Analysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale

In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, we meet Offred, or so they call her, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a futuristic dystopian society. Gilead tarnished traditional values and replaced them with shear corruption after the rebels killed the President as well as most of Congress, took over the government, and decided to throw out the constitution. Instead the society relies on the bible to justify its barbaric rules, limitations and practices. In a totalitarian society of decreasing birth rates, the only fertile women left, the Handmaids, keep this fear stricken society alive by giving birth for the older, elite yet infertile couples. With fear comes misogyny, where we not only see men using women, but controlling and†¦show more content†¦Because of the divide, not only did the men as the power structures in society oppress the women, but the upper class women oppressed the lower class. Gilead began its dehumanization of Offred in the simplest yet de meaning ways. Gilead used a color-coding system for its residents where each class group wore a certain color. No one is an individual but part of a bigger group. This practice strips Offred and others of their identity because they wear the same thing, perform the same duties, and expected to act the same as everyone else in their group. It also provides a prime example of the conflict between the genders. Also, not once is her real name ever mentioned. â€Å"My name isn’t Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it’s forbidden. I tell myself it doesn’t matter, your name is like your telephone number, useful only to others† (Atwood 84). Yet, Offred holds on to her real name, hoping she will reclaim it one day. This shows the she does indeed miss certain aspects of her past life, including her old self when she had her own name not the one assigned to her, which drives her motivation to overcome those who overcame her. Through giving her an impersonal name, Gilead begins to detach Offred’s body, used as a reproductive instrument from her individuality. The irony is that Handmaids are the most valuable people in the society, but not treated as so, which plays into the oppression of Gilead’s female population. The mostShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaids Tale 1405 Words   |  6 Pageshave witnessed the corruption of governments before even if we didn’t even realize it. From communism to democracy, world wars to civil wars, genocides to religious upraises, government involvement has always been silently exalted. In Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaids Tale’, we see the fear of the Gileadian society caused by a rà ©gime government who practices its inhumane beliefs through everyday life in Gilead. The uses of military corruption, fear, and oppression are things that describe the everydayRead MoreAnalysis Of The Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1401 Words   |  6 Pagesand psychologists, but surprisingly, a writer - Margaret Atwood has successfully described if not answer the issue of independence and passivity in The Handmaid’s Tale. A dystopian novel set in the post-apocalyptic America now so-called Republic of Gilead, a totalita rian government. With the critically low reproduction rates due to biological warfare, the Handmaids are allocated to give births within the oppressive regime. The story of the Handmaids has clarified the definition of freewill and independenceRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale847 Words   |  4 Pagesincessant restrictions are for their own good. No restrictions are more stringent than those bestowed on the women, and more specifically, the handmaids. Although, Gilead claims to be built on a principal set of values, its principles are ignored and challenged to ensure everything runs smoothly in the eyes of Gilead’s patriarchy. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the Republic of Gilead, a corrupt government adamant on supporting a better way of life for females, undermines their very own beliefsRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale843 Words   |  4 PagesUnorthodox Characters â€Å"I feel thankful to her. She has died that I may live. I will mourn later† (Atwood 286). Many sacrifices and hard decisions are made by unorthodox people to keep what they believe in alive. There would be no rebellions and no change without these nonconforming people. Offred, the main character and a Handmaiden, would have faced eminent death in her strictly orthodox world had it not been for the rebelliousness of those who died before her wanting change. The Republic ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale Essay1623 Words   |  7 Pagesthe id, ego, and superego. When examined using this theory, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian novel about a patriarchal totalitarian government that has replaced the United States of America, is particularly interesting. The story’s protagonist and narrator is a woman referred to as Offred, who lives in the fairly new Republic of Gilead which has taken the place of the United States. She is what is known as a Handmaid; alarmingly low reproductive rates led to young women whomRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Atwood And Sylvia Plath s The Handmaid s Tale, And Moira Of Margaret Atwood1905 Words   |  8 Pagesis in this despondent frame of mind, the woman of Sylvia Plath’s poem, Edge, and Moira of Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaids Tale, find themselves accepting their condemnation as their destiny. Both Margaret Atwood and Sylvia Plath use their works as emotional outlets to express the hopeless disposition one comes to embrace having reached the point of exhaustion. Together, Moira from The Handmaid’s Tale and the â€Å"perfected woman† from Edge exemplify the quality of life or lack thereof, one isRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1249 Words   |   5 PagesDystopian Research Essay: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood In the words of Erika Gottlieb With control of the past comes domination of the future. A dystopia reflects and discusses major tendencies in contemporary society. The Handmaid s Tale is a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood in 1985. The novel follows its protagonist Offred as she lives in a society focused on physical and spiritual oppression of the female identity. Within The Handmaid s Tale it is evident that through the explorationRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale, By Margaret Atwood1629 Words   |  7 Pages Atwood s novel, The Handmaid s Tale depicts a not too futuristic society of Gilead, a society that overthrows the U.S. Government and institutes a totalitarian regime that seems to persecute women specifically. Told from the main character s point of view, Offred, explains the Gilead regime and its patriarchal views on some women, known as the handmaids, to a purely procreational function. The story is set the present tense in Gilead but frequently shifts to flashbacks in her time at the RedRead MoreMargaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale931 Words   |  4 Pagesthe concept of gender becoming a multi- layered shifting hypothesis to which society is adapting. Since the 19th-century, philosophers and theorists have continued to scrutinize gender beyond biological and social interpretation. Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale captures the limitations and social implications forced upon a set gender based on societal expectations. Gender is a social construct that limits the individua l to the restrictions and traditions of a society, or if it’s an individuallyRead MoreThe Reconstruction Of Power By Margaret Atwood943 Words   |  4 PagesHaley Hollimon LTC Bozeman EN 102, L19 3 February 2015 The Reconstruction of Power Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood utilizes various elements of fiction to develop and question the concept of power and control in the patriarchal society of Gilead. Offred, the main Handmaid, is the instrument of which Atwood delivers her message about corruption and power. Offred’s vague diction, unreliable characterization, and erratic tone illustrate the distress of this transitional society (Abcarian Analysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale Unorthodox Characters â€Å"I feel thankful to her. She has died that I may live. I will mourn later† (Atwood 286). Many sacrifices and hard decisions are made by unorthodox people to keep what they believe in alive. There would be no rebellions and no change without these nonconforming people. Offred, the main character and a Handmaiden, would have faced eminent death in her strictly orthodox world had it not been for the rebelliousness of those who died before her wanting change. The Republic of Gilead, previously known as the United States, is a theocracy. Environmental events and population decline prompt changes. A caste system is created, and each caste performs specific duties. They are punished if the laws are not followed. The Eyes are at the top of the caste system; they make sure the laws are obeyed. Next are the Commanders and their Wives. The Handmaiden’s main task is to produce a child with their Commander. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, some unorthodo x characters challenge the theocracy such as Offred, Ofglen, and Nick. â€Å"Waste not, want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?† (Atwood 7). From stealing butter for lotion to playing Scrabble with the Commander, plainly, Offred is unorthodox. The Republic of Gilead controls how much knowledge each caste is allowed; this is one way of controlling people and keeping order. Despite being condemned to this society and commanded not to read, Offred reads anyways. Offred’s actions show her dislike ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaids Tale 1405 Words   |  6 Pageshave witnessed the corruption of governments before even if we didn’t even realize it. From communism to democracy, world wars to civil wars, genocides to religious upraises, government involvement has always been silently exalted. In Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaids Tale’, we see the fear of the Gileadian society caused by a rà ©gime government who pr actices its inhumane beliefs through everyday life in Gilead. The uses of military corruption, fear, and oppression are things that describe the everydayRead MoreAnalysis Of The Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1401 Words   |  6 Pagesand psychologists, but surprisingly, a writer - Margaret Atwood has successfully described if not answer the issue of independence and passivity in The Handmaid’s Tale. A dystopian novel set in the post-apocalyptic America now so-called Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian government. With the critically low reproduction rates due to biological warfare, the Handmaids are allocated to give births within the oppressive regime. The story of the Handmaids has clarified the definition of freewill and independenceRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale847 Words   |  4 Pagesincessant restrictions are for their own good. No restrictions are more stringent than those bestowed on the women, and more specifically, the handmaids. Although, Gilead claims to be built on a principal set of values, its principles are ignored and challenged to ensure everything runs smoothly in the eyes of Gilead’s patriarchy. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the Republic of Gilead, a corrupt government adamant on supporting a better way of life for females, undermines their very own beliefsRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale1825 Words   |  8 PagesIn Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, we meet Offred, or so they call her, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a futuristic dystopian society. Gilead tarnished traditional values and replaced them with shear corruption after the rebels killed the President as well as most of Congress, took over the government, and decided to throw out the constitution. Instead the society relies on the bible to justify its barbaric rules, limitations and practices. In a totalitarian society of decreasing birthRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale Essay1623 Words   |  7 Pagesthe id, ego, and superego. When examined using this theory, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian novel about a patriarchal totalitarian government that has replaced the United States of America, is particularly interesting. The story’s protagonist and narrator is a woman referred to as Offred, who lives in the fairly new Republic of Gilead which has taken the place of the United States. She is what is known as a Handmaid; alarmingly low reproductive rates led to young women whomRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Atwood And Sylvia Plath s The Handmaid s Tale, And Moira Of Margaret Atwood1905 Words   |  8 Pagesis in this despondent frame of mind, the woman of Sylvia Plath’s poem, Edge, and Moira of Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaids Tale, find themselves accepting their condemnation as their destiny. Both Margaret Atwood and Sylvia Plath use their works as emotional outlets to express the hopeless disposition one comes to embrace having reached the point of exhaustion. Together, Moira from The Handmaid’s Tale and the â€Å"perfected woman† from Edge exemplify the quality of life or lack thereof, one isRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1249 Words   |   5 PagesDystopian Research Essay: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood In the words of Erika Gottlieb With control of the past comes domination of the future. A dystopia reflects and discusses major tendencies in contemporary society. The Handmaid s Tale is a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood in 1985. The novel follows its protagonist Offred as she lives in a society focused on physical and spiritual oppression of the female identity. Within The Handmaid s Tale it is evident that through the explorationRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale, By Margaret Atwood1629 Words   |  7 Pages Atwood s novel, The Handmaid s Tale depicts a not too futuristic society of Gilead, a society that overthrows the U.S. Government and institutes a totalitarian regime that seems to persecute women specifically. Told from the main character s point of view, Offred, explains the Gilead regime and its patriarchal views on some women, known as the handmaids, to a purely procreational function. The story is set the present tense in Gilead but frequently shifts to flashbacks in her time at the RedRead MoreMargaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale931 Words   |  4 Pagesthe concept of gender becoming a multi- layered shifting hypothesis to which society is adapting. Since the 19th-century, philosophers and theorists have continued to scrutinize gender beyond biological and social interpretation. Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale captures the limitations and social implications forced upon a set gender based on societal expectations. Gender is a social construct that limits the individua l to the restrictions and traditions of a society, or if it’s an individuallyRead MoreThe Reconstruction Of Power By Margaret Atwood943 Words   |  4 PagesHaley Hollimon LTC Bozeman EN 102, L19 3 February 2015 The Reconstruction of Power Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood utilizes various elements of fiction to develop and question the concept of power and control in the patriarchal society of Gilead. Offred, the main Handmaid, is the instrument of which Atwood delivers her message about corruption and power. Offred’s vague diction, unreliable characterization, and erratic tone illustrate the distress of this transitional society (Abcarian

Marriage and Divorce in Hard Times - 2815 Words

Marriage and Divorce in Dickens’ Hard Times: A Statement on the Religious Morals of 19th Century British Society The Victorian era in England gave birth to the first real industrial society the world had ever seen. With the rise of industry came large cities, an expanded working class population and the rapid rise of imperialism. Although England was progressing towards a more powerful place in the world, its citizens seemed to be drifting in the opposite direction. Oppressive laws and working conditions set clear boundaries between classes in England. The most oppressive social and state laws were those regarding to marriages and divorces. Just as the people of England felt trapped in the unequal social structure of England, the same is†¦show more content†¦Judge William Blackstone had announced that husbands could administer moderate correction to disobedient wives, and there were other means: as late as 1895, Edith Lanchesters father had her kidnapped and committed to a lunatic asylum for cohabiting with a man† (Wojtczak, â€Å"English Women’s History†). Although religion is not explicitly mentioned in Hard Times, religious values were involved in the social structure of England. Social and government laws were based on religious morals. For example, The Bible specifically states, â€Å"Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband† (King James Version, 1. Corinthians. 7.3). The Bible notes that the husband should treat his wife with benevolence. When one thinks of marriage, they think of love and emotions. This certainly does not seem to be the case in Mr. and Mrs. Gradgrind’s marriage. A perfect example of this is when Mrs. Gradgrind quotes on her deathbed, â€Å"You must remember my dear, that whenever I have said anything, on any subject, I have never heard the last of it; and consequently, that I have long left off saying anything† (Dickens’ 151). To expand this further, The Bible also notes that, â€Å"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother , and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh† (Genesis, 2.24). The Bible promotes the idea of a man and woman being together as â€Å"one flesh.† To be â€Å"one† is to be equal or balanced. This is not theShow MoreRelatedPopular Culture s Negative Influence Essay1727 Words   |  7 PagesCelebrating twenty-eight years of marriage seems to be a pretty impressive feat in today’s world. Not to mention all the couples who have been together for forty, even fifty years. Forty to fifty percent of marriages end in divorce in America (Kazdin, 1). Some say that that is a myth, that it is not actually factual. However, thorough research proves that it is unfortunately true. From popular culture’s negative influence, to how marriage could go all wrong, and finally to why it sometimes just can’tRead MoreDivorce Is The Best Or Worst For Kids?1093 Words   |  5 PagesMarriage is the legally recognized union of two people in a personal relationship, usually a man and a woman. (Kunz, 2012) When we think of marriage, we usually think of a man and a woman with children living happily ever after. Sometimes this is not the case in some marriages around the world. Usually there are some struggle and difficulties in marriages that could end in divorce. Divorce is more of a normal thing, more than half of the marriages end up in divorce. (Weaver Schofield, 2014) ThisRead MoreEssay on The Negative Effects of Divorce Rates in United States1240 Words   |  5 Pageswant to get married. A good marriage is one that consists of love, understanding, and proper communication. ...Till death do us apart, such a sweet phrase to hear right? But does anyone really take that phrase in a serious matter? There are several reasons that cause people to divorce and this result affects the children. ​In the U.S., is it common that we see many married people end their relationship with a divorce and most of them are young people. The divorce rates still at a high rate thatRead MoreDivorce And Its Effect On Society Essay1648 Words   |  7 Pages Half of all marriages end in divorce. That means that between a person and their closest friend, one of them is likely to get a divorce (Stanton 3). That’s a shocking and scary statistic since divorce is so unhealthy for everyone involved. Sociology’s view, religion’s view, and even the effect of psychology all point to one end, divorce is not beneficial. Divorce is a topic that has been widely silenced because it has rocked so many people’s lives. A 50 percent divorce rate is a huge increase ofRead MoreDivorce Is A Normative Event1108 Words   |  5 PagesMarriage is the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship, usually a man and a woman. When we think of marriage we usually think of a man and a woman with children living happily ever after. Sometimes this is not the case in some marriages around the world. Usually there is some struggle and difficulties in marriages that could end in divorce. According to Weaver (2014), â€Å"In today’s world, divorce is a normative event, affecting approximately half ofRead MoreWhat Do People Think About Life After Getting A Divorce?859 Words   |  4 PagesWhat do people think about life after getting a divorce? Is it hard? Is it easier? A person can only answer these difficult questions if they have been married and divorced. It c an’t be easy on someone’s physical and mental state-along with family and finances, but one can adapt to the changes. We wonder time after time- Why are people getting married and then divorce. Why is divorce an option when getting married? Why is it granted? There are millions reasons why but this cause and effect easy canRead MoreSeparation Of A Child s Parents1287 Words   |  6 PagesEach year, over one million American children suffer from divorce in their families (Fagan). Divorce causes lasting damage to all involved, but especially children. Many people assumed that what is good for the mother and father is good for the child. But now, tremendous amounts of research have been done on divorce and children. All the research points out one hard truth and that is that kids suffer when mom and dad get a divorce (focus on the family). Separation of a child’s parents puts the childRead MoreDivorce Is A Problem Of Being Proven Essential For Healthy Marriages968 Words   |  4 Pageshand families I know who have never been affected by divorce. Divorce is growing more and more common throughout the world today. It is a problem in need of a solution. Divorce will never be completely eliminated, but it can’t hurt to give it a shot, right? I thought to myself the other day about who all I know who has never been divorced, and all I came up with was my very own parents. Later on I asked them why, and turns out prior to their marriage, they had gone through somewhat of a class togetherRead MoreEssay on Problems With Living Together Before Marriage1129 Words   |  5 PagesKim has just signed her divorce papers and cannot hide the sadness and confusion she feels. Two years ago everyone told her living with her boyfriend was a great idea. They said she would be able to get to know him better and see if marriage would work. She trusted her friends and thought that since everyone else was doing it that it must be the wisest choice. Wha t went wrong? Why was she unhappy with her marriage even after getting to know her husband through cohabitation? Would things haveRead MoreDivorce : A Serious Epidemic932 Words   |  4 Pagespositive to every negative. Even my divorce? For me, yes. If you go back and look at it, why it happened or how it happened, there’s something in there that’ll make you laugh.† Although divorce can be considered humorous it has become a serious epidemic. About 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how an individual takes part in causing divorce, how society plays a part in divorce, and how can we lessen the situation. When divorce is looked into the odds of success

Political Developments in Western Europe and Eastern Europe

Question: Write an essay on Differenced between political developments in Western Europe and Eastern Europe? Answer: Differenced between political developments in Western Europe and Eastern Europe The development in Europe has played a major role in the worlds history. The political development in Europe could be majorly divided into two area, the political development in the Western Europe, and the political development in the Eastern Europe. With time, England emerged as a center, and powerful state country in the Western Europe and Russia emerged as a center, and a powerful country of the Eastern Europe (Kosteleck, 2002). There are various fundamental differences in the political developments of these two regions. It has been observed that the political development in the region is influenced by number of internal and external factors. These factors would include social, economic, and religious factors. In the Christian nations and Christian society, the church has always played an important role towards political development in the region. The history has revealed that church has been more powerful in England as compared to the Eastern Europe. Likewise, the church played a crucial role in the political development in England and Eastern Europe. The role of church could not be marginalized in the political development in Russia. It is just that Church was a major a decisive power in England and the other parts of the Western Europe (Sharpe, 1993). The nobles of the church used to interfere in the political development and these nobles generated huge people support in the different parts of the Eastern Europe. New form of absolutism: France The word absolutism refers to the absolute power of ruler. In terms of a political system, the word absolutism refers to a type of government in which the rulers power is absolute. It means that the power of rules is not subjected to any sort of legal or political constraints. The European monarchies, especially those of France, Spain, and Russia, between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries provide the clearest examples of absolute rule and absolutism (Parker, 1989). There were certain fundamental differences in the absolutism form of rule. The absolutism was a sort of self-proclaimed rule in which ruler wanted to control the people, and the politicians. Another difference between absolutism and previous form of government was the rights and liberties of people. It was observed that the rights of the people were curtailed under absolutism. Therefore, the absolutism was not a desired form in France (Church, 1969). The people of the country did not support absolutism. However, there was very little that they could have done under the absolute power of rulers. The absolutism emerged as a platform where ruler was able to control the political development, and influence the social development in France. A Modest Proposal In the article, A Modest Proposal, author has made an appeal to help the people of Ireland. This proposal has focused on the under privileged people in the country. The subject of this proposal are women, beggars, and helpless children. The audience of this proposal is the affluent people who visit the country (Swift, 1966). In this proposal, an appeal has been made to all the tourists, and the travelers. In the proposal, author highlighted that food is the most basic need of any children and individual. It is important that people should support beggars, children, and women to get access to this necessity. Author did his calculation and highlighted that there are one hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually born and the kingdom does not have any infrastructure to support these children. There are limited job opportunities in the country and these children could not be employed. In the proposal, author made several points that could actually help these children and make an impact on the lives of these children. The fundamental point of this article is that, it is our basic and moral responsibility to help the people who cannot afford their meals (Swift, 1995). It would not cost much and it would only make people modest. Therefore, people should join hands, and should work together to implement this proposal, and to make this proposal successful. There is nothing that cannot achieved, and with the support of people, a change can be brought in the life of children, and needy people. References Church, W. F. (1969).The impact of absolutism in France: national experience under Richelieu, Mazarin, and Louis XIV. Wiley. Kosteleck, T. (2002).Political parties after communism: developments in East-Central Europe. T. Kostelecky (Ed.). Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center Press. Parker, D. (1989). Sovereignty, Absolutism and the Function of the Law in Seventeenth-Century France.Past and Present, 36-74. Sharpe, L. J. (Ed.). (1993).The rise of the meso government in Europe(Vol. 32). SAGE Publications Limited. Swift, J. (1966).A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Ireland from Becoming a Burden to Their Parents Or Country. Voyagers' Press. Swift, J. (1995, February). A modest proposal for preventing the children of poor people from being a burthen to their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the public. InChild and Youth Care Forum(Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 5-12). Springer Netherlands.

Rene Descartes and John Locke

Introduction Rene Descartes, a rationalist and John Locke, an empiric have a lot of contrasting and common features. In their philosophical writings, they answer questions about the knowledge of asking, what a man knows and his possibility to know. However when answering these questions, their approach is from different angles. Descartes finds out certainty and continues from this point.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rene Descartes and John Locke specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Locke on the other hand employs empiric thoughts to advance through various levels of truth to arrive at certainty. Through this approach, Locke tries to establish truthfulness with each new step. As Locke argued, applying experimental knowledge without reason makes a person to be stuck. Moreover, rational knowledge is meaningless if not used together with knowledge from the senses. Though their work may contrast on certain aspects, it has been influential even in the midst of scientific advances. Innateness of ideas According to Locke, innate principles do not exist. By arguing in this line, Locke does not oppose Descartes, but targets some of his followers who supported the idea that almost all knowledge in man has basis in innate principles, an approach contrary to the Cartesian approach. In his platonic argument for innate ideas, Descartes puts it that we do not come across things like circularity and justice in actual environment of senses experienced. Descartes’ arguments for innateness in the concept of God is platonic because he points out that the idea of deriving God from experience is impossible because experience does not present us with infinite perfection at any time. Locke on the other hand tries to contrast the platonic rationalistic argument of Descartes regarding circularity and justice. In his abstraction doctrine, Locke asserts that even though man fails to come across perfect circles, c ircularity may be common to all objects (Locke I.1.2). By distinguishing between simple and complex ideas, Locke tries to contrast Descartes. Locke argued that man experiences less of God and abstract but more of constituents which are simple in God’s complex idea (Locke I.1.1-3). It occurs as if Descartes expected this response as he (Descartes) puts across the simplicity of God’s idea, an argument which is not sufficient to contrast Locke’s empiric view (Cummins notes). â€Å"Innateness is no guarantee of truth† is an argument which Locke fails to put across but he assumes that â€Å"whatever is innate is true† (Locke I.1.4). Therefore, Locke does not directly argue that innate things are from God, a fact which is true. The above argument implies that to a certain extent, Locke’s argument is similar to the pre-Cartesian argument propounded by rationalists that justification is arbitrary (Hospers 10). Locke’s argument that â€Å"wha tever is innate is true† means that he holds a position similar to Descartes that if innate principles were to occur, then it would be the work of God, a position which is true (Locke I.1.1-3). Furthermore, if Locke were to argue fully against his position, then he would lack the foundation or basis to reject innate principles. However, though Descartes’ argument about innateness of God’s idea is complex, he admits that innateness cannot be self evident (Hospers 13).Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Bank slate Locke points out that structures existing in a child cannot be innate ideas. Therefore according to Locke, man lacks innate ideas at birth but can acquire these ideas by experience through observing things in the environment (sensation) or reflection in the mind. Moreover, the power has ability to repeat, distinguish and unite various simple ideas e.g. taste and texture. The above argument is emphasized by Locke’s writings where he asserts that â€Å"†¦the ideas they produce in the mind enter by the senses simple and unmixed †¦ the hand feels softness and warmth in the same piece of wax; yet the simple ideas †¦ are as perfectly distinct as those that come in by different senses† (Locke I.1.4). Furthermore, Locke points out that these simple ideas put together form complete ideas (concept of filling a bank slate or tabula rasa). For example the complex idea of a banana in the mind is a result of the mind combining several simple ideas about the color yellow. This is also emphasized by â€Å"Though the qualities that affect our senses are, in the things themselves, so united and blended, that there is no separation between them† (Locke II.1.4). According to Descartes rationalistic perception however, it becomes hard to imagine what has not been experienced in the senses as asserted by Locke. Lockeâ€⠄¢s empiric thought unlike Descartes rationalist is absurd because it is absurd and difficult for mental ideas to be connected to objects in the environment (Cummins notes). Knowledge, Reason and Experience While Descartes argues that from the possibility of knowledge being obtained from reason, Locke employs an empiric thought that the sole source of knowledge is experience. Locke also notably criticizes the Cartesian view on knowledge basing his criticism on the fact that at first, the mind is similar to a bank slate (tabular rasa) which is filled through generation of ideas by experience. Locke’s perception of a tabula rasa is in direct contrast with the Cartesian point of view of existence of innate ideas. Therefore, according to Locke’s empiric thought, knowledge can be achieved solely through experience (Locke II.1.7). In contrast to Locke, Renà © Descartes, a renowned rationalist asserts that it is through reasoning that a person can acquire knowledge which con fers ability to discern true and false. This is in contrast to the empiric thought that the source of knowledge is experience (Cummins notes). According to Descartes, experience can cause deception of sensory organs with the way a person perceives objects hence cannot be relied on as a source of knowledge e.g. the false deception that a pencil inserted in water is broken (Hospers 5).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rene Descartes and John Locke specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Descartes uses the above method to point out that a person should ignore judgement due to experience with objects unless proven beyond reasonable doubt. He uses this method to arrive at his method of establishing doubt (Hospers 77). On the other hand, Locke’s method of arriving at his empiric view is in his work of an ‘epistle to the reader’ where he traces the roots of his philosophical empiric thinking. He uses an ane cdote about conversations which showed him that for men to pursue knowledge, they suffer because of failure to determine understanding limits (Locke III.2.6). From Locke’s argument, the origin of knowledge is through introspection and our senses (Locke II.1.3) though Descartes uses the methodical doubt approach of â€Å"I think, therefore I am† or â€Å"cogito ergosum† to refute Locke’s view though he points out that â€Å"Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power† (Hospers 31). This approach used by Descartes is however proof of the source of knowledge i.e. introspection. Works Cited Locke, John. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. 6th ed.1689. Institute of Learning Technologies. Web. Cummins, Robert. Notes on Locke: Essay Concerning Human understanding.2009.Print. Hospers, John. An introduction to philosophical analysis. Routledge, 1997.Print. This essay on Rene Descartes and John Locke was written and submitted by user Princeton Rosario to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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