Importance of Art in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay -- Jane Eyre E

Importance of Art in Jane Eyre      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is said that art is like a mirror to the soul, a way to see what the artist is feeling deep down in their heart.   It is as if their most personal thoughts and ideas are reflected in their work, either consciously or unconsciously.   Charlotte Brontà « utilizes this fact in her imagery and portrait of Jane Eyre.   Color and vivid description play a vital role explaining the process of emotional and physical maturation throughout the novel, from young Jane's recollection of the red room in Gateshead to her final reminiscence of Ferndean's gloomy facade. There is no better example of this process than Jane's own artistic abilities as they progress through life.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To best examine and explore the progress of Jane's emotional and temperamental development, it is important to construct a frame of reference, to have a base from which to work towards her final character. Her childhood home, Gateshead provides the groundwork of her emotional/character being, which at the beginning of the story is an isolated creature, devoid of loving and nurturing contact and shunned by humanity.   Two excerpts from her stay at Gateshead illustrate this fact, her reading of Bewick's "History of British Birds," and her punishment for striking Master John, the stay in the red room of Gateshead.   In the opening scene, Jane is found perusing a copy of Bewick's "History of British Birds," concentrating on the descriptions of the certain landscapes in which some of the birds live.   Her words paint a mental picture, one that represents her childhood,    "Of these death-white realms I formed an idea of my o... ...ituality from Helen Burns" is by no means meaningless, but it lacks depth.   To present another facet into the story, imagery reflects the conditions of Jane's life, conferring a tangible and viable outlet for her imagination, and a vehicle to her soul.   As her life develops, so does her ability, and the enjoyment she receives from this talent.   Truly, Jane Eyre would still be a great novel in the absence of the painting, but it would make it that much harder to touch the fabric of it's character's being.       Bibliography    Brontà «, Charlotte.   Jane Eyre.   Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1996.    Endnotes    1) Charlotte Brontà «, Jane Eyre (Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1996), p. 21.    2) Brontà «, p. 131.    3) Brontà «, p.132.    4) Brontà «, p. 233.

Handel’s Opera

George Friderick Handel (1685-1759) writes all of his opera for over 35 years. Almost within his lifetime though his operas were considered to be almost obsolete with regards to format yet were of the finest kind. Due to format Handel's opera were the most neglected in all of his works until recently. As with most of the musical artist of his time, Handel's opera were modeled on both German and Italian style, with some modifications to suit his artistic taste and that of the English for which they were produced (Sadie, 1992, 614). In the span of his career, Handel composed more than forty operas. True to the nature of Baroque music, most of these operas show elements of the use of dance rhythms and elaborate melodic lines. Although born a German, Handel's opera was influenced by the conventions of the Italian opera seria, became its most important composer with Fench grandeur. Perhaps Handel's greatest contribution to the field of opera was his ability to convey emotions with sincerity and clarity through melody, so that he often used the opera seria convention of the da capo aria with dramatic and surprising effect (Sadie, 1992, 614). Handel's first opera was Almira composed in 1705. His fascination with Italians trends showed through his motto arias and obbligato accompaniment in concerto style. In this work however, Handel also showed the influence of his German training as seen by his tendency to repeat rhythmic patterns and relatively infrequent use of highly melismatic melodies. Handel had tried to replace the disorganized plots of much serious middle Baroque opera, with a new type which was strictly organized and formally predictable. Each scene was constructed mostly by a series of alternating recitatives and arias (usually da capo arias) after which the main characters would exit. His opera entitled Agrippina (1709) shown in Venice catapulted Handel to fame. This work shows an extensive borrowings from an earlier (lost) opera, Rodrigo, as well as his earlier cantatas. His success in opera occurred at a time when opera was forbidden in Rome (O'Grady, 1998). Handle's major Operas were Ottone (1723), Giulio Cesare (1724), Tamerlano (1724), Rinaldo (rev. 1731).

Glorious Revolution Definition, History, and Significance

The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless coup that took place from 1688-1689, in which Catholic King James II of England was deposed and succeeded by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her Dutch husband, Prince William III of Orange. Motivated by both politics and religion, the revolution led to the adoption of the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and forever changed how England was governed. As the Parliament gained more control over the previously absolute authority of the royal monarchy, the seeds of modern political democracy were sown.   Key Takeaways: The Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution refers to the events of 1688–89 that led to Catholic King James II of England being deposed and replaced on the throne by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband William III, Prince of Orange.  The Glorious Revolution arose from James II’s attempts to expand freedom of worship for Catholics in opposition to the desires of the Protestant majority.The Glorious Revolution resulted in the English Bill of Rights that established England as a constitutional rather than absolute monarchy and served as the model for the U.S. Bill of Rights. King James IIs Reign   When James II took the throne of England in 1685, already tense relations between Protestants and Catholics were growing worse. A devout Catholic himself, James expanded freedom of worship for Catholics and favored Catholics in appointing military officers. James’ apparent religious favoritism, along with his close diplomatic ties with France, angered many of the English people and drove a dangerous political wedge between the monarchy and the British Parliament.   James II, portrait. King of England and Ireland from 6 February 1685 until he was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Culture Club / Getty Images In March 1687, James issued a controversial Royal Declaration of Indulgence suspending all laws punishing Protestants who rejected the Church of England. Later the same year, James II dissolved Parliament and tried to create a new Parliament that would agree never to oppose or question his rule according to the â€Å"divine right of kings† doctrine of absolutism.   James’ Protestant daughter, Mary II, remained the only rightful heir to the English throne until 1688, when James had a son, whom he vowed to raise as a Catholic. Fear soon arose that this change in the line of royal succession would result in a Catholic dynasty in England.  Ã‚   In Parliament, James’ stiffest opposition came from the Whigs, an influential political party whose members favored a constitutional monarchy over James’ absolute monarchy. Having failed in an attempt to pass a bill to exclude James from the throne between 1679 and 1681, the Whigs were especially outraged by the potential long line of Catholic succession to the throne posed by his reign. James’ continued efforts to advance Catholic emancipation, his unpopular friendly relationship with France, his conflict with the Whigs in Parliament, and uncertainty over his successor to the throne fanned the flame of revolution.  Ã‚   Invasion of William III In 1677, James II’s Protestant daughter, Mary II, had married her first cousin William III, then the Prince of Orange, a sovereign principality now part of Southern France. William had long planned to invade England in an effort to oust James and prevent the Catholic emancipation. However, William decided not to invade without some level of support within England itself. In April 1688, seven of King James’ peers wrote to William pledging their allegiance if he invaded England. In their letter, â€Å"The Seven† stated that â€Å"much the greatest part of the [English] nobility and gentry† were unhappy with James II’s reign and would align with William and his invading forces.   Emboldened by the pledge of support from dissatisfied English noblemen and prominent Protestant clergy, William assembled an impressive naval armada and invaded England, landing in Torbay, Devon, in November 1688.   James II had anticipated the attack and had personally led his army from London to meet William’s invading armada. However, several of James’ soldiers and family members turned on him and pledged their allegiance to William. With both his support and his health failing, James retreated back to London on November 23, 1688.   In what appeared to be an attempt to retain the throne, James offered to agree to a freely elected Parliament and to grant a general amnesty to all who had rebelled against him. In reality, however, James was stalling for time, having already decided to flee England. James feared that his Protestant and Whig enemies would demand that he be executed and that William would refuse to pardon him. In early December 1688, James II officially disbanded his army. On December 18, James II safely fled England, effectively abdicating the throne. William III of Orange, greeted by cheering crowds, entered London the same day. English Bill of Rights In January 1689, a deeply divided English Convention Parliament met to transfer the crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Radical Whigs argued that William should reign as an elected king, meaning his power would be derived from the people. Tories wanted to acclaim Mary as queen, with William as her regent. When William threatened to leave England if he was not made king, Parliament compromised on a joint monarchy, with William III as king, and James’ daughter Mary II, as queen.   William III and Mary II, King and Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, c1689. The Protestant William of Orange (1650-1702) and Mary Stuart (1662-1694) came to the throne following the Glorious Revolution. They ruled together until Marys death in 1694, after which William reigned alone. Artist Unknown.   Heritage Images / Getty Images Part of Parliament’s compromise agreement required that both William and Mary sign â€Å"An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown.† Popularly known as the English Bill of Rights, the act specified constitutional and civil rights of the people and gave Parliament far more power over the monarchy. Proving more willing to accept restrictions from Parliament than any previous monarchs, both William III and Mary II signed the English Bill of Rights in February 1689. Among other constitutional principles, the English Bill of Rights acknowledged the right for regular meetings of Parliaments, free elections, and freedom of speech in Parliament. Speaking to the nexus of the Glorious Revolution, it also prohibited the monarchy from ever coming under Catholic control.   Today, many historians believe the English Bill of rights was the first step in England’s conversion from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy and served as the model for the United States Bill of Rights.  Ã‚   Significance of the Glorious Revolution English Catholics suffered both socially and politically from the Glorious Revolution. For over a century, Catholics were not allowed to vote, sit in Parliament, or serve as commissioned military officers. Until 2015, the sitting monarch of England was forbidden to be Catholic or to marry a Catholic. The English Bill of Rights of 1689 began the age of English parliamentary democracy. Not since its enactment has an English king or queen held absolute political power. The Glorious Revolution also played a significant role in the history of the United States. The Revolution freed the Protestant Puritans living in the American colonies of several of the harsh laws imposed on them by Catholic King James II. News of the Revolution spurred hopes of independence among the American colonists, leading to several protests and uprisings against English rule.   Perhaps most importantly, the Glorious Revolution served as the basis for constitutional law establishing and defining governmental power, as well as the granting and limitation of rights. These principles regarding the division of powers and functions among well-defined executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of government have been incorporated into the constitutions of England, the United States, and many other Western countries.   Sources and Further Reference Kenyon, John P. James II: King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Encyclopedia Britannica.Hutton, Ronald. The Restoration: a political and religious history of England and Wales 1658-1667. Oxford Scholarship (1985).  Royal Declaration of Indulgence. Revolvy.comThe Convention Parliament. British Civil Wars Project.MacCubbin, R. P.; Hamilton-Phillips, M., eds. (1988). The Age of William III and Mary II: Power, Politics adn Patronage, 1688-1702. William and Mary College. ISBN 978-0-9622081-0-2.The Convention and Bill of Rights. United Kingdom Parliament Website.