Abstract This paper reviews "The MortalImmortal" by Mary Shelley. The paper discusses the problematic issue of the paradox between mortality and immortality as being inconsistently represented in regards to the title of Mary Shelley's short story. The paper argues that the problematic theme of immortality is not rationally explained within the characters history and timelines Shelley's main character describes in this short story.
From the Paper "This literary study will examine the theme of immortality in "The Mortal Immortal" by Mary Shelley. The problem of age is a critical error in this tale, as immortality implies a deathless state for the main character. Shelley does not provide an accurate depiction of how immortality is a possibility in the text, since many of her descriptions of time do not correspond with a personality that could possibly exist beyond the realm of death. In essence, the problematic theme of immortality is not rationally explained within the characters history and timelines Shelley's main character describes in this short story. Shelley, in the beginning of her short story provides a first person narrative that defines the age of her main character in relation to the ageless myth of the "Wandering Jew." "
Abstract The paper examines Mary Shelley's haunting short story, "The MortalImmortal" that is a grim tale about a man given immortal youth who finds that his boon has really become a prison from which he cannot escape. The writer chose this short story because it captures better than most the unforeseen consequences of human impulsivity.
From the Paper "Winzy - furious at the coquettish nature of his fickle love - drinks his master's elixir in the expectation that it will cure him of loving her evermore. Instead, he discovers that he has been more cursed than blessed: by taking the elixir, the hapless assistant Winzy makes himself a monster among men who is unable to establish meaningful relationships with other human beings because they are ephemeral and prone to the vicissitudes of nature while he never grows old."
Abstract This paper examines how poetry is a good example of how the effective and powerful portrayal of mythology, especially in Lord Byron and W. B. Yeats? literary works. It looks at how the theme of mortality is an important issue often discussed in works of poetry depicting myths and it characters. It shows how the direct comparison between gods and man illustrates the ability of man to overcome power and display bravery despite his shortcomings and the gods? advantage for being powerful and possessing extraordinary skills. It analyzes the use of the theme of mortality in the two poets? works, namely "Prometheus" by Lord Byron, based on the myth of Prometheus, who had experienced sufferings in the hands of the great god Zeus and "Leda and the Swan" by W. B. Yeats which reflects the stagnation and suffering of humanity, as expressed by the "harassment" and violation Leda experiences under the swan's (Zeus) control.
From the Paper "Similarly, Lord Byron's "Prometheus" is an example of Man's mortality and conflict with the immortal gods. Mortality is usually perceived as weakness, while immortality is associated with power, since being an immortal denies you the gift of Death, which most people fear and do not want to happen. Mortality is portrayed in Byron's poem through Prometheus? suffering, which is evoked in the opening lines of the poem: "TITAN! to whose immortal eyes/ The sufferings of mortality/ Seen in their sad reality"? By using the word mortality in rhyme with ?sad reality,? Byron illustrates how mortality is a disadvantageous trait of man if pitted against the powers and immortality of gods, who can never lose because they can live forever. Prometheus? suffering can be likened to Napoleon Bonaparte who has to experience suffering and death first before the society realized his fight for freedom of all people. "
A discussion of the article "Marriage, Bargaining, and Intrahousehold Resource Allocation: Excess Female Mortality Among Adults During Early German Development", by Stephen Klasen.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 5 sources, 2005, $ 44.95
Abstract This paper discusses the female mortality rate in West Germany between 1680 and 1870. The paper is based on an article review of Stephen Klasen's "Marriage, Bargaining, and Intrahousehold Resource Allocation: Excess Female Mortality Among Adults During Early German Development." The analysis includes examining four other articles that are relevant to the topic.
From the Paper "Adult Female Mortality in Early German Development: 1680-1870 The article "Marriage, Bargaining, and Intrahousehold Resource Allocation: Excess Female Mortality Among Adults During Early German Development, 1680-1870", written by Stephen Klasen, examines mortality rates of adult females in Germany between the late 1600s and mid to late 1800s. The purpose for Klasen's study was to find out whether gender bias existed in the allocation of household resources. His empirical research discovered that the mortality rate among married adult females was considerably excessive."
Abstract This paper examines the epic of "Gilgamesh" and focuses on how it deals with immortality on many levels, and at the same time points back to mortality, trying to discover a reason for living and dying. It discusses how the story put over the message that life is only significant because it is limited, and a life of immortality would ultimately be worse.
From the Paper "Unlike in the physical world, immortality is regarded as typical of Gilgamesh's spiritual world. This does not appear to be entirely true, through. When the Bull of Heaven is sent to Uruk from the gods, Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay it by stabbing a sword into the Bull's neck. If the Bull of Heaven is a god, then clearly the gods can be killed. Later the story describes a flood-weapon that gods are actually fearful of, maybe because it could bring about their death. This makes an interesting distinction between immortality and invincibility; although life might continue forever if left alone, it is not necessarily incapable of being stopped. "
Abstract This paper focuses on the concept of immortality that has long been the subject of much debate among philosophers. The author states that the belief in immortality is directly connected to a belief in the afterlife, which is central to many religions. The paper concludes that all five of these philosophers maintained similar views on the afterlife and the concept of immortality.
From the Paper "In hopes of presenting a philosophical rather than strictly religious argument in favor of the immortality of the soul, Aquinas maintains that the only two ways a thing is able to be corrupted are in themselves and by accident. Given that no subsisting thing is corruptible, as Aquinas proved in some of his other works, and the rational soul is a subsisting thing, it follows that the rational soul is incorruptible, which causes it to consequently be immortal. Likewise, Plato professed his belief that something could only be destroyed by its own natural evil, the natural evil of the soul being vice. Since vice does not destroy the soul, nothing could destroy the soul."
Abstract This paper explains that the movie "Immortal Beloved" is an attempt to summarize Beethoven's life and give an in-depth look at his identity and struggles; furthermore, this film is an attempt to solve the riddle of Beethoven's most meaningful love affair. The author concludes that, even though this film is not an exact historical representation of the composer, it gives a rather accurate portrayal of Beethoven. The paper states that the film depicts rather accurately Beethoven's response to deafness, his relationship with his nephew and his attempts to guess the identify of the "Immortal Beloved" but she was not identified correctly.
From the Paper "The identity revealed in the movie of the "Immoral Beloved," is one that is historically questionable. There is no single truth of the hidden identity of the "Immoral Beloved." Even though some believe that Johanna could not have been his "Immortal Beloved", no one can say for sure. Many speculate who the "Immortal Beloved" really was, but no one can yet prove it. Also, the conception of Johanna bearing his child, and it being his child he was supposedly taking care of instead of his nephew, is a position that is very hard to prove. Much of Beethoven's life remains a mystery."
Abstract It is frequently been suggested that the infant mortality rate (IMR) is a reliable indicator of a country's civilization and focus on the welfare of its citizens. Although global infant mortality rates have shown steady improvement over the past century, many developing countries continue to experience inordinately high rates compared to the world levels; surprisingly, though, even the United States, which claims to have one of the best health care systems in the world, continues to experience relatively high infant mortality rates, higher even than many developing nations. This paper provides an overview of the problem, followed by an examination of the infant mortality rates in the Republic of Ghana and the United States. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "Infant mortality reflects the well-being of entire populations, whether nations or subgroups, a fact that makes it a fundamental area of mortality study (Zopf 1992). According to Berger (2001), infant mortality has been subdivided into three major categories to clarify understanding of risk factors. Infant mortality encompasses two subgroups: neonatal (birth to 27 days) and postneonatal (28 days to 364 days). Child mortality applies to one-to-18 years olds. For the purposes of this investigation, the IMR will employ the definition provided by the CIA World Factbook, defined as infant deaths within the first year of life. This IMR therefore provides the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year."
Abstract This paper examines the meaning of Robert Frost's poem "Directive" and compares and contrasts the findings with those of Wordsworth's "Imitations of Immortality'. It looks at Frost's view of the human ability of the self to connect to time and Nature.
From the Paper "If William Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality Ode" attempts to address the failing of the senses, then Robert Frost's poem, "Directive" challenges us to enhance our perception and explore the process of connection in the context of time and Nature. Wordsworth's poem begins by saying, "There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,/ The earth, and every common sight, To me did seem/ Apparelled in celestial light." In Frost's vision, we are taken "Back in a time made simple by the loss/ Of detail, burned, dissolved, and broken off." "Intimations Ode" seems to describe a process of regaining the self through memory, while Frost gives his reader directions on how to escape their present disconnection completely in an effort to "Drink and be whole again beyond confusion."
Abstract Through the ages, both Greek and Hindu societies have been greatly influenced by the idea of the immortality of the soul, affecting them in their daily lives and approach to death. This paper compares and contrasts both schools of thought and their loopholes and conflicting theories. It examines the writings of famous philosophers and religious texts and evaluates their application to modern day thought and religion.
From the Paper "The very idea of immortality of the soul was not simply a theory but was widely believed among the Greeks in society. This would explain Socrates? unfazed and calm demeanor as he approached death in Phaedo. Now, this brings me to the point of linkage. All these concepts may have had a great impact on Greek society, but where exactly did these great minds find the "spark of inspiration" for their theories? Could it have been Hinduism or vice versa?"
Abstract This ten-page undergraduate paper discusses how we dealt with the concept of death and immortality in the twentieth century. Using the texts, "The Confessions of St. Augustine" and "The Bhagavad-Gita: Commentary Based on the Original Sources" as references, the paper explains the influence of these works in the twentieth century and evaluates how the works are received today.
Traces the historical development of the Greek concept of immortality and the afterlife through the investigation of the works of ancient Greek philosophers, dramatists, and poets.
Abstract This paper traces the beginnings of the Greek concept of the afterlife in the Homeric Age through classical Greece and into the Age of the Philosophers. The paper's argument links the shift from a belief in a meaningless immortal existence into a conviction in a more hopeful afterlife to the increase in the prosperity of the Greek economy over the same time period. Both primary sources and secondary materials are utilized to support this claim. The paper cites Aristophanes, Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus, Plato, and others.
From the Paper "The religion of the ancient Greeks was a dynamic and animated one, not prescribed in code on a set of tablets or a scroll of papyri but rather existing in the minds of the people. Therefore, it was subject to change. In the times written about by Homer, where the gods were active participants in the lives of the Greeks, the idea of a true life after death was useless. The gods meted out whatever punishments or rewards the people deserved in this life, with no need for delay. Yet this thinking eventually gave way to deeper convictions about afterlife, involving the principles of immortality and retributive punishment. The evolution of ancient Greek religion did not occur on its own; rather, it was prompted by drastic changes in the world itself. These shifting attitudes of the Greeks with respect to immortality and the afterlife were a direct result of the expanding economy and increased colonization that the civilization encountered around the 7th and 8th centuries BC."
Abstract This paper explains that research shows that prenatal care is positively associated with improved birth outcomes including reduced incidences of premature births and infant mortality. The author points out that low birth weight is a key indicator of infant health, as low birth weight babies have much higher mortality rates. The paper relates that research also shows that, of all the environmental threats to a fetus, the most harmful clearly is smoking, which women can control.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review and Analysis
Background and Overview
Prenatal Care and Premature Births
Prenatal Care and Infant Mortality Constraints
Conclusion
From the Paper "Interestingly, the geographic place of birth may also be a risk; for example, Mexican-American mothers born within the United States have higher rates of SGA than those born outside the U.S.. In fact, one of the main reasons for the inordinately high incidences of infant mortality is that birth weights are too low. According to a 1985 report from the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, "Preventing Low Birthweight": "Low birthweight is a major determinant of infant mortality in the United States." On a positive note, during the 1990s, studies have shown that more American women sought prenatal care and refrained from smoking during pregnancy; however, the number of births to women who were not married increased, as well as the number of premature and underweight infants. A report from Child Trends and the Kids Count Special Report of the Annie E. Casey Foundation in 2001 compared how the 50 states and the 50 largest cities, including Washington, D.C., in eight categories that can provide an infant with "the right start" to life."
Abstract This paper outlines the differences between the early and later versions of one of Whitman's most notable poems, "To Think of Time." It shows the poem's steady evolution--how it is tranferred from a poem about life and immortality to one about death and finality.
From the Paper "In addition to changing the structure and physical make up of the poem, Whitman changes the content. Some of the changes are as subtle as substituting one word for another and others are as large as adding or deleting whole passages. No matter the magnitude of the change, they all work towards attempting to establish a feeling of ending and emphasizing the certainty of death. In the 1855 version of "To Think of Time," the persona asks: "Have you dreaded those earth-beetles" (3)? In the later version he changes "those" to "these." "Those" is an objective pronoun. It shows no real connection or relation to the person using the pronoun. Using it here pushes the subject of death and burial away."
Abstract This paper discusses the debate over the legality and ethics of euthanasia. It bases its discussion on James Halperin's novel, "The First Immortal: A Novel of the Future", in which the author begins with a scene that depicts the primary reason why individuals might choose euthanasia over a natural demise. The paper discusses the appropriate character choice in the book and discusses the issues that Halperin presents.
From the Paper "Detractors of euthanasia as a legal if not state sponsored activity not only rely on the traditional religious reasons against it but also on philosophical and psychological musings. Somerville describes euthanasia as largely resulting from hopelessness and therefore is implying that these individuals are opting for euthanasia simply because they believe they have no future (pars.8-12). Such commentary is overly simplistic and without merit. In fact, the contrary is most often the case. Euthanasia and the decision to employ it is a highly personal one and certainly one in which the participants put much thought into. Additionally, if it were not for the innate sense of hope that the result will be better than their present circumstances that these individuals who, for whatever reason, choose to employ euthanasia, it would not be a serious consideration."
