Into the Wild Book Analysis

He wanted to escape the sick society he thought he was living in, liberated from judgment, control, parents and material excess. In order to complete his new life transformation Chris gave himself a new name, Alexander Superstar. It appeared as though he had created this alter ego to help him reach his destination, Alaska. During his odyssey everyone who came in contact with knew him by â€Å"Alex. † In Chris Mishandles Journey throughout America he came across people who helped him along the way.While hitchhiking up the cost on US Highway 101, Chris was kicked up by a couple, Jane and her boyfriend Bob. They traveled around the West selling knick-knack at flea markets and swap meets. Both grew very fond of him and provided him with shelter. Jane was very concern that a young man was in a dangerous world and when asked if his parents knew where he was, he was given no response. I believe Jane was genuinely concern because she had a son which she didn't know his whereabouts. I was unfortunate to experience the unknown when a love one goes missing. It's extremely emotionally draining.Your mind goes wild and ills with countless bad thoughts of what could or has happened. I was going crazy for my missing dog I can't imagine being unable to find a son. It saddened me that he never reached out to his parents. Throughout the story I was waiting for him to call at least his sister whom he was very closed to. I wasn't sure if he was rebelling and anger against his parents or he was Just selfish, inconsiderate, ungrateful, insensitive young man. While haltingly back up to the Baja, Chris was picked up by an eighty two year old man by the name of Ronald Franz.Mr.. Franz was a religious, lonely old man whose wife and only son were ripped away from him by a drunk driver. The old man was growing much attached to Chris, up to the point of wanting to adapt him as his grandson. The old man though that Chris was a lost soul and wanted to pursue him to get an education. To the old mans surprise, according to Mr.. Franz, Chris told him, â€Å"you don't need to worry about me. I have a college education. I'm not destitute. I'm living like this by choice. † Jon Krause, Into The Wild, page] Chrism's passion to go toAlaska and experience the wild meant more to Chris than commodities. Chris gave, what I thought was bad advice to Mr.. France. Chris believed that the core of a man spirit came from new experiences. Chris advised an eight two old man to sell his home and live on the road. The old man did Just that, he sold his home and lived In his truck park where Chris once lived. The old man waited for Chris to return for months Trot Alas Aka out to Nils surprise, a transit en palace up tool ml Tanat snarls Ana expired. The old man was much divested that at that moment he renounced his elisions beliefs.Mr.. Franz stated, â€Å"l decided I couldn't believe in a God who would let something that terrible happen to a boy like Alex. † , Jon Krause, Into The Wild, page] Once spring came around Chris decided continue his Journey to Alaska. In April 1992 Chris, not well equipped, headed down the Stampede Trail in Alaska. He began his odyssey with only ten pounds of rice, a . 22 rifle, a camera, several boxes of rifle rounds, and some reading material. He declined to take the most essential tools for survival in the wilderness; such as, a map and a compass.In the wild he got to spend time with nature, he ran with the wild horses, hunting for food, he was one with nature away from society. Chris, Just like one of his favorite writer Leo Tolstoy, abandons a life of comfort and privilege to wander among the underprivileged. In the wild he discovered himself and realized that happiness is only real when shared. After two months in the woods of Alaska, Chris felt satisfied with what he had accomplished and experienced he was ready to return to civilization. Unfortunately, Chris found himself trapped in the wild.His only exit was cross ing the Testimonial River Chris founded impossible crossing it. For a while Chris survived feeding on squires, birds and wild berries. According to Chris Journals on day 100 in the wild he was exited he had survived another day. He's food supply was extinct, as of result, he was dying of starvation. It's ironic that Chris was excited and all he though about going to Alaska and he was trapped and eventually reached his death. Poor Chris, I can't even imagine the mental and physical agony he suffered before he expired. Chris story was sad and heartbreaking.

Bad Coaching

Bad Coaching Bad coaching is a generalized term used for several effects that are considered depraved decisions made by any coach on and off the field. Such decisions can result in players having a lack of respect for the coach, game losses, the coach being fired, and a tainted reputation of coaching. Coaching is only difficult to those who are not willing to sacrifice the time and energy that goes into being a suitable coach. Coaching is not an average job. It is easier to be an unfitting coach then a decent coach. Lack of respect comes from the coach not initiating the correct form of relationship between the player and coach.It’s not inappropriate to develop a friendship with the players on the team as well, but the coach must set the boundaries between the two relationships. If not, the player or players will not respect the coach and nor take responsibility to see the vision of creating a successful team. The players will do as they see fit, disregarding what the coach sa ys what needs to get done. Creating a proper bond with boundaries is a must in gaining the respect of the players. Game losses originate from the coach not having control over the players and being incapable of keeping them focus on the main goal.With the players unable to focus, they will most likely get into altercations with other players of the opposing team and even with their own. Game losses are not something to boast about. Enabling the players to focus will minimize the number of losses in a season. The last results of bad coaching are being fired and have a tainted reputation of coaching. These results seemingly come from the showing of no control over the players and most importantly to some organizations losing records. Being fired is very embarrassing, as being terminated from any job.After being fired, it damages the reputation of the coach. For the coach, it will be more difficult to obtain another job. Reputation is everything in search for a coaching job. Being fire d and having the reputation of a bad coach will make it nearly impossible to recover from. In conclusion, Coaching is not a hard job. Coaching is only hard to those who are not willing to put in the long hours and patients to making the job easy. Be sure not to make any mistakes as so many coaches have done in the past. The lives can be altered if not done properly.

Existentialism in Literature Essay

Existentialism in literature is a movement or tendency that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. While Existentialism was never an organized literary movement, the tenets of this philosophy have influenced many diverse writers around the world and readers can detect existential elements in their fiction. Americans writers like William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck reveal existential elements in their writing. Perhaps the most prominent theme in existentialist writing is that of choice. Humanity’s primary distinction, in the view of most existentialists, is the freedom to choose. Because we are free to choose our own paths, existentialists have argued, we must accept the risk and responsibility of following our commitments wherever they lead. American writers Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson often wrote about these concepts. Existentialism is not dark. It is not depressing. Existentialism is about life. Existentialists believe in living—and in fighting for life. The politics of existentialist writers around the world varies widely, but each seeks the most individual freedom for people within a society. Despite encompassing this wide range of philosophical, religious, and political ideologies, the underlying concepts of existentialism are constant: ? Mankind has free will ? Life is a series of choices ? Few decisions are without any negative consequences ? Some events and occurrences are irrational or absurd, without explanation. ? If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through. So existentialism, broadly defined, is a set of philosophical systems concerned with free will, choice, and personal responsibility. Because we make choices based on our experiences, beliefs, and biases, those choices are unique to us—and made without an objective form of truth. There are no â€Å"universal† guidelines for most decisions, existentialists believe. Even trusting science is often a â€Å"leap of faith. † The existentialists conclude that human choice is subjective, because individuals finally must make their own choices without help from such external standards as laws, ethical rules, or traditions. Because individuals make their own choices, they are free; but because they freely choose, they are completely responsible for their choices. The existentialists emphasize that freedom is necessarily accompanied by responsibility. Furthermore, since individuals are forced to choose for themselves, they have their freedom—and therefore their responsibility—thrust upon them. They are â€Å"condemned to be free. † Many existentialist writers stress the importance of passionate individual action in deciding questions of both personal morality and truth. Personal experience and acting on one’s own convictions are essential in arriving at the truth. 17th-century French philosopher and existentialist Blaise Pascal saw human existence in terms of paradoxes. He believed that â€Å"We know truth, not only by reason, but also by the heart. † And as many existentialists, he acknowledges that â€Å"It is the fight alone that pleases us, not the victory. † The modern adage that the journey is more important than the final destination applies to this idea. Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, who was the first writer to call himself existential, reacted against traditional thoughts by insisting that the highest good for the individual is to find his or her own unique vocation. As he wrote in his journal, â€Å"I must find a truth that is true for me . . . the idea for which I can live or die. † Existentialists have argued that no objective, rational basis can be found for moral decisions. The 19th-century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche contended that the individual using free will must decide which situations are to count as moral situations. He believed that â€Å"There are no facts, only interpretations. † . . . and he is famous for this well known adage:â€Å"That which does not kill me, makes me stronger. † The 19th-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky is probably the most well-known existentialist literary figure. In his book Notes from the Underground the alienated anti-hero questions experiences in life that are unpredictable and sometimes self-destructive. French writer, Jean Paul Sartre wrote that man can will nothing unless he has first understood that he must count on no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth. There is no ultimate meaning or purpose inherent in human life; in this sense life is absurd. We are forlorn, abandoned in the world to look after ourselves completely. The only foundation for values is human freedom, and that there can be no external or objective justification for the values anyone chooses to adopt. † When the Swedish Academy granted the Nobel Prize in Literature to Sartre for his work which, they recognized as â€Å"rich in ideas and filled with the spirit of freedom and the quest for truth, [that] has exerted a far-reaching influence on our age,† Sartre made it known that he did not wish to accept the prize. In a public announcement, in1964, Sartre expressed his regret that his refusal of the prize had given rise to a scandal, and he wished it to be known that his refusal was not meant to slight the Swedish Academy but was rather based on personal and objective reasons. Sartre pointed out that due to his conception of the writer’s task he had always declined official honors so this act was not unprecedented. He had similarly refused other awards offered to him. He stated that a writer’s acceptance of such an honor would be to associate his personal commitments with the awarding institution, and that, above all, a writer should not allow himself to be turned into an institution.

Health Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Administration - Essay Example QI employs the use of many methods in order to ensure that the services being provided to the customers are improved to the customer’s satisfaction. It also ensures that the products being offered and the whole process improves and becomes of such high standards of quality (Hoyle, 126). Quality management employs the use of various principles in order to make the work of management of the services or products easier while quality improvement follows laid down procedures and guidelines that enable it to improve performance and ensure that the improvement is not just a one-time thing but will always be continuous. The guidelines include following the zero-defect program and ISO certification guidelines among other guidelines. The principles used in quality management include focusing on the customer, involving the stakeholders and better leadership among others. When the quality improvement component works smoothly and effectively, quality management also improves and hence the overall performance of the organization

Is Evolution True Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Is Evolution True - Term Paper Example New species are thought to have originated from a common branch and ultimately from one original ancestor. Coyne believes that different mixtures of genes are reproduced more effectively than others due to the varying abilities of organisms to survive and give birth in a common, shared environment. It is important to remember that only fittest organisms adapt and survival in particular environments. By saying that evolution is true, Coyne means that the central propositions of the theory of evolution are always true. In addition, he also means that these propositions should be always accepted as true because of the increasingly decisive evidence available. The word ‘theory’ is used by many biologists on evolution but this does not necessarily mean that evolution is a mere theoretical speculation, as applied by many scientists. The word evolution represents a well thought out group of propositions that explain and substantiate the facts about the world and the people livi ng in it (Coyne, 2009). In the first chapter, Coyne talks about the basic conceptual framework on evolutionary theory and tries to clarify common misconceptions about the reality of science and how science works as well as the creationist misuse of the ‘theory’. The second chapter is very much brief and talks about the fossil evidence of evolution and gives out examples on the same. Such examples include the origin of tetrapods.

Marketing to South Asians in Great Britain Assignment

Marketing to South Asians in Great Britain - Assignment Example It is "fundamental to successful marketing strategies. Until competitors copy or segment your segmentation, you have a competitive edge"(McBurnie and Clutterbuck, 1988). Why is this study important However, there are some segments of the British consumer public that are not being reached as effectively as others. One of these segments is the South Asian community - those from the Indian peninsula and the surrounding countries - and research shows that this represents half of the British immigrant population (Burton, 2002). Worldwide, immigrants from this region are underrepresented in marketing surveys and journal research (Stern, 1999; Williams, 1995). While 20,000 Indians and Eastern Europeans were recently allowed to immigrate into Germany because of shortages in the computer industry, there is no evidence that German marketers are taking advantage of this new segment (The Economist, 2000). This is a trend that is even more marked in Britain. There are several reasons for this: parts of the South Asian immigrant community are viewed as a sort of underclass (Lash and Urry, 1994); many perceive this group as lacking the purchasing power to join the consumer society (Sivanandan, 1989); there are very few South Asian marketing managers in British firms (Burton, 2002); and there is a confusion in some marketing firms as to how to reach the South Asian community (Gooding, 1998). While there is a growing awareness of this group as a "formidable [segment] as consumers, workers, and investors"(Palumbo and Teich, 2004), there are some areas of debate in just how this group should be reached. These include the rapidity with which immigrants from South Asia will gain consumer values similar to those of British society (Bhugra, Kamaldeep, Mallett, and Manisha, 1999); which consumer values will change at all, or remain the same (Ryder and Paulhus, 2000); whether or not British firms should use South Asian languages and cultural symbols in their marketing campaigns, trying to find a balance between a sense of welcome and a sense of ostracization (Palumbo and Teich, 2004; Koslow, Shamdasani, and Touchstone, 1994; Holland and Gentry, 1999); and at what point segmentation becomes isolation (Briley and Wyer, 2002). What will others learn from this study "There is no such thing as a simple demographic fact in international research" (Bartos, 1989). While research has shown a tremendous growth in technological capabilities of segmenting (Mitchell and McGoldrick, 1994), there is still a significant need for what has been termed a "bespoke" system (Openshaw, 1989) - one that can find target households and target customers efficiently. Some areas of concern that still exist in this area include more precise age targeting, outmoded data, and a way to predict what consumers will buy in the future - not just a list of what they have purchased in the past (Mitchell and McGoldrick, 1994; Openshaw, 1989). Why is this study necessary There is a good amount of research into qualitative characteristics of a successful segmentation strategy. Such concepts as well-designed planning, commitment and participation by senior management, effective selection of segment bases, flexibility with market trends, and marketing

Strategic Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Strategic Marketing Plan - Essay Example The valley of Swat is known for its amazing natural beauty and therefore there is a huge attraction for domestic and international tourists. In order to resume tourism in the valley after the removal of terrorists hold, this report presents a three year long marketing strategy which is categorized into three phases. The first phase will focus on attracting domestic tourists; the second will focus on domestic and international tourists, while the third phase will concentrate only on attracting international tourists towards Swat valley. The marketing plan presents an overview of the financial aspects of the strategy. Strategic Marketing Plan Resuming Tourism in Swat Valley (Pakistan) Introduction This report covers a strategic marketing plan for resuming tourism in the Swat valley located in the South Asian state, Pakistan. The valley of Swat had been under the control of terrorists and extremists before a successful military operation conducted by the Pakistan Armed Forces in 2009 (K han 2010). The structure of the report is based on the marketing plan structure presented by McDonald (2008). The marketing plan is based on the following structure: Part 1: Goal Setting This part presents the goal set to be achieved from the marketing plan presented in this report. ... Moreover, the monitoring of the outcomes of the marketing plan after its implementation are also being discussed in this part. 1. Goal Setting The aim of this market plan is to resume tourism activities in Swat Valley in Pakistan by taking into consideration the competitive advantages of the place as against the tourist destinations in the region of South Asia. 1.1. Marketing Objectives In order to present a direction for the goal of this marketing plan based on SMART objectives (Doran 1981), following are the strategic marketing objectives which are planned to be attained: To resume tourism activities in Swat valley; To promote the soft image of Swat valley and its people by conducting various events and projecting them to the outside world; To resume tourism activities in Swat by following a step wise strategy which focuses on domestic tourists first and then international tourists; To generate positive cash flows from tourist activities in the second year of the implementation of the marketing plan; To increase cash inflows from domestic tourists visits by 60 percent as compared to the first year in comparison with the first year; To increase cash inflows from international tourists’ visits by 33.33 percent in the third year in comparison with the second year. 2. Situation Analysis Following is an analysis of the situation relating to tourism in Swat valley, which considers different aspects relevant in devising a tourism marketing strategy for Swat. 2.1. Swat Valley Swat is a famous tourist destination in the northern regions of Pakistan, administered under the government of â€Å"Khyber Pakhtunkhwa† Province of Pakistan. The valley of Swat lies in the upper parts

Practical report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Practical report - Essay Example The contents include fats, carbohydrates and proteins. The enzymes that break apart DNA are thereafter destroyed (Bruns 2007, 50). DNA content is then separated from other cell components. The researcher then precipitates the DNA and re-suspends it in a solution suitable for its studies. When extracting DNA from the cheek cells, saline solution used to rinse the mouth helps to prevent the cells extracted from splitting open or lysing too soon. Centrifugation separates the cheek cells from mouth wash used (Johannson 1972, 39). Spinning the mixture in a centrifuge settles the heavier cells to the bottom of the tube to form pellets. Saline solution pours away, leaving the clumped cheek cells at the bottom of the tube. Lysis buffer added to the cell clump splits open the cells to release DNA from inside the nucleus. The buffer contains soap that dissolves and breaks fatty membranes of the cells, buffer that maintains the pH of the solution and ions that increase osmotic pressure outside the cheek cell and aids in ripping open the cell membrane. Incubation in hot water helps denature cytoplasmic enzymes that break up DNA. Concentrated salt solution changes polarity of the solution under study. DNA elements dissolve in ionic solutions. This is as opposed to other components of the solution; proteins, carbohydrates and fats. ... The process is additionally useful in assessing and distinguishing the variable sizes of alleles. This discerning of allele sizes best takes place with the DNA strands placed at a single locus. Gel Electrophoresis also assesses the quantity and quality of DNA that is present in a sample (Komrakova 2006, 51). This method separates chemical molecules and compounds by charge and size. Substances that are separated are stationed in wells in the agarose gel and an electric field applied. Positively charged molecules and compounds move towards the negative terminal while the negatively charged particles and compounds move towards the positive anode. Larger and longer particles experience difficulty in moving across the mixture to the positive or negative terminal, and are suspended in the gel matrix. Smaller and shorter molecules move easily through the agarose gel matrix and take positions according to their polarity. When strained, the small sized segments form a tight band as they move at relatively the same speed. Type of medium and concentration of the gel determines the gel’s pore size and its ability to segregate same sized fragments. While polyacrylamide gels separate DNA segments differing by a base pair, agarose gels separate fragments of DNA differing by hundreds or more base pairs. Combs forming wells are placed into the gel as it solidifies and cools. The combs are then removed after the gel solidifies. Students can use gel electrophoresis in determining quality and quantity of the DNA matter they extract from their cheek cells. In day-to-day applications, the method is useful in fingerprinting or profiling, DNA sequencing and genetic

Do curfews keep teens out of trouble Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Do curfews keep teens out of trouble - Essay Example ect various age groups in our society, we fear the most for the young people in our society who, due to reckless abandon caused by their youthful enthusiasm for life, tend to place themselves in precarious situations. These dangerous situations are usually connected to their love of the fun time offered by a night life. As parents who fear for the safety of their children, a curfew placed upon their childs night time activities offers a semblance of protection for both parties. The idea being that if a child is home by a certain hour of the night, he or she will be able to avoid the pitfalls that often befall the adventurous teens at night. An analysis of the history and reasons behind the implementation of parental and citywide curfews reveal the details as to why these sectors find curfews an effective deterrent when it comes to keeping their children out of trouble: the night holds some unseen circumstances that children and teenagers may not be capable of dealing with at their current age. Therefore there needs to be some sort of system in place that can help protect them from the things that go bump in the night on public streets. Since teenagers these days can be really hot headed and emotional, it is important to make sure that they are in a safe place once night time sets in because as the night deepens, tempers may end up flaring in certain situations. It is saddening to note that curfews were not needed during the past eras in the United States. The night streets were safe places for them to hang out with their friends after dinner or on a Friday night so they can relax after a hectic school week. Teenagers were not always held in the grips of curfew mania as they are today. Newspaper articles from decades gone by have shown that there was a time in our country when it was safe for teenagers to go out and party at night. Schools did not need to have metal detectors at the gates, school dances were the highlight of the school year, and teenagers would go

Exchange Rate and Puchasing Power Parity Theory Essay

Exchange Rate and Puchasing Power Parity Theory - Essay Example Here, we will take a look at the concept that is the purchasing power parity and try to understand its implications on the currency exchange rates in the world. The best simplest way to describe Purchasing Power Parity, denoted by PPP, is by directly going into its application. So, PPP of the Gross Domestic Product for the countries around the world as of 2003, where we use the American economy as our base group and assign it a value of 100 would see the highest index value being appropriated to Bermuda i.e. 154. This basically means that goods that are sold in the Bermuda are 54% times more expensive as compared to those in United States. Now, the purchasing power parity theory makes use of the long term equilibrium exchange rate that exists between these two currencies in order to equalize the purchasing abilities of both the said currencies. This theory has been developed by the works of Gustav Cassel in 1920 and to put it in simplest terms, it is fundamentally the law of one price: the theory goes along the lines that in completely ideal and efficient markets, identical goods must have the same price regardless of the currency used in t he purchase of goods. By equalizing the purchasing power of different currencies in their home countries for a given basket of goods for different currencies, we can ascertain the purchasing power SEM rate. ... t are existent in a country as well as the similar rates of inflations from different countries as opposed to a generic nominal gross domestic product comparison. It is also a generally accepted notion that the most widely accepted and most often applied purchasing power parity exchange rate is the Geary-Khamis dollar; which is also known as the "international dollar". Changes in the PPP exchange rates: Purchasing power parity exchange rates; or what are known as 'real exchange rates' most often experience variability due to the exchange rate movements that taken place due to open market currency operations. Notwithstanding this type of value fluctuations, uniform variations of the market and the purchasing power parity exchange rates are observed. We have the example of the market exchange rates, which are usually priced for non-traded goods and services at a lower level than expected in the instances where the national incomes are also relatively low. This basically means that a U.S. dollar that is exchanged in Dubai for their local currency and then used to purchase body massages will buy a greater number of body massages as opposed to using the same U.S dollar in the United States to buy body massages. Purchasing Power Parity takes into account this lower cost of living in Dubai and makes specific adjustments in order to for it to appear as if the entire income was being consum ed in the local country. From another viewpoint purchasing power parity is the number of a certain set basket of basic goods that can be purchased in a given country with the money that is produced by the said country. PPP exchange rates and the market exchange rates: There can be immense differences between the purchasing power parities and the market exchange rates between any set of

Coca Cola product life cycle Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Coca Cola product life cycle - Case Study Example This concept holds that the life of any product can be divided into four distinct periods. The first one is the introduction phase, in which the initial sales are made to customers that like trying out new products, although sales in this phase are inadequate to recuperate costs of the product’s development (GecÃŒÅ'Evska et al, 2010: p209). The second phase is the growth stage, in which the sales rapidly increase with increasing product popularity and profits begin to be generated. The third stage is referred to as the maturity stage, which generates most of the product’s profits and sales and is the longest phase. Most companies seek to prolong this phase to increase profits by implementing extension strategies. The last stage is decline, in which the product sales begin to fall and being profitable. Marketing strategies should be adapted to external dynamics within the marketplace for every stage (Matsokis & Kiritsis, 2010: p789), which Coca-Cola has done to make it t he most consumed global soft drink company. Coca-Cola was founded in mid-1886 by John Pemberton and was first introduced in form of a soda fountain drink (Coca-Cola Company.com, 2012: p1). During this stage, it was sold at 5 US cents for each glass. Because John Pemberton’s partner and accountant Frank Robinson believed that C’s would be attractive in advertising, they settled on the name Coca-Cola. The objective of Coca-Cola during this phase was to generate initial awareness about the product and put it in the market for trial by the public, which exceeded Dr. Pemberton’s initial targets (Allen, 2012: p13). In addition, they only launched a basic product that was not even sold in bottles. Rather, they sold the product from soda fountains located strategically at Dr. Pemberton’s businesses. In addition, the company used a cost plus pricing strategy during this phase and it has been suggested it is most likely they used price skimming in order to

The Book a Christmas Carol Essay Example for Free

The Book a Christmas Carol Essay In the book A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, the main character, Scrooge, has many experiences with new emotions throughout the book. These new emotions are fear, sadness and happiness. Scrooge gets scared when Marley, his old business partner, who has been dead for seven years, appears as a ghost at his door. Scrooge got so frightened the he slammed his door shut and double locked it. Scrooge was also visited by the ghost of Christmas past and Scrooge is sad to see his childhood. He saw how he was neglected as a child in the past and this contrasted to his new emotional experience. After being visited by three ghosts, Scrooge becomes a very happy man. He instantly becomes a man of joy and changes the ways that he acts about Christmas. Throughout the book, Scrooge feels many emotions, some new and some old emotions. Scrooge gets scared during multiple occasions throughout the book when he see’s Marley’s ghost and his future. Marley’s ghost appears at Scrooge’s door, Scrooge gets very frightened and double locks the door shut. Marley says to Scrooge, â€Å"‘You will be haunted,’ resumed the Ghost, ‘by Three Spirits’â€Å"(Page 18). Scrooge cannot believe what he is seeing and hearing. Marley goes on to say that tomorrow the first spirit will come to visit him. Scrooge meets the ghost of Christmas yet to come and he fears the ghost very much. The ghost shows Scrooge his grave and is very frightened and he also sees how the people react to his death, and nobody cares. Next the ghost shows him how he dies in his future and he is immensely scared of his future. Scrooge is feared by his future that the ghost showed him and he changes his attitude and become a man full of joy. Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas past and he is sad to look back on his childhood. Scrooge awakes in a dark and dismissal room and he believes that he has slept through the day. He counts down to minutes and  then he sees a super natural figure with the body of a child but the face and hair of a man. Scrooge meets the ghost of Christmas past and the ghost says to Scrooge, â€Å"Rise! And walk with me!†(Page 24). The ghost of Christmas past wants him to rise up with him and the ghost will show him his past. The ghost shows Scrooge his childhood and he sees how he was neglected as a child by his friends. Scrooge is very sad to look back on his childhood and to see how he was treated. Scrooge remembers a young boy who came caroling to his door and he never made a donation. Scrooge mutters, â€Å"I wish†(Page 28), putting his hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff, â€Å"but it is too late now†(Page 28). Scrooge is very sad that he did not make a donation to the young boy. â€Å"One more shadow!† exclaimed the ghost (Page 36). Scrooge cried, â€Å"No more!†(Page 36), but the ghost forced him to observe what happened next, scrooge was again saddened about what he had seen and told the spirit he could not take it no longer. The ghost of Christmas past showed Scrooge different parts of his past that made Scrooge feel very sad which was a new emotion to Scrooge. After being visited by the three ghost of Christmas, Scrooge becomes a very happy man. Scrooge awakes in his bed after he has seen the last spirit and the three spirits are gone. He awakes very happy on Christmas day full of Christmas spirit. Scrooge runs out to the street and asks a young boy to find him the biggest turkey possible. Then he asked the boy to send it to Bob Cratchits house. Later Scrooge sees a man from his accounting house that he refused to make a donation to. Scrooge then makes a donation to the man because of his new joyful attitude. Scrooge goes to visit his nephew Fred, and he knocks on his door and a very nice girl lets him in. Scrooge yelled, â€Å"Fred/ it’s I. Your Uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner, will you let me in, Fred† (Page 83-84). After dinner Scrooge went to see Bob Cratchit to raise his salary. Scrooge questioned Bob about why he was there at that time of day. Bob thought he was going to get yelled at by Scrooge but Scrooge said to Bob, â€Å"/I am about to raise your salary!†(Page 84). Bob was shocked to hear Scrooge say that to him, and Bob was extremely happy. After being visited by the three ghost of Christmas, Scrooge turned out to be an amazing man full of joy and Christmas spirit. In the book A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, the main character, Scrooge, has many experiences throughout the play with new emotions such as fear, sadness and happiness. Scrooge becomes very scared when he sees Marley’s ghost, who has been dead for seven years, when he meets the first ghost of Christmas and when the ghost of Christmas yet to come shows him his future. Scrooge was visited by the ghost of Christmas past and Scrooge was extremely sad to look back on his childhood and that he did not make a donation the young boy who was caroling. After being visited by three ghost of Christmas, Scrooge becomes a very happy man full of Christmas spirit. Scrooge feels many new emotions throughout the book and they all lead up to one very good emotion, happiness.

Problems of Water Supply in the Rural Communities of Nigeria

Problems of Water Supply in the Rural Communities of Nigeria Problems of Water Supply in the Rural Communities of Delta State, Nigeria Abstract This study assess the problem of rural water supply in Delta slate with the main aim of examining the factors responsible for the incidence of ineffective water supply to the rural communities of Delta state, Nigeria. Questionnaire survey was the instrument of data generation and a total of 500 questionnaires were administered to 10 rural communities of the state. The data were analyzed with descriptive and multiple regression analyses and the following constitutes as the observations as follows: erratic power supply, embezzlement of fund, diversion of hydraulic equipment, theft, government policy, indiscriminate wastage/carelessness, poor maintenance culture, fruity hydraulic equipment and loss by evaporation. Introduction Studies on water resources have concentrated on urban setting to the detriment of rural communities (Adesuyi, 1996; Adebola, 2001; Ovrawah and Hymore, 2001 and Efe, 2003). For instance, there is absolute absence of water schemes in most rural communities of Delta state e.g. Otorho-Abraka, Samagidi/Kokori, Abbi, Anwai etc., even when they exist, they are non-functioning. Thus, most women and school children balanced basin, buckets, 20-50litres Geri cans on their head and trek long distances to streams, rivers, wells and bore holes. The varied water sources result in consumers spending many hours waiting for water or carrying water to their homes. For example, in Anwai the delay in getting water from private bores is detrimental to the study regime of students of the Delta State University, Anwal Campus. The inadequate water supply has resulted in water borne disease largely because of the supply misappropriation of fund, diversion of water scheme, erratic power supply amongst other (Efe, 2003). This problem becomes more acute in recent times as a result of increased population. Thus, this work seek to investigate: the factors militating against effective water supply, study the cost of each water supply scheme, study time spent on obtaining water on daily as a social cost; and study response to ameliorate the problems. Study Area Delta state lies between longitude 5 °E and 6 °45E and latitudes 5 °N and 6 °30’N and has landmass areas of 16,842km Square. Delta state lies within the Benin, Agbada and Akata formation in terms of geology (see fig.1). The state is drain by river Niger, and its distributaries (Forcados, Escravos and Warn river and creeks), Jamieson and Ethiope (www.on1ine.nigeria.com 2312/05). River Niger drains the eastern flank of the state and empty it water into the sea. Delta state has a population of about 2,590 491, where about 75% of her population lives in rural areas (1991 census), without good access to potable water. The state is divided into three seaatorial districts: Delta North, 793,517; Delta central with a population 936,707 and Delta South, 865,540 population (Omaksone, 2004). Methodology This work-utilised data generated through direct fieldwork exercises. The instrument of data generation is the questionnaire administration. The questionnaire was administered through systematic sampling technique. On the whole, a total of 50 questionnaires were administered to eh community, making a total of 500 respondents that were interviewed. The data were analysed with the aid of multiple regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Data Analysis and Discussion of Results Source of Water Supply Different types of water supply sources exdist in the study for effective utilisation of the respondents as follows (See table 1) Table 1: Sources of rural water supply in Delta State Source: Author’s fieldwork, 2005. Table I indicates that 39% of the rural inhabitants of these communities obtain their drinking water from Rain Water Harvesting, 24% from river or stream who carried the water through long distances, 14% from Wells, 13% from private boreholes who make a charge to households on the water supplied, 9% from Tankers which supply water to homes from long distances, and 1% from state owned boreholes who provide free water services to the households. Most of the water sources are owned and maintained by private individuals. For instance out of the 72 boreholes in table 1, it is only 3 that are owned and maintained by State Government. These bores are found in Patani, Ozoro, Anwai. This represents only 4% of the boreholes in these communities. The State owned boreholes are very irregular in their water supply. Essentially, there are times Quantity, Distance, Time and Cost of Water Table 2 show the volume of water supply to each household, distance and time spent in obtaining water from the various sources. On daily basis, an average of 80 litres of Rain Water are harvested whenever it rains. This recorded the highest volumes of water obtained by each household. About 30minutes are spent on the average whenever it rains by each household fetching water. Table 3: Average time and daily demand of water per household It is observed from table 3 that Well Water recorded 35 litres of water obtained by each household at a time and distance of 1hours 30minutes and 1km respectively. The volume of well water obtained by each household is attributed to the long distance and time spent, hence reduction in the quantity of supplied. According the inhabitants because they cannot afford the price of Borehole water, we resort to trekking distance places and spending long time as well carrying water from Wells and Streams the various houses. Similarly, the long time and distance spent in obtaining water from streams reduces the quantity of stream water supply. This show an average of 30litres of stream water supply at a time and distance of 2hours and 1 V2 km respectively spent in obtaining stream or river water by each household. Thus, the higher the distance and time spent in obtaining water from these sources reduces the volumes of water demanded by each household (See fig, 2). For instance it is clear from these communities (Otorho, Ozoro, Ekpan-Ovu, Kokoro and Patani) in fig.2 that as the time expended in obtaining domestic water increases, the quantity of water demanded by the inhabitants of these communities decreases. Though the water from these sources is free, but there is economic cost to the water as children, women and students in most of these communities spend a considerable time carrying water to meet their need, which time they could have expended in earning income. Fig. 2: Domestic water consumption and time required for well water and stream water collected at Otorho-Abraka, Kokori Ekpan-Ovu, Ozoro and Patani Similarly, it also reduces the time they could have expended in household labour amongst other activities. However, the cost of water from boreholes and tankers led to the reduction in volumes of water obtained from boreholes and water tankers. Factors of Ineffective Water Supply The respondents generally agreed that in all the rural communities they experienced acute problem of water supply. Essentially, they observed that the factors that are responsible for the problem of water supply relates to erratic power supply, embezzlement of fund/corruption, diversion of hydraulic equipment/political factors, theft, government policy, indiscriminate wastage/carelessness, poor maintenance culture, faulty distribution system and topography of the areas (See table 4). Table 4: Correlation co-efficient between acute problem of water supply and the associated factors responsible. Source: Author’s Fieldwork, 2005 The results of the correlation statistics shows that the problem of inadequate water supply to the rural communities of Delta State, rely heavily on the predictive factors The individual explanatory contributions of each of this predictive model are discussed below. Erratic power is the highest explanatory factor of inadequate water supply. This is evident from a positive correlation coefficient of 0.48 (see table 4). This is significant at 0.05 confidence level, This shows a positive contribution, and as such the problem of water supply became worsen with increasing epileptic power supply to these communities. For instance most of these communities resort to the use of self-generating plant to pump the water through self-help efforts. But as a result of hike in prices of petroleum products, the generating plant was abandoned, hence acute shortage of water supply to these communities. The second contributory is embezzlement of fund, which shows a correlation coefficient of 0.39, thus water problems became more acute as more funds meant for water projects are embezzled. For examples there are series of complains by the rural inhabitants that huge amount of money has been released for the sitting of water projects by the successive government. But such projects are either not undertaken due to embezzlement of fund or they are poorly executed. As such, most of the hydraulic projects packed up soon after commissioning. The third predicative factors affecting acute supply of water in the rural communities of Delta State is the diversion of hydraulic project or political factor. This indicates a positive correlation coefficient of 0.35. For instance, water projects meant for Otorho Abraka, Abavo, Samagidi etc has been diverted to personal compound or to other villages because these communities did not vote for them during the last political dispensation. Theft of hydraulic equipment is the fourth predictive factor of water supply with positive correlation coefficient of 0.33. This indicates that as more hydraulic equipment are stolen or vandalized, the problem of water supply to the area will become more acute For instance the generating plants and submersible pump at Emevo, Otorho — Abraka, have been vandalized. Thus, the acute problems of water supply in these in these rural communities of Delta State. Another causal factor is the lack of laudable government policy of water supply for all (b oth rural and urban areas of the state). This factor shows weak positive effects of 0.22 correlation coefficient. The state, local government and ministry of water resources in Delta state, have not made concerted effort to actualise this policy, to them they are constraints with the problem of finance and high price of hydraulic equipments. Another identified factor of inadequate water supply is indiscriminate wastage arid careless use of water. This indicates correlation coefficient values of 0.12. In some of the rural communities (Patani, Ozoro, and Anwai) where there is existence of public tap, it is not uncommon to find children and some adults, attempting to drink direct from household and public taps without using a container. At times, the children forget to lock the tap back after usage. In this way, they waste the greater portion of the water, and the wasted water is depended on pressure of the area. This view collaborated the work of Oyabande (1981) in the city of Jos. Lack of good maintenance culture is another causal factor in the areas where there is public water supply. It shows weak correlation coefficient of 0.04. For instance, most of the equipments are old and absolute and some of the pipes are corroded, without replacement. As such, there is frequent breakdown of†¢ the equipment. Similar to this factor, is faulty hydraulic and distributing system. Due to corrosion and old age of the pipe lines there are many leakages from these pipelines and finihy fitting in tank. This indicated an inverse effect on effective water supply. This is evident from a correlation coefficient of —0.35. The topography of the area recorded the list amongst the predictive factors of water problem. This shows an inverse correlation coefficient of —0.50. This factor is most severe in Delta north senatorial district (Anwal, Uineunede and Abavo) communities. For examples at Anwai it takes up 200 — 250 feet depth before the aquifer can be stroke, at Abavo and Umuenede it takes 180 — 210 feet depending on the location, such, sitting of water project in these areas is relatively very difficult. Conclusion Certainly the health, amenity and standard of living of the inhabitants of these communities are dependant upon the provision of acceptable system of water supplies to these rural communities. Its regular supply enhanced liveability and longevity of Life in this environmental setting. To enhance regular supply of water to the rural inhabitants of Delta state there is urgent need to adopt the above policy measures. References Adebola, K.D. (2001) Groundwater Quality in Ilorin Township: An Environmental Review. African Journal of Environmental Studies 2(2): Pp. 4-7. Adesuyi, O. (1996) Nigeria Produces 25 year water Masterplan. Ultimate water Technology and Environment 1(1): l7-ISpp. Efe, S.I. (2003) Water Quality and its Utilisation in the Nigerian Rural Setting of Abraka Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Dynamics. Maiden (ed) pp. 81 —86 Ovrawah, L. and Hymore, F.K. (2001) Quality of Water from hand-dug wells in the Warn Environs of Niger Delta Region 2(2):pp. 169-173 Oyebande, L. (1981) The Hydrology of Urban Water Supply: A Case of Jos. P.O. Sada and J.S. Oguntoymbo (eds) in: Urbanisation Processes and Problems in Nigeria. Ibadan. University Press pp.141 — 149. 1

Representations Of Arabs In Shakespearean Plays English Literature Essay

Representations Of Arabs In Shakespearean Plays English Literature Essay The early years of the 1550s witnessed the first sizeable appearance of black people in England; those whom English merchants took captive and brought to England to work as slaves (Barthelemy 1987). John Hawkins was among the earliest English adventurers to bring black people to England and to sell some other black Africans into slavery in the New Found World. In the 1550s, a black man who was brought to England was married to a native white woman. The child that the mixed couple brought to life was described as black as coal. Arabs include Moors and Moroccan as well as the people that originated from the Arabian Gulf, Middle East and North Africa. Others may include other Eastern people such as Turks. The wordmoors is a loose term that is often used in the Medieval and Renaissance England. It referred to the moor, black moor, and Negroes, Indians, Mahometans and Muslims. These terms are more than not used interchangeably. It has been seen that these people have played various roles in Shakespearean plays. One example of which is Othello. The main character of the tragedy, Othello, is a racial and cultural outsider in Venice. This paper examines the links between the Arabs and stereotypes and how well they were represented in the Shakespearean plays. Further, this paper seeks to explain how the Arabs were viewed in these plays; the sorts of stereotypes that were linked to the Arabs; how these stereotypes influenced that plays and its protagonists; and the change representations and evolutions of the Arabs in the play. Problem Statement and Research Questions It is evident that the Arabs played a great part in the plays of Shakespeare, especially in the tragedy Othello. These representations have emerged as a major topic in modern and contemporary scholarships. Various studies have representations of Arabs in the English and European literature. This papers main research problem is that, on the representation of Arabs in Shakespeares plays, what is the link between the representation and the stereotypes? Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following research questions: 1. How were the Arabs viewed in the plays of Shakespeare? 2. What sorts of stereotypes were linked to the Arabs? These stereotypes were from Shakespeares contemporary society and time frame which is 16th and 17th century Britain. 3. How these stereotypes affected the plays and its protagonists? 4. How do the Arab representations changed and evolved in the plays? Research Objectives The main objective of this paper is examining the link between the stereotypes and the Arab representation made by Shakespeare in his plays. These stereotypes were from Shakespeares contemporary society and time frame which is 16th and 17th century Britain. This aims to examine the effects these representation had on the written plays as well as to study the evolution of these representations. Scope and Limitation The scope of the study shall remain in the examination of the linkage between the Arab representation of Shakespeare in his plays and with the stereotypes of his time. It can be said that this shall include interdisciplinary studies of history and literature. However, this paper shall remain a paper for literature. Arab will be the term to be used in this study; however, this may also include other Eastern people such as Turks, as necessary. Since the main focus of the study is on Arab representation of Shakespearean classics, the researcher will only be limited to the examination of the same. Therefore, the researcher shall not include other literary works that have the same subject. Finally, the researcher will not be concerned on the analysis and the criticism of the literary pieces that include the representation because of the reasons that were mentioned in the aims of this study. Review of Related Literature In the tragedy, Othello, casting the male protagonist as black, Shakespeare activates all the fantasms that have haunted white society about miscegenation to our day: the idea of the black man and the white woman. The double standards of contemporary society, a fortiriori in Shakespeares time, do not hold the same anger against relations between a white man and a black woman, where the assumed dominant and submissive gender roles are matched in the racists minds with the desired racial roles (Serageldin 1998). Shakespeare draws out a powerful argument for the profound alienation of Othello, who-despite arriving at his position by Venetian merit, which also requires him to deny himself-is still destroyed because of his race and his erstwhile, if not continued, religion. When it comes to Morocco and the image of Moors, generally speaking, the relationship between Morocco and England was a friendly one. All along, the relations between the two monarchs were of special nature in spite of the fact that violations happened from time to time from both sides. As has been pointed out in the introduction and throughout this thesis, the Anglo-Moroccan alliance was at some point so strong that the two sides fought side by side in the Cadiz expedition to punish the Spanish (the common enemies of the Moors and the English) and planned to restore the contender of the Portuguese to his Royal seat and to challenge the Spanish interests in the Atlantic and the West Indies. Matar describes the relations between England and Morocco in the Elizabethan period as oscillating between cooperation and conflict, trade and piracy. However, it should be noted here that the Moors, historically speaking, were not so much abhorred by Elizabethan Englishmen as many of their Europe an foes; mainly the Spanish and the French. The then anti-foreign sentiment (whether anti- Spanish, French, Dutch or African) was common. The Moors, though different in religion, and in color, were treated by Britons no worse than, may be better than, any other European, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish or French, aliens, pirates, merchants or ambassadors. Shakespeare is not the only dramatist who utilized foreign and exotic settings in his plays, but Shakespeares distinction was that he did well what many others have failed to do. He was able to imagine life from the perspective of these others while many of his fellow playwrights could not (Elaskary 2008). Shakespeare was bold enough in introducing a revolution in the representation of the Moor, as he did with the Jew. Shakespeare introduced his audience and readers to different types of Moors and blackmoors. The most famous, rather notorious, among Shakespeares Moors (other than Othello) is Aaron in Titus Andronicus while Caliban in The Tempest deservedly takes the status of his deputy. Aaron is among Shakespeares articulated villains. He is described as inhuman dog, unhallowed slave [Act V, iii, 14] and he commits horrible crimes against other characters in the play. Caliban is a little picaresque dwarfish character. Shakespeares Moors are portrayed in a way that is independent and unique yet not very detached from the time or society in which the plays were written. Othello may have some elements of the stereotypal Moor of his time but he is far more human, influential, and independent. Though the play was acted before King James I and his men, Shakespeare, unlike the majority of his contemporary dramatists, seems not to have been involved in the then fashionable habit of worshipping his King and stigmatizing the Others and foreigners to amuse the King and his retinue (Elaskary 2008). When it came to the representation of Moors in Elizabethan drama, it was concluded by Elaskary (2008) that the image of Moors was not static, though stereotypal; it was varied, inconsistent, contradictory and illogical. As the relations between Morocco and England ranged from friendship to enmity so did the image of Moors. When sketching out the plays that were written in the Elizabethan era, the reader may find the raging Turk; the good Turk, the voluptuous, treacherous black Moor, and the noble Moor. The trend at that time, however, was that in general the others (be they blacks, Moors, Spaniards, French, or Irish) would be the villains, the plotters, and the killers while the white natives would be the courageous men and defenders of country and Queen. Sins and crimes have been committed by the black and the white peoples since the dawn of history but the key point is, that when the white man commits a crime this does not indicate or involve an inherent judgment of his race or the nationality to which he belongs as it does with the black man. The representation of Moors in the period under study (as has always been) was always politically motivated. That is why the prudent reader will notice that that Moors with darker skin were more often painted in the darkest colors; merciless conspirators, haters and murderers, than those light or brown skin Moors. Muly Mahamet, Aaron and Caliban may fit in this category. North African Moors, however, fared well on the London stage. Abdelmelec, Muly Hamet and Othello come in this category. If nothing could have washed the black Moors white the friendly ties between Morocco and England positively affected the way Moors from Morocco were represented on the London stage (Elaskary 2008). It turns out that it was the political element rather than the religious, racial or cultural ones that played the leading role when it came to representing the other in Elizabethan England. It might not have been safer (or wiser) for Elizabethan dramatists to flatly oppose, challenge, or criticize the pol itical line of the period. Those who did boldly challenge and question the political taboos at that time ended up penniless or in jail. Thus, John Marston (and Robert Greene) was imprisoned and his manuscripts burnt for his anti-James I writings at the turn of the seventeenth century (Farag). Othellos tragedy is bared before the audiences eyes, and continues to challenge the racism and gender double standards that plague society today. It acknowledges the profound human frailties that jealousy can prey upon in all of us, but it also invites us to question the social context that would prevent people to behave in a natural and humane way and invites us to ask why it should be so (Serageldin 1998). Methodology and Method of Analysis Data driven research is an easy choice for the researcher. This is a flexible and responsive approach and the researcher will not know where the data can lead into. Although the literature is quite difficult because at the start of the study the researcher will not know which literature will be relevant later. Reading is therefore postponed until the literatures relevance is judged later on. Consequently, this may affect the structure of the research later on. Secondly, it is not only the interpretation and the understanding that emerge during the research process. The same is also applied in choosing the methodology. The contents of the research and its process both develop during the proceedings of the research. It has been a debate amongst research students the misalignment between the philosophical pluralism and methodological pluralism. This misalignment can create confusion during the entire research process. When linking the quantitative and qualitative methods of research with the understanding interpretation of philosophy which is positivism and interpretive, the research process often becomes too difficult for many. Along with other constraints, researchers face lack of time, intensity of program, through to willingness in engaging with literature. This confusion drives researchers to remove themselves in the theory and just carry out the research based on their initial goal on what to achieve in it. This relationship between the methods and philosophy has caused this current research on the investigation of Shakespeares portrayal of Richard III with so much anxiety and thought provoking questions. In this research, quantitative tools are used together with the inductive and deductive approaches. Easterby-Smith, et al (2002) has highlighted the importance of the relationship between the research philosophy and the research methods. According to them, this relationship allows one in taking a more informed decision regarding the research approach; helps in deciding which method/s are appropriate for the research; lets the researcher think about constraints that may hinder the research. Checkland and Hollwell (1998) added the component of framework which is epistemology. This consists of assumptions and counted as knowledge. It is expected that researchers shall explain and justify their respective epistemologies, their methodology and methods as well as their conclusions. Evidently, this approach encourages the researchers in being more mindful during the research process. Qualitative research allows the subjects being studied to give much richer answers to questions put to them by the researcher, and may give valuable insights which might have been missed by any other method. Not only does it provide valuable information to certain research questions in its own right but there is a strong case for using it to complement quantitative research methods. Qualitative research has its roots in social science and is more concerned with understanding why people behave as they do: their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, fears, etc. Conclusion In the tragedy, Othello, casting the male protagonist as black, Shakespeare activates all the fantasms that have haunted white society about miscegenation to our day: the idea of the black man and the white woman. The double standards of contemporary society, a fortiriori in Shakespeares time, do not hold the same anger against relations between a white man and a black woman, where the assumed dominant and submissive gender roles are matched in the racists minds with the desired racial roles. Shakespeare draws out a powerful argument for the profound alienation of Othello, who-despite arriving at his position by Venetian merit, which also requires him to deny himself-is still destroyed because of his race and his erstwhile, if not continued, religion. The representation of Moors in the period under study (as has always been) was always politically motivated. That is why the prudent reader will notice that that moors with darker skin were more often painted in the darkest colors; merciless conspirators, haters and murderers, than those light or brown skin Moors. It turns out that it was the political element rather than the religious, racial or cultural ones that played the leading role when it came to representing the other in Elizabethan England. It might not have been safer (or wiser) for Elizabethan dramatists to flatly oppose, challenge, or criticize the political line of the period. Those who did boldly challenge and question the political taboos at that time ended up penniless or in jail. Othellos tragedy is bared before the audiences eyes, and continues to challenge the racism and gender double standards that plague society today. It acknowledges the profound human frailties that jealousy can prey upon in all of us, but it also invites us to question the social context that would prevent people to behave in a natural and humane way and invites us to ask why it should be so. Work Plan and Timetable Task Description Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Writing of Research Proposal; Intensive Review of Related Studies Execution of Research Methodology Analysis of Data Gathered Writing the Research Paper Presentation and Defense of the Research Paper

The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gr

The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray Much of the criticism regarding The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde has dealt with Dorian Gray’s relation to his own portrait (Raby 392). While some may argue that the portrait represents a reflection of Dorian Gray’s character, this is only a superficial analysis of the novel and Dorian’s character. While Dorian Gray’s true character never changes, it is his own perception of his character (his conscience) that is reflected in the changing face of his portrait. In essence Dorian’s picture becomes a mirror through which the "true Dorian" judges his own metamorphasis as the superficial "Lord Henry Dorian" attempts to embrace Lord Henry’s teachings. Dorian’s duality of character causes a constant internal struggle within him, ultimately culminating in his own suicide. Initially, Lord Henry’s doctrine of "new Hedonism" contrasts sharply with Dorian’s youthful innocence and passions. These initial feelings are the reader’s first and clearest experience with the soon to be repressed "true Dorian." The terminology, however, does not imply that Dorian has never been influenced before. This unblemished character simply represents Dorian’s self at the start of the novel, a state which he accepts as his own and is able to find peace in. From this first conversation, Dorian’s peace begins shatter when he learns of Lord Henry’s philosophy and its implications for his own life. Dorian is described as a "brainless, beautiful creature" (3), appropriate since all Dorian has at this stage in the novel is his own initial, untainted feelings. Thus this "pre-Henry" stage is the only time in the novel at which Dorian expresses his "true self" outwardly. This "brai... ...he Picture of Dorian Gray: A Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Lawler, Donald L. (1988). 405-412. Raby, Peter. Oscar Wilde. (1980): 164. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 1991. 392-397. Spivey, Ted R. "Oscar Wilde and the Tragedy of Symbolism." The Journey Beyond Tragedy. (1980): 57-71. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 1991. 501-502. Summers, Claude J. "In Such Surrender There May Be Gain’: Oscar Wilde and the Beginnings of Gay Fiction." Gay Fictions: Wilde to Stonewall, Studies in a Male Homosexual Literary Tradition. (1990): 29-61. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 1991. 398-401. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray: Oxford World’s Classics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

The Master-Slave Relationship Essay -- master Slave Essays

The Master-Slave Relationship In this paper I will be discussing the master-slave relationship. I will give you an understanding as to how this union exists. Also I will brief you on how without this relationship a city would not exist. This paper will not only define the master-slave relationship but give quotations and examples that will help you the reader to fully understand this concept. In the master-slave relationship, with this union, the master can not exist without the slave. The slave is there to assist the master with the maintaining of the master’s wants and needs. In the classroom setting the teacher is the slave because he or she has the knowledge that is needed by the students. The students would be the master because the teacher is upholding the desires and wishes of the students by teaching them the knowledge they have. According to Aristotle The Politics, Book I Chapter 2, â€Å"The naturally ruling and ruled, on the account of preservation. For that which can see with the thought is naturally ruling and naturally mastering elements while that which can do with the body is naturally ruled and slave.† This is one of the common relationships that are known in the household. The household is the partnership established by nature for the needs of daily life. A group of households makes up a village, and a group of villages makes up a city. Now that we have seen that the city is made up of households, I would like to discuss that management of the household. What makes up the household relates to the people in the household. A complete household consist of slaves and freemen; who are the master and slave, the husband and wife, and the parent and child. The leadership of the master over the slave is different from nature, and the difference between the slave and freeman only exists by law. It is considered just, but the slave and freeman don’t exists by nature and being an impediment with nature is consequently unjust. What is property? According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary property is defined as a quality or trait belonging and especially peculiar to an individual or thing. Property is also in conjunction with the household, and the ability of managing property is also a part of managing the household; for no man can live well, or indeed live at all, unless he is supplied with the essential items needed to survive... ...ical rule were the same, but they are different. Mastery and political rule are not the same thing, because political rule is over those who are free and equal. With this rule the master is not called master because he has skill that is needed. To be in love is to also be in a master-slave relationship. With this form you are trying to embody in the person what you think you need. So the person that needs something is the master and the one who encompasses it is the slave. Mastery rule is acquiring slaves but using them for their advantage. With slavery, the masters acquired slaves, and the slaves were used for the monetary gain of the masters. So in conclusion, the master-slave relationship not one only exist in the household, but it exist in society and everyday life. Without this relationship, people would be unable to determine who they are as a person and what their purpose is in life. This relationship helps define many interactions, weather it is romantic, educational, or a job function. I never really thought to much about this relationship and just related it to slavery, but I have come to know that it is a significant aspect in the way life’s relationships are viewed.

Alcohol abuse Essay

Alcohol is absorbed from all parts of the gastrointestinal tract largely by simple diffusion into the blood. However the small intestine is by far the most efficient region of the gastrointestinal tract for alcohol absorption because of its very large surface area. In a fasting individual, it is generally agreed that 10% to 20% of a dose of alcohol is absorbed from the stomach (the volume of alcohol affects the absorption) and 75% to 80% is absorbed from the small intestine. Because of this peak blood alcohol concentrations are achieved in fasting people within 0. 5 to 2. 0 hours, (average 0. 75 – 1. 35 hours depending upon dose and time of last meal) while non-fasting people exhibit peak alcohol concentrations within 1. 0, and in extreme cases up to as much as 4. 0 hours (average 1. 06 – 2. 12 hours). Because it is distributed so quickly and thoroughly the alcohol can affect the central nervous system even in small concentrations. In low concentrations, alcohol reduces inhibitions. As blood alcohol concentration increases, a person’s response to stimuli decreases markedly, speech becomes slurred, and he or she becomes unsteady and has trouble walking. With very high concentrations – greater than 0. 35 grams/100 milliliters of blood (equivalent to 0. 35 grams/210 liters of breath ) – a person can become comatose and die. The American Medical Association has defined the blood alcohol concentration level of impairment for all people to be 0. 04 grams/100 milliliters of blood (equivalent to . 04 grams/210 liters of breath). The following is a generally accepted guide to the effects of alcohol. Distribution Alcohol has a high affinity for water and is therefore found in body tissues and fluids inasmuch as they contain water. Absorbed alcohol is rapidly carried throughout the body in the blood and once absorption of alcohol is complete an equilibrium occurs such that blood at all points in the system contains approximately the same concentration of alcohol. Elimination The liver is responsible for the elimination – through metabolism – of 95% of ingested alcohol from the body. The remainder of the alcohol is eliminated through excretion of alcohol in breath, urine, sweat, feces, milk and saliva. The body uses several different metabolic pathways in its oxidation of alcohol to acetaldehyde to acetic acid to carbon dioxide and water. Healthy people metabolize alcohol at a fairly consistent rate. As a rule of thumb, a person will eliminate one average drink or . 5 oz (15 ml) of alcohol per hour. Several factors influence this rate. The rate of elimination tends to be higher when the blood alcohol concentration in the body is very high. Also chronic alcoholics may (depending on liver health) metabolize alcohol at a significantly higher rate than the average. Finally, the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol quickly tend to diminish with age. Body Weight and Body Type In general, the less you weigh the more you will be affected by a given amount of alcohol. As detailed above, alcohol has a high affinity for water. Basically one’s blood alcohol concentration is a function of the total amount of alcohol in one’s system divided by total body water. So for two individuals with similar body compositions and different weights, the larger individual will achieve lower alcohol concentrations than the smaller one if ingesting the same amount of alcohol. However, for people of the same weight, a well muscled individual will be less affected than someone with a higher percentage of fat since fatty tissue does not contain very much water and will not absorb very much alcohol. Rate Of Consumption Blood alcohol concentration depends on the amount of alcohol consumed and the rate at which the user’s body metabolizes alcohol. Because the body metabolizes alcohol at a fairly constant rate (somewhat more quickly at higher and lower alcohol concentrations), ingesting alcohol at a rate higher than the rate of elimination results in a cumulative effect and an increasing blood alcohol concentration. Alcohol Content It’s not how many drinks that you have, but how much alcohol that you consume. The concentration of the drinks that one ingest can have a slight effect on the peak alcohol concentration due to the differences in absorption rate of different concentrations of alcohol. Alcohol is most rapidly absorbed when the concentration of the drink is between 10% and 30%. Below 10% the concentration gradient in the gastrointestinal tract is low and slows absorption and the added volumes of liquid involved slow gastric emptying. On the other hand concentrations higher than 30% tend to irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and the pyloric sphincter, causing increased secretion of mucous and delayed gastric emptying. Food Food taken along with alcohol results in a lower, delayed blood alcohol concentration peak (the point of greatest intoxication). There are two major factors involved in this phenomenon. First, because alcohol is absorbed most efficiently in the small intestine, the ingestion of food can slow down the absorption of alcohol into one’s system. The pyloric valve at the bottom of the stomach will close in order to hold food in the stomach for digestion and thus keep the alcohol from reaching the small intestine. While alcohol will be absorbed from the stomach it is a slower and less efficient transition. Second and equally important is the fact that alcohol elimination rates are inversely proportional to alcohol concentration in the blood. Therefore the suppressed levels of alcohol due to food ingestion cause the body to eliminate the alcohol that is absorbed at a faster rate. The type of food ingested (carbohydrate, fat, protein) has not been shown to have a measurable influence on this affect but the larger the meal and closer in time between eating and drinking, the greater the diminution of peak alcohol concentration. Studies have shown reductions in peak alcohol concentration (as opposed to those of a fasting individual under otherwise similar circumstances) of 9% to 23%. Medication If you are taking any medication, it could increase the effects of alcohol. You should always consult your physician or the medical information that accompanies the medication when drinking alcohol in conjunction with any medication. Fatigue Fatigue causes many of the same symptoms that are caused by alcohol intoxication. These and other symptoms will be amplified if alcohol intoxication is concurrent with fatigue. Tolerance Tolerance is the diminution of the effectiveness of a drug after a period of prolonged or heavy use of that drug or a related drug (cross-tolerance). There are at least two types of tolerance at work with alcohol. The first is metabolic tolerance in which the alcohol is metabolized at a higher rate (up to two times as quickly) in chronic users. Because of the higher metabolic rate for alcohol lower peak blood alcohol concentrations are achieved by chronic alcohol users than the average drinker when the same amount of alcohol is ingested. The second is functional tolerance in which there is an actual change in the organ or system’s sensitivity to the drug. Studies have shown that chronic alcohol users can have twice the tolerance for alcohol as an average person. It is important to note however that even in light of these tolerance factors, it has been shown conclusively that even in heavy alcohol users functional impairment is clearly measurable at the blood alcohol concentration levels that are currently used for traffic law enforcement and safety sensitive job performance. Gender Differences As outlined above in the section on Body Weight and Body Type different body types coincide with different body water percentages. In general, but by no means in all cases, women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat and thus a lower percentage of body water. Therefore, in general, if a man and a woman of the same weight ingest the same amount of alcohol the woman will tend to achieve a higher alcohol concentration. This, of course, would not be true if the woman was very fit and the man was somewhat obese, but on average, this is the case. Furthermore, total body water tends to decrease with age, so an older person will also be more affected by the same amount of alcohol. According to the table below the differences in alcohol concentration due to average body composition differences based on gender would be between 16% and 10% depending on age. ________________________________________ Average Total Body Water as a function of Sex and Age AgeMaleFemale 18 to 4061%52% over 6051%46% ________________________________________ Another gender based difference is in the elimination of alcohol. Although not explained, studies appear to show that women eliminate alcohol from their bodies at a rate 10% greater than that of men. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) and alcohol abuse are two different forms of problem drinking. †¢Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continues to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Alcohol may control your life and relationships. †¢Alcohol abuse is when your drinking leads to problems, but not physical addiction. Causes, incidence, and risk factors There is no known cause of alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Research suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of alcoholism, but which genes and how they work are not known. How much you drink can influence your chances of becoming dependent. Those at risk for developing alcoholism include: †¢Men who have 15 or more drinks a week †¢Women who have 12 or more drinks a week †¢Anyone who has five or more drinks per occasion at least once a week One drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1 1/2-ounce shot of liquor. You have an increased risk for alcohol abuse and dependence if you have a parent with alcoholism. You may also be more likely to abuse alcohol or become dependent if you: †¢Are a young adult under peer pressure †¢Have depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia †¢Have easy access to alcohol †¢Have low self-esteem †¢Have problems with relationships †¢Live a stressful lifestyle †¢Live in a culture alcohol use is more common and accepted Alcohol abuse is rising. Around 1 out of 6 people in the world have a drinking problem. Symptoms People who have alcoholism or alcohol abuse often: †¢Continue to drink, even when health, work, or family are being harmed †¢Drink alone. †¢Become violent when drinking †¢Become hostile when asked about drinking †¢Are not able to control drinking — being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake †¢Make excuses to drink †¢Miss work or school, or have a decrease in performance because of drinking †¢Stop taking part in activities because of alcohol †¢Need to use alcohol on most days to get through the day †¢Neglect to eat or eat poorly †¢Do not care about or ignore how they dress or whether they are clean †¢Try to hide alcohol use †¢Shake in the morning or after periods when they have not a drink Symptoms of alcohol dependence include: †¢Memory lapses after heavy drinking †¢Needing more and more alcohol to feel â€Å"drunk† †¢Alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you haven’t had a drink for a while †¢Alcohol-related illnesses such as alcoholic liver disease Signs and tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical and family history, including use of alcohol. The following questions are used by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to screen for alcohol abuse or dependence: †¢Do you ever drive when you have been drinking? †¢Do you have to drink more than before to get drunk or feel the desired effect? †¢Have you felt that you should cut down on your drinking? †¢Have you ever had any blackouts after drinking? †¢Have you ever missed work or lost a job because of drinking? †¢Is someone in your family worried about your drinking? Tests that may be done include: †¢Blood alcohol level (this can tell whether someone has recently been drinking alcohol, but it does not necessarily confirm alcoholism) †¢Complete blood count (CBC) †¢Liver function tests. †¢Magnesium blood test Medical Illness Associated With Chronic Alcohol Abuse DisorderIllness MetabolicAlcoholic ketoacidosis, alcoholic hypoglycemia, water and salt disorders NeurologicChronic problems with thinking such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, and central pontine myelinolysis leading to problems walking and other motor activities, acute and chronic dementia, alcoholic peripheral neuropathy MuscularAcute and chronic alcoholic muscle weakness. GastrointestinalFatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, alcoholic pancreatitis, poor pancreatic function, gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal carcinoma, erosive gastritis, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, esophageal varices leading to bleeding into the GI tract Metabolic-endocrineHigh cholesterol, high levels of uric acid, low testosterone levels, impotence, testicular atrophy, gynecomastia, irregular menstrual periods, reversible Cushing’s syndrome BloodAnemia due to poor production of blood cells or slow intestinal bleeding, poor white cell production, destruction of platelets, blood too thin to clot properly. CardiacDecreased cardiac function, arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure PulmonaryIncreased incidence of pneumonia, increased incidence of tuberculosis OtherIncreased incidence of severe intestinal infections, fetal alcohol syndrome, vitamin deficiency syndromes, trauma, sexual dysfunction, insomnia Social Problems Associated With Alcohol Abuse Accidental death and injury50% of fatal car crashes 25-fold increased risk of falls or drowning 50% of fire-related burns or deaths 20% to 30% of trauma seen in emergency rooms. CrimeFrequently involved in violent crime SuicideInvolved in up to 35% of suicides Economic cost$148 billion annually (estimated); 15% for health care and treatment OtherAssociated with increased rates of spouse or child abuse and increased spread of sexually transmitted diseases Treatment Completely stopping the use of alcohol is the ideal goal of treatment. This is called abstinence. A strong social network and family support are important in achieving this. Completely stopping and avoiding alcohol is difficult for many people with alcoholism. There will be times when it is difficult. You should aim to avoid drinking for as long as possible. Some people who abuse alcohol may be able to simply reduce the amount they drink. This is called drinking in moderation. If this method does not work, you should try to quit drinking completely. DECIDING TO QUIT Many people with alcohol problems do not recognize when their drinking gets out of hand. The ideal approach to treatment is to help the person realize how much their alcohol use is harming their life and those around them. Studies find that more people with alcohol problems opt for treatment when their family members or employers are honest with them about their concerns, and try to help them see that drinking is preventing them from reaching their goals. Withdrawal from alcohol is best done in a controlled, supervised setting. Complications from withdrawal can be life threatening. For more information, see: Alcohol withdrawal Your health care provider should order blood and urine tests to check for health problems that are common in people who abuse alcohol. LONG-TERM SUPPORT Alcohol recovery or support programs can help you stop drinking completely. These programs usually offer: †¢Counseling and therapy to discuss alcoholism and its effects and how to control your thoughts and behaviors †¢Mental health support †¢Medical care You may be treated in a special recovery center (inpatient), or you may attend a program while you live at home (outpatient). Medications are sometimes prescribed to prevent you from drinking again. †¢Acamprosate is a drug that has been shown to lower relapse rates in those who are alcohol dependent. †¢Disulfiram (Antabuse) produces very unpleasant side effects if you drink even a small amount of alcohol within 2 weeks after taking the drug. †¢Naltrexone (Vivitrol) decreases alcohol cravings. It is available in an injectable form. You cannot take these medications if you are pregnant or have certain medical conditions. The medications are often used with long-term treatment with counseling or support groups. Depression or other mood or anxiety disorders may be noticed after you stop drinking. These should be promptly treated. It is important that the patient has a living situation that supports their need to avoid alcohol. Some programs offer housing options for people with alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Support Groups Support groups are available to help people who are dealing with alcoholism. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a self-help group of recovering alcoholics that offers emotional support and specific steps for people recovering from alcohol dependence. The program is commonly called a â€Å"12-step† approach. There are local chapters throughout the United States. AA offers help 24 hours a day and teaches that it is possible to participate in social functions without drinking. AL-ANON Family members of a person with an alcohol abuse problem often need counseling. Al-Anon is a support group for partners and others who are affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Alateen provides support for teenage children of people with alcoholism. OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS Several other support groups are available. †¢SMART recovery teaches you have to change your thoughts and behaviors to help people with alcoholism recover. †¢LifeRing recovery and SOS are two nonreligious programs that offer support for people with alcohol abuse. †¢Women for Sobriety is a self-help group just for women. Moderation Management is a program for those who want to reduce how much they drink. It recommends abstinence for people who cannot do this. Expectations (prognosis) How well a person with alcoholism or alcohol abuse does depends on whether or not they can stop drinking. Alcoholism is a major social, economic, and public health problem. Problem drinking can affect every part of a person’s life. If you have an alcohol problem, abstinence can help improve your mental and physical health and possibly, your relationships. Treatment programs can help you quit. However, drinking again after treatment is common. It is important to have a good support system. Complications Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can increase your risk of many health problems, including: †¢Bleeding in the digestive tract †¢Brain cell damage †¢Brain disorder called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome †¢Cancer of the esophagus, liver, colon, and other areas †¢Changes in the menstrual cycle (period) †¢Delirium tremens (DT’s) †¢Dementia and memory loss †¢Depression and suicide †¢Erectile dysfunction †¢Heart damage †¢High blood pressure. †¢Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) †¢Liver disease, including cirrhosis †¢Nerve damage †¢Poor nutrition †¢Sleeping problems (insomnia) Alcohol use also increases your risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and violence. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can lead to severe birth defects in the baby. Prevention The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends: †¢Women should not drink more than 1 drink per day †¢Men should not drink more than 2 drinks per day One drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1? ounces of liquor.

Gogol’s Petersburg Tales Essay

equivalence Nikolai Gogols The greatcoat with the other St. Petersburg tales. Nikolai Gogols St. Petersburg stories have been interpreted as tales of loving injustice, urban and human isolation, psychological studies, whop stories, moralistic fables and livelinessy satires. In holding with emerging trends of naturalistic writing, the stories deal with comparatively lowly members of the social strata in the Petersburg bureaucracy the e trulyman. This essay will comp atomic number 18 The Overcoat with diary of a harum-scarum and The pound and examine how each of the main examples in Gogols stories survives in the seemingly paranormal and fabricated origination of St. Petersburg. The principal character in The Overcoat, Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin buries himself so deep in his paltry lay rout of write documents that his work almost supersedes the actual existence in which he inhabits, he is describe walking through the streets of St. Petersburg oblivious to the m ickle around him or the rubbish being thrown come out windows onto him, he sees goose egg but a line of graceful words to copy.He later does the analogous when obsessing about the coat which he is having do to shield him from the bitter Russian winter. This contend to cloak and insulate matchlessself from the cold mercilessness of modern society is an idea which runs through these three stories, and seemed to preoccupy Gogol himself. He was a closelipped person about which very little is known, he said himself in his letters But how keister hotshot judge about a secretive person in whom eachthing is inside, whose character hasnt even taken shape but who is still educating himself in his soul and whose every move produces and misunderstanding? How send word one afford conclusions about much(prenominal) a person basing oneself on a few traits which have inadvertently stuck themselves out? Wont this be the alike(p) as to conclude about a book by a few sentences t orn out of it non in order either, but from different passages. Gogol was raise in how the character and worth of somebody is judged by others, the characters in The Petersburg Stories are each(prenominal) defined, both(prenominal) by themselves and by others, by their professions, which are comically insignificant, Akaky Akakievich copied pages and Poprishchin in diary of a Madman was in mission of pencil sharpening.These characters are defined by the role they serve as constituent of the bureaucracy rather than by any kind of individual identity. Gogol paints a witness of a society in which set the most superficial aspects of a person, an idea which is taken to comical new highschool in The pokewhen the preposterous and self-conceited main character Major Kovalyov loses something which serves no great purpose other than normalising ones appearance his nose. Escapism is internal for Gogols characters. Each of the main characters feels happiest when they are detached from reality, when they have some elucidate of rosy, imaginary insulation between them and the ineluctable monotony of their lowly lives. Akaky Akakievich is described garnering a disproportionate amount of joy from his work copying documents, smiling to himself as he coppied letters he particularly liked, red home and copying just for recreation and when all strive to divert themselves exhalation to bed smiling at plan of coming day.Akaky puts all of his credence and love and passion into something arbitrary and at long last meaningless as a cope mechanism, for how else would he survive his pitiful career? The main character in journal of a Madman Poprishkin is driven to a similar detachment from the real world as his lowly and socially degenerate position as a titulary councillor becomes too much to bear. He loses his sanity but arguably gains something of greater value confidence and social mobility. In creating a world for himself where he is no longer one of some w armness aged, poorly paid low rank civil servants but the King of Spain he frees himself from his suffocating ties to societal norms, he no longer believes in the inherent favourable position of those of a higher social status, he even has the audacity to call his employer as an ordinary doornail, a simple doornail, zip more(prenominal). The kind used in doors. Similarly, Kovalyov deludes himself to make it his life a sense of sizeableness and significance.He gives himself the title of Major and struts down Nevsky Prospect making eye hitting with everyone and imagining attention from ladies that he passes. The key inequality between the coping mechanism utilise by Akaky and the methods used by Poprishkin and Kobalev is that Akakys world is not one which elevates his social status. His extremely introverted behaviour does not disrupt the status quo. It is arguably their compulsion with class and how they appear to others which causes all of both Kovalev and Poprishkins strif e. Contrastingly, Akaky just wants to be odd alone, he doesnt care that large number much see him with trifle or hay stuck to the back of his cape, this makes Akaky a more likeable, sympathetic character, he is completely safe and innocent a perfect victim. This is the only story in which Gogol allows us to be fully sympathetic with a character. in that respect areindeed moments in diary of a Madman which could and should stir understanding for Poprishkin in the lecturer, but Gogol always undermines these moments with a humorous or nonsensical comment.In The Overcoat however, the narrative tone flips from heart wrenchingly sad to funny and light hearted and past back again in the shoes of a page Gogol displays his talent for evoking munificence and emotion in a reviewer and his gift for comedy side by side. It is not just the characters who seek to interbreed themselves up and conceal the truth from the reader there is a lack of reliableness coupled with nonsense runni ng through all three of the narratives which obstinately refuses to make sense. The Overcoat introduces us to this immediately, it begins with a aside In the department of but it is cave in not to mention the department. The narrator continues in this vein, using a conversational, unreliable tone, often forgetting the facts or losing their place in the story.Gogols deliberate elusiveness undermines the idea of the omniscient auctorial congressman of the narrator and injects suspicion and bewilderment into the narrative. Gogol uses a similar narrative voice in The zero(prenominal)e. The narrator of The Nose is similarly uninformed and forgetful and makes no attempt to elucidate the reason for all the bizarre occurrences in the story. Things in these stories can often just disappear into a puff of smoke, Gogol increases the confusion, and elusiveness with the use of a dispense of mist and smoke imagery, he is like a magician, cloaking his intentions, keeping himself safe back a cloud of nonsense and a mist of confusion.Gogols St. Petersburg stories portray many different types of characters, but pervading through the stories and uniting them is this sense of heightened self-consciousness a direct to protect oneself from a befuddling, cold jolting world. Gogol himself put it best in some other St Petersburg story Nevsky Prospekt It had seemed as if some teras had crumbled the world into bits and mixed all these bits arbitrarily togetherBibliographyGogol, Nikolai translated by Macandrew, Andrew R and Meyer, Priscilla The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories SIGNET CLASSICS, January 2005, recent York, NY/US One Of The Oldest Cases Of Schizophrenia In Gogols Diary Of A Madman Eric Lewin AltschulerBMJ British Medical Journal , Vol. 323, No. 7327 (Dec. 22 29, 2001), pp. 1475-1477 Published by BMJ publishing GroupArticle Stable universal resource locator http//www.jstor.org/ durable/25468632 Cloaking the Self The Literary shoes of Gogols Overcoat Ch arles C. Bernheimer PMLA , Vol. 90, No. 1 (Jan., 1975), pp. 53-61 Published by Modern spoken communication Association Article Stable universal resource locator http//www.jstor.org/stable/461347 The Laughter of Gogol R. W. Hallett Russian recap , Vol. 30, No. 4 (Oct., 1971), pp. 373-384 Published by Wiley on behalf of The Editors and Board of Trustees of the Russian recapitulation Article Stable URL http//www.jstor.org/stable/127792