The Last Empress by Daniele Varè Essay -- China Literature Essays

The Last Empress by Daniele Varà ¨ The Empress Dowager Tzi-his (1835-1908) was a unique ruler unlike any other China had ever seen. She is considered to be one of the most influential people in Chinese history, a rarity in the male dominated Chinese world. The empress dowager exerted great power over the Chinese empire and influenced the political structure in ways it had never been influenced before, making many great reforms that she believed would help the Chinese people. Born on November 29th, 1835, Tzi-hsi was named Yehonala after her tribe. Her father, Huei-cheng died when she was a child and her family took care of her until she was sent to Emperor Hsien-Feng’s court as a concubine. Although Hsien-Feng had many wives and concubines, Tzi-hsi was the only to bear him a son. In 1861, the Emperor died and his court was left to the son, who was not of age and thus Tzi-hsi was able to rule through her son, The Emperor Tung-chih. When he turned 17, she was forced to give up her immediate power to him. Tung-chih died in 1875. Through much controversy and manipulation, Tzi-hsi was able to convince the court to nominate her choice as successor, and when the Empress of the Eastern palace died, Tzi-hsi became the sole surviving regent of the empire (Varà ¨). Shortly after, Tzi-hsi was forced to give up her regency and retired to a summer palace, but she soon resumed rule over China. From that moment on until her death in 1908 she ruled China, instilling new policies and reforms into Chinese culture. There have been many assertions and assumptions about Tzi-hsi’s policies and their value to the history of China and her popularity among Chinese citizens (her tomb was raided and destroyed). Regardless of these opinio... ...its objectivity. It provides a clear picture of the Empress’ life in her cultural context and the impact it had on China. I recommend this book to anyone exploring the life of the Empress Dowager—whether it be her personal life, her social life, or her political life. The book truly does provide an extensive amount of information about the Empress—its age stands testament to this (it has been around for 70 years), and I would highly recommend it. Works Cited â€Å"Biography.† Rev. of The Last Empress by Daniele Varà ¨. Saturday Review of Literature 14 Sept. 1936: 19. Gilroy, Thomas J. Tzu-hsi: The Empress Dowager from China. 16 Nov 2002. King’s College History Department. King’s College. 3 Mar 2004. Varà ¨, Daniele. The Last Empress. New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., 1936.

KS Maniam Removal In Pasir Panjang Essay

As the first-generation descendant of indentured Indian labourers brought in to service the rubber plantations of British colonial Malaya, Maniam knows too well the trauma and losses attendant on that position of cultural, linguistic, geographic and temporal displacement. Early stories such as â€Å"Ratnamuni†, and â€Å"The Third Child† and â€Å"Removal in Pasir Panjang† capture the nuances and particular texture of diasporic Indian life, replete with its fears, failures and feelings of betrayal as its members cling desperately to familiar, long-ago rituals that are fast losing their currency in the new cultural location. Themes: Tradition vs Changes – perspectives on striking changes which have taken place in modern Malaysia and Singapore societies. Power relation – human relationship in different strata and racial aspects. Conflicts Setting Physical Penang in post independence time Small town – Pasir Panjang (refer to the text how the writer describes the town – the shop, the school, the buildings etc) The road – its significance impact to the town people Social setting Multi-racial community Nathan, Ramasamy representing the Indian, Ah Seng and CRC the Chinese community, the students etc The housing development on the other side of the river – representing changes The CRC (Chinese Recreation Club) – representing the tradition Plots (themes) A subtly paced contrast of this life with the more rapid changes brought about by urban development. There is a comic strand running throughout the story, the better because it is played by seriousness, concerning Nathan (protagonist) the school teacher’s resignation from CRC. Nathan sent in his resignation from the CRC The reaction of CRC concerning his decision CRC bent their rules to admit him, and send successive deputations to urge him to rejoin. The building of the road – Leng Leng’s death and other children who were also killed on the same road after its completion brings in the irony of the story (changes come with a price!) This highway/road causes upheaval in the slow-paced town Ironically yet tragic is the case of Leng Leng the orphan boy which in turn a comic in the case of Ah Seng the shop keeper, who fears he will lose his customers (being superstitious) Nathan’s impatience with Li Hwa (one of his students) show his desire to be out of the small town and join the development on the other side of town Nathan made his frequent visit to the jetty, watching the development on the other side of the river. As readers, we see from his observation, how the development springing but again development is partly shown in the darker side of betterment (e.g. prostitution, gangster elements etc) Nathan met Yahaya a stranger on the jetty, who warned him about interfering with the across river development. They both became friends and together contemplate the invasion of the new with a peculiar mixture of interest and dismay. There is the case alienation when Nathan who s beaten up by newer gangster elements who came with development. Cheng the school clerk came to nurse his wound Then a visit by Hock Guan, a CRC member together with Li Hwa, lightens up his misery. Li Hwa showed her charitable and respect for Nathan by giving him fruits The story ends with both Li Hwa and Nathan said sorry to one another – a pang of irony as they both did not like each other initially. Important points to look at: Language and style: 3rd person narrative – but we see the atmosphere and environment through the main protagonist, Nathan It indirectly brings us to dive into his emotion and conflict with the surrounding and himself. Irony and comic elements implanted – the portrayal of the old laterite road in contrast o the new road, the old slow-paced morbid town and the rapid development of the other  side of town (across the jetty where Nathan stood almost every evening), Ah Seng fear of losing business when the new road claimed its victim mostly children. The use of multi racial background accentuates the theme of power relation, how each character deals with their conflicts. Characters Their role and characteristics Nathan The protagonist A school teacher – he showed lack of patience at times but committed himself to his work He bit of a loner and indifferent especially with his students He desired changes and wanted to be transferred out of the town to a bigger town An ex member of CRC (he was admitted to the club on special condition – on the basis of a kind Catch 22 clause) He mixed well with other races though his efforts in mixing around looks superficial (except with Yahaya) Leng Leng An orphan mute boy who got his name from â€Å"his frenzied activity† â€Å"Street boys†, â€Å"not a pest† etc (read pg 154 for vivid description of him) Very fond of Nathan an d he will try to impress others through his comical antics He was killed at the opening of the new road by a speeding car. His short-lived character represent innocence and naivety (naà ¯ve) who was caught between tradition and changes) Ah Seng A member of CRC He owns a shop in town Superstitious Friendly to Nathan A symbol of tradition – he showed mix-feeling about the progression of the road Always trying to advise Nathan Li Hwa Curious Sensitive Strong will Forgiven self Naà ¯ve Yahaya A stranger that Nathan met A mysterious person Probably a gardener Like Nathan, he went to the jetty to see the other side of the world Friendly and smoking companion with Nathan He knew about the sleazy underworld where he constantly reminded Nathan to stay away from the development at the other side of town Ramasamy He bought lands – the developer Big mouth Ramasamy He brought changes into town

Macbeth´s Fate in Willam Shakespeare´s Macbeth - 869 Words

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play in which highlights how ones nature and judgment can be responsible for the devise and shape of their own fate. Macbeth is a character of whom although his choices are superficially guided by others, his very fate is resolute of his character and attributes. His impatient ambition, stubborn need to protect his pride and consequential decision making, are all integral attributes to the story in which furthermore prove that Macbeth is entirely responsible for his own fate. Throughout the story we can see how Macbeths impatiens coupled with his ambition to become king is a critical attribute in which significantly and ultimately led to his demise. In many instances, we can see how Macbeths hidden childish like behavior and reckless determination flourish in the events of the supernatural and the serial. Macbeth’s desire and tenacity is clearly tested at the beginning of the story when Macbeth and Duncan go to see the witches. After they finish explaining how Macbeth ‘’shalt be king hereafter†, Macbeth given a glimpse of prosperity without hesitant says â€Å"My thought/ murderer yet is but fantastical/Shakes so my single state of man that function is smother in sumrise/And nothing is but what is not† (1.3.9-12). This is a quintessential example of his character as it shows even though the witches said nothing about murder, Macbeths desire to do anything to become king is already there. This also proves that even though L ady Macbeth and the witches