Spectre Bridegroom by Washington Irving Term Paper

Total Length: 682 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

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In this way, the young people used the superstitious beliefs dictated by the status quo to introduce a new way of life: love before marriage and marriage by choice.

The idea of dichotomy between the old and the new is substantiated via various other aspects within the story as well. One of these is the traditions that the Baron enjoys: he has inherited that traditions and habits attached to his title. Although the vastness of his wealth is somewhat diminished, he nonetheless has enough left to entertain the poorest of his relations on a regular basis. While many of his contemporaries have abandoned the inconvenience of their remote castles, the Baron however continues his adherence to tradition by maintaining his castle in the mountain. He also tends towards maintaining family feuds for the sake of tradition rather than any personal grudge. This is the case with the new, non-ghostly bridegroom, who comes from a family that is enveloped in just such a traditional feud with the Baron.
On this basis, the author makes clear that a traditional marriage between the Baron's daughter and the new suitor would never be allowed. This also reveals the genius of the young couple's plan.

In conclusion, the dichotomy between the ancient and the modern is symbolized most strongly in the dichotomy between a belief in the supernatural and the fact of reality. The young bride and groom base their plan upon the strength of the Baron's superstitious beliefs. The daughter is then the key towards future development; the break with the status quo to create a new order that nonetheless leaves more than enough room for the old to survive. In this way, the bride and groom combine the best elements of the old and the new paradigm to obtain the happiness they deserve, and to do so with the blessing of their elders. This is done in such a subtle way that the transition between the old and the new occurs smoothly, unlike most….....

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