The Battle: Duty or Personal Desire
In Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon, and in Lee’s film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a battle between duty and personal desire takes place. Each character is unique, in the sense that they each come from different sects in society, and their social status defines what they are expected to do. They must either acquiesce to their personal desires and disregard their duties, or vice versa, and endure the consequences. It is apparent that Bradley and Lee favor a moderate adherence to both personal desire and duty through the thoughts, actions, and comments of various characters
Shun Lie, a female protagonist in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is a legendary hero, adept in the Wudan martial arts. In the opening scenes, Shun Lie is delivering the Green Destiny, an ancient sword owned by her close friend, Li Mu Bai, to the governor of the state. Clearly, Shun Lie and Li Mu Bai share an overwhelming inner affection and admiration for one another. However, they do not openly express their endless love, because it would dishonor Shun Lie’s former paramour, who is also Li Mu Bai’s brother. Shun Lie’s former paramour passed away shortly before the two were to be married. This grave event brings together, Shun Lie, the widow, and Li Mu Bai, the brother, to mourn the woeful death. Soon, the two fall madly in love with each other, but must do what is expected of them, and hide their adoration. Shun Lie undergoes a psychological challenge throughout the film. She is continually in conflict with her duty and personal desire, and is noticeably melancholic during many scenes. Her emotions run wild in a conversation with Gen. Shun Lie explains her predicament, and expressively explains that although she is a free woman to choose whom she wills, and follow her personal desire, she must follow her duty to her former lover. Abruptly after the Green Destiny’s deliverance, it is stolen by Gen, the daughter of the governor. In an attempt to retrieve the sword, Li Mu Bai is killed by Jade Fox in combat. Prior to his death, Li Mu Bai confesses his love for Shun Lie, and also admits the mistake he made for not telling her before this fateful day. Li Mu Bai dies immediately after this momentous instance. Shun Lie is overwhelmed with sorrow, and she too realizes her incredible mistake in not indulging in her personal desire to be with Li Mu Bai, the valiant sword wielder.
The Research paper on Personal Statement 17
I heard laughter outside the house. I looked out and saw some of our young girl-neighbors hover around a new doll. At first glance I knew they were playing ‘doctor’ to their doll ‘patient’ I smiled within myself for I knew such a scene by heart. My mind flew back at fond memories with my grandfather during my younger years. I now realize gratefully, how fortunate I was. While children role-play ...
Gen, the governor’s daughter, is another main character in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, who also is in an endless battle with duty and personal desire. When she is but a young woman, she becomes betrothed to a wealthy man from the upper classes and she has never met him. Gen is furious, to say the least, and truly yearns to be a free and heroic woman, with a man of her own choosing. She is very envious of Shun Lie’s freedom, without genuinely knowing her situation. Under the command of Jade Fox, Gen successfully steals the Green Destiny, with high hopes of becoming a notorious and free-willed hero. Jade Fox uses Gen as a pawn to do her bidding, but soon Gen escapes from her clutches and fends for herself. Many warriors confront her, and her uncouth demeanor provokes a battle. Rather than following her duty as an honorable noble woman, and behave properly, she instigates most of the fights, and causes utter chaos in the process. She is given multiple chances to give up her ways by Shun Lie and Li Mu Bai; however, she continually rejects their proposals. Her antics are the primary reasons for Li Mu Bai’s death. When Gen is captured in Jade Fox’s hideout, Li Mu Bai comes to rescue her, and is hit with a poisonous dart from the evil Jade Fox. The dart had been intended for Gen, for her trickery, but Li Mu Bai takes the blow and consequently dies. Gen is broken hearted, and jumps off of a mountain, which will supposedly preserve her in an endless sleep.
The Essay on Compare and Contrast to “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin and “Hills Like White Elephants” by Earnest Hemingway
To some people a baby can be the best thing that ever happened to them, but then there are others who have decisions to make. They will go through an important stage in any relationship, the make it or break it stage. The two stories that I will be analyzing will be “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin and “Hills like White Elephants” by Earnest Hemingway. In both stories the characters found out how ...
Igraine, a major character in Bradley’s Mists of Avalon, exemplifies the theme of duty against personal desire perfectly. She is but a young girl of fifteen when she is wedded to king Gorlois, as a gift from Avalon. Igraine is faced with following her duty or her personal desire, when the Merlin and her sister, Viviane visit her with some foreboding news. They tell her, that it is her fate to have an affair with a king known as Uther Pendragon, and bare the Horned One. Igraine is outraged and refuses to believe what they say. She claims that she will never cheat on her husband, because he was good to her all her days in his kingdom, and that it was her duty to bare him a son, as was expected of a wife. It is after accompanying her husband on a venture to a royal meeting, that she is acquainted with Uther. When Uther’s brother dies, Igraine comforts him by sitting and talking with him in a tree. Igraine learns of his kindness and realizes he is not a bestial man in the least bit. However, Igraine is soon charged with adultery by her husband, although she had committed nothing of the sort, and kept to her duty as a good and pious woman. Nevertheless, after this ludicrous accusation, Igraine wishes she had pursued her personal desires and is infuriated be on reason.
She wants nothing to do with her husband, and refuses to wear the dresses and jewelry he gave her as gifts. Upset and confused, Igraine is bewildered by an onslaught of dreams with herself and Uther, indulging in each other. She wants to be with Uther evermore. However, it would be very difficult for her, because Gorlois initiates a war with Uther shortly after his accusation of infidelity. He locks Igraine within the palace walls and forbids her to leave. Igraine is puzzled, angry, and lusting for Uther. She forgets her duty to Gorlois, and calls upon the Sight to warn Uther of an ambush that is waiting for him and his troops. This heeding saves Uther from his sure demise, and further helps Uther win the tumultuous war. Weeks later, she is visited by Uther, disguised as her husband. Igraine once again follows her desire, and Uther plants the seed of Arthur this very night. Later that day, Gorlois dies in warfare, and Uther and Igraine marry and live happily.
The Coursework on Personal Statement 14
In entering the world of business school, though I know that I do not have all the qualities that may assure my acceptance into the college, I believe that I still have the capabilities to perform well and cope with the challenges ahead. Indeed, it is quite unfortunate that my realization of pursuing MBA in business has come quite late. Nevertheless, through several factors, my desire to pursue an ...
Another powerful woman in Bradley’s novel is the high priestess Morgaine, daughter of Igraine, and High Priestess. At a young age Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, discovers Morgaine’s greatness and takes her to Avalon with her, to teach her the traits of a high priestess. In the beginning, Morgaine is very excited, and willing to complete all the tasks. She follows her duty well. Her greatest challenge, however, was with her cousin Lancelet, and his charming qualities. The two venture off into the woods and climb a steep mountain. Lancelet uses his delightful qualities to make Morgaine challenge her duty as a good priestess of Avalon, and keep her chastity. She however, reluctantly remains chaste and does not lie with Lancelet, although it is what her heart truly desires. She eventually regrets her decision, when she is tricked to sleep with her own brother. When she is tricked, she is unbelievably angry and begins to step away from following her duty. Soon she runs away, and more or less forgets the teachings of Avalon. It is evident that she is jealous of Gwenyfar on account of her cruel statements towards her. Also, she holds it against her for calling her ugly.
It is clear that Bradley and Lee favor a modest obedience to both personal desire and duty by character’s actions. This conflict still exists to this very day. People of all sects nowadays are expected to do something that they don’t necessary like or enjoy. They must always choose whether it is best to follow duty, or personal desire. A frequent situation involving this conflict is when a teenager yearns to go to the movies, however he is bound to homework. He must either follow his duty as a good student, or forget about his homework and comply with his personal aspiration. A battle between duty and personal desire will continue to exist so long as humanity has reason.
