Modern Irony Essay Example for Free

Modern Irony Essay Since the beginning of time, man has attempted to unravel the seemingly infinite mysteries of life. The English playwright Tom Stoppard has written plays that address the existence of fate (or a predestined outcome for every human being) and controlling ones own destiny. His plays also deal with the many other uncertainties that arise during a normal persons life; such as sex, how we know things, etc. (Tom Stoppard) Stoppards utilization of satire and drawn parallels mirror the image of lifes faults and intricacies. His plays serve to show people the humor and irony that life presents. During the time that Stoppard wrote his first play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstein, society was experiencing a social upheaval. The late sixties was a time of experimentation and existentialism. People were asking questions about their very existence in a way never before seen. In this climate, Stoppard saw the opportunity to begin writing plays that dealt with the issues of the time (Overview of Tom Stoppard). He took a whimsical spin though, on the method in which he delivered it. He embarked on the continuing journey of a great literary tradition, but diverged from its path by ridiculing it. His desire to write plays was not a spontaneous venture; during this era, many people wanted to express their thoughts and feelings, and plays were a common medium. Stoppard observed this and pondered if success and knowledge could be his as well. The general question being asked around this time was Why are we here? Man has always sought an answer to this question, but now more than ever was it expressed in literature and plays. Stoppards craft shows a propensity for humor, which offers a more light-hearted viewpoint of this previously serious and mundane subject. Stoppard asks the question of not only Why are we here? but also How are we here? as well. He explores the intricacies of life in an attempt to derive a meaning. His comical touch alleviates the heavy association of philosophy though. Whether or not his question is answered is secondary to the method in which we view it. In Stoppards eyes, it is more important to live rather than to comprehend why we live. This approach brought fanfare to Stoppard, as society saw his style as fresh; and a tangible device to which they could relate. Literary history has had a heavy impact on Stoppards method and conceptual presentation. He admits to being swooned by such masterpieces as Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufock by T. S. Elliot. The ideas that he extracted from these artists and their works helped him divulge his own style to which he could further literature. A parallel may be drawn between Waiting for Godot and Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead. Both works feature two men, and their journey in existentialism. Becketts version has them waiting for a surreal character (Godot) that, in the end, never appears. The characters are portrayed as confused, and the play takes on an air of severe depression. The play is very much an appeal to the audience, as they too are overcome by this depression. The characters slowly fade away, emotionless and unexcitable. Stoppards version though has his characters embark on a journey; a fruitless journey, but a goal to meet none the less. Beckett disarms his audience, while Stoppard embraces them into his play; making the audience feel at home and comfortable. Stoppard diffuses the rather heavy atmosphere belied by Beckett with satire and a whimsical wit. For example, In Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead, Stoppard portrays the idea of death as a game. He does this in an attempt to show the audience that it is not to be feared. He achieves this by his satirical depiction of the internal play within Hamlet by Shakespeare. The characters in the play perish, and then the actual characters die in the exact same manner. The audience can identify with death, as all humans are concerned with their own demise. They take away though, a much less serious approach in viewing it. The other author, Elliot, often depicted his characters as stumbling and indecisive. One of his most famous works, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, deals with a man who is enamored with the variables and uncertainties of approaching a woman that he admires. In the poem, Prufrock realizes that only he cares about his decision, and whether he chooses to pursue her or not, will not matter. He sees himself as part of his own world; in which he is the sole occupant. He, sadly, is only coherent enough in his world though to realize how much he is potentially missing by not being completely immersed in it. He cannot solve this problem though, and continues wandering and pondering till the end of time. Stoppard took away from Elliot a similar stance to character development. He portrays his characters as aware, but not completely in tune with their surroundings. The effect is one of dismay, but comical as well. Stoppards portrayal is more humorous in nature, displaying them as bungling and unresponsive. This is exemplified in his play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead. His characters attempt to divulge the plan and their purpose as designated by the King (Claudius), but are unable to fully grasp its meaning. These literary greats do not contribute the fabulous humor that Stoppard has developed though. His humorous elements can best be equated to his passion for the Theatre of the Absurd. This type of theater came into popularity during the 1950s and 1960s; and was applied to plays that portrayed the human situation without purpose and with absurd plot elements. This form was a reemergence of an attempt towards awareness of mans purpose in life; the sense of wonder that man has always had concerning how things work and why. In some respect, it was anti-theater, as it went against the basic premise of regular theater. It was illogical and usually had very little or no plot (Culik). Stoppards fascination with this art form had a profound impact on his own personal style. Sigmund Freud, a proponent of the Absurd, said, In trying to burst the bounds of logic and language, the absurd theater is trying to shatter the enclosing walls of the human condition itself. (Culik) This confirms the spatial concepts that the theater was attempting to portray, and Stoppards comedic element is based upon this illogical and removed nature. The play Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead is a satirical look upon the much more staunch play Hamlet. It delves into the lives of two supporting characters named Rosencrantz and Guildenstein. The characters unimportance is exemplified in the play by their lack of understanding and baffling thought patterns. This play shows Stoppards portrayal of artificiality of theater. The performance is not about the actual play, but the context of the play; the idea of attending the performance. The characters appeal directly to the audience, instead of becoming immersed in its story and plot. The effect is comical, as the play begins with them merely spinning coins and making bizarre implications towards the audience. Rosencrantz has spun the coin and received heads nearly 85 times. His humorous portrayal of the law of averages is his justification for his luck. This is the plays first look into why things happen. The characters are unable to come to a proper conclusion though; and the path that Rosencrantz begins upon (the law of averages) cannot be farther removed from the truth. The play continues with these hilarious situations, finally having the pair receive their mission from Claudius the King. The pair ponders why they have received the mission, and why they must complete it. Stoppard constantly asserts that a play is being read. ; instead of allowing the reader to delve into a story. He makes the reader think of Hamlet, and its tragic implications; and applies a humorous tone to it. In the end of the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are supposedly murdered (the English king is instructed to execute them, but their actual deaths are not witnessed), but instead of a grand exit, they merely fade away. Stoppard shows through this that the characters had served only a menial and insignificant purpose. The reader is unable to sympathize with the characters demise, as the play is portrayed with a comical tone. This disservice to death with satire is both eye widening and thought provoking. A person is assaulted with the moral implications of death, instead of offering a deaf sympathy to the characters grief. Stoppards ability to allow the playgoers to analyze what they feel is his greatest achievement in the work; not the story itself. Stoppards play Arcadia is another intelligent play that provokes the reader to appraise mans life long debacles. In the play, the characters attempt to grasp the mysteries of sex, and a path towards knowledge that leads to an understanding of the future. The latter is portrayed as an equation developed by Thomasina, in an attempt to control her own destiny. Her professor, Septimus, also contributes to the equation by way of a lesson to his student, Thomasina. He explains to her that the loss of knowledge isnt the end of the world; as it is rediscovered eventually in the future. This subject is an explanation of humanitys technological progression and our knowledge. The play attempts to allow the reader to grasp the many unknown or misunderstood concepts in life. Mysteries such as sex can only be acquired through practice and progression of time. Stoppard appeals to the general public that things cannot be instantly understood; they must be studied and experimented with to fully grasp the full meaning. These mysteries will eventually be solved, but it shall take time and patience; nothing is instantaneous in life. Stoppards inclusion of Thomasinas equation is both humorous and practical in its implication. Thomasinas goal was to create an equation that could more or less tell the future. It is humorous to surmise that a simple equation can predict the future with numbers. The limitless variables and uncertainties in life will forever impede such an advancement. Stoppard attempts to explain that life itself is intangible; it can neither be predicted nor reduced to a simple equation. Stoppards plays contain many useful outlooks on how a person should view their life on earth. People are always concerned with the future and their own death (and when it will occur). Stoppard believes that man shouldnt view life with such a critical eye; and instead should accept certain facts to be true. Man is powerless concerning the ability to control life. There are many uncertainties in life that are both humorous and infinitely escapable to the human mind. His plays show inept characters driven into the ground by their consumption of the study of life. Stoppard suggests through his characters comical adventures that life is for living, and the consequence of a life spent longing and pondering equates to a life disenfranchised of pulp and meaning. The meaning which man longs for cannot be quantified; it must be experienced to break the surface of significance. Works Cited Stoppard, Tom. Arcadia. Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Tom Stoppard. DISCovering Biography. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 17 January 2005Â  http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SRC

Rhetorical Analysis Essay -- Argumentative Essays Rhetoric

Rhetorical Analysis In a persuasive essay, rhetorical appeals are a very important tool to influence the audience toward the author’s perspective. The three rhetorical appeals, which were first developed by Aristotle, are pathos, logos, and ethos. Pathos appeals to the emotions of the audience, logos appeals to the facts or evidence and ethos exhibits the credibility of the writer. William Bennett is a well-respected man in the political world. He served as Secretary of Education and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under President Ronald Reagan and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George H.W. Bush. His essay entitled â€Å"Leave Marriage Alone,† which was published in Newsweek, June 3, 1996, is a response to an article written by Andrew Sullivan advocating same-sex marriage. Using rhetorical analysis I will determine whether or not this essay is effective and why. Bennett is a conservative republican who is a strong advocate for family values. The purpose of Bennett’s essay is to expose the downside of Andrew Sullivan’s argument in favor of same-sex marriage. He wants to persuade those who have read Sullivan’s essay to side with him. His audience seems to be primarily middle-aged heterosexuals who already take his stance on the topic. Bennett’s essay is clear, concise and to the point. He talks about the key issues from the first sentence in the first paragraph. The structure of his essay is deductive, beginning with â€Å"the two key issues that divide proponents and opponents of same sex marriage. The first is weather legally recognizing same-sex unions would strengthen or weaken the instition. The second has to do with the basic understanding of mar... ...etorical appeal will help to expose fallacies in the writers’ own argument. William Bennett has some good arguments but his lack of rhetorical appeal weakens his essay. He writes from the point of view of a bullheaded politician who shows little consideration for his opposition. He exhibits no appeal to emotion and comes off cold and without compassion. He gives no facts or statistics behind his arguments, just generalizations about a group of people it seems he knows very little about. All in all, Bennett’s essay is very feeble because he chose to ignore the literary laws Aristotle founded many centuries earlier. This essay is proof that these laws are truly effective. Works Cited: Gruber, Sibylle, Ed. et al. Constructing Others, Constructing Ourselves. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt, 2002. Bennett, William. â€Å"Leave Marriage Alone.† Gruber 29-30.

Explore How Isolation used by both authors? Essay

One way in which Isolation is presented in through social isolation: it can be noted that Piggy is particularly a victim here. Golding states that the â€Å"naked crooks of [Piggy’s] knees were plump and that he was â€Å"shorter than the fair boy†. From Piggy’s immediate introduction, he is already portrayed as an outsider, in comparison with the â€Å"fair boy† who symbolises the other islanders. Perhaps Golding’s use of the word â€Å"naked† is an implicit way of suggesting Piggy’s vulnerability which is what ultimately leads to Piggy being socially isolated. An interesting instance of Piggy as a victim of social isolation is when he is forbidden to sit with the rest of the islanders; â€Å"Piggy sat expressionless behind the luminous wall of his myopia†- Golding is explicitly stating that Piggy is excluded because of his â€Å"myopia†, which is compared to a wall; the â€Å"luminous wall† represents a metaphorical wall between Piggy and the rest of society. Piggy himself appears to accept that he is not accepted by referring to the islanders as â€Å"them other kids†; the word â€Å"them† highlights this clear difference in social status between Piggy and the other islanders and hence why he is excluded. One could argue that Golding is utilising social isolation to criticise British culture; as many were a victim of social prejudice when this book was published in the 1950s. This is comparable to the social isolation faced by Kingshaw in I’m the King of the Castle; which, like Piggy’s, is caused by Kingshaw being a member of the lower class. Hill immediately indicates Kingshaw lower class, upon his introduction describing the sky as â€Å"the colour of dirty sixpences† – I feel this is interesting on two notes, perhaps the six pence is an indication of Kinghaw’s lower class because a sixpence was of little value, or equally the â€Å"dirty colours† could be a form of pathetic fallacy, and hence a form of prolepsis beckoning for Kingshaw to suffer social isolation. One example of the social isolation faced by Kingshaw is when he escapes from Waring’s to the remote Hang Wood, which is depicted (from Kingshaw’s point of view) as â€Å"being completely hidden† and thus why â€Å"he liked it†. The word hidden is comparable to isolation, something that Kingshaw could only dream about. Hill, like Golding, may also be criticising the divide in classes, perhaps she felt that the lower class were often mis-treated, the effects of which burdened on the youngest of the family. Both Piggy and Kingshaw are comparable because they face social isolation because they are of lower class. However, it should be noted that whilst Piggy does not wish to subjected to isolation, Kingshaw see isolation as method of escaping persecution, and therefore he embraces isolation. Because of this, I feel Hill has been the more effective author in here use of isolation, isolation has a greater meaning in I’m the King of the Castle, it is Kinghaw’s only method of surviving Hooper’s reign of terror, whereas in Lord of the Flies, the reader can argue Golding’s portrayal of Piggy as an irritating character is also a cause of his isolation. An issue both authors face however is that their ideas on class are now out-dated, the modern reader may not understand references made by Hill and Golding regarding class. Another way that Golding utilises isolation, is in the portrayal and hence the effects of the isolation of children from adults. When the children discover there aren’t any adults on the island, they begin to distribute â€Å"adult† roles in society, and begin creating their own rules. Initially Piggy appears to be horrified at the prospect of isolation from adults; nervously asking â€Å"Aren’t there any grown ups at all?†- Piggy the voice of reason is aware of the ill-effects of children inhabiting an island by themselves, and most likely explains the cause of concern in his voice. This isolation from â€Å"grow-ups† has devastating effects, as the children begin to lose contact with the rules that the very adults made themselves: this is symbolised when the savages are â€Å"painted out of recognition†- in this case recognition could symbolically represent the rules of society (adults) but because of the isolation faced by the savages, the y no longer obey such rules. The verb â€Å"painted† is especially effective here as it describes the manner in which isolation affects the young: slowly over time. Another instance of isolation causing behaviour that our society would not accept is when a dictatorship emerges under Jack: one of the highlights of this being when a savage states â€Å"[Jack] is going to beat Wilfred† – the casual manner in which the savage speaks depicts the distances that Jack’s â€Å"tribe† have moved from society, there is no emotion in that phrase and this only further suggests the negative impact on children when they are isolated from adults. Perhaps Golding is being cynical of human nature, criticising humans and their lack of empathy which only appears to be existent because of the rules of society. Maybe, Golding see’s the deeper impacts of bad human nature, such as poverty in poorer countries.

Stem Cell Research Is Absolutely Wrong And Should Be...

For a few decades, although mostly within the past fifteen years, medical teams have relished in the research of stem cells, especially embryonic stem cells. The fascinating potential associated with these cells is intoxicating, and scientists across the nation are eager apply their findings towards curing diseases and saving lives. Yet despite all of the excitement, many people are uncomfortable with the topic. From its inception, stem cell research has consistently sparked ethical conflict. Although many types of stem cell research should certainly be allowed, embryonic stem cell research is absolutely wrong and should be prohibited. Stem cells are of high interest due to the fact that, unlike other types of cells, they are able to multiply into a variety of different specialized cell types (Panno, 2010, p. xiv). When a stem cell divides, that newly created stem cell can either remain as is, or it can develop into a specific type of cell with a particular function (â€Å"Stem Cell Basics,† 2002). Stem cells can also regenerate indefinitely, and will continue to divide even in a laboratory environment, without sacrificing their distinctive characteristics (Bellomo, 2006, p. 7). These unique features have proven to be quite valuable, and the prospect of curing serious diseases through stem cell manipulation is predicted to be on the horizon (Panno, 2010, p. xv). There are two main types of human stem cells—embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells (â€Å"Stem Cell Basics,†Show MoreRelatedStem Cell Research : A Controversial Topic Discussing Life Or Death865 Words   |  4 PagesKegley Health Science- 4th period 22 September 2015 Stem Cell Research Stem cell research is a controversial topic discussing life or death. 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