Essay #1: On "old Leisure"
Many people often say that they were born in the wrong time period. George Elliot is one of these people. In her selection about how "leisure is gone," she explains how new technology has caused, "a vacuum for eagerness." She gives examples of how the simple times of riding in a buggy to church have just vanished. In the present, almost all daily tasks are rushed which makes them hard to enjoy. Elliot also personifies leisure by referring to it as "he."She does this to show its importance during the "old Leisure" time period. Elliot explains how the idea of "old leisure" has been lost through time.
Elliot immediately opens up her selection with the repetition of the word "gone" referring to all of the traditions that characterize the time of ease that she is addressing. She explains how modern technology has caused a great rush and eagerness throughout society beginning with the creation of the steam-engine. Elliot also personifies "old Leisure" by referring to it as "he" and capitalizing it. This creates a higher importance of the idea. She characterizes "him" as a man with no worries and no time schedule that just embraces life and isn't afraid to admit it. This is much different from the strict time schedule and constant stress of present day.
George Elliot effectively gets her point across that leisure no longer has the same meaning as it once did. Through repetition and personification, she shows her audience that as technology has improved, stress levels have increased and the idea of true leisure has just become a part of history.