Essay on Comparison Between the Great Gatsby and Ebb Sonnets

‘A deeper understanding of aspirations and identity emerges from considering the parallels between the Great Gatsby and Browning’s poetry’. Compare how these texts explore aspirations and identity? Both the texts ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F.Scott Fitzgerald and ‘Sonnets from the Portuguese’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning explore the ideas of aspirations and identity developing a deeper understanding of the texts. Both texts share these ideas through the characters and the values of idealism and hope, and personal voice and identity. Although the two texts are separated in time and context, they both reflect the world of the text and composer. ‘Sonnets from the Portuguese’ was written during the 19th Century in the period known as the†¦show more content†¦She continues to list her idealized love in Sonnets 43 and 14, stating that love should be pure as men â€Å"turn from praise†, a love which people endure because it is right and correct. She again through imagery demands the purity of genuine love that can grow through time and endure â€Å"on, through loves eternity†. This clearly explores the idea of aspirations, hope and idealism within the sonnet sequence. The Sonnet sequence also involves the idea of identity with Barrett Browning coming to terms with her emerging sexuality and realisation of love. The sequence was written by Barrett Browning thus providing a personal voice to the sonnets allowing a portrayal of the sequence of events of her personal identity and expression of love. Throughout the sonnet sequence Browning develops a stronger sense and realisation of her love for Robert, hence shaping her identity. By sonnet 43 a series of elements introduced by the simple phrase â€Å"I love thee† where the repetition intensifies the affirmation, she declares that her love is free and pure and possesses passion. Most importantly Browning now holds a sense of identity as she has achieved her idealized type of love. ‘The Great Gatsby’ was written in the early 20th Century during the period known as the ‘Roaring Twenties’ or ‘the Jazz age’. It was a time where money wasShow MoreRelatedComparison of Great Gatsby and Sonnets from the Portuguese Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagesthe treatment of similar content in The Great Gatsby and the prescribed poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning reflect changing values and perspectives? Throughout different time periods in history, perspectives change. With changing perspectives, artists and authors convey their feelings for particular social issues in varying ways through their texts. As the prescribed text, â€Å"The Great Gatsby† by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the prescribed sonnets from â€Å"Sonnets from the Portuguese† by Elizabeth Barrett

100 of the Most Common Kanji Characters

With three different ways of writing, the Japanese language may seem intimidating to new students. Its true that memorizing the most common kanji symbols and other scripts takes time and practice. But once youve mastered them, youll discover a means of written communication unlike anything youll see in the English language. There are three writing systems in Japanese, two phonetic and one symbolic, and all three are used in tandem. Kanji Symbols Kanji is symbolic, or logographic. It is the most common means of written communication in the Japanese language, with more than 50,000 different symbols by some estimates. However, most Japanese can get by with using about 2,000 different kanji in everyday communication. A single kanji character can have multiple meanings, depending on how it is pronounced and the context in which it is used. Hiragana and Katakana Hiragana and katakana  are both phonetic (or syllabic). There are 46 basic characters in each. Hiragana is used primarily to spell words that have  Japanese roots or grammatical elements. Katakana is used to spell foreign and technical words (computer is one example), or used for emphasis. Romanji Western characters and words, sometimes called romanji,  are also common in modern Japanese. Typically, these are reserved for words derived from Western languages, especially English. The word T-shirt in Japanese, for example, consists of a T and several katakana characters. Japanese advertising and media frequently use English words for stylistic emphasis.   For everyday purposes, most writing contains kanji characters because its the most efficient, expressive means of communication. Complete sentences written only in hiragana and katakana would be extremely long and resemble a jumble of letters, not a full thought. But used in conjunction with kanji, the Japanese language becomes full of nuance. Kanji has its historical roots in Chinese writing. The word itself means Chinese (or Han) characters. Early forms were first used in Japan as early as A.D. 800 and evolved slowly into the modern era, along with hiragana and katakana. Following Japans defeat in World War II, the government adopted a series of rules designed to simplify the most common kanji characters to make them easier to learn. Elementary school students have to learn about 1,000 characters. That number doubles by high school. Beginning in the late 1900s, Japanese education officials have added more and more kanji to the curriculum. Because the language has such deep historical roots, literally thousands more kanji have evolved over time and are still in use. Common Kanji Characters Here are 100 of the most frequently used kanji in Japanese newspapers. Newspapers give a great representation of the best and most useful kanji to learn because you are more likely to come across these characters in day-to-day use.   æâ€" ¥ sun ä ¸â‚¬ one Ã¥ ¤ § big Ã¥ ¹ ´ year ä ¸ ­ middle ä ¼Å¡ to meet ä º º human being, people æÅ" ¬ book æÅ"ˆ moon, month é• · long å› ½ country å‡ º to go out ä ¸Å  up, top Ã¥   10 生 life Ã¥ ­  child 分 minute æ  ± east ä ¸â€° three è ¡Å' to go Ã¥ Å' same ä »Å  now é «Ëœ high, expensive 金 money, gold 時 time 手 hand è ¦â€¹ to see, to look Ã¥ ¸â€š city 力 power ç ± ³ rice è‡ ª oneself å‰  before 円 yen (Japanese currency) Ã¥ Ë† to combine ç «â€¹ to stand 内 inside ä ºÅ' two ä ºâ€¹ affair, matter ç ¤ ¾ company, society 者 person Ã¥Å" ° ground, place ä º ¬ capital éâ€"“ interval, between ç” ° rice field ä ½â€œ body Ã¥ ­ ¦ to study ä ¸â€¹ down, under ç› ® eye ä ºâ€ five Ã¥ ¾Å' after æâ€" ° new 明 bright, clear æâ€" ¹ direction éÆ' ¨ section .Ã¥ ¥ ³ woman å… « eight Ã¥ ¿Æ' heart å›› four æ °â€˜ people, nation Ã¥ ¯ ¾ opposite ä ¸ » main, master æ ­ £ right, correct ä » £ to substitute, generation è ¨â‚¬ to say ä ¹  nine Ã¥ °  small æ€  to think ä ¸Æ' seven Ã¥ ± ± mountain Ã¥ ®Å¸ real å… ¥ to enter 回 to turn around, time Ã¥   ´ place 野 field éâ€"‹ to open ä ¸â€¡ 10,000 å… ¨ whole Ã¥ ®Å¡ to fix Ã¥ ® ¶ house Ã¥Å'â€" north å… ­ six å•  question è © ± to speak æâ€"‡ letter, writings å‹• to move Ã¥ º ¦ degree, time çÅ"Å' prefecture æ ° ´ water Ã¥ ®â€° inexpensive, peaceful æ °  courtesy name (Mr., Mrs.) å’Å' harmonious, peace æ” ¿ government, politics ä ¿  to maintain, to keep è ¡ ¨ to express, surface é â€œ way ç› ¸ phase, mutual æ„  mind, meaning ç™ º to start, to emit ä ¸  not, un-, in- å…š political party

Two Love Stories Free Essays

My audience for this essay is the young students at Enterprise State Community College, who enjoy a good love story about young love. I hope my essay will tell the key points of the similarities and differences of two major love stories that became movies in the end of the twentieth century, and open their eyes to what makes a love story. That is not just the good times, but the hard problems that come with life. We will write a custom essay sample on Two Love Stories or any similar topic only for you Order Now Life is easier having someone to deal with the hard problems beside you.Both these movies tell the difficulties of real love and I hope my essay will attract my audiences hearts. Outline Thesis: The Notebook and A Walk to remember are both amazing love stories written by Nicholas Sparks that hit the big screen in the end of the twentieth century. These movies have a lot of similarities and differences, such as the relationship between the two couples, the time period they take place, and the age group of the couple. I. The first way that the notebook and a walk to remember are similar and different is by the relationship of the two couples. A.In the Notebook The young couple had an up and down rough romance that lasted a lifetime, ending in death in each others arms. B. In A Walk to Remember the young couple had a short relationship that felt like a lifetime but ended early in the death of Jamie. C. The similarities between the two couples in the movies is that both couples are young and in love, dealing with life issues. II. The second way these movies are similar and differ, is by their society standards of their families and their time period. A. Both couples in the movies have to deal with an acceptance in each others families due to social standards.B. The Notebook takes place in the mid sixties during the time of war. C. A walk to Remember takes place at the end of the eighties beginning of the nineties. III. The third way that A Walk to Remember and The Notebook similiars is by the feelings of the love in young couples hearts, but they differ by where the couples stand in life. A. In A Walk to Remember the couple is still in high school facing teenage dilemas and bullies. B In The Notebook the couple is out of high school facing life changing choices. C. In both movies the couples are coming to age and planning what might become of their futures. Two love stories â€Å"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being â€Å"in love† which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident†- St. Augustine.The Note book and A Walk To Remember are both amazing love stories written by Nicholas Sparks, that hit the big screen at the end of the 20th century. These movies have a lot of similarities and differences such as the romance between the two couples, the time periods the love stories take place in, and the age group of the couples. The first way that The Notebook and A Walk To Remember similar and differs is by the relationship between the two couples. In The Notebook Allie and Noel had an up and down rollercoaster of a relationship that ended up lasting a life time, and ending in their death at the same time in each other arms.In A Walk To Remember Jamie and Landon got together, fell in love and then where only together for a short period of time that felt like an eternity to them. Their relationship ended in the death of Jamie when she was only eighteen. The similarities between the two couples is that in both movies the couples are young, in love, and dealing with life challenging issues. Such as Allie developed Alzheimer’s and Noel stayed by her side until their last moment on earth, and Jamie has cancer that ended up killing her. These reasons make the relationships of the two couples intertwine and vary in there own unique way.The second way these movies similar and differ is by their society standers of their families and the genre in which they take place. When I say they are similar I mean by the fact that in both movies the girls come from a more moral family, and the boys come from a more laid back type of living style. In both cases the girls’ parents disapprove of their daughter’s decision of their romances. In The Notebook Allie’s parents are higher class, and believe that Noel is not good enough for their daughter because of his low wage lumber job and his unplanned future .In A Walk To Remember Jamie is a preachers daughter whose father believes she should spend her last moments on earth in god’s name instead of spending her time with Landon who is a slacker and likes to spend his time partying. These movies differ by the genre that they take place during. The Notebook takes place in the 60’s during the time of war. While, A Walk To Remember takes place in the early 90’s at the end of the millennium. These movies both hit the concept of young lovers coping with the decisions of betraying their families and their lovers.The third way that A Walk to Remember and The Notebook similar is by the feelings of true love in the hearts of the young couples, but they differ by where the couples stand in life. In A Walk to Remember the couple is still in high school facing teenage dilemmas and high school bullies, such as Landon’s own friends. In The Notebook the couple is out of high school and trying to figure out what they are going to do to carry out their life together or separate.. For instance Allie is off to a university to receive a degree, while Noel is off to the army to fight for the freedom of America.In both movies the couples are coming to age and dealing with what might come of their futures. In both relationship there are many up and downs that they have to work out to make their relationships work, dealing with heart braking issues that tested their faith in love. In The Notebook they didn’t agree on much in fact, they rarely agreed on anything. They fought all the time and they challenged each other every day, but in spite of their differences they had one important thing in common, they were crazy about each other.Both of theses movie were about ever lasting love, although they had a lot of differences, such as the distance of the two couples, the time period, and where the couples stood in life, they focused on the same concepts. In both movies the girls had life threatening diseases, different social classes, and both couples were coming of age. Search for love, for it is the most important ingredient of life. Without it, you life will echo emptiness. With it, your life will vibrate with warmth and meaning. Even during any hardship, love will shine through. -Nikita Koloff. No matter the hardship between both couples they both made the love work. How to cite Two Love Stories, Papers

Jujitsu The Gentle Art Essay Example For Students

Jujitsu The Gentle Art Essay To a person not conversant with this art, Jujitsu may be considered as a foul or derogatory term in Japanese. Â  However, Jujitsu us one of the most effective and deadly forms of martial arts taught today. Â  Unique among other forms of combat, Jujitsu holds the position of a parent art, of from which other forms of martial arts such as Aikido, Judo and several Karate styles were extracted. Â  Jujitsu is a combination of all levels of combat. Â  It incorporates chokes, striking, grappling, nerve and pressure point attacks, joint locks, redirection of momentum and throws. The exact origins of Jujitsu are unclear, as most of its history was passed on in the oral tradition. Â  The few early written references show that its origins date back to Japanese mythology, where it is said that the gods, Kajima and Kadori, used Jujitsu to discipline the lawless and wild inhabitants of the Eastern provinces. Â  Therefore, by definition, the art is nearly 2000 years old, however records do exist which show that the art was being practiced as far back as the 8th Century, over twelve hundred years ago. Jujitsu was formalised and most popular during the Edo period of Japan. Â  This was the era of the Samurai. Â  Jujitsu was the Samurais main set of combat techniques, after the sword. Â  Jujitsu was a part of the Samurais fighting skills, something he could use when he was unable to use his favourite weapon. There are many different styles of Jujitsu that exist around the world, and many different ways to actually spell the name. Â  The original spelling derived directly from the Japanese was Jujitsu. Â  As the popularity and practice of this martial art spread across Europe, the spelling and pronunciation was forced to change. Â  This occurred during World War II, when the name Jujitsu had to be changed to Jiu-jitsu (pronounced Jeeu-jitsu). This name-change occurred because the Germans occupying the area at the time claimed that the name resembled the word Jew, which was illegal to be spoken. Â  Therefore the name was slightly altered so that the art could continue to exist and be taught throughout Europe. Despite the difference is spelling, the meaning of the words is basically the same. The literal meaning of the name is the gentle art, however, since there can be many different translations of Japanese words, Ju can also mean soft, yielding, pliant and flexible, which are all important fundamental principles in this dangerous art. Â  Jujitsu operates on the notion that force should never be met with force. Â  Instead, to avoid an incoming attack, Jujitsu teaches to redirect the energy created by the attack into a counter move, rather than working against the attacking force. Jujitsu is sometimes referred to as a complete and more rounded art. Â  This is because it utilises all aspects of different martial arts, combining both standing and ground fighting. Certainly a puncher or kicker is at a disadvantage if they allow themselves to be taken to the ground. Â  The grappler, or ground-fighter, is at a disadvantage to stay outside and try to use strikes with a striker. Â  Therefore, a martial artist with both standing and grappling skills has a better, and some may consider unfair, advantage over his opponent. Another advantage of Jujitsu is the ability to modify techniques to meet the needs of the situation and abilities of the student, as some techniques work better than others based on height, weight and physical capabilities and limitations. Jujitsu In addition, Jujitsu students are taught to do anything in their power to overcome an opponent, a practice that causes a lot of controversy in the martial arts community. It is certainly not uncommon to see a Jujitsu student being taught to gouge the eyeball, break or dislocate a limb, crush the windpipe or even break the neck of an opponent. Â  These techniques are taught to be used only in extreme circumstances, however they illustrate well the lethal nature of the art to defeat an opponent with as little time and energy spent as possible. It is no wonder that Jujitsu is taught to American and Russian Special Forces, as well as armies and police units around the world. .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 , .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .postImageUrl , .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 , .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5:hover , .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5:visited , .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5:active { border:0!important; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 { 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; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5:active , .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .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; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5 .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ueaa08ff068124d33d5a13a924a0f0ca5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Band's First Stage Performance EssayFor me, Jujitsu has become a most valued part of my life. Â  It is not only about learning how to overcome an opponent, it is a way of life. It has taught me discipline and self-confidence, while helping me protect myself and avert possible injury in those circumstances where my friends or I have been under threat of, or in the midst of actual attack. Â  Though I have only begun to learn the fundamental aspects of the art, I have already established a confident grasp and deep desire to learn. As we live in a society where threat of attack is an all too common occurrence, I would recommend learning a martial art to anyone, and Jujits u is the most complete and well-rounded combat style to learn.

Environment in South and Southeast Asia Essay Example

Environment in South and Southeast Asia Essay Environment: South and Southeast Asia Hopefully you are studying this lesson before lunch. Imagine a place where the only water there is to drink comes from a nearby river. You become thirsty so you head down there with a pail. When you arrive, there are two things that catch your eye. Upstream, a woman is washing her familys clothes along the same shoreline. She is using a kind of soap made from animal fat. Between the two of you, there are several cows standing around in the water, drinking. They look like theyve been there for a long time. Now, imagine going to the waters edge and seeing all manner of nasty things swimming around in the water. As disgusting as this sounds, the scene described above is repeated thousands of times a day in many areas of the world. Water that you would never dream of drinking in a million years is the only water available to many people. And this is just one of the environmental concerns. In todays lesson, youll learn about environmental issues in South and Southeast Asia and what nations are doing to combat the problems. India India and its capital, New Delhi, is composed of land about one-third the size of the United States. Yet, it has a population that is more than three times larger (more than 1. 1 billion). As a result, the environment faces many critical issues, such as: †¢water shortages; †¢unclean water sources; †¢air pollution; †¢deforestation; †¢natural disasters from earthquakes, floods, and typhoons; †¢soil erosion from unwise agricultural methods. An ever-growing population naturally results in more pollution. We will write a custom essay sample on Environment in South and Southeast Asia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Environment in South and Southeast Asia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Environment in South and Southeast Asia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As the industrial sector grows and more people drive cars, air pollution becomes an increasingly difficult problem to handle. Due partially to its location, the temperature average in India is increasing, which accounts for changes in weather patterns. Consequently, periods of drought are increasing. As water shortages occur due to drought, the quality of the water becomes a major issue. In addition, many of Indias forested regions are being cleared away for farming and building materials. This leads to major soil erosion, as heavy rains are commonplace. Because trees help to retain moisture in the soil, this plays a part in the water shortages that do occur. To combat the problem, India is heavily involved in the construction of dams and canal systems. Although this has helped to alleviate the situation somewhat, it has also brought about an increase in some diseases that form in stagnated water. The countrys leadership is actively seeking ways to protect air, water, and land resources. In addition to air and land pollution, India faces losing many of its plants and animals. Tigers, for example, have been forced from natural habitats, resulting in greater exposure to humans. In an effort to protect these beautiful animals, the Indian government has established a number of natural refuges to keep them from harm. Pakistan The environmental issues facing Pakistan are different in many respects from those of its neighbor to the east. Pakistan has a much drier climate; consequently, it must guard and protect its water supply even more diligently than India. Like other nations in the region, an ever-growing population is taxing the few natural resources that do exist. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Council, located in the nations capital city of Islamabad, is working hard to address the issues facing its citizens. For example, Pakistan lacks many of the agricultural innovations that the United States enjoys. As a result, soil degradation, erosion, and pollution are hampering efforts to feed the people and causing increased desertification of the region. Industrial wastes, pesticides, and raw sewage are polluting water supplies, which severely limits the amount of potable water. In addition, Pakistan faces increasing air pollution from heavy industry and inefficient automobiles. Bangladesh for more information Due to its location and topography, Bangladesh suffers from extreme weather much of the year. The country is nearly flat and barely above sea level, making it prone to flooding. Major cyclones ravage the countryside, killing thousands and leaving hundreds of square miles under water. These storms wreak havoc on an overpopulated nation that has few resources to protect its people. Like India, the nation of Bangladesh is heavily overpopulated for a country its size. Consequently, there are a number of major environmental issues related to overpopulation. For those living in the capital city of Dhaka and other locations, the most acute problem centers around lifegiving water. Much of it is polluted in varying degrees, causing numerous diseases, the most serious of which is cholera. The National Environment Management Plan is one of several programs developed by the government of Bangladesh to combat this issue along with other environmental problems such as deforestation, soil degradation, and destruction of wetlands. Indonesia and Malaysia Due to their proximity to one another, Indonesia and Malaysia share many of the same environmental concerns, and until fairly recently, neither nation did much about them. For example, both countries have large forested areas. For many years, these forests have been used for exporting. In addition, thousands of acres have been cut and burned to make way for more agriculture. The great amount of burning that takes place actually causes a smoky haze that affects not only Indonesia, but many of the neighboring archipelagos. As is the case in other nations, deforestation causes major issues with erosion. As mountains are stripped of their trees, landslides are more frequent. Damage is often widespread, with some loss of life. Deforestation is also responsible for the displacement and disappearance of many indigenous plants and animals. There are thousands of species that face extinction if forests continue to be slashed and burned. The governments of these two nations are well aware of this environmental issue, but there are problems with bringing such practices to an end. For example, Indonesia has a number of laws in effect that are designed to protect the forests. However, there is little cooperation between governmental agencies. This results in a near-total lack of enforcement. Unfortunately, the government rewards officials who contribute to the nations economic growth. For them, it is essential that the timber industry thrive. Therefore, they are less likely to enforce laws that protect the environment. Besides deforestation, the capitals of Indonesia (Jakarta) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) must deal with the destruction of coral reefs due to poor fishing practices. These fragile ecosystems are overfished and rarely protected. Unfortunately, fishing is critical to the livelihood of both nations. for more information The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake struck on December 26, 2004, off the west coast of Sumatra. The 9. 1 earthquake sent powerful tsunamis slamming into the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India in particular, killing more than two hundred thousand people. Unbelievably, the tsunami traveled all the way to South Africa (5,300 miles away) where eight people were killed. Despite the location of the actual earthquake, the western coast of Chile, in South America, experienced a tsunami. Finally, Indonesia and Malaysia both have to deal with environmental issues caused by frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and major storms. The 2004 tsunami wiped out coastal ecosystems throughout the region. Volcanic eruptions displace thousands of people on occasion and wipe out entire forested areas. Numerous typhoons also cause a great deal of devastation along the entire length of the archipelagos. Philippines Similar to other nations in the region, the Philippines suffers from two categories of environmental problems: human-caused and natural disasters. Issues caused by people include: †¢deforestation due to badly needed agricultural land and timber products; †¢soil erosion and degradation; †¢overpopulation, forcing displacement of animal life and destruction of plant life; †¢increased air pollution from industry and automobiles; †¢toxic waste being dumped into rivers, which pollutes not only the rivers, but also the ocean they empty into; †¢waste emptied into the ocean, destroying coral reefs; †¢overfishing, depleting the number of game fish needed to feed humans. The capital city, Manila, also has to deal with a number of natural disasters. Many times, the destruction they cause are compounded by the amount of damage done due to mismanagement of the islands natural resources. Some of the natural disasters that are faced each year are: †¢earthquakes and the subsequent tsunamis that sometimes follow; †¢frequent volcanic eruptions; †¢landslides and flooding, caused by storms but made worse by deforestation; †¢numerous yearly typhoons. Due to rapid population growth, the Filipino government has not been able to find decent solutions to the ever-growing waste, water, and air pollution problems facing it. Consequently, more and more of its citizens are exposed to serious health issues. Other Nations The chart below provides a brief outline of other nations in this part of the world and the environmental issues each faces today. CountryCapitalEnvironmental Issues BhutanThimphusoil erosion caused by deforestation, and little potable water BruneiBandar Seri Begawanmust deal with smoke and haze from numerous fires originating in Indonesia CambodiaPhnom Penhlack of potable water, erosion caused by deforestation, overfishing LaosVietianedeforestation and lack of potable water MaldivesMalelack of fresh water, coral damage MyanmarNaypyidawsoil erosion and landslides caused by deforestation; earthquakes and tropical storms NepalKathmandudeforestation, soil erosion, contaminated water Sri LankaColombosoil erosion caused by deforestation; industrial and toxic waste pollution ThailandBangkokair pollution, soil erosion caused by deforestation, unclean water VietnamHanoiagricultural deforestation, marine pollution, lack of potable water In times past, little was done to alleviate the severe environmental issues facing each of these nations. However, as the problems have become more acute, government leadership has become more active. Unfortunately, many of these countries are poor and do not possess the funds necessary to lessen the issues. In addition, governmental corruption is widespread in many cases and needed money is being diverted to other things.

Edgar Allan Poes Autobiographical Inspiration †Literature Essay

Edgar Allan Poes Autobiographical Inspiration – Literature Essay Free Online Research Papers Edgar Allan Poes Autobiographical Inspiration Literature Essay In several stories and poems that Edgar Allan Poe created, he left various indications that the written word is rarely disconnected from the person writing it. Through the dark, disturbing subject matter in his work, one can begin to understand the complex life and obstacles, both external and internal, that he had to cope with during every day of his life. Though Poe is widely regarded as the master of the American short story and one of the foremost horror writers in the United States’ brief history, it is easy to see the effect of such a difficult childhood in both the tragic course of events that culminated in his premature death and the mesmerizing and groundbreaking writing that he left behind. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19th, 1809 to David and Elizabeth Poe, two Baltimore-based actors. Acting was looked down upon as a profession in that time, which meant that Poe’s parents were barely able to make a living. It also did not help that the pair could not have been considered gifted by any stretch of the imagination: â€Å"The two were not notably talented; they played minor roles in third-rate theatrical companies† (Buranelli 7). Poe was the second of three children. By the time of the third child’s birth, Poe’s father, who was purported to have abused him, disappeared, abandoning his mother. She took her two youngest children (William Henry, the first, was left to his grandparents in Baltimore around the time of his birth) to Richmond, VA, but soon developed tuberculosis and died, leaving Edgar and his sister, Rosaline orphaned (9). After his mother’s death, Poe was taken into the care of John Allan, a wealthy Richmond merchant and his godfather. His wife Frances had no children of her own and wanted to adopt Poe, but Allan refused, citing that he thought the son of parents whose profession was looked at as immoral would be the wrong choice for an heir and bad for his name and the fortune he was busy amassing. After a move to London and a strict but enjoyable boarding school education, Poe returned with the Allans to the United States. The two did not get along, so Poe was excited to find out that Allan was shipping him off to the University of Virginia. However, Allan did not supply him with nearly enough money to pay his way through school, so Poe took up gambling and by the end of the year, owed over $2,500. After 11 months of college, Allan, refusing to pay the debts, pulled Poe out of school. Terrified and unbalanced, Poe started drinking heavily. Over the next couple of years, Poe was faced with a heap of bad luck. Upon arriving home, he was invited to a party of Sarah Elmira Royster’s, his high-school sweetheart; when he got there, he discovered that it was an engagement party. To make matters worse, Allan forced Poe to join the military. He signed up under the name â€Å"Edgar Allan Perry,† but was honorably discharged in 1829, with the rank of Sergeant Major. A year later, Allan, frustrated with Poe’s situation, signed him up for West Point. In less than a year, Poe was kicked out. A few years later when Frances died, Allan remarried and cut off contact with Poe. However, even without familial support, Poe soon began to write and things began to pick up. Around this time, he married his thirteen-year old first cousin, Virginia Clemm. Though she was simple-minded and kind, she was unable to keep up with his erratic genius and wild behavior. Nevertheless, Poe won a story contest in 1833 for a story called â€Å"MS. Found in a Bottle†; one of the judges, John P. Kennedy expressed an interest in his work and helped him sell a story to the Southern Literary Messenger from Richmond. Soon, Poe got a job on the editorial staff of the magazine and was quickly promoted to editor. With his new position, Poe was seen to be both a keen critic of literature and a gifted writer, and the popularity of his work for the magazine increased the recognition of both his writing and the Messenger. Unfortunately, Poe was an alcoholic and was fired and re-hired by the Messenger several times. He looked for work in several publishing houses, but the financial p anic going on at the time prevented several magazines from being able to thrive, so work was scarce. After a while, Poe was finally was able to publish a long story that recounted a sea voyage, entitled â€Å"The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.† The story was so well-written that most critics actually believed it to be a true account. After two hard years, Poe began to publish again. He got a job working for a magazine called Burton’s Gentlemen’s Magazine; his contract was to write horror stories for the magazine, which in 1840, were compiled into a collection called â€Å"Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque.† After Burton’s was sold and the name was changed to Graham’s Magazine, Poe became the editor of that version too, leading the American magazine to become possibly the most important of its time. A year after his story, â€Å"The Gold Bug,† won a $100 prize from the Philadelphia Dollar Magazine, Poe left Graham’s. Not long after, the New York Evening Mirror published his most famous poem, â€Å"The Raven.† The poem became extraordinarily popular and Poe frequently did readings of it, in eerie rooms with the lamps turned low and his voice sounding somewhat demonic. Though he reached the height of his popularity with â€Å"The Raven,† few writers can make a healthy living on writing alone; most must depend on other positions, such as editorial and publishing jobs. He was able to acquire such employment (he worked for such diverse publications as the Broadway Journal, the Evening Mirror and Grodey’s Lady’s Book) but never held them for long due to his alcoholism. At this time, Virginia also started showing symptoms of tuberculosis. Poe began to get more depressed, started drinking more and sunk into a deep melancholy. Finally, in the win ter of 1846, Virginia died, when the couple had little fuel for the cold or food. Shortly after Virginia’s death, Poe met up with his ex-girlfriend, Sarah Elmira Royster, who was newly single, and the two reconnected. Soon, they were engaged. A few days before their wedding, Poe set off on a trip to New York City from Richmond, but disappeared in Baltimore. Days later, he was found in the street. He was brought to a hospital but died shortly after on October 7th, 1949. Though the cause is still unknown, it is widely believed to have been rabies that killed Poe. A quick glance at any of Poe’s works reveals that he was a writer whose life events clearly had a strong effect on what he wrote. Though there are many aspects that can be compared and contrasted, it is his use of women, alternating as the objects of affection and substitute mother figures, and the uncanny similarities between several of his main characters and himself that are the most interesting. Vincent Buranelli said that â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe is the most complex personality in the entire gallery of American authors. No one else fuses, as he does, such discordant psychological attributes, or offers to the world an appearance so various† (19). While this is true, the â€Å"discordant psychological attributes† that Poe frequently wrote about usually referred to himself. Many of Edgar Allan Poe’s personal problems most likely stemmed from the premature death of David and Elizabeth and the resulting lack of strong parental influence in his early years. It is said by Edward H. Davidson in his Poe: A Critical Study that â€Å"one of the major themes in Poe’s whole corpus of writing is his longing for the mother, for a kind of female night-shape who is never there and who will never come† (47). In fact, several psychoanalysts have used Poe and his fixation with his mother as fertile ground for further investigation. In her analysis of Poe’s short story, â€Å"The Black Cat,† psychologist Marie Bonaparte argues that for Poe (taking the form of the narrator), the story enacts his displacement of his hatred for his mother for abandoning him (164). He obviously has cause to be angry with Pluto, the all-black cat which bites him and he kills, while the next cat enables him momentarily to forget his act of murder. However, he begins to loathe Pluto’s successor for no other reason than its involuntary reminiscence of the first cat. This, Bonaparte says, represents Poe’s innermost feelings being projected in the form of a short story, with the two cats as symbols for his several mother figures (Elizabeth, Frances Allan and Maria Clemm). Both Poe and the narrator’s feelings of detestation come from an action or event that was completely beyond control (Elizabeth’s death and the cat’s biting reflex), but the pair still hold both Poe’s mother and Pluto accountable for them. Because their first choice target for hatred is unavailable, they automatically shift their feelings towards an alternate foil. That the second cat has, according to Poe, a large, although indefinite splotch of white, covering nearly the whole region of the breast (â€Å"The Black Cat,† 212) is probably not a coincidence. This splotch, Bonaparte argues, represents milk both by its color and its position and subsequently reminds the narrator of his felicide. Nonetheless, it is quite clear that, at least â€Å"above the iceberg,† Poe felt a strong affection for his mother. Traditional Freudian theory can also be applied to the storyline and characters in another one of Poe’s short stories, â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher.† Though its implication of incest (most of which is drawn from the rather suspect behavior of Usher following his sister’s death and the quote that the two shared sympathies of a scarcely intelligible nature (â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher,† 270)) seems like Poe is pandering to the lowest common denominator of reader, he is actually including a topic that was common ground for writing of that time (Wagenknecht 57). Even so, Poe’s insertion of the theme brings to light interesting parallels with his own story. While it is clear that Poe’s time with his parents was not long by any means, it is understood that due to his father’s frequent inebriation and abu sive behavior, Elizabeth had a much larger effect on the then-toddler Poe. It is then no surprise to see Poe acting out his Freudian Oedipus complex by having Usher (clearly analogous to Poe) romanticize a blood relative in concept (if not physically), even after her death (or at least what Usher perceives to be her death). In addition to being concerned with subtly lusting after his mother, Poe also devoted much of his creativity towards the primary love of his life, Virginia Clemm. Within Poe’s poem â€Å"Annabel Lee,† are several references to Virginia’s youngness and their relationship: I was a child and she was a child, in this kingdom by the sea; but we loved with a love that was more than love- I and my Annabel Lee; with a love that the winged seraphs of heaven coveted her and me. And this was the reason that, long ago, in this kingdom by the sea, a wind blew out of a cloud, chilling my beautiful Annabel Lee; so that her highborn kinsman came and bore her away from me, to shut her up in sepulcher in this kingdom by the sea†¦ for the moon never beams without bringing me dreams of the beautiful Annabel Lee; and the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes of my beautiful Annabel Lee; and so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, in the sepulcher there by the sea, in her tomb by the pounding sea (â€Å"Annabel Lee,† 12-13). The poem gives the impression that Poe and Clemm’s relationship might have been looked down upon by some, yet Poe’s refutation that they had a â€Å"love that was more than love† attempts to dispel that. It is through the poem that Poe, for once, truly lays out all of his feelings about the entire relationship with Virginia. It is also unfortunately a chronicle of his heartbreaking behavior following her death. Though Pruette says that their union was only existent because of Poe’s desire for a mother figure in Maria Clemm (who he became incredibly close with) (67), â€Å"Annabel Lee† also recreates Poe’s frequent night-time visits to Virginia’s graveside, where he would often sleep (â€Å"all the night-tide, I lie down by the side of my darling†). Poe loved Clemm so much that towards the end of her life and following her death, he could not bear the strain of losing someone so close to him, and he began to drink heavily.  "Each time I felt the agonies of her death- and at each accession of the disorder I loved her more dearly and clung to her life with more desperate pertinacity. But I am constitutionally sensitive- nervous in a very unusual degree. During these fits of absolute unconsciously, I drank, God only knows how often or how much† (qtd. in Buranelli 38). Here, Poe makes direct mention of his bout with depression and admits to drinking every time his depressive side reared its ugly head. Though containing remarkable beauty and examples of Poe’s sheer brilliance, â€Å"Annabel Lee† also became a regrettable testament to the disarray that consumed Poe’s life following the death of his wife. Also notable in much of Poe’s writing is his resemblance to several of his main characters. In one particular case, Poe, with his own private musings, refers to a hypothetical man who he clearly is comparing to himself. Through the piece, he is responding to the speculation of his mental state: â€Å"I have sometimes amused myself by endeavoring to fancy what would be the fate of any individual gifted, or rather accursed, with an intellect very far superior to that of his race. Of course, he would be conscious of his superiority; nor could he (if otherwise constituted as man is) help manifesting his consciousness. Thus he would make himself enemies at all points. And since his opinions and speculations would widely differ from those of all mankind- that he would be considered a madman, is evident. How horribly painful such a condition! Hell could invent no greater torture than that of being charged with abnormal weakness on account of being abnormally strong† (â€Å"Ma rginalia,† 227). Poe views his psychological state as a position of power, rather than hindrance. The passage could also be viewed as a response to his critics, who might view his work (which he believes is far superior to everyone else’s) as the writing of a madman instead of focusing on the brilliance that he’s convinced it contains. In addition to Poe’s essays, he also places himself in the guise of several fictional protagonists as well. In fact, several critics agree that Poe only has one endlessly repeated main character- himself. He is pictured as appearing and reappearing as his melancholic, hallucinated, mad and half-mad creations again and again. However, out of his many popular characters, it is the character of Roderick Usher from â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† that Poe seems to represent the most. In the story, Usher is a man who is well aware of his mental instability but, who like Poe, attempts to hold on to his sanity at all costs, regardless. If there was any doubt about the pair’s similarities, Poe goes onto physically describe Usher, and in doing so, depicts himself: â€Å"A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thin and very pallid, but of a surpassingly beautiful curve; a nose of delicate Hebrew model, but with a breath of nostril unusual in similar formations; a finely molded chin, speaking, in its want of prominence, of a want of moral energy; hair of a more than weblike softness and tenuity- these features, with an inordinate expansion above the regions of the temple, made up altogether a countenance not easily to be forgotten† (â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher,† 198). Even a cursory glance at a picture of Poe will reveal that he not only shares some of these facial features; it is actually a precise depiction of his appearance. Though the resemblance of Poe to several of his characters might be obvious, one can’t help but wonder why he chose to base so many of them on himself. Based on the various vices that many of his characters fall victim to and their resemblance to him in other areas, it is almost as if Poe is vividly describing his character’s flaws as a way of showing his own. Much of the infamous â€Å"evidence† that Poe was a habitual user of opium can be traced back to a few passages from some of his works. Roderick Usher, the character most frequently compared to Poe, is described in â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† to be an â€Å"irreclaimable eater of opium† (276). Furthermore, in his short story â€Å"Life in Death,† Poe’s main character goes into an in-depth homily about his drug habit and patterns of use. â€Å"I had never swallowed opium before. Laudanum and morphine I had occasionally used, and about them should have had no reason to hesitate†¦ I would take a very small dose in the first instance. I would repeat it until I should find an abatement of the fever† (â€Å"Life and Death,† 165). His authoritarian tone paints not only the character, but the author as well, as a source of expertise in the field of opium use. If one is to use this logic for proof that Poe was an opium addict or at least had inclinations towards the drug, it can also be asserted that he had a predisposition towards domestic abuse. Because his father was a notorious and abusive drunk, it is very likely that young Edgar viewed battery as a subconsciously acceptable form of resolution. Though he never explicitly confesses to beating Virginia or any women, the closest thing to an admission is his â€Å"The Black Cat† character’s account that â€Å"I married early, and was happy to find in my wife a disposition not uncongenial with my own†¦ I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife. At length, I even offered her personal violence† (213). Because the story’s main figure descends slowly into madness, like Poe presumably was himself at that time, it can be assumed that Poe took out his growing confusion and frustration about his mental state on the simple-minded and devoted Virginia Clemm. However, despite that several of his stories and characters either contain themes of insanity or are insane themselves, Poe still attempts to depict some sort of dramatic arc or have his protagonists think about their own actions, sometimes coming to important conclusions. Almost without fail, â€Å"his heroes analyze their obsessions in a sane, perfectly logical way, and he presents the analysis in terms of a highly finished style (Wageknecht 57). Therefore, if one is attempting to compare Poe’s life to his work, it can be maintained that his work is less a reflection of his psychological state and more a reflection of his immersion in his own place and time (Peeples 77). Growing up without his natural parents and without the love and nurturance that most believe is necessary to mature into a well-adjusted, functioning adult, Edgar Allan Poe, most would agree, satisfied a self-fulfilling prophecy of a life of destruction, depression and mental illness. Yet, even though he faced several obstacles on his road to success, he left behind a legacy of pioneering and extraordinary work that most likely would not have been the same, had his tribulations not had a profound effect on the writing’s eventual quality. Peeples, Scott. Edgar Allan Poe Revisited. New York: Twayne, 1998. Quinn, Arthur Hobson. Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography. New York: Coopers Square Publishers, 1969. Wagenknecht, Edward. Edgar Allan Poe: The Man Behind the Legend. New York: Oxford UP, 1963. Buranelli, Vincent. Edgar Allan Poe. G.K. Hall Co., 1977. Bloom, Harold. The Tales of Poe. New York, New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Davidson, Edward H. Poe: A Critical Study. Oxford University Press, 1969. Pruette, Lorrine. â€Å"A Psychoanalytical Study of Edgar Allan Poe.† American Journal of Psychology 31 (1920): 370-402. Bonaparte, Marie. The Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe: A Psychanalytic Interpretation. Anglobooks, 1927. Poe, Edgar Allan. â€Å"Annabel Lee.† The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. New York, New York: Walter J. Black, Inc., 1927. 12-13. Poe, Edgar Allan. â€Å"The Black Cat.† The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. New York, New York: Walter J. Black, Inc., 1927. 209-216. Poe, Edgar Allan. â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher.† The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. New York, New York: Walter J. Black, Inc., 1927. 273-286. Poe, Edgar Allan. â€Å"Marginalia.† The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. New York, New York: Walter J. Black, Inc., 1927. 217-227. Poe, Edgar Allan. â€Å"Life and Death.† The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. New York, New York: Walter J. Black, Inc., 1927. 159-164. Research Papers on Edgar Allan Poe's Autobiographical Inspiration - Literature EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsMind TravelPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHip-Hop is ArtThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationEffects of Television Violence on Children19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraCapital PunishmentHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

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Marine Finance(Capital Funding Structure) - Essay Example In 1958, Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller, two prominent financial economists, constructed a theory of capital structure (usually referred to as the MM) that is widely considered as the most influential financial theory up to this time. Basically, the MM theory assumes perfect capital market conditions where all relevant information is readily available, where there are no transaction costs, and where borrowing and lending rates are the same for all investors. The theory likewise assumes that there are no income taxes, that operating income is constant over time -- i.e., there is no growth -- and that all earnings are paid out as dividends. In 1963, Modigliani and Miller modified their original work by including corporate taxes. With such taxes, leverage would increase the firms value because interest on debt is a tax-deductible expense and more income accrues to the investors. Consequently, the value of the firm increases. The cost of debt is the after-tax yield (1-tax). This lower cost of debt, combined with the existing cost of equity, will result in a lower weighted average cost of capital the greater the leverage. The benefits of debt financing derive from solely from the tax deductibility of interest payments. This observation would lead one to conclude logically that the company should use more leverage to the extent that all financing will be done through debt. In reality, however, companies do no such thing. While historically the debt/asset ratios have risen overall, companies maintain capital structures that are stable with a some combination of debt and equity at some in-between point. (See Brealey & Myers; Brigham & Gapenski; Keat & ). Much later, Merton Miller extended the theory by including personal taxes. Personal taxes in the modified model would reduce -- but not eliminate -- the benefits of debt financing. Because the introduction of personal taxes lowers the income to investors, they reduce the value