Psychology of Imprisonment in The Prisoner of Chillon - Literature Essay Samples

Byrons The Prisoner of Chillon[1], a dramatic monologue narrated by a prisoner, Francois de Bonnivard, was written immediately after the poets famous sailing expedition on Lake Geneva with Percy Shelley. When visiting the thirteenth-century Castle of Chillon, Byron must have heard of and felt a great interest in the pathetic story of the Genevan patriot. He celebrates the Eternal spirit of the chainless mind in his prefatory Sonnet on Chillon [2], which lets us see that the poet regards Chillon as the symbol of political liberalism.Unlike Sonnet on Chillon, which was added later to the poem, The Prisoner of Chillon does not deal with the specific historical facts about Bonnivard as such critics as William H. Marshall, Robert F. Gleckner, Jerome J. McGann and Newey Vincent aptly point out [3]. In the narrative verse, Byron mainly presents the psychological condition of an individual mind in confinement.In the first three stanzas, a detailed account of his incarceration is given. O wing to the Persecutions rage (20), the prisoner and his brothers are imprisoned. But we are also told in the same stanzas that they are Fettered in hand, but pined in heart (55). That is to say, the life in a dungeon itself is not a painful experience for the speaker. It is rather the death of his brothers that gives a blow to his mind. Being suppressed by loss not by confinement he turns into a wreck (26).Hence loneliness and despair are depicted in the following stanzas, where the speaker retells the gradual decline and death of his two brothers.Here, for example, are a few lines from the ninth stanza:I had no thought, no feeling none Among the stones I stood a stone,And was, scarce conscious what I wist,As shrubless crags within the mist; (253-8)The speaker, whose faith (229) forbids a selfish death (230), is now a living dead. Isolation brought about by the death of his kinsmen completely overwhelms him and drives him into A sea of stagnant idleness, / Blind, boundles s, mute, and motionless (249-50).Still, the prisoner is resilient enough to come to terms with his confinement. The tenth stanza tells that he is visited by a lovely bird, with azure wings (268) and that he expects the bird to give him some kind of consolation:And it was come to love me whenNone lived to love me so again,And cheering from my dungeons brink,Had brought me back to feel and think. (275-8)What he seeks here is a Wordsworthian relationship between his mind and the natural world: he tries to revive himself with the help of the bird, a thing of nature. Against his wishes, however, the bird flies away in the end, failing to endow him with consolation. He is forced to remember that twas mortal (290). The speaker is, in this manner, thrust back into the dark reality of his own fate. He is again Lone as the corse within its shroud, / Lone as a solitary cloud (293-4).In his essay on Byrons view of nature, Edward E. Bostetter maintains that Byrons reaction to his [extern al] world is ambiguous, often contradictory [4]. This holds true for The Prisoner of Chillon, too. Namely, the poet repeatedly lets his hero explore an interaction between human beings and nature, but the exploration does not work. Even though a bird, as we have seen, cannot be a restorative for him, the prisoner does not give up finding comfort in nature.When unchained and permitted to move around in the dungeon, the prisoner looks out of the window so that he may establish a new relationship with the surrounding world. Mountains, snow, the Rhone, a little isle all these natural things, which are observed from the dungeon, catch his eyes as if they had a power to restore him to life. And yet unlike Childe Harold, who finds a transient solace in the tranquility of Lake Leman [6], the prisoner cannot get a rest (365) in nature:A small green isleAnd on it there were young flowers growing,Of gentle breath and hue.The fish swam by the castle wall,And they seemed joyous each and al l;The eagle rode the rising blast,Methought he never flew so fastAs then to me he seemed to fly,And then new tears came in my eye,And I felt troubled and would fainI had not left my recent chain (344, 349-358)The prisoner feels that there is no chance for him to participate in the joyful natural world. He gives up a Wordsworthian faith in the restorative effects of nature; the universe spreading before him turns into a thoroughly indifferent world. And the speaker goes back to a state of death-in-life without experiencing renewal even momentarily.The point to note, however, is that the speaker oddly begins to feel at home in the dungeon after his failure in responding to nature. He makes friends with spiders and mice. And the eventual release from the dungeon does not delight him:My very chains and I grew friends,So much a long communion tendsTo make us what we are: even IRegained my freedom with a sigh. (389-92).These lines do not represent the speakers capacity for adjustin g himself to the imprisonment; on the contrary, we may say that they reveal the extremity of his despair. Imprisonment kills his brothers; their death plunges the speaker into the depths of hopelessness, and he can never recover his inner resources. Consequently, his humanity is devastated and he is reluctant to force himself to regain freedom. Now this psychodrama of confinement reaches its climax climax which declares the incapability of the prisoners restoration: It was at length the same to me, / Fettered or fetterless to be, / I learned to love despair (372-4). He is indeed a complete wreck.It is apparent, in this manner, that The Prisoner of Chillon gives us a piteous picture of a man whose humanity is destroyed by imprisonment. A psychological investigation of the individual mind is what the poem concentrates on.NOTES[1] Ernest Hartley Coleridge, ed., The Works of Lord Byron: Poetry, Rev. ed. (New York: Octagon, 1966) 13 vols, IV, 13-28. All quotations of The Prisoner of Chillon are from this edition and will be cited by line number parenthetically in the text.[2] Ibid., 7.[3] See William H. Marshall, The Structure of Byrons Major Poems (Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania P, 1962) 82; Robert F. Gleckner, Byron and the Ruins of Paradise (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins P, 1967) 191-2; Jerome J. McGann, Fiery Dust: Byrons Poetic Development (Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1968) 167; and Newey Vincent, Byrons Prisoner of Chillon: The Poetry of Being and the Poetry of Belief, The Keats-Shelley Memorial Bulletin 35 (1984): 54.[5] Edward E. Bostetter, Masses and Solids: Byrons View of the External World, Modern Language Quarterly 35 (1974): 258.[6] See Child Harolds Pilgrimage, Canto III, stanzas 85-91 in Byron: A Critical Edition of the Major Works, ed. Jerome J. McGann (Oxford: Oxford UP, 1986) 129-31.

John Locke And Thomas Hobbes - 886 Words

By comparing the two readings assigned one can discuss the differences in political theories expressed by both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. In, Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes, and in, The Second Treatise of Government, by John Locke different theories of political legitimacy and definitions of the state of nature are described. The following paragraphs analyze multiple different points that are imperative to understanding these political theories. In the reading, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes discusses what human existence is in the state of nature and the state of war. As it is described, the state of nature explains how men were made equal in the faculties of the body and mind. To quote, â€Å"as though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body or of quicker mind than another; yet when all is reckoned together the difference between man, and man, is not so considerable, as that one man can thereupon claim to himself, as well as he.† Here, Hobbes is explaining his definition and meaning of the state of nature explaining that even though one may have a strength compared to another, it all is balanced out in the end. Each of us have our individual flaws and strength that constitute our character. Hobbes also notes how humans inherently have a state of greed and savagery. The state of war in human existence is also examined in this article. Hobbes states, â€Å"And from this diffidence of one another, there is no way for any man to secure himself, so reasonable, asShow MoreRelatedThomas Hobbes And John Locke911 Words   |  4 Pagessocial contract theory, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke established many of the founding ideals that contemporary Liberalism is based on. While the shared many similar positions, there are some key distinctions to be made between the arguments Hobbes and Locke make in Leviathan and Second Treatise of Civil Government, respectively. In this paper I will argue the differences between how each of them viewed the right of the subjects to revolt from the sovereign. Thomas Hobbes published his most famousRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke Essay1441 Words   |  6 PagesEifling-Question 4 Hobbes and Locke During and after the English Revolution, a few philosophers expressed different views on their philosophical outlook and life experiences. Some of the most outstanding thinkers include Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. They had opposing views on governance matters, but the two, also, had striking similarities. In addition, the two represented an increasingly modernized European population that despised absolute kingship. Both Hobbes and Locke proposed a conceptionRead MoreJohn Locke And Thomas Hobbes1287 Words   |  6 Pagesknow how to balance and consider the nature of humankind and their rights. John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were both political philosophers who developed theories about how the government should work. They set up their theories around The Natural Law and the Social Contract Theory. Although John Locke and Thomas Hobbes had a similar goal, their beliefs and opinions were definitely not the same. John Locke and Thomas Hobbes both believed in the Natural Law and the Social Contract Theory. They both developedRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke1346 Words   |  6 PagesContracts Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two English political philosophers, who have had a lasting impact on modern political science. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke both spent much of their lives attempting to identify the best form of government. Locke and Hobbes were among the most prominent of theorists when it came to social contract and human rights. A Social Contract is an agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, are the twoRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke928 Words   |  4 Pagesthere is no formed society, government, laws, safety, etc. both Thomas Hobbes and John Locke take this into perspective while introducing a political view. As illustrated by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels, they proposed political views on how human nature can prosper. Initially, Thomas Hobbes introduces a concept on the state of nature and its effects as well as how peace can be achieved. In Leviathan, Hobbes defines what living in a state of nature would be like and theRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke888 Words   |  4 Pagesare very similar but diverge in the moments that solidify their stance on their opinion. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke is both political scientist who have made strides in the area of social contracts and share being natural law theorist also. Locke and all other natural law theorists assumed that man was by nature a social animal and there fore struck contracts with each other to secure safety among them. Hobbes assumed differently, thus his verdicts are very different from other natural law theoristsRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke1494 Words   |  6 Pages1) Thomas Hobbes and John Locke share the basic assumption that a theory based off of abstract individualism, consent, sovereignty and reason will produce a peaceful and productive society. This theory is the liberal political theory, which is the philosophy of individual rights and a limited government. Both Hobbes and Locke both center the majority of their ideas off of how people’s lives should be based off of nature rights instead of natural law. This being said, people are also subject to theRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke1426 Words   |  6 PagesBy the second half of the 17th Century, England would experience one of the bloodiest conflicts in its history, ultimately serving to influence some of the most phenomenal political philosophers in Europe --Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke. England was in constant unrest, choosing new forms of government almost on a whim in desperate attempts to restore order in the Country. The English Civil War in 1642 etched a legacy of drea d in the people of England, and the war only appeared more disastrous andRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke1659 Words   |  7 Pagesmajority. The following pages show how modern social contract theory especially that of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, grew into the divisive issue it is in contemporary political philosophy. Modern social contract theory can trace its roots to prominent thinkers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. It is their thoughts on social contracts that lie at the center of the many spheres we are a part of. For Hobbes and Locke, social contract theory sought to analyze the relationship between rulers and the ruledRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke1361 Words   |  6 PagesThomas Hobbes and John Locke were two English thinkers in the seventeenth-century who s ideas became a key to the Enlightenment. Baron de Montesquieu and Voltaire were philosophers who applied the methods of science to understand and improve society. Thomas Hobbes believed in a powerful gover nment. He believed people were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish, and if they were not strictly controlled they would commit crimes and abuse one another. He believed that life with no government would be

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Overcoming The Dark Side Of Leadership By Gary L. Mcintosh...

I was asked to write and submit a 4-6 page book summary of the text â€Å"Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership† by Gary L. McIntosh and Samuel D. Rima. This book report should summarize the basic purpose of the book, the most important leadership principles contained, and the student’s evaluation of the book’s strengths and weaknesses. The goals of this book are to guide the reader in understanding what the dark side is, assist the reader in identifying your own dark side, and give the reader some specific steps for overcoming the dark side lurking on your success before you unexpectedly get blindsided by it. Upon reading the book, â€Å"Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership,† it first defines for us was the dark side is. The â€Å"dark side† is†¦show more content†¦Many leaders fail in leadership because of unresolved issues in their past that have not been dealt with. These unresolved issues will resort in leadership flaws and fail ures and will bankrupt ones ministry. I found this too be true because I have personally left some past issues unresolved in my life and they have reared their ugly head in numerous areas of my live; especially in leadership. Much of what determines how a leader’s dark side will develop, stems from the family the person grew up in and his/her childhood years through adolescence. The book does an excellent job to show that unsettled issues can create a certain feeling subservience and uncertainty. If the leader is willing to be transparent and realize their own shortcomings and struggles, it will enable the leader to lead from a place of more passion, emotion, and persuasiveness. This type of honesty can attract many hurting, sad, and brokenhearted people to our churches from dysfunctional backgrounds that will sit under compassionate and relevant leadership. The book further explains that the leader should careful not to let selfishness, self-deception, and wrong motives come alive in leadership as product of the dark side. The fall of many leaders are directly attributable to these components. If this dark side arises, the leader is admonished to open and honestly deal with it before God. This will empower the leader for greater effectiveness. Some leaders may beShow MoreRelatedToxic Leadership2334 Words   |  10 PagesScholar Paper â€Å"Toxic Leadership† Rosella D. Scott Student # 110179 I. Introduction Webster dictionary defines â€Å"toxic† as containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation, exhibiting symptoms of infection or toxicities or extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful. â€Å"Leadership† ,by definition is when an organizational role involves (1) establishing a clear vision, (2) sharing (communicating) that vision with others so that they will follow

Analysis Of The Play Fences By August Wilson - 1228 Words

While an individual can be strongly influenced by their background, their past does not singularly define one’s idea of familial identity. An individual’s view and perception of family, and that of what a family should embody, can speak greatly of their past as people often follow in their parent’s footsteps when it comes to ideas, beliefs, and practices. The sense of family a person experiences early in life can shape the way in which they structure their own family as an adult, but even despite past experiences, a rough beginning can be turned around into something positive in terms of relationships between family members. Author of the play, â€Å"Fences†, August Wilson, can personally relate to the experiences of his character’s as he has†¦show more content†¦Troy failed to establish a healthy relationship with his father resulting in a struggle to develop a bond with his own son bringing about a highly dysfunctional relationship and ad ding to the overall familial unhappiness. These characters consistently fail to reach common ground concerning Cory s future leading to both verbal, as well as physical altercations. Troy’s own selfishness holds his son back from achieving his dreams as he fears that his son will achieve more than he ever had, and in turn abuses his parental power, holding unrealistic goals for his son, and driving a wedge between them. Troy stated, â€Å"I told that boy about that football stuff. The white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with that football. I told him when he first come to me with it. Now you come telling me he done went and got more tied up in it. He ought to go and get recruited in how to fix cars or something where he can make a living† (Wilson 6). Cory is unable to escape his father s control and is forced to live his life the way his father intends. Cory is justifiably angered and takes a stand against his father by not attending his funeral to take ba ck his father s power over him. This specific incident shows just how deeply rooted the conflict between them was and the extent of the dysfunction in their relationship that creates a level of unhappiness forShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Play Fences By August Wilson940 Words   |  4 PagesThe play Fences by August Wilson, explains and explores the lives of the Maxson family, an African American family in 1957. Like in most plays each of the main characters has a strong desire that they want to achieve throughout the course of the story. Rose Maxson, the matriarch of the family, wants to be with people and connected to them. She does not want to be alone. This is seen through her family’s history, her feelings on marriage, and the family she has made for herself. RoseRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Fences By August Wilson1657 Words   |  7 PagesThe Play â€Å"Fences† written by August Wilson is a very interesting play to read and understand. This play also introduces many different themes as well as literary devices that helps the readers to have a better understanding of what will happen later on in the play. The Characters are Troy, Bono and the boss Mr. Rand. This play has conflicts that are occurring in the play between these two characters. In this play the characters Troy and Bono are best friends and they hang out by drinking and talkingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Fences By August Wilson Essay1978 Words   |  8 PagesThe play â€Å"Fences† by August Wilson shows the struggle of an African American family set in 1950’s in Pittsburgh. The man of the house Troy has had a troubled life and even spent 15 years in prison. Even though Troy moans and groans about not making the MLB because of his race he i s against his own son receiving a football scholarship and tells his son’s coach he’s not allowed to play even though a scout was planning on watching him. Even after pronouncing his love for his wife earlier in the playRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Fences August Wilson 964 Words   |  4 PagesIn Fences, August Wilson tells a story that includes baseball as a major part of the play. Even though baseball is a huge part of the play, the game itself is not actually played. Troy, who is the main character of the play, is the main source of all the conflicts that occur in the story. Whenever a conflict occurs in the story, Troy uses baseball analogies to explain his reasoning. Baseball also plays a historical part of the play to create the setting and the characters. In the play, baseball echoesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Fences By August Wilson853 Words   |  4 Pagesimpossible for people of color to do what they wanted to do. In the play Fences by August Wilson he brings in Troy Marxson, who is the main character of the play dealing with racial discrimination. Troy Marxson is a man with strange views of the world and who has a life that can be described as frustrating. Troy’s frustration is caused by his dream of becoming a major league baseball player being ruined by racist tyranny. The era in which Fences took place was during a time where fights to end segregationRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Cory in The Play Fences by August Wilson1109 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause of a fear that was rooted in him nearly eight-teen years earlier. When Troy was released from prison he dreamed of playing Major League Baseball but at that time it was an impossibility because of racial dis he other primary relationship of Fences is that of Troy to his son Cory (Courtney B. Vance) - a promising 17-year-old football player being courted by a college recruiter. Troy himself was once a baseball player in the Negro Leagues - early enough to hit homers off Satchel Paige, tooRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Fences By August Wilson And Zoot Suit By Luis Valdez2015 Words   |  9 Pages For my final project, I have chosen the plays Fences by August Wilson and Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez to compare and contrast, when it comes to their themes of multiculturalism, interculturalism, and transculturalism. Multiculturalism is the process of immigration and globalization of societies in the world. The world is made up of a mix of many nationalities, cultures, groups, orientations, or ideologies. Multiculturalism involves the acknowledgment of the different groups of ethnic people, culturesRead MoreSymbolism In Fences By August Wilson1460 Words   |  6 PagesKeep Love in or Lock it Out?: An Analysis of Symbolism in Fences Symbolism is defined as an artistic and poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind. In Fences by August Wilson, symbolism is used heavily throughout the play in order to represent deeper meanings and add to the emotion of the storyline. In order for the play to have so much depth and emotion, symbolism is crucial to the work itself and the heavy topicsRead MoreNotes On The Novel Fences And Pied Piper Of Tucson 1080 Words   |  5 Pagesand hold’ readers with specific choices. Next, students read the play Fences by Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson and analyze the role of stories within in the story to create tension and advance the plot. Fences is the foundation for the unit’s cornerstone task: after ranking and discussing important lines in the play, student perform them, and reflect on the impact of the important lines exercise on comprehension of the play. Finally, students write a synthesis essay to merge writings throughoutRead MoreFences Character Analysis Essay924 Words   |  4 Pagestimes within Fences that his actions are based off of his responsibilities; instead of love. â€Å"[...]Liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you?[...]† (Wilson,37). This quote displays that although Troy loves his family, his sense of responsibility is stronger. The sense of responsibility shows he is concerned for what is to come to the family; although this shadowed his emotions to forget to show affection. â€Å"[...]Some people build fences to keep people out†¦and other people build fences to keep people

The Organizational Structure And Behavior At Pluto...

Introduction: This paper critically examines the organizational structure and behaviour at Pluto Telecommunications. Through an analysis of the relationship among the job design, motivation, structural form and the work culture the paper aims to suggest a plan of action to rectify the challenges. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION The case does not delve into specific factors and rather talks about the various departmental cultures and motivators. The company’s growth strategy is disconnected from the organizational strategy and communications at the highest level are lacking or ineffective. Sales have a short term incentive, marketing has a longer term view, (and an opinion of themselves) and Customer Service has a medium term view.†¦show more content†¦However Ms Tsang’s leadership style does not appear to have driven constructive and active participation from her team. Nor has she communicated a vision of a company that they can buy into. By combining transactional and transformational styles of leadership, she may be able to develop subordinates to their highest potential (Bass and Avolio, 1990). While I would argue that her personal style is limiting the company’s growth, I did wonder if gender is impacting her ability to bring about transformational change. However, the work done by Bass, Avolio and Atwater argues that women have as good a chance as men to lead in a transformational way. Work, Motivation, Objective alignment and / or collective goals This is the cornerstone of the issues within Pluto. Marchington and Wilkonson (2013) reference a fundamental issue that exists within Pluto: Lack of Identification with Employer Goals. The three departmental leads are oblivious to the challenges that they are causing nor the impact that it is having on the overall company. Veronica has a Laissez-Faire Leadership style, but she isn’t managing to this style by monitoring the output, (Organizational Behavior, pg. 38) of the team which is causing problems. There is a clear lack of cohesion between the three team. Sales have objectives that are structured and are incentivized to perform their tasks. They clearly want to boost

Compare the two poems “ Boy driving his father to confession by Seamus Heaney and Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols Essay Example For Students

Compare the two poems â€Å" Boy driving his father to confession by Seamus Heaney and Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols Essay When asked to compare the two poems à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Boy driving his father to confession by Seamus Heaney and Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols the first thing that stuck out was the difference in layout. Seamus Heaneys poem is written in longer sentences and reads more like a story. Grace Nichols poem is a lot shorter with only two words in some lines and it compares her mother to various things. Seamus Heaney writes about his father in a realistic way, never praising him and only focussing on his bad points. Grace Nichols on the other hand only praises her mother, so much that I felt that this poem was a lie, nobody thinks that their parent is that perfect. Praise song for my mother is written in the past tense so maybe her mother is dead and she has written this poem in her memory, only praising her good points because maybe she feels guilty that they could have been closer. In the last line of the poem it says Go into your wide futures, you said perhaps the daughter went overseas and didnt see her mother for a long time and now feels guilty that while away her mother was ill and died and had to face this without her daughter by her side. I think its easier to see the good points in someone if you are away from them for a long time, you dont have to see their bad points and like the saying says absence makes the heart grow fonder. Boy driving his father to confession tells us about the difficult relationship between Seamus and his father. You are immediately aware of this in the title, instead of writing son he has written boy. I think that men find it difficult to talk about their feelings and emotions. Seamus Heaney tells us that on only four occasions has he seen his father let his guard down and show his emotions. The picture I get of his father is a very private man who keeps himself to himself he probably doesnt talk to his son about anything personal only to tell him to do his homework, wash the car, tidy the room etc. I also feel that if they had to discuss an item of news the father would not accept the sons point of view. The writer Grace Nichols is Caribbean and because of this has written her poem comparing her mother to various things found in the Caribbean, in line 12 she has written the flame trees spread to me followed by the crabs leg / the fried plantain smell. I think that my mother would be upset to be compared to something that I used to look for in rock pools on holidays. The diet of the Caribbean people is very different to ours. Her mother appears to have been very hippy like. Grace compares her to water, deep and bold and fathoming.  I think that the mother understood her daughter well, and because of this allowed her to make her own decisions and perhaps learn by her own mistakes. In the second verse she compares her mother to the moon you were moons eye to me, pull and grained and mantling. Her mother would always look out for Grace, perhaps Grace didnt always agree with her mother but she always knew that her mother would protect her. The third verse you were sunrise to me rise a nd warm and streaming. This again shows the Caribbean influence with the reference to the sunrises à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" more common there than in Wales. .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 , .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .postImageUrl , .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 , .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80:hover , .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80:visited , .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80:active { border:0!important; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80:active , .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80 .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u50547eb36801b49551b7ea96e22f1e80:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Women in Hamlet EssaySeamus Heaney is an Irish, Roman Catholic, we know his religion from the end of the poem where he drops his father at the church so he can go to confession. Seamus Heaney appears to be reflecting on his relationship with his father, Here at the churchyard I am slowing down to meet you, the fourth time on common ground. Why is he driving his father to confession? He writes you grunt, and slam the door. I watch another who gropes awkwardly to know his father. The Roman Catholics use the term father for God. Does his father have to make peace with God because he is dying, is this why Seamus is prepared to meet his father because he may not be around for long. Seamus Heaney struggles to understand his father. I think that he was a reserved man who when his other son died was terribly upset and Seamus was startled to find that his father didnt know what to do to make things better. They appear to have been a family whose life was fairly routine and ordinary, when his mother goes away for a holiday they take her to the airport and his father is upset. I was shocked at your tears when my mothers plane took off he writes In twelve years you had not been apart for one whole day till this long talked of holiday Perhaps even though this had been discussed the father didnt really think the mother would go without him, why did she go away? Perhaps there was another reason, maybe the two parents werent getting along anymore. Having shown his emotions to his son at the airport he is then embarrassed and takes him for a beer. When his father tells Seamus a smutty story he is trying to treat his son like one of his mates, and Seamus writes We both knew this was an unprecedented breakthrough. Perhaps his father was finding it easier to get along with his son the older he got. You asked me to drive up to church, and sit morose as ever. I think his father was a moody man, never really happy with his life and now has had to make a big decision to confess to God about his life, and tries to hide his feelings by telling his  son how to drive the car. I preferred Boy driving his father to confession to Praise song for my mother I think its because the Irish culture is similar to our own and the references in Praise Song do not really mean much to me, also Seamus Heaney poem is more of a story with Grace Nichols poem you have to think about what she means à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" when she refers to her mother as pull and grained and mantling. Perhaps also because I am a son I relate better to Boy driving his father to confession.