Suppression of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper Yello Essay Example For Students

Suppression of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper Yello Essay w Wallpaper essaysSuppression of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, tells the story of a womans descent into madness as a result of the rest and ignore the problem cure that is frequently prescribed to cure hysteria and nervous conditions in women. More importantly, the story is about control and attacks the role of women in society. The narrator of the story is symbolic for all women in the late 1800s, a prisoner of a confining society. Women are expected to bear children, keep house and do only as they are told. Since men are privileged enough to have education, they hold jobs and make all the decisions. Thus, women are cast into the prison of acquiescence because they live in a world dominated by men. Since men suppress women, John, the narrators husband, is presumed to have control over the protagonist. Gilman, however, suggests otherwise. She implies that it is a combination of societys control as well as the womans personal weakness that contribute to the suppression of women. These two factors result in the womans inability to make her own decisions and voice opposition to men. We will write a custom essay on Suppression of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper Yello specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now John, the narrators husband, represents society at large. Like society, John controls and determines much of what his wife should or should not do, leaving his wife incapable of making her own decisions. Johns domineering nature can be accredited to the fact that John is male and also a physician of high standing (1). John is practical in the extreme. He has no patience with faith, an intense horror of superstition, and he scoffs openly at any talk of things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures (1). He is scientific, factual, logical and rational, everything that characterizes a sane person in society. He tells the protagonist that she is to take phosphates or phosphites whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and is absolutely forbidden to work until she is well again (1). However, the narrator thinks otherwise: Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do? (2) Clearly, the narrator thinks that a life void of any work or excitement will not be helpful or aid her on the road to recovery. The question she asks herself at the end of this paragraph, however, exemplifies her oppressed stature in society. She asks herself not once, not twice, but three times what someone in her position is to do: And what can one do? (1), What is one to do? (1), But what is one to do? (1). Repetition of these questions demonstrates that the narrator cannot do anything to change her life because her husband society controls what she can and cannot do. The narrators writing also falls under this category because writing is looked down upon in society as a profession for women. Because of societys oppressive nature, the narrator is unable to write in the presence of other people, especially John and Jennie, his sister, who are great products of society (a high standing physician and an enthusiastic housekeeper), since she believes that people see her writing as contributing to her illness. The narrator says, I verily believe Jenny thinks it is the writing which made me sick! (5). Even though the narrator finds relief in writing, she says, I must say what I feel and think in some way it is such a relief! (7), since writing is an improper occupation for women in societal standards, the narrator must not write publicly, but in secret. Furthermore, John also tries to control how and what his wife should think, exemplifying societys suppression of women. He tells his wife, .. .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b , .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .postImageUrl , .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b , .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b:hover , .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b:visited , .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b:active { border:0!important; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b { 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; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b:active , .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .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; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udc66cc8524b1589f25a8c345edfe932b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE Essay.you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not. I am a doctor, dear, and I know. You are gaining flesh and color, your appetite is better (9). Again, he uses the fact that he is a doctor to insinuate his rightness and hint that the narrator must be wrong because she is not a doctor. The fact that she is a not a doctor, however, does not mean she does not know how she feels. The narrator says, I dont weigh a bit more, nor as much; and my appetite may be better in the evening when you are here, but it is worse in the morning when you are away! (9). The narrator tries to tell her husband otherwise but he simply does not listen. In another instance, the narrator tells John that there is something strange about the house (2) but he simply negates her intuition and tells her that what she felt was a draught, and shut the window (2). John does not listen deeply to what his wife says; he hardly ever really listens to her at all. The narrator says, I wish he would let me go and make a visit to Cousin Henry and Julia (7) but John says that she wasnt able to go, nor able to stand it after she got there (7). He is always making decisions for her based on his assumptions on what is best for her, and not what she really wants. To others, this may seem like John is showing care and affection, but even care and affection has its limitations. John frequently laughs at the narrator. She says, John laughs at me (1). Moreover, John constantly says, Bless her little heart! (9) and calls the narrator blessed little goose (4), demeaning names that belittle women and make women seem childlike to men. Although Johns protectiveness is of good intentions, he oppresses her by trying to control what his wife thinks and ignoring what she says. A personal weakness that contributes to the narrators suppression is her inability to communicate effectively and voice opposition. Most of the narrators suppression could be based on the fact that John truly does not listen to her all the time, but in the times when John is actually somewhat attentive, in the case where the narrator wants to go visit Cousin Henry and Julia, she fails miserably at getting her message across to John. She desperately wants to go, I tried to have a real earnest reasonable talk with him the other day (7), and she tries to carefully talk to John because she knows he does not truly listen to what she says and wants. Even then, she does not communicate to him effectively enough. She says, I did not make out a very good case for myself, for I was crying before I had finished (7). By crying, the narrator displays her weakness and gives evidence to Johns claims about her being weak and in need of his control. Who is to say that if she did communicate effectively, John would let her go visit Cousin Henry and Julia? But the chance of John allowing her to go completely vanishes based on her presentation of the proposal, especially when she breaks down and cries. Because of the narrators inability to communicate effectively and voice opposition when needed most, she furthers her own suppression. It is not until the last scene that the narrator finally gains control of her life and becomes her own decision maker by standing up to her husband and society. In describing the climax of the story, the narrator describes Johns frustrations and her calmness: It is no use, young man, you cant open it! How he does call and pound! Now hes crying for an axe. It would be a shame to break down that beautiful door! John dear! said I in the gentlest voice, the key is down by the front steps, under a plantain leaf! (15) It is in this scene where for the first time, John truly listens to her and it leads him to the key to the door. .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 , .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .postImageUrl , .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 , .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7:hover , .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7:visited , .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7:active { border:0!important; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 { 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; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7:active , .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .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; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7 .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u61265cd98fa460d372e596dcbbfc85e7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Congressional reconstruction- civil war Essay Perhaps it is the first time she effectively communicates with John and it shows she is finally getting through to him. But it is also in this scene where the narrator and John switch roles; the narrator has power now. After all, knowledge is power, and she is the only one who knows where the key is located. The narrator now becomes the more dominant figure in the relationship because while he is crying, she is speaking out in the gentlest voice. Her use of the description young man makes John seem very youthful and childlike, as if she was calling him a blessed little goose now. The narrator says, Ive got out at last in spite of you and Jane. And Ive pulled off most of the paper, so you cant put me back! (15). At last, she thinks for herself and has the mental strength to creep around as she pleases, without having to do what others expect her to do. She successfully communicates to John and voices opposition to be put back into the wallpaper. Finally, she gathers the strength to be strong and keep from breaking down and crying. Societal control over what a woman should or should not do and a womans own personal weakness contributes to the suppression of women by leaving the woman without any say in regards to her own personal interests. Often times a woman is incapable of effectively communicating to others what she wants. John faints in the end, after seeing his wife creeping along the floor. And amazingly, for a man who seems like he is such a protective figure, so masculine, so educated, it is very unmanly that he does such a womanly thing such as fainting when he sees his wifes transformation. It shows that he still does not understand her, if ever he had. Otherwise, he would not have been so shocked and alarmed to see her behaving that way. She has to keep creeping over John, even in the end, and it shows that a woman is not much different from a man, in the aspect of being a self-governing individual. People need to have control over their own lives and the ability to make their own decisions, even women. People cannot always make assumptions for what is best for others. We have learned this from John: John demonstrates that the best way to help someone is to have the patience to really listen and find out what that person truly wants, not simply making assumptions about what is right when its not in the others best personal interest. But until every woman is treated in this manner, she will be driven into her own world of insanity where she continues creeping over all who try to control her.

The Lost Boys Horror Genre Essays

The Lost Boys Horror Genre Essays The Lost Boys Horror Genre Paper The Lost Boys Horror Genre Paper The Lost Boys by Joel Schumacher exploits some conventions of the horror genre yet also inverts others. Like in any horror film, they come with the creaking doors, intense music and desire to solve all mysteries including the unexplained and the film, The Lost Boys doesn’t fall short. This vampire filled, popcorn flick includes many of the standard features of the horror genre but also includes inverted and reversed some conventions. To start off, the most obvious aspect of the horror genre that is in this film is vampires as they are a supernatural creature. The Vampires in the film are what you would expect; blood-sucking beasts with their sharp teeth, which sleep upside down, cast no reflection and who are afraid of sunlight. But that’s not all of it. There is an evil leader in the film, who is Max but this isn’t evident until the end of the film because he was seen as an innocent man from Lucy’s eyes which meant she was constantly defending him. Also when he was invited over by Lucy, he made the man of the house, Michael invite him inside which in a way, hide his true identity. Therefore when the Frog brothers conducted a series of tests trying to prove that he was a vampire, they all indicate that he was human. The music in the film is strange, circus like with an evil twist at times. A good example of this is at the start of the film, when the lost boys are at the carnival on a merry-go-around and there is circus music playing which slowly changes into a more sinister sound with a thump in the background because of the change of scene. By fading different types of music, it creates a more suspenseful mood. Throughout the film, there is also non-diegetic and discordant music which forms dramatic effects throughout the film. As well as following some of the usual characteristics of a horror film, Schumacher inverts and reverses some conventions. The most inverted convention that stands out, is how The Lost Boys explores notions of family that include the single parent family being Lucy, the boys and the family of vampires lead by father figure Max. At all times Max appears to have his â€Å"families† interests at heart which is a paradox is some ways because we perceive vampires to be evil and not kindly. This shows the reversal of the convention and the notions of vampires. Max also hoped to have a â€Å"fairytale† ending with the blending of his family and Lucy’s but it didn’t work out as he envisaged and this is parodied at the end of The Lost Boys. The main reversal in the film is the character of Grandpa. What everyone would perceive to be as a normal Grandpa is fairly the opposite of the character in this film. He’s a joker who drinks root beer and lives in a creepy house with dead stuffed animals. An example of Grandpa playing jokes is when Lucy and the boys arrive at his house and he is lying on the porch pretending to be dead. This creates anticlimax which would mainly fall into the standard conventions of a horror film. Another example is at the end of the film when all the vampires are killed and Grandpa goes to the fridge to get a drink and says Something I never could stomach about Santa Carla, all the damn vampires! which indicates that he knew about the vampires all along. Overall, Grandpa is an unusual character that adds plenty of humour to the film. In this Teen vampire flick, it isnt exactly the scariest horror movie ever made. In fact, the ridiculously over-sized 80s hairstyles on show are probably more frightening than the teeth. Come to think of it, its not exactly the funniest comedy youre ever likely to come across either. But theres just something about its 50-50 mix of the two genres of horror and comedy that just works out fantastically well. By inverting and reversing the usual conventions of the horror genre, it made this film one of a kind and a classic.

A Synpsis of The foundation text of English literature, titled Beowulf

A Synpsis of The foundation text of English literature, titled Beowulf The foundation text of English literature, titled Beowulf (meaning â€Å"man wolf† when translated into the modern language), presents readers with a hero named Beowulf who fights three different battles, each with its own monster. Beowulf’s first battle awaits him when he travels to present day Denmark to save the Danes from a monster named Grendel that has been wreaking havoc on King Hrothgar’s men. Grendel’s defeat leads to Beowulf’s second battle with Grendel’s mother, who avenges the death of her son. Once Beowulf saves the Danes from the monsters they faced, Beowulf returns home to rule his land until he meets his death in a battle with a dragon, signifying the monster that overcame him. Although Beowulf’s success in battle with his literal monsters would name him a hero in almost any circumstance, Beowulf’s life and the situations that led him to battle fall into place with the same ideals that name him a classic hero und er Campbell’s hero archetype, where the hero must have a reason for departure, initiation through his defeat of an enemy, and a return from his journey. Beowulf’s journey of life, which was a battle until his death, relates to humans in the sense that although Beowulf’s monsters were real creatures, every individual faces their own version of a monster that phases them, but are conquered in the end. There is always one monster, however, that one can never overcome. Beowulf presents this monster as the dragon in the poem, which ties into every individual as the monster that has never been conquered: the monster of death. Campbell’s hero archetype is also known as the monomyth, or hero’s journey, that sets the framework of the traditional, classical hero. It defines a hero by the steps in the journey that the hero takes, which can be analyzed in three different stages. The first stage of the hero’s journey is his departure, which can be further explained by 5 further categories. The first of this five is â€Å"The Ordinary World,† which explains that the hero must come from an ordinary background, setting the level playing field for all heroes who fulfill Campbell’s criteria. It is important that the hero who fulfills Campbell’s archetype is an ordinary human in order for readers to relate to the story and identify with the hero. Beowulf achieves this criteria as he is known to be a Geat who lived in present-day Sweden as King Hygelac’s thane. He is described as, â€Å"of living strong men he was the strongest, fearless and gallant and great of heartâ €  (132-133), implying that Beowulf was an ordinary man except for his characteristics that set him apart from others. The second category within the departure stage is the â€Å"Call to Adventure,† in which the hero is informed of his need elsewhere. This call foreshadows the change from the character’s then-ordinary life to his journey as a hero. In Beowulf, this criterion is fulfilled when â€Å"[the] tales of the terrible deeds of Grendel reached Hygelac’s thane in his home with the Geats† (130-131), signifying Beowulf’s knowledge of the happenings with the Danes. Following this criteria is the â€Å"Refusal of the Call,† where the hero doubts his confidence with the challenge. This will cause the hero to refuse the call, but then face a shortcoming where he is forced to go on the journey. This, interestingly, is not completely evident in Beowulf, as Beowulf does not refuse the call to begin with. Much of the reason for his decision to travel to the Danes was because of his pride and reputation, putting him in a situation in which he could not refuse. If Beowulf had refused the call, however, he would have been faced with shame as he was described to be the â€Å"strongest, fearless, and gallant† (132-133), compensating for his incentive to travel in the first place. Because of this, the t hird criteria of the departure stage is fulfilled, as it can be seen that had Beowulf refused the call, he would have been pushed into seeking out Grendel anyway. The fourth stage in the departure level of Campbell’s hero archetype is â€Å"Meeting the Mentor,† where the prospective hero seeks guidance regarding the journey that he is about to begin. The mentor acts as a counselor who gives advice, re-instills confidence, or presents the hero with weapons that he will need to fulfill the quest. Although this is not seen in the very beginning as â€Å"counseling,† prior to Beowulf’s departure, â€Å"in the ship’s hold snugly they stowed their trappings, gleaming armor and battle gear† (149-150), meaning that Beowulf received weapons prior to his fight with Grendel, compensating for the lack of guidance he had received. This can also be paralleled by the way that prior to fighting Grendel’s mother, Beowulf was presented with Unferth’s Hrunting in order to kill the mother. This also fulfills the fourth criteria of Beowulf’s departure to become a hero. The fifth and final criteria in f ulfilling a hero’s departure is â€Å"Crossing the Threshold,† where the threshold is the line between the hero’s ordinary world and the alien world that he is about to enter. This is seen in the poem when Beowulf embarks the ship on his journey to the Danes, acting as if it was a journey that he could not go back on. In the poem, this is described as Beowulf â€Å"launched the bessel, the well-braced bark, seaward bound on a joyous journey† (151-152). This symbolizes the threshold that Beowulf crosses to embark on his journey as a hero. The idea of crossing the threshold also occurs when Beowulf jumps into the lake filled with sea creatures on his way to Grendel’s mother’s lair, marking the difference between the land is known and unknown. With the fulfillment of these five criteria, Beowulf embarked on his departure journey for the hero archetype. The second stage to Campbell’s hero archetype following the departure level is initiation, where the hero fulfills a series of tests and trials that will qualify him to fulfill his ultimate goal. This initiation can be more personal, such as maturing or gaining self confidence, or physical trials that the hero must endure. Like the departure level, initiation contains a set of criteria that the hero must meet in order to qualify for Campbell’s archetype. The first one is â€Å"Tests, Allies, and Enemies,† in which the hero faces challenges that test him. These obstacles can take almost any form and exists solely to disrupt the hero’s journey. In Beowulf, one of the obstacles that he immediately faces is Unferth’s challenging of Beowulf’s strength prior to Beowulf’s fight with Grendel. The poem tells this as, â€Å"Then out spoke Unferth, Ecglaf’s son, who sat at the feet of the Scylding lord, picking a quarrel for Beowulf†™s quest† (382-384). In this section, Unferth taunts Beowulf regarding a swimming match they had previously, ultimately challenging Beowulf’s honor. Beowulf overcomes this obstacle by being unfazed by Unferth’s comments and by reinforcing hope within the people in completing the ultimate goal. Following this, the bigger and more obvious challenge facing Beowulf is his fight with Grendel, his enemy. Beowulf fights unarmed and defeats him in the end, fulfilling the first criteria of the initiation journey by overcoming the challenges that he had faced during. Succeeding the tests is â€Å"Approach to the Inmost Cave,† where the hero must cross another threshold into an even greater unknown. Following Grendel’s defeat, Grendel’s mother wreaks more havoc on the Danes in order to avenge her son’s death, calling for Beowulf’s help once again. In order to fight Grendel’s mother, Beowulf first enters a lake that is filled with sea monsters that taunt him, described in the poem as, â€Å"the swimming forms of strange sea-dragons, dim serpent shapes in the watery depths, sea-beasts sunning on headland slopes† (937-939). The setting of this lake can be contrasted to Hell, emphasizing Beowulf’s crossing into the unknown. The measures that Beowulf takes in order to approach Grendel’s mother in the first place adds depth and foreshadows what is to come next, fulfilling the second part of initiation. The third stage of initiation is â€Å"Ordeal,† where the hero must overcome a physical test that will help the world he lives in. The hero often comes close to death and experiences some form of resurrection after overcomin g the dangerous task. In Beowulf, it was the defeat of Grendel’s mother. The significance of this scene in the text is that if Beowulf had not defeated the mother, he would have died and his kinsmen along with the Danes would have not been able to survive. Beowulf’s â€Å"resurrection† occurs when he comes back out of the water guarding the mother’s lair alive, which can be juxtaposed to the idea of floating up out of the water when baptized. The fulfillment of the dangerous task and thus the third stage of initiation immediately leads to the fourth, which is the reward from the task. Beowulf’s reward for slaying Grendel’s mother came in the forms of jewels and treasure from Hrothgar, along with a higher honor and reputation. Immediately following the battle, Beowulf returned with the sword hilt of Hrunting and Grendel’s slain head. With all the criteria fulfilled, Beowulf was ready for return. The final stage of Campbell’s hero journey is return, where the hero returns to where he began as closure of the quest. The first criteria of this stage is â€Å"The Road Back,† which is opposite of the â€Å"Call to Adventure.† Beowulf fulfills this stage by traveling back to his home with the Geats with ships filled with treasure from Hrothgar. Beowulf returns home with validation of his confidence and strength to be presented with the name of a ruler after King Hygelac dies. Following â€Å"The Road Back† is â€Å"Resurrection,† where the hero faces his final encounter with death. The battle in itself is a representation of a larger symbol that plays into the hero’s overall existence. In Beowulf, this is seen as the final battle between Beowulf and the dragon, which wreaks havoc on the Geats after 50 years of peace. Although Beowulf dies as a result of this battle, the dragon itself was supposed to symbolize death, and the true meaning of the battle would not have been fulfilled had Beowulf survived. The battle alone fulfills the â€Å"Resurrection† criteria of the return stage, and Beowulf’s death fulfills the final criteria in Campbell’s hero archetype altogether, which is â€Å"Return with the Elixir.† The Elixir is the lesson of death itself, which can only be fulfilled with Beowulf’s death. The overall lesson of this battle is that the hero’s journey will always and inevitably end with death, and the dragon symbolized the unconquerable monster that every individual will eventually face. Had Beowulf not died, he would not be considered a hero in the first place. Beowulf’s journey to become a traditional hero is non-traditional in the sense that instead of the journey encompassing a quest in which the hero returns to live a â€Å"happily ever after,† Beowulf’s journey was the journey of life itself, beginning with his departure to fight Grendel. He was a hero in the journey of life. This can be recognized as the most significant link between the readers and Beowulf: his story is reflective of the battles that people fight every day. Unlike other heroic stories, Beowulf’s connected with me in regards to his battles, especially with the last one being a symbol of death. As Beowulf himself declares, â€Å"death is not easily escaped from by anyone: all of us with souls, earth-dwellers and children of men, must make our way to a destination already ordained where the body, after the banqueting, sleeps on its deathbed† (1001-1007). The journey of a hero is his journey between life and death, encompassing all of the battles that he had faced to turn him into the character that he becomes when he dies. Beowulf’s journey of the archetypal hero is a representation of individual struggles we face, making humans heroes of our own life. Through Beowulf, we learn that death is the ultimate monster that overcomes us, and the quality of life is determined by the extent to which we live it.

Hange of effects of warfare on combatants due to new technological Essay

Hange of effects of warfare on combatants due to new technological advancements since Second Industrial revolution - Essay Example These changes are multidimensional and complicated. Most of the ideas and opinions have been propounded by the means of an example-based approach. Dependable sources for reference purpose have bee carefully selected and utilized. Research Question How have the effects of warfare on combatants changed as a result of new technologies of warfare since the Second Industrial Revolution (c. 1850)? Thesis Statement The changes in the effects of warfare on the combatants due to the utilization of post Second Industrial Revolution weapons technology have made them more impersonal, lethal, cruel, and confident. Armed Conflict Becomes More Impersonal and Lethal The effect: Since the Second Industrial Revolution warfare has become increasingly dependent on technology. This dependence has caused armed conflict to become progressively more impersonal and lethal. Discussion: The modification in the nature of armed conflicts is due to the fact that the combatants are becoming more impervious and als o they are lethally very much enabled. In the ancient and medieval ages, combatants used to fight each other in battlefields that generally did not cover the civilian areas. One-to-one battles were not unknown between the warriors and that used to be a matter of glory. Weapons like swords and spears could kill only one combatant at a time. But mass killing by using incendiary bombing, as had been seen in Germany and Japan, testify the fact that the new technologies have made the combatants extremely lethal (Grossman, 1995). Before the Second Industrial Revolution, a warrior has a glorious appeal. He/ she could be a crusader, a protector, or a savior. This appealing warlike personality cult motivated the youth during the post Second Industrial Revolution wars as well. The World War I is a good example of this. But with the advent of new technologies, the appeal of valor culminated at dangerous impersonal missions (Dennis, 2001). According to Smith (1983), â€Å"The introduction of t he gun will serve in the future to make war more rational and less the product of purely personal enmity.† In ancient warfare, we find personalities like Hector and Achilles who fought for personal glory. However, generals like Trotsky led the masses for almost completely impersonal movements. Rapid fire and faster and widespread communication actually impersonalized warfare (American Political Science Association, 1983). As for lethality once again, World War I provides a good example. Infamous chemical warfare during this period had made the ground reality similar to â€Å"Dying like so many rats in a trap† (Cook, 2002: 47). Such situation never came up in the wars of the ancient civilizations. Increased Cruelty The Effect: Second Industrial Revolution has begot such war techniques that cannot be limited among the combatants only. In modern warfare, the degree of civilian casualty is very high and this fact testifies for the increased cruelty of the combatants. Discus sion: Atrocities committed by the ancient and medieval combatants were less terrific and had lower psychological effect. In technology-based modern warfare, things are different; especially, psychological effects are too profound. Siege warfare is an important sub-discipline in this regard. During the siege of the cities in the pre 1850 environment, less prominent terror techniques were generally used. Examples of medieval siege warfare like the Siege of Calais (France) by British forces show that human values prevailed to at least some extent in the war. Although siege of Peking by the

Quality Management and Continuous Improvement Uni 5 DB SA Second Week Essay

Quality Management and Continuous Improvement Uni 5 DB SA Second Week - Essay Example Dell will rather encourage other companies if a positive feedback is recorded from the system. It is quite depressing to hear that people entrusted with taking care of public funds are the same ones who fraud the resources. The implementation of JIT principle during day to day operation of institutions is good news to taxpayers. Implementing the JIT principles in corrupt institutions is important. The employees who are reluctant and not receptive to the processes need to be audited since they sense ill motives. Implementation of the principle need to be monitored and evaluate based on their performance. Assuming the impacts are welcoming, regulations need to be passed in favor of the system. From the JIT literature I propose the principle to be used in almost every institution. Ones the implementations of JIT are done the issue of money laundering will be a thing of the

Political science as a social science Essay Example for Free

Political science as a social science Essay Political Science is in part a social science, and in part a humanity. Both are important. In this topic, we will look at the basics of social science inquiry, and then proceed to show how this differs from, on the one hand, inquiry in the natural sciences and, on the other, inquiry in the humanities. Social Science Social science inquiry seeks to develop empirical theory. ?Empirical? refers to things that can be experienced through the five senses of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, or (in the case of political corruption) smelling. Theory? basically means explanation. An empirical theory of politics, then, is an attempt to explain why people behave the way they do politically. If a social scientist (or anyone else) observes people engaging in political behavior, he or she will need to focus on certain characteristics of the people being observed. The observer may wonder why some people differ from others in their political characteristics. Why, for example, are some people Liberals while others are Conservatives and still others are New Democrats. Characteristics that differ from one person to another are called one variables. Those that do not are called constants. Constants are generally less interesting than variables. There is not much point in trying to explain voting behavior in a country in which only one party appears on the ballot. Of course, we might then ask why some countries have only one party whereas others have multi-party systems, but now we are treating ? number of parties? as a variables. Everyday language is full of what are, in effect, hypotheses about political behavior. For example, talk about a ? gender gap? in voting hypothesizes that vote (the dependent variable) is in part a function of gender (the independent variable), with women more likely to vote for the Liberals or New Democrats and men more likely to vote Conservative. Social science research differs from everyday discussion of politics in two ways. The first is where hypotheses come from. Anyone who follows politics will likely carry around in his or her head a lot of ideas about what explains political behavior. Such ideas may come from personal experience, from conversations with others, or from following politics through the mass media. This is true as well for the ways social scientists think about politics. In addition, however, social scientists develop hypotheses more systematically by studying the scholarly literature for the results of previous research. This is important for at least a couple of reasons. For one thing, it is usually the case that the more you learn what is already known about a subject, the more new questions you are likely to have. A review of the literature helps generate new hypotheses. Even more important, social science seeks not merely to describe raw facts, but to explain why people behave the way that they do. To accomplish this, we need to put our ideas into a broader theoretical context that offers such an explanation. It is a fact that in the United States, from 1936 through 2000, the incumbent party has always won the presidency whenever the Washington Redskins won their last home game before the election, and lost whenever the Redskins lost. However, since there is no reasonable explanation for why this should be the case, it is merely an interesting bit of trivia, and no serious observer of politics would rely on it in analyzing the next presidential contest. A second difference is that, for many people, ideas about patterns of political behavior remain merely assumptions. Social science insists that the validity of assumptions must be tested against data. Conceptual definition. We need to know, and be able to communicate to others, what our independent and dependent variables mean. What, in other words, is the idea in our mind when we use a term? Definitions found in dictionaries are examples of conceptual definitions. Sometimes, the idea that is in our mind when we use a term will be obvious, but often it will not. Many concepts used in political science are anything but clear. If we are to study political ideology, for example, we need to spell out with as much precision as possible what that concept means in the context of our research. Operational definition. For hypotheses to be tested, we will need to come up with measurements of our variables. An operational definition is one stated in a way that can be directly measured by data. We strive for a one-to-one correspondence between our conceptual definitions and our measurements (operational definitions) of them. If we succeed, then our measurements have validity and reliability. Data needed to provide operational definitions of our variables come from a wide variety of sources. We may gather the data ourselves. Analysis of data that we gather in order to test hypotheses that we have formulated is called primary analysis. Often, however, this approach would be totally beyond our resources of time, money, and expertise. A nationwide survey of public opinion, for example, would take months to design and carry out, would cost many thousands of dollars, and would require the services of a large survey research organization. Often, secondary analysis of data (that is, analysis of data originally gathered for other purposes) will suit our needs far better. Indeed, very important databases are used almost exclusively in secondary analysis. The Census Canada data is a good example. Other surveys such as the Canadian National Election Study and the General Social Survey were created, in part, for the express purpose of providing quality survey data for secondary analysis by students of Canadian politics. Indeed much of the work using the Canadian National is based on secondary analysis. To facilitate secondary analysis, the University of Toronto Data Library, and other university-based data archives have been established throughout the world. The largest of these is the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) established in 1962. Today, over 500 colleges and universities from all over the world, including the University of Toronto are member institutions. Students and faculty at these institutions obtain datasets that provide the basis for numerous scholarly books, articles, and conference papers, graduate theses and dissertations, and undergraduate term papers. The Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences What we have described as the social science method ? the effort to explain empirical phenomena by developing and testing hypotheses ? could as easily be called simply ? the scientific method,? without the ?  social? qualifier. There are, however, differences between social sciences, including political science, and the natural sciences. Though these are differences in degree, they are important. One difference is that the natural sciences rely much more heavily on experimental design, in which subjects are assigned randomly to groups and in which the researcher is able to manipulate the independent varia ble in order to measure its impact on the dependent variable. Often, when people think about the scientific method, what they have in mind are these sorts of controlled laboratory experiments. In political science, we for the most part are not able to carry out experimental designs. If, for example, we wish to study the impact of party affiliation on decisions by judges, we cannot very well assign judges to different parties, but rather have to take the data as they come to us from observing judges in their natural setting. Experimental design, however, does not define the natural sciences, nor does its absence define the social sciences. Astronomy, for example, must of necessity rely on observation of things that cannot be manipulated. ?Epidemiological?  medical research also relies on non-experimental data. Conversely, the social science discipline of social psychology has been built in large part from experiments in small group laboratories. In political science, a great deal of laboratory research on the impact of campaign commercials has been carried out in recent years. Field experiments are also common, as when survey researchers will test the impact of alternativ e question wordings by splitting their sample and administering different questionnaire forms to different subsets of respondents. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that experimental designs are much less common in the social sciences, including political science, than in the natural sciences. Most of our research design is, in effect, an effort to approximate the logic of experimental design as closely as possible. Other differences, also differences in degree, have to do with lower levels of consensus in the social sciences. There is less consensus about conceptual definition. Even if we agree that power is a key concept for the study of politics, we may not agree on what power means. Chemists, on the other hand, not only agree that molecules are important, they also mean pretty much the same thing when they use the term. There is less consensus about operational definition. Chemists also agree on how to measure the atomic weight of a molecule. Social scientists are far from unanimous in the ways they go about measuring power. It bears repeating that these differences are ones of degree. In the natural sciences there are also disputes at the frontiers of the various disciplines about what concepts are important, what they mean, and how they should be measured. In the social sciences, consensus is likely to break down from the start. Even if we can agree that a particular concept is important, on what it means, and on how it should be measured, we will encounter far larger problems of measurement error than those in the natural sciences, where measurement is not without error, but is typically much more precise. Finally, remember that we are involved in trying to explain human behavior. People do not seem to behave as predictably as molecules. Philosophers are not in agreement on this point, but it may be that human behavior is inherently less predictabl The fact that we deal with tendencies rather than with laws means that, for the most part (and despite impressive work by ? rational choice? theorists to develop formal mathematical models of political behavior), political science makes relatively little use of elegant systems of deduction, but considerable use of statistics, which provides us with valuable tools for dealing with probabilities. Despite its unavoidable limitations, political science as a social science has produced an explosion in our knowledge about politics. This has had important practical consequences. For example, no serious aspirant for a major elected office in an economically developed democracy would consider embarking on a campaign without consulting experts in survey research, a signature social science technique. In addition to being, in part, a social science, political science is also in part a humanity. Political science as a humanity means at least a couple of different things.

The Importance of Cultural Diversity Within Organizations Essay

When discussion is raised in relation to diversity, society talks about the group who possess individual qualities that are diverse from other individual’s traits. Diversity is the uniqueness, which every employee brings to the workplace in an organization or establishment. Examples of differences include nationality, belief, disabilities, physical appearance, race, gender, age, educational background, sexual orientation, and work experience, social and family status. At the workplace, valuing diversity means creating a work environment that respects and includes various individuals, by maximizing the potential of all employees or in which every employee feels integrated within the organization. Cultural diversity means acknowledging that other people, other voices, and other cultures have an equal claim on the world; we need to consider everyone as one human race. Instilling cultural diversity practices within the organization begins with structure that produces benefits, and then is proven through success stories of organizations that have implemented diverse practices. The concept of cultural diversity helps in a significant way for success of organizations. Through the structure of the organization, individual’s can see that a multicultural structure has many benefits compared to limited structures. The organization will be more successful through their overall structure. According to Taylor Cox, there are three organization types, which focus on the development of cultural diversity. The three organization types are, the monolithic organization, the plural organization, and the multicultural organization. In the monolithic organization, the amount of structural integration (the presence of persons from different cultural ... ...ups, Firms, Schools, and Societies. New Jersey, USA: Princeton University Press. Proctor and Gamble. (2011). Company: Who We Are. Retrieved 2011-5-February from Proctor and Gamble: http://www.pg.com/en_CA/company/who_we_are/diversity.shtml Redfield, R., Linton, R., & Herskovits, M. (1936). Memorandum for the Study of Acculturation. American Anthropologist , 149-152. Rosenzweig, P. (1998). Managing the New Global Workforce:: Fostering Diversity, Forging Consistency. European Management Journal , 16 (6), 644-652. Schein, E. (2010). Organizational Culture and Leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2010-22- October). Cultural Diversity. Retrieved 2011-5-February from UNESCO - Culture: http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php- URL_ID=34321&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

In writing Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson at once creates a statement about the human condition Essay

In writing Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson at once creates a statement about the human condition, a critique of Victorian society and a gripping mystery. How does he do this? Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson, born 1850, grew up in a respectable Victorian middle class household in Edinburgh. His nurse was a fundamentalist Christian who taught Stevenson about good and evil. This teaching gave him nightmares, out of one of which was born ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. Victorian Edinburgh had two ‘personalities’: the prosperous middle-class New-Town, where Stevenson lived, and the ‘old black city’ with poverty, disease and over crowding. Men at that time could not play dirty, meet women and get drunk; the darker and more mysterious forces of the personality were suppressed being considered too uncivilised; this was very rude and disrespectful. So men had to do this secretly which meant they were like living two different lives, having two different faces: one which was good and highly respected and the other sneaky and disliked. Experiencing this double standard Stevenson started his plot for his story; to cheat life and become two different people. Stevenson’s novel is about mystery and science. The saying of ‘living two different personalities’ was put to real life in his book; one person having two personalities and becoming a different person. However, Stevenson’s theme seems to be a question just how far scientific development should go before we began to ‘play God’. Some have even suggested that he was drawing attention to the dangers of dabbling with drugs. ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ was set in London where then was a creepy quite place, â€Å"The low growl of London from all around† †¦ â€Å"the street was small and what called quiet† †¦ â€Å"street after street†¦ as empty as a church†. Jekyll lived in a respectable place somewhere in London and Hyde lived in Soho which was exactly the opposite life. In Soho the streets were dark, cramped, old and dirty, â€Å"black guardly surroundings† †¦ â€Å"[The] mournful reinvasion of darkness† †¦ â€Å"ragged children huddled in doorways†. This shows that for a good and respected person such as Dr Jekyll, he would live in a good and clean place, â€Å"The street shown out in contrast to the dingy neighbourhood†. However as for Mr Hyde, a dirty and bad person, he would live in â€Å"some city in a nightmare† dark and unpleasant, â€Å"black winter morning† †¦ â€Å"touch of that terror† . Dr Jekyll has some connection with Mr Hyde in some way. We find out in the novel that Hyde could get into Jekyll’s apartment by a secret back door which no one knew about. The door was a secret to most people and where it led to, â€Å"the door, which was equipped with neither bell nor knocker, was blistered and distained†. The door had no clue for anyone, it was a mystery. The novel has multiple perspective narratives, which means lots of different narrators, which we, as readers, have to piece together. The first section is narrated by Utterson. Because we see events through his eyes we share the mystery and tension he perceives; he thinks its mysterious and tense, se we feel the same. Utterson doubts and disagrees with Jekyll’s will, â€Å"I thought it was madness†¦ and now I begin to fear it is disgrace.† Utterson thinks that how can Jekyll give all his will to Hyde, a person who tramples over children, it’s not right. This adds to the mystery making us feel suspicious and confused. Utterson suspects that Hyde may be blackmailing Jekyll for his will, â€Å"Blackmail House is what I call that place with the door.† and he even has a nightmare about it, â€Å"dark bed on which he tossed to and fro†. This shows that Utterson is worried about Jekyll and is suspicious about Hyde. This also makes us believe it is blackmail. The Next day after Utterson’s nightmare, Utterson meets Hyde and starts to speak with him and Hyde says, â€Å"It is as well we have met.† and gives Utterson the address to his home in Soho. Utterson, surprised that Hyde gave him his address, thinks maybe Hyde is thinking about the will too, â€Å"Good God!’ thought Mr Utterson, ‘can he too have been thinking of the will?† This shows that Utterson suspects more now then from his nightmare that Hyde could be blackmailing Jekyll. In addition to Utterson’s perspective we learn a lot of important information from others. We meet Enfield in the first chapter. He tells Utterson the story of how he saw a man, Hyde, trample over a young girl. When challenged, Hyde agrees to pay the girl compensation. He goes through an odd door and comes out with a cheque signed by some else, â€Å"a man does not, in real life, walk into a cellar door at four in the morning and come out of it with another man’s cheque for close upon a hundred pounds†. Later on in the novel we find out that the mysterious door goes into Jekyll’s property which connects Hyde and Jekyll for us. Utterson is worried that Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll. He discussed Jekyll with Dr Lanyon and discovers that they have argued over a scientific matter and are no longer friends, â€Å"I see little of him now†¦ But it is more than ten years since Henry Jekyll became too fanciful for me. He began to go wrong, wrong in mind; and tough†. In chapter six Lanyon and Jekyll have a bigger fallout, â€Å"I wish to see or hear no more of Dr Jekyll† and after this we are told Lanyon falls into a fatal shock and dies, which we suspect has to do with Jekyll. Hyde has disappeared in chapter five and Utterson goes to see if he’s at Jekyll’s. We are told the Jekyll has changed; he’s pale and scared. There was no sign of Hyde but Jekyll gives Utterson a letter from Hyde which says Hyde will not return. It turns out Jekyll was lying about the letter; no letter was delivered that morning. Jekyll or Hyde must have written that letter, we suspect Jekyll, otherwise why would he have lied. Utterson consults Guest; a hand writing expert. He compares Hyde’s letter to the writing on an invitation written by Jekyll and notes it’s very similar, â€Å"it’s a very interesting autograph†¦ there’s a rather singular resemblance; the two hands are in many points identical; only differently sloped.† This makes us even more suspicious about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; they’re defiantly both linked somehow. The truth is revealed after Jekyll/Hyde has died through the narratives of Lanyon and Jekyll. Jekyll provides autobiographical details and expresses his views on human personality which help the reader unravel the plot. Hyde, Jekyll and Lanyon change throughout the novel. At the start of the novel Hyde tramples over a child accidentally, â€Å"and then came the horrible part of the thing; for the man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground.† He crashed into her without noticing but he then paid compensation to the child’s parents. In chapter four Hyde behaviour changes and he becomes wild, â€Å"And then all of a sudden he broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing the cane, and carrying on like a madman†¦ with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot, and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered.† He changes from bad to worse and now he’s responsible for a death. Jekyll also changes; his feeling and personality. At the beginning of the novel he his calm and relaxed, â€Å"a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty, with something of a slyish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness†. Getting into the novel in the middle, Jekyll becomes stressed and nervous, â€Å"looking deadly sick. He didn’t rise to meet his visitor†¦ and bade him welcome in a changed voice†¦ [Utterson] did not like his friend’s feverish manner.† After this matter, Jekyll says that Hyde is gone for good and â€Å"a new life began for Dr Jekyll†, â€Å"He came out of his seclusion, renewed relation with his friends†¦ he face seemed to open and brighten†¦ and for more than two months the doctor was at peace.† Getting close to the end Jekyll turned bad again and changed a lot; he doesn’t want anyway visitors, not even his close friend Utterson, â€Å"he’s shut up again in the cabinetâ € ¦ Mr Utterson, sir, asking to see you†¦ Tell him I cannot see anyone.† This shows that Jekyll has changes a lot from good to bad to good again then back to bad. Dr Lanyon changes throughout the novel too. At the start he’s a warm and welcoming man with no problems, â€Å"This was a hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentleman†¦ and a boisterous and decided manner. At sight of Mr Utterson, he sprang up from his chair and welcomed him with both hands.† Dr Lanyon was a good man at first but moving on through the novel he changes; his health and look, â€Å"but when [Utterson] came in, he was shocked at the change which had taken place in the doctor’s appearance. He had his death-warrant written legibly upon his face. The rosy man had grown pale, his flesh had fallen away; he was visibly balder and older†, and becomes slightly aggressive, â€Å"I wish to see or hear no more of Dr Jekyll’†¦ in a loud, unsteady voice, ‘I am quite done with that person†. To the end of the novel we are told Dr Lanyon becomes so sick and shocked that he dies, â€Å"and in something less than a fortnight he was dead†. Lanyon changed a lot from a kind healthy person to a sick shocked person and at the end dies. Another theme seems to be a critique of the repressive Victorian society, which often led to violence and secrecy. The story is full of locked doors, barred windows and windowless structures. The think, muffling fog also contributes to the theme of secrecy, which is also expressed thought the dialogue. There are a lot of different narrators but each one only knows a certain amount of information and some of which is kept secret. Enfield conceals the name of the person who wrote the cheque Hyde gave to the parents of the trampled girl, â€Å"and signed with a name that I can’t mention†¦ a name at least very well known and often printed.† This makes us clueless and to wonder who the cheque owner can be. Jekyll slams shut the window when he’s talking to Utterson and Enfield, â€Å"But the words were hardly uttered, before the smile struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair†¦ They saw it but for a glimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the court without a word†¦ They were both pale; and there was an answering horror in their eyes. ‘God forgive us! God forgive us!† Utterson and Enfield saw something they were not meant to and were shocked. We don’t know what they saw so this adds to the mystery and secrecy, but we may suggest it was Jekyll turning into Hyde. Hyde’s body is found, â€Å"Right in the midst there lay the body of a man sorely contorted and still twitching†¦ and beheld the face of Edward Hyde.† and Utterson and Poole keep it secret, â€Å"in that case can we venture to declare this suicide†¦ I would say nothing of this†. They keep it secret so nobody would examine it and find the truth. Jekyll’s drugs are kept locked away, â€Å"to open the glazed press on the left hand, breaking the lock if it be shut.† Jekyll has locked his drugs secretly so no other human shall meddle with them, damage or use the drugs themselves and create something disastrous. In addition to the secrecy, the multiple-perspective narrative contributes to the mystery. We are told the tale through the eyes of Enfield, Utterson, Lanyon and finally Jekyll. By revealing the plot through letters, diaries and finally, a casebook, the author makes us feel that we are involved in an intimate revelation of true feelings and events. Until ‘Dr Lanyon’s Narrative’ we a re only given glimpses of Hyde through the eyes of the other characters, which draws us into the mystery as well as revealing information about those characters themselves. The moral of this story is to not try to play God.

Managing and Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Essay

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the body’s capacity to make use of glucose, fat and protein is disturbed due to insulin deficiency or insulin resistance. It is a hormone secreted from pancreas that helps glucose from food to enter the body’s cells where it is transformed into energy required by muscles and tissues to function. Diabetes is caused either because the pancreas does not secrete adequate insulin, or because cells do not react to the insulin that is produced. Due to this reason, an individual with diabetes does not take up glucose appropriately and glucose continues circulating in the blood (hyperglycaemia) harming tissues over time. This damage leads to acute health complications. The classic symptoms of diabetes mellitus are, Polyuria ,Polydipsia ,Polyphagia ,lethargy and weight loss. There are many causes for high blood glucose levels in the body and so a number of types of diabetes exist. Diabetes mellitus occur throughout the world. Based on the study conducted by IDF, the number of diabetics on earth stands at 365 million nearly 8. 5% of the global population. It is more widespread in the more developed countries. The greatest raise in incidence is, however, expected to happen in Africa and Asia, where majority of the diabetes patients will most likely be found by 2030. Diabetes mellitus is categorised into four broad groups: Type 1, Type 2, Gestational diabetes & â€Å"other specific types†. Scientists in US have found a Type 3 diabetes, it is still continuing further study. Type 1 diabetes is absolute insulin deficiency usually affects children and young adults. Type 2 Diabetes is an insidious progressive disease that is often diagnosed late when complication are present. Dunning (2004) described it as a long term complication with neuropathy, cardiovascular disease and retinopathy. It is a universal metabolic disorder affecting more than 2 million people in the United Kingdom and up to 750,000 more are expected to have it without knowing they do. Studies conducted show that 80% of population affected by diabetes live in developing and underdeveloped countries and the majority of people with diabetes is between 40 to 59 years of age. It is also estimated that 183 million people (50%) with diabetes are undiagnosed. It is noticed that Diabetes caused 4. million deaths in 2011 and caused sharp increase in medical expenditure. I am a staff nurse working in the cardiac ward and we often receive patients with cardiac problems as a long term complication of type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of hospital admission and mortality in people with diabetes. Most of them are not diagnosed until they are admitted. During the course of this study the medical history and care and treatment provided to a patient named Mr M Davies who was admitted in my ward is chosen to learn about managing and reducing cardiovascular disease among patients with type 2 diabetes. In 1998 UKPDS pointed out the importance of reducing lipids blood pressure and blood Glucose to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension leads to thicker, less elastic blood vessel walls and increase the strain on the heart. Studies indicated that there is a linear correlation between the diastolic blood pressure and the eventual outcome of type 2 diabetes. Standl & Schnell (2000) pointed out that as a result of ischemia-induced remodelling subtle changes occur in the heart and the effects of hyperglycaemia on the endothelium of large blood vessels that causes heart to failure. Mr M Davies (Mr.  MD) is a 61-year-old pensioner with a 4 years history of type 2 diabetes. He was diagnosed in 2008 and he had symptoms of hyperglycaemia for 2 years before diagnosis. His fasting blood glucose records indicated values of 6–7 mmol/L, which were explained to him as symptomatic of â€Å"borderline diabetes. † During the preliminary diagnosis, he was advised to reduce weight (â€Å"at least 10 lb. †), but no further action was taken. Other medical problems include obesity and hypertension. He was admitted in the ward with recurrent chest pain. (Appendix 1) This assignment is about managing and reducing cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Heart disease is well acknowledged as a chronic problem of diabetes, and is the major reason of morbidity and mortality in patients from middle-age onwards. Type 2 diabetes is associated at the onset with risk factors for heart disease such as hypertension and obesity, raising the question of whether diabetes is the independent risk factor for heart disease. In 2001 Morrish et al pointed out that the majority of cardiovascular deaths are specifically due to heart disease and this is supported by Fisher, Miles, (2008) commenting that heart disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality at young as well as older ages. Butler (1997) said that increased life expectancy has led to an increase in the number of people over 65 years of in both the developed and developing worlds. Marso (2003) pointed out that due to the clear association between age and the development diabetes, this increase in the number of older individuals in the population will inevitably contribute to the increased prevalence of diabetes. Watkins (2008) mentioned that Type 2 diabetes is a disease of relative prosperity, prosperity leads to overweight and physical indolence. Insulin resistance, increasing with obesity, associated with progressive failure of insulin secretion in relation to ageing underlies the development of diabetes. It is anticipated that by 2025 the number of people with type 2 diabetes will be around 380 million and people with impaired glucose tolerance will be around 418 million. Diabetes is the foremost global cause of premature mortality that is broadly underestimated, because only a few among the diabetic patients die from reasons uniquely related to the condition. Nearly one half of type 2 diabetes patients die prematurely of a cardiovascular reason and approximately 10% die of renal failure. Diabetes is a condition that required to be managed every day. The management of Diabetes can refer to dealing with short term measures like high and low blood sugar to regulating it over the long term for instance by attaining to grips with knowing the condition. All patients with Type 2 diabetes require active dietary management throughout their disease. Watkins (2008) pointed out that weight loss in the obese is extremely valuable but is separate from dietary manipulations to control blood glucose. Treatment typically includes diet control, exercise, monitoring blood sugar at home, and in some cases, oral medication and/or taking insulin. Based on the type diabetes medicines are classified into different groups and each category of diabetes pills functions differently. Commonly used medicines to control diabetes are Sulfonylureas, Thiazolidinediones, Biguanides, Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, Meglitinides and, Dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Sulfonylureas reduce blood sugar by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. Sulfonylureas medicines like Glimeperide, Gliclazide,. Biguanides improve insulin’s capacity to transfer sugar into cells particularly into the muscle cells. They also stop the liver from releasing stored sugar. Biguanides are not advised to be used in people who have heart failure or kidney damage. Biguanides medicines such as Metformin. Thiazolidinediones like Pioglitazone and Rosiglitazone enhances effectiveness of insulin in muscle and in fat tissue. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, such as Precose (acarbose) and Glyset (miglitol) prevent enzymes that help digest starches, reducing the rise in blood sugar. These medicines may cause diarrhea or gas. They can decrease hemoglobin A1c by 0. 5%-1%. Meglitinides, like Prandin (repaglinide) and Starlix (nateglinide) reduces blood sugar level by stimulating the pancreas to secreate more insulin. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors, such as Januvia (sitagliptin), Onglyza (saxagliptin), and Tradjenta (linagliptin) lowers blood sugar level in patients with type 2 diabetes by accelerating insulin secretion from the pancreas and lowering sugar production. The case history of Mr. MD indicated that he was advised to manage blood sugar level by diet control and regular exercise. It was also advised to take metformin 1000mg twice a day when diet and exercise are not enough to manage blood sugar level. The history showed that Mr. MD was non-compliance with any of these. On admission his random blood sugar was 20 mmol/L. As he was unable to tolerate oral intake due to nausea and chest pain, GKI was commenced for a day to control his blood sugar. On second day his blood sugar level was controlled and he started eating and drinking normally. Mr MD was referred to diabetic specialist nurse and dietician . Diabetic specialist nurse advised to stop GKI and advised to start OHA. Mr. MD commenced on metformin 1000mg three times a day (Learning outcome 1). Metformin has long been accepted as a appropriate first-line choice of oral medicine for Type 2 diabetes as it is the only oral hypoglycaemic agent related with no weight gain or even weight reduction. They decrease hepatic gluconeogenesis, boost peripheral glucose uptake and also lower the absorption of carbohydrate from the gut lumen. Because metformin functions on insulin sensitivity and with only endogenous glucose stimulated insulin secretion, it virtually never causes hypoglycaemia on its own and patients using it with diet and exercise do not need routinely to self-monitor blood glucose. The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS, 2002) demonstrated a significant survival advantage for Type 2 patients started on metformin as first-line therapy, with less cardiovascular mortality, although it should be noted that they only used the drug in obese patients. Obesity is a worldwide problem. Barnett (2009) pointed out that obesity and overweight are independent risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Various studies reveal that obesity is a major cardiovascular disease risk factor across world’s populations. Risk of morbidity and mortality begins to increase at body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m 2 and the risk raises sharply at BMI >30 kg/m 2. Each kilogram of weight put on from the age of 18 years was linked with 3. 1% higher risk of cardiovascular disease. In 1998 Gunnell observed that over weight in adolescence is a forecaster of these dangers in adulthood . These finding were supported by Must in 1992,who explained that this increased risk extends to overweight children and adolescents, who may be at risk of premature cardiovascular morbidity and death. The mechanism by which obesity causes increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is attributed to associated co-morbidities and risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. The co-occurrence of some or all of these risk factors along with obesity is termed the cardiometabolic syndrome. On examination it was noticed that Mr.  MD has a high BMI (30. 9). West (2007). Suggested that addressing obesity is an essential aspect of managing diabetes, because type2 diabetes and many other health problems coexist. However it is important to consider the individual’s specific nutritional needs rather than just providing them with a ‘weight loss plan,’ ‘diabetic diet,’ a ‘standard meal plan or information about healthy eating. ’ Mr. MD was referred to the dietician. Dietician gave dietary advice and educated about importance of weight management by diet and regular exercise. He was advised to avoid take-away foods, reduce alcohol consumption and taking balanced food to prevent hypo and hyper glycaemia (Learning outcome 1).. Hypertension-Prevention & Management is very important in the management of metabolic diseases. In 1985 Modan et al pointed out that there is a strong relationship between high blood pressure and insulin resistance. This findings is supported by Reaven, (1999) . He said that the prevalence of insulin resistance in hypertension has been estimated at 50%. Scheen, (2004) proposed several possible mechanisms for this. Coutinho et al. (1999) said that impaired fasting blood glucose is related with high cardiovascular risk particularly if accompanied by hypertension. Henry et al. , (2002) said that in people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease risk is increased two to fourfold compared with those with normal glucose tolerance. This was supported by the study conducted by Heffner et al. , (1998) who said that diabetic people without past history of myocardial infarction may have as high a risk of myocardial infarction as non-diabetic patients with a history of previous myocardial infarction. Non-pharmacological interventions are cheap than pharmacological interventions and have no known dangerous effects. A range of lifestyle changes reduce blood pressure and the occurrence of hypertension. Non-pharmacological interventions such as weight loss in the overweight, exercise programmes, limiting alcohol intake and a diet with increased fruit and vegetables and limited saturated fat content, minimising dietary sodium consumption and increased dietary potassium intake. From the medical history of Mr MD it is noticed that he was taking Ramipril 5 mg/day and bisoprolol2. mg/daily. It is established that where non-pharmacological interventions are not enough to achieve the objectives then Pharmacological interventions are required. Several drug treatments are of proven value in minimising cardiovascular risk in people with diabetes and hypertension. Low-dose aspirin is suggested in diabetes whether or not there is evidence of large vessel disease. Williams et al. , (2004) noticed that the British Hypertension Society recommends 75 mg of aspirin for all with hypertension and diabetes, unless contraindicated. Antihypertensive therapy diminishes the risk of macrovascular complications by around 20%. Reducing blood pressure reduces progression of retinopathy, albuminuria and progression to nephropathy. Staessen et al. , (1997) observed that clinical trials with ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, angiotensin receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers have demonstrated benefit of treatment of hypertension in type 2 diabetes (Learning outcome 1).. On admission blood pressure level of Mr MD was very high. He was recommended treatment with antihypertensive drugs. Consultant prescribed Losartan 100 mg/day and increased ACE inhibitor (ramipril 10 mg/day) and beta-blocker (bisoprolol 5 mg/dayl). Studies show that treatment with ramipril in addition to standard therapy minimised combined myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death by about 25% and stroke by 33% compared with placebo plus conventional methods. This was supported by Sowers and Haffner, (2002) saying that almost all patients with hypertension and diabetes require combinations of blood pressure reducing drugs to attain the recommended blood pressure targets. During the treatment Mr. MD was advised non-pharmacological methods of blood pressure management and importance of diet control and referred to cardiac rehabilitation for regular exercise. Management of high cholesterol plays an important role in the management of diabetes. Lipid abnormalities are common in type 2 diabetes and can be broadly categorized into two groups: those that are common to the general population, for example elevated total and LDL cholesterol; and additional diabetes-related abnormalities, for example elevated triglycerides and reduced HDL cholesterol. Current US and European guidelines emphasize reducing LDL-C level to less than 100 mg/dL (2. 59 mmol/L). To reduce the cholesterol Mr. MD was undergone intensive lipid-lowering treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg/day. Dietary therapy was also a part of the treatment which was found effective to lower Lipids. Interventions to stabilize lipids in order to decrease the risk of CVD are warranted in people with type 2 diabetes. Both Fibrates and Statins improve lipid profiles in people with diabetes. Many studies have established the safety and effectiveness of the fibrates (gemfibrozil, bezofibrate, fenofibrate) in diabetes. Fibrates stimulate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a, changing the expression of a number of enzymes that regulate lipid metabolism, including lipoprotein lipase. Statins inhibit hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, which is rate restrictive in cholesterol production. Another major strategy in the management diabetes is lifestyle interventions. Lifestyle interventions can progress lipid levels. Studies conducted on weight loss and lipids in type 2 diabetes have varied greatly as to the study diet, design and duration. A Meta-analysis of 89 studies and 1800 subjects with type 2 diabetes reported that a weight loss of 5% or greater reduced triglyceride levels by 10 ±40% and total cholesterol by 5 ±15%. These effects were greatest with very low-calorie diets, and the effects were seen in studies up to 6 months. A variety of diets can alter the lipid profile in people with type 2 diabetes. The organisation of diabetes care is very important in the long term management of diabetes care. Diabetes is the significant disease confronting the United Kingdom’s (UK) health care system. As a result, understanding how best to manage diabetes facilities is an important area if the health system is going to deal with the growth in both the demand for and cost of diabetes treatment. Care should be planed at reducing symptoms and minimizing the danger of long-term problems. It is pointed out that a proper balance of glucose and other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, inactive lifestyle, dyslipidaemia and obesity is very crucial (UKPDS, 2002) in the organisation care of diabetes.

Flowers for Algernon essays

Flowers for Algernon essays Do you remember seeing the mentally handicapped kids walking down the hall at school? What did you do when you saw them? Did you duck in a dark back hallway and try to avoid all contact with them? If you did then youre probably one of Charlie Gordons friends. Or so he would think. In the book Flowers For Algernon by Dave Keyes Charlie Gordon is a mentally retarded adult. He soon receives an operation that will triple his IQ. Book doesnt sound good? How about the movie Charly which tries to follow the same tragic plot line but , like many other book to movies doesnt quite fulfill the stories potential. The book Flowers For Algernon and the movie Charly have many differences. Even though Flowers For Algernon and Charly are along the same lines three main differences in Flowers For Algernon are that one Charlie wants a relationship with Miss Kinnian but does not act upon it aggressively. In the book he says We ( Charlie and Miss Kinnian) had dinner and a long walk. Also he says The thought of leaving her behind makes me sad. Im in love with Miss Kinnian Also, Charlie keeps a journal. He goes in-depth in his mind and his heart. We can physically see him getting smarter or dumber, because his spelling is so bad. I dont know why im dumb agen or what I did wrong maybe its because I dint try hard enuff. This is the example of his journals. Finally, Charlie works in a Plastic Box company. Ive quit my job with Dunnegans Plastic Box Company. These are some of the changes in Flowers For Algernon. Here are some differences in Charly. Charlies tries to get Miss Kinnian in a serious relationship even though she doesnt want one. Then later she does end up wanting one. We see this because in one part he tries to force him...

Gewirth's argument for natural human rights Speech or Presentation

Gewirth's argument for natural human rights - Speech or Presentation Example Gewirth argued against the claims that described basic human rights as 'excess baggage' and an unnecessary burden by claiming that every human being has and must have a basic human right to ensure their own well-being and that such right must be protected by law (Gewirth, 1986: p. 330). Gewirth strongly supported the granting of basic human rights to all individuals and claimed that individuals can rightfully claim such rights for their own well-being merely by virtue of being conscious agents and they also must grant similar rights to others based on the same principle. This argument was however a subject of criticism among other political scholars. Alisdair MacIntyre - a proponent of Aristotelian moral philosophy argued that Gewirth's argument of human rights as 'natural' was illogical and fictional in nature. Jack Donnell on the other hand supported the argument by stating that historically this principle was endorsed during the bourgeois revolution during the 17th and 18th centur ies and hence can be applicable in present day society as well (Tierney, 1997: p.2). 2. Set out the context of the author in question – their work and interests Alan Gewirth, is known for his impressive literary works and scholarly articles in the field of the natural law and political philosophy. He was a staunch believer and proponent of universal human rights. The publication of one of his most widely debated essays on Reason and Morality emphasized his views and ideologies on the concept of human rights as well as the principle of generic consistency whereby he stressed the significance and need for equality of rights for all individuals across the spectrum. Prior to the publication of this project he was focused on exploration and analysis of the works of other scholars such as the famous French philosopher Rene Descartes (Boylan, 1999: p.41; Gewirth, 1943: p. 17) and the political philosophy of Marsilius of Padua. Gewirth's theories and ideologies were inspired largely from the persistent chaos and mistreatment of human beings during wars and other conflicts that plagued the twentieth century (Moreno-Riano & Nederman, 2011: p. 335). Gewirth dedicated a significant part of his academic career at the University of Chicago which was known for its strong support for right-wing libertarianism. As a result several prominent libertarians including Eric Marc, Tribor Machan, Roger Pilon and the likes have used Gewirth's philosophy and take on human rights to endorse and support their own ideologies (The University of Chicago Chronicle, 2004; Brown, n.d.). His previous essays largely focused on a range of issues concerning human rights "Starvation and human rights"; "Can utilitarianism justify any moral rights?" and so on. His earlier works were aimed at exploring the policy issues and theoretical challenges confronting human rights. He also published comprehensive essays with elaborate responses to the critiques of his essays presenting a strong argument i n favour of equality of human rights; the freedom and rights of individuals to seek their well-being; and theories supporting rational justification (Donnelly, 1983: p. 476). 3. Summarise the relevant content and

The industry environment and the macro environment Assignment

The industry environment and the macro environment - Assignment Example There are cost differences between the firms of cartel. For example, the firm with lower cost will sell more output and earn more profit, but this is not possible in the cartel, as cartel firms are obliged to share the profit irrespective of their cost structure. The commission has adopted a dominant strategy by threatening price fixers with extremely large fines on one hand, and at the same time, promising the whistle-blower an escape from the huge fine of 331 million pounds. This strategy is dominant because it will provide optimal results to the commission. This is because no firm will collude again due to the fear of having to pay a big amount of fine. Moreover, the existence of whistle-blowers like Micron is another negative factor. The authority will try to allot a contract to the lower bidder, because in this case it will have to pay  £ 200000 only. Whilst, bidders will try to earn maximum profit by cutting down each other, so if the contract is split up into two companies, then the authority has to pay  £220,000 which is less than  £ 300000 and more than  £ 200000. However, if one company succeeds in obtaining the contract, then the authority will have to pay  £220,000 which is again lower than  £ 300000 but greater than  £ 200000. The result of the secret competitive tendering was observed by repeated games, because the bid involves two competitors with many bidding options. Both bidders will try to earn the maximum profit by cutting back the other. Both will be afraid of making high bids, because in that case, one of them will end up losing the contract. In short, a final decision can be reached after playing repeated strategies and assessing the moves of each other. The concept of beauty care industry is as old as mankind. A man is born with the wish to look beautiful and in order to satisfy his wish, he utilizes all his