The Heart Asks Pleasure

The Heart Asks Pleasure The Heart Asks Pleasure First is one of the amazing poems written by Emily Dickinson. Many people believe that this poem is too short to have any meaning and believe it to be useless for deep consideration. However, I strongly disagree with this opinion as looking at the poem with a quick glance it is impossible to notice anything.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Emily Dickinson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Only closer reading of the poem helps understand its main idea. Additionally, I would like to state that there are a couple of interpretations which come to my mind. It can be presupposed that the poem explains a process of soul existence, from the very first desire up to the death. However, the process may be considered from different angles. This problem is going to be the central idea for discussion in this paper. Rhyme, Rhythm, Structure, and Language Dwelling upon the rhyme the author uses in The Heart Asks Pleasure – First, it can be noticed that it is impossible to see identical rhymes there. In this poem Dickinson uses imperfect and partial rhymes, however, it does not make the whole poem sound awkward or lack of melody. Poem rhythm does not impress with something specific. Commonly used repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables is implemented. Paying attention to the specifics of rhyme, it seems that it is rhythm that makes the poem sound melodic and easy for perception. The poem consists of two stanzas which contain four lines each. The length of the lines is short that makes the poem reading easy and fast. Still, one should not read this poem to fast as for better understanding, each line should be considered in detail. The language of the poem is simple, however, it is possible to notice several symbols. Saying ‘Inquisitor’ (quoted in Vendler 359) Dickinson means God, and having understood this specifics of the poem, it becomes obvious that talking about ‘sleep’, the author wants to say the desire to die, which is possible only when Inquisitor wishes it to happen. Themes Reading the poems by Emily Dickinson, including The Heart Asks Pleasure First and many others, it comes to my mind that she wrote about several specific themes, such as person’s inner world, religion and faith, love, pain, death and nature. All the problems mentioned above, except for nature, are dwelt upon in the poem under discussion. The Heart Asks Pleasure – First may be considered from personal and religious point of view. Each of these opinions deserves attention and they should not be confused as religious topic has some specific differences from personal one, even though they seem too similar from the first sight.Advertising Looking for critical writing on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Consid ering the poem from personal, different from religious point of view, it may be believed that the author talks about her love. The author seems to show the specific needs of a human heart and soul. The first desire when one falls in love is to enjoy, â€Å"The heart asks pleasure first† (quoted in Vendler 359). Then, a person experiences pain and tries to find explanation to that pain different from personal guilt of being in love, â€Å"excuse from pain† (quoted in Vendler 359). After the soul is empty and the heart is broken one searches for anything which can â€Å"deaden suffering† (quoted in Vendler 359) and if nothing helps deaths seems the best way out. Considering the poem from this perspective, Inquisitor should be seen as consciousness, inner desire either to live or to die. After unrequited love, some people do not find strength and desire to live further and see death as the only way out. They want just to fall asleep and never get up. Once conscious ness allows them to do it, they die. It seems that religion plays much in Dickinson’s life. The whole poem may be considered from this perspective. The word ‘ask’ in the first line confirms that the heart is dependant from something higher and more powerful. The whole poem is devoted to suffering except for one line of pleasure. Isn’t it a confirmation of the religious theme in the poem? Only God has the power to relief pain and give a person a liberty to die as nothing on the Earth happens without God’s will. â€Å"The will of its Inquisitor† (quoted in Vendler 359) is the line which helps make the things obvious. Who can be called the Inquisitor except for God? In conclusion, it should be stated that apart from general opinion that the poem The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Emily Dickinson ahs nothing specific, we can consider the process of human heart and soul development either from personal or religious point of view. Depending on the a ngle of consideration, either personal unrequited love or religion with devotion to God, one can interpret the poem in different ways. As for me, both these ways of interpretation deserve attention. It is just important that the process of soul development and existence is takes as the central issue for discussion. Vendler, Helen. Poems, Poets, and Poetry. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. Print.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Emily Dickinson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Progress of Spirit over Time Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Progress of Spirit over Time - Assignment Example For more details, you can visit the official website: http://www.pacificstandardtime.org/exhibitions. It feels good to stay on top of what's happening in â€Å"P.S.T.: Art in L.A.† because there are absolutely several interesting and highly educational exhibits that are truly worth visiting, and even traveling for. I was glad to be able to go visit a couple of exhibits prior to them closing. Some of the exhibits that really stuck in my mind are those entitled â€Å"Under the Big Black Sun† and â€Å"Doin' It in Public.† I like â€Å"Doin' It in Public† because of the feminist theme that comprises every piece of art work in the exhibit. It served as an eye-opener for me because it truly showcased how undermined female artists were before the recent changes in the art scene. It is nice to know that while art works such as Lili Lakich's â€Å"Vacancy/No Vacancy† may have raised eyebrows during that era, it is still one of the those pieces that paved th e way for feminist art to be highly-acclaimed nowadays. Lili Lakich’s Vacancy/No Vacancy, 1972, shown in the â€Å"Doin’ It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman’s Building† exhibition at Otis College of Art and Design. An important thing I noticed is that almost all the exhibits showcased in â€Å"Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. ... All I saw in them were individual crafts by artistic people whom I consider as inspiration in my art life. However, as I look back to my previous posts to blogs, and my previous personal write-up, I discovered I had been getting more and more into the collective meaning of the entire L.A. Art Scene. I got more in tune with the culture and the history that shaped the entire art world in L.A., and began to see the vast difference from other art scenes in other places. Before, I have always appreciated non-conformity because for me, going against the norm is an art itself. However, as I experienced the different art exhibits showcasing a deeper meaning of what it is to be radical, I realized non-conformity comes from something deeper than deviating from the

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 177

Essay Example This paper will discuss how the perception of the media has changed about the article â€Å"Secret talks on radio† by Dan Shelley. Many have been under the impression that the media is always transparent no wonder media enjoy much freedom in the United States of America. Little could one know that most of the time they wag the dog, shifting focus from the real issue to the less significant- until one reads Dan Shelley’s article. Nevertheless, talk show hosts, for example, Charlie Sykes - one of the best in the business - are famous and capable because they speak to a section of the populace that feel disappointed and even misled by the media. These individuals accept the media are prevalently staffed by and reliably reflect the perspectives of social liberals. This perspective is at this point so deep-rooted and long-held; it has developed into some part of each preservationists DNA (Shelley, 1). An anchorperson must sustain the thought that ones audience members are exploited people, and the host is the vehicle by which one could be engaged. The host outlines for all intents and purpose each issue in us-versus-them terms. There must be an awful man against whom the host will insistently safeguard those devoted audience members. He further argues that, this adversary might be a lawmaker - either a Democratic officeholder or, in uncommon situations where no Democrat is advantageous at fault, it could be a "RINO" (a "Republican In Name Only," who is considered not traditionalist enough). It might be the chilly, remorseless government administration. As a rule, in any case, the foe is the "standard media" - neighborhood or national, print or telecast. Moreover, In Shelley’s article one finds this very striking: Here and there, it can even be their stations news chief. One year, Charlie focused on Shelley’s because he had trained his midday newscaster report the Wimbledon tennis results, despite the fact that the matches

Answer questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 12

Answer questions - Assignment Example The company should address all avenues of accident that have led to previous tragedies in the mining operations. One of the suitable approaches to pursue is increasing investment in safety at the mining site. It is also crucial to investigate tragedies that befell mines comprehensively. Subsequently, it is important to order for the immediate closure of sites that appear insecure. The company should also ensure effectiveness when adhering to procedures, policies and standards. The other important measure that Massey Energy will be compelled to takes will be to ensure speedy and appropriate response to incidences of tragedy and accidents at the mines. The closure of dangerous sites will serve as an economic stimulus because the organization will concentrate on productive sites and boost their revenue. In addition, focusing on safety system will enhance productivity and allow the organization to improve efficiency and output. It means that fewer accidents will occur and majority of the personnel will be available to

Zen and the Enlightened Mind Essay -- Philosophy Religion Essays

Zen and the Enlightened Mind "I have forgotten everything. I don't remember a single word"(Masunaga 36). This is the mind of one who seeks the Way. In A Primer of Soto[JS1] Zen Dogen explains the Way of the Buddha and stresses the importance of "sitting in meditation" or zazen as a means of reaching the manifestation of wholeness. The manifestation of wholeness is a state in which one abandons both mind and body and empties oneself of ignorance, delusions, and dualistic modes of thinking. One who is free from dualistic modes of being enters a world in which both subject and object exist. This is a non-objective mode of being where "all self-centeredness has been emptied, where words and concepts are used not to divide but to unite, the self enters into a mode of being of the other and identifies itself completely with the other"(Taitetsu 130). Thus, the result is openness and liberation beyond the dichotomous world. It is important to note that Dogen believes that this state of being cannot be obtained however w ith any thought of this gain, rather one should study Buddhism only for the sake of Buddhism. Dogen places importance on the urgency to study the Way by pointing out the impermanence of life. Dogen believes that because of the transiency of life one should "avoid involvement in superfluous things and just study the Way"(Masunaga 83). This enforces the emphasis of detaching the self of worldly affairs. For Dogen there is also a detachment from language and written scriptures for it cannot serve as a means of explaining philosophical truth. Dogen instructs that no mater how elegant prose might be, "they are merely toying with words and cannot gain truth"(Masunaga 33). Language only obstructs the understanding of Zen Buddhi... ... there is no Enlightenment to obtain. One just simply is. The world of ignorance, greed, and self-centeredness is non-existent for the Enlightened mind is completely open and liberated. Works Cited Earhart, Byron H. Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity. 3rd ed. Belmont; Wadsworth, 1982. Kasulis, T.P. "Nagarjuna: The logic of Emptiness" from Zen Action/ Zen Person. Honolulu: U of Hawaii P, 1981. Matsunaga, Reiho, trs. A Primer of Soto Zen: A Translation of Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki. Hawaii: East-West Center P, 1971. Reps, Paul ed., Excerpts from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1957. Taitetsu, Unno. "When Broken Tiles Become Gold" from John Ross Cater, Of Human Bondage and Divine Grace. LaSalle: Open Court, 1992. Tsunoda, Theodore de Bary, and Donald Keene. Sources of Japanese Tradition. 1 vol. New York: Columbia U P, 1958.

Mordechai Richler’s book “Son of a smaller hero” Essay

If I were to base my opinion of Jewish people solely on Mordechai Richler’s â€Å"Son of a Smaller Hero†, I would probably start wearing a Swastika on my arm and pledging my allegiance to the fuehrer. Richler characterizes Jews as a people who have an enormous lust for money, women, and power. Richler delivers a piece that seems the complete antithesis of his origional novel. While he crammed his former novel with soft-spoken words, which displayed his passion to inform on useful subjects, â€Å"Hero† blows its readers away by its directness and disregard of political correctness. It tells the story of Noah Adler, a young Jewish man who feels trapped by his ghetto upbringing. He comes from a family controlled by his grandfather Melech Adler. Melech’s observance of the Jewish law turns Noah off of Judaism. He leaves the family and their business, to drive a cab and attend university. Noah’s departure from his family includes one from his religion as well. Once on his own, he is faced with a life unknown to him, and his morals and ethical standards are continually challenged. As he resolves his on going battles with his grandfather, he begins to realize that there is much more to Judaism then he originally though. Apart from Noah’s growing relationship with his grandfather, we see little character development among the novel’s main characters. We are subject to the same comments about the same characters, chapter after chapter. These monotonous descriptions of the characters, while emphasizing characters flaws excellently, become extremely humdrum halfway through the novel. Although Mordechai Richler did not write this as an autobiography, the book does include numerous elements of his life. He endured the hardships of St. Urban Street and the Montreal ghetto as well. This book, while the first in Richler’s series of â€Å"ghetto books†, is the most inclusive about all aspects of life there, from cheap pool room owners, to permanent signs in Jewish stores that read, â€Å"Half-Price sale†, or â€Å"going out of business, every item must go†. Noah’s relationship with his family also reflects that of Richler’s. His grandfather was a Hassid from Europe who could not accept the  new traditions of Canadian Jews, and thus ruled his family with an iron fist to keep them from veering off the path of Jewish morality. Not everything in the book works perfectly. Noah’s delinquent uncle Shloime, who joins the army does not follow with the description we were first presented with of him. The end of the book is oddly sentimental for a novel that has been occupied with ironical disorder. â€Å"Son of A Smaller Hero† is a unique accomplishment for a writer that thought to be perverse in thought. It’s humor and sadness are intertwined just enough to make this novel a one of a kind. I believe that no other can match Richler’s unique style of writing. â€Å"Son Of A Smaller Hero†, is an example of Canadian literature at it’s best. It is the kind of work that makes a nation proud to describe themselves as Canadians.

Glass Menagerie Self-Loathing in Gender Roles - 2000 Words

Glass Menagerie: Self-Loathing in Gender Roles In the 1930s males were raised to be the provider for their families, and the head of the households. Females where raised to be housewife and caretaker for the house. In Tennessee Williams â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† gender plays a major role on how societies view females and males. Women in this time period obtained little power while men were the dominant ones. That made Amanda depend on her son Tom the sole provider for his family for their finically stability. Amanda’s high expectations of her son for the family security made it harder for Tom to live up to his dreams. In â€Å"The Glass Menagerie,† Tennessee Williams blatantly makes assumptions about the gender roles in the 1930s by making the†¦show more content†¦Men are generally known for being in charge of a woman, and it became a direct threat to their manhood when he has to depend on his wife. Possibly most men feel inferior and less of a man when they cannot stand up to their responsibilit ies, and that result in family conflict and shame. Since Laura had no job and dropped out of business college, her mother thought that marriage would be the best solution to her problem. Being that Laura is disabled marriage will help her with her disability and will also fulfill her mother’s emptiness of not having a husband around. Some women were more focused on getting married because they needed the stability of a man, just like Amanda which is the reasoning behind her living her life through her children. Tom is looked upon as being the man of the house. In addition it would portray Tom’s character as being too weak as a man if he decides not to take care of his family, because he is the only man in the family. Perhaps, if Laura had a husband or a job it would have been less responsibility for Tom, and he would have had more time to write his poetry. Amanda and Laura’s needs were all depending on Tom. He had to work at the warehouse despite putting his dreams on hold to provide for his family. In scen e three Williams shows the differences in gender role by Tom and Amanda arguing. TOM: House, house who pays rent on it, who