Roald Dahl’s Villains An analysis Essay Example

Roald Dahl’s Villains: An analysis Essay Roald Dahl is one of the most widely read children’s book authors of the twentieth century. Although he wrote several forms of literature, including adult novels and essays, he is most renowned for his children’s books, including popular books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG. Beyond proving to be accessible and engaging to children, his works reinvigorated this genre by making it more accessible and realistic for children to identify with. His penchant for understanding child psychology and composing a complex, intriguing plot contributed to his renown. More specifically, one of the defining features of Dahl’s fiction caused by Dahl’s personal childhood is its macabre characterization of several adult characters juxtaposed with good natured characterization of other adult characters. In Roald Dahl’s literary style, the story is mostly constructed from the point of view of the child protagonist, who is pitted against a few imposing adult personalities. For example, in the book Matilda, the villain is a woman teacher. She is shown to be quite dangerous – someone who will induce a young reader to be terrified of every female teacher he or she meets. Indeed the depiction of the teacher was so excessive that the book was attacked by critics as being unsuitable for young readers. (Cockburn 41) Further, in Matilda, Dahl provides â€Å"a dramatic shift in tone as he moved from character to character—innocent, intelligent Matilda, the caring Miss Honey, and the towering inferno of the headmistress Miss Trunchbull.† (Wolf 73) Generally, Dahl’s characterization of villains is more dramatic and vivid than that of his benign characters. We will write a custom essay sample on Roald Dahl’s Villains: An analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Roald Dahl’s Villains: An analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Roald Dahl’s Villains: An analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The sinister-minded owner of the chocolate factory in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka, is another strange character who swings between either too sentimental or too cold. Wonka is â€Å"a Michael Jackson type: a lonely, childish despot, complete with high-pitched voice, inability to mix and strained desire to make everything seem just perfect.† (Sawyer 34) Therefore, when he demands Charlie to get away from his family and run the factory, he conveys this demand in a sinister tone. Charlie, on the other hand, maintains his composure throughout the antics of his master. He manages to be good without being prissy, which is quite an achievement in the circumstances. Characters like Wonka are typical of Dahl’s villains – their power and cunning seemingly offers little hope the hero to overcome. And it is in succeeding against such strong adversity that the heroism shines through. Another feature of Dahl’s portrayal of villains is the recurrent theme of ‘abuse of power’. T his exercise of power with malicious intent is evident in different sorts of relationships, it is most evident in the adult-child relationships in his stories. In other words, in Dahl’s writings we see power in various forms – â€Å"whether adults exercising it over children, bigger children over smaller ones, or humans over animals.† (Sharp 521) We witness in Matilda how little girls were persecuted by Mrs. Trunchbull. Likewise, in Dahl’s short stories William and Mary and The Way Up to Heaven, we see even adult characters suffering due to arbitrary use of power by those at a higher station. Dahl succeeds in making this abuse very visceral for the readers as he draws heavily from his own personal childhood experiences of feeling fear and intimidation in his school. The villains in a Dahl story are usually juxtaposed to benevolent characters. The nastiness and malevolence projected onto the villains in the plot is offered a relief in the form of benign and decent adult individuals. There are some notable loving and warm relationships between children and adults in many stories. Examples that easily come to mind include that of Charlie and Grandfather Joe, Danny and his beloved father, etc. There is also the case of The Witches in which the unnamed narrator is nurtured and cared for by his Norwegian grandmother. If we are to attempt to understand Dahl’s inclination for including threatening adult characters in his stories, we have to grasp the facts of his own childhood. Dahl had a close and loving relationship with his mother Sofie, but his other encounters with adults were arduous and strained. The chief source of torment for him came from the authorities in the boarding school whom he felt were unduly retributive for minor offences. However Dahl is not conveying a message of hopelessness to his young readers. Even amidst adversity his stories show that there is hope and love. This is best illustrated in The Witches, where the close bond between the boy and his mother survives â€Å"the boy being turned into a mouse, for as the narrator says, ‘It doesn’t matter †¦ so long as somebody loves you.’† (Mitchell 27) There is a type of transcendent quality in the benign relations of the child protagonist to his guardian. This is witnessed in Dahl’s early story such as They Shall Not Grow Old as well as his later work The Minpins (1991) which is full of invocations of magic. Likewise, In The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, for example, Sugar loses his self-centeredness and becomes more spiritual, despite being a surefire winner at cards. This theme recurs throughout Dahl’s writing life. (Sharp 524)

Free Essays on Understanding Modern Theories Of Crime

Understanding Modern Theories of Crime Natural theories of crime generally rely upon phenomena in the physical world (e.g., poverty, genetic abnormality, cognitive impairment) to explain criminal conduct. Modern theories are linked to one of three frames of reference by and through which crimes, criminals, and the behavior of the criminal law are defined. These three modernist approaches include choice criminology3, causal criminology4, and constructivist criminology.5 Choice criminology asserts that people make rational decisions and that these decisions are freely chosen. Thus, criminals are recognized as intelligent enough to understand the consequences for their wrongful behavior (i.e., punishment and imprisonment) as much as they are clever enough to appreciate both the pecuniary and personal benefits for breaking the law (e.g., Stigler, 1970: 526-528; Vold and Bernard, 1986: 31; Reynolds, 1985). Causal criminology maintains that individual accountability must be examined in the context of independent variables which are said to cause criminal conduct. In this model, explanations of crime can be based on either a single factor or a variety of factors. These factors are said to determine the behavior of an individual and, therefore, are beyond his/her control. Early constructivist criminology considered the manner in which people helped fashion the world in which they found themselves. The processes which gave rise to the definitions of certain behaviors (and individuals) as criminal became the cornerstone of the early constructivist movement (for applications to law and the criminal sanction see Black, 1976). These criminological and sociological processes were subject to empirical verification through standard tests of reliability and validity (Lynch, 1987). Indeed, constructivist criminology has shown us, for example, how affluent and indigent people are both capable of breaking the law but how poor ... Free Essays on Understanding Modern Theories Of Crime Free Essays on Understanding Modern Theories Of Crime Understanding Modern Theories of Crime Natural theories of crime generally rely upon phenomena in the physical world (e.g., poverty, genetic abnormality, cognitive impairment) to explain criminal conduct. Modern theories are linked to one of three frames of reference by and through which crimes, criminals, and the behavior of the criminal law are defined. These three modernist approaches include choice criminology3, causal criminology4, and constructivist criminology.5 Choice criminology asserts that people make rational decisions and that these decisions are freely chosen. Thus, criminals are recognized as intelligent enough to understand the consequences for their wrongful behavior (i.e., punishment and imprisonment) as much as they are clever enough to appreciate both the pecuniary and personal benefits for breaking the law (e.g., Stigler, 1970: 526-528; Vold and Bernard, 1986: 31; Reynolds, 1985). Causal criminology maintains that individual accountability must be examined in the context of independent variables which are said to cause criminal conduct. In this model, explanations of crime can be based on either a single factor or a variety of factors. These factors are said to determine the behavior of an individual and, therefore, are beyond his/her control. Early constructivist criminology considered the manner in which people helped fashion the world in which they found themselves. The processes which gave rise to the definitions of certain behaviors (and individuals) as criminal became the cornerstone of the early constructivist movement (for applications to law and the criminal sanction see Black, 1976). These criminological and sociological processes were subject to empirical verification through standard tests of reliability and validity (Lynch, 1987). Indeed, constructivist criminology has shown us, for example, how affluent and indigent people are both capable of breaking the law but how poor ...

Managing HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing HR - Essay Example The researcher states that in order to select the best practice for recruiting new employees, the company gave an insight to all possible options and the costs involved. With the advent of the internet, and its deep impact on the human resourcing, companies have already been relying upon the computers to access and utilize a number of advantages, recruitment being one of them. Tracking of resumes, job applications, new job postings etc., has all been made much easier than before with the help of online recruitment methods. In spite of a number of employers using the traditional methods of newspaper ads, referencing within the industry, search agencies and personal recommendations, e-recruitment can easily integrate with all these HR services and offer much better results. Another part of the essay aims to explore the various methods that can be utilized by the company in order to reduce the absence of employees. Absenteeism can be defined as the unscheduled absence of employee / empl oyees from work and the cause of absence may range from personal to professional reasons – like illness, family issues, problems at office etc. managing employee absence has become one of the most challenging tasks for the companies across the globe. While there exists no particular approach for absenteeism management, the managers are required to address the issues and causes, and subsequently suggest solutions to employees to reduce their leaves and also increase work efficiency, such as counseling as the best method possible.

Personal statement For Bachelor of Nursing Essay

Personal statement For Bachelor of Nursing - Essay Example I consider myself as a creative, bold, confident, determinant and ambitious individual along with a presentable personality. I have sound nursing and interpersonal skills as I always perform my duty and task with full integrity and devotion. There are some domains in which I possess command and expertise. They are Patient’s behavior analysis, General Physician Consultancy, Medical report analysis, and Performing diagnostic tests. As my academic reports are illustrating my interest in the pious filed of Nursing, so I have decided to continue my dedication and devotion towards it. I have decided to precede my educational and professional experience up to such an extent where I can help humanity at my best. In this era of exclusive technology and inventions, I need to upgrade myself and need to keep pace with the profession, so a scholarship for higher studies will definitely help me to sharpen my skills. I feel that after a scholarship I can serve humanity at my best because â€Å"Serving humanity is to serving

Women's Rights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Women's Rights - Research Paper Example Criminal justice system is in the front line in addressing harm to girls and women. Women and girls across the world face violation, sexual harassment, and abused. They do not feel safe at home, in the streets, workplace or even on public transports. As a result, the women live in fear. They do not live their lives entirely. They need equality and respect. Their rights are discriminated even by their families. It has been on media of parents who rape their daughters. The law is working on such cases (Thomsen 54). Considering acknowledgment of women and their rights, every woman, just as a man has the right of control over their bodies. Throughout the world, girls and women end up forced into cultural practices that are harmful to their health, and cause them so much pain. Some of these practices include female genital mutilation, early or forced marriage, and even sex-selective abortion. All these methods need consideration to protect the female human species (Mousset 77). The woman’s place in the house being in the kitchen has denied women their freedom even in their homes. The notion that women are housewives, and only contributing to domestic matters has denied them the chance to develop economically. We tend to forget the fact that women are just human as anyone else. Is it true that what a man can do, a woman can do better? Keeping this in mind, the rights of women need respect (Walter 44). In history, it was until the late 18th century when women’s right became fundamental in political debates. Most of the intellectuals defended the democratic principle of equality. In contrary to this, philosopher Jean-Jacques thought that it was an obligation for women to obey men. He went ahead to justify the argument that women make mistakes to complain about the inequity of the existing laws. He discriminates women as compared to men (Adams 31). The first article in the assertion of the rights of female citizens and women highlighted that just

Feminist Reading Of Aunt Jennifers Tigers English Literature Essay

Feminist Reading Of Aunt Jennifers Tigers English Literature Essay Short poem by Adrienne Rich called Aunt Jennifers Tigers consists only of three stanzas but it tells the entire story of aunt Jennifers life. Hard life of women in male-oriented society is the main theme of the poem. The author does not express her ideas directly but makes the readers to understand her through allusions and symbols. Bright images and deep symbolism help readers to get the authors message. The author creates a picture of life of aunt Jennifer. There are several places in the poem which give allusion that aunt Jennifer is unhappily married and that she is oppressed by her husband. In the end of the second stanza Rich writes: The massive weight of Uncles wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifers hand (Rich). These words show that wedding ring is a heavy burden which makes aunt Jennifer unhappy. This woman is not satisfied with her life and her husband but she has no power to change it. In the society governed by men women have little freedom and independence. The author does not show all circumstances of Aunt Jennifers life but she very vividly illustrates that this women is unhappy in her family life and she can not change it by her death. In the beginning of the third stanza Rich writes: When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by. And this is another allusion on hard family life she can not escape. The image of ring, which becomes a symbol of oppression and torture of women is vivid. The author speaks about the wedding ring as about the kind of shackles which make women totally controlled by men. The author shows that marriage is one of many ways men use to oppress women. The image of tigers is more complicated for the interpretation. From the one side it symbolizes hidden aggression. Aunt Jennifer has to suppress her negative feelings in order not to make anger her husband. Like many women aunt Jennifer probably has to stand many humiliations from her husband. Bad attitude of her husband and unhappy family life result in negative feelings aunt Jennifer can not express feely. She expresses these feelings in her works. The line They do not fear the men beneath the tree may be interpreted as hidden fear of her husband. Tigers, which are mighty and strong animals are described by the author as way poor woman uses to express her true feelings and attitudes. In her dreams she possesses the power and ability to confront humiliation and oppression she experiences from men. The motif of hidden aggression is very transparent. The contrast between such peaceful occupation as knitting and the image which is knitted is stunning. The author contrasts a typical female occupation to the image which symbolizes strength and protest. Tigers symbolize not only suppressed feelings, but also become the symbol of great power and protest. They know no fear and they are totally free. They are not afraid of man behind the tree and They pace in sleek chivalric certainty. From these lines it becomes evident that tigers possess qualities aunt Jennifer desperately lacks in her own life. She can not manifest these qualities in her everyday life and they become objects of her art. The author of the poem gives her readers an opportunity to enter inner world of ordinary wom en. This life may seem happy and easy at the first glance but the author shows the truth to her readers. Aunt Jenifer has no way to express her temper and her desires in her everyday life. Her strong characters and personal characteristics are suppressed in male-oriented society. In this society women are give definite roles and they can not break the rules and play any other roles. Aunt Jennifer is trapped by social norms and regulations and has not way to express her inner world. Prescribed social role limit womens abilities to express themselves. Passion and desires are expressed in knitting. Aunt Jennifer shows her true feelings, needs and desires in her knitting. The poem is based on the contrast. The first stanza shows free and mighty animals, who know no fear and doubts. The tigers are free in their choices and they are not afraid of anything. In the second and third stanzas the author shows how the world of dreams may differ from reality. The image created by aunt Jennifer s ignificantly differs from her own life. aunt Jennifer is oppressed by her life and she has no way to realize herself as personality. She does not feel free to express her feelings and desires. The author vividly illustrates that not only hard house work and burden of everyday responsibilities may limit female life. She shows that aunt Jenifer has free time for knitting but still she does not feel satisfied with her life and with her family relations. In reality she can not control her life and her free time and she has to limit herself by social roles defined by the society, which is controlled by men.

Blood Imagery in Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth Essays

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a story taken from Scottish history and presented to the Scottish king James I. Shakespeare took this gory tale of murderous ambition, however, and transformed it into an imaginative tale of good and evil. Shakespeare brought about this transformation by relying upon â€Å"imaginative verbal vigor† that imbeds itself in the brilliantly concentrated phrases of this literary work. Critics have dubbed it his darkest work, along with King Lear. In his critique of Shakespeare’s works and plays, Charles Haines describes Macbeth as â€Å"one of Shakespeare’s shortest plays, containing just 2,108 lines.† He further states that it is a vigorous, headlong drama, a relentless spectacle in red and black. (Haines, p. 105) This red and black spectacle reveals itself to the reader and audience through the use of blood imagery. Blood, or the imagery attached to it, appears 42 times in this play. This imagery of blood begins as a representat ion of honor and progresses into one of evil, then guilt, and finally returns to represent honor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The symbolic use of blood roots in the opening lines of Macbeth when Macbeth accepts honor for his bravery in battle. Duncan sees the injured captain and says, â€Å" What blood is that?† (Act I, Scene 2 line.1) The captain says that Macbeth’s sword â€Å"smoked with bloody execution.† (Act I, Scene 1, line. 20) Here the captain describes Macbeth’s sword that is dripping with warm enemy blood and steaming in the cold morning air of the battlefield. The blood on the sword signifies valiant fighting by a brave soldier. At this point, King Duncan glorifies Macbeth. The bloody sword gives birth to this reverence. In his unique style of presentation, Shakespeare’s two references to blood allude to the honor that Macbeth earns in battle for his king. This was the highest of honors for a soldier. At this point, he becomes â€Å"brave Macbeth.† King Duncan rewards his bravery and victory by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor. Ironically, this title was available because the previous Thane of Cawdor experienced execution for treason. Therefore, the first bloodshed earned Macbeth respect and a title. (123helpme.com, PG 1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After this advantageous victory, Macbeth listens to the three witches as they make predictions of the immediate future. Macbeth and his lady then set forth a chain of... ...ctions to the blood they have spilled. Finally, in a true Shakespearean twist, blood once again represents honor and victory at the end. This tragedy therefore ends with the same form of blood imagery as it began. However, the character that kills Shakespeare’s first character to gain honor through the shedding of an enemy’s blood wins the honor. Works Cited 1.) â€Å"Use of Blood Imagery in Macbeth.† 123helpme.com 23 April 2012.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  https://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=5720.htm. 2.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Macbeth.† Zecscrab 24 April 2012.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www,zekscrab.users.50megs.com/Cummings/Shakespeare/Macbeth.html. 3.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shakespeare, William. â€Å"Macbeth.† Elements of Literature. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Austin: Harcourt Brac & Company, 1996. 301-382. 4.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Haines, Charles. William Shakespeare and His Plays. New York: Franklin Watts, Inc., 1968. 5.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Shakespeare’s Macbeth.† CliffsNotes West, Alex. Foster City: IDG Books Worldwide,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Inc., 2010.