Abstract This paper examines the proposal for legalization of same-sex marriage, and how it is one of the most significant issues in contemporary American family law. The author discusses the potential consequences of legalizing same-sex marriage, both positive and negative, for children, parents, same-sex couples, families, and the social structure. Litigation and current laws regarding this issue are discussed. Arguments are made for the legalization of same-sex marriage.
From the Paper "Marriage has changed greatly throughout the years. In Western law, wives are now equal rather than subordinate partners; interracial marriage is now widely accepted, both in statute and in society; and marital failure itself, rather than the fault of one partner, may be grounds for a divorce. Social change has been felt in marriages in recent years as divorce rates have increased and have been integrated into upper class families. Proposals to legalize same-sex marriage or to enact broad domestic partnership laws are currently being promoted by gay and lesbian activists, especially in Europe and North America."
Abstract This is an analysis of the book "Radicalism of the American Revolution" by Gordon Wood. It challenges how historians previously viewed the American society having been affected by the Revolution and shows that the society was actually much more swept up in the process than expected.
From the Paper "We Americans tend to think of our revolution as a tidy one. Well mannered and polite even. Some small spots of messy bloodshed on Bunker Hill perhaps, and all those tea leaves floating around making a mess out there in the Boston Harbor, but altogether a genteel affair. Not like the bloody, awful, soul- and country-destroying excesses of the French Revolution (its cloest political cousin), or as bloody, awful soul- and country-destroying as the Russian Revolution or any number of other ones that have come since. We simply told King George that, thanks awfully, but he was no longer needed. But do keep in touch."
Abstract This paper examines Shakespeare's portrayal of the female characters, Gertrude and Ophelia in his play, "Hamlet." The author shows how the portrayal of these women as weak and frail individuals is a theme that Shakespeare carries throughout the entire play. Several scenes are used to demonstrate how the flaws in these women's characters were the catalyst for many of the problems they faced and as a result, they were treated poorly by the men in their lives.
From the Paper "Because of Ophelia's lack of self-confidence, she becomes a target for abuse from Hamlet. Although it is apparent to the audience that she is the epitome of an honest woman, Hamlet sees her as ?a dubious whore,? (Act III, Scene II) Due to his lack of trust in females, Hamlet doesn?t want to listen to anything Ophelia has to say. Because Ophelia is so dependant on the men in her life and lacks any identity of her own, she is completely torn between making everyone happy. As she states in Act III, Scene II, ?I think nothing, my lord,? she has been hurt so badly that she doesn?t consider her thoughts to be important. When all three men in her life are gone, she feels completely helpless, therefore, when Hamlet says; "frailty, thy name is women" he is proven to be correct."
Abstract This essay is a comparison study of the works and views of Plato and Aristotle. The author explains that one of the basic ideas that these two great minds disagreed on was the value of art and of poetry, especially the merits of the Greek tragedy. Aristotle believed that art in all of its forms was a beneficial and necessary outlet for the expression of man's innermost feelings and fears. On the other hand, Plato condemned art and poetry. This paper examines the different ways in which these two great minds interpreted the arts and their purpose allows for a greater understanding of the workings of these two great minds and the two great channels of philosophical thought which they produced.
From the Paper "Three and a half centuries before the birth of Christ, an ancient Athenian known as Plato expressed this negative view of the value of poetry and the arts in an essay he called The Republic. To the occupants of ancient Greece, drama and tragedy were considered part of the poetic arts, and to Plato, the most revered and respected of ancient Grecian philosophers, poetry and art misrepresent heroes, encouraged moral weakness and went against the principles of his notion of the ideal polis, or state. In The Republic, Plato condemns not only the value of poetry, but also the value of art in general. This condemnation was eventually to be refuted in the year 350 BC in an essay entitled The Poetics, an essay written by Plato's philosophical prot?g?, Aristotle."
Abstract This paper looks at Henrik Ibsen's play "The Doll's House" and how the theme of deception runs through it. The author shows how from the start the character of Nora seems too perfect-- perfect wife, perfect woman, but towards the end the truth emerges when Nora's true character is revealed.
From the Paper "Nora is a sheltered housewife who is domineered by he husband, until circumstances force her to show her own independence. Nora was a perfect wife at the beginning of the play, but there were underlying deceptions beneath the perfection.
"From the start of the play, we realize that there was a general sense of falsehood in the Helmer house, brought on mostly by Nora's inability or unwillingness to accept the real world. Nora's desire to conceal the truth from Torvald and herself is further augmented by the patriarchal attitudes of Torvald towards her and her open acceptance and manipulation of such treatment in order to further suppress reality. Nora's departure, as well as being an escape from a house of lies is also an opportunity for personal growth and the means by which she discovers reality."
Abstract This review examines Eliot's use of various poetic devices in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" to convey the characteristics of Prufrock. It centers on the themes of alienation and inaction. Furthermore this review points to the change in narration throughout the poem and the changes in perspective.
From the Paper "In his poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" T.S. Eliot presents us with a profound image of alienation, using both technical devices such as meter and content and imagery to help us to understand the desperation that his title character feels. Although we should perhaps feel some scorn for a character as pitiable as Prufrock, in fact we empathize with him for the simple reason that Eliot allows us to understand the world through Prufrock's eyes."
Abstract A discussion of satire and Jonathan Swift. This paper argues the modesty of 'A Modest Proposal?' It studies how irony works and the similarity to the arrogance of most colonizing races in this book and in the entire world. Finally it concludes that the proposal displays pretentious and idle pomp, through the use of witty ridicule, it is the iconoclast protest against the exploitation of the Irish by the English.
From the Paper ""A modest proposal", first published in 1729, is claimed to be one of Jonathan Swifts most drastic satirical pieces , where he suggests that Irish children be fed to wealthy English aristocracy. Swift immediately creates sombre and depressing surroundings caused by begging women and thieving children. From the first paragraph we imagine poverty and famine, which can only be escaped when one emigrates or turns into a professional thief. Before Swift makes the actual proposal, he overemphasizes this state of poverty and the effects it will have on society."
Abstract The following paper discusses views of 'God' with reference to Anne Bradstreet's 'Upon the Burning of our House', and Jonathon Edward's 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'. This paper compares their views and tries to interpret what each author means by a particular sentence.
From the Paper "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God conveys an extraordinarily unique viewpoint of God. According to Edwards, we are all sinners by nature; it is our most forth standing trait, despite our ongoing efforts to counter it. Throughout his sermon, he goes on endlessly about how God is so merciful to us, and without his mercy we would be thrown to the deepest depths of hell by the very earth itself. What was so deplorable to the people when they first heard it, was that Edwards alleged that all this time that they had thought they had been good Christians, they were in fact sinning against God; all the while they thought they were going to Heaven, they were actually destined for Hell, and there was naught they could do to stop it. (?You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing that you have done, nothing you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment.? Edwards, 121.) So, essentially, they were screwed, and it was too late to do anything, you are all going to hell in a hand basket, have a nice Sunday. Edwards wanted to make religion almost a physical experience, and with reports of people fainting and weeping openly without abandon, I would have to say it seems as if he accomplished his task. I only wonder if perhaps a few of his followers turned to Agnosticism or Atheism after such an oration?"
Abstract This paper discusses how the differences in the two characters can be seen in their roles as avengers in the play, how they deal with this role, their personal characteristics, their ability to react spontaneously and their relationships with Ophelia.
From the Paper ?One of the major similarities between Laertes and Hamlet is in their role as avengers in the play. Laertes takes revenge against his father Polonius's death, where he immediately assumes Claudius is responsible and returns from France immediately to revenge the death. Hamlet also has a role as an avenger, where his father's ghost speaks to him, telling him Claudius is responsible for his death and asking him to "revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (I,iv).
The major difference between Laertes and Hamlet is how they deal with their role as avengers. Laertes on learning of his father's death reacts immediately, by speaking of revenge, "I dare damnation: to this point I stand, that both worlds I give to negligence, let come what comes; only I'll be revenged most thoroughly for my father" (IV,v). In contrast, Hamlet, on learning of his father's murder is asked by the ghost of his father to revenge the death. He hesitates and procrastinates, wishing he had not been asked to complete such a task, ?the time is out of joint. O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!? (I,iv). It is ultimately this indecision and hesitation of Hamlet's that leads to the tragedy of the play.?
Abstract A paper which considers symbolism, style, tone, setting and perspective in a short story, demonstrated by comparing works of Kate Chopin's the "Story of an Hour" and "The Storm". Using these stories the writer examines how emotions and events are depicted with the positive and negative impacts of marriage and how this may be interpreted by a reader.
From the Paper "Most of the work by Kate Chopin was mostly in the 1890's and can be seen as very advanced for its time. The books look to understand and explore more than the different levels at which society operates, but looks to the human condition and the way that relationships are formed and develop. The story written in 1898 can be seen as a controversial subject, the affair between two married people, Calixta and Alc?e. In first reading the book the initial judgements of guilt to the woman and understanding or less condemnation for the man is still seen as prevalent in many readers interpretation (Skaggs, 2001). However, the message in this story is much deeper, looking to explore how the heart and emotions are deeper than social facades would indicate."
Abstract The paper shows that when we think about communication, we think about the spoken word and that our thoughts are always about the words people use and their fluency of speech. Yet, at the same time, we are also taking in information from nonlinguistic sources. The author notes that people's mannerisms, clothing, and appearance are also important, as well as their tone of voice. Researches have estimated that, in face-to-face communication, as much as 90 percent of the social meaning may be carried in the nonverbal message and that facial appearance and response may contribute more to our meaning of their message than all their words. The paper explores the importance of both types of communication and how they are put across.
From the Paper "As popularly used, language refers to a system of words. This development is not surprising, since words distinguish human communication from that of lower animals. Words, as symbols, usually convey information in a quite deliberate, no instinctive way. For this reason, language is sometimes treated as a set of verbal symbols."
Abstract The writer presents the advantages of establishing a firm study routine for students when managing the load of school work and explains that this forms excellent habits for later life. The paper also gives practical advice for planning a schedule to assist in time management.
From the Paper "To prevent wasting time, we must be able to set a well-defined goal, organize around priorities, and keep on track. One of the primary benefits of a time management program for studying is that it eliminates (or at least reduces) procrastination and a haphazard approach to school work, two characteristics that are typical of many students. Establishing a firm study routine has numerous advantages for individuals. First, a study routine keeps time from slipping away. Next, a study routine takes advantage of the fact that once a habit or routine is formed, it has a momentum of its own."
Tags: school, student, time, management, routine, schedule
A analysis, from today's viewpoint, of the classical American novel "The Great Gatsby " by F. Scott Fitzgerald from the perspective of the corrupt American Dream.
Abstract This paper describes "The Great Gatsby" as Fitzgerald's signature novel of the American dream gone awry. It compares American society in the 1920s to American today. The author writes that immigrants, like Gatsby, come to escape their own problems for our empty promises of unlimited advancement. On the surface, "The Great Gatsby" is a novel about confused and unhappy relationships that drank and socialized their way through the 1920s. Yet, when investigating further, it speaks of the bankrupt American Dream, which no longer stands for progress and hard work, as it has become materialistic and corrupt.
From the Paper "For years immigrants poured into Ellis Island looking for freedom of religious persecution, to escape poverty and hunger and numerous other reasons. Today over 50,000 immigrants come to the shores of America clutching Green Cards hoping for a piece of the American Dream."
It is in this setting, that F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays ?The Great Gatsby.? Jay Gatsby, himself, the title character, was a major culprit of this corruption.
Nick Carraway surmises that Gatsby made his wealth from bootlegging and involvement with organized crime. Gatsby has focused his adult life to being wealthy enough and having enough to impress Daisy."
Abstract The paper discusses the play "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell, the characteristics of the women and the attitudes to their men and how their own roles in life are gradually illuminated. The author shows how the intensity of the situation, in effect two women judging the life of the third, absent party, provides a context in which Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter grow significantly, in character, strength and importance.
From the Paper "The relationships that are initially introduced are between the women and their men. Specifically, Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Wright are wives first and foremost, and Mrs. Wright, or Minnie, seems more powerless in her absence; she is introduces through a critical, male character, Hale. The women appear used to the men working without their involvement, as the opening dialogue takes place without their interruption and they do not speak again until they are addressed, albeit to defend Mrs. Wright. However, the first thing Mrs. Hale says when the men leave, is bold and distances her from the men:
" I'd hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticising" "
Abstract A paper which shows how reality and illusion are interwoven not only throughout the story line of Don Quixote exploits, but how author, Miguel de Cervantes, even leaves the true authorship of this tale in question, suggesting that he is merely translating the story from the original writings of Cide Hamete. The paper discusses the madness of Don Quixote who sees people and objects in his everyday life as the counterparts in his knights and damsels world of chivalry, and how Don Quixote charging the windmills has become a classic scene and now serves to symbolize bravery in vain..
From the Paper "Cervantes begins Part Two of Don Quixote again referring to the writings of Cide Hamete, thus, lending credence to both, Don Quixote and Hamete as real historic characters (Cervantes, 529). This further adds confusion between reality and fantasy. Throughout the novel there are countless scenes crossing the line of reality and illusion. The deathbed scene is perhaps the most poignant, for at the end, even though he himself had given up his chivalrous life and rejoined society, the others around him were still holding on to his fantastic world of knights and damsels in distress. But Don Quixote speaks, "I am no longer Don Quixote of La Mancha, but Alonso Quixana""
Tags: Alonso, Quixano, knighthood, Sancho, Cide, Hame, Miguel, de, Cervantes
