English Literature And Theory This blog contains the explanation of various critical theories that provide a new insight to view literature and interpretation of various literary texts.

Like Salman Rushdie, Mr. Feynman too does not show any direct concern with the conventional philosophy of religion persuading man kind to be divided into different sects, races and nationalities. To Feynman, education is ever good if its result or purpose serves the needs of broad humanity, as done by their contributions to make man capable of showing his potential to benefit mankind and safeguard humanity against any natural calamity. Maybe, if a scientist or learned man is tagged with a bias of sex, religion or nationality, his vision is restricted and would not do any service to broad human race. Since the passage is from scientific pen, it has given space for many technical terms used in physics, biology and biochemistry. So unless the student taps the Internet, latest encyclopedias, dictionaries and concerned experts, he would find the discourse very difficult to understand.
And man can never be sure about what happens to him in a fraction of a money. In many cases, people makes gains from things they have never hoped and face losses from things they have long expected. Studying science alone is not enough to understand the miracles of life. It should be coupled with the study of spiritualism.

The content of the talk sparks from Salman's ideas evoked by his experiences with most of Cambridge managerial staffs, working system, arrangement for graduation ceremony and flaws in the sexual conduct and revengeful acts of the deities and his sense of great wonder at finding his name in a paper as a substitute for Miss Piggy for the 1996 commencement speech to the graduates of Southampton University on Long Island. It was only on the speakers' desire, his first American friend, the former editor for Alfred Knopf- a New York Publishing House, founded by Alfred A. Knopf in 1915, informed him that Kermit the Frog was not but Miss Piggy or even Pig, the author of "Guide to Life", a popular preacher of the philosophy of twentieth century American life. Miss Figgy, Kermit the Frog was popular American author and also a character in Mr. Jim Henson's The Muppet or Puppet TV presentation.

Before Mr. Salman joined the Cambridge University, he did not now even the least of the official procedures of its graduation ceremony. Further, at the hint of an American friend, he is reminded of the episode of how a past university batch was to go on a sit- in at the gate for a protest against Jeanne Kilpatrick, a democrat turned republican, nominated to give a Graduation address. The speaker's graduation speech reveals that he has no respect for conventional wisdom and practice of offering the degree to the graduate only when he falls on his knees before the Vice-chancellor. Though he did so, he felt too humiliated to bow down before the VC to acquire what he earned on his own efforts. He is depressed here for his inability to fight against the infringement of his individual right by the university authorities. He is so sick of the system that takes the university management as a means of control over human liberty. He is also the believer in organized religion as Feynman or Palacio is.

Salman expresses deep reverence for any person who has done the best in service to broad humanity and appreciates all those men and women who have made this world a beautiful place to live amidst mutual affinity. Also, he honors human strength to make and condemns the network of power, the type which compelled him to pay the fine as the scapegoat for the fault of the re decorator to receive the degree from the VC seated in the ceremonial chair quite high above him.

There are few contradictions in between what young Salmon thought about preservation of his liberty and the manner he compromised with the disgusting Cambridge principles while obtaining the degree with his body down at the knees below the Vice-Chancellor who seemed very likely to drop direct over him from the high placed chair. In a sense, he did right by following all of the University principles as the price for making himself eligible to be conferred with a degree. Otherwise, no value system of higher education could be substantiated unless the individuals resigns himself to the established principles handed down as the legacy from the long past in a way of giving credit to those who paved the course for the development of educated culture.

Though Salman surrendered his individual liberty in receiving the degree, he regrets later and feels very sorrowful for being forced to do so and compromise with repulsive Cambridge traditions and show passivity before gods and the university authorities. In this light, any type of defiance is a counter to the established value system followed as a legacy for ages to achieve the educational goal. So, if no respect is shown for academic formalities established ion the past, that would prove to be a great weakness and result merely in causing social chaos and endangering base of human culture honoring the seniors and being safeguarded by seniors and authorities.

Salman reacts negatively even about the things he did to serve his purpose but addresses the audience not to and says nothing about the duties to be fulfilled by the degree earners. He should fully know that no human right can be ensured or practiced without fulfilling the corresponding duties in a way as expressing "thanks" to those who show favour to the other. Of course, this practice doesn't prevail among the beasts always centred for the fulfillment of personal needs. And we know education flourishes only through the practice of mutual care and respect. Keeping the same in mind, the teachers teach and the scholars guide those who come to be guided or instructed.

Salman details largely about pros and cons of Cambridge University from where he graduated but ignores almost to highlight the academic greatness of Southampton University. He simply shows his indebtedness to the University for honoring him with an opportunity to give 96th Commencement Speech and extends gratitude to the President of the Bard, who offered him a position of teaching in the Department of English even during the crucial moments of his life.

To the rationalists and the scientific men, religion is moral code of conduct. They want it to be applied by all men and women for mutual welfare,, trust, and happiness. So, they are against the purpose of 'organized religion' characterized these days by blind faith and as means for the power mongers to exploit the ignorant and exert the power over those who are powerless for the fulfillment of their false-ego. Maybe holding for similar ideas , Salman was declared as an atheist and condemned to death by Mullahs as Thomas Becket and Martin Luther King for their fair attempt to stand up against religious repression. So, as the educationists with free mind, Mr. Feynman, Riva Palatino or Rushdie would not show regard for distorted conventional wisdom and for 'organized religion' characterized now by blind faith, irrational beliefs, power grabs, ulterior motives of greedy ministers, a lack of love and no personal respect.

Text's Name: The Good Example

Author: Riva Palacio

The message of the author is justified by the title, itself. The setting of the story is pure nature and the details of environment effectively reflects the taste of Don possessed with a virtues of good teacher. All that Don holds is expected in every teacher if dedicated to his hob. His nature becomes so hospitable that even the students and the pets follow a the parrot does in the story. For his noble qualities and full commitment to his regular duties, Don was quoted far and wide in the village. In the villager's eye, Don Lucas was a true follower of the course of action, who cares nothing as the return from the students from his efforts to teach them. So, Don was quoted as a good model of teaching community and as veritable martyr.

Don as a good example of teaching cared for the student's needs as he did for his own. So he encouraged Perico, the parrot to share with his regular refreshment. Similarly, the parrot should be appreciated for acquiring the good qualities of good company or of all those around. Even babbling with Don Lucas as a friend and listening to the pupils singing in chorus at the school, the parrot learned alphabets, words syllables exactly as pronounced by the school children. The tale shows that a teacher is a best source for the pupils to learn the best about the good principles and conduct of life. This is shown in the industry by passion of the parrot for imitating and paving the path of Don to teach his neighbours as taught to himself to chant Ba, Da, ...Ge, Je, etc even in far distance from the master.

Despite all these, the story is tilted towards throwing a satire on education system based on memory that of Mexico in the 19th century. The writer is much convinced if the learning process is as such then the school can be opened and run by the other creatures as well. To exemplify the very statement, he has intentionally brought about the case of Perico pet tamed by Don Lucas. To mug up something is terrible monotonous and boring. Repetition of something to set in our mind indeed kills our creative power and intuition. education is not something we should gain out of memorizing. Rather it should be assimilated and implemented into our practical affairs by understanding. It is a satire in the sense that education system of Mexico in 19th century was not inclined towards encouraging students towards comprehension and promoting their creative aspect. Rather it was forcible and tiring process which the writer did not prefer. That is why he attacked it in a mild and literary way.