Essay on Themes and Themewriting :: Expository Essays

Essay on Themes and Themewriting Writing what I want, how I want. Finding my own voice. I could write forever on things I enjoy writing about, but writing about writing it - that's another story. (did you notice how often I used 'writing or write'? maybe those are the words that will hold my paper together. ah - I don't know if anything will hold this together!) I think I must speak first in defense of themewriting. As someone who has been away from structured writing for more than 20 years, I have to admit I enjoyed doing my first research paper last year. And it wasn't easy for me. It seems everyone else in the class thinks it is simple to slap together a theme paper. But I've been writing off the cuff for years and to actually research something and sound intelligent was a challenge. In high school, I was fortunate enough to have great English teachers who let me use my creativity. In seventh grade, I would write plays, bring them to my teacher, and he would let us act them out. It was like that throughout my high school years. (no - I didn't continue writing plays - we out- grew my princess and dragon fluff by ninth grade!) I'm sure we did some themewriting, but I mainly remember writing 'my stuff'. Having that kind of encouragement, I continued writing in that manner. When I had a column in our local paper, I wrote about what I wanted in the way I wanted to. It was an 'Erma Bombeck' type column and I just wrote whatever came to mind every week. I have a tendency to go for the laughs when I write. This paper is supposed to be my own thoughts, but I don't think it is supposed to be funny. That could be tough for me. Now where was I? Oh yes, I was lost as usual!! Hmmmmm, finding my way, finding my way... I'm really upset with myself. I like to write, but this paper has me befuddled. (isn't that a great word!) I guess I need a direction to be comfortable. It must be old age. A person is frightened when trying something unfamiliar, and doing so in this environment is really frightening. I keep thinking that I've always written in the dramatic style. And yet, I need a focus. Maybe what I used to write wasn't as unstructured as I thought.

Jupiter, Creon and Oedipus: The Idea of Fatherhood in the Context of Patriarchy Essay

Introduction   Probing into Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles and Metamorphoses by Ovid, this paper will discuss the role of the father, their similarities, and how fatherhood affects the actions of a character. Suffice it to say that an inquiry into the fathers’ role in the texts necessitates an understanding of the context within which the stories were produced. In this way, we are given an ample framework to understand the roots that influenced such characterizations. Written around the period Christ was believed to have been born, Oedipus the King and Metamorphoses have at its immediate context of production the era of male rule: in Greece, we have the polis or city-states and in Italy, we have the Roman Empire. Hence, the socio-political climate at the time Sophocles and Ovid wrote their oeuvres is no doubt male dominated.   However, it cannot be denied that the beauty of their works rests on the fact that they have managed to go against the dominant attitude of their time. Also, through their very portrayal of patriarchy the texts are able to foreground its instances. In this sense, the affirmation of the father’s role in the stories reinstate the image of patriarchy yet at the same time, this can also be read as an opening to critique it. The mention of patriarchy thus enables a reading that is critical against and cognizant of patriarchy’s operations. Law of the father In Book I of Metamorphoses, one may clearly see how the dominant role of the father operates through the actions of Jupiter, who is able to pursue any woman he wants by virtue of his position as a god. As a father and king of heaven, Jupiter’s role was portrayed by Ovid not in a manner that fits into the current view of what a good god and father should be. Contrary to present day constructions of an immaculate God and responsible father, Jupiter is lustful, impetuous, violent and a womanizer. Among his actions, which are mostly disastrous, what immediately strike us as violent is Jupiter’s sexual relationship with the women he desires – Io, Callisto, Europa and Semele to name but a few.   In Book I, Jupiter rapes Io which causes the later to bear a son, Epaphus. Interesting in this scene is Jupiter’s concern about Juno’s possible discovery of this rape. In a way, Jupiter’s concern signifies his ‘fear’ of his wife. Yet, this fear is not enough to keep him from lusting for other women. By turning Io into a bull, Jupiter articulates the male perspective towards woman that has been attacked by feminists especially during the advent of the 1960’s. Clearly, Jupiter treats women as commodities that he can dispose after he has done pleasuring himself with them. For Jupiter, it is immaterial whether he sires a child or not with different woman. Jupiter’s idea of fatherhood depends not on the idea of having a family and nurturing a child but on his desire to sleep with any woman he wants. Jupiter’s idea of fatherhood depends on his sexual escapades that must remain unknown to his wife Juno. Recall that after raping Io, Jupiter turns her into a bull so as to hide her true identity from Juno. However, when things did not go as planned, Jupiter was more than willing to go an extra mile, that is, he can even kill so as to contain the threat of revelation. And so he commanded Mercury to kill Argos so as to keep Juno from finding out about Io. Also recall that after raping Callisto, a follower of Diana, Jupiter transforms her into a bear and then into a constellation. In the process of this transformation, Callisto was not given agency to decide for herself. The case of Callisto and Io, among others, testifies to the manner by which Jupiter treats women. In Jupiter’s   relationship with women, we clearly see the workings of patriarchy, a system that depends on the whim of the all-powerful god Jupiter. His actions as god are equated with the Law itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This immunity to punishment informs his actions to the female characters whom he could rape and impregnate as he pleases. His role as a father does not rest then on his desire to have children per se. The numerous children Jupiter has are in fact consequences of his primary desire to sleep with different woman. The Blinded Father and the Tyrant In Oedipus the King, the role of Oedipus as a father and king has a certain similarity with that of Jupiter yet in the final analysis, the two are completely different. As king of Thebes, Oedipus enjoys a relatively opportune position just like Jupiter. However, the striking difference between them is the fact that Oedipus is a mortal while Jupiter is god. Unlike Jupiter, Oedipus does not have the luxury to do whatever he pleases since he is bound by his ominous fate. While Jupiter has the power to decide for himself, Oedipus on the other hand can only limit his choices within the fate endowed to him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oedipus’s role as father to Ismene and Antigone differs in great degrees from Jupiter’s role as father. We see Oedipus’ love for his children in different cases in both Oedipus the king and Oedipus at Colonus . At the end of Oedipus the king, Oedipus asks his brother Creon to take care of his two daughters, and this exemplifies his concern for them. Blinded and destroyed, Creon still thought of the welfare of his two daughters. In Oedipus at Colonus on the other hand, we see how Oedipus refuses to side with any of his sons who have become greedy for power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Among the characters in the Theban plays of Sophocles, we can say that the father figure who has greater similarity with Jupiter is Creon. Like Jupiter, Creon cares greatly for his own self. This, as we know, has been the cause of his downfall. After Oedipus’ exile, Creon rules Thebes in a totalitarian manner: no citizen or even family-member could oppose any of his rules. Due to this, not only did Creon alienate the citizens but also his own family. Although Jupiter and Creon are similar in the sense that both rule based on their own whims, they differ in that Jupiter did not have to suffer any consequences for his actions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Creon is a tragic persona in ancient Greek drama who suffers grave repercussions for his hubris or excessive degree of pride. Hubris harbors the illusion that one’s actions could not entail a disastrous consequence or nemesis. In the case of Creon, the nemesis of his actions is the death of his own son and wife. Creon had been more concerned about his role as a ruler than a father. This makes his son’s death a very painful experience since it also entails the shattering of Creon’s illusion as an omnipotent being. As a father, he loved his son tremendously. Yet it was too late when he realized that his idea of fatherhood has all along been distorted. The price he had to pay for being more passionately attached to his position as king is the death of the two persons who were more valuable than his crown. Conclusion The ideas of fatherhood in Metamorphosis and the Theban plays of Sophocles are constructed within the context of patriarchy. This makes the idea of fatherhood strongly related to the power of men. In the case of Creon and Jupiter, the idea of fatherhood is cast a different light since the two characters are more concerned with their role as rulers than as fathers to their own children. Oedipus, in opposition to Creon and Jupiter, is the one who was able to provide an idea of fatherhood that entails a concern for his children. Although Oedipus, Creon and Jupiter share as common ground their powerful position within a patriarchal society, their ideas of fatherhood have different characteristics and tendencies.

Essay on Animals’ Rights - 927 Words

Animals’ Rights? Animals flock about nature going on with their daily lives eating, mating, playing, and hiding. â€Å"Hiding from what?† someone might ask. They are hiding from the predators that roam the earth as if it is only theirs to move about freely without respecting the other inhabitants of the earth. These predators are known as humans. Many of these predators have taken the lives of many animals selfishly and disrespectfully. Some animal species have been killed by the hundreds each year, many times for the purpose of putting money in the pocket of the killers. Some animals have been wounded and not retrieved and therefore left to die in agony. This must stop and there are some reasons why. If all of the animals were gone, then†¦show more content†¦I say that it is human instinct that creates a need for hunting. Acting on the instinct is what needs to be controlled. Hunting for food is a good way to deal with this human instinct, but for the fun, for the game, this needs to be suppressed. Do we, as humans, need to kill that deer for its enormous antlers? A â€Å"trophy buck† as one hunter might joyfully scream. The fun and excitement of having a deer head on the wall overcomes many humans. Instinct has taken humans too far. What was once a tool used for gathering food is now used as a type of hobby or leisure time activity. Animals have contributed their bodies for food and shelter in the past and continue to do so in some countries today. The thrill of killing animals for enjoyment influences the minds of many humans. These animals were meant to help keep mankind afloat. Some people do not see this as a problem. If the trend of killing for the fun, a ga me some say, continues will there been any animals left? Of course there will. The people who have sincere feeling about the animals have fought for laws that set limits to protect animals from becoming wiped out. These limits deal with the number of a species that can be killed by a hunter, how he can kill the animal, and what he can do with it once the animal has been slain. But can hunting in excess correct as long as we replenish what has been taken? I think it is and by developing these lawsShow MoreRelatedAnimal Rights And Human Rights923 Words   |  4 Pages Animal Rights â€Å"Nearly as many, 68 percent, were concerned or very concerned about the well-being of animals used in ‘sports’ or contests as well as animals in laboratories (67 percent) (Kretzer, 1).† Many people question whether an animal is capable of thought and emotions. Others feel as though animals are the equivalent of humans and should be treated as such. Since the 1800’s, animal rights has been a topic that has several different sides including two extremes. If animals can react to theirRead MoreThe Debate On Animal Rights910 Words   |  4 PagesThere are two major schools of thought on animal protection. First, is the tenet that animals should have rights and the second, more radical view, is that animals should be liberated. Many of the rights that are promoted for animals are similar to the rights of human democratic societies. The basic rights, which are recommended by a number of advocates, are that animals should be free from suffering, be in posses sion of their own life, and their basic interests should be given the same considerationRead MoreAnimal Rights Essay886 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal rights - moral or legal entitlements attributed to nonhuman animals, usually because of the complexity of their cognitive, emotional, and social lives or their capacity to experience physical or emotional pain or pleasure. (Britannia encyclopedia online, n.d.). The definition of animal rights is so clear to us. 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Many people see animals as mindless creatures or as food, while others think they have emotions and can feel pain. In other countries animal protection laws are in place that are strictly enforced and seem to work well with the system. In the United States however; some of the anima l rights laws are considered to be useless and under-enforced (Animal Legal Historical Center). More people today are beginning to see that animals shouldRead MoreThe Issue Of Animal Rights Essay2300 Words   |  10 PagesAnimals have the right to equal consideration in regards to their being used for human needs as most people use animals for their own needs on a daily basis even if only indirectly whether to entertain us, or to attain the product we are using, or on our dinner plate. The controversy of the treatment of animals range from some activists and philosophers that are outspoken against animals being used by humans in any way for our own personal needs, while others are candid in their belief that animalsRead More Animal Rights Essay2330 Words   |  10 PagesAnimals and man have shared this planet since humans first appeared on earth. Animals have provided transportation, food, clothing, shelter, companionship and entertainment throughout the ages. Therefore, it is our duty to treat animals with respect, care and kindness and not cause them undue suffering, because they have, in many ways, made it possible for man to survive on earth. However, because normal adult humans have superior mental abilities in the hierarchical scale in nature, animals haveRead MoreArgumentary On Animals And Animal Rights1523 Words   |  7 Pagesclass was crazy! There was so much information regarding animal rights†¦ Sasha: I know. But I don’t know if any of that changed my views. I still think becoming a vegetarian is the way to go. Devon: You think? I still think that it is okay to eat meat. The animals just need to be raised in a humane manner. Sasha: Eh†¦I don’t know. Animals should just be left alone and be free to roam around in the wild. They should not be tortured like those animals that I saw while visiting that â€Å"kill floor†. Devon: