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How Hardy's Plot Creates a Sense of Fate and Struggle in The Return of the Native Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was a renowned poet and novelist of the 19th century, best known for his semi-fictional works. Living an isolated life surrounded by nature, he found inspiration in the joys and sorrows of rural existence. Influenced by his upbringing and personal experiences, Hardy produced numerous masterpieces, including notable poems such as "The Darkling Thrush," "Neutral Tones," "The Convergence of the Twain," "The Man He Killed," "The Voice," and "The Ruined Maid." Additionally, his novels, such as The Poor Man and The Lady, Under the Greenwood Tree, Jude the Obscure, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and The Return of the Native, solidified his literary legacy.  Hardy's plot in The Return of the Native demonstrates his mastery of creating complex and tragic situations that reflect the harsh realities of rural life and human n...

Charles Lamb, the essayist, poet, and critic of the early 19th century, gained fame through his renowned collection of writings known as "The Essays of Elia." One of the notable essays in this collection is "The Praise of Chimney Sweepers," which encompasses elements of autobiography, humor, fancy, and sentiment. Lamb sheds light on the children of industrialized England who were tasked with cleaning the chimneys of factories. He uses elements of autobiography, humor, fancy, and sentiment to create a sympathetic and humorous portrait of these underprivileged youth. He criticizes the harsh treatment they receive from society and praises their resilience and joyfulness. One of the elements that Lamb uses in his essay is autobiography, which allows him to share his personal experiences and opinions on chimney sweepers. He narrates an incident where a gentleman on a morning walk assists the sweepers, mentioning Mr. Read, who owns a renowned establishment that caters to ...

Main Theme of the Novel Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies is a novel by William Golding that explores the conflict between civilization and savagery, which represents the competing impulses within human beings. On one hand, there is the instinct to live by rules, act peacefully, follow moral commands, and prioritize the good of the group. On the other hand, there is the instinct to gratify immediate desires, act violently to obtain power over others and enforce one's will. This conflict can be expressed as civilization vs. savagery, order vs. chaos, reason vs. impulse, law vs. anarchy, or the broader concept of good vs. evil. Throughout the novel, Golding associates civilization with good and savagery with evil. The clash between these two instincts drives the narrative, as the young English boys gradually abandon their civilized and moral behavior, adapting to wild and barbaric life in the jungle. The novel is an allegory, conveying its main ideas and themes through symbolic cha...

  Khol Do   Manto's historically progressive work also details the forms of violence that particularly affected women, including sexual assaults on both sides of the border - considered a threat to the 'dignity of women and their communities, and lead to mass suicides to prevent this 'disgrace'. For a long discussion on the spectrum of violence against women in the Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities, see here in the short story Khol Do.   The Horrors of Rape and Trauma in Khol Do by Saadat Hasan Manto Khol Do (Khol Do) is a story that is told in parallel to the depths of human misery that was witnessed during the partitions and after independence. The short story is told in the context of Sirajuddin, whose daughter Sakina goes missing when the train on which he was traveling was attacked by rioters. Sirajuddin asks some social workers in Pakistan to form a search party for his daughter. It turns out that on finding her, the men themselves rape her, and leave ...

  Toba Take Singh Sadat Hassan Manto (11 May 1912 - 18 January 1955) was a short story writer from Pakistan who migrated from Mumbai. He is well known for his short stories, he has written a large number of short stories and is considered one of the best short story writers in Urdu. Among his short stories, Toba Tek Singh is one of his short stories. It was one of Manto's last stories. It was published in 1955 in Maktab Jaded Lahore.   Sadat Hassan Manto's short story "Toba Tek Singh" is the most remarkable story about partition. This story is deeply rooted in the tragic event that India and Pakistan faced before, during, and after independence. The story is a beautiful satire on the partitions and bitter accusations on the political process and management how the people suffer due to this partitions process, and how people were displaced from their homes. Manto with his writing skills brilliantly criticizes in unrealized manners the behaviour of some lunati...

Waiting of Godot as an Absurd Play   The word "Absurd" means "a literary and philosophical term that expresses the irrational or pointlessness of the human condition from an existential point of view." The word "absurd" is derived from the French word "absurdum" which means "Out of harmony".   The Theater of Absurd depicts a mood, and a tone towards life, where human existence is a dilemma of purposeless, meaningless, and pointless activity. This is a complete denial of the old values. It has no plot, no characterization, no logical setting, and no extreme. This is completely unconventional. Theatre of the Absurd is one of the ways in which the universe has lost its meaning and purpose. Theatre of the Absurd transmits the irrationality of life to the stage. The words and deeds of the characters do not give any meaning. In fact, there is no plot in the play.   Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" fall into the co...

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw Pygmalion is a play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1912 and first performed in 1913. It is based on the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his own creation, a statue of a woman. Shaw adapts this myth to explore the themes of class, gender, and identity in early 20th-century society. He also uses the play as a vehicle to express his views on language, education, and social reform. Shaw presents Pygmalion as a problem play, a feminist play, and an anti-romantic play. Pygmalion as Problem Play A problem play is a type of drama that deals with controversial social issues and challenges the audience to think critically and morally about them. Shaw was known for writing problem plays that addressed topics such as poverty, prostitution, marriage, and religion. In Pygmalion, he focuses on the problems of class, gender, and identity that were prevalent in his time. Shaw depicts the differences and inequalities between the upper and low...

George Bernard Shaw is widely considered the greatest dramatist of the 20th century. As an Irishman, Shaw possessed an inherent iconoclastic inclination. He drew inspiration from the realism and naturalism of the renowned Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen and incorporated these elements into his own dramatic works. Shaw popularized a specific type of drama known as the "Drama of Ideas," in which the ideas conveyed hold greater importance than the actions portrayed. Shaw rebelled against prevalent follies, foibles, and vices in society, skillfully ridiculing them in a subtle manner. He deliberately shattered the false and ostentatious notions of romanticism, hypocrisy, snobbery, and egocentricity that surrounded him. Throughout his works, such as "Man and Superman" and "Saint Joan," Shaw portrayed a constant conflict between established authority and individual genius. In "Pygmalion," Shaw boldly emphasized the necessity of compassion for an artist...

Feminism Feminism is a social and political movement that aims to achieve economic, political, and social equality of the sexes. Feminist literary criticism is an approach that applies the principles and philosophy of feminism to critique the language of literature. This approach examines how literature portrays the history of male domination by exploring the social, economic, political, and psychological forces embedded in the literature. Background Pygmalion is a play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1912 that depicts the transformation of a poor flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a refined lady under the guidance of two phonetic experts, Henry Higgins, and Colonel Pickering. The play is set in the Victorian era of England when women were subjected to many stereotypes and restrictions. Women were expected to behave in a certain way, dress in a certain way, and speak in a certain way. They were also denied many basic rights, such as the right to vote, the right to divorce, the right ...

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen fell like a bomb into contemporary life because it challenged the traditional gender roles and social norms of the Victorian era. It portrayed a woman who defied her husband's authority and left him to seek her own identity and freedom. A Doll's House is a realistic drama written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Johan Ibsen in 1879. His plays attacked the age-worn values of a male-dominated society. He discarded outmoded dramatic techniques such as soliloquies and monologues. The theme of the play A Doll's House is individual freedom and emancipation of self. The protagonist of the play Nora is the wife of Torvald Helmer and they have been married for eight years. They have three children. A Doll's House is a problem play because Ibsen deals with a social problem: the status of a woman in relation to her husband and home. Ibsen shows the pathetic situation of Nora being treated by her husband as a mere child who knows nothing and is ...

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen is a play that explores the themes of gender, class, and identity in the Victorian era. The play tells the story of Nora Helmer, a woman who is trapped in a marriage that is based on lies, manipulation, and superficiality. She is treated as a doll by her husband Torvald, who controls her actions, her money, and her speech. She is also treated as a doll by society, which imposes strict rules and expectations on her. She has no identity, freedom, or happiness of her own. The play challenges the traditional gender roles and social norms of its time by showing the injustice and oppression that they cause to women. Nora is expected to play the role of a perfect wife and mother, who is obedient, cheerful, and dependent. She has to hide her true feelings and opinions and pretend to be happy and content. She has no rights or dignity as a human being equal to men. For example, she secretly borrows money from Krogstad, a shady lawyer, to take her husband to Ita...

Character Analysis Professor Henry Higgins Pygmalion By George Bernard Shaw In Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw creates a character who is a bundle of paradoxes. Professor Henry Higgins, a forty-year-old phonetician, is brilliant but rude, creative but insensitive, and confident but ignorant. He treats all people alike, but also rejects middle-class moralities. He is devoted to improving the human race but also acts like a childish tyrant. He is Shaw's creative rebel who challenges the traditional gender roles and social norms of the Victorian era. Higgins' personality is revealed through his actions and his speech. He is a master of the English language, but he uses it to insult and mock others, especially those who are lower in class or education than him. He does not care about the feelings or the dignity of other people, but only about his own reputation and pride. For example, when he first meets Eliza Doolittle, a poor Cockney flower girl, in Covent Garden, he takes down he...

Francis Bacon as an Essayist Francis Bacon is considered the father of modern English prose. His essays are distinctive and become classics not for their subject matter but for their style. In his essay "Of Studies", he exhibits all the characteristics of his prose style, which are: arresting beginning, aphoristic style, analytical presentation, use of figures of speech, and Latin quotations. The first characteristic of Bacon's prose style is his arresting beginning. He starts his essay with a sentence that catches the interest of the readers and states the main purpose of the essay with utmost clarity. He writes: "Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability." This sentence introduces the topic of the essay and the three benefits of studies that he will discuss in the following paragraphs. The second characteristic of Bacon's prose style is his aphoristic style. His sentences are brief and universal in content. They have a force and a beauty tha...

Charles Lamb is regarded as the father of modern English prose. He is celebrated for his essays, which are distinctive and original in their style, themes, and personality. He brought to prose the finest qualities of Romanticism, such as personal expression, emotional flexibility, and poetic charm. Lamb's essays are personal and autobiographical. He reveals himself and his life in his essays. He talks about his relatives, friends, and acquaintances with warmth and humour. He also shares his memories, feelings, and opinions with the reader. He makes the reader his friend and confidant. He is friendly, intimate, and honest in his essays. He does not boast or pretend but shows his nobility and his humanity. Lamb's essays exhibit infinite variety. He writes on various topics, such as studies, books, manners, dreams, children, etc. He satisfies the appetite of every taste and mood. He blends fact and fiction, humour and pathos, wit and wisdom in his essays. He also mixes different g...

Aphorism in Bacon’s Essays One of the most distinctive features of Bacon’s essays is his aphoristic style. Aphorisms are concise statements that express a general truth or a principle. Bacon uses aphorisms in his essays to make his points more memorable and persuasive. He writes in a way that is general, impersonal, rhetorical, and suggestive. He does not provide his personal opinion or give any examples to support his arguments. He leaves the reader to interpret and apply his statements according to his own situation and understanding. Bacon’s aphoristic style reflects his intellectual rather than emotional strength. He is a philosopher, a scientist, and a moralist who wants to instruct and influence his readers with his wisdom and wit. He does not appeal to the emotions or the imagination of the reader but to reason and judgment. He writes with clarity, precision, and authority. He does not waste words or elaborate on his ideas. He conveys maximum meaning in minimum words. Bacon’s ap...

Themes in Ice Candy Man Ice Candy Man by Bapsi Sidhwa is a novel about the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. It narrates the story through the eyes of Lenny, a young Parsi girl who witnesses the horrors and tragedies of the partition. The novel explores various themes, such as the exploitation and suppression of women, the partition of the subcontinent, religious intolerance, inter-community marriage, and human nature. One of the prominent themes of the novel is the exploitation and suppression of women. The novel portrays how women become victims of extreme violence, sexual abuse, and oppression during the partition. Women are treated as objects, commodities, or prizes by men who use religion or politics as an excuse to justify their actions. For example, Ayah, Lenny's beautiful Hindu nanny, is abducted by Ice-Candy-Man, a Muslim street vendor who loves her but whom she has rejected. He forces her to become a prostitute and sells her to other men as a "dancing girl...

Have you ever wondered how women experienced the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947? How did they cope with the violence, exploitation, and oppression that resulted from the political and religious turmoil? The theme of feminism in 'Ice Candy Man' by Bapsi Sidhwa, is a novel that portrays the lives of women during this historical event.  For centuries, society has not defined a woman as a subject in her own right, but merely as an entity that concerns man either in his real life or his fantasy life. Many contemporary writers have projected the plight of women based on caste, creed, religion, gender prejudices, community, and beliefs, and have tried to suggest some pragmatic solutions to them. In 'Ice-Candy Man', the whole story is narrated by the female protagonist Lenny, who relates the horrors of violence and her personal observations and reactions. Lenny is a young Parsi girl who suffers from polio and lives in Lahore with her affluent family. She not only obser...

Analysis of Ice Candy Man by Bapsi Sidhwa Have you ever wondered how women experienced the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947? How did they cope with the violence, exploitation, and oppression that resulted from the political and religious turmoil? In this essay, I will argue that Ice Candy Man is a novel that portrays the complex and tragic consequences of partition on women, minorities, and children, and how they cope with violence, oppression, and identity crisis. Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel Ice-Candy-Man is a realistic narrative, set in Lahore. The story takes up the themes of communal tensions using religion as a way to define individual identity, territorial cravings, political oppressions, power and love, and binds them together in a very readable narrative. The novel revolves around people from diverse religious backgrounds—Muslims, Hindu, Sikh, and Parsee—living in complete harmony till the rumours of the sub-continent’s imminent division tear them asunder. The novel is narrated...