Predictors Of Husband To Wife Violence Essays - Abnormal Psychology

Predictors Of Husband To Wife Violence Essays - Abnormal Psychology Predictors Of Husband To Wife Violence Critical Analysis of Journal Article Article: Feldbau-Khon, S., Heyman, R., and OLeary, K. (1998). Major depressive disorder and depressive symptomatology as predictors of husband to wife physical abuse. Violence and Victims, 13, 347-359. Introduction The work of Feldbau-Khon, S., Heyman, R., and OLeary, K. is described in the article, Major Depressive Disorder and Depressive Symptomatology as Predictors of Husband to Wife Physical Aggression. The authors tested the link between a husbands depressive symptomatology and the frequency of physical aggression toward his wife. Also tested was the husbands Major Depressive Disorder and the frequency of physical aggression towards his wife. The authors had four hypotheses. 1: Clinically depressed men are more physically aggressive. 2: Depressive symptomatology is associated with frequency of physical aggression. 3: Depressive symptomatology effects on physical aggression are accounted for by other variables. 4: Depressive symptomatology effects on psychological aggression are accounted for by other variables. The study assessed physically aggressive men who volunteered for treatment with their wives. Participants responded to newspaper announcements offering free therapy for relationship conflicts. All spouses completed three-hour assessments consisting of structured interviews and self-report measures. Almost one third had moderate levels of depressive symptomatology, but only 11% met the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Although a significant relationship between increased depressive symptomatology and frequency of physical aggression was found, the relationship was most likely accounted for by self- reported anger. Weaknesses One weakness with this study is the makeup of the sample. The racial composition of the sample was 1.3% Black, 1.3% Asian, and 97% White. No Hispanics were included in the study although Hispanic men are also sometimes very violent to their wives. The sample should have had more diversity, not be made up almost entirely of Whites. Some races are more naturally violent than others are because its part of their culture. Using mostly whites in this study taints it because different depression could be a major factor affecting the physical violence of whites but perhaps not men of other races. Another weakness of this study is that it is never mentioned whether or not any of the subjects were taking any sort of medication. Many types of medications, for example any type Serotonin inhibitor, can affect violent behavior. The fact that the subjects were volunteers raises an issue. The participants responded to an advertisement for free therapy for relationship conflicts. These people wanted help. They were not ordered by the court to obtain therapy. This may suggest that they somehow have a different frame of mind than others who might not seek help, therefore, we cannot make accurate assumptions about the results of the study. Another issue one must take into consideration is that the participants completed a three-hour assessment for which they were not being paid for. They could have become tired, annoyed, bored, or frustrated. This could have affected their answers to the questions asked in the interview to determine whether or not they had MDD. They could also have not been revealing their true selves in the self-report. The interviews were conducted by grad students and a research assistant, not by the actual researchers or by doctors. There is a possibility they could have overlooked things a professional with more experience would have caught. Strengths of the Article One of the strengths of this article is that it stresses the possibility of outside factors affecting the physical violence. An example of this kind of variable is self-reported anger. A relationship where one person is depressed may in fact be a very chaotic relationship where anger and frustration can result in violence. In this case, the violence is may not be a direct result of the depression; instead it may result from the anger and frustration or marital discord that may accompany depression. The study recognizes that there are other factors of life that can affect the physical violence. Conclusion Although the study has its weaknesses, it is still a valuable learning tool. The study is consistent with other studies that have emphasized the role of anger in regard to husband-to-wife physical aggression. Much more research still has to be done to better understand the connection between MDD and husband-to-wife physical aggression. With every study performed, we come closer to realizing

The Crimes of Tookie Williams

The Crimes of Tookie Williams On February 28, 1979, Stanley Williams murdered Albert Lewis Owens during a robbery of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Whittier, California. Here are the details of that crime from the Los Angeles County District Attorneys response to Williams petition for executive clemency. Late on the evening of February 27, 1979, Stanley Tookie Williams introduced his friend Alfred Coward, a.k.a. Blackie, to a man named Darryl. A short time later, Darryl, driving a brown station wagon, drove Williams to the residence of James Garrett. Coward followed in his 1969 Cadillac. (Trial Transcript (TT) 2095-2097). Stanley Williams often stayed at the Garrett residence and kept some of his belongings there, including his shotgun. (TT 1673, 1908). At the Garrett residence, Williams went inside and returned carrying a twelve-gauge shotgun. (TT 2097-2098). Darryl and Williams, with Coward following in his car, later drove to another residence, where they obtained a PCP-laced cigarette, which the three men shared. Williams, Coward, and Darryl then went to the residence of Tony Sims. (TT 2109). These four men then discussed where they could go in Pomona to make some money. (TT 2111). The four men then went to yet another residence where they smoked more PCP. (TT 2113-2116). While at this location, Williams left the other men and returned with a .22 caliber handgun, which he also put in the station wagon. (TT 2117-2118). Williams then told Coward, Darryl and Sims they should go to Pomona. In response, Coward and Sims entered the Cadillac, Williams and Darryl entered the station wagon, and both cars traveled on the freeway toward Pomona. (TT 2118-2119). The four men exited the freeway near Whittier Boulevard. (TT 2186). They drove to a Stop-N-Go market and, at Williams direction, Darryl and Sims entered the store to commit a robbery. At the time, Darryl was armed with the .22 caliber handgun. (TT 2117-2218; Tony Sims Parole Hearing Dated July 17, 1997). Johnny Garcia Escapes Death The clerk at the Stop-N-Go market, Johnny Garcia, had just finished mopping the floor when he observed a station wagon and four black men at the door to the market. (TT 2046-2048). Two of the men entered the market. (TT 2048). One of the men went down an aisle while the other approached Garcia. The man that approached Garcia asked for a cigarette. Garcia gave the man a cigarette and lit it for him. After approximately three to four minutes, both men left the market without carrying out the planned robbery. (TT 2049-2050). He Would Show Them How Williams became upset that Darryl and Sims did not commit the robbery. Williams told the men that they would find another place to rob. Williams said that at the next location all of them would go inside and he would show them how to commit a robbery. Coward and Sims then followed Williams and Darryl to the 7-Eleven market located at 10437 Whittier Boulevard. (TT 2186). The store clerk, 26-year-old Albert Lewis Owens, was sweeping the stores parking lot. (TT 2146). Albert Owens is Killed When Darryl and Sims entered the 7-Eleven, Owens put the broom and dustpan down and followed them into the store. Williams and Coward followed Owens into the store. (TT 2146-2152). As Darryl and Sims walked to the counter area to take money from the register, Williams walked behind Owens and told him shut up and keep walking. (TT 2154). While pointing a shotgun at Owens back, Williams directed him to a back storage room. (TT 2154). Once inside the storage room, Williams, at gunpoint, ordered Owens to lay down, mother f*****. Williams then chambered a round into the shotgun. Williams then fired the round into the security monitor. Williams then chambered a second round and fired the round into Owens back as he lay face down on the floor of the storage room. Williams then fired again into Owens back. (TT 2162). Near Contact Wound Both of the shotgun wounds were fatal. (TT 2086). The pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Owens testified that the end of the barrel was very close to Owens body when he was shot. One of the two wounds was described as . . . a near contact wound. (TT 2078). After Williams murdered Owens, he, Darryl, Coward, and Sims fled in the two cars and returned home to Los Angeles. The robbery netted them approximately $120.00. (TT 2280). Killing All White People Once back in Los Angeles, Williams asked if anyone wanted to get something to eat. When Sims asked Williams why he shot Owens, Williams said he didnt want to leave any witnesses. Williams also said he killed Owens because he was white and he was killing all white people. (TT 2189, 2193). Later that same day, Williams bragged to his brother Wayne about killing Owens. Williams said, you should have heard the way he sounded when I shot him. Williams then made gurgling or growling noises and laughed hysterically about Owens death. (TT 2195-2197). Next: The Brookhaven Robbery-Murders

Ethics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Ethics - Coursework Example The ethical dilemma I have encountered in the clinical setting is deciding between quality and quantity of life. Some therapy subjected to a patient may affect the quality of life of the patient. The quality of life addresses how good the life of the patient will be, and quantity is how long the person will live. Step 1: Before making any decision, the objective must be identified. Decide whether the therapies will prolong the patient’s life. Step 2 Look into different available choices apart from the therapy that can improve the Patient’s condition. His/her quality and quantity of life (Gastmans, 2012). Step3: Identify the values at stake. If the patient is aware of the possible side effects of the therapy, he/she may choose not to undergo these. Choosing to hide the possible side effects may lead to mistrust by the patient. Step 4: Check whether the decision you are about to make is viable, it must not be a decision that will waste patients time, energy and money without producing good results. Step 5: Give the decision importance and enough time before execution. Wreckless decisions have led to the loss of life and resources (Gastmans, 2012). Step 6: Choose the best decision-making strategy that will guide you in making a better decision.

Coporate Governance Social Responsibility report Essay

Coporate Governance Social Responsibility report - Essay Example The employees are obligated to operate within the guidelines set by the HSSE&SP, which defines accountability standards for all operation levels. Compliance to the guidelines is monitored via processes of comprehensive assurance. Another important aspect of Shell UK’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities in relation to their employees regards safety. However, these two aspects are not always the case, especially where governments are not keen enough on enforcing the law. The paper also gives recommendations on how to implement CSR strategies more efficiently for Shell UK. Table of Contents Contents Page 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 2. Findings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 2.1 Shell UK; A brief introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 2.2 CSR/stakeholder theory†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 2.3 Shell UK’s stated position on CSR and employees†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 2.4 Criticism of Shell UK’s performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 3. Conclusions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.8 4. Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 5. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 SHELL UK LTD. ... While they are some concerns that various strategies, especially those involving employees and other stakeholders are inspired by PR, employees have embraced the strategies as a way of externality internalization that emanate from the operations of the company. The labor market has increased CSR uptake by companies since the employees want to feel positive regarding their company and employment responsibilities. Thus, companies make commitments to CSR that are in line with the values of their employees. Companies can use this as an appropriate strategy to attract high quality employees. CSR is essential in attracting favorable employees to a company. This paper seeks to discuss the CSR strategies that Shell UK employs with their employees, including human rights and safety. While information on Shell’s CSR programs is scarce, general literature on its CSR strategies and those of the oil industry were useful. Findings Shell UK: A Brief Introduction Shell is a major contributor in the UK, not only in the provision of services and products, but also in investments, tax revenues, and employment that aid in boosting the economy. The company employs approximately 6,400 employees in the UK directly. These employees are essential to Shell UK’s core business of energy provision to millions of clients who rely on the energy for powering and heating. They are also essential in the company’s upstream business, where it has been a leading player for more than 30 years in the North Sea with interests in more than fifty fields, thirty sub-sea installations, thirty platform installations, a marine terminal, and three onshore gas plans (Aguilera et al, 2009: p840). The company is responsible for twelve percent of UK gas and oil supplies. Downstream employees are

Vitality Health Final Paper Essay Example for Free

Vitality Health Final Paper Essay Vitality Health Enterprises, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of beauty products, is at risk of losing market share in this highly competitive industry. James Hoffman, the newly appointed Vice President of HR, has been tasked with the evaluation of Vitality’s performance management system, to ensure that it is generating the outcomes Beth Williams, the CEO, is expecting. ISSUE IDENTIFICATION After a period of strong revenue growth, Hoffman is concerned that the workforce is becoming complacent. The research and development department is not producing quickly enough, resulting in a growing number of missed product launches. The company has realized a slow but significant turnover of highly talented research scientists, leading Williams and Hoffman to suspect that the performance management system is ineffective. ISSUE ANALYSIS Prior to 2009, Vitality was operating an old performance management system that failed to properly incentivize and recognize top performers and did not emphasize employee accountability. As a result, there was a lack of differentiation between top talent, average performers, and poor performers, which frustrated some of the company’s most valuable scientists and engineers. In an effort to keep the peace, managers categorized almost everyone as average performers, and because performance ratings were tied to merit-based wage increases, top talent felt slighted. Vitality used a flawed comparative ratio system to determine wage increases, which often resulted in giving low performers a greater raise percentage. Because high performers were not adequately recognized or compensated for their efforts, the performance management system failed to keep them engaged. In 2009, Vitality implemented a new performance management system based on forced distribution, which saw an increase in employee buy-in, but a decrease in  manager buy-in. Many managers disliked ranking their employees as it has the potential to cause conflict and animosity; however, top performers saw the new system as fair. Despite significant modification to the performance management system, problems still existed including a continuation of uniform ranking, and the mentality that the system was too rigid. Managers and employees had difficulty comprehending the new system, particularly considering there was little to no training. Thus, many of the issues share a similar cause poor implementation and thus poor understanding of the system. ACTION PLAN AND SOLUTIONS There are four interrelated issues that the following action plan addresses. These issues include the following: compensation related to performance, managers who give uniform rankings and do not rank new hires, a lack of training on the new performance management system, and managers who lie to employees about rankings. Each section of the action plan is designed to work in coordination with the other three sections in order to resolve these issues. To improve issues with compensation related to performance within the performance management system, we recommend eliminating all target percentages as well as constraints on the low achiever and unacceptable categories, and eliminating the use of the compa-ratio. By eliminating the target percentages and some of the constraints on the ranking, the flexibility of the performance management system will be increased. No manager will be forced to rank employees as top achievers, low performers, or under performers if there are none. However , the constraint for top achievers not exceeding 14% will stay in place to prevent managers from ranking all their employees as top achievers. To supplement this, we also eliminated the compa-ratio. Instead, top achievers will have the option of receiving a 3% raise plus stock options, or a 5% raise with no stock options, and average employees will receive a 2% raise with no stock options. No raises will be given to low performers or under performers. Thus, raises will be based only on performance and not on current salary. This will ensure that top performers are rewarded and properly incentivized. Since there will be no targets and no constraints to ranking everyone as average, managers may be tempted to take advantage of this and uniformly rank their employees. In order to prevent this, managers must be held  accountable for their appraisals of employee performance. According to Roberts (2002), accountability is one of five barriers to an effective performance appraisal, and he recommends that performance appraisal management be a component in manager ratings. Based on this research, we recommend that managers who uniformly rank their employees will get an unacceptable rank ing. As a result, managers will be accountable for differentiating between their team members and will not rank all employees as average. We also recommend changing the Not Rated ranking to New Hire to ensure that new hire performance is discussed and assessed. In this system, new hires with tenure of 6 months or less would have a ranking system that only includes new hires. This ranking system would be based on objectives that assess how well the employee is gaining knowledge of the company and his or her overall cultural fit. Therefore, the new employee would receive feedback on his or her performance as well as an initial understanding of the performance management process. Beyond compensation and rating issues, many managers and employees expressed confusion about how the new performance management system worked. Initially, when the transition was made to forced distribution, HR sent out a companywide email informing employees of the new system and later sent directors and managers a link to an online guidebook. However, no formal training was ever conducted. According to Elaine D. Pulakos (2004), an organizational psychologist specializing in performance management, training is essential when implementing a new performance management system because it not only teaches employees how to use the system but also motivates them to utilize it to its fullest capability. In order to remedy this lack of understanding, training for all employees at all levels must be administered within the next month. Specifically, it should consist of classroom training that emphasizes role-playing for providing constructive feedback during performance appraisal meetings. This role-playing will offer managers an opportunity to become more comfortable with delivering undesirable appraisals, which was identified as a barrier to proper system implementation. Moreover, providing classroom training indicates the importance of the performance management system because it demonstrates that the company is committed to the new system and values proper implementation of the system (Pulakos, 2004). Simply emailing an online guidebook does not emphasize this importance.  The final step in the action plan is to directly combat the issue of managers lying to employees about their performance ranking in order to avoid difficult conversations. Clearly, this practice not only jeopardizes the integrity of the system but it also diminishes its transparency. In order to remedy this, once HR has received and approved the performance rankings, they will send out an email to each employee with his or her ranking along with a brief summary explaining why he or she received that specific ranking. This email will be sent two days prior to an employee’s performance appraisal meeting with his or her manager. Consequently, managers will be discouraged from lying about rankings, and employees will be more prepared to enter these appraisals. This notification also serves as a way to begin the performance conversation and holds managers more accountable for delivering constructive feedback. By implementing this action plan, we believe many of the current issues will be resolved. However, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these new practices, HR will collect survey data in two years. The collection of this data will use the same method as the performance management data collected in 2011. SOLUTION LIMITATIONS The proposed solutions address many issues of the new system; however, there are still some limitations. Specifically, managers could still manipulate the system by rotating their subordinates from year to year between the Top Achiever and Achiever rankings. Moreover, changing the percentage constraint of employees who are listed as Low Achiever (from the minimum of 7% to no minimum) and maintaining no constraint of the Unacceptable category could potentially allow managers to distribute no one in those ranks. The company, consequently, will have trouble identifying those who are actually low performers and those who are truly high performers. Secondly, the system still requires all managers to complete the evaluations during a specific time of year. Some managers complained that this practice was resource consuming when they should be utilizing this time and effort to complete more important and productive tasks. As a result, issues concerning divisional productivity and low quality evaluations are potential problems. Finally, the sheer nature of comparative performance management systems creates the  potential of conflicts among employees and managers or among employees themselves. Even with the adjustments to the new system, these conflicts may still arise. According to Aguinis (2013), collaboration and organizational goals are potentially in jeopardy when there is employee conflict. As a result, this further emphasizes the importance of carefully implementing the performance management system as well as ensuring that all managers and employees understand the system’s purpose and how it works. References Aguinis, H. (2013). Performance Management. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle, NJ. Roberts, G. E. (2002). Employee Performance Appraisal System Participation: A Technique that Works. Public Personnel Management, 31(3), 333. Pulakos, E. D. (2004). Performance Management: A roadmap for developing, implementing and evaluating performance management systems. Alexandria, VA: SHRM Foundation.

Social Contract Essay -- essays research papers

The purpose of a Social Contract is to keep society in order. Ways of keeping society in order are human rights, the constitution, police departments, and education in which all contributes in having a progressing society. Human rights have to be protected which are the first 13 or 14 amendments that’s states people’s rights. If humans didn’t have any rights of their own we would feel enslaved due to that we have no freedom. The Constitution contains laws that every human being has to follow unless if you live somewhere else other than the U.S. Police departments maintains society regarding the Constitution; even the police must obey the laws and their own rules. In addition, the education we take also sets examples of how we should always follow rules or laws. In classrooms we have rules that we must follow like listening to the teacher and so on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The definition of a Social Contract and some other information is, a voluntary agreement among people defining the relationship of individuals with one another and with government and by this process forming a distinct organized society. Concern over the origin and conditions of political obligation was manifest even in the writings of philosophers and statesmen in ancient Greece and Rome. Such ideas were not systematically formulated, however, until the latter part of the 16th century, when Protestant philosophers sought a democratic principle with which to oppose the authoritarian theory of the divine right of kings. In the 17th and 18th centuries the theory of a social compact among individuals of a society was linked with the doctrine of natural law.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A setting for a social contract would be like in school, at home, basically everywhere you go which contains written and unwritten rules. At school students rights are commonly violated and yet some aren’t. For example, â€Å"articles about controversial subjects written for student newspapers are censored. Lockers and backpacks are searched without reasonable suspicion. Minority students are excessively pushed in lower track programs. Majoritarian religious practices are officially allowed by teachers and school administrators. Female students are excluded from certain extracurricular activities, and gay students are intimidated into silence. Teachers and administrators have a responsibility to provide a s... ...ot perform, but be careful to keep your promise.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An example of a Social Contract is Evergreens S.C. and Rousseau’s Philosophy. In Evergreens S.C. under Right to Privacy he states, â€Å"All members of the college community have the right to organize their personal lives and conduct according to their own values and preferences, with an appropriate respect for the rights of others to organize their lives differently. All members of the Evergreen community are entitled to privacy in the college’s offices, facilities devoted to educational programs and housing. The same right of whether extends to personal papers, confidential records and personal effects, whether maintained by the individual or by the institution.† An example of Rousseau’s Philosophy or S.C. he stated, â€Å"Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.† These quotes are important to me because one states ones privacy in a community which is needed for people in order to function well in life, I mean you don†™t want to be spreading your information to many others especially important ones, and the other states that a man may be free but everywhere he goes he is chained by rules or laws to enforce.

Macbeth and Tragic Flaw

Tragic flaw is defined as a personality flaw that makes the person commit a serious mistake so gravely that it can cause him/her death. A tragic flaw can also refer to a flawed judgment that a character has passed over a course of action, which is sadly irrevocable. In â€Å"Into the Wild†, Chris McCandless can be said to have committed a tragic flaw which has resulted in his death. By stubbornly clinging onto his ideal way to live, McCandless boldly leaves everything behind and ventures alone into the Alaska wilderness.Without being aware of what is to expect in Alaska and with very little preparation, McCandless simply died of starvation in a place where he presumed to be perfect. His death is ironic because instead of finding his paradise in Alaska, he finds his burial place. Similarly, the tragedy of Macbeth is caused by his tragic flaw. While being persistent in one’s belief is a virtue, too much of it becomes a deadly flaw for McCandless.In parallel, when Macbeth is filled with excessive ambition, then ambition ceases to be a positive motivator but becomes a deadly flaw for him. His ambition, based on his greed for power, has caused him unspeakable misery and torture. It has robbed him of the joy of comradeship with his wife, the bliss of friendship and respect from his people, and finally the very essence of his life – soul – as he sells himself to the evil forces. Hence, such tragic flaw has made him lose everything that he sees valuable before he loses the ultimate – his life.Macbeth’s tragic flaw begins as Macbeth chooses to believe in the witches’ prophecy. He secretly takes delight in the promotion to the title of Thane of Cawdor – â€Å"two truths are told/as happy prologues to the swelling act/of the imperial theme† (I. iii. 126-129). This ambition translates to an immense power that blinds him from moral senses of right and wrong. He reckons that it is his â€Å"vaulting ambition whi ch o’erleaps itself† (I. vii. 27) and makes him turn indifferent to what â€Å"even-handed justice† dictates.This ambition becomes Macbeth’s tragic flaw and motivates him to kill the gracious Duncan, to surprise the castle of Macduff, and to kill anyone who is in his way. His greatest punishment is far beyond death. In the end, not only that he suffers from the loss of a dear wife but from every meaning in life. He sees life to be a series of empty â€Å"tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow† (V. v. 18), â€Å"a walking shadow† (V. v. 24), â€Å"a tale/told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/signifying nothing† (V. . 25-7). The theme of tragic flaw connects the entire play of Macbeth as the tragic hero falls victim to the temptation of the witches and his own greed. In reading the play, one cannot but feel terrified by the tragic consequence of one’s failure to control excessive ambition, as well as pitied by the fall of such a grea t man. The play not only is a great read, a classic masterpiece, but also a constant reminder of the ills of unchecked ambition.

Annotated Bibliography Cord Blood Banking

Annotated Bibliography Waller-Wise, Rene. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov. Umbilical Cord Blood: Information for Childbirth Educators, Winter 2011. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. The author, a licensed clinical nurse specialist and childbirth educator, was driven to do research and write this article because she only had the basic information for cord blood banking to offer to couples is her classes. She shares that the first recipient of a cord blood transplantation was a 6-year-old boy who was treated for Fanconi's anemia using cord blood collected from his younger's sister's birth. She continues to list the disorders that stem cell transplants can treat.She discusses the advantages of using umbilical cord blood stem cells over bone marrow stem cells. A couple of reasons is that it is easier to collect and process and there is a decreased risk of transmission of infectious disease. One point she mentioned that was interesting and that I was not aware of was that if the pregnant woman had a history of grou p B streptococcus, active genital herpes, or prolonged rupture of membranes and chorioamnionitis, the umbilical cord is not saved. A disadvantage that the author points out is that cord blood is discarded in about 50% or more cases due to insufficient volume.In addition to discussing private and public cord blood banks, the author brings to light the topic of direct-donation cord blood bank which accept autogenous donations and reserve them for the family whose infant has a sibling with a disorder. In this article, the author also shares professional organizations' s positions. She mentions that ACOG and AAP recommends the collection and banking of private cord blood only if a sibling or a family member has a medical diagnosis for which stem cells are currently being used for treatment.I found this article very helpful because not only did the author share the benefits of cord blood stem cell transplantation, she brought to surface many of the limitations. I will particularly use th e information about the percentage of cord blood that is discarded due to insufficient volume. Also, I will add the information about the conditions during pregnancy, labor and delivery that can affect the usability of the units. Percer, Beth. â€Å"Umbilical Cord Blood Banking – Helping Parents Make Informed Decisions. Nursing for Women's Health (Volume 13, Issue 3): 217-223. Print. In this article, the author discusses the potential benefits and drawbacks of cord blood transplantation. One of the benefits that she discusses is that there is a reduced risk of acute graft-versus-host reaction. One of the concerns is that a cord blood recipient cannot go back to the same infant donor to receive further cord blood stem cells. Another concern is the odds that children will need to use their own stem cells range from 1 in 400 to 1 in 200,000.It is because the cord blood stem cells may already have a genetic defect to the disease needing treatment. The author also lists the drawb acks for private versus public banking. The negatives for public banking is that families will not have access to the stem cells in the future as they would have with private banking. This article also shows the different views of multiple respected organizations such as American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA).I will use the information in this article to discuss key points in my paper regarding benefits and negatives for stem cell transplantation and private versus public banking. In addition, I will include some of the organizations' views in my paper. Journal of Midwifery & Woman's Health. â€Å"Share With Women. † jmwh. org. Cord Blood Banking – What's It All About, 24 Dec. 2010. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. This article breaks down exactly what Cord Blood Banking is. It looks specifically at what illnesses can be treated by stem cells, how stem cells are collected, and the re asons for not banking cord blood.It also answers commonly asked questions relating to Cord Blood Banking such as what is the difference between private and public Cord Blood Banks and can a parent donate their own stem cells like donating a liver or kidney. It also lists out some general questions to ask yourself in order to determine if Cord Blood Banking is the right choice for you. The article does a great job of explaining what Cord Blood Banking is in a simple and understandable tone that everyone can understand.The article was direct and gave an abundance of good information without going into a lot of discussion whether Cord Blood Banking is right or wrong. The article stuck to the facts and outlined some key questions to be asked before making a decision on Cord Blood Banking. I will use information from this article to paint a clear picture of what Cord Blood Banking is. American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. â€Å"Guidelines, Policy Statements, and Reviews . † asbmt. org. Collection and Preservation of Cord Blood for Personal Use, 20 Sept. 2007. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.This article goes into more detail into the technical aspects of storing UCB (Umbilical Cord Blood) and encourages parents to store their newborn's UCB in public blood banks. The article supports storing umbilical cord blood, which the ASBMT states is rich in HSCs (hematopoietic stem cells), but it does not recommend private storage of cord blood only public storage. The reason for the articles position favoring public storage and opposing private storage is because the ASBMT states, â€Å"that cord blood in public banks is 100 times more likely to be released for transplant than a unit privately stored. Although the article supports public cord blood banking, it declares that expectant parents should review all information accurately and completely, including contracts and financial responsibilities, in order to make an informed decision. The article was published by the ASBMT (American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation), which is an international association that is responsible for the advancement of the field of blood and marrow transplantation. It only makes sense that the article is supportive of the cord blood banking industry but surprisingly the article distinguishes between public and private cord blood banking.Furthermore, the ASBMT's Board of Directors developed a report based on careful review of published studies and interviews that acknowledges the potential for expansion in the future and stating that they will review their position on cord blood banking periodically. I will use information from this article to speak about the differences between public and private cord blood banking and to expound on the positives of public cord banking. March of Dimes Foundation. â€Å"Get Ready for Labor. † marchofdimes. com.Umbilical cord blood, May 2009. Web. 15 Feb 2013. This article is highly detailed and is more focused on the aspects of Umbilical Cord Blood relating to the actual stem cells. It defines stem cells as unspecialized cells that produce all blood cells including platelets for blood clotting, red blood cells which transports oxygen, and white blood cells which help in fighting diseases. The article goes on to explain how stem cells are used to treat diseases such as leukemia, other cancers, and serious blood disorders like anemia.After chemotherapy the radiation destroys a lot of the patient's stem cells so after treatment many patients receive a stem cell transplant from either transplanted bone marrow, peripheral blood, and from cord blood. Stem cells from cord blood have advantages over stem cells from bone marrow because it is easier and safer to collect, stem cells from cord blood is more likely to be a match, it's faster, there is a lower risk of infections, and there is a reduced risk of GVHD (graft vs. host disease). GVHD is a condition that occurs when the donor's cells attack th e recipient's cells and tissues.The article gives good examples of the advantages of using stem cells from cord blood in treating patients after chemotherapy or patients that need a blood transfusion. The article clearly states that cord blood is more beneficial over using bone marrow or peripheral blood. The article gives real-world examples of why using umbilical cord blood reduces risks of diseases, is significantly faster, and is a lot easier to treat patients. There is one section in the article that speaks to the disadvantages of using cord blood which is that cord blood contains a relatively small volume of blood and consequently a small amount of stems cells.Besides that one argument against using cord blood the article overall is in support of cord blood banking. I will use this article in my discussion of stem cells and to highlight the advantages of stem cells from cord blood over alternative treatments. Agovino, Theresa. CBSNews. com. Banking Umbilical Cord Blood, 11 Feb . 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. This article is more personal and explores the individual's private decision to store umbilical cord blood. It also examines the companies that are responsible for storing cord blood from a business perspective as well as the patient's monetary and financial dilemmas.The article follows actual mother's and doctors on the front lines of the UCB debate. In the article an expecting mother named Marla Dalton says, â€Å"It was really stressful. The marketing makes you feel guilty. There is this feeling that if you don't do it, you are not doing something to save your child's life. † The article speaks about how the marketing divisions of these companies try to coerce patients into the service which can range from $1000 to $1740 per child. three years ago there were 12 cord blood storage companies and today there are at least 27 such companies.The cord blood banking industry is fairly new and the research is not conclusive yet whether these private compa nies are even worth the money. Some research actually shows that the overwhelming majority of cord blood stem cell transplants (about 3,500) have been done from independent donors or from public banks. At the end of the article the author, Theresa Agovino, gives an example of how a mother chose to use a private blood banking company and it was ultimately the right decision because her son was diagnosed with aplastic anemia at the age of two.That son later died of an infection but it was without a doubt the right choice because at the time it gave him the best chance to live. The author is clearly in support of cord blood banking whether it be private or public but she is highly critical of the means in which some of these private companies advertise their services. Instead of pointing to the limitations of blood banking they prey on parent's fear and perpetuate the myth that blood banking as a golden bullet for future diseases. This article was well written and contained a number of personal anecdotes that captures the reader's attention.It was informative regarding the business side of blood banking and gives measurable numbers, percentages, and price points within the industry. I will rely on statistics from this article to go along with a couple of stories to add a personal connection to the paper. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. acog. org. Cord Blood Banking – FAQ172, Aug. 2011. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. This article is by far the most informative of all the articles and is written in a question and answer format which makes it very easy to follow.In the article there are 10 bullet points discussing different topics including: what is cord blood, what are stem cells, how are cord blood stem cells used, what are the limits to stem cell use, how is cord blood stored, how do public cord blood banks operate, how do private cord blood banks operate, how is cord blood collected, what are some situations when it is not possible to collect cor d blood, and what should be considered when deciding whether to store cord blood. The author states the facts and gives to the point answers but does not interject any personal opinions.In the last section of the article some of the answers have a slant toward opposing the storage of cord blood. For instance, the article states that currently it is not known how long cord blood can successfully be stored. The article also points out that the chance that cord blood stem cells will be needed to treat your child is very low at 1 in 2700. In my opinion, these ten topics are the most important topics relating to stem cell cord blood banking. The author is especially comprehensive and gives the reader good information and exceptional questions to consider.I will use this article to add to my paper's overall knowledge base of stem cells and cord blood and to point out some excellent questions that should be asked before making a decision on cord blood banking. U. S. Food and Drug Administr ation. â€Å"Vaccines, Blood, ; Biologics. † fda. gov. Cord Blood Banking – Information for Consumers, 23 July 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. This article focuses on FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations relating to Cord Blood Banking and gives additional information for consumers on where to find additional information.The FDA regulates everything from how cord blood is stored to whether the cord blood can be used for personal use or for family use. All public and private blood banks have to follow the FDA's strict requirements and the FDA will conduct periodic inspections of any blood storage facilities. The article also outlines how cord blood donors are matched so that blood transplant recipients get the right blood type or HLA (Human leukocyte antigen). The article is short but packed with educational information.It is very specific as to the terminology and gives very detailed instructions on what the FDA considers appropriate use of cord blood banking. This a rticle was posted on the FDA website and contains numerous links to other government websites that have supplementary information on cord blood banking such as the HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) website. I will use this article as a reference to let the reader know how cord blood banking is regulated by the FDA.I will also use it as a glossary to site definitions of terms and abbreviations such as HPC (hematopoietic progenitor cells), IND (investigational new drug), and BLA (biologics license application). Revelant, Julie. foxnews. com. 7 Things You Should Know about Cord Blood Banking, 04 July 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. This article was written by Julie Revelant and starts out by telling the story of Jamie Page and her husband in Illinois that saved their newborn's cord blood after hearing about cord blood banking from their doctor.Just 4 weeks later the doctor's found a grapefruit sized mass blocking her kidneys. Luckily, because they stored the cord blood they were able use the stem cells to do a complete transplant after chemotherapy which saved her life. The article seems to begin as an advertisement for cord blood banking with the fortunate story of the Page family but later the article brings up some concerns about cord blood pricing and necessity of it. The article hits on seven topics ranging from it could be life-saving to your doctor could be cashing in, which makes for a lot of contrast in the article.On one extreme the author points out that umbilical cord blood is an extremely rich source of stem cells that are used to treat more than 80 life threatening diseases and disorders including cancer, blood disorders, immune system disorders, and genetic diseases and on the other extreme she says that it is common practice for doctors to receive referrals for discussing the topic of cord blood banking with their patients. I will use this article to compare and contrast all the various points within my paper.

Best Analysis Eyes of TJ Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby

Best Analysis Eyes of TJ Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In The Great Gatsby, in the middle of a strange, gray landscape, hovers a giant billboard of eyes without a face- the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. It's a creepy image, and the fact that several characters seem disturbed by it means that it is very significant in the novel. But did you know that F. Scott Fitzgerald didn't make up this advertisement? If you image search "oculist shop sign," you'll see that this disembodied eyes thing was a pretty standard way to advertise places that sold glasses! So how does The Great Gatsby transform what would have a reasonable everyday image into a sign of the macabre? And why does this billboard affect the characters who see them so much? In this article, I'll talk about the places where the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are mentioned in the novel, explain their symbolic meaning, connect them with the novel's themes and characters, and also give you some jumping-off points for writing essays. Quick Note on Our Citations Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter) or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text. What Are the Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby? Before delving into the deeper meaning of this image, let's get a general idea of what this object is. In the middle of Queens, along the road the characters take to get from West Egg to Manhattan, near George Wilson's garage, there is a billboard. The billboard is an ad for an optometrist (called an "oculist" in the 1920s). The image on the ad is a pair of giant disembodied blue eyes (each iris is about a yard in diameter), which are covered by yellow spectacles. The rest of the face isn't pictured, and the billboard is dirty with paint that has faded from being weathered. Key Quotes About the Dr. T.J. Eckleburg Eyes Before we can figure out what the eyes mean as a symbol, let's do some close reading of the moments where they pop up in The Great Gatsby. Chapter 2 The first time we come across Dr. T.J. Eckleburg and his eerie eyes, we are in the midst of a double whammy of terribleness. First, Nick has just described Queens as a depressing, crumbling "valley of ashes" that is "grotesque" and "desolate" (2.1). Second, Tom is about to introduce Nick to Myrtle Wilson, his married mistress. But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic- their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose. Evidently some wild wag of an oculist set them there to fatten his practice in the borough of Queens, and then sank down himself into eternal blindness or forgot them and moved away. But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground†¦ I followed [Tom] over a low white-washed railroad fence and we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleburg's persistent stare... "Terrible place, isn't it," said Tom, exchanging a frown with Doctor Eckleburg. (2.1-20) Just like the quasi-mysterious and unreal-sounding green light in Chapter 1, the eyes of Doctor Eckleburg are presented in a confusing and seemingly surreal way: Instead of simply saying that there is a giant billboard, Nick first spends several sentences describing seemingly living giant eyes that are hovering in mid-air. Unlike the very gray, drab, and monochrome surroundings, the eyes are blue and yellow. In a novel that is methodically color-coded, this brightness is a little surreal and connects the eyes to other blue and yellow objects. Moreover, the description has elements of horror. The "gigantic" eyes are disembodied, with "no face" and a "nonexistent nose." Adding to this creepy feel is the fact that even after we learn that the eyes are actually part of an advertisement, they are given agency and emotions. They don't simply exist in space, but "look out" and "persistently stare," the miserable landscape causes them to "brood," and they are even able to "exchange a frown" with Tom despite the fact that they have no mouth. It's clear from this personification of an inanimate object that these eyes stand for something else- a huge, displeased watcher. Chapter 7 The second time T.J. Eckleburg's eyes appear, Tom, Nick, and Jordan are stopping at Wilson's garage on their way to Manhattan to have it out with Daisy and Gatsby. We were all irritable now with the fading ale and, aware of it, we drove for a while in silence. Then as Doctor T. J. Eckleburg's faded eyes came into sight down the road, I remembered Gatsby's caution about gasoline†¦.That locality was always vaguely disquieting, even in the broad glare of afternoon, and now I turned my head as though I had been warned of something behind. Over the ashheaps the giant eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg kept their vigil but I perceived, after a moment, that other eyes were regarding us with peculiar intensity from less than twenty feet away. In one of the windows over the garage the curtains had been moved aside a little and Myrtle Wilson was peering down at the car. (7.136-163) This time, the eyes are a warning to Nick that something is wrong. He thinks the problem is that the car is low on gas, but as we learn, the real problem at the garage is that George Wilson has found out that Myrtle is having an affair. Of course, Nick is quickly distracted from the billboard's "vigil" by the fact that Myrtle is staring at the car from the room where George has imprisoned her. She is holding her own "vigil" of sorts, staring out the window at what she thinks is the yellow car of Tom, her would-be savior, and also giving Jordan a death stare under the misguided impression that Jordan is Daisy. The word "vigil" is important here. It refers to staying awake for a religious purpose, or to keep watch over a stressful and significant time. Here, though, both of those meanings don't quite apply, and the word is used sarcastically. The billboard eyes can't interact with the characters, but they do point to- or stand in for- a potential higher authority whose "brooding" and "caution" could also be accompanied by judgment. Their useless vigil is echoed by Myrtle's mistaken one- she is vigilant enough to spot Tom driving, but she is wrong to put her trust in him. Later, this trust in Tom and the yellow car is what gets her killed. Chapter 8 Our last visit to the eyes happens during a private moment between the coffee shop owner Michaelis and George Wilson. Since Nick isn't actually there, this must be Nick's version of Michaelis's testimony to the police after the murder-suicide. "Have you got a church you go to sometimes, George? Maybe even if you haven't been there for a long time? Maybe I could call up the church and get a priest to come over and he could talk to you, see?" "Don't belong to any." ... Wilson's glazed eyes turned out to the ashheaps, where small grey clouds took on fantastic shape and scurried here and there in the faint dawn wind. "I spoke to her," he muttered, after a long silence. "I told her she might fool me but she couldn't fool God. I took her to the window" With an effort he got up and walked to the rear window and leaned with his face pressed against it, "and I said 'God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me but you can't fool God!' " Standing behind him Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg which had just emerged pale and enormous from the dissolving night. "God sees everything," repeated Wilson. "That's an advertisement," Michaelis assured him. Something made him turn away from the window and look back into the room. But Wilson stood there a long time, his face close to the window pane, nodding into the twilight. (8.72-105) Here, finally, the true meaning of the odd billboard that everyone finds so disquieting is revealed. To the unhinged George Wilson, first totally distraught over Myrtle's affair and then driven past his breaking point by her death, the billboard's eyes are a watchful God. Wilson doesn't go to church, and thus doesn't have access to the moral instruction that will help him control his darker impulses. Still, it seems that Wilson wants God, or at least a God-like influence, in his life- based on him trying to convert the watching eyes of the billboard into a God that will make Myrtle feel bad about "everything [she's] been doing." In the way George stares "into the twilight" by himself, there is an echo of what we've often seen Gatsby doing- staring at the green light on Daisy's dock. Both men want something unreachable, and both imbue ordinary objects with overwhelming amounts of meaning. So in the same way Myrtle couldn't see the truth above, this lack of a larger moral compass here guides George (or at least leave him vulnerable) to committing the murder/suicide. Even when characters reach out for a guiding truth in their lives, not only are they denied one, but they are also led instead toward tragedy. The characters have no access to any of these. The Meaning and Significance of the Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby In the world of The Great Gatsby, there is no moral center. Every character is shown to be selfish, delusional, or violent. Even Nick, who, as our narrator, is ostensibly meant to reflect on who is good and who is bad, turns out to be kind of a misogynist bigot. It's not surprising that none of these characters is shown to have faith of any kind. The closest any of them come to being led by an outside force, or voice of authority, is when Tom seems swayed by the super racist arguments of a book about how minorities are about to overwhelm whites. So it makes sense that Nick, whose job it is to watch everyone else and describe their actions, pays attention to something else that seems to also be watching- the billboard with the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. The billboard watches the site of the novel's biggest moral failures. On a more local level, the garage is the place where Daisy kills Myrtle. But on a bigger scale, the "ash heaps" of Queens show what happens to those who cannot succeed in the ambitious, self-serving, predatory world of the Roaring 20's that Fitzgerald finds so objectionable. The problem, of course, is that this billboard, this completely inanimate object, cannot stand in for a civilizing and moral influence, however much the characters who notice it cower under its gaze. Tom frowns when he feels himself being watched, but this feeling does not alter his actions in any way. Wilson wants Myrtle to be shaken up by the idea of this watcher, a God-like presence that is unfoolable, but she is also undeterred. Even Wilson himself, who seems to feel the billboard is some kind of brake on his inner turmoil, is easily persuaded that it's just "an advertisement," and so nothing stands in the way of his violent acting out. Like Gatsby, who is also compared to "the advertisement of the man" (7.83), the billboard is a sham representation of a deeper idea. People want to read God or at least an overseeing presence into it, but, in the end, they are simply externalizing their anxiety about the moral vacuum at the center of their world. Not quite the kind of vacuum we're talking about here. Characters, Themes, Motifs, and Symbols Connected to the Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Nick Carraway. Nick is the first to notice the billboard and describe it as a watchful presence. He finds it a discomfiting cap on the misery and desolation of the "ash heaps" that separate Long Island from Manhattan. In a way, the billboard does what Nick could never do- be a completely impartial, completely objective observer of the events around it. George Wilson. George seems to conflate the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg with his idea of an ever-present, all-seeing God. He reveals to Michaelis that part of his reaction to Myrtle's affair was to try to make her be afraid of a God who is watching her every move like the billboard does. In the end, after he seems completely unhinged by Myrtle's death, George stares at the billboard in the same way that Gatsby stares at the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. It's possible to conclude that when Michaelis tells George that the eyes are just an advertisement, he removes the last barrier preventing George from acting out his violent intention. Morality and Ethics. The values of the world within the novel seem to simply be: get whatever you want for yourself, as much as you can, in any way you can, and don't get caught. No one has an internal moral compass, and there is no external one either apparently. The eyes of TJ Eckleburg come closest to being an external motivator for characters to at least consider the morality of their actions, as they squirm and become uncomfortable under the eyes' gaze. Money and Materialism. The billboard is there in the first place as an advertisement, and thus also reflects the huge capitalist influence in everyone's lives. The real reason that there is no moral or ethical underpinning to the lives of these characters is that their world is based on a greedy, money-based notion of success. Even the object that is the closest thing to a religious figure is in reality trying to compel those who see it to buy something and make someone else richer. The Valley of Ashes. The billboard of the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg is located in the middle of what Nick calls "the valley of ashes"- the industrial section of Queens that connects the rich neighborhoods of the Eggs on Long Island and the similarly booming Manhattan. That the eyes watch over this neighborhood in particular is an indictment of the way those who can't claw their way to the top get left behind in the lawless Wild East, shaming those passing through who are taking advantage of the hard work of the poor. What makes the world of The Great Gatsby go around. Essay Ideas and Tips for Writing About the Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg Now that we've discussed the significance of the billboard advertising the oculist Doctor Eckleburg, let's figure out the best way to approach this symbol in an essay. Writing Tips Here are some tips for how to write an essay about the role of a symbol in a novel: Build from the text out. In this article, I first looked at the eyes in context and discussed the billboard's meaning in the exact places where it appears, and only afterward wrote about their general significance in the novel. Keep the same system in mind for your own essay: progress from small ideas to big ones to bolster your argument. Make an argument. It's not enough to just describe the symbol and explain its possible meanings. Instead, you have to make sure that you're making some kind of point about why/how the symbol works. How do you know if you're making an argument and not just saying the obvious? If you can imagine someone arguing the opposite of what you're saying, then you've got an argument on your hands. Don't overthink it. Sure, the billboard's giant eyes can be said to represent lots of things: God, moral failings, or the lack of ethical oversight on the East Coast. But that doesn't mean that it also stands for Gatsby's father, the freedom of sailing, or Daisy's childhood. In other words, watch out for stretching your symbol analysis too far from what the text is telling you. Essay Ideas Here are some possible essay arguments. You can build from them as-is, argue their opposite, or use them as jumping-off points for your own interpretation. What Wilson really wants when he's staring at the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg is the kind of intervention that a third-person narrator would normally provide: someone to punish the bad characters and reward the good ones. Because there's no supervising authority like that in the novel, Wilson takes justice into his own hands. The problem isn't that there aren't any moral rules in the world of the novel, but that everyone is so flawed that it would be impossible to figure out who is right and who is wrong. That's why the only appropriate God figure is an inanimate object. The eyes are placed on the road between Manhattan and West Egg rather than in one of those places because this road is a place where characters could make different choices, and where they can make the decisions that affect their lives in either one of those destinations. Who has the most options in the novel? Who has the least? The Bottom Line The Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg is a billboard advertising an oculist that features a pair of giant disembodied blue eyes covered by yellow spectacles. The eyes pop up in: The beginning of Chapter 2, when Nick's personification of the inanimate eyes implies that they represent a huge, displeased watcher or the characters' moral failures. In the middle of Chapter 7, when the eyes are a warning to Nick, who perceives them as an image of a higher authority sitting in judgment. In the middle of Chapter 8, when Michaelis's explanation that the billboard isn't actually God releases the violence Wilson has been holding in check. The oculist's billboard and its creepy eyes watch over a world without a moral center, where every character is shown to be selfish, delusional, or violent, and it is positioned on the site of the novel's biggest moral failures. This billboard, a completely inanimate object, cannot stand in for a civilizing and moral influence, however much the characters want to read God or at least an overseeing presence into it. The Eyes of Doctor Eckleburg are associated with: Nick Carraway, who notices it because the billboard does what Nick could never do- be a completely impartial, completely objective observer of the events around it. George Wilson, who conflates the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg with his idea of an ever-present, all-seeing God. Morality and ethics, which don't exist in a world where the rules are: get whatever you want for yourself, as much as you can, in any way you can, and don't get caught. The Valley of Ashes, an industrial neighborhood that is an indictment of the way those who can't claw their way to the top get left behind in the lawless Wild East. Money and materialism, since the billboard reflects the huge capitalist influence in everyone's lives. What's Next? Refresh your memory of the chapters where this symbol appears: Chapter 2, Chapter 7, and Chapter 8. Compare and contrast Tom and George to see why they react to the billboard's unsettling eyes in such different ways. Consider the location of the billboard by reading about the valley of ashes and the other settings in the novel. Check out all the other symbols that enrich The Great Gatsby. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Shakespeares Schooling and Early Years

Shakespeare's Schooling and Early Years What was William Shakespeares school life like? What school did he attend? Was he top of the class? Unfortunately, there is very little evidence remaining, so historians have pulled together multiple sources to give a sense of what his school life would have been like. Shakespeare's School Life Fast Facts William Shakespeare attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford-upon-AvonHe started there when he was seven.Little is known about his young life at the school, but it is possible to ascertain what life would have been like for him by looking at what school life was like in those days. Grammar School Grammar schools were all over the country at that time and were attended by boys of similar backgrounds to Shakespeare’s. There was a national curriculum set out by the monarchy. Girls were not permitted to attend school, so we will never know the potential of Shakespeare’s sister Anne, for example. She would have stayed home and helped Mary, his mother, with the household chores. It is believed that William Shakespeare would have probably attended school with his younger brother Gilbert, who was two years his junior. But his younger brother Richard would have missed out on a grammar school education because the Shakespeares were experiencing financial problems at the time and they could not afford to send him. So the educational and future successes of Shakespeare depended on his parents affording to send him to get an education. Many others were not so fortunate. Shakespeare himself missed out on a full education as we shall later discover. Shakespeare’s school is still a grammar school today, and is attended by boys who have passed their 11 exams. They accept the very top percentage of boys who have done well in their exams. The School Day The school day was long and monotonous. Children attended school from Monday until Saturday from 6 or 7 oclock in the morning until 5 or 6 oclock at night with a two hour break for dinner. On his day off, Shakespeare would have been expected to attend church. It being a Sunday, there was very little free time, as the church service would go on for hours at a time! Holidays only took place on religious days, but these would not exceed one day. Curriculum Physical Education was not on the curriculum at all. Shakespeare would have been expected to learn long passages of Latin prose and poetry. Latin was the language used in most respected professions including the law, medicine and in the clergy. Latin was, therefore, the mainstay of the curriculum. Students would have been versed in grammar, rhetoric, logic, astronomy, and arithmetic. Music was also part of the curriculum. Students would have been regularly tested and physical punishments would have been given out to those who did not do well. Financial Troubles John Shakespeare was having financial problems by the time Shakespeare was a teenager and Shakespeare and his brother were forced to leave school as their father could no longer pay for it. Shakespeare was 14 at the time. The Spark for a Career At the end of the term, the school would put on classical plays in which the boys would perform. It is entirely possible that this is where Shakespeare honed his acting skills and knowledge of plays and classical stories. Many of his plays and poems are based on classical texts, including Troilus and Cressida and The Rape of Lucrece. In Elizabethan times, children were seen as miniature adults, and were trained to take on an adult’s place and occupation. Girls would have been put to work at home mending clothes, cleaning and cooking, boys would have been introduced to their father’s profession or worked as farm hands. Shakespeare may have been employed as such by the Hathaway’s, this may have been how he met Anne Hathaway.  We lose track of him after he leaves school at 14, and the next thing we know is that he is married to Anne Hathaway. Children were married off early. This is reflected in Romeo and Juliet. Juliet is 14 and Romeo is a similar age.

Unemployment and Inflation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unemployment and Inflation - Essay Example During inflation, the government must come up with various fiscal and monetary measures to redeem the situation. Thus unemployment and inflation are usually correlated. As the level of unemployment reduces, firms will spend more on salaries leading to high costs in production. These high costs are then passed to the final consumers in the economy in form of high price commodity generating inflationary measures in the economy (Gordon, & Solow, 2004). While the opposite is also true. As unemployment increases, workers will demand fewer wages that will lower the production costs. This is then passed inform of low prices to the consumers leading to reduced inflation. From the institution above, the correlation between unemployment and inflation is the inverse relationship. As one increases the other reduces and vice-versa. This implies that the economy can only achieve one at a time but not both be leading to a trade-off as shown below. The diagram above represents the tradeoff that exis ts between unemployment and inflation rate. The economy can either do with a high inflation rate say 8% and a low unemployment rate of 3%. They can also do with a low inflation of 4% and a high unemployment rate of 6%. This is an economically proved situation in many countries and I totally agree with the correlation. Laborers always demand high wages in return for the compensation of the work they do for the company. Firms also do not have much choice since they have to hire workers if they have to produce. In the process of production, they will always want to recover the costs that were used in products like the wages and costs of raw materials (Gordon, & Solow, 2004). This is passed to the final beneficiary of the commodity inform of high prices. So for firms to reduce prices they must do so at the low cost of production and one way is to minimize the use of labor. These situations results into the inverse correlation between