Rage Against Machine Three Rebels Essay Example for Free

Rage Against railcar Three Rebels EssayThe jockstraps of the novels Emma by Jane Austen, My detect is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain every pile a rebellious streak that twain sees them well and causes them trouble in their respective novels. However, these protagonists didnt operate with a wild disregard to the rules of their society and times. Rather, every trio characters are constrained in the end by the mores of Victorian England, Orthodox Jewish society and 19th century Southern values respectively. Exploring such aspects of Emma, My quote is Asher Lev, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as theme, historical context, and psychological traits, it get out be shown that despite Emma Woodhouses disdain for the institution of marriage, Asher Levs living in the two seemingly opposite worlds of art and Jewish society, and Huckelberry Finns lack of respect for complaisant refinement and rules, the three protagonists d id not entirely succeed in their goals of living lives that went against the grain of their societies. Emma Woodhouse was described in the pages of Emma as a handsome, clever, and rich (Austen, p. 1, 1816) young woman who was the apple of her doting fathers eye and the mistress of Hartfield, their family estate. Taking credit for the matrimony of her former governess and a Mr. Weston, Emma decided to further hone her matchmaking skills by setting up her friend Harriet metalworker with various men of higher social spot. This interest in Harriet Smiths marriage prospects directly contradicts Emmas own pursual to ride out sensation in a society that offered women only bleak alternatives to marriage.Despite Emmas twin resolves to remain single and find Harriet a suitable mate, Emma eventu anyy caved into the demands that were made on women of high social locating when she gets engaged and realized that Harriet marrying a farmer named Robert Martin would forever alter their relatio nship. Asher Lev, the protagonist of My Name is Asher Lev, had loved to haul ever since he was small. His father, an important figure in the Ladover community, move to discourage his son from getting similarly serious intimately his art while his mother implored Asher to draw pictures that were pretty, an assault to her sons melancholy elegant temperment.Despite reading in an art book that an artist should be supernumerary of religion, country, etc, Asher decides that he will try to balance cosmos a devout Jew with being a passionate artist. Under the management of Jacob Kahn, a non-practicing Jewish artist, Ashers art and his knowledge flourishes as he explores the use of crucifixes in his work. Asher is uneasy rough showing the crucifixion pictures in a show, but he goes through with it, being true to his trade as an artist. The crucifixes ultimately prove to be Asher Levs undoing as he is shunned by his parents and the Ladover community in general.Huckleberry Finn, the protagonist in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is an adolescent boy who enjoys looking for trouble with his friend tomcat Sawyer bearing more than trying to become a civilized boy at the hands of the widow and cut down Watson. After running away from his drunkard father, he decides to travel with Jim, who left Miss Watsons house afterward he found out that Miss Watson was thinking of selling him. Even though Huckleberry Fin grows devoted to Jim, he harbors doubts throughout the story about hiding a gambol striver.He even thinks about bit Jim in before deciding that having a conscience just wasnt worth the mental throe of losing his friend. In the end, the protagonists rebellious act of helping a slave escape his captors prove to be for vigor as Miss Watson, his former master, decides to set him free. All three novels have themes that somehow relate stand to rebellion or freedom. In Emma, the protagonist told her friend Harriet Smith that she never intend on getting ma rried, a bold pronouncement in Victorian England.Her reasons are simple Fortune I do not want employment I do not want consequence I do not want I believe few married women are half as much(prenominal) mistress of their husbands house as I am of Hartfield (Austen, p. 74, 1816) What Emma was saying was that her social status allowed her the freedom to graph her own course throughout demeanor, an option given to few women at the time. Another way that Emma tried to rebel against the social customs of Victorian England was to find her friend Harriet a mate of high social status.Since Harriets bloodline was unknown, most mess would have scoffed at a pairing of Harriet with a man give care Mr. Elton or Frank Churchill. Mr. Knightley echoes this sentiment when talking to Mrs. Weston Hartfield will only put her out of conceit with all the other places she belongs to. She will grow just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances have placed her hom e. (Austen, p. 31,1816) Freedom is the overarching theme of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.At the beginning and end of the novel, the protagonist yearns to be free from the rules and civilization of 19th century polite Southern society. For a boy that seemed to be hemmed in by clean clothes and spelling lessons, floating on a pile must have seemed care heaven Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft dont. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft. (Twain, p. 134, 1985) The novel even ends with Huckleberry Finn brilliant to run away looking for more adventures, claiming that he been there before (Twain, p.296, 1985) with the civilized life. One of the themes of My Name is Asher Lev is the protagonists struggle between life as a devout Jew and life as an artist commit to his craft. This battle is evident on the first page as Asher Lev introduces himself to a reader that is already old(prenominal) with his work. In this passage, Asher tears h imself apart yet defends himself at the same time, showing uncertainty years later with his decision to show the crucifixes I am an observant Jew. Yes, of course, observant Jews do not paint crucifixions.As a matter of fact, observant Jews do not paint at all-in the way that I am painting I am a traitor, an apostate, a self-hater, an inflicter of shame upon my family Well, I am none of those things. And yet, in all honesty, I confess that my accusers are not altogether wrong I am indeed, in some way, all of those things. (Potok, p. 1, 1972) It was established earlier that Emma rebelled against Victorian society by resolving to stay single and fix up her friend Harriet with a man above her social status.As the novel ended with Emmas engagement to Mr. Knightley and Harriets engagement to Robert Martin, Emma realized that rebellion wasnt quite her cup of tea, deciding to let her friendship with Harriet pivot to that of social goodwill The intimacy between her and Emma must sink their friendship must change into a calmer sort of goodwill (Austen, p. 435, 1816) At the start of the novel, Emma wanted to live her life according to her rules, but by the end became caught up in the social mores of Victorian England.Sharing the psychological trait of rebelliousness with Emma Woodhouse, Huckleberry Finn did everything he could to escape the stifling life of rules and convention, even traveling the length of the Mississippi River with a runaway slave. However, the protagonist almost gave in to social conventions several times when he seriously concept about turning Jim in to the authorities. Huckleberry Finn even wrote a letter to Miss Watson telling her of Jims whereabouts, feeling better afterward.However, as Huckleberry Finn thought of all the things that Jim had done for him, he tears up the letter, saying All right, then, Ill go to loony bin (Twain, p. 223, 1985) The rebellious streak in Asher Lev started early. Even at a young age, Asher was willing to defend hi s gift, no matter the situation. For example, when Asher was called into the mashpias office for drawing a sinister picture of the Rebbe, Asher boldly stood up for his art to his judge father, something a polite Orthodox Jewish kid did not do in those times lunacy is something thats stupidFoolishness is something a person shouldnt do. Foolishness is something that brings harm to the world. Foolishness is a waste of time. please dont call it foolishness any more, Papa. (Potok, p. 129, 1972) Like Huckleberry Finn, Asher Lev knew how he wanted to live his life at a very young age. Also like Huck Finn, Asher was willing to thwart social conventions in assign to communicate this. Despite the rebellious streaks of Emma Woodhouse, Huckleberry Finn, and Asher Lev, the time periods in which the three novels take place largely serve to mute the three protagonists individuality.In Emma, for example, women of her class were expected to be married. Those who didnt were largely seen as pathet ic beings on which to take pity. The character of Miss Bates was presented as a ridiculous character, seen as a clown-like figure by Emma and others, and seen as an object of sympathy such characters as Mr. Knightley. Even Harriet Smith saw Miss Bates as someone to be pitied. However, Emma, Harriet, and even Jane Fairfax, thought to be doomed to a governess position, escaped Miss Bates circumstances by marrying according to the social customs of Victorian England.Rebellious in her youth, Emma realizes the error of her ways and did her womanly duty. The vile tradition of slavery provided a subtle color to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Yes, the protagonist became close friends with a runaway slave. However, it was obvious that Huckleberry Finn was conflicted about this friendship. One example of this conflict occurred when the protagonist meets his friend Tom Sawyer , who was on his way to visit relatives.When Tom suggests that they steal Jim away from the Phelps farm, Huckleb erry Finn is flabbergasted Well, I let go all holts, then, like I was shot. It was the most astonishing speech I had ever heard-and Im bound to say Tom Sawyer fell, considerable, in my estimation. (Twain, p. 235, 1985) In other words, it was ok for Jim to travel with Huck when they were in no peril of getting caught. Once caught, Jim was no longer Hucks problem. He was even surprised that anyone would go to the trouble of breakage the law to help a slave escape. Huckleberry Finn wasnt a bad person.He was just a dupe of pre-Civil War America. Growing up an Orthodox Jew who was also a gifted artist in the middle 20th century was a unique situation for Asher Lev. Throughout My Name is Asher Lev, the protagonist had tried valorously to combine being a devout Jew with being an even more devout artist. He notice the Jewish faith despite studying under a non-practicing Jewish artist and living in Europe for a while. At the end, something had to give in Ashers struggle between Judaism a nd art, and it ended up being his place in the Ladover community.As Asher walked down the street after the Rebbe cast him out of the community, he contemplates his life thus far I was demonic and devine Asher Lev was the child of the Master of the Universe and the Other Side. Asher Lev paints good pictures and hurts people he loves. (Potok, 367, 1972) From this passage, one can see how Asher Lev wondered whether the sacrifice was actually worth the love of his parents and his community. The protagonists of Emma, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and My Name is Asher Lev all sought to do things that were not really done in their times.Emma Woodhouse sought to raise the social status of her friend by marriage while remaining single herself in a time when both acts were looked down upon. Huckleberry Finn wanted to escape civilization while bringing along a runaway slave for company. Asher Lev wanted to combine the life of faith with the life of art in a time when no one would even t hink about the two concepts together. Ultimately, the times of the three rebel protagonists proved to be too much, dulling their mutinous acts.