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Friday, November 25, 2011

Term Paper on Ulysses

Term Paper on Ulysses

In the poem "Ulysses" by Alfred Lord Tennyson and the play "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare, both describe situations where men relinquish there responsibilities to pursue a life as they choose with out being constrained. Ulysses was a king and ruler of his lands, this however was not enough as he yearned for travel, "To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars, until I die." This was his dream, and the way in which he was choosing to live his life absent of his responsibilities. This was also the case in "The Tempest" as Prospero, was also king and ruler of his lands and relinquished his responsibilities to study and practice magic. These men were different in various ways the foremost distinction between these two men was in the time periods in which they wrote. Prospero was a character in Shakespeare's play written in the Renaissance time period, and Ulysses a Greek story written within the Victorian Age. These works demonstrates how two men both reject their responsibilities but how the Renaissance and Victorian Age look upon the same circumstances differently regarding the aspects of time, justification and morality.
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During the Renaissance morals were highly upheld, not fulfilling one's responsibilities was unheard of. This was made evident as Prospero was banished from his own kingdom as he had turned his back on his people, choosing not to rule but to read and study. He was sent to an island for away to finish the rest of his life in solitude with no one except his daughter and some animals native to the island. However during the Victorian Age Ulysses also turned his back on his people to explore the world, however he was not banished to a far off island as this was not seen to be as devastating as it once was. Instead he was encouraged to do as he pleased leaving both his people and his faithful family behind. This displays the selfishness of both men as Prospero while ruling cared more about his own interests in magic than for the people under his rule, this lead to his banishment forcing him into exile. Ulysses was also selfish as he left his wife to rule his kingdom in his absence, and also left his son to grow up without a father. So he could enjoy himself by traveling the world and exploring far off lands.

In "The Tempest" the reader is lead to believe that Prospero is where he belongs banished to an island, believing he has committed a terrible injustice to his people. Even though his actions can be justified as his brother resumed the throne even before his absence. Prospero was slowly loosing power to his brother, by the time he came to this realization it was to late for him to regain the throne and he was banished. Even while banished on his island he had the reassurance that his kingdom was being looked after, not by the just or rightful ruler but being looked after all the same. Ulysses justification for his actions is to leave his throne to his son Telemachus, whom he believes to be a better ruler. "He works his work, I mine." Hear he explains that his own work is to travel while Telemachus's work will be to rule. He can not know for sure that Telemachus will be a just and appropriate ruler but he is willing to take the chance so he can do as he wills. This option is highly sought after for then there will be a rightful ruler to leave in place. Ulysses conscience can then be cleared justifying himself that he is doing the right thing by giving up all his responsibilities to someone who will appreciate them.

There is also a moral side to this as both men gave up there rights and responsibilities. This however can not be justified as some people are born in to privilege and with that privilege comes certain responsibilities. Every person has responsibilities to fulfill, some smaller than others but they are still there and are all equally important. This concept remains constant threw both time periods. Sometimes it is harder to do what is right, than to just follow your heart. This is where both men went wrong thinking only of themselves and not about the bigger picture. But only one of the men was punished, and in the end after his banishment he realized his mistakes and returned to rule his throne placing his people first. Ulysses however never changed his mind and still yearned for travel placing his people and his family second to his travels.

The Renaissance and the Victorian Age had many different views on the aspects of responsibility. However they both possessed a strict obedience to their moral responsibilities, the Renaissance period punished people who did not follow there responsibilities this was shown in "The Tempest". These were not the circumstances for the Victorian Age as Ulysses was not punished for his actions. Both periods had little tolerance for the two men's justifications, they were both not accepted. This displays the different reactions of people of two different time periods to the same circumstances.

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Warning!!! All free sample term papers and college term paper examples on Ulysses topics are plagiarized and cannot be fully used in your high school, college or university education.

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