Bright Star essay - 1043 Words

In Bright Star, Keats utilises a mixture of the Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnet forms to vividly portray his thoughts on the conflict between his longing to be immortal like the steadfast star, and his longing to be together with his love. The contrast between the loneliness of forever and the intenseness of the temporary are presented in the rich natural imagery and sensuous descriptions of his true wishes with Fanny Brawne. The structure of Bright Star is unique in that it breaks free of the limitations of the sonnet form, a form that is notorious for its strict and constrained nature. The rhyme scheme falls very close to the Shakespearean rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG, in which the last two lines represent the final heroic†¦show more content†¦This shows how the speaker realises the importance of companionship, but also how the star in reality is actually a lone and solitary figure in space, surrounded by nothing for miles around. Keats wishes he were like the star, as he admires the personified star’s immortal quality, but notices its shortcomings, he will be alone forever in cold space. Keats uses the volta and the sestet to portray how he ultimately rejects the loneliness of forever in favour of the temporary life of reality in which there is companionship and love. The strong synaesthesia of ‘pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast’, appeals to our sense of touch as we can feel the warmth and the ‘pillow’, our sense of taste due to the associations with fruit that ‘ripening’ has, and our sense of sight as we can vividly imagine the scene. This conveys to us how sensuous and preferable it to be on Earth with love from others, than to be alone in the skies, even if human life is temporary. It is likely that ‘fair love’ was addressed to Fanny Brawne, Keats’ lover, showing how Keats feels love strongly and passionately. The repetition of ‘for ever’ in ‘feel for ever its soft fall and swell / Awake for ever in a sweet unrest’ is ironic, because it shows Keats wishin g to live in this moment ofShow MoreRelatedStar Light, Star Bright Essay998 Words   |  4 Pagesthe stars and planets on a given day. The growth of astrology, and the resulting knowledge, is closely tied to the study of constellations. Astrology has grown from the past and by researching the history of astrology and constellations one can infer that they have a similar history and future to the world. Understanding constellations provides a basis for understanding what astrology is, and how the constellations fit into that particular form of science. Constellations are groups of stars thatRead MoreStar Light, Star Bright...What Are Stars? Essay636 Words   |  3 Pagesself destructive explosions. Stars, through their violent birth to their even more violent death, manufacture the elements necessary for life. These giant balls of superheated gas begin their lives as nebulas, slowly evolving into the magnificent lights we see burning in the night sky and eventually dying by gravity, the same force that helped create them, scattering the plethora of elements they created across the universe, allowing life as we know it to occur. Stars are the source of human existenceRead MoreOde On A Grecian Urn1738 Words   |  7 PagesEssay on Ode on a Grecian Urn In John Keats’s poem Ode on a Grecian Urn, the reader is given descriptions of the urn. The urn is old and Keats is acting as the interpreter of the urn. This essay will argue that the poem Ode on a Grecian Urn conveys the idea that art shows an idealized human existence that cannot be achieved by humans. In stanza two, John Keats introduces the scene of two young lovers on the urn to show idealized love. There is a young man and woman on the Urn. The young man isRead MoreWilliam Wordsworth and John Keats Essay1170 Words   |  5 PagesNature, for hundreds of years man has been influenced, inspired, and charmed by the majesty of nature. In this essay I will be discussing two romantic writers, William Wordsworth and John Keats along with their views of nature that are embedded within their works. Since both writers are no longer living, I’ve decided to select two pieces by each writer and interpret how each writer feels about nature, and from my conclusions I will be comparing and contrasting their individualRead MoreThe Lifecycle of a Star Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pages‘There are more stars than all of the grains of sand on earth.’(Star Facts, 2005:1) Looking up at the sky on a vibrant night, the vision is naturally lit one with millions of vivacious, glistening stars. The tenacity of this essay is to explore the lifecycle of a star, thence, signify its manifestation in the universe. A fundamental part of our universe is stars. Hence, these miniature luminous forms are essentially very immense in magnitude and it is merely due to their substantial distance fromRead MoreCritical Analysis of William Blakes Poem The Tiger1393 Words   |  6 Pagesviews on the tiger has resulted in various suggestions for the poem’s ideological setting- religious, political, existential. All that partly justifies the assertion that the receptor of a poem is a kind of co-creator of the literary work. In this essay, I will try to make a critical analysis of the poem, paying special attention to the stance of the poetic speaker. Firstly, few words need to be said about the tiger’s reputation as an animal, in the author’s time. Thomas Bewick’s â€Å"A GeneralRead MoreCritical Analysis of William Blakes Poem The Tiger1378 Words   |  6 Pagesviews on the tiger has resulted in various suggestions for the poem’s ideological setting- religious, political, existential. All that partly justifies the assertion that the receptor of a poem is a kind of co-creator of the literary work. In this essay, I will try to make a critical analysis of the poem, paying special attention to the stance of the poetic speaker. Firstly, few words need to be said about the tiger’s reputation as an animal, in the author’s time. Thomas Bewick’s â€Å"A General HistoryRead MoreVan Gogh Essay1536 Words   |  7 PagesVan Gogh Essay In this essay I am going to discuss Vincent Van Gogh and post-Impressionism. Vincent Willem van Gogh (March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter whose work, notable for its rough beauty, emotional honesty and bold color, had a far-reaching influence on 20th-century art. After years of painful anxiety and frequent bouts of mental illness, he died aged 37 from a gunshot wound, generally accepted to be self-inflicted (although no gun was ever found). His work wasRead MoreAlcohol Problems among Young People in Britain884 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay has been developed to discuss the increasing alcohol problem in young people in Britain, also to raise the reasons behind why young people drink and suggest possible solutions for the young people of today and to also carry on to the next generation. One of the main reasons for young people to use alcohol is peer pressure, this is when young people socialise with their friends and feels they cannot say no in fear of being left out. Other reasons could be what goes on in their home environmentRead MoreBright and Morning Star’ Richard Wright1421 Words   |  6 PagesMaternal Love Versus Moral Options in Richard Wright’s ‘Bright and Morning star’ A Black Woman’s Choices in a Racist Society The aim of this essay is to discuss the decision that the protagonist from Richard Wright’s ‘Bright and Morning star’, Aunt Sue, a black mother of two sons, has to make in order to chose between her sons’ life and the safety of the Communist members from her community. This story is, among others written by Richard Wright, a ‘dark portrayal of black Communist life’ and it

The Great Wall of China Essay - 2903 Words

The Great Wall of China To the northwest and north of Beijing, a huge, serrated wall zigzags its way to the east and west along the undulating mountains. This is the Great Wall, which is said to be visible from the moon. This massive wall has not only been one of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World, but it has also been inspiration for many artists, and writers. The building of the Great Wall is one of the biggest tragedies, but through this tragedy arose triumph with the wall, being so much to so many people. The Great Wall of China is much more than a wall, and was built for many reasons that are hidden to most. Construction of the Great Wall started in the 7th century B.C. The wall states that under the Zhou Dynasty in the†¦show more content†¦Of elephants, lions, birds, flower and heavenly kings as well as charms in six languages-Sanskrit, Tibetan, Phats pa (Mongolian), Uygur, West Xia and Han. (Karls) The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, 70 kilometers northeast of Beijing, is linked to the Gubeikou section on the east and the Badaling section on the west. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is crenellated for watching and shooting at the invading enemy. Some of the battle forts on the wall are as close as 50 meters apart. It is one of the best sections of the Great Wall. (Karls) Located in Miyun County northeast of Beijing, the Jinshanling division of the Great Wall, like the Simatai division, belongs to the Gubeikou section of the colossal defence barrier. The battlements in the Jinshanling division of the Great Wall are built along the ridge of a mountain, where the soldiers can resist the invading enemy by taking advantage of the high terrain. (Karls) Located to the east of Jinshanling, the Simatai division of the Great Wall is 3,000 meters long and has 35 battle forts. The wall rises and falls with the precipitous mountain ridge, while the battle forts are located high up the hills. From the Beakon Tower alarm was raised by means of smoke signals, at night by fire. Smoke was produced by burning a mixture of wolf dung, sulfur and saltpeter. Shots were fired at the same time. Thus an alarm could be relayed over 500km within just a few hours.Show MoreRelatedThe Great Wall Of China1196 Words   |  5 Pagesincludes modules of ________ so you can see the construction of _____ Today I am going to be presenting the Great Wall of China and what political and military reasons it was built for. The construction was a feat of great magnitude and reflected the innovations and technological advancements of the Ancient Chinese. The reason I have decided to focus upon the Ancient Chinese is because I find China a very interesting civilisation. The ancient Chinese civilisation began 7,000 to 8,000 years ago and aboutRead MoreThe Great Wall Of China1123 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Great Wall] demonstrates the manifestation of the wisdom and tenacity of the Chinese people.†(cortland.edu). China is considered one of the world’s oldest civilizations with the first dynasty beginning in 221 B.C.. A famous icon of this great civilization is the Great Wall of China, or known to the Chinese as Wan Li Chang Cheng. During the Warring States period, many feudal societies built their own sections for security. Eventually the walls were connected and there was a unified China. WithRead MoreThe Great Wall Of China1641 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Wall of China is known as the largest construction project to be put in effect in all of world history. The wall, also known in China as long wall of 10,000 li, is a collection of numerous short walls extending along the crest of hills on the southern edge of the Mongolian plain. Although it is a common misconception that the Great Wall of China is one long continuous wall, it s structural inconsistency in no way undermines its greatness. The wall has been built, destructed, rebuiltRead MoreThe Great Wall Of China1266 Words   |  6 Pages The Great Wall of China James Allen World History 1st period February 1, 2015 The first unified Chinese empire was formed in 221 B.C., that was when seven states were brought together by Shi Huangdi, a conqueror from the state of Qin. Shi Huangdi means â€Å"first emperor.† Until the twentieth century all rulers of imperial China called themselves the emperor. The emperor was believed, by the people of China, to be the son of heaven, God-like. They believed that each ofRead MoreThe Great Wall Of China905 Words   |  4 Pages It has been said that the Great Wall of China is so immense that it can be seen from space with just the human eye. Unfortunately, that is simply a rumor and has been confirmed false. Nonetheless, the Great Wall of China is also the world’s longest wall and biggest piece of ancient architecture, which is still a pretty big deal. Its official length is about 13,170 miles long, more than four times the width of the United States. The wall crosses over ten provinces and cities, including QinghaiRead MoreThe Great Wall of China600 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Wall of China is an assemblage of smaller walls built by various dynasties over many years. Builders erected these walls for protection from invasions by those from the north. The Great Wall itself, with a history lasting over 2000 years, measures approximately 5,500 miles in length, although some of the sections lie in ruin or have disappeared altogether. It is about 25 feet high and is 15-30 feet wide. It is the longest man-made structure in the world. In the 7th century B.C. the firstRead MoreThe Great Wall Of China2440 Words   |  10 Pagescollectively achieve the objectives. The Great Wall of China is an example of the history of the success goal of organization. Ming dynasty, Zhengtong Emperor has forced approximately 2 to 3 millions labor to build the defense wall to protect the empire and also border control that could encourage trade. With the Zhengtong Emperor led the organization of collective effort of the people, the result is 8851.8 kilometers of defense wall, with combined of previous built great wall is 21,196 kilometers, becomingRead MoreEssay on The Great Wall of China1270 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Wall of China is one of the greatest architectural achievements ever recorded in history. The Great Wall translates to â€Å"long fortress.† The wall was made entirely by hand. It was built to protect the Chinese from intruders from different Nomadic Tribes. The wall is about 5,500 miles long. The wall did not stretch across all of China but it stretched from Shanhaiguan in the East to Lop Nur in the West. Some people say that you can even see the wall from the moon! Wouldn’t that be somethingRead MoreGreat Wall of China Essay example1375 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Wall of China stretches about 5,500 miles long crossing deserts, mountains, grasslands, and plateaus. It took more than 2,000 years to build this incredible manmade structure. Many people died to build this wall. It displays the changes between the agricultural and nomadic civilizations. It proves that the superb structure was very important to military defense. It became a national symbol of the Chinese as a security for their country and its people. The Great Wall of China must be preservedRead MoreGreat Wall of China Report Essay2063 Words   |  9 PagesThe Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China is truly one of the greatest architectural achievements in recorded history. The longest structure ever built, it is about 6,700 kilometers (4,163 miles) long and made entirely by hand. This wall is said to be visible from the moon. It crosses Northern China, from the East coast to Central China (Karls, 1). This massive wall is not only one of the ancient wonders of the world, but it also has been the inspiration of many writers and artists. With

Chink Essay Example For Students

Chink Essay CHINK!!!! Yeah thats rightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦look at us with those chinky eyes! Go back to where you belong! Those words will forever ring in my ears. I was standing in line for lunch while talking to a friend while a couple of boys, fourth and fifth graders, were making fun of the only Asian girl in the school, me, a lonely kindergartener. I will never forget that moment when I realized that I was different. Growing up in a predominantly white community, I had never thought of the issue of race as a child. My neighbor and I were best friends, and I never thought of myself as different. She had blonde hair; I had black. She had blue eyes; I had dark brown. We loved to play with the same things, thus we were friends. It was that simple. But on that day in elementary school, my world came apart, and I will never forget it. I was different, and I didnt know why. After those boys said that to me, I just stared in shock and got my lunch. I acted as though they had said nothing, and I was probably fortunate, considering the horrible things young boys can do. But when I went home, I cried. Why were people making fun of me? I didnt even understand what chink meant. It was only the motion they made by stretching their eyes that made me understand. I hadnt realized that I was different from everyone else. At home I spoke Chinese and watched some Chinese movies, but I did not think that made me different. I was still a person, a human being. Did it matter that I spoke Chinese and had black hair and dark brown eyes? Apparently to some people it did matter. Every day I went to school with white children and went home to a Chinese family. For other people this was a line, a distinction that set me apart from others. For me, it defined who I was, American-born Chinese. The combination in this term was hard for me to understand. In fact, I did not realize I was a combination until that day in the lunch line. Then, I began to question my identity. What defined me as Chinese? What defined me as American? Throughout my years in my white neighborhood I grew up as an equal among my classmates. My peers had never teased me; in fact, the incident with those older boys was the only act of prejudice I have ever experienced. Classmates were very tolerant, and so was I. Forced by circumstance, I accepted living among all white people and they with me. They became familiar with the only Asian girl in the school, and the racial issue disappeared. I had friends and my ethnic background was not a problem. They saw my personality and saw me. I was an American. In tenth grade my AP European History teacher asked me a question that made me realize that people saw me as American. With China threatening Taiwan and its quest for independence, the United States government was questioning its own involvement in the issue. My teacher asked me, If we went to war with China, which side would you be on? The side I felt was right, I responded without question. No, you would side with America, because you are an American, he curtly stated. I am American, but I am also Chinese, I muttered gruffly. No, you were born in America; you are American. Yes, that is true, but the blood that runs through me is Chinese. I cannot change my blood or my appearance, regardless of my upbringing, I said with passion. Throughout our conversation, my teacher would not give up. He kept repeating that I was NOT Chinese. It made me realize that in my years at school, people thought of me only as an American. They just looked past the fact that I am Chinese. I had worried that they would treat me differently because I was Chinese, but I realized they never even questioned it. .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 , .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .postImageUrl , .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 , .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07:hover , .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07:visited , .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07:active { border:0!important; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 { 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; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07:active , .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .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; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07 .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0c1944226c4dfa8be010ba405ab5bc07:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Ethical Absolutism vs Ethical Relativism EssayI was American. I went to school with them. I received the same education. I was the same. After the argument with my teacher, I became more aware of my Chinese side, and I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to be Chinese, to explore my roots. My parents came to the United States for college, and they became very westernized. We do not associate with many Chinese people, even though there are some in our city, but I wanted to explore my Chinese-ness. In hopes of learning Mandarin better, I attended Chinese school and hung out with some Chinese people, but I did not like them. All they cared about was Asian pride and sticking to gether. I did not care about Asian pride. I did not want to like them just because they were Chinese; I wanted to like them for who they were. Yet I could not help but feel a bond among us. We spoke Mandarin, and we had similar backgrounds. Our parents had the same funny accents and expressions. Our grandmothers told us the same old wives tales. We watched the same Chinese soap operas. We listened to the same Chinese music. There is so much that binds us together. But despite all those bonds, I did not like them. They werent tolerant of others. They did not like new people. Their personalities did not mesh with mine. I began to understand why my parents avoided these Chinese people. I wanted to associate with them, to explore the Chinese part of me, but I did not like them. I broke away and hoped that in college I could explore that part of me with people more similar to me. At MIT there are a lot of Asian people, and at first I found myself gravitating toward them. I wanted to meet new people, but I wanted to explore my Chinese side so much that most of the people I ended up meeting and becoming friends with were Chinese. I even chose to live on the floor at Next House which is dubbed Chinatown. I began to discover how it was to be Chinese. I learned who all the hot movie stars are, who the hot music celebrities are, and what cute little Sanrio things I could get. I placed myself in the Asian clique. I began to dress all in black, speak Chinese all the time, watch Chinese movies, and act Chinese. But I wasnt happy. The only people I knew were Asian, and the more I got to know them, the more I di scovered that they were like most of the people I knew from home. Before even getting to know me, they saw me as a type, as a Chinese girl, one who is smart, competitive, boy-crazy, and vain. I did not fit into that type. Most of the Chinese girls I have known and hung out with were that type, but I was not one of them. They told me about how they hated each other, but they acted like best friends when they were around each other. The guys were very similar. On the surface they bonded and liked each other because they shared a common bond: race. Underneath it all, they did not truly like all of the people they hung out with. This is what I felt being Chinese was like, and it didnt seem as appealing to me anymore. I recall going out one day with everyone in my group, and I looked around. Everyone was dressed in black, except me, and we were all Chinese. We stuck together, not because we liked each other that much, but because we were Chinese. In my high school I became American, but at MIT I became Chinese. At that point I began to look around campus at the various cliques. MIT prides itself on its diversity, yet we are in fact a very segregated campus. Chinese people walk with Chinese, Indian people walk with Indians, African-American people walk with African-Americans, and Hispanic people walk with Hispanics. Very seldom do you see mixed groups walking around. Our campus is split. .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 , .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .postImageUrl , .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 , .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93:hover , .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93:visited , .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93:active { border:0!important; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 { 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; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93:active , .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .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; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93 .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4047ae56c84b0c711fc2acbebe7bfe93:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Preserving Flowers EssayWe have New House, which is divided into Spanish House, German House, and Chocolate City. We have dances and functions that are specific to each race. Is this division celebrating diversity or supporting segregation? Is it celebrating a part of who we are or separating us from others? I myself sometimes feel the need to bond with those of my own ethnic background, but does it lead to lower tolerance of others? At MIT, I no longer limit my circle of friends to Chinese people. I have met new people and liked them for who they are, what their interests are, and what their passions are. But most people stay with what they feel comfortable, and that includes race. When we associate with people outside that comfort zone, we find the unfamiliar. When I became friends with non-Chinese people, a lot of my Chinese friends began to dislike me. I was not Chinese enough to hang out with them anymore. I was different again. My friends of various ethnicities also felt the same way. Their racial group shunned them because they associated with others outside the group. The bonds that had brought me to the Chinese people were now the bonds that separated me from them. We are drawn to those similar to us, even in race. But where does it end? Should we become so involved in our similarities that we disregard our differences? Everyone is unique. Race is one thing that can bring people together. Yet trying to fit into the mold of our race and ignoring our individuality is what I often see happening on campus. Each group celebrates the stereotype that society has imposed on them, and instead of celebrating individuality; they celebrate the sameness of race. Living amongst white people I was initially teased because of my race, but I was more often liked and accepted for who I am. Living amongst Chinese people, I was initially accepted because of my race,but not liked for who I am. I am an American-born Chinese. These two sides make me. Without either one, I am not complete. When I walk down the street, I can never hide the fact that I am Chinese. I cannot change my Asian features. When I talk to people and voice my opinion, I am American. Yet I do not fit completely into both sides. I am different and proud to be so. Race does not define me; I define myself. I hope for the time when we stop focusing on race and can all embrace our differences and celebrate them.

Assess the view that Rousseaus social contract is totalitarian

Introduction Many theorists suggest that a family forms the first model of political society. This is mainly because parents are relieved of their duties of caring for children once they reach adulthood. Similarly, children are relieved of complete obedience to their parents at adulthood. Moreover, family bonds and obligations are practically broken. In fact, whatever remains is voluntary. It signifies an opportunity for children to be masters of their own destiny.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Assess the view that Rousseau’s social contract is totalitarian specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is the basic unit of political society, in which people are born free but everywhere they remain in chain. The expression is according to Rousseau who asserts that modern states have the habit of repressing freedom, which is everyone’s birthright. Moreover, he faults them for neglecting civil freedom, which is the main reason for joining civil society. He therefore believes that legitimate political power can only be achieved through social contract. This paper will assess the view that social contract is totalitarian (Rousseau, 1762 p. 1). Rousseau’s social contract According to Rousseau, people are denied freedom, which is their birthright. He therefore believed that for considerable freedom to be exercised in any given society, it requires a legitimate government or political authority. Moreover, this authority must be attained through social contract. It is also quite important to note that the social contract must be accepted by all residents for mutual protection. In this regard, he defines sovereign as a collective grouping of all individuals of a political society and maintains that it should be taken like an individual. In this sense, as far as an individual has a particular aim or goal in life for his or her best interest, a political society or sovereign have a gener al will that aims or fights for a common goal. Therefore, as much as the sovereign is absolute in its authority, it also has authority on issues of public interest or concern. In conclusion, Rousseau’s verdict to those who violate social contract is death. According to Rousseau, an alien lawgiver is mandated with the responsibility of creating abstract as well as general laws. Moreover, it is in these laws that the general will is clearly expressed. In addition, he alludes to the fact that a government is required to perform executive duties along with sovereign in exercising legislative powers. The government is therefore mandated with the responsibility of running day-to-day activities in society. There are several forms of governments namely, monarchy, democracy and aristocracy, among others. However, the form of government lies heavily on its size. For instance, monarchy is considered as the strongest of all forms of government. Moreover, according to Rousseau, it serves the largest population and is suited for hot climates. He also argues that aristocracies are the best form of government and usually more stable than the rest. Rousseau also maintains those sovereigns is always distinct from government and therefore are always in constant friction. In this regard, this friction has the propensity of destroying a state. It is therefore important that the state remains healthy for stability and longer reign, which may last centuries.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Rousseau continues by pointing out that citizens implement their sovereignty through periodic and regular meetings. It is quite important to note that rarely does everyone attend these meetings; however, this is necessary for a healthy state. He also insists that use of representatives in these meetings endangers well being of a state especially since the general will cannot be heard. In ess ence, he thinks that citizens should note vote for their personal needs, rather they should do so in the interest of general will. Furthermore, results attained from these votes ought to approach unanimity. This is where the rule of supermajority links as it ensures that the general will is heard. Rousseau uses an example of Roman republic to sink his view of social contract and the concept of general will. Social Contract can thus be defines as an agreement that enables an individual to join a civil society. It therefore binds that individual into society or community that exists in the interest of communal protection. In this respect, such individuals loose the right to do whatever they want albeit they get civil freedom, which allows them to act and think morally and rationally. Therefore, Rousseau maintains that we can achieve human status by going into social contract (Schwartzberg, 2008, p. 403-423). The general Will Rousseau uses the concept of general will to assert his argu ment on a legitimate political society. He believes that a general will can only be achieved through inclusion of all members of society. This is contradictory to the current practices where representatives are elected to vote on behalf of citizens. He believes that this form of law making is contradictory to the needs of a people and therefore acts to serve personal needs and not the general will. In this regard, he defines general will, as that will of sovereign, which aims at achieving a common good even though each member of a society is known to have his/her will. This is not expressed in the general will. In fact, general will express the will of a state, which covers everyone. No wonder, he insists that everyone should be involved in such decisions since representatives may at times forward their own personal interests as is witnessed all over the world’s democracies. The general will is thus described as will of all, which can refer to the sum total of individual will . However, this is only possible in a healthy state. In a state experiencing friction between sovereign and government, the general will differs from will of all. This is mainly because what is known to be general will, may sometimes be infiltrated by personal interests at the highest levels. This causes jittery and animosity between sovereign and government and may lead to fall of a state. General will is therefore very important and must concur with will of all, in order to achieve a healthy state (Schwartzberg, 2008, p. 403-423).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Assess the view that Rousseau’s social contract is totalitarian specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Democracy There are several forms of governments in the contemporary world. These include democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy, among others. According to Rousseau, the form of government depends on its size. For example, monarchy is considered as st rongest of all the various forms of government. Furthermore, he maintains that Monarchy serves the largest population and is suitable for hot climates. In addition, Rousseau argues that aristocracies are the best form of government, which last for centuries. Rousseau faults modern democracies for demeaning their subjects and sovereign. For instance, modern democracies have representatives that are supposed to enact laws on behalf of citizens. However, this is not entirely true. In fact, while some legislators go for their own interests, other push for ideologies over and above what their constituents want. This has caused jittery and acrimony in most countries with continual replacement of representatives during elections. Nonetheless, it continues to haunt them, as the trend of presenting personal thoughts continues. Rousseau tries to determine the possibility of achieving freedom, as it should be and not in its present form where self interest takeover power and utilize it, as the y want. In fact, it is for this reason that he goes for concurrence between the general will and will of all. However, current democracies do not offer such provisions. In fact, they claim that Rousseau’s theories are impracticable in modern world and require an ideal world that can heed to most people’s wants. In essence, as much as democracy tries to achieve concurrence in issues and freedom, it fails to reach its minimum threshold in Rousseau’s view (Estlund, Waldron, Grofman Feld, 1989, p. 1317-1340). Super majority Will of all refers to the total sum of all individuals will. When this total sum or will of all exceeds other factors, it can be described as a simple majority. In essence, a simple majority may encompass many variables but only the winner is taken as absolute even if the sum total of other losers exceeds that of the winner. However, this is quite different from super majority. In fact, this is where the will of all can be achieved in Rousseauâ €™s view. Therefore, super majority can only be achieved if the winner exceeds the sum total of all other losers. In this respect, it may be right to say that general will concurs with will of all if it is represented by a super majority. According to Rousseau, general will, must approach unanimity for it to be inclusive of all participants. This can only be achieved through votes that make up for a super majority. Some theories have however, linked Rousseau’s view on votes with epismestic reasons (Cohen, 1986, p. 257-297).Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Discussion This discussion is aimed at assessing whether Rousseau’s social contract is totalitarian. According to Rousseau’s social contract, people should be guided by a general will attained through super majority votes. In light of this, it can be a wonderful system of government if everyone has the same line of thought. However, this is not the case in modern world, where capitalism makes people unequal. To some extent, it can apply in an aristocratic form of government where everyone seems to know where they belong and therefore gives up their freedom to a stronger power. The mere fact that one gives up his or her right to a general will, which may at times differ from the will of all, makes it dependent the executive. However, this has proven to be a failure even though it acts to achieve common goals. The Romans used a similar system and it helped them achieve most of their goals. However, it denied basic rights to captives as well as citizens. To this extent, I can say that Rousseau’s social contract is totalitarian. Furthermore, the fact that those who do not follow social contract are punishable by death makes it totalitarian. True liberty can be achieved through freedom. This allows creativity and innovation, among others. Designing basic line of thought, behavior and action can act to deny deserving people their right to participation in critical activities. Moreover, the states agenda should be well represented in the community, with the possibility of letting variant views to prove their worth. Besides, it is not true that majority are always right. In fact, it has been shown beyond doubt that geniuses are very few, and this is same for significant ideologies. This is mainly because general will, may suffer from group psychology, which at times renders critical analysis useless. In this sense, use of Rousseau’s social contract in a state is likely to skew them towards a totalitarian government (Cohen, 1986, p. 257-297) . Totalitarian Regimes Different regimes have emerged over the years. However of great concern is the links between authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. Authoritarian regimes are those that dictate what its subject does. In this sense, orders are channeled from the executive for people to follow. It is quite important to note that totalitarian regimes usually rule by amassing total support from all its citizens. This is usually achieved through many ways, some of which include threatening their lives and propaganda, among others. In this regard, it is essential to note that totalitarian rule may be detrimental to society especially if infiltrated by personal needs of those tasked with exercising government duties. This is mainly because people come from different backgrounds, cultures and lines of thought. It is therefore impossible for them to think in the same line and submit completely to a super majority general will. This has the propensity of denying some people their right to thoughts and freedom of speech, among others (Rousseau, 1762 p. 1). Assertion I tend to think that Rousseau’s social contract is inclined towards a totalitarian government. This is mainly because people have different views in life. Therefore forcing them to give up their right to some government without credibility of sustaining such rights can lead to totalitarian government. Most regimes that run totalitarian government claim to derive support from all their subjects. This has led to conflicts when it matures. For instance, Libyan governments as well as those of the Far East like China and North Korea tend to skew towards totalitarian government. However, they claim to have majority support from people who suffer daily to make ends meet. It is quite necessary to note that such regimes usually come as result of social contract. They may begin in an exceptional manner but later on turn into totalitarian government. In other words, Rousseau’s social contract is clo sely linked to a totalitarian government than the freedom it claims to provide. This is because people have different views due to varying backgrounds. Therefore, tying them to a common goal, which may be one person’s interest, denies them their basic freedom of choice. Moreover, not everyone has the capacity to understand common goals of a state. In most cases, the elite propose such ideologies based on their interests, which may be to exploit others. Rousseau’s social contract is therefore skewed towards a totalitarian government (Levine, 2002, p. 28). Conclusion According to Rousseau, people are denied their birthright, which is freedom. In this regard, he suggests a legitimate political authority, which comes to power through social contract. This, he believes would provide the freedom that people deserves. Social contract is an agreement that enables an individual to join civil society. It therefore binds the individual into society in the interest of communal pro tection. However, this is tantamount to totalitarian rule since everyone is bound completely to one solid government. Besides, human nature states that people differ in thoughts, needs, and ideologies, among others. Social contract therefore has the propensity to deny them the right of choice hence leading to a totalitarian government (Rousseau, 1762 p. 1). Reference List Cohen, J 1986, ‘Reflections on Rousseau: Autonomy and Democracy’, Philosophy and Public Affairs, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 257-297. Estlund, DM Waldron, J Grofman, B Feld, SL 1989, ‘Democratic Theory and the Public Interest: Condorcet and Rousseau Revisited’, American Political Science Review, Vol.83, No.4, pp. 1317-1340. Levine, A 2002, Engaging Political Philosophy: From Hobbes to Rawls, Blackwell, Oxford. Rousseau, JJ 1762, The Social Contract or Principles of Political Right, Translated by G. D. H. Cole. Available from: http://www.constitution.org/jjr/socon.htm. Schwartzberg, M 2008, ‘V oting the General Will: Rousseau on Decision Rules’, Political Theory, Vol.36, No.3, pp. 403-23. This essay on Assess the view that Rousseau’s social contract is totalitarian was written and submitted by user Kody D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Use the French Past Subjunctive

How to Use the French Past Subjunctive The past subjunctive is used for the same reasons as the present subjunctive: to express emotion, doubts, and uncertainty. Before going on,  review the rules for using the  subjunctive  to make sure you understand them. Note that the only difference between the present subjunctive  and the past subjunctive  is tense; usage is the same for both. The past subjunctive is used when the verb in the subordinate clause, the verb that follows que, happened before the verb in the main clause. The past subjunctive can be used in a subordinate clause when the main clause is either in the present tense or the past tense. When the Main Clause is in the Present Tense Je suis heureuse que tu sois venu hier.   Im happy that you came yesterday.Nous avons peur quil na  pas mangà ©.   Were afraid that he didnt eat. When the Main Clause is in the Past Tense Or it may be used in a subordinate clause when the main clause is in the past tense. Note that if the main clause did not call for the subjunctive, the subordinate clause would have been in the past perfect, because the subordinate clause happened before the verb in the main clause. Therefore, the subordinate clause should technically be in the pluperfect subjunctive. But that is replaced by the past subjunctive in all but the most formal French. Il doutait que vous layez vu.   He doubted that you had seen it.Javais peur quils soient tombà ©s.   I was afraid that they had fallen. How to Compose the Past Subjunctive The French past subjunctive is a  compound conjugation, which means it has two parts: subjunctive  of the  auxiliary verb  (either  avoir  or  Ãƒ ªtre)past participle  of the main verb Like all French compound conjugations, the past subjunctive may be subject to a grammatical  agreement: When the auxiliary verb is  Ãƒ ªtre, the  past participle  must agree with the subject.When the auxiliary verb is  avoir, the past participle may have to agree with its  direct object.

The resources mobilization theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The resources mobilization theory - Essay Example Social movement based on the definition shows that there are different conflicting groups engaging in a conflict to achieve certain objectives. Social movement is characterised by a number of features such as leadership, organization of the group and the activity the social movement group want to solve. The resources mobilization theory applies to social movement because social movement uses non-violent ways to inform the public and thereby making them aware of their goals. Achievements of the goals would happen because most of the pursuant know more about the community and the problems they are facing. Because of this, they pursue them to demonstrate peacefully and solve their grievances such as unemployment. Small community facing problems are acted upon by small networks, after that, more networks are created which would be strong to pursue the governing body such as federal government. Some of the social movements that work together to achieve their goals include the gay and lesb ian rights movement. Gay and lesbian rights movements have been demonstrative to express their rights and to be recognised by others. The groups have achieved their goals using available resources such as the formation of strong organizations (Costain and McFarland 59). Political revolutions arise when there is poor governance, which could be because of the changes the government made or the situation of governance is worse than the previous government. Political revolutions use both non-violent and violent ways to express their grievances to the governing body. The theory of relative deprivation relates well to political revolution; this can be shown by one of the political revolution which took place in US. The... The resources mobilization theory The framing theory is a process by which people change their ideas based on issues (Shepard 543). The resources mobilization theory is compelling because it directly points out that it is the resource which determines the rise of social movements. According to the theory, resources can be used by individuals to criticise the organisation or government. The resources in few are money, knowledge, internal or external support. Such resources help in supporting the social movements because their availability facilitates groups of individual to organise themselves. According to Shepard (543), resources such as money, power and leadership skills helped the civil rights movements in 1960 to stage wide spread protest. The author further shows that it is the resources at the centre of any uprising. In cases where resources are limited or not available, revolutions would not happen. This can be explained from one of the gay rights movements which failed because of unavailable resources. The ot her theories are close to the resources mobilization theory; the theory of relative deprivation shows the comparison done by persons thinking that they do not have enough or equal resources as others. The decision is made on the theory of resources mobilization because it is an instant way of rise in political revolution which can be facilitated by available resources. Despite the high expectation of digital media, the platform has some pitfalls to social and political revolutions.

Not sure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Not sure - Essay Example Bargaining for love is equivalent to trade. It is difficult to give a clean chit to Hamlet by analyzing the various phases of his relationship and professed love to Ophelia. Funeral oration (the incident at the grave of Ophelia) cannot be the true index of love. Heart is the real domain of love and not the logic and reasoning of the head. The more intense is the reasoning, more doubts it creates about genuinely. A lover is not like the lawyer trying to argue a false case. For example, the content and language of his letter to Ophelia that Polonius reads before the king and queen doesn’t sound creditworthy. Hamlet’s love looks like the flight of imagination, the dew of the morning that will melt facing the truth of sunshine. The warning by her brother Laertes that Hamlet’s love is a passing phase seems correct. If it is true love, should it change often as it happens in the case of Hamlet? True love is not situational. Will an individual feign madness to bitterly hurt his love? That situation could be the necessity of Shakespeare to give intelligent twist to the plot of the drama. But Hamlet doesn’t do justice to the cause of true love. Yet, he gives proof about his love in the above letter by claiming, â€Å" To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia ... Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love." (II, 2) But this looks like the calculated overflow of the feelings. In the later part of the play his love diminishes and the reason given is that the brother and father of Ophelia are studying his moves for his objective to oppose the fructification of love. In such a situation an individual needs to be more firm. The opposition from the side of a girl in the situation like the one in which Ophelia was placed was but normal. When firm display of love was required, Hamlet backtracked. Professing love, when the going is good is not the indication of true love. Adverse circumstances are the testing times. Hamlet’s bitter speech in a harsh tone when he states, â€Å"Get thee to a nunnery!† and then accusing Ophelia, and all women, of the crimes of his mother guilty of, go against his professed love. Can an individual who truly loves, can hurl accusations, insult and berate to the extent which Hamlet does? One, who is against the entire women-folk, cannot love a girl from the bottom of one’s heart. He should have found ways and means to keep the lines of communication with her. Even in the graveyard incident mentioned above, silence on the part of Hamlet on that occasion would have said much about his love than the virulent words defending his love. His contradictory pronouncements of "I did love you once" (III.i.114) and "I loved you not" (III.i.117) do nothing more than further verify Hamlet's lack of control over his own mind, which establishes one of his innate flaws. Hamlet’s misadventures in love are due to his psychological problems. His women characters are like the barometers to indicate how women were treated during the Elizabethan era. Women had no private emotional world of their own, as they were unimportant to men. Take the example of Polonius who was the domineering father who decisively interferes in the emotional world of his daughter and she is not allowed to talk to the man she loves. He argues: â€Å"Marry, well bethought 'Tis told me he hath very oft of late Given private time to you, and you yourself