Compare the Ways in Which Expected Roles Were Determined

Compare the ways in which expected roles were determined by gender in ‘Journeys End’ and ‘The Accrington Pals’. To what extent would you agree that ‘Accrington Pals’ presents a more credible image than ‘Journeys End’. A large proportion of Great War literature suggests that men were socially seen as the superior gender but women were given opportunities to prove themselves in a male-dominated society as a by-product of war. This essay will compare the issues of gender identity and roles at the front line in R.C Sheriffs ‘Journeys End’ and the impact war had on women who stayed home in Accrington, seen in Peter Whelan’s ‘The Accrington Pals’ during 1914 and 1918. ‘Journeys End’ appears to be a more credible drama because of Sheriffs first-hand experience of the war, where as ‘The Accrington Pals’ depicts the more emotional side of war. R. C Sheriff uses Stanhope as an example of how war affected young, intelligent and inexperienced men and showing the reality of war. Stanhope is the stereotypical male of WW1. He is the image of authority, power and patriotism.He is also thought incredibly highly of from the lower ranks. ‘He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got’. It seems as though men were in the war for a long time but the reality being that the death rate of British officers was higher than that of the lower ranks with the average life expectancy of an officer being fourteen days. The word ‘long’ therefore creates irony within the drama. From the beginning of the drama, we are enlightened of Stanhope’s experience and dedication to his duty, however, Stanhope could be seen as a contradictory figure.His heavy drinking and reliance on alcohol may be a sign of weakness, which could also present Sheriffs use of realism in the drama. Stanhope is far from reluctant to admit he has a drinking problem . ‘Without being doped with whisky- I’d go mad with fright. ’ Sherriff’s own experience may have been reflected on in this dialogue as men at war used to seek comfort in things in order to avoid fright. It is apparent that this is the reason for Stanhope’s excessive drinking. Seeking comfort in something seen as sinful by society is also typical of Ralph from ‘The Accrington Pals’ who seeks contentment whilst away from his girlfriend, Eva Mason.At the beginning of the play, Ralph expresses love, affection and admiration for Eva; ‘clever woman! Eh? Brains! ’, which is why it seems disappointing when Ralph admits he has been unfaithful to her in whilst away at war, seen in the extract, ‘I’ve been a bastard to you Eva, if only you knew. Slept with whores’. Ralph, being a typical representation of a working class citizen suggests that war can turn even the most honourable man to adultery in the search for co mfort. It is almost as if Whelan sympathises with the fragility of men because of their previous innocence, horrific war and their apparent flaws.Through the use Stanhope and Ralph as characters the audience understand the expectations placed on men because of their class. Stanhope, being from the high rank in the military is ultimately granted respect from the lower ranks, whilst Ralph in ‘The Accrington Pals’ was from a lower class citizen and in a lower rank, thus the reason for C. S. M Rivers arrogance and lack of respect; ‘we don’t want you shooting yourself in the head. ’ C. S. M Rivers does not think Ralph is capable of the things man does in war, simply because of his class.The patriotic character of Stanhope in ‘Journeys End’ compares with Tom Hackford from ‘The Accrington Pals’, who illustrates comradeship throughout the entire drama. Despite his description in the preface being that he is ‘a dreamy, utopian idealist young man’, he does not seem typical of the average man of the war as he appears almost as a young boy, not knowing the horrific reality of what is to come. He is very dedicated to his future duty as a solider and seems excited to fight for his country, although this is not in the interest of May, who describes war with ‘that's a world you love isn't it’.As an audience, we gain an insight to Tom’s reasons for volunteering. This is ironic because he understands that he is soon to die but he describes signing up as a way to escape from Accrington for something new ‘free of here, of this place, of this town'. Being such a socialist creature; it can only be disappointing that war has limited opportunities for the male gender as many of the young men who signed themselves up such as Tom and Ralph whom had no idea of the reality of the trenches because of government censorship.Tom’s enthusiasm to his obligation is apparent throughout the dr ama, as seen in his letter he writes to May in scene two. ‘I hope you don’t mind me sharing it as we do all the parcels here’ Comradeship is proven as he shares his luxuries with the Pals. ‘I hope you don’t mind me sharing it’. Even near to his death, Tom still concentrates on sticking with one another to get through the war. The ideologies of Tom contrast to those of May Hassel, who is described from the outset of ‘The Accrington Pals’ as ‘a strong-minded, rugged individualist woman. The entrepreneurial spirit displayed through May’s independence and the leadership motive of the iron lady, suggest the advantages war gave women. Whilst the men are absent from Accrington, May is left focused on exploiting the chances now available, making her appear arrogant and cold hearted. May obsesses with business ideas and opts to making money out of the war. ‘I never believed that war would make a difference like this. The re’s money around’.The individual attitude and the drive to make money is not typical of the female gender role, therefore May does not present the normal values the contemporary audience are expecting from a woman. ‘The Accrington Pals’ suggests the more emotional side of war for women, showing the eventual downfall of May caused by the lack of male influence within war shaped society, however does strengthen May’s development as an individualist. The absence of Tom seems the reason for Mays change. Her development during the play into a more conventional and sensitive women (as seen in scene four act one).The change in Mays character can be seen when she offers to make the tea. She seems more lenient and positive. In ‘The Accrington Pals’, it is arguable that May Hassal conforms to the role that is often portrayed of women in the First World War: taking on the everyday roles of men while they were away. This expectation has been shown to us through literature from the time, such as Emmeline Pankhurst’s autobiography which gives the proof that feminism was now a feature of Edwardian existence.May suggests this as she is shown to be an individualistic, entrepreneurial ‘tartar’ (seen in conversation between the Pals). In this sense, however, May is shown to be more masculine, and has seemingly swapped roles with Tom who becomes more feminine. This can be determined by the labels that May gives him, such as ‘Dreamer’. However, these gender roles are once again returned to typical trends of society by the end of the play when May becomes feminised by Tom’s death. This seems to be portrayed as almost chaotic, and heroic.Rivers says, ‘But our Tom was a hero †¦ , a madcap scarecrow ripping his way out of the wire! ’ Tom’s death, while instilling a sense of masculinity back to Tom’s character role, also gives us a sense of uncommon femininity in May reverting her to the underlying fact that she is a female. Throughout the drama, May is often shown to be the cold hearted, aggressive character yet Tom’s death leads her to act out in a more emotional, feminine way and expresses her sorrowed emotions. This is similar to Stanhope and Raleigh’s relationship in ‘Journey’s End’.Both are emotionally connected, and have been for a long time, yet the older character, Stanhope, treats Raleigh as both an outsider and a stranger for the majority of the play, speaking down to him and criticising him largely. Stanhope says in one instance ‘ D’you understand an order? Give me that letter! ’. In many ways, the relationship shared by Stanhope and Raleigh is similar to that of Tom and May; the older and more experienced character doubts the abilities and maturity of the younger, more innocent individual therefore limiting the care that is expressed between them.Just as with May, Stanhope openly expresses his emotions during the death of Raleigh, showing a return to the Stanhope that was described by Raleigh earlier in the play – a hero, an idol, who cared for him. ‘Stanhope gently takes his hand. ’ Stanhope expresses a great deal of care for Raleigh in his final moments of life and attempts to make his death as comfortable as possible. This seems to show appreciation for him as a person per-war as well as a brave solider. This is similar to how May expresses her sorrow for Tom’s death in ‘The Accrington Pals’.To conclude this essay, the gender of a person seems to alter the role they played during World War One. Men were expected to fight for their honour and country whereas women were expected to stay at home and support infants and households. Each role is an act of protection. Whether it was staying at home in Accrington, or fighting at the front in ‘Journeys End’, a place in society was inevitably determined by gend er. ‘Journeys End’ was written from the personal perspective of R. C. Sherriff, so is more likely to be based on his own experiences of the war.It is very likely that Sherriff witnessed the discussed gender roles and identities as part of the reality of war, adding to the credibility of the factual based play. His work seems to be heavily based on gender hegemonies apt of the Great War era giving extra depth and dimension to the truth of War. However one must not forget Peter Whelan wrote ‘The Accrington Pals’ when the war was over, therefore using information and experiences from historical evidence. Although this may be a more rounded opinion, in my opinion the real life experiences of R. C. Sherriff creates a far more credible and powerful piece of literature.

Assessing The Suitability Of Tolworth Farm Field Environmental Sciences Essay

Dirt can be referred to as a relatively soft, loose sedimentations which can be excavated by manus or tool Sutton, 1993. Soil comprises of two different constituents, minerals derived from enduring stones and organic minerals derived from workss and micro-organisms ( Michael & A ; Donald, 1999 ) . Contaminated dirt by hint of metals is an issue that requires attending because of the consequence it might do on to planetary environment and human wellness ( Abrahams, 2002 ) . Expert in the survey of dirt provinces that there are differences between rural and urban dirt by measuring the sum of hint metals ( Kabata-Pendias, 2001 ) . Application of inordinate chemicals for illustration fertilisers, weedkillers or sewerage sludge from intervention works for more outputs without sing the short or long term consequence has made dirt to go a limited resource particularly in towns and metropoliss for largely allotment holders. These chemicals contain important sum of hint metals which bit by bit accumulate in the dirt over clip and finally pollute the dirt rendering it useless for development ( Adriano, 2001 ) . Allotment dirts which are largely for cultivation of harvests and veggies for human ingestion requires serious attending. This is true for Marsh lane allocations in London which is extremely contaminated with heavy metals ( Jeffries & A ; Martin, 2009 ) .Heavy metals and organic contaminations on dirt surface can present menaces to human wellness in the close hereafter for allotment holder if redress is non put into consideration instantly ( London Development Agency, 2005 ) . It is hence necessary to measure dirt belongingss for any dirt hazard or suitableness appraisal for lodging with workss, grass, bushs and trees. This is because all dirt belongingss can act upon the behavior of hint metals every bit shortly as the heavy metals are absorbed by dirts and workss. 1.1 AIM The purpose of this study is to entree the sum of metal taint and bioavailability/mobility of selected hint of elements at Tolworth Court Farmland, for suitableness of the intended land usage. 1.2 Aim The aims of the study are: To study and take samples from Tolworth tribunal farm. To find dirt PH value. To find dirt organic affair. ( SOM ) To find cation exchange capacity ( CEC ) To find the entire hint metal component from dirt utilizing HNO3 and ICP-AES. To find the possible bioavailability of hint component with IM HN4NO To find suitableness for land intent. 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 Description of site 2.2 Soil Sampling A figure of quality composite samples were gotten through the usage of satisfied random trying method. The equipment was exhaustively clean before continuing to each intended country to avoid taint from one point to another and samples were collected at the deepness of 10cm utilizing a manus plumber's snake. All dirt samples collected in paper bags were labelled. 2.3 Soil Preparations. Dirt samples were grinded. Prior to analysis samples were air dried at 40oC for three yearss and exhaustively through a 2mm nylon screen to take any possible works dust harsh fragment and dead foliages. The dirt pH and entire organic affair were analysed at Kingston University Laboratory, London. 2.4 Soil pH. Bullock and Gregory ( 1991 ) suggested that to find dirt pH the best practical method could be the usage of H2O pH method. Duplicate oven dried dirt samples, weighing 10g each were added with 25 milliliters of de-ionize H2O, and utilizing a pH metre which was calibrated at pH 4, 7 and 9.2. 2.5 Soil organic affair [ SOM ] For the finding of dirt organic affair, Walkley-Black method was used ( walkley, 1947 ) 10 ml solution of K bichromate was added to three replicate of grinded dirt samples weighing 0.4 g and 20 milliliter of sulfuric acid added to it and left for 30 proceedingss. Thereafter, 200 milliliter of de-ionize H2O and 10 milliliter of concentrated orthor-phosphoric acid was added to the dirt sample solution. Several beads of index solution [ Ba diphenylamine sulphonate ] , titration of dirt solution with 0.5M-ammonium ferric sulfate solution. Soil sample was carefully observed at the terminal point as it changes its coloring material from bluish to green. 2.6 Cation Exchange Capacity [ CEC ] Determination of CEC, was done by a suspension of 4g of dirt sample in 33ml of IM Na ethanoate solution thrice. Ethanol was used for taking of extra impregnation in the dirt solution. Sodium ion [ Na+ ] exchange index was displaced with NH4+ ion so finding was made utilizing flame emanation spectroscopy for cation exchange capacity of dirt sample. 2.7 Entire metal content For entire metal concentration, the usage of azotic acid [ HNO3 ] for decomposition process was applied. 1.5g of dirt sample was introduced into three different acerb clean 100ml conelike flask, and 20ml of concentrated azotic acid was added from a dispenser. After heating at 50oC for 30 min. dirt samples were allowed to chill before reassigning into 100ml volumetric flask utilizing Whatman filter paper No. 541. At this point sample was ready for finding of hint component by inductively coupled plasma atomic emanation spectroscopy [ ICP-AES ] . 2.8 Potential bioavailability hint component For this facet, IM NH4NO3 was used to measure the metal mobility in dirt sample. 1M NH4NO3 of which 50ml was added to dirty sample weighing 5g, it was agitate for 60 min. at 200 revolutions per minute. After agitating, samples were filtered utilizing whatman 41 filter paper. The infusion was used for finding of potentially bioavailability hint component by ICP-AES 2.9.0 Quality Control 2.9.1 Quality Assurance Measures The research lab activities of this study was closely examine to be able to detect any taint or malfunction so that if any occur it could be identified and corrected. Measures were taken to do certain that all laboratory equipment were exhaustively clean before and after each usage. 2.9.2 Reproduction In this study, three dirt samples were used throughout the same trial. 2.9.3 Certified Reference Material [ CRM ] This stuff enables traceability to the International System of unit. CRM contains known dirt belongingss and mineral measures by weight ( Mackay & A ; Kazlauskas, 2011 ) . This was provided in the University research lab and was really utile for digestion of acid in entire heavy metal extraction experiment from samples without being cognizant of how efficient the is during the digestion. 2.9.4 Reagent space Reagent spaces were besides included in the finding processes, and treated the same manner the dirt samples were treated. The consequence of the reagent spaces were subtracted from the samples to take any signifier of divergence which might hold been present in the chemicals used in the research lab work. 3.0 Consequences and Discussions 3.1 Soil pH Soil trial Mean Standard divergence pH 5.165 0.06363 Table 3.1 dirt pH Soil pH of country A, B and C are reasonably acidic as shown in the above tabular array 3.1. The values are 5.12 and 5.21. The sites have merely little differences in which country A is has the highest pH value and C has the lowest country. Crops can really turn on the investigated site ; this is support by Alloway ( 1990 ) the pH degree for cultivable harvests is 6.5 on mineral dirts and 5.5 on peaty dirts. Miller and Gardiner ( 1998 ) besides agreed that most agricultural workss can turn at its best in somewhat acidic dirt. Strongly acidic dirt status will increase the solubility and mobility of heavy metals that are present in the dirt, this will expose workss to put on the line as metals will be absorbed through works roots, workss finally become contaminated with high degree of heavy metals, this is true for elements like Zn, Co and Cu ( Mattina et al. , 2003 ) . Nitrification seem to be absent in acid dirts, microorganisms can non accommodate to acidic environment and finally its metabolic rate is reduced and C disrupted ( Alloway & A ; Ayres, 1993 ) . Soil sourness can be regulated by application of calcium hydroxide to dirty to increase the pH degree to 6.5 ( Blevins et al. , 1978 ) . 3.2 Soil organic affair 3.3 Cation exchange capacity Ion exchange is said to be an exchange between counter-ions that balances surface charge on dirt colloids whether the dirt is organic dirt, clay dirt or mineral dirt and the ion in the dirt solution, nevertheless, cation exchange capacity is the extent to which dirt components can move as cation money changer ( Alloway & A ; Ayres, 1993 ) .

Rip Van Winkle

The characters in Rip Van Winkle and Young Goodman Brown written respectively by Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne leave their individual communities and return with radically different perspectives (of their current lives) that change their attitudes and way of life in the remaining of their lives. Both stories are set in early American villages, Young Goodman Brown takes place in the 1700’s New England puritan settlement while Rip Van Winkle takes place over 100 years later in an English colony in eastern New York. Both authors were very clever to use different historical context to illustrate cultural aspects of early American societies in order to make the reader aware of how big of a role gender, politics and religion where to the societies. Strange/Supernatural forces challenge and would radically change both characters when they depart from their individual village and head into the forest/mountains and on their perspective, individual journeys. The external scenery that both of the authors provide, has both liberal and figurative meanings that simulate Rip Van Winkle’s and Young Goodman Brown’s experiences. Both characters go into dream-like states and are forced to face problems that would eventually expose their true identities. This shorts stories conclude with transformations in the two characters internal perspectives and external perceptions towards their respective communities and time periods. Young Goodman Brown and Rip Van Winkle illustrate their early American life in a puritan village and New English colony. Overall, one of the most important details in the stories are the relationships these characters have with their wives. In the beginning of Young Goodman Brown, Brown adores his newly wed wife named Faith who he ironically refers to as a blessed angel on Earth. Through out his journey Brown puts his wife in a pedestal of purity despite learning the truth about his brother. Brown’s attitudes starts to change toward Faith during a dream that convinces him of her spiritual demise that is been represented by the symbolic pink ribbons that are falling of the sky. Faiths pink ribbons are a symbol of her virtue, innocence, and purity. The image of the pink ribbons falling from the sky marks the start of the radical transformation of Brown’s feelings towards his wife Faith and his former self towards his society. When Brown returns from his night (dream) in the forest his reaction towards Faith is as if she was a repulsive stranger and is no longer the loving wife he held with high respect and in a pedestal. The story ends with Faith and Brown’s children following Brown’s funeral procession. In the beginning of Rip Van Winkle, Rip is portrayed as lazy husband who would do anything for others except his own husbandly duties. Rip Van Winkle’s wife, Dame Winkle, who is nothing like her husband goes around doing her wifely duties, as a wife and mother, regardless whether her husband Rip meets her needs. Despite been such a likeable person to his friends and neighbors, Winkle makes his wife’s life complicated. Dame Van Winkle is the typical wife that takes care of the obligations she has at home while Rip refuses to be productive around the house. The story emphasis’s how relentlessly Dame nags Rip. However if Rip had assumed his share of household responsibilities perhaps Rip might not have felt an impact. Dame’s life is further complicated by the absence of 20 years of her husband. When Rip returns Dame is dead and he is taken in by his daughter who replaces the maternal role that his wife (dame) had previously occupied. The external scene plays an important role in Rip’s life. The mountains where he goes to hunt are referred to as magical and fairy place, foreshadowing Winkles encounter with the supernatural. In the mountain Rip decides to stay the night ironically this is just where he sleeps for the next 20 years. The branches and the vines that are in Rip’s way on his trip back home are a metaphor for the difficulties that he will soon face back home. The same can be said of the shadowy sinister forest that Brown encounters, this is an indication of the man he will soon become. The dark cloud that Brown sees in the sky is can be a symbol of the dark magic that lies in the center of the forest. Supernatural elements and beings that display mischief in both stories have an important role in both Young and Rip lives. The person Brown meets in the forest displays weird characteristics. This individual is capable of running at abnormal speeds, turns a staff into a snake, and creates a walking stick that allows Brown to transport himself into the center of the forest . This person is later identified to be the devil, is able to change his appearance at will and appears similar to Young Goodman’s grandfather. Brown also observes members of his church, who are witches and wizards, attend a diabolical ceremony. Brown then observes the ceremony being performed by his fellow members. Unlike the evil that Brown experiences, the supernatural things that Rip experiences are nothing of evilness but more of people who enjoy their respective time. While Rip goes up to the mountains with his beloved dog to avoid his wife and hunts for squirrels, he is approached by a group of people who are in a gathering in the mountains, he is invited to join them and he steals a drink which evidently leads to his journey. Brown and Rips life’s are completely altered by the encounters of these supernatural beings and elements during their journeys. Both characters struggle with their identities after becoming lost in their dreams where they were unable to identify reality. Rip discovers that his existence has been erased from the villagers minds after 20 years of absence. Both his nagging wife, Dame, and his loving dog which where his daily aspects of his life are now dead. The new ideas and their patriotism of the villagers are different to Rip’s due to the fact that he had slept through one of America’s greatest moments the American Revolution. Rip goes into a deep confusion when he sees his son, who is now a grown man and who is the precise counterpart of himself, just as he went up the mountain. The appearance of his son makes Rip comprehend the gravity of the situation he is now in. Goodman Brown also experiences something similarly when he is trapped in his world were he discovers the unchristian secrets of his town and even worse his wife’s secrets. He also has confusion on who he is, even the devil with who he meets physically resembles him. Brown is also confused when the devil tells him that he had also had several meetings with Brown’s grandfather and father. Technically, Brown is only away one night but to him it seems along time, at the same time Rip’s 20 years of absence is also one night. Both, Hawthorne and Irving, illustrate American civilization and culture. Natives Americans are represented as evil beings hiding in the forest . While Goodman Brown is walking to the forest he would turn around to see if they weren’t hiding in the trees. When Rip returns back to his village, the villagers tell him that there where rumors that he was carried away by the Indians. References to native Americans demonstrate the mentality of early American towards civilizations that lived ere long before their colonization. In Rip Van Winkle, Irving provides examples of the change of attitudes of colonist before and after the revolutionary war. When Rip wakes up from his 20 year nap he is confronted by the villagers and they ask him what is his â€Å"role†, he makes the mistake of saying he is loyal to England and therefore, he is ac cused of being a spy . Their accusations illustrate the beginning of individual freedom that they now had after winning their Revolution. Hawthorne uses Goodman Brown to proof that the puritans in the village were not really pure. He demonstrates how the puritans would violently pursue people who had other belief systems. For instance, the devil tells Goodman how his past relatives had lashed Quaker women and set fire to an Indian village. To further demonstrate this Brown was giving the ability to witness first hand every sin that his puritan brothers had committed. By the end of both stories the inner self of the characters had undergone a major transformation. The previous role that they had in their earlier communities and lives had also transformed. Brown was aware of the sins of his neighbor, therefore his beliefs about his community had radically changed . His relationship with his wife is no longer a union of love but more of an obligation that he had. The things that the devil had shown Brown had impend him from moving on. After living his life as a cynical person, he dies. Au contraire Rip had become a living legend in his community, somewhat of a war hero, he would always retell his story to other town’s folks in the cavern . He is now free of his wife, who had always been an intrusion in his life. Despite feeling belligerent at the villagers new political stance Rip was now glad he was happy, a free man. Rip’s attitude remains the same but 20 years later he is old enough that a man his age can be taken lightly. Rip’s new perception has change the image of himself, he is now a free husband/hero in the village instead of a lazy husband. As for Brown, the perception he gained, made him more of an open minded person to the sins of the villagers in his community. After his journey through the forest is over he has to live with the burden of the knowledge that not all puritans where pure. Rip Van Winkle The characters in Rip Van Winkle and Young Goodman Brown written respectively by Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne leave their individual communities and return with radically different perspectives (of their current lives) that change their attitudes and way of life in the remaining of their lives. Both stories are set in early American villages, Young Goodman Brown takes place in the 1700’s New England puritan settlement while Rip Van Winkle takes place over 100 years later in an English colony in eastern New York. Both authors were very clever to use different historical context to illustrate cultural aspects of early American societies in order to make the reader aware of how big of a role gender, politics and religion where to the societies. Strange/Supernatural forces challenge and would radically change both characters when they depart from their individual village and head into the forest/mountains and on their perspective, individual journeys. The external scenery that both of the authors provide, has both liberal and figurative meanings that simulate Rip Van Winkle’s and Young Goodman Brown’s experiences. Both characters go into dream-like states and are forced to face problems that would eventually expose their true identities. This shorts stories conclude with transformations in the two characters internal perspectives and external perceptions towards their respective communities and time periods. Young Goodman Brown and Rip Van Winkle illustrate their early American life in a puritan village and New English colony. Overall, one of the most important details in the stories are the relationships these characters have with their wives. In the beginning of Young Goodman Brown, Brown adores his newly wed wife named Faith who he ironically refers to as a blessed angel on Earth. Through out his journey Brown puts his wife in a pedestal of purity despite learning the truth about his brother. Brown’s attitudes starts to change toward Faith during a dream that convinces him of her spiritual demise that is been represented by the symbolic pink ribbons that are falling of the sky. Faiths pink ribbons are a symbol of her virtue, innocence, and purity. The image of the pink ribbons falling from the sky marks the start of the radical transformation of Brown’s feelings towards his wife Faith and his former self towards his society. When Brown returns from his night (dream) in the forest his reaction towards Faith is as if she was a repulsive stranger and is no longer the loving wife he held with high respect and in a pedestal. The story ends with Faith and Brown’s children following Brown’s funeral procession. In the beginning of Rip Van Winkle, Rip is portrayed as lazy husband who would do anything for others except his own husbandly duties. Rip Van Winkle’s wife, Dame Winkle, who is nothing like her husband goes around doing her wifely duties, as a wife and mother, regardless whether her husband Rip meets her needs. Despite been such a likeable person to his friends and neighbors, Winkle makes his wife’s life complicated. Dame Van Winkle is the typical wife that takes care of the obligations she has at home while Rip refuses to be productive around the house. The story emphasis’s how relentlessly Dame nags Rip. However if Rip had assumed his share of household responsibilities perhaps Rip might not have felt an impact. Dame’s life is further complicated by the absence of 20 years of her husband. When Rip returns Dame is dead and he is taken in by his daughter who replaces the maternal role that his wife (dame) had previously occupied. The external scene plays an important role in Rip’s life. The mountains where he goes to hunt are referred to as magical and fairy place, foreshadowing Winkles encounter with the supernatural. In the mountain Rip decides to stay the night ironically this is just where he sleeps for the next 20 years. The branches and the vines that are in Rip’s way on his trip back home are a metaphor for the difficulties that he will soon face back home. The same can be said of the shadowy sinister forest that Brown encounters, this is an indication of the man he will soon become. The dark cloud that Brown sees in the sky is can be a symbol of the dark magic that lies in the center of the forest. Supernatural elements and beings that display mischief in both stories have an important role in both Young and Rip lives. The person Brown meets in the forest displays weird characteristics. This individual is capable of running at abnormal speeds, turns a staff into a snake, and creates a walking stick that allows Brown to transport himself into the center of the forest . This person is later identified to be the devil, is able to change his appearance at will and appears similar to Young Goodman’s grandfather. Brown also observes members of his church, who are witches and wizards, attend a diabolical ceremony. Brown then observes the ceremony being performed by his fellow members. Unlike the evil that Brown experiences, the supernatural things that Rip experiences are nothing of evilness but more of people who enjoy their respective time. While Rip goes up to the mountains with his beloved dog to avoid his wife and hunts for squirrels, he is approached by a group of people who are in a gathering in the mountains, he is invited to join them and he steals a drink which evidently leads to his journey. Brown and Rips life’s are completely altered by the encounters of these supernatural beings and elements during their journeys. Both characters struggle with their identities after becoming lost in their dreams where they were unable to identify reality. Rip discovers that his existence has been erased from the villagers minds after 20 years of absence. Both his nagging wife, Dame, and his loving dog which where his daily aspects of his life are now dead. The new ideas and their patriotism of the villagers are different to Rip’s due to the fact that he had slept through one of America’s greatest moments the American Revolution. Rip goes into a deep confusion when he sees his son, who is now a grown man and who is the precise counterpart of himself, just as he went up the mountain. The appearance of his son makes Rip comprehend the gravity of the situation he is now in. Goodman Brown also experiences something similarly when he is trapped in his world were he discovers the unchristian secrets of his town and even worse his wife’s secrets. He also has confusion on who he is, even the devil with who he meets physically resembles him. Brown is also confused when the devil tells him that he had also had several meetings with Brown’s grandfather and father. Technically, Brown is only away one night but to him it seems along time, at the same time Rip’s 20 years of absence is also one night. Both, Hawthorne and Irving, illustrate American civilization and culture. Natives Americans are represented as evil beings hiding in the forest . While Goodman Brown is walking to the forest he would turn around to see if they weren’t hiding in the trees. When Rip returns back to his village, the villagers tell him that there where rumors that he was carried away by the Indians. References to native Americans demonstrate the mentality of early American towards civilizations that lived ere long before their colonization. In Rip Van Winkle, Irving provides examples of the change of attitudes of colonist before and after the revolutionary war. When Rip wakes up from his 20 year nap he is confronted by the villagers and they ask him what is his â€Å"role†, he makes the mistake of saying he is loyal to England and therefore, he is ac cused of being a spy . Their accusations illustrate the beginning of individual freedom that they now had after winning their Revolution. Hawthorne uses Goodman Brown to proof that the puritans in the village were not really pure. He demonstrates how the puritans would violently pursue people who had other belief systems. For instance, the devil tells Goodman how his past relatives had lashed Quaker women and set fire to an Indian village. To further demonstrate this Brown was giving the ability to witness first hand every sin that his puritan brothers had committed. By the end of both stories the inner self of the characters had undergone a major transformation. The previous role that they had in their earlier communities and lives had also transformed. Brown was aware of the sins of his neighbor, therefore his beliefs about his community had radically changed . His relationship with his wife is no longer a union of love but more of an obligation that he had. The things that the devil had shown Brown had impend him from moving on. After living his life as a cynical person, he dies. Au contraire Rip had become a living legend in his community, somewhat of a war hero, he would always retell his story to other town’s folks in the cavern . He is now free of his wife, who had always been an intrusion in his life. Despite feeling belligerent at the villagers new political stance Rip was now glad he was happy, a free man. Rip’s attitude remains the same but 20 years later he is old enough that a man his age can be taken lightly. Rip’s new perception has change the image of himself, he is now a free husband/hero in the village instead of a lazy husband. As for Brown, the perception he gained, made him more of an open minded person to the sins of the villagers in his community. After his journey through the forest is over he has to live with the burden of the knowledge that not all puritans where pure.

Asian philosphy reflection Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Asian philosphy reflection - Article Example These limbs are referred to as the Dharana, which implies the practice of turning the attention of the mind to a particular point, item or object. Patanjali explains that, this custom is meditative and can only be attempted after perfecting asana, pranayama and pratyahara (PatanÃŒÆ'jali & Ranganathan, 2009). According to Patanjali, Dharana, does not represent an end in itself, however, it acts as a preparation stage, which leads to other meditative feats, particularly the dhyana, which is described as an incredibly advanced stage of meditation that cannot be contrasted with ordinary prayer. On equal measure, the book gives an image of the benefits of justification for meditation of a spiritual character, which includes allowing the yogis to comprehend themselves. On a similar note, the book gives a picture on the three aspects that explains the â€Å"perfect constraint of the mind†. These aspects include concentration, reflection of profound spiritual character and liberating state of absorption (Samadhi) (PatanÃŒÆ'jali & Ranganathan, 2009). Another aspect evident in this book is the process of that an aspirant takes from dharanja to dhyana and then to Samadhi. This process is summed as the Samyama, which implies the perfect constraint of the mind. The primary significance of Samyama that is repeatedly referred in this book is its ability to lead to the luminescence of wisdom. We learn that this process occurs in a progression trend (PatanÃŒÆ'jali & Ranganathan, 2009). On the closing pages, Patanjali succeeds to offer an alternative but systematic philosophy of understanding how soteriological freedom from disturbances of the mind is similar with moral freedom to live in accordance to one’s uppermost responsibility, which is attributed to the normative theory of the social

Research method - Critical Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research method - Critical Review - Essay Example Here the authors have used a quantitative research for the study and a total of around 300 responses have been got for the research. The focus has been on the Indian organisations. The findings clearly show a major link and co relationship between human resource capabilities and the organisational performance. The researcher however has been able to effectively gain responses and the findings are relatively more reliable and valid as compared to the previous research. In the second stage the incomplete questionnaires of the first stage were resent and an attempt to get the responses was made. This sampling method is not very clear and although the authors explain that the research included the two stages, the second stage does not seem to be complete and requires more attention for better sampling. The data collection method here in this paper is based on case studies and on secondary data. There has not been any clear data collection for the research which causes the biggest drawback here. Although secondary research can prove to be very effective in other researches, here in this case with the aims and objectives of the research, the method is not an efficient manner and needs changes. Analysis has been conducted based on the secondary data found. This however cannot be recognised to be most effective manner as it merely relies on views and research data of other authors and does not contribute to the field of study as effectively as it could have. Here the analysis is merely rephrasing of the views of the other researchers (Saunders, Lewis & Thornhill, 2000) This research paper focuses on an effective data collection method for the paper. The authors have carefully planned and picked their research methods and the method adopted here allows the researcher to gain the answers to the objectives (Sekaran, 2000). However there is major scope for improvement here and the research can be proved to be much more effective if the data collection

Company Analysis for Nike Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Company Analysis for Nike - Essay Example The company has agreements with internet companies such as Yahoo and Google. It uses them as a marketing platform for its products. It operates within different companies and subsidiaries. It entered the market originally with different footwear designs. It also deals in apparel designs such jerseys for different football teams and designs sports gear for other games as well. The company produces running shoes with their trademark logo â€Å"Nike† inscribed most of the labels they produce. Today, the company’s logo has grown to include a large range of leisure and sportswear. All this is endorsed by famous sporting personalities such as Tiger Woods. The Company is recognized by the Federal Statistical Classification Agencies that classify business establishments in the United States. This is the body that is charged with collection, analysis and publication of statistical data relating to the businesses within the USA. According to North America Industry Codes, Nike has the code 316211. 31 denote Footwear manufacturing Industry. 62 denote Rubber while 11 denotes plastics. In short, Nike falls under Footwear Manufacturing industry according to NAICS Codes. Nike Company designs, develops and markets high quality and active sports equipment, apparel, as well as other accessory products. The company produces several brands of shoe styles every single day to keep up to speed with different needs of its customers. It deals in trends that appeal to different tastes of its customers (Bogomolova, 2011). This is perhaps a critical success factor for the company. Different customers have a variety of products to choose from. They strive to meet current standards by studying the market and carrying out feasibility studies about new products, a measure that ensures they stay ahead of their competitors. The management of the company ensures that they have closer working relationships foe effective deliberation of

Electric Health Record (EHR) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Electric Health Record (EHR) - Essay Example By using the HER, clinicians are in a position to track the patient’s data over some period of time enabling them to easily identify the patients who are supposed to undergo preventive screening, check on the patient’s progress on parameters like vaccines, readings on blood pressure as well as improving and monitoring of the entire care quality of the patients. Since its introduction, the use of EHR has arguably contributed positively in making record keeping of patients more accurate, easier, more efficient and comprehensive. Since the introduction of EHR more than 40 years ago, the device has met both support and opposition. Most people consider EHR introduction as a controversial adoption in the health sector which raises issues such as excessive involvement by the government and privacy invasion. They regard the device as invading the privacy of patients is inefficient and the storage of records is not secure. Other people believe that this introduction is a signifi cant step in improving healthcare services and processes. Those in support argue that the adoption has ensured better service coordination among healthcare providers and professionals, it is cost effective and offers safer recoding of patients information (Ohno-Machado, 2011). Advantages The use of EHRs in healthcare processes has greatly reduced errors that were characteristic of medical records. The records that were hand written in the past had many human errors as a result of illegibility, misspelling and varying terminologies. EHRs have made it possible for all the health records for patients to be standardized. The EHR introduction has also served as a solution for the problem of loosing paper records. Physical records were prone to destruction by floods, fire and other catastrophes that happen naturally leading to patients and clinicians losing data. By using EHR, the records are stored digitally thus can remain virtually stored forever and for the longest time possible. The device also helps in storing health information which the patients are fond of forgetting after some time such as previous medications, illness and inoculations. By consolidating all the relevant data, health care becomes cost-effective. Paper records that were previously used were stored in different locations thus accessing them was money and time consuming. There are also a significant deficit in the process of exchanging medical information between the physicians that are based in hospitals and the primary care physicians. One of the major benefits of EHRs in the health care is the role the system played in the children hospitalized with asthma. Before the introduction of EHRs, only 4% of the children managed to get the asthma plan of action before they were discharged. Upon implementation, the number significantly increased as more than 58% of the children had the chance to benefit from the asthma action plan before they left the hospital (Hebert, 2008). The use of EHRs has als o been credited for saving lives. This is because it ensures rapid identification of the patient’s risks and an easy access of the medical history of patients, enabling rapid treatment and diagnosis in all situations including emergencies. A good example is the case of patients with heart problems and diabetes who are prone to attacks and collapsing. The device is also useful in accident situations and other trauma cases where the victims involved are not in a position to respond to questions. This was evident in the Hurricane Katrina incident (Ohno-Machado, 2011). Disadvantages Among the main opponents of the EHRs are the groups advocating for privacy rights. Such

CoOrdinate implementation of customer service stratergies (certificate Essay

CoOrdinate implementation of customer service stratergies (certificate III in sales) - Essay Example 6 Private Contractor 7Architect and Private Contractors 8 Company approves Interior Design and Store Lay-out Milestone 3 9 Interior Designer starts work 10 Interior Designers ends work 11 Merchandisers fix store lay-out Milestone 4 12 Booths/kiosks for sports and apparel finished 13 The interior designer makes final touches to the store lay-out 14 Company opens store to the public Milestone 5 GANNT CHART OF MAJOR TASKS TO BE DONE BY PERSONNEL IN ACQUIRING THE PRODUCTS (SPORTING GOODS, EQUIPMENT, APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES) Task Task 1 Planning Sports Equipment Task 2 Generating and Selecting list of suppliers Task 3 Checking Quality of Merchandise and Final Choice Task 4 Planning Store Lay-out for Sports and Apparel Task 5Installation Task 6 Sporting Goods are placed in Display Booths Task 7 Store is open to the Public Reports & milestones Duration of Project - months 1 Store Merchandising Manager and team Milestone 1 2 Merchandising Team 3Merchandising Team 4 Quality control Manager and team of assistants Milestone 2 5 Marketing Director and Merchandising Team 6 Architect, Marketing Director and Merchandising Team 7 Architect and Private Contractor Milestone 3 8 Architect and Private Contractor 9 Architect and Private Contractor 10 Architect and Private Contractor 11 Marketing Director and Merchandising Team Milestone 4 12 Merchandising Team 13 Merchandising Team 14Marketing Director, Merchandising Team and Architect Milestone 5 Identification of Project Stakeholders The project has several stakeholders. The first group of stakeholders is the...Through special coordination with the company's high-quality suppliers, product testing demonstrations will take place on-site for our customers to appreciate. This system will allow the customer to appreciate the features of the sports equipment and accessories, and they will be able to receive detailed equipment performance information right from the manufacturers' representatives. The Shop employs sports specialists and athletes who are familiar with the various sporting goods and equipment. The shop caters to university students and sports enthusiasts who live in the community. The shop has a strategic location as it is close to Deakin University Waterfront campus, college and high school libraries, department stores and supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, entertainment sites, city hospitals, designated sporting grounds and the beach. The project has several stakeholders. The first group of stakeholders is the end consumers consisting of the family households comprising of the parents, the teen-agers who are university students, the children and other family members who will purchase the sport equipment, apparel and accessories. The company must provide high-quality goods at affordable prices.

Drugs and Crime- The Media's Influence-repost Personal Statement

Drugs and Crime- The Media's Influence-repost - Personal Statement Example According to Morgan, the freedom of media need regulation in order to meet the needs of the citizenry, which requires impartial, justice and fairness (46). The misrepresentation of facts is a crime and the media should be accountable for false information. This is because the misrepresentation of facts is a civil misdeed, which may lead to defamation and other damages on the part of the defendant. The media should discourage drugs, instead of the media applying double standards in a bid to save the image of celebrities like Bieber. The media should take the initiative to enlighten the public, especially the youth, on the side effects of misuse of drugs. This will serve as a deterrent measure of the prevalence of drug misuse, which leads to road carnage and other social evils. The media can make use of advertisements and other form of media outlets in the dissemination of information on the effects of misuse of drugs (Morgan 67). Information is power and it can help the decision making process of the vulnerable populace especially the youth population. The media should not be allowed to be part of any criminal proceedings with regard to drugs and crime. This will ensure that justice is administered without undue

E-billing in Local Municipalities in South Africa Essay

E-billing in Local Municipalities in South Africa - Essay Example It provides various of benefits to consumers such as convenient distribution and navigation, in order to improve the analysis as well as cost reporting in business sectors. Several companies are adopting e Billing solutions in the file and contract management. Through e Billing, customers better understand their manner of spending and how cost savings are made. Tshwane is one municipality of South Africa in which approximate population is 2.2 million. Most part of the municipality have low income level; 55% of the people are unemployed with ages 18 - 65; 8.7% of inhabitants who are older than 15 are illiterate. classified as 'illiterate'. Despite this fact, the leaders are pushing the economic growth and development of the entire city and one example towards achieving their goals is their involvement in the advance information and communication technology system programs such as the Tshwane Global Digital Hub program. The city is envisioned to be the destination of communication and information technology-based business.

Business Law Essay Example for Free

Business Law Essay You are to work on this assignment alone without assistance from others; however, you may use your text, class lectures and your notes in completing the assignment. Points earned from this assignment will be added to your total point score for the semester. (See the course syllabus for the course grading scale.) Due Date Mon., Nov. 12th: This is an out-of-class assignment and is to be turned in no later than the beginning of class on the due date. The Assignment: Read the news articles and the federal regulations that follow. Answer the questions about potential claims. Please note: †¢ Your answers are to be marked on the Assignment. Mark clearly to show which answer you have selected. †¢ Write your name on the Assignment Sheet. Submit a hard copy of the entire Assignment Sheet. NTSB releases details on Lake Butler crash No charges have been filed against bus driver, although a criminal investigation continues. By ASSOCIATED PRESS Published February 3, 2006 LAKE BUTLER, FLORIDA – The truck driver who plowed into a car at a school bus stop last week killing seven children had been awake for 34 hours, except for a short nap, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday. David Rayburn, the lead NTSB investigator for the Lake Butler crash, said the 31-year-old truck driver, Alvin Wilkerson, was refusing to talk to investigators about the accident. Rayburn and Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Leeper refused to release the name of Wilkerson’s attorney. Calls to Crete Carrier Corp., the Lincoln, Nebraska, trucking company Wilkerson drove for, were not immediately returned. Blood tests showed he had not been using alcohol or drugs, Leeper said. Wilkerson was not using his cell phone at the time of the accident. No charges have been filed against Wilkerson, although a criminal investigation continues. Rayburn said driver fatigue was one of main factors being looked into as the cause of the crash. â€Å"He was driving quite a bit during those 34 hours, probably too much,† Rayburn said, adding that Wilkerson was making deliveries and loading and unloading his truck. At the time of the crash, Wilkerson was driving a load of bottled water from High Springs to Jacksonville, a trip of about 85 miles. The NTSB, using an identical school bus and truck, determined the school bus should have been visible for about 3,000 feet (more than half a mile) and there was some light skid marks before hitting the car and pushing it into the school bus. The car burst into flames, killing all seven children, and forcing it under the school bus, carrying nine children. Two children from the bus remain at Shands hospital in Gainesvile in serious condition. When asked when Wilkerson saw the bus, Rayburn said, â€Å"I don’t know that he did.† Rayburn said both the bus driver and the truck driver had valid commercial licenses. He noted that the driver of the car, Nikki Mann, was only 15, and had only a learner’s permit. She was talking on her cell phone when the truck hit the back of her car. Sheriff Jerry Whitehead said the crash was not Nikki Mann’s fault. â€Å"Accidents happen. This was a tragedy. I don’t believe she was at all at fault. The truck plowed into them and killed them.† Rayburn said there were no mechanical problems with any of the vehicles involved and a recorder on the truck did not show the impact. Investigators don’t know if a dog riding in Wilkerson’s truck played any part in the collision. Rayburn said he investigated a 2004 crash in which a Crete Carrier driver had been driving excessive hours. That incident involved a multi-car pile-up on the Indiana toll road near Chicago resulting in two fatalities, including the Crete driver. NTSB records show Crete has been cited fourteen times in the last six years for driver hour violations. This tiny Union City town has been mourning since the crash last week. On Monday, the five children of Terry and Barbara Mann were buried after a service at the First Christian Church in Lake Butler. They were Nikki, 15, and adopted children Elizabeth, 15, Johnny, 13, Heaven, 3, and 20-month-old Anthony. Their cousins, twins Ashley and Amanda Finn, 13, were buried Wednesday next to the body of William Edwin Scott, 70, the grandfather of the seven children, who died of a heart attack after hearing about the accident. Fatal Accident Driver Has Long Legal History Investigators are still piecing together why an 18-wheeler slammed into the back of a car and school bus in Lake Butler yesterday, causing seven children to die. The truck that was involved in the accident was owned and operated by Crete Carrier Corp. It’s a trucking company that has a pretty good reputation for safety nationwide. But the driver who was behind the wheel had anything but that. The WESH 2 I-Team discovered that he has a long history of problems with the law. According to driving records obtained by the I-Team, Alvin Wilkerson has been cited for eight traffic violations since 1995, including two speeding tickets and two seat belt violations. He’s also been cited twice for driving with a suspended or revoked license and twice more for operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe condition. Wilkerson, age 31, was driving for Crete Carrier Corp., which is headquartered in Lincoln, Neb. Crete employs 5,400 drivers operating 5,100 tractor-trailers around the country. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records, Crete carries a satisfactory safety rating. Even so, the I-Team discovered that in the last two years, Crete drivers have been involved in 482 crashes and 20 of those ended in fatalities. In Florida, transportation officials conducted 259 inspections of Crete trucks and drivers in the last two years alone and found 111 violations. Eight of those violations were so serious that inspectors immediately forced the trucks out of service and off the road. WESH 2 News asked Crete officials why they would hire someone with Wilkerson’s driving record, but they did not respond. A Florida Highway Patrol investigation of the accident continues. An investigator said they are checking on the truck’s systems. He said there was no indication that the truck’s brakes failed, but it appears the truck made no effort to stop before it slammed into that car full of children. Seven children, all related, perished in the crash when the car burst into flames. Their bodies were charred beyond recognition. Eight children on the school bus and the driver were transported to Shands HealthCare hospitals. Three of the children are reported in critical condition. Alvin Wilkerson suffered minor injuries and is reportedly at home.

Three Gorges Dam Brochure Essay Example for Free

Three Gorges Dam Brochure Essay In his book â€Å"The International Development of China† in 1919. In it he wrote that a dam that could manage to produce 30 million horsepower (22,371 V) worth of electricity was conceivable downstream the Three Gorges Mountains. The River on which it would be built was the Yangtze River is the third largest river in the world at 3,837 Miles long, behind the Nile and Amazon Rivers. In 1932 the nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-Shek began the first round of work on the Three Gorges Dam. In 1939, the Japanese forces took control over Yichang and occupied. With the fear of the Japanese advance a designed entitled the â€Å"Otani Plan† was completed. Sun Yat-Sen The dam’s construction was stalled until 1944 when the chief designer of the United States Bureau of Reclamation John L. Savage scouted the area and devised a scheme for what they called the â€Å"Yangtze River Project†. As a result 54 Chinese engineers went to the United States for training in 1944. A lot of economic, survey and environmental study was taken out in the following years concerning the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. In 1947 however at the height of the Chinese Civil War work was once again abandoned at the site. Sun Yat-Sen’s Book A painted depiction of the Chinese Civil War John L. Savage of the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation The Communist Victory In 1949 the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Mao Zedong won the Chinese Civil War against the Kuomintang Emblem of the (CPC) Mao Zedong (Chinese Nationalist Party). Mao supported the project of the Three Gorges Dam but preferred beginning with the Gezhouba Dam project first. Mao’s introduction of China’s â€Å"Great Leap Forward†, and the Cultural Revolution greatly hampered the progress of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam once again. The Great Leap Forward The Great Leap Forward was a major program undertaken by the People’s Republic of China between 1958 and 1961which consisted of both economic and social campaigns. The plan had many objectives. To begin with, it plotted to use China’s enormous population to move from an agricultural economy to a modern Communist civilization through the collectivization of the farming industry and a hasty process of industrialization. The campaign was based on a hypothesis known as the Theory of the Productive Forces. Reforms included the mandatory process of collectivization (farming being taken out as a joint venture by the people) and the banning of private farming. This policy was enforced on the rural people through social pressure. Propaganda Posters that were popularly displayed all over China during the â€Å"Great Leap Forward† Era. They display a picture of Success and progress contrary to the true results (1958-1961). Mao was informed beforehand of the ominous possibility of a disaster due to grain shortages but instead sped up the campaign. This would prove to be a great disaster and lead to the Great Chinese Famine, eventually more than 15 million and possibly 26 million people would die of starvation between 1959 and 1961. The â€Å"Great Leap Forward† was officially abandoned in late 1961. The Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution was Mao Zedong’s attempt to regain prominence fter his marginalization in early 1962, due to the failure of the â€Å"Great Leap Forward†. The Revolution was a socio-political movement which took place between 1966 and 1976. The goal of the movement was to impose socialism in China through the removal of capitalist, traditional and cultural elements of Chinese society and the impose Maoism within the Propaganda Poster for the Cultural Revolution Communist Party of China. Mao suspected that burgeois elements were infiltrating the Government and Chinese society and were trying to re-establish Capitalism in China. Mao suggested that the only way to remove these elements was through a violent class struggle. The Chinese youth, inspired by Mao’s declaration and ideology formed Red Guard groups across the country. The movement eventually quickly spread into the military, middle-class urban workers and even the Communist leadership itself. People from all walks of life from senior officials to teachers were purged as they were accused of being anti-Socialist. Some officials who were purged would even form China’s next Government and included Deng Xiaoping and Liu Shaoqi. Propaganda Posters during the â€Å"Cultural Revolutionâ€Å" Era. This period consisted of an immense personality cult for Mao and the promotion of his infamous â€Å"Little Red Book† (1966-1976) During the Cultural Revolution Mao’s personality cult grew greatly, often to immense proportions. The Cultural Revolution greatly impacted on China’s economy and social fabric. Persecution became commonplace and millions suffered in the violent struggles that took place across the country. Many abuses were committed including torture, rape, imprisonment, harassment and seizure of property. A massive segment of the Chinese population was displaced, either by fear or force. The most notable manner however was when youths were transferred all around the country. Historic monuments and artifacts were destroyed or damaged. Religious and cultural sites were ransacked. After Mao Mao would officially call an end to the campaign in 1969, but it would still continue until 1971. Mao Zedong would die later 5 years later on September 9th, 1976. He left a nation traumatized by his loss but also with hunger, poverty and persecution. Both the â€Å"Great Leap Forward† and the Cultural Revolution greatly hampered the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Both these campaigns would have a long lasting effect on China and diverted much attention away from it’s construction, to more pressing domestic concerns. Back in 1956 however, Mao Zedong, as a response to floods on the Yangtze two years earlier, had written and published a poem which he called â€Å"swimming†. In the poem he described his interest in a dam on the Yangtze River. In the summer of 1957 Mao Zedong initiated the Hundred Flowers Campaign. The Campaign consisted of letting other ideas and solutions â€Å"bloom† in a burst of free speech to the Chinese people. However this campaign was short lived and lasted barely six weeks. Many engineers however during this time had spoken out against the idea of building a dam, but were subsequently imprisoned after the campaign ended. A Propoganda Poster for the â€Å"One Hundred Flowers Camapign, 1957. Top: Mao’s â€Å"Swimmingâ€Å" Poem Mao Zedong in his Mausoleum Bottom Right:Time Magazine’s issue for Mao’s Death,1976. The Comeback The Three Gorges Dam reappeared as a topic in the 1980’s. The National People’s Congress (NPC), the highest and only legislative structure in China, voted in 1992 in favor of the dam. Out of a total of 2,633 delegates, 1,767 voted in support of the dam, while 177 voted against, a further 664 forfeited the vote and 25 abstained. On December 14th, 1994 the dam’s construction began. The initial date that was expected for completion and full operation was mid 2009, however the many other components of the dam including the underground power plant to process the energy produced is expected to delay the date of completion and operation to 2011. The Ship lift area of the dam is predicted to be completed by the year 2014. The Hall Where the Construction for the Dam was approved in The Great Hall of the people, the meeting place for the NPC Map marking the location of the Three Gorges Dam Panorama of the Three Gorges Dam The Three Gorges Dam Specifications The Three Gorges Dam is made primarily of concrete   and is 2,335  m (7,661  ft) long, with the level of the dam being 185 metres (607  ft) above sea level. The Three Gorges Dam used 27,200,000 cubic metres (35,600,000 cu  yd) of concrete, 463,000  tonnes  of steel, and moved about 102,600,000 cubic metres (134,200,000 cu yd) of earth. The reservoir the dam has created is about 660 kilometres (410  mi) in length and 1. 2 kilometres (0. 70  mi) in width. It contains 39. 3  km3  (31,900,000 acre/feet) of water and has a total surface area of 1,045  km?. On completion, the reservoir flooded a total area of 632  km? of land. Power Generating Capacity The Three Gorges Dam is by far the world’s largest Hydroelectric dam. It boasts 29 700 MW turbines and a total capacity of 20,300 MW. By the time of completion it will have 32 generators with a 50 MW power generating capacity each, which will make for a grand total of 22,500 MW. The annual total amount of electricity production is anticipated to be well over 100 TWh’s. The Three Gorges Dam was constructed for five main reasons. First of all because of China’s ever ballooning population, the Chinese Authorities, with rising demand, simply needed a project that would provide electricity to cope with increased requiremets. Secondly, the Yangtze River was notorious for it’s floods which are thought to have killed more than 1 million people. The Yangtze also ran along major Chinese cities like Wuhan, Shanghai, and Chonqing. Because of this the Chinese needed a means to tame the river and control its behavior. Thirdly, the reservoir that the dam would create could provide the precedent to build an efficient irrigation system for the farms in the area. Fourthly, the area of Hubei province, where the dam was built, needed a water treating facility to cope with increased demand for freshwater. Finally the Yangtze River needed a ship dock to deal with the increased ship traffic.

Analysis of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Analysis of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Context By the time the bloody chaos of the First World War finally came to an end on November 11, 1918, the American novelist Edith Wharton had already been living as an expatriate in Paris for five years. During that time, she had essentially ceased to write fiction and had turned her energies instead to the Allied effort by providing war relief for soldiers and refugees. Her devotion and enthusiasm for her work was, in fact, enough to win her the French Legion of Honor. By the end of the war, however, Wharton found herself disturbed by what she saw as the profound social disruptions that had been brought on by the war. In the months after the armistice, she again picked up her pen to write what many critics consider to be her war novel. One would be hard pressed, however, to find any elements within The Age of Innocence that even remotely address the disruption and the bloodshed of the First World War. Set in 1870s New York, Whartons novel depicts a society that is in many ways the antithesis of war-devastated Europe. Old New York, Whartons term to describe this wealthy and elite class at the top of the developing citys social hierarchy, was a society utterly intent on maintaining its own rigid stability. To Wharton, Old New York imposed on its members set rules and expectations for practically everything: manners, fashions, behaviors, and even conversations. Those who breached the social code were punished, with exquisite politeness, by the other members. The differences between the fractured society following the First World War and the Old New York of The Age of Innocence are without a doubt dramatic. However, there is more of a connection between them than may first appear. Edith Wharton herself was born into the claustrophobic world of Old New York. When she began, at the age of fifty-seven, to write what would become her Pulitzer-prize winning novel, she had already witnessed an astounding amount of social change. Both horrified and fascinated by the chaos and the freedom of the new century as it headed towards modernism and war, Wharton was prompted to compare this new age with that of her own past. The Age of Innocence, then, stands as both a personal recollection of the culture of Whartons youth and an historical study of an old-fashioned world on the brink of profound and permanent change. It is believed that the expression keeping up with the Joneses once specifically referred to Edith Jones Whartons parents, who were known throughout New York for their lavish social gatherings. Born into such an atmosphere of opulence, Wharton had access to all the privileges of an upper- class upbringing: education, travel, and the assurance of a good marriage. Yet for all the luxury of her youth, Wharton felt her individuality continually stifled by the rigid expectations and narrow perspectives of her class. Not surprisingly, these sentiments become central themes in The Age of Innocence. Unhappily married at an early age to a man thirteen years her senior, Wharton faced, like Ellen Olenska, the temptations of adultery and the censure of divorce. As a writer, too, Wharton faced the criticisms of her class, who disdained and feared what they called the bohemian life of artists and writers. Post-war Paris was a far cry from this stifling environment, and Wharton was interested in tracing the differences between her past and present not only on a personal level, but also a historico-anthropological level. By the end of the War, rigid Old New York appeared as a lost world, a defunct civilization that bore little similarity to the present era. Like many authors of her time, Wharton was interested in evolutionary theories and the newly developing field of anthropology. To a great extent, it is this interest in the sociology of Old New York that gives the novel its keen sense of detached irony. While post-Civil War New York saw itself as the pinnacle of civilization, Wharton undercuts this picture by comparing its unbending societal customs to those of the most primitive tribes. Plot Overview Newland Archer couldnt be more pleased with his recent engagement to the beautiful debutante May Welland. However, his world is thrown upside down by the sensational arrival of Mays cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Recently returned to America after separating from her husband, a philandering Polish count, Countess Olenska shocks the staid New York aristocracy with her revealing clothes, carefree manners, and rumors of adultery. Because the Countesss family, headed by the powerful Mrs. Manson Mingott, have chosen to reintroduce her into good society, Archer and May feel it necessary to befriend her. As Archer comes to better know the Countess, he begins to appreciate her unconventional views on New York society. Meanwhile, Archer becomes increasingly disillusioned with his new fianceà ©, May. He begins to see her as the manufactured product of her class: polite, innocent, and utterly devoid of personal opinion and sense of self. The Countess Olenska soon announces her intention of divorcing her husband. While Archer supports her desire for freedom, he feels compelled to act on behalf of the Mingott family and persuade Ellen to remain married. At a friends cottage near Hudson, Archer realizes that he is in love with Ellen. He abruptly leaves the next day for Florida, where he is reunited with May and her parents, who are there on vacation. There, he presses May to shorten their engagement. May becomes suspicious and asks him if his hurry to get married is prompted by the fear that he is marrying the wrong person. Archer reassures May that he is in love with her. Back in New York, Archer calls on Ellen, and Archer admits that he is in love with her. Just then, a telegram arrives from May, announcing that her parents have pushed forward the wedding date. After their wedding and honeymoon in Europe, Archer and May settle down to married life in New York. Over time, Archers memory of Ellen fades to a wistful image. But on vacation in Newport, he is reunited with her, and Ellen promises not to return to Europe as long as she and Newland do not act upon their love for each other. Back in New York, Archer learns that Count Olenski wants his wife to return to him and that Ellen has refused. After the stroke of her grandmother, Ellen returns to New York to care for her. She and Archer agree to consummate their affair. But suddenly, Ellen announces her intention to return to Europe. May throws a farewell party for Ellen, and after the guests leave, May announces to Archer that she is pregnant and that she told Ellen her news two weeks earlier. Twenty-five years pass. In that time, the Archers have had three children and May has died from pneumonia. Now Archers son convinces him to travel to France. There, they arrange to visit the Countess Olenska at her Paris apartment. However, at the last minute Archer sends his son alone to visit her, content instead to live with his memories of the past. Character List Newland Archer The novels protagonist. Archer is a wealthy young lawyer married to the beautiful debutante May Welland. He is in love, however, with Mays cousin Countess Ellen Olenska, who represents to him the freedom missing from the suffocating environment of the New York aristocracy. Archer is torn between his duty to May and to his family, and his passion for Ellen. In the end, he remains faithful to his wife and comes to be known in society as a philanthropist and civic figure. Countess Ellen Olenska Mays cousin and Mrs. Manson Mingotts granddaughter. Ellen was educated and raised in Europe. There, she married a Polish count, who cheated on her and prompted her to leave him. Upon her return to New York family, she hopes to be reintegrated to American life, but she finds only judgmentality and stifling mores. Her behavior is deemed too unorthodox for her to fit in to Old New York. To Archer, however, she is free and truly alive, her own person. May Welland The dewy-eyed and artless young thing who marries Archer. May appears to be unassailably innocent. Over time, Archer comes to see her as the living embodiment of New York society: incapable of thinking on her own, conditioned to act as she is expected. Despite her apparent innocence, May is not as naà ¯ve as Newland thinks. However, she remains a loyal wife even after she suspects that Newland is having an affair with Countess Olenska. Mrs. Manson Mingott Grandmother to May and Ellen, Mrs. Mingott is a fat and fiery old aristocratic lady who wields great influence over the New York clan. While her moral standards are irreproachable, she has some unorthodox social views. She insists on family solidarity and remains confident in Ellen, supporting her financially when she leaves New York to return to Europe. Henry and Louisa van der Luyden The descendants of pre-Revolutionary Dutch aristocracy, this elderly couple is the last word in social authority. They are last in a long line of powerful social leaders. Very quiet and non-adventurous people, they are rarely seen in public and only rarely invite guests to their solemn Madison Avenue mansion. Julius Beaufort Little is known about this British bankers past, but it is widely rumored that he left Europe after some shady business deals. With his elaborate annual balls, Beaufort is one of the most important and lavish hosts of New York entertainment. Following a scandalous business failure, he is swiftly exiled from good society. Mrs. Archer and Janey Archer Mother and sister of Archer, these two women act almost like sisters. Somewhat socially timid, they love to gossip, grow ferns, and make lace. While they are devoted to Archer, they are nonetheless frequently shocked by his social views. Lawrence Lefferts Widely considered to be the arbiter of good taste and moral values, Lefferts is also a huge gossip and an unfaithful husband. There are suspicions that he courted Countess Olenska soon after her arrival and was soundly rejected. Sillerton Jackson An elderly gentleman and good friend of the Archer family. Jackson is the unofficial archivist of all New York gossip and family history. Medora Manson The eccentric old aunt of Ellens, Medora raised her after the deaths of Ellens parents. A penniless itinerant, she is repeatedly widowed, and is tolerated by society only because of her family connections. Ned Winsett The bohemian journalist friend of Archer. Ned Winsett is one of the few people with whom Archer can really converse. He sees him as both an emblem of social freedom and its immense costs. Mrs. Lemuel Struthers Although as heir to a shoe polish fortune Mrs. Struthers is considered common, she becomes a popular hostess known for her artistic gatherings. Summary The novel opens in the new opera house, where all of New Yorks high society has assembled in its expensive box seats to see and to be seen. Newland Archer, the protagonist, has just arrived fashionably late and joins his friends in time for the climax of the opera. As he glances across the filled theater, he spots May Welland, his new fianceà ©, seated in the box of her aristocratic old grandmother, Mrs. Manson Mingott. Archer, struck anew by her pure and innocent beauty, dreams of blissful married life with May. His reverie is abruptly interrupted by his acquaintance Larry Lefferts, who notices a stranger entering the Mingott box. A slim young woman wearing a theatrical and low-cut dress takes a seat in the box, seemingly unconscious of all the attention she attracts. With shock, Archer realizes that this woman is no other than the Countess Ellen Olenska, cousin to May Welland, who has returned to New York after having lived abroad for many years. Lefferts, considered to be the authority on form, or style and fashion, and Sillerton Jackson, the unofficial archivist of all family histories and scandals within the upper class, are both shocked that the Countess would appear in good society with the rest of her family. We learn through their gossip that it is rumored that she had left her unfaithful husband, a Polish count. Newland admires the fiery and somewhat unorthodox determination of Mrs. Manson Mingott to support this black sheep of her family by not only hosting her indefinitely in her home, but also by allowing her to appear publicly in the family box at the Opera. Yet at the same time he is bothered that all of New York society will see such a scandalous figure sitting next to his innocent young fiancee. As the men continue to gossip, Archer feel compelled to take decisive action. As the fiancà © of May Welland, he decides that he has the responsibility to defend the Mingott clan. During intermission, he hurries over to the Mingott box. Although no words are exchanged between May and himself as to the reason for his sudden appearance, she shows her understanding of the situation and her gratitude to Archer with her smile. Both she and Archer are aware that by appearing in the Mingott box with the Countess Olenska, Archer is demonstrating his connection to that family and his support of their decision to include the Countess in their social activities. Archer is introduced to Olenska, who was one of his childhood playmates. He is struck by her flippant, friendly manners and finds her descriptions of New York society rather disrespectful. After the opera, many of the wealthy New York families attend the annual ball at the Beaufort residence. Julius Beaufort, we learn, is a handsome, charming, and disreputable Englishman with a shady financial history and a strong tendency toward infidelity; his wife Regina is a pretty but dull woman of reputable family background. Although many consider the Beauforts to be common, no one would ever pass their elaborate and ostentatious balls, which provide a cornerstone for New York social activities. At the ball, Archer and May officially announce their engagement. In a moment alone together in the conservatory, they express their happiness. May suddenly asks Archer to announce their engagement to her cousin Ellen Olenska. Ellen, to the relief of her family, did not attend the Beauforts ball. Analysis In the opening chapter of The Age of Innocence, Wharton immediately evokes a specific time, a place, and a society. Her panoramic description of the opera is highly effective as an introductory setting, for it not only acclimates the reader to the fashions and entertainment preferences of Old New York, but it also presents the members of this society as if they were an assembly, a closely-knit collection of individuals and families. The fact that everyone in good society attends the opera demonstrates immediately their similar tastes in art and entertainment. Yet the opera does not serve merely as a bonding activity for the very rich. Indeed, the members of the audience scrutinize each other far more than the opera itself, singling out in particular the fashions and manners of their peers. One goes to the opera to see and to be seen, to judge and to be judged. This may explain why Wharton is quick to introduce two characters who are otherwise minor to the plot. She singles Larry Lefferts out of the crowd as the foremost authority on form. Form, or a code that indicates the acceptable tastes in fashion and manners, is extremely important to this society, which is so concerned with appearances. And an unusual dress or a flippant attitude may, in fact, signify more than just a lack of taste but also a lack of proper moral values. Such a potential wantonness threatens to destabilize the delicate existing code and is therefore judged harshly. In addition to Lefferts, Wharton pauses over the character of Sillerton Jackson, the unofficial archivist of family histories. Not only does Jackson know every blood and marital relationship within the tight clan of Old New York, he also knows each familys scandals, whether real or rumored. Thanks to Jackson, ones private history does not remain a secret for long. Here and throughout the novel, Wharton employs certain imagery by which to portray Old New York society. She describes the evening at the opera as an extremely predictable event: one arrives there fashionably late, every family has a carriage waiting for them at the entrance, and even the ball at Beauforts that follows is an annual tradition. On a basic level, Whartons language indicates how boring such a world can be; no one acts differently from anyone else and there is no variation in the course of events from year to year. In the following chapters, Archer will become more and more frustrated with the monotony of this stultifying environment. On a more symbolic level, Wharton ironically compares the traditional behaviors and codes of cultured Old New York with those of primitive or ancient cultures. Both are obsessed with ritual events and behaviors, she indicates, and Archers concern with acceptable behavior is no different from the totem terrors that had ruled the destinies of his forefathers thousands of years ago. It is, of course, the arrival of Countess Ellen Olenska that brings tension to this perfectly ordered scene. Thanks to the good memory and loose tongue of Sillerton Jackson, Ellens appearance is preceded by her reputation. It is important to note Jacksons exclamation upon seeing Ellen in her familys opera box: I didnt think the Mingotts would have tried it on. With this statement is the implication that the actions of an individual reflect upon the family. Jackson is shocked not only because a woman of somewhat ill repute is seen amongst good society, but also because her family is choosing to support such a black sheep. Newland Archer is aware of the crucial importance of the Mingott familys sense of solidarity. When he sees how his friends negatively respond to the appearance of Ellen, he rushes over to the Mingott family box. Since May is a member of this family and Archer soon will be, it is his duty to defend their decision to include Ellen. Simply by appearing in the Mingott box, Archer is sending a clear non-verbal signal to the rest of the New York clan. This gesture, just like Mays grateful glance at Archer, is a subtle but unequivocal form of communication. Throughout the novel, Wharton must interpret these actions for her readers, for often the spoken words of her characters do not contain as much meaning as (and in some cases relate the opposite meaning of) the gesture. In the third chapter, the character of Julius Beaufort provides a clear example of the discrepancy of appearance versus reality. His personal history is spotty at best, and he is notorious for his womanizing. But because of his immaculate dress and public display of manners and hospitality, he is accepted by the New York clan. As long as Beaufort-or anyone, for that matter-can hide the unpleasantness of his past, he will be welcomed into good society. Chapters 4-6 Summary As is expected of all newly engaged couples, Archer and May begin a series of betrothal visits to their friends and relatives. The first is to Mrs. Manson Mingott, who lives by herself in a grand and unorthodox mansion near Central Park. Because of her tremendous obesity, she is confined to her house; but because of her social influence, she is not isolated from the rest of society. Mrs. Mingott happily receives the couple and instructs May on wedding preparations. As they are about to take their leave, Ellen Olenska returns home from shopping with Julius Beaufort. Archer notices that Mrs. Mingott greets them both cordially; she does not seem to consider it improper, as he does, that a married man should be seen in daylight with a recently-separated woman. As Archer leaves, he speaks briefly to the Countess about his engagement to May. She is very pleased and asks Archer to call on her soon. As Archer leaves, he inwardly remarks that the Countesss behavior with Beaufort is most likely acceptable in Europe. All the same, he is glad he is marrying a member of his own New York clan. The next evening Sillerton Jackson dines with Archer and Archers mother and sister at their home. Jackson and the two women are eager to gossip about the arrival of the Countess Olenska. When the conversation inevitably drifts to discussing her appearance in public with Beaufort, Archer shocks his family by claiming that she has the right to go where she chooses and that he hopes the Countess will get a divorce from her brutish husband, even if such things are seldom done. He remarks that he is tired of a double standard for the affairs of men and women and that it is time for women to be as free as men. Alone in his study after dinner, Archer contemplates his approaching marriage to May. Regarding her picture, he wonders to what extent she is the product of her society. Recalling his assertion at dinner that women should have the same freedoms as men, he now concludes that the nice women of his class were brought up to never desire freedom. Archer suddenly realizes that although he wants his future wife to be free and to form her own thoughts, she has been carefully trained by her family not to possess such traits. To him, May is innocent because she is ignorant. While he remains unwavering in his decision to marry her, he begins to feel that his marriage will not be entirely what he had previously expected. A few days later, the Mingott family is in great distress. After having sent out invitations for a formal dinner to be held in honor of the Countess Olenska, they have received refusals from practically all of the invites. It is clear that New York has decided to scorn the Count ess Olenska by not attending her welcoming dinner. In protest, Archer appeals to his mother to talk with Henry and Louisa van der Luyden. The van der Luydens, a frail old couple who are seldom seen in public and receive only their most intimate friends at home, are regarded as the most powerful and most elite figures in New York society. Archer hopes that their influence can atone for the slight that has been dealt to the Countess and her family. Analysis Chapter 4 opens with one of the most humorous character sketches in the novel. The immensely large Mrs. Manson Mingott is an intriguing character to Archer because of her slightly unorthodox living arrangement and her candid way of speaking. Because of her impeccable moral character and high societal status, her free style of conversation does not scandalize others or disrupt the given social standards. As such, she can easily get away with making some perceptive and occasionally critical insights into the society of Old New York. When Beaufort arrives with Countess Olenska at Mrs. Mingotts home, she asks him if he will be inviting Mrs. Lemuel Struthers and remarks that New York is in need of new blood and new money. While Old New York is intensely close-knit and hostile to nouveau-riche outsiders, it is also in risk of isolating itself completely from the rest of the world, to the detriment of its own health. The character of Newland Archer also takes on several nuances in these cha pters. In the opening Opera scene, Archer appears to be as preoccupied with correct appearances as his friends. At Mrs. Mingotts house, Wharton demonstrates how Archers thoughts on form depart from the norm. He admires Mrs. Mingotts strong personality and the slight sense of impropriety in the arrangement of her house. Yet Archer is relieved when he discovers that Ellen is out for the day, for he fears the controversy associated with her. His acceptance of unconventionality, then, is limited. Mrs. Mingotts harmless banter is not nearly as destabilizing as Ellens behavior in walking in public with Beaufort, which threatens the social code to which Archer is accustomed. In chapters five and six, we also get a glimpse into Archers thoughts on women. At dinner with his family and Sillerton Jackson, Archer attempts to defend Ellens right to have an affair following the infidelities of her husbands by proclaiming that women should be as free as men when it came to their personal relations hips. Yet Archers attempts at gender equality are belied by many of his other comments. Later that evening, he remarks to Jackson that he is sick of the hypocrisy that would bury alive a woman of her age if her husband prefers to live with harlots. While he does here defend Ellens right to manage her own affairs, he labels other women who have made similar choices as harlots. Archer also shows his unequal treatment of women in regards to his own past. In the novels elliptical allusions to his former mistress, Archer is always inclined to judge her actions harshly. Archer is also led to wonder about the usefulness of asserting such rights for women. Although he loves and admires May, he sees that she has been brought up to be a nice woman, one who would never request the right to have an affair. With this revelation, Archer begins to realize just how circumscribed the lives of May and other women in New York society really are. They have been brought up never to question inequalities or double standards. In fact, it is as if they are not even aware that such inequalities exist. They exist in a state of perpetual innocence, untroubled by what they do not know. With this revelation, Archer becomes further disillusioned with the strict codes of Old New York. Chapters 7-9 Summary At the van der Luydens formal and ostentatious Madison Avenue home, Archer and his mother relate the slight given to the Countess Olenska. The van der Luydens decide to stand by the Countess on principle: if her family has already decided to support her admittance into society, the rest of society must support their decision. To make amends, the van der Luydens decide to include the Countess at their reception for the Duke of St. Austrey. In the course of the next week, before attending the reception for the Duke, Archer learns much about the past of the Countess Olenska. After the early deaths of her itinerant parents, Ellen was left under the guardianship of her aunt Medora Manson, an eccentric and frequently widowed woman. After the death of Medoras most recent husband, she packed up and left with Ellen in tow. For years nothing was heard of them, until news reached New York that Ellen had married the extremely wealthy Polish Count Olenski. A few years later, the marriage ended in disaster, and Ellen decided to return to her New York family to recuperate. After learning of Ellens history, Archer is curious to see how-if at all-she will adapt to New York society. At the Dukes reception, the Countess raises eyebrows by appearing late and somewhat disheveled. After dinner, she leaves the side of the Duke (with whom she is expected to converse) in order to talk with Archer. They discuss, primarily, his engagement to May. The Countess reveals her ignorance of New York social customs by asking Archer if the marriage was arranged. When Archer corrects her, she embarrassedly admits that she often forgets that what is bad in European culture is good, by contrast, in American culture. As the conversation is interrupted by the other guests, Countess Olenska bids Archer to call on her at her new home the next day. Archer arrives late at the Countesss shabby, slightly bohemian flat that following day, only to find her away. He decides to wait in her living room until she returns. While he waits, he examines the room, which is artfully decorated with European bric-a-brac and exotic works of art. To Archer, who is used to the standardized Italian art appreciated by those in his class, the Countesss furnishings are novel and intriguing. Suddenly, from the window he sees the Countess descend from Beauforts cab. Inside the flat, Archer is interested by the Countesss novel, if slightly shocking, opinions on the fashions and the families of Old New York. She, in turn, looks to Archer for advice about fitting in to the New York clan. When he explains how misleading appearances are in New York, Ellen responds by bursting into tears. She remarks to Archer that the most lonely aspect of living in New York is that she is required to live around well-meaning people who insist that she pretend to be someone she is not in order to spare them any unpleasantness. Their conversation is interrupted by the entrance of the Duke and Mrs. Lemuel Struthers. Archer leaves, somewhat relieved to be spared any more upsetting emotion. As he stops by the florist to send May her daily bouquet of lilies-of- the-valley, he decides impulsively to send a bouquet of yellow roses to Countess Olenska. Analysis Wharton commences Chapter 7 with a detailed account of the nature of the power structure and chain of command within the tight-knit high society of New York. As the sole descendants of one of the most wealthy and aristocratic families in the city, Henry and Louisa van der Luyden serve as legislatures, executives, and judges in regards to certain social problems. It is they who determine the laws of family solidarity. Because Ellens family supports her, everyone outside the family must honor their decision and treat her as one of them. It is also they who judge the severity of the offense against Ellen Olenska; Wharton describes them as the Court of last appeals. And finally, it is they who decide that action must be taken to amend for the insult. By inviting the Countess to their formal reception for the Duke, the van der Luydens send an unmistakable message to those who have previously slighted Ellen. Wharton makes her depiction of the van der Luydens ironic by several different means. First of all, she shows the inconsistencies between the van der Luydens as individuals and as leaders. For all the stuffy splendor of their house and the formal quality of their interview with the Archers, Henry and Louisa are shy and retiring people who dont much like to entertain. They seldom leave their home, due both to health problems and a genuine fear of venturing out in public. Secondly, Wharton describes them in anthropological terms. The van der Luydens are mouth pieces of some remote ancestral authority which fate compelled them to wield. Wharton subtly hints that there is something primitive about the van der Luydens influence over society and that their power is due more to wealth and bloodline than to their capability and temperament. For a society that prides itself on its high culture, such a hierarchy of power seems rather crude and primeval. And finally, Whartons physical description of this harmless old couple involves a large amount of death imagery. Louisa looks like she was rather gruesomely preserved in the airless atmosphere of a perfectly irreproachable existence. This is not unlike the way Wharton sees Mrs. Mingott as a doomed city trapped under her own weight in Chapter 4. In both these cases, Whartons juxtaposition of authority figures with death imagery indicates the ineffectual nature of their power. Ruled by such archaic individuals, Old New York potentially faces a waning of power itself, or even extinction. In Chapters 8 and 9, we begin to get a better grasp of Ellens personality. Up until this point, we have seen Ellen primarily through the eyes of others: through the gossip at the opera and through Archers opinions based on their brief encounters. Now the picture of Ellen becomes more complete through the recounting of her personal history, the descriptions of her exotically furnished apartment, and through her own conversations with Archer. The very nature of their discussion proves to Archer Ellens foreignness and her lack of traditional manners. Unlike May and the rest of New York who communicate indirectly through glances and euphemistic speech, Ellen is quite candid in her opinions. She directly criticizes