The Complexity of ‘Innocence’ depicted through experience Poet Thomas Gray famously wrote with nostalgia of the felicity of childhood‚ that “Where ignorance is bliss‚ ‘tis folly to be wise” (Gray). His poem reminisces of childhood innocence with fondness‚ to be carefree‚ unmarred of the realities of responsibility‚ and pure of cynicism. ‘Childhood innocence’ simply stated is a naïve ignorance that is inevitably lost with maturity. Exposure to the harshness of the world shapes the identity of
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Romantic Innocence Though Romanticism at large is not concerned with lost innocence only‚ but a whole array of human emotions‚ it is certainly an important theme for writers of this literary epoch. Several Romantic poems testify to this‚ as well as other Romantic or pre-Romantic literary texts. In the England of the 18th century‚ scientific progress along with industrialism had effected great changes in society. Europe on the whole was shifting rapidly: economically‚ socially and politically. In
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There is a time in someone’s life when the delusion society creates of the modern world fades into just childish beliefs‚ more formally known as growing up. This is experiencing the unfairness of the world and how it will wear down the innocence of even the most sheltered child. Harper Lee’s treasured novel To Kill a Mockingbird is beloved for numerous reasons‚ one of which is the explanation of the world’s evil in the eyes of innocent children in the 1930’s. The book features an array of colorful
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Paul Newman and a ride home.” Ponyboy was starting to wake up to the world when he nearly dies‚ and then has to run‚ from the cops and the socs. “I couldn’t use this I said dropping the pop bottle‚ I couldn’t ever cut anyone.” Ponyboy loses his innocence when his life takes a turn for the worst. His best friend Johnny gets fatally injured‚ and Pony watched as his friend slipped away from the world. That was when he saw the world for what it really was. A struggle of every living
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admit. The loss of innocence is one such archetype. Despite having broad definition‚ the effects of the loss of innocence are narrow. Commonly‚ an innocent or ignorant individual experiences an event or realization causing a shift towards experience and knowledge. Archetypes are present in Roman and Greek myths‚ and are still used today‚ sometimes unknowingly‚ in stories‚ songs‚ and poems. This is likely because it is a reflection of events in our own lives‚ to a certain extent. The innocence of youth
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REZA Fariha 24/10/12 The Age of Innocence (1920)‚ Edith WHARTON (p. 41) The characters * In this excerpt‚ the first character is Mr. Newland Archer. He is married to Mrs. May Welland because on line 43‚ the narrator calls her by ‘his wife’. He seems to lead a well-off life since he gave to his wife ‘a small highly-varnished Verboeckhoven “Study of Sheep” ‘ (l. 13)‚ which must be quite expensive. Besides‚ it should also have signified that they are a loving couple. Only I can observe that their
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The truth that lies behind fantasies The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton is a book that gave the word "love" many other meanings‚ such as impossible‚ meaningless and incomplete. There were many unbearable obstacles that Countess Ellen Olenska‚ one of the main characters‚ had to face because of love. She was treated badly by many people and always longed for love but never obtained it. With everyone cursing her‚ betraying her and hurting her‚ there was one person who was always there for her. Newland
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Childhood Innocence I have checked all over the internet for a direct definition of childhood innocence‚ however even the Merriam-Webster dictionary does not have a definition of childhood innocence. I guess you could look up the two words separately and link the definition together. Childhood is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the state or period of being a child”. Innocence is defined as “the state of being not guilty of a crime or other wrong act”. So childhood innocence could mean
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The Vulnerability of Innocence “Billy Budd‚ Sailor (An inside narrative)” by Herman Melville uses John Claggart as a foil to Billy Budd in order to draw attention to the vulnerability of innocence. This can be seen clearly throughout the relationship of Billy and Claggart‚ as their relationship is an obvious struggle between good and evil‚ as well as the similarities and differences that Herman Melville stresses continuously throughout the short story. By analyzing the relationship‚ similarities
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Hal Rehmat Ms. Herndon LNG 332 28 February 2013 Innocence of Youth In The Catcher in the Rye‚ J.D. Salinger shows how an adolescent boy develops a cynical outlook on life‚ causing him to feel isolated. Salinger uses Holden to interpret change from the innocence of youth to the responsibilities of adulthood. Holden’s confusion represents that difficult change a person experiences while growing up. He is trying to find his place in the world‚ but certain obstacles are preventing him from moving
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