The Metamorphosis and Waiting for Godot Analysis | Dark humour in literature

The Metamorphosis and Waiting for Godot Analysis | Dark humour in literature Many writers have significantly utilized dark humor or black humor across various genres and time. Dark humor in Metamorphosis and Waiting For Godot have not only revealed to us through its various moments, ideas and issues that appeal to an audience at that time, but it also revealed to the readers and audience the nature of its characters. Although Vladimir, Estragon, Pozzo and Lucky have been created almost like stock characters, we seem to understand through Samuel Becketts use of dark humor moments of Pathos, meaninglessness and stagnancy in their lives. Franz Kafka on the other hand creates a transformation in his main character, Gregor Samsa, by turning him into a mere insect and watching not only Samsas family but his reading audience react to it. The opening scene of Waiting For Godot is a country road setting with a single tree, and we find Estragon trying to remove his boots with both his hands. After much struggle, he says Nothing to be done as if removing his shoes was such a profound thing to be doing and therefore nothing could be done about his inability to remove his boots. A little later, as through out the play, each of them exchange dialogues that do not correspond or even connect to each other in any way. Estragon: Ah, stop blathering and help me off with this bloody thing Vladimir: handing hand from the top of Eiffel tower, among the first. We were presentable in those days. Now its too late. They wouldnt even let us up. All of these dialogues would have sent the audience into splits but they also resound with the inability of Vladimir and Estragon living a full and meaning life. Another example of black humor in this play is the part where Estragon talks about the Dead Sea and how the very thought of it made him thirsty. This creates a roar of laughter amongst the audience as Estragon talks about the Dead Sea in context to the Gospels. But, the reality is that the water form the Dead Sea will quench no thirst, as it is highly saline. This brings out Estragons naÃÆ' ¯ve character as he talks about the Dead Sea in comparison to the Gospels Estragon: The Dead Sea was pale blue. The very look of it made me thirsty. The entrance of Pozzo and Lucky on stage undoubtedly thrives on dark humor. Lucky is being led by a rope tied to his neck and pozzo says, Lets say no more. Up pig! Every time he falls, he falls asleep. Up hog! Back! Stop! Turn! These staccato instructions, almost army style, seem to evoke a laugh or at least smile amongst the audience or readers. However, the slavish Lucky seems to be put into a demeaning situation, which doesnt fail to catch the audiences attention. The return of Pozzo held by Lucky on a rope seems to create a reverse image of the earlier situation. This image brings a certain satisfaction to the audience, a laugh no doubt, and yet makes the audience aware of how fortune is fickle and can change with such a strong impact. The technique of contrast used by Beckett in Waiting For Godot is another attempt to bring out humor and reveal character. Estragons constant worry of who Godot is and when he will come and Vladimirs attempt to constantly calm his nerves, Vladimir: He said Saturday. I think. Estragon: You think. Pozzos initial arrogance and later his dependence on Lucky while he crawls onto stage are humorous ways of representing the characters. Becketts constant use of repetition of language and actions are humorous but stagnant. This is further intensified when Vladimir and Estragon have nothing to eat but a single carrot and a rotten turnip, Estragon Im hungry Vladimir: Do you want a carrot? Estragon: Is that all there is? Vladimir: I might have some turnips They seem to be holding on to their dignity later in the play when they meet Lucky and Pozzo. They do not show their hunger nor do they ask for food. But the moment Pozzo and Lucky leave the stage, Estragon picks up the eaten chicken bones, trying to get some sustenance out of it, Estragon makes a dart at the bones, picks them up and begins to gnaw on them. All these action and dialogues used by Beckett derive a sense of black humor but reveal to us simultaneously the sterile, meaningless and unfulfilled life of its characters. When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous insect. The very opening lines of The Metamorphosis stated in this casual style does not fail to bring a smile to the readers. For who can wake up and find themselves transformed into an insect and not panic. Strangely, Gregor seems unaffected by this transformation, assuming life would go on with his spindly legs and squeaky voice. Kafka describes Gregor as this thing with a monstrous body and spindly legs. He has legs that dont seem to support him and neither is he aware how to use them. Kafkas humorous description of Gregor Samsa trying to get on those legs and out of the door and back to work, Groping for support, he fell down with a little cry on his numerous legs brings out a roar of laughter as he falls back on his back and cries out in a squeaky voice for help. Gregor gave a start when he heard his voiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ irrepressible, painful squeaky The use of humor here reveals to us the helpless situation Samsa is trapped in and we as readers sympathize with this character. Later on in the book, Kafka describes how Samsas embarrassed father throws an apple at Gregors back and the apple sticks in the insects body It was an apple. Immediately, a second one flew after it. Gregor stood still in fright. Gregors serious wound, from which he suffered for over a month -since no one ventured to remove the apple, it remained in his flesh as a visible reminder. Although this seems visually funny, it draws upon the readers sympathy and empathy with Gregor. From this moment on G regor seems to deteriorate psychologically and physically and dies in a heap of dust, to be swept out and thrown into the trash by the Charwoman. At the end of The Metamorphosis Gregor Samsa is seen for the last time when he hears his sister playing the violin. He sneaks out of his room unaware that his current image not only frightened his family but also the lodgers who had come to stay as paying guests. Gregor attracted by playingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. This episode not only reveals to us almost like children playing Peek-a-boo, a child like humor, but we readers have become pained at such a transformation of Gregor. We have also unmistakably recognized that his family members have transformed too into selfish, heartless human beings who refuse to call the insect their son or brother (in the sisters case): I will not utter my brothers name in front of this monster Thus, through the examination of the two books, Waiting For Godot and The Metamorphosis, it can be concluded that it is through dark humor that the authors have brought out the respective characteristics of the individuals depicted. For example, the blunt Estragon, the clam Vladimir, the dominant Pozzo, the slavish Lucky or the tragic Samsa, all of these characteristics are brought out through the help of dark humor. We have encountered them all through humorous events, descriptions and pictures.

Italy embraces Welsh Literature Essay

The Italians have fallen for Welsh literature, if the trend of publication (18 books in 9 years with more to follow) has anything to go by. However, it’s not exactly a sudden connoisseurship that this country, an inveterate contributor of Arts and literature, is bent on to prove. It has more to do with the bond that developed through the migration of a chunk of Italians to Wales in the 20th Century, besides having somewhat similar appetite for ‘Romantic’ art and culture. The latest from the Welsh stable are, The Canals of Mars (poetry collection) by Patrick McGuinness, Minhinnick (anthology of contemporary Welsh poetry), The Prince of Wales (a novel on modern Cardiff) by John Williams and Y Pla (‘The Plague’, a novel) by William Owen Roberts. Thus, translations are doing fine with experts in zone like Andrea Bianchi and Silvana Siviero, who are translating their 11th book from Wales. Bianchi’s own poetic prowess joined with Ms Siviero’s 13 years of ‘on the soil’ experience. High on success, they have branded their works as Parole dal Galles (Geiriau O Gymru). Close on the heels are six other publishers. The literary magazine from the University of Venice through its ‘Welsh Literature Section’, also provides encouragement. With three volumes of poetry by Robert in the pipe line, along with publishing prospect of the books by poets Gillian Clarke and John Barnie or the novelist Caradog Prichard, both the market and its producers are upbeat about the future. The poet, Gwyneth Lewis or Sioned Puw Rowlands, the director of Welsh Literature Abroad – all attribute this enthusiasm to the orchestrated effort produced by the parties from both the sides, save the Italian readers’ interest, which they have already proved by their rousing reception to the novelist Trezza Azzopardi.

Career Research Paper Career - 1444 Words

Matthew Chalfan Professor Myoka EDUC 1300 10/25/2016 Career Research Paper The career I chose to undertake as my profession is that of a mechanical engineer. Why do I want to become a mechanical engineer? Well, for starters, I would be able to design, build and possibly repair many various machines and other technologies that are complex. These technologies can range from being already in use on a global scale to new, futuristic designs that are highly technical. Also, this career includes being a sort of jack-of-all-trades, where I would possess knowledge in mathematics, physics, etc. Finally, this career offers me the chance to expand outside my immediate area since mechanical engineers are well desired around the globe as well. The profession of mechanical engineering is a broad discipline of engineering. Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines. The duties in this career typically include: analyzing problems to see how mechanical and thermal devices might help solve a problem, designing, or redesigning mechanical and thermal devices or subsystems (a set of interconnected systems), using analysis and computer-aided design, developing and testing prototypes of devices they design, analyzing the test results and changing the design or system as needed, and overseeing the manufacturing process for the device. The designing and testing of the various devices shows theShow MoreRelatedCareer Research Paper : Career1677 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: CAREER RESEARCH PAPER 1 Career Research Paper Alex Labanon California State University, Sacramento CAREER RESEARCH PAPER 2 Nick Carter once said, â€Å"It s like Forrest Gump said, Life is like a box of chocolates. Your career is like a box of chocolates - you never know whatRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper Essay1484 Words   |  6 PagesCareer and College Research Paper I decided to go with a career in astronomy. An astronomer is a scientist who tries to understand the wonders of the Universe as well the wonders beyond our universe. Astronomers also study the stars, planets, and other galaxies (â€Å"Careers in Astronomy | IAU†). I chose a career in astronomy because I have always been fascinated by space and how the universe works. It is extremely important to understand education or training requirements, skills or talents neededRead MoreMedical Career Research Paper1369 Words   |  6 PagesThe medical field is a career path that brings about many options and opportunities of great value. The noble idea of being a doctor tends to cloud the diligent studying and precise training that is actually required for this career. I have wanted to become a doctor since a very young age, and now that the opportunity is here for the taking, I have fully researched what it takes to succeed in this profession and various specialties of the practice. Th e road to a medical degree is one filled withRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper1282 Words   |  6 PagesCareer and College Research Paper Ever since I started breathing I have been told the same simple phrase, ‘the sky s the limit,’ so I took it literally and now aspire become a professional pilot. This road is a divergent one in the fact that there are many differing variations of this occupation including becoming a commercial, airline, or corporate pilot, of which I have chosen the airline option. To elucidate, â€Å"Airline pilots fly for airlines that transport people and cargo on a fixed scheduleRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper Essay1420 Words   |  6 PagesCareer and College Research Paper The career that I have chosen is to be a pharmacist. This is a very challenging career, but it is also very rewarding career personally and also financially. A pharmacist’s job is to fill prescriptions, observe how certain pills will react with other prescriptions, teach patients how to safely use the pills and warn them of potential side effects (â€Å"Summary†). I chose this career for many reasons. I chose this because it is a very interesting career to me and I wouldRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper1741 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish III 9 December 2016 Career and College Research Paper Identification and Description of Career The field I have chosen to study in college is psychology. In particular, I wish to obtain a PhD in clinical psychology. For the most part, psychologists study how humans interact with others and the processes of the mind by analyzing and taking notes on the behavior of the client and how they interact with the world around them (â€Å"Psychologists†). I chose this career, because I’ve always lovedRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper1348 Words   |  6 PagesCareer and College Research Paper â€Å"Chemical Engineering is not an easy major (at all), but if you can make it through to graduation day, you ll be in demand† (â€Å"Chemical Engineering†). A chemical engineer converts substances at tremendous sizes to form new substances or energy for the overall advancement of human life (What Is Chemical Engineering?). I have chosen chemical engineering as my future career because the way things are made has always intrigued me. I yearn to comprehend the finite structureRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper807 Words   |  4 PagesCareer and College Research Paper In my adult life, the ideal career for me would be an Aircraft Mechanic. An aircraft mechanic undergoes the work of scheduled maintenance on immense aircraft to make them perform and fly safely. In accordance with technical order standards set by the U.S. Air force. I chose this career for several reasons. My father has done this since he was 18 and it is an interesting and challenging career choice. An aircraft mechanic can be employed at a numberRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper947 Words   |  4 PagesCareer and College Research Paper Graduating from high school is vital for many different reasons, one of them being that it dictates the foundation of your entire future. Given that I am only in high school, I still have to take my future into my own hands, beginning with my pursuit to becoming an Obstetrician/ Gynecologist (OB/GYN). An â€Å"OB/GYN helps women with pregnancy, childbirth, general care and women with diseases in the reproductive system† (â€Å"Summary†). I chose this career because I wantRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper Essay1575 Words   |  7 PagesCareer and College Research Paper A veterinary career is not a goal easily met, nor quickly met; but I know few people can say they love what they do, and the hurdles I will have to face are worth getting to be one of those people. Veterinarians come into work everyday, whether that be a clinic, farm, or lab, treating and diagnosing medical conditions in animals. Depending on the type of veterinarian, this can range from household pets to exotic or endangered species. This is something I have

Perception Of Sexuality And Identity With A Special Focus...

TITLE: Perception Of Sexuality And Identity With A Special Focus On Transgender And Transsexuals INTRODUCTION: Sexuality can be primarily defined as an individual’s â€Å"capacity for sexual feelings† (OpenStax College, 2012. Pp. 270). On the other hand identity, in this case, gender identity is â€Å"a person’s self-conception of being either male or female based on his or her association with the feminine of masculine gender roles† (OpenStax College, 2012. Pp. 262). People may be discriminated and be victimised based on their perceptions of sexuality and identity, especially if they fail to conform to the societal norms and expectations (Beemyn, 2012). Keywords: Male, Female, sexuality, gender, identity transgender, transsexual, attitudes LITERATURE REVIEW: Different cultures have different views and interpretations of sexuality and sexual activity. This, therefore, means that different societies have varying norms that are put in place in a bid to reinforce the social system of sexuality that is deemed as acceptable (Widmer, Treas Newcomb, 1998). Seem and Clark (2006) argues that there are specific traits that people attribute to people of a particular gender identity. In this case, the authors argue that in most cases the males are identified with character traits such as aggressiveness, unemotional, logical, rough, blunt, sloppy, direct, and active. Among others. Interestingly, the list of attributes that are ascribed to the female identity seems to be a total contrast to thoseShow MoreRelatedThe Wrong Body Essay4944 Words   |  20 PagesThe manifestation of being â€Å"trapped in the wrong body† is a well-documented component of the transgender narrative that summarizes the psychosocial stress of the experiences of many transgender people (e.g., Mason-Schrock 1996; Prosser, 1998). ‘Wrong body’ is employed accordingly to elucidate how an individual’s biological sex and body do not match his or her gender identity, a â€Å"person’s basic sense of being male, female, or of indeterminate sex† (American Psychological Association [APA], 2009Read MoreLgbt19540 Words   |  79 PagesWhat Is LGBT? LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and along with heterosexual they describe peoples sexual orientation or gender identity. These terms are explained in more detail here. Lesbian A lesbian woman is one who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to women. Many lesbians prefer to be called lesbian rather than gay. Gay A gay man is one who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to men. The word gay can be used to refer generallyRead MoreAppearance Discrimination in Employment22039 Words   |  89 Pagesperceived individual level of physical attractiveness. The authors examine federal, state, and local statutes, case law interpreting said statutes, and legal and management commentary regarding appearance discrimination. The authors’ scrutiny exclusively focus upon employees being negatively impacted in the workplace due to their perceived â€Å"unattractiveness,† rather than the â€Å"reverse appearance discrimination† perspective, which was alleged in  Lorenzana v. Citigroup Inc  (2010)  by a former Citibank employee