StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Death and the Maiden - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Death and the Maiden" tells us about the contrasts between ideal and practical concepts of justice. Death and the Maiden  was a common motif in Renaissance art, especially paintings and prints in Germany…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97% of users find it useful
Death and the Maiden
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Death and the Maiden"

As reviewed, the New York Times reveals that her story was influencing a life magazine account for a tabloid psychopath known as the pied of Tucson. In the review, Oates speaks of an earlier draft story with a rather too explicit title death and the maiden (Rubin and Larry 50).

Despite Oate's intriguing comments regarding her original title and the German engraving, scant attention is to give the other remarks explaining the early draft. Rather than explore the fatal attractions of death, critics tend to debate about whether Arnold's friend is a symbol of Satan or psycho pathetic killer or whether the story takes place in a real-world or a protagonist's mind. Critics cannot seem to decide whether Connie has seen the devil, or simply been seduced and murdered by a psychoanalytic intruder.

While these have merit they leave the reader with too many unanswered questions, why should a girl who willingly sacrifices herself for the family is condemned? If Arnold is not a supernatural figure but a psychopath tic killer, why desolate he does not simply abducts Connie when she declines to go with him?

The question has never been answered satisfactorily; following Oates’s cue by interpreting film in relation to the death of the maiden may provide insight into the story. However, Oates gives the fatal attraction of death and the maiden overtones of the erotic romance of a particularly American overtone that soon becomes violent. Death is usually, a frame that explains the dance and where it is in an eschatological context: the dying is to be judged, although death and maiden have a life of their own as a literary and artistic motif. Basel paintings represent a finely dressed, long-haired young lady who is gazing into her mirror when she is sized by a running male figure.

Initially, Arnold's friend is nothing more to Connie than a mirror for her vanity, and by the fact that Oates wears metallic spectacles that mirrored everything in miniature. If Arnold's friends intend to represent the death figure from the ancient dance of death, it is not surprising he resembles not only a seducer but a devil and a trickster. Christa explains the mask worn by the dead figure reflects in some way the living person intends to lead to the grave. Such illustrations suggest a guise that assumes that death is a projection from the mind of the other victim (Rubin and Larry 57).

Connie’s destination is not a place, but its union with death, she indicates that when she first sees him was in a restaurant. Christine realizes he appears older than he appears. His conduct becomes increasingly stranger and more threatening he ultimately fails to entice Connie, when she notices the white horror beneath the mask. As a seducer, he seems to make Connie’s union with him, or put it in another way, he consistently sabotages the smoothness of the transition by revealing his otherworldly look. He promises to come inside with her reflecting the flagrant nature of death. She threatens to call the police, he tells her he is not going to come out to him. Christina observes once he arrives in the house, and the delineation of space becomes a matter of crucial concern. He suggests that she knows perfectly what he is capable and, but he refuses to acknowledge his identity. Many critics assume that Connie is indeed to die but when away with him and Ellie who will rape and murder her. She chooses to be alone and dry her hair, and it s with her eyes closed in the sun, she then moves into the house and sits on her bed, and listens to soft music. At this point, she seems to have undergone an abrupt change, the half real-world material fact becomes to Connie. This reflects the death of the two. She starts to distance herself from the neighbor believing the dead can have nothing to do with her (Rubin and Larry 134).

However, Oates breaks away from the conventional morality of the nit teeth century. Once Connie stands before she had made the decision to save her family. He responds to this decision by praising her for her courage (Rubin and Larry 145).

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Smooth talk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1589726-smooth-talk
(Smooth Talk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1589726-smooth-talk.
“Smooth Talk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1589726-smooth-talk.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Death and the Maiden

Past Affecting the Present in Death and the Maiden and Ghosts

Past Affecting the Present in Death and the Maiden and Ghosts The past always has an effect on the present.... Ariel Dorfman is Chilean, his play Death and the Maiden highlights this frustration.... In both Death and the Maiden and Ghosts, the main characters of the story are all troubled by the past.... Ariel Dorfman' Death and the Maiden is set in country that has gotten rid of a despotic ruler after many years of suffering tyranny....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The Movie: death and the maiden

Movie Review The Movie: Death and the Maiden The movie Death and the Maiden directed by Roman Polanski in 1994 has been made on the basis of the famous play by the same name written by Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman in the year 1990.... Movie Review The Movie: Death and the Maiden The movie Death and the Maiden directed by Roman Polanski in 1994 has been made on the basis of the famous play by the same name written by Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman in the year 1990....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

In the Name of the Father, Death and the Maiden, The Torture Question

The paper "In the Name of the Father, Death and the Maiden, The Torture Question" states that in the Name of the Father is a movie depicting the prevailing social system of the time 1960-1998.... This movie deals with the social problems that persisted during the era.... ... ... ...
3 Pages (750 words) Movie Review

A Comparison and Contrast between the Theme of Revenge in The Visit and Death and the Maiden

his brings us to the next piece of work - Death and the Maiden, by Ariel Dorfman.... After gaining her trust by treating her kindly and playing a tape of Schubert's Death and the Maiden, Dr.... To begin with, it would be imperative to introduce both pieces of work as dark fairy tales of sorts where both the protagonists are thrown into situations where they have to suddenly wake up from their idyllic lives to great distress and even trauma....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Analysis of Death and the Maiden by Dorfman

The paper "Analysis of Death and the Maiden by Dorfman" states that the play is a statement about gender as well as about revenge.... Death and the Maiden must be briefly summarized before analysis may proceed.... Essentially, in a patriarchal culture, by taking the authority role of the judge, jury, and executioner, Paulina is going against status quo gender role norms....
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

Music in the Romantic Era

usical Traits of Schubert's Death and the Maiden that Characterize it as Romantic era musicMusic in the romantic era was an avenue that allowed the composers to express their emotions freely without hindrance.... Schubert's composition 'the Death and the Maiden' belonged to the category of 'lied' that combined an art song and the piano.... 'The Death and the Maiden' was slow, accompanied by piano, and expressed the strongest of emotions of death....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman

This essay "Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman" is going to talks about how these three characters (Paulina Salas, Gerardo Escobar a 45-year-old lawyer who is Paulina's husband, and Roberto Miranda ) show the past to impact the future by their roles in the play.... ... ... ... The current government in the play is a gentler government than before....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Articulating Sound Effects for Thematic Enhancement in Death and the Maiden

The essay "Articulating Sound Effects for Thematic Enhancement in Death and the Maiden" focuses on the critical, and thorough analysis of the major issues concerning the articulating sound effects for thematic enhancement in Death and the Maiden by A.... Indeed, the play Death and the Maiden by Dorfman is one epic example of a play that has significantly used sound as a theme enhancing feature.... Death and the Maiden depict the challenges of Chileans after decades of dictatorship through the experiences of Paulina Salas, a former political prisoner....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us