Treatment of Billy in A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines In "A Kestrel for a Knave", Barry Hines tells his realistic story of a boy called Billy. Firstly Billy lives with his mother and brother in their small house in Barnsley. His mother smokes cigarettes all day and asks, "You haven't got a gag on you, have you, love?" and "Do me a favour, love, and run up to t'shop for some fags." By asking if he can go to the shop and buy some cigarettes, obviously is showing that she is a selfish mother, and not worrying that he should not smoke. She uses Billy as she has no money to pay for anything, but asks him to put it on an account, where lots of other debts are. When Billy refuses to do so she blocks his way and tells "Billy, get up to that shop and do as you're telled." When he refuses she threatens "I'll bloddy murder you when I get hold of you." She is expressing herself to be physically harsh to Billy, and demonstrates that she is an uncaring mother. For Billy to get away from his mother it is like escaping from a prison, however, instead of getting charged a sentence, he is beaten by his own mother. Furthermore, Mrs Casper has no time for Billy as even when she remotely is questioning what he is doing during the evening and he responds that he will, "Read my book" and when he tells his mum its about "Falconry" and that he is "goin' to get young kestrel" she has no idea what that is, and when Billy explains she changes the subject and says "I say, what time is it?" This suggests that she could not be bothered what Billy does or what his single interest is. In addition, since Mrs Casper's husband has left her, Billy ... ... middle of paper ... ... reminds Billy "What about the showers?" he forces Billy to use the shower. Billy has no towel for the shower, so Mr Sugden threatens Billy that he'll "have to drip-dry then." Mr Sugden thought that he was being funny, but Billy didn't. Mr Sugden shoved Billy into the shower and randomly changed the temperature from HOT to COLD and then from COLD to HOT and Billy could then injure himself from that. Mr Sugden made the other boys of the class guard the doors of the showers so he couldn't get out. In conclusion, it is obvious that each character reported, treats Billy in a different way. All characters except Mr Farthing, but especially Mr Sugden either physically bullies Billy, or severely threatens to bully Billy. However, if Mr Farthing bullies Billy, it is for his own good, and to build up his confidence.
death, and Captain Vere feels sorry for Billy and does not want Billy to suffer
“Ok,well let’s go ask the owner and check to see if she was there” says Sheila.
Minstrel shows were one of the most integral parts of entertainment in the United States during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Audiences at that time liked blackface comedy due to segregation, and racial discrimination in the society. Due to wide varieties of caricatures, dances, and songs, minstrel shows gained popularity within a short span of time. In minstrel shows, white people masked themselves as black people, and portrayed exaggerated black stereotypes, which dehumanized black population. The racist comedy gags and dances performed by artists in minstrel shows were hilarious for white audiences back then. Blackface comedy conveyed the sense of eliteness and supremacy among white audiences
is said after he asks her "When will you look it in the face?" (30).
In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain illustrates prevalent themes of society in the early 1800’s, as well as in today’s society. Huckleberry Finn is the son of an abusive father and his mother is no longer alive. He decides he is going to leave “sivilization” and travel down the river. He encounters many people along the way, but the most important is Jim, a runaway slave from Huck’s hometown. Huck realizes early on that “human beings can be awful cruel to one another”(Twain174). Most of the people that Huck and Jim encounter on their journey down the river are inhumane to other people. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain opines that human beings treat their peers with cruelty through seeking attention, greed, and self preservation.
Upon first inspection, Hester Prynne and Huckleberry Finn may not appear to have much in common. Hester Prynne is an ostracized woman and mother in 17th century Puritan Boston, while Huck Finn is a 14 year old boy essentially running away from home in the antebellum south; their stories are vastly different from one another. However, there are certain similarities between these two characters and their circumstances. Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn share a common trait; a protagonist that rejects society and who must learn to coexist with the moral and religious influences that bolster it. Though Huckleberry’s rejection may be more external and obvious than Hester’s, both characters go against
a man, cause he has to choose a wife for his mother, but for Penelope, she
The historical framework of To Kill A Mockingbird plays a big part of importance in the book. In this research paper, the focus is on the historical context of the year 1960, and why it was so important for To Kill A Mockingbird to be published.
THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN AUTHOR’S SKETCH Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri. When Samuel Clemens was four years old, his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, where he spent his childhood. Clemens first approach to literature was through typesetting for a newspaper in 1851. At the time Orion, his brother, was a newspaper publisher in Hannibal. From 1857 until 1861, he served as the pilot of a riverboat on the Mississippi River.
Looking at the novel, you can infer that Mark Twain went into a racist state of mind to truly make an accurate portrayal of his characters in this novel. With the vulgarity in the story no one can honestly write a story filled with so much unnecessary hate in every page. This shows to be true in the article Twain’s ‘Nigger’ Jim: The Tragic Face behind the Minstrel Mask” when author Bernard W. Bell states “Twain’s training in the ethics of Jim Crow ,evident in the influence of southwestern humor, his delight in minstrelsy, and traced of the paternalistic attitude toward blacks he knew on his uncle’s Missouri farm,”. This shows that Twain was considered racist,due his pastimes, but he was brought into racism by his lineage. So, he never stood
Huck and Jim fashioned a makeshift wigwam (a tent sort of thing) on the raft and travel by night, drifting down the river. A couple nights later, they pass the large city of St. Louis with its bright lights. The pair of them enjoy themselves as they buy, steal (or borrow), and hunt as they need. Huck feels guilty for stealing things so Jim compromises and says they should stop stealing three things, but stealing everything else is fine.
Huck has a "closest companion" named Tom. Tom is a defiant kid who frames a "posse" titled "The Band of Robbers." Without pictures, the one reading this is persuaded that Tom is a more established kid, probably living in poor conditions that doesn't generally have anything decent to wear. He likely appears to be to some degree unique than alternate young men he sticks around with. The photo demonstrates to us that Tom is about Huck's age (perhaps somewhat more seasoned) and isn't generally as poor as you think. He has a cap and garments that fit him well, no earth marks are available on his garments or face so perhaps he isn't as insubordinate and daring as the reader thought him to be?
According to the 1820 U.S. census, taken approximately 200 years before the writing of this, 86.8% of the 1.76 million colored people living in the U.S. lived under slavery. 45 years later, the 13th amendment was ratified, dropping that number to 0, but not preventing racial segregation or discrimination. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird discusses this topic quite often. Ever since then, America has made steps towards eliminating prejudice towards blacks. The process we have already made towards recognizing African-Americans and eliminating discrimination and racial gaps is a clear indicator that America will one day achieve true racial and social equality.
his whore. She was crying but he wouldn't stop and Dotty was stuck, watching, the door
“So lets have a look what you’ve got” Alexia said opening her walking wardrobe door “Umm here what about these cream slim fit jeans, this pink vest and this cream cardigan with the pink dimond pattern on it?” Alexia said as she looked at her shoes “OH! and these cream cross strap peep-toes wedges”