Poems And Prose
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The Race: Poem
The
Critic: Quote
Hamlet:
Essay
Paul
McCartney: Essay
The
Miracle Worker: Essay
Capitalism
vs. Socialism: Essay
Merchant of
Venice: Essay
America's
Cup: Poem
Greed:
Essay
Ratification:
Essay
Irony in
Oedipus the King: Essay
Covenants
of the Puritan Commonwealth: Essay
Beowulf:
Essay
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Quit, give
up, you're beaten, they shout at me and plead,
There's just too much against you now, this time you can't
succeed.
And as I start to hang my head in front of failure's face,
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene,
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A child's race, young men, boys, how I remember well,
Excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn't hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought he would win the
race,
Or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son,
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.
The whistle blew, and off they went, young hearts and hopes
afire,
To win, to be the hero there was each young boy's desire.
And one boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
Was running in the lead and thought, my dad will be so proud.
But as they speeded down the field across a shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out in brace
And mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.
So down he fell and with him hope, he couldn't win, not now,
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up, and showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said, get up and win the race.
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, that's all
And ran with all his might and mind to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up, to win,
His mind went faster than legs, he slipped and fell again.
He wished then he had quit before, with only one disgrace,
I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race.
But in the laughing crowd he searched, and found his father's
face,
That steady look that said again, get up and win the race.
So up he jumped to try again, ten yards behind the last,
If I'm going to gain those yards, I've gotta move real fast.
Exerting everything he had he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat; He lay there silently a tear dropped from his eye,
There's no sense in running anymore, three strikes I'm out, why
try.
The will to rise had disappeared all hope had fled away,
So far behind, so error prone, I'll never go all the way.
I've lost - so what's the use he thought , I'll live with my
disgrace,
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face.
Get up - an echo sounded low, get up and take your place,
You were not meant for failure here, get up and win the race.
With borrowed will get up it said, you haven't lost at all,
For winning is no more than this, to rise each time you fall.
So up he rose to run once more, and with a new commitment,
He resolved that win or lose the race, at least he wouldn't quit.
Three times he'd fallen, stumbling, three times he rose again,
Now he gave it all he had, and ran as though to win.
They cheered the winning runner as he crossed the line first
place,
Head high and proud and happy, no failing, no falling, no
disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low unproud,
You would have thought he won the race to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, I didn't do so well,
To me you won, his father said, you rose each time you fell.
And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race with ups and downs and all,
And all you have to do to win, is rise each time you fall.
Quit, give up, you're beaten. They still shout in my face,
But another voice within me says, get up and win the race.
D. H. Groberg
It is not
the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong
man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit
belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who
errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great
enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy
cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high
achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while
daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold
and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt
"He
(Hamlet) is all dispatch and resolution, as far as words and
present intentions are concerned, but all hesitation and
irresolution, when called upon to carry his words and intentions
into effect; so that, resolving to do everything, he does
nothing. He is full of purpose, but void of that quality of mind
which accomplishes purpose." -Coleridge
Coleridge
portrays Hamlet as a man of many words and little action.
However, Hamlet did fulfill his promise to avenge his father's
murder. But due to events beyond his control, Hamlet was unable
to free his father from purgatory as rapidly as he had first
promised.
Upon hearing
of his father's murder, Hamlet remarked that, "Haste me to
know't, that I, with wings as swift as mediation or the thoughts
of love, may sweep to my revenge." {1.5.35} However when he
made this statement he did not yet know who had slain his father,
or by what means. The ghost proceeded to tell Hamlet that his
incestuous uncle was the culprit. This additional knowledge
changed Hamlet's intentions. Although he had reasons for revenge,
"He hath killed my king and whored my mother."
{5.2.72}, he could not simply kill the king upon the word of a
ghost. If Hamlet had killed Claudius on false charges, Hamlet's
reign as king would be short lived, and perhaps tragic. He had to
make sure that the ghost was in fact his father's spirit and
confirm that what the ghost said was true. Hamlet decided to use
the play to help display Claudius' guilt. "The play's the
thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King."
{2.2.633}
After Hamlet
was satisfied that what the ghost had said was true, and that
revenge was necessary, he started to act upon his words. Within a
very short time Hamlet had a chance to take the king's life, but
because the king was praying, he did not do so. Hamlet thought
that if he took the king's life while he was praying, perhaps
Claudius would not suffer as Hamlet senior had. Hamlet could not
risk the chance of the king dying in peace so he refrained from
slaying him. Hamlet wanted to time the king's death so that
Claudius too would go to purgatory and suffer. Soon thereafter,
Hamlet again had a chance to kill whom he thought was the king.
This time he took advantage of the opportunity, but his action
resulted in the death of Polonius rather than the king. Hamlet
was soon sent away to England, which terminated any chance for a
swift revenge.
Coleridge
stated that Hamlet did not have the "quality of mind which
accomplishes purpose," however many events suggest that he
did. Hamlet accepted Laertes' call to a duel because he felt
their dispute needed to be settled. Hamlet sent Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern to their death without a second thought, displaying
his forthrightness to kill someone who had wronged him. In
addition, he willingly fought with Laertes in Ophelia's grave,
hardly an act of cowardice.
Hamlet
fulfilled his obligations just as he said he would. His promise
for a swift revenge was a statement made while he was still in
shock over his father's murder and before he knew who the
miscreant was. Hamlet thought through his actions rather than
acting on impulse. This ensured his success of freeing his father
from purgatory, Hamlet's most important promise of the play.
On June 18,
1942, while the world was being rocked by one of the most
infamous wars in history, a music legend was born. A boy who
would later grow up and rock the world himself: James Paul
McCartney.
Paul McCartney
was born in a private wing of Walton Hospital in Liverpool,
England, where his mother, Mary Patricia McCartney, was a nurse.
His father, Jim McCartney, was a cotton salesman and part-time
fireman, who came from a poor family of nine children.
Mary McCartney
was born on September 29, 1909. When Mary was only ten years old,
her mother died during childbirth. Her father remarried shortly
afterwards. Mary and her new stepmother had a tumultuous
relationship, which caused Mary to move out when she was only
thirteen years of age. Soon after she left home, Mary became a
nurse. Eighteen months after Paul was born, his parents were
blessed with another child, Peter "Mike" McCartney.
Their mother then became a midwife, so that she could spend more
time with her children. When Paul was fourteen years old, his
mother died of breast cancer.
As a child, Paul
was active in Boy Scouts and bird watching. He and Mike spent
much of their childhood exploring their neighborhood next to the
Liverpool football club's stadium. Often their escapades led to
potentially dangerous situations. On one of their excursions,
both nearly drowned. While using a plank to cross a water filled
lime pit, both boys fell in. Neither boy knew how to swim.
Luckily Mike got hold of a root and they were able to climb to
safety. The boys often spent time playing around nearby train
tracks. They would put various objects on the tracks, including
coins, tree limbs, and even bricks, waiting to see what would
happen. Paul and Mike also threw turnips from a bridge, trying to
hit the train's engineer in the head.
Because of his
academic accomplishments, the Liverpool Institute, a very
prestigious school, accepted Paul as a student. His parents were
extremely proud of his admission into the school. While Paul's
mother was alive, he planned to fulfill her dream of his becoming
a teacher. However, after her death, music became his compulsion.
According to Paul, his father Jim, was his biggest musical
influence. Jim was a very fine piano and trumpet player. He was
the leader of an ensemble called Jim Mac's Band, which played at
many dance halls around Liverpool.
Paul did not
show any musical interests until after the death of his mother.
At first, he thought that he might want to play the trumpet like
his father, but Paul soon realized that he could not play the
trumpet and sing at the same time. Consequently, he decided to
learn how to play the guitar. Paul bought a left-handed Zenith
six-string guitar for fifteen pounds, equal to two weeks of his
father's salary. Paul played the guitar every chance he had. Mike
once commented that Paul was, "lost in another world,
particularly after mum died. It was useless talking to him. In
fact, I had better conversations with brick walls around this
period." He went on to say, "You lose a mother and find
a guitar?" (Flippo 18)
When Paul was
only fifteen years old, he met John Lennon at the St. Peter's
Parish Church in Woolton, England. Paul had gone there with Ivan
Vaughan, to hear John and his band, the Quarry Men, play. Ivan, a
mutual friend, introduced Paul to John. A few days later, the
band asked that Paul play with them. He postponed joining the
band until after he and Mike returned from the Nineteenth City
School Scout camp. On October 18, 1957, Paul played his first gig
with the Quarry Men, at the New Clubmoor Club in Liverpool. A few
months later, the band asked that George Harrison, one of Paul's
long time friends, join the group. Unlike other parents, George's
mother supported the idea of her son playing in a band. Then
called the Silver Beetles, the band members consisted of John
Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe.
They toured Scotland, playing backup for Johnny Gentle, a British
balladeer. Pete Best, whose mother owned The Cavern, a club where
the Silver Beetles often played, was asked to be the drummer for
the band. The group then dropped the word Silver from their name
and became the Beatles.
In June of 1961,
Stuart Sutcliffe, the band's bassist, left the group to marry a
German photographer. Paul then decided that he would switch from
playing guitar to bass to take Stuart's place. McCartney played
the bass, piano and sang for the group. Later that same year,
Ringo Starr was asked to replace Pete Best as the band's drummer.
During the group's early years, the Beatles played in clubs
around Liverpool. The Cavern was one of their favorite clubs.
Over a two year period, they played there 292 times.
The Beatles
released their first single, Love Me Do, in September of 1962.
Within two years, the quartet held the top five spots on the
Billboard music charts. They also had seven other songs rated in
the top one-hundred single releases. In 1963, while recording a
BBC radio special, Paul met a young woman by the name of Jane
Asher. In 1967, the couple announced their engagement, after
dating for four years. However, seven months later Jane canceled
their engagement. While Paul was still engaged to Miss Asher, he
met a young rock ‘n' roll photographer named Linda Eastman.
On March 12, 1969, Paul and Linda were married.
John and Paul
wrote most of the Beatles music. They credited their songs to
Lennon-McCartney, although many of their songs were written
individually. Paul wrote many of his songs in a third person
point of view, whereas John wrote his in a first person point of
view. McCartney wrote some of the Beatles' biggest hits, such as
Yesterday, Hey Jude, and Eleanor Rigby. He thought of the lyrics
to Hey Jude while going to visit Cynthia Lennon, John's ex-wife,
after she and John had separated. Paul was sympathizing with
John's son Julian, nicknamed Jules, and thought of the song
title, Hey Jules. Later Paul changed the title to Hey Jude,
because it had more of a country-western sound. One morning Paul
awoke, walked over to the piano and began composing a song. Not
having any lyrics, he simply sang "scrambled eggs"
repeatedly to the music. Paul later wrote lyrics for the now
popular ballad known as Yesterday, of which he is very proud.
The Beatles
toured around the world for four years. Their final concert was
in Candlestick Park, in San Francisco on August 29, 1966. Soon
after, they started to record the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts
Club Band album. It was their ninth album since their debut
record, Please Please Me. Some of their other albums included,
Revolver, Help!, A Hard Day's Night, and Rubber Soul. Magical
Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, Let It Be, and Hey
Jude, followed the recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club
Band. The Beatles also appeared on the screen in the movies, A
Hard Day's Night, Magical Mystery Tour, and Help!.
In 1970, the
Beatles disbanded and the musicians each went their separate way.
John, then married to Yoko Ono, started recording with Yoko full
time. Paul and Linda McCartney started a new band called Wings.
Paul played the bass, while Linda played the keyboard and sang
backup vocals. Also included in the band were two guitarists and
a drummer.
Paul like many
other musicians got involved with the use of illicit drugs. He
admits that he experimented with LSD early in his life. While in
Hamburg, Germany, he also started using amphetamines, along with
the rest of the then newly formed Beatles. In early 1980, Paul
spent nine days in a Japanese prison for the possession of
marijuana. Paul said that the jail was very much like a recording
studio, "You sit around and do goofball things like a bunch
of guys do stuck in a room together. I developed this great
little trick where we'd see who could jump the highest up the
wall. Now, me being the taller than most of them, I tended to win
this game." (Castro 48)
After the band's
breakup, John and Paul argued back and forth for a long time.
They called each other names through the media. At the time, Paul
was living in England and John was living in the United States.
Eventually, they reconciled and planned to visit each other.
However, Paul was too busy to get away from his work and John was
unable to leave the United States. Before they could reunite,
John was assassinated on Tuesday, December 9, 1980. The news of
his friend's death devastated Paul.
Over the years,
many rumors about Paul's apparent death have been circulated.
According to reports, he had died sometime before the recording
of Abbey Road. On the cover of the album, Paul was the only one
in the group that was barefoot. Because bare feet are reportedly
an old Mafia sign for death, people interpreted this to be of
significance. In reality, Paul went to the photo shoot without
his shoes on because it was a hot day and he did not think that
they were necessary. On the White Album, a secret message is
hidden in one of the songs. The message is heard if the song
Revolution 9 is played backwards. It sounds as if someone is
saying, "Turn me on dead man." Although the message
probably was not intentional, many people regarded it as evidence
that Paul was dead. In the movie, Magical Mystery Tour, Paul
portrays the walrus, regarded by some as the animal of death.
Also in the same movie, at the end of the song Strawberry Fields
Forever, it sounds as if John says, "I buried Paul." In
fact he was only saying "cranberry sauce." Paul
explained that this was just an example of John's humor. If
someone did not understand John's form of wit, then the phrase
might be interpreted differently.
During Paul and
Linda's twenty-seven year marriage, the couple has only spent
eleven days apart. They have three daughters, Mary, Heather, and
Stella. Heather, who was born on December 31, 1963, is from
Linda's previous marriage with Melvin See. Heather is currently
working as a potter. Mary, Paul's first child, was born on August
29, 1969. She presently works at her father's company, MPL
Communications, where she is in charge of the copyrights. Stella
was born on September 13, 1971, and is studying fashion design.
The McCartney's only son, James, was born on September 12, 1977.
He has blond hair and looks much like his father. James is a fan
of Jimi Hendrix, and plays Paul's left-handed guitar although
James is right-handed. Paul, Linda and James currently live in
Sussex, England, just south of London. They live in a circular
house that Paul himself designed and is accessible only by foot
or four-wheel drive vehicle.
Paul was always
regarded as the best looking of the Beatles. Now, with his long,
salt-and-pepper hair, and hazel eyes, he is still considered an
attractive man at the age of fifty-three. He continues to play
his famous Hofner bass with his band Wings, and recently finished
a New World Tour. The tour included seventy-eight concerts
throughout Europe, Australia, the United States, the United
Kingdom, Japan and South America.
Paul McCartney
has earned many honors in his musical career that identify him as
a music legend. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World
Records as the most successful songwriter in history. Since the
breakup of the Beatles, Paul has released twenty-three albums.
During his musical career, he has recorded thirty-two number one
hits, more than any other musician in history. John Lennon has
the second most hits, twenty-three. Paul also holds the record
for the most Gold and Platinum disks, with seventy-five. He keeps
his MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) medal in
storage, along with his Gold and Platinum disks. Paul says that
he does not feel that he should display his awards because,
"One thing that can bring you bad luck is when you start to
get bigheaded. I'd rather be remembered as a musician than a
celebrity." (Booth 86) Paul holds the record for the most
recorded song in history, with over two-thousand recorded
versions of the ballad Yesterday.
McCartney owns
the copyrights to more than three-thousand songs, including all
of the songs written by Buddy Holly, Paul's childhood idol. Paul
also owns the publishing rights to musical scores such as Guys
and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease. He has written songs with
Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, and of course,
John Lennon. McCartney's estimated worth is approximately $600
million, and he is by far the most financially successful of the
Beatles. However, Paul is no longer motivated by money or
popularity, but now plays for his own enjoyment. "He is
richer and more successful than any other pop star in history,
but he is, he insists, just an ‘ordinary bloke'."
(Benson 7)
In 1985, Michael
Jackson bought the publishing rights to the Lennon/McCartney
catalog for $147.5 million. Since then, Paul has written Jackson
and asked him to consider selling the rights to McCartney, but
Michael never replies. Meanwhile, Jackson has used the songs for
television commercials and for his own profit.
In Paul's spare
time, he enjoys sailing, carpentry, and painting, a hobby he
began at age forty. Since he and his family are vegetarians, he
also spends much of his time in his organic garden.
Paul McCartney
and his music have rocked the world for the past thirty-eight
years. During his lifetime, he has accomplished more than any
other musician in history.
"The
Beatles were like a great stone thrown into the water. While the
immediate, explosive splash may well have subsided, the
far-ranging ripples of their great, inspired work certainly
haven't. And despite Paul's commercial ups and downs of recent
years, to the educated listener his music still has the power to
entertain and enlighten in a way far beyond the scope of most of
today's so-called current artists." (Giuliano xiii)
The Miracle
Worker displays the hardships that the disabled faced a hundred
years ago and still do today. It provides an insight into the
difficulty that both the disabled and their teachers must face.
The play is truly a triumph for the disabled because it allows
the reader to realize what life is like for the disabled.
Helen Keller
was born a normal child, but then, shortly after her birth, she
was struck with a disease that took both her sight and her
hearing. Her parents were shocked at the discovery and they
abandoned the idea of her ever being normal again. Although
Helen's mind was fully functional, they treated her as if she had
lost part of her mind as well as her senses. The disabled are
often shunned by society because it is assumed that they do not
understand things the same as an ordinary person. James commented
that Helen was his "Half sister and (was) half-mentally
defective, she can't even keep herself clean." Neither James
nor anyone else realized that Helen did not even know that she
was dirty, nor that she was supposed to be clean. Helen acted
basically on instincts alone. Nobody before Annie had ever taught
her anything. Helen had never spoken or signed a word since her
illness, and Annie had to find the key to Helen's mind. Helen had
no idea what was happening around her unless it "entered her
world." She could not hear anyone's calls, nor could she see
their actions. The only way that Annie could communicate with
Helen was by performing sign language into Helen's hand, which
Helen did not even understand. Every time Annie gave something to
Helen, Annie signed the name of the object into Helen's hand.
After two weeks of this meaningless game, Helen finally realized
what Annie was trying to tell her and Helen immediately decided
that she wanted to learn more. After Helen was able to
communicate, she asked her mother for the keys, which she gave to
Annie. This was a sign that Helen's need to learn things was so
great that she would rather spend the rest of her life with
Annie, than spend her time with her mother.
Often, society
does not take the time nor have the patience to teach the
disabled adequately. Especially in Helen's time, very few
disabled people were taught more than minimal tasks because of
the required time and attention. In order to teach Helen, Annie
had to have complete control over her and spend every second of
the day by her side. Helen's parents, like most, did not have the
time to spend with someone who needed so much. Many parents
simply sent their children to asylums, where they did not have to
worry or care about them.
Society in
general has very low expectations for the disabled. If they are
taught anything, it is usually how to stay out of people's way,
or how to take care of themselves. Helen's parents neglected to
teach anything to Helen until she was six and a half years old.
When Annie and Helen's mother, Kate, first met, Kate asked Annie
if Helen would ever know half as much as an ordinary child. Annie
told her that she would probably not even know a tenth as much.
When Annie taught Helen some basic table manners, her parents
were extremely pleased and they felt that Annie had done her job
and that she could leave. The Kellers simply wanted Helen to be
more civilized and be easier to take care of.
Often, society
ignores the disabled because it is much easier to live with their
problems than it is to fix them. Annie had to undo six and a half
years of wrongdoing done to Helen by her family. They tended to
Helen's immediate needs but did not plan for her future. Helen
was given anything and everything that she was capable of asking
for. Helen ate off of the rest of the family's plates during meal
times, and was allowed to do whatever she wanted. If she did
something wrong, her parents would let her get away with it
because they felt that Helen did not know any better.
In general, the
disabled have to depend on someone else to be their missing part.
Annie had to be Helen's eyes and ears. Helen saw the world as
Annie did, because Annie had taught her everything. Helen had to
realize that her behavior was unacceptable without anyone telling
her why. She had to trust Annie and believe that what she was
teaching Helen was correct. Helen never saw what went on while
Annie was not in "Helen's world."
The Miracle
Worker helps the reader understand what life is like without some
of the senses that we take for granted. Annie Sullivan achieved
something that very few had done before her. She had unlocked the
mind of a deaf and blind child. Perhaps her success was due to
the extreme want for knowledge that Helen possessed, or the want
for Annie to teach her. The Miracle Worker is truly a window into
the life of the disabled.
The focus of
an economic system is to provide needed goods and jobs to its
citizens. Often when these needs are not met, an economic
collapse will send the nation into poverty and depression. Many
nations focus on either the consumer, or the worker, and the
favored party gets more of what they want for a smaller price.
Most countries try to utilize the best qualities of socialism and
capitalism. In The Jungle, Upton Sinclair promotes the idea of
socialism, and downplays the advantages to capitalism. However in
Animal Farm, George Orwell displays the disadvantages of a
socialist society.
In a
capitalist economy, the main focus is on the consumer, rather
than the worker. The merchandise produced by competing companies,
is generally of higher quality, and sold at a cheaper price than
that produced by a monopoly. If one company cannot provide a good
product cheaply, then another company will. To persuade a
consumer to purchase their product, a capitalist company must
advertise the product and eliminate any doubt that their's is the
best. In The Jungle, Jurgis tells of all of the advertisements.
"In Packingtown the advertisements had a style all of their
own..." some read "Get a move on you! It's easy, if you
wear the Eureka Two-fifty Shoe." or "Don't be a chump!
Go and get the Goliath Bunion Cure."
In a
socialist economy, a single company provides a product for the
entire nation, and competition is nonexistent. The product does
what it must, but it will often not last long. To produce more
income, companies will make a product that requires maintenance,
a special fuel, extra parts or accessories, that are only sold by
them. In this way, socialist companies have a monopoly on their
markets. This type of economy provides the consumer with one
simple choice; to have a product or not to have a product. The
animals in Animal Farm didn't have a choice upon the type of food
they could have, they had whatever was available.
Capitalism
has little respect for the worker. Bosses often hire those who
are willing to perform menial labor, and then they treat them
inhumanely. They put them in poor working conditions and pay them
very little. This is portrayed in The Jungle, through Jurgis'
work atmosphere, and experiences. After a person is too old, too
sick or hurt to work, he is put out onto the streets, and another
young, eager person takes his place. Capitalism does not have
much compassion for those it has ruined. It does provide high
paying jobs for those who can do the work, but does not provide
them for everyone. Often these societies are extremely
unbalanced, the rich are very rich, and the poor have nothing.
In socialism,
the worker is the primary consideration. Nearly everyone has a
job, and if someone does not, it is usually because he is unable
to work. When someone gets too old for a job, they are given a
different task that is better suited for their condition. In
Animal Farm all of the animals except the cat helped with the
harvest. "And every animal down to the humblest worked at
turning the hay and gathering it. Even the ducks and hens toiled
to and fro all day in the sun, carrying tiny wisps of hay in
their beaks."
In
capitalism, individuals have an opportunity to start their own
business, but only if they have enough money to invest. It is
also possible for people to pick their own career. This provides
an opportunity for change if their current job is unsatisfying.
As newcomers into such a society, immigrants like Jurgis, often
have a hard time getting started. They do not have the education
needed for a high paying job, and the jobs that are available do
not pay enough to support their families.
Often in
socialist societies, certain families are responsible for certain
occupations. These jobs are passed down through generations, and
the children have no choice as to what they would like to do for
a living. There is also no possibility for social advancement, if
a person is born a packager, they will probably die a packager.
Capitalist
societies generally have a higher crime rate than socialist ones.
One major reason for this, is the extreme jealousy the lower
class feels toward the upper classes. Often that jealousy leads
to stealing or even physically assaulting members of a higher
class. Another cause of crime is the hopelessness that comes with
poverty. If someone cannot earn a decent living, they often
resort to criminal activity to survive. If they need shoes, they
simply steal them, or the money to buy them. Upton Sinclair
commented upon the ease of earning money through criminal
activity, "a month ago Jurgis had all but perished of
starvation upon the streets; and now suddenly, as by the gift of
a magic key, he had entered a world where money and all the good
things of life came freely." Jurgis used to have to work
months to earn the money which he could then earn in a single
robbery during this time in his life. In socialism, because there
is no extreme class difference, the incentive for crime is
reduced.
In
capitalism, companies produce a surplus of products that can be
sold outside of their borders. In The Jungle, the meat factories
processed meat that was distributed to much of the world. In
capitalism, an individual citizen of a poor nation can become
financially successful by selling his product abroad. This is
possible if his product is of a high quality or needed. In
socialism, the standard of living is generally good, but is
directly related to the overall wealth of the nation.
Socialist
societies typically regulate the importation of goods that are
manufactured within their own borders. This provides work for
their own citizens, and makes the nation more independent. In
Animal Farm, the animals lasted for a very long time without
depending upon the outside world. If the farm could not produce
it, the animals did not need it. Independence is a major
advantage to warring nations, because other nations cannot cut
off their supplies and try to starve them. World markets do not
affect socialized nations, because of this independence.
Capitalism
provides an opportunity for a person or group to achieve power.
If someone has enough money or friends, he can become a leader.
In The Jungle, politicians spent millions of dollars on bribes
for their election. They also had hundreds of men working for
them, who delivered these bribes. Nearly every election could be
bought in a matter of minutes. In socialist societies, everyone
is equal, but if one person manages to get ahead of everyone
else, it is extremely hard for others to stop him. This is
demonstrated in Animal Farm, by the pigs taking control and
nobody being able to do anything about it.
Capitalism is
much like a marathon. Everyone is allowed to enter, but not
everyone does. Those who decide to try, are in it to win for
their own betterment. Some succeed while others cannot even get
started. The farther along the participants get, the less
competition there is, and the remaining people are more likely to
succeed. Socialism is more of a family game, it moves at a slower
pace, and the stakes are not very high. If someone loses, the
others are there to help them out, or encourage them to continue.
In Animal Farm, the animals did not like the idea that the cat
was not working, but felt they were obligated to give him food.
Socialism
provides for the entire population, which is fine for the person
who is getting more then he is giving. For someone who has to
work extremely hard, and then give some of his profits to someone
else, this system is not desirable. In socialism, all citizens
experience both failure and success.
Most
socialized societies are not on the cutting edge of technology,
due to a lack of competition among their industries. With
competition comes the development of new ideas and products, that
make everyday tasks easier and more efficient. Our future lies in
the hands of technology, and capitalized nations are the arms.
Socialized economies are helpful in underdeveloped nations, or
nations rebuilding from war. It provides an opportunity for
everyone to work together to obtain a common goal. This is
displayed in Animal Farm when the animals decide to build the
windmill. For industrialized nations, capitalism is the essential
key to a more technologically advanced society.
The play,
Merchant of Venice, contains several situations in which the
characters are forced to decide between their lovers and their
friends. Bassanio must decide between Antonio and Portia. He
persistently chooses Antonio each time, although he has an
extremely strong love for Portia.
Often people have
to decide who are more important, their friends or their lovers.
The first display of Bassanio's love for Antonio is when he
leaves Portia immediately after receiving the notice of Antonio's
trial. Portia understands how much Antonio wants Bassanio to be
there, so she lets him go.
During the trial,
Bassanio said that he would rather lose his wife than his dearest
friend. Portia only replied that his wife may not take kindly to
that, and she never questioned the comment further. After the
trial, Bassanio must decide whether he should please his wife or
best friend. Antonio asks that Bassanio give the lawyer his ring.
Bassanio must decide if he will keep his promise with his wife,
not to give away the ring, or please his friend, he chooses the
latter.
There are many
components to both kinds of love. All of the characteristics are
similar except for the physical attraction romantic love has.
Some characteristics include the loyalty, caring, forgiveness and
trust that each person shows toward the other.
Throughout the
play there are examples of the loyalty involved in the love that
friends share. When Antonio was making the deal with Shylock,
Bassanio told him that he should not agree to the bond because
Portia was not worth Antonio risking his life. Antonio, however,
agreed to the contract because he realized how much Bassanio
wanted to marry Portia. Antonio felt that it was his duty as a
friend to let Bassanio use Antonio's good name as collateral to
get the loan. Perhaps Antonio felt that the loaned money would
make Bassanio happy. Having wished for happiness himself, Antonio
felt that it was the right and friendly thing to do.
Portia tests
Bassanio's loyalty by asking him for the ring while she is
dressed as the lawyer. After very little persuasion, Bassanio
gave the ring up. Bassanio was so extremely grateful for the
lawyer's help that he was willing to give up his beloved marriage
in payment. In this instance, the bond of friendship that Antonio
and Bassanio share is much stronger than the bond of romantic
love.
Forgiveness is an
essential part to both kinds of love. When Antonio's three months
were up, he accepted his punishment, and his only wish was that
Bassanio was with him when he died. Antonio felt neither hatred
nor remorse for either his, or Bassanio's actions. Portia forgave
Bassanio for giving away the ring, though he had sworn to her
that he would not.
In both cases of
love, caring is a vital part of the relationship. Antonio's
friends noticed that he was sad and they wanted to know how they
could help him. Portia knew how Bassanio felt about Antonio and
she wanted Bassanio to be happy. She gave Bassanio money, and
helped Antonio be pardoned, so that Bassanio would not lose his
friend.
Love is an
essential part to society because it is what binds us all
together. The love between friends keeps us happy and gives us
someone to lean on. Romantic love gives us companionship when we
need it, and continues our future generations. When one love
stops, the other comes in to pick up the pieces. Love both gives
and supports life.
With wind in your
hair like caressing fingers
The water rushes under you with speed unknown
The smell of the sea hangs around and lingers
While the stress on the mast makes it bend and moan.
There on the
bottom so far yet so near
The shadow of the boat is racing along
The speed gets faster as if the boat were a deer
And the calls from the crew are composing a song.
There on the
water is the slightest shimmer
A gust is drawing near with the speed of a train
Hopes are high that the wind pushes the winner
A burst of pure speed, fast like Prefontaine.
A thrill
unmatched by any sport known to man
The America's Cup, few even try, few can.
Jake
Sparling
Upon hearing
the word greed, one often thinks of selfish, unpleasant behavior.
Greed has led many people down the road of betrayal, from which
very few return. Greed is the vice that is said to be "the
root of all evil," even though almost everyone falls victim
to it. Such avarice has led to the despair of social segregation
in our nation. The three following selections explore how greed
can effect human actions, as well as the human psyche.
In George
Eliot's Silas Marner, greed is presented as a social and mental
deteriorative. Silas Marner lived in Lantern Yard where he was a
weaver. He was very loving and caring and was engaged to a
beautiful lady named Sarah. The senior deacon at Silas' church
had become very ill and members of the church were asked to watch
over him during the night. Silas' shift was relieved by his
lifelong friend William Dane. Silas suffered from a condition
that caused him to fall into sleep-like trances. One night, Silas
noticed that the deacon had ceased breathing, looking at the
clock, Silas saw that William was two hours late. Silas assumed
that he had had one of his trances and that William had forgotten
to come. The next day the deacon's money was found to be missing,
and in its place was a knife that belonged to Silas. Silas was
immediately questioned and accused of stealing the money. He told
the court that he had lent the knife to William and never
received it back, nevertheless Silas was found guilty. He had
been betrayed by one of his closest friends and lost his dignity
due to his friend's greed. From this experience Silas learned
that he could not instill his trust in anyone and went into
seclusion. About a month later he learned that Sarah had married
William, and Silas soon left town and moved to Raveloe.
Once in
Raveloe, Silas became a very needed worker, selling his linens to
nearly everyone in the town. As he earned more and more money, he
grew to love the money with an unparalleled affection. He loved
the cold feel of the coins, as well as their glistening
appearance. He would first bathe his hands in them. Then he would
count every coin and put them in neat orderly piles about his
single roomed house. After he had been fulfilled, he picked up
his coins and put them into two leather bags that he hid in the
floor until the next night. Though he loved all of his coins, he
liked the gold most of all, so he only spent his silver. Silas
was content with his life. He did not need to depend on anyone
and the only people that depended on him were the ones that
bought his linens. Silas did not need love, he did not give any
and therefore never received any. Silas' entire life was devoted
to earning more money and saving it, he had become a miser.
Though he was a
smart man, Silas did not spend his time pondering questions as he
once had in Lantern Yard. Instead, he spent his time thinking
about his coins and how they could never betray him or turn
against him as his friend had. Throughout his days, he looked
forward to his evenings spent with his gold. He very rarely left
his house and when he did, it was only to get needed materials or
to deliver finished linens.
After fourteen
years of such monotony, Silas' life was forever changed. The son
of the Squire of Raveloe, Dunstan Cass, owed his brother, Godfrey
money. Dunstan knew that Silas had a large amount of money, so he
searched the miser's house, found the gold, and was never seen
again. Silas, having left to get thread for his weaving, returned
to find his gold missing. He searched his house many times,
thinking that with his limited eyesight he had missed the coins.
After determining that the gold was in fact gone, he reported it
to the town's deputy. Silas stated that he did not wish to
prosecute the thief. Silas did not wish to seek revenge, just as
he had not with William Dane. Silas only wanted to get his money
back. His fortune was all that had mattered to him, and when he
thought that it was lost forever, he went into extreme
depression.
Later the same
year, Silas' life was changed again. On New Year's Eve, he was
blessed with a visitor. That day, Silas had been told that it was
good luck to hear the bells bring in the new year. He thought
that maybe this good luck would bring his money back. He decided
to open the door periodically throughout the night and listen for
the bells. Silas went to the door often to listen for the bells
and on one of the trips, he fell into one of his trances.
Meanwhile Godfrey Cass' estranged wife, Molly, was traveling to
his home. When Godfrey had asked Molly to leave the marriage
because of her opium addiction, she obliged and left with their
daughter. While traveling by Silas' home, Molly collapsed into an
opium induced sleep. While her mother slept, the toddler crawled
from Molly's arms and went toward the light of Silas' home. She
entered and curled up by the fire and soon fell asleep. Silas
awoke from his trance and noticed that the fire was starting to
die down. He went to push the logs together and noticed a gold
color emitting from the hearth. He thought that his gold that had
been mysteriously taken away, had returned in the same manner.
When Silas reached down to determine if in fact it was his gold,
his hands met with the golden locks of the young girl's hair.
Silas had discovered a much more valuable treasure than the gold
he was seeking.
Over the next
sixteen years, Silas and his adopted daughter, Eppie, lived
together in his small house. He no longer desired money as he
once had, for now he had a different treasure to love. The
townspeople no longer viewed him as a recluse miser, but as a
loving man who cared for something other than gold. Silas started
to attend church again, and became socially active. Godfrey Cass,
now the Squire of the town, wanted to take Eppie back, and have
her as his own. He and his wife met with Eppie and Silas, but
Eppie refused to go with the Cass', saying that she was happy
where she was. After Godfrey and his wife left, Silas told Eppie
that she was the only thing he cared about and that she was
better than anything else he could ever have. He had overcome his
greed and found that giving and receiving love was the most
valuable thing anyone could ever have.
In Chaucer's
Canterbury Tales, greed is portrayed in the "Pardoner's
Tale." The Pardoner tells the rest of the voyagers that he
likes money, and that although he is not a moral man, he can tell
a moral tale. The Pardoner tells of three young men who were
drinking in a tavern, when they heard the bells of a funeral
procession. When the men questioned whom the bells were tolling
for, someone replied that Death had killed one of their friends
and that the bells were tolling for him. The three men, perhaps
influenced by their drink, sought out to revenge their friend's
death by looking to find Death and kill him. In a nearby town,
they met an old man who lamented about his life. The three men
laughed at the man's advanced age and asked him why he did not
just die. The man replied that he was so old, that not even Death
would take his life. Upon hearing the man speak of Death, they
asked him where they could find Death. The old man replied that
he had last seen him under a tree at the end of the lane. The
three men rushed to the tree and found not Death, but eight
bushels of gold. The men decided to keep the gold, but could not
move it until nightfall. They drew straws to determine who would
go to town to get bread and wine to hold them over until
darkness. The youngest man set out to get the food and drink.
After he left, the two men decided that if the money was to be
split between two people instead of three, that each of them
would get more money. They established a plan to kill the younger
man when he returned. Meanwhile, the younger man was devising his
own plan to make off with the entire stash of gold. He decided to
poison the mens' wine, and once they were dead, take the gold.
Upon returning to the gold, the youngest man was slain by the
other two. The two men then drank to celebrate their new found
wealth and fell dead from the poison. After the Pardoner told the
story, he said that he was selling items, and that if the
voyagers bought something, he would make sure they were forgiven
for their sins.
The tale is a
classic story involving man's love of money and the lengths he
will go to to get it. The story displays how greed can cause a
man to turn against his own friends for the sake of profit.
Often, when man catches a glimpse of the wealth that he could
have, he will do almost anything to get it. Very rarely will a
man part with his money, therefore, whomever is more powerful,
will receive the other's riches. This tale is ironic in the fact
that the Pardoner tells a story about the evils of avarice, yet
tells it to turn over a larger profit.
In John
Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle, greed is presented as a result of
power. The story depicts the struggles apple pickers must face in
early twentieth century California. The pickers were brought in
from other parts of the country, many spending their entire
savings on the voyage. Upon arrival, the workers found out that
their wages were lower than promised, but nevertheless, they
decided to work. Most of the pickers took up residence in
apartments on the orchard owners' property, and bought their
necessities from the landowners' stores. The pickers had no
alternative but to pay outlandish prices for their supplies. Most
years, the orchard owners would dump many of their apples into
the river, just to raise prices. They knew that if there were
fewer apples on the market, people would pay more for them. The
pickers were very agitated by this action, because while they
were starving and trying to survive off their low wages, their
bosses were dumping perfectly good food into the river. The
pickers wondered why the owners could not just give the apples to
pickers, thereby solving two problems at once. The greedy owners
refused to pass up such a profitable practice, and continued to
sell other food to the pickers for extremely high prices. The
pickers went on strike because of their lowered wages and the
fact that the owners were trying to capitalize on the pickers'
helplessness.
The pickers
asked a local farmer if they could use his unused wheat field
during their strike. The first thing the farmer asked them was
what he would get out of it. When he found out that his apples
would be picked for free, he agreed, despite the fact that he
would be going against all of his neighbors and community. He was
willing to risk his land and reputation in the community for
money. His actions once again display the idea that some men will
do anything to make a profit. The strikers then set up camp and
went on strike. After several days, the striking pickers were
running very low on food. Not caring if the workers were starving
and living in horrific conditions, the bosses hired new pickers.
The owners' only goal was to make the biggest profit with the
littlest resistance.
A
man's greed can become his dictating force if left unchecked.
Without greed, man can fall into an apathetic lull, from which
nothing will come. But with an overwhelming amount of it, man can
spring into a voracious rage which can engulf him and his
actions. The three selections mentioned all deal with the
extremes of greed and how it can effect our actions, mind and
spirit.
Although the
United States Constitution is looked upon as one of the strongest
documents ever written, not everyone agreed with its views. In
order to ensure the happiness and democracy of the states, the
Constitution did not go into effect as soon as it was signed,
first it had to be ratified by the people of the nation.
Naturally, there were two opposing parties, the Federalists, who
wanted the ratification, and the Anti-Federalists, who did not.
The process of
ratification was extremely simple; nine out of the thirteen
states had to approve the Constitution for it to take effect. The
people of each state voted for representatives who then voted at
a ratification convention held by the state legislature. If more
than half of the representatives voted to ratify the document,
then the ratification was complete at the state level. The
results were then sent to Congress and if nine states approved of
the ratification, the Constitution was activated. This chain of
action was created to bypass the state legislature. However, the
legislature could refuse to hold a ratification convention, but
only one state, Rhode Island refused. Delaware was the first to
ratify the Constitution on Dec. 7, 1787, then came Pennsylvania a
few days later. The ninth state to ratify the Constitution was
New Hampshire, on June 21, 1788. Of the first nine, only
Massachusetts and New Hampshire provided a close contest. By May
of 1790, all of the states, including Rhode Island, had ratified
the Constitution, though the document had been in effect for
nearly two years.
The
Federalists were usually those who were concerned about the
nation's well being and the efficiency of the government, rather
than the freedom of individual choice. The majority of the
Federalists were "substantial individuals, members of the
professions, well-to-do, active in commercial affairs, and
somewhat alarmed by the changes wrought by the revolution."
As a group they dominated in political organization, as well as
persuasiveness. The Federalists seemed to create an impression of
strength that went past their numbers, and overwhelmed the
opposition with plentiful arguments. In response to the arguments
that the U.S. was too large to support a centralized republic
government, James Madison, a devoted Federalist, stated that with
a large population, "you take in a greater variety of
parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority
of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of
the other citizens." Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John
Jay all worked together to develop the Federalist Papers, which
provided an insight to the ideas of the Federalists. These essays
included such ideas as, with so many checks and balances, the
power would not fall to one party or position. Their writings
also stressed the need for a strong central government, rather
than thirteen individual nations which taxed each other into
debt.
The
Anti-Federalists were commonly small farmers, debtors, and people
who valued their individual freedom over a strong government. One
stated that, "Lawyers and men of learning and money men . .
. expect to be the managers of the Const[itution], and get all
the power and all the money into their own hands, then they will
swallow up all us little folks . . . just as the whale swallowed
up Jonah." This idea of money taking power was common among
those with little money, but many wealthy landowners also
objected to the ratification of the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists worried that those in power would prevent the
chance for representation and fair elections because of their
ability to regulate the time, location, and manner of holding the
elections. Some argued that the idea of each person being able to
voice his opinion was impossible for such a large nation. Many
Anti-Federalists felt that the ratification would render the
states powerless, and that a monarchy would soon result. Of the
thirteen states, only New York had an overpowering abundance of
Anti-Federalists. Their organization and leadership led to a
defeat of the ratification, but their battle was useless against
the already legal Constitution.
From
the very beginning, the citizens of our nation have been able to
express their differing ideas and concerns through
representation. Although there were arguments supporting and
opposing the ratification of the Constitution, the Federalists
outnumbered the Anti-Federalists in nearly every state and thus
we have our present day governing document.
In Oedipus the
King, dramatic irony helps create a bond between the audience and
the all-knowing chorus and oracle. Because the audience knows
more than the characters, it can make judgements upon the
characters' decisions and actions. The audience already knows who
has killed king Laius and that Oedipus has since taken his own
mother in marriage.
The most
prominent example of irony in the play, is when the messenger
tells Oedipus that his father Polybus is dead. Oedipus is
relieved because he thinks that now the prophecy cannot come
true. The audience, however, knows that Polybus is not Oedipus'
true father and that Oedipus has already killed his real father,
Laius. Because the audience knows what has really happened, it
anticipates the moment when Oedipus himself will discover the
truth and his reaction to the situation. The suspense captivates
the audience, making Oedipus' realization of the truth more
significant.
Another ironic
situation is where Oedipus finds out that a murderer is causing
the town's plague. Not realizing that he himself is the murderer,
Oedipus promises to obey the oracle and banish or kill the guilty
person. The audience is aware of the situation, and can therefore
make judgements about Oedipus' actions. The character's ignorance
of the circumstances heightens the impact of the play because it
shows the audience how oblivious to the truth someone can be.
When Teiresias
tells Oedipus that he is the killer, Oedipus tells Teiresias that
he is "blind in mind and ears as well as in [his]
eyes." (417-418). Oedipus feels that because the prophet is
blind, he does not see the obvious truth. In reality, Oedipus
does not see the obvious or know the truth. The audience
recognizes Oedipus' ignorance and realizes that he does not
understand what is happening around him, even when he himself
does not. Ironically, at the end of the story, when Oedipus is
blind, he knows what has happened and why. This irony helps the
audience to realize that things are not as they sometimes seem,
and that one can make mistakes if he does not look into the
situation.
Attempting to
escape fate, Oedipus leaves whom he thinks are his parents, and
arrives at the doorstep of his real parents' home. Oedipus
believes that he is safe from the prophecy, but in reality he has
helped to fulfill his destiny. Once again the irony of his
ignorance is displayed to the audience.
When Laius'
herdsman reveals Oedipus to be Laius' son, another case of irony
is presented. The man who saved Oedipus' life as a child, proves
him to be a murderer as an adult. Such a twist sharpens the
impact felt by the audience. Had the herdsman not been the man to
reveal Oedipus' identity, Oedipus may not have believed him. Such
definite proof helps the audience to believe the story.
The
irony in Oedipus the King helps the audience to become more
involved with the story because the audience knows things that
the main characters do not. This knowledge allows the audience to
judge the characters' actions in accordance to its own beliefs.
If the audience was unaware of the entire story, the audience
would spend its time trying to find the answers to the
characters' questions, not its own.
The
adherence to a religious covenant played a key part in the
success of social, economic, and political aspects of the Puritan
commonwealths. The covenants established moral rules that people
should follow, such as the idea that the man of the house was the
leader, and the avoidance of the seven deadly sins. With out
these covenants, New England wouldn't have been as successful.
The social
success of the commonwealths was based solely on the church.
People only lived where churches were, and attended them
regularly. Women's social limits were church activities, and
dealing with neighbors and relatives. Because of the huge
obligation to attend church, nearly the entire community was at
each service. Their attendance allowed the church to have social
as well as political power. Because everyone was there, public
meetings, elections and social gatherings could be held at the
same time.
The economic
success of the commonwealth was greatly enhanced by the religious
covenants. Since the men owned most of the family's possessions,
trading and selling could be done directly through him. This
helped take out the middle men and provide a quality product for
a smaller price, which was very helpful in a society that looked
down upon worldliness and luxury. The women were in charge of the
servants, house, and children. The time saved let the men focus
on earning money for the family.
Politics
also benefitted from the religious covenants. Because voters were
from the church, most government officials were church going men
who personally knew the community they represented. This
camaraderie led to tight knit communities that generally agreed
on every issue. Agreement is essential in politics, because tasks
are more likely to be completed if everyone agrees.
As demonstrated, the religious covenants were very
important to the Puritan commonwealths. If these covenants were
not present, many aspects of New England may have been hindered,
and America may not have become what it is today.
There are ten
basic elements that help to classify a poem as an epic. Although
Beowulf does not contain all of these elements, it has enough of
them to still identify it as an epic. There are ten
characteristics of an epic: the central character has heroic or
superhuman qualities, the action takes place on an immense scale,
the action involves the fate of an entire population or the whole
human race, gods or semi-divine creatures aid one side or the
other, the author announces his theme in opening, a character
calls on the muses to help him, the poem begins "in media
res," the style of poem is often noble and majestic, the
characters speak in long set speeches, in some cases there is
literary inventory that forms part of a descriptive passage.
The main
character in a true epic possesses heroic or superhuman
qualities. As the central character, Beowulf was a brave,
powerful warrior. Beowulf believed that his fairness and bravery
would help him to conquer the fiercest of opponents. He had the
strength of ten men and was willing to go into any battle because
he knew that he was stronger than any other being, man or beast.
Before his battle with Grendel he claimed, "Grendel is no
braver, no stronger than I am!" When Grendel and Beowulf
met, he was true to his word and tore the beast's arm from the
rest of its body and sent Grendel running cowardly toward its
hellish home. While fighting Grendel's mother, Beowulf was able
to slay the beast with a single swing from an immense sword, that
was so massive, few men could even lift it. Prior to his
confrontation with Grendel, he stated, "I could kill him
with my sword; I shall not, Easy as it would be . . . I will meet
him with my hands empty-unless his heart fails him, seeing a
soldier waiting weaponless, unafraid." The admiration of his
followers was much greater when he overcame an opponent, while
fighting with such a handicap.
An epic contains
action at an immense level. Throughout the book there were
battles between men and horrendous beasts. Each of Beowulf's
battles contained exciting elements that enhanced the action. In
his battle with Grendel, Beowulf fought with neither weapon nor
human help. When challenging Grendel's mother, her immense
strength and the fact that Beowulf was hours below the surface of
the water hindered his fighting ability. In his final battle,
Beowulf was up against one of the most feared beasts of all time,
the dragon. With its ability to use poison and fire, it was an
opponent that was not easily overcome.
Often, epics
involve the fate of the country's population, or sometimes even
the whole human race. In the many wars throughout the book,
opposing nations slaughtered entire populations. For nearly
twelve years, Grendel raided Herot, killing the Danes remaining
after the day's festivities. Because of these raids, all of
Denmark feared the beast. In the battle with Grendel, all of
Beowulf's soldiers were in danger of being killed had their great
leader not killed Grendel. If Beowulf had not slain Grendel's
mother so quickly after her discovery, she may have killed more
Danes than her weaker son. The Fire Dragon terrorized Beowulf's
kingdom, burning homes, churches and other town buildings. When
Beowulf and Wiglaf confronted and killed the dragon, the kingdom
was saved from conflagration.
Another epic
element is the aid of a god or semi-divine creature to one side
in a battle. Beowulf prayed to God for help before each of his
battles. Prior to battling Grendel, Beowulf remarked, "Let
God in His wisdom extend His hand where He wills, reward whom He
chooses." This displays Beowulf's faith in a god whether of
a pagan or Christian religion. In Beowulf's first two battles,
God favors him and allows him to win. Beowulf believed in
predestination and felt that no matter how hard he tried to
change his destiny, he could not. This idea helped propel him
into many battles even though he felt the competition would be
overwhelming. Part of Beowulf's bravery was due to the fact that
he knew God would help whomever He felt should win, and that side
would prevail. Grendel was said to have descended from Cane. If
Cane or another semi-divine creature from hell was present during
the battle, God was evidently more overpowering than he.
During the
opening of an epic, the author announces his theme. In the
beginning of Beowulf, the author told the story of Beo, a king of
Denmark who closely resembled Beowulf both in leadership and in
strength. A couple of chapters later, the author explained
Beowulf's great bravery, diplomacy, and might. This set the theme
for the whole book; Beowulf must fight beings greater and
stronger than he and do what others were unable.
An epic often
begins "in media res." The author will then describe
what has already happened, and bring the reader up-to-date. The
book began with a brief summary of the character's history.
Within the next couple of chapters, Beowulf arrived and was
fighting Grendel. The author may have done this, to immediately
get the attention of the reader or listener, and therefore keep
his audience.
The style of an
epic is frequently noble and majestic. Beowulf had an atmosphere
of strong nobility. Beowulf went to Denmark and helped its people
when they were in need. As the hero, he was praised and admired,
even before he was king. As their king, he was still respected
and loved by his people. When the kingdom was under attack by the
dragon, Beowulf personally confronted him. A less noble man would
have sent a knight, the usual dragon slayer.
The characters in
an epic speak in long, set speeches. The passages are very
descriptive and each tells part of the plot. Often, the reader
may even forget that a character is talking. This element was
also present in Beowulf. When a servant asked Hrothgar if Beowulf
could see him, the king went into a lengthy description of his
exploits with Beowulf. When the two met, Beowulf gave a speech
that extended over two pages of text and said that he would like
to help the Danes, and gave a history of his fighting experience.
Beowulf
contains the essential elements that enable the poem to be
classified as an epic. It is considered one of the best epics
ever written, even though every element is not present. Even
though Beowulf was written before the literary classification of
an epic was established, it fits the sculpture of an epic almost
precisely. Beowulf is a true masterpiece of its time.
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