Free Essays on Personal Happiness

Everyone's goal in life has and always will be the pursuit of personal happiness. In fact, the United States constitution guarantees its citizens this right. The downfall of this fact is that not every person achieves this goal. Through certain works of literature such as Ethan Frome, Madame Bovary, and The Bet, this idea will be shown. One great example of an individual searching for happiness in his life is in the story of Ethan Frome. Ethan is the type of person who needs companionship and direct love to be happy. Even though companionship makes him feel secure, in this partnership he desperately needs a strong base backed by interaction with the one he loves. At a young age Ethan found what he thought was a woman who would make him happy. Her name was Zeena and she was seemingly pleasant, but her desires would prove not to be satisfied in a life spent with Ethan. As years went by she lost interest in him and her attitude around him kept him from being happy. Ethan soon meets Mattie,a younger, more attractive woman than Zeena. He becomes attached to Mattie and gains deep feelings for her, but his conscience tells him leaving Zeena would be wrong. Due to his good morals and his unwillingness to abandon Zeena, he is trapped in an unhappy life that seems to keep cornering him. Some people pursue happiness in a temporary love that will eventually fade and leave the two involved miserable. Ethan looked for happiness in a relationship that was exciting for awhile, but had the tendencies of losing its flavor. In the story Madame Bovary, Emma and her husband, Charles, conflict in their marriage. Emma needed someone to keep her excited and to fit all her needs. Charles was to relaxed to endure all the exotic fantasies she wanted to experience in her life. Aside from Ethan, Emma did not practice morals and she did not... Free Essays on Personal Happiness Free Essays on Personal Happiness Everyone's goal in life has and always will be the pursuit of personal happiness. In fact, the United States constitution guarantees its citizens this right. The downfall of this fact is that not every person achieves this goal. Through certain works of literature such as Ethan Frome, Madame Bovary, and The Bet, this idea will be shown. One great example of an individual searching for happiness in his life is in the story of Ethan Frome. Ethan is the type of person who needs companionship and direct love to be happy. Even though companionship makes him feel secure, in this partnership he desperately needs a strong base backed by interaction with the one he loves. At a young age Ethan found what he thought was a woman who would make him happy. Her name was Zeena and she was seemingly pleasant, but her desires would prove not to be satisfied in a life spent with Ethan. As years went by she lost interest in him and her attitude around him kept him from being happy. Ethan soon meets Mattie,a younger, more attractive woman than Zeena. He becomes attached to Mattie and gains deep feelings for her, but his conscience tells him leaving Zeena would be wrong. Due to his good morals and his unwillingness to abandon Zeena, he is trapped in an unhappy life that seems to keep cornering him. Some people pursue happiness in a temporary love that will eventually fade and leave the two involved miserable. Ethan looked for happiness in a relationship that was exciting for awhile, but had the tendencies of losing its flavor. In the story Madame Bovary, Emma and her husband, Charles, conflict in their marriage. Emma needed someone to keep her excited and to fit all her needs. Charles was to relaxed to endure all the exotic fantasies she wanted to experience in her life. Aside from Ethan, Emma did not practice morals and she did not...

Racism in the Tortilla Curtain Essay Example

Racism in the Tortilla Curtain Essay Example Racism in the Tortilla Curtain Paper Racism in the Tortilla Curtain Paper Racism has always been a major issue in the United States, whether it is racism towards the homo sexual, Jewish, or the illegal immigrant racism will always be part of the United States. In the novel The Tortilla Curtain, by T. C Boyle he writes about a man named Delaney Mossabacher. Delaney is a self proclaimed liberal humanist. In the novel Boyle puts Delaney in many situations that make you question his liberal humanist views. While on his way to a recycling center his life is changed forever when he runs over a man named Candido Rincon. Delaney insists on giving him $20 instead of taking him to the hospital. This action makes you question whether he is truly a humanist. Delaney then realizes that Candido is an illegal immigrant living in Topanga creek where he often goes for hikes. When Delaney goes to get his car repaired at the dealership he tells the man he hit a dog instead of telling him he hit a person. This is where he begins to see Mexicans as not being human because they dont live like everyone else. The most controversial part of the novel is when Delaney is arguing with jack at the grocery store. His actions make you question everything he believes in. The final part of the story where everyone is looking at the fire you can clearly tell he has lost every ounce of liberal humanist and is now a full fledge racist. It is clear that the actions he takes in these situations clearly make him a very racist person not a liberal humanist like he claims to be. The first instance where Delaney begins transforming from a liberal humanist to a full fledge racist is at the recycling center. While at the recycling center Delaney begins to feel guilty about hitting Candido. He then realizes he is an illegal immigrant because he refused to get medical attention. He also notices that he is living down in Topanga creek because of the contents in the shopping cart he was pushing around. This makes Delaney angry because he feels that Candidio is polluting the environment by living down at the creek. Boyle writes Delaney felt his guilt turn to anger, to outrage (11). This is an important part of the story because this is when he first notices that illegal immigrants are living down in Topanga creek. He also begins to notice that Mexicans are everywhere, from the guys working on the landscape in Arroyo Blanco to the guys working at the recycling center. Delaney is angry because hitting Candido with his car is his first negative experience with Mexicans, and it plants a negative seed in Delaney mind. If Delaney wouldnt have hit Candido he would have never noticed all the Mexicans, but because he thinks that Candido ran into his car on purpose he begins to have racist feelings towards Mexicans. Delaney feels that Mexicans are suddenly out to ruin his life. It is obvious the main reason Delaney is outraged is not because he hit him or because his car is damaged, it is because he ruined his day. Delaney likes to live a very organized and routine driven life and by having this accident it has thrown off his daily routine and he resents Candido for doing that. The second instance where Delaney begins to transform into a racist is when he is at the car dealership getting his car repaired from the damage Candido caused. While at the dealership he begins to talk with Kenny Grissom the man who sold him the car. When Grissom asks him what he hit Delaney replies with a dog, I think it was (13). Although Delaney could have told him the truth that he accidently hit someone, he decides to lie and instead says he hit a dog. This is important because it shows how little Delaney cares about what he did. Although Delaney is a self proclaimed humanist he is contradicting himself by lying and saying he hit a dog. Furthermore Delaney saying he hit a dog is symbolic because it shows the racist feelings he has toward Candido. He feels that Candido is like a dog that relays on society to take care of him. This is when Delaneys true feelings towards Mexicans begin to show because he doesnt see them as regular people but as dogs ready to take advantage of people whenever they get an opportunity. Another clear instance of Delaney losing his liberal humanist views is in the middle of chapter seven part two. Delaney is arguing with Jack Jardine about the fence that is going to be put up around Arroyo Blanco. Jack is trying to convince Delaney that the wall is necessary but Delaney is adamantly against it. Delaney feels that it is wrong to put up the fence up just to keep illegal immigrants out. He says Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country were a nation of immigrants and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasnt (101). When they leave the store Delaney sees Candido being harassed by someone. His liberal humanist side feels he should help Candido but the racist part of him actually wishes harm on Candido. This is the most ironic part of the book because while they were in the store he was defending illegal immigrants. He felt like they have every right to be living in the United States. Once he is outside and actually has to deal with the issue by witnessing the events that took place he completely changes his view on Mexicans. This clearly shows that while he might consider himself a humanist he is actually is becoming more racist every time he has negative experience with Mexicans. He once again feels that Mexicans are just here to make peoples life miserable and to take advantage of them whenever they have a chance. This begins to make Delaney furious because he cant get seem to get away from Candido. He feels that Candido is a nuisance in his life and every time he has to deal with him bad things happen. One of the clearest examples that Delaney has completely lost his humanist views and is truly racist is toward the end of the novel when the people from Arroyo Blanco are evacuated due to the fire. While everyone is standing outside looking at the fire Delaney notices Jose and his friend walking up the road. Delaney immediately confronts Jose and blames him for setting the fire. Boyle writes that Delaney felt as much pure hatred as hed ever felt in his life (287). This is a clear act of racism because even though he had no clue who set the fire, he immediately blames Jose because he is Mexican. He sees him as a no good scum who has nothing better to do then to set fires and ruin peoples life. This incident is really the straw that broke the camels back for Delaney because all the previous incidents didnt really affect his personal life at home, but by Jose setting the fire he puts his family life in danger and Delaney feels pure hatred at him for doing that. He is outraged because he feels that Mexicans have no feelings and all they care about is themselves. This incident put Delaney in the us versus them racist mindset and he gets everyone to yell racist remarks at Jose. At this point Delaney really hates Mexicans because their actions put everything he owns in jeopardy. By the end of the novel Delaney is clearly transformed from a liberal humanist to a racist because of the situations he is faced with. Whether it be things he says, like saying he hit a dog instead of an actual persons. He also contradicted himself by defending illegal immigrants at the grocery store calling them the lifeblood of the country, then turning around and wishing harm on someone just because they are illegal immigrants. His actions also clearly depicted him as a racist by the despicable actions he took on Jose Navidad toward the end of the novel by blaming him for the fire without knowing who actually started it. It is apparent Boyle put him in these situations to make us question his liberal humanist view. Although Delaney is self proclaimed liberal humanist he like many other people was negatively affected by racism. If Delenay was truly the humanist he claimed to be he would not have had so much hate toward Candido, but when his family is affected by immigrants it forces him to have very negative feelings toward immigrants. So while Delaney would have liked to believe he was a liberal humanist, he like many other ethnic groups was adversely affected by racism.

Useing Pace University Strategic Plan (ON PACE WEB), Case Study

Useing Pace University Strategic Plan (ON PACE WEB), - Case Study Example The institution is divided into different colleges such as Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health Professions, Lubin School of Business, School of Law, School of Education and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems (About Pace University, 2014). Currently Pace University has significant resources to help individuals in achieving their dreams. The University operates with an overall idea of creating opportunities for its students. After World War II the administration particularly focused on introducing modern arts and science while strengthening the leadership, management, facilities and resources of the organization. This subsequently helped Pace in acquiring the status of one of the Largest Universities in the New York City (About Pace University, 2014). In next five to ten years the university is expected to increase its services in the field of skills development because entrepreneurship is gaining recognition all over the world and students are investing their energies in establishing their businesses. This is further supported by the advent of modern technology. Moreover, skills development has also become necessary for contemporary students on the basis of increased competition. Other than this the university needs t o enhance its facilities for meeting the requirements of ever increasing number of students. This can be done through developing more colleges while strengthening the overall infrastructure of the university. Pace University was established with a profound vision of educating students and preparing them to excel in wide range of professions (Vision and Mission, 2014). This is actually the vision of best universities in USA which make them stand apart from rest of the world. In broader perspective the organization’s mission is to provide graduate and undergraduate education to a large number of students while also offering

An Examination of the Wikipedia Site Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An Examination of the Wikipedia Site - Essay Example This has been related to the concept that the quality of control of internet subjects has not been well regulated especially in terms of the origin of the material, its perspectives and even the selection of references. With the users quick to use the information online, they easily fall into the trap of acquiring wrong information on sites such as Wikipedia. From my assessment, Wikipedia has more weaknesses than strengths. One of the limitations is that the site does not have accurate information that the user may need. In many instances, the readers find a great percentage of the pages on the site requiring citation even from the reader themselves (Wikipedia 2015). This means that the author of the work simply collected information from different sources and combined them to get a complete text. In the course of my research in English, I am likely to find inaccurate information and even wrong information on different subjects using the site. I would not even be surprised to find gr ammatical and spelling errors on the site. The page may also embrace a short form of words such as â€Å"bt† to mean â€Å"but†. Other examples of spelling errors include â€Å"port† as opposed to â€Å"part† (Wikipedia 2015). Secondly, Wikipedia is a not a reliable source since it provides a chance for editing by any user (Wikipedia 2015). It is this point that the user may find a lot of misleading information on the subject in question especially with the differing views on different subjects. The quality of the content is, therefore, questionable; thus, not applicable for my research in English. This finding also explains that the claims posted are indeed questionable. As opposed to scholarly articles, Wikipedia contains shallow information that uses headings to lure the users into using their site and applying their findings. At times, the facts presented in the page may not be required, such as a  historical background to merely all topics, and the rest of the information is not provided (Wikipedia 2015).  

Captain Corellis Mandolin Essay Example for Free

Captain Corellis Mandolin Essay Carlo asserts War is a wonderful thing, in movies and in books. By close reference to the novel, explore how war shows people at their worst and their best. The novel Captain Corellis Mandolin, written by Louis De Bernieres in 1994, explores humanity; we sigh at their suffering as they are ripped apart and forever changed by war.1 The quotation in the title is spoken by Carlo quite early on in the novel, at the end of chapter 15, titled LOmosessuale (4). He is referring to the idea that war is repeatedly shown to be patriotic, heroic, and indeed wonderful especially in film and literature. However, from Carlos experiences in Albania, he knows the true reality of war, as he has seen and experienced the suffering. We can trace Carlos progression of thought through his personal chapters; all entitled LOmosessuale. He begins saying, How wonderful it was to be at this war(p.119) We hear him describe crossing the foreign border as exhilarating, and he and his comrades view themselves as the new legionaries of the new empire that would last ten thousand years.(p.119) This was his view at the very beginning of war, before he had really experienced any suffering. As he is yet to encounter any conflict, it is likely he has been influenced by the propaganda at the time, organised by the Italian leader, Mussolini. The next quotation is said slightly further on during Carlos experience, How wonderful it was to be at war, until the weather turned against us.(p.120) It is here that we begin to hear of some of the suffering that Carlo and his comrades had to endure, such as we were ten thousand men soaked to the bone(p.120). The real tragedy of war is death, and Carlo has had direct experience of this. He says, War is wonderful until someone is killed(p.122). This is when De Bernieres chooses to use graphic images to show the suffering that Carlo and his comrades endure. I realised that I was covered with gory scraps of human flesh that were freezing fast to my uniform(p.122). Finally, Carlo says the quotation in the title, War is a wonderful thing, in movies and in books on page 124. It is here that Carlo has realised the actuality of war, and can see that this idealised version is fictitious and can only be seen in movie and in books. War scorches a trail through all of their lives. What seems, at the beginning of the novel, like a game, a challenge to manhood, a matter of honour, an occasion for political satire, becomes an appalling reality.2 Carlo asserts that war is shown to be wonderful in movies and in books. However, De Bernieres does not follow this trend, and shows the war for what it is. De Bernieres characters starve and die slowly with their entrails hanging out; he depicts the horror that they have to endure to fight for their country, and the suffering that they are put through. In Albania, Carlo says It was as though a portion of my mind has disappeared, or as though my soul had diminished to a tiny point of grey light(p.138). De Bernieres also shows the gore and bloodshed caused by the war, when he describes the death of Francesco. In chapter 19, LOmosessuale (6), De Bernieres uses Carlos narrative to tell the reader the true details of Francescos death, and then the sanitised version for his mother. As well as this showing Carlos considerate nature, it also confirms that many people did view the war in a very different light from its reality, including Francescos mother. He died on a fine day, Signora, with the sun shining and the birds singing. (He died on a day when the snow was melting and when, beneath that carapace, there were emerging a thousand corpses, knapsacks, rusted riffles, water bottles, illegible unfinished letters drenched in blood) (p.148). Corelli wrote the novel, after falling in love with the Island of Cephallonia, and wanting to inform readers about what happened to this Island during World War II. For this reason, he has depicted a very real and veritable account of atrocities that occurred during the Second World War. Everyone is shot, without regard for rank or role, even the medics and the chaplains.3 However, in the film adaptation of Captain Corellis Mandolin, directed by John Madden, war is viewed in a very different light. De Bernieres has said of the film The problem is that film-makers take out all your good ideas and replace them with a load of stupid ones.4 The depiction of war in the film is very different and many scenes seem to have been watered down5, in order to appeal to far wider audience. The movie has been widely criticised, after changing the story line drastically from a tragic story of the destruction and consequences of war, to a love story between Corelli and Pelagia. Where de Bernià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½res book makes it clear from the start that war is unforgivingly ugly, for a long time the films only hint of this is a glimpse of Mandrass battle-scarred feet.6 Although much of De Bernieres novel depicts the horror of war, some of the consequences of war are indeed wonderful. Corelli and Pelagia would have never found love without the intervention of war in their lives, and although ultimately war destroys their love, the moments spent together made the war endurable. The prefatory poem at the beginning on the novel shows Louis De Bernieres hinting, even before the novel has begun, that war will be an important theme throughout. The Soldier by Humbert Wolfe describes the waste of war, and the loss of lives and of youth. Links are evident between this poem and Captain Corellis mandolin as they both explore the way in which war has an effect on different people. The presence of war on the Island of Cephallonia has various effects on different characters and can expose peoples flaws and merits. An excellent example of this is the contrast shown between Mandras and Antonio Corelli. Corelli has been drawn into a war that he really has no heart for. You mean youre a soldier by mistake? (p. 206, Pelagia). He has no desires to be a soldier and his character is often seen as anti-military. When giving punishments he does not follow the rules that are expected of him, To everyones surprise the captain pointed his pistol straight into the face of one of the culprits(p.324). However, although he had no intention of doing so, Corelli proves to be an excellent comrade and shows morality throughout the war. This is my morality, I make myself imagine that it is personal(p.351). This is greatly contrasted with the character of Mandras. He has very high expectations about the life of a soldier and feels he has to prove himself to Pelagia and the rest of the Island. He resents those who know more than him, yet does not want to prove himself intellectually, as he believes no man is a man until he has been a soldier(p.80) Carlos assertion that war is wonderful in movies and in books reflects a idealised view of the war. However, Mandras believes that this view was the reality of war and he felt that becoming a soldier would make him more worthy as a man. Ill come back and everyone will say, Thats Mandras, who fought in the war. We owe everything to people like him. He is indoctrinated by what is expected of him, and is predicted to conform. However high Mandras expectations were, the war does not elevate him, it brings him down. During his experiences in war he saw others abuse their power, and now feels he has a right to do the same, The war de-humanises him, and instead of changing him for the better it changes him for the worse. The war in Cephallonia showed the best and the worst in people. In Antonio Corellis case it displays his merits as he has the opportunity to exercise his humanity in the treatment of others. From the beginning of the novel, Corelli is represented as a laid-back, light-hearted leader. Although he has a great talent as a leader, he is very modest and introduces Carlo as one of our heroes, He has a hundred medals for saving life and none for taking it(p.202). He proves himself as an excellent comrade and Captain by being faithful to his men until the very end. There is no honour in this war, but I have to be with my boys(p.392). His introduction of La Scala also shows good comradeship, as it is a humorous and practical solution to having to use communal toilets. This is also a crucial element of the novel, as before they go to join the shooting line up, they sing to maintain their composure. He also shows his forgiving nature when he chooses to forgive Gunter for what he has done. I forgive you. If I do not, who will?(p.397). He says of himself I am not a natural parasite(p.305) and this is seen clearly when he avoids any confrontation with Pelagia. He is uncomfortable about living with Pelagia and her father Tonight I shall sleep in the yard and tomorrow I shall request alternative accommodation(p.204). Corellis fondness for animals is De Bernieres way of showing positive traits in a character. The fact that Corelli is so attached to Psipsina shows that he is an admirable man and the reader feel connected to him. The captain had some engaging traits. He tied a cork to a piece of string, and sprinted about the house with Psipsina in hot pursuitand if the animal happened to be sitting on a piece of music, he would go away and fetch another sheet rather than disturb her(p.250) Corelli also shows fondness for children in his relationship with Lemoni. Although there is a language barrier, the two are able to communicate on a different level, and are able to enjoy each others company. The child was whooping and laughing, and it appeared that what was transpiring was a lesson in Italian. Bella fanciulla, the captain was saying. He was waiting for Lemoni to repeat it. Bla fanshla, she giggled. (p. 211) He also appears to have a very different attitude than other soldiers, when he arrives in Cephallonia with his mandolin strapped to his back, and not a gun, as you would expect from a soldier. The mandolin that was called Antonia because it was the other half of himself. This love for music is another engaging trait that the captain has, and is one of the reasons Pelagia falls in love with him. We also see this originality to his character when Gunter Weber, a german soldier, introduces himself. Weber says Heil Hitler, yet Corelli says Heil Puccini, showing he has a very different attitude to the war, and will not be led by anyone. This again shows his love for classical music, as Puccini was a great composer, whom Corelli was an admirer of. His relationship with Pelagia is clearly one of great love and admiration, however it also contains sexual desires, which are never consummated. Such slender fingers, such pink nails. He imagined them engaged upon amorous and nocturnal things, and realised that he was disturbing Psipsina.(p.259, Corelli) This shows ongoing respect for Pelagia and her father, and also shows Corellis caring and considerate temperament. In contrast to Corelli, the character Mandras is brutalised by war. He believes that war will change him for the better, yet it changes him for the worse. He becomes a victim of propaganda and a victim of his insecurities. Before he leaves for war he tells Pelagia Im a Greeknot a Fascist(p.214) War changes him for the worse as he is very easily led and allows others to influence him. This may have had a positive effect on Mandras if he had chosen Iannis to guide him, yet he chooses Hector, the leader of a branch of the ELAS. Joining this group causes him to abandon his personal values, and this is seen when he whips the old man. Mandras did not even notice that the man had stopped moving, had stopped screaming and whining(p.233). He manages to blank out the emotions that he should be feeling, and begins to enjoy the power he holds over this old man. If you didnt think about what it was, it sounded weirdly beautiful(p.234) After returning from the war, he becomes much more manipulative, especially towards Pelagia and Drosoula. Mandras had begun his exile into inaccessibility by dramatising the idea of death(p.180). Pelagia was convinced that he was doing it on purpose as an act of vengeance or punishment.(p.180). This shows a very cruel side to Mandras that we have never seen before, and it clearly takes the war to bring out this negative side of his character. He has clearly been indoctrinated by the propaganda of the war, and this is seen in chapter 63, when he recites communist slogans. The party is never wrong. Whoever is not with us is against us(p.447) He does not seem to be questioning what he has been told, he just repeats it. He has experienced others abusing their power during his time with the ELAS and now sees this as an approved way of behaving. De Bernià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½res explores power and its abuse7 He insults and belittles Pelagia after he returns from fighting and tortures her further, even though he should see that she has suffered enough during the war. De Bernieres shows a side to Mandras that readers have never seen before. He represents him as evil and sadistic, and we see Mandras refer to Pelagia as a slut. His morals have disintegrated following his fighting with the ELAS, and feels that he can do whatever he wants. This is due to the fact that the ELAS would make up their own rules for their comrades to follow. The war de-humanises Mandras and he represents the damage that can be inflicted by extreme politics. In Mandras death, De Bernieres wants readers to feel pity for him, as it is clear the communist party has seriously indoctrinated him. He dies as a victim of the war, and a desire to prove himself worthy, and this also evokes compassion in the reader Carlo is a character in the novel who shows how war can bring out the best in people. He is a very honourable character, and has to live with the secret that he is homosexual. He puts aside his desire for Corelli in order to help the romance between Pelagia and Corelli develop. I have loved you with the same surprise and gratitude that I see in your own eyes when you are with Pelagia(p.384). He shows true bravery in front of the firing squad when stepping in front of Corelli to save his life. Antonio Corellihad found in front of him the titanic bulk of Carlo Guercio(p.399). De Bernieres uses Carlos narrative in the chapters entitled LOmosessuale, and this allows the readers to sympathise further with the silent suffering that Carlo has to endure during the war. His writings are eloquently written and his language is poetic and beautiful, showing the gentle side to his character. He died on a fine day, Signora, with the sun shining and the birds singing.(P.148, Carlo) Father Arsenios was saved by the war(p.292). De Bernieres absolves Arsenios after the war and liberates him from his former self. However, the characters perceive him as a mad man and cannot see that war has brought about his finest hour. He is referred to as the crazy priest yet he feels he is a saviour and it is probable that, had he lived, Arsenios might have become a saint(p.295). De Bernieres chooses to depict war in a graphic and realistic light in his novel, Captain Corellis Mandolin. Although in many films or books war is shown to be wonderful, this idealised version is proved wrong in De Bernieres novel, as he shows the suffering that the soldiers were forced to endure. He shows that the war has different effects on different people, and it can expose their faults or their merits. Mandras is forever changed by the war, as he returns indoctrinated by the communist party. His death proves that his natural environment is the sea, where he can be accepted and does not have to prove himself. In contrast Corellis merits are shown to be more prominent as the war develops, and also as his love for Pelagia develops. The reader is drawn to the character of Corelli, even though he is an occupying soldier, as he shows compassion, kindness and respect during his time in Cephallonia.

What literary techniques does F. Scott Fitzgerald use to present :: English Literature

What literary techniques does F. Scott Fitzgerald use to present Gatsby's party in Chapter III of the novel The people of 1920's America often lead a very extravagant lifestyle, rich people often overspent in vast amounts, a term known as Conspicuous Consumption. This basically means the rich spend so much and waste their money to such an extent on highly expensive and pointless things, that it actually makes the less fortunate people living in their midst even more poorer then they already are. The richer people of 'The Jazz Age' often wasted time by simply lounging around and getting drunk, having nothing better to do. This was due to the fact that many rich people had more or less done everything that there was to be done and had achieved everything they wanted in life, therefore becoming bored with life, so they wasted their vast fortunes showing off with expensive merchandise, throwing lush parties and going out every night. However the vast amounts of spending through this time soon came to an end, with the Wall Street crash just as Fitzgerald had predicted. The chapter opens up with a very descriptive and detailed introduction given to us by Nick. He seems to give us a lavish description of one of Gatsby's summer night parties, Nick seems to be looking on from his house watching the party in his usual voyeuristic fashion. It's possible that he's maybe slightly envious of the guests, possibly wishing to be there himself; it seems to give the reader that impression as the chapter goes on. This could be a good reason for the extra amount of descriptiveness. Nick also uses a simile at the start: "In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like months among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars." The term 'whisperings' could be referring to the guests usual gossiping of their host, another interesting quote shows that it's possible his parties can last for a very long time and is also a perfect example of Nicks excessive use of description: "at high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower o his raft, or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two-motor boats slit the waters of the sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam." This also shows Gatsby's immense wealth. During the build up to the party, Nick sees a variety of events taking place, these events help display the sheer amount of money and extravagance that Gatsby must put into these parties, for example: " Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a What literary techniques does F. Scott Fitzgerald use to present :: English Literature What literary techniques does F. Scott Fitzgerald use to present Gatsby's party in Chapter III of the novel The people of 1920's America often lead a very extravagant lifestyle, rich people often overspent in vast amounts, a term known as Conspicuous Consumption. This basically means the rich spend so much and waste their money to such an extent on highly expensive and pointless things, that it actually makes the less fortunate people living in their midst even more poorer then they already are. The richer people of 'The Jazz Age' often wasted time by simply lounging around and getting drunk, having nothing better to do. This was due to the fact that many rich people had more or less done everything that there was to be done and had achieved everything they wanted in life, therefore becoming bored with life, so they wasted their vast fortunes showing off with expensive merchandise, throwing lush parties and going out every night. However the vast amounts of spending through this time soon came to an end, with the Wall Street crash just as Fitzgerald had predicted. The chapter opens up with a very descriptive and detailed introduction given to us by Nick. He seems to give us a lavish description of one of Gatsby's summer night parties, Nick seems to be looking on from his house watching the party in his usual voyeuristic fashion. It's possible that he's maybe slightly envious of the guests, possibly wishing to be there himself; it seems to give the reader that impression as the chapter goes on. This could be a good reason for the extra amount of descriptiveness. Nick also uses a simile at the start: "In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like months among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars." The term 'whisperings' could be referring to the guests usual gossiping of their host, another interesting quote shows that it's possible his parties can last for a very long time and is also a perfect example of Nicks excessive use of description: "at high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower o his raft, or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two-motor boats slit the waters of the sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam." This also shows Gatsby's immense wealth. During the build up to the party, Nick sees a variety of events taking place, these events help display the sheer amount of money and extravagance that Gatsby must put into these parties, for example: " Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a

Opinion essay, computers Essay

In our present life everything is connected with computers technology. We use computers at homes, schools, banks, hospitals, and many other places. A computer is a helpful and comfortable invention. Most things we know are run or made by computers. For example, cars, traffic signals, medical equipments, and most jobs today require the use of computer. It plays a major role, and has a huge impact on our society. The main three effects of living without computers might be losing time, inaccuracy, and missing many important machines that run or made by them. Computers complete a lot of work for us which normally consume a long time .If we did not have computers, we would need a long time to do many tasks. For example, employs at banks need computers to finish their jobs in short time. Students in school use computers to print reports, do assignments, and research via the internet to get what they need very quickly. By using computers we will save our time, and get accurate results. Computers provide us with accuracy. Many fields need computers to ensure the accuracy in their results. For example, doctors in the medical filed would not have found cures for many diseases if they did not use computers. Most cures were found with help of computers with a high level of accuracy. In addition, space exploration scientists would not achieve a success without computers. Most machines we know are run or made by computers. For example, cars, airplanes, microwaves, traffic signals, and medical equipments. We could not organize the traffic signals with more proficiency without computers. In conclusion, computers have helped us to take a large step into the future. They have played a major role, and have had a huge impact on our daily lives. Living without them could lead to many problems, and the main three effects of living without computers would be losing time, Inaccuracy, and missing many important machines.

‘Looking for Alibrandi’ essay Essay

Essay question: Family has a strong influence on our lives. It affects the way we view ourselves and those around us. How has family influenced Josephine and what impact does it have?Family is one of our main influences in our lives, although we are not always aware of it. It shapes the people we are and the choices we make in our lives. In the text ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ by Melina Marchetta, Josephine Alibrandi is seeking to be free from the world and its misunderstood societal regulations throughout her twelfth year of high school – the year of change and new ways of thinking. Throughout her journey, her family influences her way of thinking. She grows and learns through family and structure, accepting her Italian heritage and family members. Family shows who she is, and by accepting that, Josie is able to live freely to the life she dreamed of, although not in the way she originally expected. Throughout the book, family influences Josephine to reach her goal o f emancipation, creating a connected family and a liberated perspective on life. Throughout the book, Josie’s way of thinking changes immensely, from negativity towards her family and culture, to a new understanding and perspective towards life. This is the effect from family, personal experiences, and sharing truths and feelings. Which teaches Josie how she feels about her culture, family and find the part of herself which is embedded in her family. Showing that her family influences and changes the way she feels about life and gives her a new perspective towards it. As the book progresses, Josephine learns to appreciate family – the sacrifices they make her, her Italian heritage and the community of family. Josie became respectful and thankful towards her family as apposed to resentful, because they loved her and her individuality. This has influenced Josie to learn her own truths, make her own rules and way of life, but most importantly, to figure out where her place in life is, ‘I know where my place in life is. It’s not where the S eras or the Carlys of the world have slotted me†¦ I’m an Australian with Italian blood flowing rapidly through my veins. I’ll say that with pride, because it’s pride that I feel.’ (page 259). Once Josie realises that her family had confided with her and had sacrificed all these things for her and the Alibrandi/Andretti name, she took action, to change her life for herself and her family, to be a better person. ‘A lot has  changed at home†¦ Maybe because I’ve changed.’ (page 259), this shows that from what her family has taught her, Josephine has changed for the better. Maybe not in the way she expected to, but in the way she can learn to accept herself and her family, which has changed her family life to a more loving, excepting community. Every family has structure, just like Josephine’s family. Josephine’s family has a very significant structure, which is generally influenced by their Italian culture and society, making them blind to Josephine’s way of life, â€Å"They stifle me with their rules and regulations they have bought with them from Europe, but they haven’t changed with the times†¦ There’s always someone I have to respect.† (p40). This indicates that Josie’s family is stuck in the old Italian ways, so ignorant and stubborn. Expecting respect even though they have done nothing but age, â€Å"I am an old woman now and I deserve respect.† (p36). This is why Josie dislikes the culture and traditions, because she feels that those traditions are what hold her down and not let her live the free life she dreams of. But through experiences and feel she can not do anything that she wants with her life, her family will always look down upon her, only remembering the bad things and they will always talk, no matter what which is what Josie learns to accept â€Å"†¦I think that if I lived like a saint and walked with two feet in one shoe; If I wore the clothes of St Francis of Assisi and suffered like a martyr; if I lived by the rules and never committed a sin, people would still talk. Because human nature. They’ll always, like me, find someone to talk about.† (p261). Culture and its traditions is another thing Josie’s family is buried in, which brings Josie down with it as well, Josie: â€Å"Culture is nailed into you so deep you can’t escape it.† (p175). All this is what holds Josie down from being free and doing what she wants. Family in Josephine’s life is what influences Josie to who she is and what decisions and actions she makes. Even though her family is who she thinks has trapped her life and social standing under the floor, Josie can not help the fact that family and culture and traditions and wealth is what makes Josie the person she is. And it is not until she realises this is when her emancipation can happen. â€Å"I just sat there thinking back on the year and I  realised that I was emancipated long ago†¦ I remember feeling socially out of it at St. Martha’s, yet when the†¦ walk-a-thon happened, I realised I wasn’t. I thought my birth circumstances were a cross I’d bear for the rest of my life, but†¦ it had never been my cross. I had only made it mine.† (p258) Josie feels emancipated because she had taken the time to reflect back and look at the bigger picture. She realised that she didn’t care what people though of her anymore because what difference is it really going to make in her life. Josie will always be Josie, and no matter how much others disagree it can’t change her, â€Å"You can’t hate what you are a part of. What you are.† (p152). Her family will always be the ones who she will look up to, â€Å"And I cried because I was loved by two of the strongest women I would ever meet in my lifetime.† (p226) These strong characteristics are what have influenced Josie the most to stand up for herself and be strong for herself. â€Å"You know a wonderful thing happened to me when I reflected back on my year. ‘One day’ came. Because I finally understood.† (p261), throughout her journey Josie learns through her family a new way of thinking, she grows and learns through family influences and family structure, accepting her Italian heritage and family members. Family shows who she is, and by accepting that, Josie is able to live freely to the life she dreamed of, although not in the way she originally expected. Throughout the book, family influences Josephine to reach her goal of emancipation, creating a connected family and a liberated perspective on life.

Free Essays on Americas Great Depression

America's Great Depression What Caused this Great Depression? Written by Rebecca Breeden The Great Depression is probably one of the most misunderstood events in American history. It is routinely cited, as proof that unregulated capitalism is not the best in the world, and that only a massive welfare state, huge amounts of economic regulation, and other Interventions can save capitalism from itself. Among the many myths surrounding the Great Depression are that Herbert Hoover was a laissez faire president and that FDR brought us out of the depression. What caused the Great Depression? To get a handle on that, it's necessary to look at previous depressions and compare. The Great Depression was by no means the first depression this country ever had, but it was clearly the worst. What made it different than the rest? At the time of the Great Depression, government intervention in the economy was higher than it had ever been and a special government agency had been set up specifically to prevent depressions and their associated problems, such as bank panics. This agen! cy was the Federal Reserve Board and it was to have been the loaner of last resorts for banks in order to prevent collapses as had happened during earlier depressions. But as America sees, there is good reason to believe that the Federal actions explain many of the problems that lead up to the stock market crash and the subsequent depression. Although there are many macroeconomics schools of thought, this paper will be concentrating on two initially, Keynesian economics and Austrian School economics. Keynesian economics got its start during the Great Depression with the publication in 1936 of The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, by John Maynard Keynes. Austrian School economics began much Earlier, most notably with the publication in 1871 of Carl Menger's Principles of Economics. While the Austrian theory has never been mainstream (economist Paul Krugm... Free Essays on America's Great Depression Free Essays on America's Great Depression America's Great Depression What Caused this Great Depression? Written by Rebecca Breeden The Great Depression is probably one of the most misunderstood events in American history. It is routinely cited, as proof that unregulated capitalism is not the best in the world, and that only a massive welfare state, huge amounts of economic regulation, and other Interventions can save capitalism from itself. Among the many myths surrounding the Great Depression are that Herbert Hoover was a laissez faire president and that FDR brought us out of the depression. What caused the Great Depression? To get a handle on that, it's necessary to look at previous depressions and compare. The Great Depression was by no means the first depression this country ever had, but it was clearly the worst. What made it different than the rest? At the time of the Great Depression, government intervention in the economy was higher than it had ever been and a special government agency had been set up specifically to prevent depressions and their associated problems, such as bank panics. This agen! cy was the Federal Reserve Board and it was to have been the loaner of last resorts for banks in order to prevent collapses as had happened during earlier depressions. But as America sees, there is good reason to believe that the Federal actions explain many of the problems that lead up to the stock market crash and the subsequent depression. Although there are many macroeconomics schools of thought, this paper will be concentrating on two initially, Keynesian economics and Austrian School economics. Keynesian economics got its start during the Great Depression with the publication in 1936 of The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, by John Maynard Keynes. Austrian School economics began much Earlier, most notably with the publication in 1871 of Carl Menger's Principles of Economics. While the Austrian theory has never been mainstream (economist Paul Krugm...

German Holidays and Customs in May

German Holidays and Customs in May The first day in the lovely month of May (Camelot) is a national holiday in Germany, Austria, and most of Europe. International Workers Day is observed in many countries around the globe on May 1. But there are other German May customs that reflect the end of winter and the arrival of warmer days. Tag der Arbeit - 1. Mai Oddly, the widespread custom of celebrating Labor Day on the first of May (am ersten Mai) was inspired by events in the United States, one of the few countries that do not observe Labor Day in May! In 1889, a congress of world socialist parties was held in Paris. The attendees, sympathizing with striking workers in Chicago in 1886, voted to support the United States labor movements demands for an 8-hour day. They selected May 1, 1890, as a day of commemoration for the Chicago strikers. In many countries around the world May 1 became an official holiday called Labor Day- but not in the U.S., where that holiday is observed on the first Monday in September. Historically the holiday has had special importance in socialist and communist countries, which is one reason it is not observed in May in America. The U.S. federal holiday was first observed in 1894. Canadians also have observed their Labor Day since September 1894. In Germany, May Day (erster Mai, May 1st) is a national holiday and an important day, partly because of Blutmai (bloody May) in 1929. That year in Berlin the ruling Social Democratic (SPD) party had banned the traditional workers demonstrations. But the KPD (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands) called for demonstrations anyway. The resulting bloodbath left 32 people dead and at least 80 seriously injured. It also left a big split between the two workers parties (KPD and SPD), which the Nazis soon used to their advantage. The National Socialists named the holiday Tag der Arbeit (Day of Labor), the name still used in Germany today. Unlike the U.S. observance, which cuts across all classes, Germanys Tag der Arbeit and most European Labor Day observances are primarily a working-class holiday. In recent years Germanys chronic high unemployment (Arbeitslosigkeit, over 5 million in 2004) also comes into focus each May. The holiday also tends to be a day of Demos that often turn into clashes between the demonstrators (more like hooligans) and the police in Berlin and other large cities. If the weather allows, nice, law-abiding people use the day for picnicking or relaxing with the family. Der Maibaum In Austria and many parts of Germany, especially in Bavaria, the tradition of raising a Maypole (Maibaum) on May 1 still serves to welcome spring- as it has since ancient times. Similar Maypole festivities also can be found in England, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. A Maypole is a tall wooden pole made from a tree trunk (pine or birch), with colorful ribbons, flowers, carved figures, and various other decorations adorning it, depending on the location. In Germany, the name Maibaum (May tree) reflects the custom of placing a small pine tree atop the Maypole, which is usually set up in a towns public square or village green. Traditional dances, music, and folk customs are often associated with the Maypole. In small towns virtually the entire population turns out for the ceremonial raising of the Maypole and the festivities that follow, with Bier und Wurst of course. In Munich, a permanent Maibaum stands at the Viktualienmarkt. Muttertag Mothers Day is not celebrated at the same time around the world, but Germans and Austrians observe Muttertag on the second Sunday in May, just as in the U.S. Learn more on our Mothers Day page. Walpurgis Walpurgis Night  (Walpurgisnacht), the night before May Day, is similar to  Halloween  in that it has to do with supernatural spirits. And like Halloween, Walpurgisnacht is of pagan origin. The bonfires seen in todays celebration reflect those pagan origins and the human desire to drive away the winter cold and welcome spring. Celebrated mainly in Sweden, Finnland, Estonia, Latvia, and Germany,  Walpurgisnacht  gets its name from Saint Walburga (or Walpurga), a woman born in what is now England in 710.  Die  Heilige  Walpurga  traveled to Germany and became a nun at the convent of Heidenheim in Wà ¼rttemberg. Following her death in 778 (or 779), she was made a saint, with May 1 as her saint day. In Germany, the  Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, is considered the focal point of  Walpurgisnacht. Also known as the  Blocksberg, the 1142-meter peak is often shrouded in mist and clouds, lending it a mysterious atmosphere that has contributed to its legendary status as the home of witches (Hexen) and devils (Teufel). That tradition predates the mention of the witches gathering on the Brocken in Goethes: To the Brocken the witches ride... (Die Hexen  zu  dem Brocken  ziehn...) In its Christian version, the former pagan festival in May became Walpurgis, a time to drive out evil spirits- usually with loud noises. In Bavaria Walpurgisnacht is known as  Freinacht  and resembles Halloween, complete with youthful pranks.

Employment Trends in Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Employment Trends in Canada - Essay Example In between the years 1994 to 1998 about 1 million jobs were created and in 1999 alone more than 391,000 new jobs were created. (Economy Overview, 2001) This rise in the employment rate of the country reflects a profound economic boom in the country. The instrumental factor behind this economic and employment boom was the resurgence of the manufacturing sector and to a more extent, globalization. Globalization lead to the infusion of specialized trade, technological sectors into the country, hence leading to the creation of a serviced based economy. This resulted in the generation of a whole new species of workers, the "knowledge workers". The knowledge workers were people having a college or an university degree and in time proved to be indispensible to the country that was seeking new horizons to modernize itself and expand its economy. Overall till the end of the year 1999 Canada's unemployment rate was down to a low of 7.6% on the average. . (Economy Overview, 2001) What these current trends of employment in Canada brings into the forefront is the rate of growth of employment in the country is a direct effect of globalization with knowledge-based industries and services based economy as the key generators of employment.

Beowulf from the perspective of Grendel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Beowulf from the perspective of Grendel - Essay Example In fact, a typical feature of anglo-Saxon mythology is that it has either positive of negative attitude to its protagonist. It means that protagonist can be either ideal or far from ideal. I will suggest making Grendel a modern hero with both positive and negative sides of his character. It must be noted that in the original story of Beowulf his character is far from ideal. For example, there are frequent cases when Grendel fails to express moral power to accept reality as it is. Failure to do that leads Grendel to attack God for being so cruel with him: â€Å"Grendels attack with terror of blades† (Greenfield). The accusation like this is primarily reasoned by the fact that Grendel is a monster with a big brain and big heart. He wants love, but is fully confident of the fact that he will be alone for the rest of his life simply because it is God who decided to make him look like a monster. The negative attitude to God finally motivates Grendel’s turning to evil. I think this craving is natural for a creature who is deprived of love. Still, there is no way to deny that Grendel continues to love God. The only problem about Grendel is that he continues to crave for evil due to his moral instability and lack of inner power. I made this little psychological retrospect with one single objective – to show reader a real Grendel and to give Beofulf a modernist perspective. Grendel’s pshychological stance can be best perceived with the help of Aristotle’s teaching which taught a person that human psychological downfall is rooted in moral flaws located inside an individual. Grendel’s problem can be explained with the help of Aristotelian framework. According to Aristotelian framework, there is no way for a person to be perfect. However, ancient Anglo-Saxon people had different attitude towards reality. They are either idealized the main protagonist or presented him like an even being. There was now something in the