Literary Critique Of Wise Blood English Literature Essay

Literary Critique Of Wise Blood English Literature Essay Flannery OConnor is known for her southern stories that explore the psychological and spiritual landscapes of the human soul (Meyer 363) as well as for her creation of characters that are alternately absurdly comic and tragic (366). Wise Blood, her first novel, demonstrates her artistic ability as a writer. In this novel, Flannery OConnor uses vivid descriptions, mimicry, and shocking violence to captivate her readers. Wise Blood is Flannery OConnors first novel. This novel follows the stories of two main characters, Hazel Motes and Enoch Emery. Hazel Motes is a preacher unlike the rest. He creates The Church Without Christ. He is on a quest to prove to himself and others that Jesus does not exist. Enoch Emery is an eighteen year old in search of success. He is also on a quest to follow his instincts which he terms Wise Blood. Both these characters come to shocking ends in the story. One technique that OConnor uses very well in this novel is vivid descriptions. For example, she describes Mrs. Wally Bee Hitchcock as a fat woman with pink collars and cuffs and pear-shaped legs that slanted off the train seat and didnt reach the floor (OConnor 3). OConnor presents a very vivid image of Mrs. Wally Bee Hitchcock in this sentence. The word fat can be opaque, including a variety of shapes. By using the imagery of a pear and the space between her legs and the floor, OConnor gives readers a clear and interesting image of the character. Another example of this excellent use of description is found in Hazel Motes imagination. He saw Jesus move from tree to tree in the back of his mind, a wild ragged figure motioning to him to turn around and come off into the dark where he was not sure of his footing, where he might be walking on the water and not know it and then suddenly know it and drown. (11). The image of Jesus as a wild man deep in the dark of a jungle trapping Hazel Motes into drowning shows that Hazel Motes feels at a great distance from Jesus, and that he is also afraid of Jesus and the unknown. This imagery gives readers an interesting and clear insight into Hazel Motes mind. OConnor also uses animal imagery throughout the novel. An example of this occurs when Hazel Motes sits down in a dining cart with three youngish women dressed like parrots. Their hands were resting on the table, red-speared at the tips (7). From this image the reader can determine that the women are wearing very colorful clothing accentuated by red nail polish on their fingers. The waiter is also described with animal imagery. He had greased black hair and a greased black look to his suit. He moved like a crow, darting from table to table (6). This presents a vivid image of the characters look and movement. Another excellent use of animal imagery is the description of Hazel Motes. He had a nose like a shrikes bill and a long vertical crease on either side of his mouth; His hair looked as if it had been permanently flattened under the heavy hat (3-4). Not only does this description convey to the reader Hazel Motes birdlike looks, it also works on a deeper level. Hazel Motes tries empty humans of their consciences (93-95), just as a shrike impales its victims. This image gives readers a detailed physical description of Hazel Motes while also giving insight into his personality. Again, OConnor uses this twofold animal imagery when describing Hazel Motes grandfather. His grandfather had been a circuit preacher, a waspish old man who had ridden over three countries with Jesus hidden in his head like a stinger (9-10). This description conveys the image of a severe looking man. It also indicates that Hazel Motes grandfather used Jesus as a weapon against people, just as a wasp uses its stinger as a weapon. Another example of OConnors use of twofold animal imagery is the character of Enoch Emery. He looked like a friendly hound dog with light mange (23). This imagery tells the reader that Enoch Emery is an amiable boy with an unkempt appearance. It also indicates that he follows his instincts rather than making choices based on rationality. Enoch Emory follows his wise blood (44) and allows it to rule his decisions, just as a hound dog follows the scent of the hunted. While OConnor makes great use of vivid descriptions, one of the more intriguing aspects of her novel is the use of mimicry. One example of this mimicry is Hazel Motes and his church. Hazel Motes mimics his grandfather and other evangelical preachers. Hazel Motes grandfather had a particular disrespect for him because his own face was repeated almost exactly in the childs and seemed to mock him (11). Not only does Hazel Motes look just like his grandfather, he preaches from the hood of his car (58), just like his grandfather did (10). Hazel Motes church, The Church Without Christ (58), preaches salvation without Jesus. In this way it mimics the churches of the evangelical preachers that preach that Jesus is the key to salvation. OConnor further develops this mimicry in a comical way through the characters of Hoover Shoats and Solace Layfield. Hoover Shoats tries to take over the Church Without Christ for monetary gain. He changes the name of the church to the Holy Church of Christ Without Christ. He also hires Solace Layfield as the True Prophet (94). Solace Layfield looks just like Hazel Motes, wears similar clothes, and drives a similar car (94). In this way, the Holy Church of Christ without Christ and Solace Layfield are a mimicry of Hazel Motes and the Church Without Christ. Another intriguing example of OConnors use of mimicry is the mummy. The mummy becomes the new Jesus for the Church Without Christ. Hazel Motes tells the people that his church needs a new Jesus. He tells them that it needs one thats all man, without blood to waste, and it needs one that dont look like any other man (80). Enoch Emery then steals the mummy from the museum to give to Hazel Motes as the new Jesus (97). The mummy was naked and a dried yellow color and his eyes were drawn almost shut as if a giant block of steel were falling down on top of him (56). As the new Jesus for Hazel Motes mock church, the shriveled up mummy mimics the resurrected Christ. This mimicry of Jesus is further developed in the portrayal of Sabbath Lily Hawks. Although the name Lily suggests purity, Sabbath Lily Hawks seduces Hazel Motes (10-11). When Enoch brings the mummy to Hazel Motes house, Sabbath Lily Hawks answers the door, takes the mummy, and cradles it. Her hands grew accustomed to the feel of his skin. Some of his hair had come undone and she brushed it back where it belonged, holding him in the crook of her arm and looking down into his squinched face. His mouth had been knocked a little to one side so that there was just a trace of a grin covering his terrified look. She began to rock him a little in her arm and a slight reflection of that same grin appeared on her own face (104). As Sabbath Lily Hawks holds and rocks the mummy, she mimics the Virgin Mary holding Jesus. These instances of inverse mimicry are both comical and grotesque and further absorb readers in the novel. While OConnors use of vivid descriptions and mimicry are intriguing, her use of violence to captivate readers is the most effective technique. When Enoch Emery takes Hazel Motes to see the mummy, he becomes so frightened that he forgets the address to Asa Hawks house. Hazel Motes throws a rock at him because of this. Enoch Emery turned his head and saw a drop of blood on the ground and as he looked at it, he thought it widened like a little spring. He sat straight up, frozen-skinned, and put his finger in it, and very faintly he could hear his blood beating, his secret bloodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Then he knew whatever was expected of him was only just the beginning (57). This violence is unexpected and effectively grabs the readers attention. This violent scene is also used as foreshadowing to further absorb readers into the novel. Another example of OConnors effective use of violence is when Hazel Motes murders Solace Layfield. Hazel Motes runs over Solace Layfield with his car. He then drove about twenty feet and stopped the car and then began to back it. He backed it over the bodyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦A lot of blood was coming out of him and forming a puddle around his head (115). This instance of shocking violence is riveting and also gives the reader further insight into the character of Hazel Motes. Hazel Motes murders Solace Layfield in a final attempt to kill his own conscience. The fact that Solace Layfield is also a mimic of Hazel Motes emphasizes the fact that Hazel Motes is attempting to kill a part of himself, namely his conscience. Wise blood is filled with vivid descriptions, intriguing mimicry, and startling violence which effectively keeps readers absorbed in the novel. This novel certainly conveys Flannery OConnors ability to write artistically and effectively. For this reason, readers will certainly be drawn to read her other works.

Shakespeare in the Bush

What problems did Bohannan encounter as she told the story of Hamlet to the Tiv? The problem she encountered when she was telling the story was the comments of the elders. As she was trying to formulate her thoughts/ analyses on the story, the elders kept on commenting what they thought was right, and what they think as the truth about the story. Therefore, she had a hard time explaining the story in the way she wanted and liked. â€Å"There was a murmur of applause. Hamlet was again a good story to them, but it no longer seemed quite the same story to me. As I thought over the coming complications of plot and motive, I lost courage and decided to skim over dangerous ground quickly.We could say that in this part of the story, she had a hard time explaining the book the way she wanted it. That is why she had to avoid those hard-to-explain parts so she wouldn’t be questioned more. Another problem she encountered while reading and telling the text was her opposing interpretation of the book, as compared to that of the elders. For her, the interpretation of the piece is universal—that there could only be one real and acceptable interpretation for it.But, as she was telling the story, the elders kept on voicing out their opinions, causing the author to take down notes and eventually question her own interpretation of the book. â€Å"I stopped being a storyteller, took out my notebook and demanded to be told more about these two causes of madness. Even while they spoke and I jotted notes, I tried to calculate the effect of this new factor of the plot.†In this part we could see that, because of the bothering comments of the elders, she started to question her knowledge of the book, that is why she took down notes and analyzed those new factors on the plot said by the Tiv. To sum up, she had a hard time explaining the book to the Tiv because of two  reasons: the annoying comments of the elders, and her opposing interpretation of the book.Is the Tiv’s interpretation of Hamlet incorrect? Why or why not? Substantiate your answer with evidence from the text (observe the rules on citation). Include also what you know and have experienced. Should we worry about being correct? Why or why not? The Tiv’s interpretation of Hamlet is neither correct nor incorrect—because no one really does know the correct interpretation of the text, for it is the author (William Shakepeare) who knows what the real interpretation of the novel is.Also, as supposed to what Laura Bohannan had said that the interpretation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is universal, I believe that its interpretation is varying in different types of people, taking the Tiv for example. The Tiv are also known as the Mitshi, Munchi or Munshi. They are also located in the northern provinces of Nigeria, with the majority of them living in the Tiv Division of Benue Province (Bohannan and Bohannan 1953:9). Knowing the life of these people are just or dinary, everyone wouldn’t expect that such people could be able to give their insights/knowledge about the text—yet, they were able to give their own interpretation of it.How? By applying their knowledge and experiences in life. They were able to apply these things so that they will be able to understand the next happenings more accurately, and to comprehend a text which is very hard to understand. â€Å"Listen,† said the elder, â€Å"and I will tell you how it was and how your story will go, then you may tell me if I am right. Polonius knew his son would get into trouble, so he did. He had many fines to pay for fighting, and debts from gambling.But he had only two ways of getting money quickly. One was to marry off to his sister at once, but it is difficult to find a man who will marry a woman desired by the son of the chief. For if the chief’s heir commits adultery with your wife, what can you do? Only a fool calls a case against a man who will someday be his judge. Therefore Laertes had to take the second way: he killed his sister by witchcraft, drowning her so he could secretly sell her body to the witches.†In this part of the story, the Tiv used their knowledge and experiences to interpret the plot accurately and effectively. That is why they were able to predict precisely what Laertes did to his sister Ophelia, and so as the next happenings in the story. â€Å"Sometime,† concluded the old man, gathering his ragged toga about him, â€Å"you must tell us some more stories of your country. We, who are elders, will instruct you in their true meaning, so that when you return to your own land your elders will see that you have not been sitting in the bush, but among those who know things and who have taught you wisdom.†In that part of the story, we could really see that these people, the Tiv, really have experiences that they were able to use in interpreting Hamlet. We could also see in this excerpt from the tex t that, even though they are just people sitting around the bush, they are more knowledgeable than we are, because they have these experiences that helped shape their perspectives in the different aspects of life. And, to answer the question of whether we should worry or not worry if our interpretation of a text is correct or incorrect, I think we shouldn’t. What is important is that we are able to understand the text, and finally, learn something from it.

Bureaucracy and Liberalisation

After independence the newly emerged Indian State was characterized by the dominant role in all the spheres of society. It was a welfare state whose objective was to secure political, social and economic justice to all the sections of Indian population. The Westminister model of parliamentary democracy with universal adult franchise was adopted. In social field, various evils in the society were sought to be eradicated by the State.Untouchability was abolished and social reforms were undertaken. In the economic sphere, the state not only regulated the market, it also emerged as the major employer providing employment opportunities to the people. India adopted the policy of mixed economy/a powerful public sector was created. For Nehru, the public sector undertakings were the temples of modern India. Their objective was to assist in the rapid economic growth and industrialisation of the country.Over the years their number and investments have grown in size and quantity. While in 1951, there were five central public sector undertakings (PSUs) with an investment of Rs 29 crores, now there are as many as 243 enterprises with a total investment of Rs 1,78,628 crores. The private sector was also to play an important role in the mixed economy. However it was highly regulated and controlled economy as far as the private sector was concerned. Rightly it was called the licence-quota permit Raj.However the collapse of socialist political and economic system in earstwhile Soviet Union and other socialist states led to the emergence of a global economy which meant introducing competitive markets, liberalising foreign trade and opening up the economy for foreign investment. According to Marina Pinto â€Å"Liberalisation is the policy of removal of restrictions, trade barriers and protectionist measures to enable the free flow of capital, technology and services. It is generally seen in the context of globalization and privatization. † In eighties liberalisation process started taking place in India economy.But the severe foreign exchange and fiscal crisis in early 1990's compelled India to take massive loan from IMF and world Bank which as critics point out, dictated India to liberalise its economy. This was done under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Finance Minister in P. V. Narsimha Rao Government. The New Industrial Policy of 1991, stated that â€Å"Foreign investment and technology collaboration will be welcomed to obtain higher technology, to increase exports and to expand the production base. † The Licence-quota permit Raj has been given a good-bye and the economic system has largely become competitive.Even in the public sector the nine major public sector undertakings or Navratnas—Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL), National Thermal P ower Corporation Limited (NTPC), Oil;National Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) have been given considerable financial and functional autonomy.The Government was also considering to include more public sector undertakings in this list. However this does not mean that the role of the State would recede and it would only concentrate on the maintenance of law and order. The state continues to be a welfare state. It will continue to ameliorate the conditions of poor and down-troddens. The economic policies are to be realistic. Jagdish Bhagwati, one of the leading economists says that the first fifty years of independence has been â€Å"half a century of foolish policies, which cost her (India) growth and hence a significant opportunity to ameliorate poverty. Now rational policies are to be drafted and implemented with due regard to monitoring of policies in stages. This also means that the generalist administ ration will either be substituted by the experts or they be given their due place in the administration. The bureaucracy will have to be responsive and transparent and infact the entire work ethos has to be changed. It also means maximum possible delegation of authority and sufficient decentralized control. Ultimately it may lead to debureaucratization of the administration.The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment providing for local self government is designed to transfer the developmental functions to the local self government. We may be witness to gradual shrinking of the state and its administrative machinery. But this does not mean that state would recede in the background. It may be a scenario where we have a reoriented, purposive accountable and transparent administration as a friend, philosopher and guide. The essential condition for all this is poliucal will, integrity and honesy at higher levels of politics and de-criminalisation of politics.

Men and Women in Non-Traditional Sports Essay - 1071 Words

Men and Women in Non-Traditional Sports The benefits of an individual entering a non-traditional sport for his or her sex can be huge – but they are usually greater for society in general than for the athlete him/herself. Being the first person to break into a non-traditional sport would obviously be trying on the athlete, who would have to face the questioning and criticisms of media, fans, and even their fellow athletes. But one athlete’s determination and persistence can open up a whole new world to both athletes and spectators. In the early 1900s, women did not participate much in figure skating competitions, partly because of the fact that they had to wear long, movement-hindering skirts. But some women did fight to†¦show more content†¦When males began to participate, the routines took on a different look – more like what one would see in a pairs’ figure skating or ice dancing competition. Some people feel that having both sexes participate in the sport make it more athletic, whereas all female synchronized swimming had the reputation of being too â€Å"showy.† So clearly, the biggest benefit of individuals entering into non-traditional sports for their gender occurs when they successfully open the sport up to other people of their gender. On the other hand, however, an individual entering a non-traditional sport most likely will be forced to deal with some resistance and some difficult issues to resolve. For example, as we saw in the film â€Å"Girl Fight,† one obvious problem with the girl attempting to train to box was the lack of resources for her. She could not share the locker room with the boys, and had to make do with a run-down storage closet instead. Another problem that is brought up when individuals participate in non-traditional sports for their sexes is about how the game is actually played. 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