British Literature: Past and Present Essay -- essays research papers

British literature continues to be read and analyzed because the themes, motifs and controversies that people struggled with in the past are salve being managed today. The strongest themes that were presented in this course related to changing governments, the ponder about equity between blacks and whites, men and women and rich and sad, and the concern about maintaining ones cultural identity.The evolution of governments was a constant theme throughout the course, beginning with the lesson on the Introduction to Romanticism, where Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin debated the equity between rich and poor that was tearing France apart. The theme continued through the lesson about the jar of Industry.Burke was too close to his political sources to acknowledge the atrocities that were happening to Frances poor. He argued in favor of keeping the current political system, fearing that corruption would acquire the vacuum-clean of power if the monar chy was dissolved. This fear is still prevalent today after the United States ousted Iraqs Sadaam Hussain. In both situations, people are concerned with the vacuum of power, fearing that someone more corrupt than the current administration would fill the void.Wollstonecraft countered Burkes debate and trumpeted the plight of the poor. She argued that to turn a deaf ear to the inhuman treatment was a vote for tyranny.The rich and the weak, a numerous train, will certainly applaud your system, and clamorously celebrate your pious reverence for authority and establishments - they find it pleasanter to revel than to think to justify oppression than correct abuses (The Longman Anthology of British Literature, The Rights of Man, p. 82).She added that, They (the poor) ... .... David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. red-hot York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 1,060-1,068.Joel, Billy. We Didnt incision the Fire. Storm Front. 1989.Dylan, Bob. The Times They argon A Changin. Th e Times They Are A Changin.1964. Performed live by Joel, Billy. Kohuept. 1987.Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. London Stationers Hall, 1789. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 160-169.Prince, Mary, The History of Mary Prince, a westward Indian Slave. London F. Westley and A. H. Davis, 1831. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 169-174.Heaney, Seamus. The Singers House. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 2,893.Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 2,087-2,143. Briti sh Literature Past and Present Essay -- essays research papers British literature continues to be read and analyzed because the themes, motifs and controversies that people struggled with in the past are still being debated today. The strongest themes that were presented in this course related to changing governments, the debate about equity between blacks and whites, men and women and rich and poor, and the concern about maintaining ones cultural identity.The evolution of governments was a constant theme throughout the course, beginning with the lesson on the Introduction to Romanticism, where Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin debated the equity between rich and poor that was tearing France apart. The theme continued through the lesson about the Impact of Industry.Burke was too close to his political sources to acknowledge the atrocities that were happening to Frances poor. He argued in favor of keeping the current political system, fearing that corruption would fill the vacuum of power if the monarchy was dissolved. This fear is still prevalent today after the United States ousted Iraqs Sadaam Hussain. In both situations, people are concerned with the vacuum of power, fearing that someone more corrupt than the current administration would fill the void.Wollstonecraft countered Burkes debate and trumpeted the plight of the poor. She argued that to turn a deaf ear to the cruelty was a vote for tyranny.The rich and the weak, a numerous train, will certainly applaud your system, and loudly celebrate your pious reverence for authority and establishments - they find it pleasanter to enjoy than to think to justify oppression than correct abuses (The Longman Anthology of British Literature, The Rights of Man, p. 82).She added that, They (the poor) ... .... David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 1,060-1,068.Joel, Billy. We Didnt Start the Fire. Storm Front. 1989.Dylan, Bob. The Ti mes They Are A Changin. The Times They Are A Changin.1964. Performed live by Joel, Billy. Kohuept. 1987.Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. London Stationers Hall, 1789. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 160-169.Prince, Mary, The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave. London F. Westley and A. H. Davis, 1831. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 169-174.Heaney, Seamus. The Singers House. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 2,893.Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 2,087-2,143.