Thursday, January 30, 2020
Battle of Trafalgar Essay Example for Free
Battle of Trafalgar Essay The Battle of Trafalgar was the most significant battle won by the British against the combined forces of the French and Spanish fleets during the Napoleonic Wars. This battle also had significant impact on the concept of navigation when it comes to the Naval Doctrine of War. This battle proved that tactical unorthodoxy could win battles; even though you might be outmanned and outgunned by your opponent you can still win battles by deviating from the old Naval Doctrine. This battle was part of a much larger campaign called the Trafalgar campaign which included several different battles that led up to the final battle at Trafalgar. This campaign was a long and complicated series of fleet maneuvers carried out by the combined French and Spanish fleets and the opposing moves of the British Royal Navy during much of 1805. These were the culmination of French plans to force a passage through the English Channel, and so achieve a successful invasion of the United Kingdom. The plans were extremely complicated and proved to be impractical. Much of the detail was due to the personal intervention of Napoleon, who was a soldier rather than a sailor. This was largely because Napoleon failed to consider the effects of weather, difficulties in communication, and the intervention of the Royal Navy. Despite limited successes in achieving some elements of the plan the French commanders were unable to follow the main objective through to execution. The campaign, which took place over thousands of miles of ocean, was marked by several naval engagements, most significantly at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The naval doctrine at the time dictated that both sides should line up parallel to eachother in a straight line so that they could engage in battle and bring all their guns to bear against the enemy. One of the reasons for the development of the line of battle was to help the admiral control the fleet. If all the ships were in line, signaling in battle became possible. The line also had defensive properties, allowing either side to disengage by breaking away in formation. If the attacker chose to continue combat their line would be broken as well. This type of warfare allowed each side to fight a battle and then to disengage at any time to minimize the losses to their fleet. However with England under threat of invasion by Napoleon and his grand army, British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson needed to ensure that the British were in control of the seas. In order to do this Nelson needed to fight and win a decisive battle that would clearly establish Britainââ¬â¢s naval supremacy. However in order to do this he would have to make sure that the combined French and Spanish fleets actually remained in the battle long enough to win a decisive victory. What Nelson planned on doing was instead of lining up parallel to the opposing fleet, Nelson would take his navy and charge at the enemy and deliberately cut the their battle line in two. This type of deviation from normal naval warfare in terms of navigation was unheard of at the time. Despite the risk to the British fleet, Nelson believed that this was the best way to engage the enemy fleet in the upcoming battle because it had numerous advantages. The primary advantage was that this would allow the British to cut half of the enemy fleet off, surround it, and force a fight to the end. This is unlike normal engagements where the battle was often inconclusive due to the fact that both fleets would withdraw before a clear winner could be seen. The plan had three principal advantages. First, it would allow the British fleet to close with the Franco-Spanish fleet as quickly as possible, reducing the chance that it would be able to escape without fighting. Second, it would quickly bring on close quarters battle by breaking the Franco-Spanish line and inducing a series of individual ship-to-ship fights, in which the British were likely to prevail. Nelson knew that the better seamanship, faster gunnery, and higher morale of his crews were great advantages. Third, it would bring a decisive concentration on the rear of the Franco-Spanish fleet. The ships in the front of the enemy fleet would have to turn back to support the rear, and this would take a long time. Additionally, once the Franco-Spanish line had been broken, their ships would be relatively defenseless to powerful broadsides from the British fleet and would take a long time to reposition and return fire. The main drawback of this strategy was that sailing the British fleet into the combined French and Spanish battle line, the British ships would be fully exposed to the enemy broadsides without the ability to return fire. In order to lessen the time the fleet was exposed to this danger Nelson would have to drive the fleet straight into the enemy battle line as fast as he could. This was yet another departure from navigation rules of naval warfare. Nelson was also well aware that French and Spanish gunners were ill-trained, nd would probably be supplemented with soldiers. These untrained men and would have difficulty firing accurately from a moving gun platform. This was in stark comparison to British gunners who were well drilled, and the Royal Marines who were expert marksmen. Another advantage that the British fleet had was that the enemy was sailing across a heavy swell, causing the ships to roll heavily and exacerbating these problems. Nelsons plan was indeed a gamble, but a carefully calculated one. The battle itself started exactly as Nelson wanted it to. The British fleet was able to successfully cut the French and Spanish battle line in half thus forcing a close quarterââ¬â¢s battle. Despite the huge risk that Nelson was taking his plan ended up working. Nelson scored a huge victory against the combined French and Spanish fleet. He managed to capture over twenty of the enemy ships and inflicted heavy casualties against while suffering few casualties himself. Unfortunately during the battle Nelson was pierced by a musket ball and died from his wounds before he could see the outcome of the victory. Some argue that his loss outweighed any gains made by the British Navy. Following the battle, the Royal Navy was never again seriously challenged by the French fleet in a large-scale engagement. Napoleon had already abandoned his plans of invasion before the battle and they were never revived. This battle firmly established Britainââ¬â¢s naval supremacy over France. In terms of navigation, this battle was very significant. The most important thing is that it proved that following standard navigational techniques during an engagement wonââ¬â¢t always win a battle. The best tactic is to be unpredictable so that the enemy has to adapt to what you are doing thus giving you the tactical advantage. This is exactly what Nelson did in the Battle of Trafalgar and it paid off. He proved that sometimes in battle deviating from the norm of battle navigation is the best thing to do, and ever since navies around the world have looked to the strategies employed by Nelson. What is being done today is that naval commanders are being educated about naval history so that they can learn and even employ these types of strategies if they need to in battle. In conclusion, the Battle of Trafalgar was a turning point in which ships would fight naval battles in terms of navigation due to the tactical unorthodoxy employed by Nelson. This battle has had long term effects and even today commanders look back and employ some of the same strategies used. The importance of this battle cannot be underestimated because not only was it the turning point in the Napoleonic Wars for the British in terms of establishing naval supremacy at the time, it was a turning point in naval warfare. Navigation would never be the same thanks to one man and one decisive battle.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
An Explication of Sylvia Plath8217s 8220Daddy8221 Essay -- essays pape
An Explication of Sylvia Plath8217s 8220Daddy8221 It tends to be the trend for women who have had traumatic childhoods to be attracted to men who epitomize their emptiness felt as children. Women who have had unaffectionate or absent fathers, adulterous husbands or boyfriends, or relatives who molested them seem to become involved in relationships with men who, instead of being the opposite of the ââ¬Å"monstersâ⬠in their lives, are the exact replicas of these ugly men. Sylvia Plathââ¬â¢s poem ââ¬Å"Daddyâ⬠is a perfect example of this unfortunate trend. In this poem, she speaks directly to her dead father and her husband who has been cheating on her, as the poem so indicates. The first two stanzas, lines 1-10, tell the readers that Plath, for thirty years, has been afraid of her father, so scared that she dares not to ââ¬Å"breathe or Achoo.â⬠She has been living in fear, although she announces that heââ¬â¢s already dead. It is obvious that she believes that her father continues to control her life from the grave. She says that she ââ¬Å"has had to killâ⬠him, but heââ¬â¢s already dead, indicating her initial promise to forget him. She calls him a ââ¬Å"bag full of God,â⬠telling us that she considers her father a very strong, omnipotent being, someone who is superior in her eyes. In the middle of the poem, she begins to refer to herself as a Jew, and her father the German, who began ââ¬Å"chuffing me off like a Jewâ⬠¦to Dachau, Auschwitz, Belson.â⬠What Plathââ¬â¢s intent here is to allow us to understand that her father was a German, and she relates his behavior as a person to a Nazi. But later, she becomes more enraged, and strips the title of God from her father, and labels him a swastika and a brute. ââ¬Å"Every woman adores a Fascistâ⬠is Plathââ¬â¢s way of ... ...r husband were monsters in her life, destroying her, but that she has just noticed. ââ¬Å"Daddy, daddy, you bastard, Iââ¬â¢m throughâ⬠is the last line in the poem. It is not until the end that we realize that not only is she through with the memories of her dead father and the adulterous behavior of her husband, but she is through with herself. This last line is clear ââ¬â Plath has just announced to her readers that she will be committing suicide again, and plans on being successful at it. So, instead of this poem being Plathââ¬â¢s victorious confession to the horrible men in her life, and finally allowing closure, the poem is an outline of her promising death. Plath is still pained by these men, and cannot completely go on being alive. She believes that death is her only solution, and maybe in a way it was. Perhaps she is finally free, and finally able to ââ¬Å"breathâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Achoo.ââ¬
Monday, January 13, 2020
International Ballroom
Bachate is a unique dance that I have the privileged to learn in my PE-154 international ballroom dance class taught by professor Jane Edwards. This dance originated from the Dominican Republic. It can be difficult to identify the precise style of the Bachata due to the fact that are so many variations throughout the world. However, in all of these different styles throughout the world there are the same basic steps with a tap with hip movement on the 4th beat. The original style of Bachata was developed with the music in the 1950s and 1960s.This dance was well known in the countryside and rural neighborhoods. The creation of the Bachata is given credit to the servants of large households who were the first ones to use the movements and steps. Musicians would use everyday items like trash cans and fences to create music. The term Bachata is said to mean trash, however, other believe it is actually a word for party. For a time the Bachate was only affiliated with the poorer parts of D ominican society forcing these styles of dance only to be performed in the rougher parts of town like brothels and bars, which only further tarnished its name.Nevertheless, the increased popularity of the music eventually caused Bachata to be accepted by the upper classes of Dominican society. There also are some skeptics that believe that the dance was brought over from Italy from an Italian Ballata. Bachata is known to be connect the emotions of romance and heart ache. There are five main styles of Bachata, the Original, Traditional, Modern, Bachatango, and Ballroom. The original is the basic style that can alternate between an open and closed position.The traditional is a simpler style that was developed in the late 1990s with a basic steps side to side changing direction after every tap. The modern style began around 2005 and is an abbreviation of the ââ¬Å"traditionalâ⬠style. This still is believed to originate from Spain. The modern has the basic Bachata steps with the integration of salsa, tango, zouk-lambada, and ballroom. The bachatango it true to its name and is a mixture of Baracha and Tango. The Ballroom is a style used in various formal dance competitions and there is an extreme use of the hips all throughout the music.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Berengaria of Navarre Queen Consort to Richard I
Dates:Ã Born 1163? 1165?Married May 12, 1191, to Richard I of EnglandDied December 23, 1230 Occupation: Queen of England - Queen consort of Richard I of England, Richard the Lionhearted Known for: the only Queen of England never to set foot on the soil of England while Queen About Berengaria of Navarre: Berengaria was the daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre, called Sancho the wise, and Blanche of Castile. Richard I of England had been betrothed to Princess Alice of France, sister of King Phillip IV. But Richards father, Henry II, had made Alice his mistress, and church rules, therefore, forbid the marriage of Alice and Richard. Berengaria was chosen as wife to Richard I by Richards mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. The marriage with Berengaria would bring a dowry that would help Richard finance his efforts in the Third Crusade. Eleanor, though almost 70 years old, traveled over the Pyrenees to escort Berengaria to Sicily. In Sicily, Eleanors daughter and Richards sister, Joan of England, embarked with Berengaria to join Richard in the Holy Land. But the ship carrying Joan and Berengaria was wrecked off the shore of Cyprus. The ruler, Isaac Comnenus, took them prisoner. Richard and part of his army landed in Cyprus to free them, and Isaac foolishly attacked. Richard freed his bride and his sister, defeated and captured Comnenus, and took control of Cyprus. Berengaria and Richard were married on May 12, 1191, and set off together to Acre in Palestine. Berengaria left the Holy Land for Poitou, France, and when Richard was on his way back to Europe in 1192, he was captured and then held prisoner in Germany until 1194, when his mother arranged for his ransom. Berengaria and Richard had no children. Richard is widely believed to have been a homosexual, and though he had at least one illegitimate child, it is believed that the marriage with Berengaria was little more than a formality. When he returned from captivity, their relationship was so bad that a priest went so far as to order Richard to reconcile with his wife. After Richards death, Berengaria as dowager queen retired to LeMans in Maine. King John, Richards brother, seized much of her property and refused to repay her. Berengaria lived in virtual poverty during Johns lifetime. She sent to England to complain that her pension was not being paid. Eleanor and Pope Innocent III each intervened, but John never did pay her most of what was owed to her. Johns son, Henry III, finally did pay much of the overdue debts. Berengaria died in 1230, soon after founding Pietas Dei at Espau, a Cistercian monastery. Bibliography Ann Trindade. Berengaria: In Search of Richards Queen. 1999. [1851824340]
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Essay on Thoughts on Whats It Mean To be Human - 1712 Words
Thoughts on Whats It Mean To be Human Last year I had a lot of headaches. Two months passed, and I still did not go to the doctor. However, one morning I woke up, and I just could not open my eyes because the pain that I had in my head would not let me. Also I felt dizzy every time that I tried to stand up. I decided to go to the doctor and present my concerns. The doctor recommeded an MRI test. The test indicated that I have a tumor in my pituitary. Thanks to the great development of technology and good equipment such as the computer system that doctor used to test and figure out my disease, I am being treated successfully with the help of doctors and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence may be described and evaluatedâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦It wasnt until 1991, when a man by the name of Hugh Loebner decided to pay for a contest . To implement the Turing test, Loebner pledged a grand prize of $100,000 for the first person who could design a program that would fool ten judges for three hours of conversa tion. Also, each year an annual prize of $2000 and a bronze medal is awarded to the most human computer. In addition, to make things easy Loebner allowed each programmer to choose one topic for the conversation. Robert Epstein is a behavioral psychologist. He was the person in charge of the Loebners contest. The programmers who are going to participate in the contest are called Confederates and Epstein explained that in order to fool the ten judges, the confederates must work hard to convince the judges that they are human. In fact, the main purpose is to find out whether ten judges could tell the difference between human and artificial intelligence. Charles Platt, one of the confederates was introduced to Hugh Loebner during lunch one day. In their conversation Platt asked Loebner why he does the contest especially in artificial intelligence and if he does it with all his money? Loebner has his own business, Crown Industries. This industry makes roll- up plastic lighted portable di sco dance floors. Therefore, Loebner has enough money to pay for the contest. There are two reasons why Loebner does research for artificial intelligent. The first one is thatShow MoreRelated Metaphysics Essay705 Words à |à 3 Pagescharacteristics of reality. It is in fact so basic that it is all inclusive, whether something is observable or not. It answers questions of what things must be like in order to exist and how to differentiate from things that seem real but are not. A common thought is that reality is defined as what we can detect from our five senses. This type of philosophy is called empiricism, which is the idea that all knowledge comes from our senses. An empiricist must therefore believe that what we can see, touch, tasteRead MoreRousseau s Influence On Society1443 Words à |à 6 Pagesa lot of people and was well know for his work. His philosophy had a great impact that influenced the French Revolution and develop the modern, political, sociological, and educatio nal thought. Rousseau wanted to influence his political concepts that were important to him and wanted to develop a new way of thought. In his work, Rousseau talks about freedom the most in his political philosophy, and the goal was to explain how people in the state of nature are privileged to have total freedom. RousseauRead MoreWho Is The Categorical Imperative?882 Words à |à 4 PagesCarl Zimmer, wrote an essay ââ¬Å"whose life would you save?â⬠that asks why humans make the decisions they make and the philosophy behind it. Zimmer explains that Kant believed that pure reason alone could lead us to moral truths. 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Now that I have taken Justice and Society and went more in depth of what Justice really is, those thoughts were pushed from my mind. I have come to realize that the law resembles little to nothing to the ideas of justice and fairness I previously had. To me, I now view Justice as a way for us to refrain from political influencesRead MoreThe Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Book Report781 Words à |à 4 Pagessemi-cousin Zaphod Beeblebrox. Zaphod and his girlfriend Trisha McMillian, a girl Arthur met a party back on Earth before it was destroyed, have stolen the Heart of Gold sp aceship. The Heart of Gold runs on something called an improbability drive. This means when a button is pushed the most improbable thing will happen and the Heart of Gold will pass through every point in the universe. They are using the Heart of Gold to try and find a planet called Magrathea. Magrathea was formerly known as the richestRead MoreGender Differences1265 Words à |à 6 Pagesnow itââ¬â¢s becoming common to see both men and women work to sustain themselves, resulting in a new idea about marriage and stereotypes. I do not believe in stereotypes, as they are only based in what our education was before civilization: savages. I mean, people often judge using the nature as an example. Yes, it is commonly seen among the animals that the alpha male is the one who decides what to do and when, while his female gives birth to more members of the group that will later be useful for huntingRead MoreEssay about Intrinsic Value in the Non-Human Natural World822 Words à |à 4 PagesIntrinsic Value in the Non-Human Natural World When it comes to the question of non-human rights and the value of nature, there are adamant advocates, those who completely disagree with particular values and rights for the ecosystem, and those could care less. For myself, I believe I have fallen somewhat in between these extremes and have honestly never really considered the idea of intrinsic value and certain rights for the non-human natural world. Singer, Baxter, SteinbockRead MoreEssay on Phil 1600 Ch 3 Questions685 Words à |à 3 Pages1. What Role does Inner conflict play in human moral development? a. Inner conflict often plays the role of motivation in the human moral development. According to the book, an addict has to ââ¬Å"hit bottomâ⬠in order to begin the recovery journey. Another example would be a college dropout who ends up struggling in the real world, unhappy with his life and decides to go back to school to pursue a career. 2. What role does fear of change play in human moral development? a. It plays a role of survival
Friday, December 20, 2019
Slavery Justified By George Fitzhugh - 1728 Words
Section A Industrialization led to a plantation dominated South in America. New inventions, such as the Cotton Gin, and the production capabilities that came with those inventions, made plantations a very lucrative business, with enough manpower. This led to the growth of slavery. Why pay workers when you can just buy a slave that is forced to work for you? Northern abolitionists got wind of the injustice and began to fight the concept of slavery and the cruelty and injustice that came with it. Some Southerners answered their arguments with various justifications for slavery. One of these people was George Fitzhugh. ââ¬Å"Slavery Justified,â⬠by George Fitzhugh, was more than just a pro slavery book. Inside, he wrote that the Southern way of life is the one that G-d wants everyone to be living. He created this ideal society out of Southern living. Calling it a feudal society, Fitzhugh told all about the mutual master slave relationship, and that there is a real connection betwe en the two. With a paternalistic relationship, the masters protect and care for the slaves and in return the slaves work for them with no freedom. In contrast, the Northerners treat their workers terribly. Ever since the American Revolution, the North has been deteriorating and is full of disorder and crime, as a result of mistreated workers. According to him, the same has happened in Europe. Industrialization led to big cities, and those who work there aren t treated well which leads to crime. TextileShow MoreRelatedThe Morality Of Slave Labor Versus Free Market Capitalism1095 Words à |à 5 Pages or even socialism, and would argue that slave labor is immoral. Supporters of slavery would argue that Christianity allowed for slave labor, and it also created a more equal society; one much closer to the socialist dream than European philosophers could hope for. The image of ââ¬Å"Lowell Offeringâ⬠depicts free market labor in which the worker is paid for the fruits of their labor. ââ¬Å"Slavery Justifiedâ⬠by George Fitzhugh is a moral argument in favor of the slave system, suggesting it provides more equalityRead MoreSummary Of George Fitzhugh s The Emancipation Of Slavery Essay1593 Words à |à 7 Pagesemancipation of slavery is an issue that I feel most strongly about. Slavery is an evil, and the treatment of these people is the vilest. A man taking it upon himself to own and force into labor another man, and control his every move, is not one that has a hi gh understanding of ethics and morals. We might fight to cease this cruel treatment and allow these people equality and liberty, just like what we bravely fought for against the British. A pro-slavery supporter, George Fitzhugh, makes the claimRead MoreSlavery : The End Of The Civil War1543 Words à |à 7 Pagesââ¬Å"Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man s nature -- opposition to it is in his love of justice. These principles are an eternal antagonism; and when brought into collision so fiercely, as slavery extension brings them, shocks, and throes, and convulsions must ceaselessly follow. Repeal the Missouri Compromise -- repeal all compromises -- repeal the declaration of independence -- repeal all past history, you still can not repeal human nature. It still will be the abundance of man s heart,Read MoreFrederick Douglas And Solomon Northrup Essay1499 Words à |à 6 PagesThroughout the years slaveholders made claims that justified why the institution of slavery was acc eptable, however, many abolitionist made claims that differed the majority opinion. Abolitionist began to publicize stories advocating truths about this institution. Fredrick Douglas and Solomon Northrup shared their life stories where they exposed their experiences as slaves in the Southern world.Slaves holders make several arguments to justify slavery, meanwhile, slaves themselves completely disagreeRead MoreHow Douglass Dispelled the Illusions of Slavery1019 Words à |à 5 Pagesprovide a look into the world of a slave. His audience varied, from abolitionists, to whites that were on the fence about the issue, but his purpose remained: to allow non-slaves to learn about the horrors of slavery. In this autobiography, Douglass dispelled readersââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"illusions about slaveryâ⬠by merely telling his true story, an everyman tale for slaves. Douglass worked on plantations in the Maryland area, and those plantations were considered to be easier than those of Georgia or Ala bama, as unrulyRead MoreThe Antebellum World View: Assumptions About Slavery Held by Many Southerners939 Words à |à 4 PagesView: Assumptions about Slavery held by many Southerners After the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, issues arose concerning the institution of slavery in the Americas. Most of the inhabitants in the North wanted abolition of the slave trade and of slavery, but there were many who opposed this view, primarily in the Southern States below Virginia. Pro-slavery apologists contributed many different view-points of the argument for slavery. Edmund Ruffin defends slavery from an economic view, JosiahRead MoreThe Civil War Of The United States1270 Words à |à 6 Pagesbecome divided down the middle over slavery, a mainstay that helped the economic growth of this country? As the northern states population grew and expanded westward their anti-slavery beliefs began to spread faster than the pro-slavery beliefs of the southern plantation owners. This influx of an anti-slavery population began to use the senate as a platform to question the use of slavery, causing the southern elitists to strengthen their defenses in support of slavery. Many southerners feared theirRead MoreSummary Of George Fitzhugh s The Slave State Of Virginia Essay779 Words à |à 4 PagesSlavery Justified I, George Fitzhugh, was born in the slave state of Virginia and I am in support of slavery. As a lawyer, painter, and political writer, I became an advocate for the movement referred to as the ââ¬Å"Reactionary Enlightenmentâ⬠of the antebellum American South. With two books and countless journals and pamphlets defending the Slave South, my thoughts on not only the legalization of slavery, but also the expansion of it is unique at a time when the abolition movement had gained momentumRead MoreModern Day Racism And Hatred Against African Americans1390 Words à |à 6 Pagesracism and hatred against African-Americans can be traced back to slavery in the Colonial Americas. Over 10 million slaves were taken and brought into the New World. These slaves if they were to survive the way would face a harsh life of servitude to their white masters. Africans slaves were and plentiful and cheap labor source in the 1700ââ¬â¢s. Slavery was very controversial in the colonies. The pr actice had many believers and critics. Slavery was a brutal but big part of American history. In 1492, ChristopherRead MoreDefending Slavery1997 Words à |à 8 PagesCritical Analysis on Defending Slavery, Finkelman Paul Defending slavery demonstrate the opinions and knowledge that the Southerners held concerning blacks and slavery. Paul Finkelman talks about slave legitimacy in colonial America. He argues that the first defense of slavery became visible after the end of American Revolution; it attempted to justify continuous forced labor with the Declaration of Independence. This essay aims at critically analyzing ideologies and racial theories that Southerners
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Female Characters In CHOPINS AWAKENING Essay Example For Students
Female Characters In CHOPINS AWAKENING Essay The Struggle to Be a WomynEvery step which she took toward relieving herselffrom obligations added to her strength and expansion as anindividual (93)The Awakening by Kate Chopin introduces the reader tothe life of Edna Pontellier, a woman with an independentnature, searching for her true identity in a patriarchalsociety that expects women to be nothing more than devotedwives and nurturing mothers. In this paper I will describeEdnas journey of self-discovery and explain why herstruggle for independence is no easy task. I will alsodiscuss the relationship Edna has with two other main womencharacters and describe how these women conform or rebelagainst a society with many social constraints. Finally Iwill discuss how the issues brought up in Chopins novel arestill relevant today. The JourneyThe Awakening begins in the vacation spot of GrandIsle. At first we believe that Grand Isle is a utopia,wealthy families relaxing at oceanside, but it is here whereEdna first begins to realize her unhappiness. The first signof dissatisfaction is when Edna allows herself to feel thather marriage is unsatisfying; yet she must agree with theother women that Leonce Pontellier is the perfect husband. Edna can now ask herself if she has a good husband and isnot happy than should marriage be a component of her life. Edna has two close relationships with other males in thebook but both prove unsatisfying, and a block to herindependence. The first relationship is with Robert Lebrun. They swim, they chat on the porch and offer each othercompanionship. This is a flirtatious relationship; arelationship similar to those Robert has had previoussummers with other married women; but different becauseEdna, being a foreigner allows herself to take Robertseriously and she falls in love with him. This proves tragicbecause during the course of the novel the two will pine foreach other but Robert not wanting to mar his reputation as a gentleman moves to Mexico. Even after his return the twomeet for a short time and then again Robert flees beforeanything happens. The second role Edna begins to question is her role asmother. Ednas husband scolds her for her unattentiveness toher children. Although Edna is fond of her children she,unlike the other women on Grand Isle, would rather have anurse look after them. Edna says that she would give up theunessential; I would give my money, I would give my life formy children; but I wouldnt give myself. Edna needs more out of life. She is moved by music. During that summer Edna sketches to find an artistic side toherself. She needs an outlet to express who she is. Ednasees art as important and adding meaning to her life. Shefelt in it satisfaction of a kind which no other employmentoffered her.After the summer is over and they are back to the cityEdna is a changed woman. She makes many steps towardsindependence. She stops holding Tuesday socials; she sendsher children to live in the country with their grandparents;she refuses to travel abroad with her husband; she moves outof the Lebrun house on Esplanade Street; and she startsselling her sketches and betting the horses to earn her ownmoney. She also starts a relationship with another man AlceeArobin. He meant nothing to her emotionally but she used himfor sexual pleasure. Edna evolved above her peers she didnot believe that sexuality and motherhood had to be linked. The last step of her awakening is the realization that shecan not fulfill her life in a society that will not allowher to be a person and a mother. Edna commits suicide in theocean at Grand Isle. .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 , .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .postImageUrl , .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 , .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018:hover , .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018:visited , .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018:active { border:0!important; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018:active , .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018 .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uce75621b9f08c41ae778defd872af018:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Business Law Antitirust EssayAnalysis To a certain extent, The Awakening shows Edna at themercy of a patriarchal husband, a hot climate, a Creolelifestyle, and the circumscribed expectations of aparticular class of Louisiana women.(Taylor,p.195) Ednaquestions these wife and mother roles because they are rolesshe was forced into. She married Leonce not because sheloved him but because she could not refuse his admirationand persistence. This marriage thrusts Edna into a foreignculture. She questions her role as a mother because she isdifferent from the typical Creole mother-woman. Ednadefies the central perception of her century that women aremothers first and individuals se cond-or not at all. Shenever denies the value of motherhoodBut she does deny itssupremacy over larger truths of human existence.(Dyer,p.106) This is what leads to her suicide. Edna refuses toreturn to a world that values only her performance as amother, whose highest expectations for women areself-sacrifice and self-effacement. She refuses to return toa world in which this idea is pervasive and inescapable-andunavoidably colors even her own thinking. For Edna, thereis, ideally, a truth greater than that of motherhood. Motherhood, compared with it, becomes yet another illusionthat Edna must dispel. That final truth, that greater truth,can not coexist with the social, the moral, or even thebiological obligations of motherhood.(Dyer, p.105) Ednassuicide is tragic and victorious. Tragic, because Edna couldnot become the person she wanted to be because of therestrictions society placed on mothers; victorious, becauseEdna did not conform to a patriarchal society. Women CharactersIn The Awakening two women characters are presented insharp contrast to each other. These women introduce Edna tonew ideas and influence Ednas perception of womanhood. First we are introduced to Madame Ratignolle, the perfectmother-woman. Adele is perfectly content and happyconforming to society. Adele keeps up her piano playing notfor her own artistic outlet but for her children. She livesfor her husband and her children and encourages Edna to dothe same. Adele introduces Edna to female love. Edna wasenamored by Adele, She had long wished to try herself onMadame Ratignolle. Never had that lady seemed a moretempting subject than at that moment, seated there like somesensuous Madonna,(14) Adele is the first woman Edna feelscomfortable with confiding in and being caressed by. Insome respects, the motherless Edna seeks a mother surrogatein Adele and looks to her for nurturance. Adele providesmaternal encouragement for Ednas painting and tells herthat her talent is immense'(18).(Showalter,p.74)Mademoiselle Reisz is the opposite if Adele. She is anunmarried musician and she is considered eccentric for heroutspoken views. She is very fond of Edna. She in troducesEdna to the world of art. Mademoiselle Reiszs piano playingsent a tremor down Mrs. Pontelliers spinal column. As Edna compares herself to these women she is notfully satisfied with either of them as a role model. Adele,although loved, lacks an independent life. Reisz isindependent but she lacks love. Edna is searching for amiddle ground between the two. Relevance todayThe main question Chopin ponders in this novel is can awoman have both a marriage and children and a fulfillingindependent life outside of that realm. That is a questionstill relevant today. Today a woman can have both a careerand a family. The question is will a woman with childrenexcel in her career as far as she would have if she waschildless. Also, will her children suffer if her career isher first priority. I have witnessed two scenarios thatexemplify these questions. My Aunt Cathy quit a fulfillingcareer that offered her travel, excitement , and a goodsalary to be a stay at home mom. She is happy but she admitsto often wondering What if?. She also cautions me topostpone marriage until I have accomplished my goals. MyAunt Michele barely took a breath after giving birth beforereturning back to work. My grandmother raised her daughterand now at age seven her daughter is much closer with mygrandmother than her own mother. I often wonder what thelong term affects are going to be. .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd , .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .postImageUrl , .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd , .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd:hover , .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd:visited , .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd:active { border:0!important; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd:active , .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8715decc72e35af6e16167457ff64ccd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Personal: The Drainpipe EssayEdnas journey is one that everyone goes through. Ednaattempts her journey of self discovery after she assumes theunsatisfying roles of wife and mother. I am on that journeynow, at twenty-two, childless, husbandless, and inschool-trying to give my life direction. The journey wouldbe more difficult if I had the responsibilities that Ednahas. Ednas journey is also more difficult because itoccurred during the time period where a woman was a secondclass citizen. ConclusionI enjoyed and connected to The Awakening. I am at aperiod in my life where I want to start moving towards agoal. When I weigh my career choices I often ponder how afamily will fit into that choice. Ednas struggle made merealize the universality of this dilemma and I realize howlucky I am to have women like Kate Chopin come before me andmake my struggle a little easier. Works CitedDyer, Joyce.(1993).The Awakening A Novel of Beginnings. New York:Twayne Publishers. Elfbein, Anna Shannon.(1989).Women on the Color Line. Charlottesville:University Press of Virginia. Papke, Mary E.(1990).Verging on the Abyss The SocialFiction of Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton. Newyork:Greenwood Press. Showalter, Elaine.(1991).Sisters Choice Traditionand Change in American Womens Writing. Oxford:Clarendon PressTaylor, Helen.(1989).Gender, Race, and Religion in theWritings of Grace King, Ruth McEnery Stuart, and KateChopin.Baton Rouge:Louisiana State Press
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