The Cruel Transformation in Oedipus the King Essay -- Oedipus the King

The Cruel Transformation in Oedipus the King      Ã‚   When we look in the mirror, do we see what other people see or do we see what we delude ourselves into believing is the truth?   Self-realization is a complicated concept, one which many Greek dramatists used in order to clarify the themes of their tragedies.   In Oedipus the King, Sophocles ties Oedipus’ journey to self-realization with the main theme of the story.   As Oedipus slowly begins to realize his true self, he transforms from a proud and heroic king into a tyrant in denial into a scared, condemned man, humbled by his tragic fate.      In the beginning, Oedipus is portrayed as a confident, powerful hero.   His bravery and worth are proved when the reader learns how he solved the Sphinx’s riddle.   Even though Oedipus was not a native Theban, he chose to answer the Sphinx’s riddle in spite of her threat of death to anyone who answers incorrectly.   Only a man like Oedipus, a man possessing tremendous self-confidence, could have such courage.   When Oedipus succeeds, freeing the city from the Sphinx's evil reign, he becomes instantly famous and known for his bravery and intelligence.   A temple priest reveals the respect the Thebans have for their king when he tells Oedipus, "You freed us from the ... ...King.† In Readings on Sophocles, edited by Don Nardo. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997. Owen, E. T.   â€Å"Drama in Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus.† In Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, edited by Michael J. O’Brien. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968. Segal, Charles. Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1993. Sophocles.   "Oedipus Rex."   An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, et al.   New York: Longman, 1997. Van Nortwick, Thomas.   Oedipus: The Meaning of a Masculine Life. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1998.

Chimney Sweeper Essay

A great writer, or poet, will make their readers feel as if they are a part of their story. The reader will feel happy when the character is happy, or sad when the character is sad. This is achieved by various rhetorical strategies that writers use. Some of these strategies include imagery and word diction. Sometimes it is one sentence that really gets to the reader. Other times it is simply one word that can make the reader feel anything from warm to sad. In William Blake’s poem, â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper,† from Songs of Innocence, there is an important transition in which the reader’s sense of emotions change from negative feelings of darkness, death, and misery to positive emotions of happiness, hope, and salvation. This transition in emotions reflects the child’s innocence and oblivion to his victimization whereas in the same poem from Songs of Experience the child is aware that he is the victim and therefore only reveals feelings of bitterness and sarcasm. This contrast is important to my understanding of the Innocence poem because it reveals a softer and more innocent perspective than the poem of Experience does. In the first half of the poem Blake uses word diction that gives off negative connotations in order to illustrate the horrible conditions the young chimneysweepers live in. The chimneysweeper says, â€Å"And my father sold me while yet my tongue/Could scarcely cry † ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ’† (2-3). Not only does the word â€Å"weep† clearly give off a sense of sadness and depression, but the fact that it is repeated four times puts an emphasis on the sadness that the chimneysweeper feels. The quote implies that the father sold his child at a very young age. As a result, the child was still too young to weep and therefore could not refuse to be sold. Another quote says, â€Å"So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep† (4). When one hears the word â€Å"sweep†, they are imagining dirt and filth being lifted off the ground. Moreover, the phrase â€Å"in soot I sleep†, if one imagines it in a literal sense, shows that the child is literally sleeping in soot, which is the black debris that the smoke from the chimney creates. As a result, this quote illustrates a dirty and filthy setting that these chimneysweepers are forced to live in. A phrase that, without a doubt, gives off a sense of death and hell is â€Å"coffins of black† (12). The chimneysweeper uses this phrase to describe where the other chimneysweepers are locked in Tom’s dream, which is still filthy and almost suffocating. While these quotes and phrases observe and reveal the terrible conditions that these children are living in, the chimneysweeper in the Experience poem reasons why he is living in those conditions by blaming his parents. This comparison makes evident the different perspectives from each poem. Hints of hope are first revealed in the Innocence poem where Blake uses the child’s sarcasm to show that in moments of darkness and unhappiness there is still space for optimism so as not to suffer so much. This is revealed when the chimneysweeper reassures Tom to â€Å"never mind it, for when your head’s bare/You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair† (7-8). In a way this would make Tom feel hopeful because with a bare head, the soot cannot ruin his hair. But in a metaphorical sense, it implies that darkness (the soot) will not prevail over everything, which gives one hope. What follows this sense of hope is Tom’s description of his dream: And by came an Angel who had a bright key/And he open’d the coffins & set them all free/Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run/And wash in a river, and shine in the Sun/Then naked and white, all their bags left behind/They rise upon clouds and sport in the wind. (13-18) This stanza contains numerous amounts of words and phrases that all give a positive connotation of hope, freedom, warmth, and happiness. Words such as â€Å"Angel†, â€Å"bright key†, â€Å"laughing†, â€Å"Sun†, and â€Å"white† give off a feeling that is too good to be true, which explains why it is a dream in the first place. But that hope and happiness is so strong that when Tom awakes, he continues his work happily. This utopian perspective clearly shows the innocence of these children, while the child in the poem of Experience has no sense of hope because he is aware of the reality he is living in. While the children in the Innocence poem use religious words and phrases to give them something to look forward to, the child in the Experience poem condemns religion. Blake shows how religion is used to almost condone the treatment and conditions of these chimneysweepers when he writes, â€Å"And the Angel told Tom, if he’d be a good boy/He’d have God for his father and never want joy† (19-20). This quote implies that obedience and sticking to your duties will bring happiness in the afterlife. The same thing is implied when the chimneysweeper says, â€Å"So if all do their duty they need not fear harm† (24). In other words, as long as these chimneysweepers continue with their gruesome work while refraining from complaints, they will be happy and will be rewarded in the afterlife for their good behavior. This mentality seems to convince the children that it is acceptable live in these horrible conditions because they will be rewarded once they pass. In contrast, the child in the Experience poem does not see the afterlife or God as something or someone to look forward to because he blames God for the position he is in. He mocks God by saying, â€Å"And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King/Who make up a heaven of our misery† (11-12). The child’s parents are praying in the church and believe that they have not caused their child any injury. In this case, it is the parents that are condoning the brutal life of their child. This major difference between the two poems is important because it reveals how differently each child views the situation they are in as chimneysweepers. Blake’s use of word diction and imagery in the poem of Innocence and in the poem of Experience differentiates the two opposing perspectives of each poem. Because the Innocence poem transitions from darkness and hopelessness to freedom and hopefulness, my understanding of this poem is extremely different from the other. It is clear that the chimneysweeper in the Experience poem is aware that he is the victim; therefore, his feelings of sadness and despair block him from seeing any hope. Instead, he blames God and his parents for the life he lives. In contrast, I am given the sense that the chimneysweeper in the Innocence poem is completely oblivious to the fact that he is a victim, and therefore it is easier for him to see the light in the darkest moments; in this sense he is still innocent of any hard feelings towards his father or God.

The health of individuals Essays

The health of individuals Essays The health of individuals Essay The health of individuals Essay There are many factors that influence both positively and negatively to a persons environment such as social, economical, employment, education, ethnicity, gender, age and location. Many of these characteristics are linked and throughout my research in this essay, I will focus on education, employment and social support and examine the detrimental effects these three factors have on ones health due to the particular environment they inhabit within these determinants. Empirical studies of populations based on these categories form the basis for socioeconomic analysis, as hey demonstrate the extent to which structural inequalities exist in any society (Carson et al. , 2007, p. 88). In addition, we investigate the substantial impact these three factors have on the state of health of the aboriginal population of Australia. Health and illness are of great social importance to ourselves, our family and the community as a whole. The state of ones health can have a big impact on the economy through loss of productivity and costs involved with maintaining health or illness (Woods, 2009). When studying health and illness, people are not merely illogical beings, they are also psychological and social creatures, and state of health is affected by all three aspects (Weiss et al. , 2009, p. 113). Therefore, it is important to analyze these determinants in order to convey how simple everyday issues in a persons life impacts on their well being and influences their family and community. In saying that, the research in this essay aims to illustrate that health professionals should not Just focus on the clinical medicine diagnoses to promote good health but go beyond this by exploring the underlying social conditions within ones unique environment. The educational qualification a person has obtained plays a large role in determining lifes pathway. From early childhood, if you are provided with all the basic material needs, your mental and physical health is more likely to thrive, than a child growing up with few choices and not have their basic needs met. This is where education intervenes by influencing the childs self-confidence and impacting on their interaction with their environment (Macdonald, 2005). It has been well documented that educated people are more likely to be employed full-time in a gratifying Job, to eave a good income with little economic hardship, to have higher levels of social support and to be healthier through eating nutritious food and making positive behavioral choices in regards to smoking, alcohol and drug consumption (Weiss, et al. , 2009). While people that are less educated are at greater risk of chronic disease and dying prematurely (Boucher et al, 2007). For example, one study in Canada revealed that people with more than 12 years of education are less likely to suffer health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or to be overweight (Macdonald, 2005). Bevel can determine whether a person, firstly, can gain employment in a competitive market and then may govern the grade of income they can receive due to their knowledge and the hazards involved with their profession. When examining at the working conditions of laborers between 1998-2000, they had 104% more people die within these industries than people employed in managerial or administrative roles, due to occupational illness and injury (Bam, 2008), this shows the significant impact that work environment has on health. On the other hand, The National Health Survey ported that the unemployed were more likely to suffer from mental and behavioral problems and were more likely to smoke, have a poorer diet and be obese (Bam, 2008). In contrast to this, there is now evidence that Psychosocial factors at work influence risk of physical and mental illness and may play a role in contributing to the social gradient in ill health (Marmot et al. , 2006, p. 97). Therefore, the evidence shows that both groups, employed lower class workers and the unemployed are facing considerable health problems within both environments. Never the less, employment status still has substantial influence on ones health. One study in the I-J, suggested that if there were more equality of income we would see a dramatic improvement in the health of the lower class; this is the practice used in Sweden, where the lowest social class has a better mortality rate than the highest class in England (Merchant, 2007). Furthermore, if you then look at women in the work force the majority are receiving a lower income than their male counterparts, and are often employed only on a casual basis and dominate low paid occupations due to their raring responsibilities (Koehler, 2009), this research in itself shows the inequities of employment in regards to gender. Another view on this, is due to the high costs of living both parents are pressured into working which in turn reduces time for family (Bam, 2008) and a work-life balance this in itself may have a carry on effect for future generations well-being. Beyond the benefits of a regular income, a persons occupation is essential for solicitation and unfortunately these days one would not stay in the same Job for life like they once did, therefore social support from work is less common (Bam, 2008). Social cohesion among people who would normally remain isolated in their home, has shown to provide protection against ill health, this explains how some escape the poor health profile experienced by others in a similar socio-economic position (Carson et al. , 2007, p. 10). Building and maintaining a stable emotional environment is essential as human well being is nourished not only by food, but by supportive engagement with other people, by the knowledge and experience of being cared for and valued (Macdonald, 2005, p. 5). Having these connections between individuals and community groups provide a source information, emotional and financial support (IHA, 2007). Therefore, social support regardless of the other factors can have a positive impact on an individuals health and can provide participation in social networks, personal growth and aid development (Marmot et al. , 2006) by giving individuals a sense belonging and value within a community loneliness and unhappiness, which can c ause high levels of stress and depression (Koehler, 2009). One way in which we can bring the communities together and encourage social networks is by community capacity building. Individuals need to feel empowered by making changes in their social structure and process, this can result in increase of resources and opportunities and in turn give individuals the social support needed to make a positive difference in their health (Verity, 2007). A further area that we can examine in regards to social factors, is the indigenous population of Australia, it is clear that their environment is having a significantly negative impact on their health. If you look at the number of Indigenous people on welfare payments this reflects the rate of unemployment and the low rates of labor racket participation within this group (Carson et al. , 2007). This may be due to the lack of education, as a far higher proportion of Aboriginal Australians have not attended school at all, compared with non Indigenous Australians, and are unlikely to participate in any education after they are 1 5 years old. Aboriginal adolescents are often alienated by the education system as not being able to achieve a good education and have high levels of failure, absenteeism and behavior problems (Bam, 2008). Therefore, they become a burden to the school and consequently, they eave or are expelled. As social networks weaken due to perception of inequality, a person can become sensitive to their situation and experience feelings of inferior, this leads to chronic stress and increased vulnerability to infection and cardiovascular diseases, or even suicide (Carson et al. , 2007), all resulting from a lack of social support and belonging. A stark reminder of the combined effect of entrenched racism, deprivation and discrimination is in the profoundly disadvantaged health status of Indigenous Australians, which is essentially the result f extreme social exclusion policies and practices (Koehler, 2009, p. 167). The above analysis highlights that there have been significant negative impacts on individuals health due to their social environment including education level, employment status and social support. The evidence clearly shows these environments play a significant part in determining the health of an individual.

Freedom and Terror essays

Freedom and Terror essays What does freedom mean to you? To most people freedom is part of their everyday lives, it is the knowing that you can go out to public places and not be threatened. The basic rights that we take for granted today, like for example freedom of speech and the right to bare arms, were merely dreams to the freed slaves of 1865. Although they were considered free by the national government, ex-slaves were not free, they were constantly terrorized by whites. The North had won freedom for slaves; however it was the South that would place the limitations on them. State governments set up what were known as Black Codes, laws that defined freedom for African Americans in ways that were similar to slavery, to regulate and control the former slaves. Whites in the South formed racist groups to terrorize African Americans and whites that were against slavery, the most notorious being the Ku Klux Klan. These groups and even non-members would hold public hangings, or lynching, of former slaves and other blacks. Freedmen, free negroes and mulattoes were constantly haunted by the enforcement of Black Codes and fearful of public lynching and the Ku Klux Klan, after being released from slavery. The Mississippi Black Codes of November 1865 was considered an act to confer Civil Rights on Freedmen, similar to the Bill of Rights. Included were laws like, it shall be unlawful for any freedman, free negro, or mulatto to inter-marry with any white person, if this were to happen they would be sent to the State penitentiary for life. Other laws included rules for having a job; while freedmen could have jobs they had numerous restrictions. If you held a job for longer than a one month period there must be a labor contract, and if you were to quit without good cause you could be arrested and lose your wages. Freedmen were also not allowed to bare arms, they had no way to defend themselves without weapons. This made ...

ECON 2337 - Money, Finance, and the Modern Consumer Essay

ECON 2337 - Money, Finance, and the Modern Consumer - Essay Example at can only be satisfied through products and service of consumers are safety needs, physiological and biological needs, and esteem needs (Schor, 13). On the other hand, the needs that can only be satisfied though the products and services of non-consumers are love needs and belongingness, and self-actualization Conspicuous consumption is a type of consumption where consumers buy expensive commodities to display income and wealth rather than covering their real needs. Such consumers use such behaviors in maintaining or gaining a higher social status. In modern America, there is emerging conspicuous compassion, where Americans have publicly donated great amounts of money to charity organization so that their social prestige can rise. In the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, conspicuous consumption fits in the esteem need status where it is characterized by status, reputation, responsibility, and achievement. What people acquire and later own is bound to the personal identity. Most people compare their possessions and lifestyle to a selected group that they most respect and like. This is what we call the competitive acquisition. Due to the evolution of 20th century, the focus groups are not their neighbors but rather those people that earn 3 to 5 times their income. This phenomenon has led to the national culture of new consumerism (Schor, 63). The new family groups entail the television families, models, and celebrities. In new consumerism, it is now built on the standard’s relentless ratcheting. The society has now grown on what they need. Today, there is a downshifting trend where the people dropping from the society, living ideologically and communally motivated. They now exist in the midst of American mainstream. However, those people swim against the current progress of the economy. The principles behind the shift include the control desire, voluntary restraints, and commerc ializing the rituals. The social media has had a hand in the competitive acquisition.

Food Safety Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Food Safety Paper - Essay Example Food can easily get contaminated by a number of reasons. Some types include microbiological contamination which is unnoticeable and occurs swiftly if food is left open. Another type of contamination includes physical contamination which is noticeable to the naked eye but occurs due to inattentiveness towards food in particles form. The last type of contamination is chemical contamination which occurs through airborne chemical substances which settle into food and may be very harmful (D'Mello, 2003). In UK, during the last 15 years, there has been a substantial increase in incidents related to food safety. In 1980, incidents regarding food-borne illness were around 12,700 in UK which bolstered up to 100,000 in 1998. The Health Education Authority (HEA) conducted a research which portrayed that around three million children even under teenage make their own breakfast and that 65 percent of such children serve their parents with evening cooked meals. There were 57 percent of children wh o prepared food with pets around them, and 46 percent shared their food with their pets during preparation (Food and Drink Federation, 1996). This shows how food safety is left loose and can be harmful for both, children and their parents. The incidents of most concern to citizens of the United Kingdom involve many unknown factors. In 1986, the first incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in British cattle was reported. It was not until 1996, however, that U.K. scientists identified a possible link between BSE, a new-variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and 14 deaths. This discovery resulted in the slaughter of all beef cattle over 30 months old and worldwide bans on sales of British beef. The sale of beef on the bone also was temporarily banned. Research into the long-term impact of BSE in cattle and it’s; relationship to CJD in humans is ongoing. The British government is investing heavily in research to learn more about the long-term impact on the populati on (Patnoad, 2001). Food safety involves a number of steps which need to be carried in order to ensure safe consumption. For this, the food must be well stored in clean and sanitized storage facilities, followed by proper preparation equipments and preservation facilities. In the United Kingdom, the sanitation process of food begins immediately after the food items are acquired from the market and is carried out effectively until the leftovers of the food are dealt with properly. These sanitation measures are not too complicated and can be easily practiced at home too. These measures are constructed with a series of processes that are followed in order to provide quality sanitized food from the commercial kitchens in UK to the customers, effectively. Firstly, it is made sure that food is prevented from getting contaminated through any types mentioned earlier. This is done by the decisive action of storing the food properly. Food items like sugar, flour, spices and cornmeal should be kept in airtight containers to barrier out bacteria present in the air. Also, items like vegetables and meat should be safely kept into airtight containers into a cold storage like freezer (Griffith, 1995). Commercial kitchens in the U.K have laid down basic kitchen sanitation guidelines which they follow which ultimately serves to be a vital element of food safety. They ensure that their preparation counters are properly sanitized and disinfected

Psychological Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Psychological Case Study - Essay Example Background of The Case Jen was referred for psychological counseling by her teachers. Jen was a disciplined student and was very good at her studies. She never missed her school and was always prompt in doing her home work. Her performance at school was progressing day by day. She was quiet and docile by nature. However, at the same time, the social aspect of her personality was not flowering. Her parents had realized that her quiet nature and her habit of being alone had increased in past few months. With every passing day, Jen was becoming more and more private. Her friend circle was becoming smaller and she refused to mix with people. Her relationship with her siblings was also getting affected. She avoided playing with her siblings giving a reason of home work and studies. When the family had guests or relatives coming, Jen used to get worried. She avoided coming in front of people and gave one word answers when she was asked something. This behavior became consistent and Jen sta rted getting into a cocoon. Initially, her parents did not pay much attention as her performance in studies and at school was consistently good. However, they found that her social interactions and her interaction with the family members were decreasing day by day. Jen’s mother was worried as the number of phone calls from her friends started decreasing and her behavior with her siblings had changed a lot. Jen’s mother decided to take help of her teachers before Jen’s social behavior worsened. Hence, she contacted Jen’s teachers to discuss the changes in Jen’s behavior and personality. Jen’s teachers told Jen’s mother that even they had recognized a change in her behavior pattern. Even though Jen was consistent in her studies, her social behavior was changing dramatically. They told her mother that she has stopped participating in games and extra curricular activities. Her interactions with teachers and students in the class had also decreased to a great extend. She had become shy and aloof. The teachers also said that Jen used to ask lots of questions regarding her studies in the class. However, lately she had stopped even that. After talking to her mother, Jen’s teacher realized that Jen’s behavior was becoming threat to her progress and growth. Hence, after consulting her mother, Jen’s teacher referred her to the school counselor. Deeper study of Jen’s behavior and personality pattern revealed that Jen’s problem was related to her social life. Her fears related to social interaction were turning her into an introvert person. Diagnosis Assessment Interview is one of the most effective and result oriented tool for diagnosis and assessment of mental disorder. Interview not only allows a proper flow of information regarding the client but also gives an opportunity to the counselor to gain client’s confidence and trust. Hence, in Jen’s case, the ‘Anxiety Disor der Interview Schedule for Children’ (ADIS-C) was utilized to understand the nature of the disorder (Kearney, 2005, p. 72). The questions were structured around Jen’s social behavior, her thoughts regarding her social relationships and interactions, her emotional and physical response to social presence and overall behavior pattern when she is in presence of other people. (Kearney, 2005, p.73). Another reason why ADIS-C was used for assessment was that it also included a version for parent interview (Kearney, 2005, p.