Things Fall Apart Individuality vs. Nationality - 843 Words

Of the many themes that appear in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, individuality versus nationality becomes a central topic as the story progresses and develops. With the invasion and colonization of the European missionaries, Okonkwo’s nationality and contributions to society are called into question. Achebe explains the idea of nationality over individuality by showing that society is the precursor to individuality. Examining the life of the protagonist, Okonkwo, before and after his resistance exemplifies this key idea in Things Fall Apart. Without society, there would be no individuality. Okonkwo’s characteristics include praise and reputation, which his tribe gives him for throwing the Cat. Achebe explains Okonkwo’s reputation,†¦show more content†¦Okonkwo’s family was under his control, as the culture expected of him, which allowed him to have less conflicts and issues in his life. At this time, his own customs carried more importan ce than his own personal needs which resulted in a better life for him. He was able to be a part of society and have unity. However, once he steps away from this life, his life falls apart. When looking at his life before this resistance, it is clear to see that life was better when he was a part of the culture and when he conformed to the expectations of society. However, when Okonkwo retaliate back against society, there are dire consequences. In his first act of defiance, Okonkwo strikes down his adopted son, Ikemefuna, killing him. Even though the elders instruct him not to do so, or even partake in the killing, Okonkwo meets the consequences of his action with extreme guilt and depression. While this lasts for weeks, Okonkwo’s next act of defiance causes much more severe consequences. He is sent into exile, turning him into what the opposite of what he wished to become, a disgrace like Unoka. His goals of not being his father goes to ruins as he further caters for his pe rsonal needs. However, even when returning back to the society from which he was exiled, his personal emotions still get in the way. When angered at â€Å"the white man’s power†, Okonkwo â€Å"drew his machete†¦Okonkwo’s machete descendedShow MoreRelatedCanada And The United States1926 Words   |  8 Pagesallies]†(Leskun, 4), this relationship reveals to be the one that signals Canada’s most significant foreign policy. Pulled with ups and downs, the relation tests Canada’s identity as an independent nation. Though we share the same language and are just a border apart, Canada and the U.S. may not be the ‘best friends’ they are referred as. 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The Secret Life Of Saeed The Pessoptimist And Oscar Wilde

In Emile Habiby’s The Secret Life of Saeed: the Pessoptimist and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest the idea that names actually mean what they say saves these two works from becoming tragedies because it gives The Importance of Being Earnest a comedic plot, the names in The Secret Life of Saeed: the Pessoptimist represent present choices for Saeed, and the characters in both works inhabit worlds that do not reject the notion that names have meaning. The meaning of names is incredibly important in both stories. Without them both Ernest and Saeed would have to deal with situations that are much more tragic. The characters in The Importance of Being Earnest, particularly Gwendolyn and Cecily, believe in the notion that one’s name indicates one’s characteristics. While he is under the guise of Ernest, Jack confesses his feelings to Gwendolyn and she comments that her â€Å"ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Ernest† because â€Å"there is something in that name that inspires absolute confidence† (Wilde, 299). Gwendolyn believes that the name Ernest grants one certain trustworthy qualities even though that it not necessarily true. Even Cecily echoes these lines to Algernon, saying that â€Å"it had always been a girlish dream of [hers] to love some one whose name was Ernest† (Wilde, 299). When Jack asks how Gwendolyn would feel if his name was actually Jack, she expresses displeasure towards the name because â€Å"there is very little music in the name Jack† (Wilde,

Music Comparison free essay sample

Fanny Mendelssohn Hansel and Ludwig van Beethoven Inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven and the ideas of Romanticism, the new group of composers in music were born. One composer, Fanny Mendelssohn Hansel, grew to love composing music, like Beethoven. The child prodigies both delighted in learning and performing music at a young age. Hansel learned music from many different teachers, but Beethoven was taught by more known Instructors. Although the two composers both lived In Germany. Hey created very different compositions. While Hansel and Beethoven have many differences between them, there are also molarities, which are sometimes over looked. Music was always a large part of both Hansel and Beethovens lives, beginning from when they were children. The composers grew up only four hours away from each other, yet in both households, they were composing music at a young age. The first person to teach Beethoven music was his own father. We will write a custom essay sample on Music Comparison or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Hansel first teacher; her own mother.At the age of twelve, Hansel started writing her own music, while Beethoven was composing by eleven years of age. These composers started writing at a very early age, proving that they are musical geniuses. Considering the many teachers the composers had, it loud explain how they could create such beautiful music. Beethoven had many noteworthy teachers while Hansel was taught by many lesser-known, but Just as talented, educators. Once Beethovens fathers teachings had reached Its end, he was taught by Cotton Neff. Neff taught mainly the organ and compositions to Beethoven and made a comment saying that If he continues like this, he will be, without a doubt, the new Mozart Although his teachers helped him greatly, Beethoven gave his first performance before any educator had taught him, when he was seven and a half, at Cologne, a large city in Germany. Her parents first taught her what was normally expected from a child, but later Hansel was taught by tutors the aspects of music. Some notable teachers that Hansel studied under were Marble Bigot, Ludwig Berger. And Carl Frederica Seltzer.Hansel only performed once In public when she was twelve years old, from memory. Although she was very talented, Handels father demanded that she never play music for a living, but maintain the role of a normal woman in their time. Hansel obeyed her father, but Felix Mendelssohn, her younger brother, was willing to help in her career. Mendelssohn was also musically lamented and performed for the courts, sometimes playing Handels works that she composed. Once when Mendelssohn was performing for Queen Victoria, she was very impressed and mentioned that the work Italian was her favorite.Mendelssohn then admitted that that was his sisters work. Hansel often composed lieder, bagatelles, fugues, preludes, sonatas, and choral and instrumental ensemble music, showing her versatility of music that she could perform and compose. One of her more famous works; Oratorios nacho den Builder deer Bible was a cantata. Another example of Handels compositions Is one of her lieder, Swan Song. Beethoven, mantas, symphonies, songs, quartets and more. He was almost completely deaf when thieving wrote his third to eighth symphony.Many of Beethovens works are more famous than Handels, but his most famous symphonies are the fifth and seventh symphonies. The many works that Hansel and Beethoven wrote were different than each others, but Beethoven is often known to help inspire the Romantic period composers. These two composers inspire many others to write and perform music throughout the world. There are many similarities between the two composers, even f Beethoven died only twenty-two years after Hansel was born. The two were great imposers and musicians starting in childhood, increasing their knowledge of music early on.

The Devil and Tom Walker free essay sample

Satire is used by many famous writers to create humor and to criticize people’s unwise, and senseless actions. As George Orwell once said, All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. (Orwell, 1945). People will always be greedy and think they are smarter than others but this is untrue. The one who thinks he is smarter or better than the other will always end up losing in life. In the short story â€Å"The Devil and Tom Walker† by Washington Irving, satire is incorporated in a perfect way. This story is about Tom Walker, who makes a pact with the devil, and ends up lending money at high interest rates. When Tom Walker thinks he is smarter than his customers and does not give more time to one of his customers to pay him back, Tom’s life ends in an instant. Through the use of satire Irving criticizes the institution of marriage and the folly of human nature. We will write a custom essay sample on The Devil and Tom Walker or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Irving criticizes the institution of marriage in many ways throughout the story. He introduces Tom to the story by pointing out the following: â€Å"He had a wife as miserly as himself; they were so miserly that they even conspired to cheat each other.† In this quote Irving substantiates that marriage will lead one to temptation, and that many people that think are happy with their partner will always look for other partners during marriage. Another example of Irving’s use of satire to criticize marriage is when he writes, â€Å"Whatever the woman could lay hands on she hid away: a hen could not crackle but she was on the alert to secure the new-laid egg.† Irving is stating that marriage will make one selfish with one’s partner. He is trying to show that it is better to own things individually, because when someone commits to marriage, one is also agreeing to have common property with one’s wife/husband. Irving mocks how marriage instead of making one share everything will actually make one even more selfish. This selfishness will lead to problems in one’s married life. Another quote that shows Irving’s criticism to marriage is â€Å"Her voice was often hear in wordy warfare with her husband; and his face sometimes showed signs that their conflicts were not confined to words.† This quote illustrates how marriage can lead to violence, and fights can lead to divorce. This is why the reader can infer that Irving does not believe that marriage is the sacred institution it is proclaimed to be. Moreover, Irving is also a master at creating dark humor: â€Å"Tom consoles himself for the loss of his property with the loss of his wife; for he was a man of fortitude. He felt something like gratitude towards the black woodsman, who he considered had done him a kindness.† This quote is comic because one would think that Tom would be really sad after his wife’s death, but he is sad because his property i s missing, and consoles himself with her death. It is ironic that Tom would be happy for the loss of his wife. Clearly, Washington Irving uses satire throughout the story to criticize the imperfect institution of marriage. Irving not only uses satire to criticize the institution of marriage, but also uses satire to criticize the folly of human nature. The following quote, â€Å"All her avarice was awakened at the mention of hidden gold, and she urged her husband to comply with the black man’s terms and secure what would make them wealthy for life† shows how humans are always greedy and the only thing they care about is money and wealth. Tom’s wife does not even think about the offer and what troubles it could bring her. She only wants the gold, but she does not even know what she is getting into. Another example of Irving’s criticism is when he says, â€Å"He thought with regret on the bargain he had made with his black friend, and set his wits to work to cheat him out of the conditions. He became, therefore, all of a sudden, a violent churchgoer. He prayed loudly and strenuously as if heaven were to be taken by force of lungs.† Irving says this because he is trying to show how people are complete hypocrites when they are trying to hide the evil actions they have incurred in. Evidently, satire is being used to show human duplicity. Although he is going to church, and he might seem as a good Samaritan, inside he is full of evil. A third way Irving criticizes the folly of human kind is in the following quote, â€Å"In this way he made money hand over hand; became a rich and mighty man, and exalted his cocked hat upon change. He built himself, as usual, a vast house, out of ostentation; but left the greater part of it unfinished and unfurnished out of parsimony. He even set up a carriage in the fullness of his vain glory, though he nearly starved the horses which drew it.† Irving portrays a very important message through this quote. Essentially, Irving is highlighting the fact that even though Tom has enough money to feed his horses, he prefers to starve them because he is too avaricious. Irving is transmitting the message that the folly of human nature many times has to do with greed and selfishness. Evidently Irving is trying to criticize human vices through this short story. To conclude, Irving does a splendid job of connecting marriage and the folly of human nature with hypocrisy, greed, and ambition. The author delivers a very important message through his use of satire, and makes the reader realize that marriage is not a noble â€Å"problem-free† institution, and that the folly of human nature can lead to one’s downfall. The dark humor that the author integrates in the short story enriches his strong criticism to these topics.