Funhouse Mirrors Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason Essay

Tim Bartlett ENG 396 March 23, 2011 Funhouse Mirrors: Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason â€Å"Jane Eyre† is a book centred around female duality. In a time when females were still expected to fulfill their â€Å"womanly duties,† Charlotte Bronte wrote a novel dealing with a woman’s view on morality sexuality, passion sensibility, and conformity insanity, among other themes. This motif of duality plays a strong part in the dynamism that makes up the book, and is not limited to the themes, but is also used to relate many of the characters to the titular Jane. In â€Å"The Mystery at Thornfield,† Valerie Beattie makes claims that the character Bertha Mason’s insanity is a representation of rebellion toward the limitations of Victorian women. Not only is†¦show more content†¦Although Bertha’s seclusion is a result of her insanity and unacceptable behaviour, Jane’s isolation seems to be the cause of some mental illness, throwing her into a panic attack in the red room wh ere she believes her Uncle Reed’s ghost dwells. It must be noted, though, that Jane is a child at this point in the novel, with an active imagination. Bronte may be making a point then, that children should not be shunned for their inventiveness and imagination, as was so common in her day. However, there is a fine line, and socially acceptable age, that separates a healthy imagination from madness. There is a clear lack of this knowledge in Bertha, whom does not appear to have a firm grip on reality. Madness, however, does not merely deal with concepts of reality in â€Å"Jane Eyre.† Jane has bouts of uncontrollable speech, in which she must say what comes to her mind. Jane first loses control of her tongue in chapter IV, in which she accuses Mrs. Reed of wishing her dead, and later exclaims â€Å"I am not deceitful: if I were, I should say I loved you; but I declare, I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reed,† and goes on to evaluate the terrible treatment Mrs. Reed has given her, and the lack of love and compassion she has been shown while at Gateshead. In this instance, madness works in Jane’s favour. This temporary bout of mania allows Jane to finally express the

Gender Should Not Be Legal Essay - 1986 Words

â€Å"Learning to be Gendered†: â€Å"What does this even means†? No one wants to be gendered. Every individual works hard for what they earn in their life. It should never matter at all what their sex is or how they look. In today’s world, no one wants to be treated better than the other; everyone wants to be considered equal and have the same opportunity to succeed as the person next to them. In addition; to wanting to feel equal there is a law that states that men and women are equal. Then by issuing this law it is stating that no matter your gender, thing that you do should not be treated differently based on your sex. Everyone can be who they want to be because in the United States of America everyone gender I too similar and should never be judge. Both sexes have their own opinion and ways to do things and this should not cause any problems. There is truly no factual evidence that will show that our gender decides everything and while growing up gender is throne aside and only thing that should be treated different is the individuals character. Thus, there should not be gender difference with clothing, color, jobs, income, and sports because everyone should be every to settle their own fate based on their preference and not others. First of all, many believe that the colors of clothing we wear should not represent our gender. Many individuals like different colors and each color should not be based off of masculine or feminine. To start, many males like to wear darkerShow MoreRelatedGender And Gender Should Not Be Legal Essay1987 Words   |  8 Pagesearn in their life. It should never matter what their they look like or what their individual sex is or how they look. In today’s world, no one wants to be treated better than the other; everyone wants to be considered equal and have the same opportunity to succeed as the person next to them. In addition; to wanting to feel equal there is a law that states that men and women are equal. Then by issuing this law it is stating that no matter your gender, thing that you do should not be treated differentlyRead MoreShould Gender Selection Be Legalized in Australia for Non-Medical Reasons?1147 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Should parents have the right to choo se the gender of their future child? Should it be legalised in Australia for non-medical reasons?† Whether gender selection should be legalised in Australia for all parents to have the right to select the gender of their baby or whether it should stay illegal with the exception of issues caused by sex-linked medical diseases creates a discussion. Selections of different conditions which give a variety of different perspectives of gender selection are gatheredRead MoreDiscourse Community Project : Discourse1705 Words   |  7 Pagesauthors are writing about corresponding ideas and discussing their identical goals; the prevalence of gender inequality in the legal profession and the unjust consequences derived from it. Similarly, all five sources intentions are to oppose the standard viewpoint that gender inequality has diminished and provide evidence to support this claim. Their ideas of remedying gender inequality in the legal profession overlap as well as contradict one another. A discourse community is said to be resistantRead MoreIntroduction. Women In The Legal Profession Today Do Not1505 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Women in the legal profession today do not encounter most of the challenges that they were facing 50 years ago. However, gender-based issues still exist that females in the legal profession have to face in today’s world. According to the American Bar Association’s Market Research Department women comprised only 36 percent of legal professionals in the country in April 2016 (Smithey, 2017). The number of women in the legal profession has been growing in last few decades, but evenRead MoreQuestions On Employment Law Questions934 Words   |  4 Pagesby adopting strong anti-harassment policy. This should be clear to the workers and very strict measures being put against those who fall in the case. Periodically, training employees on the impacts of racial segregation is also very essential thus making them aware of the harassments and their impacts. Employers should also make sure they follow and enforce the policies they come up with. The policy should compose the f ollowing; The policy should clearly show the prohibited contacts which are takenRead MoreMarriage Is The Voluntary Union Of One Man And One Woman1662 Words   |  7 Pagesinstitutions to be able to marry same-sex couples at their discretion, safeguarding religious institutions and their delegates from victorious legal provocation if they refused to marry same-sex couples. This piece of legislation also warranted civil partners to metamorphose their civil partnership into marriage, and permitted transsexual individuals to alter their legal gender without inevitably terminated their existing marriage. The Scottish parliament have legislation in place to permit same-sex marriages;Read MoreGender Equality : A Fundamental Principle Of International Human Rights1229 Words   |  5 PagesGender equality is a basic human right. Yet millions of women around the world continue to experience discrimination. Some laws prohibit women to access housing, land, and property. â€Å"Economic and social discrimination results in fewer and poorer life choices for women, rendering them vulnerable to trafficking† (Women’s Human Rights and Gender Equality). 30% of women globally is affected by gender-based violence. Gender equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunitiesRead MorePatriarchy And The Liberation Of Women1679 Words   |  7 Pagesdefined as a broad political agenda which implies a commitment to equality between the sexes and a commitment to gender as a focus of concern and to analytic approaches that reflect women’s concrete experiences . Feminists such as Katherine Bartlett define it as ‘a family of different perspectives or frameworks used to analyse the actual, and the desirable relationship between law and gender.’ However, it is not just equality of the sexes being sought by feminists but more specifically, rejection ofRead MoreThe Equality of Marriage1021 Words   |  4 PagesMarriage Equality is legal action on marriage of same-gender couples. On the other hand, did you know that marriage equality has been discriminated and continues to be an issue amongst society all over the world? Many people oppose the issue while others fight to ensure equality. The homosexual community does not have the same access to rightful benefits equal to the way heterosexual couples do. Responsibilities and legal benefits are offered by marriage to protect the couples’ families. MarriageRead MoreThe Judiciary Of England And Wales1247 Words   |  5 Pageslaw jurisdictions. The country faces gender and eth nicity diversity as the major dimension of inclusiveness in the judicial system. Critics have raised general arguments in rationalising judicial diversity as well as the essence of having judicial appointments and procedures adhering to the requirements of equal opportunity laws and equality. Diverse compunctions of the judiciary have higher capacitates of responsiveness to experiences and needs of different legal system subjects. On the other hand

How does Alan Bennett make the audience feel empathy for Doris in A cream Cracker under the Settee Free Essays

A cream cracker under the settee is a dramatic monologue written by Alan Bennett in 1987 for television, as part of his Talking Heads series for the BBC. Doris is in her seventies. This hints at her being old and vulnerable in need of care and assistance. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Alan Bennett make the audience feel empathy for Doris in A cream Cracker under the Settee? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Moreover, she outlines that she does not â€Å"attempt to dust†, this is maybe because she is physically unable or consumed by her thoughts. Zulema says that her â€Å"dustings days are over†. This makes you feel sorry for Doris and deeply empathise with her. She may have a fear of dirt – rupophobia or she may just be an exceptionally sanitary person. Furthermore, Zulema exploits Doris’ old age and feelings by saying she â€Å"doesn’t have the sense she was born with†, this maybe true but it is inconsiderate towards Doris’ feelings. Then again, Zulema does have the right to speak her mind, as she has to put up with Doris’s nagging all week. Doris is never satisfied with Zulema’s housekeeping saying, â€Å"Zulema doesn’t dust, she half-dusts† This emphasises Doris obsession with cleanliness, maybe suggesting that she has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Alternatively, maybe occupying her mind with such things helps her forget the melancholy she feels deep within. However, as we progress through the monologue we learn that Zulema in fact intimidates Doris. Ultimately, making Zulema the more dominating character. She does not hesitate in telling Doris â€Å"I am the only person that stands between you and Stafford House.† In spite of this, Doris is adamant that she will not lose her independence and is sure that she will remain in her own home. Another good example of this is when â€Å"she shoves the duster down the side of the chair†. We can only assume that Doris does this to avoid a lecture or confrontation with Zulema, preventing further distress. Again, we feel empathy for Doris as important issues such as treatment of the aged, growing old and life choices are brought to our attention. Therefore, we can conclude that she sometimes feels unhappy and unsettled in her own home. In the midst of all this, the fact remains Doris is suffering from a â€Å"numby† leg. Alan Bennett deliberately places talk about her leg between pauses so that the audience has time to focus on and consider Doris’s current situation and therefore feel a great deal of compassion for her. These strategic pauses are used constantly throughout the monologue, giving us plenty to sympathise with. Throughout the monologue, the ending of each scene is indication by the simple stage direction â€Å"Go to black†. This maybe connotes a temporal shift or the passing of time. Moreover, before each scene fades to black, Alan Bennett gives the audience something to ponder over and keep in the back of their heads. For the whole of the monologue, Doris speaks to us directly. This enhances her vulnerability, yet she maybe biased, as we only know her point of view and nobody else’s. This leads us to believe that Doris thinks everything revolves around her and she may come across as self-centred or self-obsessed. Then again, we feel great sympathy for Doris as she is isolated, cut off from reality, and maybe unwanted by a society, which considers her as an outsider. The setting changes throughout the monologue, as Doris travels to various parts of her home, nevertheless she remains in the same location. This connotes a very static nature, suggesting that Doris hardly ever goes out and mostly stays in the same room. According to her, â€Å"I never get a bona fide caller†, this tells us the only visitor she probably has is Zulema. We feel great empathy for Doris because she is lonely, lacking a faithful companion. Furthermore, the moving from the comfy position of her settee possibly indicates the movement from a secure and comfy position in life to her current situation. Still, this isolated place is her comfort zone, perhaps signifying that she is more likely to tell the truth as she is under no pressure and can speak of her own free will. Subsequently, she does in fact unravel the truth about various stages in her life. Another clever device Alan Bennett uses to make the audience feel empathy for Doris is humour and Doris certainly has a sense of humour, we realise this when she says, â€Å"Love God and close all gates.† The audience finds it easier to empathise with her because they can laugh with her and not at her. Her dry, sarcastic humour is a hit with audience off all ages. As Doris discusses her husband Wilfred, she talks about him â€Å"getting mad ideas†, stating how absurd they were and how he â€Å"never got round to it†. Yet, according to her, â€Å"A kiddy’d’ve solved all that†. This makes us wonder why Doris does not have a child and whether she has any family at all. We suddenly feel a great deal of compassion for her because her only family, Wilfred, has passed away. Later on, we discover that she did have a baby, which also passed away. â€Å"If it had lived I might have had grandchildren now,† she explains. Our degree of sympathy for Doris expands to greater lengths. Death is certainly one of Alan Bennett says of gaining empathy for his characters. Further on in the monologue we discover that Doris and Wilfred were not very outgoing people. Doris plainly explains, â€Å"We weren’t the gregarious type.† This implies that even when Wilfred was alive, Doris was a secluded, reserved individual. Then she refers to Wilfred, â€Å"he thought he was, but he wasn’t†. This gives us the impression that Wilfred could have been a sociable person except Doris stood in his way as she essentially controlled their relationship. We feel empathy for both characters here since they never really experienced anything amazing in their lives; except for grief and now for Doris, loneliness. This could all change though if Doris decided upon leaving home and moving to Stafford House but apparently â€Å"You go daft there, there’s nowhere else for you to go but daft† according to Doris. Perhaps Doris is against the idea of leaving home because all her memories of Wilfred will remain there or she might just feel afraid and unprepared to face the real world on her own at a late stage in her life. Towards the end of the monologue, Doris hears the voice of a police officer, enquiring as to why her home lights are off. Instead of asking for his help, she lets him leave. It is assumed by the audience that Doris later dies, because she feels the time is right. Also as the conclusions to Bennett’s plays are usually miserable. Her last words are â€Å"Never mind. It’s done with now, anyway.† Then the â€Å"LIGHT FADES†, a sense of desperation and sadness fill the readers heart and mind, no greater empathy can possibly be felt for Doris at this stage. This dramatic and powerful text leaves the audience wondering, hoping. This is without doubt Alan Bennett’s cleverest writing technique! How to cite How does Alan Bennett make the audience feel empathy for Doris in A cream Cracker under the Settee?, Papers

Everyman His Own Historian free essay sample

Carl Becker, author of Everyman His Own Historian, explains in his own words the meaning of history. Becker uses a narrative and facts to support his position. Becker begins by dissecting the textbook definition of history. The definition of history begins as, â€Å"the knowledge of events that have occurred in the past†, and later Becker develops the definition to, â€Å"history is the memory of things said and done. Becker supports his change to the original definition by analyzing the actual words used. For example, Becker replaces knowledge with memory. His argument is that memory is needed in order to recollect knowledge. I agree that theses two aspects work hand in hand. Becker further goes on to analyze the words memory and past in the same format. Becker also uses a short narrative to explain the fact that technically every thing is history as soon as it is done. Substantial history is only made if someone believes that the event or fact is relevant or important and gets others to believe it also as Becker goes on to explain, â€Å"Left to themselves, the facts do not speak; left to themselves they do not exist, not really, since for all practical purposes there is no fact until some one affirms it. We will write a custom essay sample on Everyman His Own Historian or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † I completely agree with Becker’s take on history. History only takes form when others believe what you are saying a pass it on to others as truth. Many facts have been misinterpreted over time but is still believed today as history.