John Updikes Works Essay -- essays research papers fc

Existence is like a creature that hides and then reveals itself. Existence is defined in Webster’s New World Dictionary as the "state or fact of being." This existence strives to reach truth which is located beyond space and time, yet truth must be grasped by existence nevertheless. This is accomplished through ritual, which can bring about the capturing of the inconceivable.Edward P. Vargo stated that John Updike uses ritual "to fulfill the great desire of capturing the past, to make the present meaningful through connection with the past, to overcome death, and to grasp immortality" (Contemporary Vol. 7 487). He combines the aspects and meaning of seemingly unimportant ritual along with mankind’s desire for a relationship with God to form truth and value for the past, present, and future. Updike uses his talents as a writer to bring together the conceivable and the inconceivable.John Updike implements his philosophies and ideals in a way that brings together existence with meaning. "Updike is in the best sense of the word an intellectual novelist, a novelist of paradox, tension and complexity who as a college wit in the fifties learned that we are all symbols and inhabit symbols" (World 3752). Updike uses his beliefs to form stronger meanings in his writings.John Updike has a strong faith in human intelligence. He believes that people can use it to explore the universe. He finds the world "to be a place of intricate and marvelous patterns of meaning" (Contemporary Vol. 5 449). With this faith he is able to bring things into focus that would not ordinarily be seen. "I describe things not because their muteness mocks our subjectivity but because they seem to be masks for God. . ." (Contemporary Vol. 7 486). Updike is able to see past the facade of normal, ordinary life.John Updike uses his insights in his writing to emphasize human feelings. He suggests in his writings that "the human conscience constantly suffers guilt for transgressing the laws of two different moralities" (World 3754). John Updike recognizes this feeling of guilt and is more able to clearly show the connections of the past to the present. His writings are also able to capture a "sense of human incompleteness, of the sense of discrepancy between actual and the ideal" (Magill’s 1988). He shows how humans strive to ... ... section of existence and truth, and to overcome death. Ritual gives substance to the present. It has connections to the everyday world, to the past, and to the future. Thus, ritual is able to symbolize life itself as it discovers new patterns for growth and fulfillment. Through myth, the past becomes immortal and meaningful. Ritual, along with worship of God, is able to satisfy the great desire for truth, existence, and meaning. Works CitedUpdike, John. Broadening Views, 1968-1988. Vol. 6. Ed. C.E. Frazer Clark Jr. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1989. Updike, John. The Centaur. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1963.Updike, John. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 5. Ed. Carolyn Riley and Phyllis Carmel Mendelson. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1976. Updike, John. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 7. Ed. Phyllis Carmel Mendelson and Dedria Bryfonski. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1977.Updike, John. Magill’s Survey of American Literature. Vol. 6. Ed. Frank N. Magill. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1991.Updike, John. World Literature Criticism: 1500 to the Present. Vol. 6. Ed. James P. Draper. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1992.

Characters in Hamlet Essay

In Hamlet, Polonius interacts in very different ways with the various characters. While talking with Reynaldo, he speaks in a sneaky, sly and clever manner. When talking with his daughter Ophelia, he seems very concerned. When talking with Hamlet, he seems confused, not knowing what Hamlet is talking about. When talking with the Players, however, he acts imperiously, exerting his authority over them. When talking with Reynaldo, Polonius speaks in a clever and sneaky manner. He tells Reynaldo exactly how to speak to people while trying to find Laertes. He tells him exactly what to say so that the other person will be forced to tell him of the whereabouts of Laertes. He told him that he should say â€Å"you may say, not well. But, if ‘t be he I mean, he’s very wild.† Polonius’s sneakiness is seen through his clever tactic in sending Reynaldo to Paris for the purpose of discovering Laerte’s habits. When talking with his daughter Ophelia, however, he seems genuinely concerned. This is true because in regard to Laertes, Polonius was looking for an excuse to punish or disown him for leaving the country. However, by Ophelia, Polonius is really concerned. While speaking with Gertrude and Claudius, Polonius is very honest. He comes before the king and queen bringing good news. The good news is that he knows why Hamlet is so upset. The reason is because of Ophelia. After discovering Hamlet’s lust for his daughter, he told Ophelia to stop meeting Hamlet and to send back Hamlet’s love letters. Then, he asks the king and queen if there has ever been a time where he had not told the truth. Claudius responds â€Å"not that I know.† To prove his fidelity, he is prepared to have his head chopped off if he is wrong. When talking with Hamlet, Polonius is confused. Polonius does not understand what Hamlet is talking about. When confronting Hamlet, Hamlet is reading a book. When asked what kind of book he is reading, Hamlet responds â€Å"Slanders sir.† While speaking with the Players, Polonius is arrogantly domineering. The Players come to perform a play for hamlet in order to cheer him up. While  doing their play, Polonius rudely interrupts them. He makes comments such as â€Å"This is too long.† In addition, after the play, when Hamlet instructs Polonius to treat the Players well, Polonius responds arrogantly, â€Å"My lord, I will use them according to their desert.† In response to Polonius’s disrespectful statement, Hamlet says â€Å"God’s bodykin’s man, much better. Use every man after his desert, and who should ‘scape whipping? Use them after you honor and dignity.† In conclusion, Polonius’s character varies with every individual he interacts with. It varies to the extent that his character can change from extremely honest to sly and sneaky. Also, it can change from confused to arrogantly domineering. His unique character traits differ greatly to the extent that by the end of Act II, Polonius is viewed as a necessary and crucial character in the play.

Lifes Greatest Lesson - 1696 Words

Lifes Greatest Lesson A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. As Henry Adams stated, and is the summary of the impervious bond between the characters Mitch and Morrie, in Tuesdays with Morrie. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often referred to as Lou Gehrigs disease is a form of motor neuron diseases. It is a rare disorder in which the nerves that control muscular activity degenerate within the brain and spinal cord. What results is weakness and wasting away of the muscles. The cause is unknown. About one to two cases of ALS are diagnosed annually per 100,000 people in the US. (Lou) Sufferers will notice weakness in the hands and arms accompanied by wasting of the muscles (Motor). The weakness†¦show more content†¦By the time your life actually winds down, youve spent most of it consumed in trying to be someone you arent and do things that you arent meant to do. Morrie said The truth isÂ…once you learn how to dies, you learn how to live. (82) Morrie says this on the fourth Tuesday in response to Mitchs question about how one can prepare for death. Morrie responds with a Buddhist philosophy that everyday, one must ask the bird on his shoulder if that day is the day he will die. The philosophy serves as a metaphor for his awareness to his death that may come at any moment. The bird itself is symbolic of Morries consciousness that his death is fast-approaching, and his readiness to accept it when it comes. He wants Mitch to realize that the bird is on everyones shoulder at every moment in their life, no matter how old or young they are. When he tells Mitch that one must know how to die before they can know how to live, he meant that one must accept the possibility of ones own death before he can truly appreciate what he has on earth. Take my condition. The things I am supposed to be embarrassed about now Ââ€" not being able to walk, not bei ng able to wipe my ass, waking up some mornings wanting to cry Ââ€" there is nothing innately embarrassing about them. Its the same for women not being thin enough, or men not being rich enough. Its just what our culture would have you believe. Dont believeShow MoreRelatedLifes Greatest Lesson Essay1638 Words   |  7 Pages Life’s Greatest Lesson nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.† As Henry Adams stated, and is the summary of the impervious bond between the characters Mitch and Morrie, in Tuesdays with Morrie. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease is a form of motor neuron diseases. It is a rare disorder in which the nerves that control muscular activity degenerate within the brain and spinal cord. What resultsRead MoreTuesdays with Morrie Essay1074 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"It is through literature that we learn about life. Through literature we profit from the experiences of others, comparing them with our own.† - Bob Cameron The essay question: Using reader-response theory and the quote by Bob Cameron, discuss how effectively Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie, uses plot and story, character development, point of view, theme, and symbols to convey his mesage. Include your personal thoughts and views, as well as textual references, to support your opinionsRead MoreIt Is A Simple Law Of Attraction1702 Words   |  7 Pagesthose around us feel good.† Those words are not just words they greatest piece of advice that anyone has ever gave to me. They weren’t words given to me by just anyone, but my mom. She gave me this advice when I was going through some hard times in my life where I felt like everything was just going wrong. 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