Water Pollution Essay Example for Free

Water Pollution Essay Water is a necessity to life on earth. All organisms contain it, some drink it, and others inhabit it. Plants and animals require water that is moderately pure, and they cannot survive if their water is affluent with toxic chemicals and/or harmful microorganisms. If severe, water pollution can kill large numbers of fish, birds, and other animals, in some cases killing all members of a species in an affected area. Water pollution is not only hazardous to water-bond animals it also poses as threat to humans as well. The majority of water pollution occurs when people overload the water environment with wastes. Its defined as contamination of streams, lakes, underground water, bays or oceans by substances harmful to living things. Such things as oil spills, boat fumes, and dumping of trash into the oceans, lakes, and rivers are just a few of the major contributors to water pollution. Throughout the past century water pollution has become a very real problem and solution must be found. First of all, Water pollution presents problems to humans in a few ways. Water pollution makes streams, lakes, and coastal waters unpleasant to look at, to smell, and to swim in, as well as preventing us from drinking it without filtration. Fish and shellfish harvested from polluted waters may be unsafe to eat. People who ingest polluted water can become ill and if theyre exposed for a long time, may develop cancers, or have children with birth defects. There are two types of water pollution; point source and non-point source. Point sources of pollution occur when harmful substances are put directly into a body of water (such as an oil spill). A non-point source is when pollutants enter the water indirectly through environmental changes (like when fertilizer is carried into a stream by rain). The major water pollutants are chemical, biological, and physical materials that lessen the water quality. These pollutants can be separated into seven different classes: Petroleum products, pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals, hazardous materials, excess organic matter, sediment, and finally thermal pollution. The first category is petroleum products. Petroleum products include oil and chemicals from oil are used for fuel, lubrication, plastics manufacturing, and many other purposes. The petroleum products get into water by accidental spills from ships, tanker trucks, and leaky underground storage tanks. Many petroleum products are poisonous if ingested by animals and spilled oil damages the feathers of birds and the fur of animals, often causing numerous deaths among these birds, furred animals, as well as fish. The second category that pollutants can be classified as is pesticides and herbicides. These include chemicals used to kill unwanted animals and plants. An example of this may be something used to keep certain bugs off of fruits or vegetables. These pollutants may be carried into streams by rainwater. If the chemicals in these herbicides and pesticides are not biodegradable they can remain dangerous for a long period of time. When an animal eats a plant that has been treated with certain non-biodegradable chemicals, the chemicals are absorbed into their tissues or the organs. When other animals feed on a contaminated animal, the chemicals are passed up to them. As it goes up through the food chain, the chemical becomes more harmful, so animals at the top of the food chains may suffer cancers, reproductive problems, and death. This can be a very serious problem for many species of animals. The herbicides and pesticides found in some polluted waters dont simple pose a problem to animals; they can also be harmful to humans. More than 14 million Americans drink water contaminated by pesticides, and the EPA estimates that ten percent of wells contain pesticides. These Nitrates can cause a lethal form of anemia called blue baby syndrome in infants. Also there are many other humans that have allergies to these chemicals, and can cause health problems if enough of the contaminated water is digested. Other chemicals that are a problem in the pollution of water are heavy  metals. Heavy metals, such as copper, lead, mercury, and selenium, get into the water from industries, automobile exhaust, mines, and natural soil. Heavy metals also become more harmful as they follow the food chain. When they reach high levels in the body, they can be immediately poisonous, or can result in long-term health problems. They can sometimes cause diarrhea and, over time, liver and kidney damage. Children exposed to lead in water can suffer mental retardation. Fish that have been exposed to mercury can be extremely poisonous to humans if they eat the fish. The fourth classification that is known to pollute waters is hazardous materials. Included in this class are chemical wastes that are toxic, reactive, corrosive, or ignitable. If not treated or stored properly, they can pollute water supplies. Such as in other categories once the hazardous wastes reach one part of the food chain they can be passed on to the animals that depend on them for food. The fifth leading cause of water pollution is excess organic matter. Some examples of excess organic matter are fertilizers and other nutrients used to promote plant growth on farms and in gardens that may fine their way into water. At first the nutrients will help the plants and algae in the water grow, but when they die and settle underwater, microorganisms decompose them, while decomposing them the microorganisms take in oxygen that is dissolved in the water. The oxygen levels in the water may drop so low that fish and other oxygen-dependent animals in the water suffocate, and die, this happens mostly in the Midwest and other such places where there are vast amounts of farm land. Yet another principal cause of the pollution of water is sediment. Sediment is soil particles carried to a stream bed, lake, or ocean, if in large amounts, can also be a pollutant. Soil erosion can damage a stream or lake by adding too much nutrient matter. Sedimentation can also cover stream bed gravel where many fish lay their eggs. Therefore, this can greatly decrease the population of fish in future generations. This is one of the many reasons that soil erosion is trying to be prevented today. The final cause of water pollution, which is often overlooked, is known as Thermal water pollution. Thermal pollution takes place when water is taken from rivers, lakes, or the ocean to be used in factories and power plants. This water is usually returned to the source much warmer than when it was taken. Even a small temperature change in a body of water can drive away the fish and other species that were usually inhabited that particular region, and in conjunction attract other species in place of them. This develops unwanted ecosystems in areas where they should not be. Thermal pollution can speed up the biological processes in plants and animals and/or lower the oxygen level in the water. Fish and other wildlife near the discharge source, may die. So as you can see, water pollution is a very serious problem it is responsible for dramatic decreases of fish and wildlife populations in our, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Water pollutants should also be held accountable for many cases of food poisoning, especially experience in seafood. In order to solve this problem we need to learn about ways for disposing harmful household wastes so they dont end up in sewage treatment plants or landfills. In our yards, we should determine whether or not we need to add nutrients before fertilizers are applied, and look for alternatives where fertilizers may run off into surface waters. We need to preserve existing trees and plant new trees and shrubs to help prevent soil erosion. Around the house we should we need to keep litter, pet waste, leaves, and grass clippings out of gutters and storm drains, and buy as many heavily packaged foods, certain boxes, cartons, bottles, etc that are made with polluting dyes. On a more widespread note, we must be much more careful about the types of pesticides we use, how we transport oil and other harmful materials, and work as hard as we can to prevent soil erosion and excess organic matter. If everyone works together to prevent water pollution this problem can be decreased drastically, if not eliminated. We all depend on water as a part of everyday life, we simply need to make sure that we as humans dont take this for granted, and take every step possible to keep the waters on this Earth as clean as possible. Work Cited Water Pollution, http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/waterpollution.htm. Water Pollution General, http://members.tripod.com/water_pollution_hk/newpage2.htm. Water Pollution, http://www.soton.ac.uk/~engenvir/environment/water/water.html. Sources of Water Pollution, http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/ASK/waterpol3.html.

Examine the key principles of utilitarianism Essay Example for Free

Examine the key principles of utilitarianism Essay The theory of utilitarianism determines the rightness or wrongness of an action by its consequences. This is determined by measuring the amount of pleasure or pain brought to someone caused by an action. Utilitarianism is a teleological theory of ethics, this means that it is concerned with the outcome and the consequences, meaning that an act is not right or wrong in itself but is right or wrong depending on the outcome of said action. The main founder of this theory was Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). Bentham worked to fight many things during his time such as industrialisation, mass migration and poverty. Utilitarianism is a relativist system – meaning there are no fixed rules, it is also concequentialist – this means that morality is by the consequences that directly follow an action. Utilitarianism tends to be brought down to one main rule and that is: ‘The greatest good for the greatest number’ whilst the principle of this rule is aimed to satisfy the majority, it does have its flaw is the fact that the minority still suffer. The principle of utility, as mentioned before, is: ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’ this means that if certain situations occur, advocates of utility would always choose the option that brought about the most pleasure for the most amount of people, this means that they would choose the action that brings about the better outcome, regardless as to whether or not the action may be perceived as right or wrong by society in normal circumstances due to the fact they are interested in bringing the most amount of pleasure possible. However, with this principle, comes a downside in the fact that whilst the majority may be satisfied or happy in a particular situation, there will always be a minority, regardless of how small, that are unhappy. However followers of the principle of utility may be encouraged to engage in wrong doings such as torture, whilst most would see this as an awful act, in certain circumstances, utilitarian’s may still take part in the act as it would bring about large amounts of pleasure for a large amount of people, with the minority still suffering, in this case, the person who was being tortured. The fact that utility is based on bringing about happiness this means that anyone who is an advocate of utilitarianism or follows the theory, is hedonistic, this means that they strive for pleasure and seek to avoid pain as often as possible, however what might be pleasure for some, may be pain for others. One that point, some may say that pleasure is subjective, meaning that pleasures are all different for different people, for example in a situation one may choose the option that he/she thinks will bring about a certain pleasure that they enjoy, however because they enjoy it, doesn’t me everyone will, so in actual fact even though they are trying to bring about pleasure due to their own tastes, they may not be causing any pleasure at all and may even cause some small elements of pain, due to the fact that people have different ideas on what pleasure is. Along with the point of different types of pleasure, J. S Mill stated that there are higher and lower pleasures in society, whilst he was around during the 19th century, obviously people’s views on pleasure has changed, however, Mill was thought to believe that opera and poetry were among the higher pleasures in life, whereas today, they may be seen as lower pleasures. One main question may be, ‘how does one measure pleasure?’ and in answer to that, Bentham devised the hedonic calculus, a form of calculation, designed to work out how great the pleasure or pain is that results from a particular action. There are 7 significant criteria identified by Jeremy Bentham and they are: Intensity (intense pleasure is the best), Duration (pleasure is better if it lasts longer), Certainty (pleasure that is definitely going to happen), Propinquity (pleasure that is close at hand), Fecundity (pleasure that promotes further pleasure), Purity (pleasure not mixed with pain) and Extent (pleasure that affects people). In order for an act to bring about a high amount of pleasure, it must satisfy majority of the criteria above, whilst it may be near impossible to find an act that satisfies all of the criteria, a pleasure will still be regarded as high or low, based on the amount of criteria met. Another key aspect of utilitarianism is that whilst there is act utilitarianism that focuses on the consequences regardless of the action taken place, there is also rule utilitarianism, created by J. S Mill. Rule utilitarianism the principle is applied to a selection of rules which are in turn, used to determine what to do in a particular situation. With rule utilitarianism, acts are either right or wrong regardless of what the outcome is. Rule utilitarianism can be easily compared to and agreeing with the law, in the fact that there are certain acts that are just plain wrong due to the fact that they are unlikely to bring out pleasure for a large amount of people, such as: murder or theft. With rule utilitarianism, it avoids the problem of ‘evil’ pleasures found with Bentham’s view, such as sadism. Rule utilitarianism also tends to bring about the most amount of pleasure without excluding the minority that suffer like act utilitarianism does, as rule doesn’t allow crimes against minorities that benefit the majority and allows the concept of justice. Rule utilitarianism came was devised due to the criticisms of Bentham’s act utilitarianism, in the case that act utilitarianism just follows the rules instead of trying to predict the outcomes. As well as the two already mentioned, there are more types of utilitarianism, such as: Preference utilitarianism and two-rule utilitarianism. Preference utilitarianism was devised by Peter Singer (1946-present), preference utilitarianism sought a way of decision making that took in to account the interest of the minority, unlike the previous theories. Singer stated that every individual’s preference must be taken in to account when deciding the best interests of the group and not only that, but every ones interests should be given equal value. Whilst the interests of the minority are more concerned with in this theory it still follows the fact that the right thing to do in a situation is what is best for the greatest number, however it has no reference to pleasure or pain. Preference utilitarianism has its own value that is followed, and that is: ‘The greatest amount of preference satisfaction, for the greatest amount of people’. With this theory it has advantages due to the fact that the minority do not tend to suffer as the ideology is concerned with preference satisfaction. The other utilitarianism was two-rule utilitarianism. This theory was created by R. M Hare (1919-2002) this is a theory that satisfies both act and rule utilitarianism by bringing both of their values together. In this theory, morality, based on rules and customs is acceptable for most situations, but occasionally we will need to use utilitarian thinking where we have to consider the consequences of an action. Whilst there is many different criticisms of both act and rule utilitarianism, Hare tried to bring them together with altercations to satisfy any criticisms. Those are many of the different important concepts that involve utilitarianism There are many key aspects to utilitarianism that I haven’t mentioned such as negative utilitarianism, Karl Popper (1902-1994) and motive utilitarianism, Robert Merrihew Adams (1937-present) these are all based around the main principle of utilitarianism however are not as well known as the other theories. Each of the features mentioned are key when it comes to understanding utilitarianism however, overall, I believe that the fact that everything fits in with everything else makes it a rather simple subject, on the whole, you know what the principle is and how simple it is, you know other theories that potentially challenge said theory but most of all you are given a way to measure and calculate it all. Overall I do agree with the theory of utilitarianism as life should be about pleasure and happiness, even if it is not available to you, either find it or bring it to others by an action. As a person who is an advocate of happiness and a hater of physical pain, I believe that life should continuously be one big happy moment, with that in mind, I would have to agree with the theory of utilitarianism, as its main principle is shared with my positive outlook, ‘bringing about pain for as many people as possible’. To what extent are these important concepts undermined by relevant criticisms (9) It could be argued that pleasure is subjective, meaning that pleasure is different for different people and may even link in with a social context in the fact that, what certain people find to be pleasurable may depend on social class, environment, background, social/peer groups etc , in the fact that an upper-middle class man may think of pleasure to be poetry or theatre, whereas a lower-working class man, may view pleasure as going to watch their favourite sports team and may find poetry or theatre boring, and vice versa. With that in mind we can refer back to J. S Mill’s theory of there being higher and lower pleasures, given this, it may affect the ideology of hedonism, in the fact that people all strive for happiness but with the idea to avoid pain. Another criticism is that utilitarianism as a whole can justify wrong doings in desperate times of need, such as torture, in extreme situations; it may be seen as justifiable to torture someone as long as it will bring about happiness to many people, even though such an act would usually be considered as unjustifiable and unequivocally wrong. Some critics of utilitarianism may also argue that pleasure has a negative knock on effect in the fact that pleasure for one person may cause pain to another, for example, if a job came down to two desperate people, whoever got it would be happy, the other; sad and upset. Some say that measuring pleasure was hard and therefore the hedonic calculus was created to make it easier, however it is still hard to apply and can also be impractical for quick response situations, where time is of the essence and not all of the criteria can be fully applied. The idea of utilitarianism is to predict outcomes and see how much pain/pleasure a particular action would bring; however, humans are not psychic and cannot accurately predict the future or the outcomes of an action. Linking to the point about one personas happiness comes another person’s pain, on a larger scale, whilst applying the utilitarianism principle, people are favouring the majority at the expense of the minority, whilst, in comparison they may seem more insignificant, when taking in to account the amount of people you’re helping, they are still humans that deserve happiness and avoid pain just like anyone else. Overall I do believe that there are many potential criticisms of the utilitarianism ideology however, I do not think anyone can argue against it by challenging its purpose and principle of bringing about happiness to a large amount of people, which in reality, is what most people strive for in life, as some would argue that there is no better feeling than happiness and joy.

Explaining Prophets And Their Duties Religion Essay

Explaining Prophets And Their Duties Religion Essay From a Biblical perspective, a prophet is a spokesperson on earth who proclaims Gods word, revealing things that would happen in the future. This utterance is called prophecy because its divinely inspired, and involves, revelation or interpretation. This essay will illustrate a study on prophecy in the Old Testament (OT), various people who met the criteria of being true prophets and identify those who were known to be false prophets. Further, an insight on different kinds of prophecy and there fulfilment will also be demonstrated. Prophets through various scriptures in the bible were referred to as men of God or servants of God to implicate the seriousness of their status. After the fall of man, God had a divine plan to restore His love relationship with humans and this was portrayed throughout the OT. Tholuck titled the prophets as the ancient preachers of the Church, he said, The prophets were the living depositaries of the idea of the theocracy or kingdom of God. In other words prophecy erected from the foundation of Gods law and it was the prophets who imposed it. According to the prophetic criteria, bible theologians state that Enoch (Gen. 5: 24) and Noah (Gen. 6: 9) qualified as prophets, because God spoke through them, but it was Abraham whom God first spoke of as a prophet when He warned King Abimelech against marrying Sarah (Gen. 20: 6-7). According to Bible theology, God chose the Israelites to be His representatives on earth to whom He could reveal Himself, by speaking through His chosen advocates known as the prophets so that all other nations could be blessed and know the true Living God. He wanted humans to know that He was their creator and He had divine plans and a purpose for them to live according to His will. He gave them His laws to which they were to live by, and He was to be their God. It was those laws that caused conflict between God and His people. Chris Wright believed that it was the Holy Spirit who inspired the prophets. He said, He is the Spirit who spoke through the prophets, inspiring their commitment to speak the truth and to stand for justice. This was affirmed by Peter in The New Testament when he contested the origin of the OT prophecies (2 Pet. 1: 20-21), and was evident when Saul got anointed as king and the Spirit of God took control of Him and he prophesied (1Sam. 10: 10). Since prophets were the mediators of God, they only spoke in the name of God, lived by faith and demonstrated the holiness of God, as Zechariah father of John the Baptist said in his prophecy that, As He said through His holy prophets of long ago (Luke 1: 70). The prophets had to be fully obedient to what God required of them hoping in Gods Spirit that strengthened and worked through them. Fulfilment was a key issue in the prophetic movement. Through Isaiah, God said, As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isa. 55: 10-11). Such prophecy took away any doubt about Gods will especially to the prophets themselves, who prophesied to a doubtful nation. One writer said, The criterion of true prophecy is what it should be-truth, the correspondence between the prophetic word and the realities of history. Any prophet who spoke oracles of other gods other than the God of Israel would be known as a false prophet. So the prophets main role was to co mmunicate Gods message in its fullness. Since it was Gods divine plan to use prophets to convey His messages, He illustrated that He purposely set them apart, He said, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jer. 28: 5). Prophets were from diverse back grounds, for example Amos was a shepherd (Amos 1:1), Elijah was a priest and Elisha was a herdsman (19:15-21). Although men were popularly used, women like Miriam; sister to Moses (Micah 6: 4); Deborah who served as an Israelite judge (Judges 4: 4); Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) and Noadiah (Neh. 6: 14) also served as prophets. God revealed Himself and communicated to His prophets through visions and dreams or spoke audibly to them as in the case of Moses. He said, Listen to my words: When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams (Num. 12: 6). So this is why prophets had common characteristics that identified them as Gods messengers. Their messages exposed the nature and attributes of God to men (Deut. 5:4-10); made known to men the laws of God (Ex 20: 1-17); to call the people back in obedience to Gods laws (2Chr 24:19); exhorted the people to sincerity in worship (Jer. 7:1-11); warned the Israeli tes of Divine judgment upon sin, both personal and national and foretold future events which God had willed especially the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 9:6). According to the O.T, there are three sections of books which are refered to as prophetic books and they are known as; (Joshua to Kings) the former prophets, major prophetic books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel), and finally the Minor Prophets (Hosea to Malachi). The prophetic ministry in the O.T intensified at the beginning of the Exodus when God appointed Moses and Aaron as His prophets with a mission to rescue and lead His people out of slavery from the land of Egypt after 430 years. God gave a specific oracle to Moses that His chosen people were being called to worship him. The prophetic movement appeared throughout The Exodus 1446 BCE and the period of the Israelites captivity by the Assyrians and Babylonians, to the times of Zechariah who was associated with the restoration of the temple in 521-515 BCE. There is a mention of many false prophets in the O.T. God clearly warned the Israelites never to approve of such prophets, and he would test them to see if they would remain faithfully (Deut. 13: 1-5). It was a warning that was repeatedly issued with an example of Hananiah a false prophet in Judah in the reign of King Zedekiah. (Jer. 28: 1-17). God even approved of the death of such prophets when He said, But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorised him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die (Deut. 18: 20). Prophet Elijah also challenged Jezebels prophets of Baal to show that he was serving A Living God, unlike all other gods that were worshiped in the land. He killed 450 false prophets from that confrontation (1 Kg. 18: 19-40). Prophets could also be manipulated or bribed to defy God, as in the case of King Balak of Moab who asked Balaam to curse the Israelites. Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed (Num. 22:6). Balaams response indicated that he communicated with God (Num. 22: 9-41). God revealed that He could use anything to prophecy as was in the case of Balaams donkey (Num. 22: 28). Another aspect of prophetic experience, involved the prophet himself who performed portents to support the prophecy e.g. Isaiah walked naked for 3 years in the land (Isa. 20:2); Hosea expressed the prophecy by being obedient to what God told him. Go and marry a prostitute so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worship ing other gods. (Hos. 1: 2). Though Gods prophets differed on how they prophesied, the emphasis of their messages was common. It was about sin, judgement, wrath of God, repentance, love, mercy and forgiveness of a compassionate God. For example Moses was a law giver and urged the Israelites repeatedly never to take on the pagan practices of the people of the Promised Land because God Himself would raise another prophet like him to continue a prophets great role. (Deut. 18: 14-17). The Prophet Elijah was a spiritual revivalist, and Isaiahs prophecies were upon the royal house of Judah. Prophets suffered persecution, and they were often disregarded, despised and rejected especially by rebellious kings and people who had hardened hearts and continually disobeyed Gods law, But the people would not listen and continued to follow their former practices. (2 Kg. 17: 40). Ungers Bible dictionary quotes, The genius of Old Testament prophecy was rather, a prediction of the future arising from the conditions of the present and was inseparably connected with the profoundly religious and spiritual message the prophet was called to proclaim to his own generation. Some prophecies of the OT were Forth telling prophecies that called back people unto their God in terms of repentance and change, as in the case of Jonah when God relented and withdrew plans of disaster upon Nineveh (Jonah 2). Fore telling prophecies, gave the people time to obey, seek and pray honestly to God, a significantly important feature of Biblical prophecy. Such prophecies promised restoration and events that would be fulfilled in the future declaring salvation, especially those that announced the coming of a Messiah who would come at Gods appointed time, as the final perfect sacrifice to God who would redeem mankind and fulfil the reconciliation of God and man (Hos. 14; Amos 9: 11-15). Overall, Jesus was the completion of the prophetic scriptures in the OT. Jesus testified in His time that He was the reference point of the OT prophecies. I will proclaim the LORDs decree: He said to me, You are my son; today I have become your father. (Psalm 2:7). Bible Scholars, G and R Konig said, Jesus is unique among all people in history in that he is the fulfilment of centuries of Messianic prophecies, which are found in the Old Testament that foretold his place of birth, details of his life, his mission, his nature, his death, and his resurrection. From a theological perspective, God affirms both His power and right to judge, and His steadfastness in the end to save. Jeremiah prophesied of the new covenant, whereas Ezekiel had a vision of a new temple centre stage (Ezek. 40, 48). Isaiah is also memorable for its Messianic promises (Isa 9:2-7, 11:1-9), and ideas of new creation and Exodus. If Judgement and salvation are the fabric of the OT history, it explains why so much of it was the work of the prophets, because God expressed His heart through the prophets in order to restore His relationship with man. Prophecy is one of the major ways in which God communicates His will to mankind even up to this age as written: Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Luke 10: 23-24). The prophetic movement was a significant phenomenon in history of Divine revelation. Therefore, without the prophecies in the Old Testament, humans wouldnt know of Gods intentions. This can only be summarised as Gods Divine love for mankind.

Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pearl serves as the “apple of Eden';. She is plucked from the hands of God in heaven and sent to the mortal world as a baby “to make out its [the scarlet letter’s] hidden import'; (155), causing Prynne and Dimmesdale to face their consequences. Pearl functions in the story on three levels: as a real child, as a continuing symbol of Prynne and Dimmesdale’s adultery, and as an allegorical figure sent to torment the sinners and direct their actions. Only Dimmesdale can “ripen'; her into the woman she needs to become. Otherwise she will continually serve as a representation of their mistake. Pearl is the rose bush that is located outside of the prison door. Although, she brings happiness to Prynne, Pearl is covered with “thorns';. When Mr. Wilson asks Pearl the question of who made her, Pearl responds “that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses, that grew by the prison-door'; (95). She is a good child, an “infant…worthy to have been brought forth in Eden; worthy to have been left there, to be the plaything of the angels'; (75), but she is a “born outcast of the infantile world…an imp of evil, emblem and product of sin'; (79). Her physical features did not show she is different: she has perfect arms and legs and has a native grace with innocent beauty. She is magnificent when she is displayed in her exquisite robes as her natural beauty shown through such that there was a circle of radiance around her. However, emotionally something is wrong with Pearl. If other children gather aroun d her, she would feel the dislike from the other children, and would snatch up stones to throw at them, while screaming. In the “garden'; of the Puritan society, Pearl is the rose bush, while “the ugliest weeds of the garden were their [Puritans’] children, whom Pearl smote down and uprooted, most unmercifully'; (80). Prynne, the adulterous mother, feels the guilt of bringing Pearl into the world and is reluctant to discipline the child, because Pearl is Prynne’s “sole treasure, whom she had bought so dear, and who was all her world'; (78). Pearl also represents the living embodiment of the scarlet letter embroidered on Prynne’s clothing. She “was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!'; (86).

Kate Chopin and Local Color :: Expository Essays

Kate Chopin and Local Color The background setting of most of Chopin's stories is the Creole culture of southern Louisiana. Southern Louisiana was far more French than American as a large portion of the culture was Creole -- those being the descendants of French and Spanish colonists. This Creole society was united in its Catholicism, and the French language and therefore became a "cultural subgroup which had little in common with, [and] was often in conflict with, Anglo-American society" (Walker, 97). This region of Louisiana was referred to as a "Southern Babylon" (Walker, 97). And it was this backdrop of society that Chopin used in her work which earned her the label of being a local-colorist. Consequently the term local-color is generally "taken to mean that the work has only a narrow appeal as a "novelty= piece" and are "noted more for skillful regional description than for insight into human nature" (Bourn). One common characteristic of the local color movement is the intermixing of the languages of the area, being in Chopin's stories: English and French. Yet the use of dialect, also being part of the realist tradition, "reveal[s] the various ethnic groups and ... provide[s] some regional color" (The New Laurel Review). The use of language is important to Chopin's character's status in society: for example, the higher up the character's status is the less his/her accent is discernible; while the "'lowest'" character in the story, speaks an exaggerated mix of Creole dialect and black dialect" (Bourn). However the "dialect [used] does not become a central focus obscuring the more imaginative aspects of [Chopin's] stories" (The New Laurel Review). Yet Chopin surpasses the limitations set by the local color movement, such as being novelty pieces and having a narrow appeal, because the ethnic characters that she creates "are individuals first and members of a race or nationality second" (The New Laurel Review). Chopin is "not [there] just to record the lives of people in an area, but to show how people in these places encounter and deal with issues that have universal value" (Bourn). And therefore, in direct contrast to "a local color novel ... [being] one in which the identity of the setting is integral to the very unfolding of the theme, rather than simply incidental to a theme that could as well be set anywhere" (May, 216).

Social Oppression Exposed in Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable :: Untouchable

Social Oppression Exposed in Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand offers more than just a day in the life of a member of India's lowest caste. Anand manages to "touch" the reader with Bakha's untouchability. As he struggles to internalize his place in society, Bakha displays to the reader his potential, and how his low-caste birth has affected his spirit. As the story progresses, the reader experiences with Bakha the reality of his place in society and his struggle with that realization. At one point in the novel, Bakha is sweeping the courtyard of a Hindu temple, and is overpowered by his curiosity to see what lies within. Bakha's inner struggle over peering into the temple and the repercussions of his acting out that desire parallel the divided nature of his will: A murderer might have advanced like that, one confident in his consummate mastery of the art of killing. But he soon lost his grace in the low stoop which the dead weight of years of habitual bending cast on him. †¦After he had mounted the first two steps, he stood completely demoralized with fear and retreated†¦(Anand 58) This quotation is one of several in which Anand portrays a noble side to Bakha. Bakha's movement is compared with that of "a murderer†¦ confident in his consummate mastery of the art†¦" While the word "murderer" carries negative connotations, Anand's choice of metaphor is powerful in that it carries with it all the strength of purpose and artful skill required of the professional assassin. Long years of degradation and menial work have taken their toll on Bakha. His return to a stooping posture displays more than physical deformity. The "dead weight of years" rests heavily on his spirit as well, demoralizing him into a retreat from the forbidden temple steps, and recalling to his demeanor the "humble, oppressed under-dog that he was by birth."(58) Bakha's self-doubt is reinforced when he finally summons the courage to climb the temple steps and explore the mysteries within.

Shakespeare Midterm

There are many themes through Shakespeare’s plays, As You Like It, Merchant of Venice, and All’s Well that Ends Well. such as love, pride, irony, and marriage. All three plays are comedies because essentially the love that so alludes the protagonists in the beginning of the play somehow unites them toward the end of the play through either mis-identity, in the case of Roselind and Orlando in As You Like It or Helena and Bertram in All’s Well that Ends Well, albeit the latter’s love is a forced loved by the King (whom Helena’s physician father heals of fistula), as Bertram writes to Helena while he’s at war, â€Å"When thou canst get the ring upon my finger, which never shall come off, and show me a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then call me husband† (Shakespeare III. i. 55-58). The purpose of this essay paper will be to explore these issues of love as they apply to the main characters and come to a revelation on the l ove between them and the progress of its destruction or affirmation through Shakespeare’s device of mis-identity – thus, identity and love will play a dual role in this essay along with high authorities such as royalty or fate. As You Like It As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s comedies. The focus of the play revolves around the theme of love and identity – either the changing of the main character’s identities or their dramatic use of mis-identity to other main characters. The main protagonists, Rosalind and Orlando, fall in love, but due to circumstance (such as their identities and their fates as destined by higher authorities) are unable to unite until the end of the play. The play begins with Rosalind’s banishment into the forest of Arden (along with her friend Celia and a clown) and with Orlando’s own fleeing of his brother’s plot to murder him. Thus, the beginning of the play is in direct opposition to the close of the play: the beginning of the play is about banishment and betrayal and the end of the play is about unification through love; thus it is the theme of love that unites each of these three Shakespearean plays. To the characters in As You Like It, the most important, and powerful thing in life is love and through love the reader comes to understand the concept of fate. It is the power of love that drives Rosalind to dress up as a man in order to escape being detected as herself from royalty. While she is ‘Ganymede’ (a man) she approaches Orlando and has him practice wooing Rosalind with ‘him’, thus staying true to Shakespeare’s idea of mixing comedy with love and in the process revealing certain truths about the characters (such as their feelings for one another and their destiny with each other). Thus, the beginning of the main lover’s courtship is done through this misappropriation of identity by way of a royal idea of what love should be countered with Shakespeare’s idea of what love is as seen with the mounting feelings his protagonists have with each other. It seems that the message that Shakespeare is trying to convey with these two characters is that love flourishes under the most drastic of circumstances: Two lovers fleeing or banished from home and yet through disguise are still able to find true love. As Jacques states in As You Like It, All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. (Shakespeare II. vii. 39-143). This passage’s intended meaning emphasizes love (although Shakespeare does poke fun at the intention of the play with this passage as well as Rosalind’s final speech or epilogue which requests the audience to enjoy the play at their disposal but not more than warrants undo attention). The end of the play sees Hyman the god of marriage (another pun in the play, making reference to virginity) unite Orlando and Rosalind, Oliver and Celia, Silvius and Phebe and even Touchstone and A udrey. Thus, while the beginning of the play has a start in banishment and gloom, the final act of the play is exalted in love, and in finding love, each character reveals their true identity thus suggesting to the reader that love can only come if a person is honest with themselves about who they are. Merchant of Venice The hero’s evil that is confronted in The Merchant of Venice, is that of Antonio’s (hero) to Shylock’s (the villain). This play is one of Shakespeare’s problem plays. The plot synopsis is that a young man, Bassanio wants to woe Portia but is unable to due so because of lack of funds (Hankey 431). He asks his friend Antonio for the money, and in turn, Antonio asks Shylock for a loan. The prejudice of the play is found in Antonio having spat on Shylock and called him a Jew; thus the tension for the play is set between the loan and these two principle characters. It is through Antonio’s own actions, as one can pull from the text, that his relationship with Shylock is doomed. The tension of the play is further doomed as Shylock’s daughter Jessica runs away to convert to Christianity in order to marry her lover Lorenzo; thus Shylock’s vengeance is twofold – one for getting his money back and the other for seeking vengeance from religion. Although the finer points of the play are dealing with vengeance and the scenes between Shylock and Antonio are very suspenseful, the point of the play is that love prevails despite the urgency of an opposing powerful force (thus keeping this play linked with the opposing royalty force as seen in As You Like It). Bassanio chooses the correct lead box in order to marry Portia according to her father’s will and thus, the point of the play where the suitor is involved is resolved. However, Bassanio still is entangled with the tension between Antonio and Shylock since it was for Bassanio that Antonio loaned money from Shylock. It is Antonio’s haste in agreeing to such a deal that the play is focused upon. This play is filled with smaller plot elements that add to the definition of this being a problem play. The turns which the play makes during the progression of the plot makes the play point towards being a tragedy, it is not until the end of the play that the theme of love can truly be applied: With Bassanio’s engagement and Antonio’s getting out of his deal with Shylock. Portia (in disguise as a man) asks Shylock to show mercy in her famous speech, â€Å"The quality of mercy is not strained—(Shakespeare IV,i,185), this plea comes to no avail however and Shylock is determined to extract his pound of flesh. In the end love reigns: as the court decides that since Shylock is unable to extract the flesh without shedding any blood, he must forfeit his property half to the government and half to Antonio. In a gesture of fairness, Antonio will have the principle amount given to Jessica and Lorenzo – thus, the theme of love wins at the end for Bassanio gets Portia and Jessica marries Lorenzo and Shylock. Thus, when Shylock’s daughter comes forward with her true feelings and her love, she gains power. Thus, the link between love and power and the revelation of love through true identity is found. Indeed the theme of love is found in plenty in The Merchant of Venice with the correlating couples. In a particularly romantic scene Lorenzo speaks of Jessica (Skylock’s daughter), Beshrew me but I love her heartily; For she is wise, if I can judge of her, And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, And true she is, as she hath proved herself, And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true, Shall she be placed in my constant soul. Shakespeare II, vi, 51-57. It is found in this play that Shylock is a naysayer when it comes to the subject of love; it would be prudent then to state that because of Shylock’s predisposition on the theme of love, his negative attitude about it, as revealed in the court case in the presence of the play’s caste of characters, â€Å"Some men there are love not a gaping pig, some that are mad if they behold a cat, and others when the bagpipe sings i' the nose cannot contain their urine. † (Shakespeare IIII, i, 47-50) that the end that Shylock meets with (having to convert to Christianity and losing his property) is in direct relation to his sentiments about love. The issue that Shakespeare presents them with the financial and religious demise of Shylock is that love conquers all. All’s Well that Ends Well The them of All’s Well that Ends Well is one that is definitely defined as love, albeit, a rather dishonest start to love. Bertram is made to marry Helena after her father cured the kind of an illness. Although Helena is very much in love with Bertram, as she reveals, â€Å"'T were all one, That I should love a bright particular star, And think to wed it, he is so above me. † (Shakespeare 1. 1. 98). Bertram seeks refuge in war and tells Helena that the marriage isn’t truly a marriage since they have not slept together and thus do not have any hopes of having children. Helena seeks to remedy this situation. This play, (as with the previous plays written about in this paper) exudes the cleverness of women dressing up as men in order to gain access to information or dressing up as women (as Helena does, dressing up as her maid Diana) in order to have power and information. Thus, Bertram is seduced by Helena/ Diana and made a proper husband of by his wife; in fact the play ends on Bertram’s lines, â€Å"†¦love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. (Shakespeare V. iii. 354) which are made in reference to Helena. This romantic view is littered throughout modern art – such as movies and music. The concepts to most adults of â€Å"adolescent suicide is horrifying and a little unreal†. (Hodgdon 342) To the eyes of fellow young lovers, this tale could be seen as the very definition of modern teen angst. There are obvious examples throughout the play as to why this label had been given, and remains used to this day. One way that a play may be seen as a tragedy, as Nevo wrote, is â€Å"by way of intrusive morality in the interpretation of the spectator†. Nevo 244) This means that, while the audience watches the play, it uses its own ideals of law, order, and society to judge the actions of its characters. The actions of Romeo are seen by the audience as falling against the contemporary ideals of right and wrong. Romeo is a character who longed for a chaste girl, accepted an invitation to a party under false pretences, allowed for his love of Rosaline to be completely forgotten at the sight of Juliet, and who, in a moment of extreme rage and wanton revenge, slays the cousin of his new bride (this rage is also seen in Othello’s character when he believes Desdemona is cheating on him). Thus, love reigns at the end of this play as well as it had in the end of As You Like It. Conclusion The themes of the plays have been made obvious: Love. Through the use of disguises, the women of the play are able to help themselves into positions of power through the gaining of information that would not be known to them without the ruse (as with Jessica disguising herself in order to persuade her father, Roselind in order for Orlando to woe her, and Helena in order to gain access to Bertram’s bed) (Kimbrough 30). The plays end, each in their own accord, on scenes of love and rejoicing for the characters who have found love (this means that since Shylock did not find love, he could not rejoice). Thus, love is the element of consistency in each play, and it is with love that the plays are able to progress from one scene to the next until the end of the play finds the main characters happy.