Helicanus as 'a figure of truth, faith and loyalty' in Shakespeare's Pericles

Pericles has been the focus of most Shakespearean scholars, discussing issues ranging from the play’s narrative sources to the protagonist’s leadership qualities. But the present paper will center its arguments on Helicanus, the neglected servant character of the play. Although loyalty is assumed in master-servant relationships during the Renaissance, the paper provides evidence that corrupted practices within the Elizabethan ruling class and its subordinates overcomes the need to be loyal. Despite being surrounded by the prevailing temptation for power, Helicanus remained as an epitome of loyalty in his service towards his master, Pericles. The paper extracts examples from relevant scenes in the play depicting portrayals of loyalty displayed by this servant character towards Pericles. In short Helicanus’ loyalty becomes the fundamental drive which elevates Pericles’ status in the play. Therefore, the study aims to heighten the appreciation of Shakespeare’s Pericles through the understanding and emphasis of the significance of its dramatic servant characters

Enhancing self-efficacy to resist body shaming in Jacqueline Wilson's Lola Rose

Jacqueline Wilson is a former Children’s Laureate whose contemporary realistic children’s novels have been translated into over 30 languages for her predominantly pre-adolescent and teen-girl readers. However, many adults feel that her works are unsuitable for children due to the contemporary realistic issues discussed. This has resulted in a gap within the scholarship devoted to serious analyses of her books. The paper discusses her novel, Lola Rose (2003), with attention given to Lola Rose, the pre-adolescent girl protagonist. It looks at how Lola Rose suffered from her mother’s repeated acts of body shaming, causing her to carry a negative body image and sense of insecurity. Using the concept of self-efficacy expounded by Albert Bandura in his work, Self-efficacy: The exercise of control (1997), the research examines how sources of efficacy information such as enactive mastery experience, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and improved physiological and affective states, enhance Lola Rose’s sense of agency. This empowers her to resist the destructive forms of body shaming experienced. The paper argues that contemporary realistic children’s novels such as Wilson’s are useful tools to empower children in overcoming the threats of body shaming

Resistance and Solidarity against Domestic Violence in Children’s Novel Lola Rose (2003) by Jacqueline Wilson

Dame Jacqueline Wilson is a former Children’s Laureate (2005 - 2007) with more than 100 contemporary realistic children’s novels which have been translated into over 30 languages. Drawing from her childhood experiences, Wilson’s works highlight “subjects once seldom discussed in literature aimed at the young but with which children themselves may be familiar either from their own lives or through observing others in the classroom or playground” (Tucker & Gamble, 2001, p. 72). The issues discussed are “seen through the eyes of children who survive, observing and adapting to their complicated lives” (Eccleshare, 2003, para. 1). Despite that, there remains a scarcity in the scholarship devoted to serious analyses of her novels (Armitstead, 2004; Corbett, 2007; Duncan, 2009). The paper responds to this gap by focusing on Wilson’s Lola Rose (2003) with particular attention given to the theme of domestic violence encountered by Lola Rose, the pre-adolescent girl protagonist

Hybridization of the cultural identity in disney’s Mulan

Hybridization has become a fluid notion due to its association with ideas and themes that were once mutual contradicting but have now become mutual celebrated. However, such changes are inevitable as the trend of globalization continuously generates new transnational cultural elements. This study will examine the hybrid cultural identity in Disney’s animated film Mulan (1998) which was adapted from The Ballad of Mulan, a folktale that originated from China. Specifically, it focuses on the cultural identity of Disney’s Mulan and explores how it is reconstructed as a transnational culture which flowed from China to America. This phenomenon, to some extent, implies the West’s increasing acceptance of cultural productions from Asian countries. The paper employs Daphne A. Jameson’s analytic model of cultural identity consisting of vocation, class, geography, philosophy, language, and biological components which seek to examine the emergence of mixed and relational and hybrid cultural identities. Through this study, the paper aims to discuss how the process of hybridization brings the character’s cultural identity in the original folklore to an international audience and how this facilitates cultural exchange and growth. The findings show that hybridization in cultural identity presents a tension between cultural Americanization and orientalization as well as modernity and tradition, which ultimately leads to a transferable cultural identity. The study is significant in elevating the status of Chinese folktales and highlighting cultural hybridity as a mediating factor in the growing trend of cultural globalization

Howard Goldblattâs translation practice and translation thoughts

With the cultural turn of translation studies, the subject status of translators has gradually been highlighted, and translator studies have become increasingly important. However, the current research on translators is mostly confined to certain aspects such as the translator’s translation thoughts, translation strategies or translation styles, which lacks comprehensive and detailed research. This article aims to study the translator Howard Goldblatt from the four aspects of his life experience, namely translation practice, translation motivation, translation thoughts and translation strategies, in an attempt to present a detailed and comprehensive translator. The results demonstrate that Howard Goldblatt’s translation is based on cross-cultural communication as the ultimate goal, comprehensively using translation strategies that combine domestication and foreignization to spread the Chinese culture. This study contributes to the diversification of research methods and the dissemination of Chinese culture

Reclaiming subjectivity through the maternal abject in Janie Chang’s three souls

Three Souls by Janie Chang focuses on a changing transformative time in China’s history—the 1930s. During this period, China was experiencing political and societal shifts that prompted gender equality movements. Song Leiyin, the female protagonist in Three Souls, embodies the experiences of women during this period. She is an ambitious and desiring woman who lives in a family and society that restricts women's roles and abilities. As a woman with aspirations and desires, Song Leiyin is perceived as a threat to traditional values and paternal authority. In her journey towards reclaiming her subjectivity, Song Leiyin encounters many obstacles that force her to confront and challenge the patriarchal structures that oppress her. Despite the challenges, Song Leiyin manages to break free from the patriarchal constraints by reconnecting with her maternal drives. Julia Kristeva’s theory of abjection provides an analytical framework to explore the ways in which Leiyin experiences abjection and the consequences of confronting her abject desires. While commonly associated with the abject, this study argues that the maternal can be a site of resistance and empowerment. By embracing the maternal abject, women can assert their agency and break free from oppressive norms

Roycean loyalty in William Shakespeare’s timon of Athens

The study focuses on the master-servant relationship shared by the Steward and Timon in Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens (1605). The paper begins with a brief overview on the notion of loyalty and moves towards reviewing some master-servant relationships found in Shakespeare’s plays. While most studies highlight the comical nature and bearings of the servant class, the study centers its analysis on the serious nature of loyalty displayed by the Steward towards Timon. The social establishment pertaining to the practice of loyalty within the Elizabethan servant class is also presented. Following the literature review on the Steward is an account which explains Josiah Royce’s concepts of loyalty forwarded in his work The Philosophy of Loyalty (1908). The discussion of the study highlights the Steward’s loyalty in truth speaking, minimizing conflicts and idealizing the lost cause which enhances his self-will and forgoes his self-gratification. The paper concludes with an emphasis on the eminent role and nobility of the Steward in serving his master, Timon. Through the instances and extent of loyalty examined, the study aims to instigate new textual interpretations in the area of master-servant relationships within Shakespeare’s playtexts

Loyalty in William Shakespeare's timon of Athens and pericles

The thesis undertakes the reading of master-servant relationship in two Shakespearean plays, Timon of Athens (1605) and Pericles (1607). While the growing body of secondary comments has focused on the plays’ protagonists, Timon and Pericles, the research devotes particular attention to two commonly neglected servant characters, the Steward and Helicanus. The introductory chapter of the thesis sets out to provide a background to the research. Chapter two offers a social background to the idea of servitude in Shakespeare’s Elizabethan England involving the ruling class and the servants as well as a literature review of the selected servant characters. The third chapter delves into the theoretical framework and methodology employed in carrying out the research. The argument of the thesis is augmented by utilizing Josiah Royce’s conceptions of loyalty, derived from his work The Philosophy of Loyalty (1908). By applying Royce’s concepts of loyalty to the selected servant characters, the thesis suggests that both the subservient characters displayed significant portrayals of loyalty in the plays which have been eminent in restoring and elevating their masters’ honour and dignity. In chapter four, the discussions involve the Steward’s loyalty in truth speaking, minimizing conflict and idealizing the lost cause which enhances his self-will and forgoes his self-gratification. Similarly for Helicanus, his loyalty assisted him in being truthful, sacrificial and non-judgmental which further allowed him to encourage social confidence, forgo self-gratification, promote unity and elevate his master. The thesis concludes with an emphasis on the pivotal role played by both the Steward and Helicanus in serving their respective masters. Through the instances and extent of loyalty examined in the thesis, it is hoped that the endeavour will instigate new textual interpretations, particularly in the area of Shakespearean studies

“One good man in a corrupt ancient society”: The Steward in Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens

Within the master-servant relationships of the hierarchical Renaissance era, loyalty is often assumed as a common and expected attribute. However, the present study reveals this assumption as a misconception. From the evidence gathered, the paper highlights the declining virtue of loyalty particularly among the servant class of the Elizabethan era. Despite that, the Steward in Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens (1605) portrayed commendable examples and extent of loyalty towards his master, Timon. This represents a stark contrast to the selfish and disloyal community of Shakespeare’s seventeenth-century England. Through discussions of the scenes in which the servant character displayed acts of loyalty towards the protagonist, the paper emphasizes the significant contribution of the selected character in preserving the well-being of his master.  It is hoped that through an understanding of the loyalty shown by the Steward towards his master, Timon, the study will heighten understanding of Shakespeare’s servant characters leading to further appreciation of the dramatist’s work, Timon of Athens.

Book Review: On the Fringes of Literature and Digital Media Culture: Perspectives from Eastern and Western Europe

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