The animal allegory is a common device it storytelling, using specific animals to represent certain virtues or vices, ending in a moral teaching. These animals represent a quality that is central and unchanging, it is not in their nature to develop and evolve, and they stand as a single metaphor. Ben Johnson used allegory in the creation of his play Volpone or as it is styled in the in Quarto edition, Volpone, the Foxe (Parker 2), where each human character is quickly established through Italian names and other means as relating to a single allegorical character. Volpone is established as a fox, therefore cunning and a trickster, creating a beast fable reminiscent of Aesop. In addition to animal references, Johnson utilizes commedia dell’arte which also uses allegorical characters which always represent certain characteristics and act out specific plots (Parker 12) where Volpone is based on Pantalone di Bisognosi, a Venetian merchant driven by the desire for wealth (Parker 22). Through use of these literary devices, which Jacobean audience would have recognized (Parker 24), Johnson created characters who were fixed, and who could not be changed through any means, and their failure and punishment provided a moral lesson. In audiences ability to recognise the allegorical base of each character, that there was no way these characters could develop, meaning in any instance where it was suggest a character might change was dramatic irony. One scene with a particular abundant amount of irony is when Volpone is on trial for lying about his state of health but instead puts the fault on Celia, who is promptly confirmed as an adulterer upon entry of Lady Would-Be. The irony has many folds; the beast fable structure frames almost everyone b...
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..., Mosca, and Corvino, had never committed these acts against Celia, and it only focused on the legacy hunting, perhaps the punishment doled out at the end of the play would seem unfair or too harsh to the audience and the full arch of a more beast fable could not have been achieved, but with the innocent and virtuous Celia so greatly wronged, each punishment is completely justified.
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What is the most effective literary device used in the writing of short stories? As taken from dictionary.com; irony is a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated. In “An Ounce of Cure” by Alice Munro, irony is used to demonstrate the unfortunate outcomes that can come about as a result of underage alcohol abuse. The story has irony because the narrator’s parents rarely drink alcohol and are strongly against the thought of alcohol. Alistair MacLeod uses irony in his short story “The Boat” to unfortunate events can happen even though the characters do not make it clear that they are soon to happen. In this short story the narrator’s father suffers a tragic death that is not expected by the reader. In the short story “The Doctor” by Andre Dubus, irony is used to create false hope and sadness in the presence of an unfortunate event. In this story it is ironic that an obstetrician who usually brings life into the world cannot save a young boy’s life. In the three central texts mentioned previously it is evident to the reader that irony is used to surprise the reader and provide an unexpected outcome in the presence of an unfortunate event. It is often expected that authors will use irony to demonstrate different visions in their writing.
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Beauty pageants that involve children are a booming industry and growing fast in popularity. This is partially because of television shows like Toddlers and Tiaras and Living Dolls, which glorify pageants that threaten the innocence of childhood. According to Lucy Wolfe, “in 2011, three million children participated in pageants across the country” (454). With so many children, some as young as six months old, partaking in pageants and countless more aspiring to be pageant princesses, a closer look needs to be taken at the practices that are used to prepare them for the show. Often working long hours, not only prepping for the pageant but also performing in it, the children have no laws protecting them from being harmed or exploited. There are multiple negative effects associated with pageant participation law makers need to take action and find a way to regulate the trends of these controversial displays that sexualize young children.
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