The Psychological Dimension of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The...

The Psychological Dimension of â€Å"The Birthmark† This essay will analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Birthmark† in order to demonstrate that it is a â€Å"psychological† short story both in its themes and in its emphasis on the moral-psychological aspect of the main characters. There is probably unanimity among literary critics that Hawthorne is a â€Å"psychological† writer. Consider some of their statements chosen at random from various critiques of Hawthorne’s literary works: Stanley T. Williams in â€Å"Hawthorne’s Puritan Mind† says: What he wrote of New England was . . . .the subconscious mind of New England. It was. . . . unforgettable case histories of men and women afflicted by guilt, or, as he called it, by â€Å"a stain†¦show more content†¦The theme is the â€Å"general concept or doctrine, whether implicit or asserted, which an imaginative work is designed to incorporate and make persuasive to the reader† (Abrams 170). Morse Peckham in â€Å"The Development of Hawthorne’s Romanticism† explains what he interprets Hawthorne’s main theme to be in his short stories: â€Å"Henceforth Hawthorne’s theme is the redemption of the self through the acceptance and exploitation of what society terms the guilt of the individual but which to the Romantic is society’s guilt (92). This psychological theme is very much present in â€Å"The Birthmark.† Georgiana feels guilt because of the curious hand-shaped birthmark on her cheek; Ayler feels guilt because of his failed experiemnts both early in life and later, including the killing of Georgiana; Aminadab experiences guilt from the loathful expressions which his master uses in reference to the servant. But is guilt the main theme? Clarice Swisher comments: †When Hawthorne called his stories ‘romances,’ he meant that they belong within the romantic movement that . . . . emphasize imagination and personal freedom† (18). Where does this personal freedom lead in â€Å"TheBirthmark† except to the alienation of Aylmer from his wife in her death? He is already alienated from Aminadab, who chuckles when he sees Georgiana dying and Aylmer’s experiment failing. Is alienation the more dominant theme? Hyatt Waggoner in â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne† states: Alienation is perhaps the theme heShow MoreRelatedThe Birthmark: A Psychological Short Story Essay3606 Words   |  15 Pagesâ€Å"The Birthmark† Is a Psychological Story  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The psychological dimension of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing, typical of his best short stories, is well demonstrated in his tale â€Å"The Birthmark.†    Frederick C. Crews in â€Å"The Logic of Compulsion in ‘Roger Malvin’s Burial’† explores the psychological drama that prevails in Hawthorne’s short stories:    . . . I chose this one tale to analyze because it illustrates the indispensability, and I should even say the priorityRead More Essay on the Woman Protagonist in The Birthmark1856 Words   |  8 PagesWoman Protagonist in â€Å"The Birthmark†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, â€Å"The Birthmark,† the reader finds an excellent example of a woman who is so superior to her male counterpart that she has to be labeled the protagonist of the tale. This essay will demonstrate why this designation is deserved by the female character, Georgiana.    In the opening paragraph of â€Å"The Birthmark† the narrator introduces Aylmer as a scientist whose love for Georgiana is â€Å"more attractive

A Comparative Analysis Of Theories Of Vygotsky And Piaget

Child development refers to change or growth that occurs in children. It starts with infancy and continues through adolescence and it involves the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur. Cognitive development refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and gains understanding of his or her world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors(Children’s Health n.d.). This paper is a comparative analysis of the theories of Vygotsky and Piaget with emphasis on how the role of cultural context in child development is present in each of the theories. An in depth examination of each theory will be completed so as to give a clear understanding of the theories. The paper will also focus on the similarities and differences of the theories. Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980) was a developmental psychologist who introduced the theory of cognitive development in children. Piaget believed that children are born with a basic mental structure from which learning and knowledge is based (Smith, Cowie, Blades, 2003). Piaget believes that a child learns through doing and actively exploring his/her environment. Intellectual development and growth is seen as a process of adaptation or adjustment to the world where the child through the process of accommodation, modifies his/her knowledge when new experiences are gained. These new experiences are incorporated (assimilated) into existing knowledge for a better understanding of the world. This leads to cognitive developmentShow MoreRelatedPiaget s Theory Of Experiential Learning1481 Words   |  6 PagesIn this childhood developmental study, a comparative analysis of the theories of Lee Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, and Howard Gardner will be evaluated through the lens of experiential learning. Th rough Vygotsky’s realization of the childhood learning through â€Å"hands-on† experience (experiential learning), the cultural and socioeconomic factors defines the progress a child makes in the individual progression towards growth in the educational system. Piaget beheld similar views on experiential learning inRead MoreEssay on Examining Educational Theorists and Current Practice Today1839 Words   |  8 Pagesnames three educational theorists, Benjamin Bloom, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky, and seeks to examine their most well-known theories. These are namely, Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development, and Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development. Each theory is briefly explained and then compared and contrasted with the other theories. Lastly, the author reflects on the practical application of these theories in a classroom setting, discussing how these philosophiesRead MoreThe Explanation of Vygo tsky and Piaget’s Theories Essay2257 Words   |  10 PagesThere are many assessments of Vygotsky and Jean Piagets work during their lifetimes and deaths. Many of their theories have gone beyond what I am sure that they had expected for them too. Teachers, researchers and parents dabble in their theories of child development, social development and other theories when going about their lives. Whether it is a job or parenting it is a must to know about these two philosophers and what they believed to be real. Piaget is said to be the founder of cognitiveRead MoreSantrock Edpsych Ch0218723 Words   |  75 PagesImportant Periods, and Stages Physical Development and Health Growth in Childhood Pubertal Changes Child Health and Education 32 What Is Language? Biological and Environmental Influences Cognitive Development Piaget’s Theory Vygotsky’s Theory Case’s Neo-Piagetian Theory How Language Develops 02-EdPsy-Chap02-6123 8/22/06 3:33 PM Page 33 N o bubble is so iridescent or floats longer than that blown by the successful teacher. Sir William Osler Canadian Physician, 20th Century TeachingRead MorePsychology Ncert Book 1 Chapter Notes11190 Words   |  45 Pagesminimise such biases in their explanations of behaviour and experience in various ways. Some do so by seeking to make their analysis scientific and objective. Others seek to explain behaviour from the point of view of the experiencing persons because they think that subjectivity is a necessary aspect of human experience. In the Indian tradition, selfreflection and analysis of our conscious experiences, is held to be a major source of psychological understanding. Many western psychologists have also

The US Financial Crisis A personal Revelation Free Essays

After the Second World War, no one ever though that the father of democracy and the most developed nation in the world would ever be affected by a crisis arising from financial issues.   The growth of US and its position as a world power was due to the central role it played in the world war and the developments it made thereafter. Feared by its enemies and respected by its allies, the US was and still is the envy of all nations. We will write a custom essay sample on The US Financial Crisis: A personal Revelation or any similar topic only for you Order Now    Though still the most developed nation and a financial power, the 2008 crisis which was a result of a combination of factors including a fall of sub prime, failure of financial establishments, high oil prices, unbearable rates of inflation and the failure of major industries. The order presented is quite similar to the actual events though there were considerable overlaps.   The US economy is badly affected, many jobs have been lost and to deal with the effects o the crisis the US will need to develop robust economic strategies. Any normal society can be divided into two major categories: the poor and the rich.   This is a categorisation whose basis is resource ability and influence is a true depiction of the reality on the ground.   Happiness is assumed to be directly related to financial ability and all that most people seek in their lives is resource empowerment.    A look at the US shows that the cause of failure of its system arose from a single cause which multiplied.   If one should fall into the temptation that the route to happiness is amassing wealth at all cost, then they are just as gullible to failure for such an approach was the reason behind failure of sub prime mortgages. Even the rich in the society have their own problem which may even be greater than those of the poor; a third world nation is less likely to be faced by a crisis of such magnitude. When one is developing his riches, he should ensure that he develops other support systems for in reality the quest for money has no clear correlation to happiness.   Happiness is a state of mind and one cannot justify that by being rich he will live his life a happy person for as at now both Americans and Iraqis are suffering. The US case has been a personal revelation on the nature of life and what does entail.   Life is complex and success does not guarantee one will live a trouble free life.   The resilience that the Americans have shown in the face of adversity should be adopted by all people journeying through life.   The knowledge that all are susceptible to challenges is important in generating hope which is central in to the entire recovery process. The US approach to the crisis is a jewel to behold.   The US acknowledged it had a crisis and took relevant measures that did not necessarily involve the help of other nation rather the mechanisms implemented internally developed systems to deal with the crisis. Call it the personal will to deal with a problem or having the ability to; either one should never ignore their problems but should acknowledge that a problem exist and take relevant measure to deal with the problem. Screaming for help is not always the best approach to dealing with personal problems for we all have infinite personal ability that we must develop in times of plenty and emplo How to cite The US Financial Crisis: A personal Revelation, Papers