English literature review paper

Zachary Dilbeck

English 2367

Oct 15th 2017

Marguerite Yourcenar’s A Blue Tale

According to Staake (12), the story A Blue Tale is about immorality in the European setting in the early twentieth century. The narration explores the lives of men enslaved in their quest for material wealth. Their desires force the characters to violate the norms of the society in a bid to satisfy the need for wealth. Greed is apparent in the story. The author has med sure to use the greed with the intention of driving a specific point home. It is by using a theme that is in line with the thesis that an author can effectively communicate to the targeted audience. The confrontations that follow that result in the tragedy of the men helps depict the theme of morality and sexuality in the text.

The themes evident in the story that affirms immoral nature of humanity in the 1920s and 1930s revolves around the issue of greed and love. It is apparent that the work is used to give an overview of how things were during the times when the authors referred to their work. The work of the authors does not only help the reader to understand about the times in the history, but it also makes sure that the reader understands the strides that humanity has taken to be at this point in the century.

The public was unaware of his inability to live with women, but that was not the case. He had the insatiable urge of murder that made him overlook the extended generosity offered by the women in his life. The actions connect to the desire of the three men in Blue Tale whose aspirations are failing to yield satisfactions despite attaining the precious elements on their journey. The description of the items they retrieved from the cave resembles the narration of the outlook of the house of the blue bearded men where murders took place. The opulence in the rooms excited the visitors. Their reactions resemble the accounts of the greedy men in the blue tale after visualizing the room containing the sapphires.

German Tale

The story’s exploration of the mischievous actions of men has a connection with the recounts in Fitcher's Bird German Tale. Grimm and Wilhelm illuminate the men looking for precious resources through the action of a poor man looking for pretty girls. In the Fitcher's Bird story, the act is weird because the man has instable urge to kills the pretty girls. The tendency resembles the weird behavior of the merchants of convincing a woman to support their cause only to hold her as a slave. In both narrations, the men promise the women gratitude but mistreat them in the long term. In Fitcher's Bird, the poor man lures the pretty women to death, but at the beginning, her promises love (Grimm and Wilhelm 1). The claim to offer love replicates the promise of the merchant to the woman who led them to the cave. The depiction of such actions by the authors reaffirms the theme of greed. The men are taking advantage of their suitors to the extent of interfering with her life. They are not interested in sharing love, but they focus on their interest. Just as the poor man in Fitcher's Bird is willing to risk just to fulfill the immoral desire is the same way the merchant use the woman in the fairy tale.

Mar. Fox English Fairytale

According to Jacob (3) the story Mr. Fox, English Fairy Tales explores the interaction between a man and a pretty woman. The character acts disgustful in the quest for a company of the woman. The action results in an attempt to murder the woman. The narration exemplifies the behavior of merchants in the Blue Tale. Mr. Fox’s and the merchant’s agendas are deceptive. They both exploit women in their quest for happiness. The manner the merchants confront their adversaries expresses the implication of greed. According to Jacobs (2), in the tale of Mr. Fox, the urge to kill women lead to his tribulations (Jacobs 2). The previous success cannot apply in the case of the pretty woman. Even though the objective is murder, he pursues the woman cunningly. The merchants also unite in action through candour and such connects to the response of the lovers in the story Mr. Fox. The writer presents an account of the interaction as fruitful at the beginning before their decision to try to kill the woman. The purpose of the author is summing up the motive of the men in the form of a story. The rhetoric technique exploited in the presentation connects different scenes of the play to the same agenda of immorality in the Blue Tale. In both stories, the commitments manifest as loyalty. In the story Blue Tale, the greed to acquire motivates the men to liaise with the woman in a common cause. They are willing to risk live in the same way lovers defy the odds to advance their objective. In the fairy tale of Mr. Fox, he disguises as a lover willing to risk everything to attain his mission.

Merchant of Venice

Another idea expressed in the tale of the blue tale that connects to reviews of the similar concept in the work of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice is the description of ungratefulness of the merchants. Yourcenar in the Blue Tale recounts the tragedies that befall the men seeking to attain wealth. The story merchant of Venice has a similar idea but approaches the explanation differently. The composer communicates about the constraints that confront Bassanio due to inability to afford the money. In line with the work of Shakespeare (38), the characters failed to court Portia due to his financial situation. The writer of the text uses the tale to create a connection that discourages commitments to assisting selfish people. He urges the audiences to heed caution when helping the case of Antonio to the shylock.

Greedy Merchant

In line with Ahmed (1), the story the Greedy Merchant that explores the tribulations of Abdulla after interaction with a holy man highlights the realities that characterized the life of merchants in the early nineteenth century. They engaged in the undertaking of various sorts to earn a living. The Blue Tale scene also depicts the idea of men opting to seek wealth at all costs. They engage in the heinous acts of deceit just as Abdulla did by spreading the gold without heeding to the instructions. He disobeyed the holy man’s warning of letting the gold powder spread in his eyes. These actions are a portrayal of a person who has no regard or respect for the authority in place. The author uses the actions to depict the nature of the individuals living during the times, and that comes in handy to drive the theme home. According to Ahmed (1), the tale, he discovered the gold on encounter after trading.

The Pearl

Additional information in the story about greed connects to the description in the literary works of John Steinbeck titled The Pearl. The scholar explores the lives of Kino and his family members after the son’s attack by a scorpion that leads them to discover pearls. They intend to sell it but greed forces Kino to decline offers. Greed is exemplified in the action of a doctor who refused to treat Kino’s son only to accept delivering the services after hearing about Kino’s fortune. He attempts to steal the treasure and such depicts greed. Kino’s setting to safeguard the treasure expresses similarity with the blue tale merchant’s initiative. They were willing to hold others captive for the treasures. According to Steinbeck (2), Kino, on his part, is willing to kill to safeguard the treasure. In the end, the greed leads to a tragedy since he kills his son mistakably during a confrontation with other shippers. The idea presented in reviewed texts can aid understanding the consequences that befall the merchants. The reconnection qualifies the text as critical material, for reference to facilitate comprehension of the reality in the era of the composition in the text.

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale is one of the works of people who have depicted the society as a society that has no value for some of the human being. Like other works of literature, the handmaid’s tale brings a picture where people go to higher extremes without minding about the well-being of the people they are close to. According to Atwood, the society has become a place where people do not see others like their fellow human beings but rather as just a group of creatures who can be misused. The author depicts the inhumanity in human beings by creating ruthless characters. The tale falls in the theme of greed in one way or another. The greed forces one to do what he or she wants to do irrespective of the consequences it might have on others just for his or her desires to be fulfilled.

Sarah Butler’s Irish Tales, a Jacobite Romance

Cogan (5) in her work Sarah Butler’s Irish Tales, a Jacobite Romance brings out the theme of love. The story was written hundreds of years ago. Rather than just a tale, the author has made sure to bring on board information that was collected in the real-life scenario. The book was written at a time when the rebellion of Jacobite in 1715 had just taken place. The theme of love is depicted when the author uses the loyal family as the subjects of the work of literature. Looking at the timing and the content of literature, it is apparent that the author was aimed at sending a specific point home. The theme of war and power has been touched by the author though they have been far-fetched. The author tries to show that love has no specific time and it strikes whenever it feels like and whoever it feels like striking.

The Clerk’s Tale

Frazer (7) is the man behind the clerk's tale. The work of literature has not only reached people through readings, but it has also been advanced to acting. Frazer tries to show how people or rather the society can lose morals. The story revolves around murder, and it is through the act of murder that one can see the characters of the people in the neighborhood. The journey or process to look for the murderer proves to be difficult. At this point, one can point out that the area is full of people who do not have value for their fellow human beings. With this in mind, the theme of greed and inhumanity comes on board. Just like other tales and works of literature, the author in this case also engages in trying to depict the true picture of the society. He tries to depict the society as an unsafe place where one can trust no one. Though the author does not go out of the way to point fingers, he includes scenes in the work which helps in making sure that the readers get to understand what he wants to drive home.

The boy who dreamed

The boy who dreamed is a Chinese fairy tale. The fairy tale is used as a symbol of life after. Ann (3) tries to show people that there is life after death but that connection cannot be identified or established when one is still in his or her earthly state. Though far-fetched, the theme of love is present in this story. But one would ask; how is the theme of love connected to a story about the afterlife? The story does not only focus on the spiritual life, but it also touches on the love by the Supreme Being. The aspect of one being able to keep in touch with the Supreme Being brings out the aspect of love that is hidden. The Supreme Being depicts love by having time with the boy who sleeps and dreams.

The Bluebeard

The Bluebeard is a tale where the spouses are subjected to a trial before they can tie the knot of life. The story is one of a kind, and it is also a reflection of a real-life situation. The author has made sure to use a case that the readers can associate with. Normally in life, not all is smooth. Unlike other fairy tales about life and love, this one has made the whole case different and to some extent more realistic. There are challenges in any stage of life, and the author has done a tremendous job in bringing out the challenges and making sure that the readers can relate. The themes of love and endurance have been well depicted and showcased. For example, main characters do not move from a stage or a level in their relationship to another. They are faced with challenges, and such challenges make the tale even more interesting.

Dressing Symkyn's Wife: Chaucer's Reeve's Tale and Bad Taste

Craig (20) uses this work of literature to depict the character of the human beings. He has depicted human beings as judgemental. He has stated that the wife of Symkyn was judged for not wearing according to how the congregation or rather the society thought it was right. When the society gets to the point of judging people on what they wear not based on decency but taste, the case becomes petty. It, therefore, depicts a character of judgmental and ill thinking on the society. The author has made sure to use the church as the judging party. The reason for doing so is to show the audience that most of the people who think ill or judge others do not have to be found in the streets but also in the church.

In conclusion, the Blue Tale is a story exploring the tribulation of men enslaved because of greed in the quest for wealth. The made a promise to a woman who guided them in a pursuit that resulted in the acquisition of sapphire. However, due to greed, they attempted to enslave the woman to attain more and such lead to their suffering in the long-term. The explanation of the events is exemplified in the works of many other scholars covering the theme of immorality in the quest for wealth and sexuality. The narrations communicate messages replicating the ideas expressed in the Blue Tale. They warn the audiences about greed besides communicating the need for caution when helping someone in need. After reading the text, one conceptualizes the challenges that characterized the era of The Blue Tale publication that makes the reading interesting. As discussed, the review of the texts about the story facilitates a comprehension of the greed and deceit that guided people in their quest.

Works cited

Ahmed, Saladin. Throne of the Crescent Moon. London Gollancz. 2013.

Ann, Reed. (2016). The Boy Who Dreamed. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.cscc.ohionet.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=a7 5d996 d686-43f1-8596 3f2585846b36%40sessionmgr102&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSxpcCx1a mc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZl#AN=120212087&db=a9h

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Retrieved from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.cscc.ohionet.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid= 65d814b-89d1-4ff3-adcb-8825705e37a4%40sessionmgr4008. 1984.

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Jacobs, Joseph. Mr Fox. English Fairy Tales. London: David Nutt, 1890.

Lang, Andrew, ed. "Bluebeard." The Blue Fairy Book. New York: Dover, 1965.

Normandin, Shawn. “Non Intellegant”: The Enigmas of the Clerk’s Tale. Retrieved fromhttp://eds.a.ebscohost.com.cscc.ohionet.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=d3504b9-5f6d-4a38-a69e-de1a0f707780%40sessionmgr4007. 2017.

Shakespeare, William, and Cedric Watts. The Merchant of Venice. Ware: Wordsworth Editions, 2000.

Steinbeck, John. The pearl. Penguin UK, 2011.

Staake, Bob. Bluebird. Random House, 2014.