Shakespeares King Lear Essays (1851 words) - King Lear, Goneril

Shakespeare's King Lear Shakespeare's King Lear Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear is a detailed description of the consequences of one man's decisions. This fictitious man is Lear, King of England, who's decisions greatly alter his life and the lives of those around him. As Lear bears the status of King he is, as one expects, a man of great power but sinfully he surrenders all of this power to his daughters as a reward for their demonstration of love towards him. This untimely abdication of his throne results in a chain reaction of events that send him through a journey of hell. King Lear is a metaphorical description of one man's journey through hell in order to expiate his sin. As the play opens one can almost immediately see that Lear begins to make mistakes that will eventually result in his downfall. The very first words that he speaks in the play are :- "...Give me the map there. Know that we have divided In three our kingdom, and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths while we Unburdened crawl to death..." (Act I, Sc i, Ln 38-41) This gives the reader the first indication of Lear's intent to abdicate his throne. He goes on further to offer pieces of his kingdom to his daughters as a form of reward to his test of love. "Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters (Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state), Which of you shall we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend where nature doth with merit challenge." (Act I, Sc i, Ln 47-53) This is the first and most significant of the many sins that he makes in this play. By abdicating his throne to fuel his ego he is disrupts the great chain of being which states that the King must not challenge the position that God has given him. This undermining of God's authority results in chaos that tears apart Lear's world. Leaving him, in the end, with nothing. Following this Lear begins to banish those around him that genuinely care for him as at this stage he cannot see beyond the mask that the evil wear. He banishes Kent, a loyal servant to Lear, and his youngest and previously most loved daughter Cordelia. This results in Lear surrounding himself with people who only wish to use him which leaves him very vulnerable attack. This is precisely what happens and it is through this that he discovers his wrongs and amends them. Following the committing of his sins, Lear becomes abandoned and estranged from his kingdom which causes him to loose insanity. While lost in his grief and self-pity the fool is introduced to guide Lear back to the sane world and to help find the lear that was ounce lost behind a hundred Knights but now is out in the open and scared like a little child. The fact that Lear has now been pushed out from behind his Knights is dramatically represented by him actually being out on the lawns of his castle. The terrified little child that is now unsheltered is dramatically portrayed by Lear's sudden insanity and his rage and anger is seen through the thunderous weather that is being experienced. All of this contributes to the suffering of Lear due to the gross sins that he has committed. The pinnacle of this hell that is experienced be Lear in order to repay his sins is at the end of the play when Cordelia is killed. Lear says this before he himself dies as he cannot live without his daughter. "Howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones. Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives. She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking glass. If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why, then she lives." (Act V, Sc iii, Ln 306-312) All of this pain that Lear suffered is traced back to the single most important error that he made. The choice to give up his throne. This one sin has proven to have massive repercussions upon Lear and the lives of those around him eventually killing almost all of those who were involved. And one is left to ask one's self if a single wrong turn

Flat Feet and Fallen Arches essays

Flat Feet and Fallen Arches essays Flat feet (also known as over-pronation, Pes planovalgus, Fallen arches, or Pronation of feet) can effect one or both feet and is a common biomechanical problem that occurs in the walking process when a person's arch collapses upon weight bearing. This motion can cause extreme stress or inflammation on the plantar fascia, potentially causing severe discomfort and At birth, all feet look flat because an arch hasn't yet formed and don't form until the age of 2 or 3. Most flat feet are caused during your youth because of the loose joint connections and the baby fat between the foot bones. These conditions make the arch fall when standing up. This is why you sometimes hear flat feet called "fallen arches." Some of the symptoms of flat feet include the absence of the longitudinal arch of the foot when standing or lifting the toe; Pain in the foot region; and the heel tilts away from the midline of the body more than usual. This is called over- pronation and can be directly associated with flat feet because the framework of the foot begins to collapse, causing the foot to flatten and adding stress to other parts of the foot. Even though complications of fallen arches consist mainly of pain, over-pronation often leads to Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs, Metatarsalgia, Post-tib Other causes consist of obesity, pregnancy or repetitive pounding on a hard surface which can weaken the arch causing it to fall. Usually people with flat feet do not feel pain at first, and some never suffer from any discomfort at all. However, when symptoms develop and become painful, walking becomes a difficult task and causes increased strain on the feet and calves. Sometimes, pain in the lower back can accumulate do to the stress from the arches. ...

Happy Friendship Day Quotes

Happy Friendship Day Quotes Whatever your age, don’t feel embarrassed to wish your best friends, Happy Friendship Day. It does not matter whether you are 16 or 60. Friendship Day is a celebration of a relationship that has been nurtured over the years. Everybody needs a friend. Recall your fondest memories: the time you shared a laugh with friends in the school cafeteria. Or the time you whispered your darkest secrets to your friend, after making her take a solemn oath of secrecy. When is Friendship Day? Every year International Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. However, according to UN resolution A/65/L.72, passed on April 27, 2011, International Friendship Day has been shifted to July 30. Therefore, instead of celebrating Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August every year, we will now celebrate it on a fixed date: July 30. But friendships are forever, right? How can a change of date diminish the bond? If you believe in a ceremonial celebration of friendship, what better occasion than Friendship Day to reconnect with old ties, patch up differences, and make new friends? Make the most of Friendship Day by acknowledging your true friends. Raise a glass to honor those who stuck to you through thick and thin. Gift your best friends a memorable day, filled with fun, games, and laughter. Quotes for Friendship Day Reach out to distant friends, and strike a chord with some friendship quotes. Geographical boundaries melt away when friends get together. Have you lost touch with some of your best friends? Get in touch with them through popular social networking sites. Say, Happy Friendship Day! to your friends. James BoswellA companion loves some agreeable qualities, which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.Eustace BudgellFriendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another.CiceroFriendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it.Charles Caleb ColtonTrue friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lostRalph Waldo EmersonEvery man passes his life in the search after friendship.Ralph Waldo EmersonA friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.EpicurusWe do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need.Thomas HuxleyFriendship involves man things but, above all the power of going outside oneself and appreciating what is noble and loving in another.Lois L. KaufmanPlant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.John EvelynFriendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world. Baltasar GracianFriendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.Dag HammarskjoldFriendship needs no words.Henry David ThoreauThe most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?James Fennimore Cooper Friendship that flows from the heart cannot be frozen by adversity, as the water that flows from the spring cannot congeal in winter.James Francis ByrnesFriendship without self-interest is one of the rare and beautiful things in life.

Coursework in financial reporting & corporate governance Essay

Coursework in financial reporting & corporate governance - Essay Example The emergence of the concept of corporate governance can be attributed to certain events in the recent past which have shaken the business world. Accounting frauds such as Arthur Anderson, Enron, Satyam and World Com etc in the last decade resulted in loss of shareholder in the way the companies are governed. These disclosures along with the dot com bust which itself had its own share of corporate mis-governance made people loose confidence in the stock markets and the way that the companies are governed. The resulting market fall along with the tremendous impact on the society (loss of jobs, and damage to customers, and financiers) made it necessary to have a systemic framework which shall define the working of a public listed company. More recently, the financial slowdown of 2008-09 has once again raised concern over the governance of such large organizations. The greed to make profits while ignoring risks involved and the eventual loss to the society has made it necessary to have a strong board of directors which has the complete knowledge of the companys operations, policies and business. In a nutshell, the following reasons can be listed for the growth in importance of Corporate Governance: There have been many steps in setting out the standard for safeguarding the interests of the society and stop the occurrence of happenings like the Enron, Maxwell Communications and so on. Amongst the first one was the Cadbury report titled â€Å"Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance† published in the year 2002 (The Committee on the Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance, 1992). Subsequent standards were set up in the form of OECD Principles of Corporate Governance in the year 1999 and the Guidance on Good Practices in Corporate Governance Disclosure. British Airways (BA) and British Petroleum (BP) are the two large UK plcs that we will be comparing for the purpose of this paper. British

Child Abuse Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Child Abuse Paper - Essay Example (Roberts) It is both shocking and disheartening that the abuse of children, despite the legal sanctions in place in every part of the world, is still so rampant. This paper will attempt to discuss the history of child abuse, the different forms of the crime and the punishment set for abusers. Historical Background Throughout history, children have been abused and neglected. This is said to be a result of the low value placed on children. (Weisberg) The maltreatment of children has its roots in ancient times. Two examples from the Bible that stand out are when a Pharaoh orders babies to be killed during Moses’ time and when King Herod instructs the killing of infants during Christ’s birth. It is said that children were considered â€Å"property† in ancient times and were easily sold, mutilated, killed or used as sacrifice for the gods. (Volpe) This disregard for children continued until the Middle Ages. During this period, unwanted children served as apprentices w hile those with deformities were declared omens of evil and were killed. (Child Abuse) Parents and even teachers in the Medieval Period believed that beating the child was the norm for instilling discipline. (Snell) Because society did not see it wrong parents teach their children by way of spanking or hitting the latter, most of the reported cases of child abuse were between masters and servants, who were children. (Child Abuse) The case of Mary Allen McCormack in 1874 was the first time a victim of child abuse was brought out in the open. McCormack had been given up for adoption and was physically abused by her adoptive mother until her neighbors brought her case to the Department of Public Charities and Corrections. (Markel) Ironically, the case was initiated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as there were no laws to protect children from physical abuse inflicted by parents. Fortunately, the case triggered movements for the formulation and enforceme nt of laws to rescue and protect abused children. (Watkins) Forms of Child Abuse According to the World Health Organization, child abuse and neglect is defined as â€Å"all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, development or dignity.† (Child Maltreatment) Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and negligent treatment, emotional abuse and exploitation are the five types of child abuse. Each of these may be described in various ways in different nations. In the United States for example, although the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) gives the minimum criterion for physical child abuse, child neglect, and sexual abuse, it also only defines sexual abuse and special cases concerning withholding or failing to provide medically indicated treatment. (Pecora, et. al.) Physical abuse is generally inflicting bodily harm to a child when in anger. The trauma should be non-accidental. This is also referred to battered child syndrome. People who beat children are often those abused themselves when they were young. Nevertheless, alcoholism, domestic violence, drug abuse, lack of education, poverty and being a single parent can increase the risk of abuse. (Child Abuse -

Asperger’s Syndrome Essay examples -- Health, Diseases

Asperger’s syndrome is becoming more and more common as time goes by. Each year, more children are being diagnosed. This paper focuses on Asperger’s Syndrome and developing social skills in various social settings. By looking at the etiology, diagnostic procedures, how the condition effects development, daily challenges, current social/cultural views, and relevant social interventions, a better understanding on how to develop social skills for children with Asperger’s Syndrome can ensue. The world revolves around social situations. This is how people are hired for jobs, ask for things, make new friends, meet their future spouse, etc. At the moment, social skills training and social support is minimal compared to where it potentially could be (Rao, Beidel, & Murray, 2008). Teaching someone with Asperger’s Syndrome better social skills will allow social acceptance, the ability to use adaptive behavior in a certain setting, and allow for independence fr om others to help them into social situations (Banda, Hart, & Liu-Gitz, 2010). People with Asperger’s Syndrome are like everyone else. They just need help in gaining social skills to better off themselves in a world based on social interaction. Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis has been on the rise recently. This is due to a better understanding of the syndrome and how to effectively diagnose Asperger’s. Now, people who were considered â€Å"weird† or â€Å"interesting† in fact, have Asperger’s. Little research has been done on this syndrome which causes limited services and support (Stoddart, 2009). There are many theories on how Asperger’s is obtained. In Stoddart’s (2009) chapter, one belief is centered on genetics. Something triggers multiple genes to act together in a negative w... ...ldren with Asperger’s are brilliant human beings who deserve to interact with the normal of society. They deserve to have the same social jobs like a teacher, business man, or sales man. Their views should not be lessened but rather increased. Future studies should include bigger social situations and applied to more participants. Also, the idea of adults being taught social skills should be evaluated. There is a generation out there of adults who are undiagnosed but still need some sort of intervention. Studies already show that it is possible to teach a child to normally and socially interact. The possibilities are endless for a child with Asperger’s. Hopefully, in the near future, there will be more of an understanding of what is going on in the brain of a child with Asperger’s and new skills will arise that greatly improve their social life forever.

Everyday Use Essay

â€Å"Everyday Use† is a highly symbolic story with manifold themes and interpretations. It not only locates conflict that existed within the Afro-American community and presents life in relation to modern and traditional concept of Afro-American heritage but it further takes into account the feminist themes and agendas. It is a representative story of Black movement of 1960s but it does not manifest the Afro-American quest for socio-cultural identity like other Black Movement literature. The central conflict is symbolized by two main characters; Mrs. Johnson and Dee. Dee is an epitome of shallow materialism and an adherent of prevailing concept of heritage where heritage is revered only for trendiness and aesthetic attraction whereas Mrs. Johnson admires heritage for its practical utility and personal importance. Central conflict is between Maggie and Dee and it is about whether legacy and heritage subsists in belongings or in spirit. Dee’s longing for heritage is for ostentatious reasons. Contemporary periodical necessities make her cherish and celebrate her Afro-American heritage. But Mrs. Johnson and Maggie have learnt to live with their heritage. Dee is captivated by the beauty of â€Å"churn top† and wanted to have it to be used as centerpiece for her alcove table whereas Mrs. Johnson has used it practically for churn butter hitherto. Walker utilizes the butter churn to demonstrate Mrs. Johnson’s intrinsic understanding of heritage. When [Dee] finished wrapping the dasher the handle stuck out. I took it for a moment in my hands. You didn’t even have to look close to see where hands pushing the dasher up and down to make butter had left a kind of sink in the wood. In fact, there were a lot of small sinks; you could see where thumbs and fingers had sunk into the wood. It was a beautiful light yellow wood, from a tree that grew in the yard where Big Dee and Stash had lived. (Walker, â€Å"Everyday Use† use page number from your textbook) The narration of the story is in first-person where everything is reported and understood through the lenses of Mrs. Johnson. Her observation is astute as she provides minute details about the actions of her daughters. Alice Walker has introduced various symbols and figurative language to communicate some thematic expressions. The conflict of heritage becomes more evident as well as critical as the quilts are brought in the story. It signifies the procedure from which the insignificant and worthless may be changed into the valued and functional. The development of Dee into Wangero shows various facets and phases through which black identity passed during late 1960s and 1970s. Predilection for appearance as compared with spirit remained hallmark of this era and this trend is manifested through Dee’s transformation into Wangero. Social standing of females was a favorite subject to the writers at the start of 20th century. Society was dominated by patriarchy, male chauvinism and supremacy whereas women were perceived as fragile and dependant. Every Day Use is a thematic expression of feminism and manifests it at various levels and in various orientations. It also revolves around the same theme which was basically about their feminist struggles. In â€Å"Everyday Use†, Alice juxtaposes the female character against the pathos and miseries of life and demonstrates their strong will and mental capacity to stand against those hardships. They are subservient to any male character and do not needs their companionship. Hence Alice augments their characterization by inculcating a female identity. Although Feminism stands for women to have the same status as men in the society but Alice exhibits another manifestation of Feminism i. e. not a wish to have equal status but a practical demonstration to contribute equally to the socio-cultural milieu of the time. Dee is an epitome of shallow materialistic feminism and an adherent of prevailing concept of feminism that believes in things and materialistic feministic achievements whereas Mrs. Johnson looks at the spirit of feminism and contributes toward it at her own level. She raises up two daughters by her own. This implies she has already taken the position of a father. These kinds of female have the ability to make their own decisions and have independence of thought and actions. The mother even shows how useful and strong a woman is. In the story, Alice Walker pointed out that the mother is â€Å"a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands†. So Everyday Use is not a mere feministic wish to acquire equal status and should be considered and treated on equal terms but it is a practical manifestation of this feminist thought and ideology. Overall, Walker has invited us start living with our heritage instead of merely cherishing it. She further wants us to search our roots in the American soil instead of locating it on other continents. This story has eternalized the Afro-American themes in particular and feminist theme in general. The characteristic that makes the story universal and eternal is symbolic representation f the above-mentioned themes. It can be read and interpreted in various ways and at various levels.