Abstract The author of the paper makes a study of the stereotypes associated with old age. Through an interview with an elderly woman, the writer attempts to show how these stereotypes are reflected in the subject of his interview. The writer attempts to show that making assumptions regarding a particular person on the basis of stereotypes or pre-formed conclusions can often lead us to make unjustified assumptions regarding individuals and categories of people.
From the Paper "Mrs. N--defied a number of stereotypes about the elderly during the interview, and also one research study which noted: "Gerontologists have long noted that people tend to disassociate themselves from the category of being old" (Jones 2006: 79). Mrs. N--did refer to herself as old, saying that she had experienced a loss, mainly because of her accident, and she blamed herself to some degree for the accident, saying that if she had been as sharp as she had been in her youth she would never have been caught by surprise. However, her refusal to go to an assisted living community because she did not want to only be around old people all of the time, or told when to eat and sleep--'being around a mix of old and young, children and people my age is natural, which you don't get in one of those senior places'--did show some defiance of the aging process. Overall, while her positive memories and portrayal of her struggles as a young woman could be read as a positivity bias, typical of older adults who want or need to remember the past as 'better' or fulfilling when gazing upon the next life stage, Mrs. N-- seemed to have a strongly realistic yet positive view of the world and her future years as an 'older person' that might be comforting to many people facing old age (Quinn, Mather, & Carstensen 2004:208)"
A discussion of the book "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky in which he uses repetition to help us understand his central character, Raskolnikov.
Abstract The paper shows how repetition is a key element in Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" and how certain colors are continuously repeated as an indication of a character's mental or moral state, as in yellow, which indicates mental or moral decrepitude. The paper notes that, throughout the book, certain phrases and also structural patterns are repeated. The paper also discusses how the use of repetition brings forth subtle details in our understanding of the protagonist Raskolnikov's road to redemption and that, until the very end, Raskolnikov continually goes through similar cyclical, repetitive attempts at justifying his actions.
From the Paper "With this in mind, the immediate regression reflects the level to which Raskolnikov is entrenched within his own moral theory. Even Sonya, the character that is meant to symbolize the hopeful and benevolent nature, can only change this Raskolnikov for a few moments. For the rest of the meeting, Raskolnikov deviates very little from his cynical state."
