Father and Son - Cat Stevens
What is the father’s attitude to his son and the son’s attitude to his father? Which do you more easily identify with?
= The father thinks that his son is not a realist but too dreamy. He wants to make his son do what he had done in his time. He wants his son to marry and settle down. He dislikes his son’s bold desire for a change. He thinks that his son is still young and ignorant of world affairs. The son’s attitude towards his father is negative. He thinks that his father has oppressed him since he began to speak. He thinks that his father is the obstacle in his progress. He is fed up with the father’s conservative and static thinking. I more easily identify with the son because the son is bold, independent and wants to live a life of freedom. He leaves the stable life to fulfil his lofty desire. Even though he may fail, he leaves the pleasure and protection of his house to fulfil his mission.
The conflict between the father’s desire for the son's security and the son's desire for personal freedom defines the emotional core of this piece.
Key Takeaways
- The father advocates for traditional stability, while the son seeks dynamic change.
- The son views parental protection as a form of lifelong oppression.
- Personal identity is achieved through the courage to leave a stable life for a personal mission.
Sons and Lovers - D.H. Lawrence
Why is father an outsider in the home?
= The father is an outsider in the home because he has denied God in him. He does not share his emotions and feelings with the family members. He spends much of his time at the mine. When he comes home, he drinks alcohol to free himself from tiredness and frustration. Due to his bullying nature and drinking habit, everyone treats him as an outsider.
Is it common at Paul’s age for young people to feel they hate their fathers and mothers or conversely have a very strong attachment to them?
= Yes, it is common at Paul’s age for young to feel they hate their parents. This is due to the conflict between teenage psychology and adult psychology. The generation gap also brings conflict between parents and children.
The father is presented very unfavourably. Do you have any sympathy for him? When, and how is it brought out?
= Yes, we have some sympathy for him. It is brought out at first when the narrator says, “He would dearly have liked the children talk to him”. The description of father cobbling, soldering, sawing, hammering and singing show that he too has human virtues. Similarly, his habit of putting patches on his moleskin trousers without leaving it to be done by his wife also signals his hard-working behaviour.
In the extract from D.H.Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers, Paul’s father is presented in two different situations. Describe how he is presented.
= In D.H. Lawrence’s ‘Sons and Lovers, Paul’s father is presented in two different situations- one at home in the evening and the other during working hours. In the evening, he comes home being drunk. He scolds everyone and shouts at them. He does not talk with anyone. He becomes an outsider in the home and is hated by all family members. But when he is at work or with his own working people, he is in good humour, happy and always sings. The children also enjoy working and helping him. He sits absorbed in his own work. He also puts patches on his moleskin trousers without leaving it to be done by his wife.
Why do you think the father acts as he does? Do you feel he realizes what the others think of him?
= Paul’s father is a collier. He has to work hard in the mine to feed his family. In the evening he drinks alcohol to free himself from tiredness and frustration. But when he comes home he realizes that the other family members do not understand him. So he directs his frustration and tension towards the family members by being violent towards them. I think that he realizes what the others think of him. He realizes that he is not the part of the home. This is the reason why he becomes so brutal and violent towards them.
The father’s dual personality—happy at work and brutal at home—reflects the tragic outcome of social and economic alienation.
Key Takeaways
- Father's "outsider" status is driven by labor exhaustion and alcohol dependency.
- The mother-son attachment often excludes the father from the family emotional circle.
- Beneath his violence, the father possesses craftsman-like virtues and a longing for connection.
Roots - Arnold Wesker
Do you agree with Ronnie that ‘you can solve things by talking about them’? Or do you prefer Harry’s reaction?
= Yes, I agree with Ronnie that we can solve things by talking about them openly with family members. By talking, we can make our attitude clear and also will be able to understand other members’ opinions and attitudes. If we do not communicate with others and remain aloof, it will only increase misunderstanding and mistrust and ultimately damage family relationships.
What difference in behaviour do you notice between Ada and Ronnie? Why do they react so differently?
= Ada wants to avoid the family quarrel while Ronnie thinks that problems can be solved by discussion. Ada has her own house and husband, so she does not tolerate the quarrel in the home and leaves away. Ronnie, who is still at school, has no other place to go. So he tolerates the family quarrel.
How would you describe the relationship between Harry and Sarah? Who seems the stronger?
= The relationship between Harry and Sarah is not built on love, co-operation and mutual understanding. Sarah only finds fault in her husband while Harry does not communicate and help her in her work. So their relationship is bad. Sarah seems stronger than Harry because she bears the responsibility of rearing her children. Harry is weaker because he is always negligent of family affairs.
Communication is presented as the primary tool for social and familial progress, whereas silence breeds resentment.
Key Takeaways
- Ronnie advocates for dialogue to solve disputes and build mutual understanding.
- Sarah represents the strength of the matriarch in a disconnected marriage.
- The difference in reaction between Ada and Ronnie is based on their levels of independence and social standing.
Sarah vs Albert's Mother: Possessive Love
What similarities and differences do you find between Sarah’s and Albert’s mother?
= The similarities between Sarah’s and Albert’s mother are that both of them are strong women and both show strong attachment towards their children. The difference between them is that Sarah’s relationship with her husband is bad and troublesome while the relationship between Albert’s mother and Albert’s dead father seemed to be full of love.
Do you think Albert would ‘rather stay with’ his mother? If not why does he say it?
= Albert would not stay with his mother but would rather go out and enjoy the party. He says it to her only to make her believe that he loves her dearly. He is also emotionally blackmailing her.
Albert’s mother uses different stages of emotional blackmail. Can you trace the others? What is the climax of this?
= Her first emotional blackmail is the game of cards. Then she asks him to put the bulb in Grandmother’s room. Again she asks him not to mess with girls. Later she mentions him not to upset his dead father. I think that the climax of this emotional blackmail is when she talks about his dead father and reminds him that he is all she has.
Why is Albert’s mother so possessive?
= Since Albert’s father is dead, she has no one to share her feelings, emotions and sorrows. She is afraid that Albert may mess with girls and neglect her later. So, she is possessive because Albert is the only source of her emotional fulfillment.
“What’s a mother for?” asks Sarah. How has she interpreted her role?
= She has interpreted her role as a loving mother because she thinks that a mother should help her children in whatever way she can. She says to Ada that she will wash her belongings of her. I think that a mother’s position is higher than God. She has to love, nurture, protect and help the children in whatever way she can. She also has to understand the feelings of her children.
Motherhood is explored here not just as a biological role, but as a complex psychological entanglement of care and control.
Key Takeaways
- Possessiveness in motherhood can result from loneliness and the absence of other emotional outlets.
- Emotional blackmail is used as a tool to maintain proximity and control over adult children.
- A mother's role includes understanding and nurturing the children's individual feelings while providing protection.
World Ecological Areas Programme (WEAP)
What are the statements of the problem given by the World Ecological Areas Programme (WEAP)?
- If the natural environment or forests are destroyed, we humans will have to face a terrible tragedy. Life on earth will be near to complete destruction.
- The habitat and way of life of indigenous people will be destroyed. They will have to move to crowded towns in search of habitat and jobs. This will increase the unemployment rate and lead to their systematic pauperization.
- Many species of unidentified plants will be extinct from the earth. This will be the loss of genetic resources that could provide new foods, medicines, fuels, textiles etc in the future.
- Many species of animals such as tigers, leopards, gorillas, orangutans etc will be extinct from the earth. This will also mean aesthetic loss.
- It will increase soil erosion, landslides and ultimately lead to desertification of most parts of the earth. Loss of trees and plants will lead to water shortage, a decrease in soil fertility and an increase in pollution.
- The level of Carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere will increase but due to the lack of adequate plants, this Carbon-dioxide will not be absorbed sufficiently. This will cause global warming.
The WEAP warns that environmental destruction is not just a loss of nature, but a direct threat to human economic and biological survival.
Key Takeaways
- Loss of biodiversity equals a loss of future medical and nutritional resources for humanity.
- Deforestation directly accelerates global warming, landslides, and soil infertility.
- The displacement of indigenous people leads to urban overcrowding and increased poverty levels.
Theme / Analysis of “The Poplar Field” (William Cowper)
The poem “The Poplar Field” written by British poet William Cowper is a defence of nature conservation. This poem is remarkable for its celebration of the rural and its nostalgic tone.
The poet finds that the poplar field which he saw twelve years before is now devastated and barren. The poplars are cut down; the winds no longer play in the leaves, the blackbirds have moved to other places and trees no longer afford him a shade. The trees that once gave him a shade are laid down and have become his seat.
The poet then realizes that his years are passing very quickly and one day he will have to die and lie in the grave. But other trees will not have grown in their places by then. This site makes him think that though humans cut down trees for short-term physical comfort and profit.; they are actually destroying human life and eternal human pleasures. The poet thinks that pleasures given by nature are far more superior and eternal than pleasures provided by modern scientific inventions.
Cowper uses the image of the fallen trees to symbolize the fragility of human existence and the loss of natural "refuges" for the soul.
Key Takeaways
- The poem is rooted in nostalgia for a lost natural environment.
- The realization that nature’s destruction is effectively a destruction of human mental peace and pleasure.
- The connection between the death of the trees and the approaching mortality of the poet himself.
Theme / Analysis of Philip Larkin’s poem “Going, Going”
The poem “Going, Going” written by modern poet Philip Larkin indicates that modern people, generally English people, are going in the wrong direction. He is worried about the future of the whole of mankind. He thinks that by destroying the natural environment, people of the modern world are corrupting their village and their mind. He predicts that in the near future, England is going to become the first slum of Europe, full of cheats and tarts.
The poet had thought that the nature of the village would not be destroyed in his lifetime. But he is worried to find that the nature of the village has been replaced by concrete and tyres. The businessmen are ready to move their factories to the serene and beautiful village areas for more profit and to obtain government grants. Now the city has become like the jungle of concrete and motor vehicles with only false people, tarts and cheats living in it. The poet thinks that England is going to become a polluted and barren country.
Compare and contrast ‘The Poplar Field’ by William Cowper and ‘Going', Going by Philip Larkin.
= Both the poems are similar in the sense that they appeal to nature conservation and show the hazards caused by the destruction of the environment. Both the poets talk about life and death. Both of them are worried about the future. Cowper was a Pre-Romantic poet while Larkin is a modern poet. So, we can find many differences in their poems. Cowper uses poetic language while Larkin uses colloquial language. Cowper talks about the hazards of deforestation in general but Larkin talks about the hazards of urbanization and scientific invention. Cowper’s poem is full of romantic and personal feelings while Larkin uses realistic images and talks about social issues. Larkin thinks that the destruction of nature brings poverty, prostitution and also corrupts the mind of modern people.
Larkin's vision is one of irreversible urban sprawl, where the beauty of the countryside is traded for the "slum-like" profit of industry.
Key Takeaways
- Larkin's tone is pessimistic and cynical regarding "urban progress" and unchecked capitalism.
- England is metaphorically described as a future "slum of Europe" due to environmental neglect.
- The contrast highlights the difference between poetic/romantic feelings (Cowper) and realistic/social issues (Larkin).
Civilized Man's Eight Deadly Sins - Konrad Lorenz
Summary: Civilized mankind has forgotten that resources of life on earth are limited. Many fertile lands in the US have turned into deserts and many animal species have become extinct due to the cutting down of trees. Now the general public has understood this truth. By destroying nature blindly, in fact, man is destroying himself. He will realize his mistakes if he calculates the loss in terms of money. This barbarian act actually destroys his own mind. The young people will only see ugly and cheap man-made things, so they will not respect beautiful nature. The city people will not see the clear sky due to high-building and chemical clouding. The more we are civilized, the uglier we are making the town and country.
Does this barbarian process damage man’s own mind? In what ways?
= Yes, I think that Konrad Lorenz’s statement is true. Modern people call themselves civilized, but in fact, they are barbaric and savage. They measure the degree of civilization in terms of economic progress. They cut trees and destroy the environment for more profit and physical comfort. Their desire for more and more profit makes them depressed and frustrated. So modern people suffer from many mental illnesses such as depression, hypertension, high blood pressure etc. Due to this, the suicide rate has increased in most industrialized countries. On the other hand, due to the destruction of nature, everything--land, air, water--has become polluted which has damaged the health of people. An unhealthy body will certainly have an unhealthy mind. Thus, by destroying nature, people are destroying their own mind and their mental peace.
Lorenz argues that psychological pathology is a direct consequence of our biological and aesthetic alienation from a healthy ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- Mankind's blindness to limited natural resources leads to systemic self-destruction.
- The ugliness of man-made structures and chemical pollution erodes the human aesthetic and spiritual sense.
- Civilization should be measured by mental and environmental harmony rather than just economic growth.
War, Patriotism, and History: Thucydides and Shakespeare
Summary of Thucydides’ History IV: In ‘History IV’, Thucydides claims that everybody knows the evils of war but still they go to war. One side wages war thinking that profit is more than loss. The other side also engages in war thinking it is better to face danger than accept an immediate loss.
William Shakespeare’s “Henry V”
In William Shakespeare’s “Henry V”, King Henry advises his army to fight bravely with their enemies just like their brave ancestors. Before the battle of Agincourt, King Henry encourages his army to imitate the action of the tiger, to make eyes like cannon, to stiffen their muscles, to set the teeth tight and to stretch the nostrils wide. They should fight to save their country England, their King and the glory of their ancestors. King Henry’s advice is full of nobility, patriotism and pride for the motherland.
Would you fight for your country or for your beliefs? What would motivate you to fight?
= I think that our country is more important than our beliefs. We Nepali have different opinions and doctrines but our country Nepal is our collective identity. First of all, I would fight for my country because if there were no Nepal, I would not be called Nepali. Foreign countries may attack us and enslave us if we will not fight for the country. I would also fight for my beliefs but my fight would be peaceful. My spirit of nationalism would motivate me to fight for the country.
What arguments does Churchill give in favour of going to war?
= Winston Churchill, in his speech to the House of Commons, during the Second World War, claims that their main policy is to wage war against the monstrous tyranny that has become their enemy. He has a patriotic view on war. He thinks that their main aim is to gain victory at whatever costs because without it there is no survival for British Empire and the values that British Empire has stood for.
While Thucydides views war as a cold calculation of risk, Shakespeare and Churchill frame it as a sacred fulfillment of ancestral glory and national survival.
Key Takeaways
- War as a rational choice based on power dynamics and perceived gain (Thucydides).
- The rhetorical transformation of soldiers into "tigers" to achieve national victory (Henry V).
- The survival of political and moral values as the ultimate justification for total war (Churchill).
Henry vs. Shannon: Personal Gain vs. National Honor
What difference can you notice between Henry's and Shannon's attitudes to war?
= In Frederic Forsyth's "Dogs of War", Shannon is in favour of war for personal gain. War will provide him money and a job. He does not like peace because it will make him jobless and without profit. In William Shakespeare's drama "Henry V", King Henry advises his army to go to war to protect their country, their King and the glory of their ancestors. King Henry is in favour of war for the benefit of the nation and to save the nation from enemies but Shannon is in favour of war for personal benefit.
Why does Shannon consider peace would be nasty?
= Shannon is one of the 'dogs of war who wants war for personal benefit. He wants war for jobs and profit. He does not want peace because it will make him jobless and without economic benefit. So he considers peace would be nasty.
The mercenary (Shannon) views peace as an economic threat, while the King (Henry V) views war as the highest form of ancestral sacrifice.
Key Takeaways
- The commodification of conflict: war as a source of employment for mercenaries.
- The "Dogs of War" archetype: individuals who prioritize profit over national peace.
- The contrasting morality of state-led conflict versus private enterprise warfare.
Theme / Analysis of "Anthem for Doomed Youth" (Wilfred Owen)
= "Anthem for Doomed Youth" written by British poet Wilfred Owen is an anti-war poem that presents the grim reality of war. The title suggests the waste of many youths in the First World War. He juxtaposes church rites for the dead with the demented noise of bombs and shells.
The poet claims that soldiers die as castles in the war, so it is useless to mourn, hold prayers or ring bells for them. The soldiers only hear the loud, demented rattle of bombs and guns in the war. There is no use in lighting candles for the dead soldiers because now they cannot come back. Their tearful eyes have already said goodbyes. The girls' brows will be their coffin cloth and their sorrowful minds will be their flowers. And in every dusk, there will be more dead soldiers coming to the funeral. He hated the patriotic satisfaction of the people who did not understand the misery of the soldiers.
Owen replaces the traditional religious and patriotic ceremonies of death with the chaotic and mechanical noise of industrialized slaughter.
Key Takeaways
- The dehumanization of soldiers: dying like "cattle" rather than heroes.
- The rejection of formal mourning rites in favor of internal, psychological grief.
- The title's irony: an "anthem" usually celebrates, but here it laments a "doomed" generation.
Summary of “Our Bodies Ourselves” & Gender Power
= The social structure and power relationships affect all human relationships. If we feel powerless, we are likely to be in stress and strain. This stress and strain need outlets; otherwise, we will suffer from depression and frustration.
Men channel out their stress by walking out of the house or by using physical violence against their wives and family. On the other hand, women can not leave their homes, so they often direct their violence towards their children. Generally, their violence is against themselves. Therefore, twice as many women as men suffer from depression.
This is because women are powerless in many legal and economic cases. They get low wages, the home is in the name of their husband, and they are considered responsible for the care of their children. Women only leave their homes when they find that their children are in mental and physical danger from their fathers.
Is the passage more sympathetic to men or women? Do you think it is obvious it was written by a woman?
= The passage "Our Bodies Ourselves" published in Boston Women's Health Collective is more sympathetic to women. The author of this passage has focused on the difficulties and problems of women. The author describes how the females suffer from frustration and depression because they cannot channel out their mental pain due to social or legal prejudice. It is clear that the author is a woman when in the fourth paragraph she writes “ Many women do not have the ultimate sanction: we cannot easily leave home”. Throughout the passage she has used ‘they’ and ‘he’ to refer to males and ‘we’ and ‘us’ to refer to females.
The passage analyzes clinical depression and domestic violence as direct byproducts of gender-based socio-economic powerlessness.
Key Takeaways
- Powerlessness leads to stress, which requires external outlets to prevent psychological collapse.
- The "Ultimate Sanction"—the ability to leave home—is a key factor in psychological well-being.
- Economic and legal structures (low wages, property laws) reinforce the cycle of female depression.
Fixed Attitudes: Patmore and Ian McEwan
Do you think Patmore is serious when he says- 'A woman is a foreign land"? Is he right? Do you think men and women have fixed attitudes for each other?
= I think that Patmore is not serious. He is ironic towards the females when he says 'A woman is a foreign land'. I think that he is not right because women are also like males. There is no difference between males and females because both have the same sense organs and both good and bad qualities. The women should also be looked at as fellow humans. Neither men nor women should judge the other sex negatively.
I think that both men and women have fixed unchanging attitudes towards the other sex. Men think that women are the weaker sex, complex, objects that should be controlled, fashion-crazy, ignorant, immoral, sex dolls and inferior beings. Similarly, women also think that males are arrogant, immoral, oppressive, brutal and complex. Men think that women should be confined to the four boundaries of the house and should do all the household activities. They think that women should love, honour and obey their husbands. Similarly, women think that all the outside activities should be done by men. They should protect and earn money for the family.
Ian McEwan’s “Dead As They Come”
How would the modern feminist react towards Ian McEwan’s description?
= The speaker in Ian McEwan’s “Dead As They Come” has a negative fixed attitude towards women. The speaker claims that he does not care for posturing women, but at the same time describes the different postures of the woman he loved. He later says that clothes are peripheral to beauty, but at the same time he gives the details of all the clothes she wore. The speaker then says that he loved her but soon his ‘superior male ego’ is seen when he says that to possess her he has to buy her.
The modern feminist would react violently towards the negative description of women in this extract. They would attack the speaker’s notion that women are only consumer goods that can be sold or bought by money. Here the woman is presented as an inanimate doll that can be controlled and possessed at the will of males. The woman is judged not from her behaviour, conduct, talent, human feelings but from her physical beauty, postures and clothes. The speaker who had already divorced three wives thinks that all women can be bought with money. The modern feminist would strongly condemn the arrogance of the speaker who has marginalized women as the weaker sex, sex dolls, fools, consumer goods, inferior beings and the object that should be controlled.
What aspects of the woman make her suitable for such a ‘superior man’?
= Her physical beauty, her artistic postures and clothes make her suitable for such a ‘self-explained superior man’.
The texts examine how the "Male Gaze" dehumanizes women into commodities and foreign objects to be bought and controlled.
Key Takeaways
- "Foreign Land" metaphor highlights the alienation created by standard social perceptions of gender.
- The commodification of relationships: when love is replaced by possession (McEwan).
- Feminist criticism targets the aestheticizing of women over their talents and human emotions.
Summary of William Shakespeare’s “Othello” & Middlemarch
Othello (Emilia's Argument): In William Shakespeare’s drama “Othello”, Emilia argues that wives learn the lessons of immorality from their husband’s immoral behaviour. She says that both men and women have the same sense organs, the same sexual urge and both good and bad qualities. She wants the husbands to respect, love, co-operate and understand their wives. She further claims that if husbands have a sexual relationship with other women, the wives will also satisfy their sexual urges from other men.
George Eliot's Middlemarch
Do you think George Eliot is judging society and/or Dorothea?
= In my view, George Eliot is judging both Dorothea and the rigid Victorian society in her novel “Middlemarch”. She wants to highlight how the male-dominated society suppresses women and imposes cruel moral rules. Here the society in which Dorothea lives is harsh and cruel towards women. Society does not evaluate her feelings, love towards her husband, benevolence, pity, struggle and spirit but only negatively evaluate her on the basis of her first and second marriage. Though the love between Dorothea and her husband Will is deep and selfless, the people like Sir James Chettam think it is a shame.
Since George Eliot is a female writer, she wants to show us that a male-dominated society always judges females in negative terms as the weaker sex, immoral, ignorant, complex and inferior beings.
Is Emilia’s position compatible with Coventry Patmore’s?
= Emilia’s position is not compatible with Coventry Patmore’s. Emilia stresses similarity between men and women but Patmore stresses differences. Emilia argues that men and women have the same sense organs, body parts and sexual urge while Patmore argues that women are foreign, complex and inferior to men.
Emilia advocates for a shared biological and moral platform for the sexes, directly contradicting the Victorian "Separate Spheres" ideology.
Key Takeaways
- Gender equality is argued through shared human urges and sensory experiences.
- Societal judgment of women is often based on marital status rather than intrinsic character.
- Victorian morality is critiqued as being one-sided and oppressive to female autonomy.
The Nature and Acceptability of Authority
What is authority?
= Authority is always related to power. A person’s political authority can be measured in terms of what taboos he can impose on others. Any authority is not absolute. It is again controlled by the higher authority with much power.
What are the different types of authority we learn to accept?
= We have to learn to accept different types of authority at different places and at different stages of life. In childhood, we have to learn to accept school authority, parental authority and teacher's authority. We have to obey the commands of our parents and teachers. Similarly, when we grow adults we have to learn to accept governmental authority, political authority, and legal authority. In the office, we have to learn to accept higher officials' authority, official authority, organizational authority, legal authority etc. Similarly at home, we have to learn to accept senior members' authority, parental authority etc.
Reactions to Authority: I have challenged teachers' authority by complaining about their faults to my guardians and to the head of the school or by running away from school. Similarly, I have reacted against parental authority by crying, being silent and running out of the house. I have attempted to react against governmental authority by revolting against them and being engaged in strikes. I have also imposed my authority over my sisters, younger brother and servants by giving commands in loud voice and by scolding them.
Alice in Wonderland: The King, Queen and Hatter
Impression: I think they are brutal and tyrannical. They treat their people like puppets and make fun of them. They even punish them even if they do nothing wrong.
Hatter's Evidence and Nervousness: I think that the Hatter has not any important evidence to give. Even the King and the Queen do not want evidence; they only want to make fun of him. Hatter is nervous because he is afraid of the court and the power of the King and Queen. He is afraid that he will be wrongly executed by the court.
Authority is presented here as a performative power relationship, often enforced through fear and arbitrary punishment.
Key Takeaways
- Authority spans across personal (parental), social (teacher), and political (governmental) spheres.
- Reacting against authority is a key phase of individual development.
- The Hatter's nervousness reflects the vulnerability of the common man in an absolute monarchy.
Behavioral Characteristics of Authority Roles
a). Appearance and General Behaviour: Teachers use sticks and policemen carry guns to show their authority. Similarly, entertainers use sticks to control the animals. Teachers, priests and chairpersons look serious. Teachers and policeman have their own uniforms to show their authority.
b). Language Characteristics: They use imperative sentences. They express their authority by insistence, order, threat or by granting permission. The tone of their speech is usually harsh and commanding.
c). Interaction Styles: They interact with those over whom they have authority in different ways. They use commands, requests, advice, suggestions, invitations, warnings, promises, threats and offers. Usually, they use formal language in their exercise of authority. Their use of language differs from individual to individual. Teachers use a lot of imperatives, priests use classical philosophical language while policemen use legal clichés. Chairpersons use formal language in a serious tone.
Authority is encoded in the "Register" of speech—from the technical jargon of the law to the moralistic tone of the clergy.
Key Takeaways
- Uniforms and weapons serve as visual extensions of institutional authority.
- Imperative language is the primary linguistic tool for maintaining control.
- Authoritative interactions are traditionally unidirectional (Command vs Obedience).
Orwellian Authority: Thought Police and Catch-22
What are the Thought Police?
= Thought Police are the police who would watch over the people and would suppress those who are against the government. They would watch over people's thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, words and actions so that they would not revolt against the government and the ruler.
Effect on Winston: Winston is greatly troubled by the ever-present watching authority. He feels powerless in the hands of tyrannical government. He has to control his speech, words, actions and thoughts and even live in a manner of mental slavery.
Joseph Heller’s “Catch – 22”
What is Catch-22?
= In Joseph Heller’s “Catch – 22”, Catch-22 is a military law enforced during war or crisis. It states that junior officers’ should always do what the senior commanding officer commands them to do. It says that junior officers should unconditionally obey every order of the commanding officer.
Impression of Colonel Cathcart: The passage leaves a negative impression of Colonel Cathcart on me. He imposes his excessive authority and power only on his self-esteem. He is a prejudiced officer who even hates all men outside his group. Actually, he is corrupted by power and does not understand the problems, feelings and emotions of his junior soldiers.
Differences: Big Brother vs. Colonel Cathcart: Big Brother is all-powerful, symbolic of a future ruler who would try to control the people by controlling their thoughts and words. But, Colonel Cathcart is not all-powerful because he has other senior officials who can limit his power. Big Brother wants to control even the words, thoughts and actions of the people. The authority of Big Brother is gloomy and deadly while the authority of Colonel Cathcart is temporary and indicates the strict military atmosphere.
Catch-22 represents a logical trap designed to ensure that the subordinate can never win against the institutional ego.
Key Takeaways
- Thought control is the final frontier of absolute governmental authority.
- Institutional authority (Cathcart) is driven by self-esteem and internal hierarchy.
- Mental slavery is the inevitable result of total and constant surveillance.
Theme / Analysis of Emily Dickinson's "Nobody"
= In her poem "Nobody" Emily Dickinson thinks that she is 'Nobody' because she is quite different from others whom society thinks of as great people. She does not like to be a "Somebody". She does not like to be what society wants her to be. She wants to be unnoticed by society because society always cares about name, fame, popularity and outward appearance. She is an aloof personality. She thinks that being Somebody is like being a frog in the bog. The frog only makes a loud noise to attract the attention of others but that noise has no meaning.
Who are 'they'? Why advertise?
= They are the people of the society. They are the people who are thought of as great and popular in society. They would advertise because they would want to prove themselves great by showing them. They would advertise them because they would think of them as quite unique and abnormal.
Nobody or Somebody?
= I consider myself as "Somebody". I want to be known to society. I want to participate in other people's sorrows, grief and happiness. I don't want to remain aloof. I want to change according to the rules and norms of society.
The Frog in June: The frog is like a public in the month of June because at this time they croak a lot. They shout a lot to show their worth. Though they shout a lot to show their greatness, they are completely valueless.
The poem satirizes the vanity of public recognition, comparing famous figures to meaningless noise in a swamp.
Key Takeaways
- The choice to be "Nobody" is a rejection of societal conformity.
- The "Frog" metaphor exposes the emptiness of vocal and visual publicity.
- A "Somebody" is defined by external social codes, while a "Nobody" maintains internal integrity.
Summary of John Clare’s “I am”
The poet John Clare in his poem “I am” is fed up with the scorn, noise and meaninglessness of the world. He longs to return to childhood, to sit with God, to walk where no one has ever walked and where there is no trouble. He thinks that no one cares about him, no one understands his sorrows, and no one truly loves him. He thinks that his dearest ones have become strangers to him. He wants to escape from the problems and pressures of the world. He is quite unhappy because people have become indifferent towards his tragedy.
Identity and Existence: The poet asserts his identity by saying that though he is, no one cares and understands him. Even the title of the poem “I am” shows that he wants to assert his identity.
"I am" is a profound cry of existential loneliness, where the self exists only in isolation from a world that has forgotten it.
Key Takeaways
- The world's indifference is presented as more damaging than active scorn.
- The return to God and childhood represents a retreat from adult suffering.
- Identity is maintained internally even when externally unrecognized.
Summary of W.H. Auden’s “Musee des Beaux-Arts”
In his poem “Musee des Beaux-Arts”, W.H Auden shows how life goes on indifferent to a crisis or one person’s tragedy. The poet uses a painting by Brughel where Icarus is half-drowned in the sea to show that man is indifferent to other sorrows and tragedy. The poet says that the old painters and old scholars were never wrong because they knew that being indifferent to other sorrows is a human position. When old people are waiting for their death and want the miraculous birth of Christ, the young’s do not care, nor do they want it because they are happy in their own playful world. The old masters or old scholars never forgot that even once powerful and great has to surrender before death.
He then says that in the painting of Brughel everyone turns blind eye to the disaster of Icarus. The ploughman may have heard the cry of Icarus but for him, it was not important to save him. Even nature was in its own course. The sun shone as usual. The expensive ship may have seen the falling body of Icarus but it had to sail to its own destination. So, it sailed calmly away.
Who are ‘they’? What did they understand?
= ‘They’ are the ancient masters, old painters of ancient scholars. They understood that being indifferent to other sorrows and tragedy is a human position. No one cares about the sorrows, pains and sufferings of other people. Everyone is engaged in his / her own personal benefit and own world. They understood that when old people chant the name of Christ the young people only care about their own playful world. When one suffers, he is alone in his tragedy.
Miraculous Birth: The ‘miraculous birth’ might be the birth of Christ. The old people wait for the miraculous birth of Christ because they remember God only when they are about to die. In other words, the old want to be born again. They want to rise again like the Christ who had resurrected after his death.
Indifference as Sin: Indifference means showing a lack of interest, feeling or reaction towards something or somebody. A man can not live a lonely life. He needs emotional fulfilment. If we are indifferent towards their sorrows and sentiments and do not interact with them, it is the worst crime. Being indifferent breaks the heart of people. So, it is a worst crime than hating.
Auden highlights the "Universal Indifference" of the universe, where history's great tragedies occur while someone is simply opening a window or eating.
Key Takeaways
- Tragedy is portrayed as a mundane event in the grand scale of the world.
- The "Old Masters" identified the isolation inherent in human suffering.
- Indifference is the ultimate expression of inhumanity.
Animal Farm: The Rebellion
Why did the animal's revolt?
= Mr. Jones and his keepers did not care the animals in the shed. The keepers had milked the cows and had gone to hunt rabbits without feeding the animals. Even in the evening no one cared the animals. When they tried to quench their hunger by breaking the store-shed, they were severely beaten. So, the animals revolted because they could not tolerate their hunger.
Was the reaction justified?
= Yes I think that the animals’ reaction was justified. The basic need of all living creatures is food. Living beings can not live without food. In George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm”, the animals are not properly cared and fed. The animals revolted only when their life was in danger. Even when they tried to go to the store-house to quench their hunger, they were severely beaten. So, they had no other option than to revolt.
Animal rebels vs. Humans: In his novel “Animal Farm”, George Orwell chooses animal characters to show that rebellion is necessary when there is threat of life and freedom. Actually this is a political allegory. He wants to say us that rebellion is not done by brain or in a pre-planned way. Rebellion bursts itself if the basic needs of the citizens are not fulfilled by the government. From this novel, he wants us to show us that even animals unconsciously revolt when there is danger of their life.
Orwell uses the biological drive of hunger as the primary catalyst for political revolution, showing that rebellion is often an act of survival rather than ideology.
Key Takeaways
- Rebellion is presented as an instinctive explosion of resentment.
- The failure of the "Master" to provide basic sustenance leads to a loss of control.
- Animals serve as universal symbols for the oppressed working class.
Paradise Lost: The Battle of Heaven and Hell
Battle description: John Milton describes how Satan and his followers revolted against God and the angels of Heaven. In this extract Abidel is in favour of God. He says to Satan that it is better to serve in Heaven than rule in Hell. He does not like the rebellion of Satan against God. He says that Satan is not fit to become the master because no one can be as great as God. Abidel then raises his weapon and hits on the head of Satan. Satan can not protect himself, so he turns ten steps backward. Soon war is announced on both sides. Michael sounds the trumpet to announce the battle. Soon there is loud noise in Heaven. The chariots start running towards the battle field. Several arms are thrown to kill the Satans. The sounds of the weapons and the cry of the wounded armies is heard every where. On both sides armies are willing to kill their enemies.
The conflict is characterized by the tension between hierarchical service (Abidel) and independent, albeit doomed, rule (Satan).
Key Takeaways
- The celestial rebellion is described through epic physical warfare.
- Abidel acts as the moral anchor who challenges Satan's pride.
- The battle unifies the themes of loyalty, power, and divine sovereignty.
Macbeth: The Act of Rebellion
Macbeth give answer for:
a). What is the ultimate act of rebellion?
= Macbeth’s ultimate act of rebellion is to kill King Duncan who has come to his castle as a guest. He wants to kill him and become King himself.
b). What reasons does Macbeth give for not killing Duncan?
= Before killing Duncan, Macbeth also thinks that Duncan should not be killed because of two reasons. The first reason is that King Duncan is his relative and the virtuous King loved by all. The second reason is that King Duncan has come as a guest in the castle of Macbeth. He also thinks that killing Duncan will anger the God and angels; and he will be punished.
c). What is the only reason he has for killing Duncan?
= His terrible ambition, that is, his passion for power and glory.
d). Consequences of killing?
= The action will not be over quickly. It will have consequences. The murderer will not live in mental peace. He will be punished on earth. The man who lives by the power of sword will be killed by the sword. Killing of Duncan will anger the powers of Heaven and punish Macbeth.
Angels vs Damnation: King Duncan is a virtuous king while Macbeth is a cruel, selfish and power-mad king. The angels’ represent the goodness and simplicity of King Duncan while damnation represents the evilness and cunningness of Macbeth. By making contrast between angels and damnation, William Shakespeare wants to show us that deeds and names of virtuous person are always heard by angels and Gods while the evils done by anyone will have its consequences in the hell.
Did Macbeth kill him?
= Yes, Macbeth killed King Duncan because Macbeth was blind with his terrible ambition. He had the desire to become the king. On the other hand, it was very easier to kill King Duncan because he was in the castle of Macbeth. Even no one would suspect Macbeth for the murder since he was the relative of the King.
Macbeth's act is a violation of the laws of nature, kinship, and hospitality, resulting in total psychological and state decay.
Key Takeaways
- Ambition is identified as the "Fatal Flaw" that leads to self-destruction.
- The murderer's lack of mental peace is the immediate earthly punishment.
- Virtue (Duncan) is protected by the memory of "Angels," while Crime (Macbeth) is destined for "Damnation."
Passions and Mortality: Russell and Dylan Thomas
Summary of Bertrand Russell’s “Autobiography”
= In his “Autobiography”, Bertrand Russell writes that three passions have governed his life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and pity for the suffering of mankind. He thinks that love brings ecstasy, it frees us from loneliness. Heaven is created out of love. Poets and saints imagine Heaven as the model of Love. He thinks that knowledge is necessary to understand the hearts of men and laws of nature. Love and knowledge lead upwards to the heaven. Russell thinks that pity had always brought him back to earth. He feels pity towards the people who suffer from famine, oppression, loneliness and poverty. Pity is the greatest human virtue. Russell says that he would devote his whole life to these three passions and make his life worth living.
Summary of Dylan Thomas’ “A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London”
= The poet says that he will not mourn for the death of the child because man is made in darkness and ultimately goes to darkness. It is a grave truth to die. There is no greater truth than death. No one can stop it. The sea is still and does not mourn for the death of the child. The poet will meet her in heaven after he will also die. So he thinks it useless to mourn for her death. For him, death is not an end. It has continued since the beginning of the world. But after death, we again enter to live. There are long friends of the dead because from the very beginning of the world infinite numbers of people have died.
Russell focuses on the ethical duties of the living (Love/Pity), while Thomas presents a metaphysical stoicism toward the inevitability of death.
Key Takeaways
- Russell: The trinity of Love, Knowledge, and Pity defines a life worth living.
- Thomas: Death as a natural homecoming to the "darkness" from which we came.
- The "Long Friends" of the dead highlight the universal community of mortality.
Bleak House: Telescopic Philanthropy
Title & Neglect Analysis: Charles Dickens is criticizing the duplicity of humans. He is criticizing the behaviour of Mrs. Jellyby who has a false ideal to help the natives of Borrioboola-Gha. She is busy in her African project. In fact, she does not care her own house and children. She wants to raise her social impression, but she is negligent of family affairs. Her house and room are dirty, filled with papers and litters. Her children are untidy, dirty and with out proper clothes. Her house has no proper lights. She does not show her motherly love when one of her child falls from the stairs. The furniture’s are broken. She does not comb her hair and even her dresses are not good. The children are unhealthy and thin. They have no slippers on their foot. This chapter is titled ‘Telescopic Philanthropic’ to show how people like Mrs Jellyby only look farther away like a telescope without concentrating on their homes. They try to show that they love humanity only to raise social status. They neglect other humans nearer and around them.
Dickens critiques "abstract love for humanity" which serves as a shield for the neglect of concrete personal responsibilities.
Key Takeaways
- Mrs. Jellyby represents the hypocrisy of middle-class social climbers.
- The domestic environment reflects the moral decay of the inhabitants.
- Telescopic philanthropy is the act of ignoring near suffering for distant projects.
Paper House - Catherine Lim
Dream House: Tay Soon dreamed of buying a house with all the facilities similar to those that were advertised in the glossy pages of magazines. He had a dream of a beautiful house of his own, the best one; with aluminium sliding doors, kidney-shaped swimming pool, sunken circular sitting room, timbered ceiling, panelled walls, marble flooring, and amber carpeting.
Role of the Wife: Tay Soon’s wife played a major role in his downfall and the entire disaster. She was a woman who also had a passion for a beautiful house. She used to describe the dream house to her sister. She talked endlessly about the dream house with her husband. It was his wife Yee Lian who first gave suggestions to put their money in the share market. She refused to sell the shares when they started falling, saying it was temporary. She even advised him to put all the remaining shares into the OHTE and West Parkes. These two markets crashed. Tay Soon went mad and later died of this shock. Thus Tay Soon’s wife can be considered as the important agent who brought the entire tragedy.
The "Paper House" is a fragile structure built on greed and economic speculation, inevitably leading to human tragedy.
Key Takeaways
- The pursuit of material perfection can lead to psychological obsession and ruin.
- The share market serves as a gambling den for the aspirational middle class.
- The wife acts as the catalyst for the husband's descent into madness.
Wet Saturday - John Collier
Family Detestation: Mr Princey is a selfish man who values his name, fame, self-esteem and identity than the family. His house is ill-managed because he does not give priority to the family bonds. He is a showy character. He detests his hulking son. He hates his daughter Millicent because she has killed Withers. He is afraid that his prestige in the village will be damaged if she is sent to madhouse.
Tragedy Analysis: The story “Wet Saturday” is a tragic one. It is because the lives of several innocents are destroyed. An innocent man Withers is killed by Millicent. Captain Smollet falls into the cruel trap of Mr. Princey. He is cruelly beaten and we can guess that Captain Smollet will be charged with a crime that he has not committed. Truth is overshadowed by falsehood. The setting is gloomy. The rain symbolizes the tears falling down. The house of Mr. Princey is like a devil’s house because the family members do not value human sentiments. They are selfish and brutal. They charge Mr. Smollet for the crime committed by Millicent.
Psychological explanation: Wet Saturday is a psychological story in the sense that it shows that humans are no less savage than animals. civilization is only a mask. Psychologists claim that all humans are guided by their id / ego i.e quest for power, sex, prestige and wealth. Here the family of Millicent is guided by their ego to protect the prestige of their family. This story shows the dark and selfish side of man's psychology.
In "Wet Saturday," the moral fabric of a family dissolves into a criminal conspiracy for the sake of social respectability.
Key Takeaways
- Prestige is identified as a dangerous motivator for moral corruption.
- The "trap" for Captain Smollet represents the victimization of the innocent by the powerful.
- Civilization is portrayed as a thin veneer covering human savagery.
The Elephant - Slawomir Mrożek
Character & Animals: From the condition of the animals in the zoo, we can guess that the zoo director is a selfish and greedy man who wants to get promotion by unfair means. He is a corrupt official. In his zoo, the giraffe has a short neck, the badger does not dig holes. He does not know the educational significance of the animals. He plans to keep the rubber elephant in the zoo instead of keeping the real elephant. He only values number than quality.
Bureaucracy Satire: The rubber elephant is the symbol of political propaganda. Similarly, the zoo director is the symbol of the bureaucracy of Poland. The zoo director says that the rubber elephant will be filled with air and painted properly. Since it will not move, they will keep a notice saying that this particular elephant is sluggish. This plan shows that the bureaucracy of Poland thinks of the people as puppets. They think that the general public can be easily cheated. The rubber elephant is hollow inside which shows that the promise of the bureaucracy is hollow. Development of the country is like the elephant which will shake even on slight disturbance.
The story serves as a biting satire on the artificiality and deception used by bureaucracies to maintain a facade of progress.
Key Takeaways
- Bureaucratic corruption prioritizes individual promotion over institutional quality.
- The public is viewed as a naive mass to be manipulated with "Hollow" symbols.
- Artificial development (The Rubber Elephant) collapses under the weight of reality.
The Velvet Hangover - Vaclav Havel
Poetry vs. Prose: Vaclav Havel became the president of Czechoslovakia after the smooth transition of power. Havel thinks that before coming into power they had only dreamt of a beautiful nation but now they have to prove it. Poetry is melodious and lyrical while prose does not have the charm. Poetry is like a sweet dream while prose is like the ugly reality. In the time of struggle, they were happy because they had plans. But now they have various challenges. Planning is simple but putting that plan into action is a difficult task. So, Havel says the poetry of planning was over and prose of action was beginning.
Democratic Disadvantages: Havel thinks that the new democracy in Czechoslovakia can ambush the country if not properly handled. He fears three dangers: rise of national conflict, loss of social –welfare protections, and rise of new totalitarian government controlled by money and money-minded people. The people of democratic nation have more personal freedom, so they may forget their social responsibility. The greatest danger to democracy is the mob rule. Even the business community may try to buy the politicians and take control of the government. If democracy is not properly handled it is worse than totalitarian government.
The transition from revolution to governance is described as a move from the "Poetry" of ideals to the "Prose" of accountability.
Key Takeaways
- Governance is significantly more complex than the ideals of revolution.
- Democratic freedom carries the risk of collective irresponsibility and raw economic power.
- Totalitarianism can return in the form of financial control over politicians.
A Small Place - Jamaica Kincaid
Customs & Corruption: The different treatment of customs officials towards tourists and Antiguans suggests that the government of Antigua is corrupt. This also suggests that the poors’ are hated and cheated everywhere. The customs do not check the bags of tourists that may contain valuable items. They check all the luggage of the Antiguans which contains cheap clothes. This is because it is easier to cheat poor than rich people. The customs officials have a slave mentality. Even after independence, they think of whites as their masters.
Expectations: Local people expect rain because they are fed up with heat. While the tourists do not want rain because it will spoil their holidays. Locals want libraries, schools and hospitals. But the tourists do not want them because they stay there only for a few days. Rather they want beautiful cars, hotels and want to see the ruined monuments. The natives want to see their shores clean and beautiful while the tourists only want pleasure and comfort. They are not worried even if their discarded filth pollutes the environment.
Summary: Antigua is often visited by tourists. A tourist lands on the airport named after the Prime Minister. The tourist passes through customs unchecked while working Antiguans are checked completely. Outside, brand new Japanese car will be available. The driver who may even not have his license will drive carelessly. Government gives loans for cars but not for houses because the car dealership is owned by Ministers. Schools look like latrines. Antiguans do not trust the doctors in the hospital. Even the Minister of Health goes to New York for check-up. The only library collapsed in the 1974 earthquake, and still its repair is pending. American Embassy is taller than government offices. The roads were paved anew for the Queen's visit in 1985 to give her false impression. The author says that tourists are ugly person and local Antiguans hate them. The tourists do not understand the corruption and colonial past because they are absorbed in self-centered pleasures.
Tourism is presented as an extension of colonialism, where the pleasure of the visitor is built on the systematic neglect of the inhabitant.
Key Takeaways
- The disparity in customs checks highlights the systemic class-bias of the Antiguan government.
- Infrastructure is prioritized for the "Image" (The Queen's Visit) rather than the citizens' needs (The Library).
- The tourist's "Ugliness" stems from their wilful ignorance of the local socio-political rot.
The Letter A - Christy Brown
Summary: In his autobiography “The Letter A” Christy Brown describes how he overcame his massive handicap with his will-power, firm determination and with the effort and love of his Mother. Christy Brown was born as the tenth child in a family of twenty-two. When he was four months old, his head would constantly fall backwards. As he grew older, his hands were clenched tightly. At six months he could only sit by resting his back on the mountain of pillows. All these signs alerted his mother, so she consulted doctors. The doctors told her that he was both mentally and physically defective. But she had a firm belief that her son may be physically weak but not mentally retarded. Even at the age of five, he could neither sit nor speak. His mother would show him pictures and ask him to repeat them. relative told her not to take the boy seriously. One day he was attracted by the yellow piece of chalk his brother and sister were writing with. He unconsciously grabbed the chalk out of his sister’s hand with his left foot. He held it between his toes and wrote carelessly. When his mother saw this, she knelt before him and drew a single letter “A” on the floor and asked him to copy it. He tried it with the chalk. It produced a crooked line. The chalk broke out. He wanted to give up. But due to his mother’s encouragement, he gathered his strength to write the letter A. When he wrote the letter A, his mother knew that it was a sign of intelligence and not just an imitative gesture because Christy had done it with intense effort. This had opened his road to mental freedom. He could express his desires and thoughts through words.
The act of writing a single letter "A" was the foundational act of self-assertion that liberated an intellect trapped in a disabled body.
Key Takeaways
- Parental faith and determination can override negative professional diagnoses.
- Communication is the key to mental and social freedom.
- Resilience is the ability to turn one functioning body part into a tool for self-expression.
Buffalo Bill’s - e e cummings
Theme / Analysis / Style: The poem “Buffalo Bill’s” written by American poet e e cummings is considered as a unusual but sincere tribute to William Cody. In this poem, the poet has exploited typographical experimentation. Buffalo Bill, who used to ride a white horse and break clay pigeon targets, is now dead. He was a handsome man and the poet wants to know how much the Death likes him. Since the poet capitalizes the initial letters of Buffalo Bill, Death and Jesus, he gives equal status to all these three. But since he does not capitalize “i”, the poet thinks that he himself is minor in comparison to legendry figure, William Cody. The style of e e cummings is unique. He has not used fullstops, commas and even abandoned the use of capital letter in “i”. He has not used traditional poetic forms. He has written this poem in free verse with lots of spacing. The running together of words in “onetwothreefourfive” indicate that Buffalo Bill shot bullets very quickly without stopping. The words “stallion” and “Jesus” are slightly separated from the preceding lines to indicate that Buffalo Bill was as strong as the horse and as kind as Jesus. This poem is remarkable for its pictorial quality. Some critics argue that this poem is a satire on Buffalo Bill. Though he was brave and powerful, he has now been made powerless by Death.
cummings uses the visual structure of the poem (lack of punctuation, fused words) to replicate the kinetic energy and speed of Buffalo Bill's performance.
Key Takeaways
- The poem explores the theme of mortality: Death as the final "Mister" for all legends.
- Typography is used as a poetic device to represent physical speed and movement.
- The lowercase "i" serves as a marker of the poet's humility in the face of legend and death.
Oh, My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose - Robert Burns
Theme / Analysis: “Oh, My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose” written by Scottish poet Robert Burns is a romantic love lyric. This poem shows the ideal love and romantic passion of the poet towards his beloved. The poet compares his love to a red rose that is newly sprung in June and to the melody that is sweetly played in tune. He claims that his love is deep and he will love his beloved till all the seas go dry and rocks be melted by the sun or till he will be alive. Then, he says farewell to her and promises that he will return even from ten thousand miles away.
Burns employs natural hyperbole to elevate personal romantic passion to a universal and eternal status.
Key Takeaways
- The use of simile: love compared to a fresh, biological rose and a perfect musical harmony.
- The theme of eternal commitment regardless of physical distance or geological time.
- The poem represents the peak of the Romantic love tradition in Scottish literature.
A Mongoloid Child Handling Shells on the Beach - Richard Snyder
Unbroken Children: The phrase “unbroken children” suggests that the children are whole or complete in every aspects. All their sense organs and body parts are complete and perfect. They can play, shout, hear and see perfectly. By using the phrase “unbroken children”, the poet wants us to contrast them with the mongoloid child whose body parts and sense organs are not in a healthy condition.
Sea and Surf: The poet uses sea metaphor to explain the mongoloid child while he uses the surf metaphor to present the behaviour of the other normal children. The sea is calm, slow, mysterious and makes small change. Similarly, the mongoloid girl is also slow, sober, mysterious and calm. Likewise, the surf is wild, stormy, noisy and violent; so are the unbroken children. By using the sea and surf metaphor, the poet wants us to compare and contrast both handicapped and normal children.
Poet’s Attitude: The poet’s attitude towards the mongoloid child is sympathetic and full of love. He does not hate her but finds her lovable and full of potential as the sea. At the same time, he contrasts her with the violent and wild surf-like normal children.
Title Change? I don’t think that this poem should be retitled as “A Child with Down’s Syndrome...”. The word ‘Down’ would suggest that the child is down in every aspects. It would suggest negativity. The poet in this poem is actually glorifying the child. The word ‘mongoloid’ has several connotative meanings. By using the word ‘mongoloid’ the poet directly gives us the physical structure of the child making us think that the girl is similar to mongol race who have small eyes, flat face, small hands and legs and large head.
Snyder uses the "Sea" metaphor to grant the child a depth and dignity that the "Surf-like" normal world lacks.
Key Takeaways
- Handicap is re-framed as a unique, mysterious, and calm state of being.
- The term "unbroken" is used ironically to highlight the lack of peace in "normal" children.
- A critique of medicalized labels ("Down's Syndrome") in favor of descriptive, humanizing language.
Dream Variations - Langston Hughes
Significance of Title: “Dream Variations” written by black American poet Langston Hughes is a nostalgic lyric which bitterly expresses the poet’s wish for a carefree life away from colour persecution and racial discrimination.
Analysis: The first stanza describes the poet’s dream to live a life of freedom in the land where there is no colour persecution. He wishes to rest in a cool evening beneath a tall tree, where dark night would come gently. The second stanza describes harsh reality that black people has to face in America. In reality, his dream is shattered by racial prejudice and colour discrimination in America. His dream remains unfulfilled. He has to live a harsh life, a life of boredom and frustration. Even the night reminds him of his black colour. Thus, this poem is entitled “Dream Variations” suggesting that the dreams of blacks is not fulfilled but varies or changes in real life in colour prejudiced American society. This poem is also an attack on the American Dream that America is a land of freedom and opportunity.
The "Variation" in the title represents the painful dissonance between the universal human dream of rest and the specific American reality of racial oppression.
Key Takeaways
- The dream of freedom is linked to the natural imagery of "Tall Trees" and "Cool Evenings."
- Night acts as a mirror for the poet's own color, symbolizing both identity and struggle.
- A direct critique of the "American Dream" from the perspective of the marginalized black community.
Child Care in China (Bruce Dollar) vs. Nepal
China Summary: Bruce Dollar describes how mother-surrogates play important role in introducing values of cooperation, coordination, sharing, respect for labour and altruism. In China, group activities are emphasized so that no one becomes a ‘star’. Children rely on each other for stimulation rather than inanimate objects. Toys of a worker, a farmer, or soldier are used to show respect towards labour. Toys are made heavy in order to foster mutual help. Women are selected as nurses who show particular interest in children; credentials are secondary. Nurses teach that helping is more important than winning. No punishment; handle disruptive children cheerfully with persuasion.
Comparison with Nepal: In Nepal, child care centres are not properly equipped with playthings. Children are not motivated but are only made bookworms. Children are severely punished. Teachers are not well trained. Children are taught to be competitive and evaluated on individual performances or exams. Group activities are not emphasized. Nurses are poorly paid and selected on certificates. Due to lack of proper nurturing, Nepalese children are becoming more selfish, greedy and violent. social bonds are disintegrating. Adopting Chinese methods could develop minds and bodies better.
The essay demonstrates how the values of a political system (Collectivism vs. Individualism) are ingrained in citizens from early childhood education.
Key Takeaways
- The "Anti-Star" system in China prevents individualistic narcissism.
- The physical design of toys (heavy weight) can be used as a pedagogical tool for cooperation.
- Individual competition in Nepal is identified as a cause of social bond disintegration.
Of Cocks and Men - Clifford Geertz
Balinese Taboos: The Balinese show strong hatred towards any behaviour regarded as animal-like. They do not allow babies to crawl. They think that bestiality is a more horrible crime than incest. adolescent teeth are filed so that they do not look like fangs. Defecation and eating in public are regarded as immoral because of their association with animality. Falling down and clumsiness is also hated.
Cockfighting Significance: In Balinese culture, cocks reflect male sexual identity or social identity. As the child is the image of the father, so the cocks are the symbol of the owner’s self. People reflect their ego or superiority by winning the cock-fight. Since everything is compared to cock-fights in Bali, fighting cocks receive care and attention equal to that given to human babies.
Geertz identifies the cockfight as a "Deep Play" ritual where the actual stakes are social status and the maintenance of human-animal boundaries.
Key Takeaways
- The Balinese culture is defined by an absolute rejection of "Animality" in human behavior.
- The fighting cock acts as a proxy for the male ego and social reputation.
- Rituals like tooth-filing are used to physically demarcate the human from the animal.
