack of religious faith and an excess of sin that will result in the transference of England to the forces of evil.
Many arguments have occurred over the centuries since the Spanish marched into the Andean highlands and took over the Incan empire, over whether the Incan's were part of an ideal human society, or just a group of tyrannical rulers. While the Incan society had created a stable political, economic, and social system in the Andean world it was far from being an ideal society. On the same note, the Incan's were not tyrannical rulers, did not exploit their subjects or take away their land for no reason. The reading entitled "Was Inca Rule Tyrannical?" discusses this argument about the Incan empire, tries to classify the form of government the Incan's lived under, and searches for the truth about what the Incan empire was really like. The truth about the Incan empire lies somewhere between the romanticized views, and the views meant to justify the Spanish conquest, while it is impossible to classify in modern terms the form of government the Incan's had.
Everybody wants to be accepted, yet society is not so forgiving. It bends you and changes you until you are like everyone else. Society depends on conformity and it forces it upon people. In Emerson's Self Reliance, he says "Society is a joint stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater." People are willing to sacrifice their own hopes and freedoms just to get the bread to survive. Although the society that we are living in is different than the one the Emerson's essay, the idea of fitting in still exists today. Although society and our minds make us think a certain way, we should always trust our better judgment instead of just conforming to society.
When one thinks of Anarchy they will immediately think of destruction and chaos. Of course, one who knows the beliefs of Anarchy will know otherwise. Anarchism is a political philosophy that upholds the belief that no one should be able to coerce anyone and no society should contain a wide variety of groups who coordinate social functions. It is the opportunity to live the life that you decide is best for you. In the eyes of Anarchy, government is corrupt and the people of society should govern themselves. There should not be any rules, laws, or police officers to chastise or enforce anything on any individual. Anyone who knows Greek will know that the term Anarchy means no rulers; so an anarchist society is a society without rulers, not a chaotic society. Anarchy believes in liberty, solidarity, and equality.
Buzard, James, Linda K. Hughes. "The Victorian Nation and its Others" and "1870." A Companion to Victorian Literature and Culture. Ed. Herbert F. Tucker. Malden: Blackwell Publishers, 1999. 35-50, 438-455.
There it is, the “A” word; Anarchy. The word that may frighten some or the word would make some think it’s just mindless chaos and destruction. In this paper I will provide some information on Anarchy.
There are several arguments against philosophical anarchism. Most of the arguments are in line with either the theory that consent is not required or of the theory we have already consented. For the sake of being brief, this essay will attempt to refute only the latter of the two. Along with the idea of individual consent is the longstanding, traditional theory of the authority of God. Other arguments follow a less anarchist view and are that of tacit consent and more specifically that of majority consent.
While Jeremiah is interpreted from many perspectives, some early Christian apologists proof-texted his words as an indication that the Jews had been cast aside by God because they had not remained faithful to Him and his Mosaic covenant. Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophesies, so some claimed, and the Jews would remain shunned and doom...
Capitalism is responsible for the economic organization across the globe, as it in influenced mainly by culture. It affects the identity, sense of place, and the connection between how (b)orders distinguish the place of belonging. Culture gives meaning and values to particular goods. Capitalism uses monetary currencies to represent the exchange value of products, as profit is the main goal for corporations. Culture and capitalism both give value to each other, but capitalism is most successful when it is combined with the preferences and values of other cultures in order to make money. A thematic representation of culture and capitalism can be seen in a general layout of a supermarket, as capitalism ruins a true market. The dominant cultural group in a given area will reflect the items available, as corporations will have a higher monetary gain when accommodating the targeted consumer.
During the sixties Americans saw the rise of the counterculture. The counterculture, which was a group of movements focused on achieving personal and cultural liberation, was embraced by the decade’s young Americans. Because many Americans were members of the different movements in the counterculture, the counterculture influenced American society. As a result of the achievements the counterculture movements made, the United States in the 1960s became a more open, more tolerant, and freer country.
"The Condition of England" in Victorian Literature: 1830-1900. Ed. Dorothy Mermin, and Herbert Tucker. Accessed on 3 Nov. 2003.
Coercion, and subsequently the right to use violence, is the state’s sole method for functioning and existing. Without it, the state is powerless to exist credibly. Thus, at the core of political theory is the argument to justify the state’s use of coercion; without this, the state cannot be ethically justifiable. However, can a violent, or otherwise morally dubious act such as coercion, ever be truly justified? If enough good comes of it, surely it could be mitigated, but how much ‘good’ is enough? And can we really ever justify the indefinite use of coercion based solely upon favorable outcomes that have occurred in the past? If we cannot, then the only option that may be justified could be anarchy.
the meaning of the word culture. In Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, we are given an insight into a
Wolffe, J. 1997. Religion in Victorian Britain. Manchester: Manchester University Press in association with the Open University
Colvile, Derek. Victorian Poetry and the Romantic Religion. Albany, NY: State University of New York, 1970. 34-42.