Consider how one(or many)of the characters in Harper Lee's To Kill a Essay

Consider how one(or many)of the characters in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird are constructing their Identity. Analysis How - Essay Example It could be studied with equal felicity under the feminist, psychoanalytic or formalistic critical frameworks. To this extent, the novel can be said to be ‘polysemic’. Polysemy is the state of having more than one meaning. Though first coined to describe a linguistic phenomenon, the term has now gained a broader meaning so that it is also applied in discussing authorial intent in literary works. Also implied in the term ‘polysemy’ is the notion that perceptions vary depending on the particular identity of the reader, and â€Å"that words are multi-ordinal; these characteristics can lead to or permit conscious or unconscious confusion. The existence of diverging perceptions and language are explained through general semantics. Two significant ideas of general semantics are non-identity and infinity of values. Each of these ideas is manifest in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.† (Kasper, 2006, p.273) With the help of insights offered by Mar xist school of literary criticism, this essay will argue that social class is a major divisive factor in the novel. A central theme of the novel is its characters’ tendency to strongly identify with their race. Just as race separates, the human will is shown to overcome this difference. The decision by Atticus Finch to defend the black Tom Robinson is the most luminous example. Atticus’ defense of the innocent Robinson proves a daunting task. Despite convincing evidence to acquit Robinson from his guilt, the exclusively white jury convicts him all the same. Even the prison officials concoct a fake encounter and shoot Robinson while he was allegedly trying to escape. What is so shocking is that even within the confines of institutions of law and law enforcement, racial identity plays a dominant and destructive role. Clearly, racial prejudice overwhelms notions of fairness and justice espoused by law. (Singley, 2002, p.47) Applying Marxist critical thought to the novel w e see how race is strongly correlated with class. This means that all the blacks in the novel are inevitably also poor. This relationship between race and class makes the study of Atticus Finch all that more interesting and important. Atticus Finch is an exception to the typical characterization of white men – those seen in the novel as well as they actually existed in early twentieth century America. It order to deconstruct the formative ingredients behind Atticus Finch’s identity, we have to consider his upbringing, his influences, etc. From the references available in the text, we learn that Atticus Finch was a pious man. He is someone who looked up to the words of the scriptures in both letter and spirit. He brings the same attitude and mindset to his work as a lawyer. For Atticus, the spirit is more important than the literal interpretations of law – a concept he assimilated from his personal realizations of God. The manner in which Atticus brings up his ow n children is another indication of how his character is constructed. It is fair to assume that cherished values and virtues are inculcated by parents in their children. Just as Atticus’ children Scout and Jem are raised without prejudice or hatred, he in turn must have been raised the same way. So, it is fair to claim that Atticus’ identity development falls outside Marxist literary critique, for there is no trace of identity with class that is central to Marxism. On the other hand, religion and culture play

What are the maintrends in and effects of immigration in contemporary Essay

What are the maintrends in and effects of immigration in contemporary Europe - Essay Example On the other hand, a political migrant is one who runs away from his habitat because of conflicts from the government due to war. The person may leave his or her country for a new place to live in peace. These immigrants come from different backgrounds, which have variety of difference in terms of culture and norms. Immigration can have positive or negative impacts on both the country of origin and destination either for political, economic or even social situations. These recipient habitats are usually industrialized habitats it may be countries in Europe or the United states and even any other country, which is developed economically, politically, and security. Immigrants in these countries bring various impacts to the new habitat such as economy, culture, religious and security (Jane 1). One good thing immigration has done for host habitat is economy that involves employment in that they will be willing to do jobs that people in the host habitat will not or cannot do (Ioannis 1). They often work for longer hours and for lower income though that is controversial, sometimes exploitive against human rights but they act as beneficiary to the host habitat. This still happens up to date and even in years to come where many people have migrated and still doing so to develop their countries, and are willing to work so as earn a living in order to survive thus boosts the development and economy of the host habitat (Jane 1). In most cases when the immigrants’ are accepted in the host society and can largely contribute to the diversity of that society in terms of introduction of different cultures and people with talents which brings new ideas in the market of production of goods and offering of services thus contributing to the economic growth. After the European Union session in 2003 which allowed for its expansion, the biggest movement of labor across Europe was witnessed. During the December of 2003 period alone, over 40, 000 passengers flew between UK airpo rts and those in Poland. In duration of five years after that, it became near impossible for one to fly from 20 UK airports to any of the Polish Cities. The number of people in that year moving from Poland to the UK was over 385, 000 (Jane 1). It is worthy pointing out that the origins and choice of destinations for migrants has been found to be differential among countries. Some countries responded to this huge influx of immigrants by restricting access to their labor markets. The tendency for one migrating from countries deemed to be in â€Å"new† Europe can be said to be varying significantly. The main focus of this paper will be thoroughly examining the trends, impacts and implications of one migrating from Poland to the UK. Poland has been deemed to be the largest sender country while UK is the receiver due to its particular need for highly skilled labor. This has lead to fear among sender countries of losing their highly skilled people to other nations who offer better opportunities and salaries. The receiving countries have in turn downplayed these fears by claiming that migrant workers are important in filling low skilled labor deficiency. Looking this situation from the European Union perspective, there is plenty of important implication. First and foremost, issues of equal access to employment and the mobility of the highly skilled labor have to be addressed. The second issue if the grave matter of brain waste from the