Friday, December 27, 2019

Prince Of The Red Death - 1384 Words

After the Red Death had demolished the country, Prince Prospero invited one thousand of his friends to a masquerade, in order to escape the Red Death, ...and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence (Poe 1). Poe indicates that Prince Prospero shielded his noble friends, as the Red Death continued to decrease the population. Prince Prospero and his fellow nobles were among the upper class and lived an affluent life in the court. 2.) In Prospero s abnormally designed castle, there were seven rooms that each had a different color, for example, in blue--and vividly blue were its windows. The second chamber was purple in its ornaments and tapestries, and here the panes were purple. The third was green throughout, and so were the casements. The fourth was furnished and lighted with orange-- the fifth with white-- the sixth with violet. The seventh apartment was close shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the wall (Poe 1). The color of each of the seven rooms represents several main ideas relating to the story. The blue room depicts a new beginning, as it starts from the eastern wing of the castle. While the purple room illustrates wealth and nobility, the green room represents growth, as it can relate to the outburst of growing grass. As the colors red and yellow mix to form orange, the orange room portrays Poe s use ofShow MoreRelatedMasque Of The Red Death Analysis804 Words   |  4 Pages Death is a terrifying prospect for most people , imagine being face to face with it. In Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"Masque of the Red Death†, the revelers were in this very situation. Prince Pospero’s country was devastated by the Red Death. A plaque that resulted in a painful, gruesome, death. Prince Pospero being the selfish uncaring man he is, locked himself and a thousand of his lighthearted friends in his abbey to hide from the Red Death. After 6 months of seclusion Prince Pospero throws a masqueradeRead MoreComparative Essay- Rachel Orbach In â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† by Edgar Allan Poe, and â€Å"To900 Words   |  4 PagesComparative Essay- Rachel Orbach In â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† by Edgar Allan Poe, and â€Å"To Build a Fire† by Jack London, both authors use similar protagonists who unwillingly have to face their death. Prince Prospero, in â€Å"The Masque of Red Death†, is avoiding a deadly plague by hiding in his castle with his kinsmen, and the man in â€Å"To Build a Fire† is traveling in the freezing weather trying to abstain from hypothermia and death. Prince Prospero and the man, while different from one another,Read MoreThe Death Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe1633 Words   |  7 Pages Prince Prospero in Masque of the Red Death written by Edgar Allan Poe is a Prince of his kingdom who escapes and eludes the Red Death sweeping throughout his kingdom killing all it comes into contact with. Prospero s fight or flight reaction, a built in mechanism inside all humans and his reaction to fear of his own death ultimately lead to his downfall and instead of keeping him alive prove unable to beat the elutable and all mighty red death. Picture a scenario where you are put to the testRead More The Masque of the Red Death879 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† is an extraordinary story of many elements that can grasp any readers attention. This story targets more of the emotions and actions of the characters, creating more of a fathom. Edgar Allan Poe wrote this story from his own perspective and perhaps succeeded in getting the reader to some what relate to the characters focusing on the feelings. The point of view Poe wrote this in makes a cl ear understanding. The point of view Edgar wrote this in is very effectiveRead More Use of Contrasts in Poes The Masque (Mask) of the Red Death569 Words   |  3 Pagesof the Red Death  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There were buffoons, there were improvisatori, there were ballet-dansers, there were musicians, there was beauty, there was wine. All these and security within. Without was the Red Death. (Poe, 209) In the short story, The Masque of the Red Death, Edgar Allen Poe uses the sanctity within the abbey walls to juxtapose the harshness and inescapable nature of the Red Death. The author uses the contrasts between the abbey and the Red Death to revealRead MoreMy Favorite Work of Edgar Allen Poe Masque of the Red Death Essay630 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"The Masque of the Red Death,† I found that the â€Å"Masque of the Red Death† was my personal favorite. In this story, Edgar Allan Poe enthralled the reader with his entire concept, symbols, and the way he infused history into the interesting and haunting story. I believe that Edgar Allan Poe did a wonderful job of portraying the effects of the horrible disease Red Death. Poe used a concept everyone knows of, a party, to display how sneaky and powerful the death was. Prince Prospero was the protagonistRead MoreEssay on The Masque of the Red Death: Symbolism1419 Words   |  6 Pagesillusion or misdirection keeps the reader is suspense throughout this story called The Masque of the Red Death. Symbolism such as the colored rooms, the impressive clock, the feeling of celebration being at a party all makes this story feel like a fairytale. Poe used this fairytale style and converts it into a nightmare in disguise. In the Masque of the Red Death, the first sentence, The Red Death had long devastated the country, sets the tone for the whole story. Poe describes the horrors ofRead MoreThe Pit And The Pendulum And Masque Of The Red Death1573 Words   |  7 PagesMasque of the Red Death† October 16, 2014 On my honor as a Brentwood Academy student, I have neither given nor received help on this assignment. I pledge that the work and ideas in this paper, unless otherwise cited, are mine alone. X_______________________________________________________ Purpose Statement: To write a 900 word analytical essay over Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories, â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† and â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† Outline I. Introductory Paragraph A. Death is an importantRead MorePowerless to Evade the Grip of Death in Poes The Mask of the Red Death621 Words   |  3 PagesIs it possible to evade death during a massive plague that is killing millions? Edgar Allan Poe uses setting, theme and plot in the â€Å"Mask of the Red Death† to illustrate that no one can escape death. Death is everywhere either someone dies or experiences a loss in there lifetime. The mask of the red death is an allegory, which means that is a short story with two meanings. The short story uses literal elements such as plot and the colors of the room. It also has a large philosophical meaning likeRead MoreSymbolism In The Masque Of The Red Death708 Words   |  3 PagesDeath is something everyone frets on a daily basis. Edgar Allan Poe stresses how death is an unavoidable reality in his short story â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death†. Prince Prospero, a lying, cowardly, untrustworthy leader pretends to be helping his town as people are sud denly dying off from the Red Death, when he is actually just protecting himself and leaving his town helpless. This story is shown through the use of many symbols and events. Ultimately Poe utilizes symbolism in order to convey the

Thursday, December 19, 2019

William Shakespeare s King Lear - 946 Words

In the beginning of Shakespeare’s play â€Å"King Lear,† the Duke of Albany is very gray. If the reader were to look up the definition of â€Å"sitting on the fence† in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Albany next to it. Although the character Albany begins the play as a complacent character, his character matures greatly throughout the play. By the end of the play, he is one of the only characters left alive and he becomes king of England. Shakespeare’s character Albany in â€Å"King Lear† shows questionable character traits in the beginning; but in the end, he shows his worthiness to rule the kingdom. One of the more questionable character traits Albany shows in the beginning would be submissiveness. With no effort to show any leadership, Albany has a total of nine lines through the first three acts of the play. Why does he have so little? Many people would argue that his lack of dialogue is because of his mild tempered attitude, but he does not say anything because he is â€Å"blind†Ã¢â‚¬â€meaning he does not see and understand what is happening around him. This trait of submissiveness in Albany is further emphasized by the fact that three scenes out of the first act happen at his castle and he does not even speak except for a couple lines. And even when he does speak, his speech is simple one-liners such as, â€Å"Now, gods that we adore, wherof comes this?† or â€Å"What’s the matter, sir?† Albany does not understand the gravity of the situations going on around him. He just does what he isShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1550 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION: By facilitating the growth of evil within William Shakespeare’s King Lear, it is evident that the tragedy’s protagonist, King Lear can be held accountable for his own victimization and ultimate downfall. The most notable aspects of this self-induced victimization include Lear’s own lack of practical wisdom and divergence from the natural order, combined with the neglect of kingship, that enables Lear as a tragic hero to create the conceptual framework in which the ulterior motives ofRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1564 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is universally known for his literary output both in poetry and drama. Whether through his laugh-invoking comedies or his heart-wrenching tragedies, Shakespeare’s plays have changed the course of literature. Many of his plays about love are widely praised by all, but Shakespeare s King Lear differs from the rest due to its definition of love. King Lear serves as an battleground between decept ion and compassion, between flattery and honesty. Rather than focusing on romantic loveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear3086 Words   |  13 PagesJerion Young Ms. Woods English IV 4 March 2015 King Lear William Shakespeare uses several literary elements in his writing, elements which are especially apparent in his play, King Lear. Shakespeare uses excellent creativity and description when writing this tragedy. â€Å"Neither has Shakespeare placed in the mouth of any other character in this play such fatalistic expressions as may be found in King Lear and occasionally elsewhere†(A.C. 2003). The way King Lear talks in this play is very evil compared toRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1611 Words   |  7 Pagesexperience life-changing events that jeopardize our sense of identity and make us question how we value ourselves. Our perception of our worth can change with what we learn through our existence, much like the characters in the play King Lear by William Shakespeare. Adversity and hardship are inevitable when characters are unable to connect themselves within their own identity or find a loss of self at some point in their role. The self-awareness, an essential a spect of their role, of many ofRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1320 Words   |  6 Pagesothers. Having strong communication skills allows one to better understand the situation at hand. Proper communication is essential to working out problems because of this reason. In the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, Lear communicating with his daughters, Gloucester communicating with his sons, and Lear communicating with Kent are all examples of failure of communication, which later lead to consequences and hardships that the characters must face. Without proper communication, people willRead MoreBlindness By William Shakespeare s King Lear2212 Words   |  9 PagesMaysoun Deeb Mr. A. T. Lebar EN4UN-04 13 July 2015 King Lear Blindness by definition, according to dictionaries, is â€Å"unable to see and lacking the sense of sight† by which King Lear, the classic tragic play written by William Shakespeare, illustrated the concept of blindness amongst his characters as the leading theme. King Lear and Gloucester were the characters that have been conflicted by this â€Å"blindness† that may or may not change their personalities in the very end of the play. Gloucester becomesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1546 Words   |  7 PagesTwo Sides to Every Person There are two sides to every story; that of the protagonist and that of the antagonist. As shown in the Shakespearean play King Lear, there is very little difference between the two. Edmund, who appears to be a villain, is more than meets the eye. His evil is a rebellion against the social order that denies him legitimacy. His villainy does not come from innate cruelty but from misdirected desire for familial love. His remorse in the end displays his humanity and blindnessRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1510 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare’s King Lear deals with tragic human relationship like the other tragedies of the author, but this story was written in social aspect and raises the doubtful point on legitimacy of some political systems. In this play, various characters form multi-layered kconflict relations. Thus, the story is being propelled towards tragedy due to numerous inner and outer conflicts of each character. However, as it is brought into being a charact er, Edgar in the end of the story, it implies new beginningRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1470 Words   |  6 Pagesduring the Elizabethan era, making it relatable to all audiences, especially the modern audience, leaving room for multiple perspectives and understanding of the play. Shakespeare’s play ‘King Lear’, depicts the main protagonist’s ‘gradual descent into madness’ as a result of the forces of evil acting in the play for Lear has, to an extent, have sinned though it can’t outweigh that he has been sinned against. This is confirmed through Lear’s injudiciousness to see through his two eldest daughter’s internalRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear 1306 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"All...shall taste the wages of their virtue...the cup of their deservings. (5.3.317-320)† King Lear is frequently regarded as one of Shakespeare’s masterpieces, and its tragic scope touches almost all facets of the human condition: from the familial tensions between parents and children to the immoral desires of power, from the follies of pride to the false projections of glory. However, one theme rings true throughout the play, and that very theme is boundless suffering, accentuated by the gruesome

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Juliana Queiroga Essay Example For Students

Juliana Queiroga Essay Little Women12/17/98The book Little Women was written by Louisa May Alcott in 1867. Louisa May wrote Little Women based on the life she actually knew. In the book you can find things that relate to her life, like Jos painful beginning as an author and Beths death, which was based on the lost of her own sister of the same name. When she must give Jo a husband she is awkward, and with good reason: in real life Jo never had a suitor or a love-affair. She knew Jo as she knew no other being on earth. Alcott died in 1888. The beginning of the story takes place in New England, during the Civil War, and goes on for several years telling the life of the March sisters. The story begins on Christmas Eve, with father away, fighting in the War, and showing how hard it is to live in that time with no money and four young girls turning into women. Time goes by and the girls go to other places, such as London, Paris and New York, they go in different times and for different reasons. In this book we have many characters, the main ones are: the March sisters, Mrs. March and Laurie. Margaret March, was the oldest. She was the prettiest one, very plump and fair, with large eyes, brown hair. Meg was really sweet and would do anything for her sisters. At the beginning, like every teenager, Meg tries to impress on parties and marry well, but as the story goes on, she changes, she realizes how people really are, how her friends dont care about her feelings, and talk behind her back. She falls in love with John, Lauries tutor, a very kind gentleman but very poor. They have twins: a boy, Demi; and a girl, Daisy. We will write a custom essay on Juliana Queiroga specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Josephine March was very tall, thin and brown, and reminded one of a colt, she had a comical nose, and sharp, gray eyes. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty. Jo was a tomboy and never cared much for parties or boys, her best friend, besides her sisters, was Laurie. She had a very decided mouth, which she learned to control with her mothers help. Jo was very caring with her family as you can see by the fact the she cut her hair off to give her mother some money, to help her father. She used to be a companion to crotchet old Aunt March. After a few years she goes to New York and becomes a newspaper writer. She marries a German Professor, Mr. Friedrich Bhaer, and has 6 boys. Elizabeth March was a rosy, smooth-hared, bright-eyed girl, with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression. She loved to play the piano that Mr. Laurence, Lauries grandfather, gave to her. Beth was like an angel, always ready to help. Jo was her best friend, she would share with her older sister all her fears and doubts. Beth got the Scarlet Fever, while she was trying to help a German family; she got better, after a few days, thanks to her family support, but her health was forever affected and she was never the same. She died a few years later, at home, close to her family and dearest friends. Amy March was the youngest one, she was a regular snow maiden, with blue eyes and yellow hair curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her manners. Amy was really selfish, she was always trying to say the most complex words. She always tried to look perfect, so she would put a clothespin on her stubby nose to try to make it pointy. When she got older, she went to France with Aunt March, to become an artist. She married Laurie after Jo refused to marry him. .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 , .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .postImageUrl , .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 , .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87:hover , .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87:visited , .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87:active { border:0!important; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87:active , .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87 .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue11afcfec4dea81341121bc9f16ecb87:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Dante Alighieri: A Poetic Descent Into Metaphorica EssayMrs. March was a hard-working, caring and loving mother. She always tried to teach the girl the best way to resolve their problems, and always supported them. When Mr. March went to the War, Marmee did her best: she got a job; she would help the less fortunate, even knowing she didnt have enough money for her own family; and she took care of the girls, showing them how to learn from their own mistakes and that love was the most important thing. Theodore Laurence was the girls neighbor, he had curly black hair, brown skin, big black eyes, handsome nose, fine teeth, small hands and feet, very tall and polite. He was living with his grandfather and with his tutor; he was very lonely until he met Jo in a party, while they were both trying to hide from the other guests. He loved music and didnt want to go to College, but his grandpa made him. Laurie like to be on plays with the girls, he was Roderigo; Laurie became like the Marchs old brother and they had wonderful times together. He fell in love with Jo and asked her to marry him, but she did not accept, first because she thought Beth loved him, and second, because they were too different and would argue a lot. After Jo refused him, he went to London for a few months and married Amy. Miss Alcott portraits the joys and trials of growing up. She shows us through the experiences of the girls during their lives: like when Marmee must leave to nurse Father, who is badly wounded, and when Beth gets sick. The girls grow into women Meg prepares for marriage, Jo tries to be a writer, Amy goes to Europe to study painting, and Beth, at home, give gentle encouragement to their dreams. I think the author describes too much every single thing, for example, she takes 10 pages to explain how Jo feels when she cuts her hair off. Its a very long book and by the middle you start to get bored and you cant wait for the end of it. I love to read, but this book is really boring, especially when they start to send letters to each other. I recommend everybody to watch the movie, which is really cool, but do not read the book, its too complex.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

What kind of Image of Roman Society do we perceive from the story of the Sabine Women Essay Example

What kind of Image of Roman Society do we perceive from the story of the Sabine Women Paper The famous story of the Sabine women was told by Livy in his earliest book and is part of a series of foundation myths that he uses to describe the creation of Rome. Livys version of events describe how the legendary Romulus needed one element to complete the founding of the great city of Rome; women who would be able provide the city with children in order to ensure the continuous growth of Rome. As no neighbouring tribe of Rome would agree to allow their females to marry into Roman society, Romulus devised a plan where Rome would invite their neighbouring peoples for a festival in honour of Neptune and then take their women by force. It concludes when the Sabines, the last of those wronged to attack Rome, captured the citadel on the Capitoline and continued to fight the Romans until the kidnapped women interposed themselves between their husband captors and brothers and fathers. The womens intervention would assure peace and lead to the two peoples becoming one with Rome as the seat of power. When considering what kind of image this story portrays of Roman society one must take into consideration numerous factors. Livys position and motives in writing the piece must be examined extensively as should the significance of mass rape being a key element in the growth of the Roman Empire. It must also be considered what Livy was suggesting were the ultimate consequences, both political and social, of the abduction of the Sabine women. By examining these factors and then assessing them as a whole, one should have a clearer image of what Roman society. The story of the Sabine women can be used to tell us much about Roman concepts of women. We will write a custom essay sample on What kind of Image of Roman Society do we perceive from the story of the Sabine Women specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What kind of Image of Roman Society do we perceive from the story of the Sabine Women specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What kind of Image of Roman Society do we perceive from the story of the Sabine Women specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Romans of the imperial period believed that women in the archaic era inspired others by their practice of Roman virtues and the story of the Sabine women was not unique in its attempts to portray Roman women as being courageous, with the myth of Lucretia also exemplifying numerous Roman virtues. This does not mean however that Rome treated its women as equals, in fact possibly the opposite, hence the reason Livy felt it necessary to instil these moral messages. Livy also claims that the rape of these women was justified, as it was vital to the continuation of the Roman race. For someone as devoted to Rome as Livy to have been happy to include the rape of these innocent women in his writings portrays an image of a state that treated women with a lack of respect. Livy also removes any blame from Romulus by claiming that Romes neighbours refusal to allow them to marry their daughters led to Rome having no choice but to act in such a manner. Amazingly, he further distances Rome from blame when he claims that it was the Sabine women whose wrongs had led to the war, with the women pleading for an end to the fighting by declaring that the men should turn their anger towards them, as it was they who were the cause of the war. Whether Livys message is suggesting that rape in the early Roman republic was acceptable is highly questionable. However, it does suggest that the action of rape was not one that was neither uncommon nor treated with shock and disgust. If that were the case then it would have been unlikely that Livy would have included it in his writings. What Livy seems to be suggesting is that womens were not seen as equals, although if we look at the treatment of women in some cultures today this can hardly be seen as surprising. Even in Britain it was not seen as illegal for a husband to rape his wife until the early nineteen nineties and in most third world countries, especially most of Africa, it is not illegal for a husband to rape his wife. This therefore suggests that although Roman society was far from being one that practiced sexual equality, nor was it worse than would have been witnessed in any state at this time and for the following two thousand years. One wonders that when Livy writes about this rape if it has any associations with imperialism and the possibility that he is using the women of Sabine metaphorically. In comparison with the story of the Sabine women, when Rome created its empire it is likely that they wished that its newly conquered subjects would behave in the same manner as the Sabine women, displaying loyalty to their new rulers and living happily under the new regime. It also portrays Rome as being blameless when acting aggressively, something that would have justified their actions in expanding their empire and the ability for previous enemies to live in peace, albeit with Rome still at the head of affairs. Of course, Livy may have wittingly used these metaphors with the intention that the story would leave a subconscious message in his audiences minds, something that is possibly backed by suggestions from historian Phyllis Culham that Livy wanted to inspire his contemporaries1. Since it is generally perceived that Livy instilled moral messages in his writings, surely it would not be hard to imagine that he could use techniques such as using metaphors to deliver a message in his writing. Of course to support the claims that Livy wanted to deliver such a message one must consider his position to justify it. Although Livys writing cannot be considered as faultlessly accurate, it can be used to tell us much about who Rome were and how they perceived themselves and others at the time when Livy was writing. Livy was quite unique among Roman historians in that he played no part in Roman politics, something that would have possibly denied him of access to certain material in official quarters. However, evidence suggests that Livy did not seek historical explanations in political terms; instead he saw history in personal and moral terms. Livy would not have been unique in this sense, as Horace and Virgils poetry also suggested similar moral messages. Perhaps one of the clearest indications that Livy is clearly trying to deliver a moral message in his writing is his preface where he writes, Here are the questions to which I should like every reader to give his close attention: what life and morals were like; through what men and what policies, in peace and in war, empire was established and enlarged. Then let him note how, with the gradual relaxation of discipline, morals first subsided, as it were, then sank lower and lower, and finally began the downward plunge which has brought us to our present time, when we can endure neither our vices nor their cure. What chiefly makes the study of history beneficial and fruitful is this, that you behold the lessons of every kind of experience as upon a famous monument; from these you may choose for your own state what to imitate, and mark for avoidance what is shameful. It seems clear just from reading the above abstract that Livy is suggesting that people read his works and realise that Rome was built successfully because of the strength of Roman morals and then nearly defeated by their lack of discipline to maintain them. This suggests that the importance in the story of the Sabine women is in its message that Rome was built successfully by the Sabine womens courage in preventing their fathers and husbands from fighting and the amicable agreement that was reached between the two parties, that would lead to a stronger and larger Roman state. In conclusion, the story of the Sabine women can be used to tell us much about Roman society, even though the story itself it holds little historical value. The significance of mass rape as a prominent factor in the growth of Rome is possibly not as significant to the story as one may at first believe, as argued earlier by displaying that how even today sexual equality is something that is not widespread in many societies. However, what the story of the Sabine women is able to display is that women were considered to be not only members of the family but also citizens of the state, hence the reason Livy felt it necessary to instil a message that would be addressable to both women and men. In this sense it is possible to argue that Rome were actually far more advanced than their neighbouring states in their attitudes towards women and sexual equality. However political the use of these heroines such as the women of Sabine in Livys histories, they do represent feminine values which were cherished in the early Republic and Empire, arguably by women as well as men. This story displays to us that Rome viewed courage and self-sacrifice for the benefit of the state as admired qualities. It also suggests that women were equally as capable as men in having these qualities, something that displays the recognition of the importance of the female role to society, even though the story also suggest women should be prepared to accept the authority and protection of their husbands and fathers. The Story of Sabine can be used to display that although few women had power or prestige, Roman women, within the limits of a male dominated world, were comparatively proactive and respected, especially in comparison to other contemporary cultures. They were viewed as embodying values vital to the culture of which they were an integral part.