The Rake and the Coquet in Restoration Literature Essay Example for Free

The Rake and the Coquet in Restoration Literature Essay Going by definitions alone, a rake is merely a disreputable character, and ought to serve nothing other than a villain in literary endeavor. But when we come to consider the ‘Restoration rake’ we encounter complexity and richness, which needs further analyze. The same must be said of the Restoration coquet. To call such figures anti-heroes would be too simplistic. A more complete account would be to depict the Restoration rake, as well as the coquet, as instruments of reaction against the excesses of Puritanism. In this sense it is not pure evil that is projected, rather we should see such depictions as reflecting the quest for individual liberty and control. At the time the evolution of European society was in the direction of increasing individualism, a trend which was reflected in literature. In many respects literature itself was agent in the evolution. The literary rake and coquet figures were, from this point of view, instrumental in defining and furthering individualism. According to Johnson, a rake is â€Å"loose disorderedly vicious, wild, gay, thoughtless fellow; a man addicted to pleasure†. This description seems hardly strong enough to describe the sort of rake that trod the planks of Restoration theatre. Generally the entire cast was rakish to an extent, in a play like The Country Wife by William Wycherley. But the prize rake in this play is Harry Horner, whose one aim in life is to make cuckolds of as many upper class husbands as possible. He first spreads a rumor that he is impotent, which makes his task much easier, and he is then shown womanizing with abandon. But this is my no means a one dimensional figure of evil and lustful designs, as we would expect from a villain character. As Harold Weber points out, â€Å"the rake is too complex and enigmatic a figure to be reduced to a sexual machine: his love of disguise, need for freedom, and fondness for play all establish the complexity of the rakish personality† (3). To understand rationale behind such a depiction we must consider the backdrop to the Restoration age. Restoration meant the overcoming of Puritanism, which may be described as overzealous Protestantism. It may also be described as individualism in its religious guise, for the Puritan’s one goal is personal communion with God. Puritans zeal proscribed all display of sensuality, and under Cromwell’s Protectorate all forms of theatre were banned, and the general tenor of life was suffocatingly austere. The Restoration meant that all these trends would be reversed, and the task was made all the easier because the new king Charles II was a consummate rake in his own right. He was a womanizer and a hedonist, and he gathered in his court like-minded wits, who practiced the letters with his libertine philosophy in mind. An avid theatre goer, he patronized and shaped the new theatre much to his own taste, encouraging the likes of Wycherley. From this perspective the theatrical rake is far more than just a villain, and we recognize in him a violent reaction against Puritanism. He is projecting the ideal of worldly individualism as against the religious type. Indeed we should be able to detect a fervor akin to religion in the vigor and enthusiasm of Horner’s sensual ways. In this regard Weber says, â€Å"[T]he rake represents the initial attempts of English culture to transfer control of sexuality from the divine to the secular world† (Weber 10). Alexander Pope gives us the typical coquette in his mock epic poem The Rape of the Lock. The poem depicts the decadence of the Georgian upper classes, where vanity and affectation have become rampant. Johnson describes a coquette as one whose â€Å"appearance is fundamental†, and who is playfully adventurous in her sexual exploits. Belinda has four guardian angels protecting her chastity, which is in truth her vanity, for her one goal is to marry into fortune. When an admirer snips a lock of her hair, it is taken as violation of the highest order, because it is her appearance that has been violated. She tells the offender: â€Å"Oh, hadst thou, cruel! been content to seize / Hairs less in sight, or any hairs but these!† (Pope 49). The ‘hairs less in sight’ are suggesting pubic hairs. The gist is therefore that sexual violation, and therefore loss of virginity, is of less consequence then spoiling her appearance. Even though Pope is critical of Belinda’s vanity, it is conveyed in a lighthearted and playful manner, and so retains echoes of Restoration drama. In this mood, both the rake and the coquet are representative of individualism and freedom, rather than of vice. In conclusion, the rake and the coquette, as depicted in Restoration drama and Augustan literature, are not true villains, but have a sympathetic aspect. The must be seen as reactions against Puritan zeal, and therefore as projecting worldly individualism. Works Cited Johnson, Samuel. Johnsons Dictionary: A Modern Selection. London: Gollancz, 1963. Pope, Alexander. Selected Poetry. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1998. Weber, Harold. The Restoration Rake-Hero: Transformations in Sexual Understanding in Seventeeth-Century England. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1986. Wycherley, William. The Country Wife and Other Plays. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Relationship Building as Means for Prevention of Behavior Problems in S

Many children come to school with behavior problems that impede their learning and disrupt the the learning of other children. As early as preschool as many as twenty-five percent of children demonstrate problematic behaviors which place them at risk for future negative school experiences (Conroy, M., Sutherland, K., Haydon, T., Stormont, M., & Harmon, J, 2009). These children exhibit aggression, defiance, bullying of others, poor work habits, and acting out in class. Overtime these behaviors become chronic for some students and cyclical patterns of poor behavior, reactionary discipline, failed relationships with staff and peers, low self-esteem, and poor academic performance plague these children. Many teachers feel frustrated as they spend the majority of their classroom management time on the same few children each day. This ongoing anger and frustration further isolates these students from their teachers. Attempts to teach expectations and proper school behaviors fail. These stud ent frequently become problem students each year. Over the course of several years these students begin to see themselves as failures and actively begin self-sabotaging behaviors leading to a permanent loss of academic achievement of a lifetime of low self-esteem. Many children with severe behavior problems have significant emotional trauma, serious emotional losses, and deficits in social skills. These problems never offically diagnosed or professionally treated despite their effects on the children. Children with chronically challenging behavior frequently come with a history of abuse or neglect. They often come from homes with significant instability or a chaotic environment. Often their parents have histories of drug abuse or mental illness. Acco... ...ocial Interactions in Head Start Classrooms and Early Reading, Mathematics, and Approaches to Learning. School Psychology Review, 40(1), 39-56. Conroy, M., Sutherland, K., Haydon, T., Stormont, M., & Harmon, J. (2009). Preventing and Ameliorating Young Children's Chronic Problem Behaviors: An Ecological Classroom-Based Approach. Psychology In The Schools, 46(1), 3-17. Gest, S. D., & Gest, J. M. (2005). Reading Tutoring for Students at Academic and Behavioral Risk: Effects on Time-On-Task in the Classroom. Education & Treatment Of Children (ETC), 28(1), 25-47. Matheson, A., & Shriver, M. D. (2005). Training Teachers to Give Effective Commands: Effects on Student Compliance and Academic Behaviors. School Psychology Review, 34(2), 202-219. Sitler, H. (2009). Teaching with Awareness: The Hidden Effects of Trauma on Learning. Clearing House, 82(3), 119-123.

Swimming allows the body to burn calories

Swimming is one of the best exercises to get a person into shape.   From a scientific perspective, swimming has been found to be the ideal physical fitness activity.It targets many of the body’s muscles and helps strengthen and develop one’s body.   In fact, most researchers agree that swimming is the only activity that works on the entire body by improving a person’s cardiovascular conditioning, increasing a person’s muscle strength, improving one’s endurance, fixing one’s posture and making one more flexible all at the same time.These benefits that one can gain from swimming are unmatched by any sport as only swimming offers all of these benefits.   This short report shall discuss a few of the more specific reasons why swimming is the ideal physical fitness activity.The first reason, as already mentioned, is that swimming gives one a complete body workout.   It benefits the cardiovascular system without straining one’s heart and improves a person’s use of oxygen.   The timed breathing required in swimming conditions the body and allows a person to improve not only his endurance but also a person’s lung capacity.Swimming is also a perfect complement for cross-training workouts.   As a person who swims becomes more fit, the resting heart rate and respiratory rate is reduced thus allowing for more blood to flow into the heart and making the lungs more efficient.   Since swimming gives a complete body workout, it also allows one to burn calories faster than in any other sport.   A runner, on average, burns as many calories on a six mile run in one hour as a swimmer who was been swimming for one hour has burned.   Swimming not only develops one’s body but also helps people lose weight fast and helps keep people in good health.Another reason why swimming is considered as an ideal exercise arises from the fact that when a person swims the impact on the joints and bones is signifi cantly reduced by the buoyancy of the water.   The weight bearing environment of swimming therefore provides little stress to the body’s connective tissue and joints.This means that the body is not only strengthened but also protected from the wear and tear on the bones and joints.   Since a person weighs nearly 1/10th of his or her body weight in water, there is less gravitational stress on the body.   This greatly reduces the incidence of injuries and allows for a relatively rigorous and injury free work out.Swimming allows the body to burn calories at a rate of about three (3) calories a mile per pound of bodyweight.   Therefore, if a person weights approximately 150 (lbs) pounds and it take that person thirty (30) minutes to swim one (1) mile, which is about 1,760 yards or 1,600 meters, then that person will be burning almost 900 calories in one (1) hour.It is important to remember of course that these estimates may vary for different swimmers depending on skill a nd actual degree of physical conditioning.One of the most difficult things that a person encounters when getting into shape is the boredom from the routine.   Swimming is not only great exercise but it is also an entertaining activity.   It is fun for not only individuals but for groups as well and makes it easier for people who want to get in shape keep up their routine without getting bored.From a psychological perspective, swimming allows people to relax and swim with very little effort.   When a swimmer gets into the rhythm of swimming and allows the mind to focus on the stroke, it is similar to a form of meditation that provides the body with an overall feeling of general well being.Studies have shown that people who swim in the mornings or begin their days by swimming are more likely to have more energy for the rest of the day and are less likely to feel stressed or pressured.Swimming does not only give a person the psychological feeling of well being but also helps in o ther aspects such as the development of certain life skills namely sportsmanship, time-management, self-discipline, goal-setting, and an increased sense of self-worth through their participation in the sport.These reasons have led to the establishment of swimming as one of the best exercises to help a person maintain a healthy physique.

How to Conjugate the French Verb Payer (to Pay)