Cultural Differences, Usa and Masai’s Essay

There were many cultural differences between the Masai’s and the U.S. The fundamental difference I notice was their simplicity. They think that every big celebration and every tragedy that people go thru in their lives should be celebrated or minimized by the gift of cows. I think that the fundamental similarity between our cultures is the need to help those in need, compassion. When September 11th. happened the whole nation was shocked and hurt. Even those who didn’t have family in the twin towers felt the need to help. The same happened with the Masai tribe, they didn’t have the money or the resources to help us with, but they had what they thought was the next best thing; cows. The U.S government took 3 years to decide what to do with the gift received from the Masai’s. The Masai’s were already feeling disrespected and hurt about the lack of interest on their gift. It is their culture to hand out cows as gifts and for them it is an amazing gift to receive a cow. It’s what they know and it was passed down to them from their ancestors. It won’t change and it is already established. I think the appreciation of what other people try to do to help is one fact that interconnect the U.S to the Masai’s. After we received the cows from them we decided to use the gift to try to help them with education, and they were very grateful. Another fact could be the decision making. In the U.S the big decisions are made by the government, in the Masai tribe the decisions are made by the elders. It is like they have their own form of government. I don’t think the intention of the author was to make fun of the Masai’s but in a certain way it makes them seem like a joke. When he writes about the Masai women dancing and celebrating the 5th. Year anniversary of the September 11, he says that not a way to show sympathy but ok. Well it is their way to cope with tragedy and it might look disrespectful to us but it isn’t. they were nothing but kind and sympathetic to what we were going thru. Their way of showing it might be different but it isn’t wrong.

Obsessed on Revenge - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 640 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/04/01 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Revenge Essay Did you like this example? Have you ever thought on getting revenge? Dead men tell no tales, unknown, this quote has some sarcasm on it, as you notice. Men who are dead cant talk anymore so they have a zero percent chance on saying a word. Another quote would be The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.The meaning of this turism is that no one has to be perfect everyone is made its own way,and no one should be insulted. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Obsessed on Revenge" essay for you Create order A fact of this story is that if you look for it you will find it. So my hypothesis is that what started as a simple retarded comment could end as a cruel ending.The Cask of Amontillado a story written by Edgar Allan Poe ,was about a man named Montresor who wanted to get revenge during the carnival. By chance he meets Fortunato who was drunk and acting silly. And Montresor approached and told him that he had an amontillado at his catacombs. They went through the catacombs getting where the amontillado was supposed to be. What Fortunato didnt know was that he was getting closer to his death. Finally Montresor chains Fortunato to a wall and makes a brick wall until the day he is dead. Fifty years have passed and his body is still there. Evil people tend to do substandard effects to others. When Montresor thought of his plan on getting revenge his mind and his thoughts were evil. Like one of its quotes A wrong is undressed when retribution overtakes its redresser.Montresor wants for Fortunato to pay all that he has done to him. This statement means that its an never ending cycle of revenge and betrayal can come unless the story involved some sort of agreement, or someone dies. Since the day Fortunato insulted him Montresor had thoughts of how he will get revenge. He is evil because why do you prefer getting over someone in a deathly way instead of taking care as a gentleman would do it by having a conversation on it. Montesour evilness comes when he starts to think I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation. The path to success is to take massive, determined action. Montresor was a determined person, because he had a plan that was mainly about getting revenge. Although it is not shown on the story, Montesour determination to carry out his plan, Montresor has gone down into the catacombs and made everything perfect to leave Fortunato in his eternal grave. It was about dusk, one evening during the carnival season, that one encountered my friend. This means that Montresor mind was like theres no looking back. What once was a little plant has to become its tree. Referring its time to knock down Fortunato. The ancient world was a cruel place. Between the 18-1900s the world was a cruel place to live everyone criticizes everyone by their color, language, class,and even by an appearance. Yes I said For the love of god! This quote was telled by Fortunato in his last minutes of life because he was chained up to a wall and buried alive.While Montresour was making a brick wall to leave Fortunato on the catacombs ,Fortunato was laughing at him like he did one time. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells CONCLUSION My conclusion as student is you should have forgiveness on your heart and dont be mean. But on the story everything was opposite The Cask of Amontillado was a story about a man who wanted revenge and he wanted it his own way and it end up being a Maniac Killer.

Personal Narrative My Best Friend - 1080 Words

It’s getting dark outside and cooler too, I went downstairs to get my older brother so we could finish the vlog, but Caleb laid on the couch unresponsive. As I called his name while walking down the stairs, I realized something was wrong. â€Å"Caleb† I yelled tears pouring out of my eyes as I found him, not breathing. He was dead. My best friend, my brother, the only person who made me really happy, was gone forever. I couldn t imagine what I was going to do without him. I loved him more than anyone in my life he was my hero. It s october 20th and we all sat at Caleb s funeral crying uncontrollably. â€Å" Excuse me† a voice said as a young boy walked by. â€Å" Hi I’m Hayden we had planned to meet today and this came up, but your mom said that it†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Well we’ll have to do a song together sometime.† I nodded my head in agreement. We sat there for a while just talking, I really needed that. â€Å"We should probably head back its getting kinda dark,† â€Å"Ok,† I said not wanting to leave just yet. As we walked back I noticed he reached for my hand and I let him take it. I didn t want Hayden to leave so soon, but promised to see him again as soon as possible.† I’m going to miss you, and thank you for everything you did for me,† I said while embracing him. Before he could say anything my dad pulled me away. â€Å"Come on now no time for waste, have a good flight home Summerall’s.† What was with him? As they left Hayden turned to me one last time as my dad hurried us away. â€Å"What was that,† he asked angrily. â€Å"What do you mean,† I snapped back. â€Å"Annie,† he said sincerely, â€Å" I don’t want you to get attached he just another boy who you will never see again.† â€Å"Billy!† My mom yelled â€Å" I have already arranged to meet the in LA in one month so don’t say that† I smiled knowing I’d get to see him soon. It’s almost been a year since we met and we are actually doing the song! â€Å"Hayden, I’m so excited to finally shoot our music video,† I said enthusiastically. â€Å" I know, maybe this will change your dad’s mind about us!† I nodded I hope. After hours of shooting we finally got to the end. â€Å"THATS A WRAP,† the producer announced. We all clapped and I noticed Hayden talking to my dad in a hushed tone, before I could think Paige came andShow MoreRelatedPersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1210 Words   |  5 PagesSunday, my friends and I were eating a meal of thick stew and crusty bread and drinking a pitcher of hot, spiced, and very watered-down wine. We’d chosen my room because it was the biggest and therefore had the most space for practicing weaponry, our afternoon plan. My friends ate and made small talk. We saw each other most days so sometimes it seemed like we ran out of real things to talk about. I was somewhat lost in my thoughts, about us and about our futures. Koilin was my best friend. He wasRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1052 Words   |  5 PagesI Threw my books on the bed and approached the jacket slowly, as if it were Andrew Garfield who would become my best friend. I couldn t look away, I wanted to scream. The jacket would be my new best friend. The leather black and silver studs, the belts, and best of all being popular. This jacket is no ordinary jacket, this is my jacket. I heard steps coming up stairs, my mom stopped by and asked if I like it. I yelled yes with excitement and joy. She left, I stared at the jacket like whenRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend757 Words   |  4 PagesI’m Wendy. And no, I look nothing like the perfect happy smiling girl that you all associate with the restaurant. I am 5’6’’ and 13 years old. I have wavy, short, caramel hair and brown eyes, with a light spattering of freckles. My favorite colors are blue and gray, but yellow is such a pretty sunny color... it just doesn t look good on me. I go to North-West Independence Middle School. In case you were wondering, that is in middle of nowhere Nebraska. It is like a scene from an old movie, no colorRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend940 Words   |  4 Pages Looking back, I remind myself that friends are temporary, but memories are forever. This was going to be our last night together, Cesli and I. Cesli Crum was my best friend that I met in third grade. That year came and went, and though in fourth grade Cesli was held back, we still vowed to always be best friends. Then, that winter of two thousand fourteen, her family decided to move away. I felt devastated, so my mom agreed to have Cesli over one evening right before she left. Thus that is whatRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1369 Words   |  6 Pagesreason my palms were sweaty and I had butterflies doing loopty-loops in my stomach. I was on my way to visit Julia, one of my best friends at the time. The whole way there, in bumper to bumper traffic, I reflected on all of my memories with her, including playing on a fallen, rotten tree and pretending that it was milk chocolate shop. As little girls, we would dress up in glittery, razzled costumes and sing our hearts out, which continued well into our teen years when she drove me to school my freshmanRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1034 Words   |  5 Pagesbeen my best friend since I was deported to this horrid tent city. My spouse and daughter died in the floods of Grimsdon. Every thought of them, cripples me with grief instantly, my heart and soul ached for my precious daughter and partner bring me to tears. Thankfully, I met . Ella, who, whilst she could never replace my biological Family, I feel she is now like a much-loved sister to me. She is the only light when there is so much darkness, surrounding us. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eyeRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1033 Words   |  5 Pageshim cuddling into his side shaking from the cold. We d been outside for over an hour, in barely any clothes. My face edged with tear streaks and bags under my eyes. I had mascara smudged across my right cheek and my makeup was running. At one point, I turned over and glanced up at him. I studied his face and thought to myself. This was my best friend. We used to hang out after school at my house and watch movies until late. How had things changed so suddenly? I thought of all the good mom ents we dRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1327 Words   |  6 Pagesabout it.   She was my absolute best friend and I could not imagine living 1,300 miles away.    Growing up, we were resentful of each other.   We used words and actions to get our point across.   Not only did we slap each other, but also kicked and punched.   I cried even if it didn’t hurt, that was me being a baby.   My dad would scoop me in his arms and at the same time, discipline my sister.   It was satisfying if you had asked my 8 year old self.    Later on, Madison turned into my soul mate, as I beganRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1192 Words   |  5 PagesWe have been best friends since elementary school and gone through a lot together, but we backed each other when it meant the most. While I waited for my flight at Regan International, I called Elizabeth and invited her to my place for a late dinner. I missed her and looked forward to spend time with her. *** As 8 o’clock grew near, my excitement to spend a girl s-night-in with Liz increased. So much has developed since we last chat. Therefore, when I heard the knock on my front door, IRead MorePersonal Narrative : My Best Friend1004 Words   |  5 Pageswhere you think your life is ruined for good? My best friend Peggy and I experienced that feeling one boring night last summer when we were home alone. Last year I was know for â€Å"trouble†, I liked to fight and be the center of attention. I always had to make a scene about everything. Even though I was constantly in trouble with my parents, I never did anything that would put me in jail for a long time if I were to get caught by the police. My best friend was the same way. We both had negative attitudes

The First Amendment and Christmas Trees in the Workplace

Topic The First Amendment and Christmas Trees in the workplace and public arena. Thesis While a strict interpretation of the Constitution could find that Christmas Trees in the workplace are inappropriate, there is a dependent factor based on convergence, tradition, and community values. Outline Overview Presentation of the issue Christmas Trees in the Workplace and the First Amendment a. The First Amendment Review b. Review framing of Constitution vis-ÃÆ' -vis 1st Amendment c. Political and social context d. Evolution of political and social context in relation to 1st Amendment The First Amendment as Freedom of Speech and Religious Expression Interpretation of Freedom of Speech Interpretation of Freedom of Religious Expression Limits to Amendment in contemporary society Literature Review Pre-1990 writings Contemporary scholarship Historical Court Cases Historiography of Issue Evolution of Courts opinion and interpretation of the issue Polarized Views Pro and Con of allowing Christmas Trees in workplace Christmas Trees should be part of protected 1st Amendment Rights Christmas Trees are an expression of religion, and therefore are not Protected for public view in workplace Conclusions and Further Research Article To end Christmas Wars, Separate Secular from Sacred. (2010). First Amendment Center. Retrieved from: HYPERLINK http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/assembly/..%5C/rel_liberty/publiclife/faqs.aspx?id=19680Show MoreRelatedChristmas Trees in the Workplace and the First Amendment: An Overview of the Issue5305 Words   |  21 PagesOverview Presentation of the issue Christmas Trees in the Workplace and the First Amendment a. The First Amendment Review b. Review framing of Constitution vis-ÃÆ'  -vis 1st Amendment c. Political and social context d. Evolution of political and social context in relation to 1st Amendment The First Amendment as Freedom of Speech and Religious Expression Interpretation of Freedom of Speech Interpretation of Freedom of Religious Expression Limits to Amendment in contemporary society LiteratureRead MoreConsumer Lifestyle in Singapore35714 Words   |  143 Pages............................................................................................. 10 Working Conditions................................................................................................................. 10 Women in the Workplace........................................................................................................ 12 Commuting ............................................................................................................................. 13Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesDeveloping an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Processes 25 †¢ Outcomes 25 Summary and Implications for Managers 30 S A L Self-Assessment Library How Much Do I Know About Organizational Behavior? 4 Myth or Science? â€Å"Most Acts of Workplace Bullying Are Men Attacking Women† 12 An Ethical Choice Can You Learn from Failure? 24 glOBalization! Does National Culture Affect Organizational Practices? 30 Point/Counterpoint Lost in Translation? 31 Questions for Review 32 Experiential ExerciseRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pagesbegins with careful planning, followed by data collection, data description using graphical and numerical summaries, data analysis, and ï ¬ nally interpretation of results. This process is described in detail in Chapter 1, and the ordering of topics in the ï ¬ rst ten chapters of the book mirrors this process: data collection, then data description, then statistical inference. The logical order in the data analysis process can be pictured as shown in the following ï ¬ gure. Step 1: Acknowledging Variability—

Explanation of Hamlet’s Mystery (by Ernest Jones) Free Essays

pg. 101: Explanation of Hamlet’s Mystery by Ernest Jones Much as he hates him, he can never denounce him with the ardent indignation that boils straight from his blood when he reproaches his mother, for the more vigorously he denounces his uncle the more powerfully does he stimulate to activity his own unconscious and â€Å"repressed† complexes. He is there- fore in a dilemma between on the one hand allowing his natural detestation of his uncle to have free play, a consum- mation which would make him aware of his own horrible ishes, and on the other ignoring the imperative call for ven- geance that his obvious duty demands. We will write a custom essay sample on Explanation of Hamlet’s Mystery (by: Ernest Jones) or any similar topic only for you Order Now He must either realise his own evil in denouncing his uncle’s, or strive to ignore, to condone and if possible even to forget the latter in continuing to â€Å"repress† the former; his moral fate is bound up with his uncle’s for good or ill. The call of duty to slay his uncle cannot be obeyed because it links itself with the call of his nature to slay his mother’s husband, whether this is the first or the second; the latter call is strongly â€Å"repressed,† and therefore necessarily the former also. It is no mere chance that he says of himself that he is prompted to the revenge â€Å"by heaven and hell,† though the true significance of the expres- sion of course quite escapes him. Hamlet’s dammed-up feeling finds a partial vent in other directions, the natural one being blocked. The petulant irascibility and explosive outbursts called forth by the vexa- tion of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, and especially of Polo- nius, are evidently to be interpreted in this way, as also is in part the burning nature of his reproaches to his mother. In- deed towards the end of the interview with his mother the hought of her misconduct expresses itself in that almost physical disgust which is so often the manifestation of in- tensely â€Å"repressed† sexual feeling. â€Å"Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed; Pinch wanton on your cheek; call you his mouse; And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses, Or paddling in your neck with his damn’d fingers, Make you to rav el all this matter out. † His attitude towards Polonius is highly instructive. Here the absence of family tie, and of other influences, enables him to indulge to a relatively unrestrained degree his hostility towards the prating and sententious dotard. How to cite Explanation of Hamlet’s Mystery (by: Ernest Jones), Papers

Robert Frost Poem Analysis Essay Example For Students

Robert Frost Poem Analysis Essay Robert FrostRobert Frost, an Americian poet of the late 19th century, used nature in many of his writings. This paper will discuss the thought process of Frost during his writings, the many tools which he used, and provide two examples of his works. Robert Frost was born in San Franciso on March 26, 1874, but later moved to Lawrence, Massachuschusetts (after his father died) where he did most of his writing. He was a simple man who taught, worked in a mill, was a reporter, was a New England farmer, and wrote. Throughout his life he had always been interested in literature. He attended Dartmouth College, but remained less than one semester. In 1894 he sold his first work My Butterfly: An Elegy to a New York journal. A year later he married Elinor White. From 1897 to 1899 he attended Harvard College as a special student but left before he acquired his degree. For the next ten years he wrote poems, operated a farm in Derry, New Hampshire, and taught at Derrys Pinkerton Academy. In 1912 he sold his farm and moved to England where he could work on his writings full time. He was an instant success! A Boys Will was accepted by a London Publisher and a year later so was North of Boston. He also began to get recognized in America. The Frosts sailed for America in 1915 and landed in New York two days after the Americian release of North of Boston. The book was a good success and he used the profits to buy a farm in Fanconia, New Hampshire. During this time Frost began to write his most successful poems. Frost was once asked his thought process during writing; he responded:I sometimes speak from the last thing that happened to me. I got asked today if I think up poems. Do I think them up? How do I get the right one? Well, it is the hardest thing in the world to tell. But I dont think up poems. I pick up a lot of things I thought of to make a poem; that is a lot of scattered thoughts through the days that are handy for the poem-thats about all. Thats where the thinking comes in.That is truly an amazing feat; he would just walk around looking at things and a poem would come into his head. He would write these entire inspirational poems in his head and didnt even think that it was unusual. The best poet of the 20th century did not write rough drafts!In 1915 he moved to New England and began to write. He used the New England country side as inspiration for many of his poems, but for the purpose of this essay two poems will be analyzed The Road Not Taken and Birches. The Road Not Taken was originally published in 1916 and it was Frost most popular poem to date. Still today it is considered one of his best and most popular works. The Road Not TakenTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood. And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fairAnd having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Has worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally layIn the leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first foe another day! Yet knowing how way leads onto way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. The reader can just picture Robert Frost walking in a wooded area of the New Hampshire forest when suddenly he comes upon a trail that divides and he wrote The Road Not Taken. A poem that has been used in countless high school graduation speeches and as a m etaphor for any situation in which a person must make an important decision. The simple themes have always appealed to Frosts readers and seems to speak to people more than a Shakespeare or Poe. Frost uses many effects that allow the poems theme to be more easily understood. For example, he writes many of his poems in the first person which makes the reader feel closer to the actual experience. In Birches he uses this technique which creates the setting of an older man who is looking back at earlier times when he played among these same trees. Another technique he uses is the informal manner in which he writes his poems. He also wrote many of his poems in continuous form rather than dividing it into traditional stanzas which allows the poem to be presented in a less formal form. The following is an excerpt from the poem Birches.But dipped its top and set me down again. .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f , .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .postImageUrl , .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f , .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f:hover , .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f:visited , .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f:active { border:0!important; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f:active , .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9171de4036523505d3982ecdf0b16e8f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Minimum Wage EssayThat would be good both going and coming back. One could do worse than be a swinger of birches. This poem again uses the format in which Frost uses a common object such as a boy swinging from a birch tree to symbolize a much more significant theme. In the first four sections of the poem Frost seems to be largely concerned with cruelness of earth and the endless possibilities of a creative imagination. In the last few lines he reasons that earth, in a way, needs its imperfections and that what makes our imaginations so different and amazing. If we were to live in a perfect world we wouldnt have anything to dream about and, therefore would not need an imagination. Frost was a simple man who lead a simple life yet he is regarded as the best Americian poet of the 20th century and perhaps ever. Although his simple form is not liked by some critics; I dont think they are who he was writing for. He wanted to appeal to the common man and I believe he did. His awards include three-dozen honorary degrees, four Pulitzer Prizes, the Bollingen Prize for Poetry, and he spoke at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. He once stated that his major goal in life was to write a few poems that would be hard to get rid of. Well, congratulations Mr. Frost. Works CitedField, Evgene. Poems of Childhood. New York: Charles Scribners Sons Inc. 1925Gerber, Philip L. Robert Frost. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1967. Greiner, Donald J. Robert Frost: The Poet and His Critics. Chicago: American LibraryAssociation, 1974. Lathem, Edward Connery, ed. The Poetry of Robert Frost. New York: NA, 1969. Lathem, Edward, ed. Interviews with Robert Frost. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. 1966. NA. Robert Lee Frost. CD-Rom. Microsoft, 1999. Reeve, F.D. Robert Frost in Russia. Boston: Little, Brown Publishers, 1964. Sergeant, Elizabeth Shepley. Robert Frost: The Trail by Existence. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1960. Thompson, Lawrance. Robert Frost: The Early years, 1874-1915. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1966. Unger, Leonard, ed. American Writers. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, Inc. 1961. Van Egmond, Peter. The Critical Reception of Robert Frost. Boston: G.K. Hall and Co., 1974.

Melancholy Caused by Fasting An Artist in the Modernist Period

The role of an artist has always remained a discussed issue; whether his/her activity was considered prestigious or, backwards, aimed at entertaining the crowd, the personality of an artist has always been perceived as that contrasted with the rest of the society; as that being separated from the concerns of the everyday life and minor, insignificant issues.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Melancholy Caused by Fasting: An Artist in the Modernist Period specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Not accidentally, the question of an artist’s role has often become an object of attention of artists themselves, in particular, writers: the interaction of an artist and the world around him/her has become a topic for a series of works of literature. In this paper, we will discuss A Hunger Artist (Kafka), the work of Franz Kafka, an outstanding German-language writer, that in an allegoric way depicts the role of an artist du ring the modernist period. In the image of the protagonist of the story, Kafka depicts a modernist artist, misunderstood, marginalized, â€Å"infected† by a specific â€Å"melancholy† peculiar to the way modernist artists perceived life and the world around them, as well as observes how an artist interacts with the â€Å"addressees† of his/her artistic â€Å"message†, which is his/her works. A Hunger Artist tells a reader about a specific genre of â€Å"art†, which is â€Å"professional fasting†: an artist performed his long-term fasting to numerous observers. Artist’s fasting was his way to express his ideas and share it with the observers (204-205). During a certain period, â€Å"professional fasting† was of big popularity awakening strong interest of the society, says Kafka; however, the story describes the period of the decline of the â€Å"genre† and its graduate â€Å"collapse†. In the course of narration, n ot only does Kafka depict the act of fasting itself and observers’ reaction on it, but he also throws light upon the artist’s inner experience, which makes the story of particular value for a reader interested in history of art. In the personality of the hunger artist, we may notice the generalized character of a modernist artist, and in the actions of fasting, we may recognize the characteristics of modernism as an epoch in history of art. Let us now discuss the peculiarities of modernism in culture and art to better understand the allegory of Kafka’s work. For the period of modernist culture, it was characteristic for art to be alienated from the everyday life, as well as from the majority of the â€Å"ordinary audience†; it is possible to say that the art was created by the â€Å"select few† and for the â€Å"select few† (Storey 182). This was caused by certain academicism of modernist works of art, by complexity of ideas and the ways of expressing them with the means of art. If we try to create the generalized image of a modernist artist, we will imagine a misunderstood person whose ideas and concerns are far from those ordinary and everyday; a person whose feelings and thoughts are complicated and contradictory; thus, the inner world of an artist is the center of the modernist works.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It will be not an overstatement to call a modernist artist a â€Å"marginalized person†: on the one hand, he/she exists within a community and demonstrates his/her works to it; on the other hand, the actual distance between them is very big, and the artist does not â€Å"fit into† the community. Not accidentally, modernist works could be hardly appreciated by the majority of ordinary readers/viewers. Moreover, it is interesting that this misunderstanding was peculiar to different strata of the society: while poorer people became not interested in modernist art because of insufficient education and background, the â€Å"elite† was also indifferent to the essence of the modernist works focusing on the form instead of content: Meier-Graefe writes, â€Å"The incomprehensibility of painting and sculpture to the general public has been shrouded in a veil of pretentious exposition† (Meier-Graefe 205); thus, modernist art was really â€Å"marginalized†, not fitting into the interest of different social groups. These trends are allegorically depicted by Kafka in his work: we see a misunderstood hunger artist who has a complicated view on his calling and his â€Å"art†, which actually differs from that of the observers coming to see him; Kafka defines the artist’s state as â€Å"a condition hardly to be understood by well-fed people† (Kafka 208). This distance between the interests of a â€Å"fasting† artist and the â €Å"well-fed† people is in fact the main tragedy in modernist art: while an artist focuses on a high idea that he delivers to the audience, the audience themselves are interested in â€Å"manners† rather than â€Å"matters† and aspire for being entertained. The embodiment of the artist’s position in his environment is the cage where he is placed. On the one hand, his artistic will is â€Å"imprisoned† by the audience’s tastes and mood: the period of fasting lasts for forty days; then the â€Å"show† finishes, as the observers’ interest diminishes (206); on the other hand, the cage is a symbol of the artist’s marginalization and separateness from the rest of the society. However, when we have discussed a modernist artist’s position relative to his audience, the question may arise: what is the cause of this marginalization? What makes the artist be â€Å"misunderstood† and â€Å"separated†: inner confl icts, disagreement with the world around him, or maybe, specific pride of an artist who wants to perform himself as â€Å"outstanding†, not clear for the rest? No doubt, for Kafka this question is also of big significance; that is why, in his A Hunger Artist, he provides his own answer to it: being asked about the reason for his fasting, the artist says, â€Å"†¦Because I couldn’t find the food I liked. If I had found it, believe me, I should have made no fuss and stuffed myself like you or anyone else† (211).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Melancholy Caused by Fasting: An Artist in the Modernist Period specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, we may conclude that the separateness of a modernist artist is of the dual nature: on the one hand, it is his choice to express his complicated ideas and thus to be a â€Å"marginalized person†; on the other hand, his opposition to the world is sincere and not feigned: the modernist era was the period of doubts, challenges, and testing the boundaries of all existing notions. Thus, being in the constant condition of search, the artist was nevertheless not able to find the â€Å"food† he would really like. This circle gave birth to specific â€Å"melancholy† of a modernist artist; Kafka uses the allegory of the artists â€Å"melancholy†¦ caused by fasting† (207). Another interesting question is the destiny of the modernist art. In his work, Kafka touches upon this issue as well expressing his opinion in the allegorical end of the story: after trying himself as a fasting artist in a circus where people prefer to look at the animals rather than at him, the artist dies, and his cage is given to a young, strong panther (211). Unlike the fasting artist, the panther awakens joy and brings good mood to the visitors of the circus. The â€Å"work† of a fasting artist turns out to be not â€Å"com petitive† comparing to the animals kept in the circus. â€Å"Perhaps, said the hunger artist to himself, many a time, things would be a little better if his cage were set not quite so near the menagerie. That made it too easy for people to make their choice†, with this quotation, Kafka reflects the mood of the crowd coming to the circus, and their expectations about the show. In fact, the end of the story reminds us about a change that took place in the middle of the 20th century: the â€Å"elitist† modernist culture is replaced by popular culture, and then by postmodernist culture. As a result, the borders between commercial and not commercial, â€Å"high† and â€Å"low† culture are eliminated; culture is now neighboring to the everyday life and is thus accessible for ordinary people. The fusion of art and entertainment is not bad manners any more (Storey 183-185). The new, â€Å"popular culture† is similar to Kafka’s young panther; à ¢â‚¬Å"The panther was all right†, says Kafka in the final sentences of his work (Kafka 211). Understanding the real-life context of a work of literature always helps a reader better understand its idea; having touched upon the role of the artist in the modernist era, Kafka gives us opportunity to get the notion of the society of that period, and, what is the most interesting, of the inner experience of a modernist artist. Having chosen the allegorical way of expressing his ideas, Kafka nevertheless has depicted the characteristic features of modernist culture very precisely and eloquently.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Kafka, Franz. â€Å"A Hunger Artist.† The Tyranny of the Normal: An Anthology. Eds. Donley, Carol, and Sheryl Buckley. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1996. 204-211. Print. Meier-Graefe, Julius. â€Å"The Development of Modern Art.† Modern Art and Modernism: A Critical Anthology. Eds. Frascina, Francis, and Charles Harrison. London: Paul Chapman, 1982. 205-209. Print. Storey, John. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction. 5th ed. New York, London: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print. This essay on Melancholy Caused by Fasting: An Artist in the Modernist Period was written and submitted by user AnneMar1eH0ag to help you with your own studies. 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