Nobility

True nobility can be defined in various ways. One’s perspective of nobility is susceptible to change through one’s experiences and influences. True nobility, however, consists of characteristics that are universally obtained by people of that genuine nature. My definition of true nobility is characteristics of selflessness, chivalry, bravery, and so forth .Any other characteristics similar to the latter ones listed are also in association to my definition of a noble spirit. Famous works of literature such as The Canterbury Tales, Morte d’Arthur, and the ballad of Sir Patrick Spens have helped shape and illustrate my definition of true nobility through the use of their works of social satire. The Canterbury Tales, a main source of my personal definition of nobility, demonstrates true nobility through representation of its various characters. Within the story, characters…

The statements of the nobility in 1760 and 1860, in supplications, reflect an overall shift in the way that the Russian public regarded the monarch. In 1760, the position of the monarch was regarded with a sense of superiority, where all respect was directed. The monarch’s power was unquestioned and their judgment was seen as most informed, only allocating indirect power to provincial personnel or hand selected advisors. In the 1860s, after the state building of Catherine the Great which further…

honorable. While Agamemnon relies on societal definitions of nobility and alliance to denounce Ajax’s honor, Odysseus stands up for his new enemy claiming that his actions have earned him honor despite his treachery. Because of the mercurial nature of culturally ascribed understanding of honor, Sophocles contends that instead of relying on those superfluous and abstract notions that people should instead…

I take no issue with the concept of de over bloodshed. Although do take some argument with it being affixed to the junzi. Aristotle does something similar with the aristocracy of the Greek polis so I also refute his concept of lead by nobility example. The issue that I have with the junzi or aristocracy leading by example is that it pervades a form of elitism. An unqualified elitism I might add because it has been my experience often where the layman has demonstrated more dedication to ru and de…

Starting off with the bottom class individuals. I would prefer to be in the French revolution if I was part of the lower class. Although famine, taxes, and inflation were negative externalities of the Revolution, I feel the formation of the new form of government from Third Estate was a history changing revolution to be a part of. They created a document that reflected the rights of every individual, not just the nobility. They earned their freedom and as Locke said, “the government’s purpose…

In Beowulf, Beowulf’s valorous character embodies the perfect leader. Beowulf fought monsters despite what seemed to be insurmountable odds. When others were terrified, he looked danger in the eye and made himself noble in doing so. His valor came along with nobility in that his actions were motivated by something other than his own personal gain. Beowulf fought for the well-being and security of others. His example of courage allowed others to be relieved of their fear and suffering. Beowulf…

By definition, noblesse oblige is the inferred responsibility of the privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens expresses how the concept of noblesse oblige is heavily neglected because the aristocracy has a deep hatred for the third estate, the aristocracy uses their riches for their own personal gain, and the rich make no effort to help the less fortunate. The upper class of France during the French Revolution…

Before there was the revolution, the French Crown did its best to concentrate the power to its hands rather than having it divided to the local nobilities, as it was done in the Feudal times. As Tocqueville explains in his book, the most vivid description is the centralization of power that leads to the crown: the crown employed in a nutshell bureaucrats, who were usually from the outside of the nobility class (Tocqueville, Book II Chapter 2), to do the works of the nobility during the Feudal…

beyond my train of thought. Most people appear to be happy with the system which is in place, all except the bourgeoisies or rather the rising middle class. For some reason which I am unable to comprehend, they feel the need to remake the entire system of government which we have in place, including totally eliminating the titles which people are born into and oppressing the church. Society is normally hierarchical in nature; feudalism is needed for our society to continue to thrive as it has…

By heaven, I had rather coin my heart And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash By any indirection. (4.3.75-79) He explains to Cassius that there is no way that he will ever take money from other people for no reason. These show his nobility because they demonstrate how once he commits to something he won’t go back on it and will always continue to uphold his high standards for his personal morals and never do anything that goes against them…