Ali 1

The Corrupt, The Commanding, The Cruel

Yawar Ali

One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Write an essay in which you discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work.

I have read and understand the sections in the Student Handbook regarding Mason High School's Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my paper, I am certifying that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the process of completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences of the act, which could include a "0" on the paper, as well as an "F" as a final grade in the course.

English IV Mrs. Wilson 28 May 2013 Sina, Jeremy, Wei, Eric, Brian

Ali 2

Yawar Ali Mrs. Wilson English IV B 28 May 2013

The Corrupt, The Commanding, The Cruel Frederick Douglass once said, Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. The influence of power on mankind has quenched the thirst for fulfillment and has led the uprising and downfall of numerous civilizations. Yet, no power is more potent than the one given to the common man: power that manipulates and feeds off the weakness of others, harnessing their frailty to manifest itself. In Room by Emma Donoghue, A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake, and De Profundis by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the authors utilize the corruption and cruelty of the time period as well as the pains of those subjected to such harsh treatments, in order to change the state of oppression by those in power. To tackle the problems presented to society, these authors explore the problem at its source: corruption. The corrupt morals of individuals in power lead to unethical practices. Corruption itself may lead to the rise in power or allow the one already in power to exercise uncontested rule over the weak. In the Room, a TV reporter asks Ma if [y]our experiences have given you, ah, enormous empathy with the suffering children of the world. and Ma replies back with [n]ot

Ali 3 just children . . . [p]eople . . . locked up in all sorts of ways (Donoghue 77). After experiencing subjugation by Old Nick, Ma and Jack have experienced what its like being controlled and manipulated by those who exercise corrupt practices in society. Although its true, power does not have to be physical like what occurs with Ma and Jack. Rather, power can also be exercised in ways that deal with the mind. For an example, in modern day, the government in extreme cases uses psychological torture in order to get information from war criminals rather than physical means. This psychological warfare allows the user in power (corrupt or not) to exert control over the prisoner: constant temperature changes, sleep deprivation and isolation allow them to divulge intel from even the toughest of opponents. In A Modest Proposal, . . . mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling, to beg sustenance for their helpless (Swift 5-8). Swift is trying to explain that once placed in a situation where they are the scum or lowest tier of society, mothers are further forced to beg on the streets - forever kept at their current situation with no door to escape. Once wrapped in the cycle of begging and being oppressed by the rest of society its ridiculously hard for one to improve their own state of being and situation. The people who are already well off in society in terms of political, economical or even social power often strive to remain in their current state while ignoring the pleas of those without anything. The cry of the common citizen is not heard in a society where the voice of the richest are listened to and the poorest neglected. Going back to the cycle of poverty, William Blake writes about the chimney sweeper clothed in the clothes of death and taught to sing the notes of woe (Blake 7-8). Like in Harry Potter,

Ali 4 Dobby is not allowed to free his bonds of servitude unless the Malfoy family give him an article of clothing, in the same sense, the narrator of The Chimney Sweeper is instead bounded by the clothing given to him, forced to be seen in public as a mere chimney sweep. The children in this time period and society are forced to work for those in power at an early age - an age where they cant fight back, and once they can its already too late. This behavior is obviously unethical and immoral - its one thing to manipulate those that have already done little with their life and accept the way things are, but totally another when manipulating those who dont know any better. Lastly, in De Profundis by Elizabeth Browning, she states [b]y anguish which made pale the sun, / I heard Him charge with despair, / However darkly days go on (Browning 9195). In this story, rather than being overpowered by someone in power, Browning allows herself to be held captive by an event. She allows her grief over her brothers death to mold her path in life and constantly suffer with the guilt she has to live with the rest of her life. In this way, corruption is not limited to the individual but also concepts and perception. Death in this case holds a tether on Browning, which only grows tighter as her grief becomes more profound. To allow the readers to obtain a better understanding of corruption in society, the authors provide context of the time period to further emphasize their point. In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift uses the Pretender (Swift 10) as the scapegoat for Irelands miseries, harnessing the Irish peoples distaste of the crown and the king, James Francis Stuart. He criticizes the Catholics who follow the Pretender as the most dangerous enemies (Swift 191192), broadening his blame to quite a bit of the Irish population. Therefore, those who read his piece have a definite grasp of what the Irish people face under the commonwealth of England,

Ali 5

not only politically but also socially and economically. William Blake talks about the conditions of the chimney sweepers and their lifestyle, your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep (Blake 5) to illustrate the state of the chimney sweepers and the tribulations they suffer through. With this, it seems like hes trying to invoke empathy for these poor children and hopefully a response. By using the context of the period and literary movements of the time, the authors are able to appeal to the interest of the reader. The audience may not at first care at all about the topic at hand, but they sure do care about the trends and reality around them - a fact that draws them into reading the piece and taking interest. In De Profundis, Browning utilizes an allusion to the Bible to convey her state of despair and grief when she writes, crown of sovran thorns (Browning XVIII). This alludes to the crucifixion of Christ which aids the audience in understanding her own grief or the extent of her despair. By referring to the Bible in a predominantly Christian country, she automatically sparks a connection between her reader and her piece. Those in power during these time periods have the authority to exert domination over those inferior, domination that borderlines cruelty. Too much power eventually molds the possessor, corrupts his mentality, which eventually turns his actions cruel. Often women and children are the easiest to overpower and the most susceptible to cruelty, though even the strongest of people can also be made to kneel under the power of a cruel ruler. In Room, Old Nick is able to lock up Ma and Jack in a small room, tending to them only when it suits them - ignoring them otherwise. Not only are Ma and Jack starved of social contact with anyone else around them, they are to be 100% subservient to Old

Ali 6

Nick or else suffer his wrath. When Ma tries to escape the first time, she is injured and made to fear for her sons safety. The fear harbored in her is a direct result from the cruel actions of Old Nick and the constant threat of future acts of violence. Not only is Ma suffering through physical torture, but psychological as well. Meanwhile Jack is completely oblivious to the danger, which brings up an interesting point. Not everyone subjected to cruelty by those in power view it as a bad thing; some may accept it as the way life is. The chimney sweepers at first accept reality and continue to live out their short lives as chimney workers, yet as they grow older they soon dream of freedom and open meadows. Jack eventually reaches this conclusion too with the help of his mother guiding him. In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift addresses the cruelty of abortions and he states, [t]here is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children . .

. (Swift 41-44). Of course his own scheme doesnt seem any more appealing, yet its obvious
that Swift is using satire to address the problem of abortions in his country. The mother in this case is the one in power over her unborn child; in Swifts eyes its cruel. This is interesting because it does not represent the common perception of corrupted person in power, yet its still evident in todays society. This abnormal perception of a cruel power is further reinforced in De Profundis in which Browning writes, This Nature, though the snows be down, / Thinks kindly of the bird of June: / This little red hip on the tree / Is ripe for such. What is for me, / Whose days so winterly go on? (Browning IX) . In this case, Nature is the one being personified as cruel. The continuous and repetitive state of nature is a constant reminder of her grief. Spring,

Ali 7

rather than being a season of growing and starting anew, mocks her and her suffering. In this way, Nature holds a powerful grip on her life and even though it is an inanimate concept that mankind cannot control - it can control mankind. Its easy to see that whether human or not, corrupt power can express its cruel authority in many forms. The works: Room by Emma Donoghue, A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake, and De Profundis by Elizabeth Barrett Browning allow us to recognize how corruption of the individual and society of the time period can manifest itself into a cruel power; a power that has the potential to oppress the masses and hinder society from growth.

Ali 8 Yawar Ali Mrs. Wilson English IV B 28 May 2013 A Proposal: Satire At Its Best Many at times, the worlds most obvious problems are the ones least cared for. Poverty has plagued society since its earliest stages to modern day very rarely is such a problem tackled, and even more rarely on a monumental scale. In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift incorporates stinging Juvenalian satire, unrelenting usage of rhetoric as well as a disdainful tone towards British colonialism to express the pitiful state of the Irish people stricken in poverty under the rule of the English crown in order to convey his proposal to fixing Irelands economic burdens. Swifts obvious far-fetched solution attempts to stir up his people in dealing with the rampant problem plaguing the country. Swift wastes no time to point out the blatant problems holding back Ireland: he quickly sets up the situation to the reader, using careful diction to draw them in. With words such as deplorable state of the kingdom (Swift 14) and helpless infants (Swift 8) he proceeds to appeal to the emotions of his audience. Yet, he quickly dissipates the air of sincerity with his solution to the problem: quite simply - eat the babies. They shall contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands (Swift 35-36) he says. Its indeed very clear that Jonathan Swift is either a crazy cook or an impressive satirist; by drawing on the alarm and surprise of his audience to his proposed solution he makes them that much more aware of the problem facing their country. Quite frankly the proposal put forth by Swift is hardly the panacea for Irelands ills; it seems to cause more ethical complications on top of the multitude of

Ali 9 economic dilemmas afflicting the nation. He goes on to state that this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords (Swift 101-102). Not only does he provide incentive for the poor to carry through with his plan (not having to provide for the child but also making money off it), but also appeals to the wealthy classes taste buds. By placing emphasis on the [i]nfants flesh (Swift 104) and the primary season throughout the year (Swift 104) it will be fresh, hes attempting to make human meat a hard sought commodity. Lastly, he completely disregards other possible proposals to cure the problems of the Irish. He refuses to recognize the taxing our absolutes at five shillings a pound: Of using neither cloaths, nor household furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture (Swift 256-257). Its easy to see his satire is at full power in these passages since his entire presentation of his proposal is based off his economist perspective, yet he rejects the fundamental principles of supply and demand that other economists will overwhelmingly approve of. Instead, his closeminded argument seeks no rebuttals (since he quickly presents and disproves their validity). Juvenalian satire is at play as he utilizes harsh and quite cruel remarks in regards to the slaughter of innocent children in order to provide for the masses while at the same time criticizing the very same people for their lack of awareness of societys problems. Throughout the essay, Swift appeals to the pathos of the people reading his pamphlet. Right in the beginning, Swift paints the picture of streets crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for alms (Swift 3-5). Clearly passages such as these are trying to appeal to the emotions of the reader, to draw them into the problem at hand to get them more involved with the problems inner working in order to hopefully get them to accept his solution. Yet, he repulses his audience with the gruesome details of sacrificing the poor innocent babies (Swift 40). Later, he uses

Ali 10 ethos in order to establish his credibility, since he starts to sound like a lunatic as he continues with the specific points of his argument. Swift references merchants in order to bring sense to his argument such as when he says I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or girl . . . is no salable commodity (Swift 68-69). Hoping to garner the respect of the reader by using professionals of their field, Swift establishes his own credentials. Soon after, he states, I have been assured by a very knowing American . . . that a young healthy child . . . is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food (Swift 77-79). By taking time to mention someone overseas, the reader might think that Swift has taken his ample time to assemble his argument and consolidate his source where in reality these credentials are merely figments of Swifts storytelling. He incorporates neoclassical reason as another technique in order to persuade his audience while using satire and wit from the time period to entertain and convey the argument more effectively. Through the combination of both these traits, his pamphlet reflects the fundamentals of Augustan literature: satire and personal exploration of individuals and society which was very effective art style of the early 18th century. Finally, the tone Swift uses exemplifies his distaste towards English rule over Ireland. Although born as an Anglo-Irishman he longed for a career in England rather than carry out his priestly duties in the Church of Ireland for the rest of his life. Though later in his life, Swift published anonymous pamphlets and became an Irish patriot, defending Ireland against the oppressive policies of the English rulers. His dislike of England is depicted clearly in the first paragraph when he talks about how helpless infants grow up to either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain (Swift 8-10). The Pretender undoubtedly refers to Englands monarch, James Stuart, and his wars overseas which the Irish people were obliged to partake in. Further on, he proceeds to criticize the

Ali 11 Catholics of the Pretender as the most dangerous enemies (Swift 191-192). His hate for England had many facets: economic, political, and religious all of which he believes the English should refrain from involving themselves in Irelands affairs. With the usage of stinging satire, copious amounts of rhetoric and disdainful tone Jonathan Swift is successful in illustrating Irelands problems of poverty and social despair in A Modest Proposal. By incorporating universal human principles and structured argument, he is able to convey his point and pique the interest of the reader to bring about change.

Ali 12 Yawar Ali Mrs. Wilson English IV B 28 May 2013 Woes of a Chimney Sweeper The life of a child laborer carries many aches and pains. The laborer himself is unaware of what the world has to offer him: having lived his entire life as a worker subjected to brutal conditions without freedom in sight. In The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence and Experience) by William Blake, Blake attempts to criticize a culture which perpetuates the existence of child chimney sweepers in inhumane conditions by exploring its hardships using detailed imagery, extended metaphors and a despairing tone. Through utilizing these methods, Blake seeks to bring awareness to society in pursuit of freeing these children from the atrocious conditions they work in. Blake makes it very evident in the very beginning that he means to expose an aspect of society previously unknown or uncared for by the general public. He sets up the stage with his narrator, a poor old boy forced to live out his early years as a chimney sweeper, When my mother died I was very young / And my father sold me while yet my tongue / Could scarcely cry weep! weep! weep! weep! (Blake 1-3). The narrator is forced to work as a chimney sweeper after his mother passes away and hes abandoned by his father - essentially hes a slave to his new owners. Swift then uses imagery to describe the conditions faced by a new chimney sweeper, little Tom Dacre who cried when his head was shaved to avoid the soot [that now] cannot spoil [his] white hair (Blake 5-8). By illustrating the scene, William Blake wants to delve deeper into the lives of just a few chimney sweepers in order to make his audience more

Ali 13 involved and establishing a personal connection with his poem. The boys are forced to shave their head in order to prevent lice and vermin from getting into them while they work tirelessly in the chimneys. These are just a few of the sacrifices they must make. The period of Romanticism emphasizes the role of human achievement and intrinsic goals, all of which Blake sets up perfectly when he transitions the poem from complete hopelessness to one of motivation or light at the end of the road. He writes about a dream that Tom has where the sweepers are down [in] a green plain, leaping, laughing, they run, / And wash in a river and shine in the Sun. (Blake 15-16). Essentially in the dream-like world of Toms imagination, the boys are freed by the Angel - free to live by their own rules and pursue their own imagination. Yet these scenes of bliss and happiness that Blake depicts are quickly erased as Tom awakes to the cold, harsh reality gets [his] bags & [his] brushes to work. (Blake 22). Tom realizes hes back to his daily routine with the other chimney sweepers and if they continue on mindlessl y doing their duty, they need not fear harm. (Blake 24). Unlike the Song of Innocence, the Song of Experience contains elements of a narrator who realizes that his life is in a state of disarray and is more realistic of lifes expectations. The narrator and Tom in the Song of Innocence are still praying for a glimpse of a prosperous future and freedom, whereas Song of Experience accepts the reality and the loneliness that comes with abandonment by his parents and the church (which does not accept the chimney sweepers). Blake in the first poem speaks of the thousands of sweepers . . . locked up in coffins of black (Blake 11-12) where coffins of black refers to the dismal surrounding in a chimney, but the sweepers are soon freed by an Angel who had a bright key (Blake 13). The bright key most likely referring to the key to the future or happiness, the escape from the lives as chimney sweepers. These metaphors help contrast the bleak state of the children in their present condition

Ali 14 to what they believe will greet them after they struggle through their lives as sweepers. This represents characteristics of the Romantic Era because Blake emphasizes the individual and his achievements. In the second poem, Blake talks about the boys and how theyre clothed in clothes of death (Blake 7). The clothes of death most likely refers to the uniforms the boys wear as they clean the chimneys, uniforms that they will die in as they breathe in the soot and suffer in the coffins of death that are the chimneys. Lastly, Blake utilizes a despairing or hopeless tone throughout the poems. Although at points in the Song of Innocence, the boys are met with hope and prosperity (like the dream), these dreams are quickly erased by the brutal realities of their daily routine which further reinforces the despairing nature of their struggle. In both poems, the chimney sweepers cry out and weep! weep! which establishes their current mind set towards the conditions theyre faced with. They long for their parents, calling out [w]here are thy father and mother? Say! (Blake 3). These lines aid in formulating the tone of the poems, it is indeed despairing and hopeless. What makes it more hopeless, according to Blake, is the lack of societys involvement in trying to cure these ills facing these child workers who see no help in sight as they live out their lives in brutal conditions that take many of their lives in the process. Using detailed imagery, extended metaphors and a despairing tone, William Blake in The Chimney Sweeper attempts to make society aware of the difficulties and conditions faced by chimney sweepers. He attempts to garner the attention of the public towards these problems in order to fix them. Yet, his main goal is to criticize society for turning a blind eye to these problems that plague the nation and by exploring the life of a chimney sweeper; he makes them guilty of their ignorance.

Ali 15

Yawar Ali Mrs. Wilson English IV B 28 May 2013 Waves of Sorrow After the idealistic, emotional era of passion and originality that was the Romantic period, the world again deviated back into the practical and realistic perspectives of the Victorian Era. Under the rule of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), England was met with great economic and social prosperity with a shift towards progress and innovation. In this era, many authors and artists took advantage of the various opportunities offered by the emerging markets and interests in social classes and the drive towards becoming true Englishmen. The emerging authors attempted to express moral idea or write literature of some practical purpose. In her own literature, Elizabeth Barrett Browning expresses her resentment toward her current state of affairs using repetition, allusion to scripture, and a somber tone in De Profundis. Her constant usage of repetition is evident in every stanza of the poem. Through her continuous repetition of [a]nd yet my days go on, go on (Browning I), Elizabeth Browning illustrates the monotonous cycle of her life. Rarely is her day met with an event that brightens up her mood on the current state of her life. She talks about how every morning is greeted with [g]ood day which makes each day good yet is hushed away (Browning II) to leave her stranded again with her own thoughts and the longing to experience what the new day brings. More clearly is the repetition of go on (Browning I) throughout the literary piece, an indication that the passage is primarily about living out a life which is not worth living. Browning questions

Ali 16 her own reason to go on, asking herself and eventually proposing rhetorical questions to the reader, with He reigns with Jealous God. Who mourns / Or rules with Him, while days go on? (Browning XVIII). The definition of the title, De Profundis itself is a cry of appeal expressing one's deepest feelings of sorrow or anguish, which begs the question as to what is Browning mourning? At the time the poem was written, Brownings brother had drowned in Torquays bay while accompanying her to the city against their fathers wishes. Browning took the cause of the death upon herself, feeling guilty for her decisions - expressing her emotions on paper. She strays slightly from the Victorian Era, expressing deep emotions in her paper about the continuity of life and the mourning of a loss. Her poem is laden with sincere regret and emotional pain paralleling the Romantic Era. Yet at the same time, she orderly structures her poem in passages and ventures to question lifes purpose in a practical manner - staying true to the Victorian age. De Profundis shares roots with A Modest Proposal and The Chimney Sweeper with their utilization of pathos over any other rhetoric to appeal or convey their purpose to the reader. Their arguments or illustrations revolve around the response of the audience to the specific ideas being expressed - without the direct involvement or interest of the reader, the poem itself would fall to pieces. Later she transitions her poem away from the self-centric attitude towards that of God and overarching principles. She alludes to the crown of sovran thorns (Browning XVIII) of the scripture, illustrating an image of Jesus on the cross. Browning questions the legitimacy of the suffering that she endures, stating [n]o mortal grief deserves that crown (Browning XX). Her shift towards religion and God demonstrates a variety of elements in her poem. Browning strays away from the Neoclassical view of Greek and Roman culture and Gods, rather towards a monotheistic view. She then leaves behind the pure emotional state of her own individual (a drift

Ali 17 from the Romantic Era). Her shift is marked by, Gods Voice, not Natures! Night and noon / He sits upon the great white throne / And listens for the creatures praise / What babble we of days and days? (Browning XVI) in which she rejects the conception of Nature as an answer of her problems and instead looks to God. Unlike, The Chimney Sweeper Browning does not blame her problems on society rather she accepts her state and seeks to improve on her life. Yet, she cannot find the will to continue on until she illustrates her relationship with God. A Modest Proposal blames its problems on that of England and references God very little, rather providing statistics and appealing to pathos to convey Swifts argument. Finally, the tone that transcends the entire poem drives the point home, Browning is experiencing a state of distress. With diction like [c]ool deadly touch (Browning XI) or anguish pierces to the bone (Browning V), Browning obviously isnt expressing her happiness. She mourns over the accident that took her brothers life but the outcry over her own illness, tuberculosis, which has plagued her entire life probably also trickles into her writing. Only at the very ending of her poem does she talk about the love and passion that keeps her living through her days, I praise Thee while my days go on; / I love Thee while my days go on: / Through dark and dearth, through fire and frost (Browning XXIII). But that does not erase her distraught displayed throughout most of her poem. She finds strength only with the spirit of God and in the very last line of the poem she defiantly challenges her state of being, [s]miling - so I. THY DAYS GO ON. (Browning XXIV). Unlike A Modest Proposal, she does not keep her cool like Jonathan Swift; her very emotions aid her in expressing her conviction. The sudden change between despair and hope shapes the poem and further nails in the point being conveyed. Life goes on. Through the thick and thin, one has to survive through its misery and hope for a better

Ali 18 tomorrow. Like the Victorian Age, the practicality of nature and life shines through, the morals of life and continuing it rather than ending it also is expressed. With frequent repetition, allusion to scripture, and continuous somber tone in De Profundis, Elizabeth Browning expresses her lifes problems, yet strives through the despair to a better, prosperous future. Like with A Modest Proposal and The Chimney Sweeper, the utilization and manipulation of emotions draws the reader into the situation at hand and molds their thought process on the subject. With combining purposeful prose and diction, all three authors: Blake, Swift and Browning are successful in conveying their topic at hand using the background and literary styles of the time period to do so.

Ali 19 Work Cited About.com. "Elizabeth Barrett Browning - De Profundis - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (18061861)." Elizabeth Barrett Browning - De Profundis - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861). N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. CUNY. "Introduction to Neoclassisism." Introduction to Neoclassisism. The City University of New York, 17 Aug. 2000. Web. 09 May 2013. Dover, Richard. "Songs of Innocence." By William Blake. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Lovelock, Julian. "Restoration and Augustan Literature." University of Buckingham. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2013. Nestvold, Ruth. "The Augustan Age." The Augustan Age. N.p., 2001. Web. 09 May 2013. Norton Anthology of English Literature. "The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Victorian Age: Introduction." The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Victorian Age: Introduction. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Reiser, K. L. "An Analysis of Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper" Poems." Yahoo! Yahoo! Contributor Network, n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Shmoop. "The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Experience)." Shmoop. Shmoop University Inc., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Swift, Jonathan. A Modest Proposal. 1729. Quotidiana. Ed. Patrick Madden. 19 Dec 2007. 09 May 2013 . ThinkQuest. "The Romantic Era." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. UNLV. "The Victorian Period." The Victorian Period. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, n.d. Web. 15 May 2013.