Descriptive Essay: “My Professor” Essay

On a Monday afternoon, after discussing my computer science project with my professor, I find myself seated in a visitor’s chair in his office on the second floor of the Glatfelter Hall. The professor is about to leave the room to grab some books and a cup of coffee, but he allows me to stay. (Seeing myself as a professor in the future, I enjoy hanging out in my professor’s office.) I am facing the door. Nothing is blocking my view. Twenty feet in front of me, the hallway intersects my vantage point, so I’m able to see students and professors moving left and right like pedestrians on a New York City street corner. Quickly, I put my computer science notebook in my backpack, get my ASUS pro-book, and create a blank document in Microsoft Word. My viewpoint is set and I now begin looking for subjects. My computer clock reads 4:13PM. To my left I can see wooden shelves of well-thumbed books on java, c++, unix, linux, a stack of Wired magazines, a coffee maker and a coffee mug, an out of box macbook air and an amazon box. In the hallway, coming from right, two short and skinny Asian looking males (subjects# 20130128/1 and 20130128/2) appear in view. As they head in my direction, I can hear their excited chatter in Chinese. With little smiles on their tan faces, they greet me. Straight black hair frames their flat faces with a narrow nose and wide cheekbones. They do not find the professor at his desk, so I tell them that the professor is expected to be back shortly. With the excited look in the faces, the subjects introduce themselves to me as Chang and Lionel. Wearing boat shoes, worn and tattered jeans and t-shirts with intricate logos, the subjects mention recently returning to campus from the study abroad program in Florence, Italy. In a few seconds, they leave and I do not see them again. Read Also:  Ideas for Descriptive Essay At 4:25 pm, suddenly, a pigeon-chested male, age 35-40,( subject# 20130128/3, â€Å"the Professor†) with a height of about five feet and eleven inches, a rectangular body shape and a flat stomach smiles, walks toward me and settles to my right into a height-adjustable, blue swivel chair with armrests. In front of him, I notice a chestnut brown, cluttered desk that could easily accommodate four people, but is accommodating around forty four thousand pages of books, exams, and magazines. I see no personal touches on his desk. There are no pictures or little knickknacks. Instead, a seventeen-inch black Lenovo monitor, with two slim speakers on each side, sits in the middle of the desk top. He mentions that he would like to use my help as a assistant in one of his introductory courses this semester. Politely, I nod. Sitting in his chair, the subject is lifting his coffee to his lips, taking baby sips. With his thick-framed glasses, his close-set, brown eyes carefully examine the computer screen directly in front of him. Intently focused, he barely blinks. Bushy dark black hair frames a square face, with a cleanly-shaven rounded chin, a pointed nose, lopsided lips, and large ears. The face is not handsome, but rather engaging in its varied features. Casually attired in a dark blue polo shirt, navy blue jeans, and black sketchers with a lace-up closure, he is dressed for comfort, function, and minimal maintenance rather than for appearance. His chair has a tilt-function, but he is sitting straight as if he is in the economy seat of a Boeing airliner. His long fingers are slowly moving on the keyboard, suggesting no errors. Hanging around the back of his chair is a black, weathered rain jacket and a hook of an umbrella indicating his awareness of today’s rain forecast. Suddenly he stands up. Intelligent, scruffy, intense, and abstracted, he stares on the blackboard to his right. With a small piece of chalk in his hand, he writes feverishly the points that would like to explain in the colloquium this week. His handwriting is terrible: he is block-printing each letter like a junior draftsman. Intensely occupied with his work, he seems oblivious to my presence. A few seconds later, he sinks back into his seat and stares back into the screen. An attractive blond female student (subject # 20130128/2) appears at the door. We make an eye contact and smile at each other. She is wearing an orange and blue Gettysburg track and field sweatshirt, crinkle blue tight jeans, a snug and agile pair of pink, Nike running shoes. She makes an eye contact with the professor, greets him, and the two begin chatting. I pick up pieces of the conversation. Seeming to ignore my presence, the student is explaining that last night’s electronic homework was delayed because her computer crashed. Professor, with a mildly flippant attitude but underlying seriousness, squeezes a genuine smile: he seems to be giving the benefit of doubt to the student, although his look tells me that he has a well-honed bullshit detector. Unlike the hurried words from student, he speaks slowly using a careful word choice and without contradictions, is sensitive to the nuances and precision of language, but not devoid of empathy. Interestingly, both appear intent on avoiding eye contact, and after a few minutes, sensing the conversation is coming to a close, she looks up at him again as a sign to leave, and, seeming to receive assent, turns around to exit. I eye my computer clock. It reads 4: 47 PM. I sit for three more minutes. Nobody is around now, the professor back at his computer. I conclude my mission, shut down my laptop, say goodbye to my professor and head out of the room.

Exploring Cultural anthropology Essay

Cultural difference(s) is one of the research topics that best suits for a cultural anthropologist to study. In my own perspective as a cultural anthropologist, cultural difference in the United States of America is one of the topics I might propose to research. In the United States where the issue of racism is of most major concern among other races, the history of racial discrimination has passed down until today. Many races including Asians are discriminated with regards to services, priorities, socialization, and its laws. Although there are sufficient laws that suspend racial discrimination among other races, this issue will still be in existence because of each cultural differences. This study may help in understanding better cultural differences/racism where it is in existence in the whole and is at most importance to international relations. Why would you choose this culture and topic for research? I chose the culture of United States since it has been the model of every other culture in the world. Many countries are instigated to pattern their country to the United States political system, diversity in religion, economy, and culture and traditions. As a world’s sole superpower, its culture plays an important role in maintaining its political and economic power to the world. American sports in example, military tradition, and advancement in science, arts and in entertainment (Hollywood); these are the things that draws political and economic power to the United States. Its culture is of most interest by other countries in the world. With regards to racism, I chose this topic for the reason that, until today, the United States struggles in eliminating or otherwise minimized racial discrimination domestically. It is a human nature to treat other races superior or inferior among them. It is of our interest the better ways if eliminate, prevent racial discrimination among others. The study of United States culture will give better understanding what it takes to be a charismatic country and a representation to the world. The study of racism will give better understanding how will we become accustomed to other races (The Journal of American Culture, 2009). What do you hope to discover, accomplish, or address by studying this culture? How could you prepare for culture shock? The culture of the United States through careful study would lay the foundation how a developing will and/or a poor country rise to power, elevate their political and economic influence to developed countries, and improved their standard of living via instigating American culture. I’m hoping to give details on different cultures, and address the needs of other people towards information dissemination. With regards to culture shock, studying culture may help in adjusting and/or adapt to culture differences. References â€Å"The Journal of American Culture. † American Family Traditions, (2009). American Family Traditions. Retrieved June 11, 2009 from americanfamilytraditions database.

How Accurate Is It To Describe The Government Between 1822-30 As Liberal Tories? Essay

When we use the word Liberal, its intended meaning is open to opinion. The person or group is very open-minded and open to change. The Tories during 1822-30 appeared to be very Liberal at this time. They appeared to be changing their minds on a number of issues, such as Religious Freedom, Political Rights and Free Trade. They also appeared to be changing their attitudes about people’s freedom of expression. The Six Acts, created to prevent people grouping together, in fear of a revolution. This Act was abolished as the masses appeared to be content with life, and not in an uproar with the country. The Tories appeared to be Liberal with the supposed arrival of new men into the Cabinet. Lord Goderich was introduced as Chancellor of the Exchequer. William Huskisson became President of the Board of Trade. With George Canning also becoming Foreign Secretary. These new men brought with them new ideas and propositions to the House of Commons. Compared to the previous men they appeared brilliant. But the truth was these men were not new at all. They were simply back-benchers from the Cabinet, rarely seen doing anything. They were brought forward into the main Cabinet in order to please the people. Compared to the old Cabinet they were nothing new, but to the people they appeared radical and open to change. Really it was just their better ability of conveying ideas to the Commons, which made them appear brilliant. All their supposed new ideas were also nothing new. They were all ideas that had been thought up years ago, from the years of Pitt. These ideas were postponed due to war or economic crisis, and the new Cabinet simply set the ball rolling again. On the Economic side of things, a lot changed. The Corn Laws were placed on a sliding scale by 1828, ensuring cheaper food prices for all. Duties on trade relaxed. With reduced costs for materials, it paved the way for wage increases in the workplace. With lower taxes, foreign countries were ready to trade with Britain. Compared to the previous Protectionism trade of previous years, this appeared absolute Free Trade. And with the Reciprocity of Duties Act and relaxation of the Navigation Acts, trade seemed to be booming. But these changes weren’t totally Liberal. The sliding scaled for the Corn Laws may have reduced the cost of corn, costs remained high. Rather that 80s a quarter, it was reduced to 70s. It may have seemed to be paving the way to new, cheaper living, but very little changed. Although trade was rather free, compared to previous years, it still remained tightly controlled. Free Trade only appeared in order to benefit the Government, not in order to help the people. The Exchequer received increased income from the heightened trade. But most importantly it reduced the increasing problem of smuggling, which was a big problem during the times of high taxation in trade. The cheaper costs of materials for factories and other such workplaces, did not create the wage increases expected. People still suffered with a low wage and poor living conditions. Socially the country experienced great change. The Penal Code was rewritten. Sentences for crimes were lessened, to ensure the Law was easily enforceable. Previously many people were seen not guilty due to the high penalty of death for such minor offences such as stealing. The Gaols Act cleaned up the prisons of the country. Trade Unions were once again legal, and allowed people to discuss disputes with their manager over items such as pay and work hours. But these Trade Unions were not allowed to strike, thus making them rather powerless. Such reforms in the Penal code and new Acts such as Gaols, were in fact not new at all. They were all thought up during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, and were placed on the back-burner of Governmental issues. But with the â€Å"new† group of people in Cabinet, now was the time to pass these changes. Politically little changed. Nothing was changed about the electoral system itself except for Grampound. In 1821 Grampound was disenfranchised. It lost its MPs because it was a rotten-borough. The seats were moved to Leeds by the House of Commons. Leeds being a large industrial city. But the House of Lords intervened and forced the seats to go to Yorkshire instead, where they knew there would be little opposition from the people. This goes to show that despite all changes the House of Lords still had overall power in the Government. Ironic since they are the only ones who are not voted into Parliament. Lord John Russell gets 164 votes for his reform Bill but the Commons still opposed to the proposition, believing that the people were content with what they had and that there was no need for reform. Religiously nothing would have happened if it wasn’t for Daniel O’Connell. If he had not won the vote in the bi-election, despite him being a Catholic, this would not have happened. In 1829 Catholic Emancipation was finally allowed, which gave the Catholics and Non-Conformists the same rights as Protestants in the country. The Government only allowed it due to the fear of rebellion in Ireland, which they could not allow no matter what. Also the Test of Corporations was repealed in 1828. In conclusion the Liberal Tories were in fact the same as they had been in previous years. They were no more Liberal than before. The only reason the appeared Liberal was due to the apparent new men on the Cabinet, whose ability to speak well in the Commons, made them appear very liberal. Almost all ideas they brought forward had been created in the days of Pitt. They just re-ignited the flame and set the ball rolling again. The only things that may have appeared very Liberal would have been the passing of Catholic Emancipation and the idea of Free Trade. But these two ideas were only created to appease problems the Government faced. The uprising and possible rebellion in Ireland forced them to pass Catholic Emancipation. While the increasing problem of smuggling and evasion of trade duties, meant the Government needed to relax the laws on trading. Also compared to the Whig Reformers of 1830-41, they could not possibly be called Liberal Tories

Critical Response Comparative Analysis Assignment. (Risk taking, which Essay

Critical Response Comparative Analysis Assignment. (Risk taking, which is the name of the chapter that has the 2 articles) - Essay Example Heroes and heroines are an important people in the whole of human race despite the action a hero does or a heroin does. Heroism has a profound belief in the value of human beings and the dignity of all human race regardless of whether one is a victim or not. This paper will outline and describe various critical analyses on how profound heroism has evidently evolved in the feminism characters and comparisons to that of masculine characters. Miriam Polster, author of the article Eve’s Daughter states that moving beyond stereotypic class of heroes makes s conclude that ordinary men and women are heroes. Heroes in everyday may not receive an accorded acclaim. However, private heroism becomes precise because people see their heroes every day; their heroes are so near as family, co-workers, and neighbors. Heroes have a profound respect for human life, a sense of personal effectiveness, mental courage, and original perspective about the world. People measure heroism in terms of publi city. They think that a hero is that big figure hat is seen every day, affects greatly in to the society, and largely distinguished from others. The fact is, heroism is characterized with basic traits that do not create hierarchy heroic actions but rather appreciation of ordinary guise and heroic elements. Ted Tollefson, author of article, Is a hero really nothing but a Sandwich?, describes many heroic figures like Warren Spahn, Elvis, Kennedy Carl Jung, Ben Hogan among others who have reflected back to Ted and what he intended to become. He wished to have good moves, become an electrifying orator as well as sex symbol. Ted shows how many of the generations have weaknesses for hero-worshipping as try to shed skins of their heroes like serpents. The people reach a point at which they start questioning about their heroes and why they need them. Ted explains that a number of people with heroic figure have common character traits despite the immense cultural differences. However, the re ason as to why they remain heroes is that activity they did of which, everyone else talks about. Ted explains how heroes live a life worth imitation that comes in with a number of benefits of zest and meaningful life (Tollefson, 1993). In the context of Eve’s daughter, you find that women have moved beyond a stereotype class of heroes where many of the women and men who are stated as heroes receive similar acclaims heroism and are accorded classic values of heroism, which are precisely equal to each other. Everyday heroes rise as different and difficult challenges arise too. The manner of tackling difficulties is different from one hero to another. In the context of People who make changes, heroism is a mere common place setting in response to challenges that affect more women that are vulnerable. In this context, inventory of heroism contain heroic characters, which are common to a bigger a number or all of the figures in the heroism state. Most of the heroes respect the hum an dignity and hold one accord for life. Heroism tries to solve challenges without hurting the victimized people. In this manner, the people a hero fights for appreciate him or her for standing in the place of the victims. When the challenge is drawn to the end, celebrations are held. The most enjoys the most is the hero himself for the privileges he gets from the people he or she helped (Polster, 2001). The mental courage in heroes permits them to be aware and accept the way people are in regard to their self-reliance and contribution of

Public Transportation in the UK Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Public Transportation in the UK - Article Example The fact that the value chain reflects upon the overall process of the business in a given industry as argued by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003) justifies the arguments in the previous sections that the information management system focusing on the ticketing and dynamic pricing will help accomplish efficient primary activity processing in the target market. From the arguments presented in this essay, it is clear that the efficiency in the railway industry is a critical element that is being affected by various macroeconomic factors. The PEST analysis also revealed that the railway industry possesses certain strengths like mass transportation, the geographical area covered, etc that can be used for the benefit of the business process itself. The SWOT analysis revealed that the efficiency in the target market can be increased through the efficient use of live finance information dynamically in order to fix the price for a certain journey between two given stations as argued by D ominic Fenn (2005). The review on the financial information system and the value chain also confirmed that the deployment of the system would not alter the system drastically but actually increase the operational efficiency of the system thus increasing the effectiveness of the system. Thus to conclude this report it is clear that the implementation of the Financial information system will help accomplish operational efficiency and increase the performance of the railway network as a whole.

Implementation and Analysis of Public Policy Essay

Implementation and Analysis of Public Policy - Essay Example For this purpose, some of the formed U.S. troops will provide support to the Iraqis while targeting ISIS forces by sharing their intelligence and coordinate planning process (Deyoung and Gearan, n.p.). President Obama is giving public announcement of the decision trying to convince American society that American personnel will stay in safety there and that the government is working on the development of comprehensive counterterrorism strategy. Also, he stresses that there is a critical necessity to take active position in the conflict on behalf of the American government and that the government will take proactive actions to provide support to the Iraqis people (Deyoung and Gearan, n.p.). Thus, the American government declares its active position towards the situation in Iraq and is stressing its advisory role rather than combating reinforcement. In my opinion the policy might work in case the objective of the plan declared by Obama is true. In case this policy is only a part of the plan and the president is going to take active combat position on behalf of the American government, then this policy can be perceived as a â€Å"cover† for the real plan. In any case it would be very challenging to ensure safety of the American soldiers in hot spot in Iraq. Provocative behavior on the one part can lead to a great military conflict and therefore, impose risk of greater number of victims. The policy looks more like the ground or cause to enter the Iraqis land. The possible criticisms of the Obama’s decision can relate to the issue that the President is opening a new front in the Middle East despite the official rejections (Deyoung and Gearan, n.p.). People might negatively perceive this decision and view it as continuation of spending money and threatening the lives of American soldiers in another land war in the Middle East (Deyoung and Gearan, n.p.). The fact that there will be soldiers who have already undergone military service on the Middle

Arius Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Arius - Essay Example This teaching ended up becoming so popular in fact that many bishops ended up defecting to the Arian heresy, and it was officially condemned at the First Council of Nicea in 325 AD and as well was supported later in the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. Then, from these councils came the Nicene Creed which Christians profess in Church each Sunday. There are many different important issues that should be known about Arius, and the aim of this paper is to discuss the most significant of all. Who Arius was, where he came from and the type of life that he lived, what his method of communicating his beliefs was, and the controversy that he caused throughout his life - each and every one of these issues will be thoroughly addressed and discussed here, and by doing this, we will be able to attain a much more informed and knowledgeable understanding on Arius overall. This is what will be dissertated in the following. Arius is considered to have been of Libyan descent, with his father being known as Ammonius. Arius was a student in Antioch at the exegetical school, where he studied under Saint Lucian, who was in fact the school's founder. It was in the year 313 when Arius was made presbyter of the Baucalis district in Alexandria, and this is how he really became known. He was considered as being a man of personal aesthetic character, pure morals, and decided convictions, although at the same time there were a number of people who assailed his character. The traditional beliefs of his time are incredibly important to take into consideration, and Christianity was by far the most major religion. Pope Miltiades was the Pope from July 2, 310 or 311, to January 10 or 11, 314, and was subsequently made a saint. Miltiades was who became Pope after the Roman emperor Galerius had previously passed on an edict of toleration ending the persecution of Christians, and "During his pontificate, in 313, the Edict of Milan was passed by the tetrarchs Constantine and Licinius, declaring that they would be neutral with regard to religious worship and restoring church property. Constantine presented the pope with the Lateran Palace which became the papal residence and seat of Christian governance" (Haas, 1993). In the year 313, Miltiades presided over the Lateran Synod in Rome at which Caecilian was acquitted of the charges that had been brought up against him, and Donatus Magnus ended up being condemned as a heretic. Magnus was then summoned to the Co uncil of Arles, the first representative meeting of all of the Western Roman Empire's Christian bishops, but he ended up dying before it was even held. After the death of Miltiades, he was made a saint, with his feast-day being held on December 10. There is also the important note to make of although his death was considered as being natural, at the same time he is nonetheless regarded as a martyr because of all of his earlier suffering under the ant-Christian emperor Maximan. The name God is considered as referring to "the deity held by monotheists to be the supreme reality. God is generally

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry - Research Paper Example He makes big assertions from the beginning, the he sees in all things a â€Å"simple, compact, well-joined scheme† (Section 2) and so on time and place â€Å"avail not† (section 3) an inspirational claim of harmony, solidarity and unity in the world and all through time. The central purpose of the poem is to communicate this argument and sense of balance and unity, not just to explain it but, to express it in the most direct route (Coffman). They say that a person can go beyond individual identity, change and time through shared human nature and experience, through the physical world itself and through works of art, Whitman’s Crossing Brooklyn Bridge being an example of works of art that talks about how humans can live in harmony and unity in the world and throughout life. The idea of art being a means of rising above time is on that Whitman’s poem, ‘Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry’ shares with other poems like Ode on a Grecian Urn by Keats. This argument is made to obtain an exciting and kinesthetic excellence that other similar poets have not been able to do in comparison to Whitman (Cavitch). Critics who have commented about how the poem is able to make a sense of movement and motion and how the linguistics and imagery used in the poem seem to be moving and flowing. The kind of experience about life that Whitman talks about and captured therefore seems to be more like a motion picture than a statue. The author also includes distinctive lines and quotes which talk about life’s struggles and weaknesses as a theme in the poem. In the line â€Å"The dark threw its patches down upon me also† (section 6), the poem expresses another way in which Whitman finds unity and harmony across time. At first it can be seen that the dark patches refer to â€Å"curious abrupt questionings† (section 5) that rouse within the author. After the dark patches,

BHS 420 Mod 1 CBT (Quantitative Reasoning) Essay

BHS 420 Mod 1 CBT (Quantitative Reasoning) - Essay Example 52). I agree with this statement and feel that it is important to learn critical thinking. Secondly, I would like to learn to understand the research process whereby accurate data can be obtained to support or disprove any particular hypothesis. Finally, I think that the ability to combine both qualitative and quantitative processes to achieve the answer to a research question is a superior approach. While both methods have their independent strengths, I believe that they are best used in combination to balance the data and increase understanding of the results. From a personal standpoint, i.e., outside of my professional career, I think that the knowledge gained from this course will allow me to perceive aspects in my daily life with a more accurate view because I will be constantly thinking about why events have happened. I will be considering possible explanations and will be equipped to analyze the information I encounter in a logical and reasonable manner; and I think this is applicable to all aspects of life. In writing about sports statistics, Guthrie (1994) stated that people â€Å"who are otherwise averse to quantitative reasoning will often become expert analysts when the subject being analyzed is of interest to them. A statistical argument presented in a context of ones experience is far more likely to be retained than one presented in the context of a hypothetical situation† (p. 1064). I think this validates my perception that critical thinking is not solely for professionals; it has application across all spectrums of hu man experience. History has revealed many people who have been considered geniuses in their field such as Beethoven in music or Earnest Hemingway in literature. Many of these individuals, however, were also known to suffer from manic-depression or what today is called Bipolar disorder. The health-related research

Why Americans should embrace Alternative fuel vehicles Term Paper

Why Americans should embrace Alternative fuel vehicles - Term Paper Example If this trend is to continue in the future, then very shortly the phenomenon of 'peak oil' would be triggered and global competition of remaining oil will escalate the prices beyond affordability. Moreover, there is the persuasive argument from environment preservation angle. If current energy usage patterns continue for a few more decades then the ecosystems and environments across the world would be damaged beyond repair, putting at risk the long-term survival of our species. (Borowitz, 1999, p.255) The rest of this essay will elaborate on these points and present the reasons why Americans should embrace alternative fuel vehicles. Beyond concerns about peak-oil and issues of sustaining conventional oil supplies, there is the danger posed by environmental pollution. While manufacturing industries play their part in polluting air, water and soil, the chief contributors are motor vehicles. For example, 90% of the carbon monoxide, 50% of the volatile organic compounds, and 40% of the o zone in metropolitan areas come from motor vehicles. (Meotti, 1995, p.27) With car ownership per-capita in America being one of the highest among advanced economies, there is a urgent need for alternative fuels. There is also the option of attempting to reduce car sales and car usage. But since this outcome is highly unlikely, finding substitute fuels for petroleum-based ones is the more plausible option going forward. Soybean oil is another alternative fuel that holds a lot of promise. When oil prices spiked during the first Gulf War in 1991, American farmers put to use the huge surplus of soybean oil stored in tanks across the country. They said that Soybean oil can be refined into bio-diesel, which can be used by vehicles. Already, by this time, bio-diesel was being manufactured in Europe using rapeseed oil. And by following the same procedure, Soybean oil could also be converted into bio-diesel, which would prove to be a cleaner and eco-friendly energy alternative. (Schmidt, 200 7, p.87) Experts and business people have now identified bio-diesel as a key player in the alternative fuels market. It also has the advantage of being produced by both small-scale manufacturers as well as large industries. While bio-diesel cannot completely substitute for petroleum products, it has the capacity to power a wide variety of vehicles. At present 95% of passenger vehicles in America run on gasoline. Bio-diesel can significantly help reduce this percentage. (Schmidt, 2007, p.87) Promoters of bio-diesel also feel that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages. It is not only a sustainable energy option, but also an eco-friendly one. For example, â€Å"Numerous studies show that compared to petrodiesel, B20 emits at least 10% less particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and total hydrocarbons. The relevant data are summarized in a 2006 NREL report titled Effects of Biodiesel Blends on Vehicle Emissions. Unlike fossil fuels--which contain carbon from underground sources--biod iesel contains carbon from plants that were recently alive and drawing carbon from the atmosphere. For that reason, burning it doesn't add more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than what was already there. What's more, biodiesel contains 11% oxygen by weight, which enhances fuel combustion, and reduces the amount of carcinogenic soot that diesel engines spew into the air.† (Schmidt, 2007, p.87) Diesel-run vehicles, on the other hand, are decisively more polluting. They release a lot of sulphur into the atmosphere, which in turn creates sulfate-based particulates, which in turn

Cross-cultural interaction Essay Example for Free

Cross-cultural interaction Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The peripatetic traveler is the quintessential image of a globalised man. Today’s traveler is driven by the commercial forces of globalization and improved communications in the World which has seen travel and tourism grow as an industry. In the ancient and medieval ages however, when traveling was not that simple and safe, a few adventurists quite literally walked across the globe or what ever was known of it then. These were men as Benjamin of Tudela, Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta, who covered vast spaces compared to capacity of transportation in the era in which they lived and have left rich sources of history documented in their travels. There is much debate over the relevance of the jottings made by these travelers to modern day history. Sceptics tend to question the authenticity and objectiveness as well as ability to portray a correct picture of a cross cultural interaction which these travelers tend to pursue from their own perspective. Travel literature has substantial relevance in providing authentic information of cross cultural interaction, the cross cultural trends, a perception of cross cultural association between people and is proving to be a good source of authentic and endearing history today as it provides a perspective in today’s world through an understanding of medieval religion and cultures. Information of cross-cultural interaction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The ancient and medieval times were denoted by lack of developed communications and modes of interaction for travel. There were also very limited historical recordings and what ever existed was at the behest of the ruling cliques, thereby making it biased. The historian today is left with primary records which are substantiated by such travelogues for a dispassionate view of cross cultural interaction. Thus travelogues do serve as important benchmark documents for historical purpose. This would be evident from recounting of travels through the Middle East during the medieval period in the writings of Benjamin of Tuleda, which tends to support the various historical happenings during the period by sources from both sides of the Islam and Christian divide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Travelers as Benjamin who was a Jew could also benefit from interaction with those of his community who were spread across the region. Since the Jews were relatively unbiased during the period of the Crusades, their observations supplanted the travelers own perception providing further substance to the history of the region. While some may consider it as not the purest form of notation, in denoting cross cultural trends it could be considered more than appropriate and accurate. The excessive focus on the state of the Jews in Benjamin’s writing however to some extent indicates that the view of culture is primarily from an overly Semitic perspective of a Rabbi and authenticity is probably sacrificed but then a deeper reading would overcome this perception. Battuta’s writings span a much large cross cultural area extending from Jerusalem, Damascus, Syria, and East Africa while Marco Polo’s travelogues are also very genuine impressions of cross cultural trends. Each of the chapters he writes covers the various aspects of a particularly community that he has observed be it the cropping pattern, food habits and the monarchical way of governance. Marco very assiduously provides an overview of each facet in great detail. Perceptive Observers Providing Authenticity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The intention of the travelers in their journey was multi focal. Thus some such as Benjamin did it for the purpose of seeking opportunities of trade or to find out about the state of personnel of his own community residing in various parts of the Middle East after being persecuted in their native lands. The meticulous recording of ethnographic details in his writing provides very insightful observations on cross cultural trends which highlights the capacity of its originator. Thus we find in Benjamin’s writings the details of how and when the Egyptian monarch travels, what are the proclivities of the people during various periods and the rivalries that existed even in those time between Cairo and Baghdad. It is also relevant to see that a person traveling beyond his immediate geographical and cultural setting would also be keen to obtain fresh insights into the lives of other communities. Thus observations of Marco Polo need to be taken note off with greater acceptance of the fidelity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The meticulous logging of the timings in terms of a virtual daily log provides an excellent record of the period, the state of development, the manner in which communities lived and the state of their culture in vivid details. Ibn Battuta who was overwhelmed by the need to travel and thus sets out from his native place at the tender age of 22 years, is also a very keen observer and thus his recordings attain a high quality of relevance particularly in the cross cultural context. His descriptive writings on Cairo or Alexandria are very perceptive providing an innate understanding of the era. The description of events, the handling of camels, the holding of ceremonies all are very effectively portrayed by the traveler, giving a good understanding of the period. The meticulous recording of customs such as movement of women naked in some societies as in Mali and cannibalism are stark etchings on the history of a cross cultural trend.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marco Polo again has provided   a wealth of material on cross cultural trends which denotes an excellent eye for detail and power of observation across a large expanse of area from Europe to China, Tibet to India and other areas. The burning of, â€Å"black stones†, is perhaps a recorded intervention by Marco, which indicates the level and depth of his observations. Marco’s observation are supplemented by a comparison between various cultures be it Chinese, Middle Eastern or Central Asian traditions of Bokhara. This provides a deep insight into cultural happenings of the era. Perspective of Modern Day Understanding   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Today Islam and the West appear to be undergoing a serious crisis, some view it as a clash of civilization matching. There is very limited understanding of each others religions, traditions, culture and ideological basis. This is truly surprising given the proliferation of modern knowledge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is the writings of travelers as Benjamin of Tudela who traversed the Middle East in the 12th Century which provides us a deeper understanding of the roots of this civilizational divide thereby enhancing our understanding of happenings in today’s World. Being a Rabbi from Spain, Benjamin was relatively detached to enable a more objective assessment of the conflict which was occurring between Islam and Christianity in the medieval ages. His tour of the principal areas of the Middle East as well as Europe and Asia provided a fresh insight not just into the period but also the cross cultural linkages between these areas over the ages. The peace and prosperity in Egypt described so authentically by Benjamin provide an excellent insight in the functioning of well governed medieval states. The clash between Saladin and the Christians and the moves and counter moves of the period have been very vividly portrayed by Benjamin denoting how Islam was revived between the period of the Second and the Third Crusades.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Today when we see a similar up rise in Islam which is spearheaded not by the likes of Saladin, but terrorist leaders as Osama Bin Laden, Benjamin’s travels can provide a better counter cultural perspective. A similar understanding of the culture of the Middle East is provided in the writings of Ibn Battuta which can provide us a perspective from an Islamic traveler’s point of view in a different age over three centuries apart and covering some of the same areas. In each of the places that he visits Battuta makes mention of specifics which indicate a keen eye for detail. It is natural that a person with a good view of the details will remain also particular of the accuracy of his writings. Thus enhancing their historical value. The writings provide a cross cultural dimension of the transformation that has take place in these areas over these years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marco’s writings on Tibet are another issue which enables us to correlate between the state and relations of Tibet between the modern and the medieval periods. The fascination which the Chinese felt for Tibet even then is evident as Marco observes their repeated forays to gain hold of territory which they see as a great expanse with its many provinces, the customs of the people, their mastiffs and bamboo cropping are thus set to be matching. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus it would be seen that the travelogues of Marco Polo, Ibn Batttuta and Benjamin of Tudela are important documents as they provide authentic information of cross cultural interaction, denote cross cultural trends, enhance the perception of cross cultural association between people and prove good sources of authentic and endearing history, thereby providing better modern day understanding and background of medieval religion and cultures as in the Middle East.       References Marco Polo and Rustichello of Pisa. 2004. The Travels of Marco Polo, Volume 1 and 2. E-text prepared by Charles Franks, Robert Connal, John Williams, and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10636/10636-8.txt (VOLUME I). http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12410/12410-8.txt (VOLUME II). (20 November 2006) Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354. Nd. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1354-ibnbattuta.html (20 November 2006) The itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela. 1907. Philipp Feldheim, inc The house of the Jewish book. New York. gutenberg.org/files/14981/14981-h/14981-h.htm. (20 November 2006).

The Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire Essay Example for Free

The Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire Essay The Enlightenment and the values it promoted are really nothing less than the infant version of twenty first century America. Its emphasis on reason, freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, and its desire to secularize government all appear in the Bill of Rights and represent the core beliefs which have been shaping U.S. culture for over two hundred years. Voltaire, a leader among the French philosophes, embodies much of the Enlightenment sentiment in his collection of essay entitled Philosophical Dictionary. Voltaire was overwhelmingly concerned with religious and ethical issues. His belief that spirituality was a private matter simply didnt correspond with the norms of the day. Particularly unreceptive was the church which more times than not was the chief target of Voltaires criticism. The church had long wielded great power in Europe, and the morals which it claimed to support were often overshadowed by an obsession with ensuring its own theological proclamations were honored. Voltaire was quick to exploit this hypocrisy, and it inspired him to come up with his own philosophy on ethics and the role of the church. Far from being an atheist which he considered a bold and misguided scholar, Voltaire believed in an eternal, supreme, intelligent being (208) and thought religion was a good thing in a civilized society (56). However, what he hated was religious fanaticism, and it was something he saw all too often. He saw religion, far from being a beneficial food turn[ing] into poison in infected brains (203). He saw men who backed madness with murder and men who killed for love of god (202). And he saw this happening all throughout the church. If this was the effect religion would have on society, if it would only create an epidemic illness, then even atheism would be better, for at least atheists wouldnt kill those who thought differently than them. For Voltaire, a man who championed reason and empiricism, fanaticism had only one cure: free thought. Reason, Voltaire believed, was an ability which God gave all men as an instrument to guide moral behavior. Thus, any reasonable man who studied the  Bible would know that human killing was something God always despised. The fanatics then were without excuse as enemies of reason and of God (28). Voltaire believed these people, the persecutors, and the theological disputes they created to be humanitys worst problem. Because of mans inherent desire to dominate others, a just society led by religious leaders was impossible. In order to find the good and the true, law must rule the land and men must be allowed to express themselves without the fear of punishment. At the conclusion to his essay on Certainty, Voltaire provides two poignant insights: As for me, who have undertaken this little Dictionary to put questions, I am far from being certain (107). In a place and time where the public was expected to play the role of children and acquiesce to everything put before them, Voltaire, first, wanted people to think, ask questions, and arrive at their own conclusions: Natural law permits everyone to believe what he pleases (88). Secondly, Voltaire recognized the limits of the human mind, that only so many questions contained mathematically certain answers. In one of his essays, he challenged the church with that fact: I could compose for you a folio volume of questions to which you would have to reply only with four words: I do not know?' (74). To Voltaire it was clear enough. Not all things were in mans grasp, and it was an individual choice as to how to deal with those areas. These two points capture the grand message Voltaire sacrificed his life to spread. Religious faith will always be just that: faith. Yet, the most atrocious acts of evil have been committed when people assume that their own faiths are universal truths. This is the mistake Voltaire most wanted to discourage. Instead, he proposed a society where a secular body governed by laws derived from reason and permitted its citizens to freely exercise their natural rights to free speech and religion. The Age of the Enlightenment saw many of the events which have had the greatest impact present society. Voltaire and his contemporaries introduced the ideas of free speech, religion, assembly, and press. They openly questioned the established authorities and influenced the revolutions in both England and France. Today, most countries in the Western World reap the  benefits of such thinkers and the changes they introduced, embracing the Enlightenment culture and its love for secular leadership.

Clothing as a Form of Nonverbal Communication

Clothing as a Form of Nonverbal Communication Researching this topic has been interesting and this essay will show that dress is a central form of communication, through the many studies around this topic. Different cultures use dress to represent values central to their faith. Children are dressed in uniforms to make them all the same and principals believe this helps them to behave. Different pieces of clothing can represent very unique things in various countries, showing that dress is a central form of communication. 68% of patients said that they were more comfortable with their health professions dressing in a professional manner. (Lascher et al, 2006) This included a white coat in 96% of answers. (Lascher et al, 2006) This study suggests that patients feel more comfortable with doctors in profressional dress, this is just one example of how clothing can evoke trust in a non-verbal manner. I once saw a quote which says alot for this essay We act the way we dress. Neglected and untidy clothes reflect a neglected and untidy mind If we dress a certain way we attribute certain characteristics such as the professional and calm manner a doctor represents in his white coat, it makes him appear knowledgable and trustworthy. In Ireland if a person were to wear a red bandana, not many would bat an eyelid, however if the same Irish person were to travel with their bandana they would evoke very different responses in different places. For example in Australia a red bandana would tell people that the person was an activist, or if the person wore their bandana in Indonesia theyd be considered a rebel fighter. (Maynard, 2005, p. 102) Clothing and dress can tell us many things about people. In the western world, men and women will often wear wedding rings when they are married, and women have an engagement ring to show their intent to marry. This however is specific to cultures, as in the hindu culture, a woman puts red powder on the parting of her hair to show she is married but in her culture also shows her husband is alive and well. (Barnes Eicher, 1993, p. 207) The Hindu culture is a good example of the non-verbal functions of dress. A man who is familiar with the hindu dress rules would know details such as when a woman is menstruating by the way she presents herself. (Barnes Eicher, 1993, pp. 200-207) A hindu widow only wears garments which have not been dyed such as plain colours like white and cream. (Barnes Eicher, 1993, pp. 204-6) Hinduism puts the appearance of a future child in direct association with how a wife dresses and acts. (Barnes Eicher, 1993) If the women is menstruating and she brushes her hair the scriptures say her child will be bald. (Barnes Eicher, 1993) Dress in clearly central in communication within the Hindu culture. The islam religion also brings interesting dress styles to the public. The wearing of a burqa in the muslim tradition has been controversial in western society with Jacque Shiraq banning all students in France from wearing the burqa, he is now attempting to ban the burqa completely from France. Islam prefers women to be covered up completely so that she does not attract any attention to herself. (Al-Islamiyah) She is allowed dress to the taste that pleases her husband once they are behind closed doors, but outside her home she must cover up her whole body. (Al-Islamiyah) Western society criticises these dress rules as they appear to oppress the woman, however muslims argue that this protects the women and allows her be treated more like a human being than a sex object. (Al-Islamiyah) This source argues that western dress sense allows women be exploited and creates problems such as trying to stay young and beautiful enough so that you remain married. This is one side to a story, a side which is neither right nor wrong but definietly illustrates that within the muslim culture dress is a central form of communication. Their dress sense to them shows others respect and illustrates loyalty and dignity, values similar to the values western patients put on their doctors when they wore a white coat. This shows us that we assign values and certain beliefs to people by what they wear. The muslim women who choose to wear the burqa are devoted to their religion, they are respectful of their familys beliefs and their culture and they are loyal to their husband. (Al-Islamiyah) These values then portray ideas to the general public, such as the muslim women must be for example, dedicated in things she believes in, so if that women were to apply for a job associated with many hours the interviewer might give her a better chance knowing that she would be dedicated. Western culture dress is very different from the muslim burqa. Here in Ireland the main arguments with regard to dress are uniforms in school, whether work places allow workers to wear smart casual or purely smart clothes. Is the act of wearing a uniform represent a deeper meaning? I think it does, for example all of the police forces around the world have uniforms to show the people who they are and also represent the power they have. This is true also for armed forces, if you even think to when children used to play games, if you put feathers in your hair you became an Indian, dressing can show us roles which helps in the processes of communication. People always say first impressions are important and a person makes up their mind whether to hire you in the first twenty seconds of meeting you so it is clear dress is a major part of communication. How much verbal communication can one show in twenty seconds? It must therefore be non-verbal so includes dress, body language and expres sions. So we must learn to dress for occasions. Dress is even more important in everyday life in the western world. People meet their husbands and wives for the first time often by catching someones attention by their clothing. This is why fashion has become so important in Ireland today. The issue of uniforms in school, is principals believe that children conform to rules better in a uniform way when dressed the same. Having experienced a no uniform day in a school on my placement I have witnessed the chaos children reek in the school yard in their own clothes. There have been studies done on uniforms and 85% of schools thought that dress-codes not uniforms help improve behaviour. (Lumsden Miller, 2002) They also reported that there was less sexual harassment and it helped prepare the students for the working world they would be joining in a short few years. (Lumsden Miller, 2002) What they wear on these non uniform days can tell their friends something about them, for example a girl wearing track-suit bottoms might illustrate she is a tom-boy. That girl wouldnt have to say she is a tomboy but just by wearing the outfit she would be showing her class that she thinks she has characteristics to that label. Children who have uniforms are also less likely to be bullied for the clothes they wear. (Clark, 2007) Children agree that wearing a uniform makes them less likely to behave badly outside of school as they would be easily identified. (Clark, 2007) This shows as well that uniforms can be a form of identity which is all part of communication. A person from a community might recognise a pupil from a school by their uniform and instantly form ideas about them based on this, so the uniform also adds to the first impression a person may get. The argument for uniforms is a part of this essay as many Irish schools have uniforms and thus we identify many children through this part of their clothing and the uniform becomes a central part of communication. The way we dress in western society can also influence others opinions of us. If one dresses smart for an interview and looks clean, then what does the employer think? (Clodfelter) What one wears would tell an employer that the person is trustworthy, is professional and has a level of confidence needed for the job. (Clodfelter) The way we dress can tell others the social class we are in, the level of success we have enjoyed and the type of moral character we are. (Clodfelter) Dressing appropriately for interviews can also show your educational status, your economical level in society and the heritage you had. If first impressions can tell a person all of that information how can dress not be a central part of communication? With regard to social care, it is clear although many agencys do not have uniforms such as scrubs, staff are expected to wear clothes which are suitable. In child care, student placements are often expected to wear either black trousers or jeans which fit properly, and tops which are not offensive to anyone and also cover all areas of the midrift, back and chest. (University of Heuston Child Care Centre) In some social care centres staff all wear the same top which makes them easily identifiable to service users and the public alike. It makes communication easier, for example if you are in a shop and need some assistance you would spot a member of staff quicker if they are dressed in a retail specific t-shirt. In western society we dress to tell people we are a certain kind of person. Successful men dress in suits and formal attire to work, they wear ties. Trades men buy expensive work pants and expensive brands of tools to show they are on a high paid job. Many women buy themselves branded handbags thinking it makes them that bit classier than the next woman. Children beg for the expensive branded sneakers and clothes to show their friends that they are cool. Teenagers wear low cut tops on nights out to show that they are growing up, they wear short skirts to rebel against their parents. Young people get tattoos to show their support for something or someone or maybe just to fit in to society. The middle-aged sometimes wear clothes that make them appear slimmer, taller, better endowed, but why do we do all these seemingly crazy things? We do this to portray our feelings, to make ourselves feel a certain way, to show others a part of ourselves they may not have seen yet. These reasons are all showing that dress can be a central part of nonverbal communication.

Victorian Sexuality in Stoker’s Dracula, LeFanu’s Carmilla, and Polidor

Victorian Sexuality in Stoker’s Dracula, LeFanu’s Carmilla, and Polidori’s Vampyre Literature is representative of the time in which it is produced. Literature can reflect societal views, attitudes, and fears.Vampire literature, in particular, often represents the fears of a society.In the Victorian Era, a time of intense sexual repression, it was common for vampire stories to reflect the fear of sexuality that was rampant in society. Bram Stoker’s Dracula illustrated fears about sexual women in contrast to the woman who respected and abided by society’s sexual norms. Joseph Sheridan LeFanu’s â€Å"Carmilla† represented not only the fear of feminine sexuality, but also the fear of sexuality between women. John William Polidori’s â€Å"The Vampyre† showed society’s fear of sexuality in terms of the seductive man who could â€Å"ruin† a young girl.These texts are representative of vampire stories in the Victorian Era, and will be the focus here. Victorian society dictated harsh restraints on sexuality, especially female sexuality. Members of Victorian society believed that sexual repression was a sign of good breeding. This was the time of the â€Å"cult of true womanhood,† the â€Å"code of chivalry,† and the Social Purity Movement. To â€Å"be a lady† in Victorian times, women had to repress their â€Å"instincts,† meaning that they must not have sex. Lead by the â€Å"cult of true womanhood,† which dictated piety, purity and submissiveness in women, females were directed to become almost asexual. Women went into sexuality thinking that it was something not to be talked about, that women were not supposed to have a libido, and that the act of sexual intercourse was not something that they should enjoy. As women’s sexuality became more and more... ...rongmore’s past behavior, Aubrey fears for his sister. Strongmore is described as alluring and seductive, making him appear as the sexual man that women of the Victorian Era tried to help to control their desires.Men were encouraged to repress their sexuality as well as women, and men who could not were permitted to see prostitutes.The young unmarried girl was the last person that a man should be seen with, but Strongmore violated this became a foil for young women desiring marriage.This story illustrated the fears of unrestrained sexuality and sedutive men who could ruin young girls, and both fears are embodied by Lord Strongmore. Works Cited Auerbach, Nina. Our Vampires, Ourselves. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1995.    LeFanu, Joseph Sheridan. Best Ghost Stories. New York: Dover, 1964.    Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 1897. New York: Penguin, 1993. Victorian Sexuality in Stoker’s Dracula, LeFanu’s Carmilla, and Polidor Victorian Sexuality in Stoker’s Dracula, LeFanu’s Carmilla, and Polidori’s Vampyre Literature is representative of the time in which it is produced. Literature can reflect societal views, attitudes, and fears.Vampire literature, in particular, often represents the fears of a society.In the Victorian Era, a time of intense sexual repression, it was common for vampire stories to reflect the fear of sexuality that was rampant in society. Bram Stoker’s Dracula illustrated fears about sexual women in contrast to the woman who respected and abided by society’s sexual norms. Joseph Sheridan LeFanu’s â€Å"Carmilla† represented not only the fear of feminine sexuality, but also the fear of sexuality between women. John William Polidori’s â€Å"The Vampyre† showed society’s fear of sexuality in terms of the seductive man who could â€Å"ruin† a young girl.These texts are representative of vampire stories in the Victorian Era, and will be the focus here. Victorian society dictated harsh restraints on sexuality, especially female sexuality. Members of Victorian society believed that sexual repression was a sign of good breeding. This was the time of the â€Å"cult of true womanhood,† the â€Å"code of chivalry,† and the Social Purity Movement. To â€Å"be a lady† in Victorian times, women had to repress their â€Å"instincts,† meaning that they must not have sex. Lead by the â€Å"cult of true womanhood,† which dictated piety, purity and submissiveness in women, females were directed to become almost asexual. Women went into sexuality thinking that it was something not to be talked about, that women were not supposed to have a libido, and that the act of sexual intercourse was not something that they should enjoy. As women’s sexuality became more and more... ...rongmore’s past behavior, Aubrey fears for his sister. Strongmore is described as alluring and seductive, making him appear as the sexual man that women of the Victorian Era tried to help to control their desires.Men were encouraged to repress their sexuality as well as women, and men who could not were permitted to see prostitutes.The young unmarried girl was the last person that a man should be seen with, but Strongmore violated this became a foil for young women desiring marriage.This story illustrated the fears of unrestrained sexuality and sedutive men who could ruin young girls, and both fears are embodied by Lord Strongmore. Works Cited Auerbach, Nina. Our Vampires, Ourselves. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1995.    LeFanu, Joseph Sheridan. Best Ghost Stories. New York: Dover, 1964.    Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 1897. New York: Penguin, 1993.

Edna, the Anti-Mother-Woman in Chopin’s The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening Essays

Edna, the Anti-Mother-Woman in Chopin’s The Awakening In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother- women seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings, when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels. (29) She had all her life long been accustomed to harbor thoughts and emotions which never voiced themselves. They had never taken the form of struggles. They belonged to her and were her own, and she entertained the conviction that she had a right to them and that they concerned no one but herself. Edna had once told Madame Ratignolle that she would never sacrifice herself for her children, or for any one. Then had followed a rather heated argument; the two women did not appear to understand each other or to be talking the same language. â€Å"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself. I can’t make it more clear; it’s something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me.† (69-70) In the first passage, Edna is clearly set apart from what appears to be the status quo of female behavior in her society. She is not a mother-woman. The term, mother-woman is a reductive one which implies a singular purpose or value. The mother-woman is a mother; being one defines and regulates every aspect of her life. They â€Å"†¦esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.† Chopin’s use of religious words and imagery is interesting; it certainly alludes to Victorian ideals of womanhood in which the woman is a vessel of purity and piousness. Viewing women as angels or pure, infallible beings elevates them, but also robs them somewhat of their humanity. In addition to this, it places restraining and unnecessary imperatives on their behavior, and encourages them to strive for the unattainable-a pursuit that will probably leave them feeling inadequate. The mother-women are described generally, however, in th is passage, and seem entirely one-dimensional. Also, they possess an almost absurd and quality, â€Å"fluttering† about after their children, perceiving â€Å"imaginary† dangers everywhere. Chopin deals with the mother-women more complexly later through the character of Madame Ratignolle.

Persuasive Essay Men and Women are Equal -- essays research papers

Men and Women There is constantly cessation why women and men cohabitate, nurture, desire, and endure. Many shrug the similarities and differences to the side due to the complex nature that is involved in understanding the progression. Since the beginning of time, according to the bible, man was placed as the dominant sex, fending for the families well being. The woman has tended to the important jobs around the homestead as situations arose. Often in society, one will find himself in a battle depending on the views of the receiving recipients. Following is a dialogue explaining a safe and metro sexual view as a general whole. Based on scientific beliefs, one is to think we come from a less intelligent species through evolution. There is also the often believed but sadly never proven fact that we could have possibly derived from a higher power that designed our every millimeter. Also possible we started as a single celled organism by a higher power, but not monitored throughout growth into what we are now. Whichever the...

Hipaa Case Study

HIPAA Case Study Rasmussen College Author Note This research is being submitted on November 18, 2012 for Lashonda Crockett H340/HSA3422 Section 03 Regulation and Compliance in Health Care. How does HIPAA serve to protect patient rights? Answer in general terms, but then apply the question to the case study. (Who is HIPAA serving here in terms of patient rights? Explain. Should HIPAA be applied here at all? Why or why not? ) HIPAA is in place to protect patients and all their medical information. This was a direct violation.If they would not have mentioned names, ages or other identifying factors except for the issue at hand they would not be in violation. Since they spoke of names and other identifiers in a place where they can be overheard, the people who were referred to her for help can easily be searched and found and then be ridiculed for the issues at hand. What areas of HIPAA compliance impact the employer? This employer that employees these workers can be sued. If anyone had wanted to confront the people they spoke about, it could be a way for these individuals could lose their jobs, housing or worse.They can be charge with slander as well. This is just a horrible situation for the employer since they could have criminal charges they would have to fire these workers. Then those workers would have a hard time find another job. What actions should the ICMHA director take about the alleged HIPAA violation in the case? This would definitely be an issue of considering these employees work history to see if this has happened before. Even though the work load is heavy due to losing an employee, I would have to look into suspending these workers and do a check into their work history.There would be talks with this family and grandmother who overheard them. It would possibly come down to sending them to another place for help and paying for them to get that help. There would also be an audit should be done on the department to see if this is happening with anyon e else as well as have an employee meeting to state how a new internal regulation on this matter has been made and if this does happen by anyone that termination will happen immediately.

Customer Satisfaction in Banking Essay

Introduction Aiming for the customer satisfaction is the most challenging task in every organization. Through the satisfied customers, a firm an easily measure the effectiveness of the business, its potential and position in the industries, and the areas that are needed to polish and improve. Keeping the trust of a customer is not an overnight miracle but with full of patience and bountiful of effort. Background and Problem Statement The products and services that are sold in the most favorable prices can be an initial step of the firm in obtaining the trust and be included in the top list of the customers. However, because of the tight competition of various services, particularly in banks, the perception of the customers and potential customers are also divided according to the services that they want to achieve. In addition, the impact of the economic problems and financial crunches among the financial institutions creates a great challenge in the banks. With all the challenges that are ahead on the banks, how will they gather the customer satisfaction which is the same focus of the other competing banking institutions? Research Aim and Objectives The aim of the study is to determine the satisfaction on the services and products delivered by the banks towards their customers to attract other potential customer. There are three objectives that can be the guidance of the researcher/s in reaching for their goal and, in also, measuring the impact of customer satisfaction to their effectiveness in the market. First objective is to recognize the various strategies placed by the banks to achieve the customer satisfaction. Second is to determine the extent of those strategies to eliminate or at least minimize the impact of resistance and reluctance of the customers towards the bank’s offered products and services. And third is to discover the level of satisfaction from the existing customers that can contribute in the success and continuous performance of the banks. Literature Review Finding for the loyal customers is a great opportunity for the various firms and enterprises, for the corporate leaders believe that through them, the  firms can continue its business cycle. In order to keep the loyal customers, the organization should first attempt to discover the ways to satisfy the customers. Customer satisfaction is an applied term that determines on how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. It is an essential tool to see the key performance indicator within business. In banking industry, being competitive is already a given factor. Customers expect that banks should be strong enough even if there are uncertainties in the country, most especially in the financial stream. In the long run, the customer satisfaction can be the key element of the organization to prepare another strategy (Gitman and McDaniel, 2005). Every business’s mission is making the customers as their first priority. In accordance to this, the business must fill or serve the satisfaction of their customers according to what preferences that the market is demanding for. In the banking industry, there is a suggested conceptualized model of satisfaction in terms of the business-to-business level. With the aid of the path analysis, corporate customer satisfaction can be determined in the earliest time with regards to the equity, and expectations of customers (Armstrong and Seng, 2000; Hackl and Westlund, 2000). Catching the attention of the customers is the first impression of the banks in terms of promotion. However, if the banks continuously deliver the satisfaction towards to their customers, the firms will not only obtaining success but also the continuing promotion of benefits for their own customers. The most desirable outcome that the customers can gain is the improvement on their experience in banking services and products and identify that there is an increase performance. On the other hand, the firm can enjoy the benefits of minimization of the business uncertainty, maximization of profit margins and enhancement of productivity; reduce on expenses, and optimization on resource deployment (Hansemark and Albinsson, 2004). Methodology The suggested method in the study is the use of survey and interview as the primary strategy to obtain the needed information. Through the combination of survey and interview, the current position of the bank in the society can be determined. For the first process of the investigation, the survey will be conducted among the population of the customers. The first 100 customers will be the participants and through the help of the Likert Scale, the  researcher/s can view the appeal of the bank’s services and products on their customers. At the second phase of the study, the interview will be conducted among the five managers of the bank. The interview has a purpose to recognize the various strategies and their strong points to attr Read more: http://ivythesis.typepad.com/term_paper_topics/2010/06/research-proposal-on–17.html#ixzz3AGEqDr4W Writing the Research Proposal Expression of Interest Research Team / Collaborations Research Guidelines Research Proposal Steps Examples of Research Proposals Good Writing Interviews Research Proposal Steps Step 1: The Title Naming your research is an important part of the research proposal. It should tell the user (In 25 words or less) what you intend to research and how you intend to do it. You may also wish to give your research project both a MÄ ori and English title. The choice is up to you, as long as your title is relevant to the research question. Step 2: The Abstract Your research proposal in its entirety may be anywhere between 5,000 to 25,000 words in length. So it is important that you give a summary of the entire document. This summary is known as the abstract, and should demonstrate to the reader the most important parts of each of the sections of the research proposal in around 200 words. It is often useful to write the abstract last, after the rest of the research proposal has been written and fully thought out. Step 3: Aims and Objectives In this section you should expand on the title of your research project to  articulate in full detail the aims and objectives of your research. You should be able to provide a detailed description of the research question, the purpose of the research, and a description of your approach (methodology and method) to the research. Included in this section should be discussion around the research problem that you intend to answer or investigate, your hypothesis, the parameters of the research i.e. what you intend to include within the research, and what you intend to leave out. Step 4: Background This section should provide detail about the background to the research question. In this section you will need to demonstrate an understanding of the existing literature and research studies within the area of your proposed research topic. This is to assist the reader to understand the significance of your research, and where it fits within the existing body of knowledge. The background section is a significant portion of your proposal and therefore should be an extensive review of the literature related to your topic (see literature review). You should be able to discuss what the existing literature is about and highlight any gaps, issues or contentions that arise. You also need to be able to show where your research fits within this literature and enter into discussions on issues that relate to your research question. The point of this background section is to demonstrate to the reader your understanding and knowledge of the research area, as well as the contribution that your research project will make to the existing research and knowledge. Step 5: Methodology and Method In this section of the proposal you will need to demonstrate how you intend to go about investigating the research question. The methodology generally refers to the theory to be used to justify the use of the particular research methods that you are choosing to use. You may use more than one methodology to inform your method of research. The method describes the way you intend to investigate the question, such as a questionnaire, a hui, in-depth individual interviews, focus group interviews, a wÄ nanga, a survey and so forth. Kaupapa MÄ ori is a methodology, that also gives rise to and guides research methods. In this section you will need to give a brief overview of Kaupapa MÄ ori theory and/or theories, why you have chosen to use this methodology and how your research question fits within thismethodological framework. If you are using more than one methodology then you will need to demonstrate why you have chosen to use another methodology alongside Kaupapa MÄ ori, and how it is relevant to the aims and objectives of your research. You should also discuss the different methods you intend to use in full detail, and provide justification as to why you have chosen to use these methods. It is also helpful to discuss how many participants you intend to involve in your research, how you intend to find or approach participants, and how they will be used in your study. Step 6: Schedule and Timeline You need to be able to demonstrate that your research is possible within a given timeframe. You may be able to define your own timeframe, or the institution for which you are writing a proposal may have a set timeframe that you will need to work within. Either way, it is important that you are able to plot the intended progress of the project from start to finish. If you intend to produce any outputs, reports, findings then they should be inserted into this schedule. Step 7: Ethical Approval Some institutions require that any research involving interaction with human participants get approval from ethical advisory committees or boards. This ethical approval is sought to ensure that the researcher conducts research in a manner that is respectful to the participants and other human beings that may be influenced by the research process. It is important that you seek out what ethical approval is required within your area of research. You may need to seek approval from more than one advisory committee depending on the institutional, financial and disciplinary context. Applications for ethical approval are obtained directly from the ethical committees themselves. Ethical considerations is a key part of conducing Kaupapa MÄ ori research. Understanding research ethics will impact on all aspects of your research, in particular, how you engage with communities to conduct your research and disseminate your research findings. MÄ ori community research organizations are also beginning to develop their own research ethics guidelines to assist both the researchers and participants to be ‘culturally safe’ during the research process. In the ‘ethical approval’ section, it is important to outline who you intend to seek ethical approval from, and/or  when ethical approval was granted and for what period of time. Step 8: Resources This section demonstrates to the reader that you are both suitable and capable of carrying out the proposed research. You will need to discuss what resources you have at your disposal that makes it possible for you to carry out this research. For example, physical resources (such as research instruments), personal resources (such as knowledge of the discipline, area or community under study), as well as any other resources that you have as a researcher (or research team) that will enable you to carry out the research from beginning through to completion. You may also need to highlight what resources you still require in order to complete the research, and also discuss how you intend to go about acquiring these resources (i.e. through funding, through research collaborations etc.) Step 9: Budget Not all research proposal require a budget (such as thesis proposals for academic institutions), however if you intend to apply for funding for research it is important that you are able to show how much money you require, and justify the amount asked for. The way to justify the amount you are asking for is to provide a detailed budget outlining what expenses you predict you will incur in conducting the research. Exactly where and how money will be spent will differ from project to project, and the size of the budget should reflect the size of the research project. Some of the main expenses that may be included in any budget could be researcher’s time, human resources (such as other research assistants, transcribers, advisory board members), technical equipment (Dictaphones, transcribers, computer hardware and software etc), stationary, koha and others.

According To Criminal Justice Today Essay

â€Å"Modern sentencing practices are influenced by five goals, which weave their way through widely disseminated professional and legal models, continuing public calls for sentencing reform.† The five goals of contemporary sentencing are Retribution, Incapacitation, Deterrence, Rehabilitation and Restoration. We are going to discuss what each goal means for sentencing criminals. Retribution a demand for punishment based on a need for vengeance. This is the earliest known rationale for punishment. Early cultures would punish almost every offender almost immediately and without a hearing. Severe penalties like death and exile where common forms of punishment even for minor offenses in early societies. The term just deserts means the offenders sentencing holds that the offenders deserve the punishment they receive at the hands of the law and the punishment should be appropriate with the type of crime. Incapacitation is the second goal of criminal sentencing and seeks to protect the innocent members of society from offenders who might harm them. Unlike retribution, incapacitation requires only restraint and not punishment like sending the offender to a correctional institution without imprisonment. The third example is deterrence. When you think of deterrence, it uses the example or threat of punishment that will convince people that committing crimes is not worth the penalty. Rehabilitation is the fourth example and brings about fundamental changes in offenders and their overall behavior. The ultimate goal of rehabilitation is to reduce the overall number of criminal offenses. Rehabilitation means to return a person to their previous condition. The final example is restoration. Restoration is a sentencing goal that seeks to address what damage was called by the offender that will make those who suffered whole again. This can range from victim’s assistance and/or supporting the victims with some form of compensations.

Pandora Case Analysis Essay

Abstract Pandora provides personalized Internet radio stations to its customers. Pandora provides this customized radio free of charge to its users. In combination with other business models, Pandora has successfully implemented the freemium business model in which 99% of its users receive a free service and 1% of the users pay for premium services. This business model is not appropriate for every type of business but can be profitable for some types of businesses with a planned implementation process and a clear understanding of customer values. Analyzing the success of Pandora provides information on the necessary requirements in order for business to earn a profit using the freemium business model. Pandora Case Analysis Pandora offers an Internet radio service, which tailors the music played, based on user preference. Pandora began as a free service to its consumers, while they found a way to earn a profit. Pandora utilized several different business models before implementing the freemium model. The freemium business model provides free services to 99% of the customers and expects 1% of the customers to pay a fee for premium services (Laudon & Traver, 2011). This business model can be very effective and profitable for certain types of business when managed correctly. Analyzing Pandora’s successful use of the model provides insight on which conditions need to be present in order for the freemium business model to be effective and profitable. The freemium business model is appropriate to use when the product or service is widely available and there are low variable costs in providing the product or service to each customer. It is also important that the business takes into consideration the timing of implementation and understands their customer’s values. History of Pandora The foundation of Pandora began with the creation of the Music Genome Project in 2000 and the service officially launched in 2005 (Westegren, 2009). Pandora’s founder Tim Westegren set out to create an on-line radio  station that categorizes music based on 400 different attributes such as melody, rhythm, instrumentation and harmony (Westegren, 2009). In order to accomplish this task, Westegren hired musical analysts who listened to music and created a database which links songs together based on similarity of those attributes (Shelly, 2009). This database provides the foundation for users to log into Pandora and enter an artist or a song that they want to hear. The search is a â€Å"seed† and the database creates a station based on the features of the song entered on the search. The station contains artists and songs that are similar to the search, but does not actually play the exact song or artist entered (Shelly, 2009). Pandora is interactive as users provide feedb ack to the database by giving a song thumbs up, thumbs down, or skip the song entirely (Shelly, 2009). The more the user listens to Pandora, the better the system understands their preferences (Shelly, 2009). In other words, by frequently interacting with the database, users receive a more customized radio station. Pandora Business Models Pandora continues to explore different revenue building business models in order to maximize monetization. These models include monthly subscription fees, advertising, contracting with on-line retailers and the freemium business model. When Pandora launched in 2005, their first business model was to provide 10 hours of free music and then require users to pay a monthly fee of $36. Pandora found that users listened to their 10 hours of free music, but were not willing to pay the monthly subscription fee (Laudon & Traver, 2011). When this subscription model failed to produce a profit, Pandora modified the model and provided 40 hours of free music for a month and after those hours were used, customers could either pay $.99 per song, sign up for the premium service, or do neither of these and not hear any more music (Laudon & Traver, 2011). Even with this modification, Pandora struggled to earn a profit. Pandora continued to improve their business model by adding advertisements to the site and radio stations. At the time, Pandora had almost 100,000 users; so many companies were willing to pay for advertisements on the site (Laudon & Traver, 2011). While the advertisements helped Pandora financially, it was still not enough to make a profit. Pandora then started  contracting with Amazon and other on-line retailers and included an option for users to purchase songs. Users can click the â€Å"buy† button, which redirects them to the retailer’s website. Pandora receives a fee for providing business to the retailer (Laudon & Traver, 2011). In addition, Pandora began contracting with Apple allowing users to listen to music on their iPhones (Laudon & Traver, 2011). The current model of Pandora combines advertising, contracts with retailers and the freemium business model. It is common for established businesses to earn a smaller percentage of its revenue from the premium model (Hung, 2010); therefore combining multiple revenue models maximizes monetization. Pandora continues to earn revenue from businesses paying to advertise on the site and through contracts with Amazon and Apple when users purchase music. Pandora implemented the freemium model in which 99% of users receive the service free and 1% of users pay for additional services. Approximately 1% of Pandora users pay $36 per year for premium services, which includes no advertisements and higher quality content (Laudon & Traver, 2011). As Pandora is a popularly used site, that 1% amounts to approximately 500,000 customers paying $36 per year which equates to almost 17 million dollars in revenue. Business Requirements Pandora’s effective use of the freemium business model provides insight on which conditions need to be present in order for the freemium model to be successful including the type of business, timing of implementation, and understanding customer values. The freemium business model is not appropriate for all types of businesses. It is most effective when the business provides a product or service that is widely available, has a customer base of over one million, and the variable cost of providing the free product or service must be low or close to zero (Laudon, & Traver, 2011). Pandora meets both requirements of having a large customer base and low variable costs. Currently, Pandora has approximately 47 million users (Statista, 2012), which is a large audience and exceeds the preference of one million. The cost of Pandora providing the service to one person is close to the cost it takes to provide the service to 47 million people. The variable costs per user are relatively low, as the main cost come from  software to provide Internet radio and the database to create radio stations. Once the software and database are created, they can be used multiple times without adding additional costs. Timing of Implementation Businesses who meet the criteria of having a large enough customer base and low variable costs also need to consider the timing of implementing the freemium model. Customers become accustomed to receiving a free service and expect that services to remain free. Requiring customers to pay for the service may result in the customer no longer being interested in the service. Research shows that waiting at least a year after offering the free service and a month after growth of the free usage slows is the most effective time to move to a fee service (Pauwels & Weiss, 2008). The wait period allows the site to gain popularity and customers to realize the free service’s value (Pauwels & Weiss, 2008). When Pandora first became available, customers were not willing to pay the subscription fees, as they had not yet determined the value of the service. Users listened to their free music until it ran out, and then waited until the next month when the free service was available. As the website gained popularity and customers realized the value of having a personally tailored radio station, they became more willing to subscribe to premium services. Pandora successfully implemented the freemium model almost six years of offering the free service. Customer Values One of Pandora’s strengths is the perceived value of its service to customers. Research shows that the perceived value of free content versus fee content determines if users will choose to pay for the service (Pauwels & Weiss, 2008). Pandora strives to provide each individual user a radio station that only plays their favorite songs. Most businesses fail to customize their products to each individual customer, so Pandora brings a personalized service to the customer (Westegren, 2009). An added benefit to the fee content is no advertising. Most other streaming radio stations and traditional radio stations play many commercials, which can result in listeners changing the station. Pandora’s premium services provide commercial free, advertising free, personalized radio for only $36 per year.  The benefit of the fee content encourages some users to pay the annual subscription. Pandora also allows users to connect with and recommend stations to their friends. This connection with friends through social media can be just as effective as receiving a review from a professional critic (Shelly, 2009). Most people have similar tastes in music as their friends and value their opinions. The personalized customization, no advertising and connection with friends increases customer value resulting in subscribers who are willing to pay for the service. Conclusion Analyzing Pandora’s successful implementation of the freemium business model provides insight on how other businesses can also benefit from this model. The freemium business model is not appropriate for all types of businesses. Two criteria that businesses must have are a large customer base, preferably in the millions, as well as low variable costs of providing a free service to customers (Laudon, & Traver, 2011). Businesses that meet these criteria must also take into consideration the timing of implementing the model and understand customer values. Pandora currently has well over a million active users and relatively low variable costs in providing the service. Reviewing Pandora’s history shows that timing plays an important role. Customers were not willing to pay for the service until they understood the value of the service. Pandora is aware that customers value individual customization and sharing their music with their friends. By offering a service that creates individual radio stations based on the user’s preferences and allowing them to share that music with their friends, has resulted in users who are willing to pay for premium services. Businesses interested in implementing the freemium business model can benefit from analyzing Pandora’s success in the model. References Hung, J. (2010). Economic essentials of online publishing with associated trends and patterns. Publishing Research Quarterly, 26(2), 79-95. doi:10.1007/s12109-010-9158-3. Laudon, K. C., & Traver, C. G. (2011). E-commerce: business, technology, society (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Pauwels, K., & Weiss, A. (2008). Moving from free to fee: how online firms market to change their business model successfully. Journal of Marketing, 72(3), 14-31. doi:10.1509/jmkg.72.3.14 Shelley, A. (2009). Pandora. Notes, 66(1), 138-142. Statista. (2012). Pandora’s active users from 2009 to 2012 (in millions). Retrieved from http://www.statista.com/statistics/190989/active-users-of-music-streaming-service-pandora-since-2009/. Westegren, T. (2009). Tailor your product to 1 million customers. (cover story). Financial Executive, 25(8), 38.

Analyse the comedy in Act 3 Scene 4 of 'Twelfth Night'

Analyse the comedy in Act 3 Scene 4 of Twelfth Night Essay Shakespeares romantic comedy Twelfth Night involves deception, trickery and love, typical themes in Elizabethan drama. This theme of romance intertwined with comedy is suggested by the title which implies that a play set in the Christmas season is going to be full of love, happiness and celebration. The literary tradition of an Elizabethan comedy would involve many techniques to make the audience laugh, such as a convoluted plot, mistaken identity, disguise, comic characters and verbal humour. Twelfth Night is no exception to this. Its main theme is love but the path to true love is not simple for any of the characters and involves certain love triangles, where Orsino thinks he loves Olivia, who loves Cesario (Viola), who is in love with Orsino. Added to all this is the complication of Sir Andrew Aguecheek being spurred on by Sir Toby to woo Olivia and Malvolio having a trick played on him which makes him believe that his mistress, Olivia loves him. Many of these plots and sub-plots come to a head in Act3 Scene 4 in a very comic manner. Malvolio provides much of the visual humour in this scene. Olivia sends for him on a serious matter, saying: Wheres Malvolio? He is sad and civil, And suits well for a servant with my fortunes: The audience would be full of anticipation at this point as Malvolio has been told in a letter supposedly sent to him by Olivia to smile a lot more, something which is totally against his usual character. When he walks on stage he is wearing yellow cross-gartered stockings which he thinks he has been commended to wear. This would make the audience laugh as it is so different to the Puritans clothes that he was wearing earlier in the play. It was also mentioned earlier that Olivia despises the colour yellow so her reaction to seeing her steward dressed so comically would add to the humour of the scene. Malvolio starts to quote from the letter he received from Maria. He never once suspects that it is not real and truly believes that Olivia could love him, which is where much of the comedy derives from, as he is so confident that Olivia understands what he is talking about when he quotes from the letter. His pride and arrogance that he is worthy to marry Olivia is extremely funny. It is also the dramatic irony that makes it humourous, as the audience and most of the characters realise where he is quoting from whereas Olivia doesnt understand what he is talking about and believes it to be midsummer madness. It is very entertaining to see Malvolio act in such a way, smiling insanely, as it is a complete contrast between his earlier self, very pompous and arrogant. However, he as he has been told in the letter, he speaks rudely to the other characters and believes himself to be not of (their) element, which is funny because actually he is no more important than any of the other servants. It is also the frustration that he shows when people arent taking him seriously that makes the audience laugh. It is funny when Malvolio makes his grand exit, as he is acting an extremely bossy and arrogant manner but looks ridiculous so the contrast is comical. In fact, this whole scene is a contrast to the main theme of love and romance. Another example of visual comedy in Act 3 Scene 4 would come from the duel between Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Viola (as Cesario). Sir Andrew is essentially a figure of fun throughout the play, being described as a foolish knight by Sir Toby and having hair which hangs like flax on a distaff which would make him look really odd. He has written a challenge to Viola because he thinks he is a rival for Olivias affection, but when Sir Toby reads it out, it is totally nonsensical. Fabian says of it: READ: Masks In The Twelfth Night EssayVery brief and to exceedingly good sense (Aside) less. Sir Andrew is very proud of the challenge so it is funny to see how he takes it so seriously even when the other characters are mocking his prose behind his back by using asides and whispers to each other. Sir Toby and Fabian decide not to show the letter to Viola, but instead they tell him verbally that Sir Andrew is a very noble and valiant knight, something that the audience knows isnt true and would cause much amusement: He is indeed, sir, the most bloody, and fatal opposite that you could possibly have found in any part of Illyria. They then say similar things to Viola about Sir Andrew: Why, man, hes a very devil.They say he has been fencer to the Sophy. When the two come to fight, they are both absolutely terrified of the other and that provides opportunities for plenty of visual humour with Sir Andrew and Fabian practically having to drag them towards each other with their swords drawn. It is comic irony that Olivia is unaware of Sir Andrews love for her and has been rejected by Cesario, so really there is no point in the duel in the first place. The actual preparation for the fight is almost slapstick, especially when Antonio comes running in to take Cesarios place. The confusion that arises here is humorous, as it is funny to see Antonio confusing Cesario for Sebastian at the same time as Sir Toby would be mystified by who this stranger is. Fabian and Sir Toby then add another part to their joke by convincing Sir Andrew that Cesario is a coward and has run away. They want him to follow and cuff him soundly, which is funny because Andrew had previously been against the duel because he thought he would be beaten, but now that he thinks he has a chance of winning he is suddenly full of valour. The situation is becoming completely absurd at this point, something that the audience would find very amusing. Another form of comedy running throughout the play is cross-dressing. Audiences in Shakespearean times would find it funny to see a man acting the part of a woman pretending to be a man. This is because all parts in those days were played by males, with female roles being played by boys before their voices deepened. The fact that there is so much pretence involved makes it doubly ironic. It would be funny to see Viola, a woman, being asked to duel by Sir Andrew and being so scared that she is almost tempted to reveal her disguise. She says in an aside just before she is due to fight: A little thing would make me tell them how much I lack of a man. One of the main linguistic forms of comedy used by Shakespeare is puns, which are still used today but probably had more relevance to a Shakespearean audience than to us. This is because the puns were in the language of the time and were understood far more easily than they are today. It is also funny to see other people being the object of the pun, and misunderstanding of words. For instance, when Olivia believes Malvolio to be mad, she suggests that he go to bed. However, he misinterprets this remark and believes her to be offering for him to go to bed with her. To bed? Ay, Sweetheart, and Ill come to thee. During Shakespeares time, the words made and mad were pronounced the same. He has used this language to his advantage and creates humour by having Malvolio to say thou art made, which Olivia takes to understand that he is telling her that she is mad. This confuses her and the audience finds this funny. Another device used by Shakespeare is oxymorons. Sir Toby says that the letter, being so excellently ignorant, will breed no terror in the youth, which emphasises how bad the letter is, but is also funny for the audience to hear because excellently, and ignorant, are complete opposites. READ: Othello, by Shakespeare EssayYet another form of comedy comes from the characters. Sir Toby spends the whole scene manipulating the actions, firstly of Malvolio because of the letter he dropped in his way and the fact that he is given the task of looking after him, and then, more directly, of Sir Andrew. He is a bit like a puppet master who has Sir Andrew and, although not for such a long period, Viola dancing to his tune. When Olivia becomes worried by Malvolio who is acting totally out of character, she asks Sir Toby to take great care and look after him: Wheres my cousin Toby? Let some of my people have a special care of him; I would not have him miscarry for the half of my dowry. Sir Toby willingly plays along with pretending to be concerned about Malvolio when he knows all along what has caused his strange behaviour. He, together with Maria and Fabian, approach Malvolio and try to talk to him: .. .peace, we must deal gently with him. How do you, Malvolio? What, man, defy the devil! The audience would find this very funny, especially considering Malvolios lack of appeal as a character. Later on, Toby calls him a bawcock, which would be an insult as this was a term of endearment spoken to a child. Malvolio would have been insulted by this, adding to the audiences amusement. Tobys plans for Malvolio, to put him in a darkened room and bind him up, would have met with general amusement as well. Sir Toby manipulates the whole scene with Sir Andrew and Viola for his own entertainment. Again, as he is a character that the audience would find appealing because he is lively and, on many occasions, drunk and funny, the audience would find the whole business of the duel hilarious. The physical comedy of a man acting drunk was usually very funny to an Elizabethan audience, as it still is now. However, aside from this comedy, there is a more serious element to the plot. At the end of the scene, there is still comedy, but a hint of seriousness. If this were a tragedy, then things may well have turned out differently but as it is a comedy, we know that everything will be all right in the end. There is a hint of how these problems will be resolved in this Scene. For example, when Antonio asks Cesario for his purse, thinking that he is Sebastian, he is taken aback when he claims to not have it. When Antonio is then arrested, we are reminded that things could actually go down hill. However, Viola realises that her brother may be alive so we know eventually Sebastian will have to be mistaken for Cesario to resolve the confusion. Even though the trick on Malvolio was very funny at the time, it could have led to him becoming mad and being left in the dark room forever. The audience can even begin to feel sorry for Malvolio as the joke may have gone too far. Some people have even said that the situation with Malvolio is not completely resolved, as on his final exit he says that he will have his revenge. Ill be revengd on the whole pack of you! In spite of this, it can be said that Shakespeare never meant for the audience to feel sorry for Malvolio, and that he deserved to get his comeuppance, so there is no need for him to have a happy ending. Still, the other characters were never unpleasant, so deserved to have happy endings. As the title suggests, we know that in the celebration of Twelfth Night, all will be resolved.