Wednesday, January 29, 2020
How I Learned to Drive Analysis Essay Example for Free
How I Learned to Drive Analysis Essay In Paula Vogelââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"How I Learned to Driveâ⬠, we follow our protagonist nicknamed ââ¬Å"Lil Bitâ⬠on a gut wrenching, and downright disturbing journey through her adolescence, told as a series of narrations, monologues, and flashbacks with the occasional interjection of a PSA like voice over. The play recounts the physical and emotional abuse Lil Bit encountered from the ages of eleven to eighteen at the hands of her uncle Peck, while he teaches her to drive. The main flaw I saw in Lil Bit was that she is too smart for her own good. You see this characteristic throughout the play as she manipulates Peck. For example, it was most obvious for me when their roles of adult and child are reversed, and Peck is explaining to Lil Bit what a good boy he has been for not drinking. Knowing how much Peck lusts after her she offers him a reward for his good behavior in the form of undoing her bra. Another great example is when prior to her and peck going on a road trip and Lil Bitââ¬â¢s mother indicates that she has a sense of what Peck has on his mind, she responds by saying ââ¬Å"I can take care of myself. And I can certainly handle uncle Peck.â⬠At this point in the story she is only eleven. Itââ¬â¢s hard to imagine a child of that age so grown up emotionally. Overall, most of the characters had likeable qualities, with the exception of the grandmother. I didnââ¬â¢t really like the way she meddled in the Parenting of Lil Bit. I liked ââ¬Å"Big Papaâ⬠the best. Heââ¬â¢s a crabby old timer who speaks anything that comes into his head with reckless abandon. It brought me some levity in an otherwise melancholy play. The climax of the play occurs on Lil Bitââ¬â¢s eighteenth birthday. She and Peck are in a hotel room, and sheââ¬â¢s been ignoring peck for some time leading up to this meeting as heââ¬â¢s been sending her cards counting down to her birthday. Lil Bit is obviously conflicted about their relationship now that she has gotten older, but Peck is looking forward to a time when itââ¬â¢s not illegal for them to be together. This is creepy enough on its own, but when Peck drops the marriage bomb, the creep factor skyrockets. I was honestly disgusted at the idea of a man leaving his wife to be with his niece whom heà has known since birth, blood related or not. Prior to the climax, one major event occurs and that is in the monologue that Aunt Mary delivers indicating that she knows whatââ¬â¢s going on between Peck and Lil bit. The words used during this monologue, indicate to me a couple of key points about this character. First of all she is very intelligent. Her thoughts are well put together and the words she uses indicates to me that she has some sort of education. She is also very intuitive, she picks up on the subtle, non-verbal signals that peck gives off when heââ¬â¢s got something on his mind and presumably when heââ¬â¢s around Lil Bit. Also, the words used by Lil Bit in her different flashbacks have a direct correlation to her age. Itââ¬â¢s obvious as you read them, that during the later ones she is forming more complex thoughts and emotions, which is indicative of growth. For the music in this play, Paula Vogel suggested period correct music spanning two generations. She mentions Motown several times, as well as Roy Orbison and the Beach Boys. Most of this music is romantic and happy with little hints of sexuality and sometimes-pedophilic references. For some weird reason the voice of the announcer in my head was played by the Moviephone guy. The car in the play was described as a Buick Riviera, but in my mind it was more like a Camaro or GTO. The main reason for this is the obvious relationship between Peck and his car. The way he describes the way the aggressive way men are taught to drive and the feeling of a carsââ¬â¢ response to your touch, just makes me think of those fast nimble sports cars. Taking place in the 1960ââ¬â¢s, the costumes in my mind were bell-bottoms and flowered shirts, polyester leisure suits, and fringes all over the place. This was your typical 1960ââ¬â¢s attire. I believe the overall theme of this play is about the effect of time on relationships. The relationship between Peck and Lil Bit starts out strong, for her and fragile for him. She has a strong male figure giving her attention while he is nurturing a relationship that he knows is illegal andà immoral. As time progresses, the roles ultimately reverse leaving Peck with much confidence in the relationship while Lil Bit comes to realize the truth about it which leads to its demise. It just goes to show that time will always change relationships, jus not always in the way you imagined.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The History of the Psychedelic Movement :: Psychedelic Movement Buddhism Religion Essays
The History of the Psychedelic Movement In an attempt to synthesize my own personal academic area of interest, that is: the history of the psychedelic movement in twentieth century America, with the content of the Asian Religions course, I have elected to study the relationship between the influx of Buddhist philosophy and the psychedelic counter-culture movement of the 1960ââ¬â¢s and 1970ââ¬â¢s. The subject, although highly specific, has nonetheless generated intellectual interest substantial enough to warrant a sub-field of study, in terms of Buddhist/American History examination. This paper will focus on the thought of the main harbingers of this movement, specifically Aldous Huxley, Alan Watts, and Dr. Timothy Leary. This study will also examine the corruptions of classical Buddhist philosophy wrought by these intellectuals concerned with integrating the psychedelic experience in an Eastern context. The connection between Buddhism and psychedelics in the American experience is a subject of contention because of t he controversial associations of chemically altered perception as compared to traditional Bodhicitta, or the mind of enlightenment. The author Emma Layman, in her book Buddhism in America, asserts: ââ¬Å"Of all the Buddhist groups in America, those focusing on meditation have been most attractive to young people from the drug scene, and it is these groups that have taken the strongest stand against drug use. The psychological literature as well as the literature on Zen abounds in descriptions of the altered states of consciousness experienced under the influence of LSD-25 and other hallucinogenic drugs. Descriptions of these drug-induced states often compare them with the experience of satori or enlightenment which may result from Buddhist meditation. Frequently the opinion is expressed that, under certain circumstances, the LSD experience is a satori experience. â⬠The popularity of Buddhism in America became most pronounce in the period after World War II. It is interesting to note that the United States had just concluded the most devastating war in human history, with the first use of the atomic bomb on the Empire of Japan, yet the Japanese of style Buddhism took hold in America more than other school after the war. It could be said that the main figure head of Japanese, or more precisely, Zen Buddhism, in America was the author and intellectual Dr. D.T. Suzuki. In terms of the American expression of Buddhism, Suzuki had more influence over the interpretation of Zen philosophy than any other writer of the time.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Social Impact Analysis (Hydrogen Fuel)
The search for a renewable energy source has been a top priority to us a human race in the past decade. Many ideas have come in the form of wind, solar, and nuclear power, all having their own drawbacks. But, the one that will be focused upon in this analysis is hydrogen as a source of fuel, and the technology leading the way to making it a reality. This technology would affect everyone in one way or another if correctly used. So we must ask if this technology is beneficial to us, how it might hurt us, and whether it is worth pursuing from an ethical stance. Background:Hydrogen has already been under the micro scope for many years as an alternative fuel source to us because of its abundance and power. We have simply been lacking the technology to employ it in an efficient way. But a recent break through might speed the process up of putting such a fuel in place in our modern market. A ââ¬Å"team of researchers from Virginia Tech has discovered a way to extract large quantities of hy drogen from any plantâ⬠[1]. The research found a method to convert large quantities of hydrogen from the most plentiful plant sugar found on earth, xylose.This method is most important because it extracts the hydrogen with little input energy and does so in an environmentally friendly manner. Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements found on earth, yet it must be separated into its pure form, H2, before being used as a fuel. The problem is, with current methods pure hydrogen ââ¬Å"is just too expensive and time-consuming to produceâ⬠[2]. Current methods often require more energy from other sources like natural gas or coal burning electric plants to extract the hydrogen, than the hydrogen can actually produce itself.So in turn, hydrogen fuel which has been looked at to solve pollution problems, has in the past caused just as much pollution to produce, and defeated its own purpose. That is where this new technology can completely change everything. To liberate the hy drogen, ââ¬Å"Virginia Tech scientists separated a number of enzymes from their native microorganisms to create a customized enzyme cocktail that does not occur in natureâ⬠[1]. This enzyme cocktail releases the pure hydrogen from plant sources quickly, cheaply, and with little outside energy to do so.These enzymes yield pure hydrogen from biomaterial at much higher quantities than previously possible. The hydrogen that is produced can be directly utilized by proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Possible Advantages: This advancement in technology reveals to us a multitude of possibilities and advantages. One of the easiest advantages to see has already been stated above. Hydrogen is massively abundant on earth, is renewable, and produces no harmful emissions when used as an energy source. Its number one emission is heat and clean water!If used, hydrogen would lower our pollution output immensely, and would take us off the dependence of fossil fuels. Taking our dependence off o f oil is the number one reason why so much money has been funneled into hydrogen research. America uses ââ¬Å"one quarterâ⬠of all the oil produced in the world, yet we only account for ââ¬Å"4. 6% of the world populationâ⬠[5]. Imagine if we were able to make all vehicles hydrogen powered and the dramatic cut this would make to our green house gas emissions. That global warming doomsday clock weââ¬â¢ve all been so infatuated with would slow dramatically.Hydrogen is a ââ¬Å"very efficient fuel sourceâ⬠compared to ââ¬Å"traditional sources of energy and produces more energy per pound of fuelâ⬠. In fact, hydrogenà ââ¬Å"is three times as powerful as gasoline and similar fossil fuelsâ⬠[2], so in turn less is more. Switching to hydrogen fuel would mean ââ¬Å"that we had to depend a lot less on foreign oil sources, lessening the need for international importation of fuelâ⬠[4] . All the stated above simply tells the physical advantages of hydrog en over current fossil fuels, but, bringing about this change could have economic and social possibilities as well.This discovery could bring about the last piece to the puzzle in developing a whole new line of fuel efficient, environmentally clean cars. Honda has already produced a hydrogen fuel cell concept car they claim is ââ¬Å"overall 64% energy efficientâ⬠. To put this into perspective in the average gasoline combustion engine ââ¬Å"only about 20 percent of the thermal-energy content of the gasoline is converted into mechanical workâ⬠, making it 20% energy efficient [5]. This new line of cars could bring about jobs in the automotive industry and all industries that branch from it.As of right now the commercial market for hydrogen gas produced from the use of fossil fuels is at about $100 billion. A majority of this hydrogen goes into producing fertilizers and petrochemicals [1]. All it would take is an inexpensive source of green hydrogen, such as the one recently discovered, to completely change this industry. Overall hydrogen has the ability to bring about jobs and continued advancements in every market and industry touched by it. This could be just about every industry when considering how important transportation and shipping are to the economy; hydrogen would give them an inexpensive fuel for transport.Hydrogen fuel could do this all the while solving our most important problem of finding a renewable energy source. Potential Drawbacks: Even though hydrogen as a fuel seems to answer every problem we want it to; it also has setbacks. Although we have the technology now to bring us an endless supply of hydrogen fuel we do not have the storage or infrastructure capabilities for it. ââ¬Å"Hydrogen is highly volatile. Special tanks have to be used to hold it and specially-pressurized pumps have to be used to convey itâ⬠[3].And once more, these special tanks and pumps must be outfitted to work on vehicles as well. It would be at much co st to the government and in turn the taxpayer to quickly build and put in place the pipe lines, storage tanks, filling stations, and other vices needed to use hydrogen. Most people consider it ââ¬Å"insane to even suggest that current fuel sources be replaced when what is already in place is working so wellâ⬠[2]. In its pure, usable, gas form hydrogen is very explosive and the ramifications of putting it as our main source of fuel must be weighed out.If not properly handled many people could lose their lives to it. Legislators will have to ââ¬Å"create new processes for first responders to follow when they must handle an incident involving a fuel cell vehicle or generator. Engineers will have to design safe, reliable hydrogen delivery systemsâ⬠[5]. In time hydrogen as a fuel may bring lowered costs to the consumer for transportaion fuels, power, and other chemicals, but seems that at first it will only bring higher costs. This will only make weaning us off fossil fuels more difficult.People will not buy hydrogen technology until it is competitively priced, but competitive pricing seems still quite a bit away. As of now the cost of a hydrogen fuel cell is very expensive because of its many components, some of which contain precious metals like platinum. ââ¬Å"In order to be competitively priced (compared to gasoline-powered vehicles), fuel cell systems must cost $35 per kilowatt. Currently, the projected high-volume production price is $73 per kilowatt. â⬠[5]. Should it be used?In the case of this technology I think a utilitarian approach is key; more specifically an act-utilitarian approach. Act-utilitarian, in such that hydrogen fuel technology should be utilized in all areas available only if this action would maximize the good in the end. In my opinion the benefits outweigh the disadvantages/dangers when applying hydrogen fuel in a universally correct manner, and would maximize the end good for all humanity. So, I feel that full investm ent into the use of hydrogen would be the correct line of action.This gives us the opportunity to act as engineers correctly under our code of ethics meeting several criteria: ââ¬Å"using our knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the environmentâ⬠, and complying ââ¬Å"with the principles of sustainable developmentà in the performance of professional dutiesâ⬠[6]. Of course, as with every emerging technology there are failures and drawbacks. But, when these technologies are used correctly they have the ability to completely revolutionize how we do things for the better. Sometime, as in this case, the short term drawbacks caused to a few must be over looked for more the betterment of the masses.Hydrogen fuel would answer problems that we have deemed most important for our future; green renewable energy and lowering our effect on the environment by pollution. The consequences of using hydrogen in the long run must be considered, and the temporary di sadvantages such as costs and dangers must be ignored . Not every person can be pleased right away. These minor problems can be dealt with eventually. But, in the long run the benefits will continue to grow on themselves. The development of this technology must be continued until it has become common place as much as gas and other fuels are to us now.With the problem of fossil fuels and their negative consequences out of the way, we as a human race are able to tackle our next great challenge. Works Cited [1] Virginia Tech. ââ¬Å"Breakthrough in hydrogen fuel production could revolutionize alternative energy market. â⬠à ScienceDaily, 3 Apr. 2013. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. [2]ââ¬Å"What is Hydrogen Energyâ⬠. Conserve Energy Future. Np. Nd. Web. 3 April 2013. [3] Leslie. Kim, ââ¬Å"The Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuelâ⬠.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Essay on How Stubbornness Leads to Disaster in Sophocles...
Parents are there to protect and raise their children. It is their choice on how to do it. Many can be very nice and almost not strict enough, but others can seem stubborn and mean. Unlike strict parents, people who are truly stubborn can be much, much worse. Their inability to be wrong or not get what they want can destroy relationships and lives. This happened in Sophocles Antigone, she was doing what she felt to be right and her uncle, Creon the king of Thebes, had her killed because he did not agree with her point of view. Stubbornness can lead to bad judgments and horrible repercussions. Stubbornness is like a parasite that takes over a persons mind and body, and makes them sad, depressed, and angry. In the play almost everyâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Antigones sister reminds her she has no power in the law and if she is to be caught burying Polynieces she will be put to death. Being bull headed she does anyway. She was so stubborn that not even her only sister could stop her . After their argument Antigone even asks her sister if she wants to come with because Antigone thinks burying Polynieces is a respectable thing to do, she can not take a hint. And when she goes to defend herself in front of Creon she is so stubborn that she wants everyone to know that she has committed this crime for the gods and does not even defend herself but says she is guilty. This makes Creon even more mad because she knew exactly what she was doing. Not only were Creon and Antigone stubborn, other characters were also stubborn. For example Ismene, who wants to die with Antigone. She does not give up, but keeps saying, I did itâ⬠¦ I am her partner. I share the blame (29). Creon does not let her die with Antigone because he believes she is innocent and does not want to kill an innocent woman, ironically his stubborn choices kill many people close to him. Haimon also tries to sway Creonââ¬â¢s decision multiple times in the play and he does not give up until Antigone has already died. Over all almost every character in the play, Antigone, was stubborn, and all this led to disaster. In the end because of all of this foolishness Antigone, Haimon, and Euridice, Creons wife, die. This leaves Creon with no oneShow MoreRelatedOedipus and Chorus Leader8958 Words à |à 36 PagesAntigone By Sophocles; translated by Ian Johnston Dramatis Personae (Fill in relationship information for each character listed.) ANTIGONE: ________________________ ISMENE: ______________________________ CREON: ____________________________ EURYDICE: ___________________________ HAEMON: __________________________ TEIRESIAS: ___________________________ Polynieces: __________________________ Eteocles: ______________________________ Oedipus: Father of Antigone, Ismene, Polynices
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Prince of Paranoia A study of Hamlets Personality Disorder
nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When we first meet Hamlet, he is a sad, dark, loathsome figure; the loss of his father and the whoring of his mother have upset him indefinitely. Like a ticking time bomb, Hamletââ¬â¢s noticeable temper reflects the storm of emotions and thoughts brewing in his head, and then like a catalyst, his meeting with the Ghost of King Hamlet brings his anger to a boil. With revenge in mind, Hamlet plans to fake his madness so that he may be free to pursue his fatherââ¬â¢s killer. Everyone, except his close friend Horatio, seems convinced that he is mad. Claudius however, fearful that someone will discover his evil deed, has also had his perceptions heightened by his guilt and he experiences chronic paranoia throughout theâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Then, in hearing Gertrudeââ¬â¢s cry for help, Polonius hollers for help, revealing his position. In all his fury and confusion, Hamlet draws his sword and stabs Polonius through the arras, killing him. In a boo klet printed by the National Institute of Mental Health, hypersensitivity is said to be a common condition of paranoia. ââ¬Å"Because persons with paranoid personality disorder are hyperalert, they notice any slight and may take offense where none is intended. As a result, they tend to be defensive and antagonistic. When they are at fault, they cannot accept blame, not even mild criticism. Yet they are highly critical of others. Other people may say that these individuals make ââ¬Ëmountains out of molehillsââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ (NIMH). Interestingly enough, Hamlet believed the man behind the arras was the king. ââ¬Å"Nay I know not, is it the king?â⬠(3, 4, 26). How could Claudius have moved from the chapel to behind an arras in Gertrudeââ¬â¢s bedroom in shorter time than it took Hamlet? For an instant, Hamlet looses contact with reality and neglects reason, another indication of paranoia. Those suffering from paranoia can also have hallucinations and they can hear things that are not really there. Hamlets hallucinations are very clear when he sees his fathers ghost in his motherââ¬â¢s bedroom. He sees and hears his fatherââ¬â¢s ghost while his mother does not: Gertrude: quot;To whom to you speak this?quot; Hamlet: quot;Do you see nothing there?quot; Gertrude: quot;Nothing at all,
Friday, December 20, 2019
Wrongfully Convicted And The Criminal Justice System
Wrongfully Convicted News reports daily of all of the many different crimes that has taken place. In todayââ¬â¢s society, we depend upon the justice system. Criminal Justice is a big deal. The Criminal Justice system was put in place by the agencies and established by the governments to help control the crimes and apply penalties to those that violate the law. Many people feel that the criminal justice system is there to protect and serve while others feel that the criminal justice system fails them daily. Over 30 years ago Alan Newton was convicted of a crime. He was accused of rape and slashing a ladies face in an abandon building. The victim that was assaulted picked Newton out in a line up. After she identified Newton he tried to plead his case but he was later sentenced to 13 to 40 years in prison. Newton tried to plead his innocence, but the justice system sent him straight to jail. Newton petitioned for parole on three separate occasions and he was denied. Newton was determined to prove his innocence. However the police officer claimed that the rape kit that was used to identify Newton was no longer available. It had somehow disappeared. This made it harder for Newton to prove his innocence. In 2005 The Innocence Project decided to pick up Newtown case and went to the Bronx District Attorney for answer. They demanded help with locating the rape kit that was used in the case. Due to the extensive search it yielded the evidence and with DNA testing they wereShow MoreRelatedLife After Wrongful Conviction : An Article By Clow, Leach And Riocciadelli939 Words à |à 4 Pagesprison and the adjustment of the wrongfully convicted becomes of increasing concern as more people are released. People who are wrongfully convicted suffer the loss of privacy and free will as well as may encounter the same violence that most felons encounter, while actually being innocent. In addition to this, inmates cannot have access to parole and certain other privileges unless they confess to committing the crime and because often people who are wrongfully convicted are put in a unique positionRead MoreVictims Of The American Criminal Justice System851 Words à |à 4 Pagesdirected by the United States Government. However, many follow the laws and become victims of the American Criminal Justice system. Hence, we have people who become victims of wrong convictions. Wrongful conviction is define as a person who is currently serving a sentence via incarceration for a crime they did not commit. After the discovery of innocence, the department of corrections system exonerates them. Moreover, wrongful convictions are prominent and the effects that comes with wrongful convictionsRead MoreThe Wr ongful Conviction Of Criminal Justice System1185 Words à |à 5 Pageswith having a rigid body of criminal justice system and what were the circumstances through which they could not able to get justice. This all convictions leads into a severe effects on the life of the persons who are accidentally associated to crime which they never even thought to commit.Case of Leighton Hay is a clear example of this, He was wrongfully convicted of murder, which led into 12 years of inexorably imprisonment.why it took 12 years for justice system to ensure that he was innocentRead MoreWrongful Conviction: the Darryl Hunt Case1237 Words à |à 5 PagesAmerican born in 1965 in North Carolina. In 1984, he was convicted wrongfully of rape and murder of Deborah Sykes, a young white woman working as a newspaper editor. This paper researches oh his wrongful conviction in North Carolina. Darryl Hunt served nineteen and a half years before DNA evidence exonerated him. The charges leveled against him were because of inconsistencies in the initial stages of the case. An all-white bench convicted the then nineteen-year-old Hunt, even though there was noRead MoreWrongful Conviction: the Darryl Hunt Case1237 Words à |à 5 PagesAmerican born in 1965 in North Carolina. In 1984, he was convicted wrongfully of rape and murder of Deborah Sykes, a young white woman working as a newspaper editor. This paper researches oh his wrongful conviction in North Carolina. Darryl Hunt served nineteen and a half years before DNA evidence exonerated him. The charges leveled against him were because of inconsistencies in the initial stages of the case. An all-white bench convicted the then nineteen-year-old Hunt, even though there was noRead MoreJustice Is The Case Of Louis Taylor Essay1319 Words à |à 6 PagesIn American society, justice is blind. Justice is commonly defined as a rightful or lawful act. Or in other terms to bring to justice, to come before a court for trial or to receive pu nishment for oneââ¬â¢s misdeeds. Some believe it is fairly administered and equal. But lack within the criminal justice system make us question equality. There are two individual aspects of how justice can be served; the perspective of the victim and the perspective of the criminal per say. I will be focusing on instancesRead MoreEssay Wrongful Conviction Has Plagued the Canadian Justice System1121 Words à |à 5 Pageshas plagued the Canadian Justice System since it came to be. It is an issue that is hard to sort out between horrific crimes and societyââ¬â¢s desire to find truth and justice. Incidences of wrongful conviction hit close to home right here in Saskatchewan as well as across the entire nation. Experts claim ââ¬Å"each miscarriage of justice, however, deals a blow to societyââ¬â¢s confidence in the legal justice systemâ⬠(Schmalleger, Volk, 2014, 131). Professionals in the criminal justice field such as police, forensicRead More Wrongful Conviction - A Mi scarriage In The Canadian Justice System1643 Words à |à 7 PagesIn todayââ¬â¢s Canadian society, it is certain that criminal law is to serve and protect and its fundamental purpose is to prevent crime and punish offenders. However, there have been cases where criminal law has punished the offender who turned out to be innocent. A conviction is needed to show that the system is not in disrepute and to keep order and people safe in society. If a criminal cannot be caught then people will look down upon the system in disgrace. In many cases, officers will arrest anRead More Wrongful Conviction: An Injustice Within the Justice System1627 Words à |à 7 PagesIn todayââ¬â¢s Canadian society, it is certain that criminal law is to serve and protect and its fundamental purpose is to prevent crime and punish offenders. However, there have been cases where criminal law has punished the offender who turned out to be innocent. A conviction is needed to show that the system is not in d isrepute and to keep order and people safe in society. If a criminal cannot be caught then people will look down upon the system in disgrace. In many cases, officers will arrest anRead MoreLiberty And Justice For Some1223 Words à |à 5 PagesLiberty and Justice for Some By Martina Bioh Virginia Union University 2016 Table of Contents Page Introduction 1 Introduction continues 2 Chapter 2 3 Chapter 2 continues 4 Conclusion 5 References 6 Chapter 1: Introduction The United States criminal justice system have been known to be one of the most injustice system in the world. Criminal justice is known as the system of law enforcement, involving police
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Defending A Mans Honor Essay Example For Students
Defending A Mans Honor Essay Defending a Mans HonorThe main male characters in Shakespeares play Othello kill their wives in order to defend their own honor. In the period setting of the play, to show honor, women are expected to be subservient to their husbands. The characters Iago and Othello reflect this attitude toward their respective wives, giving them reason to feel just in killing these women. Iago kills Emilia because she dishonors him by revealing his manipulation of Othello and Cassio. Othello strangles Desdemona because of imagined infidelity, which makes him look like a fool. Both men have different ideas of honor, perceive their own honorable status differently, have different relationships with their wives, and different feelings of remorse. Ultimately they both kill their wives to defend their own honor. Proud, noble, and brave warrior Othello is well respected and his military skills and adventures are widely known. He is charismatic, charming, self-reliant and well traveled. These personality t raits made Desdemona fall in love with him, and by these, he measures his honorability. His measures his self-worth by the way he is perceived by others. That is the main reason why he perceives Desdemonas alleged infidelity as ruining his honor. It makes him look like a fool and he feels that he has been taken advantage of because he is unwise and unfamiliar with the devious sexual practices of Venice women. Othello is also very trusting. Of course, the question is why he believes Iago and doubts his wife. He believes honest Iago without question because Iago had served in the army with him and is generally regarded by all to be an honest man. The feelings of being an outsider and insecure in his social status are Othellos character flaws and Iago to takes advantage of these Achilles heals. For Iago, deception, manipulating, and killing are second nature. It doesnt occur to him that he will be caught and he doesnt have any conscience about what he has done. These characteristics show that Iago is self-absorbed and out for himself. He is also greedy and jealous and plots to make everyone around him unhappy, while seeking position and honor. High position and honor starts his hatred of Othello. Iago sees Othello as being beneath him because of his race, but having all the glory and honor that he covets. The final straw, Cassio being made lieutenant over him, makes him take action and plot his revenge. This blow to his pride and honor is his motivation to engage Othello into a jealous and angry rage, and brings Othello down to his level. Othello and Desdemona love each other, but for different reasons. In his insecurity about being an outsider, marrying Desdemona gives him a way to be included among the nobles of Venice. She gives him status and the honor he wants. Othello sees Desdemona giving up everything to be with him. Desdemona defends her marriage to her father and the other nobles by saying I saw Othellos visage in his mind / And to his honors and his valiant parts, / Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. His honorable and noble nature was one of the reasons she fell in love with him in the first place. Even on her deathbed, she covers for him when asked who did this to her saying, NobodyI myself. Farewell. / Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell! Not much is written about Iago and Emilias marriage other than she was very much bound by duty. When she steals the handkerchief for him she asks, What will you do witht, that you have been so earnest to have me filch it? He replies Why, what is that to you? He doesnt confide in her as Macbeth did Lady Macbeth. They did not work as a partnership, the focus was on Iago and his ambitions. She tries to stand up to him, If it be not for some purpose of import, / Give me again. And he just tells her to leave, dismissing her. He doesnt show any love or appreciation for her throughout the play, but she remains constant in her wifely duty. Othello ultimately kills Desdemona because he loses his control of his passions. He normally possesses much self-control. It is easier for him to believe she would betray him because she easily betrayed her father. His trust in Iagos honorable character leads him to doubt his feelings for his wife and introduces a new emotion to Othellojealousy. Iago plays on Othellos new role as a husband because Othello and Desdemona were only married a short period of time and havent been able to build the kind of trust that comes from a long relationship. Since Othello is so self reliant, it is hard for him to automatically put that trust in someone else. Her imagined infidelity mocks his honor and his insecurity making him think that he is such an outsider that he doesnt even know that women in Venice always carry on affairs. Because of his insecurity, it was easier for him to think that she was making a fool of him rather than giving her the benefit of the doubt. Iago kills Emilia to cover up his own evil deeds. Even after Iago tells her to hold her tongue, Emilia decides to tell the truth rather than let the nobles think that Desdemona was capable of infidelity. She tells how Iago has manipulated her and Othello. Iago kills her after she reveals his deception and he is unable to cover for himself. Emilia admits that she gave her husband the handkerchief, Iagos only tangible proof of Desdemonas infidelity, because he begged her to steal it. Emilia has always been a good wife by being dutiful and honoring her husband. As she tells the story about what happened, Iago says Zounds, hold your peace! / Be wise, and get you home. She defends Desdemonas honor and yells at Othello, Murdrous coxcomb! What should such a fool do with so good a wife? The honorable Iago shows cowardice and flees after killing his own wife in front of the nobles. Even in the moment he is going to kill her, Othello shows his love for Desdemona by kissing her and saying, Be thus when thou art dead and I will kill thee, and love the after. / One more (kiss) and thats the last! / So sweet was neer so fatal, I must weep, / but they are cruel tears. / This sorrows heavenly; It strikes where it doth love. He has loved her deeply all the way to her last breath, but rather than swallow his pride and live with her supposed infidelity, he kills his true love. While killing Desdemona, he feels it is his right to kill her because she has done such a huge injustice to him. I n his remorse after killing Desdemona, he realizes how his pride and honor has done and how he has been manipulated by his trust in the honest IagoIago feels no remorse because his desires come comes above all other people. While he also feels it is his right to kill his wife, he feels he is only protecting himself because she will not do what she is told. By honor, he means that Emilia must do all things required by him, right or wrong. His honor is so important that he will get it and defend it by any means, as shown in his devious dealings throughout the play. These women would have done anything asked of them, especially when it comes to their husbands honor. They loved them, though differently, and would not have done anything to dishonor their husbands or themselves. In the end, they defended their husbands honor with their own lives. For Iago and Othello, the lives of their wives meant less to them than their own honorable status. English
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)