The Handmaids Tale vs. The Country Between Us

The Handmaids Tale vs. The Country Between Us Introduction The destructive aspects of totalitarian regimes attracted the attention of many writers during the Cold War era. One of the main issues that they explored was the state oppression of an individual who could eventually become alienated and dehumanized. Such themes as loneliness, control, and confinement occupy a prominent place in the novels and short stories of many authors.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale vs. The Country Between Us specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay will discuss two works that eloquently illustrate the dangers of totalitarianism, namely, the novel The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood (1998) and the book of poetry The Country Between Us by Carolyn Forchà © (1982). There are several similarities between these two works. First of all, Margaret Atwood and Carolyn Forchà © show that the totalitarian states want to suppress people’ s voices in order to make them isolated, confined and easily controlled. Furthermore, these writers show how the value of love, friendship and human life in general can decline because of people’s solitude and alienation. However, there is a significant difference between these literary works. The Handmaid’s Tale is a construction of a dystopian society that might have never existed; to some degree it is a warning to the readers who should be aware of such dangers as sexism, religious intolerance, and religious intolerance. In her turn Carolyn Forchà © focuses on the real experiences of people in El Salvador whose suffering went unnoticed for a very long time. More importantly, these descriptions can be more chilling than the imaginary world created by any writer who depicts a dystopian society. These are the main issues that should be discussed in this paper. Similarities between The Country Between Us and The Handmaid’s Tale It is possible to distinguish seve ral themes that play an important role in these books. One of them is the acceptance of cruelty, violence, and injustice. They are no longer regarded as something outrageous or at least unacceptable. Margaret Atwood and Carolyn Forchà © show that people, who live in totalitarian regimes, become accustomed to the cruel behavior of the state and its injustice. This issue is eloquently illustrated by Margaret Atwood (1998). In particular, the author describes a scene when Ofglen and Offred see the bodies of people who have been hung because of their alleged treason. However, one of the characters says, â€Å"This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It will become ordinary† (Atwood, 1998, p. 33). Such a sentence can be uttered only by a person who often witnesses such horrible events. He/she eventually gets used to this cruelty of the government. Similar atrocities have been described by Carolyn Forchà © who explores the experiences of people living in El Salvador. In this case, close attention should be paid to the poem called The Colonel. In this part of her book, the author refers to the man who carries a sack filled with â€Å"many human ears† and he does not even try to hide them (Forchà ©, 1982, p. 17). The author describes this horrible behavior in a very nonchalant way in order to emphasize that totalitarian regimes can turn cruelty into a norm or something can be tolerated. On the whole, this behavior occurs in those situations when people feel no attachment to one another and human life loses its value for them. In many cases, they are hardly concerned with the suffering of other individuals. This is one of the issues that should not be disregarded because it occupies an important place in Atwood’s novel and Forchà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s collection of poetry. Anothe r idea that both authors examine is solitude of individuals and their alienation from one another. In particular, they show that in many cases, authoritarian states deprive a person of opportunity to communicate with people who are dear to him/her. Such a strategy enables the government to make people confined and controlled. To a great extent, this issue is addressed by the authors. For example, one can mention the poem The Visitor by Carolyn Forchà © (1982). In particular, the author describes the experiences of a prisoner who hopes that his wife’s breath will be â€Å"slipping into his cell each night while he imagines his hand to be hers† because he can retain his dignity and humanity only in this way (Forchà ©, 1982, p. 15). When a person is deprived of this opportunity, he/she is more likely to follow the will of the state. The theme of solitude is also examined in Margaret Atwood’s novel. For instance, one of the characters says, ‘I was so lonely, she’d say. You have no idea how lonely I was, And I had friends, I was a lucky one, but I was lonely anyway’ (Atwood, p. 122).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale vs. The Country Between Us specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In part, this idea can be explained by the fact that this individual cannot talk to anyone who can share her views and feelings. As a result, this person will pay no attention to the sufferings of other people. So, themes as loneliness and alienation are important for Margaret Atwood and Carolyn Forchà © because they strongly influence people’s attitudes and beliefs. Apart from that, one should mention that these literary works highlight the hypocrisy of authoritarian states that claim to be virtuous and just. In most cases, the representatives of these regimes do not acknowledge that they only want to achieve power and ability to control peopleâ€℠¢s behavior. Moreover, they do not tell that they want to enslave the people of their countries. These are the most important elements of their official propaganda. This is one of the questions that both writers pay attention to. For example, Margaret Atwood (1998) shows that the government of Gilead claims to respect the role of women in the society and their importance for the survival of the community. However, women are usually reduced to the status of concubines whose only role is the reproduction of the population. Thus, the distinction between official propaganda and reality is very striking. To some extent, Carolyn Forchà © (1982) attaches importance to this problem in her poetic collection. In particular, the author shows that Salvadorian regime does not want to acknowledge that thousands of people could be imprisoned or even slaughtered by the state, even if they are completely innocent (Forchà ©, 1982). They can pretend there is no discontent with their policies or laws . This hypocrisy can be typical of many states, especially if they are authoritarian ones. This is one of the main problems that both writers want to emphasize in their books. These are the main similarities between the works of Margaret Atwood and Carolyn Forchà ©. On the whole, they demonstrate the destructive impacts of totalitarianism on a person. They can make people solitary and confined, because in this way, individuals can easily be controlled or manipulated. Under such circumstances, they are not likely to take any initiatives or independent decisions. This is the most important idea the authors explore in their books. To a great extent, these literary works throw light on the experiences of people who fall victims of authoritarian governments. As a rule, these people are not attached to one another and they do not value interpersonal relations or even human life, and this is their greatest strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overall, these books are still worth attention because the dangers described by Atwood and Forchà © have not completely disappeared today. This problems depicted by these writers can be relevant to different communities even nowadays. The differences between the literary works Nevertheless, one should remember that The Handmaid’s Tale and The Country Between Us have several important distinctions. The readers should pay close attention to the genre of these literary works and the goals that authors try to achieve. First of all, one should mention that Margaret Atwood’s novel can be viewed as a classical dystopian novel. It is aimed at describing a future society that is marked by racism, sexism, and religious prejudice (Atwood, 1998). These prejudices can still influence the ideas and decisions of many people. To a great extent, this literary work was greatly influenced by George Orwell’s 1984 because this author also shows how the state can control the private life of citizens and even their sexuality. So, the author of this book relies on previous literary works about totalitarian states. In contrast, Carolyn Forchà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s collection of poetry is based on real events that did take place in El Salvador. In this case, the narrator can be regarded as a direct witness of the events that affected thousands of people who were victims of the regime. To a great extent, this author combines poetry and journalisms, and this is one of her greatest achievements since she combines rich poetic imagery with realism. Therefore, one can say these books differ in terms of genre, style and background. Secondly, one should bear in mind that the authors differ significantly when they describe the motives underlying people’s behavior and their attitude toward the state and toward others. In particular, in her novel Margaret Atwood (1998) strives to explain why people can easily become solitary and controlled. In her opinion, people can act in thi s way, because they expect the government to offer some benefits to them (1998, p. 271). This idea is expressed by Offred’s mother who believes that people can consent to the policies of the state, â€Å"as long as there are a few compensations† (Atwood, 1998, p. 271). The author describes some women who can be humiliated by the state, but they do not protest against their policies of the state, because they can have power over other women (Atwood, 1998). In other words, they try to reconcile themselves with the state and expect some rewards or benefits. In contrast, Carolyn Forchà © (1982) demonstrates that in most cases, fear is the main reason why people can become alienated from one another. Those people, who have been depicted by the author, know that their friends and acquaintances can disappear, and they do not want to suffer the same fate. This is the main factor that drives their behavior. For example, the narrator says, â€Å"If we go on, we might stop in t he street, in the very place where someone disappeared’ (Forchà ©, 1982, p. 9). One should take into account that totalitarian regimes can easily abduct people, especially when they disagree that with the decisions of the government. This is why citizens may be reluctant to express discontent because they do not want to share the same fate. To some degree, their conduct is understandable. Therefore, it is possible to say that Carolyn Forchà © and Margaret Atwood look at people’s behavior from different perspectives. There are other distinguishing features of these books. One can argue that Margaret Atwood’s novel can be regarded as a warning to the readers who should remember about the dangers of religious intolerance, sexism, and the belief that some groups of people should be subservient to others. Margaret Atwood (1998) examines the social phenomena that may exist in different communities. However, she describes their impact when they are developed to full extreme. Nevertheless, one cannot say that this novel refers to particular historic events. The author intends to demonstrate people have to limit the power of the state. In her turn, Carolyn Forchà © (1982) strives to show that the horrors of dystopian novels can easily come true and in some cases, they can be more terrible. Her intention is to demonstrate that such events can affect many people provided that no one protests against the cruel policies of the state. She wants readers to hear â€Å"the cries of those who vanish† because these people are not protected in any way (Forchà ©, 1982, p. 9). As it has been said before, the author acts as a journalist who tries to raise readers’ awareness about the atrocities committed against people, living in El Salvador. This is one of the goals that she tries to achieve. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish several similarities and distinctions between these books. First of all, these authors demonstrate that the poli cies of the state can make individuals solitary, alienated, and confined. Moreover, these writers demonstrate the hypocrisy of the regimes that claim to respect the rights and dignity of citizens. Nevertheless, these literary works differ in terms of genre and purpose. Margaret Atwood (1998) relies on the rich tradition of a dystopian novel while Carolyn Forchà © (1982) focuses on the feelings of people who suffered from the actions of a totalitarian state. Nevertheless, these works produce a long-lasting impression on the readers because they give them deep insights into the nature of totalitarianism. Conclusion On the whole, such themes as confinement, loneliness, and control play an important role in the works of many authors, especially those ones who focus on the adverse influence of state on an individual. In many cases, they can deprive people of their humanity and ability to take independent decisions. Such writers as Carolyn Forchà © and Mary Atwood show that individuals can get used to cruelty or injustice because of fear or hope to receive some compensation from the state. Moreover, their alienation and solitude decrease the value of human life. These writers warn readers about the dangers of these regimes. These works are worth attention because they eloquently illustrate the experiences of people who can be victimized by the state. This is one of the messages that these writers convey. Reference List Atwood, M. (1998).The Handmaids Tale. New York: Anchor. Forchà ©, C. (1982). The Country Between Us. New York: Harper Perennial.

Mole Fraction Definition - Chemistry Glossary

Mole Fraction Definition - Chemistry Glossary Mole fraction is  a unit of concentration, defined to be equal to the number of moles of a component divided by the total number of moles of a solution. Because it is a ratio, mole fraction is a unitless expression. The mole fraction of all components of a solution, when added together, will equal 1. Mole Fraction Example In a solution of 1 mol benzene, 2 mol carbon tetrachloride, and 7 mol acetone, the mole fraction of the acetone is 0.7. This is determined by adding up the number of moles of acetone in the solution and dividing the value by the total number of moles of components of the solution: Number of Moles of Acetone: 7 moles Total Number of Moles in Solution 1 moles (benzene) 2 moles (carbon tetrachloride) 7 moles (acetone)Total Number of Moles in Solutions 10 moles Mole Fraction of Acetone moles acetone / total moles solutionMole Fraction of Acetone 7/10Mole Fraction of Acetone 0.7 Similarly, the mole fraction of benzene would be 1/10 or 0.1 and the mole fraction of carbon tetrachloride would be 2/10 or 0.2.

Case Study 2 HRD 425 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

2 HRD 425 - Case Study Example Soon, the company won important contracts like that of A&P supermarket chain. As the number of customers grew, the company found it difficult to retain the same levels of customer satisfaction. Despite increased number of supervisors and employees, it became difficult to smoothen or streamline the operations. As there was increased number of employees, the place became overcrowded. As more employees crowded the aisles to fill orders, there was total disorder. In addition, the forklift operators did not have the opportunity to replenish stock. As a result of the crowded aisles, the number of accidents increased. Thus, there was a general fall in employee satisfaction, morale and retention. As a result of this increased disorder, the employees had no time to attend the new people who came. In addition, if an item is found missing in a particular order, it was totally impossible to identify who made the mistake. Currently, there are nearly 500 selectors, loaders, and shippers; around 100 forklift operators, 40 backhaul unloaders, 20 receivers and clerks, and 30 supervisors and managers. The normal way of meeting an order starts from selecting five selectors in random. These selectors are paid on the basis of the quantity they select. Once the selection is completed, a clerk would complete the necessary paper work and then, the loader would load the same onto truck. Presently, the situation at C & S is that despite the large number of employees and supervisors, the company finds it hard to streamline its operations at the warehouses. There is high staff turnover, increased workload, increased number of accidents, and reduced customer satisfaction. As a result, the company is finding it difficult to exploit its manpower in a successful manner. While loaders and selectors are paid on the basis of the quantity they handle, clerks and supervisors are salaried. Though responsibilities were non-ov erlapping, selecting people at random made it difficult to identify people

Healtful eating for weightlifters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Healtful eating for weightlifters - Essay Example The awareness for such healthy outlook is more universal now than ever before. There are more fitness camps, more gyms in the neighborhood, more health and fitness equipment and facilities, and those who do not have access to these or do not feel their need have viable alternatives in aerobics and yogic stances. (Robert J. Buresh, MS, et al). The first step towards the achievement of good health and physique is proper diet and exercise. This paper is focused on healthful eating for weightlifters. As such, we are going to concentrate on those muscles that help weightlifters. There are muscles for activities such as marathon runners. These muscles are made up of Type 1 fibres and are ideally suited for runners and other activities of aerobic nature. The Type 2 fibre muscles develop for the purpose of short bursts of energy and are ideal for weight lifters. (Jonny Bowden). Therefore, the diet and exercises for weightlifters are framed after examining two factors. Factor number one is the weightlifter. Diet and exercise comprise factor number two. In order to satisfy the criteria for factor number one, the weightlifter’s age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, present state of health, health history, and disability (if any) are recorded. The recording of data for factor number two will include present diet and physical activities, heart beat and pulse rates, calories level, and health related problems (if any). It may not be possible to obtain the complete regimen of diet and exercise suitable for a particular person in one day. Getting hold of the regimen is the first step. Gradually, the process may undergo changes as the weightlifter continues on the diet and workouts, and upgrades to diets and physical activities which help in performance improvements. The nutrition that results from dietary intake in our bodies is necessary for all of us. The body will simply collapse without nutrition. It is

Chocolate Industry Essay Example for Free

Chocolate Industry Essay Quality Crafted Chocolate is an online business selling luxury, crafted chocolate our chocolate products are a boxed assorted chocolates for Holidays, birthdays, and more, we believe chocolate is a versatile gift for many occasions. As an online based company we have the opportunity to use our technology to tailor our packaging to our individual customers in ways never before possible. There are two good things to report about the chocolate market. Firstly: Consumer demand for chocolate is on the rise worldwide. Secondly: competition is developing steadily . The according to NCA estimates, based on the U. S. Census Bureaus annual Confectionery Report, retail sales of chocolate confectionery in all channels reached $18 billion in 2010. Annual sales have increased 3 to 4 percent per year for the past several years, and market research firm Packaged Facts forecasts the industry will grow to $18 billion by 2011. The undisputed leader for North American sales of chocolate products, the U. S. has a market share estimated at over 86 percent. But behind the encouraging headlines, many companies are battling to stay on top of a rapidly shifting marketplace, as fast-growing economies and empowered consumers demand more from their products. The constant change in the market structure, shares and prices, due to the emergence of new chocolate manufacturers, demonstrates a threat for the existing chocolate and confectionery companies like Quality Crafted Chocolates. Part of our market research was to do a search volume estimate for the US market using Google AdWords. We first searched the broad keyword â€Å"chocolate† and below are the results with the top five keywords ranked in order of high to low based on amount of searches. |Keyword |Competition |Global Monthly Searches |Local Monthly Searches (United States) | |chocolate |0. 31 |30400000 |9140000 | |gifts |0. 77 |16600000 |9140000 | |chocolate chocolate |0. 31 |30400000 |9140000 | |the chocolate |0. 31 |30400000 |9140000 | |candy |0. 37 |16600000 |7480000 | When we then did a search in the google search engine for the highest ranked keyword â€Å"chocolate†, the company that ranked #1 was www.godiva. com a major competitor in the industry. Second was www. ghirardelli. com which is also a worthy competitor. The third was www. cadbur. co. uk but they would not be considered a competitor since their company was based in the UK and had products that were not directed towards the same consumer. This was followed by www. hersheys. com another major supplier in the industry. Another very relevant competitor was www. sees. com carrying much of the same product was ranked #7 in the searched google keyword. The second highest searched keyword from the Google AdWords results was â€Å"gifts† these results were vastly different from the previous keyword. None of the company website associated with this keyword in the google search engine were related in any way to the chocolate industry. The third searched keyword â€Å"chocolate chocolate† results in google ranked #1 www. chocolate2. com a competitor in the quality crafted chocolate market for special occasions. Then was www. chocolatedc. com another direct competitor with. Third was www. chocolatechocolate.com a close competitor with a very similar product line of molded novelties chocolate. After researching each of the searched suppliers we narrowed in on those companies that operated in the same market, offering similar products and targeting similar customers. The top three were Godiva www. godiva. com, world famous Belgian chocolates available online for the U. S. market only. Compared to Quality Crafted Chocolate this supplier is one of our toughest competitors. Godiva Chocolatier was brought to America in 1966 and has been the leader in premium chocolate ever since. Godiva owns and operates hundreds of boutiques worldwide specializing in fine chocolates and chocolate gifts. The second is the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company www. ghirardelli. com, a leading manufacturer, marketer and retailer of premium American chocolates and chocolate beverage mixes, controlling the entire manufacturing process. It distributes its products nationwide. Their customized crafted chocolates make them stand out in the market. The third company is Sees Candies www. sees. com a manufacturer and distributor of candy, particularly chocolate, in the western United States. The company is known for it’s quality chocolate and chocolate gifts with their unique approach of allowing their customer to choose their own selection of chocolate to be packaged. Their motto is â€Å"Create your own assortment of boxed chocolates send chocolate gifts to family friends! † A true competitor in the chocolate market, with a similar product of gift boxes of premium quality chocolate for that special occasion. | | | | |Company Website |Rank (US Market) |Global Rank | | www. godiva. com |10,998 |37,423 | |www. ghirardelli. com | 20,916 |62,163 | |www. sees. com |13,015 |35,780 |.

1914-1995 :: essays research papers

Benchmark D: Connect developments related to World War I with the onset of World War II.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Grade Nine   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  20th Century Conflict  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Analyze the causes and effects of World War I with emphasis on: a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Militarism, imperialism, nationalism, and alliances; b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The global scope, outcomes and human costs of the war; c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The role of new technologies and practices including the use of poison gas, trench warfare, machine guns, airplanes, submarines and tanks; d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. World War I was triggered by the archduke and archduchess of Austria-Hungry. The assassination triggered alliances and declarations of war between European nations. The mix of militarism (which meant that the European countries were cocky because of so many new weapons and technological advances and thought they could not lose), Nationalism (which is extreme pride in a group’s country), Imperialism (when countries wanted to expand there power), and Alliances (agreements between countries saying that they have there back). The main fighting happened at the western front and the eastern front. The western front consisted of France, Belgium, and Netherlands. The Eastern front consisted of Prussia, Poland, and Russia. There has been numbers suggesting that there were as much as 8 million military deaths and 6.6 million civilian deaths. The approximate cost in today’s money is about $2.8 trillion. As I mentioned in the beginning the new technology and tactics made countries cocky, these new weapons and tactics also hurt countries too. A perfect example is trench warfare. Trench warfare caused many people to die because of the many dieses that were consumed by the soldiers from being in them for so long. The machines guns were newly created and many did not understand the workings of such weapons. There were allies and central powers, the allies consisted of Britain, France, Belgium, Russia, Italy, and the U.S. The Central powers consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ottoman Empire/Turkey. On November 11, 1918 the Treaty of Versailles was signed and ended the war. The Treaty of Versailles caused many penalties on the central powers, which in part would help lead to World War II. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Analyze the causes and consequences of the Russian Revolution including: a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The lack of economic, political and social reforms under the tsars; b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The impact of World War 1; c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The emergence of Lenin, Stalin and the Bolsheviks; d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The rise of communism in Russia. In 1917 Russia had a revolution that changed the relations that Russia and the U.S. had. When WWI began the king of Russia, Nicholas the II put lots of money into the war.

The Similarities and Differences Between Professional Football and Basketball

humanism A new concept of human individuality, originating in the citystates of fourteenth- and fifteenth-century Italy, that was based on desire for excellence in scholarship, creative work, and education. The humanist movement spread to northern Europe, France, England, and elsewhere, and continued to flourish until the mid-seventeenth century. Among its more familiar literary figures are, in Italy, Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca (known as Petrarch), Giovanni Boccaccio, Baldassare Castiglione, and Niccolo Machiavelli; in England, Thomas More, Francis Bacon, and John Milton; in France, Francois Rabelais and Michel de Montaigne.Books setting forth an ideal of the well-formed individual, ruler, or commonwealth are a major aspect of the humanist movement, from Leonardo Bruni’s Dialogues ( –? ) to Roger Ascham’s Schoolmaster ( ), Machiavelli’s The Prince ( , publ. ), Castiglione’s The Courtier (ca. , publ. ), and More’s Utopia ( ). Durin g the Renaissance the term humanista meant nothing more than a teacher of Latin. But the Latin classics proved to be the key to the era’s renewed understanding of the individual’s goals and ideas.Latin authors addressed issues like the dignity of man, the role of fate, and the strength of human will: the factors in life that make for human happiness, or flourishing. HUMANISM 145 (Greek was somewhat less familiar, at least at first, among the humanists; Petrarch and Dante could not read it. ) The Renaissance’s new studia humanitatis contrasts with the earlier medieval version of education, which consisted of the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and dialectic) and the quadrivium (arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy).In the medieval scheme, there was little room for the study of history or moral philosophy. Now, though, education could be based on the ethical ideas suggested by the ancients in their literary and philosophical speculations. The key terms of the It alian humanists are fame, fortune, glory, and virtue. They see creative achievement and knowledge as heroic tasks, analogous to the brave deeds of conquerors and emperors. In the Middle Ages, prior to the humanist revolution, the sense of history was providential, based on the sacred narrative of the Bible, and moving from creation to revelation and edemption. (Saint Augustine’s City of God [ – / ] was the major commentary on this narrative. ) In the Italian Renaissance, with political life controlled by rivalrous city-states, history became a matter of daring strategy, not scriptural validation. Providential history did not disappear, of course; it was a significant influence in the Reformation. But it had been challenged. Another aspect of the humanist movement was its sense of intimacy with the classical past. Petrarch wrote a series of familiar letters addressed to Homer, Virgil, Cicero, Livy, and others.Allied to this closeness with antiquity was a desire to corr ect the distortions of ancient texts, to recover them in their original fullness. The ambition to search for the source characterized the humanist attitude toward religious texts and ideas. The great Netherlandish humanist Desiderius Erasmus translated the New Testament into Latin ( ), saving the sacred text from the errors committed in the Vulgate (the medieval Latin Bible, in the universally read version produced by Saint Jerome). In an effort analogous to his philological study of the original text of the Bible, Erasmus in his Colloquies ( reacted against the medieval corruptions of church hierarchy. Through his description in the Colloquies of friendly, egalitarian conversation on both spiritual and worldly matters, he tried to regain the original ethical ideal of Christian community and decency: a humorous, liberal-minded fellowship. For humanists like Castiglione in The Courtier, the self became a work of art, with the individual’s â€Å"knowledge and skill informed by proportion and 146 HUMANISM grace† ( Joseph Mazzeo). The Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt, in his great Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy ( , first described the ambition of figures like Leonardo da Vinci and the architect Leon Battista Alberti to become the uomo universale, or universal man. Here Burckhardt evokes the supremely well-rounded, eccentrically talented Alberti (who became worldfamous as the inventor of the laws of perspective): â€Å"In all by which praise is won, Leon Battista was from childhood the first: . . . with his feet together, he could spring over a man’s head; . . . in the cathedral, he threw a coin in the air till it was heard to ring against the distant roof. . . He acquired every sort of accomplishment and dexterity, cross-examining artists, scholars and artisans of all descriptions, down to the cobblers, about the secrets and peculiarities of their craft. . . . He also wrote an Italian treatise on domestic life in four books; and eve n a funeral oration on his dog. . . . And all that he had and knew he imparted, as rich natures always do, without the least reserve, giving away his chief discoveries for nothing. † Burckhardt concludes by remarking, of this godlike lusus naturae, that â€Å"an iron will pervaded and sustained his whole personality. Alberti proved that the individual can do anything, and with perfect style. The humanist was an intellectual hero and adventurer. His interest in magic and mystical lore, like Francis Bacon’s devotion to science, was a way to achieve power over the secret sources of nature. For Pico della Mirandola, author of the Oration on the Dignity of Man ( ), the human self was distinguished by flexibility and aspiration, and was capable of raising itself almost to divine level: wrestling successfully with the Protean, the endlessly various, character of God’s creation.The Renaissance is the real home of humanism. But Victorian sages like Matthew Arnold, Thomas Carlyle, and John Ruskin shared the humanist belief in individual aspiration and excellence, necessarily grounded in the strength of the surrounding culture. Their concerns lived on in the works of American critics a hundred years later: for example, Lionel Trilling and Irving Howe. In the early twentieth century, a â€Å"new humanism† was promoted by the literary critics Irving Babbitt and Paul Elmer More, who reacted against the overly specialized aspects of philology as it was then practiced.But Babbitt and More were felt to be too vaguely emotive, their moralizing too glib. When critics like Robert Penn Warren and Cleanth Brooks turned, in the s, toward a stricter consideration of the technical aspects of poetic lan- HUMANISM 147 guage, they were in fact promoting another version of the humanist ideal: man as the hero of articulation, expressing his precarious and uniquely complicated existence, and fighting with the weapons of skilled ambiguity, irony, and paradox (see NC ). Humanism can be a pejorative term in current literary and cultural criticism, especially in the disciplines of cultural studies and new historicism. This turn began with the philosopher Martin Heidegger, whose â€Å"Letter on Humanism† ( ) criticized Jean-Paul Sartre for his humanist existentialism. Heidegger asserted that man, Sartre’s focus, was a limited concept and should be superseded by the notion of Being (in German, Sein or Dasein, two distinct but related terms).Later philosophers like Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida, both highly influential in literary studies, followed Heidegger’s lead in questioning the centrality of the human. But humanism always seems to return, if humanism is understood as the commitment to asking whether particular goals, practices, and ideas serve or damage the hope for human excellence and happiness. The definition of humanist ideals remains a constant concern of philosophy and cultural commentary, as seen recently i n the works of thinkers like Martha Nussbaum and Tzvetan Todorov.On Renaissance ideas of humanism, see Joseph Mazzeo, Renaissance and Revolution ( ); Paul Oskar Kristeller, Renaissance Thought ( ); Hans Baron, The Crisis of the Early Italian Renaissance ( ); Eugenio Garin, Italian Humanism ( ); and Thomas M. Greene, The Vulnerable Text ( ). Constance Jordan provides an interesting account of Renaissance humanism in its attitude toward women in Renaissance Feminism ( ). Rebecca Bushnell in A Culture of Teaching ( ) connects Renaissance ideals with contemporary American debates over education.

Related text to whose life is it anyway?

Related text to whose life Is it anyway? – Power and the Individual What Ideas of power are represented In â€Å"whose life Is It anyway† and the related tested material you have chosen and how does the related text link to the prescribe text? There are many Ideas and reasons why My Sisters keeper and whose life is It anyway have similar relations to the power and the individual.For one the battle of individual rights, Both Anna and Ken fight for their individual rights to their Body and life. Ken doesn't want to live anymore because he thinks there is no point as he can't do anything for himself and need nurse to help. Anna wants individual rights to her body because she doesn't want to be cut open and have needles stuck in her time after time if its not going to help her sister and her sister wants Anna to win her rights so she can die because she is in a lot of pain and can't take it anymore.Another reason is Power of Law Ken wishes to die and due to his medical stat us he is unable to make this happen, the power of law Influences his situation as he asks he doctors multiple times to kill but due to the law they are unable to do this. Anna's situation Is Influenced by the power of law as she Is a child & her parents are her legal guardians therefore giving them the power to make her decisions for her.She Is mature enough to make her own decisions but she is too young, she seeks to be medically released so she is able to have the choice. The power of physical strength is also another reason; Ken has no power of physical strength because he is a quadriplegic. Anna, as a child has less physical strength than her parents, therefore their power is stronger.

buy custom American Industrialization essay

buy custom American Industrialization essay During the period between 1865 and 1900, United States emerged as the global industrial power house. This period followed the end of Civil War, and a combination of factors spurred rapid growth of commerce and industries. These factors included the adequate land and cheap labor; availability of navigable rivers, coastal water ways and canals; ample presence of natural resources; and the government contribution towards the nations vision of rapid industrialization (David 10). The immediate goal of the government was to improve the nations economy, so as to uplift the living standards of the citizens as quickly as possible. To facilitate such growth, the authorities embarked on a plan of developing efficient infrastructure to enable reliability in movement of goods and services. Additionally, they avoided the implementation of rigid regulations to avoid dispiriting entrepreneurs. Due to high demand for housing and the governments policy of keeping tax rates as low as possible, the citizens easily found employment. This raised their income as well as their living standards, a situation which led to increase in the demand for commodities such as better clothing and healthier diet. This stimulated the proliferation of industries which in effect created more jobs and broadened the governments tax base (David 8). The importance of government contribution in infrastructure development facilitated organization and coordination amongst firms making them to evolve into a unified economy. As the nation dominance in the industrial sector became unrivalled, its global influence increased, and by the beginning of the 20th, the United States was apparently was the world economic and military superpower. These great achievements were realized following governments provision of an investment base that was beyond comparison. Moreover, liberalism in America appealed to many in dustrious individuals and groups who faced persecution at home, for example, the Germans, who had been resettled by the queen in the colonies following frequent invasions into their home country. Most of these immigrants were industrious, and their prominent attributes helped further the industrial growth. For quite a long time, however, only a few citizens have been privileged to possess real economic and political power in America (Richard 3). In fact, statistics have indicated that while 1% of the richest Americans own about 40% of the nations wealth, 40% of the poorest controls less that 1% of the economy. Nevertheless, better policies are being formulated to correct this discrepancy to enable everyone have an equitable share of the national wealth. In the formative years of the industrial revolution, the government laid the basis for a strong economy by investing considerably in science and technology. In addition, distinct political institutions, cultural identity, educational system, and social structure entrenched the values of self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship. These efforts ensured sustainability of the economy, despite facing challenges such as the Great Depression (Richard 5). Investment in these fields continues, and currently, America is a global player in computing and biotechnology. Buy custom American Industrialization essay

Using Significant Figures and Scientific Notation

Using Significant Figures and Scientific Notation When making a measurement, a scientist can only reach a certain level of precision, limited either by the tools being used or the physical nature of the situation. The most obvious example is measuring distance. Consider what happens when measuring the distance an object moved using a tape measure (in metric units). The tape measure is likely broken down into the smallest units of millimeters. Therefore, theres no way that you can measure with a precision greater than a millimeter. If the object moves 57.215493 millimeters, therefore, we can only tell for sure that it moved 57 millimeters (or 5.7 centimeters or 0.057 meters, depending on the preference in that situation). In general, this level of rounding is fine. Getting the precise movement of a normal-sized object down to a millimeter would be a pretty impressive achievement, actually. Imagine trying to measure the motion of a car to the millimeter, and youll see that,  in general, this isnt necessary. In the cases where such precision is necessary, youll be using tools that are much more sophisticated than a tape measure. The number of meaningful numbers in a measurement is called the number of significant figures of the number. In the earlier example, the 57-millimeter answer would provide us with 2 significant figures in our measurement. Zeroes and Significant Figures Consider the number 5,200. Unless told otherwise, it is generally the common practice to assume that only the two non-zero digits are significant. In other words, it is assumed that this number was rounded  to the nearest hundred. However, if the number is written as 5,200.0, then it would have five significant figures. The decimal point and following zero is only added if the measurement is precise to that level. Similarly, the number 2.30 would have three significant figures, because the zero at the end is an indication that the scientist doing the measurement did so at that level of precision. Some textbooks have also introduced the convention that a decimal point at the end of a whole number indicates significant figures as well. So 800. would have three significant figures while 800 has only one significant figure. Again, this is somewhat variable depending on the textbook. Following are some examples of different numbers of significant figures, to help solidify the concept: One significant figure49000.00002Two significant figures3.70.005968,0005.0Three significant figures9.640.0036099,9008.00900. (in some textbooks) Mathematics With Significant Figures Scientific figures provide some different rules for mathematics than what you are introduced to in your mathematics class. The key in using significant figures is to be sure that you are maintaining the same level of precision throughout the calculation. In mathematics, you keep all of the numbers from your result, while in scientific work you frequently round based on the significant figures involved. When adding or subtracting scientific data, it is only last digit (the digit the furthest to the right) which matters. For example, lets assume that were adding three different distances: 5.324 6.8459834 3.1 The first term in the addition problem has four significant figures, the second has eight, and the third has only two. The precision, in this case, is determined by the shortest decimal point. So you will perform your calculation, but instead of 15.2699834 the result will be 15.3, because you will round to the tenths place (the first place after the decimal point), because while two of your measurements are more precise the third cant tell you anything more than the tenths place, so the result of this addition problem can only be that precise as well. Note that your final answer, in this case, has three significant figures, while none of your starting numbers did. This can be very confusing to beginners, and its important to pay attention to that property of addition and subtraction. When multiplying or dividing scientific data, on the other hand, the number of significant figures do matter. Multiplying significant figures will always result in a solution that has the same significant figures as the smallest significant figures you started with. So, on to the example: 5.638 x 3.1 The first factor has four significant figures and the second factor has two significant figures. Your solution will, therefore, end up with two significant figures. In this case, it will be 17 instead of 17.4778. You perform the calculation then round your solution to the correct number of significant figures. The extra precision in the multiplication wont hurt, you just dont want to give a false level of precision in your final solution. Using Scientific Notation Physics deals with realms of space from the size of less than a proton to the size of the universe. As such, you end up dealing with some very large and very small numbers. Generally, only the first few of these numbers are significant. No one is going to (or able to) measure the width of the universe to the nearest millimeter. Note This portion of the article deals with manipulating exponential numbers (i.e. 105, 10-8, etc.) and it is assumed that the reader has a grasp of these mathematical concepts. Though the topic can be tricky for many students, it is beyond the scope of this article to address. In order to manipulate these numbers easily, scientists use  scientific notation. The significant figures are listed, then multiplied by ten to the necessary power. The speed of light is written as: [blackquote shadeno]2.997925 x 108  m/s There are 7 significant figures and this is much better than writing 299,792,500 m/s. Note The speed of light is frequently written as 3.00 x 108  m/s, in which case there are only three significant figures. Again, this is a matter of what level of precision is necessary. This notation is very handy for multiplication. You follow the rules described earlier for multiplying the significant numbers, keeping the smallest number of significant figures, and then you multiply the magnitudes, which follows the additive rule of exponents. The following example should help you visualize it: 2.3 x 103  x 3.19 x 104   7.3 x 107 The product has only two significant figures and the order of magnitude is 107  because 103  x 104   107 Adding scientific notation can be very easy or very tricky, depending on the situation. If the terms are of the same order of magnitude (i.e. 4.3005 x 105  and 13.5 x 105), then you follow the addition rules discussed earlier, keeping the highest place value as your rounding location and keeping the magnitude the same, as in the following example: 4.3005 x 105   13.5 x 105   17.8 x 105 If the order of magnitude is different, however, you have to work a bit to get the magnitudes the same, as in the following example, where one term is on the magnitude of 105  and the other term is on the magnitude of 106: 4.8 x 105   9.2 x 106   4.8 x 105   92 x 105   97 x 105or4.8 x 105   9.2 x 106   0.48 x 106   9.2 x 106   9.7 x 106 Both of these solutions are the same, resulting in 9,700,000 as the answer. Similarly, very small numbers are frequently written in scientific notation as well, though with a negative exponent on the magnitude instead of the positive exponent. The mass of an electron is: 9.10939 x 10-31  kg This would be a zero, followed by a decimal point, followed by 30  zeroes, then the series of 6 significant figures. No one wants to write that out, so scientific notation is our friend. All the rules outlined above are the same, regardless of whether the exponent is positive or negative. The Limits of Significant Figures Significant figures are a basic means that scientists use to provide a measure of precision to the numbers they are using. The rounding process involved still introduces a measure of error into the numbers, however, and in very high-level computations there are other statistical methods that get used. For virtually all of the physics that will be done in the high school and college-level classrooms, however, correct use of significant figures will be sufficient to maintain the required level of precision. Final Comments Significant figures can be a significant stumbling block when first introduced to  students because it alters some of the basic mathematical rules that they have been taught for years. With significant figures, 4 x 12 50, for example. Similarly, the introduction of scientific notation to students who may not be fully comfortable with exponents or exponential rules can also create problems. Keep in mind that these are tools which everyone who studies science had to learn at some point, and the rules are actually very basic. The trouble is almost entirely remembering which rule is applied at which time. When do I add exponents and when do I subtract them? When do I move the decimal point to the left and when to the right? If you keep practicing these tasks, youll get better at them until they become second nature. Finally, maintaining proper units can be tricky. Remember that you cant directly add centimeters and meters, for example, but must first convert them into the same scale. This is a common mistake for beginners but, like the rest, it is something that can very easily be overcome by slowing down, being careful, and thinking about what youre doing.

Critical Analysis of Diamond Shipwreck and Tang Shipwreck as the Essay

Critical Analysis of Diamond Shipwreck and Tang Shipwreck as the Milestones in the World Trade Relationship - Essay Example Though the material evidences procured from these two shipwrecks are not sufficient enough to depict the whole trade relationship among the countries of the world, they are quite powerful as proofs to support the historians’ claims about the world trade relationship, which had been greatly influenced by the contemporary power politics of that time. The shipwrecks, being located at thousands miles of distance and occurring at an interval of nine hundred years, significantly serve as milestones in the ups and downs of power relations as well as trade relations among the countries. Shipwreck depicted by Roff Smith occurred on an unknown date in the 1533 and is located at â€Å"the beach sands of the Sperrgebiet† (Smith 3) on Namibia’s south coast, whereas Worrall’s shipwreck is located under the blue water of â€Å"the Gelasa Strait, a funnel-shaped passage between the small Indonesian islands of Bangka and Belitung† (Worrall 2). Depending on a date in scribed on one of the Changsha bowls, Worrall assumed that the shipwreck might occur on an anonymous date in the A.D. 826. The Overall Picture of Asia-Europe Trade Relationships among the Countries The material evidences found at the shipwreck site in the Java Sea fairly prove to be strong support for the historians’ claims about the Chinese commercial relationship with the Arab countries, especially with the economic powerhouse in Baghdad. Worrall claims that ‘The Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Route, which had linked China to the world, lapsed into disuse [after 878 AD]’ because of â€Å"[the Confucian] distrust of merchants and the foreign influences† (Worrall 3). The truth is that â€Å"[the Confucian] distrust of merchants and the foreign influences† was the one and only cause of the lapse of the Silk Route and the Maritime Silk Route. Rather it was one of a number of causes –such as, the Ottoman barricade and dictation, Mongol barbaris m, decay of security, etc on along the Silk Route- that were remapping the political power-relationships among the countries. These reshaped power-relations among the countries were then influencing the Arab-China, Arab-Europe and, therefore, China-Europe trade relationship. Consequently, China turned inward and the European explorers were earnestly searching for an alternate route to Fareast. The European exploration of the Atlantic and the New World was motivated by a number of financial, religious and technological reasons. Following by the industrial revolution in Europe, the Age of Exploration was essentially an age of growing trade and commerce. In later half of the 15th century, the growing strife between Europe and the Ottoman Empire began to narrow the scope of trading silk and spice including incense, medicinal herbs, drugs and opium, etc through the silk route and the spice trade routes. As a response to this shrinking scope of trading along the eastward land and sea rout e, the Portuguese and the Spanish were motivated to opt for another two alternatives: first they were searching for an alternative route to east and Southeast Asian Markets; second, they were trying to find out markets of cheap slave-labors, other valuable goods like gold, silver, ivory, etc in the African region. Consequently, in 1418 the Portuguese began exploration along the African coast of the Atlantic. But being geared up by the Ottoman blockade on the Silk route and on other eastward sea-routes Vasco Da Gama, funded by the Spanish monarch, traveled the African Seacoast of the Atlantic a

Cooperator Insurance company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cooperator Insurance company - Case Study Example sence, CGL values people to a greater degree and makes business decisions that are long-term in nature to strike a balance between the profit objective of business and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) objective. The products and services of CGL are sold through a variety of channels. There are over 2,570 licensed insurance representatives across Canada whose responsible is to sell the products and services of CGL. Moreover, CGL uses its website and contact and call centers to sell its services to clients satisfied (The Cooperators Group Limited, 2013). The variety of sales channels of CGL enables the company to reach an ample population of prospective clients. CGL employs several methods of selling. Considering the insurance and financial services are provided to both individuals and corporations, both direct and Business-to-Business method of selling are used. Besides, the complex insurance services of the CGL are sold through insurance brokers (Cooperators Group Limited, 2015). CGL encounters stiff competition from other companies operating in the insurance industry. Despite the fact that CGL has diversified to offering financial services over and above insurance services, it is still recommended that CGL should diversify its operation to other lines of business to spread business risk. It is recommended that CGL should capitalize on acquiring and collaborating with other players in the industry in order to fortify its market share in the industry. In fact, through acquisition and collaborating with other insurance and financial services providers, CGL will worry less about competition and instead focus the resources and energy in its core operations. CGL is an insurance and financial services company. Given this, the suppliers of the company have to do with the members of the company and the major ones include Ontario Federation of Agriculture, UFA Co-operative Limited and Arctic Co-operatives Limited. CUMIS offers business, liability and