English :: English Literature

English A Summer’s Reading Respect is a very dominant and important factor in the story of Bernard Malamud, â€Å"A Summer’s Reading.† The reach for respect from the people around him causes a lot of dilemma within the main character, George Stoyonovic. And those dilemmas led to consequences that George hated. George, a high school drop out, can not get any job during one summer. He decides to read the magazines found at home. But when he met Mr. Cattanzara, he immediately lies about the hundred books he is reading, in order for Mr. Cattanzara to respect him as well as to be proud of him. Respect is a form of acknowledgement of one’s existence. Respect is very important to everybody. Respect also gives a person a sense of confidence that he is not a failure and contradicts the idea that he is not good enough. People want respect because they want others to know how good they are. Though everybody wants it, most people often take it for granted. The irony of it all is that people wants it so much that they would do anything just to get it. In the story, the theme Respect is very important for everybody was shown a couple of times. An example of these scenes is when George was contemplating whether or not he should attend the night classes. â€Å"He has considered registering in a night high school, only he did not like the idea of teachers always telling him what to do. He felt that they had not respected him.† He decides that since he has nothing to do at home, attending night-class would be great and it would help him catch up on the lessons he has missed. But that the idea of teachers telling him what to do causes George to think twice. He thinks that when his teachers tell him what to do or should not do it shows a lack of respect on the teachers’ part. He then feels that he is not good enough and loses confidence in himself. But in reality, when people tell you what to do, it means that they are concerned about you and that they know that you can do better but it does not really mean that you are not good enough as a person. They are actually acknowledging your abilities and your capabilities which also acknowledge your existence. George searches for respect because it is where he gets the confidence that will enable him to move on forward with his life. Another instance in the story where it shows respect is very important is when George tells Mr.

Dimmesdale the Lying Coward

Cooper Chisum Dimmesdale the Lying Coward In the book The Scarlet Letter, a character named Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale was considered to be, by most people in the Puritan community, a hero. Dimmesdale was an extremely religious man with great morals and values. Many people in the community looked up to him for his passion and truth about his religious beliefs. Dimmesdale was a very reserved man, and was thought to be an angel of God. People worshiped him, believed what he said, and looked at him as hero.Unfortunately the community was left completely devastated and confused, because Dimmesdale was a lying coward that didn’t find the strength to admit his sin. Dimmesdale knew how the community saw him and could not face the truth, so he hid it. Dimmesdale lived two different lives, one was the religious face that everyone loved and looked up too. On the other hand, when he was alone all he did was beat himself up mentally and physically.Soon the guilt made Dimmesdale weaker and weaker and he wanted to tell the truth, and tried multiple times, but he never found the courage. He allowed the guilt of lying and manipulating the people to eventually kill him all because he couldn’t deal with what the community might think. Nobody in the town imagined him committing of sin of any kind, especially one that was a huge wrong doing in the Puritan community. Dimmesdale hid a secret behind the mask he wore for the community. He had courage to commit the sin but he did not have the courage to admit it.He committed adultery with a woman, she got pregnant, caught and punished by public humiliation because of him, but he couldn’t accept the consequences. On the other hand, he was tortured not only by his conscience; he was beat down by Roger Chillingworth. Eventually Dimmesdale was destined to die because he could not survive the guilt. Surprisingly in a last show of strength, Dimmesdale admits to his sin, but dies soon after. He died and left the community , his people with no explanation.In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne, Dimmesdale proves that he is a coward by not being able to do the right thing and tell the truth. He lived a double life. He was a hero to so many people and all he did was let them down. He lost their trust and honor towards him, all because he could face the consequenses. Arthur Dimmesdale is a pathetic lying coward that didn’t have the confidence or power to make things right and follow what he preached to people of the Puritan community. He didn’t have the courage to live by everything he made other people believe in.

A Village Singer

â€Å"A village singer† portrays the internal conflict, the bitterness and responses of Candace when she was dismissed from the choir that served for forty years. The story partially points out the social norm that set down for women. In this community, women are not considered equal and have the same feelings as men which represent through Reverend Pollard and Williams Emmons. Williams Emmons is three years older than Candace, but he still holds his choir leader position. If they complain that her voice has worsened, Williams's voice logically must have the same situation as her. However, Emmons is not dismissed and remain his choirmaster position. The minister just like Candace also serves at the church for forty years. He hesitates of his speech and could not keep the freshness for his sermons. He still can stay in the church and continue his duties since nobody asks him to leave his position and gives him a photograph album. Candace indicates that all of them have the same position in the church and change according to age, but the congregation chooses to dismiss her as she is a woman. Candace's bitterness, pain, and conflict become more intense due to the betrayal of people around her. A betrayal of Emmons who had sung duets and had walked Candace home after rehearsals in Saturday night when he said â€Å"a most outrageous proceeding† for Candace action. He critics her voice with Alma and supports the dismissal. Even Candace's nephew, Wilson Ford, threats to throw her organ out of the window if she continues to disturb Alma's solo. He does not express any sympathy or even gently discuss her grief. She also feels hurt and betrayed by members of the choir since they celebrate a surprise party for her and leave a photograph album with the letter informing her dismissal from the choir. However, the way that Candace responses and against to conflict is full of anger, foolishness, disregard, and arrogance. She says that the member of the church pretends to be a Christian; however, she also goes against what the church teaches. She uses photograph album as a footstool, disturbs Alma's solo, refuses to pray â€Å"‘I don't see any use prayin' about it,' said she. ‘I don't think the Lord's got much to do with it, anyhow'† and challenge other people to stop her † I'd like to see anybody stop me.† Besides that, the story carries the message of kindness and forgiveness. At the end of the story, Candace forgives to all people who have wronged her and also ask for the forgiveness from those people. She apologizes to the minister, reconciles with Alma, and forgive Wilson.