American Literature

In the story  The Company of Wolves  Angela Carter seeks to retell the tale of Red Riding Hood and her encounter with the wolf. More important than the rehashing of the fairy tale, is the manner in which Carter seeks to blend fact and fiction to illustrate man s ability to combine the unknown and the known within their own imaginations to gain a better understanding of the world around them. The simple facts of the wolf, as a predator and carnivore, are enhanced and dramatized with the addition of the werewolf myth and the story of Red Riding Hood to assist in illustrating how through imagination the lines between fact and fiction are distorted. The wolves  progression from animal to man, from natural predator to sexual predator, is a result of this combination of fact and fiction. The characteristics of men and wolves combined in a werewolf give man a basis for understanding the baser instincts and sometimes brutal actions that characterize the history of humanity. Subtly, juxtaposing the harsh realities of nature with the dramatics of myth and fairy tale, Carter shows how people utilizes imagination, the combination of reality and myth, to relate to the world around them.

In the beginning of the story, Carter establishes the animal ferocity and wildness of wolves,  The wolf is carnivore incarnate   once he s had a taste of flesh then nothing else will do  (Carter 1580). Throughout the story, Carter reasserts this idea within the growing context of the wolf and the animal immediately as representative of the violence of nature. However, at this early stage of the story, the wolf though  cunning as he is ferocious  (1580) is still just a wolf. In this way, Carter establishes that the wolf does and can exist outside of the imaginations of man but is always very different from people. Monika Fludernik notes, also, that the introduction,   is followed by a quasi-definitional characterization of the wolf and a paragraph of even more non-scientific folk-lore about wolves which provides instructions to a generic you traveling through the forest at night  (226). Not only is mans imagination being represented in Carters show of the manipulations of fact and fiction over the nature of the wolf but she is also appealing to this part of human nature and imagination in her reader.

The image of the wolf, as illustrated in Carter s description of not only the wolf but the wildness of the woods as well, shows a basic nature that is at constant conflict with the reasonable nature of man,  of all the teeming perils of the night and the forest, ghosts, hobgoblins, ogres that grill babies upon gridirons, witches that fatten their captives in cages for cannibal tables, the wolf is the worst for he cannot listen to reason  (Carter 1580). Left unspoken in this passage, but nevertheless present, is the idea that wolves are a constant natural reality. Unlike the ogre or the cannibalistic witch, the wolf is not fictional. The wolf is a representative of nature that does not need to be assigned any special motivations for his deeds nor has the creature been created for the mere use as a lesson in morality. In demonizing the wolf, creating the wolf in Red Riding Hood s story, man can give human attributes to the beast to better help humanity understand their own world. Carter uses the wolf and the stories which have grown around the creature to shows the manner in which,  social forces construct subjectivity (McGuire 129) The woods which shelter the wolves from the outside world become, in this manner, an accomplice to death,  the shaggy branches tangle about you, trapping the unwary traveler in nets as if the vegetation itself were a plot with the wolves who live there, as though the wicked trees go fishing on behalf of their friends  (1581).

As predators, wolves are in their very genetic make-up harbingers of death and in trying to make sense of this type of natural violence man has assigned them with a supernatural understanding. The seemingly senselessness of their attacks against people, rather than being explained and understood within the context of their survival, resulted in a the wolf becoming a kind of living nightmare,  They will be like shadows, they will be like wraiths, grey members of a congregation of nightmare hark His long, wavering howl   an aria of fear made audible  (1580). It is not the fear of the wolves that sings through the voices of the lone wolf or pack, scavenging through the forest at night, but rather the fear of man for his own mortality and lack of understanding that is represented by the wolves  howl. The wolf howls out of instinct, a need for communication, its only in mans imagination that it becomes a funeral song.

In addition to the conflict of man versus nature, Carter attempts to take on through outlining of imagination the basic myths of gender. In approaching gender in the way that the original fairy does, it also represents a way for human beings to mesh imagination and social reality. As critic Catherine Lappas notes in her essay on the concepts of female sexuality and spectatorship inherent to the story,  Carter juxtaposes myths of female sexuality against womens real dreams and desires the girl and the wolf become one   of mutual consent. Carter foregrounds the relationship between fairy tales and reality, both of which prescribe action for females within similar ideological parameters (Lappas 124). Not only is the myth of the wolf, as an unpitying foe of man presented and then is disproved in Carters story but the myth of female vulnerability is removed from this version of Red Riding Hood as she asserts her dominance and, more importantly in some respects, ability to choose for herself,  she knew she was nobodys meat. She laughed at him full in the face, she ripped off his shirt for him and flung it into the fire   the old bones under the bed set up a terrible clattering but she did not pay them any heed  (Carter 1584). The girl is going against tradition and against the precepts than man has established for themselves in not only understanding nature but separating themselves from it. The description of grandmothers house as cozy and full of nice knick-knacks, shows how man tries to keep nature at bay by shielding themselves from both reality and the nightmares their imaginations create. As the narrator notes,  We keep the wolves outside by living well  (1583). We deny and indulge our imaginations, through creating new fears and exaggerating old ones.

Carter recognizes the power of human imagination and uses the act of storytelling as a means to express individual perspectives and agendas. Lappas quotes Carter on the piecemeal manner in which myth and belief are created from human ideas and fears,  the story has been tinkered with, had bits added to it, lost other bits, got mixed up with other stories, until our informant herself has tailored the story personally, to suit an audience of, say, children, or drunks at a wedding, or bawdy old ladies, or mourners at a wake - or, simply, to suit herself (qtd. in Lappas 125). A story is not simply the words and ideas of the writer, but the intentions and perspectives of both writer and reader.  The Company of Wolves  illustrates this idea perfectly by interjecting a new reality into the imagined myth of man versus wolfwerewolf. She shows how the imagination is both a product and a tool of human beings understanding of the world around them.

1. Why was realism an important period in American history

Realism was an important period in American history because it drastically changed the lenses Americans used in viewing the world, and their immediate situations. Taking off from where Romanticism has left them, in that world where everything was beautiful, dream-like and nearly perfect, even edenic, Realism brought back the people to reality. It transported them from that very pleasant, purely aesthetic world which Romanticism reinforced and celebrated.

Realism has also seemed to return to the people the senses which were taken away from them by Romantic thought. While romanticism let individuals to envisage and vicariously live in a world that they deeply want, Realism forced them to look at the real condition and not create fantasies which usually only encourage escapism. Realism impelled them, to look at the things, the conditions which really exist at the moment.

As we know it, life is not a bed of roses. So despite of the persistence of Romanticist thought saying that a life that is a bed of roses is possible, even only at the mental level, Realism also strongly posed itself as an alternative. It opened the senses of people to what are actually happening to them and their surroundings. It was not all about flowers sheltering caterpillars to give birth to butterflies and people loving one another. Realism made the people see the filth, the crime, the injustice and all the noxious scenes and realities which the Romanticists tried hard to cover up.

In that sense, Realism has provided a better consciousness to the people and consequently, enabled them to be more active in engaging with the external world. It discouraged living in dreams and reveries and instead, encouraged facing the reality that is staring them at the face and do things to make them better.

2. Describe the great poetry of Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinsons poetry is very distinct because of its relative brevity that only amazes and amuses readers of her poems.

Without having to do a full-blown poem which extends up to several stanzas, Dickinson was able to express a profound thought in just a matter of several lines. It is also notable that by using a few poetic lines, she was able to convey a message that is crisp and clarion. The message she carries with her poetry is so resounding the readers will be emphatically moved when they read it.

For instance, in her classic poem The soul selects her own society, she was able to call on the readers to stand and defend their own ground and be critical in accepting the general views in life, especially those views which the majority have chose to take (Young 413). With simplicity in her poetic expression, she has given the readers a powerful implicit order.

In another poem entitled Because I could not stop for death, Dickinson used alternative images in depicting the usually dreaded concept that is death. By doing so, she has shed a new light to that concept and made the readers regard it in a different way. This poem has only six shorts stanzas but these are enough for Dickinson to portray death differently and leave an impact to her readers

In summary, the brevity of Dickinsons poetry does not count as a weakness. On the contrary, it is where her strength as poet is founded. With unassuming and careful selection of poetic expressions, her poetry is never lackadaisical as it profuse with meaningful messages in 150 words or less.

3.  Does literature of early twentieth century has an influence on todays literature
Definitely, the literature of the early twentieth century has exerted an influence on the literature of todays period.

The literature of the early twentieth century was distinctly modern that is to say, these are the literatures which swerved from the literary traditions which have predominated in the previous years. They did away with lengthy and delicately structured plots and protracted narrations and resorted to simpler designs which usually have simple things to say.

Also, they carried within themselves that characteristic of doubt and uncertainty about the transpirations in their surrounding and the grand claims made by their predecessors. Literary works spoke of individuals internal dilemmas and their tragic fate of trying to overcome these dilemmas.

These characteristic of early-twentieth century literature is one of the acquired, if not completely inherited traits of todays writings.

Todays literature is also marked by that tone of doubt. Jean Francois Lyotard, a noted Postmodernist, even coined the term incredulity. Like the modernist writing of the early twentieth century, todays writings bear an incredulous tone  a mood of not easily believing peoples claims about what the future holds which verge on being indifferent to what it will eventually bring. Therefore, while early twentieth-century literature only recognized that they do not know everything, todays literature has seemed to surrender to that fact, and ultimately, refuse to seek knowledge and certainty.

In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and Notes on the State of Virginia, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson both conceive of irrationality as a serious threat to the liberty and well being of the people.  They both advocate moral and historical education, as well as free-thinking, as paramount in avoiding social and political problems stemming from human irrationality.  This can be seen in the fact that, while both thinkers attempt to mold the minds of the population and lead them to a more rational existence, Jefferson does so by proposing laws while Franklin does so through literary and personal channels, opening himself up as an example for people to emulate.  I will begin by comparing Jeffersons and Franklins educational models, showing that Jefferson understands education to be by and for the state while Franklin takes a more private, individualized approach.  I will then explore how, while Jefferson posits exclusion from the state as an appropriate method for promoting rationality among the people, Franklin sees individual self-discipline as key.  To conclude, I will compare the authors methods for combating irrationality, and show how these methods reveal their respective views.  These points combine to support the thesis that while Jefferson is elitist and statist in his view of irrationality, holding that it can be remedied from without through education or exclusion, Franklin concentrates on the correction of irrationality from within.

In Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson recommends the creation of school districts and the establishment of semi-public education as a way to combat irrationality and diffuse knowledge more generally through the mass of people (157).  His recommendations, while meant to secure the well being of the entire population, are centered on the power and good of the state.  He envisions a multi-tiered educational system that provides three years of free education to everyone, then progressively roots out the most intelligent children and molds them into potential state leaders.

Every person is entitled to send their children three years gratis, and as much longer as they please, paying for itOf the boys thus sent in any one year, trial is to be made at the grammar schools one or two years, and the best genius of the whole selected, and continued six years, and the residue dismissed.  By this means twenty of the best geniuses will be raked from the rubbish annually, and be instructed, at the public expense. (Jefferson 157)

Here we see that, for Jefferson, it is the states job, over and above the parents or the individual, to bring about mental improvement and nurture reason.  The overriding point of his educational program is to identify geniuses and allow the state to take responsibility for their further advancement.  Jefferson characterizes non-geniuses as rubbish and residue, indicating that he has a certain disdain for those who do not demonstrate superior intelligence, and that, despite his republican principles, he associates the common good with superior leadership by a few.  The object of the law, he says, is to secure everyones freedom and happiness (Jefferson 158), but such freedom and happiness are directly related to the promotion of a few elite geniuses.  
There exists some contradiction, then, between Jeffersons elitism and his republicanism.  His elitism is not economic, since he advocates the discovery of geniuses from among the poor, but is related to natural intellectual capacities, as he demonstrates amply in his discussions of race and education (Jefferson 149).
We hope to avail the State of those talents which nature has sown as liberally among the poor as the rich (Jefferson 159).  Through the cultivation of these natural capacities, Jefferson claims, the strength of the state and therefore the liberty of the people can be safeguarded.  Of all the views of this law, none is more important, none more legitimate, than that of rendering the people the safe, as they are the ultimate, guardians of their own liberty (Jefferson 159).  Here we see the complex and contradictory relationship between Jeffersons republicanism and his elitism it is vital to keep the people in control of the government, but this should be accomplished by the governments raising specific, naturally intelligent people to positions of power.  Ultimately, Jeffersons educational system is geared toward the continuity and security of the state.
Rationality, he suggests, will flow down from the top, meaning that the self-improvement of the residue of the population is not necessary in order for society to be protected from irrationality.

There are three principal differences between Jeffersons and Franklins visions of education and reason Franklins attempts to combat irrationality through education are geared toward self-improvement for its own sake he takes a critical view of established educational standards and of the relationship between education and rationality and he advocates private, grassroots educational schemes rather than statist ones.  Franklin puts a high value on self-education, showing how his self-imposed educational disciplinestudying each Sunday rather than attending church, learning languages on his ownleads him to be more sensible and competent.  It is just such commitment to self-improvement that Franklin wishes to encourage in the population.  His distribution of intellectual pamphlets, his private attempts to create universities, libraries and debate societies, and even his own autobiography serve as vehicles for the grassroots dissemination of knowledge and the struggle against popular irrationality.   In these ways, common tradesmen and farmers can become as intelligent as gentlemen (Franklin 74).  Franklin thus advocates the self-improvement of individuals by various, private educational methods.

Moreover, Franklin critiques the traditional, established educational system, questioning whether certain subjects are useful to study, and he does not make the same straightforward association between rationality and education that Jefferson does.  In his discussion of one mans movement from Oxford-educated scholar to indentured servant, Franklin shows that education does not necessarily instill sense or reason in a person.  It was an odd thing to find an Oxford scholar in the situation of a bought servantHe was lively, witty, good-natured, and a pleasant companion, but idle, thoughtless, and imprudent to the last degree (Franklin 56).  Franklin has no illusions, then, that education makes a person rational or virtuous.  Whereas Jefferson identifies rationality with traditional education, suggesting that the measure of a persons reason is whether or not they can understand Euclid (Jefferson 151), Franklin associates sense with the self-disciplined cultivation of virtue (Franklin 93-94).

While Franklin conceives of irrationality as a problem to be solved on the individual level, Jefferson proposes not only state education but also state exclusion of groups who are deemed irrational.  While he supports the emancipation of black slaves, he advocates their removal from the state on the basis of their natural intellectual inferiority and seeks to replace them with white settlers.

This unfortunate difference of color, and perhaps of faculty, is a powerful obstacle to the emancipation of these people.  Many of their advocates, while they wish to vindicate the liberty of human nature, are anxious also to preserve its dignity and beautyAmong the Romans emancipation required but one effort.  The slave, when made free, might mix with, without staining the blood of his master.  But with us a second is necessary, unknown to history.  When freed, he is to be removed beyond the reach of mixture. (Jefferson 155)
Jefferson characterizes black inferiority in aesthetic as well as intellectual terms their difference with regard to the faculty of reason, which he at least acknowledges to be a suspicion rather than an established fact, is related to their difference in beauty  (Jefferson 155).  Whereas Franklin points to the co-existence in people of pleasing and irrational qualities (as demonstrated above with regard to the pleasing but idle former Oxford scholar), showing that he understands each individual to have a unique complex of traits and needs, Jefferson claims that whole groups of people are either rational or irrational, beautiful or ugly, and that these qualities are related in a systematic way.  Therefore, it is possible for the state to systematically excise irrationality from the population by the exclusion of these groups.

Jefferson also calls for the exclusion of emigrants who harbor monarchical governmental principles, which, he indicates, are inherently irrational.  Our government is a composition of the freest principles of the English constitution, with others derived from natural right and natural reason.  To these nothing can be more opposed than the maxims of absolute monarchies.  Yet, from such, we are to expect the greatest number of emigrants (Jefferson 93).  These emigrants will, he claims, taint the rationality of the governmental system, turning it into an incoherent, distracted mass (Jefferson 93).  He does not suggest that emigrants be turned away from the state or deprived of citizenship, but he does caution against inviting or encouraging them (Jefferson 94).

In general, Franklin does not talk about irrationality as a racial or national issue, nor does he recommend the removal of supposedly irrational groups from the state.  He is less interested in the primacy of the state or the collective good of humanity, and more interested in the good of the individual or, rather, he does not even try to suggest that humanitys collective good can be systematically imposed by the state.  If humanity is to be good, rational and freeall of which are intimately related for Franklinit is individual self-discipline and innovation that will create the necessary conditions.  Franklin connects the ability to think and act reasonably with the cultivation of a virtuous way of being by imposing mental and physical discipline on themselves, people can become competent, rational actors in the world.    

I considered my newspaper also as another means of communicating instruction, and in that view frequently reprinted in it extracts from the Spectator and other moral writers, and sometimes published little pieces of my own, which had been first composed for reading in our Junto.  Of these are a Socratic dialogue tending to prove that whatever might be his parts and abilities, a vicious man could not properly be called a man of sense and a discourse on self-denial, showing that virtue was not secure till its practice became a habitude and was free from the opposition of contrary inclinations. (Franklin 93-94)

Here we see two key elements in Franklins conception of rationality.  First, he equates virtue (the lack of viciousness) with sense, and argues that the creation of a virtuous bearing necessitates constant and arduous self-denial.  Thus, irrationality can be reduced by the disciplined cultivation of virtue from within.  Second, we see that his methods of instruction with regard to virtue and rationality are grassroots and personal he uses his own newspaper, as well as the private debate group Junto, to disseminate his views among the people.  This fits into his general scheme of attempting to improve peoples lives by communicating with individuals directly, through literary methods characterized by personal wisdom and self-exposure.  Franklins popular publication Poor Richards Almanac, for example, functions as a proper vehicle for conveying instruction among the common people (Franklin 93).  While Jefferson would not necessarily disagree with the marriage of sense and virtue, he sees educational and moral discipline as a social undertaking involving the creation of laws and the molding of individuals by the state.

Franklin and Jefferson both place a high value on the individuals right to think freely, especially with regard to religion, and agree that rational thinking leads to a truer understanding of the world.  Neither seeks to coerce people into rationality, though each, in their different ways, is interested in improving society by discouraging unreasonableness.  Jefferson takes a top-down approach to such discouragement, calling on the state to adopt policies that, through education and exclusion, will create a rational and secure society.  Franklins program, by contrast, is centered on the primacy of individuals, whose specific complexes of needs and experiences require personalized modes of achieving virtue and reason.  This is reflected in the thinkers different methods of approaching irrationalityJefferson through law-making, and Franklin through literary and personal channelsas well as in their different modes of self-critique.  While Jefferson critiques the potential corruption of the government, arguing that the point of sowing rationality among the people is to subvert such corruption, Franklin critiques his own character, suggesting that he views irrationality as primarily a threat to individual human development.

The Iliad and the Odyssey are two of Homers greatest works. The Iliad is the story of Greeces siege of Troy to take back Helen from Paris who took her from Menelaus. The Odyssey describes the journey that Odysseus took and the suffering he had to endure to get back to Greece and his return to his household because the Greeks had angered the God Athena who asked for help from the Poseidon.
           
These mythological stories will then be related to the events concerning Saddam Hussein during the Afghanistan war during the 1990s, The Vietnam war and also the recent Afghanistan war where the America was one of the main players. This paper will relate these wars using the two mythological stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey but will primarily focus on how they relate to the characters of Achilles and Hector.

Iliad
The Iliad of Homer basically is concentrated on the events that happened during the Trojan War where the main and pivotal character in the story is Achilles. He was the best warrior of Greece in the war second to none. As long as he was in the field of battle, the Greeks had the upper hand against the Trojans. The Greeks rallied behind him and the Trojans feared him.
             
After nine years when they first set foot to lay siege to the Trojans, there was a conflict between the chieftains since the god Apollo was angry at them for taking the daughter of one of his favorite priests. The argument came up when they found that the only way to appease the gods anger is by giving back the girl to her father. The problem was that Chrysies was the trophy of Agamemnon and he was greatly displeased by this that he wanted to take the Trophy of the Greek hero Achilles, the maiden Breisis. Achilles saw this as an insult and promised not to join in the battle and start heading home.
             
Without Achilles, the Trojans were winning the war. It was not until Patroclus died that Achilles returned to the battlefield in order to exact vengeance from the one who killed him, Hector. Hector knew that fighting Achilles would result in his death. He faced Achilles in a fight where he eventually lost. When Achilles won, in his desire to exact vengeance from the killer of Patroclus, he desecrated the body of Hector by tying his body behind his chariot and parading his body for everyone to see. This symbolized the beginning of the fall and ruin of Troy.

Eventually Hectors father, Priam, the king of Troy went alone to the Greek camp in order to ask Achilles for Hectors body back so that they would be able to  observe the funeral right. The Greek hero agreed and also promised that there would be a stop to the fighting while both armies honored their dead. Achilles was then also killed when the battle resumed.

Odyssey
The Odyssey is the account of the journey of Odysseus after the Trojan War. It started from the desecration of one Athenas temple by the Greeks. The goddess went forth to tell Poseidon of the wrong that was done against her and Poseidon agreed to help her exact her vengeance. He created a storm that laid waste to the Greek army who were going home. Many Greeks died on that storm and those who survived were driven out of their course which made their journey all the more difficult. One of them was Odysseus who had to suffer long years before being able to get home.
             
After the storm Odysseus and his men landed on the land of the Lotus eaters where they were welcomed by its inhabitants. The only problem is that it seemed like their food was enchanted since those who have eaten it had lost all desire to go home and only wanted to eat the flowers given to them. Odysseus even had to drag those men back into the ships in order to continue on their journey. In their next destination, they encountered the Cyclops and son of Poseidon, Polyphemus. They lost a number of men there but in the end managed to escape by blinding and tricking the Cyclops. This again garnered them the wrath of Poseidon where he promised that Odysseus would not be able to get home until he suffered for a very long time and not until he has lost all his men. Next they traveled to the island where Aeolus, the keeper of winds, was where they were treated kindly and hospitably even almost assuring them a safe journey by trapping three other winds that might cause them disaster. The problem was that Odysseus crew opened the bag and set loose upon themselves the raging winds. Those that survived this ordeal had to suffer landing in the country of the Laestrygons, a people of great size and who also practiced cannibalism.

Odysseus ships were attacked by these people even before getting into the harbor where he lost all his other ships except from the one that he was on. They again travelled and reached the realm of Circe, a witch who was able to change the forms of the men who were under her spell. Odysseus, with the help of Hermes, was able to avert this disaster by eating an herb that made him immune to her enchantments. Circe, having her enchantment failed transforming Odysseus into an animal fell in love with the hero where she was even willing to change his men back and help them get home. She taught Odysseus party how to get home through the help of one of the dead Theban holy men named Teriesias. He instructed them how to call him forth from the underworld and they did so making them also able to talk with various other individuals. They decided to leave when they realized that more and more souls were coming to talk to them. From there, they travelled to the land of the sirens whose voices were able to victimized the poor sailors. They managed to safely get pass by putting wax in their ears in order for them not to hear their enchanting song. Odysseus ordered the men to put wax in their ears but also to tie him tightly to the mast so that he could hear the sirens song. After their ordeal against the sirens, they had to pass the passage of Scylla and Charybdis. They managed to get through but not without losing 6 other men. They landed in an island where the Suns sacred ox was. While Odysseus was away, his crew butchered the ox and ate it because they were hungry which directed into them the wrath of the Sun. Here Odysseus lost all his men and became shipwrecked in the island of the nymph, Calypso.
             
He stayed there for a number of years until Athena, pitying and once again remembering how fond she was at him, implored the gods to help him get home. The gods sent word to Calypso to set him started on his journey home. They made a very strong raft and he went on his way. He was about to reach land but then Poseidon saw him and conjured up another storm to prevent him from reaching it. Luckily, another goddess was there to help him and gave him instructions on how he would survive the ordeal. When he reached land, he was tired hungry and naked. He made himself a place to sleep until a group of womens voices woke him. Incidentally, one of those women was the princess of the Phaeacian people. They brought him with them where he was treated kindly and hospitably and allowed to meet the king. The king, after hearing his story, arranged matters so that he could get home.
             
He reached Ithaca and there he was met by Athena who helped him plan how they could get him home. They decided to transform Odysseus into an old beggar so that he may be able to travel around without being recognized. He stayed with his swineherd and eventually made himself known to his son. They made plans to remove Penelopes suitors by force.
             
Penelope thought of how to choose from the suitors thinking that Odysseus might not be coming back ever. Her idea was to make them use her husbands bow and arrow and make them shoot it through twelve rings. Telemachus recognizing the opportunity that presented itself urged it on and made preparations for the battle that is to come. Eventually the one-sided battle was fought and Odysseus was finally home.

Character Analysis Achilles, Hector and Odysseus
According to accounts of Achilles in the Iliad, we can see that he was a person that is greatly controlled by his emotions, specifically those that of his pride and rage. His wrath was given the term Menis which shows that his wrath was different from those others. This was particularly shown in the way he reacted against Agamemnon and Hector who he saw wronged him. His wrath is one that could not be easily appeased. His wrath against Agamemnon caused the lives of many warriors who were depending on him he even lost the life of a good friend in Patroclus where his anger now was directed against Hector. His menis against Hector was shown by killing then desecrating his body and his memory by dragging and parading it in the presence of the Greek and the Trojan Army alike. The Iliad also tells us of accounts in which he sacrificed the lives of twelve Trojan men in the funeral of Patroclus. He is a character that is torn by his desire for glory and his desire to live a long life. He chose the life of glory and the immortalization of his name through accounts of his deeds but at the cost of some of his humanity since he was consumed by his pride, anger, bloodlust and wrath during the war. Some could even go so far that his menis was that of madness where it became more difficult to recognize whether or not his feats were acts of heroism or acts of barbarism.
           
Hector on the other hand was an individual that seems to be more composed and controlled but he was also proud and a little bit arrogant. There were also times in which he acted rash and impulsive that shows that he too has flaws as a leader and as a warrior. There are times in which he was shown to exhibit acts of cowardice but his decision to go back and face his fears is one of things that makes Hector an inspirational character. His fight was a fight unlike that of Achilles and the other Achaeans since his fight was to protect his country and his family rather than a fight to achieve glory or vengeance. He can be depicted as a man who, despite his own odds, fears, shortcomings and knowing of his doom, still fights for the country and the family he loves. He is a character torn between duty and cowardice where his choices to stay with his duty and fight for Troy where he was given various chances in which he could have escaped with his family.
             
Odysseus is a character whose nobility and cleverness stands out in most parts of the Iliad as well as in the Odyssey. His character was that of a person who is greatly attached to the idea of honor and resourcefulness and tragic happenings where hopelessness and powerlessness is usually seen. His ability to make it out of the various situations he was involved in which he could not have overcome by his and his mens own skill but rather through intellect is his most distinguishing factor. He is also a character torn between two ideas namely the idea that of Kleos or glory seeking and that of Nostos home seeking. Throughout the Odyssey this was shown as apparent since there are various things that would have made their journey easier but because of Kleos, his journey have become more difficult than it had to be. The idea of Kairos or the opportune moment seems to be greatly attached to him since he was a calculating and thinking character where time and opportunity was always created for him. Among the three characters discussed in this paper, he was also the one who enjoyed Xenia or the concept of guest-friendship the most. His Travels led him to different lands where he was either faced with the hospitality of Xenia or the dangers of Xenos, the vague concept of being a foreigner in a strange land or place where they are not supposed to be. In Xenia, there is a duty between the parties while in Xenos, there is none and individuals are free to do as they please.

Homers works and the American Conflicts Gulf War, Vietnam War and the Afghanistan War
The Vietnam War was the oldest war among the three. It is also called the Second Indochina war and it was fought during the cold war (1959-1975). The war was between North and South Vietnam where the North was supported by communist allies while South Vietnam was supported by the US and its allies. This war was won by North Vietnam with South Vietnam accusing the US for not being able to follow through with their promise of support. This war was fought in order to contain the spread of the communist influence in Asia. This event could be compared to the idea of Xenia of Greek culture where the US owed South Vietnam a certain responsibility especially since it had promised security, protection and aid. Apparently, South Vietnam would not have fallen if only the US continued their support. The role South Vietnam as the host of the Democratic ideals should have been enough to have garnered for them the support of the individuals who they were supporting. Also, during the fall of South Vietnam, many of those who supported the American Ideals were left there to suffer without being given help. They were essentially left to their fate. Only a number of the southern Vietnamese that were employed by the Americans were able to escape with them.
             
The Gulf war in the 1990s is a war which aimed to remove Saddam Hussein and Iraqi Troops from Kuwait and prevent suffering further damages. This operation was headed by the US in which they were able to successfully achieve their objectives. There were several points of conflict in this event and one of them is the violation of the Kuwaiti territorial integrity.  Another is the question of the control of the world oil reserves in which the whole world was depending on that moved the world into action. Another is the apparent human rights violations by Saddam Hussein and his regime. The war started when Iraq invaded Kuwait and began to threaten to invade Saudi Arabia. Two military operations were important in this conflict and that was Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert storm. These two operations were central to the victory of the coalition.
             
The recent Afghanistan war was a reaction against the events of 911 where the US World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacked and caused numerous casualties as well as exposed security gaps. They justified this war as destroying terrorist haven and breeding ground as well as to continue the search for the mastermind of the 911 bombing, Osama Bin Laden.
             
These three events we can relate the US to the Greek idea of Kleos or its attempt to look for glory as well as Menis especially in the recent Afghanistan war. The US can be better compared to the character of Achilles and Odysseus whose search for Kleos has become their most driving factors. We can compare US to Achilles in terms of military might was far surpassing that of the countries they have faced and the reaction of their people during the times of war. They might have seen the events of the three wars as insults to them where they were wronged and have responded in kind. They lost the Vietnam War because of the anti-war sentiments from their own country which we could attribute the concept of Nostos that can be found in the character of Odysseus. Also, like Odysseus they capitalized on the different opportunities, Kairos, which was presented to them. It seemed as though the three wars discussed in this paper could all have been avoided if the US did not instigate or aggravate matters more. We can see that their search for Kleos have had positive effects especially in the Gulf War. The Vietnamese war was primarily a fight for glory and the recent Afghanistan war is the manifestation of the Menis of America.
             
The idea of Hector can be seen better in the Vietnam war where the Vietnamese people are just protecting themselves from outside influences. They were protecting themselves from the threat of being invaded by the bigger, stronger powers around them. The Afghanistan war on the other hand might have been closer to the idea of Hector especially in when the US had already won the war and US refused to call back their troops which results in conflict between the two countries.  Like the Vietnamese and the Afganistan peoples, Hector was fighting for his homeland and his right to live peacefully. The US was fighting for glory, power, conquest and control.  The writer could not say the same for the Gulf war since they were fought with Kleos in mind, Saddam Hussein, being that of the conqueror who wanted to control the Holy places of Medina and Mecca but whose real motives seemed to be that of the control of the worlds oil reserves.
           
The US Achillean leaning have caused both good and harm. The wars that US instigated had produced numerous casualties in both their side and those that they have chosen to intervene on. They search for their Kleos and certain fabrications of events and information to create for themselves Kairos pushed those with them to act, otherwise, some of these conflicts could have been avoided. The US, arrogant and powerful as it is, has caused unneeded suffering for themselves and also for their enemies but without which would not have gained its place as a world superpower.
             
If only the US practiced more Hectorian principles they might not have needed to go through and inflicted so much suffering. If only they had chosen to protect those that are important, where they chose to be more defensive rather than offensive, many lives could have been saved but they would have lost their glory. Perhaps if only the US did not care so much about glory and power, these wars could have been avoided.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, among all historical literary figures is the one most attached to nature. His poems and other writings are living testaments to his devotion to nature. He had lived in the forest, communing with nature and had come up with various literary works inspired by that experience. But he did not confine himself solely to poetry, instead also ventured into discussing his other thoughts particularly in Idealism and Spirituality and the importance of Nature to the two ideas. This world is a world where nature is combined with the achievement of a genuine state of spirituality, whether it is directly or indirectly is not a question the point is there is a very strong link between nature and the understanding and achievement of man of hiss spirit.

In Chapter 6 entitled Idealism, Emerson begins a philosophical gymnastic about truth and the challenges in verifying it. Truth is something internal but we can only make external measures. He said that our senses can deceive us, but that propensity of being cheated by our own body parts and understanding is dismissed immediately because we refuse to accept the fallibility of our senses. The question whether nature is an independent entity or something solely dependent on mankind remains to be a question as Emerson regards it as a force so mysterious that not all can comprehend. He said that We are not built like a ship to be tossed, but like a house to stand.

Then begins the thorough discussion of Emerson about his ideas on Idealism, he begins with the changes brought about by development and technology and its repercussions. Through the advent of invention and innovation, more and more devices and apparatuses are created for need and for luxury. Whether these are meant to help, aid or make our lives easier is out of context, the heart of the matter is the more we invent and the more acquire materials and objects which are not originally part of nature, the more that we become separated from it (nature). This separation creates a sense of autonomy and freedom for us it makes us think that no matter how much change had happened and will happen mankind will always be in command, that we will always remain stable.

His next argument was his admiration and flattery for the poet as he is the only one who gives justice to the beauty and splendor of nature. He begins to talk about the beauty of imagery and other forms of speech which often use nature as reference. He says that the poet creates symbolism thus making it more meaningful and creative. The Tempest, one of William Shakespeares most famous plays was used as example by Emerson. There was a significant emphasis on the  view about time, where Shakespeare defied the norm that time is liberating in the Tempest he actually said that time is restrictive and much like a cage that hinders two people from being together.

Emerson also provided a comparison among the poet, the scientist and the philosopher. While all three of them share a passion to explore, to create and to make human life better they differ in cause and in concern. The poet is largely interested in beauty  the beauty of language, the beauty of events he had experienced, the beauty of his dreams which are about to come and of course the beauty of the world in general, in which a great amount is allocated to nature itself. The philosopher however, is much concerned about the truth, the nature of things and the existence of all things of how the world and everything in it came to be, whether physical or metaphysical. Emerson said that while both the poet and the philosopher would like to achieve a state of spiritual stability, the philosopher has a greater chance to be lost along the road since his thoughts can be deceiving. I would like to go back to the first part of the Chapter where Emerson said that there are things comprehended by our senses which could be wrong but refuse to accept or even consider wrong, in that trap the philosopher is highly to fall. But the fate of the scientist in Emersons discussion is even worse as they rely on abstraction. They do not recognize the need for physical observation or physical interaction. Since they are scientists they would rely more on intangible ideas than beginning with something tangible or at least examine nature itself.

It only goes to show that nature is mans first taste of the world. All the basic information that man needs to be able to understand him and the world he lives in begins with nature as it is the most tangible. The existence of nature is a mystery therefore there is a sense of spirituality that has to be achieved.

According to Emerson, the opportunity to be a genius or an expert in a specific field is a gift given to few. As being an icon or reference in a certain discipline requires much work, experience and study there is a limited number of people who are able to achieve that stature. However, Emerson notes in high regard that despite the limitations of being a genius, all men, women and children have the capacity, ability and opportunity to THINK. This concept I would like to relate again to the first part of the Chapter where Emerson said that the independence or dependence of nature remains unanswerable, this is like a quest for everyone to think and analyze so that there may be someone who will be able to answer. He has high regards for nature but he also recognizes the gifts given to mankind.

In the last part of the Chapter, Emerson goes to refute religion and spirituality As religion and spirituality often connotes that the body and the world are evil, because they are worldly. Emerson also criticizes the belief that the only truth there is, is religious or spiritual truth. Nature arrives at a second-rate level truth where it is no longer regarded as it should be (based on Emersons standards, as he has extensively high regards for nature).

Emerson finishes the Chapter by his circle demonstrating the relationship of people and nature. He emphasizes that there is a Supreme Being greater than nature and man combined therefore he affirms the presence of God as the source of man and nature. He also stresses that contemplating universal ideas can bring one person into metaphysical consciousness (this he is referring to transcendental policy).

In Chapter 7, He regards that there is a force so mysterious that the difficulty of understanding it requires a force greater than human comprehension. However, we as humans feel the force to research and or analyze nature but no matter how hard we try we always arrive in a rather mediocre result. This tells us that Emersons regard for nature is so great that it encompasses the magnificence of mankind, the ability to think of man as man cannot grasp the essence of nature ergo natures mysteries could be something of truthfully great properties that not all men can comprehend.

Emerson examined three questions
What is the matter out of which nature is made
In this part Emerson referred to the philosophy of idealism, where matter, contrary to the customary belief, is regarded not as a substance but as a phenomenon. Therefore, nature is something that does not belong to us or better yet nature is not something that is part of us because we have to experience it, and in order to experience something it has to be apart from ourselves, either an object or an event.

Where did the matter that is nature come from
Emerson regards nature as a force which tries to express itself to us. He begins to talk about a force that is responsible for the creation, pro-creation and re-creation happening to us and our world. And because of this force nature, mankind and spirit no matter how different from one another is united.

Toward what end did it come
The unifying spirit that binds mankind, nature and the rest of the worlds dynamo is what keeps the process of creation revolving, but there is also a line in which Emerson said We are now so far from the road to truth. This tells us of the excesses we have created and brought to this world. In reference to Chapter 6, the innovation and invention we have created for ourselves are the largest forms of walls that separate us from nature. And surely, there will more inventions in the future, it had begun and to put a stop on it will be impossible the technological revolution is what keeps us away from the road to truth. When Emerson lived in the forest, he survived with the most basic resources, this is probably the source of his stand that the more we invent, the more parted we become from nature.

George Berkeley was most famous because of his Theory of Immaterialism, a theory which he claims that humans can only know sensations and ideas of objects but not abstracts like matter. Throughout the discussion, Emerson touched on some points exalted and made famous by Berkeley. In the middle part of Chapter 6, in the comparison among the scientist, the poet and the philosopher, he implied that the person in worst state is the scientist because it is relying largely in abstraction. Scientists especially mathematicians refuse to study or begin a study with observation or anything tangible and this misleads them from finding the truth because their way of spiritualizing the physical world through mental process begins in a wrong point.

These points raised by Emerson matches greatly with George Berkeleys Theory of Immaterialism. Both Emerson and Berkeley believes that to be able to arrive to truth, one must begin with something tangible, in the case of Emerson he was more particular on where to begin, which he clearly stated that one must begin with nature. However, with Berkeley, he was more particular with where not to begin as he said that individuals can only comprehend sensations and ideas of objects but never abstracts. He never mentioned that one must begin with nature, but the two thinkers and their thoughts collaborate.

Both Berkeley and Emerson understand the importance of nature in determining a mans understanding of himself, his spirituality and the world. The concept is therefore supported with facts that to be able to understand something it helps that one has experienced it already or had a concrete experience of it. The senses are highly linked to nature as it is bridges the humanity of man and the mysteries of nature, though there may be no immediate results there is light in communing and trying to reach out to nature as it plays a great part of our composition as mankind.

The charm of Miltons Paradise Lost lies in many aspects language, scale, skill, imagery, but more so in the ambiguity regarding who is the real hero of the poem Adam, the Son of God, or Satan. Critics are baffled and divided on this subject and consider Satan to be the kind of hero who has not only challenged the norms of heroism but who has more importantly enthralled the audience. He is not just a hero but has the grandeur of an epic hero. This is because Miltons portraiture of Satan is based on qualities the audience can identify and sympathize with, for instance, his desires, reach, and frustrations. According to Werblowsky, Miltons Satan is somehow not satanic enough, his qualities are of a sort which defeats his satanic function in the poem (xvi). Thus, Satan is not entirely good or evil but rather embodies a dual complexity.

It can be said that Miltons Satan is the embodiment of Aristotles hamartia. He carries shades of Prometheus and Icarus. His pride and defiance happen to be his tragic flaws. Despite his bitter and defiant streak, he shows an acceptance of his circumstances and the resolve to move ahead when he declares Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven (I. l. 263). All is not lost the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield (I. 105-111). This makes him a tragic yet heroic figure. In fact, Satan is the embodiment of Miltons own passion for liberty when he exclaims that outside heaven, he and his followers would be free from tyranny at least (Hanford 150). The declarations of his tormented soul and vexed mind seem almost human The mind is its own place, and in itselfCan make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.What matter where, if I still be the same. (I. ll. 254-256). He then resolves to accept evil for his own good. He has moments of doubt and recrimination when he analyzes, Is there no placeLeft for repentance, none for pardon left (IV. ll. 79-80), he realizes then that he cannot turn back and must forge ahead So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear,Farewell remorse all good to me is lost (IV. ll. 108-109). Satan has heroic insight which often leads to despair, and yet he realizes the need to remain true to his ideals and notions, even if they are misguided, and no matter how high is the price. Satan exhibits a profundity of thought and intellectual depth, yet he gets misguided easily.

Examining Miltons God and his untraditional portraiture actually holds a key to the appeal of Satan. Miltons God is unfriendly and wrathful, demanding absolute and unquestionable subservience from his subjects through granting blessings or damnation. Satans defiance in questioning Gods divine ways and wisdom leads to His wrath and Satans subsequent expulsion from heaven. In many ways, Satan is challenging Gods absolute monarchic rule and arguing for a democracy and rule of co-existence, which makes him very modern and contemporary. Satan organizes his band of rebel angels on a community forum and seeks their advises and opinion in plotting against God By what best wayWhether of open war or covert guile,We now debate who can advise, may speak (II. ll. 40-42). He even asks for volunteers for implementation of his plans rather than forcing them, and on finding no volunteers, he himself decides to take the lead. Thus, in contrast to God, who wants His will to be obeyed at all costs and without any questions, Satan cuts a more just and democratic figure. Satan can be called a pursuer of knowledge, as he raises legitimate, bold and honest philosophical questions regarding the origin of all beings and their limits Being created in Gods image, why is it wrong for humans to aspire for equality with God Therefore, an impartial audience can not help but admire Satans tenacity, boldness and logic, his single-minded pursuit of his goal, and his leadership potential.

But Satans interpretation as a traditional hero in Paradise Lost doesnt go far as, in the end, he neither prevails nor achieves his goal. In fact, Milton went on to show a gradual degeneration in Satans character and even countenance. The disfigurement of his countenance, which results from his inward strugglecarefully marked by Milton as evidence of the manner in which the soul transforms the body for better or worse to its own essence (Hanford 157). After being sent into a perpetual exile, he becomes deceptive, rebellious, or hateful. His excesses against Adam and Eve are in response to the violence committed against him and his party in shape of their expulsion and creation of Hell. More so, Satan and the angels both display very human traits.

They give in to the common temptations and sins that human beings usually encounter and struggle with, such as pride, vanity, greed, lust, and gluttony. The more he persists in his plan of revenge, the more one worries about the consequences of his actions and the intensity of his retribution. Satans charismatic and valiant attributes are more evident in Books I and II when he is able to show off before his followers but by Book IV, his confidence and resolution are seen ebbing. In his soliloquies, Satan reveals much of his inner torment and self-doubts. Through the transformation in his character, Milton makes us aware of his fallibility and the odds he is pitted against him.

Through portraying Satan in human colors, Milton has created a figure which fascinates it readers and critics more than it horrors them. Instead of justifying the ways of God to men, Milton has exactly done the opposite i.e., making his audience think beyond the given and predetermined. Satans predicament is highly identifiable with what we, humans, encounter every day in this world our doubts, limitations, struggles, injustices, despair. The knowledge Miltons Satan seeks and the questions he asks are the kind we might have contemplated upon at some point in our life.

Hearts Needle and Orpheus by W. D. Snodgrass Reflections of an Era and an Authors Passion and Artistry
Peoples personal lives, experiences and trials have always been seen in literature and in several other forms of art such as paintings, music and film. Based on a general observation, it shows that a persons personal feats and trials still serve as one of the most moving forces or influence in his or her craft. A lot of authors in the field of poetry and literature such as Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell and Anne Sexton have been known for a particular genre where authors tend to emphasize delve on real-life experiences. These experiences may range from the loss of a loved one, a heart ache, a failure at a job, a venture, a dream or a successful adventure. Through extensive studies on this specific leaning or genre during the latter part of the 1950s and towards the dawn of the 1960s, this literary style has been identified as Confessional Poetry. And aside from the abovementioned authors, another name was able to stand afloat among the millions of writers in this field. He is William De Witt Snodgrass. Snodgrass who has been known over the years as a writer of themes that delved on public and private ideals and concepts has been considered to belong under the Confessional movement. Two of his works, Hearts Needle and Orpheus were also seen to depict some of the most interesting manifestations of this genre. Hence, in line with the general aim of exploring the connection of these works to the era of the authors genre, this discussion shall delve on analyzing main themes employed in these works, and how these themes related and connected to the authors perspectives as well as to the era of the Confessional movement from where he was seen to belong.

Who is W. D. Snodgrass
Snodgrass name has already made a considerable attention from the critics and readers alike during his poetic generation, 1950s onwards. His works were seen to appear in some of the worlds most prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, The Hudson Review, Botteghe Oscure, The Paris Interview, as well as the Partisan Review. Apart from this, his works and authorship has already been reviewed by some of the most renowned critics and authors themselves just like Robert Lowell   to whom his writing was mostly compared. This, apart from the incontestable reviews from avid readers make Snodgrass an interesting and author whose works may have had considerable impacts on the lives of his readers.

William De Witt Snodgrass was born in a humble village in Pennsylvania on the 5th January, 1926.  Though his family was not really that affluent to support Snodgrass high aspirations, he was nevertheless granted by his parents a good education which gave him a reliable foundation for the attainment of his dreams in the field of literature. Just like any other young man in his generation, Snodgrass was also required to enlist in the army for quite a while. After successfully getting out of this feat alive, Snodgrass gathered all his experiences and views of the war within himself and aimed for higher education in the University of Iowa. Right after graduating from this University, Snodgrass immediately ventured into poetry which is his first original passion. In 1959, he was able to publish his first poem Hearts Needle, and this immediately earned him recognition from the renowned Pulitzer Prize in the following year.

Aside from his innate literary mastery, Snodgrass was also known for his contributions in the foundation of the Confessional movement in poetry. As what has been mentioned earlier, Confessional poetry is a genre which emphasizes on the personal perspectives of the authors. The movement emerged around the late 1950s and the early 1960s and was associated to some equally renowned artists such as Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell and Anne Sexton. Snodgrass was considered as part of the movement as most of his works were seen to delve on personal experiences, emotions and perspectives. The Academy of American Poets has one of the most comprehensive explanations of what Confessional poetry. As what is states in the Academys official site, in Confessional poetry,

 Private experiences with and feelings about death, trauma, depression and relationships were addressed in this type of poetry, often in an autobiographical manner   The confessional poets were not merely recording their emotions on paper, craft and construction were extremely important to their work.

Snodgrass Hearts Needle and Sonnets to Orpheus are just two of his most reviewed works. In Hearts Needle, the authors emotions on pain and somber about war and childhood. As per the author himself, each line corresponds to a certain part of his life, as well as to a certain aspect of his view and perspective about life. Though most people easily find this reflective of their own life and experiences, the large reality is that is a complete reflection of the authors views and perspective about the particular themes and messages it displaces. Just like the aforementioned poem, Snodgrass Sonnets to Orpheus also talks about the major views and beliefs of the poet just like how the authors views were reflected in Hearts Needle.  In this collection, Snodgrass talks about his views on religion, supremacy and the different wonders and mysteries of life. Though most of the poems were drawn upon the persona of Greek mythological characters such as Orpheus and Eurydice, the message and the context of each sonnets were nonetheless built upon the perspective of  the author and his generation. Basically, though these poems speak about general ideals and concepts that encompass a lot of worldly issues and predicaments, it can still be observed that these works were patterned from the authors personal emotions and sentiments. Hence, as clearly as it looks, Snodgrass can indeed be considered under the Confessional movement in poetry.

Hence, Snodgrass has indeed been able to successfully establish his own place within the four walls of literature. Over the years, he has earned his own recognized name through the positive remarks of his critics as well as of the most prestigious institutions like New York Times, The London Magazine and the Pulitzer Prize. His poems have earned him a much coveted identity in contemporary poetry. In Stand, a critique, David McDuff notes of Snodgrass, Like other confessional poets, Snodgrass is at pains to reveal the repressed, violent feelings that often lurk beneath the seemingly placid surface of everyday life . Apart from this, The London Magazine has also spoke of the Snodgrass flexibility and well-roundedness which still added to his credibility and identity as a poet and author. The London Magazine notes,  Snodgrass is a vistuoso, not just of versification but of his feeling. He sends them round the loops of self-analysis with the same skill he uses to corset them into his poetry.  Clearly, Snodgrass has indeed been successful in establishing his own name in this field. His works are continuously being common subjects of critical review and analysis in the academe. Most of his works were seen to hold both private and public expressions of contemporary views and opinions. Nonetheless, these works were still seen to represent the general view and perspective of the authors generation and society. Hence, the succeeding discussions shall delve on analyzing the theme employed in these works, and will try to find out how these works became critically applauded despite their reflection to personal and private views and experiences of the author.

Hearts Needle
Hearts Needle is an enduring depiction of a mans struggle and pain of keeping his child by his side. In this poem, Snodgrass shares how painful it is to be kept away from his child despite his wanting to become a good father and provider. The following lines depict an incontestable suffering and agony from a father who is yearning for his childs attention and love
 By love I could not still
By fear that silenced my crampled mind
To that cold war where, lost, I could not find
My peace in my will
All those days we could keep
Your mind a landscape of a new snow
Where the chilled ,tenant-farmer finds, below
His fields asleep

In these lines, Snodgrass expresses how painful it is for a father to be kept away from his own child due to his career, as well as due to the blows of predicaments that he is currently experiencing in his marriage.
As clearly as it looks, these lines were greatly influenced by the authors personal struggles and hardships as a father and as a man who was once tied up to his career to the extent of complete absence as to his obligations and responsibilities as a father and as a spouse. During Snodgrass days, marriage was still as sacred as how it was before the foundation of divorce. During those days, separated couples were seen as failures to their commitment and to their children. Hence, it was clearly understandable that the author held such kind of struggle and pain while being amidst all the challenges of his marriage. And as what was expressed in the poem, one of the most bitter consequence of this event was the enforced decision to be away from his own daughter. If this poem will be seen as plainly as a person reading another persons letter, one may easily see such kind of expression as mere ranting of ones failures as a father. This could have easily trashed Snodgrass poem as people will not want to read about rants. However, it became a success despite the fact that it talks about the authors personal feelings since Snodgrass was actually talking about the universal dilemma of a broken marriage. It is themes like this which has made Snodgrass popular during his time. Raisor (1988) considers this ability of an author of tackling universal ideals as  walking through the universe  as the author is being gifted with the ability to learn of universal emotions and thoughts that can be used to catch a readers attention and interest.

Apart  from this, Snodgrass also tackles another universal emotion in this poem. Just as how he was
frustrated as a husband, it appears that one of  Snodgrass greatest failures and frustrations in life is that of being a father to his daughter as well. In the following lines, the authors neediness of his child and her affection was clearly expressed
 And the miniature painted train
wails on its oval track
you said, Im going to Pennsylvania
And waved. And youve come back
If I loved you, they said, Id leave
and find my own affairs
Well, once again this April, weve
come around to the bears
punished and cared for, behind bars,
the coons on bread and water
stretch thin black fingers after ours.
And you are still my daughter.

From these lines, Snodgrass yearning of fulfilling his roles and functions as a father to his daughter was very much apparent. He evidently wished he could join his daughter as she played toy trains, as well as to join her when she wanted to go places. Obviously, the author wanted to escape from his affairs and professional obligations just so he could give his daughter some worthwhile time. However, the distance and coldness between them were indeed inevitable. The reasons why the author had to be separated from his child were indeed inescapable considering his current affairs and obligations during his time. Again, although it may easily be assumed that this poem is a plain act of ranting about the authors struggles and dilemmas during a particular point in his life, it can be observed that such an issue can be considered as a universal ideal.

Fatherhood, just like motherhood, and having a family is a universal thing. Almost every single man on this planet becomes a father at a specific point of their life. And although not all becomes a dedicated and a loving father, it can nonetheless be easily assumed that all father would understand and relate to the feeling of having an offspring from his own body and blood. In the context of this poem, although the author may not appear like a very committed and dedicated father to his daughter   as what their distance and time spent together may show   he was nonetheless filled with pain and sadness by the fact that the chance of being a father was taken away from him. And as what can be generally observed, parenthood is a universal concept as well. Parents, regardless of the kind of relationship they have with their children cannot deny the fact to themselves in any way that their children will always be part of their individuality. Hence, considering these realities, it can be assumed that the reason why Snodgrass poems worked despite the fact that most of it appeared like his personal expressions of frustration and anger only, is because the themes and ideals tackled in such confessions were actually universal concepts to which a lot of readers easily relate to.

Sonnets to Orpheus
Sonnets to Orpheus just like the abovementioned poem, Hearts Needle is another portrayal of the authors dynamic and complex life. In this poem, the author mentions two of the most interesting love tandems in Greek mythology, Orpheus and Eurydice. Basically, this work is all about the struggles and the challenges that the author went through in his first marriage. The work talks about the ups and downs, the dilemmas, the difficulties as well as the pains and miseries of a broken relationship, but in the context of Orpheus character. In the beginning of the poem, Snodgrass already takes the readers into the dimness of his first marriage by creating a scene which was supposed to have been taken by Orpheus and Eurydices characters. Snodgrass notes,
 But with their listening. Bellow, shriek and roar
Seemed little in their hearts. And where had been
Scarcely a hut to take that in before,
A Shelter, hidden from their dark desiring, Having an enrtyway whose timbers
tremble   You founded temples for them in their hearing.

In these lines, the words such as shriek, roar, dark desiring and timbers tremble can be easily associated to bitter and cold relationship which can also be associated to a failing and dying marriage. Orpheus and Eurydice are two characters from the Greek mythology who belong to one of the most undying tales of love ever told by Homer. However, just like some of the love stories in Homers work, this tale of Orpheus and Eurydice was also subjected to a bitter end. Hence, it is quite understandable that Snodgrass chose to utilize these characters in depicting the bitter end of his first marriage.

As what has been said earlier about the aforementioned poem, Hearts Needle, this work by Snodgrass   though it mentions specific characters from another work   may still appear like a complete ranting and expression of the authors bitterness and anger about his own failed marriage. The above cited quote as well as the rest of the poem basically captures the authors emotions and sentiments as to the reasons and factors why his love and commitment to his spouse faltered despite his previous dedication to her. Hence, people could have just treated this work as another pubic expression of sorrow, guilt and bitterness but instead, readers and critics alike actually considered this as work as one of Snodgrass most valuable piece of work.

If it is going to looked at closely, this work,. Just like the poem discussed previously also tackles a universal tendency and ideal which is divorce, or breaking up. Similarly, it talks about heartache, and misery out of love that can be considered as some of the worlds most famous subject matters when it comes to art like music and film. Also, considering the fact that marriage was actually seen more sacred during Snodgrass time, it may also appear like people sought stories like this just to assure themselves that divorce and separation are naturally occuring phenomena that have to be accepted by the society eventually. Hence, these may be regarded as the basic reasons why despite the incontestable fact that this poem appears as the authors personal expression of his private emotions and affairs, it was nonetheless accepted and patronized by readers since it delves on a universal ideal and concept to which a lot of people can easily relate to.

In his play Pygmalion Bernard Shaw examines the affordability of middle class morality from a variety of perspectives and asserts that middle class morality is selfish, egoistic, restrictive and even hypocritical and hence not really affordable. Alfred Doolittle, who is the writers voice in the play, states unequivocally that he cannot afford middle class morality as it constrains his free roaming spirit and prevents him from living his life fully. When he is declared to be the most original moralist at present in England (Shaw, 70) and is thrust-- unwillingly--by Higgins into this middle class society, he suffers for it. It is his lower class morality that is sharply contrasted with the middle class values of the Eynsford Hills, Colonel Pickering and the Higgins to show that middle class morality is really unaffordable.

Doolittle at the start of the play is exploitative and unscrupulous and ready to exploit the middle class morality. His awareness prompts him to approach Higgins with a simulated concern for his daughter that ill hides his intent to blackmail.  He is sure that the middle class morality of Higgins will shrink from exposure and hence, is sure that his gambit would succeed. However, when Higgins exposes his fraud, he is perfectly willing to sell his daughter for five pounds for Regarded as a young woman, she is a fine handsome girl. As a daughter she is not worth her keep (Shaw , 37). He argues that he had growed her big enough to be interesting to the two gentlemen (Shaw, 37) and therefore he deserved to claim his rights as her father. While this leaves Pickering indignant and bristling with middle class righteousness, Alfred Doolittle is unrepentant.  He asserts that he cannot afford morality as morality is only the middle class excuse for never giving me anything.

Interestingly, the morality of Alfred Doolittle, Colonel Pickering and Professor Higgins are sharply contrasted in the play. Alfred belongs to the lower class and transitions gracefully into the middle class fully conscious of what he is giving up. Higgins belongs to the middle class but does not even fit into it comfortably.  He lacks manners and is not a gentleman. He is cold, selfish and ego centric.  Higgins does not see Eliza as a woman or even a human being. She is just a bunch of squashed cabbage leaves, a creature (Shaw, 70) to be transformed into a Duchess.  Colonel Pickering is the perfect middle class gentleman who treats even a flower girl like a duchess. At the end of the play, while Alfred Doolittles newly acquired sense of middle class morality prompts him to marry his missus, Higginss morality does not even attempt to recognize the fact that Eliza has feelings and that she is a human being worthy of respect for her achievements. Even when he tries to persuade her to return, he is only conscious of his own needs and not hers. The middle class morality that Eliza acquires proves expensive to her.

The character of Alfred Doolittle also draws the readers attention to the fact that the middle class is hypocritical. Alfred Doolittle is perfectly happy about being part of the undeserving poor (Shaw, 37).  He refuses to take ten pounds from Higgins as it will give him the responsibility associated with middle class morality and will destroy his sense of freedom. Higgins is forced to demand of him Dont you have any morals man(Shaw, 36) and Doolittle answers simply that he cannot afford it. Even when he transitions from the lower class to the middle class and dines with duchesses, he does not forget his roots and remains comfortable with their butlers too. On the other hand, people like the Eynsford Hills are ashamed of their poverty and struggle to hide it. Clara runs after painters and artists and pretends that their poverty does not exist. Though Freddy, keeps a flower shop with Eliza at the end of the play he remains Mr. Frederick Eynsford Hill, Esquire(Shaw, 93) in private. They never learn to accept their circumstances and live life with the full blooded freedom that is characteristic of Alfred Doolittle. Eliza transformed into a middle class woman cannot relate to her links anymore. Her only friends are Higgins and Pickering and later Freddy.

When Alfred Doolittle declares at the end of the play that the middle class morality claims its victim, he is actually underlining the theme of the play.  Dress and speech may make an individual from the lower class into a person of the middle class, but does it change his or her morality It appears that it does.  Each one of the characters is conscious of the middle class morality that binds them and keeps them chafing under its restraints.

Death of the salesman is one the most renowned play by Arthur Miller and is considered to be a milestone in English literature. The play had been published in the year 1949 after the Second World War. The play is based upon the journey of an individual in the pursuit of achieving fulfillment of American dream. The main theme of the play is to understand the crucial path that leads to success. The author Arthur Miller has written the play on the basis of certain assumptions including dignity is worthless if a system is followed with closed eyes and American dream is not about success but loss of individuality. This paper is based upon the argument whether the assumptions of disillusioned American dream is correct or not. The paper also discusses American dream as viewed by the American society.

American Dream
The author has pronounced the story on the basis of American dream that prevailed in the society after the Second World War. American dream sustained the idea of the people that they would get a social stability and better living standards. The reason why people took American dream as an opportunity to elevate because a great deal of people in the upper level class society of American society accepted the American dream and as a result got major achievements such as prosperity, more wealth. While on the other hand people from the lower and middle class did not get equal opportunities. Instead of making the society a better place for living, American dream contributed in failures of practice notions and ethical codes for upheaval of society. Arthur Miller describes that Willy Loman worked all his life to attain wealth and riches to fulfill his dreams for his family. A number of symbols and motifs have been used to describe different dimensions of the story revolving around the characters of the play such as abandonment, dignity, American dream, loss of social values and family ethical setting etc (Cardullo).

Contextual Pointers
The author has defended his account in the play on the basis of failure of Willy Loman in the struggle to get a better living standard. Arthur Miller had elaborated the disgraced American dream by characterizing and projecting Willy Loman as a protagonist of the story. He elaborates that the relationship among the man who works with constant dedication and dignity without understanding the corruption of mind around him tends to get nothing in result. The author had appointed the tone of being cold and hopelessness regarding America dream due to the fact that American dream did not in any case help Willy in attaining a better standard of living (Miller).

The play does not only reflects the assumption of negative impact of American dream on the dignity of man but also on the family values and notions that had prevailed in the society Willys life kept on loosing the American dream because he could not understand the rules of society. The author defends his assumption by referring to the life Willy as he got disillusioned when he could not see the plantation of seed going well. Here plantation of seed had been used as a symbol by Arthur symbolizing Willys constant hard work to nurture his two sons with perfection. The gap became massive between the father and sons. The reason behind the expansion of gap between them was due to fact that American dream lead to the lost of individuality.  Both the sons Happy and Biff became ruthless as they experienced their fathers adultery (Rosinger). That is evident in the book when the author quotes, I am not a dime a dozen I am Willy Loman, and you are Biff Loman(Miller 132).

Arthurs assumption reflects correctness according to the frame of projection of protagonists life. Arthur Miller further elaborates that Willy wanted to achieve enough wealth for his sons so that they would not have to live a life fully of disparity as Willy did because of his father. Willy at the last years of his life was able to bring food at the table for his family thus he started to plant vegetables. Planting vegetables is a motif used by the author indicating the inability of Willy to achieve success as a salesman. The protagonist of the play is Willy Loman who had been projected as a person who had tried to live his life with dignity but the end of the day he represents those who could not achieve better for himself and for his offspring. Willy dreamed of a life where he could have achieved better living standards by working as a salesman. The character Willy Loman lived all his life to fulfill his American dream as mentioned in the book, Hes a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine and when they start not smiling back- thats an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and youre finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesmanis got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory (Miller 138). The title of the play The Death of a Salesman signified to the same concept as discussed above (Rosinger).

The conclusion of the life of Willy turned out the opposite of what he strived for. In the pursuit of achieving the American dream, Willy became psychologically hit as he could not succeed. Outside factors or in other words demand for social status from within lead Willy to live with constant distress. The traumatic mental hit that was experienced by Willy affected him because what he believed became his own mistake. Willy was his own culprit as he believed on the system to the extreme as persuaded by his brother Ben who abandoned Willy in a very young age to get better business opportunities (Miller).

The thought that evokes the reader of the play is to open eyes to the reality. It is more important to become realistic than becoming Willy who owned a home, expensive appliances, raised sons to contribute to the American dream which was more a myth and democratic agenda.

American Dream and Literature
Arthur Miller is not the first writer who had highlighted and pointed the failure of American dream. A great deal of journal articles, books and critiques had been published by various authors and renowned sociological writers for the same purpose. On the surface the assumption provided by Arthur Miller works as a national ethos but in real it was just a political agenda or democratic agenda to promise prosperity to those who were left abandoned in the Second World War. The assumption of failure of American dream had also been used by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his literary work, The Great Gatsby. After the Second World War, American dream became the common subject of economist, sociologists and literary giants (Cardullo).

Concluding remarks
Hence on the basis of the analysis of the major character Willy and the story of Death of a Salesman, it can be concluded that the journey of Willy in the pursuit of achieving American dream turned into a crucial path for him that resulted in disparity and failure as a father and a salesman. Therefore, the argument of the correctness of Millers assumption regarding the American dream could be justified as correct. American dream was observed to be nothing but a democratic agenda to play with the minds of people.

Then current president of the United States of America, president Barrack Obama argues that through the reformation of the health care, the American economy will strengthen. I do concur with him on the matter. Rising costs of healthcare are stifling Americas small businesses, and the president believes that by reforming the health care system, these businesses and the economy in general will be strengthened. It is clear that these small businesses are the ones creating half of the new jobs in the America, but they also pay up to 18 more for the very same insurance plans as any other large businesses (Mike, 2009). Health insurance reform is integral to laying a new foundation for our economy so that small businesses can grow and create new jobs.
All Americans have expressed concerns about the cost of health insurance and other medical expenses. The United States spends about 16 percent of the countries gross domestic product on health care, significantly more per capita than any other nation in the world. America is the only industrialized country that does not mandate access to health insurance for all citizens.

Most Americans receive health insurance at a subsidized cost through their employers, and many Americans like the insurance they receive through this way. However, in an economic environment in which some of the Americans are concerned that they may lose their jobs, many of these people may also have worries of loosing their health insurance cover. Moreover, small companies do not provide insurance for their employees, and insurance purchased independently can be significantly more costly to individuals than that provided by their employer. The US government provides assistance through Medicare for those aged 65 and above in age and Medicaid for those with low incomes. In addition to all these, about fifteen percent of the US population does not have insurance (Robinson, 3). However, some of the uninsured are temporary and others who can afford insurance choose not to purchase it.

The president argues that by reforming the health care, the country would have been saving a lot in terms of expenses and this will therefore strengthen the economy. He further says that he needs a health care system in which all the people can have insurance coverage, whether young or old, poor or rich, but he does not mean that the united states will switch to a system that is being used many countries in Europe and in Canada in which citizens are automatically given taxpayer-supported insurance. He proposes that every American can have a health care cover and this can be achieved in so many ways. It is crystal clear that the American economy can be strengthened by employing the best health care system. Huge health expenditures account for a high percentage of medical expenses for private insurers (Herlinger, 22).  The Obama plan would compensate the employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they guarantee such savings are used to reduce the cost of workers premiums.

The president suggestion of reforming the health care system will also help a lot of patients in America through supporting disease management programs. It is clear that 75 of the total health care money is spent on patients ailing from one or more chronic conditions for instance diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. It would be required that providers that participate in the new public plan, Medicare or the Federal Employ Health Benefits Program utilize proven disease management programs (Kluchin, 7). This will improve quality care, give doctors better information and most importantly lower the costs. This lowering of costs in health care will mean expenses are lowered and thus strengthening the economy as there will be more money to do other projects.

Over 133 million Americans suffer from at east ore chronic disease. Aggregately, this will cost approximately 1.7 trillion dollars yearly. In the reform of health care agenda, the president offers to support implementation of programs and encourage team care that will improve coordination and integration of care of those with chronic conditions. This will require full transparency about quality and costs (Babbin, 15). The reform would require hospitals and providers to collect and publicly report measures of health care costs and quality, including data on preventable medical errors, nurses staffing ratios, hospital-acquired infections and other disparities in care. Health plans will also be required to disclose the percentage of premiums that go to patient care as opposed to administrative costs.

The new reform of health care would reduce costs through electronic health info system. Most medical records are still stored on paper. This makes it hard to coordinate care, measure quality or reduce medical errors and which costs twice as much as electronic claims. In the health care reform, the president will invest  10 billion a year over the next five years to move the US health care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including the electronic health records, and will phase in requirements for full implementation of health information technology (The Daily Mail, 10). Further in the reform, the patients privacy will be protected.

The new health care reform will reduce costs in the insurance and drug markets. The insurance business today is dominated by a small group of large companies that has been gobbling up their rivals. These changes were supposed to make the industry more efficient, but instead premiums have skyrocketed by more than 87 . In the new health care reform, companies will be stopped from abusing their monopoly power through unjustified price increases. This plan will force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of premiums for patient care instead of keeping exorbitant amount for profits and administration (Umang, 56). This will promote wealth distribution as the rich will pay more premiums and the poor little premiums thus making the economy grow stronger.

Finally, the reform on health care would ensure lower prescriptions to drugs. This is the second growing type of health expenses Americans spend a lot of money to buy drugs. This is because pharmaceuticals companies in America are dominating other companies in the world. The new reform will allow Americans to buy their medicine from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and the prices lower outside the U.S. it will also be repealed to the ban that prevents the government  from negotiating with drug companies, which could result in saving as high as  30 billion in a year (John, 39). Finally, the president will work to increase the use of generic drugs in Medicare, Medicaid, and prohibit big name drug companies from keeping generics out of markets. All these programs will ensure cutting of expenses on health care that will finally make the American economy strong.

Health reform legislation now before the congress would begin to slow healthcare cost growth, the outcome employers need most. It would do so by conveying that business as usual and by directly changing incentives for higher quality and more efficient care. In addition, investments in health information infrastructure and data on what treatment work best for what patients will benefit all payers, private and public. And in the long run, it is the America that will benefit, by having its economy stronger than ever.