Take Home Final: "Tag, You're it"

My Take Home Final: "Tag, You're it"

Week Two: Entry Two: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

“The creature who crept into my house that night was… know by the name of Hyde.”(Stevenson 77)-----> Using the word “creature” and then referring to the creature as Hyde tells the reader how Stevenson views criminals as non-humans. “Night” suggests the time darkest time of the day where creatures come out to attack.

“If ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend.” (Stevenson 42)-----> Hyde is so evil and inhuman they relate him to satan the name of the devil.

“...renewed relations with his friends, became once more their familiar guest and entertainer… he was now no less distinguished for religion… The doctor was at peace.”(Stevenson 54)-----> When Hyde isn’t taking over the body of Dr. Jekyll he can be himself. When he puts religion first, he is more friendly, and Dr. Jekyll can be a peace.  

Evil is tangible and could be physical and/or observable. Using metaphors to describe Mr. Hyde,  Stevenson  develops the argument that humans need to protect themselves from the immoral and religion is the best way to defeat the “creature” of sin that has grown inside of Dr. Jekyll.

The evil that was taking over Dr. Jekyll was physically real and at night this creature felt right at home because the darkness of the sky matched his soul: “The creature who crept into my house that night was… know by the name of Hyde” (Stevenson 77). Stevenson uses “creature” to express to the reader how Mr. Hyde isn’t human and isn’t quite one species of animal. Hyde is so disoriented it is hard for the author to place him in a category, however Stevenson is aware of the evil category that Mr. Hyde falls into: “Crept into my house”(Stevenson 77),. the word “crept” suggests intrusion. “House” is a metaphor for the body of Dr. Jekyll, the house that Mr. Hyde intruded into against the will of Dr. Jekyll and has caused physical damage to the world around him and the inside of Dr. Jekyll’s pure body. This devilish creature will only become more physical without religion.

Mr. Utterson, the lawyer, sure did seem to think that the devilish creature will become more physical without religion when he stated,“If ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend” (Stevenson 42). Hyde is so evil and inhuman that they relate him to satan, the name of the devil. Doing this shows how the evil is physically growing onto the face of Dr. Jekyll. A face is the first thing people use to describe you from other humans, a signature is something you use to also identify yourself from others and to show ownership of. For Mr. Utterson to describe Mr. Hyde’s face like this shows how Dr. Jekyll isn’t different from the devil and in a way, owned by him. The “morals”and “values” of satan has taken over Dr. Jekyll’s body and soul, through the creature of Mr. Hyde, and left for the sane Dr. Jekyll is his mind. The mind is all that sane Dr. Jekyll needs to start defeating the creature of sin that as attached to him.

To get Mr. Hyde out of Dr. Jekyll’s metaphorical house he must first have a knowledge of what religion is and how it prevents evil from finding his way back in. The effects that Stevenson witnessed once the sin was outside of Dr. Jekyll was: “...renewed relations with his friends, became once more their familiar guest and entertainer… he was now no less distinguished for religion… The doctor was at peace”(Stevenson 54). Are all things Dr. Jekyll has regained now that the creature, Mr. Hyde, has left his body and soul. Instead of Mr. Hyde using Dr. Jekyll’s body to intrude into places against the will of others, sane Dr. Jekyll uses his body to entertain his friends. Instead of Mr. Hyde giving Dr. Jekyll’s soul to the night, a time of the day covered in darkness and the unknown, he has given his soul to peace. Dr. Jekyll therefore has a feeling of freedom and tranquility.

 

Week Four: Entry One: The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

“...With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot”(Stevenson 46)-----> The words “ape-like” suggests an animal-like quality that Hyde had when trampling the victim. Whereas the word “fury” shows the anger that an ape possesses when attacking.

“Mr. Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of the breath”(Stevenson 40)-----> “Hissing” is an action of what a snake does to warn. A snake is a devilish creature, snakes are related to the devil.

“Now that evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Mr. Jekyll”(Stevenson 54)-----> Now that the evil spirits are out of Dr. Jekyll it is as if he was is entering a new phase of being. Mr. Hyde is resurrecting out of Dr. Jekyll. Without religion or the belief in a God evil will draw unto people.

Using animalistic language and metaphors to describe Hyde, Stevenson presents Hyde as a threat to Dr. Jekyll human morality because he is heartless, deceptive creature that has taken over Dr. Jekyll’s body using a physical sin. To protect humans from this immorality and adoption of animalistic qualities, Stevenson recommends religion.

Stevenson uses animal-like qualities to portray the heartless, violent, and angry Mr. Hyde inside of Dr. Jekyll. Steven Shows this by writing “...With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot” (Stevenson 46). The words “ape-like” suggest an animal like quality that Hyde obtained when he trampled the victim. This  is a heartless act because not at anytime did Hyde stop and ask the lady if she was ok or if he was hurting her. This act also is violent because Mr. Hyde abused this lady for no real reason at all according to Stevenson. The anger of the ape took over the body of Dr. Jekyll that contained the beast of Mr. Hyde. This immortality is something found in animals and by referring to Hyde’s actions as ape-like, Stevenson shows Hyde’s immorality.

Once Stevenson saw Hyde as immoral he adopt a devilish, deceptive outlook. As Mr. Hyde was doing when he was questioned by Mr. Utterson,“Mr. Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of the breath”(Stevenson 40). Snakes are seen as an deceptive, sly, sneaky creature as the devil. Snakes lie close to the ground and do evil acts that hurt others in their way. “Hissing” usually used as a warning side used to intimate others they encounter and may show fear towards. In this way Mr.Hyde is like a devil’s worker with his snake-like behaviors.

“Mr. Hyde appeared to be hesite”(Stevenson 41), when fear is showed vulnerability comes into effect. The devil is vulnerable like Mr. Hyde because he knows a greater power that will defeat his fear.   In this case vulnerability can be seen in a good way because it allows easy access to religion. Here Stevenson uses religion to show how it brought Dr. Jekyll back to sanity. “Now that evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Mr. Jekyll”(Stevenson 54). This “new life” symbolizes the destroying of this devil creature who Stevenson refers to as Mr. Hyde. “Withdrawn” suggests the ability that Dr. Jekyll can have now that Mr. Hyde isn’t taking over his mind, body, and soul.

Entry Two: “ Victorian Psychology”: [Appendix I]

Although both authors Maudsley and Myers both believe in the “double brain” Myers linked it to having a dual identity. Myer even went as far at studying an effect young boy.

Maudsley an influential psychologists, believes that the mind could only be understood from a “physiological point of view”(193). He did this by breaking it down into two types of mental disorders, “mania and melancholia”. Maudsley believed these mental disorders had two different side effects, making it double. One side includes, “exaggerated,” “exultant,” and “delusions”, Maudsley shows his readers how people with this disorder tend to inflate thing, are to happy, and mistake where they fall in society. The other side includes, “incapacity of attention...inefficient memory...and dullness of thought. The words “incapacity,” “inefficient,” and “dullness” suggest the mental inability to stay alert, not being able to remember, and thinking as fast.

Myers along with Maudsley believed in the dual identity, but unlike Maudsley Myers took his hypothesis and experiment with a young male patients Louis. Louis was left-handed and during this age left handed people were “sinister” ( Myers 200). This suggest that being some type of sin. In addition Myers quoted, “reached a lower degree of evolution” (Myers 200). Concluding that patient like Louis haven’t yet developed into a human can be accepted in society.

Entry One:"Degeneration": [Appendix H]

Through the beliefs of Darwin and Lombroso both relate to the evilness, animal-like behaviors of young children who will become criminals , Lombroso address the different stages of a child and the older they get the more evil they become.

Darwin’s belief of evilness in humans is through “inheritance from violent progenitor” (Darwin 157) The progenitor refers to an ancestor your biologically related to. Inheritance refers to the genetic characters carried on from parents to children. He then compared his analyze to how a young child takes on the biting, like a crocodile. Darwin explains to his readers the “strange animal-like” in some children who are naturally evil and whose ancestor can be a crocodile.

Lombroso is an Italian Doctor who like Darwin believes in the animal-like behavior of children, but not the inheritance of the characteristics. She instead believes in the over time development of children's evil, that will make them criminals in their adult life. “...he would scream incessantly...with gestures similar to those often witnesses in caged bears” Caged bears suggests the animal-like characteristics of a criminal behind jail cell bars. The child screams this way because they “were not influenced by moral training and example” (Lombroso 160). She concludes that if the child was taught wrong from right at an early age they won’t develop into a criminal. However she does believe that this education of morals doesn’t restraint all children from developing into a criminal. With the tightening of the fits and movement of eyebrows in babies during the first two months suggest that age one by one, they will be throwing plates at people they dislike, as a savage would. In other words the child gets violent as they age. when the child gets violent as they age . When Lombroso wrote, “Anger is an elementary instinct inhale in human being” (Lombroso 162). Instinct refers to what you naturally do it comes apart of your customs.

Four:Chapters 11-12 (197-253)

“The poor boy was dead… There was no need for her now to stay there, in that kitchen, in that house, with that man- since that boy was gone for ever. No need whatever. And on that Mrs. Verloc rose as if raised by a sprig. But neither could she see what there was to keep her in the world at all. And this inability arrested her. Mr. Verloc watched her with a marital solicitude… At that precise moment Mrs. Verloc began to look upon herself as released from all earthly ties. She had her freedom. Her contract with existence, as represented by that man standing over there, was at end. She was a free woman.”(Conrad 212)

“But neither could she see what there was to keep her in the world at all. And this inability arrested her.”-----> Winnie feels worthless now that her mother and brother are dead. The word inability shows how much she depended on the taking care of her brother, now that he is dead she is weakened. So weakened it’s as if she is under arrest.

“...Mrs. Verloc began to look upon herself as released from all earthly ties. She had her freedom.”-----> “Earthly ties” suggest that she believed she was put on this earth to care for her mother and brother. Conrad says she is a free woman, but still refers to her as Mrs. Verloc therefore she feels free, but society still sees her as a married woman.

“Her contract with existence, as represented by that man standing over there, was at end. She was a free woman.”-----> The contract being her marriage license with Mr. Verloc. Conrad sets it up in a way which that Winnie doesn’t allow her to say Mr. Verloc name because she sees him as just a man, a not as her husband.

Although Conrad writes that Winnie is a free women and how her “contract” is now over, he doesn’t stop referring to her as Mrs. Verloc. This contrast leads the audience to believe that even when a women thinks/feels she is “free” she still has to carry the constant burden and reminder of her husband because society still refers to her by her former husband’s name. Because Winnie is now free she doesn’t know what to do with herself and feels a sense of inability.

Winnie felt obligated to care for her mother and brother because she saw it as her “earthly tied”. She felt as though now that her mother is gone and her brother is dead, the earth has released her from her duties. Conrad said, “...Mrs. Verloc began to look upon herself as released from all earthly ties. She had her freedom” (Conrad 212). Freedom means to have the independence and not being confined by her husband. If Conrad claims that Winnie has her “freedom” why does he still refer to her as Mrs. Verloc? Doing this shows the reader that Winnie is free, but still has carries the burden of her husband's name because the society of the Victorian Age will only ever see her as Mr. Verloc’s former wife, even though her contract has ended. Conrad writes,  “Her contract with existence, as represented by that man standing over there, was at end. She was a free woman” (Conrad 212). Using the word “contract,” Conrad reveals to the reader an agreement by law that Winnie and Mr. Verloc had to abide by. “ The man standing over there”, who was Mr. Verloc, was a nice way of putting that Winnie hadn’t had any more respect for him. To Winnie, Mr. Verloc was just a man in her house who she owed nothing to. Now that she was free and didn’t have the earthly duty to take care of her mother and brother she could now focus on herself.

When Winnie realized that she feels useless and lost on what she is going to do from now on, Conrad wrote,“But neither could she see what there was to keep her in the world at all. And this inability arrested her”(Conrad 212). She was so depended on the taking care of everyone besides herself she felt like she been arrested. People who are arrested are in confinement and restrained from all things that makes them different from others. So when Conrad told his readers that this was the way Winnie felt now that she doesn’t have to care for her mother and Stevie. Winnie  found taking care of her family made her different because she enjoyed it.

Conrad, Joseph.  "The Secret Agent." Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Three: Chapters 8-10 (143-197)

“On account of that shrinking delicacy, which exists side by side with aggressive brutality in masculine nature, the inquiries into her circumstances had not been pushed very far. She had checked them by a variable compression of the lips and some display of an emotion determined to be eloquently silent. And the men would become suddenly incurious, after the manner of their kind...The tears of that large female in a dark dusty wig, and ancient silk dress festooned with dingy white cotton lace, wear the tears of genuine distress. She had wept because she was heroic and unscrupulous and full of love for both of her children. Girls frequently get sacrificed to the welfare of boys. In this case she was sacrificing Winnie. By the suppression of truth she was slandering her. Of course, Winnie was independent, and needed not care for the opinion of people that she would never see and who would never see her; whereas poor Stevie had nothing in the world he could call his own except his mother’s heroism and unscrupulousness.” (Conrad 149-150)

“On account of that shrinking delicacy, which exists side by side with aggressive brutality in masculine nature, the inquiries into her circumstances had not been pushed very far.”-----> Brutality suggests the inhumanity of men. Nature, is in a way a word that women use to make the brutality sound natural and fair.

“She had wept because she was heroic and unscrupulous and full of love for both of her children. Girls frequently get sacrificed to the welfare of boys. In this case she was sacrificing Winnie.”-----> When Winnie’s mother gave Winnie up to Mr. Verloc it made her mother heroic. The adjective unscrupulous refers to the morals that Winnie’s mother had to go against for the benefit of her children. Sacrificed suggests how girls surrender themselves for the benefit of the boys.

“whereas poor Stevie had nothing in the world he could call his own except his mother’s heroism and unscrupulousness.”-----> The word “nothing” shows what society sees when they see someone like Stevie. They see them even more disadvantaged than women because people like Stevie depend on women to take care of them.

Although men are controlling, brutal, dominant, and in a way greater than women,Conrad presents to the reader how heroic, loving and selfless women are. By setting up this contrast of men and women, Conrad introduces how Stevie and others like him are even more disadvantaged than women.

Men are controlling because they, without realizing, “force” women to marry them if women want to live a decent, standard life. Men can live a decent, standard life with or without a woman, creating their overall dominance. Because they lead, they get to be brutal. Conrad writes that there is an “aggressive brutality in masculine nature” (Conrad 149). The word “nature” suggests to the reader that because it’s natural it makes being brutal and inhuman to women fair. They can be brutal because they have nothing to lose. While this goes on women have to learn to be heroic and loving. Conrad writes, “she was heroic and unscrupulous and full of love for both of her children. Girls frequently get sacrificed to the welfare of boys” (Conrad 150). When Winnie’s mother gave Winnie up to Mr. Verloc, she earned the title of heroic. This made her heroic because she was brave enough to give her child away to some man she barely knew. Winnie also showed bravery when she sacrificed herself for her mother and brother so they can also have a decent life. This suggests how girls surrender themselves for the benefit of the boys.

Stevie on the other hand is described as nothing.  Due to his limited mobility, and mental state, he is categorized as even more disadvantaged  than women. Conrad showed this to his readers by writing, “Poor Stevie had nothing in the world he could call his own except his mother’s heroism and unscrupulousness” (Conrad 150). Writing this shows the reader how Stevie depends on his mother. For a man to depend on his mother who is a women is really low, lower than women depending on men. It’s ironic how men are showed as this dominant being, but when it comes to one of their “own” who is different from the rest, and quoted to be a “weak-minded creature,” automatically fall under women.   

Conrad, Joseph.  "The Secret Agent." Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Man's overall dominance 

Two:Chapters 5-7 (93-143)

“She had developed these discoveries to the Assistant Commissioner with all of the serce fearlessness of an old woman who had escaped the blight of indifference. He had made for himself the rule to receive everything of that sort in a silence which he took care from policy and inclination not to make offensive. He had an affection for the aged disciple of Michaelis, a complex sentiment depending a little on her prestige, on her personality, but most of all of the institute of fattered gratitude.  He felt himself really liked in her house. She was kindness personified. And she was practically wise too, after the manner of experienced women...Her influence upon his wife, a woman devoured by all sorts of small selfishnesses, small denvies, small jealousies, was excellent. Unfortunately, both her kindness and her wisdom were of unreasonable complexion, distinctly feminine, and difficult to deal with. She remained a perfect women all along her full tale of years, and no as some of them do become- a sort of slippery, pestilential old man in petticoats.” (Conrad 115)

“She was kindness personified. And she was practically wise too, after the manner of experienced women.”-----> “Practically wise” meaning she almost smart, but still not smart enough just to have the word wise there by itself to describe her intelligence.

“ Unfortunately both her kindness and her wisdom were of unreasonable complexion, distinctly feminine, and difficult to deal with.”-----> Women are seen to be too kind when working with them, from man's point of view. She was difficult to deal with because she was feminine. Her wisdom was unreasonable because she doesn’t have any previous working experience. This doesn't make sense because the men are the reason the women don’t have any previous work experience. The Assistant Commissioner believes women aren’t trustworthy.  

“She remained a perfect women all along her full tale of years, and not as some of them do become- a sort of slippery, pestilential old man in petticoats.” -----> A perfect women must be someone who is safe and clean dressed in a petticoat. An old man is unstable, can’t do things for himself, and harmful because he can’t be left alone.

Despite the fact that the Assistant Commissioner’s wife worked with Michaelis, he still shows the characteristics of women, why these characteristics makes it difficult to work with them, and what is likely to happen if women start to work with men. The Assistant Commissioner thought,“She was kindness personified. And she was practically wise too, after the manner of experienced women”(Conrad 115). When Conrad used the word “practically” it took away the strength of the word wise, almost making it watered down like. His reasoning for watering down the word wise was because she was a woman, and woman are kind. If this woman wasn't kind it would have been ok to call her wise? Not necessarily, since Conrad then writes, “ Unfortunately both her kindness and her wisdom were of unreasonable complexion, distinctly feminine, and difficult to deal with”(Conrad 115). This to the reader shows how he really feels towards women working. In other words The Assistant Commissioner believes the kindness and wisdom of women is silly and girly. That’s why he relates them both to being unreasonable. Being silly and girly is too difficult for men to deal with. To make the man's life easy, woman should just stay at home and control the household.

After all of this, if women still choose to work with men there is a change that they won't be a “perfect woman” anymore. Expect for if you were in the shoes of the Assistant Commissioner’s wife:She managed to stay a “Perfect woman” “She remained a perfect women all along her full tale of years, and not as some of them do become- a sort of slippery, pestilential old man in petticoats.”(Conrad 115) This doesn't work for every woman, according to The Assistant Commissioner , she managed to stay safe and clean. Society won’t see woman anymore than silly and kind, even if they have worked alongside men. The only option men give to women is to be kind and not wise or be wise and become an old man. The Assistant Commissioner's wife managed to stay kind, something that Conrad doesn't recommend for women to be when working with men. If she isn't kind she then turns into an unstable, harmful old man.

Conrad, Joseph.  "The Secret Agent." Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

"Perfect woman"

One:Chapters 1-4 (39-93)

“You revolutionists,” the other continued, with leisurely self-confidence, “are the slaves of the social convention, which is afraid of you; slaves of it as much as the very police that stands up in the defence of that convention. Clearly you are, since you want to revolutionise it. It governs your thought, of course, and your action too, and thus neither your thought nor your action can ever be conclusive… You are not a bit better than the forces arrayed against you - than the police, for instance. The other day I came suddenly upon Chief Inspector Heat at the corner of Tottenham Court Road. He looked at me very steadily. But I did not look at him. Why should I give him more than a glance? He was thinking of many things - of his superiors, of his reputation, of a hundred things. But I was thinking of my perfect detonator only. He meant nothing to me. He was as insignificant as - I can’t call to mind anything insignificant enough to compare to him with… The terrorist and the policemen both come from the same basket. Revolution, legality - counter moves in the same game; forms of idleness at bottom identical. He plays his little game - so do you propagandist. But I don’t play...I who am the true propagandist.”( Conrad 86)

“The slaves of the social convention”-----> The professor refers to revolutionist this way to give the readers a sense of how they they don’t have any control of their thoughts or actions

“The same basket” -----> The police and revolutionist think that they are going against each other, but one's job doesn’t exist without the other.

“My perfect detonator”-----> Here the professor is so self absorbed about his “perfect”invention, he refers to the police officer as “insignificant”

“But I don’t play...I who am the true propagandist” -----> The professor is not in the same basket and removed from the game.

Through the professor, Conrad makes clear his opinion of what he believes revolutionaries and anarchist are. Conrad makes clear his opinion that revolutionaries and anarchists are fakes. He believes they want change from the government. However, with the phase “the slaves of the social convention”, the revolutionist aren’t allowed to be human beings  because they are “slaves”, and they just do what they're told to and act accordingly. This is still following a set of rules, when they are supposed to be against following the rules. The police too are also in “the same basket,”. They can only follow the laws and enforce them.The Professor doesn’t see change fast enough which is why he praises working individually. The professor thinks the people who work together don’t get anything accomplished, if they do it’s small change. He believes people who work together are playing.

Conrad then makes clear his preferences for more radical behavior to not change the government, but to destroy it. The professor talks about his “perfect detonator” when he passed the police office, he didn't at all feel threaten. This is because the Professor knows he hold the true power. The job position that the officer carried didn’t faze him, the office was “insignificant”(Conrad 86). The Professor’s  attitude toward himself leads towards anarchism, because he doesn’t “play” games like the revolutionaries or the police officers. The professor states, “I am the true propagandist.” People who work together don’t get anything accomplished, if they do it’s small change. With this Conrad reminds readers how this machine called society knits us out and knits us in”(Conrad 264). The machine may change a little, but it will never be destroyed, unless you are a “millionaire” (Conrad 265). The Professor is not saying that he is the millionaire when he says that he is the “true propagandist.” Conrad uses his to show that all others are shams.

Conrad, Joseph.  "The Secret Agent." Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Topic Three: Marriage and Feminism": (Appendix E) Caird and Grand

As Both  Caird and Grand look at society, they discovered the ways of which the man controlled the women. Although they both express to their readers that women being controlled was man’s “fault”, Grand expresses her belief of how it was also woman’s “fault” too.

With Caird being a feminist during this Victorian era, she described how women were  treated like a “chained up...dog” (Caird 296). Using the adjectives “miserable,” “ill-looking,” and “spiritless” (Caird 296) she explains to readers the way the man during this time period made their wives feel. They made women feel as though they were an animal. Caird expressed how women have become “adapted...to the misfortune of captivity” (Carid 297) and how because of it she is now “...accustomed to it.,”(Caird 296), it being the role she plays in the house. One of the rights women should have according to her is, “ The economical independence of women is the first condition of free marriage” (Caird 299). Meaning, women shouldn’t have to feel like they need to marry a man to be economically comfortable. Women should have the right to marry for love not for “sake of bread and butter” (Caird 299). Grand also has her beliefs on women's freedom and how the woman herself is also to blame for the freedom they are restricting.

With women being treated like second class citizens for so long it doesn't hurt to wonder why this treatment of women hasn't be stopped in its tracks earlier. Grand answered this question  in, “The New Aspects of the Women Question,”reasons   “... we are not blameless in the matter ourself. We have allowed him to arrange the whole social system and manage or mismanage it all these ages without ever seriously examining his work…we have meekly bowed our heads when he called us bad names instead of demanding proofs… we have listened much edified to man’s sermons on the subject of virtue…”  (Grand 300). With these strong words like “bowed” and “listened”, Grand shares with her readers some of the ways women have “allowed” him to get away with  arranging “the whole social system”. The words “examining” and “demanding” are the actions women should have taken when the first signs of their freedom were being withdrew.

When the women of the Victorian society read what Caird and Grand have to say about their rights some will be shocked, they may argue that isn't a woman's place to get involved with social system. Other women who are younger and less old fashion will agree with Caird and Grand, they are the women who will ask who else is going to get involved and fight for women's rights. The men of the society may try to hide these writing from their wives and keep their eyes “narrowed...so that our view of it should be all distorted” (Grand 300-301).

Caird, Mona. "Marriage." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Grand, Sarah. "The New Aspect of the Women Question." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Topic Three: Marriage and Feminism": (Appendix E) Patmore and Ruskin

Although Patmore and Ruskin both contain women, Ruskin at least believes in the “power” of women inside the house.

With Patmore being a man in this Victorian era, he believed women in the Victorian society are suppose to be no more than the pleasing and forgiving, “angel in the house.” (Patmore 293). He states, “Man must be pleased” (Patmore 293) using the word “must” shows the reader that the person who will be pleasing the man doesn't have a say in whether or not they want to please man, it’s a command. Patmore uses the passive voice to indicate that he doesn't have to mention the women, who will be pleasing the man, because society already knows it’s a woman's “job.” Adding the woman to the sentence would take away from the man, who Patmore believes to be more important. In the rule of  forgiving Patmore says, “And seems to think the sin was hers”(Patmore 294). To the audience it sounds like the man is never wrong and if he happens to be wrong, its the woman's job to make it her wrong. To Patmore the woman can’t question whether they're going to forgive their husband, that is what is expected of women to do. The woman must forgive her husband no matter how big or small the “sin” was. “ She loves with love that cannot tire”(Patmore 294), if the man decides he doesn't love his wife anymore it’s the woman's job to love harder. With the word “tire” Patmore tells us that the woman isn't ever allowed to show her true emotions. Ruskin still believing in the containment of women he does give them “power” inside of the house.

With Ruskin stating, “Each has what the other has not”(Ruskin 294) he shows the reader that both sexes are important, but the sex of women would never be nearly as important as the sex of  men. “The woman's power is for rule, not for battle,”(Ruskin 294) This statement by Ruskin suggests that she can rule, as long as it is in a place where men will find it too easy to rule. Ruskin writes, “her intellect is not for invention … but for sweet ordering…” (Ruskin 294) Using the word “sweet” to describe her intellect he sugar coats her intelligence. Although, Ruskin lowers women he shows her power as “ruler” of the home. “But home is yet wherever she is” (Ruskin 295) doing this shows the power of her peacefulness and shelter. He believes that when a woman is present she has the power to change the whole setting of a room.  

Even though Patmore and Ruskin are along the same lines, Ruskin’s perspective can still be seen as giving women too much power, even if it's just in the house. If a woman in the Victorian society follows the beliefs of Ruskin, and her husband beliefs are along the lines of Patmore, this will create some tension in their household. In the Household where she believes she has the “power” and free from the “hostile society of the outer world…” (Ruskin 295).

Patmore, Coventry. "The Angel in the House." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Ruskin, John. "Sesame and Lilies." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Topic Two: "Anarchism and Terrorism": (Appendix B):["Anarchism" and "The Scientific Beast of Anarchy"] Kropotkin

Through Kropotkin’s argument about anarchism, he sets up the idea that.”you must limit the powers of the government and renounce parliamentary rule” (Kropotkin 267). Limiting the government would mean getting rid of both Court-rule and Capital-rule. Kropotkin believes government is bad because it doesn’t evolve with the people in the society. Using the words, “harmony” and “free agreement,” he lightens the topic of anarchism. Kropotkin explains that from the beginning of time there was always some type of government. Letting the reader know that he is for the rights of people, but some type of system needs to be in place so that society will have something to fall back on. For this he refers to the system of Serfdom which to him is, “Court-rule” and a Representative government which to him is, “Capital-rule” (Kropotkin 267). Due to Kropotkin’s belief in “the philosophy of evolution” he does believe that “Class-rule” in London during this Victorian era will not help but rather be a “nuisance”  for the simple fact that society has “grown” out of that time of “Class-rule”(Kropotkin 267).

Kropotkin believes that the government needs representatives, he believes that it can’t just be anybody. To this he argued that, “...the fittest will prove to be those combine intellectual knowledge with the knowledge necessary for the production of wealth…” (Kropotkin 267). His theory is even if your ancestors were rich, it doesn't mean that you will stay rich, it all depends on if you're mentally capable to stay rich. If society would follow this theory the class structures would level out and the gap between the rich and the poor will start to close. Society as a whole may even try to work harder to attempt to get to where the rich are.

Already reading anarchy, society may not be as surprised when Kropotkin enlightens  them about how all of their already ‘favorite” writers are all anarchist. The Victorians will be so excited that their lives will be like what they read in the books. They will no longer suffer from “misery” and it’s insufficient production.   

Kropotkin, Peter. "The Scientific Bases of Anarchy." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Topic Two: "Anarchism and Terrorism": (Appendix B):[2 letters from Conrad to R.B. Cunningingham] Conrad

Through the dehumanizing machine, Conrad shows how the revolutionary can never be a remorseful human being  because in society people are without hearts . To R.B Cunninghame revolutionaries have, “faith,” “honour,” and “fidelity” (Conrad 264).  To Cunninghame this is important because personality counts and if you have a good personality you can’t be, “a dangerous man.”(Conrad 264). Conrad describes one who is dangerous with the characteristics of a machine. Conrad describes machines to have no thought, no conscience, no foresight, and no heart. Leading the reader to believe that terrorist in a way isn’t human. He takes away the assumption that all living things must die with the word “immortal” and “indestructible” (Conrad 264). With these two adjectives Conrad paints a picture for the reader of terrorists which look like a cold, dark machine.

Even though revolutionaries don’t have hearts, these aren’t even revolutionaries according to Conrad. He retracts his statements by quoting, “All these people are not revolutionaries - they are shames.” (Conrad 265). Conrad explains that a “real” revolutionary does take thing one step at a time, instead they act like a millionaire and take on the big job. The millionaires can take on this big job because they have the resources to do so. It’s hard for anybody to tell a millionaire “No.”

In this Victorian era. letters about politics weren't at all secret. These letters between Conrad and Cunninghame were public. When society finds out that they are stronger than people themselves society might overthrow the government. Even though Conrad writes how people cannot control the government society may find a way to control the government and get not only what they need, but also what they want out of it.

Conrad, Joseph. "Joseph Conrad's Letters to R.B. Cunninghame." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

Topic One: "London": Part Two (Appendix A): Hueffer

Through dark imagery and the figure of the horse down, Hueffer shows London more monstrous than people would have assumed from a distance. Hueffer senses that people outside of London picture this perfect city, "…with colour everywhere" and "…the glint of straws blown from horse's feeds…"(Hueffer 257). Hueffer explains the way one might imagine feeling when crossing the streets of London.

From the "…indissoluble muddle of gray wheel traffic…"(Hueffer 257) to the …"pallid church wavering into invisibility"(Hueffer 257), Hueffer shows the darkness of the City of London. With the words "pallid, "wavering," and "invisibility"(Hueffer 257) describing the church, Hueffer shows the reader how the ethics of the Londoners have disappeared. With the words "gray," "mud." and "muddle" describing the streets of London, Hueffer shows the reader how colorless the city is with imagery.

Instead of supporting people's glorious view of London Hueffer explains the "truth" about the "monstrous" streets of London. To him the things you should "avoid" looking at, like the "…horse down in the sticky streets with its frantic struggles…"(Hueffer 257). To him there is nothing more horrifying to look at in the streets of London than this "ghostlike" figure of a horse down. Hueffer paints a picture for the reader by explaining, "the frantic struggles," "the apparition of great teeth," and "lying still of the horse" (Hueffer 257). As the Horse lays there in pain, the people of London take a quick glance and think nothing more of this Horse. Their disregard for the horse shows that the Londoners are emotionless.

The people outside of London not knowing about this "monstrous" city, show that the outsider must not know about the carelessness of the Londoners during this Victorian era. Once the outsiders do know, they won't again picture London with its, "…paving stones almost opalescent…" (Hueffer 256). Instead they will imagine the "sticky mud," the "frantic struggles," and the "lying still of the horse"(Hueffer 257) of London. Hueffer wants the reader not to let their city, outside of London, get to be what London is during this Victorian era.

Hueffer, Ford. "The Soul of London: The Survey of a Modern City." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.

"Monstrous" 

Topic One: "London": Part One (Appendix A): Dickens

Through the darkness of London, Dickens leaves the people to wonder whether the metaphorical fog will ever lift. The Darkness of London is symbolized by the "… mourning… for the death of the sun" (Dickens 255). For the people do not know whether or not a new day has begun. A new day would symbolize the new rules for the Victorian era. This new day won't start until the fog lifts. The metaphorical fog represents the harsh rules of the Victorian era. The "harsh rules", "creep into the cabooses of collier- brigs…" (Dickens 255). Dickens shows that the fog doesn't just effect the people who receive pensions, but also captains of ships and farm workers.  Dickens explains the closer you get to Temple Bar, in Lincoln's Inn Hall, the denser the fog gets, the harsher the rules of the Victorian era get because there, at the heart of the fog sits the Lord High Chancellor. The Lord High Chancellor is the one enforcing the Law and the reason why the fog gets denser the Closer you get to Temple Bar.  

Once the fog hovering over the Victorian people gets lifted, the Victorian society would be able to stop mourning about the "death of the sun"(Dickens 255) and instead celebrate a new day. The new day would represent the beginning of more informal rules for the people of the Victorian era. When there is a new day they will walk towards Temple Bar, in Lincoln's Inn Hall, the fog won't get denser because there, at the heart sits the understanding Lord High Chancellor.

Dickens, Charles. "Bleak House." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.