Main Features of the Harlem Renaissance - Coursework Example

First ENG 265 - Assignment #3 Gilded Age and the Genteel Tradition The Gilded Age is an era in American history characterized by industrial growth and great prosperity; it refers to the three decades after the Civil War. The name is partly because of Mark Twain and Charles Dudley’s novel of 1873 titled The Gilded Age. In the book, the authors primarily articulate the term Gilded Age as being the experience of the middle-class of that time. On the other hand, Genteel Tradition refers to the literature that provided a moral medium in poetry and fiction during the period of post-civil war. Renowned literary characters of this tradition put emphasis on the ethical imperative in their stories, periodical literature, and novels. The difference between Modernism and Romanticism in words/language, meaning, and plot/structure. Romanticism is a literature, philosophy and art form that emphasizes on the subjective and emotional part of human nature. Romanticism writings and architecture are colorful and arouse deep feelings. On the other hand, modernism is a philosophical reaction to romanticism and majorly focuses on science and technology roles in society. Modernists disregard traditional norms and replace them with humanistic values. In modernist novels, the plot is usually unclear whereas romanticism has a clear and understandable plot. Modernists language is difficult to understand and impure while that of romanticism is pure and readily understandable. Finally, modernists tend to use a multiple points of view while romantics use a single point of view in their writings. Beginning and end of the Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance entailed the first period in U.S. history where a group of black authors and poets grabbed the opportunity to put forth their expressions. The Harlem Renaissance began with the publication of Harlem Dancer by Claude McKay in 1918. The Renaissance ended in 1929. During the period 1918-1929, there were waves of works of literature about Negroes and by Negroes. The essential differences in Washington and Dubois’s ideas Washington being an educator urged African-Americans to attain industrial education. Washington believed that trade skills would make African-Americans gain respect from the whites. Further, he held the belief that business skills were essential for the security of the economy. On the other hand, Du Bois held the belief that academic education was more critical than business education. He thought of Washington emphasis for industrial education as having the potential of confining African-Americans to the lower economic and social classes. The major difference between Dubois and Washington is their political views. Despite both of them advocating for the freedom and equality of African-Americans, Dubois exhilarated African-Americans to demand equality while Washington most a time ignored discrimination. Character Identification Editha Editha - Editha embraces the jingoistic claims of being a nationalist at the time of war. Editha views war as being a romantic pursuit. She seems war as a pursuit without complexity. According to Editha, a nation’s commitment to war presents no room for doubting and inquiry to its authenticity. Further, she externally defines honor, unlike George. A White Heron and Other Stories Sylvia – Sylvia is Mrs. Tilley’s nine-year-old granddaughter. Sylvia is a young girl moved from the uncomfortable and restrictive town. She takes pride in the freedom of the country life and the farm. A stranger who hunts and collects birds visits Sylvia’s world of natural innocence. The stranger wants to use her knowledge of the lives of birds to help him track a white heron. The stranger offers Sylvia ten dollars to help him; Sylvia takes the money but refuses to betray the birds. The Jilting of Granny Weatherall Granny Weatherall – Granny Weatherall first views herself as a gritty survivor. She takes pride in her strengths, her motherhood skills, and her ability to be in charge of a home single-handedly. Her last name is significant given that she has weathered all forms of challenges, and she cannot consider giving up the fight. A Good Man is hard to find The Misfit – Following his violent, cruel killing, the Misfit seems not a good source for one to look for guidance on moral and spiritual issues. Contrasting the grandmother, the Misfit critically questions life’s meaning and the role he plays in it. The Misfit cautiously considers his actions in life and evaluates his experiences to learn from them. The Great Gatsby Nick Carraway – Nick is a representation of the personality of Fitzgerald. He represents the reflective, quiet Midwesterner lost in the colorful East. Having traveled from Minnesota, he settles in New York with the aim of learning the bond business. Nick resides in the West Egg district of Long Island, and neighbors Gatsby. Given that Nick is a cousin to Daisy, and since he has a relationship with both Gatsby and Daisy, he is the best choice for the novel’s narration. Where are you going, where have you been? Arnold Friend – Arnold Friend is an either indistinct figure who can be human or demon, reality or fantasy. Arnold makes an outstanding entrance at the house of Connie in his gold convertible, but past his flashy car, his appearance is nowhere close to impressive. Arnold looks so strange to suggest that he is not this-worldly. He wears mirrored sunglasses and has hair so wild that it resembles a wig. The True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Rowdy – Rowdy is the son of an alcoholic and abusive father. Rowdy became famous for beating up other children to release his anger. Rowdy is protective of Junior and spends most of his time at Junior’s home. While in school, he prevented anybody from bullying Junior by sticking close to him most of the times. Junior’s transfer to a white school alters their relationship. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Prufrock – Prufrock, the speaker in the poem, happens to be talking to a potential lover. Prufrock would wish to force the moment to its crisis by consummating his relationship with his potential lover. However, Prufrock is aware of too much that he cannot dare to approach the woman. He can hear other people’s comment about his lack of adequacy, and rebukes himself for imagining emotional interaction can be possible. Discussion on the ‘The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald provides his notion of the American dream through Jay Gatsby. Jay has escalated from an impoverished childhood to a millionaire who has a big house, servants, and many friends. Gatsby epitomizes the American dream’s idea of self-made success. He is socially and financially successful, and he creates an entirely different persona from his past that is underprivileged. All the wealth acquired by Jay Gatsby makes his life the perfect definition of the American dream according to Fitzgerald. However, these elements led to his end. The culture of wealthy Americans represented in The Great Gatsby is well defined by excessive material wealth and consumerism. The book describes the American dream as the ability of one to acquire excess material wealth. When he has the chance, Jay Gatsby orients himself to flamboyance as signified in his flashy dressing style and parties. From the outside, Gatsby has achieved what seems like the American dream. However, despite acquiring the material status necessary for that impression, it was not enough, and he searched for reassurance that he was flamboyant. Donaldson comments on Fitzgerald’s novel by claiming that consumption culture exhibited in The Great Gatsby is enabled by the development of a class of leisure in the early 20th century. As demonstrated by the novel, the development of this class toppled the Protestant ethic foundations, instead replacing the values of hard work with a demonstration of idleness and luxury. By this Donaldson implies that spontaneous wealth acquired by many Americans resulted in idleness and leisure that replaced the admiration for traditional ethics like hard work. Characteristics Assigned to Modern Man in the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock There are many characteristics attributed to modern man by “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” In the poem, the reader can perceive the mental struggle that the speaker goes through. The speaker expresses his entrapping in anxiety, hopelessness, and despair. These are the characteristics assigned to modern man in the poem. Several issues such as the realization by the speaker that time is passing, he is aging, and his lack of ability to relate to women create a sense of hopelessness and despair in the poem. By claiming, “It is impossible to say just what I mean” the speaker distressingly accepts his inadequacy and gives in to them. Concerning hopelessness and despair, the speaker becomes anxious and indecisive about the future and his aging. The result is a psychological paralysis since the speaker is overwhelmed by his fear of decision- making. Despite the speaker claiming that he is “not Prince Hamlet nor was meant to be.” He resembles Hamlet given that Hamlet is equally not capable of controlling or accepting his doubts and settle on one course of action. Likewise, the poem’s speaker spiritually and mentally wanders at all times as he spends his day ” for a hundred indecisions.” The hopelessness and despair expressed by the speaker signify the characteristics of the modern man filled with doubts about life’s meaning and the role he plays on earth. The speaker continually questions himself “do I dare? And do I dare?”, And realizes that his incapability for the contact he so desires. Analysis of ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The text compares life as an Indian and life as a white American in many ways. Arnold claims, “My parents came from poor people who came from poor who came from poor people,” he goes further and explains all the way to the very first poor people. The explanation brings forth the dreadful poverty that Indians experience in America, unlike the good life that white people live in America. When Arnold opens his geometry book, he realizes the inscription of his mother’s name on the flyleaf. Arnold says, “My school and my tribe are so miserable and sad that we have to study from the same books our parents used for their studies. In addition, Arnold claims, “that is the most unfortunate thing in the world.” Arnold’s claim expresses how sadness engulfs the life of American Indians. On the other hand, when Arnold transfers to Reardan, we see the changes between this school and the previous school he attended. Reardan has a computer room and chemistry labs unlike his former school; this school is well equipped since it is full of white kids who are wealthy. The story expresses whiteness as representing better opportunities, enlightenment, and a happy life. Racism has immensely affected Arnold’s life. When he transfers school, other students call him names and stereotype him. However, with time they came to respect him after he acquired some respect from the white class bully, and he goes for a popular white girl. Arnold’s is compelled to play basketball to gain acceptance in the white club. At the end of the book, Arnold sees himself as leaving among White people, a notion he acquires only after leaving among white people and dealing with racism. Work Cited Cady, Edwin H., and John Tomsich. A Genteel Endeavor: American Culture and Politics in the Gilded Age. American Literature 44.4 (1973): 698. Read More