Essay about Bookseller of Kabul - 1682 Words

Contemporary Perspectives Bookseller of Kabul March 1st, 2010 In this paper I will discuss family life in Afghanistan. After reading â€Å"The Bookseller of Kabul† and doing some research on other Afghan families I believe that the Khan family is almost the same as a typical Afghan family. Yes, there are some differences but in the end they act and live as most others in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a country that has been divided by several ethnic groups, with the two most relevant being the Pashtun and the Tajik. It is hard to determine the percentage of the population that compromises each ethnic group due to the lack of census in the countries for many years. However, the CIA World factbook gives a rough estimate: Pashtun 42†¦show more content†¦On several occasions the bride to be must be bought from the man who wishes to marry her, other times she might be free of charge, depending on the age and state of the woman. The latter can be seen in the book where Sultan’s sister Bulbula is engaged to Rasul free of charge (Seierstad, 66). The women in the book seem to be no different from typical women from Afghanistan when it comes to the way they live their lives. They have been oppressed for many years, especially under the Taliban government. Women were deprived of basic rights, such as the right to vote, to work, to inheritance and to choose their own partner if they wished to marry (Qazi, 1). They were treated as slaves and virtually had no rights or freedoms. A woman’s fate lies in the hands of her husband because after Allah and the prophets, the husband and father of the house is the most important thing and must be respected by all family members not matter the situation (Seierstad, 132). The man of the house decides if his wife might attend school or take a job; most times they just sit at home doing chores all day and taking care of their children. Being out in public, for a woman, without a male companion was seen as punishable act. The Khan family shares this in common with other Afghan families and it is illustrated in an example where it states that Leila never walks outside her home alone. In fact, she has never been alone in her life (Seierstad, 171).Show MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1941 Words   |  8 Pagesexecutive director of Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Hut Landon says, â€Å"that the book stands first or second place on the association paperback list ever since the book came out†. The rank list compiles from mainly 55 independent book sellers and not just the Bay Area but it expands from Arcata to Bakersfield in California. In the event that The Kite Runner hadn t gotten its underlying support from independent booksellers, then it might never have successful. Landon praises

Existentialism in Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Essay

Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man tells the story of an intelligent black man who has been oppressed by various people throughout his life. Ellison’s novel proves to be deeply existential, showing the essence of what it means to be a human being and actually existing with others while at the same time being independent. The nameless protagonist deals endlessly with authenticity, absurdity, and alienation—conditions Ellison links to the harsh realities of being black in America. This protagonist tries to find meaning in the life that he is living, but ultimately discovers that no place in the world . Meaning becomes illusive when forced to live with dehumanization. He finds himself unable to actualize being in a society that fails to see his†¦show more content†¦After being thrown into a violent rebellion in the streets, the narrator recognizes the absurdity of the whole night and more broadly, of the simple yet confounding complex arrangement of hope and des ire, fear and hate, that has brought him here still running... ( Ellison 559). Just the mere fact of being born black instead of white influences his desires and draws hatred against him. Still, he realizes that it is better to live out ones own absurdity than to die for that of others.... He does not lapse into despair but considers his grandfather’s deathbed words—Agree em to death and destruction—in a new light: affirm the principle on which the country was built ( Ellison 574). The way to overcome absurdity is to say yes to the world, to take responsibility for society’s wrongdoings and transcend them instead of resigning himself to invisibility. Eventually, as the novel nears its conclusion, he begins to recognize and acknowledge the absurdity The narrator believes that his alienation is forced because he is perceived to be invisible. Even though this may seem like a bad thing, he turns inwards to embrace his invisibility and later to find his own id entity. The statement â€Å"I am an invisible man† speaks out loud (Ellison 1). It speaks for everyone but is often disregarded because of its simple nature. To some degree, it can be said that his alienation was put upon him because of his disregard to society (Twagalimana). He isShow MoreRelatedThe Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison2489 Words   |  10 Pagesâ€Å"I AM AN invisible man.† A story of obstacles of durable struggle, but hope, and everlasting search for voice in a narrow-minded society; The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison depicts the dehumanization and feeling of being ostracized in society, of one man. Imagine a time when everyone you encounter have a racial thought or credibility toward your own races, never considering the fact that who you are as a person does not matter worth a dime. You are better determines on shade of your skin which hideRead MoreThe Anti-Hero Essays2060 Words   |  9 Pagesnarrator (p. 7). The narrator’s own self-loathing c haracterized by self-alienation is so obvious, that he is often referred to by critics as the Underground Man (Frank 1961, p. 1). Yet this Underground Man is the central character of Dostoyevsky’s novel and represents a subversion of the typical courageous hero. In this regard, the Underground man is an anti-hero, since as a protagonist he not only challenges the typical literary version of a hero, but also challenges conventional thinking (Brombert

The Concept Of Reality Television In The Truman Show And...

The concept of reality TV was amplified with the film The Truman Show in 1998. On television, it is largely debated which show was the first â€Å"reality TV show† since some may class them anywhere from game shows to documentaries, such as â€Å"Survivor† or â€Å"COPS†. Reality TV centers around characters who engage in current day life and situations, often true situations which are unscripted and spontaneous, captivating audiences by putting them in the shoes of cast members to see if they judge situations like viewers would. Producers of such programming often pick cast members who can target specific audiences, such as athletes, working class citizens, or members of either gender who could relate to the average viewer. In The Truman Show, we see†¦show more content†¦In Socrates parable, he describes men at the base of a vertical cave who are subject to open viewership by anyone. Socrates then introduces the idea that if the men were motivated by an y form of prize would they prefer to remain in the cave or â€Å"envy the men exalted to power and honor in the Cave?† essentially questioning the intent of their imprisonment. Socrates also poses the idea that if shapes and shadows were introduced, would they think of those things as reality since they don’t know of reality above them? This idea is intensified in The Truman Show, as Truman is placed not in a cave, but in a massive dome which is similar to the environment on the outside, although things can be manipulated by Christof and the production crew. Instead of shadows, the world around truman is a simulation of reality which entices viewers who want to see how he acts not knowing about the illusions which surrounds his life. Socrates, who is speaking to Glaucon, asks him if the men would rather live in reality or in shadows where they are most comfortable, to which Glaucon responds with â€Å"Yes, he would prefer any fate to such a life.† In The Truman Show, Truman is placed in a similar decision, where Christof attempts to convince Truman to stay by telling him how harsh the outside world is and how in his world â€Å"you have nothing to fear.† Truman turns back towards the sunlight,Show MoreRelatedThe Truman Show By Peter Weir Essay1236 Words   |  5 PagesThe Truman Show (1998), directed by Peter Weir portrayed a grand metaphor for American culture in the 90’s. The movie’s message to us is that we are stuck in a media landscape full of fantasies that is catered to the interests of more powerful people. If we want to live an authentic life and be free, we should put distance between ourselves and the comfort that is our media filled culture. We have to leave the safety that is the media’s grasp and be willing to live in the world the way it actuallyRead MoreRhetorical Analysis of The Truman Show1521 Words   |  7 Pagesthe rhetorical concepts present in the film The Truman Show. It is important f or a viewer to fully understand the underlying messages and subtle undertones in between the lines, so to speak. The Truman Show is one man’s life being played out in a closed environment for the entertainment of the outside world. Most important to note, Truman Burbank has no clue that his whole life has been little more than just a television program produced on a grand scale to produce the image of reality in a dome. TheRead MorePhilosophical Principals Exemplified in The Truman Show and in the Allegory of the Cave807 Words   |  4 Pagesescaped. Similarly, The Truman Show, directed by Peter Weir, follows the life of a man in the utopian town of Seahaven. What the protagonist isn’t aware of however is that his entire life has been broadcasted throughout the world; as a form of a television show which provides an outlet for entertainment to the public. In both situations the individual is trapped and unable to escape his or her surrounding environment. Unable to le ave, the individual is forced to watch the ‘show’ in front of him or herRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye and the Truman Show Essay1588 Words   |  7 Pagesin the Rye’; these ideas include ego, expression, personality, environment and perception. The author uses many features such as first person narration to express these ideas of identity. Identity is a common theme in many works including ‘The Truman Show’ directed by Peter Weir and poem ‘Life-Cycle’ written by Bruce Dawe. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is an emotional journey of 16 year old Holden Caulfield who is struggling to recognise his identity. Holden’s journey begins at Pencey Prep, one of threeRead More The Reality of Reality Television Essay2073 Words   |  9 PagesThe Reality of Reality Television The winner of the first Survivor competition is...Rich. It was the name heard round the country the night of August 23, 2000, as 51 million television viewers tuned in to the finale of Survivor. The questions, the predictions, the bets, and the reality rested on that one name. For three months, America watched and wondered. Who could it be? Who is the ultimate survivor? With the unveiling of that single, now infamous, name, you could almost feel theRead MoreVietnam War And The Second Indochina War2792 Words   |  12 Pages 1. Describe and assess the US involvement in Vietnam during the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Your discussion must include (but not be limited to) an analysis of the decisions of 1953-54, 1963, and 1964-65. To understand the Vietnam War and its role as a proxy war in the escalation of arms and ideological chasm between the United States and the Soviet Union, it is important to consider its beginnings. While many consider the Vietnam War a single, continuous phase ofRead MoreThe Popularity of Science Fiction1787 Words   |  8 Pageslogical extremes. â€Å"Social reformers who wrote utopian fictions about future societies, often saw improvements in communication as vitally linked to the restructuring of the social order† (Jenkins 1). It offered sarcastic perspectives on the rise of television and advertising (Jenkins 2), but also suggests illogical and counterfactual possibilities and throws of flashes of potential futures that readers are not likely to face (Ghiglione 1). There was pulp adventure of â€Å"space opera, more rigorous â€Å"speculativeRead MoreProduct Placement10682 Words   |  43 Pagesstory line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the good or service is featured. Product placement became common in the 1980s. In April 2006, Broadcasting Cable reported, Two thirds of advertisers employ branded entertainment—product placement—with the vast majority of that (80%) in commercial TV programming. The story, based on a survey by the Association of National Advertisers, said Reasons for using in-show plugs varied fromRead MoreProduct Placement10670 Words   |  43 Pagesstory line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the good or service is featured. Product placement became common in the 1980s. In April 2006, Broadcasting Cable reported, Two thirds of advertisers employ branded entertainment—product placement—with the vast majority of that (80%) in commercial TV programming. The story, based on a survey by the Association of National Advertisers, said Reasons for using in-show plugs varied fromRead MoreMarginalisation of Ethnic Minorities in Contemporary Media Essay2833 Words   |  12 PagesMarginalisation of Ethnic Minorities in Contemporary Media In the last decade there has been an enormous change in the nature of the media and the ways people interact with it. For example, cable, terrestrial and satellite television channels plus widespread cheap access to the Internet and digital technology have spread rapidly from the USA to many other parts of the world. In addition audiences are now able to interact with the media to some extent, so they are able

The Rocking-Horse Winner free essay sample

â€Å"The Rocking-Horse Winner† is an uncanny spin on the bargain with the devil literary motif that contains some interesting biblical allusions. The story opens with a woman named Hester, who shares many similarities with Esther of biblical fame. For example, Hester is described as â€Å"a woman who was beautiful, who started with all the advantages, yet she had no luck. She marries an unlucky man and carries a guilty resentment for her children, which unravels into a fatal drama. By comparison, Esther assumes the position of Xerxes’ queen but is never able to enjoy it as she is thrust into her own drama of life and death. Each woman’s struggle reveals the flawed integrity of her character, and her desperate attempts to maintain airs. As the only person who can save the Jews in Persia, Esther refuses to face the king until her own life is threatened. Hester’s secret resentment for her children drives her to display a superficial love for them. We will write a custom essay sample on The Rocking-Horse Winner or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Hester is praised by others as being â€Å"such a good mother,† as Esther is lauded as the heroine of the Jews. In each case, appearances trump authenticity, belying inward corruption, and the inevitable decay that follows. Esther’s story resolves with her ruthless vengeance against Haman, and Hester’s story resolves with Paul’s deliverance in his deal with the devil. From very early in the story, we learn that Hester’s chief desire is to maintain her social position. †¦they always felt an anxiety in the house. There was never enough money†¦ not nearly enough for the social position which they had to keep up. Naturally, money is the means by which this artificial status is preserved, so Hester feels this compulsion towards this very material lifestyle, while neglecting her children genuine love. Hester’s lack of motherly love serves as the source of Paul’s chief desire, to win her attention and stop the â€Å"whispers in the house. There is a constant whisper in the house, â€Å"There must be more money. † It is an uncanny manifestation of the mother’s pervasive material anxiety. It begins to madden Paul. Paul hopes that by fulfilling his mother’s desire for money that she will pay him more interest, but her desire for money can never be satisfied, as money is the medium for maintaining appearances of social class, and such appearances never grant satisfaction. The whispers grow more urgent as we learn that the mother is in debt. Paul believes that if he is lucky and wins the money on his mother’s behalf that the â€Å"whispers† in the house will stop, meaning that the problems with money will go away and his mother will have some interest in him. So Paul enters into a deal with the devil by riding his rocking horse. He â€Å"gets there,† achieving a state of demonic clairvoyance by madly riding his rocking horse. No one can communicate with him while he is on the horse and he seems to be gone to the world. So the devil enters his body, takes a bit of his soul, and gives him the name of the winning horse in return. â€Å"Bonnie† Paul becomes sick, losing his health from his deal with the devil while his mother’s heart turns to stone. Paul decays from this healthy child full of life, and the mother is left with 80,000 pounds and a rocking horse, as her heart turns to stone. In each instance, this craving for the material converts something with life, Paul or Hester’s heart, into something inanimate, the rocking horse and the mother’s heart of stone.