Thursday, October 31, 2019
Given the cost and time involved in getting a college degree, do you Essay
Given the cost and time involved in getting a college degree, do you believe the benefits of a college degree outweigh the drawbacks State your position, and provide evidence and examples to support it - Essay Example 309-46). Nevertheless, is it worth incurring heavy financial expenses in order to obtain a college degree if the future of making the maximum use of the same is not certain? While the cost, effort, and time involved in obtaining a college degree may appear enormous in terms of sacrifice, there is still a strong belief that the benefits of a college degree outweigh the drawbacks especially going by the lucrative job opportunities that it brings along with it. Although the cost of getting a college degree may be quite prohibitive, it is evident that the job opportunities that come with the possession of one are innumerable besides the flexibility in profession (Bacila pp. 531-48). Essentially, getting a college degree helps a person to be predisposed to many job opportunities and therefore they are able to get a decent job upon the completion of their studies. This actually means that they are in a better position to secure decent jobs if they have a college degree than when they do not possess one. Additionally, the many job opportunities that present themselves to people who have college degrees have the luxury to choose the jobs or professions they want to pursue since they a college degree qualifies them in a number of fields and hence they can be flexible in terms of switching professions (McMahon pp. 309-46). As far as work experience is concerned, it is important to mention that a college degree benefits the holders through enabling them to accumulate work experience in their respective areas of specialization (Bacila pp. 531-48). Certainly, education up to college level places a person in a better position to quantify the specific experience that they hold in a particular professional field as opposed to general experience of unqualified staff. This experience is beneficial to their career progression. Perhaps another point worth noting about
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
The Solution to Terrorism Essay Example for Free
The Solution to Terrorism Essay Incidents of terrorism are among the biggest problem being faced in the international community. Terrorism is the use of coercive force to spread terror, fear and chaos amongst innocent victims. Terrorism is usually perpetrated to impose an ideological goal in which terrorists believe that targets must be deliberately aimed at, disregarding the outcome of their actions, the welfare of their combatants and their impacts upon innocent civilians.            Terrorism is a widespread phenomenon. Most of the countries suffered from its effects since the dawn of history. While there have been modifications and aspects at which it is employed by terrorist groups, the ultimate goal is to instill fear and to weaken the states in order to impose their ideologies towards other societies. Thus, international terrorism has indeed posted a great amount of uncertainties, doubts and fear among the people. The solution to the terrorist incidents is yet unknown, however there are different views that are of great importance in order to solve this dilemma.            United States of America, with its hegemonic leadership, has also claimed about being victims of terrorism. Attacks launched against United States have put them under fire. And as such, the actions committed against their government and stability fueled counterattacks, and the has rather put the emphasis in battling terrorism intensified than ever. United States Terrorism            The terrorist attacks committed against the United States of America flared up a number of heated reactions and counter aggressions. The attacks on September 11, 2001 marked the aggressive counter insurgency acts against their perceived opponents. Simultaneously, the United States government made an international statement that involved United States allies in their â€Å"fight against terrorism†(Zunes).            When the attacks occurred in United States, the government was prompted to retaliate and create plans of action in order to restore peace in the country. Counter terrorist actions are also geared towards eradicating terrorists activities around the world. The United States government under George W. Bush administration claimed that the actions that they initiated were aimed at helping other countries that are suffering under the claws of terrorism.            However, some observers within the international community had different views on the United States intention behind their savage plans of action against the countries which they thought and believed were supporting terrorist groups. Given the history of warfares that United States engaged in, some believed that there were far larger motives behind the attacks they launched, specifically against Iraq. Solution to Terrorism            The incidences of terrorism have been excessively alarming. And the past counterattacks to subdue terrorism have never been proven to become useful in solving the terrorist dilemma. Instead, the counterattacks that targeted United States aggressors rather intensified the chaos brought by insurgencies.            Religious disputes have been for long, the root cause of ideological differences which often result in religious wars. The United States deliberate refusal to recognize their religious differences with the Muslims, further heightened the animosity between Muslim states and United States and their allies.            Violence is never a solution for violence; as such, war will not be able to put an end to wars. The recent experiences of United States in their engagement in wars will prove that further involvement in such will only increase atrocities rather than solve the conflict. During the three years wherein United States participated in the war in the Middle East is a proof that chaos countered with chaos shall only never succeed in bringing democracy in Iraq, Israel or countries in the Middle East that are being questioned for support to terrorism (Zinn).            These actions from the United States are only proof of them being â€Å"inevitably indiscriminate and morally reprehensible†(Zinn). The truth that the United States resorted to use violent means in dealing with such situations, rather than employ democratic ways of solving conflicts is a proof of their refusal to make amends to ensure international peace. In addition, these attempts to seize the lands and territories of Unites States opponents have only acquired them more enemies rather than allies. It further increased the animosity between races and religions, which definitely will not work to the benefit of the people.            It must be reiterated that increasing the animosity between two sides who believe in different religion, culture and ideologies will never put an end to international chaos. Rather, if two opposing sides will try to meet despite their differences rather than widening the gap, international peace may be attainable.            In this light, it must be put into consideration that indeed religious differences are important factors in solving the terrorism dilemma. People must learn to believe that Islam is not, and was never the source of terrorism in the world. The concept of â€Å"Islamic Terrorism†in the world has widened enough the gap between the Muslims and people who belong to different religious groups. Islam is not cause of terrorism. And as such, acceptance of this fact may lead the international community towards a solution in combating terrorism in a rather peaceful way (Yahya).            According to Islamic believers and scholars, Muslims do not view war as the sole solution to bring peace in the world, neither to impose their beliefs amongst the people. The values taught to them from their religion states that spreading terror amongst the society is never an option, nor killing innocent lives. Religious wars and retaliations are only allowed and necessary if their beliefs and race are being trampled by other people (Yahya). The Root Cause of Terrorism            The increasing trend of third world animosity is one of the most important factors that contributes to the occurrences of terrorism. Islam, being a widespread religion and belief among members of the third world countries has become a target for first world countries who have beliefs different from what they are accustomed for.            Members of the first world countries, the United States in particular have always been a fanatic of providing â€Å"enlightenment and camaraderie†amongst less developed countries. Americans and their allies have always assumed the role of â€Å"leaders†and international pacifier. Thus, they have neglected the need to recognize their differences with other people of other descents.            This animosity and eagerness of the Westerners to â€Å"educate and liberalize†their counterparts in the East has increased the gap between the more powerful West and the less developed East, particularly the Muslim nations who have always considered their beliefs as sacred. The Westerners inability to understand these differences caused the Muslim Easterners to feel dislodged from the international community. And the massive attempts done deliberately to lure them into embracing the Western culture only aggravated the gap and the hostility among nations.            Terrorism has occurred as a response to the Westerners, particularly United States attempts to extend their influence over other countries. These retaliations were geared towards preserving their culture, and protecting their beliefs and territories from foreign invasion. However, United States with their distinct influence and control over the majority of less developed countries were able to rationalize their attacks and actions against Muslim countries as noble acts that are only intended to keep the international community peaceful and less chaotic. Conclusions and Recommendations for the West            The Western notion on the use of terror in the Islamic context is often misplaced and deliberately misused to serve the Westerners purpose. The continuous beliefs by the majority of the world that Islamic fundamentalists are terrorists add to the animosity and anxiety of Muslims against people from different race and religion. If this shall perpetuate and continue, the gap between Muslims and Christians, Westerners and Easterners and third world and first world countries shall never be resolved.            In order to put an end to these animosities, the continuing clash of civilization must stop first. The notion of West superiority and their desire to civilize the East will not work at all times. Other states will retaliate and oppose this â€Å"noble†cause. As mentioned, the Muslims are highly trained to believe that their religion is sacred, and attempts to forge another belief into them will cause further violence rather than peaceful amendments. Thus, rather than trying to impose a new culture, religion and set of beliefs to them, the Westerners should learn how to cope with their differences and try to become rather open in dealing with them.            Most importantly, the source of all the conflicts in the international arena is anchored on the ignorance of the people and their deliberate attempts to enforce bigotry rather than acceptance. Thus, instead of insurgencies and counterattacks against those who believe differently from what they have been accustomed at, people from different countries must try to become open at accepting differences.            Gaining a better understanding of the occurrences behind terrorism and recognizing the differences between races, ethnicities and religions, a solution to terrorism may be found in increasing the openness of different societies with each other. Cultural and religious relativism may decrease incidents of terrorism. In addition, recognizing the pursuit towards political, economic and religious autonomy from the dictates of more powerful nations may help in subduing terrorist threats.            Different people who belong in different races are always prone to misunderstandings. However, given enough concern and openness to the varying opinions from people who were raised in different cultures and societies will lessen the hostility between races and ethnicities. Thus, instead of engaging in wars and resorting to violent means of resolving these differences, governments of states must think of better and more proper ways of reaching out to other states. Imposing ones influence through the use of coercive force is not effective, it rather brings forth violence while instilling fear among the citizens. If we want the world to become peaceful and less chaotic, we must start employing peaceful methods to battle terrorism, violence and hostilities between countries.   Works Cited Yahya, Harun. (n.d). â€Å"Islam is Not the Source of Terrorism, But its Solution.†Islam Denounces Terrorism. 24 July 2008 http://www.islamdenouncesterrorism.com/mainarticle.html Zinn, Howard. (2006). â€Å"War is Not a Solution for Terrorism.†Boston News. 24 July 2008 http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/09/02/war_is_not_a_solution_for_terrorism/ Zunes, Stephen. (2001). â€Å"International Terrorism.†Foreign Policy in Focus. 24 July 2008 http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol3/v3n38terr.html
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Religion In Byrons Cain Philosophy Essay
Religion In Byrons Cain Philosophy Essay Byron wrote his closet drama Cain in Italy during a period of his life that Hoxie Neal Fairchild describes as coinciding with a strong attraction toward Roman Catholicism(437). Cain dramatizes the fourth book of Genesis. After refusing to offer sacrifices to God with his family, Cain slays his brother Abel and receives the punishment of banishment. Before killing Abel, Cain engages in a long dialog with Lucifer on the nature of death, the age of the universe, and the value of knowledge. Byrons poem calls on several religious controversies. First, Byron depicts the views of prominent factions of English Christians, including the Evangelicals, the Latitudinarians, and the Catholics. Second, the poem criticizes the Evangelical and Calvinist views of depravity and the literalness of scripture. Finally, by making Abel a figure of the priesthood and by sometimes invoking the language of the Catholic Mass, Byron questions the Calvinist idea that human beings have no capacity to offer sacrif ices. Byrons exposition on the efficacy of sacrifices allows him to challenge the Calvinist doctrines of depravity and predestination. Cain is a poem that reflects Byrons typical hostility to Evangelicalism. However, the drama also expresses skepticism of the Latitudinarian confidence in human reason, and Byron sympathizes with a Catholic, apostolic version of the Church and the efficacy of priestly sacrifices. While critics like Fairchild point to biographical explanations, Byrons doctrinal and theological decisions in Cain also convey political meanings. Byrons early reviewers sometimes recognize the politics of the poem, and some of these responses show that Byrons Italian residence, his representation of Catholicism, and his theology touch on the English anxiety over revolution. Byrons position on rebellion engages with Rousseaus conception of rights and the natural law. In contrast to Rousseau, though, Byrons Cain retains the natural law as external to the individual who partic ipates in it. Rejecting both Calvinist depravity and progressive ideas of reason and voluntarism, Cain opposes Rousseaus idea of the human being and diverges from the narrative of rebellion in Rousseau. Byron instead postulates the created essence of humanity and the precedent of natural law. The English Romantic tendency to distance revolution from violent excess appears in Charlotte Smiths The Emigrants and permeates the Romantic project in general. Cain, writes Paul Cantor, is like Frankenstein in its ambivalence, showing a world order that is ripe for rebellion, and yet at the same time suggesting that rebellion is somehow self-defeating. (139). Cantor traces the revolutionary potential in the Romantic world order to an abandonment of the Christian creation account in favor of a gnostic creation story and Rousseaus ideas of a return to the state of nature. Cantor sees the Romantics as engaging in a misreading of Rousseau because while Rousseau does not propose a strict return to the state of nature, the Romantic writers, according to Cantor, seek this primal, free state from which humanity can acquire for itself new, different meanings in opposition to the Biblical view of a fixed, created human essence. The question of human ontology, then, differs greatly in the Chr istian account and Rousseau. Rousseau abandons a created human essence in favor of an adaptability in which man can become something other than what he originally was. (6). Rousseaus idea of potentiality, which Hume and, later, Sartre also share, denies any law deriving from essential nature because it proposes that the general will according to which legitimate political action operates is habitual, not essential. Rousseau consequently also denies the traditional principle of the natural law and invests in a version of political rights which, in contradiction even to Locke, separates political rights from a basis in human ontology. Rousseaus reversal of the natural law rejects the notion that juridical systems derive from an innate natural law which in turn reflects a participation in the eternal law. Rousseau overturns the Aristotelian tradition of the natural law in which [w]hat is natural is what has the same force everywhere and does not depend on peoples thinking. (93). Rousseau proposes a voluntarist model of law in which any sense of an innate, pre-existing law is really a development coming from the progression of historical acts. For Rousseau, there is no law apart from human will and human action. In opposition to Locke and Rousseau, in Cain, Byron opposes Rousseaus notion of the societal origin of the law. Paul Cantor identifies an ambivalence in English Romantic ideas of rebellion, but the literalness of this ambivalence already surfaces in Rousseaus idea of the habitual characteristic of law because the capacity of the law to take on different forms according to the progress of history means that the law is always ambivalent and ambiguous, acquiring different values and progressing in different directions according to the movement of history. Rousseaus view thus denies the epistemological foundation of the Aristotelian concept of the natural law because Aristotles conception of the law depends on a view of knowledge as the settling of doubt. Because it rejects Rousseaus idea of the law, Byrons Cain does not express gnostic and progressive ideas of the mutability of human nature which, in Cantors model, gave rise to hopes of mans recapturing paradise. (xiv). Rather, Cain returns to a more traditional version of law and human nature which recognizes the ambivalence and ambiguity in Rou sseau and restores creation and its failures to more traditional terms than Rousseaus. The English Romantic project of returning to tranquility, of finding meaning away from the activity of history, is both a response to the failure of the Revolution and a means of integrating progressive values to traditional religious and national narratives. Often, the critical response to the Romantics has located this tendency mainly with the early poets and especially with the Lake Poets. This turning away from immanence toward transcendence also appears in Cain. As in Frankenstein, there is a similar doubt in Cain of an innate and primary creative capacity in human beings. Byron distinguishes Cain from Abel by the differing extent to which each is able to realize, but not to create, his capacity to participate in the sacrifice which ultimately defines his potentiality. Byron therefore breaks with Rousseau because the realization of creative potential depends on participation in a mandate that precedes the will but nevertheless requires its co operation. In moving away from a Protestant emphasis on personal rebirth and toward a Roman Catholic idea of the commission of a priesthood to administer sacraments, Byron distances himself from the progressive view of the law as immanent in subjective acts. Furthermore, Byron makes a connection between the Catholic priesthoods reenactment of a previously completed sacrifice and humanitys participation in a moral law that exists beforehand as an ontologically independent absolute. The divisions in the English Church of the nineteenth-century consist chiefly of three great parties which Newman defines in the French edition of his Apologia as the Tractarian, the Evangelical, and the Latitudinarian (72). The Tractarian party of Newmans time develops from an earlier Anglo-Catholic movement which itself traces back to the Nonjurors of the seventeenth century. They rested their faith, says Geoffrey Faber, upon a two-fold revelation: upon the Bible, as the Church and the councils of the Church alone knew how to interpret it, but still more certainly upon the existence and authority of the Church itself. (72). Although this group generally was hostile to Roman pretensions, and severe toward Roman abuses, (72), the incipient or covert Catholicism that the movement suggested appears in Drydens Absalom and Achitophel and persists into the late nineteenth century. The typical anxiety toward its Catholic-leaning emphasis on authority and tradition becomes part of Byrons de fense of Roman Catholicism in his Roman Catholic Claims speech when he says that the worst that can be imputed to Catholics is believing not too little, but too much. (33). The Evangelical party opposed this version of Christianity. It held that the Bible alone provides everything people need for salvation and that the institutional Church and its extra-scriptural rites and teachings interfere with an individuals direct, personal relationship with God. This view descends from Calvin and tends toward a literal or fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible. It holds that a person can have perfect assurance of salvation. The Latitudinarian party, or the Liberal party, put an emphasis on reason and, through Locke and Butler, associated itself with the Whigs by emphasizing social progress and the freedom of the individual will. The Latitudinarian reliance on reason and empiricism eschews literal Biblical interpretation. While rejecting Calvins predestination and the Evangelical version o f an exclusively internal relationship with the supernatural, Byrons Cain also rejects the expansive Latitudinarian freedom of the will which, like Rousseau, imagines a political order that is neither subservient to, nor even necessarily related to, anything outside material history. In Cain, the derivative creative capacity comes from Byrons analysis of the efficacy of sacrifices. Byron links the priestly capacity to offer a sacrifice that receives its efficacy from a previous, divine sacrifice with the ability of human beings to access a moral law that derives from an ontological absolute. When Fairchild proposes the incompatibility of Christianity and Romanticism, he cites a Romantic impulse whose satisfaction could be found only in complete intellectual and spiritual autonomy. (3). Yet whenever transcendent values interrupt an investment in creative power and the immanence of the law, autonomy struggles with its dependence on a prior, extrinsic essence. Byrons preface to Cain begins with a discreet rejection of a six-day creation. Referring to the second act of Cain, Byron anticipates criticism of his having Lucifer show Cain the remains, from the ages, of the extinct creatures of earth. When Lucifer responds to Cains indignation at the suggestion that the earth is not new, he tells Cain that mightier things have been extinct / To make way for much meaner. (158). Lucifer then shows Cain remains of the former creatures of the earth which rest myriads below its surface, and Cain acknowledges those / Mighty pre-Adamites who walked the earth.. Ian Dennis argues that Byrons plain, almost naive juxtaposition of the account of Genesis with practical and scientific data is a defiant accommodation by which Byron can express his hostility toward religion only after an act of self-abasement which allows him to reach a broad, largely religious readership by engaging in religious questioning that is really beneath him (663). For Dennis, Cain is an example of the passive aggressiveness according to which Byron recognizes that he must attract audiences in a pluralistic field of religious discourse even while he harbors an impulse to be offensive (655). Fairchild arrives at a similar analysis of Cain when he mentions Byrons enlistment of science against orthodoxy, but he then claims that Byron does not like to admit even to himself the full extent of his unbelief (429). While Dennis recognizes that Byron negotiates a plurality of Christian beliefs, his expectation that the perspective of science indicates Byrons hostility to Christianity overlooks the dramas skepticism of reasons primacy. Byrons rejection of literal Biblical exegesis corresponds to a rejection of Evangelicalism, but this rejection is not sufficient to support Denniss reading of the play as treating theological issues insincerely. In the preface, Byron catalogs his sacred and secular sources, and he claims that Cuviers account of the ancient fossil relics is n ot contrary to the Mosaic account, but rather confirms it (157). In any case, while Byrons subjective feelings are interesting, the text of Cain and its reception treat the theological and political issues in a particular context of which Byrons private disposition makes up only a part. Byrons preface rejects the idea that scientific discoveries contradict the Bible, and this rejection accompanies a rejection of overly literal readings of the Bible which, in nineteenth-century England, characterize the Evangelical party. While adapting his drama from Genesis, Byron also puts forward an exegetical method for reading Genesis. This method corresponds more to the Latitudinarian and Roman Catholic method than it does to the Evangelical, and Byron expresses a Thomistic view of creation as the diffusion of history from a divine essence. The extent to which Byron really accepted religious stories or any exegetical method is an interesting question, but it does not arise explicitly in his pr eface or his poem. In contrast to Cain and Lucifer, Cains wife Adah responds to Lucifers challenge by proposing a more flexible account of creation that resembles Aquinass philosophy of predestination. In Cain, Adah does this. When Lucifer questions her, Adah repeats the Thomistic view of the unfolding of creation according to a divine will: [God] hath The angels and the mortals to make happy, And thus becomes so in diffusing joy. What else can joy be, but the spreading joy? (478). Cain mistrusts Adahs confidence in the unity of creation when he doubts the necessity of the division between God and Lucifer: Would that there were only one of ye! Perchance / An unity of purpose might make union / In elements which seem now jarred in storms. (377). In an effort to surpass the distinction between good and evil, Cain rejects the division of identities and powers in what Adah describes as the diffusion of creation. Cains attempt resembles the emergence of Rousseaus natural man from the natural laws bondage in order to create the law himself according to the general will. Cains powerlessness even in this endeavor leads ultimately to his rejecting his capacity to perform the sacrifices with Abel. When Cain finally kills Abel, the act leads not to independence from the moral law but instead to its assertion. In describing sacrifice in particular, Byron contrasts Abels view with Cains. When he offers his sacrifice, Cain resigns himself both to his own powerlessness and to the incomprehensible divine judgment that precedes and determines his life and actions. Cain does not believe his actions can affect his fate but rather takes a view similar to Bostons that even his will is bound by a divine mandate. Byron joins with Burns in criticizing Bostons brand of Calvinism, and Cains distress comes in part from his disgust with his perception of powerlessness in directing his fate. In contrast to Rousseaus notion of the human capacity to create the law and to alter human ontology, Byrons response to this facet of Calvinism calls on the efficacy of sacrifices. Byrons view assumes a fixed human nature which has access to an extrinsic source of law and redemption. It is not therefore a progressive view. Besides a return to an Aristotelian idea of the law and human nature, Byrons redemptive philosoph y invests in an Aristotelian epistemology which, unlike the continuum of Rousseaus adaptability, seeks knowledge in a finality beyond which there is no more development in being or comprehension. At his altar, Cain speaks to God and expresses his discontentment: [All r]est upon thee; and good and evil seem To have no powr in themselves, save in thy will. And whether that be good or ill I know not, Not being omnipotent nor fit to judge Omnipotence, but merely to endure Its mandate, which thus far I have endured (274). In contrast, Abel sacrifices as the watching shepherd boy who offers.(183). He asks Cain to join me and precede me / In our priesthood.(198). Abel builds altars whereupon to offer / A sacrifice to God,(96), and [h]is sacrifices are acceptable.(352). In his description of Abel and his sacrifices, Byron makes references to the language of the Catholic Mass and its sanctioning of the power of sacrificers and their sacrifices. These references come mainly from the Offertory parts of the rite and have no counterparts in the Book of Common Prayer. These references and the general leaning toward the efficacy of sacrifices in Cain come during Byrons residence in Italy which Fairchild, and others say coincides with his attraction to Italian Catholicism and responsive[ness] to Catholic worship(425). Beyond demonstrating any biographical inclinations, though, Byrons adoption in Cain of Catholic rhetoric resonates domestically amid particularly English religious and political stances In adopting Aquinass view of an essence which diffuses itself in the particular elements of creation, Byron engages in essentialism, particularly about the natural law. When Lucifer tries to convince Adah that sin develops in those who replace ye in / Mortality.(379), he expresses the voluntarist ideas of Rousseau according to which moral laws develop ambiguously by the progress of history. Adah, however, questions the sin which is not / Sin in itself and asks Lucifer, Can circumstance make sin / Of virtue?(380). Byrons Cain proposes an ontological definition of the human being that differs from Rousseaus acceptance of humanitys creative capacity with regard to the law. Whereas Rousseau proposes that human beings reason, arising from historical circumstances, creates the law out of nothing, Byron conceives of a prior essence to which humanitys creative endeavors have access. Byron also rejects the determinism of Calvin. Byrons limited conception of creativity corresponds to Wordswort hs view of the poets access to the transcendent forms which, though derivative, enable creative work, and there are links here with the commission of priestly sacrifices in Catholic theology and with the Thomistic idea of the law. In drawing on the capacity in Aristotle and Aquinas for human participation in laws and actions that are ontologically independent of human history, Byron shapes a worldview in Cain that conflicts with the progressive ideas of Rousseau. This conflict extends beyond the reshaping of progressive secularism because although Byrons conception of humanity shares with progressive secularism an expectation that good prevails over time, Byron relies on a supernatural, or at least metaphysical, essence beyond the material circumstances of history, participation in which determines individual success or failure, as it does for Abel and Cain. In Byrons Cain, a transcendent reality precedes the encoding of law, and the law is a concrete reality, not merely an abstract ion derived from material experiences.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Shakespeares Hamlet - Horatio, Hamlet’s Dearest Friend Essay -- GCSE
Horatio – Hamlet’s Dearest Friend             In Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet there are many characters who can be accused of many sins – but not Horatio. Rightfully Hamlet compliments Horatio on his nobility and dignity; he is indeed a faithful friend. This essay will highlight this ideal friendship as part of a general consideration of Horatio. Cumberland Clark in â€Å"The Supernatural in Hamlet†describes Horatio’s reaction when the prince intends to follow the ghost: Hamlet addresses the spirit, which beckons him to follow it. Horatio tries to dissuade the willing Prince, for ghosts were credited with the vile intention of enticing men to their self-destruction (I.4.69-74): What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the clif That beetles o’er his base into the sea And there assume some other horrible form, Which might deprive your seovereignty of reason And draw you into madness? . . . Hamlet obeys the Ghost’s command to follow him, ignoring the protest of Horatio, who is much relieved, on coming up with him later, to find him safe (101). Who is the play’s historian? None other than Horatio. In the first scene Horatio gives a detailed history of what has gone before regarding King Hamlet: Our last king,     Whose image even but now appear'd to us,     Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,     Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride,     Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet--     For so this side of our known world esteem'd him--     Did slay this Fortinbras; who by a seal'd compact,     Well ratified by law and heraldry,     Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands     Which he stood seized of, to ... ...on: Frank Cass & Co., Ltd., 1964. p.14-16. http://www.freehomepages.com/hamlet/other/essayson.htm#demag-ess N. pag.  Pitt, Angela. â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies.†Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Shakespeare’s Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.  Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html  West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.†Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.  Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.†Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Georges Marvellous Medicine Essay
Roald Dahl is an imaginative writer and does create vivid images in the readers mind. i do agree with this statement. Roald Dahl has used many narrative techniques such as imagery, vocabulary and humours illustrations. Georges Marvellous Medicine should be read by all students, because of all the techniques and key features used. Georges Marvellous Medicine is a story about a young boy who’s tempted to do â€Å"something†about his so called â€Å"grandmother†, and by something he means searching around the house collecting all kinds of horrible ingredients that will make grandma disappear, but instead, of disappearing she gets bigger !.The story affects on themes such as groth, family, good people, bad people, understanding people jealousy and greed. An important theme is good people because, being evil / bad, doesn’t pay out later, what goes around comes around an example would be grandma to George. Roald Dahl was the best storyteller in the 20thcentury. He used fantastic plots that matched by the extraordinary events in his life. He played with the vocabulary, and invented his own words. Roald Dahl stories have brought delight to millions of people.He was born in Llandaff, Wales on September 13th 1916. His parents were Norwegian and he was the only son of a second marriage. His father Harald and his elder sister Astri died when Roald was only three. He remembered his mother as â€Å"a rock, a real rock, always on your side whatever you’d done. Roald Dahl died on the 23rd of November 1990. An interesting narrative technique Roald Dahl used to make his stories entertaining and creative were his own words / vocabulary. An example of them would be: Squigglers, jacky jumpers, heigh – nonny- no and spissing.These words present imagery which makes all Roald Dahl’s stories imaginative and entertaining. Italics is also another narrative technique style Roald Dahl used to emphasise a word. An example of an italic would be: No wonder, good. He slants these words, to make their voices have expression, for example, sarcasm. No wonder : Obviously he had left something out of the medicine. The illustrations by Quentin Blake are another narrative technique, used by Roald Dahl in his novel, Georges Marvellous Medicine. The illustrations help the reader to picture the key events and storyline.These illustrations are quick sketches, in black ink which support the fast rate in the storyline. An example would be, when Grandma hops out of her chair once George hands her the medicine. This book cover Georges Marvellous Medicine created and designed by Quentin Blake is effective as a visual text as it illustrates the key ideas in the novel. This book cover aims to target at children promoting a light and comical storyline and themes. For example, the childish font in the cream coloured box has forms of abstract and vector lines which would attract children’s attention.The large saucepan is a salience im age because of the size of the pan. It makes you wonder the many ingredients put into it and the power of this potion. The ladle on which George is holding, guides the viewers eyes around the book cover. This is a form of vector lines. In conclusion, Roald Dahl is an imaginative writer and does create vivid images in the readers mind. Roald Dahl’s novel Georges Marvellous Medicine is an entertaining and imaginative novel with its made up vocabulary and humorous illustrations.Quentin Blake, the creative illustrator of this novel. is one of the finest illustrators in children’s literature. His illustrations are original and easy to follow. Once again, Georges Marvellous Medicine, by Roald Dahl is an entertaining novel and should be read by all students because of all the key features used. The moral / coda of the book Georges Marvellous Medicine, is that grandma had learnt her lesson for being so cruel and wicked to George, as they say, what goes around comes around.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Year of Wonders Essay Essay Example
Year of Wonders Essay Essay Example Year of Wonders Essay Paper Year of Wonders Essay Paper Essay Topic: Equus Background of the novel: 1. William Shakespeare wrote most of his known dramas between 1589 and 1613. and died in 1616.2. Elizabeth I was succeeded by James VI of Scotland ( going James I of Great Britain upon his crowning ) . in 1603.3. Between the old ages of 1649 and 1660. during the English Civil War. England had no sovereign ; alternatively. the state was temporarily ruled by Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell as a military/parliament. 4. In seventeenth Century England. many people believed that enchantresss were abound and were the cause of a assortment of otherwise difficult-to-explain behavior amongst people ; if a individual were found guilty of witchery. they were sentenced to decease by hanging. 5. Puritans were those of a peculiar division of the Christian religion. differing notably from other subdivisions in largely their positions on morality. which they believed to be improbably of import – and pursued down to the finest degree of item – and the construction and mode of their worship ( eschewing the intervention of outside beginnings. such as swayers of the land. into faith. and non seeking felicity by normal agencies. taking it alternatively from their belief that they were moving harmonizing to God’s will ) . 6. ( I couldn’t reply the first portion of this inquiry. as after seeing multiple versions of the book’s screen at that place seems to be no repeating phrase to see as a ‘subtitle’. ) Historical Fiction: 1. While some people may keep the outlook that historical fiction would be based on facts and research. painting a realistic image of its scene. I would state that such an premise is non. or at least should non be. normally present ; historical fiction is labelled as ‘fiction’ for a ground. and as such is grounded excessively much in alternate world. taking excessively much to supply amusement instead than information. to be considered an accurate. researched portraiture of its scene. Of class. there are exclusions – Year of Wonders. in portion. being one – but even that does non supply a realistic adequate image of its clip and topographic point to do the outgrowth of such an outlook of factual proviso going platitude in the genre seem a good thought. 2. I believe that an author’s ability to determine their stuff into an effectual and prosecuting narrative holds a higher place of importance than their willingness to adhere to historically accurate happenings ; if the writer aims to steep their audience in the narrative. so every other facet of the book is secondary to that end. In the same manner as one would be unwise to try to compose a good book about a purposefully deadening premiss or character. there is small point in keeping historical truth if such care detracts from the amusement of the piece. Even if the purpose is non amusement. but instead the conveyance of a peculiar subject. the same logical thinking applies – there is small to no ground in keeping historical truth if the subjects being presented could be done so far more efficaciously without such truth. 3. Although it is evidently of import in any medium to avoid anachronic happenings that could take away from the narrative. I do non hold that the ‘anachronisms’ in Year of Wonders could be classified as such. in that they do non look to be genuinely anachronic at all. By this. I mean that the attitudes of the chief characters do non look incredible. even sing the book’s puting. as any epoch will ever hold those who think otherwise – so. if non for this. this outgrowth of persons traveling against the position quo who may obtain the rare opportunity to act upon others. mankind’s common values would neer hold changed since its origin. Each of the characters in inquiry seems to hold been written with adequate account of their ain values and attitudes that they are justified. even within the context. While these fortunes are surely unlikely. they are non impossible. and trying to name those two things one and the same is kindred to labelling twenty-four hours the same as dark by the mere fact that they lie following to each other in the rhythm of clip. Reading the Novel: 1. It would look that the ground for which Geraldine Brooks gave the name Year of Wonders to her novel is that. despite the annihilating effects of the pestilence on Anna’s life. there genuinely were ‘wonders’ that happened for. and about. her in that twelvemonth. She grew closer than she of all time may hold expected to a good friend ; she salvaged many an guiltless life with her ( albeit shaky at first ) willingness in being a accoucheuse. which finally led to her happening what she believed her true naming ; she witnessed her town’s sacrificial act of goodness. saving guiltless bystanders from sharing in Eyam’s wretched destiny ; and. finally. she managed to happen felicity. emerging from that most seeking twelvemonth scathed but still really much alive. re-starting her life anew and settling down with two healthy. happy kids to name her ain. 2. Here is a list of my initial feelings of the characters in Year of Wonders: * Anna – A miss whose artlessness was taken from her by that which she has experienced. looking embittered and disillusioned with the universe around her but standing as a strong pillar of kindness in malice of that. To those familiar with the nomenclature – for I can believe of no better term for Anna’s character – she seems at first ( and throughout the narrative ) to be a ‘Mary Sue’ . * Michael – A once-great adult male driven into an about catatonic province by the events of the pestilence. * Elizabeth – An unpleasant adult female. spoilt to the point of unbelievable greed and selfishness by the fortunes of her upbringing. * Jamie – A kid like any other. energetic and speculative. * George – Good and kindhearted. to the degree that these qualities become leery. * Jane – A priggish and serious immature miss. seting her spiritual positions above all else in her life to a possibly obsessional extent. * Sam – Dull. yet sort ; a simple adult male. content with his life. * Tom – A typical babe ; along with Jamie. he is the topic of his mother’s devotedness and love. and much of her ground for life now that Sam is dead. * Elinor – Kind and carefree. yet brooding and devoted ; Anna’s image of flawlessness. * Mem – A adult female weathered by the universe. demoing built-in goodness behind a more crabbed outside as she remains to be given to a small town of people who think none excessively extremely of her. * Anys – A immature miss demoing the same Weltschmerz. disposition and consciousness as her aunt. though whose morality is possibly more tarred due to her selfishness. her bluntness and her neglect for typical values. * Stanley –Similarly to Jane. a individual who treats worship and morality as being about synonymous with life itself. * Aphra – Self-absorbed to the extreme and paranoid towards any outside forces in her l ife. * Lib – A representation of a typical miss of the Middle Ages. functioning as a foil to Anna’s more progressive character. * Colonel Bradford – A selfish. ill-mannered adult male. holding grown accustomed to mistreating the power granted to him. * Miss Bradford – A typical rich adult female of the times. sing her wealth as a item of high quality. * Robert – A roving immature adult male of high-toned birth. seeking simple amusement after go forthing his place town of London. * Mary – An everyday adult female on face degree. desiring merely a field and happy life. * Surgeon ( s ) – [ Grouped together because they are of identical dispositions ] Fearful work forces. seeking non genuinely to assistance others at critical points but instead to derive a stock of money from their work and remain in safety themselves. * The Sexton – A hard-working old adult male. seeking simply to make his responsibility in a most hard clip. * Brad â₠¬â€œ Though non peculiarly evil. a superstitious. desperate and stupid adult male. * Faith – Much the same as her male parent. Brad.* Urith – The same as Brad.* Martin – Same as above.* Maggie – A hard-working. honest peasant adult female.* Jenny – Same as above. * Brand – A cautious adult male. but one who has goodness within him. * Jakob – Kind and suiting. despite his hard batch in life. * Josiah – A cruel and angry adult male non afraid to utilize his strength to acquire his ain manner ; like his married woman Aphra. he seems to reject anything other than the construct of ego. * Sally – An wholly guiltless victim. her decease looking representative of that which makes the villagers start to abandon their religion. * Kate – Another desperate. simple peasant adult female. seeking safety but throwing off ground in an effort to make it. * Merry – Like Sally. Merry is a below the belt victimised kid. but unlike her. Merry appears to stand for hope and strength. * Alun – A gruff adult male. set in his ways. but with a good sense of right and incorrect. * Randoll – A simple villager with a good bosom. * Henry – Another field villager. of a gruff and unpleasant disposition himself. but angered back into caring about morality by Josiah’s actions. * Lottie and Tom – Desperate parents who have suspended their incredulity of the supernatural in a vain effort to protect their kid. * John – A adult male whose already-fragile head snapped from the fright and heartache of the pestilence. spurring him to reckless action. * Urith – Meek ; locked up in concealing due more to fear of her hubby than of the pestilence. * James – A saddening old figure. his religion tested by his continued endurance while more meaningful lives pass off in forepart of his eyes. * Mrs. Bradford – A fearful adult female. whose subservience to her hubby is so great as to excel her attention for her child’s life. * The Innkeeper – An honest. fair-minded adult male with a good sense of justness. * Ahmed – Refined. sort and accepting. 3. Brooks’ descriptions of the small town and countryside are used to make suspense by portraying the alteration from a normal. absolutely functional town to a broken wreck ; references of laughter. of playful kids and of the sounds of work. are replaced by a fateful silence. while the town itself becomes overgrown and filled with decay. The ground that these scenes – scenes of a once-lively town reduced to an image of decease – create suspense is that. no affair where the characters focus. they will be presented by a reminder of the ruins around them. demoing them merely how close they are to that destiny themselves. 4. The positions developed by Brooks throughout the narrative seem to unite into one chief subject – a willingness to oppugn the position quo. to demo that the current province of things may non ever be for the best. This is shown through category divides ( oppugning whether the affluent genuinely deserve their privileged position. as evidenced by the selfishness of the Bradfords ) . comparative gender equality for the times ( as both work forces and adult females play a important function in halting the terminal state of affairs from being even worse ; if. as was typical of the times. merely the work forces had been allowed to make up ones mind on issues – and. for illustration. Anna and Elinor had non been able to take to move as accoucheuses – the decease toll may good hold been higher ) . and the firm finding to comprehend the pestilence as a spiritual happening instead than a natural one ( which. by concentrating eyes in the incorrect way. probably caused th e loss of many lives ; if the true ground for the pestilence had been discovered earlier. more effectual countermeasures could hold been taken ) . This general subject. and its constituents. reflects modern-day attitudes instead accurately – recent society has surely become more unfastened to altering the position quo. and such things as gender equality and decreased outlooks of faith seem to hold worked instead good in altering society for the better. 5. Contrast between characters can be seen between multiple braces in Year of Wonders. Anna seems to hold four chief contrasting characters. each of a different sort – foremost. she and Aphra are contrasted in their desires. with Anna’s being mostly for the well-being of other people while her stepmother’s are selfish. Michael Mompellion could be considered the 2nd contrast to Anna. as he is an ab initio strong adult male weakened by his tests and losingss while Anna’s seem to function merely to beef up her resoluteness in the terminal. Anys is the contrast to Anna’s 3rd specifying characteristic ; while Anna is a instead traditional miss despite her single ways. and hides much of her true ego and her sentiments inside. Anys’ positions would non look wholly common in our twenty-four hours. and she has small reserve about talking her head bluffly. Finally. Anna’s state of affairs – that of a strong. surpassing adult female. hidden behind the mask of a cautious. commonplace miss – is opposite to that of Elinor. who appears in Anna’s eyes to be a near-flawless adult female radiating energy but is internally scarred and in convulsion. Elinor. with her changeless kindness and equal intervention despite her high-toned household background. has another contrasting character of her ain in Elizabeth. the rich girl of the William bradfords who abuses her power and thinks merely of her ain desires. One more outstanding contrast is between Colonel Bradford and Michael – while both being intelligent work forces. the Colonel seeks to use this intelligence merely to protect himself. whereas Michael aims to help those around him. The Structure of the Novel: 1. It seems that flashback has been used here for a battalion of grounds ; it allows for a more direct before-and-after contrast to demo the development of her character throughout the twelvemonth ( by virtuousness of snarling from one to the other ; in a gradual build-up. the alterations would be less noticeable ) . it reveals the inevitable terminal of the narrative so as to put an accent on the book’s characters and puting instead than its plot’s branchings. and it creates a sense of wonder as to merely how events transpired within the focused-upon twelvemonth to make such alteration as can be seen. 2. While get downing with a flashback is. as antecedently explained. effectual in puting up a assortment of waies to put the foundation for stating a narrative. it is non a solve-all solution for storytelling ; some facets of the narrative can non be satisfactorily fleshed out without the reader holding some pre-established cognition of the characters. puting and such things. and so I imagine that is for this ground that Brooks decided to revisit this clip. 3. While I am non certain on this fact. it would look that the in-between 13 chapters of the narrative were so narrated in chronological order ; if this is non the instance. so I would possibly state that the signposting to demo this mistiming was deficient. Leaf-fall. 1666: Apple-picking Time: 1. Key character interactions and citations in this gap chapter are: * Anna’s devotedness to the deteriorated Michael Mompellion. bestiring wonder as to what led to the state of affairs. * Michael’s heartache and resentment over the loss of Elinor. * The cold. vindictive attitude held towards Elizabeth as a member of the Bradfords. * The reference that Josiah ‘loved the pot more than his children’ . * Elizabeth being ‘sour-faced and spoiled’ . * ‘His manus is on the bible. but he neer opens it’ – Michael’s spiritual wonts contrasting with his tattered religion. * Anna’s motivations in caring for Michael. demoing her devotion of Elinor: ‘I do it for her. I tell myself I do it for her. Why else would I make it. after all? ’ * Michael’s cold narration of a transition from the Bible. demoing farther his heartache from the loss of Elinor and his feeling of treachery from God: ‘Your married woman will be like a fruitful vine within your house ; your kids will be like olive shoots around your table†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 2. I think that Brooks chose to utilize first-person narrative because it would look that the narrative she seeks to state is chiefly one of a individual girl’s character development ; while third-person authorship allows for a greater range of focal point on multiple characters or a wider narrative. the first-person position tends to let the author to more accurately portray the nuanced ideas of an person. and so it seems more adjustment for this intent. Another possible ground is that this subjective first-person narrative. shown through the imagined eyes of Anna Frith. paints the emotions and feel of the puting better than a first-person narration may pull off to easy make. 3. Archaic and dialect words contribute to the narrative by making a more realistic scene ; in a similar manner to the aforesaid illustration of mistiming ( an antediluvian Roman have oning a ticker ) . the story’s sense of pragmatism would be broken if the occupants of a little. seventeenth century British town were to talk merely as we do today. 4. Aside from the stated phrases. noteworthy marks of decay. loss and disenchantment in this chapter are: * ‘The courtyard hadn’t been swept in a sennight. It smelled of decomposing straw and Equus caballus urine. ’ * ‘If there’s one thing I couldn’t stand any longer. it’s the aroma of a decomposition apple. ’ * ‘†¦sometimes I feel that I’m be givening merely another in that long emanation of dead. ’ * ‘My neighbours’ bungalow was empty. the Hedera helix already crawling across the Windowss and the Grey lichens crusting the Sillss. ’ * ‘ [ Nature ] has taken less than a twelvemonth to get down to repossess its topographic point. ’ 5. Some illustrations of analogues between the physical devastation of the garden and the religious devastation of Michael are: * The thought that Elinor would be regretful to see what had become of her garden ; merely as it has been dirtied with weeds. so excessively has Michael’s spirit been corrupted by his choler and heartache. and Elinor would be most saddened to see what had become of this once-strong adult male. * In relation to the old point. Anna comments. ‘I expect she would understand why it is so’ . * Anna besides comments on how cipher could truly reconstruct Elinor’s garden back to its former glorification. pulling comparings to how – no affair what attempts Anna or any others may do in bettering Michael’s province of depression – they could neer be given to him with the same accomplishment as his married woman could hold ; he could neer return to being the steadfast bastion of strength that he was when he stood with Elino r’s support. 6. It does non. to me. seem that Anna’s comparative stableness in the face of Michael’s mental prostration indicates a message of feminist resiliency ; regardless of Brooks’ purpose. the two merely seem to be different people. defined in this facet by their characters instead than their genders. This position is supported by Aphra’s autumn into perverse insanity. which surely contained no message of adult females being inherently strong. 7. Examples of the complexnesss of Anna’s character shown in this chapter are: * Her prioritising of compassion above tradition – ‘A retainer has no right to remain. one time she’s dismissed. But I did stay†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ ( Page 4 ) * Her hesitancy to allow any life be in demand. unhappiness or danger – be givening to the Equus caballus ( ‘I kept chattering. quietly. as I used to with the kids when they were scared or hurt. ’ ( Page 5 ) ) . non desiring to draw out the works ( ‘like me. so brimming of terminations that they can non bear to twist even a scrawny sapling from its tenuous clasp on life. ’ ( Page 12 ) ) .
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