Biff:
- Is the one who forces Willy to face reality with statement that they are both 'a dime a dozen', which shatters Willy's illusions.
- When Biff eventually frees himself from the psychological burden placed on him by Willy, and comes to realise that he is not 'a leader of men' (p.105), we might expect him to be capable of greater happiness. However, Biff is presented as not fully understanding how to live his life free from the illusions placed on him by Willy, or realising how such illusions were insinuated into his own life by his father.
- It would be expected that Biff would free himself form the guilt of his past actions and blame Willy for his failures rather than himself, however this is not the case. This could be the reason that Biff does not fully counteract the sense of doom imposed by Willy's death.
- Biff has no programme for the future, however by the end of the play he is an ordinary man with no pretensions. He appears to have the clearest understanding of what has gone wrong in the family, and in this sense represents some hope for the future: an optimistic audience might believe that he has learnt from his father's mistakes, will use the life insurance money, and be successful. On the other hand, a pessimistic observer that Biff did not learn from Willy's mistakes, and went on to squander the money.
Linda:
- A staunch defender of everything that Willy stands for, although she is also acutely aware of his nature: 'I know he's not easy to get along with- nobody knows that better than me- but...' (43).
-According to the stage directions, she is usually cheerful and has developed an 'iron repression' of the objections she may have to Willy's behaviour. Ultimately, she is willing to excuse everything he does.
-Perhaps dependent on how an actor playing Linda portrays, some might see her as simply a spineless recipient of Willy's 'little cruelties' and her sons' immaturity who has now worthwhile substance of her own.
- In keeping with the gender roles of the time, Linda is not allowed an opinion: when she and Willy are d
Thursday, 17 November 2016
Monday, 14 November 2016
production update
I intend to have the majority of my research completed by the last day of term- 16/12/16.
If there is any research I have completed, I will do so over the Christmas holiday.
My research can be divided into 3 sections:
- Research on the British Empire in Victorian Britain.
- Victorian literature concerned with imperialism and the empire.
-Post- colonialist theory.
I intend to have completed my research on the British Empire by the 14/11/16. My main sources have been the book Empire: The British Imperial from 1765 to the present by Denis Judd, [insert book], [insert book] as well as selected websites that provide more detail of the specific historical events that influenced my chosen texts.
I intend to have read all of the literature (literary criticism included) I intend to analyse by the 16/12/16. I have been working through them for the 5 or 6 weeks, in order to meet this deadline. I have set only estimated deadlines to read and select key sections to analyse of each text by, because the amount of time it will take me to read a text varies dependent on its length and the vocabulary used.
I initially decided to complete two sections of my research: on Victorian literature, and post-colonial criticism at the same time because I thought this would allow me to deeper understanding of both of these types of text. However, I have since decided to complete the majority of research on postcolonial criticism first (main resources being Edward Said's Orientialism and Peter Barry's Beginning Theory) so I can more easily pick out relevant areas for analysis when reading my non-fiction texts.
Furthermore, I intend to have completed all of my research on post- colonial criticism by the 28/11/16. I intend to have read my remaining non-fiction texts by the last day of term- 16/12/16,
I intend to start writing up my research in January. This means that I can use the Christmas holidays to finish reading any texts I have not been able to finish due to factors such as mock exams. Also in those two weeks I will ensure my analysis of the texts I intend to study are thorough and detailed. I will then plan and possibly begin drafting my essay.
If there is any research I have completed, I will do so over the Christmas holiday.
My research can be divided into 3 sections:
- Research on the British Empire in Victorian Britain.
- Victorian literature concerned with imperialism and the empire.
-Post- colonialist theory.
I intend to have completed my research on the British Empire by the 14/11/16. My main sources have been the book Empire: The British Imperial from 1765 to the present by Denis Judd, [insert book], [insert book] as well as selected websites that provide more detail of the specific historical events that influenced my chosen texts.
I intend to have read all of the literature (literary criticism included) I intend to analyse by the 16/12/16. I have been working through them for the 5 or 6 weeks, in order to meet this deadline. I have set only estimated deadlines to read and select key sections to analyse of each text by, because the amount of time it will take me to read a text varies dependent on its length and the vocabulary used.
I initially decided to complete two sections of my research: on Victorian literature, and post-colonial criticism at the same time because I thought this would allow me to deeper understanding of both of these types of text. However, I have since decided to complete the majority of research on postcolonial criticism first (main resources being Edward Said's Orientialism and Peter Barry's Beginning Theory) so I can more easily pick out relevant areas for analysis when reading my non-fiction texts.
Furthermore, I intend to have completed all of my research on post- colonial criticism by the 28/11/16. I intend to have read my remaining non-fiction texts by the last day of term- 16/12/16,
I intend to start writing up my research in January. This means that I can use the Christmas holidays to finish reading any texts I have not been able to finish due to factors such as mock exams. Also in those two weeks I will ensure my analysis of the texts I intend to study are thorough and detailed. I will then plan and possibly begin drafting my essay.
8 9 10 short q's
Elements of crime in chapter 8:
Transgression- obsecene note
Victim- of class
Criminal- note could be seen as a crime
Suspense - sun going down
Detective- Grace asking what's wrong
Moral element
Regret
Misinterpretation- Robbie analysing Cecelia and coming to different conclusions
1. Cecelia seems to be more of a maternal figure than Emily, but Cecelia is not content with this because she is not needed. Cecelia seems to run the household more then Briony- able to compromise.
2, Crime in chapter 9:
- Theft of Briony's socks
- Neglect of twins
- Punishment of twins for being liabilities
- Leon misinterpreting everyone as a 'good egg'
- Crime: pregnancy before marriage
3.
- Robbie as a threat to Cecelia and Cecelia being in danger
Robbie as having a 'disgusting mind'
-Robbie's not as a crime rather than an expression of lust not meant for anyone to read
-Leon's misconception of Paul
-Reader's conception of Emily
-Perception of the twins as violent
-Perce
Leon's misconception of Paul
-Reader's conception of Emily
- perception of the sex scene as violent
4.
- In terms of language: tries to relate the adult vulgarity or Robbie's note to more mitigating things like Latin and childrens' books.
- In terms of having to care for Lola, who is more vulnerable
-Sexual violence- of how Briony perceives the note,and through Lola's experience of sexual violence
- In terms of appearance
Transgression- obsecene note
Victim- of class
Criminal- note could be seen as a crime
Suspense - sun going down
Detective- Grace asking what's wrong
Moral element
Regret
Misinterpretation- Robbie analysing Cecelia and coming to different conclusions
1. Cecelia seems to be more of a maternal figure than Emily, but Cecelia is not content with this because she is not needed. Cecelia seems to run the household more then Briony- able to compromise.
2, Crime in chapter 9:
- Theft of Briony's socks
- Neglect of twins
- Punishment of twins for being liabilities
- Leon misinterpreting everyone as a 'good egg'
- Crime: pregnancy before marriage
3.
- Robbie as a threat to Cecelia and Cecelia being in danger
Robbie as having a 'disgusting mind'
-Robbie's not as a crime rather than an expression of lust not meant for anyone to read
-Leon's misconception of Paul
-Reader's conception of Emily
-Perception of the twins as violent
-Perce
Leon's misconception of Paul
-Reader's conception of Emily
- perception of the sex scene as violent
4.
- In terms of language: tries to relate the adult vulgarity or Robbie's note to more mitigating things like Latin and childrens' books.
- In terms of having to care for Lola, who is more vulnerable
-Sexual violence- of how Briony perceives the note,and through Lola's experience of sexual violence
- In terms of appearance
Atonement hwk
In this chapter, it is chapter, McEwan's presentation of Robbie serves to guide the response the reader will have to his actions later in the novel, as well as the tragic events that he is a victim of.
It could be argued that if McEwan had provided such as detailed and ultimately favourable presentation of Robbie, some readers may have come to interpret his obscene not to Cecelia as an act of aggression- in the same that Briony does- and consequently antagonise him. This may have lea
d to the reader having a negative view of Robbie's motive when he goes to meet with Cecelia in the library, and perhaps more of an ambiguity surrounding the assault of Lola: like Briony, the reader may have perceived Robbie to the criminal based on their interpretation of his letter as 'evidence' of him being 'dangerous'.
If the reader did follow the thought process outlined above and came to perceive Robbie as the criminal, McEwan's subsequent presentation of the hardships Robbie faces during his experience as a soldier in World War 2 may have actually been seen as justified by the reader, rather than an unjustified punishment.
Another reason the Robbie is presented in such detail is that this enables McEwan to present the extent of the tragedy of Robbie and Cecelia failing to be together, which some readers may argue is a transgression against the natural order of things. An example of McEwan presenting their compatibility is references to travelling; McEwan uses free indirect discourse to portray Robbie realising that Cecelia will soon be 'gone'- an idea that Cecelia had previously been presented as thinking about during McEwan's earlier focalisation through her. Similarly, this chapter contains references Robbie's own plans to travel, such as the imagery of his maps.
McEwan presents Robbie as a victim of class.How far do you agree?
In terms of Robbie's position in the macrocosm, McEwan does present him as at all vicitimised by his class. Despite his status as working class, Robbie is presented as highly intelligent and culture through references to cultural movements such as the Fauvists, and numerous poets as well as the work f Shakespeare, The latter provides the reader with an interesting point of comparison between Robbie and Paul Marshall: the upper classes were thought of as being more civililised and possessing a greater cultural capital than the working class, yet is is Robbie who has the knowledge of Shakesperian literature to compare himself to one of the character, whereas Paul Marshall was previously presented as pretending to know all about Hamlet. Moreover, Robbie's class is not presented as limiting his education. In addition to his cultural knowledge, Robbie is presented as being socially mobile if Briony had not committed her crime, the job Robbie would have pursued as a doctor would have led to him possessing the status of middle class.
By way of contrast, it is hard to dispute the fact if Robbie was of the same class as Cecelia, he would have been accepted into the family and perhaps even been encouraged as a potential match for her. If it were not for McEwan's portrayal of him working class, This means that Cecelia and Robbie's relationship could have been presented as public knowledge, meaning that the Tallis family would have perhaps been presented as having a closer relationship with Robbie; Briony's knowledge of his character would have prevented her from seeing him as a threat. Also, Cecelia and Robbie's relationship would not need to be developed so furtively; Robbie would not have had to send the note by way of communication, meaning that there would be no 'evidence' of for the allegations made towards him. In terms of the microcosm, Robbie is a victim of Briony's crime. If he was presented as part of the upper class, this would probably not have occurred.
Another supporting argument for Robbie being a victim of his class is the contribution of negative working class stereotypes in the macrocosm, moreover the idea of working class males being society's idea of what a criminals. If Robbie had been presented as upper class, it is unlikely he would the Tallis family would even consider the possibility of him being a rapist; like Marhsall, he would be immune. Robbie is therefore presented as a victim of the stereotypes held by the upper class. Evidence for this class bias is presented by McEwan when he mentions how Cecelia immediately accuses Danny Hardman of assault when the police arrive. In addition, Robbie is also presented as believing Danny Hardman to be the criminal when Briony goes to visit Cecelia at the end of the novel.
Overall, McEwab intially presented Robbie as a victim of Briony's imagination; her imagining him as a threat is what leads to her assuming he was the criminal, and subsequently accusing him. However, she is presented as making this accusation largely due to her disapproval of his secret relationship with Cecelia: which would have been accepted and public if Robbie were not working class. Futhermore, Robbie is presented a victim of the legal system's unjust punishment. If Robbie had been presented as upper class, he would not be believed to be a criminal in the first place, meaning he would not have been a victim of class bias, nor the horrific experiences of war.
It could be argued that if McEwan had provided such as detailed and ultimately favourable presentation of Robbie, some readers may have come to interpret his obscene not to Cecelia as an act of aggression- in the same that Briony does- and consequently antagonise him. This may have lea
d to the reader having a negative view of Robbie's motive when he goes to meet with Cecelia in the library, and perhaps more of an ambiguity surrounding the assault of Lola: like Briony, the reader may have perceived Robbie to the criminal based on their interpretation of his letter as 'evidence' of him being 'dangerous'.
If the reader did follow the thought process outlined above and came to perceive Robbie as the criminal, McEwan's subsequent presentation of the hardships Robbie faces during his experience as a soldier in World War 2 may have actually been seen as justified by the reader, rather than an unjustified punishment.
Another reason the Robbie is presented in such detail is that this enables McEwan to present the extent of the tragedy of Robbie and Cecelia failing to be together, which some readers may argue is a transgression against the natural order of things. An example of McEwan presenting their compatibility is references to travelling; McEwan uses free indirect discourse to portray Robbie realising that Cecelia will soon be 'gone'- an idea that Cecelia had previously been presented as thinking about during McEwan's earlier focalisation through her. Similarly, this chapter contains references Robbie's own plans to travel, such as the imagery of his maps.
McEwan presents Robbie as a victim of class.How far do you agree?
In terms of Robbie's position in the macrocosm, McEwan does present him as at all vicitimised by his class. Despite his status as working class, Robbie is presented as highly intelligent and culture through references to cultural movements such as the Fauvists, and numerous poets as well as the work f Shakespeare, The latter provides the reader with an interesting point of comparison between Robbie and Paul Marshall: the upper classes were thought of as being more civililised and possessing a greater cultural capital than the working class, yet is is Robbie who has the knowledge of Shakesperian literature to compare himself to one of the character, whereas Paul Marshall was previously presented as pretending to know all about Hamlet. Moreover, Robbie's class is not presented as limiting his education. In addition to his cultural knowledge, Robbie is presented as being socially mobile if Briony had not committed her crime, the job Robbie would have pursued as a doctor would have led to him possessing the status of middle class.
By way of contrast, it is hard to dispute the fact if Robbie was of the same class as Cecelia, he would have been accepted into the family and perhaps even been encouraged as a potential match for her. If it were not for McEwan's portrayal of him working class, This means that Cecelia and Robbie's relationship could have been presented as public knowledge, meaning that the Tallis family would have perhaps been presented as having a closer relationship with Robbie; Briony's knowledge of his character would have prevented her from seeing him as a threat. Also, Cecelia and Robbie's relationship would not need to be developed so furtively; Robbie would not have had to send the note by way of communication, meaning that there would be no 'evidence' of for the allegations made towards him. In terms of the microcosm, Robbie is a victim of Briony's crime. If he was presented as part of the upper class, this would probably not have occurred.
Another supporting argument for Robbie being a victim of his class is the contribution of negative working class stereotypes in the macrocosm, moreover the idea of working class males being society's idea of what a criminals. If Robbie had been presented as upper class, it is unlikely he would the Tallis family would even consider the possibility of him being a rapist; like Marhsall, he would be immune. Robbie is therefore presented as a victim of the stereotypes held by the upper class. Evidence for this class bias is presented by McEwan when he mentions how Cecelia immediately accuses Danny Hardman of assault when the police arrive. In addition, Robbie is also presented as believing Danny Hardman to be the criminal when Briony goes to visit Cecelia at the end of the novel.
Overall, McEwab intially presented Robbie as a victim of Briony's imagination; her imagining him as a threat is what leads to her assuming he was the criminal, and subsequently accusing him. However, she is presented as making this accusation largely due to her disapproval of his secret relationship with Cecelia: which would have been accepted and public if Robbie were not working class. Futhermore, Robbie is presented a victim of the legal system's unjust punishment. If Robbie had been presented as upper class, he would not be believed to be a criminal in the first place, meaning he would not have been a victim of class bias, nor the horrific experiences of war.
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