Obsessive and ill-developed Essay Example

Obsessive and ill Obsessive and ill-developed Essay Obsessive and ill-developed Essay On one hand, by allowing Sneerwell this opinion, Sheridan might be discrediting it. On the other, he was directly opposed to the sentimental comedies of the time, those lacking malice, perhaps suggesting it is an opinion he holds. It is interesting to note the phrase little ill nature almost juxtaposed with the negativity viewed in the cast. The opposing opinion is offered by the heroine, Maria, wit loses its respect with me when I see it in company with malice. However, she is a minor character, lacking in personality, and it is questionable that Sheridan would align his opinions with hers. After all, she is the only character lacking in malice, yet she also completely lacks wit.Pope, on the other hand, appears capable of creating wit almost lacking in malice. Fate urgd the sheers, and cut the Sylph in twain, (But airy substance soon unites again) The use of the mock epic technique elevates the incidence and offers it an importance which the event does not deserve. This creates wit in the over dramatic nature of the language. However, it might be considered that Pope is malicious in his trivialising of what, to Arabella Fermor, was a serious issue, one from which her reputation never fully recovered (she died a spinster). By contrasting major incidence with trivial ones, Pope continues to mock the petty feminine concerns, When husbands or when lapdogs breathe their last.Or when rich China vessels falln from high, In glittring dust, and painted fragments lie! Yet, again the language feels anti-femine and almost misogynistic, the female concerns are not allowed to be take n seriously in the text and little context is offered to suggest why these things are so important to women. Yet, there do appear to be cases of Pope mocking the male mentality. The baron is viewed as obsessive and ill-developed.For example As long as Atalantis shall be read so long by honour, name and praise shall live! mirrors Shakespeares sonnet 18. This mirroring is replicated in canto 5 of the poem, when after millions slain, yourself shall die; when those fair suns shall set, as set they must, And all those tresses shall be laid in dust; This Lock, the Muse shall consecrate to fame, And midst the stars inscribe Belindas name. The mirroring of Shakespeare follows his mock epic technique of mirroring great works of literature, furthermore, by comparing the trivial act of cutting hair with Shakespeares great work, Pope highlights the ridiculous notion that cutting hair will grant the Barons name immortality. The Baron is made out to be self-absorbed and ignorant, hardly a good quality. Yet the text remains witty and not malicious.One clear difference between the two texts, and perhaps wit and malice, comes in the opening. Whist Pope talks to, and involves, the audience, What mighty contests rise from trivial things,, Sheridan directly, and openly, attacks their society, A school for scandal! Tell me, I beseech you, Needs there a school this modish art to teach you? This appears to highlight the difference of subtlety, whilst both writers attempt to mock the society they view around them, Sheridan is far more open and blatant in his goings. In the opening lines he mocks fashion modish art and the relationship that women hold with each other a school for scandal! Pope, in contrast, appeals to the intelligence of his audience to notice the trivial things that society makes seem important.It is highly difficult to find a passage in either text which is purely malice and not at all witty. This might suggest that malice is always witty, though wit is not always malicious. Wit in the absence of malice appears to be cleverer and more subtle, this is a clear difference between the two texts.