20 Th Century Attitude Essays - John Updike, Sylvia Plath

20 th century attitude 20th century writers dealt with many issues and themes throughout their writing. The authors that I have chosen to look at are Updike, Beatti, Rothke and Plath. These authors and their works will each be evaluated by how they deal with the subjects love, death, loss and passing of time. The short story Separating by John Updike deals with the subject of love and I also believe it deals with the themes quest for identity and alienation and nausea . The story talks about how two parents are going through the process of telling their children that they are going to separate. This is important to them because they do love their children very much; they want to make the timing perfect so it is easier on the children. The father and mother seemed as though they needed to find out who they really were without their children. They did all things for the kids. They said that they loved one another but yet they didnt make each other happy. I think that they just werent sure what made them happy. Weekend a short story by Ann Beattie deals with the subject of loss of time and the same theme that Updikes story dealt with quest for identity .I chose the subject of time because at first they loved one another and had a good relationship and then time passed and they ended up in such a weird place in their relationship. George had control over Lenore in the way that she never knows that she can leave him and be okay. She stays with him because she does care for him but also because she has a place to put her children and herself to sleep. Wish for a Young Wife a poem by Theodore Rothke is one that goes into the subject of loss or the idea of loss. This is a man who is telling his wife that he hopes that even while he grows old he wishes that she were beautiful and young for eternity. H e wishes her to never endure grief or hate; these are the very things that make one old. He could be very much in love with his wife and by wishing this for her, so she never looses her beauty. Or, he could be wishing these things for his benefit so he never looses his beautiful young wife. Sylvia Plaths poem Lady Lazarus deals mainly with the subject of death. Im not sure completely but this could be humor in the horror , I know it is not a nightmare world but, pick the worms off of me like sticky pearls is some sort of gross humor. She discusses her 3 suicide attempts, comparing herself to a cat with 9 lives. She also includes a comparison of herself to a concentration camp victim. She states dying is an art I do it exceptionally well. Doctors are her enemy and she warns them to beware. Overall in most literature you can see a little of death, love, loss and a loss of time. These subject matters are used so frequently because those things are life. They are the things people feel strongly about. People relate and understand these topics.

Martha Ballard essays

Martha Ballard essays Life in todays world, the 21st century, has become a fantasy in which people in the past centuries could have never imagined. We are introduced to mans new technology inventions, which make our lives extra comforting, everyday. Yet, its amazing how we grant every little moment. However, life has not always been this effortless. In the story of A Midwifes Tale, we are presented to the living conditions of Martha Ballard, whom is a midwife living in the 18th century, through her dairies. The dairies reflect the suffering and tribulations she went through, while working. At the same time, teach us lessons about her heroic character, her undying devotion for her job, ways of living and lastly her religious beliefs. Martha was no ordinary midwife she preformed 816 deliveries between 1785 and 1812. Shes on call 24 seven and commits all her strength to her job. Since transportation was very limited, getting around from place to place was extremely difficult, especially during wintertime. Though the snow and rain couldnt stop Martha from her what she loved. Her devoted passion for her career can be described in these quotes; Pushing through ice in several places...she walked across, almost reaching shore before breaking through to her waist...dragged herself out, and rode dripping to the delivery. Religion played an essential part in Marthas life. Her fate in god was the only element that she knew was going to save her through the hardship of the usual daily events. In addition, she was even more grateful, here in her eateries of April 24, 1789, after crossing the stream on the way on fleeting Loggs safely she notes, Wonder Full is the Goodness of providence. ...

The Geography of South Africa Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Geography of South Africa - Assignment Example The rolling grasslands of the Highveld at the central plateau, the bountiful farms and vineyards, the red sandy plains of the Kalahari deserts make the country an abundant land of natural diversity. In addition, the country has some of world’s most renowned wildlife reserves and dozens of national parks as part of its geography. The country’s water resources are mainly sourced by the rivers, Orange and Malibamatso, rising from the mountains of Lesotho Drakensburg. Lying right below the Tropic of Capricorn, the country’s climate varies considerably over different regions. With the sub-tropical belt of high pressure, the country has a dry climate with abundant sunshine. At the same time, as it is surrounded by the oceans in its three sides, the warm and cold currents influence the country’s climate moderately. The arid rainfall, which is often unreliable and unpredictable, is sufficient for the dry land farming in its plains. South Africa is well known for its diversity in ethnic and cultural aspects, with geography playing an influencing role. With a population of more than forty million, the country has different ethnic groups, comprising of black Africans, white Europeans, mixed whites and Asian descendants. Their cultural heritage, languages and religious beliefs are greatly preserved by the majority of the African black inhabitants in the rural areas. Historically speaking, the geographical setting particularly its landscapes and climate played a part in colonialism and the subsequent segregation of people on the basis of race. The country’s resources and vegetation in certain parts have led the people to settle in particular region for meeting their occupational needs. Agriculturists settled in the eastern part of the country which has sufficient rainfall to support farming while the pastoralists settled along the river Orange and the western highlands.