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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
An 8 page essay that argues that William Beckford's Vathek (1782) is a morality tale. The narrative recounts a story that is rather like an oriental Faust. Caliph Vathek is a young man in his prime--as was Beckford who was only 22 at the time. However, Vathek's youth does not lessen his ruthlessness, as he sacrifices his subjects in order to pursue his often whimsical pleasures. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
8 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khvathek.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
to avoid the errors of the protagonist. In the late eighteen century, William Beckford wrote such a tale, writing his novel of Arab splendor, Vathek, in 1782. The
narrative recounts a story that is rather like an oriental Faust. Caliph Vathek is a young man in his prime--as was Beckford who was only 22 at the time. However,
Vatheks youth does not lessen his ruthlessness, as he sacrifices his subjects in order to pursue his often whimsical pleasures. Totally oblivious to the requirements of good governance, Vathek
is a determined hedonist who has a palace dedicated to satisfying the pleasures of each of his five senses. But while Beckford describes in detail Vatheks life of pleasure, he
also shows that in pursuing pleasure to the exclusion of all else, Vathek sacrifices his own humanity. His insatiable curiosity and appetite for adventure and pleasure find culmination in Vatheks
eternal imprisonment in Hell. Examination of this extraordinary eighteenth century work shows it to possess an inspired combination of oriental and Gothic elements that essentially constitute a moralistic horror story.
Vathek tells a relatively uncomplicated narrative that, to a certain extent, reflects Beckfords preoccupation with freedom (Gemmett 90). Certainly the abuse of power that is pictured in Vathek is
indicative of a disdain for authoritarian institutions. Vathek is a powerful man who indulges in vast excesses. Beckford makes it clear that his protagonist is quite willing to use his
wealth and power to indulge his various multifarious to the fullest extent possible. Early on, Beckford gives an indication of Vatheks degree of indulgence by describing his five palaces
-- the Palace of the Eternal Banquet, the Temple of Melody, the Delight of the eyes, the Palace of Perfumes and the Retreat of Joy, each one dedicated to gratifying
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