Assignment 109: Myth Fiction And Displacement on Northrop Frye

Hello readers!!

This blog is part of Assignment writing for paper 109: Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics

   Myth Fiction And Displacement on 

               Northrop Frye 

 

Table of contents:-

Personal Information

Assignment Details

Abstract 

Keywords 

Introduction

About the Northrop Frye 

Myth, Fiction And Displacement on Northrop Frye 

Conclusion 

References

Personal Information:-

Name:- Divya Bharatbhai Jadav

Batch :- M.A.sem 2 ( 2023- 2025)

Email Address:- divyajadav5563@gmail. com

Roll number:- 7

Assignment Details:-

Topic:-  Myth, Fiction And Displacement on Northrop Frye 

Paper:- 109: Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics

Subject code:- 22402

Submitted to:- Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 26 April 2024

About Assignment:- In this assignment I will try to define the essay Myth, Fiction And Displacement on Northrop Frye 

Abstract 

The purpose of this study was to examine Northrop Frye's way of looking at literature through his four essays. His approaches are designed in the specific essays, First, Theory of modes, Second, Ethical Criticism: Theory of Symbol, Third, Archetypal Criticism: Theory of Myth, Fourth, Rhetorical Criticism. Theory of Genres. The finding showed that every work of art can be categorised as fiction in Frye's literary criticism theory. In other words, fiction is an artistic strategy to tell idea by deceiving a story. Meanwhile, the relation between myth and literature is established by studying genres and conventions of literature. In addition, the displacement is meant as a technique to make sure that readers of myth and fiction will get the true message of the story. In other words the displacement will really occur when the reader can find the complete fiction rather than a partial ideology. We hope that the finding will provide valuable insight to the reader to internalises the literary traditions of comedy, romance, tragedy, and satire so thoroughly that they can be brought to bear concurrently upon whatever text he reads

Key words: Northrop Frye, myth, fiction.

Introduction :-

"Fiction and Displacement" delves into the profound insights of literary theorist Northrop Frye, exploring the intricate relationship between fiction and the human experience of displacement. Through Frye's lens, we embark on a journey through the realms of literature, where characters grapple with displacement

be it physical, emotional, or existential. This myth unravels the layers of meaning woven into narratives, shedding light on how fiction serves as a vessel for exploring the complexities of displacement and its profound impact on individuals and societies alike.

About Northrop Frye:-

Frye is one of the twentieth century's most excellent English scholars and literary critics and a well-known expert on Canadian society and culture. He was born on 14 July 1912, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and raised in Moncton, New Brunswick. He entered Victoria College in the University of Toronto in 1929, graduating in Honors Philosophy and English in 1933. 

He then completed the theological course at Emmanuel College, and was ordained in the United Church of Canada in 1936. He attended Merton College, Oxford, receiving his Oxford M.A. in 1940. In 1939, he joined the Department of English at Victoria College in the University of Toronto, and remained there for the rest of his life. He died in Toronto on 23 January 1991. 

Frye's impact was strongest in the mid-1960s, when a new generation of American scholars, notably Harold Bloom and Geoffrey Hartman, were influenced by the ideas ofAnatomy. They were attracted by Frye's insistence that literary criticism was not a poor cousin of philosophy, psychology, linguistics or aesthetics but a symbolically co-ordinate discipline which outlines the shape of the human imagination itself. As such, it has its own authority, which can be useful in the study of other arts and social sciences. While Frye believed his ideas could also help creative writers focus their work, the notion was often abused in the Canadian writing community. 

According to his work 'Anatomy of Criticism', there are four ways of looking at literature as a whole. These approaches are set in the specific essays. First, Theory of modes, he described three tendencies in fiction, tragic, comic and thematic. Second, Ethical Criticism: Theory of Symbol. He showed the phases in which the symbol may function. Third, Archetypal Criticism: Theory of Myth. He deals more fully with the same matter contained in the essay. Fourth, Rhetorical Criticism: Theory of Genres. He attempts to go beyond the simple generic distinction and to establish the form, content and tendencies of genres. 

myth:-

Frye borrows the word mythos from Aristotle, who uses it in the sense of plot, whereas Frye uses "myth" to mean a story or a certain type of story used to account for the world. He states that a myth is a primitive effort of the imagination to identify the human world with the nonhuman world, and that the typical result is a story about a god or goddess  Fryeconsiders myth to offer a margin of seriousness because it tends to tackle issues relevant to grave topics and matters of interest to anyone such as love, social relations, ethics, and moral values and it attempts to explain and justify natural phenomena as well as ritual. David Leeming says that myths were originally "religious narratives that transcend the possibilities of common experience and that express any given culture's literal or metaphorical understanding of various aspects of reality" . Frye explains that myths were created by the primitive man to explain certain rituals like birth, marriage, and harvest. A myth, through the variation of events and details, could be told and retold and that once it loses its connection with belief, it becomes entirely and purely literary .

For Frye myths, unlike legends or folktales, tend to cohere into an interconnected mythology by constructing bigger structures of storytelling. He argues that myths are arranged into categories by having, for instance, creation myths, metamorphosis myths, etiological myths, and apocalyptic myths.

 For Frye, myth is a form of verbal art that deals with the world that man creates rather than the world that man contemplates. He says that:

“Myth is the structural principle of literature that enters into and gives form to the verbal disciplines where concern is relevant. Man's views of the world he wants to live in, of the world he does not want to live in, of his situation and destiny and heritage, of the world he is trying to make and of the world that resists his efforts, forms in every age a huge mythological structure.”

Structure:

Frye is of the opinion that literature is based, consciously and unconsciously, on mythic structures that embody essential principles of storytelling. He argues that one myth is not better than the other if both myths share the same structure with the displaced story. He states in "The Educated Imagination" that genuine imagination begins with the process of "identifying the human and nonhuman worlds in all sorts of ways" . The genre of the novel does the same in the sense that: A writer's desire to write can only have come from previous experience of literature, and he will start by imitating whatever he has read, which usually means what the people around him are writing. This provides him with what is called by a convention, a certain typical and socially accepted way of writing. 

fiction:

Frye observes that literary works are divided into the fictional and the thematic. He explains that the fiction consists of literary works with internal characters and everything that tells a story including the genre of the novel. He states that in the thematic, the only characters are the author and the reader . Frye makes a distinction in Anatomy between comic fiction in which the hero is integrated into his society and tragic fiction in which the hero is isolated from it . For Frye, tragedies, comedies, satires, and romances are "typical ways in which stories get old". These conventions introduce different heroes with different stories about adventure, death, marriage. or resurrection. Therefore, Frye suggests that structures create certain patterns, which exist in stories whether they are comic or tragic. He says that comedy is "a name of a structure, yet it has a predominating mood which is festive" . He suggests that at the end of a comedy, there is a sense of festivity, fulfilment, reconciliation, and social integration.

Displacement:

In Frye's essay, displacement is a fundamental concept that underscores the relationship between myth and fiction. It involves the transformation and relocation of mythological elements within fictional narratives, enabling authors to infuse their works with deeper layers of meaning and resonance.One aspect of displacement is the transference of mythic motifs, such as the hero's journey or the struggle between good and evil, into the realm of fiction. 

By incorporating these motifs, authors can tap into the timeless and universal themes present in mythology, enriching their stories with symbolic significance.Moreover, displacement allows for the reinterpretation of mythological characters and themes within new narrative contexts. Mythic figures like gods, heroes, and monsters may be reimagined and adapted to fit the unique demands of the fictional world, while still retaining their archetypal qualities.

Additionally, displacement facilitates the exploration of contemporary concerns and issues through the lens of myth. By transplanting mythic elements into modern settings, authors can shed light on universal human experiences and dilemmas, offering insights into the human condition that transcend time and culture.

Overall, displacement in Frye's essay illuminates the dynamic interplay between myth and fiction, showcasing how literature continuously reshapes and reinterprets mythic traditions to address the evolving needs and interests of readers.

Conclusion:-

It is essential for analysts and literature readers to not access the main fiction or myth in order to gain the true messages. It often occurs when the readers are trapped into other people or expert opinions about particular myth and fiction. This means that both analyst readers are trapped into the ideology of certain literature.

References :

https://www.academia.edu/78157542/Myth_Fiction_and_Displacement_on_Northrop_Frye

Frye, Northrop. “Myth, Fiction, and Displacement.” Daedalus, vol. 90, no. 3, 1961, pp.587–605.JSTOR,http://www.jstor.org/stable/20026675. Accessed 26Apr. 2024.

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Assignment 110: The Absurd Elements in Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party

Hello readers!!

This blog is part of Assignment writing for the paper 110A: History of English Literature – From 1900 to 2000

The Absurd Elements in Harold Pinter's 

             'The Birthday Party"

Table of contents:-

Personal Information

Assignment Details

Abstract 

Keywords 

Introduction

About Harold Pinter 

Theatre of Absurd 

The Absurd Elements in Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party

Conclusion 

References

Personal Information:-

Name:- Divya Bharatbhai Jadav

Batch :- M.A.sem 2 ( 2023- 2025)

Email Address:- divyajadav5563@gmail. com

Roll number:- 7

Assignment Details:-

Topic:-  The Absurd Elements in Harold Pinter's The

Paper:- 110A: History of English Literature – From 1900 to 2000

Subject code:- 22403

Submitted to:- Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 26 April 2024

About Assignment:- In this assignment I will try to define The Absurd Elements in Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party

Abstract:-

The 'theatre of the absurd', a term used to describe the new style of theatre which developed following the Second World War. The concept refers to the plays of the 1950s and 1960s which centre on the notion that life is illogical, without purpose and devoid of meaning. The absurd in life, art and literature arose due to several reasons. First of all, industrialization changed man's social nature. Its by-product urbanisation added a further dimension to it. The growth of science and technology furthered man's scientific temperament and enquiry, thereby causing man's disbelief in God and religion and the impact of the First World War and The Second World War.

KEYWORDS:-

Existentialism, Absurdity, Meaningless, Helplessness, Human condition 

Introduction:-

Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party is a play that revolves around the ambiguous, mysterious life of the complex character Stanley Webber, who resides at a seaside boarding house owned by Petey and Meg. Since the beginning the audience receives only disjointed information and crippled illusions rather than a complete reality. Through the effective use of 'Pinter Pause-silence and pauses within the story- Pinter carves a wonderful play that deliberately fails to distinguish between reality and illusion.

The Birthday party was the first full length play of Pinter. The play depicts man's helplessness and unease today. The Birthday Party seems like a play that can be understood easily yet it has elements which make it unique and absurd. The feature of absurdity such as unclarity of scenes, dialogues and plot. The lack of communication is used so strongly that even a pause and silence tells much more which makes the play special. The play isn't completely unconventional, it has the usual setting as of the contemporary style but uniqueness is seen when surprise awaits in the form of imagery, unusual circumstances and lack of dialogue or sometimes strange approaches. This play doesn't go to explain everything easily through the dialogues but the play itself reveals much more than the common elements of the play.

About Harold Pinter:-

       

Harold Pinter was a renowned British playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. Born in 1930, he's best known for his distinctive style called "Pinteresque," characterised by ambiguous dialogue, pauses, and underlying tension. His works often explore power dynamics, existential themes, and the complexities of human relationships. 

Some of his notable plays include "The Birthday Party," "The Caretaker," and "The Homecoming." Pinter received numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2005, for his significant impact on the world of theatre. Additionally, he was a vocal political activist, particularly against war and human rights abuses.

Theatre of Absurd:-

The "Theatre of the Absurd" is also known as a "New Theatre". "Theatre of Absurd" is a term or particular movement started in the late 1950s. The word "Absurd" means foolishness, senseless, opposed to reason, something silly and ridiculous. The Theatre of the Absurd commonly associated with "Existentialism". Critic Martin Esslin coined the term in his 1960 essay "Theatre of the Absurd".

Largely based on the philosophy of existentialism, absurdism was implemented by a small number of European playwrights. Common elements included illogical plots inhabited by characters that appeared out of harmony with their own existence

Examples of Absurd plays are Samuel Beckett's masterpiece Waiting for Godot'; one of the great plays of the 20th century and "The Myth of Sisyphus' is a philosophical essay by Albert Camus.

Basic elements of Absurd Theatre:

1. Language becomes meaningless

2. Meaningless or seemingly illogical plots

3. Human condition portrayed as meaningless, absurd, illogical

4. Disjoined and fragmented dialogs

5. Actions contradicts the words spoken

These are some of the important absurd elements in the plays.

The Absurd Elements in Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party

The play's birthday party is in three acts. The main characters in the play are Meg, Petey, Stanley, Webber, Lulu, Goldberg and McCann. The play centres on the life of the main protagonist Stanley Webber, an unemployed pianist, who has been living as a lodger with Meg and Petey Boles in their sea-side boarding house. Stanley is living in seclusion away from the outside world. However, the relatively peaceful, domestic atmosphere of the boarding house is disturbed by the intrusion of two unknown characters, Goldberg and McCann. The play depicts a tragedy that arose out of insecurity. It projects a shabby boarding house where Stanley Webber, a man in his late thirties has found a refuge from real life situations. He is the central character of the play.

Existentialism

The theme of Absurdity is not a new concept to the history of man's existence. It was used to express human fate against challenges and deeds. The analyzation of the theme isn't clear and yet it shows men's fear to run away from human existence. The ancient works too contain absurdity as an aspect of existence, but it was apparent in expressing the very theme directly. We find the flow of this more clearly in works of those writers after The World War I and World War II.

Absurdity

Even though The Birthday Party seems like a play can be understood easily yet it has elements which make it unique and absurd. The features of absurdity such as unclarity of scenes, dialogues and plot are reflected. The lack of communication is used so strongly that even a pause and silence tells much more which makes the play special. The play isn't complete. unconventional, it has the usual setting as of the contemporary style but uniqueness is seen. when surprise awaits in the form of imagery, unusual circumstances and lack of dialogue or sometimes strange approaches. This play doesn't go to explain everything easily through the dialogues but the play itself reveals much more than the common elements of the play.

Meaningless

The use of technique of meaning and meaninglessness has been intensified by Harold Pinter through the characters of Stanley and Meg. Both Stanley and Meg aspire for some kind of relationship which is usual human expectation. Finally Stanley bends under the pressure. Another feature we observe here is the strange and incomprehensible behaviour of characters which often bewilders the audience. Harold Pinter tries to present a realistic state of human life. The dramatic techniques like solitary life, fear for the unknown future, unwanted circumstances, and anxiety and the meaningless are exceptional.

Helplessness

The Birthday party was the first full length play of Pinter. The play depicts man's helplessness and unease today. The Birthday Party seems like a play that can be understood easily yet it has elements which make it unique and absurd. The feature of absurdity such as unclarity of scenes, dialogues and plot. The lack of communication is used so strongly that even a pause and silence tells much more which makes the play special. The play isn't completely unconventional, it has the usual setting as of the contemporary style but uniqueness is seen when surprise awaits in the form of imagery, unusual circumstances and lack of dialogue or sometimes strange approaches. This play doesn't go to explain everything easily through the dialogues but the play itself reveals much more than the common elements of the play.

Human condition

The characters used by Harold Pinter are similar to modern men's psychology. He tries to become as close as possible to the life of disturb modern life. He explains the basic mood of the characters through the beautiful blend of silence and conventional techniques which sometimes ends in pause. The pause itself convinces something to be interpreted by the audience. Stanley is unwilling to be part of outside worlds and wants to be away from it. It creates anxiety in the mind of the audience.

Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party stands as an allegory for the human conditions of the postmodern postwar era. The meaninglessness and fruitlessness of the human existence of the men is wonderful. portrayed through the use of various methods like mysterious characters, incomplete details, confusing descriptions, unrealistic circumstances, violence, apathy, fragility of language etc.

Conclusion:-

In conclusion, framing a birthday party as an absurd play offers a whimsical lens through which to explore the absurdities of life, societal expectations, and human behavior. Through exaggerated characters, nonsensical situations, and absurd dialogue, the play highlights the absurdity inherent in everyday rituals like birthday celebrations, inviting audiences to reflect on the meaninglessness and absurdity that often lurk beneath the surface of our lives. Ultimately, by embracing the absurdity of existence, the play encourages us to find humor and liberation in the chaos of existence.

References: 

https://www.academia.edu/5307957/Harold_Pinter_Absurdism_and_The_Birthday_Party_

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268410920_The_Language_of_the_Absurd_Theatre_in_Pinter's_Birthday_Party

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Assignment:108 Family Conflict in Long Day's Journey into Night

Hello readers!!

This blog is part of Assignment writing for the paper 108: American Literature 

      Family Conflict in Long Day' Journey into        Night

Table of contents:-

Personal Information

Assignment Details

Abstract 

Keywords 

Introduction

About the Author 

Overview of the Play

Family Conflict in Long Day's Journey into Night

Conclusion 

References

Personal Information:-

Name:- Divya Bharatbhai Jadav

Batch :- M.A.sem 2 ( 2023- 2025)

Email Address:- divyajadav5563@gmail. com

Roll number:- 7

Assignment Details:-

Topic:-  Family Conflict in Long Day's Journey into Night

Paper:-108: American Literature 

Subject code:- 22401

Submitted to:- Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 26 April 2024

About Assignment:- In this assignment I will try to define The Family Conflict in Long Day's Journey into Night

Abstract:-

Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night can be depressing and emotionally exhausting. Demonstrates many important elements of family relationship theory, including interpersonal relationships between children, spouses, and their lives over time; Combined, these conversations paint a picture of the family. The play advances the theme that in the context of the family, the past of the past plays into the present. The play also shows that families are often the centre of struggle and contradiction. "Mark Poster wrote his critical theory or family at a time when contradictions between capitalism and the family present themselves everywhere aspect of daily life" 1. The family is being thoroughly investigated by the Orthodox. liberal and leftist theorist because it assumes a position of centrality capitalist society. It is the major social unit in which the organisation of consumption, production of labour force, socialisation of children, and regulation of social control as well as the fulfilment of mental and emotional needs are probably located. Yet the forces of capitalism are essentially making family life impossible. As long as capitalism lasts there will be imbalance in the family. In addition, capitalist Ideology will keep hiding the realities hidden in the root of the family fancy.

Keywords:-

Struggle, family relationships, contradiction, conflict between past and present 

Introduction:-

Throughout the three plays, family complexities are exemplified through extreme psychological elements such as depression, repression, love, and hatred. Each character in the Author's plays, however introspective, is connected in some way to his own personal plight.

Plays by O'Neill expose human beings to their bare psychology; Consequently, in most of the dramas, the author has depicted intense family-related turmoil among its members. These turmoil offer the opportunity for larger conflicts which illustrate the rift between conscious intellect and subconscious desires. The present paper focuses on his three plays, Desire under the Elms, Mourning Becomes Electra, and Long Day's Journey into Nightwhich demonstrates that conflict between love and hate is evident in all his characters, revolving around a family. According to O'Neill's interpretation of the character, love cannot be in any way characterised as unconditional or pure. The workings of a bate human mind consciously or unconsciously depict the lecherous nature of human traits. Likewise, several parameters of O'Neill's life are evaluated and their juxtaposition with his own character is attempted.

About the Author:-

        

As the only American playwright to have won a Nobel Prize for literature and four Pulitzer Prize for drama, O'Neill is regarded as the father of American literature. His work introduced psychological realism and social realism to American theatre, he was one of the earliest American- language artists and one of the first to emphasise on characters who were perceived by society as undesirable.

 O'Neill is notable as the first US playwright to portray American drama in an aesthetic and intellectual form, a far cry from the melodrama and farce that characterised Western theatre prior to his arrival. He was away from superficiality and shallowness. Of more than 50 completed plays, O'Neill wrote just one notable comedy, Ah, Wilderness! (1933), which also centres around drunkenness, prostitution, revenge, and repressed desire. 

Overview of the Play:-

     

"Long Day's Journey into Night" is a play by Eugene O'Neill that delves into the complexities of family dynamics, addiction, and the human condition. Set in 1912, the story follows the Tyrone family over the course of one fateful day at their summer home. The family consists of James Tyrone, a retired actor; his wife Mary, who struggles with morphine addiction; and their sons, Jamie and Edmund, both dealing with their own demons. Throughout the play, tensions rise as long-held resentments, secrets, and regrets surface, ultimately revealing the deep-rooted dysfunction within the family. O'Neill's masterful exploration of themes such as guilt, regret, and the search for meaning in life makes "Long Day's Journey into Night" a timeless classic of American drama.

Family Conflict in Long Day's Journey into Night

Struggle:

This play is based on endless struggle. Father, James Tyrone, is a miser who seems Everyone in the family failed, including his wife Mary. After giving birth to her son Edmund, Mary is in great pain, and James sends her to "a cheap hotel doctor's ignorant quack" because he's cheap. Mary is prescribed morphine, and she eventually becomes addicted to it. James also fails to marry Mary because he is always away from home and drinks a lot. 

Furthermore, James fails to send his young son, Edmund. When she is diagnosed with TB, she is moved to a cheaper, second-rate hospital instead of a more expensive one. Edmund Rails against Your Father, "But To think that when it comes to your son's consumption, you can show yourself" such a stinking old tightrope in front of the whole city" 6. He also fails his eldest son, Jamie; by turning him into the drunkenness becomes apparent when Mary tells him "Ever since he first opened his eyes, he's always seen you drinking. She says, you always use bottles in cheap hotel rooms. And if he had a bad dream when he was small or a stomach ache, then your solution was to give him a spoonful of whiskey to pacify him".

family relationships:-

1)Conflict Caused by Jealousy between Siblings:

From a different perspective, James faults Jamie for corrupting Edmund in being "the worst influence on him" . Jamie admits to Edmund, "Mom and Pop are right. I've been a rotten influence. And the worst of it is, 1 did it on purpose...to make a bum of you.... Never wanted you to succeed and make me look even worse by comparison. I Want you to fail. Always jealous of you" .

2)Conflict Caused by Jealousy between Parents :

Finally, this conflict develops into a jealous rivalry between Mary and James with regard to their children. Mary says "I know why he wants to send you to a sanatorium...to take you away from me! He's always tried to do that. He's been jealous of every one of my babies! He kept finding ways to make me leave them. That's what caused Eugene's death. He's been jealous of you most of all. He knew I loved you best" .

3)Conflict within the Mother (Interior Monologue)

The conflicting nature of the family members is also evident in the mother's self-monologue and resignation to her drug addiction. When James and her sons leave the house, she calls out, "Goodbye. She thinks it's so lonely here.... You're lying to yourself again in a bitter soft contempt. You wanted to get rid of them. Their contempt and disgust aren't pleasant company. You're glad they're gone. She laughs "Then, Mother of God, why do I feel so lonely?" . In a sense, this is characteristic of family life, but it is hidden. A motif of fog persists

contradiction:-

The conflict involves all the characters in the play, sometimes between the character and their environment or within the characters themselves. The conflict stems from their memories throughout the play. The play is founded upon endless conflicts between all the characters. James Tyrone who is the father and the husband of Mary Tyrone lives in misery. He failed in his marriage to Mary because he does not have a house and he is always away from her since he drinks too much. In addition, James fails his younger son. He compromised Edmund's recovery from illness by sending him to a cheap, second rate sanatorium rather than to a more expensive venue when he was diagnosed with TB. Edmund rails against his father, "but to think when it's a question of your son having consumption, you can show yourself before the whole town as such a stinking old. tightwad" 

Furthermore, James converts his older son, Jamie, into a drunkard. This becomes obvious when Mary tells him "Since he first opened his eyes, he's seen you drinking, always a bottle on the bureau in the cheap hotel rooms. And if he had a nightmare when he was little or a stomach ache, your remedy was to give him a teaspoonful of whisky to quiet him ``.He seems to have failed. everyone in the family. On the other hand, Mary lives in pain of losing her second child to measles and also the challenges that accompanied the pregnancy period of Edmund which eventually pushed her to morphine addiction. James sends her to "an ignorant quack of a cheap hotel doctor" to prescribe her morphine because he is cheap

conflict between past and present:-

The play dramatises one day of the Tyrone family's life.. Memories are beautiful, if you don't have to deal with the past. The play's characters are revealed through their memories as well as their disputes with one another. The play showed the psychological well-being of all four members. The family is haunted by the past.

All of the characters' lives are impacted by a lack of affection and care. They try to compensate for that by drinking alcohol, using morphine. They are hunted by the future that they had envisioned for themselves that never materialised. They are unable to manage their lives because they are entangled in a web of ideology which they imposedon themselves in various ways. Consequently, the members of the family try to escape from the unbearable reality of their life which pushes them into addiction with morphine, alcohol or whores to experience a comfort that had eluded them

Conclusion :-

A clear conflict between the articulation of all family characters is apparent in the three plays. As it turned out, every family character presented by the author was an allegory of the author's own plight to some degree. Since O'Neill grew up in a turbulent household and his own family members suffered a lot of pain, this plays into his story. Dramatically, he tried to capture the same. It is apparent that O'Neill exposes the harsh and tragic truths of every family, as well as the hidden truths behind their reputations.

References :-

https://www.academia.edu/35547967/Family_Dynamics_in_ONeills_Drama_The_Diseased_Body_in_Long_Days_Journey_into_Night

https://www.jstor.org/stable/41154777

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232936390_A_Discussion_of_Development_and_Stagnation_Based_on_Eugene_O'Neill's_Play_Long_Day's_Journey_into_Night

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Assignment :107 The Element of ‘ Time’ In Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

Hello readers!!

This blog is part of Assignment writing for the paper 107: The Twentieth Century Literature: From World War II to the End of the Century

    The Element of ‘ Time’ In Waiting for Godot

Table of contents:-

Personal Information

Assignment Details

Abstract 

Keywords 

Introduction

Overview of the Play

The Element of ‘ Time’ In Waiting for Godot

Conclusion 

References

Personal Information:-

Name:- Divya Bharatbhai Jadav

Batch :- M.A.sem 2 ( 2023- 2025)

Email Address:- divyajadav5563@gmail. com

Roll number:- 7

Assignment Details:-

Topic:- The Element of Time in ‘Waiting for Godot’ 

Paper:-107: The Twentieth Century Literature: From World War II to the End of the Century

Subject code:- 22400

Submitted to:- Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 26 April 2024

About Assignment:- In this assignment I will try to define The Element of ‘Time’ in Waiting for Godot

Abstract:-

Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot(1952)is one of the most puzzling plays of the modern era. It is a play where nothing happens twice. Hence, the purpose of this research writing is to explore the element of time in Beckett's masterpiece Waiting for Godot tragicomedy. The play is part of the Theatre of Absurd' and being an absurdist playwright. Beckett tends to explore the internal states of an individual's mind. It also explores the absurdity of modern man, how they are dwelling in a twilight state and unaware of their surroundings. This work is based on the belief that the universe is irrational, meaningless and the search for order brings the individuals into conflict with the universe. The study investigates existentialist's point of views. In the play Time represents a dominating force as well as a tormenting tool to its characters.

Keywords:-

Waiting,Time,Absurdism,Loneliness,Existentialism,Nothingness

Introduction:-

Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot is a well-known drama of twentieth-century literature. He created a completely new kind of play and exhibits the trepidation of human beings using comic style. The play Waiting for Godot is considered a landmark in modern drama. The title suggests itself that the play deals with prolonging the wait for Godot. Beckett's characters use ordinary words and short sentences and his work is often filled with emptiness. His characters struggle to find existence, but they always fail. They wait for an answer that never comes. His characters live in pain and also confront death, anxiety, despair and physical suffering. They are dwelling in the twilight states and have no awareness of whether it is daytime or nighttime

Waiting for Godot is a famous play that explores the time factor up to a great extent. The play is full of absurd things and shows. the forgetful nature of human beings. As drama is the literature genre, it represents human nature and the prevailing incidents that we come across in our daily life, which shows social factors and dimensions. As we see different elements of the related age. In Beckett's works, and in modern literature, we come across elements like confusion, communication gap. fear of food, fear of shelter, and fear of security that arise from the World Wars. Beckett is one of the famous writers in what Martin Esslin called 'Theatre of Absurd'. Theatre of Absurd' expresses the belief that human existence has no meaning and it is futile. Human beings. are dwelling in a state of absurdity and they are unconscious about their existence. The point of absurdity makes the tramps unable to do anything. There are several instances of conflict between what the character says and what he does.

Overview of the Play:-

       

Waiting for Godot, a play by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, premiered in French in 1953 and later published in 1954. Waiting for Godot" is a masterpiece of 20th-century theatre that revolutionised the way we perceive drama. Set against a desolate landscape with a single tree, the play unfolds over two acts, each depicting Vladimir and Estragon's endless wait for the elusive Godot.The play delves into the existential angst of its characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who pass the time with philosophical discussions, absurd antics, and mundane activities while anticipating the arrival of Godot, a figure they believe will bring meaning to their lives. Throughout their interactions, they grapple with questions of identity, purpose, and the nature of existence.Their wait is punctuated by encounters with other characters: Pozzo, a pompous landowner, and his subservient slave, Lucky. These interactions add layers of complexity to the play, exploring themes of power dynamics, dependency, and the degradation of humanity.Despite their anticipation, Godot never arrives, leaving Vladimir and Estragon in a perpetual state of uncertainty and longing. The play's open-ended conclusion invites audiences to interpret its meaning, with theories ranging from religious allegory to a commentary on the human condition and the futile search for meaning in a chaotic world.

The Element of ‘ Time’ In Waiting for Godot:-

The element of Time' in Waiting for Godot plays an important role. Time in the play produces boredom. Beckett was of the view that humans pass the time to overcome the dilemma of anxiety of their existence. In the play, both of the characters Estragon (Gogo) and Vladimir (Didi) pass the time to stop themselves from thinking too deeply. The tramps do not live in the present time and instead of enjoying it, they are waiting perpetually for a mysterious person named Godot. What distinguishes Waiting for Godot from all other plays is the absence of almost any action of any kind. Therefore, all the absurdist activities they are engaged in are just a waste of time. Khalid and Ali are of the view that "both life and time are controlled by circumstances'' . Time is the indication of the duration of events. It plays an important role in the human lifespan. Time passes so fast and swiftly that we cannot perceive the exact state of our life. We neither can control time nor can we stop it. Time is not a tangible commodity. It is just a concept through which we visualise past events or situations. Time is cyclic and shows its repeatability like the rising and falling of the waves, the passing seasons, etc. The study of Waiting for Godot goes beyond the limits of human knowledge and tries to display the nature of existence, truth and knowledge. In this paper, the researcher digs out those elements which keep the characters busy waiting for Godot. There is no progression in the play until the end and things move in a circular direction.

Wating:-

The act of waiting is an essential element of human's nature. It is due to waiting that we experience the flux of time. To wait means simply to experience the flow of time. The tramps are confronted with the action of time. Therefore, all the useless activities they are indulged in are just a waste of time. For instance, the dialogue "it's a carrot" is said by Estragon. These two vagabonds were hungry and there was a quarrel among them about whether this was a turnip or a carrot. It is also human's psychology that they fight for minute things. They are unaware of the fact that how long one can beg or bargain for the things of this world. The dialogue "you gave me a fright is also said by Estragon. The relationship between Estragon and Vladimir presents a glimpse of light to this bleak universe. They do absurd activities to frighten each other to pass the time. The dialogue "you won't be wanting the bones?" is said by Estragon. This shows the cruel attitude of masters toward their slaves. The slaves are at the mercy of their masters and they are being treated so poorly.

The dialogue "Waiting? So you were waiting for him?" 

Pozzo, and the discussion was going on about Godot's arrival. After learning from a boy that Godot is not coming today.

Time:-

The element of time in Waiting for Godot plays an important role. Time in the play produces boredom, anxiety, despair and so on. Obviously, the tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, pass the time to cope with the dilemma of anxiety of their existence. Both characters. pass the time to stop themselves from thinking too deeply, and that is why they indulge themselves in absurd activities. All the absurdist activities in which they are engaged are to waste time. The tramps do not live in the present time and instead of enjoying the present time, they are waiting for an unknown person named Godot. Thus, the notion of time is continually analysed. Characters question the flux and importance of time:

Vladimir: Will the night never come?

Vladimir: Let us not waste our time in idle discourse.

Pozzo: What time is it?... Is it evening?

Absurdism:-

The idea of the absurd consists of that there is no meaning to live in this world. As in the opening scene of Act one, three elements are introduced. A country road. A tree. An evening. The reason behind writing this barren play is connected to the post-war atmosphere. Waiting for Godot belongs to the movement of 'Theatre of Absurd and due to absurdity, anything can happen to anyone at any time. The idea of the absurd had been popular in twentieth-century literature. Camus is of the view that human existence is absurd. "We value our lives and existence so greatly, but at the same time we know we will eventually die, and ultimately our endeavours are meaningless"  Camus asserts that there are two convictions in human life, we exist and we will die. The rest is an illusion. We can only identify the world in its parts but not as a whole. 

Thus, many of the literary works of Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Samuel Beckett contain the description of the absurdity of the human condition in this world. The Second World War was the reason that ultimately brought absurdity to human life and the absurdity of the human condition best portrayed in the play Waiting for Godot that subverts logic. At first, the writer talks about the setting of the drama , that there is a natural setting of Waiting for Godot and its contribution to the meaning of the drama. Later on, in the same work, he turns towards the importance of the element of time in understanding drama.

Existentialism:-

In the play, existentialism is also present and it indicates the habitual existence of both the characters that come every day in search of Godot's arrival. In fact, they do not know what he looks like, Godot is like an imaginary character, for which Vladimir and Estragon are waiting and hoping that Godot will come and give meaning to their lives. When Godot, which is a symbol of the meaning of life, does not show up, it depicts that if one does not find meaning in life, one is captivated and surrounded by the illusion of nostalgia and meaning.

Nothingness:-

Time plays an important role in the play. It expresses the idea that time does not reproduce and the tramps do not know the importance of time. In Waiting for Godot, the situation remains static from beginning till end. As Estragon says "Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful!"

Conclusion:-

The present paper concludes that the play presents essential characteristics of the human situation, emphasising absurdity. nothingness and suffering of human existence. As Esslin asserts, "The Theater of the Absurd shows the world as an incomprehensible place" . The play also shows class relations in the depiction of the master-slave relationship between Pozzo and Lucky, which is a bleak reference to the exploiting and exploited classes in the modern world. However, this play has said that nothing happens twice in the play. Beckett  to make the readers experience the same thing as Vladimir and Estragon do.

References:-

https://www.academia.edu/43307495/Time_in_Waiting_for_Godot

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329913457_Time_and_Narrative_in_Samuel_Beckett's_Waiting_for_Godot_and_Endgame_1

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Assignment:106 American Dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Hello readers!!

This blog is part of Assignment writing for paper 106 :The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II

      ‘American Dream’ in F. Scott Fitzgerald's                       The Great Gatsby

Table of contents:-

Personal Information

Assignment Details

Abstract 

Keywords 

Introduction

Overview of the Novel 

Defending the American Dream 

Aspects of American Dream in Great Gatsby

Conclusion 

References

Personal Information:-

Name:- Divya Bharatbhai Jadav

Batch :- M.A.sem 2 ( 2023- 2025)

Email Address:- divyajadav5563@gmail. com

Roll number:- 7

Assignment Details:-

Topic:- ‘American Dream’ in F.Scott Fitzgerald's  The Great Gatsby

Paper:-106: The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II

Subject code:- 22399

Submitted to:- Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 26 April 2024

About Assignment:- In this assignment I will try to define’ American Dream' in the Fitzgerald famous novel Great Gatsby.

Abstract:-

This writing is mainly intended to reveal the aspects of American dreams in Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. The stressed aspects. are Pursuit of happiness, Persistence, Self-reliance, Individualistic, and The way to wealth. This is qualitative research. This tries to describe the aspects of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby by using a sociological approach. This study is started by an assumption that the collapse of American society is caused by the condition as shown in the novel The Great Gatsby. So then, where is the American Dream? This question leads this writing in studying the values of American Dream as reflected in The Great Gatsby The result of this analysis shows that, The Great Gatsby, a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald reflect the aspects of American Dream such as pursuit of happiness, persistence, self-reliance, the way to wealth, and individualistic

Keywords: The aspects of the American Dream, The Great Gatsby, Pursuit of Happiness, The way to wealth, Persistency, Individualistic, Self Reliance 

Introduction:-

American society is one of the more significant themes in America. Literature. They have several items that they believe such as freedom, individualism, self-reliance, competition, hard work, equality of opportunity and wealth.

The story of America is an exciting one, filled with evolution and armazing energy unprecedented in world history. The provocative reputation of America is the celebrated ideal of the American Dream, the fantasy of complete independence and self-reliance mixed with opportunity to attain wealth through one's labours. On the other hand, this case seems almost enchanted, offering people the unprecedented prospect of achieving success. The American Dream is exactly what appears to be the ceaseless opportunity. temptation of pleasure.F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is an immortal illustration of the American Dream.

Overview of the Novel:-

The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a layered exploration of the American Dream and the Jazz Age society of the 1920s. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest who moves to New York to work in the bond business. He rents a house in the affluent West Egg neighbourhood of Long Island, next door to the mysterious and extravagant Jay Gatsby.Gatsby is known for his lavish parties, but his past is shrouded in mystery. Through Nick's eyes, we learn that Gatsby is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin and the wife of the wealthy Tom Buchanan. Gatsby's relentless pursuit of Daisy is the driving force of the novel.As the story unfolds, we learn about Gatsby's humble origins, his rise to wealth through shady dealings, and his belief in the power of wealth to win back Daisy. 

The novel exposes the emptiness and moral decay of the wealthy elite, as well as the corruption and disillusionment of the American Dream.Fitzgerald uses rich symbolism and vivid imagery to depict the excesses of the era, from Gatsby's opulent mansion to the decadent parties and reckless behaviour of the characters. The novel explores themes of love, ambition, social class, and the fleeting nature of happiness.Ultimately, "The Great Gatsby" is a tragic tale of unfulfilled dreams and the impossibility of recapturing the past. Gatsby's obsession with Daisy leads to his downfall, as he becomes a victim of his own illusions and the corrupt society in which he lives. Through Nick's reflections, the novel offers a poignant commentary on the fragility of the American Dream and the enduring allure of the past.

Defending the American Dream 

The American Dream has been for more than 200 years the most compelling and the most desired dreams of all times. It started almost 400 years ago with Puritans immigrating to America to become after that the driving engine of a whole nation. The movement of religious immigrants to America had started as early as the beginning of the 17th century, but it was only in 1630 that 700 Puritans led by John Winthrop would settle the American shore with the belief that New England  was a chosen land from God, distinguished and exceptional. They were among the firsts to set the values of a belief that for a long time would be the idol of every person on earth.

The American Dream can be defined as the belief that anyone that works hard to achieve success in America can achieve it. This belief is consistent to everyone and no race, class, gender or nationality distinction makes the difference. For ten score years, this has been the prevailing idea of Americanism and most of the other nation's citizens sought to reach this.

The first to mention the term American Dream is James Truslow Adams who was an historian and writer. He defines it as "the dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.Terms such as social, gender, religious inequality, racism, xenophobia etc. become invaluable while facing the values of the American Dream.

Aspects of American Dream in Great Gatsby :-

         

The Great Gatsby is a mere description of the culture of the 1920s and the impact this culture had in the failure of the so-called American Dream. In this section the culture of consumerism, being an epitome of "going from rags to riches", luxury, parties, attempts to become an "old money' ' will be discussed. All these factors and the replacement of the old Protestant values of work ethic and pursuit of happiness of the Declaration of Independence with leisure and pursuit of wealth supply the demise of a dream that has been the driving force of a whole nation.

Pursuit of Happiness

In the United States several factors have long served to inhibit full realisation of the traditional ideal of equal opportunity, not the least of these factors is membership in a particular group or cohort. Many members of such. groups are categorically denied the right to fulfil their own potentialities in the "pursuit of happiness".

Pursuit of Happiness in the novel The Great Gatsby, can be seen through the character of Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Tom and Daisy were married and even had a child, but they both still committed adultery. Like Daisy was having an affair with Gatsby.

 

 The Way To Wealth

The way to wealth in The Great Gatsby is the same as how to get Gatsby's success in his life. Actually James Gatz is the first name of Jay Gatsby. He had changed his name at the age of seventeen at the specific moment that the beginning of his career, why Gatsby changed his name.

"He was a son of God, a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that and he must be about His Father's business, the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end."

Persistency

Persistency in this novel can be seen through Gatsby who works hard for the love of Daisy, because Gatsby is still that poor delivery boy of many years before. The story begins when Gatsby knew a woman. That woman is a young virgin.

Unfortunately the woman's family didn't like him because he was a poor man,Gatsby was revolted. After five years of extremely focused labour, Gatsbywas finally in the position to achieve his success. He had the money, the house,the social connection; everything was in place for him to finally realise his aspirations. To attract the attention of Daisy, Gatsby always celebrated a big party. in order for Daisy to come to his party. But in his party he does not drink, he does not dance and he is only an observer. Gatsby invited Nick to his party but Nick had never seen the host.

Individualistic

The individual concept emphasises the superiority of the individual. This concept relies much on the individualism performance. The individualism. phenomena can be found growing well in urban people. It is obvious in an urban area. people have a tendency to consider that life must go on individual effort. To reach the best achievement we need perseverance and courage. We do not have toexpect aid from the other. 

In The Great Gatsby, the individualistic can be seen in Tom Buchanan characters. He was a wealthy man and supported Wilson's garage and helped him. Beside that he disbelieved about Gatsby as an Oxford man. He suspects Gatsby lies about his past.

Self-Reliance

Self-Reliance in this story has several points. The first is the beginning of the story when Nick comes into the East and learns the bond business. His father. advice to him, as follows:

"Whenever you feel like criticising anyone, he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had”

Conclusion:-

In conclusion, the central moral dilemma of American life that Fitzgerald illustrated in the novel The Great Gatsby was an illustration of contemporary life of human beings. He describes the possibilities of life among the wealth, the lack among the rich, and among the poor.

In our lives, we often find people who are very sensitive to the promises of life and they may think that money  is a necessary ingredient. The last may be called the people who are materialistic. Besides, many people in our lives are corrupted by the pursuit of wealth and others may be corrupted by easy access to inherited wealth.

Therefore, The Great Gatsby is not only a great story, but it is the story of real life during the "Roaring Twenties' ', and it has a permanent place in American literature as well as referring to the problems of American wealth. The Great Gatsby shows us the way people will fall into hands of money, greed and power and get involved in illegal activities to get where they want and what they want. This story is a perfect example of the fall of the American Dream in the1920s.

References :-

Callahan, John F. “F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Evolving American Dream: The ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ in Gatsby, Tender Is the Night, and The Last Tycoon.” Twentieth Century Literature, vol. 42, no. 3, 1996, pp. 374–95. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/441769. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327679603_American_Dream_of_Scott_Fitzgerlad

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