An Analysis of To Have without Holding by Marge Piercy

An Analysis of To Have without Holding by Marge Piercy The poem To Have without Holding, by Marge Piercy, is about the speaker trying to reconcile the conflict between her preconceived notion of a personal relationship with present reality. Her partner, whom she must feel worth the pain and effort, apparently has a more liberal and open approach, which causes her to feel insecure. The poem expresses, using metaphor, simile, and symbolism, the speakers discomfort at a point in time in this emotionally unbalanced relationship. She defines, explains, and personalizes her place in the relationship from a unique and unsettling perspective, while providing a reminder that preconceived notions must eventually be evaluated against ones†¦show more content†¦The third stanza goes on to define the pain, only now in more emotional terms, such as It hurts to thwart the reflexes / of grab, of clutch (14-15), as well as the pain of continuously having to say good bye, each perhaps as if for the last time: to love and let / go again and again ( 15-16). These lines reinforce the impression that the first stanzas definition of to love differently is in fact an anti-freedom or state of emotional anarchy, now using words like pester to describe any separation; the poet is compelled to remember / the lover who is not in the bed (16), hinting at obsessive tendencies as being possible components of the relationship. We also learn that she believes love requires work, which she cannot do without her partners assistance, and that this lack of cooperation frustrates her. She believes this neglected effort is the other partys fault by his failure to do his fair share, thereby leaving her own efforts ineffective, the whole of it characterized as an effort that gutters like a candle in a cave / without air (19-20). Her demands of this work are quite broad, encompassing being conscious, conscientious and concrete in her efforts and optimistically calling this work constructive (20-21) before ending the stanza. Next we begin to see the other side ofShow MoreRelatedMarge Piercy Barbie Doll Analysis1860 Words   |  8 Pagesfor women to â€Å"paint their face† is due to the fear of other people not seeing them as attractive (Warren par. 7). The perfect female is thought to have flawless skin, perfect make up, and a slim body. Hiding behind a full face of makeup discriminates women themselves, as it hides their genuine glamor and disguises their true personality. Marge Piercy, in her poem â€Å"Barbie Doll†, uses the account of an unnamed female character who goes through her life worrying about what others think of her flaws

The Theme Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. If you have a dream in America, you can achieve it with old fashioned hard work. Whether it’s going from rags to riches or finding love, the American Dream can offer it. But the ever-popular American dream is easily corrupted. This is greatly shown in the novel The Great Gatsby as it explores both the beauty and the corruption of the American Dream in the 1920’s. In the Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald includes many aspects in the story which show how the pursuit for the American Dream affected†¦show more content†¦These examples from the novel along with numerous others show how persons corrupted the American Dream for the desire of wealth. People were also affected by the pursuit for the American Dream as it brought people’s desire for love. An example of this is Gatsby’s American Dream as it included acquiring Daisy and her love which has taken over his entire life. The American Dream is reaching whatever your dream is through hard work and Daisy is Gatsby’s one dream. His intense desire for love with Daisy affects Gatsby by blinding him from the fact that Daisy does not deserve his admiration as she is selfish, shallow and hurtful person. Even though other characters such as Nick clearly see this, â€Å"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness† (Fitzgerald 262). Gatsby also dedicated everything in his life to acquiring Daisy’s such as hosting large, extravagant parties in hopes she would come and buying the mansion directly across the bay from her house. It was a strang e coincidence, I said. But it wasn t a coincidence at all.† Why not?† Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.† (Fitzgerald 114). Secondly, another example of how the desire for love in the novel affects the characters is how George Wilson isShow MoreRelatedThe Theme Of American Dream In The Great Gatsby859 Words   |  4 Pages American Dream The Great Gatsby is an incredible book that is filled full with literary themes and devices. In addition, Fitzgerald talks about the American Dream on his novel as it takes place in the roaring 20’s. Which is played through different characters in the book. This dream will actually come true, and turn into greatness after a long time of hardships and bumps along the road. The persona’s in the novel play this role where they all seek and want something which is affected with whatRead MoreThemes Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1503 Words   |  7 PagesThe American dream is the ideal that every human that lives in the United States of America has an equal opportunity to fulfill success and achieve happiness. The failure of the American dream is an evident theme in the novel. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, uses the character Jay Gatsby to symbolize the corruption that the pursuit of the American Dream holds. The American Dream highlights equality and is the quintessential idea that all humans are equal. However, this idea is perceived as an illusionRead MoreThemes Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1308 Words   |  6 Pages The American Dream can exist through almost anything, including the disbandment of love. The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald displays the concept of the American Dream through modern Love. In th e novel Fitzgerald creates a main portion of characters, Gatsby, Daisy, Nick, and Tom to act as the symbols of this American Dream. Throughout the story Fitzgerald gives his readers a taste of what the chase of an American Dream is mainly seen as, which in the end did not become successful. FitzgeraldRead MoreThe Great Gatsby : Themes Of Wealth, Dreams, Time And The Pursuit Of The American Dream873 Words   |  4 PagesThemes of Wealth, Dreams, time and the pursuit of the American dream in The Great Gatsby The American dream is a common idea in America that all individuals are equal and can achieve their dreams and ambitions are by working hard. The American dream also enshrines the idea that regardless of social class and financial status, any individual who is hardworking and persevering can achieve anything. The pursuit of this dream has led many to success and many also to failure as a lot of people go to allRead MoreBroken Dreams and Fallen Themes: the Corruption of the American Dream in the Great Gatsby1477 Words   |  6 PagesBroken Dreams and Fallen Themes In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs the use of characters, themes, and symbolism to convey the idea of the American Dream and its corruption through the aspects of wealth, family, and status. In regards to wealth and success, Fitzgerald makes clear the growing corruption of the American Dream by using Gatsby himself as a symbol for the corrupted dream throughout the text. In addition, when portraying the family the characters in Great Gatsby are used to exposeRead MoreWhat Is The Theme Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1508 Words   |  7 PagesIn â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is illusory and can never be fulfilled. He suggests this concept through Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson. When these people try to purse this unfulfilling dream, only sadness and failure is left for them to feel. In the 1920’s, everyone was following a never ending train of disappointment and failure know as the American Dream. The American Dream was the belief that through hardRead MoreScott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath1720 Words   |  7 PagesScott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath In the novels The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, the authors present similar ideas, but use different methods to portray them. Similarities in themes can be made between the two texts; these include the pursuit of the American Dream and the use and misuse of wealth. Other themes are also central to each novel, the strength in unity and the influenceRead MoreEssay about Great Gatsby862 Words   |  4 PagesScott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby / Gatsbys Desire for Daisy exploring why Gatsby had such an obsessive desire for Daisy. The writer purports that Gatsby began by pursuing an ideal, not the real woman. In fact, he could not recognize the type of person she had become since they last saw each other. Gatsby lives in a dream world and Daisy is part of that dream. As the novel progresses, however, Gatsbys feelings change. Bibliography lists Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby : The Role of NickRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Fitzgerald1296 Words   |  6 Pages The Great Gatsby Told by Nick Caraway, and written by Scott F. Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby is a classic novel that gives readers a glimpse inside the lives of the wealthy during the roaring 20s. The story follows the lives of Jay Gatsby, a man of new money, Daisy Buchanan, a married girl of old money, and Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s deceitful husband. Jay Gatsby is a man of mystery, with seemly unlimited funds, who throws ridiculous outrageous parties for no apparent reason. It’s learned that he hasRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1599 Words   |  7 Pagesevents and themes that occurred around him. One of Fitzgerald’s most popular novels is named The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby is written to reproduce the environment that Fitzgerald was living in. This semiautobiographical work uses fictitious characters to portray how people around Fitzgerald acted and what the overall theme of America was at this point in time. The years that ensued World War I were known f or mass productions of alcohol, grand parties, and greed for money. In The Great Gatsby

Developing a Values Statement free essay sample

The steps for developing a values statement are similar to any major planning activity. First, decide who should be involved. Leadership, board members, and at least representatives of all stakeholder groups are important in order to contribute different perspectives to the process. Because a major challenge that human service organizations face is the â€Å"growing diversity of society,† the participation of members who represent gender, race/ethnicity, language, special interest groups, and so forth will strengthen the overall result (Zdenek, 2002, p. ). The organization’s ability to serve diverse communities is based on finding a base of shared values and assumptions that are relevant and responsive to diverse constituencies. Establish a timeline and a process for members to interact together about the different value perspectives. Develop a plan for the facilitation of the process, which could include the use of an outside consultant (particularly important for equa l participation of all members and in regard to handling conflicts). The dialogue that ensues â€Å"opens the space for multiple realities and perspectives† (Allen, 1993). Based on the constructivist approach, the commitment to dialogue is based on the assumption that every person’s reality is valid. The dialogue of a value statement activity helps to bring forward â€Å"subjugated knowledge . . . the untold stories and ways of thinking and being that have never been admitted to the mainstream conversation† (Allen, 1993, p. 38). This approach is respectful of diversity and provides an avenue for different perspectives, which is important to shaping an ethical culture that is inclusive of all groups. This kind of process will involve a commitment of time. The format could range from a day-long meeting with everyone represented to several short meetings among stakeholder groups, with representatives bringing the results to a larger meeting. Prepare members for the meeting process (CANPO, 1994): (a) supply each with a mission statement and any previous value statements, (b) ask each participant to think about their own personal values as well as organizational values, and (c) encourage all participants to bring any aterials to the meeting they believe would be useful (for example, articles, other organizations’ value statements, and so forth). CANPO suggests providing a questionnaire to be prepared ahead of time that asks the following questions:  ¦ What principles/qualities do you hold in regard within the organization?  ¦ How are these values reflected or acted on in our organization?  ¦ How do these values reflect or conflict with your personal values? Allen (2002) has some other perspectives that may also be useful:  ¦ What core values might inspire collective action? What differences exist in the ways subgroups view organizational values?  ¦ What norms or values stand in the way of, or support, the mission? The answers to these questions can be the start of developing lists of common values. The emphasis should be on consensus of the values to be included. Areas of disagreement can be used as the identification of underlying difficulties to be addressed. The following questions can be useful in clarifying which values should be included in a values statement (CANPO, 1994, pp. 6, 7):  ¦ What values motivated formulation of the mission in the first place? What values must be prominent in society for the mission to succeed? What are the values of the ideal society toward which the organization is making a contribution?  ¦ What values important to the nonprofit (public or private? ) sector ought to be included in the values statement (for example, community, diversity, tolerance, efficiency, and so forth)?  ¦ What values ought to guide the pe rsonal conduct and day-to-day operation of the organization?  ¦ What other values (for example, ecological, social, or spiritual) should the organization respect? The final step is formulating the statement. A person or small group that develops a draft to bring back to the large group can facilitate this. The final statement should be short (one to three pages), and forceful. Sentences using active verbs such as â€Å"We value honesty† are powerful for people internal to the organization and those in the community. The values statement should be congruent with the work of the organization, rather than a generalized listing of values that are important, but not relevant. An important evaluative tool is to consider the statement’s future orientation. Could the values statement outlive the individuals who wrote it? Always return to the mission to work with drafting problems or difficulties. The group can assess the first draft by considering the following questions (CANPO, 1994, p. 8):  ¦ Do we believe in this statement?  ¦ What if only some believe in this statement?  ¦ How will we ensure that our values are acted upon?  ¦ What do we do if our actions are incongruent with our values? It is the last two questions that lead to the development of a code of ethics for the organization (discussed in Chapter 11, see also Appendix A). The process of developing a values statement is a concrete example of reviewing and restoring the ethical climate of an organization. Relationships are developed that did not exist previously, and the identification of common values as well as differences in values leads to a consensus of values that restores the ethical climate. The organization learns from itself based on the contributions of leaders and constituents. A consensus of values is the foundation for culture change. The role of all constituents in the socialization of an organization’s members is crucial to the success of organizational integrity.

The Metamorphosis as a social criticism Essay Example For Students

The Metamorphosis as a social criticism Essay Society often works against itself in one way or another. In reading Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka one could presume the work to be a social criticism. Throughout this story Kafka shows how We will write a custom essay on The Metamorphosis as a social criticism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now society can be split into into different sections, with Gregor representing the working man at the time, and his family representing all the other kinds of people throughout society. This story shows how Gregor has worked for his family in the past, and how he subconsciously thought he had control over them. He works at an intolerable job of hard work to support his family, and gets little respect for this. It shows what happens to him when he stops working for them, he transforms into a huge cockroach. He is rejected by his family, and he is not cared for properly which results in his death. Following Gregors death is a gleeful ending, which eventually implies that the cycle will be repeated, though this time through his sister. It is apparent even in the first sentence As Gregor awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed into a gigantic insect (P862, Ph1) that Kafka meant something underneath the surface. Awakening from uneasy dreams could mean awakening from an uneasy, labored life by quitting it all. His transformation could mean how society can compare him to a cockroach for his giving up on them and treat him as if he was less than human. Gregor has obviously had a life of hard labor at a job that he finds to be unbearable; as he states Oh, God what an exhausting job Ive picked (P862 Ph4). He feels that he must work though. He feels that his family is incapable of supporting themselves. His mother has asthma, his father is old, and his sister is very young. As it turns out though, in the end, his family was perfectly capable of supporting themselves; In fact his father had been saving up money the entire time. In reading this first portion of the story one would be led to believe that Kafka is making a statement of how the working man feels that his life, and others would be in jeopardy if he were to stop working. Maybe Kafka is representing Gregors family as the lower class. Once Gregor gives up working for his family he finds himself transformed into a big ugly cockroach, the lowest form of life. Its clear why gregor gave up working for his family when he turns the key to the door and says They should have called out keep going, turn that key! (P868 Ph3) what he needed were words of encouragement, words he never received. This could plausibly be a metaphor that the working people in society are way overworked, and get very little respect for it. It is obvious that Gregor appears disgusting to others that see him when the chief clerk runs away at first glimpse of him. This is his punishment for not working. His grotesque figure represents what he thinks people think of him. In a way this is saying, When the working man, stops working he believes people will very him as a disgusting figure one that can do nothing but live off of others. At this point Gregors position, and respect in the household decrease rapidly to a point of near nonexistence. He cant even talk to people, this is established earlier on in the story when The chief clerk says that was no human voice (P867 Ph4). His family locks him in his room, and feeds him old rotting food. .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d , .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .postImageUrl , .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d , .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d:hover , .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d:visited , .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d:active { border:0!important; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d:active , .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u85055fbb8b93dddf1d6f4d1ac3ffeb3d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child Abuse EssayThey completely desert him, and try to move on with their lives. Gregor at this point experiences feelings of lost empathy, and longs to communicate with others. This could represent the working mans fear of poverty, it has been established that when the working man quits he becomes a disgusting creature in his and everyones eyes; now thats not the main fear in the working man, its loss of being cared for, and loss of communication in being poor, dependent, and powerless. His not being able to speak represents the lower class mans being silenced. How his family gives up on him, and deserts him .