Elements of the Novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Elements of the Novel (To Kill a Mocking Bird) Element Questions Evidence Character 1. Name the various persons we encounter in TKAM. Scout, Jem, Atticus, Arthur Boo Radley, Calpurnia, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Mrs Dubose, Cunninghams, Ewells, Tom Robinson 2. How do we evaluate these characters? a. by their speech b. by their actions? We evaluate the characters by both their speech and their actions. What they say suggests how each one of them are thinking and the tone in which they say, illustrates their attitudes. Minor actions on their part also review their character s and attitudes. E.g. (speech) Atticus,† You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view†¦until you climb into his skin and walk around it.† (chapter 3) This piece of evidence shows that Atticus is understanding towards everyone as he would always try to see things from the other point of view. (actions) When Mr Ewell approached him, cursed him, and threatened to kill him, he just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face. He understood how Mr Ewell felt as he destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial and felt that Mr Ewell, spitting on his face and threatening him could save Mayella one extra beating. He understood how they feel and did nothing to aggravate them. E.g. 3. Do we have privileged access to all the characters’ most private thoughts? No. We only have access to Scout’s most private thoughts as she is the narrator of the story. Her voice and viewpoint offer a glimpse of local events and personalities through the lens of childhood. Everything that happens is seen through her eyes. Everything that happens must be known to her. But,, we can never see â€Å"inside the heads† of other characters in the story. Only if the story is told in the third person, it would be different. We would probably know why exactly Jem cried, why Atticus took Tom’s case and what fears and doubts he may have had. E.g. Scout witnessed how Aunt Alexandra’s reaction to the bad news of Tom Robinson’s death. She was truly upset but she still put on a brave front and looked as happy as she could to join the other ladies. She thought that Aunt Alexandra was strong and wanted to be like her. So with her best company manners, she served them, thinking that after all, if Aunt Alexandra could be a lady at time like this, so could I. (access to Scout’s thoughts) E.g. Jem was moody and silent for a week after the incident which he left his pants on the wire and he went back to take it. We are unable

Othello Essay

Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ is the study of how a seemingly successful Venetian general, is skilfully manipulated by the cunning Iago, who by exploiting Othello’s insecurities transforms his identity into a jealous murderer. At the beginning of the play, Othello’s identity is that of an assiduous black general who fought exceptionally hard to gain respect in a white dominated society. In marrying Desdemona, Othello adds to his identity by being a lover and husband and his identity is portrayed to be interconnected to his love for Desdemona. Iago is jealous of Othello’s high standing and greatly respected identity and therefore undermines Othello’s confidence in his wives faithfulness and turns his identity into an irrational jealously. Shakespeare utilises a number of key techniques in ‘Othello,’ to indicate the extent of Othello’s identity changes. These changes are effectively conveyed to the audience through the contrast of Othello’s outward appearance with his affable interior. They are further exemplified through the themes of love and jealously and via alterations in Othello’s language, as Othello’s confidence in Desdemona is slowly undermined. In the first Act of the play, Othello’s identity is shaped by a variety of negative images which promote the stereotype of the black African slave in a white dominated society. Although these images are not a true reflection of Othello’s identity, Shakespeare has very effectively done this in order to accentuate how Othello’s identity slowly changes throughout the play to reflect the initial images presented to the audience. In Act One, Othello is not once referred to by his actual name. Rather, he is referred to as â€Å"he,† â€Å"him,† and the derogatory terms â€Å"thick-lips† and a â€Å"Barbary horse. † Shakespeare makes use of this technique to establish Othello’s displeasing physical identity. Brabantio also describes Othello as a â€Å"sooty bosom,† whom his daughter Desdemona would never have agreed to marry without the use of witch craft and magic charms, â€Å"If she in chains of magic were not bound, whether a maid so tender, fair and happy, so opposite to marriage that she shunn’d. Contrastingly, Othello’s elevated status in Venetian society, reflected in his high naval position, demonstrates an identity that is greatly respected, so much so that not even the accusations of Brabantio affect his status. This is clearly demonstrated when the duke says, â€Å"Your son in law is far more fair than black,† thus signifying that Othello’s black skin hides an amiable interior. However, as Ot hello’s confidence in Desdemona is undermined, Othello is driven to the verge of insanity and his identity begins to reflect the negative images initially presented in the first act. This is achieved through the use of imagery, in which Othello is likened to the devil, â€Å"And what delight shall she have to look on the devil. † By the end of the play, Othello’s ‘blackness’ starts to show and his identity changes from a â€Å"War like moor,† to a man characterised by wrath and irrationality. In ‘Othello,’ love acts as a binding force between Othello and his wife Desdemona, and the initial impression portrayed by Shakespeare to the audience is of Othello as a romantic who has complete faith in his wife. Othello’s identity is shaped by his infatuation of Desdemona, â€Å"My soul hath her content so absolute that not another comfort like to this succeeds in unknown fate. † The link between Othello’s identity and his love for Desdemona is further accentuated in, â€Å"But I do love thee; and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again. † However as Iago’s manipulative plan takes shape, Othello grows insecure about his relationship and he begins to question why he married, â€Å"Why did I marry? Othello changes from a confident, in control, self-assured man into a doubtful man weakened by his love for Desdemona. His wives supposed infidelity leaves Othello a tormented broken man who is unable to go on living. Jealously is the most corrupting and destructive of emotions, which when instilled in Othello, drives him to insanity and causes substantial changes to his identity throughout the play. Initially, Othello claims not to be a jealous man, â€Å"Do you think I’d make a life of jealousy, to follow still the changes of the moon with fresh suspicions? He possesses a â€Å"free and open nature,† and this exceptional vulnerability allows Iago to manipulate Othello’s trusting character and twist his love for Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy, â€Å"O beware, my lord, of jealously: It is the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on. † As soon as Iago launches his deceptive plan and jealously is roused within Othello, it becomes so self-intensifying that he is taken over by an uncontrollable irrationality and his ability to make coherent decisions is over-ridded. Othello’s identity is transformed from a self-assured man into an envious persona and this is cemented in, â€Å"Trifles light as air, are to the jealous confirmations, strong as proofs of holy writ. There is a significant change in identity, â€Å"The Moor already changes with my poison,† from a smart, sensible person, to one characterised by jealously. A distinct transformation in Othello’s language is used to demonstrate how Othello’s identity changes substantially throughout the course of the play. The identity of Othello is closely aligned to his marriage with Desdemona and he feels that his status in society has been elevated because he is a black man married to a high class Venetian women. As Othello’s marriage is demoralised, Othello’s identity undergoes change and these changes are strongly emphasized through Othello’s choice of language. Initially, Othello is an idealist and romantic who generally speaks in verse throughout the play, â€Å"It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. † His language is quixotic and heightened conveying an affectionate persona; one profoundly linked with his flourishing marriage. However, once Othello is made aware of Desdemona’s ‘infidelity,’ their relationship is put under immense strain and Othello grows increasingly stressed, confused and angry. This is reflected in a change in language, which moves from polite and eloquent at the beginning of the play, to aggressive and exceedingly visual, â€Å"I’ll tear her to pieces. † This alteration in language portrays a character change, from a gentleman, to a violent and belligerent person. By the end of the play Othello’s identity transformation is so substantial, he is unrecognisable, â€Å"My lord is not my lord. Othello is no longer the man he used to be. Shakespeare successfully conveys changes to Othello’s identity throughout the course of the play through the contrast of his outwards appearance with his amiable inner identity. His identity changes are further enhanced by the accentuation of the bond between himself and his wife and the devastating effects the weakening of this bond has on him. The destructive force of jealously and Othello’s naive view on marriage are additionally used to show how Othello moves from a confident, strong and highly regarded naval officer to someone completely broken by his love of another.

The Andersonville Trial Essays - 1256 Words

â€Å"†¦and on the charge that the prisoner did with others to conspire to destroy the lives of soldiers in the military service of the United States in violation of the laws and customs of war-Guilty† were the words that soared out of Wallace’s mouth at the end of the trial. It was then that Henry Wirz was found guilty. Why? Why was he found guilty? This decision was based on the emotional aspect of the witnesses, and not by the actual guilt. Not only my defense, but also the defense of Wirz’s attorney, Baker, the testimony of the defendant, Henry Wirz, shows that Wirz should not have been found guilty. Henry Wirz ran Andersonville, one of the many Confederate prison camps, which was located in Georgia. Andersonville opened in†¦show more content†¦Davidson, Jasper Culver, and Dr. John C. Bates were called to the stand to prove that Henry Wirz was guilty. Fortunately, these three witnesses have testified Wirz as being not guilty. One of the witnesses was James H. Davidson Davidson was a prisoner at the camp who was called to the stand to testify about the dogs. He stated that the dogs in Andersonville were very harmful and had wounded, or had even killed, some of the Union soldiers. When being asked questions by Chipman, the attorney for prosecution, Davidson stated that the prisoners who tried to escape were mauled by the dogs. He also said that Wirz watched and cheered as the dogs were attacking the soldiers saying, â€Å"get those Yankee bastards!† Why should this be Wirz’s fault? Why? Perhaps Davidson himself was not so close to the dog attack, because he himself was not attacked; therefore, he cannot prove that it is Wirz’s fault for the dogs. The man that was dragged into the camp could have, indeed, survived. No one, I repeat no one, has proof that that man had been killed. Lastly, many of the men had wounds on their bodies; but, why are the dogs to blame? Those wounds and scratch es could have been caused by something else other than those dogs. Not only did many of these deaths come from the dogs, but a lot of the deaths came from the deadline. The deadline was a border along the Andersonville camp; if an individual crossed the deadline,Show MoreRelated History of Andersonville Prison Essay4617 Words   |  19 PagesHistory of Andersonville Prison When one turns on the television today they are made witness to all the crimes that are present in society. It is impossible to sit through thirty-five minutes of news without anger and rage becoming aroused. This is because society is bothered by infinitesimal paraphernalia. Society also believes in human rights and punishment for those who violate such rights. Yet what constitutes humanity? Ever sit there and watch the news and wonder just how far humanity reachesRead More Andersonville (the Movie) Essay856 Words   |  4 PagesAndersonville (the Movie) â€Å"Five hundred men moved silently toward the gates that would shut out life and hope for most of them forever. Quarter of a mile from the railroad we came into a massive palisade with great squared logs standing upright in the ground. Fires blazed up and showed us a section of these and two massive wooden gates with heavy iron hinges and bolts. They swung open as we stood there and we passed through into the space beyond. We were at Andersonville.† – Private John McElroyRead MoreFranz Lieber and the Lieber Code1305 Words   |  5 Pagesimmediately lowered food and clothing rations of their prisoners to make it more equitable to that of confederate prisons (Hesseltine, 1962). 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Any person aiding a runaway slave by providing shelter, food or any other form of assistance was liable to six months imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Those officers capturing a fugitive slave were entitled to a feeRead MoreA Description of Bleeding Kansas3703 Words   |  15 PagesActs over his veto. The first U.S. president to be impeached, he survived the Senate removal by only one vote. He was a very weak president. 14. Spain ceded Florida to the United States and gave up its claims to the Oregon Territory Andersonville 13. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Daniel Webster Senator who, originally pro-North, supported the Compromise of 1850 and subsequently lost favor from his constituency, noted orator, constitutional lawyer, senator, secretaryRead MoreAmerican Spirit Volume I3787 Words   |  16 PagesFascinates Franklin (1739) 89 2. Jonathan Edwards Paints the Horrors of Hell (1741) 91 C. The Colonial Economy 93 1. The West Indian Connection (1766) 93 2. The Pattern of Colonial Commerce (1766) 93 D. The Shoots of Democracy 96 1. The Epochal Zenger Trial (1735) 96 2. Crevecoeur Finds a Perfect Society (c. 1770) 98 The Duel for North America, 1608-1763 100 A. The Development of New France 100 1. Father Isaac Jogues Endures Tortures (1642) 100 2. A Swede Depicts the Indian Trade (1749) 103 B. The French