The Rover - Thinking Task

Hello everyone, 

 

                 This blog is based on Aphra Bhen's restoration comedy The Rover. 

1) Angelica considers the financial negotiations that one makes before marrying a prospective bride the same as Prostitution. Do you agree? 

Ans

Angelica is a prostitute character in Aphra Bhen's The Rover. A prostitute with admirable beauty, everyone in the play wants to have her as a possible partner, including Don Pedro and Don Antonio, one of the richest Spaniards. Angelica charges a thousand crowns for a month, and they both agree to pay her.

 

Wilmore, one of the four English men and rover of the play, who came into the carnival for entertainment, gets in touch with Angelica, is instantly attracted to her beauty, and starts flirting with her. While Angelica falls in love with Wilmore without knowing that he is a mere bee flying from one flower to another. 

Angelica wanted to marry Wilmore and started giving him free services out of love. While we consider marriage, we often make comments on the financial aspects of marriage, which is of course a pivotal aspect of our society. Dowry is one such example.

 

On the other hand, prostitution revolves around a commercial transaction for sexual services. It's a transactional exchange, typically lacking the emotional and commitment components integral to marriage. While both may involve negotiation, the underlying dynamics and the nature of the relationships are vastly different.

 

Thus, both things run parallel; financial negotiation is a more practical aspect of marriage, and Angelica, while in love with Wilmore, couldn't give justice to her profession as prostitution and felt betrayed at the end of the play. 

2) "All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Bhen, for it was she who earned them right to speak their minda", Virginia Woolf said so in 'A Room of One's Own'. Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer with the reading of your play 'The Rover'. 

Ans

Virginia Woolf's tribute to Aphra Bhen in her work 'A Room of One's Own' is very appropriate and significant.

 

Aphra Bhen is the one writer who inagurated the important role of women in literature. She is the one who tried to express the voice of women through her work "The Rover", and questioned and challenged the gender norms of society through characters like Helena, Florinda, and Angelica. Women actors started acting on the stage in the restoration period.

 

Her contributions indeed opened doors for future generations of women writers, fostering a space for diverse voices in literature. 

3) Which female character best represent the playwright, Aphra Bhen? Consider the characteristics and beliefs of each female character, and make an argument that relates these distinctive attributes to what you know about Bhen. 

Ans

In the play "The Rover", there are many female characters such as Florinda, Helena, Veleria, Angelica, Lucetta, and Moretta, but one that best represents the character of Aphra Bhen is the character of Helena.

 

Aphra Bhen is considered a pioneering female playwright in English literature. She was writing her plays during the Restoration period, along with other literary geniuses like Congreve and Dryden. She often depicted the plight of women and their role in society.

 

The Rover is one such play where she portrayed the difficulties faced by women in Restoration time. In the character of Helena, who is spirited and bold, Bhen portrayed her struggles and conventions, asserting her desires and agency in a male-dominated world.

 

Hellena's journey in "The Rover" could be seen as a metaphor for Behn's own struggles and triumphs, carving a space for herself in a literary landscape dominated by men.

Video resource for further understanding, 

JUDE THE OBSCURE : TASK

Hello everyone, 

           This blog task is based on Thomas Hardy's novel Jude the Obscure. For the further information click here,  

 

1) What is the significance of epigraph written by Hardy - 'Letter Killeth' - for this novel, Jude the Obscure. 

Ans

           "The letter killeth, but the sprit giveth life"

Thomas Hardy's choice of the epigraph "Letter Killeth" for his novel "Jude the Obscure" immediately signals a thematic exploration of the conflict between societal conventions and individual aspirations.

 

This biblical reference, taken from 2 Corinthians 3:6, serves as a lens through which the novel's characters navigate the rigid structures of Victorian society.

 

Here, 'Letter Killeth' is referred to as meaning that we do not have to stick to the literal interpretation of laws or doctrines, meaning of any religious texts, or to blindly follow the writings of such religious texts, emphasizing the potential harm that can come from strict adherence to societal expectations. Rather, we have to look for the spirit of the written words, which can be more helpful to human society.

The characters in the novel, particularly Jude and Sue Bridgehead, were the objects of societal constraints. They grappled with many societal conventions, such as marriage, education, and love. It is evident in the novel that Sue and Jude are such characters who are stuck in unhappy marriages. Though both love each other, they cannot live together because of rigid social norms.

 

Richard Phillotson, the schoolmaster, planted the seed of education in the mind of Jude, and just like his mentor, Jude wants to pursue higher education and wants to take admission to the University of Christminster. For that, Jude learns the Latin language and reads many religious books of sermons and popes. but, because of his low birth and work as a stonemason, he was not qualified for admission to the university.

 

The spirit of rebellion is evident in Sue Bridgehead's character, who is in open rebellion against social conventions and norms. She was married to Jude's mentor, Phillotson, but that was an unwanted marriage. She just wanted to make Jude jealous after the revelation of Jude's marriage to Arabella.

With this epigraph, Hardy criticized Victorian morality and the rigid conventions of contemporary society.

 

In conclusion, the epigraph "Letter Killeth" in "Jude the Obscure" encapsulates the novel's central theme of the tension between societal letters and the human spirit. Hardy employs biblical wisdom to challenge the Victorian conventions that stifled individuality, portraying the tragic outcomes of a society unwilling to recognize the life-giving potential of the human spirit.

2) is it possible to connect the meaning of epigraph of 'Esdras' at the beginning of the first chapter of the novel and the myth of Bhasmasur? 

Ans

Myth of Bhasmasur

Bhasmasur was a demon who received a boon from Lord Shiva, allowing him to turn anyone into ashes by touching their head. However, he planned to use this power against the creator. Bhasmasur wanted destructions of mankind, but this lust for power led him to his his devastation.

Though, coming from different culture Esdras at the beginning of the novel and myth of Bhasmasur can be connected through themes of the novel. we can draw parellel between themes like pursuit of knowledge, desire of power and self-destruction.

Parallel Between the Epigraph and Myth of Bhasmasur

In the context of "Jude the Obscure," Jude's character can be seen as someone who seeks knowledge and fulfillment but is thwarted by societal norms and expectations—the "letter" that, in its rigid interpretation, proves restrictive and damaging. The pursuit of education is particularly visible in Jude who wanted to study at the Christminster university, despite of his command and proficiency over Latin language he was not able to get admission in the college. This power of knowledge is also sought by Bhasmasur as well.

 Bhasmasur highlight the pitfalls of blindly following rules or seeking power without understanding the broader consequences. Jude's struggles in the novel can be interpreted as a narrative that embodies the tension between external constraints and the internal spirit or essence of individual lives.

The biblical quote speaks to the need for a deeper understanding of the underlying principles or spirit that gives life to actions and decisions. In the case of Bhasmasur, the myth warns against the misuse of power and the destructive consequences that can follow.

In "Jude the Obscure," one could argue that the characters, like Bhasmasur, grapple with the unintended consequences of their actions and choices, highlighting the importance of understanding the spirit behind societal norms and personal aspirations.

In conclusion, the epigraph and the myth both contribute to a thematic exploration of the consequences of blindly adhering to rules or seeking power without a profound understanding of the underlying spirit. "Jude the Obscure" invites readers to reflect on the tension between societal expectations and the deeper essence of human existence, resonating with universal themes found in both biblical teachings and mythological narratives.

(Prompted by ChatGPT)

3) Jude the Obscure - Hardy's Symbolic Indictment of Christianity.

Ans

In the novel Jude the Obscure, Thomas Hardy criticizes the rigidity of social laws and conventions in Victorian times.

 

Hardy uses vivid images and different symbols derived from the evolution of Christianity to criticize so-called Christian society. One such image is the portrayal of the pig, which describes the animality of Arabella. Killing the pig became the main reason behind the breakup of the marriage between Jude and Arabella.

 

Marriage, drinking, and blood are the major images in the novel, which represent the three different beaches of religion: Judaism, Christianity, and Pagan. Arabella is a representative of an unclean animal among Jews because of her butchering work.

Moreover, Sue, Jude, Arabella, and Phillotson are the characters that have symbolic meanings, as earlier we saw Arabella as Jewish. Here, Jude is one of the Jewish names, but there is also a reference to the name Jude in the New Testament, so Jude is associated with both Jews and Christians. And the name Phillotson is a reference to non-Jewish middle-class people.

 

Initially, Sue Bridehead was free from any religious beliefs, and she seemed to have no faith in Christianity, even though she worships the pagan goddess. On the other hand, Jude was a profound believer in God and had the utmost faith in Christianity, so he started learning the Latin language to get admission to Christminster University.

 

Marriage remains one of the major symbols in the novel. Sue and Jude both love each other but cannot be together because they are both married to other people, in a way a miss-matched marriage, which was inevitable since Sue and Jude are both obscure characters. And, because of the love and relationship between Jude and Sue, Phillotson had to resign from his work under societal pressure.

 

Moreover, the character of Littler Father Time can be seen as a Christ figure, and his killing of his siblings and his suicide can be interpreted as 'Crucifixion'.

 

References 

- Barad, Dilip. “Jude the Obscure.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 27 January 2021, https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2021/01/jude-obscure.html. Accessed 18 October 2023.

- Holland, Norman. “‘Jude the Obscure’: Hardy’s Symbolic Indictment of Christianity.” Nineteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 9, no. 1, 1954, pp. 50–60. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3044291. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.

Thinking Activity - A Tale of a Tub

  Hello, 

       This thinking activity is about Jonathan Swift's religious satire work "A Tale of a Tub".

1)  How far do you think Digression is necessary?

Ans

A Tale of a Tub is one of the best allegorical and satirical works of Swift, which satirizes so-called religious society and the three branches of Christianity: Roman Catholics, Anglicans, or Church of England, and Protestants.

 

Here, Swift represents his work in two parts: one is the fictional part, which follows the story of three brothers as three branches of Christianity. And the other one is the non-fictional part or digression, in which he discusses various things, such as who is a true critic and who is better among ancients and moderns.

 

Such digression is necessary in our day-to-day lives as well. In modern times, the lives of most of us have become so fast that sometimes we just live our lives like robots without really enjoying them. Sometimes we feel like we are missing something, and that something could be any little thing; it could be a little vacation, traveling with friends, talking with your favorite person, or spending some time with a family member. which can help us find little moments of happiness in our light-fast lives.

 

2) Identify any one movie/web series/song/poem/novel which talks about the sensitive topic like religion. Write in brief about it and explain what kind questions are raised through that work.

Ans

One such Bollywood movie that talks about sensitive topics like religion is "Oh My God," directed by one of the most famous Bollywood directors, Umesh Shukla. The movie follows the story of Kanji Lal Mehta, played by Paresh Raval, a shopkeeper who sells idols of god. He blames God for the earthquake in which his shop was destroyed, and he decided to sue God. In spite of his business of selling the idols of different gods, he is not a believer in God and just sees God's idols as business material.

 

While everyone is against Kanji Lal Mehta, the God comes, a character played by Akshay Kumar who assists Kanji Mehta in his hard times. This movie raises many questions about Indian religious beliefs, and Kanji Lal is the prime example of this.

 

In spite of his business of selling God's idols, which is seen in India as a religious kind of work, Kanji Lal has a belief in God. Any religious person in India would find Kanji Lal's behavior towards his business very disrespectful to God.

 

Through this character, this movie raises questions about India's blind faith in God, and yet God still favors Kanji Lal.

 

Moreover, we can examine the hypocrisy of religious institutions in several scenes of the movie and ask the audience to reflect on their own perspective on faith and spirituality.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

HARD TIMES : THINKING TASK

Greetings, 

         

          We had recently completed our study of one of the most significant novel of the Victorian age, "Hard Times : for these times" by Charles Dickens. In this novel Dickens had profoundly satirized the dehumanization effects of growing industrial revolution in England, in early nineteenth century. Dickens has raised important questions against the materialistic and utilitarian philosophy of mills and factory owners, and their Immodest behavior towards working class people. 

To understand the concept thoroughly, we had watched one Hindi play based on this novel. It is quite a surprise that there is drama performance based on novel, and one must say it is truly faithful to the novel, whether it is about composition, script or about dialogues, which really conveyed the thoughts of novel and of Dickens.

Just like the novel this play also is divided into three collective parts,

First is - Sowing 

Second is - Reaping

Third is - Garnering

Here is the Play,

Cast of the Play

Aarti Vasan - Jane and Josephine

Aakash Hingorani - Josiah Bounderby, clown

Abhishekh - Childers, Jupe, doctor. Chitra clown, Mrs. Pegler -

Isha Mrs. Gradgrind, Mrs. Sparsit -

Jyotsana - Louisa

Kajori - Rachel

KiranDeep Sharma - singer

Kunal - Tom, clown

Lakshya Goel - Stephen, narrator, stuntman Prakash Mr. Sleary, James Harthouse.

Pulkit - butler, clown

Santosh - Dilkhush, circus crowd

Saif Bitzer, stuntman Sajid Anwer Mr. Choakumchild, Kidder, Stephen's wife

Shubham - Sissy

Sudipto Banerjee - Mr. Gradgrind

V.K. Sharma - narrator

Music Direction - Kashish Sharma

Lyrics - V.K. Sharma

This play starts with the same lines with which novel has begun,

"Now what I want is fact, Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts"

This play is beautifully directed by Kiran Deep Sharma. in this play we find mingling of two dramatic cultures, Indian in the form of  "Nat" and "Sutradhaar", and Greek in the form of "Chorus". because of this hybrid form of dramatology this play becomes more powerful and capable enough to provide in depth understanding and concept of the novel.

Moreover, by using of the Indian dramatic elements such as, Nat and Sutradhaar, this play can connect with audience in profound manner. whether, it is in the beginning of the play or after the completion of an Act, they would throw light upon what will happen and what had happened. by using this method they can give more emphasis on the ideas and concepts they wants to convey.

The songs, which are used in the Play are equally important to study as it provides the central ideas and the depiction of surroundings in lyrics. Here, the songs are used as satire of the fictional Cocktown and its atmosphere, in a very humorous way with deep meaning behind it.

These are the opening lines from the play, which sets the initial tone of the play. These lyrics ridicules and satirized the growing industrialism of Cocktown and its effects on human society 

कमाल की कहानी यह हेतो बड़ी पुरानी जी।

पर गौर से जो देखेंगे तो साफ नजर आयेगी सच्चाई इसमें आजकी।

छू न जाए छाव अगर आप को ये आजाकी तो जो चाहे वो कहेना जी।

तो चार्ल्स डिकेन्स की तरह हम भी क्यों न करे कल्पना कॉकटाउन जैसे शहर की।

रंग जहां की नदी के निर्मल पानी का भी हो चुका ही बैंगनी,

ये मशीनी कारखानों का जमाना यूं समझो कि आज का है।

मैटेरियलिज्म पेर अपने अच्छी तरह जमा चुका है।

हर व्यापारी नेता को ये खेल समझ में आ चुका है।

आए हो इस दुनिया में तो कम करो कुछ ऐसा,

हाथो हाथ माल बीके, अच्छे खासे दाम मिले,

ताकि और ज्यादा हो मुनाफा।

EMOTION, IMAGINATION या COMPASSION से कभी, पेट किसका भरता है क्या?

इनके बदले डॉलर या फिर पाउंड किसी को मिलता है क्या?

इसीलिए तो नजर में इनकी करना और सहानुभूति या किसी से हमदर्दी चीजें हैं बेकार की?

पर गौर से जो देखेंगे तो साफ नजर आयेगी सच्चाई इसमें आजकी।

These lines appears at the end of the play,

अमीर हो गरीब हो चाहे, है आखिर इंसान।

बेल नही हम जो करे भाग भाग के काम, रात-दिन सुबह-शाम।

इसीलिए हम करे जगन, Tension थोड़ी हो कम।

कुछ तो मोज-मस्ती हो, या कोई ऐसा खेल-तमाशा।

सोच पुरानी बदले जो, नई सोच से करे शुरुआत।

किसकी है ये जिम्मेदारी, कौन करेगा 

कल्पना के घोड़े पर बैठे मिलकर साथ सब

दुनियाभर की सैर करे,

और दुसरो की गलतीओ से के सबक…

हर पेचीदा सवालों के जवाब ढूंढे हस्ते-हस्ते

ताकि सबकी जिंदगी में कुछ तो पड़े फरक।

2) Discuss the theme of "Dehumanizing Aspect of Industrialization" with illustration from the novel.

Ans

The novel, Hard Times illustrates the socio - economical condition of England, and portrays mechanization and growing industrialization. Through these portrayals, Dickens had raised moral and ethical questions against these industrial conditions and its effects on human society.

Workers are working in the mill and in the steam factories for hours, that also with low salary. constantly making "Goods" in the factories in big numbers. all the resources are owned by one individual person who earns profit, with the help of countless labors. This shows the capitalist and utilitarian philosophy of the factory owners.

This growing of industries and production of goods in large numbers, not only affected the economy of the day, but had a impact on human society as well. And, the embodiment of dehumanizing impact of industrialization is Thomas Gradgrind's system of education, which is based on facts alone, where there is no room for creative thoughts or emotion. 

He is the head of an institution which runs on particular philosophy, solely based on facts.

Opening lines of the novel,

                 

                       "Now, what I want is facts, Teach these boys and girls,

                         nothing but facts, facts alone are wanted in life."

Here, word fact is used several times and not have soothing, but a jarring effect. everything is mere numbers and quantifiable which is not the right thing. In the last line, the most complex things, life is reduced to mere reason, numbers, facts and details which can be found in books.

Thomas Gradgrind is manifestation of dehumanizing influence of socio - economical condition.

There are many students in Gradgrind's school, growing with his factual philosophy of numbers and details. He asked them a question,

 "Can we have horse painted on our walls in the room?"

Half of them agreed and half were not, Thomas Gradgrind disapproved of them who agreed that horses can be painted on wall, which seems like imagination, and there is no hope for imagination in his school. Gradgrind tells them that, 'they are land animals walk on land not to be seen as walking on wall.' here we can find that Gradgrind is against imagination, wonder and dream and favors only facts and details.

He says to sissy that, "you must discard the word fancy altogether"

By teaching the philosophy of facts Thomas Gradgrind took the power of imagination from children and make them robots without any kind of sympathy or feelings for others. He believe that children are mere "Pitchers" a "Vessel" to be filled with facts only.

CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTORIAN AGE

 Hello everyone,

                   In this blog you will find, the general overview of background and literary characteristics of the Victorian Age.

Introduction

Generally, the Victorian period extends from 1850 to 1900, when Victoria became queen in 1837. English literature seemed to to have entered upon a period lean years. Victorian age was at mark contrast with the poetic fruitfulness of the the Romantic age. All the Romantic poets Shelley, Keats, Byron had passed away and there were no writers to filled their place in England. Wordsworth written in 1835,               

           "How fast has brother followed brother,

                                  from sunshine to sunless land."

In these lines reflected the sorrowful spirit of a literary man of early nineteenth century, who remembered the glory that passed away. but there are Victorian poets like - Tennyson, Robert Browning and Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett to fill the vacant place of Keats, Shelley and Byron. and group of prose writers - Dickens, Thackeray, Carlyle and Ruskin had already begun to proclaim the literary glory of a new age.

Characteristics of the Victorian age

Amid the multitude of social and political forces of this great age, it is cleared that this is the,

          "The modern period of progress and unrest"

The long struggle of the Anglo-Saxons for personal liberty is now settled and democracy becomes the established order of the day. the king, who appeared in an age of popular weakness, ignorance and peers was stripped of his power and remained as a figurehead of a past civilization. The divine right of rulers disappeared, The House of Commons became the ruling power in England. the whole body of people choose for themselves the man who shall represent them.

It is an age of democracy, and series of Reform bills were passed and slaves had been freed in 1833. it is an age of education, religious tolerance and of growing brotherhood.

Because of the established democracy and education it is and age of comparative peace. England begun to think less of pomp and false glory of war, because it is the common peoples that bears the burden and the sorrow and the poverty of the war, while the privileged classes reap most of the financial and political rewards.

Tennyson had well reflected the ideals of liberty of his day,

 "In the parliament of men, the federation of the world."

Age of Prose

After the romantic revival, England had entered upon a new free period, in which every form of literature from pure romance to gross realism, struggled for expression. Though, age had produced many great poets, nevertheless this is emphatically an age of prose.

        "Novels in this age fills a place, 

                        which drama had in Elizabethan age."

As an age of education, number of readers increased, thus, give a chance to rise of newspaper, magazine and modern novel. which represent modern problems and ideas in such a perfect manner.

Moral Purpose

In Victorian age, both in poetry and in prose, seems to depart from purely artistic standards. writers of the age discarded the idea of, 

                                "Art for Art's Sake"

And seek moral purpose in their work.

Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle and Ruskin were the teachers of England, not vaguely but definitely. they had faith and conscious moral purpose in their works to uplift and instruct the mankind. they first studied life itself and then point out, "What life may and ought to be."

That we observe in sentiments of Dickens, the social miniatures of Thackeray, or the psychological studies of George Eliot, we find definite purpose to sweep away error and to reveal under lying truth of human life.

Age of Science and Realism

Victorian age is remarkable for its rapid progress in all arts and sciences. the steamboats, electric lights and other scientific gadgets had significant influence upon the life of people. Lyell and Darwin sought for scientific exploration to find truth of humanity.

It is an age of gross realism, not the realism of Zola and Ibsen but deeper realism which strives to tell the whole truth, showing moral purpose. Dickens and Hardy's novels are the prime examples of Victorian realism.

Age of Doubt and Pessimism

There is a new conception of man and the universe, which was formulated by science under the name of involution. despite its reputation of moral certainty and social order, the age had also witnessed significant doubt and questioning. the rapid industrialization, scientific advancements and exposure of new ideas led to challenges to traditional religious beliefs, writers like Thomas Hardy reflected a sense of pessimism in their works.

Victorian age, as a whole, the noblest and most inspiring in the history of the world.  

Video Resource,

 

Reference

Long,  William j. English Literature. Maple Press Limited, 2012.

Thinking Activity - "Pride and Prejudice"

Hello, 

        This thinking activity is based on Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. 

1) Compare the narrative strategy of the novel and movie. 

Ans

The movie adaptation (2005) of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice is considered one of the best movie adaptation, it provides overall understanding of the novel, though there are some changes made in the  narrative style of the movie. 

Characterization is one of the key element in any literary work, and even in the movie as well. characters and storyline are pretty much same in the novel and in the movie. 

In the novel, Jane Austen had used rich descriptive language to express thoughts and dialogues of the characters. Among all the characters, Mr. Darcy has most polite and charming dialogues in the novel, so does in the movie as well. Most of the dialogues were taken into movie without changing the original ones. 

Both the works, shares the same narrative structure, but in the movie, we can observe more emphasis on visual elements.

2) Write an illustration on the society of Jane Austen's time. 

Ans

As we know, the opening lines of the novel suggest the central theme and idea of the novel. 

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

By these few lines, we can say that, how much Jane Austen was critical of the society during her time. Women in her time only have one particular goal, and that is to marriage one wealthy and prosperous bachelor. 

Moreover, there is not any kind of importance given to literacy of women, they have just one supreme task of marriage. This concept of marriage is evident in all the female characters of the novel.

Further, if you don't have male heir then you couldn't inherent your estate as well. This shows treatment given to the women of Austen's time. So, it is become even more important for female to find a suitors to inherent the estate. Elizabeth's fried Charlotte Lucas is the prime example, and her marriage with Mr. Collins is not because of her love but, to improve her family's financial condition. 

 

 3) What if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth never got together? What if Lydia's elopement had a different outcome? Explore the consequences of these changes and write the alternative ending of the novel. 

Ans

If we take these points into consideration then, it is very difficult for Lydia to persist her marriage life with Mr. Wickham, because Mr. Wickham marriage Lydia because he knew that one of eldest sister will marry Mr. Bingley. 

First, to find the couple is become near to impossible in the streets of London. However, in the novel Mr. Darcy finds Lydia and Mr. Wickham and paid for their marriage but, in this situation Mr. Darcy is not there to save the couple. 

It may be possible that, Lydia will not be seen again. It seems that, marriage suitors for other Bennet girls would be hard to find in Austen's society. 

Thank You.

Thinking Activity - "Pamela"

Hello everyone, 

                  This blog is written in response to the thinking activity given in the classroom. 

Q - If Pamela was in the contemporary time, will the story take any changes?

Ans

If Pamela, were set in the contemporary time there are several aspects in which storyline could be change drastically, because of social changes and rise of feminist mentality. 

In the novel, we can observe that, Pamela a fifteen year old maid servant undergone sexual abuses from her new master Mr. B. after the death of Pamela's old master Lady B, she suffers from mental and physical trauma. Yet, she holds her virtue which is her chastity and tries not to succumb to Mr. B's sexual advances. 

In a way, Pamela does not take any action against her master and tries to defend herself everytime. Whereas, if we see Pamela as a modern girl, it is certain that she would never suffer this much. She would take help of police and take legal actions against her master. 

Pamela in modern times would never make such a mistake that, in novel, Pamela had made. As we have seen in the novel that pamela is captured at the other estate of Mr. B., And there also she faced sexual absuse and undergone mental trauma by both, Mrs. Jewkes and Mr. B., While, if Pamela had the modern perspective then she would run away from that estate with Mr. Williams, whom she has felt connected for a while, and was seemed nice person than tyrannical Mr. B. 

In spite of, all these things and sexual abuses which she had faced, when Mr. B proposed Pamela, she is aggred to marry with him, that also with the consent of her parents. she forgot all the things that Mr. B did with her. Modern Pamela if we see, would never go to the person, who tormented her in past. 

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Movie Reviews

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          We recently had two academic movie screenings in our college, which are movie adaptation of the novels. First one, is "Frankenstein" (1994) and the another one is "Pride and Prejudice" (2005). 

It is very significant to arrange these kind of academic movie screenings to get deeper knowledge about the themes and main ideas of the novel. Through movies we can get in-depth understanding of any complex literary work. 

"Frankenstein" (1994) Direct by Kenneth Branagh : Movie Review

The Frankenstein movie provides you a better understanding of Mary Shelley's scientific gothic novel "Frankenstein". While, the movie is not hundred percent faithful to the novel, there are some incidents in the novel that are not portrayed in the movie. Yet movie is capable enough to give you a good understanding of novel. 

For effective movie, casting is the most important thing, main characters of Victor Frankenstein and the Monster are respectively portrayed by Kenneth Branagh and Robert De Niro. 

While, if we look at the minor characters there are, Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth Levenza, Tom Hulce as Victor's friend Henery Clerval, Aiden Quinn as Robert Walton, John Cleese as Professor Waldman and Iam Holm as Victor's father Alphonse Frankenstein. 

Kenneth Branagh has performed the role of Victor impressively. He also shares the same madness, ignorance, pride and narcissistic nature in the movie as Victor does in the novel. Robert De Niro also gives justice to the Monsters' character. 

Kenneth Branagh as director, also kept in mind about all the gothic elements in the movie such as gloomy atmosphere, terror, lighting, delightful horror and gothic romance. It is interesting that, we can also connect both, Prometheus and Narcissus myth in the movie as well. 

Moreover, we can justify some minor changes in the movie. As a movie director, it is equally necessary to add some imagination in the movie, otherwise it will have a dull and boring kind of impression on watchers. 

Difference between Movie and Novel

In the novel Victor had been convicted of his friend Henerys' murder, and his father Alphonse Frankenstein helps Victor from get out of prison, but in the movie this incident is altogether omitted. 

Secondly, in novel we can observe that the creature learns to read and speak through three literary books, which is Milton's Paradise Lost, Plutarch' lives and the third one is The Sorrows of Werter by Gothe. Among these books, Paradise Lost has significant influence upon the monster. But in the movie there is no mention of any of these books, rather monster learns these things only by reading Victors' journal. 

Moreover, in movie we find that Victor creates the female companion for the monster with the help of Elizabeth's dead body, whereas in the novel Victor initially agreed with the monster that he would create female companion for him, but Victor abandon the creation. 

In my personal opinion, you should watch this movie for the overall understanding of the novel. Here I am also putting the movies' trailer. 

"Pride and Prejudice" (2005) Directed by Joe Wright : Movie Review

Pride and Prejudice film is utterly charming. And it is a best adaptation of Jane Austen's 1813 novel "Pride and Prejudice". Movie has exquisite traditional theme, such a feel good atmosphere and description of luscious countryside, such as Hartfordshire, longbourn, Meryton and Netherfields. We have to give credit to the director Joe Wright for making such good script, the significant thing here is that, most of the dialogues in the movie are directly taken from the novel without making any kind of corrections in it. 

We have Keira Knightley as Elizabethan Bennet, the beauty with brain girl, Rosamund Pike as Jane Bennet eldest of five daughters, Carey Muligan as Kitty Bennet,  Jena Melon as Lydia Bennet and Talulah Riley as Mary Bennet. And here comes the most charming yet introvert personality of the movie Matthew Macfedyen as Fitzwillian Darcy. 

While, Mrs. Bennet, the mother of these five daughters is anxious about the marriage of her daughters. And then comes a rich wealthy bechlor in the town Simon Woods as Charles Bingley, and instantly falls in love with eldest daughter Jane Bennet. 

Meanwhile, Elizabeth develop some prejudice for Mr. Bingley's friend Mr. Darcy that, he is filled with pride and has propensity to hate everyone. But, in reality Mr. Darcy has just less expressive and introvert personality. Later, in the movie Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy fall in love. 

This is a typical feel good movie with it's own charm and beauty. If you wish to understand the concept of whole novel in just couple of hours then you should give it a try to this movie. 

Here is movie trailer, 

Thank you for reading.