Langston Hughes and the Renaissance of Black Womanhood - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1073 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/07/31 Category People Essay Level High school Tags: Langston Hughes Essay Did you like this example? Born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902, Langston Hughes said, My earliest memories of written words were those of W.E.B. Du Bois and the Bible. In 1919, in an essay called The Damnation of Women, W.E.B Dubois wrote that women have been frankly trodden under the feet of men, but of women themselves he stated that None have been more sweetly feminine, more unswervingly loyal, more desperately earnest, and more instinctively pure in body and in soul than the daughters of my black mothers. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Langston Hughes and the Renaissance of Black Womanhood" essay for you Create order As caregivers, partners, muses, and leaders, Langston Hughes would continue this recognition through poems and short stories that were dynamic in their interpretations of black womanhood. He depicted them as multidimensional individuals, real in a time where where women in general were seen from an aesthetic distance as ideals. By creating women who were complex, Hughes demonstrated universal human qualities in an African American context that would transform both race and womanhood. Hughes grew up in Kansas with his maternal grandmother, Mary, after his parents separated and pursued work. Jim Crow laws and poverty shaped him into a radical writer. He graduated high school in 1919, right before the decade after women won the right to vote and the decade of the embodiment of the liberated woman in the image of the flapper. He attended Columbia University for a year and then traveled throughout Europe and Africa before returning to the states. Before he graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, he was already producing and publishing works. Moving to the burrow of Harlem, New York, changed the course of his life as well as other African Americans moving to this area at the time. Hughes became intricately apart of what is referred to as the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural explosion which brought to the forefront of American consciousness an outpouring of literary expression on black themes by young black writers. In the poem, Mother and Son, Hughes uses an extended metaphor to symbolize the personal and spiritual importance of struggle, endurance, and faith as a black woman in America. Structurally, the poem provides the folk diction and rhythm that made the mother real. The lines have varying syllabic length which simulates the inflections of black speech. By also using her as the main voice, Hughes gives her a platform to speak for herself, about her own experience. Using the metaphor of a stairway, the mother tells her son that the journey of life more closely resembles a long, trying walk up the dark, decrepit stairways of a tenement than a glide down a crystal stair. The crystal stair is a metaphor for the American dream and its promise that all Americans shall have equal opportunities. Through the metaphor of ascent, however, Hughes suggests how the mother has kept hope and faith for a life out of poverty to one of redemption. Hughes connected a natural human endeavor of progression and success with the advice from this wise mother, with the last lines reading, For Ise still goin, honey, Ise still climbin, And life for me aint been no crystal stair. The work, The Negro Mother, also uses the metaphor of of a staircase to captivate the theme of black woman humanity, endurance, and celebration. As in the earlier poem, the rhythm results in a simulation of black rhetoric. The reader becomes aware of the longevity of black suffering in America- three hundred years. During this period, unmentioned experiences forged the dream like steel in the mothers soul. The fervor of this dream gave birth to a determination. Consequently, the dream also inspired her to survive a valley filled with tears and a road hot with sun. Although she has been beaten and mistreated, and warns her offspring that racial restrictions still exist, her spirit has endured. The mother overcame the selling of her children, her inability to read and write, the everyday labors of working in fields, all while having no safety, no love, no respect Nevertheless, the will of the mother tries to inspire and motivate the children of future generations, Oh, my dark children, may my dreams and my prayers Impel you forever up the great stairs For I will be with you till no white brother Dares keep down the children of the Negro Mother. In the poem, A Song to a Negro Wash-Woman, Hughes also resinates humanistic sentiments. Though it is not in the specific voice of a woman, it recognizes and celebrates the many that worked for white families. The work describes the type of chores and long hours that African American working women endured to get by and provide for their families, I know how you send your children to school, and high school, and even college. I know how you work and help your man when times are hard. I know how you build your house up from the wash-tub and call it home. The poem also reveals the secret of black art: the ability to transform suffering into good: And Ive seen you singing, wash-woman. Out in the back- yard garden under the apple trees, singing, hanging white clothes on long lines in the sun-shine. In conclusion, Langston Hughes seems to be determined to not only show himself, but women as individuals. His portraits do not show them as passive victims, but as people who are trying to make the best choice from the few options available. Focusing on the poor and displaces, using grittier language, often in black dialect, he still manages to embody African American women as a positive and active concept of womanhood, despite maybe her low speech and probable life of poverty. By using ugly images and sometimes ugly language, Hughes shows the rest of society the type of extent prejudice that black american women faced. Hughes used the recognition and renaissance of female back consciousness to echo his wishes of the world. He believed that the elevation of black women were inseparable from racial progress, and by showing them as more complex, more real, and less as symbols of sexuality, Hughes promoted an idea in which women were celebrated as taking control of their futures despite having racial and gender limitations. If he did not show black womanhood as beautiful, he did show them as having a degree of power. Hughes expressed, in a time that was deeply racist and segregated, that African American women were not only exceptional, but were human. They deserved respect.

The Aspects of Love in Twelfth Night Essay - 633 Words

The Aspects of Love in Twelfth Night The main theme in Twelfth Night is love. It is announced at the beginning of the play ‘If music be the food of love play on’ and from this you know that love will be a main aspect in Twelfth Night. In Elizabethan time ‘love’ as we know it today was very different. You could not love anyone outside of your social status, marriages were almost always arranged on how the social status could improve the current standing of one partner i.e. one partner had lots of money, land or influence. In Twelfth Night there are many different kinds of love to list a few, filial love, unrequited love, Lust, Courtly Love, True Love, Ambitious/Selfish love. There are†¦show more content†¦This is the set up of many situations, such as the meeting of Olivia and Viola in which Olivia falls very quickly in love with Cesario ‘even so quickly may one catch the plague’ this is an example of unrequited love, or the ‘melancholy lover’ a melancholy lover is a lover which suffers from his/her love. The other example of unrequited love is again because of mixed Identities, Viola the other ‘melancholy lover’ in the play, loves Orsino but Orsino cannot return that love because he thinks she is a man so never would think that she loves him, but she also cannot reveal her love to him because she would then have to reveal her true identity, which cannot be revealed until the right time. Cesario/Viola talks about how she knows how Orsino feels because â€Å"My father had a daughter loved a man,† Viola talks to Orisno about how her ‘sister’ loved a man that The very formal love is shown in the way that Orsino attempt to woo Olivia with the suitors sent from him with messages which says how perfect she is and how his love is in a very flowery way, â€Å"my love, more noble than the world† but such a lack of lust and such a idealised view of love, it seems that Orsino is more in love with the idea of love rather than an actual living being. This is Similar to the way Claudio worships Hero and puts her on a pedestal at the start of Much Ado About Nothing, she is perfectShow MoreRelatedThe Impervious Perception of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night1631 Words   |  7 PagesIn the kingdom of Illyria (fantasy world), Twelfth Night was supposedly originally written for the entertainment of Queen Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare’s comedy associates with the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th) and was means for entertainment in the seventeenth century. It contains some aspects that can be thought of as a successful comedy w hen compared to the standards of today’s society. The play incorporates some of the very same devices that are used in modern comedies today, such as topsy-turvyRead MoreThe Twelfth Night: A Happy Ending? Essay1501 Words   |  7 Pageswith a marriage or a celebration in the final scene. The â€Å"Twelfth Night† is no exception to this rule. Despite problems of confused identities and sexualities, the play ends with marriage for the major characters because they â€Å"have learned enough about their own foolishness to accept it wisely, and their reward, as it should be, is marriage.†(Schwartz 5140). There is a resolution of harmony to a certain extent and an endorsement of romantic love yet despite the happiness evident in the last scene, thereRead MoreThe Importance of Carnivalesque in Twelfth Night1312 Words   |  6 PagesThe Importance of Carnivalesque in Twelfth Night The theory of Carnivalesque was presented by a Russia critic Mikhail Bakhtin, his theory proposed that the nature of Carnivalesque liberates the assumptions of the higher class through humour and chaos, in other words the nature of Carnivalesque mocks the behaviour of those higher in authority and presents them as an everyday fool whereas in reality they are regarded as far more intelligent than others and they rarely possess a foolish thought,Read MoreAnalysis Of The Article Twelfth Night 998 Words   |  4 PagesThe introduction of Twelfth Night, written by M.M. Mahood, provides a cultural setting for readers to better understand the play. Although Mahood wrote the introduction for Twelfth Night, the information also allows readers to appreciate the magical freedom that A Midsummer Night’s Dream encompasses. Mahood delves into the cultural significance of Puritanism early in the 17th century through the character of Malvolio. Although Twelfth Night is a comedy, the pre sence of morally strict PuritanismRead MoreThemes Of Social Mobility Through Marriage1655 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper critically analyses the theme of social mobility through marriage in Shakespeare’s play ‘Twelfth Night’. In addition, the paper highlights how different characters in the play got into higher social classes or desired to be in higher social classes through marriage. This paper holds that in a highly stratified society such as that presented in the Shakespeare’s play; marriage plays a significant role in in social class mobility. As opposed to some traditional society where marriage wasRead MorePlot And Action In Twelfth Night By Shakespeare1527 Words   |  7 Pagesplay Twelfth Night, there are a couple of key aspects within the dramaturgy of that play that, to this day, still confuse me. William Shakespeare. And what may those be? Molià ¨re. For starters, in Twelfth Night, there seems to be no unity of time, place, or action. William Shakespeare. Go on. What’s your point? Molià ¨re. My point is that the characters are so unpredictable. They all have their own agendas, each on their own journey of self-discovery. And this episodic structure of Twelfth NightRead MoreRole Of Female Characters In Twelfth Night1608 Words   |  7 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the female characters have a strong constitution specifically Olivia and Viola. The play begins with a shipwrecked Viola who decides to disguise herself and go under the assumed name of Cesario. Viola Cesario falls in love with Duke Orsino who is in love with Olivia. The Duke asks for Cesario to woo Olivia for him however Olivia begins to fall for Cesario. Later, Violas twin brother reappears, and Olivia mistakes him for Cesario proposes to him. In theRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Much Ado About Nothing 1240 Words   |  5 PagesNothing, Twelfth Night, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and A Midsummer s Night’s Dream. In the year 1600, Shakespeare wrote the play Mu ch Ado about Nothing. Later the following year, in 1601, Shakespeare wrote a Twelfth Night. In many ways these two plays are similar with the aspects of the differences of power between the upper and lower class, betrayal between friends and lovers, and tricking people into love, are relevant topics reiterated throughout these masterpieces. In the play Twelfth Night, The lowerRead MoreEssay on Disguises and Mistaken Identity in Twelfth Night1372 Words   |  6 Pagesidentity and disguise are important aspects of comedy in Twelfth Night that stand at the forefront of the play’s comedy. Not only are mistaken identities and disguise evident within the main plot of the play but also in various other situations. Sexual confusion amongst characters, subversion of gender roles and farcical elements through stagecraft all effectively contribute to the dramatic comedy genre. However, it can be suggested that certain elements of Twelfth Night are not interpreted to be purelyRead MoreThe Importance of Madness as a Theme in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare629 Words   |  3 Pagesas a Theme in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Madness is a very important theme that is present in the whole course of the play Twelfth Night. Firstly, we have Malvolio almost turning mad because of the cruel joke the other servants play on him. They make him think he is mad and they also make Olivia think he is mad because of the funny way in which he is acting. There is also the theme of mad love. Some examples of this are Orsino being madly in love with Olivia

The portrait of a real man in modern society Free Essays

The portrait ofa real man in modern society Life has always made great demands on man and these demands change unrecognizably as years go by. For instance, all that was required of a primitive man was the ability to hunt well, whereas modern people have to combine different complicated roles. We live in a dynamically developing world where everything Is planned down to the minute. We will write a custom essay sample on The portrait of a real man in modern society or any similar topic only for you Order Now All the systems of todays society function together and men are just â€Å"cogs in the machine†. And yet these â€Å"cogs† must be flexible, intelligent and active. But on the other hand, our lifestyle offers some benefits as well. For example, meeting numerous challenges gives you the sense of achievement and raises your self-esteem. But If our world today Is so diverse, Is there a unified Image of the real man? This question troubles many people and a great number of them try to find an answer to it. To my mind, one of the most valuable qualities today is intelligence, which allows one to fulfil one’s duties, get and analyse information and come up with effective solutions. But Intelligence alone Isn’t enough to make a successful person. creativity and Imagination are quite Important qualltles ppreciated by todays employers. In such a highly-developed world as ours man should be capable of inventing new methods of doing routine things. That’s why discovering your talents Is becoming more vital nowadays than ever before. Having an activity that you are good at can brighten up your life and, what’s more, protect you from all the temptations which can attract idlers so much. Furthermore, they say, â€Å"A sound mind in sound body’. That’s why all the qualities listed above are Inseparable from physical fitness. Many people nowadays attend gyms or work out by hemselves In order to stay fit and healthy. Another pastime which Is gaining popularity is extreme sports. Daring people go in for mountaineering, surfing, bungee jumping or other risky activities to see how far their limits may go. However, this tendency isnt as admirable as It may seem, for many people put their lives at risk lust to fill the emptiness In their souls or minds with adrenaline. Speaking frankly, I’d rather they took up something useful for the society instead. Everybody knows that our world today is full of problems – global and local, major and minor, and people ith an active life position cant but think about the poor, the homeless and the disabled. The majority of us have understood the importance of charity, volunteer work and fighting against such social evils as alcoholism and drug addiction. To sum up, a real man should possess all the qualities which I have mentioned. In my opinion, one of the examples ofa real man of the 21 st century is Chulpan Khamatova, a gifted actress whose talent Is unique and lustrous. She Is also known for her unprecedented social activity which draws public attention to the problems of children with cancer. In the year 2006 Chulpan became a co-founder of a charity fund â€Å"Gift of life† which helps children suffering from oncological diseases. She manages to find time for charity work although the actress’s profession Is extremely hard and , besides, she has three children of her own to take care of. Of course, not everyone can live up to todays expectations and it has always been a hard task to meet the demands of the society. No one is perfect, but we can try to develop all tnese good qualltles In ourselves, as ellow once put It, â€Å"All are arcnltects 0T Fate working in these walls of Time†¦ â€Å" How to cite The portrait of a real man in modern society, Papers

Professional Business Code of Ethics

Question: Describe about the Professional Business Code of Ethics. Answer: Employee Conduct Commitment towards the Customers Each and every employee of the bank asks for consultation from small scale businesses and consumer associations to incessantly work to improve the service standards and its banking practices. The employees encourage enhanced decisions regarding their banking services by furnishing effective revelation of information and by explaining to the customers about the banking products and services. All employees should act honestly and convincingly towards the customers in reliable and right manner. Compliance with Laws The bank and its employees complies with all the laws and regulations related to banking services. Retention of Customers Rights Under this code of conduct, the customers can retain their rights which they have under territory, state or federal laws. Customers with Special Needs The employees of the Commonwealth Bank appreciate the needs of customers with physical impairment or older person to experience their banking services and take equitable actions to improve their banking experience. Serve Customers in Isolated Native Communities Commonwealth Bank and its employees takes practical steps to avail information about banking services which could be significant to the indigenous tribes and furnish details pertaining to the type of account which would be suitable for their needs keeping in mind the remote location. Properly train its employees who regularly deals with such customers on a regular basis to be aware of their culture and take into consideration key government programs like income managing program which might be related to banking services provided to them. Best Practices for Business Conduct Each and every employee at Commonwealth Bank of Australia complies with global array of codes of conduct to guarantee that the organization provides the customers highly professional level of service. The financial institution adheres to the laws and regulations laid down by various governing bodies such as Australian Direct Marketing Association Code of Conduct (ADMA) which requires: Its members to furnish correct information so that they know precisely what product is being offered. The members should not make any fallacious claims. The members shall not utilize fabricated or deceptive endorsement. The members shall acknowledge the privacy of its customers personal information (com.au 2016). Australian Financial Market Association (AFMA) guidelines: Competition Law Policy Guidelines which defines a framework for the members and staff of the organizations the laws and regulations related to fair trade and competition. Debt trading guidelines emphasizes on the importance of the function of buyer and seller in promoting market liquidity of debt instruments. It also recommends its members to evaluate how their circulation of debt instruments may impact the market liquidity (Afma.com.au 2016). Commonwealth Bank insurance product is termed as CommIsure. The bank applies code of conducts related to insurance laid down by General Insurance Code of Practice which is tailored to upgrade the customer service benchmark in the insurance industry of Australia and safeguard the privileges of the policy holders. The guidelines are formulated to uphold the interests of the insurance industry, the businesses and the customers. The code reflects the industrys rational attitude in its business conduct. Whether a customer is buying a policy, have a complaint or making a claim, the codes of conduct gives information about the standards of customer service that can be expected from the service provider. The codes of conduct cover areas like purchase of an insurance policy, service and entitlement standards, responding to disasters, complaints management and right to use of information (Asic.gov.au 2016). Commonwealth Bank strictly adheres to the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing applying its global regulatory commitments in detection and management of money laundering and terrorism financing. The bank is committed is towards safeguarding the bank, its employees and customers from becoming an accidental partner in crime or victim of money laundering or terrorism related activities. Commonwealth Bank is against any kind of political donations in the name of the bank. Its insider trading guidelines mandates its employees to act dutifully in case they are informed about uncirculated financial data related to the bank. Professional Codes of Ethics Post acceptances of employment in the bank, all employees are required to acknowledge abiding by the professional code of ethics ensuring the code of professionalism, rationality, honesty and common sense. The employees must keep their common sense in first place. Protect and Develop the Bank: The Professional Code of Ethics of the bank expects its employees contribution towards the safety and growth of the bank through speedy and effective service to its existing and potential customers. The employees should follow commands and carry out the task and should not surpass the rights and responsibilities assigned to them and perform in a way which would improve the banks reputation. Conflict of Interest: The bank expects its employees to avoid position themselves in a situation wherein they might stand to gain directly or indirectly from a deal between the customer and the bank. Where there are chances of such situation occurring, the employees must disclose it to the bank (com.au 2016). Equal Employment Opportunities: Each and every employee of the bank is expected to adhere to the EEO policies and programs of the bank which states that sexual harassment and discrimination in any form at workplace is unethical and illegal; keeping away their personal opinions and views. Confidentiality and Honesty: All the employees are expected to consider all the business concerns of the bank, co-workers with complete confidentiality. The employees are also expected to be truthful in all their professional actions. Embezzlement, stealing, illegal access to sensitive information are considered as criminal offence. The code also expects that the employees should report such activities to the management to protect the interest of the bank. Maintaining Personal Standards: The code expects that the employees should implement individual standards consistent with the soaring status of the bank and try to enhance the reputation of the bank all the times. If an employee is going through a financial crisis, they should not at all be reluctant to discuss such matter with the manager. References adma.com.au. (2016).ADMA-Code-of-Practice-1-Sept-2015.pdf. [online] Available at: https://www.adma.com.au/sites/default/files/ADMA-Code-of-Practice-1-Sept-2015.pdf [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]. Afma.com.au. (2016).Codes Practices | Standards | The Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA). [online] Available at: https://www.afma.com.au/standards/codes-and-practices [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]. commbank.com.au. (2016).Statement of Professional Practice. [online] Available at: https://www.commbank.com.au/about-us/customer-commitment/practices/Statement-of-Professional-Practice.html [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]. commbank.com.au. (2016).content/dam/commbank/about-us/download-printed-forms/CodeofBankingPractice_ADB2555_0604.pdf. [online] Available at: https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/about-us/download-printed-forms/CodeofBankingPractice_ADB2555_0604.pdf [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]. Asic.gov.au. (2016).ASIC Home | ASIC - Australian Securities and Investments Commission. [online] Available at: https://www.asic.gov.au/ [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016].