Democracy An American Novel, by Henry Adams Essay - 956 Words

In the late 1800’s, Henry Adams wrote Democracy An American Novel, in which he portrayed Washington society through the eyes of a wealthy young widow, Mrs. Madeline Lee, who is looking for the basis of American governmental power. In her search for the basis of power, Mrs. Lee encounters many facets of Washington society, such as the types of people who control the government. The novel moves beyond a simple plot and story and includes portrayals of the basic Washington types of people, Washington society, and Adams’ assumptions about American democracy. Adams’ main assumption was that a respectable government is practically impossible. Next, he believed the US political system naturally tended towards corruption and finally, he†¦show more content†¦The cities are all corrupt, and also the towns and the counties and the States’ legislatures and the judges† (Adams 42). Through this political conversation, Adams reveals his reformer natur e and attitude towards American society in the late 1800’s. In addition, corruption of some form is always inherent in any government and larger governments have greater corruption. The nature of a republic or democracy calls for a large government to represent the people; therefore, the amount of corruption will naturally be greater in a democracy than in a small government. Partisan loyalty also effects corruption. In a strong party system like the United States, politicians are pressed to support their party’s platform and specific goals despite the moral consequences. For example, Ratcliffe tells Mrs. Lee that during the Civil War he was governor of Illinois and altered election results to ensure Illinois would vote for President Lincoln (Adams 61). Finally, a democratic government like the United States is open to citizens and special interest groups; which gives lobbyists a strong standing in American politics. Lobbyists represent individuals, organizations, and corporations in the political arena. Adams’ opinion of lobbyists is not hostile, but cold. In Adams’ book, Mrs. Baker represents Washington lobbyists. Mrs. Baker says that everyone has a price and for the cunning lobbyist; anything is possible. Mrs. Baker also hints that bribes and other illegalShow MoreRelatedDemocracy : An American Novel2141 Words   |  9 Pagesfiction, Democracy: An American Novel, is a novel in which Henry Adams skillfully addresses many social commentaries through satire and interesting characters. This novel can simply be described as a political love story. The main character, Mrs. Madeline Lightfoot Lee, originally leads her life as a â€Å"private philanthropist, amateur philosopher, and socialite† in New York (Adams v). After her husband and child died she lost her â€Å"taste for New York society† and everything that was in it (Adams 14). EventuallyRead MoreDemocracy Has Been Claimed As An Example Of Realism Literature Essay2048 Words   |  9 Pagesof the world’s quest for truth and reality in a time of confusion and rebuilding. Henry Adams’ novel Democracy has been claimed as an example of realism literature; one can explore this claim through the lens of one particular passage: â€Å"In short, the artist is compelled to exhibit the world rather as we would wish it to be, than as it was, or is, or, indeed, is like shortly to become† (161). This historical novel addresses the United States’ attempt at reconstruction following the country’s civilRead Morefamous people1742 Words   |  7 Pagesand presided over America’s second founding. 2 George Washington He made the United States possible—not only by defeating a king, but by declining to become one himself. 3 Thomas Jefferson The author of the five most important words in American history: â€Å"All men are created equal.† 4 Franklin Delano Roosevelt He said, â€Å"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,† and then he proved it. 5 Alexander Hamilton Soldier, banker, and political scientist, he set in motion an agrarianRead MoreEffects Of Transcendionalism In American Literature2077 Words   |  9 PagesDuring the pre-American revolutionary war period, the original thirteen colonies confronted economical and societal oppression from Great Britain because of years of salutary neglect and cultural differences between the colonies and the motherland. Taxes imposed onto the American colonies prompted political and, mainly, societal changes as they see fit to change back to their original relationship with Britain and their irritating laws. As conflicts between the colonies and the motherland escalatedRead MoreKing Leopolds Ghost Essay1530 Words   |  7 Pagesthe long-lasting effects he has had on the people and the land has forever changed the Congo. The memories left behind from the atrocities that occurred and the diminished resources due to extreme exploitation has prompted the author Adam Hochschild to write the novel, King Le opold’s Ghost. Using an Afrocentric point of view Hochschild describes how the events that took place under Leopold’s orders were acts of true terror and inhumanity. Where is the Congo? Who are they? What is the mighty CongoRead MoreOn March 28, 1834, A Storm Arrived The United States Took1673 Words   |  7 Pagesthe eyes of the Senate Andrew Jackson was not fit for the power that he possessed and was being so reckless that he was threatening the Constitution. We could discuss Andrew Jackson’s many enemies in the Senate after all his most prominent enemy, Henry Clay wrote this document. But, to only discuss this would be dishonest. Andrew Jackson was a man that even said himself, â€Å"I know what I am fit for†¦I am not fit to be President† or as a woman who knew him from North Carolina said it, â€Å"If Andrew JacksonRead MoreThe War Of 18123664 Words   |  15 Pagesfederal government, even though they wanted to start new from England, the majority wanted a moderate compromise. Discussed 3/5 compromise, Louisiana Purchase, Embargo of 1807. 2.Impressment Main cause of the war of 1812, where British ships took over american merchant ships and kidnapped merchants to join the British navy. America used this as the main reason to declare war for the War of 1812 because of nationalism and defense of their nation. 3.Second Great Awakening Protestant revivalist movementRead MoreNew York City: History and Landmarks4966 Words   |  20 Pages(shell beads). Fewer than 300 people lived in New Amsterdam when the settlement moved to Manhattan. But it grew quickly, and in 1760 the city (now called New York City; population 18,000) surpassed Boston to become the second-largest city in the American colonies. Fifty years later, with a population 202,589, it became the largest city in the Western hemisphere. Today, more than 8 million people live in the city’s five boroughs. New York City in the 18th Century In 1664, the British seized NewRead MoreFrankenstein Study Guide14107 Words   |  57 PagesTHE GLENCOE LITERATURE LIBRARY Study Guide for Frankenstein by Mary Shelley i To the Teachern The Glencoe Literature Library presents full-length novels and plays bound together with shorter selections of various genres that relate by theme or topic to the main reading. Each work in the Library has a two-part Study Guide that contains a variety of resources for both you and your students. Use the Guide to plan your instruction of the work and enrich your classroom presentations. InRead MorePuritanism in the Scarlet Letter6423 Words   |  26 PagesAbstract The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s representative work, is a classical novel in American literature in the 19th century. The novel displays Puritanism’s great impact on peoples life and thought. This thesis will give a picture of puritans’ life and ideology through the analysis of the Puritan town Boston and some related characters, and introduce how the communities in the town are deeply influenced by Puritanism. Meanwhile, by analyzing the main character Hester, the thesis will

The Film A Better Life - 1220 Words

Within the film A Better Life there are many examples of situations that are seen as subjects which many people do not openly talk about. Circumstances such as illegal immigration and how people who do chose to enter the United States through backdoor channels can actually be a benefit to society and raise productive members of society. Furthermore, the movie depicts an illegal, Carlos Galindo and his struggles of maintaining a job, being a single parent, and at the same time evading detection from United States immigration officers. This struggle of trying to provide for his son Luis and make sure he maintains the correct direction which he is following to be a successful member of society is plagued by Luis’s friend, Facundo and his girlfriend, Ruthie Valdez. Both of Luis’s friends are on the track of being stuck inside of a Hispanic gang. This rips Luis in half due to his proper upbringing by his father Carlos. This paper will document multiple occurrences from the film and analyze the cultural significance for each event. Originally, Carlos and his wife immigrated illegally to the United States just before Luis was born with the intent to establish â€Å"a better life†. This was followed by the struggles that all illegals face, which resulted in a difficult life. Carlos’s inability to provide an extravagant lifestyle to his wife caused her to leave him to care for Luis himself. From our lectures we learned this type of behavior from a Mexican woman is not typicalShow MoreRelatedMovie Review : Coraline 1511 Words   |  7 PagesThe movie, Coraline is an animated film that takes you to another universe in your mind. Adventure and suspense are major aspects of this movie. Though the targeted audience of the movie is geared towards young adults, it is also child friendly. The genre of the movie is fantasy/thriller; movies categorized by this genre are usually seasonal thrillers. 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Reflection of Society in The Grapes of Wrath Essay Example For Students

Reflection of Society in The Grapes of Wrath Essay Throughout the daily ordeals of society, people face numerous societal problems. It is inevitable that we, as civilized animals, encounter such global problems. Some express their views upon societal problems through media, while others utilize means such as literature to express their personal opinions on them. John Steinbeck is one author who enthusiastically proclaims his views upon such issues through literature. He zealously depicts such perspectives through symbolism in his writings, especially, the thought-provoking novel, The Grapes of Wrath. The final statements of The Grapes of Wrath clearly portray the usage of symbolism by John Steinbeck to produce the effect of reflecting the societal impediments of his days. This can be seen through the religious, humanitarian, and feminine aspects of the text. The final statements of The Grapes of Wrath convey information beyond the one chapter that it is bound by in the novel. This refers to the terminating chapter, which contains the juices of the novel. After three days of raining, the Joads fear that the creek will flood. However, Rose of Sharon goes into labor, and the Joads cannot leave. Pa Joad and the rest of the men at the camp attempts to stop the flooding of the river by building an embankment in the river. Pa, Al, and Uncle John reach the boxcar and find that Rose of Sharon delivered a stillborn baby. Uncle John places the stillborn in an apple box and floats it downstream. The family finds a barn for refuge until the rain stops. In the corner of the barn there are a starving man and a boy. Ma and Rose of Sharon realize what they must do. Rose of Sharon gives the dying man her breast milk. As we can see, the themes of religion, humanitarian, and feminism are all visible in this brief chapter. To begin with, the final statements of the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck clearly exemplify the religious themes that the part symbolizes. This part brings the light of Jesus into the book. According to Steinbeck, â€Å"Ma’s eyes passed Rose of Sharon’s eyes, and then came back to them. And the two women looked deep into each other. Rose of Sharon loosened one side of the blanket and bared her breast†¦She squirmed closer and pulled his head close†¦She looked up and across the barn, and her lips came together and smiled mysteriously† (Steinbeck 619). The image of Rose of Sharon nursing the half-starved man with her breast milk is perhaps one of the most startling and moving images in all of literature. Rose of Sharon is breast-feeding an ailing man with her own breast milk, which is a courageous action. â€Å"The actions of Rose of Sharon breastfeeding an ailing man compares significantly with the actions by Jesus in the Bible to save the people on e arth. Jesus, as it is widely known, helped those in need. He provided food for those hungry, provided cure for those ill, and provided guidance to those persecuted† (Ditsky). This example from Ditsky strongly reinforces that the actions by Rose of Sharon is similar to those by Jesus. In this ending scene, Rose of Sharon helps the man by nourishing him through breastfeeding him. Feeding the 5000, Matthew 14:15-21, is a very famous story of Jesus in which he feeds a group of men by multiplying the amount of a basket of bread, fish, and wine to an unlimited amount for all. Like Jesus, Rose of Sharon nourishes the ailing man by providing nutrients that she has advantage in, but the man lacks in. Also, Mother Mary sacrifices herself by allowing God to take possession of her body and fertilize her with baby Jesus. Without such offering by Mary, Jesus may not have been able to be born into this world and save those in despair. Steinbeck reflects the societal issues of his days through this ending that symbolizes the actions of Jesus. He reflects upon the lack of warmth in people’s hearts and the lack of devotion towards religion during his days, the Great Depression. According to Kennedy, during the Great Depression, people’s donations decreased by 45 perc ent. People simply did not have the luxury and the willingness to help those in need (Kennedy 816). Furthermore, people felt contracted as they were undergoing financial difficulties. Such was a social impediment that Steinbeck wanted to address in his novel and eventually urge the readers to start going to church. Additionally, religion is clearly portrayed in the ending of The Grapes of Wrath via the usage of Casy. The simple characterization of Casy already portrays Steinbeck’s will to express religion in this novel. Jim Casy is an ex-preacher of the hometown of Tom Joad. According to Ditsky, â€Å"Casy represents how the many situations in life impact the ever-changing souls of human beings and the search within to discover one’s true identity and beliefs. Casy, however, was much more complex than the average individual. His unprejudiced, unified, Christ-like existence twists and turns with every mental and extraneous disaccord.† As we can clearly tell from this source, Casy shows religion by representing the impacts of the hardships during the 1930s upon the common man’s pursuit for religious enlightenment. According to Steinbeck: Pa said, â€Å"Where at’s the preacher? We oughta have a prayer.† â€Å"Don’t like to pray?† â€Å"I’ll say ‘em,† said the preacher (196) During the time of hardship of Grandpa’s death on the road, while heading towards California, Casy provides the necessary guidance by giving a prayer for Grandpa. This prayer eases the grievances the Joads holds towards the shabby death of Grandpa. Furthermore, Casy, although he is an ex-priest, he does not practice the sermons and carry out the duties of a priest, he simply refuses to. This explicitly suggests the strayed actions by the characters. In the end, Casy is a fabulous and clear reflection of the general population. Casy represents something graver than a simple faith-lost priest. He represents the guidance back into religion from the hardships of the world. With the poverty in reality, followed the poverty in belief and in their hearts. Loss of faith was prevalent. As seen through the aforementioned statistic, people’s regular attendance to church decreased significantly. The common man’s loss in faith is depicted by Casy’s disposition in the l ocal society that he belongs in, by being one of the last few people left in the abandoned town of the Joads’. Pro abortion Essayâ€Å"Never Breathed,† said Mrs. Wainwritght softly. â€Å"Never was alive.† (606) Rose of Sharon gave birth to a stillborn. Her pregnancy did not bear the colorful fruits that she anticipated. Pregnancy is a big symbolization in the novel because pregnancy universally means the beginning of new life, that it is possible for the family to continue its bloodline. Therefore, Rose of Sharon giving birth to a stillborn symbolizes that the promises of a new life and the continuation of the bloodline are jeopardized. The social issue that The Grapes of Wrath addresses of the Great Depression through Rose of Sharon’s pregnancy is the issue of the decrease in birth rates during Steinbeck’s time. According to a 1998 research done by the Harvard medical team, the birth rate during the Great Depression dropped by 45 percent, compared to the statistics a decade earlier (Kennedy 816). Newly born babies add the pinch of new producer and consumer, resulting in the flow of the economy. Therefore, as the birth rate drops, the economy is also put in a bad position in t he long run. The role of women in society during the late 1930s is further exemplified through the usage of Ma in The Grapes of Wrath. Ma’s progression of her role is very unique in the sense that she symbolizes the expansion of women’s influence and role in society during the late 1930s. According to Cederstrom, â€Å"Ma begins with simple roles in her family as a housewife, however as the story progresses, she evolves into elapsing Pa’s authorities in the family†¦it is interesting to note how she contrasts with the common belief of the rights of a woman†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Indeed, as Cederstrom states, Ma greatly progresses her status in the Joads family. However, Ma is still simply a reflection of the social paradigm of women during the Great Depression. Ma, reflecting such phenomenon, took over the role as the driving force behind the Joad family. Before the transcontinental journey of the Joads, Pa was the head figure of the family, leading discussions on major family is sues. However, as the story progresses, Pa shows his ineptitude as the leader of the family by not being able to fulfill his role as the breadwinner as he fails to find a sustainable job in California. Ma’s enhanced role can be seen in The Grapes of Wrath, â€Å"The eyes of the whole family shifted back to Ma. She was the power. She had taken control†¦ All we got is the family unbroken..I aint scared while were all here, all thats alive, but I aint gonna see us bust up (Steinbeck 206). Although Pa has the legal rights to flog Ma, Ma is not afraid of such floggings and makes her points heard in the family. Pa threatens to flog Ma, however Pa is not able to carry out his actions, proving Ma’s new active role in the family. With the Great Depression in its full steps and the arrival of World War II, men’s positions in the nation shriveled. In the United States, unemployment rates surged, up to 25 percent of the ‘working age’ population lacked permanent jobs. The large reason that men were not employed was due to the fact that employers had to pay higher wages to men than women because men usually were the sole breadwinners in their families. This unemployment in men required women of the individual families to fetch jobs and work to support themselves even in menial fields. Furthermore, as the World War II a rrived, men were forced into participation in war by government conscription. Their occupations in workforces had to be substituted by women in order to keep the economy running smoothly as America had to send over 500,000 men into war in Europe. With enhanced economic positions, it was possible for women to make their voices heard in an invigorated manner. Also, the 19th amendment calling for national woman suffrage had just recently been passed in 1913, further strengthening woman’s status in society. In conclusion, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck clearly reflects the social phenomena of his days, during the Great Depression. The tears, fraud, and dreams are the major ideas. The tears of the ‘Okies’ fleeing from the financially devastated regions of the Great Plains to the fertile regions of California in dreams of reviving their families is clearly conveyed in this novel. The fraud that exists in the advertisements of job opportunities and the dreams the people still cling on to on those advertisements for jobs are shown. People in such devastating conditions can do anything. In the final statements of the novel, a hungry man is also in a desperate state and ignores his moral justifications and drink breast milk from a woman, Rose of Sharon. This scene is like a condensed version of the novel, with all aspects of religion, moralistic obligations, and feminism covered. Mr. Ditsky’s views upon the aforementioned issues were all valid, especially upon the t opic of religion. Also, Mr. Cederstrom’s views on moralistic obligations were also very valid. Through such careful descriptions and thoughts behind the storyline, John Steinbeck has respectfully earned the heart of the audience and readers who will sooner or later read The Grapes of Wrath. One cannot stop himself from hoping that we will not fall into the negative traps of our human nature that were present by the general population during the Great Depression again in 21st century.

Life in Ireland Typhoid Fever free essay sample

During the 1930s in Ireland, the majority of the people lived in the countryside. There were several late marriages and high birth-rates in the rural areas of Ireland at this time. Numerous people from Ireland were immigrating to England because of overcrowding and poor economic conditions. Ireland was also fighting an economic war with Britain at this time. Some popular forms of entertainment in Ireland were cinema, cross-road dancing, and sports. 2.There are several similarities to the poem about the highwayman and the story of Patricia and Frankie. In The Highwayman Bess, the landlord’s daughter was not allowed to talk to the highway man because of her father. This is similar to Typhoid Fever because Frank and Patricia were not allowed to talk to each other because the nuns and nurses wouldnt allow it because of their diseases. Another similarity is that Bess dies in â€Å"The Highwayman† and Patricia dies in â€Å"Typhoid Fever†. We will write a custom essay sample on Life in Ireland Typhoid Fever or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It also seemed as if Frank was falling in love with Patricia, like how the thief had fallen in love with Bess. In Typhoid Fever Frank stated, â€Å"I’d love to do that myself, come by moonlight for Patricia in the next room not giving a hoot though hell should bar the way.† My inference of this line was that Frank felt that his relationship with Patricia was similar to the thief’s relationship with Bess. 3.Frank McCourt was able to re-create the voice of a 10-year-old boy in â€Å"Typhoid Fever† because the events described in â€Å"Typhoid Fever† were of his own. â€Å"Typhoid Fever† came from a memoir Frank had written, which was called Angela’s Ashes. A memoir is a biography or an account of historical events, especially one written from personal knowledge. I also think Frank McCourt was able to re-create the voice of a 10-year-old boy because of how he had the main character act and talk. For example, when Patricia asks how old he is and appears disappointed when he says ten, Frank says, â€Å"But I’ll be eleven in August, next month.† Usually children want to be perceived as older. So when you ask a child how old they are, they usually are very exact, saying the year and month. Another example form the story is how Frank reacts when Patricia mimics the nun. In the story it says, â€Å"Then Patricia whispers, Give thanks, Francis, give thanks, and say your rosary,  Francis and I laugh so hard a nurse runs in to see if I’m all right.† If an adult had heard Patricia mimic the nun they would be able to control their laughter enough so that the nurse would not have heard anything.