Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Analysis a play Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Investigation a play - Essay Example The arrangements of the law might be extraordinary and their goals might be honorable. Be that as it may, if the individuals who actualize them are not honorable, the general public will endure and a law contended, safeguarded and executed in a most exceedingly terrible way is disastrous for the general public. â€Å"No Crime† by Billy Goda is one of those postmodern plays which laughs the liable aware of its perusers, and contacts their hearts at the significant profundity. The creator makes it extremely clear and his goal is apparent and he explains his perspective utilizing his characters and their shared relationship. The closure of the play is likewise on the normal lines, however the creator presents a sensational component of lack of bias toward the finish of the play. The subject of the assume is about the job of the law and its relationship with the general public. The understood reason for law is to protect individuals from the general public all things considered and independently. It is simply the casing on which the general public forms itself and it should keep the individuals from the general public behind the lines of law. The law should be visually impaired and the two arms of the size of law are similarly significant. Its fundamental duty is to forestall an inapprop riate and see that it doesn't get more grounded and for the powerless and backing less to offer the help inside the arrangements of law. The prime obligation of the law and the legal procedure is to recognize the blameworthy from the honest. This is the perfect position wanted by any general public. However, the ground realties in practically all the nations fail to impress anyone. Social orders have always been unable to give the valid and genuine advantage of the arrangements of law to the individuals. The not liable have been rebuffed and the liable ones have gotten away from the noose of law. The individuals who ought to have been rebuffed have been absolved. In spite of the fact that the topic of the play doesn't offer direct remarks on the lacunas in the arrangement of usage of the lawful arrangements its concealed plan and the style of introduction manages the individuals who are the overseers

Saturday, August 22, 2020

25 Best Value US Colleges Worth Your Investment

25 Best Value US Colleges Worth Your Investment 25 most costly US colleges that merit applying for. Picking a school requires thinking about various elements:  theâ presence of society and sorority life, theâ location, and size of the college or school, its scholastic notoriety, and so forth. Shockingly, these variables are not the most significant when a run of the mill understudy weighs whenâ making their last decision. The most significant thing to thoroughly consider is the education cost. Indeedâ the all out expense of going to school is, no ifs, ands or buts, the most significant factorâ influencing understudies ultimate conclusion. Yet, is there any sense in paying aâ higher education cost? Why not pick an elective school? Something more affordable, for instance. The motivation to pick a higher-positioning foundation is that the top-positioning schools meanâ a more prominent rate of profitability for understudies when they graduate and get utilized. As indicated by the FORBES’ 2016 positioning of the USA’s Best Value Colleges here is a rundown of the most expensive colleges in America: 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), situated in Cambridge, MA. The normal yearly cost in MIT is $21,816. 2. California Institute of Technology, (Caltech). The normal yearly charge is $25,667. 3. Stanford Universityâ offers in excess of 65 divisions and projects. Among the most renowned Stanford alumni ever are John F. Kennedy (he dropped his MBA program before accepting the degree), Sigourney Weaver, Tiger Woods, Larry Page, Reese Witherspoon and numerous others. 4. Harvey Mudd Collegeâ is an aesthetic sciences school. It is a school for the individuals who might want to become researchers, mathematicians, and specialists. 5. Yale University in Connecticut is arranged an hour and a half from New Youk and is open for the individuals who wish to take a guided visit, walk around the noteworthy Old Campus or go to a show. 6. A individual from the Ivy League Brown University (RI) 7. Dartmouth College (NH) offers an aesthetic sciences instruction for the 21st century: training in and past the study hall as said on the site of the school. 8. In Cornell University (NY) engineering is unquestionably choice. Substance, electrical, software engineering, mechanics majors here are respected profoundly as well. 9. Several little human sciences schools of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA 10. Colgate University in Hamilton 11. NY Williams College in Williamstown, MA 12. Schools in the Midwest including the University of Chicago, in Chicago, IL. The college of Chicago was established by John D. Rockefeller in 1890 and is viewed as one of the universes head research and scholastic organizations. 13. Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. The strategic Northwestern University states: Northwestern is focused on amazing instructing, inventive research and the individual and scholarly development of its understudies in a different scholastic network. 14. Carleton College, in Northfield, MN These schools might be expensive, however they demonstrate to bring a high result. Picking a school from the rundown above will make the guardians sit back and relax as they realize that this decision will deliver profits. Need assistance with your school exposition? Request an exposition composed by our expert authors.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

New Student Photo Series 2011 Post #17 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

New Student Photo Series 2011 â€" Post #17 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog There is still plenty of time for incoming students to submit photos for posting on the blog.   See this entry for details. My name is Mariana Costa and I am an incoming MDP student from Peru. I wanted to share some pictures I have taken from children in Latin America and the Caribbean. I think their expressions tell much about them. This picture was taken in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. We were doing a training on civil registration to local community leaders, and this little girl and boy were playing around. This is in Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world (3,811 above sea level), shared between Peru and Bolivia. A local girl from Amantani Island is wearing a typical hat that symbolizes she is already over 7 years of age. This last picture was taken in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I took it during a registration campaign we were doing in one of the shelters established in the city after the January 2010 earthquake. Ziqi Wang from China is an incoming MPA student. These first two photos were taken in Hong Kong. In the the first photo, the fortune-telling people are talking with their guests. The statues in the second photo are the typical costumes in the Peking opera. I took this photo together with my friends. This is a photo taken in the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong. I like the color of the sea at dusk. The buildings along the seaside give me a peaceful feeling, totaling different from the noisy atmosphere in Hong Kong.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Thesis Proposal on Coping Strategies For Mothers Who Have Children Diagnozed With ADHD

Abstract Affecting about 3-10% of all children, ADHD is among the most frequently occurring Mental Health Childhood Disorders. The methodology utilized in the study is systematic literature review. Research articles were searched from two online data bases that is, Medline and Ovid. The objectives of the review center around three aspects related to the mothers of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. The review focuses on one describing the variety of stresses experienced by mothers after having their children diagnosed with ADHD. More importantly, it illuminates the policies and procedures available to support these mothers specifically in regard to social and financial support. Finally, it details and discusses evidence based coping strategies that have been found to be effective amongst these mothers. Abbreviations: PEP (Prevention Program for Externalizing Problem Behavior); ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder); AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics); COPE (Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced); PSI (Parenting Stress Index). Background ADHD is a childhood disorder which has an early onset and which is among the common mental health disorders affecting children with a prevalence rate of 3-10% (Hanisch et al, 2010). It is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity and symptoms of inattention that are not developmentally appropriate (Chang, 2009). ADHD produces significant impairments in the affected children’s social interactions, school performance, and performance of other daily activities as well as in their self-esteem (Durukan et al., 2008). The behavioral characteristics of affected children have been shown to affect mothers in an overt way and have especially been attributed with increasing distress in mothers (Hautmann et al., 2009). A variety of studies, both cross-sectional and long-term have explored the issue of parental stress with others have specifically focused on maternal stress following the diagnosis of their children with ADHD. Various psychological tools for evaluation of stress have been utilized in these studies. They include the Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced (COPE) scale developed by Weintraub, Carver and Scheier, parenting stress index (PSI) by Abidin and Santos (2003) and EMBU-P by Cannavaro and Pereira (2007) amongst others. Diagnosis of ADHD is based on the DSM-IV criteria, the Australian Disruptive Behaviors Scale amongst others (Durukan et al., 2008). The fact that mothers are the primary care takers of affected children in majority of the cases has potentiated the need to explore the coping strategies utilized by these mothers (Segal, 2000). Policies and procedures aimed at providing support to affected children and their mothers also need to be evaluated (Zima et al., 2010). Objectives This review aims at identifying the variety of stresses that mothers go through when their child is diagnosed with ADHD. Further, it aims at evaluating the policies and procedures available to help mothers cope with having a child diagnosed with ADHD. The final aim is to identify evidence based strategies on how mothers can cope with having children who have been diagnosed as having ADHD. Methodology The study was a systematic literature review that encompassed information from a number of studies conducted in different countries. Two electronic data bases were selected for the literature review, that is, Medline and Ovid. The two databases were searched in the month of April 2011. Search terms were selected based on the research topic and refined on the basis of findings of a pilot test. They included ADHD, PEP, mothers, coping strategies, policy and procedures. Abstracts to all articles were read to establish the relevance of their content to the topic under study. Articles that were found to be irrelevant to the topic were also not selected for inclusion into the review. Studies on non-target populations were also excluded from the review. 39 full articles were selected and downloaded of which 15 were reviewed; 3 from Ovid and 12 from Medline. Content from the 15 articles were abstracted and organized into categories. They were further analyzed via qualitative synthesis. A methodological quality screen was not applied. Conversely, the results are accepted as reported by the authors. Maternal stress following the diagnosis of a child with ADHD A study by Lin et al. (2002) established that the maternal stress for a random sample of these mothers was 62.00 on the PSI. Notably, the behavioral characteristics of children suffering from ADHD were found to be highly correlated with maternal stress (p.001). Findings to studies by Pimentel et al. (2010) and Deault (2010) also concur that mothers often report that they are stressed because they simply do not know how to deal with the impulsive and aggressive behavior exhibited by their children. Behavioral characteristics of these children more often than not elicit feelings of parental inadequacy which is a source of stress to the mother (Deault, 2010). Studies have also established that the subtype of ADHD which a child is suffering from is also strongly correlated to maternal stress. One such study by Yang et al (2007, pp.369-375) concluded that mothers of children with the combined sub-type of ADHD reported higher parenting stress   and had higher scores on the parenting stress index (PSI) than those with children with the other sub-types of ADHD. In essence therefore, not only has the mother to deal with the stress related to the behaviors exhibited by her child but she also has to cope with the stress related to the subtype and hence the severity of her child’s condition. Amongst the family characteristics highly correlated with the development of ADHD is parental stress and maternal psychopathology. Parental stress is further attributed to disruptions in child-parent relations and reduced parenting self-efficacy (Johnston et al., 2001, pp.183-207; Deault (2010, p.172). The mother in such cases has to contend with stress related to self guilt that she could have possibly contributed in the development of the condition in her child (Johnston et al., 2001). Further, she has to handle the stress related to friends and relatives who may blame her for her child’s condition (Deault, 2010). Findings by the Lin et al. (2002) study retaliate that the parent’s self-awareness of their own psychological and emotional problems exacerbate the mother’s stress levels following the diagnosis of a child with ADHD. Findings of a study by Chang (2009) posit that the traditional concept of motherhood that tends to label these mothers as failures is also a major stressor for mothers whose children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Regression analysis of data from the study indicated that two domains of parental stress that is parental distress and dysfunctional parent-child relations were best explained by the concept of motherhood held as opposed to a child’s behavioral characteristics (to the power of R2=.172 and .281). Another stressor cited by Norvitilitis et al. (2002) for these mothers is the stigma they perceive as being associated with ADHD otherwise known as courtesy stigma. These mothers perceive stigma and hence tend to isolate themselves despite findings by the Norvitilitis et al. (2002) study that indicated that contrary to expectations, mothers whose children did not have ADHD did not harbor any harsh views about ADHD and felt no need to isolate the mothers whose children had been diagnosed with the condition. The financial implication of the diagnosis of a child with ADHD is another variable that significantly contributes to maternal stress (Baker, 2004; Segal, 2000).ADHD requires long-term comprehensive management (Durukan et al., 2008) which may prove costly to some mothers. Policies and procedures on ADHD In the US, Medicaid covers more than a third of the total national costs for mental health disorders in children. Further, federal policies require Medicaid to provide Specialty Mental Health Services with reimbursements that deal with conditions like ADHD. Moreover, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted in 2010 expanded the coverage of Medicaid to children who were previously uninsured (Zima et al, 2010). Insurance cover therefore potentially limits the financial repercussions of the condition on the children’s parents. Guidelines by the AAP on the diagnosis and subsequent management of children suffering from ADHD engender a collaborative approach that integrates inputs from the child’s parents, teachers, school counselors and nurses and community mental health practitioners. The community process resulting from the collaborative approach provides support to the mothers by shouldering some of the responsibilities in the management of the child with ADHD (Foy et al., 2005). National guidelines on ADHD have prioritized the aspect of shared decision making in the diagnosis and management of ADHD which besides incorporating the parents’ perspectives in the process fosters support to parents by medical professions in the parents’ social networks (Fiks et al., 2011). Effective coping strategies for mothers Only a limited number of studies have focused on the aspect of effective coping strategies for mothers having children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Majority of studies tend to accentuate more on the identification of coping strategies that have been found to be ineffective like substance abuse. Use of denial as coping strategy for dealing with stress in adults was described by Levine et al. (1987) who pointed out that its use was not only necessary but had been proven effective in the early stages following a diagnosis. Moreover, they proposed that it has the added benefit of freeing resources for the mother to cope with the diagnosis (as cited in Durukan et al. 2008, p.221). Positive reframing on the other hand was found to be an effective coping strategy by Pololski et al (2001) for parents whose children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Positive reframing entails the redefinition of stressful experiences in a more positive and realistic manner. Utilization of this strategy had a significant impact on two variables of the study; the disruptive behaviors of the child and parenting stress both of which decreased (Pololski et al., 2001). A study by Segal (2000, p.304) aimed at describing the various time coping strategies adopted by mothers whose children had been diagnosed with ADHD concluded that mothers tend to use three main types of adoptive strategies to manage their time, that is, unfolding occupations which can either be temporary or inclusive and enfolding occupations. Enfolding occupations simply imply that the mother is engaged in more than one occupation at any time. Inclusion unfolding occupations entail delegating tasks previously performed by the mother to another person. In temporal unfolding, the mother reorganizes the sequence by which she used to perform her tasks such that certain activities end up being performed at another time (Segal, 2000, p.305). Equipping the mothers with the appropriate knowledge and skills is one of the coping strategies that have been explored in numerous studies. PEP, a program for training parents whose children have externalizing behavior problems was found to be effective in improving the child’s disruptive behavioral problems as well as parental practices (Hanisch et al, 2010; Hautmann et al., 2009). The primary aim of PEP is to increase parental competency in handling a child’s disruptive behaviors (Hautmann et al., 2009). The efficacy of PEP has been evaluated under two contexts; a trial study by Hanisch et al., (2010) and 1-year follow up study of its application under real life situations by Hautmann et al. (2009). Conclusion Innumerable studies have identified the variety of stress that a mother whose child is diagnosed with ADHD experiences. Stress in these mothers is related to the disruptive behaviors exhibited by their children, financial implications of the condition, the traditional motherhood concept as well as the sense of guilt that comes with the realization that she as the mother could have possibly contributed to the development of the condition in the child. Stress in these mothers is also related to other stressors that existed prior to the diagnosis, the stigma associated with the condition as well as the subtype of ADHD. Medicaid insurance covers most of the costs of treatment for children with ADHD in the U.S. Enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will also ensure that children who were previously not covered by Medicaid are covered which potentially decreases the financial costs of the condition to the mothers. Other national policies on ADHD facilitate the processes of shared decision making and community approach to the diagnosis and management of ADHD all which foster social support to the mothers. Positive reframing, denial, time coping strategies via participating in enfolding and unfolding occupations and training to acquire the skills, knowledge necessary to effectively cope with having a child diagnosed with ADHD are some of the evidence based coping strategies utilized by these mothers. References Baker, D.B. (2004). Parenting stress and ADHD: A comparison of mothers and fathers. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 25(4), 46-50. Chang, Y. (2009). How motherhood perception of the mothers who have ADHD children affects their parenting stress. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(4), 584-594. Deault,L.C. (2010). A systematic review of parenting in relation to the development of comorbidities and functional impairments in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 41(2), 168-192. Durukan, I., Erdem, M., Tufan, A.E., Congologlu, A., Yorbik, O. Turkbay, T. (2008). Depression and anxiety levels and coping strategies used by mothers of children with ADHD: a preliminary study. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 9, 217-223. Fiks, A.G., Hughes, C.C., Gafen, A., Guevara, J.P., Barg, F.K. (2011). Contrasting parents and pediatricians perspectives on shared decision-making in ADHD. Pediatrics, 127(1), 188-196. Foy, J.M. Earls, M.F. (2005). A process for developing community consensus regarding the diagnosis and management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics, 115(1), 97-104. Hanisch, C., Freund-Braier, I., Hautmann, C., Jà ¤ne, N., Plà ¼ck, J., Brix, G., Eichelberger, I. Dà ¶pfner, M. (2010). Detecting effects of the indicated prevention Programme for Externalizing Problem behaviour (PEP) on child symptoms, parenting, and parental quality of life in a randomized controlled trial. Behavior and Cognitive   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Psychotherapy, 38(1), 95-112. Hautmann, C., Hoijtink, H., Eichelberger, I., Hanisch, C., Plà ¼ck, J., Walter, D.    Dà ¶pfner, M. (2009). One-year follow-up of a parent management training for children with externalizing behaviour problems in the real world. Behavioral and Cognitive psychotherapy, 37 (4), 379-396. Johnston, C. Mash, E.J. (2001). Families of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: review and recommendations for future research. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 4(3), 183-207. Lin, Y.F. Chung, H.H. (2002). Parenting stress and parents willingness to accept   treatment in relation to behavioral problems of children with attention-deficit    hyperactive disorder. The Journal of Nursing Research, 10(1), 43-56. Norvitillis, J.M., Scime, M. Lee, J.S. (2002). Courtesy stigma in mothers of children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Attention Disorders, 6(2), 61-88. Pololski, C.L., Nigg, J.T. (2001). Parent stress and coping in relation to child ADHD severity of   associated child disruptive behavior problems. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30, 503-513. Segal, R. (2000). Adaptive strategies of mothers with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: enfolding and unfolding occupations. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(3), 300-306. Yang, P., Jong, Y.J., Hsu, H.Y. Tsai, J.H. (2007). Psychiatric features and parenting stress profiles of subtypes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: results from a clinically referred Taiwanese sample.   Journal of Development and Behavioral Pediatrics, 28(5), 369-375. Zima, B.T., Bussing, R., Tang, L., Zhang, L., Ettner, S., Belin, T.R. Wells, K.B. (2010). Quality of care for childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a managed care Medicaid program. Journal of the American Academy of Child and   Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(12), 1225-1237.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The Temple of Artemis, sometimes  called the Artemisium,  was a huge, beautiful place of worship, that was built around 550 BCE  in the rich, port  city of Ephesus (located  in what is now western Turkey).  When the beautiful monument was burned down 200 years later  by the arsonist Herostratus in 356 BCE, the Temple of Artemis was built again, just as large but even more intricately decorated. It was this second version of the Temple of Artemis that was awarded a place among the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The Temple of Artemis was again destroyed  in 262 CE when the Goths invaded Ephesus, but the second time it was not rebuilt. Who Was Artemis? For ancient Greeks, Artemis  (also known as the Roman  goddess  Diana), the twin sister of Apollo,  was the athletic, healthy, virgin  goddess of hunting and wild animals,  often depicted with a bow and arrow. Ephesus, however, was not purely a Greek city. Although it had been founded by Greeks as a colony on Asia Minor around 1087 BCE,  it continued to be influenced by the original inhabitants of the area. Thus, at Ephesus,  the Greek goddess Artemis was combined with the local, pagan goddess of fertility, Cybele. The few  sculptures that remain of Artemis of Ephesus show a woman standing, with her legs fitted  tightly together and her arms held out in front of her. Her legs  were wrapped tightly in a long skirt covered with animals, such as stags and lions. Around her neck was a garland of flowers and on her head was  either a hat or a headdress.  But what was most pronounced was her  torso, which was  covered with a large number of breasts or eggs. Artemis of Ephesus  was not only  the goddess of fertility, she was the patron deity of the city. As such, Artemis of Ephesus needed a temple in which to be honored. The First Temple of Artemis The first Temple of Artemis was built in a marshy area long held sacred by locals.  It is believed that there was at least some sort of temple or shrine there at least as early as 800 BCE. However, when famously-rich King Croesus of Lydia conquered the area in 550 BCE, he ordered a new, larger, more magnificent temple to be built. The Temple of Artemis was an  immense, rectangular  structure made of white marble.  The  Temple was  350-feet long and 180-feet wide, larger than a modern, American-football field. What was truly spectacular, though, was its height. The 127 Ionic columns, which were  lined up in two rows all around the structure, reached 60 feet high. That was nearly twice as high as the columns at the  Parthenon in Athens.   The entire Temple was covered in beautiful carvings, including the columns, which was unusual for the time. Inside the Temple was a statue of Artemis, which is believed to have been life-sized. Arson For 200 years, the Temple of Artemis was revered. Pilgrims would travel long distances to see the Temple. Many visitors would make generous donations to the goddess to earn her favor. Vendors would make idols of her likeness and sell them near the Temple. The city of Ephesus, already a successful port city, soon became wealthy from the tourism brought in by the Temple as well. Then, on July 21, 356 BCE, a madman named Herostratus set fire to the magnificent building, with the sole purpose of wanting to be remembered throughout history. The Temple of Artemis burned down. The Ephesians and nearly the entire ancient world were stupefied at such a brazen, sacrilegious act. So that  such an evil  act would not make Herostratus famous, the Ephesians  banned anyone from speaking his name, with the punishment being death. Despite their best efforts, Herostratus name has gone down in history and is still  remembered more than  2,300  years later. Legend has it that Artemis was too busy to stop Herostratus from burning down her temple because she was helping with the birth of Alexander the Great that day. The Second Temple of Artemis When the Ephesians sorted through the charred remains of the Temple of Artemis, it is said they found the statue of Artemis intact and unharmed. Taking this as a positive sign, the Ephesians vowed to rebuild the temple. It is unclear how long it took to rebuild, but  it easily took decades. There is a story that when Alexander the Great arrived in Ephesus in 333 BCE, he offered to help pay for the rebuilding of the Temple as long as his name would be engraved on it.  Famously, the Ephesians found a tactful way  of rebuffing his offer by saying, It is not fitting that one god should build a temple for another god. Eventually, the second Temple of Artemis was finished, equal or just a bit taller in size but even more  elaborately decorated. The Temple of Artemis was well-known in the ancient world and was a destination for many worshippers. For 500 years, the Temple of Artemis was revered and visited. Then, in 262 CE, the Goths, one of the many  tribes from the north, invaded Ephesus and destroyed the Temple. This time, with Christianity on the rise and the cult of Artemis on the decline, it was decided to not rebuild the Temple. Swampy Ruins Sadly, the ruins of the Temple of Artemis were eventually plundered, with the marble being taken for other buildings in the area. Over time, the swamp in which the Temple was built grew larger, taking over much of the once-grand city. By 1100 CE, the few remaining citizens of Ephesus had completely forgotten that the Temple of Artemis ever existed. In 1864, the British Museum funded John Turtle Wood to excavate the area in the hopes of finding the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. After five years of searching, Wood finally found the remains of the Temple of Artemis under 25 feet of swampy mud. Later archaeologists have further excavated the site, but not much has been found. The foundation remains there as does a single column. The few artifacts that have been found were shipped to the British Museum in London.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

“Sequel” to Fahrenheit 451 Free Essays

Burning Bright, Burning Right It was that time of day when the afternoon barely gave away to the glorious wonders of the night. The birds had stopped chirping and the many creatures that stirred in the ruins of the city, those that found it livable, had retreated to their underground homes. It had been a decade, a lifetime since the city had been reduced to rubble. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Sequel† to Fahrenheit 451 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The radiation still lingered in the air. It added a new taste, similar to the taste of an orange or a lemon. The crater from the bomb had been filled with rainwater to form a lagoon. The river’s natural current carried away the radioactive debris to the forest where, undoubtedly, the creatures of the forest would drink the contaminated water. There had been an occasional drizzle now and then soaking most of the wood in the area. Montag had managed though. He had come prepared essay writer helper. It took him three full hours to build the raft and funeral pyre in which Faber’s body now rested on. He looked at the horizon just in time to catch the everlasting rays of the sun fade to the night and began. â€Å"Faber, my dear friend; it has been awhile since we talked. Almost three months. I heard that you were shooting propaganda somewhere by the Eastern Battle; probably condemning the unworthy fools that fought against us. Remember when we first met? You called yourself a coward for not standing up to stop the madness when it was beginning. I always found it ironic that you would become the symbol of rebirth, that you would be dubbed the phoenix. A coward really, but that was not my decision to make,† he stopped and took a breath. â€Å"You were my mentor. When I was blind to the knowledge of books, you educated me; you showed me what I was missing. You were everything I could ever ask for. Granger was there for me, but you were there for me to the, I mean your, bitter end. I can remember when you were approached about the face of the phoenix. That bright day in St. Louis. â€Å"Faber, tell me what happened yesterday? I thought all was going well with your friend. He had printed books for us before†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Montag stopped. â€Å"Why won’t he do it now? † â€Å"I’m afraid that he is no longer on our side of the battle,† Faber said. â€Å"Not on our side of the battle? That’s absurd! One doesn’t just simply stop being a savior,† Montag said. Well he isn’t trustworthy anymore. He had tricked us. Pulled the wool over our eyes. We were only seeing what we wanted to see. † It was at that moment that Montag noticed the man standing in the corner of the room. He had his face turned away from us, but it was obvious he was listening to them. â€Å"You there, who are you? † â€Å"Nobody. I heard that the almighty Guy Montag and the wise Faber were in town, I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity of meeting them,† said the strange man. Montag took a good look at him. He was well dressed. He was very well dressed. It was obvious that he knew who we were and it was also obvious that he was there for a reason. His fingernails were clean; an indicator that he was no fighter. Either he was a very good ally to have, or a powerful enemy to dispose of. When he noticed Montag looking at him he gave a wry smile. He decided it was best to trample through the bush. â€Å"Why are you here and what do you want? And this time don’t be shy to tell us your real name. † Montag asked. â€Å"My oh my, the rumors about you are true. You see Mr. Montag I want to help you. You could say that I have friends in high places, places that can help you. While you have been fighting your wars silently, and rather immaturely, some of us,† he paused, â€Å"have been thinking of the bigger picture,† he stopped as he met Montag’s cool but deadly gaze. â€Å"What are you implying? † â€Å"Nothing at all. Just an offer to, how do I put this? Just an offer to help move things along. We want to take the war public,† the man said. Montag raised his eyebrows until they almost became part of his receding hairline. â€Å"I don’t know what rock you have been living under but it is obvious that you have lived a very luxurious life up until now. The war was thrown out of the shadows three years ago. † â€Å"I know that,† the man replied, â€Å"but there was never a reason. † â€Å"What? † Montag said. â€Å"For the past three years we have been fighting a war about nothing. Some say it’s about money. Others? They say the world is hungry. It’s a blind man’s game. You may be thinking about what I think. I think that the world is hungry. It’s hungry for knowledge, for books. Some of us believe it is time to throw it out in the open to light the flames under the fire. To throw something out in the open, we need a face. Somebody that will inspire and mock every policy and rule that the government symbolizes. We need a phoenix. † â€Å"I’m not interested,† Montag replied. â€Å"I was expecting that,† he answered, â€Å"That’s why I wasn’t going to ask you. † He turned to Faber and said, â€Å"We need a face but we think Montag has too much baggage attached to it. It may scare some, to see a dead man come to life. You on the other hand are a somebody that became a nobody. Your wounds have healed, have they not? Why not find the strength to rise from the ashes? Faber, why won’t you join me? † Montag stood stunned in silence. He had been rejected. Faber was sitting there looking at his damn, shaking hands. He had been offered to be the face of a rebellion, to lead a revolution; yet he sat there, solemn as a statue. Finally he spoke: â€Å"I am not a phoenix. I, at the very best, can be compared to a humble field mouse. I was a coward when it all began. I watched books burn in front of me but did nothing of it because I was too afraid to change anything. I decline your offer. † â€Å"I was also expecting that. † A sudden flash of emotion passed through his eyes, like a fox that knew his prey would be his. I haven’t even introduced myself yet. Here I am, trying to convince you to start a revolution with me, yet you do not even know my name. My name is Hubert Hoag. † He looked nothing like the man Montag had seen on the parlor walls. Albeit he was short like him, but he must have lost weight. A quick glance at Faber showed that he wasn’t the least bit surprised. â€Å"Faber I know that you failed when it began. I also know that you aren’t exactly the bravest but this is your chance at redemption. You can finally fix the mistakes you made when it was all beginning,† Hubert said. Montag was back in the forest with Granger. He remembered what he had said. That it was the right kind of mistakes to be where they are now. Montag opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by Faber. â€Å"I’ll do it,† Faber said in a sharp whisper. â€Å"I’ll do it,† he said with more confidence. I’ll start a rebellion. † Hoag gave a smile like he knew that the stars would align for him. He stood up and said, â€Å"Excellent. I’ll be in contact with you soon. † We didn’t see Hoag for three months. When we were contacted; things changed. Things changed fast. Faber was soon an international icon. He looked younger and radiated power. Hoag and his friends dressed him in the image of the revolution and soon there were ads and posters everywhere. That was then. Now things had changed. Montag was back in the ashes of the city. The scurrying of various animals in the bones of the dead brought back his fond memories of Faber. The sun was nowhere to be seen. It was behind the mountains, hiding, like Faber. He turned to the one animate body of Faber. â€Å"How does it feel Faber? To start a revolution. When they look back in history, whether or not we won the war, you will be remembered. But your arrogance got the best of you. You were no humble field mouse. You looked at yourself as the new phoenix. You had risen from the ashes of the old and were ready to guide mankind to this new age. Spending time with Hoag got the best of you. Soon you were thinking like them. You words were weak and empty. You became the image that you were trying to fight. You became a problem,† Montag said. He looked around. It was around midnight. Not even the moon showered him with its pale glowing light. He lit a match. A match that he had used such a long time ago to burn others, to burn his problems. And then he was somewhere else, thinking about how a decade ago he had the same problem with another. The wise words of Beatty rang in his head: â€Å"Don’t face a problem, burn it† â€Å"Beatty, I’ve done just that. † He looked on to see the body of Faber leaning against the funeral pyre in such a way that it would collapse into a beautiful red flower once the match had engulfed the small raft. He thought of the phoenix. â€Å"Faber, you were to be the phoenix. The rebirth of man rising from the ashes. You were a failure. Maybe all we need to do is burn the ashes one more time. † How to cite â€Å"Sequel† to Fahrenheit 451, Papers

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Othello Essay Thesis Example For Students

Othello Essay Thesis The Undiscovered CountryNothing is certain but death. It is the only inevitability in life, the great equalizer, the future to which humanity grows, leans, reaches. Yet the fear of death is a constant one, universal and unavoidable. Hamlet deeply experiences this fear of death and it is in his most famous soliloquy that he voices his dread and confusion concerning this inevitable end, closer in time and mind perhaps, given his present circumstances. All the soliloquies in Hamlet, and indeed in all of Shakespeares works, serve to characterize, and it is through this method of characterization that one is most clearly aware of the strengths, weaknesses and conflicts of the speakers. In Hamlet, the To be or not to be soliloquy fleshes out Hamlets tragic flaw, illustrating the debilitating effects of fear on action. An intentionally ambiguous speech, this soliloquy is subject to numerous interpretations, each lending itself to a slightly different characterization of Hamlet. Whether Haml et speaks of his own impending death, or his fathers untimely one, depends upon the interpretation. We will write a custom essay on Othello Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One interpretation of this speech is that Hamlet speaks of his fathers death. Hamlets meeting with the Ghost has brought the idea of a disagreeable afterlife into his mind. The Ghost speaks only fleetingly of his state in the afterlife, but what he says is potent and terrifying. He speaks of, sulfrous and tormenting flames (1.5.6), being forced, to fast in fires (1.5.16), and tells Hamlet, But that I am forbid/ To tell the secrets of my prison house, / I could a tale unfold whose lightest word/ Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, / Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their/ spheres, / Thy knotted and combin#61672;d locks to part, / And each particular hair to stand an end, / Like quills upon the fearful porpentine. / But this eternal blazon must not be/ To ears of flesh and blood (1.5.18-28). It is not surprising that Hamlet should dwell on death and the afterlife after hearing these tormented words. His speech, following this interpretation, shows his obsessive c oncern for his father and his fear that a similar fate will be visited upon himself. He is terrified for his father, trapped in a fiery hell, and wishes to release him from that damnation. But he fears for himself as well and cannot move beyond his fear. Thus he is unable to act when faced with such a picture of death as painted by the Ghost. He fears that by acting he will be risking the terrible fate that his father has been dealt. He fears that by saving himself, he will be further damning his father. In order to free his father, he must act. But in acting, he risks being thrown into the terrible world his father inhabits. He is unable to move beyond this conflict and is hence paralyzed by uncertainty and fear. This interpretation characterizes Hamlet as a tortured man, unable to move beyond his grief, unable to act in the face of that grief, unable to reconcile thought with action because of his fear. That Hamlets musings are a result of his fathers death is but one interpretation of the speech. Perhaps the most common interpretation is the idea that Hamlet is contemplating suicide. This contention probably results from an isolated reading of the soliloquy. Taken out of context, it seems evident that Hamlet is considering taking the path of self-slaughter (1.2.136). It is the most basic interpretation of the speech, especially considering the words, To be or not to bethat is the question (3.1.64). However, Hamlet knows that suicide is contrary to the law of God and is concerned with what will happen to him after his death, should he choose this sin. In his speech he is conflicted between being and not being or, if one accepts the suicide interpretation, between whether he should choose to live or whether he should choose to die. His life is unbearable but it can be ended. However, the question of the afterlife remains. Hamlet is torn between living a tortured life or risking a tor tured eternity. By the end of the speech, Hamlet seems to have come to the conclusion that it is better to live an intolerable life than to risk the unknown world of death and the punishment one might suffer there. Thus does his fear result once more in his inability to act as he wants. But Hamlet is not blind to this, his tragic flaw. He is well aware of his shortcomings and understands that his tendency to overanalyze does not lead to action, but rather stops his intended actions cold. This reading of the soliloquy serves to emphasize Hamlets depression and hopelessness. It also paints the picture of Hamlet as something of a coward, as willing to die himself as to live and deliver vengeance upon his fathers murderer. Although it may seem clear on the surface that Hamlet is contemplating suicide, that interpretation does not fit well into the plot of the play. Considering that Hamlet has just decided to trap Claudius into a confession, it does not follow that he would flirt with suicidal thoughts. Nevertheless, it is clear that Hamlet has cause to fear death. The last main interpretation of this soliloquy is that Hamlet does not fear death because of the sin of suicide but rather, that of murder. This explication of the speech makes the most sense given Hamlets character and the direction of the plot to that point. Hamlet clearly intends to kill Claudius. This irrefutable fact has been continuously illustrated throughout the play. Hamlet, however, is indecisive, hesitant, and slow to act. He thinks too long and too deeply. And the thought that most occupies his mind is that of death. It is not too difficult to guess why. Not only has he had to suffer the sudden death of his father, but he has also suffered through the tortured moanings of that fathers ghost. He has promised the ghost that he will avenge his fathers death and kill Claudius, his fathers murderer. It is no wonder Hamlet is plagued with thoughts of death. In the To be or not to be soliloquy, Hamlet is haunted by what may happen to him after he kills Claudius. He seems to have accepted that he too may die. But he fears what will happen after death more than he fears the death itself. He has heard his fathers terrifying portrait of the afterlife. He has been raised to believe that murder will result in eternal damnation. These are the thoughts that plague him as he weighs his options. He can kill Claudius and risk an infinity of punishment, or he can live a tortured life at Claudius side, and be assured of his place in heaven. At the end of the speech Hamlet has not come to any solid conclusions. His only realization is that, conscience does make cowards of us all (3.1.91). He is well aware of his immobilized posi tion, but is powerless to lean decisively in either direction. This interpretation presents a Hamlet that is less weak, less depressed, less selfish, less cowardly than the other interpretations. In this reading Hamlet is stronger, more focused, and more in control. Nevertheless, he is paralyzed by thought, unable to act, unwilling to bend. .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba , .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .postImageUrl , .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba , .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba:hover , .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba:visited , .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba:active { border:0!important; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba:active , .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5da5d9f39fe33ceb11d029471b1f4eba:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Pompeii catastrophe EssayIn this, Hamlets most famous soliloquy, Shakespeare presents the audience with a myriad of different insights into the play. This is accomplished by his allowing the speech to be slightly ambiguous in meaning. Through separate readings of the speech, one can arrive at different conclusions about Hamlets character. Within each distinct interpretation can be found the different motivations, fears, concerns and preoccupations of Hamlet. These in turn point to different shadows, different flaws, and thus, different insights into the character of one who would be less real for their The Undiscovered CountryNothing is certain but death. It is the only in evitability in life, the great equalizer, the future to which humanity grows, leans, reaches. Yet the fear of death is a constant one, universal and unavoidable. Hamlet deeply experiences this fear of death and it is in his most famous soliloquy that he voices his dread and confusion concerning this inevitable end, closer in time and mind perhaps, given his present circumstances. All the soliloquies in Hamlet, and indeed in all of Shakespeares works, serve to characterize, and it is through this method of characterization that one is most clearly aware of the strengths, weaknesses and conflicts of the speakers. In Hamlet, the To be or not to be soliloquy fleshes out Hamlets tragic flaw, illustrating the debilitating effects of fear on action. An intentionally ambiguous speech, this soliloquy is subject to numerous interpretations, each lending itself to a slightly different characterization of Hamlet. Whether Hamlet speaks of his own impending death, or his fathers untimely one, dep ends upon the interpretation. One interpretation of this speech is that Hamlet speaks of his fathers death. Hamlets meeting with the Ghost has brought the idea of a disagreeable afterlife into his mind. The Ghost speaks only fleetingly of his state in the afterlife, but what he says is potent and terrifying. He speaks of, sulfrous and tormenting flames (1.5.6), being forced, to fast in fires (1.5.16), and tells Hamlet, But that I am forbid/ To tell the secrets of my prison house, / I could a tale unfold whose lightest word/ Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, / Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their/ spheres, / Thy knotted and combin;#61672;d locks to part, / And each particular hair to stand an end, / Like quills upon the fearful porpentine. / But this eternal blazon must not be/ To ears of flesh and blood (1.5.18-28). It is not surprising that Hamlet should dwell on death and the afterlife after hearing these tormented words. His speech, following this interpretation, shows his obsessive concern for his father and his fear that a similar fate will be visited upon himself. He is terrified for his father, trapped in a fiery hell, and wishes to release him from that damnation. But he fears for himself as well and cannot move beyond his fear. Thus he is unable to act when faced with such a picture of death as painted by the Ghost. He fears that by acting he will be risking the terrible fate that his father has been dealt. He fears that by saving himself, he will be further damning his father. In order to free his father, he must act. But in acting, he risks being thrown into the terrible world his father inhabits. He is unable to move beyond this conflict and is hence paralyzed by uncertainty and fear. This interpretation characterizes Hamlet as a tortured man, unable to move beyond his grief, unable to act in the face of that grief, unable to reconcile thought with action because of his fear. That Hamlets musings are a result of his fathers death is but one interpretation of the speech. Perhaps the most common interpretation is the idea that Hamlet is contemplating suicide. This contention probably results from an isolated reading of the soliloquy. Taken out of context, it seems evident that Hamlet is considering taking the path of self-slaughter (1.2.136). It is the most basic interpretation of the speech, especially considering the words, To be or not to bethat is the question (3.1.64). However, Hamlet knows that suicide is contrary to the law of God and is concerned with what will happen to him after his death, should he choose this sin. In his speech he is conflicted between being and not being or, if one accepts the suicide interpretation, between whether he should choose to live or whether he should choose to die. His life is unbearable but it can be ended. However, the question of the afterlife remains. Hamlet is torn between living a tortured life or risking a tor tured eternity. By the end of the speech, Hamlet seems to have come to the conclusion that it is better to live an intolerable life than to risk the unknown world of death and the punishment one might suffer there. Thus does his fear result once more in his inability to act as he wants. But Hamlet is not blind to this, his tragic flaw. He is well aware of his shortcomings and understands that his tendency to overanalyze does not lead to action, but rather stops his intended actions cold. This reading of the soliloquy serves to emphasize Hamlets depression and hopelessness. It also paints the picture of Hamlet as something of a coward, as willing to die himself as to live and deliver vengeance upon his fathers murderer. .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c , .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .postImageUrl , .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c , .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c:hover , .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c:visited , .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c:active { border:0!important; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c:active , .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uefb6354b4d52c0593e4e2877eca9875c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: None Provided4 EssayAlthough it may seem clear on the surface that Hamlet is contemplating suicide, that interpretation does not fit well into the plot of the play. Considering that Hamlet has just decided to trap Claudius into a confession, it does not follow that he would flirt with suicidal thoughts. Nevertheless, it is clear that Hamlet has cause to fear death. The last main interpretation of this soliloquy is that Hamlet does not fear death because of the sin of suicide but rather, that of murder. This explication of the speech makes the most sense given Hamlets character and the direction of the plot to that point. Hamlet clearly intends to kill Claudius. This irrefu table fact has been continuously illustrated throughout the play. Hamlet, however, is indecisive, hesitant, and slow to act. He thinks too long and too deeply. And the thought that most occupies his mind is that of death. It is not too difficult to guess why. Not only has he had to suffer the sudden death of his father, but he has also suffered through the tortured moanings of that fathers ghost. He has promised the ghost that he will avenge his fathers death and kill Claudius, his fathers murderer. It is no wonder Hamlet is plagued with thoughts of death. In the To be or not to be soliloquy, Hamlet is haunted by what may happen to him after he kills Claudius. He seems to have accepted that he too may die. But he fears what will happen after death more than he fears the death itself. He has heard his fathers terrifying portrait of the afterlife. He has been raised to believe that murder will result in eternal damnation. These are the thoughts that plague him as he weighs his options . He can kill Claudius and risk an infinity of punishment, or he can live a tortured life at Claudius side, and be assured of his place in heaven. At the end of the speech Hamlet has not come to any solid conclusions. His only realization is that, conscience does make cowards of us all (3.1.91). He is well aware of his immobilized position, but is powerless to lean decisively in either direction. This interpretation presents a Hamlet that is less weak, less depressed, less selfish, less cowardly than the other interpretations. In this reading Hamlet is stronger, more focused, and more in control. Nevertheless, he is paralyzed by thought, unable to act, unwilling to bend. In this, Hamlets most famous soliloquy, Shakespeare presents the audience with a myriad of different insights into the play. This is accomplished by his allowing the speech to be slightly ambiguous in meaning. Through separate readings of the speech, one can arrive at different conclusions about Hamlets character. Within each distinct interpretation can be found the different motivations, fears, concerns and preoccupations of Hamlet. These in turn point to different shadows, different flaws, and thus, different insights into the character of one who would be less real for their

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Iliad and Achilles Dearest Friend free essay sample

The definition of a tragic hero was a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy that was destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. A tragic hero was a literary character who made an error of judgment or had a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on tragedy. A tragic hero is usually good, but makes bad decisions, associated with a tragic flaw that haunts the character throughout the story. In the Iliad, Achilles played a large role in the battle between the Greeks and the Trojans. In the beginning of the book, Achilles’ prize possession was taken from Agamemnon. For much time, he was being childish, lamenting over his stolen lovely haired women. When the Greeks were in a battle with the Trojans, he was still too upset to come and fight with the Greeks. Agamemnon really wanted him to come, so he bribed him with towns, rivers, and more respect, but he still refused. We will write a custom essay sample on Iliad and Achilles Dearest Friend or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Later on in the story, Achilles’ friend died, Patroclus, so he came back to battle mainly to kill Hector, a Trojan. Though, Achilles was a tragic hero, he still was a great character who will always be remembered. Swift footed Achilles murdered several Trojans, scared off enemies, and killed Hector, an enemy of the Greeks. Achilles still remained a tragic hero because his flaw was to act selfish, mainly come to war to seek revenge, and didn’t return back to battle for the right, heroic reasons. Achilles was called a tragic hero because his flaw was to be selfish. A selfish person lacked consideration for others and was concerned with their own pleasure. In the Iliad, Achilles mostly cared about himself. For example, Agamemnon stole Achilles’ prize possession. For this reason, Achilles refused to join the war because he was angry with Agamemnon. Achilles stated, â€Å"But listen while I tell you exactly how I want things to be: ‘I want you to win me great honor and glory in the eyes of all Greeks, so that they give my lovely women back to me and provide splendid gifts as well (18:115). ’† When Achilles’ dearest friend, Patroclus, went to war with his army, Achilles wanted Patroclus to wear his armor because he would win him honor, glory, and some splendid gifts as well. Achilles flaw was to be selfish because he didn’t care about Patroclus as much as he should of; he mainly focused on winning himself glory and honor. Achilles was suffering rom his stolen woman because he didn’t come back to battle to help Patroclus in war. Knowing Achilles, he would’ve been the first one to Patroclus’ aid, but instead he chose to weep and sit at home. Achilles’ flaw interrupted him from doing what he should have been doing. He cared too much about a tragic loss that it got in his way of being a â€Å"true hero. † Before Patroclus had left for battle, Achilles mentioned to him that he would be in good hands with his army and they should be ready to battle. Achilles was in a state of downfall because he was suffering from loss or defeat, and let his selfish flaw get in his way from being heroic. Achilles was a still a hero, though a tragic hero, who was respected by the Greeks, yet repeatedly made mistakes. His pride, arrogance, and selfish flaw got in his way of his ability to resolve conflicts peacefully. For example, if Achilles tried to settle a fair agreement with Agamemnon that included Achilles fighting in the war in return for his prized possession, it would have been more â€Å"hero like. † Achilles’ stubborn personality, risked lives of other Greeks because Achilles was the â€Å"hero† and was not doing â€Å"his job† correctly. Achilles was a tragic hero because he was selfish, and mainly came back to war to get revenge. A Trojan, whose name was Hector, killed Achilles’ friend, Patroclus, in battle. Achilles was devastated and wanted to revenge on Hector by coming into the battle. Achilles strong- mindedly said, â€Å"Hector, no doubt you imagined, as you stripped Patroclus, that you would be safe. It was I, and I have brought you down (22:332). † Achilles was trying to say, Hector will not get away from what had done, and would do whatever it took to hunt down Hector until he was dead. If Achilles was not a tragic hero, he wouldn’t have let tragedy get in his way, by not joining the battle from the start because he was whimpering over a loss. Also, he would have showed the Greeks what a great hero he was; in defeat, rise to the occasion to help people in need of support. Although he killed many Trojans, and helped out his peers, his main purpose was to murder Hector. This quote goes relates to Achilles being a tragic hero because he was in a time of downfall and needed a reason to get back up. Achilles was a tragic hero because he was selfish, mainly came back to battle for revenge, and didn’t come back to war for the right, heroic reasons. If Patroclus had never died, Achilles would have still been weeping over his prize possession and be watching many of Greeks die. Bending over Patroclus’ dead body, Achilles said â€Å"So then, Patroclus, since I too am going below, but after you, I shall not hold your funeral till I have brought back here the armor and the head of Hector, who slaughtered you in your greatness. Achilles wouldn’t give up until he brought back Hector and his armor. He would have him killed no matter what circumstances and would even risk his own life to kill Hector. Achilles was a tragic hero because he was in a time of defeat, and suffered from losses that he wanted to end, but he returned for the wrong reasons; mainly to kill Hector because he murdered Patroclus and to let the Trojans get a taste of their own medicine. Also, he was not standing up for his people when he knew they needed help. If Achilles wanted to kill Hector because he had been killing so many of the Greeks and got in the way of winning the battle, it would make him more of a hero, instead a tragic hero. Swift footed Achilles was considered a tragic hero. He was selfish, came back to battle for revenge, and didn’t come back to war for the right, heroic reasons. If Achilles was a real hero, he would’ve tried to save lives and protect â€Å"his country. † The Iliad shows that there doesn’t always have to be great, heroic heroes, there also are tragic ones too. For example, spider – man is a true hero because he helps save lives of people who are in danger and protects â€Å"his town† from monsters. Even though he had a very hard life, he still helped people and wanted to make â€Å"his town† proud. This was an example of real hero, and the opposite of Achilles in the Iliad. If you compare spider – man to Achilles, they have a lot of similarities, but different approaches to what a real hero was.

Friday, March 6, 2020

The Way to Freedom is Alone essays

The Way to Freedom is Alone essays In the 13th chapter of Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes writes ...men have no pleasure, but on the contrary a great deal of grief, in keeping company, where there is no power able to over-awe them all. The unconventional premise that ungoverned humans are solitary beings echoes throughout Hobbes political philosophy. This is a very difficult ideology to have at the center of such a work. The vast majority of the worlds population holds the opposite stance. Most people believe that humans are naturally communal beings. Thomas L. Pangles Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham addresses mans natural inclination to be part of a group. Birds fly in flocks, fish swim in schools, and man has his tribe. That is as natural as you can get. Banishment from ones tribe (once) meant death. Alone, one is assumed susceptible to the attack of foes. Being alone is largely equated with weakness. There is a commonly held fear of being alone. This is why the mindset found in Leviathan is quickly rejected. In order to understand what Hobbes attempts to communicate by stating men have no pleasure...in keeping company, it is essential to establish his alternative to having company. Hobbes statement about men not finding pleasure in the company of others is often dismissed because of a misunderstanding. A reader of Leviathan could easily equate being alone with loneliness. After reading this passage many times in context, one may decide quite the opposite. Hobbes wrote of solitude, rather than loneliness. Solitude is desirable and voluntary, whereas loneliness is unnecessary and involuntary. Superficially the two seem alike, but truly they are very different. Many famous literary works speak highly of solitudes power. Henry David Thoreau wrote in Walden: I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. Solitude is not...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

A Case Study of Property Developing Firm Using Soft System Methodology Dissertation

A Case Study of Property Developing Firm Using Soft System Methodology - Dissertation Example The author of the essay "A Case Study of a Property Developing Firm Using Soft Systems Methodology" assumes that SSM study fits the concept of action research arising first in the behavioral sciences. Researchers view of the limitations of studying complex real social events in a laboratory, the artificiality of splitting out single behavioral elements from an integrated system. The action-research method fits the Soft System Methodology in which it involve in a change progress, in the system itself, as a means to both practical action and an experience relevant to the research aim of developing systems concepts. Being concerned with intervention in purposeful systems, the action researcher, unlike natural scientists, can express his research aims as hopes but cannot with certainty design them into his ‘experiences’. He is prepared to react to whatever happens in the research situation. He has to follow wherever the situation leads him or stop the research. This study advocates that the continues use of SSM on the property development help firms on the organization learning, this allow users to learn from their action systematically, as well as generating creative problem solving strategies for their growth and continuity. The strength of SSM comes from familiarity of the systems and knowledge of users; however, users need patient and practice to be able to explore the usefulness of SSM. Lastly, SSM seems to be a useful tool for large co-operations, which consist of many people, departments and operation entities.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

History The World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

History The World - Essay Example This schism between the two churches is noticeable even today. In the West, there were hurdles of economic and geographical reasons as well. Western Europe was far removed from the new trade routes and geographically, it was difficult for any kind of unity to develop. Then a series of invasions from c. 700 to 1000 also put a halt on European development, making the spread of Christianity more difficult in these times. Later on, there would be philosophical and cultural obstacles. For instance, the debate between ‘Reason’ and ‘Faith’ began after 1000 CE and the creation of schools and rise of scholarly activity led to the development of subjects like ‘natural philosophy.’ The emphasis shifted to law, medicine, nature and other subjects that humans could fully comprehend. The power that religion enjoyed previous over the masses began to dwindle. We see therefore that the spread of Christianity into Europe and China was fraught with obstacles of various sorts: cultural, political, philosophical and intellectual. It would take Christian missionaries many years to be able to successfully overcome these obstacles to their efforts at spreading the message of

Sunday, January 26, 2020

The Functions Of Discourse Particles English Language Essay

The Functions Of Discourse Particles English Language Essay According to Loraine K. Obler and Kris Gjerlow (Language and the Brain,1999, pp. 131-132), many bilinguals, in addition to speaking two or more languages fluently, have ability to employ elements of both languages when speaking with another bilingual and this is known as code-switching and it is governed by internalized rules. Code-switching is a very normal phenomenon in many parts of the world and one has always to take into account the distinction between, on the one hand, community (or national) and the other individual bilingualism and multilingualism and they are not necessary closely related. (Pride, The Social Meaning of Language, 1971, p. 26) There are many types of code-switching such as tag switching, intrasentential switching and intersentential switching. Kamisah Ariffin and Shameem Rafik Galea (Code Switching as a Communication Device in Conversation) found that their subjects employ code switching as a personal communication strategy. The strategies they employed are signalling social relationships and language preferences, obviating difficulties, framing discourse, contrasting personalisation and objectification, conveying cultural-expressive message, dramatising key words, lowering language barriers, maintaining appropriateness of context, showing membership and affiliation with others and reinterring messages. What is Malaysian English? Malaysian English or more commonly known as Manglish, is the colloquial version of English spoken in Malaysia and it is similar to Singlish, which is Singapore English. While Bahasa Malaysia is the national language, English is still widely used and is the second language in Malaysia. Many Malay words are being introduced into Manglish. The most common example is suffixing a sentence with the -lah particle which does not have any specific meaning on the sentence. Besides the influence of Bahasa Malaysia, there are also influence from other languages and dialects like Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese and Tamil in Malaysian English. Language as Social Semiotic Halliday (1973, 1985) proposed a systemic, functional view of language which sees it in the social function it serves. He believes that language is a systematic resource for expressing meaning in context, not the set of all possible grammatical sentences. (Jordan, Theory Construction in Second Language Acquisition, 2004, p.6) He believes that there are two main functions of language which are ideational function and the interpersonal function. Ideational function allows people to deal with their ideas, perspectives and feelings on a particular subject whereas interpersonal function allows people to deal with each other. He believes that the social function of the languages is more important than the grammatical aspects of the languages. For example, a person may not be able to construct a grammatically correct sentence but he/she is able to convey their idea effectively and is understandable by others. Communication Accommodation Theory According to Howard Giles and Peter F. Powesland, accommodation through speech can be regarded as an attempt on the part of a speaker to modify or disguise his persona in order to make it more acceptable to the person addressed. (Speech Style and Social Evaluation, 1975, p. 158) When we speak to people from different age, status, culture, etc, we tend to switch to a mode which the person we are speaking to is comfortable in. For example, when speaking to babies, we tend to use simpler words and shorter sentences and this is called baby talk. On the other hand, when speaking to a professor, we tend to switch to a formal language and use jargons in the field that we specialise in. Maya Khemlani David (Tolerance and Communication in Multi-ethnic Malaysia) found that the particles lah and meh are used in informal settings to signify emphasis on something or to soften a speech act like requests. The data collected from her research found that even though the Chinese students in that particular school are proficient in English, they tend to code switch for many reasons such as to emphasis, to quote someone else, for distancing or making a formal complaint and to signify solidarity with members of their group. Hence, she concluded that her findings show that people from other ethnic groups accommodate and switch to a language they are comfortable in when communicating with each other. It is very common for us to use the particles lah, ah, mah, etc in our daily life because we are so used to them and we often use them in our daily conversation. These particles only exist in Malaysian English and Singapore English. However, what are the functions of these particles? Hence, this paper is going to examine the functions of these particles in a conversation. Method A 15 minute conversation was recorded and transcribed. The conversation was among four ladies aged 24 and they are all university graduates. They are proficient in English and Bahasa Malaysia. Besides that, they are also proficient in their mother tongue. The reason this conversation is used is because it was a casual conversation among them. Casual conversation is chosen over formal interviews because we tend to switch to a formal language when we are in a formal setting. Hence, the result of the study will not be accurate because in standard English, we do not use the particles. These particles only exist in casual conversations because there is a need for the speakers to accommodate with each other. The transcription was analysed for the discourse particles used throughout the 15 minute conversation. Results and Discussion Particle Number of times Examples Ah 18 You apply where ah? Your father drive ah? Three or four ah. Aiyah 1 Aiyahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Haiya 1 Haiya, just now we talked about Patricias video, we should record mah. Haiyo 2 Yea lah, haiyo. Haiyo, that one another big story lah. Hor 3 Just now he came horà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Then hor, he eat a lot you knowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Lah 37 Just say lah. I think is last minute work lah. Its always like that one lah. Leh 2 I dont know leh. The clutch is like, dont know lehà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Lor 4 Two lor got subtitle. The second day one ok lor, senyap lor. Mah 6 Lagi syok mah. Orang Teluk Intan mah ok lah. They should mention mah they give one weekà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Wei 1 What are you doing wei? Wor 4 Eh, so nice wor Pangkor. Cantik wor tempat tu. I forgotten already wor. From the transcription, 12 particles were identified, namely ah, aiyah, haiya, haiyo, hor, lah, leh, lor, mah, wei, and wor. Based on the result we can observe that the particle lah is the most frequently used particle followed by ah, mah, wor, loh, hor, leh, haiyo, aiyah, wei and haiya. Most of the particles derived from Chinese expressions like mah, wor, lor, hor, leh, haiyo, aiyah, wei and haiya. On the other hand, particle lah derived from Malay expression. The results show that the particles can be divided into five categories according to their functions which are; asking a question, affirming a statement, expressing disappointment, explaining something and expressing uncertainty. Function Particles Asking a question Ah, wei Affirming a statement Ah, lah, mah Expressing disappointment Aiyah, haiya, haiyo Explaining something Hor, wor Stress the obvious Lor Expressing uncertainty Leh Particle ah which is a common expression in Chinese, functions as filler or breaking points and it is used to bring out a question force like No point helping friends who are not interested, do you agree with that, ah? (Mohan K. Muniandy et al, 2010) The data collected shows that the subjects tend to attach the particle ah and wei in their questions like Your father drive ah? and What are you doing wei? Besides that, the data also shows that particle ah is used when the speaker affirms a statement like Three or four ah. Particle lah derived from colloquial Malay and they have various functions. For example, they are used in declarative sentences whose functions may be termed informational, which is to say the speakers purpose is to let the addressee know something like Aku ada appointment lah. (Goddard, 1994) This particle lah is now common feature of colloquial Malaysian or Singapore English and they are used widely in conversations. From the data collected, we can see that the speakers used the particle lah when they are affirming a statement like I think is last minute work lah. The speaker was trying to tell her addressee that she feels that the problem caused was due to last minute work. Particle mah derived from Chinese and it has similar function with lah that is to affirm a statement like They should mention mah they give one week which means that if the person addressed in the conversation is given one week to settle something, she should be informed earlier by the relevant authorities. Particles aiyah, haiya and haiyo have the same function, which is to express disappointment. For example, Haiya, just now we talked about Patricias video, we should record mah shows that the speaker is expressing disappointment because she did not record their conversation on her friends video clip. A browse into Urban Dictionary shows that the expression aiyah originates from the Cantonese expression of disappointment or displeasure when something bad or wrong happens. Wee (2002) noted that Cantonese has a particle lo which shows some similarities with Singapore English lor. Hence, particle lor might originate from Cantonese. There are numerous functions of particle lor but according to the examples from the transcription, particle lor was uttered when the speaker was trying to explaining something that is obvious to the other speakers. For example, Two lor got subtitle. Hence, lor in this example is to stress the obvious. (Wee, 2002) When explaining something, the subjects tend to use particles hor and wor like I forgotten already wor. The speaker is trying to explain that she has forgotten the important information when she was asked about something. Particle leh was used when the subjects was explaining uncertainty. It is also originate from Cantonese. For example, one of the subjects uttered I dont know leh when she was asked about something because she was uncertain on what is happening or how to answer the question asked. Conclusion We can observe that most of the sentences uttered by the subjects were not grammatically correct. However, according to Halliday, the meanings conveyed in the utterances were more important than the grammatical aspect of it. There are numerous reasons why the subjects code switch to the particles when conversing in an informal situation. The main reason lies in the Communication Accommodation Theory whereby the subjects accommodate with each other by using the particles in the sentences they utter and this is known as convergence accommodation. This is because, they are from different ethnicity and have different mother tongue, so they need a common language to communicate effectively and Malaysian English is chosen over Standard English because they are comfortable communicating in Malaysian English. From the data collected, we can observe that most of the particles derived from Chinese, specifically the Cantonese dialect and also from Bahasa Malaysia. Two of the subjects are Indians but they do not use any particles that originated from Tamil. One possible reason is that these particles are widely used in their community hence they picked up these particles and use them in their conversation to add a better feel towards the subject they are talking about. There are limited research studies regarding to the use of the particles in Malaysian English. Not much research has been done to identify the functions of the particles in our Malaysian context. There is a need to have research studies that can identify origins and functions of the particles correctly. There are also questions left unanswered in this topic like how does a person know what particle to use when conversing? As mentioned above, most of the particles originate from the Cantonese dialect, so, how does a person from a different ethnicity understand and know what particle to use when he/she communicates with other people?

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Persuasive Speech on Buying Local

According to Ronnie Cummings of In Motion Magazine, after several dozen consumers in Colorado were poisoned by E-coli feces in their burgers, 25 million pounds of hamburger meat had to be recalled from the Hudson Foods Corporation. Much of the E. coli found in meat appears to be a product of feedlot life of cattle getting a feedlot diet and living in their own manure. The feedlot lifestyle is a common practice of corporate manufactured meat. With that point in mind, I hope to persuade you all to research and buy local. Most food found in the grocery store is highly processed.Not just the ramen noodles or fruit loops, but the actual produce. Corporations use hormones, pesticides and antibiotics and genetic modification, which refer to a crop that is created for consumption using molecular biology techniques. According to the Food and Agriculture of the United Nations, GMOs can make us more resistant to antibiotics, is related to our increased allergies and can even cause mutation with in our genes. Also, According to Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, when the average American sits down to eat each ingredient has travelled at least 1,500 miles from farm to plate.Global climate change and war over resources are a few of the things resulting from all this shipping. Also, this travel requires the food to be â€Å"gassed† which stimulates the ripening process because the produce has been picked so prematurely causing the nutrients and quality to disintegrate. Now that I’ve discussed just a few of the reasons mass produced food isn’t ideal, here are some of the reasons to buy local and some options to implement. First of all buying locally helps reduce the impact we have on the environment.According to sustainable connections. com, buying locally helps to reduce the environmental impact. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution. We also help to keep the local economy healthy and thriving. Matt Embrey of green upgrader reports that when you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms.Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base. And as far as the health impact, buying your meat certified humane and local, ensures your purchasing meat that has a nutritious diet without antibiotics, or hormones, animals raised with shelter, resting areas, sufficient space and the ability to engage in natural behaviors according to eat wild. com There are many websites you can look up with directories of local owned business that implement healthy practices and keep things local.You can also participate in local co-ops which grow their own produce and share within the group. So now you know some of the ways buying locally benefits us all, as well as some of the ways to implement the solutions. Now let’s talk about what to expect from carrying these out. If we all took the time to do the easy research to buy local and support our community, we can visualize a healthy community both economically and physically. Less traffic and allergies and more fresh produce! According to greenupgrader. om one of the top reasons to buy local is because small local businesses are the largest employers nationally. Plus the more jobs you have in your local community the less people are going to have to commute which means more time and less traffic and pollution. Another benefit of buying local is Competition and diversity leads to more consumer choices. A marketplace of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term According to Michael Shuman of the book, Going Local, â€Å"Going local does not mean walling off the outside world.It means nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs. † These are just a few of the reasons I encourage all of us to research and support our local community.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Cults Essay

The word cult is often thrown around in todays society as a derogatory term towards religions that are not well known or have aspects that are contrary to mainstream religions. According to mainstream media, cults have been responsible for massive pact suicides, and their followers are incestual and polygamous. The mass media shows the leader as a manipulative person who controls his/her believers as they blindly follow, not knowing the trouble that will certainly find them † . cult’ has become little more than a convenient, if largely inaccurate and always pejorative, horthand for a religious group that must be presented as odd or dangerous for the purpose of an emerging news story. â€Å"(3) Douglas Cowan and David Bromley show the harsh reality of the way the majority of the media likes to portray cults, probably for better ratings. There are several main cults that are often referenced when researching the topic. The first being The People’s Temple, the found er Jim Jones had a following of 912, that all died (including him) by cyanide laced drinks in 1978. This was known as the Jonestown Massacre, controversy surrounds it as it is debated hether or not it was a mass suicide or murder. Another commonly referenced cult is Heaven’s Gate, a UFO doomsday religion that ended in a 39 member suicide in 1997 when the group was attempting to leave earth because they believed it was about to be â€Å"recycled†. To learn and understand what a cult is, I will be define a cult, what features make a cult and who the people are that Join them, as well as discuss the founders of these religions. What is the definition of a cult? Depending on the intent of the author defining the word cult proves a difficult task. The scholars on the ubject of cults seem to have two different approaches when studying this topic. There are those who are a part of the anticult movement and often use the word â€Å"cult† in a negative fashion towards any religion that has formed in recent history. Those apart of the anticult seem to skirt around the subject of defining a cult or explaining what a cult exactly consists of. We are given the feeling as though they do not want to define it as they may cast an umbrella over other mainstream religions that have a similar form. It is even often used to describe popular trends that will upposedly not last, veganism is a term that has been described as a cult fad. You can see how it is almost always used negatively, or as something that has no real substance and will not stand the test of time like other religions have. In contrast, there are those who do not use the word cult but prefer the term â€Å"New Religious Movements†. These scholars have a more objective opinion, and use New Religious Movements to â€Å"†¦ represent fascinating glimpses into the way human beings construct religious meaning and organize their lives to give shape to religious experience. † (Cowan, Bromley, 3). It is important to be subjective when using the word cult and for purposes of this paper I will define cult in my own words and state that there is a difference between cults and New Religious Movements. A cult is a form of religion that is deceitful towards its own members with the leader abusing their powers. Although there have been many mainstream religions that have had a leader abuse their powers, it is necessary to point out the ditterence, which is that in a cult the head of the religion is the source of all their religious knowledge and do not have other ways of getting to know the religion without them. In comparison, mass religions have many leaders, many forms of knowledge and you can attain religious beliefs through many forms, not only the one source. Keeping in mind that using the word cult subjectively is imperative to this process, it is still easy to find movements that can be categorized under my own definition of the word cult. These would include the previously mentioned religions of The People’s Temple and Heaven’s Gate. When looking at these and other cults there are often many characteristics that they do have in common. It is typical for the cult to have only one leader, â€Å".. ho claims divinity or a special mission entrusted to him from Above. † (Harrison, 19) A lot of cult leaders use the money from the followers for personal profit. There is a major sense of belonging that comes along with being a part of a cult. There are many religions that also share this but cults often want their members to have this feeling with them alone, and discourage involvement with others who are not in their religion. One author that I found that was willing to at least describe a cult relationship for the purposes of her book was Singer. SHe says there are three actors to cultic relationships, using that term better describes his viewings of interactions that go on in cults. The three factors are as follows: 1. The origin of the group and role of the leader 2. The power structure, or relationship between the leader (or leaders) and the followers 3. The use of coordinated program of persuasion (which is called thought reform, or, more commonly, brainwashing)† (7) You can see from the quote that this cultic relationship isn’t Just solely related to religion alone, Singer includes cults that are formed around doctrines, theories and practices, but states that other esearchers may not identify this exactly as she does. According to the scholars of new religious movements, â€Å".. roups that are labeled â€Å"cults† often closely resemble a variety of conventional organizations in which these same characteristics are accepted as legitimate or necessary: communes and intentional communities, convents, monasteries, and other high-commitment religious societies, multilevel marketing organizations and armed forces training and combat units†¦ † (Bromley, Cowan, 5). There could be many reasons why a person would Join a cult, they could e the same reason’s one Joins any faith based group; a person is looking to belong, or meet others with similar morals. A prime reason why a person would Join a cult is that they are not doing this knowing that what they are becoming apart of is in fact a cult. Cults often are established off of a Christian based structure with similar values, and practices. A person may attend a cult thinking it is another sect of Christianity. Members of a cult learn ways to recruit new members, a typical form of recruiting is called â€Å"love-bombing†, where members seek out non-members and shower them ith many forms of attention and affection. Basically, being extremely nice to others with the intent on conversion. Anticult members are quick to let the public know that recruiting for cults can happen anywhere, on campus, on buses and trains, or on the street, letting us know that we can be recruited literally everywhere. In actuality it looks as though most â€Å"recruitment† for cults is done through family members or close friends. When seeing that it is family and friends who do the majority of converting it is easy to see now people would Join. It is not as though the trusted group are trying o harm others by recruiting, they are trying to help and see that others are also going to â€Å"find the truth† in a sense. It is similar to the common practice of missions trips that many Christian religions take part in where they travel to underdeveloped parts of the world, converting people to Christianity and also helping the community in some way. The difference being, hopefully no abuse of power or deceitfulness by the religion. It isn’t always understood why one does Join a cult but it is probable to say each individual has their own personal reasons why, and somehow in a way that eligion is giving them whatever it is they may be looking for. Friends? Belonging? Maybe they don’t agree with morals of other religions and this cult matches up with the lifestyle that they lead. There is a lot of information pertaining to the large numbers of youth attending cults and New Religious Movements, particularly between the ages of 18 and 22. Lorne L. Dawson describes the demographic of youth as the typical â€Å"All American boy or girl†. â€Å"A profile of the typical cult member reveals that he or she is white, middle or upper class, with at least some college education and nominally religious upbringing. 85) It might seem surprising that a lot of followers come from this kind of back round, but when looked at a little more in depth you see that often these young adults have either parental issues or have had some sort of middleclass failures. Those with problems in communicating with their parents often look to the leader of the cult for guidance and use them as a parental fgure. Those have failed according to middle class norms seem to be searching for validation. A lot of followers Join the cults in times of vulnerability and much needed support from others. While you can say that almost everyone has come from back ounds where they have felt vulnerable at points and needed the support of others, it seems imperative that cults cling on to those who have these types of issues going on as well as the added factor of age to convert potential members. The time of young adulthood is when most people are beginning the process of learning who they are and to have a supportive, flattering, group surround them can be very influential to their life. For most cults there is only one leader although this is not always true, using the examples from earlier, Heaven’s Gate had two leaders; Marshall Applewhite nd Bettie who liked to be called Ti and Do. Often the leader(s) starts this religion after some form of miraculous religious conversion where they may have had a near death experience or a vision, there are many different stories of leaders getting the â€Å"call to prophecy’. The leaders of cults are always charismatic, and seem to have all the answers. In a time in peoples lives when they are looking for affirmation it is easy to be drawn to someone who knows it all, and can give the yes and no answers. The leader forms very personal relationships with his followers, which sometimes turns sexual. As cults grow the leader is not always able to be so intimate with each member, and this can become problematic for the cult. In response when cults’ members become larger, the leader will start to segregate himself from the following, only allowing access to certain members who have earned that right. The leader becomes a sort of local celebrity in the eyes of the followers, and like celebrities, their fans stand by them even when arguments against their religious beliefs become even more valid. It is hard to say why a person may start a cult, money could be a huge contributing factor. Or the idea of a group of followers hanging onto every word d by the tounder may be exactly what a true narcissist is looking tor. Out ot all the New Age Religions it is hard to exactly pin point out which ones can be classified as a cult, in history, different Christian denominations have been labelled as cults and paid a price for it. In the nineteenth century The Salvation Army was labelled as a cult and its members were stoned, now it is viewed as a respected and legitimate faith base. So to stamp a religion that hasn’t been researched to its full extent can be harmful, and not fair to its members. To be close minded to the idea of new religious movements could erase the idea of religion altogether, as many religions are stuck in the past and not embracing the progressiveness of the times. If a religion is not abusing their powers or being harmful to its members who is to say that it cannot be fulfilling for someone who is looking for more in their life and doesn’t connect to mass religions? It is important to teach people to be able to question ideas and to critically think on new and old perspectives, hopefully by doing so people will not so easily be a part of such self-destructive religious groups. I work in the field of homeless and mental health and have met many clients who see themselves as closer to God than the rest of humankind so it is very plausible to me for cult leaders to truly believe that what they are doing is the right way to live, and the only way to live. All religions have outsiders who will say anything to bring that religion into a bad light, it is with great importance that we carefully and kindly dissect the true intent on all religions, not Just new age religions.