Abstract
The writer of this article notes that to keep track of the many different "personality types" introduced by Simone De Beauvoir in her book, 'The Ethics of Ambiguity', is no small task. In chapter two, she introduces many of the personality types, and they do not at first paint a favorable picture of a person who has an opportunity to evolve from childhood to adulthood without a greater probability of becoming asocial as opposed to socially indoctrinated in a positive way. The writer points out that this somewhat dismal perspective is really explained - perhaps unwittingly - by De Beauvoir herself, as she explains in detail the plight of women as a continuation of childlike behavior-play at being an adult, because women are, like slaves, like the Mohammedan woman. These are, however, issues that De Beauvoir claims is in fact the ethics of ambiguity. This paper explores the different personalities and characteristics that De Beauvoir discusses in chapter two of her book.

Outline:
Mankind Begins in a State of Unhappiness

From the Paper
"De Beauvoir further asserts that the dominating features of man's individual personality begin forming in childhood. Again, this is not an idea that would draw disagreement and argument. However, De Beauvoir discusses the reaction of a child, as though that child were a blank slate, to the world around him or her. However, De Beauvoir is asserting that these experiences are not experiences which tend to be deflected by a child's growth as much as the reflected in a child's growth. She paints mankind as beginning his existence in an unfortunate way, rather than a celebratory way, and assuming that the birth of a child is less than celebrated. The suggestion is that mankind is an unfortunate being, subjected to the circumstances of having been born at all. The choices man makes throughout his life - focusing on those that are poor choices - arise out of his childhood. "

Tags:adulthood, personality, mankind

Abstract
This paper explains that, while many writers lure their readers with vivid and detailed descriptions of the characters, plot, and setting in their stories to draw the reader into the book, others use ambiguity to force the readers to question their own views. The author points out that, in "A Short Story," Bowering leaves the ending purposely ambiguous in order to get the reader to think more about the "whys" than the "whats" of the plot. The paper relates that, in "Young Goodman Brown," Hawthorne never tells the reader if the character's experience is dream or reality; and, in "A Sorrowful Woman," Gail Goodwin presents a story that is already in progress.

From the Paper
"In "A Short Story", George Bowering uses a very broken layout to emphasize the elements of his story. The story is broken into parts titled setting, characters, protagonist, symbolism, conflict, dialogue, flashback, foreshadowing, plot, and theme. Using the first eight sections, Bowering builds to a dramatic climax in the "plot" segment. Donna, the protagonist, alludes to an abusive experience between her stepfather (Art) and herself in the recent past. Donna is hurt by her mother's defense of Art, and we find out that she is returning home after a long absence. Donna visits her mother, and Bowering writes "When Art propelled the bedroom door open, Donna was pointing a loaded shotgun at his head" (546). Then, "Donna turned a smooth quick arc, & shot her mother's face off." "

Tags:protagonist, style, think, fiction, truth

Abstract
This paper looks at how F. Scott Fitzgerald presents themes of moral ambiguity and personal integrity in "The Great Gatsby" by placing the characters in situations where they must make choices regarding how to act and what to do.

From the Paper
"Nick is the narrator of the story, and has the advantage of having moved back to the Midwest and of telling the story two years after the events took place. This allows him to take in the whole picture and to see how events and people have interrelated. Nick is Daisy's cousin and went to school with her husband Tom, so even though he is not wealthy, he is accepted by Tom and Daisy. Even so, he is a bit of an outsider in the story, which enhances his ability to see the actions of others more clearly than if he had allowed himself to become close to all of them."

Tags:compass, compromised, nick, gatz, midwest, narrator, friend, idealist, jay, daisy, tom

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that very few words in the English language are meant to be as intentionally ambiguous as terrorism. To some people it is simply a fighting tactic. To others it is associated with a type of person that is sneaky and underhanded. The writer points out that the term is associated with creating fear, but it also insinuates that the terrorist is immoral and illegitimate. The writer concludes that the United Nations is shortchanging the world by not having a concrete definition of the word terrorism. If they did, they would be able to identify countries that commit acts of terrorism and take the appropriate measures in response.

From the Paper
"The terrorist group, Al-Qaeda, have committed the most well known examples of terrorism. They engineered the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Their attacks are perceived as terrorism because they attacked the military and economic hubs of the United States. This attack was in response to the group's belief that Western civilization and culture were threatening their way of life.
"Their attacks had a profound impact on the psyche of the United States. It traumatized millions of Americans who either lived in one of the cities or had a connection to someone involved in the attacks. The terrorists instilled fear in Americans by making them realize just how vulnerable the country was. Airplane travel has gone from an ordinary experience to a hassle that is equal parts fear and inconvenience."

Tags:attack, terrorists, extremist, violent

Abstract
The author discusses how self-determination has altered the face of international relations in the last century. The first section of the paper presents an overview of the chronological history of the principle of self-determination, including how it has changed over the last century. Some of the topics discussed in this section includes several examples of self-determination and how it was defined slightly differently in each of the examples. This section also discusses how changes in Europe and the collapse of imperialism, the establishment of the United Nations and its charter and the Cold War all played a role in the pushing the issue of self-determination to the forefront of international relations. The second section discusses the problems that have arisen as a result of self-determination issues in contemporary world politics. Particular attention is paid by the author to the consequences of its change, particularly because of its ambiguity and contradiction with the existence of the nation-state as the main actor in world politics.

From the Paper
"Thirdly, self-determination issues escalated in world politics as the result of the end of the Cold War as well as the spread of the effect of globalization. In the case of former Soviet Union, the motive was quite similar with that of decolonization era: independence from outside power seizing their sovereignty, while in the other cases are more complex because of the assortment of many factors: ethical and historical differences, injustices, undemocratic central government or human rights violation. At the end of this section, it could be concluded that the principle of self-determination, through its redefinitions, has played and is still playing a pivotal role in world politics. In its early period, self-determination had close relationship with the conception of sovereignty, nationalism and nation-state, which the latter now becomes the main actor in world politics; while on the contrary, in recent times the right of self-determination tends to subordinate the principle of sovereignty."

Tags:autonomy, conflict, ethnicity, independence, politics, secession, sovereignty, nations, right

Abstract
This paper investigates the issues of ambivalence and ambiguity in Mary Shelley?s "Frankenstein". The author claims that Shelley herself had some trouble making personal convictions on issues such as ambition and nature. It also contains information on current criticism circulating about this work.

From the Paper
?Many shudder at the mere mention of the words ambiguity and ambivalence. It seems almost against human nature to be satisfied with it. We are constantly searching for the answer, whether it is the quest of the answer to what it is that brings about life or a longing to find the answer to the reason man was placed on this earth. However, it is debatable whether or not this aspect of humanity is commendable or condemnable. According to Frankenstein, Mary Shelley believes that there is some comfort to be sought in ambivalence and in ambiguity. Rather than being so pretentious as to believe that we can find the answer to everything, she addresses both sides to the questions brought up in the themes of the book. She finds two answers to each question she addresses. Victor should both be condemned for taking his Promethean desires too far, and congratulated for trying to move forward in the field of science. Walton should both move forward towards his goals of discovery and exploration, and abandon his dreams in order to protect human life. Nature should both be left alone, and cultivated by human hands.?

Tags:british, english, literature, romanticism

Abstract
This paper reviews three modernist short stories and looks at how ambiguous work is a significant mode of modernist art. The three stories this paper reviews are "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty, "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Use of Force" by William Carlos Williams.

From the Paper
"Eudora Welty wrote her short story "A Worn Path" in 1941. It centers on "an old Negro woman" (795), as she makes her way slowly across the rural countryside toward the neighboring town of Natchez. It is a simple story, and told in a straightforward, matter-of-fact style. This simplicity however, is merely a veneer spread over innumerable underlying ambiguities. The canvas Welty paints at the outset is one of a stark frozen rural landscape. The only color that interrupts this cold early morning picture, is the bright red rag tied about the head of the main character: Phoenix Jackson. What is this old woman doing hobbling back and forth along a rural path in the middle of winter, in the early morning? This is a central question that essentially remains unanswered in any complete way.
Welty allows us to understand that there has been identical earlier journeys made by the old lady, as when Phoenix says to herself: "Seem like there is chains about my feet, time I get this far [...] something always take hold of me on this hill - pleads I should stay" (795). This is the first of many passages that are conversations with herself. The author gives only the character's inner thoughts about things, thus leaving us deprived of any comfort in an objective reality. Phoenix is not a dependable witness by any means. She sees things symbolically, or historically or biblically, but rarely as things really are. Just as she has troubles finding her way through this landscape, so the reader also has trouble finding the truth or meaning of the narrative. "

Tags:authentic, perception, reality, language

Abstract
In this article, the writer studies Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried' and notes that this is a poignant memoir of the author's experiences in the Vietnam War. The writer explains that the title of the book references the figurative weight of war. The writer examines the burden and consequences on the men as portrayed in the book.

From the Paper
"Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried' is a poignant memoir of the author's experiences in the Vietnam War. The title of the book references the figurative weight of war. While it would be foolish to narrow in on just one aspect of the travails undergone by the soldiers in Tim's company and deem it the most important thing the soldiers carried, it is worthwhile to examine one burden and its consequences on the men without making proclamations about the exclusivity of its importance to ..."

Tags:ambiguity, Vietnam, The Things They Carried

Abstract
A six page essay that briefly examines the life of the author of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and how his life and times affected how he recast the ancient struggle between good and evil that thrives in the heart of every man.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine Sartre's Existentialism and Human Emotions and de Beauvoir's The Ethics of Ambiguity. The plan of the research will be to set forth the general pattern of ideas in each work, and then to compare and contrast the means by which the ideas emerge.
The pattern of ideas in Existentialism and Human Emotions is an elaboration of existentialist thought, as both protest against previous modes of philosophical discussion and meditation on the human condition in the modern period. Sartre's enterprise is to describe in objective terms the philosophical platform of intensely subjective human ontology, or conception of the nature of human being-ness or reality, that existentialism proposes. He then develops an existential interpretation of such being-ness around the familiar subjects of human concern: freedom and responsibility, the ..."