Monday, December 23, 2019
A Woman at a Crossroads - 600 Words
A Woman at a Crossroads Career development plans are essential in a clientââ¬â¢s career development. The plan incorporates all the tools and skills of a career counselor to aid the client in a framework fitting for the clientââ¬â¢s background. The responsibility of the career counselor is to address the issues of the clientââ¬â¢s satisfaction in their career and identifying their needs, wants, capacity, and challenges. In doing so the career counselor creates goals to build an action plan. Assisting clients in who they are as a person and what their career goals are is an essential in establishing a working alliance in career counseling. This paper will display the draft of the final project in case of Alaina. Alaina The information I would obtainâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦She also coached tennis in high school. She even thought about being a sports writer for tennis events. She is involved in the Catholic Church. She thinks herself to be ambitious in professional, but dedicated and compassionate. She has mild depression that is chronic and has participated in counseling twice in eight years. Once from her cousins suicide and the second for couples counseling. They had fifteen sessions to deal with her husbands alcoholism and anger. It made her marriage better and her husband supports the change in career. She is on 20 mg of fluoxetine that keeps her mood stable. She is unhappy that she doesnââ¬â¢t get excited or overly happy. In the last two weeks she has been anxious, waking earlier, and when she does feeling mild dread. She sees her family doctor in two weeks for poor sleeping. Alaina has been thinking of going back to school and her friend suggested being a school psychologist. Al aina thinks going to school would be tough. She also think school psychologists only put children in special education. She likes to cook, play poker, work in gardens, and physical fitness. Alaina considered the options of being an editorial assistant for a publisher, technical writer, or working with adults in recreation planning. She also thought of being a dietitian because of how much work she puts into her diet and her family. Motivation for Counseling Clients can seek counseling any time, but thereShow MoreRelatedReaching Out to the Community with the Stand at the Crossroad Ministry734 Words à |à 3 Pagesdrug abusers. One that has made a significant difference in the Aiken area is Stand at the Crossroad Ministry. Stand at the Crossroads Ministry is led by Deborah Lamb, who is willing to accept people from every walk of life despite their past or present challenges. Through her experience, sacrifice, and acts of service, Deborah Lamb has become a treasure to many in our neighborhoods. Stand at the Crossroads is a Christian based organization created to help, encourage, and give support to women onRead MoreAnalysis Of Gloria Anzaldua s Poem, The And English, A Multicultural Woman And The Struggles1555 Words à |à 7 Pagesculture associated with being a part of many communities show the culture as they see it through their work. One such author is Gloria Anzaldua. In her poem, To Live in the Borderlands Means You, Gloria Anzald ua reveals her identity as a multicultural woman and the struggles that she faces in doing so. She relates this through the use of Spanish and English, first person perspective, and gender. Acculturation was first defined by Redfield and colleagues as ââ¬Å"a phenomenon which results when groups of individualsRead MoreHills Like White Elephants Analysis Essay1636 Words à |à 7 Pagesbrusque dialogue, we see the manipulating power a man can have in influencing the decisions of a woman who loves him. However, the story also demonstrates, as the plot develops, how a womanââ¬â¢s hesitancy can lead to personal growth and strength in overcoming opposition as well as how little control the man ultimately has in the end. In the narrative, it is never actually stated what the man and woman were discussing while casually having alcoholic beverages. Hemmingway never uses the direct term abortionRead More Gender Role Reevaluation in Boys and Girls by Alice Munro Essay775 Words à |à 4 Pagesan air of gallantry and abandon (470) to the girls sheltered life. Just as the girl experiences confusion and angst, Flora [is] given to fits of violent alarm (470) of more of tangible nature. An approaching crossroad in Floras life, namely her death, parallels the crossroad of identity the girl is facing. With the realization of Floras death, the girl adopts a new wariness, a sense of holding-off, in [her] attitude to [her] father and his work (473), causing her to question the veryRead MoreStruggles of Immigrants Essay1158 Words à |à 5 Pagesthird and the fourth, which are couplets, and they have rhymes at the end of several lines (Welcome). For the writer this rhyming sound is necessary, that is why in the first stanza he writes ââ¬Å"girl or man,â⬠which usually would be girl and boy, or woman and man, to make it rhyme with the word ââ¬Å"Americanâ⬠(Welcome). There is a magic melting pot (Barnet) where any girl or man (Barnet) can step in Czech or Greek or Scot, (Barnet) step out American (Barnet). Randall uses a cynical tone to describeRead MoreCrossroads at Clarksdale by Francoise Hamlin1108 Words à |à 4 Pages Crossroads at Clarksdale by Francoise Hamlin sketches the struggle to freedom for African Americans in Clarksdale, MS. Hamlin shares the stories of two successful African Americans at the forefront and how they work to become leaders in Clarksdale. From the 1950ââ¬â¢s to the 1970s, college students, numerous organizations, and campaigns for social transformation fought hard battles for social and economic justice. In an attempt to withstand the social prejudices that were highly advocated in MississippiRead MoreSocial Problems Associated With Racial Discrimination1209 Words à |à 5 PagesAfrican Americans. Wherever African Americans go in India, many people stare at them and make racist remarks just because they are different. ââ¬Å"A black man in India is automatically considered a drug dealer, sex trafficker or a violent person. A black woman is a sex workerâ⬠(Rai). C: Canada is one of the few nations that handles racism well. There are many foundations that primarily focus on anti-racism strategies, such as the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. This group was formed due to the CanadianRead MoreTruth Revealed in Sophoclesà ´ Oedipus the King Essay689 Words à |à 3 Pagesconfronted by Tiresias and Creon when their revelations threaten his reality. This certainly reflects an attitude of a man lacking patience and self-control. Thus we see how he could have reacted when confronted by Laius many years ago at the symbolic crossroads. It is debatable whether Oedipus could have escaped his fateââ¬âa fate that was already predetermined by the Gods. Throughout the play his character reveals how he determines his behavior that leads to his self-revelation and self-destruction. OedipusRead MoreAn Icon of American Expansionism Essay1092 Words à |à 5 Pageshad reached an ideological crossroad. Following a series of foreign conflicts which left America as an active participant in global expansion and a growing world power, by the conclusion of the 19th century, the nation was forced to determine whether or not it would permanently adopt a national doctrine of expansion and Imperialism. In many ways, the female depiction of the United States in the 1901 issue of Puck Magazine can be seen as an embodiment of this crossroads: the subject serves as Americaââ¬â¢sRead MoreSophocles Oedipus Tyrannus : Fate And Free Will1505 Words à |à 7 Pagesroad was the king of the city nearby, which in time would have a great impact on his life. Eventually, he arrives at the city of Thebes. A great city indeed, however, he arrives at a moment of great danger. The Sphinx, a monster with the face of a woman and the body of a lion was tormenting the people of the city an d no one was able to solve its riddles. After seeing this, Oedipus decides to act and confront the fearful abomination. Once there, the sphinx gives Oedipus a riddle and after a while,
Sunday, December 15, 2019
ââ¬ÅThree Men in a Boat and Nothing of the Dogââ¬Â Analyses Free Essays
ââ¬Å"Three men in a boat and nothing of the dogâ⬠The story I am going to screen is entitled ââ¬Å"Three men in a boat and to say nothing about the dogâ⬠. It was written by a famous English writer Jerome Klapka Jerome. He born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England on May 2nd, 1859, in the family of a preacher and coal mine owner. We will write a custom essay sample on ââ¬Å"Three Men in a Boat and Nothing of the Dogâ⬠Analyses or any similar topic only for you Order Now Leaving school at the age of fourteen after his motherââ¬â¢s death, Jerome worked such diverse jobs as a railway clerk, a journalist, and a schoolmaster. He also tried himself as an actor, playwright, editor, and at last he found fame through his writing. His first book ââ¬Å"On Stage and offâ⬠was published in 1888. In 1889, Jerome published the humorous Three Men in a Boat. It might be interesting to know that these three characters are based on Jerome himself and two real-life friends, George Wingrave and Carl Hentschel, with whom he often took boating trips. The dog, Montmorency, is really fictional but, Jerome K. Jerome admits that in all Englishmen, contains an element of the dog. What brought him fame was his original idea and using simple plot structure which helps readers to understand and be involved in the story. Let me introduce a brief plot of the story for the film: As the beginning of the story three main characters come to Sonning, a town on the river Themes, where they decide to put up for the night. After that friends have plenty of time that is enough to cook a supper. In the inciting incident, they make up their mind to prepare an Irish stew; therefore, it would be a good opportunity for gentlemen to eat all odds and ends. Next weââ¬â¢ll show the process of cooking in details, and it is used as rising actions of the story. In climax, Montmorency, the dog, brings a dead rat, which is the point of a little discussion. Finally, all the characters are satisfied with the supper that means that the Irish stew was very tasty and delicious. To understand how the friends successfully managed to prepare an Irish stew we should analyze the characters of each hero. . As for George, he is household and a leader, because he proposed to make an Irish stew. He gathered woods and made a fire, it means that heââ¬â¢s an experience cooker. In addition, he is creative, that is proved by his adding ll odds and ends to the stew. And as itââ¬â¢s said, every housekeeper has his own recipe of the Irish stew, so George used all his knowledge and imagination and invented his own recipe. He is hard-working and level-headed. Moreover he determined and economical; it can be seen in all his actions and metaphor words: ââ¬Å"Oh, that wonââ¬â¢t do! Youââ¬â¢re wasting them. You must scrape them. â⬠To say more, George refused the idea of adding a dead water rat to the stew, and thatââ¬â¢s enough to say that he is a very conservative gentleman. To tell about Harris, I can say that he is totally emotional, open-minded and joyful. Besides, he is sociable, cheerful, enthusiastic and talkative. Harris suggested adding the water rat, brought by Montmorency. He must be very extravagant and experimental, so even judge George to be a man hampering the worldââ¬â¢s progress. Harrisââ¬â¢s partner of scraping and peeling potatoes was easy-going and single-minded narrator. I think he is calm and flexible, and at the same time is very enthusiastic, talkative and romantic, judging by the way he describes the sonning and nature. I think they are all romantic because they were all inspired by the idea of making this great trip. And they enjoy and admire the nature, new places and their adventures. To show their joy characters thereââ¬â¢s such hyperbole is used ââ¬Å"I should never have thought that peeling potatoes such an undertakingâ⬠. Then the author uses such stylistic devise as metaphor, for example ââ¬Ëthey stood in the potato-scrapings half-smotheredâ⬠. Judging by dialogues of the main characters of the story ââ¬â Harris, George and the narrator, itââ¬â¢s clearly that they are intelligent and well-mannered people. The author uses indirect speech in order to male characters contrast. He avoids stock characters; they are quite individual and original. Itââ¬â¢s hard to identify a development of the characters, they just try to travel and learn how to survive without early experience. The author describes the actions in ironical and humorous way. The method of presentation is subjective and the reader sees everything from first-person narration. Also that method helps the readers to feel the atmosphere of the story and imagine themselves on the heroesââ¬â¢ place. Every use of language devices presents how Mr. Klapka Jerome talented and skillful. In fact, Jerome K. Jerome is famous for his art of story-telling, the basis of our screen adaptation is the way the author presents the situation. The atmosphere of the story is warm and his vivid style and humour which is generally expressed in laughter-provoking situations often based on misunderstanding created a bright and comfort mood and witty and ironic tone. The story is full of such stylistic devises as metaphors, epithets, similes and hyperboles. And they help us to image town and understand what the characters felt at that time. While describing Sonning the narrator uses simile ââ¬Å"itââ¬â¢s more like a stage village than one built of bricks and mortarâ⬠; itââ¬â¢s also used metaphor ââ¬Å"every house is smothered in rosesâ⬠to show how beautiful houses were. The language of the story is rich in colloquial idioms and phrases. Each sentence contains a complete thought, and the writer makes it a point to have all the causes of events fully expressed, without leaving anything for guesswork on the readerââ¬â¢s part. The authorââ¬â¢s manner is highly emotional and in that time is easy to read and understand the topic of the story. The idea of our film would be real friendship. It is proved by the title of the story and the behavior of the main characters, which respect each other and stay friends in spite of little quarrels. The main idea is not expressed in a straightforward categorical manner, but itââ¬â¢s clear how important to stay friends during long period of time, donââ¬â¢t hurt each other and be ready to help in any case. And the river Thames seems to symbolize the life-stream and the boat is like friendship itself that helps us to avoid and solve problems. And in conclusion Iââ¬â¢d like to say that our film would teach people to be friendly and look at problems in a humorous way, thatââ¬â¢s very important in our life and what more not to turn the life into a routine. We are people and should not only work, spend and earn money but we also should develop, travel and pay attention to life values. How to cite ââ¬Å"Three Men in a Boat and Nothing of the Dogâ⬠Analyses, Essay examples
Saturday, December 7, 2019
American Beauty Essay About Sexuality Example For Students
American Beauty Essay About Sexuality The Color RedThe beauty that addresses itself to the eyes is only the spell of the moment; the eye of the body is not always that of the soul. George Sand hit the nail right on the head when he said this in 1872. Appearance versus reality has been a central theme in many American creative works including the film American Beauty. American Beauty is a film that delves into your typical, middle-class suburban American home and slowly uncovers all of the abnormalities that lie within. The family is portrayed as normal but as the films tag line suggests look closer then it is possible to fully understand the implications that takes place in this seemingly happy home. The film is masterfully directed by the famous theater director Sam Mendes and encompasses a great number of cinematic techniques that appear fresh and exciting. Critics have mentioned many of these techniques. However, they failed to notice the clever use of color used throughout the filmespecially the color red. Sam Mendes effectively uses the color red; as a central motif to accentuate mood and theme, to contrast families, and to reveal characters personalities and feelings. In American culture red is a color of various meanings and images. The color red is the essence of life; it is the color of blood. It can insinuate energy, vitality, passion, anger, power, excitement, and sacrifice. It is a grounding color. Red can stand for warmth, danger, love, sex, death, rage, lust, and beauty. Red is the color used for the womens clothing, the cars, the doors and also it is the color of Lesters blood splattered Gavrelis 2across the white table at the end of the movie. Red is the central motif of the film. Sam Mendes incorporated many of these meaning of red within the film American Beauty, Not only did Sam Mendes implant a motif of red, he also incorporated a motif of the red rose. Roses in American culture are the ultimate symbol of love, life and death. Flowers are a large part of the American culture. Th ey have come to symbolize compassion, caring and love. The beauty of roses are superceded with danger, for they have thorns that can prick. Roses epitomize beauty; perhaps that is why they chose the title American Beauty. The title American Beauty is a hodgepodge of symbolism; it encompasses a variety of meanings. For the viewer it can stand for the American beauty rose a rare and antique climbing rose much like the roses in the Burnham garden. It can also represent the American ideal of a woman such as Angela, the ideal American beauty with her long flowing blonde hair, her porcelain complexion and her ruby red lips and bright blue eyes. Another adaptation of the title is the beauty of a perfect American home much like the Burnhams home appears to be. But all have flaws, the rose has thorns to prick, Angela has her fear of being ordinary and the Burnhams home, well it too is cursed with the reality that they are a dysfunctional family. Red roses become not only a motif in the film; they come to represent symbols. They are prevalent in almost every scene. They are in the garden; almost every room in the house has a bouquet of brightly colored roses in a vase. They are the centerpieces to the dining room table. This table becomes a motif in the film as well, the family has its nightly dinner ritual and over the course of the movie we see a delineation of the family at this table. Rose petals are the symbol of sex as well, they are seen surrounding Angela Gavrelis 3for Lester, they burst out of her blouse, they pop out of his mouth after he fantasizes of kissing her and they fall from the ceiling onto his face when he pictures her above his bed. The front door to the house becomes a motif as well, with constant references from neighbors about the house with the red door. As if the door is a gateway to the oddities lurking inside the house. Within the house Mendes restricted the colors to a monochromatic blue-gray sche me to emphasize the isolation between the Burnhams. Lester escapes from this cold and lonely house by creating a domain for himself, it is framed in golden browns, and this separates him even further from the blue-gray existence he had been living.To carry further the theme that the Burnhams happy home is just a front for what lies deep inside. Sam Mendes juxtaposes the Burnhams house with the neighbors homes. The bright, almost artificial colors of Burnhams house are quite a contrast against the Fitts which is very bland and regimented; inside it is almost Amish looking. It is completely void of plant life and aethstetics typically associated with homes. They have limited furniture and decor, and the furniture that is present is plain, straight lined dark and wooden. The lighting is dim and the prevalent color throughout the home is white or cream. The Fritts family is one of distances. Mendes makes a point by surrounding them in bland, melancholy colors and spacing them at length from one another. The family is clad in black and white throughout most of the film to externalize the loneliness and isolation between themselves and society. The other neighbors present appear at first to be the most abnormal of the bunch. They are Jim and Jim, two very successful men living together as partners. They are always bright and cheery dressed Gavrelis 4in primary colors and portrayed as happy and full of life. The irony is that they are most normal characters in the entire film.Color is used not only to show juxtapositions in neighborhoods, but to bring out the characters as well. .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a , .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .postImageUrl , .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a , .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a:hover , .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a:visited , .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a:active { border:0!important; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a:active , .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u939281976a8a3e95fe8ac89b58573b7a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Salem Witch Trials EssaySam Mendes captures the essence of each character with color. At first we see Lester in cool desaturated colors to suggest a lack of energy and a drained life. As the film continues and Lester goes through a rebirth we see him develop a brighter outlook on life and the color of his garments go through a rebirth as well, at first he turns to yellow, then green and eventually he adopts red. He wears a red tank top, acquires a red car and pursues a job wearing a red and white uniform. Mendes uses this color transformation to show that Lester has remembered the things he wanted. He suddenly realizes what is lacking in his life and red clothing gives him a sense of power and control over his life. What started this change was when he first saw Angela. She represents the ultimate sign of American beauty; she is adorned with red throughout the movie. She emanates sex and passion. Throughout the film she wears fire engine red lipstick, she wears brightly colored clothing and she is seen to Lester as surrounded by red rose petals, he has visions of her soaking in a bath tub of rose petals. Red is the dominant color of nail polish and lipstick for all the central females in the film including Caroline. Caroline Burnham goes through a transformation as well she outwardly appears isolated and controlling but underneath she yearns for passion and power. Mendes ingeniously shows this in the beginning of the film when Caroline undresses to clean a house and underneath her drab yellow suit is a crimson red camisole. While she cleans the dark and shadowy house she is backlit with brightly colored walls. She has a Gavrelis 5private breakdown an d covers her sobbing face with those powerful, sexy red nails to mask her uncharacteristic behavior. Carolyn attempts to fill her loneliness up with having the right things. The right car, the right house and even the right garden, but she doesnt see the big picture. She does transform, much like Lester into a more secure and grounded person. This is most apparent in the last sequence of the film when she is wearing a very sexy red velvet dress. She has become assertive and is ready to finally connect with Lester, even though she is too late. Early on it becomes obvious that she is obsessed with her image of success, and this is why she envies Buddy Kane so fervently. Buddy Kane the king of real estate is her competitor and the ideal figure of success, he has a bright red sign mounted in the yards of his homes to advertise himself. The sign represents his power and hints at his sexual appeal to Caroline. Jane and Ricky are important too, they are the more grounded of the characters, they are both presented in neutral colors throughout most of the film. They represent balance and neutrality in the movie. Rickys parents are not so neutral; they are dressed in pale, washed out colors to show their lack of vitality. Especially Mrs. Fritts, she plays a minor role in the movie and that is precisely the point Sam Mendes makes. She is seen as a minor role in the family. She is usually wearing a long white nightgown and appears almost as a ghost in the picture, t her family, she barely exists. American Beauty is a fantastic film that encourages viewers to look closer.Sam Mendes directed a film about American Beauty and foolish things that Americans do to keep up with appearances. He is urging us to find beauty in our lives, and to forget about having the perfect garden and home. He effectively uses the color red; as a central Gavrelis 6motif to accentuate mood and theme, to contrast families, and to reveal characters personalities and feelings. Mere colour, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.Oscar WildeMusic and Movies
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Snowflakes free essay sample
Life, associated with nature, likewise takes its course throughout time, and is influenced by the environmental influences that it undergoes. If I could metaphorically compare anything in nature similarly with the life I am living now, I would definitely choose a snowflake, because of its cyclic and indifferent pattern, relating to the experiences that I faced so far in my life. It is also one of the things that I can associate with people all around the world, who through my own eyes, are each unique and one of a kind. I remember back in that November day, when I had gone to Chicago with my grandmother in hopes of finding a new path to a brighter future in America, but at the same time, saying my last goodbyes to the people that brought me up as a child and cared for me when my mother was away. It was the first time I have met my mother in a long time and had witnessed snow, a moment which I could cherish and relive forever. We will write a custom essay sample on Snowflakes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Since then, I have always loved snow, and not a day passes by that I would smile just at the sight of seeing the snow covered streets, and people frolicking and making use of their free time playing with family or friends. The only regret I had was that most of my loved ones couldnââ¬â¢t share these special occasions with me together. Thankfully, I was surrounded by people that helped me get through the struggles I had in communication and by their encouragement, I overcame anxiety and shyness as my confidence grew stronger each day. As a boy growing up without a father figure to fall upon during times when my mother was busy coping to find a decent job she would come to enjoy, it was frequently hard to deal with many things correlating with my schoolwork. Often Iââ¬â¢d get stressed out and become too worried of what I should do to ease the pains I faced in times of hardship. Even though it was difficult to confront, it was what built up my courage to carry on the hopes and dr eams I was willing to surpass. At the time my mom decided to live in New York, where we were lucky to have some family, whom all greeted and welcomed us with open arms. Again, a day could not have been anymore perfect, as I gazed at each snowflake glistening in the parting rays of the sun. Wherever I went, I felt that I have met different people who have positively affected me, as I am directed on a path to an even brighter future, just as snowflakes each pass by one another, falling to wherever they are lead by the wind. From then on, I started to profoundly believe in myself and became ready in doing anything I put my mindset onto. Learning to never give up and do the best you can do are by far some of my many favorite morals given to me by the people I am thankful for all throughout my life. United and limitless as snow, I can always count on family and friends to help me even in the hardest of times, into a life I am proud to live.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Doubt, a Play by John Patrick Shanley
Doubt, a Play by John Patrick Shanley Doubt is a drama written by John Patrick Shanley. It is about a strict nun who believes that a priest has done something terribly inappropriate to one of the students. The Setting of Doubt The play is set in the Bronx, New York in 1964, and takes place mostly in the offices of a Catholic school. Plot Overview Based upon a few circumstantial details and a lot of intuition, the stern nun, Sister Aloysius Beauvier believes that one of the priests at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church and school has been molesting a 12-year-old boy named Donald Muller, the schools only African-American student. Sister Aloysius recruits a young, naive nun (Sister James) to assist her in monitoring the suspicious yet charismatic Father Flynn. She also addresses her concerns to Donalds mother, who, surprisingly, is not horrified or even shocked by the allegations. (Mrs. Muller is more concerned about her son getting into high school and avoiding a beating from his dad.) The play concludes with a one-on-one confrontation between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn as she attempts to get the truth out of the priest. The Character Sister Aloysius: What Does She Believe? This nun is a diligent taskmaster who firmly believes that subjects such as art and dance class are a waste of time. (She doesnt think much of history either.) She contends that good teachers are cold and cunning, creating a bit of fear within the hearts of the students. In some ways, Sister Aloysius might fit the stereotype of the angry Catholic school nun who slaps the hands of students with a ruler. However, playwright John Patrick Shanley reveals his true motives in the plays dedication: This play is dedicated to the many orders of Catholic nuns who have devoted their lives to serving others in hospitals, schools, and retirement homes. Though they have been much maligned and ridiculed, who among us has been so generous? In the spirit of the above statement, Sister Aloysius seems so harsh because she ultimately cares about the well-being of the children in her school. She is ever vigilant, as apparent in her discussion with the innocent teacher Sister James; Aloysius seems to know more about the students than the young, naive nun. Eight years before the beginning of the story, Sister Aloysius was responsible for detecting a sexual predator among the priesthood. After she went directly to the monsignor, the abusive priest was removed. (She does not indicate that the priest was arrested.) Now, Sister Aloysius suspects that Father Flynn has made a sexual advance on a 12-year-old boy. She believes that while having a private conversation, Father Flynn gave the boy wine. She doesnt state exactly what she thinks happens next, but the implication is that Father Flynn is a pedophile who must be dealt with immediately. Unfortunately, because she is a woman, she does not have the same level of authority as the priests; so instead of reporting the situation to her superiors (who will probably not listen to her), she reports her suspicions to the boys mother. During the plays finale, Aloysius and Flynn confront one another. She lies, claiming that she has heard about previous incidents from other nuns. In response to her lie/threat, Flynn resigns from the school but obtains a promotion becoming the pastor of a different institution. The Dubious Priest of Doubt The audience learns much about Father Brendan Flynn, yet most of the information is hearsay and conjecture. The early scenes which feature Flynn show him in performance mode. First, he is speaking to his congregation about dealing with a crisis of faith. His second appearance, another monologue, is delivered to the boys on the basketball team he coaches. He gives them instruction about developing a routine on the court and lectures them about their dirty fingernails. Unlike Sister Aloysius, Flynn is moderate in his beliefs about discipline and tradition. For example, Aloysius scorns the idea of secular Christmas songs such as Frosty the Snowman appearing in the churchs pageant; she argues they are about magic and therefore evil. Father Flynn, on the other hand, likes the notion of the church embracing the modern culture so that its leading members can be seen as friends and family, and not just emissaries from Rome. When he is confronted about Donald Muller and the alcohol that was on the boys breath, Father Flynn reluctantly explains that the boy was caught drinking the altar wine. Flynn promised not to punish the boy if no one else found out about the incident and if he promised not to do it again. That answer relieves the naive Sister James, but it does not satisfy Sister Aloysius. During the plays finale, when Sister Aloysius falsely tells him that nuns from other parishes have made incriminating statements, Flynn becomes very emotional. FLYNN: Am I not flesh and blood like you? Or are we just ideas and convictions. I cant say everything. Do you understand? There are things I cant say. Even if you imagine the explanation, Sister, remember there are circumstances beyond your knowledge. Even if you feel certainty, it is an emotion and not a fact. In the spirit of charity, I appeal to you. Some of these phrases, such as There are things I cant say, seem to imply a level of shame and possibly guilt. However, Father Flynn firmly claims, I have not done anything wrong. Ultimately, it is up to the audience to determine guilt or innocence, or whether or not such rulings are even possible, given the sketchy bits of evidence delivered by Shanleys drama. Did Father Flynn Do It? Is Father Flynn a child molester? The audience and readers never know. At its heart, that is the point of John Patrick Shanleys Doubt- the realization that all of our beliefs and convictions are part of a facade we build to protect ourselves. We often choose to believe in things: a persons innocence, a persons guilt, the sanctity of the church, the collective morality of society. However, the playwright argues in his preface, deep down, under the chatter we have come to a place where we know that we dont know...anything. But nobodys willing to say that. One thing seems certain by the end of the play: Father Flynn is concealing something. But who isnt?
Friday, November 22, 2019
A Look at James Joyceââ¬â¢s Display of the Challenges of Stephen as Described in His Book, A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man
A Look at James Joyceââ¬â¢s Display of the Challenges of Stephen as Described in His Book, A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man Children are constantly asked about their dreams and aspirations. This never-ending stream of directed questions can only lead to the disillusionment that everyone has some great destiny awaiting them. In James Joyceââ¬â¢s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the protagonist Stephen is struggling through inner turmoil between the man Irish society and institutions want him to be, and the man that he thinks he wants to be. This definite piece of Irish literature is so dependent upon both the politically historical and religiously centered social background that every reference is crucial to the overall feeling of the novel. However, astonishingly the overlying message surpasses the barriers of time and place to give meaning to a reader from any culture or era. Because people think there is a great destiny awaiting them, they are in constant search of a secure home to nourish their dreams and give comfort to the individual soul. The political debacle over Irish independence shined through Stephen, who although ironically was dissatisfied with his country, embodied its basic elements of individualism. Consider the Christmas dinner where Dante defended herself by stating ââ¬Å"a priest would not be a priest if he did not tell his flock what is right and what is wrongâ⬠(31). The underlying sense of anger in this scene originates from how Mr. Casey and Mr. Dedalus are contempt with the lack of Irish independence from England. This political background is key to Stephenââ¬â¢s approach in his journey of becoming an artist. A parallel can be drawn to the theme of independence, and following oneââ¬â¢s own journey rather than the road others lay out. Furthermore, as a young adult Stephen finds himself rather discontent with Ireland as his ancestors ââ¬Å"allowed a handful of foreigners to subject themâ⬠(203). This again references Irelandââ¬â¢s lack of independence. Stephen eventually opts to dep art his home because Irelandââ¬â¢s lack of freedom was not propelling him towards his singular destiny of becoming an artist. Here Stephen was so dissatisfied with his home that out of frustration for an individually compelling environment, he leaves. These political references to emphasize independence and freedom in both the country and individual soul render late 19th century Ireland as essential to generating Joyceââ¬â¢s arguments. Joyceââ¬â¢s mockery of hypocritical religious institutions that ruled Irish society at the time emphasizes Stephenââ¬â¢s struggle over whether or not society was to feed his destiny or not. To begin with, society stressed upon him the indisputable influence of religion. Therefore Stephen became contrite over his sins with women. After ââ¬Å"he had confessed and God had pardoned him, his soul was made fair and holy once more, holy and happyâ⬠(145). Stephen felt a false sense of security by the institution of religion as well as society that he was now going to be all right. Even with going though the motions of a pious Catholic, Stephen could not feel completely at home. This sheds light on how many ââ¬Å"devoutâ⬠religious beings may actually feel on the inside. Their actions are rather mechanical Not all religiously active people feel holy on the inside. Ultimately, Stephen faced the unavoidable decision to either join the priesthood or follow his ââ¬Å"destinyâ⠬ to become an artist. This further ridicules the process of selecting higher religious figures. It is based on sheer outward appearance, quantity, and frequency of religious endeavors rather than the quality of religious work. Stephen realizes that Irish society is not contributing to his destiny when he comes to the consensus that ââ¬Å"he was destined to learn his own wisdom apart from others or to learn the wisdom of others himself wandering among the snares of the worldâ⬠(175). Consequently Stephen again departs his past ââ¬Å"homeâ⬠for the university that becomes his new ââ¬Å"homeâ⬠for the time being. Joyce clearly wanted to depict the oppressing and shallow nature of Irish society that revolved around religion. The Irish background adds on to the void feeling Stephen has even upon technically doing all that he was told by the institutions. Although the setting served to build the background to concepts Joyce wanted to portray, the actual ideas manifested throughout the novel are relevant to human nature regardless of generation and location. To begin with, Stephen never truly grasps the concept of ââ¬Å"home.â⬠As a young child he was sent to boarding school, and after returning he was constantly moving from house to house. Gradually ââ¬Å"a vague dissatisfaction grew up within him as he looked on the quays and on the river and on the lowering skiesâ⬠(66-67). From a young age Stephen grows up in a home that lacked stability. He was never able to find comfort in his own home. This dissatisfaction is universal to humans, for people find discomfort in trying to not only find their identities, but also find their destiny to where they fit in to the universe. This abstract concept is applied to Stephen as his search for identity is paralleled to truly finding his ââ¬Å"home,â⬠a place of security and feeli ng of belonging. It is only human nature to want to have a rightful place. Throughout the novel, Joyce masterfully takes advantage of incorporating Ireland into all aspects of the novel from its setting to character names to society. These compel the novel to be exactly that ââ¬â an Irish novel. However when taking a step back, one can see that as a Bildungsroman, the theme of ones journey in search of ones destiny or place in the universe is applicable to all. Humans have an innate desire to feel at ââ¬Å"home.â⬠Joyce urges the reader to notice the ups and downs to hunting down what one believes is his or her destiny regardless of the rest of oneââ¬â¢s community rather than rationally thinking through what is best for the situation.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Create your own christian demonology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Create your own christian demonology - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to create a new Christian demonology within a particular period and context. The Christian demonology discussed in this paper belongs to the Medieval Period between the 5th to 15th century around the European region, where the belief in the power of demons and grimoires were widely existent during that era. This demonology evolved from the old Christian tradition, on basis of the scriptures, mentioning that the demons were the rebel angels that were cast down from the heaven by God. Though they are spiritual, immortal and immutable, like the good angels, these demons are not omniscient or omnipotent. As per the Christian demonology, the demons were intended to induce sin into the world by possessing and tormenting people in the world. The ultimate mission of the demons was to abandon the faith of God from the people and turn them into adversaries of God. The demonology of the Medieval Period identified demons as evil supernatural beings, who take control over the departed souls of men or their bodies for executing their evil schemes on earth. According to the biblical notion, they are the inhabitants of the Hell and whoever is possessed by these evil spirits are destined to do whatsoever the demons wish to. The demons were considered as the ââ¬Ëelements of the worldââ¬â¢ as supernatural being living in the air and ruling the entire universe. Paul writes in Galatians 4:3, we were in bondage under the elements of the world, which means that both the physical and spiritual cosmos comes under the power of these demons. What distinguishes this demonology is that the medieval demonology held a demonic plurality comprising not only the fallen angels as demons but also the evil spirits and souls of dead humans, in general. This is far from this demonology, as it takes the stand that the entire demonic world comprises of the fallen rebel angels, taking control over the whole world and the universe, for their evil possessions, after bei ng cast away from the Heaven to Hell. The demons exercised power over the world including the wind, water, air, sand as well as the stars and the entire universe. The peasant communities in this medieval period were particularly concerned of these demons as they hindered the nature. They comprised of various occults, witchcrafts, ritual magic and more for either abolishing or inducing the evil acts of the demons for various purposes. These demons also hold influences over the passions of mind, sexual, mania and melancholy by inflicting pain and pleasure. The witches and occultists make use of these demonic powers to perform their actions, choosing the demon with power of Hell that well suits their operations like seeing the future, seducing the object of lust, finding hidden treasure, etc. As the demons have control over the world, it possesses the humans and takes various physical forms for deceiving the world. In this Medieval Period the demons were believed to be the reason for t he pagan cults and other religious practices. It was thought that these rituals would help to expel the demons, by diminishing their evil acts and possession in the lives of humans. According to them, these cultic practices and rituals were the cause for their worshiping of demons which was indeed viewed as rebellious among the Church and Christian beliefs. à However, demonic administration used for handling magic, astrology, and mantic arts
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