Abstract This paper discusses Alfredo Vea's novel, "Gods Go Begging" that presents many vignettes and interrelated stories in a strange canvas of the real and the imaginary, that force the reader to provide his own definition of the world in the wake of the war in Vietnam. The paper discusses the plots and characters of the book and what the reader can take away from the novel as a whole.
From the Paper "In their own way, these various characters are like characters in Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson: grotesques. But Anderson was not quite right in his belief that these various characters had become grotesques because they had seized upon some single and incomplete truth (Anderson, 23-24), but because of their inability to express themselves. (Cowley, Introduction," 14) In much the same way, Vea's characters in Gods Go Begging suffer from a similar inability to express themselves. Trying, failing, trying again, they often lash out against whatever is in their path, sometimes attacking the very things they love. (Vea, 312)"
Abstract This paper begs the question of "all men being created equal". It argues that as much as society would like to think of itself of democratic and supportive of equality, most people in society are oppressed in one way or another due to a physical, cultural, social or religious "handicap".
From the paper:
"The term equality has innumerable connotations. It may denote being exactly alike or of comparable value. Equality is usually associated with advantages and discussed when there is a situation wherein a subject is being deprived of a prerogative.
The phrase "equality for all" has a nice ring to it but what exactly does it entail. It forms an image of the ultimate utopia, filled with peace, brotherhood, and justice but "What are we aiming to be equal in"? and more to the point "Whom do we want to be equal to"?"
From the Paper "The case of Young v. New York Transit Authority (903 F.2d 146 [2nd Cir. 1990]) was brought on behalf of William B. Young Jr., and Joseph Walley, among others, by an organization representing homeless people against the New York Transit Authority and a variety of other New York transportation entities. This was a class action challenging a transit authority regulation prohibiting begging and panhandling in the subway system in New York City. Enforcement of the regulation had been enjoined by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and this decision was appealed. The Circuit Judge for the Court of Appeals, Judge Altimari, held that the regulation did not violate the First Amendment as had been charged and reversed and vacated the previous ruling.
In 1989, the Legal Action Center for the Homeless (LACH)..."
Abstract Up through the 1970s, teenage resistance to social authority was such a pervasive motif in American fiction that the adolescent struggle for autonomy embodied for many critics the national myth of self-reliance. The paper shows that in contemporary novels, however, youth's disaffected disposition is credited not to the oppressiveness of adult authority but to a lack of it. The voice in both "Catcher in the Rye" and "Less than Zero" is a detached, ironic voice that demonstrates a need for security and for home. The paper shows that by implicitly endorsing an idealized, nostalgic vision of family, these narratives split with the genre's antiauthoritarian tradition and re-script the utilization of adolescent disaffection. Whereas the teenager once intuitively asserted youth's moral supremacy over their elders, today's aimless, amoral kids cry out for adult intervention as they beg entry into the shelters of home. This paper examines the similarities and differences in the discourse of the young in both "Less Than Zero" and "The Catcher in the Rye".
From the Paper "In the penultimate chapter of Catcher, Holden declines to run away to California in order to spare his younger sister Phoebe from the cynicism and despair he suffers. He does so because he understands that if he lets Phoebe follow him westward he will fail in his dream of protecting her innocence; instead of preventing her terrible fall into adulthood, he will be just as guilty of pushing her over the edge of childhood as the anonymous "pervert" who scrawls profanity on her elementary school walls. Therefore, to save her, Holden must sacrifice his passionate disdain for adult phonies and submit to the indignity of their "asking me if I'm going to apply myself" (213). Through this concluding gesture, Salinger insists that adolescent rebellion is guided by moral intent and is not symptomatic of the narcissism and selfishness so closely associated with this stage of life. The intuitive morality that this plot ascribes to its teen protagonists implies that "if the young demonstrate their inability to accept the code of civilized society, the fault cannot lie in them but in those who have failed to provide acceptable values. By extension, youth's rituals of disaffection are not expressions of antisocial behavior but confirmations that they are engaged in an arduous quest, searching, seeking, grasping, testing in an effort to find the proper moral course in life (265, 269)."
Abstract This paper examines Michael Drayton's sonnet "Since There's No Help" which describes the uncertainty associated with ending a relationship. It analyzes how Drayton begins by asserting that the relationship is ending and by trying to convince himself that he is glad of this. Then he surrenders to his real feelings and offers the real sadness of the situation. It looks at how, overall, the poem shows the process of being powerless to another person, fighting this power because of pride and then eventually admitting true feelings and begging for love to continue.
From the Paper "The first eight lines set up the problem, with these lines focusing on the confusion of the individual. The first line introduces the fact that the relationship is ending, "Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part." This line expresses the certainty that the relationship is ending. There is no question in this line over whether or not the relationship will end. Instead, it is clear that the two will part. This introduces a tone of needing to accept the situation. This is important because the following seven lines all suggest uncertainty. This assurance that the relationship will ends means that the poem is not focused on whether or not they are parting, but on how the individual feels about their parting."
Abstract The fact that so many of these artists were of a military background begs the question: Are the themes and styles of English Canadian art during the decades immediately after 1759 influenced by these artist's military backgrounds? To answer this question, this paper will first discuss British artists in Canada during this time, and their backgrounds, and then proceed to an examination of two particular artists and their works.
Abstract This paper explains that, on its surface, John Okada's "No-No Boy" explores the relations between Japanese and white Americans, with an emphasis on Japanese-America's self-perceptions. More specifically, one of the main themes of the novel involves free will and determinism. The author points out that the world that Okada describes is certainly an ugly one that is full of hostility between and among races; however, one gets a sense that he maintains faith in humanity. The paper relates that the novel begs to question whether the story's characters are responsible for their own attitudes and conduct or if they are powerless victims of social circumstance.
From the Paper "Ichiro's initial reluctance to engage in the fight with Bull along side Freddie also serves to show a point. When asked to stay out of the fight by another bar patron, Ichiro answers, "I haven"t got much choice? (246). By offering this statement, he seems to imply that he has no free will when it comes to if he should join in the fight. He has no choice because to put himself in front of Bull will mean that he would be in harms way. This seems to echo his reason for not fighting in the war. In the war against Freddie however, Ichiro knows that the choice he wants to make isn"t the most beneficial towards the situation. He wouldn"t have anticipated that he could manage to take on an opponent like Bull, but it attempting so he surprises himself."
Abstract This paper explores how Ian McEwan's novel, "Enduring Love", examines the fallacy of begging the question or circular reasoning. It looks at how this fallacy occurs when one infers a conclusion that, ultimately, is based on that very conclusion. It also illustrates how the narrative examination of this fallacy shows how an individual can act as an agent of his own fate, neglecting to embrace the freedom bestowed upon all humanity.
From the Paper "Uncertain of his own impetus to help, Rose reveals that no one "would ever know fully" the significance of the incident or their involvement. Implicit in this statement is Rose's acknowledgment of a partial understanding which he refuses to address. Rather than explore his inability to "fully" grasp the significance Rose offers a surface (albeit truthful) explanation that cannot be contended. ?Superficially the answer was a balloon,? says Rose, and thus admittedly abandons the metaphysical question for a physical answer. While Rose's superficial explanation is based on truthful characteristics of a balloon it commits the fallacy of begging the question. By comparing the incident to the beginning of the universe Rose deems the incident "the first step" in a chain of events. However, he can only define the initial "step" by its consequences."
Abstract This paper examines how, in his work, "A Modest Proposal", Swift reflects the plight of the stereotypical poor Irish Catholic back upon the reader with intentions of provoking antipathy, while remaining totally practical throughout the piece. It discusses how the true victim of his attacks, besides the children, is the hypocrisy of the oppressive English governing body and how, by laying out his proposal and its benefits in clear terms, Swift attempts to appeal to the morality of the reader in the most unorthodox of ways, begging for social reform; his satirical wit and use of dramatic irony attacks the idiosyncrasies of British government that led to the conditions that plagued Ireland in the early 18th century.
From the Paper "Swift's proposal for social reform, on the surface, is a simple one: the thousands of children born of the poor Irish Catholic mothers should be bred and sold solely to be killed and eaten. Right from the beginning, Swift paints a dreary scene of the life of an Irish peasant. The narrator then continues, calmly and rationally, statistically justifying his outrageous scheme and its benefits to all. First, the eating of the poor children would foremost alleviate the overpopulation of "the papists" (Irish Catholics). Second, the "production" of such valuable commodities can be used to barter for rent, and increase the quality of life for the poverty-stricken families. Third, the state would reap the increase in revenue that would come from their sales, as well as the savings of the welfare dollars not spent on raising the children. Fourth, some women could make a healthy (and wealthy) living as child breeders."
Abstract This paper explores the way that Shakespeare presents many of the complex issues of life, such as love, honor, and shame in his play, "Measure for Measure". The paper analyzes the characters in the play and explains how Shakespeare is able to deftly capture the spirit of the human psyche in each one.
From the Paper "Isabella becomes a pivotal character in the play because as we become concerned with what she should do, we realize the problems her choice means to her. Part of the difficulty associated with Measure for Measure is that the answer to this question is not clear. What we discover about Isabella is something peculiar about her chastity. In short, her actions reveal that she is not as pure as she may seem. She no doubt wants to save her own soul, life, and chastity, obviously at whatever the cost. While Isabella's behavior causes her to appear to be somewhat selfish, it is also important to realize that there is little else she can do."
Abstract This paper examines how, historically, Leo Tolstoy writes from the perspective of a country in turmoil and how his social commentary is closely intertwined with the more general search for personal fulfillment. The result is the timeless quality of the works that are still enjoyed by a wide readership today. It explores how it is this timeless quality of his work, based upon his search for meaning in life, that most prominently begs for Tolstoy's inclusion in today's literary canon, and it substantiates this assertion through a review of "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina", and "On Life".
From the Paper "The characters are however far more than merely representatives of political aspirations. Indeed, this is revealed in Pierre's relationship with his wife, Princess Ellen. The marriage proves to be a mistake, as Ellen's flirtatious behavior brings the relationship to an end. She later divorces Pierre, but is unable to secure the affections of the man she is pursuing. She later dies, which the reader feels is a kind of justice. The emotional suffering caused by his wife's behavior drives Pierre in a number of different directions. The first of these is the Freemasons. This however does not provide him with the solace he needs, and he turns to the battlefield for a more concrete way of dealing with is emotions. Here is later taken as a prisoner of war. Pierre thus suffers on two levels; both emotionally because of his wife's behavior and physically as a result of the war and his life in prison. The end however is happy for Pierre, as he finds love, peace and contentment with Natasha."
Abstract This paper examines three logical fallacies namely: Begging the Question, Hasty Generalization and Appealing to Emotion. It presents examples of such fallacies in contemporary society and ties them into the concept of critical thinking.
From the Paper "The Appeal to Emotion fallacy is committed when someone manipulates peoples' emotions in order to get them to accept a claim as being true (Labossiere, 1995). This is very common in politics and it serves as the basis for a large portion of modern advertising. Most political speeches are aimed at stirring and steering feelings in people to get them to vote or act a certain way. In the case of advertising, the commercials are aimed at evoking emotions that will influence people to buy specific products."
Abstract The writer of this paper details Robert Frost's love for nature as well as his experience with farm life as major influences on his poetry and writings. This paper examines these and other influences in a variety of Frost's works such as "Death of a Hired Man," which is a poem about a woman who begs her husband to take in their old unreliable farm worker. The writer discusses Frost's life on his New England farm, where was able to create and develop his own unique style of writing. Aside from nature and farm life, Frost was also greatly influenced by religion, which is discussed in this paper as well. In the poem "Mowing", the speaker tells of a man who is doing yard work. The writer contends that this hints at Frost's sense of order for the world as if God shapes everyone into the person He wants them to be. This paper also discusses Frost's life which was plagued with tragedies, which also greatly impacted his work. Frost's poem "Home Burial" deals with the death of a son, which was written after the poet's own son died of a disease when he was very young.
From the Paper "Frost had many different ideas about religion as his career carried on. He always claimed the he was Orthodox. Robert Frost was always very compassionate for the Jewish faith and the Jewish race. He was always a big fan of the Old Testament and of the Hebrew teachings and prophets. These things are evident in Frost's poetry. As Frost was on his deathbed, he was writing a poem based on the Book of Daniel in the Bible. He mainly wrote of religious topics in the early parts of his career and then again in the later part. In all of Frost's best poems he does not place any real trust in God or nature, but rather he places all of his confidence in the potential of man. Most of it is concentrated on man's ability to endure suffering."
Tags: literature, nature, poetry, style, writing, religion, death
Abstract This paper discusses how judges can no longer render independent decisions when they are forced to campaign for their positions. This paper explains how the integrity of the justice system becomes weakened when the candidates are forced to beg for money from contributors. Once elected these contributors expect that the candidate will then hand out favors in the form of favorable decisions. The paper emphasizes that it is against electing judges.
From the Paper "It is important that current system of electing judges remain intact because the courts system is the one body within the government that is independent of Congress and the President. Currently, there has been a movement by the Republican party to remove those judges perceived to be activist judges, as these judicial officers' decision seems to go against the grain of conservative thought. According to one article, "The conservative crusade against activist judges has been even more effective on the state level, where elective judges who voted in ways displeasing to Republicans have been denied re-election by organized electoral campaigns"(Schwartz, "Opposing Viewpoints")".
Abstract This paper discusses the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" by Nora and Delia Ephron. The paper examines how the entire plot is based on feminism, beginning with the moment the boy calls the radio station and continuing until the moment Tom Hanks, Beg Ryan and Ross Malinger are together. The paper points out that feminism can be seen in the characters of Annie, Sam and Jonah. The paper explains that Annie must find a man who excites her and not settle for someone who is stable and offers security while Sam must find a perfect love like he had with his wife.
From the Paper "The "superwoman" must have the "superman" to have a life that is happy and blessed. Pure feminism is that the only way a woman can be happy is through marrying the "right" man. Feminism is seen throughout the movie of "Sleepless in Seattle" by Nora and Delia Ephron. Imagine a young boy making a phone call to a radio talk show to talk about the depression his father is feeling after losing the boy's mother. Feminism is seen in the social relations in this movie such as a superwoman who has a career and wants a superman and the feminist viewpoint that single fathers do not make good parents so Jonah needs a mother. Ephron begins the movie with a young boy, Jonah, who is worried about his father, Sam. Sam and his son recently left Chicago and started a new life in Seattle, after the death of Sam's wife."
