Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Example for Free

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a popular novel published in 1886. this book related to many of the Victorian readers. During the Victorian period people lived two lives one side is the almost stiff powerful dull society with more concern of their reputation. However when they were in the comfort of their own homes, emotions which are ceased to be seen and bottled up in public are relieved by drinking alcohol, smoking socializing with friends and intimacy with a partner. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was a successful horror novel of the time, one reason for this is Charles Darwins theory of evolution. Most Victorians rejected the theory as it questioned their faith and powerful race. His theory raised a few eye brows and put many people on edge scaring them at just the thought of evolving from apes and even re-evolving back. Stevenson uses this public fear to shock and scare his audience with horror novel. Gothic horror was every popular around this time and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde included many gothic horror features. Some of these features are ; mystery, Gothic architecture, death, decay and secrets. All these create fear tension and a good horror novel. A old dark dangerous London is a good setting for fear and action. Londons scenery was full of medieval and run down neglected buildings. During the day Londons streets are usually busy and booming with business although this novels settings is mainly set during the night early hours of the cold winters morning. back in these days streets were dark and the mortality rates were high. During the day the rough streets are shadowed by aged blistered and distained buildings, but in the dead of night these are hidden as there is nothing to be seen but lamps this creates fear and mystery not knowing what lurks behind the thick wall of darkness. During the bitterly cold nights what is normally full of people the streets are as empty as a church this emphasizes the silence and eeriness of the lamp lit streets, this also relates to gothic architecture. In typical gothic novels the weather is always dark and gloomy. London is already a dark dangerous city but to add to this its now draped in fog and with permanent bad weather to form a sinister London landscape. One street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighborhood. The street was a pleasant and well kept, however one building was quite the contrary, a certain sinister block of building thrust forward this suggests that the discolored blistered and distained building stuck out like a saw thumb. A main theme of the novel is opposites the contrast between nice and ugly. On the face of the building theres a door which was equipped with neither bell nor knocker, blistered and distained which seemed some what of a mystery. For many years this decayed building has been neglected its clear no one has lived there for years. The only company and treatment it receives is the tramps slouched in the recess striking matches on the panels, this is just another reason why people scurry past the square. The building is mystery to everyone local to the area the windows are always shut. Gothic horror novels use mystery and secrets to create fear and tension, this is a affective because the reader starts to imagine what the secret could be. They are often wrong but by picturing it, the human mind often over exaggerates what it could be maybe the readers personal fear. Stevenson does not reveal the secret until the end of the story however he drops in hints and clues so its kind of like a detective investigation. Hydes physical appearance is not disclosed for the first few chapters instead his descriptions are based on how he made other characters feel. This allows the reader to picture Hyde how they think of him, like always the readers imagination is far worse which makes the story interesting. In case of Dr Jekylls disappearance or unexplained absence for any period exceeding three calendar months. The said Edward Hyde should step into the said Henry Jekylls shoes with out further delay, there are two mysteries in this quotation, one being at this point Mr Utterson knows nothing about this Hyde character and has seen him a few time but only remembers him for brutally crushing a little girl. Both the reader and Mr Utterson are confused to why Jekylls will includes this stranger. The second mystery in this quotation is the strange unexplained disappearance of Jekyll, why would such high member of society ceased to exist? And what had caused Dr Jekyll to do this? Hyde is suspected to be linked in with Jekylls peculiar behavior, his barbaric looks and attitude have already gained him a bad name. that sawbones turned sick and white with the desire to kill him. This was a doctors view on Hyde, for a doctor to remark some one in Victorian times like that is a worrying thing as they saw gruesome things on a daily basis. In the opening few chapters Stevenson reframes from describing Hyde, he uses various characters reactions to portray Hydes repulsiveness. He was twice described as deformed He must deformed somewhere, he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldnt specify the point. In Victorian times deformed people were pushed to the boundaries of society showcased for public entertainment as employment in the work place was difficult for them. But no-one dared put Hyde in his place, he was indescribable however when he was described .. the man seems hardly human.. .. Satans signature on his face.. this states his pure evil animal look about him. Hyde run down a helpless little girl with no remorse, Mr Enfield described this most unbelievable event to Mr Utterson, for the man trampled calmly over the childs body and left her screaming on the ground. it was hellish to see it wasnt a man; it was like some dammed juggernaut. Like hes some unstoppable force. Hes seen as hardly human. One of the Victorians greatest fears of the time was evolution Stevenson links Hydes primitive appearance and actions to this. The novel played one peoples fears and maybe opened their eyes to what could possibly happen. Violence can add an element of surprise, this tension could shock and thrill the reader. In a good horror story the reader is unaware who is to be hurt next, this creates fear and mystery. To create more fear the writer builds up to something where the reader is sure some thing is going to happen however it only builds up to a anticlimax, there are usually a few anticlimaxes before a brutal killing. It is possible for the reader to put them selves in the position of the victim, no-one wants to die an horrific death this can make the reader feel sorry for the victim, this can be most affective when the incident reflects a real life circumstance. Mr Hyde broke out of all bounds, and clubbed him to the earth. And the next moment with and ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim underfoot, and hailing down a storm of blows, this shows the true capabilities of Hydes animalistic nature. Ape-like fury relates back to evolution and how his behavior is no better than a ape, with a sudden burst of outrage Hyde beat a well respected old man to death with no emotion accept anger. Hyde is depicted as creature of great evil although we learn of only two of his crimes. Its the nature of both which highlights the violence against two innocent victims. The first violent act was against the small child and a the second a much beloved old man. These attacks were on both harmless beings which emphasize the extreme immortality of Jekylls darker side. Stevenson has created a tremendous amount of fear using the theme of duality, secrets, Darwins theory, and general gothic features. These would be less affective for todays audience. This is mainly because we have now accepted the theory of evolution and the possibility of having to sides to us. This will remain a well respected novel and if it was to be updated the idea of duality would have to be changed a little. The change between the two sides of a person would be random and the person would also not be able to manipulate the change, the character would also have memory loss each time he/she changes.

King Lear vs. The Stone Angel Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It has been said that, â€Å"Rivers and mountains may change; human nature, never.†(worldofquotes.com) This is a quote that can be deconstructed when examining William Shakespeare’s King Lear and Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel. When reviewing the two books the main characters, King Lear and Hagar, are easily comparable. The first similarity becomes apparent when King Lear and Hagar are both developed as flawed characters. Secondly, because of their flaws the two characters become blind to reality. Thirdly, after being deceived by themselves and others as a result of their blindness, both characters seek refuge outside of their own homes. By leaving their homes the characters are able to gain perspective on themselves and their pasts. Finally, despite these similarities between King Lear and Hagar, a significant difference prevails after the characters experience their epiphanies and are awarded a chance to redeem themselves. When explori ng King Lear and The Stone Angel it becomes clear that although both main characters engage in similar journeys to self discovery a critical difference between the two books exists in the character’s ability to redeem themselves after their epiphany.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It first became clear that Shakespeare’s King Lear and Laurence’s Hagar Shipley were similar main characters when their personalities were developed with flaws. King Lear was immediately revealed as an imperfect character when he was shown in his somewhat conflicting roles as a father and a king. After resolving to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters Lear develops a way to decide how his power and land will be divided. Looking to his three children Lear probes, â€Å"Tell me, my daughters/ (Since now we will divest us both of rule,/ Interest of territory, cares of state),/ Which of you shall we say doth love us most?/ That we our largest bounty may extend/ Where nature doth with merit challenge.†(I.i.49-54) It is at this point in the play that King Lear reveals himself as superficial. Knowing he had already divided his land in three Lear could have presented it to his daughters as each receives one third of the kingdom. However, Lea r is flawed in that he is superficial and rather than hand over his land and power he would rather hear his daughters competitively praise him for it. Similarly to Lear’s flaw Hagar is... ... his faults and change to redeem himself Hagar was only able to recognize her own flaws.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, when comparing the main characters from King Lear and The Stone Angel it is clear that although the characters endure a similar path to self discovery their outcomes prove them to be very different. This has been shown first by their development as flawed characters. Secondly, as a result of their flaws both characters become blind to others’ actions as well as their own. Thirdly, both characters remove themselves form their usual environment where they experience their epiphany and are able to recognize their own flaws. Finally, despite all of these similarities, the two characters experience very different outcomes of their epiphanies. These two books bring an interesting perspective to the question of whether or not human nature can be altered. In the case of these two authentic characters, one changed where the other could not. Works Cited Laurence, Margaret. The Stone Angel. McClelland & Stewart Ltd: Toronto, 1988. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Harcourt Canada Ltd. World of Quotes. 19 Ma. 2005 http://www.worldofquotes.com/search.php

Of Mice and Men Qu Essay

Do you agree that Lennie is always incapable of taking responsibility for his actions? You should refer closely to Lennie’s words, to events and to the actions and opinions of other characters in your answer. Throughout the majority of the novel, Steinbeck demonstrates how Lennie relies on George to help him out of the dire, tense situations he brings upon himself. Steinbeck conveys this image of Lennie by producing this by frequent reoccurring events, Lennie’s actions or even implicit use of speech from or even directed at Lennie. At the opening section of the book, Steinbeck chooses to show us the large contrast between George and Lennie; he describes how Lennie â€Å"flung himself down† â€Å"snorting into the water like a horse.† The use of crude descriptive words such as â€Å"flung† or â€Å"snorting† suggests just how careless Lennie can be. This compares Lenny to an animal which instinctively lashes at the sight of something they want without thinking logically at all. And with this, the readers taste the first time at which how reliant Lennie is of George. Steinbeck chooses to have George say that Lennie will â€Å"be sick like you was last night.† By mentioning â€Å"last night†, the reader learns that Lennie must regularly make stupid mistakes like this. It is made very apparent how Lennie is unable to take responsibility for his actions when he crushes Curley’s hand. Lennie was unable to understand the situation when Curley made a misunderstanding about Slim and his wife and Lennie continued â€Å"smiling with delight† on a completely different topic. This produces a juxtaposition image in the reader’s mind where at one side: Curley is steaming hot with anger as he â€Å"whirled† upon Carlson (the word â€Å"whirled† also suggests how he only gave Slim respect opposed to Carlson who he flipped into his old aggressive self again) and on the other, Lennie is grinning to himself like an idiot. The fact that Steinbeck chooses to have Lennie fantasize whilst a loud commotion is going on nearby shows just how little awareness and sense Lennie has altogether. And this is what leads into the fight. When Lennie is being attacked, he has no intuition to make a decision on what to do so once again he â€Å"looked helplessly at George.† The word helplessly really emphasises just how incapable Lennie is like a baby animal or lamb for instance when he gets himself into trouble like this. He â€Å"bleated with terror† implying that even with the strength Lennie possesses, he is unable to analyse the situation to take responsibility of the problem he has gotten himself into. The words â€Å"bleated† and â€Å"terror† really create an atmosphere as if Lennie like a baby lamb has been corned by a wolf. This is done by using the onomatopoeia â€Å"bleat† so you can almost here how distressed and vulnerable Lennie is at this stage. All he can do is use his animal like instincts and â€Å"retreat† and defend with his â€Å"huge paws†. The reference to â€Å"paws† may also hint to us what is about to come however it may have several connotations; a bear is a shy beast and doesn’t want attention, however if a situation of danger arises, it can be extremely vicious and protective just like Lennie becomes when George tells him to â€Å"get him.† On the other hand, â€Å"paws† may refer to another weaker animal such as the â€Å"paws† of a puppy that Lennie was so infatuated about. This can symbolize how weak and inexperienced Lennie is since he is also new to this aggression he is receiving likewise to a new born pup is to the world. At this stage, Slim sees how vulnerable and useless he is and â€Å"jumped up† to help. The impact the moment is causing on the other workers watching is shown to be so big that the respected Slim is even shaken conveyed by â€Å"jumped up.† It shows how emotions inside Slim were building up until they finally â€Å"jumped† out of him in an explosion. Steinbeck does this to show how useless Lennie can be in these situations so that even people around him who have known him for a few hours understand how dependent he is. However, Lennie with George’s guidance was able to do something however his actions shows the reader once again just how unintentionally irresponsible he can be. At first the description of Lennie’s attack is just that Curley’s â€Å"fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand†. It isn’t very dramatic at this point and just seems like Lennie stops Curley from attacking him. For example, it could of been described using dramatic words such as: Curley’s hand was absolutely crushed causing him to scream with agony however it uses the word â€Å"disappear† to relieve all the tension that may of built up; this may be done to cause a greater impact later on. The speech that follows explains how the situation was worsening. George tells Lennie to â€Å"leggo of him† but all Lennie could do was watch â€Å"in terror† which shows how shaken up he is so that he can’t even respond. Even with George who â€Å"slapped him in the face again and again†, Lennie was still unresponsive. By slapping him George hoped to achieve a respond which would normally happen to anyone however it shows that Lennie was undergoing a mental difficulty insde. The way Steinbeck describes George having to give multiple signals â€Å"again and again† like slapping or verbal commands show how incapable Lennie was. When Lennie finally finishes he doesn’t seem to even understand what he’s done. He doesn’t even look at the â€Å"shrunken† Curley and immediately talks to George â€Å"miserably†. At this point Slim had â€Å"regarded Lennie with horror† showing how his opinion of him being a â€Å"nice fella† had turned so very quickly. By having Slim- a very high respected figure looking at Lennie with this â€Å"horror†, Steinbeck causes the readers to truly understand how dangerous and uncontrollable he is. Lennie’s only concern here was probably mainly whether or not he could tend to the rabbits so he was apologizing to George. He even asks George at the end of the section whether he can â€Å"still tend the rabbits† which once again shows us how unaware of the situation he really is and this requires George to look into their greater concern- whether they will â€Å"get canned now†. This shows that even though Lennie is not prioritized correctly, George once again desperately tries to fix the damage that’s been done which suggests how many times this may of happened in the past. Steinbeck just repeatedly reinforces the strong idea of what Lennie is like and how George has to bail him out time and time again. It states how â€Å"Slim smiled wryly† and instantly the world â€Å"wryly† shows how Slim is going to take responsibility and deal with Curley in a slightly devious, corrupt method so that George and Lennie won’t get sacked. After Lennie killed the puppy in section 5, his initial fears was once again the rabbits. And after he causes the death of Curley’s wife, his fears remained the same. At that point, â€Å"he pawed up the hay until it partly covered her† and left for the place where George told him to go if anything wrong happened. The fact that Lennie crudely leaves the body openly â€Å"partly† hidden in the barn shows how little concern he has for the bigger picture. The way Lennie only â€Å"partly† hides the corpse shows what little concern he has almost to the extent where it becomes ridiculous as all he can think of is go to the rendezvous part and have George help him yet again. Up until the beginning of section 6, Lennie has acted irresponsibly and ironically, he begins to think accordingly to the situation only when it is too late. Opposed to how he â€Å"flung† himself around in section 1, Lennie went through the bushes to the meeting place â€Å"as silently as a creeping bear moves†. He also â€Å"drank, barely touching his lips to the water† opposed to how he was â€Å"snorting† it like a horse. Steinbeck uses the same location to create a strong contrast between the juxtaposition used here. As he crept â€Å"silently† and drank â€Å"barely† touching the water, these two words emphasise how carefully he is acting. Steinbeck deliberately does this to emphasise how late it is for him to be responsible and coordinated. And even so, it is George once again who has to take the real responsibility to shoot him.

Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu, Anti-Apartheid Activist

Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu (May 18, 1912–May 5, 2003) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and co-founder of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. He served in prison for 25 years on Robben Island, alongside Nelson Mandela, and he was the second post-apartheid deputy president of the ANC, after Mandela. Fast Facts: Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu Known For:  South African anti-apartheid activist, co-founder of the ANC Youth League, served 25 years alongside Nelson Mandela, post-apartheid deputy president of the ANCAlso Known As:  Walter SisuluBorn:  May 18, 1912 in the eNgcobo area of Transkei, South AfricaParents: Alice Sisulu and Victor DickensonDied:  May 5, 2003 in Johannesburg, South AfricaEducation: Local Anglican Missionary Institute, earned a Bachelors degree while imprisoned on Robben IslandPublished Works: I Will Go Singing:  Walter Sisulu Speaks of His Life and the Struggle for Freedom in South AfricaAwards and Honors: Isitwalandwe SeaparankoeSpouse: Albertina Nontsikelelo TotiweChildren: Max, Anthony Mlungisi, Zwelakhe, Lindiwe, Nonkululeko; adopted children: Jongumzi, Gerald, Beryl, and Samuel  Notable Quote: The people are our strength. In their service we shall face and conquer those who live on the backs of our people. In the history of mankind it is a law of life that problems arise when the condi tions are there for their solution. Early Life Walter Sisulu was born in the eNgcobo area of Transkei on May 18, 1912 (the same year the forerunner of the ANC was formed). Sisulus father was a visiting white foreman supervising a black road-gang and his mother was a local Xhosa woman. Sisulu was raised by his mother and uncle, the local headman. Walter Sisulus mixed heritage and lighter skin were influential in his early social development. He felt distanced from his peers and rejected the deferential attitude his family showed toward South Africas white administration. Sisulu attended the local Anglican Missionary Institute but dropped out in 1927 at age 15 while in fourth grade to find work at a Johannesburg dairy—to help support his family. He returned to the Transkei later that year to attend the Xhosa initiation ceremony and achieve adult status. Working Life and Early Activism During the 1930s, Walter Sisulu had several different jobs: gold miner, domestic worker, factory hand, kitchen worker, and bakers assistant. Through the Orlando Brotherly Society, Sisulu investigated his Xhosa tribal history and debated black economic independence in South Africa. Walter Sisulu was an active trade unionist—he was fired from his bakery job in 1940 for organizing a strike for higher wages. He spent the next two years trying to develop his own real estate agency. In 1940, Sisulu joined the African National Congress (ANC) and allied with those pressing for black African nationalism and actively opposing black involvement in World War II. He gained a reputation as a street vigilante, patrolling his townships streets with a knife. He also obtained his first jail sentence—for punching a train conductor when he confiscated a black mans rail pass. Leadership in the ANC and Founding of the Youth League In the early 1940s, Walter Sisulu developed a talent for leadership and organization and was awarded an executive post in the Transvaal division of the ANC. It was also at this time that he met Albertina Nontsikelelo Totiwe, whom he married in 1944. In the same year, Sisulu, along with his wife and friends Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela, formed the ANC Youth League; Sisulu was elected as treasurer. Through the Youth League, Sisulu, Tambo, and Mandela greatly influenced the ANC. When DF Malans  Herenigde Nationale Party  (HNP, Re-united National Party) won the 1948 election, the ANC reacted. By the end of 1949, Sisulus programme of action was adopted and he was elected as secretary-general (a position he retained until 1954). Arrest and Rise to Prominence As one of the organizers of the 1952 Defiance campaign (in collaboration with the South African Indian Congress and the South African Communist Party) Sisulu was arrested under the Suppression of Communism Act. With his 19 co-accused, he was sentenced to nine months hard labor suspended for two years. The political power of the Youth League within the ANC had increased to the stage that they could push for their candidate for president, Chief Albert Luthuli, to be elected. In December 1952, Sisulu was also re-elected as secretary-general. Adoption of Multi-Racial Government Advocacy In 1953, Walter Sisulu spent five months touring Eastern Bloc countries (the Soviet Union and Romania), Israel, China, and Great Britain. His experiences abroad led to a reversal of his black nationalist stance. Sisulu had especially noted the Communist commitment to social development in the USSR but disliked Stalinist rule. Sisulu became an advocate for multi-racial government in South Africa rather than an African nationalistic, blacks-only policy. Banned and Arrested Sisulus increasingly active role in the anti-apartheid struggle led to his repeated banning under the Suppression of Communism Act. In 1954, no longer able to attend public meetings, he resigned as secretary-general and was forced to work in secret. As a moderate, Sisulu was instrumental in organizing the 1955 Congress of People but was unable to participate in the actual event. The Apartheid government reacted by arresting 156 anti-Apartheid leaders in what became known as the  Treason Trial. Sisulu was one of 30 accused who remained under trial until March 1961. In the end, all 156 accused were acquitted. Forming Military Wing and Going Underground Following the  Sharpeville Massacre  in 1960, Sisulu, Mandela and several others formed  Umkonto we Sizwe  (MK, the Spear of the Nation)—the military wing of the ANC. During 1962 and 1963 Sisulu was arrested six times. Only the last arrest—in March 1963, for furthering the aims of the ANC and organizing the May 1961 stay-at-home protest—led to a conviction. Released on bail in April 1963, Sisulu went underground and joined up with the MK. While underground, he delivered weekly broadcasts via a secret ANC radio transmitter. Prison On July 11, 1963, Sisulu was among those arrested at Lilieslief Farm, the secret headquarters of the ANC, and placed in solitary confinement for 88 days. The lengthy Rivonia trial, which started in October 1963, lead to a sentence of life imprisonment (for planning acts of sabotage), handed down on June 12, 1964. Sisulu, Mandela, Govan Mbeki, and four others were sent to Robben Island. During his 25 years behind bars, Sisulu earned a Bachelors degree in art history and anthropology and read more than 100 biographies. In 1982, Sisulu was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town, after a medical examination at Groote Schuur Hospital. He was finally released in October 1989. Post-Apartheid Roles When the ANC was un-banned on February 2, 1990, Sisulu took a prominent role. He was elected deputy president in 1991 and was given the task of restructuring the ANC in South Africa. His biggest immediate challenge was to try to end the violence that erupted between the ANC and the Inkhata Freedom Party. Walter Sisulu finally retired on the eve of South Africas first multi-racial elections in 1994. Death Sisulu lived his last years in the same Soweto house that his family had taken in the 1940s. On May 5, 2003, only 13 days before his 91st birthday, Walter Sisulu died following a long period of ill health with Parkinsons Disease. He received a state funeral in Soweto on May 17, 2003. Legacy As a prominent anti-apartheid leader, Walter Sisulu changed the course of South African history. His advocacy for a multi-racial future for South Africa was one of his most enduring marks. Sources â€Å"Nelson Mandelas Tribute to Walter Sisulu.†Ã‚  BBC News, BBC, 6 May 2003.Beresford, David. â€Å"Obituary: Walter Sisulu.†Ã‚  The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 7 May 2003.Sisulu, Walter Max, George M. Houser,  Herb Shore. I Will Go Singing:  Walter Sisulu Speaks of His Life and the Struggle for Freedom in South Africa. Robben Island Museum in association with the Africa Fund, 2001.