Narrative Technique of Sula Essay Example for Free

Narrative Technique of Sula Essay Although Sula is arranged in chronological order, it does not construct a linear story with the causes of each new plot event clearly visible in the preceding chapter. Instead, Sula uses juxtaposition, the technique through which collages are put together. The effects of a collage on the viewer depend on unusual combinations of pictures, or on unusual arrangements such as overlapping. The pictures of a collage dont fit smoothly together, yet they create a unified effect. The pictures of Sulas collage are separate events or character sketches. Together, they show the friendship of Nel and Sula as part of the many complicated, overlapping relationships that make up the Bottom. Morrison presents the novel from the perspective of an omniscient narrator one who knows all the characters thoughts and feelings. An omniscient narrator usually puts the reader in the position of someone viewing a conventional portrait or landscape rather than a collage. (In such situations, the viewer can perceive the unity of the whole work with only a glance.) To create the collage-like effect of Sula, the omniscient narrator never reveals the thoughts of all the characters at one time. Instead, from chapter to chapter, she chooses a different point-of-view character, so that a different persons consciousness and experience dominate a particular incident or section. In addition, the narrator sometimes moves beyond the consciousness of single, individual characters, to reveal what groups in the community think and feel. On the rare occasions when it agrees unanimously, she presents the united communitys view. As in The Bluest Eye and Jazz, the community has such a direct impact o n individuals that it amounts to a character. In narrative technique for Sula, Morrison draws on a specifically modernist usage of juxtaposition. Modernism, discussed in Chapter 3, was the dominant literary movement during the first half of the twentieth century. Writers of this period abandoned the unifying, omniscient narrator of earlier literature to make literature more like life, in which each of us has to make our own sense of the world. Rather than passively receiving a smooth, connected story from an authoritative narrator, the reader is forced to piece together a coherent plot and meaning from more separated pieces of  information. Modernists experimented with many literary genres. For example, T. S. Eliot created his influential poem The Wasteland by juxtaposing quotations from other literary works and songs, interspersed with fragmentary narratives of original stories. Fiction uses an analogous technique of juxtaposition. Each successive chapter of William Faulkner novel As I Lay Dying, for instance, drops the reader into a different characters consciousness without the direction or help of an omniscient narrator. To figure out the plot, the reader must work through the perceptions of characters who range from a seven-year-old boy to a madman. The abrupt, disturbing shifts from one consciousness to another are an intended part of the readers experience. As with all literary techniques, juxtaposition is used to communicate particular themes. In Cane, a work that defies our usual definitions of literary genres, Jean Toomer juxtaposed poetry and brief prose sketches. In this way, Cane establishes its thematic co ntrast of rural black culture in the South and urban black culture of the North. Morrison, who wrote her masters thesis on two modernists, Faulkner and Virginia Woolf, uses juxtaposition as a structuring device in Sula. Though relatively short for a novel, Sula has an unusually large number of chapters, eleven. This division into small pieces creates an intended choppiness, the uncomfortable sense of frequently stopping and starting. The content of the chapters accentuates this choppy rhythm. Almost every chapter shifts the focus from the story of the preceding chapter by changing the point-of-view character or introducing sudden, shocking events and delaying discussion of the characters motives until later. In 1921, for example, Eva douses her son Plum with kerosene and burns him to death. Although the reader knows that Plum has become a heroin addict, Evas reasoning is not revealed. When Hannah, naturally assuming that Eva doesnt know of Plums danger, tells her that Plum is burning, the chapter ends with Evas almost nonchalant Is? My baby? Burning? (48). Not until midway through the next chapter, 1923, does Hannahs questioning allow the reader to understand Evas motivation. Juxtaposition thus heightens the readers sense of incompleteness. Instead of providing quick resolution, juxtaposition  introduces new and equally disturbing events. Paradoxically, when an occasional chapter does contain a single story apparently complete in itself, it too contributes to the novels overall choppy rhythm. In a novel using a simple, chronological mode of narration, each succeeding chapter would pick up where the last one left off, with the main characters now involved in a different incident, but in some clear way affected by their previous experience. In Sula, however, some characters figure prominently in one chapter and then fade entirely into the background. The first chapter centers on Shadrack, and although he appears twice more and has considerable psychic importance to Sula and symbolic importance to the novel, he is not an important actor again. In similar fashion, Helene Wright is the controlling presence of the third chapter, 1920, but barely appears in the rest of the book. These shifts are more unsettling than if Shadrack and Helene were ancestors of the other characters, generations removed, because the reader would then expect them to disappear. Their initial prominence and later shadowy presence contribute to the readers feeling of disruption. The choppy narration of Sula expresses one of its major themes, the fragmentation of both individuals and the community. Sula. New York: Knopf, 1973. Rpt. New York: Penguin, 1982

Weinbergs A Designer Universe Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Creat

Weinberg's A Designer Universe   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The phenomenon of the creation of the universe has baffled many for some time. The question of whether or not a designer/God put together this most intricate world in a personal quest or project leaves many in great debate. Was life brought about by some evolutionary feat? Or, in opposition, did an intelligent being create life with perfection in mind? Both questions can be answered in many different ways. Steven Weinberg, writer of A Designer Universe, offers his thoughts, through abduction, regarding the likelihood of a designer creating the universe. Such an abduction, in which Weinberg expresses his opinion, relies on premises or declarative statements that the conclusion proves most unsurprising, or to the best explanation. An example of such an argument would be: (premises) A trunk provides support, Branches and leaves make up it’s body, leaves change color with the seasons†¦(conclusion) â€Å"It† must be a tree. The conclusion makes the premises most unsurprising. One would guess that if â€Å"It† must be a tree, all of the premises would exist.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Weinberg offers two excellent arguments against the Design Theory. This theory suggests that if a â€Å"designer† created the universe it would thus be perfect. For example, if a watch were found on the beach, one would know that a designer created it because it is a finely tuned machine in which all parts work perfectly together. However, if a rock was found, one could guess that a designe...

The Only Character Responsible for the Tyranny of Macbeth

‘The only character responsible for the tyranny of Macbeth is the man himself. Discuss' Macbeth is not the only person responsible for all the poorly made decisions and unjust ruling. This character based theme is shown extensively throughout the play ‘Macbeth' by William Shakespeare. During the play we are shown Macbeth as a tyrant ruler who is always killing people. Just at the start of the play we see Macbeth fighting against Norway and Ireland and at the end of the play Macbeth if fighting against Macduff and his army.Everyone around him influenced on his behaviour and caused him to kill many innocent people. the witches caused him to search for power because of their prophecies. Lady Macbeth used Macbeth to become queen and to do everything to stay like that. Banquo did not speak even though he knew the truth. Malcolm had got defeated to his fears which caused him to flee. All the major characters contributed into Macbeth's tyranny. The witches prophecies caused Macb eth to become a oppressor. Macbeth was a brave and courageous general before he met the witches which caused his life to change. For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name. ‘ After Macbeth learned that the first prophecy which was that he would become the ‘Thane of Cawdor,' he believed in the witches more strongly. The other prophecy was that he shall ‘be king hereafter. ‘ Macbeth immediately begins to harbour ambitions to become king. After hearing what the witches said, he didn't want to leave it as a chance but rather take the matters into his own hands, and he kills king Duncan and becomes the new king. But if he had never learned those prophecies from the witches than he wouldn't have killed King Duncan.He goes to the witches second time and learns three new prophecies. One of those prophecies it to be ‘beware of Macduff,' which then causes Macbeth to attack Macduff's castle and kill his wife and his ‘babes. ‘ Therefore the witches ha d a huge influence on Macbeth and the actions in which he took. Lady Macbeth provoked Macbeth to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth also had huge impact on Macbeth's life and on his journey towards kingship. Macbeth was not thinking about killing his king, but Lady Macbeth defeated his thought by challenging his manlihood. Was the hope drunk where in you dress'd yourself? Hath it slept since? ‘ She easily persuades Macbeth into killing King Duncan. Also Lady Macbeth is the one that's doing all the planning while Macbeth is the one implementing it. Lady Macbeth successfully convinces Macbeth into killing Banquo and his son Fleance because of Witches prophecy, ‘Thou shalt get kings. ‘ So it leaves Macbeth no choice but to kill his best friend. After Macbeth reaches the point of nihilist where he doesn't care how many people he kills.But Lady Macbeth feels the sense of guilt and goes crazy and sees imaginary bloodstains on her hands. ‘Out, damned spot! Out I say! ‘ She has great influence on decisions which Macbeth takes and easily convinces him. Banquo is also responsible for all the devastation caused by Macbeth. After Duncan is killed by Macbeth, Banquo becomes suspicious of Macbeth but does not confess this because he also believed in the witches prophecies regarding him which were, ‘Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. He chose to stay silent and watch Macbeth kill all those innocent people because he was selfish. He saw that Macbeth's prophecies came true so he believed that his ones will become true. Macbeth became aware of this and added Banquo to his death list. But if Banquo had told the truth then he might've had been alive and would've saved the lives of innocent people. But he, just like Macbeth had fallen trap to his own self and payed it off with his life. But Banquo's son Fleance managed to escap, ‘Fly, good Fleance. Banquo stayed quiet which caused Macbeth to rule as a murderer. King Duncan's son's Malcolm a nd Donalbain flee leaving the throne to Macbeth. After Malcolm and Donalbain learn about their fathers murder, they fear that their lives may be in danger,'There's daggers in men's smiles, the near in blood, the nearer in bloody. ‘ So they decide to flee, which Malcolm goes to England,'I'll to England,' and Donalbain goes to Ireland,'To Ireland. ‘ But because they run away, people believe that they were responsible for Duncan's murder and rightfully give the throne to Macbeth.If they had stayed then Malcolm would have been the king because he had been chosen as the heir by King Duncan. They cared more about their life than their own family and values. By saving their own lives they caused many other innocent people to die. In conclusion the play,'Macbeth,' written by William Shakespeare is a tragedy which explores around Macbeth and his family and friends. Macbeth causes many tyranny events to occur but what causes to become a tyrant ruler is not only himself but also pe ople around him.People make decisions for him and controll his life to become a ruler who kills. The witches give him prophecies that he shall be king and he makes that come true by killing Duncan. In order to become King Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan and his best friend Banquo. In order for his son's to become king, Banquo becomes quiet even though he knows that Macbeth killed Duncan. Lastly Malcolm and Donalbain flee to different countries leaving the kingship to Macbeth. People around Macbeth cause him to become unjust and tyrant ruler. MUSTAFA TELLI

Influential Americans in Politics - 2600 Words

Sophia Interlicchio Ms. Casserly Ap US research paper Due: December 21, 2012 Influential Americans in Politics In the United States’ history, many of our presidents excelled in making this country a better place. Although they may be the head of this nation, they were not always the ones who made major impacts. Governors, senators, abolitionists and congressman all helped change this country and make it what it is today. Past senators Huey Long, Salmon Chase, and William Seward in particular helped change this great nation for the good. They all somewhat had the same view politically and had similar goals. All three of these men were very much for equal rights for all people. Huey Long was no exception to this. Long truly believed†¦show more content†¦Long rebutted that the â€Å"Share Our Wealth† program was meant to help all poor people; these people included African American and other backgrounds – a radical addition for an extremely segregated society. Long accused that the nation’s economic downfall was the result of the massive difference between the super-rich and everyone else. In Long’s opinion, this abundance of money among only the minority of people (wealthy bankers, entrepreneurs and businessmen) limited its availability for average citizens - these citizens were the people working in harsh conditions for minimal pay. [2] Huey Long executed extraordinary programs of reconstruction and improvement in Louisiana – building roads and bridges, providing free public education and expanding voting rights to all citizens. The underprivileged citizens observed Long as a hero of the common man. The wealthy saw Long as threat and ridiculed him in the media as a demagogue and tyrant. [3] Huey Long never received credit for the government reforms that resulted from his â€Å"Share Our Wealth† movement. [4] Although he persisted in trying to end the failing economy, The Great Depression continued for six years after Long’s death. 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