Thursday, April 16, 2020
The Three Sisters Monologue Essay Example For Students
The Three Sisters Monologue Essay A monologue from the play by Anton Chekhov NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Moscow Arts Theatre Series of Plays. Ed. Oliver M. Sayler. New York: Brentanos, 1922. ANDREI: Oh, what has become of my past and where is it? I used to be young, happy, clever, I used to be able to think and frame clever ideas, the present and the future seemed to me full of hope. Why do we almost before we have begun to live, become dull, gray, uninteresting, lazy, apathetic, useless, unhappy? This town has already been in existence for two hundred years and it has a hundred thousand inhabitants, not one of whom is in any way different from the others. There has never been, now or at any other time, a single leader of men, a single scholar, an artist, a man of even the slightest eminence who might arouse envy or a passionate desire to be emulated. They only eat, drink, sleep, and then they die . . . more people are born and also eat, drink, sleep, and so as not to become half-witted out of sheer boredom, they try to make life many-sided with their beastly back-biting, vodka, cards, and litigation. The wives deceive their husbands, and the husbands lie, and pretend t hey see nothing and hear nothing, and the evil influence irresistibly oppresses the children and the divine spark in them is extinguished, and they become just as pitiful corpses and just as much like one another as their fathers and mothers We will write a custom essay on The Three Sisters Monologue specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now
Friday, March 13, 2020
A Rough Man Essays - Lecturers, Mark Twain, Redding, Connecticut
A Rough Man Essays - Lecturers, Mark Twain, Redding, Connecticut A Rough Man Rough, vigorous, hot-tempered and rich is what Mark Twain grew up to be. Born 1835 in Missouri, Florida he always did what he needed to in order for him to reach his goal. Even though he dropped out of school at the age of twelve, when his father died, he accomplished numerous things. Mark began writing when he took the job of a journalist. The tale 'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County' was his first success. After a trip by boat to Palestine, he wrote The Innocents Abroad. As his writing career blossomed, he also became successful as a lecturer. In 1870 got married, and a few years later he and his wife settled in Hartford, Connecticut. Huckleberry Finn is Twain's masterpiece, for its use of the brilliant character and descriptions, showing the humor of man's cruelty to man. He also wrote The Gilded Age, 1873, Old Times on the Mississippi, 1875, The Prince and the Pauper, 1882, Life on the Mississippi, 1883, Pudd'n-head Wilson, 1894, and Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, 1896. His later works, such as The Mysterious Stranger, unpublished until 1916, are not as amusing and more discouraging. He is known as one of America's finest and most characteristic writers. 1872 is the year when Roughing It was written. This book was just a personal narrative and not a history to show-off, nor a thoughtful commentary. It's a record of several years of exciting migration, and it's intention to help the reader rather than to hurt him with truth, or fill him with science. In this book there is lots of information about episodes that happened in the Wild West. There is stories in this book that have never been told and only been seen in the writers own eyes. There is a great deal of information in this book and the writer himself says this book can not be helped, but Twain was never exactly worried about giving his books an artistic framework. The information that he wrote came out of him naturally. He felt this urge to write and felt the excitement when he wrote his books. He felt that he was giving everyone a piece of what made him. He liked to live the fast life, that way he could have something to write about. He once said, The more I caulk up the sources, and the tighter I get, the more I leak wisdom. Mark didn't expect justification from his readers but tolerance. Trying his luck at anything and everything was one of his bizarre habits. He writes hilariously about his many encounters with vigilantes. He knew very well that carrying a Smith & Wesson's was necessary when traveling in the Wild West. Guns back in the old times were not very accurate so you had a better chance of catching a cold than actually catching something to eat with a rifle. Many people saw Mark as a playboy, the pioneer in letters, and the leader of the herd. William Dean Howell, Mark Twain's friend, called him the Lincoln of our literature. This guy knew what he was talking about, not only were Twain and Lincoln both belongings of the border democracy but through out their lives they continued to look to the Wild West for the supplying of their imaginations. His work comes from the same roots that made Lincoln's life the basic American myth. The man who came from nowhere and overcame an unpromising back ground to come out as one of the nations greatest heroes. Twain departed for Carson City with his unionist brother, Orion, who had recently been chosen Secretary of the Territory of Nevada. He moved because he was convinced that his life as a confederate soldier offered a far greater threat to both to him and the confederacy than it did to Lincoln's armies. In the spring of 1867 he arrived at New York and had a growing character of a preacher and an author. At that time he was an unpaid private secretary but soon became a prospector, a financier, almost a millionaire, a worker in the mill, and finally a reporter. With the exception of reporting he had no sort of success in any of
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Moon Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Moon Journal - Essay Example The moon takes about 24 hours and 49 minutes to cross the sky. Because of this, the moon rises and sets later than the previous day and it does this for around 27 days when it has finished one revolution, and it goes back to rising sun setting at the initial times. The moon does not give off its own light; but instead reflects suns light.  The phases of the moon are as a result of the different parts of the moon that reflect the sun’s light as it revolves the earth. The shape changes from a new moon to a full moon. The order is as follows: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent then new moon. The moon seems larger than the stars and even the sun, but this is due to the fact that the moon is our closest neighbour in space. In fact, the sun is 400 times bigger than the moon. The moon does not have any life form and has extreme temperatures compared to the earth (Chancer and Zodron
Sunday, February 9, 2020
To what extent is the global financial crisis related to greater Essay
To what extent is the global financial crisis related to greater volatility in the prices of oil and gas To what extent does it facilitate the contagion of price movements from one commodity to another - Essay Example This paper shall determine the extent to which the global financial crisis is related to greater volatility in the prices of oil and gas. It shall determine to what extent it facilitates the contagion of price movements from one commodity to another. Crude oil prices increased to as much as US$ 147 for each barrel in July of 2008 after a major commodity boom cycle caused by increased demands from developing states (UN Regional Commissions, 2009). However, by August of the same year, oil prices plunged due to the reduced demand from the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The threat of recession loomed with the financial crisis severely impacting on the worldwide economy (Institute of Development Studies, 2008). In order to end price falls, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced various cuts in their output. Oil prices have since reached more stable levels with prices in the mid US$40 per barrel range. Based on the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the demand for world oil fell by at least 0.2 % in 2008 and 0.4% in 2009 (UN Regional Commissions, 2009). The lower global demand was mostly caused by the lower consumption of oil and gas from developing states with initial 2008 estimates noting 2.9% decrease in oil and gas among OECD member states. The decreased demand is mostly attributed to declined demand among OECD members is primarily attributed to decreasing North America demands which declined to 2% in 2009 and 1.7% in Europe (UN Regional Commissions, 2009). Among the non-OECD countries, their demand for oil and gas increased by 1.4% in 2009 and 2.3% by 2010. Underpinning these figures was the rise of demand among developing states. However, even where such demands continued to rise, it was not insulated from the effects of the global economic crisis, especially as the economy grew at a much slower pace within the short-to-medium term (UN Regional Commissions,
Thursday, January 30, 2020
My Great Passion for Therapy Essay Example for Free
My Great Passion for Therapy Essay This paper entitled â€Å"My Great Passion for Therapy†has several objectives. First, it intends to discuss the topic in psychology that interests me most – â€Å"therapy†. Another objective of this paper is to explain the aforementioned and state some of the types of therapy. Last but not least, it aims to share my personal preference, as well as, why I would like that kind of therapy to apply in case I become a therapist in the future. Therapy Defined            â€Å"Therapy†is a standard terminology that explains the purpose of â€Å"medical, psychiatric, psychological or alternative designed to promote health and well-being†(World Self-Medication Industry n. p.). For me though, it means that, it is a kind of professional help that addresses a wide range of dilemmas related to the mental state of an individual. Types of Therapy            There are several types of therapy and some of these are the following:            First of all is known as â€Å"psychoanalytic therapy†which has been established by â€Å"Sigmund Freud†(Wagner n.p.). In this particular kind of therapy, the â€Å"psychoanalytic therapist†obliges himself to attend to what the client/patient says about his or her life (Wagner n.p.). It is also technically referred to as â€Å"talk therapy†because of that (Wagner n.p.). The â€Å"psychoanalytic therapist†analyses the narration provided to him or her and find important occurrences that may contribute to the client/patient’s existing difficulties/hardships (Wagner n.p.). Furthermore, the â€Å"psychoanalytic therapist†pays attention to the occurrences during the client/patient’s childhood days, â€Å"unconscious emotions, opinion/judgment, as well as, motivations †because they extremely believe that the aforementioned contribute largely to an individual’s â€Å"mental illness, as well as, maladaptive behaviors†(Wagner n.p.). Moreover, â€Å"psychoanalytic therapy†is said to be â€Å"exceedingly expensive, time-consuming, as well as, ineffective†, however, it is said that it has been very helpful as well since simply sharing personal thoughts, emotions, and problems, as well as, knowing that somebody is willing to listen already minimizes stress and tension on the part of the patient/client (Wagner n.p.).            The second is known as â€Å"cognitive therapy†, a kind of therapy which actually looks into â€Å"specific dilemmas or issues†(Wagner n.p.). Here, the â€Å"cognitive therapist†focuses on the unreasonable/illogical/flawed thoughts and insights (Wagner n.p.). This is because the â€Å"cognitive therapist†believes that the aforementioned brings about â€Å"dysfunctions†(Wagner n.p.). What â€Å"cognitive therapist†does is to help the patient/client alter his or her unreasonable/illogical/flawed thoughts and insights (Wagner n.p.). For instance, if a client/patient fears â€Å"open spaces/crowded places/public places†, then the â€Å"cognitive therapist†will assist the client/patient to face that fear through actual experience (Wagner n.p.). The â€Å"cognitive therapist†may help the client/patient to imagine himself or herself to be in such a situation/location before eventually exposing the client/patient to experience the actual fear (Wagner n.p.). That is what the â€Å"cognitive therapist†will do until the aforementioned phobia is decreased or entirely eliminated (Wagner n.p.). In addition to the aforementioned, â€Å"cognitive therapy†is said to be extremely helpful especially when it comes to depression- and anxiety-related cases (Wagner n.p.).            The third is technically referred to as â€Å"group therapy†(Wagner n.p.). This is categorized under â€Å"psychotherapy†wherein â€Å"two or more clients work with one or more therapists or counselors†(Wagner n.p.). Furthermore, this is usually carried out by â€Å"support groups†in order for the members of the group to discover and learn from other individual’s experiences and recommendations (Wagner n.p.). Moreover, â€Å"group therapy†is advantageous because it provides emotional support to those who feel â€Å"alone, isolated, or different†(Wagner n.p.). Interestingly, â€Å"group therapy†has been claimed to be â€Å"more cost effective than individual psychotherapy and is oftentimes more effective†(Wagner n.p.).            The fourth is known as â€Å"Solution-focused Brief Therapy†, which is utilized to address â€Å"a wide range of dilemmas including the following: 1) anxiety; 2) depression; 3) mental health-related problems; 4) oppression experiences; 5) pain; 6) problems in sleeping; 7) work-related dilemmas; 8) relationship problems (including differences with children, with spouse, and with close friends); 9) stress; 10) substance abuse (including drugs and alcohol); 11) etc†(The Brief Therapy Practice n.p.). Here in the â€Å"Solution-focused Brief Therapy†, â€Å"instead of solving problems, it builds solutions†and so the modifications/transformations that may happen are unswerving, and thus, such changes are most likely to last (The Brief Therapy Practice n.p.).            Fifth is â€Å"play therapy†, which typically addresses the developmental dilemmas of young individuals, i.e. children (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research n.p.). A â€Å"play therapist†is motivated to play, paint, and indulge themselves in other interesting activities in order for them to â€Å"effortlessly communicate their emotions and feelings if they lack the cognitive development to articulate themselves with words†(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research n.p.).            Last but not least is known as â€Å"interpersonal therapy†, which is the kind of therapy that pays attention to the patient/client’s â€Å"current relationships†with other individuals (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research n.p.). Here, the â€Å"interpersonal therapist’s†main objective is to develop the patient/client’s â€Å"interpersonal skills†for him or her to be able to properly â€Å"relate to other individuals including his or her family, friends, and colleagues†(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research n.p.). In addition to that, the â€Å"interpersonal therapist†plays a large role in the patient/client’s assessment on his or her interaction with other people and â€Å"develop strategies for dealing with relationship and communication problems†(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research n.p.). Personal Preference and Reasons for it              I prefer the fourth one. If I become a therapist I am most likely to choose â€Å"Solution-focused Brief Therapy†because of the following reasons:            First of all, the more conventional/traditional types are all expensive (The Brief Therapy Practice n.p.). â€Å"Solution-focused Brief Therapy†, on the other hand, is not; in fact, statistical information show that there are several â€Å"economically-challenged†individuals go for this type of counseling/therapy to address their personal dilemmas simply because they cannot afford the luxurious fees of the other types of therapy suggested to them (The Brief Therapy Practice n.p.). In fact, this kind of psychological therapy may also be availed free of charge to those individuals â€Å"who really do not have the capacity to pay but needed to solve a certain dilemma†(The Brief Therapy Practice n.p.).            In addition to the aforementioned, I prefer â€Å"Solution-based or Solution-focused Brief Therapy†because it is â€Å"brief†(The Brief Therapy Practice n.p.). I must admit that I tend to get impatient with regards to waiting for positive results and so I like this one because it is said that a dilemma is addressed in not more than five sessions of counseling/therapy (The Brief Therapy Practice n.p.). Works Cited  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Psychotherapy: An Overview of the  Types of Therapy. 2008. n.a. 23 February 2008. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psychotherapy/MH00009 The Brief Therapy Practice. Solution Focused Brief Therapy. 2003. n.a. 23 February 2008. http://www.brieftherapy.org.uk/ Wagner, K.V. Types of Therapy. 2008. The New York Times Company. 23 February 2008.            http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/a/treattypes.htm World Self-Medication Industry. Therapy. 2004. n.a. 23 February 2008.            http://www.wsmi.org/glossary_st.htm
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
The Pros and Cons of Americas Superpower Status :: Politics Political Essays
The Pros and Cons of America's Superpower Status While reading Rourke, I found that the most interesting, debatable, and insightful issue from Rourke was Issue #3. "SHOULD AMERICA ABANDON ITS SUPERPOWER STATUS?" This is presented by Doug Bandow and Anthony Lake, in which Bandow takes the affirmative side of the issue and Lake the opposing stance. To fully explain this issue, I will not only look at the authors, but their stances on the issues, how their stances fit into the World System, Hegemons, and basic Perceptions. I will then go into the future looking at such items, as well as some thoughts of my own. Basically, I will show that a simple 'yes' or 'no' question is much more complicated and in-depth than one might think. So, with no further ado, let's get Rourking! I will first look at the 'Yes' [America should step down as a superpower] answer to our question, as presented by Doug Bandow. He presents a situation where America is the "Big Protector" and the source for assistance (in many situations) throughout the world. But, in a time when there is no war, no Cold War, and no need for a U.S. policeman, why should we continue on this path? Bandow wants us to bring our troops home who are on foreign soil, change our 'worldly' ways and concentrate on America. Sure, there may be people in the world who need our help, but there are people right here in America who need that same help. He wants us to step down as a superpower. This does not mean to become Isolationist, but certainly more self-centered. His situation is one where you are not a superpower, but just a (non-influential) power: a partner in the world and not its savior. With that said, we will move on to Anthony Lake. Lake is quite different from Bandow because Lake is a current Clinton administrator who gave a speech to the press and Bandow is a former Reagan administrator who wrote for a foreign research institute. [Bandow writes with educated intent; Lake writes/speaks to confirm current foreign policy.] Lake's speech does not dive deep into its own theory: Not to step down as a superpower. Lake presents a situation of America being one of two things. The first of which is an Isolationist country, which keeps to itself. This, of course, is not good because it leaves no room for trade, world relations, a prosperous America, or an up-beat Global Political Economy.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Different Types of Narration Essay
There are a variety of ways to narrate a story, but essentially they can be broken down into two main groups: first person narrative, and third person narrative. In the use of the first person narrator, the story is told through the eyes of the ‘I’ narrator. The first person narrator can only relate incidents that he or she has witnessed, and only he or she can interpreted the situation, therefore in this respect the first person narrative is limited. We must remember that a first person narrator in a novel is not the novelist but a character who sees things only in the light of his or her own point of view and coloured by his or her personality, therefore events are biased to the narrator’s opinion. This of course can be used to effect in books where the first person narrator is unreliable and therefore we are forced to see a false picture of events. For example in ‘The Beach’ by Alex Garland, events are told by Richard, a backpacker in Bangkok. In the extract I have chosen, Richard recounts an encounter with ‘Mister Duck’, who, at the beginning of he book, commits suicide. In the extract below, it is only the second time that Richard ‘meets’ ‘Mister Duck’, the first being when Richard was feverish. Therefore we can easily presume that Richard was hallucinating when he first ‘met’ ‘Mister Duck’ but in this extract, it is hard to tell, from the way Richard narrates it, that ‘Mister Duck’ is imaginary: Mister Duck sat in his room on the Khao San Road. He’d pulled back one of the newspapers that covered the window and was peering down to the street. Behind him, strewn across his bed, were coloured pencils, obviously the ones he’d used to draw the map. The map was nowhere in sight so maybe he’d already tacked it to my door. I saw that his shoulders were shaking. ‘Mister Duck?’ I said cautiously. He turned, scanned the room with a puzzled frown and, then spotted me through the strip of mosquito netting. ‘Rich†¦ Hi.’ Of course, through first person narrative, we develop a more intimate relationship with the narrator because we have their character and way of thinking forced upon us, which in cases can make you sympathise more with this character, as you know their private emotions that they would not show openly. For example in ‘The Remains of the Day’ the use of the first person narrator creates suspense and mystery over the intense relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton. Also in this extract, we feel Steven’s character imposed on the story as his unquestioning faith and dedication to his job cost him dearly his personal life. And finally Stevens unwavering sense of duty and reserve at all times leading him to deny his emotions eventually drive away the woman he loved. As demonstrated in the extract I have chosen: As I was bolting the door, I noticed Miss Kenton waiting for me, and said: ‘I trust you had a pleasant evening, Miss Kenton.’ She made no reply, so I said again, as we were making our way across the darkened expanse of the kitchen floor; ‘I trust you had a pleasant evening, Miss Kenton.’ ‘I did, thank you, Mr Stevens.’ ‘I’m pleased to hear that.’ Behind me, Miss Kenton’s footsteps came to a sudden stop and I heard her say: ‘Are you not in the least interested in what took place tonight between my acquaintance and I Mr Stevens?’ ‘I do not mean to be rude, Miss Kenton, But I really must return upstairs without further delay. The fact is, events of a global significance are taking place in this house at this very moment.’ ‘When are they not, Mr Stevens? Very well, if you must be rushing off, I shall just tell you that I accepted my acquaintance’s proposal.’ ‘I beg your pardon, Miss Kenton?’ ‘His proposal of marriage.’ ‘Ah, is that so, Miss Kenton? Then may I offer you my congratulations.’ ‘Thank you, Mr Stevens. Of course, I’ll be happy to serve out my notice. However, should it be that you are able to release me earlier, we would be very grateful. My acquaintance begins his new job in the West Country in two weeks’ time.’ ‘I will do my best to secure a replacement at the earliest opportunity, Miss Kenton. Now if you will excuse me, I must return upstairs.’ I started to walk away again, but then when I had all but reached the doors out to the corridor, I heard Miss Kenton say: ‘Mr Stevens,’ and thus turned once more. She had not moved, and consequently she was obliged to raise her voice slightly in addressing me, so that it resonated rather oddly in the cavernous spaces of the dark and empty kitchen. ‘Am I to take it’ she said, ‘that after the many years of service I have given in this house, you have no more words to greet the news of my possible departure than those you have just uttered?’ ‘Miss Kenton, you have my warmest congratulations. But I repeat, there are matters of global significance taking place upstairs and I must return to my post.’ Pages 218-219 In this extract we are frustrated by Stevens reserve and lack of emotion, and without the story being told form his side we might have felt Stevens to be cold hearted and distance and therefore dislike him. But in fact we pity his actions and feel moved. An autobiographical persona such as Pip in Dickens ‘Great Expectations’, are not to be taken as complete or even accurate portraits of their authors – they are often no more than studies in self criticism: I was quite as dejected on the first working-day of my apprenticeship as in that after-time; but I am glad to know that I never breathed a murmur to Joe while my indentures lasted. It is about the only thing I am glad to know of myself in that connexion. For, though it includes what I proceed to add, all the merit of what I proceed to add was Joe’s. It was not because I was faithful, but because Joe was faithful, that I never ran away and went for a soldier or a sailor. It was not because I had a strong sense of the virtue of industry, but because Joe had a strong sense of the virtue of industry, that I worked with tolerable zeal against the grain. It is not possible to know how far the influence of any amiable honest-hearted duty-going man flies out into the world; but it is very possible to know how it has touched one’s self in going by, and I know right well that any good that intermixed itself with my apprenticeship came of plain contented Joe, and not of restless aspiring discontented me. In the same way the innumerable portraits by artists of their friends, enemies or acquaintances are notoriously one sided, exaggerated and even on occasion, libellous. In a first person narrative, the use of interior monologue can be used where the reader is allowed inside the mind of the narrator and so we can hear their inner thought. For example in Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A farewell to Arms’, when Henry hears that his wife is gravely ill we receive an interior monologue: The nurse went into the room and shut the door. I sat outside in the hall. Everything was gone inside of me. I did not think. I could not think. I knew she was going to die and I prayed that she would not. Don’t let her die. Oh, God, please don’t let her die. I’ll do anything for you if you won’t let her die Please, please, please dear God, don’t let her die. Dear God, don’t let her die. Pleas, please, please don’t let her die, God, please make her not die. I’ll do anything you say if you don’t let her die. You took the baby but don’t let her die – that was all right but don’t let her die. Please, please, dear God, don’t let her die. Here we feel that the character is deeply involved in his surroundings and what is happening, the events he is recounting are extremely emotional and moving, but this is not always the case. In ‘Nausea’ by Jean-Paul Satre, it is the story of an observer of life in a small cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, and here the narrator is totally withdrawn from his surrounding, as though watching it on television. The narrator is distanced from events and the book is almost like a third person narrative in the sense that he is telling the story of the lives of those sitting around him, but of course true to first person narration he is interpreting the situation into how he sees it: It is half past one. I am at the Cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Mably, eating a sandwich, and everything is more or less normal. In any case, everything is always normal in cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s and especially in Cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Mably, because of the manager, Monsieur Fasquelle, who has a vulgar expression in his eyes which is very straightforward and reassuring. It will soon be time for his afternoon nap and his eyes are already pink, but his manner is still lively and decisive. He is walking among the tables and speaking confidentially to all the customers: ‘Is everything all right, Monsieur?’ I smile at seeing him so lively: when his establishment empties, his head empties too. Between two and four the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ is deserted, and then Monsieur Fasquelle takes a few dazed steps, the waiter turn out the lights, and he slips into unconsciousness: when this man is alone, he falls asleep. The second type of narrative is third person narration. The narrator is omniscient, that is, able to move between characters, situations, and locations at any point, and granted full access to characters’ thoughts, feelings, and motivation. This is the advantage that third person narration has over first person, yet a sense of intimacy with the characters is harder to achieve. Some narrators might comment on the events taking place in the novel as they unfold, and even interpose their own views; the Victorian novelists such as Charles Dickens were adept at this manner of intervention, for example in ‘A Christmas Carol’, Dickens talks directly to the reader to convey his thoughts and ideas: Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘Change for anything he chose to put his hand to’. Old Marley was dead as a door-nail. Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of out ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Alternatively, the author might limit the narrator’s overt presence, and recount the narrative’s events as directly as possible. A third-person narrator might have a limited point of view, confined to only one or a few characters, as in much of Emily Brontà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s ‘Wuthering Heights’, where the author is wholly absent and uses the characters to tell the story. Therefore she never directly interrupts the story to make a direct comment or moral judgement on the action of the characters. We notice that Emily Brontà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ in ‘Wuthering Heights’ uses narrators that are involved in the proceedings and therefore these people try to inflict their point of view on the reader. In this case it is to emphasise the point that the relationship between Heathcliff and Cathy is unique and not something that Nelly, or Lockwood (Wuthering Height’s two main narrators) will never fully comprehend as only Heathcliff and Cathy can explain their love for each other. She rung the bell till it broke with a twang: I entered leisurely. It was enough to try the temper of a saint, such senseless, wicked rages! There she lay dashing her head against the arm of the sofa, and grinding her teeth, so that you might fancy she would crash them to splinters! Mr Linton stood looking at her in sudden compunction and fear. He told me to fetch some water. She had no breath for speaking. I brought a glass full; and, as she would not drink, I sprinkled it on her face. In a few seconds she stretched herself out stiff, and turned up her eyes, while her cheeks, at once blanched and livid, assumed the aspect of death. Linton looked terrified. ‘There is nothing in the world the matter,’ I whispered. I did not want him to yield, though I could not help being afraid in my heart. ‘She has blood on her lips!’ he said, shuddering. ‘Never mind!’ I answered tartly. And I told him how she had resolved previous to his coming, on exhibiting a fit of frenzy. In some cases the events of the story are told through an impersonal narrative. This impersonal narrator then relates the story through the senses of different character, presenting the reader with a more rounded picture. For example in ‘The Tesseract’ by Alex Garland, the story is told from many points of view, quickly changing between one character’s perspective to another, each time the story being told from that characters sense and feeling. In the extract below we witness the situation from three of the character point of view The telephone made for an indifferent witness. But Sean’s reflection in the bathroom mirror, making contact as he turned away from the vent, was less detached. Even under pressure, the sight was arresting. His face seemed to be in a state of flux. Unable to resolve itself, like a cheap hologram or a bucket of snakes, the lips drew back while the jaw relaxed, the stare softened while the frown hardened. Fear, Sean thought distantly. Rare that one got to see what it actually looked like. Other people’s, sure, but not your own. Intrigued, he leaned close to the mirror, ignoring the footsteps that were already working their way up the stairs. ‘Aaaah, we’re going to be late,’ said Don Pepe, breaking the tense silence of the last five minutes. Jojo nodded and nervously pushed his thumbs into the padding around the steering wheel. ‘Yes, sir, we are. I’m sorry.’ Jojo paused a moment before saying ‘Yes, sir’ again. He was leaving time for Teroy to add his own apology. After all, he’d been the one who had suggested Hotel Patay in the first place. But Teroy, sitting in the passenger seat, wasn’t saying a word. No sense diverting Don Pepe’s irritation on to him, when he could keep his head down and his mouth shut and let Jojo take all the abuse. Fair enough. Jojo would have been doing the same if their roles had been reversed. The narrator is very important in a story as the narrator is responsible for the way a story is conveyed to its reader, or its point of view. The variety of ways that the author can manipulate the narrator and his or her point of view in order to gain maximum control over the work as a whole is often the essence of whether the reader gained the desired effect set by the author.
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