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Monday, September 30, 2019

Alexander Pope’s the Rape of the Lock Essay

The Rape of the Lock begins with a passage outlining the subject of the poem and invoking the aid of the muse. Then the sun (â€Å"Sol†) appears to initiate the leisurely morning routines of a wealthy household. Lapdogs shake themselves awake, bells begin to ring, and although it is already noon, Belinda still sleeps. She has been dreaming, and we learn that â€Å"her guardian Sylph,† Ariel, has sent the dream. The dream is of a handsome youth who tells her that she is protected by â€Å"unnumbered Spirits†Ã¢â‚¬â€an army of supernatural beings who once lived on earth as human women. The youth explains that they are the invisible guardians of women’s chastity, although the credit is usually mistakenly given to â€Å"Honor† rather than to their divine stewardship. Of these Spirits, one particular group—the Sylphs, who dwell in the air—serve as Belinda’s personal guardians; they are devoted, lover-like, to any woman that â€Å"re jects mankind,† and they understand and reward the vanities of an elegant and frivolous lady like Belinda. Ariel, the chief of all Belinda’s puckish protectors, warns her in the dream that â€Å"some dread event† is going to befall her that day, though he can tell her nothing more specific than that she should â€Å"beware of Man!† Then Belinda awakes, to the licking tongue of her lapdog, Shock. Upon the delivery of a billet-doux, or love-letter, she forgets all about the dream. She then proceeds to her dressing table and goes through an elaborate ritual of dressing, in which her own image in the mirror is described as a â€Å"heavenly image,† a â€Å"goddess.† The Sylphs, unseen, assist their charge as she prepares herself for the day’s activities. Commentary The opening of the poem establishes its mock-heroic style. Pope introduces the conventional epic subjects of love and war and includes an invocation to the muse and a dedication to the man (the historical John Caryll) who commissioned the poem. Yet the tone already indicates that the high seriousness of these traditional topics has suffered a diminishment. The second line confirms in explicit terms what the first line already suggests: the â€Å"am’rous causes† the poem describes are not comparable to the grand love  of Greek heroes but rather represent a trivialized version of that emotion. The â€Å"contests† Pope alludes to will prove to be â€Å"mighty† only in an ironic sense. They are card-games and flirtatious tussles, not the great battles of epic tradition. Belinda is not, like Helen of Troy, â€Å"the face that launched a thousand ships† (see the SparkNote on The Iliad), but rather a face that—although also beautiful—prompt s a lot of foppish nonsense. The first two verse-paragraphs emphasize the comic inappropriateness of the epic style (and corresponding mind-set) to the subject at hand. Pope achieves this discrepancy at the level of the line and half-line; the reader is meant to dwell on the incompatibility between the two sides of his parallel formulations. Thus, in this world, it is â€Å"little men† who in â€Å"tasks so bold†¦ engage†; and â€Å"soft bosoms† are the dwelling-place for â€Å"mighty rage.† In this startling juxtaposition of the petty and the grand, the former is real while the latter is ironic. In mock epic, the high heroic style works not to dignify the subject but rather to expose and ridicule it. Therefore, the basic irony of the style supports the substance of the poem’s satire, which attacks the misguided values of a society that takes small matters for serious ones while failing to attend to issues of genuine importance. With Belinda’s dream, Pope introduces the â€Å"machinery† of the poem—the supernatural powers that influence the action from behind the scenes. Here, the sprites that watch over Belinda are meant to mimic the gods of the Greek and Roman traditions, who are sometimes benevolent and sometimes malicious, but always intimately involved in earthly events. The scheme also makes use of other ancient hierarchies and systems of order. Ariel explains that women’s spirits, when they die, return â€Å"to their first Elements.† Each female personality type (these types correspond to the four humours) is converted into a particular kind of sprite. These gnomes, sylphs, salamanders, and nymphs, in turn, are associated with the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water. The airy sylphs are those who in their lifetimes were â€Å"light Coquettes†; they have a particular concern for Belinda because she is of this type, and this will be the aspect of feminine nature with which the poem is most concerned. Indeed, Pope already begins to sketch this character of the â€Å"coquette† in this initial canto. He draws th e portrait indirectly, through characteristics of the Sylphs rather than of Belinda herself. Their priorities reveal that the central concerns of  womanhood, at least for women of Belinda’s class, are social ones. Woman’s â€Å"joy in gilded Chariots† indicates an obsession with pomp and superficial splendor, while â€Å"love of Ombre,† a fashionable card game, suggests frivolity. The erotic charge of this social world in turn prompts another central concern: the protection of chastity. These are women who value above all the prospect marrying to advantage, and they have learned at an early age how to promote themselves and manipulate their suitors without compromising themselves. The Sylphs become an allegory for the mannered conventions that govern female social behavior. Principles like honor and chastity have become no more than another part of conventional interaction. Pope makes it clear that these women are not conducting themselves on the basis of abstract moral principles, but are governed by an elaborate social mechanism—of which the Sylphs cut a fitting caricature. And while Pope’s technique of employing supernatural machinery allows him to critique this situation, it also helps to keep the satire light and to exonerate individual women from too severe a judgment. If Belinda has all the typical female foibles, Pope wants us to recognize that it is partly because she has been educated and trained to act in this way. The society as a whole is as much to blame as she is. Nor are men exempt from this judgment. The competition among the young lords for the attention of beautiful ladies is depicted as a battle of vanity, as â€Å"wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive.† Pope’s phrases here expose an absurd attention to exhibitions of pride and ostentation. He emphasizes the inanity of discriminating so closely between things and people that are essentially the same in all important (and even most unimportant) respects. Pope’s portrayal of Belinda at her dressing table introduces mock-heroic motifs that will run through the poem. The scene of her toilette is rendered first as a religious sacrament, in which Belinda herself is the priestess and her image in the looking glass is the Goddess she serves. This parody of the religious rites before a battle gives way, then, to another kind of mock-epic scene, that of the ritualized arming of the hero. Combs, pins, and cosmetics take the place of weapons as â€Å"awful Beauty puts on all its arms.† Canto 2 Summary Belinda, rivaling the sun in her radiance, sets out by boat on the river Thames for Hampton Court Palace. She is accompanied by a party of glitzy ladies (â€Å"Nymphs†) and gentlemen, but is far and away the most striking member of the group. Pope’s description of her charms includes â€Å"the sparkling Cross she wore† on her â€Å"white breast,† her â€Å"quick† eyes and â€Å"lively looks,† and the easy grace with which she bestows her smiles and attentions evenly among all the adoring guests. Her crowning glories, though, are the two ringlets that dangle on her â€Å"iv’ry neck.† These curls are described as love’s labyrinths, specifically designed to ensnare any poor heart who might get entangled in them. One of the young gentlemen on the boat, the Baron, particularly admires Belinda’s locks, and has determined to steal them for himself. We read that he rose early that morning to build an altar to love and pray for success in this project. He sacrificed several tokens of his former affections, including garters, gloves, and billet-doux (love-letters). He then prostrated himself before a pyre built with â€Å"all the trophies of his former loves,† fanning its flames with his â€Å"am’rous sighs.† The gods listened to his prayer but decided to grant only half of it. As the pleasure-boat continues on its way, everyone is carefree except Ariel, who remembers that some bad event has been foretold for the day. He summons an army of sylphs, who assemble around him in their iridescent beauty. He reminds them with great ceremony that one of their duties, after regulating celestial bodies and the weather and guarding the British monarch, is â€Å"to tend the Fair†: to keep watch over ladies’ powders, perfumes, curls, and clothing, and to â€Å"assist their blushes, and inspire their airs.† Therefore, since â€Å"some dire disaster† threatens Belinda, Ariel assigns her an extensive troop of bodyguards. Brillante is to guard her earrings, Momentilla her watch, and Crispissa her locks. Ariel himself will protect Shock, the lapdog. A band of fifty Sylphs will guard the all-important petticoat. Ariel pronounces that any sylph who neglects his assigned duty will be severely punished. They disperse to their posts and wait for fate to unfold. Commentary From the first, Pope describes Belinda’s beauty as something divine, an assessment which she herself corroborates in the first canto when she  creates, at least metaphorically, an altar to her own image. This praise is certainly in some sense ironical, reflecting negatively on a system of public values in which external characteristics rank higher than moral or intellectual ones. But Pope also shows a real reverence for his heroine’s physical and social charms, claiming in lines 17–18 that these are compelling enough to cause one to forget her â€Å"female errors.† Certainly he has some interest in flattering Arabella Fermor, the real-life woman on whom Belinda is based; in order for his poem to achieve the desired reconciliation, it must not offend (see â€Å"Context†. Pope also exhibits his appreciation for the ways in which physical beauty is an art form: he recognizes, with a mixture of censure and awe, the fact that Belinda’s legendary locks of hair, which appear so natural and spontaneous, are actually a carefully contrived effect. In this, the mysteries of the lady’s dressing table are akin, perhaps, to Pope’s own literary art, which he describes elsewhere as â€Å"nature to advantage dress’d.† If the secret mechanisms and techniques of female beauty get at least a passing nod of appreciation from the author, he nevertheless suggests that the general human readiness to worship beauty amounts to a kind of sacrilege. The cross that Belinda wears around her neck serves a more ornamental than symbolic or religious function. Because of this, he says, it can be adored by â€Å"Jews† and â€Å"Infidels† as readily as by Christians. And there is some ambiguity about whether any of the admirers are really valuing the cross itself, or the â€Å"white breast† on which it lies—or the felicitous effect of the whole. The Baron, of course, is the most significant of those who worship at the altar of Belinda’s beauty. The ritual sacrifices he performs in the pre-d awn hours are another mock-heroic element of the poem, mimicking the epic tradition of sacrificing to the gods before an important battle or journey, and drapes his project with an absurdly grand import that actually only exposes its triviality. The fact that he discards all his other love tokens in these preparations reveals his capriciousness as a lover. Earnest prayer, in this parodic scene, is replaced by the self-indulgent sighs of the lover. By having the gods grant only half of what the Baron asks, Pope alludes to the epic convention by which the favor of the gods is only a mixed blessing: in epic poems, to win the sponsorship of one god is to incur the wrath of another; divine gifts, such as immortality, can seem a blessing but become a  curse. Yet in this poem, the ramifications of a prayer â€Å"half† granted are negligible rather than tragic; it merely means that he will manage to steal just one lock rather than both of them. In the first canto, the religious imagery surrounding Belinda’s grooming rituals gave way to a militaristic conceit. Here, the same pattern holds. Her curls are compared to a trap perfectly calibrated to ensnare the enemy. Yet the character of female coyness is such that it se eks simultaneously to attract and repel, so that the counterpart to the enticing ringlets is the formidable petticoat. This undergarment is described as a defensive armament comparable to the Shield of Achilles (see Scroll XVIII of The Iliad), and supported in its function of protecting the maiden’s chastity by the invisible might of fifty Sylphs. The Sylphs, who are Belinda’s protectors, are essentially charged to protect her not from failure but from too great a success in attracting men. This paradoxical situation dramatizes the contradictory values and motives implied in the era’s sexual conventions. In this canto, the sexual allegory of the poem begins to come into fuller view. The title of the poem already associates the cutting of Belinda’s hair with a more explicit sexual conquest, and here Pope cultivates that suggestion. He multiplies his sexually metaphorical language for the incident, adding words like â€Å"ravish† and â€Å"betray† to the â€Å"rape† of the title. He also slips in some commentary on the implications of his society’s sexual mores, as when he remarks that â€Å"when success a Lover’s toil attends, / few ask, if fraud or force attain’d his ends.† When Ariel speculates about the possible forms the â€Å"dire disaster† might take, he includes a breach of chastity (â€Å"Diana’s law†), the breaking of china (another allusion to the loss of virginity), and the staining of honor or a gown (the two incommensurate events could happen equally easily and accidentally). He also mentions some pettier social â€Å"disasters† against which the Sylphs are equally prepared to fight, like missing a ball (here, as grave as missing prayers) or losing the lapdog. In the Sylphs’ defensive efforts, Belinda’s petticoat is the battlefield that requires the most extensive fortifications. This fact furthers the idea that the rape of the lock stands in for a literal rape, or at least re presents a threat to her chastity more serious than just the mere theft of a curl. Summary The boat arrives at Hampton Court Palace, and the ladies and gentlemen disembark to their courtly amusements. After a pleasant round of chatting and gossip, Belinda sits down with two of the men to a game of cards. They play ombre, a three-handed game of tricks and trumps, somewhat like bridge, and it is described in terms of a heroic battle: the cards are troops combating on the â€Å"velvet plain† of the card-table. Belinda, under the watchful care of the Sylphs, begins favorably. She declares spades as trumps and leads with her highest cards, sure of success. Soon, however, the hand takes a turn for the worse when â€Å"to the Baron fate inclines the field†: he catches her king of clubs with his queen and then leads back with his high diamonds. Belinda is in danger of being beaten, but recovers in the last trick so as to just barely win back the amount she bid. The next ritual amusement is the serving of coffee. The curling vapors of the steaming coffee remind the Baron of his intention to attempt Belinda’s lock. Clarissa draws out her scissors for his use, as a lady would arm a knight in a romance. Taking up the scissors, he tries three times to clip the lock from behind without Belinda seeing. The Sylphs endeavor furiously to intervene, blowing the hair out of harm’s way and tweaking her diamond earring to make her turn around. Ariel, in a last-minute effort, gains access to her brain, where he is surprised to find â€Å"an earthly lover lurking at her heart.† He gives up protecting her then; the implication is that she secretly wants to be violated. Finally, the shears close on the curl. A daring sylph jumps in between the blades and is cut in two; but being a supernatural creature, he is quickly restored. The deed is done, and the Baron exults while Belinda’s screams fill the air. Commentary This canto is full of classic examples of Pope’s masterful use of the heroic couplet. In introducing Hampton Court Palace, he describes it as the place where Queen Anne â€Å"dost sometimes counsel take—and sometimes tea.† This line employs a zeugma, a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase modifies two other words or phrases in a parallel construction, but modifies each in a different way or according to a different sense. Here, the modifying word is â€Å"take†; it applies to the paralleled terms â€Å"counsel† and â€Å"tea.† But one does  not â€Å"take† tea in the same way one takes counsel, and the effect of the zeugma is to show the royal residence as a place that houses both serious matters of state and frivolous social occasions. The reader is asked to contemplate that paradox and to reflect on the relative value and importance of these two different registers of activity. (For another example of this rhetorical techniq ue, see lines 157–8: â€Å"Not louder shrieks to pitying heaven are cast, / when husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last.†) A similar point is made, in a less compact phrasing, in the second and third verse-paragraphs of this canto. Here, against the gossip and chatter of the young lords and ladies, Pope opens a window onto more serious matters that are occurring â€Å"meanwhile† and elsewhere, including criminal trials and executions, and economic exchange. The rendering of the card game as a battle constitutes an amusing and deft narrative feat. By parodying the battle scenes of the great epic poems, Pope is suggesting that the energy and passion once applied to brave and serious purposes is now expended on such insignificant trials as games and gambling, which often become a mere front for flirtation. The structure of â€Å"the three attempts† by which the lock is cut is a convention of heroic challenges, particularly in the romance genre. The romance is further invoked in the image of Clarissa arming the Baron—not with a real weapon, however, but with a pair of sewing scissors. Belinda is not a real adversary, or course, and Pope makes it plain that her resistance—and, by implication, her subsequent distress—is to some degree an affectation. The melodrama of her screams is complemented by the ironic comparison of the Baron’s feat to the conquest of nations. Belinda’s â€Å"anxious cares† and â€Å"secret passions† after the loss of her lock are equal to the emotions of all who have ever known â€Å"rage, resentment and despair.† After the disappointed Sylphs withdraw, an earthy gnome called Umbriel flies down to the â€Å"Cave of Spleen.† (The spleen, an organ that removes disease-causing agents from the bloodstream, was traditionally associated with the passions, particularly malaise; â€Å"spleen† is a synonym for â€Å"ill-temper.†) In his descent he passes through Belinda’s bedroom, where she lies prostrate with discomfiture and the headache. She is attended by  Ã¢â‚¬Å"two handmaidens,† Ill-Nature and Affectation. Umbriel passes safely through this melancholy chamber, holding a sprig of â€Å"spleenwort† before him as a charm. He addresses the â€Å"Goddess of Spleen,† and returns with a bag of â€Å"sighs, sobs, and passions† and a vial of sorrow, grief, and tears. He unleashes the first bag on Belinda, fueling her ire and despair. There to commiserate with Belinda is her friend Thalestris. (In Greek mythology, Thalestris is the name of one of the Amazons, a race of warrior women who excluded men from their society.) Thalestris delivers a speech calculated to further foment Belinda’s indignation and urge her to avenge herself. She then goes to Sir Plume, â€Å"her beau,† to ask him to demand that the Baron return the hair. Sir Plume makes a weak and slang-filled speech, to which the Baron disdainfully refuses to acquiesce. At this, Umbriel releases the contents of the remaining vial, throwing Belinda into a fit of sorrow and self-pity. With â€Å"beauteous grief† she bemoans her fate, regrets not having heeded the dream-warning, and laments the lonely, pitiful state of her sole remaining curl. Commentary The canto opens with a list of examples of â€Å"rage, resentment, and despair,† comparing on an equal footing the pathos of kings imprisoned in battle, of women who become old maids, of evil-doers who die without being saved, and of a woman whose dress is disheveled. By placing such disparate sorts of aggravation in parallel, Pope accentuates the absolute necessity of assigning them to some rank of moral import. The effect is to chastise a social world that fails to make these distinctions. Umbriel’s journey to the Cave of Spleen mimics the journeys to the underworld made by both Odysseus and Aeneas. Pope uses psychological allegory (for the spleen was the seat of malaise or melancholy), as a way of exploring the sources and nature of Belinda’s feelings. The presence of Ill-nature and Affectation as handmaidens serves to indicate that her grief is less than pure (â€Å"affected† or put-on), and that her display of temper has hidden motives. We learn that her sorrow is decorative in much the same way the curl was; it gives her the occasion, for example, to wear a new nightdress. The speech of Thalestris invokes a courtly ethic. She encourages Belinda to think about the Baron’s misdeed as an affront to her honor, and draws on ideals of chivalry in  demanding that Sir Plume challenge the Baron in defense of Belinda’s honor. He makes a muddle of the task, showing how far from courtly behavior this generation of gentlemen has fallen. Sir Plume’s speech is riddled with foppish slang and has none of the logical, moral, or oratorical power that a knight should properly wield. This attention to questions of honor returns us to the sexual allegory of the poem. The real danger, Thalestris suggests, is that â€Å"the ravisher† might display the lock and make it a source of public humiliation to Belinda and, by association, to her friends. Thus the real question is a superficial one—public reputation—rather than the moral imperative to chastity. Belinda’s own words at the close of the canto corroborate this suggestion; she exclaims, â€Å"Oh, hadst thou, cruel! been content to seize / Hairs less in sight, or any hairs but these!† (The â€Å"hairs less in sight† suggest her pubic hair). Pope is pointing out the degree to which she values outward appearance (whether beauty or reputation) above all else; she would rather suffer a breach to her integrity than a breach to her appearance. The Baron remains impassive against all the ladies’ tears and reproaches. Clarissa delivers a speech in which she questions why a society that so adores beauty in women does not also place a value on â€Å"good sense† and â€Å"good humour.† Women are frequently called angels, she argues, but without reference to the moral qualities of these creatures. Especially since beauty is necessarily so short-lived, we must have something more substantial and permanent to fall back on. This sensible, moralizing speech falls on deaf ears, however, and Belinda, Thalestris and the rest ignore her and proceed to launch an all-out attack on the offending Baron. A chaotic tussle ensues, with the gnome Umbriel presiding in a posture of self- congratulation. The gentlemen are slain or revived according to the smiles and frowns of the fair ladies. Belinda and the Baron meet in combat and she emerges victorious by peppering him with snuff and drawing her bodkin. Having achieved a position of advantage, she again demands that he return the lock. But the ringlet has been lost in the chaos, and cannot be found. The poet avers that the lock has risen to the heavenly spheres to become a star; stargazers may admire it now for all eternity. In this way, the poet reasons, it will attract more envy than it ever could on earth. Commentary Readers have often interpreted Clarissa’s speech as the voice of the poet  expressing the moral of the story. Certainly, her oration’s thesis aligns with Pope’s professed task of putting the dispute between the two families into a more reasonable perspective. But Pope’s position achieves more complexity than Clarissa’s speech, since he has used the occasion of the poem as a vehicle to critically address a number of broader societal issues as well. And Clarissa’s righteous stance loses authority in light of the fact that it was she who originally gave the Baron the scissors. Clarissa’s failure to inspire a reconciliation proves that the quarrel is itself a kind of flirtatious game that all parties are enjoying. The description of the â€Å"battle† has a markedly erotic quality, as ladies and lords wallow in their mock-agonies. Sir Plume â€Å"draw[s] Clarissa down† in a sexual way, and Belinda â€Å"flies† on her foe with flashing eyes and an erotic ardor. When Pope informs us that the Baron fights on unafraid because he â€Å"sought no more than on his foe to die,† the expression means that his goal all along was sexual consummation. This final battle is the culmination of the long sequence of mock-heroic military actions. Pope invokes by name the Roman gods who were most active in warfare, and he alludes as well to the Aeneid , comparing the stoic Baron to Aeneas (â€Å"the Trojan†), who had to leave his love to become the founder of Rome. Belinda’s tossing of the snuff makes a perfect turning point, ideally suited to the scale of this trivial battle. The snuff causes the Baron to sneeze, a comic and decidedly unheroic thing for a hero to do. The bodkin, too, serves nicely: here a bodkin is a decorative hairpin, not the weapon of ancient days (or even of Hamlet’s time). Still, Pope gives the pin an elaborate history in accordance with the conventions of true epic. The mock-heroic conclusion of the poem is designed to compliment the lady it alludes to (Arabella Fermor), while also giving the poet himself due credit for being the instrument of her immortality. This ending effectively indulges the heroine’s vanity, even though the poem has functioned throughout as a critique of that vanity. And no real moral development has taken place: Belinda is asked to come to terms with her loss through a kind of bribe or distraction that reinforces her basically frivolous outlook. But even in its most mocking moments, this poem is a gentle one, in which Pope shows a basic sympathy with the social world in spite of its folly and foibles. The searing critiques of his later satires would be much more stringent and less forgiving.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Thunder Road

Indicate a lack of self-control. For example, On pages 41-43, a young Maori boy had entered the paint shop where Trace and Karen worked at, and had pointed the knife at Karen to bring him some glue. Trace could have obviously ran for It, but to show himself off to Karen he tackled the boy down. He was very tempted to show himself. Temptation can be known for a bad cause, and even a good cause. The character of Trace is interesting in the novel. This is because he develops a close relationship with Devon (his roommate) , his low self-esteem and he changes from a lower to a leader.An interesting feature of Trace is his relationship with Devon. At first, Trace wasn't sure about Devon saying, â€Å"l didn't know who I was sharing a room with. † As the novel continued Trace started to spend more time with Devon eventually becoming so close that he feels that â€Å"we were brother's man†. Trace had no close family and in the novel, Devon became like his family. This was impor tant because it meant that Trace was willing to support Devon in everything he did, like you would for a family member.Trace's relationship with Devon is interesting to the deader, because it means that Trace is willing to do things he wouldn't normally do, including stealing the drugs. A second interesting feature of Trace's personality is his low self-esteem, which is shown through his relationship with Karen. Karen is a girl from a rich family. Her parents are both doctors and her house is a mansion. On pages 50-52, when Trace goes to dinner at the house, he feels that both her parents are looking down on him. He says â€Å"They thought I was nothing†. Instead of standing up to them, Trace sinks lower and drinks a lot to boost his confidence.This results in him humiliating himself In front of the family and ultimately, the end of his relationship with Karen. Careen's parents weren't actually behaving negatively towards Trace. He Just Imagined that they were because of his low self-esteem. This Is an Interesting feature of Traces personality because his low self-esteem makes him more likely to go along with what other people want. If he had a more positive view of himself, he might have behaved better at Careen's and might never have gone along with Devon. HIS low self esteem shows the reader his motivation for what he does In the novel.Thunder Road By horseshoes Thunder Road is a novel about the life of a 19 year old boy, having no connection to of Auckland, New Zealand. Though when love strikes the innocent Trace, his world is torn into two. Is street racing the best option or his one and only true love? Society, Love and sacrifice, Power of Tradition, though the central topic of this novel is Temptation. Temptation is usually used in a loose sense to describe actions that indicate a lack of self-control. For example, On pages 41-43, a young Maori boy had at Karen to bring him some glue.Trace could have obviously ran for it, but to show lower too le ader. An interesting feature of Trace is his relationship with Devon. At in front of the family and ultimately, the end of his relationship with Karen. Careen's parents weren't actually behaving negatively towards Trace. He Just imagined that they were because of his low self-esteem. This is an interesting feature of Trace's other people want. If he had a more positive view of himself, he might have behaved better at Careen's and might never have gone along with Devon. His low self esteem shows the reader his motivation for what he does in the novel.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Multi-Paradigm Programming Languages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Multi-Paradigm Programming Languages - Essay Example Each programming paradigm allows certain techniques and functions and forbids certain others. One example of this is that functional programming does not allow the use of side-effects and structured programming has forbidden the use of go to statement. Due to these feature programmers who are versed in one programming paradigm find it difficult to work in another. However for programmers working on that particular paradigm, the ban on certain techniques makes it easy to understand the flow of the program and its implications. The most common types of programming paradigms are the following – Imperative Functional Logic Constraint based Object oriented Aspect Oriented However real world problems cannot be solved in one programming paradigm alone; they require a combination of different paradigms. This is where multi paradigm programming languages come into the picture. Multi paradigm languages combine the concepts and features of various programming paradigms and help the user to solve various problems which are difficult to solve by following one paradigm alone. A programmer working in multi paradigm languages can freely mix the structures of different paradigms and can work in various styles which are disallowed in single paradigm languages. The purpose of the design of a multi-paradigm language is to allow programmers to use the best tools that are suitable for a particular job .An example of a multi-paradigm language is Oz which has been designed over a period of 10 years in order to combine seven different programming paradigms seamlessly and harmoniously with each other (Books). Examples of other multi-paradigm languages are as follows – Two Paradigm languages – Lab View , ALF, Lava , Metaobject Three Paradigm languages - SISAL , F# , E, PHP Four Paradigm languages – Java , Python , Ruby , C++ , Leda Five-Paradigm languages – C# , Visual Badic.net , Falcon , Ada Seven – paradigm languages – Oz Nine-paradigm languages – LispWorks These languages have been most useful for design of heterogeneous systems which are large and complex. One example of such complex system is a stock market exchange or a telecommunication network which requires a large amount of work. Although the work can also be completed by single paradigm languages but it requires a huge amount of effort and thousand of lines of coding which are difficult to maintain in the long run. Combining paradigms offers various important benefits such as a language which combines OOP and Functional programming not only reduces the problem domain and implementation gap but also brings with it mathematical rigor and robustness which is associated with functional programming (Hofstedt). This robustness is essential for concurrent programs. The applications which are developed these days are rarely homogenous like the ones which were present earlier. Internet applications which are developed today combine different languages such as JavaScript, flash, Html and are heterogeneous in nature. These applications not only involve different languages but also the use of different paradigms - SQL is implementing the relational model and OOPS dominates the middle and UI tiers. The emergence of face book

Friday, September 27, 2019

Week13 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Week13 - Essay Example A patent is a protection granted to an inventor that limits other people from using or selling an invention (Andersen, 2006). Patents protect the ideas of a person and limit anybody from using them without authorization from the patent holder. A grey market is created when people sell genuine trademarked goods without the permission of local trademark owner (Andersen, 2006). Such products are authorized and trademarked in a foreign nation and are of similar quality to those in the local market. It is a market where the products being bought or sold are not within the authorized trading channels of the manufacturer. Local businesses that have trademarks in the USA are highly affected by the grey market. Products in the grey market are of similar quality but come at lower prices. Due to this, a growing gray market reduces the profitability of the trademark owner in the USA. A grey market makes owning the trademark unworthy since the protection created by the trademark has no full

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Macroeconomics HW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Macroeconomics HW - Essay Example Government loses revenue, there is consumer surplus as the market becomes more attractive for foreign imports (goods made overseas and shipped to the U.S.). Because domestic supply increases when a tariff is in place, lowering the tariff would be less financially beneficial to the domestic producers. Yes, the economy has been made better off by trade. Understanding that tariffs increase government revenues and also increase domestic supply, it prevents many foreign-made products from flooding the U.S. market. When the government is in a better financial position, these investments can be made in stimulus or other beneficial financial programs to spark growth. The government maintains even more control with the import quota, which further stimulates growth in domestic sales, but also gives consumers more product options. Losses in manufacturing are offset by growth in other industries, which still provide workers with quality jobs just with less focus on production facilities. Trade can stimulate a need for better training to consumers for jobs such as technology, thus providing a competitive advantage with other nations despite the trade situation. The first argument about national security is not justified as it relates to agriculture. The United States maintains very high agricultural output and thus foreign agriculture would not be considered critical to sustaining the well-being and health of Americans. Except for items like coffee that have no substitutes, shifts in supply of foreign produced agriculture are not a security risk. The second argument about job creation, however, is justified by the argument for trade protection. If too many agricultural products are imported into the U.S., it could affect domestic production and thus create job losses for farmers, canners, or other jobs related to food supply. The last argument, about infant industries, is not really relevant to the U.S. This

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Parental Spanking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parental Spanking - Essay Example According to Shane Tucker, "spanking is an appropriate form of punishment when used in an effective way, and not merely as an angry reaction to behavior." (Tucker) Therefore, spanking is an appropriate form of punishment to discipline a naughty child and it is a legal, socially-tolerated, and biblically-supported means of disciplining the child. First of all, parental spanking is a good form of discipline because it is most effective in disciplining the child and it causes no problems to the child, if implemented effectively. It is the most-widely used and effective way of immediately reducing or stopping an unwanted behavior of the child and it is not very harmful to the child. "Spanking can immediately reduce or stop an unwanted behavior if used extremely infrequently in selective circumstances (for instance when the child's behavior is so unsafe or dangerous that he could be significantly or permanently harmed.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Analysis and Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis and Application - Essay Example In addition, violent gangs take part in theft and robbery of properties of their neighbors (Klein, 2005). Primary questions to the research were inquiring whether youth gang violence is as a result of illegal drugs and small arms, the contribution of the media in the problem, political and social problems to the problem, and the possible measures taken to alleviate the problem. Violent youth gangs have been blamed by the media for the increasing incidences of violence and crime in Central America cities. They have been blamed for all sorts of crime tat take place in the society. In addition, both the media and the government officials have linked the violent groups to terrorist groups such as al Qaeda (Pope, Lovell and Bradl, 2001). Some of the concepts discussed include the definition of â€Å"youth gang† youth gang is defined according to the composition of the gang, members, leaders and the structure of the gang. All these factors must be outlined I order to look at the problem effectively. This research is valid because it discusses the political and social contexts in which these violent youth gangs emerged. Some of the measures proposed in dealing with the issue include arresting the violent youths, removing them out of the streets as well as reducing their number in the overcrowded Central American prisons. Prison overcrowding by the violent youth gangs can lead to challenging situations such as prison riots and a number of deaths (Dvorak, 1995). The voices fro the field’s study also understands the situation of young people. It is discussed that politicization of the gang matter has exaggerated a clear understanding of the crisis as well as the attempts in coming up with suitable solutions. The study recommends that so as to successfully tackle the issue of youth gangs, proper therapy programs must be put in place. There has to be sufficient investments in the avoidance and remedy

Monday, September 23, 2019

Contempory social care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Contempory social care - Essay Example more major life activities including self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and/or economic self-sufficiency â€Å" (Federal Developmental Disabilities Act of 1984). Professionals from a wide variety of fields and disciplines devote much time and energy in helping these children live comfortable and fulfilling lives with the end view of mainstreaming them into society and the real world. Educators, therapists, psychologists, speech pathologists, physicians, social workers and even government officials join hands in the care and education of these children to ensure their optimum growth and development. â€Å"When a child/adolescent with a preexisting disability is separated from the parent/family and enters the child welfare system, already established medical and educational services for the child are often put on hold until placement is secured, records are gathered, and services with new providers are initiated in the geographical area of the placement. The child welfare worker, therefore, has a key role in identifying and accessing appropriate services for children/adolescents with disabilities and their families (biological and foster) within the child welfare system and in the medical and educational systems. To maintain children with disabilities in family and community settings, supportive, developmental, and therapeutic services must be provided to this population of children and to their biological, foster, and adoptive families† (Hughes & Rycus, 1998). Children with disabilities often need medical attention. Hospitals offer multidisciplinary approaches to therapy. Aside from the usual pediatric consultation for the disability, a host of therapists – physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, etc. are also available to help out. For a significant number of disabled children, â€Å"hospital admissions can be frequent and prolonged. Their needs bring many additional challenges to the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Plantation Mistress by Catherine Clinton Essay

The Plantation Mistress by Catherine Clinton - Essay Example This time marks one of the darkest periods in the history of America, therefore, confessions by these women in their diaries and memoirs represents real events concerning their tribulations. These women typify noteworthy character and mental toughness in that they are able to withstand the tribulations and tough times during that slavery period (Clinton 50). Clinton has illustrated many specifics in the Plantation Mistress. For example, the matter of cousin marriage has been described in detail. From early in life, cousins had a close association and relationship. This continued even after they separated geographically, and these close relationships continued throughout the life of the cousins. The principal reason for these close associations was that children within the plantations were isolated from the rest of the community, and as they were growing up, they did not meet other people apart from those in their kinship ties (Clinton, 67). This was the same with older ladies, who on ly associated closely with men that were closely related to them. These associations and marriage between cousins had its benefits as it ensured that property and wealth was retained within the family alliance. It further expanded kinship ties between closely related families. Therefore, characters that practiced this form of marriage impress me since they were involved in abnormal affairs, but these affairs were of benefit to them in the end. These characters viewed life as an experience of enriching oneself and ensuring that wealth is retained within the family tree. This may have been viewed as an abnormal thing by the surrounding society, but those who took part in marriage with their cousins did not mind what society did. Whatever they did, they did it to the benefit of their close family members (Gerster & Cords 78). Clinton covers another specific topic in child birth and rearing. Characters especially mothers in the novel greatly celebrated whenever children were born. All f amilies celebrated during this time period, but female babies were discriminated against greatly. Therefore, giving births to a female baby was a disappointment because Southerners who did not have sons were threatened with extinction in their inheritance and family name. Only sons were allowed to carry on with the family traditions and use the family name. However, some women in the novel did not allow to be discriminated by society by virtue of their giving birth to daughters only. These women soldered on despite the prejudicial treatment that they received from the surrounding society (Clinton, 89). Regardless of their mistreatment, these women still managed to raise their female babies until they grew up. To any reader, these women can be regarded as heroes since they managed to weather the storm of gender discrimination and go on with their lives. This is important because currently, gender discrimination is on the rise, and women empowerment by brave women has ensured that pre judicial treatment of women has been toned down. The women that Clinton describes in the novel who managed to soldier on despite the prejudicial society that surrounded them represent the present women who try to advocate for women empowerment so that gender balance is created (Gerster & Cords 84). In the Plantation Mistress, we learn that female education began to rise tremendously toward the end of the eighteenth century. From this, a new nation was born and Southerners and New Englanders promoted education of females in their respective

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Type and density of liquid Essay Example for Free

Type and density of liquid Essay These are the variables that I could choose to focus on. I have chosen to focus and adapt on the idea of insulation. Prediction I predict that the more insulation (layers) there is, the smaller the reduction in heat. I think this because when the outside air tries to touch the container to cool it, it will be stopped by the insulation, so it will take longer to cool. Also, when heat tries to escape from the container, it will go into the first layer of insulation, which will then absorb the heat. It would then still keep the container warm, not letting as much heat out as fast. I also predict that if I have a lid it will take even longer to cool, because, as you can see in the picture below, evaporation will also take place. If I have a lid, the heat will then be stopped from escaping into the air through the top. As shown below- Equipment   Timer- this is to time the amount of time the liquid is in the container. This will make sure that the time will be the same for each experiment.   Data logger and Thermometer- this is to take the temperature of the water. I will use two forms of identifying the temperature. This way I can compare the two results and see if there are any drastic differences. Also, a datalogger is accurate, but I will still use a thermometer to back up my results.   Insulation Material- I am going to use a foam type material as my insulation.   Clamp- I will use a clamp to hold both the datalogger and thermometer above the container.   Container- I am going to use a glass beaker to hold the liquid. I am using this instead of a polystyrene cup, because the cup would hold residue heat, which would affect our results. Also a polystyrene cup is already quite insulated. * Kettle- this is to heat the liquid before I put it in the container. I will clean out the kettle, to make sure there is no black, therefore the heat will be reflected back into the kettle, instead off being absorbed. This should help it to reach its highest temperature. I will make sure that there is 1litre of water in the kettle each time put it on to boil. Measuring Apparatus- I will put the water directly into the glass beaker, measuring it in there. Lid- To put over the glass beaker to try and prevent evaporation. Fair Testing and Other Factors that need to be controlled There are things that I will need to try and make sure are the same throughout my experiment. These are: Amount of liquid- I will have to make sure that each time I refill the glass beaker I have the same amount of liquid. To do this I will measure it in some measuring apparatus. Each time I will use the same type and size of measuring apparatus, for the same accuracy. To make this even fairer I will simply measure the amount of water in my glass beaker, so I know that it will always be the same. Temperature of surroundings- there is not much I can do to control this, but to make sure there is no drastic change, I will stay away from radiators and places in direct sunlight. Shape, Colour, Size, Surface Area and Thickness of container- will have to be the same throughout my experiment to keep it fair and to get reliable results. For instance, if I had a different colour container each time I did my experiment it would affect my results. This would be, because instead of reflecting the heat back in, if I had a black container it would absorb the heat. To make sure of this I will use the same container each time.   Temperature of liquid to start- I will try to keep the around the same. If I cannot keep the temperature the same I will just measure the difference between the two (start and end). Type and Density of Liquid- I will keep using the same type of liquid throughout my experiment because some types may loose heat at a different rate than others. I will use water because it is easily available, and it is the same each time.   Surface container is on- will have to be the same. If for example I was to put it on a foam surface one day, and something different another day, it would affect how much heat is lost. This is due to the surface acting as insulation.   Lid- I am going to use a lid each time. This should stop a lot of heat reduction through evaporation, which I have already explained in my prediction.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Semiotic Analysis Of Visual Text Dasdhunga Film Studies Essay

Semiotic Analysis Of Visual Text Dasdhunga Film Studies Essay The Dasdhunga movie is chosen as a media text for this semiotic analysis. Dasdhunga is directed and written by Manoj Pandit, the screenplay based on the true story of Dasdhunga Accident. The accident took place 17 years ago and the movie was released in early September 2010 in Nepal. The Jeep on which Nepals political party UML General Secretary Madan Bhandari and other central committee member Jivaraj Aasrit were travelling from Pokhara to Chitwan accompanied by Amar Lama (the driver), fell down in the Narayani River on 3rd Jestha 2050 BS. Both leaders died on that accident whereas the driver Amar Lama survived without any scratch on his body (Rijal.P, 2010). The name of the movie is titled on the name of the place where the accident happened. The story starts from the point of accident and the character follows all corresponds investigating the mystery of accident, unfolding lots of aspect, the conflict designed over this struggle for unfolding the root of mystery. The story also provides the investigation of murder of Amar Lama who was shooted on an open space of Kritipur with 3 bullets on his head, where he died on the spot. The storys focal points are the ups and downs of the characters personal life as well as professional life and are structured balancing the fact and fiction. (ibid) The movie rolls around the main character Kiran Kumar who investigates the Dasdhunga accident and reveals lots of information about the accident which concludes, that was not simply an accident but a conspired accident. Actually the director wanted to make a documentary about the place Dasdhunga. The film has been in the news before its release because threats came frequently to stop the process. Censor board had also censored it seven times. They also omitted some dialogues and scenes in without losing the essence of the film. (The Kathmandu post, 2010 Aug 31) (Zeeman, 1997: 24) A sign is something which stands to somebody for something in some respect or capacity. This movie has the sympathy, suspection and expectation. For them Dasdhunga is just not a movie but the high expectation of truth. Which everybody is suspecting it was a big conspiracy but not just an accident. (Saussure, 1996). As he said the sign is a combination of concept with sound image which cant be separated. Sign here is the psychology of citizen about the accident. Till dates the accident was a big conspiracy. This cannot be separeted in the movie dasdhunga as well. The place Dasdhunga itself is the main location in this film which makes film more real and understandable to the viewers. (N Virginia, 2011) says it drives audience into the cinema which is participation observation. The main cast of the movie is Anup Baral, Mohan Bhandari, Daya Hang Rai, Saugat Malla and Sanchita Luitel. The central character of Madan Bhandari is played by Madan Bhandaris brother himself, Mohan Bhandari. And Ram Krishna Poudel is presented as Jeeb Raj Ashrit .Anup Baral, the acclaimed theatre actor plays the troubled detective, inspector Kiran Kumar. Subtle and impressive Baral looks very natural in his role and his talent is noticeable throughout the movie. Dayahang Rai looks convincing as driver Amar Lama and did a good job. The acting of all the actors in the movie is commendable and is highly acknowledged. (The Himalayan Times, 2010). It has proved that Sometimes the performance of marital and parental roles shows a number of changes in their personal and professional life. The effect of occupational characteristics on the males role has shown in the movie as in Nepali context. The mans participation in the family initially appears to depend upon his holding some sort of job. (J Aldous, 1969). As in the movie miscarriage of the investigators wife makes twist the story. Then he leaves the case, to live secure life, this is psycho-social fact that a human wants no harm in their life. Eight years later, a person hands over some important proof regarding Dasdhunga case to Kiran and he reopens the case. Then lift the curtain from the whole mystery. The shots are not jarring or rough cut. Director tends to take the story at a distance allowing the characters to establish their traits to the audience instead of pushing a barrage of angles at the audience. The position of the camera is intricately placed in all scenes. The movie is a perfect example of docu-fiction which is not tried before in Nepali cinema. The movie Dasdhunga was visualized in various place of Nepal, like Chitwan Dasdhunga, Kritipur, and Kathmandu. This film has a series of stunning special thriller and real scene. For example of real funeral visual footage of Madan Bhandari. This kind of real footage and, photographs from audio visual banks and archive consider as bearing witness to the event. (M David J Adam, 2006). The cinematography goes hand in hand with location, props, shoots to make the audience feel like they are inside the scene and enjoying the scene. The dramatic increase in tempo with tight close ups, medium close ups, and locations image are clearly shown, so that any one cant easily predict the upcoming suspense of the movie. (Kress Gunther Leeuwen the o van, 2002:344) Color is discussed as a semiotic resource , a mode, which, like other modes, is multifunctional in its uses in the culturally located making of signs and a In the chosen film Dasdhunga mostly grey scale colour is used, which emphasizes dangerous, suspense and full of thrill. Regardless Dim lights pale gleams and various techniques of eye catching scene gives viewers a full of suspense, fear, thrill, excitement adventure and emotions. The real people of the real time were also used in the film as eye witness, it makes cinema trustworthy. The loud music and sound effects has been used in the movie from the beginning. This sticks you in the chair with your eye open. Because some time it is scary. For example feet sounds, cries, loud music and real scene of the movie makes audience awake and think of the real accident. Costumes and make ups. All forms of realism are made possible through these artistic creatives, which are appropriate for the time and characters intended. The cast also claimed that the wardrobe and dialogue fit very well. If we take an example of Kiran Kumar the starring character always wears a hat, here is the hat as a symbol of investigation and interrogation. There are elements of surprise and unexpected twist in the development of the plot with the relation with its scenes, stories and every signs it has. As in syntagmatic approach according to H.Miriam, 1994, the proper relationship among viewer, projector, screen, story are the part of a cultural practice that has to be learned. The same way the driver of the jeep accident who was convicted as one of the planner of conspiracy, later killed by unknown in an open place. This gives full of surprise and suspense to audience. (Gorkhapatra Daily, 2010). As Signs are used in the movie as signifiers and signified, in the selected scene of trailer (while presentation), a variety of signs have been employed to construct the preferred meaning. These signs include audio signs (dialogue, music and sound effects), facial expression, gestures colour lightning editing length of shots and slow and fast moving camera and angles signifiers are chosen to make movie more realistic. As the term intertextuality is the deal of controversy according to (Berger A Arthur, 1993) in the movie Dasdhunga, the character of the driver is can be seen in a similar way. Every time he changes his statement at the time of interrogation. The language chosen in this movie is very simple to understand. This helps audience to understand the movie in a right way. For example the driver says when I reached Dasdhunga, it was raining and all of a sudden I couldnt control my steering, then investigator countered then how just you are alive without any scratch in your body? this kind of dialogue makes you to think before something reveals in the movie. This makes you to involve in the cinema. It gives impression of reality. (C Metz, 1974). Conclusion As in Dasdhunga this kind of genre of mystery and investigation has not been used in the Nepali cinema before. So this movie has opened a door for the making of detective movie in Nepal. This breaks the monotony of the non-sense love filcks that Nepali movie is accustomed to. The movie is informative and it drags audience into it because it dealt with the facts that people didnt know about. This makes audience to hope. But the audience may be disappointed because the movie does not reveal the truth of the Dasdhunga. (The Himalayan times daily, 2010). But as long as rating this movie goes, it deserves an ace for sure. Anup Baral- the investigator is an absolute pleasure to watch. He was even awarded with the best actor for this movie. Saugat Malla is equally fabulous and fit in the shoes of the character and steals the show with his incredible timing and natural acting. Although Sanchita Luitel only plays a side role, she has done justice to her part. As for the other actors, they hav e done an equally remarkable job.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Global Problems :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Global Problems and Non-Governmental Organizations Paper Women’s Issues The topic that I chose for this paper is women’s issues. Throughout history women have been struggling for equality and recognition. Today we have just about reached our goal. In order to maintain this equality, organizations were created to keep women and men involved in the issues that pertain to women today. In my essay I will discuss the actions of two large non-governmental organizations that deal with women’s issues. I will also add my opinion on certain issues and discuss how they are important in today’s society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first organization that I chose to research is called Face To Face. â€Å"The mission of Face To Face is to give voice to the millions of women who were denied basic human rights and freedoms.† The goal of Face To Face is to increase global awareness that women’s rights are infact human rights.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some of the issues that Face To Face deals with are HIV/AIDS awareness, family planning, female genital mutilation (FGM), maternal health, and population. The organization gives people the opportunity to voice their problems and learn about the rights that are available to them. They are also given suggestions on how to take care of their problem or if the case, where to take care of their problems. For example, in Africa, millions of women a year undergo female genital mutilation against their will because of custom and tradition. The African government doesn’t even take a stand on FGM, but â€Å"Face To Face lets women know that the women in Africa do have the right to personal security including freedom from domestic and war violence and sexual coercion.† I feel that this is an extremely important aspect of the organization. Since To Face is an international organization, they have the power to reach all different types of women with all different types of issues and are able to assist them to understand the details of their situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Face To Face calls on celebrities to represent them so that women will recognize that even celebrities can relate to their issues. This is a good idea because many women, especially adolescents look up to some celebrities as role models. It helps the organization to become widely known and gives it the ability to inform more people on the issues currently affecting women all over the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Face To Face takes action by creating programs such as advertising campaigns, exhibitions, television documentaries and ballets.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Evaluation of The Woman In Black Essay -- Drama

Evaluation of The Woman In Black On the 26/6/05 we went to see a performance called the women in black with all the pupils who chose drama as their gcse. We made our way to the coach and got ready to leave. The coach drove into London and everyone was very enthusiastic about seeing this play as it was supposed to be scary and most people there hadn’t been to the theatre. First we went to the theatre where we were given a preview of how they used lighting and sound on the stage. I was incredibly interested at how the lighting was such a big part in a performance! It affected the whole mood of the audience meaning that the sound and lighting director can control our mood before the actors even get on the stage. This I think is vital for the actors, for example if the lights were very bright and you were trying to pull of a scary scene it just wouldn’t work or it would be very hard to pull off. But if the lights were dim or even on black out then the mood would change, darkness is a good tool to use, but used too often can ruin a play. Darkness played a major part in the play; it was used two or three times, but only one being used to scare the audience. This created tension as sometimes, nothing scary would happen when the lights got dim. Sounds were also used with the lighting to create or make you use your imagination on the stage. Different sounds were played, but I found that the best â€Å"trick† they used was the journey the main character does on the...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Solar Energy Essay -- essays research papers

Solar Energy Solar energy is the most ancient kind of energy found on earth, for it is as old as the sun. "Solar" means from the sun. The earth is only one of the many planets which is bathed in the sun's overflowing energy. Every second the world receives 95.8 trillion watts of power†¦just think about that for a minute. Think about how much power the earth just received in the time it took you to read this sentence? It is well beyond the amount of power used in one day. It has the potential to satisfy all our energy needs forever without ever having to use the pollutive fossil fuels ever again. "The problem however, does not lie in the limited source, as do fossil fuels, but in harnessing it." Every day solar energy is being used all around us. In fact, it is the indirect source of all energy and life on earth. Hopefully, with continued research, we will be in a place one day where we can directly rely on the sun for all our energy needs, and never have to use pollu tive fossil fuels, or nuclear power ever again (Cross 124). It is hard to say when solar energy was first used by humans to make life easier. As far as we know, people have always used the sun's visible range of light to see by, as well as to sit in the sun to keep warm. "Some of the first ancient cultures to use solar energy as heating were those from the deserts, and dry areas." In Egypt, Libya, and Algeria, where the sun is fiery hot in the day, but reaches freezing temperatures at night, builders discovered that thick walls of mud could solve this problem. During the day, they would absorb all the sun's energy and leave it cool as a cave inside, and at night, the walls would radiate their stored heat, and keep it fairly warm inside. These ancient people also discovered how to use the sun's energy to preserve food by either drying fruits or meats in the sun, or baking them. They found techniques to bleach cloth and cure animal hides. Whether by accident, or deliberate experimentation, these ancient cultures discovered that the sun was an incredible source of power (Bower 36). Throughout history people have experimented with the many uses of the sun's power. In the 17th century, scientists in Europe began rediscovering the sun. When a French scie... ...ar energy would be a more realistic option. Does every house need two computers, 3 TV's, a dishwasher, microwave, electric stove, video games, 3 stereos, nightlights in every hall, porch lights left on all night, lights on in every room in the house, blow dryers, toasters, electric heaters, air conditioners, electric gates and garage openers... the list goes on and on. One of the major problems that I see in our western culture is our obsession that we must each have our own. No one is willing to share anything, because it might be inconvenient. All we can think of is ourselves, no thought for future generations or the environment. We need to get a reality check. There is not enough materials or energy left in the world for this to continue to go on. Solar energy is a serious option that we should all be considering. We need to learn to act as a community, not only as individuals. I don't know what the future holds, but I can't see this working much longer. Change will have to oc cur soon, or we will exhaust all our resources and chances of life on earth.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Discuss the dramatic significance of Hamlet Scene 1 Act 1 Essay

The play ‘Hamlet’ was written in tempestuous times for England. There was death caused by ‘The Plague’ and poverty was rampant. Much importance surrounded the outward support of the monarch, Elizabeth. During her reign, religion caused divisions and factions of the Protestant church considered the theatre as sinful, amoral perhaps. In his plays, Shakespeare uses his understanding of humanity to entertain by addressing love, power, loyalty, honour and friendship. These values address unchanging aspects that touch us even today. ‘Hamlet’ is intended to portray the importance of the monarchy and the insecurity created by the threat of a foreign invasion – the message being that anything can happen to anyone. This then is the underlying setting of the theme for ‘Hamlet’ – taking place on a dark winter night, creating suspense, intrigue and providing entertainment to an otherwise deprived audience. In the opening, Act 1 and Scene 1 of ‘Hamlet’, the playwright, William Shakespeare, uses several dramatical devices to influence the crowd’s moods, behaviour and attitude towards the play; this is known as psychological audience manipulation. Shakespeare cleverly uses one – dimensional characters to deliver background information to the audience in a more entertaining style. The setting – the guard – platform of the Castle, on a dark, wintry cold night at midnight further intensifies the dramatic effect. ‘Who’s there? ‘ – and ‘Quiet guard’ – these statements imply a foreboding. Immediately the audience is captivated, particularly when one associates midnight with evil. The statements: ‘Tis now struck twelve’ and ‘Bitter cold’ further add to the dramatic mood that is being created. Francisco’s admission: ‘I am sick at heart’ has a negative connotation, suggesting feelings of uneasiness. Bernardo’s reply: ‘ Bid them make haste ‘ – he is obviously scared of something. A reference to loyalty to the Sovereign follows, ‘Friends to this ground’ and ‘Liegemen to the Dane’- here Shakespeare uses a manipulative technique to address the importance of remaining patriotic – an aspect of life everyone can identify with. Again it is suggested that they are engulfed by darkness and they can only see that which is really close up to them: ‘ A piece of him’. By extending his hand, Horatio reassures the guards that he is a friend not a foe. There are sinister undertones at the outset of the scene, which effectively serve to introduce the tenor of the play. Despite this, there is a hint of humour and sarcasm by Horatio : ‘What, has his thing appear’d again to-night? ‘ An air of intrigue is created by this: it is not known what it is is actually being referred to. It is Marcellus who then goes on to explain to the audience what Horatio’s views are: ‘And will not let belief take hold of him’ – this means that he will not allow himself to believe anything of a supernatural nature. He has been invited to see if: ‘This apparition come’, but remains unyielding in his opinion: ‘ Tush, tush ’twill not appear’. Bernardo tries to convince Horatio, ‘Again assail your ears’. Another example is: ‘That are so fortified against our story’. Here he is openly addressing Horatio’s incredulity on the subject of the spectre. Bernardo recounts how the Ghost appeared and that the ‘Yond same star’ was in the same place, when it had originally appeared, adding to the drama and heralding its reappearance. An essentially frightened audience is introduced to the Ghost. ‘ Like the King that’s dead’. Even the originally sceptical Horatio is outwardly scared now, raising the intensity of the drama. ‘It harrows me with fear and wonder:’ he uses strong language. It therefore fell upon Horatio, who was encouraged by the other guards, to address the Ghost in order to attest that this spectre was real. The well spoken Horatio, the scholar states:’ What art thou that usurp’st this time of night’ – by this he suggests that the Ghost has upset the peace of the night and has taken ‘ That fair and warlike form’. By this reference, the audience is psychologically manipulated into feeling admiration for the dead king. He further challenges: ‘ By heaven I charge thee, speak! ‘ The scene continues and Horatio admits to believing because he has seen with the: ‘True avouch of mine own eyes’. Horatio recalls the previous battle with Denmark and Norway: this is political propaganda, which is the strong theme for the play, providing essential background information. This also casts a positive reflection of the previous king: ‘When he the ambitious Norway combated’ – this already gives the audience a positive reflection on the deceased King, as we are told of his bravery, ‘He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. ‘ It also suggests that the king may have some unfinished business and that is why he has returned as the Ghost three times. Horatio warns the audience that: ‘This bodes some strange eruption to our state, ‘ moreover, this is a warning of the inevitability that: Denmark may be on the brink of war. There are other suggestions of this: ‘Daily cast of brazen cannon. ‘ This infers that people are working round the clock. All this creates a sense of apprehension. Shakespeare attempts to draw a parallel with ancient Rome: Horatio now eloquently delivers his views and this has a religious connotation. Examples of this are made by: ‘In the most high and palmy state of Rome’ and ‘ Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse’ and ‘As harbingers preceding still the fates’. The conjecture here is that the Ghost is the forerunner of what is yet to come and also is connected with the Bible, as was prophesised that Christ would come to judge the living and the dead. This is effective use of imagery and is symbolic would most certainly create a growing sense of fear in the audience. Another biblical reference with far reaching effects is: ‘The cock crows’: this suggests betrayal and moreover, ‘And at his warning’ is ominous. There is dramatic impetus by Horatio and he uses aggressive language on the Ghost’s reappearance: ‘I’ll cross it, though it blast me. Stay illusion. ‘ He asks ‘ If thou art privy to thy country’s fate’- can the Ghost share a secret, any light on what lies ahead for Denmark? Despite the audience not having being introduced to Hamlet, we are psychologically manipulated into feeling sorry for him and empathise with him. In the indirect reference made to him we understand that Horatio suggests that they tell young Hamlet of the appearance of the Ghost. We learn that there is staunch support for Hamlet: ‘As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? ‘ In the space of a few days, sadly, his father has passed away: ‘The majesty of buried Denmark ‘. His rightful inheritance has been taken from him: ‘ So by his father lost’ which suggests that he is in mourning and ‘This, I take it is the main motive of our preparations’ – to take back that which was theirs. This automatically gives the audience someone to support and â€Å"root for† in ‘Young Hamlet’ as the play unfolds and we learn more of his personal story. This is linked to another theme that the audience can identify with: family values. The element of mystery and foreboding are inherently present in Act One, Scene One and is further personified in the form of an apparition, ‘This apparition come. ‘ The contemporary audience that this was aimed at, being more religiously aware than the public nowadays, would have been fearful of the spectre and would have made links to the devil and hell, gaining the audience’s full attention. By the spreading of its arms, it has connotations to Jesus Christ, creating a sombre aura. They are encouraged to believe that the Ghost is an omen: ‘ That this portentous figure’, is a sign that they are ready for battle. Essentially, the mood further reflects insecurity as Denmark may be on the verge of war. A clever technique Shakespeare uses serves to encourage loyalty to the monarch at the time, ‘Long live the King’. Therefore, he has put his political views forward successfully and with discretion. The Ghost exits, leaving everyone none the wiser as to the reason for its apparition. The first Act and Scene allows for speculation and would have created a sense of dramatic anticipation, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, ready to see what will ensue in the next scene.

Birth Control Psychological Research Essay

The article written by Edward Pohlman in October of 1966 brought up interesting points in relation to psychologist and birth control. It provided both independent variables and dependent variables that helped to show why individuals decide on contraception, or decide not to use them. He pushed to show why psychologist haven’t done much research in the area of birth control and their related topics, by suggesting that non-psychologist are the researchers that boast interest in studying the topic because of potential overpopulation problems. I think the decision to treat independent and dependant variables about psychological effects of using birth control is relevant to all people that take part in intercourse and having children because these decisions are critical choices in life that decide whether future children will be able to thrive on our planet, and live without psychological damages from parental neglect. Some variables include, but are not limited to the number of children wanted, contraception’s, and measured personality. (Pohlman, Eugenics Quarterly.). Some psychological factors that were pointed out to be some major independent variables were total family size, mother’s age at first birth, duration of marriage, spacing between births, sex of the children, inability to have children, adoption and celibacy. (Polhman, Eugenics.). â€Å"Psychologist do not play key roles in whether or not countries engage in extensive use of birth control planning, or to control their population, rather private companies are relied upon to handle technical assistance and procedures.† (Journal of Social Issues.). This is the problem that needs to be addressed and accounted for; however, the author doesn’t provide evidence or notation of where, who, what, and how the study is taking place. He continues with, psychologists play an important role in contraception because they h ave the intelligence and â€Å"know-how† (Pohlman, Edwards.). to intervene with a patients and help the people decide if birth control is something that is an option or not. Once again the author is providing a statement rather than actual facts to lead on his arguments, but the argument is sound. Some studies that psychologist participated in were promoting the idea of contraception to both smaller families and that of larger families. The idea was to provide the idea that contraception wasn’t necessarily a problem and that they had to deal with, rather more of an option. The problem with this particular independent variable is that relationships with one culture could be completely different with relationships with other cultures. Population densities take psychological effects, so studies found that since the world population was a major concern then they would target high populated areas to conduct their research. These studies are important because of the food supply that would rapidly decline as the population increased. (Pohlman, Journal of Social Issues.). The author could have researched a graph and included it in his argument for a more frontal approach to help the reading see the truth in which he is attempting to provide. Psychologists found that the same psychological effects can be played in reverse when giving birth to a child. In a large probability sample of American wife’s in 1960, 17% were willing to admit that their latest conception had not really been wanted by both spouses. (Whelpton,Cambell, &Patterson, 1966, Pp.235-239.). As a parent, you have responsibility to your child, but having a psychologist discuss the precautions involved both positive and negatives, can make you question ones desirability and how you feel about having another child or not. According to Edward Pohlman it’s more profitable for a psychologist to study the effects on psychological depen dent variables such as, contraception and birth planning procedures, births of circumstances in the family, and population characteristics. This is why psychologist wait to conduct their research as opposed to taking the study from the start. Studies have shown that that any psychological factors that could influence anyone in a given culture towards having children, or having more children would not show up for the testing. (The Psychology of Birth Planning.). Psychologist also found that social class or even religious preferences tend to play a key role in decision making time that can be psychological in its self. â€Å"Every form of contraception has psychological effects on the person using them sexually.† (Edward Pohlman.). The article didn’t provide any data on psychological effects sexually, but it can be justified through the research of sterilization, abortion, infanticide, and abstinence. (Whelpton, P. K., Campbell, A. A., & Patterson.). in Edwards research he didn’t provide examples. Another form of dependent variable that was acknowledged was the effects of guilt. Guilt has been found to be one of the biggest issues when regarding to religious beliefs, rationalization and other phenomena related instances. (The Psycology of Birth Planning). Once again Edward Pohlman doesn’t provide proof to justify his statements; which is disappointing. In conclusion, the author leaves the reader questioning his argument because of the lack of data that he is able to extract from psychological studies. In my opinion, his sources are valid sources; however, to complete his argument that psychologist haven’t done enough research in the area of birth control and related topics, he needs to dig deeper and find sources that can find a better way to link the psychological factors on birth control and psychologists studies. This will help him complete his argument that without contraception our planet will be doomed do to over population. I also think he needs to find more information on the experiment entirely in its self. The studies took place in small and large populated areas, ok? As the reader, I want detail as to how the study was conducted? How many participants were involved? He gives examples of problems that could potentially be a disadvantage for psychologist. Edward Pohlman was correct that not enough studies are being conducted by psychologist. His argument is sound and on point.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Judicial Activism and Empowerment of Indian Women Essay

Women’s empowerment is a noted concept in social change, which is much discussed, often elusive and sometimes abused. Yet in the context of development, women’s leadership and agency in social change have been levers for women’s empowerment within communities. Women have sought to fight entrenched interests for community benefits, and have garnered through their collective strength, a new identity. Women’s rights around the world are an important indicator to understand global well-being. â€Å"Creating the environment which imparts equal status to women in family, society and country is the sole motive behind various facets of programmes being run for women empowerment.† –Pratiba Patel, President of India (Express newspaper apr.14, 2011) Though Women have a unique position in every society whether developed, developing or underdeveloped, she still belongs to a class or group of society which is in disadvantaged position on account of several social barriers and impediments. This is particularly due to the various roles they play during various stages of their life, as a daughter, sister, wife, and mother etc. However, she tries too hard to stand equal to that of the men. The historical phase of development of women very well portrays the empowerment of women, in different periods. Vedic period: During the Vedic period women enjoyed a fair amount of freedom and equality. The Vedic period can be termed as feminine glory. Women participated in all spheres like men. They studied in Gurukulas and enjoyed equality in learning Vedas. In Aitereya Upanishad, the wife was called as companion of husband. In the Rig-Veda, the wife was blessed to live as a queen in the house of her husband. The word Thampati, so often used in the Veda, characterizes both wife and husband. According to MacDonnell and Keith, this word signifies the high status of women in ancient India. Men and Women together performed religious duties and carried out other function. In the Mahabharata the wife was called the root of Dharma, prosperity and enjoyment. No man was allowed to perform religious duties without his wife. Thus, like the status of women in the contemporary western world, the status of women in India was based on liberty, equality and co-operation.[1] Post – Vedic period: In post – Vedic period the status of women suffered a setback when various restrictions were put on women’s rights and privileges by Manu. This decline dates back to the period of the Manusmriti and the increasing authority of man. The birth of a daughter which was not a source of anxiety during the Vedic period became the source of disaster for the father. Education, which had been an accepted norm for women, was neglected and later on girls were totally denied access to education. Despite the overall social and cultural subordination of women, it is surprising to find that law givers recognized the right to property, particularly that which was known as streedhana, women’s property. [2] Medieval Period: With invasion of India by Alexander and the Huns, the position of women was further degraded. Their education and training came to a sudden halt. For reasons of security, movement outside was restricted which in turn denied opportunities in community affairs. Uneducated and devoid of any status, they came to be treated as chattels. Social evils like sati, child marriage, and female infanticide arose. Women suffered great disabilities. The evil of dowry had become deep–rooted and the system of Devadasi has already spread. The medieval period saw women living oppressed in the feudal social order and patriarchal families.[3] British period: The attitude, behaviour and living pattern of Hindu society changed drastically during the British regime due to education and western impact on the socio-cultural life of India. During the period there were two major movements which affected the position of women. There were the Social Reform Movement of the nineteenth century and the Nationalist Movement of the twentieth century. Both these movements raised the question of equal status of women. The issues which attracted the attention of the nineteenth century social reformers were sati, ill-treatment of widows, the ban on widow remarriage, polygamy, child marriage, denial of property rights and education to women. The Reformers thought that by giving women access to education and by enacting progressive legislation social change could be initiated. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, M.G. Ranade, Mahatma Phule, Lokhitwadi, Aurobindo and others from all parts of the country raised their voice against the unjust practices while revivalists like Dayamanda saraswati, swami Vivekananda and Annie Besant Believed in receiving the old Vedic society presumed to be ideal for women.[4] Mahatma Gandhiji too, vehemently criticized the custom of child marriage, prohibition of widow remarriage, temple prostitution and the custom of purdah. The nationalist movements not only draw a large number of women to political activity but also generated strength and confidence among women which helped them to organize and fight for their cause. The formation of the All India Women’s Conference in 1927 was a crucial event in women’s march towards equality. Many laws were enacted which tried to eradicate certain social evils. These included an Act legalizing remarriage of widows, child marriage Restraint Act 1978, an Act recognizing Hindu women’s right to property, etc. Besides the social legislation, there were other laws affecting women’s work status, such as limiting hours of work in organized industries, prohibiting night work, restricting work in mines, establishment of crà ¨ches for the children of the women workers etc. Thus in short, during the British rule, awareness was created for the removal of social malaises, while education and organizing political participation increased women’s mobility. PRESENT STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIA: The most important event after independence has been the drafting of the Constitution of this country enshrining the principles of equality, liberty and social justice. The framers of the Constitution were aware of the problem of emancipation of the female sex. They realized that equality was important for the development of the nation. It was evident that in order to eliminate inequality and to provide opportunities for the exercise of human right it was necessary to promote education and economic interests of women. It became the objective of the state to protect women from exploitation and provide social justice.[5] All these ideals were enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution. The Preamble to the Constitution of India resolved to secure to all its citizens justice–social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, equality of status and opportunity; and to promote among them fraternity assuring the dignity of an individual and the unity of the Nation. To attain these objectives, the Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedom, such as freedom of speech and expression, protection of life and personal liberty. The principles of gender equality and protection of women’s right have been the prime concerns right from the days of Independence. Accordingly, the country’s concern in safeguarding the rights and privileges of women found its best expression in the Constitution of India. Article 14, confers the equality before the law or the equal protection of the law to every person. It not only prohibits discrimination but also makes various provisions for the protection of women. And there is a prohibition of any discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, however, Art. 15(3) empower the state to make any special provision for women and children.[6] And also equality of opportunity is guaranteed for all the citizens in matters relating to employment or opportunity to any office under the state, forbidding discrimination on the grounds only of inter alia sex.[7] Article 19(1) (a) deals with the Freedom of speech and expression and Article 19(1) (g) provides for the Freedom to practice any profession or to carry out any occupation, trade or business. Article 21 ensures that â€Å"No person shall be deprived of his life or personal a liberty except according to the procedure established by law†. Women have a right to lead a dignified, honourable and peaceful life with liberty. DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY Article 39 mentions that the state shall direct its policy towards providing to men and women equally the right to means of livelihood and equal pay for equal work. The state is directed to make provisions for ensuring just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.[8]And there is a fundamental duty imposed on every citizen to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women.[9] In short, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles provide the framework to achieve the ideals of the Preamble of the Constitution. Fundamental Duties too, recognize upholding the dignity of women as one of the duties. The perceptions on Fundamental Rights and the guidelines of Directive Principles of State Policy, is well reflected in various progressive labour legislations such as: ââ€" ª Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 ââ€" ª Minimum Wages Act, 1948 ââ€" ª Factories Act, 1948 ââ€" ª Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 LEGISLATIVE MEASURES: Inspired by the constitutional safeguards, the State has enacted various legislative measures to provide protection to women against social discrimination, violence and atrocities and to prevent child marriages, dowry, rape and practice of sati, etc., the Equal remuneration Act of 1976 provides for equal pay to men and women for equal work. The Hindu Marriage Laws Amendment Act 1955 has been amended by the Marriage Laws Amendment Act of 1976 to provide for the right of a girl to repudiate a child marriage before attaining maturity whether the marriage has been consummated or not. The Act 1956 for Suppression of Immoral Traffic against Women and girls was amended in 1986 to make the sexual exploitation of female, a cognizable offence. It was renamed as â€Å"The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1986†. An amendment brought in 1984 to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 made women’s subjection of cruelty a cognizable offence. A second amendment to the Act in 1986 makes the husband or in-laws punishable, if a woman commits suicide within 7years of her marriage and it has been proved that she has been subject to cruelty. The Child Marriage restraint Act of 1929 raises the age for marriage of a girl to 18 years from 15years and that of a boy to 21years. The Factories Act of 1948 provides for establishment of crà ¨che where 30 women are employed. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 legalized abortion by qualified professional on humanitarian or medical grounds. The enactment â€Å"Indecent representation of women (prohibition) Act, 1987† has also been passed to protect the dignity of women and prevent violence against them as well as their exploitation. Some of the other measures which were taken for the progress of women were that in pursuant to a request by the United Nations General Assembly to prepare a report on the status of women in India (CSWI) was constituted in 1971. The terms of reference of the committee was to examine the Constitutional, legal and administrative provisions that have a bearing on the social status of women, their education and employment and to asses the impact of these provisions during the last two decades on the status of women in the country, particularly in the rural sector and to suggest more effective measures; It was also to consider the development of education among women and determine the factors responsible for the slow progress in some areas and suggest remedial measures and to survey the problem of working women, including discrimination in employment and remuneration. TOWARDS EQUALITY: In order to examine the status of women, as house wives and mothers in the changing social pattern and their problems in the sphere of further education and employment, the committee was to undertake survey or case studies on the implication of the population policies and family planning programmers on the status of women in addition to the above mentioned aspect. It was empowered to suggest any other measure which would enable women to play their full and proper role in building up the nation. The committee submitted its report entitled ‘Towards Equality’ in December 1974. The report was a landmark in the social history of India heralding a conscious change in attitudes, behaviour, law, establishment of special institutions and creating both infrastructure and environment for equality for women. The National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body on 31st January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, (1990) to review constitutional and legal safeguards for women and recommend amendments to meet lacunae, inadequacies in such laws, participate in economic development of women and evaluate the progress made. However, there are many areas of inequality where working women still strive to overcome like: More women are in lower skilled part time work; Women are promoted less and earn less; Women are not equally represented in Government as Men; Women undertake significantly more of household work and childrearing than men and are often depict ed as weaker sexes and are sexualized. JUDICIAL RESPONSE: Over the years, the general public has come to repose absolute faith in the Judiciary. The Supreme Court of India has responded to issues of gender justice in a positive manner. Some of the decisions given by the apex court in the recent past has significantly advanced the cause and dignity of women. In Nigammar vs. Chikkaiah Case (2000)[10] compulsory blood test to determine paternity was held to be violative of fundamental right of life or liberty. In Chandrimadas Case (2000)[11], the Supreme Court has held that where a national Bangladeshi woman was gang raped, compensation can be granted under public law (Constitution) for violation of Fundamantal rights on the ground of Domestic Jurisprudence based on Constitutional provisions and Human Rights jurisprudence. In John Vallamatton V. Union of India (2003)[12], the Supreme Court struck down section 118 of Indian Succession Act, 1925 restricting bequeathing of property for religious or charitable use except in the manner provided the rein. It was that the right to equality of women vis-à  -vis their male counterparts is accepted worldwide and it will be immoral and illegal to discriminate women on the ground of sex. In CEHAT V. Union of India (2001)[13], the Supreme Court referred to the repercussions of unhindered female infanticide effecting overall sex ratio in various States. The Court issued directions to Central government, State government, Union Territories, and appropriate authorities for the implementation of the enacted Act, further in CEHAT & Others. Petitioners V. Union of India & Others Respondents (2002)[14], the apex court made the registration of the clinics with ultrasound machines mandatory and directed the State governments to take suitable action for creating awareness in public. In this way, judiciary has acknowledged the concept of ‘Gender Equality’. The formal equality given by the Constitution and the Law is however, not equivalent of substantive equality which enables enjoyment of all rights on an equal basis. While formal equality has afforded women access to areas of Education, empowerment and even political participation, on terms that are often equal to those by men, it is in the so-called private sphere, in areas such as marriage and the family that women continue to be denied equal rights. In the present situation, women are better educated and have entered all possible fields proving their might. They hold more jobs worldwide, yet most women continue to suffer from occupational segregation in workplace. There are artificial barriers, created by attitudinal and organizational prejudices, barring women from top executive jobs. Women, though more educated are not more equal. Gender equality is a multifaceted concept which implies equality of opportunity in economic as well as socio-political and legal aspects. Gender equality is not just morally right, it is pivotal to human progress and sustainable development. Economic opportunity does not mean their mere presence but includes the quality of women’s economic involvement. In developed countries, women may gain employment with relative ease, but their employments are usually transitory and are paid less than men. Herald Sun, an Australian newspaper has also recently raised issues relating to this. The question of gender equality is a very old and burning problem. Twenty years ago in Mexico the First World Conference on Women inspired a movement that has helped, to reduce gender inequality worldwide. Illiteracy among women is declining, maternal mortality rates are beginning to fall, and more women are participating in labour force than ever before. Now a days, women has broken their ill-social shackles and are ready to face the contemporary challenges without any help and hesitation and consequently, March 8, is formally observed and celebrated in several countries, including India as a mark of integrated achievements towards the equality of rights, status and dignity of women and their equal participation in economic, social and cultural development in contemporary world scenario. CONCLUSION: To curb down the menace of existing gender inequality many steps have been taken at the national as well as the international levels, but still a lot needs to be done to stamp out the growing violation of women’s dignity. Is there Gender Equality in Reality? I would say in the Gender Equation, women are evidently the victims. At this juncture, society needs to see women as dynamic promoters of social transformation, and have a powerful influence on their ability to control their environment and contribute to economic development. There should be a kind of positive respect for women. Only then, her rights can be well protected and nurtured. Physical violence is only the tip of the ice berg, what we don’t see below the surface is the lack of respect. Once we ensure that society in general and men in particular show a positive kind of respect to women, to their wives, the other rights are bound to follow in normal course. Though umpteen steps are taken in this direction like discouraging discrimination, lengthy legislations invoking equality but the picture is still disheartening and remains only in the talks. And the war on inequality, discrimination, violence and unempowerment is still continuing, making the road to success a not-reachable one.