Ecology by A. K. Ramanujan This poem, Ecology is taken from Ramanujans third volume of poems, Second Sight, published in 1 !

"# The speaker seems to be the poet himself or some imaginary person $ho is loyally devoted to his mother# %e is very angry because his mother has a severe attack of migraine& a very bad kind of headache, often causing a person to vomit& $hich is caused by the fragrance of the pollen of the flo$er of the Red 'hampak every time it is in bloom# The fragrance is heavy and suffocating as the yello$ pollen spreads every$here# Even the doors of the speakers house cannot prevent the strong smell from entering the house# The $alls of the house are able to absorb almost everything(the sounds, sights, the human voices, the harsh sounds produced $hen ne$ shoes are $orn# )ut they cannot stop the fog of pollen dust from the 'hampak trees# The loving son therefore decides to cut do$n the tree, but he is prevented from doing so by his mother $ho sees the positive side of the tree in her garden# She says that the tree is as old as her and had been fertili*ed by the droppings of a passing bird by chance $hich is considered to be a very good omen# The positive side of it is that the tree provides many basketful of flo$ers to be offered to her gods and to her daughters and daughters daughters every year, although the tree $ould give a terrible migraine to one line of cousins as a legacy# The yello$ pollen fog is the yello$ dust of pollen carried in the air $hich is thick and heavy like fog $hich covers the earth# This poem portrays Ramanujans strong interest in the family as a very important theme of his poetic craft# %is memories of the past $ould inevitably bring pictures of his family, especially his mother $ho is self sacrificing# There is also a reference to his %indu heritage as he mentions the gods and the ancient beliefs in the poem# The sense of irony is indicated $hen the mother very angrily protests the idea of cutting do$n the tree even though she is suffering very badly from the migraine caused by it# She has a kind of emotional attachment to the tree, saying that it is as old as herself# Ecology is a poem $hich could be read as one single sentence# %o$ever, each stan*a has one particular idea# There is a casual connection bet$een the ideas and they flo$ from one stan*a to the ne+t# ,lash her temper& an instance of the use of irony because she is very angry at the idea of having the tree cut do$n# The actual meaning of the $ord Ecology is not follo$ed here but the poet seems to convey the thought that a particular kind of tree may have both negative and positive factors and therefore it need not be pulled do$n# The poem depicts ho$ a reverence for nature is an intrinsic part of the -ndian psyche# The narrator.s mother, despite suffering migraines on account of the pollen of the red champak tress, is enraged at a suggestion to cut do$n the flo$ering trees# -n -ndian culture life is sacred, and a flo$ering tree, $hich is a fertility symbol, is doubly so# The trees also hold a sentimental attachment for the mother as they are about the same age as hers#

THE GIFT Alice Walker

This poem is very characteristic of /lice 0alker.s style and subject matter# The poem is $ritten in free verse& therefore, it does not contain a regular rhythmic pattern# /s you can see, this poem deals $ith a transformation of some sort from bondage to freedom# -n the first t$o stan*as, there is an allusion to 0alker.s e+perience as a child# ,or e+ample, as a result of a )) gun accident, her eye $as severely damaged# The stan*as continue their description of ho$ the persona physically appeared and the effect it had on her outlook in life# This unsightly description is paired $ith the image of a person in bondage in stan*a t$o# The persona relates ho$ she is 1holding their babies 2 cooking their meals 2 s$eeping their yards 2 $ashing their clothes1 $ith complete and utter disgust# - believe that she associates this time in her life $ith the physical abhorrence she describes as appearing in the first stan*a# 0alker ends the second stan*a by emphasi*ing her plight in life as 1dark and rotting 2 and $ounded, $ounded1 in order to suggest e+actly ho$ horrible the plight of the /frican /merican can be# %o$ever, the tone of the poem shifts drastically after these t$o beginning stan*as and becomes more optimistic about life# 3ne of the repeated stan*as no$ enters and becomes the central focus of the poem# -n stan*a three4 1- $ould give2 to the human race 2 only hope, 1 the persona asserts that she is no longer going to allo$ racial oppression to rule $ho she really is# She doesn.t $ant to forget $hat has happened in her past life, but she strives to present all /frican /mericans $ith the gift of hope# This gift alone creates the person that is introduced in stan*as four and five# -n these lines, hope has allo$ed this $oman to recreate her self(image, making it more positive# She no$ proudly asserts that all the badness that once over(shado$ed her life as a child has turned into a gift# She can kno$ hear and understand the cries of the /frican /merican people# %er ailments that she once sa$ as debilitating are in turn stepping stones that she has overcome and finds them to be beautiful in their o$n distinct $ay# Then again $e see the message in stan*a si+ that she only $ants to give hope to the human race# This reiteration serves to make the central message one that is loudly echoed and felt by the reader# -n the closing stan*as, there is a parallel bet$een the t$o images and the 1roots of the flo$er4 justice and hope#1 0alker gives t$o distinctly different images of life in oppression and life out of oppression# /s she asserts that 1- am the $oman 2 offering t$o flo$ers 2 $hose roots are t$in, 1 $e understand that her depiction of bondage and physical deformities underline the principle of justice, $hile the repaired image of the $oman comes about through hope# Therefore, justice and hope become the roots of $ho this $oman $as and $hat she eventually had the chance to become# The last t$o stan*as are a challenge to the reader as an individual and also to society as a $hole# 0alker calls for the attention of all /mericans to the unjust treatment of /frican /mericans and presents them $ith the challenge of beginning to treat people justly# These roots, as she refers to them, are the roots of a happy society or a place $ithout persecution# -n this sense, justice and hope become interchangeably important in the survival of society that continually struggles $ith the topics of racism and slavery# - see this poem as a gift that 0alker is giving to anyone $ho is $illing to stand against the injustices of society# She uses her o$n personal afflictions in order to better create a stronger, individuali*ed $oman after the ac5uisition of hope# She uses her story& she enlists the help of the reader to put justice and hope back into society# Therefore, 16et us begin#1

Fueled by Marcie Han

Through the use of parallelism, clear image, and dramatic effect, 7arcie %ans sho$s that man is too caught up in himself $ith arrogance 8 the human race believes its o$n creations to be superior to everything else, and take no note of the truly ama*ing creations in the $orld, 9ods creations# This poem has t$o halves, that $ith the rocket and that $ith the seedling# The language in the t$o halves of the poem are parallel in $riting8 $hile the rocket is fueled by :a million man(made $ings of fire,; the seedling is fueled by :a thought from 9od#; This parallelism continues throughout both halves# Through this effective use of parallelism, %ans creates t$o images 8 one of the large and po$erful images of a rocket, and one of a small plant struggling its $ay up through the soil# The use of po$erful language in the first half, including :$ings of fire; and :tore; are used to sho$ the opinion that man has for himself 8 the arrogant belief that everything humans accomplish is magnificent and that everything they accomplish is thought of as 9od(like though it really is not# The language in the second half of the poem is less po$erful, as the seedling :urge<s=; itself up through the soil, persevering its $ay up, even though this is the action that 9od >usually characteri*ed as po$erful? has created# %o$ever, these t$o opposing styles of language are used to sho$ ho$ mans achievements, though po$erful and impressive, are really nothing at all# :Everybody cheered; at the rocket, but :no2one2even2clapped; $hen the seedling :launched itself2up into outer space#; The true impressive act $as not that of a rocket, as it has the support of a million :$ings of fire,; but that of the seedling, $hich gro$s only by a :thought from 9od#; %ans sho$s that man does not vie$ the gro$th of the seedling as impressive, as he is too much caught up in himself and man(made creations to notice the acts of 9od $hich are most impressive# @ramatic effect is used in the last A lines as the meaning of the lines, as $ell as the $ay they are they structured, create a tone of intensity and $orks to accentuate the arrogance of humans and ho$ truly terrible it is that no one appreciates the $onderfulness of the gro$th of the seedling# This poem is $ritten about ho$ the undying splendor of 7other Bature is hidden by the short lived creations of the man made $orld##### -t justifies that the beauty of life### such as a seedling erupting out of the earth is no$ forgotten as our $orld becomes riddled $ith skyscapers, cars and man made objects that $ill in time devour the beauty of this planet and perhaps lead to human demise#

3n )uying and Selling Kahlil Gibran

The Prophet i a book o! "ro e "oe#ry #$a# made i# %ebane e&American au#$or !amou . 'ommonly found in gift shops and fre5uently 5uoted at $eddings or any occasion $here uplifting .spiritual. thoughts are re5uired, the $ork has never been a favorite of intellectuals ( to some

readers it may seem a bit t$ee or pompous ( yet its author $as a genuine artist and scholar >see bio, belo$ right? $hose $isdom $as hard( earned# The Prophet begins $ith a man named /lmustafa living on an island call 3rphalese# 6ocals consider him something of a sage, but he is from else$here, and has $aited t$elve years for the right ship to take him home# ,rom a hill above the to$n, he sees his ship coming into the harbor, and reali*es his sadness at leaving the people he has come to kno$# The elders of the city ask him not to leave# %e is asked to tell of his philosophy of life before he goes, to speak his truth to the cro$ds gathered# 0hat he has to say forms the basis of the book# The Prophet provides timeless spiritual $isdom on a range of subjects, including giving, eating and drinking, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, la$s, teaching, time, pleasure, religion, death, beauty and friendship# 'orresponding to each chapter are evocative dra$ings by 9ibran himself# / merchant asks about buying and selling, and /lmustafa declares that people $ill not $ant provided that they kno$ ho$ to fill their hands# E+changing the gifts of the earth brings abundance and satisfaction, provided it is done in love and justice# 3ther$ise, it results in greed and hunger# -n the marketplace, farmers and artisans must ask the master spirit of the earth to sanctify the scales and allo$ no one to come in empty( handed# Singers, dancers and musicians have useful gifts to sell, along $ith gatherers of fruit and frankincense# Bo one should leave the marketplace empty(handed, for this keeps the master spirit of the earth from sleeping peacefully# The poem deals $ith integrity in the buying and selling of the produce of the earth# / merchant asks about buying and selling, and /lmustafa declares that people $ill not $ant provided that they kno$ ho$ to fill their hands# E+changing the gifts of the earth brings abundance and satisfaction, provided it is done in love and justice# 3ther$ise, it results in greed and hunger# -n the marketplace, farmers and artisans must ask the master spirit of the earth to sanctify the scales and allo$ no one to come in##emptyhanded##Such people should be told to $ork hard at producing $hat humanity needs# -n a market the need of even the least person should be satisfied# Then only there $ill be peace and happiness on Earth# > the spirit of the Earth $ill be satisfied#?

T$e End '! %i(ing And T$e )eginning 3f Survival *$ie! +ea##le
'hief Seattle >1C!D 8 1!""? $as a prominent native /merican chief $ho pursued a path of peace $ith colonial $hite settlers in $hat is no$ the state of 0ashington# @uring treaty negotiations in 1!EF, he gave a famous speech in response to an offer by the G#S# 9overnment to buy t$o million acres of -ndian lands# Seattle asked4 :%o$ can you buy or sell the skyH The landH The idea is strange to us# 0hat $ill happen $hen the buffalo are all slaughteredH 0hat $ill happen $hen the secret corners of the forest are heavy $ith the scent of many men and the vie$ of the ripe hills is blotted by talking $iresH; %is ans$er4 :The end of living and the beginning of survival#; /re his prophetic $ords coming true in /merica todayH In 1854, the government of United States made an offer for a large area of Indian land and promised a reservation! for the Indian people" #hief Seattle$s reply is a most bea%tif%l and profo%nd statement on environment&

%o$ can you buy or sell the sky, the $armth of the landH The idea is strange to us# -f $e do not o$n the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the $ater, ho$ can you buy themH Every part of this earth is sacred to my people# Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark $oods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and e+perience of my people# The sap $hich courses through the trees carries the memories of the manI 0e are part of the earth and it is part of us# The perfumed flo$ers are out sisters& the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers# The rocky crests, the juices in the meado$s, the body heat of the pony, and man 8 all belong to the same familyI The rivers are our brothers, they 5uench our thirst# The rivers carry our canoes, and feed our children# -f $e sell you our land, you must remember and teach your children, that the rivers are our brothers, and yours& and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you $ould any brotherI There is no 5uiet place in the $hite mans cities# Bo place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring, or the rustle of an insects $ings# )ut perhaps it is because - am a savage and do not understand# The clatter only seems to insult the ears# /nd $hat is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the $hippor$ill or the arguments of the frogs around a pond at nightH - am a red man and do not understand# The -ndian prefers the soft sound of the $ind darting over the face of a pond, and the smell of the $ind itself, cleansed by a mid(day rain, or scented $ith the pinon pine# The air is precious to the red man, for all things share the same breath 8 the beast, the tree, the man, they all share the same breath# The $hite man does not seem to notice the air he breathes# 6ike a man dying for many days, he is numb to the stench# )ut if $e sell you our land, you must remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit $ill all the life it supports# The $ind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives his last sigh# /nd if $e sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place $here even the $hite man can go to taste the $ind that is s$eetened by the meado$s flo$ers# So $e $ill consider your offer to buy our land# -f $e decide to accept, - $ill make one condition4 The $hite man must treat the beasts of this land as his brothersI 0hat is man $ithout the beastH -f all the beasts $ere gone, man $ould die from a great loneliness of spirit# ,or $hatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man# /ll things are connected# Jou may teach to your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of our grandfathers# So that they $ill respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich $ith the lives of our kin# Teach your children $hat $e have taught our children, that the earth is our mother# 0hatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth# -f men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves# This $e kno$4 the earth does not belong to man& man belongs to the earth# This $e kno$# /ll things are connected like blood $hich unites one family# /ll things are connected# 0hatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth# 7an did not $eave the $eb of life4 he is merely a strand in it# 0hatever he does to the $eb, he does to himselfI 0e may be brothers after all# 0e shall see# 3ne thing $e kno$, $hich the $hite man may one day discover 8 our 9od is the same 9od# Jou may think no$ that you o$n %im as you $ish to o$n our land& but you cannot# %e is the 9od of man, and %is compassion is e5ual for the red man and the $hite# This earth is precious to %im, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its 'reator# The $hite too shall passI#

)ut in you perishing you $ill shine brightly, fired by the strength of the 9od $ho brought you to this land and for some special purpose gave you dominion over this land and over the red man# That destiny is a mystery to us, for $e do not understand $hen the buffalo are all slaughtered, the $ild horses are tamed, the secret corners of the forest heavy $ith scent of many men and the vie$ of the ripe hills blotted by talking $ires# 0here is the thicketH 9one# 0here is the eagleH 9one# The end of living and the beginning of survival#

My Wood by E. M. For #er

:7y 0ood; by E# 7# ,orster 'nglish (riter ')d(ard* +)organ* ,orster, best -no(n today for the novels %o$ard.s End and / Kassage to -ndia, (as the a%thor of several novels, t(o biographies, a boo- of .riti.ism, and many essays and short stories" The essay /+y 0ood,/ first p%blished in 1123, en.o%rages %s to thin- abo%t the nat%re of materialism and the sed%.tive po(er of o%r possessions" #ompare ,orster$s tho%ghts on o(nership (ith those e4pressed by 5enry 6an 7y-e in his essay /0ho 8(ns the +o%ntains9/ -n the essay :7y 0ood; by E# 7# ,orster is trying to tell us that $e got to be careful because humans are selfish and once $e got something $e $ant, $e $ill $ant more and more until $e have lost full control& for e+ample, in the essay they talk about the author buying a small piece of land# /t first that small piece of land had an open road that the public can pass by and for the author that $as enough and felt like home, but after a $hile the author kept looking right and left and reali*ed that his land $as the smallest land there and everyone else had gigantic lands $ith a lot of beautiful things# The author is trying to let us kno$ that o$ning a piece of land makes the o$ner feel heavy and important& therefore, they start to $ish for a larger piece of land# -t also make the o$ner feel that he got to do something to it, and lastly he $ants it all for him selves, so he $ants to block the public path# 3nce $e got something $e are going to $ant more until $e have better things than anyone near us& therefore, the author to$ard the end $anted to build a tall fence to block the public from going inside his land# /lso, once the author looks at his neighbors and sees something nice he $ill $ant something $ay better than $hat they have to sho$ off# 3$ning a piece of land or something of your o$n can make you change completely $ho you are& therefore, - believe that - prefer to have nothing but people - love around me# ,or instance, the author is a perfect e+ample of ho$ people can let their o$nership controls everything in their life such as his o$n family, and life# / person can become so obsesses $ith making their land uni5ue, huge, and pretty that can totally forget about the fe$ things that are important to him such as family, friends, and himself# 0hen a people gets po$er they put it over everything such as creating debits to fi+ up the place or even risking their o$n home and childrens future for a simple obsession that is not $orth it# / fe$ of those people end up $ith nothing because their family $ill leave for his obsession, and lose the land that changed him because of the debits# -n my opinion like - mention above is that - prefer to have nothing but a family and friends $ho are $illing to love me like - am $illing to love them# - believe that in this life all $e need is love to be able to survive& $ith love, $e can overcome everything# / piece of land $ill not give me the love and happiness - need it $ill only give me a headache and end up alone and $ith no one in my side& therefore, - prefer to have nothing but a family $ho shares love $ith me

.I Ha(e a ,ream Mar#in %u#$er King- .r.

7artin 6uther Ling, a black civil right campaigner, delivered an unforgettable speech 1 - %ave a @ream1 on /ugust F!, 1 "M commemorating the centennial of 6incoln.s Emancipation Kroclamation# -n this speech he presses for e5ual treatment and improved circumstances for blacks, and stresses on the necessity of eradicating institutional racial ine5ualities# Ling e+presses sharp dissatisfaction over segregation and racial discrimination# %e demands a fast end to racial discrimination, pledging his follo$ers to a fight to the finish to $ipe out all forms of segregation and to achieve e5uality and integration# %o$ever, he is in favour of creative and disciplined protest $ithout physical violence# -n his speech he even appeals the 0hites to join hands $ith )lacks in order to revolt against discriminatory practices against )lacks# %e does not sho$ hatred against 0hites, he is against color discrimination and racial prejudice# %e is a dreamer $ith the vision of e5uality and justice# %e $ants a ne$ /merica in its social makeup, establish symphony of brotherhood among blacks and $hites, and eradicate the discriminatory treatment of black /mericans# %is dream is deeply rooted in the /merican dream of .life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.# %e voices that even after hundred years of passing of Emancipation Kroclamation by 6incoln, /merica stands as the hell to the blacks# )lacks are e+iled in their o$n country and live in poverty in the vast ocean of material prosperity# %e also mentions the $ords of the 'onstitution and @eclaration of -ndependence $hich guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness# )ut these magnificent $ords $ere not applied into practice in case of colored citi*ens# %e demands the riches of freedom, security of justice, and citi*enship rights to the blacks# %e argues that the policy of gradualism in the matter of justice $ill raise discontent among blacks# The apparent purpose of Lings speech is to get the black people their rights of freedom, e5uality and justice avoiding racial injustice based on color of skin# /lthough the constitution of /merica promises e5ual rights to its entire citi*en, the black people have been deprived from enjoying the rights and get the victim of social segregation and discrimination# Therefore 7artin 6uther Ling Nr# @elivers this speech demanding justice for the black people# Ling makes an analogy >comparison? bet$een promises of an /merican constitution and a bad check# Though the constitution of /merica promises e5ual right rights to the entire citi*en irrespective of colour and creed, /merica has failed to pay her black citi*en the rights promised in the constitution# They are given bad check i#e# false promises by architects of /merican constitution# -f there is insufficient amount in the bank out, the che5ue of higher amount issued against this account is not enchased and returned unpaid such che5ue is consider as a bad check# Similar $ay although the constitution of /merica guarantees the e5uality for all, the black citi*ens are turned do$n from getting justice in /merica# Therefore, king compares the promises made by the /merican constitution $ith a bad check#

MARRIAGE I+ A /RI0ATE AFFAIR *$inua Ac$ebe %i#eral *om"re$en ion1 The story 7arriage is a Krivate /ffair sho$s the conflict bet$een old generation and ne$ generation# Bnemeka and Bene are the main characters of the story# Bnemeka is an -bo# %e is a modern son of a conservative father, 3keke# Bnemeka lives in 6agos but his father lives in the village# -n 6agos, he falls in love $ith a lo$ caste girl named Bene# She is a teacher in a girls school# 0hen they are planning to get married, Bnemeka receives a letter from his father# /ccording to the letter, 3keke has found a good girl for Bnemeka# %er name is Ggoye B$eke, the daughter of Nacob B$eke, his neighbor# Bnemeka kno$s the girl because she read $ith him in the same school# 3nce she had slapped him# %o$ever he goes to visit his father# %e refused to marry Ggoye B$eke# Then the conflict arises bet$een Bnemeka and his father# Bnemeka returns to 6agos and marries a Bene# %e sends their $edding picture to 3keke# Then he becomes very angry to see the picture# %e mutilates the picture of Bene and sends that back Bnemekas picture# %e $rites that he has nothing to do $ith Bnemeka and Bene# The letter makes Bene very sad and she $eeps# Eight years passed and they have t$o sons# They $ant to visit their grandfather# So one day Bene $rites 3keke about the $ish of his grandsons# -t brings a great change in his mind# %e kno$s that they are innocent# %e also thinks that he is fighting# %e also reali*es the change in the $eather# %e imagines his grandson standing in fierce $ind and heavy rain outside# ,inally he decides to permit his son and the sons family to visit him and the conflict is over# In#er"re#a#ion1 The $riter may be trying to sho$ the difference bet$een the thinking and modern mind# The $riter says that marriage is a private affair and the young people should have rights and freedom to choose life partners# The parents shouldnt interfere and they should adopt the democratic pattern# They should never impose their thoughts on their matured sons or daughters# /s a $hole the $riter is in the favour of love marriage# *ri#ical #$inking1 7ost of the ideas of the $riter are being a person of modern time# - also prefer love marriage to arrange marriage# %o$ever some ideas of the $riter are skeptical# 'an $e easily alter our tradition and cultureH 'an $e disagree our parents so easily like BnaemekaH @oes 3keke really change his thinking after kno$ing his grandsons $ishH @oes he really allo$ Bnaemeka and his family to visit himH A imila#ion1 This story influences me very much like the $riter, - also prefer intercaste marriage# - am also in the same position as Bnemeka some years ago# - also fell in love $ith a lo$ caste girl $ho read in the same class as me# She is very beautiful and talent# 0hen my parents kne$ about it they called me home and - kne$ that they had already arranged of fat and ugly girl for me# - refused to marry her# Then - had conflict $ith them# returned to Lathmandu and married my girlfriend# - even sent our $edding picture to them# 3nly yesterday - got a letter from my father $ho angrily $rote that he had nothing to do $ith me and my $ife# %o$ever - am hopeful that they $ill accept me and my $ife one day in the future#

T$e For#une Teller by Karel *a"ek1

T$e #ory- 2ri##en by Karel *a"ek- i ric$ 2i#$- e(en# - an#ici"a#ion and une3"ec#ed conclu ion. I# claim a""recia#ion by lea(ing u di(ided be#2een !ai#$ and logic. 0hile sharing an e+perience that Larel 'apek, the narrator and author of the story :The ,ortune Teller;, says ho$ a case prosecuting 7rs# Edith 7yers, a professional fortune teller, for fraudulently carrying out her profession by misinterpreting the symbolic significance of the cards that $ere used to be dra$n from the pack by her clients interested in kno$ing their fates $as handled by the 7agistrate, 7r# Lelley, NK# The story depicts ho$ the 7agistrate steps beyond the la$s prescribed in the Statute )ook and uses his sound common sense to reach to the ironical conclusion of the case# 7rs# 7yers had already come under the notice of @etective -nspector, 7r# 7ac6eary $ho, being persuasive, re5uested his $ife to help him kno$ing ho$ 7rs# 7yers could manage to live up to a rich and healthy economic status that is not e+pected of a mere fortune teller# 7rs# 7yers earned her livelihood as a professional fortune teller# )ut as far as her legal identity as a citi*en of the state $as concerned, she did not have legal papers and $as considered to be an alien to the state# 7oreover, the e+hibition of rich economic status of 7rs# 7yers seemed to be incongruent $ith the average earning of a professional fortune teller# -n fact, 7r# 7ac6eary came to kno$ that 7rs# Edith 7yers $as a 9erman $oman and her real name $as 7eierhofer# So, there $ere ample reasons for 7r# 7ac6eary, an administrative official and detective, to flame his suspicion that the lady $as cheating people and deserved punishment# 7rs# 7ac6eary $as re5uested by 7r# 7ac6eary to go to 7rs# 7yers in disguise of a customer for collecting some evidence# The ne+t day, 7rs# 7ac6eary sho$ed up as 7iss Nones before 7rs# Edith# 7rs# 7ac6eary pretended that she $as an+ious to kno$ about her life in future# /ctually the irony in the story $as comprehended by the readers in the follo$ing circumstances4 i? -t $as seen that 7rs# 7yers, in spite of being a fortune teller, could not predict that 7rs# 7ac6eary $as of FA years age and not FD# ii? She failed to understand the marital status of her customer# iii? She could not predict about herself that she had to go to the court and that 7rs# 7ac6eary $as a danger to her# ,inally, the readers come to kno$ ho$ the prophesy of the old lady, the fake fortune teller that she predicted a certain future for 7iss Nones, or 7rs# 7ac6eary, comes true# /lthough the judge orders her to go back to 9ermany and also advises her not to practise anymore such fraudulent prediction as a professional fortune teller, yet the greatest irony is that the prophesy of the fake fortune teller comes true at the end and it takes the readers to some unpredictable clima+ $hen 7rs# 7ac6eary is found to have been married to a rich young businessman and have moved to a place across the sea# The story digs into the $ay the destiny of a person practically plays on its piteous dupes#

THE /R'/'+A% by An#on *$ek$o(

'haracter and 'haracteri*ation4 Stepan4 'hubukov is a lando$ner# %is physical looks like "D years old# %e is a kind(man and polite, for instance to his neighbor# %e is rela+ and senile# Batalya4 Batalya is a 'hubukovs daughter# She is FE years old# Batalya is a fussy girl# She $ants to get everything $hat she $ants# She is in love, egad, she is like a love(sick cat# -van4 -van is a neighbor of 'hubukov# %e is ME years old, a critical age# -van is a large and hearty# -f he gets nervous, his hearts palpitating a$fully, especially $hen face $ith Batalya# %e does not have a brave in front of $oman# Setting4 Klace4 -t is happened in 'hubunkovs country(house, e+actly a t dra$ing room# Time4 -t is happened in evening, about C p#m# Klot Summary4 -n the evening, 6omov comes to 'hubunkovs house# %e $ears evening dress, gloves, hat, and so on# 'hubunkov is surprised but feels so glad $hen meet him# 6omov says that he $ants to propose Batalya, 'hubunkovs daughter# 'hubunkov is very happy $hen hears that and directly accepts the proposal# 6omov feels he is not proper man to Batalya# -t is the right time for 6omov to ask Batalya in marriage# 'hubunkov shouts to call Batlya# Batalya enters to dra$ing room# She seems happy and shy# ,irst they are talking about the $heather# Then $hen 6omov discusses 3+en meado$s is his mine, Batalya becomes dies angry and says disagreement# She 5uarrels $ith 6omov to get land right# Batalya humiliates 6omov, she thinks that he is a good neighbor but 6omov is just a 6and(grabber, 6omov cannot control has emotional sense and shout to Batalya# Batalya complais to her father and ask to him to state that 7eado$s is 'hubukovs mine# 6omov accuses 'hubukov has taken the 7eado$s from 6omovs family# %e thinks that the 6omovs is honourable people# The situation becomes more critical, 6omov and 'hubukov humiliate their family each other# 6omovs heart cannot stop palpitate# Then he decides to leave that house# /fter 6omovs leaving them, 'hubukov forget to say that actually 6emovs co,oing is to propose Batalya# %e $ants to make a proposal# Batalya is shocked $hen hear that# She $ants 6omov comeback soon# Batalya shall ackno$ledge that 3+en 7eado$s is 6omovs mine# She also asks forgiving abaout debating before# 'hubukov is greatly asthonished $ith the alteration of his daughter opinion# Batalya and 6omov talk of something else# They talk about their dogs# )ut they repeat their fight anymore# 6omov argues that 9uess is the best dog# %e is a first(rate dog# )ut Batalya disagree it, the s5uee*er is better than 9uess# They do it again, humiliate to each other# 'hubukov joins the dispute# They compare their dogs and tell the ugliness# Suddenly, 6omov feels numb and collapse# Batalya shouts to her papa, 6omov has died# 'hubukov is frightened and take a drink to make 6omov a$ake# Gne+pectedly, 6omov becomes a$are, and 'hubukov ask to them marry as 5uickly# Batalya is $illing to marry $ith 6omov#

They kiss each other,, and Batalya said that 6omov $ants to admit 9uess is $orse that s5uee*er# 6omov disagree it, and argues that 9uess is the best# Theme4 The farce e+plores the process of getting married and could be read as a satire on the upper middle class and courtship# The play points out the struggle to balance the economic necessities of marriage and $hat the characters themselves actually $ant# -t sho$s the characters. desperation for marriage as comical# -n 'hekhov.s Russia, marriage $as a mean of economic stability for most people# They married to gain $ealth and possessions or to satisfy social pressure# The satire is conveyed successfully by emphasi*ing the couple.s foolish arguments over small things# The main arguments in the play revolve around The 3+en 7eado$s and t$o dogs called Ggadi and 3tkatai 'onclusion4 The conclusion is content the man and the society# -n this story, the man faced by the society in around# The story is so funny $ith the actor and actress $hich so funny# This drama can entertainment us and the story so easy to understand# There are any three actors in this story4 Stepan, Batalya and -van# 0e can take the positive point of this story, there are the differences of us can not be something that make someone be enemy# ,inally the differences of us $ill be something that good and nice in the end# So $e must accept the differences bet$een us and then respect each other#