Rehabilitation of Criminals in America Essay examples -- social issues

Rehabilitation of Criminals in America Prison inmates, are some of the most  ³maladjusted ² people in society. Most of the inmates have had too little discipline or too much, come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They are very insecure and are  ³at war with themselves as well as with society ² (Szumski 20). Most inmates did not learn moral values or learn to follow everyday norms. Also, when most lawbreakers are labeled criminals they enter the phase of secondary deviance. They will admit they are criminals or believe it when they enter the phase of secondary deviance (Doob 171). Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send them to prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve the chances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release. The programs must aim to change those who want to change. Those who are taught to produce useful goods and to be productive are  ³likely to develop the self-esteem essential to a normal, integrated personality ² (Szumski 21). This kind of program would provide skills and habits and  ³replace the sense of hopelessness ² that many inmates have (Szumski 21). Moreover, another technique used to rehabilitate criminals is counseling. There is two types of counseling in general, individual and group counseling. Individual counseling is much more costly than group counseling. The aim of group counseling is to develop positive peer pressure that will influence its members. One idea in many sociology text is that group problem-solving has definite advantages over individual problem-solving. The idea is that a wider variety of solutions can be derived by drawing from the experience of several people with different backgrounds. Also one individuals problem might have already been solved by another group member and can be suggested. Often if a peer proposes a solution it carries more weight than if the counselor were to suggest it (Bennett 20-24). Further, in sociology, one of the major theories of delinquency is differential association (Cressey 1955). This means some people learned their ways from  ³undesirable ² people who they were forced to be in association with and that this association  ³warps ² their thinking and social attitudes.  ³Group counseling, group interaction, and other kinds of group activities can... ... to the economy. Also the construction of new prisons brings millions of dollars into the economy each year and if there were no new prisons needed it would mean the loss of thousands of jobs (Szumski 24-26). Henry Abernathy and inmate in Texas said  ³just think what a catastrophe it would cause if all cons across the country decided never to commit another crime. ² Richard Cepulonis, an inmate in Massachusetts said just the title  ³Department of Corrections ² is a  ³misnomer ² he said  ³they don ¹t correct anything. ² In conclusion, things need to be done to improve rehabilitation in America. Improvements in job training, counseling, and halfway houses for rehabilitation must be brought to the forefront by citizens. If we do not get involved and try to make changes, our crime problem could worsen beyond control. Bibliography Szumski, Bonnie. America ¹s Prisons Opposing Viewpoints. Greenhaven Press, Inc.: 1985 Doob, Christopher. Sociology: An Introduction. Harcourt Brace & Company, United States: 1994 Bennett, Lawrence. Counseling in Correctional Environments. New York: New York, 1978 Fox, Vernon. Community-Based Corrections. Englewood Cliffs: New Jersey, 1977.

American Comfort Food & Culture

Comfort food, in common parlance, refers not just to the sustenance obtained from edibles, but also to the sense of well-being obtained from eating. In this case, it may be psychological or emotional satisfaction. As defined by YourDictionary. com, comfort food is â€Å"any food eaten not only for its pleasing taste but also for a sense of contentment, nostalgia, etc. that it provides. † The sad reality is, the pleasing taste in most cases does not equate with healthy food. Comfort food, while it provides feelings of soothing warmth and gratification, may have ill effects on the body, and the persons concerned may or may not even realize it.Yet one wonders why people, though aware that certain foodstuffs (like the nicest tasting fries) are unhealthy, still partake of it. Upon closer analysis, one sees that food and diet are inextricably linked to, if not embedded in, evolving society and culture. Take the case of America, where one can witness comfort food in two distinct and interesting dimensions: fastfood that is usually devoid of nutritional quality; and traditional gastronomy handed down by one generation to another, as exemplified by authentic South American cuisine, painstakingly prepared by the matriarch of the household as younger family members look on and assist.Fastfood has become a highly profitable industry and global phenomenon, while home cuisine preparation is becoming a vanishing art. As families become immersed in the vicious cycle or struggle to survive, attain work success or recognition, traditional meal preparations are being replaced by cheap instant meals. â€Å"Saturated fats and meats are displacing grains and fresh vegetables. Mealtimes are shrinking. McDonalds is everywhere. † (Walsh 36). Regular fastfood fare like burgers and fries continually entice young and old alike, in America and other parts of the world.â€Å"The flavors of childhood foods seem to leave an indelible mark, and adults often return to them, witho ut always knowing why. These comfort foods `become a source of pleasure and reassurance, a fact the fast food chains work hard to promote† (Schlosser 123). Huge marketing budgets have been allocated to convince consumers to head for fastfood restaurants with kids and other family members in tow. What people easily take for granted is that as they opt for fastfood meals, â€Å"they consume more calories, less fiber, and more fat† (Schlosser 241).Fats may be categorized as good or bad, and among the most undesirable kind is trans fat found in fastfood staples like french fries. Trans fats contained in hydrogenated cooking oil pose a big risk to heart health, as studies have revealed. â€Å"It serves to justify current efforts to get trans fats out of the American diet† (Boyles, parag. 5). Obesity, fatty liver and heart problems are but some of the dangers of regular fastfood consumption in big servings.Fortunately, helping curb the health decline among America†™s population are medically backed reports and a growing health consciousness that have spawned concerted efforts by consumer groups to ban â€Å"the use of trans freats in restaurant food in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago† (Boyles, parag. 5). This had also generated â€Å"pledges from a growing number of fast-food restaurant chains to make their products trans-fat free† (Boyles, parag. 5). Showing an earnest gesture of support in such initiative or clamor to give consumers healthier food options are fastfood companies like Wendy’s and KFC, to name some.Home-produced food may be the norm in certain societies, and â€Å"it shouldn’t be surprising that the societies that have been most successful at retaining food cultures are the ones that have also resisted the pull of Westernization† (Walsh 39). This is not to say, though, that traditional fare like Southern American cuisine is not laden with calories, sugar and fat. South ern American food with multicultural influences includes deep-fried foods and rich gravy made with pan drippings and leftover coffee (Brant parag. 3).If not taken in moderation, they may pose some undesirable health effects, Economics likewise lays a big role in people’s food options. â€Å"Most Southerners were subsistence farmers who relied upon their on harvests to feed their families† (Brant, parag. 3). Delectable dishes, notably â€Å"big country breakfasts of eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and grits, and supper plates of chicken-fried steak, corn bread and collard greens provided farmers with the fuel to work from sun up to sun down in the scorching heat and humidity of the south† (Boyles, parag. 5).While certain recipes and ingredients of south American cuisine stand out, the myriad, longed-for flavors reflect â€Å"a combination of culinary heritages from around the world† (Brant, parag. 1). In many parts of America and major cities around the world, contributing to the decline of traditional mealtimes are the trappings and offshoots of the modern technology era. There is media, with its powerful influence; and migration from slow-paced rural communities to cities marked by fast-paced lifestyles. â€Å"Not only do these changes add stress for families, but nutritional quality declines as well† (Walsh 38).Cornell University Professor of Nutritional Science Jeffrey Sobal, was quoted by TIME as saying that †parents complain that they make [traditional] dishes, but the kids won’t eat them. They want the things that they see on television† (Walsh 38) and consenting adults acquiesce. Indeed, various interweaving factors shape today’s American food culture and while â€Å"we might – indeed must – clean up the worst of the fastfood excesses, trying to preserve the diets that keep us both culturally and physically healthier, no one pretends we’re ever going to turn back the cl ock entirely† (Walsh 39). It is, after all, the age of convenience products.Further boosting the popularity of fastfood restaurants is the business strategy of focusing not just on product innovations but also in providing a complete customer experience. Hence, McDonalds has its Playland to appeal to tots. Other fastfood restaurants strategically focus on a theme, slogan or attitude to further lure customers, wittingly or unwittingly. All told, fastfood has both an upside and downside, While most present-day comfort foods meld flavor and texture for utterly enticing eating options, consumers will do well to take a moment to determine if these foods are worth the momentary pleasures they provide.As for restaurants who have made a giant step towards offering consumers the healthier route through food alternatives that limit dangerous ingredients, it is high time they sustain their initiatives that will put a country’s burgeoning population down the healthier path. Househ olds that find it difficult to reshape their dietary paths are usually hindered by budgetary limitations. It can be gleaned that inexpensive, time-saving fastfood has fueled the rapid growth of fastfood outlets on a global scale, Individuals with high standards of living, on the other hand, are better able to experiment and widen their food choices.Indeed, given today’s societal trends and the fastfood phenomenon, only time will tell if healthier and tastier alternatives to trans-fat-laden `comfort food’ will see the day. In the meantime, America is seen grappling with diet-related illnesses even as health empowering news updates are gradually holding sway Works Cited Boyles, Salynn. â€Å"Researchers Say Findings Justify Move to Reduce Trans Fat in U. S. Diet. † Emedicinehealth. com. 26 March 2007. 13 August 2008 . Brant, Kelly. â€Å"Southern Comfort. † Allrecipes. com. 13 August 2008 n. â€Å"Comfort food definition. † YourDictionary. com. 13 Au gust 2008 . Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. Walsh, Bryan. â€Å"How the World Eats. † TIME June 2-July 2, 2007: 36.

Isolation in Dr. Frankenstein - 1463 Words

Isolation Isolation is one the roots of the problems and calamities endured by many characters depicted in the beloved and Dr Frankenstein. We see individuals like Sethe forced into slavery, she was abandoned by her mother, who was killed after a failed attempt to run away. She experienced hard times before being sold to sweet home at a tender age. Fast forward down years later, she started her own family with Halle. We see Sethe turn out to be someone who is obsessed with taking care of her children, we know she would do anything for her children, which included killing them to avoid capture by schoolteacher and his goons. The further isolation can be seen when released and rejected by her community, labeled as a murderer she lives†¦show more content†¦Sethe expresses content knowing that the murder prevented their capture by schoolteacher. Sethe is resolute in her belief that her act of mercy killing worked. As she tells Paul D, it kept them all away from schoolteacher an d away from Sweet Home. When Paul D protests, Sethe explains: It aint my job to know whats worse. Its my job to know what is and to keep them away from what I know is terrible. I did that (Beloved p.202) Seethe who could havebeen described as part animal by Schoolteacher, turns into an animal when he arrives at her house intending to invoking the Fugitive Slave Law to take her and her children back into slavery. Grabbing he her children when she saw Schoolteacher coming, Sethe grabs a handsaw to cut off Beloved head and attempting to kill the boys by smashing her heads on the wall. Sethe, however, does not see herself as the beast. Instead, she describes her own growing insanity as the invasion of her mind by Little hummingbirds [who] stuck their needle beaks right through her head cloth into her hair and beat their wings. And if she thought anything, it was No. No. Nono. Simple. She just flew(Kearney). According to Marcus Steven, justice can be served by comparing Dr Frankenstein to his monster, the monster is simply an extension of him. When we look at all the crimes committed, I find it ironic that his his obsession with death, is suddenly becoming reality. He lost his little brother,William , whom was supposedlyShow MoreRelatedRichard Wrights Native Man, And Native Son : An Analysis938 Words   |  4 Pagesworst cruelty that can be inflicted on a human being is isolation† -Sukarno One of the many instinctual desires that humans are born with is the desire to surround themselves with other humans. This innate idea, like eating or drinking, is something that the human body is dependent on. Without interaction and socialization, humans would go insane, stuck within their own thoughts. In Richard Wright’s Native Son, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Stephen King’s On Writing, this desire for human companionshipRead MoreYou And Your Assistant Igor Have Just Created Frankenstein1419 Words   |  6 Pages1. You and your assistant Igor have just created Frankenstein. Describe your strategy to protect the intellectual property, including reasons for selecting your choices and not selecting others. If I were to select an intellectual property protection for Frankenstein in order to protect it as valuable corporate asset, I would carefully analyze the costs and benefits of each form of protection and decide what type of intellectual property protection I want for my creation. I would like to file forRead MoreFrankenstein Essay655 Words   |  3 Pagescontributions to mankind, ultimately some scientific endeavors should never have been pursued. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelly explores the ethics involved in this query through the creation of a wonder of science, and its inevitable consequences. Much of the analysis of the consequences that the scientific perversion of nature harbors is manifested by the inner struggle within both Dr. Frankenstein and his monster. The tortured mind of the creator expresses the notion that one who plays god willRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein Or The Modern Prometheus 1710 Words   |  7 PagesFrankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, is one of the most iconic tales of 19th century literature. Grandly displaying a mastery of psychological depth within the characters, the author portrays a flawed society inherent within their scientific progression. As such, the enriching tale draws many criticisms from the society in which Shelley lived in, some of which encompasses appearances, feminism, and class restrictions. Retold through multiple mediums, the story is generally seenRead MoreMary Shelleys Novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scotts Movie Blade Runner: A Comparative Analysis1193 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Mary Shelleys 1818 novel Frankenstein and the Ridley Scotts 1982 movie Blade Runner depict a bleak future about the fallen dreams of science. Blade Runner is based on a novel called Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Although Frankenstein was written a century and a half before Dicks book, the two stories share a similar dystopic vision of humanitys future. They also use similarly structured storytelling to explain the impetus towards self-mastery and mastery over theRead MoreMary Shelley s Frankenstein - The Power Of Knowledge1013 Words   |  5 PagesKnowledge The idea that the pursuit of knowledge brings about consequences is one that appears in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. With this particular piece, the concept that knowledge brings about negative repercussions is a primary theme. However, it is the inability to obtain absolute awareness of a situation that leads to a person’s disgruntlement. In regard to the text, Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s initial obsession with creating life soon turns to remorse as the creature he creates becomes theRead More Robert Louis Stevensons Dr. Jekyll and Mary Shelleys Frankenstein1456 Words   |  6 PagesRobert Louis Stevensons Dr. Jekyll and Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Both Robert Louis Stevensons Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Mary Shelleys Frankenstein tell cautionary tales of scientists abusing their creative powers to exist in another sphere where they cannot be directly blamed for their actions. Though Frankensteins creation is a Creature distinct from his creator while Dr. Jekyll metamorphoses into Mr. Hyde, the double of each protagonist progressively grows more violent throughoutRead MoreAnalysis Of Edward Scissorhands, By Tim Burton1660 Words   |  7 Pages(1982), directed by Tim Burton. Edward Scissorhands, is Tim Burton’s take on the Frankenstein story. We can clearly see the influences that have appealed to Tim Burton in the classic Frankenstein (1931) was not the character’s monstrousness appeal but the sense of sad sorrow that audiences sympathized to in Boris Karloff’s performance. Whereas in Tim Burton’s vision, we see a â€Å"Special† character as the Frankenstein Monster, in the similar way t hat we call people with disabilities Special. And thenRead MoreFrankenstien vs Dr.Jekly and Mr. Hyde1495 Words   |  6 PagesBoth Robert Louis Stevensons Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Mary Shelleys Frankenstein tell cautionary tales of scientists abusing their creative powers to exist in another sphere where they cannot be directly blamed for their actions. Though Frankensteins creation is a Creature distinct from his creator while Dr. Jekyll metamorphoses into Mr. Hyde, the double of each protagonist progressively grows more violent throughout his story. By doing so he symbolizes his creators repressed desires inRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1739 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde† by Robert Louis Stevenson, the novel â€Å"Frankenstein† by Mary Shelley, the short story â€Å"The Monkey’s Paw† by W.W Jacobs and the short story â€Å"Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These four texts convey this theme through the use of gothic conventions such as death, madness and darkness. In the novels The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll are wrongly judged

An Overview Of The Scarlet Ibis - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 391 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/08/02 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: The Scarlet Ibis Essay Did you like this example? The scarlet ibis is a story of a young man, who tells the story from the first-person point of view. The story is about him and his brother Doodle. Doodle was an invalid kid who was supposed to die at a very young age. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "An Overview Of The Scarlet Ibis" essay for you Create order The story is set up in North Carolina in the summer of 1918. Even though most of the story talks about the narrator and his brother it also talks about the narrator pride and how everyone had something to be proud of and he was Doodle The narrator knew from the beginning that his brother could not do what all normal kids could do. Doodle had a big impact in the narrator life from early on the story to the end of the story. Many people thought that the narrator was only impacted when Doodle past away but they are wrong the narrator was impacted from early on. Doodle impacted the narrator in many ways because doodle was disabled the narrator had to carry around with doodle meaning that the narrator spent a lot of time with doodle. One thing that impacted the narrator the most was him teaching doodle how to walk it made the narrator have pride but pride isnt always good. The biggest impact is when doodle dies the narrator feels that its his fault that doodle died which was true it was the narrators fault he left doodle back in the storm knowing that his brother could not survive that there impacted the narrator a lot it change him from what I can see. A good example is when he gets on his knees and starts to cry. Stories told in the first person are easy to identify. The narrator will call him/herself I or me. In The Scarlet Ibis the first-person narrator is known only as Brother. Brother is what his brother, Doodle, called him. The story is his memory of their time together. Brother is a central narrator because hes a main character in the story. Brother tells us what happened to himself and his brother. His actions play a major role in shaping the events of the story. Notice that we say Brother is the main character, not the main character. We think he and Doodle share the starring roles, but some readers feel strongly that Doodle steals the show.

Border and Coastal Security - 2925 Words

UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND MEXICO BORDER Border Patrol focus has been detection, apprehension and/or deterrence of terrorists and terrorist weapons (Securing America’s Borders). 2011). The duties and responsibilities of the Border Patrol is one of the most important jobs and it is to detect and prevent the entry of illegal immigrants, terrorists, and smugglers into the United States. The amount of travellers that come through the United States, the trade that the United States engage in, and the number of immigrants entering the United States makes us a target for terrorist attacks from different angles. The Department of Homeland Security was created to deal with and address the threat of international terrorism (Securing†¦show more content†¦The â€Å"Smart Border† Declaration was put in place to â€Å"enhance the security of our shared border while facilitating the legitimate flow of people and goods† (Securing Canada’s Border). One key feature of this declaration was to make Ca nadian identification easier to process when trying to cross the border. Another element of the Smart Border Declaration was the Safe Third Country Agreement in which refugees could enter the U.S. on a travel visa but their refugee claims had to be made in the country of initial entry instead of being made at the Canadian Border (Securing Canada’s Border). This agreement has cut the refugee claims in half that is made in Canada. Another initiative within the agreement is the Passenger Information Sharing System which allows nations to share airline traveller’s information including whether this person is thought to pose a risk or not (Securing Canada’s Border). The Joint Passenger Analysis Unit is a part of this which screens passengers in advance of their travel dates. The last part of the agreement is to merge Canada and America’s border security policies together to see how compatible their immigration procedures and databases are to each other. Two national programs, NEXUS and the Free and Secure Trade (FAST), have been created in order to improve our security system without putting a hamper on people and cargo entering into the U.S. The NEXUS program allows those travellersShow MoreRelatedCritical Analysis of 9/11 Commission Report731 Words   |  3 Pagesmaking the US border more secure, the rationale behind replacing the need to know with the need to share. Moreover, the paper highlights the DODs role the role in border and coastal security, its relationship with the Department of Homeland Security and how DOD supports civil authorities. Securing the US Border Implementing stringent security controls along the borders is likely to reduce the influx of illegal immigration into the United States. With the increased border security, the AmericanRead MoreIllegal Immigration Become A National Security Issue Since Illegal Immigrants926 Words   |  4 Pagesof September 11, 2001 the border has become less open and more secured from what it used to be prior to the terrorist attacks (CBP, 2009, p. 5). The main reason is due to illegal immigration becoming a national security issue since illegal immigration can create opportunities for terrorists to commit terrorist attacks in the homeland by importing weapons and terrorist personal to the United States via smuggling routes that illegal immigrants use when they cross the border (CBP, 2009, p. 6). HoweverRead MoreBorder Control Essay example888 Words   |  4 PagesBorder Control I feel that border security should be a priority and it is important to me because of the consequences we are currently suffering from and will continue to suffer from. We have decades of children that will depend on us to resolve these issues now rather than lay the burden on them. Even if Border Security is dealt with successfully, the radical terrorist threat will continue and will be able to be dealt with more easily because of the progress we will be able to make at home domesticallyRead MoreBorder Security1320 Words   |  6 PagesRunning head: Has Technology Improved Border Security Operations 1 Border Security Technology HAS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVED BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS 2 Border Security Technology Border security is paramount to the security of the United States of America. There are 7,000 miles of land border with Canada and Mexico as well as numerousRead MoreHydera1253 Words   |  6 PagesDepartment of Homeland Security. The  United States Immigration and Naturalization Service  (INS) was an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1933 to 2003. Referred to by some as  former INS  and by others as  legacy INS, the agency ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred to three new entities –  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services  (USCIS),  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (ICE), and  U.S. Customs and Border Protection  (CBP) – withinRead MoreHomeland Security And Defense Security Essay1199 Words   |  5 Pagesbreaking down the two key words, security and defense, you find how each of these items are married together. Security and defense are to very similar words, one you are securing a given item and the other you are defending. So, wouldn’t you think that homeland defense and homeland security would be the same? You would, but they are not. Homeland defense is the of its self is the infrastructure used to defend us against any sort of external threat. Whereas Homeland Security is the strategy that is usedRead MoreThe U.S. B order Patrol1104 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol started its service for our nation. Although changes have affected nearly every aspect of its operations from its earliest days, the values; professionalism, honor, integrity, respect for human life, and a shared effort, helped shape the Border Patrol from the early years and they still remain the same today. Since the very beginning agents have been patrolling our borders, â€Å"Mounted watchmen of the U.S. Immigration Service patrolled the border in an effort to preventRead MoreVietnam / 1975 - Present / Major River Systems1468 Words   |  6 PagesVietnam/ 1975 – Present /Major River Systems Key Words / Phrases Hydroelectric, irrigation, rice agriculture, water security, Mekong River Five Themes of Geography – Snapshots †¢ Location (absolute and relative) – †¢ Latitude/Longitude (Absolute Locations) Hanoi: (capital city) 21 ° 1 N, 105 ° 51 E Da Nang: 16 ° 3 N, 108 ° 12 E Ho Chi Minh City: 10 ° 49 N, 106 ° 37 E Vinh: 18 ° 40 N, 105 ° 40 E o †¢ Place (Physical and Human Characteristics) – o Physical †¢ The distribution of water resourcesRead MoreThe Importance Of Border Patrol1109 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States, but how? Border Patrol is supposed to protect the U.S. from unauthorized, potentially dangerous, people from entering, so how are there so many illegal immigrants in our country? The government hires people to secure the border and allow only the authorized into the U.S. However, more than 11.6 million undocumented immigrants are scattered through our states. Our governing authorities have done their best to improve and further secure the countrys borders, but research shows thatRead MoreThe United States And The 21st Century Essay1517 Words   |  7 PagesThe 21st Century has brought progress and challenges to the world; however, the United States remains the world’s leader in economic growth, technologic advancement, military strength and security, and the protection of human rights. After the 2008 economic recession that resulted in the economy shri nking by 8.2%, the United States saw an economic turnaround as it became the world’s leader in oil exports due to its shale oil revolution. However, struggles in the European Union caused its collapse

Judaism Or Judaisms Essay Example For Students

Judaism Or Judaisms? Essay It has been argued that Judaism can be seen not only as a singlereligion, but as a group of similar religions. It has also beenpointed-out that through all the trials and tribulations that Judaismhas suffered through, that there have been common themes that haveproven omni-pervasive. Any institution with roots as ancient and variedas the religion of the Jews is bound to have a few variations,especially when most of its history takes place in the political andtheological hot spot of the Middle East. In this discussion, many facets of Judaism will be examined, primarilyin the three temporal subdivisions labeled the Tribal / Pre-MonarchyPeriod, the Divided Monarchy, and the Hasmonean / Maccabean and RomanEra. Among all the time periods where the religion has been split,these three seem to be the most representative of the forcesresponsible. As for a common thread seen throughout all Judiasms, the area of focushere is the place associated with the religion : Jerusalem. This topicwill be covered in detail first, and then the multiple Judaism argumentswill be presented. In this way, it is possible to keep a common focusin mind when reading about all the other situations in which thereligion has found itself. A brief conclusion follows the discussion. A Place to Call HomeNo other religion has ever been so attached to its birthplace asJudaism. Perhaps this is because Jews have been exiled and restrictedfrom this place for most of their history. Jerusalem is not only hometo Judaism, but to the Muslim and Christian religions as well. Historically this has made it quite a busy place for the various groups. Jerusalem is where the temple of the Jews once stood; the only place onthe whole Earth where one could leave the confines of day to day lifeand get closer to God. In 586 BCE when the temple was destroyed, no Jewwould have denied Jerusalem as being the geographic center of thereligion. From that point on, the Jewish people have migrated aroundthe world, but not one of them forgets the fact that Jerusalem is whereit all began. It is truly a sacred place, and helps to define whatJudaism means to many people; a common thread to run through all thevarious splinters of the religion and help hold them together. Even today, as the Jewish people have their precious Jerusalem back(through the help of other nations and their politics) there is greatconflict and emotion surrounding it. Other nations and people in thearea feel that they should be in control of the renowned city, and theJews deny fervently any attempt to wrestle it from their occupation. Itis true that there is no temple in Jeruslaem today, nor are all the Jewsin the world rushing to get back there. But it is apparent that thecity represents more to the religion of Judaism than a mere place tolive and work. The city of Jerusalem is a spiritual epicenter, andthroughout Judaisms long and varied history, this single fact has neverchanged. Tribal / Pre-MonarchyJudaisms roots lie far back in the beginnings of recorded history. Thereligion did not spring into existence exactly as it is known today,rather it was pushed and prodded by various environmental factors alongthe way. One of the first major influences on the religion was theCanaanite nation. Various theories exist as to how and when the peoplethat would later be called Jews entered into this civilization. Butregardless of how they ultimately got there, these pioneers of the newfaith were subjected to many of the ideas and prejudices of the time. Any new society that finds itself in an existing social situation, cando no more than to try and integrate into that framework. And this isexactly what the Jews did. Things Fall Paper EssayHasmonean / Maccabean and Roman EraThis time period in Jewish history is politically tumultuous, leading tohigh levels of splits and variations in the religion itself. One of themost disruptive types of all wars is a civil war. And this is exactlywhat occurs at the outset in the Jewish homeland of Jerusalem. TheJewish civil war was against the extreme Hellenizers (people who tendedtoward utter reason in their beliefs) and the moderate Hellenizers(people who can see things rationally, but believe there are more itemsto consider than this ex. the Maccabean family, who became theHasmonean kings). So right away, it is apparent that the ideas that theGreeks introduced into Jewish culture have acted as time-bombs ofsocial memes, and have created a major split in the religion. When the violence of the war has subsided, the moderate Hellenizers havewon (everything in moderation!) and rule for a short time, until theRoman empire attacks and throws even more kinks into the Jewishsociety. When the Romans take over, the Hasmonean kings are left inplace as puppet kings, which ultimately forces the general populationto question their governing body. When the Romans destroy the temple in Jerusalem, it is made painfullyclear that some changes are going to be made. Most obvious, the priestssuddenly have no major role in the religion. Their primary purpose hadbeen to tend to the sacrificing of animals, and since it is illegal tosacrifice an animal outside the temple, the priests were in anunsettling position. As can be seen in countless other examples, politics and religion areinvariably tied, and people began practicing their own flavors ofJudaism after their civilization had been so radically altered. At thispoint in history, there is really no solid rule to prevent such splits,and for a time a mixed form of Judaism with many varieties flourishes. No one was sure what to do once the heart of Judaism (the temple) hadbeen destroyed, but it soon became apparent that an appealing option wasarising. Two major social groups of the time period were vying forpower. The first group, the Saducees were associated with the displacedHasmonean kings. The second group, the Pharisees, had an idea thatwould help work around the tragic destruction of the temple. Peoplewere split, once again. They could stay with the traditional Saducees(who had the political power, believed in only written Torah, and didnot subscribe to resurrection basically a conservative view), or theycould side with the newcomers, the Pharisees (who had religious power,believed in both the written and the oral Torah, and believed inresurrection) and hope to preserve their Jewish heritage by worshipingoutside of the temple, in their everyday life. It was not a hard decision, and the Pharisees eventually gained power,leading the Jewish religion into its next phase of Rabbinic Judaism. It is apparent that in each of the three time periods discussed abovethat many factions of the same religion were active. Competingphilosophies, outside political forces, and geographic isolation areamong the most obvious of the dividing forces. However many otherinfluences pound each and every day on a given social institution,subtly forming it and changing it into something it was not. For thisreason, the answer to the debate whether Judaism is a single, ormultiple religion(s) is an obvious one, depending upon how you choose tolook at it. Every religion has many pieces, but as long as there are afew constants (such as the birthplace, the language, literature, etc) itis possible to view the whole as a single force, and still acknowledgevariations that will inevitably spring-up. Category: Religion

Macbeth Literary Analysis Essays - Characters In Macbeth

Macbeth Literary Analysis Krystal Abbott Pat Patterson English IV Friday, December 03, 1999 Macbeth In Shakespeare's lifetime he wrote many plays. Many of them were critically acclaimed and others cast aside. The crowd always wanted to be more thoroughly entertained and Shakespeare always tried to keep up with the people's needs. In 1605, Shakespeare was being hounded for another work of genius. Hamlet and King Lear had just been completed and the people of England begged for more. He knew not of what to write and like many playwrights did some research. He found two stories from Hollinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland. Shakespeare had already taken some ideas from there for his plays like Henry IV and Henry V. William decided to combine the reign of Macbeth and the murder of King Duff by Donwald and his wife, altering both to suit his needs. Macbeth is by far the shortest play that William Shakespeare wrote. The main reason why this is so is not because Shakespeare did not have much to say, but because King James was so impatient. Macbeth was written basically for the king. In fact, the emphasis on witchery was because King James so heavily believed in sorcery. Shakespeare worried very much about the evil powers insulting the king. After all was said and done, Macbeth was another barrier to be broken in the great scheme of performances. It was an instant success. King James and the court loved it along with England. No offenses were made from Malcolm needing help from England. Shakespeare feared that James would be offended by that. From that moment on Macbeth would be known by all. Yet the people begged for more and hoped Macbeth would be out done by another astounding play. Shakespeare wondered how such a task could be accomplished. What was it about Macbeth that made it loved by everyone? Shakespeare's style has been analyzed by many and some still can not figure it out. His poetry has influenced his plays immensely. Apart from the fascinating characters of the two leading roles, the play's chief attraction is it wonderful poetry. Scarcely a word is wasted, and vivid images tumble after each other in a stream of color and ideas (Ross 43). Shakespeare put great thought into what he wanted to write and his feelings expressed themselves through the stylistic devices of tone, characterization, and symbolism. Shakespeare's characterization of Macbeth exonerates the impact he had on the play. The tone in Macbeth remains sinister and depressing throughout the play. Symbolism, on the other hand, kept the tragedy in tact, and if understood, revealed the whole play in the very beginning of her pages. The character of Macbeth profoundly effects the play, by means of transpiring his actions to hurt others. If looking at the characteristics of good and evil, it makes the reader wonder what makes a person good or evil. Evil is not born into people, but it is the only option they have left. Three features we have seen stand out clear in the general conception of Macbeth. There is his eminently practical nature, which is the key to the whole. And the absence in him of the inner life adds two special features: one is his helplessness under suspense, the other is the activity of his imagination with its susceptibility to supernatural terrors...His practical power develops as capacity for crime...his mind is as scorpions; it is tortured in restless ecstasy. Suspense has undermined his judgment and brought on him the gambler's fever...The third feature in Macbeth is the quickening of his sensitiveness to the supernatural side by side with the deadening of his conscience...In the reaction from the murder of Banquo the supernatural appearance-which no eye sees but his own-appears more real to him than the real life around him. And from this point he seeks the supernatural, forces it to disclose its terrors, and thrusts himself into an agonized vision of generations that are to witness the triumph of his foes. (Moulton 335-337) Moulton knows what he is talking about. Macbeth was heavily influenced by supernatural forces. In fact, were it not for them he might be living a happy and content life. The witches had a profound affect on him. He soon found himself in a world where he wanted to know more and more and the weird women were the only ones who could satisfy his hunger. Macbeth went from a man who served everyone but himself to a man who served only himself.