Subverted 19th Century Traditional Social Mores and Norms in Dracula Essay Essay Example

Subverted 19th Century Traditional Social Mores and Norms in Dracula Essay Paper Bram Stoker’s Dracula remains one of the more recognizable novels of its genre despite being published in 1897. A authoritative horror narrative which has been retold and produced over and over once more since its original publication. Dracula was particularly upseting when it originally was released because of how Stoker attacks Victorian epoch societal mores and norms throughout the full novel. Stoker subverts traditional nineteenth Century societal mores and norms in Dracula through the portraiture of sexually aggressive and self-asserting females. Jonathan and Mina’s relationship. and the opposite of Maternity. One of the first illustrations of Stoker’s subverting of traditional societal mores and norms in his novel is Dracula’s Wives. Our first brush with the â€Å"weird sisters† comes when they approach Jonathan Harker at the Count’s sign of the zodiac. Christopher Craft described the scene in his contemplation as so â€Å"Immobilized by the viing jussive moods of ‘wicked desire’ and ‘deadly fright. ’ Harker awaits an titillating fulfilment that entails both the disintegration of the boundaries of the ego and the thorough corruption of conventional Victorian gender codifications. † ( Stoker. Auerbach. and Skal 444 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Subverted 19th Century Traditional Social Mores and Norms in Dracula Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Subverted 19th Century Traditional Social Mores and Norms in Dracula Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Subverted 19th Century Traditional Social Mores and Norms in Dracula Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Trade is right that this is a clear corruption of conventional Victorian gender norms. Both Jonathan and the Dracula’s Wives represent a entire reversal of what would hold been considered normal or appropriate in the nineteenth Century. Dracula’s Wives are the attackers in this sexual scene while Jonathan is the inactive or cautious sexual spouse. His expectancy of the bite from one of the eldritch sisters is similar to that of a virgin adult female waiting for her spouse to perforate her for the first clip. The eldritch sisters represent the entire antonym of what a proper Victorian adult female is supposed to resemble. They are sexually aggressive and self-asserting alternatively of inactive and puritan. Another female character that on occasion reveals what would be considered really upseting at the clip of the novel’s publication is Lucy. Lucy at one point references to Mina that she wishes she didn’t have to take merely one adult male to be with and that she wishes she could be with all of them. Such a idea was considered disgraceful during the clip period and even though Lucy is cognizant that what she is stating is inappropriate she is non able to maintain from showing her true desires to Mina. The married womans and Lucy are a few of the cardinal xpressions of subverted nineteenth century norms in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Jonathan and Mina’s relationship is another illustration of Stoker’s subverting of traditional nineteenth century societal mores and norms in his authoritative narrative. Throughout the book we see Jonathan and Mina’s characters switch gender functions from a more traditional representation to an upside-down representation. Mina is no ordinary Victorian age female. She does want to function her hubby and unlike Lucy doesn’t express the desire to be with any other spouses. but Mina is particular in the eyes of the male characters in the narrative. Van Helsing and the other work forces believe Mina’s head to be like that of a adult male. This would be considered a immense compliment at the clip because adult females were non frequently thought of being capable of believing on the same rational degree as work forces. On the other manus. Jonathan begins to fall apart. He suffers from febrilities which cause him to hold tantrums of about insanity. During this clip he surely is non believing on the rational degree that he one time did and it is clear that Mina is the more enlightened of the two lovers. This represents one inversion of traditional gender norms. Peoples didn’t considered that a adult female could be the more capable head in a relationship but that is exactly what Mina is during the bulk of the novel. That is non the lone illustration of gender reversal in Dracula. at one point Jonathan becomes swoon in public and to maintain him from falling Mina supports him. It would hold been considered really uneven to see a adult female in public back uping a adult male like this. Stoker uses Mina and Jonathan’s relationship as another corruption of 19th century traditional societal mores and norms in Dracula. Possibly the most distressing facet of Stoker’s Dracula is the opposite of pregnancy. The opposite of pregnancy represents an about perfect corruption of traditional nineteenth century societal mores and norms. Craft besides wrote is his contemplation. â€Å"Stoker emphasizes the freak implicit in such repeal of gender codifications by inverting a favourite Victorian maternal map. † ( Stoker. Auerbach. and Skal 453 ) . Maternity hasn’t changed much sense the nineteenth century. adult females are expected to care for the kids above all other duties. Acerate leaf to state the eating on defenseless kids by Lucy and Dracula’s Wives is a complete antonym of pregnancy. The banqueting on kids is peculiar upseting and flooring no affair what era one is born in and represents what is a overriding subject in Dracula the opposite of Maternity. Another illustration of the opposite of Maternity is the scene in which Dracula cuts his ain chest and forces Mina to imbibe from his lesion. Craft writes. â€Å"We are at the Count’s chest. encouraged one time once more to replace white for ruddy. as blood becomes milk. † ( Stoker. Auerbach. and Skal 458 ) . This reading is consistent with what I found. Clearly Stoker is making a distressing image that resembles a female parent feeding her babe and wholly turns pregnancy on its caput. Trade goes on to propose that possibly the scene represents more than merely an opposite of pregnancy and that the blood Mina drinks from the Count is really semen. I agree that the scene resembles forced fellatio but the resemblance to a female parent feeding her babe is excessively obvious a connexion non to be made. Inverse of pregnancy is the true symbol of this scene. In many ways Dracula can be viewed as in front of its clip. Many of the story’s developments. which were considered to be dismaying during the Victorian age. don’t cause many to bat an cilium in today’s society. Stoker subverts traditional nineteenth century societal mores and norms in Dracula through the portraiture of sexually aggressive and self-asserting females. Jonathan and Mina’s relationship. and the opposite of Maternity.

A Discussion on the roles of music in the film BRASSED Off essays

A Discussion on the roles of music in the film BRASSED Off essays A Discussion on the roles of music in the film BRASSED Off Music is central to the plot of this film, manifested in the Grimley Colliery Band. Remove the music and you would be left with no film at all. Music provides the pun-title and the progress of the band is paralleled against the plight of its associated pit throughout the film. All the characters in the film have some link, be it direct or indirect with music. Its music that matters. This is the opinion of Danny, the pivotal character, from the very beginning of the film, so his connection to music will be the main focal point of this essay. The relationship between key characters and the band as well as its link with the local community will also be discussed. How music is employed through the films soundtrack to enhance the viewers response will also be examined. The importance of music to the lives of the films characters is a central theme. Most notably, for Danny the bandleader who is unique in his view that the pit and the colliery band are summat separate, music means everything. His passion for music is the driving force behind the band and also his main reason for living. He is intent on getting the band to the national finals at the Albert Hall for the first time, since its formation in 1881. He lives in an isolated world where he is seemingly unaware of the impending pit closure and the anxiety this is causing his band members. His love for the band even exceeds concern for his own health. On his deathbed in hospital he is seen listening at night to brass band music on headphones. His wrath is a source of fear amongst the band members. After their miserable performance at the Saddleworth contest he is furious and scolds them like naughty schoolchildren, reminding them that the band is a source of local pride. It is at this point t hat Dannys isolated obsession with the band becomes most apparent...

Thou lily-liverd boy!

Thou lily-liverd boy! Thou lily-liverd boy! Thou lily-liverd boy! By Maeve Maddox Maya Gharpure wants to know What does the term lilylivered mean? A lily-livered person is a coward, easily frightened. The term lily-livered is one of many vivid expressions we get from Shakespeare. It may not have originated with him, but his use of the term in the much-performed Macbeth ensured it a place in the language. In Act Five a frightened page rushes onstage to tell Macbeth that 10,000 soldiers are taking up their positions outside his castle. The boy is so terrified that the blood has drained from his face. Realizing that his fate is about to catch up with him, Macbeth attempts to conceal his own terror by lashing out at the boy with a volley of insults directed at the lack of color in his face: Go prick thy face, and over-red thy fear,†¨ Thou lily-liverd boy. What soldiers, patch? Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine†¨ Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face? Go prick thy face: go cut your face so as to draw some blood to give it color. Thou lily-liver’d boy: think Easter lily, pure white. Before its functions were understood, the liver was thought to produce blood. A healthy liver would be red, not white. In the theory of â€Å"humors,† the liver governed anger and courage. By shouting angrily at the boy, Macbeth is trying to prove that his own liver is red. those linen cheeks of thine: Macbeth is thinking of white linen. whey-face: whey is the watery part of milk that accumulates during the making of cheese. The boy’s face is not merely white; it’s a sickly white. The word patch may also be intended to convey something white as one meaning of patch is â€Å"a piece of sticking plaster used to cover and protect a wound or scar.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Similes from Literature to Inspire YouHomogeneous vs. HeterogeneousList of Prefixes and Suffixes and their Meanings

Small and Medium Enterprises in Globalization Era Essay

Small and Medium Enterprises in Globalization Era - Essay Example The researcher states that there is no globally accepted definition of globalization, but for the purpose of this research, the term refers to the process of consolidating the world into one large market. The process avails many goods and services to people across the world with the removal of trade barriers among the trading nations. The process of globalization happens through three channels; flow of capital, the flow of finance and the trade in goods and services. There is also a thought that the same process would mean integrating the economy of one country with the rest of the world. As much as integrating the economy of one country with the rest of the world could mean good for the nation’s economy, the same process would mean a great deal of unfair competition to some businesses. For a better understanding of such an argument, there is a need to consider a scenario where a starting firm from a developing country competing in a giant multinational. There should be an und erstanding of the contribution of small-scale businesses to the economies of such countries. For most of such nations, the industry forms a critical part of the performance of such economies, which calls for a comprehensive policing strategy that will ensure their sustainability. Therefore, the current study analyses the impacts of globalization on the performance of small and medium-scale firms in the sea of the world’s economic powers. The main theme of this work is to weigh the performance of small businesses before and after the invention of globalization and determine the effects of the processes. Globalization signifies the process of liberalization and internationalization that transforms the world into a small village because of the effects realized. There has been a rise in the levels of competition in every field with all nations across the globe engaging in global wars to make their economies sustainable enough for the populations.

HR Audit Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

HR Audit Report - Essay Example 994), â€Å"Although traditional sources of competitive advantage such as the natural resources, technology, economies of scale and so forth create value, the resource based argument is that these resources are increasingly easy to imitate, especially in comparison to a complex social structure such as an employment system. Hence, human resource strategies may be an especially important source of sustained competitive advantage†. The mission of the organization is to â€Å"provide quality bakery products at competitive prices†. The quality consciousness in reflected in the policies of the management in the production, marketing and customer service. But on the other hand the management should also try to evolve new methods to evaluate the cost of various operations more stringent. The assurance of quality should not be increasing the cost and this will tend to push the prices up and high prices will not help the bakery to achieve its mission. The vision of the bakery is â€Å"To be a leading bakery in major cities of the country†. The vision of J Co is not clear and it is very ambiguous in its definition of the exact terms. This kind of vision statement will not help in aligning the organization to wards achievement of goals. Based on the mission and vision, the management of the company has formulated the objectives. The annual objective of J Co bakery is to increase the sales by 10% in the year 2008. To achieve the target growth first an analysis of the planning activities and organizing activities is necessary. The audit of the plans show that J Co has planning done extensively for increasing the sales. But it is lagging behind in its lack of planning in the area of projection of resources required to achieve the sales. The plans do not allocate budget effectively for each retail outlet but only a general allotment of money on a whole. Hence, the personnel in each outlet do not have a clear picture about the allotment of money to carryout their operations and

Since The Introduction Of Social Networking

Since The Introduction Of Social Networking Social networking site, abbreviated SNS, is the term used to describe any web page that enables users to create community profiles within that web page and develop relationships with other users of the same web sites who read their account. Social networking sites can be used to describe community-based Web sites, online discussions forums, chat rooms and other social spaces online. Some features included on many sites are instant messaging, video calling, chat, file sharing, discussion groups, voice chats, emails, blogging and so on. Social networking sites are web pages that are made for casual and effective interaction among members. Most social networks are Internet based and aim to provide different and interesting resources on how uses can interact. What attracts people to social networking sites are they are excellent places to stay in touch with friends; especially those who we do not normally see frequently. These sites also provide a forum to discuss or request a number of topics ranging from sports, languages to science and technology or even politics and news. Social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace) can become highly addictive enough that people can turn to depend on them for confidence as well as increase personal information about others. It has taken nation by storm making it possible to get the most accurate and personal information on any one person from their favorite food to what school they are in and even get their sexual orientation in a matter of seconds, sometimes without even having them as a friend or knowing the person. It also gives people a sense of self. It allows individuals the freedom of speech with the ability to allow others to like what they have to say or comment (retweet etc.) back almost as if to let someone know if what they think or feel is cool or funny enough. Social networking sights (Kiesbye 2011) reduce productivity and innovation in the work area and can become an enormous distraction amongst coworkers. Many of the websites provide users the option of email notifications and text message aler ts to help feed the growing dependency of knowing who is saying what about your status, commenting on a picture or updating their profile. These sights make it almost impossible to escape their anger due to massive advertising and celebrity cameos. They have online contests (ex. the 10000th person to like this page gets a gift card) and giveaways to save luring in different people by the day. In Feb. 2009, Los Angeles Times reported, MySpace identified 90,000 registered sex offenders with profiles on the site, while Facebook declined to reveal how many were available on its site. Even if the sites decide to remove sex offenders, they cannot identify all of them or stop them from creating new accounts (Cited procon.org). In the past few years, social networking websites have become increasingly popular among Internet users, as a place where people can meet other people, communicate, and exchange information(Philippines Pinoy 2011) . Because of the popularity with social websites, social websites have the number one attractions for bullies. Children use social networking sites to post derogatory, hurtful, or threatening information about others. According to Kiesbye, National Public Radios Veronica Miller discovered Becky, a MySpace cyber twin who had copied a photo of Miller from Facebook and published it-along with photos of Millers family-on the imposters site. Although Millers impersonator did not threaten or stalk her (and MySpace promptly removed Beckys site), the incident shows the potential of such sites for stalking or harassment (Kiesbye 2011). Not only has the misuse of social networking sites gotten adolescents in trouble, but recently professionals at work got in trouble for it. In 2009 the US Marine Corps reported, The US Marine Corps banned the use of all social media sites on its networks because the sites are a proven haven for malicious actors and content and are particularly high risk due to information exposure, user generated content and targeting by adversaries. (Cited ProCon.org) The entire Department of Defense is considering a ban on social networking sites because of concerns over security threats and potential computer viruses. Recently, Time magazine reported that 70% of U.S. human resources officers said that they rejected new job applicants for inappropriate material they uncovered about the applicant, from social networking sites. According to many surveys and studies employers surfing the web has become one of the number one reason why people are fired from work. After finding and artice via a browser (e.g., Google), people are penalized for what they are posting. Many are denied jobs, dismissed from work or disciplined because of comments they h ave carelessly left lying around on social networking sites. Sharing too much information on social networking sites can be problematic in two ways. First, it can reveal something about you that you rather your current or future employer or school administrators not know, and second, it can put your personal safety at risk. A potential downside of social networking sites is that they allow others to know a persons contact information, interests, habits, and whereabouts. Consequences of sharing this information can diverge from the relatively harmless but annoying such as an increase in spam to the potentially deadly such as stalking. Criminals can use information provided about a persons birthday, location, routine, hobbies, and interests to impersonate a trusted friend or convince the unsuspecting that they have the authority to access personal or financial data. Even though SNS have potential harm because of stalkers or hackers, there is a way to avoid it. Someone should never disclose private information online or through a chat. If possibl e do not send relevant information, including bank account information, your social security number, and birthday, over the Internet. Several social networking site features may increase users vulnerability to stalkers and other predators. For example, new MySpace members was asked to supply a name or nickname and information about their marital status, sexual orientation, hometown, school, religion, education, interests (e.g., music, movies, television, books, and heroes), children, or income. Although most of these questions are optional, users may automatically answer them because they are using the site to meet other people. On many sites, all these answers go public, remaining open to anyone who uses the site. Stalkers may use such information to gain access to site members. Victims also have options in civil or family courts. They can seek protective orders against stalkers, who can be ordered not to contact the victim, including not using any form of electronic communications to stalk the victim. Victims may also be able to file a civil tort case against their stalker, seeking damages for the impact of stalking on their lives. Also, under certain conditions, victims can sue social networking sites for failure to remove offensive or defamatory material regarding the victim from the site (Kiesbye 2011). Therefore, deciding whether to post something, remember that the more information malicious people have about a person, the easier it is for them to take advantage of that person. Social networking sites can be abused. People treat them like their own diary or journal, and then get upset when people get mad at them because they posted something about them on their wall. They should be banned because of the harm they are doing to personal relationships and a persons wellness. friendships, marriages torn apart, and Internet bullying done. Although SNS can be a terrible time waster and provides an avenue for cyber-bullying and harassment, it is also a extremely useful tool for maintaining contacts, friendships and social interaction, even when friends move homes, jobs, etc. Used sensibly, there is no reason at all to see social networking sites as a threat or a problem. Individual users, however, are not always very sensible. (Add More Use Sources) Social networking sites provide a whole new way of meeting new friends and discovering fascinating communities, however; the cyber interactions cannot, in many people opinion, replace the real physical contacts. Ironically, people are less social through social networking sites because rather than talking to those around us; we almost solely talk to those online. While social networking sites can help make us more connected throughout the world, an unintended side effect is that we become isolated in your own communities. Social networking sites are destroying peoples ability to be able to read facial expressions and body language. The more people talk online the less we talk in real life, so much so that we lose the ability to catch those little nuances that are warning signs that we are offending someone or boring them. We are also relying too much on the anonymity of online interaction, and this causes us to be meaner online. Take my name for example-the name of my profile is my r eal name, and my real age and short list of what I like is also listed. In a face to face encounter, there are consequences for what a person may say. This is not true online, and you can say any horrible thing you want with the protection of anonymity. Many people believe that they are quite safe online because they are only using social networking sites to talk to friends, or they think that they are entirely anonymous. People should be cautious to whom they just met online. There are number of ways identities can be stolen online continues to increase. Hackers and thieves use these networks to obtain the information they need to wreak havoc on those who innocently use these sites. In order to protect your-self against predators, hackers, or professional job people should learn about how different sites work. Learning how different sites work will insure that the user knows what they are signing up for. A user of any SNS should allow only users you authorize their page. If a user does not know a person then he or she can always deny a friend invitation. Not only should one not allow unknown members but members also should guard personal information with privacy settings, this allows only certain information to be seen by others. W hen using social networking sites a person should only post information that you are comfortable having others see and know about you. These posts leave lasting reputation that potential jobs and others can see. There are many different discussions on the topic of social network addiction but one argument is clear: These sights are addictive and they can and will directly and indirectly affect the daily lives of individuals. While some use these sights for positive outreach and to inform and educate others, there will be some who abuse the sights by not using them for their intended purposes. It is imperative that people use their greater judgment and take caution and be fully aware of these social networking sights and what they are signing themselves up for. So before you commit yourself to constant email updates, text message alerts and advertising campaigns assess the positive and negative aspects of internet socialization and ask yourself is it really worth it?

My Lord the Baby – a Story by Rabindra Nath Tagore on the Case of Rai Charann

I Raicharan was twelve years old when he came as a servant to his master's house. He belonged to the same caste as his master, and was given his master's little son to nurse. As time went on the boy left Raicharan's arms to go to school. From school he went on to college, and after college he entered the judicial service. Always, until he married, Raicharan was his sole attendant. But, when a mistress came into the house, Raicharan found two masters instead of one. All his former influence passed to the new mistress. This was compensated for by a fresh arrival. Anukul had a son born to him, and Raicharan by his unsparing attentions soon got a complete hold over the child. He used to toss him up in his arms, call to him in absurd baby language, put his face close to the baby's and draw it away again with a grin. Presently the child was able to crawl and cross the doorway. When Raicharan went to catch him, he would scream with mischievous laughter and make for safety. Raicharan was amazed at the profound skill and exact judgment the baby showed when pursued. He would say to his mistress with a look of awe and mystery: â€Å"Your son will be a judge some day. † New wonders came in their turn. When the baby began to toddle, that was to Raicharan an epoch in human history. When he called his father Ba-ba and his mother Ma-ma and Raicharan Chan-na, then Raicharan's ecstasy knew no bounds. He went out to tell the news to all the world. After a while Raicharan was asked to show his ingenuity in other ways. He had, for instance, to play the part of a horse, holding the reins between his teeth and prancing with his feet. He had also to wrestle with his little charge, and if he could not, by a wrestler's trick, fall on his back defeated at the end, a great outcry was certain. About this time Anukul was transferred to a district on the banks of the Padma. On his way through Calcutta he bought his son a little go-cart. He bought him also a yellow satin waistcoat, a gold-laced cap, and some gold bracelets and anklets. Raicharan was wont to take these out, and put them on his little charge with ceremonial pride, whenever they went for a walk. Then came the rainy season, and day after day the rain poured down in torrents. The hungry river, like an enormous serpent, swallowed down terraces, villages, cornfields, and covered with its flood the tall grasses and wild casuarinas on the sand-banks. From time to time there was a deep thud, as the river-banks crumbled. The unceasing roar of the rain current could be beard from far away. Masses of foam, carried swiftly past, proved to the eye the swiftness of the stream. One afternoon the rain cleared. It was cloudy, but cool and bright. Raicharan's little despot did not want to stay in on such a fine afternoon. His lordship climbed into the go-cart. Raicharan, between the shafts, dragged him slowly along till he reached the rice-fields on the banks of the river. There was no one in the fields, and no boat on the stream. Across the water, on the farther side, the clouds were rifted in the west. The silent ceremonial of the setting sun was revealed in all its glowing splendour. In the midst of that stillness the child, all of a sudden, pointed with his finger in front of him and cried: â€Å"Chan-nal Pitty fow. † Close by on a mud-flat stood a large Kadamba tree in full flower. My lord, the baby, looked at it with greedy eyes, and Raicharan knew his meaning. Only a short time before he had made, out of these very flower balls, a small go-cart; and the child had been so entirely happy dragging it about with a string, that for the whole day Raicharan was not made to put on the reins at all. He was promoted from a horse into a groom. But Raicharan had no wish that evening to go splashing knee-deep through the mud to reach the flowers. So he quickly pointed his finger in the opposite direction, calling out: â€Å"Oh, look, baby, look! Look at the bird. † And with all sorts of curious noises he pushed the go-cart rapidly away from the tree. But a child, destined to be a judge, cannot be put off so easily. And besides, there was at the time nothing to attract his eyes. And you cannot keep up for ever the pretence of an imaginary bird. The little Master's mind was made up, and Raicharan was at his wits' end. â€Å"Very well, baby,† he said at last, â€Å"you sit still in the cart, and I'll go and get you the pretty flower. Only mind you don't go near the water. † As he said this, he made his legs bare to the knee, and waded through the oozing mud towards the tree. The moment Raicharan had gone, his little Master went off at racing speed to the forbidden water. The baby saw the river rushing by, splashing and gurgling as it went. It seemed as though the disobedient wavelets themselves were running away from some greater Raicharan with the laughter of a thousand children. At the sight of their mischief, the heart of the human child grew excited and restless. He got down stealthily from the go-cart and toddled off towards the river. On his way he picked up a small stick, and leant over the bank of the stream pretending to fish. The mischievous fairies of the river with their mysterious voices seemed inviting him into their play-house. Raicharan had plucked a handful of flowers from the tree, and was carrying them back in the end of his cloth, with his face wreathed in smiles. But when he reached the go-cart, there was no one there. He looked on all sides and there was no one there. He looked back at the cart and there was no one there. In that first terrible moment his blood froze within him. Before his eyes the whole universe swam round like a dark mist. From the depth of his broken heart he gave one piercing cry; â€Å"Master, Master, little Master. † But no voice answered â€Å"Chan-na. † No child laughed mischievously back; no scream of baby delight welcomed his return. Only the river ran on, with its splashing, gurgling noise as before,–as though it knew nothing at all, and had no time to attend to such a tiny human event as the death of a child. As the evening passed by Raicharan's mistress became very anxious. She sent men out on all sides to search. They went with lanterns in their hands, and reached at last the banks of the Padma. There they found Raicharan rushing up and down the fields, like a stormy wind, shouting the cry of despair: â€Å"Master, Master, little Master! † When they got Raicharan home at last, he fell prostrate at his mistress's feet. They shook him, and questioned him, and asked him repeatedly where he had left the child; but all he could say was, that he knew nothing. Though every one held the opinion that the Padma had swallowed the child, there was a lurking doubt left in the mind. For a band of gipsies had been noticed outside the village that afternoon, and some suspicion rested on them. The mother went so far in her wild grief as to think it possible that Raicharan himself had stolen the child. She called him aside with piteous entreaty and said: â€Å"Raicharan, give me back my baby. Oh ! ive me back my child. Take from me any money you ask, but give me back my child! † Raicharan only beat his forehead in reply. His mistress ordered him out of the house. Artukul tried to reason his wife out of this wholly unjust suspicion: â€Å"Why on earth,† he said, â€Å"should he commit such a crime as that? † The mother only replied: â€Å"The baby had gold ornaments on his body. Who knows? â₠¬  It was impossible to reason with her after that. II Raicharan went back to his own village. Up to this time he had had no son, and there was no hope that any child would now be born to him. But it came about before the end of a year that his wife gave birth to a son and died. All overwhelming resentment at first grew up in Raicharan's heart at the sight of this new baby. At the back of his mind was resentful suspicion that it had come as a usurper in place of the little Master. He also thought it would be a grave offence to be happy with a son of his own after what had happened to his master's little child. Indeed, if it had not been for a widowed sister, who mothered the new baby, it would not have lived long. But a change gradually came over Raicharan's mind. A wonderful thing happened. This new baby in turn began to crawl about, and cross the doorway with mischief in its face. It also showed an amusing cleverness in making its escape to safety. Its voice, its sounds of laughter and tears, its gestures, were those of the little Master. On some days, when Raicharan listened to its crying, his heart suddenly began thumping wildly against his ribs, and it seemed to him that his former little Master was crying somewhere in the unknown land of death because he had lost his Chan-na. Phailna (for that was the name Raicharan's sister gave to the new baby) soon began to talk. It learnt to say Ba-ba and Ma-ma with a baby accent. When Raicharan heard those familiar sounds the mystery suddenly became clear. The little Master could not cast off the spell of his Chan-na, and therefore he had been reborn in his own house. The arguments in favour of this were, to Raicharan, altogether beyond dispute: (i. ) The new baby was born soon after his little master's death. (ii. ) His wife could never have accumulated such merit as to give birth to a son in middle age. (iii. ) The new baby walked with a toddle and called out Ba-ba and Ma- ma. There was no sign lacking which marked out the future judge. Then suddenly Raicharan remembered that terrible accusation of the mother. â€Å"Ah,† he said to himself with amazement, â€Å"the mother's heart was right. She knew I had stolen her child. † When once he had come to this conclusion, he was filled with remorse for his past neglect. He now gave himself over, body and soul, to the new baby, and became its devoted attendant. He began to bring it up, as if it were the son of a rich man. He bought a go-cart, a yellow satin waistcoat, and a gold- embroidered cap. He melted down the ornaments of his dead wife, and made gold bangles and anklets. He refused to let the little child play with any one of the neighbourhood, and became himself its sole companion day and night. As the baby grew up to boyhood, he was so petted and spoilt and clad in such finery that the village children would call him â€Å"Your Lordship,† and jeer at him; and older people regarded Raicharan as unaccountably crazy about the child. At last the time came for the boy to go to school. Raicharan sold his small piece of land, and went to Calcutta. There he got employment with great difficulty as a servant, and sent Phailna to school. He spared no pains to give him the best education, the best clothes, the best food. Meanwhile he lived himself on a mere handful of rice, and would say in secret: â€Å"Ah! my little Master, my dear little Master, you loved me so much that you came back to my house. You shall never suffer from any neglect of mine. † Twelve years passed away in this manner. The boy was able to read and write well. He was bright and healthy and good-looking. He paid a great deal of attention to his personal appearance, and was specially careful in parting his hair. He was inclined to extravagance and finery, and spent money freely. He could never quite look on Raicharan as a father, because, though fatherly in affection, he had the manner of a servant. A further fault was this, that Raicharan kept secret from every one that himself was the father of the child. The students of the hostel, where Phailna was a boarder, were greatly amused by Raicharan's country manners, and I have to confess that behind his father's back Phailna joined in their fun. But, in the bottom of their hearts, all the students loved the innocent and tender-hearted old man, and Phailna was very fond of him also. But, as I have said before, he loved him with a kind of condescension. Raicharan grew older and older, and his employer was continually finding fault with him for his incompetent work. He had been starving himself for the boy's sake. So he had grown physically weak, and no longer up to his work. He would forget things, and his mind became dull and stupid. But his employer expected a full servant's work out of him, and would not brook excuses. The money that Raicharan had brought with him from the sale of his land was exhausted. The boy was continually grumbling about his clothes, and asking for more money. Raicharan made up his mind. He gave up the situation where he was working as a servant, and left some money with Phailna and said: â€Å"I have some business to do at home in my village, and shall be back soon. † He went off at once to Baraset where Anukul was magistrate. Anukul's wife was still broken down with grief. She had had no other child. One day Anukul was resting after a long and weary day in court. His wife was buying, at an exorbitant price, a herb from a mendicant quack, which was said to ensure the birth of a child. A voice of greeting was heard in the courtyard. Anukul went out to see who was there. It was Raicharan. Anukul's heart was softened when he saw his old servant. He asked him many questions, and offered to take him back into service. Raicharan smiled faintly, and said in reply; â€Å"I want to make obeisance to my mistress. † Anukul went with Raicharan into the house, where the mistress did not receive him as warmly as his old master. Raicharan took no notice of this, but folded his hands, and said: â€Å"It was not the Padma that stole your baby. It was I. † Anukul exclaimed: â€Å"Great God! Eh! What! Where is he ? â€Å"Raicharan replied: â€Å"He is with me, I will bring him the day after to-morrow. † It was Sunday. There was no magistrate's court sitting. Both husband and wife were looking expectantly along the road, waiting from early morning for Raicharan's appearance. At ten o'clock he came, leading Phailna by the hand. Anukul's wife, without a question, took the boy into her lap, and was wild with ex citement, sometimes laughing, sometimes weeping, touching him, kissing his hair and his forehead, and gazing into his face with hungry, eager eyes. The boy was very good-looking and dressed like a gentleman's son. The heart of Anukul brimmed over with a sudden rush of affection. Nevertheless the magistrate in him asked: â€Å"Have you any proofs? â€Å"Raicharan said: â€Å"How could there be any proof of such a deed? God alone knows that I stole your boy, and no one else in the world. † When Anukul saw how eagerly his wife was clinging to the boy, he realised the futility of asking for proofs. It would be wiser to believe. And then–where could an old man like Raicharan get such a boy from? And why should his faithful servant deceive him for nothing? â€Å"But,† he added severely, â€Å"Raicharan, you must not stay here. † â€Å"Where shall I go, Master? † said Raicharan, in a choking voice, folding his hands; â€Å"I am old. Who will take in an old man as a servant? † The mistress said: â€Å"Let him stay. My child will be pleased. I forgive him. † But Anukul's magisterial conscience would not allow him. â€Å"No,† he said, â€Å"he cannot be forgiven for what he has done. † Raicharan bowed to the ground, and clasped Anukul's feet. â€Å"Master,† he cried, â€Å"let me stay. It was not I who did it. It was God. Anukul's conscience was worse stricken than ever, when Raicharan tried to put the blame on God's shoulders. â€Å"No,† he said, â€Å"I could not allow it. I cannot trust you any more. You have done an act of treachery. † Raicharan rose to his feet and said: â€Å"It was not I who did it. â €  â€Å"Who was it then? † asked Anukul. Raicharan replied: â€Å"It was my fate. † But no educated man could take this for an excuse. Anukul remained obdurate. When Phailna saw that he was the wealthy magistrate's son, and not Raicharan's, be was angry at first, thinking that he had been cheated all this time of his birthright. But seeing Raicharan in distress, he generously said to his father: â€Å"Father, forgive him. Even if you don't let him live with us, let him have a small monthly pension. † After hearing this, Raicharan did not utter another word. He looked for the last time on the face of his son; he made obeisance to his old master and mistress. Then he went out, and was mingled with the numberless people of the world. At the end of the month Anukul sent him some money to his village. But the money came back. There was no one there of the name of Raicharan.