Environmental Apocalypse or Ecologism: the Beginning of a New Era

As the global population continues to grow exponentially there are many new stressors put on the environment, the producers, and the general public. These three categories are the pillars of sustainability, and without balance between them there is instability racing through and challenging everyone’s way of life. As we have seen throughout past years, there has not been balance and the divide between developed and developing nations continues to grow, which is one indication for potential environmental apocalypse or the need of ecologism. There are four stages in which Western Industrial Civilizations grow in a life cycle. Stage I, where there is a strong sense of shared purpose and is denoted as “springtime”, activities and growth are self-regulated. Stage II occurs when there is weakening agreeance and loss of a shared social purpose, denoted as “summer”. “Autumn” is Stage III, when there is very little consensus and a shared social purpose is limited. Stage IV is “winter” and the collapse of all consensus and there is no clear social purpose, society begins to break down. I believe we are at the end of “summer” and soon to enter “autumn” as the divide in society is increasing and government is busy trying to regulate as much as possible, but soon to falter. Ecologism is a worldview centering on sustainable development in a society that understands and respects the importance of a strong and stable environment for the foundation of survival of society. It is the responsibility of each individual to fight for a sustainable way of living. If we as a society do not act now, we are expediating the environmental apocalypse, or Stage IV.

Something I am very passionate about is the implementation and incorporation of renewable energy. Unfortunately, this has become a controversial thing in the US. Prime locations of this technology are in tourist areas, such as wind turbines off the coast in the ocean or the mountains, or solar panels on the land around these destinations. Many people find them to be ugly and disruptive of the views. Personally, I think they are beautiful and would love to stare at wind turbines as I sit on the beach, watching as energy is being harnessed right before my eyes from literally the wind, which would have been blowing regardless of the turbine’s placement. I also believe if we want to avoid an environmental apocalypse then people need to get over seeing a few wind turbines or solar panels and accept changes in order to survive. However, out of trying to understand someone else’s views and opinions I have come to the conclusion that dual land use is the most important thing we as a civilization can do as we begin our sustainable progression.

Dual land use maximizes agricultural land by building either wind turbines or solar panels on current active crop or animal farming land. Every action requires the usage of energy and all energy comes at an expense. The agriculture industry consumes energy at an incredibly high rate, all while converting a fraction of that energy into food for people and animals. Non-renewable energy sources such as fertilizer and diesel made up more than half of the total energy consumed by agriculture in 2014 (Hitaj, 2017). This however does not need to be the primary source of energy for farmers, for dual land use can help bridge the gaps and make agriculture sustainable again.

Sustainable agriculture took hold in the first movement with “humus farming” in the mid 19th century which reflected on humus content in the soil. Many influential pieces of literature followed supporting the importance of a strong humus layer in soil. This first movement created a wave of others to occur. The second movement occurred in the early 20th century focusing on complex farming systems. This also had a few books that followed in response. Europe lead the third movement after R. Steiner’s lectures on holistic agriculture in 1924, an advocate for industrialization of agriculture. The fourth movement was about organic practices, referring to the farm as an “organism”, leading to many organic farming writings ensuing. Other key movements included the Green Revolution, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, and the Environmental movement, all three occurring in the 1960s. Food Security Act in 1985 was the first piece of legislature that acknowledged agriculture sustainability. Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture program formed next which is now called Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and the Organic Foods Production Act in 1990, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Farm Bill in 2002, followed this trend shortly after. Sustainable practices, though not a recent concept, have yet to be embraced or taken on in large scale productions.

A team of scientists, Majumdar and Pasqualetti working within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area, reported their study of working on incorporating sustainable practices with agriculture and trying to find a way to make these practices easily attainable to farmers and commonplace in the sector. Their focus was on agrivoltic system development and dual land use in the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The purpose was to find a way to preserve productive agricultural land and discover an alternative solution to energy shortcomings. Agrivoltic systems were first proposed by two German scientists in 1982, however only until recently has the practice taken hold in limited countries. Agrivoltic systems are photovoltaic (PV) modules that are placed in rows on productive agriculture fields. In between the concisely spaced rows of PV modules are either crops or animals. The slope of the land needs to be less than five degrees in order to be most productive, but the direction the land faces is not an issue because the panels can be tilted. The panels need to be built 12 feet above the ground in order for the land below to be easily cultivated, resulting in the panels receiving about 80% direct sunlight. Using PV modules creates shading on the agricultural land below, however the study showed that the crops were 60-70% more productive with the panels. This is partially due to the fact that about 14-29% of evapotranspired water was not lost, maximizing the watering practices preformed. Crops and livestock are also being protected from harsh weather conditions from the overhang of the panels. Additionally, the team of scientists were able to show that agrivoltic systems with dual land use practices benefited the farmers as well. With half density panel distribution in crops of alfalfa, cotton, and barley, each farmland can generate approximately 600 MWh/acre per year of energy. The energy inputted to grow these crops is one percent of the generated total. This means the farmers are harnessing more energy than they are putting into their crops. The profit from selling the generated energy to a utility company would provide the farmer with and additional 6,000 dollars per acre per year. This increased income can reduce financial burden on farms and increases property value.

In all, Majumdar and Pasqualetti, the team of scientists, concluded in their research paper that implementation of PV modules to agricultural land helps preserve the land, create carbon-free energy, meet growing needs, increase yield productivity, increase farmers income, increase land value, and create a more sustainable environment. However, doing so is a difficult transition to make and upfront costs can be intimidating to many farmers. As mentioned in the research paper, 85 percent of farmers in central Arizona believe farming is not only something that pays the bills, but in order to be successful, it must be a lifestyle (Majumdar and Pasqualetti, 2018). We need respect and aid for these farmers and support for them to implement this dual land use practice in order to begin living sustainably. I know this won’t solve all of the global problems, but this is a big step towards ecologism rather than waiting for the environmental apocalypse to hit and destroy civilization and prohibit future our generations from living.

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Greed is the Driving Factor

Greed is the driving factor in the United States economy. The desire for more whether it be money, knowledge, success, or fame is what causes the development in the United States. Gordon Gekko once said “Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.” I believe this to be an accurate statement about the business world and how continuous improvements are made because of greed. Greed is based on self-interest, but it is self interest that drives the economy, much like the invisible hand that balances the economy. Even when greed is used in a corrupt way, this action can benefit the economy overall.

While greed may be good for economies, it may not be so good for individuals. A person who is consumed by greed becomes completely focused on the object of his greed. Life is reduced to a quest to accumulate and hoard as much as possible of whatever it is. Even though this person has met his every reasonable need and more, they are unable to adapt and redirect their drive and desire. Greed can come from early negative experiences like parental inconsistency, abuse, or neglect. Later on in life, these feelings of anxiety and weakness coincide with low self-esteem. This can lead someone to fixate on a specific substitute for what was needed but could not be obtained. The pursuit and gathering of the substitute not only makes up for the loss, but it also provides comfort and reassurance. This comfort and reassurance distract us from feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness that was felt earlier in life. In this instance life is a choice between greed and fear. The people who steer towards fear do not accomplish as much due to avoiding any kind of spotlight and attention. The ones who steer towards greed are consumed in self-interest which can result in good outcomes but depending on how this greed is carried out, bad outcomes are a possibility.

The mindset that greed is good was not only followed by Gordon Gekko, Ronald Regan was an advocate of greed, but it was referred to as laissez-faire economics. Laissez-faire economics is a French term that translated to leave it alone. The idea behind this was the less the government is involved in the economy, the better off business will be and by connection, the better off society will be. Ronald Regan believed the free market and capitalism would solve the nation's issues. This type of economic approach also known as Reaganomics which focused on reducing government spending, taxes, and regulation. The objective was to allow the forces of supply and demand to rule the market without any discrepancy from an outside variable. This led to the deregulation of banking which led to the savings and loan collapse in 1989, and the deregulation of the airline industry which creating today's low-cost and low-comfort airline industry. During Ronald Regan’s time in office government spending increased 2.5 percent annually and he more than doubled the nations debt. I believe he had the correct mindset, but the government did not have as much of a “hand off’ approach as Ronald Regan needed. The government has always intervened through its spending and tax policies. An example of this can be shown in the United States history with intervening; The United States incurred debt to pay for the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton imposed tariffs and taxes to pay for debt incurred from the Revolutionary War. Even on a smaller scale, the government restricted the free market by taxing certain goods and not taxing other goods. These factors and many others disturbed the results if greed could benefit the United States economy.

A common misconception is that Greed is malicious and does not help anyone but the person committing the act. Dishonesty is a common outcome of greed, as is envy and spite. Greed is also associated with negative emotional states such as stress, anxiety, exhaustion, depression, despair, and with behaviors such like gambling, hoarding, and theft. By overcoming reason, and compassion, greed undoes family and community ties and undermines the values our society is structured on. Another negative rumor related to greed is, people who are money hungry are more likely to believe that waiting to save until later in life to save is an acceptable idea. A belief that has grown even more from this mindset is that lower bond yields make it harder to buy a retirement income. In consequence, people are less likely to contribute to any retirement plan and less likely to contribute the recommended 6% of their income into a 401k plan. Those who were unselfish cared less about money were more likely to adopt better strategies and pay regular amounts into diversified retirement plans with constant allocations. Such plans effectively require taking some profits at the top and buying when securities are cheap.

Greed is a flawed force, it is the only consistent human motivation, and it produces preferable economic and social outcomes. Unlike Greed, unselfishness is a mature and advanced capability. Greed is an instinctive and democratic impulse and it has be suited to be simplified for consumer to better understand. Unselfishness does attract our appreciation from the people, but it is greed that society encourages and rewards. Greed is what delivers the goods and services the United States has come to depend on. Whether we like it or not, our society operates on greed, and without greed the United States would not be the powerhouse country it is. Greed seems to be the driving force behind all successful societies, and modern political systems designed to check or remove it have ended in failure. The United States embraces the greed by thriving with capitalistic economy, a trait that is often compared to greed. The 20th century economist Milton Friedman has argued that the problem of social organization is not to eradicate greed, but to set up an arrangement under which it does the least harm. For Friedman, capitalism is just that kind of system.

In today’s world, it so happens that our lack of culture is in a state of instability and crisis which places a high value on materialism and by extension greed. Our culture’s emphasis on greed is such that people are no longer satisfied with obtaining the goal but caught up in the pursuit of the goal. Once the goal is accomplished, the next goal is immediately created in order to continue the path of success. People do not take the time to appreciate their current accomplishment but are concerned with what is next and what is better than the current situation they are in. Today, the object of desire is no longer satisfaction, but desire itself. It is as if greed is programmed into our genes because in the course of evolution, it has shown to promote survival. In order to be more successful, you must be better than the surrounding competitors. This means once one accomplishment has been achieved the next accomplishment should be in the forecast if you want to continue to be more successful than your competition. Without greed, a person may lack the motivation to build or achieve and may also be more vulnerable to the greed of others. If one is more determined in their self-interest than their competition, they will be more successful.

Every major company has greed for more business, more money, more investors, more everything. While this can be taken as an issue for the American consumer, this type of company greed is what causes them to offer the low prices for products/services to the customer. The desire for more business coincides with having to offer a better deal than the competitor. The greed from the consumers perspective is to find the cheapest offer and to purchase through the company that offers the best price. This type of greed benefits both the consumer and the business by obtaining exactly what they want. This type of offer and deal sounds similar to how the United States has been built into the largest economy in the history of the world, capitalism. When two or more parties come together (in this case it is the business and the consumer) to work out an agreement with the intent to generate substantial value or revenue, all parties involved win from this.

People consider self-interest as a separate entity than greed, but I seem them as going hand and hand. It was Adam Smith who argued, “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.” Self-interest is about survival, responsibility and increased quality of life. It is self-interest that motivates us to do the things we do not want to but need to in order to survive and succeed. These “choirs” can be seen when we go to work, clean our house, care for our children, seek further education even when it is not required or seek medical opinions when it is not a life-threatening issue. The natural desire and core motive of human action is simply to better one’s position in life, much like someone with a greed mindset to be better off than they were before.

One positive example of how greed can be beneficial for all is if an employer puts together an incentivized compensation plan for the employees that allows them employees to make as much money as possible as they are increasing in business without limitation to the success. When the company makes money, the sales people make money from the company’s success. This example can be seen from businesses that offer commission with no caps to the commission. This is a form of greed in the sense that the company is driving to make as much profit as possible but also paying the employees a slight increase in pay by working harder. The greed works both ways though because the employee’s greed to make more money is the exact concept the business was working towards.

Many companies have found a way to turn greed into a way to benefit a cause by providing a sense of charity. Loveyourmelon, Newman’s own, Love bottle, One Hope, Greater Good, all these companies donate a portion of their proceeds to a charity and help a greater cause. The company is still in the business to make money and to grow larger and larger, but they are also helping a cause with their success. This company has greed to become more successful like any other company but because they are doing good with their proceeds, they are more supported by the customer.

The conclusion of a new study from the University of Oxford, published in Nature Communications, found that greed is good in certain contexts. The study used mathematical models of human social groups and the researchers found that when communities are hierarchically structured (meaning that there is a potential for high inequality) the individuals at the top tend to make more of an effort in the interests of the group than the individuals at the bottom. This included competing with outside groups and facing potential danger in the process. The authors of this study detected that behavior across nearly all cultures, and cite corresponding studies of chimps, blue monkeys and ring-tail lemurs, showed that higher ranking individuals tend to venture closer to the dangerous border of the group’s territory during patrols. High ranking females ended up joining the males in combat with other groups. In return, the lower ranking members are allowed to become what is known as free-riders, hiding behind the commotion and contribute little on their own to the society.

This study was brought over towards human behavior and the study results were supported. Throughout history of powerful people who serve the group in some way being rewarded with more power still. Famous generals become Presidents like Eisenhower, Washington, Grant, not just because of their popularity but because they’ve proven their fortitude in battle and can prove it again if dangerous outsiders come calling. We welcome the enormous wealth some inventors and industrialists accumulate because part of the time, they make our lives better too. The public is a lot less supportive when wealthy and powerful people create things that benefit only other wealthy and powerful people. The public would rather have an economy that rewards ambition than an economy that smothers ambition. In the case with free-riding, this is more complex than it seems. There’s truth to the fact that in the past, welfare could be a discouragement to work, especially when the work that was on offer was unappealing and paid little more than the free money the government was giving out. Greed is what drives people to want to be better in this world. If greed did not exist, being a free rider wouldn’t be a bad option to take considering there aren’t any major consequences or expectations from someone in this position.

There is a quote by Rabbi Benjamin Blech about greed and this quote it meant to be seen in a negative sense, but I see this quote as more of a reason why greed is good. “Greed will always leave you dissatisfied because you'll never be able to get everything you desire. Greed never allows you to think you have enough; it always destroys you by making you strive ever harder for more.” This quote explains how you will always be pursuing no matter what is obtained, greed will cause you to always wanting more and to the extent to pushing yourself harder and harder. These characteristics sound like things we strive for, an example of these characteristics are how olympians push for perfection every day and even when they reach the podium, they want to break the records they set and be remembered for more. We tell people to have more drive if they want to be successful in life, we tell people to stay hungry and to never get comfortable because being too comfortable leaves you at a standstill. When greed is in the topic it is something to avoid but when it is about motivating others, these same characteristics are motivating features.

A common quoted saying is that money is the root of all evil which is actually a misquotation of the Bible, which states that the love of money is the root of all evil. Greek philosopher Aristotle pondered the conception of being truly happy and fulfilling life for human beings and ended up ruling ruled out money the equation. Aristotle did this because he saw that money is only a materialistic good. Money is only good for the purpose of obtaining something else. So, the root of all evil could not be money but what we can get with it. A deeper understanding of what greed really is can help us to see that it is not only a desire for materialistic objects, but the security and independence that having money can bring. Greed for money is not a bad thing, it can help us meet our basic needs as well as enjoy luxuries which make life better. These luxuries do not apply to the typical idea of luxuries like vacations, spa’s etc. Luxuries like having better medical assistance, a more advanced society, better technology, etc. In many ways’ greed is the structure in which of our lives are built on. Aristotle stated it best by saying “For what good would their prosperity do them if it did not provide them with the opportunity for good works”?

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Short and Long-Term Effects of Opioids

The opioid epidemic is something that affects every part of a person’s life whether it be the user or the user’s family. It also affects professionals that come into contact with the user. The opioid epidemic affects healthcare professionals because their patients are misusing the opioids that have been prescribed to them. Also, healthcare professionals are one of the first people to see a person once they have arrived at a healthcare facility. Opioids also affect the user’s family members such as children and their parents. Generally, the grandparents are left to raise their grandchildren once a person has become addicted to opioids. This situation can be very difficult for both the children and their grandparents. Lastly, the criminal justice system and law enforcement officers are affected by the opioid epidemic. The criminal justice system is affected by the opioid epidemic because some users cycle through the system on more than one occasion because they returned to the opioids once they were released. Law enforcement officers are affected by the opioid epidemic because they are the ones who respond to the initial call for help not knowing what they are going to encounter once they arrive on the scene. ?

The Effect of Opioids

The abuse of opioids has become increasingly problematic in modern society. This epidemic not only affects the addict, but it affects healthcare providers as well. I believe part of the opioid epidemic is due to patients relying too heavily on the pain killers; however, there comes a point at which the physician has to take a stand and stop prescribing pain killers for the patient. A physician should be treating the pain associated with the patient’s diagnosis; however, the physician should not continue to prescribe medications because the patient is asking for them. The addict could pose a danger to the healthcare professionals as well as other patients when they come into the clinic under the influence of the opioids.

Healthcare professionals can assist in ending the opioid epidemic by learning about their patients and writing prescriptions cautiously. Perhaps, the physician could prescribe an alternative drug that is not so addictive. The opioid epidemic needs to be controlled, but it has to start with our physicians and the practices that they exercise when writing prescriptions.

The opioid epidemic that we are experiencing affects so many lives beyond the user. The entire family of the user either sees or feels the effects of the addiction. The addiction to opioids has such a stronghold on the user that they are crippled in many areas of their life. The relationships that the user has with others suffer as a result of the addiction. This often leaves children without their parents and forces the grandparents to step in and assume that role. Grandparents are generally older and have health issues of their own and assuming the responsibility of raising grandchildren can take a toll on their health which could already be declining due to their age.

Some children are faced with the reality of going into foster care as a result of their parents’ addiction to opioids. The concept of foster care is great, but it still takes a toll on the children both physically and emotionally. This time can be difficult for the children because they are often too young to understand what is happening and why they are being taken away from everything that they know.

The opioid epidemic also affects the criminal justice system and law enforcement officers. Often, law enforcement officers are the first to arrive on the scene which means they are the first ones to see the patient. The law enforcement officers never know what they are going to find when responding to a call, so they have to be prepared for anything. Even though law enforcement officers have had training and know how to treat an overdose victim, it can still be tough for the officer to find the victim unresponsive.

Those that are addicted to opioids are probably familiar with the criminal justice system and may have been through the system more than once. The addicts cycling through the criminal justice system multiple times is costly and takes time away from other cases that need to be heard. There are several costs associated with a criminal proceeding such as court costs, attorney’s fees, and the cost of the opioid treatment program if ordered. The costs for these things can add up very quickly. If the criminal is not ordered to go through a treatment program, they are likely to continue this vicious cycle because they did not receive any treatment and just return to using the opioids. The purpose of this paper is to identify what the opioid epidemic is and its catastrophic effect. The epidemic will be seen from the healthcare perspective, the social science perspective, and the criminal justice and law enforcement perspective.

Opioid use in North America has dramatically increased over the past decade (Falk, Dahl, Raymond, Chateau, Katz, Leong, & Bugden, 2017). The opioid epidemic with which we are currently plagued affects several aspects of the addict’s life. The choices also affect those involved in the addicts’ life such as children, parents, and grandparents. The opioid epidemic affects healthcare and healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals across the nation have significantly been affected by the opioid epidemic (Perez, 2018). The opioid epidemic has affected healthcare professionals in a couple of different ways. Some healthcare professionals are affected because the addicts are misusing opioids which usually results in the patient requiring medical attention. The healthcare professionals generally come into contact with the addict once the patient has arrived at the hospital. For some healthcare professionals, seeing patients in this state can be challenging. This is especially true if they are acquainted with the patient. While some patients recover from an overdose, this is not always the case. In 2016, 64,000 Americans died due to drug overdoses (Perez, 2018). This is a staggering number of deaths, particularly for something that could have possibly been prevented by educating the patients when they were prescribed the opioids.

Opioids are prescription medications that are generally used to treat pain; however, opioids are highly addictive. One of the most common opioids that are prescribed is Hydrocodone. Opioids can only be obtained with a prescription written by a physician. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the number of prescribed and dispensed opioids doubled between 1999 and 2010 (McGaffigna, 2017). In 2013, there were approximately 207 million opioid prescriptions written (Harries, Lust, Christenson, Redden, & Grant, 2018). This is an alarming number of prescribed and dispensed opioids considering the drugs are highly addictive and that people have become dependent on opioids. 20% of patients receiving ambulatory care are receiving a prescription for opioid-based medication (McGaffigna, 2017). Opioids are a drug that the physician has to be extremely cautious with because of how easily the patient can become addicted to them. The patient has to use the prescription cautiously so that they do not form an addiction to the opioids. It is vital that you take the prescription exactly as ordered and only take the opioids when it is absolutely necessary. Some patients take the opioids long after the pain has subsided. It is at this point that problems begin.

Opioids are prescription medications that are generally prescribed following a medical procedure such as a surgery or a severe injury. Everyone has suffered pain at some point and wanted some medication to relieve the pain; however, pain killers such as opioids are highly addictive especially if taken too long. As a patient, one is programmed to turn to our physician to prescribe a medication that will help relieve the pain. Physicians are responsible for prescribing opioids to their patients, but they should only prescribe opioids to their patients if the patient truly requires the medication. The physician should monitor how long the patient has been prescribed the medication and only prescribe the opioids as a short-term solution so that the patient does not form an addiction.

A primary care physician limiting the number of opioids that they alone prescribe will not end the opioid epidemic, but it will help slow the epidemic down (Kotalik, 2012). If the patient’s primary care physician will not prescribe opioids for an addict’s pain, then they will find another physician that will write them a prescription for the opioids. An example of this would be a patient going to a walk-in clinic or an emergency room. These physicians generally do not have access to all of the patient’s medical records and have no way of knowing what medication the patient was prescribed previously unless the patient tells them. The problem is the addict will withhold certain information so that the new physician will prescribe them the opioids that they are requesting. Perhaps a solution to the opioid epidemic would be if all physicians had access to a database where they could easily see what opioids patients have been prescribed and the quantity. This would allow all physicians to monitor opioids and help crackdown on opioid abuse.

Another perspective that is affected by the opioid epidemic is the social services perspective which includes the family and extended family of the user. The user’s children suffer more than anyone else in the family unit as a result of the parent’s choice to use and become addicted to opioids. At this point, the user is not able to adequately provide care for their children and the children are either placed in foster care, or they go live with another family member. If the child is placed with other family members, this can place undue strain on those family member’s because the placement is usually for an extended amount of time. The most common family member for the children to live with are the grandparents. This can be challenging for both the child as well as the grandparents who are of the aged population. Grandparents raising their grandchildren can be tough as the grandparents are already dealing with health issues of their own and are now trying to raise their grandchildren full-time (Pinson-Millburn, 1996).

Children who are born to women who have used opioids during their pregnancy are likely to have developmental disabilities which could affect the child for several years to come. Children who are born to opioid users are at risk of having developmental disabilities such as inattention, hyperactivity, and the lack of social skills (Ornoy, 2001). Also, the environment in which the children are raised seems to be one of the most important factors that determine their developmental outcome (Ornoy, 2001). Thus, children born into an environment where drugs are prevalent are more likely to be behind developmentally. It is in these environments that children are often left to themselves and have little to no interaction which is necessary for their development.

Developmentally delayed children are at a greater risk of being made fun of when they begin school because they are “slow and not normal.” Children do not have the ability to look at another child and discern what their home environment is or understand why the child behaves in the manner that they do. Children that are born into this environment are at risk of being emotionally delayed as well. The child is either being raised by a parent who is not in a state where they are capable of raising the child, or they are being raised by a grandparent or foster parent. In either of these situations, the child is likely to be emotionally delayed because they are not capable of comprehending the situation and why they cannot be with their parents. This takes a toll on children and often results in the child either going through a time of depression and loneliness or the child will act out.

When a parent makes the decision to use opioids, they no longer have the ability to provide proper care for their children which sometimes results in the children being placed in foster care. The number of children being removed from homes with parents who are addicted to opioids has reached an all-time high. In Michigan, there were 6,000 occasions between 2015 and 2017 where children were removed from their families as a result of the parents misusing opioids (Serres, 2018). This is an alarming number of children being removed from their homes. Not only are infants being removed from the home because they were born to opioid-addicted parents, but older children are being removed as well because their parents have formed an addiction. Some of the children that are placed in the foster care system thrive, while others struggle with the changes that are associated with going into foster care. However, it is not always the children that struggle with the change. Sometimes the child isn’t a good fit for the family that they were placed with and the foster family struggles to make the placement work or adjust to having another child in their care.

Grandparents can be affected by the user’s addiction to opioids as well as the children. An alternative to children being placed in the foster care system is to go live with other family members such as aunts and uncles or grandparents. If the children have to be uprooted from the environment that they are familiar with, being placed with family is usually a better placement for the children because they will still be around family members that they are already familiar with. While the children that are placed with their grandparents are well taken care of, the children may have a difficult time adjusting to living with their grandparents and adjusting to their way of living because it is a lifestyle that they are not accustomed to. The new placement of the grandchild can also be difficult for the grandparents as they are juggling work responsibilities, a smaller income, and a home environment that is not geared toward children (Pinson-Millburn, 1996). The smaller income and a home environment that is not geared toward children can also be a challenge for the children to acclimate to.

The third aspect that is affected by opioid users is the criminal justice system and law enforcement officers. It is almost impossible for someone that has an addiction to opioids to not be involved with the criminal justice system at least once. Generally, opioid users have cycled through the criminal justice system on more than one occasion. Some opioid addicts cycle through the criminal justice system once, get released with minimal punishment and go right back to their prior behaviors. Their choice to continue that behavior leads them through the same cycle multiple times until the criminal justice system takes action and imposes a punishment that will get the user’s attention. However, there are a few opioid addicts that cycle through the criminal justice system, achieve sobriety, and transition back into society as a normal working adult. Obviously, for the sake of the children that are involved, this is the happy ending that everyone wants to see. Unfortunately, this has become the exception, not the norm.

Many opioid addicts go through the criminal justice system daily. One part of the criminal justice system that is affected by opioid users is criminal accountability. It is the responsibility of the criminal justice system to ensure that the opioid users are held responsible for the crimes that they committed (Degenhardt, 2013). 60-80% of the current and former prisoners were incarcerated due to drug-related charges (Chavez, 2012). With this many people abusing drugs, there is a great need to offer a drug abuse treatment program during their incarceration.

Opioid addicts are likely to continue cycling through the criminal justice system, or worse overdose, if they never receive proper treatment or go through a drug abuse program. Overdose is one of the leading causes of deaths among those released from correctional facilities (Brinkley-Rubinstein et al., 2018). The opioid addicts need to have access to a drug abuse program that they can go through while they are serving their time behind bars. The addicts reach sobriety while they are incarcerated because they do not have access to the opioids, but as soon as they are released and have access to the opioids again, they are likely to go right back to their previous lifestyle. This is especially true if they did not receive treatment during their incarceration. The opioid addict is 129 times more likely to overdose within the first two weeks of being released from incarceration and back into the community (Giftos & Tesema, 2018).

Inmates can be prescribed an opioid agonist therapy which has shown to reduce the number of opioid overdoses; however, fewer than 40 of the 5,000 correctional institutions in the country offer this treatment (Giftos & Tesema, 2018). While most institutions do not offer this treatment, there is a treatment that can be offered in an effort to prevent a relapse. Extended-release naltrexone is a monthly injection, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010 and is used to prevent a relapse to opioid dependency (Lee, Friedman, Kinlock, Nunes, & Boney; et al., 2016).

A person’s choice to misuse opioids not only affects the individual, but it also has an emotional effect on law enforcement officers. Nobody wants to go to work knowing that they will likely encounter a person that is under the influence of opioids during their shift. The law enforcement officer never knows exactly what they are going to encounter when they receive a call (Green et al., 2013). This alone can be an emotional situation for law enforcement officers, but it can be even more emotional for them if they have to remove children from the home as a result of parents being addicted to opioids. Even though law enforcement officers are trained in first aid and have a knowledge of how to handle overdose victims, it still takes an emotional toll on the officers (Green et al., 2013). When law enforcement officers arrive on the scene of an overdose victim, they have been trained on the proper procedures of how to administer Naloxone and reverse the effects of the overdose (Purviance, Ray, Tracy, & Southard, 2017).

The opioid epidemic that we are faced with today, as a nation, is a true tragedy. Everyone is affected by the opioid epidemic in one way or another whether you know the addict personally or not. Healthcare personnel is affected by the epidemic because some of the patients that they have prescribed the opioids to are abusing the medications. Opioids also affect the addict’s children because their parents are no longer capable of caring for the children. Often, the children are removed from the home and either placed with other family members or placed in the foster care system. Either of these placements are difficult on the children because they are not accustomed to the environment in which they were placed. The opioid epidemic has an effect on the criminal justice system and law enforcement officers as well. The law enforcement officer is usually the first person to find a victim when they have overdosed. This can be a difficult situation for law enforcement officers to respond to. We must find a solution to the opioid epidemic before it is too late.

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Short and Long-Term Effects of Opioids. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
https://studydriver.com/2021/03/page/19/

A Selfish and Excessive Desire

Greed, what is greed, I searched on the website and the definition is “a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed.” For me, I think greed means insatiable, and never will be satisfied. People who are greedy never think about whether they really need these things, and things they greed may belong to others. Then, is greed a good thing or a bad thing? It depends. Everything got two sides, but for greed, I think the bad side takes more. When people what more fame, wealth, or status, people always fall into the hole called greed, and that’s make people go deeper and deeper. For example, to having a great grade, work harder is the best way, but what if there don’t have any ideal results after many tries? Some people will choose negative methods to get reach ideal grades, like cheating, and that’s make the original intention changed. So, I think, greed is not a good thing, and if we keep like that, the society will become a messy.

From my point of view, I don’t think greed is a necessary part in a free market economic system. Greed is like the cheese for a well-done pizza, it’s not that necessary, but sometimes it’s tastes good. I can’t deny that some markets need greed to get a better revenue, but I will keep my opinion that greed is not a necessary part in a free market economic system. Free market economic system got some disadvantages, first, lack of competition and high profits have enabled the company to drive high efficiency; second, power and wealth may not be distributed equally; finally, in the ethical sense, the free market economy may start from self-interest and may encourage selfishness. The concept of greed, materialism and power supremacy. In conclusion, I think greed is not a good thing. It might push a company get a better revenue, but it’s not a long-term method.

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A Selfish and Excessive Desire. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
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Mr. Whites’ Greed in W.W. Jacobs’ “The Monkey’s Paw”

Throughout the history of literature, few pieces come close to W.W. Jacobs short story, “The Monkey’s Paw” which was written in order to illustrate the sin of greed that is portrayed through the main character, Mr. White. In W.W. Jacobs’ “The Monkey’s Paw,” the character development of Mr. White being curious, greedy, and feeling guilty, shows how one should appreciate the present instead of trying to alter it by any means. Mr. White goes through these emotions as it is something all human beings feel. Mr. White is a developing character that transitions and grows before and after wishing on the monkey paw which is shown by the visit of his old friend, Sergeant-Major Morris who owned the paw before. It is through the character development of Mr. White that W.W. Jacobs is able to transcend “The Monkey Paw” into a classic that has maintained its power for over a century. Jacobs uses Mr. White, who is portrayed as someone with greed, to express that there is no magic to grant wishes easily for ones’ problems.

In part I of “The Monkey’s Paw” Mr. White was introduced as an old man with a thin grey beard, who happens to be curious about many things: “‘I'd like to go to India myself," said the old man, just to look around a bit, you know’” (Jacobs 1). Mr. White’s feels intrigued when he asks his visiting friend Sergeant-Major Morris about the monkey’s paw and learns about the three wishes. Despite all three warnings Sergeant-Major Morris gave Mr. White about how each of the three wishes comes with a consequence and even when Sergeant-Major Morris tries to get rid of the paw by destroying it in the fire “He took the paw, and dangling it between his forefinger and thumb, suddenly threw it upon the fire,” (Jacobs 1), Mr. White snatches the paw out of the fire as he lets his curiosity and greediness get the best of him: “‘If you don't want it Morris," said the other, "give it to me.’” (Jacobs 1). Jacobs shows that even with countless of attempts to get Mr. White to realize that the paw is dangerous, because the paw is something he’s never seen and experienced before, it’s an intriguing concept that catches his attention so there’s no stopping his greed for curiosity. The ominous threat of the paw is presented as described by Phillip M. Brantingham, it questions if Mr. White’s greed of curiosity is worth it despite the numerous warnings (Brantingham 1).

Mr. White portrays greed by his desire for wanting more than he has. Right before Mr. White makes the first wish on the monkey’s paw, he shares his thoughts with his family: “‘I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. It seems to me I've got all I want’” (Jacobs 1). Mr. White was content with his life as nothing came to mind for anything to change or appear with a wish. It was after his son, Herbert White, suggests that he should wish for two hundred pounds that Mr. White “[smiles] shamefacedly at his own credulity” (Jacobs 1) and wishes for the money to clear their house [of mortgage]. This shows that no matter how content Mr. White is, there still is an underlying desire for more things or a better situation. Jacobs shows readers that it is human nature to have these types of feelings and ideas by connecting this to how Mr. White is portrayed. After wishing on the paw and some time pass, in part II of the story is when Mr. White’s wish comes true. Mr. White ends up getting the two hundred pounds he craved but the twist that came with this wish was the price of losing his son: “‘He was caught in the machinery," said the visitor at length in a low voice. [Mr. Whites] dry lips shaped the words, "How much?” “Two hundred pounds” was the answer” (Jacobs 2).

After losing his son, Mr. White realizes his greed and selfishness and begins to feel guilty of his actions as he feels responsible for Herbert’s death. Mr. White becomes more self aware of the consequences of the monkey’s paw and starts reflecting on himself that he should’ve listened to the warnings Sergeant-Major Morris gives him: “for now they had nothing to talk about, and their days were long to weariness” (Jacobs 3). Mrs. White begs her husband three times to use the second wish for their son to come back to them however Mr. White was hesitant being that the first wish caused them to lose their son. Nonetheless, Mr. White wishes for his son alive again even though he’s terrified of what the outcome will be: “he regarded it [the talisman] fearfully. Then he sank trembling into a chair” (Jacobs 3). Mr. White’s greed for an exciting life disappears and instead his greed for things to become normal again occurs as he uses the third and final wish out of fear: “he heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish” (Jacobs 3). Furthermore, Martha E. Rhymes indicates that, “[Mr. White] fully realize the consequences of his meddling with fate” (Rhymes 1). W.W. Jacobs allows Mr. White to rethink his actions in a way by changing his mindset about wanting change and bettering his life by wishes.

Mr. White’s underlying battle of greed is distinguished in this short story as he goes through many different emotions. By being curious and greedy about the idea of obtaining the monkey’s paw and its powers, Mr. White faces difficult problems and causes him to lose and hurt some of the closest people to him. W.W. Jacobs uses Mr. White to portray the sin of greed through his actions though they seem innocent. Though Mr. White’s greed isn’t portrayed as him being hungry for money and power all throughout “The Monkey’s Paw” his greed is mostly revolved around the monkey’s paw itself. The paw itself symbolizes greed, as those who get hold of it become selfish and wish better for themselves. The paw can make anyone feel greedy and selfish, just like how it made Mr. White greedy. Through the whole of the story, Mr. White’s character faces many ordeals that make him go through array of emotions.

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Mr. Whites’ Greed in W.W. Jacobs’ “The Monkey’s Paw”. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
https://studydriver.com/2021/03/page/19/

Growing up in Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Growing up in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, I was always hyperaware of staying away from substances due to the fear of addiction. My family and I joined my father in his AA meetings as he struggled with nicotine addiction and alcoholism. When my sister turned 21, my father would always warn her not to drink excessively. I wasn’t even aware that prescription medication could be abused until the media introduced me to this issue. I watched “House M.D.” and the main character was addicted to morphine. Some years later, an artist named Macklemore released two songs titled “Kevin” and “Drug Dealer,” which brought opioid addiction to light for me. I learned very quickly that there was a negative connotation that followed pharmaceutical companies and painkillers. I became angry to hear of the increase in deaths in the nation due to opioids, and this spurred my decision to research what the United States could do to address and solve this epidemic.

To begin my research, I needed to understand how opioids affect someone’s brain and lead to addiction. I began reading an article in the academic magazine Clinician Reviews titled, “Pain Management: What’s Appropriate, What’s Safe?” written by Deborah Salani et al. This article taught me that the brain has receptors which include mu, kappa, and delta lateral lines. The main sensory systems linked with pain are mu and kappa receptors. Most opioids prescribed clinically bind to mu structures which provide analgesia, or the inability to feel pain. Moreover, Salani writes, “Because mu receptors are located mainly in the brain and spinal cord (as well as the gastrointestinal tract), opioids also produce a feeling of euphoria that can lead to dependence.” I was pleased to learn and understand the effect opioids have on one’s brain. By presenting the answer to this question in my report, my audience comprised of unaware teenagers, young adults, adults who use opioids, addicts, and members of self-help groups will learn the scientific facts that show why people become addicted to opioids. This will allow those in my target audience to realize they are not weak or crazy for having a dependence on drugs, but it is important for them to find ways to get treatment and rid themselves of their addictions. Now that I knew the explanation behind opioid dependence, I wanted to focus on prescription drugs and the heavy influence they have on addicts.

To continue my research, I wanted to see if there was a relation between prescription sales and drug overdose deaths. I found a research report titled, “Mental Illness and Opioid Epidemic in the United States,” worked on by Dr. Evelio Velis et al, the current director of the Master of Science in Health Services Administration at Barry University. I learned that major depressive disorders have a strong relation with state level drug overdose deaths. I also learned that opioid overdose deaths surpass motor vehicle and gun related deaths.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that northeastern states, such as West Virginia, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, have the highest rates of deaths due to drug overdoses. Furthermore, most of these states, “have about 25% of their population in manual labor, which could lead that area to have more need for opioids to deal with on-the-job related injuries.” The CDC declared a “prescription drug epidemic” in 2011 and said, “prescription opioid painkillers and psychotherapeutic drugs being prescribed more widely by physicians,” was the overall issue that caused the epidemic. Moreover, while reading this report I was surprised to find an answer to another one of my questions from my research proposal. I wondered if addicts should be seen as criminals or sick people that need treatment and found that national surveys showed 75% of patients with mental illness struggle with drug and alcohol dependency. During the reports’ investigation, it was determined that, “PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder] may also increase the risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD) because individuals may use substances in an attempt to relieve symptoms of PTSD.” This report intrigued me as it was able to answer some of my questions and therefore inform my audience on the facts revolving this situation. Prescription sales and mental illness clearly play major roles in opioid related dependencies and deaths. Not only does this show that treatment is needed to help those suffering with opioid addiction, but this also shows that it’s not just “street junkies” troubled with this epidemic. Among the affected addicts are post-war veterans struggling with PTSD. This brings into question what we can do to accommodate post-war soldiers and regular civilians suffering from past traumas that still haunt them. Reading this report helped me realize that there is another group of victims added to my audience and that treatment for this epidemic is urgently needed.

In addition, while researching the other methods of medication to combat opioid addictions, I came upon another article that connected with my treatment question. I found an academic journal titled, “Intranasal Naloxone Administration for Treatment of Opioid Overdose,” by Amanda Robinson a Pharma. D student, and Daniel P. Wermeling a professor of Pharmacy at the University of Kentucky. While I could not find any form of medication to help reverse addiction, this article introduced Naloxone - a pure opioid antagonist - and the protocol treatment for suspected opioid overdoses. I was informed that naloxone spray is used by emergency medical service personnel as a pretreatment plan before patients arrive at the hospital. I also learned that Naloxone does not produce a physical dependency, therefore having no potential to become addicting. To continue, studies have been done to test the effectiveness of Naloxone, not only through a nasal sprays, but through I.V. fluids, muscle injections, and oral intake. Treatment has so far been successful; the article shows that, “in 2006, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) started an overdose prevention program to distribute intranasal naloxone kits to “potential bystanders…” Training on the use of the kits was provided to 385 potential bystanders, and there were reports of 74 successful naloxone overdose reversals.” I was pleased to learn there is some form of overdose death preventative medication, and while this data is a bit outdated, the article says a delivery system for naloxone was being reviewed by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration). This led me to research the FDA and the policies it has.

To finish off my research I had one final question that needed to be answered: Is the FDA too lenient on its regulations towards the pharmaceutical industry? I came across another article titled, “Renovations Needed: The FDA’s Floor/Ceiling Framework, Preemption, and the Opioid Epidemic,” by Michael R. Abrams an executive notes editor for Michigan Law Review. I learned that multiplying Japan’s daily opioid consumption 5 times over still puts it in second place behind the United States. I also found that the FDA has regulations in place that, “impose an elaborate system,” requiring pre-market approval, a rigorous labeling-approval process, and testing. However, “in 2006, without prior warning, the FDA slipped a preemptive statement into the preamble of its rulemaking on the format of prescription drug labels.” This resulted in the FDA relying on state common law to monitor post-approved drugs on the market. A string of Supreme Court cases ensued where the court held state tort laws preempted by federal administrative standards. This means any grounds for lawsuits evaporated as preemption does not allow the replacing of state remedies with federal remedies, leaving harmed victims with no ability to be compensated while providing legal immunity to companies that do harm. I was disappointed to read that although the FDA has exceptional regulatory procedures, its liability factors are where they fall short. Instead of taking the downfall on its revenues or having less manufacturers for distribution, the Food and Drugs Administration used preemption as a way to have immunity against liability. As manufacturers are also protected due to state laws, it becomes clear that federal regulations are needed to combat against this loophole and compensate victims of the epidemic.

In conclusion, I am intrigued and determined to continue researching this opioid epidemic. I am curious as to what the federal government has done aside from calling a national security. While I was able to find answers to most of my questions, I still have not found an article that describes other medications that help combat addiction - despite finding one that reverses overdoses. When I started researching this topic, I was furious. I was angry at big pharmaceutical companies and physicians for supplying potential addicts with opioids, but now I am worried. I am restlessly concerned for the wellbeing of the people in our nation and believe that what we need is a stable and well-rounded treatment plan for those affected by this epidemic.

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Growing up in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
https://studydriver.com/2021/03/page/19/

Malala Yousafzai’s “I am Malala” and Ishmael Beah’s “A Long Way Gone”

A lot of twelve-year-olds play war games, but some are actually in the middle of a war, fighting every day for themselves and their families. Some are fighting for social rights, and some are fighting for survival right now. Malala Yousafzai's novel I Am Malala and Ishmael Beah's novel A Long Way Gone show how important family is, especially in times of crisies. Family shapes people to be who they are when they grow up and are the people they love most in life. Generally, when growing up, people turn out to be a lot like their parents, they also love their family more than anyone else in the world. Even if they won't admit it, and find them annoying at times, everybody would be heartbroken if their family left their life forever or even just for a few weeks.

Almost everybody shares a close physical resemblance to their parents because of genetics, parents pass down their genes. In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah is separated from his close family and eventually finds his uncle whom he’s never met before and lives in the capital of Siera Leon. When they first meet, his uncle says: “‘ You look just like your father, and you remind me of him when we were growing up. I hope you’re not as stubborn as he was,’” ( Ishmael 173). This shows, in a physical sense, how much alike you look like your family, especially your parents. Your parent’s actions really rub off on you too, from when people are little, to when they're about 16 you have the same political and religious views as your parents because that's what they grew up knowing and what they were exposed to all the time for most of their childhood. Ishmael's uncle could see that in Beah’s solemness because he later said:“‘ I hope you're not as quiet as your father,’” (Ishmael 174).

Beah’s uncle, who lived in the capital, saw that Beah was quiet when he first met him and remembered Beah's father was a quiet man just like Beah. People also pick up on verbal things their parents and family say and phrases that they use. People can remember things that meaningful people said to them and hold onto it for a very long time. In I Am Malala, Malala follows in her father's footstep and speaks out against the Taliban and all they stand for (same as her dad). The Taliban are a religious militant group who took over Malala’s country and put laws and rules in place. After speaking out, Malala received multiple death threats from them. After that Malala's dad wanted to keep her safe by not having her speak out anymore. Malala said to her dad: “‘ You were the one who said if we believe in something greater than our lives, then our voices will only multiply even if we are dead. We can't disown our campaign,’” (Malala 255). used it back against him. Also adopted kids, though they may not look the same as their foster parents, still make the same facial expressions, use the same word phrases, and even walk the same way as their foster parents. This just goes to show how much we listen to, mimic, and love our family even if they are not biologically related.

For a lot of people, family is one of thee things they love most in life. A lot of the time we complain about going to meet family a holiday gatherings because we have to endure all the hugs and kisses and the “your getting sooo big!!”. To be frank some of those people who we only meet twice a year and don't really know, we wouldn't care too much if we never saw them again. But peoples close family who they live with and see every day, even if we won't admit it, we love them very much, and would be broken and struck down if they were gone. In A Long Way Gone Ishmael’s town is attacked and raided for supplies for the rebel army. The rebels then burned down the village, many families were split up, and lots of their family members killed. Ishmael some of his friends, and his older brother, Junior, left a day before the attack for a dance festival. He didn't know if the rest of his family was okay after the attack. After the attack he thought to himself: “ I thought about where my family was, whether I would be able to see them again, and wished that they were safe and not too heartbroken about Junior and me.

Tears formed in my eyes,” (Ishmael 26). At this point, Ishmael doesn't know if his family is alive or not and if they are they might not be for much longer. They might be captives and worked to death for the armies or, if they are alive, he might lose track of them and never see them again. He is grieving because of how much he loves them. In Malala’s life, after she is threatened by the Taliban and Malala says it doesn't matter if they threaten her, Malala's mother said to her; “‘ I don't want awards, I want my daughter. I wouldn't exchange a single eyelash of my daughter for the whole world,’” (Malala 215). A mother's love for her children is immense. They form a special bond because the mom gave birth to the child. Malala's mom wants the world to change in the same way Malala wants it to, but she cares more about Malala. It may seem selfish, but her love is more than that of change. She also wants Malala to be alive at the time so Malala can see that change happen too. If somebody in a family is majorly hurt or even killed in a shooting or an accident, everybody else in a family grieves for them, even people who aren't part of that family. People who aren't part of the family grieve because they know a little bit how the family is feeling and doesn't want anybody else to feel that way. The family and anybody else who wants to will probably protest for stricter rules or a safer space to live in. Everybody knows how it feels to love somebody, especially family, and nobody wants to feel the loss of family or what you love.

With the love of family comes the loss of family too. Nobody likes death or separation from the people they love. It just pulls at the soul, there's not really a good way to describe it but we all know what it feels like. Grief can make you do stupid things. Some people get depressed, some get mad. Ishmael got really mad because his family was killed by the rebel army and he wanted to make them feel the pain he felt when he learned they killed his family. On page 96, in A Long Way Gone, after he is recruited and trained by the army, they send him to war. “ he attacks a village with the army to avenge his family.”. Making them feel what he felt won't help., The thing is, no matter how much you hurt, hurting other people it just makes it worse. It might make you feel better for a little bit, but him attacking that village is just making more kids like him ripped apart from their families. This cycle will just keep repeating unless someone breaks it. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Ishmael lost his family forever in the war but when Malala was shot and moved to the UK for better medical treatment she was separated from her family for only a couple weeks because her parents couldn't get their documents ready in time. Her family had to stay in Pakistan she was in Europe and they didn't know what her condition was. She could have been perfectly fine, slowly dying, or already dead. When they were separated on page 129 in I Am Malala Malala's dad said: “‘ Tell me how one can live without daughters,’”. He didn't know if she was alive or not and if she was alive he didn't know if he would be able to see her again before she died. He was terrified of never having another chance to talk to her, and enjoy her presence. This made him suspicious of everybody and that's not a good way to live.

In the end, no matter how much you are annoyed by and don't want to be with, or by your family, they are still the people who you know and love best. Malala Yousafzai's I Am Malala and Ishmael Beah's book A Long Way Gone showed this on every single page. Family will always be a major factor in peoples lives.Loveing then makes people stronger and losing them makes people terrible sad and do funny things. Whether you want it or not, there will always be a part of people in their family, and people's family in them.

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Malala Yousafzai's "I Am Malala" and Ishmael Beah's "A Long Way Gone". (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
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“A Long Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah

Most of the world’s conflicts since 1945 happened in third worlds countries. “Third world” was first used during the Cold War. It is used to describe countries that are “not developed as much as other countries and faces economic, social, political, environmental and other issues”. Although, the words aren’t used as much now because it is being replaced with “least developed counties” or “developing counties”. Conflicts happen mainly when poverty, political, social, and inequalities are present between the groups such as countries or even people. Wars in countries have heavy human, economic, and social costs and are a major cause of poverty and underdevelopment.

In the novel A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah is about a solider boy, Ishmael Beah, who was forced to join the army. He lost his home and his family and was trying to survive during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Once Beah leaves he realizes that no side has technically won, and many lives have been destroyed. Sierra Leone was weak politically and economy, also the people within the country were not treated equally. There were many incidents reported that government physically violated their own citizens. As in the novel, A Long Way Gone, there were cases of forced labor for children and many citizens were used unwilling to shield the government. A weak government that turns on their own people instead of helping them or providing aid is the reasoning why “third world” countries often have conflicts. They feed on to the war instead of trying to stop it. If the government turns its back on the people who they are supposed to help, then other countries will do the same. They see that the leaders walking over their people, other countries won’t take them seriously.

Another important aspect is that third worlds often lack assistance from developed countries. In the reading, In Search of Fatima by Ghada Karmi, is about a Palestinian family who must move from their hometown because of war. Deir Yasin massacre people: set on fire, shot with machine guns, ties to trees. This is an example of third world being weakened by the social, economic, and political reasons. The people fear the government because of the actions that are taken. Thus, if the government is killing their own people conflict is to come because the people will try to overturn the government. Not only that natives who fear the government will not help them in times of war.

The aid to help the people was a long process and while the vote in United Nation was taking place many people were suffering and losing homes. The War of Independence destroyed Palestinian society and destroyed many Arabs from their homes. Britain handed over the problem to the United Nations, while the UN was deciding what to do, Jerusalem and Jewish neighborhoods were not able to receive supplies, food, water, or shelter. Since these are “third world” there is little focus trying to stop the problem fast and since the government could not take control, they leave the burden to another person. Thus, socially there isn’t much effort in trying to take care of the citizens.

In the reading, The World Transformed, were Vietnamese peasants that did not have many options on what they could do. Viet Cong smuggled in weapons and troops into Ky La. Hayslip described when attacks happened her father would warn them, and they would try to be as discreetly as they could. Viet Cong managed often murdered innocents and leaving children homeless. The peasants were not able to leave because Viet Cong were so controlling. Since the peasants were poor and society taught them that they were to obey and “stay in their position”, they often did not question the Viet Cong, and many were willing to die. The peasants were poor and did not have much to sacrifice and they were uneducated. Eventually the peasants became scared of the Viet Cong, as scared as they were of the Republicans who were the supposed enemy. Society had taught these people to be willing to die rather then to live. Their own people, Viet Cong, were taking advantage of them and doing what they had pleased with the peasants. Also, education plays a big role in third world conflicts. Because the people lack education, they do not know nay better then to follow directions. Fear is another proposition in why there is conflict in third worlds.

There by far many reasons why conflicts world happens in third world, some of the reasons are because of the lack of assistance, political, economic, and social. If the own government cannot take care of its own problem or people how are others supposed to care? Instead of the government helping their people, they are destroying them. At times aid from other developing countries is taking one’s time when lives are in danger. Thus again, showing the inequalities and yet again causing more harm to the ones who are suffering. The lack of education is often the case in why conflicts happen, without education people became fearful.

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"A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
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A Long Way Gone: Sierra Leone Civil War

The question of whether or not to get involved in foreign conflicts is one of the most difficult that American leaders face. I recently read the book A Long Way Gone By Ishmael Beah, a story about a child caught in the middle of the Sierra Leone civil war. It is tempting to think that, with our overwhelming military strength, we can use force to settle many disputes. But getting involved is rarely as easy as it looks. Some say we should get involved at the very beginning of war to prevent child soldiers and civilian lives lost. Others say that we shouldn't get involved at all.

First, intervention results in nearly constant warfare. This is also shows in the united states recent history. According to infoplease, ¨since World War II the U.S. has been involved in 14 major conflicts, including the ¨Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. Since 1950-67 years ago-we’ve spent 38 years in a state of warfare¨ (Hamilton). In 67 years, the US has only 29 years of peace. And none of these wars were fought in defense of our soil. Most, if not all, of these wars were fought as a result of our interventionist Ideas. (Hamilton) Second, If the United States have no involvement with what affairs are happening in other countries, why should the united states put troops in harm's way? The U.S. is already in tons of debt and a huge reason for this is military spending. If the United states keep getting involved in foreign conflicts it will just cost of the military and put the US in even more debt then it already is. Another Reason The U.S. shouldn't get involved in foreign conflicts is that it will put our country in danger.

On the other side people say that we should get involved in foreign conflicts. People say we should at least intervene in some way because it’s not only the most moral thing to do, but later down the road, the citizens of the United States will benefit with peace when the war ends. In addition, it will build up future political and economic relations with countries. On the other hand, being a bystander and ¨letting the war play out is like encouraging the fighting.¨(The Enterprisepub) The second reason the US should get involved in foreign wars is if we don’t help or understand what the other countries are going through, then we may make the same mistake, and if we don’t help with other countries, then we might not become our allies when we are in a war with another country. On the other side people say that we should get involved in foreign conflicts People say we should at least intervene in some way because It’s not only a moral thing to do, but in the long run, the citizens of the United States will benefit from peace once the war ends.

Personally I believe that we are a dying country and us getting involved will just make the national debt even more which is already enough of an issue on its own so spending money on something that we don’t even need to do which just make things even worse than they need to be. We also have other things we need to deal with. Such as space that is making connections even harder to get and the U.S. runs on internet so shouldn’t we be working on that problem more than things that don’t even have to deal with us. But if they start attacking us then that is a reason to get involved, but unless it deals with the united states I don’t think that it is a good idea.

In conclusion there are positives and negatives on weather or not we Should intervene in foreign affairs on one hand we should because it's the moral thing to do and people would benefit from peace, intervening in foreign affairs is a sure way to ensure our own safety as well as the safety of other nations. But on the other side if we don't intervene in foreign affairs it would save money,

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Setting and Characters in “A Long Way Gone”

A Long way gone Exposition: Protagonist- Ishmael Beah Main Supporting characters - Friends and Family(Junior, and Talloi, Kaloko, Gibrilla, and Khalilou, Dad.) Setting- Sierra Leone, Africa(Mattru Jong, Mogbwemo) Tone- the tone, in the beginning, is very carefree and content, without the worry or stress of trying to stay alive. This is the tone until he and his companions come in contact with the rebels when they attack his village. Then the mood becomes very intense and scary. Everyone is now worried about the safety of one another and Ishmael is trying not to get seized by the rebels. Summary- Ishmael leaves his village(Mogbwemo) with his friends to go see other friends talent show in Mattru Jong. when they get to Mattru Jong they spend the night and wake up hearing about how their village was attacked by rebels and that Mattru Jong is next. They decide to go back to see if their families are ok but on the way, they realize it's too dangerous and return to Mattru Jong. He stays there for a while with Ishmael, Junior, and Talloi, Kaloko, Gibrilla, and Khalilou and then they receive a message from the rebels that they are coming. 10 days go by and nothing, so they come out of hiding, but five days later the rebels attack.

Ishmael barely escapes with his friends. Main Struggle- The main Struggle during all of this is trying to survive. They don't want to be captured by the rebels and they need to find food and shelter in order to stay alive. They are willing to do whatever it takes to survive and at the same time, they are thinking about if their families are ok and safe. Rising Action: New Characters- Alhaji, Kanei, Jumah, Saidu, Moriba, Musa Setting- They are now in the forest hopping from village to village in search of food. They are headed to the ocean which is another setting. The setting changed because they were driven out of Mattru Jong and Mogbwemo by the rebels. Tone- The tone now is much more intense and dark compared to the beginning. They are filled with worry and stress. This is because the rebels are attacking many villages and they have to always be cautious and watch out for there safety. Summary- Now that they are on their own, Ishmael and his friends are going from village to village in search of food and maybe find relatives. Right now they are struggling to survive and do whatever it takes to stay alive.

The group is trying to stay as hidden as possible but are captured by a village chief who threatens them, thinking they are boy soldiers. They are then saved by a man who remembers them from Mattru Jong. they move on to find a village to stay in but not for long because the rebels attacked and now Ishmael is separated from Junior. Junior is now on his own and stays hidden in the forest for a month. He decides the loneliness is too much and find a group of boys he once knew from school. He decides to stay with them and they travel from village to village seeking food and shelter. They head to the ocean and find a village where they think they would be welcomed but instead they take their shoes and make them walk on 120-degree sand which burns the flesh off of there feet. They get to a hut where they meet a man who tends to them and feeds them but is then captured by the chief once again. They almost meet death but then are saved by the cassette Ishmael has. The chief let them leave without harm. They continue and eventually get to a big village full of people, dancing, and food.

Saidu dies one night after being ill. They find out while in the village the whereabouts of their families and Ishmael finds out that his brother( junior) had just recently been in this village. Ishmael and his friends find out where some of their family might be and go to that village. They run into Gasemu who takes them to the village. On the way, they hear that the rebels are there. Ishmael runs into the village thinking he might find his family but finds nothing. Rebels chase them out of the village and end up killing Gasemu in the process. Ishmael and the other boys are captured by a group of soldiers and taken to Yele which is occupied by the military. They end up working there and realize that it's a good place to be compared to running and hiding in the wild. The Boy In Striped Pajamas Exposition: Protagonist- Bruno and Shmuel Setting- Berlin, Germany in 1940s Tone - Bruno doesn't really know what's going on or why he moved. So the tone is very calm and confused. The people that contribute to this tone are the maid and his family which are telling him they are going to move.

Also, his parents arguing make him confused. Another thing that contributes to this is when he sees the kids in the concentration camp next to his house and doesn't know what they're doing. Summary- Bruno moves with his mom, dad, and sister to a new house next to a concentration camp. Bruno doesn't know where he is or what all those people are doing next to his house. He's very lost and his family won't tell him very much. He tries telling his dad he wants to go back to Berlin but he won't listen. Bruno tries to find things to do so he won't die of boredom. Bruno writes to his grandmother about how bad it is at his house and the things he sees at the camp next to him. One day Bruno goes outside and reads the plaque that says, "Presented on the occasion of the opening of Auschwitz Camp, June nineteen forty". He keeps walking towards the fence even though he's not supposed to. As he walks to the fence he sees a boy on the other side of the fence(Shmuel). They talk to each other and find similarities among themselves. Bruno finds out that they are in Poland right now and he didn't know it. This is where Shmuel from.

Bruno now realizes that when Hitler came to his house a few months earlier it was about moving to Auschwitz and how his mom was not happy about it. He continued meeting with Shmuel and finds out where he once lived and how he was separated from his family and forced into this camp. Bruno asked why they are wearing striped pajamas and Shmuel says that its because the soldiers took their clothes. Rising Action: Characters: Kotler, Bruno, Shmuel, Mother, Father, Pavel, Gretel Setting: The setting is in Poland now and at a new house next to Auschwitz, a concentration camp. The setting changed because Bruno's father became a lieutenant and Hitler made them move to Poland. Tone- The tone has become much more tense and scary because of them living next to a concentration camp, but there's still a little confusion from Bruno.

Summary

Shmuel ends up coming to Bruno's house because Kotler brought him to polish glass. While he is there Bruno offers him chicken and Kotler finds out. Bruno says he had never seen him before. When there Grandmother dies back in Germany, they go and attend her funeral. His mother desperately wants to go back to Berlin. His dad asks everyone what they want to do and his mother and sister want to go back but Bruno says he just wants to be together. Bruno's dad decides that they will go back within a week. Bruno is very upset and doesn't know what to tell Shmael. They want to play together at least one more time and decide for Bruno to dress up with the striped uniforms and go inside the fence. They are also doing this because Shmuel can't find his father and Bruno wants to help.

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Change in “A Long Way Gone”

Change is something that everyone faces in their life. When people encounter a new situation, they need to adapt accordingly. The first day of school, the beginning of a war, and even something small, such as a haircut are all examples of changes that many have experienced. Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone, had to deal with change. He lived in Africa during the Sierra Leone Civil War time period and his village was raided by rebel forces when he was only a child. He fled his hometown and was captured and forced to become a soldier at the mere age of twelve. Since he was put into an unfamiliar setting, he needed to adapt to overcome the challenges presented. I also faced a major change resembling what Beah had experienced when I first entered high school. When I was first put into this environment, I was completely clueless about how to confront new challenges in my classes, but as I gained experience, I slowly started to understand the different ways Ardrey Kell High School operates. I connect to A Long Way Gone because Ishmael Beah and I both had to overcome change and adjust to our circumstances.

In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah changed due to being put into a new situation. When the rebels invaded his hometown, he was forced to flee and hide to protect himself. When he and the group of friends that he was traveling with had found safety with a group of soldiers, they became soldiers themselves. Soon, they started to face death constantly and they slowly got used to it. In the book, it states, “The idea of death didn’t cross my mind at all and killing had become as easy as drinking water. My mind had not only snapped during the first killing, it had also stopped making remorseful records, or so it seemed” (Beah 122). Beah’s thoughts convey that the war has transformed his personality. The first time he kills a human being, he almost faints and feels remorseful, but later, he starts to adjust his views about death. He becomes completely numb to death in order to survive in his environment. Similar to Beah, on my first day at Ardrey Kell High School, I was quite confused about how my classes were going to operate. In middle school, the level of difficulty for all my classes was practically the same, but in high school, all of them varied. I took one Advanced Placement class, four Honors classes, and three Standard classes. As I attended my classes, I was wondering how I was going to adapt to my new school. In the beginning, it was significantly difficult and worrisome, but as the year went on, I got used to the different aspects that were initially confusing, which is somewhat related to how Beah dealt with death. I was able to find new study methods that helped me prepare for my exams, manage my time wisely to get homework done, and balance extracurricular activities with school work. I gradually became more mature and my personality has transformed as well. Beah and I faced very different conditions, but how we overcame them by accommodating ourselves has made us into who we are today.

The connection I made to A Long Way Gone has altered the way I perceive war and change. Before I read this book, I thought that experiencing war and going through high school for the first time would be two very different things. They did not seem to correlate with each other at all, but after reading Beah’s story, I realized that they are similar in some ways. In both circumstances, people have to go through things they have never encountered before that changes their lives in the long run. Whether it is making new friends at the new school or killing someone in a battle, they both permanently affect a person’s personality and future. In Beah’s memoir, it states, “What I have learned from my experiences is that revenge is not good. I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I’ve come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge…” (Beah 199). The words Ishmael Beah uses to describe what he has learned clearly show that he has matured into a new person. When he was still living in his hometown, he did not know the different dangers of the world and while he was participating in the war, he prevented his feelings from getting in the way of his work. Only after being rehabilitated he did realize that revenge is harmful. After making this connection, I started to see the world from a different perspective. It made me think deeply about myself and the people in my life. It enabled me to notice that my peers and I have our own individual lives, but we all end up adapting to the challenges in a similar manner. The overall theme of A Long Way Gone has changed my opinions about life and the complexity of it’s experiences.

Ishmael Beah, the author and main character of A Long Way Gone, has overcome many extreme problems. Even though I have never been in the middle of a battlefield, I am still able to connect with him on an emotional level. We both were put into foreign environments where we had to adjust and overcome different challenges.

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Overcoming Loneliness in “A Long Way Gone”

F. Scott Fitzgerald, famous American fiction writer, once said, “There's a loneliness that only exists in one's mind. The loneliest moment in someone's life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” Loneliness is defined as the absence of connection and not always the prince of people. CBS news wrote about a survey of two thousand Americans and seventy-two percent have experienced loneliness. Dr Jennifer Caudle, assistant professor of family medicine, states in the same CBS article, “I was actually surprised that so many people felt they were alone. I thought it would be high, but not this high” (CBS 1). Throughout human time, people can agree loneliness is a result of life transitions. Examples of life transitions that result in loneliness is losing a spouse, leaving for college, or working in a new job. In the memoir, “A Long Way Gone” Ishmael Beah's life changes drastically when the civil war hits his village. Ishmael is faced with migrating to village to village escaping the rebels´raids, loss of family and friends, and spending time in the forest on his own. The memoir, “A Long Way Gone”, demonstrates the importance of overcoming different forms of loneliness or isolationism in order to continue to pursue happiness.

Ishmael Beah experiences different forms of isolationism. The type of isolationism he faces most of the time is new-situation loneliness. New-situation loneliness can be described as moving to a new city, school, or job where the people of the new transitional place are unknown. Ishmael is forced to move from village to village to escape the rebels´ raids. In the first raid he experienced, Ishmael, his brother Junior, and friend Tattoo whom eventually separate from each other, ran from the town of Mattru Jong. Ishmael and his friends kept running until they lost the rebels, who eventually, an hour later, returned back to Mattru Jong. The group of boys ended up in an village that they don’t recognize. Ishmael said in his memoir, “I do not know the name of the village that we were in and didn't bother to ask, since I was busy trying to survive the everyday obstacles” (Beah 86). At the time, Ishmael had a problem of finding food to survive hunger. Ishmael didn't bother asking people of the village for guidance on his search for food because he knew no one from the village. If Ishmael asked people of the village, he could have acquired food quicklier, saving his own time, and energy. People like Ishmael are afraid they will be rejected especially by strangers. Hearing a “no” is not necessarily a bad thing to hear. Laurie Leinwand, psychotherapist and counselor, says in her own article about the hardship people face of asking for assistance, “We do not have to weave a story and personalize the rejection. It may be that the person we chose to ask didn't have the appropriate resources to help us at that time. It's best to accept the “no” as the answer to our request, not a negation of ourselves” (Leinwand 1). Ishmael had a chance to gain the opportunity of collaboration with others if he had asked the villagers for guidance. Seeking guidance and advice gives opportunity for someone to share with you. Even if the answer is useful, people seeking help appreciate the effort and their time to give an honest answer.

Another form of isolationism is emotional loneliness. Emotional loneliness can be described as the loss of an emotional connection with a person. An example of emotional loneliness is friendships and relationships that have drifted away. One day, Ishmael is chosen by UNICEF as a child representative about the hardships in West Africa. At the conference in New York City, Ishmael meets a storyteller named Laura. Laura would tell stories that Ishmael and the other fifty two kids would know. Ishmael was attached to Laura by her extraordinary personality she showed especially becoming Ishmael's first friend in the United States. Once Ishaml returned back to West Africa, he started to go to school again. Days later, Ishmael is awaken by gunshots and the start of the second civil war. Ishmael heard AK-47’s, G3’s, RPGs, and machine guns. Ishmael did not want to visualize running from to village to village and joining army. Ishmael says in his memoir, “I had lost contact with Laura in New York for more than five months. Her letters came from all over the world, where she has storytelling projects.

Recently I had tried calling her collect everyday, but was unsuccessful” (Beah 521). Ishmael recalls and misses his connection with Laura and was hoping to reach out to her to seek help out of the second civil war. Eventually, Laura answers and agrees to Ishmael's request of staying with her in New York City. Most connections with others are broken due to separation like Ishmael and Laura. Darrah Brustein, active writer for Forbes, says in an article about asking a favor from an old friend, “At most people’s core, they want to help. Make it easy by being direct, clear, and that the ask is commensurate with the quality of the relationship” (Brustein 1). Ishmael wanted to live with Laura because as a way of escaping the second civil war and to reconnect with his old friend. Ishmael had asked Laura twice to clarify if she actually wanted Ishmael to stay with her in New York City and said yes twice. Ishmael and Laura´s connection when they first met made an impact in Ishmael's life and once he returned to his home at West Africa, he reminisced her and the stories she told. Catching up with old friends can likely improve mental health especially for Ishmael who now suffers from PTSD.

A common form of loneliness is solitude. Solitude can be described as the state of physically being alone. Ishmael is faced with solitude when walks many miles and finds himself in the middle of a thick forest. Days passed and Ishmael continued to hate being in the woods by himself. Ishmael says in his memoir, “The most difficult part of being in the forest was the loneliness. It became unbearable each day. One thing about being lonesome is that you think too much, especially when they’re is´nt much lose you can do. I didn’t like this and i tried to stop myself from thinking, but nothing seemed to work” (Beah 159). An effect of solution is self-reflection. People like Ishmael who faced solitude have the exercise and willingness to think about purpose and essence. Self-reflection could be viewed as a good experience but Ishmael, he found it as a bad experience. Ishmael had horrifying nights in the forest where he was feared that his thoughts would appear in his dreams. Ishmael wanted to leave the forest as soon as possible to avoid self-reflection. Shoba Sreenivasan, earned Phd in Psychology from UCLA, says in her article of why people need each other, “Humans, because of necessity, evolved into social beings. Dependence on and corporation with each other enhanced our ability to survive under harsh environmental circumstances. Indeed, the lack of such connections can lead to many problems, including loneliness” (Screenivasan 1). Screenivasan describes the importance of connections with other people to overcome and avoid loneliness. One day, Ishmael sees six boys walking in the forest and opens up to them. Ishmael recognize three boys who attended Centennial Secondary School with him in Mattru Jong. Finally, Ishmael overcomes being alone and leaves the forest gladly with his new group.

Another example of loneliness is the lack of parent support. Orphans in an orphanage suffer the most from the lack of parent support. Ishmael never got to see his parents after the civil war started in Mattru Jong. During the civil war, there was not a time where Ishmael was reminiscing about his parents. Ishmael said in his memoir, “I was losing everyone, my family, my friends. I remembered when my family moved to Mogbwemo. My father held a ceremony to bless our new home. He invited our new neighbors. He looked at us, my mother held my little brother, and Junior and I stood next to each other with toffee in our mouths ” (Beah 177). The civil war was taking away the people that Ishmael deeply loved. Throughout the memoir, Ishmael mentions memories about him and his family. David Sack, a psychiatry specialist, says in his article about the loss of parents hurts the individual's mental health, “The healing process also involves finding it possible, in time, to enjoy other relationships” (Sack 1). Sack explains how connection with others can help with grief and mourning. Basically, practical support can help a person experiencing grief. Ishmael finds Laura as a person who can really connect to. Eventually, their connection leads to Laura adopting the ex child soldier, Ishmael Beah.

Throughout human experience, people can describe loneliness as an unpleasant emotion that affects the physical and mental health of any individual. One can argue that today's society has grown into individualism. The “American Dream” is a clear understanding on immigrants strive for a better life and living than their parents’. Jie Zong, writer for the migration policy institute website, says in her article of statistics of immigrants coming to the United States, “The United States has been the top destination for international migrants since at least 1960, with one-fifth of the world’s migrants living there as of 2017” (Zong 1). Immigrants come to the United States at a young age and not knowing anyone. The growth of individualism like the “American Dream” is the result of individuals into becoming isolated and the experience of loneliness. In the memoir, “A Long Way Gone”, Ishmael Beah experiences loneliness due to life transition from a regular boy to a boy thriving to survive a civil war. Ishmael overcomes loneliness mostly by finding connections with others people especially through the hard times of the civil war. Ishmael found happiness by having connections with group of boys he finds when he was solitated in the forest and his new mother, Laura. Ishmael did have trouble overcoming new-situation loneliness because he was scared of denial for help especially to people he never seen before. The memoir, “A Long Way Gone”, proves the importance of overcoming loneliness to pursue happiness.

Work Cited

Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs Of A Boy Soldier. Sarah Crichton Books/ Farrar, Stratus and Giroux, 2007.
Brustein, Darrah. “How To Ask For A Favor From An Old Friend (Without Sounding Insincere).” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 6 July 2017,www.forbes.com/sites/darrahbrustei/2017/07/05/how-to-warm-up-a-relationship-when-you-need-something/#765ae53068e0.
Leinwand, Laurie. “Why Is It So Hard to Ask for Help?” GoodTherapy.org - Find the Right Therapist, GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog, 15 June 2016, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/why-is-it-so-hard-to-ask-for-help-0616164.
Marcus, Mary Brophy. “Feeling Lonely? So Are a Lot of Other People, Survey Finds.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 13 Oct. 2016, www.cbsnews.com/news/many-americans-are-lonely-survey-finds/.
Sack, David. “Why Losing a Parent Hurts So Much, No Matter Your Age.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 27 Sept. 2017, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/where-science-meets-the-steps/201709/why-losing-parent-hurts-so-much-no-matter-your-age.
Screenivasan, Shoba. “Why We Need Each Other.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 14 Dec. 2014, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/201612/why-we-need-each-other.
Zong, Jie. “Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States.” Migrationpolicy.org, 27 Feb. 2018, www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states.

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A Long Way Gone Begins with Ishmael Beah

A Long Way Gone begins with Ishmael Beah, a 12-year-old boy living in the African country of Sierra Leone. Ishmael and some of his friends are traveling to a nearby town, while they are gone, their village is overtaken by rebels that are resisting against the government of Sierra Leone and are brutally attacking anyone they encounter that does not submit to their orders. The rebels use a grotesque manner of initiating the children they have captured. The young boys are forced to kill the weaker ones decided by the rebels. Ishmael's childhood is destroyed when him and his friend’s families are killed in the attack and are forced to wander to search for the bare essentials important to human life. Unfortunately there's not much left. The boys have to see heinous displays of violence and avoided death multiple times. Inconceivably enough, the thing that saved them the most was Ishmael’s mixtape. Therefor, music is the common motif throughout the novel. After a long period of time, Ishmael ends up getting displaced from the rest of his group in a rebel attack. It's a while before he happens to meet another group of friends who he travels with to a nearby village they all hear is safe. As soon as Ismael gets the opportunity, he moves to Manhattan, New York, to start a new life far away from his troubled past.

Despite not heeding to warnings about German intentions towards Jews, Elie’s family and the other Jews in the small Transylvanian town of Sighet are unable to to escape until it is too late. As a reaction every individual practicing Judaism and having Jewish traits were rounded up and put into concentration camps . Elie is put into Auschwitz which was notorious for its brutality and separated from his mother and sister.

Throughout the novel, Elie and his father are sent from Auschwitz, due to the advancing forces of Allied Powers toward Buchenwald, to a different concentration camp called Buna. Like Auschwitz, this camp carried out its own torture for many Jews. About a few months of the concentration camps throughout Germany are dismantled by allied powers, Eliezer’s father passes away. Although Elie pulls through the ordeal and struggles of the concentration camps, his life is forever scarred by the disturbing, brutal and even erie deaths and violence he witnessed.

The tragedy of Oedipus Rex begins when he instructs his brother-in-law Creon to investigate and discover why a recent plague has struck his city. Creon informs Oedipus that the plague will cease when King Laius’ murderer is held accountable for his crime. Queen Jocasta finds it absurd when she hears from Terisius that Oedipus is the murderer. Once, an oracle informed her that her husband would be killed by their child and she would marry her son. Since she is under the impression that hasn't come true, she doesn't believe Tiresias. On the surface it appears that the oracle is merely trying to spread gossip and embarrass the royal family. However, a long time ago, Queen Jocasta had left her baby for dead to ensure the prophecy didn’t come true. Someone discovered Oedipus and took the baby boy in a raised him properly. Years later, Oedipus makes a trek to Thebes and gets involved in a confrontation with a man at an intersection, which out of pure coincidence is King Lais, Oedipus’ father. The first part of the prophecy had come true. Oedipus meets and falls in love with Queen Jocasta, which unknowingly is his own mother. A messenger informs the newlyweds about this bizarre fact and out of shame, the queen hangs herself. With his mothers pins, Oedipus poked his eyes out, causing him to go blind. The motif of Oedipus Rex is about him being “blind to the truth”. This is ironic because it is carried out in a metaphorical manner when he doesn’t realize he has just killed his father and literally when he blinds himself with his own mother’s (and wife’s) hair pins.

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“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker Essay

Alice Walker short story, "Everyday Use" is built around three main characters Maggie,Mama, and Dee. These three main characters are crucial to understanding the primary concepts of the story and the historical background of the short story. Walker builds her underlying concepts through the use of the character’s culture, pride, and learning who they are. Walker is trying to show the two sisters Dee and Maggie as almost enemies. Not necessarily enemies that despise each other, but they do have some type of tension between each other.

In " Everyday Use" by Alice Walker is trying to portray the sisters against each other in order to see the two point of views. This shows through tone which makes the value of the quilt change and more complex. Walker’s short story is primarily about the life of Mama and her two daughters. Dee also who changes her name to Wangero is known to be the superior character of the three. Maggie is the one who lives with their mom. Maggie is not as successful as Dee, and belittles Maggie in a sense. She only returns back to visit in order to obtain one thing, a quilt. She sees this quilt as a treasure. Mama does not let her take the quilt and instead gives it Maggie, and Dee or Wangero is not fond with the idea so she leaves in anger. Dee is selfish and thinks that she is better than everyone. She claims to love her background and where she came from, which is why she wants the quilt in the first place. If she loved ber culture so much like she claims to then she would not have changed her name to Wangero. If she was truly proud of her heritage than she would not claim that she "could not bear it any longer, being named after people who oppressed me" (Walker, 1571). She changes little details about herself in order to make her feel like she has the control now in her life, not the oppressors. Wangero values the heirloom’s of her family, but rather than giving them use she wants to admire them and use them for nothing more than a conversations starter.

There is not necessarily anything wrong with wanting to value the quilt and hanging it up, but it should be used for truly acknowledging their culture. Wangero is viewed as the antagonist, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to value what her family has made. If anything Mama has set up to how things have turned out with her family. She allowed Dee to grow up and do as she pleases rather than pushing more towards her personal life style. It is obvious that the quilt is "priceless" as Wangero refers it (Walker, 1573). The only reason why she returns home is to get her hands on the quilt and be able to admire it, much like an painter would admire their artwork. Towards the end of the short story Wangero does not get what she wanted and leaves with anger inside of her. She claims that Mamma and Maggie do not "understand their heritage" (Walker, 1574).

The value of the quilt is has gone down drastically at the end of the short story when Wangero storms out of Mama’s and Maggie’s presence. She realizes that Mama is not going to give it to her so it is not as significant as she once made it seem. Mama gave Wangero the option to take other quilts, but she refused. To Wangero it was not about her heritage, it was ultimately about just making herself look good and express her roots in the best way she could make it appear. Wangero tells Maggie she "ought make something of yourself" (Walker, 1574). Wangero’s tone to her emphasizes how she thinks that she is better than her because of how she lives lavish and Maggie does not.

On the other hand, the quilt is something that has kept their family connected for generations. Maggie does not necessarily fight for the the quilt to stay in her presence, but she does understand that it is important to her family, she just does not want to argue with anyone. Maggie is a more good hearted and understands the true meaning of her heritage. Mama is ultimately the one with the final say of who gets to obtain the quilts. She decides to put her foot down and not give Wangero what she wants like she is used to. Mama "snacthes the quilts from miss Wangero’s hands" is showing Maggie the support of her wanting to maintain and preserve a lasting relationship and connection with their heritage. (Walker, 1574). Ultimately, Walker tries to aim to emphasize how the quilt should be given use. They should actually be used in Maggie’s and Mama’s everyday lives. Mama wants the quilts to be used as a quilt should be, not to be hung and just looked at.

In Alice Walker’s short story "Everyday Use" is a captivating story full of symbolism. Walker builds the underlying concepts throughout each of the main characters. The importance of culture and recognizing that it can not be simply picked up like Wangero wanted to do. Heritage is passed down throughout many generations, and appreciated in many ways and is applied in everyday life. Through the pride, culture, and tone of the main characters, it is clear to understand that the quilts meant more than just a raggedy old blanket, it made a mark in Mama’s family history ongoing despite the fact that they were oppressed, it kept the generations alive and connected.

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Analysis of the Life and Works of Alice Walker

Born into a poor family of black sharecroppers, Alice Walker became a widely known and respected poet, novelist, and civil rights activist of the late 20th and early 21st century. She published her best-known book, The Color Purple, in 1982, and received the Pulitzer Prize and national book award in 1983. Her poetry focuses on the value of humanity, emotion, and different aspects of life primarily focused on women and blacks. Coming from a poor background, she often focuses on poverty and suffering, and much of her work is about civil rights activism, both focused on women’s rights and racial equality. Though she has been involved with men and women, being married to a male Jewish man in the ??60s, and having a relationship with Tracy Chapman in the ??90s, she does not consider herself straight, bisexual, or gay, refusing to conform to any of the titles. She continues to create new works of poetry and novels, her most recent books both released in 2013, a novel The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way, and a book of poems The World Will Follow Joy Turning Madness into Flowers (About Alice Walker).

On February 9, 1944, Alice Malsenior Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia as the eighth and youngest child of African American sharecroppers Willie Lee Walker and Minnie Lou Tallulah Grant. When she was young, she was accidentally blinded in one eye by her brother, and her mother gave her a typewriter, allowing her to write instead of doing chores. Her mother firmly believed that she should be educated, and at the age of four, her mother enrolled her in school, where she learned to read and write. Later in childhood, she was valedictorian in high school, and as a young adult received a full ride to Spelman College in Atlanta in 1961, where she was influenced by her professor Howard Zinn to become a part of the civil rights movement. She later transferred to Sarah Lawrence College near New York City, from which she graduated in 1965. During her time at Spelman College, she also met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who inspired her to return to the south and continue her activism there (Alice Walker Biography). She participated in voting drives, campaigned for welfare rights, and contributed to children’s programs. She more recently has been outspoken on international rights issues regarding the middle east, including the treatment of women and children as well as the governments of countries such as Israel (Editors).

In 1965, Walker met a man named Melvyn Leventhal, a white Jewish lawyer. They were married in 1967 and bore a child, Rebecca, in 1969. She and her daughter later became estranged, Rebecca feeling as though she was more a symbol of her mother’s ideology than a loved child. Walker has not been speaking to her daughter since the birth of her son Tenzin because Rebecca "dared to question her ideology." She was also removed from her mother’s will for this reason and was replaced with a distant cousin (Alice Walker Biography).

Walker’s writing career began with her first book of poetry, written in her senior year at Sarah Lawrence College, and her poetry books have been published periodically since 1968. She began her career as a novelist in 1970 and has more often released novels every few years. She continues to release novels and books of poetry regularly, and posts poems on her dedicated website, alicewalkersgarden.com. Most of Alice Walker’s poetry style is in free verse and has no significant rhyme scheme. She tends to write poems on injustices in history and in the current world and calls upon the reader to reject these unjust groups of people. Her novels primarily focus on women, their feelings, their ideas, and emotions (Thefamouspeople.com Editors).

In this poem, she does not have any rhyme scheme or pattern, but uses repeated phrases, such as "when they torture" and "plant a tree". She expresses that in response to those you love and respect being tortured, to respond with doing good, planting trees until you have a forest. In the end when she says, "when they begin to torture the trees," she says to start another forest. I like the message of this poem, not retaliating against your torturers with violence, but to do good and let that be your retribution for the injustice done to those you love. This poem seems to be about civil rights, the torture of her and her family, and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and to "plant a tree" rather than seeking revenge on those that try to oppress you.

This poem has a beautiful message, that we should love all things though they may not be rare or expensive as gold, and that we as a society decide that gold and such valuable items are worth what they are. She says that items of nature are just as rare and that we can "love what is plentiful as much as what’s scarce."

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Themes in Everyday Use by Alice Walker

A mother and daughter bond is one of the most unbreakable bonds that one can experience in life. Nevertheless, such bonds may turn sour sometimes and create enmity between them. Everyday Use is a story narrated by Alice Walker who tries to show how a mother has a tumultuous relationship with her two daughters. Fundamentally, Alice Walker is telling a story of how a mother and her younger daughter simple values differ from her older more successful daughter constructed values. With the aid of the three main characters who includes Mama, Dee (Wangero), and Maggie, Alice Walker uses this story to elucidate and explore the concept of culture and heritage during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Particularly, Alice Walker used this story to bring out various themes in the society that included heritage, race and family relations.

Heritage is an important theme in Everyday Use. Dee is angered by her heritage due to the oppression that they suffered. This caused Dee to create a new heritage to reconstruct the previous way she lived. Dee had opted to change her name in order to denounce her heritage. In one of the conversations with Mama, Dee boldly turns down the name Dee and demanded to be called Wangero. She said, "No Mama, not Dee,’ Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo!" (Walker 318). Dee goes on to tell Mama, "I couldn’t bear it any longer being named after people who oppress me" (Walker 318). Even though her original name Dee had significant meaning coming from family member including her aunt and great-grandmother, she failed to realize that meaning and believe that her real heritage is dead. Clearly, it is evident that heritage is a big issue here as Dee decided to drop the name of her immediate ancestors, but portrays a different attitude towards other household items. Dee admiration reflects the role played by traditions and heritage in shaping her life despite branding it old fashioned during her college days.
Race is another important theme in Everyday Use. Mama was denied an education when she was growing up because of her race. "I never had an education myself. After second grade the school was closed down. Don't ask me why: in 1927 colored asked fewer questions than they do now" (Walker 316). The lack of education that Mama received placed her in her current situation of poverty. Mama life does not change until her daughter starts questioning their way of living. Dee believed that she is different from other African American. Dee is described by Mama when stated, "Dee is lighter than Maggie, with nicer hair and a fuller figure" (Walker 316). This lead Dee to feel like she is not an ordinary African American girl because of her skin color. This aspect of race had Dee believing that her socio-cultural status should be higher than others of the same race. Another aspect of race is seen when Dee stated, "You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It's really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live, you'd never know it" (Walker 321). Dee is telling Maggie that this is a new day for African Americans and that she does not have to live in poverty. Dee wanted Maggie to see that she did not have to follow all of her ancestors’ footsteps and that she could advance in life as she has done.

Family relation might be the most important theme in Everyday Use. This story is told through the point of view of a daughter returning home. In the beginning of the story, Mama sentimentally reflects on the lifestyle of herself and her two daughters and the circumstances surrounding their upbringing. Family love is portrayed by Mama and Maggie, whereas Dee seems to differ with Mama on a various issue, but Mama still loves and cares for her. Maggie, on the other hand, is a more submissive child who loves, respects and adores the family and her cultural heritage at large. Dee rejection of her family can be seen when Mama stated, "You know as well as me you was named after your aunt Dicie," I said. Dicie is my sister. She named Dee. We called her "Big Dee" after Dee was born" (Walker 318). Dee denouncing her name is a direct dismissal of her family ancestry. Mama on the other hand, regards family ties highly, even though Dee had rejected her family ties. For instance, in a situation where they seemed to differ, Mama stated "I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands, and dumped them into Maggie's lap" (Walker 321). Mama wanted to pass the quilts on to someone who valued family ties which was not Dee but Maggie. Family is more important to Mama and Maggie, whereas family is less important to Dee. Mama had a great understanding of family and her heritage which is more valuable to Mama than the path chosen by Dee. This is why Mama would not allow Dee to take the quilts.

In conclusion, the story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker has introduced numerous themes that bring life to the story. Starting from the aspect of heritage which seems to bring conflicting ideas among the characters to the aspect of race and family ties, the author has managed to use the story to explore everyday life problems in the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, there is still room to explore more themes in the story since the writer must have covered various issues concerning daily lives during this time.

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“Owl Creek Bridge”: Character Analysis

Within the short story, the themes are developed especially with the concept of "giving it lightly". As Peyton is introduced into the story the reader can visualize the surroundings and realize that this is not a good situation for him at all. It emphasizes the theme of a person’s actions resulting in their consequences. During the first few beginning paragraphs of the story, the author makes an understanding that there is no one around to help the main character. "Beyond one of the sentinels nobody was in sight; the railroad ran straight away from a forest for a hundred yards "(1). Peyton’s actions is eventually what brought him into his current dilemma and shows that there is no way he can escape his consequence. The author lets the reader know that the main character is well aware of his blunders by giving insight to his mind. Moreover, Bierce has a unique way to provide an insight throughout Peyton’s inner thoughts and it proves how much he is a caring and loved individual.

During his flashbacks we can see that he had a very loving family and was genuinely grateful and happy. This shows how his situation provides the theme that not everyone is what they seem they might be the complete opposite. In the story it explains that Peyton is well respected from all whonknow him (2). By understanding this, he is a civilian and is captured because he is known by only war enemies as a bad guy. Nevertheless, many aspects of the short story can be determined throughout Peyton’s mind and this is what brings the two themes together.

As the story continues, Peyton is showed to have been hiding for a while under water as we figure out sooner or later that he is reminencing about everything throughout his life while dreaming of escape. During this passage the author clearly emphasizes the theme of a person’s actions result in their consequences. "As he rose to the surface, gasping for breath, he saw that he had been a long time under water" (5). Here the author is showing that this is when Peyton is coming to the realization that he can no longer fix his wrong doings and eventually sits there wondering where he has went wrong. Many times a person may make mistakes and they do result in their consequences however people are not always what they seem.

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Owl Creek Bridge Alternate Ending

He had come to the surface facing down the stream; in a moment the visible world seemed to wheel slowly round, himself the pivotal point, and he saw the railroad bridge, the fort, the soldiers upon the bridge, the captain, the Sargent, the two privates, his executioners. They were in silhouette against the blue sky. They shouted and gesticulated, pointing at him. The captain had drawn his pistol but did not fire; the others were unarmed. Their movements were grotesque and horrible, their form gigantic.
Suddenly he heard a sharp report, and something struck the water smartly within a few inches of his head, spattering his face with spray. He heard a second report and saw one of the sentinels with his rifle at his shoulder. As his senses slowly came back to him, he realized was happening, he thought; If I am not to die from hanging, I will not die from a bullet. As the soldiers fired upon him, he quickly swam down the river, moving faster as the waters strong current took him down the stream, bullets flying past him into the water all around, The chill water limits his mobility he realizes he must get out of the water.

The raging river soon comes to bend and he drifts ashore and regains some of the mobility in his legs and as he looks around trying to find some clue of where he is. He notices a railroad track and slowly moves towards it, he peers up and down the track and notices a railroad bridge, and notices it looked just like the one he just escaped from, but there was no one there. He hobbles over to the bridge with every step being more difficult, the closer he gets the more he feels his aches and pains.
When he finally gets to the bridge he looks around and sees a man hanging from the bridge, He goes over to inspect the body and as a gust of wind turns it and he sees the face of the hanging man and notices that it is him. He feels so cold and cannot look away from the hanging man and as he stares, he feels a rumble in his feet and then looks over his shoulder and see a bright beam of light from a train speeding toward him, but he feels as he cannot move. The train did not stop and did not even have the intention to. Suddenly the light was gone – all is darkness and silence. Peyton Farquhar was dead, his body with a broken neck swung gently side to side beneath the timbers of Owl Creek Bridge.

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Owl Creek Bridge Overview

The story begins with clear thoughts about a man goes by the name Peyton Farquhar who stood on a railroad bridge in Northern Alabama, looking down into a swift of water twenty feet down below. The man hand was behind his back, the wrist bound with a cord. A rope loose encircle his neck. It was connected to a stout cross-timber above his head. Apparently Peyton Farquhar is about to be taking by unit of Union Army. The man is calm but, as might be expected, somewhat disoriented. As he stands alone waiting his death, he imagines throwing off his noose, diving into the water, and escaping to home and his family. As all the thought pass through his brain, the sergeant step off of the back of a board on which the man is balanced over the water and the condemned planter falls toward the stream, the noose tight around his neck.

Peyton Farquhar is a member of an old and highly respected Alabama family. Peyton Farquhar, who was devoted to the Southern cause, was stopped from joining the army by circumstance and was eager to serve the South in any way as possible. One evening in the past, while him and his wife sitting, a grey-clad soldier rode up and asked for water, told them that the Northern to advance once the bridge over Owl Creek had been fixed. The soldier said that the bridge was not guarded and that a brave man could easily burn it down. Farquhar end up destroying the bring and then got captured. The planter never had chance, because the grey-clad soldier was a Federal scout.

As Peyton fell straight down through the bridge, he was already dead. He awakened by current of pain running through his body. A loud splash wakes him up even more abruptly, and he realizes that the noose has broken sending him fallen in the stream. He struggles desperately to free his hand and rises to the surface gasped for air, which he exhales with shriek. Farquhar look back to see his executioners standing on the bridge, in silhouette against the sky. One of the sentinels fires his rifle at him twice. Farquhar can see the gray eyes of the marksman through the guns sights. The joy of resurrection is short-lived, however, the Union troops immediately open fire on him and Farquhar is force deeply and swim furiously in order to escape the ignominy of being shot after having to avoid death by hanging and drowning. The troops fire at will and even artillery is brought to bear on the fleeing prisoner, but with the help of the current, the man evades cannon and rifles shot and plunge into the forest.

Peyton Farquhar drives himself relentlessly through the rest of his day all through the night toward his home. He apparently falls asleep while walking, for when he awakens he stands on the gates at his home. All is he left it, and all is bright and beautiful in the morning sunshine. His wife stands there waiting for him with a smile of joy. As he being to clasp her, he feels a stunning blow upon the back of his neck. Peyton Farquhar was dead.

Peyton Farquhar was a strong hero. The reason I say he was a strong hero, because Farquhar almost drown and die, he dodge bullets but through it all he manage to get through it. He knew the Union Troops was out to kill him but he did not know when or where it was going happen. All he was thinking was to get home to his and to be happy but before he even made their good they took his life.

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Bartleby the Scrivener Adaptation

Words generally can't do a picture justice, that is the normal topic that is progressively valid in our present reality. Numerous short films adjustments of extraordinary exemplary stories and writing works have been made with incredible visuals. Herman Melville’s "Bartleby, the Scrivener" in my opinion is just missing some things in which I don’t feel like the adaptation of the short film portrayed the storyline altogether.

The narrator's character had more inner verbal portrayals of feelings and manners of thinking in the book rendition where comparative feelings were delineated through activities, for example, when the lawyer was going up against Bartleby regarding why he would not do any work, and is as of late rejected by Bartleby's "I would prefer not too" reaction. The lawyer was in a blasted of indignation and hurled envelopes and things from Bartleby's work area in disappointment, where in the book form the storyteller essentially verbalized his dissatisfaction and depended on a couple of more days of the norm.

The characters are distinctive in identities and physical traits between the book and the short film, anyway impacts and messages they spoke to was adequately conveyed by the short film dependent on the cutting edge setting it was made upon. The characters of Turkey, Nippers, Ginger Nuts and their short film partners were every one of the somewhat weird for run of the mill representatives, for whatever significance they may spoke to they at any rate have a way of weirdness.

In the short film they didn’t describe the other scriveners as such in the story. For example, in the Turkey was described as a drunk in the afternoon but worked very well in the morning and Nippers was portrayed as hurt in the morning but good in the afternoon. In the film they didn’t show that at all, they just were resembled as copyist who just did what they had to do and when the Lawyer asked them questions they answered it.

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Free Will in Bartleby the Scrivener

In Herman Melville’s, "Bartleby the Scrivener", the author writes a compelling story about a law firm owner, who is also the narrator, and an ambiguous character named Bartleby. The Narrator is a Christian man who feels inclined to help Bartleby. He hires him at the firm, hoping he will improve upon the work environment and atmosphere between him and his employees, but the narrator later on realizes that Bartleby frustrates him beyond words. Bartleby continually decides what he would like to do, and what he would prefer not to do throughout the entire story. He exhibits his demeanor in a polite way by not being rude, but also in a blunt way by subtly refusing to complete a task he is requested to do. It puzzles many of Bartleby’s coworkers as well as the narrator.

Bartleby would be best described almost as a puzzle. He does questionable things and exhibits a stubborn like behavior. Many other characters have a difficult time reading him because he does not talk much and keeps to himself. For example, the narrator once observes "Bartleby sits in his hermitage, oblivious to everything but his own peculiar business there" (Melville). Bartleby creates conflict throughout the story and repeatedly says "I prefer not to" to just about everything that the narrator (his boss) tells him to do. With this statement being his main monologue in the story, it simplistically portrays a theme of exercising free-will. One would typically describe "free-will" as an action that you’re capable of doing and deciding to do on your own without anyone else compelling on that choice.

Although we do not know much about the narrator, we can assume certain characteristics about him throughout the text. He seems to appreciate the essence of life and keep himself at a low stress level at all times. "A profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best" (Melville). Even with Bartleby being there at the firm causing issues, the narrator seems to back down from all confrontation. The narrator also seems to have many mixed feelings about Bartley. This is understandable if you put yourself in the narrator’s shoes. The author explains, "Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance" (Melville). What if you asked someone to do something and that person replied with a polite, yet to-the-point remark saying that they would not like to do it? It wouldn't necessarily infuriate you, but it may confuse you. It might make you begin to question the person’s integrity, but at the same time appreciate their politeness. While Bartleby exercises his free will toward his boss by refusing to do the things he is asked, he is also gaining a bad reputation for himself in the workplace.

A relevant article to compare the thought of free-will is one by Lee McIntyre called, Free Will in the Social Sciences. This article consists of many scientists’ opinions behind the definition of free-will, and the many different takes on it. Some of the scientists take the side of believing that we do acquire free-will. Others believe that free-will does not exist because everything is a forethought and happens in our heads before the action is even done. Scientists have conducted research to support this speculation. In 1983, Benjamin Libet conducted an experiment to find out if a person actually has conscious thought before they do something. He found that "a person's decision to move their finger can be detected 300 milliseconds before the person's conscious decision to act." (McIntyre).

Libet’s research has been challenged, because it doesn't quite make sense that every action is conducted before we even decide to do it. Everything we do and say has to have some reasoning behind it, and cannot already be pre-generated in our minds. If someone had stepped on your toe, your initial reaction is to try to get your toe out of harm’s way, so you pull your toe out from under the other person’s foot. Our reaction to that is up to us. We can decide if we want
to smack the person or forgive them. Decisions and unconscious reflexes are two completely different things. Choosing to smack the person may cause further consequences, such as that person reacting back and punching you, which also may result in knocking you out.

Another article written by Allan Moore Emery, called The Alternatives of Melville's "Bartleby", gives us the more opinionated side of free-will rather than all of scientific facts, because in reality, free-will is an opinion. Emery includes a theologist’s opinion in his article, including Jonathan Edwards, who wrote Freedom of the Will. Emery also throws in the opinion of Joseph Priestley, also a theologist, because it is quite similar to the opinion of Edwards. The two theologists believe that "free will cannot be comprehended or defined’. Decisions should not have any outside influences in order to be considered free-will" Emery). This is quite a compelling argument, but in the end, the matter of "free-will" is an opinion that has been widely debated about and may never be resolved.

With all other opinions from these articles set aside, Bartleby is human. He has wants, desires and needs, just as all of us. He chooses to create his path and destiny, if he would have decided to act another way, rather than choosing not to do anything, perhaps he may have had another future and he may have ended up with a different destiny. If he chose to exemplify himself as a hard working man, it may have resulted in him keeping his job, and presented him with a good reputation. It is debatable that destiny is able to be altered due to choices that you make throughout your life.

"It was his soul that suffered, and his soul I could not reach" (Melville). This quote shows that with all of the narrator’s attempts to give bartleby a chance at the firm, the narrator could not help bartleby, hence the fact that he could not reach his soul. Melville concludes in the last line of the story, "Ah Bartleby, Ah humanity!" (Melville). That simple line summarizes the irony of Bartleby's life and all of the poor choices that he had made to land him in that spot, even though he could have changed it along the way.

Utilizing your free will can either make or break a situation, and for Bartleby, it was a break. His unwillingness to do anything is most likely what caused the things that happened to him. It caused him to get fired from his job, it caused him to get escorted to prison, and it essentially caused his death later on. The ability to make your own decision and practice free will comes along with a certain set of consequences.

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Bartleby the Scrivener Narrator Character Essay

The narrator in "Bartleby the Scrivener" is an elderly man who has experience and feels that he knows himself. He states he is "a man who, from his youth upwards, has been filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best." He knows what his principles in life are and has decided that he should live with as little conflict as possible.

The narrator describes his workers, Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, in humorous ways. For example, Turkey has "inflamed ways" and Nippers is " the victim of two evil powers?”ambition and indigestion." The narrator continues to work with his staff, probably because he is used to these characters, and does not want to have to deal with change. He is a person who is used to regular habits. Then, Bartleby arrives and presents a situation that is unexpected and challenging.

In the beginning, the narrator is satisfied with Bartleby’s work. When Bartleby starts to respond "I prefer not to," the narrator cannot decide what to do. The narrator is probably shocked by Bartleby’s replies, and this makes his life completely out of routine. First, the narrator tries to reason with himself, and does not fire Bartleby, saying, "He is useful to me." He wants to show that he, the narrator, is a person who cares. Even though he says that Bartleby has "become a millstone," but he still feels sorry for the scrivener. The narrator thinks that he is the one who can help Bartleby and save him from other employers who might mistreat Bartleby.

When Bartleby’s actions begin to affect the office’s reputation, the narrator still does not want to confront the situation. Instead of removing Bartleby, the narrator leaves. He shows that he is a professional who is expected to look after the interest of others. But even though the narrator tries to move forward, Bartleby still haunts him. When Bartleby is imprisoned, the narrator continues to show that he is concerned about Bartleby. He visits until the end, when Bartleby dies.

It is hard to tell what the true character of the narrator is, because the story is told from his point of view. He might be truly a person who is sympathetic and shows real concern for other human beings. However, the words and ways he talks about different characters, it is possible that the narrator is actually focused on himself. He does good deeds, maybe because it boosts his self-esteem. Regardless of what his real intentions are, the narrator’s experience with Bartleby certainly affects his view of life.

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“Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville

Within the short story "Bartleby, The Scrivener" by Herman Melville, the narrator, a lawyer who runs a firm on wall street, tells the story of a rebellious scrivener who worked for him named Bartleby. In his start with the firm it is evident Bartleby is a good worker but within two days that changed. Bartleby went from hard worker to very non-compliant and often uttered the phrase "I would prefer not to" when asked to do various things by his boss, this is a sign of irony. throughout the text the Lawyers compassion for Bartleby reflects a strong principal of humanity towards others. Bartleby’s quiet but impenetrable resistance completely isolates him from his coworkers, he is a man who prefers to do as he chooses even if it kills him.

First off, during the text the author, Herman Melville, decides to use an abundant amount of direct characterization. To begin, In the text Bartleby is described as "pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn! It was Bartleby" (Melville 8). This represents what the narrator first sees in the enigma that is Bartleby. Also, in the text it is said that Bartleby has a "lean face and tranquil gray eyes that show absolutely no agitation" (Melville 9). This description shows that the narrator began to take notice of his strange emotional coldness and inhuman remoteness of Bartleby. Later in the text his mental strength is revealed, and his level of aberration increases. After his first two days of work where he did nothing but good he transitions to refuse direct orders simply by responding "I would prefer not to". This also reveals his strong amount of passive resistance that allows him to so easily refuse to do anything. One example of this was when the Lawyer asked Bartleby to summon Nippers, another worker of the Lawyer’s on page 14 as it states, "Go to the next room, and tell Nippers to come to me’ ??I prefer not to,’ he respectfully and slowly said". All in all, Bartleby is an enigma but with further examination it is evident he is a man who wants to be left alone and not be bothered by life.

Bartleby’s non-compliant actions along with his repetitive phrase, "I would prefer not to" are examples of irony in the text. Bartleby, when he first started working, was a very skilled and gifted writer said by the narrator for the first two days but then out of nowhere he just stopped. Also, it’s ironic that Bartleby uses almost the same amount of passiveness as his boss the lawyer, and it is equally as unrelenting and frustrating as Bartleby’s. The boss at the beginning of the text liked to have many rules and guidelines to keep his office in order but after his experiences with Bartleby he began to change and feel sympathetic for people like Bartleby and he became a little less strict of his rules. Another example of irony is in the text on page 15 where it states "His steadiness, his freedom from all dissipation, his incessant industry (except when he chose to throw himself into a standing revert behind his screen), his great, stillness, his unalterableness of demeanor under all circumstances made him a great valuable acquisition", this example is ironic because as the reader you know that Bartleby frequently refuses to do work and on the other hand the Lawyer finds out that Bartleby lives in the office so he clearly isn’t a strong asset to the lawyer. Lastly, because the boss began to lose his strict qualities Bartleby began to refuse more and more tasks until his untimely death in jail when he refused to eat so Bartleby the whole time preferred not to live and do anything. overall, Bartleby’s non-compliant actions and repetitive phrase were important examples of irony.

Lastly, the Lawyers compassion for Bartleby showed an idea of humanity. The lawyer greatly cared about Bartleby because he was sympathetic for him after finding out he slept, ate and bathed in the office, instead of firing him for his bad work performance, he came up with ways to keep him working in the office as to not put him on the streets poor. The Lawyer stated in the text on page 19 "I would put certain calm questions to him the next morning touching on his history etc., and if he declined to answer them openly and unreservedly, then to give him a twenty-dollar bill over and above whatever I might owe him and tell him his services are no longer required." This shows that the lawyer decided to give Bartleby another chance and if he declined to answer he would send him on his way with twenty dollars. However, Bartleby refuses to do anything and he refuses to leave the building. In response to this the lawyer continues to offer more and more money and even offers Bartleby to stay with him at his house. Bartleby continuously declines, so not wanting to report Bartleby to anyone the Lawyer decides to just move offices and leave Bartleby in the old office. But, sadly the next owner of that office sends Bartleby to jail where the Lawyer still visits him until he faces his untimely death from starvation.

To conclude, Bartleby is a very strange and key character in the fictional piece Bartleby The Scrivener. Bartleby has very little characterization in the text and can be interpreted in an abundance of ways. Bartleby’s non-compliant actions and repetitive phrase are key examples of irony. Lastly, there was a great idea of humanity reflected by the lawyer towards Bartleby. Bartleby’s quiet but impenetrable resistance completely isolates him from his coworkers, he is a man who prefers to do as he chooses even if it kills him.

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The Great Woman – Alice Walker

Eatonton, Georgia birthed one of the most influential African American women in Black American Literature, Alice Walker. She is the mastermind behind the critically acclaimed The Color Purple and many other literary pieces. As a child, I can remember how on the weekend's BET would play The Color Purple and I would think to myself "Oh my gosh this is boring, not again." This was typical as I was a young child and did not understand the significance of the film. It would not be until my junior year of college where I decided to sit down and watch the film. After watching it, I wondered why I did not set aside a time to watch it years ago. It was a research paper that geared me to finally watch the film, however, I now know that the works that many boasts about, especially within the African American community, I should take the time to look at myself. Although it was bad on my end to not have watched the film earlier I did manage to learn a vast amount of information. Immediately I began my research on Walker and was astonished at all she had accomplished to make her a notary literary figure in Black American Literature. Walker's contributions to Black American Literature are of greater importance because she became a voice for many within the African American community, especially the women (White, 2004).

Nonetheless, her work has inspired other authors and feminists as a result of it challenging the status quo during its time. In the winter of 1944, February 9 to be exact Alice Walker was born to Willier Lee and Minnie Lou Grant Walker. She was the eighth and last child of the sharecroppers. While outside one day an older sibling accidentally shot her right eye with a BB gun. Until the age of fourteen, her eye would not be corrected. It was not corrected immediately since her parents did not have the finances for a car that was needed to aid her for immediate medical attention.

The incident caused Walker to develop low self-esteem. Her mother suggested that she take on more reading and writing and purchased a notebook to write her feelings to cope with her insecurities. Like many other African Americans in the rural south, she faced tremendous racism. She attended a school that was only designated for African Americans. The school lacked the proper resources that its counterparts were fortunate to have for their students.

However, Alice did not let this obstacle stop her from achieving success in high school. With the limited resources she graduated valedictorian of her class and earned a disabled scholarship. With her scholarship in hand, she went on to attend the Historically Black College and University, SpelmanCollege. After spending only two years at SpelmanCollegeshe transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York on another scholarship. Once she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College she began to be mentored by Muriel Rukeyser, a poet, and political activist. With the help of her new mentor, she was able to have some of her early works published. During a summer away from Sarah Lawrence College Walker participated on a trip to Africa which influenced her to write her first collection of poems once(1970) and many others (Sadoff, 1985). While she was writing these poems her self esteem deteriorated as she discovered that she was pregnant. The pregnancy made her feel more at the mercy of her body and suicidal. For Walker, the poems were a celebration of life because she expressed that there were many days she contemplated committing suicide. Once was of greater importance because it was completed just as her friends found an abortionist. After the publication of Once her second volume of poetry Revolutionary Petuniasappeared in 1973.

The 70s was a big deal for Walker as she began to explore and create a name for herself in fiction. Some of her notable works during this time includeThe Third Life of Grange Copeland(1970), In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women(1973), and meridian(1976). BothTheThird Life of Grange CopelandandIn Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women had somewhat similar themes, escaping cruel men. WhereasTheThird Life of Grange Copeland focuses on the main character escaping his master

In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women the main characters try to escape the men in their lives. It could be argued that these two literature pieces were the start of women empowerment or empowerment in general. Walker'sMeridianelaborated on women empowerment with the addition of sexual and racial politics of the Civil Rights Movement. Once Walker relocated to Mississippi she participated in numerous activities geared towards the equality of African Americans in America. EssentiallyMeridianbecame the holy mecca for the start of her lifetime goal?” to reorient social protest toward an Afrocentric female model (Hill, 1998). The novel is about a heroine who is torn between love and reality. One main character, Truman who is African American loves a white woman, but his reality is that he should not love her since it is not right for interracial dating. Moreover, this piece of literature would serve as the influence for her most notable work, The Color Purple. Both novels bring awareness to the African American woman and her role in life to those around her, specifically the men. The novels show the struggles that women face with being female and how it correlates to how they are treated because of their sex.

After one has read the novels they are able to understand how love, self-sacrificing, and sex can all create dysfunction. This is of greater importance because during this time there was the need for awareness to be brought to the African American community and this work would help to make an impact of Walker's activism in female genital mutilation. It is no doubt that Walker's TheColor Purple is one of the most important literature pieces in Black American Literature. The novel earned Walker a Pulitzer Prize in 1983 making her the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer for fiction (Robison, 2009). Walker'sTheColor Purple follows the life of an African American woman who suffers from racism, sexism, and patriarchy.

Although the novel discusses primarily racism, sexism, and patriarchy with women there is an area of the book that discusses something that often happens within the African American community. Celie's (the main character) father was lynched because he was a successful businessman in the South, something that was uncommon. This part of the novel brings the awareness of the struggles of being African American in the South regardless if the individual is a male or female. African Americans in today's society and past society have always received the shorter end of the stick, meaning, he/she must go the extra mile for equality. The novel captured so many aspects of the African American woman that a film followed the publishing of the novel soon after. It is for these reasons that led The Color Purple to earn the Pulitzer Prize.

Possessing the Secret of Joy is somewhat a sequel to The Color Purple and serves as the start of Walker's activism in female genital mutilation. Walker reintroduces characters from The Color PurpleinPossessing the Secret of Joy. The novel explores the complex issues regarding female genital cutting. The novel makes readers look at physical deterioration and physical destruction of mutilated women.

Although in the story the cutting of the clitoris is a tradition, Walker disagrees with the performance due to its association with patriarchy. Since Walker identifies as a feminist is easy to understand her perspective of the tradition. Throughout the novel's chapters address the different motifs over the performance of female genital circumcision. Moreover, both possessing the Secret of Joy and The Color Purple are similar as the protagonists are in search of their true self, reoccurring themes throughout Walker's novels. The protagonists searching for their true self-are literal and metaphoric mirrors that allow them to transition from an experience of fragmentation to a vision of a more unified state of self-possession (Pifer & Slusser, 1998).

Alice Walker continues to be celebrated internationally as a writer, poet, and activist. Her latest works include The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way and The World Will Follow Joy: Turning Madness into Flowers, poems. Not only has she continued to write new novels but she continues to identify herself as a feminist and an activist for a variety of things. She is a firm believer that compassion is a duty that can be learned through working for greater results.

Although she is a notary literary figure she remains humble by traveling the world to visit and learn about those who are economically, spiritually, and politically oppressed. Walker challenges society to seek change and transformation in the world. A world that remains the stationary is bound to overlook the issues in the world, thus, making the world ignorant of the misfortunes of others. Walker's socially awaken conscience is one of the many reasons she is has become a notary literary figure. Nonetheless, Walker's contributions to literature have made significant impacts on the African American community by becoming a household name for bringing a voice to the community that was often overshadowed.

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How the Universe Began

Many believe the universe all come about over 10 billion years ago. It all started out as just a little blob which got hot and dense. Suddenly, this bubble got bigger and bigger and bigger. This created the Universe we live and do daily task within. You may think to yourself, "How can a force be so great that it can make an atom form such a big thing we have today?" According the theory the universe was created in singularity; center of black holes. This never ending cooling and expanding place we call Earth can continue to drop jaws each day. The uniqueness of this theory and our universe will continue to puzzle and create questions which may or may not be answerable, but the amount of evidence makes it to be a pretty believable thing.

It all starts somewhere with a theory which will even be tested and proven factual or kept as a theory. No matter how many facts we have on this topic questions will always arise to contradict if there is a way to knock it down to make it false in some way or form. So many pieces of evidence have been tested to prove the accuracy and truthfulness of the Big bang. For example, the galaxies seem to move away from the earth at speeds that are equal to their distance which is known as ??Hubble’s Law’ named after Edwin Hubble who made the discovery about this in 1929. If you weren’t aware already, s the theory explains that the universe was very hot before and there is evidence that can prove this. After the heat, the Cosmic microwave background radiation come into play to make a expansion. Finally the cluster of light elements which support the belief.

A theory that has many supporting facts behind it is Hubble’s Law. This law talks about how just because we see galaxies moving outward does not necessarily mean we are in the center. It is actually said that every galaxy will see other ones moving away unless they are apart of the same galaxy. For a visual representation chocolate chips in a muffin will see other chips going away from each other until it is fully expanded/baked. The speed of hubble’s law may be much faster, they calculate the speed using a doppler shift. Since the distance between galaxies are always expanding it is hard to determine the actual difference. They use the term lookback reference the time it takes light to reach us. This leads to a redshift directly to the lookback time, which has been proven by professionals.

Another important feature in all of this is the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation. This is a faint light that fills up the universe coming from many different directions, also known as the glow after the Big Bang; 14 billion years ago. There are actually 2 different theories on what could be the cause of this light. The first is that there is a big ball of light that has lasted over 10 billion years- in short. The second is, light just travels extremely fast. Regardless of the two thoughts we do know for a fact that CBD is the longest lived ball of light we know of. It was here before Earth and galaxies existed, and that’s a long long time ago.

Overall, the Big Bang Theory is crucial to our understanding of the world because it is such a point of how the universe was created and how it breaks down. We are able to prove this evidence as theories since we have advanced technology. With the technologies we have we are able to see farther out in and see the particles that have been left over. Something that is important to remember is that it is still technically a theory because it cannot be proven as a fact. We don’t have people from that time to tell us exactly what went on, that’s where technologies come into play. It is important to know their are many beliefs out there as to what went on and how it happened but most theories out there today have good supporting details behind them.

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The Bigger Bang by James E. Lidsey

Contents

Abstract
About The Author
The Structure of the Universe
Why Does the Sun Shine?
The Expansion of the Universe
The Eternal Universe
Black Holes
Conclusion:

Abstract

As humans, we evolve and learn new things about our world continuously. Using science, we create new medications, innovative technologies, and find new discoveries. We rush to create the future before we even take the time to think about the past and how we got to where we are today. Have you ever wondered what was here before the earth or if there are things outside of our universe? If so, I feel that The Bigger Bang is a great book which provides a well written overview of cosmological theory which concisely explains the origin and evolution of the universe. The book introduces the fascinating ideas scientists are currently developing to explain what happened in the first billion, billion, billion, billionth of a second - the 'inflationary' epoch (Lidsey). Ultimately, this book covers the birth of the universe, the structure of the universe, and current questions and speculation we have about the universe. This book is great for this course since it can be
used as an introduction to cosmology for students which could act as their founda.

About The Author

James E. Lidsey, the author of The Bigger Bang, holds a Royal Society University Fellowship at Queen Mary and Westfield College. He has been awarded the Valerie Myerscough Prize in Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy as a doctoral student. He was later honored by the Gravity Research the Fifth Prize and named one of the 100 people most likely to play an influential role over the next decade by the Sunday Times (Abebooks). He has some notable affiliations including those with NASA, the University of Chicago, and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). I believe that he is a very credible author due to his intensive background in astronomy and all of his notable achievements in research. In The Bigger Bang, Lidsey concisely explains the origins and evolution of the universe. The main chapters in his book, which is what he specifically talks about, are: The Structure of the Universe, Why Does the Sun Shine?, The Expansion of the Universe, Space, Time and Gravity, Particles, Grand Unification, The Big Bang, Beyond the Big Bang, The Inflating Universe,The Eternal Universe, Black Holes, and The Birth of the Universe. This book is interesting because it allows the readers to learn about current theories as to how the universe became what it is today. It gives you a sense of understanding in that you realize what was here before you and the processes that took place. As stated previously in the abstract, this book relates heavily to Physics 10240 because it goes over concepts that are introduced in introduction to cosmology courses.

The Structure of the Universe

The main goal of the first chapter was to introduce the reader to the structure of the universe. Lindsey concisely explained our solar system. He asserts that "The Earth belongs to a collection of objects known as the solar system . The central and largest object in this system is the sun. Nine planets, including the Earth, orbit the sun. Pluto is the planet most distant from the sun, and Pluto’s orbit may be viewed as the edge of the solar system (Lidsey). What lies beyond our solar system is then explained starting with Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the sun, which is forty trillion kilometers away. He then described what a light year was, which is the distance light travels in one year when moving at its speed of three hundred thousand kilometres per second (Lidsey). We then learn that our solar system makes up a small part of our galaxy, known as the Milky Way. After we leave the galaxy into the vast emptiness of space, we have observed over one hundred billion different galaxies which makes up our universe. Lidsey concludes that the study of the universe as a whole is known as cosmology. In this chapter, I generally knew most of the concepts he went over. However, I did gain a better sense of distance in the universe because he not only gave some distances in light years, but also in kilometers.

Why Does the Sun Shine?

Lidsey uses this chapter to describe how we are able to see light, and the different types of lights. He asserts that visible light is apart of a spectrum categorized by electromagnetic radiation. Light travels at a fixed speed, but their are different wavelengths which determine the amount of energy they carry. Shorter wavelengths equal a higher energy and vice versa. Visible light falls near the middle of electromagnetic spectrum, which is further split into wavelengths that are necessary for different colors. Lidsey states that sunlight is just a mixture of different colors. He explains that the colors are separated when they pass through the different densities of raindrops explaining the natural phenomenons of rainbows. He then goes into further detail explaining that electrons in an atom are the sole creators of light. He explains that electrons move through different energy level rings depending on how much energy they have acquired. Whenever an electron drops down a ring, it emits radiation in the form of light. This process takes place all around us and is the we can see light. The sun emits radiation which is partly visible light, and partly stronger radiation which makes its way into the earth surface. I was introduced to the electromagnetic spectrum before this course but I gained the knowledge of electrons being the creator of visible light.

The Expansion of the Universe

Chapter three addresses the fact that the universe and the galaxies within it are constantly expanding. Lidsey makes it very understandable when explaining how the universe is expanding. From our vantage point on earth, it appears that everything is slowly moving away from us. The same effect would happen from any location in the universe. The proper explanation for the expansion of the universe was discovered experimentally by the American astronomer Edwin Hubble in 1929. He found that the separation speed of a point from the observer is a direct proportion to its distance. It’s concluded from this chapter that the universe is expanding in the sense that the average distance between galaxies is increasing over time. No single galaxy is stationary, and all galaxies move with respect to one another. One consequence of this observation is that in earlier times the universe must have been a lot smaller than it is today. If this expansion has proceeded throughout the history of the universe, the universe must have been extremely small at very early times. It would have been so small, in fact, that the galaxies would have effectively been squashed together on top of one another (Lidsey).

This chapter goes over the theory of gravity and time that describes the large-scale dynamics of the universe which was developed by Albert Einstein and other researchers. Using an example regarding two observes from different reference points measuring the intervals between lamp flashes, it was concluded that time is intrinsically related to the motion of the person who is measuring it. This is because the observers effectively measure time differently. Ultimately, the two observers both had correct measurements and this is explained by using the fourth dimension known as space-time which is a combination of space and time. When examining an object in space-time, the observes don’t think of space and time as separate entities but instead combine them allowing them to obtain the same results. Lidsey asserts that the force of gravity, also known as attractions between objects, is equivalent to a curving of space-time. It is gravity that keeps solar systems, and galaxies connect, yet the universe is still expanding. This chapter gave me a more in-depth explanation of space-time which was introduced in our course

This chapter explains the different types of forces and particles. With such a large amount of different particles, Lidsey categorizes them by three fundamental characteristics: Electric charge, mass, and spin. Some particles have electric charge, while others don’t. Those that don’t have a charge are electrically neutral. The mass of a particle contributes to its energy. Mass can be converted into energy and vice-versa. Some particles have mass and others don’t just like the electric charge property. The spin determines the rate of rotation of that particle. Particles are divided into two groups depending on how much spin they have which are either bosons or fermions. Lidsey asserts that "Particles that have zero spin or twice the spin of the electron are examples of bosons. Particles that carry the same spin as the electron, or three times that amount, are fermions. The electron is an example of a fermion. (Lidsey). When packed together, fermons can be related to hard marbles while bosons are more malleable.
This chapter explains the unification between electromagnetic forces and weak forces. Particles have distinguishable properties naturally on earth due to these forces. When is gets above 10^15 degrees, the effects of electromagnetic and weak forces become indistinguishable. Lidsey asserts that these forces become unified above that temperature. The reason behind this unification is because of the high amount of energy caused from higher temperatures. As the temperature rises, more energy causes tremendous change in particles. The highest temperature that have been observed in an accelerator on earth is 10^15 degrees (Lidsey). It is speculated that temperatures higher than this combined even more forces which is known as the Grand Unification Theory. This theory is behind that of the Big Bang, which states that during the creation of the universe, there were very tight particles and extreme temperatures.

This chapter explains the speculated event known as the Big Bang. Lidsey states "this is the idea that the universe began as a rapidly expanding and intensely hot fireball.??? Lidsey measures the age of the universe in the units of temperature. It is believed that the universe was ten billion degrees hot a second after it was formed. From then on, atoms formed about three hundred thousand years later. The universe was made up of different hot floating particles which later changed into different objects as they cooled down. Dense matter known as islands began to split off into mini islands of matter. These mini stars then formed into stars and the regular islands refer to the galaxies that we observe today. This process of fragmentation took over one billion years to complete. This briefly explains the progression of our universe to what it is today.

This chapter goes more in depth as to what took place after the big bang. Researchers claim that particles were colliding every second due to high densities. This leads to the creature of those "islands??? as mentioned in the previous chapter. As the island separated they formed the stellar structured that we observe today. Heat from the initial big bang is still present today in the form of radiation. Lidsey asserts that we are safe because the wavelength of this radiation is relatively low, as in lower than that of visible light which is no harm to us. It has been found that just liked gravity causes a rising ball to fall back down, there is a possibility that the universe collapses back down in the future. Lidsey claims that the answer to if this happen lies in whether the force of expansion is stronger than that of collapsing. The uncertainties are currently too much to come to a conclusion on what will happen in the future.

This chapter discusses the inflation of the universe which means a rapid expansion of space in a very short time. This is also known as cosmological inflation according to Lidsey. Lidsey creates an analogy where a ball being thrown into the air is symbolism for the universe expanding. He asserted that the height of the ball represents the size of the universe, while the rate of expansion in the universe equals how rapidly the ball continues to gain height. He then returns to the fact that just as a ball is thrown into the air, it eventually has to come back down once it loses its momentum. He linked this with the expansion of the universe. The universe is still expanding from the big bang, but theoretically, it should slow down to the point where it starts collapsing. Apparently, it is too early to make a conclusion on what the future of the universe holds. This chapter taught me that the universe could possibly start collapsing.

The Eternal Universe

The chapter examined the theories behind dimensions beyond the third. The universe currently only contains three large space dimensions. Lidsey claims that the other dimensions may be to small for us to observe, and the reason for this is speculated to be that those dimensions didn’t grow our observable region in the universe. The universe has been divided into large portions known as planck-sized regions. Lidsey claims that there is possibility that other regions inflated more than some which would allow them to have higher dimensions. It is believed that the next region to us could be over 10^10000 meters away. Lidsey concludes that maybe our religion is designed to have three dimensions since three dimensions are necessary for life and other particles to exist on earth. This chapter taught me that parts of the universe could inflate at different rates. I thought the universe expanded consistently in all directions.

Black Holes

This chapter explains the phenomenon known as black holes. Lidsey does a great job of explaining the complex nature of black holes. He starts off by explaining the natural action of light. When we perceive something with our eyes, we are technically viewing the light that bounces off of the object and our brain deciphers the light to know what’s actually in front of us. The point Lidsey makes is that the light has to reflect or "escape??? from the surface of the page in order for us to perceive it. To describe black holes, he stated that a collapsing star’s gravity must become so strong, that light can’t even escape from its surface. Even radiation can’t escape. Nothing can escape because there is nothing that moves faster than the speed of light. When the star reaches this state, the distant observer can no longer perceive it since there’s no light escaping, and the star would be categorized as a black hole. Lidsey asserts that black holes will collapse until it vanishes into a single point of infinite density known as a singularity. He then makes a point about the event horizon, or the boundary of the black hole, which is a section near the black hole where the observer can’t view, but hasn’t been absorbed by the singularity. This chapter reinforced a lot of material that we learned in class about black holes.

This final chapter speculates about the true instant origin of the universe. He first introduced the concept that the universe was created out of absolutely nothing. Lidsey reasons that quantum fluctuations in empty space could have resulted in the spontaneous creation of particles and antiparticles thus resulting in the big bang. This theory goes against the law of the conservation of energy because if the big bang is true, we indeed created something out of nothing whereas the law states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed. Ultimately, the birth of the universe is still in speculation. Researches don’t know what could have caused the quantum fluctuations, nor the conditions could the fluctuations occur in. This chapter ultimately gave me more speculation about how the universe could have truly started.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, this book is good because Lidsey makes complex theories and concepts relatively simple to comprehend. He does a great job of evaluating the universe in chronological order so that the reader doesn’t get confused. He also does this evaluation concisely which maintains the attention of the reader and also allows them to understand the material easier. The best chapters of the book were the structure of the universe, the big bang, and black holes. I feel that the big bang chapter was great at explaining the theory behind the creation of the universe and the events that followed. The structure chapter was great at painting a picture in the reader's head as to what part of the universe looks likes from a distance. Lastly, I felt the the black holes chapter efficiently written to explain the black hole phenomenon. Black holes are such complex objects and Lidsey did an outstanding job of simplifying part of its concept. The book is only bad to those who want to go into serious depth about cosmology. This book kind of scratches the surface of the complex cosmic theories. As previously stated, I feel that this book is targeted towards beingineers of cosmological studies such as students in an introduction to cosmology course. I would strongly recommend this book to stay on the reading list because it’s such a great tool for teaching new cosmology students.

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The Big Bang Theory Developers

Monsignor Georges Lemai®tre was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest, physicist and astronomer. He is credited with the first precise formulation of the idea of an expanding universe and what was to become known as the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe, which Lemai®tre had called his "hypothesis of the primeval atom." Lemai®tre went to school at Harvard College in Massachusetts, U.S.A.

In 1921, Einstein won the Nobel Prize for physics for the photoelectric effect. His work had an impact on the development of atomic energy. Later, Einstein focused on field theory. Einstein is typically considered the most influential physicist of the 20th century. As a physicist, Einstein had many discoveries, but he is perhaps best known for his theory of relativity and the equation E=MC squared (energy equals mass times the speed of light squared), which then helped the development of atomic power and the making of the atomic bomb. He was one of the first people to thing of the theory for the Big Bang.

"Alexander Friedmann was a Russian cosmologist and mathematician, who helped develop models that explained the development of the universe. In particular, his solutions to Einstein’s field equations provided early evidence of an expanding universe, and the theoretical underpinnings for both the Big Bang and steady state models of the universe. Our universe can be described mathematically by a simple model developed in 1922 at Petrograd (St. Petersburg) by Alexander Friedmann (1888-1925). Without the benefit of observational evidence, Friedmann predicted that the whole universe would expand and evolve with time. This astonishing prediction was confirmed seven years later by Edwin Hubble. Its originator, unfortunately didn't live to savor this triumph. He also did work on theoretical cosmology (1922-1924)."

Some people are still weary about this theory. The leading interpretation about the universe’s birth solved many puzzles and fits all observations. This "cosmic inflation" theory lacks actual proof. The absence of the "ripples" has fueled some weaker theories of cosmogenesis in recent years.

The question is whether anyone can test the scenario for the inflation. Avi Loeb, an astrophysicist and cosmologist at Harvard University, had similar thoughts over this. He also thought that if there is no other evidence that can kill off some theories, then what was the point? The Big Bang basically only has one theory, but there is a couple more. When people hear a big bang, they think of an explosion. But that’s probably not what happened. A lot of thoughts are on a fast inflammation. Before the Big Bang happened, no one knows. After the "bang" went off, the cosmos goes through a super fast "inflation" expanding from the size of an atom to a grapefruit in a tiny fraction of a second. After that happens, the universe starts to have electrons, quarks, and other particles that happen in a couple seconds. Then, a fast cooling macrocosmos permits quarks to clump into protons and neutrons that happened in about a minute. Electrons combine with protons and neutrons to form atoms, mostly hydrogen and helium after. Light can finally shine. This step took about 350 years. Subsequently, gravity pushes hydrogen and helium together to form giant clouds that made the galaxies we know today. Smaller clumps of the gas came together to form stars. Lastly, old stars died out to give out elements into space, which form new stars and planets.

Another theory is God. Genesis 1:1 at the start of the bible, says "in the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth." Christians believe this is how the universe started. They might not be wrong but scientifically, this is impossible. The Greeks and Romans worship Gods that created the Earth. According to legend, Gaia and Ouranos made the Heavens and the Earth. There’s no actual proof of this either so it can’t really be proven right. Even though all religions all worship some god(s), scientists can’t be blinded by this. They have to think scientifically. Albert Einstein, Monsignor Georges Lemai®tre, and Alexander Friedmann were all great scientists. Their contributions to science give us a better understanding.

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The Big Bang Theory Developers. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
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Everyday Use by Alice Walker

The Impact of Self-Identity and Heritage within the Family

Families can shape our behaviors directly or indirectly. They pass their values, beliefs, expectations on to the younger ones, and they teach us how to socialize with others. Often times, families do not realize how important it is to teach their kids to be accurate and embrace themselves. But, it is more important than most people think. Why? Because these early years of learning are the foundation for their personality and how they will behave in the future. Which eventually, will have a direct effect on their lives and interpersonal relationships later.

In the short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, the author talks about a black family that goes through an uncomfortable situation when the two sisters have different ideas over the family’s heirloom quilts. The two sisters are completely different from each other, shaped by different experiences and environments. Dee, was sent to college with the help of her mother’s church. She was always the prettier, “smarter,” and successful sibling. Maggie was the introvert sister who stayed on the farm and admired her sister for being everything she is not.

The author also narrates how the mother of both girls also felt insecure about herself. She had dreams where she was a different person. In her dreams, she was everything Dee wanted her to be. But in reality, she also felt somewhat proud of herself for being good at “what a man does.” Dee also changed her name to “Wangero,” a more suitable name to honor her African ancestry.

In this case, we see a clear example of both sisters having trouble accepting and embracing themselves and their culture, as well as their mom. Maggie, who was the shy sibling, felt insecure about herself because she compared herself to her sister. Her sister, Dee (Wangero), identified herself with her culture, but at the same time, she was embarrassed by it. Almost like she felt like her family and where she came from was not good enough. Finally, the mother decided to give one quilt to each sister, but Dee chose to decline and leave.

This is a perfect example of parents projecting their insecurities on to their kids. The mother, in efforts to give her daughters a better life, she ended up feeling insecure about herself. It is essential that we teach our kids to embrace themselves and their culture. But also, to accept other’s beliefs and preferences. Dee, was happy with her “big city” change and all the opportunities being offered to her. On the other hand, Maggie and her mom, even though they lived a completely different lifestyle, they were happy with where they were. However, if they had accepted themselves as they were, where they came from and respected each other’s beliefs; the story would probably have ended differently.

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Everyday Use by Alice Walker. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
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History of the Big Bang Theory

Before the Big Bang, there was no differential between space and time. There was no light and everything ceased to exist. It is believed by most scientists that about 13.7 billion years ago, the universe began. This became known as the Big Bang. An immense amount of energy and force was condensed into a tiny, hot miniscule bubble. In minutes, the universe began to expanded at immense rates in all directions. This is called The Singularity, which is the moment when all time and space began and then expanded rapidly. The universe then started to cool and hydrogen and helium were the first two elements to be created. All others followed.

The Inflation Theory adds on to the Big Bang theory and suggests that there was a time immediately after the Big bang when the universe had an exponentially accelerated growth. At this point it was a vacuum type of energy which developed into the energy of the universe we know today. The Inflation Theory helps to explain some of the mysteries that scientists were debating within the subject of cosmology. Cosmology is the science of the origin and evolution of the universe.

In 1924 astronomer Edwin Hubble documented that galaxies other than ours, existed. In 1929, he discovered that the universe is still expanding outward. He did this by using a Hooker reflecting telescope. Hubble explained information he found about galaxies in the red spectrum and stated that they are moving away from Earth at rapid speeds. The larger the amount of red shift, the faster the speed of the galaxy movement away from Earth. The galaxies that are farthest from Earth are moving the fastest away. Red shift describes the longest wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. Telescopes can take photos to measure and confirm Hubble’s findings about red shifts and the speed at which galaxies are moving away from Earth.

Immediately following the Big Bang, and rapid expansion of the universe, our solar nebula, along with many others, was formed. At first it was filled with gas and dust, and eventually collapsed and formed a flattened disk that was rotating. The center of it was the warmest. When planetesimals began to form and grow, their gravity levels also grew. The larger planetesimals, collected a larger amount of gas and dust from the nebula. Smaller planetesimals struck each other and began to increase in size. Eventually the extra gas and dust disappeared farther into space. This created our solar system.
In 1964, Peter Higgs came up with a theory about a fundamental particle and mass. A fundamental particle is also known as an elementary particle. It’s a particle that is the simplest and most basic form of matter. Higgs theorized that after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and particles changed how they interacted with each other, and began to have varying masses based on that interaction. In 2012, the Higgs boson was discovered as a fundamental particle. This occurs in the Higgs field, which is found throughout the universe.

Dark Energy is the force that opposes gravity. Any matter from galaxies to humans, are made of atoms. Surprisingly this only makes up 4% of our universe. 23% of our universe is made of dark matter. Dark matter is matter that does not emit light but has apparent gravity. The fact that it does not give off light gives it its name, dark matter. The other 73% of the universe is made up of dark energy. This is a substance that scientists know very little about. They believe that it the opposing force of gravity. Current data suggests that far off galaxies are even farther away than theories currently state. Scientists believe that a type of dark energy is propelling galaxies apart. Due to dark energy, the universe is expanding at an increasingly rapid rate.

A Singularity happens within a black hole when matter is squeezed and where time and space discontinue to work as we know them to be. Singularities are still being researched and theorized by scientists. We are constantly making advancements and discoveries in cosmology. One recent discovery in December 2018, is ancient cloud gases that were observed through the most powerful optical telescope in the world, located in Hawaii. The cloud gas seems to be left over from the Big Bang. Scientists believe this to be true because the cloud does not contain elements and matter from exploding stars. A quasar, which produces a large amount of light to help view materials, is how the scientists were able to see this old and clean cloud of gas. It is not easy to see this type of cloud gas, which is why the quasar was an important piece in the discovery.

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Origin of the Earth’s being

How did the universe get to be so big? Where did it come from? How did it all start and end up like today? These are just a handful of the questions being asked about the birth and opening creation of our beautiful universe as we know it. As imperfect humans, it’s likely that we won’t always have all the answers, but science and modern technology has provided us with one. Scientific theory has led us to believe that the origin of the earth’s being, along with the entire universe surrounding us is The Big Bang Theory.

John Rhys-Daives wrote, "The universe starts off with the Big Bang theory, and the first thing that emerged from the Big Bang is essentially hydrogen and then helium. And that's what combusts in stars. Finally, stars implode, and they build heavier elements out of that. And those heavier elements are reconstituted in the heart of other stars, eventually". While there have been scientific debates on the theory, most of the modern scientific and technological world have come to conclude that the Big Bang theory is nothing short of the truth. Astronomers along with a countless number of philosophers are said to be solely convinced that the universe came from a simple nothing over some 13.8 billion years ago. The Big Bang theory carries more complexity than what the name gives off at first glance. To think that life and all we know around us started off as an explosion of incomprehensible heat and speed. Only time could have proven that something as small as that pin-point would cool itself and inflate in seconds.

Scientist have done their utmost to explain the theory in a way that all people in general can understand, they tied the theory like a knot at the end of a rope and described it this way: "At that point, they believe, the universe underwent an extremely brief and dramatic period of inflation, expanding faster than the speed of light. It doubled in size perhaps 100 times or more, all within the span of a few tiny fractions of a second. This rapidly expanding universe was pretty much empty of matter, but it harbored huge amounts of dark energy, the theory goes. Dark energy is the mysterious force that scientists think is driving the universe's current accelerating expansion. During inflation, dark energy made the universe smooth out and accelerate. But it didn't stick around for long" (Wall 2017).

The world as big as it is today was once thought to be something as small as a pin-point bubble minus that pin-point bubble trillions of times. Imagine the size of what they believe turning into the great big world we’ve come to know and love now. Out of the blue and rather sudden, this bubble started getting bigger and bigger. The expansion created what we know and now call the universe. In little to no time, the earth went from the size of a minimal pin point, the size of a single atom to be precise, to becoming this enormous galaxy that holds the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, etc... the big bang theory owns the idea that the universe and all that’s in it came into existence as one, as a "singularity". What is singularity? The Urban Dictionary brings out that a "singularity is a region of infinite density and zero volume where gravitational parameters diverge to infinity", appearing in black holes, with no start or finish; time zones that run on infinitely. A microsecond for protons and neutrons detach themselves free of a power bond, they’re called quarks. The enormous amount of radiation being distrusted at the time and these quarks are what made up most of the universe all together. The universe was born, cooled like taking something straight out of the oven and set to enlarge itself. Protons and electrons were being distributed amongst atoms in a 2-1 ratio, meaning that for every positive charge, a negative charge at existent time, cancelling out any charge at all. Meaning that with a cancellation of matter and antimatter, it was unbelievable that they did not destroy each other altogether, given the fact that matter and antimatter cannot be within close contact of each other.

Instead, after the destruction of both the matter and antimatter, the overpowering particles in the matter were left behind like residue, thus creating all that remains in the universe, like the galaxies, the planets, even human beings. By this time, the universe was said to be a few milliseconds old, infusing within itself elements that carry light like helium. Again, this could easily be tied back to the makeup of protons, electrons etc... but rather, Nasa stated that "the free electrons would have caused light, (photons) to scatter the way sunlight scatters from the water droplets in the clouds".

This leads to the question of how the universe came to have light and life, its best put this way, "Over time, however, the free electrons met up with nuclei and created neutral atoms. This allowed light to shine through about 380,000 years after the Big Bang. This early light ?” sometimes called the "afterglow" of the Big Bang ?” is more properly known as the cosmic microwave background" (Howell 2017). The birth of the universe explained goes far beyond just the make-up of it, what really ties the theory and draws the attention of many scientists, philosophers, and astronomers today is the time bracket that’s withheld. You see, time is very important to us as humans, all of science’s greatest breakthroughs have revolved around a specific time bracket of development, so has the universe.

The Big Bang Theory has made an estimate that the universe itself was constructed within 10^-34 of a second, "a second or so old ?” that is, a hundredth of a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second in age"(Chio 2017). It is unbelievable to imagine, to think that all we know around us has not been set for a clear precise explanation, we only know the answers that time can give us through discovery of outreach. In conclusion of my paper, the words of Stephen Hawking best fit the ideology of the matter that is The Big Bang Theory, "The role played by time at the beginning of the universe is, I believe, the final key to removing the need for a Grand Designer and revealing how the universe created itself.

Time itself must come to a stop. You can’t get to a time before the big bang, because there was no time before the big bang. We have finally found something that does not have a cause because there was no time for a cause to exist in. For me this means there is no possibility of a creator because there is no time for a creator to have existed. Since time itself began now of the Big Bang, it was an event that could not have been caused or created by anyone or anything.

So, when people ask me if a god created the universe, I tell them the question itself makes no sense. Time didn’t exist before the Big Bang, so there is no time for God to make the universe in. It’s like asking for directions to the edge of the Earth. The Earth is a sphere. It does not have an edge, so looking for it is a futile exercise."

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Origin of the Earth’s Being. (2021, Mar 17). Retrieved November 6, 2025 , from
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Environmental Apocalypse or Ecologism: the Beginning of a New Era

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Greed is the Driving Factor

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Short and Long-Term Effects of Opioids

The Effect of Opioids

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A Selfish and Excessive Desire

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Mr. Whites’ Greed in W.W. Jacobs’ “The Monkey’s Paw”

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Growing up in Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

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Malala Yousafzai’s “I am Malala” and Ishmael Beah’s “A Long Way Gone”

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“A Long Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah

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A Long Way Gone: Sierra Leone Civil War

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Setting and Characters in “A Long Way Gone”

Summary

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Change in “A Long Way Gone”

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Overcoming Loneliness in “A Long Way Gone”

Work Cited

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A Long Way Gone Begins with Ishmael Beah

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“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker Essay

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Analysis of the Life and Works of Alice Walker

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Themes in Everyday Use by Alice Walker

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“Owl Creek Bridge”: Character Analysis

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Owl Creek Bridge Alternate Ending

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Owl Creek Bridge Overview

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Bartleby the Scrivener Adaptation

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Free Will in Bartleby the Scrivener

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Bartleby the Scrivener Narrator Character Essay

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“Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville

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The Great Woman – Alice Walker

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How the Universe Began

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The Bigger Bang by James E. Lidsey

Abstract

About The Author

The Structure of the Universe

Why Does the Sun Shine?

The Expansion of the Universe

The Eternal Universe

Black Holes

Conclusion:

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The Big Bang Theory Developers

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Everyday Use by Alice Walker

The Impact of Self-Identity and Heritage within the Family

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History of the Big Bang Theory

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Origin of the Earth’s being

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