Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
¶ … Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters is subtitled "America in the King Years 1954-63"
should be enough to tell us that the purpose of the author was to give out a biographical story of Martin Luther King, but, at the same time, integrate it in the American society of those times, as a complementary piece of information in relation of the 1954-1963 decade. Further more, the relationship between Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement is intrinsic. So, the historical thread is presented on several levels that are closely interconnected: the American society, Martin Luther King and the civil tights movement.
The previous paragraph has some key elements that are of importance to the narrative. First of all, obviously, there is Martin Luther King. Central figure of the movement and of the entire period discussed, he is presented as he rises to the highest levels of respect as leader of the civil rights movement. The author is keen to underline and emphasize not only the way Martin Luther King came to lead the movement, but also the characteristics and individual qualities that have brought him there.
Indeed, we see how Martin Luther King, almost by accident, is heading the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Up to that time, he had had no real intentions of leading a revolt or a racial movement. However, here he is delivering a speech in front of the African- American crowd and being regarded as the one who could lead the African- American aspirations. It is at this point and following a religious revelation that he begins to believe in his mission and that he acts accordingly.
As many critics are keen to notice, the book is an insightful encounter with Martin Luther King's character, as they are reflected in some of his actions, but also as they are surprised by the author through some of the documents and written materials of those times.
As I have mentioned, Martin Luther King is not presented isolated and, indeed, this is not a biographical work. The point of the book is to integrate Martin Luther King's figure into a much larger framework, a framework that is to include the American society, the civil rights movements and all those gravitating around King' figure, including...
Edgar Hoover. Let's have a brief look at each of these elements in part.
According to Branch himself, "America was transformed between 1963 and 1965"
because "the Civil Rights Movement expanded as long as people were asking questions of each other and took risks about what freedom means, how we get there"
. So, the Civil Rights Movement, besides the historical value we are bound to give it, was also a time of philosophical experimentation and search. It was the constant search for one's freedom, freedom of expression and movement and everything that true democracy brings about.
In this sense, we may assert that it was not necessarily only the African-American struggle. In many ways, it was also the struggle of the Americans protesting against the beginning of the Vietnam War or those Americans having to deal with people like J. Edgar Hoover as head of the FBI, chasing Communists everywhere and imposing a less optimistic view on the entire society.
So, the Civil Rights movement had everything to do with discovering and expressing freedom, in all levels of society (of course, with a strong emphasis on the racial minorities) and all aspects. Further more, as Taylor Branch points out, "the Movement imploded as soon as people started quarreling over who should get credit and started announcing decisions"
. The Civil Rights Movement has something of the idealism of the romantic period, with people wanted to be able to express and exercise their rights. As soon as this was partially achieved, corroborated with the death of Martin Luther King, the Movement was soon to be over.
Finally, as I have mentioned, a key point for the entire narration is the presentation of the American society during those times and especially of some of the front faces that were making history, starting with J. Edgar Hoover and the Kennedys and continuing with some of the persons in Martin Luther King's entourage. The author is keen in surprising different traits in his characters' personalities, most likely to be true, especially if we consider the enormous amount of information that Branch uses to cover his theme.
So, in my opinion, there…
Bibliography
1. Amazon Reviews. On the Internet at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671687425/104-8012339-9563948?v=glance
2. The Paula Gordon Show. On the Internet at http://www.paulagordon.com/shows/branch/
3. A Book Review of: Parting The Waters by Taylor Branch. On the Internet at http://www.wayneandtamara.com/martinlutherking.htm
4. Branch, Taylor. Parting The Waters. Touchstone. First Edition. 1989.
A Book Review of: Parting The Waters by Taylor Branch. On the Internet at http://www.wayneandtamara.com/martinlutherking.htm
Amazon Reviews. On the Internet at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671687425/104-8012339-9563948?v=glance
The Paula Gordon Show. On the Internet at http://www.paulagordon.com/shows/branch/
They brought a new sense of "free experimentation" to composition, while advancing realistic techniques that emphasized the use of "local color" in literature. This style in the literary world helps to define the Romantic Era and has shaped writing to this day. Science: Of equal importance to literary pursuits during the Romantic era were achievements in science. By the 1830's, activity in science and technology was rapidly increasing and becoming a source
Nature is the vehicle that leads him to awareness on a physical and emotional plane, expressed when he realizes that "each faculty of sense... keep[s] the heart/Awake to Love and Beauty" (62-3). Here we see that the poet is open to whatever his experience with nature will teach him. Another poet that demonstrates the mood and tone of the Romantic era is Percy Shelley. In "Ode to the West Wind,"
Music-Romantic Period 'ROMANTICISM' is a concept that can be easily recognized but is probably just as difficult to define. Like all other movements, Romanticism also emerged as a reaction to general idea, practices, social norms and political problems of the time. The general concept of romanticism sees music as an expression of intimate and sublime emotions. The period that can be categorized as romantic varies but generally covers the decades from
life of a "free artist" during the romantic period and with the artist's life in earlier periods The life of a "free artist" during the early 19th century Romantic period of literature, art and music was conceptualized in terms of the artist as a free person, an artist outside of society, often beset upon by his or her inner demons. In contrast, the Classical period that immediately preceded the Romantic
Romantic Period, writers shared an appreciation for nature. Capturing the essence of enjoying nature in writing became of utmost importance for these writers as they focused on emotion and imagination to help them create pleasing literature. We can see these characteristics in Percy Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind," John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale," and William Wordsworth's "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey." These poets capture
Romantic Era The Romantic period and the attendant rise of the novel in England as the preeminent literary form saw the emergence of the first truly popular literature, and with it denunciations of the degradation of culture at the hands of frivolous entertainments and occupations. Fretting critics lamented the idea that the fashion for new and exciting works of literature was crowding out more "important" texts, and the fashionability of knowledge