An Experiment with an Air Pump
Is it ethical or even helpful to try to impose order on a haphazard existence? Is it right to play God, to steal the limelight from the cosmos? Man used to ponder existence, but with the increasing possibilities of science, we now ponder our power over existence. In “An Experiment with an Air Pump,” Shelagh Stephenson uses symbolism associated with Isobel as a voice of foreboding in a society “enraptured by the possibilities of science” (3). Stephenson associates Isobel with a bird, a pile of bones, and a sheep to reveal the dark side of the “light,” the scientific revolution.
The play commences in 1799 when Fenwick risks the life of Harriet’s bird in order to conduct an experiment with an air pump. Later in the play, Armstrong puts a different life on the line for the “intoxication of discovery” (3). This time the life is human. From the moment Armstrong sees Isobel he wants to “examine her beautiful back in all its delicious, twisted glory” (85). His infatuation with Isobel has nothing to do with matters of the heart, but he proceeds to woo her because of his sheer lust for science.
Upon learning of Armstrong’s motive, Isobel attempts to hang herself. As Isobel lies helpless on the floor, fighting for one last breath, Stephenson illustrates that Isobel’s “heels flutter almost imperceptibly” (92). Later, everyone gathers around Isobel’s dead body much like they did around the fluttering bird in the first experiment. “But this time Isobel, in her coffin, has taken the place of the bird in the air pump”(96). The fact that now a dead Isobel symbolizes the bird implies that this time the experiment has gone dreadfully wrong. The fact that the second experiment fails harbors a much more solemn consequence than if the first had failed. If the bird in the first experiment had died, tears would have been shed only until the purchase of a new bird. Not only does Armstrong sacrifice a human life in the name of science, but he symbolically diminishes all that the bird and Isobel represent. Isobel’s death implies the demise of freedom, will, and humanity.
Stephenson also associates Isobel with a sheep, to represent what can be lost in a future of “industry, science, wealth, and reason” (15). Harriet writes her own play within this play in which the future is exalted as “a new Jerusalem” (15).
Although a portion of Leuchtenburg’s evidence supporting his opinion on which case constituted a constitutional revolution involved the shift in the Court’s decision-making, the question of the reason for the shift in the Court begs to be explained. At the time, during the case of West Coast v. Parrish, the court seemed to be in sorts fueled by politics. The Justices were concerned with the consequences that could very well up rise from their reluctance to approve the standard legislation. In other words, they may have shifted their votes in hopes of saving the traditional foundation. Justice Roberts’ voting decisions would then need to be closely examined seeing that he supported the liberal side in 1934 concerning the case of Nebbia v. New York, supported the conservative side in 1935-1936 concerning the Rail Pension and Tipaldo, and then returned to suppor...
Thesis: Glaspell utilized the image of a bird to juxtapose/compare/contrast the death of Mrs. Wright’s canary to the death of Mrs. Wright’s soul.
Superior Pump 91250 by Superior Pump is a utility pump designed to handle day-to-day chores smartly. This ultra-compact pump is convertible into a backup sump pump by connecting a float switch to it. In addition, the pump is highly portable and has rugged thermoplastic casing making its use as well as handling reliable. It helps in clearing water from basements, waterfalls, and even pools. It indeed is one handy companion to count on.
A devoted mother, Anne Bradstreet is concerned with her children as she watches them grow up. “Or lest by Lime-twigs they be foil'd, or by some greedy hawks be spoil'd” Anne Bradstreet uses to describe her fear for her children. Not wanting to see her children suffer, Anne Bradstreet turns to God to help her children. Bradstreet imagines her bird’s being stuck on a branch and a hawk eating them, a grim image of all of her sacrifice being lost in a single moment. “No cost nor labour did I spare” describes how much Anne loves her children.
project of the play, of which is touched upon in Act One. It is this
Firstly I would set this play in the 21st century so that a modern audience could relate to it. Algernon, one of the main characters in the play, would live in a luxury apartment in the centre of London, over looking the River Thames. His apartment would have a minimalist theme to it and would be influenced by aesthetic; for example he would have a piece of abstract art on the wall for no reason other than that he thinks it looks nice.
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Mainly because I play basketball, I am aware of all the issues students’ athletes, trainers, water boys/girl and the coaches’ deal with. When it comes to playing sports a lot of equipment is needed, and when equipment is needed money is needed. The sports I am talking about deals with some type of ball that needs air pressure. The type of sports I am referring to can be basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football (Figure 1). All of those sports contain some kind of air to be placed inside of a ball. To do this we will need some form of an air pump. The price of each type of ball is over $25.00 (Figure 2). So instead of the athletic department, AAU Teams, summer leagues, etc. spending money on an air pump that temporary places air in balls; why not invest in an air pump product that does the job of all and more. Why is this air pump so different? This is an air pump that cannot be denied, it helps your pockets when budgeting
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