Marvel Comics’ Hulk is a famous anti-hero who first appeared in the book The Incredible Hulk in 1962. The first thing readers notice is the green, hulking humanoid creature on the cover of the book; but, on the inside, this muscular monster’s alter ego is Robert Bruce Banner who is everything the Hulk is not. Banner is a physically weak, shut in who is emotionally reserved physicist who specializes in gamma radiation. The two personalities seem independent of each other-- and even hold hatred towards one another-- but they make up the same person. Yet we as the audience choose to separate these two extreme personalities as good and evil. We create the binary in the comic book universe. But in Jacques Derrida’s “Structure, Sign and Play in the …show more content…
The Hulk fought against a Russian agent, Mongu, who wanted to learn about his strength. Then later saved Betty from an underground ruler then battled with the Chinese General Fang (Incredible Hulk #5). Yet, despite doing all this good, the Hulk was blamed for espionage and the Fantastic Four were called in to take him down (The Hulk vs. the Thing!). Another example of this clash is during the Avengers’ Initiative. Despite being a founding member and taking down multiple villains, the Avengers still did not trust the Hulk since he was too unpredictable (Journey Into Mystery #112). After losing to his friends the first time, the Hulk came back and fought against the Avengers and the Fantastic Four (Avengers #5). Even after helping the Avengers stop the a group’s attempt to eradicate human life, Hulk was still never fully back with the Avengers. Especially after the Hulk fought with Spider-Man, and against the Avengers again (Amazing Spider-Man #14). In this fight, Spider-Man defeated the Hulk by telling him a joke that made him calm down enough to revert back into Bruce Banner in order to laugh (Amazing Spider-Man #14). Through these examples, the Hulk is humanized as he struggles between being in the …show more content…
The Hulk even became a symbol for counterculture in the 1960’s who was against authority while Banner followed the rules (Wright). Banner’s alternate being has become an icon for depicting extreme differences; these two beings can be defined by what the other is not. But through analysis, the Hulk and Banner share a grey area where they share goals and bonds with others. By just looking at them as Bruce/Hulk, the reader is completely missing out on an opportunity to dive deeper into the character and humanize the
Although most ethnic groups do not like to be thought of as different, they do come to enjoy the benefits that come with being labeled as a minority. Affirmative action is a program initiated to try and bridge the gap between white Americans and the minorities that reside in America. In addition, bilingual education is constantly an issue in Southern California, especially when choosing political candidates. In the two books I will be examining, Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriguez and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, both characters in the stories are criticized by their own ethnic groups for not following the path that their parents have laid out for them. Protag, the main character in Invisible Man, chooses to join an organization called the Brotherhood, instead of a similar organization which is made up of all black men. Rodriguez decides to take a stand against affirmative action and bilingual education, two issues which Hispanics have almost always been in favor of. However, the decisions by these two characters to go against the values widely held by members of their ethnic groups causes a great deal of tension. People want to question how devoted the characters are to the cause. Both characters went against the norm and made choices which brought criticism from members of their ethnic groups, but their choices ultimately led to the strengthening of their groups culture in society. First we will look at what may have influenced the character’s choices, followed by the designation of being labeled a scholarship boy may have played in their decisions. Finally we will look at what exactly they did for their ethnic group and some of the differences that exist between the two characters.
In April of 1861, the American Civil War broke out. In June of 2006, the Marvel Civil War broke out. 145 years of separation still bind these two seemingly unrelated events. The nonfiction and fiction worlds may come across as totally different. One involves actual American heroes fighting over abolition versus slavery and federal versus states’ rights while the other involves fictional American superheroes fighting over freedom versus security, individual rights versus the need for regulation. More specifically, the Marvel Civil War was caused by a controversial Superhero Registration Act that required all superheroes to register themselves under the government as government agents.
Ralph Ellison uses symbolism in the first chapter of Invisible Man to illustrate the culture in which he lived and was raised. In the chapter, entitled “Battle Royal”, Ellison intends to give his graduation speech to the white elite of his community. However, before her can deliver said speech, he is forced to perform humiliating tasks. The use of symbols is evident throughout “Battle Royal” particularly with regard to the Hell imagery, power struggle, and the circus metaphor.
For the man which casts the shadow of a Hulk, you can imagine the amount of anger raging inside of him. As it took years to gain the ability to limit his transformations, Banner finds that somehow fury always manages to sneak past his guard. And beyond his control. Pain and stress plays an important role in his alternation into the Hulk, but there are more effective ways. Secrets, and no so secrets, that can anger him far quicker than any physical threat. A man of complications, there is no greater enemy than himself when it comes to the criticism of the Hulk. Highly aware of the destruction he havocs. Sensitive to the subject, Banner justifies his own self-destructive behavior as a punishment for the deeds the Other Guy has done. But not as
What images do these words bring to mind? For many people, they illicit scenes of Batman and his sidekick Robin, fighting their way through a legion of bad guys while arriving only seconds after their arch-villain has escaped. From these short, succinct, nonsense words, images of battles are painted over a much larger canvas; the delicate balance and constant struggle between good and evil is illustrated in black and white terms. Unlike comics or television, life does not fit within these binary opposites. In a war there are good guys, bad guys, and everything imaginable in-between. ZONK! POW! Did a bad guy get thrown into a pile of crates or did our hero get knocked out from behind? These simple words are not enough for us to distinguish the difference between good and bad or right and wrong. At the same time, no artist or writer or illustrator could ever hope to present a situation in its entirety. How would a sentence like, ‘the hero, who although he treats his wife in a derogatory manner, punched a bad guy to save a damsel in distress’ serve as a gauge of morals or justice? It is not the creator’s job to portray an entire event, but rather, to present the event in a way that the audience can understand and draw their own conclusions from.
The devil has taken on many forms in both legend and media throughout history. Whether it is a con-man in a suit, or a vicious minotaur-like monster, the devil has been a representation of human evil since his conception. Satan in both Dante’s Inferno and Peter Cook’s Bedazzled is seen as an evil figure forced into an eternity of punishment, yet sympathetic because of this. However, both representations of the devil differ in how much power Satan is allotted. As humanity continues to define true evil, it must decide for itself how much power it allows evil in this world.
Who is the real monster within the boundaries of society? In the classic novel written by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, the monster was characterized as an evil antagonist who has the murderous tendencies to annihilate the precious beings of mankind. However, the readers have yet to understand the victim underneath the distorted flesh and inhumane features since “the monster” was under the clutches of injustice because of the unreasonable ostracization, deplorable reason of creation, and unbearable misery.
In the novel, The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the narrator of the story, like Siddhartha and Antonius Blok, is on a journey, but he is searching to find himself. This is interesting because the narrator is looking for himself and is not given a name in the book. Like many black people, the narrator of the story faces persecution because of the color of his skin. The journey that the narrator takes has him as a college student as well as a part of the Brotherhood in Harlem. By the end of the book, the narrator decides to hide himself in a cellar, thinking of ways he can get back at the white people. However, in the novel, the man learns that education is very important, he realizes the meaning of his grandfather’s advice, and he sees the importance of his “invisibility.” Through this knowledge that he gains, the narrator gains more of an identity.
One who has only seen the Hollywood version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein would assume that in the course of the book the true monster is Dr. Frankenstein himself. But upon analysis of the text it becomes clear that it is in fact the Monster who is the greater of the two evils. Although created by the doctor, his own hatred and consciousness yield an evil larger than even the doctor could have predicted.
Many timeless novels have impacts on our everyday culture, not only as a book, but also through music or movies. Many popular novels have multiple adaptations, which shape how we approach their interpretation, in ways we may never even notice. In some films, humans are depicted as monsters, whether through their actions, or through the thoughts of other beings. In these films we find issues with our own society, and in turn see ourselves as monsters, and look for ways we can change, for the better. One particular novel that influences this side of Hollywood is Mary Shelley's “Frankenstein”. The ways Frankenstein influences pop culture can be seen in science fiction films in which humans are depicted as monster, and “monsters” are seen as more humane beings, such as I, Robot, and Ender’s Game.
The main conflict of this story is Jing-mei's struggle between accepting her identity based on her heritage and not on a personal image. There is no real order in which this conflict is clarified, because the climax and resolution come about at the same time. The conflict is internal due to the fact that she cannot accept her true identity. The climax comes when she finally meets her twin sisters and says, "I get beyond the gate, we run toward each other, all three of us embracing, all hesitations and expectations forgotten" (870). It is then that the resolution comes into play and "After all these years, it can finally be let go" (870). It is at that point, when she can finally a...
Peter Brooks' essay "What Is a Monster" tackles many complex ideas within Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and the main concept that is the title of the essay itself. What is the definition of a monster, or to be monstrous? Is a monster the classic representation we know, green skin, neck bolts, grunting and groaning? A cartoon wishing to deliver sugary cereal? or someone we dislike so greatly their qualities invade our language and affect our interpretation of their image and physical being? Brooks' essay approaches this question by using Shelley's narrative structure to examine how language, not nature, is mainly accountable for creating the idea of the monstrous body.
He was unjustly shunned by society because of his physical appearance. On the other hand, the reader realizes that, like Frankenstein, the creation can not be sympathized with entirely. He too exhibits traits that make him appear villainous. It is the duality of these two characters that make Frankenstein and his creation two of the most appealing characters of the nineteenth century.
Eric Burdon, a famous singer-songwriter and member and vocalist of rock band, The Animals, and the funk band, War, once wrote, “Inside each of us, there is a seed of both good and evil. It’s a constant struggle as to which one will win. And one cannot exist without the other.” Both good and evil are inherent in humans, however it is up to man to discover which trait will be displayed dominantly. William Golding, a witness of the destruction of humanity during World War II, has the ideology that man is inherently evil. Through his novel “The Lord of The Flies,” Golding introduces the thoughts of evil in society. To exemplify that man is inherently evil, a variety of characters, allegory, and metaphors are used to convey the occurrence
We all have heard of Spider Man. He was the average teenager until he was bitten by a radioactive spider. I like Spider Man but I believe there are a lot of things missing in his movies. The police and government are portrayed poorly, as to assisting Spider Man or lack there of. Spider Man goes about doing his own thing, outside of the law. He is something we can all relate to and I believe that is why a lot of people like him. Most people would say they want to be like Spider Man because of his cool super human powers. I believe it would be a lot of hard work, dedication, and a lot of responsibility. Think about this, you would have two lives to live as a completely different person. You would have to keep up good grades, make some money to live on, support your family in one life, then save people, fight crime, and kill villains in the other life. It would be way to overwhelming for me.