Tess Of The D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy - Is Tess a Pure Woman? Essay

Thomas Hardy’s Tess Of The D’Urbervilles (A Pure Women) - Do You Agree with Hardy’s Subtitle, A Pure Women? ‘Tess Of The D’Urberville’ was written by Thomas Hardy in 1891. Tess is the main character who gets exploited by the character, Alec. The question is whether Tess is pure or not. The subject of purity caused a lot of controversy in the Victorian times. The dictionary definition of the word purity is that if someone is pure they are innocent, fresh, virtues, chaste and very trustworthy. Thomas Hardy English poet and novelist, famous for his dispictions of the imaginary county â€Å"Wessex†. Hardy’s work reflected his stoical pessimism and sense of tragedy in human life. In the Victorian times you were able to buy names depending on whether you were rich or not this will show if you have social status or not. Victorians believed that any man or women having a sexual relationship or sexual contact before marriage was seen as a sinner. If you pregnant and was not married society will not accept you they were very strict and very religious. In the Victorian times there were three classes. The Masses, the Nouveax Riches, and the Landed Gentry. The Masses were the poor working class, the Nouveax Riches were the people who worked in factory’s In the city they get the new money and that is were the name came from, they were hated by the Landed Gentry because they were almost the same standard as them, the Landed Gentry were the rich people who didn’t work but got their money from their ancestors (old money). Tess a young cottage girl ‘she was a fine and handsome girl†¦ and large innocent eyes added eloquence to colour and shape†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Tess and her family were the poor working class and were happy the way they... ...Angel and tells him what she has done and says that if anything happens to her he has to promise to look after her younger sister Liza- lu this shows us that she is very loving towards her sister and is willing to do anything for her happiness. Tess is then captured and is hanged in the last chapter. Conclusion: To conclude I think Tess is a pure woman. I have shown how fate has taken a major part in her life. Thomas Hardy is a person who wrote most of his novels in a pessimistic way. His view on life and in women was completely different to the rest of the society; he reckons that men and women should have an equal right. The reason why he wrote ‘A Pure Woman’ as his subtitle is because he wanted to put it out to the rest of the society and because this is a question everyone wants an answer to. This subject caused a lot of controversy at the time.

The Mayflower Compact

Morison’s quote does not diminish the importance of early documents such as The Mayflower Compact. It only puts it in context of part of a larger process that began with the English settlement of North America. The compact did not create a plan for Democracy. It did, however, establish a theoretical framework that would grow over the succeeding centuries. In 1620 the Pilgrims created a document of self-governance. It was meant to foster a better society, if only within their small colony. It was a combination of religious ideals and ideals of freedom. The Mayflower Compact was not a constitution. It did, however, implant ideas that would be central to the creation of a new and prosperous nation The Origins When the Pilgrims sailed for North America, nothing was assured. They were taking a tremendous risk with their lives. Past settlements had been decimated by weather, disease and Indian attacks. Despite the hardships, the settlers saw the new world as a great opportunity. Many were fleeing from religious persecution in Europe. While they remained loyal to the King of England, the fact was that the new settlers were far from his direct control. Some on board the Mayflower saw this as a chance to form a better and more just government. The Mayflower had landed far north of Virginia, its original destination. The settlers knew they were beyond the control of the Virginia Company. They would have to make do on their own. Knowing that past settlements had failed because of a lack of coherent government, the settlers took steps to remedy the problem. In 1620, they wrote the Mayflower compact. It was a basic theory of government. The settlers past experiences with religion and various forms of persecution influenced the document. The theory of government stated in the Mayflower Compact would, in time, become the prevailing model for a democratic society. The compact begins by paying homage to the King, but goes on to spell out the ideas of freedom that form the bedrock of American culture. The Ideals The signers of the Mayflower compact were Puritan separatists. For pragmatic reasons they recognized the King of England. They were primarily concerned, however, with staying in the good graces of God. They brought with them a unique combination of experiences and motives. The Puritans wanted a society more in accordance with their religion. However, they also had experienced the pain of religious persecution. They innately understood the danger of an all-powerful government. While they were firm in their religious beliefs, they wanted to limit how much those beliefs were written into future laws. The result was a local government based on social contract. It was pragmatic, given the small size of the colony. Everyone had to work together for survival. It was also idealistic in its aims. The social contract was not a new idea, but the settlement of America gave the first opportunity to use it on a large scale. The social contract was necessary to encourage further settlements that could survive away from a central government. The Mayflower Compact created a theoretical template to do this. The Pilgrims called their creation a â€Å"civil body politik† (Dahl, 2000). Its purpose was to enact just laws that would benefit the colony as a whole. The Plymouth colony eventually succeeded. Other colonies adopted the ideas of the Mayflower Compact, and the social contract became the primary form of government in America. The Lasting Impact Here was a unanimous and personal assent by all the individuals of the community to the association by which they became a nation. John Adams, 1802 (from The Pilgrim Hall Museum, 1998) The Mayflower Compact started a process by which democracy took root in America. Success breeds success. The Plymouth colony provided an example that people can thrive by essentially ruling themselves. The feeling that the colonists didn’t need an all-powerful king set in over the first hundred years of European colonization. The eventual products of this feeling were the Declaration of Independence and the new United States Constitution. The society that sprung from the Mayflower Compact made room for the wide variety of people that would come to America in future years. Freedom encouraged ever more immigration, and democracy was strengthened. The Mayflower Compact itself was not a blueprint for democracy. It did, however, plant the seeds of freedom with self-restraint. That idea is central to American democracy. Sources Dahl, Robert A. (2000). On democracy. New Haven: Yale University Press. Eldredge, Laurence H. (1968). Men, laws and government: some reflections on the Mayflower Compact. Philadelphia: Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pilgrim Hall Museum. (1998). Later Significance of the Mayflower Compact. Retrieved 2/6/2006 from: http://www.pilgrimhall.org/compcon.htm The Society of Mayflower Descendents. (2002). The Mayflower Compact. Retrieved 2/6/2006 from: http://www.ctmayflower.org/mayflower_compact.php Wishing, Lee. (2004). Thankful for a Fourth Grade Play. Retrieved 2/6/2006 from: http://gccsavvior.com/VISION_&_VALUES_CONCISE_Thankful _for_a_Fourth_Grade_Play.php?view_all=            

How America Became a Global Superpower Essay

The United States of America is the world’s last remaining superpower. However, this was not always the case. The United States toiled in relative obscurity on a global scale for most of its history. As the world evolved, so too did the young nation. The United States attempted to stay out of world affairs, but a time came when that was no longer possible. Necessity dictated that the United States become a major player at the global level. The United States entered into World War II a great power and emerged a global superpower. What is a superpower? In order to properly examine the events that led to the emergence of the United States as a superpower it is important to understand exactly what constitutes a nation gaining the status of that title. According to Lyman Miller of the Stanford Journal of International Relations, â€Å"A â€Å"superpower† is a country that has the capacity to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, and sometimes, in more than one region of the globe at a time, and so may plausibly attain the status of global (2006)†. There have been many global superpowers throughout history. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, and the United States have all spent significant time in the past as global superpowers. The collapse of the Soviet Union allowed the United States to become the only nation with a legitimate claim to the title of global superpower. However, there are other nations that may be able to lay claim to the title at some point in the future. Perhaps the most visible, and closest, of these countries is the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 20 years, China has grown into both a military and economic power. China has the second largest GDP in the world, next to the United States, according to the International Monetary Fund. However, Miller doesn’t seem to believe China will be evolving anytime soon. â€Å"At a broader level, in global affairs, its stature and power are growing, but in most respects it remains a regional power, complementing the cast of other great powers under the overarching dominance, however momentary, of the United States (Miller, 2006)†. Focus on Domestic Issues The United States stayed out of foreign affairs throughout most of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. These policies actually served the country quite well as the young nation had many domestic problems that needed to be resolved before it could take a prominent position in global affairs. This did not stop the United States from intervening when it was necessary. Aside from this, the citizens of the United States did not really have the stomach for foreign powers. This could perhaps not be better stated than it was by George Washington, the first President of the United States, in his farewell address in 1796. â€Å"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities†. The first major problem the United States wanted to tackle was the belief that the country was destined to expand across the continent. This led to a focus on expansion. The dream began with Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of the Louisiana Territory. This purchase doubled the size of the United States. Between 1811 and 1912 the United States went from 17 to 48 states spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It took 100 years, but the United States’ dream of manifest destiny was realized. (World Book, 2011) One issue which evolved from the nation’s rapid expansion and precluded the United States from becoming involved in global affairs was the country’s relationships with Native American’s. The United States would move Native American’s off of their land and moved them to reservations. It was a very tenuous relationship. There were other issues within the ensuing years. The most significant of these problems was the Civil War. Between 1861 and 1865 the United States was locked in a brutal Civil War. South Carolina seceded from the union on December 20, 1860. Ten other southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi in January; Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia later in 1861) followed South Carolina’s lead and formed the Confederate States of America. Over the next four years American’s killed each other in combat. This resulted in over 600,000 American deaths. The Civil War remains the deadliest war (in terms of American deaths) in United States history. The war did have a couple of positive outcomes. The war preserved the United States. Additionally, the war led to the abolishment of slavery. (World Book, 2011) The Civil War led directly to another major issue. The issue of reconstruction was not just about rebuilding the ravaged the south, but also rebuilding the nation’s unity. Laws were passed to allow African-American’s to have the same opportunities as white Americans, though they often weren’t enforced. Former Confederate states were â€Å"required to ratify the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution in order to be readmitted to the Union (World Book, 2011)†. Reconstruction ended in 1877, 12 years after the Civil War ended. Communication Problems Domestic problems were not the only things standing in the way of the United States becoming a world power. There were numerous communication barriers that prevented the United States from having any significant influence on issues of a global scale. The most obvious of these issues is the proximity of the United States to the other Great Powers of the world. There are hundreds of miles of ocean between the United States and Europe and Asia across the Atlantic and Pacific respectively. Until the advent of the telegraph the only form of communication between the new world and the old world was via letter or personal contact. Communication in this manner could take weeks to complete. Superpower Ability There were many positive things happening domestically for the United States. The United States has a varied climate, a diverse amount of natural resources, and geographic barriers that make it more difficult to attack the country. These issues placed the United States in a unique position to become a global superpower. The climate of the United States gives it the ability to grow several different types of crops. Corn grows in the plains, cotton in the south, and dairy in the north. It also allows for many different types of animals co-exist as there are several different items for them to graze on. This gives the Unites States the ability to reliably feed its entire populace, at least at the current population levels. The United States also has a plentiful supply of natural resources. These resources include both renewable resources, such as the aforementioned food and animals, and a wide array of nonrenewable resources, such as coal, oil, and metals. The vast amount of natural resources have allowed the United States to create an economic infrastructure that is capable of sustaining the populace without outside assistance from other nations. While the nations geographic barriers have made it harder to communicate with other world powers (at least initially), they also make it harder for a country to maintain a sustained offensive against the United States. It is hard to keep supply lines stocked when the venue of war is halfway across the globe. Most countries do not have the resources to keep up that type of attack for an extended period of time, and even fewer have the ability to maintain an occupying force over the course of several years to combat insurrection. Effect of War Wars had a profound effect on the emergence of the United States as a global superpower. Not only did these wars show that the United States had a military worthy of global recognition, but they also helped to give the United States more clout on the world political stage. World War I and World War II probably had the largest effect, but the Korean and Vietnam Wars, while smaller in size, had large effects on the United States’ sphere of influence. This gave Americans the wherewithal to become more involved in world politics. World War I was the first major overseas conflict in which the United States became involved. The United States attempted to stay out of the war. When German submarines began sinking United States merchant vessels shipping supplies to Europe, however, it became impossible for the United States to maintain its neutrality. â€Å"These and other acts of aggression convinced Wilson and other Americans of the need to join the war against Germany to make the world â€Å"safe for democracy (World Book, 2011)†. The United States joining the war was enough to tip the scale in the allies favor. A little over a year and a half after the United States joined World War I it ended with the surrender of the Central Powers. The European countries in the war spent nearly 60% of their GDP on the war. This number was much lower for the United States. This gave the United States a much needed economic boost over the European powers. (World Book, 2011) After World War I there was a relatively short lived peace between the powers. In the late 1930’s war sentiments in Europe began brewing again. In 1939 Germany invaded Poland sparking World War II. Again the United States took a militarily neutral stance. They did support the Allies (the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union) against the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) economically by sending supplies. Some American soldiers even volunteered to go fight for the United Kingdom. It once again took an unprovoked act of aggression (this time Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor) to provoke the United States to join the conflict. While the United States’ intervention in World War I helped secure an allied victory, the United States’ intervention in World War II helped change the course of the entire war. The United States did not recede back into isolation following World War II; unlike the end of World War I. With most of the combat happening in Europe, Africa, and Asia the United States again suffered very little damage to their infrastructure. Europe was quite the opposite. With two major conflicts in less than 50 years European infrastructure was decimated. Japan was forbidden from keeping a large enough standing military to have any true significance on a global level thanks to their treaty with the United States. The Soviet Union stopped cooperating with the western Allies before the ink was dry on the peace treaties ending the war. The Soviets refused to unite their portion of Germany with the rest of the country, effectively splitting the country in two. The Cold War had begun. The Cold War necessitated that the United States remain on the forefront of global affairs because neither France nor the United Kingdom were in a position, economically or militarily, to defend against the Soviet threat. While the Cold War didn’t have any direct combat between the two remaining superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, it did have conflict. The United States was involved in combat in Korea (which resulted in the split of Korea into two countries) and Vietnam. The Soviets were involved in combat in Afghanistan. The Cold War caused the United States to continue its military growth. As seen in the following chart, National Defense expenditures peaked in 1954 at almost 70 percent of the nation’s total budget (U.S. Government, 2009). Global Influence The size of the United States’ military put them in a position of global dominance, but it takes more than a large military to become a global power. It also takes influence in foreign matters. This is another thing the United States has developed over the two and a half centuries since being founded. There have been more than a few global matters that the United States has influenced other than wars. After World War I the League of Nations was formed. While United States President Woodrow Wilson was an advocate of the League the United States Senate was not. They voted down the motion for the United States to join the League of Nations. Many Americans believe that had the United States joined the League of Nations it would not have failed. This could have helped stop the Nazi spread through Eastern Europe. Decisions made by the United States influence the economies of every nation on earth. The world also looks to the United States for action in times of need. â€Å"I think that the authorities would do better to sit down with Ambassador Thomas and take advantage of whatever voluntary help the only superpower in the world today has to offer the Philippines to put a stop to the worldwide problem of women trafficking (Vitas, 2011)†. Without the United States the spread of communism would have continued unabated following World War II. To this end the United States helped to create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to create the Soviet Union’s Warsaw Pact. This helped to ensure the safety of democracy for the world. It also helped to curb the spread of communism. The United States also sets the tone culturally. Hollywood is the predominant film industry in the world. Perhaps the area where the United States had the largest cultural impact on a worldwide scale was with regards to space. It was a large achievement for all members of the human race when the Americans landed on the moon. Conclusion The United States went into World War II as a world power and emerged as one of two superpowers. There were many things leading up to the nation’s emergence. The United States has the world’s largest economy, largest military, and the decisions made by its President have far reaching impacts. It has given the country a large sphere of influence that is still evident in the world today. References Einhorn, R. L., & Schulman, B. J. (2011). History of the united states. In World Book Advanced Retrieved from http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar576000 Imf: Report for selected countries. (2011, September). Retrieved from http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/weodata/weorept.aspx Miller, L. (2006). China an emerging superpower? Stanford Journal of International Relations, Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/group/sjir/6.1.03_miller.html U.S. Government. (2009). The budget for fiscal year 2009, historical tables. Retrieved from U.S. Government Printing Office website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2009/pdf/hist.pdf Vitas, H. M. (2011, November 15). The revelation of the real harry thomas. Philippine Daily Chronicle. Retrieved from http://campus.westlaw.com/ Washington, G. (1796). George washington farewell address 1796. Retrieved from http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp

Providence Within Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare writes of a world marred by the petulant idiocy of the Montagues and the Capulets, requiring God to intervene in order for the quarrel to end. Romeo and Juliet are fated to be â€Å"A pair of star-cross’d lovers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and are the living sacrifice necessary to end the feud. Providence utilizes the pressures of society and time to create whirling events established as fate within the play in order to impose a gentle ending for the lovers. Shakespeare establishes a forcefulness of fate and a great will of God in the life and death of Romeo and Juliet as a means to bring peace to the corrupted society of Verona. The public and private lives of Romeo and Juliet are greatly influenced by God’s unequivocal desire to end the disorder and chaos within Verona. Providence utilizes the pressures formed within Shakespeare’s society to aid in the death of Romeo and Juliet. The feud between the Montagues and the Capulets creates an undisputed loathing between the two families and yet, Romeo and Juliet manage to look deeper within identity and see beyond a family name. Juliet transcends beyond Romeo’s surname and knows that her love for Romeo lies within Romeo’s personality. â€Å"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other word would smell as sweet. † (2. 2. 43-44) Though the lovers express a maturity in being able to come together privately and look beyond identity, the idea of Romeo and Juliet coming together is inconsistent to society. As a result, the lovers form their lives together in secrecy which results in Providence easily manipulating the course of the lovers as their love is unknown and disregarded within society. The secrecy of Romeo and Juliet’s love, and later marriage, causes Juliet to hurry into swift action which is later revealed. Friar Laurence, characterized by his wisdom and philosophy, is swayed in judgment as he begrudgingly weds Romeo and Juliet. The Friar agrees to oversee the marriage as it is his idea that the two families will be united through a sacrament between the couple and God. â€Å"For this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households’ rancour to pure love. † (2. 3. 91-92) Friar Laurence recognizes the need to end the feud as the quarrel between the two families will otherwise completely disunify society through violence and death. However, Friar is aware that the rash and impulsive decision to marry will cause the couple â€Å"[to] stumble as [they] run fast. † (2. 3. 94)- as Shakespeare is referring to the lovers, he evokes the death of the couple. Shakespeare establishes fairness within the law whilst also establishing Providence’s ability to manipulate fate through Romeo’s banishment. Romeo acts out of foolishness as a result of vengeance and fate. Romeo, after killing Tybalt in an attempt to avenge Mercutio’s death, is sentenced, by the law- giver Prince, to banishment as an acknowledgement of Romeo killing the murderer, Tybalt. Shakespeare evokes Providence’s desire to establish unity within Verona as the law is given fairly through Prince and additionally the tragedy of the lover’s demise is continued as a means to end the feud and restore order. Poverty, within Romeo and Juliet, aids in destroying the lives of the lovers. Romeo, stricken with grief at hearing of Juliet’s death, wishes to commit suicide and approaches a poor apothecary whom unwillingly agrees. â€Å"My poverty, but not my will, consents. † (5. 1. 5) Shakespeare establishes that the society he writes of creates a contrast of wealthy and poor resulting in the apothecary providing Romeo with an illegal poison and gaining money the apothecary believes may make him wealthy. The poison the apothecary provides Romeo with causes the physical death of Romeo and aids in the work of Providence as the demise of one lover ultimately kills the other. Romeo and Juliet’s deaths and the events that lead to their demise ar e a constant work of Providence. Shakespeare utilizes speed as evidence of the force of fate acting upon Romeo and Juliet as well as, an aid in the destruction of the lovers. Shakespeare builds a fast- paced world around Romeo and Juliet which results in swift and hazardous decision making. The final scene of the play, which details the death of the lovers, occurs quickly and hastily as Romeo swiftly slays Paris, drinks the poison, and dies within the tomb having Juliet, moments later, immediately commit suicide at seeing her love lying deceased upon the ground. Shakespeare establishes the reliance of time in regards to assisting Providence in the death of the lovers. Events happen at such a rapid pace, it results in an inability for characters to adhere to the Friar’s wisdom of properly contemplating situations and an inability to ponder a solution other than that of suicide which would attempt to counter Providence. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet are necessary sacrifices within Providence’s plan to restore unity, peace, and ease within Verona. The citizens of Verona are greatly influenced by a feud that Shakespeare leaves unexplained and unreasoned. Servants from either household are willing to fight for their masters, though not for a particular reason. â€Å"The quarrel is between our masters and us their men. † (1. 1. 18) Shakespeare emphasizes the need for a great sacrifice as Verona’s citizens are easily swayed into violence without proper reason, suggesting the inability for the law within Verona to overcome the violence resulting from the feud. The feud within Verona has resulted in a loss of human dignity and a disregard for life. Tybalt, upon recognizing Romeo’s voice at the Capulet’s banquet, is quick to assume Romeo has come to harm the Capulet’s in some way and swiftly admits â€Å"To strike him dead I hold it not a sin. † (1. 5. 58) The suicidal death of Romeo and Juliet reestablishes a regard for human life as the families witness the result of their children having lost a regard for their own lives. Providence required the death of the two lovers as their death effected both the Capulets and the Montagues in such a personal way as they realized the consequences of the feud the families had established. Romeo and Juliet are fated by Shakespeare to love and die as a means to end their parents’ feud. Providence is evident within the lovers’ lives and deaths as events occur out of fate. The disordered society of Verona pressures the lives of several characters to unknowingly aid in the destruction of the lovers. Time is evoked as being destructive as the rapid movement of time aids in the lovers’ dying at possibly avoidable moments. The forcefulness of fate and the will of God as a result of the lovers’ parents’ quarrel resulted in the death of Romeo and Juliet.

Why Men Are from Mars and Women Are from Venus.

Why men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Are there any differences on how women and men talk? This is a question many people ponder on everyday. It is easy to assume that because English belongs to the person who uses it, men and women would likely to talk the same way but that may not be the case. Linguistics experts had proven that shown that men and women communicate in different ways. Speech style, word use, and body language are apparent between men and women. Women focus more on making connections, while men generally focus on public contexts where informative and persuasive talk is highly valued and appreciated.In the essay â€Å"I'll Explain it to you: Lecturing and Listening† by Deborah Tannen, she believes that even though men and women speak the same lingua franca, but their affirmation of support, conversational patterns and body language are very different. In the earlier years of development, Tannen observes that girls use speech to find confirmation and e stablish intimacy, whereas boys use speech to assert their independence and attain social status (283-5). In a study by psychologist H. M. Leet-Pellegrini who set to find out how men and women communicate with each other and who is more dominant in a conversation. Tannen 284). When women are listening, they will show support by saying things like â€Å"Yeah† and â€Å"That’s right†, even though they are more knowledgeable than the men on that particular topic (Tannen 283). However, this may not be the case for men. Tannen states that when it is the other way around, men tend to say something like â€Å"So you’re the expert. † (283). It showed that when women has superior amount of knowledge than the men, â€Å"It will sparked resentment, not respect†, and because of that â€Å"Women are inclined to play down their expertise rather than display it. † (Tannen 283).Women are scared to express their opinion because of what other people wi ll think of them. Tannen feels that men are always trying to grab the leadership role by interrupting, hogging conversations and offering practical information, â€Å"My experience is that if I mention the kind of work I do to women, they usually ask me about it. While men have the tendency of explaining and giving me a lecture on language. † (282-3). In this situation, women find themselves bored and constantly nodding unwillingly as they have been cast as the listener as men lecture them and finds themselves in an asymmetrical conversation (Tannen 288-9).Despite the asymmetrical conversation, in the article Party Line by Rachael Rafelman, she states that women want to be heard. She states that, â€Å"Listening is a part of girl talk since it is at the very center of reciprocal communication. Woman requires it of each other† (Rafelman 320). When a woman talks she gets personal and involved in the conversation, men do not (Rafelman 317). Men love to talk about business and sports so women find the company of men kind of boring (Rafelman 317). It is why some women may find themselves nodding unwilling throughout the conversation.Women on the other hand find comfort in offering and receiving comfort and avoiding confrontation. There's certainly some truth to this. We can see this everywhere. Which men haven’t had heard his wife or female collogue say to him, â€Å"These shoes are killing me? † When he replies, â€Å"Get some new ones then,† or â€Å"Why are you even wearing them,† she is offended and upset. What he should have said was, â€Å"Oh I know exactly how you feel. Mine are killing me too. † Thus, according to Deborah Tannen’s article, considering these facts, no wonder many women grumble about their partners not listening to them (289).They argument that they made, that the men are not listening to them, is actually because they are not getting the response that they wanted to hear (Tannen 289). W omen focus more on making connections; talk and conversation is essential to this process. Women share secrets, relating experiences, revealing problems and discussing options with their close friends. Men generally take another approach; their groups tend to be larger, focusing on activities rather than conversation. Even though men rather focus on activities rather than conversations, it does not mean that men talk less than women.In Janet Holmes’s essay â€Å"Women Talk Too Much,† Janet Holmes claims that even though many people believe that women talk more than men do, men talks just as much, if not even more, especially when talking enhances their status, power or dominant. Even when they hold influential positions, women sometimes find it hard to contribute as much as men to a discussion. † (300). Women are scared to express their opinion because of what other people will think of them and they know that when a woman is superior knowledge, it will sparked r esentment, not respect, as stated in Tannen’s article â€Å"I'll Explain it to you: Lecturing and Listening† (283).Aries found out that found that women who did a lot of talking in a group began to feel uncomfortable; they backed off and frequently drew out quieter members of the group (Tannen 291). It is proven that men talk more than women in public, formal context because they perceive that by participating in the conversation it enhances their status and power. I couldn't agree with this more because I think that men are always trying to impress somebody and therefore men always want center stage to prove that (Tannen 286).Thus, men generally focus on public contexts where informative and persuasive talk is highly valued and appreciated. In spite of the differences between men and women that Tannen has shown, in the essay â€Å"Sex Differences† by Ronald Macaulay argues that there is no such thing and beyond any other semantic topic, there have been countles s absurdity about sex differences. Macaulay states, â€Å"Such stereotypes are often reinforced by works of fiction† (309). Tannen disagrees to this. There are differences on how men and women communicate.Tannen said that, â€Å"Men’s style is more literally focused on the message level of the talk, while women’s is focused on the relationship or metamessage level (289). For women, she wants the listener to engage, give feedback and be interested in showing attentiveness while men wants the listener to be quietly enrapt on what he is saying. An interesting fact that I found out in Tannen’s article, which I agree, is the way the men and women sit. They say that men are all spread out with their legs wide open, while women gathered themselves in (Tannen 285). This could not be truer.When I was in the lecturer hall, I just look around in my class and I see all of the guys all spread out and all the girls are like all curled up. Researches have found out tha t speakers using open-bodied position are more likely to persuade their audience (Tannen 285). In a nutshell we can conclude that men impose and lecture their side of the story when speaking while women on the other hand have a more open exchange of ideas. Besides that, men do not show any body signals indicating that they are listening but women on the other hand give signs that show their affirmation or support.Lastly, men generally dominate the conversation most of the time while women just listen passively. Work Cited Page. Tannen, Deborah. â€Å"I’ll Explain It To You : Lecturing and Listening†. Exploring Language, 11/e. Ed. Gary Goshgarian. New York : Longman, 2005. 281-293. Print. Holmes, Janet. â€Å"Woman Talks Too Much†. Exploring Language, 11/e. Ed. Gary Goshgarian. New York : Longman, 2005. 299-305. Print. Rafelman, Rachel. â€Å"The Party Line†. Exploring Language, 11/e. Ed. Gary Goshgarian. New York : Longman, 2005. 316-321. Print.

A Postmodern Paradox

A Postmodern Paradox Postmodernism, a paradox in itself, challenges conformity in countless ways. Taking place after World War II, this movement is mainly characterized by its rejection of social constructs and its challenges to traditional forms of philosophy, literature, art, and religious authority. Ironically, while it defied categorizing, it became a category itself. Nevertheless, this movement has had a profound impact on countless literary, cinematographic, art, and philosophic works. Two works that have been profoundly influenced by postmodernism includes Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Opponent, and the elm and book The Hours, by Michael Cunningham. While both works have been influenced by modernism in separate ways, they ultimately share its key themes: an abstraction of time, a rejection of reality, and a search for higher purpose. Through the use of postmodernism themes and literary techniques, both the movie and book were able to convey that absolute truth does not exist because it is relative, intricate, and blurred. Occurring in the post-World War II era, postmodernism can be considered an intentional departure from previously dominant modernist approaches such as scientific positivism, realism, constructivism, formalism, and tapestries. Through its emphasis and use of power relations, binary classifications, fragmentation, paradox, dark humor, rejection of reality, sociology, linguistics, and subjectivism it constantly attacks contemporary life, art, literature, philosophy, religion, and ethics. In addition, it is characterized by a rejection of reality, claiming that transmutable validity cannot exist since reality is limited by concepts like time and sexuality. It is able to achieve its unique goals in literature and film through numerous literary devices. In literature, there are several devices frequently used by southernism writers to convey some of the main ideas of the movement. Of these devices the use of fragmenting, dark humor, satire, paradox, allusions, mixed point of view and interruption of form are the most frequently used. These devices allow writers to deal with topics like the absurdity of moral, philosophical, political, and authoritative relativism; in addition, these devices provide for a blurring of classifications and boundaries of societal structuring. Ultimately, postmodernists desire to condemn contemporary life, reject reality, and accept relativity and complexity in indefinite answers. The movement of postmodernism came about through a series of meaner. An important factor that contributed to the development was that it followed World War II. Before the war, modernism dominated the current literature of the time. This movement involved rationalism, reason, the scientific approach, optimism for human potential, and a pursuit of absolutely certain knowledge. However, in the wake of both World Wars, the climate was set for postmodernism as confidence in human progress, autonomy, and optimism were destroyed in battle. This permeating and predominantly pessimistic aura of thinking exulted in a series of books, films, artworks, and musical pieces that rejected reality, worldly concepts like time, renounced identity, and questioned the purpose of life. These themes clearly reflect the toll that war had on society; many people desired to marginality the horrors of war in a rejected reality, ostracize human error through a pitiful purpose of existence through fragmented viewpoints. The wars essentially brought about a pessimistic form of modernism that relished in the repudiation of absolute answers; for postmodernists nothing could ever be easily or fully explained. As postmodernist ideals began to develop and conglomerate they were influenced by countless individuals. One extremely influential individual was Linda Hutchison. Hutchison, who wrote several postmodernist works like A Theory of Parody, expressed a great deal of interest in self-reflexive approaches to texts through parodies that both legitimate and subvert that which it parodies (Introductory Guide to Critical Theory). Hutchison also coined the term historiographer metrification, which describes literary texts that assert an interpretation of the past but are also intensely self- flexi; these texts allow a double process of installing and ironing, parody signals how present representations come from past ones and what ideological consequences derive from both continuity and difference (Introductory Guide to Critical Theory). With historiographer metrification, writers can speak constructively about that past in a way that acknowledges the falsity and violence of the past without isolating the present. Many other writers, artists, composers, and directors have had a significant impact on the evolution of postmodernism as well. Key incepts of postmodernism have also developed and evolved through the influence of society and individuals. For example the term kitsch or stratification, which can be defined as the reduction of aesthetic objects or ideas into easily marketable forms, has a more widely accepted definition adopted by famous postmodern philosopher Jean Baudelaire: The kitsch object is commonly understood as one of that great army of trashy objects, made of plaster of Paris [stuck] or some such imitation material: that gallery of cheap Junk”accessories, folksy knickknacks, souvenirs, emphases or fake African masks”which proliferate everywhere, with a preference for holiday resorts and places of leisure (Consumer Society 109-10). Jean Baudelaire also offered a definition for simulacrum, defining it as Simulation is no longer that of a territory, a referential being, or a substance. It is the generation by models of a real without origin or reality: a hyperbole. It is no longer a question of imitation, nor duplication, nor even parody. It is a question of substituting the signs of the real for the real (The Precession of Simulacra 1-2). Postmodernism, like any literary movement, was molded and defined by society and intellectuals involved in its progression. The profound impact postmodernism had on Kurt Evensongs Slaughterhouse 5, through its use of frame-breaking, criticism of worldly concepts like time and war, exploration or reality and truth, simulacrum, and rejection of reality, satire, allowed for the novel to express its ultimate renunciation of an absolute truth in exchange for intricate and indefinable answers. In addition, it was able to express key concepts of post modernism through its use of postmodern iterate devices; many of these concepts included a search for a higher purpose, a renunciation of social structuring, and a rejection of reality. By expressing these concepts, Opponent follows the postmodernist ideals of historiographer metrification, and questioning the absurdity of contemporary life and conventional viewpoints of society. Frame-breaking, the linkage of separate subplots in a novel to unify the intricacies of an entire plot, contributed to the postmodernist impact on the novel by individuality. Frame-breaking takes place in the novel through the employment of Opponent as three characters of differing importance: the narrator, the protagonist, and a supporting character. Through frame-breaking, Opponent demonstrates that even the recount of a war experience does not hold a simple plot; it consists of a web of intermingled plots, ideas, characters, events, and concepts; this adheres to the postmodernist principle of blurred lines of interpretation and absolute truth. In addition, frame-breaking allows for a loss of identity. The loss of identity occurs when Opponent represents an omniscient force narrating the story as he simultaneously lays protagonist Billy Pilgrim, and a seemingly inconsequential supporting character. Opponent as an omniscient force demonstrates the renunciation of religion in postmodernist ideals; Opponent plays god, yet he is as trivial as any other human being. Furthermore, by telling his own story in the perspective of Billy Pilgrim this demonstrates how war results in a loss of identity, or the adoption of an alias. Rather than personalizing the story in a first person perspective, Opponent distances himself from the horrors of his past. Finally, by including himself as a prison mate in Billy Pilgrims story, this demonstrates how in postmodernism, all identities consolidate; the man that represented god and the protagonist is nevertheless a supporting character in the larger plot of the story. By disparaging his ultimate role in the novel, Opponent demonstrates that people are all essentially equal in life and in death- thus a loss of individualism. Through the use of simulacrum, which involves replacing reality with a representation, Opponent is able to criticize worldly concepts like time and war. For instance, by using the simulacrum of Transformable for Earth, e criticizes the necessity of war. Transformable represents a conglomeration of ideals he believes are optimal in achieving peace. However, instead of directly stating those concepts, Opponent employs a narrative and symbolism; this allows for a rejection of reality while criticizing war. Time is also criticized through a simulacrum of time traveling. Through time traveling the distinctness of years is blurred and time loses meaning as it is muddled together. This criticism of time is a unique postmodernist concept that is closely related to the criticism of social structuring. As postmodernist writer, Opponent denounces the traditional concept of time and replaces it with a web of linked yet intricate events. Simulacrum is also used in the plot of Billy Pilgrims Journey; rather than telling the story in the first person perspective, Opponent ostracizes himself thus criticizing the worldly concept of individualism and identity. Contrastingly, he links all frames of the story in the end of the novel to demonstrate that personal identity is futile when people are all equal in life and in death. In addition the concept of death is abandoned as Opponent accepts omelet equality of the human identity. By employing a plot dedicated to the exploration of reality and truth, Opponent demonstrates that the world according to postmodernists is full of blurred lines, undefined edges, and complex networks of relationships. Not only does the novel in its entirety consist of three convoluted interwoven subplots made up of smaller subplots, but it contains episodes of irrationality and science-fiction. This mixture of reality and science fiction represents a renunciation of reality for a combination of philosophy and fantasy; further mistreating that reality does not exist in a state of definable truth, but in limbo higher purpose is an impossibly multifaceted path that nevertheless ends the same as all others do: everything is connected and personal identity is trivial. The Hours, written by Michael Cunningham and directed by Stephen Deadly, has been manifestly impacted by postmodernism through its use of fragmenting, stratification , satire, and renunciation of worldly concepts like death to express postmodern ideals like a loss of identity or interconnection of all things. Through expressing these ideals, Cunningham was able to reject typical social and literary construct and ultimately convey that answers are not simple or absolute. Frame- breaking is employed in the hours through the eventual amassing of all three subplots within the novel to demonstrate the interconnectedness of all human identities. The novel is formatted in three separate spheres to demonstrate how as humans search their lives for purpose, they are unable to see how individualism and identity are inane. The three plots are eventually connected through death- another worldly concept denounced by postmodernists. Through death, the characters become linked to one another and the reader becomes aware of their unity; this demonstrates how death provides enlightenment and is not solely the end of a life. Additionally, frame-breaking allows the criticism of the concept of time. All three subplots take place in completely different eras, yet they have profound impact on one another despite this detriment; this demonstrates that time is merely a concept, rather than an obstacle, and cannot overcome the unity of humanity identity. Stratification and loss of identity are expressed through a variety of literary devices n The Hours to demonstrate that superficiality and identity are ultimately trivial in life. Stratification most chiefly occurs in the novel and film when the concept of love is reduced to a party and flowers; this becomes a criticism of superficiality upon the death of Richard when the party goes to waste. It signifies that the superficial form of love was powerless and inconsequential to Richards death and that death encompasses all. In addition, both Richard and Virgins death represents a loss of identity in that his life and accomplishment were evidently meaningless to them. In he end, they chose the namelessness of death as their path rather than a quest for a higher purpose or discovery of self-identity. Their deaths are a demonstration of the interconnectedness of life in that both writers commit suicide, creating a full circle to the complex web of relationships. Postmodernism, contradicts itself in its essence. Yet its use of paradoxes, satire, criticisms of the conventional, and quest for answers have had a profound impact on the development of literature, art, and society. While postmodernism will be phase in the history of writing, it will not cease to remind rites to question the norm, look past what is conventional, and defy typical form and construction.

The Godfather Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Godfather - Research Paper Example This paper makes an analysis of the whole film, its plot and characters. According to the paper the film consists of a number of themes that can be developed into a number of films. For instance, the film can be evaluated as a gangster film which portrays the war among the mafia groups in New York. On the other side, this film can be evaluated as the after effect of the disagreement among mafia families in New York. At the same time, this film represents the growth of some immigrant families into mafia families. From a different angle, this film represents the dilemma faced by protagonist and his rapid development to a mafia leader. In short, the film does is not confined to the context of a gangster film, but extends to the contexts of personal/family problems and violence. This paper comes to the conclusion that the most important advantage of the film is the importance given to the message against violence and bloodshed. As pointed out, the director makes use of the main characters to convey his message to the viewers. Within this context, the director makes use of the film as a medium to create awareness among the mass on end result of drug trafficking and related violence. On the other hand, the most important disadvantage of the film is that it deals with violence and bloodshed as an integral part of the underworld. This may create bias against the underdogs in the society. So, one can see that the film is with a number of pros and cons. In short, the director’s aim to make use of his characters as his mouthpiece to convey his message against the anti-social elements in the society proves to be successful to an extent.