Existentialism in Heart of Darkness - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 477 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/06/12 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Heart of Darkness Essay Did you like this example? In the novel Heart of Darkness, Conrad explores existential nihilism, which is the belief that the world is without meaning or purpose. Through the protagonist Marlow, Conrad introduces the story of those on board the steamship Nellie that are unaware of their own meaninglessness. Their voyage through the African Congo depicts the absurdity of mans existence and the decay of human ideals in the chaos of the Belgian Congo. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Existentialism in Heart of Darkness" essay for you Create order Any attempt at avoiding the darkness that exists in the chaotic unorganized natural world is futile. Those that demonstrate restraint only emphasize existential nihilism as their actions ultimately result in meaninglessness. Through the characterization of Kurtz, the reader can witness a man who lacks restraint due to his acknowledgment of purposelessness. Marlows search for such a man is the ultimate goal of the novel. It is then Conrads goal to lead the reader through vagueness and pessimism to a conclusive void. The novels conclusion ultimately portrays existential nihilism, where Kurtzs last words confirm the worlds meaninglessness and Marlow becomes more like the pessimistic Kurtz due to the lie told to Kurtzs Intended. Although Conrad himself may not essentially be nihilistic, his novel contains a dark nihilistic truth: the world is without meaning or purpose. The antagonist Kurtz is an example of existential loneliness because he becomes alienated from civilized society. He intentionally avoids returning to England because he is no longer able to endure the constraints that the civilized society is trying to impose upon him. Being in the Belgian Congo with the power to carry out and whims and act on all of his desire causes Kurtzrs slow decay into savagery. For Kurtz, the misplaced authenticity of his actions, along with the unrestrained environment of the Congo proves too great a temptation for constructive engagement with the African people. The laissez-faire capitalismwhich becomes associated with power in Kurtzrs mindfostered by an imperialistic Europe leads Kurtz to become defined by materialism the appetite for more ivory had got the better of the-what shall I say? less material aspirations (Conrad 96). This materialistic inauthenticity, in turn, creates a need to gain more, and is responsible for Kurtzrs inevitable fall from existe ntial grace and resulting a subsequent godlike position amongst his natives. The protagonist Marlow is a recently appointed captain of the steamship Nellie the story being from Marlows point of view, gives a glimpse from the outside of what has changed Kurtz so irrevocably from the European man of sophistication to something far more frightening. As if to demonstrate this, Conrad depicts Kurtz on his deathbed. In the final moments of his life, Kurtz seems to see something that we cannot. Staring within himself he can only mutter, The horror! The horror! Marlow realizes that his reality is a horror, that nothing really exists but at the same time, everything does, especially when he encounters death because everything is connected.

The Federal Government’s Role in Education Essay - 848 Words

Even though the Declaration of Independence does not mention education, our founding fathers did value education. Illustrated by the ordinances they passed â€Å"in 1785 and 1787 that granted federal lands to states to create and support public school- an institution that the nation’s founders viewed as essential to democracy and national unification.† (Jennings, p3) In 1959, the admission of Alaska and Hawaii into the Union reconfirmed the Federal government’s support of education. Three distinct elements that impact education are; laws that have been passed, the removal of the church from public schools, and the role of federal government that has evolved and changed over the years. These three factors have transformed education over the†¦show more content†¦If a school fails to improve three years in a row, vouchers good for extra help, including private tutoring offered to students that wish it. (No Child Left Behind, 2011) Although NCLB has several good ideas, even President Barack Obama said, â€Å"We need to reward the reforms that are driven not by Washington, but by principals and teachers and parents.† (Obama, 2011) Since the founding of America, there has been concern with the church manipulating government. The separation of Church and State was to make sure the church did not become more powerful than government. In spite of wanting a separation of church and state, The United States of America became one nation under God. The earliest test of the separation of church and state with respect to education is McCollum versus Board of Education. This was a landmark case the United States Supreme Court in 1948 ended the power of a state to use its tax-supported public school system in aid of religious instruction. â€Å"The court case which prohibited the state from sponsoring specific prayers in public schools was Engel v. Vitale, decided in 1962 by an 8-1 vote.† (Cline p) It is unconstitutional to compose a school prayer and make students repeat it daily. Although these cases protect our religious freedoms, there is some fear that expelling God from public school has adverse effects. God can still be present; teachers can lead by example and teach behaviors and ethics thatShow MoreRelatedThe Evolving Role of Government in Education965 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: THE EVOLVING ROLE OF GOVERMRNT IN EDUCATION The Evolving Role of Government in Education Latoya T Bond The Evolving Role of Government in Education Most school age children in the United States receive their education through the public school system. There are several components that must come together in unison in order for the US public schools to operate at maximum potential. Strong arguments can be made as to which of the components are most important. Many peopleRead MorePresident Obama s Semblance Of Education Reform Essay1593 Words   |  7 Pagessemblance of education reform in Race to the Top, various factions were vehemently against RTT and its implementation. Republicans primarily stand against federal involvement in state and local schools. The party opposed RTT advanced Common Core State Standards, which promote a â€Å"one size fits all approach to education† (Spring, 2015, 63). Along with political factions, those majorly impacted by RTT objected to its premise. The main teachers unions in the U.S., the National Education Association asRead MoreWhat Is The Supreme Law Of The Land1041 Words   |  5 Pagesto define the roles of our newly formed government, the contributions of our residents, define the methods of promoting and controlling trade, healthcare, the laws of our society, and the framework for interpreting and adopting this document. This document will become the supreme law of the land. Our constitution is designed to uphold policies which do not promote an agenda but to provide for ideas which create solutions for our country at large. Due to this reasoning our federal government shallRead MoreThe Future Of Higher Education1597 Words   |  7 PagesRESEARCH PAPER THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION Submitted to Jalynn Roberts, Ph.D. In partial fulfillment of the requirements for EDH 701: History and Foundations of Higher Education William Carey University Spring 2017 By James A. McGee jmcgee@wmcarey.edu 228-342-8288 April 26, 2017 Abstract This paper will examine five emerging trends associated with the future of higher education. Within the United States higher education has become commercialized. Obtaining a college degree has beenRead MoreGovernment And Virtue By Benjamin Franklin1197 Words   |  5 Pagesclaims to freedom. This gives rise to the question of what makes a person virtuous and how that virtue should be cultivated. Regardless of the specifics of virtue, virtue is a value that every society should foster. However, the federal government has little active role to play in nurturing a virtuous citizenry because the power to do so has been reserved for the states, but the true ability to foster virtue lies with the citizens. Virtue Overview Virtue encompasses the many good qualities that areRead MoreFederal Funding For Public Broadcasting1731 Words   |  7 Pagesto explore the pros and cons of the proposal to eliminate federal funding to The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). In doing so, first we will explore several facets of this issue including first the cost of funding from both a governmental and taxpayer perspective. Secondly, understanding the services provided and the audience served is integral in this discussion. Lastly, we will consider government’s role in media and education. The conversation, however, must start with the history, valuesRead MoreA Country Using A Central Government1513 Words   |  7 Pagesfrequently enough is a question that arises many different responses, often differing vastly. Personally, I believe the government does well in some aspects of the well being of our country but not so well in others. At the very basis of the federal government’s involvement in privacy lie the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. The fourth amendment was composed with one sole purpose: to guarantee security in one’s rightful domain. So long as a citizen is law abiding, this amendment provides legal privacyRead MorePolitical Parties And The Democratic Party Essay1340 Words   |  6 PagesDemocratic Party, prefer to keep the power out of the hands of the government. Political parties’ business and actions affect every American. Especially when the political party is governing and practicing its beliefs. The structure of marriage, education, taxes, and defense spending are all topics that influence the daily lives of American individuals. That is why is it is important to know where each political party stands. Marriage and Family: Republicans describe marriage as â€Å"the union of oneRead MoreCooperative Federalism Rests On Several Standard Operating Procures1259 Words   |  6 Pagesstandard operating procures Shared Costs Cities and states can receive federal money for airport construction, sewage treatment plants, youth programs, and many other programs, but only if they pay part of the bill Federal Guidelines Most federal grants to states and cities come with strings attached. Congress spends billions of dollars to support state highway construction Shared Administration State and local officials implement federal policies, but they have administrative powers of their own The u’sRead MoreHealth Law and Regulations1354 Words   |  6 PagesHealth Law and Regulations Crystal Young HCS 545 October 3, 2011 Louise Underdahl Health Care Regulation Regulation plays a major role in the healthcare industry and healthcare insurance coverage. Through various regulatory bodies, the Department of Health and Human Services protects the public from a number of health risks while providing programs for public health and welfare. Agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Saturday Night at the Birthday Party Free Essays

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE BIRTHDAY PARTY Introduction: Saturday, March 13th 2004, my friend Hannah had a costume party for her 13-year-old son Jason. Hannah invited 13 children to Jason’s birthday costume party at her home in Kissimmee. The children’s ages ranged from three to thirteen years old. We will write a custom essay sample on Saturday Night at the Birthday Party or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mostly everyone came to her home dressed in colorful costumes. Some were friendly, scary or funny,others were homemade or store bought. A young married couple arrived around 4:30 pm with their three-year-old son, Matthew, who is the subject of this paper.. His father John was dressed as a tattered bum and his wife Sarah was dressed as a friendly pretty witch. Little Matthew who is usually a white, blond hair male was dressed in a black cat outfit complete with the painted face to resemble a cat. He also wore the red nose, red cheeks and whiskers. He is tall and thin for his age. According to John and Sarah, Matthew’s parents, their son is a curious little boy by nature. Emotional Deveopment and Stranger Anxiety Matthew demonstrated a wide range of basic emotions as Kail and Cavanaugh predicted. Most scientists agree that complex emotions don’t surface until 18 to 24 months of age (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 186). † Complex emotions require the additional step of reflecting on one’s own behavior and how one feels about it. Matthew moved his big blue eyes as he scanned the busy room filled with wild assortments of costumes that floated around him. Matthew did not speak much but his facial expressions of wond erment seemed to say what his mouth did not. Sometimes, his face would light up with excitement and other times he seemed to be paralyzed by fear. He reacted to the hip-hop music by bouncing up and down and clapping his hands. Matthew demonstrated â€Å"stranger wariness; by the end of the first year the child becomes wary in the presence of an unfamiliar adult (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 188). † He ran to his mother and father and hid his face in his mother’s lap when someone approached him to try to engage him in a dance. Until then he appeared to have forgotten about his parents. His ability to explore and his quick return to his parents when frightened showed that he had a secure attachment to his mother’s presence (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 177). Temperament I myself was dressed as Raggedy Annie. Matthew did not seem to be impressed with or afraid of my costume. He showed much interest in some of the other more outrageous costumes i. e. : a Martian with antennas, and a â€Å"Bug’s Life† look alike. Matthew just simply sat and stared at other costumes. He also smiled and laughs at others. When his parents allowed him to move about freely, Matthew hesitated and clung to his parents. That did not last for very long. As the night wore on, Matthew adjusted to his freedom and ventured away from the safety of his parents. This behavior can be easily related to temperment. Temperament is a consistent style or pattern in a child’s behavior (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 93). † When Matthew was first introduced to his new environment, he seemed slow to the adjustment. He seemed to be processing new information rather than just reacting to it. His activity level was very low at first. As time passed, he became more and more comfortable in his new surroundings and began to respond to it more favorably. This is evidence of â€Å"Slow-To-Warm-Up† temperament in which the child’s behavior is initially inhibited and then becomes more like the Easy or Difficult temperament types. He did not pay much attention to the people who were not dressed in costumes. He did not play or laugh with them at all. Rather, he appeared to be more interested in the array of colorful costumes and the behavior that they were engaged in, either laughing and/or dancing. Psychosocial Development Erikson predicted that by age 2 children strive for autonomy, â€Å"independence from others and control over their own behavior (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 179). † Around 6:00 pm it was time to eat. John and Sarah tried to get Matthew to sit with them so that they could eat together. Matthew did not want to sit. He began to cry and pull away when his dad tried to lift him up. When they got Matthew to the table, Matthew did not want to eat. His parents tried everything. He was too excited about all that was going on around him. Clearly Matthew wanted to regulate what was and was not going to happen by exerting his independence so profoundly. He had demostrated his autonomy by resisting, crying, and pulling away. He is probably still going through his terrible two years. He has a strong will power, but it is short lived. His reaction to some of the other more scary costumes and his need to be in the safety of his parents at that time showed some doubt as to his ability to deal with the unexpected. Once again, Matthew became unsure of himself. Erikson would classify this type of behavior as â€Å"AUTONOMY vs SHAME DOUBT†. Cognitive Development Some of the other guests sensing what was going on with Matthew, attempted to help John and Sarah. A happy smiling clown went over and played with Matthew. The clown got him to eat some of his hamburger and french fries. A white rabbit with a big fuzzy tail pretending to nibble on an orange carrot went over to play with him and Matthew laughed and played joyfully. A silly puppet went over and danced in front of Matthew. The puppet also got Matthew to eat a little more of his french fries and drink some of his apple juice. When the colorful clown and the silly puppet interacted with Matthew he reached out to them, smiled and laughed with them. They got him to eat. Then a hungry pig came over to Matthew and tried to play with him. Matthew cried and pulled away. A ghost and a Freddy Kruger look alike went to say hello to Matthew. Matthew cried, swatted his hands at them to leave, twisted away from them, and started yelling no-no. Matthew’s fear of Freddy reveals the quality of â€Å"Appearance as reality† which is characteristic of the Preoperational stage of cognitive development (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 138). During the preoperational stage, magical thinking is the rule and children have great difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality. In Matthew’s mind he believed the costumes were real. He believed the scary characters wanted to harm him (twisting away, swatting hands, crying out no no). His behavior was guided by a mistaken belief (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2004, pa. 123). I asked Matthew about the clown and the rabbit. Matthew said, â€Å"FUNNY, I WANT GO DOWN AND PLAY WITH THEM†. Matthew was also displaying â€Å"CONFUSION BETWEEN APPEARANCE AND REALITY†. Matthew is probably in the pre-operational stage of development. Although Matthew’s parents as well as he himself were dressed in costumes he still could not understand that these where simply people dressed up as he and his parent’s were. Theory of Mind This behavior is typical for a pre-operational thinker. Piaget stated that children typically believe others see the world – literally and figuratively – exactly as they do. (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2004, pa. 134). Matthew may have seen these types of characters in other settings, like television. Based on the animated characters portrayals, and the way others reacted toward them, his memory has probably developed a schema toward those characters (fear-bad or friendly-nice). After getting permission from his parents I spoke with Matthew. I asked him why he cried when the pig and ghost tried to play with him? Matthew said because they are bad. Then I asked if the pig and the ghost had been mean to him. His reply was â€Å"SCARRY†. This statement has lead me to believe that Matthew was exercising a â€Å"theory of mind† by attributing motivations to the other characters (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 123). (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2006, pa. 186) Conclusion: In Matthew’s preoperational thinking, an object’s appearance tells what the object is really like. Matthew is learning how to assert his wishes and to categorize his likes and dislikes. He has a theory of mind which includes attributes of good vs. evil. He showed no emotion towards the people who were not in costumes even though they were strangers to him. He paid much more attention to the people who were in costumes and perceived them to be what they were imitating. Matthew distinguished between the clown, puppet, rabbit, pig, ghost and the â€Å"Freddy Kruger† look alike. He had and idea of what was safe and what was not safe, no matter how friendly they were to him. He demonstrated a wide range of emotion and secure attachment to his parents. Bibliography: Kail, V. C. , Cavanaugh, J. C. (2004). Human Development-A Life-Span View Belmont, CA. ; Wadsworth, How to cite Saturday Night at the Birthday Party, Essay examples

Implementing Policy Include Communication †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Implementing Policy Include Communication. Answer: Introduction: Three long-term employee relations objective include job design which can be achieved through clearly defining tasks to be done, skills required for the work and how these tasks should be done. Organization culture is another objective which can be achieved through improved communication between the management and its workers. The third objective is workforce planning which should be achieved by involving the workers in planning roles (Radhakrishna Raju, 2015). Analyzing employee relationship based on the above objective would require that employees are examined on the basis of whether they are performing their roles according to their skills under job design (Seifert, Brockner, Bianchi Moon, 2016). Analyzing existing employee relation under organizational culture would require examining absenteeism and days lost in industrial disputes. Employee relations under workforce planning can be determined by a positive picture while a non-existent involvement would lead to distrust between staff and management. Evaluating options regarding cost benefit would be measured through productivity measures, days lost to industrial action, labor turnover and absenteeism. Under risk analysis, five steps are used which include identification of risks, evaluation of the risks, developing a control plan, analyzing the budget and risk administration. To abide by workplace laws, workers have to follow the rules of the organization as stipulated. Workplace health and safety can be followed by a set of procedures provided by the authority. Equal employment opportunity can be governed based on skills and requirements. One can abide by anti-discriminatory laws by ensuring workers are not punished for similar mistakes. Higher management should be involved in developing the policy to ensure all aspects are covered through encouraging ideas and feedback from both the management and staff. Skills and knowledge in implementing the policy include communication, listening and negotiation skills as well as knowledge in enterprise and workplace bargaining processes, relevant legislation and organization goals and objectives. My documented objective for Colesworths industrial relations includes promoting a healthy relationship, increase productivity and ensuring the rules are well understood in the workplace. The methodology I will use is to analyze the risk in involved, ensure compliance with fair work and ensure sufficient training and development is offered. The time frame will take a month with weekly meetings. The training and development for Colesworths will evaluate the existing skills, train different sets of skills that are required, ensure the training is based on national standards and train a team leader. Create a committee from the team to ensure consultative discussions are agreed upon References Radhakrishna, A., Raju, R. S. (2015). A Study on the Effect of Human Resource Development on Employment Relations. IUP Journal of Management Research, 14(3), 28-42. Seifert, M., Brockner, J., Bianchi, E. C., Moon, H. (2016). How Workplace Fairness Affects Employee Commitment. MIT Sloan Management Review, 57(2), 15-17.

Macbeth Tragic Hero Or A Dead Butcher English Literature Essay Essay Example

Macbeth Tragic Hero Or A Dead Butcher English Literature Essay Paper In my sentiment, Macbeth is represented as a tragic hero. Macbeth s characger is a authoritative illustration of a Shakespearian tragic hero. In many of Shakespeare s calamities, the chief character starts off as a really courageous, epic individual whom everyone praises. However as clip moves on, the character loses repute because he has to confront a moral quandary and fatal defect. In Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 2, we know that Macbeth is the chief character, because of his brave actions in the conflict. A tragic hero s exceeding nature by and large raises him above the mean degree of humanity. Macbeth s instance the fatal defect, katharsis was his aspiration. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Tragic Hero Or A Dead Butcher English Literature Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Tragic Hero Or A Dead Butcher English Literature Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Tragic Hero Or A Dead Butcher English Literature Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Macbeth s gallantry can be seen by the manner Macbeth rejects fortune that is personified as a glorious warrior. Macbeth is described as Brave Macbeth and besides as a retainer of the God Valour ; he is Valour s minion . The godMacbeth s violent nature supports his place as a hero contending for Scotland. Macbeth is seen to hold unseamed him from the nave to the chops. Shakespeare creates a violent imagination of Macbeth viciously killing Macdonwald. Clearly this is violent but besides adept. The usage of unseamed is a metaphor from vesture that shows his preciseness and expertness. Macbeth can be seen as a heroic warrior as he is contending for Scotland. He is represented as a valorous character who hunts down Scotland s enemies. Carved out his transition boulder clay he faced the slave We can see Macbeth s accomplishment as he carves like an expert. He is an complete violent death machine, but because he serves Scotland he is non a meatman even though he has the accomplishments of a meatman. When Macbeth and Banquo returned to Scotland, Macbeth was greeted by 3 enchantresss with 3 different salutations. The three enchantresss say, All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail Macbeth that shalt be king afterlife. ( Act 1 Scene 3 Line 48 ) Macbeth did non believe the enchantresss prognostications at first, but after Ross informs Macbeth that the male monarch has merely gave him the place of Thane of Cawdor he starts to believe that they are true. When the prognostication of being the thane of Cawdor, he thinks that it is obvious that the other prognostication of going the male monarch will come true every bit good. This declines his aristocracy by thought of being a male monarch, which means that he would hold to interrupt the concatenation of being. The concatenation of being is the position of God, Jesus, angels, male monarchs and etc. and the King is God s appointed representative so Macbeth can non be King. Besides, Macbeth knows that if Duncan dies for some ground, it would be the princes who d be the male monarchs afterwards. Macbeth becomes confused about how he d be a male monarch when he was nowhere near the throne line but he still tries to believe about how to go the male monarch as he is influenced by his fatal defect ; aspiration. In Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth knows about the enchantresss prognostications. Lady Macbeth truly wants to go the queen of Scotland, hence she starts promoting Macbeth to slay King Duncan. Lady Macbeth puts an tremendous impact on Macbeth of slaying Duncan. At first, he denied Lady Macbeth s suggestion, but in the terminal he does slay Duncan which is his moral quandary. I ll travel no more ; I am afraid to believe what I have done ; Look I wo nt once more I dare non. ( Act 2, scene 2, line 51 ) This quotation mark is when Macbeth came back after slaying Duncan and Tells Lady Macbeth that he would neer make such thing once more. This shows that Macbeth is scared about the title he has done. Lady Macbeth so takes control of this state of affairs, where Macbeth is excessively frightened to make anything. This quotation mark is when Lady Macbeth says that this H2O will clean their bloody custodies and wipe out their wickedness. a small H2O clears us of this title. ( Act 2, Scene 2, line 67 ) . The 3rd prognostication comes true after Malcolm and Donalbein runs off from Scotland, scared for their lives and Macbeth becomes the King of Scotland. However, now he is eager to make anything to maintain on being the male monarch of Scotland. Therefore, he hired bravos to kill Banquo because he knows about the prognostication and Banquo has started to surmise Macbeth. At this point, Macbeth s place declines even more than when it was when Macbeth had murdered King Duncan. Killing your best friend to stay as a male monarch is non really heroic. He besides, wanted Banquo s boies to be killed, because the prognostication said that Banquo s boies would be male monarchs. This means that Banquo s boy, Fleance would be a menace to Macbeth or his posterities. However, Fleance flights and Macbeth becomes irritated. He says, Then comes my fit once more ; I had else been perfect. Whole as the marble, founded a the stone, as wide and general as the casing air, but now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, edge in to saucy uncertainties and frights. But Banquo s safe? ( Act 3 Scene 4 lines 21 ) Macbeth s diminution in position is really clear now. Macbeth is a whole different character since the beginning of the drama. He was loyal to the male monarch in the beginning, but now he is non afraid of anything. He thought of nil of killing neither Duncan nor Banquo. He was non afraid of the effects of his actions even though he knew precisely what they would be. This is besides another portion of Aristotle s theory on tragic heroes. After this at Act 4 Scene 1, Macbeth visits the enchantresss to cognize more about what would go on to him in the hereafter. When Macbeth arrived the enchantresss were fixing the charming caldron. Macbeth demands the enchantresss to reply his inquiries when Hecate says that all is ready to be done. Macbeth drinks the caldron the enchantresss give him and the first phantom appears and warns to Macbeth that he should be cognizant of Macduff. In my sentiment, Macbeth is a tragic hero in this Shakespeare drama. The Aristotle theory about tragic heroes backs the drama up. Harmonizing to Aristotle s theory about tragic heroes, the character must be at a high position in the beginning, have some virtuousnesss, have a tragic defect, and attain readers understanding in the terminal of the narrative. Macbeth fits into all the demands as a tragic hero. Therefore he is a tragic hero.

The face Essay Example

The face Essay Example The face Essay The face Essay Essay Topic: The Haunting Of Hill House Tears stream down his cheeks as he slams the door and hits the light switch, instantly covering the room with darkness. He can still hear them screaming and fighting although the door muffles the sounds coming from his parents bedroom. His tears gradually turn to muted sobs as he buries his face deeper into his soft pillows. For once the fight isnt about him, for once it isnt his name they are screaming, but still he feels he is to blame, he is at faultTime passes but to him it doesnt matter, it doesnt exist. The screaming from his parents bedroom has stopped, but it still echoes through his mind. Every word, every shed tear a vivid, his tears stop yet the echo resides as he reaches for the lighter hidden in the back of his bedside draw. Why am I such a wimp? He said to himself. He flicks on a flame and stares at it momentarily allowing his eyes to dance with the flame before lighting a candle he keeps on his window sill.The candle pushes back the darkness and bathes the room in a ge ntle warming glow a soothing glow, but to him its out of place, it doesnt belong just like him The homely glow of the candle is a mocking fire of happiness he will never achieve. Hurriedly he blows out the candle, the darkness embracing him once again. He paces the length of his room, trying to get his mind away from the screaming voices causing his ears to ring momentarily. Eventually his mind drifts away from the angry voices of his parents but his mind focuses on another voice. A voice he doesnt know, yet the voice sounds familiar to him.He stops his pacing. Giving the voice, this soothing voice his full attention, the voice scares him. He feels the hair on the back of his neck rise and floods his body as this disquieting yet irresistible voice whispers.Light the candle Simon He finds himself compelled no matter how unwilling he is to obey whispering to himself.Yes, I will light the candle. He stands in front of the candle staring at its flame, yet it doesnt feel right, there is another presence in his room he feels petrified yet again the voice that only he can hear whispers almost commandingly to him.Thank you Simon. Now let me see your face, turn and face me! Unwillingly he turns, hesitant, scared at what he might find, he hasnt looked up just yet, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor by his feet, as the voice invades his thoughts almost sounding deafening as it comes with its familiar whisper.Why wont you look at me Simon? Simon raise your eyes and face me! Like a puppet he slowly raises his gaze only to find he stands facing his own reflection in the mirror, his breathe catches fast in his throat.The voice was his! The strange presence in his room was his own reflection! Yet something is different something is wrong with his reflectionIt is him yes, but it is not, it looks gaunt, the eyes hold no life only a glazed reflection, an imitation of his pity life. The voice intrudes upon him, a hint of coldhearted laughter in its toneWhy do you look so shocked Simon? Does your own reflection scare you? The reflection said, as if trying to taunt him. The voice chuckles softly in content.Do not worry Simon, for I am not what you are now. I am your dead self. Another chuckle followed by a sigh.For you see Simon When you are to die this is what you would look likeThe voice drowned his mind into a sea of confusion; Simon was scared, unsure, desperately seeking a logical explanation for this. After a few minutes of deathly silence Simon was uncertain if his eyes were deceiving him but the reflection, his reflection seemed to become more vivid, more real, more threatening.Simon had had enough of this so called illusion; he removed his eyes away from the mirror, spinning around and douses the candle with his fingers, breathing heavily, body trembling from shock and confusion. Slowly he crawled his bed eyeing the place on his dark wall where his mirror was. Many minutes passed before he entered a deep troubled sleep, and the final thing he heard in the moments before he drifted off into his dreams, he hoped is a rustle of the leaves and not the mirror haunting him.*** ***Simon woke up late the next morning; he ignored the bizarre events of the previous night shrugging it off as a nightmare. His parents had gone out, to where he didnt know and frankly he doesnt care. The only time the house is quiet is when they arent there.Finally another day in his life has ended and he has locked himself in his room; his parents had come home early. They had gone out shopping apparently, but Simon knew the truth as did both his parents, his dad had gone to the bar again; he stank of alcohol and couldnt stand straight for more than a minute without support, and his mum had gone to discuss work with a colleague, yet the makeup and the smell of another mans aftershave on her told Simon that she had gone to visit her boyfriend: which she did more and more these days. Yet his father was too drunk to notice.Before he had managed to stumble into the house he was already shouting, Simon wasnt sure if it was directed at him or his mother. To be honest he didnt care, he ran upstairs as his father struggled with the door, both doors slamming simultaneously, one open, one shut. Simon was safe from his drunken fathers ragefor now.As the sun dipped lower in the sky his fathers got louder and louder, until the walls echoed with his drunken anger. Finally the sun had faded behind the horizon and Simon could hide in the darkness. Slowly he closed his curtains watching the change of darkness.He is safe once again; the darkness smothers his fathers angry shouts and his mothers fearful sobs.He feels the presence in his room again, the one from the night before. This time he knows he is awake, turning he lights the candle and hurriedly he spins around as he gaunt reflection laughs almost happilyWhy, good evening Simon It smiles almost taunting him.Im glad you decided to return but tell me, why did you leave so last night, and who are yo u? Keeping his eyes on the mirror Simon slowly walked and sat down on his bed and to his startled surprise the reflection stayed standing facing him. His shock was all too evident to the impress of his reflection.Whats wrong Simon? You thought I would copy your every action didnt you? A triumphant cackle emits from the mirror as Simon nods solemnly in admission. What on earth made you assume that? We arent attached at the hip you knowSimon couldnt help but giggle at that obvious fact. Laughing for the first time in how long? He couldnt remember. Simon wasnt sure if his father had heard him or if he had decided he would be the outlet for his anger, but he was at his door banging on hard, the hinges groaning under the attack. Simons reflection glanced at door and turned to Simon whispering calmlyOpen the door Simon, let him in, Ill show him the errors of his ways. Mumbled his reflection. As much as Simon didnt want to, he got up and walked to his door watching it shake violently, as h e reached for the handle he realized that he wasnt shaking. His hands were still, he was oddly calm, slowly he unlocked the door.Before he had taken his hand away from the key his father had flung it open, knocking Simon across the room into a crumbled heap against the wall. He stormed across the room grabbing Simon and lifting his limp body off the floor, glaring at him with demonic eyes full of hatred. He raises his hand in a closed fist, doing the bidding of the demons but a voice stops him.Why hello there.Simons possessed father turned to the source of the voice and found he was staring at the mirror, but the mirror did not reflect his image no, it still reflected the dead gaunt reflection of Simon, a small deathly smile on its lips.Who the hell- or what the hell are you?! he bellows at the mirror, the reflection smiled and pointed at Simon with its semi withered and death persevered hand.That is who I am. Spoke Simons reflection confidently. The anger faded from Simons fathers face and was replaced with daze and confusionWha-? is all he managed to mumble. The ghostly visage of Simons reflection smiled and said nothing, just locked his gaze with Simons fathers hazy eyes. At first it was just a staring contest to him, but soon he started to panic, he was paralyzed in place, Simons limp body slipped from his fingers, he tried to blink but nothing. His eyes were burning but he couldnt relieve the sting. Soon this was the least of his worries, he felt the strength fade from his body, his body withering excruciatingly as the life was slowly being drained from him. Droplets of blood were slowly squeezing out his pores until there was a slowly continuous trickle of blood coming out of every available orifice and pore. His vision finally fading to black and the final audible sound other than the blood gurgling out his ears is the sound of every bone splintering in his shriveling crumbling form.Finally the reflection blinks letting Simons father fall free from his gaze. His body collapses to the blood soaked floor in a crumpled heap of empty skin and bone splinters.Hours passed until Simon finally woke up, sitting up slowly he wiped away the blood from his mouth, and his eyes focus on the ruined form of what was left of his father. Yet he doesnt scream, he doesnt cry instead he smiles softly, a blood chilling smile turning slowly to face his reflection in the mirror the smile not leaving his lips he whispers:Thank you His reflection returns the same cold, eerie smile embracing Simon in its gaze.Youre safe now Simon, I will protect you from anyone who dares try bring harm to you, but I need you to do something for me Simons smile slowly fades and his brow furrows in confusion, hesitantly he asks:What do you want me to do? His reflection smiles tracing its finger lightly over the mirror.Now, wheres your mother?

Personal Narrative Being a Christian in a Pluralistic Society Research Paper - 1

Personal Narrative Being a Christian in a Pluralistic Society - Research Paper Example When I first started out as a young Christian, I thought that all worldviews that were not my own had to be wrong or backward in some way.   Then, as I began to become wiser with age—having attended Selma Unviersity—I learned about different ways one can see the world with my university studies.   I learned more about my Christian faith and how to preach at Birmingham Baptist Bible College.   At Faith Grant Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama—my spiritual formation was shaped even more than when I was at BBBC.   My BA in pastoral theology, my MA in religion, and my doctorate of Divinity have all shaped who I am today.   Without that theological training, I doubt that I would have become as open-minded as I am today.   In addition, I studied through distance learning with Trinity Distance Studies.   As such, I am currently working towards a Masters in General Psychology with University of the Rockies, after having received a BA in Psychology from Ashford University in 2007.   Before getting my degree in psychology, I never had fully appreciated how complex human beings are—from their motivations to their religious practices and everything else which makes people their unique selves.  Ã‚  When I first started out as a young Christian, I thought that all worldviews that were not my own had to be wrong or backward in some way.   Then, as I began to become wiser with age—having attended Selma Unviersity—I learned about different ways one can see the world with my university studies.   I learned more about my Christian faith and how to preach at Birmingham Baptist Bible College.   At Faith Grant Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama—my spiritual formation was shaped even more than when I was at BBBC.   My BA in pastoral theology, my MA in religion, and my doctorate of Divinity have all shaped who I am today.   Without that theological training, I doubt that I would have become as open-minded as I am t oday.   In addition, I studied through distance learning with Trinity Distance Studies.   As such, I am currently working towards a Masters in General Psychology with University of the Rockies, after having received a BA in Psychology from Ashford University in 2007.   Before getting my degree in psychology, I never had fully appreciated how complex human beings are—from their motivations to their religious practices and everything else which makes people their unique selves.  Ã‚   The reason why pluralism is the focus of this writing is because I feel it is a very important issue to address in today’s society—and I have learned to become comfortable with pluralism, because I now understand the intricacies of Cartesian dualism and can appreciate the fact that everyone who does not believe what I believe is necessarily wrong.   In fact, we may all have different paths to God, but that does not make my religion any better than someone else’s.   We just have different perspectives.   I believe this is a wholesome outlook in a world where relativistic attitudes are common, and lots of people don’t stand up for their beliefs anymore.   I believe that I can be a strong, committed Christian—even in the face of shifting paradigms in various religious communities.   The context in which my learning took place with regards to pluralism includes a strict Christian upbringing in a Baptist family.  Ã‚