Evaluate Chaucer’s use of irony in the presentation of Courtly Love. :: Free Essay Writer

Evaluate Chaucer’s use of irony in the presentation of Courtly Love. The term Courtly love had not existed in the fourteenth century. It was only later coined this in Victorian time, although the concept existed when Chaucer was writing. The idea of courtly love is a literary concept that cannot be applied to real life due to what it entails. It was believed that this type of love is the most powerful and is the defining experience of human existence. Chaucer uses this idea in ‘The Merchant’s Tale’, but inappropriately. He shows the ability for there to be courtly love yet it is not fully carried out. In many circumstances he uses it to create humour in the tale by creating ironic situations and behaviours with the characters. This highlights the problems with the relationships of the Characters within the poem. When we are first introduced to January, he is portrayed to be a rich and noble man, which makes him ideal for courtly love. ‘A worthy night, that born was of Pavie, In which he lived in greet prosperitee;’ With this limited knowledge on January, it is possible to see that he is an apt person to be involved in courtly love. This changes, however, as we get to hear more about his personality. He is shown to have followed his ‘bodily delit’ which is not a quality found in a courtly lover. This then presents the reader with the fact that there is something wrong with the idea of January being the courtly lover in the tale. This creates irony as the reader sees that it will be inappropriate from the beginning and that it will not work out. I would argue, that it also enables the audience to take January less seriously as we can see that he is not meant to be a character that we admire. January is interested in getting married and wants to find himself a wife. This is due to the fact that he feels he is getting old and he believes that through marriage he will redeem himself from his licentious past. This also does not fit in with courtly love idea, which is that people will marry because they are in love. January does finally pick a woman and then begins to list the qualities he has found in her: ‘Hir middle small, hire armes longe and sklendre, Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,’ Although January is describing her appearance, he also brings up her personality and mind. This enables the reader to think that this could be courtly love because he does not think of her looks only. By talking about her mind he appears to be seeing her as his equal.

Reveal about the character of Eddie Carbone Essay

Discuss the importance of the stage directions in Arthur Miller’s â€Å"A View from the Bridge† and what they reveal about the character of Eddie Carbone. Arthur Miller’s ‘A View from the Bridge’ is set in and around a workers apartment near Brooklyn Bridge, in an area called Red Hook. The main population is made up of Italian immigrants including the main character, Eddie Carbone and his working class family, around which the story revolve. Eddie works as a longshoreman and is about to take up the task of hosting two illegal immigrants in his house, however he, himself, is the cause of his own downfall and the play is about the events leading to his fatal climax. Almost all the characters speak with Brooklyn style vocabulary and language, however, this does not allow them to reveal their real feelings because their education and vocabulary is limited and Italian men are not very expressive. Another factor is this inexpressiveness is the Sicilian code. The Sicilian code was brought to America by the Italians and is way the Italian community dealt with the law. It involves a strong sense of family tradition so Italians already living in America would accommodate immigrants coming over, like Eddie and the cousins. The man of the house was expected to make all the important decisions and would be respected greatly by his family. For these men actions speak louder than words and so they often found it difficult to show their true emotions. This is one of the main reasons why â€Å"A View from the Bridge† contains very detailed stage directions. Normally, stage directions are used to give the general idea on how the actor or actress is feeling and what he or she has to act out. It also gives any more minor details that future directors or the reader may need to know. The advantage of the detailed stage directions for a director in â€Å"A View from the Bridge† is that he has little to do to influence the characters. On the other hand, the actor can’t add his own ideas to his or her role. Another reason why there are a lot of detailed stage directions could be to pronounce the character’s felling more. Miller was a very precise director and knew exactly what he wanted. That’s why he made his stage directions so detailed, hence limiting the number of changes someone else could make to the play. We get to know the basic plot of the story right at the beginning of the play. Alfieri’s character goes with the comprehensive stage directions as both collaborate to make sure the play is performed and appreciated in the way Miller wanted it to be. Alfieri gives us even more understanding towards Eddie’s character through his monologues and speech. He says that other people had gone through the same situation and had â€Å"sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course. † We first get our first glimpse of Eddie almost as soon as the play has begun. â€Å"He is forty – a husky, slightly overweight longshoreman†. We know he is experienced but maybe a little past his prime. Typical longshoremen earned little wages but we see Eddie as hardworking and honest, he has â€Å"a worker’s flat, clean, sparse, and homely†. When we first see Eddie’s niece Catherine she is delighted to see him and Eddie â€Å"is pleased and therefore shy about it;† This gives us another instance where he finds it hard to express himself. Catherine runs â€Å"her hands over her skirt† and shows off her new purchase. Eddie asks her to spin around and calls her â€Å"beautiful† and, she shows off to him and â€Å"turns for him†. Eddie showed just compliment her but he asks â€Å"lemme see in the back†, he’s looking at her in an inappropriate way instead of just complimenting her. These could just be them trying to show their feelings like a loving father and daughter would or it could hint at a more sinister situation. When the news of the cousin’s arrival reaches the Carbones Beatrice is disturbed. She hasn’t made the dinner or got the house into shape. Eddie calms her down but she says â€Å"looking into his eyes† â€Å"I’m worried about you, that’s all I’m worried†. This gives us the impression that she’s worried about Eddie in more ways than just coping with the cousins coming, the relationship between Catherine and Eddie may have been going on some time. When Catherine tells Eddie about her new opportunity to be a stenographer Eddie is immediately disturbed. He wants her to finish school first and doesn’t feel comfortable with the plumbers and sailors that will see her, this is another instance where Eddie may want Catherine to himself not any other men. Eddie finally gives in after Beatrice pressures him and this is the first and only time Eddie cries. He cries like a child has lost a loved one â€Å"for a powerful emotion is on him, a childish one and a knowing fear, and the tears show in his eyes† Straight after this event Catherine comes out with a cigar and matches. She lights it for him. This could be just someone showing they’re thankful or it could be interpreted differently, with a slight phallic twist. The cigar being the phallic object. He says â€Å"Don’t burn yourself. (Just in time she blows out the match. He’s warning her not to hurt herself because of him and we realise that although he may have feelings for Catherine he will not act on them if it affects her in a negative way. Beatrice detects that something and confronts Eddie – â€Å"Who’s mad? †¦ I’m not mad †¦ You’re the one is mad. † As this part of the play continues Eddie glances at his watch anxiously a number of times. He senses that time is running out; Catherine is growing up to fast for him, Beatrice is starting to pressure him and now the cousins (two new Italian men, one single) are about to arrive, Arthur Miller uses this to symbolise that things are moving forward faster than ever before in Eddie’s life. As soon as the cousins arrive we see Eddie start to change rapidly. As the first scene they are in ends Eddie’s â€Å"face is puffed with trouble† Nothing has turned out the way he has planned. Catherine is giving far more attention to Rodolfo than to him and Eddie doesn’t like it. As Catherine is â€Å"enthralled† by Rodolfo’s singing Eddie uses the excuse of immigration officers picking them up. He says later that Rodolfo gives him â€Å"the heeby-jeebies†, and hints that he’s maybe homosexual as he sings and has platinum blonde hair. This is unfair as the cousins have only just arrived and Eddie didn’t like Catherine’s reaction. He has â€Å"a campaign solidified in him† He’s not going to change his mind easily.

Essay about Everyday Use A Mothers Choice - 1067 Words

A Mothers Choice In her short story Everyday Use, author Alice Walker introduces us to a Mother awaiting the visit of her daughter, Dee, who has left her rural upbringing to go away to college. Although we are not told an exact location, the descriptions provided by Miss Walker lead us to believe that the story is set in the very poorest section of the south. Momma narrates this story, and describes to us in her own simple way the dynamics of the family and the conflicts that arise with Dees homecoming. Momma tells us she is uneducated; I never had an education. After second grade, the school was closed. She further describes her rough, rural lifestyle. I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing...One†¦show more content†¦In her dreams she envisions a mother daughter reunion like ones seen on TV. But she realizes that this will never be; But that is a mistake. Momma seems to understand that Dee has always wanted more, ashamed of her background. Dee wanted nice thin gs ... At sixteen she had a style of her own and knew what style was. The `new Dee that arrives at the doorstep presents many conflicts for Momma. She seems unsure what to make of her, as Dee has changed in many ways, including her name and her manner of dress. It appears that Dee has decided to embrace her African heritage and adopt the mannerisms of that cultural. `What happened to Dee? I wanted to know. `Shes dead Wangero said. `I could not bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me. Suddenly what Dee had loathed is now worthy of her attention. Dee takes many pictures of the family, making sure the house is in every one. This confuses momma, since Dee had once told her family that; no matter where we choose to live, she will manage to come see us. But she will never bring her friends. 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