National Socialism Essay -- essays research papers

The rise of National Socialism in post-WWI Germany is an understandable reaction to the problems of the Versailles Peace Treaty, considering the German attitudes and beliefs at the time. These attitudes and beliefs were the result of generations of Prussian militarism, extreme racist nationalism, and, most importantly, the failure of the Treaty of Versailles signed in June of 1919. The rise of the Nazi party, and their extremist National Socialist doctrine appealed directly to these attitudes and beliefs that permeated Germany society after the first World War. Since the unification of Germany in the late 19th century, attitudes of nationalism, Prussian militarism and expansionism saturated German society. As one can clearly see in the writings of the influential German historian, Heinrich von Treitschke, war and territorial expansion were seen as being necessary to the preservation and advancement of German society. He states that, â€Å"War is for an afflicted people the only remedy†¦ Those who preach the nonsense about everlasting peace do not understand the life of the Aryan race, the Aryans are before all brave.† The mobilization of the people and resources, for the purpose of making war, were believed to be the means of preservation and advancement of German society. These ultra-nationalistic attitudes and beliefs resulted in widespread German enthusiasm with the coming of war in 1914. As expressed in a German newspaper, The Post, â€Å"Another forty years of peace would be a national misfortune for Germany.† With the armistice that took effect November 11,1918, the Great War had come to an end, four long years after it had begun. The German military machine had lost the war, and with it, hopes of German dominance in European affairs. Utterly defeated, the new German government (the Kaiser had abdicated at the end of the war) had no choice but to comply with the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles, despite the fact that Germany was allowed no say in the terms of the treaty. As a result of this treaty, Germany was stripped of all her colonial possessions as well as valuable continental territories, most importantly, Alsace-Lorraine, the Saar, and the Polish Corridor. Her armed forces were restricted to 100,000 men, and restricted from occupying the Rhineland. Furthermore, Germany was held responsible for the war and therefore had to pay reparations for all d... ...ism is determined to make that authoritarianism absolute, all-surpassing, consolidating the state as the new steel-like instrument of power.† The German people tolerated these actions because they felt that Hitler and the Nazi party would bring Germany out of economic ruin and back to the forefront of European affairs. Nazi doctrine of militarism, expansionism, and ultra-nationalism appealed to the attitudes and beliefs inherent in the conscience of the German people at the time. The German people felt that with the Nazis in control they could overcome the problems caused by the Treaty of Versailles. Nazi militarism would restore the armed forces to their greatest capability. Nazi mobilization would create employment and new economic opportunities. Nazi expansionism would claim new territories for the German people to inhabit. Nazi racism would rid German society of those elements that weakened it. Nazi ultra-nationalism would restore a sense of identity and pride in a greater German nation. After great suffering as a result of the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, a majority of Germans felt at the time that Nazi rule would bring them the most cherished thing of all, hope.

‘A complex character deserving sympathy.’ How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of Angelo in Measure for Measure?

In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Angelo emerges as a double-sided character; an appropriate focal point for such a ‘problem play', as many of Shakespeare's later works are considered to be. Shakespeare appears to have taken his inspiration for the story from sources such as Promos and Cassandra (George Whetstone) and Giraldi Cinthio's Hecatommithi, both plays in which a self-righteous deputy, be it Promos in Whetstone's version, or Angelo in Shakespeare's, seduces a woman (Cassandra or Isabella) by promise of pardon for her condemned brother. Scholars have argued for centuries whether Angelo, or indeed Promos, is a moral or an evil character. Those scholars who support the notion of Angelo as moral often cite the following factors in the play: the Duke obviously trusts Angelo; Angelo is disheartened enough by the end of the play to offer a sincere apology; and Angelo tries to resist the temptation that Isabella presents. On the other hand, others have argued that Shakespeare depicts Angelo as a purely evil man. These critics emphasise Angelo's treatment of Marian, the Duke's possible suspicion of Angelo, his desire for Isabella, and his broken promise to Isabella. By examining Angelo in both of these circumstances, it will become apparent that the most successful interpretation of Angelo's character is a combination of both of these facets. One of these critics, Leo Kirschbaum, suggests that the change in the structure of Measure for Measure is the result of a change in the characterization of Angelo. At the beginning of the play, Kirschbaum notes, Angelo is cruel and inflexible, but this is tempered somewhat by the fact that he is also noble in his consistent adherence to the law. But in the end he is a character who is no longer noble but who is instead â€Å"small-minded, mean, calculating (and) vindictive. † Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the character and his significance is necessary to decide whether Angelo does actually deserve sympathy. Upon analysis of the early scenes, we, as the audience, would instinctively begin to consider Angelo a character not worthy of sympathy, as he has ostensibly fooled the Duke into trusting him enough to give him power over Vienna and then immediately condemns Claudio to death for impregnating his lover, despite his genuine love for her. By telling Angelo â€Å"Mortality and mercy in Vienna Live in thy tongue, and heart†, it is apparent that the Duke trusts Angelo, even more than his own right-hand man, Escalus, who is overlooked to be the Duke's deputy. This, however, is overshadowed by the Duke's conversation with the friar in I. iii where he says â€Å"Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bosom† and â€Å"I have on Angelo impos'd the office; Who may in th'ambush of my name strike home †¦ ; in both quotes we are led to believe that the Duke perhaps does not trust Angelo to the extent that is initially apparent. Instead, it appears to be part of a wider plan of which we are so far unaware. To make a moral judgement on Angelo at this stage of the play would be incorrect however; we have barely met him as a person, and only seen him in a brief exchange whilst accepting the position the Duke offers him. He is, however, â€Å"tyrannous† enough to promise Claudio's liberty in return for Isabella's virginity, such is his power in the Duke's place. These factors, along with his cruel treatment of Mariana, with whom he had plans of marriage which broke down because â€Å"her promised proportions Came sort of composition†, exposing his shallow and hypocritical nature, would point to Angelo not being worthy of the audience's sympathy, and simply a cold, emotionless character (â€Å"whose blood is very snowbroth†) created by Shakespeare to reflect the promiscuous evil of Viennese society at the time. For all the negative criticism of Angelo, there is in fact plenty of evidence to suggest he is a character with redeeming features who can be seen as reflecting the positive implications of punishment in a play so concerned with the theme of justice. His apology in the final scene is the prime example of his somewhat altered attitude, due to the events of the story. He is â€Å"sorry that such sorrow I procure And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart† – a quote which refers to the Duke's analysis that â€Å"the dribbling dart of love Can [not] pierce a complete bosom†. This apology, especially with its placement at the end of the play, does leave the audience with a slightly more positive view of Angelo than would be had otherwise. Angelo's initial refusal of Isabella's offering whilst carrying out the Duke's plan is another factor of the play which would lead the audience to sympathising somewhat with Angelo and not considering him an entirely malicious character. Despite the evidence of these two points, however, I firmly believe that Angelo is mainly a character undeserving of sympathy, whose reputation amongst the masses is well-founded by his selfish actions and hypocritical nature, as we learn that he has committed a crime far worse than Claudio's – something apparently known by the Duke, who soliloquises at the end of Act III, saying â€Å"He who the sword of heaven will bear Should be as holy as severe†. Although the best analysis of Angelo as a person would clearly be a combination of both malicious and beneficent, as many of the key characters in Shakespeare's ‘problem plays' would best be described as, he does appear to be vastly a malevolent being, not worth of the audience's compassion.

Antigone Character Analysis - 916 Words

Beliefs are not always based on facts that you would find in a textbook-they are something that one believes is true. When I first read Sophocles’ play Antigone, my initial impression of Creon was that his beliefs of the law and the state were rational because of his role as a ruler. But as the play progressed, I began to disagree with his behavior and his values because he only focused on his own moral beliefs rather than considering the beliefs of other people, which could have resolved conflict. Throughout the play, the theme of authority of the state and religion is represented through the individual beliefs of Antigone and Creon. The author includes the narration of the Chorus, and their point of view strongly influenced my own†¦show more content†¦I strongly disagree with Zizek because she is viewed as promoting an authority of herself only because of the gender conflict between men and women. Because of Antigone’s role as a woman in the Theban culture, s he is viewed as demanding and stubborn against Creon’s order. But if it were to be a man who opposed Creon, he would be seen as courageous and assertive. Additionally, Antigone justifies her position by claiming that it is her moral duty to bury Polyneices because the last of her kin are gone. She accuses Creon by calling him a tyrant: â€Å"I never heard it was Zeus Who made that announcement. And it wasn’t justice, either. The gods below Didn’t lay down this law for human use. And I never thought your announcements Could give you—a mere human being— Power to trample the gods’ unfailing, Unwritten laws,† (450-456). By Antigone burying Polyneices, she gains the respect and support of people who also believe in honoring the dead and respecting the gods. After Eteocles and Polyneices die in battle, Creon was the next of kin to rule the people of Thebes. After rising to power, he immediately undergoes the destructive effects of power. As a result of this, he becomes irrational in his thoughts and decisions and consequently, he abuses his power. For instance, Creon arrests Ismene solely based on the reason that she is related to Antigone, which leads him to suspect that she was either involved in the burial of her brotherShow MoreRelatedAntigone Character Analysis1422 Words   |  6 Pages Antigone, the final play in a series including Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, discusses the ideas of leadership, family, and choices. It features two central characters: Antigone, a girl who chooses to illegally bury her brother, and Creon, a king who decrees the burial of the brother to be illegal. Upon the first encounter of the text, it appears that Antigone is the â€Å"hero† of the play, but on further analysis, one realizes that the tragic h ero, as defined by Aristotle, is actually Creon. The ideaRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Antigone1533 Words   |  7 Pagesplay centers around a young girl, Antigone, that is determined to bury her wronged brother even though it will end in her imminent death. Creon, the king, has deemed it illegal for anyone to bury Antigone’s brother’s body, even though it is the female family member s duty given by the gods to perform the burial. Antigone stuck to her oath to bury her brother and is caught by Creon and sentenced to death. One of the main themes in this play is family. Each character s ending will be tragic due toRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis1468 Words   |  6 PagesIn the play of Antigone, Sophicles creates a plot that I believe playfully would make viewers sympathetic of the protagonist Antigone. At the beginning of the play, viewers obviously were very sympathetic to Antigone. All she wanted to do was bury her dead brother, and Kreon made it illegal to do such a deed. However, as the play went on, I gai ned more and more insight on Kreon and my opinion changed. Although Antigone sacrificed her life for what she believed was right, I sympathize more with KreonRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis1071 Words   |  5 PagesSophocles’s Antigone depicts the struggle between two different characters with their own struggles, doubts, and beliefs. The play opens with the eponymous character lamenting a terrible situation to her sister Ismene. Their brothers Eteocles and Polyneices fought over the throne and killed each other in battle. Creon, their uncle, has forbade anyone to bury Polyneices, since he is considered a traitor to the city of Thebes. As the king, Creon holds the authority of the state above family ties, refusingRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis1122 Words   |  5 PagesAntigone is a Greek play that features a heroine that shows courage and righteousness. This is an interesting play that I believe I would enjoy having the ability to direct. The possibilities that t his play can become I think would be very entertaining and meaningful to explore. If I were to direct this play I would want it to communicate that courage comes in many forms and that following one’s beliefs and morals against oppressors is one of the most courageous things that one can do. I would alsoRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis927 Words   |  4 PagesThis theme comes to life in Sophocles’ Antigone, as he illustrates the internal and external struggles of complex characters. The play follows Antigone, a young rebellious girl betrothed to the king’s son. Haemon, prince of Thebes, finds his loyalty caught between his father’s legalistic ways and Antigone’s,   which stem from emotion. In Antigone, Haemon reveals himself as a tragic hero through his struggle between obedience to his father and his love for Antigone. His struggle reveals how obedienceRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Antigone1009 Words   |  5 PagesIn Sophocles’ Antigone, Antigone finds herself between King Creon and her deep belief in the Gods. Antigone holds a high social status as she is one of the daughters of the late King Oedipus and she is King Creon’s niece. The play starts off with Antigone losing both her brothers in a battle that took place around the city of Thebes. One brother, Eteocles, is defending the city while the other brother, Polynices, is attacking. King Creon declares a decree that no one is to bury the traitor and ifRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis Essay603 Words   |  3 PagesIn Antigone, Antigone braves through all of her hardships and decisions with her morals and set of values. She dies with pride and no regret for she died because she acted doing what was morally right. Many Greek writers disagree with these traits that Sophocles has given her but it is appropriate because she needed these traits to show defiance and be able to stand up for what is right. Antigone is a tragic heroine who believes in her duty to her family and is willing to sacrifice allRead MoreCreon And Antigone Character Analysis1538 Words   |  7 PagesThe characters Creon and Antigone, from Sophocles’ Antigone, act as cautionary figures for the audience as they warn against the intense belief in and dedication to a single perspective, as doing so leads to a certain lack of malleability that is detrimental to maintaining a fully functioning society. The onlookers of this play, the Athenian people, come to naturally notice the benefits of remaining within the middle ground between beliefs such as those that Creon and Antigone stood for. The unfortunateRead MoreThe Character Analysis Of Eteocless Antigone740 Words   |  3 Pages The play Antigone, based in 441 B.C. in Thebes, Greece, told a tale about a fictional family. At the commencement of the play, main character Antigone and her sister, Ismene, travel to Thebes. Upon arrival, the two discover that both of their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, are dead. Eteocles has been given the p roper burial, but Creon, Antigone’s uncle who had just attained the throne, banned the burial of Polyneices, because he deemed him to be a traitor. Antigone believed that this was unfair