Madame Bovary 2

1.      Chose 3 adjectives to describe Roldophe’s character and give 1-2 specifics from the reading to support each one.

            Roldophe's character could have been described as greedy, deceitful, and self-centered.  After Roldophe has first been introduced, it is said that "there had been many woman in his life," which ultimately reveals that he has a yearning for his greed (1165).  Roldophe could have easily been viewed as greedy because he makes it obvious in Madame Bovary, Part Two, Chapter VII that he is contemplating of how he would be able to have Madame Bovary for his own and he insists that he'll "have her" (1166).  It is also revealed that he is determined to give into his greed because he says that he will keep his "eyes open for opportunities" that would allow him to win her over (1166).  Roldophe, in general, was based upon greed; he only wanted things that he desired for and he was determined to get those things no matter what. 

            Roldophe, throughout Madame Bovary, used deceitfulness, as a result  of his greed, in order to get what he wanted.  He used deceitfulness from his very first meeting of Emma because he was going to act like he loved her just so he could get what he wanted, and then he planned to get "rid of her later" (1166).  After he had been gone six weeks without seeing Emma, he had feared he had waited too long to come back to her, so he lied to her and told her that he had been ill, but truthfully he was on a hunting trip (1181).  He used his dishonesty so that she would not be angered with him.  Roldophe also was deceitful towards Charles because he told Charles the reason he had come back after so long what because "the man who had been bled, was still having dizzy spells" (1182).  Charles insists that he will stop by to see the man, but Roldophe insists that he will bring him; he is using deceitfulness because the man really was not having dizzy spells again, but Roldophe felt as if he must say that he was so he could come see Emma more.  Roldophe used his deceitful ways in order to achieve the things that he longed for.

            Because of his greediness and deceitfulness, Roldophe could very easily be described as self-centered.  He is self-centered because he does not truly care what other people may think or want, but instead he only thinks about himself.  For example, when Roldophe and Emma went on horseback ride and he insisted on confessing love for her she told him that she did not want to talk about it, but he continued with the subject without caring what she insisted, and then later he eventually stopped (1184).  Also, for example, Emma eventually believes that she loves him, but yet he does not care about her true feelings because "as time went on he stopped making any effort" because he was "secure in the knowledge that he was loved" (1190); once he truly knew that she loved him, he stopped trying and it was revealed that he only wanted her true attention, and once he got it he left.  Greediness, deceitfulness, and self-centeredness all strongly and thoroughly describe the negative character of Roldophe. 

Madame Bovary 1

1.      Describe Charles Bovary during his early years using 3 adjectives (Chapter 1).  Then, provide at least one example from the chapter to support each of the 3 adjectives.  

            During Charles Bovary's early years he could have been considered submissive, incompetent, and rebellious.  The reader would consider Charles to be submissive because he constantly gave in to his mother's desires for him.  For example, "he began his studies" at the age of twelve because this is what his mother has wanted (1091).  Even after forcing him to start his studies at age twelve, she was still not satisfied.  She later sent him to the "lyćee in Rouen" (1092).  His mother then took him out of the lyćee early so she could send him to study medicine, so he obeyed his mother and did what she wanted.  It is made known to the reader that he did exactly what his mother had wanted him to do when it says that "He filled his notebooks, attended every lecture, never missed hospital rounds" (1093).  Even after he had finished studying medicine, his mother still wanted to be very assertive over his life.  For example, his mother believed that "he had to have a wife," so she made the choice that she would find him one (1094).  Charles' mother was very forceful over his life by making many important decisions for him, such as his education, what he would practice, and even who he would marry; Charles' mother's assertiveness over his life made him become a very submissive person because he was constantly doing things that his mother wanted him to do.

            Throughout Chapter One of Madam Bovary, it is Charles' mother who is constantly making decisions for him which makes him incompetent.  It is made blatantly obvious to the reader that Charles has become almost useless because of his mother's assertiveness over his life when it is said that in his study of medicine "he was like a mill-horse that treads blindfolded in a circle, utterly ignorant of what he is grinding" (1093).  Charles could have made himself more knowledgeable and useful by not being so obedient to his mother and actually studying a field of practice that he truly wanted to.  He also becomes incompetent in the marriage that his mother arranged for him; he is ineffectual in his marriage because it is his wife who wants complete control and who was self-centered (1094).  Once again, Charles probably could have found a marriage in which he could have found himself more competent if he would not have obeyed  his mother's every desire.  By obeying his mother's every command, Charles developed into a person who was incompetent and practically useless.

            Because of Charles' mother being so assertive over his life and due to his lack of competence, it led him to becoming rebellious.  He became rebellious while his mother sent him off to study medicine; after devoting himself to studying things he constantly could not grasp or understand, he soon gave up.  Because of this, "One day he skipped rounds; the next, a lecture; idleness, he found, was to his taste, and gradually he stayed away entirely" (1093).  His rebellious actions soon led to him failing the test that would have given him the title to practice medicine, which was certainly the opposite of what his mother had wanted for him.  Not only did he rebel to his mother's decision of him studying medicine, but he also rebelled to his mother's assertiveness of his marriage.  Charles' mother chose he was to marry and he was very unhappy with his wife; his wife was assertive just like his mother and things had to be done her way.  He rebelled his marriage because "he was forgetting her, he was in love with someone else" (1094).  Charles' rebellious habits could have been anticipated due to his mother's assertive ways that made him incompetent.  

Confessions

How does Rousseau's life experiences and inner conflicts, shown in his Confessions, illustrate three dominate values of the period in which he lived?

            Rousseau's Confessions illustrates the dominate values of new and old, individualism, and nature in many different ways.  In Confessions, Book I Rousseau illustrates the value of new and old by revealing that his mother was "better off" than his father (664); this successfully illustrates an example of the new and old because before Rousseau's time the women struggled for equality, but yet in this new period women were striving to be equal, if not better than some of the men.  Rousseau also successfully illustrates the idea of new and old in Confessions, Book IV when he believes that there were so many good people as he was younger, but now as he is older he believes that there are fewer good people (673); he is effectively illustrating that the goodness of people has changed overtime.  One belief of the new and old value of Rousseau's time period was that money had new powers and could do more things, but Rousseau, in a way, contradicted this aspect of the new and old in Confessions, Book I because he believed that "money poisons all" and that he could not truly enjoy something that money had bought (653 and 669). 

            Along with demonstrating the value of new and old, Rousseau also effectively demonstrated the value of individualism.  It is made obvious in Confessions, Book I that Rousseau believes that individualism is essential; he asserts his own individualism by writing "I am not made like any of those I have seen; I venture to believe that I am not made like any of those who are in existence.  If I am not better, at least I am different" (664).  He also affirms his efforts of individualism in Confessions, Book II when he writes that he wants to "pose as an original, and different from others" (670).  Often throughout Confessions, Rousseau would refer to imagination which, in the time period, was believed to endorse individualism because it was seen as a "mysterious and virtually sacred power of individual consciousness" (655).  Rousseau's strong beliefs towards individualism shown through his Confessions greatly illustrates one of the dominate values of the time period in which he lived.

            Rousseau also greatly illustrates the value of nature throughout his Confessions.  Throughout his Confessions, it is shown that Rousseau seems to have a very strong attachment to nature; the reader can assume that because he often refers to mountains, shores, lakes, sunrises, hills, forests, streets, external decorations of towns he has visited, and even the song of birds.  Although he seems to have a strong attachment to nature, in Confessions, Book IV it is revealed that he also believes that the imagination can ruin nature; he exemplifies this belief by telling the reader how he imagined the nature of Paris to be, but once he actually saw it with his own eyes he "saw nothing but dirty and stinking little streets, ugly black houses, a general air of slovenliness and poverty, beggars, carters, menders of old clothes, criers of decorations and old hats" (674).  Rousseau's attachment to nature that is made noticeable throughout his Confessions greatly illustrates and verifies the value of the time period that he lived in because, in that time period, it was believed that "nature's importance possibly increased" (656).  Rousseau effectively illustrated to the reader that nature was very important to him in the time period he lived in.

Although Rousseau's Confessions focuses on many of the negativities and imperfections of his life, what impact does it have upon him and what does it ultimately reveal about him?

          By writing the Confessions, Rousseau can greatly contemplate on the person he once was, and the person he became.  This probably had a significant impact upon him because it allowed him to actually take time and focus on the changes that he made and also allowed him to have a better understanding of why he did the things that he did.  It is made obvious to the reader that it probably took him a great amount of time to actually ponder about and write his Confessions because he writes "I have never been able to produce anything, pen in hand, in front of my table and paper; it is during a walk, in the midst of rocks and forests, at night in my bed while lying awake, that I write in my brain" (671-672).  He probably was able to have a better understanding of many things that happened in his life because he took the time to ponder through the events of his entire life and write down what he has done, how he has acted, how he believes, and the changes he has made.  By writing his Confessions, Rousseau's life was probably very positively impacted because it allowed him to let his feelings out and the truly realize the person he became.

          At the very beginning of his Confessions, Rousseau writes "I desire to set before my fellows the likeliness of a man in all the truth of nature, and that man myself" and "I have told the good and the bad with equal frankness.  I have neither omitted anything bad, nor interpolated anything good" (664).  Because he is writing about his negativities and imperfections and claims that he is telling the truth about everything, it reveals to the reader that he is a very open and honest person.  It also reveals to the reader that he is a very stable and straightforward person because it takes a very stable person to willingly admit to their negativities and imperfections.  He does not focus on what the reader may think of what he is writing, but rather than just revealing him true self to the audience.  He also is not trying to hide any aspect from the reader because he begins his Confessions ultimately begins when he was born and continues until he is much older (665).  Ultimately, Rousseau's Confessions reveals that he was a very straightforward and honest person who critiqued himself through his writing, which eventually allowed him to see the changes he had made.

The Rape of the Lock

What are some of the images that recur through the poem, and what significance do they have?

One image that constantly recurs though the poem is the image of beauty and also of Belinda’s curls.  For example, in the beginning of Canto II, Pope stresses Belinda’s beauty and goes into great detail to prove to the audience her beauty; Pope says that “If to her share some female errors fall,/Look on her face, and you’ll forget ‘em all” (497).  By saying this, the audience can understand that her beauty must be very significant.  It is made obvious in the story that it is Belinda’s beauty and curls that are important to her and make her feel confident; it is also made obvious that others admire her for her beauty too.  It is obvious to the audience that others admire Belinda’s curls and beauty because it is Baron “the bright locks admired,” and he wanted one of her curls for himself (497).  The audience realizes that Belinda’s beauty and curls meant so much to her when Baron cuts one of her curls for himself and she “flashed the living lightning from her eyes,/And screams of horror rend the affrightened skies” (503).  Although it is Belinda’s beauty and curls that are stressed upon in each canto, in Canto V beauty is questioned by Clarissa saying “why are beauties praised and honored most” since they are something that will come to an end (507).  In conclusion, because Belinda ignores Clarissa’s speech, the audience can infer that her beauty is the most important thing to her.  Also, throughout the poem the images of the Rosicrucians recur frequently.  For example, in Canto I it is revealed the Belinda has a Sylph that acts as her guardian who would give her advice and help to lead her (494).  This is significant because it resembles the way religion is today and could relate to the audience.  In conclusion, just like Belinda had a Sylph to help guide her, many people refer to God to help guide them throughout life. 

What are some of the ironies in the poem?  What theme or message do they support?

One irony that could be seen in the poem was that of Belinda’s dream.  In Belinda’s dream, she was warned that “some dread even impend,” but then later she allowed herself to forget that something bad was going to happen to her by letting “an earthly lover” lurk “at her heart” (496 and 502); when Ariel realizes that Belinda is letting this happen, he decides not to protect her.  If Belinda would have acknowledged and truly listened to the Sylph when he warned her that something bad was going to happen to her, she would have been protected and would not have lost her curls to Baron.  Therefore, she would have never gotten into a quarrel with Baron if she would have truly listened to and obeyed the Sylph.  This example of irony assists the message by proving that no matter what warnings or guidance someone may have, they are typically going to listen to themselves, rather than taking someone else’s advice; they believe they know what is best for them, although this may not always be the case, just like Belinda did not what was best for herself in this poem.  Another example of irony that can be seen in the poem is when Clarissa, in Canto III, “drew with tempting grace/A two-edged weapon from her shining case” to give to Baron to cut Belinda’s curls, but then yet in Canto V, Clarissa gives a speech about morals to them (502 and 507).  This is ironic because if Clarissa truly believed and wanted to enforce morals, although she wanted to prove that beauty is not the most important thing, she would have never assisted Baron in cutting Belinda’s curls.  This example of irony assists the message by showing that just because someone wants to enforce morals, it does not mean that they are perfectly moral themselves.  It also goes to show that just because someone may give a speech or try to preach about something to someone, it does not mean that that person even takes their own advice; for example, Clarissa obviously did not take her own advice about morals because she helped Baron.  A third example of irony that can be seen in the poem is in Canto V when Belinda’s hair becomes a star (510).  It is ironic that her hair becomes a star because it is what Baron tried so hard to steal and what Belinda became so upset over, but yet in the end it did not even matter because it became a star.  This example of irony assists the message by showing that greediness leads to nothing positive and does not allow a person to get their way.  Baron was greedy because he wanted Belinda’s curls and Belinda was greedy because all she seemed to care about was her beauty, but yet in the end neither of them got what they wanted.  This example of irony portrays that greed is a negative aspect of human life.