The Socio-Economic Link Between Town and Country Essay example -- Karl

Nowadays, nine tenth of the global population are residents of cities. This implies that urbanization reduced modern world to a state where the vast majority of population dwells in the urban areas. Nevertheless, peripheral regions constitute a substantial segment of a state`s socio-economic pattern. One of the most prominent philosophers of the nineteenth century, Karl Marx, in his extraordinary 1848 political treatise The Communist Manifesto, wrote, â€Å"The bourgeoisie has subjected the country to the rule of the towns. It has created enormous cities, has greatly increased the urban population as compared with the rural and has thus rescued a considerable part of the population from the idiocy of rural life. [†¦] it has made the country dependent on the towns† (366). In fact, Marx establishes the idea that bourgeoisie by exploiting proletarians of rural areas encourages an essential social and economic inequality between town and country. Contrariwise, Ad am Smith, one of the most influential economic thinkers of the eighteenth century, in his distinguished 1776 work Of the Natural Progress of Opulence, asserted, â€Å"The great commerce is that between town and country, which is obviously advantageous to both† (351). Inherently, Smith states the concept that country and town exist in a ‘mutual and reciprocal’ socio-economic causation and consent, in which both participants succeed in a relevant mode. To sum up, there is a significant discrepancy in Marx`s and Smith`s opinions. Specifically, Marx maintains that the country is obliged to submit to the absolute dominion of the town, or, by means of Smith`s formulation, ‘the gain of the town is the loss of the country,’ and oppositely Smith argues that there is country modifying... ...nt mode, whereas Marx suggests that in these circumstances the country acts as a defeated party. Particularly, Smith might agree that there is inequality in lifestyles between country and town, nevertheless this inequality is determined not by the town exploiting the country, but is created by the disproportional distribution of opulence between them. The other disagreement manifests in the idea that despite Marx suggests that urban lifestyle is more acceptable than rural, Smith asserts that rural lifestyle is ‘original’ and more preferable for the ordinary citizen. However, despite obvious dissensions between Marx`s and Smith`s argumentations, generally they converge to the ideological balance, since, both Marx and Smith agree that the nature of socio-economic relationships between town and country is fundamentally positive for the general population of the state.

Loneliness †theme within Steinbecks ‘Of Mice and Men’ Essay

Loneliness is the theme ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck. He describes loneliness, and secluded lives of men who work on the ranch. George and Lennie who together share a dream, their partnership of farming their own land. Mutually they partake in a relationship so rare, travelling so many miles together building independence upon one another. Lennie’s loving puppy-like character has its advantages and disadvantages. His natural simplicity is also considered as naivety, which in many cases leads to disaster. For instance he reverts to fighting when he can’t get his way ‘Crashing back through the bush.’ This proves his childish qualities and immaturity. As with George who adopts a father figure role is by far more realistic, sensible and reliable. He’s independent suggesting that ‘I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you no my tail†¦live easy and get a girl.’ Alone the two would not survive the cruel ways of the world but together as where one lacks the other gains building a strong companionship. We discover further information about the lonely lives of specific characters living on the ranch from chapter two onwards. Steinbeck at the beginning of chapter two sets the scene. He illustrates the deserted spread of land of which, Lennie and George come across ‘the ranch.’ They encounter an unfamiliar face by the name of Swamper, a crippled old man who introduced them to the bunkhouse and discussed Whitey a former worker. Whitey was a blacksmith, was strangely hygienic and kept himself to himself. He had the tendency to dress-up even when he wasn’t going anywhere ‘put on a necktie even’ as the swamper described. He had recently quit as he had an issue with all food. This I feel shows a life of very small meaning. I can’t imagine anyone who is completely fulfilled to pick at food for the reason of just because? ‘Gimme my time.’ This I think is Steinbeck showing some evidence of loneliness. A man could be so desolate that he would look to find any excuse to make a fuss, to be noticed. He seemed to create the excitement in which he lacked so desperately, dressing up on any occasion possible a reason to wake up each morning! A character in the story that experiences loneliness is the swamper also known as Candy. A friendly and elderly man, who has worked at the ranch for many years. He stays at the bunkhouse with a dog as a companion. Candy and his dog are inseparable. Candy depends on the loyal hound, and they have shared many happy times together. Later on in the story, Candy’s dog is forced to be put down for the reason that the rest of the workers disagree for the nasty and decayed mutt to be kept alive. The workers constantly complained of the redolence of the dog However, Candy and his dog were literally attached by the hip and the stench had become unnoticeable and became part of Candy he ‘had been around him so much †¦ I never notice how he stinks.’ This I think explains part of Candy’s loneliness that without his dog there is a great emptiness within him. George and Lennie soon befriended Candy after the death of the dog, proposing a chance to go into business together. This seems like the opportunity of a lifetime to Candy, his hope for companionship and a secure job to rely on. His destiny to find fulfilment in many respects has come true and will do any thing in his own power to make sure it’s not taken away from him. Another character that is lonely is Curlys Wife an attractive woman with full rouged lips and wide spaced eyes, heavily made-up. Fingernails painted red, hair hung in little rolled clusters. She was known to be flirtatious with a bitchy personality, a terrible reputation. Curlys Wife had seen life as a disappointment failing in her life’s goals ‘coulda been in the movies’ said so frequently and her bitterness towards anyone who was happier or more successful than herself. She is found picking on those less fortunate than her as when she made the remark ‘They left all the weak ones here,’ clearly it obvious that the comment was meant to be offensive. A reason for all this cruel behaviour may be loneliness Curlys Wife has no friends and a husband that ignores her. He never seems to be around ‘Any you boys seen Curly?’ He’s usually in a hoar house or out with the guys. Although, extremely over protective of her. The ranch workers had little respect for Curlys Wife by speaking of her as something of Curlys, no importance she often feels that she is never wanted. Curlys Wife discovers Lennie’s desire of her in which she takes of advantage of. For once there is someone with an interest of her ‘I get lonely†¦ I never get to talk to nobody.’ When Curlys wife hides behind the make or makes rude remarks it could be because she’s insecure within herself, lacking confidence so when she puts people down it makes her feel better. The character that experiences the most loneliness is Crooks also known as the Nigger. He is crippled from a damaged spine resulting in an odd shape figure (hunch back). He is described to have ‘eyes deep in his head †¦ his lean face was lined with deep black wrinkles, and thin pain-tightened lips which were lighter than his face.’ Crooks lives alone as around the time the story was set to be in there were race issues causing discrimination, which was unfortunate for Crooks. Over the years of working in such a secluded environment Crooks seemed to have become bitter and nasty warning people away ‘Don’t come where you’re not wanted’. Crooks seemed to talk to no one other than Slim ‘a real skinner he looks out for his team.’ Crooks respected Slim, as he was the only one who would treat him as if he were a human being. You learn about Crooks when Lennie approaches him in his bunk. At first he is completely against the idea and tries to worry Lennie with the thought that George maybe hurt or unable to come back ‘Spose he gets killed, or hurt so much, he can’t come home.’ This was poof of Crook’s evil way of thinking leaving Lennie’s mind running crazy but he shortly reassures him saying he will come back, no need to worry. We discover later that Crooks lived a happy childhood playing with the white kids from next door. He also had close relationships with his brothers. It was later on in life that the harsh world ended up him living such a lonely life. He is self-conscious, believing no one to ever like him so when he meets Lennie and discovers he actually takes interest in him, he is shocked and even suggest to help in the assistance of the business between George, Candy and Lennie when he over here the discussion between the three.

Harriet Jacob s Slave Narrative Essay - 1271 Words

In the 19th century, The Cult of Domesticity governed women’s actions. The ideology claimed that women were naturally designed for tasks within the home and advised a conservative agenda for female social behavior. The restrictive image of true womanhood was enforced by men in the lives of all women – free or enslaved, black or white. Embodying piety, purity, domesticity and submissiveness was the only socially acceptable way for women to exist in society. This is why Harriet Jacobs made many of choices she did when recounting her life story in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Like Olaudah Equiano, Fredrick Douglass, and many others, Jacobs’ narrative was criticized by literary critics of past and present. Yet Harriet Jacob’s slave narrative was challenged more than slave narratives written by others because she does not adhere to the idea of true womanhood. Though criticism and controversy surrounded Equiano and Douglass’s narratives, Jacobsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ narrative was the target of particular misunderstanding by scholars. Incidents is unlike other slave narratives – the main character knew who her parents were, there were no obstacles to her literacy, and she successfully escaped slavery on her first attempt. The escape story, which involves Jacobs living in a small attic for seven years and having misleading letters sent to her master, is outrageous in itself. Additionally, the most glaring aspect of Incidents is the fact that none of the characters existed by the names thatShow MoreRelatedThe Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave And Harriet Jacobs s Incidents994 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the eighteenth century, many fugitive slaves wrote narratives to express their experience as a slave. Fredrick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, an American Slave and Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl are two famous examples in which the writer s demonstrate their perspective as slaves and dangerous, agonizing life. Nevertheless, there are also many dissimilarities between these narratives, including gender based treatments, main character’s firstRead MoreA Rose For A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs952 Words   |  4 PagesLife of a Slave Girl, tells the story of a slave girl named Linda Brent who fought many mental and physical battles throughout her life in order to oppose the system of slavery. This autobiography was written by Harriet Jacobs, known in the book as Linda Brent, and uses a multitude of psuedonyms in order to conceal the identity of those within the book. Harriet Jacobs had succeeded in putting forth a new, unconventional slave narrative that depicted the emotional and mental anguish slave women wereRead More Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl Essay1671 Words   |  7 PagesHarriet Jacobs wanted to tell her story, but knew she lacked the skills to write the story herself. She had learned to read while young and enslaved, but, at the time of her escape to the North in 1842, she was not a proficient writer. She worked at it, though, in part by writing letters that were published by the New York Tribune, and with the help of her friend, Amy Post. Her writing skills improved, and by 1858, she had finished the manuscript of her book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave GirlRead MoreA Comparison Of Writings By Harriet Jacobs And Frederick Douglass1718 Words   |  7 PagesA Comparison of Writings by Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass In this paper I will compare the writings of Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass. I will touch on their genre, purpose, content, and style. Both authors were born into slavery. Both escaped to freedom and fought to bring an end to slavery, each in their own way. Both Jacobs and Douglass have a different purpose for their writings. Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass were both slaves that wrote about their strugglesRead MoreJacobs Douglass: An Insight Into The Experience of The American Slave1019 Words   |  5 PagesThe slave narratives of the ante-bellum time period have come across numerous types of themes. Much of the work concentrates on the underlining ideas beneath the stories. In the narratives, fugitives and ex-slaves appealed to the humanity they shared with their readers during these times, men being lynched and marked all over and women being the subject of grueling rapes. The slave narrative of Frederick Douglas and Harriet Jacobs: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl themes come from the existenceRead MoreHarriet Jacobs s Death Is Better Than Slavery966 Words   |  4 Pagesinfluential woman of the 19th century, Harriet Jacobs once said, â€Å"Death is better than slavery.†Jacobs describes how cruel it was growing up as a woman in slavery during the antebellum period until they stopped searching for her and she was finally considered herself free. Through the twists and turns of Harriets life to understand how strong of a woman she truly was. Herein will be described the societal, cultural, and moral tasks Jacobs had to endure. Harriet was able to break through the barriersRead MoreHarriet Jacob : An African American Slave And Feminist1071 Words   |  5 PagesHarriet Jacob: An African American Slave and Feminist â€Å"Reader, be assured this narrative is no fiction† (Author). Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is her narrative as a slave who lived in a slave state for twenty-seven years before escaping to live as a free woman in New York (Jacobs preface). Jacobs’ was motivated to write her story by a deep desire to share her experience in an effort to bring to light what slavery really was, a â€Å"deep, and dark, and foul experience thatRead MoreThe Life of A Slave Girl by Harriet A. Jacobs Essay1272 Words   |  6 PagesA slave narrative is to tell a slaves story and what they have been through. Six thousand former slaves from North America told about their lives during the 18th and 19th centuries. About 150 narratives were published as separate books or articles most slaves were born in the last years of the slave regime or during the Civil War. Some Slaves told about their experiences on plantations, in cities, and on small farms. Slave narratives are one of the only ways that people today know about the wayRea d MoreThe Narrative Of Frederick Douglass1132 Words   |  5 PagesThe narrative begins with Douglass being oblivious to the identity of his father. This theme of Frederick Douglass being young and naà ¯ve is continued throughout the beginning. The idea of slaves being young and naà ¯ve is seen in almost all slave narratives. One of the ways slave owners kept slaves captive is through keeping the slaves ignorant. It is nearly impossible for a slave to escape slavery if they cannot read and write. Slave owners knew how impossible this was so they kept them ignorant,Read MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs928 Words   |  4 PagesIn her poignant autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs offers the audience to experience slavery through a feminist perspective. Unlike neo-slave narratives, Jacobs uses the pseudonym ‘Linda Brent’ to narrate her first-person account in order to keep her identity clandestine. Located in the Southern pa rt of America, her incidents commence from her sheltered life as a child to her subordination to her mistress upon her mother’s death, and her continuing struggle to live