Ethical Virtue and Nobility Essay - 1022 Words

Aristotle, in the Nicomachean Ethics, asserts that every ethical virtue aims at what is noble. In order to establish his definition of nobility, Aristotle takes the example of the virtue of courage. This virtue aims at what is noble, namely the common good, and this noble end is reached through courageous acts done by a brave man. There is a direct relationship between becoming good and loving what is noble. In order to become a good person, one must be conditioned to love what is noble and hate what is ignoble. This person will develop the proper character and be able to perform virtuous acts. One cannot become good without reverence for nobility. Furthermore, there also is a direct relationship between ethics and what is noble. Ethics†¦show more content†¦The brave man in battle therefore exhibits the noblest and greatest form of courage. Aristotle goes on to elaborate the meaning of bravery. The man is in a healthy middle between cowardice and rashness. He is not fearles s in every situation, as one might assume, but instead is the man who â€Å"faces and who fears the right things and from the right motive, in the right way and at the right time, and who feels confidence under the corresponding conditions† (EN III.7). Virtuous actions are done for their own sake, and so the same applies to the virtue of courage. The brave man works for courage as an end, which is noble. Therefore, the brave man acts courageously for a noble end. The concept of nobility becomes clear here. The brave man enters into a dangerous situation with a high possibility of death for the good of others. This self-sacrifice and aim for the common good is most likely what Aristotle had in mind when referring to nobility. As for how loving what is noble is connected to becoming good, a love for nobility is necessary to be able to do good acts and be a good person. No one is born good and development of the soul is required for a person to become good. In order to have peop le act in accordance to good, they have to be â€Å"cultivated by means of habits for noble joy and noble hatred† (EN X.9). In order to instill virtue, for most people force is needed and their good actionsShow MoreRelatedRole of Gods and Goddesses in Homers Iliad845 Words   |  4 PagesThrough these attachments the individual members of the audience go through a catharsis, a term which Aristotle borrowed from the medical writers of his day, which means a refining -- the viewer of a tragedy refines his or her sense of difficult ethical issues through a vicarious experious of such thorny problems. Clearly, for Aristotles theory to work, the tragic hero must be a complex and well-constructed character, as in Sophocles Oedipus the King. As a tragic hero, Oedipus elicits the threeRead MoreAristotle s Doctrine Of The Mean Real Quick1571 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle discusses one of his most famous principles in great detail, the ‘Doctrine of the Mean’. It declare s that a moral (ethical) action is a mean between two extremes, and that a virtuous person is capable of choosing the mean consistently. Although the first example of means given above is arithmetic in nature, Aristotle’s doctrine applies to a much wider set. Ethical virtue, Aristotle asserts, is a habit, disposed toward action by deliberate choice, being at the mean relative to us, and definedRead MoreThe Idea Of A University1528 Words   |  7 Pagesconnection between knowledge and virtue. It is not in Newman’s attempt to use liberal education to form the way men makes choices. He believes there should not be a morale correlation to education and ethical decision making, saying, â€Å"knowledge is one thing, virtue is another; good sense is not conscience, refinement is not humility, nor is largeness and justice of view faith.† He does emphasis that the knowledge one obtains through liberal education may lead to better virtue because of the vastness ofRead MoreComparing The Attitude Towards Human Nature On Confucianism And Legalism1589 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"good government and harmonio us human relations† (Chan, 15). In order to achieve such a lofty goal, he advocated for government that ruled with morality and virtue, instead of punishment and forceful suppression. From the Analects, the viewpoints and values of Confucianism towards human nature mentioned prior are made clear. Confucius urged ethical and virtuous behavior, and believed a responsible government was a moral obligation of mankind. Such values are readily observed in the Analects, such asRead MoreSimilarities Between Confucianism And Taoism794 Words   |  4 Pagesother as well as the relationships that humans had with nature. They were atheistic in a sense that they had no supreme being, but they did believe in Tien which can be thought of as heaven for confusions. This concept of Tien was used to promote ethical rule, leading to the concept that humanity was perfectible via education and that morality is a matter of practice or habits. This was their idea of propriety, which has an emphasis on rituals to care for the diseased similarly to the way one shouldRead MoreThe Wonderful Wizard Of Oz1522 Words   |  7 PagesContesting Conjectures in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz An individual can claim to be ethical, but validation requires consistently commendable action. This assertion connects to L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which he follows the journey and maturation of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion as they travel the Land of Oz pursuing objects and virtues they already possess. When a cyclone carries Dorothy and her dog Toto to an alternate universe in whichRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Euripides Medea 1080 Words   |  5 Pagesking, to whom Jason is now kin, thus his high position in society. He is taking a noble outlook on the matter and refuses to let Medea ruin his values and virtues. Although Medea has wronged him and spoken ill of he and his new family, he still offers her help and cannot bring himself to do the same, or feel the same. He maintains his nobility and strong character throughout, not straying from his path excluding his tragic flaw of adultery. Medea cannot be considered a tragic hero due to her actionsRead MoreEssay about Chivalry in the Middle Ages: Illusion or Reality?1922 Words   |  8 Pagesquestioned whether the knights and nobility of the time actually took it any more seriously than we do. Johan Huizinga described it as â€Å"a cloak for a whole world of violence and self-interest† , an â€Å"illusion of society [that] clashed with the reality of things† , and in our rather cynical age, this is probably the predominant view of the middle ages. Nonetheless, it is not a view that has gone unchallenged by more recent historians, and even Huizinga concedes that for the nobility, chivalry constituted â€Å"anRead MoreA Comparison Of A Bodhisattva And Junzi870 Words   |  4 Pagesengaging. The equivalent of an accomplished religious figure in Buddhism is a bhodisattva, or one who is dedicates his life to attaining complete enlightenment for all living beings. A superior person in Confucianism is one is â€Å"worthy of high station by virtue of moral achievement† (Hagen). These figures parallel each other in terms of action, relationships, and morality. In the following essay, I will compare the relating aspects of the junzi and bodhisattva. In their moral characteristics, the bodhisattvaRead MoreThe Media and Its Responsibilities Essays1688 Words   |  7 Pagesevery citizen. I will discuss the unease relating to media responsibility today, but I will also challenge to depict the importance of the responsibility. A utilitarian purpose can be proficient only through an endeavor to added diverse ethical standards established by the social order improve our society. The media are what we read, listen to and watch; the foremost impact is psychological, intellectual and share commercial implications. Many media outlets cater to the business

Suicide Soliloquy in Hamlet Essay - 1210 Words

William Shakespeare is a famous English playwright. His play Hamlet centers around Hamlets decision on how to seek revenge for his father’s death. However, Hamlet is unsure of what course of action he wants to take to exact his revenge. He discusses the idea of suicide as a possible option in his â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy. In this soliloquy, Shakespeare uses metaphors, rhetorical questions, and repetition to express Hamlet’s indecision regarding what he should do. Shakespeare uses metaphors to express Hamlet’s view of life, death, and the afterlife. Hamlet first introduces the idea of suicide as a way to end the sufferings of life: â€Å"and by a sleep to say we end/ The heartache and the thousand natural shocks/ That flesh is heir to†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Shakespeare also incorporates religious undertones in this soliloquy because of the metaphor of the afterlife and the dreams that may come. Hamlet eventually comes to a decision to not take his life because he is afraid of the unknown: â€Å"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,/ And thus the native hue of resolution/ Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,/ And enterprises of great pitch and moment/ With this regard their currents turn awry/ And lose the name of action† (III. i. 91-96). With his decision, Shakespeare is expressing the conscience as the logical part of Hamlet that is afraid because he does not know what would come with death. The metaphor in lines ninety-two and ninety-three is referring to the instinctual action of suicide overpowered by fears. Shakespeare is saying that even though sleep may bring Hamlet peace, he is too afraid of the dreams that may come to go through with the thought of taking his own life. The metaphors that Shakespeare uses creates a euphonious, artistic representation of Hamlet’s indecision toward the course of action he should take. In this soliloquy, Hamlet asks many rhetorical questions. He begins the soliloquy with a question: â€Å"To be or not to be-- that is the question† (III. i. 64). In these few words, Shakespeare has introduced a very powerful motif: suicide.Show MoreRelatedHamlet, By William Shakespeare996 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet, written by William Shakespeare, with out a doubt holds the most famous soliloquy in English history spoken by Hamlet in Act III, scene i, lines 57-90. This soliloquy holds much importance to the play as a whole because it ties together the reoccurring themes of suicide and Hamlet’s inaction portrayed by Shakespeare. Hamlet poses a problem, which is the driving force of the play: â€Å"To be or not to be?†(III.i.57). Shakespeare uses this logical question asked by Hamlet to drive out his underlyingRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare929 Words   |  4 PagesHamlets Soliloquys Drama literature is told through a story of dialogue about a character who experiences conflict through out the play. These kind of plays are often performed on the stage of a theatre. One of the most famous screenwriters of the 16th through the early 17th century was William Shakespeare, and his work continues to live on in the 21st century. The longest play Shakespeare had ever written was Hamlet, which is about a young prince who grieves over the death of his father and seeksRead MoreAnalysis Of Hamlets By William Shakespeare930 Words   |  4 PagesHamlets Soliloquys Dramatic literature is told through a story of dialogue about a character who experiences conflict throughout the play. These kind of plays is often performed on the stage of a theatre. One of the most famous screenwriters of the 16th through the early 17th century was William Shakespeare, and his work continues to live on in the 21st century. The longest play Shakespeare had ever written was Hamlet, which is about a young prince who grieves over the death of his father and seeksRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Essay784 Words   |  4 Pages25th, 2017 In the play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet performs many soliloquies. His most famous and well known soliloquy would be â€Å"to be or not to be†. In this soliloquy he contemplates his death, he wants to end all of his pain and suffering. Hamlet has many different thoughts and feelings throughout this soliloquy. His personality is extremely indecisive which makes him unable to make up his mind. The main theme portrayed in this soliloquy is suicide and Hamlet’s continuous contemplationRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 924 Words   |  4 Pageswritten was Hamlet, which is about a young prince who grieves over the death of his father and seeks revenge as he learns that it was King Claudius responsible for his father’s death. Throughout the play Hamlet expresses his thoughts through different soliloquys. Hamlets soliloquy in Act I, â€Å"O that this too, too sullied flesh†, contrasts from his famous soliloquy in Act III, â€Å"To Be or N ot to Be†, and both reflect issues of the times in which Shakespeare had lived in. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, â€Å"O thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Hamlets Character Development Throughout His Soliloquies1370 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet’s Character Development Throughout his Soliloquies Soliloquies are common in Shakespeare’s plays as it allows characters in the play to speak directly to the audience and address their true thoughts and feelings. In Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet has several soliloquies that help to form a deeper, more developed character. These soliloquies give the reader the opportunity to understand how Hamlet is struggling with his father’s death and his mother’s new marriage. They alsoRead MoreSoliloquy of Hamlet768 Words   |  4 PagesJustin Minh English Nov. 21st 2010 Soliloquy Analysis â€Å"To be, or not to be†(III. 1. 57) is one of the most famous lines in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. In the soliloquy of Act III scene one, Hamlet juggles around the idea of life or death. Hamlets soliloquy lays out his conception on whether he shall continue to live miserably or commit suicide. The soliloquy also reveals one of Hamlet’s fears. Hamlet’s monologue creates strong visualizations of his options â€Å"To beRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1712 Words   |  7 PagesIn this play â€Å"Hamlet† written by William Shakespeare, there are many soliloquies that are said by Hamlet to depict various meanings of his thoughts, feelings, and actions that are inside of him. More specifically the soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1, in lines 57-91 starts off with the famous saying known as â€Å"To be, or not to be†. Throughout this soliloquy, Hamlet is asking himself the question of whether it is better to live or n ot to live. In life, we are faced with many situations where we feel theRead MoreInvestigating the Function of the Main Soliloquies in Shakespeares Hamlet1614 Words   |  7 PagesInvestigating the Function of the Main Soliloquies in Shakespeares Hamlet â€Å"Hamlet† is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in around 1601 when Queen Elizabeth the first was on the throne. In the play we see the royal court of Denmark becoming more and more corrupt with ghosts, murder, madness and incest, culminating in the highest death toll in any of Shakespeare’s plays. The lead character of Hamlet is an intellectual whose aim in the play is to avenge his father’sRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1208 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet is considered to be Shakespeare’s greatest work, and the soliloquy to be or not to be is equally as famous. Hamlet is one of the greatest dramatic characters of all time and the role of Hamlet is one that many actors strive to play. Shakespeare wrote the character Hamlet in a very specific manner and it is because of this that few have found success in performing this role. Moreover the soliloquy to be or not to be has been one that has defined the level of success of an actors role of Hamlet

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Ten Free Essays

string(101) " last irritated look in his direction, then turned to Grace to continue their previous conversation\." Jack’s usual response when delivered unpleasant tidings was to smile. This was his response to pleasant news as well, of course, but anyone could grin when offered a compliment. It took talent to curve one’s lips in an upward direction when ordered, say, to clean out a chamber pot or risk one’s life by sneaking behind enemy lines to determine troop numbers. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Ten or any similar topic only for you Order Now But he generally managed it. Excrement†¦moving defenseless among the French†¦he always reacted with a dry quip and a lazy smile. This was not something he’d had to cultivate. Indeed, the midwife who’d brought him into the world swore to her dying day that he was the only baby she’d ever seen who emerged from his mother’s womb smiling. He disliked conflict. He always had, which had made his chosen professions – the military, followed by genteel crime – somewhat interesting. But firing a weapon at a nameless frog or lifting a necklace from the neck of an overfed aristocrat – this was not conflict. Conflict – to Jack – was personal. It was a lover’s betrayal, a friend’s insult. It was two brothers vying for their father’s approval, a poor relation forced to swallow her pride. It involved a sneer, or a shrill voice, and it left a body wondering if he’d offended someone. Or disappointed another. He had found, with a near one hundred percent success rate, that a grin and a jaunty remark could defuse almost any situation. Or change any topic. Which meant that he very rarely had to discuss matters that were not of his choosing. Nonetheless, this time, when faced with the dowager and her unexpected (although, really, he should have expected it) announcement, all he could do was stare at her and say, â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"We must go to Ireland,† she said again, in that obey-me tone he expected she had been born with. â€Å"There is no way we shall get to the bottom of the matter without visiting the site of the marriage. I assume Irish churches keep records?† Good God, did she think all of them were illiterate? Jack forced down a bit of bile and said quite tightly, â€Å"Indeed.† â€Å"Good.† The dowager turned back to her breakfast, the matter good and settled in her mind. â€Å"We shall find whoever performed the ceremony and obtain the register. It is the only way.† Jack felt his fingers bending and flexing beneath the table. It felt as if his blood were going to burst through his skin. â€Å"Wouldn’t you prefer to send someone in your stead?† he inquired. The dowager regarded him as she might an idiot. â€Å"Who could I possibly trust with a matter of such importance? No, it must be me. And you, of course, and Wyndham, since I expect he will want to see whatever proof we locate as well.† The usual Jack would never have let such a comment pass without his own, exceedingly ironic, One would think, but this current Jack – the one who was desperately trying to figure out how he might travel to Ireland without being seen by his aunt, uncle, or any of his cousins – actually bit his lip. â€Å"Mr. Audley?† Grace said quietly. He didn’t look at her. He refused to look at her. She’d see far more in his face than the dowager ever would. â€Å"Of course,† he said briskly. â€Å"Of course we must go.† Because really, what else could he say? Terribly sorry, but I can’t go to Ireland, as I killed my cousin? Jack had been out of society for a number of years, but he was fairly certain this would not be considered good breakfast table conversation. And yes, he knew that he had not pulled a trigger, and yes, he knew that he had not forced Arthur to buy a commission and enter the army along with him, and yes – and this was the worst of it – he knew that his aunt would never even dream of blaming him for Arthur’s death. But he had known Arthur. And more importantly, Arthur had known him. Better than anyone. He’d known his every strength – and his every weakness – and when Jack had finally closed the door on his disastrous university career and headed off to the military, Arthur had refused to allow him to go alone. And they both knew why. â€Å"It might be somewhat ambitious to try to depart tomorrow,† Grace said. â€Å"You will have to secure passage, and – â€Å" â€Å"Bah!† was the dowager’s response. â€Å"Wyndham’s secretary can manage it. It’s about time he earned his wages. And if not tomorrow, then the next day.† â€Å"Will you wish for me to accompany you?† Grace asked quietly. Jack was just about to interject that, damn yes, she’d be going, or else he would not, but the dowager gave her a haughty look and replied, â€Å"Of course. You do not think I would make such a journey without a companion? I cannot bring maids – the gossip, you know – and so I will need someone to help me dress.† â€Å"You know that I am not very good with hair,† Grace pointed out, and to Jack’s horror, he laughed. It was just a short little burst of it, tinged with a loathsome nervous edge, but it was enough for both ladies to stop their conversation, and their meal, and turn to him. Oh. Brilliant. How was he to explain this? Don’t mind me, I was simply laughing at the ludicrousness of it all. You with your hair, me with my dead cousin. â€Å"Do you find my hair amusing?† the dowager asked sharply. And Jack, because he had absolutely nothing to lose, just shrugged and said, â€Å"A bit.† The dowager let out an indignant huff, and Grace positively glared at him. â€Å"Women’s hair always amuses me,† he clarified. â€Å"So much work, when all anyone really wants is to see it down.† They both seemed to relax a bit. His comment may have been risque, but it took the personal edge off the insult. The dowager tossed one last irritated look in his direction, then turned to Grace to continue their previous conversation. You read "The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Ten" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"You may spend the morning with Maria,† she directed. â€Å"She will show you what to do. It can’t be that difficult. Pull one of the scullery maids up from the kitchen and practice upon her. She’ll be grateful for the opportunity, I’m sure.† Grace looked not at all enthused, but she nodded and murmured, â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"See to it that the kitchen work does not suffer,† the dowager said, finishing the last of her stewed apples. â€Å"An elegant coiffure is compensation enough.† â€Å"For what?† Jack asked. The dowager turned to him, her nose somehow looking pointier than usual. â€Å"Compensation for what?† he restated, since he felt like being contrary. The dowager stared at him a moment longer, then must have decided he was best ignored, because she turned back to Grace. â€Å"You may commence packing my things once you are done with Maria. And after that, see to it that a suitable story is set about for our absence.† She waved her hand in the air as if it were a trifle. â€Å"A hunting cottage in Scotland will do nicely. The Borders, I should think. No one will believe it if you say I went to the Highlands.† Grace nodded silently. â€Å"Somewhere off the well-trod path, however,† the dowager continued, looking as if she were enjoying herself. â€Å"The last thing I need is for one of my friends to attempt to see me.† â€Å"Do you have many friends?† Jack asked, his tone so perfectly polite that she’d be wondering all day if she’d been insulted. â€Å"The dowager is much admired,† Grace said quickly, perfect little companion that she was. Jack decided not to comment. â€Å"Have you ever been to Ireland?† Grace asked the dowager. But Jack caught the angry look she shot him before turning to her employer. â€Å"Of course not.† The dowager’s face pinched. â€Å"Why on earth would I have done so?† â€Å"It is said to have a soothing effect on one’s temperament,† Jack said. â€Å"Thus far,† the dowager retorted, â€Å"I am not much impressed with its influences upon one’s manners.† He smiled. â€Å"You find me impolite?† â€Å"I find you impertinent.† Jack turned to Grace with a sad sigh. â€Å"And here I thought I was meant to be the prodigal grandson, able to do no wrong.† â€Å"Everyone does wrong,† the dowager said sharply. â€Å"The question is how little wrong one does.† â€Å"I would think,† Jack said quietly, â€Å"that it is more important what one does to rectify the wrong.† â€Å"Or perhaps,† the dowager snapped angrily, â€Å"one could manage not to make the mistake in the first place.† Jack leaned forward, interested now. â€Å"What did my father do that was so very very wrong?† â€Å"He died,† she said, and her voice was so bitter and full of chill that Jack heard Grace suck in her breath from across the table. â€Å"Surely you cannot blame him for that,† Jack murmured. â€Å"A freak storm, a leaky boat†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He should never have stayed so long in Ireland,† the dowager hissed. â€Å"He should never have gone in the first place. He was needed here.† â€Å"By you,† Jack said softly. The dowager’s face lost some of its usual stiffness, and for a moment he thought he saw her eyes grow moist. But whatever emotion came over her, it was swiftly tamped down, and she stabbed at her bacon and bit off, â€Å"He was needed here. By all of us.† Grace suddenly stood. â€Å"I will go find Maria now, your grace, if that is amenable.† Jack rose along with her. There was no way she was leaving him alone with the dowager. â€Å"I believe you promised me a tour of the castle,† he murmured. Grace looked from the dowager to him and back again. Finally the dowager flicked her hand in the air and said, â€Å"Oh, take him about. He should see his birthright before we leave. You may have your session with Maria later. I will remain and await Wyndham.† But as they reached the doorway, they heard her add softly, â€Å"If that is indeed still his name.† Grace was too angry to wait politely outside the doorway, and indeed, she was already halfway down the hall before Mr. Audley caught up with her. â€Å"Is this a tour or a race?† he asked, his lips forming that now familiar smile. But this time it did nothing but raise her ire. â€Å"Why did you bait her?† she burst out. â€Å"Why would you do such a thing?† â€Å"The comment about her hair, do you mean?† he asked, and he gave her one of those annoying innocent whatever-could-I-have-done-wrong looks. When of course he had to have known, perfectly well. â€Å"Everything,† she replied hotly. â€Å"We were having a perfectly lovely breakfast, and then you – â€Å" â€Å"You might have been having a perfectly lovely breakfast,† he cut in, and his voice held a newly sharp edge. â€Å"I was conversing with Medusa.† â€Å"Yes, but you didn’t have to make things worse by provoking her.† â€Å"Isn’t that what his holiness does?† Grace stared at him in angry confusion. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"Sorry.† He shrugged. â€Å"The duke. I’ve not noticed that he holds his tongue in her presence. I thought to emulate.† â€Å"Mr. Aud – â€Å" â€Å"Ah, but I misspoke. He’s not holy, is he? Merely perfect.† She could do nothing but stare. What had Thomas done to earn such contempt? By all rights Thomas should be the one in a blackened mood. He probably was, to be fair, but at least he’d taken himself off to be furious elsewhere. â€Å"His grace, it is, isn’t it?† Mr. Audley continued, his voice losing none of his derision. â€Å"I’m not so uneducated that I don’t know the correct forms of address.† â€Å"I never said you were. Neither, I might add, did the dowager.† Grace let out an irritated exhale. â€Å"She shall be difficult all day now.† â€Å"She isn’t normally difficult?† Good heavens, she wanted to hit him. Of course the dowager was normally difficult. He knew that. What could he possibly have to gain by remarking upon it other than the enhancement of his oh so dry and wry persona? â€Å"She shall be worse,† she ground out. â€Å"And I shall be the one to pay for it.† â€Å"My apologies, then,† he said, and he offered a contrite bow. Grace felt suddenly uncomfortable. Not because she thought he was mocking her, but rather because she was quite sure he was not. â€Å"It was nothing,† she mumbled. â€Å"It is not your place to worry over my situation.† â€Å"Does Wyndham?† Grace looked up at him, somehow captured by the directness of his gaze. â€Å"No,† she said softly. â€Å"Yes, he does, but no†¦Ã¢â‚¬  No, he didn’t. Thomas did look out for her, and had, on more than one occasion, interceded when he felt she was being treated unfairly, but he never held his tongue with his grandmother just to keep the peace. And Grace would never dream of asking him to. Or scold him for not doing so. He was the duke. She could not speak to him that way, no matter their friendship. But Mr. Audley was†¦ She closed her eyes for a moment, turning away so he could not see the turmoil on her face. He was just Mr. Audley for now, not so very far above her. But the dowager’s voice, soft and menacing, still rang in her ears – If that is indeed still his name. She was speaking of Thomas, of course. But the counterpart was true as well. If Thomas was not Wyndham, then Mr. Audley was. And this man†¦this man who had kissed her twice and made her dream of something beyond the walls of this castle – he would be this castle. The dukedom wasn’t just a few words appended to the end of one’s name. It was lands, it was money, it was the very history of England placed upon one man’s shoulders. And if there was one thing she had learned during her five years at Belgrave, it was that the aristocracy were different from the rest of humanity. They were mortals, true, and they bled and cried just like everyone else, but they carried within them something that set them apart. It didn’t make them better. No matter the dowager’s lectures on the subject, Grace would never believe that. But they were different. And they were shaped by the knowledge of their history and their roles. If Mr. Audley’s birth had been legitimate, then he was the Duke of Wyndham, and she was an overreaching spinster for even dreaming of his face. Grace took a deep, restorative breath, and then, once her nerves were sufficiently calmed, turned back to him. â€Å"Which part of the castle would you like to see, Mr. Audley?† He must have recognized that this was not the time to press her, and so he answered cheerfully, â€Å"Why, all of it, of course, but I imagine that is not feasible for a single morning. Where do you suggest we begin?† â€Å"The gallery?† He had been so interested in the paintings in his room the night before. It seemed a logical place to start. â€Å"And gaze upon the friendly faces of my supposed ancestors?† His nostrils flared, and for a moment he almost looked as if he’d swallowed something distasteful. â€Å"I think not. I’ve had enough of my ancestors for one morning, thank you very much.† â€Å"These are dead ancestors,† Grace murmured, hardly able to believe her cheek. â€Å"Which is how I prefer them, but not this morning.† She glanced across the hall to where she could see sunlight dappling in through a window. â€Å"I could show you the gardens.† â€Å"I’m not dressed for it.† â€Å"The conservatory?† He tapped his ear. â€Å"Made of tin, I’m afraid.† She pressed her lips together, waited a moment, then said, â€Å"Do you have any location in mind?† â€Å"Many,† he answered promptly, â€Å"but they’d leave your reputation in tatters.† â€Å"Mr. Au – â€Å" â€Å"Jack,† he reminded her, and somehow there was less space between them. â€Å"You called me Jack last night.† Grace did not move, despite the fact that her heels were itching to scoot backwards. He was not close enough to kiss her, not even close enough to accidentally brush his hand against her arm. But her lungs felt suddenly devoid of air, and her heart had begun to race, beating erratically in her chest. She could feel it forming on her tongue – Jack. But she could not say it. Not in this moment, with the image of him as the duke still fresh in her mind. â€Å"Mr. Audley,† she said, and although she tried for sternness, she did not quite manage it. â€Å"I am heartbroken,† he said, and he did it with the exact right note of levity to restore her equilibrium. â€Å"But I shall carry on, painful though it may be.† â€Å"Yes, you look to be in despair,† she murmured. One of his brows rose. â€Å"Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?† â€Å"Just a hint.† â€Å"Good, because I assure you† – he thumped one hand against his heart – â€Å"I am dying on the inside.† She laughed, but she tried to hold it in, so it came out more like a snort. It should have been embarrassing; with anyone else it would have been. But he had set her back at ease, and instead she felt herself smile. She wondered if he realized what a talent it was – to return any conversation to a smile. â€Å"Come with me, Mr. Audley,† she said, motioning for him to accompany her down the hall. â€Å"I shall show you my very favorite room.† â€Å"Are there cupids?† She blinked. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"I was attacked by cupids this morning,† he said with a shrug, as if such a thing were a common day occurrence. â€Å"In my dressing room.† And again she smiled, this time even more broadly. â€Å"Ah. I’d forgotten. It’s a bit much, isn’t it?† â€Å"Unless one is partial to naked babies.† Again her laughter snorted out. â€Å"Something in your throat?† he asked innocently. She answered him with a dry look, then said, â€Å"I believe the dressing room was decorated by the present duke’s great-grandmother.† â€Å"Yes, I’d assumed it wasn’t the dowager,† he said cheerfully. â€Å"She doesn’t seem the sort for cherubs of any stripe.† The image that brought forth was enough to make her laugh aloud. â€Å"Finally,† he said, and at her curious look, added, â€Å"I thought you were going to choke on it earlier.† â€Å"You seem to have regained your good mood as well,† she pointed out. â€Å"It requires only the removal of my presence from her presence.† â€Å"But you only just met the dowager yesterday. Surely you’ve had a disagreeable moment before that.† He flashed her a broad grin. â€Å"Happy since the day I was born.† â€Å"Oh, come now, Mr. Audley.† â€Å"I never admit to my black moods.† She raised her brows. â€Å"You merely experience them?† He chuckled at that. â€Å"Indeed.† They walked companionably toward the rear of the house, Mr. Audley occasionally pressing her for information of their destination. â€Å"I shan’t tell you,† Grace said, trying to ignore the giddy sense of anticipation that had begun to slide through her. â€Å"It sounds like nothing special in words.† â€Å"Just another drawing room, eh?† To anyone else, perhaps, but for her it was magical. â€Å"How many are there, by the way?† he asked. She paused, trying to count. â€Å"I am not certain. The dowager is partial to only three, so we rarely use the others.† â€Å"Dusty and molding?† She smiled. â€Å"Cleaned every day.† â€Å"Of course.† He looked about him, and it occurred to her that he did not seem cowed by the grandeur of his surroundings, just†¦amused. No, not amused. It was more of a wry disbelief, as if he were still wondering if he could trade this all in and get himself kidnapped by a different dowager duchess. Perhaps one with a smaller castle. â€Å"Penny for your thoughts, Miss Eversleigh,† he said. â€Å"Although I’m sure they are worth a pound.† â€Å"More than that,† she said over her shoulder. His mood was infectious, and she felt like a coquette. It was unfamiliar. Unfamiliar and lovely. He held up his hands in surrender. â€Å"Too steep a price, I’m afraid. I am but an impoverished highwayman.† She cocked her head. â€Å"Wouldn’t that make you an unsuccessful highwayman?† â€Å"Touche,† he acknowledged, â€Å"but alas, untrue. I have had a most lucrative career. The life of a thief suits my talents perfectly.† â€Å"Your talents are for pointing guns and removing necklaces off ladies’ necks?† â€Å"I charm the necklaces off their necks.† He shook his head in a perfect imitation of offense. â€Å"Kindly make the distinction.† â€Å"Oh, please.† â€Å"I charmed you.† She was all indignation. â€Å"You did not.† He reached out, and before she could step away, he’d grasped her hand and raised it to his lips. â€Å"Recall the night in question, Miss Eversleigh. The moonlight, the soft wind.† â€Å"There was no wind.† â€Å"You’re spoiling my memory,† he growled. â€Å"There was no wind,† she stated. â€Å"You are romanticizing the encounter.† â€Å"Can you blame me?† he returned, smiling at her wickedly. â€Å"I never know who is going to step through the carriage door. Most of the time I get a wheezy old badger.† Grace’s initial inclination was to ask him if badger referred to a man or a woman, but she decided this would only encourage him. Plus, he was still holding her hand, his thumb idly stroking her palm, and she was finding that such intimacies severely restricted her talents for witty repartee. â€Å"Where are you taking me, Miss Eversleigh?† His voice was a murmur, brushing softly against her skin. He was kissing her again, and her entire arm shivered with the excitement of it. â€Å"It is just around the corner,† she whispered. Because her voice seemed to have abandoned her. It was all she could do to breathe. He straightened then, but did not release her hand. â€Å"Lead on, Miss Eversleigh.† She did, tugging him gently as she moved toward her destination. To everyone else, it was just a drawing room, decorated in shades of cream and gold, with the occasional accent of the palest, mintiest of greens. But Grace’s dowager-inflicted schedule had given her cause to enter in the morning, when the eastern sun still hung low on the horizon. The air shimmered in the early morning, somehow golden with the light, and when it streamed through the windows in this far-flung, unnamed drawing room, the world somehow sparkled. By midmorning it would be just an expensively decorated room, but now, while the larks were still chirping softly outside, it was magic. If he didn’t see that†¦ Well, she did not know what it would mean if he did not see that. But it would be disappointing. It was a small thing, meaningless to anyone but her, and yet†¦ She wanted him to see it. The simple magic of the morning light. The beauty and grace in the one room at Belgrave that she could almost imagine was hers. â€Å"Here we are,† she said, a little breathless with the anticipation. The door was open, and as they approached, she could see the light slanting out, landing gently on the smooth surface of the floor. There was such a golden hue to it, she could see every speck of dust that hung floating in the air. â€Å"Is there a private choir?† he teased. â€Å"A fantastical menagerie?† â€Å"Nothing so ordinary,† she replied. â€Å"But close your eyes. You should see it all at once.† He took her hands and, still facing her, placed them over his eyes. It brought her achingly close to him, her arms stretched up, the bodice of her dress just a whisper away from his finely tailored coat. It would be so easy to lean forward, to sigh into him. She could let her hands drop and close her own eyes, tilting her face toward his. He would kiss her, and she would lose her breath, her will, her very desire to, in that moment, be only herself. She wanted to melt into him. She wanted to be a part of him. And the strangest part was – right there, right then, with the golden light rippling down upon them – it seemed the most natural thing in the world. But his eyes were closed, and for him, one little piece of the magic was missing. It had to have been, because if he had felt everything that was floating around her – through her – he never would have said, his voice utterly charming – â€Å"Are we there yet?† â€Å"Almost,† she said. She should have been grateful that the moment was broken. She should have been relieved that she did not do something she was sure to regret. But she wasn’t. She wanted her regrets. She wanted them desperately. She wanted to do something she knew she should not, and she wanted to lie in bed at night letting the memory keep her warm. But she was not brave enough to initiate her own downfall. Instead, she led him to the open doorway and said softly, â€Å"Here we are.† How to cite The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Ten, Essay examples

The Glass Menagerie And The Conflict Between free essay sample

The Glass Menagerie And The Conflict Between Happines And Responsibility Essay, Research Paper An single # 8217 ; s right to be happy and its struggle with an single # 8217 ; s duties is a common personal job. Many people must do the pick between the two daily. Most people have a set sentiment of whether duty or felicity should predominate. Sometimes people have exclusions to this sentiment. Some people would judge Tom, in The # 8220 ; Glass Menagerie, # 8221 ; as being right or incorrect in his determination to take felicity and leave duty. I believe that people have a right to be happy, and that people need duty. There may be a happy medium, but if there is, no 1 I know has found it. Normally the best manner to be is happy. If a individual is taking duty over felicity, they are, of class, unhappy. When people are unhappy, they tend to go dissatisfied and unpleasant. It begins a concatenation consequence. We will write a custom essay sample on The Glass Menagerie And The Conflict Between or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Other people become unhappy and do your life Plutos. Besides, when people are unhappy due to duty, they become slack. Peoples at McDonald # 8217 ; s begin to ptyalize on french friess, that kind of thing. Cipher wants anyone else to go that lax in their duties. There are exclusions when it comes to people taking felicity over respon sibility. If a individual has ever, and will ever detest their occupation or their school, something of that kind, so by all agencies, that individual should travel where they would be happier. If duties such as kids are involved, I believe that the individual has no right to shy from his or her duties to those kids. If person decides that they dont feel good, they shouldn’t quit their occupation. In, # 8220 ; The Glass Menagerie, # 8221 ; Tom had a right to go forth. Possibly he should hold made certain that his female parent and sister would non be out on the streets with no income, or watched from afar to see if they were making good. He was non entitled to remain and take over his male parent # 8217 ; s duties, and his female parent should hold been more gracious to him. The chief point is, nevertheless, that Tom was entitled to his felicity and his female parent and sister were non his duty. Most people, when put in highly nerve-racking state of affairs, will withdraw, like Tom in, # 8220 ; The Glass Menagerie. # 8221 ; Most of the clip people worry about their duties so much that they forget to seek felicity. An unhappy individual will stop up as an irresponsible individual. Most people will state that, to them, duties are first and felicity is a distant second. Those people are either unhappy, or lying.