Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Human Sexuality
Introduction The topic under discussion is human sexuality, which is a subject that generates a lot of controversy. It is essential to understand norms for sexual behavior and how society can maintain these norms. In this regard, one must discuss teen sex as well as premarital sex, and relate to this to the limitations that people place on human sexuality.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Human Sexuality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Analysis The topic is a critical one because sex is related to vital parts of human organization, such as, family, procreation, and companionship. Furthermore, sex has grave ramifications on other people as well as society in general. Religious guidelines, moral principles, taboos and legal repercussions are indicative of the gravity of this topic. Additionally failure to abide by certain rules leads to unwanted consequences among concerned parties. It is vital to trace th e sources of influence on current perceptions of human sexuality, and then establish how those norms ought to be maintained. In order to understand the limits of human sexuality, one must look through the barriers to eligibility in sexual relations. Sometimes, an individualââ¬â¢s gender governs their sexual choices. Certain people believe sex should only be between persons of opposite gender, but this matter has elicited a lot of controversy in the public sphere. Additionally, age places a limit on a personââ¬â¢s sexual choices. In most western cultures, it is illegal to have sex with a minor. However, some Asian, African and Islamic cultures allow teen sex as long as it is in the context of marriage. Additionally, oneââ¬â¢s marital status also affects the limits society places on sex. Many individuals frown upon extra marital affairs; although sex between two uncommitted and consenting adults is somewhat permissible. There are inherent contradictions in what society endors es and what dominant social platforms, like the media, endorse. Numerous individuals resent abnormal behavior, but few of them know about the entities that define normalcy. In most circumstances, a personââ¬â¢s religious beliefs, cultural heritage and upbringing have a large role to play in oneââ¬â¢s definition of normalcy. In modern society, the principle of consent is the most valuable one in setting boundaries for sex. Therefore, sex with underage persons or among them is frowned upon because these individuals do not have the psychological maturity to give consent. Additionally, violence in sex is highly frowned upon because one of the parties is held against their will, so no consent exists. It should, however, be noted that people have not completely disregarded the relevance of marriage in sex (Bramlett and Mosher, 2002). Single parents, who have several sexual partners during a childââ¬â¢s development, have difficulties in teaching them about sexual morals. Such chil dren will imitate their parentââ¬â¢s behavior, and may start having sex in their teens. Societyââ¬â¢s lack of commitment on premarital sex has blurred the lines on sexual limits, and thus perpetuated teenage pregnancy or even violence.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Studies indicate that sixty six percent of all pregnant teens engaged in sex owing to abuse from older males (Potera, 2009). Usually, these activities took place because of parental absenteeism. Such parents are single and have to focus on economic activities rather than family obligations. Therefore, society may disregard the relevance of marriage in sexual relations, but the repercussions of these choices are quite vicious (McGurN, 2009). The issue of sexual limits is often downplayed in the media. Through the use of certain stereotypes, premarital sex is strengthened and even glamorized. Advertisements a re saturated with heavily sexualized messages. Women are selling perfume, clothes, cars and even garden equipment using their bodies. This saturation of sexually-charged messages causes many people to develop unrealistic ideas about sex. It objectifies women and encourages individuals to focus on casual encounters. Furthermore, some of the most famous celebrities live promiscuous lifestyles. One may read about an actress who has had more than four partners in the span of one year. These public figures reinforce the stereotype of non-committal sexual relations and create the problems discussed in the above paragraph. Perhaps a more alarming problem from the media is the perpetuation of stereotypes about teenage girls and sex. Pop culture can lead to violent sexual situations or rape; it also encourages teenage sex. Unlike past decades, where the media perpetuated societal norms, currently, the media perpetuates a counterculture that is often dangerous for those who are targeted by it . A case in point is the Victoria Secret Pink brand. The company has used the media to advertise this line. This product category was launched in 2004 for young adults and collegiate women. The logic was that the pink brand would transition individuals from teenage hood to adulthood. Victoria Secret marketed the product as fun and flirtatious. In fact, the company has taken campaigns to schools and other communities with large representations of 18-22 year olds (Zmuda, 2008. While the company claims to sell its garments to clients above the age of consent, it is no secret that teenagers resonate with this brand, and many of them buy Victoria Secretââ¬â¢s undergarments. Bright colors and graphics emphasize the playful aesthetic of the undergarments in the pink brand. The flirtatious nature of the brand is also evident through some of the slogans on the undergarment. For instance, one of the products has the words ââ¬Ëno peekingââ¬â¢. This slogan contradicts itself owing to t he flirtatious nature of the pink undergarments. It shows that a girlââ¬â¢s no is really yes. The visuals obscure the slogan and indicate that the wearer cannot say no and truly mean it.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Human Sexuality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many programs in the media make early sex and casual sex appear normal. For instance, in the movie Knocked up, the main actress ââ¬â Alison is a professional career woman, who has casual sex with a stranger in a bar. It is only after Alison realizes she is pregnant that she decides to pursue the stranger (Apatow et. al. 2007). The feature illustrates the pervasiveness of casual relations in society. Teenagers are having sex as seen through pop iconsââ¬â¢ song choices. Justin Bieber sings about intimacy with a girl in his song ââ¬Å"That should be meâ⬠. In the first verse he says ââ¬Å"Rumours spreadinââ¬â¢ ââ¬Ëbout th is other guy. Do you do what you did when you did with meâ⬠(Lrics Mode, 2010). Justin was still underage when writing the song. In order to promote right attitudes towards sex, one should make the effort to understand the reasons for having sex and the limits of what is acceptable. However, one must also embrace the fact that society is deeply divided about certain norms in society. Therefore, individuals who choose lifestyles that do not comply with oneââ¬â¢s personal preferences but are accepted by society should be respected. This reflection has taught me that some limits on sexual behavior can be easily blurred, and society will not directly frown upon it. However, concerned individuals will pay for those consequences indirectly. I also learnt that the media covertly encourages deviant sexual behavior through the images it portrays and the stories it focuses on. Annotated Bibliography Apatow, J., Robertson, S., Rogen, S., Goldberg, E. (Producers), Apatow, J. (Director) . (2007). Knocked up [DVD], Universal City, California: Universal Pictures. The movie is a story about Alison Scott, a competent reporter, who has casual sex with a laid back and average-looking stranger known as Ben Stone. Because of a misunderstanding during the sexual act, Alison gets pregnant, and tries to contact Ben. She struggles to forge a relationship with him, but realizes that he is irresponsible and juvenile. Fortunately, the two get to know each other during the pregnancy. This movie points out the pervasiveness of casual sexual encounters in popular culture. Bramlett, D. and Mosher, W. (2002). Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United States. Vital Health Statistics 23(22), 1-35.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Journal article was a comprehensive survey of a wide range of subjects throughout the United States. It intended on unraveling attitudes towards sex in the context of marriage. The researchers asked participants about their sexual practices in marriage and outside marriage. The article is essential in shedding light on sexual norms in American society. It points out the issues that many regard as acceptable and offensive. Therefore, the study assists in meeting the key objective in this analysis on human sexuality. Lrics Mode (2010). Justin Bieber: That should be me lyrics. Web. The website is a script of the lyrics to Justin Bieberââ¬â¢s song ââ¬Å"That should be meâ⬠. Bieber is a teenage pop sensation who rose to stardom after posting a video on YouTube. He released the song in 2010, when he was 16 years old. Nonetheless, the songââ¬â¢s lyrics are marred with sexual undertones. The singer has many underage fans (even less than 5 years old) and many of them sing the se words. The song identifies some of the sources of underage sexual encounters. McGurN, W. (2009, January 6). Like a virgin: The press take on teenage sex. Wall Street Journal, p. 15. In the newspaper article, the author looks at the role of family in young peopleââ¬â¢s sexual lives. He explains that teenagers who come from religious homes and social environments are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, get pregnant or loose their virginity before 21. The writer reiterates that parents strongly influence childrenââ¬â¢s attitudes towards sex. This article is crucial in illustrating some of the sources of ideas about sex in society. It proves that family influences are indispensable, and that the casual attitude towards sex starts in oneââ¬â¢s home. Potera, C. (2009). Sex and violence in media influence teen behavior. American Journal of Nursing, 109(2), 20. The article focuses on the effect of television on teenage sexual behavior. The author found that teenagers who watched more television were more likely to become pregnant. She also illustrated that websites and games create a violent culture among teens that can lead to purveyance of non consensual and underage sex. This journal is crucial to the subject under discussion because it illustrates how the media creates a counterculture and perpetuates dangerous stereotypes. Some of them are manifested through violent acts. Zmuda, N. (2008, January). Pink label: Victoriaââ¬â¢s sales secret. Advertising Age, 15. The article focuses on the marketing strategies of one of the most successful lingerie retailers in the country: Victoria Secret. The author reveals that the retailer has a line that is targeted at young women. She also reiterates that the company conducts marketing campaigns in colleges and universities in order to promote the product. While this article does not directly refer to the commercialization of childhood, it is crucial in shedding light on the pervasiveness of sexual id eas among young people. It illustrates where ideas about teenage sex come from, and the dangers of this sort of commercialization. References Apatow, J., Robertson, S., Rogen, S., Goldberg, E. (Producers), Apatow, J. (Director). (2007). Knocked up [DVD], Universal City, California: Universal Pictures. Bramlett, D. and Mosher, W. (2002). Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United States. Vital Health Statistics 23(22), 1-35. Lrics Mode (2010). Justin Bieber: That should be me lyrics. Web. McGurN, W. (2009, January 6). Like a virgin: The press take on teenage sex. Wall Street Journal, p. 15. Potera, C. (2009). Sex and violence in media influence teen behavior. American Journal of Nursing, 109(2), 20. Zmuda, N. (2008, January). Pink label: Victoriaââ¬â¢s sales secret. Advertising Age, 15. This research paper on Human Sexuality was written and submitted by user Landen Savage to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Life Hacks for College Students
Life Hacks for College Students When you head off to college, it can be a new and exciting experience, but, it can also be overwhelming. For students who have never lived alone before, heading off to college, and finding themselves in a more independent lifestyle than ever before, can be an adjustment. Check out these tips and life hacks for college students that can make your life easier than you ever thought possible.à Learn How to Do Laundry Before You Go to College Believe it or not, thereââ¬â¢s an art to laundry, and if you donââ¬â¢t master it, you might wind up needing a whole new wardrobe. Most college students canââ¬â¢t afford that! Doing laundry means remembering a few rules, and understanding how to take care of your clothes means you will save both time and money. What kind of rules? Wash like fabrics with like fabrics (donââ¬â¢t mix towels and silk), like colors with like colors (white clothes and red clothes do not get along well!), and not everything goes in the dryer. You donââ¬â¢t want a shrunken sweater, pants covered in towel fuzz or pink socks and shirts, so learn how to properly wash and dry your clothes before you go off to college (or invest in a laundry service).à Fake a Clean Outfit, Even if Laundry Day Has Passed You know its going to happen ... youre going to put off laundry day and your clothes arent going to get the washing they need all the time. Theres help though. Put dryer sheets in your drawers (or bags or piles of clothes) to keep them smelling fresh, even if they are on day 2 or 3 or 5 of being worn. Febreeze also helps if youre pushing it, and its less assaulting to the nose than bathing in cologne and perfume. Bonus tip: keep dryer sheets handy because they can also eliminate static cling. Hamper Backpack and Laundry Detergent Pods A good hamper backpack can make lugging your clothes to the laundry room easier than carrying a laundry basket while juggling detergent and fabric softener. As a bonus, many of these backpacks even have places to carry your detergent and fabric softener. Have a long way to walk? Avoid lugging large and heavy bottles of detergent by buying detergent pods in bulk instead. Then, you just need to carry a few pods at a time with your laundry. Use dryer sheets instead of liquid, and once again, youve lessened your load.à Always Stock Up on Plastic Baggies From storing leftover food to carrying those laundry detergent pods, plastic baggies are a must-have to keep stocked in your dorm room. They are a great way to store receipts you need, wrangle that mess of pens and pencils you have, and store band-aids and other meds. In a pinch, they can even double as a bowl or cup, and they are a great way to seal up leftover food that youre tossing so it doesnt stink up the room. We all know that taking out the trash isnt always a top priority.à Save Money by Eating in the Dining Hall Most colleges offer awesome dining hall plans, and taking advantage of these plans can save you money over always ordering out. You may not like everything thatââ¬â¢s served, but if thereââ¬â¢s a salad bar, sandwich bar, pasta bar, or pizza station, you can often find something. Many dining service plans offer unlimited food when you eat there, but they may limit what you can carry out. Fear not! Most dining halls will allow drinks to be taken out, and so hiding your foraged food can be a cinch. Always carry a giant empty water bottle or two to store that forbidden extra food in, so that you can stealthily carry it out of the dining hall. A clear water bottle wonââ¬â¢t work, as youââ¬â¢d be able to see through the bottle to know youââ¬â¢re breaking the rules. Be smart, donââ¬â¢t go crazy carrying like 10 water bottles - thatââ¬â¢s a bit suspect - and always wash your water bottles thoroughly in between food foraging sessions. Juice Up Your Technology Stock up on extra external chargers and cords to get through the day. Itââ¬â¢s too easy to run out of battery mid-lecture and miss important notes or not have your calendar at the ready, or worse, not be able to find out about the latest party, catch an Uber or order pizza at night. Keeping extra cords and chargers in your backpack can be a life saver. Some of the most popular cords are retractable cords that donââ¬â¢t take up a lot of room in your bag and that have multiple connection ports, so you can charge your chargers, iPhone, camera and whatever other electronic goodies you may have, right from the same cord. Buy two or three cords just in case you lose one or want to charge two things at once because you know you will. And remember to have the plug for the outlet or a charging port that charges multiple devices at once. Keep one by your bed at night and one in your bag for emergencies.à Incentivize Studying (with Snacks and activities) Weââ¬â¢ve all been there. The night is quickly coming to an end and youââ¬â¢ve got a paper due tomorrow or a test to study for, and you just arenââ¬â¢t motivated. That pizza your roommate ordered is calling your name or that party everyone is going to is so tempting. You dont have to recreate the scene from Legally Blonde where Elle forgoes Greek Week completely ... just show a little self-discipline by creating a rewards system for yourself to keep going. You know youââ¬â¢ve got 30 minutes before the party starts? Instead of pre-party festivities, focus on that science lab you need to write up and get it done. Making it in that 30-minute time slot means you get a reward - pizza or a party. If you donââ¬â¢t make it? You have to stay back. This means you need to have some self-discipline, but challenging yourself to reach goals and rewarding yourself afterward can be a great strategy to get things done, especially if you plan in advance. Add another level of incentives by giving yourself bigger rewards for exceeding expectations. Ace that exam? Treat yourself to a night out or order wings and pizza. Whatever it is that will motivate you to work, use it.à Turn Your Wall Into a Schedule Hereââ¬â¢s that plan in advance advice that I just mentioned. Get a white board calendar, idea paint (if your dorm allows it) or larger paper desk calendar and attach it to your wall in a place that you will see it well from any spot in your room. Use it to write down class times, block off study times and important meetings, and even outline sports, activities, and parties you plan on attending. Use a different color for each class or activity (check out the next bullet for more color-coding ideas) and on day one of your classes, invest some time in filling this calendar out with class dates and deadlines in one color. Take the syllabus from every class and fill in the calendar with all the dates and deadlines that are posted. Take a picture of it on your iPhone so itââ¬â¢s always with you, too. If you use an online calendar, take the time to match it to the whiteboard - yes, do both! The more ways that you can remind yourself of what you need to do, the more successful - and on time - you will be. Color Code Your Classes If organizationà isnââ¬â¢t your strong suit and youââ¬â¢re a paper-based study type, color code your classes by getting notebooks, folders and book covers (throwback time - remember your middle school days of wrapping textbooks in paper bags?) in a color that matches the marker on your whiteboard that we just mentioned. Chances are, a typical pack of markers has everything you need. Then, as youââ¬â¢re glancing quickly at whatââ¬â¢s coming up, you can easily grab the colored materials that you need. Record Lectures While You Take Notes Assuming youre a note taker, you should still take manualà notes, but also get your iPhone recording the lecture (donââ¬â¢t forget that extra external charger!). That way, if you donââ¬â¢t understand something in your notes, you can go back to the recording for clarification. Know youââ¬â¢re going to need to review a certain part of the lecture? Make a star in your notes and write down the time stamp of when that material was covered so you can easily find the right moment without having to listen to everything. There are plenty of apps out there to help with note taking if you need one.à If youre not already, consider a cloud-based service for digital notes so they are always accessible. Find a good note-taking app like Evernote or even just use Google Docs and make folders for every semester and every class. This allows you to store recordings and all your notes online, making them super easy to search. Dictation apps and programs like Dragon and even just your iPhone allow you to dictate your notes and essays without having to type. For many students, this saves a lot of time and energy. Just be sure to proofread and edit carefully. We all know that autocorrect can make mistakes. Start Slow and Ramp Up Your Studies in Years Two and Three Many students hit the ground running at full speed during year one, and donââ¬â¢t get properly acclimated to school. Use your first year to take the typical number of classes - donââ¬â¢t overload - and start with the basic pre-requisites and maybe just a fun class (if you can get in). Take the time to enjoy college for the first year, and then in your next two years, start testing yourself academically with harder classes and heavier schedule loads. Get a Pinterest Account Really? This is a life hack? Yes. When it comes to college, living on a budget in a tiny room, Pinterest will become your best friend. From food ideas to storage and space saving tips, Pinterest is a plethora of great ideas. Recipes in Mug? Youââ¬â¢d be surprised how many things you can make using a mug and a microwave, and Pinterest is the best place to find endless recipes and ideas for creating a gourmet meal in the dorm. Cant find a home for everything? Its not surprising. Dorm rooms arenââ¬â¢t known for being super spacey and luxurious, but Pinterest has a plethora of awesome ideas on how to save space, stay organized and even pimp out your dorm room so that youââ¬â¢re one of the hottest stops on the floor. Alarm Yourself Alarms are great for getting up, but they also can help throughout the day. Set alarms for every class, study group, and meeting so youââ¬â¢re never late. Give yourself 15-20 minutes before class to get there. If youââ¬â¢re someone who is often late, set multiple alarms for each class so you donââ¬â¢t risk snoozing them.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Small bus assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Small bus assignment - Essay Example Thus, it can be said that founding Urban Decay is a next step after leaving Cisco Systems. The idea of Sandy Lerner turned into the opportunity with the fact that it was attractive to customers (multicolor appearance) as appeared in traditional times. Also, she managed to find a passionate teammate in her business, Wende Zomnir. The applicable root of opportunity in this case is the change of the one feature in already existing product. In the given case, the idea to add new colors in already existing cosmetics made this business successful in that time. The future for Urban Decay as an independent player is not clear, because the idea to use different colors in cosmetics seems to lose its actuality. Nevertheless, the nature of this opportunity has a potential to develop, because our world is full of colors. In addition, women want to use cosmetics to be unique and beautiful. So, current successful sale activity and depending on Lââ¬â¢Oreal Cosmetics is a reasonable choice for this
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Project Charter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words
Project Charter - Essay Example With the advent of new communication technologies call centres expanded their services considerably, allowing companies to contact a large number of people efficiently. Making a decision about the call centre setting up, the ABC Telecom Company sees considerable benefits for its business, because a call centre will: This document represents a general description of the project aimed to set up a call centre, comprising 10 workstations, in the ABC Telecom Company. The call centre is intended to be a primary way of effective communications with customers, partners and other external audience of the company. The company executives believe that the call centre will provide a single point of contact for all people who interact with company via various channels, including email, fax, web chat and board, phone, VOIP, SMS etc. Such virtual (not face-to-face) interactions may concern different issues from multiple areas, e.g. information dissemination, customer service and support, customer relationship management, marketing and telemessaging, sales (inbound and outbound), employee service and support, emergency services and other areas, related to customersââ¬â¢ satisfaction and telecom businessââ¬â¢s efficiency. Undoubtedly, the project is rather complex, it includes a number of various aspects ââ¬â from the selecting the location to build the call centre to the hiring and training a staff. The ABC Telecom Company does not have sufficient resources to cope with all project tasks by its own strength, thatââ¬â¢s why it is intended to get a number of subcontractors and vendors to take part in the project, what brings additional important constraints in the project. Call centre in the ABC Telecom Company is being created in order to increase the value of contacts between the company and existent or potential customers. For customers the value means a good care,
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Definition of a True Friend Essay Example for Free
Definition of a True Friend Essay What is the definition of a true friend? A lot of people have friends that they can depend on for just about anything. Some just have needy friends that are there when they need or want something. There are so many definitions of what a friend could be. The dictionaryââ¬â¢s definition of a friend is a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. Although there are many different ways to describe a friend, you will always know when you have a true friend if you have ever had one before. Most friends come and go but a true friend will always stay. A true friend is someone that you can ask for advice and learn a lot from just from being around them. Having a true friend can be the best thing you will ever experience spiritually. One way to tell whether or not you have a true friend is if they can turn a bad day into a good day with a conversation or even a small compliment. Being a true friend means that one will not judge you by your mistakes but help to make the proper corrections to the mistakes. A true friend listens to your problems and lends you beneficial guidance to better your situation. Being a true friend means whether or not they agree with your choices, they will stand by you and support your decisions. Sometimes they may not always like what you have to say, however they will always respect it because of the common ground shared by the two of you. At times you will argue with a friend and have a falling-out with them for a lengthy amount of time. What can cause a potential altercation between you and your friend is not treating your friend with the proper respect deemed necessary in a healthy friendship. Most of the time it is just a swift disagreement that ends in a more exceptional interpretation of one anotherââ¬â¢s feelings, however, there are also times when it can be much more damaging to the friendship itself. It could take a long period of time to repair it, if it can even be repaired at all. Having the encouragement and support of a friend can be one of the most prominent qualities to keeping a friendship glued together. Letting a friend know that you are behind them in whatever they do and that you will support them in any decision they make is a good, firm foundation for a true friendship. Even though you might not make all the same choices that your friend may make, you should still support whatever decision they may make. It is very clear to see there are so many definitions of what a friend could be it is often overlooked that a true friend is really a true friend. Whether itââ¬â¢s going to some sort of an event or just hanging around, time with them and understanding where they are coming from is a good, solid foundation to a true friendship. So many people do not often realize the profound relationship that you had or can have with a true friend until it is lost. I advise that if you have a friend that meets any of these qualities, or gives you any of these feelings to keep them and cherish what you have. Treat a good friend the way you would like to be treated. Like a true friend!
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays
Beowulf Beowulf was written during the Anglo-Saxon time period. Beowulf is a story about a young warrior and his quest through life. Some people consider Beowulf a tragic hero, and some people just consider him a hero period. Whether Beowulf is a tragic hero or not, he fights many great battles. The reason Beowulf fights stays basically the same but it changes a little. In the beginning of the book, Beowulf goes to help the Danes out by killing Grendel. Grendel is a ferocious monster that has been killing the Danes in the mead hall (115). During this time period, warriors will celebrate their victories and tell of their accomplishments by singing. This social gathering has started bothering Grendel because he can hear all the noise and happiness coming from the mead hall. This is making Grendel jealous because he is a descendant from Cain, and knows he will never feel happy (106). Grendel goes into the mead hall at night, and he begins killing everyone in there. News of how Grendel is murdering the Danes starts to spread all over. When Beowulf hears about Grendel, he feels that it is his obligation to stop Grendel from killing anymore. Beowulf leaves to go to Herot to kill Grendel. He is mostly being praised for his long journey to face this terrible monster. Beowulf says, "Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my s word; I shall not" (677). Beowulf feels that he can defeat Grendel even without a weapon. The first night, they have a celebration in the mead hall, and the warriors fall asleep in the hall. Grendel makes his usual nightly visit and finds many victims waiting to be killed (725). To his surprise, he meets his match, which happens to be Beowulf (748). After a brief confrontation, Beowulf rips Grendelââ¬â¢s arm off, and Grendel runs away to die (823). Beowulf is considered a hero now for risking his life to stop Grendel from killing anymore Danes (837). Not only does Beowulf protect all the Danes, he also receives many rewards. Beowulf is doing a good thing, but all his motives are not the most honorable motives. This shows the Pagan values of the time. Materialistic things meant a lot to people during this time. The next day, there is a celebration of Grendelââ¬â¢s death. Beowulf and his group of warriors leave the mead hall to go sleep in their beds (1300).
Monday, January 13, 2020
Frankenstein and Terror Essay
A classic gothic novel emphasises fear and terror. It has the presence of the supernatural, the placements of events within a distant time and an unfamiliar and mysterious setting. Romantic writer Mary Shelleyââ¬â¢s novel Frankenstein conforms to these conventional ââ¬Ëclassicââ¬â¢ Gothic traits as well as to the modern conceptions of what is considered as Gothic. Shelleyââ¬â¢s Frankenstein is host to a range of significant gothic elements, evident through Victorââ¬â¢s creation of the gigantic creature, the dark setting of the novel, set in places of gloom and horror, and the disempowered portrayal of females, in which women are threatened by the tyranny of males and are often in distress. Omens and visions are also evident in the novel, further enhancing the Gothicism found in the novel. Frankenstein is defined as a Gothic novel through the many Gothic aspects it features. The connections, and relevance it has to todayââ¬â¢s modern society and the lessons that can be learned from it, is what classifies it as being classic. Shelley uses the supernatural elements of raising the dead to frighten her readers. Through the eyes of Victor the monster is repulsive and altogether unnatural, shocking the reader out of reality, ââ¬Å"I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, advancing toward me with superhuman speed.â⬠At a time of great scientific advancement this would have been a topical story that pushed the boundaries, presenting readers with a truly shocking idea removed from reality, but remotely possible. Not only is this topic unknown and mysterious, it is presented in such a frightening way that terror consumes the reader. Victorââ¬â¢s decision to stop making a female monster is driven by fear that ââ¬Å"a race of devils would be propagated upon the earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terrorâ⬠and this is the very feeling that has already been sparked in the reader during the creation of the first monster. It could be argued that the ââ¬Å"gothic novel is primarily concerned with producing a physiological reaction, a story that chills the spine and curdles the bloodâ⬠. Victor himself experiences this bodily reaction induced by fear ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and hardly that I felt the palpitation of every artery.â⬠In this respect, Shelleyââ¬â¢s novel clearly meets the criteria of the gothic traditions. These traditions are enhanced by the feeling of suspense that runs through Frankenstein, particularly from the moment the monster threatens Victor with the words, ââ¬Å"I will be with you on your wedding-night,â⬠a phrase that remains with the reader through the novel from the moment it is spoken. Furthermore, nature in the gothic novel is presented as sublime. This is evident in Victorââ¬â¢s journey to the mountains to revive his spirits and the monsterââ¬â¢s joy when spring arrives. Nature is often used combined with darkness to construct a feeling of foreboding or evil. This is the case as Victor creates the monster, an attempt that forces him to avoid daylight and lead a solitary life, ââ¬Å"the moon gazed on my midnight labours, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding-places.â⬠As the novel progresses we would not expect life to be ââ¬Å"injectedâ⬠into the monster on any other night but a ââ¬Å"dreary night in November.â⬠Evidently, through multiple narratives, Shelley forces us to question our sympathy. We are told the story of Frankenstein through Walton, who in turn tells the story of the monster. However, it is not until halfway through the novel that we are subject to the monsterââ¬â¢s narrative and by this time we have already been influenced by Victorââ¬â¢s biased account of events. Consequently, we become aware of the complex nature of truth and the power of our own subjectivity. The supernatural becomes closer to natural than we may have first imagined. Although we are terrorised in true gothic manner, we are simultaneously forced to question the source of this terror. However a realist understanding of supernatural events can be identified in the reaction of the magistrate as Victor explains his story to, ââ¬Å"He had heard my story with that half kind of belief that is given to a tale of spirits and supernatural events.â⬠Fundamentally, in the case of Justine and Elizabeth, both women conform to the Gothic aspects of women being in distress. As the result of Justine being wrongly accused of the murder of William, her existence is threatened as she faces death if found guilty. Justine is eventually executed ultimately because of Victorââ¬â¢s selfishness. He created the creature, left it to do what it did and couldnââ¬â¢t come in Justineââ¬â¢s defence when she was on trial. The trial not only caused distress to Justine, but to Elizabeth also. Both women experienced emotional distress, with Elizabeth also pleading in tears to the judges. The act of creating the creature and Victorââ¬â¢s inability to realise the vulnerability of others around him from the creatureââ¬â¢s attack also resulted in the violent death of Elizabeth on her wedding night. Nonetheless the act of creating the creature and the ideas behind it is in itself Gothic. In the pursuit of creating life, Victor was ââ¬Å"animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasmâ⬠to observe the ââ¬Å"corruption of the human bodyâ⬠and examining the nature of death. He worked with objects that are viewed as revolting and spent days and nights in churchyards, charnel houses and vaults, collecting remains of dead bodies, in places of dark and ghostly atmosphere, emphasising the fear and terror held within society of the time, ultimately labelling Shelleyââ¬â¢s text as a Gothic novel.
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