To His Coy Mistress Essay Example for Free

To His Coy Mistress Essay â€Å"To his coy Mistress† is poem written by Andrew Marvell, and this is one of his best poems ever. Author used Carpe Diem, very interesting style of writing poetry. In this poem he describes his life and how he wanted a more time with special woman. â€Å"To his importunate Mistress† is poem which is written by Peter de Vries. He also in his poem used many things that are like in Marvell’s poem â€Å"To his coy Mistress. The first sentence is same in both poem, so many writers considered that his story is copy of the Marvell’s â€Å"To his coy Mistress†. The first poem has three stanzas, and we can see that author in this poem want tell us that all he wants is more time to him and his love. The major role in this poem has woman, who is more or less young, and an old man. In the first stanza the old man describes how he would love her, but it is not enough time for everything he wants. He also talks about how he could spend much time with her so that he can watch and admire each part of her body. His love is so big, so he says that her refusal would not affect on him because he is diligent in what he wants. In the second stanza he recalls how short human life is, and that we don’t have much time to do all things which we want. He thinks that everyone should enjoy in life, and do everything what they want. If we have opportunity for something we mustn’t miss it, because we could regret later. The last stanza talked about how he urges her to comply, claiming that in loving each other with passion they will make the most of the time they have to live. The second poem â€Å"To his importunate Mistress† is written by Peter de Vries. Peter de Vries was an American editor and novelist known for his satiric wit. His poem â€Å"To his importunate Mistress† has two stanzas. On the beginning of the first stanza we can see that the first sentence is the same like in Marvell’s â€Å"To his Coy Mistress†. So we can say that Peter de Vries poem is meant to mock Andrew Marvells To Coy His Mistress. Peter’s poem talked about having a mistress. The author describes a man who has a wife but also he has a mistress. His wife accepts him as it is, because she loved him. The material things are the most important thing in his life and he doesn’t see anything except that. All his time he devoted her mistress and forgets about his wife. He bought her many expensive things, and thoughts that he can with that things attract any woman. But on the end he realized that his wife is the only who was loved him all that time. On the end of this poem we can conclude that his wife beat his mistress and she was able to return to her husband. â€Å"To his coy Mistress† is a metaphysical poem, which is written in iambic tetrameter. He also used metaphors, irony and in the first part of the poem the speaker appeals to the character, in the second part he expresses his emotions, and in the third part the speaker uses reason. The setting for this story is very important because in this poem we have two layers of setting, the setting which we imagine and setting which speaker imagines. In the second poem the speaker also used symbols, irony and metaphors. Both stories tell about mistress, and the first sentences are same in both poems. So we can say that the Peter’s poem is a parody of Marvell’s â€Å"To his Coy Mistress†. De Vries’s used the same structure and metaphors like Marvell in his poem. There are a many similarities, but there are also differences. â€Å"To his importunate Mistress† shows stereotypical characteristics, the most important thing in life is money, while â€Å"To his coy Mistress† speaks of love and praise. In the first poem the author used carpe diem, which describes the passion of society.

Ancient Celtic Mythology: A Vision of Gods and Goddesses :: Religion

Ancient Celtic Mythology: A Vision of Gods and Goddesses Upon investigating the supernatural reality that the Celts endured, it is necessary to somewhat overlook the myths to see what lies behind them. It is essential to find when and from where the myths originated and how true the storytellers, or narrators, really are. The Celtic gods and goddesses, in such an early mythological time defined as a period when beings lived or events happened such as one no longer sees in our days (Sjoestedt 1994: 2), require much analysis. A diverse collection of documents, literature and archaeology pave the way to our understanding of the ancient mythology of the Celts. However, these traces lack a sense of closure, leaving the investigation into the nature of these gods and goddesses raw and incomplete. The evidence of the Celtic deities exists in various forms, but the information that we have collected leaves unanswered questions. For instance, in analysing the recorded documents left behind by the Greeks and Romans, we are called to cast some doubt on how closely the Celtic religious rites paralleled those of their classical neighbours. We survey recorded religious practices with apprehension, as we are not truly sure that the Celts too worshipped family gods and a mass of deities who covered all aspects of life.1 How do we know that we are not just reading materials reflecting the Graeco-Roman myths? Is it not plausible that these Greek and Roman writers installed some bias, leaning towards their mythological ideas, within their testimony? The speculation surrounding all of the varied pieces of evidence is just. From the abundance of evidence, though, we can be sure that the Celts believed in a multiplicity of deities. It is apparent that the existence of gods and goddesses in Celtic society was quite a serious affair and an everyday business. However, when focusing on the exact nature of such gods and goddesses, it seems only fair to attempt to construct an overview of the character of each deity. Reconstructing the evidence might be too hopeful because the conclusions would come from mere ignorance and be partially based on what we still do not know. From here we can only address the different types of evidence that piece together the very nature of the Celtic gods and goddesses, but the mixed and slightly unreliable evidence is certainly not easy to sort. The literary evidence for the existence of deities in Celtic religion is one source that reveals the character of the individual gods and goddesses.

LTG. Timothy J. Maude.

Lieutenant General Timothy Maude was killed on September 11th 2001 in Pentagon attack. He had been serving as Deputy Chief of staff for Personnel in the army. He was born on 18th November 1947 in Indianapolis in India. His long character of understanding human spirit will never be forgotten. According to him, the well being of civilians, veterans, families, retirees, and soldiers was determined by the concept of readiness within the force. The success within the army with a component of oneness was a standard that defined human nature which fostered a great attribute to him in providing and understanding of this phenomenon. According to him, the current young generations were aimed at providing a greater capacity than oneself which could oblige them in the aspect of duty as their most noble endeavor for the country. (http://www.maudefoundation.org/aboutTim.html) The future of the US army is to be influenced by his contributions and values in support of humanity founded on the influence of the army personnel. He had great love for his soldiers which even led to great sigh of devotion in the deepest and most genuine capacity. His long love trailed in the soldiers, the army and the whole country. In every of his action, commitment for his duty was cheerfully reflected. His death left many of his compassionate activities, contributions and values he exercised for the good of the country. His contribution as a G-1 officer remains remarkable in remembrance. He had a vision for the people in providing transformation through giving adequate standards for the persons providing human resource in the army. This is an aspect worth of emulation by others. (http://www.maudefoundation.org/aboutTim.html) He’s adequate affection and love of the people, army and country is perhaps the greatest epoch of values which the future commanders and army personnel should emulate. He serviced the cost of his roles with integrity which was occupied by his great will of revolution to provide the will and the good image of the country. According to him, his generosity in duty performance served to support the fundamental objectives allied to the G-1 occupation; well being, the force and the personnel. Generally, it was great for the Maude and the future army activity should emulate his advocacy. As a warrant officer 1 in the army the actions, values and contributions of Maude should never be evaded. At one level, his love for the country, the army, the soldiers and the families should act as an example to other warranty officers. Elsewhere, his transformation attitude for the army personnel to a better personality is a key element of emulation. Nevertheless, he had a great vow in developing the human resource capacity through a good leadership model which should also be a character and value of emulation by other personnel. Bibliography. The Maude Foundation. About Tim. Retrieved on 22nd March 2008 from,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.maudefoundation.org/aboutTim.html      

Anne Sexton Poetry as Therapy Essay - 1439 Words

Anne Sexton: Poetry as Therapy Many great literary and artistic geniuses have been troubled with deep depression and mental illness. Anne Sexton is an example of a poet with such problems who used her personal despair to inspire her poetic works. Not all of Sextons work is based solely on her mental health; but a good portion of her work is influenced by her constant bouts with depression. As she struggled to deal with her own marital infidelity and the problems associated with being a female poet in a male dominated genre, she combined the theme of depression with one based on the roles of women in society. In turn, she gained a wider audience and received recognition for her work. But all the fame and fortune were not enough to†¦show more content†¦Anne married Alfred Muller Sexton II, or Kayo as he was affectionately called, in 1948, despite the fact that she was engaged to another man at this time (Middlebrooke 20-23). Anne did some modeling at the beginning of their marriage and the couple lived with Kayos parents for the first few years. Annes infidelity began early in her marriage to Kayo. She fell in love with a friend of hers and Kayos named Johnny who was a medical student at Harvard. Despite the fact that she claimed the relationship never got physical, the damage was already done. The couple did not divorce but this was just the beginning of Annes repeated marital infidelity (Kumin xix). Anne had many affairs while Kayo was off fighting in the Korean war despite warnings from her mother. It was around this time that Anne first began seeing a psychiatrist (Middlebrook 20-29). When Kayo returned home from the war, life for the couple went fairly back to normal. They had their first child in 1953. After the birth of their child, Annes mental state when from bad to worse. Anne was constantly in a state of panic and worry about her children and hated being left alone with them. The last straw was when Annes great aunt died in 1958. Anne attempted suicide by taking an overdose of Nebutal sleeping pills shortly thereafter. After this incident, her visits to the psychiatrist became more frequent and involved. Dr. Martin Orne, one of Annes psychiatrists, began encouraging her to write poetry as aShow MoreRelatedCreativity vs. Psychological Health of Anne Sexton1173 Words   |  5 Pagesthat suicide is considered and often attempted. When the poem writing by Anne Sexton entitled Her Kind you can closely compare how Anne’s mental health affected her poetry and how her poetry affected her mental health. The American Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Anne Sexton took her own life in 1974 via carbon monoxide poisoning before reaching the age of fifty. Her life and work are especially interesting because her poetry was clearly tied to her own psychiatric treatment. She began writing withRead MoreConfessional Poetry Essay1640 Words   |  7 PagesConfessional poetry is a style that emerged in the late 1950’s. Poetry of this type tends to be very personal and emotional. Many confessional poets dealt with subject matter that had previously been taboo. Death, trauma, mental illness, sexuality, and numerous other topics flowed through the works of the poetry from this movement. Confessional poetry was not purely autobiographical, but did often express deeply disturbing personal experience. (Academy of American Poets) Three importantRead MoreAnne Sexton : An American Poet1216 Words   |  5 PagesContext: Anne Sexton was an American poet born on November 9th, 1928 in Newton, Massachusetts and raised in Weston. Her family was successful economically wise and Sexton was raised in a middle-class environment; however, Sexton’s relationship with her parents were extremely strained and perhaps abusive; her father was an alcoholic. It was suggested that Sexton may have been sexually abused by her parents and felt that they were hostile to her. As such, Sexton sought refuge in her close relationshipRead MoreMary Sexton s The Grimm Brothers And Anne Sexton948 Words   |  4 Pagesforgot to invite the twelfth wise woman. The twelfth wise woman enters the feast full of anger and cast a horrible spell on Briar Rose. This story of Briar Rose has evolved over time into two stories by different authors, the Grimm brothers and Anne Sexton. They each have different perspectives on the author’s past and the role of the father making. These differences make the fairy tale propose two dif ferent struggles of both social level and a broken family. Authors’ viewpoints are often shownRead MoreSylvia Plath And Anne Sexton1782 Words   |  8 PagesConfessional poets in the 1950’s and 1960’s shaped confessional poetry into a type of writing that forever changed American literature. With controversial subjects at the time such as death, trauma, depression and how relationships impacted people, confessional poetry carved a gateway for private subjects and feelings to be expressed through autobiographical writing. The inspiration behind confessional poetry was the therapy it brought to the writer, being able to take personal experiences and thoughtsRead MoreAnne Sexton2598 Words   |  11 PagesAnne Sexton believed that the most interesting poetry was written out of personal experience. Everything she had been through, her hospitalization, her affairs, her insanity, the loss of her parents, and great-aunt, gave her things to write about. She uses poetry as one of her outlet. She writes out her problems. Her writing was a part of her therapy. As a child, Anne Sexton had to be the center of attention, a demanding child (Self-Portrait in Letter 3). When Anne was younger, she thoughtRead MoreEssay about Influential Poets of the Beat Generation1460 Words   |  6 PagesBeat Poets of that Generation of writers were Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The Beat Generation poetry was the first poets to write about non-conventional subjects as well as using different forms of expression in their works. This generation of poets greatly influenced poets such as Anne Sexton, who wrote about personal experiences as well. The Beat Generation’s style of poetry have influenced many generations of poets after them. The Beat Generation of Poets started in the 1950s andRead MoreAnalysis Of Sylvia Plath s Poem, She Stripped Away The Polite Veneer1590 Words   |  7 Pageslandscape of poetry by illustrating the potential for it to be a deeply personal art form. In an article dedicated to the memories of Sylvia Plath, Margaret Rees writes: â€Å"She stripped away the polite veneer. She let her writing express elemental forces and primeval fears. In doing so, she laid bare the contradictions that tore apart appearance and hinted at some of the tensions hovering just beneath the surface of the American way of life in the post war period.† As Rees shows, Plath’s poetry broughtRead MoreSylvia Plaths Personality, Perspective, And Poetry1810 Words   |  8 PagesOn October 27, 1932, a dramatic metamorphosis was born into the poetry and literature world. This revolution was Sylvia Plath. Born to Otto Plath, a German immigrant who became a graduated college professor, and one of his students , Aurelia Schober, she would soon become one of the most influential writers of her era. However, early in her life, her father died of diabetes mellitus. This was a common form of diabetes that was easily treated in that time period, but her father had allowed ignoranceRead MoreThe Taboo Of Silence3339 Words   |  14 PagesPlath’s ‘Ariel’ (1966) collection it is the brutality of the reoccurring ‘Holocaust metaphor’ and pastiche to confessional poets such Anne Sexton that asserts the argument of both faith and mental illness being a personal relationship with the self and effectively a struggle with identity, effecting relationships with others which is expressed both in Plath’s own poetry such as ‘The Applicant’ and in Ted Hughes ‘Birthday Letters’ in poems such as ‘Fever’ . Within McEwan’s ‘Enduring Love’ (1997) it is

Is Dementia A Cure For Dementia - 1814 Words

Dementia is a neurodegenerative, progressively deteriorating and terminal clinical syndrome characterized by a loss or decline in memory and other cognitive abilities. Most recent scientific thinking is that dementia may be caused by various diseases and conditions affecting over 5 million Americans and 27.7 million worldwide. It is projected that the number of Americans with dementia will exceed 7.7 million by the year 2030 and from 11 to 16 million by the year 2050. There is presently not a cure for dementia. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer s disease, accounting for up to 80% of cases. Other common forms of dementia include vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy Bodies, Parkinson Dementia, Frontotemperal†¦show more content†¦The three principal goals of rehabilitation for individuals with dementia are to: help the individual maintain or improve function and engage in daily activities to the extent possible and as the disease progresses; restore or compensate for functional decline due to an acute insult such as an injury or traumatic health episode such as a stroke, or fall which occurs over and above the dementia; and provide family caregivers with education and knowledge about the disease and specific skills to provide a supportive environment at home and reduce excess disability. Due in part to the fact that dementia is a terminal condition, healthcare professionals have not traditionally considered dementia patients as appropriate candidates for rehabilitation. Most health professionals remain unaware of how best to support this clinical population, how to effectively engage individuals with dementia in rehabilitative therapies to address acute more traditional rehabilitative conditions, and the significant role of an habilitative framework of such a traumatic disease.(www.emedicinehealth,com) When was Alzheimer s First Diagnosed and Discovered? Alois Alzheimer identified Auguste Deter as the first Alzheimer s patient, an analysis of that original patient s brain has revealed the genetic origin of Alzheimer s. Alzheimer s disease is named after Dr.Show MoreRelatedDementia Is The Only Cause Death That Does Not Have A Cure972 Words   |  4 PagesDementia is the only cause of death that does not have a cure and cannot be prevented. It is the loss of mental functions such as thinking, memory, and reasoning that is severe enough to interfere with a person s daily functioning. Dementia is not the name of a specific disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. This is referred to as an umbrella term, a phrase that covers a broad interval or set of functions or items that all fall under a singleRead MoreAnalysis and Description of Dementia Essay1741 Words   |  7 PagesDementia is characterized as a condition where the mental processes of cognition and memory start to deterio rate. It is described as a syndrome that hinders the daily lives of those who have it and is characterized by memory and thinking impairment. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease and the second most common is vascular dementia. Dementia is a syndrome occurring usually, but not limited, to people over the age of 40 and is due to brain damage caused by natural deterioratingRead MoreDementia: How to Help a Loved One Essay825 Words   |  4 Pages Dementia has caused challenges and heartache for many families I have met. A loved one who no longer recognizes you could be difficult to cope with. I have had clients who do not know their own children and are unaware of their surroundings. Even though they have lived in the same home for over 30 years; it is now a strange new place to explore. Closets, bedrooms, and garages that were once frequented are now entered with caution and wonder. Everyday items are puzzles just waiting to be solved.Read MoreThe Common Types Of Dementia1013 Words   |  5 PagesDementia can be defined as a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life (alz.org). More than often, individuals affected by dementia are over the age of 65. In the United States, there are more than three million cases of dementia each year. According to World Health Organization, the number of people living with dementia is currently estimated at 47.5 million worldwide and is expected to increase to 75.6 million by 2030 (World Health Organization 2015). Dementia is causedRead MoreTaking a Look at Dementia1005 Words   |  4 PagesDementia is a broad term that encompasses a variety of different diseases and syndromes(The dementia timebomb, 2013). About 38 million in the united states and 820,000 in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with one of the over 100 types of dementia. It is also and aged related condition, so most people inflicted with it are older rather than younger. A person can have multiple forms of d ementia or a disease such as alzheimers diseases that involves dementia symptoms. Symptoms of dementia include:Read MoreThe Cognitive Effects Of Single Diagnosed With Dementia1642 Words   |  7 PagesDementia is a condition resulting from obtained brain disease and distinguished by progressive decay in memory and other cognitive fields such as judgment, abstract thinking, language, and executive functioning. This disease is usually caused by degeneration in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for thoughts, memories, actions, and personality. Death of brain cells in this area leads to the impairments that distinguish dementia. Though the cognitive outline of single diagnosedRead MoreIs Dementia A Progressive Brain Dysfunction?1016 Words   |  5 Pagesdiagnosed with dementia, one must suffer a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. While symptoms of dementia can vary greatly, the most common indicators are memory issues, communicat ion and language impairment, and the loss of ability to focus and pay attention. Symptoms of dementia often tend to start out slowly and then gradually progress over time. Most of the types of dementia continue to worsen and are usually irreversible. Observable dementia signs may include:Read MoreAlzheimer s Is A Difficult Disease1737 Words   |  7 Pagesand others. Commonly dementia is mistaken for Alzheimer’s. Although they have similar effects, dementia and Alzheimer’s are two very different types of mental degeneration. You should know that Alzheimer’s is essentially one of the most common causes for dementia. The main difference between these two is that dementia is an overall term used for symptoms that impact memory and communication skills, while Alzheimer’s is a particular progressive disease of the brain. Dementia has a gradual onset ofRead MoreMental Health Problems Are Still With Us1406 Words   |  6 Pagespharmaceutical intervention. The essay will endeavor to give evidence on how the lack of understanding in some mental health illnesses has prevented the development in drug treatment. One such problem is seen in dementia, scientist have some understanding on what occurs in dementia but as yet have not found a cure (cited in Leys, Rostron and Heading 2011). Evidence will be given to explain that drug intervention may not always be a positive treatment for mental health problem issues such as social, cultural andRead MoreThe Effects Of Dementia On The Incidence And Prevalence1081 Words   |  5 Pagesimpact of dementia is a mounting global health problem and through worldwide education the incidence and prevalence can be diminished. Global education is critical with the projected dementia incidence, the lack awareness and understanding of dementia, no dementia cure and the associated stigma. These factors combined have a major impact on the person with dementia and society. No solo country, sector or organisation can encounter this global health problem by themselves. Worldwide dementia numbers

Defining What Happiness Is All About Essay - 921 Words

Defining What Happiness Is All About By Vaishnavi S | Submitted On June 10, 2012 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Vaishnavi S What is happiness? There is no definitive meaning to happiness. It means different things to different people. Few are contended with small moments of happiness and few feel that happiness is the life s path. Everybody wants to be happy but ironically, most of them don t know what makes them happy. Happiness is more like a mental or emotional state of mind that tells you that you feel good, so you are happy . This is a vague and uncertain concept. People tend to associate happiness with the comfortable life . When a man has a successful career, an enviable house, a beautiful wife, lovely kids and enough money he is considered to be a happy man by others. But, in reality, he might not be a happy soul because; he finds happiness in being wanderlust. Happiness is defined in the Merriam-Webster s Online Dictionary as a state of well-being and contentment and also as a pleasurable or satisfying experience . The former definition talks about true happiness and the later, about the petty moments of joy. Even an unhappy person canShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism And Its Moral Value1389 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism is a theory that delineates the bounds of morality with respect to actions taken by individuals in terms of what produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. The principle seeks to define first the morality of an action, allowing for the morality of a person to be derived based on the intent behind the respective action. The fundamentals of a person’s morality are then presented in a form that labels the person behind a morally defined action as eitherRead MoreA Raisin In The Minds, And Innocent Is Irrelevant1015 Words   |  5 Pages people of all skin colors get denied the r ight to pursue a happiness that they desired base on their skin color rather than their personalities. The Declaration of Independence tells us that the we should be able to have the right to pursue happiness including chasing a dream that was once an aspiration. In reality, American government denies that right to have that happiness. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, the essay â€Å"Trouble in the Minds†, and â€Å"Innocent is Irrelevant† proves what happens whenRead MoreThe Mega Marketing Of Depression1480 Words   |  6 Pagesis experienced by the individual is thought to be a defining component of the human experience and inherent to the very notion of what it means to be a person. However, the concept of wellbeing and the definitions of happiness and wellbeing are not constant across the spectrum of human cultures; individuals’ experiences of emotions and happiness are as as varied and diverse as the cultures which they exist in. A person’s experien ce of happiness is defined by the culture’s language and driven by expectationsRead MoreUtilitarianism, Or The Greatest Happiness Principle1407 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, states that the morality of an action should be judged based on the extent to which it produces happiness, or the opposite of happiness—an action is good as long as the result is happiness, and deemed bad if it results in pain. A clearer understanding of what Utilitarianism is can be gained by John Stuart Mill’s characterization of what it is not. He states, â€Å"I believe that the very imperfect notion ordinarily formed of its meaning, is the chiefRead MoreEssay on Utilitarianism742 Words   |  3 Pagesaction, it can be justified if it is produced to prevent more pain or produce happiness. Stating the Utilitarian view can summarize these basic principles: the greatest good for the greatest number. Utilitarians are to believe that if they foll ow this philosophy, that no matter what action they take, it will be the correct one if it achieves useful results. Williams says that utilitarianism can sometimes bring about undesirable outcomes because of the fact that it forces one to violate his/herRead MoreSubjective Well-Being Essay1316 Words   |  6 Pagesexperimentation and theoretical work in the field of psychotherapy, humans cannot be happy because a satisfaction of needs creates only a momentary phase of happiness which expires after some time. Therefore, the focus of life should not be obtaining happiness, and people should focus on avoiding suffering instead (Bullock, n.d.). However, several paradigms about well-being exist, and individual cognitive patterns and paradigms define the emotional responses to social influences. From an objective viewpointRead MoreDefining Happiness Complex Is Everyone You Know If Someone Is Happy?1360 Words   |  6 Pagesthat makes defining happiness complex is us wanting to know if s omeone is happy. We want to know what that person is feeling/mood about there own satisfaction with their own life. Of course that person might already be happy at that exact moment about there life. There might be times where that person has a mood way opposite of their satisfaction with life. We want to know which dimension will win in deciding if the person is happy or not? The second issue that makes defining happiness complex isRead MoreHappiness Explored in Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 Essay1175 Words   |  5 Pagesonce wrote, â€Å"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.† This famous quote compels people to question the significance of their joy, and whether it truly represents purposeful lives they want to live. Ray Bradbury, a contemporary author, also tackles this question in his book, Fahrenheit 451, which deals heavily with societys view of happiness in the future. Through several main characters, Bradbury por trays the two branches of happiness: one as a lifelessRead MoreSummary Of The Late Traveler And Chris Mccandless 1429 Words   |  6 Pageschoices of â€Å"home†. Tying a definition to the word â€Å"home† is similar to attempting to define what makes a human being feel comfortable. The words, while simple on the surface, mean very different things to every person making them impossible to define completely. So what is a home? Home to me is a location, a sensation, and a state of mind that is combination of four different aspects: shared happiness, the present moment, passion, and the ability to adapt. The late traveler and wanderer ChrisRead More Aristotle vs. Plato Essay1408 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle vs. Plato Excellence is a function which renders excellent the thing of which it is a function is Plato’s definition of virtue. What does this definition really mean though? Plato and Aristotle both had their own unique arguments devoted to the topic at hand, and their own ways of describing what virtue really is. Defining virtue may seem to be an easy taste, but to truly understand the arguments behind the definition can prove to be very challenging.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before discussing virtue

The Pilgrim’s Progress Free Essays

If there is one book that tops the list of most translated books, surprisingly even more than the Bible, it is The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, a famous religious writer in the English language. Bunyan is said to have a minimal proper education and a modest background, probably the reason for his simple, narrative, allegorical English writing style. It is also assumed that his learning of the English language may have come from his readings of the Bible since some parts of his book are being compared to the latter. We will write a custom essay sample on The Pilgrim’s Progress or any similar topic only for you Order Now He is regarded as a religious man who was put in jail for preaching without properly obtaining a license for such act. It was during his second time of imprisonment that the book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, materialized. The complete title of his book is The Pilgrim’s Progress from this World to that which is to come. The first part was published in 1678 and the second part was in 1684. The first part of story is about a man named Christian who leaves his home upon reading in the book that he is holding that his house will burn down, but his family thinks he has gone mad. A man named Evangelist instead advised him to start his journey, passing from one mysterious place to another in search of redemption in the Celestial City. The second part engages his wife, the inspired Christiana, and their children following the same journey that he takes. The Pilgrim’s Progress is an intense Christian writing that has influenced generations, and making it as one of the Christian books in English widely read by both the young and adult readers, particularly for Christians who are taking the journey to achieve spirituality against the temptations of life. It is considered to be one of the greatest writings of English literature, and in that it has released more than one hundred copies in translated languages. II. Body A. Themes of the Poem 1. Major Themes a. Path to Salvation The philosophy of the story is that people do not reach heaven by practicing their religion and maintaining the good nature of one’s character, but rather they are particularly chosen by God to enter the gates of Heaven. However, a closer reading of the text also proves that a true believer must show that he is willing to face anything – obstacles or difficulties along the way – to achieve salvation, because even if chosen by God, he is not excused from worldly temptations around him. He is continuously tried everyday of his life to prove his devotion to Him. In real life, especially to the Catholic religion, this is not the case though. Catholics believe that to achieve salvation and witness Heaven one must be good to oneself, to other people, and repent for one’s sins aside from the fact that one must hold on to that religion by heart. Salvation or God, for that matter, do not choose people who will experience eternal gratification. Instead it is the people themselves who choose themselves to lead a life into the goodness of God. And through this, God opens his heart to those who believe in him and may eventually enter the gates of heaven. b. Faith over Family Since this is a Christian book, the reader may attempt to question if the actions of the protagonist Christian are ethically correct – choosing to pursue the path to salvation over staying with his family. The argument lies whether one should pursue what he thinks is right to his religious faith against his social responsibility of being a father to his family. Isn’t choosing social responsibility also ethically correct because it’s for a collective good? But as for the Catholics, we are also expected to take God first above all else as stated in the Ten Commandments. Therefore, the story takes its readers on a tug of war between faith and family significance. c. Lessons from Seeking Travel Journey has always been a wonderful experience for any person. And in this book, Bunyan clearly presents to us the relevance of finding oneself and growing within this journey that one seeks. Life may be rough because one learns from his mistakes as he goes through that journey, but these difficulties prepare him to be a worthy person to the gates of Heaven. He becomes not only a traveler but a pilgrim who seeks to grow spiritually. Christian here is described as a pilgrim who takes his mistakes as lessons and eventually learns from the experience so as not to commit the same mistakes again. Bunyan also points out that what makes a pilgrim different from a plain traveler is the understanding of the whole experience of journey. Our life today is already considered a personal journey towards self discovery. We are tested everyday as to how much faith we can keep inside of us against worldly temptations. However, with the current states of mind of different people, not everybody takes home a nugget of lesson and learn from it. Some people let themselves fall prey into the pitfalls of human weakness and be immersed in the world of sin. d. Significance of Reading The book emphasizes throughout the whole story why reading the Bible is significant in any Christian life. Like Christian’s readings, reading the Bible is one of the keys to achieving happiness and salvation because it shows us the ways to enter Heaven. Take for example the part where Christian is crying while holding a book firmly in his hands and finds out a fearful revelation that leads him to seeking God. That book is the Bible, revealing to him the pains and truths about life. Reading is not only acquiring knowledge. To read a book is to understand deeply what it says and apply it in our daily lives. To read the Bible is to be one with the words of God and to accept Him in our lives. e. Importance of Social Interaction If the first part of the books offers pilgrimage as an individual activity of Christian, the second part shows Christian’s wife, Christiana, who welcomes her own pilgrimage as a social activity, where more people get involved in the journey to salvation. It is Christiana’s strength as a socially active person that makes her pilgrimage a more productive one than Christian’s journey, because the former brings forth a communal force towards enlightenment. The story awakens in us the need for other people to share in our discovery for true salvation and how it makes it easier for all of us to closely work together in achieving happiness. 2. Minor Themes Bunyan also plays with some minor themes such as the value of suffering in one’s life, the perseverance required to an individual to win the pursuit to happiness and salvation, spirituality over material interests, and that only few could make it to the gates of Heaven. Most of all, it reminds us that as long as we keep our faith in God, his grace is sufficient enough to help us make it through the difficult journey in life. B. Comparison to the Bible Much has been discussed about the implications of the writings in the Bible with Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Critics say the book is similar to the Bible with regard to its subjects, linguistic styles and techniques, symbolism or imagery as presented in the style and form of the Bible. For one, his English language is said to be the English of the Bible that one already sees all phrases as a natural expression or means of his own thoughts. He is relating the existing observation of a biblical approach in his book. He stands up to his use of allegory by requesting to look into to the patterns in the Bible. However, the book extends the significance of still writing religious texts in an artistic language: â€Å"Solidity indeed becomes the pen Of him that writeth things divine to men,† (Bunyan 4) Plus, he argues specifically about his use of allegory: But must I needs want solidness, because By metaphors I speak; was not God’s laws, His gospel-laws in older time held forth By types, shadows and metaphors? Yet loth Will any sober man be to find fault With them, lest he be found for to assault The highest wisdom. † (Bunyan 4) He validates the belief that the Bible has become his model in writing since the text comes from God, the absolute power of knowledge. Another similarity that can be derived between the two texts is seen in this statement by Christian, â€Å"I sink in deep waters, the billows go over my head, all his waves go over me, Selah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bunyan 126). This quotation is adapted from Psalm 42:7, â€Å"He has sent waves of sorrow over my soul†, and Psalm. 9: 2, â€Å"I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground; I am out in deep water, and the waves are about to drown me. † (Good News Bible) It validates the argument that Bunyan knows his Bible very well, so as not be to be mistaken as accidental quotes. More is to be said about the relating qualities of Bunyan’s book with the Bible, it’s as if the words of the Bible are encrypted in his head, obviously making him als o the character in the pilgrimage – journeying, making mistakes, and learning from it until he achieves salvation. But far more important than anything else is the shared theme of Bunyan’s book and the Bible – to reveal the truth about the gates to salvation and eternal happiness. III. Conclusion While it has been suggested also that several other books may have been used as sources in The Pilgrim’s Progress, it is however clear that the book’s masterpiece is due to Bunyan’s creativeness and extensive knowledge of the words of the Bible. The subject of human life being a spiritual pilgrimage that each person has to pursue may have long been a subject for many other literary writings, but Bunyan’s wit and inventiveness makes the book as notable as the Bible. The book expresses a somber, deep, and serious tone all throughout the story in its vision of man’s journey to the gates of Heaven. The trials that these pilgrims have to face are rather traumatic but overwhelming. These obstacles are dealt with great patience and perseverance The two parts of the book are concentrated and drenched on the philosophical idea of puritanical salvation and the ultimate quest for eternal happiness. Ideas and themes presented are far more essential than the plot or the actions within the story. Its allegorical features make it a point for the reader to instill in his life the values that are shared, to understand the story rather than just merely reading it, and to live by it to attain the gratification of seeing the gates of Heaven open on him. And the realistic account, closer-to-life style brings weight to the inspiring reflections in the book. Like most of the writings of John Bunyan, his themes offer us spiritual guides, notes on personal awakenings from a dark past, answering the call to your personal or social duties, and the goodness we achieve from God’s graces. Among his many writings include The Holy War, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, and The Life and Death of Mr. Badman. How to cite The Pilgrim’s Progress, Papers