Motherhood in The Summer Before the Dark by Kate Brown and The Fifth ch

Motherhood in The Summer Before the Dark by Kate Brown and The Fifth child by Harriet Lovatt Motherhood is a traditional role for women. From the time they are young, girls are taught to grow up, marry and become mothers. Of course they can do other things with their lives like play sports, have careers, and travel, but an overwhelming amount of women want to be mothers no matter what else they accomplish with their lives. It is common knowledge that being a good mother is one of the hardest jobs in the world. It is to forever have a special link with another person or people and have a tremendous influence, maybe the most tremendous influence over their lives. Motherhood is a roller coaster ride for women, full of ups and downs, fears and accomplishments. But what happens when motherhood defines who a woman is? All children grow up, and while a woman is always a mother, children need their mothers less and less until eventually their dependence is very minimal. What happens to the woman whose singular role and purpose is no longer needed? In The Summer Before The Dark, and The Fifth Child, the maternal roles of Kate Brown, and Harriet Lovatt are analyzed and traditional motherhood behavior is deconstructed due to these characters’ experiences and relationships with their children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kate Brown is the typical middle class, attentive mother who dedicates her entire life to raising her children and being a supportive wife to her husband. She has been a mother for the vast majority of her life, and that is the only role she has known. â€Å"Her first child had been born at twenty-two. The last was born well before she was thirty† (Lessing, 18). This novel takes place when Kate is forty- five, so for 23 years, Kate has been a mother and a wife. This has been the basis of her existence. â€Å"Kate’s four children have structured her existence, as can be seen in her almost â€Å"maternal† responses to young people she encounters in her life† (Lee, 17). All Kate knows how to do is be a mother and take care of other people. This is apparent in her relationships with people at Global Food, (the place where she is hired to be a translator), and with both Jeffrey her younger lover) and Maureen, (her roommate). Her maternal ins tincts are extremely strong and at the beginning of the novel, it seems that is all that defines her. She comes to the realization that her younges... ...other due to her young age and lack of exposure to the world. Harriet Lovatt had experience in the world but unleashed it when she became a mother in hopes of dedicating all her efforts to being a good mother, until eventually this very drive to be a good mother caused her world to crumble. She realized that in order to save herself, she would have to liberate the relentless drive to attain her goal of being a good mother. She had to let go just as Kate Brown did. For â€Å" the woman with grown- up children and not enough to do, whose energies must be switched from the said children to less vulnerable targets, for everybody’s sake, her own as well as theirs† (www.galileo.usg.edu) The last part of this quote is pivotal. The mothers must consider everyone involve, including themselves. They must take their own interests into account and care about how they will turn out in the long run. This act, itself, defies traditional motherhood roles. In all actuality, mothering is a selfless act and mothers think about themselves last, if at all. But sometimes, for the sake of themselves, their souls, and their families, mothers have to put themselves first for the sake of everyone involved.

Park Design Issues

I always knew Minneapolis had a quality park system, but I had no idea it was renowned throughout the country. Also, I had no idea there was such a large number of parks, lakes, trails and just plain â€Å"open space† in Minneapolis. There are over 150 parks, 30 lakes and 50 miles of parkways in Minneapolis. It is obvious much credit is due to Frederick Law Olmsted and his park design principles, which are heavily included in the Minneapolis park system. I believe all of Olmsted's basic principles are apparent in the Minneapolis parks, and have been since the very beginnings of the city. One of the first things city officials did was set aside different areas of land specifically for parks. There were many benefits of doing this. First, it allowed the city to build houses around all the parks, making them all easily accessible. Also, it placed many different parks throughout the city, scattered but connected. This way, no matter where you live, there will be open space and â€Å"green relief† somewhere nearby. Most of the parks in Minneapolis, especially the larger, more frequented ones, are connected by parkways. The Ground Rounds, as it is called in Minneapolis, consists of over 50 miles of parkways and open space. This is broken up into seven districts scattered throughout the city. They are referred to as the Downtown Riverfront, Mississippi River, Minnehaha, Chain of Lakes, Theodore Wirth, Victory Memorial and Northeast districts. Conveniently, these districts completely encompass the city and take advantage of the natural variety throughout. Each of these offers something different and unique for the public, as was one of Olmsted's principles. All of these districts offer many miles of pathways for walking, jogging or bicycling through different parks, all of which show off a variety of scenery. Some of these parks are so serene you don't even feel like you're in the big city while others lay out the beautiful Minneapolis skyline right in front of you. However, foot and bike are not the only ways to get around and enjoy nature in Minneapolis. The Chain of Lakes district contains five lakes, four of which are connected by canals. Because of these canals, you are able to explore over two miles of lakes on your boat or canoe. These lakes include Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake and the more well-known Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun. Also in this district, although not connected, is Lake Harriet. I think Olmsted's belief that parks should be open to all and be provided by the government was very popular in early Minneapolis. In 1883, after a passed referendum, the Minneapolis Parks Board was born, and it immediately got to work. The board members believed they should purchase land for parks long before it would ever be needed, and that is exactly what they did. That same year, the board purchased land for what is now known as Loring Park, named after the then president of the board, Charles M. Loring. Later, in 1889, the board purchased land for Minnehaha Park. The early nineteen hundreds was a huge growing period for many of the now popular parks in Minneapolis. Theodore Wirth, who has his own park and district named after him, was the superintendent of the board during these years, and he played a vital role in developing the parks into what they are today. Many of the lakes at that time were nothing more than swampy areas with constant flooding problems, almost comparable to New York's pre-Central Park. Wirth drained the swampy areas and graded the lake's banks to stop the flooding. Also, it is because of Wirth that the lakes in the Chain of Lakes district are so conveniently connected, as I mentioned before. In the summer of 1911, he oversaw the connecting of the two more popular lakes in that district, Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun. Another one of Olmsted's principles, which is very noticeable in the Minneapolis parks, is that city parks should offer a variety of activities for the public. This principle is no more apparent than in the Chain of Lakes district. Even though all are close and connected, each lake's environment seems completely different from the next. Lake Harriet and its parks have more of a family feel, with the playgrounds and outdoor band shell. Lake Calhoun is definitely more for the sporty person. You don't have to look hard to see sailboats, waterskiers or snowmobilers running wild on this lake. Lastly, there is Lake of the Isles. This park has more of a serene and casual feel. It is more often frequented by strollers, joggers or bicyclers and canoes on the lake. As time changes, so do our cities and parks. During the latter half of the nineteenth century major changes were taking place in cities like Minneapolis. Many of these changes made it tough to mange and control park systems in larger cities. This is something a man named Alexander Garvin wanted to change. He believed Olmsted's principles were all valid, but some things needed to change simply because time changes things. One of Garvin's more obvious ideas was that cities need to maintain and improve the parks that they already have. In 1994, the city began rehabilitating the very popular Minnehaha Park. Also, Loring Park underwent a huge rehabilitation project, headed up by the surrounding community. The park used to be the kind of place you wouldn't want to walk through at night, now it is a fantastic place to take your family. Also, the price for property next to the park skyrocketed after the rehabilitation. New apartments that recently went up across the street are going for as much as $1,000 a month for a single bedroom. The Loring Park fish kill is a good example of the city maintaining its natural environment. This is necessary, for more than just fish, to ensure a normal and healthy population of a species within an environment. It eliminates overpopulation and helps to control diseases. Another goal cities need to pursue is the acquisition and development of new land or open space. This can be done in many ways. Cities can reuse or renovate old buildings or slums. Also, cities could reclaim vacant territory, combine public space for multiple uses or start using open spaces more effectively. There are many examples of Minneapolis doing all of these. Old factories and warehouses have been turned into modern and classy condominiums. Bike trails have been put alongside major highways, like along I-94, or on top of old, unused railroad tracks. Lastly, Garvin believed cities need to redesign certain facilities to make them more accessible. One example of this, although it could be considered acquiring or developing new land, would be the bridge by the Walker Art Center. This bridge connects the Walker Art Center to Loring Park and makes it much easier to move to and from. Because of the convenience, people can move more freely throughout the city and the two parks get visited much more often. Although Garvin's ideas really are quite simple, they are important for growing cities to take into consideration. I think Minneapolis has done a wonderful job of using his theories and it is no coincidence that they have one of the best park systems in America.

Essay on Analysis of major characters in 1984 - 1116 Words

Analysis of Major Characters John - Although Bernard Marx lt;javascript:CharacterWindow(http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/bravenew/terms/char_2.html, 0b1405ef1f, 500);gt; is the primary character in Brave New World up until his visit with Lenina lt;javascript:CharacterWindow(http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/bravenew/terms/char_4.html, 55db940fc2, 500);gt; to the Reservation, after that point he fades into the background and John becomes the central protagonist. John first enters the story as he expresses an interest in participating in the Indian religious ritual from which Bernard and Lenina recoil. Johns desire first marks him as an outsider among the Indians, since he is not allowed to participate in their ritual. It also†¦show more content†¦John participation in the final orgy and his suicide at the end of the novel can be seen as the result of an insanity created by the fundamental conflict between his values and the reality of the world around him. Bernard Marx - Up until his visit to the Reservation and the introduction of John, Bernard Marx is the central figure of the novel. Bernards first appearance in the novel is highly ironic. Just as the Director finishes his explanation of how the World State has successfully eliminated lovesickness, and everything that goes along with frustrated desire, Huxley gives us our first glimpse into a characters private thoughts, and that character is lovesick, jealous, and fiercely angry at his sexual rivals. Thus, while Bernard is not exactly heroic (and he becomes even less so as the novel progresses), he is still interesting to the reader because he is human. He wants things that he cant have. The major movement in Bernards character is his rise in popularity after the trip to the Reservation and his discovery of John, followed by his disastrous fall. Before and during his trip to the Reservation, Bernard is lonely, insecure, and isolated. When he returns with John, he uses his newfound popularity to participate in all of the aspects of World State society that he had previously criticized, such as promiscuous sex. This about-face proves Bernard to be a critic whose deepest desire is toShow MoreRelatedCensorship, By George Orwell881 Words   |  4 Pages Censorship In George Orwell’s novel, 1984, the theme, censorship, greatly influences the storyline. Within the society, Oceania, the government censors everything from the newspapers to an individual s thoughts. Although, Oceania does not have any specific laws the citizens know that challenging the party, even with facial expressions, could result in punishment or possibly death. The prime reasoning behind censorship is control. In order to gain the ultimate control the Inner Party utilizesRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of 1984 By Winston Smith925 Words   |  4 Pagescitizens of the dystopian nation of Oceania in the book 1984 by George Orwell. One of these citizens is Winston Smith, who works in the Ministry Of Truth, altering historical records to coincide with what The Party says. Unlike most people, Winston is aware of the wrongs of the nation they’re living in wants to do something about it. In the book 1984, Winston Smith’s thoughtfulness, rebellious nature, and dete rmination contribute to his character development throughout the novel by helping lead up toRead MoreExamples of â€Å"Good† Strategic Management1293 Words   |  6 PagesMANAGEMENT Disney In 1984, Disney’s stock price had been flat for a decade. Earnings per share were only $0.06. Disney had profits that year of $242 million. By this point in time Disney had become primarily a theme park company. Seventy seven percent of its profits came from theme park operations that year. Twenty two percent of profits came from consumer products (licensing Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, etc.). Only one percent of profits came from filmed entertainment in 1984. Indeed, Disney had becomeRead More1984 Discussion1069 Words   |  5 Pages1984 Discussion Questions 1. The world within which Winston lives is replete with contradictions. For example a, major tenet of the Partys philosophy is that War is Peace. Similarly, the Ministry of Love serves as, what we would consider, a department of war. What role do these contradictions serve on a grand scale? Discuss other contradictions inherent in the Partys philosophy. What role does contradiction serve within the framework of Doublethink? How does Doublethink satisfy the needs of TheRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Year 1984 1544 Words   |  7 PagesPart A– Summary In the year 1984, a 39 year old man named Winston lived in a totalitarian society set in in the nation of Oceania, in London, England. All of the people who live in the â€Å"Outer Party† were monitored via telescreens and were forced to believe whatever the ruling head Big Brother said. The history books were rewritten constantly to suite Big Brother. Unhappy with the society which he lives in, Winston decides to take the risk of writing a diary to assert his independence and protestRead More â€Å"The Rain God†: Repression Within the Angel Family 1505 Words   |  7 Pageswith various conflicts. One major internal conflict is repression. Throughout the novel the characters act in strange ways and many of the family members have internal â€Å"monsters† that represent the past that they are repressing. In his article, â€Å"The Historical Imagination in Arturo Islas’s The Rain God and Migrant Souls†, Antonio C. Marquez’s implicitly asserts a true idea that The Rain God is a story about repression. Marquez’s idea can be supported from an analysis of secondary sources and a readingRead MoreThe, 1984 ) And Juice By Ernest Dickerson987 Words   |  4 PagesBoth The Brother from Another Planet (John Sayles, 1984) and Juice (Ernest Dickerson, 1992) share the similar purpose of Blaxploitation which redefine the critical perspective about the stereotypical good and evil ideologies of the African Americans and reveal the blacks’ position in American society. However, by mobilizing close textual analysis on both films Brother and Juice, as well as the articles from Janani Subramanian and Kenneth Chan, I want to argue that the diversities of the films genresRead MoreThe, The And, And The New York Times And Tehran1515 Words   |  7 Pagesstrategies in English opinion articles written by American and Iranian journalists. To this end, two of the leading newspapers in the United States and Iran, The New York Times and Tehran Times, have been chosen. Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of textual features and marked and unmarked themes of 12 opinion articles (6 from each newspaper), this study aims to find out how these two groups of professional writers organize their themes, into marked and unmarked ones and what effects theseRead MoreHypocrisy in the Scarlet Letter937 Words   |  4 Pageshave held fast†¦ save when thy good – thy life – thy fame – were put into question.† These words spoken by Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter display her practice of situational morals and hypocrisy. Hawthorne displays this major element of human nature, hypocrisy in all characters save young Pearl who is blatantly unique from most people. Dimmesdale, Hester, and the entire Puritan community are hypocrites, and their hypocrisy manifests itself in the conflict of this novel. Hawthorne created a drasticRead MoreThe Novel Brave New World 1346 Words   |  6 PagesAldous Huxley was born July 26, 1984 in England. He lived to be 69, where on his deathbed, his last request was LSD. Huxley was a very successful writer and novelist, having published nearly fifty books. He graduated from Oxford University with a first-class honors in English literature. He was what many people referred to as a humanist, and detested religious dogma. List of Major Characters Bernard - In the beginning of the novel, Huxley introduces Bernard as a character that seems to be an outcast