Summary of literary texts and key concepts of literature

  In the first chapter, Mary Wollstonecraft, discusses about the prevailing opinion of woman as a sexual character. The concept of virtue has been discussed in the beginning of the chapter. The author argues that woman’s character is often judged in terms of virtue, but it requires sufficient strength of mind to acquire true virtue. The women are not a swarm of ephemeron triflers and one should not disguise ignorance under the name of innocence. From their childhood, women are told to follow the example of their mother, in short, to adapt their weakness, softness of temper, outward obedience and childish behavior. If a woman is pretty, then she can do without all these, for at least twenty years of her life. According to Wollstonecraft, Milton was the first poet to offer a deprecatory description of ‘our first frail mother, as in his description it was implied that women are soulless creatures, designed by ‘sweet, attractive grace and docile blind obedience’ to gratify man’s senses. Sh

  Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) was an English writer, philosopher, and the first female writer to raise her voice for women's rights. Wollstonecraft is regarded as one of the founding feminist philosophers who immensely influenced the feminist critics of subsequent years .Her remarkable treatise A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) is considered the first feminist text, where a female writer not only became vocal for women’s rights but encouraged other women to follow her example. Mary Wollstonecraft   's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is a treatise on overcoming the ways in which women in her time are oppressed and denied access in the political area of the society. As a result, women face various challenges and cope with them simultaneously in their households as well as in society. An eminent scholar Catriona MacKenzie states that, "Her targets are, first, Rousseau's claim that women are by nature inferior to men with respect to those capacities th

  In Hinduism, the term Moksha means liberation or release from the bondage of karma as well as samsara. In both religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, Moksha is a significant concept. It is also known as nirvana. The sole purpose of a man’s leading a spiritual life practicing various religious austerities, is the attainment of moksha. According to Oliver Leaman, It is often identified as being in a state equivalent to becoming Brahman, or realizing one’s true nature. J.A.B. Vanbuitenen tries to find out the possible relation between dharma and moksha. Both the concepts springs of the desire to know the Brahman. The original Vedanta subscribes to the idea of the combination of act and knowledge. Sankaracharya stated that there can be no direct relation between any part of samsara and knowledge of Brahman. The knowledge of Brahman puts an end in any activity, and he stressed on the necessity of sanyasa. Ramanuja, undoubtedly inspired by Shrimadbhagavad Gita advocated the path of moksha thr

  About the poet: Eunice de Souza  (1940 – 2017) was an Indian poet, literary and  feminist  critic and novelist . She was one of the leading literary critics of   late 20 th century, who was born in 1940 and raised in Pune, in a Catholic family in Goa. Her mentionable books of poetry are  Women in Dutch painting  (1988),  Ways of Belonging  (1990),  Nine Indian Women Poets  (1997),  These My Words  (2012), and  Learn From The Almond Leaf  (2016). She also wrote two novels,  Dangerlok  (2001), and  Dev & SImran  (2003). She was the editor of a number of anthologies on poetry, folktales, and literary criticism.  Eunice de Souza is widely acknowledged as one of the best Indian feminist poets in Indian English writing. Eunice De Souza believes that women, they are liable for their own maltreatment and she has been very specific about how woman should behave to avoid it.   Eunice de Souza’s “Advice to Women”  guides women to learn the art of being stoic in relationships . De Souza’

  Dharma, is not a specific religion, or creed, as it generally means from a layman’s perspective. It is, according to the tenets of   Hinduism and Buddhist doctrines, the order of the universe. Dharma (/ˈdɑːrmə/; Sanskrit: धर्म , (Pali: dhamma)) is a key concept with multiple meanings in many religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. There is no single-word translation for dharma in Western languages. The term svadharma has been used in the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, as equivalent to something socially beneficial that propitiates the way of personal harmony. It is loosely synonymous with the term duty. A sense is embedded in the term which denoted that one should treat a person as he treats himself. Dhamma, in Pali language, and Buddhism attaches a sort of distinct sophistication to the notion of Dharma. Failing to perform one’s dharma may incur misery, suffering (dukkha).Following one’s own dharma leads to bodhi or enlightenment. It is referred to as the path t

  In Sanskrit language, Karma means deeds. It is pronounced as Kamma in Pali language. It represents intentional action directed towards the fulfillment of a particular motive or result, which is known as Karmaphal. The intention of doing any Karma springs from desire. Inspired by that desire, a man performs his karma. But, every man is entitled to the result of their karma, whether good or bad. So, basically a person’s karma determines his fate.   According to Oliver Leaman, in both Buddhism and Hinduism, one can diminish the effects of evil karma by performing good karma. Jain philosophy detours from this line of thought propounding that karma is similar to a material essence, that is a part of each soul. A person’s karma attaches with his soul clouding the aura of a soul that differentiates it from other souls. Non violence and non harmful karma preserves the integrity of the soul, provides opportunity for spiritual growth to its full potential. In the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Lor

  About the Poet : James Mercer Langston Hughes  (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was a multifaceted literary figure, who was an eminent Black American poet, a social activist, novelist, playwright, and a radical columnist. He hailed from Joplin  Missouri . He is also regarded as one of the earliest proponents of the literary genre, known as jazz poetry . Hughes is best known as one of the prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance . Harlem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Dreams, I, Too, are some of his notable work of poetry.   About the Poem : The poem was first published in 1921. According to Hughes, the poem was written while he was seventeen and on a train crossing the river, Mississippi  on the way to visit his father in Mexico  in 1920. It is also said that he wrote the poem within ten or fifteen minutes. Summary: In this poem the poet recounts his experience of observing ancient rivers . Rivers have played considerably huge role in the development of human civilization. S