Mrs. Alving From Henrik Ibsens Ghosts

Henrik Ibsens play Ghosts is a three-act drama about a widowed mother and her prodigal son, who has returned to his dreary Norwegian home. The play was written in 1881, and the characters and setting reflect this era. The Basics The play focuses on the unraveling of family secrets. Specifically, Mrs. Alving has been hiding the truth about her late husbands corrupt character. When he was alive, Captain Alving enjoyed a benevolent reputation. But in reality, he was a drunkard and an adulterer—facts that Mrs. Alving kept hidden from the community as well as her adult son, Oswald. A Dutiful Mother Above all things, Mrs. Helene Alving wants happiness for her son. Whether or not she has been a good mother depends upon the readers point of view. Here are some of her life events before the play begins: Tired of the Captains drunkenness, Mrs. Alving temporarily left her husband.She hoped to be romantically embraced by the towns local priest, Pastor Manders.Pastor Manders did not reciprocate her feelings; he sends Mrs. Alving back to her husband.When Oswald was young, Mrs. Alving sent her son to boarding school, shielding him from the true nature of his father. In addition to the above events, it can also be said that Mrs. Alving spoils Oswald. She praises his artistic talent, gives in to his desire for alcohol, and sides with her sons bohemian ideologies. During the plays last scene, Oswald (in a state of delirium brought on by his illness) asks his mother for the sun, a childhood request which Mrs. Alving had somehow hoped to fulfill (by bringing happiness and sunshine into his world instead of despair). In the final moments of the play, Oswald is in a vegetative state. Although he has asked his mother to deliver a fatal dose of morphine pills, it is uncertain whether Mrs. Alving will adhere to her promise. The curtain falls while she is paralyzed with fear, grief, and indecision. Mrs. Alvings Beliefs Like Oswald, she believes that many of societys church-driven expectations are counterproductive to achieving happiness. For example, when she discovers that her son has a romantic interest in his half-sister, Regina, Mrs. Alving wishes she had the courage to allow the relationship. And lets not forget, in her younger days, desired to have an affair with a member of the clergy. Many of her tendencies are highly unorthodox—even by todays standards. It is important to note, however, that Mrs. Alving did not follow through on either impulse. In Act Three, she tells her son the truth about Regina—thus preventing a potentially incestuous relationship. Her awkward friendship with Pastor Manders reveals that Mrs. Alving not only accepted his rejection; she also does her best to live up to societys expectations by continuing the facade that her feelings are purely platonic. When she tells the pastor: I should like to kiss you, this could be seen as a harmless quip or (perhaps more likely) a sign that her passionate feelings still smolder beneath her proper exterior.

Religious References in Shakespeare Plays - 2707 Words

William Shakespeare’s plays take place in a variety of settings- from early modern England to distant, otherworldly islands. They address a multitude of topics ranging from love to politics, which were often relevant to current events of the time, such as colonization or the Protestant Reformation. This social and political commentary, cleverly masked so as to avoid censorship and create humor, has become a topic of interest for literary and historical scholars alike. Shakespeare’s use of symbolism and metaphor is still very open for interpretation, and leads many conversations regarding his work. Specifically, his use of Christian themes and ideas in non-Christian settings, such as the island in The Tempest or Rome in Titus Andronicus, is interesting with regards to life in England at the time, as well as in the rest of the world. While some of these references may have gone over the heads of his audiences, many of them certainly did not, and as a result, we can look t o them for an accurate representation of the religious, political, and social climates in Elizabethan England. In order to better understand the significance of any references within Shakespeare’s works, as well as to how they were applicable to life in sixteenth century England, one must first have a fundamental grasp on the general atmosphere of the time with regards to issues such as religion and politics. Remarkably different from most Christian churches today, the sixteenth century Church of EnglandShow MoreRelatedReligion in Hamlet Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pagesfamous tragedies William Shakespeare has ever written. Found throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy are many religious references. 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The Inborn Names Of The Morongo Reservation - 1437 Words

Set at the extremity of the striking San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains, the Morongo Indian Reservation extends more than 35,000 acres and overlooks the desert vistas of the Banning Pass. Wild buckwheat, mesquite and chaparral still flourish here, and the ubiquitous breeze ensures that the air is always fresh and clear. One of the inborn names of the Morongo Reservation was Malki, and it was located in what was once called the Wanikik territory. In the mid-19th century, the Serrano people to the north began journeying to the Malki settlement. They brought with them the Morongo name derivative from the Serrano name for their people, Maringayam. Since the late 19th century, the Morongo Reservation has been tenanted by a mix of Cahuilla, Serrano, Luiseno and Cupeno people. Irrepressible and ingenious, the Morongo tribe has overcome many hardships. The Morongo Reservation was one of nine small reservations set aside by President Grant by Executive Order in 1865. The lands taken into trust by the federal government did not include land with access to surface water. Accordingly, tribal members had to travel miles each day just to acquire water and to forage for food. Through their industriousness and capability to survive in an unstable physical and political environment, the Morongo tribe began a small bingo venture in 1983. On February 25, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that neither the state of California nor Riverside County could control the bingo and card

Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay Example For Students

Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay Sophocles Oedipus Rex is a tragic tale of a fated boy who goes on the path from noble king to lowly beggar through a combination of tragic circumstances and personal flaw. Oedipus is a man of high standing socially, intellectually and morally, but is arrogant enough to think that he can solve the riddle of the murderer of Laius by himself. Whilst trying to untie the puzzle, he ends up pulling apart his own life and security. His actions regarding the pursuit of truth show that he is a tragic hero, because he has combination of good intentions for fervent pursuit of a noble ideal, but at huge personal cost. It can be argued that his ultimate downfall is either his own fault for being so arrogant and blind, or that it was a noble pursuit which had an inevitable but tragic outcome. Oedipus past is truly an intriguing predicament, which, with the sparking of certain events, cannot be left dormant. His own past is a result of his and his parents actions. He is cast out of his home by his parents after his terrible prophecy is given, and he leaves Corinth after he is told of his own fate, only to fulfil it later. Their determination to defeat fate is the cause of their ultimate downfall, and they are the very reason his past is so clouded and obscured. When the ball begins to unravel, Oedipus finds himself driven more and more to uncover his complicated past, and this pursuit, despite being told by many to stop, causes his downfall. Oedipus flaws seem to be the driving force behind his actions, and his inability to accept deception is admirable but dangerous. Oedipus fate can be argued to be entirely his own fault. He is arrogant and tyrannical in his relentless search, and in refusing to heed warnings, he brings it upon himself. Dangerous actions bring terrible consequences, and refusing to live in blindness is a very dangerous thing, though morally it may be admirable and sought after. Even before the search begins, his previous actions have exaggerated the magnitude of the final outcome. He and his parents set up a complicated predicament through their stubbornness to defeat prophecy. In many ways, if they had not fought the prophecy and had kept their child close, the whole situation would not have been quite as atrocious and traumatic. Later, Oedipus misunderstanding of the prophecy and his lineage, and the actions he takes against these assumptions cause a few problems. Firstly, he banishes himself from his one true home, bringing him closer to his real parents, and secondly, he condemns himself to be banished from Thebes under his own law. These actions were made in careless blindness and impulsive reasoning, and are thus the fault of none other than himself. With this self-constructed, intricately thatched mess of a story, unravelling is a tedious, painful, and dangerous process, and even in this light, Oedipus persists in destroying his comfortable place in society. Thus, Oedipus pursuit of the truth in this particular circumstance is not noble, but arrogant and blind. In refusing to heed the warnings and accept his current life, he causes his own downfall, and the haughty, tyrannical nature of his hunt is brutal and self-destructive. However, despite being too hasty in his search, his pursuit is noble in nature. Though he does not feel the ramifications until the very end, he is constantly aware that carrying on with the search could be dangerous. Though on the surface and to outside interpretation, the actions appear brash, but such courageousness in the face of adversary is truly admirable in nature. .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 , .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .postImageUrl , .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 , .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030:hover , .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030:visited , .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030:active { border:0!important; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 { 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; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030:active , .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .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; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030 .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u626e8d64e700d8e7cc6f794908f89030:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Paradox of the settings: St. Petersburg the Siberian Prison in Crime Punishment EssayHis high moral standings are evident throughout the play, especially at the end when the curse is finally revealed and he is presented with the problem of upholding the law and accepting the punishment. Not only does he banish himself, but he removes his eyes and absolves himself from the human world. Living in agony as opposed to dying in peace, he not only accepts the punishment, but takes it further, seeing himself as the ultimate crime upon humanity. This shows the epitome of his moral strength and clarity. It is visible that all of his actions are primarily driven by strong ethical grounding, and that the pursuit itself is a very noble and right-minded. Truth is desired by all, though few uphold and pursue it. Oedipus pursues it vigorously, despite it being the ultimate threat. Oedipus actions are noble in nature but arrogant in action. They show that the pursuit of truth is dangerous and difficult, often with disastrous outcomes, but necessary and, above all, noble. Without the few people like Oedipus in society, all would be blind to the truth.