Markanday does not take about any specifics of time and place to make the universal across all time periods and places. This allows her to emphasize the emotions of the story and lets many different types of readers place themselves into the story.These lack of details makes the story more universal, because it will never be outdated or misplaced. The problems the characters face are problems faced everywhere, to this day. An example of this is the eviction of the family by landlord and how it is so similar in present-day urban areas under the pretense of gentrification. The universality of the book allows the book to reach and connect with a wide audience.
Although it may seem that Rukmani is dependant on outside forces, such as Kenny, fate and her husband, Rukmani is also very self-reliant as seen by her many independent and vigorous actions. Rukmani is somewhat dependant on her husband for everything as he is the sole bread winner and later on Puli as she needs them for her protection and support. However, as the plot develops,
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through her vigorous and courageous actions, one can also see that she is quite self reliant. An example of this being her secret visits to Kenny for her and her daughter’s fertility treatments. Since although she was reliant on Kenny for the medicine, she acted on her own accord and decided to solve her problems independently. This can again be seen in her pursuit to return to her home village and how she works very hard as a letter reader and later at the stone quarry even after her husband dies. Rukmani is a brave and determined women that sometimes depends on others, but also comes up to the plate to be independent when herself and others need her to be. Rukmani believes that her own position as women is one of a burden. This notion can be seen by her reaction to her daughter’s birth as she is disheartened and along with her husband starts thinking about the dowry. Also throughout the book, she views women as dependant on their beauty, their husbands, and their purity as that is often the first thing she notices about her fellow women. This is seen when she is shocked at the sight of a woman doctor. This is again seen when she worries what will happen to her daughter as her son-in-law left her. This also brings out what she perceives to be differences between men and women. As for her, a man’s value is based on his property and women’s value is her purity and beauty. These notions are reinforced by her reflections at the birth of her daughter: “Nathan at first paid scant attention to her: he had wanted a son to continue his line and walk beside him on the land, not a puling infant who would take with her a dowry and leave nothing but a memory behind... .” This quote reinforced the gender differences of men being the providers and future while women are a burden that require a dowry. When she refers to her own feelings, Rukmani’s femininity limits her as she doesn’t have much say in her life, because her agency is only available through her sons and husbands as she has no real power in the real world. The title “Nectar in a Sieve” has a very interesting meaning and is very appropriate to the novel.
The lines “Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve/ And hope without an object cannot live,” means that work without hope and a goal is fruitless. As no matter how much work a person does, it's not going to be worth it unless they’re doing it for a hopeful future in which they reach a goal. This title is very appropriate to the novel as the characters in it are always working and are hopeful toward a better future and a goal. Throughout the book, the characters have a goal and hope to achieve it whether it be their hope to buy land or a hope to live free of starvation. These goals and their overall hopeful attitude means that their work is not drawing nectar in a sieve. Not to mention, the nectar symbolizes their joys and that if they let go of their hope amid the challenges, represented by the sieve, all their joy would be
gone. The narration as a flashback allows the reader to focus on the present story rather than the ending and allows the narrator to reflect on the events and offer deeper insight. The narration also allows for the narrator to emphasize on the importance of certain events. This importance can be seen by the narrator’s use of present tense when describing certain events such as the death of her son and husband. These tenses exhibit that the narrator has still not forgotten these events and instead lives them everyday. Overall, Ruku is a reliable narrator as she is honest and offers deep insight and reflection into the events that shaped her life. The narration allows the novel to be reflective and focus on the events.
Michael Patrick MacDonald lived a frightening life. To turn the book over and read the back cover, one might picture a decidedly idyllic existence. At times frightening, at times splendid, but always full of love. But to open this book is to open the door to Southie's ugly truth, to MacDonald's ugly truth, to take it in for all it's worth, to draw our own conclusions. One boy's hell is another boy's playground. Ma MacDonald is a palm tree in a hurricane, bending and swaying in the violent winds of Southie's interior, even as things are flying at her head, she crouches down to protect her children, to keep them out of harms way. We grew up watching Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow and Peanuts. Michael Patrick MacDonald grew up watching violence, sadness and death.
...e on her part. Throughout the story, the Mother is portrayed as the dominant figure, which resembled the amount of say that the father and children had on matters. Together, the Father, James, and David strived to maintain equality by helping with the chickens and taking care of Scott; however, despite the effort that they had put in, the Mother refused to be persuaded that Scott was of any value and therefore she felt that selling him would be most beneficial. The Mother’s persona is unsympathetic as she lacks respect and a heart towards her family members. Since the Mother never showed equality, her character had unraveled into the creation of a negative atmosphere in which her family is now cemented in. For the Father, David and James, it is only now the memories of Scott that will hold their bond together.
The poem describes workers to be “Killing the overtime ‘cause the dream is your life, / Refusing to take holidays or go home to your spouse, / But for many the overtime comes, ‘cause the work is not done. / Deadlines to be met. So you continue to dream like a war vet, / Having flashbacks to make you shiver and scream” (Jones, stanza 7, lines 2-6). Jones reinforces that overworking for an incentive of money does not give one a sense of gratification, and it also distracts them from the values that should matter more to them than anything else. Both Kohn and Jones have a similar approach to showing the reader the effect that overworking can have on a person, and how it will change their values in life, causing unhappiness. Many students go through school dispirited and do not join various clubs and activities for their own enjoyment. A friend of Kohn’s who was also a high school guidance counsellor had a student with ‘…amazing grade and board scores. It remained only to knock out a dazzling essay on his college applications that would clinch the sale. “Why don’t we start with some books that
Everyone wants to fill the void within themselves, and most humans try to accomplish this by finding jobs they enjoy, but it seems that most of them ultimately fail. When you are younger you look to your parents to show you the way, but as you approach adulthood you start to feel more of a sense of rebellion toward them instead of the admiration you once had. The writer makes the poem universal by saying he didn’t want to end up like his father, something most children in north america could relate to. It’s also easily linked to our society in north america because of the way our schooling system is set up, in a way that you must commit to what you’re going to do for the rest of your life when you’re still too young to vote, and our system being this way makes it easy to end up regretting what you choose. Humans in modern society are expected to make many commitments for a range of things- relationships or sports teams, even major life decisions, and it’s obvious that our natural need for commitment is prevalent in our everyday life. Consequently, this need for making commitments can end up leaving people making poor decisions or at least taking a route you’ll end up wanting to renounce in the
Throughout the book the author implies that through persevering through adversity, following omens, and overcoming one's fears, everyone has a chance to achieve their dreams.
In the Bontemps poem, he uses the metaphor of reaping and harvesting to express the bitterness felt by African Americans in a racist America. The metaphor explains that no matter how hard African Americans work, their reward will always be less than that of a White American. Bontemps feels that African Americans have labored long and hard enough for White Americans, and that it is time for all Americans to receive equal reward for equal work. In lines 11 and 12 Bontemps says "Small wonder then my children glean in fields / They have not sown, and feed of bitter fruit." These lines are a great example of the extended metaphor used throughout Bontemps poem, and show that he believes that no matter how hard he works to bring change, his children have already tasted the "bitter fruit" (line 12) of racial prejudice. Cullen also uses the extended metaphor of reaping and harvesting as evident in lines 1 and 2: "We shall not always plant while others reap / The golden increment of bursting fruit". Cullen uses these lines to express his pride in his race and to promote equality. He also says "So in the dark we hide the heart that bleeds, / And wait, and tend our agonizing seeds" (lines 13 and 14) to say that change will not happen overnight and that the wait for equality will be painful and
What is the director ultimately saying about the ways in which hope affects the individual?
Flannery O'Conner has again provided her audience a carefully woven tale with fascinating and intricate characters. "The Displaced Person" introduces the reader to some interesting characters who experience major life changes in front of the reader's eyes. The reader ventures into the minds of two of the more complex characters in "The Displaced Person," Mrs. McIntyre and Mrs. Shortley, and discovers an unwillingness to adapt to change. Furthermore, the intricate details of their characters are revealed throughout the story. Through these details, the reader can see that both Mrs. McIntyre and Mrs. Shortley suffer from a lack of spiritual dimension that hinders them as they face some of life's harsher realities. Mrs. McIntyre struggles throughout the story, most notably during the tragic conclusion. Her lack of spiritual dimension is revealed slowly until we ultimately see how her life is devastated because of it. Mrs. Shortley, on the other hand, seems to have it all figured out spiritually -- or at least she believes that she does. It is only in the last few minutes of her life that she realizes all she has convinced herself of is wrong.
Their conversations show more deeply how each culture views marital relationships. Rukmani only sees Kenny for her fertility problems when her husband won’t find out; she believes he will be angry (Markandaya 21). She also only takes Ira to Kenny when her husband leaves town: “I (Rukmani) waited all day [to see you]. My husband will be back soon and the I cannot come” (Markandaya 59). Though she subverts it, Rukmani is limited by her belief she cannot disobey her husband. Instead, since she doesn’t ask his permission, she can’t break his rules. Kenny scorns this, saying, “You people will never learn. It is pitiful to see your foolishness” (Markandaya 59). In Kenny’s country, women have rights. They can even divorce their husbands, as Kenny’s wife does. Rukmani fails to understand how this woman can leave her husband and wonders if it’s Kenny’s long absences. They discuss women’s role, Rukmani says, “A woman’s place is with her husband” Kenny replies, “You simplify everything… Your views are so limited it is impossible to explain to you” (Markandaya 106).
...ng the underlying theme that drives the story and the movie, propels the reader and viewer to rekindle the desire to hope above all else because hope is all one has in devastating as well as dire needs. Hope overcomes despair, permits others to see your “inner light” to develop integrity which connects with honesty and trust. Hope is the inspiration to continue to live regardless of the circumstances. Red may have narrated; “Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” But, Andy Dufresne states it best: “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
...ms by which to live. An individual confronts many challenges in society, whether it be crime and punishment, struggle to grow, or other rapid modifications. Cry, The Beloved Country and Things Fall Apart exemplify how societies can be disrupted and how people react to interruptions to their traditional way of life. Some choose to adapt to society’s new ways, while others resist assimilating themselves with the innovative public. Societal change happens no matter where you are, however, how someone allows it to affect them remains determined by that person. Society maintains their own way of punishment, production of a particular type of person, and causes some to prevent from adapting to its evolving ways.
Since Ma’s kidnapping, seven years prior, she has survived in the shed of her capturer’s backyard. This novel contains literary elements that are not only crucial to the story, but give significance as well. The point-of-view brings a powerful perspective for the audience, while the setting and atmosphere not only affect the characters but evokes emotion and gives the reader a mental picture of their lives, and the impacting theme along-side conflict, both internal and external, are shown throughout the novel. The author chooses to write the novel through the eyes of the main character and narrator, Jack. Jack’s perception of the world is confined to an eleven foot square room.
The quote , “ The millions who have nothing for our pay except the dream that’s almost dead today.” (16-17) describe people who have lost hope in their country. The speaker is saying that for all the work they 've worked they have nothing to show for it , the only thing they have are lost dreams. Which encourages one to ask, was the “ American dream” for everyone? Perhaps this was the America “they” meant it to be. America is a country that has not been with all its promises lost in greed and sin.The last stanza encourages readers to take control, start anew and make America the place they once dreamed it to be.
Maupassant and Morrison convey their themes of social acceptance and materialistic longings through the narrators' attitudes and develop these themes through the manipulation of plot. To maximize the effect of the themes, Maupassant and Morrison present them through female characters with an inherent desire for others to covet them and an attraction to materialistic wealth.