Candide Satire Essay Example

Candide Satire Essay Candide: A Satire on European Hindering Development The Age of Enlightenment is a pivotal part of human history, it helped reshape Europe with its many ideas and those also shaped the United States of America. During this Age of Enlightenment member of society used reasoning to achieve a higher level of understanding of the world, how government should be controlled, and human nature. Voltaire was a French writer (as well as philosopher) who dealt first hand with Enlightenment thinking. He not only wrote his ideas down in the novel Candide, but was also exiled from his own country because of his ideas. Voltaire uses Candide as a satire against the prominent things that hold Europe back from growing like the corruption of Christianity, the excessively harsh punishments inflicted upon members of society and the lack of freedom of expression by the government. It is safe to say that Voltaire is critical of organized religion as corrupt and that European countries use religion as a power tool against its people. While in Eldorado Candide makes a remark, â€Å"What! You have no monks instructing and disputing, and governing and intriguing, and having everyone burned alive who is not of their opinion? † (Candide, p. 7), which clearly states how Voltaire feels about organized religion. He feels that religion is put in place and those who do not accept the â€Å"right† way of believe are to be put to death. A key theme of Enlightenment thinking is the belief in the essential goodness of human nature and Voltaire is critical of the fact that while Christianity preaches kindnes s and love they seem to be hypocritical of themselves because all they do is treat other human beings terribly like when the Grand Inquisitor was buried beautifully in a church but the Jewish man â€Å"was thrown on to the town refuse heap† (Candide, p. 3) because he didn’t have the same beliefs as the Church. He is continuously making remarks about how corrupt the idea of organized religion is but also about the people within the religion and how they are corrupt as well and not morally right. He makes light of popes having children like how the old woman in Candide is the daughter of Pope Urban X (Candide, p. 25) who is the leader of the Catholic Church and shouldn’t be having children since religious officials take a vow of celibacy. He also mentions Brother Girofleo who is in the company of a prostitute and has been for quite sometime as that is how she makes her living (Candide, p. 1). It seems that Voltaire is almost preaching the idea of freedom of religi on, like that in Eldorado. In Eldorado there is no religion, a set of beliefs to follow, or religious officials there to tell people what to believe. He is making the point that the imposition of religion is not needed at all and by doing so European Christians are keeping themselves further and further away from this Eldorodean utopia. Even though religious intolerance is a large part of the novel Candide, a repeated apparent theme is also that of excessive harsh punishment. We will write a custom essay sample on Candide Satire specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Candide Satire specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Candide Satire specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer One would be hard pressed to count the number of times any individual is punished in Candide, which is obviously the joke Voltaire is trying to make. He believes that in European society punishment is given frequently and oftentimes it does not fit the crime at hand. Candide finds himself in this position many times, within his own family, while in the army and also as a bystander. The Baron von Thunder-ten-tronckh â€Å"chased Candide out of the castle with great kicks to his backside† (Candide, p. 5) for kissing his daughter while he was still only a young boy. Candide also received a severe beating from his comrades in the army simply because he was talking a walk, which â€Å"was a privilege of the human as of the animal species to use its legs as it pleases† (Candide, p. 6-7). Finally, Candide â€Å"was flogged in cadence to the singing† (Candide, p. 16) because he was agreeing with what Pangloss was saying (Candide, p. 16) while in Lisbon and that was only 16 pages into the novel! The repeated examples of punishment not fitting the crime were something Voltaire was critical of and had his own experience with when being exiled out of his own country. He continued to use these satirical examples to show an important aspect of the government was being dealt with badly. Voltaire believed if this obstacle that the government (and ultimately the people) faced wasn’t dealt with correctly and in a timely fashion is would delay the progress of the European government and people. One of the most infamous characters and idea transcribed throughout the novel are those of Pangloss, who continuously advocates that â€Å"everything is necessarily for the best of ends† (Candide, p. 4). A large idea present in Enlightenment thinking was the freedom of will and expression, which Pangloss was obviously a character for, even though he was continuously abused because of it. Our own government is based on Enlightenment thinking of free will and the pursuit of happiness. Candide, in the beginning and mostly throughout the novel, idolizes Pangloss, wishes he was with him, and gives examples of what he would say if he were with Candide. However, towards the end of the novel it seems that Candide abandons the ideas of Pangloss when he realizes what the â€Å"three great evils† (boredom, vice, and necessity) (Candide, p. 2) are in the world after encountering the old Turkish man. Voltaire seems to be making the point that it is better to fill one’s life with work so that there is no time to philosophize with each other (necessity) and that we all must cultivate our own garden. One can argue that Voltaire believes freedom of will is necessary for society to evolv e and grow and that thinking is good but we still need to be able to get our own work done. Voltaire clearly established all that he sees wrong with European government and ultimately society in his satire Candide. He pokes fun at the corruption of Christianity and the sometimes unnecessary punishments inflicted upon humans for small crimes. He also mentions that although free human expression is necessary for a group or society to grow and blossom it is not always met with open arms and must sometimes be quieted in order to live a happy life. Candide was clearly written to point out all that Voltaire thought was wrong with the way Europe was living its day to day life and is now a classic in Enlightenment literature.

Free Essays on Honesty & Integrity

Honesty And Integrity Honesty and integrity are defined as qualities that allow an individual to do the right thing as often and as much as possible, and when they have done they wrong thing admit to what they have done. Honesty is the adherence to the facts and sincerity. To perform honestly would be: to tell the truth, to be able to be trustworthy, to not cheat and to be true to yourself. Honesty is doing the right thing, integrity; following through and being able to be counted on, trustworthy; you will not take credit, money or rewards for things you didn’t perform or do, fairness/ honor; meaning what u say, sincerity; and finally you will act and explain yourself as you truly are, genuine. When a person is dishonest they will act in a way that they know is wrong and, if asked to explain, will proceed to lie about what they have done. Being dishonest usually will catch up with the person. If dishonesty lets them get too far, it will go to their head and will take it to an extreme, making it mu ch better to start out honestly. Integrity goes hand in hand with honesty, seeing that each word uses the other in its definition. Integrity is the quality or state of being undivided. It is moral soundness, honesty, and freedom from corrupting influence or motive. It can be used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, or trusts. Integrity allows a person to be proud of what kind of morals they have, what kind of things they do and are proud and unafraid to tell the truth. If a person with integrity has done something wrong, than they probably did not purposely do it and are absolutely fine with admitting to it and taking responsibility for it. Honesty and integrity also have a meaning for me. I will do my best not to do the wrong thing but if I have chosen to do so, for me to be honest, I will tell the truth to my parents, teachers, friends and anyone I speak to or come in contact wi... Free Essays on Honesty & Integrity Free Essays on Honesty & Integrity Honesty And Integrity Honesty and integrity are defined as qualities that allow an individual to do the right thing as often and as much as possible, and when they have done they wrong thing admit to what they have done. Honesty is the adherence to the facts and sincerity. To perform honestly would be: to tell the truth, to be able to be trustworthy, to not cheat and to be true to yourself. Honesty is doing the right thing, integrity; following through and being able to be counted on, trustworthy; you will not take credit, money or rewards for things you didn’t perform or do, fairness/ honor; meaning what u say, sincerity; and finally you will act and explain yourself as you truly are, genuine. When a person is dishonest they will act in a way that they know is wrong and, if asked to explain, will proceed to lie about what they have done. Being dishonest usually will catch up with the person. If dishonesty lets them get too far, it will go to their head and will take it to an extreme, making it mu ch better to start out honestly. Integrity goes hand in hand with honesty, seeing that each word uses the other in its definition. Integrity is the quality or state of being undivided. It is moral soundness, honesty, and freedom from corrupting influence or motive. It can be used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, or trusts. Integrity allows a person to be proud of what kind of morals they have, what kind of things they do and are proud and unafraid to tell the truth. If a person with integrity has done something wrong, than they probably did not purposely do it and are absolutely fine with admitting to it and taking responsibility for it. Honesty and integrity also have a meaning for me. I will do my best not to do the wrong thing but if I have chosen to do so, for me to be honest, I will tell the truth to my parents, teachers, friends and anyone I speak to or come in contact wi...

Organizational Impact Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Impact - Essay Example The company uses a more qualitative approach, which does not require much data collection from without the organization but from within it. In such cases, in-house leaders such as departmental heads and managers are made to present reports and memos on the current strategic positions of their departments. Most often than not, these reports and memos are not used in isolation but linked to the quantitative data collection to authenticate the claims of the in-house leaders from the perspective of the outside world. At other times, the qualitative evaluation is simplified so much so that leaders of the organization merely make productive inferences of the output of work within the organization. This is to say that the leaders measure the impact of innovation, design, and creativity on strategy by measuring the change in productivity and growth. Zenger and Folkman justify this approach by saying that wherever there is innovation, design, and creativity, there ought to be growth and devel opment. Therefore where there is growth, it can simply be assumed that strategies in place are adequately working in a manner that is most justifiable. The consideration of processes and products at Wal-Mart is another important practice that the leadership of the organization has been constantly involved in. The rationale to emphasizing on processes and services is that they help in determining levels of customer satisfaction and aid in ensuring that the company serves customers in a manner that is most desirable and meets the expectations of customers.

International Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

International Business Law - Essay Example Most of these laws are based on international treaties and conventions, bilateral trade agreements, bilateral tax agreements, international financial and crimes statues, various forms of economic integration, among others. It is worth noting that most of these laws are geared towards protecting investors, residents of investee countries and relevant governments from fraud, exploitations and other malpractices that can stem from illegal operations. Most laws controlling international business deal with taxation, money laundering, employee rights, the process and system of justice, competition, among others (Goode & McKendrick ,2007). International law may be defined as the body of rules that nations or states recognize as binding upon one another in their mutual relations in areas of investment trade and services. In this area some of the Sources of international law are customs, treaties, and general principles of law, resolutions and declarations of international organizations, doctrines of equity and writings of judges together with legal scholars.A company that wishes to begin operation in Germany can choose between three different legal forms under company which are ; the formation of a permanent establishment or the formation of an independent branch establishment, the formation of a German partnership and the formation of a corporation as the Ultra Educational Software Ltd.’s subsidiary. It is also possible when studying the recent rulings of the European Court of Justice for a company to use corporations from other European Member States with a good example of the English Limited Company which is very popular. It is said that more than 30,000 Limited Companies exist in the republic of Germany. Definitely may be will be exposing itself to a number of legal risks as it embarks on exporting chocolate to Germany. First of all, the company shall

OSHA Legal Aspects of Safety and Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

OSHA Legal Aspects of Safety and Health - Essay Example The conference happens after the compliance officer has identified him/herself (OSHA, 2011). They are supposed to inform the manager of the scope of their inspection and criteria followed to select the firm. They are also supposed to specify the standards that are to apply and the general purpose. They should also offer information on how the manager can access a copy of applicable standards and then asks to be given an employer representative who will attend the inspection; an employee representative may also accompany them in case there is a safety committee in place (OSHA, 2011). In case there are some issues between the management and the employees then separate opening conferences are initiated. On the other hand the employer has the right to reduce or expand the scope but under reasonable grounds where the officer should in turn inform them on their responsibilities and obligations as the employer. References OSHA (2011). Discussions in the opening conference. Retrieved 18 Jan. 2011 from, http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9690

SWOT Analysis of Danone UK

SWOT Analysis of Danone UK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Activia and Actimel are the two probiotic yoghurt brands that are currently being marketed by Danone in the UK. The current market strategy for these products is that they are healthy food and part of a healthy lifestyle. Some modifications were made in the currents marketing strategy, which include modifying the current target market for both brands. These brands have the potential to make Danone UK Limited the market leader in the United Kingdom. 1. DANONE: THE PROBIOTIC BRANDS; THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. Danone UK limited, is a UK based subsidiary of the French company group Danone, which has its organizational headquarters situated in France. Danone UK is into the production and marketing of dairy products and water. Most of group Danone brands are household names in the United Kingdom and internationally, and they include the probiotic dairy brands; Activia and Actimel (DATAMONITOR, 2009). The dairy division of the Danone group, is a leader in the production of dairy products worldwide, and presently holds about 22% of the dairy products global market share (DATAMONITOR, 2009). Group Danone has different subsidiaries in varying countries and each brand has a unique attribute and name that appeals to the region or country where they are marketed. 1.1. SWOT ANALYSIS The strength, weakness, opportunities and threats that are currently influencing Danone UK are highlighted in the table below. Table: 1 STRENGTHS Health conscious company Innovative Products and marketing Customer oriented Research focused WEAKNESSES Lack of long term planning uncorroborated claims OPPORTUNITIES Health consciousness among populace Growth in awareness on digestive health Probiotic bacteria awareness THREATS New entrants Increased competition Stores own brand Increase in cost of milk and production Consumer unawareness on benefits of good bacteria Government regulation on health claim of probiotic brands 1.2. PEST ANALYSIS GRID The grid below highlights some of the factors that affect the market presently and therefore gives an idea on the way forward in the present market environment. Table 2: POLITICAL ECONOMIC SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY Government debt Recession Unemployment Trends in Research Government policy Research sponsorship Advert withdrawal E-commerce Cold weather New technology Migration 2. MARKET ANALYSIS: UK YOGHURT MARKET The UK yoghurt market comprises of the spoonable yoghurts (pots), drinkable yoghurt (drinks) and tube yoghurts. (Mintel Oxygen, 2009) The market share value of the drinking yoghurt has seen a decrease in recent years as more people turn to more healthy option of yoghurt products that more often come in pots and tubes; the tube yoghurt is more attractive for children as parents can pack it into lunch boxes for them, thus this area has also seen a significant growth in recent years. The pots yoghurt market saw an increase in sales as they offer fewer calories and some come with health claims that lead to an increase in sales, the most active category in recent time has been the probiotic or healthy yoghurt category (spoonable) (Euromonitor,2009). Development of new products and increase in sales in some categories of the yoghurt market have mostly been due to health issues, as the behaviour of consumers suggest that they prefer a healthy lifestyle and also love to indulge, thus the development of new products that offer both a healthy and indulgence option. This trend has lead to the improvement in performance of the yoghurt market generally, in comparison to other desert options. The yogurt and Fromage Frais (pots and tubes) currently hold about 15.60% of the dairy market share in the UK (Data Monitor, 2009). The pots and tubes are the best performers in the market, and they hold about 85% of the market share, while the drinking yoghurt has been largely affected by competition from other markets that offer or claim to offer a more healthy option in form of drinks e.g. smoothies and fruits juices (or soft drinks). 2.1. MARKET SEGMENTATION Majority of the market share for 2008 as seen above was held by top manufacturers which include Muller, Danone and Yoplait. Supermarkets own brands are gradually gaining a large percent of the market share, with other brands constituting about 27% of the total market share. The probiotic yoghurt brands of Danone UK are doing well in the market currently, and account for about 19% of the UK yoghurt market share. 2.2 COMPETITOR ANALYSIS Muller dairy UK is Danone UK main competitor and the current market leader. Muller has being the market leader for a while and they function across the entire yoghurt category. Some of the Muller brands are not doing so well in the market, with some consumers perceiving it as too sweet and unhealthy, but with recent brand repositioning, re-launches and new products introduced in the market they are able to continually hold onto the number one spot. Weakness: The major weakness of the Muller brands is that consumers still perceive them as unhealthy, as they usually have high sugar content (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). 2.3 COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: Danone Has exclusive patent on the friendly bacteria (Lactobacilli casei Imunitass) used in addition with other bacteria in Actimel. All probiotic brands by Danone are considered healthy, hence the first choice for consumers who prefer a healthy way of life. 3. BRAND POSITIONING Probiotic yoghurts contain live bacteria that positively aid the consumers digestive system by improving microbial balance in the intestine. The probiotic brands Actimel and Activia are in the spoonable (Activia), drinking (Actimel) and the healthy option categories. In comparison, some major competing brands are perceived as unhealthy with great taste and very sweet e.g. Muller brands are perceived as unhealthy due to the sweet taste and the fact that the brands are positioned as all day snacks (Euromonitor , 2009). PERCEPTUAL MAP Healthy Actimel Activia Muller Vitality Poor taste Great taste Muller Light Unhealthy 3.1 ACTIVIA Activia is in the class of spoonable yoghurt (pots), and is in the healthy brand category. It contains the probiotic bacterium (friendly bacteria) that helps in improving the functions of the digestive system. Activia comes in fat free and low calorie flavours that consumers see as a great benefit; thus Activia has seen a rapid increase in market share since its launch in 2002, and it is one of the best performers in its category due to innovation which comprises health benefit and indulgence (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). It has a wide range of flavour in packs of four and eight pots and recently it has been proposed to introduce single pots for people with a busy lifestyle or people on the go. 3.2 ACTIMEL This is in the drinking yoghurt category, and contains the probiotic bacteria L.casei Imunitass; its main function is boosting and providing support for the immune system. Actimel has 13 different varieties, and 4 have zero percent fat content. Actimel aids the bodys immune system by fighting off germs when consumed on a daily or regular basis (Danone, 2009). 3.3 BRAND PERSONALITY GRID The consumer perception of Activia and Actimel are highlighted in the personality grid below (Table 3 and 4). ACTIVIA PERSONALITY VALUE BENEFIT ATTRIBUTE Physically fit Quintessential Indulging Wide variety range Healthy Innovative Convenient Handy Delightful Trustworthy Rich taste Relieves bloating Reliable Variety ACTIMEL PERSONALITY VALUE BENEFIT ATTRIBUTE Healthy Nutritious Boost immunity Wide product range Tasty Trusted Rejuvenation Different flavours Immunity Reliable 4. TARGET MARKET AND STRATEGY: THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE Target Market Activia Women ACTIMEL Senior citizens Adults Rest of population 4.1 MARKETING STRATEGY (PRESENT SITUATION): The Probiotic brands are currently marketed as health beneficial products, with the emphasis on â€Å"good bacteria†, and the need to see the brands as part of a healthy way of life and not just as a snack. 4.2 ACTIVIA The current marketing strategy for Activia focuses solely on women and it was put in place in response to consumer demand for healthy products. Activia is positioned as an indulgent healthy food that helps women in reducing the feeling of being bloated especially after meals, and also aids in regulating the function of the digestive system. In a recent advert a woman is seen feeling more physically fit and flexible after having a pot of Activia. An interactive website has also been set up for Activia and the content is specifically for women as it gives them health tips and encourages them to share their story on the benefits of Activia. The website has a health based outlook that further reinforces the fact that Activia is a healthy brand. (Danone , 2009) Adults on the go are gradually being included in the current strategy, with the plan to introduce single pots of Activia (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). 4.2.1 DRAWBACK This strategy targets only the women in the population, and in some ways most women in a particular age demographic i.e. 25 and above. Although this strategy has been successful so far; what steps can be taken to prevent the present segment of consumers from shifting loyalty to a brand that is healthy, of good quality and is priced lower. What can be done to increase the present target market, as large segments of the population which include children, active adults and the elderly have not been included in this strategy. 4.2.2 MODIFICATION As manager of the probiotic brands of Danone UK Ltd, I will increase the target market to include families and the elderly. The family market will include children and men, while the elderly include men and women from age 55 and upwards. This segment of the population (55+) is going to see a rapid increase in sales and market share in the future as the population ages, and with the right marketing mix of price, distribution and place, this target segment offers great potential of growth for the future of the market (Mintel Oxygen, 2009). The family segment will come with a rebranding option that will target the women who have families. As women do most of the household shopping, when they buy Activia for themselves, they will have no option but to buy for their families. More flavours and packaging should be introduced to appeal to children and their parents. The current marketing strategy for the women consumers also have to be continued and improved to make the customers remain even when offered cheaper varieties, and to do this, loyalty programmes have to be introduced i.e. where consumers gain points for each pack of Activia bought. Although this might seem expensive for the company at the start of the program, as it has to be in conjunction with supermarkets, but in the long run it will be advantageous as we would have gained a loyal customer base. The present website also has to be improved to include healthy recipes tips as women love to cook healthy for their families. An interactive educational website should be introduced for children; activities on the website can include opportunity for children to pick their favourite Activia flavours, competitions that will include one where kids get the opportunity to mix different fruity flavours and submit their entries online, with opportunities to win prices. When children are loyal to their favourite brand (Activia) parents will have no choice but to also become loyal, in that way we also get families to be consumers of the Activia brand. Thus our market share will see an increase that will come from this segment of the population. 4.5 ACTIMEL The current marketing strategy for Actimel is capitalising on the immune system boosting characteristic of the probiotic bacteria in the drink and also the claim that it improves the body capacity to combat stress for people with busy lifestyles, through the action of the bacteria in the gut. In recent times, the company has also aimed to encourage the use of Actimel by patients in the hospital as a recent study shows that Actimel has the capacity to aid patients fight off infections. Advertising and promotional activities by Danone on Actimel has helped to boost the image of this brand by placing it as a brand that supports active lifestyles and is also healthy. 4.5.1 DRAWBACK An advert for Actimel was recently banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), that the claims made by Danone on Actimel (that it boosts the natural defence of children) were not supported by sound scientific evidence (BBC, 2009); a few consumers will brand Actimel as untrustworthy. To restore the image of Actimel, scientific evidence that proves that it helps boost the natural defence of children has to be peer reviewed before publishing. Although some health professionals have said it improves immunity, this has to be reinforced so the customers can have trust in the brand. The target population for Actimel has to re-defined, as it is currently vague (covers the whole segment of the population). 4.5.2 MODIFICATION The target market for Actimel has to be clearly defined, as it seems to target all the members of the population at the moment. The population has to be segmented, and each segment given a definite strategy and marketing plan that is specific for it. The proposed target market will be segmented as shown in fig 4. There is a lot of potential in targeting the elderly and hospital patients, as they need things to help boost their immunity, and Actimel can perform that function, hence there is an opportunity of growth here. The current market strategy of positioning Actimel as a healthy lifestyle choice is great, and will work well with all segments of the population especially the adults with an active way of life. The brand should be repositioned in the children segment, as the problem with the advert can affect sales that are generated. Thus positioning it as a healthy option for children, that offers the benefit of friendly bacteria, with proven scientific studies will enable Actimel regain the trust of consumers from this segment of the population. 5. CONCLUSION Actimel and Activia have been doing well so far in the UK market, and have the potential to do better in the future. The current marketing strategies for these two brands need to be improved on. The segmenting of the target population for Actimel will give a clearer view of the market strategy put in place to enable it gain more market shares from competitors like yakult and Muller vitality. The target market for Activia will need to be expanded in order to enable Activia gain market shares in the mainstream yoghurt market. It is perceived as a healthy brand, thus it has the potential to get more market share if the target population is increased. In the future the customer base of Activia and Actimel will remain loyal as loyalty schemes will be introduced to enable them stay faithful to the brand as long as the option of indulgence and healthy living at the right price is offered. New flavours that will keep consumers interested and innovative products will definitely make and keep Danone as a leader in the UK yoghurt market. References BBC. (2009, October). Healthy yoghurt advert banned. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from News Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8305918.stm Danone . (2009). Danone Activia. Retrieved December 29, 2009, from Your digestive health matters website: http://www.danoneactivia.co.uk/ Danone. (2009). Actimel L.casei Imunitass. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from How Actimel Can Help You: http://www.actimel.co.uk/Benefits/Default.aspx Danone UK Ltd. (2008). Danone. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from About Danone Mission Website: http://www.danone.co.uk/mission.htm DATAMONITOR. (2009). GROUPE DANONE. London: Datamonitor. Euromonitor . (2009). Yoghurt United Kingdom. London: Euromonitor International. Mintel Oxygen. (2009, May). Yogurt UK May 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009, from Market Share and Product Positioning website: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=393957/display/id=460332#hit1 Mintel Oxygen. (2009, May). Yogurt UK May 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009, from Segment performance website: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=393957/display/id=460332?select_section=460331 Mintel Oxygen. (2009, May). Yogurt UK May 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2009, from Table of content website: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=393957/display/id=460331?select_section=460345

Use of the Dramatic Monologue in Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess

In 'Porphyria's Lover' and 'My Last Duchess', Browning uses several features of dramatic monologue in order to engage and sustain the interest of the audience. This style of monologue is spoken by a character, which is not the poet, and is usually projected at a critical moment, as in the case of 'My Last Duchess' and 'Porphyria's Lover'. The speakers unintentionally reveal their insanity, in both poems, through their separate accounts. By making a comparison of the two poems, it becomes clear that Browning has used similar disturbing themes to illustrate what an individual is capable of doing. Browning's work is known to be an example of dramatic monologue, with this being the way in which he is able to portray the insanity of his characters. By using the technique of dramatic monologue in 'Porphyria's Lover' and 'My Last Duchess', the reader is immediately given an image of both of the narrators' subjects. The opening line is vital to any poem, as it has the potential to instantly interest the reader. "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall" begins 'My Last Duchess' halfway through the conversation, leaving the audience eager to determine to whom the speaker is talking to. This statement also hints that the story of his "last duchess" will follow, thus sustaining the interest of the audience. By using dramatic monologue in 'My Last Duchess', the reader feels personally involved in the scene, as if the Duke is directly talking to him. In fact the Duke is speaking to an emissary, who has been sent by a Count to see whether the Duke is an appropriate suitor for his daughter. The lack of response from this envoy however gives the... ...g more of a passionate poem. The poem also uses iamic tetrameter, in order to stress the importance of different syllables of words in the poem. 'Porphyria's Lover' concludes with a rhyming couplet in order to tidy up and close the piece. In conclusion, Browning uses dramatic monologue in 'Porphyria's Lover' and 'My Last Duchess' in order to engage and sustain the interest of the audience. Various factors, such as the state of mind of both characters, use of language (particularly imagery) and the lay out of the poem contributed to the effectiveness of the poems. When studying comparisons and contrasts in the poems, it becomes clear that Browning has used the same methods of aiming to disturb the reader in both 'Porphyria's Lover' and 'My Last Duchess', although different ways in which to alarm the audience are used.