Essay on the Use of Symbols, Tensions, and Irony in The Glass Menagerie

Use of Symbols, Tensions, and Irony in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, is a perfect example of how Williams incorporates symbols, tensions, and irony to help express the central theme of the play.      Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most dominant symbols in the play is the fire escape.   It represents something different for each of the characters.   Tom uses the fire escape to escape from his cramped apartment and nagging mother.   Therefore, the fire escape symbolizes a path to the outside world.   For Jim, the gentleman caller, the fire escape represents a means of entering the Wingfield apartment and by doing so, entering the Wingfields' lives.   The mother, Amanda, sees the fire escape as a possible entrance for Jim into the apartment and as an answer to the fear she has of her daughter becoming a spinster.   Lastly, for Laura, the fire escape represents a place she can go to hide from the real world.      Ã‚  Ã‚   The glass menagerie itself is another symbol.   It represents how fragile, sensitive, and unique Laura is.   Laura's prize piece is the unicorn, which Jim bumps into and brakes.   After the unicorn is broken, it is no longer unique.   Just as after Jim kisses Laura and tells her of his engagement to be married, she becomes both heart-broken and a little less unique.   In this area, Jim represents the outside world.   When the unicorn and Laura are exposed to Jim (or the outside world) they break.   By Laura giving Jim the broken unicorn, she is also giving him her broken heart to take with him. She gives him the broken unicorn because it is no longer unique, and to her neither is Jim. Likewise, when Jim leaves, he will also leave behind a little of himself in Laura's broken heart.      Ã‚  Ã‚  ... ...ls Laura that he's engaged.   This confirms that Laura will be unable to fulfill her dream.      Ã‚  Ã‚   It appears that each time a character thinks he or she is moving forward, he or she has the reality of moving backwards.   The characters never give up trying, but still no one can move forward from the Wingfields' world.   Not even Tom can escape, and he has already left.    The Glass Menagerie is indeed a perfect example of how Williams incorporates symbols, tensions, and irony to help express the central theme of the play.    Works Cited and Consulted: Kahn, Sy. Modern American Drama: Essays in Criticism. Edited by Willima E. Taylor. Deland, Florida. Everette/Edwards Inc., 1968. 71-88 Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Writing, Thinking. 5th ed. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford, 1999.

Ethical Scrapbook

In any profession unethical behavior can be present, it is ultimately up to the individuals. They have to decide what is ethically right and not take short cuts or engage in unethical behavior. The banking profession, such as bank tellers, is exposed to large amounts of money. They can choose to be ethical and not attempt to steal from their clients, or they can act unethically by choosing to steal money. Another profession is research, there are conditions that exist for unethical behavior. When researchers conduct experiments, they usually write a report about their results.If the results do not go in the direction that they wanted them to, this gives the researchers an opportunity to act unethically. They can either choose to act ethically, and report the true results from the experiment, or they can choose to act unethically, and report the results in a manner that will benefit them. â€Å"In the process of making decisions regarding their professional behavior, psychologists mu st consider this Ethics Code in addition to applicable laws and psychology board regulations.In applying the Ethics Code to their professional work, psychologists may consider other materials and guidelines that have been adopted or endorsed by scientific and professional psychological organizations and the dictates of their own conscience, as well as consult with others within the field. If this Ethics Code establishes a higher standard of conduct than is required by law, psychologists must meet the higher ethical standard.If psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations or other governing legal authority, psychologists make known their commitment to this Ethics Code and take steps to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner in keeping with basic principles of human rights† (American Psychological Association, 2014). Another profession is professional sports, the athlete could take enhancement drugs to improve themselves at the sport, like taking steroids which is also against the law.Most athletes choose to  do what is ethical and stay away from drugs to ensure that they keep their jobs and the respect of their fans. In medical professions, doctors could take the unethical route and give their patients their drug of choice just to satisfy them, but doctors that admire what they do will be ethical and give the patient what they need and get them help if they are showing signs of drug abuse. â€Å"Within the patient-physician relationship, a physician is ethically required to use sound medical judgment, holding the best interests of the patient as paramount† (The Patient-Physician Relationship, 2001).Pharmaceutical companies are a profession that also has to choose to be ethical or unethical. The individuals that work for pharmaceutical companies are tempted to take medication for their own use. They may steal medications to sell them to make money for themselves. Politics also can contribute to ethical or une thical behavior. If politicians do not like something, they try to hide it from Americans, or they may not tell the whole truth of certain facts. Politicians are famous for covering all of the facts up.

Essay on Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twains classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells the story of a teenaged misfit who finds himself floating on a raft down the Mississippi River with an escaping slave, Jim. In the course of their perilous journey, Huck and Jim meet adventure, danger, and a cast of characters who are sometimes menacing and often hilarious. A hackneyed expression states that one should never discuss†¦show more content†¦This innocence allows Twain to satirize religious sentimentality and superficiality with abandon. Miss Watson and Widow Douglas, Hucks unofficial guardians who try to sivilize him, teach Huck the concept of Christianity. The women emphasis prayer and Providence. Huck recalls, She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it (10). The literal minded young boy believes that he would receive anything he desires if he prays for it. This is made apparent when Huck states, I tried for the hooks three or four times, but somehow I couldnt make it work (11). Further attempts by the two women to explain prayer only leads to more confusion, making Twains point that religious practices, in this case prayer, do not always make sense. To further this point, Twain includes Hucks confusion over Providence. Each of the women explains the concept of Providence differently, actually contradic ting one another. Huck explains what he is taught by saying, I judged I could see that there was two Providences. Thus, Twain criticizes religious philosophy by creating a scenario whereby the two women, and subsequently Huck, have two juxtapose interpretations of a religious concept. Twain conveys his message of how ridiculous it is for two or more people to have different interpretations of the same religious concept and still claim to practice the sameShow MoreRelatedMark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay1103 Words   |  5 Pages Published in 1885, Mark Twain’s American classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, captured the both the hearts and hatred of its audience. While some view it as a masterpiece that successfully blended the American condition in a captivating and interesting manner, others observe it to be nothing more than racist trash. The latter is a shallow misunderstanding of the novel’s purpose and potential enlightening impa ct on its readers. From a more appreciative and open-minded perspective, one wouldRead More The Outcast in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn641 Words   |  3 PagesOutcast in Huckleberry Finn nbsp; One of the themes that has been addressed by writers since the beginning of civilization is the issue of the split between living in society and living by oneself. We see this in that peculiarly American genre of books known as road books, in which the protagonist embarks upon a long journey or period of time away from society in order to find themselves. One of the quintessential examples of this type of book is Mark Twains novel The Adventures of HuckleberryRead MoreMark TwainS The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Is More1915 Words   |  8 PagesMark Twain s the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is more than just a condemnation of pre-civil war society and its justification of slavery. Twain also uses the novel to challenge the validity of superstition. The main characters, Huckleberry and Jim, are mere marionettes for Twain to express his censure through; he mocks them with their own fears and distortion of superstition. Twain’s representation of superstition throughout the bo ok is indicative of his own thoughts towards the subject. TheRead More The Immature Huck Finn in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1723 Words   |  7 PagesThe Immature Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚   Maturity is not a fickle expression such as happiness or frustration, but rather an inherent quality one gains over time, such as courage or integrity. Before maturity can be expressed, the one who expresses it must have significant confidence in himself, since self-confidence is the root of maturity. Being flexible and formulating ones own opinions or ideas are aspects of maturity, but neither is possible without self-confidence. The greatest aspect ofRead More The Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Aristotle was once asked what he thought friendship was. His response was, One soul inhabiting two bodies. This was the kind of relationship that Huckleberry Finn and Jim shared in Mark Twains epic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel is a tool that Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemmons, was using to impress the great benefits of friendship upon society. However, others feelRead MoreThe Controversy Over Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn610 Words   |  3 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a controversial book that has raised heated debates across America for the past century. It was ranked fifth most challenging books out of one hundred in the 1990s (Chadwick 2). Although this book is a hot topic, it should remain on shelves, and still be taught in schools. While Huck Finn seems to be only a book of satire, most want this book banned because it is seen as highly racial. â€Å"The reading of Huck Finn is humiliating to back studentsRead More The Final Episode of Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn3016 Words   |  13 PagesThe Great Importance of the Final Episode of Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the things many critics of Huckleberry Finn   just cant seem to understand is the final episode of the novel where Tom returns and sidetracks Huck from his rescue of Jim through a long series of silly, boyish plans based on ideas Tom has picked up from Romantic novels, such as those of Walter Scott.   Critic Stephen Railton dismisses these final chapters as just another version of their RoyalRead More The Public Reception of Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn963 Words   |  4 PagesReception of Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Upon its publication in 1884, Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was met with mixed reviews. Some reviewers called it flat, trashy, and irreverent. Others called it Twains best work yet, hailing his humor and style throughout the novel. Though obscure at first, reviews began to appear in many newspapers throughout the country as more and more became interested in the novel as a result of these reviews. Huckleberry Finn was publishedRead More Escaping Reality in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1306 Words   |  6 PagesRunning From Reality in Huckleberry Finn        Ã‚  Ã‚   In Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a main target of satire is the romantic view of life. Though the characters and symbols, it is evident that the idyllic views are being disparaged. Some of the people in this book are simply deluded, while others cause major tribulations during their lives. Literary romanticism can be pleasant, but it is not real and can confuse those not sage enough to distinguish the difference between a writersRead More Prejudice and Racism in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1062 Words   |  5 PagesPrejudice and Racism in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn    Despite all the criticism, of racism and other questionable material for young readers, Mark Twain’s The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is a superbly written novel, which in the opinion of this reviewer should not be remove the literary cannon. Twain’s novel is a coming of age story that teaches young people many valuable lessons and to some extend makes students reexamine their own lives and morals. The most common argument