The Role of Appearance on Social Acceptance - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1188 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Frankenstein Essay Did you like this example? Within the gothic novel Frankenstein; Or the Modern Prometheus, appearance is critical to being accepted by society. When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, a monster, a blot upon the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned? (Frankenstein, 105). This familiar quote, spoken by the monster conveys the discriminating yet, the inevitability of judgment that the monster faces in Mary Shelleys gothic novel Frankenstein; Or the Modern Prometheus. Throughout the novel, there are multiple prominent instances where social acceptance is based solely on appearance. First, Elizabeth proves evidential in this case and secondly, the more obvious and prominent instance, Victor Frankensteins creature. The creature is one of the central characters of the novel who, overall represents mankind and their experiences with social acceptance throughout life. The readers of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein are taken on the journey through which this no-named creation is abandoned by his creator yet, only longs to be loved and understood. This journey reinstates that regardless of ones personality, the underlying message conveys that societys judgment of an individual is based solely on physical appearance. The issue of acceptance is easily perceived in Mary Shelleys novel. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Role of Appearance on Social Acceptance" essay for you Create order For instance, Mary Shelley first acknowledges the idea of social acceptance based on physical appearance regarding Elizabeth Frankenstein. Subsequently, Caroline Frankenstein adopts Elizabeth as shes one of five from a poor Italian family. More symbolically, Caroline chooses her as she notices Elizabeths an unusually beautiful little girl who was unlike the rest. Furthermore, Victor describes her immediate response by stating, there was one which attracted her above all the restshe was thin, fair and had golden hair and blue eyes (43). Additionally, the author successfully gives credit to the idea of social acceptance by using beauty to demonstrate that regardless of ones personality, he/she will primarily be judged based solely on physical appearance. More specifically, her presence had seemed a blessing to them, Caroline went as far to say, but it would be unfair to her to keep her in poverty and want when Providence afforded her such powerful protection (43). In other words, because Elizabeth was unusually beautiful, she did not deserve to continue living in poverty. Instead, Elizabeth deserved a life as righteous as her beauty. Therefore, this dialogue ultimately contributes to the overall theme that judgment is inevitable for every person because humans are predisposed to judge others based on their physical appearance. Additionally, the author successfully uses Frankensteins creation to illustrate that facing societys judgment is inevitable, regardless of ones personality characteristics. This allegory is witnessed as Victor Frankenstein states I began the creation of a human being (54). A short, yet powerful statement that demonstrates Victor Frankensteins intentions to create a human being. While Victor does succeed in creating a living being, he is ultimately horrified by his creation. More explicitly, Victor states, I had desired itbut now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart (58, 59). Prior to this wake-up call, Victor sought pleasure in knowledge and creating a beautiful life. However, his creations arrival only disgusted him as he based his first impression entirely on his creations monster-like appearance. Additionally, Victor describes his creations arrival more vividly by stating the following: A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me: its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom I had given life (60). Again, before the creature is given a chance to speak, Victor makes a snap judgment based on the appearance of the creature. Ultimately leading Victor to arrive upon the decision to run away. Victor doesnt consider his creation a human because of how hideous its appearance is. Moreover, these various scenes deliver an even greater realization; although one might not be aesthetically pleasing on the outside, their personality does not correlate to physical appearance. Once again, another powerful message within Frankenstein denoting the prominent theme that physical appearance shouldnt determine how virtuous an individual is, rather the good deeds and selfless apparent acts. Moreover, additional confirmation to support the argument derives from the reaction of civilians to Victors creation. Victor has overlooked and forgotten what repercussions his creation has had on not only his personal life, but the everlasting impact his behaviors have had on his creation and those around him as well. Consequently, until Victors creation met a blind man by the name of Mr. De Lacey, he had never known what acceptance felt like. Without the gift of sight, Mr. De Lacey saw Victors creation in a way nobody else could, he based his first impressions off of the creatures personality. Meanwhile, in a different instance, the monster saves the life of a woman who fell into the river. Instead of receiving gratitude, the creature was shot. These two instances further exhibit the lack of social acceptance based on the creatures physical appearance. As a result of the ongoing social isolation, the creature states the following: All men hate the wretched; how then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us (83). Ultimately, through this enlightening dialogue, one can recognize the plot revolves around the overall theme of social acceptance and physical appearance. Once again, validating that the creature is judged upon his physical appearance, his oversized, monster-like statute. Moreover, the creature understands why people hate him, because of his appearance and monster-like physical features. Therefore, the creature begins to despise himself. Although the creature had been acting virtuously, upon the first appearance, he was visually unappealing and terrifying. Leading the creature to additionally state, I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but as deformed and horrible as myself (126). Because Victors creature appears different than the majority of individuals, he is ostracized and abandoned on multiple occasions. Undoubtedly, the novel affirms that consequently, everyone regardless of gender, age, life choices, and wealth all face the same initial judgment upon fir st meeting. Undeniably, this moment additionally represents the fact that a persons looks fade out, except for the acts of benevolence. In conclusion, the gothic novel remains a timeless piece of work depicting a powerful message signifying the idea that beauty does not make one individual better than another. Through the journey of Victor and his creation, the reader receives a vivid reminder that actions speak volumes, not appearance. Alternatively, this novel concurrently reinforces the idea that excessive pride will only trick one into thinking they have a personal advantage throughout life. Mary Shelleys Frankenstein can be viewed as an allegory with the power to remind readers that beauty runs deeper than the surface. Lastly, throughout Frankenstein, the reader formulates a greater understanding of the importance of internal beauty as opposed to physical appearance. Works Cited Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, 1797-1851. Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus: the 1818 Text. Oxford ; New York :Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.

Essay about Burial Rituals of Native American Culture

Burial Rituals of Native American Culture At some point in our lives, we all come to realize that death is a part of life. Cultural diversity provides a wide variety of lifestyles and traditions for each of the unique groups of people in our world. Within these different cultures, the rituals associated with death and burial can also be uniquely diverse. Many consider ritualistic traditions that differ from their own to be somewhat strange and often perceive them as unnatural. A prime example would be the burial rituals of the Native American people. Leslie Marmon Silko’s story entitled The Man to Send Rain Clouds describes a funeral service carried out by a Native American Pueblo family. Though many perceive the funeral†¦show more content†¦The feather tied to his hair is a prayer feather and the painting of the face is to ensure that he will be recognized in the next world by his ancestors who have crossed over before him. The colors are representative of the earth, sky, sun and water. The sprinkling of corn meal and water are said to provide the dead with nourishment on their journey to the next world. The pollen is representative of the earth’s renewal from the rainclouds that will be sent back by the spirit of the deceased. Silko frequently refers to a â€Å"red blanket† that the old man is wrapped in for burial (149). The Native American people often leave a cord hanging from the blanket which wraps the body of the deceased and is thought to provide a way for the spirit to be released into the afterlife. All Native American cultures have strong beliefs in life after death, although the means of reaching the next life may vary from tribe to tribe. They traditionally believe that death is a part of a natural cycle in which their spirits are transported back and forth between this world and the spirit world so that they can bring renewal and new life when they return. Most consider this transition to be an honor or privilege since it will ensure the survival of their people. In Native American culture, it is believed that neglect of tribal rituals can result in death and sickness, because the spirit returns without blessings, having been unable to enter the other world. AccordingShow MoreRelatedThe Man to Send Rain Clouds800 Words   |  4 Pagesindigenous cultures in America. During the period, diverse Indians moved from the reservations and they settled and eventually adopted the American culture. This text focuses on various aspects portrayed in the short story setting, the major theme expressed and the culture of the Laguna American Natives is symbolic. 　　　　The major theme expressed by Leslie Marmon Silko’s The Man to Send Rain Clouds is that of culture maintenance in the society. 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Their rituals involve the cycleRead MoreCultural Influences On End Of Life Care916 Words   |  4 PagesHealth care providers interact with patients from many different cultures. It is important to be knowledgeable and respectable of other cultures. Health care providers will be able to improve the experience of the patient if they are more culturally. More than 500 nations of Native Americans exist in the United States with a population of over four million people. Each has their own language, culture, healers, and tribal customs and religions informed (B. Stuart, Cherry, J. Stuart, 2011). Read MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Man Fly Send Rain Clouds By Leslie Marmon Silko948 Words   |  4 Pagesproceed to apply their cultural rituals for a burial. â€Å"Before they wrapped the Oldman, Leon took a piece of string out of his pocket and tied a small gray feather in the old man’s long white hair. Ken gave him the paint. Across the brown wrinkled forehead, he drew a streak of white and along the high cheekbones he drew a strip of blue paint.† (Silko, 439) Not knowing much about Native American beliefs I do know that feathers and face painting is a large part of their culture. This is the first clue givenRead MoreReligion And Sacred Sites Of The Sioux Tribe1114 Words   |  5 Pagesunderneath Lake Oahe that will damage Native American burial sites and will contaminate primary source of drinking water for the Sioux Tribe. First there will be a brief description of what happening with the protest at Standing Rock. Following these facts about this atrocity this paper will begin with a historical summary of the Sioux Tribe, the main set of protesters who are fighting to keep the pipeline from being constructed. Following this the paper will discus the culture and sacred sites that the pipelineRead MoreAnalysis Of The Man To Send Rain Clouds1205 Words   |  5 PagesPueblo tribe of Native Americans. Set in the desert southwest of the United States, the story is narrated from an omniscient point of view, and describes the discovery of the old man’s body, the preparation of the body for burial, and the interaction between the family of the dead man and the C atholic priest who lives on the reservation. The author uses very simple language and unsophisticated descriptions to describe an intricate and complex relationship between the Christian culture of the priest

Modern and stylish with colourful patterns Essay Example For Students

Modern and stylish with colourful patterns Essay The costumes were all very well picked out to suit the different characters. Lucys outfit was very modern and stylish with colourful patterns and high heels which suited her quite proud character. Her outfit was also quite tight fitting and provocative. Mac wore a suit which showed his superiority in his gang. The gangs costumes also helped separate their different characters-e.g. Snape wore a black suit with shades, which indicated that he was the cool guy in the gang and another member wore torn jeans and covered his face showing that he was the tough guy- the real gangster amongst the others. The lighting didnt change very much throughout the play- it was a bright flood across the stage and it was switched off only at the end of each scene. The transitions, in my opinion were not very well thought out and too slow which made the play drag. The use of props and furniture was somewhat conservative, where the same furniture on-stage was used for various different tasks and purposes-for example the door frames and chairs acted as part of Mr Phiris office and as the prison cell where Mac was held captive. I think that this was an area that could have been worked on as it didnt help in giving any effect to the play- I feel that the lights could have been dimmed at certain points, perhaps in the transitions, and also that they could have been focused on the areas on stage where the action was taking place, so that it could be easier for the audience to concentrate on that particular area. A good part where the lighting could have been focused on one area was in the beginning where Mr Phiri was talking to the audience- I think it would have been better if the lighting was focused on him while he was speaking, rather than the rest of the stage. The music used was very modern and energetic and really helped to lift the performance. The music was quite lively and fast. One noticeable beat was at the start of the performance where there was an upbeat song with energetic dance moves as all the actors flooded on stage, which made it entertaining to watch. Another part where the music was very effective in engaging the audience was the duologue where Polly was fighting with Lucy (one of Macs other girlfriends). Here the music was very fast again and the singing brought out the different characteristics of the women as Pollys voice was jazzy in style and controlled in contrast to Lucy who had a rougher, more modern voice and style of dance. At parts singers were stood singing backstage or during the transition changes which added a different effect to the play and made it more interesting to follow. However not all of the music was relevant to the scenes which I think could have been thought out more clearly and the lyrics were also hard to listen to at times. Overall, I feel that Makwacha Hip Hopera was a satisfactory play. I think that it needed some development in certain areas, especially in the scene transitions which I thought needed speeding up. Also at times the actors were blocking the projector and it was very clear that the light irritated them. One last point is that the music didnt always start and stop at the right time as in one case the music stopped before the actors had finished their dance but they managed to cover it up and continued dancing. Moreover I felt that the songs placement was poorly thought out- as was their length and this seemed to bore the audience. .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 , .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .postImageUrl , .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 , .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22:hover , .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22:visited , .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22:active { border:0!important; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 { 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; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22:active , .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .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; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22 .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8901544fcd217cf0c833842a2e7afc22:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Alexander The Great EssayHowever I do have some good opinions of the play- I thought that it was a very enjoyable piece especially as it was based in Malawi and I thought the local references were very clear and amusing. I remember some references being made about how Escom has blackout all day everyday instead, (which was delivered on posters) of their original slogan-Escom, power all day everyday and how they were mocking the fact that the country didnt have petrol or diesel, which are daily issues in our lives expressed in a different , humorous way. All in all with a bit of improvement in the areas mentioned and more practice, I think that this could definitely be a pl ay worth watching.