The Role of Islam in The Man of Laws Tale - Literature Essay Samples

The Man of Laws Tale is in many ways marks a new beginning in the middle of the Canterbury Tales, a break from the bawdy and secular tales that precede it. While Chaucer could have made it a more straightforward recentering of the tales on a Christian theme, Chaucer makes it more complex by introducing a foreign religion, Islam, into the tale. Certainly one of the major questions that arises when any student of Chaucer does a close reading of the Man of Laws Tale is why? What purpose does Islam serve in this tale, and why only here, and not other places in the tale? Articles by Carolyn Dinsaw, Susan Schibanoff, and Kathryn Lynch offer some insight.Carolyn Dinshaws article The Law of Man and its Abhomynacions' reads the Man of Law as literally that: a man made up of law (118). In the tales, he serves as a representative of patriarchal ideology itself. It is his duty therefore to tell a tale that supports the view of women as subordinate to and dependent upon patriarchal protection (11 9). The characters in his tale consequently fall into the requisite binary categories of those that fit the traditional patriarchal structure and those that are a threat to it2E The most notable members of the latter group are the mothers-in-law, potential or actual, presented in the tale. These womens actions subvert the established gender roles and as Dinshaw argues later int he article, represent underlying incestual forces in the narrative.Supporting the interpretation of the Man of Law as a literal representation of law itself, Dinshaw points to the legal speech in the tales prologue: the Host begins by reminding the Man of Law of his promise to the group to tell a tale, and the Man of Law responds with an agreement to make good on his promise. Dinshaw uses this legal foundation of the Man of Laws Tale to undergird her argument of the commoditization of not only his tale-telling, but of the women in the tale itself: [f]or the Man of Law, the two kinds of profit that tales and c ommodities offermoral and monetaryare indissolubly linked (121). After all, the Man of Law himself insists that he has heard the story from an old merchant, which as Dinshaw points out, reminds us that the story is delivered directly from the world of commerce (122).The article discusses the role of women as commodities to be traded, beginning with an exploration of Custance as narrative and progressing to women traded in marriage. The article then turns to an examination of incestual evidence in the tale, from the prologues insistence that the tale will avoid incest, to evidence of circumspect deliacy in expurgating remnants of incest from Chaucers version compared to other versions ([i]n the mos popular versions of the Constance legend, the accused queen flees unwanted sexual advances of her father). The article ultimately uncovers an interesting interpretation of incest in the tale: the jealousy of the mothers-in-law, which [the author] read[s] as potentially incestuous desires o f mothers for their sons (132).What I found most interesting about this article is that Carolyn Dinshaw reads the Man of Laws name in itself as fundamental to the meaning of the tale itself. The Man of Law as representative of law itself, specifically patriarchal law, gives a certain slant to a close reading of the tale in this light. His agenda in telling the tale is to advance the traditional ideal of patriarchal dominance. Custance in this tale is thoroughly subject to mannes governance and dependent upon patriarchal protection (119). In this reading of the Man of Laws Tale,the Other could be those characters that subvert the traditional patriarchal ideal: the mothers-in-law. Diametrically opposed to the Man of Laws patriarcal ideology, these Women of Law [pose] a radical threat to masculine prerogative and are not so easily ignored or absorbed into supports of the patriarchal structure (132). While Im not quite completely sold on the incestuous undertones Dinshaw insists permeat e the tale, I agree with much of her interpretation.Susan Schibanoffs article Worlds Apart: Orientalism, Antifeminism, and Heresy in Chaucers Man of Laws Tale begins with a discussion of the tale as a new beginning in the middle of the Canterbury Tales, in contrast to the secular romance and bawdy fabliaux that constitute the first four tales (60). But her reading of the Man of Laws Tale does not focus on the self-corrective nature of the tale, or its exemplary nature as a model of a pilgrammage, but rather on a reading as Chaucers sole textual confrontation with medieval Christianitys strongest religious rival, Islam as well as Chaucers only referecnce to the prophet Muhammad and to the Quran (60). In her article, Schibanoff aims to answer the question why, at this particular juncture in the Canterbury Tales and nowhere else, Chaucer turns our attention to an alien faith, to a faraway place, to a distant time (60). What she suggests is that the Man of Laws tale serves to strengthen Christian brotherhood among the pilgrims by deflect[ing] attentian from the potentially explosive class rivalry by confronting the fractious menwith another world, another time, and ultimately with the Other, in order to forge a sense of community (61).Schibanoff argues that it is the Other that the Man of Law uses to strengthen the Christian brotherhood of the pilgrims: he constructs the Other in tightly intertwined guises in his taleas Saracen or Muslim, as woman, and as heretic and he repeatedly performs a reductive rhetorical maneuver in order to induce Christian fraternity among the pilgrims (61). The Man of Laws strengthening of Christian brotherhood by depicting Islam is effected through a focus on Islams apparent similarities with Christianity rather than its differences, in what Schibanoff calls the rhetoric of proximity that figure[s] Islam as an insidious heresy that mimics Christianity (62). By showing the similarities between the mainstream and the Other, fear will in cite the audience to widen the contrast between the two to maintain ideological stability in their separation. The majority ofthe article explores the various instances of the Man of Laws exploiting the similitude of two entitiesChristianity and Islam, male and femalein order to force the audience to reevaluate and strengthen the contrasts between them.Susan Schibanoffs article is straightforward for the most part, but could stand another pass at the carving knife: it is at its best when it focused on the tale itself, but seems to lose its focuse along with its reader (at least this one) when it strays into discussion of the history of heresy, Biblical creation stories. It gets back on track when it returns to discussion of the tale, however, so all is not lost. Discussion of the tale takes the form of analysis of its airtight case against the Other (61), in this case Islam. An interesting twist on this reading of the Man of Laws Tale, is not that the tale stresses the contrasts bet ween the two extremes, but rather their similaritesa rhetoric of proximity (62). The narrator portrays the danger of Islam not in its physical and ideological distane from Christianity, but rather in its proximity and numerous silimarities. Islams remarkable closeness to Christianity is evidenced by the numerous religious conversions in the tale. It is this analysis that is the true gem of the article, and what makes it a worthwhile read for any student of this particular tale.Kathryn L. Lynchs article Storytelling, Exchange, and Constancy: East and West in Chaucers Man of Laws Tale aims to show that Chaucer portrays Islam in the tale not to scapegoat an alien religious tradition but rather to use cultural difference as a way of talking about larger issues of freedom and constraint in storytelling (410). Again we have an exploration of the dominant culture of the West contrasted with the Other of the East. In addition to the common peculiarities and idiosyncracies typically evoked i n depictions of the East, ranging from peculiar rituals, religious doctrines, and customs to generalized abundance and technological innovation (411). The latter description of the East, as a culture of generalized abundance, or an economy of excess is problematized in Chaucers tale: Lynch notes that the tale seems to project onto the East both ungovernable extravagance and strict exchange, mutability and its own form of rigidity (415).Lynch reads the Man of Laws prologue not as a new beginning, but rather as attempting a new beginning (417). She admits that it can read as a spiritual reorientation of the Tales, as the host seems to focus on the time and the reading of shadows, in a kind of companion piece to the Parsons Prologue, where the lengthening shadows of the days end call the pilgrims to spiritual attention (417). But Chaucer is rarely so transparent; his placement of the exotic East in the lawyers care where it is mangled and misconstrued works against such an optimistic p rognosis (417).Lynch explores the tales depiction of East versus West, and conludes that the tale remains trapped by Western chauvinisim and that it returns repetitively and unproductively to its campaign against the Other'(417). In the end of the tale, she argues, the polarization between East and West remains, with the question of how to read the character of Custancewho floats passively through the tale from beginning to end: the answer is found in her name Custance does signify constancy (419). Passively existing between the poles of East and West, from the beginning of the tale to the end Custance holds the same value, powerful though unspoken, in every location, every circumstance, every language (419).Kathryn Lynchs article is clearly written and well organized, and would benefit anyone doing a close analysis of the Man of Laws Tale. Particularly interesting is that the author bookends the article with quotes from Herman Melvilles Moby Dick on the subject of men who seek the White Whale but at the same time need food for their more common, daily appetites. The relevance of the epigraph quote to Chaucers Man of Laws Tale at first eluded me, but upon completing the article Lynch makes it clear that in both the Melville quote and in Chaucers work, balanceis necessary. The Man of Laws Tale draws a distinct line between the West and the Other, but existence on either side is unbalanced. Lynch suggests that the Squires Tale gives the Man of Laws Tale a literary balance that it sorely needs: [t]it for tat may work for trade, but storytelling, love, and forgiveness require at least some of the excesses of the exotic East (419).All three of the articles offer readings of Islam in the Man of Laws Tale as the Other, a concept that serves to soften Chaucers attack on the religion: it is not Islam itself that Chaucer attaks, but rather he uses the contrast between Islam and Christianity to make other arguments. I am not entirely convinced that Chaucer is not attack ing Islam in this tale, because he covers himself well. These articles do make a strong case for Islam in the tale as the Other, not singled out for attack, but evoked for the purpose of serving as a foil to Christianity in order to inspire Christian fraternity among the Pilgrims. It seems that there are more questions to answer now than there were at the beginning of this paper; more articles, I believe, is the only answer.

Your Career Goals Your Masters in Finance Application

Whether you’re applying to an early career Masters in Finance program (MFin or MSF) or one for experienced finance professionals, you’ll be writing a goals essay. It may be 100 words or 750, or anything in between – but I haven’t yet seen a Masters in Finance application that doesn’t ask for goals. Make your goals appropriate for the program Most MFin programs target very specific professional experience levels, e.g. 0-2 years, 2-3 years, 3+ years. And, obviously, career goals (at least the short-term ones) will be different for each of these groups. This experience level is key because the adcoms want to admit people who will get hired, and their recruiters target the same age/experience level they do – it’s symbiotic. Two points on understanding what MFin programs are looking for: †¢ Most MFin programs targeting 0-2 years of experience are seeking upcoming or recent college grads. If you’re transitioning into finance from another career at, say, age 30, you may have 0 years of finance experience, but most early-career MFin programs are not interested in you. They know their recruiters are looking for the youngsters. †¢ Know the type of finance company you want to work for and make sure your target programs attract recruiters from such companies. Finance career tracks in corporate finance, retail banks, investment banks, asset managers, and hedge funds differ. Your goals essay should demonstrate knowledge of your area of interest within finance, and of the program’s related career services. Information to include in your Masters in Finance goals essay or statement â€Å"Financial analyst in a major company† is not good enough. Specificity is essential for 2 main reasons: 1. Credibility: Specificity shows you are serious and have taken the time to plan and prepare for your future career. 2. Differentiation: Many MFin applicants have similar goals, but your motivations, your experience, and your perspective all are uniquely yours. So, which details should you include? †¢ For short-term goals, include: Desired sector within finance, type of company (mentioning 1-2 examples is fine), ideal position, expected scope of responsibilities, why this position appeals to you, and what you hope to achieve in it. Geography may also be relevant. †¢ For long-term goals, include: Your target position or level of responsibility (e.g. you hope to become a CFO but it’s that scope of accountability that’s important, as companies don’t always adhere to the same titlest/structure) and desired impact (think legacy). This is obviously and appropriately less detailed than your short-term goals – it should indicate a clear and logical direction rather than a detailed plan. Balancing short-term and long-term goals in the goals essay question To get this balance right, be guided by the actual essay questions. For example: †¢ If a question asks for short-term goals, don’t write most of the essay about your long-term dream (I’ve seen this). †¢ If it asks about goals without specifying short- or long-term, you must decide how much to allocate to short-term and long-term. My advice is to allocate more space to and be more detailed in short-term goals. And then sketch a longer-term career vision. When to present a â€Å"Plan B† goal in your Masters in Finance application You don’t have a crystal ball, and the adcoms know that. You don’t have set goals in stone, and if you have a backup plan, or a Plan B, that’s okay. Consider the following: †¢ For the short-term goal: It makes sense to have a Plan B when you are new to finance and/or know your ideal short-term goal might be hard to achieve. Briefly sketch a viable Plan B that will also take you to your long-term goal. †¢ For the long-term goal: It’s perfectly reasonable to envision two possible future paths once you’ve gotten traction in your finance career – e.g., considering both advancing in a company and starting a venture. In such a case, focus on one (of greater interest now) and cite the second as an attractive second option. Both these Plan B scenarios show you to be thoughtful, in tune with uncertain reality, and resourceful. Goals issues for early-career (0-2 years) Masters in Finance applicants You likely have interned in some finance environment(s), but your professional experience – where you are accountable for significant outcomes – is limited. Your key challenges are: †¢ Understanding the substance of your target post-graduation role(s): For example, how can you show you’re making an informed decision if you haven’t had firsthand exposure to these roles? SOLUTION: Research, including ideally informational interviews, to get the nitty-gritty, and include the resulting insight in your essay. †¢ Just getting a good first job seems daunting: Articulating a long-term plan feels absurd at this early point! SOLUTION: Have some fun mentally sketching out a career path that you like and present it in that tentative light. E.g., â€Å"At this point, I’m excited to consider eventually doing X or Y†¦Ã¢â‚¬  You don’t have to say that you’ve got this all worked out. Goals issues for experienced applicants You have other challenges: †¢ Incorporating your experience into your goals: It’s not always intuitive or easy, especially if your experience and goals diverge (maybe you’re in sell side and want to shift to buy side). SOLUTION: Identify and portray relevant skills, industry perspectives, and types of knowledge you’ve gained that will benefit you in your future role. †¢ Matching your target short-term position to the level recruited for: Out of early-career territory, there is more variability in recruiting practices. SOLUTION: Research the program’s career services and recruitment stats. If you don’t see the stats on the program’s website, contact career services or admissions and ask what types of positions their recruiters typically look to fill. Upcoming posts will dig into other aspects of applying to Masters in Finance programs. Contact me to learn more about how Accepted’s one-on-one admissions advising can help you achieve your educational and career goals. hbspt.cta.load(58291, '7109a2fa-7b50-4821-b0c7-9501ae4f29b6', {}); Cindy Tokumitsu, has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MFin, MBA and EMBA, and other graduate management programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources: †¢ From Example to Exemplary, a guide to writing outstanding application essays †¢Ã‚  16 Grad School Application Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make, a podcast episode †¢Ã‚  How Your Undergrad GPA Test Scores Affect Your Masters in Finance Application