Views of transcendentalism versus puritanism Essay Example for Free

Views of transcendentalism versus puritanism Essay The Puritans see God as mysteriously involved in the acts of the universe, whereas the transcendentalists think God is connected to mankind through nature and intuition. The outlook on Puritan writing is that their style tends to be plain and introspective. Transcendentalist writing shows how nature and feelings are triumphant over logic and rationality. In contrast to the plain style of Puritan writing, Jonathan Edwards frequently strikes his audience with powerful words in his literature. He exemplifies this style in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God but still shows the lowliness of human beings in relation to Gods power, another Puritan trait. In transcendentalist writing, the spiritual and ideal worlds are revealed through the physical facts of the natural world. A writer who uses transcendental techniques is Ralph Waldo Emerson. The work written by Emerson reflecting Transcendentalism is called Nature. The name itself portrays the piece as transcendental, but Emerson uses the forest and its components as symbols of the spiritual world. In comparison, both the Puritans and the Transcendentalists focus on their own perceptions of the world and human existence. Edwards sermon called Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God reiterates the fact that God has more power than man. Wickedness and sin, as Edwards describes, leads man closer and closer into the depths of hell. Mankind is weak and helpless if God is provoked. There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Mens hands cannot be strong when God rises up, (Jonathan Edwards). Edwards uses the phrase Mens hands cannot be strong when God rises up to evidently make his point. His intention is to say that God and his powers should not be taken lightly. No matter how strong the will of man, God has the final say in it all. There is, however, a twist to his intention. Edwards directs the wrath of God mainly upon those who sin and that He [God] is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it, (Jonathan Edwards). By using the word wicked, Edwards hints at how man acts in order to provoke God. Sin leads towards mankinds wickedness, therefore angering God. His wrath may come in different ways. Instead of throwing the inhabitants of Earth directly into the fiery depths of hell, He will let mankind destroy itself and withhold His retribution. The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher the floods of Gods vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the meantime is constantly increasing, and you are everyday treasuring up more wrath, (Jonathan Edwards). Obviously, Edwards uses the water held behind a dam as a symbol. The dam represents Gods hand, and the water is His wrath. Comparing this, Edwards tries to explain that the longer the water is held back, the more force it will have when the dam will no longer support it; the longer God puts off judgment of mans sin, the more powerful His punishment. The sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is a great example of the Puritan belief of society. A man is ether part of the elect, basically chosen to go to heaven, or of the damned that are sent to hell at Gods force. On the softer side of Gods presence, Transcendentalism takes place. Their view is that intuition and nature as a whole is more powerful than intellect. In Emersons Nature, there is a strong sense of God being present through the wilderness and the natural way of life. All the parts incessantly work into each others hands for the profit of man. The wind sows the seed; the sun evaporates the sea; the wind blows the vapor to the field; the ice, on the other side of the planet, condenses rain on this; the rain feeds the plant; the plant feeds the animal; and thus the endless circulations of the divine charity nourish man, (Ralph Waldo Emerson). What Emerson is trying to get through to his audience is that God works in a process for the good of mankind. When he tells about how the wind, sun, rain, and plant, and how each work together in a cycle to support nature, he is comparing their jobs to God nourishing man. Emerson is also trying to say that without nature and its course, man would not survive. The Transcendentalists believe that the physical facts of the natural world are a doorway to the spiritual and ideal world; an apparent example is that nature always wears the colors of the spirit, (Emerson, Chapter: Nature). Emerson considers God to be present within physical properties of nature, in this case, color. The use of the word always suggests that God and the spiritual world are visible through nature to man no matter the condition. Conversely, do these relations of God and nature apply in any way to man? When a man is described as a particle of God, (Emerson, Ch: Nature), he is a piece of God and the spiritual world. There is a connection between man and nature because of Gods visibility through the environment. Ideally, the Transcendentalists show that man is not only a part of God, but also in nature. People living in the Puritan and Transcendental periods of time believed that God was connected to humanity and the life surrounding it; also, God had the power to reveal himself to mankind and even take control, making Puritanism and Transcendentalism equivalent. Texts like Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Nature are good examples of Puritan and Transcendental writing because they exemplify the characteristics and beliefs of each era. Elements in transcendentalism are knowledge and spiritual existence in nature, whereas Puritanism consists of discipline and God revealed through the inner self of man. Whether it be for God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment, (Edwards), or divine charity [to] nourish man, (Emerson), God was presented as a power both to reprimand and nurture civilization.

Author-function :: Reading Literature Essays

Author-function In the second chapter of his book The Order of Books, Roger Chartier deconstructs the way that past and present readers think of authors of texts. He uses Foucault’s term â€Å"author-function,† which Foucault used in his famous essay â€Å"What is an Author?,† to describe this concept. â€Å"Author-function† is an elusive term. In essence, it refers to the way that a reader’s concept of the "author" functions in his reading of a text. His interpretation of a text is shaped by his understanding of its author. Without any concept of who the author of a text is, it is easy to develop many different interpretations of that text. However, in light of an author’s gender, ethnicity, time period, political leanings, or other applicable known information, the text often leans toward one plausible interpretation. For example, a reader’s interpretation of Invisible Man is greatly colored by her knowledge of its author Ralph Ellison as a black man fighting racial discrimination. Her interpretation of the same novel would be quite different if the author was really a white person with a history of racist action. Modern readers rely heavily on their knowledge of a text’s author, often without realizing it, to shape their interpretations of that text. Necessary to a more complete understanding of the concept of author-function is an understanding of the social function of authors through the ages which Chartier lays out in â€Å"Figures of the Author.† Chartier agrees with Foucault, an influential literary theorist who claims that the author-function changed in the 19th century when copyright laws were established. With these new laws, â€Å"a system of ownership came into being . . . strict rules concerning author’s rights, author-publisher relations, rights of reproduction, and related matters were enacted† (qtd. in Chartier 30). In other words, with copyright laws, the author was seen as the source of information and was given credit (and money) for that information. Chartier agrees that author-function did change with these changing ideas of information as property, but he claims that the idea of the author-function is older and broader. According to Chartier, there is evidence that the author served a functional role in the reading of texts in Medieval Europe (31, 59). Foucault acknowledges that in the Middle Ages, anonymous authorship of â€Å"literary† texts was common, while the veracity of scientific texts was judged by the authority of the text’s author (31).

Ot Regarding Entering Canadian Market Succesfully

OPPORTUNTIES AND THREATS Regarding entering the Canadian market successfully with Douwe Egbert’s new product: Grannie Annie’s hot chocolate milk. A SWOT-analysis (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) is an analysis based on strength and weaknesses on one side, and opportunities and threats on the other side, choices are made. A SWOT-analysis can be used either internal or external. Both analyses together can be put together as a situational analysis. The outcome of this analysis can be the input of the SWOT-analysis. STRENGHTS Since there is a cold climate in Canada, the popularity of hot beverages is high compared to every other drink, leading to a high demand. – Canada’s stable economy – The good financial state of Douwe Egberts could be an advantage over the competitors. – The effective distribution strategies. – High quality product. – Good customer relationship management. – Canada-European Free Trade Associ ation Free Trade Agreement, this agreement is aimed at eliminating all tariffs on goods. WEAKNESSES – Profitability may suffer as a result of strong competition in the Canadian market. Long distribution channels (especially to Canada) OPPORTUNITIES – Outplay other coffee brands by introducing special products like Grannie Annie’s. – Extend product line with other products for non-coffee drinkers – Build new coffee houses on strategic points – Create brand loyalty by making sure customers get the experience needed from drinking Grannie Annie’s – Keep developing new products for customers – Pick clear target group. (Starbucks aims for couples age 25-54 with children, who tend to spend more on non-alcoholic beverages outdoors) –Douwe Egberts should not copy the strategy of competitor’s but create something unique. THREATS – Competition of businesses who are on the Canadian Market (Starbucks, Dunkin Donu ts, Krispy Kreme, McDonalds, Burger King). – Lack of advertisement – Changing prices in Coffee market – By only entering the market with Grannie Annie’s you probably wont get very far. – Wrong target group Developments A development of the surroundings of the costumer will eventually turn into a need that customers will most likely get to have ease and more user-friendly coffee machines, packaging and more.Next to this, sustainability is getting more and more important to customers. DE is known for their sustainability and fairness regarding coffee bean farmers. This can be used for Grannie Annie’s too, regarding Cacao farmers. Also, the sustainability of transport is important and has to be done as carefully as possible. DE Looks forward to train their own coffee and cacao farmers so that the quality can be guaranteed. Also, sustainability can be higher when DE trains own farmers.

A Comparison of A Midsummer Nights Dream and Romeo and...

Parallel Themes and Characters in A Midsummer Nights Dreamnbsp;and Romeo and Julietnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Certain parallels can be drawn between William Shakespeares plays, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. These parallels concern themes and prototypical Shakespearian character types. Both plays have a distinct pair of lovers, Hermia and Lysander, and Romeo and Juliet, respectively. Both plays could have also easily been tragedy or comedy with a few simple changes. A tragic play is a play in which one or more characters nbsp;has a moral flaw that leads to his/her downfall. A comedic play has at least one humorous character, and a successful or happy ending. Comparing these two plays is useful to find how†¦show more content†¦nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Hermia is also young, and prudent. When Lysander suggests that One turf shall serve as a pillow for both of us, One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth, Hermia replies Nay, good Lysander. For my sake, my dear, Lie further off yet; do not lie so near. Although this couple has known each other for a while (Romeo and Juliet knew each other for one night when the above quote was spoken), Hermia also abstains from even sleeping near Lysander even though she believes he does not have impure intentions. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Romeos and Juliets families are feuding. Because of these feuds, their own parents will not allow the lovers to see each other. In the a differnet way Hermia is not allowed to marry Lysander. Hermias father Egeus says to Theseus, Duke of Athens, Full of vexation come I, with complaint Against my child, my daughter Hermia. Stand fourth, Demetrius. My noble lord, This man hath my consent to marry her. Stand forth, Lysander. And, my gracious Duke, This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child. nbsp; Egeus tells the Duke that his daughter can marry Demetrius, not Lysander. Hermia replies . . . If I refuse to wed Demetrius, Egeus replies Either to die the death,Show MoreRelatedComparing Differnet Acts of Shakespearian Plays: Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night ´s Dream564 Words   |  3 Pagesof Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night’s Dream they both were written by William Shakespeare and they both have lovers. Even though they have these similarities the things that will be focused on comparing are Acts 1-3 in Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night’s Dream. The First thing being compared in the two stories will be Act 1. In Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet the play starts with a bloody brawl and ends with two lovers meeting at a party, while on the other hand Midsummer Night’s Dream startsRead MoreEssay on A Midsummer Nights Dream: Critical Analysis3103 Words   |  13 PagesMandy Conway Mrs. Guynes English 12 16 March 2000 A Critical Analysis of quot;A Midsummer Nights Dreamquot; William Shakespeare, born in 1594, is one of the greatest writers in literature. He dies in 1616 after completing many sonnets and plays. One of which is quot;A Midsummer Nights Dream.quot; They say that this play is the most purely romantic of Shakespeares comedies. The themes of the play are dreams and reality, love and magic. This extraordinary play is a play-with-in-a-play, whichRead MoreLiterary Devices852 Words   |  4 Pagesconsonant. There should be at least two repetitions in a row. i.e. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. 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This reference was clear and would definitely be understoodRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare1735 Words   |  7 Pagesat some point, but who is he? William Shakespeare, the man who has influenced our culture through his various literary works. What is the truth behind the brilliant man whom penned the renowned words filling the pages of the ever significant Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, or The Tempest? William Shakespeare was born William Shakspere. Aside from contemporary and popular belief, it is a common misconception that his last name included the â€Å"e† after the â€Å"k† and the â€Å"a† after the â€Å"pe†.Read MoreRomeo Juliet: A Dramedy to Remember1358 Words   |  6 Pagesand history. While his historical plays occasionally borrow dramatic elements from his tragedies, Shakespeare set a clear division between the lighthearted ambiance found in A Midsummer Nights Dream and the heart wrenching despair that pervades Hamlet. However, Folger Theatre has cleared this divide with fervor. Romeo Juliet, a play that was once the epitome of tragic theatre, is no longer pigeonholed to the tight confines of tragedy in regards to mood and tone. While the original dialogue and themesRead More The Northern Lights2820 Words   |  12 Pageshave this dream. On the Dover cliffs, under the hot sun, with a director screaming action, and a camera pointing towa rds me, I found Shakespeare. This quarter I had the opportunity to experience Shakespeare everywhere at once. I read four plays: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, and A Winter’s Tale. I sat through eight film productions of various plays and wore those blue library headphones each time. I read numerous sonnets. I attended a production of Romeo and Juliet performedRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet2829 Words   |  12 PagesThe task of editing Romeo and Juliet has become even more daunting of late. Not only is there the vast critical and performance history of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays to present intelligibly to modern readers. But new regard for the first quarto 1 (1597), has also complicated the relationship with the longer quarto 2 (1599), on which all modern editions are based In Shakespeares day, there was no ‘correct’ way to punctuate, just as there was no ‘correct’ way to spell. Moreover, it is veryRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Sonnets : The Greatest Of All Love Poems1465 Words   |  6 Pageshave remained a popular subject in the world of literature for centuries to come. â€Å"Shakespeare has completely dominated the English-speaking state over the last four hundred years.† When thinking of Shakespeare, his famous plays such Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet are usually the first to come to mind. However, very few people realize he was also one of the most significant writers of all time. â€Å"He [Shakespeare] was the most admired writer in the country by the time he was thirty and the owner of the grandestRead More Uncovering Worth Unknown: The Constancy of Love in Sonnet 1162370 Words   |  10 Pagescareer in 1592 when Henry VI was first produced and performed (Branam). Most notably writing plays such as Romeo and Ju liet, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven plays altogether, according to general consensus (Gibson). Also notable, though, were his sonnets. Shakespeare began writing his sonnets at approximately the same time as his completion of Romeo and Juliet. One such sonnet is Sonnet 116, or â€Å"Let me not to the marriage of true minds,† which is found in the â€Å"Fair