Browsing by Author "Jayasinghe, M.K."

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Property, Sustainability and Well-Being: The Perspectives of the American Colonizers and the Natives in William Faulkner’s Go Down, Moses
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Jayasinghe, M.K.
This article primarily, considers the different points of view held by the Native Indians and the White man concerning property in Faulkner’s novel, Go Down, Moses. Subsequently, these findings are examined to ascertain how their opinions on property influence their viewpoints on sustainability and well-being. This paper has two objectives. One is to expose how these two cultural groups considered sustainability and well-being in the framework of their own concepts of property and the way Faulkner exposes these differences artistically. The other aim is to examine the possible reasons which could have led the author to work on this idea of property. Faulkner being a well-known humanist, one wonders whether the injustice done to the Natives from the very inception of the conquering of America which finally culminated officially with the Removal act of 1830 and all that followed with the implementation of this act was playing on his conscience or whether this theme of property was a response to the aftermath of the Civil war of 1861 and the devastation of the South. Once the distinctive views of property are explained, Faulkner’s artistry is demonstrated wherein he invents characters in environments specific to them, so that they could be endowed with certain traits which could bring out these concepts. To conclude, Faulkner’s penchant towards the Natives observed in the novel, strengthens his universal reputation of being a humanist. In his work, Faulkner gives an explicit and implicit view on property and the reasons for this are examined.
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Sustainability in the Face of Adversity – In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences (FHS) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) Malabe, 2020-12-01) Jayasinghe, M.K.
The extent to which the four main characters of The Scarlet Letter are capable of enduring hardships in the face of the rigid structure of the Puritan society is studied in this research paper. Endurance being a far-fetched meaning of sustainability; if said differently, this paper is a study of their sustainability. These characters are namely, Hester Prynne, her legal husband Roger Chillingworth, the pastor Arthur Dimmesdale, all of them caught up in a love triangle and Pearl, Hester Prynne’s daughter, born out of wedlock. Using a qualitative research approach, a narrative analysis is conducted where initially the reader is given an insight into the story line of The Scarlet Letter. Ensuing, is a brief description of the Puritan period and its society, the significance of symbolism in the novel, and an examination of the transformation of the four characters throughout the duration of the novel. Hester Prynne, the bearer of the scarlet letter, faces extremely challenging times due to her behavior. A detailed observation of how she gradually and positively integrates into this environment of an unforgiving Bostonian Puritanical society through her fortitude to face up to it, is done in this paper. Finally, the power of endurance of the characters being evaluated, Hester Prynne turns out to be the victor. Thereby, proving that despite great adversity, a female is yet able to endure hardships and show her tenacity in male dominated societies.
Embargo
Sustainability in the Face of Adversity – In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Jayasinghe, M.K.
This paper considers the levels of sustainability or to say it differently the extent to which the four main characters of A Scarlet Letter are able to endure hardships in the face of the rigid structure of the Puritan society which brings upon them, nothing but adversity. These characters are namely, Hester Prynne, her legal husband Roger Chillingworth, the pastor Arthur Dimmesdale, all of them caught up in the love triangle and Pearl, Hester Prynne’s daughter, the outcome of her illicit relationship with the minister. The objective of this research paper is to observe the way in which Hester Prynne, the protagonist, positively and gradually integrates into this environment of an unforgiving Bostonian Puritanical society through her fortitude to face up to the hard times imposed on her as a result of her behaviour. Initially, the reader gets an insight into the story line of The Scarlet Letter, the Puritan period and its society. The significance of symbolism in this novel is also discussed. Secondly, the ambiguity, the transformation and evolution of the four characters throughout the duration of the novel is considered. Finally, by using the weaknesses of the other characters as a foil, the sustainability and endurance of the protagonist is appreciated proving that despite great adversity sustainability in life is yet possible.