Philosophy Of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 873 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/08/08 Category People Essay Level High school Tags: John Locke Essay Did you like this example? Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two of the most influential philosophical andpolitical thinkers of the seventeenth-century. Hobbes and Locke had different ideas on how torun a country and had different views on the natural state of human beings. Hobbes believed thata commonwealth ruled by a sovereign was the only way to run a successful government, while Locke was a defender of moderate liberty and toleration. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Philosophy Of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes" essay for you Create order Both of these have been utilizedthroughout history, sometimes to great effect and other times to the downfall of a nation. Hobbesand Locke were both influenced by the likes of Renà © Descartes and Galileo, and bothincorporated other peoples ideas to formulate their own opinions and thoughts. To this day, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke have been influential in shaping the way the world thinks aboutphilosophy and politics.Thomas Hobbes was an urbane and much-traveled man who supported the scientificmovement. His first published work was the first English translation of Thucydides History ofthe Peloponnesian War. Hobbes viewed humans as self-centered creatures who lacked a master, which derived from Thucydides historical analysis. According to Hobbes, human beings areinclined to a perpetual and restless desire for power. He thought that since all people want andpossess a natural right to everything, this equality breeds enmity, competition, diffidence, andperpetual quarreling. His influential work, Leviathan, published in 1651, provided philosophicaljustification for a strong central political authority. To Hobbes, the original human state is one ofnatural, inevitable conflict in which safety does not exist. Hobbes believed that life in this stateof war was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short and that the only way humans could escapethis was to enter a political contract. This contract was to agree to live in a society that is tightly ruled by a recognized sovereign. The agreement obliged every person to agree to set asidepersonal rights to all things and to live by a version of the golden rule, Do not that to anotherwhich you would not have done to yourself. Additionally, this contract allowed the use of forceby the sovereign to compel compliance. Hobbes did not care whether this was a monarchy or alegislative body, but once one was chosen, it could not be appealed. Hobbes was met with muchcriticism, but his political views sparked conversations about government that had not been hadbefore this time period. John Locke was a highly intellectual person who was well-read in all the majorseventeenth-century natural philosophers. He was a defender of the rights of the people againstrulers who thought their power absolute and had Puritan sympathies. In 1690, he published twotreatises that detailed his views on government. His First Treatise of Government rejected arguments for absolute government that based political authority on the patriarchal model. HisSecond Treatise of Government presented an argument for a government that must be bothresponsible for and responsive to the concerns of the governed. Unlike Hobbes, Locke sawhumans in their natural state as creatures of reason and goodwill. Locke believed that humansshould have the natural rights of life, liberty, and property in an unregulated manner. He believedthat humans possess a capacity for living peacefully before they enter a political contract. Lockesaid that the state of human nature is a condition of competition and modest conflict that requiresa political authority to sort out problems rather than impose authority. His government isobviously one of limited authority, and the people reserve the right to replace their politicalauthority if the need arises. Although, Locke did not defend religious toleration among all Christians. Government-imposed religious uniformity could not achieve real religious ends because Locke thought that religious truth must be freely given. Nonetheless, he did not extendtoleration to Roman Catholics, who he believed gave allegiance to a foreign prince (the pope), non-Christians, or atheists in his Letter Concerning Toleration (1689). John Locke established afoundation for the future extension of toleration, religious liberty, and the separation of churchand state.Hobbes and Locke differ on almost every single view and topic related to politics duringthis time. However they have one major similarity: they both believed that all humans arenaturally equal. Religious beliefs aside, both Hobbes and Locke truly thought that everyone intheir natural form was equal. Even with that similarity, Hobbes and Locke were perceived asvastly different. Locke was met with universal praise because his views pleased the people of Europe (despite the religious intolerance), and his political ideals were very similar to manyother countries during this time period. Hobbes, on the other hand, was criticized severely byMonarchists and Republicans alike. Monarchists objected to his willingness to assign sovereignauthority to a legislature. Republicans rejected his willingness to accept a monarc hical authority.Many Christians criticized his materialist arguments for an absolute political authority. Other Christian writers attacked his refusal to recognize the authority of either God or the church asequal or above the sovereign ruler. This meant that Hobbes had little immediate impact, howeverhis ideas have influenced philosophical literature from the late seventeenth-century to this day.Thomas Hobbes and John Locke have been monumental in shaping modern politics sincethe seventeenth-century, and their impact can still be felt today. They were vastly different interms of views and beliefs, but both had the same goal in the end: to create a better government.Whether or not they succeeded remains to be seen, but they put the world on the right track.

Intelligence Sharing And The Capabilities Of The Homeland...

Intelligence Sharing and the Capability of the Homeland Security Enterprise What are the capabilities and limitations of intelligence in supporting homeland security efforts? Since the deadly terror attacks of 9/11, intelligence gathering for homeland security has improved immensely. One of the most important developments in our law-enforcement structure that has enhanced our intelligence is the creation of fusion centers. Fusion centers are â€Å"state and major urban area focal points for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between federal; state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT); and private sector partners† (Department of Homeland Security, 2016). These fusion centers are owned and operated by state and local entities and are supported by federal partners in its many aspects which include personnel deployment, capacity building, and important and crucial connectivity to federal systems (Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), 2012, para. 3). For example, the DHS provides over 70 fusion centers access to the Homeland Secure Data Network or HSDN which allows these fusion centers to receive federally generated classified threat information. By creating fusion centers, intelligence gathering and analysis is not contained in the federal level—governments from the SLTT level as well as other entities relevant to this initiatives are involved. This then devolves and shares homeland security roles to practically all law enforcers from all levelsShow MoreRelatedFusion Centers And The Interagency Threat Assessment And Coordination Group853 Words   |  4 Pagesby the Department of Homeland security in hopes of improving information sharing amongst both Federal, State, Local and tribal law enforcement agencies. The attacks of 9/11 proved that intelligence capabilities and willingness to share information lacked greatly. These programs were developed to hopefully counter that issue. The use of fusion cells started off with hesitation and complications initially. However, the use of fusion cells are absolutely critical to the sharing of information betweenRead MoreIntelligence, Terrorism, And Terrorism1481 Words   |   6 PagesIntroduction Homeland security is all about ensuring the safety and security of the United States (U.S.) and its citizens. It was apparent that the attacks of September 11, 2001 were lack of intelligence. Since then, the U.S. has given great emphasis of intelligence to prevent terrorist events such as 9/11 from happening again. Homeland security has emplaced variety of efforts in order for the U.S. to address safety and security issues as well as in addressing the ever-growing threats of terrorismRead MoreDifferent Elements That Compromise The Intelligence Communities ( Ic ) From Local Law Enforcement Essay1556 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper will analyze the different elements that compromise the intelligence communities (IC) from local law enforcement to national agencies and how each of those entities contributes to security intelligence. Secondly, this paper will evaluate the lessons learned from the attacks of 9/11. Lastly, the issues of domestic intelligence vs. foreign intelligence w ill be examined. Intelligence-led policing along with other various initiatives is a newly developed style of investigation strategy. ThisRead MoreThe Position Of Director Of National Intelligence1368 Words   |  6 PagesNational Intelligence (DNI) was created under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). The position of DNI replaced the Director of the Central Intelligence (DCI) as the senior intelligence official, head of the intelligence community’s 16 agencies, and principal intelligence advisor to the President of the United States (POTUS) and the National Security Council (NSC). The DNI has several duties and responsibilities, but for the subject of improving intelligence informationRead MoreStrengthening The Homeland Security Enterprise Through Intelligence Reform And Integration7443 Words   |  30 PagesStrengthening the Homeland Security Enterprise through Intelligence Reform and Integration Kevin Weston HM598: Applied Research Project Capstone Professor: Mary Lannon 15 June 2015 Abstract On September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda operatives executed a violent and lethal terrorist attack against the United States. The attacks against the north and south towers of the World Trade Center, United Airlines flight 93, and the Pentagon, have collectively been deemed the deadliest terrorist attackRead MoreThe Position Of Director Of National Intelligence1669 Words   |  7 Pagesof National Intelligence (DNI) was created under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). The position of DNI replaced the Director of the Central Intelligence (DCI) as the senior intelligence official, head of the intelligence community’s 16 agencies, and principal intelligence advisor to the President of the United States (POTUS) and the National Security Council (NSC). The IRTPA of 2004, also established the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) asRead MoreU.s. Federal Department Of Homeland Security1245 Words   |  5 PagesThe idea of the establishmen t of the Department of Homeland Security evolved into the biggest U.S. government reorganization in American history. Prior to the establishment of the Department, Americans increasingly became concerned about terrorism on our soil. This concern was triggered by the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 as well as the discovery of a bomb at the Atlanta Olympics in 1994. Additionally, it became more apparent to the Americans that terrorismRead MoreNational Intelligence Reform And Terrorism Prevention Act Of 20041659 Words   |  7 PagesHomeland Security is the intersection of evolving threats and hazards with traditional government and its responsibilities for civil defense emergency response law enforcement, customs border control and immigration. Moreover, the term â€Å"enterprise† is a national effort that refers to the collective efforts and shared responsibilities of federal, state local, tribal, territorial, nongovernmental and private- sector partners as well as individuals ( U.S. Department of Homland Security, 2010). SinceRead MoreThe Department of Homeland Security782 Words   |  3 PagesThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) covers a variety of topics including: academic engagement, border security, citizenship and immigration services, civil rights and civil liberties, cybersecurity, disasters, economic security, homeland security enterprise, human trafficking, immigration enforcement, international engagement, working with law enforcement, preventing terrorism, and transportation security (Homeland Security, g). DHS works with all law enforcement partners at federal, stateRead MoreThe Department Of Homeland Security991 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Considering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)has only initiated actions in 2003, it has performed necessary security procedures and accomplished significant purposes and breakthroughs. As DHS progresses to grow, more activity predominates for them to address weaknesses in its current operational strategy. Implementation efforts are in place to strengthen the efficiency and to integrate its management areas (acquisitions, financial management, human capital, and information technology)

The Music Of Charley Patton - 938 Words

John Fahey’s 1966 masters thesis A textual and musicological analysis of the repertoire of Charley Patton has the distinction of being the first book-length analysis of the music of Charley Patton. Fahey’s text focused primarily on assembling the historical facts of Patton’s life, while the analytical portions —written with the aid of Dr. David Morton, UCLA —-focused on systematizing Patton’s repertoire based on modal constructs present in his vocal melodies. Fahey’s biographical information focused on characterizing Patton as an entertainer; However, the analytical portion omits significant lines of inquiry that result in an incomplete picture of Patton’s repertoire. Fahey notes the utilitarian function of Patton’s music, but does not detail musical examples of this utility, especially in relation to the guitar. That is the purpose of this document. The music of Charley Patton reflects the utilitarian function of it with in his life: music functioned as his main source of income. Patton was an entertainer; as such, he needed a vast amount of material to fill time in the venues he performed in. Consequently, his surviving recorded repertoire makes extensive use of formulas in the guitar accompaniment and vocal melodies. The use of formula is so frequent in Patton’s music that, instead of culling material from contemporary musicians (an accepted practice among blues musicians) he preferred to borrow from his own repertoire. Moreover, the formulas present in the guitarShow MoreRelatedMississippi History and the Delta Blues Essay686 Words   |  3 Pagesstyle music originated in Mississippi and gravitated outward from there. .Mississippi history and Blues history are intertwined. Delta Blues is a blues style that originated in the Mississippi Delta and influenced many musicians. Another musical art form, Jazz may be considered an offspring from the Blues and also started in the South. There are many Blues musicians and singers that come from Mississippi or have become linked to Mississippi for various reasons. Bessie Smith, Charley Patton, MuddyRead MoreThe Music Style Of The Blues1129 Words   |  5 PagesThe music style known as the Blues emerged in the American South during the 1890s. It drew on a mix of many African-American music styles with others. Some of the styles it drew upon include African-American spirituals, traditional songs, European hymns, folk ballads, work songs and hollers, and contemporary dance music. By the 1910s, the time period when the first recorded blues were published as sheet music, the blues had taken the form that is recognized today; the 12 bar blues form.(Shmoop) Read MoreEssay about Genre History: Blues680 Words   |  3 PagesGenre History: Blues The musical genre of blues is one that has continued to be a prolific style of music for many years. The blues began as working songs and field hollers sung by African American slave communities, beginning in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. The blues genre has since become a major influence on other developing genres. Most modern genres can be traced back to the genre, originating in the deep south of the United States. The musical style of blues is very distinct, and isRead MoreThe Origins Of Rock And Roll1090 Words   |  5 Pagesorigins of the genre of Rock and Roll. The origin, even though many historians have attempted to determine exactly where it came from, is still unknown. Rock and Roll is a blend of Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Hillbilly, Rhythm and Blues and many more types of music. Throughout this essay I will try and determine if the statement first mentioned is an accurate statement, and why or why not? I am going to start off by talking about some of the genres Rock and Roll originated from. First I will talk about BluesRead MoreAnalyzing Blues Music1765 Words   |  7 Pagesthemselves on the piano. Eventually blues (or blues-based music) was played by string bands, jazz bands, rock bands and even orchestras. The pioneering African-American blues composer and musicologist W.C. Handy (author of St. Louis Blues) recalled hearing a solitary singer playing the guitar at a railroad station in Tutwiler, MS, in 1903, while singing Yellow Dog Blues, which Handy who had never known of the blues before called the weirdest music I had ever heard. Handy noted that the singer repeatedRead More Ragtime Essay examples850 Words   |  4 PagesLouisiana at this time there was music everywhere. Ragtime bands and marching bands were joining together. Mexican bands were also and influence especially in the way the trumpets and horns were played. All this merging of different band sounds was important in the creation of jazz. Eventually the instruments used in marching bands crossed over into jazz instruments. The drums and clarinet filled in for the marching band instruments. New Orleans was such a melting pot for music and culture but it was alsoRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1074 Words   |  5 Pagesaudience. Some of the changes include the music score, and Jay Gatsby’s ending, and the character Nick Carraway’s situation. Along with the differences, there are still major scenes that are almost literally theme same as the novel such as the throwing of the shirts scene and the eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg. It is the combination of the two aspects that develop and enhance the film and novel relationship. The first difference between the novel and the film is the music score. Though the novel does not haveRead MoreBlues and Jazz Influence Paper1698 Words   |  7 Pages The Influence of 1920 Blues and Jazz on Modern Music Mark Carter The Influence of 1920 Blues and Jazz on Modern Music This paper is will try to show how the music that started with singing of old songs by the slaves to influences the music that the world listens to today. Shaping the music of Rock and Roll, Country and Western, and Easy Listening that influences every aspect of society’s everyday life are Blues and Jazz. In an interview many years ago on television, heard by thisRead MoreRock N Roll At The Appearance Of Elvis1954 Words   |  8 Pagesideas subjected to individual talents, shared commonalities, and in the worst cases our humanistic atrocities in the treatment of each other. Somehow it was all of these elements in combination and at the opportune that created not just a new genre of music but a historical backdrop for both political and social change in America and the world. A removal of any one element from rock n roll s historical past whether its diversity, economic, or civil structures could call into question its existence orRead MoreNo Robert Johnson, N o Rock And Roll1999 Words   |  8 PagesNo Robert Johnson, No Rock and Roll In about 1903 the blues were slowly becoming popular in Texas. Blues music came from African American slaves who were trying to escape from slavery (PBS). The music originally came from the Mississippi River. The south was home to many blues-man who helped make the blues become more popular. Today the blues music differs from the music back in the 1800 s, there are many different types of blues today (â€Å"A Brief History of the Blues†). The tunes of Robert Johnson

Friedrich Froebel, Founder of Kindergarten - 2058 Words

Friedrich Froebel, Founder of Kindergarten Friedrich Froebel was a German educator of the nineteenth century who developed an Idealist philosophy of early childhood education. He established kindergarten and education for four and five-year-old children. Kindergarten is now a part of education worldwide. Friedrich Froebel was born in the small town of Oberwiessbach, Germany in 1782. His mother died when he was a baby. His father remarried, but Froebel never liked his stepmother. His feeling of rejection and isolation remained with him for life. This had a strong effect on his theory of early childhood education. He believed the kindergarten teacher should be loving, kind and motherly. Froebel also had an unsatisfactory relationship†¦show more content†¦This word expressed Froebel’s vision for early childhood education: â€Å"Children are like tiny flowers; they are varied and need care, but each is beautiful alone and glorious when seen in the community of peers† (Smith, 1999,  ¶ 6). He used play, s ongs, stories, and activities to establish an educational environment in which children, by their own activity, could learn and develop. According to Froebel, this meant that children, in their development, would learn to follow the â€Å"divinely established laws of human growth through their own activity† (Net Industries, 2008, Biography section,  ¶ 5). This is where he used his kindergarten gifts and occupations. â€Å"Gifts were objects Froebel believed had special symbolic potential. Occupations were the raw materials children could use in drawing and building activities that allowed them to concretize their ideas† (Gutek, 2005, p. 265). Froebel became famous as an early childhood educator in Germany and by 1848, forty-four kindergartens were operating in Germany. Froebel began training young women as kindergarten teachers. Kindergarten achieved its greatest influence in the United States. It was brought to America by the Germans after the European Revolution of 1848. Kindergartens appeared wherever there was a large concentration of German immigrants. Henry Barnard, the first United States Commissioner of Education, introduced Froebel’s kindergarten into educational literature in theShow MoreRelated Friedrich Froebel and Marie Clay Essay example1538 Words   |  7 PagesFriedrich Froebel and Marie Clay Friedrich August Wilhelm Froebel was born in Oberweissback, Germany in April 21, 1782 (Ransbury, 1995). He was the sixth child of a Lutheran Minister, but lost his mother before his first birthday. As a young boy, he played and explored in the gardens surrounding his home most of the time. His deep love of nature would later influence his educational philosophy. He did not become educated until age eleven. When he was fifteen years old, he was apprenticedRead MoreEducation : The United States1654 Words   |  7 Pageshappening as well. There was a German educator named Friedrich Froebel who was very critical in emerging an Idealist philosophy of early childhood education and instituting the kindergarten. He became to develop that that education started in infancy, Froebel then began to see mothers as the ideal first teachers of humanity. Women, he believed, were best-suited to nurture children and became the Kindergartners teachers for his schools. Froebel also offered the first significant careers for womenRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Teaching And Learning1603 Words   |  7 Pagesthat competition is good for students. He believed competition created productive children and served as motivation. Friedrich Froebel was the kindergarten founder so to speak. I agree with him on his ideas about hands-on learning. He used activities such as games, playtime, songs, storytelling, and crafts to enhance the learning environment. This is still much like our kindergartens today. Some of my own key beliefs in education include social development, intellectual development, and moral developmentRead MoreComparative Analysis of the Purpose of8067 Words   |  33 PagesA Comparative Analysis of the Purpose of Kindergarten in Finland and Ontario, Canada The theories of Friedrich Froebel, the founder of kindergarten have influenced kindergartens in several regions including in Finland and Ontario, Canada. The kindergarten program in Finland is one of envy as it contributes the nation’s successful educational system. Kindergarten in Finland is a free service available to all children, which is similar to Ontario, Canada’s program which is also free to childrenRead MoreEymp 15616 Words   |  23 Pageset al, 2011). â€Å"Friedrich Froebel  (1782-1852), the great German educator, is famous pre-eminently for his radical insight that the first learning experiences of the very young are of crucial importance in influencing not only their later educational achievements but also the health and development of society as a whole† (Weston, 1998). Friedrich Froebel had the idea that children learn best through play and by having real experiences and from these theories he was the founder of the first everRead MoreYouth Development Programs4107 Words   |  17 Pagesdevelopment–contributed to the growing belief that, with appropriate nurturing, children could be molded into successful adults. As a result, childhood began to be viewed as a particularly critical point in human development. Friedrich Froebel (1782–1852), the German educator and founder of the kindergarten movement, encouraged this viewpoint and contended that children required special preparation for adulthood, as well as opportunities for recreation and play. The publication of American psychologist and educatorRead MoreSantrock Edpsych Ch0218723 Words   |  75 Pagesthe Fathers of Confederation. I also wanted school based in the Froebel philosophy. Friedrich to incorporate play-based activities that would help Froebel, best known as the founder of kindergarten, them develop a deeper understanding of these believed that play is critical for healthy child develop- early Canadians. ment. Below, Debra explains how she incorporates the â€Å"As part of the unit, students were required to use Froebel methodology into her classroom instruction. their research findings

Meridian Free Essays

To be independent is to be without limitation and free of civilization, all the while, the thought of being free of civilization, without limitation is overwhelmingly wild. In the novel Meridian, by Alice Walker, the short presence of a character addressed as The Wild Child symbolizes the theme of self awareness and pursuing one’s life independently. Alice walker uses the short presence of The Wild Child as an influential factor when developing her main character Meridian. We will write a custom essay sample on Meridian or any similar topic only for you Order Now The use of characters from Meridian’s ancestry, such as Feather Mae (Meridian’s great grandmother) and inanimate objects, such as The Sojourner (tree), further support the theme that The Wild Child represents. Notably, Alice Walker writes her Meridian through a series of flashbacks through third person omnicient narration. The novel opens with Truman Held arriving in Chicokema, Georgia, to meet up with Meridian, his former lover. Meridian is seen escorting a group of children, who were mostly black and impoverished, to an attraction displaying a mummified woman in which they were not permitted to attend. A shift then occurs to a flashback in New York City where Meridian, ten years prior, had not been willing to proclaim that she would kill on behalf of an African American revolutionary organization. Another flashback then occurs to when Meridian had been a child who chose not to accept Jesus into her life despite her mother’s religious devotion, this urges Meridian’s mother to withdraw her love towards her daughter. The novel continues to shift unravelling a countless number of memories that contributed to the reasoning behind why Meridian resulted to her introverted ways. Meridian seeks guidance and a sense of belonging that she never received from her mother, but finds that traditional paths in life do not provide her any comfort. Instead she cultivates a keen sense of dedication towards the civil rights movement, which gives her drive throughout her young adult years. Meridian endures sexual misfortunes throughout life first as a child, when she becomes pregnant and marries due to her lack of knowledge about sex, and later with older men who take advantage of her low self esteem. Giving up her son, Eddie Jr. , Meridian seeks happiness within the campus of Saxon College where she intially struggles and finds refuge under The Sojourner, a rarely large magnolia tree. This is where she later encounters The Wild Child. The novel concludes with Truman asking Meridian to love him as she once did before he had married Lynn, a white activist for civil rights. Meridian admits her love for Truman has changed and prepares to pick back up her life elsewhere; Truman realizes that he must now take up the internal struggle in which Meridian has finally escaped. Although Meridian began as a shattered individual who struggled throughout much of her life, this is what helps to mold and define the calm, determined person that she ultimately becomes; through the representation and comparison of The Wild Child to Meridian, Meridian’s growth is all the more apparent. Alice Walker creates The Wild Child as almost an eidolon figure, for she is not even given a name. Occupants within the impoverished areas surrounding Saxon College, the school in which Meridian attends, know hardly anything of the mysterious young girl who searches for food in garbage cans and can barely speak any language besides the few swear words she has aquired over the years. Meridian attempts to help the poor child but fails to tame her, which in return plays a large role in The Wild Child’s death. Meridian is much like The Wild Child in regards that she has always stripped her life of outside guidance, close relationships, and comforts (material, mental and physical comforts) as she moves from place to place. As an activist against racism and a person of whom secludes herself from others, Meridian lives as an outcast within society trying to avoid the judgement passed by people, just as The Wild Child does. This shows both Meridian and The Wild Child’s sense of self identity and independence in the way that they realize that they would rather be separated from society and go about things in their own way, the only way that they know. Although The Wild Child makes only a brief appearance within the novel, Alice Walker makes her intentions of this character evident by supporting the theme of self awareness and independence that The Wild Child represents with other characters and objects. Feather Mae, Meridian’s great- grandmother is made out to also be a person of free will, who is far reachinging and of an eccentric nature. Feather Mae is a woman whoabandons all religion not founded on physical ecstasy and later results to worshiping the sun while walking around naked. This is just as Meridian renounced religion at an early age in her life because she had not experienced any type of â€Å"ecstasy† in trying to become devoted to Jesus. Just as The Wild Child lived content in her own ways of surviving, both of these exceptional women, Meridian and Feather Mae, endure life in their own idealistic way. Walker also emphasises the importance of the rather large mangolia tree, The Sojourner, in which Meridian takes refuge through hard times when she intially began college. The tree was rare in itself, being the largest in the country. The Sojourner not only signified the growth of African American people through times of oppression, but it also stood as a souvenir of the past. Like the tree, Meridian is a character who has been around through difficult times and still continues to grow, but Meridian also carries with her guilt and saddness from her past. Although the destruction of The Sojourner later in the novel Walker symbolized the abrupt destruction of ties to racism and ways of the past, it also represented the destruction of Meridian, leaving room for a new part of her to grow and develop more as an individual who can be contempt with who she is in the present, rather that sulk in who she was in the past. As has been noted, Meridian being a novel made up of flashbacks and recollections of the past allowed for Alice Walker to create a character that develops through the influences of her surroundings and other characters. Although The Wild Child plays only a small role in the writing of the novel, her presence is significant, for it shapes the entire meaning of who the main character, Meridian, becomes. The Wild Child also serves to enhance the sense of independence and self awareness that the author tries so strongly to get across. How to cite Meridian, Papers

The Old Man and the Sea free essay sample

This paper analyzes the characters, plot and metaphors in the Hemingway novel. This paper analyzes the Hemingway novels symbolism and metaphors as they relate to a fisherman?s hardships in overcoming adversities in one?s own life. Many of the objects, people, and places mentioned in The Old Man and the Sea contain another meaning. Santiagos sail, for instance, was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat? (p.9). Many of the other fishermen looked upon Santiago and his sail as a reminder of failure. Santiago was wrinkled and has worked almost to the point of wearing out, like the old sail. He did not catch a fish in eighty-five days, as well, which seemed like he is defeated and his fishing days are over. However, the sail worked despite its appearance, perhaps similarly to Santiago himself. Neither the man nor the sail gave up or showed any sign of giving in, regardless of their tired state. Santiago is patient, and waits for the fish to come get tired, and come up on his own. Santiago realizes that this may last a long time, so he put the line across his shoulders for a better grip. This was not a comfortable position for Santiago, but he ore with It. Santiago Is In physical pain, he spends three days in an uncomfortable position, and his hands get cuts all over them. HIS left hand gets a cramp which seems to refuse to leave. The strength of the fish would cause the old man to fall In painful and uneasy positions: He had been pulled down tight on to the bow and his face was in the cut slice of dolphin and he could not move. This physical struggle exhausted Santiago, and the weather alongside with the fact that Santiago hadnt come prepared were not helping. He was not only physically drained out, but also morally.Santiago struggle is not only physical, but moral too. It could be perceived as a personal Journey, as an inner struggle. From the way the author describes Santiago, we can deduce that he is a confident, determined and strong old man. As we get deeper into the story, we realize that this is true, but that Santiago holds nevertheless a certain weakness to him, and that he has to struggle with himself to stay strong. The following quote is a good example of this: I am not good for many more turns. Yes you are, he told himself. You are good forever. The weaker side of Santiago wants to give up; he doesnt have faith In himself, but then the stronger, more determined Santiago steps in to keep him going. Another example of an inner struggle is towards he end of the novel, when Santiago finishes fighting the sharks. He knows they have beaten him, yet he says: And what beat you, he thought. Nothing, he said aloud. l went too far. Santiago constantly contradicts himself, creating his small struggles. During this Journey, Santiago experiences different odds, and different states of mind.He is brought to new levels and he is psychologically challenged, and even though he is troubled, and in pain, we are able to see his gentle side, through his love of nature. Through the journey, we see Santiago closeness to nature. It allows us to see how much he really loves the creatures, and how much he respects them. We see this more precisely through the way he calls the fish his Brother and friend. He even says: Fish, I love you and respect you very much. Furthermore, his gentleness comes out when he talks to the mall bird: How old are you?Is this your first trip? he wants it to be safe, and Santiago love as well as respect for nature from the way he talks about other element in nature, such as the sea, or the wind: He always thought of her as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. He compares it to a woman, and describes it using adjectives such as kind and beautiful. Later on in the novel, he talks about the wind, saying: The wind is our friend. As before mentioned, Santiago loves and respects nature. His closeness to nature is one that many few of us have. He not only uses it for the pleasure, but for survival. He counts on it to help him in everything he does. In summary, the Journey is important in this novel as it is thanks to it that we see Santiago evolve as a character. We see him in every state: confident, gentle, strong, weak, determined and defeated. In effect, this Journey allows the plot to be more exciting to the character, at the same time showing the importance of nature to Santiago, but also to the novel itself.

A Blessing in Disguise. Essay free essay sample

As we started getting closer to Colorado I started seeing snow on the side of the road and began fantasizing about shredding down the mountain on my board. I couldn’t wait to launch off the huge jumps I had heard about and try new tricks. I day dreamed for the rest of the car ride, not responding to anyone or anything. The car stopped, but I was still day dreaming and didn’t notice until my sister slammed the car door. When I got out of the car I was immediately in awe of how nice the cabin was that we were staying at. I pushed my sister out of the way and quickly ran to go find the best room in the house. After I got all of my luggage in the room, I looked out the window and saw that the cabin was directly on one of the ski runs. We will write a custom essay sample on A Blessing in Disguise. Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This meant that I could go out the back door and be on the slopes. No walking, no lines, and no carrying my gear from the parking lot to the mountain. Once everyone got situated we put on our snow jackets, pants, gloves, and boots, then hit the slopes. The snow was powdery and perfect; I glided down the mountain effortlessly like I was floating on a cloud. This was the first time I had ever snowboarded on such good snow and couldn’t wait to see the rest of the mountain. I had heard about one part of the mountain where there were a bunch of jumps and rails to grind on. I had been on jumps before, but these were like nothing I had ever seen before. I sat at the top of the mountain looking down at the humongous jumps and then decided to take the plunge. I flew down the mountain, not holding back anything; I got up to top speed right as I hit the beginning of the jump. I launched off it like a jet taking off for flight. I turned my body in the air and did a backflip, a trick that took many years to master. I had performed so many backflips that it was second nature, but I got so much air from this jump that I decided mid air to go for a second rotation. That’s right, a double backflip. However, I had misjudged how high up I was and slammed head first into the ground. I laid on the ground shocked with my eyes closed trying to comprehend what had just happened. A guy snowboarding by saw the whole thing happen and yelled â€Å"nice air bro†, sarcastically. When I finally opened my eyes, there were five or six people standing around me. One of the men got down on one knee and said, â€Å"my name is john; I’m a doctor and everything going to be okay. What’s your name? † At this point I was still a little confused as to what happened, but I replied, â€Å"Michael† Finally I realized I had just fallen about ten to fifteen feet directly onto my head. â€Å"Can you see straight; is anything blurry? † asked john. â€Å"Are your fingers or toes tingling? † I responded with a simple â€Å"yes. † John replied, â€Å"Okay, stay laying down and try not to move. We sent for help, the ski patrol are on their way. † The ski patrol arrived at last, after what seemed like forever. â€Å"Thanks for your help, but we can take it from here† muttered the ski patrolman to John. Then he turned to me and said, â€Å"hey, I’m going to need you to stay still. I’m going to strap you onto this sled so I can pull you down to the bottom of the mountain. † â€Å"Okay† I said timidly. Once the ski patrolman had secured me on to the snow stretcher, he pulled me down the mountain using a snowmobile. We reached the bottom where paramedics were waiting to assist me. They picked up my stretcher and carefully placed me into the ambulance. Once we arrived at the small Telluride hospital, the paramedics slid me out of the ambulance and rolled me inside. Then they transferred me from the stretcher to a hospital bed. Within seconds there was a nurse putting I. V. s into my arms and giving me pain medication. The doctor came in and took me to a different room to get x-rays. It took a long time to get the results, but I didn’t mind because I fell asleep due to all of the painkillers I was given. The eventually came in and placed the x-ray on the wall so that I could see and said you’re a very lucky kid. He then went into detail and pointed out where I had a fracture in my neck. He told me that if it were any bigger of a fracture I could have been paralyzed for the rest of my life. I had always taken my life for granted until that moment. During adolescence, I was care free and reckless, not understanding the true value of life as many other teens do. That unfortunate event made me realize how short life is and that it can be taken away so easily. From then on out I have always been grateful for everything given to me, and all of the opportunities I receive. This is an example that anyone can learn from. Because of this accident I changed my ways and became a more thankful person and started appreciating the little things in life. Looking back I’m glad I made the mistake of going for a double backflip because if I had not, I would have never become the person I am today.