Thursday 26 February 2009

Greenwich and Cambridge

Last Saturday, Ayne, Elvina and yours truly visited Greenwich and Cambridge (well, we basically went to see the whole Cambridge University hype). It cost about 25 pounds, but it was with a tour guide and we really did get to loads of stuff, so I guess it's not half bad.

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This is out the some museum place with the Greenwich Meridian Line. 



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Overlooking from the museum.


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Outside the museum. And sorry, folks, I've no idea what the statue is about.



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Do you see? Do you see? Kuala Lumpur! We're literally stepping on the Meridian Line! The time divider between East and West!



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Elvina and me! 



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Ayne (in her favourite red coat) with me.



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Inside the museum... Isn't the kid adorable?



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Interactive screen-table thing!



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Voila!



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The Queen's summer palace. Or something like that. 



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Along that stretch which leads to the Queen's palace. Reminds me of CLS's primary school hall. =P



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My lunch!



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Elvina and her lunch!



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Ayne eating her lunch.



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King's College, Cambridge University.



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Chapel inside one of Cambridge's colleges (was it's Christ's? or Clare's?) 


Sorry bloggers, these are all the pictures I have of Greenwich and Cambridge. Battery went dead halfway, but if I can get more pictures of Cambridge, I'll post them here! Heh.

To all you lovely people

Sorry for not updating for so long. I know, I deserved to be shot in the head, then burnt until my flesh melts apart and the only accessories visible on myself are boils... But to make it up to you, I'm determined to post more entries today. XD

Half term was only a two-day break -Thursday and Friday - and unless you include Saturday and Sunday, it wasn't very much for a holiday. Still. Better than nothing.

We visited Elvina in Hove! I don't have all our pictures here, so I'll post whatever I have. On second thought, maybe I'll grab some of Shu Yee's pictures from Facebook as well, so you non-Facebookers can gloat at our silliness. =P


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In the bus on the way to Hove. Brighton and Hove are kind of like sister places - Brighton is more of a city, Hove is more of a residential place. Most homestay students (who don't live in residence, they live with a host family instead) stay in Hove because that's where most English families live. Elvina stays in Hove too, which is why we decided to visit her after getting permission from her host mother. =)



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Shu Yee. Smiling that cheeky smile. LoL



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Random picture of a house/apartment. Heh.



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Another random picture of a random house.



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Just thought that the scenery was really nice here. There were loads more sceneries near Elvina's home that were really awesome, but I thought it was too cold to bring out my camera and catch it. =P



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Hove Park! 



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Playground in Hove Park. If it weren't for the kids there, *we* would be the ones on the swing/see-saw/whatever you find in playgrounds. XD



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Another part of the playground. I really want to try this!



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Shu Yee and myself. The big, brown thing there is Holly foot. =P



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Shu Yee, myself and Elvina.



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Hove Park with its courts (for tennis/football/something else). 


Well, that's it for this post. Check out the next one! 

Thursday 12 February 2009

Comments Please

Today, I'll be posting a Literature essay that I did for homework. I would love constructive criticisms and useful comments so that I can improve. Please do refrain from praising/complimenting (as if I'd get them, but just as foreword, hehe) so that my head won't get too big for my shoes and I start floating off in puffy clouds... You get the picture. XD

***




Title:


What is the importance of social rank and social conventions in Jane Austen’s society?


Essay:


            In Jane Austen’s society, social rank and social convention seem to go hand in hand, even more so as depicted in ‘Pride and Prejudice’. The concept of social rank locates individuals in socio-economic positions with a capital emphasis on lineage, and it is for this reason that ‘rank’ is inevitably bestowed by birth and descent. In a social context, a ‘convention’ often refers to a generally stipulated standard of social norms that one is expected to comply to; in other words, retaining the character of an unwritten law of custom. Before we begin discussing the importance of social rank and social conventions in the eighteenth century, it is worth noting that these two ideas were very much interwoven, for with social rank comes the expected complaisance of social conventions, but the opposite is, however, untrue.


            In Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, the concept of social rank inevitably defines and effectively narrows the social band that one is to be seen associated with. This can be evidently seen when Mr. Darcy simply expresses a quiet indifference when Mr. Collins boldly introduces himself to him. In the eighteenth century, this sort of behaviour was not good etiquette, for it was practised that men of higher rank may choose to acquaint themselves with members of similar social status, and should they wish to, form associations with those below their class; this is, however, untrue of people from lower ranks. Mr. Collins, who is of lower gentry status, is expected to mingle within his social band, and if inter-class affiliations should be made, it is expected to be initiated by those of higher rank, rather than the other way around. Hence, social rank does indeed confine members of a society to stick with others of equal position and such a restriction is unquestionably expected to be adhered to.


            Another great importance of social rank is that it establishes those who are granted great responsibility in society, as perfectly depicted by Mr. Darcy, and a fact that highlights, even more prominently, the failures of Lady Catherine in her duty as a landlady. The line ‘a stream of natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance’ which portrays the landscape of Pemberley illustrates the gradual change that Darcy has brought upon the land, rather than belligerently uprooting the estate and planting a ‘modern’ building to prove his worth, as Lady Catherine had done in Rosings. Darcy also does not appear to spend eight hundred pounds on a mere chimney, and his furniture was ‘neither gaudy or uselessly fine’, which means that he has a sense of taste that is a class above that of Lady Catherine’s, and this is Austen’s hint at the difference between the both of them as land owners. While Mrs. Reynolds praises Mr. Darcy incessantly (“If I were to go through the world, I could not meet with a better”), Lady Catherine is depicted as a fixed character of exaggerated propensities, almost caricature-like, who is a ‘mere stateliness of money and rank’. Here, Austen points out, indirectly, that Darcy must be a kind and prudent landlord of his time to garner such affection from Mrs. Reynolds, while this reflects Lady Catherine as an overbearing woman who is only infatuated with her own opinions and position. If Darcy were not responsible as a landlord, he would not be so highly respected even on his own grounds, and while Darcy and Lady Catherine carry out their duties with astonishing disparity, it cannot be denied that for them both, responsibility as land owners is expected because of their privilege in social rank.


            In ‘Pride and Prejudice’, social conventions, while closely tied to the notion of social rank, may be regarded as a separate matter as well. While good, proper social behaviour does not officially alter one’s inherited status, it does indirectly boost others’ respect towards a gentleman. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are excellent examples of such befitting social conventions, because even though their wealth comes by form of trade and their home is situated near Cheapside, Darcy takes to the couple easily, even offering his grounds for Mr. Gardiner to go ‘fishing’. This proves that agreeable social behaviour, evident in the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, is a social convention in all its propriety, and while it cannot upgrade one’s status in the eyes of society, it certainly helps to upgrade one’s status in the minds of others. This is why Darcy refers to Mr. Gardiner as gentleman-like – the same term is used to describe Mr. Bingley.


            Another great importance of the theme of social convention is that it is a direct reflection on the sort of breeding that one has received. Mr. Wickham’s ‘happy readiness of conversation’, while not revealing the true extent of his ‘vicious propensities’, does actually reflect on his good upbringing on the part of the late Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, initially represents the social convention of the higher rank – ‘He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting’ – hence illustrating the breeding of the social class. Even though he is susceptible to change, as Austen unravels for us, his initial manners still say very much about how the people of higher rank are brought up, and this is viewed as a social norm. Social convention is extremely important in Austen’s opinion, for it is Mrs. Bennet’s hysterical silliness and vulgarity that nearly ruins the happiness of the two eldest daughters. This shows, perhaps, upbringing which is not well regarded for, but such breeding does not only inflict the lower gentry. When Lady Catherine de Bourgh rudely suggests Elizabeth would not be in the way if she practiced on the second-best piano in Rosings, Darcy ‘looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill-breeding’. Lady Catherine, in effect, loses the status she acquired by birth by exhibiting bad manners. Thus, Austen shows us, however distinguished her family may be, her ladyship represents an aristocratic parallel to Mrs. Bennet, and proves that social convention no doubt leaves lasting impressions on others.


            The importance of social rank and social convention, as seen in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ are so prominent that it may be fallible of readers if they do not detect them behind Austen’s satirical comments and the humorous dialogue among characters. Indeed, social rank and social convention are so very much interwoven for they both complement an individual, without which one may be found, somehow, lacking.


(approx. 1000 words)



Wednesday 11 February 2009

=)

Shu Wern - Haha, glad you can finally see the posts. =P

Kah Ying - Yes, I was 'smashed' by other people's snowballs, hahaha! 

TJ - Messy? Says who? XD

Gitz - Number one, the answer to your question is below this... And number two, update your blog, girl! I just realized you haven't updated from LAST year! Gah! It's a crime!

Tabby - More words. Same amount of pictures. As requested. =P

Shu Yee - Columbia? Really? Haha. Will edit the previous post. 

Yao - Why, oh why, do you sound like someone's grandmother? 

Wand - Haha, I was bored and just took really random pictures. I think if you look through other posts, they'll be more worth it, haha. 

Well, to answer all the curious questions on the previous post - I didn't attend class because I wasn't feeling well (though it was essentially my own bloody fault, coz I slept late the previous night trying to read 'The Cold War') and I went back to my room halfway through Maths class. Then I slept through and didn't attend History and Literature. Really bad of me, I know. Haha. I HAVE to buck up. No more late nights for me. XD

img_0146My laundry hamper (or something like that) which was holding two weeks' worth of laundry when I took this picture. Heh. 

img_0148This is a part of an art exhibition at Brighton Centre that Aunt Christine took me to the other day (she insists that I call her 'Christine'). And there were loads of little booths selling art supplies and trinkets and all the lovely, lovely things. I got really excited, heh.

img_0149If you'll believe it, every single thing in this picture is KNITTED! They really appreciate art here, and they have various Art Guilds dedicated to knitting, crocheting, cardmaking, sewing... and goodness knows what else. 

img_0153Went jogging here the other day, and kinda thought that motorcycles are a rare sight in UK. Not as common anyway, as in Malaysia. 


img_0156Tadah! And this is what a bus looks like here... Hm. A bit like Rapid, isn't it? Haha.


img_0158Nice, pretty road to jog along. XD


img_0160It would be pretty cool to get one of these houses. 


img_0163This is what you press when you need to cross the road. We have it in Malaysia, but since people back home seldom walk (they prefer to run across the street and risk their lives, but ah, no worries), I've yet to come across one in Penang that is in use. LoL


img_0164It works! *applause*


img_0171Typical English houses. =)


img_0174The black box-like things contain loads of recyclable stuff, all placed nicely in the back lane of houses. Go green for the earth! Yeah!


img_0182Did I mention that I donated blood the other day? I did! And it was absolutely painless! Now... as long as my blood can be passed for actual usage of it... 


img_0185I got this guy to stand beside his lovely graffiti/spray-painting for me. And yes, that's a cigarette in his hand. Hehe.


That's it for today, bloggers! Cheers!

Thursday 5 February 2009

Updates

Heya... LoL, random pictures, because I'm feeling bored. XXXXXX



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Tralalalala...