The Character Quoyle in Annie Proulxs The Shipping News...

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure - Sven Goran Eriksson. Success is an achievement in life which most people would be appreciative towards, but failure is looked upon in a disgraceful manner. People in society tend to face many challenges that occur in their daily lives. Some of these challenges can affect their lives dramatically in a positive or negative way. If one decides not to surmount their challenges they will suffer within themselves for a long period of time. Having confidence within is considered the greatest way to overcome suffering in life. In the novel, The Shipping News, by Annie Proulx, Quoyle deals with many difficult challenges along his life journey by suffering from bad childhood experiences†¦show more content†¦Quoyle, the main character in the novel, had a rough childhood which was one of the main reasons towards his low confidence level. Quoyle would always get pushed around and walked on which is just like the meaning of his name , Quoyle is a rope that is always tangled together and usually on the floor where people step all over it, which is very similar to Quoyle as a character because his life is also tangled and confusing and he too gets walked all over and pushed around by others. A quote that illustrates how Quoyle felt about his childhood would be, ?This gave me an uneasy feeling, the feeling of standing on a playground watching others play games whose rules I didn?t know.? (Proulx, 63) This demonstrates that even as an adult Quoyle had bad memories as a child that is locked into his mind. Quoyle?s physical appearance has been a great embarrassment for him because he feels as if he is ?ugly? because of his ?monstrous chin? as he calls it and it is shown in the novel that Quoyle hates his chin as well, ?Quoyle put his hand over his chin.? (Proulx, 20) This is one of the constant actions Quoyle does which shows that he is unhappy with his outer appearance. As a child Quoyle has always been isolated, he would always get teased, picked on and pushed around by other and most of the time it would be his brother and father. One of the main reasons he disliked his family was becauseShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence â€Å"Mark. In Annie Proulx’s The800 Words   |  4 Pagesneed two things: ignorance and confidence â€Å"Mark. In Annie Proulx’s The Shipping News the main character Quoyle suffers from a lack of confidence which had started when he was very young being picked on at school and getting harassed at home by his father and brother they were the ones responsible for Quoyles terrible self-image. Quoyles experiences made him think that he cannot do anything right and thinks he will never amount to anything. Quoyle changes from a quiet introvert to a confident individualRead MoreThe Shipping News by Annie Proulx-Navigating the Global Hsc English Extension 11874 Words   |  8 PagesExtension English 1- Assessm ent Task 2-The Shipping News-Task 2(a) Formal Response-By Henri Rutherford Annie Proulx’s prose fiction novel ‘The Shipping News’ explores the complexities of individual’s navigation in our modern and increasingly globalised society. Proulx would agree with the statement ‘The global cannot be all bad nor the local all good. In our lives today, the two must coexist and we must learn to navigate both’, and her text provides evidence to this effect. The novel does notRead MoreThe Impact of Globalization on the World Essay1176 Words   |  5 Pagescommunities can gain from the influence of globalisation, an intrusion of global values upon small local communities can result in confusion and loss of sense of identity amongst individuals. Sophia Coppola’s film ‘lost in translation’, Annie Proulx novel ‘The Shipping News’ and novel ‘the God of Small Things’ by Arandhati Roy all explore the challenges that individuals and communities face in accepting a balance between the local a nd the global and using this balance to find direction. Lost in TranslationRead MoreRobertson Davies Fifth Business, Anne Proulxs The Shipping News, Michael Ondaatjes In the Skin of a Lion, and Jack Hodgins The Invention of the Wo4018 Words   |  17 Pagesfactor in ones identity because place shapes character and events. Robertson Davies Fifth Business, E. Anne Proulxs The Shipping News, Michael Ondaatjes In the Skin of a Lion, and Jack Hodgins The Invention of the World use myth and lore to describe the obstacles which the protagonists and others must get over or confront in order to recover their perspective identities. Place anchors the novels in Canada: Fifth Business in Ontario, The Shipping News in Newfoundland, In the Skin of a Lion in Toronto

Social Media And Democracy - 1665 Words

Social Media and Democracy: From King Street to Wall Street and from classrooms to boardrooms, there is a revolution happening and it is being driven by how we communicate with each other and by the unprecedented rise of what is commonly called â€Å"social media†. (Dictionary.com, 2014) Social Media is the use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users, or to find people with similar interests to one s own. (Dictionary.com, 2014) A business, also known as an enterprise or a firm, is an organization involved in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. The historic invisible walls of the Internet are being broken down daily, locally and globally. Social media touches nearly every facet of our personal and business lives so it’s imperative for social media to be an integral part of a company’s overall strategy, a business’s overall success will be partly owed to the success of their social media use. Social media will be a business’s customer today, tomorrow, their employees and others. The currency in social media isn’t dollars or euros; it’s meaningful engagement, participation and value that rule a business’s day. The World Wide Web is being categorized by billions of users across the world and if businesses want a say in how they want to be categorized they need to participate with the appropriate currency. (Forbes, 2014) In April 2009 the Ford Motor Company launched an ambitious new marketing campaign called the ford fiesta movementShow MoreRelatedSocial Media And Democracy :1665 Words   |  7 PagesSocial Media and Democracy: From King Street to Wall Street and from classrooms to boardrooms, there is a revolution happening and it is being driven by how we communicate with each other and by the unprecedented rise of what is commonly called â€Å"social media†. (Dictionary.com, 2014) Social Media is the use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users, or to find people with similar interests to one s own. (Dictionary.com, 2014) A business, also known as an enterprise orRead MoreDemocracy Is Not An Exception1681 Words   |  7 Pagesbirthplace of modern democracy, is not an exception. As Peter Dahlgren mentions, democracy is for and about its citizens, and therefore a certain degree of civic involvement is a necessary and sufficient condition for its prosperity (2009, 14p) If the lower level of participation in democracy continues, the word democracy, originated from demos (the people) in Greek, should be changed to elite-carcy or pauci-cracy. In order to retain a higher lev el of participation in democracy, some Habermasian scholarsRead MoreThe Positive And Negative Effects Of Social Media991 Words   |  4 PagesWhen someone says the words â€Å"social media†, many people immediately think about posts and likes, comments and messages, a way to connect with your friends from far away and other positive thoughts. However, some of our political leaders have been using social media to their advantage, using sites such as twitter to influence people to vote for their party. Fake news also is very easy to spread on social media, causing propaganda to increase in our society. In our democratic society, we believe thatRead MoreDemocracy And The Age Of Information Abundance Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy in the age of information abundance: The impact of new technologies to our democratic political system Introduction Never before, in the history of time, has our ability to collaborate and communicate on a massive scale been so achievable. (Papay Timby, 2014) With the emergence of new technologies, there are more individuals that can have better access to media and information. Experts believe that to some extent it strengthens democracy as there are more numbers of individuals takingRead More Implications of Capitalism on Objective News Content1397 Words   |  6 Pagesit can also have a detrimental impact. Inaccurate news stories, sensationalized material, and manipulation through the media are all repercussions of the effects of capitalism. Capitalism’s influence in the media skews content in favour of the market, preventing the public from access to democratic, objective news content. Too often, capitalist influence dominates the media market through conglomerate control, structured by the ever-growing desire to gain capital, treating the audience as a commodityRead MoreThe s Criteria Of Voting Equality And Effective Participation1400 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States of America is one of the oldest contemporary democ racies, is currently the second largest democracy, and is ranked the 16th best democracy in the world (Campbell et. Al, 2014). Yet there is a legitimate question over whether or not the United States can still truly be considered a democracy, with some studies even suggesting it has begun to resemble an oligarchy (Chumley, 2014). In this essay, I will use Dahl’s criteria of voting equality and effective participation to determineRead MoreSocial Media and Democratic Reform868 Words   |  4 Pages Social Media and Democratic Reform I) In this paper I prove that the TedTalk related to Political and Cultural Globalization by focusing on social media use in The Pro-democracy Revolution and how it has affected democratic reformation. A) A comparative essay between the Jasmine Revolution of Tunisia and the Jasmine Revolution of China. B) How social media affected the outcomes of both of the revolutions. 1) Social Media was the leading force in Tunisia 2) Social Media did not win the ChineseRead MoreTraditional Media And New Media891 Words   |  4 Pagesis online. New media such as blogging, social media and the internet creates this possibility. However this has introduced an argument where the new media appears as a space for every citizen in a democracy to participate in the public conversation. The internet is deploying political influence, elevating political involvement and questioning the monopoly of traditional elites. The main idea being that new media is able to generate dissenting voice of every citizen. Hence new media appears as somethingRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Democracy1317 Words   |  6 PagesThe Media’s Influence on Democracy Media is an extremely popular tool of communication this most of the world use often. Media has many different forms that makes it easy for people to gain access to it. Media can be seen on used on internet site such as twitter and news websites, on television, radio, and newspapers. The public doesn’t have to look very hard to get in contact with some form of media. Media can be a powerful tool because of the involvement it has when many people’s lives. ThisRead MoreThe Main Components Of A Democratic Political System1388 Words   |  6 PagesAbraham Lincoln perfectly touches upon the essence of democracies. In this essay, I will describe the different types and aspects, as well as the components of a democratic political system. Then, I will explain how they can be undermined through the abuse of power, money, inequality, and, of course, the media. The purpose of this list is not to be exhaustive, but for the sake of this essay, I will limit myself to the above. The term Democracy comes from the Greek language, and means ruled by

Playstation free essay sample

â€Å"Sony Drops Price of Playstation 3† Assignment 2 Week 3: Industry Analysis The article â€Å"Sony Drops Price of Playstation 3† discusses Sony’s Playstation 3 and its strategy with cutting the price of its PlayStation 3 by 25%, from $399. 99 to $299. 99. This is a business decision by Sony with hopes that it will generate increased demand for a videogame console that has undersold compared to Microsoft’s X Box 360 and the Nintendo Wii. As the gaming continues to grows, the Threat of Entries continues to grow. As technology in this industry continues to advance, more competitors want to enter the market, and with online gaming portals now becoming used more often by gamers, the competition from the new gaming experiences continues to grow. With the Playstation 3 now lowering its price, they are trying to compete with x box 360 and the Nintendo Wii. The Bargaining Power of buyers in regards to Sony’s Playstation 3 and in this industry is very high. We will write a custom essay sample on Playstation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As more competitors enter the market with newer games and models, the consumer has to decide between which gaming console they want and weigh benefits each console has to offer them The competitive Rivalry in this industry is very high mostly due to the bargaining power of the bargaining power of the buyers. The rivalry is high because Playstation 3 and x Box 360 and Wii are looking for every competitive advantage they can get because consumers are looking for the best console at the best deal, plus most consumers now stay loyal to one brand of gaming console . As soon as Sony announced its price cut of the Playstation 3, Microsoft announced a price cut with its x Box 360 console. This demonstrates that the competitiveness of this industry, with this particular incident resulting in lowering of prices. When it comes to the Bargaining power of the suppliers, this factor is very low, as there is not a huge impact of this factor unless there is some major component of a gaming console that would be needed to complete production of the product. When it comes to replacing a Playstation 3, the Threat of Substitutes in the gaming industry with the Playstation 3 is increasing and high. Not only does Sony have to compete with console competitors in Microsoft and Nintendo, but now Mobile games are becoming a huge threat to Sony. With more gamers also playing games online, this has also impacted Sony and the Playstation 3. Playing games online can sometimes offer more diversity and comfort. The gaming industry and the airlines industry share similarities and differences, both industries are highly competitive. The bargaining power for suppliers is low, as the airlines are not too profitable in some cases, thus leaving them with fewer options to sell to. The power for suppliers is low for gaming industry as many of these companies can find alternative resources for their products. With the gaming industry, the main options for gaming consoles leave consumers with only a few other choices leaving the bargaining power for buyers low. The same can be said for airlines, as only certain airlines fly to certain locations. The threat of new entrants is high, as when one airline is folding, another one can come into that market. The same can be said with the gaming industry, especially with the increase of mobile and online gaming being a threat to the Playstation 3. The threat of substitutes with airlines is moderate, as the only other option for long distance traveling are car,boat,bus,or train, ad most consumers prefer convenience when it comes to flying long distances, as compared to the gaming industry where the threat of substitutes is high and increasing with mobile games and online games increasing in popularity.

Personal Statement for Chemical Engineering Essay Example

Personal Statement for Chemical Engineering Paper The world hasnt been connected ever so strongly before than today as the planet earth has turned out to be a global village and people are trying their best to go beyond and further. I want to be a part of this ever growing world and think the best way to discover more of It is through applying our knowledge Into more of Industrial process . My ambition to become an chemical engineer grew right from my childhood as all I heard about was new Industries being developed -My Interest In his field was further enhanced by my ability to combine chemistry and mathematics to solve many different applications whether it is simple calculation or major and complex practical projects in the laboratory. I have also researched a lot about this field and was impressed by the very basics such as how many tests a product goes through in a laboratory. I have been an excellent student during my schooling career as my grades in reflect that. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Statement for Chemical Engineering specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Statement for Chemical Engineering specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Statement for Chemical Engineering specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Apart from this, my Interest in sports and extra-curricular activities form the base of my all round abilities. I was also a member of the school prosecutorial board, which constitutes of the elite students of the school, as I was elected to be the house captain of one of the four houses In my school. Honored by the prestigious position given to me, I led my house as an example to win many Inter- house events such as basketball, football and cricket. This surely proves my ground breaking leadership excellence. Moreover I was selected in the inter-school football am to represent my school and won many trophies. I have also been actively involved in many social events such as cries never heard which was organized red crescent to raise money for the people of Bosnia and Palestine. My participation in various quiz competitions and debates not only improved my public speaking aptitude but also helped me develop sound knowledge in various other fields. Last year I had to take a gap year because of some personal circumstances and I was supposed how much difference It made In me. I took an Annihilate to travel around the country I am reselling In and came to know more about the many different aspects of the culture and language dialects that I thought never existed before-This not only enhanced my already good communication skills as I met many different people of different age backgrounds. Moreover I got a major boost in my confidence and teamwork skills as I did a part time Job in outdoor surveying. Teaching was another activity that I did during the year and it made me a more mature student in terms of honking out of the box and researching more about my subjects. I also spent time stretching my sporting abilities through swimming, football, table tennis, tennis and many other outdoor activities which for sure kept my mind and my body healthy and strong throughout the year. With the above mentioned qualities I hope my application will be successful, as I know I have the potential to do well at higher education. I am sure that your university will help me able to nurture my talents and fulfill my future ambitions to reach ten next level In chemical engineering

Agricutlral machinery Greece essays

Agricutlral machinery Greece essays The agriculture of Hellensitic Italy was transformed not only by the introduction of a large number of technical innovations, but also by a profound structural change. The last 2 centuries BC witnessed decisive steps towards the establishment of large scale estates, latifundia, which were to play an important role in the course of the empire. Even though the cultivation units remained relatively small for a long period, there was gradual transition to more extensive farming, largely based on slave labour. Fortunately, we are able to gain a detailed insight into the agricultural life of the time. About 160BC, a Roman statesman, Cato the Censor (234BC-149BC) wrote a book called De agricultura ("About Agriculture"). It is not a well arranged manual, but rather a collection of unconnected notes comprising, apart from general instructions and a mention of religious customs, a description of two of Cato's own estates near the border of Latium and Campania. One farm - with an extent of 240 iugera (about 60ha. or 150 acres), managed by 13 people (mainly slaves) - specialised in the cultivation of olives. The other specialised in viticulture, occupied 100 iugera (about 25ha. or 60 acres) and was managed by 16 people. Even though the descriptions refer to these two particular farms, they are doubtless fairly representative of normal cultivation units in Late Republican Italy. Besides workers and animals, all kinds of tools and equipment are listed, including the precise number of spades, axes, tongs, working tables and so on used at each farm. As well as this, specialised agricultural equipment, Cato describes a series of machines, showing that - in spite of his well-known aversion to everything foreign - he was perfectly aware of the recent The olives were crushed in 5 edge-runner mills (trapeta1) of various sizes (a recent invention), and the pulp was then transferred to five presses of the most recent models, ...

House by Tracy Kidder, A Short Review of the Book

House by Tracy Kidder, A Short Review of the Book House by Tracy Kidder is the compelling true story of the construction of a home in Massachusetts. He takes his time with details, describing it all in over 300 pages- the evolution of the design, the negotiations with builders, the groundbreaking, and the roof raising. But, dont look to this book for floor plans or building instructions. Instead, author Tracy Kidder focuses on the human aspirations and struggles behind the project. Facts That Read Like Fiction Tracy Kidder is a journalist who is renown for his literary nonfiction. He reports on actual events and real people by creating a story for the reader. His books include the best-selling Soul of a New Machine, Home Town, Old Friends, and Among School Children. When Kidder worked on House, he immersed himself into the lives of the key players, listening to their squabbles and recording minute details of their lives. He is a reporter who tells us the story. The result is a non-fiction work that reads like a novel. As the tale unfolds, we meet the clients, the carpenters, and the architect. We eavesdrop on their conversations, learn about their families, and peek into their dreams and self-doubts. Personalities often clash. The complex dynamics are dramatized in five sections, spanning from the signing of the contract to the moving day and the uneasy final negotiations. If the story seems real, its because it is real life. Architecture as Drama House is about people, not floor plans. Tensions mount as contractor and client quibble over small sums. The architects search for an ideal design and the clients selection of decorative details take on a sense of rising urgency. As each scene unfolds, it becomes apparent that House is not only the story of a building: The construction project is the framework for exploring what happens when we put a running meter on a dream. Truth Behind the Story Although House reads like a novel, the book includes just enough technical information to satisfy a readers architectural curiosity. Tracy Kidder researched the economics of housing, the properties of lumber, the architectural styles of New England, Jewish building rituals, the sociology of building, and the development of architecture as a profession. Kidders discussion of the importance of Greek Revival styles in America could stand on its own as a classroom reference. Yet, as a testament to Kidders craftsmanship, the technical details do not bog down the plot of the story. History, sociology, science, and design theory are woven seamlessly into the narrative. A comprehensive bibliography closes the book. You can get a flavor for Kidders prose in a short excerpt published in The Atlantic, September 1985. Decades later, well after Kidders book and the house was built, the reader can continue the story, because, after all, this is nonfiction. Kidder already had a Pulitzer Prize under his belt when he took on this project. Fast forward to the homeowner, lawyer Jonathan Z. Souweine, who died of leukemia in 2009 at the young age of 61. The architect, Bill Rawn, went on to create an impressive portfolio for William Rawn Associates after this venture, his first residential commission. And the local building crew? They wrote their own book called The Apple Corps Guide to the Well-Built House. Good for them. The Bottom Line You wont find how-to instructions or construction manuals in House. This is the book to read for insight into the emotional and psychological challenges of building a home in 1980s New England. It is the story of well-educated, well-to-do people from a specific time and place. It will not be everyones story. If you are now in the midst of a building project, House may strike a painful chord. The financial woes, the strained tempers, and the deliberation over details will seem uncomfortably familiar. And, if you are dreaming of building a home or pursuing a career in the building professions, watch out: House will shatter any romantic illusions you may have. But while the book spoils the romance, it may save your marriage ... or at least, your pocketbook. Buy on Amazon Originally published by Houghton Mifflin, October 1985, House has become a staple at library book sales. Paperback by Mariner Books, 1999. ~Reviewed by Jackie Craven Related Books: The Apple Corps Guide to the Well-Built House by Jim Locke, 1988Buy on Amazon The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton, 2008Buy on Amazon Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, 2008Buy on Amazon The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder, 1981, 2000Buy on Amazon

The malden court Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The malden court - Essay Example There is also no restriction to the use of legal materials in the court house, thus an individual can trace the laws applicable in different cases from the legal materials, and then observe how they are being interpreted by the judges and how they are applied in determining different types of cases presented to the court. The advantage associated with this aspect is that; a learner is able to participate in the court process fully, since they can easily trace the laws the laws that the judges, the defense and the prosecutors are applying in the cases before the court, and thus help the learner from being disoriented. It is through tracing the laws applicable in a case and seeing how such laws are interpreted and applied, that a learner is able to fully understand them. Thus, this is one of the major strength associated with The Malden District court, since it serves to indicate the transparency of the judicial system applicable here. The act of the court to allow the attendance of th e court proceedings by any interested party is a major step towards enhancing judicial transparency, since it indicates that the court is being honest in its dealings and it invites any interested party to evaluate its performance regarding its processes. While allowing the public or any interested parties an opportunity to learn the law through the court process, it also allows for the opportunity for scrutiny and evaluation of performance by the interested parties, raising the bar of The Malden court regarding the concept of transparency. However, the major weakness associated with The Malden District court, or at least with one of the case that I attended during my visit to the court is that; the judge did not give explanations regarding the case she was handling. The judge just read out the ruling of the court, gave out the verdict and the type of punishment that the defendant was to face, without clearly giving the judicial reasoning and the laws applicable in determining the c ase. Despite the fact that the other case that I heard attended, which was presided by a different judge, was characterized by the explanation of the judicial ruling, citing the laws applicable and the reason for which the defendant was to be sentenced accordingly, this particular case was handled differently. The judge just gave some files to the defense team, then read out the ruling and the punishment, and then adjourned the court, with a brief explanation that the reasons for the verdict given in the case were already supplied to the defense team. With that, the judge was through with the case. That did not work very well for the individuals who attended the court with a desire to learn something. This is because; they could not understand what laws were applied in the case, how they were interpreted and how they suited into the circumstances and context of the case, to warrant the judgment that the judge gave. The other aspect of the weaknesses that was noticeable in this case is that; the judge was too fast while announcing out the crimes and the punishment, while also using a light tone that was too low, which made it difficult for the individuals attending the court to understand everything that judge was saying. Thus, the weakness of The Malden District court, as displayed in this particular c

Computer Ethics and Its Issues That Concern IT Professionals Essay

Computer Ethics and Its Issues That Concern IT Professionals - Essay Example Computer professionals need to know the boundaries of using the confidential information to avoid invasion of the people's privacy. The basics still settles down into knowing what is good and evil. One of the most basic and the most significant requirement of man is ethics. In order for him to understand the nature of good and evil, he has to have ethics that would explain to him these two opposing ideas. Doing what is right and what is wrong is determined by a person's ethics. Bahm (1994) defines ethics as a science that involves theory and practice. The theories derived out of a person's behaviour should as well be tested and clarified based from the resulting situation. At the same time, both personal and social aspects of man are interdependent such that each individual has his or her own values that enable him to tell whether the choices he made are right or wrong. Because of his values innate in him - for which the concept of ethics was drawn from - is dictated by man's oughtness which "consists in the power that an apparently greater good has over an apparently lesser good, or an apparently lesser evil has over an apparently greater evil, or an apparent good had over an apparent evil, in compelling choices" according to Bahm. Thus, man's choices are dictated by his values for which ethics evaluates and judges, and eventually be practised by his oughtness. (Bahm, p 27, 1994) Ethics isEthics is used to criticise, defend, promote, justify and suggest moral concepts and to answer the questions that concerns morality. (http://www.galilean-library.org/int11.html, para 2, Sept. 21, 2006) Moreover, Baase's (2003) concept of ethics is as simple and as basic as "doing the right thing." Therefore, behaving ethically goes down to the most common and the simplest basis of human good - that is being honest, keeping promises, doing the job well, and not stealing. Ethics had become popular in studying philosophy even during the ancient times. Furthermore, it has been continuously studied and given as much attention since it plays a major role in the formation of man's personality and the society as well where man is a member of. The role of man in the society, therefore, made ethics an important issue that needs to be given as much attention. Since ethics is generally an extensive theme, philosophers break it into several branches that cater to the different aspects of life. Some of these branches of ethics are business ethics, medical ethics, educational ethics, law and order ethics, and so on. Depending on the nature of the ethical branch, a set of codes are identified. Computer Ethics A. History In the 1940's, during the World War II, MIT professor Norbert Wiener saw the social and ethical consequences concerning the technologies used at that time. Therefore, he decided to create a new field of research he called "cybernetics" - the science of information feedback system. He was well aware even before the atomic

The tragic Hero Essay Example for Free

The tragic Hero Essay Oedipus, the classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles, is one in which the protagonist is portrayed as a tragic hero. The author does this by combining the elements of irony, personal tragedy and heroism. In the play, Oedipuss character evokes pity because of his misfortune appears to be greater than he deserves hence the reader is left to empathise with him. His actions are controlled by fate and the reader is left to wonder why such a terrible thing is happening to such a good man. Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely. Humans seem to have a common running trait, and that is one of power and heroism. The quest for heroism becomes the basis of Oedipus the Kings demise. If this power however gets into ones mind, the results could be detrimental, and Oedipus the King is a living testimony of this. Since his actions are controlled by fate, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot prevent good or bad things from happening to him. Since fate is cannot be prevented from taking its course, his actions are quite futile. Aristotle said A tragic hero evokes our pity and terror if he is neither thoroughly good nor thoroughly evil but a mixture of both. The tragic effect is stronger if the hero is more mortal than we are. Oedipus is a mixture of both good and evil. In the opening scene he is seen as a compassionate king who is intelligent and caring. Oedipus prides himself on his intelligence and it is this along with his questioning personality that lead to his downfall. These are his good sides with his evil side being that is guilty of killing King Laois and sleeping with his own mother. Oedipus tries his best to be morally upright with everything that he does, which is more than the average person does. Aristotle also goes on to say the tragic hero suffers a change in fortune from happiness to misery because an error in judgement which leaves the tragic hero to ignore or violate a divine warning or moral law. In the play, Oedipus runs away form Corinth to Thebes and solves the riddle of the sphinx and is thus made the king of Thebes. He however marries the widowed queen and has children with her thus violating a moral law. His fortune changes from happiness to misery when he realises what he has done. A tragic hero evokes our pity because he is not evil and his misfortune is greater than he deserves. He evokes our fear because we realise we are fallible and could make the same error said Aristotle. Oedipus is flawed in many ways and as a result comes out as imperfect since he has a balance mixture of both good and evil. His fortune in saving Thebes becomes his downfall when he fulfils the oracle by sleeping with the queen, who unknown to him is his mother. Oedipus is imperfect and this is seen through his moral and physical flaws. He limps as a result of his feet being pinned together when he was quite young. Unknowingly sleeping with his mother and killing his father is his moral flaw. Thus, combining the heroism of Oedipus with his flaws makes him imperfect though higher than the ordinary man in many ways. Sophocles portrays the result, a classic example of a tragic hero in this play. Sophocles use of irony throughout the play brings to bear on the reader the gloom of Oedipuss situation. We constantly find Oedipus trying to escape the Oracle, but in doing so, ends up fulfilling it. This is seen when he says in the opening scene Everybody everywhere knows who I am. This ironic statement is said in the opening scene of the play when Oedipus comes out to meet the people. His true identity is unknown to him but he exclaims that everyone else knows who he is. Also, since he is such a great riddle solver, you would think he would be able to solve the riddle of his identity but he is unable to in the sight of overwhelming evidence, which is quite ironic. An example of the irony of his fate is when his parents try to prevent the oracle form being fulfilled by sending him away to be killed. He however returns and on his way fulfils the oracle by killing his father and later on marrying his mother. It seems strange to the reader that Oedipus is not more careful about what he does. For example, when he killed king Laois at the crossroads, he should have realised with the oracle in mind that anybody he kills is likely to be his father. He however reacts carelessly by succumbing to his emotions when the King annoys him. Oedipus returns to Thebes and saves it by solving the riddle of the sphinx. However, he leads to its destruction since he is the cause of the plague. It is destroying themes. Thus his fortune tends to be his misfortune. These examples show how Oedipus fulfils the oracle even though he is trying to escape. The reader gets a haunting glimpse into the mindset of Oedipuss wife and mother. This is portrayed to the reader through the actions that she takes. She is a woman who after all who wanted want to kill her son to prevent the oracle from being fulfilled only to find out years later that she is married to him, which leads her to commit suicide later on. She expresses her disbelief in the oracles by telling Oedipus that they are powerless, however, in the next scene she is praying to the oracles to help Oedipus to stop his strange behaviour. Also in this scene, a messenger brings news from Corinth that Polybos is dead and Oedipus should return to Corinth. Though Oedipus is pleased about the kings death since he proves that the oracles dont come true. Yet still he refuses to return because Merope is alive. His fear is that he will fulfil the prophecy since his mother is alive. Oedipus, remains a mystery to both the reader and himself. He does not know his true identity and this becomes the source of his demise. He comes to find out his true identity, but in doing so, his sudden tragic end is brought closer. The reader at this point is left to wonder, what is the way out. Unfortunately, the answer as we come to realise in the latter parts of the book is one that is not easy. Fate has already chosen Oedipuss destiny and nothing can change it. A feature of tragic plays by Shakespeare. The writer connotes a certain sombre picture and depressing mood, which is characteristic of most of Shakespearean tragedies. The employments of understatements that lead to humour are also evident in most parts of the text, and this makes for an interesting reading. For example throughout the play, there are references to sight such as, you cannot see, yet you know the nature of this plague and light, o light, light now everything is clear which are ironic because Oedipus blinds himself later on. Also, the blind prophet Teireseis knows about Oedipususs true identity but Oedipus who isnt physically blind does not know his true identity. His servant Kreon whose name means king is also an irony since he turns form a messenger to a king. Throughout the play, there are references to sight such as, you cannot see, yet you know the nature of this plague and light light, light now everything is clear which are ironic because Oedipus blinds himself later on. Also, the blind prophet Teireseis knows about Oedipususs true identity but Oedipus who isnt physically blind does not know his true identity. His servant Kreon whose name means king is also an irony since he turns form a messenger to a king There are three hero archetypes that suit the character of Oedipus; The quest, the initiation and the sacrificial scapegoat. Oedipus delivers Thebes by solving the riddle of the sphinx and thus fulfils the first archetype which is that of a hero who who solves an unanswerable riddle to save his kingdom. He does this on his journey to discover his true identity. The second archetype is that of the phase of separation. This happens when he leaves Thebes, is transformed and returns to become king and save his kingdom. The third archetype is when in order to save Thebes he has to banish himself from the kingdom to restore it back to fruitfulness. This has the elements of a tragedy because no matter the decision he makes he it is going to be detrimental to him. Even though Irony plays a crucial role, other elements such as heroism and tragedy come in the text. We find Oedipus entangled by his own principles. He is always in that twilight zone, one between acceptance of the harsh reality and total rejection of the things he goes through. The choice of the latter is detrimental to both his character and that of the people he leads and governs and he thus chooses the former remaining a true tragic hero.

cochlear implants Essay -- essays research papers fc

Cochlear Implants   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A cochlear implant is an electronic device that restores hearing for people anywhere from hard of hearing to the profoundly deaf. The cochlear implant is surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear. The surgeon puts the electrode array inside the inner ear and than inside the cochlea. The implant works by a device outside the ear, which rests on the skin behind the ear. It is held upright by a magnet and is also connected by a lead to a sound professor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What happens when you get a cochlear implant? First, you are given an injection to make you fall asleep. Once youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re asleep the hair behind your ear is shaved off. Then you have the operation tat usually lasts from 2-4 hours. The doctor cuts behind your ear and puts the implant into the bone right there. Next he places an electrical array the curls inside your cochlea. When you wake up you are sent home for a few days to rest. After you are all rested you go to an audiologist to get the sound professor programmed. The sound professor is a main part is allowing you to hear when you have a cochlear implant and when ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not in, you wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t hear anything. Once the sound professor is programmed you with be able to hear. The cochlear implant uses a much different method to enable a person to hear opposed to a normal hearing ear. The cochlear implant has five parts; a microphone, sound processor, head piece, implant and hearing nerve. The...

Difference Between Fasb and Iasb Essay

Major similarities between FASB and IASB: Same organizational structure FASB and IASB are each belongs to an organization that has four main bodies. Also, the internal structure and responsibility assignment of these organizations are basically the same. FASB and IASB are the standard setting board of the organizations. Other three parts of the organizations are there to support the standard setting process, such as selecting board members and deal with emergency issues (Kieso, et al. , p7-9). In addition, both boards have members from varies industries including accounting, finance, business and academia (Virginia Law & Business Review, fall 2008, p283). Private entities Both boards are private entities that have been assigned the role and responsibility of developing and deploying Accounting Standards (Virginia Law & Business Review, fall 2008, p284). By private, it means the standard setting process is not affected by politics. However, since the governments are also relying on standard set by these private institutions, both FASB and IASB are sensitive to politics to varies degree. Similar procedure of making rules Despite any internal and external influences, the procedure of drafting and publishing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are similar. Generally, the process is as follows: discuss whether to add new project to agenda mostly based on recommendations from investors; plan for the project; draft the standard; vote and publish the standard once it is approved(FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board, n. d). However, since each board has different members and they are setting rules based on its own investor’s concern, also by other external influences, they produce distinct rules. Differentiations between FASB and IASB: Scope of operations The jurisdiction of the IASB could be the whole world of commerce and industry, include EU nations and states, the latter is confined mainly to the United States and its trade partners (Virginia Law & Business Review, fall 2008, p303). Because of this, the citizenship of the trustees has become a problem. The IASC Foundation has huge pressure of balancing the culture background of the board member; nevertheless, European members are still the majority of the board with a proportion of nearly 50% (Virginia Law & Business Review, fall 2008, p307-308). This problem shows that the IASB standard setting has more outside interference. Political settings Different political settings for FASB and IASB authorized them different degree of independence. In the US, the standards set by FASB are implemented unless the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) interferes and prevents it for being accepted. However, in the case of IASB, standards set by the IASB do not gain value and authority unless these are passed by the European Commission (EC) (Virginia Law & Business Review, fall 2008, p291). Funding The FASB is now financed through an obligatory contribution system, and therefore sheltered against financial influence. The IASB is financially depending on noncompulsory contribution from financial institutions, thus there is relatively huge financial pressure on IASB. Recently IASB has taken significant steps to widen the source of funding but the degree of mprovement varies from countries (Virginia Law & Business Review, fall 2008, p292-298). Which approach to support? I would like to say the FASB standard setting approach is more appropriate considering your accounting background. Since many of your clients are Fortune 300 companies who would find FASB more in harmony with their preparation and presentation of periodic accounting statements and records. FASB is also in line with most widely accepted accounting norms and practices in the US. With less external influence, more freedom in standard setting and sufficient funds, I believe the FASB standard setting process is more trustworthy.

Involvement in the Vietnam War Essay

In 1954, the Geneva agreement ended the fighting and declared Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam independent countries. The agreement also split Vietnam into two countries; communists governed North Vietnam and South Vietnam became a democratic country. North Vietnam reneged and the communists tried to take over South Vietnam, so the American military fought the communists in a battle that became known as the Vietnam War (Barr, 2005). The Hmong in Laos experienced tragic, long-term consequences for their wartime allegiance with the United States by secretly fighting in the Vietnam War. At the beginning of the Vietnam War, Laos was an officially neutral country (Mote, 2004). Freedom is important to the Hmong. The word Hmong means â€Å"free man† (Murphy, 1997). However, the Vietnam War spread to Laos when communist leaders decided to use Laos as a route to deliver supplies to their troops fighting in South Vietnam. Fearful that a communist victory in South Vietnam would eventually lead to communist victories throughout Southeast Asia, the United States Department of Defense, State Department, and Central Intelligence Agency â€Å"secretly created and administered a billion-dollar military aid program to Laos. (Castle, 1993). The U. S. military recruited and trained Hmong men and boys who wanted to protect their freedom from the communists. Tens of thousands of Hmong soldiers fought alongside U. S. soldiers to stop the communist’s troops and supplies from reaching South Vietnam. In 1975, the United States lost the Vietnam War and withdrew its soldiers from Vietnam and Laos, leaving behind the secret army of Hmong soldiers (Barr, 2005). Immediately, communists took control of South Vietnam and Laos, and declared war against the Hmong in Laos. Without the protection of American soldiers, Hmong soldiers and their families were hunted down and killed by communist soldiers. From 1975 until 1990, hundreds of thousands of Hmong fled Laos (Barr, 2005) to resettle in Thailand refugee camps. The United States promised to â€Å"find a new place† (Mote, 2004) for Hmong people, if the war against communism was lost. The United States had an agreement with Thailand, a democratic country, to provide safety and refugee camps. For several years, Hmong families struggled to survive in refugee camps until they received official permission from the United States to resettle in America (Murphy, 1997). When the first Hmong families arrived in the United States, they did not speak English and â€Å"lacked written language, formal education, financial saving, and support networks. † (Su, Lee, Vang, 2005). In spite of that, they held tight to their Hmong identity and loyalty. To be a Hmong in the eyes of the Hmong community of parents and elders is to be fluent in Hmong, have respect for elders, participate in family celebrations, help each other when needed, and have the will to succeed while maintaining one’s identity (Moore, 2003). Today, 18 different Hmong clan names are still passed down from generation to generation. Hmong clan names are equivalent to American last names. First names identify people and last names identify clans. The 18 clans provide life-time membership and ongoing material and spiritual support to their members from birth to death. Newborns are given the father’s clan name, which they cannot change. For that reason, Hmong women retain their clan name when they get married (Moua, 1995). The foundation of Hmong life is marriage and family (Millett, 2002). An ancient ritual requires the groom to pay â€Å"a bride-price,† a negotiated sum of money paid to the bride’s parents. Hmong newlyweds live with the husband’s parents until they have two or more children. However, Hmong culture expects the last-born married son, his wife, and children to permanently live with, support, and care for his parents and grandparents until their death. Unfortunately, time-honored Hmong traditions are challenged by American culture. For example, there is conflict between Hmong Christians and Hmong Animists. Animists sacrifice animals to worship spirits; they believe â€Å"that all living things have spirits† (Brittan, 1997). Hmong Christians worship God and condemn animal sacrifice. As a result, Christianity altered traditional Hmong rituals and ceremonies. For instance, Christianity eliminated the payment of a bride price and animal sacrifice. It also, eliminated the reciting of lengthy songs paying attribute to ancestors and natural spirits during funerals. These changes and other social and adaptive conflicts continue to cause disagreement and division among some Hmong families, friends, and clans. Once upheld with high respect and status, the Hmong shaman’s role in America has been downgraded.

Success in the mist Professor Ramos Blog

Success in the mist Success in the mist Horrible! I was doing horrible at keeping my feet centered to hit the ball properly in the game and everyone in the crowd knew I needed practice pronto. Coach immediately noticed that I was being a cancer to the team and decided to take the next step and sub me out of the game around the 75th minute of the game. For those of you that don’t know there are 90 minutes in a full soccer game, not including extra time. As soon as I sat down on the bench my father and I made instant eye contact but for different reasons. I was pretty much discouraged to play another minute of soccer knowing that I was putting a negative effect on the team. On the other side my dad had made eye contact with me because he knew it was time to grind and show out for the next game because we were about to be close to a championship game and my father would rather die than see me slip up in a big important game like that. My father is about 6’2 190 pounds with a great big bald head and a nice gleaming white smile. He is probably the most positive and understanding person I know but besides the fact, it was time for me to hit the field that was next to my house and try to figure out how I’m going to fix these major flaws that were affecting my craft. We first started off by passing the ball to each other because passing is a huge part of my position, which was midfielder. Midfielders in soccer have a big say on what happens on the field because not only can they pass the ball and they can also score and even run back on the other side of the field and play defense. Soon after we moved on to a new drill which was running thru cones and receiving a pass from my dad then having to return a pass back to him accurately, which at first took a lot of focus but after about 15 minutes of doing the drill it soon became second nature. After the big practice that my father and I had was over, we started heading back home because it was starting to get dark and I wouldn’t want anything like an injury to occur on the field, which happens to a lot of athletes that try to over train. When I finally reached home I had a sense of success in my head and confidence that I would have an amazing game and with another day of important practice but there was a problem, my father was not going to be able to attend practice because he had to go to work. That’s when my brother lance stepped up and came to take my dads spot. Lance stands at 6’4 and weighs about 250 pounds and yes we did get our height from my dads side of the family. My brother had played soccer when he was a kid and believe it or not his big ass was an all star at soccer, all around great scorer and passer. In fact he was so good to the point where the coach would come pick him up from his house before games because the coach knew that if la nce didn’t attend the games they would more than likely lose. So he had some pretty good knowledge of soccer and what I needed to work on to be team booster and not a downer. So we went to the same field that my father and I attend when we had our practice and once we arrived I was thinking it was going to be a full technique practice to really focus on my craft but it turns out I was going to be running like an animal. He had me running for about 20 minutes but when I was in the process of running it felt like I have been running for 2 hours. After all the running was pretty much over with and I was about half way done with breathing like a dog, I looked at lance and he says â€Å" fatigue brings a coward out of an athlete†, which to me opened up my mind and made total sense because in the game I was trying to do certain things like passing and making sure my passes were accurate but it was so hard because I was so tired It was the next day and it was game day, and I had been watching videos on YouTube to help me mentally get ready for the game and put me in the mood to play the best I can possibly play. I felt a little more confident then I usually felt knowing that I was going to play a championship game for all the marbles. We were up against a really great team that had actually been undefeated just like us but we all felt that we had to fight for the victory because we didn’t do all this training for nothing. We came out for warm ups and my father is the first person I spotted in the stands with his dad cap on cheering for my team and I. I knew it was a very big game because the stands that were not usually filled with people, were filled completely up and even had other soccer teams on the side of the bleachers to watch this game. About 5 minutes later I was getting more and more nervous by the second and I look up and the referee is calling for the captains to come up. Adrian, the scor er on my team and defender Nico start to head towards the referee. At this point I’m nervous out of my mind and my palms are very sweaty but at the same time I was trying to mentally picture the game from my point and see how I would react if certain things happened from my perspective. So the game starts and we all ascend to our positions and we go back and forth in steals and stops for a majority of the game and at this point in the game I get really exhausted and start slowing down a little bit but something clicks and I remember what my brother tells me about being fatigued and I instantly turn into a key player on the field. Whoop whoop! I juke out the defender that was in front of me that was trying to keep me from making a key pass and I look up and see Adrian our big time scorer on the run and headed straight for the net, so I instantly make the pass to Adrian and boom! He kicks the ball passed the goalkeeper and it’s a goal!!!! At this point in the game there are 5 minutes left in the game and the opposing team is driving Down to get there goal and I see Nico sliding to get the offensive player and I immediately run down and stop the player and we kick the ball away from our goal. Ring!!!!!! The whistle blows and it’s game over. We won the championship and the crowd goes crazy, and through all the celebration and happiness I look into the crowd and see my fathers big huge white smile and I smile back because I knew all this work has really paid off.

Napalm and Agent Orange in the Vietnam War

Napalm and Agent Orange in the Vietnam War During the Vietnam War, the United States military used chemical agents in its fight against Ho Chi Minhs Army of North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. The most important of those chemical weapons were the incendiary napalm and the defoliant Agent Orange. Napalm Napalm is a gel, which in its original form contained naphthenic and palmitic acid plus petroleum as fuel.  The modern version, Napalm B, contains plastic polystyrene, hydrocarbon benzene, and gasoline. It burns at temperatures of 800-1,200 degrees C (1,500-2,200 degrees F). When napalm falls on people, the gel sticks to their skin, hair, and clothing, causing unimaginable pain, severe burns, unconsciousness, asphyxiation, and often death. Even those who do not get hit directly with napalm can die from its effects since it burns at such high temperatures that it can create firestorms that use up much of the oxygen in the air. Bystanders also can suffer heatstroke, smoke exposure, and carbon monoxide poisoning. The US first used napalm during World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters, and also deployed it during the Korean War. However, those instances are dwarfed by American use of napalm in the Vietnam War, where the US dropped almost 400,000 tons of napalm bombs in the decade between 1963 and 1973. Of the Vietnamese people who were on the receiving end, 60% suffered fifth-degree burns, meaning that the burn went down to the bone. Horrifying as napalm is, its effects at least are time-limited. That is not the case with the other major chemical weapon the US used against Vietnam   Agent Orange. Agent Orange Agent Orange is a liquid mixture containing the 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T herbicides. The compound is toxic for only about a week before it breaks down, but unfortunately, one of its daughter products is the persistent toxin dioxin. Dioxin lingers in soil, water, and human bodies. During the Vietnam War, the US sprayed Agent Orange on the jungles and fields of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The Americans sought to defoliate the trees and bushes, so that enemy soldiers would be exposed.  They also wanted to kill off the agricultural crops that fed the Viet Cong (as well as local civilians). The US spread 43 million liters (11.4 million gallons) of Agent Orange on Vietnam, covering 24 percent of South Vietnam with the poison. Over 3,000 villages were in the spray zone. In those areas, dioxin leached into peoples bodies, their food, and worst of all, the groundwater.  In an underground aquifer, the toxin can remain stable for at least 100 years. As a result, even decades later, the dioxin continues to cause health problems and birth defects for Vietnamese people in the sprayed area. The Vietnamese government  estimates that about 400,000 people have died from Agent Orange poisoning, and about half a million children have been born with birth defects. US and allied veterans who were exposed during the period of heaviest usage and their children may have elevated rates of various cancers, including soft tissue sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, and lymphocytic leukemia. Victims groups from Vietnam, Korea, and other places where napalm and Agent Orange were used have sued the primary manufacturers of these chemical weapons, Monsanto and Dow Chemical, on several occasions. In 2006, the companies were ordered to pay US$63 million in damages to South Korean veterans who fought in Vietnam.

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 10

Sociology - Essay Example He calls for a concerted effort to restore their pride and lead a quality life. On the contrary, Mr. Alvin Poussaint breathes some optimism into how African-Americans should see the future and how they should fit themselves into the society. He sees the victory of Obama in the recent Presidential elections as a huge stepping stone in this direction. He expects black people to now walk with a sense of pride and heads held high. Children can take now look up to him as a source of inspiration and the future may witness many more blacks rising up the ranks. Family values and bonds will grow stronger among the blacks and many black men and women may come closer to each other. But he also has a word of caution in his statements, saying all these changes will not occur in a fortnight or so. He states that the American economy has been severely dented by the recent market crisis and things won’t be all that rosy for the new President. A mammoth responsibility has been placed on Obamaà ¢â‚¬â„¢s shoulders and he must embrace himself to fight the woes of the society like unemployment, poverty etc. He believes that the fight against these evils is still very much on, and more so, especially in the case of blacks, who are among the worst affected. Racial discrimination is still prevalent in many parts of the country but he firmly believes that developing a â€Å"victor’s† attitude is crucial in fighting the battle against racial injustice. Blacks have been struggling for their freedom for years now and he exudes confidence that the election of Obama is an important step towards achieving that