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Apply a structuralist, poststructuralist, psychoanalytic, feminist or queer theory (or a combination of one or two) analysis to this short story by the British author W. Somerset Maugham (you might want to google him). 200 words minimum. Appointment in Samarra Death speaks : There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the marketplace I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned round I saw it was Death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate.

I will go to Samarra and there Death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the marketplace and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a gesture of surprise. I was astonished to see him here in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.

Case #3 The case method is an excellent learning tool as well as an important assessment instrument. It helps develop your ability to synthesize textbook material and various situational factors. Read International Strategy for CyberSpace and answer the following questions. 1. Does this document accurately reflect the cybersecurity threats and risks facing the United States and other nations?

Are there any threats or risks understated, misstated, or overstated? 2. Do you agree/disagree with the norms and principles proposed as elements of cybersecurity? Recent nations have identified Internet access as a human right. Do you agree/disagree?

3. What priority would you place on the three actions recommended in the Strategy: Diplomacy, Defense, and Development? Which should be our primary tactic for managing cybercrimes? Your work should be submitted in a Word document, 1.5-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font. The page margins on the top, bottom, left side, and right side should be 1 inch each.

You should use the APA guidelines for writing and citations. Compose your work in a .doc or .docx file type using a word processor (such as Microsoft Word, etc.) and save it frequently to your computer. For those assignments that are not written essays and require uploading images or PowerPoint slides, please follow uploading guidelines provided by your instructor. Keep the following points in mind: · The case is properly analyzed and described. · Opinions and recommendations are supported by relevant references to studies and reports.

Paper for above instructions

Structuralist and Poststructuralist Psychoanalytic Feminist Analysis of W. Somerset Maugham's "Appointment in Samarra"
W. Somerset Maugham's short story "Appointment in Samarra" poses significant questions about fate and human agency through its representation of Death as an inescapable force. Through the lens of structuralist and poststructuralist theory, combined with psychoanalytic feminist criticism, we can dissect the narrative's meaning and implications about identity, destiny, and gender dynamics.
From a structuralist perspective, the story can be examined through a binary opposition of life versus death. The merchant represents life and agency, while the servant embodies fear and the desire to escape preordained fate. The structuralist view posits that these binaries and their tensions are critical for understanding the underlying social order of the narrative. The servant's rushed decision to flee to Samarra highlights the human tendency to believe in the ability to avert death through physical escape, while the narrative ultimately reveals the futility of such efforts (Leitch, 1988).
In addition, the poststructuralist lens encourages us to question the very nature of meaning within the text. While the story seems to present a clear-cut view of fate, poststructuralist thought suggests that meaning is not fixed but fluid. The gesture made by Death, interpreted by the servant as threatening, transforms upon further examination into a sign of surprise. This simultaneous existence of multiple meanings illustrates the complex interplay of how characters interpret reality within the confines set by societal and cultural constructs (Derrida, 1978).
Psychoanalytic feminist critique introduces an exploration of the gendered dynamics at play in the story, particularly surrounding how male and female characters are depicted. The woman in the marketplace, who jostles the servant, serves as an ambiguous figure. Traditionally, women have been represented as sources of temptation or danger in literature. In this context, Death is feminized, perhaps reflecting societal anxieties regarding female power and autonomy. The servant’s fear when encountering this female figure can be interpreted as a projection of the patriarchal apprehension towards women stepping beyond their prescribed roles (Gilbert & Gubar, 1979).
Interestingly, Death’s unexpected appearance challenges traditional gender norms. Rather than being portrayed as a passive or nurturing figure, Death actively engages within the public sphere, confronting the male-dominated space of the marketplace. This interaction prompts a question of agency: Who truly holds power over the narrative of life and death? The servant is caught between his desire for self-preservation and the realization that he cannot escape his fate, highlighting a patriarchal anxiety tied to male vulnerability in the face of death, which is not just a construct but an intrinsic part of human existence (Mulvey, 1975).
Moreover, the recurring motifs of fate and inevitability suggest that death is not merely an outcome to be avoided but a fundamental aspect of one's identity. The narrative produces a critique on the human condition and our desperate attempts to hold onto life while grappling with the reality of mortality—a struggle that transcends gender (Freud, 1923). In essence, Maugham’s story encapsulates the universal human experience, where individuals are caught in a complex web of societal expectations, gender roles, and their inevitable mortality.
The story's conclusion is striking: the merchant learns that he had an appointment with Death all along, leading us to the poststructuralist assertion that escape from fate is an illusion. It infers that acceptance of one’s mortal journey—rather than fleeing—is essential. The interplay between agency and fate echoes in contemporary feminist discourse, suggesting that awareness and acceptance of societal constructs are vital steps toward liberation (Barthes, 1977).
In summary, through a unique combination of structuralist, poststructuralist, and psychoanalytic feminist perspectives, Maugham's "Appointment in Samarra" critiques the complex interrelations of agency, gender, and fate. The narrative compels readers to confront the uncertainties of existence, suggesting that attempts to outrun death are futile. This analysis offers a framework that emphasizes the fusion of identity through death and societal structures, illuminating the intricate dynamics of power, gender, and fate that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions.
References
Barthes, R. (1977). Image, Music, Text. Hill and Wang.
Derrida, J. (1978). Writing and Difference. University of Chicago Press.
Freud, S. (1923). The Ego and the Id. Standard Edition, Vol. 19. Hogarth Press.
Gilbert, S. M., & Gubar, S. (1979). The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press.
Leitch, V. (1988). The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. W.W. Norton & Company.
Mulvey, L. (1975). “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Screen, 16(3), 6-18.
Maugham, W. S. (1933). The Collected Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham. Doubleday.
Showalter, E. (1985). The Female Malady: Women, Madness, and English Culture, 1830-1980. Virago.
Weedon, C. (1987). Feminist Practice and Poststructuralist Theory. Blackwell.
Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge.