First Impressions of Clytemnestra in Euripides’ Electra :: Euripides Electra Essays

First Impressions of Clytemnestra in Euripides’ Electra      Ã‚  Ã‚   The play begins with the dreary-eyed watchman, scared stiff ("old comrade, terror" 17) of the Queen ("that woman - she manoeuvres like a man" 13) and her tyrannical rule. He says that he cries   "for the hard times" that he endures.   We are very sure from what he says that the House of Atreus is in cruel hands and he clamours for the return of his "loving" King. Clytemnestra is never mentioned by name, as the sentry is afraid of punishment for saying too much ("I never say a word"). Her influence is all around, even if she herself is not present.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Chorus sing as Clytemnestra moves around the stage, lighting fires and unmoved to their appeals for news. Their song tells the history of the Greek expedition's problems as they set off for Troy. It would seem that, whilst uplifting the name of Agamemnon ("with the power of Zeus" 47) they also describe the death of Iphigenia with great pity ("gentle curving lips... her glance... wounding every murderer"). They describe his heartache ("pain both ways" 212) between both courses of action, whether to obey the oracle or save his daughter. But undeniably, the Chorus does not approve with what he did ("cause of all our grief" 222) and tell with great sorrow a flashback of Iphigenia singing at the feasts to Zeus ("transfixed with joy" 246). It is with this in our mind that we finally talk to Clytemnestra, the mother of the slaughtered child.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Chorus is indeed reverential ("we respect your power" 259) but is it her power or the power she holds? It appears that they are dutiful to Agamemnon's wife, not to Clytemnestra ("the warlord's woman" 260). As the leader and Clytemnestra exchange information about the fall of Troy, we see that she is very quick to anger by his words ("sends you into raptures" "No one takes me with visions" 274-5). Whether the Chorus is being rude or she is merely quick to offend is in the balance. The Chorus after all don't regard her beacons very highly ("real of just a dream" 481). I would argue though, that it is Clytemnestra who is looking for any sign of disloyalty in them even if there is little to see ("we're loyal... never blame your silence" 263). Her recount of the beacon relay to bring her word of the fall of Troy is told in arrogant ostentatious fashion ("my commands.

From Poland to USA Essay

Life, for me, has always been about taking risks in order to fulfill our dreams. Sometimes, we are required to face the difficult challenges in order to succeed in life. Originally, I am from Poland, and five years ago, I decided to move to the United States to fulfill my dreams. Moving to the United States was a very big leap from my end. My determination to succeed in life has been my driving force for survival in a country away from mine. My dream of acquiring a degree from an American college was now within reach. All I needed was a little bit of luck, and a handful of determination. The first few years I spent in the United States was a struggle. I had to learn a new language and adapt a new culture. I found myself adjusting to a new environment, where I was able to appreciate the new things that surrounded me. Living a life in New York was something out of the extraordinary. To fend for myself, I took on odd jobs, from being a waitress, to a cashier, and a paralegal for different employers. Although I was living a comfortable life, I was not contented with what I had. I wanted to enhance myself by continuing my education. I wanted so much to be a successful career woman. Although I had acquired a Masters degree in Sociology, I still wanted to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration. I have always been ambitious and determined to achieve my goals. A new degree will help me enhance my knowledge about things, and eventually help me to be of service to the United States. New York City faces many issues that require the implementation of new policies. With the education provided to me, I may be able to face such and do the necessary changes for the betterment of society. The knowledge I have acquired from studying Sociology has given me a well rounded education in liberal arts, that may be used to my advantage in my future careers. Having a fulfilling career definitely means a lot to me. The education that this university will give me will help me become a more diverse individual. In addition to this, I may be able to integrate my Polish culture with that of the Americans, that may be used to my advantage in further job opportunities.

Oscar Wilde and His Fairy Tales - 5266 Words

Oscar Wilde And His Fairy Tales I. Introduction Wilde, Oscar (Fingal OFlahertie Wills) (b. Oct. 16, 1854, Dublin, Ire ?d. Nov. 30, 1900, Paris, Fr.) Irish wit, poet and dramatist whose reputation rests on his comic masterpieces Lady Windermeres Fan (1893) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1899). He was a spokesman for Aestheticism, the late19th-century movement in England that advocated art for arts sake. However, Oscar Wildes takeoff of his enterprise and, his shaping of his characteristic style of works could be both considered originating from his fairy tales. It was not until his first collection of fairy tales had come out that he was regarded as an influential author. The British magazine Elegance, in which his The Selfish†¦show more content†¦The Happy Prince?is perhaps his most famous fairy tale. The story centers on the happy prince, once a sheltered and ignorant young man, realizing for the first time truths he never suspected while living but is exposed to now from his current position high above the city? A swallow on his way to a warmer climate for the winter befriends him and together they strip the Happy Prince of his valuables and distribute them to the needy inhabitants of the city. The two develop a close and loving friendship. When the swallow dies due to exposure to the cold winter, the Princes leaden heart breaks and the two are carelessly disposed of by the city officials and then taken to heaven by an angel as the two most precious things in the city? The Selfish Giant?ends on a very similar note. In this tale, a Giant returns to his home after a trip to discover many children playing in his garden. He is angered by their trespassing and banishes then all by constructing a large wall to keep them out. Winter comes to the garden and remains until the children sneak through the wall. When the Giant awakes to find them playing happily in his garden that has finally become spring, he realizes how selfish he has been. He notices one little boy crying because he is too small to climb the trees like the other children and goes to help him. The other children are frightened and run away, but the tinyShow MoreRelatedEssay on Oscar Wilde and His Fairy Tales5131 Words   |  21 PagesOscar Wilde and His Fairy Tales I. Introduction Wilde, Oscar (Fingal O’Flahertie Wills) (b. Oct. 16, 1854, Dublin, Ire ?d. Nov. 30, 1900, Paris, Fr.) Irish wit, poet and dramatist whose reputation rests on his comic masterpieces Lady Windermere’s Fan (1893) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1899). He was a spokesman for Aestheticism, the late19th-century movement in England that advocated art for art’s sake. However, Oscar Wilde’s takeoff of his enterprise and, his shaping of his characteristicRead MoreOscar Wildes The Selfish Giant: A Felicitous Ending?748 Words   |  3 PagesFelicitous Ending? No one will dispute the fact that Oscar Wildes short story, The Selfish Giant, is a piece that is undoubtedly for children (Luthra 2009). The tale is rife with imagery and diction that appeals to a childs sensibilities, and is complete with a hero (or anti-hero) and other children, facets of which are endemic of childrens literature. However, the primary problem with this interpretation of this short story is that virtually all childrens stories end happily. Wildes narrativeRead MoreThe Picture of Dorian Gray: Corruption Through Aestheticism1464 Words   |  6 PagesThe Picture of Dorian Gray: Corruption Through Aestheticism The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is the story of moral corruption by the means of aestheticism. In the novel, the well meaning artist Basil Hallward presets young Dorian Gray with a portrait of himself. After conversing with cynical Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian makes a wish which dreadfully affects his life forever. If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that I would give everythingRead MoreOscar Wilde Fairy Tales4397 Words   |  18 PagesTHE TRAGIC MODE IN OSCAR WILDE’S FAIRY TALES DÉBORAH SCHEIDT, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa ABSTRACT: In this paper we examine the articulation of the tragic mode in Oscar Wilde‟s collection of fairy tales The Happy Prince and Other Stories, especially in â€Å"The Young King†, â€Å"The Selfish Giant† and â€Å"The Birthday of the Infanta.† By â€Å"tragic mode† we mean, in this context, the vestiges left by Greek tragedy and its development, the Elizabethan tragedy, in a piece of nineteenth century fictionRead MoreEssay about The Flaws in Human Nature919 Words   |  4 PagesThe Flaws in Human Nature The story is known. A boy buys magic beans from a seller, plants the bean, and a giant bean stalk sprouts. The boy climbs it and meets a giant. This giant however is not like the giant in â€Å"The Selfish Giant†, by Oscar Wilde. While reading this short story a theme at first glance did not surface. 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In the novel, Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian overpowers Basil’s and leads to Dorian’s eventual demise. In analyzing Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the theme of good versus evil reflects off of Lord Henry’s and Basil’s interactions with Dorian and Dorian’s internal struggles, thus exemplifying that a person with weak virtues will falter in the face of hedonistic temptationRead MoreBritish Literature Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pageshero Beowulf John Wycliffe – is a professor of Oxford University. With his students he translated the whole Bible into English - he influenced Master Jan Hus and our Hussite movement very much 2. the renaissance and humanism Geoffrey Chaucer – Canterbury Tales – brilliant portrait of 30 pilgrims who travel to Canterbury and they were saying stories each other, each one said four stories, but in tact there are only 23 tales. William Shakespeare – is the biggest author of this period ChristopherRead More History of Fairy Tales within Victorian Society Essay1204 Words   |  5 PagesPuritans viewed fairy tales as inappropriate literature because they believed fairy tales to be a form of witchcraft. The attitude toward fairy tales soon changed when the Brothers Grimm published their two-volume collection called Kinderund Hausmarchen or German Popular Stories. Overnight, fairy tales became an acceptable form of literature. This sudden popularity raises some related questions: What are the reasons behind the increased popularity of fairy tales? What function did fairy tales play in VictorianRead More Homosexuality in the Works of Oscar Wilde Essay3123 Words   |  13 PagesHomosexuality in Oscar Wildes Work      Ã‚  Ã‚   I turned half way around and saw Dorian Gray for the first time. 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