Black History Month Creation and Overview

Black History Month is a month set aside to learn, honor, and celebrate the achievements of black men and women throughout history. Since its inception, Black History Month has always been celebrated in February. Find out how Black History Month originated, why February was chosen, and what the annual theme for Black History Month is for this year. Origins of Black History Month The origins of Black History Month can be traced back to a man named Carter G. Woodson (1875–1950). Woodson, the son of former slaves, was an amazing man in his own right. Since his family was too poor to send him to school as a child, he taught himself the basics of a school education. At age 20, Woodson was finally able to attend high school, which he completed in just two years. Woodson then went on to earn a bachelors and masters degree from the University of Chicago. In 1912, Woodson became only the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University (W.E.B. Du Bois was the first). Woodson used his hard-earned education to teach. He taught both in public schools and at Howard University. Three years after earning his doctorate, Woodson made a trip that had a great impact on him. In 1915, he traveled to Chicago to participate in a three-week celebration of the 50th anniversary of the end of slavery. The excitement and enthusiasm generated by the events inspired Woodson to continue the study of black history year-round. Before leaving Chicago, Woodson and four others created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) on September 9, 1915. The following year, the ASNLH began publication of the Journal of Negro History. Woodson realized that most textbooks at the time ignored the history and achievements of blacks. Thus, in addition to the journal, he wanted to find a way to encourage interest and study of black history. In 1926, Woodson promoted the idea of a Negro History Week, which was to be held during the second week of February. The idea caught on quickly and Negro History Week was soon celebrated around the United States. With a high demand for study materials, the ASNLH began to produce pictures, posters, and lesson plans to help teachers bring Negro History Week into schools. In 1937, the ASNLH also began producing the Negro History Bulletin, which focused on an annual theme for Negro History Week. In 1976, the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Negro History Week and the bicentennial of the United States independence, Black History Week was expanded to Black History Month. Ever since then, Black History Month has been celebrated in February around the country. When Is Black History Month? Woodson chose the second week of February to celebrate Negro History Week because that week included the birthdays of two important men: President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). When Negro History Week turned into Black History Month in 1976, the celebrations during the second week of February expanded to the entire month of February. What Is the Theme for This Years Black History Month? Since its inception in 1926, Negro History Week and Black History Month have been given annual themes. The first annual theme was simply, The Negro in History, but since then the themes have grown more specific. Here is a list of the most current and future themes for Black History Month. 2014 - Civil Rights in America2015 - A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture2016 - Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memory2017 - The Crisis in Black Education2018 - African Americans in Times of War2019 - Black Migrations

Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream - 546 Words

The strongest emotion humans can exchange is the feeling of affection and love. In Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare the characters of the play will do anything for love. It does not matter whether love is one sided, like as the case of Helena, or forbidden by your lovers father as Lysander , taking risks and fighting for love, as Hermia did is how true love is shown. Even though love takes them on difficult paths in the end they find their ways to happiness. In this play, love causes Helena to become a fool, her unbreakable love for Demetrius leaves her in misery and against her best friend, Hermia, Helena’s worst traits are also exposed as she reveals herself to be selfish and rude. Her blinded eyes could not see the terrible things Demetrius did to her as she still followed him as she says, â€Å"I am your spaniel. And Demetrius, the more you beat me, I will fawn on you.†(2.1.188-189) Although Demetrius will never see Helena’s’ true beauty and her exasperated love for him as he says to her, â€Å"Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee.†(2.1.196-197) Helena’s heart tells her to stand by him and never let him go. But when she becomes jealous towards Hermia, she turns her back on her while telling Demetrius that Hermia and Lysander have run away. To be with Demtrius, Helena will do anything, and even to reveal her dark and egocentric side. On the other hand, Lysander is hopelessly romantic, his charming looks and sensitive heartShow MoreRelated The Plots of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream854 Words   |  4 PagesThe Plots of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream There are four main plots in Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream. Theyre all carefully woven together and there are many characters involved. 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But Shakespeare’s writing is never so shallow; through this romantic comedy, Shakespeare postulates an extremely cynical view of love. A Midsummer Night’s Dream becomes a commentary on the mystery of love, and lovers in general emerge shamedRead More Illusion and Fairies in Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream1598 Words   |  7 PagesIllusion and Fairies in Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream The main theme of love in Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream is explored by four young lovers, who, for the sake of their passions, quit the civilized and rational city of Athens, and its laws, and venture into the forest, there to follow the desires of their hearts - or libidos as the case may be. In this wild and unknown wilderness, with the heat and emotion commonly brought on by a midsummer night, they give chase, startRead More William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1591 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, there are endless images of water and the moon. Both images lend themselves to a feeling of femininity and calm. In classical mythology, the image of water is often linked with Aphrodite, goddess of passion and love. Born of the foam of the sea, Aphrodite was revered as an unfaithful wife to her husband Hephaestus (Grant 36). This may have a direct coloration to the unfaithful nature of theRead MoreThe Supernatural in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream1550 Words   |  7 Pagesin William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Consider the presentation of the supernatural in A Midsummer Nights dream. In what way does it reveal Shakespeares moral and philosophical concerns? How does Shakespeares stagecraft (setting, Characterisation, language, verse form etc) facilitate the consideration of his concerns? and how do we as a modern audience respond to the play as a piece of theatre? The main themes of A Midsummers Night Dream are theRead More A Cubist Perspective of Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream2475 Words   |  10 PagesA Cubist Perspective of Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The great cycle of the ages is renewed. Now Justice returns, returns the Golden Age; a new generation now descends from on high. - Virgil, Eclogues 1.5    As Virgil stated so many years ago, history is a cyclical phenomenon. The experiences of one age tend to be repeated in future generations. Knowing that, we should not be surprised to find the seeds of modern styles and philosophies sprouting in earlierRead MoreEssay William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream974 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream can be considered an archetypal comedy due in large part to the ill-defined characters. Part of what makes this play work so well is that rather than becoming too invested in any one character’s hopes and fears or desires and struggles, the audience is simply rooting for things to work out well in general. If the audience became too attached to any one character, they might lose sight of the bigger pictureRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1284 Words   |  6 Pageshistory literature has changed into many different forms and styles, it has also stayed the same in many different ways, literary techniques and elements are key to a good piece of writing, a perfect example that shows us just this is in, A Midsummer Nights Dream, where we will further explore the different literary elements that were used most notably the plot. The plot of a story lays out the foundation and the background for the ent ire play to come, well compare and contrast this element and look

Media War Coverage Free Essays

Media War Coverage From the beginning of time when humans started fighting wars regardless of the reasoning leaders discovered how important propaganda and the public’s opinion of why they were fighting the war. If the nation’s leaders believes in why they are fighting a war the Country willbe more likely to give their support and motivated to stay in the fight for the long haul. Edward R. We will write a custom essay sample on Media War Coverage or any similar topic only for you Order Now Murrow, former reporter for CBS once said, â€Å"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason if we remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes which were, for the moment unpopular. † A delicate balance exists between the military and the media censorship and evolution of wartime media from WWII through modern day WAR in Iraq. World War II coverage came mostly through newspapers and radio coverage. During this time journalist had a good relationship with the military, both were working toward a common goal that would bring an end to Adolf Hitler’s war machine, which was determined to take over the world! Without being heavily censored by military leader reporters were able to provide much more coverage of the war. Reporters during this time were at a much larger disadvantage compared to reporters of today because of their technological disadvantage. What would take journalist during World War II hours if not days to report battles or events through radio, print, or even telegraph was plenty of time for the military to screen the story. But it also provided a buffer of time to prevent any issues of violation what is known as operational security. In other words by the time the story reached its viewers in the United States a potential battle plan had already been executed. The soldiers involved wouldn’t be in any danger of valuable information reaching the enemy. Not to mention if a battle went particularly wrong there was time to adjust or screen a story in order to portray it in a different light that may be more favorable. Vietnam armed with newer technology allowing the average American family to have a television in every living room created a way to usher in graphic images of the war. No longer could we use the view the war over there as a separate entity being left over there and nor were reporters on the battle field as highly censored they were able to relay events on the battlefield and the reality in pictures of what combat was truly like. Because we now possessed the technology so Americans at home could see war first hand. Young Americans formed their own opinions of the war causing protest swaying public opinion and subsequently support for the war causing a large Anti-war feeling. Ho Chi Minh and the Communist north believed that with the American public losing confidence in the Unites States government. Since the mainstream media were not in support of the war, media portraying the violence and how the US progress in Vietnam in a negative light that eventually was said to be the motivation leading to the pull out of Vietnam. The concept of winning by proxy meaning: to simply wait out the enemy until they lose the will of the people to continue to fight. The theory held by the enemy proved to be correct due to the lack of media support helping to drive the motivation of the people and the length of the war dragging on over several years the United States did eventually pull out of Vietnam. During the Gulf War the media had progressed and had grown leaps and bounds since Vietnam. The technology currently available allowed reporters to report from hotel rooms within Kuwait during the air campaign in the early hours of Desert Storm. New companies such as CNN had correspondents bringing up to date information and developments from the beginning of Operation Desert shield to the building up of forces. The destruction of SADAAM Hussein’s Army as it moved waged its campaign against Kuwait through the liberation of Kuwait. The images we saw of Scud attacks and Victory parades were brought to us twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. The positive view portrayed by the media had a direct affect on the public’s view on the war. From the beginning of the War on Terror Allied reporters who were covering stories for both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Allied reporters were imbedded with American troops fighting on the battlefield, these reporters were able to use satellite cards for access to the Internet and laptops were able to report from anywhere on the battle field up to date information on the progress of operations and how the war was going with virtually little to no chance of the military censorship. Reporter’s ability to use technology to avoid censorship was evident with the opening of the ground war in Iraq; a reporter named Jeraldo Rivera announced planned movements of American troops on television. Mr. Rivera was being broadcasted internationally creating the potential for the enemy to be better prepared for the oncoming attacks by the American Forces. Powerful Photo essays and Internet blogs often show the harsh side of war, unlike the harsh side of WWII where media images were more benign. The one constant through history has always been evident and media wither or not being censored is powerful in determining the support in a nation and in many cases the outcome of success or failure in a conflict. A. Censorship War Coverage: Barhart, Aaron. â€Å"Speeding Up War Coverage. † Television Week. Apr. 2003. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. U. of Hartford Lib. 1 May 2005 Hernandez, Debra Gersh. â€Å"The simple days of war coverage. † Editor Publisher. Jul. 1994. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. U. of Hartford Lib. 1 May 2005. . â€Å"Newseum: War Stories Technology. † War Reporting Technology. 1 May 2005. Rather, Dan. â€Å"Truth on the Battlefield. † Harvard International Review. Spring 2001. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. U. of Hartford Lib. 1 May 2005. . Rosenberg, Jim. â€Å"Tech from Gulf War to Gulf War. † Editor Publisher. March 2003. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. U. of Hartford Lib. 1 May 2005. . Shafer, Jack. â€Å"Embeds and Unilaterals. † 1 May 2003. 1 May 2005. B. WWI Coverage: BibliographyChase, Stuart. Guides to Straight Thinking. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1956. Combs, James and Nimmo, Dan. The New Propaganda: The Dictatorship of Palavar in Contemporary Politics. New York: Longman Publishing Group, 1993. Doob, Leonard. Propaganda: Its Psychology and Technique. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1935. Edwards, Violet. Group Leader’s Guide to Propaganda Analysis. New York: Columbia University Press, 1938. Ellul, Jacques. Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes. New York: Vintage Books, 1965. Hummel, William and Huntress, Keith. The Analysis of Propaganda. New York: William Sloane Associates, 1949. Institute for Propaganda Analysis. Propaganda Analysis. New York: Columbia University Press, 1938. Institute for Propaganda Analysis. The Fine Art of Propaganda. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1939. Lee, Alfred McClung. How to Understand Propaganda. New York: Rinehart and Company, 1952. Lowenthal, Leo and Guterman, Norbert. Prophets of Deceit. Palo Alto: Pacific Books Publishers, 1970. Miller, Clyde. The Process of Persuasion. New York: Crown Publishers, 1946. Pratkanis, Anthony and Aronson, Elliot. Age of Propaganda: The Everyday Use and Abuse of Persuasion. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1991. Rank, Hugh. Language and Public Policy. New York: Citation Press, 1974. Thum, Gladys and Thum, Marcella. The Persuaders: Propaganda in War and Peace. New York: Atheneum, 1972. C. How Media Coverage of the Vietnam War Changed America, Journalism Cossa, Frank. Photojournalism and the â€Å"War at Home†. 19 October 2005. Digital History, The Vietnam War. Online American History Book, Period: 1960’s. 19 October 2005. Kahrs, Kristian. â€Å"Lies, Deceit and Hypocrisy. † May 1997. 19 October 2005. LaborLawTalk: Vietnam War, Encyclopedia. LaborLawTalk. com. 3 December 2005. Lester, Paul Martin. Chapter Four: Victims of Violence, Photojournalism An Ethical Approach. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, Hillsdale, 1991. Digital Version, 1999. McLaughlin, Erin. â€Å"Television Coverage of the Vietnam War and the Vietnam† Veteran. December 3, 2001. August 2004. The Media and the Vietnam War. 19 October 2005. Reference. com, Encyclopedia: Vietnam War. Copyright 2001-2005 Tennant, Michael. â€Å"Now You See It, Now You Don’t. † 27 May 2004. Strike the Root. 19 October 2005. â€Å"Vietnam War. † Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Digital version. 19 October 2005. â€Å"Walter Cronkite. † Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Digital version. 19 October 2005. D. Censorship in the Gulf Clark, Ramsey. The Fire This Time: U. S. War Crimes in the Gulf. New York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 1994. Denton, Robert E. , Jr. , ed. The Media and the Persian Gulf War. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 1993. Fialka, John J. Hotel Warriors: Covering the Gulf War. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 1992. MacArthur, John R. Second Front: Censorship and Propaganda in the Gulf War. New York: Hill and Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1992. Massing, Michael. â€Å"Another Front. † Chap. in The Media and the Gulf War. ed. Hedrick Smith. Washington, DC: Seven Locks Press, 1992. Nohrstedt, Stig A. â€Å"Ruling by Pooling. † Chapter in Triumph of the Image: The Media’s War in the Persian Gulf–a Global Perspective. Mowlana, Hamid, George Gerbner, and Herbert I. Schiller, eds. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1992 Norris Margot. Only the Guns Have Eyes. † Chapter in Seeing Through the Media: The Persian Gulf War. Susan Jeffords and Lauren Rabinowitz, eds. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutger’s University Press, 1994. Schanberg, Sydney H. â€Å"Censoring for Political Security. † Chap. in The Media and the Gulf War. ed. Hedrick Smith. Washington, DC: Seven Locks Press, 1992. Trainor, L t. Gen. Bernard E. , USMC. â€Å"The Military and the Media: A Troubled Embrace. † Chap. in The Media and the Gulf War. ed. Hedrick Smith. Washington, DC: Seven Locks Press, 1992. Williams, Pete. â€Å"Ground Rules and Guidelines for Desert Shield. † Chap. n The Media and the Gulf War. ed. Hedrick Smith. Washington, DC: Seven Locks Press, 1992. Williams, Pete. â€Å"Statement before the U. S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. † Chap. in The Media and the Gulf War. ed. Hedrick Smith. Washington, DC: Seven Locks Press, 1992. Woodward, Gary C. â€Å"The Rules of the Game: The Military and the Press in the Persian Gulf War. † Chap. in The Media and the Persian Gulf War. ed. Robert E. Denton, Jr. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 1993 E. Military censorship of the war in Iraq Naomi Spence †Military censorship of the war in Iraq†, 31 July 2008 All of How to cite Media War Coverage, Essays

Counter Radiation and the Greenhouse Effect free essay sample

Counter Radiation and the Greenhouse Effect As well as being warmed by shortwave radiation from the Sun, the Earths surface is significantly heated by the long wave radiation emitted by the atmosphere and absorbed by the ground. Lets look at this in more detail. The energy flows between the surface, atmosphere, and space. Some of this radiation is reflected back to space, but much is absorbed, warming the surface. Meanwhile, the Earths surface emits long-wave radiation upwards. Some of this radiation escapes directly to space, while the remainder is absorbed by the tmosphere. What about long-wave radiation emitted by the atmosphere? Although the atmosphere is colder than the surface, it also emits long-wave radiation, which is emitted in all directions, and so some radiates upward to space while the remainder radiates downward toward the Earths surface. We call this downward flow counter radiation. It replaces some of the heat emitted by the surface. We will write a custom essay sample on Counter Radiation and the Greenhouse Effect or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Counter radiation depends strongly on the presence of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere. Remember that much of the long-wave radiation emitted pward from the Earths surface is absorbed by these two gases. This absorbed energy raises the temperature of the atmosphere, causing it to emit more counter radiation. So, the lower atmosphere, with its long-wave-absorbing gases, acts like a blanket that traps heat underneath it. Cloud layers, which are composed of tiny water droplets, are even more important than carbon dioxide and water vapor in producing a blanketing effect because liquid water is also a strong absorber of long-wave radiation. This mechanism, in which the atmosphere traps long-wave radiation and eturns it to the surface through counter radiation, is termed the greenhouse effect. Unfortunately, the term greenhouse is not quite accurate. Like the atmosphere, the window glass in a greenhouse is transparent to solar shortwave radiation while absorbing and reradiating long-wave radiation. But a greenhouse is warmed mainly by keeping the warm air inside the greenhouse from mixing with the outside air, not by counter radiation from the glass. Although energy may change its form from shortwave to long-wave radiation or to sensible heat or latent heat, it cannot be reated or destroyed. Like a household budget of income and expenses, the energy flows between the Sun and the Earths atmosphere and surface must balance over the long term. The global energy budget helps us understand how global change might affect the Earths climate. For example, suppose that clearing forests for agriculture and turning agricultural lands into urban and suburban areas decreases surface albedo. In that case, more energy would be absorbed by the ground, raising its temperature. That, in turn, would increase the flow of surface long-wave radiation to the atmosphere,

Peppered Moth Lab Report Essay Example

Peppered Moth Lab Report Paper Explain how natural selection relates to survival of the fittest concept Natural Selection is when organisms with better adaptations live longer and reproduce in greater numbers and the concept of survival of the fittest is the idea that production is the most important thing and the ultimate goal is to survive long enough to reproduce and pass on your genes because this means that your genes will stay in the same population. These two concepts relate because of their common idea of reproduction and the passing on of genes that better help the species to stay alive in their environment. . What determines whether a particular variation is an adaptation or not? A particular variation can be determined as an adaptation if you see the species with a certain variation better surviving than those without the specific variation. If this is seen then it can be determined that the variation is an adaptation because it helped the species survive better in their environment. 3. What changes are evident in the graphs from Pre-longitudinal Revolution (Part I) and Post-Industrial Revolution (Part Ill)? Use examples from your data (graphs and/or tables). Evident changes that occurred between the Pre-longitudinal Revolution and Post-Industrial Revolution were the number of Black Moths remaining at the end of the five trials went up in Part Ill compared to Part l. For example, in Part I at the end of the fifth trial there were nine black moths engaging and twenty-one white moths remaining but at the end of the fifth trial in Part Ill the numbers were reversed and there were twenty-one Black Moths remaining and only nine White Moths remaining. This shows how the Black Moths increased and the awaited Moths decreased. 4. What is the driving force that caused the number of white and black Peppered Moth in the Manchester, England population to change? The driving force that caused the number of white and black Peppered Moth population to change was the Industrial Revolution during the late sasss when smoke particles produced y developing industry began to blacken the trunks of the trees on which the moths rested. We will write a custom essay sample on Peppered Moth Lab Report specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Peppered Moth Lab Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Peppered Moth Lab Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This made the black moths blend in better with the trees so they were better protected from predators than the white moths who were more visible on the dark trees. As a result there was a change in the population and the black moth population increased and white moth population decreased. 5. Which moth had a higher fitness during the Industrial Revolution? Define fitness in your answer The black moth had higher fitness during the Industrial Revolution because it was able to survive long enough to reproduce and pass on TTS genes. Therefore the black moths genes will stay in the population. Overall, it was more fit than the white moth because it reproduced more and survived better than the white moth. 6. What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this activity (Parts l, II, and Ill)? (hint: this variable is graphed on the x-axis) The independent variable is the number of trials performed. 7. What is the dependent (responding) variable in this activity (Parts l, II, and Ill)? (hint: this variable is graphed on the y-axis). The dependent variable is the number of moths remaining after each trial. Extra-credit Question: . What aspect of natural selection (evolution) does the following step in the activity represent: At the end of each trial, replace each black moth removed with a white moth. Replace each white moth removed with a black moth. Explain your answer. Speciation is the aspect of evolution that best represents the white and black moths being replaced by each other. This activity shows how favorable adoptions gradually accumulate in the population and overtime the adaptation overtakes the entire population and a new species is eventually forms. This activity represents the process of speciation.

Tensile testing of metallic materials

Tensile testing of metallic materials Introduction When we refer to mechanical properties of materials, whatever crosses the mind is the stress-strain curve. Ideally, both shear stress (ÏÆ') and strain (ÃŽ µ) testing are inevitable when it comes to material testing. While shear stress testing correlates an elongation force to the cross sectional area of a material, tensile testing subjects a material sample to a controlled tensional force until the yield point where the material fails. The essence of performing these tests is that they aid in quality control, selection of a material meant for a specific application, and gives a glimpse of how a material would behave under varied forces. Importantly, the parameters obtained directly as a result of these tests are maximum elongation, definitive tensile strength and reduced cross-section area. In a nutshell, from aforementioned parameters one is in a better position to determine the Poisons ratio, Young’s modulus (Ε), strain-hardening, and yield strength charact eristics. Ideally, some of the parameters can easily be obtained from the graph of stress versus strain (stress-strain curve) graph as shown in the figure 1 below.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Tensile testing of metallic materials specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In simple terms, stress is the ratio of the elongation force to that of the cross sectional area whiles the stress is the ration of extension to that of the original length. From the graph (Fig. 1), one can obtain the Young modulus from the linear section of the curve by finding the gradient of the section (between 1 and 2). Analyzing the graph in details, it is important to note that point 1 is the true elastic limit which coincides with the minimum stress that emanates from dislocations due to material movements (Egarmo, Black, Kohser 2003). However, this parameter is hardly used in material science; nonetheless, it reflects a material’s chem ical properties. Between points 1 and 2, the material obeys the Hook’s Law. Between points 2 and 3, the material experiences elastic deformation. Finally, beyond point 3, the material is described as plastic since it has undergone permanent deformation and it rapture at point 5. It is worth noting that there are some other materials that have irregular linear sections. As such, an offset yield strength (point 4), 0.2% of the origin is plotted for the sake of material comparisons. Other parameters that can be obtained from the graph are shown in the figure 2 and 3 below: Advertising Looking for report on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Basically, the tensile strength is the maximum stress while fracture stress is the stress at the fracture point. On the other hand, strain to fracture is the maximum strain at the point where the material fractures. Point 1 on figure 3 is the yield strength whil e sections A and B represent strain hardening and the necking region respectively. It is significant to note that the y-axis of the stress-strain graph represents the strength properties while the x-axis represents the ductility properties. As such, figures 1 and 3 represent the typical trends of brittle (e.g. concrete) and ductile (e.g. steel) materials respectively. Their respective behaviors are owed to the fact that brittle materials do not undergo strain hardening, consequently breaking without notice. In the literature that follows we are going to analyze a number of materials (carbon steels, aluminum, copper, perspex and LDPE (Low Density Polythene)) and classify them accordingly. The obtained data will then be compared to their actual properties in literature (Groover 2007). Background literature Material science is a multidisciplinary subject that incorporates both scientific and engineering aspects. To this end, it links the microscopic properties of a material at its mole cular level to its larger macroscopic properties. In a synopsis, it encompasses both chemistry and applied physics. This discipline is vital in many aspects of life, for instance, in aeronautical field, is significant in forensic engineering or failure analysis in case of an accident. Vitally, the physical properties exhibited by a material are a manifestation of the chemical composition, and the ensuing processes (thermal) that eventuated in the formation of a final product. Basically, the ensuing thermal processes determine a sample’s micro-structure and hence its physical properties. With regards to the scope of this report, we will limit our analysis to carbon steels, aluminum, copper, perspex and LDPE. Also known as carbon steel, steel is an alloy with the main trace element being carbon. The degree of carbon should; however, not be more than 2%. In essence, â€Å"the term carbon steel may be used to refer to steel that is not stainless steel† (Adelbert 1992). The degree of carbon concentration alters the physical properties of steel.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Tensile testing of metallic materials specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For instance, with an increased carbon concentration steel becomes less ductile, hard and stronger, and reduces welding ability. Nevertheless, the melting point decreases. Basing on the â€Å"carbon concentration, steel can be classified into four categories: low and mild carbon steel, medium carbon steel, high carbon steel and ultra-high carbon steel† (Alexander Street1976). Low and mild carbon steel represent steel with the lowest carbon concentrations, and the most commonly used in market. Basically, for these types, the carbon concentration is less than 0.6%. Vitally, low carbon steel (or A36) has a carbon concentration of approximately 0.05-0.3% while the mild carbon steel (1040) exhibits a concentration of roughly 0.3-0.6%. As a consequence, this enhances the metal’s malleability and ductility characteristics. However, of the two, mild steel exhibits a relatively low tensile strength. Nonetheless, the tensile strength varies depending on the annealing temperatures and whether the metal is hot or cold rolled. To this end, A36 has a tensile strength of between 400-500 MPa while 1040 has roughly 520-590 MPa (Ashby David 1992). With a carbon content range of approximately 0.3-1.7% carbon steels can successfully undergo heat-treatment. These steels are referred to as high carbon steels and they include the medium, high and ultra-high carbon steels. Importantly, the trace elements are normally added to modify their properties. For instance, â€Å"sulfur makes steel crumbly and brittle at working temperatures† (Day 1988). Moreover, manganese often increases ‘hardenability’ of these steels. Narrowing down to the specifics, medium carbon steel has a carbon content of approximately 0.3-0. 59% by weight. As such, it balances strength and ductility, and it exhibits good wear resistance. As such, it is preferred in automotive industry. With a carbon content of approximately 0.6-0.99% (4140), high carbon steel exhibits relatively high strengths thus, it finds application in springs. Finally, ultra-high carbon steel (1-2% carbon content) exhibits unprecedented hardness vital in making axels and knives. Aluminum is among the world’s most abundant elements. As such, it accounts for 8.1% by weight of the total earth’s crust. Pure aluminum is a distinct metal that finds application in a diverse field. In essence, whatever makes aluminum distinct are its physical properties. Basically, â€Å"It is a soft, light, and gray metal that resists corrosion when pure in spite of its chemical activity because of a thin surface layer of oxide† (Bray 1947).Advertising Looking for report on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, it exhibits both malleability and ductility characteristics that makes it unsuitable for structural use. Ideally, the Young’s modulus â€Å"of pure aluminum is 10 x 106 psi, the shear modulus 3.8 x 106 psi, Poissons ratio 0.33, and the ultimate tensile strength 10,000 psi, with 60% elongation† (Bray 1947). With these properties it finds application, for example, piping, cable sheathing and electric conductors. Copper is an important element that has been mined for ages. In most cases, it is obtained as a by-product in the extraction of silver. This metal appears as a yellowish-red element. It has good electrical conductivity and hence finds application in electric industry. Among the material properties is that it is ductile, malleable and tough. Chemically, it is resistant to rust. Basically, it has a modulus of elasticity that is equivalent to 117Gpa and a tensile strength of 200-400 Mpa. Perspex is a unique material that is distinguished by its clarity. It has unsurpassed light transmission ability. Moreover, it can come in a variety of shades. It exhibits durability in color retention irrespective of the condition that it is exposed to. Importantly, its mechanical properties are such that it is has a tensile strength of 75 MPa, has an elongation of 4% and modulus of 2.5 GPa. Finally, LDPE is the first ever synthesized polythene that was first processed in the year 1933. In appearance, they are translucent and thin in nature, and come in many shades. Notably, it has low crystallinity that is responsible for a low modulus of elasticity (200-400 MPa). Moreover, it is highly ductile in nature in spite of a low temperature condition. As such, it elongates by 600-650% before it breaks. Its tensile strength is between 8-10%. With these properties, it finds application in the package industries, laboratories (wash bottles) and also in electronics industries (insulating circuits). Experimental Procedure In this experiment, a tensile test mac hine (Zwick-Roell 1474) was used. The materials to be tested were steels (at 0.1 and 0.8% carbon content) (diameter = 5.04 mm, length = 12.5 mm), pure aluminum (diameter = 5.04 mm, lenght = 12.5 mm), copper 12 (diameter 5.04 mm), perspex (32 mm thick, 10.22 mm width and 110 mm long) and LDPE (32 mm thick and 9.98 mm width and 110 mm long). The parameters that were recorded include extension, force, stain and stress. From these parameters, graphs of force-extension, stress-strain, and the linear part of stress-strain were plotted. From the last graph, the values for modulus of elasticity were obtained and compared. Also, a bar graph comparing all the modulus was also plotted. Results The measured parameters are treated according to the formulae below: Stress = extension/original length = ∆l/l0 Stress = Force/cross sectional area = F/C.A The area A of a circle is given by á ´ ¨r2 while that of a rectangular face is obtained from the products of thickness and width. It should be noted that all the units are in SI units. The below trends were obtained from the parameters obtained. Discussion The objective of this report was to analyze the mechanical properties of a number of materials including carbon steels (0.1 and 0.8% carbon), aluminum, copper, perspex and LDPE. The aim was to compare their modulus of elasticity and confirm that they agree with the literature values. From the analysis, it was confirmed that the experiment achieved its objectives. To begin with, the trends of the curves exhibited the expected patterns. Like it was anticipated, low carbon steel (steel with 0.1% carbon) exhibited malleability properties attested by the presence of strain hardening section (Graph 2). On the other hand, steel with 0.8% carbon content exhibited a trend that is synonymous with the brittle materials (graph 4). This was no exception to aluminum which is brittle in nature, and as such, it fractures without notice. Just like the low carbon steel , both copper and LDPE exhibited strain hardening before fracture. To this end, they are both malleable and ductile. Contrary to the other materials, perspex exhibited a prolonged elastic behavior without deformation. However, it breaks abruptly once the elastic limit is exceeded. When we compare the modulus of elasticity, just like we anticipated, steel is the strongest of all the materials and this explains why it finds application in construction industry. On the other hand, LDPE is the weakest of all the materials, confirming why it finds application in the packaging industry. Generally, the values obtained for the modulus of elasticity did not tally with the expected values. This could be attributed to experimental errors in the course of the experiment. One of the errors might have emanated from imprecise measurements because of the degree of accuracy of the measuring equipment. Future experiments ought to consider the use of computerized machines to take accurate data. Refere nces Adelbert, P M 1992, Materials of Construction: Their Manufacture and Properties, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. Alexander, W Street A 1976, Metals in the Service of Man, 6th ed., Pelican Books, London. Ashby, M F David, J 1992, Chapter 12. Engineering Materials 2 (with corrections ed.). Oxford, Pergamon Press. Bray, JL 1947, Non-Ferrous Production Metallurgy, John Wiley Sons, New York. Day, J 1988, The Bristol Brass Industry: Furnaces and their associated remains, Journal of Historical Metallurgy, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 24. Egarmo, E, Black, J T Kohser, A 2003, Materials and Processes in Manufacturing (9th ed.). John Wiley Sons, New York. Groover, M P 2007, Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing: Materials, Processes and Systems (3rd ed), John Wiley Sons Inc., Hoboken, NJ.

Downsizing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Downsizing - Essay Example Downsizing would seem a better option out of the two which Terry Wilson can choose between downsizing and expanding his business realms. Downsizing would cut down on the costs while expanding his business would mean that he would have to incur more costs. Hence a better alternative under this scenario would be to lay off those employees whom he thinks are incapable of delivering the goods when the going gets tough for Tuscan Treasures. Keeping in line with the discussion here, the growth strategy that would work to good effect here would be one of downsizing. It will handle all the situations related with the employees and bring to a single level the cost issue where it starts getting out of hand. Another growth strategy would be to cut down on extra costs which would mean more incentives for the organization in the long run. This would mean that the organization grows as a whole and keeps its costs under a certain level. The third growth strategy which could be used here comprises of the diversification within small business domains but not actually expanding the business. This shall bring forth more profits for the company than it is getting at the present. The possible causes of Wilson’s company’s decline include the fact that there are significant issues which need to be resolved at the earliest. The employees are being delegated tasks well and hence not being given their share within the organizational settings.

My Old Neighborhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Old Neighborhood - Essay Example To start with, few years ago I went back to Benzie County found in Michigan State. This is where I grew up and made a lot of childhood friends. As I walked through the town from the train station, I saw various buildings that reminded me of my childhood age. Surprisingly, I bumped on one of my childhood friends by the name Christine, who worked at a law firm that was closely located to the train station. As the fate would have it, we got into a nearby restaurant where we shared a lot about our current lives and our childhood memories. Since Christine took up a job in Benzie County after completion of college education, she had seen a lot of transformation that took place in the county over the years. She enlightened me about other childhood friends who also decided to stay in Benzie County and also about political transformations that shaped the evident changes in the county. However, the stories by Christine were not striking compared to what I saw since I related what I saw to the memories of my childhood period. Firstly, as I was heading to the estate where I actually lived with my parents, I recounted how the tarmac road was well maintained by the local authority and plenty of vegetations were planted by the road side through a beautification program that was initiated by the then county clerk of Benzie County. In most weekends during my childhood, I spend my afternoons with my friends, at a section of the road that was not commonly used by vehicles, while skating. The reasons for using the section of the road were that the smooth surface was essential for good skating and there was an attractive atmosphere, which was cool because of the water used to irrigate flowers planted by the road. Apart from the road where I frequented for the skating sessions, there was a well kept playground located near our estate. The field was very attractive due to the presence of green vegetation at the edges and well trimmed

World Religions Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

World Religions Report - Essay Example The Jehovah’s witnesses postulated the non-existence of hell, the non-existence of the Trinity, reduced the Holy Spirit from a person to a force and believed in the mortality of the soul. Similarly they do not celebrate Christmas as they do not celebrate holidays or birthdays. According to them Jesus never commanded Christians to celebrate his birth. On the other hand, he asked his disciples to memorize or remember his death. Thus, the most important annual event for the Jehovah witness is the commemoration of Jesus’ death. They also do not believe in the Christian doctrine of Trinity, the concept of the three persons in God- the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. To support its doctrines, the Watchtower organization (which is the author and teacher of all official Jehovahs Witness theology), has even altered the Bible to make it agree with its changing and non-Christian teachings. The lives of Jehovah’s disciples are thus governed by their understanding of the scr ipture as interpreted by the Watchtower Bible and Tract society of New York. For them Jehovah is the Supreme Being and creator of everything and Jesus is only yet another creation of this supreme entity. Even though they don’t believe Jesus to be the son of God, they believe that Jesus’ death was necessary for the atonement of the sins committed by the first man Adam. They strongly believe in the Word of God and resort to preaching as a major part of their missionary life. Thus, one finds the Jehovah witnesses moving from door to door, house to house preaching about God’s kingdom and interpreting the Bible. For them, â€Å"living by Bible principles gives purpose to life, promotes strong family ties, and develops productive and honest citizens.† (Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2004). Thus, they try to promote Bible education through preaching and the distribution of Bibles and Bible study aids. Until

Historical and Contemporary Theories of Sight

Historical and Contemporary Theories of Sight Introduction Sight is one of the most stimulant senses in our body. When we are born, assuming everything went well, we open our eyes to experience our world. But throughout our history, we theorized how we are able to see. What causes us to see? What phenomenon gives us this gift? Many great minds tried to figure out these questions, even though a lot of these people were wrong, it set a path for future scientist to base their work and try to find the correct answer. We come to know that light is the main component of sight; the eye is able to bend it and produce color and images. It is important to understand the past in order to understand the present. One of the first theories would be the Emission theory. Of course it’s been replaced, but it is a significant part of the history of optics At the time, a challenging theory was the â€Å"Intro-mission† approach. Both these theories helped led a path for scientist to understand the true understanding. It allowed many scholars to choose sides and try to prove the other wrong. Then came modern theorist, first being Hermann Von Helmholtz. And like many theories, it was challenged by Ewald Hering theory â€Å"opponent process†. Throughout the 1800’s, many scientists argued theories about color and sight. One of the biggest topics was the theory of color; many scientists came up with theories and team up with other scientist to try to figure out how color is created. In the 1900’s the Gestalt theory raised many questions by people who study the science of vision. This essay is to answer, how the human eye operates by analyzing past and modern theories about sight. It is important to know how our body works, especially one of the most important sense, sight. Historic Theories The Atomists In ancient Greek, many people believed in gods and supernatural powers, but then there were the Atomists. They were the first who were able to come up with neutral, non-religious ideas. Democritus, who lived between 460 B.C .E– 370 B.C.E, stated that the air between the eye and the object that is seen is â€Å"contracted and stamped† by the object and the eye that observed it. The air holds the various colures of the object and appears in the observing eye. Then there was Epicurus, (341 B.C.E -270 B.C.E), stated that particles flow from the object into the eye, but the body would not shrink because other particles will replace the empty space. Both of these theories are based on the same principle, the object can only be seen if it directly comes into contact with an observing eye. For Democritus, the essential part of vision is air. For Epicurus, the presence of particles is the most essential part. Democritus discoveries were pretty close to right. He stated that ther e were four basic colors, white, black, red and green. Democritus was right about two of the colors. Plato Another theorist, who lived around the same time as the Atomists, is Plato (427 B.C.E. – 347 B.C.E). Plato’s theory combines the intromission theory, like the Atomists, and the emission theory, which states that light hitting the eye is the cause of vision. Plato stated that a ray comes from the observing eye, so the light will only let the same ray to pass through. The inner light in the eye fuses with sunlight to form a â€Å"homogeneous body†, located directly with the eye. The object being observed lets of â€Å"Flame Particles†, similar to the concept by Epicures. If the object being observed is placed within the homogeneous body, the particle has the ability to enter the eye and soul, casing sight. Stated by Plato, colors come from the flame particles from an object. When compared to the ray, there are three different types of color. If the size of the object’s particle is equal to the size of the ray, then the object is transparent. If the pa rticles are bigger, then it is a dark color. If the particles are smaller, then it’s a light color. Aristotle Aristotle (384 B.C.E – 322 B.C.E), relied on his senses and put his faith in his results of his observations. Aristotle could not prove the theories of the Atomists and Plato, so he went against them and came up with his own theory. Aristotle strongly believed that light could not be solid because it was not fire or a physical object. So what is light? Aristotle observed that objects, such as fire, can produce light on its own. Light must not be a physical material, but an immaterial transparent particle. To Aristotle, the emission and intromission theory did not make sense. If our eyes produce casual rays, then we should be able to see at any situation. But we cannot see with our eyes closed or in a very dark place. Aristotle disagreed with Plato because he could not find an explanation how light can collide with sunlight. Aristotle’s theory of sight was considered advance for its time, sunlight is reflected by an object and then transmitted through a medium to the eye (which is basic knowledge for modern theories). The only way vision can occur, is when a medium is in between the eye and an object. If you put an object in front of your eyes, you most likely won’t be able to see it (or slightly see it) due to there not being a medium in between the eye and object. What is this medium? Aristotle believes that this medium must be transparent, so we can see through it and see the object. Color lies on the object and allows motion to the transparent medium. This allows light to be transmitted to your eye. Vision occurs when color and medium interact with each other. Aristotle was also interested by the anatomy of the eye. He concluded, after cutting eyes of animals that the eye consists of three coasts covering a humor. Euclid and Ptolemy Euclid theorized about the geometrical aspects of vision. Euclid came up with the emission theory, since it involved visual rays that derive from the eye. But unfortunately, he cannot explain why one can perceive things. However, he does describe the visual perspectives. Euclid’s optics theory is based on his seven posits. There are indefinite rays coming from the eyes The rays form a cone of which the vertex is located at the eye and the base is located at the limit of your vision. Things that fall on the cone becomes visible Objects seen at a larger angle appear larger Objects seen at a higher visual ray come out higher The further right an object is stricken by the visual ray, the more right the object is seen Objects seen under more angles are observed more clearly The first three rules help explain concepts of visual rays that comes from the eye like Plato theorized. Rules 4 – 6 explains how the size and position of an object is depended on the angle being observed. The last rule explains the clarity of an object; the further the object, the bigger the visual cone is. This causes less visual rays upon the object, causing a less clear image. One of the greatest followers of Euclid was Claudius Ptolemy. Ptolemy continued Euclid’s theory by adding psychological, physical and physiological to his theory. Ptolemy agreed with Euclid’s rules stating visual rays emerges from the eye is a shape of a cone. Ptolemy added that a visual ray has the same aspects as sunlight. The idea came from Plato’s teachings, which states that when both visual rays and sunlight hit, they will form a homogeneous body. Which means visual light must be a consistent body. Euclid mentioned that there are a medium in between the visual rays, which illustrates why someone cannot see clearly at certain times. Ptolemy disagreed with Euclid on that statement; Ptolemy stated that there is only a single visual ray emerging in the shape of a cone. It will be impossible to see an entire object at one time. He also argues that rays only illustrated the geometry of sight, not reality itself, like Euclid seem to think. Ptolemy also brought bac k Aristotle’s theory of color. Ptolemy added that color produces a modification in the visual cone; Aristotle only explained that color cannot affect the visual cone. In Aristotle situation, it is the transparent medium without the existence of an external light. But sadly, most of Ptolemy work is unclear due to the loss of Ptolemy work. Ptolemy created two geometrical assumptions to Euclid’s theories. First, the clarity of an observed object with the visual cone might vary depending on its position. An object located placed over the main axis is recognized more clearly than an object located in the perimeter of the visual cone. Second, the pinnacle of the visual cone is situating directly at the center of the cornea. Galen Galen, a scientist from the Roman Empire, studied the structure of the eye. Galen would dissect monkeys and oxen to study their anatomy. Galen was able to psychological and physical elements for his theory from these experiments. Pneuma, an optical spirit, travels along the optic nerves connecting the eye and the brain. While in the eye, pneuma meets with air surrounding the eye and changed to match its nature. Because of this, the air converts into an instrument of soul, and becomes perceptive. Galan adapted this theory from the Stoics, Galen also has his own ideas; these entire pneuma take place in the crystalline lens located in the middle of the eye. As a result, the lens is the vital appliance of vision. Impaired vision leads him to this conclusion. The cause of impaired vision falls between the lens and cornea; if removed, you are able to see again. Galen was able to almost fully understand the knowledge of the eye structure from his studies. Galen was able to locate the lens o f an eye and mentioned the existence of the retina, which allowed pneuma to travel through nerved and allows the soul to interact with the images grabbed by the eye. The cornea’s purpose was to be a protective layer for the inner parts of the eye. Modern theorist Young – Helmholtz Thomas Young and H.V. Helmholtz developed the trichromatic theory of color. The theory is based on the observation of the mixing of colors and states that we can create new colors by just mixing the three primary colors; blue, red and yellow. Through many experiments, Helmholtz and Young found out that the vision of color relies on three receptors located in the retina. Each receptor has different spectral sensitivities to wavelengths. The three cones wavelengths are short, medium and long. Each having a specific wavelength and peaks of light absorption; â€Å"long (560nm), medium (530nm), and short (420nm)†. The tree receptors are stimulated by light at different degrees and patters which will result in the formation of a color. Which allows us to determine what color would form if the lights from different wavelengths are combined due to the reaction of each receptor. One of the main supporting evidence for Young – Helmholtz’s trichromatic theory was a color ma tching experiment. This experiment found that a wavelength in one filed is paired by altering the amount of three different wavelengths to one another.

El Cid and Kracauer’s Mass Ornament :: Medievalism Kracauer Film Cinema Movies

The numerous historical films that merely illustrate the past are attempts at deception according to their own terms. Since one always runs the danger, when picturing current events, of turning easily excitable masses against powerful institutions that are in fact often not appealing, one prefers to direct the camera towards a Middle Ages that the audience will find harmlessly edifying. The further back the story is situated historically, the more audacious filmmakers become. They will risk depicting a successful revolution in historical costumes in order to induce people to forget modern revolutions, and they are happy to satisfy the theoretical sense of justice by filming struggles for freedom that are long past.1 Kracauer’s analysis of the historical film culminates in a dismissal of historical, and thereby factual, efficacy. In this circumstance, the period piece can assume an earlier time frame as a departure from the burden of accuracy rather than an acceptance of it. Academic records indicate that El Cid (dir. Anthony Mann, 1961) ignores much of Rodrigo Dà ­az de Bivar’s factual exploits as a warrior for hire, fighting more often for compensation than any religious or moral certitude. Why, then, was this character’s story so appealing as a platform for a historical epic film? El Cid’s historical ambivalence suggests that it’s story is more appropriately detailed for potential aesthetic achievement than realism. Kracauer begins describing the aesthetic condition of the mass ornament as a reference to the Tiller Girls, a performance group based on visual uniformity. He focuses on their performance of emulation and repetition, through which they are â€Å"no longer individual girls, but indissoluble girl clusters whose movements are demonstrations of mathematics.... One need only glance at the screen to learn that the ornaments are composed of thousands of bodies, sexless bodies in bathing suits. The regularity of their patterns is cheered by the masses, 1 This passage is taken from Siegfried Kracauer’s essay â€Å"The Little Shopgirls Go to the Movies.† themselves arranged by the stands in tier upon ordered tier.2† Already, there is an allegory bridging this performance art with the cinema. The masses are clearly the film’s intended audience gathered in a theater, which composes the modern medium for the cinematic ornament. The film’s actors become the performative aspect of this equation, wherein their acting and involvement in a character role, no matter how important, is meager and unnecessary without the remainder of the operative whole. The film opens with a revelatory glance at this phenomenon, as Rodrigo carries a cross through an empty landscape. In retrospect, his great battles and leadership are abstract and ineffectual without the massive army of followers. As the stand-in Christ figure, he showcases the absence of the epic’s ornament: a solitary figure,

Digital Fortress Chapter 32

David Becker stood in the hallway outside suite 301. He knew that somewhere behind the ornately carved door was the ring. A matter of national security. Becker could hear movement inside the room. Faint talking. He knocked. A deep German accent called out. â€Å"Ja?† Becker remained silent. â€Å"Ja?† The door opened a crack, and a rotund Germanic face gazed down at him. Becker smiled politely. He did not know the man's name. â€Å"Deutscher, ja?† he asked. â€Å"German, right?† The man nodded, uncertain. Becker continued in perfect German. â€Å"May I speak to you a moment?† The man looked uneasy. â€Å"Was willst du? What do you want?† Becker realized he should have rehearsed this before brazenly knocking on a stranger's door. He searched for the right words. â€Å"You have something I need.† These were apparently not the right words. The German's eyes narrowed. â€Å"Ein ring,† Becker said. â€Å"Du hast einen Ring. You have a ring.† â€Å"Go away,† the German growled. He started to close the door. Without thinking, Becker slid his foot into the crack and jammed the door open. He immediately regretted the action. The German's eyes went wide. â€Å"Was tust du?† he demanded. â€Å"What are you doing?† Becker knew he was in over his head. He glanced nervously up and down the hall. He'd already been thrown out of the clinic; he had no intention of going two for two. â€Å"Nimm deinen Fu? weg!† the German bellowed. â€Å"Remove your foot!† Becker scanned the man's pudgy fingers for a ring. Nothing. I'm so close, he thought. â€Å"Ein Ring!† Becker repeated as the door slammed shut. David Becker stood a long moment in the well-furnished hallway. A replica of a Salvador Dali hung nearby. â€Å"Fitting.† Becker groaned. Surrealism. I'm trapped in an absurd dream. He'd woken up that morning in his own bed but had somehow ended up in Spain breaking into a stranger's hotel room on a quest for some magical ring. Strathmore's stern voice pulled him back to reality: You must find that ring. Becker took a deep breath and blocked out the words. He wanted to go home. He looked back to the door marked 301. His ticket home was just on the other side-a gold ring. All he had to do was get it. He exhaled purposefully. Then he strode back to suite 301 and knocked loudly on the door. It was time to play hardball. The German yanked open the door and was about to protest, but Becker cut him off. He flashed his Maryland squash club ID and barked, â€Å"Polizei!† Then Becker pushed his way into the room and threw on the lights. Wheeling, the German squinted in shock. â€Å"Was machst-â€Å" â€Å"Silence!† Becker switched to English. â€Å"Do you have a prostitute in this room?† Becker peered around the room. It was as plush as any hotel room he'd ever seen. Roses, champagne, a huge canopy bed. Rocio was nowhere to be seen. The bathroom door was closed. â€Å"Prostituiert?† The German glanced uneasily at the closed bathroom door. He was larger than Becker had imagined. His hairy chest began right under his triple chin and sloped outward to his colossal gut. The drawstring of his white terry-cloth Alfonso XIII bathrobe barely reached around his waist. Becker stared up at the giant with his most intimidating look. â€Å"What is your name?† A look of panic rippled across the German's corpulent face. â€Å"Was willst du? What do you want?† â€Å"I am with the tourist relations branch of the Spanish Guardia here in Seville. Do you have a prostitute in this room?† The German glanced nervously at the bathroom door. He hesitated. â€Å"Ja,† he finally admitted. â€Å"Do you know this is illegal in Spain?† â€Å"Nein,† the German lied. â€Å"I did not know. I'll send her home right now.† â€Å"I'm afraid it's too late for that,† Becker said with authority. He strolled casually into the room. â€Å"I have a proposition for you.† â€Å"Ein Vorschlag?† The German gasped. â€Å"A proposition?† â€Å"Yes. I can take you to headquarters right now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Becker paused dramatically and cracked his knuckles. â€Å"Or what?† the German asked, his eyes widening in fear. â€Å"Or we make a deal.† â€Å"What kind of deal?† The German had heard stories about the corruption in the Spanish Guardia Civil. â€Å"You have something I want,† Becker said. â€Å"Yes, of course!† the German effused, forcing a smile. He went immediately to the wallet on his dresser. â€Å"How much?† Becker let his jaw drop in mock indignation. â€Å"Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law?† he bellowed. â€Å"No! Of course not! I just thought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The obese man quickly set down his wallet. â€Å"I†¦ I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He was totally flustered. He collapsed on the corner of the bed and wrung his hands. The bed groaned under his weight. â€Å"I'm sorry.† Becker pulled a rose from the vase in the center of the room and casually smelled it before letting it fall to the floor. He spun suddenly. â€Å"What can you tell me about the murder?† The German went white. â€Å"Mord? Murder?† â€Å"Yes. The Asian man this morning? In the park? It was an assassination-Ermordung.† Becker loved the German word for assassination. Ermordung. It was so chilling. â€Å"Ermordung? He†¦ he was†¦?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"But†¦ but that's impossible,† the German choked. â€Å"I was there. He had a heart attack. I saw it. No blood. No bullets.† Becker shook his head condescendingly. â€Å"Things are not always as they seem.† The German went whiter still. Becker gave an inward smile. The lie had served its purpose. The poor German was sweating profusely. â€Å"Wh-wh-at do you want?† he stammered. â€Å"I know nothing.† Becker began pacing. â€Å"The murdered man was wearing a gold ring. I need it.† â€Å"I-I don't have it.† Becker sighed patronizingly and motioned to the bathroom door. â€Å"And Rocio? Dewdrop?† The man went from white to purple. â€Å"You know Dewdrop?† He wiped the sweat from his fleshy forehead and drenched his terry-cloth sleeve. He was about to speak when the bathroom door swung open. Both men looked up. Rocio Eva Granada stood in the doorway. A vision. Long flowing red hair, perfect Iberian skin, deep-brown eyes, a high smooth forehead. She wore a white terry-cloth robe that matched the German's. The tie was drawn snugly over her wide hips, and the neck fell loosely open to reveal her tanned cleavage. She stepped into the bedroom, the picture of confidence. â€Å"May I help you?† she asked in throaty English. Becker gazed across the room at the stunning woman before him and did not blink. â€Å"I need the ring,† he said coldly. â€Å"Who are you?† she demanded. Becker switched to Spanish with a dead-on Andalusian accent. â€Å"Guardia Civil.† She laughed. â€Å"Impossible,† she replied in Spanish. Becker felt a knot rise in his throat. Rocio was clearly a little tougher than her client. â€Å"Impossible?† he repeated, keeping his cool. â€Å"Shall I take you downtown to prove it?† Rocio smirked. â€Å"I will not embarrass you by accepting your offer. Now, who are you?† Becker stuck to his story. â€Å"I am with the Seville Guardia.† Rocio stepped menacingly toward him. â€Å"I know every police officer on the force. They are my best clients.† Becker felt her stare cutting right through him. He regrouped. â€Å"I am with a special tourist task force. Give me the ring, or I'll have to take you down to the precinct and-â€Å" â€Å"And what?† she demanded, raising her eyebrows in mock anticipation. Becker fell silent. He was in over his head. The plan was backfiring. Why isn't she buying this? Rocio came closer. â€Å"I don't know who you are or what you want, but if you don't get out of this suite right now, I will call hotel security, and the real Guardia will arrest you for impersonating a police officer.† Becker knew that Strathmore could have him out of jail in five minutes, but it had been made very clear to him that this matter was supposed to be handled discreetly. Getting arrested was not part of the plan. Rocio had stopped a few feet in front of Becker and was glaring at him. â€Å"Okay.† Becker sighed, accentuating the defeat in his voice. He let his Spanish accent slip. â€Å"I am not with the Seville police. A U.S. government organization sent me to locate the ring. That's all I can reveal. I've been authorized to pay you for it.† There was a long silence. Rocio let his statement hang in the air a moment before parting her lips in a sly smile. â€Å"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?† She sat down on a chair and crossed her legs. â€Å"How much can you pay?† Becker muffled his sigh of relief. He wasted no time getting down to business. â€Å"I can pay you 750,000 pesetas. Five thousand American dollars.† It was half what he had on him but probably ten times what the ring was actually worth. Rocio raised her eyebrows. â€Å"That's a lot of money.† â€Å"Yes it is. Do we have a deal?† Rocio shook her head. â€Å"I wish I could say yes.† â€Å"A million pesetas?† Becker blurted. â€Å"It's all I have.† â€Å"My, my.† She smiled. â€Å"You Americans don't bargain very well. You wouldn't last a day in our markets.† â€Å"Cash, right now,† Becker said, reaching for the envelope in his jacket. I just want to go home. Rocio shook her head. â€Å"I can't.† Becker bristled angrily. â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"I no longer have the ring,† she said apologetically. â€Å"I've already sold it.†

Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essays

Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essays Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essay Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essay The corporate world – and pretty much every other industry – is an ultra competitive playing field where those in the workforce must distinguish themselves in order to climb the ladder of success. It seems as though no matter how good we are at our jobs – no matter how educated we are and how much experience we have – there is always someone younger, better, more experienced, more educated that is ready to take our place. This information can either cause us to exist in a constant state of paranoia or empower us to be proactive in staying on the cutting edge of our chosen profession and remaining committed to remaining in the game for as long as we choose to do so. One of the ways that we can sharpen our skills and stay up on new developments in our particular industries is by the pursuit of a higher (or additional) degree. This, of course, is easier said than done for grown adults who are already deeply immersed in their career and all of the hours that this entails, as well as running a household and even raising a family. In such a situation, it would be next to impossible to imagine fitting in a weekly commute and the time necessary to sit in a classroom to an already overflowing schedule. But an online degree program can help. An online degree can be earned in practically every academic program through a variety of reputable, accredited colleges and universities. The work is the same; the papers are the same; the syllabus is the same; the only difference between an online degree program and a traditional degree program is the physical location where that degree is earned. An online degree student has the flexibility of at-home learning, logging on to complete their assignments when it is convenient for their schedule.

Word Choice Half vs. Halve

Word Choice Half vs. Halve Word Choice: Half vs. Halve Sometimes, seemingly simple words can cause problems. Take â€Å"half,† for example. It is a common term than any native English speaker should know. But wait! Are you sure you know the difference between the words â€Å"half† and â€Å"halve†? If not, read on to find out more. Half (50% of Something) We’ll start out with the more common word. â€Å"Half† is typically a noun that means â€Å"fifty percent† (or a similar amount). For instance: 750 is half of 1,500. Do you want the other half of this pizza? The plural of this noun form of â€Å"half† is â€Å"halves† with a â€Å"v.† This is because some words like  Ã¢â‚¬Å"half† that end in an â€Å"f† or â€Å"-fe† change their spelling in plural form (e.g., knife → knives or calf → calves). We can also use the word â€Å"half† to modify other words in a sentence. For example, we could use it in either of the following: The cake was only half baked. It should have been in the oven for another half hour. In the first sentence above, â€Å"half† is an adverb that modifies the verb â€Å"baked† (i.e., the cake was only partially cooked). In the second sentence, â€Å"half† is an adjective that modifies the noun â€Å"hour† (i.e., we’re discussing 50% of an hour). But regardless of how it is used, the word â€Å"half† is always related to the idea of being divided, incomplete, or half of something whole. Halve (Divide Something in Two) â€Å"Halve,† meanwhile, is a verb. It means â€Å"divide into two (roughly) equal parts†: I will halve the cake and give one part to my sister. A similar use is to mean â€Å"reduce by 50%,† such as in the following: The new road halves the time it takes to get home. All verb forms of this term are spelled with a â€Å"v† (i.e., halve, halves, halved, halving). As such, no verb form will be spelled with an â€Å"f.† Should I Use Half or Halve? â€Å"Half† and â€Å"halve† are related terms, but these words also have different uses: Half can be a noun, adjective, or adverb. As a noun, it means â€Å"fifty percent of something† (or a similar amount). As an adjective or adverb, it shows that something is divided, half of a whole, or half complete. Halve is a verb and means â€Å"divide into two equal or roughly equal parts.† One point of confusion is that the plural of â€Å"half† is â€Å"halves,† which is also how we spell the third-person present tense form of the verb â€Å"halve.† But as long as you remember that the singular noun â€Å"half† is always spelled with an â€Å"f,† it should be easy to avoid errors in your writing.

British Entrepreneurship between 1870 and 1914 Essay

British Entrepreneurship between 1870 and 1914 - Essay Example These traits include a dismal failure to adapt to new technologies, a gross misunderstanding as to the relevance of science in industrial efficiency, an obstinacy to stick to low-yielding established industrial sectors, a dearth of relevant managerial and organizational skills, an inability to delegate responsibility to subordinates and to take advantage of talented people having complementary proficiencies and a general lack of trust and faith in the British entrepreneurial potential (Aldcroft 1981) . At some time during the late 19th century, Great Britain fell victim to an economic decline. Various Historians tend to facilitate diverse reasons as to this economic demise of the Victorian Britain. Some historians attribute this economic decline to the rampant alterations in the world economy, emanating from the proliferation of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. There is one other school of historians, who link the economic fall of Victorian Britain to the lacunas existing within the British economy. Many historians blatantly profess that this so-called economic decline of Britain in the late 19th century could be understood and analyzed only in a relative perspective. As per these historians, the economic meltdown in the late 19th century Britain stands to be plausible only when one compares the performance of the British economy to other major industrial economies like the US and Germany. According to Alford, "British enterprise, it will be argued, did not decline d uring this period: it remained remarkably constant and inflexible (1996)." On the contrary, the available statistical data also to some extent indicates that in fact the British GDP was on the rise in the period 1870-1890, irrespective of a sluggish annual rate of growth. Crouzet (1982) argues that the growth rate of Britain, which rested at 3.1 percent in the period 1811-1877, came down to 1.6 percent between 1877 and 1913.Historians also tend to differ, as far as the onset of this economic decline is concerned decline. A majority of the historians identify the year 1873 as the time when Britain slipped into a prolonged era of economic slowdown. Others argue that the UK experienced a remarkable economic growth in the period 1820-1830. Thus, Victoria's accession tends to be the chronological coordinate that ushered in an era of economic decline (Crouzet 1982). Realistically speaking, in consonance with the available statistical data, 1870 could be considered the point of genesis of Britain's economic decline. It was only in the period between 1870 and 1913, when Britain's share of the global industrial output, which rested at 31.8 percent, nosedived to a pathetic and alarming 14 percent (Crouzet 1982).There is no denying the fact that a majority of the historians hold that the late Victorians happened to be grave failures, as far as the realm of entrepreneurship was concerned. As far as the entrepreneurial acumen of late Victorians is concerned, the analysis of their failure tends

Japan's Financial Crisis and Economic Stagnation Research Paper

Japan's Financial Crisis and Economic Stagnation - Research Paper Example The sheer size of the cost, along with the interaction among the related economic problems, has made a decisive resolution of the problems politically difficult†2. Some economists blamed the macroeconomic factors for Japan’s crisis whereas others blamed microeconomic factors for that. In fact, Japanese ministry of finance and its lack of transparency, delay in changing monetary policy, lack of rules based regulations and its links to corporations & banks have led to economic stagnation & will be difficult to reform the system. Japan’s financial crisis and economic stagnation â€Å"Non performing debt in the banking sector hampered the growth and recovery of the whole Japanese economy†3. As in the case of recent global financial crisis, Japanese financial crisis also started from the banking sector. â€Å"Even though the share of loans to the manufacturing sector has been decreasing, Japanese banks have expanded their overall lending business since 1970. As a result, the outstanding amount of loans to the manufacturing sector has been increasing†4. The huge outstanding amount in the manufacturing sector caused severe problems in the functioning of the Japanese banks. No banks can operate effectively unless the lending and repayment achieve certain equilibrium or balancing. However, in 1980’s, Japanese banks struggled to function properly because of the huge amounts of its money blocked in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing units in Japan became financially sounder in 1970’s which encouraged them to use the internal resources more frequently rather than relying on banks for everything. â€Å"Major Japanese manufacturing firms drastically reduced their reliance on bank loans in the late-1970s from more than 30% to less than 10%†5. In other words, manufacturing units stopped their transactions with the banks and at the same time they had shown little interests in repaying its mortgages. In an attempt to in crease the business, Japanese banks started to reduce the interest rates; however, the manufacturing units have shown little interests in taking or repaying loans which caused tremendous stagnation in the banking industry. Before the economic stagnation, Japanese banks sanctioned mortgages to all the people who approached them for assistance. People on the other hand have taken huge amounts of loans from Japanese banks and spent it for non-productive purposes. As a result of that Japan’s economic growth started to decline. â€Å"From 1985 to 1990, Japan experienced an asset bubble of unprecedented proportions. From 1990, the bubble began to burst. The bursting of this bubble left banks throughout Japan- both large and small- in financial distress†6. Real economic growth and strength of financial systems in any country are directly related. In other words, when real economy travel in one direction, financial system also travel in that direction and when the real economy travel in another direction financial systems also follow the same path. In other words, any problem occurs to either of one may affect the other one also. The above facts are true in the case of Japan also. Poor economy in Japan is hurting banking system in one way whereas poor performances of the banking system contributing heavily to the poor health of the economy in another way. There are certain

World Religions Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

World Religions Report - Essay Example It is possible to say that religion or religious inquiry — is something that virtually all people have in common. People have wondered about the meaning of life since Adam was a boy and they interested in this meaning to the present day. In all corners of the world and in all eras of history people have own beliefs, faith in higher power and question if there is anyone or anything â€Å"out there†. We have learned a lot of information about religion and as for me the best way to remember all information and understand its main essence is a personal connection with a real person who will explain major aspects of own religion and show its main advantages. I think that visitation of a real religious site will give me an opportunity to learn much more about chosen religion. Thereby, the main purposes of my paper are to interview person of chosen faith and than compare and contrast this faith with other religion that I was familiar with through my class. I chose Christianity and Islam as religions for my analysis. I think that in the first place it is necessary to remember the definition of concept â€Å"religion† and then it will be easier to talk about different kinds of religions and compare two of them.. According to Asad (1993), the concept ‘religion’ in general meaning â€Å"is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner’s experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth†. The term â€Å"religion†, however, refers not only to the personal practices that directed to communal faith, but also it refers to different group rituals and communication stemming from shared religious convictions. The notion â€Å"religion† people sometimes use except the word â€Å"faith† and usually these words consider interchangeable variants. I think that there is one big differ ence between them and this difference is caused by the specific behaviors which are the part of religious system. In the beginning of this paragraph it is necessary to mention that all religions are an attempt of man to know the truth of God. Moreover, thinking about Christianity it is possible to suppose that Christianity is not a religion, but it is God’s answer to our questions. Christians believe that the true and full communion with God can be only through appearance of Christ before people. Of course, the ancient mystics and prophets, the Sufis, the Dervishes, the Indian Brahmins - all of them have their own mystical experience and they use it to be in some way closer to God, but all of this is done through human efforts, through human striving upwards. Only in one case, in the case of Christ, God is able to show own appearance before people. This is the single most direct revelation, and therefore salvation in Christ is a unique, and the most profound approaching to Go d. Despite the fact that historical interval between Christianity and Islam is about 600 years (I-VII century AD), Koran includes a lot of information about Christianity, moreover, it includes more than other religions facts about Christianity. It can be explained by the fact that both Christianity and Islam, and even Judaism have the same geographical region at various times - the Middle East; and all of them ( the above mentioned religions) were developed among the peoples of Semitic origin (Jews and Arabs). Comparing Christianity with Islam in the way of their appearance it is necessary to state that Christianity is the second world religions by the time of its occurrence. It originated as a sect of Judaism in I century BC in Palestine. This initial relationship

Rose for Emily Analysis Essay Example for Free

Rose for Emily Analysis Essay William Faulkner was not only one of the greatest Southern writers of all time but one of the great American authors of all time. His works have long been criticized and analyzed for their deeper meanings and themes. One of his most analyzed works is his short story A Rose for Emily. While Faulkner uses numerous techniques and strategies which include the chronology of the story, his strongest weapon is his usage of the narrator as an omniscient gossip. Thomas Dilworth says that the narrator is as important to the plot as Emily Grierson. (Dilworth). Whether this is true or not, the narrator is an important part that helps makes the story what it is, a great Southern short story. While the narrator is never narrowed down to a specific person he seems to speak as a representative of the community and it is apparent that he knows everything about Miss Emily and of every event that happens in the small town. By seeing everything that the narrator sees, we get to see all the happenings throughout the story, but this view isnt always objective. The narrators bias and opinions bleed through the narration. In the process of telling it, he implies his own and his societys cultural values, which influence attitudes and behavior toward Miss Emily in a way that implicates him and the townspeople in her fate(Dilworth). By his talking about how the town pities Miss Emily it makes you feel pity for her also. The narrator plays a sort of antagonist in the story with his opinions of Miss Emily. If you believe everything the narrator tells you in the story it allows him to skew the story in any way in which he seems fit. By making you listen to the narrators thoughts Faulkner makes you listen to his own thoughts. For example, the following line, Then we said, She will persuade him yet, because Homer himself had remarkedhe liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks Clubthat he was not a marrying man(Faulkner) is interpreted quite different from an objective line such as Homer drank with the younger men in the Elks Club, and wasnt the marrying type . The second statement raises no question of Barrons sexuality while the narrator does raise that question in the first sentence. Homers sexuality is never actually stated or proved but it does force you to keep the possibility in your mind as you read the rest of the story. James Wallace states To believe that the narrator here reveals something true about Homer is to become exactly like the narrator and his society of gossipy, nosy neighbors(Wallace). Little subtleties such as this one sway your outlook on the characters and the story in general and whether realized or not change the way you read the story. With immense skill and rhetoric Faulkner successfully inputs the narrator into A Rose for Emily changing the complexion on the story and transforming it into the classic that it is now, a gothic tale of Southern Society. Dilworth, Thomas. A Romance to Kill for: Homicidal Complicity in Faulkners A Rose for Emily. Studies in Short Fiction. 36. 3 (Summer 1999) : 251 Academic Search Premier. EBSCOHost. Huie Library, Arkadelphia, AR. 1 Nov. 2005. . Wallace, James. Faulkners A Rose for Emily. Explicator. 50. 2 (Winter 1992) : 105 Academic Search Premier. EBSCOHost. Huie Library, Arkadelphia, AR. 1 Nov 2005. . Faulkner, William. A Rose for Emily. Collected Stories of William Faulkner. New York: Random House, 1950. 119-130.

the order of things (chocolate war) Essay -- essays research papers

The Order of Things   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disturbing the universe is one of the main themes of Robert Cormier’s novel, The Chocolate War. Jerry Renault, the protagonist of the novel, goes against Trinity, the all boys school, and The Vigils, a powerful school gang. He gets admired and then bullied because of his defiance of authority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the story, we are introduced to Jerry Renault. As he is trying out for the school’s football team, Archie and Obie, two members of The Vigils, are writing â€Å"assignments† for the chosen boys at school. If the boy fails to complete or do his assignment he gets punished by The Vigils. Archie sees Jerry get slaughtered by the football team and still manage to get up. Archie then decides to give Jerry one of his assignments. â€Å"‘The assignment must fit the kid. That’s the beauty of it, Obie... Put him down for the chocolates’† (Cormier 15-16).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every year at Jerry’s school, Trinity, they have a chocolate sale. And every year, all the students participate. Jerry’s assignment was to refuse to sell the chocolates for ten school days. â€Å"‘Let me get this straight, Renault,’ Brother Leon said and his voice brought the room under his command. ‘I called your name. Your response could have been either yes or no. Yes means that like every other student in this school you agree to sell the chocolates, in this case fifty boxes. No – and let me point out that the sale is strictl...

Verisimilitude in The English Patient Essay -- The English Patient

Verisimilitude in The English Patient One critic has written, "Ondaatje has always been fascinated by history - seen as a series of arcane stories about the past. In his hands, even the documents of history slide away from factual representation toward a haunting apprehension of indeterminacy." (Barbour 207). In The English Patient Ondaatje blends fiction and history into a socially conscious story. Verisimiliude is the aspect of belivability present in a novel. Ondaatje's use of the element of verisimilitude accentuates important undercurrents and events which are vital to understanding the novel. The English Patient is set in the Villa San Girolamo at the close of World War II. The war has damaged the lives of the four main characters. The setting of a war torn villa reflects the damage in their lives. All around the people are unexploded bombs. Ondaatje researched Kip's job of diffusing bombs carefuly. He gives bit by bit narration of the process of diffusing a live bomb. This careful detail and verisimilitude creates an air of tension and apprehension. Bombs were attached to taps, to the spines of books, they were drilled into fruit trees so an apple falling onto a lower branch would detonate the tree, lust as a hand gripping that branch would. He was unable to look at a room without seeing the possibilities of weapons there. (Ondaatje 75). The characters themselves are like walking bombs. They were all innocent before the war began but it devaststed them. They all must endure secret torments from their pasts. The emotional climax of the book is provided by another bomb - Hiroshima - which invokes one of our time's most terrifying images of the slaughter of innocents. It is the final explosion that drives the fo... ...expedition in search of Zerzura. Michael Ondaatje did considerable amount of research for this book, which took him five years to complete. He shuffled through the archives of London's Royal Geographical Society and read the journals of 1930s explorers. The results of this painstaking research is a novel with vivid and realistic detail. The description of the desert is the most potent detail. These vivid discriptions are the greatest contributers to the verisimilitude of the novel. He gives detailed descriptions of the many types of desert winds such as the africo, aajej, khamsin, and datooand the changing landscape of the dunes. Places such as Gilf Kebir, Zerzura, the Sudan, and Gebel Kissu are brought to life. The historical accuracy and events in The English Patient leads the reader to believe that even though this story never happened - it might have.

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1 Analysis Essay

A desert place. The setting of ‘Thunder and lightning’ depicts bad weather, which shows the eerie atmosphere and tense mood. The play opens on a note of noise and disorder, foreboding much evil to come. Witches, who seem to enjoy the chaotic weather, appear to hold alien values and preferences compared to normal men and women. The mood is sinister, dangerous and ominous; the immediate appearance of the witches starting from the first scene is used to inform readers of the underlying note of darkness. The witches speak in riddles, and seem to know Macbeth’s secret desires and are seen as mischievous, otherworldly and evil beings. By saying that the ‘battle’s lost and won’, many meanings emerge, such as the ‘battle’ refers to the fight with Cawdor and though Macbeth may have ‘won’ against him, he has ‘lost’ a battle to himself, by afterwards caving into the witches’ tempting words. They seem to refer the dark ‘ere’, which means after, ‘the set of sun’. This hints of their evil natures that seem to relate to their preference of bad weather and dark skies. They decide on the ‘heath’ to meet Macbeth. The rhyming words lead us to think of the ‘heath’, which is a wild and barren place, in relation to Macbeth and his future. This way, we are lead to think that Macbeth’s heart will too, become wild, dry and bare. This is the first meeting between Macbeth and the witches and we can see that they are keen to meet him. We can infer from this fact and what we have learnt about the witches’ that they plan to do him harm. The mention of familiars, ‘Graymalkin’, which is a grey cat and ‘Paddock’ , a toad, continues to inform us of the Witches’ supernatural status, as well as further deepening the theory of ‘evil witches’ as they have chosen to keep strange pets. Back in Shakespeare’s time, people believed that such familiars were actually spirits trapped in the bodies of animals, hence we see the witches as unnatural and demonic in nature. The next riddle, ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through fog and filthy air.’ Once again the seemingly illogical statement keeps the reader wondering. It could be saying that what appears to be good may not be so and that there is a thin line between good, ‘fair’, and evil, ‘foul’. It could also be warning readers of Macbeth and his deceptive personality, as well as not to take appearances and people’s personalities for granted as nothing is what it seems to be. Hence, the recurrent theme throughout this scene is the perversion of moral values and the disruption of all thing good, as well as that nothing is to be trusted as appearances are a form of deception. The witches’ evil is also a dominant theme throughout the scene as their preferences and actions give readers an overwhelming sense of evil and discord. There is an impending sense of disaster from their riddles and the belief that the witches are the embodiments of evil forces and the whole scene prepares the audience for the tragedy to come, as well as giving us a small peak into the future of the play. MACBETH The classroom analysis (generalized) (Previous analysis was June holiday homework) Act1 Scene 2: 9 / 7 /11 A camp. The scene starts with King Duncan himself asking an injured captain to report on the latest revolt. The scene serves a purpose of explaining the political situation in Scotland through the onlooker’s eyes. In other words, though the scene does not go directly into the battle zone itself, it still adequately informs the audience of what is going on both outside and inside of the battlefield. It also introduces some important characters, such as King Duncan, Ross, Angus and gives a few mentions of Macbeth and Banquo. Though not as dark and eerie as the previous scene, this scene uses battle scenes and the imagery of blood and gore to further establish a slightly dangerous, gruesome scene. An underlying note of darkness can also be felt throughout the scene, as the use of subtle hints about Macbeth’s future betrayal keep up a sense of foreboding. The battle is described as ‘two spent swimmers, that do cling together; And choke their art’. This tells us that the battle is very closely fought. No side is given a clear advantage but both sides are determined to keep the other ‘down’ for their own side to survive. The traitor ‘Macdonwald’ is also introduced as the enemy that King Duncan’s men are fighting in this particular battle. ‘And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, Show’d like a rebel’s whore’, tells us that he at one point had seemed to be winning the battle, considering that ‘fortune’ is on his side. ‘Fortune’ is personified as a prostitute in this scene, giving him favors and such. Shakespeare also refers to ‘fortune’ as a goddess with a distinctly fickle nature that deceives the rebel (Macdonwald) with her smile before abandoning him. Following this predicament, Macbeth displays great courage and determin ation as he fought valiantly, undaunted by ‘fortune’. Because of his bravery and strong will, Macbeth is praised many times throughout the entire Act 1. The very first praise ‘brave Macbeth’, was given to him by the captain, because of his valiance and dauntlessness before Macdonwald. In this scene, Macbeth is constantly shown in a positive light. Multiple praises of him lead to the audience becoming in awe of him, as he appears very impressive. He is also praised as ‘Valor’s minion’. ‘Valor’ being considered as a goddess of valiance and bravery and Macbeth being thought of as a favorite of hers, hence leading to the conclusion that he is a valiant warrior. These praises help to raise suspense throughout the audience as the more in awe and impressed they become, the more they want to meet the glorious hero, Macbeth. However, even though Macbeth is constantly praised throughout this scene, the overwhelming presence of gore and blood show some character flaws in him as well. Macbeth ‘carved out his passage’ throughout the battlefield and ‘unseam’d [Macdonwald] from the nave to the chaps, And fix’d his head upon our battlements’. ‘Carved out’ gives us the image of constant killings, till a passage is carved out through a wall of men. This savage, sickening imagery is made worse when the image of Macbeth ripping open the rebel from his chin to his navel and then hacking off his head. The gruesome, gory image is the work of Macbeth. Hence, because of his savage kills and brutality of the battles, we can infer that he also has a strong, ruthless and slightly cold-hearted side to him. The blood and gore plays a large part in the play, as it is later on associated with Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan and his own eventual death. Here, Macbeth’s kills and the shedding of blood are glorified as it done in support of the King. The irony is that later on, Macbeth’s kills and the shedding of blood will be associated to the killing of the King and many other innocents. This scene is also ironical in the sense that Macbeth’s great achievement of killing the rebel will later be the very way he dies; his head will get chopped off. Hints of the future turn of events continue to appear as the Captain reports of Norway’s immediate attack right after their apparent victory over Macdonwald, ‘whence the sun ‘gins his reflection; Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break, So from that spring whence comfort seem’d to come; Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark’ . The meaning of this warning is that just as good things happen, bad things occur. This statement, though said with no reference to Macbeth, is immediately linked to him. This is due to Duncan’s praises of Macbeth just before the warning was said, ‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’, hence it can be interpreted as a warning that while Macbeth seems to come across to the other characters as a savior and hero, he may actually end up as the source of all discord and enmity. This makes the audience think twice about Macbeth’s both future and current loyalty and starts off one of the major themes in the play: Appearance and illusions VS reality. What seems honest and beneficial may turn out to be the exact opposite. It also warns the audience of Macbeth’s future deceit and duplicity. The battle scene thickens as the Norweyan troops take advantage of their moment of victory to begin a fresh assault on them. Macbeth and Banquo are further praised here for their fearlessness and energy faced with yet another foe. They were said to be as dismayed and afraid as ‘As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion’, in other words, not afraid at all. The use of nature imagery here are compare them to the eagle, king of the sky, and the lion, king of land, implying them to be very noble and prideful in their fight for their king. Later on, when Duncan is murdered, the natural order of things is disrupted and the animals behave strangely. This fact further emphasizes the wrongfulness of murdering a good and lawful King, hence further condemning Macbeth. Ross later reports of betrayal of the Thane of Cawdor, and makes some comparisons with The King of Norway and Macbeth. ‘Confronted him with self-comparisons’, here implies that Macbeth and him were matched in strength and courage. However, as the King of Norway is considered to be treacherous and cunning, the words ‘self-comparisons’ further hint of Macbeth’s future treacherous personality. Ross also praises Macbeth, calling him ‘Bellona’s bridegroom’. Bellona is the roman goddess of war and by calling him her newly-wed husband; it implies that he too is a great warrior. His enjoyment of war and his enthusiasm and zeal over it also achieve the audience’s further questioning; in the case where Macbeth’s loyalty to Duncan is diminished, what will come of his enthusiasm for violence and love of war. Later on Duncan awards Macbeth with the title of ‘Thane of Cawdor’, unknowingly beginning to fulfill the prophecy which would lead him to his own demise. By condemning the current Thane of Cawdor, he blissfully is unaware of the fact that his presenting of the title to Macbeth will lead Macbeth to becoming a treacherous usurper. Duncan final words that close the scene are an ominous echo of the witches’ riddles in the first scene ‘When the battle’s lost and won’. ‘What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won’, makes it such that by becoming thane of Cawdor, Macbeth has entered some sort of curse, as though he wins the characteristics of the previous thane as well as his title but he eventually loses his future and sanity in the process. This shows the clear link between the King’s current actions and the scheme of the witches, which further leads to the fulfillment of the prophecy of the witches, which fuels Macbeth’s savage ambitions. It also makes the audience wonder the outcome of the play, had the King not given him the title. In summary, we can infer from act 1 scene 2 that Macbeth is brave, courageous, valiant, strong-willed, but at the same time hinted to be ruthless and slightly savage. Still, the audience will be mainly in awe of his loyalty and ability to overcome adversity in battle, as well as his apparent image as the embodiment of justice and valor. MACBETH The classroom analysis (generalized) (Previous analysis was June holiday homework) Act1 Scene 3: 9/ 7 /11 A heath. This scene marks the beginning of evil in Macbeth. It depicts his inner thoughts and struggles to keep his ambitious desires for the crown at bay. It is thought to be the ‘temptation scenes’, where Macbeth’s longings are further aroused by the witches’ words, instigating him with the hope of becoming king of Scotland with their prophecy. The 3 main purposes of this scene are 1. Characterization of the witches 2. Contrast in the difference between Macbeth and Banquo’s reactions to the witches’ prophecy. 3. Character of Macbeth is explored in greater detail. (Imaginative nature and high-strung temperament makes him inclined to soliloquy – ‘aside’ thoughts of character onstage, only audience can hear it.) With regards to the plot, the witches’ make the initial movement, through them Macbeth’s ambition crystallizes and his definite resolution to murder Duncan is established. However, bear in mind that Macbeth’s ambition was already present before the witches’ approached. Still, his meeting with them helped his vague aspiration take a definite shape. First and foremost, the scene introduces the witches’ sadistic and cruel nature, showing that they are vindictive, spiteful creatures who want to wreck revenge on the sailor’s wife, by giving out punishment on her husband which is out of proportion to the nature of the offence. Their reason for casting a spell on the sailor and his ship, cursing them to prolonged periods of suffering was simply because his fat wife refused to share her chestnuts with the First Witch. Such extreme measures emphasize the witches’ malicious natures, immediately giving the audience a poor impression of the characters. The animal imagery of a ‘rat’, tells us that they are sneaky, mischievous and harmful, biting a hole into the sailor’s ship. The way they chant ‘I’ll do, I’ll do and I’ll do’ appears to readers as eerie, almost definite manner of speaking. Their chants and ability to control winds further informs us that they are unnatural, almost magical beings. However, the witches though having powers beyond the norm are not completely powerful and are limited in their ability. Though they certainly can control winds, water, chant and attempt to place misguided thoughts in the characters minds, they cannot kill anyone nor can they force someone to bend to their will (as seen from the way they only influence the already ambitious Macbeth and not the honest Banquo). Furthermore, this indicates that Macbeth’s murder of Duncan and usurping was not because of the witches. He has evil thoughts already in himself, the witches only acted as guides, suggesting and tempting him with their words. The roles of the witches from the beginning were only insinuators, to provide suggestions and are not the direct cause for Macbeth’s actions. Hence, we can conclude that Macbeth is responsible for his own evil deeds and that the witches cannot be used to excuse Macbeth from his behavior. Still, the witches’ unyielding, cruel nature is still undeniable as they cause horrors for the people they target. The sailors are subjected to 81 days of wasting away, living like cursed men. Though they cannot completely destroy the ship, they can still cause it to be tossed and churned wildly through the storm. Also, we can tell that their cruelty and vindictive nature is apparent as jubilant is evident in their voices at Macbeth’s approach. From what we have learnt of their natures, we may conclude that they are deigning to work harm on Macbeth. Macbeth continues to link himself to the witches. His mention of ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen’ reminds us of the ‘fair is foul’ comment that the witches used to close scene 1. It shows a clear connection between Macbeth and the witches’ evil. The ironic repetition is unconsciously echoed by Macbeth, indicating the changing direction of the battle or the weather, however it could also hint of Macbeth becoming further involved with the witches’ evil plot. The witches are also described in detail by Banquo here, seen to be strange looking and ‘withered’ and ‘wild’ in their dressing and features. However, their strange looks help to promote themes like appearance VS reality, as the women though seemingly women, have beards like men. This emphasizes their unnaturalness and status as perversions of nature. Their prophecy is also reviewed in this scene. First, Macbeth will become Thane of Glamis, which is more of a fact, seeing that Macbeth will inherit the title from his father. Next, they claim he will become Thane of Cawdor and then King. The last two are great prophecies; however it is the prophecy of becoming King that provides Macbeth the greatest temptation. It spurs him on for the most of the play, killing in hope to gain and keep the elusive title. Also, the witches are noted to not indicate how to achieve this title, giving only predictions and no suggestions. This further increases Macbeth’s responsibility for the murder of so many innocents. He crafted his own path and used his own means to achieve the titles and hence the murders committed in the process are more of his choice than any witches’ suggestion. Next, Macbeth is furthered introduced and the difference between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s reactions to the witches prophecies is explored. Through Banquo, we can see Macbeth is deeply shocked by the witches’ prophecies. ‘Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear. Things that do sound so fair?’ This suggests that the witches’ revelation was of Macbeth’s innermost thoughts, his dark hidden desire to become King. However, unlike Macbeth, Banquo sees no reason to fear the witches, indicating a strong sense of integrity and justice in him. While Macbeth is ‘rapt’, thinking of the King’s position; Banquo challenges the Witches’; fearing not as he does not have any greedy ambitions and a clear conscience. Hence, to summarize, Macbeth’s deep, dark innermost thoughts being revealed tell us of his ‘guilty’ status, who indeed, did have dark intentions towards King Duncan. Whereas, Banquo’s reactions are that of an honest man, skeptical and mistrustful of the witches as well as wary of his and Macbeth’s prophesized glory. More riddles follow, as the number of paradoxical statements (statement in which it seems self-contradictory, absurd, but in reality it expresses a possible truth) grows. First Witch Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Second Witch Not so happy, yet much happier. Third Witch Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! The words could have many double meanings, for example ‘lesser’ and ‘not so happy’ could be referring to Banquo’s lack of titles and social status; whereas ‘greater’ and ‘much happier’ could refer to Banquo’s clearer conscience, honest character and upholding of morals. However, it is the last line of the riddle which though straightforward to a certain extent, tells us that Banquo will sire a long line of Kings. This is strange, as it makes the audience wonder how Macbeth will become King but have Banquo’s children gain the crown. Macbeth’s power hungry nature is emphasized as the witches leave the scene. He desperately wants to know more. As the witches refuse to direct or properly guide him, Macbeth is eager to learn how to make this prophecy come true. His commanding nature and forceful demand does not affect the witches. Hence we can infer from this that the Witches are mischievous, mysterious beings that do not listen to normal men. However, their elusive nature helps to add to a sense of suspense building up amongst the audience as it increases their fear of the unknown. This scene, especially this part, emphasizes how the Witches bait and lure Macbeth into their plans. The witches vanish suddenly, and are likened to ‘bubbles’ by Banquo, suggesting that just like bubbles the witches are insubstantial, as though they do not really exist and are unnatural occurrences. Furthermore, their disappearances fuel the uncontained hunger in Macbeth for the knowledge to become King. However, Banquo on the other hand is confused and bewildered by the Witches’ sudden appearance and disappearances. He wonders if they had eaten the ‘insane root’ and hence have gone mad. The men try to reconfirm the witches’ prophesies by repeating them to each other. However there is a difference in the tone of which the words are said. Macbeth seems wary and resentful of the fact that Banquo children are supposedly going to gain kingship, rather than his own children. Whereas, Banquo’s mood is light and joking, as he still is disbelieving and doubtful of the witches. The arrival of Ross and Angus interrupts the exchange between the two men. In summary, they inform Macbeth that Duncan is caught between praising Macbeth or expressing his amazement at Macbeth’s courage and skill. He also comments on Macbeth’s lack of fear of the distorted faces of the people he has killed, ‘strange images of death’, and this later becomes an irony as Macbeth will later make even stronger images of death later on, one of which being Duncan. Next, they deliver the message that the King has awarded Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor. This decision is Duncan’s undoing, as it was the gaining of this title that persuaded Macbeth to act on the prophecy and kill Duncan. Banquo is shocked by this revelation as he is still full of doubt and mistrust for the witches. On the other hand, Macbeth questions Ross and Angus, unaware of the Thane of Cawdor’s betrayal. The phrase, ‘dress me in borrowed robes’, is used to denote the new status or rank Macbeth has been give. It gives the image of unfitting clothes that do not rightfully belong to him, hence the term ‘borrowed’. This implies that the title is unsuitable for Macbeth and like ‘borrowed robes’ do not befit him. It is then revealed of the previous thane’s betrayal and efforts to destroy the country. The link between the new thane of Cawdor and the previous thane of Cawdor is the knowledge that they both betray the King’s trust, as Macbeth seems to be already in anticipation of his Kingship, ‘the greatest is behind’. Banquo then shares his opinion on the witches and the turn of events to Macbeth. His own thoughts are addressed to both himself and Macbeth, acting as a warning to Macbeth as he senses his excitement. That trusted home Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange: And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence. Cousins, a word, I pray you. His words convey the message that the witches are not to be trusted and that if he believes in their words completely, he might burn with an unholy desire for the crown. He expresses his belief that the witches are agents of evil who tell them but simple truths to betray them in far important matters and are simply baiting them to their demise. Banquo’s remark is penetrating, having described the true nature of the witches in detail. He appears to us as a wary but honest man who holds a great deal of moral wisdom. However, with the use of soliloquy (as previously mentioned, it is when one shares his inner thoughts on stage with the audience but away from other characters), Macbeth expresses his confused and undecided feelings and is debating internally with himself. He is undecided if the prophecy is good or bad, ‘cannot be ill, cannot be good’. This paradoxical statement shows the sheer depth of the confusion in Macbeth as the statements directly contradict one another. This use of antithesis (the direct opposite: or in this case a balanced contrast of ideas), is used to show the conflicting emotions raging in Macbeth and uncertainty on whether he should trust the witches. However it also shows the inclination in Macbeth to evil as though deep down, he knows the implications of the prophecy are sinful actions, he still tries to justify the witches. Macbeth understands that if the prophecy is fulfilled, then one way or another Duncan must die. However, the repulsive thought of murder makes Macbeth’s hair stand on end and the mere thought of cold blooded murder make his heart, usually fixed within his chest, pound so hard it is as if it were pounding against his ribcage (exaggeration). He realizes that if this prophecy is good, he should not yield to the thought of murder, and the fact that it does, unnerves him. His every action is smothered in imagination of the King’s murder and he is so upset by the thought of murder that he quivers with fright. His mind is overwhelmed with such a thought that he is unable to think about anything else. Due to his cruel wishes, his inner stability is threatened and his inner peace lost. The next statement is also seemingly contradictory and paradoxical, ‘nothing is what it is not’, and yet it still tells us that the only thing real to him is what has not happened yet, the murder of Duncan, and the present is blotted out completely. Macbeth demonstrates a vivid but futile imagination and immediate fears do not worry him so much as his worries about the future. While he is lost in thought, Banquo comments on his ‘rapt’ state. Finally, Macbeth decides to wait for the opportunity to come, having decided that though seemingly ‘good’ as the prophecy has led him to the title of thane of Cawdor, the witches tempting of him to commit regicide (murder of monarchy) through dangling the prospect of becoming King before him may also be a ‘ill’ thing. He wishes for matters to be taken out of his hands so that he can become King without having to delve into foul means. Another imagery of clothing is also explored as Banquo comments that on Macbeth’s new titles. New honors come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould But with the aid of use. This also provides the image of an unfitting set of clothes, referring to Macbeth’s new titles and honors. The metaphor takes on a role in which Macbeth is not suited or entitled to. Furthermore, Banquo says that the clothes need to be accustomed to, and that it is Macbeth’s thoughts and actions will fit the clothes to him and nothing else. This further emphasizes that what becomes of Macbeth is due to his own thoughts and choices. The scene ends with Macbeth claiming that the other men’s efforts are recognized before making their way towards the king. MACBETH The classroom analysis (generalized) (Previous analysis was June holiday homework) Act1 Scene 4: 24 / 7 /11 Forres. A room in the palace. This scene talks about the execution of the thane of Cawdor, praising of Macbeth and giving of title of crown prince to Malcolm. Imagery in this scene supports the sense of natural order in Duncan’s reign and the imagery of plants is used to describe Duncan’s nurturing of Macbeth and Banquo. In this scene, two things help mark a turning point in this play. 1. Duncan’s proclamation of his son as crown prince This clinches Macbeth’s decision to murder Duncan, as it confirms that Macbeth will never be king through natural causes. Unless Macbeth takes initiative to do something, the Kingship will slip out of his hands forever; hence he decides to murder the king. 1. Duncan’s decision to stay at Inverness Macbeth’s ‘chance’ to murder Duncan was produced due to Duncan’s foolish and fatal decision. The scene begins with the current situation of the previous thane of Cawdor. Cawdor, who had been executed, was reported as showing a ‘deep repentance’ before death. They even go so far to say that his death ‘became him’ and he was at his best right before dying. Duncan then comments that ‘There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face’, referring to Cawdor’s betrayal of Duncan’s complete trust in him. The irony of this situation is that Duncan still does not learn his lesson after this, and still continues to trust those around him, eventually being betrayed by the current Thane of Cawdor (Macbeth) in an almost similar fashion. Macbeth is someone who Duncan will put ‘absolute’ trust in, like the previous thane. However, Duncan appears to be a poor judge of character as he is soon tricked by the thane of Cawdor again. His comment ‘There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face’, basically means there is no technique or skill to see a person’s heart gives the scene a sense of foreboding and prophesy. It helps give rise to the theme of APPEARANCE AND REALITY, as well as injects a sense of dramatic irony as the audience knows he is about to make the same mistake again. As we can see, this line incorporates much dramatic significance, also because after this line is spoken, Macbeth enters. This link can only be seen by the audience and not Duncan; a subtle hint about the future. In this scene, we are able to characterize Duncan. He is a generous, appreciative, noble, naà ¯ve, trusting, gullible, gentle, dignified and benevolent king. He is associated with the natural order of things and even Macbeth recognizes me as a good king whom the subjects love. However he is also a poor judge of character as well as a tactless/thoughtless man. He gives Malcolm the crown before Macbeth, a tactical error which costs him his life. Macbeth would have be likely to feel jealous of Malcolm, not to mention having done so much in the war, he would feel as if his reward of the title ‘thane of Cawdor’ is small and insignificant compared to the crowning of the prince. However we cannot completely blame and ridicule Duncan for trusting Macbeth. Macbeth having had lain down his life for him, has earned Duncan’s trust. However we can still feel the irony as Duncan praises the treacherous Macbeth with words like ‘O worthiest cousin!’ etc. Duncan even says that Macbeth has done so many brave deeds that he has already been put in front of all of them, as if having been ‘elevated high above them all’. He expresses his internal gratitude, claiming that whatever reward is give to him is still not enough to fill the debt he owes to Macbeth. Macbeth replies Duncan claiming that there is no need to thank him as his service and loyalty to Duncan rewards him, and that he is full of love, duty and loyalty towards Duncan the country, him and his children. This provides a sharp contrast to the later soliloquy of scene 4, where Macbeth calls on the powers of darkness to kill the man he has just declared complete allegiance to. The contrast emphasizes Macbeth’s duplicity and double dealing nature. Duncan, as an appreciative and generous King, also does not forget to thank Banquo. The seed and plant imagery, otherwise known as a horticultural image, is used in Duncan’s speech to Banquo, to indicate a natural growth of appreciation for him, which is no less than the appreciation of Macbeth. Banquo’s reply is also less flowery and elaborate compared to Macbeth’s, making a clever conceit (does not mean arrogant, means something like ‘thought’) on Duncan’s embrace, and his desire to hold Duncan to his heart, hence showcasing his loyalty. Banquo continues the natural image of sowing and cultivating crops, then reaping them when ripe. Duncan is portrayed to be the rich soil in which Banquo has been planted and will thrive in. Banquo informs the King in a simple, straightforward manner that if he ‘thrives’ the King will naturally reap benefit from him, as well as that all his power, possessions and status belong to the King. We must take note of the differences between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s replies. MACBETH BANQUO Flowery stilted Elaborate insincere doesn’t seem to come from the heart Straight forward sincere full of humility humble simple Duncan, in his joy, thoughtlessly names his son as the successor but still claims that his son is not the only one to receive such honors as he still loves everyone equally. Macbeth however, is disappointed, troubled and is even a bit angry. He sees Malcolm as an obstacle and is now seriously thinking of treachery. Duncan does not recognize his displeasure. He decides to proceed to Inverness, Macbeth’s home, and the words ‘bind us further to you’, invoke a sense of irony in us. We can see that Duncan will be bound to Macbeth in a way that he has never dreamt of. He has no idea of what Macbeth is going to do to him in his stay in his castle. This will go on, unknown to Duncan but known to the audience, as they know of Macbeth’s evil plans. Macbeth lies to the King, pretending that he is rushing back to deliver the message of Duncan’s soon arrival to his wife, when the truth is he wants to hurry back to plan the murder of Duncan with his wife. He even says that â€Å"rest is labor, if not used for you’. In other words, resting feels more like labor if not done to help his King in any way. Duncan, naà ¯ve and trusting, calls him ‘worthy Cawdor’, not suspecting a thing. With the King’s decisions in mind (crowning of Malcolm and the decision to stay at his castle), Macbeth is now more determined than ever in his evil purpose. The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see He calls on the stars to block out their own light as what he is about to do is bad, terrible, treacherous and evil that he does not want anyone, even himself, to see it being done. He does not want to relive the full horror of his deeds and hence rather not let his eyes see his hands at work. This also tells us that Macbeth recognizes the evil and wrong in his actions and yet he still proceeds to carry out the evil deeds. He coveys this to the audience with the use of soliloquy and hence we understand that Macbeth’s invocation (to call on) to the stars to dim their lights are thoughts which are kept to himself and are only known to him and the audience, emphasizing the fact that these are thoughts running through Macbeth’s mind, unbeknownst to the rest. His words are like an inversion of nature; as if he were to ‘obliterate’ the light from heaven just to fulfill his dark purposes (MURDER DUNCANà ¯). Dramatic irony is continued as Duncan and Banquo proceed to discuss Macbeth’s nobility and courage after he leaves to discuss Duncan’s murder with his wife. They call him ‘a peerless kinsman’, in other words saying that no one is as good as him in terms of goodness and courage. This further emphasizes Duncan’s gullible, trusting and naà ¯ve nature, not suspecting Macbeth’s motives in the slightest. COMPARE AND CONTRAST†¦ In drama, it is more accurate to study the main character in relation to the roles that he/she/it plays and his/hers/its relationship to other characters. Macbeth VS Banquo 1. PARALLEL characters Characters which are very similar to one another Why? 1. both help kings fight the rebels 2. Both are captains 3. Both receive prophecies from the Witches 4. Both commended by the King However, that is where the similarities END. 1. Banquo is used to show CONTRAST with Macbeth Why? Stark contrast between Macbeth and Banquo’s 1. Reactions to the witches’ prophecies Macbeth – fearful, awed, eager to know more Banquo – wary, defiant, confused 1. Reactions to Duncan’s commendations Macbeth – flowery reply, full of insincere sounding praises Banquo – brief, humbling, sincere and self-evasing reply 1. Personality and character Macbeth – ambitious, deceptive, cunning, cruel and ruthless Banquo – full of integrity, honest, valiant, brave, loyal, and cautious 1. Royal line Macbeth promised to be king Banquo promised to be the father of many kings Banquo promised to be greater and happier than Macbeth 1. Attitude towards each other, before and later At first open with each other; later they will be wary and cautious with each other and unwilling to share their thoughts, hiding their intentions from each other. Macbeth VS Witches 1. Witches are supernatural beings with supernatural knowledge Offers go beyond that of ordinary human limits 1. Macbeth is embodiment of ‘man’; Full of apparent ‘valiance’ but actually easily mislead 1. We are rather unclear to witches’ intentions towards Macbeth in ACT 1 Later, Hecate scene indicates that they are supernatural agents of evil and destruction, holding power through surprise magical intentions Appearance VS Reality (theme) 1. Theme of FALSE appearance can thus be understood firstly in terms of conscious deception and hypocrisy 2. DECEPTION can thus be understood, secondly as part of the broader theme of concealment. From the beginning, Macbeth conceals his feelings about becoming King by speaking in ‘aside’ or soliloquy. 3. HYPOCRISY can be seen from Macbeth hypocrite actions, as he claims to be loyal and honorable but in truth; plots to kill his King (commit REGICIDE) Evil VS Fear 1. GOOD and EVIL are moral absolutes: The ethical view that certain actions are absolutely right or wrong, regardless of other contexts such as their consequences or the intentions behind them 1. Macbeth’s murder of Duncan is treated as a crime of the most terrible kind, of which he is deeply fearful from the moment he entertains the thought of it, which has far-reaching consequences. 2. 3. Recurrent images of darkness and night, illness and blood are all used figuratively to suggest moral significance, and to give a CONCRETE image of evil. Explain: REGICIDE, when it is performed of a good, lawful King, is considered EVIL. There is no moral objectivism, especially when the murder carries it out for his/her own benefit. This is emphasized by the many symbols used. 1. However, good and evil is also presented in a paradoxical way†¦ Macbeth expresses the most sensitive moral awareness: he accuses himself of the evil of his murder in the most eloquent terms; and experiences great horror and terror both before and after the deed. This contradicts the idea of good and evil as though Macbeth ‘knows the evil’, he still carries on to perform the ‘evil’, as if it were ‘good’ The choosing of wrong though aware of the right, causes good and evil to seem also like paradoxical ideas. INTO THE PLAY à ¯Ã‚ ¦ Macbeth’s soliloquy: 1. Macbeth speaks the greatest proportion of his lines alone; in a soliloquy or an ‘aside’ 1. Lack of interaction with other characters is very SIGNIFICANT in this kind of drama which usually relies upon dialogue to move the action forward. 2. This solitary speech produces a strong sense of Macbeth’s isolation especially later in the action, where he is virtually speaking alone even though there are many silent servants on stage. 3. This makes Macbeth a very internal character, whose inner life creates a kind of action in mind. His private speeches use vivid and moving images and develop powerful inner experiences at different points in the play. Scottish court: 1. Duncan, Malcolm and Macduff have distinct roles to play 2. However, thanes are apparently generalized in speech and decisions at the start of the play 3. Duncan’s role is that of a gracious but overly trusting and wrongfully murdered King. He relates to his scout with elaborate and formal courteousness 4. After Duncan is murdered, thanes become wary of each other and their surroundings