The Circle of Karma_Research Essay

In the novel The Circle of Karma, Dechen Choki says, “Our stories are so similar yet so different. Everything happened because we are women. You loved man and suffered and I hated man and suffered.” Comment on the socio – cultural concerns, beliefs or values that are explored in the novel.

Women in the world, as early as in the Victorian period, suffered male dominance. They were finically and sexually disadvantaged where they had to endure discrimination within their marriage and society. Bhutanese women as well were in the same shoe as Victorian women. It is evident in the novel, “The circle of Karma” by Kuenzang Choden. Dechen Choki says, “Our stories are so similar yet so different. Everything happened because we are women. You loved a man and suffered. I hated a man and suffered.” Hence, in the novel, women face three major socio-cultural challenges as women. These are abusive language, patriarchy and sexual objectification of women. Therefore, women in Bhutan suffered gender discrimination in a society which is mostly explored in the novel.   

Abusive use of language against women is one of the socio-cultural challenges explored in the novel among women. In the novel, abusive languages are used against Dechen Choki and Tshomo. Rajendran (2016) asserts that the most common way to abuse women is to call her a “whore”, “slut” or “bitch.” Similarly, such phrases are used against Tshomo and Dechen Choki.  For instance, Dechen was called whore and husband stealer by Lhajab’s wife. In Tshomo’s case, Wangchen said, “You stubborn, low down moringmo” (Choden, 2005). Such phrases used against women clearly give a picture of women’s moral humiliation in a society. Thus, women’s discrimination was present in the words and phrases used in everyday language which have affected them to go parallel with their counterpart in the society. 

Patriarchy is another socio-cultural challenge explored among women in The Circle of Karma.  Tshomo suffers as a woman in a patriarchal society.  Feminist theorist (as stated in Wikipedia, n,d)  argues that patriarchy is the primary cause of women oppression. As mentioned, it holds true for Tshomo in the novel.  For example, she says, “Being a girl was equal to being in a bad situation” (Choden, 2005). This is because she was deprived of religious education rather her father said, “You are a girl. You are different. ..Learn to cook, weave and all those things.” (Choden, 2005).This says about women being oppressed under male dominance where society sets certain convention for women. In another words, man should take in charge of all the matters beyond domestic sphere while women should take care of domestic matters.  Hence, women suffered because they were women under male dominance.

Sexual objectification of women is explored as one of the socio-cultural concerns in the novel.  Sexual objectification is “the act of treating a person as a mere object of sexual desire” (Wikipedia, n.d). In the novel, Dechen Choki and Tshomo experience this feeling of objectification. For example,   Dechen Choki says, “Our stories are so similar yet so different. Everything happened because we are women. You loved a man and suffered. I hated a man and suffered.” (Choden, 2005). Both the character suffered because of men for different reasons. However, they suffered anyways because they were women. Dechen Choki ran away from home to escape her step father who sexually desired her, only to be raped by Lajab. Tshomo, on the other hand, escaped home feeling rejected by Wangchen whose lust grew for Kezang, Tshomo’s sister, when he felt bored with Tshomo. These clearly show that women were merely depicted   as a sexual object, desired for sexual pleasure only. Therefore, women suffered being treated as an object of sensual pleasure by men.

In conclusion, women suffered because they were women.  They were under the influence of male dominance where they were not given equal priority as men. For instance, education was only reserved for men while women were given the responsibility of cooking and weaving at home.  Next, abusive language use against women is one socio cultural concern which is in everyday language.  Phrases such as “whore” and “moringmo” undermine women capability in the society. Lastly, women are considered like an object. They are desired only for sensual pleasure by men. These caused them problem to grow parallel to their counterpart.  Therefore, women suffered gender inequality which is displayed in “The Circle of Karma” by Aum Kuezang Choden.  

 Bibliography

Choden, K. (2005). The Circle of Karma . New Delhi: Penguin Books Ltd.

Rajendran, S. (2016, November 19). verbal abuse: why are cuss words directed at men about the

 women in their life? Retrieved May 23, 2019, from http://thenewsminute.com

Wikipedia. (n.d). Patriarchy . Retrieved May 23, 2019, from http://en.m.wikipedia.org

wikipedia. (n.d). Sexual Objectification . Retrieved May 21, 2019, from http://en.m.wikipedia. org.

The Old Man and The Sea_Research Essay

Santiago is considered by many readers to be a tragic hero, in that his greatest strength—his pride—leads to his eventual downfall. Critical analyze the role of pride in Santiago’s plight.

Aristotle once said that "A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." On this same account, Hemmingway’s novella narrates the story of a tragic hero, the old man. He makes judgment error that inevitably causes his own downfall. The cause is his excessive pride, hubris. The old man’s hubris causes him to be passionate, optimistic and determined individual. These character traits lead him to his own downfall towards the end of the story which culminates into his plight. Therefore, excessive pride of the old man causes his downfall in the end of the novella.  

The old man’s pride helps him become a passionate being which causes his downfall later. Passion is a feeling of intense enthusiasm towards or compelling desire for someone or something (Wikipedia, n.d). Similarly, the old man, in the novella, strongly desire to fish as he boast himself of being a good fisherman, in the past, despite his old age.   This led him to go fishing far in sea all alone as he says, “I must be worthy of the great DiMaggio who does all things perfectly even with the bone spur in his heel.” (Hemmingway, 2004, p. 13). This clearly shows that old man’s passion in fishing. He believes that like his hero DiMaggio, every individual should endure harsh experiences in order to succeed. Hence, his passion to go fishing far in the sea causes him in his empathetic state later.

Determination of the old man which is born in him out of pride is another factor of his plight.  Kibin (n.d) wrote, “The old man’s pride is the state of being very confident and determined to accomplish and not accepting help in the process.” This is true for the old man as he goes eight four days without fish. Later, he sets his journey beyond all people in the world to look for great fish himself. He denies sardines from Manolin, and the boy’s request to go with him to fish. This clearly shows that old man still is determined to handle things on his own without having to depend on anyone.  In another word, he remained prideful and did not want people to help him rather he would get his things himself. Thus, this determination let him wish to seek boy when he becomes weary and realizes that his old body is no level to the power of the fish. He constantly says in remorse, “I wish the boy was here.” However, he again too says, “Man can be destroyed but not defeated.” (Hemmingway, 2004, p. 93). Thus, he has a stronger sense of determination.

Optimistic notion is another result of pride, in the old man which made him to be a tragic hero.  The old man goes salao for many days yet he is very positive about getting out of salao. According to Merriaam-Webster dictionary, optimism is feeling or showing hope for the future. This is the old man, Santiago who feels hopeful where he says “Eighty-five is a lucky number.” (Hemmingway, 2004, p. 9). The old man is confident and positive because he has a pride of catching great fish every three week, so in a way, he feels that he is a good fisherman.  Hence, this pride of being positive takes him to hunt great marlin where he shows off his pride of killing great Marlin and ironically refer to it as brother. However, he loses it to sharks sadly which resulted as a result of his positivity about the situation.

In conclusion, “The Old Man and The Sea” is about a tragic hero, Santiago. He is a tragic hero because of his pride which leads him to be in a pitiful state.  His pride made him passionate, determined and optimistic individual. Firstly, he harnesses the interest to go fishing despite his old age. This is because he knows that he still has energy of a young to fish. Secondly, he is determined to go out fishing all alone without anybody’s assistance until he desperately yarns for boy. Lastly, his pride let him to be positive about fishing which stimulates all his desire to catch great Marlin. All these attributes of pride in the old men let him to be called a tragic hero as he returns with bony fish. 

                                                                    Bibliography

 Hemmingway, E. (2004). The Old Men and The Sea. United Kingdom: Arrow Books.

Kibin. (n.d). The themes of pride in the Old man and the sea, novel by Ernest Hemmingway.

Retrieved May 21, 2019, from http://www.kibin.com>essay-example.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d). optimistic definition. Retrieved May 22, 2019, from  http://www.merriam- 

            webster.com>optimistic.

Wikipedia. (n.d). Passion (emotion). Retrieved May 22, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 

            Passion_(emotion)