Identify and explain the historical significance of Benjamin Rush, Research Paper - 1

Identify and explain the historical significance of Benjamin Rush, particularly as he relates to the transformation of the medical profession in early America - Research Paper Example At this time he was under Rodman he attended many lectures which later helped him in his future life. He later began venturing into politics though not his own career. In all his education life he was been provided for by his mother since his father died when he was six years of age. He grew up as a strong man who later did great things which even to date is serving the whole world. He was really a man to be proud of. He wrote some books and he was well remembered for he wrote the first chemistry book in America. 2Benjamin Rush returned to Philadelphia from Europe in 1769 and he began practicing medicine when he got home. It was at this time that Philadelphia had begun entering a revolutionary period which ultimately played a key role in the American Revolution. This city was wealthy and it had many resources and also a high population. At twenty three years he was elected as a professor of Chemistry in Philadelphia College. This was just one year after he had come from Europe. He is the one who made the name of this school change to what is currently referred as ‘medical school of the University of Philadelphia.’ This man contributed greatly to mental medicine and physical medicine. He was interested in animals and this made him to do some contributions that are even important in the current society. Bloodletting was the main medical practice that Rush was associated with during his career. This method had been used since long by physicians but this time Rush was doing it with more improvements. He used it widely during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 which was making lives of many to be in danger in Philadelphia. This disease broke out in Water Street in the same town. According to Rush he believed that diseases and particularly yellow fever were caused by excessive accumulation of poison in the body of a human being which was toxic to the body and affected the small blood vessels. In his treatment therefore he aimed at removing the poison and let the

Heroes & Odysseus Essay Example for Free

Heroes Odysseus Essay This paper will seek out to explore the way in which Odysseus and Oedipus were created as heroes and how they either missed their mark or did indeed become legendary. Throughout Homer’s chronicle, The Odyssey, are found the feats of cunning, strength, moral fiber and bravery attributed to Odysseus. The tale recounts the days after the fall of Troy, and the meandering journey which took Odysseus back to his homeland – though never truly home. The Odyssey begins with Odysseus stranded on a small forest island – trapped by the goddess Calypso while Oedipus begins with the oracle of Delphi stating that Oedipus will live to kill his father and marry his mother and thereby wrecking his home. It is explained through the text that the gods, save for Neptune have begun to pity Odysseus because of the great suffering he had endured. This suffering is explained to be of â€Å"every kind of blandishment to make him forget his home, so that he is tired of life. † (Book I) Calypso is intent on forcing Odysseus to marry her, but he does not falter to her whim, but still longs for his wife and home. Oedipus on the other hand does fulfill the oracle’s prophesy and no god saves him or pities him his fate. This is brought to the attention of Jove, or Zeus, son of Saturn and most powerful of the gods. The goddess Minerva calls to Jove to end the suffering of Odysseus, to which Jove replies: My child, what are you talking about? How can I forget Ulysses than whom there is no more capable man on earth, nor more liberal in his offerings to the immortal gods that live in heaven? (Book I) It is through the voice of Jove, the king of all the gods and goddesses that the reader is shown the esteem that Odysseus has gained. Jove calls Odysseus the â€Å"[most] capable man on earth†, which intends to illustrate the favor that he has earned from the gods. When it is decided by Minerva and Jove that Odysseus will be allowed to return home, Minerva travels to Ithaca – the home of Odysseus to tell his son to prepare for his father’s return. However the situation on Ithaca has become troubled as many suitors are vying for the hand of the, presumed, widow of the king. During this debate, Telemachus, the son of Odysseus convened the council and spoke of the trouble that had fallen on his house. My grieveance is purely personal, and turns on two great misfortunes which have fallen upon my house. The first of these is the loss of my excellent father, who was chief among all you here present, and was like a father to every one of you [†¦]. (Book II) Here, it is shown that not only was Odysseus capable of pleasing the gods, but also he was a great and fair leader. The council of Ithaca, though his subordinates, where treated as his own children – rather than simply citizens subject to his rule. It is also during this discourse that Telemachus calls for an end of the forced courting of his mother by saying â€Å"we have now no Ulysses to ward off harm from our doors, and I cannot hold my own against them. I shall never all my days be as good a man as he was† (Book II) – which then illustrated the strength and power that the presence of Odysseus commanded. Characters in plays are the designated interlopers between the subconscious of the audience or readers. These characters translate into reality and become a relatable experience because the hero has one tragic flaw that conquers them, ruins them, and brings them humility. This fallible nature is show the imperfections of humanity designed through sin; sin is one of the many idiosyncrasies which mark us as human, that create specific characteristics and through confession or the confession of characters in a play, this nature becomes like a myth in the end there is death or forgiveness. Aristotle’s definition for a tragic hero is one who is not in control of his own fate, but instead is ruled by the gods in one fashion or another. The tragic hero for Aristotle is tragic because of their lack of control or will in the face of their predetermined future and downfall. A great tragic flaw (hamartia) is the hero’s devil may care attitude at the beginning of each story, and then their despondency and stagnation of hope that meets them at the end of the play (Aristotle Ibid. , Book XIII, 1085b 35 1086a 12—14, P. 909]. In drama, ego is the flaw to which the hero succumbs. This is Oedipus’ great error. His ego is a compromise to his fortune. Even in the gods’ world he stands out as unique or special. Heroes begin their stories with aplomb of luck, or ego, or a rosy view of the world, and each play seems to end with destruction. Oedipus is blind at the beginning of the play and then becomes physically blind at the end of the play thus making the ethereal concrete. With Greek drama; the tragedy of the unmistakable truth found in the character’s own self-realization is the typically denouement. The playwright’s tragic heroes have survived in life under false pretences, thus they are doomed to suffer from their one flaw of ego. It is interesting that while ego is Oedipus’ downfall it is Odysseus’ strength for it is ego which allows him to continue trying to find his home even after decades of looking. By the forth book of The Odyssey, Odysseus is still making his way home, and the tales of his exploits are recalled. As Helen, wife of Menelaus, and the cause of the Trojan war spoke of Odysseus, she recalled his cunning and forethought in his dealings with Troy. â€Å"I cannot indeed name every single one of the exploits of Odysseus†, Helen told the men, â€Å"but I can say what he did when he was before Troy. † (Book IV) Helen recounted Odysseus donning a disguise and entering the city dressed as a beggar. Though she saw through the disguise and recognized him, she was unable to question him because â€Å"he was too cunning for me†. (Book IV) It was the plan of Odysseus to gather information on the city, and kill some of the soldiers before returning his army – which, as Helen recalled, he did. This praise of Odysseus was echoed by her husband, Menelaus. After Helen had spoken, Menelaus said â€Å"I have traveled much, and have had much to do with heroes, but I have never seen such another man as Odysseus. What endurance too, and what courage he displayed†. (Book IV) The strength and bravery of Odysseus, as recounted by Menelaus, illustrated the degree to which Odysseus had gained favor among his fellow Grecian kings. In Oedipus there is another case of fate controlling the destiny of man. Due to fate’s interference in the lives of heroes, it must be pondered whether or not they are heroes because they are devoid of choice and by definition a hero chooses their actions, but with fate, their actions are predestined. For Oedipus, his only link to heroism is that in his redemptive attitude . His heroic stance in Greek culture is seen as a protagonist who felt guilt for what he had done and this translates to the audience that if a hero can succumb to evil then they themselves, as less than heroic, are more likely to fall in favor, in the eyes of the gods. Human nature is a nature of reason, not strictly adherent to passion or feelings, and in drama playwrights strive to be exact in their representation of reality. Morality then, becomes the crux of Oedipus Rex. Morality is reason. This is not to say that Plato and other classic Greek writers were ascetic; rather they placed passion, and feelings in their plays but the ethics of humanity are tied into the good of a person because reasonably, being virtuous, or good leads a character to happiness or release at the end of a modern play. The word for this given by Plato is eudemonism, which means blissful. Throughout The Odyssey, many individuals recount the feats of Odysseus. His exploits had gained him favor from man and God alike – something afforded to very few others in history or mythology. It was the total of every aspect of Odysseus’ persona that he gained this favor. Throughout his life he had shown courage, fairness, loyalty, strength and cunning – and it is because of these traits that Odysseus is remembered. As a Greek hero, Oedipus is controlled by fate: His remittance of gouging his eyes shows that he is a strong hero because of his debt payment of sight. For Oedipus the flaw could be contained within the word ego while Odysseus’ heroism is marked by it. Ego in answering the sphinx riddle and unbeknownst to him killing his birth father, marrying his mother, having children; ego accounts for all of Oedipus’s actions, and it is fate which had designed ego and thus was the ultimate ruler of Oedipus and luck for Odysseus but both are considered heroes. Works Cited Aristotle. http://olldownload. libertyfund. org/EBooks/Plato_0407. pdf Sophocles. (1977). The Oedipus Cycle. Harcourt Inc. Florida. Homer. â€Å"The Odyssey†. trans. Samuel Butler. University of Oregon. Date of Access: April 30 2009. URL: http://darkwing. uoregon. edu/~joelja/odyssey. html

Naturalism in Sister Carrie

Naturalism in Sister Carrie There was much debate to whether Dreiser was a naturalist after the model of Zola. But if this denomination is reflected by the acceptance of the sordid side of life and a more faithful registration of personal experience, then it can be a characteristic of his work. He was an objective realist who remotely brought together his facts but at the same time he was more. ( Spiller et all, 1963: 1039) In the case of Dreisers Sister Carrie a novel that has been repeatedly classified in separate accounts as a work of literary realism and literary naturalism the exact opposite seems to hold true. Featuring elements of two of the most prominent literary movements of the time in which it was written, the very consistency of Sister Carrie seems to be built on the combination of discrepant parts. Dreiser attains such combinatorial proficiency by operating with a rather distinct method of characterization, correlating the traits of particular characters (primarily Carrie) with a variety of forms of imagery employed to describe the external circumstances that affect them. By joining realistic descriptions with naturalistic intentions in dealing with his characters, Dreiser is able to connect the vastness between literary genres, not only overcoming literary divisions. ( Decker, 1997, 2) Being the subject of various critics, Dreiser stated his intention with Sister Carrie in one interview in June 1907: Here is a book that is close to life. It is intended not as a piece of literary craftsmanship, but as a picture of conditions done as simply and effectively as the English language will permit. To set up and criticize me for saying vest instead of waistcoat, to talk about my splitting the infinitive and using vulgar commonplaces here and there, when the tragedy of a mans life is depicted, is silly ( qtd. In Pizer, 1991: 13)   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Sister Carrie is often referred to as a pattern of realist literature because of its very down-to-earth descriptive technique. By presenting a behind-the-scenes view of daily life in Chicago and New York often from the two very different perspectives of Carrie and Hurstwood Dreiser illustrates what actually happens in places the reader might know only tangentially. Such objectivity permitted Dreiser to concentrate on the fundamental qualities of ordinary human experience while at the same time representing larger sociocultural notions and values. A context as this serves to provide the novel in general with two of its most characteristic themes: the individual seeking his fortune in the big city and perhaps only achieving tragic failure, so often described by the French and American Realists; and, frequently in association with this, the milieu studies of such writers as Dreiser (qtd. in Decker, 1997: ). Integrating accurate description s of everyday experience in a collection of apparently vast American settings, the fiction of Theodore Dreiser has thus been easily recognized in light of realist descriptive technique (Phillips 572).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Literary naturalism developed out of realism and Darwins biological theories Those in favour of a naturalistic approach to and interpretation of life concentrated on depicting the social environment and dwelt particularly on its deficiencies and on the shortcomings of human beings. The naturalists vision of the estate of man tended to be subjective and was very often somber (Naturalism 537-8). Naturalist authors refocused the objective of the realist novel by examining the unintelligible influences of biology and culture on man to expose the weakness of the human condition. By detecting the impossibility of human understanding, naturalist authors depicted experience as a assemblage of events generated by innate cultural and biological inheritances. Rather than trying to bring to light and describe the nature of specific social and cultural truths, naturalists proved readers that the facts themselves were in reality driven by grea ter and often incomprehensible sociobiological forces (qtd. in Decker, 1997, 2)).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Evocative of a rather deterministic message, Sister Carrie has also been often referred to as a work of literary naturalism (qtd in Decker,). In this view, the city settings in which the plot develops are means for the various social and biological forces that drive the action of this novel. Both Carrie and Hurstwood are stimulated by external and internal forces that are beyond their individual powers of control. The descriptions of the characters, then in particular those involving external appearances and settings to internal traits illustrate how deeply these individuals are influenced by factors inexplicable to them. The original message of Sister Carrie the futility and mystery of life-guiding forces considering the intriguing vagaries of fortune is therefore a readily naturalistic one (Walcutt 266-9).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Even though literary realism and naturalism are often seen as different and discordant modes of representation in the American literary canon, the movements in theme as well as in description are not mutually absolute. The appearance of American naturalism in the late 19th century did not mark any ultimate rupture with literary realism. In fact, some critics see naturalism as a logical extension of realism, building upon the knowledge of the time and expressing thought in an updated fashion (qtd. in Decker). Bearing such ideas in mind, it would seem deductively unsupported to assume that certain authors writing at the turn of the 20th century did not exploit particular aspects of divergent literary movements to reflect overarching ideologies of the time.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Writing in 1900, Dreiser certainly would have been aware of the stylistic elements of both literary movements. With the tools of each of these modes of address at his disposal, Dreiser was able to portray realistic settings and descriptions while maintaining an underlying naturalistic message one revealing the powerlessness of the individual in a morally confused society. The chief accomplishment of such a combination that of literary realism and naturalism in Sister Carrie occurs through the correlation of Carries physical appearance with what one might consider inherent personality traits.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   The various realistic character descriptions in Sister Carrie render a very naturalistic message by their correlation with internal traits and motivations. Although the novel continually and quite dispassionately observes the conditions of ordinary life, Sister Carrie also centers the attention on the total absence of ethical plot conflict (the presence of which would be notable in a strictly realist novel). Even if its motion is depicted realistically, Sister Carrie is not reliant on determined acts by any of its main characters (Walcutt 270-2). One of the greatest sources of such external / internal conflict occurs in repeated instances of sea imagery within the novels context. This is particularly relevant to the initial characterization of Carrie.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   With the wane of the afternoon went her hopes, her courage, and her strength. On every hand, to her fatigued senses, the great business portion grew larger, harder, more stolid in its indifferenceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Men and women hurried by in long shifting lines. She felt the flow of the tide of effort and interest felt her own helplessness without quite realizing the wisp of the tide that she was (21). The novel begins with Carrie finding herself in an unfamiliar and unstable environment, she feels that she is utterly subject to a force greater than that of her own personal agency. Carries job-seeking efforts are described is extremely realistic ones. The circumstances of trying to obtain a working position in a low social place are faithfully portrayed, including their potential effects such a hardship might have on the individual psyche (.Decker) Yet, when one judges the primary motivation in this quote, it becomes obvious that there is a naturalistic message emphasizing the abovementioned realistic descriptions. This message of whose implications Carrie is not aware is one that paints man as a helpless organism in a sea of forces above and beyond his control and understanding. Finding a job seen as an internal motivation, one marked by realistic description is merged with an external nature that evades any decisive human control. A debate on internal motivation might be inte rpreted as one of the ways in which Dreiser combines realistic description with naturalistic intention in order to triumph over the strict difference between literary realism and naturalism.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Such correspondence between realistic descriptions and naturalistic intention can also be found in the concrete characterization of Carrie. Dreiser frequently compares Carries physical and mental composition, utilizing the forces of literary realism to convey actual descriptions while employing naturalistic techniques to provide an underlying message.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Caroline, or Sister Carrie, as she had been half affectionately termed by the family, was possessed of a mind rudimentary in its power of observation and analysis. Warm with the fancies of youth, pretty with the insipid prettiness of the formative period, possessed of a figure promising eventual shapeliness and an eye alight with certain native intelligence (Dreiser 2). This way, Carrie is made a preface, her character is depicted in two ways: first, through the description of her mental traits, and second, through the description of her physical appearance. By the realistic portrayal of Carries looks, Dreiser hints at who Carrie is. By then placing both physical and mental characteristics within the bounds of a single phrase, Dreiser makes a very naturalistic argument. This claim that the forces of biology have not contoured the way Carrie looks but also the way she thinks and acts is one that strengthens the concept of the frailty of human understanding. This is significant considering the overall attitude to Sister Carrie can be regarded as a reflection of biological determinism convoyed by a conviction that the course of narrated events has neither order nor direct accessibility to mans intellect (Walcutt 277). By revealing the reader that Carries mental qualities are established exclusively on features beyond her control, Dreiser formulates t he naturalistic reason that human agency is driven by a greater force than that of the consideration of individual characters as well as novels final motion. In this way, the early presentation of Carries personality combines realistic description with naturalistic meaning that of biological stimulus and mans limited discernment to exceed the bounds of literary genre.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  moreover,  Dreiser employs similar physical descriptions to show how Carries mental and emotional traits are viewed by others in this novel.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  He looked at her pretty face and it vivified his mental resources. She was a sweet little mortal to him there was not doubt of that. She seemed to have some power back of her actions. She was not like the common run of store-girls. She wasnt silly (53). By this quote, Dreiser familiarizes his reader with Drouets perspective, who sees Carrie from the perspective of her beauty. By realistically comparing her physical appearance with the common run of store-girls,(53) Owing to his vast knowledge with women Drouet concludes that Carrie is not only more physically attractive than the average-looking woman of the period, but also gifted with more agency. This quote speaks about the realistic description of Carries physical qualities to the sphere of the naturalistic by disclosing the biological basis of mental traits. The description of Carries physical traits in this passage suggests the tone of naturalism through realistic depiction, demonstrating that Carries personality is nothing other than an increase of her biological composition. By presenting Carrie through the eyes of a knower (Drouet), Dreiser shows that even other individuals morally corrupted society in where the narrative is set, are blinded by the expression of physical tra its. Dreiser therefore mingles realistic descriptions of Carrie with a naturalistic implication to show the limitations of rigorously defining literary realism and naturalism.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Dreiser also conveys the combination of literary realism with naturalism by directly addressing physical influences on mental and emotional qualities.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   To the untraveled, territory other than their own familiar hearth is invariably fascinating. Next to love, it is the one thing which solaces and delights. Things new are too important to be neglected, and mind, which is a mere reflection of sensory impressions, succumbs to the flood of objects (217). This quote is meant directly for the reader. In Dreisers fiction, there is often an explicit correlation between the narrator and the author himself. By temporarily assuming the role of the narrator, Dreiser is able to insert his own personal opinions directly into the text without assuming an overly authoritative tone (qtd in Decker, 6). By addressing the reader directly, Dreiser is able to express his naturalistic message bluntly by making the most of realistic descriptions, thus bridging the disparity between literary realism and literary naturalism.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  A final example that demonstrates the overlap between literary realism and naturalism in Dreisers Sister Carrie occurs at the novels conclusion. At this point in the plots progression, the relationship between realistic description and naturalistic intent has become fairly evident. The combination of literary movements is further enhanced when Dreiser directly attributes Carries success as an actress (based on naturalistic motivation) to the acknowledgment of her very realistically described physical beauty.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Now because Carrie was pretty, the gentlemen who made up the advance illustrations of shows about to appear for the Sunday papers selected Carries photo along with others to illustrate the announcement. Because she was very pretty, they gave it excellent space and drew scrolls around it. At the same time there seemed very little in her part. It consisted of standing around in all sorts of scenes, a silent little Quakeress. Carrie was the chief feature of the play. The audience, the more it studied her, the more it indicated its delight. Every other feature paled beside the quaint, teasing, delightful atmosphere which Carrie contributed while on stage (Dreiser 351-3).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   At the novels conclusion, Dreiser shows the reader that Carrie has risen above her former station in life one initially marked by a feeling of almost overwhelming helplessness. Dreiser also points out, however, that Carrie has achieved her position as a well-known actress only through others recognition of her physical beauty a trait that was marked as causing her heightened mental and emotional prowess from the novels very inception. Carries part as an actress consists only of standing around and frowning acting which fails to lend itself to her potential mental fortitude. In effect, then, Carrie has risen above and beyond her initial rank in life by ends outside her control and understanding. By realistically describing the announcement of her part in the papers as well as the actual role itself, Dreiser shows the reader how Carrie has advanced naturalistically on the basis of her physical attractiveness to members of the o pposite sex. In this conclusion, then, Dreiser utilizes realistic descriptions in order to convey the naturalistic notion that it is only Carries beauty that contributes to her inner being and her ultimate success. With this idea in mind, Dreiser definitively binds realistic description to the naturalistic notion of helplessness and misunderstanding to dispel the boundaries between literary movements.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Although traditionally referenced as a work of either strict literary realism or naturalism, Theodore Dreisers Sister Carrie is a novel that incorporates certain aspects of each of these movements to overcome the boundary seemingly inherent between the two. Through the pervasive combination of realistic description with the naturalistic dismissal of individual power and understanding, Dreiser, writing at the turn of the 20th century, bridges the expanse between these two literary movements. Utilizing realistic descriptions of internal motivations and physical descriptions, Dreiser gives the reader an accurate sense of who Carrie is and what her world is like. Dreiser also conveys a naturalistic message in his novel one marked by the misunderstanding of a morally oblivious society regarding various underlying behavior-governing forces. By frequently comparing Carries physical appearance to her emotional and mental composi tion, Dreiser shows the reader that seemingly personal qualities are based on strictly sociobiological foundations. By utilizing realistic descriptions of Carries physical attributes to contribute to his naturalistic message, Dreiser bridges the gap between literary realism and naturalism and proves that strict holistic coherence need not be based on readily compatible parts.

Mystery and Suspense in Sir Arthur Conan Doyles Literature :: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Literature Essays

Mystery and Suspense in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Literature In this essay, I will compare and analyse how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle creates mystery and suspense in three short stories. In retrospect, mystery and suspense go together. If one of the two is present in a story, so is another. Both of these elements are evident in the three short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I intend to go into the intriguing world of this master of mystery and explore the methods used by the writer. I aim to analyze the stories and highlight common traits in the way in which he creates mystery and suspense. In order to fully grasp the essence of the stories, we must first know some background information about the writer and the period in which the characters involved in the stories lived. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle studied medicine in Edinburgh and graduated in 1881. He set up practice soon afterwards but unfortunately his patients were far and few between. He then turned to writing. In the duration of his stay in Edinburgh, he met Joseph Bell who was a professor at the University that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle attended. Bell had an intriguing hobby of deducing people's characters from their appearance. Bell became the model for the protagonist of the Sherlock Holmes stories, which were introduced in 1887. In these stories, Doyle portrays himself as Dr. Watson, a friend of Holmes who spends a great amount of time with him. The story of "The Engineer's Thumb'; starts in a way that is typical of many of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Dr Watson is recalling one of the numerous mysteries that he and his friend have solved and he explains which story he is going to tell and why he is going to tell the story. By telling us the reasons for telling the story, the author is provoking the interest of the reader. He also makes the story seem realistic thus gaining the readers belief, which is vital in a story because people prefer not to read stories that develop no sense of credibility. The reader feels that they must read on and find out more about the details offered by the writer. This method is simultaneously setting the story whilst gaining the reader's attention. Another way he builds of the inquisitiveness of the reader is by showing the impacts of the event such as "The Engineers Thumb'; and where he states the effect the case made on him.

Essay on The Department of Homeland security Essay

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established by this act of parliament: Homeland security Act of 2002. It was created to consolidate the US executive branch agencies linked to the security of the homeland, into a one cabinet department. It resulted into partnership of 22 agencies into one new and autonomous department. After the investigations of 9/11, the republican government under the presidency of George W. Bush came up with measures to solve the shortcomings of national security. Within a fort night after the terrorist attacks, George W. Bush announced the formation of the office of Homeland security developed to protect US territories from terrorist attacks and offer efficient and effective emergency and intelligence response to potential future natural disasters. The President signed Executive Order 13228 on October 8, 2001 setting up this office with the mission of developing and coordinating the implementation of a detailed national security strategy to prevent the United States from suffering another terrorist attacks The U.S. PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) is the most important law passed after the 9/11 attack. It is so essential because of the fact that it improves inter-agency cooperation for the collection of intelligence andit’s sharing. This barrier being broken down has contributed to a very large extent the protection of the US. Additionally, it appreciates the fact that the advent of technologyensures that our laws are updated and has encouraged better prosecution of suspected terrorists. Lastly, it has strengthened the existing terrorism legislations, reflecting some specific situations that did not exactly exist previously. These are the things that make the PATRIOT Act a great addition to law enforcement. The Homeland Security Act is the other important piece of legislation. The most vital element was the fact that the multi-crisis management agencies were clustered under one command structure and then given the mandate to work with law enforcement agencies with a nation-wide outlook, as specified in section 101 of the Homeland Security Act (2002). The Homeland Security presidential directives are powers exercised by the president to form a de facto order. While the general vision for homeland security is firmly etched with the Executive branch, the more the details that will fall to the legislative branch. In the period after 9/11, several key legislations were passed. The most important being the U.S. PATRIOT Act,  and the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Executive Orders have for a long time been a technique for a President to de facto come up with a law & further give the details on powers of the E xecutive branch. The 1st Presidential proclamation issued because of an internal issue was the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus by President Lincoln in 1861. This influential order would pave the way for subsequent Presidential actions with regard to terrorists, enemy combatants and saboteurs. The DHS was put under the leadership of Mr. Tom Ridge. Boarder-line security, antiterrorism, disaster preparedness, Immigration, response and recovery are some of the key areas DHS influences. The Department of Homeland Security brought in 22 law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies under one command. Immigration issues are core to the US internal security. In 2003, therefore the department took up the Immigration and Naturalization Service automatically assuming its duties. This action led to the separation of the service and information functions into 2 distinct agencies: Citizenship and Immigration and Immigration and Custom Enforcement services. United States. Homeland security strategy and policy from 2004 until now is marked by the establishment of strategiesformulated correct deficiencies on the general security position of the country. In total 5 new strategies were developed, they are: 1.The Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support, June 2005 2.The National Strategy for Maritime Security, September 2005 3.The National Intelligence Strategy, October 2005 4.The National Counterintelligence Strategy, March 2007 5.The National Strategy for Aviation Security, March 2007 (2010) Each strategy lists objectives that can weigh the effectiveness of the purpose of existing weaknesses in each distinctivearea. As these are strategies, they have to beimplemented with success over the scope of the past 3 years. Two other bills were passed into law in this time period: The Intelligence Community and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) and The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act. The IRPTA matured into a law on December 17, 2004. Most of the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission were included into this law, dropping the head of the Intelligence Community (IC) from the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to the Director of National Intelligence. The National Counter Terrorism  Center was founded. As a foundation for a counter terrorism activities, it brings together all intelligence gathered on terrorist activities & serves as a cleaning house for these matters. As one entity, it has made significant contributions to the successful defense of the nation.

American Association of Retired Persons

American Association of Retired Persons is the largest organization representing the interests of retired persons in the country. With the number of retired persons increasing in the United States, AARP has been in the forefront to influence public policies that serve the interest of this population segment especially on important issues like health, housing, and others.Apart from serving the current senile generation, AARP has also carried out intensive lobbying campaigns on issues that will impact the future generations. The main aim of the organization is to create positive social change and enhance the quality of life for the aged. The group uses different strategies but most important has been its advertising campaign, research reports from its Policy Institute, and many others.The group has been most influential in shaping of public health care policies and its policy influence clearly indicates that it advocates for pluralism. AARP has been providing the best services for the aged and it will continue to influence public policies in the future.Background of the organizationAccording to Charles (1996) American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was founded in 1958 by Dr. Ethel Percy. Initially, it started as the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) which had been established in 1947 with the aim of promoting healthy aging philosophies and to provide health insurance for teachers.   It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization which mainly comprise of individuals from 50 years and above (Charles, 1996).AARP.org (2009b) shows that currently the organization has more than 40 million members and its offices are spread in all 50 states and also in District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S Virgin Islands. Membership status has also changed and it no longer requires individual to be retired to be eligible but only to have reached the age of 50 years. AARP is the largest membership organization for individuals above the age of 50.   It h as been leading a major revolution to change the perception of life after 50.Major policy goalsFor the last half century, AARP has been in the forefront in creating positive social change not only to its members but to the whole society as well.   The mission of the organization is to enhance the quality of life for all the aged, leading positive changes in the society, and delivery of quality services and value to its members mainly through provision of timely information, advocacy, and services to members.AARP.org (2009b) asserts that the organization strongly believe in the working principles of collective purpose, collective voice, and the power of collective purchasing. These are important principles that guide the organization in all its work. This can exemplified by its Divided We Fall campaign launched in 2007 to influence health care policies.AARP has worked tirelessly in order to fulfill its vision of creating a society in which everyone ages with a lot of dignity and pu rpose and also help aging individuals to fulfill their dreams and goals in life.   The organization speaks in one voice and has a common motto of â€Å"To serve, not be served† (AARP.org, 2009b).