Love, Teardrops, and The Hundred Secret Senses

Love, Teardrops, and The Hundred Secret Senses Free Online Research Papers The song â€Å"Teardrop† by the 1980s British brand Massive Attack, which was written by the Scottish singer Elizabeth Fraser, explores the theme of love through the diction and use of repetition (Ankeny). Amy Tans fictional novel, the The Hundred Secret Senses, also explores a theme of love similar to that of â€Å"Teardrop† through the depiction of the protagonist Olivias and her husband, Simons relationship. Olivia and Simon first meet in college which, at that time, Simon is still together with his childhood girl, Elza- although shortly after, Elza dies when she goes to the mountains. Regardless, both are still intimate with each other; although most of this intimacy is conveyed through the form of sexual desire, even at this beginning stage, however, Olivia is â€Å"in-love with Simon- goo-goo-eyed, giggly-voiced, floaty-headed† (75). Similarly, in â€Å"Teardrop† the first two lines, â€Å"Love, love is a verb/Love is a doing word† resembles that sexual intimacy between the two characters. The middle of the first verse in â€Å"Teardrop,† â€Å"Shakes me makes me lighter,† describes how love makes one feel as if this deep, intense emotion is able to levitate into the boundless limits of the sky, or as Olivia- in addition to her description of that â€Å"floaty-headed† feeling- further describes how she feels when she is together with Simon : â€Å"I [feel] as if a secret and better part of myself [has] finally been unleashed† and â€Å"I laugh harder, think more deeply, feel more passionately† (77). Even though Olivia knows that Simon has a girlfriend, she also believes that because they are in college, girlfriends come and go- for everyone is changing their minds about everything. However, after Simons comment on how Olivia is basically a good buddy to him, Olivia would ,â€Å"At nightcry angrily† and vow many times to give up any hope of romance with Simon† (77). In addition, Olivias assessments are further reinforced by her insights on Simon treating her merely as Elzas shadow. From Simons references to Elza to him keeping a box of her belongings, how could Olivia not be frustrated? In the second verse of â€Å"Teardrop† the line, â€Å"Black flowers blossom† reflects Olivias and Simons love in that black is symbolic of death, the unknown, and of no hope; moreover, flowers can represent two lovers as well as their feelings for each other. Therefore, black flowers represent the unsure, the insecure (both of which are the unknown), the possible death, and the hopeless love between two people. The fact that Olivia is basically Elzas replacement and the fact that even from the start she believes there is no hope between them shows their unsure, unknown, and hopeless love. However, comparable to how â€Å"Teardrops† lyrics say â€Å"black flowers blossom,† Olivias and Simons love also blossoms. Though A Hundred Secret Senses is also a novel about the growth of Olivia, her love with Simon is a major element in this growth. In an attempt to get Simon and Olivia closer as lovers (as well as for other personal reasons), one of the characters invites them to visit a village in China where all three adults end up sleeping on the same bed. It is through this nearly forced experience that enables Olivia and Simon to really get to discuss their relationship with each other. Before, Olivia thought that love was â€Å"a trick on the brainIt floods the cells that transmit worrydrowns them with biochemical bliss (312-3). However, after the trip to China, Olivia is now capable of saying, â€Å"I once thought love was supposed to be nothing but bliss. I now know it is also worry and grief, hope and trust† (399). Evidently, the fact that Olivia goes from this nearly impossible relationship of a replacement, to the final acceptance of the emotions that come with loving Simon, demons trates the blossoming of their love. Furthermore, the repetition of the line â€Å"Teardrop on the fire,† in â€Å"Teardrop,† also reflects Olivias description of her love. First, a teardrop is a substance evoked from three contrasting feelings- sadness, anger, and happiness. Secondly, a fire is symbolic of rage, a mix of emotions, and chaos. Therefore, a teardrop on the fire may indicate the emotions on top of all the emotional events. In other words, this is similar to how both Olivia and Simon are able to cry from the quarrels, misunderstandings, rage, and the joyful, pleasurable moments of their lives. This fact, in addition, further illustrates how Olivias and Simons love is also able to blossom. For again, love is the â€Å"worry and grief, hope and trust† (399). The final verse of â€Å"Teardrop† consists of two repeating lines â€Å"Stumbling a little/Stumbling a little.† These lines give to say that in spite of the fact that love provokes hope, (as shown by the line â€Å"Black flowers blossom†) it still makes one (or two) unstable. Additionally, the use of the word â€Å"little† is similar to how Olivia portrays her current love relationship with Simon as â€Å"Were still working things outThe petty arguments, snipes, and gripes, they still crop upBut its easier to remember how unimportant they are, how they shrink the heart and make life small† (399). Through â€Å"Teardrops† examination of love from how love makes one feel that excitement, how the ambiguity of love can evolve and thrive, how love evokes both the positive and negative emotions, and finally, how even though love can be hope and excitement, because it also comes with the negative emotions, one will continue to be â€Å"Stumbling a little.† Similarly, the relationship between Olivia and Simon resemble these notions of love through their relationship from when they first meet in college to when they are called on a trip to China, during which passion, pain, and hope are all indications of their love for each other. Research Papers on Love, Teardrops, and The Hundred Secret SensesHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Hockey Game19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraCapital PunishmentPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyAnalysis Of A Cosmetics Advertisement

French and Latin Diplomatic Terms

French and Latin Diplomatic Terms French and Latin Diplomatic Terms French and Latin Diplomatic Terms By Mark Nichol For hundreds of years, France was a world power militarily, economically, and culturally, and thus its language became the political, well, lingua franca. Although the nation is no longer a superpower (yet influential in world affairs), the French language is still well represented in the vocabulary of diplomacy- as is its precursor, Latin. This post lists and defines words adopted directly from French (and Latin) into diplomatic discourse, now dominated by English. (Each term is followed by an English translation. Latin terms are designated with the abbreviation L.; all other terms are from French.) Acte final (â€Å"final act†): A formal statement summarizing the results of a conference between representatives of two or more nations. Agrà ©ment (â€Å"agreement†): Approval by a nation’s government of a proposed new ambassador or other diplomat to represent another nation’s interest in the first nation before the diplomat is appointed Aide mà ©moire (â€Å"memory aid†): A summary of key points of an official conversation between representatives of two nations, prepared by one party and submitted to the other at the end of the meeting or at a later time to aid memory. Alternat (â€Å"alternate†): The principle that when two or more nations enter into an agreement, each nation’s official designation will be listed first on its respective copy of the agreement when copies are distributed to representatives of each nation. Ambassador extraordinary and ambassador plenipotentiary: These phrases are alterations of, rather than direct borrowings from, French, but the syntax of compound nouns consisting of postpositive adjectives (in which an adjective that further specifies a noun follows the noun) is an artifact of French. (Other examples include â€Å"attorney general.†) Attachà © (â€Å"attached†): Any of several various officers in an embassy, including one or more attachà ©s representing the military branches of the nation represented by the embassy; professional specialists known as, for example, the cultural attachà ©; or junior ambassadorial officers. Also, part of the phrase â€Å"attachà © case,† denoting a type of briefcase, originally used by such officers to carry documents, that became popular for general use. Bout de papier (â€Å"piece of paper†): A document for conveying information between an embassy and the government of the host nation that is more informal than an aide memoire or a memorandum. Chargà © d’affaires, a.i. (â€Å"in charge of business in the interim†): Originally, without the abbreviation (for â€Å"ad interim†), the designation for an embassy official ranking below an ambassador or a minister; now, with the abbreviation, the term for an official substituting for the ambassador in his or her absence. Communiquà © (â€Å"communication†): A carefully managed and innocuous public statement summarizing the result of a meeting between representatives of two or more nations. By extension, a synonym, in general usage, for bulletin. Concordat (â€Å"agreement†): An agreement between one or more nations and the Vatican. Consul (L., â€Å"one who consults†): Any one of various officials, subordinate to an ambassador, who represents a nation’s political and economic interests in a major city of another nation and supports the interests of other citizens of his or her nation who are visiting, or living in, the host nation. The office of a consul is a consulate, a lower-ranking official is a vice consul, and an honorary consul is a citizen of a host nation appointed by another nation to represent its interests in the absence of a consulate and its officials. During the time of the Roman Republic, and briefly in France following the French Revolution, the term denoted one of two (in Rome) or three (in France) chief magistrates who led the government. Demarchà © (â€Å"walk†): An official overture by an ambassadorial diplomat to representatives of a host nation about a matter of concern to the diplomat’s nation, usually made in conjunction with a request for action or a decision on the part of the host nation. The term derives from the notion of the diplomat walking to the office of a host nation’s representative to discuss the matter in question. Dà ©tente (â€Å"relaxation†): An easing of tension between nations. Entente (â€Å"understanding†): A relationship between two or more nations with similar interests or objectives, resulting in an oral or written agreement less formal than a treaty (from the phrase â€Å"entente cordial,† or â€Å"friendly understanding†). By extension, the term also denotes a coalition of parties to such a relationship. Exequatur (L., â€Å"let him perform†): a document issued by the government of a host nation that authorizes a consul to perform his or her duties in that nation. Ex gracia (L., â€Å"by grace†): An action performed as a gesture of goodwill rather than an obligation. Modus vivendi (L., â€Å"manner of living†): A temporary interim written agreement composed as a record that stands until the final document is completed. In general usage, denotes a practical compromise or a way of life. Persona non grata (L., â€Å"unacceptable person†): A person from another nation that the government of a host nation considers unacceptable or unwelcome. By extension in general usage, any such person in a social situation. Rapporteur (â€Å"reporter†): A representative of a committee or a subcommittee responsible for preparing a summary of its proceedings. Rapprochement (â€Å"a bringing together†): Establishment of improved relations between two nations. By extension in general usage, any such reconciliation between any two parties. Tour d’horizon (â€Å"overview†): A general discussion between diplomats of different nations about topics that concern both or all nations. Ultimatum (L., â€Å"final†): A final statement of position issued by representatives of one nation’s government to another, sometimes as a preliminary to a declaration of war. By extension in general usage, any statement by one party to another expressing a demand that will, if not met, result in stated or implied consequences. Visa (L., â€Å"seen†): A document authorizing a citizen of one nation temporary or permanent residence in another nation. Also, the following abbreviations are employed in social correspondence between diplomats and representatives of a host nation as shorthand for various sentiments: P.C.: â€Å"pour condoler† (â€Å"for sympathy†) P.F.: â€Å"pour fà ©liciter† (â€Å"for congratulations†) P.M.: â€Å"pour memoire† (â€Å"for a reminder†) P.P.: â€Å"pour presenter† (â€Å"for introduction†) P.P.C.: â€Å"pour prendre congà ©Ã¢â‚¬  (â€Å"for taking leave†) P.R.: â€Å"pour remercier† (â€Å"for thanks†) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of Language8 Writing Tips for Beginners10 Tips About How to Write a Caption