Abstract The paper focuses on the theme of life's contrasts in "A SeparatePeace", by John Knowles. The paper portrays how these contrasts are shown by contrasting characters, contrasting seasons and good vs. evil. The paper describes the main characters, Gene and Finny and the Devon School where the novel takes place.
From the Paper "Life's contrasts could be compared to a big box of crayons. They are varied from bright colors to pastel shades, and life's colors change with each day (Smithwick). Life's contrasts help build character, help to reveal who a person really is, and is experienced by most everyone on a daily basis. In the novel A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, the main characters are two teenagers, Gene and Finny. The story takes place in the 1940's at a prep school called Devon. Gene and Finny are best friends who are trying to figure each other out. A major theme of this book is life's contrasts, which is shown by contrasting characters, contrasting seasons, and good vs. evil."
Abstract The paper outlines twelve major events in chronological order in John Knowles' book, "A SeparatePeace", and explores their significance. The paper highlights the ideas of coming-of-age as an adult, personal transformations and about friends finding fulfillment through each other. The paper shows how the story is about being forced to confront painful realities; war, human frailty and the loss of innocence being chief among them.
Outline:
First Major Event: The Return to Devon
Second Event: Climbing up the Tree (the Second Climb)
Third Event: Finny's Confession of Friendship and Gene's Hesitation
Fourth Event: Gene Flunks the Trigonometry Test
Fifth Event: Finny's Fall
Sixth Event: The Visit in the Infirmary and the Failed Confession
Seventh Event: The Confession at Finny's Home in Boston
Eighth Event: Gene's Decision to Enlist - and how It Is Interrupted by Finny's Return
Ninth Event: Gene Decides to Become an Olympic Athlete
Tenth Event: the Fight with Leper at Leper's Home in Vermont
Eleventh Event: the Tribunal
Twelfth Event: Finny's Death
From the Paper "In chapter one, the narrator of the story returns to the elite Devon school campus in New Hampshire 15 years after graduation. Upon his return, the narrator is re-introduced to the fear he felt at the time (he was a student during the height of the Second World War) and he is prompted to recollect the summer of 1942 when his room-mate, Phineas or "Finny," persuaded him to jump off the branch of a tree found on the Devon campus; the tree, as it turns out, is located right beside a river and it is into the river that one must jump. Ultimately, the act of jumping into the river, and the wrestling that Finny and the narrator do afterwards, causes them to miss dinner that evening."
Abstract A very thorough book review of "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy.The paper is divided into 2 sections. The first section provides a summary of the book and the second provides the writer's opinion. The writer feels that the book provided such a feeling of satisfaction upon completion that it is recommended to all.
From the Paper "The story of French, Russian, and Austrian History all condensed, starting in 1805, is what this novel is about. It starts out at a soir?e hosted by a woman named Anna Pavlona, who is the confidante to the empress, Marya Fyodorovna. She enjoys throwing parties for Russia's "top dogs". Factually, Russia's most influential people are attending this soir"e, and this is essentially where all the main characters are introduced. Lastly, there is Nikolai Ilych Rostov, who gets married and eventually becomes a farmer. Also in attendance is Natasha, a woman of extreme beauty and intelligence. Princess Marya is also contributing to the soir"e. And a man named Pierre, who goes many different ways before he reaches what he has been looking for."
Abstract This paper explains that Leo Tolstoy, in his novel, "War and Peace", emphasizes the underlying theme of freedom through the character of Pierre. Specifically, the paper points out that Tolstoy illustrates through Pierre how people come to discover the truth of life through experience. The paper concludes that Pierre discovers that, while peace, freedom and happiness are attainable, they are not always easy to get.
From the Paper "Another aspect of Pierre's life that illustrates his transformation form war to peace with his own internal war that coincides with the actual around him. Pierre looses his grip on reality and begins to drink. In this way, we can see how his life has entered into a "war" phase. He not only witnesses a physical war, he undergoes a mental one as well. He looses faith in mankind and is on a downward spiral. He drinks to escape his mental oppression. His mental state worsens as he becomes convinced that he must assassinate Napoleon."
Abstract This paper examines the positions taken by the Buddhist and Christian churches on the issues of war and peace. It provides an historical look at these religions and how these attitudes have evolved over time.
From the Paper "Even those of us who are not Christians are probably aware of Christ's pronouncement that we should turn the other cheek to receive a second blow from an enemy rather than to strike out in anger or aggression ourselves, and as a result we are probably inclined to think about Christianity ? along with a number of the world's other major religions ? as being against war. In fact, however, the position of established religions on the issues of war and peace is not as simple or straightforward as we might think it would be ? or like it to be. "
Abstract This paper considers the role that music plays for the characters of Tolstoy's "War and Peace". The paper examines the relationship between music and the major moments of epiphany experienced by the characters throughout the book. The paper considers and analyzes several passages from the book, and it particularly considers the major character of Natasha Rostov and her relationship with music throughout the novel.
From the Paper "Music plays a significant role for many of the characters in War and Peace. After all, the musical passages in the novel trigger many moments of epiphany for some of the main characters, particularly in the Rostov family. In fact, the contemplation of music along with that of nature (which includes the contemplation of one's own mortality as a subheading under the larger category of nature) account for nearly all the major epiphanies the characters of the novel experience. The profundity that occurs in the presence of music for the characters also relate to many of the major themes of the novel- such as the consideration of the nature of reality or perception, the nature of the individual within society, and the disparity between performance and naturalness as well as intimacy and artificiality."
Abstract This paper discusses the forces of good and evil and how man's character and nature is influenced by both childhood experiences and genetic composition. While in my personal opinion, a person's nature is dependent on his upbringing, some scientists maintain that there may be some genetic connection which urges a man to indulge in evil acts.
Abstract Nietzsche is known for his viewpoints on good and evil philosophy. This paper discusses the difference between good and evil. Nietzsche is known for the values that continue to affect us today.
Abstract This presentation covers the Spanish-American War from all different perspectives. The paper deals with the cause of war and details the actual military engagements in different geographical locations. There is also a brief coverage of the peace treaty, the Filipino insurrection and the geo-political change in the balance of power following the war.
Outline:
1.0 Background History
2.0 Reasons for the War 3.0 The Cuban Struggle for Liberation
4.0 Origin/ Rise of the American Imperialism
5.0 Outbreak of Hostilities and Declaration of War Summary/Conclusion
From the Paper "This paper has described how the Spanish navy and army were destroyed by the superior fighting ability of its troops and by the superiority of its war machine. Spain also had the big handicap of fighting in the Caribbean away from its home base. In any case it was militarily given a sound drubbing. Spain did not get any diplomatic support either as it was an imperialistic power. However though the United States won the war hands down it set itself on the road to imperialism. The concept of manifest destiny has since made the United States into a interventionist power, an image that is not well received in the world."
Abstract This paper looks at the worlds two largest religions - Christianity and Islam and tries to understand why they are often battling each other over moral and religious issues. The writer examines what makes these religions battle and whether they are "commanded" to according to their religion. It examines the Koran, the Bible and other religious texts in order to define the terms "jihad" and the term "war" in the bible.
From the Paper "Islam, with approximately 1,200,000,000 followers, is the second largest religion in the world. Christianity, with almost 2,000,000,000 followers, is still holding as the largest. With these two religions competing for the top spot, and even sharing some of the same origins, it is no wonder the followers fight with one another. The question I asked myself, however, was not whether these people fight, because I know they do, but if their religion demands them to fight. In this paper, I attempt to study the religious texts, the views of war within both religions, and how the people express the teachings of their religions."
Abstract This paper an analysis of Flannery O Connor's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find". The analysis focuses on the author's apparent belief that acts of violence are often more necessary than religious beliefs or faiths in order to demonstrate the "truth" about human nature.
From the Paper "The characters in Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find are hard, that is they are hard headed. The Grandmother's insistence that her family take a detour to view a historic house results in the murder .."
Abstract This paper explains that Kant states that a republican constitution, which by definition must be representative of a republic and the people existing within, must ultimately be concerned with the concept of perpetual peace; and, when a republican constitution is utilized, it must follow that, in order for war to be declared, the citizens of a nation must consent to this war. The author points out that Kant also argues in this passage however that the ?ultimate evil? of war is that it may not allow for peace at any point, because further war is spurned as a result of the debt that is often incurred from the act of war itself. The author believes that Kant's argument should have been that the adoption of a republican constitution facilitates more motivation and tendency within a country toward perpetual peace and makes it more difficult to engage in war on a continuous basis without direct approval of the citizenry.
From the Paper "The non-republican constitution thus thwarts all efforts toward perpetual peace. Perhaps here Kant is observing the frequency of war that is declared in nations and countries ruled by someone considered the nations "owner". True, in the sense that some countries are seen in a state of perpetual war rather than in a state of peace. However, even within countries that abide by a republican constitution, perpetual peace is hardly realized. The argument that such a constitution provides for peace is faulty. Even if the citizens of such a nation object to war, there is possibility in some situations that they will find themselves in the throes of war regardless."
Abstract In looking at the risks of a U.S. war with Iraq, this paper discusses the increase in the threat to national security, the destabilizatiuon of world peace and the violation of democratic principles. The author draws the conclusion that America would be violating each and every principle that it claims to uphold if it chooses to go to war with Iraq.
Outline
1. An increase in the threat to national security.
a. Mercenary and fundamentalist factions in Afghanistan that once followed U.S. wishes turned against the U.S. post the Gulf War against Iraq, ultimately leading to September 11, 2001.
b. Rise in anti-American sentiment
i. Questions over U.S. rhetoric and double standards such as categorizing Iraq and Iran as belonging to the ?axis of evil,? but continuing to turn a blind eye to terrorist activity in Pakistan within its own borders and in Kashmir.
2. Destabilization of world peace a. U.S. action against Iraq could lead to further destabilization of the entire Middle East region, as opined by many leading experts.
b. Breakdown of international arms non-proliferation and disarmament efforts since U.S. preemptive action will lend further justification to countries of different ideological leanings to arm themselves in the interests of national self-defense.
3. Violation of democratic principles
a. The right of the people of each country to choose their preferred course of action and if so desired overthrow their own government, which has been exercised time and again in world history
i. Our own struggle to break away from British Imperialism
ii. India's freedom of struggle against the British using non-violent principles and forms of rebellion.
iii. The increasing fall in U.S. public opinion
b. A war against an already deprived and suffering nation raises questions about humanitarian principles.
4. In conclusion, we will be violating each and every principle that we claim to uphold if we choose to go to war with Iraq.
From the Paper "I don?t think anyone in the free world doubts that Saddam Hussein is a "threat" to international peace. However, any military action is likely to be risky and self-defeating at this point in time. To start with, any U.S. action against Iraq and that too, without support from the UN and the international community is likely to endanger and not protect national security. For after all, let's not forget and let's face upto the fact that Osama was, in many ways, a creation of the U.S., who brought together a combination of communal factions and mercenaries in Afghanistan during the years of the Cold War, on the platform of anti-communism and ?jehad.? Post the end of the Cold War, however, various interested factions in the Islamic world continued to use Afghanistan and the very same U.S. creations of jehadis to spread Islamic fundamentalism."
An analysis of the concept of demonizing and President Bush's "Axis of Evil" speech, with a focus on social substitution and the rhetoric of war and peace in American politics.
Abstract In his televised 2002 State of the Union speech, President George W. Bush characterized Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as the "axis of evil." An invocation of this type has been labeled as demonizing. This paper defines demonizing in terms of Raymond Kelly's hypothesis about the origin of war in his work, "Warless Societies and the Origin of War," as a social practice in relation to the development of a social doctrine of social substitution. It describes how it has been used in contemporary times and suggests likely reactions and consequences to President Bush's coining of the term, "axis of evil".
From the Paper "Demonization is the process whereby individuals, groups, organizations, or national leaders portray others in ontological in a suspicious, nefarious, corrupt, frightening, or immoral light. Demonization is ontological, that it, it is human nature to do so under times of duress and fear.3 Actions and ideas also subject to demonizaion. Spoken and written words, pictures, caricatures, theatrical or film portrayals, cartoons, and protest actions constitute the demonization substance. Those demonized represent a wide spectrum, ranging from politicians like Cambodia's Pol Pot pictured as a monster who oversaw the killing of millions of his fellow Cambodians, Saddam Hussein pictured as a despot who employed nerve gas against his own people and publicly called a "world menace" by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, or Germany's Adolph Hitler who unleashed what was the most heinous barbarism known in history, as well as promoters of ideas like Malcolm X, who at one time advocated formal Black and White racial separation etc."
Abstract The paper explains that the just war theory is based on the ideal that war should be "restrained, made more humane and ultimately directed towards the aim of establishing lasting peace and justice." The paper discusses how in order for a war to be considered "just," it must fit a set of predefined criteria. The paper discusses President Bush's declaration of war against terrorism, the Vietnam war and the American Civil War. The paper reveals that the difficulty with forming a "just war" is that there is no person capable of applying the criteria; which person can impose a definition of harm versus good?
From the Paper "While humanizing war efforts is effective in minimizing cost, trade damage, and loss of life, it also has another significant advantage: by agreeing upon certain conventions for war, the two enemies have established that the war is between two rational parties that, despite their irresolvable conflict or conflicts, understand that war is an ends to a means and not a trend to be set and never revoked. "It is only when the enemy is seen to be a people with whom one will do business in the following peace that tacit or explicit rules are formed for how wars should be fought and who they should involve." "
Tags: conventions, conflict, peace, justice, subjectivity, harm, good
