Thursday, November 28, 2019
The Comic Scenes in Doctor Faustus Essay Example For Students
The Comic Scenes in Doctor Faustus Essay Dr. Faustus, decidedly a tragic play, contains a number of comic scenes. It is a matter of sheer conjecture whether Marlowe wrote these scenes himself or allowed someone else to write them in deference to the prevailing taste of the times, because, Marlowe in the Prologue to Tambularine had contemptuously discarded buffoonery or clownage as being inappropriate for the dignity of tragic drama. The comic scenes of Dr. Faustus are significant in many respects. Now we may have a brief examination of the comic scenes. The first comic scene (Act I, Scene II) occurs between Wagner, the servant of Dr. Faustus and between two scholars. Wagner here parodies the mediaeval scholastic process of reasoning adopted by scholars whose discussions he has often heard at his masters residence. The scholars ask him as to the whereabouts of Faustus. Wagner tries first to puzzle them by his answers. Then he says, God in heaven knows where Faustus is. Certainly this produces laughter but it also indicates the degeneration of Faustus. Faustus, after turning to necromancy, will certainly degenerate and only God knows where he will go. We will write a custom essay on The Comic Scenes in Doctor Faustus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Wagner refers to the dining hall as the place of execution. It is also the place of the moral execution of Faustus. This scene also indicates the misuse of knowledge. Faustus in the previous scene uses logic to justify reason for turning to necromancy while Wagner is using logic for no other purpose than to puzzle the two scholars. The next comic scene occurs in Act I, Scene IV. Wagner and the clown are engaged in this scene. Wagner wishes to engage the clown as his servant, and referring to the poverty of the clown he says that the clown is so hungry that he would give his soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though it were blood-raw. But the clown refuses and he says the if he must give his soul for the sake of food, he will insist on the mutton being well-roasted and being good sauce. This scene no doubt produces laughter, but it is important also to indicate the degeneration of Faustus. Faustus would sell his soul to Mephistophilis for infinite power while the clown would sell his soul to the devil for good food. Both transactions are ridiculous the first even more than the second because the first is far less realistic. The next comic scene is the scene of seven deadly scenes in Act II, Scene II. The seven deadly scenes namely Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Anger and Sloth were very important in mediaeval and later Christian theology. They played an important role in many works of mediaeval and Renaissance literature. The various sins do certainly amuse us by the manner which they describe their respective characteristics. Pride disdains to have any parents; Covetousness would like the house and all the people in it to be turned into gold; Wrath wounds himself with his daggers when there is nobody else to attack; Envy is begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife; Gluttony has bacon, beef, claret as his ancestors. When Faustus says that their parade feeds his soul, we can realize that he is going to be damned. Because, these sins are considered to put the soul of anyone manifesting them in peril of perpetual damnation. This scene is important also for the moral edification of the audience. The audience will be taught to hate these sins. In Act III, Scene I, Faustus harasses the Pope and other priests by remaining invisible. The scene may be considered as subversive criticism of religion as it alludes to the spiritual sterility of popes and priests. .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece , .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .postImageUrl , .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece , .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece:hover , .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece:visited , .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece:active { border:0!important; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece:active , .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue0ccdce5d8bed9a67b23730a450aeece:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Why is this scene dramatic? Essay SummaryThe events that occur in Act IV, Scenes I II with Ralph, Robin and Mephistophilis are also comical. Robin is preferring magic on the basis of what he has learnt from Faustuss book. He summons Mephistophilis in order to teach the innkeeper a lesson. But, Mephistophilis, being irritated changes Robin and Ralph into an ape and a dog respectively. Faustus in Act IV, Scene III, makes a pair of horns grow on the head of a knight who has been insolent towards him. It has a touch of comedy but it also indicates that Faustus, who could become Emperor of Emperors, has now turned into a mere trickster. The scene (Act IV, Scene IV) of Faustuss dealing with a horse-courser is the last comical scene. The manner of talking the horse-courser provides laughter. But indicates to the extreme point of the degeneration of Dr. Faustus. The man who can have billions of dollars by his necromantic power now deceives a horse-courser only for forty dollars. A great scholar has turned into a trickster. The comic scenes, however, indicate some defects in the play. The abundance, according to a critic, of the comic scenes here weakens the dramatic quality. Many time the comic scenes are not up to the mark. In the harassment of the Pope, comedy degenerates into farce. The practical jokes played on the horse-courser is sheer-clownage and unworthy of a somber and great play such as Doctor Faustus. Despite all these facts, however, these comic scenes are significant. It may be said that the various comic scenes serve to fill the interval between Faustuss attainment of magical power and the damnation, which overtakes him after the gap of twenty-four years.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
How Authors Can Get the Most Out of Twitter
How Authors Can Get the Most Out of Twitter How Authors Can Get the Most Out of Twitter Nathan Bransford is the author of the Jacob Wonderbar series and How to Write a Novel, which NY Times bestselling author Ransom Riggs called ââ¬Å"the best how-to-write-a-novel book I've read." He writes a popular blog on writing and publishingà andà is also available for book editing and consultations on Reedsy. In this guest post, Nathan explains his belated love affair with Twitter.Let me tell you a story about how I joined the human circus, otherwise known as Twitter.I didnââ¬â¢t join it at all.In 2008, while I was boasting to friends that I would never do that whole social media thing, someone created a fake Twitter profile of me, photo and all, and started tweeting out my blog posts! Real people were replying to me and everything.Once I got wind of what was happening, I wrested control of the rogue account and grumpily determined it was time to succumb to social media.So yes. I now have around 93,000 Twitter followers and social media has become a foundational aspect of my entire professional career, but I can also relate to the deep reluctance some of you might have to engage with social media.Take it from me: it pays to be active on social media. Even if you donââ¬â¢t want to be.Hereââ¬â¢s how to get the most out of Twitter. Learn 5 ways authors can get the most out of Twitter 1. Learn the basicsLetââ¬â¢s face it. If you're looking for the pulse of the publishing industry, Twitter is the place to go.Itââ¬â¢s where many important industry conversations are happening, itââ¬â¢s where agents and editors are tweeting their manuscript wish lists, and itââ¬â¢s where people get into spectacularly heated arguments about arcane publishing topics that may utterly bewilder you.For the uninitiated, Twitter is essentially a stream of short posts. Twitter posts (ââ¬Å"tweetsâ⬠) are limited to 280 characters so thereââ¬â¢s an incentive to be concise, punchy, and witty.You can ââ¬Å"retweetâ⬠someoneââ¬â¢s tweet, which pushes that tweet out to your followers - some tweets end up going viral and are retweeted tens of thousands of times. You can also share links, post a series of tweets in a ââ¬Å"thread,â⬠and share photos and videos.Speak your heart but mind what you say - everything but Direct Messages is public!2. Start nowDo you hav e any social media questions for Nathan? Or top Twitter tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Historicising knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Historicising knowledge - Essay Example Scientific proof, scientific explanation and scientific approach are the fashionable terms of our contemporary life. What do we really mean by ââ¬Ëscientificââ¬â¢? Is it just a set of hypotheses designed in some controlled conditions?Or is it merely based on certain mathematic calculations and observations? Or is it something like a convenient tool used by politicians to usher their political interests in the name of service/grant to society? This term has transcended all walks of life.Labour management too talks of Taylorism, which in effect separates conception and execution. The ââ¬Ëscientific managementââ¬â¢ of Taylorism is just decoupling the labor processes from the skills of the workers. Scientific approach is not alien to mankind. It had emanated from the moment of realization of human needs and attempts made to get satiated. Right from the Stone Age, starting from the invention of wheels several numerous inventions have come up. The growth of knowledge of science is grotesque to such an extent that many processes, which were really scientific, have become our way of life. Although we tend to admire a village school boy using his socks to fishing in the wayside pond, we are not prepared to call him an innovator or scientist. However, the approach adopted by the boy is really scientific. Manââ¬â¢s everyday perception with theoretical powers had well been conceived by Foucault. Creativity is the means to an end and not an end in itself. Innovation is the end, where the realization of the creative idea is felt in its fullest depth. Innovation means taking all the promising ideas and testing them for real. Despite failures en-route, goal-focused creativity leads to success. (Sloane. P, 2003: p.8) Thus, we can accept science as a way of life but not a superficial guide from the sky to give us always extraordinary. The over conscious style of life has created a sort of numbness giving way to ramification of ââ¬Ënormal scienceââ¬â¢ and â⠬Ërevolutionary scienceââ¬â¢. Kuhnââ¬â¢s conception of paradigm although is subjected to criticism by many successors, could not be right away rejected as a misfit. Because, in Kuhnââ¬â¢s view science, whether normal science or revolutionary science, moves in traditional path of progress involving problems, anomaly, crisis and revolution. At this point of revolution he sensed a normal phase to recur allowing an acceptable alternate paradigm to evolve. (Mouton J, 1993: p.77) Kuhnââ¬â¢s work although restricted to problem-solving within the continuously developing domain of interpretations of the paradigm itself, he termed the continuous elaboration of ideas which constituted the original paradigm as ââ¬Ënormal scienceââ¬â¢ (Wallace, 1972: p. 467, 469) PERCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE: Science is perceived currently as a provider of extraordinary comfort. The evidence based empirical results ââ¬â of scientists, (Merquior, 1985: p.40) the ââ¬Ëworkers of evidenceââ¬â ¢ ââ¬â have formed a strong foundation of connotations in which the theories and hypotheses evolved in the process of scientific problem-solving are construed as the best and only reliable tools to near the truth. This is what we currently mean scientific approach. An approach that confirms each and every stage of progress is termed scientific approach. Scientists however are expected to evolve imaginable and sometimes unimaginable theories on issues. Such scientists are alone are construed as innovators. Darwin was hesitant to publish his idea of evolution in 1842, since a radical theory required massive observational evidence to be marshaled in its support. (McGrath, 2010: p.34) In fact theorization gets evolved after a long process of perceptions and necessities. (Pearson, p.134). The theory of planetary motion is in itself as logically necessary as the theory of circle (â⬠¦) The necessity lies in the world of conceptions and is only unconsciously and illogically transfer red to the world of perception. While talking about the law of motion of a planet, Pearson
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
International Business in the Globalization Environment Dissertation
International Business in the Globalization Environment - Dissertation Example Managers tend to see the international market as societies in microcosm with their own specific cultures and ways of transmitting these cultures to their members. Samiee et al (2005) and Verlegh (2007) examine the impact on a home country and unique brand image of the product on perception and buying patterns in targeted markets. They find that national stereotypes and buyer attitudes toward countries of origin influence the buying process and profitability of the company. Another layer of literature is based on theoretical materials and concepts aimed to discuss and evaluate business strategies and international marketing trends around the world. ... They examine the impact of culture on the formulation and the application of an international marketing strategy. The home country and the host country environment constitute an open interaction system. The strategies of the firm play the primary role in the interaction; secondary roles are played by a number of other players. Special attention should be given to such countries as Malaysia, Thailand and Philippine affected by strong national culture and traditions. The results of the interaction may be more or less successful from the point of view of the firm, the host country, or other institutions or organizations involved (Balabanis et al 157). The host country environment presents another set of macro factors. On the macro environmental level, cultural forces need to be evaluated. On the microenvironmental level, the factors become more specific; they include (1) buyer-seller relationships, (2) nature of supply and demand, (3) market price mechanism, (4) nature of competition, (5) barriers to market entry, and (6) nature of the distribution. At the operational level, factors such as (1) sof t versus hard currency, (2) exchange rate fluctuations, (3) inflation, (4) tariffs and quotas, and (5) invisible barriers become extremely important (Doole and Lowe 82). Research suggests that "cultural distance" also presents a major challenge to an entrepreneur assessing the potential of the host market.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics in Barclays Bank Dissertation
Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics in Barclays Bank - Dissertation Example The three concepts were discussed in relation to the roles they play in the strategic management of businesses, indicating that while they are generally viewed as peripheral issues to the maximisation of profits ââ¬â the generally conceded principal aim of going into business ââ¬â these concerns are actually central to the generation of revenues that lead to higher profits. CSR and stakeholder satisfaction, in particular regarding employees and customers, appeal to the market and therefore contribute significantly to the strategic and, ultimately, the financial success of the business. 24 List of Tables Table 1: Values and behaviours at Barclays Bank 33 Table 2: Performance of Barclays vs. Industry Leaders 34 Table 3: Frequency distribution of respondents according to age 38 Table 4: Frequency distribution of respondents according to gender 39 Table 5: Frequency distribution of respondents according to educational attainment 39 Table 6: Frequency distribution of respondents a ccording to length of association with Barclays Bank 40 Table 7: Customer satisfaction ratings 42 Table 8: Employee satisfaction ratings 45 Table 9: Respondents' perception of Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for employees 47 Table 10: Respondents' perception of Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for customers 49 Table 11: Respondents' perception of Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for society 49 Table 12: Respondentsââ¬â¢ perception of Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for Government 50 Table 13: Respondents' perception on Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for competitors 52 Table 14: Respondents' perception of Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for the environment 53 Table 15: Respondents' perception of Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for sustainability 54 Table 16: Respondents' perception of Barclaysââ¬â¢ CSR for civil society 57 Table 17: Summary of mean scores for CSR perception 58 Table 18:Table of Pearson correlation coefficients between CSR & EMPSAT/CUSTSAT 60 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Chapter overview The introductory chapter of this dissertation sets t he context within which the research problem is to be viewed. Specifying the context of the study delimits the perspective that an issue may be viewed, and sets the focal point and the boundaries for the study. The background of the research problem shall be discussed, leading to a statement of the purpose and objectives of the study. From the objectives, the research questions are articulated, in order to lead to findings that would eventually support the conclusion. Any assumptions made by the study are included, as well as the definitions of specific words and phrases relevant to their use in the dissertation. The significance of the study and its relevance to the industry and the broader social environment is thereafter discussed. 1.2 Background of the research problem The banking industry is a pillar of the nationââ¬â¢s economy and a vital determinant of the health and viability of business activity. Banks perform four critical functions: (1) their intermediation function, w here the banks intermediate between economic units with excess and deficient financial resources; (2) they adapt and modify terms and risks to the market
Friday, November 15, 2019
Pepsi And Coca Cola Advertising And Branding Media Essay
Pepsi And Coca Cola Advertising And Branding Media Essay For my Media Discourses topic I have selected the one on Advertising and Branding. The two brands/advertisements I have chosen are none other than those of the well-recognized Pepsi Co. and Coca Cola Ltd. But to make it a bit more interesting the products I chose and will be discussing are Pepsi Max and Coke Light, the new healthy additions to both companies. Secondly, it is worth noting that to expand the semiotic aspect of the advertisements I have chosen a printed advertisement for Pepsi Max and a video advertisement for Coke Light. I believe this will cover a wider variety of factors which can be discussed and analyzed; and that if it were kept to the print media only we wouldnt have been able to cover the semiotics like music, gestures etc. Over the course of this assignment we shall study the various semiotics: colors used, the slogans, music, clothing, gestures expressions, camera angles etc used in the respective advertisements. It is amazing how everything from the simple b ottle-design, the text used in the advertisement to the whole implementation of a video advertisement is perceived differently and holds different, yet invaluable meanings. We shall further investigate the meanings of these signs plus tools used and how they can influence and affect the audiences and consumers. I shall touch the point of sex used for selling in the advertisements of such brands and name a few others who use such tactics. After the photographs and advertisements are discussed to full extent we shall examine these brands with a more holistic viewpoint, where they stand and the image they are trying to portray. To make the argument more authentic I shall incorporate examples, pictures, references from the sources I have researched from etc. even though these two brands are clichà ©d I believe they serve as a prime example in todays world of the leading brand wars and shall be insightful in the topic at hand. At the end I shall give you a bibliography of all the materi al and books I consulted as a resource for this essay. I believe the following exhaustive account of semiotics hand-in-hand with media highlights its importance in todays marketing world. Discussion: While surfing the web I came across an advertisement of Coca Cola ltd on their product Coke Light. I believe it was formed by the branding team of Coke Light and no one individual can be accredited to having made the whole advertisement. I will now try to analyze the visual communication that connected the image of the product and the consumer; for these resulting ideas benefit the sales volume and profitability of the product. As a whole, if you watch the advertisement, it portrays and targets the young, healthy and sexy people being the ones who consume Coke Light. Conforming to the cultural norms we have specific mental schemas and opinions which belong to the society we live in mostly. Based on these we perceive what we see differently. For someone like me, an advertisement of coke selling the point of sex might be more acceptable than someone with a more conservative mind-set, living in a different society. So it is important to realize that the following ad makes sense to me and appeals to me because it follows the conventions of my social life and in the same way in some aspects appeals to a much wider consumer base. For instance the iconic colors used as semiotics in this ad are popular throughout the world. Almost everyone can relate red and black to Coca Cola and this advertisement makes full use of it. Using rather beautiful models (a guy and a girl) in the ad, taking place on a beach, they play along with the wholesome, powerful theme. Red is a dominating color which grabs the attention of the viewers/consumers and leads them to act o n what appeals to their senses. This is exploited in what the woman wears, i.e. a red gown with a feminine exuberance and in the Coke (written in red) Light (written in black). This can signify the womans power and/or control and the confidence in the quality of the product. Black is what the man adorns completing the colors of the brand. Secondly, to my knowledge he wears black to keep the attention off of him in the ad at first and converge it onto the more prominent woman. The background helps and most settings are leading the focus on the tow models. The overall dressing is deemed as sexy in todays world and even though such shows are considered provocative, here they have a meaning of comfortableness and a daring nature. She furthers this persona by constantly sending subtle signals to the guy while he swims in the sea. The guy takes full notice while making no approach. Upon reaching his bench he starts buttoning up his black shirt facing the other way from the girl. What he h ears next is her opening the can of Coke Light which brings a smile on his face. Upon dressing up he turns to her as she continues trying to tempt him. They then close up on the guy to show that he has a priests collar and this puts the woman in an awkward position. But the tension is eased as the guy walks over to the girl and blesses her for having Coke Light in her hands leaving her all flattered. This gives a holy aspect to the whole advertisements and finishes off with the slogan Have a great break. Humor has been incorporated to full extent and helps immensely in the formulation of a successful and memorable commercial. Millions of hits on this ad authenticate this belief. The second advertisement that I have chosen is from a local magazine and it is of Pepsi Max. We are well aware that Pepsi and Coca Cola are direct competitors and therefore when one comes up with an idea the other follows with his own innovations. The ad is a one page picture showing a bottle as well as a can of Pepsi Max, with an effect of the can breaking through the page which is depicted as a hard, solid wall. The fact that there are flowery and bold colors come off strikingly well in the advertisement. The design of the bottle is simple with the colors red white and black used, black replacing the well known blue in the Pepsi sign. The design is minimalist with no excessive clutter or visual distractions. The formal layout of the whole ad gives a Web 2.0 vibe. It is safe to say that the picture was crafted by the local graphic designers working in the Pepsi team. This we can see from the usage of lower case letters in the new Pepsi logo which is reminiscent of the web 2.0 format. This new look shows that drinking Pepsi Max is a modern, networked and social way of living. It again focuses on the whole, on the young generation, possessing the same mythic meanings as its Coke counterpart. The logo creates familiarity with a whole new essence to the consumers based on its unique presentation. Pepsi Max has concentrated on the shape of the bottle making it newer, black in color, portraying a powerful image which is not common to other cold beverages. Upon consulting other video advertis ements of this same brand I have come to realize not much is different in the mythical meanings of both of them. They pretty much target the same young, healthy generation as a target audience, carry pretty much the same slogan and have the same marketing mix. What differs is the brand pull it brings with it and the sponsors they get. Everyone is familiar with the cola wars. The major problem faced by both of them is that of constant growth as claimed by Philip Kotler (2008). Through these advertisements both these brands are trying to achieve but one goal, i.e. to increase profitability. The various semiotics and methods used have got to relate to the brand in the end in some way or the other and in turn it is this great backing of a brand name which ensures their safe progress in the competing world. Semiotics can be handled differently as discussed by P. Kotler and G. Armstrong (2008): à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦ stated by the global brand manager of Coca Cola, in Spanish speaking Coke Light ads position the soft drink as an object of desire, rather than as a way to feel good about yourself as diet Coke is positioned in the United States. This desire positioning plays off research showing that Coca-Cola Light is seen in other parts of the world as a vibrant brand that exudes sexy confidence.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Writing Techniques in Art Spiegelmans Maus and Kurt Vonneguts Slaught
Writing Techniques in Art Spiegelman's Maus and Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five BAM! ZONK! POW! ZAP! What images do these words bring to mind? For many people, they illicit scenes of Batman and his sidekick Robin, fighting their way through a legion of bad guys while arriving only seconds after their arch-villain has escaped. From these short, succinct, nonsense words, images of battles are painted over a much larger canvas; the delicate balance and constant struggle between good and evil is illustrated in black and white terms. Unlike comics or television, life does not fit within these binary opposites. In a war there are good guys, bad guys, and everything imaginable in-between. ZONK! POW! Did a bad guy get thrown into a pile of crates or did our hero get knocked out from behind? These simple words are not enough for us to distinguish the difference between good and bad or right and wrong. At the same time, no artist or writer or illustrator could ever hope to present a situation in its entirety. How would a sentence like, ââ¬Ëthe hero, who although he treats his wife in a derogatory manner, punched a bad guy to save a damsel in distressââ¬â¢ serve as a gauge of morals or justice? It is not the creatorââ¬â¢s job to portray an entire event, but rather, to present the event in a way that the audience can understand and draw their own conclusions from. In Maus, Art Spiegelman does not make any apologies about what he includes or leaves out from his story. Maus is not meant to be a story that encompasses World War II or the Holocaust, but rather, a story about the life of his father, Vladek Spiegelman: I still want to draw the book about youâ⬠¦/The one I used to talk to you aboutâ⬠¦/About your life in Po... ... but rather, that it was humanity itself which suffered. It is interesting that we cannot definitively say that either Maus or Slaughterhouse Five was intended to be an anti-war book. For an author to have taken a side would have opened their book to more criticism and opposition than they already harbor. Instead, both Vonnegut and Spiegelman chose to mask their true meaning behind subtle hints and allusions. We cannot put either book into the black or white category of pro or anti-war. Even Vonnegut by his own admission states that, ââ¬Å"all I would have to do would be to report what I had seenâ⬠(Vonnegut 2). Maus and Slaughterhouse Five are not about proving a point or pushing an agenda. Instead, they present the absolutes of good and evil in a simple and concise way so that we may be able to distinguish all of the many gradients that lie in-between.
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