Month: July 2019
Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity
In Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity, he investigated and discovered how light's speed was not dependent on its observer' movement or motion. Einstein concluded that because space and time work as a solo continuum (based on the idea that inside a vacuum, regardless of an observer's speed, light's speed remains constant), physics' fundamental properties would remain constant to any observer not in acceleration themselves. Multiple things that happen at one instant for one onlooker may happen at a different instant for another onlooker. While studying his theories, Albert Einstein recognized how objects with a greater mass may cause a differentiation in the space-time continuum, as, for example, the gravity from the rocket's mass's pull carries rocks towards it in space. With his theory of general relativity, it was predicted that around and near Earth, the space-time continuum would be twisted by the rotation of the planet in addition to the distortion.
While space-time may be immeasurable to scientific devices, examples outside of the laboratory can be and have been observed that demonstrate qualities to support Einstein's claims. For example, gravitational lensing displays that near an object of great mass, like a black hole, the light is angled, curved, or bent. This article was helpful in explaining not only Einstein's theory of relativity, but also the relationship between space and time as knitted together in a single continuum. One example of this was in how they illustrated an analogy of how a person's body sitting in the middle of a trampoline would cause the trampoline surface to divot there, and thus how a marble at the outskirts of the surface would roll and circle in towards the center and the person's mass causing the divot. I thought examples like this and the overall explanations were helpful in elaborating and clarifying these physics principles and their applications.
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Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. (2019, Jul 24).
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Newton Vs Einstein
A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding. -Sir Isaac Newton. In the early 1680s Newton published his theory on gravity. Newton's theory proclaimed that gravity was basically a predictable force acting on all matter in the universe. Also that the gravity was related to both the distance and the mass. To summarize it, he thought that the farther away something was/ the less mass it had the less force there would be acting upon the object from gravity.
However, later on in the year 1915, Einstein proposed a new theory about gravity that was a little different then Newton's theory. He thought that in space gigantic objects were responsible for distortions in the so called fabric of space and time. Unlike Newton, Einstein did not refer to gravity as a force during his studies, instead deciding to refer to it as the fourth dimension. One way to simulate Einstein's theory on this fabric of space and time is to use a sheet hung up on a base made of pipes so it appears to look like a table. You can then but an assortment of different weights and objects on the cloth to see how they affect the so called fabric of space.
Surprisingly, their discoveries also had lots of similarities. For example, in physics it is said that two objects that travel in a straight line parallel of each other should obviously stay in that line and never meet each other. With the theory that Newton proposed it said that due to the gravity involved that small particles from the object would break off and collide with each other because the force attracting the particles and pulling them towards a commonly shared third particle or object. Although Einstein did not describe it quite like this, he did agree with Newton about it. The only difference was that Einstein did not simply thing of gravity as a force but more as a fourth dimension or even a curve in space and time.
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Newton vs Einstein. (2019, Jul 24).
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Psychology of Serial Killers: Nature Vs Nurture
The question of whether or not a man is determined to lead a life of crime and destruction is a question that has and will continue to be debated for decades. Do serial killers develop a desire for murder for as they start to grow up; through years of abuse and torment, or are they born with it? Some scientists believe that a child can be born with the capacity to commit a horrible act such as murder, while others believe that it is impossible for an innocent child to be born like that. Therefore, society is the one that pushes them into corruption (Warf 2002). The way a child is raised, social relations, and social-economical problems are the most important ways a serial killer can be created. In addition, family backgrounds have a significant role in the life of a child, but genetics should not be ignored. Chemical properties and hormones are essential in the genetics of a serial killer, because they can lead to crime and violence (Quinn 2006).
In short, both nature and nurture are essential in shaping a serial killer. All serial killers have three aspects that they show in their childhood. The first one is bedwetting which is related to psychological, emotional, and physical abuse. Secondly, is the act of fire setting. Children who create fires to random things, feel so much negative emotions such as; anger, and hatred, that they cannot control their impulsions towards starting a fire (Vronsky 269). Lastly, another sign that children show at a young age, can be descried as feeling deep motivation and impulsion to torturing animals. In addition, they usually enjoy spending time with dead animals, that some even resort to taxidermy (Warf 2002). Taxidermy is when an animal's body is preserved via mounting, or stuffing. Research into serial killers has been getting more comprehensive over time. But even though there are many investigations and researches into the mind of serial killers, there is still not enough scientific information about why they do horrible things (Quinn 2006). In 1998, a new law that defined the term 'serial killers' was established. The term 'serial killer' is a person who murders three or more people, because of pleasure. The murders take place over an extended period of time, and with a significant break in between the murders (Interview: McGrath). While some may kill for revenge or robbery, serial killers do not.
Serial killers act because of their deep, suppressed emotions, they are not driven by greed, revenge, hatred, envy or spur-of-the-moment violence. So, one might ask themselves, how are serial killers created? In the psychological community, the debate of nature versus nurture has been and will continue to be an endless one. People who study society, social interaction and culture of everyday life such as sociologists, have been dealing with this issue for years in analyzing serial killers. One of the questions that is constantly being asked is: does nature, nurture, or a mixture of both are what create a serial killer? Proponents of the nature side of the debate, argue that all our traits are decided as soon as we are born. Nature focuses on the characteristics a person is born with, such as; personality traits, genetic make-up, and physical predispositions (Keltner 2003). Proponents of nature take into consideration DNA, and biological connections to our parents. A syndrome that is very common in the nature side of serial killers, is the XYY syndrome.
The Y chromosome is about maleness which causes more aggressive, impulsive, and violent behavior. People who have the XYY syndrome can be have a greater motivation towards killing and be more sadistic (Vronsky 247). People who are on the side of nurture, believe that what determines what a person becomes and who they are, is based on the environment around them. Nurture emphasizes on the experiences that change and mold us as we grow up, what we are thought at school, our culture, and how we are raised by our parents (Keltner 2003). The way a child is raised and the environment around them can completely change who they will become. But combining a traumatic upbringing and genes can have a bad result on what a person becomes in the future. One of the serial killers that is referred as being created through nature is David Berkowizt, known as the Son of Sam. In 1976, David terrorized the New York City area from July 1976 to July 1977, he killed six people and wounded seven, using a .44 revolver gun. When David was a child, everyone who knew him, described him as a polite and quiet young man (Vronsky 279). He was adopted by Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz, and they raised David in a supportive, and loving environment.
Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz gave David everything he needed and wanted, they treated him with as much love as a parent could give, and David grew up in an environment that could lead to good mental health and happiness. David grew up in such a healthy environment without trauma, that shows the only reason he could have acted out, was because he is an example of a serial killer created by nature. As stated before, nature deals with genetics, therefore, this was a predominant cause that lead David into a killing spree. Since David's upbringing was a good one, the nature of his inner self must be examined. Although there is no record of the mental health or criminal history, of David's biological parent's, it is assumed that biological factors contributed to his negative behavior (Vronsky 286). David's positive childhood environment was not able to override his natural mental tendencies towards killing. David stated that his reason for killing was that to keep the demons quiet (Vrosnky 288). He claimed that the demons in his head would not leave him alone and stop tormenting him; in order to get rid of the demons, he began to do whatever they wanted. This shows that David had a psychological problem. Another example of his mental disorder appeared when he was an adult, which continued to affect his life. He convinced himself that his house owners were part of the demon conspiracy, so he moved into another apartment, but was still controlled by the demons in his head (Vronsky 289). This evidence shows that David suffered from deep mental dysfunction, most likely born in his genes. Another example of a serial killer born through nature is Jeffrey Dahmer, known as the Milwaukee Cannibal.
Dahmer, murdered, raped, and dismembered seventeen boys and men between the years of 1978 and 1991. Dahmer had a normal childhood with no abuse or serious neglect, he describes that he felt a compulsion towards committing the crimes (Vronsky 244). Did David commit all these crimes because he was born with psychological problems, or was there aspects of the way he was raised that set him on the wrong path? David states that he felt a compulsion towards killing and could not resist the urge to behave differently. Despite cases like the Son of Sam, and Jeffrey Dahmer, where nature takes the main role in the contribution of creating a serial killer, many times nature is not the only or the main factor towards shaping a serial killer. The way a child is raised can change their entire life; it can change their personality, and attitude (Keppel 2003) Ed Gein, and Ted Bundy are well known serial killers in history, and the thing that connects them, is that both of them had a traumatic childhood that lead to destruction. Ed Gein was born in 1906 as the younger of two boys. Gein was a shy boy that grew up with a dominant, deeply religious mother who often taught her children that women were evil and discouraged them of all sexual desires, and Geins father was an alcoholic. Gein was unhealthily too attached to his mother, which caused great criticism and jealousy from his older brother Henry, who died in a mysterious fire. It wasn't till later that Gein was suspected of killing his own brother, and after his mother died there was no one to control his impulses, therefore, Gein started to perform gruesome experiments on dead bodies and live out his dark fantasies.
In the book, Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters, Peter Vronsky states that when the police visited Gein's farm, They foundhuman entrails in the refrigerator; shoebox with nine vulvasand masks made out of the flesh of females. The trigger to his killing spree is that he believed by collecting fresh bodies, he could transform himself into the sex change that he wanted. Gein claims that his killing spree and disturbing psychological state was due to his love-hate relationship towards his mother (Vronsky 186). Another serial killer that started due to the environmental conditions around them, was one of the most infamous killers of all time; Ted Bundy. Vronsky states, He was a necrophiliac who kidnapped, murdered, raped and mutilatedtwenty college-age women over a period of six monthskept four heads in his apartment. Bundy was born in 1946 in Burlington, Vermont as Theodore Robert Cowell, to an unmarried mother of 22. During the 1940s having a child out of wedlock was scandalous, as a result, Bundy was made to believe by his grandparents that he was their son and that his mother was his sister (Keppel 198-199).After Bundy's mother married his stepfather, known to him as his uncle, he attempted to form a relationship with Bundy; however Bundy continued to be distant and detached himself from them. When Bundy was a child, he was socially awkward, and had a low self-esteem, and because of this he was often pranked and teased by bullies in his middle school.
Although Bundy was constantly bullied, he was fascinated by politics and enjoyed skiing, as he grew up, he appeared to be a normal young man, and was devastated when his first love left him. However, Bundy did not deal with grief as most people do. At the same time that his heart was broken, he discovered who his true parents were, and that had a serious impact on him. Bundy became addicted to pornography which he claims, it was what led him to do what he did (Keppel 198-199). This addiction, along with the trauma that took place in his life, most likely played a major role in contributing to mental deterioration, and violent behavior. An important step to stopping homicidal rampages that serial killers go on, is by understanding why and how serial killers commit such horrific crimes. Scientists found that genetics is the key role in determining who becomes a serial killer, however, psychologist and criminologist argue that major events such as abandonment, and abuse set the foundation in which a serial killer grows into a sadistic mass murderer. Both arguments are strongly proved and explained above, with the stories of the Son of Sam, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, and Ted Bundy.
It is a mix of both cultural upbringings, and genetics that shape a serial killer. Many humans deal with violent situations as children and go through horrific events, many of them do not become serial killers. It is true that children who are victims of abuse become violent in their adult lives but to cross the line of a serial killer, one must have some negative biochemical makeup to make them act out. Nature does decide what traits we are born with, but these traits cannot be exposed without a mechanism that triggers serial killers into committing horrific crimes. If we curb domestic violence, then maybe the chances for a serial killer to become violent as they grow up, will decrease in a significant way that will make our world a safer place. If we had better knowledge on what creates a serial killer, then future advancements towards preventing these crimes could be offered by supporting abused children.
In addition, with the development of new technology, scientists could develop a drug that could help an individual function successfully and help serial killers with their genetics. However, most serial killers don't accept help, nor do they stop, no matter what help is offered to them. Serial killers continue to kill until they are stopped and arrested, and even then, they have no desire to become better. In conclusion, it is important to not give up on individuals in our society, because if this happened, society would lack the social cohesion that is essential for human flourishing. The only way to get a better understanding of a serial killer is to get inside their heads, and try to comprehend their life experiences, and why an individual has become a heartless, cold person who goes to extreme lengths to harm people.
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Psychology of Serial Killers: Nature vs Nurture. (2019, Jul 24).
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https://studydriver.com/2019/07/page/16/
How Manifest Destiny Affected Native American Culture
What is no one spoke English anymore? What if it was illegal to celebrate Christmas? What if a new race of people decided to invade America and force Americans out of their homes? This was what happened to Native Americans during America's Westward Expansion. Native American culture disappeared because America's westward expansion forced them out of their homeland, disease and violence killed millions of them, and new laws gave them no rights.
Life in the Western Hemisphere was much different before it was invaded by explorers. The large unexplored area was home to over 30 million Native Peoples that had their own languages and cultures (Bruhac). Their way of life was much different than many people think. They made numerous advancements in the medical field, such as birth control and pain medicine and also worked hard in agriculture by finding ways to prep land for and domesticate crops (Bruhac). The Natives farmed potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, yams, and corn (Bruhac). After being discovered, these crops helped lower the disease and hunger that were happening in Europe (Bruhac). This is how life was like for the Natives before being found by Europeans.
Their ways of lives changed when explorers came. In the 1300s, the Pope split the world into sections and decided which countries would get what parts of the world (Basu). Pradeep Kumar Basu explains this by saying, He drew a line vertically down the Atlantic Ocean on a world atlas. The East was for England, France, Holland; and the west was for the Spaniards and Portuguese. When the Spanish first landed in the New World, they landed in the Caribbean and took over the Natives' way of life. These conquerors would trick the Natives and use force or violence to push them out of their homeland, murdering innumerable innocent people in the process (Basu). These new people would capitalize off of the Natives' resources and labor, basically making the Natives the Europeans' slaves (Basu). This treatment of the Natives took away their dignity and made it impossible for them to ever return to the state they were in prior to European exploration (Basu). This is how their lives changed when the explorers came.
Then explorers found the continent of North America. In 1607, a group of men founded the Jamestown colony in present-day Virginia (Basu). These were some of the first settlers in North America, closely followed by the Pilgrims of present-day Massachusetts in 1620 (Basu). More and more settlers came and following the Revolutionary War, a new country was formed called America. When the early Americans started to run out of room, they decided to expand to the rest of the continent. In 1787 George Washington passed the Northwest Ordinance which came up with a way to turn unoccupied territory into states (Kowalski). It called for the United States to practice 'utmost good faith... towards the Indians' who already resided in those areas, says Kathiann Kowalski. But there were many instances where promises were not kept and treaties were broken. In 1804, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, led by a Lemhi Shoshone woman named Sacagawea, traveled accross the North American continent searching for an all-water route that would transfer people to the Pacific Ocean (Westward Expansion). While they didn't find the route they were looking for, they discovered a whole country that no one knew existed until then. This is how the North American continent was inhabited by explorers.
There were many reasons people wanted to expand to the Western United States. Some thought it was our responsibility, others saw it as an experiment, and still, others thought it was our right (Yoder). Of course, other factors came into play such as the California Gold rush of 1849 which brought tons of new settlers (Westward Expansion). Another factor could be people wanted some elbow room and the government was giving away free land in the Great Plains (Westward Expansion). But probably one of the main reasons was that Americans felt entitled to the West and saw it as their right of conquest (Mann). The thing they didn't consider was the other people living on the land they wanted to take.
When new settlers wanted to cross the West they used the Oregon Trail. The Oregon Trail was actually a series of trails that led to the West Coast (Kellaher). Travelers were aiming to make it to Oregon Country. Oregon Country wasn't part of the United States so not many people lived there except for Native Americans (Kellaher). The main challenge they faced was the unknown, says park ranger Rachael Nickens (qtd. in Kellaher). Settlers would make the journey in many different ways. Some traveled by wagons and farmed their way across the continent (Kellaher). At the end of the Civil War, construction began on the transcontinental railroad (Bruhac). Building the railroad forced Native Americans to give up their land to make room for the tracks (Bruhac). Then in 1869, when the railroad was completed, the settlers could cross the country in a much more timely manner (Kellaher). This shows how settlers used the Oregon Trail and other ways to reach the West Coast.
The Oregon Trail had positive and negative effects on the daily lives of Native Americans. Before settlers would begin their journey accross the continent, they had preset images in their minds of what the Natives would be like (Yoder). The Native Americans were viewed as unfriendly, weak obstacles in the way of the settlers' dreams of Manifest Destiny (Yoder). But in the beginning, relations between the white men and Native peoples were good (Kellaher). The travelers engaged in trade with the Pawnee and Shoshone tribes that lived near where the settlers made their way (Kellaher). However, as more and more settlers came, the hardships of the Native Americans grew (Kellaher). When the pioneers came, they ruined the land in the Midwest. The wagons they traveled with left deep ruts in the ground and the farming the settlers did, disposed of a lot of the Great Plains' grass (Kellaher). There was no grass left for the Native Americans' horses to eat and no wild buffalo left for the tribes to hunt and feed their families with (Kellaher). The pioneers killed millions of Natives by bringing diseases that the tribes had never encountered before (Kellaher). In order to survive, many tribes had to move away from their homeland to places where no pioneers were traveling (Kellaher). These are the effects that the Oregon trail had on the Native American peoples.
Not only were the Natives affected by Manifest Destiny, but wildlife was also affected as well mainly bison. The population of bison was affected by Westward Expansion for many reasons. The first being, new settlers came and hunted them for fun (Lopata). Another reason was that men building the transcontinental railroad would kill the buffalo in order to make room for the tracks (Kowalski). The use of guns made it easier for them to kill hundreds at a time (Lopata). When these new people would murder the bison they would only use certain parts of the animal, they left the rest of the remains to rot (Kowalski). This was unfortunate for Native Americans because they used the entire buffalo when they hunted (Kowalski). The Native Americans ate their meat and used their hide for shelter and clothing (Kowalski). Then in 1830, their population began to decline and by 1883 there were none left in the wild (Lopata). This was damaging to life on the Great Plains. Peg Lopata says, Bison migrations, grazing patterns, and behaviors were once a key part of this region's ecology. Without bison, life in the Midwest was much harder for the people and animals living there. Thankfully, some efforts have been made to restore the bison population that was affected by Westward Expansion. Today wild buffalo roam throughout Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming (Lopata).
When settlers needed a place to live, Native Americans were forced out of their homelands. Native Americans didn't believe land could be owned. Native groups and the animals they depended on roamed freely, says Kathiann M. Kowalski. Native Americans were expected to live on reservations, sections of land set aside for them, when they were characteristically nomadic (Kowalski). One of the earliest instances of this was called the Indian Removal Act passed by Andrew Jackson in 1830 (Kowalski). This act took Native American tribes that lived east of the Mississippi River and moved them to the other side (Kowalski). Then in 1838, the government and Cherokee tribes signed the Treaty of New Echota, which traded the Cherokee land for different land in Oklahoma (Kowalski). The Cherokee were forced out of their land and marched along a 1000 mile march, the Trail of Tears, and killed 25% of the tribe's population (Kowalski). An event similar to this happened when 2000 Navajo and Mescalero Apache lives were lost when the tribes were forced out of New Mexico and taken 450 miles away to Bosque Redondo (Black). Again this happened in 1887 when the Dawes Act forced more Native Americans onto reservations and took away 90 million acres of their land to give to settlers (Bruhac).
When Abraham Lincoln was elected into office, things were going to change for lots of groups of people at that time. Unfortunately, Native Americans were not one of those groups. One of Lincoln's most famous achievements, The Emancipation Proclamation, freed slaves but gave no rights to the Native Americans (Black). Abraham Lincoln did nothing to end Native American discrimination, in fact, some things he did might have harmed them. He was in power when the Homestead Act was passed in 1862 which gave free land to new settlers (Black). He also passed the Pacific Railway Act which made it easier to cross the continent and also harder for Natives to keep their land and culture (Black). He always made promises during his congress speeches but never took action on them and continued to place policies that would harm them (Black).
Not many of the promises that were made to the Native Americans were kept. The government used force to keep Native Americans away from the settlers (Kowalski). Agreements made with Natives were not kept and when treaties were signed the Natives were often forced to sign or unethical ways were used to get their signatures (Kowalski). When the Natives started to protect their land from settlers, the government made the Treaty of Ft. Laramie in 1851 which promised money to the Natives and promised to limit settlers (Kowalski). But when the government stopped providing money and aid, they had had enough (Kowalski).
When the Natives were fed up with being treated as collateral damage, they fought back. One of the earliest instances of this was in 1791 when a Shawnee tribe leader named Tecumseh joined the many midwest tribes together to fight off American troops (Bruhac). They ended up eliminating 600 troops near the Wabash river (Bruhac). Again in 1811, Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa led an attack called the Battle of Tippenhoe (Basu). The Shawnee were not as successful this time around (Basu). These fights continued throughout the 19th century being led both by Native Americans and by white settlers. In 1862, the Dakota War was fought which resulted in 38 Native men being hung (Black). Then in 1864, hundreds Cheyenne and Arapaho Natives were killed in the Sand Creek Massacre (Black). It all came to an end at the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 where the Sioux were destroyed in the final significant battle of the century (Kowalski). The Native population was decreasing and with it their culture and traditions.
Today life is very different for Native Americans. There are 326 reservations and 11 state reservations (Bruhac). Native Americans make up 1.7% of America's population (Basu). Half of the languages they spoke have almost disappeared (Bruhac). They still face many prejudices but steps have been taken to make wrongs write. Many acts have been passed such as the 1978 Religious Freedom Act which made it legal for them to practice their religions (Vincent). There was also the Archaeological Resources Act in 1988 which protected Native artifacts that were found in archeological sites (Vincent).
As it can be seen from these examples, there are many things that contributed to the disappearance of Native American culture. The westward expansion contributed by bringing settlers and pioneers. Their land was taken away to make room for these people and more of their land was taken to make room for the transcontinental railroad. Their rights were taken away and they were made to feel like criminals. They were murdered when they tried to protect their land and they continue to lose culture everyday. Even though there have been steps to make things right with the Native Americans, nothing can be done about the massive amount of bloodshed and culture destruction that was done to them in America's quest for Manifest Destiny.
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How Manifest Destiny Affected Native American Culture. (2019, Jul 24).
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https://studydriver.com/2019/07/page/16/
What is Animal Farm an Allegory For?
Animal Farm, a novella written by George Orwell in 1945, is an allegorical commentary on what went wrong when Czarist Russia evolved into Communist Russia. An allegory is a narrative that uses literary devices to unveil hidden meanings. Orwell wanted to show the negative side of communism when it is taken too far. He demonstrated this by assigning the animals in Animal Farm the roles of several important figures. In Animal Farm one important figure that played a major role in the story and in World War 1 was Snowball. This was allegorical in sense that during the Russian Revolution the character depicted as Snowball was Leon Trotsky who throughout most of life, worked for Stalin to empower his image, that was until he was exiled. With Leons' strategic military structure he could overthrow the government and established the Council of the Peoples' Commissions. This is most relatable to the overthrow of Mr. Jones Jones and the establishment of Animal Farm. In reality, Lenin was the President of the Committee while Trotsky was Commissar.
Under the guidance of Trotsky, the revolution was going fairly well. It wasn't until Lenin's death where the struggle for power brought the revolution to a negative downturn. Trotsky and Stalin were in constant competition to prove themselves worthy of Lenin's' place. Yet as time passed by Trotsky favored the revolution while Stalin repeatedly opposed his ideas. This eventually leads to the deceitful exile of Trotsky in 1929 which secured power for Stalin. Trotsky was named the scapegoat for all Russian's problems and those who believed it the Russian Revolution were the obvious bandwagon- blindly lead by those in power, corrupt or not. This was demonstrated in Animal Farm when Old major dies leaving the place of superiority to either Snowball or Napoleon which as predicted lead to the banishment of Snowball by force leaving the farm, and those who inhabit it under the corruptive hands of Napoleon.
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What is Animal Farm an allegory for?. (2019, Jul 24).
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What Characterizes a Serial Killers and what Drives them to Kill
Abstract
Serial murder is one of the rarest forms of murder, yet it captivates and baffles many criminologists due to the ambiguous information available on the crime. A serial killer is an individual that commits more than three murders consecutively with a cooling off period. This paper will analyze and elaborate on what drives them to kill and what type of characteristics these murders possess. It will utilize scholarly articles to gather demographic information and analyze how serial killers are treated under the law. Finally, the information gathered will be compared to the Tv show Criminal Minds to show how serial killers are portrayed in the media. The information gathered in the paper may be useful to propose potential solutions to prevent or decrease serial murder. What Characterizes a Serial Killers and What Drives Them to Kill Introduction Throughout history, there have been several misconceptions about serial killers in society due to how they are portrayed in cinematic movies or TV shows. Even though the act of serial killing can be traced back all the way to ancient times, the definition of what makes an induvial a serial killer is still vague in modern day times. There have been many infamous and horrific serial killers that have mutilated dead bodies and killed numerous people and traumatized American history with their brutal acts.
A serial killer under the laws is described as an individual that has committed more than three consecutive murders. Serial killing is very rare and is considered the rarest form of murder. Hollywood often depicts the persona of serial killers as deranged and socially awkward beings. Statistically speaking, data from the FBI has proven that people who mass kill are very similar to everyday people. Majority of serial killers tend to blend into in their communities because they are successfully employed and have families. These misconceptions make it hard for the authorities to identify and catch serial killers. It is very crucial to understand what actually drives or motivates certain individuals to kill multiple people in order to stop this abnormal and harmful conduct from taking place. The intent of my research paper is to take an in-depth look at this unnatural phenomenon in human behavior and analyze the main factors that push humans to kill multiple people. My research paper will examine scholarly literature in order to explain the characteristics of serial killers and how they are dealt with under the U.S criminal justice system. This will also provide background information on serial killers in general. For my methods sections, I have selected the tv show Criminal Minds to evaluate so I can compare the cinematic information to scholarly information from the literature review. After dissecting the information, I will be able to provide my results and critical findings of serial killers in the conclusion of my paper.
Literature Review Background
Serial killers can be traced back for centuries and even though it is the rarest form of killing, serial killers leave heinous marks on society. Serial killing has historically changed over time with the improvement of modern technology and forensics. As a result, previous eras it was not able to easily identify a serial killer (Haggerty, 2009). The act of killing multiple people in ghastly ways breaks modern-day societal norms, thus it creates a sense of fascination amongst criminologist and authorities. Serial murder occurs when an individual has killed three or more people, with a 'cooling off' period amongst every murder (Haggerty, 2009). This recognized classification produces numerous problems due to the narrowing of analysis in such crimes. This definition fails to include countless common characteristics of serial killing (Haggerty, 2009). Infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, and the mysterious unknown serial killer named Jack the Ripper, have committed gruesome and heinous chain murders. Serial killers share a common theme of mutilating bodies, having sex after with the dead victim's body, and preying on children or women (Aken, 2010). Serial killers, like all humans, are molded by their childhood experiences and their upbringing (Aken, 2010). Criminologist attempt to pinpoint the crucial differences that separate serial killers from the rest of society in a process complex practice called Causality. Causality tries to explain the reasoning behind human behavior and is built on social, biological, and environmental aspects (Aken, 2010).
However, it is not possible to classify all of the factors that guide normal human behavior, let alone explain abnormal behavior, especially in serial killers. General Profiling and Characteristics Serial killers are often regarded as having dysfunctional upbringings and lack social bonds with family or friends (Miller, 2014). Most serial killers come from broken homes where they have been abused and propositioned to violence in their adolescent upbringing. Small deviant acts in adolescence like arson, vandalism, mutilation of animals, and constant outburst are common patterns found (Haggerty, 2009). During the Maturation stage from adolescence into adulthood, serial killers' crimes intensify with the seriousness. As they reach adulthood most serial killers are recognized as middle-aged white men, however many do not fit the stereotypical profile (Pakhomou, 2004). There is no general template for a serial killer since there are minority serial killers and also female serial killers. Serial killers are often shown in media as estranged killers suffering from severe mental health problems, yet recent studies have shown that most do not suffer from incapacitating mental illnesses (Pakhomou, 2004).
The infamous BTK killer, Dennis Rader, who mocked authorities for thirty years, had a family consisting of two children. He was also a boy scout leader in his youth, and a leader at his residential church during the periods of his murders (Haggerty, 2009). Lastly, another main misconception about serial murders is that they are nomadic killers. Modern day data proves thirty-four percent of serial killers travel lengthy distances to earmark in deviant crimes which shows that serial killers have motivations or drives to kill (Pakhomou, 2004). Motivation Many media channels depict serial killers as senseless killers that possess no true motive. Nevertheless, criminal profilers and authorities should oppose the media's depiction serial killers. FBI profilers suppose serial killers are driven to commit crimes by unique motives known and comprehended by only themselves rather than the lack of motivation at all (Simpson, 2018). Therefore, deciphering the motives of serial killers is difficult and virtually impossible due to all the diverse factors (Jamet, 2012). The FBI distinguishes approximately seven broad classifications of drive: rage, criminal enterprise, religious ideology, monetary gain, psychosis, dominance and pleasure, or sexually centered impulses (Simpson, 2018). Although the FBI acknowledges the previously stated motivations, there still remains insufficient empirical data to advocate that these are the only satisfactory causes for serial killers to commit horrendous murders.
Treatment Under the Law The Criminal Justice system in the U.S deals with serial killers by commonly sentencing them to life without parole or giving them the death penalty. The administering of the death receives depends on factors like mentally stability and severity of the crime (Simpson, 2018). Since the majority of serial killers don't feel remorse for their actions it is rare for them to be rehabilitated. Certain states such as Texas, Ohio, and Oregon have higher death penalty rates (Simpson, 2018). Improved Typography Profiling Policy After conduction research, there is no proven way to prevent a serial killer from committing murder since they are already abnormal and rare behaviors. However, there are potential ways to help identify a serial killer and categorizes them more efficiently. The FBI should produce a universal definition for all law enforcement to use throughout an investigation (Aken, 2010). This universal list should include the known typographies used by researchers, as well as those used by law enforcement agencies: visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic or sexual, control, predator, paraphilic, sadistic, hate-oriented, attention seeking, cult-oriented, and family targeted (Aken, 2010). By collecting various typographies, it would allow law enforcement to incorporate female and male serial killers and accurately identify all serial killers without limiting the acknowledged types of serial killers with preconceived misconceptions or stereotypical ideology. For instance, a serial killer can be considered an attention seeker, sexual sadist, cult follower, or a combination of several typographies. This would offer enhanced comprehension of serial killers for authorities, psychologists, and criminologist, and potentially increase the probability of apprehending serial killers.
Methods
In a content analysis, I was able to compare and connect the research gathered in my literature review with the portrayal of serial killers in a TV series called Criminal Minds. I analyzed the common themes and typographic information into a chart for fluidity. After analyzing each episode, I summarized the offender's upbringing, their demographics, motives or drive, specific crime or offense, and their emotional reaction for remorse for their crime in a chart.
Findings Adolescent Upbringing
Throughout the criminal minds tv series, the emphasis of the serial killer's background and adolescent upbringing had a crucial role in explaining how they were molded into a serial killer. The constant patterns of child abuse, neglect, and learned behaviors of violence would be used in the show to explain their barbaric behaviors. Behaviors like starting fires and mutilating animals was also prevalent as a pattern in the episodes.
Finally, the lack of social bonds was a pattern in the shows because often times it showed the serial killer being bullied or not having any friends or parental guidance. Gender Race and Sex When analyzing the tv series show Criminal Minds, all of the offenders were white males. This information is not completely accurate when compared to the research data in the literature review. The media definitely has over-dramatized the demographics and ignored that serial killers can be females or minorities. Remorse All of the serial killers portrayed in the show had no feelings of remorse. In each episode, the serial killers were aware of the consequences and some even had clear motives but found satisfaction in killing. Remorse is the reflection upon one's actions and feelings a sense of guilt and shame. These characters also all demonstrated either narcissistic tendency's or had mental illnesses. As previously stated in the literature review, research proves that not all serial killers are mentally ill and socially isolated beings. Criminal minds had many over dramatizations for entertainment purposes.
Conclusion
The main points that have been concluded after gathering research in the content analysis and literature reviews are that serial killers have varying motives and cannot be generalized under one category. Serial killers are abnormal, but also have several misconceptions that are over dramatized in the media. What should be taken away from my paper is that serial killers often have traumatized past and are predisposition to violence. My research proposes that by making subcategories and by rewriting the stereotypical profiling typographies should help identify serial killers and pinpoint early signs of serial killer tendencies. One issue I came across in my research is that some individuals have troubled pasts and do not become serial killers. I feel that there is not sufficient data and understanding yet on serial killers to effectively stop them from killing.
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What Characterizes a Serial Killers and What Drives Them to Kill. (2019, Jul 24).
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Signs of Serial Killers
The slow injection of the knife. The twist of the knife as it rips open the pumping, loving, and innocent heart of a defenseless canine. The hoarse cry of pain as the dog’s eyes resemble a warm soul being transformed into a cold and lifeless figure. The flickering of the match as it strikes the cold puddle of gasoline sending a building worth thousands of dollars into flames. A young serial killer beginning to make his mark in the world often begins like so. Unfortunately, not only animals die a slow and gradual death at the chilling grasp of serial killers, 150 people are killed annually by serial killers as well (Bustle). Thankfully, Americans don't have to live in a constant state of paranoia because there are many early warning signs to finding these ruthless killers before their path of bloody terror begins.
A dead giveaway in the creation of a serial killer is the harming of small and defenseless animals. A feeling of dominance and empowerment over their target is one of the key physiological aspects that is crucial in deciphering who will become a cold blooded killer. Since these killers often start at a young age, they can’t assert dominance over other humans so they must resort to inferior beings to them which is often times small animals like pets and rodents (Psychology Today). Although the animals being tortured are small, they play a large role in sieving away who will become a serial killer in the forthcoming. John Wayne Gacy; a deadly serial killer who resided in Chicago, was responsible for the murder of 33 people. Before the murders were committed, John Gacy began his bloody avenue by tormenting innocent turkeys by burning them alive (New York Post). This is one of many serial killers who have started out by torturing helpless, inferior, and innocent animals before the devastating topic of putting a human life to an end. One must be vigilant if witnessing a person torturing small animals because the chances are high this person could result into a serial killer.
Repetitive abuse as a child by one’s parents or relatives slowly starts to blossom a serial killer faster than a flower does with sunshine and water. Day after day of being beaten physically, emotionally, and mentally brings upon feelings of being utterly distraught, lost and hopeless. Serial killers want to chanel these feelings and put them deep away in their minds until they unleash this ball of chaotic emotion onto their victims (Crime Museum). According to The Psychology of a Serial Killer, “42% of convicted serial killers suffered from physical abuse as children, 74% suffered from psychological abuse.” In another study done by the FBI, having a crooked and unwarranted childhood accounted to 53 percent of the serial killers pursuing murder (Vronsky, 275). These statistics prove the case that abuse and trauma within a family is a factor Americans need to be cautious about to prevent future cold blooded murderers.
As the trickle of light slowly dies away from the end of the match, a thought of fascination is born within a serial killer’s mind. A vital sign of a potential serial killer is the setting of fires on purpose, better known as arson. David Berkowitz, a famous serial killer out of the New York area, began his road of destruction by lighting over 1,500 fires. Throughout his life he then became a serial killer, killing an estimated 6 people and wounding 7 others (Britannica). Unfortunately, stories like these aren't rare. According to The Daily News, John Orr was the man who was supposed to be the lead man in protect California from arsonists as the Chief Arson Investigator. However, he later was found guilty for the starting of over 2,000 fires. During this time he also claimed the lives of 4 innocent people. Arson is often a precedent for one to become a serial killer because starting fires gives them the feeling of control and power that they utterly crave. Since research has shown that people make their debut as arsonists before turning into serial killers, this is a key aspect to look out for in order to prevent a serial killer from forming.
All alone with no one to guide them. No friends to hang out with. Serial killers often develop by being completely isolated from others at a young age and having extreme antisocial tendencies. This is a main warning sign to finding these killers before their path starts since these people don’t fit in with society. According to Serial Killers: The Method And Madness, “One very common factor in the childhood of serial killers is their loneliness and isolation from their peers—even in cases where there is little or no maladjustment in parental histories. As children, they rarely fit in with their playmates” (Vronsky, 271). This warning sign may be the easiest to scout out due to the fact it can be seen on a daily basis. As a young child, being distant to one’s peers and having a constant state of lost connection to the world around one may heavily impact this child in a negative way. Being alone day in and day out allows the child to develop cold and ruthless thoughts of murder to those who have excluded the child from society. Slowly, the serial killer will start to develop a false sense of reality in how one can get revenge and enforce torture onto their antagonists.
Lost in a false sense of reality where a serial killer can fight off its tormentor. Lost in a fantasy where they are dominant to every single living thing around them. As a child, daydreaming causes these serial killers to begin to develop a perception that they live in a parallel universe where the things they imagine can be reality. Since they are lost in their own fantasy, they will try and carry out these fictional beliefs in real life leading to one becoming a serial killer. An FBI study indicated that daydreaming accounted for the reason 82 percent of serial killers committed their murders (Vronski, 280). For an ordinary person, daydreaming can be an innocent and temporary loss of connection to reality often used to escape stressful times. However, the daydreaming done by serial killers is in a league of its own. They will use daydreaming as an escape hatch from their own physical and emotional trauma they endure. Consequently, while daydreaming about torture and malicious intent, these people can not perceive what is right and wrong so they believe their thoughts can become reality. Henceforth this is how daydreaming can be a precursor of serial killers.
A young child beginning to distinguish what is right from wrong witnesses a catastrophic act of violence. The more and more this child is exposed, this violent act now is deemed as a normal act in the child’s eyes. According to Cheish Merryweather, “When Richard Ramirez was 13 years old, he witnessed Miguel Ramirez murder his wife. Before Richard Ramirez was captured, he murdered 13 people and tortured dozens more”(Merryweather). Since Richard Ramirez was introduced to violent acts by his cousin, Richard began to develop the idea that acts like this are acceptable. Therefore, by getting this false sense of reality that murder is ordinary, Richard carried out 13 murders due to the pre exposure of violent acts within the family. Witnessing traumatic events within a family is a main precedent for one to develop serial killer instincts.
Some may argue that the warning sign of drug abuse is not a critical sign of a serial killer. However, many people may not realize that oftentimes serial killers will undertake the abuse of drugs before starting their killing path (Jack Rosewood). Substance abuse regularly developed as a habit in one’s preteen years. While under the influence, these killers become more violent since they are not in the correct state of mind. This is due to the fact that alcohol and other substances alter the chemical makeup of the brain and makes one feel relaxed. Since this occurs, one’s anxiety levels are nearly depleted which keeps us from knowing which situations are dangerous to be in. This combination mixed with a serial killer can be extremely dangerous which is why drug abuse is an essential warning signal (Drinkaware).
An alternative to living a life of constant fear is paying attention to the facts a serial killer displays in their uprising. The gruesome and slow death 150 people as well as hundreds of animals experience every year can be exponentially declined due to the many warning signs the serial killers display on a daily basis. If Americans focused more on the warning signs we could stop these serial killers and help them receive psychiatric help before catastrophic events occur. Each American has a responsibility to report any suspicious behavior witnessed as opposed to turning a blind eye. One never knows when you might be a serial killer’s next victim. One never knows when a family member or loved one could be a serial killer’s next victim. Staying vigilant is the most important act of potential diversion. Excessive daydreaming, animal cruelty, excessive alcohol or drug abuse, and child abuse are all warning signs that need to be reported to the proper authorities without hesitation. The slow injection of knives could be turned into the gradual process of depleting serial killers from existence.
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Jeffrey Dahmer and Dennis Nilsen
Serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer and Dennis Nilsen had different backgrounds, common motives, and same fate. Jeffrey is believed to have killed 17 young men and boys premeditatedly during the years 1978 to 1991. Jeffrey was a very lonely person and had few friends. He grew up not getting little attention from his parents. He said numerous times that his murderous thoughts came around the age of 14 when his parents had divorced. His first murder did not occur until after his high school graduation when he had picked up a 15 year old hitchhiker in his car and beat him to death. After this, he had become an alcoholic and could not control his cravings. Despite his insanity, Jeffrey had an IQ of 145 which is top 2% in the world. He had landed himself a spot at Ohio State University where he quickly withdrew after half of a semester. His father insisted that he enlist in the Army, where he worked as a chef, but was later discharged because of his drinking habits. Following his discharge, Jeffrey was forced to live with his grandmother, where his madness only grew as he was arrested multiple times due to indecent exposure and behavior towards other people. As his sickness grew, his methods changed and he started boiling his victims bodies and would hide them under his grandmother's house. He eventually was caught when he lured a man to his home; the man luckily escaped and ran straight to the police. He was later sentenced to life in prison. Jeffrey himself said that his motives for his crimes were to have complete control over a person and for them never to leave him.
Although Jeffrey Dahmer was an insane and an infamous serial killer, Dennis Nilsen also had a very similar life and unique way of killing victims. Dennis is believed to have killed 15 people during his spree of murder. Similarly to Jeffrey, due to his parents relationship, Dennis also grew up a very lonely and withdrawn boy. It was not until Dennis was 33 that he killed his first victim who was a 15 year old boy who he had met at a pub. Unlike Jeffrey's high IQ, Dennis Nilsen's IQ was never really tested, but must have been high as he did really well in school. Like Jeffrey, Dennis was also enlisted in the Army at a young age and worked as a chef. After Dennis left the Army, he pursued work as a police officer but was later fired after he had taken pictures of David Painter, a fellow worker of him, sleeping. When Dennis was confronted for the situation, he denied everything and was released without charge. While Jeffrey lived with his grandmother, Dennis lived in an apartment alone which made it much easier to lure and kill people. Although Jeffrey killed his victims in a very horrific way, Dennis, on the other hand, was very gruesome when he killed people because he would clean them up, attempt to have sexual intercourse with them, and then bury them up underneath his floorboards. Dennis also boiled his victims as they would have a very bad odor after a few weeks of being underneath his apartment. In contrast to Jeffrey, Dennis was very good in covering his tracks, but was later caught because of an investigation in his apartment building due to the sewer pipes. He was also sentenced to life imprisonment. The lives of the infamous serial killers, Jeffrey Dahmer and Dennis Nilsen are possibly the most gruesome and horrific actions of the many killers that are known.
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Caring of Transgender and Gender-Variant Youth
A Nurse's Guide In Caring for Transgender and Gender-Variant Youth
Abstract
With the increasing number of transgender youth and families who seek medical care, they often initially turn to their primary care provider, pediatrician or nurse practitioner for guidance. As creating and maintaining a positive identity is a developmental step for all adolescents, trans youth, however, have the additional challenge and pressure of integrating a non-conforming gender identity with their cultural and ethnic backgrounds, personal characteristics, and family circumstances. This places pediatric healthcare providers in a unique position to guide and support gender-variant children in discovering their authentic self, which requires critical thinking pertinent to all the multidimensional and mulicontexual factors that contribute to one's well-being.
However, there is a limited number of knowledgeable and competent healthcare providers who can adequately meet the needs of this vulnerable pediatric population. Significantly, providers' lack of awareness regarding gender development and trans healthcare is evidently the one most significant and life threatening barriers that actually perpetuates existing health disparities. By improving trans-health competency and practice, providers have the ability, knowledge, and power to help address these health disparities and close the gap.
In exploring the different perspectives of patients, caregivers, and health professionals regarding gender development and gender-affirming care this article utilizes the research with a multidisciplinary approach to guide nurses and other providers on how to deliver competent transgender healthcare. Introduction It is estimated that 1 to 2% of the United States population identifies as transgender, or gender nonconforming. These statistics could be higher, given the increasing population of transgender youth and underreporting of trans individuals (GLAAD, 2017). In a 2016 Harris Poll, GLAAD found that the millennial generation (age 18-34) are more likely to identify as transgender or gender nonconforming than previous generations. Prior studies estimate the prevalence of transgender youth varying from 1 to 3.5% within the general population (Torres et al., 2015).
This increase has led to the expansion of gender transition clinics for children, and endocrinologists delving into the practice of transition medicine for children. The first people transgender youth and their families turn to when seeking guidance related to transition needs, or simply reaching out for more information related to gender nonconformity, is their primary care provider, pediatrician or nurse practitioner. Unfortunately, many providers report a lack of knowledge or do not feel competent to adequately meet the needs for these pediatric patients (Gridley et al., 2016; McDowell & Bower, 2016; Paradisio & Lally, 2018; Torres et al., 2015).
Considering the different perspectives of patients, caregivers, and health professionals in regards to the healthcare barriers, this article utilizes the research with a multidisciplinary approach to guide nurses and other providers on how to deliver competent transgender healthcare. By providing foundation and context, we aim to enlighten pediatric nurses and other
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Serial Number of Reasons for Serial Killers
Going deep into the mind of a serial killer is difficult. There is no set-in-stone reason for why they committed their crimes. Whether it's a birth defect or a product of how they were raised. Signs of a serial killer are lack of empathy, inability to feel remorse or guilt and lack of self control. If you were to do a brain scan right now you may find similar traits within yourself as you'd find in a psychopath. I however believe that's it's not all just genetic or just a product of their problematic childhood, a trauma, but rather a combination of them. Neurologist James Fallon described that one day he had been looking at a brain scan that showed results that mirrored a serial killer, he then found out that it was his brain scan that was being viewed. James Fallon was your everyday law abiding citizen. So how is but looking at his brain scans would be sure to make you cautious around him. Fortunately Fallon didn't become a serial killer, but why? Well though his brain scans was concerning his childhood was a pleasant one. However if his parents had abused him or neglected him, he may very well have become a serial killer.
Not all serial killers look the part. When your think of serial killers you'd probably think of some giant man with a mask on that walks toward you slowly and can only be killed by a million bullets and burning, but a lot of serial killers, especially some of the most ruthless were very mild-mannered. People you might assume are good upstanding people. Take Richard Angelo, he was a nurse a well respected one at that and he was a volunteer firefighter. However he was also self-centered and obsessed with being seen as great. What would be a common thought among people to become a famous and revered by everyone turned sour when he began actively poisoning his own patients so that he could help them in front of his colleagues. This led to the death 25 people at least. If even a nurse was unable to be truly trusted who can you really trust?
Do Serial Killers Ever Stop Their Serial Killings?
Yes, rarely. At times there have been serial killers who have stopped their killings as quickly as they start, usually for a reason. Take Gary Ridgway AKA the Green River Killer who killed prostitutes while he was married and had problems in their relationship but when he remarried he stopped killing. I believe this is the serial killers are made part of this argument. I believe he thought his wife was cheating on him so he grew to hate promiscuous women and eventually started killing them, but when he found himself into a more successful marriage. His hate died down and he stopped.
Childhood may also play a huge factor in how people turn out, but there are also people who had terrible childhoods and became great people. However diamonds aren't always going to come out of the rough. Like John Wayne Gacy other wise known as the killer clown or Pogo the Clown. He was beat extensively as a kid by his father, a lot of times for no reason. At a certain point he would have multiple blackouts and he spent a total of a year in the hospital as a teen. His father also verbally abused and belittled him by comparing him to his sister's and making him feel weak. This is probably be the main thing that made him start raping and killing boys as a way to make himself feel stronger. This is a common occurrence. Some people who feel weak and small, instead of bettering themselves they decide to attack someone who IS weaker than them and can't fight back. Some people find strength in themselves some people find strength in the weakness of others. Finding people or things weaker than yourself is something many serial killers do, especially those who target children.
Dean Corll is a very interesting case. He is also known as the candyman or the Pied Piper. His childhood was pretty good. His father was strict with him and his siblings but it was never to the point of Gacy, Killer Clown. His family had a candy business that left his family with a decent amount of wealth, even after the closing of the company. He didn't suffer any trauma that would've led him to do what he did. What he did was befriend male children mostly in their teens by saying he would bring them to a party or give them a ride. When they got to their destination they would then either get convinced to put handcuffs on or just snatched up. Where would then rape, torture, then murder the boys. His accomplices are rather interesting in that they were teens that Corll had convinced to help him. They would lure their friends there so that made it even worse that a friend is the one that set you up. Corll was later killed by one of his accomplices whom he'd tried to punish for bringing a girl to his house when Corll only wanted boys. His accomplice convinced Corll to let him go, so he could assist him with his crime. His accomplice then turned on him and shot Corll. He claimed he was sick of letting his friends die. I bring his story up to say that even though Dean was raised in a fairly nice home with an average upbringing he had good grades and friends but he still turned out this way. Possibly t was genetic since it clearly wasn't a taught thing. He may have even had just a thing for boys and went to extremes.
Are serial killers born or made? This is still a mystery, there is no way to know for sure. Serial Killers like Dean Corll who were raised well but still turned into monsters, there are people who are treated terribly as children who then took their childhood traumas and traumatized others. Is there a way to prevent serial killers? No. Serial killers like bad people in general are never going to be completely erased. The best thing to hope for is people to report early signs to possibly get them some help before they kill someone else.
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Creation of Serial Killer
There is a difference between a serial killer and simply a murderer. So what defines a serial killer? Well, according to Crime Museum, A serial killer is conventionally defined as a person who murders three or more people in a period of over a month, with cooling down time between murders. For a serial killer, the murders must be separate events, which are most often driven by a psychological thrill or pleasure. Psychologists have tried to figure out what makes a child to grow up to become a serial killer. Were they born that way or did their experiences and environments shape them into the monsters they became? The topic of nature versus nurture is constantly being debated inthe psychologicalprofessionalcommunity.Sociologists have beendealingwith this issuefor years, especiallyin the analysis ofserial killers. The questionis: does nature, nurture, or a mixture of both make a serial killer(Nature vs. Nurture)? David Berkowitz is a serial killer commonly referred to as Son of Sam. Providing the information about his childhood and later his violent crimes he is a perfect example of a killer being created by nature.
From all accounts when Berkowitz was a child he was polite and raised in a loving home. Berkowitz was adopted and from the outside it seemed as though his upbringing was conducive of stable mental health. Although Berkowitz was able to flourish in a healthy environment with his adoptive parents, he still became a violent serial killer. While there is not much information about his biological parents, it is safe to assume that some history of mental illness or predisposition for violence could have been inherited from one or both of his parents. Berkowitz confessed that his killings were committed to silence the demons in his head, proving that some kind of mental disturbance was present. The older he became the more his mental health began to deteriorate; Berkowitz was paranoid that his landlord was a part of a demonic conspiracy and that the neighbor's howling dogs were telling him to kill women. When looking at his unraveling and violent crimes paired with his seemingly healthy upbringing it is clear that David Berkowitz suffered from psychological disturbances that lay hidden in his genes, not needing a trigger, to propel him to infamy as one of America's most volatile serial killers. Richard Ramirez was a serial killer who ran wild in the California suburbs in the 1980s. His crimes were gruesome and his childhood was plagued by equally disturbing events. Ramirez had spent a lot of time with his cousin, Mike, who was in the Vietnam war, and bragged about raping and killing numerous women while fighting overseas.
Young Richard was exposed to photos of the mutilated women and eventually was present when Mike brutally murdered his own wife. Ramirez also claimed that his father was abusive both physically and mentally. Due to the awful things Ramirez experienced he gravitated towards drug use and satanic rock music. Ramirez eventually dropped out of school and committed himself to his life of crime and other deviant behavior. In 1984 Ramirez committed his first murder and was eventually convicted of 13 more, on top of over 43 other charges that accompanied his killings. It is unclear what would've become of Richard had he not experienced so much childhood trauma. It is evident that in the case of Richard Ramirez nature had a significant role in his becoming a malicious serial killer.While in most cases of serial killers there is evidence supporting either nature or nurture, it is clear that a combination of the two is what makes these killers so deadly. According to Dr. Adrian Raine, a criminologist, both biological and social factors contribute to the making of a murderer. Raine explains that reviews of more than 100 twin and adoption analyses showed that approximately 50% of variance in antisocial behavior is attributable to genetic influences. There is also evidence that there are people with a genetic predisposition for violence that may never be triggered, but those who experience abuse or other childhood traumas are more likely to act out violently and experience violent thoughts. So while a person may be born with this evil in their genetics, with most killers it takes a trigger for them to become serial killers. David Berkowitz's case is a strong support of nature being the main component of his demise. Yet, with Richard Ramirez it is possible that a genetic or even brain abnormality was simply trigged by the extremely disturbing events of his childhood, which then led him to become the serial killer known as The Night Stalker.
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What Makes a Serial Killer: the Psychological Aspect
Multicide is the act of killing multiple people. There are three different categories of multicide; mass murder, spree murder, and serial murder (Knight, 2006). The main difference between these three levels of mass murder is the patterns in which the murders are conducted among each. While all three murders pertain interesting questions as why each of the three categories level occur, the main question for this paper is what makes a serial killer? Serial murderers are classified as people who randomly kill three or more people, who are often complete strangers to them, within 30 days. However, there needs to be some time that elapses between the killings like a cooling off period (Haggerty, 2009). In her article, Some Thoughts on The Psychological Roots of The Behavior of Serial Killers as Narcissists: An Object Relations Perspective, Rhonda G. Knight best describes serial killers as a type of abnormal behavior which breaches the boundaries of consensual rationality and normality, and act insane and in forms of terrorism without being classified as insane (Knight, 2006). Serial killers have been dated back to the 1400's, and some of the most commonly known serial killers known across the United States are Jack the Ripper, The Zodiac Killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Ted Bundy to name a few. Serial killers are also portrayed in movies as well.
Such characters are Jigsaw, Chucky, and Freddy Krueger. Not all serial killers have the same motive, and that is why that today there is still no direct understanding as the psychological and criminal behavior behind serial killers (Knight, 2006). From what we do know, there are four main components to understand a serial killer; personality type, child abuse, sex drive, and narcissism. The personality types a serial portrays can be bipolar mood disorder, paranoia, antisocial personality disorder, schizoid personality, the most common is dissociative identity disorder (Knight, 2006). Dissociative identity disorder is described as a disruption of identity characterized by two or more personality states (Gabbard, 2014). What this means is that a person with dissociative identity disorder has multiple personalities. Multiple personality disorder generally forms through traumatic experiences and the brain will break off different personalities to essentially form different people within one body. Movies such as The Three Faces of Eve correctly portray dissociative identity disorder. Roughly 1-3% of the general population across the world has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. It is slowly becoming a more common psychological disorder to diagnose, but still little is known about how to treat patients with it (Gabbard, 2014).
Psychopathy is another personality type disorder that is known among serial killers. Jeffrey Dahmer is the most famous example of psychopathy. Psychopathic serial killers are generally manipulative, remorseless, and use charm and violence to lure their victims (LaBrode, 2007). The cause of this personality disorder relates to the amygdala in the brain. As Rebecca Taylor Labrode states in her article, Etiology of the Psychopathic Serial Killer: An Analysis of Antisocial Personality Disorder, Psychopathy, and Serial Killer Personality and Crime Scene Characteristics, the amygdala is involved in aversive conditioning, instrumental learning, and responses to fearful and sad facial expressions, which are all processes that have been found to be impaired in people with psychopathy (LaBrode, 2007). Personality types are not the sole cause for serial killers, but they are one piece to the puzzle. Many of the issues that are brought upon by serial killers all start with their childhood, and what I mean by that is generally their childhood is not all chocolate and rainbows. For the most part, the childhood of serial killers is violent and abusive. There are generally four categories of abuse; physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. These serial killers, as children, do not have to face abuse to themselves to develop issues. Seeing loved one experience it or being surrounded in that environment can lead to detrimental effects on children (Mitchel & Aamodt, 2005). The presence, or absence, of a father or mother can be a factor in serial killers. As well as whether they were neglectful, controlling, smothering, or authoritative (Knight, 2006). Anger and aggression begin to form early on in childhood, and as young adolescents they could start running into trouble with the law with misdemeanors.
Sexual abuse in households can play a factor in a strong sex drive in serial killers. Serial killers tend to have an uncontrollable sex drive and are sexually motivated. They generally kill for some sexual gratification (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2005). According to Zelda Knight, characteristics of sexually driven serial killers include humiliating and degrading their victims, take trophies from their victims, leave a signature, and enjoy the torture and pain of their victims. They get off from the torture and pain of their victims (Knight, 2006). Another characteristic is that they generally kill prostitutes. This characteristic can be due to that many of their mothers were prostitutes and they were the outcome of appointments' between their mother and one of the men (Knight, 2006). For many of them, they are the offspring of illegitimacy, or for many given up and out up for adoption by their birth mothers. The final component to evaluate is the narcissism among serial killers. What is meant among this is that serial killers take pride among their and they would like to be known for it. The common characteristics listed previously provide examples for this, as well as a few more characteristics. Such characteristics include; take trophies from their victims, they are above average intelligence, sometimes revisit the scene, and show no signs of abnormality (Knight, 2006). The main, important characteristic that shows their level of narcissism is leaving a signature at the crime scene. It could be a label, or symbol that they leave behind as a trademark for them, or their signature can be a unique way in which they handle their victims before they kill them.
The four components that were examined among serial killers were their personality types, their childhood experience growing up, their insatiable sex drive, and their level of narcissism. As stated in the beginning of the paper, to this day we do not know the direct relationship that causes people to turn into serial killers later on in life. This is due to the fact that not all serial killers act the same way, and they are all triggered and driven by different things. Excessive drug and alcohol abuse, uncontrollable rage, being in charge or have the power, and the tendency for their violence to increase over time are other factors that can contribute to the cause of some psychopaths (Knight, 2006). However, what is known so far is that the four main components commonly seen among serial killers is the four thoroughly explained in this paper. More and more people are studying to see what makes a serial killer, but few is known on how to treat serial killers, which will be the next step in understanding them. References Gabbard, G. O. (2014). Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. Washington, DC, London, England: American Psychiatric Publishing. Knight, Z. G. (2006). Some thoughts on the psychological roots of the behavior of serial killers as narcissists: an object relations perspective. Social Behavior and Personality, 34(10), 1189-1206. LaBrode, R. T. (2007). Etiology of the psychopathic serial killer: an analysis of antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, and serial killer personality and crime scene characteristics. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 7(2), 159-160. Mitchell, H., Aamodt, M. G. (2005). The incidence of child abuse in serial killers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 20(1), 40-47.
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Hurricane Katrina and its Effects on Public
Libraries:
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the extremely destructive and deadly tropical cyclone which influenced landfall along the Gulf coast, becoming to be notorious for the impacts and decimation it brought to Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, south and central Florida, Bahamas. Notwithstanding to Katrina's phenomenal impacts, the state and the federal government inefficient preparations or readiness for the cyclone and absence of satisfactory measures to its repercussions made one of the most noticeably bad and most costly catastrophic events in the history of United states. The cost of Hurricane Katrina has impacted human lives and property. People and organizations in the Gulf Coast locale are as yet recuperating from Katrina's dreadful effect even today.
The storms effect on the libraries of these states is similarly horrifying. The Public Libraries provide various sources of information and resources that were made accessible to communities. Libraries store various resources in form of Books, Magazines or electronic information made available at locations where people can have access. The Hurricane Katrina storm destroyed hundreds of public library buildings, their book collections and their equipment's.
New Orleans Public Library:
The New Orleans Public Library started in 1843, which has developed from a solitary French Quarter house with a couple of volumes into an expansive framework serving all of Orleans Parish with various locations throughout the City. The Library has a long history serving people in general by giving access to an extensive variety of instructive, educational, and recreational materials, projects, and exercises for all ages. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, and all library locations were shut until the point that harm could be evaluated and repairs were made.
The New Orleans Public Library framework sustained harm assessed between $26 to $30 million dollars. Also, it is evaluated that a total of 320,000 equipment's and items in the library framework's accumulations were lost or damaged. 6 Library branches were declared completely destroyed: Martin Luther King, Jr.; Norman Mayer Gentilly; Rosa Keller; East New Orleans; Robert E. Smith; and Nora Navra. Notwithstanding the harm to buildings and accumulations, numerous New Orleans Public Library System's staff positions must be cut as an outcome of the calamity. In reality 90% of library staff were laid off. Some of the library locations were affected by minor damages which were reopened quickly after the damages were repaired and some operated with minimal equipment's.
The disaster recovery plans for libraries mostly relay on issues concerning water spills, control power failures or any fire episodes. The recuperation plans for such incidents were completely compelling and are very effective. However, a wide range of disaster, particularly one the extent of Hurricane Katrina storm, is a completely different, and in such occasions, the potential damage to the libraries will be very high and the recovery plans and business continuity plans will be ineffective but in a long run these plans will recover from the disasters. The BCP and DR designs are powerful for the some libraries that had an insignificant effect of hurricane Katrina and recuperated rapidly and were reopened at the earliest. American Library Association, State governments drove a national push to give help and assistance by raising funds, resources and programs to recoup the libraries which had impacts from the Hurricane Katrina.
The Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery designs will be effective in a long run, and the immediate response of these plans will be low but will recuperate the business continuity from such high magnitude catastrophic events as Hurricane Katrina.
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Hurricanes: Deadly and Powerful, but Predictable
These catastrophic events can be predicted and prepared for. Hurricane Katrina, however, dealt immense damage. In New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005, citizens were being warned of a disaster so horrible that it would change their lives forever. This event was Hurricane Katrina which lasted from August 23-31. This hurricane was the twelfth one of the season and it was the most devastating. This hurricane affected parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Florida. It was the most destructive hurricane to hit the United States and did more damage than any other natural disaster in the history of the United States.
Hurricane Katrina was first a tropical depression that formed on August 23. The depression became a tropical storm and was given the name Katrina while over the Bahamas on August 24. Katrina began moving north west toward Florida and made landfall on the 25th. The storm then moved to the Gulf of Mexico which held warm, deep waters that gave Katrina power, turning the tropical storm into a category 3 hurricane by the 27th. On the 28th Katrina kept intensifying, and was now moving as a category 5 hurricane towards Louisiana where it made landfall on August 29th. The strong winds and low-lying land made for devastating storm surge. Katrina kept moving towards the Louisiana-Mississippi border where it was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm late that night. Katrina then became a tropical depression and moved north east towards the east coast.
There were many factors which played into how expensive this disaster was. One of the biggest was the sheer amount of people (including the elderly and poor) who had no money for transportation or housing outside of the area; simply put, they were stuck. A large portion of New Orleans was low-income households at the time and had very little money. These people often did not have the finances to take care of themselves let alone pay for transportation out of New Orleans. Many of those people also did not have family outside of the state who they could stay with. That meant that they would have to find a hotel, which they did not have the money for either. A very poor section of New Orleans was the Lower 9th Ward. This area was lower than the sea level and was in between the Industrial Canal, the Mississippi River, and Lake Pontchartrain. This area was the perfect storm for a hurricane as strong as Katrina to hit. When Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, New Orleans was hit with major storm surge that got to a height of around 30 feet in some areas, which caused the levees (and the Industrial Canal Floodwall) to fail, resulting in immense damage and loss of life. This was especially true for those in the Lower 9th Ward who could not evacuate, due to the issues stated previously. There were some areas the received almost 30 feet of water in the 9th Ward. St. Bernard Parish, which held St. Rita's nursing home saw over 20 feet of water, resulting in many deaths. There were some people who did not evacuate for reasons like not wanting to leave a pet or a family member who refused to evacuate.
The impact Hurricane Katrina had on the affected area were extensive, expensive, and in some cases, immeasurable. The total number of casualties after Hurricane Katrina was 1,836 people from Louisiana and Mississippi. There were more casualties in Louisiana (1,577) than Mississippi (238). The two states suffered tremendous devastation and loss of life.
Citizens were left with only pieces of their lives; the rest was destroyed, lost, or underwater. The economy suffered greatly and was put on a hold in these places. Businesses and factories, including 75 percent of all oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, all were left non-functional because of the storm. This meant that there was no oil production. No production meant no money, as well as a big rise in fuel costs across the rest of the country. These issues all came into play when calculating the total damage and economic cost of this event which was estimated to have been anywhere from $150-250 billion dollars. When the gas pipes and oil platforms were damaged, gas prices went up all over the country, costing not only those in the four states affected, but average citizens from other places in the U.S.. The storm also impaired the New Orleans Port, Louisiana's Oil Industry, the levees protecting New Orleans, schools, hospitals, retirement homes, average households, and many other structures. The economy was able to recover by the start of 2006 but for the residents of Louisiana, restoration took much longer.
Mitigation; a necessary part of every society. People must mitigate if they want to be functional after a future disaster. For Hurricane Katrina, precautions were taken, but they weren't the best they could have been. The levees should have been foolproof, especially in the areas most vulnerable to storm surge, but they weren't. There should have been more shelters other than the Superdome to account for those who could not evacuate. There should have been better communication between the local, state, and nationwide governments as well as in the media. False news of safety and limited to no harm done on the were spread, rendering first responders and government agencies like FEMA ignorant to the actual catastrophe taking place. Along with shelters and communication, there should have been more resources available to those in need after the disaster, but there wasn't enough. A lot of things could have been done to prepare New Orleans for such a devastating event, but little effort was given and the results of that were clear to see.
The appropriate response to a future event, similar to Katrina, would involve better communication, shelter, resources, and evacuation plans. There would have to be a reliable way of communicating between several different authorities, FEMA included, so that information, first responders, and resources like food, water, and hygiene products can all be sent to the proper places, having one main source sending out information to all of the agencies involved. Shelters to keep people safe during and after the disaster are a must. Since rebuilding after a storm as bad as Katrina will take a lot of time, shelters must be able to stay open for as long as possible. Better levees/floodwalls in case of storm surge and building new construction on higher ground would also be good safety measures to implement.
Hurricane Katrina was a devastating disaster that everyone will remember for a long time. It didn't have to be that way, but it was, because authorities were not anticipating and planning for a storm like that, leaving them unprepared. Many lives, houses, and belongings were lost. This storm was powerful and its effects were long lasting. Mitigation is in process and for storms in the future, hopefully they will be ready.
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Hurricanes: Deadly and Powerful, But Predictable. (2019, Jul 24).
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Animal Farm: the Cycle of Revolution
Animal Farm, a novel written by George Orwell, presents us with many ideas and themes that not only reflect, but exemplify the society we live in: a bitter sweet world, full of treachery and fraud. The novel was initially written to serve as British propaganda, to counteract the socialist and communist ideas that had gained popularity throughout the 20th Century, especially in Soviet Russia, which in that time was an enemy of the British Empire. But Animal Farm displays more than what our eyes might first glance at. It not only displays how power is able to corrupt and consume one, only leaving a trace of humanity within him, but also how the meaning of an idea can change throughout time. Through my interpretation I can affirm that in Animal Farm, George Orwell develops the idea that a noble and modest scheme, such as a revolution, falls into a vicious cycle, bringing unforeseen consequences and straying away from the once benevolent thought that had crossed the animals mind.
Orwell does this by portraying and specifically depicting the animals altering attitude towards their once sought desire. The animals in power begin to abuse the capabilities they were granted, and the revolution that had been initiated by the animals in order to obtain absolute equality, now seems to provide shelter for those who exploit its existence. Orwell carefully uses the character Napoleon in order to illustrate how one is able to take advantage of a cause, turning it into a beneficial act, that only serves the one who manipulates. Throughout the novel Orwell is able, through precise and astute writing, to display various underlying themes, leaving them up for interpretation to the reader. In this essay I will demonstrate how an idea ,created for the greater good, leads to irreversible corruption and agony.
The novel firstly makes us familiar with the owner of the farm the animals inhabit, mr. Jones, who rules the farm with an iron fist, most of the animals are malnourished and mistreated. In response to the abuse the animals are suffering, Old Major, a white boar, sets up a meeting with the animals, where within his speech, he incentivizes the animals to initiate a rebellion against men. From this moment on the revolution beginns, and so does a vicious cycle that is waiting to consume all hope and desires of the animals. A few nights after the speech, old major passed away. Following his last command and orders the animals commenced establishing the rebellion, fighting not only for equality, but also for a brighter future that was sure to benefit all of the animals. Napoleon, Snowball and Squeaker, three astute pigs, were put in charge to lead the rebellion, since they outrivaled all the other animals. Together the three pigs elaborated Old Majors teachings, creating a system called Animalism, an ideology, whose sole purpose was to serve and benefit the animals, though this ambition was to endure vicissitude throughout the following years.
At the heart of Animalism rested a simple frase: Four legs good, two legs bad., a frase whose meaning would also acquire a different sense in the coming years. Napoleon and Snowball the two now, self proclaimed, democratic leaders of Animal Farm, were in constant disagreement, which put a strain upon the revolution. These arguments developed into altercations, which threatened the sovereignty of Animal Farm. To put an end to these confrontations, Napoleon, using a battalion of sanguinary hounds, banished Snowball from Animal Farm. This event, which broke one of the essential rules of Animalism, lead to a serious of incidents, that would mark the beginning of the deterioration of Animal Farm.
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Stalinism and Communism in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
Animal Farm is a classic novel by the acclaimed author George Orwell reflecting a negative opinion towards Stalinism or Russias form of communism. Through his work he expressed controversial views and came to be well known for such. George Orwell published Animal Farm in 1945 in the midst of world war two, despite his beliefs the book would not be received well due to the war the book managed to take off and being one of his more popular books it also allowed for readers to discover George Orwell as an author. Animal Farm by George Orwell is a classic portrayal of stalinist government but from a different perspective,so as to say original. George Orwell wrote this book in the 1940s and it has managed to stay popular till this day. George Orwell lived a long life influenced by many things in his writings as he wrote many books, animal farm one of his greater books hides many messages within its words allowing it to stay interesting and relevant, and another factor to consider is how world war II influenced the popularity or effect of animal on the people.
Firstly, is how Animal Farm has managed to stay relevant through the years, and since it was released in the 1940's. George Orwell was able to gather a large group of readers in this as the book related to many events occurring in the ussr and events that lead up to world war II. One such event symbolized in the book being the hitler-stalin pact in his novel as the agreement between mr.fredrick and Napoleon as told by gale a literary sources author. In this quote referenced is the pact between Mr.Fredrick and Napoleon which caused for no aggression is similar to that of Hitler and Stalins vow to 0 violence after a long period of hate between the two countries. Another quote similarly backing how the war was a beneficial factor in the books popularity is this from gale literary sources Animal Farm saying that the ussr was the target of George Orwells satires throughout the book. This goes to show that george orwells intended claums were towards the ussr, this being a shared hate amongst many at the time allowed the book to soar. Those two facts are what allowed george orwells book Animal Farm to rise to such fame in the time that it did.
Secondly, is the influence george orwell had in writing his books. George orwell being an already famous author had many of his books influenced through previous experience living in what was bengal now in india, near the soviet union and had always kept a firm stance arguing the practices of the soviet union, according to gale literary sources. On top of this george orwell also did not limit himself or halt himself in his work he wrote constantly over similar ideas until he reached the heights of his fame even having to take jobs in the indian civil service as an overseer of opium exports to china. Though an important job this was not his passion as george orwell had his sights set on writing books and managed to do this unlike many others who tried but failed.
Finally, there is how world war II influenced the popularity of his book. This happened through both the time in which he released his book and how his book was heavily influenced by the government at the time. Having a heavy negative approach towards russian totalitarian government especially during those times caused for a peak in interest amongst those related in such events, which practically included everybody at the time. As many were influenced and cared for the events of world war II, on top of this however remains the fact that this novel has had a continuous fan base up until now. This may be due to the increased use of it in schools but the more popular opinion remains that it is just a good book, no matter the year. On top of this george orwell was well educated and taught to advertise his books gaining multiple scholarships in which helped him further his writing career. The schools he attended included Eton college, and Wellington college, according to gale literary source.
To conclude, Animal Farm by George Orwell is a tale that has lasted the test of time. Animal Farm first released during the era of world war II saw its spikes and declines in poopularity. All this due to literary techniques used by the author relating to current times but also leaving readers with a lasting message. George Orwell in his book used common themes such as history repeats itself, and power=corruption. Through this he reached a varied audience because such rules apply to everyone and everything as demonstrated by Napoleon, a pig. George Orwell influenced by the struggles of his time wrote an novel that will allow people easier access to the hard to understand concepts of world war II, stalinism, and russias corrupt government at the time the book was published.
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Stalinism and Communism in "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. (2019, Jul 24).
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Resistance and Rebellion in “Animal Farm”
Rebellion is the path to freedom. This quote was said by Old Major, an important character in the book Animal Farm by George Orwell. The book is about the Russian Revolution, but told as a story about farm animals who are trying to fight for freedom and rights against the ruling party of pigs. This story can convey how unfair life can be for humans in 2018 is, how cruel and power-hungry leaders can get when put in charge of a group of lower class people, and how people with more power abuse the hard work of their people to live in luxury. This essay will examine how the story relates to real life and provide points to improve the argument that the book relates to real life.
Life Can be Unfair
All Animals are Equal. But Some Animals are More Equal Than Others. (pg 80, Orwell) In the book, Old Major is a prize boar who started with a dream of equality and freedom and died with his dream in mind, leaving his power to the pigs on the farm to continue his ruling. Instead of continuing the equal treatment towards all animals, they took over and slowly started abusing their power and their subjects. In real life, rulers may abuse their power as presidents, kings, or dictators and use their subjects as a way to do their bidding and treat those subjects like dirt while doing so. Like in Animal Farm, rulers may dream of equality or rights but may not be able to achieve what they dream before their time is up. Orwell shows this by showing the difference in the way the animals feel about the pigs at the beginning versus the end.
Higher/Lower Class Treatment
FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD! (pg 21, Orwell) In the book, The pigs are the hierarchy of the farm and look over it all with a watchful eye. But in the beginning, Old Major is the highest in classes. The horses, Clover and Boxer, come after him. The donkey is next, then the cows. Next is the pigs, dogs, goats and sheep, and finally the chickens, hens, and everyone else. If you were to count the humans, they'd be at the very bottom. This is the pyramid of classes that Animal Farm uses to show how people are treated in real life. Eventually, the pigs start take the rule and change around the pyramid, ending up on the top with the dogs directly under them, then the horses, donkey, pigs, goats, and sheep. The humans eventually are looped out of the pyramid and become partners with the high-class pigs, and both start to mistreat the other animals on the farm. Just like human life, the rulers are capable of changing classes and treating some better than the other. Orwell writes the horse Boxer as a manipulated character who tries his very hardest but is still disrespected and mistreated, ending up being sold to a glue company when he dies. In society, the classes that are high but are respectable and hardworking are disrespected and uncared for while the classes who abuse their power sit in luxury. The book shows this through the way the pigs act and treat others versus how the other animals treat each other.
Effortless Luxury Done Dirt Cheap
It is for your sake we drink that milk and eat those apples. (pg 23, Orwell) Napoleon is the ruling pig off the farm after Old Major passes, and uses his power to get what he wants little by little. In the beginning, a very small movement showed how he gets exactly what he wants by manipulating and abusing the others. He had consumed the milk and apples the horses and cows worked hard to collect. He continues to do this more and more until he forces the animals to do his bidding, even using fear to motivate them to do his work. In humanity, this is practiced with overruling parties that want everything to be done according to their word. They too, use dogs and manipulation to get their subjects to do what they want them to do and even hurt or kill them to punish them. Manipulation is a major factor used often in Orwell's story because it is used in life to trick others into doing things, even being used in trivial manners such as peer pressure between children and teens. Orwell showed this by showing how the pigs are loved and trusted in the start but then turn to fear and respect in the end.
CONCLUSION
Orwell wrote a story originally based off of the Russian Revolution using farm animals to tell the tale, but still used points from real life to convey a meaning. He told a tale that was already written but still managed to write his own story about life and society based on standards and class. Using points gathered by real-life instances and quotes from the book, the argument, Can Orwell's book Animal Farm relate to everyday society was proven true and even provided evidence to prove it further. Orwell wrote a magnificent tale that shows readers how life is lived within human society and how unfairly leaders like Napoleon (Joseph Stalin) can treat their people.
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Animal Farm: Freedom and Equality
George Orwell's Animal Farm is written about how actions can give a bad idea of freedom and equality. The animals on the farm were inspired by what Old Major had told them before he died. The animals dreamed about being free but after the rebellion, they ended up being completely obedient to the new leader Napoleon. Napoleon the boar and Boxer the horse were most significant in the loss of freedom and equality in the novel.
Napoleon was a big Berkshire boar. He was the leader of the farm after Old Major. After the rebellion, the pigs became superior. At a point in the novel, Snowball(a pig who wanted to be leader) had threatened Napoleons plans for control so Napoleon had his army of dogs who protect and obey his orders and chase Snowball out of the farm.
This is now when Napoleon would become leader of the farm. Napoleon wanted to help better his image so he uses Squealer the pig to spread and promote Napoleon's ideas, image and spread lies. Now with Snowball no longer in the farm, Napoleon had began to overuse or abuse his power as leader and make life harder for the other animals. Squealer once again convinces the animals of something that is not true. He convinces the animals about the windmill was Napoleons idea from the start but it was really Snowballs idea. He does all this just to help better his image. The texts states, The others said of squealer that he could turn black to white (Pg 16). This means that Squealer was really good at persuading. So the animals easily believe what they are being told about Napoleon.
Overall, Napoleon was a bad leader. He used his dogs to intimidate and strike fear into the other animals on the farm. He overworked the animals on the farm and did not equally distribute food among the animals. He gave the pigs more. He slept on silk sheets and moved into the house. He did no work. He did nothing but try to better his image. Napoleon contributed greatly to the loss of freedom and equality on the animal farm.
Now we move on to Boxer. Boxer was a strong, large horse.. Boxer contributes to the loss of freedom and equality by indulging in anything of Napoleon without viewing them as bad things.. George Orwell, had described Boxer as one of the most faithful disciples of the pigs. (pg 37) Boxer was very hardworking. After the rebellion, he worked even harder then before. I believe Boxer is brainwashed by Napoleon because even when Napoleon was to do something bad , Boxer always thought he was right. An example would be when Napoleon abolished Sunday debates, Boxer's only reaction was, Napoleon is always right (Pg70). Boxer never doubted Napoleons ideas and decisions. Boxer did not set a good example on the other animals. Boxer had a good chance to make thing right but let Napoleon's image get the better of him. Boxer was foolish just like the other animals who followed Napoleon. In the end, Boxer became ill and Squealer informs everyone that Napoleon has sent for the veterinarian to treat him but Boxer is really being sent to a knacker to be killed. It is sad that after all of Boxers loyalty and hard work, his reward is death.
Therefore, both Napoleon the leader and Boxer the follower, contributed to the loss of freedom and equality in the novel. The first is Napoleon who only tries to gain benefit for himself as possible and then there's Boxer who failed to see that Napoleon did not make to right decisions.
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Animal farm: Freedom and Equality. (2019, Jul 24).
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In Shakespeare’s King Lear
In Shakespeare's King Lear, Cordelia and Edgar are both characters that are undervalued and underappreciated by their parents, leading to their unconstituted banishments. Both offspring have similar unjust terms and non confrontational reactions to their exiles however they slightly differ in their extremities to the situations presented and their symbolic commentaries on human nature in the play's conclusion.
To begin, both Cordelia and Edgar are unfairly banished by their parents due to their figureheads blindness along with their dishonest and corrupt siblings.
Cordelia, for example, is promptly banished after not expressing her love for her father in an acceptable way. When her and her sisters are asked for a profession of their love to Lear, Goneril and Reagan both give lavish, affectionate speeches to their father, stating that they love him more than their own eyesight, ringing false from the start. However, when Cordelia is asked, she responds with the simpleton answer, Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty / According to my bond; no more nor less." (1.1 90-2). Lear feels humiliated and outraged by Cordelia's unflattering response and immediately banishes her for not expressing her love in the ego-stroking way her sisters had;
For we have no such daughter, and will never see the face of her again (). Here, Lear is morally blind to his two other daughters artificial and fanatical approbation, refusing to see their underlying, corrupt motives. Cordelia simply refuses to flatter her father in the excessive way her sisters had, causing Lear to turn a blind shoulder to the daughter that actually loves him, and instead reward those who clearly only use him for his wealth and power. Edgar also is subject to unjust treatment from his family. Although Edgar has done nothing to constitute suspicion in the past, when framed by his bastard brother Edmund, Gloucester, their father, immediately believes a forged letter stating that Edgar was planning on killing him.
This leads Gloucester to promptly try and hunt his son down after he runs away due to Edmunds deceitful tactics; Pursue him ho! Go after. (2.1.266). Here, Gloucester fails to dwell into the issue deeper and examine the actual circumstances, with him instead blindly follow his first, insufficient piece of evidence. Gloucester's blindness to good and evil coupled with Edmunds sibling betrayal mirrors Cordelia's terms of banishment. Thus, both characters are subject to unjust treatment from their families, resulting in their similar means of banishment.
To continue, both Cordelia and Edgar go about their banishment with humble, yet varied actions. Cordelia, for example, after refusing to play Lears game of flattery, is ordered away by her father, leaving gracefully; Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we have no such daughter, nor shall ever see that face of hers again// Use well our father: to your professed bosoms I commit him. But yet, alas, stood I within his grace, I would prefer him to a better place.
So, farewell to you both (1.1.322). Here, Cordelia reacts to her unfavorable circumstances with her head held high. She walks away humbly, even showing a last minute appreciation to her banisher before walking out unconfrontationaly. Edgar also reacts to his exile in a humble way, but much more intensely than Cordelia. After being banished and hunt down by his father, Edgar disguises himself as a poverty stricken beggar named Poor Tom. He vows to, grime with filth (my face), blanket my loins, elf all my hair in knots, and with presented nakedness outface (2.2.180-183). By taking on a beggars persona, Edgar sheds his nobility. He even goes as far to say that he is nothing; Edgar I nothing am (3.2.21). He completely strips his identity, literally and metaphorically, reducing himself to a state of nothing. Therefore, both Cordelia and Edgar take their banishments with different degrees of humility.
Although both characters have similar terms of banishment and reactions, Cordelia and Edgar differ in their overall commentary on human nature. After Goneril and Regan betray Lear, Cordelia reflects on her love for her father, saying, "O my dear father, restoration hang thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss repair those violent harms that my two sisters have in reverence made." (5.2.26-29). After her treatment, Cordelia could choose to be bitter towards her father, however here she instead expresses sorrow and love towards him. This shows how Cordelia is a symbol of the goodness of human nature. Cordelia at the end of the novel also dies alongside her father, showing how goodness is not always rewarded, and that the universe is indifferent due to her being pure but dying regardless. On the other hand, Edgar represents the human will to live.
He is completely stripped of his title and nobility when he is degraded to Poor Tom, but later becomes the champion of the play by killing Edmund and becoming one of three throne holders alongside Albany and Kent; All friends shall taste the wages of their virtue, and all foes the cup of their deservings (5.3.366-368). Here, Edgar rises up from his once completely dehumanized state to a position of great power. The man was defeated over and over again with his father banishing him, becoming Poor Tom, and having Gloucester fail to recognize him, however he rose out of his seemingly hopeless circumstances, showing the determination of survival in human nature.
Both Cordilia and Edgars commentary is still applicable today due to Cordelia's consistent goodness from the beginning to end of the play and her ultimate defeat along with Edgars growth as a character both in personality and power. Thus, Cordelia represents the hopelessness of an indifferent universe no matter how good peoples nature is while Edgar represents the human will to live and prosper.
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The Connections in Shakespeare’s
Over the course of the years, all through society, the job of guardians in life is to be the parental figures and defenders of their youngsters, while the job of youngsters is to regard their folks and offer back to them when the two youngsters and guardians become more seasoned. As youngsters develop more seasoned they turned out to be more free and can think about themselves as well as others. At the point when guardians become more seasoned, the rights and obligations of youngsters and parents switch. After kids develop and gain the freedom to live without anyone else, it is their responsibility to think about their maturing guardians. At diverse occasions, guardians and kids owe each to her in equivalent adds up to express gratitude toward each other for bolster all through life.
The connections in Shakespeare's play King Lear change all through the play as parent-child connections and love craftsmanship at one outrageous and end at the other. All through the play, guardians understand the genuine feelings that every kid has for them, and discovers which tyke genuinely cherishes them the most. King Lear and Gloucester find out the most difficult way possible that the youngsters they trust the most and the kids they trust love them the most are the ones that double-cross their dads in the end.
In the primary demonstration, the fundamental plot starts as a father-daughter relationship between King Lear furthermore, his most youthful little girl, Cordelia, winds up uneven. King Lear cherishes Cordelia the most out of his three girls, and needs to give her the biggest bit of the kingdom. Before long, Lear alters his opinion after she answers his inquiry about affection. Whenever Lear partitions up his kingdom, he isn't happy with Cordelia in light of the fact that he is convinced that she cherishes him the slightest. Lear inquires that Cordelia protest the amount she adores him, and she doesn't have anything to say at first. At last, after she pulls her considerations together, Cordelia responds,you have begot me, bred me, loved me. I return those duties back as are right fit, obey you, love you, and most honor you...Haply, when I shall wed, that lord...shall carry half my love with him...I shall never marry like my sisters, to love my father all. (King Lear, pg. 7, line 98-103).
This shows that Cordelia still loves her father, despite the fact that she holds some portion of the adoration in her heart for her father and the other piece of love to the man that she will wed. From this answer, King Lear winds up troubled with his most youthful girl and gives does not give her a segment of the land. Cordelia refutes Lear and demonstrates a demonstration of love and gratefulness towards her dad when, out of Lear's three girls, Cordelia is the one that takes Lear in amid a period of assistance.
King Lear in the long run ends up destitute and need shield. In the same way as other guardians, King Lear goes to his youngsters for help. By his astound, neither Goneril nor Regan is eager to encourage their dad and give Lear protect for the time being. At the point when Lear approaches Regan for nourishment and shield, Regan declines and answers, Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks. Return you to my sister (King Lear, pg. 60, Line 156-157).
This shows Lear that once he gave Regan a piece of his kingdom, she acknowledged the land, and after that double-crossed him. After Lear leaves Regan's kingdom, he goes to his oldest little girl for help. Astonished by and by, Goneril does not encourage her dad and give him nourishment or haven. When Regan and Goneril both tell Lear to leave their kingdoms, Lear soon understands that Regan and Goner did not cherish him, yet rather, they wanted his property. Both little girls realize that the best way to get a vast sum of land is to tell their dad that they adore him more than anything in the world. In the wake of asking both Regan and Goneril, King Lear has no decision however to approach Cordelia for help.
At the point when Lear discloses to Cordelia that he needs sustenance and asylum, Cordelia encourages him promptly. Cordelia gives King Lear a meal to eat and a place to rest. Through this liberality, Cordelia demonstrates to Lear that she is truly the girl that cherishes her dad the most. Out of the three young ladies, she is the main little girl that, whenever, is willing to take in her dad when required, and help him. Cordelia does this since she genuinely adores King Lear for who he really is. Since King Lear raised Cordelia well all through her adolescence, she feels that restricted to pay him back is to regard him and help him at whatever point required.
As the sub-plot starts, Edmund demonstrates his dad a letter that he found about arranging Gloucester's demise, and claims that the letter is composed by Edgar, when truth be told, it is composed by Edmund himself. When Gloucester breaks down the hand writing in the letter also, questions Edmund about Edgar's conduct, Gloucester persuades himself that Edgar, his own child, plans to slaughter him one day to acquire Gloucester's riches and kingdom. Gloucester isn't satisfied with this letter of murder and ends up troubled with his child, Edgar. To exacerbate the situation and set up Edgar, Edmund discloses to Edgar that Gloucester is distraught at him and tells Edgar, If you do stir abroad, go armed. (King Lear, pg. 22, Line 183). Edmund sets up Edgar this way supposing that Gloucester sees Edgar with a sword each time Gloucester and Edgar meet, Gloucester will turn out to be more persuaded that Edgar is out to slaughter him.
As the play proceeds with, Gloucester discovers reality about the letter. At his ch??teau, Gloucester is physically hurt as Cornwall, Goneril, and Regan cull out Gloucester's eyes. As it were, this physical mischief can be associated with the letter that persuades Gloucester that Edgar needs to kill him. Culling out Gloucester's eyes can make the homicide more convincible since Gloucester may trust that his own child, Edgar, designs out this physical agony that is being done to Gloucester.
Gloucester before long understands that Edmund misled him and it is truly Edmund that composed the letter. After Gloucester's eyes are culled out and he ends up blinded, Edgar is the child that winds up thinking about Gloucester. This demonstrates Gloucester made the wrong presumptions about his two children and that Edgar thinks about his dad. At the point when Gloucester requests to be raised to the most astounding mountain, Edgar does as such and tells Gloucester when they achieve the highest point of the mountain. He reveals to Gloucester that the divine beings don't need Gloucester to kick the bucket, and that Thy life's a miracle, (King Lear, Pg. 112, Line 55) implying that Edgar is inspired by the manner in which his dad endure the eye culling. Through this announcement, it is clear that Edgar is the great child that really adores his father and does not have any desire to see his dad kick the bucket. Since Gloucester holds much love for Edgar, Edgar wants to help and secure his dad when Gloucester is in agony.
In the Shakespeare's play, King Lear, not all children are there for their fathers when required. However, the ones who do encourage their fathers, make the best choice, and for a comparative reason, love. Cordelia and Edgar demonstrate the affection and both hold for their fathers high. Cordelia and Edgar would do anything for their fathers to demonstrate the affection they have despite the fact that their father may not trust that they mean well by them. By and large, children are there to love, help, and bolster each other from the earliest starting point. All through life, parents love their children genuinely and anticipate from a similar love and care they held for their children. The genuine, unlimited love is shown, not heard.
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Shakespeare Portrays True Sight
True sight can often be mistaken for literally having sight, which in Shakespeare's mind is not the case in King Lear. Introducing the meaning of sight first: having the ability to see through eyes and comprehending the figure viewed. Throughout the story although, sight does not mean seeing, sight means perceiving. Due to Gloucester's lack of perceiving, he was completely ignorant until he lost his sight, having to rely on different senses to see' the reality. Even Lear, without being physically blind, was mentally blind for a large portion of the story. Progressing through King Lear by Shakespeare, Shakespeare proclaims true sight through his use of symbolism and allegories utilizing Gloucester, Lear, and Albany, emphasizing the fact that seeing is not limited to just physical sight but also perceiving.
Shakespeare portrays true sight very clearly with Gloucester, who is just a symbol or extended metaphor through the story, him having sight throughout the story while being completely blind to the issues but, when becoming physically blind no longer being ignorant of these issues. Shakespeare clearly expresses this when Gloucester exclaims, I have no way, and therefore want no eyes. I stumbled when I saw, Full oft tis seen, our means secure us and our mere defects prove our commodities.
O dear son Edgar, the food of thy abus d father's wrath, Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I'd say I had eyes again! (Act 4, Scene 1, 19-25) Gloucester can symbolize ignorance in the story or can be represented as ignorance until he is blind and finally obtains comprehension. Shakespeare wanted to use Gloucester as a metaphor in showing what blindness can do to someone, and that it should not be limited to just plain eyesight to see. So, to show what blindness can do to someone, he gouged out his eyes and from that point on, had a miserable end. This likely shows Shakespeare's view on blindness, as the saying goes, The only thing worse than being blind is sight without vision.' Although Gloucester was the only one who had his sight taken, he was one of the most obvious symbols/metaphor of true sight in King Lear.
Another case where Shakespeare utilizes Gloucester to reveal true sight is when Lear states to Gloucester, A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears... (Act 4, Scene 6, 166-168) At this point, Gloucester has no other choice but to use his other senses to feel and understand. This is Shakespeare expressing how blindness is more of a mental issue, and that there are so many other senses Gloucester could use to comprehend his issue with Edmund and Edgar. Seeing shouldn't be limited to physical eyesight according the Shakespeare. With this, Shakespeare also expresses the horror that can come from being said blind' and how not utilizing other senses for comprehension can lead to a rather dramatic and horrific end.
Shakespeare also portrays true sight using King Lear and his daughters, who throughout the story becomes mad all due to the fact of being blind of his daughters at the beginning. Shakespeare seems to be utilizing symbolism in all of this, the whole story basically being an allegory. Shakespeare utilizes Lear to symbolize blindness due to wealth and power, which many Kings of his time were. Starting all from the beginning once Lear banishes Cordelia Kent states, See better, Lear; and let me still remain the true blank of thine eye (Act 1, Scene 1, 180-181) Kent states this because Lear is obviously not seeing straight, he is blind by the fact that Cordelia truly does love him.
Kent wants Lear to understand that what he is doing is a mistake and shouldn't be don't; yet Lear then goes on to banish Kent as well. Kent pretty much states that he is the only reason Lear can still understand, Kent was the last person who Lear could go to for vision', yet Lear gets rid of his last sight. As time goes on, towards the end of the story Lear has gone mad, beginning to see further and further his own mistakes, his madness corrupting him due to his blindness. To express this, Lear had stated, Doth any here know me? This is not Lear: doth Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his eyes? (Act 1, Scene 4, 231-233) At this point, even Lear understands that he is blind that he doesn't even understand who he is anymore. Shakespeare's symbolism in the quote is this: that blindness can lead to blindness of not only others, but yourself. Lear never truly understood himself because he was blind the entire time, which he then begins to state out of madness. Lear and Gloucester are the two characters that symbolize blindness of true sight, and that because of this it led to their horrific end.
The only character that was blind for a while but survived the blindness of true sight was Albany. For some background, Albany and Goneril are in love' but Goneril just wants to get rid of him and get to Edmund. She is completely unfaithful, and horrible. Due to Albany's love for Goneril, he was blind to the fact she was just using him. Albany expresses his unfathomable love to Goneril by stating, I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you??” (Act 1 Scene 4, 329-330) Shakespeare utilizes Albany's love for Goneril to symbolize his blindness, this can be interpreted as blindness can also be due to love of the wrong person.
There have been many cases in stories where love distracted one from the main goals and reality. Shakespeare likely wants to express that in a kingdom, true sight must be achieved by not being blinded by love. Eventually, as Albany learns more and more about the situation and begins to start to mentally see the truth, which saves him from death, unlike Gloucester and Lear who died due to their blindness.
Albany states to Goneril, You are not worth the dust which the rude wind Blows in your face! (Act 4 Scene 2, 38-40) which indicates Albany's understanding and he expresses that he truly sees who Goneril really is, someone who isn't worth anything. Shakespeare likely wanted to express what no longer being blind would be like: having the ability to survive. Love particularly could symbolize blindness in this quote as well, Shakespeare now showing three different ways of being blind: love, wealth and power, and just a plain mental flaw.
Overall, Shakespeare expresses the theme of appearance and sight throughout King Lear with Gloucester and King Lear mostly, being the most prominent characters. Shakespeare explains that true sight can be revealed once mental blindness is removed; Gloucester having his physical sight removed and mental sight enhanced being one of Shakespeare's clearest allegory/symbol of true sight. So, throughout King Lear by Shakespeare, with the wielding of symbolism and allegories, Shakespeare conveys the idea that true sight is the removal of mental flaws utilizing Gloucester, Lear, and Albany to reveal this.
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King Learby Shakespeare
The emotional effect is apparent in King Learby Shakespeare through the use of a subplot that depicts the corruption of political authority, father-child relationships and the death of the protagonist in the narrative. Lear's choice to pass on the roles of his kingdom to others lowers his status and leads to the confusion that descends upon his empire. There is the gradual representation of the primary character after he places the kingdom to his children that bring about disastrous impacts for everyone. Based on that, we would analyze the play based on the theme that would be crucial in developing characters and clarifying the argument being put across.King Lea of Britain wanting to withdraw from his responsibilities, decides to leave the empire to his three daughters with the most significant share going to his most beloved.
The distribution begins from the eldest, Goneril, then followed by Regan and Cordelia depending on how they express themselves. The Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Kent notice that Lear awarded his kingdom in equal shares to the peerage that leads to their objection. The state of affair leads to misunderstandings that result in the disinheriting of Cordelia. Lear announces that he would live instead with Goneril and Regan. Edmund feels aggrieved by his illegitimate status and plots to dispose of the legitimate brother, Edgar(Shakespeare). He tricks his father and later on the Fool reproaches Lear with his na??ve nature into giving everything to Goneril and Regan. Additionally, he predicts that Regan will treat him no better.Edmund realizes that a war is likely to take place between Albany and Cornwall. He takes advantage of the situation to fake an attack that leads to his disinheriting. Kent quarrels with Oswald due to Lear's message.
When Lear arrives, he is against the mistreatment of his messenger, but Regan is dismissive similar to Goneril. Lear is furious and yields entirely to his range. Edmund betrays Gloucester to Cornwall by revealing evidence of an impending French invasion designed to overthrow Lear's throne(Shakespeare). The whole state of confusion leads to events that contribute to the decline of the kingdom due to mistrusts and varied interests. Besides the subplot revolving around the Earl of Gloucester and his sons, the primary concept of the story was the death of Lear and Cordelia. Cordelia brings back Lear to the throne and succeeds him after his death.
The tragic ending gets criticized, and alternative versions come up.Numerous editors claim the date of composition of the play was around the early 1600s. Modern texts ofKing Learoriginate from two quotas and a version of the First Folio. There are evident differences in the versions due to the changes effected.
The play presents a historical interpretation based on the recurrence of the word nature.' The phrases unnatural', nature' and natural' that occurs more than forty times reflecting a debate that aims at unraveling the relationship in symbolic expression in Lear's changing nature. There are two contrasting views and philosophies of human nature in the play exhibited by the Lear and Edmund party. Lear exhibits a sense of reason exemplifying the beliefs of Hooker and Bacon. On the other hand, Edmund's side symbolizes a sense of rationality easily identifiable by a modern audience with beliefs comparable to those of Hobbes.The diverse natures imply two societal segments.
Edmund is a modern man in an age of competition, triumph and mistrust. It is in contrast to Lear who depicts an older generation with beliefs on decency, respect and co-operation.Thus, King Lear is symbolic. The older society eventually falls into error and gets trapped by the new era guided by the vision of transformation and a new order exemplified in the king's excluded daughter(Delany). Cordelia is a metaphorical scheme comprising of the community, a person and ethical principle. Shakespeare comprehension of the new person is vast and extensive to the extent of creating sympathetic scenes.
Edmund is a representation of the last great expression of Shakespeare that has significantly contributed to the Western heritage. However, there is disapproval of the ideology that man gets made for the society and not the opposite. The play offers a substitute to the feudal-Machiavellian predicted in France's speech.Given the nonexistence of legitimate mothers inKing Lear, a psychoanalytic interpretation of the maternal subtext results(Goodland). Lear's old age forces him to come up with absurd demands that are conventionally fulfilled by a mothering woman. Due to the absence, his daughters occupy the space and who serve as a binding agreement for them to get an inheritance. Cordelia's refusal to provide Lear with love more than a father has received numerous interpretations from the unwillingness of motherhood to resistance of incest. The state of affair presents a reversal of child-parent roles.
When Lear rejects his daughter, it can get interpreted as dismissing death.Concerning that, it is visible that the play was a significant composition with regards to the duration. The characters symbolize various themes, and their execution is crucial in plot development. One can formulate an argument based on a scene and its comparison to societal happenings. Additionally, the literal devices used can be of importance in the realization of an argument.
In conclusion, the play actualized its objective of passing the intended message. Despite its complexity, it is essential in societal enlightenment and education.
Works Cited
Delany, Paul. "King Lear and the Decline of Feudalism."Publications of the Modern Language Association of America(1977): 429-440.Goodland, Katharine.Female Mourning and Tragedy in Medieval and Renaissance English Drama: From the Raising of Lazarus to King Lear. Routledge, 2017.Shakespeare, William, and Horace Howard Furness.King Lear. Courier Corporation, 1908.
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Janice Pakkianathan
Janice Pakkianathan Dr. L. Monique Pittman HONS 265 19 September 2018 Responsibility in King Lear Winston Churchill's statement, The price of greatness is responsibility, sets a high standard for individuals who hold a position of authority. Such a position holds a great amount of power. However, power comes with the responsibility to use it for the benefit of others, not for oneself. William Shakespeare's King Lear explores this notion of power and responsibility. In the play, King Lear greatly lacks the characteristics of a good leader. He demands everyone around him to follow his personal orders, those that only benefit him. Gregory Doran's adaptation of King Lear (2016) provides an excellent visual representation of the story using theatrical elements that further emphasize King Lear's dynamic character throughout the play.
King Lear matures through hardship and realization of his flaws as a monarch, especially the consequences that come with the misuse of power. While he does not completely change his ways, the audience sees how his values change over the course of the play. By using elements such as set design, costumes, lighting, and the actors' performances, the Gregory Doran production of King Lear conveys the importance of a monarch and the obligations of leaders and rulers to provide and care for their people. Doran's production of King Lear clearly expresses King Lear's uneager approach to his responsibility as the authoritative figure of his people within the first scene of the play where he plans to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. In this particular scene, King Lear is dressed in ornate clothing, adorned with golden discs that resemble the sun, which symbolize his divinity as a monarch. He sits on a tall platform in the midst of his people, implying that he is set apart from his people because of his sovereignty.
The director also focuses the lights on King Lear, further emphasizing his importance as the king of England. Leaders such as Lear must carry a great responsibility providing for their people. Lear, however, does not comply with the caliber that many consider in a good leader. In Ethics and Infinity, Emmanuel Levinas explains the responsibility of one to the Other, saying, since the Other looks at me, I am responsible for him, without even having taken on responsibilities in his regard; his responsibility is incumbent on me (96). Human beings naturally exist in face-to-face relations with other humans, bringing about Levinas' philosophy. Levinas focuses on the idea of putting the needs of those who one interacts with before his or her own, despite the fact that the Other's needs do not pertain to oneself.
Kent Lehnhof uses Levinas' philosophy in relation to the story of King Lear, pointing out the flaws of King Lear and his responsibility as a monarch. Lehnhof comments, Lear is blithely doing what being does: seeking its own interests, maintain its own existence, apprehending and assimilating the world unto itself (488). It is human nature to satisfy the needs of oneself before reaching out to others. But according to Levinas' ethics, humans are obligated to take responsibility for the Other. Lehnhof claims that King Lear's actions were the opposite of what Levinas understood as responsibility.
In the play, Lear proclaims, tis our fast intent to shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburdened may crawl toward death (1.1.37-40). King Lear plans to divide his kingdom among his three daughters as a result of his old age and his desire to give up his responsibilities as a monarch. He would much rather focus on his own needs before his time comes to an end. Because of Lear's true intentions, he reveals himself as selfish and demanding, expecting those close to him to follow his ridiculous commands. Lear goes on to say, Tell me, my daughters - Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state - Which of you shall we say doth love us most, That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge. - Goneril, Our eldest born, speak first (1.1.48-53).
It is here in this moment that Lear's dictating character clearlyemerges in the story. Lear surprises readers by demanding flattery from his daughters, since such behavior is not expected from a father. The language Lear uses in this quote lacks kind, loving words that a father should use when speaking to his daughters. Instead, Lear shares his plan with his daughters as an incentive for them to tell him how much they love him.
In Doran's production of the play, King Lear's loud and stern tone also contributes to his intimidating demeanor. Lear avoids looking at his daughters, Goneril and Regan, while they praise him. Instead, he holds his head up with pride, taking pleasure in the glory and praise. Throughout this scene, King Lear pulls away from the idea that he no longer carries the responsibility for his people; instead, he believes that his needs are much more important. Lear's behavior in this first scene takes him on a journey where he learns the dangers that come with power and irresponsibility as a result of selfishness.
As the play continues, the theatrical elements in Doran's production change dramatically as Lear begins to suffer as a result of his inability to let go of his power and avoiding the responsibility that comes with authority. Shortly after Lear divides his kingdom between Goneril and Regan, he decides to visit each of them in their homes. As soon as he arrives at Goneril's residence, he says to her servants, Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready (1.4.8).
Lear's arrogance blinds him from acknowledging that the people he is directing do not work for him. His self-absorbed tendencies still follow him even after relieving himself of his responsibility as a leader. Lear's clothes in the production identify his transition from being a monarch to becoming a subject in his former kingdom, yet he is still demanding and unwilling to recognize that the world does not revolve around him the way that it did before. Lear still wears his large, furry robe, but it no longer has the golden discs that symbolize his divinity and royalty. Because he is no longer king, he also loses his crown. Aside from Lear's costume, Doran also uses lighting to indicate the change in Lear's status. In the first scene, while Lear is still king, the lighting is bright and warm, focusing more on King Lear than on those around him.
While Lear is in Goneril's palace, the lighting becomes cooler and darker. Lear is no longer the center of attention as the light subtly illuminates the entire stage to display all the characters on stage. The stage also includes a smaller number of props than before. By using minimal props, the stage feels more empty, representing the emptiness that Lear feels now that he is no longer king. Without the responsibilities that he used to have, he is viewed as more selfish than in previous scenes, since he does not have any obligations to his people anymore. Lear acknowledges his emptiness, yet he does not know what is missing. He asks, Does any here know me? Why, this is not Lear. Does Lear walk thus, speak thus?
Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, or his discernings have lethargied??”Ha! Sleeping or waking? Sure 'tis not so.Who is it that can tell me who I am? (1.4.217-221) Following King Lear's stepping down as king, he still followed by a group of a hundred knights, indicating that Lear is still enjoying the perks of power and authority, while not having either of those things anymore. Lear's knights are very rowdy in Goneril's palace, leading Goneril to treat her father very rudely and making him leave. Goneril shows him her true colors, after expressing her love to her father. This is something that Lear is not used to, causing him to ask the question, Does any here know me? This question suggests that Lear does not really know who he is without his power, leading him to an identity crisis. Although King Lear suffers mentally in order to realize his selfish ways, he, unfortunately, still holds the same intentions of running away from responsibility. At the end of the Doran's production, Lear's character undergoes another costume change.
His extravagant robe is replaced by a slightly worn out, white tunic. People usually associate white with purity, and humility. Towards the end of the play, Lear and his daughter Cordelia reunite and reconcile with each other. He finally realizes what he lost. His power and three daughters are what he realizes as the result of his emptiness, leading him to admit to the wrong he has done. However, he does not completely change his ways. He says to Cordelia, for your sisters/ Have, as I do remember, done me wrong (4.7.73-74). While Lear's accusations against Goneril and Regan are true, Lear fails to admit that his wrongdoings are the root of his entire problem, indicating that he still has a tendency to run away from responsibility. In the final act, Lear eventually ends up in prison with his daughter, Cordelia. He says to Cordelia, So we'll live,/ And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh/ At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues (5.3.11-13). Prison describes an institution of confinement and captivity, rather than freedom. Lear is clearly not in his right mind, because he is uses prison as an opportunity to be free by allowing him to escape for even more responsibility. Even though King Lear realizes his mistakes, as exhibited by the white tunic, he still has flaws that need to be ironed out, since he still puts the blame of his wrongdoings on others, shown by the worn-out condition of his tunic.
As King Lear's life comes to an end, his selfishness and irresponsibility go with him. Lear is able to realize his ways, but he is unable to fully amend his character before his death. Throughout the play, King Lear undergoes a change in his selfish character through suffering and the help of those special to him to realize his flaws. He does not, however, completely change his character since he fails to accept that it was all his fault. Gregory Doran's production of King Lear reveals the theme of the consequences that come with taking advantage of power. Resulting from Lear's lack of perception and wisdom and his desire to live laidback and carefree, he soon realizes of doing so.
Shakespeare's play demonstrates the dangers of living an irresponsible life; Lear loses everything he has, including his daughter who loves him unconditionally. The play teaches the lesson of responsibility and the consequences that follow due to the lack of it. .
Works Cited
King Lear. Directed by Gregory Doran, written by William Shakespeare, performance by Antony Sher, Natalie Simpson, and Nia Gwynne. 2016, Royal Shakespeare Company. King Lear Translation. SparkNotes, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/lear/. Lehnhof, Kent R., Relation and Responsibility: A Levinasian Reading of King Lear. Modern Philology, vol.111, no. 3, February 2014, pp. 485-509. Levinas, Emmanuel. Ethics and Infinity. Duquesne UP, 1985 Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Edited by R.A. Foakes, Bloomsbury, 1997.
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Portrait of War in Letter to a Future Generation and Dulce Et Decorum Est
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Symbolism in the Rocking Horse Winner Novel
The love of a mother proves to be fundamental in the foundation of a person. This proves to be true in the story The Rocking Horse Winner by D.H Lawrence when a reader is divulged in a story where motivation and symbolism is used to characterize a person that grew up trying to obtain the love of his mother. With whispers from the house and rocking of his horse he continues In pursuit to buy the love of his mother which eventually leads to constant dissatisfaction in life and a drive for materialistic things that result in hoax happiness.
There are monsters that haunt the bottom of children's beds. In this this case it was the house itself that proved to torment the children that lived in it. The monster that was created by insatiable greed and frustratingly expensive way of living they cannot afford. A mother planted a seed in the mind of her child almost unknownst to her. A seed that grew and caused Paul to chase after the money his mother desires in order to satisfy her greed. In the beginning there was an unnatural iceiness about her life as a mother. The dramatic Irony is that this beautiful kid will never know that his mother is incapable of loving anyone else aid of her.Who doesn't love her kids? Whether they were ready for one or not, that love is there. Not this mother though. She held appearances but they all knew.
When they talked about how luck is what causes people to have money paul describes how even when they were talking she was hiding something from him. IN the beginning her point of view was stated about how she felt when talking to her kids. She claims that she felt she must cover up some fault in herself which clearly ended up being the fact that she is only able to love herself. The whispering greed that infected the house was a constant reminder that he will never be a perfectly functional adult that understand what truly matters in life. The fact that when he obtained the money for her she only spent it on shallow and useless things demonstrates the selfishness. This affected me negatively because in his heart his motivation to obtain the love of his mother has wavered, therefore only bringing him to loss. Proving that the whispering of the house is a symbol that gives way to who paul is and what motivates him.
This story proves how scary a sad reality is. No one can actually blame anyone for denying to see what actually was the problem. The mother would never accept that she lives a miserable life and the son will never accept that his is efforts to be loved by his mother is useless and a waste of time. This toy, this rocking chair is incapable of taking him place. It represents that no matter how much he rocks and how much he rides, he will never go anywhere besides back in forth. In the same matter he will bet his bets, win and lose his money, and yet his relationship with his mother will never change.
Symbolism is such a beautiful thing. It gives deeper insight into the abstract ideas of life itself. In The Rocking Horse Winner a deep and sad reality was demonstrated to be true when a mother unable to love and a son haunted by her greed and motivated by his desire for her non existent love was shown sing motivation and symbolism.
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Comparison of Rocking Horse Winner and Two Kinds
In comparing the character of the mothers in the stories Rocking Horse Winner and Two Kinds which featured a theme of motherhood, Chinese Immigrant who came to America in 1949 after losing everything in China .Suyuan having survived the untimely death of her first husband, and two daughters, twin baby girls, in China, she knew there were so many ways for things to get better (Tan, Two Kinds 1), according to Jing-Mei narration in the story Two Kinds, she saw her mother as an overbearing and controlling mother, Suyuan a Chinese immigrants who came to America with a lot of hope and dreams, believing that with hard working, honesty and integrity, you can follow the path of greatness in America and become a prodigy. Jing-mei narrated the story in such way one could emphasized with her mother's past, Suyana who had a rough past would go to any length to see her daughter becomes prodigy, the expectations of Suyuan turned her to become over ambitious, authoritarian and relentless cruel to her daughter, which invariably turned Jing-Mei into a rebellious and disobedient child, who just want to find herself and become a person she wants to be.
The author was inconsequential in her characterization of Suyan as a perfectionist, a mother who believes in Chinese tradition and culture that daughter must command excellence in her life. Tan symbolize the piano into metaphor of how Jing-mei was able to confront her past and future, at the same time became an independent woman of a true self. the piano also symbolises an identity that the mother wants her to be a genius pianist and a good musician. a subtle extension of the theme that dominated the narration throughout the story. After her mother's death, Jing-Mei had become a dynamic and principled individual in which the rhythm of the music she plays was in contrast to her names Pleading Child and Perfectly Contented (Tan, Two Kinds 10) and in their melodyone short and slow, the other fast and long, Jing-Mei really shows her personality, her independence and a replica of her mother , She realizes that, just like the songs in the piano book, her mother and she "were they were two halves of the same song" (Tan, Two Kinds 10).
The Rocking Horse Winner story was a complete contrast to Two kinds, the main themes in The Rocking-Horse Winner are greed, luck and the pursuit for love; where the horse symbolises a tradition, the journey of the soul which often regarded as an omen of death, while the pursuit for luck was revealed as the love Hester could not give to her children according to story by Lawrence. Hester was a self-cantered individual who is very materialist and flamboyant in her spending. Lawrence narrated the story in such a way that we could see Hester as an antagonist, a greedy beautiful lady whose only purpose is centered around money and acquisition of material things. There must be more money. (Lawrence 1).
There's always whispering of more money in the house a situation that got Paul into horse racing gambling, Lawrence narrated the story in such way that shown Hester was a mother without empathy and without true affection for her children. The closest thing to love that comes to her she rejects. The opening of the story by Lawrence showed that Hester married for love but the love faded, although she gained children from her marriage, but she could not love them because she believes the is not lucky. To her luck is something that brings money; if you are lucky you can keep the money. The characterisation of Hester shows a woman that was covering her inadequacies by living a made believe and expensive life despite being poor-she could not love anyone but herself.
In The Rocking Horse Winner, Lawrence pointed towards the fact that Hester always considered his husband to be unlucky and thought that he never did things that he should be doing and that He never would be able to do anything worth doing (pg 382). Basically, in her eyes her husband was a worthless, unlucky person. The mother's thinking forced Paul to go in search of luck. Moreover, insulting nature and disrespect was another property that played a role in affecting their families In The Rocking Horse Winner, Hester did not show affection towards her children and love towards her husband. Instead she explained his finally, the last element is Theme. Money isn't everything. Be thankful for what you have before it’s gone forever. A person’s life is more important than material things. Thus, Tan through Suyana in the Two Kinds and Lawrence through Hester's nature in The Rocking Horse Winner showed how their dominating, disrespectful and rude nature had affected their family's life and resulted in Suayana strange relationship with her daughter and not seen the best in Jing -mei while Hestler in the end received 80,000 pounds but lost without knowing Pual waned acceptance and love for her.
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Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown and the Rocking Horse Winner
A young man embarks through the woods, at night, to keep a date with destiny. His destiny is to know'. When he leaves the woods the following morning, he departs with the knowledge of evil. A young boy frantically rides his mysteriously enchanted rocking-horse in search for love and peace through material gain. He achieves nothing, however, accept an early demise. Using symbolism these two fantasy short stories, Young Goodman Brown and The Rocking Horse Winner, convey powerful moral themes.
This story, Young Goodman Brown, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne as a retelling of the Bible story of Adam and Eve, uses rich and powerful symbolism to discuss the human struggle against hypocrisy and man's need to know'. Hawthorne uses the complexities of New England's Puritan roots as a backdrop for his story. The first line of the story reveals that the tale is set in the Puritan town of Salem Massachusetts. A deeper understanding of the history of this town, and that history's relationship to the author, helps to unveil how Hawthorne uses the setting of his story as a symbol for hypocrisy. The Puritan faith was rooted in Calvinism, which stressed internal purity and a return to a covenant with God similar to the theocracy outlined in the Old Testament between God and the Israelites. Puritan New England was, in effect, an experimental model society'. John Winthrop, a Puritan founder referred to this society as a City on a Hill'. Puritan New England was a strict and legalistic society. Nonconformity was not tolerated as the church controlled most aspects of the community. Plainness and simplicity was required. Submission to the church and Biblical authority was not even questioned by the average citizen. Hawthorne was not an average citizen. Although, his works were published after the Puritan era had ended, their ideals still lived on. In, both The Scarlet Letter and Young Goodman Brown Hawthorne challenges his reader to question the power of institutions such as religion. In, Hawthorne's story, Goodman Brown, the main character, has doubts about his religion and looks to his appointment in the woods to support his concerns. While in the act of questioning his faith, by consorting with the devil, he is plagued by the religious standards impressed upon him since his youth
'My father never went into the woods on such an errand, nor his father before him. We have been a race of honest men and good Christians since the days of the martyrs. And I shall be the first of the name of Brown that ever took this path .
Hawthorne beckons the reader to question, as Goodman does, why and what do I believe' through the symbolism of the town of Salem.
The connection between the Puritan's beliefs and the story's theme continues to reveal itself through the other symbolism found in the tale's setting. The story begins as Goodman is preparing to leave his home in the village. Using the village as a starting point for the protagonist's journey implies that he is embarking from a place of order, comfort, and safety. Goodman's belief in the security of his hometown is demonstrated through his parting words to his wife, 'Say thy prayers, dear Faith, and go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee. Furthermore, the values of upright living that a Puritan village was founded on are left behind as Goodman passes beyond the town's borders:
The young man pursued his way until, being about to turn the corner by the meeting-house, he looked back and saw the head of Faith still peeping after him with a melancholy air Poor little Faith! thought he, for his heart smote him. What a wretch am I, to leave her on such an errand! Well; she's a blessed angel on earth and after this one night I'll cling to her skirts and follow her to Heaven.With this excellent resolve for the future, Goodman Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose.
The meetinghouse mentioned in the above quote is the place where the townspeople met for church. His thoughts of Faith as he passes beyond the church' are not coincidence. His dismissal of his concerns for his wife is really a dismissal of his guilt of straying beyond the borders of his faith represented by the borders of the town. It may be interesting to note that the lines immediately following the above quote describe the wilderness outside the safety of the village.
Goodman's journey takes him into the woods. The forest is the exact opposite of the village. A person can easily lose their way when walking in the forest even during the light of day. The path Young Goodman takes is a dark and haunted one as the images Hawthorne's words inspire:
He had taken a dreary road darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!
The devil himself was at Goodman's elbow and the setting of the wood allows this character to hide' his sin of wanting to know the truth about evil. The wood's concealing symbolism is demonstrated in Hawthorne's description of Goodman's response to the sound of approaching horses, Goodman Brown heard the tramp of horses along the road and deemed it advisable to conceal himself within the verge of the forest, conscious of the guilty purpose that had brought him thither...
The darkness of the wood is intensified by Hawthorn's use of time to symbolize the parallels between good and evil. The Puritans upheld a black and white view of the world; it was either good or evil. There were no in-betweens or shades of grey. In, the Puritan's world the light of day is connected to pure upright living. Similarly, the dark of night hides the deeds of the wicked and is thus, black with sin. The story begins by telling us the time of day, Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset into the street of Salem village. The fact that this story begins at dusk when the light of day is waning shows Goodman's choice to follow temptation, thus leaving the world of light. As the young man continues in his foray of sin, his consort with the devil, the night deepens, and darkness surrounds him, It was now deep dusk in the forest, and the deepest in that part of it where these two were journeying. Another connection to time and the story's theme is the possible parallel between day and night and the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. In, this story the character of Adam lives in Paradise and after pursuing a desire to know evil is forced to leave his garden home and enter a world down cast in the shadow of his sin. Similarly, Goodman embarks on this journey at the end of day. The day' may represent the beauty of paradise. The end of the day thus reveals Goodman's departure from Paradise. For, he has chosen to eat of the knowledge of good and evil', so to speak, and is thus cast into the darkness of night as he pursues this knowledge. Hawthorne also uses time to demonstrate the prolongation of hypocrisy from days of old to today. The story was published in 1835 but was set in the 1600's and by choosing this time for the setting of his story the author reminds his readers of the past's relationship to truth today.
In like manner, D. H. Lawrence uses symbolism in the fantasy tale, The Rocking-Horse Winner, to convey this difficult truth: materialism is an inefficacious pursuit. Compared to Young Goodman Brown the setting of The Rocking-Horse Winner seems an underdeveloped element. However, like Hawthorn, Lawrence uses a key part of his setting symbolically. The house where most of the story's action takes place symbolizes anxiety. A home should be a place of refuge for a child where the love and support of family nurtures the youth along the road to manhood. This house is devoid of all nurture however. It is instead the location of the children's anxiety and torment:
And so the house came to be haunted by the unspoken phrase: There must be more money! There must be more money! The children could hear it all the time, though nobody said it aloud They would look into each other's eyes, to see if they had all heard. And each one saw in the eyes of the other two that they too had heard. There must be more money! There must be more money !
This powerful symbol emphasizes the story's theme for it is this feeling of anxiety that drives young Paul on his fruitless search for luck' which will supposedly silence the whispering house.
In, Young Goodman Brown, Hawthorn uses other forms of symbolism to further enhance his theme. Near the beginning of the story, Faith's pink ribbons are used to symbolize the innocence of pure faith; as is shown in the following passage, 'Then God bless you! said Faith with the pink ribbons . However, as the story progresses this innocence is lost. In, his search to know evil, Goodman's faith is shaken; losing its innocence as is symbolically revealed through Faith's loss of her ribbons:
But something fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it and beheld a pink ribbon. My Faith is gone! cried he, after one stupefied moment. There is no good on earth, and sin is but a name. Come, devil! for to thee is this world given .
This passage further reveals that the name Faith itself is a symbol of Goodman Brown's personal faith. Like the loss of the pink ribbons, Goodman loses his faith in the woods and is left jaded by the hypocrisy he sees in those around him.
In The Rocking-Horse Winner Lawrence also uses other symbolism to powerfully express his moral theme. Literary critic, W.R. Martin in his article, Fancy or Imagination? The Rocking-Horse Winner,' explains that it is this use of symbolism that reveals the story's technical excellence. He states, Much significant meaning so successfully conveyed through objective correlatives [deserves consideration] . One such correlative is the rocking-horse which symbolizes the unattainable. The rider of the toy never arrives at his destination. Instead, its circular forward and backward motion represents a journey that fails to reach a satisfactory conclusion. As Martin explains:
For all this frenzied effort the horse rocks backwards and forwards on the same spot, still-swaying.' Lawrence does not have to score this heavily, but the rocking motion evokes with poetic economy and precision the futility of the parents, whose prospects never materialized .'
In an effort to evade the unlucky' condition of his parents, young Paul becomes victim to the same materialistic condition. This sickness is symbolized in Paul's eyes as revealed in the following passage at the end of the story, His eyes blazed at her for one strange and senseless second . This sickness claims the protagonist's life but in the real world this same illness rarely kills the body, but it can kill the soul. As the old proverb says: You cannot take it with you. Therefore, a life spent accumulating things that are not eternal is a wasted life.
Each of these stories are moral tales about human sin. Goodman Brown's quest for knowledge concerning evil leaves him disillusioned and judgmental of the perceived hypocrisy around him. Poor Paul's search for luck' drives him insane and results in his early death. Both protagonists are searching for something only to end up discontented in their sin. The reader is similarly left feeling dissatisfied wondering if more change will ever be made. Will the townspeople of Salem become sincere in their faith? Will they turn away from a legalistic belief system or will they discover that Jesus plus nothing equals true freedom from sin? Will Paul's death impact his mother's cold heart? Will she realize that the things that matter most in life are the people in it not the things she owns?
The questions these stories inspire in the reader are part of what gives them their literary value. Stories that inspire readers to think deeply about the nature of life are the stories that are remembered.
Although, each story does this well, one of the strongest differences between these two literary works is their quality. Hawthorn provides rich and developed literary elements such as: theme, plot, characterization, setting, symbolism, and use of language that gives his story more depth than Lawrence's tale. Literary Critic Graham Hough in his article, The Dark Sun, calls The Rocking-Horse Winner, "fancy not imagination . This critique may be too harsh. However, Lawrence's story does rely primarily on its use of symbolism to convey it's message and many elements are arguably lacking depth compared to Hawthorne.
The symbolism used by these skillful writers enriches their stories making, Young Goodman Brown, and The Rocking-Horse Winner, strong works of literature.
Hawthorne artfully uses symbolism to convey messages concerning hypocrisy and man's desire to know both good and evil. Is understanding worth the price, however, of leaving the safety of the village to enter into the perilous woods? Likewise, Lawrence intertwines symbolism into his tale to warn his readers, not to get caught in the, there must be more money trap. These stories leave the reader wondering, can sin like hypocrisy and materialism ever be conquered?
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Short Story Shooting an Elephant
The short story Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell takes place in British controlled India. Orwell was a police officer for the British, located in Lower Burma, and tensions between the Natives and the British ran high. Without Britain's involvement in India, Orwell would not have felt the societal pressures to shoot the elephant.
The British had established themselves in India by the early 18th century, primarily from the British East India Company, whose primary exports were cotton cloth, opium, silk, and indigo dye. Once the French withdrew from India following the Seven Years War in 1763, the British had the full Ability to take control over India. Over the first half of the 19th century, the British colonized independent Indian territories until the last independent territory, the Punjab region, was seized in 1849. In an effort to regain control of their land, the Indian Mutiny occurred in 1857, but only resulted in increased control and the establishment of central administration. The British Raj was instituted in 1858 and lasted until 1947; during this time the British Empire had social, economic, and political control over India.
The story begins with I was hated by large numbers of people (Orwell 1). This sets the tone for the entire story, establishing the social tensions in the first sentence.
The British were hated among the Natives, and were openly targeted, according to Orwell. Although the British were the minority, they had the highest social status and disregarded the general caste system in India that was present before British colonization in regard to themselves. The caste system was set up into four separate castes: The highest is the Brahmans (priests and teachers). Second was the Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors). Followed by the Vaishyas (merchants and traders) and finally was the Sudras (workers and peasants) (Kuah 1). The Europeans were on top of any Native no matter their caste. Despite being the majority of the population, the Natives were too fearful to revolt. This created high social tensions between the two groups and were one of the primary reason's Orwell felt he had to shoot the elephant.
George Orwell thought must he prove his authority and status as the only Non-native during the incident by shooting the animal unprovoked. Orwell states, Here was I, the white man with his gunseemingly the leader of the piece; but in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind he shall spend his life trying to impress the natives', and so in every crisis he has got to do what the natives' expect of him(4).
The natives were going to judge Orwell for whatever choice he made; Britain's need to emphasize their power through intimidation was a sign of their fear. This is the same fear George Orwell felt on a smaller scale. Orwell writes, I was not thinking particularly of my own skin, only of the watchful yellow faces behindA white man mustn't be frightened in front of the 'natives'; and so, in general, he isn't frightened (5).
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