Western Ideals Essay Example

Western Ideals Essay The Western Evils The infiltration of western ideals into the Japanese Culture had forever changed customs and traditions of the Japanese society as a whole. Yet was it as it was stated in a 1941 pamphlet issued by the Japanese Ministry of Education entitled â€Å"The Way of the Subjects. † â€Å"this country has been widely seeking knowledge in the world since the Meiji Restoration, thereby fostering and maintaining the prosperity of the state. With the influx of European and American culture in this country, however, individualism, liberalism, utilitarianism and materialism began to assert themselves, so that the traditional character of the country was much impaired and the virtuous habits and customs bequeathed by our ancestors were affected unfavorably† Had the infiltration of individualism,liberalism,utilitarianism and materialism corrupt the once glorious and honorable society of Japan? Or perhaps had it enlightened their society to a new way of thinking? To answer these questions Id like to give a brief highlight of how women were viewed in Japanese Culture prior to the infiltration of the western ideology. To do so I will be referencing Andrew Gordons book entitled: A Modern History of Japan. To start off Id to address the role of women prior to the infiltration of western ideology. More precisely the the views of the Orthodox in the Tokugawa society, that being that â€Å"women should be kept ignorant and in the kitchen. †[1] However that wasnt the case rather it was that this belief was more to keep women as submissive an obedient . We will write a custom essay sample on Western Ideals specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Western Ideals specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Western Ideals specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It was further brought out that women worked as managers of farms for the wealthy in addition to their regular household duties. [2] So exactly how did this system change after the infiltration of the western ideology? Well to answer this question Im going to reference Funichiro Tanizakis book entitled: Some Prefer Nettles and Nakano Makikos book entitled: Makikos Diary. When we look upon the example set by Makiko in Nakano Makikos book entitled: Makikos Diary, we can see no change in the sense of a submissive an obedient partner. An example of this can be taken from how Makikos spouse frequently parties and she waits up for him every night. [3] However the change that is displayed by Makiko is that of becoming more materialistic. This can be seen through out the text as she speaks of the gifts that they had received an especially when she talks about the camera that they had came to posses. [4] So what of the example set forth by Funichiro Tanizakis book entitled: Some Prefer Nettles? Well as seen in the beginning of the book Kanames wife Misako was anything but loyal. This is clearly show through the fact that his wife had another lover by the name of Aso. [5] Another theme that found its way through this book as well is the materialistic desires of the people in their society. A picture is painted through the illustration of the prostitute that Kaname goes to see by the name of louise. In the book it speaks of how she has a taste for things western and of course money. [6] Given these examples can it honestly be said that the infiltration of western ideology had corrupted the Japanese Culture? Well as we can clearly see, yes there was a big difference between what was acceptable prior to the infiltration of western ideology, then to as it was after. However to say that it was because of the infiltration of western ideology that made this all come to be is rather a foolish statement. The fact is that these ideologies; individualism, liberalism, utilitarianism and materialism are merely nothing more then human nature. It can honestly be said that with the infiltration of western ideology the Japanese people were allowed to be more free to express themselves more freely then before. Then again I maybe wrong, partly because according to the Japanese Ministry of Education I have been corrupted by these western evils. [1]Andrew Gordon: â€Å"A Modern History of Japan† (Oxford University Press,2009), 32 [2]Gordon, 33 [3]Nakano Makiko, â€Å" Makikos Diary†(Stanford University Press,1982),102 [4]Makiko,150-152 [5]Funichiro Tanizaki, â€Å"Some Prefer Nettles† (First Vintage International Edition,1955),4 [6]Tanizaki,165-171

Free Essays on Grapes of Wrath and Anthem

A person’s life may be influenced by the time in which he lives in. Two primary examples of this theme are the literary works by John Steinbeck and Ayn Rand, The Grapes of Wrath and Anthem, respectively. During the periods of time where both novels took place in there were societies that have enormous gaps in social influence. They each portray characters of superiority and inferiority over and in comparison to others. Through the analysis of each book, it’s evident that the period in which they lived in had great affects on the characters. The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that exposes the desperate conditions under which the migratory farm families of America during the 1930's lived. It serves as an excellent example of the deterioration of social unity because one of its main topics of controversy is the class struggle between the rich and the poor. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck consistently focuses on the treatment of the migrant farmers. During many occasions, the Joad Family is put to the test, and it’s apparent that them, along with the other poor people, fail to come close in social power to any character that isn’t poor. The novel tells of ones family’s migration west to California through the great economic depression of the 1930's. The Joad family had to abandon their home and their livelihoods. They had to uproot and set adrift because tractors were rapidly industrializing their farms. The bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off their loan. The novel shows how the Joad family deals with moving to California. How they survive the cruelty of the landowners that take advantage of them, their poverty and willingness to work. The opening chapter paints a vivid picture of the situation facing the drought-stricken farmers of Oklahoma. Dust is described a covering everything, smothering the life out of anything that wants to grow. The dust is symbolic of ... Free Essays on Grapes of Wrath and Anthem Free Essays on Grapes of Wrath and Anthem A person’s life may be influenced by the time in which he lives in. Two primary examples of this theme are the literary works by John Steinbeck and Ayn Rand, The Grapes of Wrath and Anthem, respectively. During the periods of time where both novels took place in there were societies that have enormous gaps in social influence. They each portray characters of superiority and inferiority over and in comparison to others. Through the analysis of each book, it’s evident that the period in which they lived in had great affects on the characters. The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that exposes the desperate conditions under which the migratory farm families of America during the 1930's lived. It serves as an excellent example of the deterioration of social unity because one of its main topics of controversy is the class struggle between the rich and the poor. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck consistently focuses on the treatment of the migrant farmers. During many occasions, the Joad Family is put to the test, and it’s apparent that them, along with the other poor people, fail to come close in social power to any character that isn’t poor. The novel tells of ones family’s migration west to California through the great economic depression of the 1930's. The Joad family had to abandon their home and their livelihoods. They had to uproot and set adrift because tractors were rapidly industrializing their farms. The bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off their loan. The novel shows how the Joad family deals with moving to California. How they survive the cruelty of the landowners that take advantage of them, their poverty and willingness to work. The opening chapter paints a vivid picture of the situation facing the drought-stricken farmers of Oklahoma. Dust is described a covering everything, smothering the life out of anything that wants to grow. The dust is symbolic of ...