Essay on Grendel - 1169 Words

In 1971, American author John Gardner wrote Grendel. With a mastermind of creativity, John Gardner successfully retells the classic epic poem, Beowulf. He captures the reader by giving an interesting view of order and chaos, good and evil, hero and monster, allowing the monsters point of view to be seen. On July 21, 1933 John Gardner was born in Batavia, New York. He was the son of a preacher and diary, and his mother taught English. They were very fond of Shakespeare and loved to recite literature. Gardner spent his early days attending school, playing French horn, and working on his dads farms. In April 1945, Gardners brother was killed in an accident with a cultipacker on their family farm. Gardner was driving the†¦show more content†¦(Howell 2).In addition to teaching and writing, he also edited scholarly books for the Southern Illinois University Press; he was a creative and talented teacher, author, and editor. Although the promotion of Gardners first novel The Resurrection (1966) wasnt a hit at all, and The Wreckage of Agathon (1970) apprehended a mixture of reviews. It was the appearance of Grendel in 1970, however, that brought him true fame and recognition. Richard Locke of the New York Times called Gardner a major contemporary writer and other viewers were just as enthusiastic (Howell 2). John Michael Howell comments that though Grendel may have been written in a short period of time, its natural resonance suggests that the monster-hero (Grendel) has been lurking in Gardners imagination for a great deal of time (Howell 61). Which in all reality not only makes the story successful but also intriguing. Beowulf is an epic poem that was originally told between the eighth and eleventh centuries. It is the first surviving epic to be written in the English language. The single existing copy dates from around the tenth century, but some scholars believe its dates from the early eleventh century. It was found in a large volume that contained stories about mythical creatures and people. It is said that two different scribes copied the poem, most likely using an existing copy (Heaney 6). During the period of 1066 and the reformation the volumeShow MoreRelatedGrendel1242 Words   |  5 PagesGrendel as a Ridiculous Character Probably one of the greatest questions of the 19th century comes directly from John Gardner’s novel Grendel. Given a world with no inherent meaning, how should one live his or her life? Grendel lives in a world that he is not supposed to be in, acting out on emotion. Grendel represents the animalistic traits of humans. His actions are primitive and based around society’s acceptance throughout the novel. Grendel portrays a ridiculous character that is convincedRead MoreGrendel And Beowulf1838 Words   |  8 Pageswill establish my stance on who I believe the real monsters are in Beowulf and reference the characters I wish to defend (Grendel, his mother and the dragon). GRENDEL – Paragraphs 1-3: This where I will contrast Grendel to Hrothgar and Beowulf. Though Grendel does do monstrous things, his streak of violence is mirrored in Hrothgar’s inaction and Beowulf’s action. By letting Grendel kill every night for 12 years, Hrothgar neglects his kingly duties. By hiring Beowulf as a contract killer, he simplyRead MoreGrendel and Obj1412 Words   |  6 Pagesanswers the question. Comprehension The questions below refer to the selections â€Å"from Beowulf, Part One,† â€Å"from Grendel,† â€Å"Life in 999: A Grim Struggle,† and â€Å"from Beowulf, Part Two.† ____ 1. Beowulf slays Grendel in order to  Ã¢â‚¬â€ |a. |save Hrothgar and the Danes from the monster | |b. |prevent Grendel from invading the land of the Geats | |c. |keepRead MoreGrendel : Evil Essay833 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel, Grendel by John Gardener, Grendel is a human-like creature capable of rational thought as well as feeling emotions. Early on in the story Gardener depicts Grendel as being very observant, critical and somewhat spiteful of the world around him. He describes himself as a murderous monster who smells of death and crouches in the shadows. Grendel watches the humans from the shadows of the trees and at first it seems as though they are the real monsters, slaughtering and pillaging all forRead MoreThe Battle Between Grendel And Beowulf1133 Words   |  5 PagesIn Beowulf, the fight between Grendel and Beowulf was certainly a nail-biter. In this fight, however, Beowulf shows his courage by doing his absolute best at defending the kingdom by taking on this gruesome monster. Grendel was wreaking havoc on the kingdom to no end. He was killing many and terrorizing the citizens greatly. When Beowulf heard of this, as a courageous thane, he stepped in to try to stop this and protect the people. â€Å"Hygelac’s kinsman kept [Grendel] helplessly locked in a handgripRead MoreThe Between Grendel And Society1273 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The state is an organization of violence, a monopoly in what it is pleased to call legitimate violence (Gardner, 119). Grendel is monster that first appears in the epic poem Beowulf. Gardner later takes the character on for his own adaption. In Grendel the monster Grendel struggles with humans and his own inner demons throughout the whole book. Throughout history, people have been forced to use violence as a solution; But even in those instances, there was a negative force that required the useRead More Beowulf v. Grendel Essay1084 Words   |  5 Pages Janell Touchette Period D 3/6/05 Beowulf/Grendel Test 1.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;An anti-hero is the opposite of a hero. It is the character that goes against all the traditional values of society. Grendel has strong traits of the average anti-hero. He lives in a cave with his mother in the middle of no where. Everybody in the land refuses to accept him, even as the lowest of their kind, and they are constantly trying to kill him. He is deprived the rules and consequences of society by notRead MoreGrendel vs. Beowulf Essay examples969 Words   |  4 PagesGrendel One of the most compelling and highly developed characters in the novel Grendel, written by John Gardner, and the poem Beowulf, written by an anonymous poet, is the monster, Grendel. Even though these pieces show two different sides to Grendel they are similar in many ways. Grendel evokes sympathy toward the hideous monster by making him seem like the victim, while Beowulf portrays him as being the most loathsome of enemies. The reasons behind Grendel#8217;s being, his killing,Read More Grendel Vs. Beowulf Essay928 Words   |  4 Pages Grendel nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One of the most compelling and highly developed characters in the novel Grendel, written by John Gardner, and the poem Beowulf, written by an anonymous poet, is the monster, Grendel. Even though these pieces show two different sides to Grendel they are similar in many ways. Grendel evokes sympathy toward the hideous monster by making him seem like the victim, while Beowulf portrays him as being the most loathsome of enemies. The reasons behind Grendelamp;#8217;sRead MoreIs Grendel Truley Evil? Essay1135 Words   |  5 PagesIs Grendel Evil or Victim to Circumstance? : How humanity has a tendency to put labels on people they don’t really understand. In the epic of Beowulf, one of the warrior’s biggest adversaries is a creature from the swamp named Grendel. Although the character of Grendel is present for only a short portion in the story of Beowulf, Grendel signifies one of the important messages in the text about humanity. In Beowulf, Grendel is called a ‘monster’. However, if observed closely, analyzing the

Virtue in Oroonoko (The Royal Slave) by Aphra Behn Essay

The story, Oroonoko; or, The Royal Slave, written by Aphra Behn, depicts the main character, Oroonoko, as being an African prince that lives among his people, whom all abide by a code of virtue and fidelity. When Oroonoko is faced with a dilemma in his own country and living among a â€Å"civilized† white society, that are devout Christians, he is confronted with the burden to uphold his code of virtue and maintain a title of being a â€Å"Noble Savage† by means of loyalty, religious beliefs, and honor. Oroonoko is able to sustain his code of virtue and fidelity by showing an act of true loyalty that proves his devotion and love to his lover and wife, Imoinda. After the King, Oroonoko’s grandfather, vigorously takes Imoinda for himself, Oroonoko†¦show more content†¦(2333) Oroonoko responds to the captain’s promise, with his own promise: Let him know I swear by my honor; which to violate, would not only render me contemptible and despised by all brave and honest men, and so give myself perpetual pain, but it would eternally offending and diseasing all man kind....(2333) After these commitments are made, Oroonoko keeps his promise to the captain, but unfortunately the captains promise deems as nothing but empty words. Oroonoko proves that worshiping a God, or a mans religious faith, is not what holds a true code of virtue, but his true beliefs of honor and truthfulness. Lastly, Oroonoko is able to uphold the code of virtue by maintaining his honor and not give into the evils and broken promises of the deceitful civilized white man. Rather than be destined to a life of slavery for himself, his wife, and unborn child, Oroonoko displays an act of honor by killing his wife and unborn child and setting them free. Even through all his misery, Oroonoko is able to maintain his honor to his dying breath. This is apparent when Oroonoko is captured in the woods after he kills Imoinda and awaits his death with honor at the hands of the white slave owners. â€Å"A blessing on thee,† and assured them [white men] they need not tie him, for he would stand fixed like aShow MoreRelatedNovel and Black Africans1298 Words   |  6 PagesWrite a critical analysis of Aphra Behn novella Oroonoko, paying special attention to the representation of black Africans. What makes Oroonoko a positive character? Is he superior or inferior to the whites in the novella? Oroonoko a Royal slave or a monstrous Negro â€Å" I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterRead More Politics in Aphra Behns Oroonoko Essay2476 Words   |  10 PagesAphra Behn, an certainly woman, still attracts critical attention with her novella Oroonoko. The aim of this essay was to find out the political implications of Oroonoko. First, the significance of the main character, Oroonoko, and interpreting his possible symbolism. Second, how the political sympathies of the author, were expressed in the book through her presentation of characters and plot. And third, the treatment by the author of slavery and racial issues, as seen in the political context. Read MoreSlavery in Oroonoko1742 Words   |  7 Pages ENL 4230 Dr. Oliver Oroonoko- The Ultimate Slave Narrative: Women and Their Masters Aphra Behn presents us with an extensive parody in her novel Oroonoko: a complete slave narrative, depicting the enslavement of both man and woman. She uses historical fact as well as semi-anthropologically accurate setting to reveal the truth in her words. Historically speaking, women were slaves for centuries before the white man enslaved the black man. Women were bartered and sold into marriage, abusesRead MoreOroonko Novel1880 Words   |  8 PagesOroonoko, or the Royal Slave Published in 1688, Oroonoko is a short novel about a royal prince who was deluded into slavery. Oroonoko is said to be one of the earliest English slave trade novels written by author Aphra Behn. Behn, also the first female professional writer in England, uses her personal experiences to narrate a memoir of events leading up to Orooonko’s unexpected enslavement and thereafter. Throughout the novel, Behn often shifts narration from first-person to third-person omniscientRead MoreThe Life and Works of Dramatist Aphra Behn Essay2575 Words   |  11 PagesThe Life and Works of Dramatist Aphra Behn Aphra Behn left a legacy of being not only a complex and enigmatic woman, but a poet, a playwright, a writer, a novelist, and a spy. A commoner who blended with the royalty and revolted against the societal norms with her lewd yet cunning writings, she exhibited the influence of more than just a writer of her time period and left her mark in the canon of English literature by creating her own genre of amatory. She was a feminist, an adventurist, an abolitionistRead MoreEssay about Oroonoko, by Aphra Behn1336 Words   |  6 PagesAphra Behn’s novel, Oroonoko, gives a very different perspective on a slave narrative. Her characters embody various characteristics not usually given to those genders and races. Imoinda’s character represents both the modern feminist, as well as the subservient and mental characteristics of the typical eighteenth-century English woman. Oroonoko becomes an embodiment of what is normally a white man’s characteristic; he is the noble, pr incely, and sympathetic character that is not usually attributedRead MoreOroonoko’s Honorable Downfall1433 Words   |  6 Pagesthe title, Oroonoko or the Royal Slave. This is already problematic since royalty are highly privileged people who do not end up in dire straits—much less slavery. Aphra Behn presents many paradoxes in her text Oroonoko or the Royal Slave. One of the many paradoxes she utilizes is the one that applies to her hero, Oroonoko; he is an honorable hero, who is also a naà ¯ve fool. Oroonoko was born into royalty and led a career as a valiant and just warrior. Reared for this life, Oroonoko has a characterRead More Aphra Behn and the Changing Perspectives on Ian Watt’s The Rise of the Novel6049 Words   |  25 PagesAphra Behn and the Changing Perspectives on Ian Watt’s The Rise of the Novel Ian Watt’s The Rise of the Novel (1957) remains one of the most influential texts in the study of the English novel. However, an increasingly strong case for a revision of both the work itself and the discourse it personifies has been gradually building over the past twenty years. While the initial stages of, first, feminist and, later, post colonial perspectives may have sought only to insert marginalised texts intoRead MoreImoindas Modernity: Aphra Behns Enactment of Conjugal Marriage in Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave3146 Words   |  13 PagesIMOINDA’S MODERNITY: APHRA BEHN’S ENACTMENT OF CONJUGAL MARRIAGE IN OROONOKO, OR THE ROYAL SLAVE Aphra Behn depicts Imoinda, the object of the prince’s love in Oroonoko, Or The Royal Slave (1688), as exotic in her person, potent in her sexuality, but highly conventional in her domestic aspirations. While she has only limited ownership of her body, she operates within the limits of her status to secure the love of Prince Oroonoko, and then to defend their union, even at great risk to herself, and

Perfect free essay sample

My palms are not sweating as I type this. Ive never lied to my parents and said I was doing my homework when I was instant messaging friends, and then flunked an English essay as a result. Ive never handed in work that was â€Å"just good enough† or disagreed with a teacher about a grade. Ive never studied my butt off for finals just so I would get a 3.0 upon transfer to a new school. Ive never cried at night because I was afraid I wasnt good enough. Ive never done any of these things, because Im perfect. I always smile politely at people who taunt me. I never blow off a friend because Im annoyed. I never, ever tell a lie. In spite of my ADD, I never fidget in class or fall asleep because my medication kept me up at night. We will write a custom essay sample on Perfect or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I never make sarcastic comments in World Civilizations. I never have mood swings, and I never read science fiction during English, even when I hate the book weve been assigned. I never blow off church on Easter because Id rather eat chocolate and harbor doubts about Catholicism, even though attending mass would please my father. I never play â€Å"anywhere but here† when trying to find a seat in the cafeteria, or wish myself invisible during study hall. I never binge, even when depressed and angry with my mother. Speaking of mothers, I never fight with her either, even though were too alike to live together. Like I said, I have no flaws and Ive never felt fear. I am a heroine and I love school, and I never, ever tell a lie or mess up or feel depressed when I break out or my hairs the size and shape of a space shuttle. I know emotionally and intellectually that beauty is on the inside. You have just read a confession of my vices and shame and guilt. If youre still reading, you are probably the kind of person I want to learn from – patient, kind, and sick of reading sentimental essays about family tragedies. Im not perfect, and I wont pretend to be. I do want to be accepted by your school and make you see that I have good qualities. I want to be independent but also want help transitioning from school to life. I enjoy learning and debating. While Im not always the best student, I try. Im competitive and argumentative. I love warm weather but tolerate anything as long as the company is good. I have mood swings, but I will try to manage them. I will do my very best to succeed at your school, but Ill be honest about whether its a good fit. I love writing, even essays, and I have a weird sense of humor. I wrote the first draft of this essay long before it was due. Im never, and do not aspire to be, perfect.

Wachovia and Wells Fargo Merger Proposal Essay Example

Wachovia and Wells Fargo Merger Proposal Paper Negotiation Skills: Proposal My proposal is to analyze the dealings and negotiations between the merge of Wells Fargo Company and Wachovia Corporation. Wachovia Corporation had been in talks with Citigroup regarding the merging of the two companies around the end of September in 2008. By September 28, 2008, Wells Fargo had expressed an interest in obtaining the Wachovia Corporation and by October 3, 2008, announced that they were going to go through with the merge. Wells Fargo had expressed interest in buying Wachovia, but suddenly withdrew from negotiations to buy the company, citing concerns over some of the bank’s loan portfolio. † This was a concern that Wells Fargo Company needed to evaluate on all aspects. The loan portfolio for a bank is a huge part of what the bank has to offer and what they have done for themselves and evaluating the concerns is a very important thing to do. Had Wells Fargo Company walked in to this blindly, they could have ended up in the sa me situation that brought them to Wachovia Corporation in the first place. Mergers happen all the time, and the brunt of this is done through banking and lending companies. The biggest part of this negotiation was that it all happened so quickly. Whether it was a blessing in disguise for Wachovia Corporation to know that there were two large companies (Wells Fargo Company and Citigroup) that both had a large interest in purchasing their banking company. I would like to analyze the negotiations made by Wells Fargo Company and whether or not they made the correct move. Were they were able to accomplish what they wanted and needed to accomplish in this merge? We will write a custom essay sample on Wachovia and Wells Fargo Merger Proposal specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Wachovia and Wells Fargo Merger Proposal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Wachovia and Wells Fargo Merger Proposal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Theater and Improv Games for the Classroom and Beyond

Theater and Improv Games for the Classroom and Beyond Improv games are a great way to loosen up during drama practice or to break the ice at a party. Improvisational acting teaches you to think quickly and to read other people as you perform. Youll also sharpen your wit as you learn how to react to your audience. Best of all, you dont need any special props or equipment, just your imagination and the courage to step outside yourself.   Captains Coming Improv games like this one are terrific warmups that promote  teamwork and good humor. In this game, which is similar to Simon Says, one person plays the role of a ships captain. The rest of the group are sailors who must quickly follow the captains orders or be dismissed from the game. Orders can be simple or elaborate: Captains coming: Sailors line up in a row and salute the captain.Starboard: Everyone runs to the right side of the stage or room.Port:  Everyone runs to the left side of the stage or room.Man overboard: Sailors team up and pose as though theyre searching for the lost man.Mermaid: Stand on one foot, wave one hand, and say, Hi, sailor!Seasick: Run to port or starboard and pretend to be ill.  Swab the deck: Sailors pretend to mop and clean the floor.Walk the plank: Sailors stand single-file, their right arms extended and hands resting on the shoulder of the person in front. The great thing about Captains Coming is that theres no limit to the orders a captain can give. For added challenges, think of poses that require two or more people or divide the sailors into two groups and have them compete against one another. Yoo-hoo! Yoo-hoo! is another effective game for learning how to take cues and focus movement. It works best with groups that have room to move around. As with Captains Coming, this game requires a leader to call the cues and a group to follow whatever command the leader dreams up. As an added challenge, the group must repeat the action word six times in a whisper as they perform. After the sixth time, everyone calls out freeze! and holds still. Leader:  Yoo-hoo!  Group:  Yoo-hoo who?Leader:  You who  jump with ropes.Group:  Ropes, ropes, ropes, ropes, ropes, ropes, freeze! The leader then cues the next movement and the process repeats itself. If a person loses composure or breaks the freeze before the leader calls Yoo-Hoo again, that person is out. The last person remaining is the winner. Location, Location, Location The Location game can be done with as few or as many people as you like. Use it as a way to exercise your imagination as a solo performer and for learning how to act with others. Begin by having one or more actors develop a scene in a place that anyone can relate to, such as a bus stop, the mall, or Disneyland- without mentioning the name of the location. Have other players try to guess the place. Then move on to less familiar situations. Here are some to get you started: An atticA Ferris wheelA karaoke barAn orchestra pitUndergroundA high school yearbook clubA zeppelin The true challenge of this game is to think past clichà ©s and to avoid using language that gives away the action being performed. This improv exercise can also be played like charades, where teams must guess the activity. More Improv Games Once youve tried simple theater games, your troupe will be ready for more challenges. Here are a few more improv exercises: Tongue twisters:  It doesnt do students any good to be creatively warmed up if the audience has no idea what they are saying. Enunciation exercises  like tongue twisters provide a fun way to alleviate the dreaded mumbling, mush-mouth syndrome.Guess whos coming to dinner: This team exercise gives everyone a role to play. One person plays host, and the others are dinner guests. The only catch? The host doesnt know he or she is having company!The Harold: Developed  by theater director/teacher Del Close, this long-form improvisational activity allows more time to develop believable characters and organic storylines. Students riff off a suggested word, phrase, or idea through a mix of exercises. One improv piece can last from 10 to 45 minutes or more.Be an animal:  One of the best ways to develop out-of-the-box thinking is to have actors imagine themselves not just as other people but as an animal or even as an inanimate object. These drama activities offer proven ways to help participants get to know one another in a friendly, low-key fashion. They can also be used regularly as warm-ups  for your actors before you have them delve into more difficult improvisation exercises. Break a leg!

Dionysus Is the Greek God of Wine and Drunken Revelry

Dionysus Is the Greek God of Wine and Drunken Revelry Dionysus is the god of wine and drunken revelry in Greek mythology. He is a patron of the theater and an agricultural/fertility god. He was sometimes at the heart of frenzied madness that led to savage murder. Writers often contrast Dionysus with his half-brother Apollo. Where Apollo personifies the cerebral aspects of mankind, Dionysus represents the libido and gratification. Family of Origin Dionysus was the son of the king of the Greek gods, Zeus, and Semele, the mortal daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia of Thebes [see  map section Ed]. Dionysus is called twice-born because of the unusual manner in which he grew: not only in a womb  but also in a thigh. Dionysus the Twice-Born Hera, queen of the gods, jealous because her husband was playing around (again), took characteristic revenge: She punished the woman. In this case, Semele. Zeus had visited Semele in human form but claimed to be a god. Hera persuaded her that she needed more than his word that he was divine. Zeus knew the sight of him in all his splendor would prove fatal, but he had no choice, so he revealed himself. His lightning brightness killed Semele, but first, Zeus took the unborn from her womb and sewed it inside his thigh. There it gestated until it was time for the birth. Roman Equivalent The Romans often called Dionysus Bacchus or Liber. Attributes Usually, visual representations, like the vase shown, depict the god Dionysus sporting a beard. He is usually ivy-wreathed and wears a chiton and often an animal skin. Other attributes of Dionysus are thyrsus, wine, vines, ivy, panthers, leopards, and theater. Powers Ecstasy madness in his followers, illusion, sexuality, and drunkenness. Sometimes Dionysus is associated with Hades. Dionysus is called the Eater of Raw Flesh. Companions of Dionysus Dionysus is usually shown in the company of others who are enjoying the fruit of the vine. Silenus or multiple sileni and nymphs engaged in drinking, flute-playing, dancing, or amorous pursuits are the most common companions. Depictions of Dionysus may also include Maenads, the human women made mad by the wine god. Sometimes the part-animal companions of Dionysus are called satyrs, whether meaning the same thing as sileni or something else. Sources Ancient sources for Dionysus include Apollodorus, Diodorus Siculus, Euripides, Hesiod, Homer, Hyginus, Nonnius, Ovid, Pausanias, and Strabo. Greek Theater and Dionysus The development of Greek Theater came out of worship of Dionysus in Athens. The major festival at which the competitive tetralogies (three tragedies and a satyr play) were performed was the City Dionysia. This was an important annual event for the democracy. The theater of Dionysus was on the south slope of the Athenian Acropolis and held room for an audience of 17,000. There were also dramatic contests at the Rural Dionysia and the Lenaia festival, whose name is a synonym for maenad, Dionysus frenzied worshipers. Plays were also performed at the Anthesteria festival, which honored Dionysus as the god of wine.

The Gunpowder Plot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Gunpowder Plot - Essay Example The failed plot to assassinate James I and the ruling Protestant elite tainted English Catholics with claims of treason for centuries thereafter. In this paper I describe the infamous Gunpowder plot before discussing its resolution and the implications for English Catholics before their emancipation. The year 1603 marked the end of an era where Catholics were in a transitional phase between rulers and had the opportunity to fundamentally alter their subjugate role within society. After nearly 45 long years as Queen of England, Elizabeth I was nearing death. It was assumed that her successor would be James VI of Scotland. Had this have been the scenario, Catholics would have been able to celebrate increased freedom as James VI was more lenient towards catholicism (Smith 1998). This was pleasing to the English Catholics as this could have marked an end to their suffering. They had suffered severe persecution since 1570, when the Pope had excommunicated Elizabeth, releasing her subjects from their allegiance to her. Additionally, The Spanish Armada of 1588 continued to make matters worse. To the Tudor State, it was held that each and every follower of Catholicism were potential traitors (Adams, 2005). They were forbidden to hear Mass, forced instead to attend Anglican services, with steep fines for those recusants who persistently refused (Smith 1998). Since James was more warmly disposed to Catholicism than the dying Queen Elizabeth. His wife, Queen Anne of Denmark, was a Catholic, and James himself was making vocal about his empathy with the plight of the Catholics. Moreover, historians contend that the early signs were encouraging to catholics as he ended their political dissatisfaction. In fact, he immediately ended recusancy fines and awarded important posts to the Earl of Northumberland and Henry Howard, another Catholic sympathizer (Questier, 2006). Catholics began to openly practice their beliefs as they became increasingly optimistic about their future in England (Smith 1998). While some individuals indicate that Catholics should have never felt any sense of security, others indicate that the Catholics were well on their way to emancipation. In his attempts to accommodate different religious demands, James was dissatisfied at their growing allegiance. This is because of his religious devotion to his own beliefs. Moreover, the uncovering of the 2 plots in 1603 created obstacles to James’ capacity to further empathize with the Catholic followers. The situation deteriorated further at the Hampton Court Conference of January 1604 where James I was explicit in his show of hostility against the Catholics in order to satisfy the Puritans, whose demands he could not wholly satisfy. Furthermore, in the following month he publicly denounced Catholicism. This was followed by every priests and Jesuits had being expelled as well as the resurgence of recusancy fines. The taste of freedom coupled with the abrupt 180 created an aura of despe ration that hit home with some of the most devout followers. Specifically, Robert Catesby was a devout Catholic whose father had been imprisoned for harboring a priest. Moreover, he had had to leave university without a degree, to avoid taking the Protestant Oath of Supremacy. Yet he possessed immense personal magnetism, crucial in recruiting and leading his small band of conspirators. James’ discontent is arguably because of the fact that the Catholic followers were so devout to the pope. He assumably didn’t want to have his constituents loyal to another leader. This perhaps caused him to be more cruel to the followers. Moreover, many sources indicate that there were fears of the pope attempting to take over. This is why kings did not want to allow this religion to proliferate within their borders. As kings