An analysis of Larkins poem. A Doll House and A Raisin in the Sun - Essay Example

Sur 3 questions: explained more in instructions Part one: Poem analysis Phillip Larkin draws the reader’s attention to his strong opening remark, “They fuck you up, your mum and dad” (Line 1). The Poem has the child-parent relationship as the main theme, which Larkin uses systematic and convincing dialect to win the reader on a reflection on what their parents have equipped them with. Larkin uses strong dialect to point out the negative aspects that the parents accord to their children with. Accordingly, the family has not to be a misery but it embraces a precious destiny. Nevertheless, the child inherits the bad behaviours of their parents, no matter how well they try to avoid indicating that it is a legacy of linear defects. Nevertheless, in stanza two Larkin points out parents have been created by other parents whom at a point must be stern among their selves or bad arguments. Through such an argument the poet suggests that apart from minor connections that parents have with their children, a relationship regarding the social levels between the kids and parents cannot be developed with “misery” (9) that links generations to the others. However, the poet reflects the child as misery to the parents, rather than luck. The poem entails an iambic tetrameter that gives the rhythm, a rising rhythm. The rhyme scheme is a regular one taking the structure of a-b-a-b with no variations through the poem. Therefore, the poem takes a three stanza with four lines each with a regular rhyme scheme that gives the rhythm of the poem. However, the poem is written in such an informal way with many colloquial expressions such as “soppy-stern” and “to get out”. Additionally, there are vulgar words such as “to fuck up” which helps creating an impression for the reader that somebody who has ever experienced “the misery” speaks to the current generation of the “child.” To support such an argument the poet uses exaggeration such as "half the time at one another´s throat" (8). Allusion is seen in this line as it connotes the previous generations of grandparents and parents. These are part of the stylistic devices that brings the central theme. Similarly, this is used figuratively to connote that the parents argued or fought with one another during their times. Part two Introduction A Doll House and A Raisin in the Sun written by Ibsen and Hansberry respectively, depict the search of women self-identity within the society. Such an idea is demonstrated by the female characters from both the two plays who break away from the social expectations and standards and exercising their autonomy. In most cases, ladies are depicted to be more dormant than men within every society. However, the plays reflect the women differently than this proposition. Ibsen introduces a woman as having own goals and purposes, therefore, making the play contemporary. On the other hand, Hansberry introduces the woman as self-reliant, autonomous and independent in growing her family, Walter and Beneatha. First play Nora, in the first play, has been depicted as a doll as she is seen to rely on her husband, Torvald, for everything. It can be identified that such type of a woman in the society is tied to specific roles as Nora does the house works, plays with the kids and works from own needlepoint. Nevertheless, she is found to be pleasing Mr. Torvald. However, Torvald perception towards her is crazy because he sees her be small, helpless animal, childlike and fragile or “silly girl” as he puts it (Ibsen, 1390). Nora cannot make her own decisions neither she cannot understand the actual value of money. However, she is intelligent and other capabilities beyond being a mere housewife. The acts of breaking the law to ensure Torvald’s health is not compromised indicates that she is courageous while the description of her years of the secret labour to pay off her debts indicates that she is ambitious (1396). However, the end of the play it depicts a changed Nora, who seems to understand her feminine rights and autonomy. “I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald,” (1402). These words indicate that she has been conforming to Torvald’s, her father and the society’s expectations. However, now she is open-minded on her rights and ready to break the traditions of the society regarding the role of a female and parts Torvald. Second play In the second play, a different type of woman is depicted who understands her role as a woman in the society. Mama, the mother of two, can be compared and contrasted with Nora for the life she is leading with her kids. She is a single mother and appears to take every role in the house. Being self-reliant has enabled her not depend on any man like what Nora did with Mr. Torvald (Hansberry, 1546-1548). As they cannot afford any luxurious goods, Mama, is seen to be ambitious and open-minded, as well as, futuristic because she acquires a house after receiving the settlement money in Clybourne Park though the white neighbours do not value dark skinned people in their neighbourhood (1549). “You glad about the house? It’s going to be yours when you get to be a man”(1576). Through such words, it is reflected that Mama is futuristic for her kids. As money plays a big role in the two plays, Nora is depicted as a fool who cannot does not understand the value of money before seeking approval from Torvald while Mama is focused on her budgets to meet the needs of her kids. Conclusion The two plays depict the role of women in the society and the changes that have been led to awakening the feminine gender. Ibsen uses Torvald to depict a society where men have to follow their minds and live hypocritical lives with their partners they claim to love. For instance, he rejects Nora’s request of keeping Krogstad in the office and argues that it will make him “a laughing stock before the entire staff” (1398). Such an aspect indicates that he prioritizes his reputation than the desires of his wife. These aspects depict a woman who has no power to say and act. However, as the play ends, the awakening of the woman brings change and has been followed in the modern society. For instance, Mama is seen to be self-reliant and independent of any man. In Today’s society, Women drive their own cars, they are leaders of the modern society where they can be listened and act independently. Nevertheless, women secure loans and plan their budgets well, and enjoy being single independent mothers. Ibsen reveals the perceptions men have for their women, how they treat the women as “Silly girls” and serves as a light for the change and value feminine gender roles. Part three Discuss the effects of survivor guilt in any of the three major characters in the novel Survivor guilt denotes a mental condition that is effective to an individual upon realizing that they have done wrong through surviving a traumatic event while their counterparts have not. The manifestation and the experience of survivor’s guilt depend on the individuals’ psychological profiles. Different factors that lead to this syndrome include luck, fortune, fate and confidence, as well as, whatever accounts for the character’s situations. Sophie in the William Styron’s novel is seen to suffer from the survivor guilt. The polish Catholic is caught up in the German raids in Poland during the Second World War. She is dispatched to Auschwitz with her two children. Additionally, her kids get killed together with her friends. However, after shifting to New York, Nathan tries to get her settled and get a doctor to restore her health. Sophie is not comfortable with Nathan because he has been dependent on drugs, prone to episodes of some delusions and is a certified psychotic. Therefore, the fact that she survived while her fellow Jews died did not aggravate his rage with all these attributes of psychotic episodes. Her own sense of guilt at her survival contributes to her vulnerability to Nathan’s rage and takes him despite the physical abuse she takes from Nathan. “I have learned to cry again and I think perhaps that means I am a human being again. Perhaps that at least. A piece of the human being but yes, a human being.” (Styron 17). Sophie is revealed to have illness marks on her body resulting from scurvy, anaemia, scarlet fever and typhus after being left by Auschwitz (19). Such an idea heightens her trauma. Nevertheless, she suffers from sexual degradation those results from her emotional and sexual subjugation by the male friends which commands more attention. She experiences the feeling of being stripped solely naked by any man. Such a feeling reflects her soul nakedness. Nevertheless, she is revealed to have two-fold feelings for her father who was killed at her child age. With his esteem as a scholar, Sophie’s father wrote the document entitled the “Jewish Problem” and the “Final Solution” that suggested getting rid of all the Jewish. Consequently, her husband fell into the words of her father making her not enjoy love, therefore, getting her emotional and guilt for the death of her husband. “Someday I will understand Auschwitz… No one will ever understand Auschwitz. At Auschwitz, tell me, where was God?" (24). Such words from her indicate that she is experiencing traumatic life since the words appear to be blaming the Lord’s presence when all that painful events occurred. Works Cited Larkin Philip. “This be the Verse” Book of Poems. London: Critical Quarterly, 1974. Print. Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun: A Drama in Three Acts. New York: Random House, 2009. Print. Retrieved from http://www.napavalley.edu/people/LYanover/Documents/English%20123%20Lorrain e%20Hansberry%20A%20Raisin%20in%20the%20Sun.pdf Ibsen, Henrik. A Dolls House. Waiheke Island: Floating Press, 1959. Print. Styron, William. Sophies Choice. New York: Random House, 1979. Print. Read More