English literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

English literature - Essay Example both Oedipus from Oedipus the King by Sophocles and the character’s daughter Antigone from Antigone by Jean Anouilh are each protagonists driven by the passion of pride and how this largely contributes to their own downfall. The opening actions of both tragedies illustrate this pride. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is approached by plague-stricken masses asking help from him. When he sees his people gathered around him like a god, his response to them is â€Å"What means this reek of incense everywhere, / From others, and am hither come, myself, / I Oedipus, your world-renowned king†1. Although the people of Oedipus’ day did turn to their kings to cure all societal ills, Oedipus here is taking on the persona of a god. His pride in his role is evident in the words he speaks. His last line, referring to himself as the â€Å"world-renowned king† helps to underscore that streak of pride. It is also obvious, with a touch of foreshadowing, that he is not secure in his position by his tendency to repeat his greatness. Personal experience has shown when people insist on being known by their title, they are not overly secure about its authority. Antigone, on the other hand, enters the scene in a rage after learning that the new king, Creon, has forbidden to allow one of her brothers to be buried. She decides to go against the king’s orders, arguing that burying the dead is the right thing to do. Her pride in family makes it impossible for her to drop the issue. It is clear she’s outraged that the king would tell her what to do when she is talking to her sister at the very beginning of the play: â€Å"That’s what people say the noble Creon / has announced to you and me – I mean to me†2 . The repetition of â€Å"I mean to me† indicates she cannot believe someone else would tell her what to do, showing excessive pride in her own judgment. As her sister reminds her, women do not have any power in their culture, but Antigone does not listen. In the end, it

How the French and Indian War affected the outcome of the 7 years war Research Paper

How the French and Indian War affected the outcome of the 7 years war - Research Paper Example Overview Even though the root of the conflict in Europe was the competition between Austria and Prussia for possession of Silesia, the prevailing subject of the clash between France and Britain was power over trade and commerce with the colonies in North America, Africa, and India.1 The specific target of both these nations was the very lucrative Atlantic trade system. This trade system transported slaves from Africa to the New World to work in the cultivation of specific agricultural goods, such as lumber, cotton, rice, and sugar.2 The raw materials were afterward transported to Europe for manufacturing and consumption. Processed goods that were not bought in Europe were returned to the American colonies and Africa for another trade or use.3 Although France controlled the production of sugar in the Caribbean, Britain supervised the goods produced in the North American colonies. The same competition between the two nations was present in India for cotton, spices, and tea. This econom ic competition between Britain and France in North America motivated the Seven Years’ War.4 By 1753, French colonists had started inhabiting the Ohio River Valley. The French had strong, positive ties with the Native Americans and aimed to enhance trading relations with them. The British settlers, who refused to be restricted to the Atlantic coastal areas, saw this French attempt as a danger to westward expansion and responded with aggression.5 Virginia’s governor deployed a group of mercenaries headed by George Washington to support the British cause in the Ohio River Valley and to contest the attempts of France toward expansion. Constructing a small fortification nearby modern-day Pittsburgh, the militia of Washington failed in their attempt to assault the French at Fort Duquesne.6 The British forces were resisted and pushed to retreat to their fort, where the French attacked them. After incurring heavy casualties, Washington was compelled to lay down arms. This figh t is regarded to be the first of the French-Indian part of the Seven Years’ War.7 With the collaboration between France and the natives in North America, the battle emerged quickly in Europe. In early 1756, through the Convention of Westminster, Britain took Prussia as its ally. The French directly allied with Austria. The coalitions of the War of Austrian Succession were upturned, with Prussia and Britain going against Austria and France.8 Sweden and Russia eventually entered the Franco-Austrian coalition. The influence of the French-Indian War on the outcome of the Seven Years’ War was worldwide. The impact of the war was also enduring, with its consequences still felt and seen in the 21st century.9 The French and Indian War Implication for the Seven Years’ War Because of the war, both Britain and France incurred heavy financial loses at the end of the Seven Years’ War, with serious long-term consequences. The war further raised the national debt of Bri tain. The Crown, trying to find ways to settle the debt, obliged its colonies to pay additional taxes.10 The colonies responded to these measures with more intense resistance, until forces were deployed to make sure that the Crown’s agents could safely carry out their obligations. These steps finally resulted in the American Revolutionary War. Likewise, the financial problem and military