Women in Beowulf and Arthurian Legend Essay examples

Women in Beowulf and Arthurian Legend A common theme in the stories we have read is that glory, happiness, and success come in cycles (this theme is commonly represented as the wheel of fortune). This theme is present in the Arthurian tales, as well as in Beowulf. Each story tells a tale (or part of a tale) of a rise to glory, and the proceeding fall to disarray. The men always were the kings and warriors, but the women played different roles in the different stories. The women of Beowulf were used to bind up peace (or were peaceful women), whereas the women of Arthurian legend tended to disturb the peace and cause strife. There are many women described briefly in Beowulf, and a few women described elaborately in the various†¦show more content†¦She was promised to Ingeld of the Heathobards. Beowulf predicted with uncanny certainty the events that would come in the future regarding Freawaru. He said that her father believes that it is an excellent plan to use her as a peace-weaver to bury old antagonisms, mortal feuds. But the deadly spear rarely sleeps for long after a prince lies dead in the dust, however exceptional the bride may be! (71). It was Freawarus intent to maintain peace, even though destiny had other plans. The other category of women found in Beowulf is the women in power, who distributed their wealth generously to maintain a peaceful society. Hrothgars wife and queen, Wealtheow, was noted on numerous occasions giving away copious gifts. A theme present in Beowulf is that those who are open-handed with their wealth help to prevent any hostilities from forming. The Queen of the Geats, Beowulfs queen, was also noted for being charitable: She was not too thrifty, not ungenerous with gifts of precious treasures to the Geatish thanes (69). Such unselfish behavior allows friendship to flourish and falseness to flounder. For the purpose of exaggerating her kindness, she was compared to old Queen Thyrth. Thyrth is the only example of a greedy, evil woman in the entire story of Beowulf. Regardless of her evil ways, Offa soon brought her into line. Afterwards, she did a complete one-eighty and became another kind, generous queen. Overall, the women in Beowulf wereShow MoreRelated King Arthur Ess ay1428 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent depending on the era, culture, and the particular writer who is relating his version of the Arthurian legend. Three Kinds of Arthur There is much debate whether Arthur was an actual historical person. There is no absolute evidence, but it is possible that Arthur was a Briton or Romano-Briton king who led the Celts against the Anglo-Saxons in the early 8th century (Americana, Arthurian Romances, 1972). The kings of the medieval period were warlords that protected a particular area ofRead More The Use of Magic in Medieval Literature Essay2847 Words   |  12 Pagesmagic and magical creatures has been around for a long time, however, in the time period ranging from Beowulf to Malorys Arthur, there has been an evolution in attitudes and the consequent treatment of magic in medieval literature. The discussion of magic involves not only the disparity between Christian and pagan tradition but also of gender roles, most notably in the Arthurian mythos. Beowulf, Marie De Frances Bisclavret and Lanval, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Sit Thomas Malorys Le MorteRead MoreBeowulf vs. Eaters of the Dead1645 Words   |  7 Pagesliterary Epic, were torn between pagan beliefs and Christian values as their predecessors had been. The first literary Epic, Beowulf, illustrates the struggle between these two ideologies, as well as contributes the sought after values of heroism. The Eaters of the Dead also demonstrates this struggle between cultures, playing off Beowulf in theme. Excalibur, the Arthurian Legend, depicts the final battle between Christian and pagan belief, Christianity winning out in the end. Epics such as these expressRead MoreGilgamesh, Beowulf As A Literary Hero1343 Words   |  6 Pagesor her goals, decisions, and, ultimately, fate. Such figures, though imperfect, are celebrated because they are attainable, for perfection is too far beyond the inspirational grip of imagination for many. Each of these heroes, be they Gilgamesh, Beowulf, or Achilles, are motivated toward different goals and take a varied and unique path in order to achieve these goals, which are shaped by the social and political climates in which they are formed. However diverse these character arcs may be, theyRead MoreMedieval Poetry3509 Words   |  15 Pagesphilosophers such as St Thomas Aquinas. One of the most famous religious works of the period was  The Golden Legend, a collection of stories about the saints by Jacobus de Voraigne. Not all medieval literature was religious in nature, however. Secular poems and prose works related the deeds of semi-legendary heroes and villains. Examples of this type of work include the French  Song of Roland  and  Beowulf, an early English poem about a heros battles against a series of monsters. Other popular heroes in medieval

America s Territorial Integrity And National Interest

201313234 Prelim Paper States by nature shall always uplift and protect their own territorial integrity and national interest against interventions through different approaches to survive. Hence, Philippines’ move in securing its territorial integrity through applying such approach as to say filing an arbitration case against China or other approaches if obligatory is necessary and inevitable due to the surrounding circumstances of the case. A week after the release of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the issue in the West Philippine Sea, the verdict had drawn both hope and frustration to Filipinos dreaming for the occupation in the disputed islands. Hope in the sense that the unanimous vote in the tribunal can be used as an essential chip in dealing with China and it can be a game-changer for the successfulness of their aspiration. At the same time, it also brought frustrations to Filipinos, after President Xi Jinping asserted that,  "China’s territorial sovereignty and marine rights in the seas will not be affected by the ruling†, according to The Guardian, 2016. Moreover, the column also reported the statement from the Chinese Government insisting that â€Å"Chinese people firmly oppose the ruling and will neither acknowledge it nor accept it†. These strong statements from China imply their rogueness with regard to this issue. These are proclamations of them prolonging the bullying to the Philippines in the form of deprivation. LiberalismShow MoreRelatedThe Reform Of Progressive Era Brought936 Words   |  4 Pagesof 7 percent and affected only 2 percent of the population- hardly the stuff of the modern regulatory-welfare state1. They also cautioned that confronting the Supreme Court with another income tax statute. Prior to the 16th Amendment, taxation in America was levied on the basis of consumption, not income. Tax based on consumption (a sales tax) entails limitations to that tax, because an excessive tax rate will itself stifle consumption and give rise to smuggling, black markets and other means of taxRead MoreThe United States And Foreign Policies870 Words   |  4 Pageselected to reform national politics and initiate new progressive policies in Washington, he spent the majority of his time as President dealing with foreign policy rather than domestic. Wilson s predecessors, including McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Taft, had viewed the United States as an emerging power that needed to extend i ts influence throughout the world in order to serve national interests. This imperialist policy was justified by the commonly held belief that it was America s duty as a ChristianRead MoreSoviet Union : A Communist Union2246 Words   |  9 Pages1917 was reflective of an act of treason against the country’s national interests. Putin’s leadership philosophy is that he has to protect what belongs to him and what his predecessors had achieved (Withnall). Such strong sentiments from Mr. Illarionov demonstrate that, for instance, the re-acquisition of Finland would not be regarded as an act of war as Russia would only be regaining what is rightfully hers. The idea of national interests is indeed prevalent and is considered as the platform on whichRead MoreIntervention Is An Ancient And Well Established1226 Words   |  5 Pagesas diplomatic pressure, negotiations and war. From the time of the ancient Greeks to this day, some states have found it advantageous to intervene in the affairs of other states on behalf of their own interests and against the latters will. Other states, in view of their interests, have opposed such interventions and have intervened on behalf of theirs. It is only since the French Revolution of 1789 and the rise of the nation- state that the legitimacy of intervention has beenRead MoreLatin America Foreign Policy Essay2955 Words   |  12 Pages Latin America cannot be categorized as one homogenous block. In spite of sharing multiple aspects—culture, language, and history—there is not a single standard culture that distinguishes the region. One aspect of Latin American culture, regarding foreign policy, is a prevalent respect for the norm of sovereignty and non-intervention. There exists a strong disposition to follow international law as a means to prevent war or at the very least ward-off potential intervention by extraregionalRead MoreThe After World War I1174 Words   |  5 PagesPost WW1 Isolationism Many events had led to the U.S turning away from international affairs after World War One, this making them an isolationist nation. Isolationism is the policy of remaining apart from affairs and otr interests of other groups, political affairs of other countries. After World War One the U.S tried to reduce their appearance in world affairs. The U.S refused to join the League of Nations. Even though the American president at the time, Woodrow Wilson, thought they should joinRead MoreTo what extent did the goals of American foreign policy change in the years 1930-1941? For what reasons did these goals change?1205 Words   |  5 Pagesit became clear that fascism was destroying many democracies around the globe, but America still opted for neutrality rather than war. Hopelessly optimistic and naà ¯ve American politicians like Frank B. Kellogg created the Kellogg-Briand Pact, signed by fifteen nations, which would supposedly protect America from the threat of war. Although the nations that signed agreed not to use war as an instrument of national policy, the Pact was utterly useless because it could not be enforced. Similarly, theRead MoreThe History and Dynamics of Regionalism1558 Words   |  6 PagesTHE ROOTS AND DYNAMICS OF REGIONALISM Geographical proximity and mutual interference of state sharing called regionalism. Regionalism includes interest group and less global scope. It is better defined as formal or informal, between governments and not government’s organization, or private sector for mutual gains. Region is defining as social and political construction it about exclude and include. POLITICAL FACTORS DRIVING REGIONALISM Political factors are associated to development of regionalism;Read MoreNational Security Strategy for a New Era1471 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are concerns over the misuse and overreaching of military force. As well, today’s economic dispair mimics that of the inflation that gripped the nation in the 1970’s and 1980’s (Snow, 2014, p. 5). Left unidentified is a comprehensive strategy for United States national security. What are the priorities for American national security today, and how can they effectively be met? What are the overarching goals of the United States going and how can they be achieved? Answers to these questions areRead MoreThe Battle Of Dien Bien Phu1519 Words   |  7 Pagestemporarily separated Vietnam into two zones, a northern zone to be governed by the Viet Minh, and a southern zone to be governed by the state of Vietnam. A ceasefire was signed and France acknowledged to withdraw and leave Vietnam. It declared territorial integrity an d sovereignty of Indochina, thereby granting its independence from France. The United States refused to participate in the conference or recognize the accords. This â€Å"peace treaty† is another case of a peaceful solution to one problem for

Summer essay Free Essays

It was pretty hard to find house is once there are so many and this is what did over the summer. First of all, there was not much going on over the summer and there was a lot going on at the same time. Over the summer I worked for my uncle and it was a very busy summer for me. We will write a custom essay sample on Summer essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now At beginning of summer I went to his new office to set u p some new computers and printers. It took me about two week before I was complete Ely finished with the setup and the installation. After I was finished with the setup. Went t o do some shopping for myself . When I was done went back to the office the next day t o help my uncle finding new listing of houses. I started listing house for new customer a ND investors. And was officially started my study. The most exciting part about my summer was to find the house that will be moving in. There was a lot of listing of house. It spend about a month Loki Eng for new available houses for sale. And I also spend a lot of time going into houses that are for ale in Michigan. Choosing houses can be a headache because you have to do background check in every single one of them you see. I didn’t really have a g DOD summer, but I was happy about the new house. And finally there a was house that found that everybody in my family really liked. And now it was almost end of s mummer and I was getting worried about school. Now I was getting ready for next school year. And now I was almost done working with my uncle. Did some shopping over the Summer, and getting re dad school trials like notebooks and papers. I didn’t actually go anywhere special eve r the summer, but I think my summer went pretty well than past summer vacations that I had. This was also the summer with the most responsibilities that I had. In conclusion my summer vacation went very well. There was a lot of work an responsibilities. Enjoyed working with my uncle. He taught me a lot of new t wings that I did not knew, and I am really excited to move in the new home, and I hope m y next summer vacation would be even better than this. How to cite Summer essay, Essays

Mexico and its Importance to US Bilateral relations free essay sample

Mexico is an important asset to the United States, is shares 1,954 miles of border with the United States, and has become an important economic trading partner with the United States. Relations between these two nations are paramount, but we must address a list of issues that need answers, economic reform, homeland security, drug control, migration and even the environment. Every day over one million people cross the border legally, in 2012 two way trade totaled over $500 billion dollars. Mexico has remained one of the biggest tourist destinations for American travelers, and America major source of tourism for Mexico. Cooperation between these two nations is important, it is also important for the United States to help streamline diplomacy with Mexico. In 2010 the Executive Committee for 21st Century Border Management was created to help create advancements in creating a modern, secure and efficient border. This Committee was created to spur ideas on ways to help secure the border, as well as create a better way to manage the legal crossing taking place every day. The attacks September 1 1, 2001 led to the closing of many border crossing, putting a strain on the already verworked crossings, with the implementation of this program new ways are being explored on how we should run these border crossings as well as exploring the re- opening of certain closed crossing points. Cooperative activities between the U. S. and Mexico take place under a number of arrangements such as the U. S. -Mexico Border 2012/2020 Program the North American Development Bank and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission; the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation; the Border Health Commission. These agencies help cooperate with Mexico in regards to the serious environmental issues that have risen ue to population growth and industrialization. In 2008 we began the Merida Initiative seeking to cooperate with Mexico as well as other South American countries in an attempt to curb the growing trend of drug trafficking crimes. Mexico suggested that it was a shared problem because the majority of the money flowing into Mexico was from American drug users. Although as of 2012 congress has appropriated nearly 1. 9 billion dollars to the Merida Initiative. Beginning in 2010 the Merida Initiative took a four pillar approach to break down its attempts at disrupting the drug trafficking and violence problem. The first pillar aims to disrupt the capacity of organized crime to operate and the second pillar focuses on enhancing the capacity of Mexicos government and institutions to sustain the rule of law. The Merida Initiatives third pillar aims to improve border management to facilitate legitimate trade and movement of people while thwarting the flow of drugs, arms, and cash. Finally, the fourth pillar seeks to build strong and resilient communities. Despite the major advances we have made with mexico regarding trade and the furtherance of our partnership as nations, it must be noted the major issues we still ace. The Drug Cartels in mexico currently run a 20 plus billion dollar a year industry. important area of discussion is the immigration issues that have faced the united states from mexico as immigrants attempt to flee mexico for a variety of reasons. Mexico is also a major recipient of remittances, in 2012 the state department estimated over 22 billion dollars worth was sent from relatives living in America. Immigration has become a hot point in current affairs, it is time to analise some options for the future in regards to immigration and options regarding drug rafficking issues. In may of 2013 Obama announced the formation of a bilateral forum on higher education, innovation, and research. With this forum the United States and mexico will encourage typically underprivileged students to attend college and secondary schools providing them access to these schools as well as secondary training programs in STEM fields.. This forum is our first step towards making mexico an economic power as well as a place that can welcome advancing technology. Recommendations. Increasing the funding that is appropriated for the Merida Initiative, this funding hould be sent towards furthering the security checkpoints at Mexicos borders. Updating x ray machines as well as non-invasive body scanners. Money should also be spent in an attempt to inform the Mexican community of the intentions to curb the trend of drug cartel control. The Merida initiative should focus primarily on the first pillar, of disrupting organized Criminal Groups. Scrapping all additional plans for continuing the fence on the American Mexican border. Rather Funds should be appropriated in designating a committee to explore further partnership with Mexico regarding immigration. America needs to accept that Mexican immigrants as a majority are good people looking for honest work. This should no longer be a crime, The process of obtaining a green card should be streamlined, making it accessible to anyone who seeks it out. This policy has to go hand in hand with near total elimination of drug violence. Mexico needs to be regarded as a safe place where both American and Mexican nationals can come and go across the border freely and without safety in question. Mexico should not be treated as a third world nation, we have the potential to help them become a eautiful place to visit. It Just requires some creative policy ideas to meet our goals. Drug Reform has not had much success, in part to the weak policies that have been implemented.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Lifestyle Comparing with the Past free essay sample

Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Lifestyle Comparing with the Past Nobody can deny that modern lifestyle totally changed positively. Despite the some good affairs, it seems to me that modern lifestyle changed in negative way. One the one hand, overwhelming majority of people consider that technology is the vigorous factor in modern lifestyle. Because , it provides easier and faster life. Furthermore, because of the well-developed technology, people gain more advantages in the life. Moreover, facilities of transportation also improved when we compare present within the past. To illustrate, people were travelling around the world for days or weeks in the past. However, nowadays they can arrive their destination in a couple of hours. All in all, to some extent, these people ,who believe modern lifestyle changed positively, are right, but they are forgetting negative affects of modern lifestyle. Above all arguments, I am under the impression that modern lifestyle brought some problems. We will write a custom essay sample on Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Lifestyle Comparing with the Past or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It has an undeniable importance to generate rational solutions towards these kind of unexpected problems. One of the most complained problem is loneliness. Most of people started to place a great emphasize of their work, much more than their real life. In the end of this event, they became eigter asocial or lonely people. Although these people are living in overcrowded cities, they became more and more lonely now. These kind of problems also have foreseeable risks in the future. From my point of view, modern lifestyle did not achieve its aim and it still affecting people in a negative way. In conclusion, in spite of the fact that modern lifestyle gave us some barely adequate opportunities, there are much more disadvantages comparing within the past.

The United States Supreme Court of 2004 essays

The United States Supreme Court of 2004 essays The United States Supreme Court, the highest federal court, is made up of nine judges. The judges are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate and appointed for life. The Court reviews decisions made by lower courts and its decisions are final after a majority vote. Recently, the Supreme Court ended its term with many controversial and significant decisions. Ruled by a 6-3 vote, the terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their imprisonment in U.S. courts. Ruled by an 8-1 vote, the judges decided that the Bush administration could not detain Yaser Hamdi as an enemy combatant and that Jose Padilla should file his appeal in South Carolina, not New York. Without exactly stating whether "under God" is constitutional, the court ruled 8-0 that the Californian that challenged the oath had no legal authority to speak for his daughter. A turn from the court's usual religious support, the judges decided that states don't have to underwrite the religious training of students who plan to have a career in the ministry. Ruled 5-4, the supreme court forbade a judge in a jury trial to be able to act alone when adding more time to a convicts sentence. The sixth decision protects the current administration by stating that details about the Vice President's energy task force do not have to be revealed until after the election whic h was a "paramount necessity of protecting the executive branch from vexatious litigation." The controversial internet pornography decision ruled that a 1998 law which hid children from accidentally finding porn on the web was probably unconstitutional, which requires more review of the law; this might lead to access codes for adults who want to view the particular material. In the eight rulings, the judges decided 5-4 to allow a 2002 campaign finance law to apply to the 2004 election. It was stated that when rooting out corruption, limitations are placed on the first amendment, free sp...

Nursing research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Nursing - Research Paper Example She is normal and not depressed although she retired from her job. Interviewing is similar to courting where two individuals have to agree on something before doing it. Connection between an interviewer and an interviewee can be seen through numerous aspects. In this interview, there was a sound and outstanding connection between the interviewer and the interviewee. This was seen through the attention that the patient gave to the questions that she was asked (Peate, 2010). She held onto her judgments and opened her mind. The patient kept her ears and eyes into what she was asked and held onto her feelings or body language that would indicate any sort of body language. Additionally, the patient remained curious and deferential throughout the interview. When the patient was engaged in the interview, she responded succinctly. The interview took place in the patient’s house, in her living room, on Monday 10th June 2013 at 6pm and took 30 minutes. Part II: General Assessment Whenev er individuals get to the age of 75 and above, they experience changes in their life. Such changes include deterioration of the person’s immune system, memory loss, wear and tear on joints and bones, skin changes and loss of sight. The patient has grey hair, vision loss, walking problems and difficulties in using the bathroom. Eyesight weakens as people get older. Research indicates that at the age of 60, eye cataracts degenerate resulting to weakened sight. Cataracts are cloudy regions in the human eye lens that cause loss of eyesight (Anderson et al, 2010). Cataracts may form and stay small and not affect eyesight while they may become large and affect eye sight. Graying of hair is a clear sign of aging. It can only be understood through delving into biology. Hair color is manufactured by melanin, a protein underneath the skin. When individuals age, the melanin cells also age and start dying out and stop making hair color. Therefore, the color of an aged person turns gray d ue to the loss of color by melanin. She cannot bear to stand in the bathroom since her joints and bones have worn out. Additionally, she needs help in order to take a bath (Anderson, 2010). The patient notes that she cannot walk for long periods and cannot walk too without a walker. The weight bearing joints and bones in an individual wear down as he or she ages. As a result, the weakened bones prevent an individual from walking. These bones could either be infected with arthritis. This results from the wearing off of cartilage in joints and, therefore, leaves the bones to rub against each other (Anderson, 2010). Additionally, the patient noted that she could not hold her bladder and stool. Loss of bladder control, commonly referred as incontinence, is a common disorder among the aged. Statistics indicate that out of 10 aged people, one is likely to have urinal incontinence. However, this problem seems to be more prevalent among women than in men. The patient is aware of her aging c ondition and understands that she cannot carryout normal daily activities without help. This is because she is unable to walk and cannot hold her bladder and stool. This makes it hard and challenging for her to do anything for herself. For instance, she faces difficulties when using the bathroom. This is because she cannot stand for long due to her weak bones and joints. The patient satisfies her basic needs through retirement or work through attending church meetings, hobbies through taking trips,

Reading and Writing Without Authority Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading and Writing Without Authority - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that the reporter suffers the same predicament just like Janet’s. When he does a research, or even a simple paper, he just throws in information and data that the author thinks is relevant in the paper without really appreciating what the texts are trying to say.   This goes with class discussion where he blurts some information about a subject matter.   He guesses ever student has been through this awkward stage and eventually overcame it with efforts.  The reporter knows that this kind of learning is not effective because his claims are sometimes conflicting not to mention that it can be logically unsound.   It is also susceptible to mistake and error.This paper outlines that instead of merely getting information and throwing it in the paper, it would be better to understand and appreciate what the texts are really trying to say and enjoy it in the process.   After the initial write, it would also be effective to check whether hiscl aims are consistent after giving it a sleep and reading it anew with a fresher mind.   The reporter finds this approach very effective because he sees mistakes that he was not able to see before.   When the author fully understands it, he can then put it in the paper the way he understood it and it would appear in the writing.   Ideas will flow smoothly without awkward transitions not to mention that the final result of his composition reads great.   He will also practice so that he can write just like Roger’s in Reading and Writing Without Authority.

Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 14

Philosophy - Assignment Example For instance, the existence of computers is a result of the work of various people from different materials and expertise. In terms of necessity, computers are now needed because their creators imposed the need for them. In short, there is an originator to its necessity and existence. In relation to this, it can be proven that God exists because of the concept that nothing can exist without someone causing the necessity and creation of things that now exist. However, like St. Anselm’s proposition, this could face the problem of the requirement of scientific studies which demand tangible explanations. 3. The existence of evil is necessary as a tool to test one’s volition and faith in God. Although it does not necessarily mean that evil comes upon those who do evil, it is an important tool for God to measure the goodness of man. As J. L. Mackie explains, the biblical character Job was a righteous man but he experienced loses in terms of family, wealth and heath but it was necessary to determine if Job deserved to go to heaven or hell. Nevertheless, this argument can be faced with the problem of accusing God as unjust because that is what a man is called when he does evil to someone who has not done him any wrong. 4. Thomas Nagel believes that none of us can ever know what it is like to be a bat because we have different experiences from that of a bat. Even for instance, one metamorphoses to a bat, he could never tell how it is because he lacks the experience of being a bat from birth. The lack in experience makes the metamorphosed bat unable to fully understand how it is to be a bat. If Nagel is right, this would strengthen the philosophical idea that everything is physical. One may conceptualize a bat’s life but can never know how it is because of the lack of experience. 5. Monads, according to Leibniz, are simple substances which can make

Sheila birling in an inspector calls

Sheila birling in an inspector calls An Inspector Calls is a play set in Spring 1912, just before the First World War, but written by J.B. Priestley just after the Second World War. In this time Britain had a capitalist ideal. Basically if you were well-off that was great, but the vast majority of people were poor and lived off tiny wages. Furthermore it was a sexist country, so women didnt have the same rights as men. For example they were not permitted to vote until 1918, and even then they had to be over 30 until 1928 where the age was lowered to 21, equal to men. This is showed when Sheila and Sybil leave the room, so the men can talk business. Priestly may have written it at this time because he was trying to convey his socialistic views through the mouth of the Inspector, and the inclusion of dramatic irony referring to World War I a few German officers talking nonsense and a few scaremongers here making a fuss about nothing and these silly little war scares is proof that Priestley believes socialism is the best system. The Birlings are described through very detailed stage directions. For example, the Birlings are subtly described as materialistic [their house] is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and homelike. This portrays them as people who care more about appearances than comfort. The lighting is pink and intimate; this shows that they are enjoying the night and it might also suggest that they have something to hide. In the stage directions at the beginning of the play, Priestley presents Sheila, as a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited. Sheila doesnt really contrast from the rest of the family at this stage, which would imply she is happy in this selfish, capitalist household. It is immediately apparent that Sheila and Geralds relationship is not based on love; it is more arranged and convenient. For example, Sheilas engagement to Gerald means a step up the social ladder for the Birlings as Gerald might have done better for [himself] socially. Furthermore, it appears that Birling is hoping for a business relationship between Crofts Limited and Birling and Company, for lower costs and higher prices. It shows that Birling thinks of this relationship as a means to make money, rather than to make his daughter happy. Furthermore the ring represents materialism and class, rather than love. This is shown because Sheila kisses Gerald hastily indicating a lack of romance. While Sheila looks like she is a bit childish and naÃÆ' ¯ve Mummy, isnt it beautiful? she is later seen to be quite suspicious and intelligent. For example, when she teases Gerald over his absence all last summer, she is half serious, half playful. She doesnt seem convinced he was awfully bu sy at the works. Her suspicions arent fully explored because women at the time were expected not to question their husband, which is shown when Mrs. Birling says, men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. Youll have to get used to that, just as I had. Thus at the start of the play, Sheila seems happy to have a subordinate role. When the Inspector appears the lighting changes to a brighter and harder light which gives the impression of exposure and the revelation of truth. This is significant as it shows that the Inspector will change the mood completely and it indicates secrets coming to light. The audience is enticed to trust the Inspector over Mr. Birling because Mr. Birling says a lot of things which we know not to be true dramatic irony. For example, he says that the Titanic is, unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable. The audience knows that the Titanic, of course, crashes during its voyage but Mr. Birling doesnt know this and the repetition of the word unsinkable suggests his misplaced certainty. In addition, the audience at this point believes the Inspector to be a real inspector, so they automatically think he is a trustworthy person. Something else that makes the audience more wary of Mr. Birling is when he says, Now, Inspector, perhaps you and I had better go and talk this over quietly in a corner whic h reinforces our opinion that he places money over morality. It looks like he is trying to bribe the Inspector. We also get a clear message that the Inspector is not impressed or intimidated by the social status of Mr. Birling, as many people would in that time. It is shown when Mr. Birling says, Perhaps I ought to warn you that hes an old friend of mine, and that I see him fairly frequently. We play golf together sometimes up at West Brumley followed by the response from the Inspector, (dryly) I dont play golf. This excerpt shows that people would commonly threaten people of a lower class than them using their social status and contacts, which we find out Sheila does to Eva later in the play. The Inspectors response, I dont play golf is a metaphor for saying Im not threatened by you and ultimately Im not a capitalist. This extract also voices Priestleys views on capitalism, saying how corrupt it is. When the Inspector announces the death of Eva Smith, Eric is the first to say something (involuntarily) My God! This shows that he is genuinely surprised/caring about the incident. This contrasts with what Mr. Birling says next, (rather impatiently) Yes, yes. Horrid business. But I dont understand why you should come here, Inspector. This shows how selfish Mr. Birling actually is. He obviously doesnt care about Eva, which is apparent from his impatience he just wants to know why the Inspector has bothered him. Sheila also appears caring later on when she is shown the picture of Eva Smith, She looks at it closely, recognizes it with a little cry, gives a half-stifled sob, and then runs out. This response shows she has much more remorse and guilt than Mr. Birling, who was quick to dismiss any responsibility [Me sacking her] has nothing to do with the wretched girls suicide. Eh, Inspector? We find out that Sheila is partly responsible for Eva Smiths suicide because she complained to the shop Milwards about Evas behaviour, as she was jealous of her prettiness and was in a bad mood. We realise that Sheila can be shallow and childish at times, when she says, When I tried the thing on an looked at myself and knew that it was all wrong, I caught sight of this girl smiling at Miss Francis as if to say: Doesnt she look awful and I was absolutely furious. This extract also makes her look quite vain, because she assumed that Eva was smiling about her, as if theres nothing else she could possibly be smiling about and that the world revolves around her. The childishness is also supported by the fact that she calls her parents Mummy and Daddy on numerous occasions. Overall she probably did what she did at Milwards because she had been in a bad temper anyhow and just wanted someone to blame, so she took it out on someone she considered lower than her and used her money and status to get what she wanted. Sheilas actions (and possibly her beliefs) change throughout the Inspectors investigation. Upon discovering she is partly responsible for Evas death she manages to get a moment alone with Gerald, where she tries to find out his involvement before he is interrogated by the Inspector. Gerald gives himself away because he says, (started) What? as soon as the Inspector says the name Daisy Renton. It also looks like Sheila becomes more wary and independent after this, as she asks Gerald questions about Eva and guesses correctly Geralds involvement with her You not only knew her but you knew her very well. She also realises that the Inspector knows everything already, Why you fool he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we dont know yet. Youll see. Youll see. The repetition of Youll see is used to emphasise the fact that before the end of the evening, everyone will be proved guilty which shows that Sheila has superior insight to the rest of the family. S heila also gets an insight into the way the Inspector works, which she displays when she uses the wall metaphor, You mustnt try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do, then the Inspector will just break it down and itll be all the worse when he does. In effect here she is saying theres no point in trying to lie or avoid responsibility, because you will find out that you are in fact responsible. The wall also represents the barriers the Birlings exact between the rich and the poor She is saying something similar with the rope metaphor Hes giving us the rope so that well hang ourselves. This shows that the Inspector is here to make the Birlings admit to their mistakes, rather than just to arrest then because of course in reality they havent committed any legal crime towards Eva. Shelia is definitely more receptive to the Inspectors message. This is further shown by the fact that she is trying to get the rest of the family to just tell the honest truth It cra zy. Please, stop mother. When Sheila gives the engagement ring back to Gerald this is actually very symbolic. Firstly it shows that Shelia has grown less materialistic and vain and that she values the truth much more, as the ring was the only thing keeping Gerald and her together. In addition it can also be thought of as Sheilas switch from a capitalist to a socialist as she is turning her back on this symbol of materialism. This shows that she was particularly receptive to the Inspector. The fact that Mr. Birling tries to keep the two engaged, Now, Sheila, Im not defending him but you must understand that a lot of young menà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ shows that he is still completely oblivious to the Inspectors message and is still trying to hold on to the thing that will help him step up on the social ladder. When the Birlings find out that the Inspector isnt an actually police inspector, they all behave differently. Sheila and Eric dont believe that it makes any difference because the Inspector opened their eyes to how selfish he family is, which is shown when Sheila says sarcastically, I suppose were all nice people now. So the Inspector leaves the biggest impression on the younger generation, which interestingly is mentioned earlier when the Inspector says, We often [leave an impression] on the young ones. Theyre most impressionable. This shows that the younger people have a chance to change their beliefs and do something about it, as they are the future. On the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. Birling seem to think that the Inspectors fakeness makes all the difference. For example Mr. Birling says, If that had been a police inspector and hed heard you confessà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This shows that he cares more about appearances and how scandalous the ordeal would be rather than how much of an impact it should have had on his beliefs. Priestleys message is quite complicated. Earlier on the Inspector gives a speech that covers the main themes of the whole play. He says, One Eva Smith has gone, but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and what we do. The hopes and fears is to emphasise the fact that these people are actual people, not cheap labour as Mr. Birling says. This whole speech is basically to say that it is not just one person; millions of people are suffering just for the rich to prosper. Afterwards he says, We dont live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will come soon when, if men will no learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. The term Fire and blood and anguish is dramatic irony as it is a reference to the World Wars. The fact that the audience knows that this will happen makes them think that socialism is the correct political system. The final part is open to interpretation, but in my opinion when the family gets the phone call to find out that a girl has actually committed suicide, the audience get the idea that the Inspector might actually be God as he appears omniscient, which tells us that God would prefer everyone to share the blame and understand their mistakes, which fits in with Socialist beliefs. The Inspectors role was to make the others admit their secrets and mistakes and make them see that what they did was wrong. Sheila has definitely changed with this, becoming less vain and materialistic. Eric has also changed, becoming more Socialist than Capitalist. The change in the younger generation shows that it is up to them to change the world and make it a better place (a Socialist place). This is because it is too late for the older, elitist more prejudiced generation and the audience knows that because of them the World Wars would be inevitable.

Sophistic Movement :: essays research papers

The vast majority of today's society isn't the slightest bit aware of the tremendous influence the sophistic period of thought has had and continues to have on modern western politics. But how could a supposedly highly educated and intelligent people be so ignorant of such an important and significant epoch in our history? It was during the fifth century B.C. when the sophistic movement, founded by a man named Protagoras, was at its prime. The sophist were recognized as highly skillful teachers by many and their works on issues such as the efficiency of language and the existence of gods were considered to be revolutionary at the time. Not every one was in aggreance with these new philosophies and not long after the movement began, the sophist and their works were being harshly persecuted. Many of them were exhiled and their works were all but completely annihilated. Now, very little is left of the sophists, except for what other prominent theorists have said about them. At the head of this condescending army was Plato, whose own theories opposed those of the sophists in numerable . Anyone who has read some of Plato's writing can tell you that what he had to say about Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus and the other sophists was by no means benevolent, and according to G.B. Kerferd, nor was it a completely factual description of them. Unfortunately, since these innacurate depictions are all we have left, the generations that were to come accepted Plato's hostile opinion of the sophists and it is for this reason that the word sophist is now found to be synonomous with the words bigot and know-it-all. Modern scholars have recently been trying to dispell the myths about the sophists, which is exactly what G.B. Kerferd attempts to do in his book 'The Sophistic Movement';.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Kerferd, at the foundation of sophistic though is the statement, made by its founder Protagoras, that 'Man is the measure of all things.'; Man considers things to be as they appear to him. To explain this phenomenon, Kerferd makes an example out of the wind. If one man says that the wind is cold, and the man standing beside him finds it to be warm, even if they were both being affected by the same wind, both statements would be considered correct. Since man (the individual) is the measure of all things, the wind is cold to the man to whom it appears cold and warm to the man to whom it appears warm.