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Top Girls By Caryl Churchill | Top Girls Analysis

Literature, Analysis, English Literature, Summary

Introduction

“Top Girls” is a significant play written by Cary Churchill. The play established Churchill as one of the late 20^th century. The playwrights of the late 20^th century. The play approaches some of the famous women in history the role of women in history and the role of women in history and the role of women in contemporary society. The play approaches history and the role of women in contemporary society. The play is set in Britain in the early 1980s. It was first performed in 1982 at the Royal Court Theatre in London. It is a play with an all-women cast. Men though present in the stories are absent on the stage.

The story is told through the characters of five women of different join Marlene, who is the Chief Executive of Top Girl’s Employment Agency in London at a dinner party.

About Caryl Churchill

Caryl Churchill is one of the most significant and prolific British playwrights of the postmodern Era. She has written over thirty plays along with several translations and adaptations. Her work has been celebrated not only in the UK but internationally as well. ‘Downstairs’ her first play was written while she was at university. Some of her other notable plays include – ‘Cloud Nine’, ‘Serious Money’, ‘A Number’, ‘Top Girls’, ‘Blue Heart’, and ‘Far Away’. She also won a lot of literary awards for her works.

Analysis Of The Play ‘Top Girls’

The play opens in a restaurant where Marlene is hosting a dinner party for five friends. She has recently been promoted at work. The five guests are all women who are either long-dead or are fictional characters from Literature or paintings.

The first to come are ‘Isabella Bird’ and ‘Lady Nijo’. Nijo and Isabella discuss their lives, including their families. ‘Dull Gret’ and ‘Pope John’, who was elected to the papacy in the ninth century, appear. The conversation wanders between subjects, including religion and the love lives of Nijo and Isabella. Isabella goes on about her travel experiences. John talks about dressing and living as a male from the age of twelve so that she could further her education. Marlene proposes a toast to her guests. They, in turn, insist on toasting Marlene and her success.

John related her disturbing story. While she enjoyed being the pope, she also had a discreet affair with a chamberlain and became pregnant. She gave birth to her child during a papal procession. John was stoned to death and her child, she believes was also killed. While John relates her story, Nijo talks about her four children being born and talks about how she never had children. Marlene wonders why they are all so miserable.

The final guest arrives. She is Patient Griselda, a character in Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’. Griselda tells her story. Though she was a peasant girl, she was asked to be the wife of a local prince, but only if obeyed him without question. Griselda agreed, She is losing the two children she bore him, they were taken from her as infants. Then Griselda was sent back to her father.

Marlene is upset by Griselda’s tale. Nija is also perturbed because her children were never returned to her. Gret finally speaks up about her journey through hell, and how she beat the devils. The scene ends with Isabella talking about the last trip she took.

The following Monday, Marlene is interviewing Jeanine for possible placement. Marlene tells Jeannie that if she is to be sent on a job with prospects, she must not tell them that she is getting married or might have children. Marlene evaluates Jeanine and suggests a job based on her perception of Jeanine’s future.

The action moves to the backyard of Marlene’s elder sister Joyce, Joyce’s sixteen-year-old daughter Angie and her twelve-year-old friend Kit are playing. Angie says she wants to kill her mother. Joyce comes out and calls, once again for the girls to come inside. Angie goes inside and comes back in just a moment later in a fancy dress which is too small for her. Angie reveals that she had put the dress on to kill her mother. She tells Kit she is going to London to see her aunt. Angie believes that Marlene is really her mother.

In the next scene, The Top Girls employment agency workers Nell and Win spend their time gossiping before starting work. They discuss their client’s profiles and their personal lives. They also gossip about their boss Howard, who is angry that Marlene has been promoted over him. Marlene receives a phone call from Joyce, who tells her that Angie has run away from home to visit her in London.

Marlene is surprised by Angie’s presence and asks if Angie is just visiting for the day, but Angie reveals that she has come to London to stay with Marlen indefinitely. Marlene tells Angie she has to go take care of some business, and leaves Angie alone in her office Nell interviews a young woman named Shona, it becomes clear over the course of the interview that Shona has lied about everything on her resume. Win and Angie get to talking – Angie asks for a job at Top Girls. Marlene returns to find Angie asleep.

Joyce also meets her sister Angie in their home in rural Suffolk. Then we learn that Marlene has a dark secret. She is actually Angie’s biological mother but she gave up her daughter to Joyce when she was born, so she pursued her career without any obstacles. Joyce resents Marlene for abandoning her family. Angie idolizes Marlene and wants to escape from her dull and unhappy life with Joyce. The play ends with a confrontation between Marlene and Joyce, in which they argue about their conflicting values and choices.

Conclusion

Thus, “Top Girls” is a play that challenges and questions the conventional notions of success and happiness for women in modern society. It asks whether women can have it all, career, family, freedom or whether they have to compromise or sacrifice something along the way. It also examines how women relate to each other across different historical and cultural contexts, and whether they can support or empower each other despite their differences.

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All For Love By John Dryden | The World Well Lost Summary

Literature, Analysis, English Literature, Summary

Introduction

“All For Love” is a heroic tragedy written by the greatest poet and playwright ‘John Dryden’. It was written in 1677 in blank verse. This play is an imitation of William Shakespeare’s play ‘Antony And Cleopatra’, set in the last days of their lives. But like Shakespeare’s play, it is not based on the political intrigue of Rome and Egypt but as the title suggests, ‘All For Love’. It is based on the tragic love affair between Mark Antony the Roman General and Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen. It tells us about tragic Love, Honour, political power and the consequences of Uncontrolled Passion.

John Dryden dedicated this play to an aristocratic patron – Thomas Osborne, Earl Of Danby.

About John Dryden

John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator and playwright. He largely dominated the literary world of Restoration English and became England’s first poet Laureate in 1668. Dryden is credited with establishing the heroic couplet as a standard form of English poetry by writing successful satires, religious pieces, fables, epigrams, compliments prologues and playing with it. Among his world-famous works include- Absalom and Achitophel, Mac Flecknoe and The Medall.

Character List Of All For Love

Antony – A Middle-aged Roman general who rules the Roman Empire along with Lepidus and Octavius Caesar. He is torn between his desire for Cleopatra and the demands of his position as a world ruler.

Cleopatra – She is the Queen of Egypt and the lover of Antony. She is a woman of beauty and intelligence.

Octavius Caesar – The adopted son of Julius Caesar. He is determined to ultimately be the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

Ventidius – He is a general in the Roman army and one of Antony’s close friends. He also likes Cleopatra.

Octavia – Antony’s wife and Octavius’s sister. Antony abandons her for Cleopatra.

Alexas – He is Cleopatra’s servant and one of her advisors.

Serapion – Serapion is one of the priests of the Temple of Isis.

There are also many minor Characters in the play.

Iras – Cleopatra’s Maid

Myris – Another Priest of Temple.

Agrippina & Antonia – Antony’s young daughter.

Charmion – Cleopatra’s maid.

Lepidus – Mediator between Antony & Caesar.

Summary & Analysis of Play

Antony arrives in Egypt and lives with Cleopatra. Both of them decide to live together despite the political turmoil.

The play opens with the two priests, Serapion and Myris, who are worried for the future of their Kingdom. It is because Antony and Cleopatra have recently lost the battle of Actium to Octavius. In the meantime, General Ventidius arrives to console Antony. He is Antony’s Old General and a Romand Soldier. He is the true well-wisher of Antony. He informs Antony that the Syrian Army is ready to support him with the condition that he must leave Cleopatra. At first, Antony refuses to follow his suggestion but finally, he agrees to leave Egypt but not Cleopatra.

Alexas informs Cleopatra about the discussion between Antony and Ventidius. He the discussion between Antony and Ventidius. He also tells her about their plan to leave Egypt. Cleopatra becomes hurt. She asks Alexas to go to Antony and convince him to visit Cleopatra. Meanwhile, Antony and Ventidius have now agreed to be together. When they are laughing at the cowardice of Octavius Ceasar, Alexas enters and tells Antony that Cleopatra has sent some gifts as a token of her love for Antony.

Alexas requests Antony to visit her once before leaving. Antony accepts the gifts. Ventidius stop him from meeting Cleopatra but Antony does not listen to him. The meeting takes place. The mutual conversation starts when Cleopatra says that she would die if she left her. Antony replies that he can never leave a woman who loves him so deeply. He tells Ventidius that he does not need to support of the Syrian Army. At this, Ventidius become annoyed and goes away Saying,

“O Women! Women! All the gods
have not such power of doing good
to man as you of doing harm.”

Once again, Ventidius comes to Antony and tells them that Octavius Ceasar has raised a Strong Army. At this, Antony informs Ventidius that he knows a novel and brave Soldier named Dolobella. He is now in the army of Octavius. The reason behind the bitterness of their relationship is that once in the past her confessed his love for Cleopatra.

Ventidius bring Dolabella back and Antony reconciles with him. Ventidius and Dolabella remind Antony of his wife Octavia and bring Octavia and two daughters before Antony. Antony is moved when he unites with his daughters. He decides to leave Cleopatra. Meanwhile, Cleopatra receives the news of reconciliation between Antony and Octavia. She becomes disheartened and furious. Cleopatra realizes that she will lose Antony.

Antony is ready to leave Egypt. He persuades Dolabella to bid goodbye to Cleopatra. He lacks the courage to do so. When Dolabella sees Cleopatra, he confesses his love for her. In the course of the conversation, Dolabella lies to her by saying that Antony used hard words for her. Cleopatra faints upon hearing this. Dolabella becomes nervous and says her the truth. Octavia and Ventidius overhear them. They assume that they have fallen in love. They inform Antony about this. Antony is enraged by hearing about their love connection.

A little later, Dolabella and Cleopatra enter. They are unaware of the situation. Antony blames both of them for being deceitful. They protest but Antony dominates. Antony weeps at this separation.

Cleopatra blames Alexas for bringing her to such a situation. She pulls out a dagger to kill herself. But Serapian prevents her from doing so. To prove Cleopatra’s innocence Alexas goes to Antony and tells him that Cleopatra has committed suicide. Antony recognizes Cleopatra’s innocence and feels that the world is useless for him without her. He asks Ventidius to kill him. But Ventidius instead kills himself. Antony falls on his sword and gets badly wounded but is still alive.

Meanwhile, Cleopatra comes to know about what Alexas told Antony. She rushed into the room and found him lying on the ground. Antony is about to die. In such an hour of despair, Antona and Cleopatra reconcile. Antony dies in her lap. Just before his death, she promises him to join him very soon. She royally dresses herself. She orders her maid to bring a poisonous asp. She lets the asp sting her and finally dies beside Antony. After seeing their bodies Priests remark that both of them will unite in heaven.

Egypt is conquered by Caesar and the play ends with the tragic death of Antony and Cleopatra.

Themes of “All For Love”

John Dryden’s ‘All For Love’ is a tragedy that retells the story of Antony and Cleopatra. The play deals with themes such as tragic love, honor political power and the consequences of uncontrollable passion.

Love

In the play, Antony claims to love Cleopatra. In fact, he has abandoned his wife, Octavia and their children to live with Cleopatra in Egypt. He clearly does not love his family. Now we wonder if he loves Cleopatra their relationship is more about lust than love. When Octavia’s brother, Octavius Caesar threatens to attack Alexandria because of Antony’s disloyalty, Antony starts to mope and distance herself from Cleopatra. His “Love” quickly falls away when he becomes distracted from his lust.

Antony further reveals his lack of love for Cleopatra when Ventidius tempts Antony to fight Octavius.

Cleopatra seems to have a better grasp of Love than Antony. Octavius tempts her to betray Antony, but she declines. Antony always blamed her for all their problems, whining that he would be safe in Rome if he hadn’t fallen in love with her and even questioning her devotion by reminding her that she had once been Octavius’s mistress. Cleopatra potentially puts up with Antony’s Sulky complaining and the two make up.

On the other hand, Antony’s wife knows that Antony does not love her, but he is still her husband and she wants to be with her and their Children. She almost succeeds in convincing Antony to return to Rome.

Passion

Perhaps the most important theme in the play and what keeps Cleopatra and Antony in a magnetic pull towards one another the entire time, is passion. Both of the lovers fell passionately – in both a sexual and romantic sense – towards one another. The passion they feel for once another exceeds all reason, and it is what keeps Cleopatra and Antony continually making poor decisions.

Whenever Antony is on the brink of leaving Egypt once and for all, he is once again called back by his passion for Cleopatra. Likewise in the end, after Antony has died, Cleopatra determines that she would rather die than live under Caesar. She chooses death over life because of her passionate love for Antony.

Power

The play concerns two influential leaders, Antony, A Roman leader, and Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. Both of these rulers wield a tremendous amount of Power, but when the play opens, their power falters as a result of their affair.

“All For Love” as a Heroic Tragedy

A heroic tragedy is a type of play prevalent in Restoration England during the 1660 and 1670. ‘John Dryden’ is certainly the best and probably the first of the restoration heroic tragedy play writer. His play ‘All for Love’ followed all the rules of heroic tragedy. Such As-

It is characteristic of a heroic play that the hero is placed in conflict between his love and honour. Throughout the play “All For Love”, Antony wrestles with the conflict between his love for Cleopatra and his duties to the Roman Empire. In Act 1, he engages Cleopatra in conversation about the nature and depth of their love. Neglects his duties towards Rome.

“Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wife arch of the raged empire fall.”

For being a successful tragedy, an unbeaten tragic hero is needed. Antony is the tragic hero who is a person of noble birth with heroic qualities. But he is fated to doom and destruction. He shirks his political duty for the sake of his love relationship with Cleopatra. His peers deem Antony’s actions to be irresponsible and believe they will be the cause of his downfall.

Dryden says in the preface of the play ‘All for Love’ that

“In my style, I have professed
to imitate the divine Shakespeare,
which that I might perform
more freely, I have disencumbered
myself from rhyme.”

He gave up the heroic couplet of his early plays and accepted the blank verse to give an elevated style in Shakespeare’s manner. His handling of the blank verse in the play is surely skilful.

In this preface to ‘All For Love’ Dryden explains his view that the love between Antony and Cleopatra is an “Illegal Love” based on “Vice”. Therefore the plot fails to attain its moral aim.

Heroic tragedy contains the fall of a great emperor because of the Character flaw of heroes. In Dryden’s tragedy, Antony largely loses his major confrontation with Octavius. When he meets Ventidius, his trusted general, he weeps over the reality that she destroyed much of the Roman Empire because of his love for Cleopatra.

In Cleopatra’s portrayal too Dryden displays the characteristic of the heroic play. Nowhere in the play, not even when she is banished, has she deviated from her steadfast love for Antony.

She says,

“I love you more, even now you are unkind,
then you have loved me most.”

She considers her love so sacred. Such a portrayal of the heroine of perfection is found only in heroic plays.

Ending with death is the most important feature of a tragedy. “All For Love” ends with the death of the hero and heroine fulfilling this convention of tragedy. Altogether five people commit suicide in the last act of the play – Antony Cleopatra, Ventidius and two maids. All of them do this for their affection with regard to someone.

These are some characteristics of heroic tragedy, which we can find in the play “All For Love”.

Conclusion

Thus, the title play “All For Love” signifies a deep and selfless commitment to love. It suggests that the characters in the story are willing to do anything for the sake of love, even if it means sacrificing their well-being or happiness. Overall, ‘All For Love’ is a tragic play that explores the complexities of love, loyalty and duty. The final words of the play suggest that true love is beyond all values.

“No Lovers lived so great or died so well.”

Tags: All For Love Summary, All For Love play, All For Love play summary, All For Love by John Dryden, All For Love Analysis, All For Love play analysis, All For Love in Literature, All For Love themes, All for love as a Heroic Tragedy.

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The Bangle Sellers Summary, Themes & Analysis Sarojini Naidu

Analysis, Indian Literature, Literature, Poem Analysis, Poetry, Summary

Introduction

“The Bangle Sellers” is a poem written by prominent Indian poet and politician ‘Sarojin Naidu’. This poem is mainly about the life of Indian women, the Indian culture and traditions revolving around women. It was first published around women. It was first published in the year 1912 in Sarojini Naidu’s collection of poems called – ‘The Bird of Time’.

The poem revolves around bangles, which are an important ornament for the ‘embellishment’ of women in Indian society. As a woman passes through the different stages of life from childhood to old age, the colour and design of her bangles change accordingly.

About Author

Sarojini Naidu is also known as the nightingale of India. She was a prominent Indian poet and a politician. She was a gifted artist, proficient in many languages. She was also the first woman governor of ‘Free India’. Her poetry presents a kaleidoscope of Indian feelings, music and imagery. She has basically written about the life of Indian people, the beauty of nature, women empowerment and patriotism.

Sarojini Naidu’s famous works are – ‘The Golden Threshold’, ‘The Bird of Time’, ‘The Broken Wing’, ‘The Sceptred Flute,’ and ‘Song of India’. ‘The Feather of The Dawn’, was published posthumously.

Form & Structure

It is a lyrical poem of twenty-four lines, divided into four stanzas of six lines. Each stanza consists of three rhyming couplets, following a simple rhyme scheme of – AABBCC.

About the Title

Sarojini Naidu’s poem ‘The Bangle seller is all about bangles. The poet has depicted a picture of typical rural Indian society in the first half of the 20^th century where bangle sellers go to the temple fair to sell their bangles. The poet has given a picture of the stages of a woman’s life, and the feelings and emotions attached to those stages through these bangles.

The poem also glorifies the rich cultural tradition of India by depicting the role of bangles and bangle sellers in bringing happiness and vibrancy to society. So, bangles, the ‘Lustrous token of radiant lives’ and its seller take centre stage in the poem. That is why the title of the poem “The Bangle Sellers” is justified.

Themes of “The Bangle Sellers”

The poem explores the life of Indian women, the Indian culture and traditions revolving around women. It revolves around the bangles, which is an important ornament for the embellishment of women in Indian Society. It is an expression of stages in a woman’s life in traditional society. The entire concept of making the connection between different coloured bangles and their role in imparting happiness to young maidens, brides, wives and mothers is rooted in Indian culture.

In the poem, the poetess shows how the Indian woman is whole-heatedly submissive in fulfilling her social, religious and spiritual responsibility in this male-dominated society. Many hints of a patriarchal set-up are found in the poem. A man performs an important role in a woman’s life as a father, husband and son.

In the last four lines, the poetess says about the hands of the middle-aged married woman who has cared, loved, blessed and brought up her fair sons and she has proudly served her family and has the honour of sitting by her husband’s side at religious ceremonies. In fact, the poetess has shown feelings of gender discrimination in the male-dominated society of India.

The poetess also describes the pathetic and miserable state of the bangle sellers who, despite suffering through many hardships and bearing the loss or profit, sell the bangles in a joyous voice and never make any grudge against their profession, but feel proud of selling the bangles which are a human product of religious importance.

Summary/ Analysis of The Poem

In the first stanza of the poem, the bangle sellers are introduced and the poem describes their everyday life as well. The bangle sellers are present at the temple fair to make a trade for their bangles and are calling out to people to buy them. They are praising the qualities of the bangle.

“……..these delicate, bright
Rainbow-tinted circle of light.”

They are intending the people to buy for their daughters and wives. The bangle sellers say that these bangles promise happy lives to the wearer and are tokens of happy lives and happy marriages.

In the second stanza, the bangle sellers are talking about the different kinds of bangles that they have which cater to different types of women. Some of these bangles are suited for a maiden’s wrist who is an unmarried girl or a young woman and they are silver and blue in colour. Here silver and blue colours are compared to the mountain mist and they represent the freshness and the beauty of young maidens. Some bangles are light red and pink in colour just like life-tender flower buds that are found blossoming along a woodland stream.

In this stanza, ‘Buds that dreams’ presents an image of young girls who are dreaming of marriage. The bangles sellers also have some green-coloured bangles which are compared to the ‘newborn leaves’ because such leaves are pure and fresh. This stanza shows the youthful stage in a woman’s life and represents the fact women wear different coloured bangles in different phases of their life in Indian society.

In the third stanza, the bangles sellers say that they have some yellow-coloured bangles that look like fields of sunlit corn. Here bangles are compared to ‘fields of sunlit corn’ because those bangles are suitable for a bride on the day of her wedding when she needs to look the prettiest and the brightest of all. The bangle, sellers also have some flame-coloured bangles such as red and orange that represent the passion, desire and wishes of the bride.

“Tinkling, luminous, tender and clear,
like her bridal laughter and bridal tears”,

Here, bridal laughter means the joy of starting a new life with her husband while bridal tear means the sorrow of separation from her parents. The poet has compared bridal laughter and bridal laughter and bridal tears with the tinkling, luminous, tender and clear. Bangles which seems to express her joy and sorrow well. So, this stanza depicts the transition of life from a maiden to a wife.

In the last stanza, the bangle sellers continue to advertise their bangles and say that they have some purple and gold-flecked, grey bangles. These bangles are suitable for a woman who has journeyed through life and has reached the mid-point of her life. These are for a woman who remained faithful to her husband, supported him and raised her children well. The purple colour symbolizes pride, the gold- fleck represents honour and authority whereas grey symbolizes wisdom and maturity.

Conclusion

So the poem “The Bangle Seller” is a tribute to Indian women and their beauty and grace. It is a celebration of their feminity or female form. It threads various stages of a woman’s life into the cultural wealth of India. It also acknowledges the part of bangle sellers in the customs and traditions of India.

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Gulliver’s Travels By Jonathan Swift Part 1

Analysis, Literature, Summary

Introduction

The Book “Gulliver’s Travels” was written by Johnathan Swift, who is known as a great Anglo Irish Satirist, essayist, and poet of English Literature. The full title of ‘Gulliver’s Travel’ is ‘Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World’ and it was first published in 1726. The protagonist of this novel is ‘Lemuel Gulliver’ and the whole story of this novel moves around him. It is Swift’s best full-length work. Swift claimed that he wrote ‘Gulliver’s Travel’ to vex the world rather than divert it.

The novel is written in Four Parts.

A Voyage to Lilliput
A Voyage to Brobdingnag
A Voyage to Laputa
A Voyage to the Land of the Houyhnms

About The Author “Jonathan Swift”

“Jonathan Swift” the author of Gulliver’s Travels was an Anglo-Irish Satirist, political pamphleteer, essayist, and poet. He is remembered for works such as – A Tale of Tub, An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity, Gulliver’s Travel, and A Modest Proposal. Swift is regarded as the greatest prose satirist in the history of English Literature.

The Book “Gulliver’s Travels” was an immediate success. The English dramatist ‘John Gay’ remarked ‘It is universally red from the Cabinet council to the nursery.

Themes In Gulliver’s Travels

The main themes in Gulliver’s Travels are – Hypocrisy, The Dangers of arrogance and excessive pride, the human condition, and Social and Political issues.

Hypocrisy

One of the most important themes in Gulliver’s Travels is that of Hypocrisy. Throughout the novel, Swift criticizes the various groups of people that Gulliver meets for their hypocrisy. For example, he condemns the politicians of Lilliput for their lies and manipulation, and the scientist of Laputa for their disregard for the well-being of other people.

Dangers of Arrogance and Excessive Pride

Another important theme in Gulliver’s Travels is that of The dangers of arrogance and excessive pride. Swift satirizes this theme by showing how the Characters in Gulliver’s travels who are the most proud are also the ones who are harmed the most. The Laputans, for example, are highly arrogant people who think they are superior to everyone else. As a result, they are completely blind to the dangers of their own actions, and they end up being destroyed by a storm.

Human Condition, and Social and Political Issues

Gulliver’s Travels is also an exploration of the different ways that societies can be structured. Swift uses Gulliver’s Travels to satirize the various political and social systems that he encounters. For example, the government of Lilliput is a monarchy, while the government of Blefuscu is a republic. Swift also criticizes, the social hierarchy treated like gods and the common people are treated like slaves.

Gulliver’s Travels is full of Swift’s clever irony and biting satire. Gulliver functions as a mouthpiece for Swift, allowing the author to voice his opinions on various political and social issues of his period. Swift criticizes the way that society can be hypocritical and unjust. He also satirizes the ways in which people are willing to blindly follow the conventions of their society, even if these conventions are harmful or wrong. In the novel, Swift also gives a glimpse of his view on humanity. In general Swift seems to believe that humans are inherently corrupt and selfish.

Thus, the themes of “Gulliver’s Travels” are important because they allow us to better understand the Author’s message and the motivation behind the work. In “Gulliver’s Travel” Swift uses satire to criticize various aspects of English society. By exploring the themes in Gulliver’s Travels, we can gain a better understanding of Swift’s views on society, humanity, and the human condition.

Gulliver’s Travels Part – 1

Gulliver’s Travels Part – 1 has a total of 8 Chapters.

Chapter – 1

The novel begins with Lemuel Gulliver recounting the story of his life. He was born to a family in Nottinghamshire, the third of five sons. He is sent to London to be a surgeon’s apprentice, during which time he also learns about navigation and Mathematics. Afterward, Gulliver married Mrs. Mary Burton and began his life as a Surgeon. When his business begins to fail, he takes a six-year trip to sea, where he serves as the surgeon to two ships and travels the East and West Indies. He spends much of his time on these voyages observing the people and learning their language.

Although he has planned to return home at the end of this time, he decides to accept one last job on a ship called Antelope. In the East Indies, the ship encounters a violent storm in which twelve crewmen die. Six of the crewmembers, including Gulliver, board a small row boat to escape. Soon the rowboat capsizes. Gulliver however swims safely to shore.

Gulliver lies down on the grass to rest and soon he falls asleep. When he wakes up, he finds that his arms, legs, and hair have been tied. He feels something move across her legs and over his chest. He looks like a six-inch-tall human carrying a bow and arrow. At least forty little people climb onto his body. He is surprised and shouts loudly frightening the little people.

Gulliver loosens the ropes and indicates that he is hungry, and the little people bring him baskets of meat. He devours it all and shows that he is thirsty, so they bring two large barrels of wine. Gulliver has made them a promise of goodwill and is grateful for their hospitality. When he falls asleep, the Lilliputians transport Gulliver to the capital. They use a large platform with twenty-two wheels pulled by dozens of four-and-a-half-inch horses. More than one hundred thousand Lilliputians come out to see Gulliver.

Chapter -2

The emperor of Lilliput comes to visit Gulliver. The two attempt to converse, though they cannot understand each other’s language. After two weeks, a bed is made for Gulliver. It consists of 600 small beds sewn together. News of his arrival spreads throughout the kingdom and curious people come to see him. The emperor arranged to deliver a large amount of food to Gulliver every morning, hire tailors to make his clothing, and offer teachers to instruct him in their language.

Every morning Gulliver asks the emperor to set him free, but the emperor refuses, saying that Gulliver must be patient. The emperor also orders him to be searched to ensure that he does not have any weapons. Gulliver agrees to this search, all of his weapons are taken away.

Chapter – 3

The Lilliputians begin to like and trust Gulliver. Gulliver is granted his freedom, but he has to follow certain conditions, including the following – he is forbidden to leave the island without permission, he must be an ally to the Lilliputians in wars, and he must help with construction projects.

Chapter – 4

Gulliver visits the Lilliputian capital city of Mildendo and the emperor’s palace. Reldresal, an official in the Lilliputian government tells Gulliver about religious and political division. He also tells Gulliver about his enemies – the Kingdom of Blefuscu. Gulliver agrees to help defend Lilliput against their enemies. He honours his promise to defend Lilliput from a Blefuscu attack.

Chapter – 5

Three weeks later Lilliput makes a peace treaty with Blefuscu and Gulliver asks the emperor for permission to visit Blefuscu in the future. The emperor agrees but remains cold toward Gulliver. A fire breaks out in the empress’s apartment. Gulliver extinguishes the fire by relieving himself in the building. This disgusts the empress, as public urination is illegal in Lilliput. She vows revenge on Gulliver.

Chapter – 6

Gulliver is invited to have dinner with the emperor. Flimnap, the royal treasurer, also attends the dinner. Flimnap dislikes Gulliver and complains that feeding and housing Gulliver is bankrupting the kingdom.

Chapter – 7

A government official tells Gulliver that members of the council, including Flimnap, have charged Gulliver with treason. The Charges include public urination, refusing to destroy Blefuscu, and aiding the emperor of Blefuscu. Gulliver learn his sentence will be carried out three days. He leaves Lilliput for Blefuscu, where its people welcome him.

Chapter – 8

After three days, Gulliver receives orders to return to Lilliput for his punishment, but Gulliver decides to leave for home. He takes with him food, drink, and some tiny animals from Blefuscu. After two days at sea, he was picked up by a British vessel and returned to his family in England.

Conclusion

Thus, “Gulliver’s Travels” is a story about the human condition, and how human struggles with their own weakness. Swift makes it clear that there is no one right way to do things and no perfect solution to life’s problems. This story is an indictment of man’s vanity and his struggles to find order in a Chaotic World. Swift also uses Gulliver’s Travels as a way to comment on the social and political issues of his time.

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Man and Superman Themes, Summary & Analysis G. B. Shaw

Analysis, English Literature, Literature, Summary

Introduction

“Man and Superman” by George Bernard Shaw is regarded as a philosophical play due to its exploration of several philosophical themes. It was first published in 1903. The play is subtitled “A Comedy and a Philosophy” and it reflects Shaw’s views on a wide range of topics, especially on the hypocrisy of Victorian society. It is a four-act play.

The first performance of Man and Superman in 1905 at the Royal Court Theatre in London, did not include the third act. Though subsequent productions have typically omitted the scene, “Don Juan in Hell”, it’s often performed as a separate play. ‘Eric Bentle’ a birth born American theatre critic & playwright called Man and Superman:

“The Supreme triumph of Shaw’s dramaturgical dialects.”

Character of the play

Roebuck Ramsden

Ramsden is a middle-aged gentleman who considers himself as an intellectual pioneer and a progressive thinker.

Octavius Robinson

Octavius is a young, orphaned bachelor in the social circle of the social circle of Ramsdens, the Whitefield, and Jack Tanner.

Ann Whitefield

Ann is the older daughter of Mr. Whitefield, She is based on the Character of Dona Ana.

Jack/ John Tanner

Jack Tanner, a left-wing thinker and author of the book The Revolutionist’s Handbook, is one of the men left in charge of Ann Whitefield after her death.

Violet Robinson

Violet is the sister of Octavius. She becomes pregnant at the beginning of the play and is secretly married to Hector Malone.

Henry Straker, Mendoza, Hector Malone Jr., Hector Malone Sr., Mrs. Whitefield, and Susan Ramsden are more characters, which is present in the play.

About G. B. Shaw

George Bernard Shaw, commonly known as G. B. Shaw was an Irish playwright, Critic, and political activist. After unsuccessful attempts at novel writing, Shaw turned to drama. He wrote over sixty plays in the course of his life, including – “Man and Superman”, Pygmalion, and Saint Joan. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1925. Shaw’s golden period as a dramatist was from 1903 to 1925, the time when he wrote his best and most famous play. Arthun Bingham Walkey praised Shaw as,

“A man who gives us a refined intellectual pleasure.”

Man and Superman as a Comedy or Philosophy

In the sub-title of the play, Shaw himself calls Man and Superman a comedy and a philosophy. We may designate the drama as a biological comedy with spiritual overtones. The central theme of the play is Shaw’s anthropologic myth that woman is the primary mover in the evolutionary process. In Act I, II, and IV we find the ruthless pursuit of Tanner by Ann that constitutes the comedy of the drama. The play is a rich storehouse of Shavian thoughts, but this thought content is treated in the vein of the most light-hearted comedy.

The play contains Shaw’s view on everyday subjects. He expressed his views on love, women, marriage, Sex-relationship, socialism, democracy, etc. In fact, the play is Shaw’s finest statement of his idea of a life force. Shaw’s life force is a spiritual power in the universe. Don Juan says in the play.

“Life is a force which has made innumerable
experiments in organizing itself.”

Shavian Don Juan is the spokesman of Shaw himself in the play. He is a philosophic man with intellect. In conversation with the statue Don Juan says:
“……….. to life, the force behind the Man,
Intellect is a necessity, because without
it he blunders into death.”

On women, in the play, Shaw’s comment is that a woman is not a Poet’s dream. She has to play an important role in the evolutionary process. Shaw thinks that biologically woman is primary and non-secondary in the process of keeping the human race running.

All the philosophical implications of the play have been illustrated through the story of Tanner and Ann with utmost levity and this makes the play comedy as well. Ann Whitefield is a vital genius, Tanner, on the other hand, is a man who does not tolerate women’s company. Tanner avoids Ann and regards her company as dangerous, Ann. On the other side, considers Tanner as “Biologically” preferable.

Thus, we may say that Shaw is logically right to call “Man and Superman” a comedy and a philosophy. Shaw, in the play, expressed his philosophical views on serious subjects but the way he has gone is comical.

Themes of “Man and Superman”

The themes of Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw are:

The conflict between man and Woman

Shaw believed that men and women are fundamentally different creatures, with different goals and desires. In ‘Man and Superman’, this conflict is embodied in the characters of John Tanner and Ann Whitefield. Tanner is a brilliant but impractical idealist, while Ann is a ruthless social climber. Their relationship is a battle of wills, with each trying to manipulate the other to get what they want.

The Nature of the Superman

Superman is Shaw’s ideal of a human being, someone who is intellectually and morally superior to the rest of humanity. Superman is someone who has achieved self-mastery to their own values, regardless of what society expects of them.

The importance of free will

Shaw believed that humans have the power to choose their own destiny. In ‘Man and Superman’, this is represented by the Character of Don Juan. Don Juan is a legendary womanizer who has rejected the conventions of society. He believes that humans should live life to the fullest and experience everything that it has to offer.

The Role of Women in Society

Shaw was a strong advocate for women’s rights. In Man and Superman, he challenges the traditional view of women as being inferior to men. He argues that women are just as capable, as men of intellectual and moral leadership.

The Importance of Education

Shaw believed that education was essential for the improvement of the human race. In Man and Superman, he argues that education should be used to teach people how to think for themselves and question authority.

Analysis & Summary of the Play

The play starts with a dedication, in the form of a letter, addressed to Arthur Bingham Walkley, Shaw’s friend, who according to the letter had once asked Shaw why he did not write a ‘Don Juan’ play.

The play is an example of a comedy of manners that explores the themes of love, marriage, and the nature of “Superman”. The play is divided into four acts. The first three acts are set in the real world, and they follow the story of John Tanner, a womanizing, philosopher and who is determined to marry him. The fourth act is set in Hell and it takes the form of a dream that Tanner has.

When a man named Mr. Whitefield dies, he entrusts the guardianship of his daughter, Ann to two men; the revolutionary young ‘Jack Tanner’ and the stodgy rich ‘Roebuck Ramsden’. Jack, a sworn bachelor, has chosen to devote his life to philosophical pursuits. Meanwhile, Octavius Robinson, who was like a Son to Mr. Whitefield, becomes infatuated with Ann and determined to marry her, unaware that Ann is truly in love with Jack.

In the first three acts, Shaw explores the conflict between Tanner’s intellectual idealism and Ann’s biological determinism. Tanner believes that humans are capable of great things but he also believes that they are often held back by their animal instincts.

In the fourth act, Tanner’s dream takes him on a journey through Hell, where he meets a variety of Characters who are human nature. These characters include ‘Don Juan’ a symbol of the life force, ‘Dona Ana’, a symbol of the intellect, and the Devil, a symbol of evil.

The dream helps Tanner to understand the true nature of the conflict between himself and Ann. He realizes that he cannot escape his biological instincts, but he also realizes that he can use his intellect to control them. The play ends with Tanner and Ann agreeing to marry, but on the condition that they will remain free individuals.

Conclusion

Thus, through the play, Shaw explores the complex relationship between men, women, and the Life force. Some critics have seen it as a pessimistic view of marriage, suggesting that it is a trap that prevents men from achieving their full potential. Others have seen it as an optimistic view, suggesting that marriage can be a positive force for good if it is based on mutual understanding and respect.

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