Explore the ways in which Collins presents the relationships between men and women in The Moonstone Essay Example for Free

Explore the ways in which Collins presents the relationships between men and women in The Moonstone Essay Explore the ways in which Collins presents the relationships between men and women in The Moonstone. Do male or female characters have more influence in the novel? In this essay I will explore the relationships between male and female characters in the novel The Moonstone. This essay will evaluate all of the key characters, from the annoyingly religious Miss Clack to the caring and loving Gabriel Betteredge. I will explore the characters personality and decipher whether male or female characters have more influence in the novel. The book is split into eight narratives written by different characters to show what each character is thinking and to give different perspectives as the events unfold. This technique also adds tension as certain secrets are hidden from individuals so not everyone knows the whole truth. Out of the eight narratives only one is written by a woman (Drusilla Clack) whilst all the others are written by male characters. The female characters in the novel are all very atypical, as they stand up for themselves and do not just give way. This was uncommon in the Victorian era as women had few rights and were not expected to be hot tempered. Miss Rachel, a young lady born into a rich family, acts in an unlady-like manner at certain points in the story, especially when she refuses to give information on what she knows about the diamond. Betteredge, one of the characters who knows Rachel Verinder best, said that he could Call to mind, in her childhood, more than one occasion when the good little soul took the blame, and suffered the punishment, for some fault committed by a playfellow whom she loved. This aspect of Rachels character and personality is shown many times in the novel, for instance, when she refuses to talk about the diamond for Franklin Blakes reputation would be shattered if she spoke. This gives the reader the impression that Rachel values her friends and family and she is a women of her word. This adds suspense to the novel and greatly effects the plot as if she had revealed what she knew then Franklin Blake would have been arrested and would not have had a chance of defending himself, resulting in the Moonstone never being found and Godfrey Ablewhite getting away, with no consequences. In the book the majority of the discoveries are made by men, although this is because the female characters already knew the truth; they just hadnt revealed it. One of the cases of this happening is when Franklin Blake deciphers the code to find Rosanna Spearmens chest. This held many secrets which Rosanna had kept silent about for a long time. This effects the outcome of the novel, as since Rosanna kept quite over her love of Franklin Blake, the truth of the moonstone being revealed is delayed, giving time for the events at London to unfold. The reader really gets the impression of Rosannas love of Mr Franklin Blake from this act, of saving his reputation, even though holding these secrets could be argued to be a massive factor of her eventual suicide. Despite this, Franklin never really notices Rosanna Spearman; this is probably due to the fact that in his eyes she is just a housemaid with a lumpy shoulder. Social class is outlined here, with the rich Franklin Blake and the poor Rosanna Spearman. The different social classes were more prominent in Victorian times and Collins also uses class in his other novels such as the woman in white, where Walter Hartright and Laura Fairlie fall in love, but due to Walters low social class, they separate. When Rosanna dies, it could be suggested that Ezra Jennings is introduced to replace her, as these two characters are very similar in personality and are both rejected by most members of society. They are also both attracted to Mr Franklin Blake in different ways; Rosanna has an undying love for him, and Ezra asks himself What is the secret of the attraction that there is for me in this man?. Both characters also had rough upbringings, as Rosanna was a thief as a child and Ezra was beaten and was mistreated mercilessly by his family. Ezra Jennings is also addicted to Opium, as for ten years past I have suffered from an incurable internal complaint. His addiction to the drug led to his painful and horrific nights, and Opium also destroyed his nervous system. Wilkie Collins probably introduced Ezra Jennings as a character which he could relate to, as Collins himself was addicted to Opium, which is probably why the drug plays such a significant part in the book. Collins believed he had an imaginary friend named Ghost Wilkie and often hallucinated in his sleep. His other novels have opium in them, so his way of relating to his addiction was to put it into his books. Opium plays a significant part in the book, as Ezra uses it in his experiment to discover who took the diamond. The reader feels uncertainty when the book dapples in the secret world of Opium as most readers would not have tried it and therefore do not know how powerful it is and what it can do. Gabriel Betteredge often talks about which side of Mr Franklin Blakes character is shining through, and believes it to be due to all of Franklins foreign training (Betteredge usually relates his strict character to Franklins German side, his poeticness to his French side, and his bravery to his English side). This gives Mr Franklin Blake no distinct character. This gives you the impression that Gabriel Betteredge is very stereotypically British, supporting his country and almost believing that the English are superior to others. Godfrey Ablewhite however, has a very different character which is hidden from the public view. He tries to get across the image of a hardworking gentleman who dedicates his life to the many womens charities he patronizes, when he is actually a man swallowed in debt and trying to rob people of their riches to pay it off. His debt was one of the key reasons why he asked to marry Rachel Verinder, as he thought that he would inherit enough money to pay off the debt; however that did not turn out to be the case. When Rachel asked for the marriage to be cancelled, Godfrey did not try to put up any resistance, as he knew that he would not receive the inheritance he had hoped for. Godfrey also gets engaged to another woman, but the marriage is broken off for similar reasons. At the end of the book, Godfrey is in disguise as a sailor with a dark complexion when he tries to get the Moonstone from the bank. This is symbolism as it outlines the fact that he is leading a double life, and he has a dark complexion as Betteredge and Franklin immediately suspected the Indians of stealing the diamond. Their immediate suspicion of the Indians affects the plot greatly as it means that Godfrey Ablewhite has time to hide the diamond without being suspected, as all eyes were on the Indians. The view the public have of him is different to what he is actually like, and if it had not been for Mr Matthew Bruff, the marriage might not have been called off. Miss Clack often swoons at the sight of Mr Godfrey Ablewhite; this is because she believes he is a hardworking Christian, and refers to him as gifted and wonderful. It is therefore no surprise that she is shocked when she, by chance, hears Godfreys proposal to Rachel. It is here that he admits that his, Charitable business is an unendurable nuisance and that if I see a Ladies committee now, I wish myself at the uttermost ends of the earth. Miss Clack is highly offended by this, as she is a member of The Mothers Small Clothes Conversion Society, but she dismisses this out of hand as being a slip of the tongue in the heat of the moment. Miss Clacks personality is very different to the other female characters in the book, as she is a character of a certain type of hypocrite. She never leaves without her Christian pamphlets and she often tries to spread her faith through these tracts. She may be doing this to turn more people Christian, or she may just be doing this as it is in her sphere of power and it makes her feel as though she has more influence on society. A perfect example of Miss Clacks character is when she visits Lady Verinder and Rachel, but upon realising that Lady Verinders doctor is trying to use medication to treat Lady Verinder instead of praying to god and waiting for him to perform a miracle, she spreads religious books of her choice around the Verinders house. She believes that this act did not make her a nuisance, but instead, a True Christian. Miss Clack has a very different opinion of herself compared to what other people think of her. Even the kind and loving Gabriel Betteredge, who has a good word to say about almost everyone, does not take well to Miss Clack. Before handing over the job of narrating to her, he asks the reader to Just do me the favour of not believing a word she says, if she speaks of your humble servant. This shows that she is believed to not be a teller of truths, and Betteredge is pre-warning the reader of what to prepare for. We believe what Betteredge says and not Miss Clack as he has shown himself to be an honourable character, worthy of the readers trust. Our decision to believe him and not Miss Clack is also influenced by other characters, as Franklin Blake often refers to him as a dear old friend, so others characters have respect for him as well. In the story, female characters do not reveal what they know straight away. This adds suspense to the story, as you have to wait a long time for the secret which will put together a new piece of the puzzle. A good example of this is Rosannas letter to Mr Franklin Blake, explaining where the chest is hidden, and inside the chest is Rosannas narrative which explains events before and after Rachel Verinders 18th birthday party leading up to Rosannas suicide told through her point of view. The letters opening is delayed however, as Limping Lucy refuses to give it to anyone other than Franklin Blake himself. This lets the events at London unfold, and the case of the Moonstone is put on hold for a short period. Limping Lucy is Rosanna Spearmans only friend, and was understandably angry at Franklin as she believed that he forced Rosanna into suicide. Limping Lucy has a severe limp in her left foot, and this may be one of the reasons why she and Rosanna are so good friends, as they both have physical deformities and are rejected by most members of society. I believe that female characters have more influence on the plot of the novel due to their actions which are gradually revealed to the reader. Superficially, male characters seem to have a larger role in the discovery of the secrets behind the moonstone but this is because they are only just digging in to what the female characters already know. The fact that male characters have almost all of the narrations add to the secrecy of the novel and also reinforces the point of male character seemingly having more influence and control of the plot, when all they are doing is discovering what is beneath the surface of an apparently settled world in the novel.

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Diego Rivera is considered the father of Mexican mural art and the father of modern political art in Mexico. Diego reinterpreted Mexican history from a revolutionary and nationalistic point of view. Not only did Diego expressed powerful ideas in his murals, but he also applied the tools he learned with modernist techniques. More than any other artist, Diego Rivera provided models for incorporating cultural past and ethnic identity into an alternative modernist vision, one that provided for a responsible fusion of the social and the aesthetic. Diego was an important personality in the art world of the 20th century and his thoughts were well respected in the art community. He was an innovator in expressing his ideals unifying art and politics. Diego Marà ­a de la Rivera y Barrientos and his twin brother Carlos were born on December 13, 1886 in Leon, Guanajuato. Carlos died in 1888, which left Diego as an only child. Since he was very young (he begins to draw at the age of three), he loved to paint, so much that his father covered a room of their house in Guanajuato with paper so that the child could paint all over the walls. Diego says that it was in that room where he created his first murals. In 1896, while he was still in high-school, he entered the Academy of San Carlos. He was so obviously talented that in 1906, after his first show, he was granted a four year scholarship from the governor of Veracruz, Teodoro Dahesa, to continue his studies in Europe. In 1907 he goes to Spain, where he promptly becomes part of the intellectual circles. After studying there for two years he moves to Paris and starts living with Angelina Beloff. Angelina Belloff was a Russian à ©migrà © artist. Diego met her in Spain among the artistic circles. Diego and Angelina had a son but due to an flu epidemic the child died in the fall of 1918. Diego had many lovers, among them was Marvena, another Russian woman. Diego and Marvena had a child named Marika right after the death of Angelina's baby. Diego precisely describes his relationship with Angelina when he says "She gave me everything a woman can give to a man. In return, she received from me all the heartache and misery that a man can inflict upon a woman" In June of 1921 Rivera left Belloff in Paris and goes to Mexico, saying that once he is established he will send for Angelina. He never doe... ... communist ideas through his paintings and in some way, this made him a symbol for communism. For this reason all his actions would be closely watched by the party. The communist party was very anti-government and Diego's commissions were mostly government-funded, which made him a doubtful communist. In September of 1926 he was expelled from the Mexican communist party for having accepted to be the director of the San Carlos Academy of Art. (He was granted this job by the government). Even though he tried many times, he was never accepted back into the party. Frida dies on July 13 of 1954. This marks the start of Diego's own death. In 1955 he is diagnosed with cancer but he keeps working on his murals. On July 29th, almost a year after Frida's death he marries Emma Hurtado, his agent since 1946. He is hospitalized in Russia and recovers completely from cancer. However, in September of the same year he suffers a blood clot and phlebitis, which paralyzes his right arm. He keeps working in some paintings and in decorating the house of his friend Dolores Olmedo. On November 24th of 1957 Diego Rivera dies of heart failure in his San Angel studio and wills his art to the Mexican Nation.

How Does Jimmy Change During Fat Boy Swim Essay

Fat boy swim is about a boy who’s life has changed dramatically, from traumas and triumphs. Jimmy used to get bullied, he would cower in the corner and not be able to face the harsh critics. But when he started swimming he discovered a passion with connections to school, family life, appearance and most of all his dreams†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. When Jimmy has a crush, his confidence is boosted and he feels like superman! ‘Up,up and awayyy! ‘ The writer has written the feeling of a superman in an indirect way so we can interpret how much we think Jimmy has changed, depending on our personality. This is a good way with connecting to the auidience. To me this tells me that weightlessness of being ‘superman’ gives him so much confidence to stand up to bullies, and is loseing weight; so it makes him light and ‘free’. Jimmys weight has changed during fat boy swim, he used to fat and obese- â€Å"he only shuffled half a dozen steps† he could barely move as his rolls of fat just got in the way and his wheezyness slowed him down. This makes me feel quite sympathetic for him as he can help his weight but cant be bothered to change. This may be because he feels like there is nothing worth living for, as he hasn’t got a friend- or started swimming. At the end of this book he begins to lose weight and gain confidence. This is shown in chapter 27 as it says ‘He swung through the changing room doors like a gladiator’ The word swung suggests he was ‘bouncing’ through the door which potrays he was very happy. ‘like a gladiator’ also shows he was happy and brave- or confident because gladiators are known to be brave and confident. As gladiators fight a vicious battle and it’s quite an acheivement defeating your opponent, it tells us that Jimmy has achived something really great and he is proud. Jimmys personality has changed a lot during fat boy swim. He used to be very quiet and timid. ‘ he didn’t allow himself to dwell on reasons why things happened’. This shows Jimmy’s laziness and if it was a 1 time thing he would probobally act but as he didn’t it suggests something lke this has happened before. This makes Jimmy feel fed up because if I was him I would wonder why they were doing this to me. At the end of the book he gains confidence which is shown in ‘Jimmy could feel Victor’s Adam’s apple quiver under the preasure of his fingers. ‘ This cleary shows loudness as I don’t think someone quiet would be so defensive. The word quiver says that not just the readers but other characters in the book realise Jimmy’s personality change. This shows Jimmy is being quite mean, but I think it is justified as It tells Victor to back off, and to stop bullying Jimmy because they cant get away with it anymore. This makes me feel quite proud of Jimmy as before he used to put up with it and now he realises it isn’t right. This might make the reader think of their own actions as if they’re experiencing bullying they might take inspiration from Jimmy even if it isn’t the way Jimmy deals with bullies. At home Jimmy is very confused and overwhelmed, not helped by his Aunt , Aunt pol said â€Å"Binging because he is so flipping miserable. The word ‘flipping’ suggests that she is very angry at the fact that Mum is letting Jimmy do that, Aunt pol recognises he is miserable and readers may think that there is more going on between Mum and Aunt Pol†¦.. At the end of this book it becomes clear what is going on and Jimmy becomes louder and more bold. ‘Mums not my Mum’ This is a very short sentence to show how shocking it is and maybe shows how bluntly Jimmy was told. Using the word mum twice makes the reader reflect on how Jimmy was feeling and how lost Jimmy must of felt. It makes me feel a bit happy for him because even though at the moment he feels lost things in the future may become clearer. For example may be able to connect with his family more. I think Jimmy feels quite low, and it’s annoying that his family or school isn’t helping even though it is quite obvious how he’s feeling. For example he stays in his room alot of the time and eats junk food. In chapter 9 where it goes in to great detail about Jimmys binge eating. This chapter is important to the book because it tells us what Jimmy is feeling and what his family is feeling, which helps us to infer and deduce from the next chapters. At the end of the book things become more clear as Jimmy finds out who his real Mum and Dad is. ‘She was holding out a small green notebook. ‘This is very intriging and begins to unravell the true story of this book. I think the notebook is her diary so it tells some secrets, hence the name secrets. This sentece is very short which suggests there is a big secret. It is also at the end of the chapter so it gives the reader an oppotunity to reflect and think about what is going to happen next†¦ If I was Jimmy I would feel worried because the 3 people he thought he knew most well were keeping a big secret from him. I would also feel confused because my aunty had just handed me a small green book without saying anything. In Jimmys swimming pool dream at the beginning it is unknown what this dream could mean. When I first read this chapter instantly thought the shadows at the end of the pool was himself once he knew who he actually was. Once I had had read most of the book I realised the shadowsat the end of the pool wasn’t the person he was going to be but his family and who they were going to be. The swimming part of the dream and not being able to reach the end symbolises to me the journey Jimmy has to go through to find out more about his family. When he is swimming in the dream he comes accross many hurdles this symbolises the hurdles in his life eg. the bullying. This book has a very clever structure as the chapters are split up into groups, like a meal, nibbles, starters, main courses, desserts and bitter sweets. This is clever because Jimmy loves to cook and it connecting more to the main character. The section nibbles tells us that the 2 chapters there are going to give us tiny clues to help us in the rest of the book. As there is only 2 chapters in this section we can infer nothing major is going to happen. The next section is called starters which says to us that its going to start saying a bit more about jimmy. There is 9 chapters in this section which tells us that there is more to Jimmys life then expected†¦. Main courses tells us that the main event which this book is based around is going to happen. As a main course in a meal the most important it tells we need to pay close attention to what is happening. The next group is deserts. As desserts are sweet and sweet is seen as good, it tells us that something good is going to happen and this may be the happiest experienceshe has. I think bitter sweets is the most important section because it tells us something bad may happen but something good will come out of it in the end. I enjoyed reading that section the best because you can compare how Jimmy has changed during the book. The last chapter ‘not the last chapter’ tell us that this may be the last chapter for us but there is loads more adventures and experiences Jimmy will have in the future. I have enjoyed this book alot because it tells you how people change very quicly and makes you aware of how differnt people are. It also explores all the key aspects of Jimmys life, apperarance, personality, family and school. I think I have learnt good inference skills from reading this as to understand the book you need to ‘read between the lines’ .

Social Media And Digital Imagery - 916 Words

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