Dracula As an Outsider Essay -- Literary Analysis

Dracula, as it was written by Bram Stoker, presents to us possibly the most infamous monster in all of literature. Count Dracula, as a fictional character, has come to symbolize the periphery between the majority and being an outsider to that group. Dracula’s appeal throughout the years and genres no doubt stems from his sense of romanticism and monster. Reader’s no doubt are attracted to his â€Å"bad-boy† sensibilities, which provide an attraction into the novel. Looking first at his appearance, personality, and behaviour at the beginning of the novel, we can easily see Dracula’s blurred outsider status, as he occupies the boundaries of human and monster. Related to this is Dracula’s geographic sense of outsider. For all intents and purposes, Dracula is an immigrant to England, thus placing him further into the realm of outsider. To look at Bram Stoker’s Dracula as solely a monster in the most violent sense of his actions would to be look at a sole aspect of his character, and so we must look at how he interacts with the outside world to genuinely understand him. The purpose of Dracula’s physical description is to place him against humanity and see how he stacks up. He has various features which obviously make him a vampire, such as a set of sharp teeth. But there are other peculiarities to his description which mark him as being an outsider. For instance, when Jonathon Harker, and by extension the reader, first meets Dracula, he describes him as being â€Å"a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot† (Stoker 15). At this point, he is a regular looking man, or at least normal enough that nothing elicits a reaction in Jonathon. Later, however, the aberrant constitution of Dracula co... ...elf by taking other shapes and become something that no longer even reveals a human. Every part of Dracula’s â€Å"adventure† in England is a reaction to his outsider status, but more so because he attacks the readers, or at least the readers that Stoker was writing for, in their native land. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, Dracula’s otherness stems from the fact that he is an immigrant from a foreign land, a land that is itself removed from certainty as it is culturally between. This immigrant status first starts out as basic hatred, then turns into a fear as Dracula attempts to colonise England and dominate it. Works Cited Stoker, Bram. Dracula. Toronto: Project Gutenberg Publishings, 1897. Kane, Michael. â€Å"Insiders/Outsiders: Conrad's "The Nigger of the "Narcissus" " and Bram Stoker's â€Å"Dracula†Ã¢â‚¬  The Modern Language Review. 92.1 (1997): 1-21. Print.

Comparing poems Nothings changed Essay

The Poem ‘nothings changed’ is based on Tatamkhulu Afrika himself who spent many years in South Africa and his autobiographical poem which describes most of what him and others had experienced and his own feelings expressed during the policy of Apartheid, introduced by the government in his country. This forced many popular attractions such as beaches, buses and even towns to be changed to ‘white areas’ only. For some this meant leaving the country forever all just because of the colour of there skin. The poem itself is set out in six stanzas, each including eight fairly short but important lines. This kind of layout and structure in the poem creates a sense of control, showing how the poet is extremely clear about what he is saying and feeling in his head with no sudden actions leading to rage. Within the pattern of the poem the line lengths do also vary from a whole entire stanza to just two little words. For example: ‘District Six. No board says it is: but my feet know, and my hands, and the skin about my bones, and the soft labouring of my lungs,and the hot, white, inwards turning’. This shows how the structure of the strong poem changes in the stanza’s, gradually getting bigger sentences as the stanza speaks on, giving a feeling of confidence in the poet proving he knows what he is talking about with all the information gathering. The whole poem is written in the present tense, although always recalling past experience he had the poet is constantly reliving the experience as he writes every word. This makes this poem in particular stand out from ‘what were they like?’ due to the fact it is easy to identify what is going on. The poet also clearly states how he is feeling and what he is exactly doing as he writes, describing every little detail by putting us in his shoes. The poem overall describes how he returns to the wasteland that was once his home and relives the anger he felt when the area was first destroyed. With him seeing the restaurant Which consists of being expensive, stylish, exclusive with a guard at the gatepost it makes him think about the poverty around it especially the working mans cafi across from it were people live without eating from plates and on a plastic table top. This makes him reflect that despite the changing political situation, there are still huge inequalities between blacks and whites. Even though South Africa is supposed to have changed, he knows the new restaurant is really ‘whites only’. He feels that nothing has really changed overall. The deep anger he feels makes him want to destroy the restaurant completely – ‘to smash the glass with a stone, or a bomb’. Secondly the poem ‘what were they like’ written by Denise Levertov who wrote poems that opposed American fighting in Vietnam in the 1960’s. This particular poem is against the typical American ignorance of the Vietnam war. She published the poem to show her true feelings about what the American army themselves had done to the people and the way of life of Vietnam. The structure of the poem is like an interview, having the interviewer or questioner ask all the questions together and then the speaker answer each question after one another. Altogether there are six questions followed by six very surprising answers. Also at the end of the poem the answers are followed by a rhetorical question ‘who can say? ‘ This makes the reader think in there head about the answer and shows the unusual treatment Vietnam received by the American army. In the poem itself she compares two different periods, before and after the war had ended showing the interesting experiences people were put in and what she wants answered for. The tone in the first section of the poem includes a thought on curiosity and full of wonder and also could be considered as being questions which are asked quickly and impatiently as when reading them you want to get to the answers straight away. Also the tone of the questioner may seem to be angry and a state of foolishness and insensitivity, yet still having a sense of sadness because of the loss of such an innocent country and the people who lived there during this hectic time. The questioner themselves represent the uninformed Americans and the response being Denise Levertov giving the impression that the questioner should have known more about Vietnam. The responses to the questions seem rather bitter and brutal to the suffering people as when read seem honest and quickly spoken in your head which is what the poet is trying to get at to show the emotion of which happened during the war itself. Overall both poems include some similar qualities, both being completely true and poets experiencing the lives lived out there. Yet ‘nothings changed’ is describing the life long change of the country since introducing the law of Apartheid in the 1960’s and how the country is still living with it, and overcoming the stress and changes the country had to make to change the lives of black and white people which is something of anger and hatred. This is shown by a personal experience form living in the country and visiting local areas and recording the atmosphere of the place. This anger can also be shown in ‘what were they like’ although this particular poet may have had experience from Vietnam she was not there to see it and includes in her poem questions referring to the fact she wants answers to what has happened in the past war against America. This shows the poems are different one including life experience on unfair laws made and the other just wanted answers on what she believes what happened in the Vietnam war is completely wrong.

The Effects of Music Therapy on Mentally Handicapped...

The Effects of Music Therapy on Mentally Handicapped People nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Music therapy is a controversial but effective form of rehabilitation on mentally handicapped people. A great amount of research has been completed on this subject. It has been proven that our brains respond to music as if it were medicine. Music therapy is not a commonly used health care, but recent studies have suggested it can have a wide range of benefits. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Music therapy is the prescribed use of music and related strategies, by a qualified therapist, to assist or motivate a person towards specific, non-musical goals. This process is used in order to restore, maintain, and improve emotional, physical, physiological,†¦show more content†¦In 1950 a professional organization was formed by a group of music therapists that worked with veterans, mentally retarded, and the hearing and visually impaired. This was the beginning of the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT). In 1998, NAMT joined with another music therapy organization to become what is now known as the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). AMTA’s mission is â€Å"To advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world.† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Music therapy helps people in a crisis and assists those who may be dealing with issues of everyday living. The nature of music therapy encourages the development of positive self-esteem. Even though not everyone is supposed to be a musician, music therapy can be a way to explore the human need for self-expression and creativity. Through improvisation and song writing, it can 3 help to identify and resolve conflicts slowing down the emotional and personal growth. It can also assist in the rehabilitation of people with speech difficulties and facilitate learning, which provided opportunities for meaningful communication. Music therapy is a process which builds relationships. Because almost everyone responds to music at some level, it can be used to develop a trust relationship with the therapist and with other people. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There are manyShow MoreRelatedThe Effects of Music Therapy on Mentally Handicapped People2247 Words   |  9 PagesThe Effects of Music Therapy on Mentally Handicapped People Music therapy is a controversial but effective form of rehabilitation on mentally handicapped people. A great amount of research has been completed on this subject. It has been proven that our brains respond to music as if it were medicine. Music therapy is not a commonly used health care, but recent studies have suggested it can have a wide range of benefits. Music therapy is the prescribed use of music and related strategiesRead MoreThe Effects Of Music Therapy On Children With Autism1406 Words   |  6 Pagesthose healing methods is Music Therapy. Music Therapy has been shown to help many people of all age groups, a specific group being children with autism. It helps benefit children with autism by improving their communication and social skills. Just simply listening to music calms and puts the brain at ease. Music Therapy is beneficial to this specific group because though they may have deficits socially, they show none when it comes to musical affect. This form of therapy allows autistic childrenRead MoreA Descriptive Study of the Practice of Music Therapy in Hong Kong17388 Words   |  70 PagesKONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF THE PRACTICE OF MUSIC THERAPY IN HONG KONG By LAM HOI YAN April, 2007 04002865 ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to examine the development of music therapy in Hong Kong. Specifically, a number of related issues were studied including definition of music therapy, the origin of music therapy, the recent developments in music therapy in China, establishment of a music therapy session, and the setting of therapeuticRead MoreFundamental Determinants6264 Words   |  26 PagesRachna Foundation [RACHNA ON THE CROSSROADS] Rachna Foundation is in a turbulent phase with greater than expected influx of mentally disabled children and government’s strict new regulations. Amidst the usual battle for arranging finances it is finding it hard to keep its mast upright. Rachna on the crossroads On a busy Friday morning, while Dr. Lalitha was busy attending to her patients at her home based clinic, she got a call from the office of Rachna Foundation. The office staff hadRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pageschallenges, including: â€Å"How can I help others accept new goals, new ideas, new approaches?† â€Å"How can I invigorate those who feel outdated and left behind?† â€Å"How do I help the ‘survivors’ of a downsizing pick up the pieces and move on?† â€Å"How do I help people with very different agendas and philosophies work together, especially during periods of high stress and uncertainty?† Anyone tempted to dismissively argue that the answers to these questions are â€Å"common sense† would do well to recall Will Rogers’

About Mary Dyer, Quaker Martyr

Mary Dyer was a  Quaker martyr in colonial Massachusetts. Her execution, and the religious freedom initiatives taken in memory of that, make her a key figure in American religious freedom history.   She was hanged on  June 1, 1660. Mary Dyer Biography Mary Dyer was born in England in about 1611, where she married William Dyer. They emigrated to the Massachusetts colony in about 1635, the year they joined a Boston church. Mary Dyer sided with Anne Hutchinson  and her mentor and brother-in-law, Rev. John Wheelwright, in the Antinomian controversy, which challenged the doctrine of salvation by works as well as challenging  the authority of the church leadership .   Mary Dyer lost her franchise in 1637 for her support of their ideas.   When Anne Hutchinson was expelled from church membership, Mary Dyer withdrew from the congregation. Mary Dyer had given birth to a stillborn child the fall before she left the church, and neighbors speculated that that the child had been deformed as divine punishment for her disobedience. In 1638, William and Mary Dyer moved to Rhode Island, and William helped found Portsmouth.   The family thrived. In 1650, Mary accompanied Roger Williams and John Clarke to England, and William joined her in 1650. She remained in England until 1657 after William returned in 1651.   In these years, she became a Quaker, influenced by George Fox. When Mary Dyer returned to the colony in 1657, she came through Boston, where the Quakers were outlawed. She was arrested and jailed, and her husbands plea led to her release. He had not yet converted, so he was not arrested.   Then she went to New Haven, where she was expelled for preaching about Quaker ideas.   In 1659, two English Quakers were jailed for their faith in Boston, and Mary Dyer went to visit them and to bear witness. She was jailed and then banished on September 12. She returned with other Quakers to defy the law, and was arrested and convicted. Two of her comrades, William Robinson, and Marmaduke Stevenson,   were hanged, but she received a last-minute reprieve when her son William petitioned for her.   Again, she was banished to Rhode Island.  She returned to Rhode Island, then traveled to Long Island. On May 21, 1660, Mary Dyer  returned to Massachusetts to again defy the anti-Quaker law and protest the theocracy that could limit Quakers from that territory. She was again convicted.   This time, her sentence was carried out the day after her conviction. She was offered her freedom if she would leave and remain out of Massachusetts, and she refused.    On June 1, 1660, Mary Dyer was hanged for refusing to comply with anti-Quaker laws in Massachusetts. Mary and William Dyer had seven children. Her death is credited with inspiring Rhode Islands Charter of 1663 granting religious freedom, which is in turn credited with inspiring part of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution in 1791. Dyer is now honored with a statue at The State House in Boston. Bibliography The Antinomian Controversy, 1636 - 1638: A Documentary History. David D. Hall, editor.Ingle, H. Larry. First Among Friends: George Fox and the Creation of Quakerism Mary Dyer: Biography of a Rebel Quaker.Larson, Rebecca. Daughters of Light: Quaker Women Preacher and Prophesying in the Colonies and Abroad, 1700-1775Plimpton, Ruth T. Mary Dyer: Biography of a Rebel Quaker

The Superhero Of Superhero Movies - 1454 Words

Superhero movies have been on the rise lately. These movies are often looked at as entertainment for people who play Dungeons and Dragons and are simply mindless pleasure; however, this is not the case. The reason behind the popularity of superhero movies is more than just the want of the common comic book reader. The superhero movie industry has made a sharp incline in popularity; in fact there are more superhero movies now than ever before. A website called Fights, Tights and Movie Nights listed all of the superhero movies made since the 1980’s by year and these were their findings. In the 1980’s an average of three to four super movies came out a year. In the 1990’s these movies were made on average five to six times per year. In the 2000’s the movies doubled to 12-13 produced on average each year. Today, 2010’s, the average number of superhero movies has again doubled in size with it now resting at twenty-two to twenty-three superhero movies made on average each year. The drastic increase of the number of superhero movies leaves the average movie attendee wondering why they are seeing this spike of superhero movies. The increase of superhero movies can be contributed to a few key factors: the advances of technology in the movie industry, the movie genre’s adaption to be socially relevant, and the characters now possessing more humanistic qualities (Fights†¦). When asking most people why they think superhero movies have made such surges in popularity over the lastShow MoreRelatedThe Superhero Of Superhero Movies1916 Words   |  8 PagesA superhero is a good, benevolent, costumed figure with special powers who fights crime and supervillains! Even the premise itself sounds exciting and enticing; this can be seen by the amount of superhero movies and merchandise available today, one can say that their popularity has truly grown over the past years. Fifteen of the top fifty-five highest grossing movies in the US are comic-based superhero movies (All Time Highest Grossing Movies in the Domestic Market). A decade ago, in 2006, only threeRead MoreSuperhero Movies Are Becoming Increasingly More Popular965 Words   |  4 PagesSuperhero movies are becoming increasingly more popular in today’s culture. What ten years ago seemed like a taboo that only nerds and geeks could possibly like, is becoming increasingly more popular as movies hit t he big screen. While at fist only the popular heroes with their trademark super powers like Superman and his super strength got movie deals, more and more unconventional heroes like Ant-Man and his ability to shrink are getting some of the limelight. Super powers come in a variety ofRead MoreCommon Masculine Themes of Superheroes Explained in Complex Masculinities: The Superhero in Modern American Movies1256 Words   |  6 PagesComplex Masculinities: The Superhero in Modern American Movies attempts to encapsulate the essential elements that make masculinities complex by means of mass media. The question of where and why superheroes have held such a salient position in the last decade is aroused when it is media who is the deciding factor in institutionalizing masculinity. When looking at the surface of a superhero movie, dominant hegemonic characteristics are the epitome of the superhero and reflect the roles and valuesRead MoreSuperhero Comics : The Age Of Marvel Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesSuperhero movies have become increasingly popular over the past two decades. From the success of comic book adaption movies such as Batman in 1989, the 21st century could arguably be called the age of superhero movies. Nowadays, comic book companies such as Marvel and DC Comics are making much more money from motion pictures than from actual comic books. As University of Calgary professor Bart Beaty (2016) states, â€Å"†¦ it has become clear that [superhero comic books] are no longer a significant popularRead MoreFilm Genre Of Western Films1169 Words   |  5 Pagespast years Hollywood has produced a wide array of brilliant movies, appearing through a variety of genres. However, for every generation there consistently exists a dominant movie trend that encapsulates that culture, frequently making appearances on the big screen. Early on in filmmaking history, western movies were one of the original major trending movie genres. Later, in the 1970’s, adv enture was extraordinarily popular, then horror movies saw a significant rise toward the 1980’s. Each generationRead MoreToday s Society Has Changed Over The Past Decades1628 Words   |  7 Pagesthan women?† While creating this survey, my hypothesis was that men would be more attracted to superhero movies than women. I abstracted my thought and I believe that maybe men would be more attracted not only because superhero movies have more action and violence than others, but they might be attracted to these movies more than women because gender stereotypes in these particular movies. A typical superhero in a movie is a male and he has a love interest, which is most often a female, and he usuallyRead MoreBatman Vs. Superman Dawn Of Justice932 Words   |  4 PagesIs there too many superhero movies out there in the genre already from DC and Marvel? Well, it killed it in the coming years, or well it thrived under the pressure. There re many movies coming out soon of the superhero genre. In 2016, going to be about seven movies of superheroes in 2016. Which Including in order Deadpool February 12th (fox), Batman vs Superman dawn of justice March 25th, Captain America: Civil War May 6th, we got X-Men apocalypse (fox) May 27th, August 5th Suicide Squad, OctoberRead MoreSuperhero Worship By The Atlantic Virginia Postrel 1290 Words   |  6 PagesIn her essay, â€Å"Superhero Worship† published in The Atlantic Virginia Postrel discusses how people limit themselves to try to become what they are not. Although people view celebrity impact on society as positive, Postrel argues that superhero’s or celebrities limit ordinary people s lives because they strive to be what they can not. The author talks about how the word glamour has changed over the years, and how different the definition has become. Postrels’ definition is â€Å"it is an imaginativeRead MoreA Play Based Curriculum For Lifelong Learning As A Form Of Fantasy Play879 Words   |  4 Pagesthese forms of play can be recognized in ECE settings, and Superhero Play can be associated with each of them. Superhero play is described within Dale Shipley’s text titled Empowering Children Play-Based Curriculum For Lifelong Learning as a â€Å"form of fantasy play [†¦] likely that superheroes will be enacted by children in the Active Role Play center† (Shipley, 209). Superheroes and movies, television shows, and books consisting of superhero roles easily fascinate children, of both genders. We can commonlyRead MoreMovie Analysis : Superman, Batman, And Iron Man1495 Words   |  6 PagesMovies now a days such as the Avengers, Suicide Squad, and Captain America, value teamwork. In the films Superman, Batman, and Iron Man, they reveal how back in the early 2000’s America valued independence compared to these recent movies like the Avengers, Suicide Squad, and Captain America and how they value teamwork. In comparison to today’s superhero films, the Avengers are a collaboration between the marvel superheros who team up and try to stop the apocalypse from the aliens. Superhero films

Jonh Keats Essay Example For Students

Jonh Keats Essay In this essay I will be investigate the work of a famous poet called John Keats and one of his well known poems entitled After dark vapours have oppressd our plains. John Keats was born on October 31st in London, England and sadly died on February 23rd in Rome, Papal States of T. B. John Keats poems often revolved around romance, but this was not always the case. John wrote many poems such as After dark vapours have oppressd plains the poem that I will be exploring and When I Have Fears That I May Cease to be. In the poem I had come across certain lines in the opening paragraph, that had the use of metaphorical terms which indicated that this poem is about an illness that has recently passed over. The first phrase that struck me was for a long dreary season, comes a day, which suggested to me that something had happened over a long period of time, and also that a day of rest had finally appeared. One word that particularly interested me was dreary, because dreary is a mood of unhappiness and dullness. Another line that gives me this feeling is the anxious month, relieved from its pains. This line suggested worry and a certain intense feeling due to the word anxious and it also suggests that something has gone wrong because he says relieved from its pains which struck me as odd cause a month wouldnt be referred to as being anxious and therefore the uses personification which illustrates a human like state. In the poem, the word plain is mentioned on the first line. In general, the word plain refers to a large open space, generally a field. Although this is the normal meaning for plains, I feel that John Keats does not try to get this point across when he mentions this word. By looking at the other words on the line, I get the impression that John Keats is referring to a vast area of houses or a small village. In this poem Keats uses Sappho, a lesbian Greek goddess as a simile to a sleeping infants breath. When a baby sleeps they are thought to be the sweetest and most vulnerable creatures on earth. Therefore when Keats mentions Sappho it indicates that he has some sort of feelings towards her. Throughout the poem John Keats creates carries a gently elegiac tone. He does this by his use of vocabulary, for instance; sick heavens this suggest that heaven to him is some what of spiritually or emotionally distraught. Also it suggest that he could be a deep or passionate longing for something. By using personification anxious month he illustrates something that a human would be feeling, this creates a tone of worry towards the reader. In the end line, Keats uses the phrase a poets death. I think that he is talking about poets in general and also himself in a way. If Keats were to be talking about his own death, I believe that this may mean Keats would be at peace with his own death. In think this poem it indicates that Keats had survived over a long period of time through a deadly illness. And at the end of the illness talks about his death, Overall, I feel that this poem has a feel of gentleness and love in it and this poem was written to make the audience feel at ease, rather than in horror. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Keats section.

Molto Agitato The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera

In the rear of the gold curtains of the world-famous Metropolitan Opera in New York City, in the midst of the decorations all over the place, and labyrinth of managerial offices, the Met has been undertaking its activities in absolute privacy until Johanna Fiedler, who served as the Met’s general press representative for one and half decades, uncovered its secrets in Molto Agitato: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Molto Agitato: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Johanna, the daughter of Arthur Fiedler, the long time conductor of the Boston Pops, now dead, draws from her insider’s knowledge of the traditional secrecy of the Met and strikingly illustrates for the first time the intricate inner dealings that are responsible for the success of the company. In this astonishingly amusing description of the tumultuous history of the Met, Fiedler reveals that politics, aspiration, and outsized egos have conventionally taken the center stage along with a number of the world’s richest music, which have always characterized the activities of the Met. The author details the company’s early years as a home for various great performers such as Toscanini and Mahler, and provides captivating stories of the middle years in which arrogant blue-bloods confronted the obstinate management with the intention of taking over the running of the company, which would come out to be the world-famous Metropolitan Opera. Fiedler takes her readers behind the scenes in years that are more recent as well and illustrates what would emerge as America’s premiere opera. In addition, the author depicts how various legends such as Luciano Pavarotti and Kathleen Battle have made amazing performances at the Met. Nonetheless, the main intriguing aspects are the author’s descriptions of James Levin and Joseph Volpe and their career developments to positions of management within the company. Levine joined the company as prodigy and rose to the position of artistic director. And, Volpe progressed from being a stagehand to the highly-secretive company’s general manager. More so, the author also reveals the once strained relationship between the two influential people in the company that was compounded by Volpe’s much exposed dismissal of the soprano Kathleen Battle. The book presents an inside look at the dirty business of operating the America’s premiere opera house, or that is, the happenings during the management of Rudolf Bing, Anthony Bliss and Joseph Volpe. As much as the author has been condemned for giving a rubbishy scandalous yellow journalism content in writing the book, it is factual and raw and it is written in an intuitive, clever, human and mannered fashion which makes it not be offensive or without meaning. Advertising Lo oking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Actually, reading the book opens the eyes of the reader regarding the myths he or she can have about opera as well as the artists in the field as it uncovers truths behind the illusions one might have above Opera business by illustrating personal, economic, and artistic struggles that characterize the running of the tricky business. Miss Fiedler is a humorous, intelligent writer who maintains the pace of the story through her vivid explanations on the happenings at the Metropolitan Opera (Fiedler, 1). And, even though she has some clear likes and dislikes amongst the superstars and the office and behind the scenes employees, she usually conveys her thoughts on the back burner and attempts, most of the time effectively, to portray the realities of the situation. In the inside look at the operations of the Met, Fiedler uncovers some interesting happenings in the live s of everyone who participates in the world of opera. These participants are, but not limited to, singers, producers, and artistic directors. It is astonishing at the revelation that the gifted tenor Placido Domingo actually was envious of the singing of Luciano Povaratti. This made them to quarrel at one time even before the participation of Jose Carreras was included. Worse still, Carreras, too, similar to Domingo and Pavoratti, was not faithful in his marriage at one time; therefore, this expose ´ reveals the fallible nature of The Three Tenors. It is a bit sad to learn about the laziness, hypocrisy, and selfishness of the leading male voices in the renowned Opera. On the other hand, as the book reveals, some of the sopranos also had their own issues. Kathleen Battle, different from the commendable behavior of the black singers, did not conduct herself in a professional manner. In most cases, she was not punctual during rehearsals and she never listened to the advice of the co stumers and her fellow artists. Consequently, as pointed above, she was dismissed from the Opera in 1994. Her dismissal was also prompted by two separate incidences in which she behaved unfairly to Rosalinda Elias and Carol Vanness. In addition, Renata Scotto behavior was also not commendable. She never had a good voice to sing in front of people. More over, she ruined herself by attempting to imitate the singing of Maria Callas. In the book, the conflicts that always existed between the directors and the singers form a considerable portion of it. At one time, Rudolf Bing, threatened to dismiss Maria Callas because of some minor disagreements in opinion. Rudolf also prevented Beverly Sills from staging a performance at the Opera. However, he only permitted her to perform later in her career once he thought that her singing had reached the standards of the time. In 1980, the gifted musician Helen Hagnes was forcefully raped and later killed in cold blood by unknown people. Advertisi ng We will write a custom essay sample on Molto Agitato: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Shockingly, inquiry into the incident indicated that a number of individuals were using the rear wings and concealed rooms of the Met for having sex and abusing drugs. It is interesting to note that the presentations of Verdi Macbeth are never staged at the Opera since they are â€Å"cursed,† and in two different occasions, misfortune and terror were witnessed. Sadly, Fiedler reveals that at one time a man committed suicide because of the frustrations he was getting at the Met. All these incidences, and others, were happening behind the scenes of the successful world-famous Metropolitan Opera. In conclusion, the fitting title of the book, molto agitato, is an Italian phrase that means â€Å"very troubled† while its subtitle says it all: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Me tropolitan Opera. The book does not talk about music or opera but it draws from the goldmine of the author’s vast experience to present to the readers the incompetence of the company’s management over several decades since it started doing business. Detailing the personalities who have shaped the company from its initial stages in the late nineteenth century to currently, the book is a feast for the readers who are curious to know the dirt behind the golden curtain in the running of the New York City’s Metropolitan Opera. Works Cited Fiedler, Johanna. Molto Agitato: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera. New York: Anchor, 2003. Print. This essay on Molto Agitato: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera was written and submitted by user Isabell Atkins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.