...Elizabeth Bathory has been portrayed over time as one of the most prolific and sadistic serial killers the world has known. She was nicknamed “The Blood Countess”, and also “Lady Dracula”. Elizabeth Bathory is reputed to have not only drunk but bathed in the blood of young virgin girls. She is perhaps less well-known only than the infamous Vlad Dracula, who was an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s fictional Count Dracula. During the years since Dracula was published, the Blood Countess has exercised a powerful fascination on many writers and film-makers. However, recently, there have been many books and films that go against the usual image of Bathory, and take a new look at her. Through my essay, I hope to give a fresh look at the life and death of Countess Elizabeth Bathory and pick out the truth from many myths surrounding her, due to the portrayal of Elizabeth Bathory’s crimes in popular culture. Countess Erzsébet Báthory, also known as Elizabeth Bathory, was a member of a powerful family from an estate at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, the Bathory family. She was born in 1560 to Baron George Bathory and Baroness Anne Bathory (“Blood Countess,” par.1). Elizabeth was raised on Ecsed, an estate in Transylvania. Elizabeth was not an easy child, nor was life easy for her, despite being a member of the privileged class. She was said to suffer from a brain disorder associated with increased aggression which could be due to inbreeding, which was very popular in royal families...
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...The Myth of Dracula Jenny Martinez, Com 220 University of Phoenix Cole Chatterton January 9, 2008 THE MYTH OF DRACULA In October of 1999, a television series began that would run for approximately four and a half years. This series would again sate the American appetite for vampire stories begun by the likes of Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Tanith Lee, and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. The name of the series? Angel. The Premise? A vampire, originally named Angelus, had been cursed by a gypsy victim, with a soul, and could no longer kill humans. And if he fell in love with one, his dark side would return, which he feared more than anything else. The series featured many flashbacks to many centuries past because the vampires depicted were several centuries old. Not only that, but the vampire had true eye-appeal for the female audience. He was tall, dark, and handsome, just like almost every vampire in almost every myth America has ever heard (Angel site, 2004). But could such a creature truly exist? Although the vampire myth is present in many societies around the world through the centuries, there is a basis in science and fact, for this legend. To start off with, one of the most popular modern vampire stories, written in 1897, was Bram Stoker’s Dracula. To this day, it sets the bar for the modern vampire. Authors have a tendency to pull juicy pieces of many different tales together to patchwork them into something to hold the reader’s interest. ...
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...Pride & Prejudice: Marriage Austen uses the marriages of Charlotte, Lydia, Jane, and Elizabeth in “Pride and Prejudice” to show the good and bad reasons behind typical marriages during the late 18th century in England. The marriages of those four characters illustrate the different motives women had behind getting wedded. Charlotte Lucas accepts Mr. Collins’ hand in marriage as soon as he proposed to her even though she had only known him for a short period of time because he was financially stable. Charlotte is described to be simple with no outstanding qualities; as she is twenty-six years of age, she has a different opinion on marriage from the Bennet daughters as they are younger. She marries Mr. Collins for practicality and survival as she tells Elizabeth, “I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.'” (P&P pg 124) Her family members are happy when they hear the news as they no longer need to support her – her new husband will take care of her and finances. Women married at a young age; Charlotte’s age was considered old, and it being rare to find a groom for an old bride, Charlotte’s brothers were relieved that she would not die unmarried. Austen uses the marriage of Charlotte and Mr. Collins to represent women that marry wealthy men in order to be financially secure, which...
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...“Henry VII’s sole achievement was to pass on the throne peacefully to his son.’ To what extent is this a fair assessment of Henry’s reign? One of Henry VII’s main achievements was creating the Tudor Dynasty. He then secured it by marrying Elizabeth of York, Edward IV’s daughter. By marrying Elizabeth of York, Henry had united the houses of Lancaster and York. Another way that Henry secured his throne was saving as much money as possible. He established a sense of economic order in the kingdom, which can be seen as another achievement, but to do this he enforced a lot of taxes and his council essentially stole money. This made him unpopular. Another reason that Henry VII was unpopular was because he was known to be greedy and cause tension. By gaining finances and securing his dynasty he passed on the throne peacefully to Henry VIII. Henry VII made many political developments during his reign. Source 6, say that Henrys reign ‘must still be regarded as one of the great landmarks in England’s political development’. It also says that it is the ‘watershed between the old and new pattern of political life’. Source 9 also mentions the attempt to ‘centralise’ English politics. Henry was a stable leader. In source 8, it mentions his ‘steady purposefulness that saved England form mediocrity’. The source also says that he was a stabilizer, and that he stands out ‘pre-eminent among British monarchs’. Henry withstood several attempts to challenge his crown. The experiences that he had...
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...1) Jane Austen * Biography Jane Austen is one of the most read writers in England. She was born on the 17th of December in 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, in a large family with six brothers and one sister, which formed part of the Landed Gentry (well-born and well-bred people of high social class in England). Jane went on with her education by herself by reading books which her father, who supported her a lot, gave her from his large library. Her family produced plays and Jane Austen took part in these. Most of them were comedies which gave Jane the opportunity to develop her comic and satirical senses. During her lifetime she was not famous because she wanted to keep anonymity. So, instead of writing her name on the books, she just put "by a lady". It is only in the 19th century that she got famous when her nephew wrote A memoir of Jane Austen. This book even included some of her writings that were never published before. She never got married, although she was once proposed to and she never had any children. During the year of 1816, Jane Austen’s health became worse and she died in July in 1817 at the age of 41 years old. But the exact reasons of her death remain vague, some say it was Addison syndrome, other say Hodgkin’s disease, there are several hypotheses. The famous English author is buried in the North aisle of Winchester Cathedral. * Main works She started by writing poems when she was 12 years old. By the time she was 18, she started creating longer and...
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...In Act Four of The Crucible, Reverend Hale must confront and overcome his crucible. The magnitude of this is witnessed in his character: “Reverend Hale enters. They look at him for an instant in silence. He is steeped in sorrow, exhausted, and more direct than he ever was.” (pp 128-129, Act 4) Hale’s crucible is whether or not to follow the public and continue forcing people to confess witchcraft or to make known the madness of these hunts, since he knows these witch hunts and trials are irrational. This exemplifies Hale’s personal and gradual movement to candor rather than the accusation of more innocent individuals. Furthermore, it shows Hale’s first steps from the break from conformity. In this essay, I will explain the changes that occur in his character as he struggles with his crucible. Also, I will analyze a crucible that I have faced. Hale grows almost exponentially throughout the duration of Act Four in The Crucible. On page 130, Hale is trying to convince Danforth to postpone the trials of the accused: “Excellency, if you postpone a week… that speak mercy on your part, not faltering.” After Danforth’s response, including a discussion of the trials doing God’s work in Salem, Hale speaks his mind again and announces that Danforth is mistaken in his judgment. At this point Hale begins to realize what he must do. He must attempt to delay, if not halt these trials, in order to prevent people from hanging needlessly. Hale shows outright maturation and grows a backbone, so...
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...daughters have their own unique personalities, but there is one that stands out the most in the novel. The story is concentrated mainly on Elizabeth Bennett, a strong willed and outspoken young lady, and her relationship with Fitzwilliam Darcy (Mr. Darcy), a haughty and extremely wealthy man. Elizabeth is from the middle class and Mr. Darcy comes from a prominent and wealthy family. Elizabeth is conflicted between her prejudices of Mr. Darcy’s behavior and her increasing attraction towards him. It is said that first impressions determine how a relationship will work out. Pride and Prejudice was initially titled First Impressions which is a fitting name because they play a crucial role in the development of the novel. Elizabeth’s first impression of Mr. Darcy is one of contempt and she feels deeply offended by Darcy. At the Netherfield gala, Darcy insults Elizabeth when he exclaims that “she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt [him]” (Austen 9). At this time, during the Regency Era, a dance was intended for women and men to be together and for women to find potential suitors. The fact that Darcy refuses Lizzie when she is sitting alone is extremely disrespectful. Elizabeth hears Darcy insult her and she remembers his arrogance and disdain for others. This initial prejudice of Darcy carries on through some of the novel and Elizabeth unconsciously discovers more reasons that she dislikes Darcy. Most of the reasons that she condemns him are mistakes on her part. ...
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...of England, are presented to the audience in five acts. Richard is secretly aspiring the throne, during which process he decides to kill anyone who stands as an obstacle in his way. For the aim of ascending to the throne he tricks Lady Anne in the second act, into marrying him, even though she knows he murdered her first husband and her father in law. The reigning king Edward dies and leaves the throne waiting for the elder of his two sons, Edward and Richard. The third act sees Richard left in charge until Edward will come of age. Richard has Queen Elizabeth arrested and executed, which leaves the two young princes unprotected.in the fourth act, Richard has lord Buckingham his right hand man campaign to have himself crowned king. He then imprisons the young princes and hires murderers to kill both children. Richard then has his wife Anne murdered, so that he could marry young Elizabeth, the daughter of the former queen Elizabeth and the dead king Edward. The night before the fight, Richard is haunted by ghosts of all the people he has killed. In conclusion, the fifth act, Richard is killed on the battle field and Richmond is crowned king henry VII. The villain finally reaches his...
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...underlying reason for . Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the story, faces many characters who believe that money is the underlying factor to which someone should marry. A main example of this is Elizabeth’s mother Mrs. Bennet, who in fact believes that all of her daughters should get married, however marriage is not entirely about true love; Mrs. Bennet’s view on marriage is that her daughters should chase after a man who have great wealth. Throughout the book, Jane Austen consistently shows the upper class looking down toward the middle class, which is fairly ironic for the fact that they are not that poor if they are considered to be middle class. To continue, Jane Austen’s portrayal of, not all but quite a few, wealthy characters summarize the main theme of the novel, which is the power of societal reputation and money. In Pride and Prejudice nothing was further stressed than having economic power, money, and marriage. The first quote, “It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Austen 1) establishes what type of book this is going to be. Right out of the gate this quotation introduces the importance of economic power; this also shows the reader(s) that this is the standard at which society, at this time, holds you to if you are a prosperous male. Many times throughout the novel Jane Austen stresses the cultural divide. At the beginning of the book it is established that Elizabeth and Darcy, the second...
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...gripped by the story throughout the whole play. The incident begins with the girls dancing in the forest and soon escalates into a huge witch hunt. There is sufficient conflict to keep the reader or audience member's interest aroused. There is a great deal of of tension and suspense in the story. It essentially covers basic human instincts and qualities. It depicts the human necessity for survival, and the lengths at which a person will go to save his life, and also the treacherous nature of many. There is also the idea of honor and truth. Proctor tries to keep his reputation but gives it up to reveal the truth. Through his struggle he achieves righteousness. All these things keep the plot moving. Proctor's relationship with Elizabeth can be seen to grow and mature. He continually grows more pure in Elizabeth's sight until she is able to forgive him in act four. Proctor character also attains a kind of moral supermeminence - He does not want to get involved in the court proceedings in act two but stands up for the truth in act four, and this was reflected by his wife's final statement which we look at the end of act four: "He has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him" It is understood that Miller's intent in this was to portray the innocence of those falsely accused in the McCarthy trials. Setting The play takes place in Salem, Massachusetts during the...
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...Bloody Mary Have you ever been told to go in to a dark room with mirrors and chant “Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary. . .” and something bad will happen to you? Many people, including myself, have heard the legend of Bloody Mary as some people would call it the face in the mirror. The version I have been told was that if you go into a bathroom in the dark with a lit candle and say the words “Bloody Mary” 3 to 100 times, you will see her face. There are many possibilities that can happen when you upset Bloody Mary. It has been told that she will kill the person calling her, scratch his or her eyes out, drive the person mad or even bring the person into the mirror with her. If you had seen the movie Candyland or Urban Legend, perhaps, you would recognize the similarities to that of Bloody Mary [Halloween Web]. Teenage girls are usually the ones who call upon Bloody Mary, mostly summoned at sleepovers as a form of entertainment. However, you might wonder why kids might want to call this chilling woman. It may be a safe way to mess with danger. People who think they have seen Bloody Mary have said that she appeared in the mirror with a 1700s-1800s style dress holding her dead baby. Her face seemed decayed and rotten and her eyes were either white or rolled back. Bloody Mary also went by the names Bloody Bones, Hell Mary, Mary Worth, Mary Worthington, Mary Whales, Mary Johnson, Mary Lou, Mary Jane, Agnes, Black Agnes, Aggie and Svarte Madame. It has been rumored that you can also call...
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...Kevin Haith Paper 2 Throughout history there is still no definition of what true love is. There is said to be three types of love that are known as erotic love, love between friends, and unconditional love. Each type of love is a type of love that some individuals have experienced throughout their lifetime. Of these three there is a major argument on which type of love is considered the best. Throughout this course we have read and viewed three text that involve love and each one describes there view of what is the best type of love. In “Pride and Prejudice” the author tries to explain the Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy are said to have the best love in the text and in the “Song of Roland” the best love is the love between the lord and his vassals. While both texts describe in their view what the best type of love is. “Pride and Prejudice” seems to better define what true love is and better compares love to real life situations for its viewers or readers. In the “Song of Roland” the main point that we discussed is the relationship between a lord and his vassal. Roland was said to be the greatest vassal and under two accounts he has proven to be the greatest. Where love comes in, is when it is stated and understood that a true vassal is one that cares for nothing more but his lord. Females, money, life itself are supposed to be last when it comes to a vassal’s lord. Even though it might seem awkward talking about two males loving each other, love was not really sexist around this...
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...(Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell pg 330). On top that, four years later criticism over the massive failures of communication in Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita created additional wounds to the ARC’s reputation. Each instance further degraded the ARC’s ethical reputation to American’s as the non-profit organization to turn to in a disaster. To overcome these faults the ARC has made changes, but too many changes at the top is the ultimate reason for the ARC’s failures. Any member working for the ARC in a management position from local presidents to top executives and state delegates are supposed to be ruled under universal humanitarian principles which involve the highest standards in ethics and values. Sadly, since the resignation of Elizabeth Dole in 1999, the ARC has had seven different permanent or acting heads causing multiple systemic and ethical problems (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, pg 328-239). Each of these enlightened egotists gladly accepted their severance packages upon their departure in spite of the abominable failure to successfully follow the ARC's fundamental mission of preventing and relieving suffering...
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...Dennis C. Ramdawah ENG 4300 Professor J. Desalvo March 30, 2012 In writing about the literary styles of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Jane Austen, there are subtle comparisons and contrast the reader draws upon to decipher the ideological content of these two writers’ works. Rousseau’s, The Confessions and Austen’s Pride and Prejudice exhibit the sensibility of nature in one perspective and the hierarchy of an aristocratic culture too long forgotten. Moreover, these writers draw upon natural life experiences to showcase their thoughts on humanity, life, love and nature as a whole. They both employ these two definitive factors throughout their respective works. Their writing reflects their passionate relationship during the Romantic period and why they became influential artisans of that era. Rousseau’s most influential work, The Social Contract, discusses the origins of government and states emphatically that laws cannot be made if the people do not agree upon them. These thoughts on government were light years ahead of his time and for citizens of the Romantic period. Additionally, Rousseau argued that children should live and play and enjoy the outdoors and their learning should coincide with them during these stages of development. He bore his development as a child emotionally through his experiences with nature. He thought nature should have an impact in literature. These same influences are the kindling flames of the Romantic movement that spread from England to abroad....
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...The Crucible Act Three Questions Short Response Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the drama. Write a response on a separate sheet of paper. 1. Describe one piece of evidence that Giles, Francis, or Proctor bring before the court to show that the girls are lying. 2. What does Abigail do to distract Danforth from Hale’s accusations that she is lying? 3. How does Hale show that he believes that the court is not doing the right thing? Use three details from the text in your response. 4. Danforth explains that “. . . a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.” What conclusion can you draw about Danforth’s character from this line? 5. How does Hale excuse Elizabeth’s lie about Abigail’s affair with Proctor? 6. Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. How does his philosophy flame the hysteria? Use details from the drama to support your response. 7. How do Hale and Parris try to thwart each other, or act as foils, in regards to Danforth and the court? Use details from the drama to support your response. 8. Describe the point at which you think the plot reaches its highest intensity, or climax. 9. After the outbreak in court, Mr. Danforth makes the following short statement to Mr. Hale: I will have nothing from you, Mr. Hale! In your own words, describe what Mr. Hale has said or done to instigate Mr. Danforth’s...
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