Ethan Frome Analysis Essay

Major themes in Ethan Frome include silence, isolation, illusion, and the consequences that are the result of living according to the rules of society. Wharton relies on personal experiences to relate her thematic messages. Throughout her life as a writer, Wharton would schedule the time that she wrote around social engagements and she did not readily discuss her writing. As a result, she was familiar with silence and isolation. The rules of society did not condone a woman who was a member of the upper class working, much less as a professional writer. Societal rules also frowned upon divorce. Wharton lived in a loveless marriage for years before she took a risk and divorced Teddy Wharton, her husband for almost thirty years. Throughout the novel Wharton focuses on silence as a major theme. In the introduction, the author describes her characters as â€Å"granite outcroppings . . . half emerged from the soil, and scarcely more articulate.† Each of the three major characters is encased in his/her own silence. Ethan, a quiet man by nature, returns to Starkfield following the death of his father to run the family farm and sawmill. Because he is too busy working to make small talk with the villagers and his sick mother stops speaking, Ethan becomes imprisoned in a â€Å"mortal silence.† He experiences a brief reprieve when Zeena arrives to care for his mother; but after his mother’s death and his subsequent marriage to Zeena, Zeena falls silent also. Communication between the couple is minimal and superficial. After Mattie’s arrival, Zeena forces a smothering silence on her also with her â€Å"fault-finding (that is) of the silent kind.† Ethan is able to share his passion for the wonders of nature with Mattie; however, when conversation takes a turn towards intimacy, silence returns and all Ethan can say is, â€Å"Come along.† The characters are unable to communicate with each other to di spel their own loneliness. It isn’t until Zeena forces Mattie to leave the Frome household that Ethan and Mattie express their feelings for each other. They abandon rational thought as they attempt to commit suicide and enter a silent hell in which the only verbal communication to be heard is Zeena and Mattie’s complaining. Isolation, another major theme in the novel, is not self-imposed before the tragedy that befalls Mattie and Ethan, but is enforced upon them by outside circumstances. Ethan tried to escape the isolation of Starkfield and his father’s farm by going off to the technological college at Worcester. He began to cultivate his own social traits and to overcome his reticence; however, his father’s death forced him to give up college and return to the farm and his ill mother. After his marriage to Zeena, Ethan is imprisoned by the farm, millwork, and caring for Zeena. He is physically isolated from the world at large and is also cut off from the possibility of any human fellowship that life in a village might afford. Mattie and Zeena are isolated characters also. Mattie is isolated by the deaths of bot h parents and the ill will of most of her relatives. She moves to the Fromes’, an unfamiliar farmhouse and, except for church socials, is cut off from contact with human beings other than the Fromes. Because Zeena is consumed by her many illnesses, she rarely leaves the farmhouse, and only speaks to Ethan and Mattie when voicing her complaints or demands. Because the attempted escape from isolation by Ethan and Mattie fails tragically, Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena are left to spend their lives in an isolation even more complete than that from which they tried to flee. Illusion, a false interpretation or perception, is an important theme in the novel. Illusion affords each of the three main characters a means of escape from the reality of the silent and isolated lives they lead. Ethan would † . . . imagine that peace reigned in his house† when Zeena stopped watching Mattie so closely after her arrival. He wants to believe that Mattie’s smiles and certain gestures are just for him. Ethan dreams of being with Mattie always; in fact, â€Å"he was never so happy with her (Mattie) as when he abandoned himself to these dreams.† The night that Zeena went to Bettsbridge, Ethan imagines them (Mattie and himself) sitting â€Å"on each side of the stove, like a married couple.† When Zeena insists that Mattie leave their household, Ethan tries to convince himself that Zeena will change her mind. His illusion about running away with Mattie fizzles when he faces reality — he can not afford one ticket, much less two. Mattie dreams of spending her life with Ethan. Ironically, her illusion becomes a reality. She does spend her life with Ethan, but as an invalid cared for by Zeena, not as Ethan’s wife, as she had imagined. Zeena’s illusions are unhealthy. Her hypochondria enables her to escape into self-pity and self-indulgence. The smash-up forces her to abandon her illusions of withdrawing from all her household responsibilities through the device of a hired housekeeper. The imprisonment experienced by an individual living according to the rules of society is a major theme inEthan Frome. The message that Wharton conveys through Ethan is that when people fear they are violating the rules of society, they risk becoming enslaved by those rules. Ethan doesn’t leave his wife because he feels bound by his marriage vows. He dreams about being married to Mattie; however, even as he writes his goodbye letter to Zeena, and subsequently talks to Mrs. Hale, his conscience does not allow him to follow through with his wishes. Instead, the rules of society rule his life and he remains entrapped in a loveless marriage. Symbols in Ethan Frome enrich the themes found in the novel as well as Wharton’s characterizations. A symbol functions literally as a concrete object and figuratively as a representation of an idea. Symbols allow writers to compress complicated ideas or views into an image or word. The most important use of symbolic imagery in Ethan Frome is the winter setting, which is first described in the prologue and is carried throughout the main story. Harmon Gow’s assessment of Ethan Frome early in the prologue is that he has endured too many Starkfield winters. From that point on, winter presides over the tragedy in all its manifestations of snow, ice, wind, cold, darkness, and death. The Narrator speculates that the winters in Ethan’s past must have brought about a suppression of life and spirit. Winter is also symbolic of the isolation, loneliness, and immobility that Ethan experiences. The name of the town, Starkfield, symbolizes the devastating and isolating effects of the harsh winters on the land and the men who work the land. The name is also symbolic of the stark and carefully composed prose Wharton used to write the story. Other symbols include the dead vine on the front porch of Fromes’ farmhouse that symbolizes the dead and dying spirits that inhabit the house and its adjacent graveyard, the farmhouse itself that has lost the â€Å"L† seems to be symbolic of Ethan (the house looks â€Å"forlorn† and â€Å"lonely†), it stands alone without support — isolated and lonely. The image of the butterfly, which has defied the cold and death of winter symbolizes freedom; freedom that Ethan is unable to attain because he is trapped in a loveless marriage. The cushion that Ethan throws across his study is the only cushion that Zeena ever made for him. Throwing it across the floor symbolizes his growing rejection of Zeena and his desire to run away with Mattie. Ethan thinks Mattie’s hair is one of her most beautiful features; it is symbolic of her free, happy, and open personality. Zeena’s hair, on the other hand, is always unattractively crimped and confined with pins, just as her personality seems pinched and constrained. The symbolic use of Mattie’s hair is more important at the climax of the novel, when it represents beauty and love, to which Ethan is willing to give his love — but can’t. The symbols used by Wharton in Ethan Frome reinforce the themes of silence, isolation, and entrapment; feelings that Ethan experiences i n his marriage. Wharton establishes patterns of imagery by using figurative language — language meant to be taken figuratively as well as literally. In Ethan Frome, Wharton’s descriptive imagery is one of the most important features of her simple and efficient prose style. Her descriptions serve a definite stylistic and structural purpose. The figurative language used by Wharton includes metaphors and similes. Metaphorscompare two unlike things without using words of comparison (such as like or as). For example, in the beginning of the novel, Wharton gives readers the feeling of the bitterness and hardness of the winter by setting the constellation, Orion, in a â€Å"sky of iron.† When Ethan and Mattie enter the Frome household after walking home, the kitchen has â€Å"the deadly chill of a vault after the dry cold of the night.† This image is appropriate to the living death that Ethan and Mattie experience in the years after their accident. Their lives do become cold and dead. The imagery associated with Zeena is bleak and cold also. When Ethan sees her before her trip to Bettsbridge, she sits in â€Å"the pale light reflected from the banks of snow,† which makes â€Å"her face look more than usually drawn and bloodless.† In contrast, the imagery associated with Mattie is associated with summer and natural life. Mattie’s change in mood reminds Ethan of â€Å"the flit of a bird in the branches† and he feels that walking with her is similar to â€Å"floating on a summer stream.† Later in the novel, when Ethan goes downstairs to tell Mattie that she will have to leave their house, their conversation has the effect of â€Å"a torch of warning† in a â€Å"black landscape.† Similes, comparisons of two unlike things that use words of comparison such as like oras, are direct comparisons that Wharton uses throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Ethan’s perception of Mattie’s face is â€Å"like a window that has caught the sunset,† and later, he thinks her face seems â€Å"like a wheat field under a summer breeze.† As Ethan and Mattie walk home from the dance, Ethan reveals to Mattie that he had been hiding while she talked to Denis Eady. Wharton describes the moment when â€Å"her wonder and his laughter ran together like spring rills in a thaw.† The dead cucumber vine at the Frome farmhouse looks â€Å"like the crape streamer tied to the door for a death.† And, when Zeena tells Ethan that she should have sent Mattie away long ago because people were â€Å"talking,† the effect of her comment on Ethan is â€Å"like a knife-cut across the sinews. . . . † As Mattie and Ethan approach their crippling accident, darkness prevails over the imagery. Darkness comes, â€Å"dropping down like a black veil from the heavy hemlock boughs.† The b lack veil causes the reader to think of a funeral. Such figurative language evokes vivid images that reveal characterization and reinforce Wharton’s themes. Edith Wharton’s writing style is characterized by simplicity and control. Her choice of vocabulary and sentence structure, which is as stark as the lives led by her protagonists, is deceptive. Throughout the novel, Wharton builds up patterns of imagery, patterns of behavior, and specially charged words; all of which serve a definite stylistic and structural purpose. One of the best examples of Wharton’s careful control is seen in the descriptions of the events immediately before and after the â€Å"smash-up.† As Mattie and Ethan ride the sled down the hill, Wharton captures the initial thrill of the speed and then Ethan’s frenzied determination to drive them straight into the elm tree. Her prose slows down as she evokes Ethan’s return to consciousness. Not only in this example, but everywhere in the novel, her style is restrained, so that the way the words are arranged enhances their meaning without calling attention to the cleverness of the arrange ment. Because Wharton refrains from using unnecessary, superfluous modifiers, her descriptions seem to be almost elliptical or incomplete. She chooses adjectives and adverbs carefully and uses them infrequently. Her imagery is always appropriate to the limitations of her characters and is simply and subtly stated. For example, when Mattie and Ethan spend the evening together, Wharton uses the imagery of warmth and cold to complement characterization. She uses adjectives related to warmth when describing Mattie, and adjectives related to cold to describe Zeena. Other examples of elemental nature found in Wharton’s imagery are stars, the seasons, animals, vegetation, light, and darkness. Wharton’s use of structure contributes to the depiction of Ethan’s tragedy. The prologue and the epilogue, which take place some twenty years after the events of the main story, are written in first person from The Narrator’s point of view. Structurally, these portions of the novel constitute a â€Å"frame† around the story itself; however, this frame is more than a decoration. The prologue not only establishes the nature of theme and action, but also begins the characterization of Zeena and Ethan Frome. It also sets the important patterns of imagery and symbolism and starts a tone of omniscient narration throughout the body of the novel. Ethan is the only character who is thoroughly explored. Wharton’s attention to minor details and her use of structure to relay Ethan’s complicated and tragic life story to readers enables her to portray her characters as victims of the rules of society.

Critical Review for the Article Essay

The electronic journal entitled: ‘The Long-Term Performance of Horizontal Acquisition’, by Laurence Capron of the Institut Europeen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD), published in 1999 by the Wiley and Sons publishing, has studied the creation of â€Å"horizontal mergers and acquisition†. In Capron’s paper, he dated his studies from mid-1980’s to early 1990’s financing strategies of firms in divesting and liquidating its assets which he referred as the â€Å"horizontal mergers and acquisition†. Capron has cited about 253 firms in Europe and America that patterns the financing strategies. According to Capron (1999), examination reveals divestment of assets and capital infusion (re-financing of liquidated assets) makes effective to â€Å"acquisition performance†, but could have potentially detrimental impact. As what Capron emphasized on the performance of acquisition based on â€Å"divestment and redeployment (re-acquisition) of resources†, his study examines the defects and compliments on effective means in â€Å"horizontal mergers and acquisition†. Key points and rationale As reviewed from the journal, the â€Å"horizontal acquisitions† may be exemplified as a means and strategy in establishing the resource-divestment scheme, in which by doing so, it â€Å"optimizes or exploits the values of cost-based and revenue-based synergies† (Capron 1999: p. 988). As explained, it may be perceived that the â€Å"synergy† patterns the continuing acquirement of business values, as a result of divestment wherein merging of the newly diversified firm or business values acquires more assets and capital budget. According to Capron (1999), the cost efficiency theory emphasizes on the significance of cost-based synergies that occur when assets have been divested resulting the integration of cost-saving measures. Thus, the firm performs effectively in enhancing its revenues that synergizes with the redistribution of the capital towards an enhanced capability. It may be analyzed from the findings of Capron that the 1980’s and 1990’s rapid growth of industries brought about by globalization have emerged more investments in the supply chain. One of which is the positioning of developed and high-end industries within raw material sources. Like, for example, diversification process has been developed in Asian countries wherein more investment in cheap raw materials and labor are available and can be acquired easily. The â€Å"horizontal acquisition† could be drawn from establishing partnership, subsidiary in operation, joint ventures and inter-dependency in export and import schemes. Hence, for example â€Å"Company A† has divested in establishing â€Å"Company B† to engage in tire manufacturing that source out the cheapest raw materials. In which case, a diversified industrial firm could venture out into â€Å"versatile† business values that optimize capital investments for a larger revenue generation translated into cost effectiveness that means substantial profitability. In Capron’s finding, the so-called â€Å"economy of scale† became the bases of diversification process that paved the way to a â€Å"large-scale† industrialization. The 20th century practice of the economy of scale has favored more industries to capture the â€Å"investment areas†, specifically in poor countries. The â€Å"dispensation of merging† through open-ended stockholding in small-medium-large enterprises units has put significant relevance in acquiring industrial partnership, wherein capital investment has a critical role in merging companies. As cited from Capron’s findings, the logical economic explanation is capturing revenue-based synergies which are commonly identified as allocating and complementing resources by providing â€Å"core competencies† or â€Å"mobilizing invisible assets† (Penrose 1959; in Capron 1999: p. 989). As cited, Capron also pointed out in his â€Å"theoretical model† of post-acquisition and target redeployment (Capron 1999: pp. 990-995). According to Capron, the theory describes the diversification process as focusing on (1) asset divestiture, (2) cost-saving, (3) resource redeployment, and (4) revenue-enhancing capabilities as an effective means of â€Å"acquisition performance† (Capron 1999: p. 992). The theoretical model refers to and explains the â€Å"basic economic behavior† as outlined in the acquisition performance. Capron further theorized that capabilities in a divested firm are being distributed as an organizational undertaking. Meaning, it can be explained that the system of corporate governance and human resources are distributed or being shared that composes the acquisition performance. However, key â€Å"organic elements† were emphasized to have been integrated in the divestment process, in which the re-deployment (or deployment) of the organizational â€Å"system or setting† are acquired. Conclusion Capron’s examination on the horizontal acquisition and projection of model in strategic post-acquisition and redeployment could be understood as a fundamental undertaking in diversification process. It may be true that most of merging firms in their acquired assets or business are mainly distributing their in-placed â€Å"organizational or corporate system†. However, the merging firms could likewise optimize or â€Å"streamline the existing organizational set-up, which is the common occurrence in most firms that undertaken a â€Å"buy-out†. It may be perceived that the revenue-generation could be largely acquired into options by streamlining the existing organizational set-up or re-organizing both human and capital resources. Capron’s findings have emphasized more on the performance capability on the theory of â€Å"horizontal acquisition† referring only to capital budget, as implied on the capital resources or fixed assets of the firms. The human resource aspect [as a critical unit] of the post-acquisition process may have not been well emphasized. What has been generally discussed in the study is the transformative business value in divestment schemes referring to capital investments and fixed asset liquidation. It could be reflected that the capital investment and fixed asset liquidation are the critical factors in the divestment schemes as the primary resource of merging stakeholder. It could be suggested that the â€Å"potentially detrimental impact† [as also pointed out by Capron] could be referred to the human resources or labor force in a diversified industry. The merging stakeholder in Capron’s findings were much given relevance on how they could effectively perform in targeting their post-acquisition and redeployment, in which the study itself envisions to complement the performance capabilities of the stakeholders. At this point, we may re-examine Capron’s â€Å"theoretical model† as giving more â€Å"weight† to the envisioning of transnational and multi-national enterprises in furtherance of globalization, in which the continuing divestment scheme competes in the large scale economy of labor market and capital build-up. We may then conclude that Capron’s findings could be re-examined with further studies relating to human resources re-deployment or deployment on its horizontal development complementing the diversification of industries, in which the parallelism envisions both human and capital divestment. Section B Morrison’s bid to Safeway The electronic magazine of the Financial Times on its December 8th 2003 issue at the www. ft. com web site has published the news article of Richard Milne entitled: ‘Countdown Starts for Morrison’s Bid for Safeway’. According to the news article, the Morrison Supermarket bided 21 days from its competitors, such as Tesco, J. Sainsbury and Asda-WalMart, following the UK government’s offer to sell the Safeway supermarket. The UK Department of Trade and Industry disclosed that â€Å"Morrison was willing to sell its 53 stores if acquisition of Safeway is successful† (Richard Milne 2003; in Ft. com 2008). Morrison’s negotiation was favored by the UK Competition Commission that disqualified the three major competitors from the bidding and upheld Morrison to takeover Safeway with a share of 219-1/2 from the 279-1/2, in which Safeway acknowledged the buy out. In a follow up report in 2004, after a year of the buy out, the Safeway has gained 40% of sales growth. Financial analysts claimed that Safeway has â€Å"migrated customers† to Morrison supermarket, as it cited that â€Å"quality of sales has gone better because Morrison has stopped the Safeway policy of rolling deep discounts† (Martin Dickson 2004; in Ft. com 2008). Perception of the issue Morrison’s takeover of Safeway supermarket has gauged the situation of significant financial divestment venture. The business potentials of Safeway [being an established supermarket that solely competes with Tesco, J. Sainsbury and Asda-WalMart] were the â€Å"strong intent† of financial divestment of Morrison to even offer the sell of its 53 stores. The financial divestment of Morrison could be relating Capron’s findings on the â€Å"horizontal acquisition† of merging stakeholders by way of capital investments through diversified assets. In which case, the Safeway supermarket has found by Morrison as a â€Å"potential divestiture† that shall absorb the vulnerability from tough competitors. The merging of stakeholder through a buy-out or takeover of an established investment [like Safeway] may have validated Capron’s theory of â€Å"post-acquisition and redeployment†, in which Morrison has able to â€Å"contain† the migratory customers and could further develop the acquisition performance of divesting financial investments. The divestment process of Morrison’s takeover to Safeway has likewise described Capron’s finding on merging firms that engages in the economy of scale. One that Morrison has learned from the Safeway’s enterprise approach on rolling deep discounts, wherein it found to be defeating the â€Å"selling schemes†. Thus, managing the risks in â€Å"horizontal acquisition† has gained Morrison’s capability to undertake strategic competition that transformed the â€Å"old Morrison business† through the new outfit of Safeway supermarket. It may be then generally perceived that Capron’s theory on â€Å"horizontal acquisition† has transformative business value in enhancing the financial investment and liquidating a frozen asset [like Morrison’s 53 stores that are non-performing], of which a â€Å"unilateral† financial divestment scheme in managing risk investment, that is vulnerable to tightened competition, gains flexibility upon acquiring an established business venture. However, this assumption is perceptive of a challenge to the continuing financial divestment of core industries in the global market. List of References Capron, L. (1999) ‘The Long-Term Performance of Horizontal Acquisition’. Strategic Management Journal, pp. 987-1018, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. , CCC 0143– 2095/99/110987–32. Dickson, M. (2004). ‘Companies UK: Safeway Sale’. The Financial Times (2008). [online] available from [14 June 2008] Milne, R. (2003). ’ Countdown Starts for Morrison’s Bid for Safeway’. The Financial Times (2008). [online] available from [14 June 2008]

Winter Poetry – Skating at Night William Wordsworth

Wordsworth shows a positive fond memory of winter that is personal to him. He gives a feeling of excitement by using ‘and'. Also he shows how noisy it is by using ‘bellowing' and ‘not a voice was idle'. Even though it was cold Wordsworth would rather be outside with his friends then inside: ‘I heeded not the summons. Wordsworth also wants excitement and freedom: ‘Proud and exulting'. He likes to play games with his friends, like a native foxhunt: ‘Games confederate of the chase' He uses similes and metaphors to show he is exhilarated and has loads of energy: ‘Untired horse' and ‘the resounding horn'. Wordsworth has used onomatopoeia and alliteration to show the effect of speed: ‘We hissed along' and ‘The pack loud bellowing' speed is also shown by using the word ‘flew', the simile ‘Tinkled like iron' shows the brittle side of winter. Wordsworth uses the word ‘melancholy' to show that the beautiful scene, he once knew, is fading with old age a shows a slight sadness to the poem. Winter Percy Bysshe Shelley Shelley uses alliteration to show that winter is harsh ‘the wind was his whip' this also shows that it is a negative and destructive time. He writes: ‘One choppy finger' to make you wonder what winter will do next. Shelley portrays winter as an evil character using personification such as: ‘whip' ‘lip' to make it more effective. Shelley also makes winter sound brittle: ‘His breath was a chain'. Shelley shows how cold and powerful winter can be by writing: ‘He came, fiercely in his chariot-throne by the tenfold of the arctic zone' Shelley also shows that even the more evil things like weeds have to hide from winter: ‘Weeds which are forms of the living death fled from the frost' Using alliteration: ‘flight from frost' gives winter an eerie feel which makes things vanish like ghosts without a trace. When icicles hang by the wall William Shakespeare Shakespeare uses everyday characters to show the realism of his poem to create a typical winter scene: ‘Dick the Shepherd'. He shows that even though the weather is awful life goes on: ‘ways be foul, then nightly sings the staring owl'. Using rhyme gives the feel of movement but is broken when the owl makes its sound: ‘Blow' ‘Snow' ‘Saw' Raw'. Everyone gets effected by the cold: ‘Coughing drowns the parsons saw' ‘Marian's nose is red and raw'. Using words like ‘nipp'd' and ‘ways be foul' shows that is a cold mucky time. Shakespeare tells it how winter was there and then. There is no sympathy for winter. Emmonsail's Heath in Winter John Clare Clare gives no critical comment during his poem, he just observes what's around him: ‘Crimpled leaves' ‘an oddling crow' ‘the old heron'. His poem is also very detailed which adds to the effectiveness of the poem. Clare puts a lack of stress on the words: ‘While the old heron'. He uses personification to bring the lake to life and make it a bigger part of his observation: ‘Lonely Lake'. Clare uses alliteration to create the sense of movement: ‘Starts slow' but at the same time give a sense of calmness: ‘Melancholy wing' ‘An oddling crow in idle motion'. The scene is in harmony even the gypsy fits in: ‘the gypsy makes his bed'. Clare give affection to the ‘bouncing woodcock' Clare uses the word ‘Rove' to show how much he has observed from wandering about. Clare's poem is based on observation and is portrayed like a fairytale scene where everything is in harmony and fits in with the world around it. Conclusion In the Poem ‘Skating on Ice' the poem is based on a very personal scene, which is special to Wordsworth. He makes the poem exciting, exhilarating and gives a sense of movement. This poem is effective for these reasons and makes you really believe that you are their taking part in the chase. In Clare's poem ‘Winter' it reflects winter as being horrible and destructive. This is my favourite, as I believe this is how a typical cold winter day acts. Winter has been given the human characteristics to great effect showing everything winter is known to do. Shakespeare creates a sense of realism in his poem ‘When icicles hang by the wall' by give the poem everyday characters. He gives no sympathy, which makes it sound more real and effective. This poem is probably the most real out of all four and it portrays winter as a typical thing that happens. Clare's poem ‘Emmonsail's Heath in winter' is based on observation. He makes everything sound beautiful and in harmony with everything else. He makes everything very calm leisurely. This poem portrays winter as a beautiful time almost like a well-painted painting.

Examine critically the advantages of a culturally diverse workplace in Essay - 1

Examine critically the advantages of a culturally diverse workplace in a global business world - Essay Example roup from another†¦ Culture, in this sense, includes systems of values; and values are among the building blocks of culture† (Hofstede, 1994, p.19). From this definition, two things come to the forefront. Firstly, culture is a social cast in which an individual evolves to such an extent that this cast appears to influence every major activity, thinking and decision making of the individual. Secondly, culture clearly demarcates certain boundaries that allow a person to behave properly and in an acceptable manner thus helping coexist with colleagues and people around. As such, one can easily gauge the extent of influence that culture has on people. However, a clash of cultures takes place when people from different backgrounds meet. Individuals begin to experience phenomena such as ‘Culture Shocks’, wherein they begin to experience things and events from colleagues that are unexpected and sometimes beyond the comfort zone of the individual. Such an experience is constantly felt in an international environment. If people are considerate and understanding of other cultures, and provided people have prior knowledge of other cultures and have secured a perspective on the things to expect from alien cultures, then cooperation and getting accustomed to new work environments by making the necessary adjustments is easier and can be done with the earnest cooperation of others. On the other hand, if the individual persists towards insisting on things to be done according to a cultural backdrop of their preference and expect others to heed to it, regardless of whether it is agreeable to others or not, then it can be surmised that sooner or later, the personal relationships will deteriorate and situations within the workplace are bound to encounter major conflicts and friction. Such a conclusion is rather generalized and logical, but it goes without saying that there is more to it than meets the eye. The cultural theory put forward by Hofstede has focused on the

Virtual Private Network Tools Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Virtual Private Network Tools - Term Paper Example This research tells that VPNs create a virtual tunnel over the publicly available internet through the use of symmetric encryption. Common encryption and decryption keys which are used to encrypt all traffic in both directions are shared by both sides of the tunnel. In addition to the provision of an alternative to the use of the proxy server for remote access to campus resources, VPN also ensures secure methods to authenticate to the campus wireless network hence data security through the use of encryption technologies such as PPTP, L2TP, IPSec, and SOCKS. For a smooth establishment and maintenance of a virtual private network, one is required to have appropriate networking software and hardware installed in their computers and the local network. VPN software enables a client to join a private network as if they are at a local computer within the network despite the physical distance the client might be away from the network. This software ensures the security of the private network through the use of cryptographic tunneling protocols to ensure confidentiality and message integrity. In order to completely set up a virtual private network, certain software and hardware tools known as the VPN tools are necessary.T his paper discusses in depth four VPN tools namely, OpenVPN, Cisco VPN Client, LogMeIn Hamachi, and Windows built-in VPN. OpenVPN is an open source software application for virtual private network implementation, meaning it can be downloaded and used for free. Its main role is to securely tunnel encrypted data from the server to the client or client to the server through a single port over an unsecured network. Its popularity among VPN users comes from the fact that it’s a multi-platform application that supports different platforms unlike most of the other VPN software applications. It

The breakdown of American family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The breakdown of American family - Essay Example This paper discusses some of the most important problems of Americans today and discusses their cause-and-effect relationship with the breakdown of family. Problems discussed are drug addiction among teenagers, teenage pregnancy, abortion, and suicide among Americans. Drug addiction is on a rise in America today. A lot of teenagers fall prey to this habit and end up ruining their academic and professional career and in the long run, their life. Teenagers adopt this habit because of lack of parental supervision. This is the reason why drug addiction among teenagers is far lesser in the more reserved and family-oriented nations as compared to America. Teenage pregnancy is another outcome of breakdown of the family in America. Teenagers have no one to keep a check over them taking benefit of which, they indulge in physical relationships with their fellows before the appropriate age. This causes increase of pregnancy among teenagers and also abortion. Rather than accepting the responsibi lity, teenage girls tend to come out of it as soon as they realize that they are pregnant and thus, go for the abortion. The increasing suicide rate is the outcome of depression caused by the feeling of guilt and trauma because of such wrong decisions in life as drug addiction and physical relationships. ... This has promoted the culture of cohabitation in America which is one of the biggest threats to the sacred institution of marriage. People tend to cohabit as it relieves them from the financial and legal implications of the marriage. On the other hand, people that do marry have large tendency to have their marriage failed, because the partners have not learnt to compromise from their parents. Thus, breakdown of the family system in America is both a cause and effect of the increasing divorce rate among the Americans. The family system promotes a healthy culture wherein people can relate to one another psychologically and emotionally. Members of a family assume certain roles and responsibilities that they are obliged to perform in the capacity of the family-member. Rights come with responsibilities. Parents can only have a right over their children and their lives when they have grown up if they have been fulfilling their responsibilities as parents when the children were young and re ally needed their attention. Love of a mother and a father is essential to the development of confidence, self-esteem and most importantly, the identity of a child. It is the very lack of identity caused by the breakdown of the family that inculcates carelessness, irresponsibility and self-centeredness in people and they indulge in such behaviors that cause them to repent in the long run. â€Å"[T]he importance of the family in binding generation to generation, inspiring love and intimacy in the home, and fostering industry and lawfulness within the broader community† cannot be overemphasized (Carlson). Concluding, sustenance of a strong family system is fundamental to the solution of

Preventing the spread of clostridium difficilel (C.diff) through Dissertation

Preventing the spread of clostridium difficilel (C.diff) through Systems Change - Dissertation Example difficile infection, as the individual with Clostridium infection liberates enormous spores in the hospital environment, which persist in the dormant stage till they procure another individual. It is evident that standard disinfectants are not sufficient to combat infectious agents, thereby enhancing the diffusion of Cl. difficile. It is therefore essential to isolate the patient and perform necessary actions to prevent further spread to other individuals present in the hospital. It is essential to adopt the antibiotic for treatment to prevent CDAD (Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea). The present article highlights the proof-based directives to minimize the spread of Cl. difficile, encompassing well-timed diagnosis or CDAD, close watch of cases with CDAD, education to the staff, hygiene, clothes, highly effective sterilization process for medical equipments, cleaning the environment, efficient antibiotic stewardship. Background Numerous guidelines have been made available to minimize the risk of such infections. It is observed that control measures play an imperative role in controlling nosocomial infections. ... may persevere in the environment for months to years and display enormous resistance for various disinfectants (Barbut, 1993; Johnson, 1990; Teare, 1998). Clinical Presentation & Diagnosis Chief virulence factors encompass Enterotoxin A and Cytotoxin B of Clostridium difficile (Kuijper, 2006). Most of the strains of Cl. difficile generate these toxins, causing diarrhoea or pseudo-membranous colitis or may result in toxic megacolon and bowel perforation in some patients (Miller, 2002). The mortality rate is 25-30% (Pepin, 2005). Clostridium difficile toxins are assessed with the help of cytotoxicity assay or by ELISA, or culture technique under anaerobic conditions or PCR based assays through stool examination (Van Den Berg, 2007). Materials and Methods Data was procured from PubMed with the search terms as: 'difficile', 'nosocomial', 'outbreak', 'transmission', 'control', 'environment' and 'prevention'. Data was then evaluated to formulate the guidelines for the prevention of Clostri dium difficile. Findings In majority of the cases it is observed that spread of spores and hence the pathogen occurs by means of "contact" as the staff serves as a carrier of spores and hence the spores travel from patient-to-patient along with the staff, or they infect individuals through the contaminated environment (Vonberg, 2008). Discussion Restricted use of antibiotics particularly cephalosporin, group of antibiotics and appropriate formulation of methodologies to avert medical device-related contamination or any kind of cross-infection paves the way for the prevention of nosocomial spread of resistant species of microorganisms especially Clostridium difficile. It is essential to isolate the patient with infection from resistant microorganisms. Preemptive segregation of all cases

Is Competition Necessary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is Competition Necessary - Essay Example Therefore, competition determines who is to undertake a certain duty and assigns people their respective status or place in the social realm. For instance, some people compete with others with the aim of retaining their social status while others compete in order to attain new social status. Competition is necessary in society in that outperforming others is healthy since the person who is smart manages to get the best. Competition is really necessary because it acts a motivation in that it challenges people to have an objective and a goal that encourages or motivates them to attain more that the other person. This in turn makes the person to explore different ways available in order to beat others. In addition, competition brings more imaginative and creative thinking since a person is inspired where there is a challenge to overcome certain issues. Additionally, it offers the determination to continue without interference or undeterred. With this in mind, a person is able to recogni ze others in that he or she respects that different people have distinct abilities and skills (Fullick 36-7). Therefore, people ought to compete in a manner that motivates them positively not negatively even if it means against themselves and their own past successes. For instance, in classroom setting, some children posses’ different potentials and ways of learning, therefore, finding an good way to motivate them may involve a competitive aspect but it has be chosen wisely or else it can have negative effect and de-motivate students. In addition, competition brings people of different levels, aspirations, ages, and desired objectives or goals. Due to this, some individuals may be in a competition for social purposes. Competition is significant in that presents some life lessons. This is based on the argument that life can be hard and tough at times. For example, applying for jobs or participating in marathon or any discipline where there are many losers than winners. People are able to learn from it in that they relish chance or opportunity to do their best and find ways to enhance and improve in order to emerge winner the next time. More so, people will learn to cope with disappointment by congratulating the winner for outperforming him or her and candidly appreciating the abilities and talents of others while looking forward for the next chance (Porter 32-3). For instance, competition can make an individual enjoy freedom and mobility in that the spirit of competition assists individuals to enhance and improve their social status. On the same threshold, competition offers an individual good opportunity to satisfy their needs for new experience and better recognition in the society. Competition is also necessary in that it challenges an individual to go an extra mile when competing with other people. For instance, when people set their eyes on the price, they are able to put in more energy and enthusiasm which motivates them to carry on. Individuals ar e often ready to look for an extra reserve of determination and stamina to work through and carry on with the competition (Fullick 23). Competition has proved to be helpful in that it helps people to find resources they never had. In this case, competition requires critical thinking by exploring ways that can help one succeed. More so, it regularly

The Role that Trade Unions Play Iin Reducing Discrimination in the Research Paper

The Role that Trade Unions Play Iin Reducing Discrimination in the Workplace - Research Paper Example A trade union or a labor union is an organization of employees who work in a collective manner to attain specific common goals like the protection of the integrity of trade, the achievement of higher pay packages and other ancillary employment benefits like retirement benefits, medical and health benefits, ensuring safety standards, improved working conditions, bargaining regarding the working hours and increasing the number of labours that are assigned for a particular work completion. The trade unions perform a leadership role through which its bargains with the employer groups on the behalf of the employees, who are the union members to protect the interests of the employee groups, prevent any kind of employment exploitation and negotiate the work terms and labor contracts. Several real-life organizational examples are provided in order to support the arguments presented in the paper. Common terms inherently associated with trade unions like collective bargaining, equality and diversity issues, gender discrimination, racial discrimination etc. are also explained with an aim to develop a better understanding of the propositions established in the essay. The essay is concluded by highlighting the findings and providing an opinion regarding the contribution of the trade unions to the reduction of discriminatory practices in various types of organizations. The system of trade unions started at the beginning of the 19th century when trade association was formed as labor unions by the skilled male labors with the aim of protecting their employment terms and conditions.  Ã‚  

United States Probation Officer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

United States Probation Officer - Essay Example Further, serving as a witness in criminal court proceedings shows my commitment to justice and offenders’ behaviour modulation. I have also been able to engage in security circulation activities amongst clients and colleagues, acquiring vital verbal and written communication skills in the process. These skills will be paramount in successful execution of my duties as a probation officer. I will be highly honored to use learnt skills, to serve the community, as a probation officer with the United States Probation Department in New York. I am up to the challenge of serving as a proficient social worker capable of handling the wide array of offenders, together with their families whether in court, prisons or even in mainstream community. I will fulfil my duties with diligence, to foster the department’s success in rehabilitating offenders and preventing them from reengaging in criminal activity. I intend to achieve this by challenging offenders’ behavior, and helping them reform their attitude and demeanor, thus protecting the general public from possibly of multiple offenses. I have also committed myself to learning people and their behaviour, as part of my passion for law enforcement and due to recognizing the fact that a probation officer deals with diverse personalities and duties. Even though a career in law enforcement is bound to be challenging, I am confident that being a federal probation officer will give me a unique opportunity to optimally utilize my analytical, academic and immense work experience. I recognize that a principal part of my job will entail extensive interaction with law enforcement agencies and justice establishments like courts of law. For instance, in order to ensure that offenders abide by the law I will need court orders and decrees to set offenders in the right path toward correction. Further, in the course of administering my duties to the community, I will need to advise individuals to seek justice from the courts

Holocaust & The Japanese-American Internment Essay Example for Free

Holocaust The Japanese-American Internment Essay Humanity. It is disconcerting to think about what we the humans have done to our own race. All because we believe in trying to find a difference such as our ethnicity, intellect, or looks to try to find how we are better than some. Hitler did this to the Jews as he wanted the world to have the Aryan race with the Holocaust, and America did this to the Japanese during the Japanese internment. The Holocaust and the Japanese internment are very different from one another yet they are both very similar to each other. The Holocaust was the systematic mass slaughter of Jews and other groups deemed inferior by the Nazis. The Holocaust began when Adolf Hitler, the fascist leader of Germany that would lead the world into World War II. He and his followers proclaimed that the Germanic people, or Aryans, were better then others and targeted the Jews as the cause of all previous failures Germany had made. In 1935 the Nazis passed the Nuremberg laws that deprived Jews their rights to German citizenship and forbade marriages between Jews and non-Jews. More laws came to the Jews as well later, even limiting what kinds of works that Jews could do. However, the situation began to worsen with the Kristallnacht, otherwise known as â€Å"Night of Broken Glass. When 17-year-old Herschel Grynszpan, a German Jewish youth visiting an uncle in Paris, shot a German diplomat living in Paris, wishing to avenge his father’s deportation from Germany to Poland, the Nazis retaliated with a violent attack on the Jewish community. On November 9, Nazi storm troopers attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Germany, murdering about 100 Jews in the process. After Kristallnacht, many Jews saw that violence against them was only going to increase resulting in several German Jews to flee the country. Hitler first favored the emigration as a solution to what he dubbed as â€Å"the Jewish problem,† but the other countries such as the United States, France, and Britain, stopped the constant immigration of German Jews after admitting tens of thousands. Another plan was put into effect when Hitler discovered he couldn’t get rid of â€Å"the Jewish problem† by emigration and so he began to isolate them. He isolated the Jews by having them move to designated cities where they would be herded into desolate, overcrowded ghettos, segregated Jewish areas. By isolating the Jews in horrible conditions, the Nazis hoped they would either starve to death, or die from disease. This process went by too slowly, however, thus causing Hitler to take a more direct approach. His plan, the â€Å"Final Solution,† would lead to about six million innocent people’s deaths. The killings began as units from the SS moved from town to town hunting down Jews across Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Together, the SS and their allies rounded up men, women, children, and sometimes babies to isolated spots. The SS would then shoot the people into pits which later became their graves. Jewish communities that were not taken by the SS were taken to concentration camps were Hitler believed that the horrible conditions of these camps would speed the total elimination of the Jews. The prisoners worked as slaves everyday for either the SS or for German businesses where they were beaten severely or killed for working to slow. The prisoners were given hardly enough food in these camps dieing of starvation or disease. In 1942, however it seemed like the worse had yet to come with the arrival of extermination camps. Extermination camps were equipped with huge gas chambers that could kill up to 6,000 people a day. SS doctors would separate the strong from the weak or other wise mainly the men from the young, the sick, the elderly, and the women. Those that were put into the weak category would die immediately, while the strong would work till over-extortion. About six million died, and fewer than four million survived, however those that did would never be the same again. The Japanese internment happened during 1942. It was where government propaganda would take a negative effect on society. After the attack on Pearl Harbor many Americans discriminated against the Japanese American. Everyone that even looked to be Japanese would be mistrusted and be labeled as â€Å"the enemy. † On February 19, 1942 President Roosevelt issued an executive order which rounded up every Japanese person that lived in the US as they were seen to be threats to the nation. Many endured names such as being called an â€Å"alien. † In March, the government shipped the Japanese to relocation camps where they were sure to be not in contact with the enemy. Any former possession that the internees might had had were usually gone shortly afterwards as their lands would be repressed. Despite the fact that most of these Japanese were Nisei, native-born American citizens whose parents were Japanese, and that some volunteered for military service they were still put into these camps. They were housed in barracks and used communal areas, for washing and eating. Over half of those taken in were merely children. These camps were then overseen by military personnel. All internees over the age of 17 were given a loyalty test were they were asked questions. 120,000 Japanese were taken in, and only 60,000 survived. In 1988, the U. S.  Congress passed legislation which awarded formal payments of $20,000 each to the surviving internees. At the end of the war some remained in the US and rebuilt their lives, others however were unforgiving and returned to Japan. Both the Holocaust and the Japanese internment are eerily similar to one another. The Japanese and the Jews were seen to be the enemy and needed to be isolated in camps. The camps had inadequate medical care and the high level of emotional stress the people suffered were too much. Both lived in overcrowded areas and were over watched by the military. Life in the camps was hard for both the Jews and Japanese. Internees and Jews had only been allowed to bring with then a few possessions. However, internees were given 48 hours to evacuate their homes. Consequently they were easy prey for fortune hunters who offered them far less than the market prices for the goods they could not take with them. A big difference is that while the Jews were given free food, the Japanese were rationed out at an expense of 48 cents per internee, and served by fellow internees in a mess hall of about 300 people. Internees slept under as many blankets as they were allotted. Leadership positions in both concentration camps and the relocation camps were given to German-born Jews and American-born Japanese. While, the government ideals may have been different, when they spew propaganda they seem to be very alike. While both cases are different, the Japanese internment and the Holocaust are still the same as well. A different location, and different procedures, these two cases had, but still for the same cause of government propaganda.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Essay Example for Free

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Essay The character Margaret is married to Brick, the son of Big Daddy. They live together in Big Daddys house, along with his wife, Big Mama. We, as readers learn a lot about her character from the way she speaks, by what is said about her and by the stage directions. We also gain a good insight into her relationships with the people around her. Margarets relationship with Brick comes across as quite bizarre. His lack of interest in what she has to say gives the impression that he doesnt care and also shows a slight lack of respect. For example, when Brick replies to Maggies first line in the play, he says Whad you say, Maggie? The stage directions prior to his response read A tone of politely feigned interest, masking indifference or worse. Other stage directions describing his attitude to Maggies statements share the same negativity; such as Without interest., Wryly, Absent mindedly, Dreamily, followed by sarcastic comments. We also get the impression that Brick doesnt find his wife as attractive as other men do. On page twenty-one, Maggie says Way he always drops his eyes down my body when Im talkin to him, drops his eyes to my boobs an licks his old chops! The fact that shes telling her husband how other men show interest in her comes across as a subtle hint to her husband that perhaps he should appreciate her more. Almost reassuring herself, as well as him that shes an attractive woman. Bricks response however doesnt seem like the reply she was looking for. He describes her talk as disgusting. Theres also a sense of insecurity on Maggies front. When she catches Brick staring at her, she asks him continuously what hes thinking when he stares at her like that. On page twenty-five, Maggie says I wish you would lose your looks This is a particular strange request to make of ones partner. It makes readers assume she doesnt want to be attracted to Brick any longer. This assumption is soon backed up with fur ther lines on page twenty-eight when the couple talk of the conditions Maggie has to follow in order for Brick to continue living with her. They also refer to their bedroom as a cage, giving the sense of entrapment. Margarets relationship with Mae seems strained and false. Maggies continuous insulting of Maes children gives the impression that they dont get along particularly well. The topic of children in Maggie and Bricks relationship also seems awkward. Mae seems to take a patronising tone with Margaret on page twenty-nine when she says Maggie, honey, if you had children of your own youd know how funny that is It seems that Mae is well aware of Maggies envy towards her for having children and likes to bring it up from time to time. Margaret often refers to Big Daddy when shes attempting to make Brick jealous. When she was talking of the man who was looking her up and down, she was talking of Big Daddy, Bricks father. She uses him as an example of a man who gives her attention to try and get Brick to do the same. She also talks of Big Daddy not getting along with Gooper, Bricks brother or Mae. On page twenty, she says Big Daddy dotes on you honey. And he cant stand Brother Man and Brother Mans wife Big Daddy is also supposed to be dying of cancer, therefore theres a lot of talk of who will be getting the large share of his will. Margaret is obviously very aware of her sexuality. On the first page of the play, a stage direction says She steps out of her dress, stands in a slip of ivory satin lace. She also cares a lot about her appearance and what Brick thinks of her. I feel this because of her asking Brick what he thinks of her when he looks at her and because of stage directions such as She adjusts the angle of a magnifying mirror to straighten an eyelash Her relationship with her husband seems one sided and cruel. It seems as thought she wants children and a happy marriage like her sister in law however its made obvious that Brick doesnt share the same passion. We know from the continuous talk of Big Daddys will that she has dreams of being rich. So far, Williams has made Maggie seem like a desperate, hurt character that covers her pain up with her loud personality.

The Discipline Of Comparative Literature

The Discipline Of Comparative Literature Comparative Literature as a discipline implies transcending the frontiers of single languages and national literatures. For a comparatist, any literature is basically a literature which has to be studied with reference to other literatures, generally on a bilingual/ multilingual basis. The multilingual consciousness, which has often been distinguished from a polyglot situation, is characterized by the paradoxical desire to be one and yet remain many. Here we shall here make an attempt to bring together, and thereby compare and contrast, a few fundamental aspects of theme with regard to Kamala Das and Balamani Amma. Towards the conclusion of the above process, we shall try to bring forth and analyze some elements of intertextuality, prefiguration etc. which act as subliminal links between the two poets par excellence. As S.S. Prawer says, comparative thematology enables us to examine and contrast the spirit of different societies and epochs as well as those of individual talents: for the same reason, literary studies cannot be divorced from study of literary style (102). Influence studies have acquired a quite justifiable disreputation in the present times since they have been generally pursued in a mechanical, unimaginative way. Though influence cannot be totally separated from questions of analogy, affinity and tradition, it implies impulsion rather than imitation, and it is precisely the lack of mutual influence which makes the comparison interesting and meaningful (Prawer Influence, Analogy and Tradition 52). We have to remember the fact that influence is not confined to individual details, images, borrowings or even sources à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ it has to be considered as something organically involved in the production of artistic works, and that there are comparable manifestations in form or i n content, in different authors, at different times with no apparent direct relationship to each other. As J. T. Shaw says, juxtaposition of comparable works may have great value in the criticism of each of them (90). We must also be aware that the study of influence can lead us to questions of intertextuality, though the manifestation of intertextuality does not by itself presuppose influence. What will be attempted here, consequently, will not be direct analogies or affinities between Kamala Das and Balamani Amma, but instances of impulsion, intertextuality, and prefiguration. The thematic and structural complexity of Kamala Dass poetry is a quite natural outcome of the more complex nature of the modern world, when compared to that of her predecessors. However, it can be seen that her basic themes boil down to a few distinctive types as demonstrated below. Though the criticism that Kamala Das is subjective and does not bother for the world around her is levelled against her, we can easily refute it by citing a few poems she has written against communal violence. For example, the poem The Inheritance is about Hinduà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ËœMuslimà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ËœChristian hatred for each other and our false belief about the superiority of our own religion. We had the inheritance of peaceful coà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœexistence, but now everything is upset. She says when at sundown, the muezzins high wail sounded from/The mosque, the chapel bells announced the angelus, and/From the temple rose the brahmins assonant chant, But now lunacy speaks: slay them who do not/Believe, or better still, disembowel their young ones/And scatter on the streets their meagre innards. In A Certain Defect in the Blood ? she states the bitter memories of having to suffer discrimination because of her nonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ËœAryan blood. They were in the grip of fear and were trying to crouch like spiders into tight balls, trying to escape by sleep. She refers to July 1983, probably ethnic violence of a racial base : It was a defect In our blood that made us the lands inferiors, A certain muddiness in the usual red Revealing our non Aryan descent Death has always been Kamala Dass pet topic, and it was almost like an obsession. She was for many a time in deathbed due to cardiac problems and had seen death face to face. She grew up in a strained family atmosphere where her mother belonged to royal heritage and her father peasant folk. She often says that she nourished a fascination for Death the Leveller who could level the shame of her swarthy skin, plain features and Dravidian blood. The Cartà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ËœHorse is about the sorrow of young and old carthorses. Lucky is the decrepit horse which falls on the way and dies spurting pink foam from its mouth. But the old people who see the young horses being shot purse their mouth and tremble when they think of the inevitability of death . In Cerebral Thrombosis, a man of eighty is in his sick bed and the relatives are sleeping (weary, three nights in a row and not even a pillow for their heads). The last line reads: Only the oxcart stumbling on and on. The images of the deathbed, delirium, death etc are brought forth to make us aware of the inevitability of death. She has time and again brought in the issue of frustration due to various reasons. The poem The Testing of the Sirens is about her experiences with a man other than her husband. He makes love to her and takes her outside for sightseeing. But in the end, she realises that there is no more night, no more love or peace, but only the white sun burning. Finally she asks, Why does love come to me, like pain again and again and again? Towards the last part of the poem Daughter of the Century she writes about how she promises to control her lust, although she was enamoured by the white man who had whiter limbs. She is fully aware of the futility and meaninglessness of life. Disillusionment is powerfully expressed in lines like No God seems too keen to preserve us. We mated like Gods but begot only our killers Each mother suckles her own enemy And hate is first nurtured at her gentle breast She had many a fear about ageing, children leaving her when they grow up, friends disowning her, words failing her etc. In the poem Tomorrow she is fearful of the onset of tomorrow. She refers to her love and devotion for her child who called her Amma, and to her dreams unfulfilled before being persecuted by the cruel world. In Womens Shuttles she appears to be very sad about ageing. She can no longer enjoy the privileges that she had enjoyed during her younger days : At my age there are no longer Any homecomings. Nothing can Bring back a twinkle in those eyes That took root in memory During those innumerable Trips behind a dear ones hearse. She did not hesitate to raise her voice against false culture and snobbery: The first part of the poem The Snobs is about her house in Calcutta. The second part registers her strong protest against snobbery and false pretensions, against the cruelty of children who disowned their mothers because their hands were workà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœworn. She realises that we too, someday, by our children may be disowned. The poem Nani is mainly about a pregnant maid who hanged herself in the privy one day. They mistook the dead body for an expression of comic dance. When once she asked her grandmother about Nani she asked Who is she? It is also an expression of her philosophic thoughts about life, death and truth. She just cannot tolerate the indifference of the rich towards the poor. The poem Vrindavan hints at soothing extraà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœmarital relationship. She generalises it by saying that Vrindavan lives on in every womans mind and the flute is luring her; regarding the long scratch on her brown areola and flushed cheeks she lies to her husband that she tripped over the brambles in the woods. In Love she expresses her admiration for the man who has satisfied her desires: Until I found you I wrote verse, drew pictures and went out with friends for walks. Now that I love you, curled like an old mongrel my life lies, content in you In poems like Summer in Calcutta she speaks of the transience of human relationships. She drinks in the April sun like orange squeezed into her glass. She is intoxicated and wants him only for a moment. She realises how brief is the duration of her devotion and how brief is his reign inside her mind when she drinks the juice of April sun: Dear, forgive this moments lull in wanting you, the blur in memory. How brief the term of my devotion how brief your reign Though Kamala Das is labelled as a feminist poet by some, it seems that she broke herself away from the common kind of feminisms. Her feminine sensibility does not merely argue for gender equality, but for tender care and consideration from the male counterpart. An example is the poem The Old Playhouse, in which she says: I came to you but to learn What I was and by learning, to learn to grow, but every lesson you gave was about yourself. You were pleased with my bodys response, its weather, its usual shallow convulsions. You dribbled spittle into my mouth, you poured yourself into every nook and cranny, you embalmed my poor lust with your bitterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœsweet juices, you called me wife, Adumbrations of motherly love do not often figure in discussions on the poetry of Kamala Das. In the poem Jaisurya she tells us how proud she felt at the birth of her child and how dedicated she was to her new born baby. She wants to disregard the man who branded her with his lust à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ what matters is only the soft stir in womb, the foetus growing : They raised him to me then, proud Jaisurya, my son, separated from a darkness that was mine Poems depicting motherly love constitute the major chunk of Balamani Ammas poetry. It is often remarked that Balamani Amma is the poetess of motherhood. In the anthology titled soopaanam twenty three poems directly represent motherly love and there are many more poems which represent motherly love indirectly also. A typical example is maatru chumbanam (Kiss of the Mother). She is proud of being the mother of a human being. She kisses her child on the mouth, forehead, locks, head etc. The child is compared to a bud. The spring has come to add to the beauty of the bud fondled by the father and mother. She blesses her child to be able to face the harsh realities of life. ammayum makanum (Mother and Son) is the story of the beginning of a spiritual transformation. She is overjoyed when she first touches her baby boy. Thereafter, there is no place for selfishness in her mind. She pledges to live for her son. Tears of joy rush down her cheeks. She decides to refine her ways. According to h er, no philosopher except the mother could ever interpret the babble of the child. In the poem veenugoopaalan (Lord Krishna), the child is compared to Lord Krishna himself. At the height of devotion, even the objects of worship turn out to be God. For gods who do not have ageing or death, the transient childhood might appear attractive. That might have been the reason why they were that much interested in the music of young Lord Krishna. Any mother who vows to serve the son can see God himself in her son. Only foolish people search for God in sacred texts. Only the mother is privileged to envision God in her son. However, when we take up kavipreeyasi, (Wife of a Poet) we are told how the wife of a poet controls her feelings before him who spends his time involving himself in noble things. Half way through cooking and not even combing the hair she climbs the steps to see her husband. There he was sitting, writing poetry, addressing the universe. Her earthly desires are about to rouse him from the state of concentration. She is remorseful about wasting her youthful years. But her husbands words that their youthful days are not meant for enjoyment and merrymaking stop her from going near him. But she sees her husband kissing the ring she gave him and hears him praising her. Then she understands the depth of the love he has for her. She is very much moved by this, which is why she is ready to go back silently. In mangalyaraatri (Marriage Night) a bride forgets her past and clings to her husband, it is because all her thoughts are centred on him. The soul which has achieved Godà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœrealization is afraid if it would lose this faculty if it gives importance to worldly things. She is attracted to the beauty of the earth. The poet says that one can ultimately reach God only by learning to appreciate the beauty of the earth. Her husband becomes her whole universe. In kavanapeetattil (On the Stage of Poetry) a poet, bent on creating a worthwhile poem, looks at the roof thoughtfully, when his wife comes and stands at the door. She appears very beautiful and his concentration is lost when he sees her. Her voice makes the house a heaven and according to him, he has got a world of pleasure for himself through marriage. But she pretends as if she does not know what is in his mind. The artist knows that whatever be there, a heart eager for his presence is essential for his perfection in the field. And finally he understands that the beating of a tender heart is sufficient to melt any heart of stone. The ideology of nonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœviolence is proclaimed in prabhaatam (Dawn).This is the poets asking her soul to wake up in the morning to worship God and to bow her head in mutual love. The life based on rites and rituals make it difficult for one to reach the shore safely. Unless there is the strong oar of friendship, the boat is likely to be shattered against the walls of hatred. Life was wasted in search of vain things and is now suffering from misfortunes. If we want to make our life enjoyable, we must believe in the principle of nonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœviolence. Those who desire to hear the voice of God must not like the sound of mutual fights. When we leave all ill feelings and aspire for Godliness, fraternity and equality, me reach God realization. Similarly, she protests against social inequality and cruelty in ksheetraviidhiyil (On the Threshold of the Temple). This poem was written to celebrate the Guruwayur Temple Entry Proclamation. The poet seems to be fully conversan t with the social and political issues of her time. Till 1107, backward communities were not allowed to enter the temple to worship God. But several freedom fighters and social activists fought for years together to eke out this privilege. The poet praises all those who made that feat possible. She ends her poem by declaring that the revolution which can wipe the tears of the downà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ trodden is the only true kind of revolution. The comparative / contrastive study of themes has been termed differently by different theoreticians à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ thematics, thematology, stoffgeschichte Prawer identifies five prototypal subjects of investigation in this field, viz. (i) natural phenomena and mans reaction to them (ii) recurring motifs (iii) recurrent situations (iv) the literary representation of types and (v) the literary representation of named personages ( Prawer Themes and Prefigurations 99-100). Prawers remarks about the benefits of comparative thematology are of special significance with regard to the present study (102-3). First of all, the comparative study of themes and motifs enables us to see what type of writer chooses what type of material, and how the material is dealt with at various times. For example, Balamani Amma has a genius for combining themes and motifs from the most varied sources and integrating them into unified works of art, but Kamala Das weighs, filters and distils her themes. Secondly, thematic studies enable us, to examine and contrast the spirit of different societies and epochs as well as those of individual talents. Balamani Ammas tentative adumbration of physical love transforms, as we have seen, into Kamala Dass clinical prognosis of foreplay and coitus. Discussing the problematised and elusive concept of influence, Rene Wellek (qtd in Prawer, Influence, Analogy and Tradition 51) says that the whole conception of a cause in literary study is uncritical; nobody has ever been able to show that a work of art was caused by another work of art, even though parallels and similarities can be accumulated. A later work of art may not have been possible without a preceding one, but it cannot have been caused by it. Now, this casual admission of fact by Wellek can be taken as an excellent launching point, though his statement may be somewhat too broad in reference. Putting things in this broad frame of reference one can well argue that all texts have been influenced in some way or another, and that all works of literature are intertextual in nature. Speaking about literary indebtedness, J. T. Shaw (85-6) says that an authors literary debts do not in effect diminish his originality, since originality is not best understood in terms of innovation. Many great authors have openly admitted the influence of others on them, and some, like Salman Rushdie, have even paraded their indebtedness to others. They seem to have felt that originality consists, not exclusively or even primarily in innovation in materials or of style and manner, but in the genuineness and effectiveness of the artistic moving power of the creative work. The innovation which does not move aesthetically is of interest only to the for malist. What genuinely moves the reader aesthetically and produces an independent artistic effect has artistic originality, whatever its debts. The original author is not necessarily the innovator or the most inventive, but rather the one who succeeds in making all his own, in subordinating what he takes from others to the new aesthetics of his artistic work (Shaw 85-6). What emerges from the aforesaid is that the juxtaposition of comparable authors as well as their works has rewards richer than we might imagine. The kind of quasià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœdiachronic comparison we are attempting here will be seen to expose hitherto ignored or unperceived aspects of awareness concerning both the mother and the daughter. From the foregoing, it would almost be tautological to say that we have here two poetic minds operating on entirely different milieu. Creative power is, as commonly observed, fed and controlled by the timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœspirit. Since Balamani Amma had written most of her poems during the Indian struggle for independence, we have a natural preponderance of themes like patriotism, reverence for God, concern for the poor and the afflicted etc in her poems, combined with a dominant lucidity of style. But on the other hand we have Kamala Das, a product of modern lifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœsituations. She is the spokesperson of the subtle but powerful eruptions of the complex modern psyche. Identity crises, phobias, inhibitions, unfulfilled and uncertain relationships à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ all form the natural makeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœup of the raw material before the modern poet; and hence we have the ensuing complexity and innovativeness of both theme and style. Intertextuality is a potential mi ne for significant discovery of links which exist, directly and subliminally, between the mother and the daughter. What follows is an attempt to concretize some facets of intertextuality which exist between them. (a) PREOCCUPATION WITH THE DIVINE For Balamani Amma, manà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ËœGod relationship is not enigmatic at all. She was convinced that the way to God lies in self sacrifice, and almost all of her poems in this category centre on this keynote. paniniirppuuv , mannambalam, vandanam etc are good examples. In her poem paniniirppuuv we see that though man has access to high ideals and spiritual thoughts which are said to be capable of leading him towards ultimate Bliss, Godà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœrealization occurs only when he is willing to place everything at the feet of the Almighty. The poem vandanam is another triumphant acclamation of the manà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ËœGod relationship. The poet says that the troubles of this world à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ disease, discomfort, loneliness or anything à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ cannot destroy her faith in the Almighty. One of her other similar poems, Benediction, (aasirvaadam translated by the author) deserves special mention, where she felicitously combines the mundane with the spiritual: The first cry of the child was a Mantra Sanctifying their love No wonder. The child has come with the key of Heaven held tight in his curling fingers, Fingers that have to scribble the first lessons of selfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœsacrifice on her mothers bosom (Balamani Amma, Thirty Poems) Kamala Das on the other hand has considerably problematised the concept of God, especially in some of her Anamalai poems. In poem No. 10 she says: There is a love greater than all you know/ that awaits you where the red road finally ends its patience proverbial In poem No. 4, God or eternity is presented from another angle: If only the human eye could look beyond the chilling flesh where would death be then, that meaningless word, when life is all that there is, that raging continuity that often the wise ones recognize as God? For her, the concept of God or heaven is totally free from religious insinuations, and the way to God does not need to involve selfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœsacrifice in any form. For her, the wise one is he who is able to escape the stranglehold of the immediate, one who has enough perspective to view life as starting from the infinite and proceeding towards the infinite, with the occasional intrusion of death which cannot spell finality. (b) THE FEMINIST SEARCH FOR IDENTITY AND FULFILMENT The overtly feminist stance of Kamala Das has been exegetically discussed during the recent years. Almost aggressively individualistic, she systematically disposes of patriarchal codes in the various facets of human relationship, arguing for a just balance: Fond husband, ancient settler in the mind Old fat spider, weaving webs of bewilderment, be kind. You turn me into a bird of stone, a granite dove, You build round me a shabby drawing room and stroke my face absent mindedly (From The Stone Age) Kamala Dass poetry has a special force and appeal for us primarily because of the honesty and candour with which she asserts her right to exist as an individual with a distinctive identity and to be her authentic self even if this involves breaking the moulds of traditional ethics and propriety. Her poetry voices a vehement protest against the senseless restrictions which compel a sensitive and intelligent woman to lead a vapid kind of existence. She refused to fit into any scheme devised by the categorizers. The frank, confessional quality of her poetry is her main strength, though in the absence of a mature selfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœrestraint we can also notice in it a dash of callow exhibitionism particularly when she has to flaunt her flamboyant lust in order to retrieve her undermined dignity. The bitter irony and anguish of a woman who find herself tied down to a meaningless routine of household activities can be noticed in many of her poems. We see them in The Siesta where we find the poet asking herself ironically if she could have the courage and the sense : to pick herself an average identity, to age through years of earthly din gently, like a cut flower until its time to be removed . . . Through her defiant self-assertion, Kamala Das increases our awareness of how the dead weight of outworn values can block the emotional and individual growth of an individual. How painful, frenzied and self-consuming the life of an ill adjusted, sensitive individual can be in the rotting and decaying society is well brought out in many of her poems. However, it is more interesting to see the same streak of rebellion in the poetry of Balamani Amma, although in different form. The telling effect of zeità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœgeist upon her poetry diverted the force of her attack, so much so that she has had to project her feelings via an artificial context, many times resorting to using a third person, which would be of help in coming round the delicate problem of involving ones own husband. For example in her poem kalyaanaveedimeel (Upon the Wedding Stage) she evocatively highlights the picture of a potential groom afraid of his own natural impulses. Apparently, his whole life is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, and he cannot understand what knowledge the prospective bride would be able to impart. Though in his heart of hearts he looks forward to the pleasures of marriage, his conscious self considers it a weakness to have decided to marry. In another poem a girl, a sages daughter, shuns all lures of conjugal life. In spite of her fathers efforts to persuade her to marry one of his disciples, she remains adamant and shuns all worldly pleasures thinking that she has attained supreme enlightenment, and that she must not condescend to be a mere consort to a man. Later her father dies, and after many years when the charm of her youth has ebbed away, she meets a young sanyasi. The young man likes her and wants to be near her always. But she does not want to enchain his youthfulness to old age and decides to dissolve every particle of her existence in the foam of the ocean waves. This strange story inexorably justifies the reality and validity of all human passions. Kama or carnal pleasure has its validity in life, and repression of basic urges will only lend to psychological abnormalities. Balamani Ammas philosophy is one which embraces life on this earth with all its defects and deficiencies, and gives due recognition to th e psychological truth that asceticism has its martyrs. In the poem, kavanapiitattil (In the Poets Study) we have the silhouette of an artist working late into the night. His young wife, having been fighting it out with loneliness for quite some time expectantly makes a tentative appearance at the door, with age old human desire adumbrating her face. As the poet describes it, the artist, then at a supreme moment of creation disposes of this potential casualty by amicably reminding her of the importance of what he is doing, and the possible hazard which can be caused even by a minutes relapse. His obedient and understanding wife then beats a silent retreat. Poems like these express, albeit subtly, what the poet wants to say. Balamani Amma had to go by the canons of contemporary zeità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœgeist which advocated restraint, circumvention moderation rather than explicitness. But it can be seen that the same fierce individualism and plea for gender justice which marks off Kamala Das preà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœfigures forcefully in the poetry of her mother, though in a form not substantial enough to attract common notice. However, the mother could later find vicarious realization of suppressed rebellion through the poetry of her daughter, although after many years. In her poem To my Daughter written in 1965 she says: Your mind may grow restless with sad thoughts Your body may be weary of household tasks But about you I hold no fear. Your power of turning worms into butterflies Comforts me.

Reality in Wallace Stevens’ The Man with the Blue Guitar Essay

Reality in Wallace Stevens’ The Man with the Blue Guitar For Wallace Stevens, reality is an abstraction with many perspective possibilities. As a poet, Stevens struggles to create original perspectives of reality. Wallace Stevens creates a new, modern reality in his poetry. Actually, Stevens decreates reality in his poetry. In The Necessary Angel, Stevens paraphrases Simone Weil’s coinage of decreation as the change from created to uncreated or from created to nothingness. Stevens then defines modern reality as, â€Å"a reality of decreation, in which our revelations are not the revelations of belief, but the precious portents of our own powers†(750). Stevens relates, through poetry, a destruction of traditional reality leading to a realization that the meaning of a poem is not truth, always recognizing that the poem is the poets perception of reality. This perception of reality is based on experience, historical context, and poetic skill, among others. â€Å"The Man with the Blue Guitar† is a long poem that al lows Stevens to change perspectives and create abstract realities. Parataxis in such a long poem allows for the decreation of reality and the relation of imagination. In his book, The long poems of Wallace Stevens: An interpretive study, Rajeev S. Patke describes varied progression within â€Å"The Man with the Blue Guitar† as â€Å"an indefinite improvisatory series. In such a series the unitary sections lose their independent status as poems, and their masks and metaphors become stages in the continual play of metamorphosis which is the true life of Stevens’s poetry†(241). Imbedded in Patke’s description of â€Å"the true life of Stevens’s poetry†, is the parataxis that a sectioned poem provides. Each movement from section t... ...ique and presentation of Stevens’s concepts may be confusing and/or contradicting, but the overall presentation allows for the full realization of different perceptions and their comparison and contrast all lead back to Stevens’s purpose for poetry. This purpose being to relate experience while recognizing that each experience/perception/reality/dream is unique and insightful. In a long poem with many sections, an overall theme or fiction may not be attainable or seen as contradictory. The value of this poem lies in the realization and acknowledgment of different perspectives, and the acceptance an evolving world. Work Cited Patke, Rajeev. The Long Poems of Wallace Stevens: An interpretive study. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985. Stevens, Wallace. Collected Poetry and Prose. New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc. 1997.

Pathology Arises Out Fo The Ex Essay -- essays research papers

Concepts of pathology, as treated by the traditions of clinical psychology and psychiatry, define what is ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ in human behaviour. Various psychological paradigms exist today, each emphasising diverse ways of defining and treating psyopathology. Most commonly utilised is the medical model which is limited in many respects, criticised for reducing patients problems to a list of pathological symptoms that have a primarily biological base and which are to be treated behaviourally or pharmacologically (Schwartz & Wiggins 1999). Such reductionistic positivist ways of viewing the individual maintain the medical discourse of ‘borderline personality’, schizoid’, ‘paranoid’ or ‘clinically depressed’, often failing to address the wider socio- ltural environment of the individual. Pilgrim (1992) suggests that such diagnostic pidgeon-holing does not enhance humanity, nor aid those who are dealing with the distressed individual to find meaning. It also neglects to consider life beyond the physical, failing to address the more philosophical questions that abound from our very existence. Existential psychiatry and psychology arose in Europe in the 1940’s and 1950’s as a direct response to the dissatisfaction with prevailing efforts to gain scientific understanding in psychiatry (Binswanger 1963). Existentialism is the title of a set of philosophical ideas that emphasise the existence of the human being, the lack of meaning and purpose in life and the solitude of human existence. Existentialism stresses the jeopardy of life, the voidness of human reality and admits that the human being thrown into the world, a world in which pain, frustration, sickness, contempt, malaise and death dominates (Barnes 1962). How one positions oneself in that world becomes the focus for existential notions of pathology, a responsibility that is present for every human being, not one confined to the ‘mentally ill’. In this sense the human being is ‘response-able’ to the existential predicament that is life and the necessary struggles that arise through negotiating these conditions in every lived moment. In this essay I will give a brief outline of the history of existential thinkers, then discuss how t... ...  Lowrie). Princeton: Princton University Press Laing, R. D. (1960). The Divided Self. Harmondsworth: Penguin Lewis, C. S. (1943). The Abolition of Man. Oxford: Oxford University Press May, R. (1969). Love and Will. New York: Norton. May, R. & Yalom, I. (1984). Existential Psychotherapy. In Corsini, R. J. (ed.), Current  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Psychotherapies. Itasca Illinois: Peacock Owen, I. R. (1994). Introducing an existential-phenomenological approach: basic   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  phenomenological theory and research- Part 1. Counselling Psychology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quarterly, 7, (3) 261-273 Pilgrim, D. (1992). Psychotherapy and Political Evasions. In Dryden, W. & Feltham,C. (Eds.) Psychotherapy and It’s Discontents. Buckingham: Open University Press Satre, J. P. (1951). Being and Nothingness. (Trans. H. Barnes) Methuen: London Schwartz, M. A. & Wiggins, O. P. (1999). The Crisis of Present-Day Psychiatry:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Regaining the Personal. Psychiatric Times, 16, 9. Yalom, I. (1989). Love’s Executioner: And Other Tales of Psychotherapy. New York:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harper Collins

Contradiction in Another Country :: Another

Contradiction in Another Country Another Country contradicts the age-old principle that the United States is a safeground for all people. James Baldwin compares living the life of a homosexual in Paris to living the life of a homosexual in the United States. The views of the French are much more liberal than the conservative views of the Americans. The life that Eric, the homosexual character in Baldwin's novel, leads in Paris is socially acceptable. Baldwin also depicts France as a haven for interracial relationships. Eric believes that living an openly homosexual life in Paris is more satisfying, rewarding, comfortable and protected because his choice of life is widely accepted by the French society. In Paris, everyone feels comfortable. Everyone feels free to live his or her own life and not adhere to the rules that society establishes. Homosexuals have the liberty to walk down the street, sit in public parks and show affection towards their partner free of worry, without the fear of "alley cats". The people of Paris condone and support Eric's happiness, as seen in this passage: "I see that. You seem much happier. There's a kind of light around you. She said this very directly, with a rueful, conspiratorial smile: as though she knew the cause of his happiness, and rejoiced for him" (234). In contrast, New Yorkers have a entirely different attitude toward homosexuality. New York is confined by America's conservative views. The New York society functions on the principle that different is bad. Anyone who strays from the norms of society is a threat. The people in New York vocalize their disdain for homosexuals and in some cases even threaten physical violence against those who are bold enough to come out of hiding. Eric describes the New York atmosphere to his partner using the metaphor "alleys and alley cats" to represent those who prey on the openly homosexual. He comments: "Getting you into America is going to be hassle enough, baby, let's not rock the boat. Besides, New York is full of alley cats. And alleys" (Baldwin 190). In addition, France proves to be a haven for interracial relationships as well. As seen in Another Country, the French society does not frown upon relationship between the races.

Violent Films and Links to Aggression

Social psychology theorizes that prolonged exposure to television and films is having a very noticeable effect on the generations of people growing up in front of the television.   Conrad Kottak expresses this point with reference to the post-modern classroom: research conducted into American classrooms since the 1950’s has helped Kottak conclude that students who have grown up with the television and films have learned to duplicate the behaviours learned in front of the TV in other areas of their lives.Students in successive generations in the American classroom have begun to treat their classes and professors the same way they do their television, with none of the traditional sense of respect (Spradley and McCurdy 2000).Studies of Japanese television show a similar story when it comes to the relationship between exposure to film and behaviour in society.   The television series Selfish Women portrays the lives of several successful business women in Japan; the title is m eant as a reference to how such woman are perceived in real life.Van Esterik, Van Esterik and Miller believe that this television show has picked up on a small trend in non-traditional Japanese households and that after airing it has begun to influence a wider range of women and other viewers who are mimicking behaviours learned from the program (2001).In Social Psychology, the authors suggest that like the cases in Japan and the American classroom, violent films are having an impact on the behaviours of people all over the world (Brehn, Kassim and Fein 2005).   So is there a real correlation between exposure to violence on television and in films and aggression in people?Barker and Petley believe that this is indeed the case, and argue that it is very important for viewers, especially children, to understand that the story portrayed on film is simply fiction; when no real connection is made with real life they believe that viewers are far less likely to actually carry over the vi olence from a movie into their own lives (Barker and Petley 2001).In Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate (Ibid.) the text relates to the relationship between violence in all media forms and aggression in people.   With focus on film violence, what is the proof of such a correlation? Adolescence, a Sociological Approach explains it in terms of comprehensive study results.When compared with a control group of adults, another group of those who have viewed on average more violent television and movies were twice as likely to act in an aggression fashion when provoked (Sebald 1968).There is a very real connection between viewing violence on screen and acting it out in real life, and Sebald suggests that this is because an adult who is exposed to such media images will lose the natural inhibition to overcome violent tendencies.   In seeing these acts of violence on screen with little or no consequence, children grow to believe that this is how the real world perceives violence: as necessary, inconsequential and even ‘cool’.Social psychological theory like this penetrates other fields of study as well as sociology or psychology since people are increasingly concerned with the levels of violence found both in movies and out on the streets of the world.Researchers have worked to prove a link between the two but struggle when it comes to thinking of comprehensive solutions to the rising violence issues.   Does the solution simply lie in the removal of violent images from movies?   Garry (1993) doesn’t think it is as simple as this.The problem with trying to censor violent images on television and in films is that there is no controlling where the censorship ends.   What is to stop censors from targeting true images on news reports or documentaries, something that is already happening on some networks?Garry suggests that this is a superficial attitude, and while it might seem the easy solution to concerned citizens, researchers need to l ook deeper to find the real issues surrounding the spreading violence in society.   Garry points out how the Western value of free speech is always the first to be called into question when it comes to issues like violence, ethics and morality.While violence in movies does have an indisputable link to aggression in adults, people are forgetting that the people affected by these images negatively are not actually the ones who created it.   What societal issues led the writers and producers of violent films to express themselves in this way?Researchers like Garry wonder if it is due to an early oppression of character in the previous generations and in fact nothing primarily to do with film at all.   If you delve further into the societal issues like oppression, child abuse, broken families, poverty and poor education, it is possible that these are the real causes of violence in film, and subsequently, higher instances of violence and aggression in individuals who are exposed to these media images.While statistics do correlate aggression to violence in film, these studies are merely scratching the surface of the entire problem.ReferencesBarker, M, and Petley, J (eds.), 2001, Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate, Routledge, New York.Brehm, S, Kassin, S & fein, S, 2005, Social Psychology, Houghton Mifflin.Garry, Patrick, 1993, An American Paradox: Censorship in a Nation of Free Speech, Praeger Publishers, Westport, CT.Miller, B; Van Esterik, P; Van Esterik, J 2001, Cultural Anthropology, Canadian Edition, Allyn and Bacon, Toronto.Sebald, Hans, Adolescence: A Sociological Analysis, 1968,   Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York.