The father and son motif in Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel Essay

The father and son motif in Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel - Essay Example Ironically, the way in which this motif permeates the poem gives rise to nearly all of the stages of the story. This essay will argue that the father-son motif in Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel demonstrates the implicit vulnerability of all patriarchal relationships; more particularly, this essay will explain how Dryden employs the father-son motif in order to highlight the danger of a patriarch loving uncritically, the danger of a patriarch offering mercy and restraint to enemies, and the painful burdens that patriarchal figures must endure if they are to survive in such a role. The poem begins almost as an apology; it is apologetic because patriarchs and fathers are forgiven in advance for the miseries to be encountered in the current age. This reference to simpler times is introduced in the first few lines, when Dryden offers that, "In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, Before polygamy was made a sin; When man on many multiplied his kind, Ere one to one was cursedly confined; When nature prompted, and no law denied, Promiscuous use of concubine and bride;" (1-6). The implication is that there was a time when fatherhood implied no predominant obligation; indeed, this reference to pious times views the father-son relationship without the imposition of certain conditions or risks. Having a generalized duty to many people, being promiscuous and without the curse of being confined, the father may pursue his life freely. The patriarch, in short, may interact with others when nature prompts, he may choose and discard his relationships arbitrarily, and he wi ll not be judged a legitimate or illegitimate father by others. The pious times, in effect, were without negative consequences. These pious times, on the other hand, are at an end. The father-son motif, particularly with the birth of Absalom, demonstrates the most immediate vulnerability of patriarchy. Patriarchal consequences arise and vest most forebodingly with the birth of Absalom. The indifference notable in pious times is notably absent; quite the contrary, King David, was borne a son described as "So beautiful, so brave,Whether inspired by some diviner lust, His father got him with a greater gust; Or that his conscious destiny made way, By manly beauty, to imperial sway" (18-22). The "imperial sway" language is particularly significant; it is significant because King David is creating a special place in his heart and in his monarchy for Absalom. There is no longer any indifference; more interesting, the son has been elevated to a position higher than that enjoyed by either King David's other children or by King David's subjects. It is easy to ascribe the villainy to come to Achitophel, and yet the first sign of a faction is created by the father himself. To be more precise, rather than maintaining a strictly patriarchal relation to all men, King David instead elevated the s on whom would later become his enemy and the cause of much sadness. Thus, if Achitophel might be blamed for taking advantage of this father-son relationship, then King David must accept responsibility for having given so much favor to Absalom in the

Emotional Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emotional Intelligence - Essay Example From the traits, it is evident that emotional intelligence is vital for success in an organization. Businesses are changing daily and high competition is played to be on top of the business, which requires a manager who would use emotional intelligence to understand the workers for successful achievements of set goals. According to Lazovic, the business can achieve better results if they are close enough to identify and solve issues relating to emotional responses in the work place. Leadership skills can be enhanced by emotional intelligence, which can lead to achievements of reasonable production in the firm if the management practices best emotional intelligence by relating well to the workers in the firm and understanding their emotions and using them to manage conflicts arising. In addition, communication between the employer and employees is improved because the heads of the company would be able to understand emotions undergone by employees. The employers will have faith in the ir managers and hence increase teamwork between the managers and the lower ranked workers in the company. Additionally, teamwork achieved from trust between managers and employees will increase and improve innovation because of the combination of more work forces with different intelligence. Emotionally intelligent employees who are in charge in an organization will maintain good working relationships with each other on sharing ideas, being responsible and working together. They would also be able to create teams who are aware of emotional intelligence. ... Businesses are changing daily and high competition is played to be on top of the business, which requires a manager who would use emotional intelligence to understand the workers for successful achievements of set goals. According to Lazovic (798), the business can achieve better results if they are close enough to identify and solvs issues relating to emotional responses in the work place. Leadership skills can be enhanced by emotional intelligences, which can lead to achievements of reasonable production in the firm if the manager practices best emotional intelligence by relating well with the workers in the firm and understanding their emotions and using them to manage conflicts arising. In addition, communication between the employer and employees is improved because the heads of the company would be able to understand emotions undergone by employees. The employers will have faith in their managers and hence increase teamwork between the managers and the lower ranked workers in t he company. Additionally, teamwork achieved from trust between managers and employees will increase and improve innovation because of the combination of more work forces with different intelligence. Emotionally intelligent employees who are in charge in an organization will maintain good working relationships with each other on sharing ideas, being responsible and working together. They would also be able to create teams who are aware of emotional intelligence. Team members in organization who are emotionally intelligent would be able to apply the attributes of emotional intelligent. For example, they would possess self-awareness traits, which is recognition of self-emotions and the way such emotions can have an impact on us. With regard to this, members will