Impostors

Kipling skillfully incorporates a unique style that effectively displays what to and what not to do on becoming a man. To illustrate, “If” is a didactic poem, however, it’s unique because the poem itself is a paradox, but Kipling writes it as a contradiction. To be specific, in the fourth stanza the speaker recommends that his son should be able to “walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch” and let “all men count with you, but none too much.” With this in mind, Kipling uses these lessons to illustrate the intricacy of becoming a man. Another example of Kipling’s style is demonstrated by his spelling in the poem. In the second stanza, “Triumph and Disaster,” are specifically spelled in capitals. Soon after, Kipling labels the two things as “impostors,” but now in lowercase. He did this for the purpose of showing that Triumph and Disaster can be compelling and intense, but they always tend to diminish or go away. And, Kipling effectively showed this by spelling a couple of words with capitals and lowercases. Last of all, Kipling uses exaggeration in the poem to push across his message. In the third stanza, he says, “if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew,” which means use your will and mind to tell yourself to be strong and persevere. In addition, the use of multiple ands creates an intense moment between the father and son. Importantly, the examples of Kipling’s unique style helps communicate how to become a virtuous man. Another way that Kipling uses to get his…

society under his newly claimed identity of Martin Guerre. Bertrand appears to be overcome with joy at the return of her husband. They live in this bliss for three years, during which, they had two more children together. While Arnaud De Tilh had convinced the townspeople, as well as Guerre’s wife and sisters, Bertrand’s step-father remained unconvinced and became increasingly suspicious of the new Martin’s true identity. These suspicions were confirmed with the arrival of a soldier, who while…

This paper will consist of an analysis of the treatments of Martin Guerre in the film The Return of Martin Guerre by Vigne, and On the Lame by Natalie Davis. These two articles may be about the same case however they are significantly different in various ways. The key point of this essay is to make efforts to differentiate the two and show how a chain of historic events can be converted into a movie and also transformed into a book. Both the film and the book have the same name. Strikingly a…

One of the foremost controversial arguments that Davis constructs regarding Bertrand de Rols is that she did, in fact, know that Arnauld du Tilh was not her genuine husband. Davis draws this conclusion from principally circumstantial evidence and crafty inference on her part. One of the chief historical documents, Coras’ Arrest Memorable, that she cites actually states the precisely opposite conclusion. Coras draws the reasonable conclusion that Bertrande knew nothing of the ingenious…

case gathered so much attention that it was taken to the high court in Toulouse. During the trial, judges and the court assistants asked him so many questions of his past and family member details. But imposter answered every single question correctly and knew even interpersonal relationships and intimate involvements with his wife Bertrande. He was so clever and had a very good memory that could show audience and court his identity of being real Martin. Judges were almost announcing the verdict…

The story of Martin Guerre has traversed centuries and borders. Daniel Vigne told this story with the modern film “The Return of Martin Guerre.” This film has received attention from historical scholars mainly because a well-established historian, Natalie Zamon Davis, was a consultant in the development of this film. Davis also generated her own academic history of the same story after her experience as a consultant. She claimed that after the film gave little consideration to historical facts…

Davis also implausibly proposes the belief that Bertrande and du Tilh essentially plotted together in order for their story to realistically hold up in court. According to Davis, the exceptionally personal information that du Tilh was able to cite could have come from no other source but Bertrande. She also argues that it was impossible for a woman to not recognize the touch of her husband. She also uses language at times that presents information as more assured than she has a right to as a…

I have gotten by professionally by feigning confidence, or with a “fake ‘til you make it” attitude, but I almost always feel like an impostor. It doesn’t matter how well I know a job, it only takes one negative comment to derail any personal success, and I will pick apart the comment for days. Even starting this essay, I fell into a deep cycle of self-doubt, because I knew that every sentence carried the weight of having my mother deny it. Photographic proof or other documentation be damned -…

The film The Return of Martin Guerre details the story of Martin Guerre, a peasant living in 16th century France, who disappears after being accused of stealing sacks of grain by his father. After leaving his wife, Bertrande, and son, Sanxi, for eight years he returns from fighting in the Hundred Years' War. However, doubts arise on whether he is truly Martin or not when three men wandering into the village identify him as Arnaud du Tilh who fought alongside Martin in the war. Martin's uncle…

Tino sat in the livingroom, reading, as he heard Berwald enter from behind the house, through the kitchen door. He gulped and looked up, scared of meeting the Swede’s intimidating gaze. Having stripped of his coat and shoes, Berwald walked into the living room, determined to make Tino smile at him. He had noticed, that the Fin was cold before, thus deciding to make fire. “Tino.” He murmured “I chopped wood.” Tino nodded quickly, lowering his head, as he pretended to be very focused on the…