great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Stanza ii, Line 3: “Mountain coughed”

The poem Hole in the sky by Niyi Osundare’s is in sort a social commentary on the effects of pollution on the environment . Through the poem he describes different environmental issues that are plaguing society. This is evident through the line “mountain coughed” (2.3). Osundare use of personification in the line,  gives human qualities to the mountain, by giving the reader the image that the mountain is coughing. This line refers to the air pollution that are mostly  caused by the the burning of fossil fuels, oils and gas, which threatens human and ecological life. These pollutants tend to concentrate around the mountains, due to the height and structure along with its weather patterns. By using this particular scenario,  Osundare is commenting on the haze that engulfs these landscapes. Through this line, he is able to relate the air pollution effects to ecological and human health, by portraying the mountain as sick and through the use of the cough, by giving it human characteristics. He does so, in order to achieve sympathy from the reader, by not seeing the mountain as an object but as another form of life that is endangered.

“Air Quality”.National Park Service. n.d. Web. 29 Nov.2015.

Franz Kafka’s, “Metamorphosis” presents different distinctions between the chief clerk’s and Gregor’s father reaction to Gregor’s metamorphosis. While the chief clerk is nonchalant, Gregor’s father is completely distressed. The chief clerk’s emmited “a sharp ‘Oh!…his hand pressed against his open mouth, and slowly retreating, as if being pushed back by an invisible but irresistible force”. It is evident that the chief clerk is not concerned with Gregor, as shown through his  lack of expression and body language, by slowly retreating. However his transformation peaks his curiosity, being the irresistible force that causes him to remain. On the other hand, Gregor’s father looked “uncertainly round the room, covered his eyes with his hands and cried, his mighty chest shaking with sobs”. His reaction shows sign of disbelief and concern for his son, by frantically looking frantically across the rom and bursting out into tears. While one the chief clerk is only concerned because of the impact it would cause to sales, his father is concerned with the well being of his son. Through this distinctions Kafka is able to present a connection between the reactions associated with Gregor’s relationships.

Tagore’s short story “Punishment” portrays the ethical consequences dishonesty can cause in a legal context. The question of ethics began when Ramlochan arrived at the families home in the aftermath of the murder and questioned the family of what had happened. In desperation, after “Seeing no way out now, Chidam blurted, in their quarrel, Chotobau struck at Barobau’s head with a farm knife.” (894) Although knowing it was his brother who committed the murder, Chidam blamed his wife in order to free his brother from blame. He knew that the village was aware of the in laws frequent quarrels and placing the blame on his wife would be believable. However through his dishonesty he was only able to cause more trouble to himself once he regretted his actions. Once, he finally told the truth about the actions, no one believed him anymore and mistook the truth for a lie in order to save his wife. This goes to show the extent dishonesty can bring about, as now Chidam will have to go throughout his life with the guilt of condemning his wife for a murder she never committed.

Thesis 1:

Feng Menglong’s, vernacular story of “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” uses the relationship between Du Tenth and Ji La, to argue of the tension between traditional Confucian values and new age values during the changing times in China.

Thesis 2:

Feng Menglong’s vernacular story of, “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” to argue of the declining influence of Confucianism on the lives of people during changing times in china.

In Henrik Ibsen’s play Hedda Gabler the main character Hedda Tesman can be described as narcissistic, in the way that she would manipulate the lives of those around her for her own personal entertainment. After an alcoholic relapse caused by Hedda, Loveborg is in desperate search for his missing manuscript that was unknowingly found by Tesman. Knowing of its importance Hedda burns the manuscript and states “Now I’m burning your child, Thea—You with your curly hair. Your child and Eilert Lovborg’s. Now im burning—burning the child” (828). In this scene we are able to grasp her narcissistic personality, knowing how much he depends on the manuscript and the trouble she had caused him, she is unable to empathize with his situation and is only able to think of herself. Although she states to Tesman she did so with the purpose of riding Tesman of his competition and securing their financial situation. In actuality her main purpose was to relieve herself of her boredom, knowing that through her actions she would cause a series of dramatic events to unfold. Although unwilling to face through this drama herself, she manipulates Loveborg’s life knowing that his alcoholic relapse and the loss of his work, will ultimately cause his demise. Hedda Tesman is a true narcissist, even going as far as suggesting suicide by gifting him a pistol, which shows how disposable she views his life and values her own entertainment much more.