Freedom is Not Free in Bread Givers Essay -- Bread Givers Essays

Freedom is Not Free in Bread Givers  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Anzia Yezierska in Bread Givers and "Children of Loneliness" explores the theme of reconciling assimilation to American culture and retaining her cultural heritage. "Richard F. Shepard asserted in the New York Times that Yezierska’s people†¦did not want to find themselves. They wanted to lose themselves and find America" (Gale Database 8). Rachel and Sara, the main characters, move ahead by employing the America motto of hard work will pay off. The problem for both is losing their Jewish identity in the process. Yezierska, like the female characters, experienced the loneliness of separation from the Jewish people when she rose above poverty. "I am alone because I left my own world" (Ebest 8). She explores this issue repeatedly in her work trying to find a solution to a problem with no easy answer. In order to obtain religious, social, political, and equality 23 million Jews immigrated to America during the years between 1880 and 1920 (Chametzky, 5). Anzia Yezierska wrote about her experiences as a poor immigrant in her fictional work becoming a voice of the Jewish people in the1920s. She struggled to obtain an education that allowed her to rise above her family’s poverty and gain a measure of autonomy. Rachel and Sara, the female protagonists, mirror the author’s life going from struggling immigrant to college graduate. Yezierska uses her own experiences to portray the Jewish immigrant experience with a woman’s perspective. She successfully gained a commercial following that allowed her to mediate the cultural differences between the mainstream culture and the Jewish people that helped resolve differences between the established Americans and these new immigrants for a time (Ebes... ...iable to a particular ethnic identification. Freedom in America is not free; each immigrant ethnic group loses their culture identity eventually but they also add to the diverse American voice. Works Cited Chametzky, Jules. Introduction. ." Jewish American Literature. Ed. Jules Chametzky, John Felstiner, Hilene Flanzbaum, and Kathryn Hellerstein. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001. 1-23. Ebest, Ron. "Anzia Yezierska and the Popular Periodical Debate Over the Jews." The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnics Literature of the United States. Spring 2000 Gale Literary Database. 2001. Gale Group Yezierska, Anzia. Bread Givers. New York: Persea Books, 1925. ---. "Children of Loneliness." Jewish American Literature. Ed. Jules Chametzky, John Felstiner, Hilene Flanzbaum, and Kathryn Hellerstein. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001. 233-244.   

Mary Shelly Essay

Compare the way Susan Hill and Mary Shelly Create tension in extracts from their novels â€Å"The Woman In Black† and â€Å"Frankenstein† Gothic Horror was born with the arrival of the book â€Å"Frankenstein† by the author Mary Shelly in 1816. This book fuelled the future wring of horror and changed the future of horror forever. The book â€Å"Frankenstein† came about after Mary had a horrific dream one night. Mary’s writing was influenced by many factors in her life. Her father used to take her along with him to demonstrations, showing that electricity had the potential to bring people back to life, also science was largely unknown about then, there were many endless possibilities and unanswered questions. She also visited a village of clockwork dolls, which she was very impressed by. All this and the hurt of the loss of her premature baby added to the birth of the most popular book of its century. The book â€Å"The Woman In Black† by Susan Hill was written about 150 years later. At this time science had progressed and many things that were once a mystery were now explained. There was less of the unknown; Yet Susan still managed to create this chilling tale. The extract from â€Å"Frankenstein† is set in a dreary basement, used as Victor Frankenstein’s laboratory. The very first line starts off with ‘It was on a dreary night of November†¦ ‘ which adds to the creepy atmosphere, because the night, darkness and cold weather of the November month are usually associated with bad scary things, like chilly weather and shadows in the dark. It then mentions that its one in the morning with heavy rain pattering against the pains, and his candle nearly burnt out, which tells you it was a barely lit room, with a dark chilling atmosphere in the middle of the night, when most are normally asleep, dreaming or having nightmares. This setting and atmosphere very much fits the gothic horror genre, leaving you with a very particular sense of tension. In â€Å"The Woman In Black† extract, we find out in the first small paragraph, is set in a small dilapidated graveyard, this is scary within its self because of a graveyards ossociation with death, ghosts and all things evil. The second paragraph starts with ‘In the greyness of the fading light’ again adding to the dark, gloomy atmosphere with a feeling of tension of what is to come. The language used in both extracts is very sophisticated and quite complex, as is typical to the gothic horror genre, but while they both use big words â€Å"Frankenstein† is much more old fashioned in wording, obviously due to the time it was written in. Whereas in â€Å"The Woman In Black† the language used is much more modern while still keeping to the more complex wording of the gothic horror genre. It’s the first time Victor meets his creation alive in the extract of â€Å"Frankenstein†. His reaction to the â€Å"monster† he has created very much sets up your opinion of it. The way he describes this creature clearly gives you the impression it is evil with its ‘watery eyes’ and ‘His shrivelled complexion’. In â€Å"The Woman In Black† her appearance is not described very much, the focus is more on the feelings she provokes within Arthur. He does however describe the look on her face as ‘as a desperate, yearning malevolence; it was as though she was searching for something she wanted, needed- must have, more then life itself, and which had been taken from her. ‘ Through Arthur’s thoughts and feelings being explained to you, you feel, or are supposed to feel, what he is feeling. I think the writer is very good at making you experience these dramatic emotions through the character Arthur Kipps, and I certainly was affected by how Arthur is affected when he sees the woman in black. â€Å"Frankenstein† was written at a time when science was new, strange, exciting, and threatening. Much was unexplained and seemed scary and illogical. Strange new ideas were being explored, some far fetched and some that just seemed far-fetched but were the start of vast new scientific knowledge. People began to travel all around the world and experience many new things, different social and cultural attitudes. All this obviously had a profound affect on Mary; she began questioning things and was very aware of the reality of the world around her. In her book it sends out the message of what would happen if people started playing â€Å"god† with life. She obviously felt strongly about this and maybe feared this is what was to come. â€Å"The Woman In Black† was written about 150 years later, in a much more developed time. When science was accepted and we are used to travel, we are less religious and life is very different. The paranormal is less unexplained and the unexplained scares people, this is why Susan has chosen the form of a ghost in her story, as it is more believable then a â€Å"monster† like Frankenstein’s creature, as we know that wouldn’t be possible knowing more about the way things work through science, yet a ghost is still unknown and unexplainable. Both extracts are very typical of the gothic horror genre. They both use complex language with big words and long flowing sentences, with only a few short ones for dramatic affect. They both tell a story about a â€Å"creature† and the unknown at the times they were written. I personally like the extract from â€Å"The Woman In Black† the best, as I can understand the more modern language and I can relate to the story line better because the paranormal is a lot more believable to me then the creation of a â€Å"creature† from dead parts. By Jemma Burke Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

From Jack Kevorkian to Terry Schiavo

From Jack Kevorkian to Terry Schiavo, much media attention has been given in recent years to the question of the right to die. Most American states have laws against taking one’s own life and many also have specific laws against assisted suicide. Many others charge those who would assist with suicide with manslaughter or attempted murder. Opponents of euthanasia say that there is no provision in American law for the right to die. Many specific rights are spelled out in the Bill of Rights and others have been granted through the Constitution and its amendments, but nowhere has the law granted a person the right to die.Proponents claim the right is inherent, God-given and a matter of free will. The truth lies somewhere in between. Americans should have the right to determine when their lives should end. That right is granted them by the Declaration of Independence. Americans have the right to die, as it is included in the right to life, the right of self-determination and the pu rsuit of happiness. The first legal standard allowing Americans to choose to die should be the words of founding father Thomas Jefferson.In writing the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson said that people should have the right to â€Å"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. † By simple logic, death is an inherent part of life and therefore should be protected by Jefferson’s words. As death is the ending of life and the right to life is guaranteed by the Declaration, it is clear that citizens should be afford the right to die as they choose. By guaranteeing people the right to life and liberty, Jefferson may have been simply spouting the philosophies of John Locke and others, but he inadvertently guaranteed people the liberty to choose their own death.Clearly, in 1776, the concept of keeping people alive through the use of machines was not a consideration. However, Jefferson makes it clear that self-determination is a right of the people. It is that very self-de termination that gave the American colonies the right to revolt against England and form their own country. That same right of self-determination should also apply to the average citizen. Nothing is more a matter of personal freedom than the right to die. Other cultures have long practiced this form of self-determination.In many cultures, the sick, infirmed or elderly would leave their society to die when they decided it was time. The concept that society has become more civilized should not prevent people from making this choice if they desire. The reality is that modern medicine has allowed many people to live beyond what would once have been a normal life expectancy. Many of those people regret their longevity as they feel isolated, due to the deaths of contemporaries, and feel the guilt of being a financial or emotional burden on their families.Others do not want to face the pain of chronic disease. These people have earned the right to do as they please and by the theory of sel f-determination, they should be granted that right. Finally, the Declaration grants people the right to â€Å"the pursuit of happiness. † Again, despite the advances of modern medicine, there is no guarantee that simply lengthening a person’s life grants them additional happiness. In fact, some elderly persons are simply lonely and in pain. The pursuit of happiness for them might include an end to their suffering and as such, the right to die.The simple matter is that by guaranteeing people the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and by predicating our society on the right of self-determination, America has already made it clear that the right to die is inherent in our beliefs. It should be as clear as the right to freedom of the press or the right to bear arms. Unfortunately, though we preach a separation of church and state, America is also a religious country and the right to die will not be acknowledged until the fear of the moral repercussions is o vercome.

Of Mice and Men Animal Imagery Essays

Of Mice and Men Animal Imagery Essays Of Mice and Men Animal Imagery Paper Of Mice and Men Animal Imagery Paper Essay Topic: Of Mice and Men In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses comparisons between animals and humans to demonstrate Lennie’s animalistic qualities. Steinbeck compares Lennie to animals to illustrate his innocence, immaturity, unawareness, and curiosity. Animal imagery is used to provide insight to the characters personalities and behaviors through the comparison between Lennie and a bear, his obsession with rabbits, and his similarities to Candy’s dog. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck compares Lennie’s natures and habits to that of a bear. At the beginning of the novel, Lennie’s gait is described as similar to the way a bear drags his paws (2). The word â€Å"drags† hints a sense of relaxation and calmness which is evident in Lennie’s personality. Lennie is not concerned with the trivial matters that consume the other characters. As Lennie bends down to get water from the pond, he dabbles his big paw in the water and wiggles his fingers to make circles(3). â€Å"Dabbles† illustrates the delicacy in his movement and shows his unawareness to his immense, bearlike size. Lennie is not worried about anything except how the water ripples. He remains unaffected by the everyday struggles of the majority of people in this time period. The comparison between Lennie and a bear show his unusual and immense size, but also the curious and careful nature of his personality. Lennie’s obsession with rabbits shows his immature and innocent personality. After Lennie kills one of the pups, he is extremely concerned with the fact that George might not allow him to tend the rabbits anymore(85). Lennie’s immaturity is portrayed by his inability to realize the full extent of what he has done. Before George shoots Lennie, Lennie makes sure that he will still assume the position as the rabbit tender(105). This is another example of how Lennie’s immaturity is illustrated. Although Lennie just killed Curley’s wife, he is only concerned with the rabbits. Lennie’s love of rabbits is a clear example of his immaturity and innocence. Candy’s relationship with his dog is similar to George and Lennie’s connection. Candy tells Slim â€Å"He doesn’t mind taking care of his dog,† but Slim agrees he needs to be shot(45). Lennie and Candy’s dog both were unable to escape death, and Slim agrees in both situations that it is for the better. Towards the end of the dog’s life, Carlson explained to Candy that â€Å"he’d shoot the dog right in the back of the head. He wouldn’t feel it†(45). After George shoots Lennie, Curley points out â€Å"right in the back of the head†(107). George shot Lennie himself so Lennie would not be afraid. Neither the dog or Lennie saw it coming, nor were they aware that their lives were about to end. The comparison between Candy’s dog and Lennie illustrate Lennie’s innocence and his unawareness of what he had done. Animal imagery is used throughout the novel to show the comparison between Lennie’s personalities to that of an animal. Each animal demonstrates a different behavior of Lennie’s. The bear shows his curiosity, the rabbits show his innocence and immaturity, and the dog shows his unawareness.

Pornography and Violence against Women

Pornography and Violence against Women Pornography is the description of explicit content with the aim of arousing someone sexually. The media used in storing contents of this nature include books, video, film, animation, painting, photos, and magazines just to name but a few.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Pornography and Violence against Women specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More People who pose for pornographic pictures are referred to as models whereas those who assume a character in pornographic movies are called porn stars. Emanuelle (2002) argues that pornography can be classified into several forms namely alt, armateur, fetish, orientation based, orgy, race oriented, reality, and soft and voyeur pornography. Studies conducted in the recent past indicate that the increase in the accessibility of pornographic materials has led to increase in sexual crime, especially against women. When the person who is being exposed to explicit content is not married or in a stable relationship he/she will look for alternative means to quench his/her sexual desires. The alternatives here include other people who are forced into having sex unwillingly. Others include animals such as dogs and sheep. In such a situation the weaker sex, that is, women and children are prone to these attacks. If pornography is applied appropriately it can be used to improve the sex lives of married people and responsible adults. This is because sex in marriage is very vital because when it is not satisfactory, spouses will seek satisfaction from other people that they consider knowledgeable in matters regarding sex. Rape is as old as mankind and can be traced to biblical scriptures hence governments should invent proper structures that can be used to reduce its occurrence. Marriage counselors recommend use of pornography to conduct sex education. Most women do not appreciate pornography as a sexual reference database because they argue that the habits portrayed by po rn stars make them uncomfortable, such as licking ones genitals. According to Marianna (2003), women also experience marital rape perpetrated by their husbands. This kind of rape is rarely reported to the authorities because the society does not recognize marital rape. In most cases the husband comes out of nowhere and is sexually aroused but the wife in question is not ready for sex. Since men have stronger masculine than women, the wife is rendered helpless and gives in to her husband’s desires. The husband might inflict pain or injuries on the woman depending on the intensity of force used.Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In general the society does not see anything wrong with marital rape because in most communities the woman is under obligation to satisfy her man’s sexual desires regardless of whether she enjoys it or not. This is the underlying reaso n as to why women don’t report cases of marital rape because they will be labeled as wives who do not want to grant their husbands their conjugal rights. Women also contribute to the rise in sexual crimes by putting on provocative clothes such as mini-skirts and tight trousers. Many people do not agree with this argument but it has been found to insight men into sex. Men are more sexually aroused by what they see with their eyes as opposed to women who view sex as emotional. Women should keep off from lonely places because those are the most appropriate areas for this evil. They should not accept lifts from male drivers that are not known to them. Date rape can also be avoided by bringing along a close friend and by informing their families and friends about their whereabouts. This will be useful in tracing them just in case they go missing. Women should also avoid watching adult movies with people they would not want to have sex with because when the other person is turned o n they will choose the person who is most convenient to them. Violent sexual contents make men believe that women are sexual objects that can be used as one wish. Sexual offenders should be punished heavily to discourage the would-be offenders. Sexual crime rarely happens in Arabian countries because the women in those countries are prohibited from wearing clothes that are provocative and also men are not allowed to look at women in a suggestive manner. Men who commit sexual offense in these countries are stoned to death. The Islamic law strongly opposes sex before marriage but encourages men to marry as soon they come of age. Most men who commit rape are under the influence of drugs and therefore such men should be taken to rehabilitation centers where they receive guidance and counseling. People who produce pornographic contents should be held accountable for the social effects brought by their materials. This will make them to be cautious on who views their contents hence encoura ge responsible sexual behavior. References Emmanuelle, R. 2002.The Naked Untruth. AlterNet. 9 November 2010.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Pornography and Violence against Women specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marianna, B. 2003.†The Roots of Western Pornography: Victorian obsessions and Fin-de-siecle predilections. Libido.† The Journal of sex and sensibility. Available at libidomag.com/nakedbrunch/archive/europorn07.html

Strangler Fig - South Floridas Strange Hammock Tree

Strangler Fig - South Florida's Strange Hammock Tree Figs are successful forest trees with some 900 separate species worldwide. Figs are extremely common because of their excellent means of dispersal including abundant and good-tasting fruit. The strangler fig, or Ficus aurea, is one of the most interesting trees in a North American Everglades tropical hardwood hammock. Strangler figs, sometimes called golden fig are native to south Florida and the West Indies. The strangler fig produces a continuous crop of seeds via the fruit that is very important to the ecosystem and a major food source for animals. Birds transport and spread these seed in droppings. Strangler Fig's Unusual Propagation Method Strangler fig seeds are sticky and attach to a host tree where it germinates and thrives in tropical moisture. The strangler fig begins its life as a parasite-like epiphyte or air plant but is always seeking a path to the ground and a more dependable source for root uptake of nutrients. The trees seeds lodge in bark fissures of an unfortunate host, germinate and send out air roots that take in nutrients and water from the air and host tree. Eventually, the air roots grow to reach the ground and develop their own underground root system. Cabbage palms are favorite hosts for the strangler fig. Why the Name Strangler Fig The Stranger Fig is one of the strangest plants in a tropical hardwood hammock. It completely entwines its roots and trunk around a host tree. The figs crown grows foliage which soon overshadows the tree. Eventually, the host tree is strangled and dies, leaving the fig with a hollow trunk where the host used to be. The fig takes advantage of the nutrients produced by the rotting host. The Tropical Hardwood Hammock Strangler figs generally grow on raised land called hammocks. The typical tropical hardwood hammock in the Everglades develop only in areas that are protected from fire, flood and salt water. The strangler fig is a very important tree in a typical hammock but not the only tree. A figs tree cover type or biome includes Cabbage palm, slash pine, gumbo-limbo, saw-palmetto, poisonwood and live oak. The Importance of a Strangler Fig It is important to note that this killer epiphyte provides an important niche and food source to many tropical forest creatures. Its hollow trunk, with an abundance of nooks and crannies, provides an important home to thousands of invertebrates, rodents, bats, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. The strangler fig is also considered a keystone tree and necessary in the tropical hardwood ecosystem. Many forms of life are attracted to the fig tree because of its production of large amounts of fig fruits and can be the only source of food during certain seasons.

Ethnic diversity in China Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethnic diversity in China Journal - Essay Example Zhizou people believe that two parallel house cannot be of the same height because they may cause unnecessary competition. The community encourages ties amongst siblings’ right from when they are still under their parents’ care to when they have been married away. In grandmother Wasomo’s story, a community where old people pass virtues to young children is depicted as one that is desirable and as one which yields a well-mannered crop of citizens. Respect for morals is a pillar in the community and elderly people though married have different beds to avoid ridicule. Spirits are considered part and parcel of the community; they, alongside the deceased are held highly in the community through ways such as observation of rituals to honor them and effigies, which are made in their memory. They are also perceived as the custodians of the people and are believed to be able to prevent harm. The community also had close ties, and this is exemplified by the fact that there is a granary that stores grain for a group of people. Women in the community are seen as the creators of wealth as in the example of a woman whose six kilos of rice is taken per day and another who shares two kilos for a family of six and has enough to see her through to the next harvest while the former does not. Chapter five questions the authority where the writers memories of rules and procedures are founded as his tapes and notebooks filled with deep thoughts. In order to explain why a somewhat different scripts model of memory has long been associated with respect to authority of written communication in China, the story of Nepi is told. The story of the origin of Nepi tells of two men; a Lolopo and another Han, who after traveling for nine nights and days the Lolopo man ends up ingesting what he had written on his buckwheat while the Han who had written on a piece of paper retained his information. The writer maintains that unlike scripted memory,