Alexandre Kojève

Jacques Lacan’s theory of development explains how infants mature psychologically. The stages of his concept include the Imaginary, the Mirror, and the Symbolic. The first is where children begin to understand control. Babies learn to manipulate their environment as an extension of their own base needs and desires. There is no separation between the baby and the outside world. Following the discovery of control, infants undergo the Mirror stage, where they learn to recognize their own image in a mirror as something they can control, but as a separate entity. Then the child loses their power in the Symbolic stage to an authority figure. Lacan claims the father reveals the limited power the infant actually has. The child cannot control this outside entity and begins to realize their place in the world is not as powerful as they thought. When the infant loses their perception of dominance, Lacan introduces his theory of “the real”. After a child lives with the assumption that they are in control, they think that this is the true reality or “the real”, but “the truth” is that the infant is merely another human, and is not supreme. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: the Modern Prometheus (1818), the Creature is “born” fully developed of body, but not of mind; therefore, even though he is fully grown, he still needs to mature through Lacan’s stages. Furthermore, the Creature’s search for “the real” provides psychological implications behind his actions implying the need to…

Lacanian theory is controversial almost everywhere it goes. Agree or disagree, there is no shortage of discussion on the validity of Lacan’s work. His concept of the “mirror stage” (or phase) is one of the most significant theories in film study. However, the theory itself opens some interesting doors in terms of its definition. In an age where self-definition has become more important than ever, it must be discussed that Lacan’s mirror phase is no longer just one moment in the development of…

“I hope you care to be recalled to life?” And the old answer: “I can’t say.” Doctor Manette is a character in Charles Dickens’s novel “A Tale of Two Cities,” which is set in the late 18th century, right before and during the French Revolution. He was a physician that was called to care for a man and a woman who were injured. He later discovers that these people had been hurt by the Marquis St. Evrèmonde, who had called for his assistance. They imprison Doctor Manette to make sure he wouldn’t…

Hard Times is a novel written by Charles Dickens which judge the English society and tells us about the social and economic pressures of the 19th century. Hard Times is a Victorian novel and is very realistic. Victorian novels bring about realism in literature. Dickens novels are realistic depiction of Victorian society like class consciousness, rapid urbanization, poverty, child labor etc. Dickens talk about love, aspiration, human passion and Hard Times is a novel written by Charles Dickens…

In the novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, many characters are introduce throughout the story and most of these characters undergo an indentity change at some point during the novel. The main, and by far the most dynamic character, is Edmond Dantès. Dantès is the protagonist of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel. Edmond lived his life honestly, that is until he was framed for a crime he did not commit. Taking place in Marseilles, France in the 1800’s, Dantès fights for his freedom and pursues many…

The word “inferno” means Hell in Italian. Hell is where the main character Dante Alighieri and the ghost of the Roman poet Virgil, who was sent Dante’s deceased loved one Beatrice, travel in order to help Dante get back on the right path. The reason why Dante travels to Hell is because the Ghost of Virgil offers to guide Dante through Hell in order to get to Paradise (Heaven) to purify himself of all his sins. During the journey in Hell, they travel through the Nine Circles of Hell. The Circles…

Revenge in Dante's life Revenge is a powerful thing to want. It consumes people, and can make them forget the important things going on around them. They think that they are getting justice for themselves. When really sometimes revenge is as pointless as putting out a fire with gas. A man named Edmond Dantes was wrongly imprisoned for 14 years. In those years Dantes sat in a prison called the Château d'If, he thought of many different ways to get revenge on his enemies. The men he thought he…

A young boy named Edmond Dantés turns into a man due to extreme and strenuous circumstances that forces him into manhood. He takes on a new identity, the Count of Monte Cristo and earns possession of a large inheritance. He then gets revenge on those who were responsible for his 14 years in prison. This is one of many important conflicts that occur in, and determine the plot of, The Count of Monte Cristo. Others include Valentine and Maximilian’s love story, Albert and the Count’s duel, and…

Dr Manette, a round character in A Tale of Two Cities, is a very dynamic role player who, through his sacrifice and struggles with the help of his daughter is able to persevere. At the start of the novel Mr. Manette is a crazy doctor who is in prison, making shoes to occupy and help coax him through the trauma of prison. Manette, through the novel is seen as a not only a round character but also a dynamic character. Manette over the course of the novel, undergoes drastic change. He is…

walks out with even after winning the case is astounding. It is incredibly respectful and, it makes a point that she is self sufficient. She lost her father and mother at a young age, but the way that she kept her composure during the sentence, the sentence that gave her closure and did her justice is miraculous. Being in the presence of someone with so much simplicity and class could fill anyone with wonder, and I am sure that the sophistication radiating from her actions left the courtroom…