Origins of Shintoism and it's impact on pre-modern Japan Research Paper

Origins of Shintoism and it's impact on pre-modern Japan - Research Paper Example The followers of Shintoism are expected to follow four affirmations in their everyday lives and in their ways of thinking. These affirmations are to the family, cleanliness, nature worship and matsuri which pertains to fiests and festivals dedicated to the spirits "kami". Ancient Japan is well known for images of geishas, samurais and great battles better known as the Tokugawa period. However, Classical Japan, also known as the Heian era, is more peaceful in comparison. The capital of Japan moved to Heian-Kyo in 796, which translates to the â€Å"capital of peace and tranquility† which will later on be known as Kyoto. Emperors were strong during the early parts of this period and had a continuing relationship with China. (1) In 894, the communications between Japan and China ceased to non-existent and Chinese influence to the Japanese nation gravely declined. It is then that the nation truly developed its own culture and society. The Heian era is a period known for the manifes tation of great arts and music like â€Å"gagaku† which is an imperial court music and poetry. Gagaku was a tradition introduced by China which was then performed during special occasions. (2) The great influence of Shintoism will be seen through the unsparing ritual feasts which have started to take place in temples and have been recorded in various diaries and novels. During this period, Buddhism is also known to spread rapidly among the 1†Insei: abdicated sovereigns in the politics of late Heian Japan†. GC Hurst. 1976. 2†Institution, ritual, and ideology: The twenty-two shrine-temple multiplexes of Heian Japan†. AG Grapard. 1988 people, although it coexisted with Shintoism rather than cause conflicts. With was the slow but sure development of Japan's own concepts of independence from the Chinese influence. The power of the emperor continued to decline over time which eventually, despite the existence of an Emperor during this era, the position was m erely of a figurehead ruler without true power. The real power in this period lies with the Fujiwara clan, mostly due to the political haggling. Several problems have arisen during this period which brought about the eventual downfall and end of this era. (3) The effectiveness of the government declined and Taika reforms have failed. Taika reforms is a tax structure which gives heavy taxes to the farmers but none to the shrines and temples which were quite abundant. The income of the state as well as the public's welfare showed a very significant decrease. The dangers of the consequences of this state of the economy have brought on increasing public outrage. Landowners and nobles who have lost their powers alike have felt threatened enough to employ the services of protectors, giving rise to samurais, in order to protect themselves. Provincial governors have become, in general, corrupted and lazy. The welfare of the public was ignored and the aristocracy of the court became decadent and useless. Leading clans by this time were the Minamoto and the Taira families. By this time, even monasteries were maintaining their own military forces. One of the incidents that clearly elaborated this increasing power struggle occurred in 903. Tara-No-Masakado, who was the leader of the Kanto district decided to revolt against the government with his refusal to pay taxes. He established his own kingdom and threw out the nobles and kept the power to himself, although his claim to power to success was short-lived. Another bushi house

Homicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Homicide - Essay Example This category in criminal law is characterized by some similarities in the description of the homicide. Characteristics of Homicide Categories There are common characteristics that are displayed in all categories of homicide as discussed. Unlawful killing must be established in al cases of homicide. In some instances, killing may be lawful for instance if the killer was acting in self defense. The other principle characteristic of homicide is that the killing must be committed to a human being, implying that the killing of any other creature cannot amount to a homicide. Controversy has marred the debate in abortion mainly on the fact of establishing if a fetus is a human being and at what age. Homicide is also governed by the â€Å"year and a day rule† where the death in question has to be established if it was caused by bodily harm committed within a certain duration of time. Another characteristic depicting a homicide case is causation where evidence must be adduced to ascer tain that the death actually occurred as a result of a certain commission or omission by the defendant. This is as directed by the element of actus reus. can be established through two ways namely; causation in fact and causation in law. Among these characteristics, causation is the most delicate To ascertain the criminal liability against the defendants, I will use the approach of exemption and implication by virtue of the defendants’ involvement in the death of the diseased. In this explanation, the obvious elements of homicide are assumed, for instance corpus delecti. The facts of each case are accompanied by explained criminal liability of the defendants. ... In this explanation, the obvious elements of homicide are assumed, for instance corpus delecti (showing of actual death of the victim). The facts of each case are accompanied by explained criminal liability of the defendants. i) Vince vs. Ann In the first case, Ann who is eighteen years old visits Vince who is sixteen years old at his place of residence. In this case, Vince gets unwell while in the company of Ann who does nothing to assist him apart from putting him to bed. Several hours later, Vince decides to jump out of the window from the third floor and dies from the impact of the fall. First, due to the fact that the diseased died upon impact after jumping out of the window from the third floor, the defendant can be exempted from omission. If the death of the diseased occurred from the initial sickness where the defendant failed to alert rescuers, the blame can squarely be placed on her hands. However, if it can be established that the act of jumping through the window was as a result of the progression of the disease, the defendant can have a case to answer. The element of actus reus is not clearly established in this case hence the defendant appears exempt. Secondly, the diseased could have committed suicide which is not a liability in the hands of the defendant. Alternatively, it is difficult to ascertain if the defendant knew or aided in the commission of the crime. Alternatively, the defendant in this case will escape liability due to the fact that the initial crime she intended to participate in together with the defendant is not the same crime with what caused the death of the diseased; in this case suicide. Thirdly, according to a common legal position, the failure of the defendant to intervene in the criminal act of suicide that the

Crimes And Misdemeanors Analysis Philosophy Essay

Crimes And Misdemeanors Analysis Philosophy Essay Woody Allens film, Crimes and Misdemeanors, explores the different ways that ethics play in the inner workings of the human mind. Throughout the film, the audience witnesses the roles that ethics play in the lives of five different men: Judah Rosenthal, a successful ophthalmologist; Clifford Stern, a struggling documentary filmographer; Lester, a famous producer; Ben, a rabbi whose sense of sight is beginning to fail; and Louis Levy, a philosophical theorist. By the end of the film, each character demonstrates, through his words and actions, how his own system of ethics affects the choices he makes in life. The films first central character to be introduced is Judah Rosenthal, a successful ophthalmologist who seems to be living a perfect life; he is wealthy, successful, and lives with a loving wife. However, despite how he has everything that would seemingly lead to a happy life, he remains troubled by his immoral affair with Dolores Paley, a lonesome woman whom he met years ago. Despite how he managed to keep his affair a secret, Judah realizes that his success is put in danger as Dolores begins to pressure him to make their relationship public. She threatens that unless Judah fulfills her wishes, she would jeopardize him revealing his shady financial transactions and their scandalous affair to the public, including to his wife and friends. Judah must now make a decision that is ultimately an ethical dilemma: he could either do the right thing by confessing his misdeed and hope for the best, which could mean potentially ruining everything hes worked for, or he could save himself the tr ouble by hiring his brother Jack to find someone to murder Dolores and to bring to an end all of his troubles. Though he initially hesitates to do so, Judah ultimately chooses the latter, believing that life is harsh and empty of values and that the murdering of Dolores is the only way he can save himself. As the film progresses, it is revealed that Judah believes that we live in a cold world, where there is no God on whom we can look up to. He states that, God is a luxury that [he] cant afford, and reveals that he would ultimately choose not to confess and beg his wife for forgiveness. In his eyes, such mercy does not exist; he believes that, in the real world, one must do whatever it takes to achieve happiness and success because there exists no higher power to maintain justice. Moreover, one must fend for himself and independently determine what is right, what is wrong, and what is best for him. This ethical system, which prioritizes self-preservation, is what ultimately causes J udah to murder Dolores. On the other hand, Ben, the rabbi, at one point states that Judah maintains a spark of [moral] notion deep inside. This notion, which leads him to know in his heart the morality of his actions, is what causes him to become anxious and tense; it is what reminds him that Dolores isnt just an insect that he can step on. Judah conclusively chooses to murder Dolores, but tries to justify his actions because acted using a utilitarian rationale, protecting his success and doing what is best for the most people. In the end, Judahs decisions and his ethical rationale, which emphasizes self-preservation, have their roots in his view of the life as being cold and harsh. A character that has a minor, but important, role in the film is Ben the rabbi. He serves somewhat as a foil to Judah: as a man of religion, he believes that the world is a lawful and loving place. He believes that the world has a moral structure, with real meaning, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] and a higher power. Without this structure, the world would have no basis to live. Hence, it becomes evident that Ben lives his life according to his system of ethics, which revolves around his faith in the omniscient God. The choices he makes pose no problem for him because he puts all of his faith and trust in a universe that is loving and lawful. When he counsels Judah, he simply tells him that he must simply accept life as it is presented because God will eventually justify everything in the future. The fact that Ben is physically blind has some symbolic significance: he disregards the wickedness and darkness of the world and blindly trusts his faith. Despite the fact that his blind faith may be mistaken, Ben accepts God over truth and believes that it will lead to a better life than all those that doubt. The films second central character is Clifford Stern, a struggling documentary filmmaker. Clifford is also a virtuous man, but in a different manner. Rather than putting all of his faith into one entity or idea, like Ben, Clifford lives by his own terms. He decides for himself what is right or wrong by examining the effects an action has on the world. He spends his time looking at the effects that his words and actions will lead to rather than the happiness or success to come. This is demonstrated through the manner in which Clifford creates his documentaries: he focuses on material that he sees as significant, such as pollution, cancer, and philosophy, rather than trying to earn a quick buck by simply doing what other demand of him. Though Cliffords loving affection for Halley Reed despite his marriage may be seen as being immoral, it is ethically acceptable in his perspective because not only he knows that he and his wife are bound to become divorced, but also because he is trying to find true love with Halley, a pursuit that he considers to be a fundamental aspect of life. It becomes evident that Clifford is an idealist; he is always looking for meaning in both his documentaries and his life, and this ultimately serves as the basis of what he sees as right and wrong. Clifford remains steadfast in his moral beliefs despite how they may stop him from obtaining what he desires most. For instance, he makes Lester appear absurd and shallow in his biographical documentary of him despite how it could have brought Clifford recognition and success. Despite how the film closes with Clifford feeling dejected, he is still portrayed as a man of virtue who remains steadfast in his system of ethics. The films foil to Clifford is a character named Lester, a famous Hollywood producer. His system of ethics mainly relies on whatever makes him the most successful and happy. To Lester, whatever bring the most satisfaction is right while whatever brings failure is wrong. As a result, Lester does whatever he pleases and seems to completely ignores the moral aspect of things. This is particularly the reason why Lester is portrayed as being crude, arrogant, and womanizing. Additionally, Lester is the complete opposite of Clifford when it comes to the significance of the material he produces-he only cares about the ratings because they will grant him wealth, fame, and a closet full of Emmys. Lesters shallow demeanor can be further seen in his seemingly only ethical question in the film when he asks, Am I a phony? Immediately, however, he resolves the troubling though by believing that others are merely jealous of him, and he proceeds to quickly forget about it. The fact that Lester is able to quickly forget about the troubling matter supports the view that he is faced with seemingly no inner conflict due to how he merely accepts what grants him happiness instead of actually considering the moral aspects of his actions. Another character in the film that has a unique ethical system that he abides by is Louis Levy, a philosopher that Clifford features in his documentaries. Levy uses love to judge whether something is right or wrong. He states that only love gives meaning to the indifferent universe. He believes that life is simply a search for the thing that will allow us to survive the indifferent universe and that the actions people take to attain it makes them who they are. But if love is not found and people feel that it isnt worth it anymore, people begin to feel an inner anxiety and pressure. This struggle was what led Levy to commit suicide or go out the window. Hence, by observing the actions and the words of the films different characters, the different types of ethical system and ways people judge right and wrong are revealed. From an examination of each characters distinct set of virtues and ideas of morality, the audience is able to comprehend the nature and the reasoning behind their decisions and actions.

Abortion: A Complex Issue Essay -- Informative Essays

Abortion is defined as: "the termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survival." However, if only the debate over the abortion issue was as simple as the definition provided above. Much like every aspect of human life, a statement is neither right nor wrong, but simply left open for interpretation. There is no black and white in life, only gray areas. Some issues tend to provide us more gray areas than others. Abortion is a prime example of that. Those who refute abortion claim that it is the murder of a helpless baby who has not yet had the chance to live and function as a human being. However, the debate opposite it is just as fervent: it is a woman's right to choose what happens to her body, and if she decides that she is not capable of bringing a child into this world, than she shouldn't be forced to out of nature. Where do we draw the line between humane and inhumane, necessitated death and murder? When does a woman's right over her internal reproductive organs become that of the government's? Is abortion wrong or is it right? Are rape, incest,and potential fatality to the mother exceptions when abortion is "okay"? Are there truly any at all? So many questions are raised by such a fervent debate, that we must look at both sides of the issue to better understand it in a general, but yet thorough approach. As expected, there are many people that are opposed to abortion. These people are better referred to as "pro-life advocates", or essentially, they advocate the life of the baby over the woman's right to choose. Groups such as Human Life International (HLI), The Christian Coalition, ... ...d Parenthood (Online) Facts on File (Online) World News Digest "Key Issue: Abortion" United States Conservative Party (Online) Works Cited Human Life International (Online) Encarta Encyclopedia (Online) "Social and Ethical Issues" Planned Parenthood (Online) Facts on File (Online) World News Digest "Key Issue: Abortion" United States Conservative Party (Online)

Confidence and Innocence Through Point of View

John Updike’s well-known short story, â€Å"A & P†, employs a unique form of narrative, utilizing the first person point of view.The themes of innocence and confidence of the youth intertwine in Updike’s story, through a play in narrative tone, as made possible by the first person point of view. As an effect of this narrative form, the story begins abruptly: â€Å"In walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suits.† The tension that will slowly build up as the story progresses is given right away at the narration’s first blow.Followed by the first sentence is a statement from the persona, which serves as a device to establish the story’s setting. At this point, a â€Å"camera† is set up for us in the place where the story happens. The voice in the narrative serves as the set of eyes by which we witness all events taking place. Set in the A & P grocery store, the story unfolds in a setting of complex structure—shelves with i tems lined up and several identical aisles.Perhaps, with this focused and limited set of eyes, the first person point of view allows the reader to get a simplified description of the A & P’s surroundings: â€Å"I’m in the third check-out slot, with my back to the door . . .† Throughout the story, we meet characters and witness events through this perspective.Updike’s narration, however, is not just unique in terms of point of view. The choice of perspective also enables the reader to hear a distinct â€Å"voice.†Accompanied by a pair of eyes is a voice and tone that contributes to strengthening the realistic feel of the story.  Ã‚   It is noticeable that the language used by the author is very conversational, making it feel like the voice connects directly to the reader. Not only does it tell the story; it slowly forms a personality, which, in this case of using the first person point of view, is not excluded from the story’s turn of event s.In â€Å"A & P†, we witness an incident caused by three teenage girls in bathing suits from the perspective of Sammy, a nineteen-year-old boy working at the check-out counter. It is interesting that his name is not revealed until the late middle portion of the story. Nevertheless, his character has already been established at the very beginning, where we hear his voice and vicariously experience the story. To further explore this point, let me cite a few lines, which contribute to establishing Sammy’s character.Seeing the three girls in bathing suits, he immediately focuses his attention to one girl, which he refers to as a â€Å"chunky kid.† Here, by noting his word choice, Sammy already appears to us as a free-spirited teenager. This is reiterated as he comments on the customer who complains as Sammy rings the purchase a second time:   â€Å"She's one of these cash-register-watchers, a witch about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows, and I know it made her day to trip me up. She'd been watching cash registers forty years and probably never seen a mistake before.†These lines are dabbed with a sense of annoyance towards elders, and in this case, an old lady. Later on in the story, we get the same feel in his somewhat mocking remark: â€Å". . . women generally put on a shirt or shorts or something before they get out of the car into the street. And anyway these are usually women with six children and varicose veins mapping their legs and nobody, including them, could care less.†This tone, which brings with it a sense of confidence freedom of spirit, also shows us the innocence behind the personality—his opinions are quite shallow, leaning towards trivial matters. This overall tone contributes and prepares us for the shifts that occur in the story. The finality in Sammy’s tone falters when he begins to speak of Lengel, the single figure of authority in the story. More and more, the image presen ted to us of Lengel reveals Sammy’s innocence. And indeed, the story’s conclusion confirms it.The presence of the three girls in A & P also reflects the innocent confidence of the youth. Baring all, they brazenly enter into a place, not caring that their outfits don’t blend in. At first, it appears to us as a dare, as something that â€Å"Queenie† perhaps suggested—a rebellious act, which could probably be an act against authority, intended to project superiority over rules and adults.However, this queen-like image of strength also falters at the entrance of Lengel into the story. Lengel obviously represents authority—as manager and as Sunday School teacher. Firm in his tone—not defensive or angry, nor is he loud and uncontrolled, he calls out the unfitting clothing worn by these three young ladies.As he speaks, we feel the stark contrast of tone between him and the teenagers in the story. Right after this, one of the girl mentions he r mother as an excuse: â€Å"My mother asked me to pick up a jar of herring snacks.† Immediately, the brazen air to â€Å"Queenie† vanishes—she appears to us as a little girl hiding under her mother’s skirt. By inserting a figure as Lengel into the narrative, Sammy’s tone is helplessly muffled—as if he suddenly gives in to how things are—and not as how he perceives things to be.The events that follow feel like a gradual crash. Impulsive as he is, Sammy decides to play the role of an â€Å"unsuspected hero.† And the way he narrates his story implies that his next act is only seemingly brave, defiant, and strong.He makes his motives clear: â€Å"The girls, and who'd blame them, are in a hurry to get out, so I say â€Å"I quit† to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they'll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero.† Not knowing how to handle the situation, he puts up a front, faltering more and more:  "I started to say something that came out â€Å"Fiddle-de-doo.† It's a saying of my grand- mother's, and I know she would have been pleased.†Again, figures of authority are projected in the story—the mention of his grandmother, for instance. Soon after that, Lengel’s input to Sammy’s impulsiveness makes him look even more innocent and young—an image which veers away from the initial confidence suggested by the tone made possible by the narration’s first person point of view: â€Å"Lengel sighs and begins to look very patient and old and gray. He's been a friend of my parents for years.â€Å"Sammy, you don't want to do this to your Mom and Dad,† he tells me.† Parents once again come into the picture. And the mockery thrown by the

How the Characters of Macbeth and the Duke in My Last Duchess Can Be Considered to Be Disturbed Characters Essay

I am examining the characters of the Duke and Macbeth and how they can be considered disturbed characters. The play, ‘Macbeth’ and poem, ‘My Last Duchess’ both show psychological truths and insights into the characters. While the Duke shows himself to be disturbed straight away in the poem, Macbeth’s mental deterioration takes place and develops as the play proceeds. ‘Macbeth’ written by William Shakespeare and set in 1050 contains themes of status, power and death while ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning written in 1842 shows how status, wealth and the marriage market can affect a man’s life. Macbeth at first is a well-respected and liked character. He shows himself to be ‘brave’ and is given the position of the ‘Thane of Cawdor’. However when Banquo and Macbeth meet the witches in Act 1, Scene 3, he starts to become obsessed with power, ‘The greatest is behind’. This line sugg ests that Macbeth believes that he will become more powerful in terms of his social status, establishing that he believes the witch’s predictions to be true. In this scene Shakespeare uses the weather to affect the atmosphere and tone that the scene portrays to the audience. ‘Thunder’ is used to indicate the seriousness of the scene in terms of Macbeth’s future. However the thunder could also be seen as God showing his displeasure with Macbeth’s choice to listen to and believe the witches. In 1050 people believed in witches, but believed powers to see into the future or predictions, like the prophecy from the witches, came from the devil. The belief the witches and predictions were real, led the events that take place later in the play. Macbeth’s superstition show some insight into his mind-set as it was considered unholy to believe in anything but God. People in the 11th century would see Macbeth as disturbed as he believed in a divine intervention that isn’t his God, however now society would consider Macbeth to be troubled for believing in witches. Shakespeare uses iambic pentameter to show the tension and eventual guilt that Macbeth feels in Act 2, Scene 2 during a dialogue with Lady Macbeth. The couple share lines which changes the speed and tone of their conversation. ‘Did not you speak? When? Now. As I descended?’ The playwright uses short sentences and sharing lines to show that they are having a tense argument. The dialogue also displays how Lady Macbeth can assert control over her husband. ‘You do unbend the noble, strength to think’ as she considered him to be a ‘coward.’ Lady Macbeth’s language towards Macbeth is negative as she believes her husband is too weak to fulfil the predications of the witches and make her Queen. However Macbeth’s dilemma is obvious as he is planning to kill the King and his guilt over his plan makes this a key scene in Macbeth’s mental deterioration. The monarch in the early 11th was to be respected and people believed were divine rulers picked by God. By choosing to go against God and his King, Macbeth displays his want or obsession for power. Macbeth also reveals how disturbed he is in Act 3, Scene 4 and Act 2, Scene 1. In both scenes, Macbeth sees ghosts of hallucinations of a dagger and Banquo. His soliloquy about the dagger illustrates a guilty conscience and conflicted mind. ‘I have thee not, and yet I see thee still’ expresses that Macbeth is un-nerved and feels pressured into doing what his wife wants. Act 3, Scene 4 has a dramatic irony as Macbeth and the audience know that Macbeth murdered Banquo but the Thanes do not. Banquo can be considered a physical manifestation of his guilt, worry and remorse. The ghost never speaks; Shakespeare uses Banquo to confirm the feelings of Macbeth about the murder. It shows the extent of how conflicted he is about the death of Banquo and how power has gone to his head. Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony reveals to the audience what others can’t see. In Act 3, Scenes 3-4, it is revealed that Banquo has been killed. However the other Thanes do not know this. The scenes also reveal a symbolic fall from grace in terms of the social aspect of Macbeth’s life. When Macbeth was a Thane, he socialised with people who were above his social status. However as King, there is no-one who has a higher status than his which then leads Macbeth to associate with people of a lower class than the people he is obligated to. When talking to the murderers it is pointed out that ‘there is blood upon thy face’ which shows that Macbeth instigated the murder of a friends. The two scenes symbolise how Macbeth has become infatuated with power and is willing to do anything to keep it. This exhibits his obsessive nature. Macbeth’s use of language in Act 5, Scene 5 infers that life is pointless. He suggests that life until we die means no thing. ‘Creeps in this petty pace from day To the last syllable of recorded time.’ During this scene he finds out Lady Macbeth died, showing the extent that he relies on his wife. Shakespeare uses the scene to tell the audience that you can’t control destiny and what happens in life. This relates to his disturbed mind as he tried to control his destiny. An emphasis is put on the fact the word ‘tomorrow’ is repeated. It implies that Macbeth won’t have a ‘tomorrow.’ Shakespeare uses language to show how much Macbeth has changed throughout the play. At first he was a respected character and gradually becomes more disturbed. Thus scene suggests that he is essentially lost and resigned to his fate. The Duke however is a possessive and materialistic character. This is shown through the title ‘My Last Duchess’. ‘My’ displays how even in death his last wife belongs to him even she won’t be his ‘Last Duchess’. The title also displays a theme of the marriage market and the ownership of women. This poem is set in Victorian times when women were considered and treated as trophy and weren’t given a choice in any aspect of his life. This can be referred back to his earlier statement of Ã¢â‚¬Ë œsince none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you but I).’ Browning’s use of personal pro-nouns such as ‘I’, and ‘My’ shows how possessive the Duke is. He only drew back the curtain to show off his most prized possession, his last wife. His need to control who sees the painting and his wife demonstrates the obsessive and disturbed nature of the Duke straight away, unlike Macbeth’s who’s mental state deteriorates throughout the text. The entire poem is an example of dramatic monologue. Through this, the Duke reveals what he thought of his last wife. It is one very long conversation, show the reader insights into the Dukes personal life and feeling. ‘Who’d stoop to blame this sort of trifling?’ The Duke feels that his wife disregards his ‘gift of a nine-hundred-year old name’ and prefers insignificant gifts such as ‘the bough of cherries’ or the ‘white mule.’ Through his later statement, he tries to make excuses for killing his wife. Browning uses enjambment to give the impression of a continued speech. When read aloud, this makes it hard to read the poem without stopping and starting as well as seeming arrogant as if boasting the Dukes achievements. Browning also shows that by commenting on certain subjects; in this instance his wife, can reveal more about the person making the comments than the subject itself. The Duke is materialistic, possessive and likes to show off. ‘(Since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you).’ He believes the envoy should be honoured to see a painting of his wife by ‘Fra Pandolf.’ The Duke displays his need to control his wife and what they are doing through his control of the curtain that hides his wife. Furthermore, he has control over whether people see the painting and it symbolises his need for control, over his life and others. He uses artwork to control the uncontrollable such as his wife’s affections and others admiration. He reveals more than he intends to when he implies that he murdered his wife. ‘Then the smiles stopped altogether.’ It develops the idea that the term disturbed, for the Duke, means that he needs to be in control or he ‘commands’ for her to be killed or disposed of. Another interpretation of this quote could be that he locked ‘Fra Pandolf’ and his ‘Last Duchess’ up because the painter may have caused the ‘half-flush that dies along her throat’ In ‘My Last Duchess,’ Browning’s use of language indicates that while the words are polite, the meanings behind them are savage. The use of caesura cuts the poetry in half and the use of dashes dictates the Dukes tone. ‘I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped.’ While the line itself seems meaningless, his earlier statements such as ‘looking as if she were alive’ and ‘blame this sort of trifling’ gives the impression that he murdered or imprisoned his wife. Browning purposely uses the next lines to show the Duke has given to much away, ‘Will’t thee please rise?’ This refers to his psychological state as he has revealed that he doesn’t care about killing his spouse but he is worried about revealing too much to an envoy. An emphasis is put on his quick change of topic through the use of caesura, ‘As if alive. Will’t thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ It cuts the poetry in half and shows he has revealed too much into his personal life. After quickly changing the subject the Duke goes back to showing of his wealth. The final lines of the poem show a powerful image, ‘Notice Neptune, though. Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity.’ The imagery represents a man taming a woman, which suggests to the reader that women are inferior to men. A different perspective could be that women are animals that need to be tamed. The poem was written in 1842 when women were considered inferior to men and the image of Neptun e and his sea-horse represents this. The Duke once again returns to possessions, with all his money and power, he can’t buy love. The Duke doesn’t realise how much of himself he has given away throughout the criticism of his wife. It suggests that part of his disturbed nature comes from not have affection. The Duke and Macbeth are both similar characters as they both hold a high status and money. However while the ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and eventually ‘the King of Scotland’ holds his wife in high regard, the Duke is disrespectful towards his. A theme of both the poem and the play is how women act and how they were treated. In ‘My Last Duchess,’ the wife acts like a traditional wife in the 1800’s. She seems to be modest, ‘half flush that dies along her throat’ and easily pleased, ‘She looked on and her looks went everywhere.’ Women at the time were considered possessions and trophies by their father and later their husband. In contrast, Lady Macbeth is revealed to be the dominant partner. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are discussing murdering King Duncan. She asserts her control over him insults him and tells him not to give anything away. ‘Your face, my thane, is a book where men May read strange matters.’ Shakespeare depicts Lady Macbeth as an equal in her relationship, while Browning presents the Duchess as an obedient wife.