The Origin of the Statue of Liberty - Essay Example

Number] Statue of Liberty 129 years old “Statue of Liberty” an icon and symbolic representation of America’s freedom, democracy, integrity, abolishment of slavery and development is considered more significant than a monument. It has been considered a universal inspiration and well wishing gesture of American sovereignty. Millions of tourists from around the globe visit it each year and it has been a popular and favoured back drop of many American political and private campaigns. Many American organisations still prefer to keep their logo entail it, to show their association with this epic piece of art. Statue of liberty has historical and national significance and served many purposes with diverse meanings. Statue of Liberty was created with the efforts of French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi in association with Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel was responsible for all the steel and copper work (technicalities of structure) and the rest of the sculpture was designed and produced by Bartholdi. In 1886, the prestige monument was presented by France to USA as a well wishing gesture on its Centennial Anniversary of independence. Moreover, it was given to American government in tribute to their political and military cooperation with French government during world wars (Libertyellisfoundation.org). France wanted to acknowledge its long term alliance with America in the revolutionary war, so for long term remembrance it presented Statue of Liberty to American Nation and installed it at New York Harbour, so the whole world could witness their cordial relations. “We will not forget that Liberty has here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected." —(President Grover Cleveland, 1886) (183, Khan). US President Grover Cleveland accepted this gesture of goodwill with pleasure and till today it has been well taken care of due to its national and international significance. The gesture of friendship and appreciation from France has been representing Humanitarianism, democracy and goodwill to poor masses of the world. And that is why Cleveland determined Liberty’s actual home a country which advocated freedom and humanitarianism since its inception. Historically, the task of creating this giant and classic sculpture was divided into two parts: France took the responsibility of statue creation and the pedestal with assembly of it was the responsibility of America. Both countries saw difficulty in fund raising; France accumulated its funds by various means like lottery tickets, pubic fees and through the fee of entertainment programs. On the other hand, America also experienced intricacies in collecting funds for the pedestal and used various form of auctions and charity theatre programs, art exhibitions for the funds (Centre). However, the collected amount was not sufficient for the pedestal creation and assembly of Statue of Liberty. Therefore, Joseph Pulitzer dedicated his editorial page “The World” for the sake of fund raising. He appreciated and criticized the efforts of fund collectors and providers and thus, his criticism worked and sufficient funds for pedestal were donated by Americans through his campaign. Installation of this huge statue also took time and France shipped it into 350 pieces and it took 4 months to assemble it (Great buildings). Initially, Statue of Liberty was supposed to function as a light house for the New York Harbour and that is why it was maintained and operated by US Light House Board till 1901. However, during the time of World War I, President Calvin Coolidge declared it as national monument and its responsibility of maintenance and operation was given to National Park services. While fund raising campaign for the “Liberty Enlightening the World Statue” was commencing a novice poet of New York Emma Lazarus paid her tribute to the monument in the form of her esteem sonnet “The New Colossus”. The sonnet was written in 1883 with the aim to raise funds for the pedestal as it rightly portrayed the symbolic meaning of the statue and thus, found its place in the pedestal. Now, “The New Colossus” is engraved in the entrance wall of the pedestal. As a Jewish settler in America, Emma Lazarus knew how to pay her tribute to the nation, which has welcomed thousands of immigrants since its inception. She accurately wrote the optimistic and inspirational vibe of this monument on the immigrant and other spectators. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door." (77, Sutherland). Statue of Liberty has been considered the classic project of construction and art of 19th century. It is an inspiration of Roman Goddesses of freedom, who is wearing a robe and holding a torch of light in one hand and a book of law (on which American independence date is inscribed) in the other hand. Statue of Liberty has been installed in Ellis Island and at New York Harbour, where tourists and immigrant can view it easily as soon as they enter in American domain. The monument covers almost 12 acre area of the Liberty Island and weighs about 225ton with 305 feet height. Tourists and visitors have to climb 354 stairs to view the spectacle sight from the windows in the crown. However, after September 11, 2001 attack, the staircase was locked for visitors and nobody could view from the crown of liberty. Yet, the park, pedestal, deck, museum and other affiliated tourist spots are still open for spectators to view its magnificence (History.com). Initially the torch installed in its hand was copper, but later on it was replaced with a gold torch. The green colour of the statue is due to the weather, as copper (base of Statue of Liberty) changes its colour in open air. The dress she wore is known as stola and her cloak is called palla (22, Hess). Liberty is also wearing sandals, as if she is ready to move around and share the light of freedom torch. Her crown resembles to a halo and it has seven rays, which depicts seven continents of the world and 25 windows in her crown have been considered the symbolic representation of precious gemstones of Earth (Christie). The rays on her crown are also an inspiration from Greek God, who had been illuminating rays of Sun from his halo. The illuminating 46 m long torch in the hand of Liberty has been associated with the idea of shedding light in the world. The gold torch reflects sunlight in the daytime and at night spreads the light with 16 flood lights. The broken chain close to her feet symbolizes freedom from slavery and oppression and also elimination of racism and bigotry. Nevertheless, with her left feet forward she is depicted to walk around the Earth to share the light of freedom and enlightenment with the poor and needy (25, Hess). The torch of the Liberty “the enlightenment rays” have never been extinguished except for few significant occasions. After its inauguration in 1886, it has been briefly quenched off during the World War II. The extinguishment was supposed to portray “Civil Defence” act, which was notably observed by the whole world (Globalmountainsummit.org). Statue of Liberty has been extensively associated to immigrants, because millions of immigrants entered into USA in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century for the sake of prosperity and equality. Statue of Liberty represented a cast and creed free developing society, where the key to success was effort and skill and not the ancestral background. “Liberty Enlightening the World” has been a symbol of friendship, development, abolition of slavery, awakening from oppression and bigotry with freedom to prosper as significant human beings. Work Cited: Centre, UNESCO. Statue Of Liberty - UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Whc.unesco.org. N.p., 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. Christie, Sophie. Statue Of Liberty: 50 Fascinating Facts - Telegraph. Telegraph.co.uk. N.p., 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. GreatBuildings,. Statue Of Liberty By Frederic Bartholdi At Greatbuildings. N.p., 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. Globalmountainsummit.org,. Statue Of Liberty. N.p., 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. Top of Form Hess, Debra. The Statue of Liberty. New York: Benchmark Books, 2004. Print. History.com,. Grover Cleveland Dedicates Statue Of Liberty — History.Com This Day In History — 10/28/1886. N.p., 1965. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. Libertyellisfoundation.org,. About The Statue Of Liberty - The Statue Of Liberty & Ellis Island. N.p., 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. Top of Form Khan, Yasmin S. Enlightening the World: The Creation of the Statue of Liberty. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2010. Print.Bottom of Form Top of Form Sutherland, Cara A. The Statue of Liberty. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2003. Print. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More