Virginia Woolfs The Death Of The Moth

Virginia Woolfs The Death Of The Moth In Virginia Woolfs The Death of the Moth, she wrote about a pathetic moths death process. Although its struggling and fighting against death moved her, the moth died in the end. The Death of the Moth reveals a world filled up with common objects: the moth, downs, sunlight, rooks, men etc. The connection between them, however, is extraordinary. The center of this world is frozen on a moribund moth and everything else is background. They are here to see and to contrast the death of the moth. In this world, life and death changed in a wink and this death process is released in a condensed way, striking us readers simple and quiet life. Woolf was a person who suffered mental illness throughout her life. In this essay, she commonly used personification. She considered the moth as herself. By condensing the human lifetime to a day life of a hay-colored moth, she demonstrated that death was inevitable. Even though due to the true nature of life, living beings tend to fight against the oncom ing doom (107), any effort against the power will fail eventually. Surprisingly, Woolf created a window that separated the moth and her from the outside world. At the beginning of this essay, she wrote about the pleasant summer morning. Everything outside was inspired by the vigor. The keener smell of air, the early work in the field, the utmost clamor and vociferation of rooks shows us this scene of vitality (106). In addition, she chose to write many big, strong and significant things on purpose, such as the scoring plough, the horses, the ploughmen, the rooks etc. She aimed to foreshadow the contrast between the moth and outside living beings: That was all he could do, in spite of the size of the downs, the width of the sky, the far-off smoke of houses, and the romantic voice, now and then, of a steamer out at sea (106, 107). Compared to the world outside the window, the moth was pathetic and little or nothing but life (107). The universe was larger than the moth can notice. However, compared to the oncoming doom, even the large and strong outsid e world was fragile and insignificant, let alone the little moth: as long as it chose to, the oncoming doom could submerge an entire city, not merely a city, but masses of human beings; nothing, I knew, has any chance against death (108). The world inside the window was individual and different from the world outside. Woolf wrote about the moth flying around the window, from one corner to another, or across them. Not only the moth was tiny, but also its life, though somehow vigorous at that moment, was actually boring. There was nothing else left for it to do besides flying. Outside world was bright and colorful, but the moth was somewhat lonely, just like Woolf herself. The window was like a barrier, keeping her away from enjoying the optimistic and positive life. She felt pity for the moth, just as if she felt sympathy for herself. Eventually, the moth settled on the windowsill, maybe because it was tired. It wanted to fly again, but failed. It seemed that this little creature was exhausted. Its movement and struggling was awkward. It failed several times and finally fell down and lay on its back. Death crept up on this poor and pathetic moth. Woolf tended to help it, but suddenly realized that this was the token of death. She knew death was inevitable, and she accepted that. In her mind, nothing people can do to stop the power of death. Hence, she chose not to interfere with the natural process. The moth was struggling. She was moved by its extremely strong will to live. Its tiny little legs fluttered repeatedly. The last protest was a success, but this instant victory did not save it from taking away by death. At the last few sentences of the last paragraph, she repeated the word death for six times, trying to emphasize that nothing can win the battle against oncoming doom. Except using repetition here that adds force, the whole passage was trying to avoid this. Synonyms were commonly seen in her words, such as pity, pathetic, sympathies; also useless, helplessness, futile, vainly and failure; death, oncoming doom, the power, fate etc. From her words it was superb this last protest, ones sympathies, of cause, were all on the side of life, moved one strangely etc., we can see that Woolf admired, respected and praised the life (108). Thus, she utilized personification throughout her essay. The moth is she, and she is the moth, struggling and fighting all her life. Virginia Woolf suffered mental illness during her lifetime. Actually, the date when she wrote this essay was very close to her suicide. As she said in the end of the essay death is stronger than I am, her illness was torturing her and she wanted an end (108). The moths life is actually her life. She condensed it to a day. Her life is not colorful and interesting like the world outside the window, but boring, plain and dull. She had a same window deep down in her mind. A barrier, through which she could see the world, but she fail to blend in it. Maybe for the reason of her mental illness, she can see the world differently than common people and can understand her inner thoughts more thoroughly, thus creating her magnificent achievements in mastering the technique stream of consciousness. She can write complex sentences as her wish, and mix her true feelings into her words: Yet, because he was so small, and so simple a form of the energy that was rolling in at the open window and driving its way through so many narrow and intricate corridors in my own brain and in those of other human beings, there was something marvelous as well as pathetic about him (107). In this essay, Virginia Woolf seemingly wrote about the moth, while actually she wrote about herself. Pessimistic emotion flooded this essay. No one can stop the natural process. No one can escape from death.

Ages of Faith, Reason, and Romantics Essay -- History Literature Writi

Ages of Faith, Reason, and Romantics Works Cited Missing The first three time periods in American literature had distinguishing characteristics in their subject matter and writing styles. Puritans wrote about their religious beliefs and daily life during the Age of Faith. During the Age of Reason, the Revolutionary War was going on and much of the writings were political documents as a result of the war. The Age of Romantics brought about the first fictional writings. The three time periods, which have unique characteristics in their subject matter and writing styles, were the Age of Faith, Age of Reason, and Age of Romantics. During the Age of Faith, the subject matter and writing styles were unusual. Puritans wrote about their religion in letters, journals, diaries, and sermons such as ?Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God? by Jonathan Edwards. In this sermon, Edwards uses ?scare-tactics? to get ?un-saved? members of his church ?saved?. Edwards, like many other Puritans, believed that ?un-saved? persons are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell? (Edwards 37). Puritan daily life was centered around their religion. Puritans wrote about interactions with the Native Americans, farming, weather, hunting, and other happenings in the settlements such as in Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford. The plain writings of the Age of Faith proved to be quite unusual to the readers of today. The writers of the Age of Faith wrote about religion because that was the ...

How does Austen use contrasting characters in Pride and Prejudice? Essay

How does Austen use contrasting characters in Pride and Prejudice? (Part B question) Jane Austen uses contrasting characters in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ to highlight her characters traits, both good and bad, and comparing them to others, and by doing this she can shape the plot of the novel. One obvious contrast in the novel is that of Mr Wickham and Mr Darcy and is used to build tension in the plot and convey Jane Austen’s message of being too judgemental. When we, and the characters of the novel, are introduced to Wickham for the first time we see him in an extremely good light because of the overwhelmingly positive description of his ‘gentlemanlike appearance’, ‘perfectly correct and unassuming’ manners and everyone in the communities good opinion of him. This contrasts to when we first meet to Darcy who is instantly ‘discovered to be proud, to be above his company and above being pleased’. This is judged by Elizabeth as well as the whole community; the effect of this is that as a reader we are instantly prejudiced against him and have a very low opinion of his character from the start. However this view is challenged by Austen’s use of a casual narrator that can switch from the, more usual, point of view of Elizabeth to the view of the Bingly’s and Mr Darcy at Netherfield, which shows Darcy in a better light than we previously saw him. We go from hearing his outrageously rude manners at the ball; saying ‘there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to [him] to stand up with’ to the narrator informing us that ‘he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her fine eyes’. However the most drastic alteration of our view of him comes in Volume two of the novel, when we find out about Wickham’s true character and how much of a fraud he is, and the repercussions of this for the Darcy and Bennet families. Austen uses these characters and their contrasts in order to highlight one of the main themes of the novel; first impressions (which was originally going to be the name of the novel) and how wrong they can be, because after judging Darcy and Wickham at two ends of the spectrum with little information, the reader, and the characters, find out that actually, not only were we wrong, but they turn out to be exact opposites of who we expected, and the significance of this is shown to us by the drastic effect on the plot-line that the characters judgements have. Another influential character contrast that Austen creates is that of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. This contrast is important to the novel because it highlights the other main theme and message that Austen is putting across; Pride and Prejudice. In the novel Elizabeth is a drastic contrast to her sister Jane because of the prejudice attitudes she shows throughout when she judges people, and sometimes rightly, on her first impressions, and then it too proud to change these opinions, until it is too late; in the case of Wickham and Lydia. This is shown to us from the very start of the novel although we do not immediately pick up on the dangers of this. Elizabeth first shows her pride when she says that Darcy’s pride ‘had mortified [hers]’ when he called her ‘tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt [him]’, and she holds this against him for the majority of the rest of the book. She is also very sceptical of the Bingly sisters from the very start, although she knows little about them besides her judgement that ‘their behaviour at the assembly had not been calculated to please’. This contrasts to Jane’s blind trust of everybody, which, although sometimes proves itself a bad thing, it does show that she is a far kinder person than Elizabeth, always thinking the best of people; ‘to take good of everybody’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad – belongs to [Jane] alone’. Sometimes her judgement is portrayed to us as a positive aspect of Lizzy, showing she is smart; for example when she deduces Collins’ character after just reading his letter, however it goes to extremes though the novel; for example when she believes Wickham’s twisted story of Darcy because she has already judged Darcy badly for the sole reason that he insulted her when they first met. Occasions like this, when Jane ‘would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone’ portray Austen’s message that we should not judge people on our first impressions, or hold our pride against them, and show us her clever use of contrasting characters to develop theme.

E Cigarettes Are Beneficial For Smokers - 892 Words

E-cigarettes are beneficial for smokers and they can be used as alternatives for people who don’t want to quit smoking. Smokers can have same pleasure with less harm. Pearson, J. L., Richardson, A., Niaura, R. S., Vallone, D. M., Abrams, D. B. (2012). E-Cigarette Awareness, Use, and Harm Perceptions in US Adults. American Journal Of Public Health, 102(9), 1758-1766 9p. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300526 PhDs Pearson, J. L., Richardson, A., Niaura, R. S., Vallone, D. M., and Abrams, D. B wrote a journal article on American Journal of Public Health in 2012 and conducted an online survey to find out the awareness of e-cigarettes among people. The result is that most people have heard of e-cigarettes, which are used by millions of smokers. They think e-cigarettes are less harmful than normal cigarettes, but they consume more e-cigarettes with that interpretation. I can use the source to prove that most people are aware of e-cigarettes and young adults are more likely to smoke e-cigarettes. Even though e-cigarettes have less toxic contaminants, they are still harmful to humans’ health. E-cigarettes are better than tobaccos; however, they can still harm one’s health if he or she consumes e-cigarettes too much. The Rise of E-Cigarettes: Harmful or Harm-Reducing?. (2015). RT: The Journal for Respiratory Care Practitioners, 28(6), 16-19 4p. The article written on The Journal for Respiratory Care Practitioners in 2015 introduces that e-cigarettes become more and more popular amongShow MoreRelatedE Cigarettes And The Electronic Cigarette931 Words   |  4 Pagesthe electronic cigarette: a product designed to release aerosol by heating a liquid cartridge containing propylene glycol, glycerol, flavoring additives, and/or nicotine (Grana et al. 6). E-cigarettes use a plastic tube and an electronic heating element to stimulate a liquid cartridge. A nicotine-containing vapor, with few harmful elements, is released from the cartridge and inhaled by the user. (Franck et al. 2). In 2012, a European Commission study on awareness of e-cigarettes concluded that two-thirdsRead MoreThe Legal Considerations For E Cigarettes1638 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom deaths related to cigarette smoking. This costs the public over $300 billion. Have you ever wondered about alternatives to this habit? Have you ever wondered â€Å"what exactly is an e-cigarette?† Where did they originate? Does it pose a threat to health? Yes, we know that it is an alternative to cigarette smoking, but what is the big rave about this small device that has the center of attention for smokers? Today we will expand on the history and the science of e-cigarettes, and understand if thereRead MoreEssay On E-Cigs741 Words   |  3 Pagesside effects of e-cigs, especially to the young people. According to this report, the young people, below 25 years, are the most affected by the harmful effects of e-cigs. According to the report, there has been a large increase in young people who had tried or u se e-cigarettes. The report argued that at least a quarter of the students from grade 6 through to grade 12 had tried e-cigarettes. Also, a third of young adults had tried these products. Impacts of the Surgeon General E-cigs Report TheRead MoreSmoking On College Campuses Should Be Banned1675 Words   |  7 PagesSmoking, as one knows it, has become a stress-reliever worldwide. One will find a smoker pulling out a cigarette and lighting it up around every corner. Smoking has especially become a growing problem in college campuses. When a college student enters the college campus, they do not only enter a new campus, a new life is also entered. In this new experience, one will find themselves exploring new things. The power of the eye is remarkable in today’s society. When someone has a friend that is doingRead MoreShould Tobacco Cigarettes Be Harmful?1018 Words   |  5 Pagesis widely accepted that tobacco cigarettes are linked to cancer and lung disease, which is often a reason why people decide to quit. Due to the addictive nature of nicotine, a component of cigarettes, people have developed products in hopes of combatting this dangerous addiction. Nicotine replacement products come in different form s, such as gum, patches, and electronic cigarettes. While these creations are believed to aid in gaining back independence from cigarette addiction, there is some doubtRead MoreThe Act Of Inhaling Vapor ( Or Vaping )993 Words   |  4 Pagesincreased knowledge of how it harms the body. Tobacco once ruled the world; now in the digital age a new way to inhale smoke has come into being. Electronic Cigarettes, or e-cigs as they are more commonly known, have become very popular in recent years. The act of inhaling vapor (or vaping) has become a social norm; much like smoking a cigarette was just a few years ago. But with an increase in public usage the FDA must make a decision. In an OP-ED written by Sally L. Satel, M.D for the New YorkRead MoreElectronic Cigarettes881 Words   |  4 PagesElectronic Cigarettes; The New, Legal Way to Pollute the Body Over the last 10 years, a new craze has taken effect over the world. Electronic cigarettes or E-Cigs, have become popular among all generations. The question for the reader is simple. Is this alternative form of nicotine dependence healthy, or is society setting itself up for a big health shock in the upcoming years? â€Å"Many anti-smoking advocates have argued that electronic cigarettes don’t help smokers quit butRead MoreElectronic Cigarettes And Cigarette Smoking774 Words   |  4 PagesTobacco cigarette smoking includes various physical associations such as hand and mouth motions, suckling, and taking cigarette breaks (Oh Kacker, 2014). According to Patrounova, 2015, in comparison to other forms of nicotine replacement therapies, Electronic cigarettes satisfy smokers’ needs to fulfill certain smoking rituals. Electronic cigarettes may be able to quench certain urges and cravings due to its design, which can also assist in fulfilling the habitual dependence of smokers (PatrounovaRead MoreUsing Vaporizing Pens Are Becoming A Very Popular Trend Essay1330 Words   |  6 Pagesstill awaiting FDA approval, the electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, is growing popularity among those attempting to quit smoking. Young people are using vaporizing pens as a â€Å"safe al ternative† to smoking. This issue needs to be addressed. Vaping is a lot more convenient than smoking traditional cigarettes. At a push of a button nicotine is being released. There also aren’t any laws or regulations on vapor pens like there are for traditional cigarettes. Vape pens also aren’t being used for justRead MoreThe Addiction Of Tobacco, Nicotine, And Smoking1492 Words   |  6 Pagesquestion what was going on and what was causing these negative reactions in the body. Soon enough, the healthy and â€Å"cool† cigarettes that everyone was smoking became the face of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and many other deadly bodily reactions. In the early 2000’s electronic cigarettes (ECs) were developed by a Chinese pharmacist that hoped to allow smokers to maintain their nicotine addiction, but limit or end the harmful and detrimental effects of tobacco on the body, due