Canterbury Tales & Jane Eyre: Question #3

"One afternoon (I had then been three weeks at Lowood), as I was sitting with a slate in my hand, puzzling over a sum in long division, my eyes, raised in abstraction to the window, caught sight of a figure just passing: I recognised almost instinctively that gaunt outline; and when, two minutes after, all the school, teachers included, rose en masse, it was not necessary for me to look up in order to ascertain whose entrance they thus greeted. A long stride measured the schoolroom, and presently beside Miss Temple, who herself had risen, stood the same black column which had frowned on me so ominously from the hearthrug of Gateshead. I now glanced sideways at this piece of architecture. Yes, I was right: it was Mr. Brocklehurst, buttoned up in a surtout, and looking longer, narrower, and more rigid than ever." -Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre 

In the selected chapter from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, Bronte employs a stylistic use of imagery to introduce the character of Mr. Brocklehurst. This imagery takes on a rather architectural lens: describing physical characteristics that neglect to acknowledge the the character's status as a human being. Taking away Mr. Brocklebury's  mortality  underscores his nonconformity with human nature early on. In the passage above, Jane first predicts the arrival of Mr. Brocklehurst after seeing a "gaunt outline" pass the window of her classroom. Diction in this case, such as "gaunt", establishes a grim foundation for Mr. Brocklehurst from the get-go; his presence is essentially bleak in nature. As a result, the development of his character is retarded to a low level of empathy for others, unlike what is expected of humanity. 

Once Jane's prediction is proved accurate, she then compares Mr. Brocklehurst's appearance to that of a "black column". A dark color, black suggests that Mr. Brocklebury is both a powerful and serious individual. Furthermore, a column is straight by definition and can therefore appeal to logic; Mr. Brocklebury is motivated by reason rather than emotional dilemmas.  In her final remarks regarding Mr. Brocklehurst's appearance, Jane states that he looked "longer, narrower, and more rigid than ever." "Than ever" implies that Mr. Brocklehurst's character on this particular occasion will be extreme in its respective nature and thus more cold. Such character is unlikely to change on account of his "rigid" disposition. In brief, Bronte's embrace of the architectural imagery approach serves to dehumanize Mr. Brocklehurst and therefore explain his inhumane temperament. 

Lust, A Horrible Temptation

This advertisement was created by the United States government and released to the public in 1942. On the surface, we can see a line of blonde-haired, white women dressed in the same attire. Below the women are the face’s of three men, each of them wearing a hat. The text on the image reads “98% of all procurable women have venereal disease,” followed by “Why bet against these odds?” Looking at the connotative implications, new conclusions be made. Considering the tight-fit clothing and high skirts of the women, it can be inferred that the US government intended to present these women in a sexual manner. The three male heads below the line of women substantiate this inference by means of facial expressions: the men’s faces appear to be entranced. Furthermore, the text suggests that due to the high percentage of women with sexually transmitted diseases, arbitrary fornication may not be sensible. 

The US government intended for this image to appeal to adolescent and young adult men. Although the advertisement is applicable to men from all social and economic backgrounds, it was most likely directed toward the poorer classes; during the 1940s, abstinence was easier to achieve in richer communities, in which an emphasis on education steered people away from sexual activity until adulthood. In creating this image, the US government assumes the stereotype that young men are attracted to white, blonde hair, voluptuous women. The US government, as well as contraception lobby groups who would have economically benefitted from this image, demonstrates that while women may be aesthetically pleasing, they are still not worth the risk of contracting a venereal disease.  

AAAAAA

What's in a name?

For this investigation I will explore the meaning and history of my last name, Thomas. The surname Thomas comes from the Greek word “ta'oma,” which means “twin.” Because Thomas is the name of an apostle in the New Testament, the name is often associated with Christian roots. According to behindthename.com, Thomas the Apostle was “martyred in India.” This is particularly interesting to me because my dad's family, from which I received my last name, is from India. 

In my life experiences, I think that my last name has helped define me in a religious sense. Because I am half-Indian, many people have the preconception that I may be a follower of Hinduism. My name, however, as demonstrated by its connection to Thomas the Apostle, suggests that I am of Christian descent. Ironically enough, though, Thomas shouldn't even be my last name. When my grandfather moved his family to Canada in 1972, he accidentally applied for Canadian citizenship using his first name as his family name; thus, my grandfather's legal name is Thomas Thomas.

Being an individual and, at the same time, part of a larger whole is very relatable to me given recent events. On the social media platform, I have come to realize that although my ideas and opinions are strictly my own, they represent a larger group of people as well. Take for example my Twitter account. In the past month, I took it to myself to defend Millbrook's pride by replying to the Tweets of multiple friends from other high schools who were disrespecting, in my opinion, our school's honor. 

In my responses to their Tweets, I neglected to consider the larger audience that would see what I said. Because of this, I used language that is unbecoming of me, as well as Millbrook high school. My soccer coach, who discovered the Tweets, was very disappointed in the image that I was painting for Millbrook. Ultimately, I resolved to delete the Tweets and issue a formal apology to the students who I Tweeted at. When all is said and done, it is clear that although the inappropriate language came from my account, it reflected on the school as well because I am a Millbrook student and athlete.