Choosing Between Two Answer Choices on the SAT

If you’ve ever taken an SAT class and gotten to the reading passages, you’ve probably heard someone say it before; you may have even said it yourself. This common refrain goes something like this: I narrow it down to two answers, and I always choose the wrong one. As a teacher, I might find it tempting to scoff and say, â€Å"That’s not true, since you always remember the times you choose the wrong answer and forget the times you choose the right one.† While there is some truth to this—our memories are very selective and fallible—there is something subtler going on: there are certain kinds of SAT trap answers that you are probably gravitating towards. To not fall prey to these wrong answer choices, you have to be better at identifying what makes them wrong. See, the common reaction is to pick an answer choice that you have constructed an elaborate argument for. Instead of choosing the â€Å"right† answer, you should be more ruthless and find what is wrong with each of the remaining two answer choices. The one that better withstands your brutal scrutiny is the correct answer. So what do some tempting wrong answer choices look like? Well, let’s take a passage lifted from the Magoosh product. Below are two questions with two answer choices. One of them, of course, is right. The other is the one that most students end up picking. See if you can avoid the trap! Do more than just wish for the right answer. Passages (I promise: they’re short.) Passage 1 With social media sites, pop-up windows, and email notifications constantly vying for our attention, it is small wonder we get any work done. Even when I disable chat windows and log out of my accounts, I’m still driven to distraction: what if the chat windows open suddenly, should I check to see if John and Sally posted their wedding photos on the latest social media site, and, oh, did I ever send that email? Indeed, the only way to get any work done seems to be away from the computer. Though that’s the rub—which office employee actually does work while not seated in front of a computer? Passage 2 If you find yourself surreptitiously logging in to social media sites, you are not alone. One report found that over 70% of office workers access a social media account at least once during the course of the day. While such wayward activity may seem cause for concern, another study found that those who log into social media sites are actually more productive than those who abstain from such behavior. One theory is that employees recharge their batteries, so to speak, when they allow themselves a few minutes here and there on social media sites, returning to their work reinvigorated. By contrast, those who do not allow themselves any such indulgence, lose focus by fixating on one task for too long. Can you avoid the trap? In the context of worker productivity, how would the author of Passage 2 regard the example of â€Å"John and Sally†? (A) As a distraction that helps productivity only in the long run (B) As a diversion that in of itself does not preclude work First off, notice the language in the second answer choice: it’s much more technical. And note the language in the first answer choice: it’s inviting. Clearly, the passage is about the distractions, and â€Å"John and Sally† on Facebook are pretty distracting. But look carefully. What’s the answer choice say at the very end: â€Å"only in the long run†. The author of passage 2 is saying that distractions help people recharge their batteries during the day. So the focus isn’t â€Å"the long run†. Sure, it may help in the long run, but it definitely helps in on a day-to-day basis. The second question substitutes a less common word, â€Å"diversion† for a more common one, â€Å"distraction†, while adding the very SAT-ish word preclude, which means prevent. Once you decode all that, (B) is the answer. So what’s the lesson here? Look at the complete answer choice not just as the friendly, inviting parts. That is not to say always be wary of straightforward phrasing, but know that often there is some subtle wording in the answer choice that makes that answer wrong. I call this the â€Å"rotten spot†. Much as when you hold up a fruit for inspection, you look for the rotten spot, not what makes the fruit look appealing. The analogy, then, is that the tempting parts of the answer choice are like the bright orange-y parts of the orange. You want to make sure you turn over the entire orange in case there are any rotten spots lurking there (â€Å"only in the long run†). Watch out for the rotten spot! Another question can you avoid the trap in this one? One way in which Passage 1 differs from Passage 2 is in that it (A) relies on personal anecdote (B) poses a rhetorical question The first one seems right on target. The first paragraph uses the personal pronoun, â€Å"I†. But an â€Å"I† an anecdote does not make. There has to be an actual story there. Here we only get hypothetical situations (â€Å"John and Susie† are just generic names). With (A), though, it is easy to convince yourself that the various examples given, â€Å"did I ever send†¦email†, â€Å"the chat window opens† make for an anecdote, despite the fact that these are just vague generalizations and not an actual story. What we tend to do with (A) is convince ourselves that it is right by marshaling together a few facts. Instead, we should try to disprove it, something along the lines, â€Å"The first passage is NOT an anecdote, because†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . You’ll find that it is a lot more straightforward to disprove that the first passage is an anecdote. The problem—and something you have to be on the look out for—is that convincing ourselves of something, e.g., the first paragraph is an anecdote, uses a lot of brainpower and therefore it is harder for us to â€Å"let go† of that answer so we can disprove it. So again, don’t look to back up the two remaining answers but to disprove them. If you eliminate both, then you’ve been a little too picky—which can happen. But with practice, you should be able to start picking the correct answer through disproving. One final—but important—tidbit A good way not to get caught up convincing yourself that a wrong answer choice is correct is the following: Whenever you are unsure about two answer choices, remember that the answer ultimately lies in the passage. All too often, students want to go back and forth between the answer choices without consulting the passage. Even when students do go back to the passage, they tend to read the passage so that it conforms to the answer choice that they are leaning toward. It is better, as soon as you are stuck between two answer choices, to go directly back to the passage to hunt for the answer and think, using your own words and not the words in either answer choice, what the passage is actually saying. Photo Credit: Calvin W. and Sistak

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Personal Narrative Curiosity Killed The Cat - 881 Words

â€Å"Curiosity killed the cat.† (Anonymous) I believe that was my parents’ perspective on life. In Indonesian custom, the young has to respect the elders, which include parents and teachers. Asking questions or questioning them was considered disrespectful. Holding on to that tradition, my parents taught me to hold on to my curiosity. This upbringing affected every aspect in my life, including my learning style and career options as well. I came from a long line medical field family from my mother side. My mother wanted me not to border the line of curiosity and stay within the cul-de-sac continuing the family tradition by becoming a doctor, a nurse, a midwife, or a pharmacist. During my school years, if anybody asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, of course my answer was to become a doctor. It was instilled in my mind, or so I thought until I met Mr. Tahyana and Aisha who had made a different in the way I view my life. My mother put me on rigorous daily routine of practicing math skills and science since early age . She believed that by mastering these subjects, I would have better chances in the future. I was in a confinement. This over powering method of parenting finally took a toll on me. It seemed that everything I did was not good enough for her. My hatred towards learning started to grow. School became so daunting, that I dreaded coming to school. I couldn’t concentrate, and slowly my grades were getting lower. In the midst of frustration, a friend of mineShow MoreRelated Japanese Alien and Japanese-American Poets In U. S. Relocation Camps4710 Words   |  19 Pagessome of the poetry also illustrates how, even though they might have been angry, the Japanese aliens and Japanese Americans acted very compliantly, having faith in their country that the situation would get better. 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History Of Light Infantry Essay Example For Students

History Of Light Infantry Essay For a long time peace was understood in negative fashion,simply as the absence of war. -Yvon GarlanKendrick Pritchett in the introduction to the book ?The Greek State at War? points out that in order to write history of Greek Warfare one would require a knowledge of many aspects of Greek life. The would-be investigator would have to be familiar with terrain in the case of any given battle, have an acquaintance with the archaeological artifacts of various types, close familiarity with the written sources, and most important, an understanding of the general economic picture. He would also need some insight into ancient religion and acquaintance with military and naval procedures and strategy.?There is a definite truth about the statement. Even such narrow subject as development of light infantry in ancient Greece requires inquiries in multiple areas of overall Greek history. The knowledge of what ancient Greeks considered light infantry, an insight on development of ancient Greek infantry in general, agricultural warfare, key historical event that assisted in changing Gr eek outlook on war: these areas are absolutely essential in researching the subject of light infantry in Ancient Greece. Researching the primary sources for the subject of ?light infantry? an investigator would find a puzzling fact; there are little or no references to the subject of inquiry. Ancient historians Thucydides, Xenophon, Herodotus, do not refer to ?light infantry? troops, instead they use term peltast. It appears that the term peltast signifies a ?light armored warrior? for the ancient historians. The term itself comes from pelta or pelte a small shield that inhabitants of Thrace used as their battle armor. We find descriptions of Thracian peoples in Herodotus ?The Histories.? ?The Thracians in the army wore fox-skin caps on their heads, and tunics on their bodies; over these they wore embroidered mantles; they had shoes of fawnskin on their feet and legs; they also had javelins and little shields and daggers.?Climate in Thrace, both political and weather wise contributed to development of specific armor (or lack of it) and way of fighting. Ancient Greek historian Xenophon had served under Odrysian prince Seuthes in Thrace and recorded one of the campaigns in his treaties ?Anabasis.? From the description, Thrace appears to be very cold and snowy which is not uncommon for northern parts of Greece. It also explains why Thracian peltasts had no heavy armor, relied on maneuverability and preferred skirmishing techniques to battle in formation. Also, there is no account of Thrace developing a city-state or any other kind of political organization other than tribes. Which explains predominance of primitive way of fighting over organized formation. Arthur Ferrill argues that although there definitely was a contact between ancient Greeks and Thracians, it had little or no affect on Greek warfare in general. This point is arguable, since there is evidence (mostly pottery, unfortunately) that Thracian shield and helmet designs were used by Greeks from 460 BC and on. Also the appearance of ekdromoi runner outs in Greek phalanx, was probably a result of contact with Thracians. Ekdromoi were young, physically fit warriors that were instructed to run out and prevent Thracian peltasts from harassing Greek formation. Consequently, ekdromoi had to give up some of their heavy armor to gain in maneuverability. Considering evidence in hand, Ferrills argument appears to be more plausible since history shows that it would take much more than skirmishes with Thracians to change Greek outlook on war and fighting. Agricultural warfare, Greek Hoplites. Placing light infantry on the battlefield by the ancient Greeks signified the change in general Greek way of fighting. Roughly, ?general way of fighting? is associated with hoplite phalanx warfare. Understanding hoplite warfare is essential in uncovering the origins of light infantry aside from it setting the pace of Greek life for almost five hundred years. Sometime between 700 BC and 650 BC formation of heavy infantry or hoplites began to take place. The changes took place primarily due to social and political developments within Greece itself, appearance of polis, Greek city-state and extensive agriculture, which created communities of equal property owners. It is plausible to assume that Greek farmers out of concern that somebody would traverse their land began to arm themselves, farmer solidarity developed. Farmers organized in formations phalanx or several columns of spearmen armed with shields hoplons (hence the name hoplite) heavy body armor. By default hoplites formed a hea vy infantry unit, considering that in full armor with shield, sword, greaves, spear, breastplate, helmet and tunic the average weight amounted to two hundred and twenty pounds. Battles were fought by the way of two phalanx colliding and then competing in ?pushing? or othismos until either side would give up break formation or attempt to flea the battle field. These shock troops became the object of admiration for Greeks, praising bravery, camaraderie, and endurance. Close ties developed with Greek way of life, giving new definition to courage, honor and masculinity. Multiple references of poets, historians and play-writes indicate fascination with hoplite warfare. As ancient Greek poet Tyrtaios once said:?No, No, let him take a wide stance and stand up strongly against them, digging both heels in the ground, biting his lip with his teeth, covering thighs and legs beneath, his chest and his shoulders under the hollowed-out protection of his broad shield, while in his right hand he br andishes his powerful war-spear and shakes terribly the crest high above his helm.? Hoplite warfare was the only way of fighting for a period little over two hundred years, farmers clashing with farmers over parcels of land, it was age when one battle decided the outcome of ?war.? This type of warfare first, did not require elaborate tactical knowledge nor complex logistical systems, second, it was economically inexpensive since constant drilling and training was unnecessary, at least it seemed that way in Athens. Arthur Ferrill would argue that training was essential routine for hoplites. Spare parts Essay5. ConclusionBrief summary/analysis of events leading to development of light infantry units. Emphasis on contacts with the Persians and professionalism of mercenaries plus changes in general view of war by the ancient Greeks as a result of such contacts. BibliographyHanson, Victor, ?The Western Way of War. Infantry Battle in Classical Greece?Ferrill, Arthur, ?The Origins of War. From the Stone Age to Alexander The Great?Greeks at War, Men at Arms Series (Osprey Publishing, London, 1979)Herodotus ?The Histories? (Penguin, New York, 1996)* Xenophon in Seven Volumes, 3. (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA; William Heinemann, Ltd., London, 1980.)* Plutarch, ?Moralia? http://www.persus.tufts.edu, Persus Project. * Xenophon, ?Hellenica? * Xenophon, ?Anabasis?* Diodorus Book 15* Thucydides ?History of Peloponnesian War?Ancient Greece (Cambridge University Press, 1998)(*) Machine readable textCopyright 1995 Perseus Project, Harvard University. BibliographyHanson, Victor, ?The Western Way of War. Infantry Battle in Classical Greece?Ferrill, Arthur, ?The Origins of War. From the Stone Age to Alexander The Great?Greeks at War, Men at Arms Series (Osprey Publishing, London, 1979)Herodotus ?The Histories? (Penguin, New York, 1996)* Xenophon in Seven Volumes, 3. (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA; William Heinemann, Ltd., London, 1980.)* Plutarch, ?Moralia? http://www.persus.tufts.edu, Persus Project. * Xenophon, ?Hellenica? * Xenophon, ?Anabasis?* Diodorus Book 15* Thucydides ?History of Peloponnesian War?Ancient Greece (Cambridge University Press, 1998)(*) Machine readable textCopyright 1995 Perseus Project, Harvard University.

John Whites drawing and Theodore De Bry engravings

Introduction In 1585, John White led the third Raleigh-financed voyage to Roanoke Island; in a venture planned by Sir Walter Raleigh known as the failed colony of Roanoke. The city of Raleigh located in Central North Carolina, is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who actually never set his foot there. He however â€Å"encouraged the settlement of North Carolina, and played a great role in popularizing the New World’s potatoes and tobacco in England and Ireland† (Bry 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on John White’s drawing and Theodore De Bry engravings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More John White documented his trip with watercolor images of the native people he encountered and some of the scenes and material goods of their lives so that when he returned to England he could show what he had seen. A publisher by the name Theodore De Bry later on made engravings of some of White’s pictures to be included in Harriot’s book. This paper will analyze the changes made on White’s work by Bry, underlying reasons and recommendations for the changes. Village Of Pomeiooc Description John white painted a â€Å"bird’s eye view of an Algonkian village, located between the present Lake Landing and Wyesocking Bay, on his 1585 visit to the Carolina coast,† (Hulton and Quinn 1964) however, Theodore De Bry, engraved a plate known as ‘The arrival of the Englishmen in Virginia’ which represents the map of North Carolina oriented to the west. Indeed, according to Hulton and Quinn (1964) the map shows â€Å"part of Pamlico Sound, Roanoke Island, the mouth of Albemarle Sound and the Alligator River, and part of Currituck Sound with the Carolina Outer Banks, divided into six islands.† Variations between Theodore De Bry Engraving and Drawing by John White The following are the important variations between Theodore de Bry engraving and drawing by john white. Primarily, work of Bry has some significant changes to what White had made, with the rear entrance to the palisade being omitted, enlarged poles and a hexagonal ground plan for the house that had cupola. In addition, although he did not quite make significant variations on occupation capacity, Bry found it proper to draw a trees background as well as drawing cornfield, and sunflower and a small pond to the left and right of the picture respectively. Moreover, the drawing of the Indians differ as Bry decided to present two of them drawing water â€Å"using hemispherical vessels with loop handles,† while the engravement also includes a ridge in the foreground with plants growing on it (Hulton and Quinn 1964) The Reasons De Bry Might Have Had for Making those Changes De Bry wanted to relate his engraving more closely to the lost variant from which White made his drawing. At the publishing time, De Bry could have made some changes by comparing B. Sloane copy plate 81 with that of John White. Before publication, De Bry could have read the history of Algonkian village, which may have influenced his choice of variations.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to the descriptions given by most of the people who wrote about Carolina Algonkians, the poles drawn by White were approximately correct but they were too widely spaced. According to a reference house at Roanoak with five rooms, white shows nothing comparable (Deak and Birmingham Public Library 1992). Indian Woman and Young Girl Description John White drew a picture of a woman standing to the front facing half right, and on her left there is a child facing half left. She is in an apron skirt of fringed skin, long hair caught at the nape of her neck, a headband, a bead necklace on her neck and on her waist where her right hand is thrust, some painted or tattooed decorations on her forehead, chi ck, chin, and upper arms, and a large bottle-guard shaped vessel on her left hand. Her height just at the woman’s waist, the girl dons a necklace, â€Å"a tongue like pendant on her right hand, a thong and a doll on her left hand† (Hulton and Quinn 1964). Variations between Theodore De Bry Engraving and Drawing by John White In De Bry engraving, certain variations made include presenting the woman with her right foot just in front of her left foot while the girl is running towards the left holding a doll on her left hand. The difference with White’s drawing is that the girl is stationary at the left side of the woman – not running (Hulton and Quinn 1964). Moreover, Bry made other changes by removing the headband from the woman and changing the location of tattoo marks from the chin to the calves in addition to adding an extra string to the girl’s necklace and removing a pendant from the same. The Reasons De Bry Might Have Had for Making those Chang es During his time of publishing, Theodore De Bry had at his exposure the narrative by Thomas Harriot and the drawing by John White thus he made some changes from the narrative through comparison. He might have made some changes from the history of the place from other sources or from its museums and archives. Implication of the Modifications The modifications made by De Bry in his engravings gives the reader a broader view of the history of Algonkian village in North Carolina. One tends to assume that De Bry had done enough research before he published Harriot’s book meaning that he was trying to perfect White’s drawings.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on John White’s drawing and Theodore De Bry engravings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Bry, Theodore D. John White’s attempt to rescue the Roanoke colonists. N.d. 16 October 2010. http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amer begin/exploration/text6/white.pdf Deak, Gloria-Gilda and Birmingham Public Library. Discovering America’s Southeast: a sixteenth century view based on the mannerist engravings of Theodore de Bry. Birmingham, Birmingham Public Library Press. 1992 Hulton, Paul and Quinn, David B. American Drawings of John White.1964.16 October 2010. http://www.virtualjamestown.org/images/white_debry_html/white.html#s34 This essay on John White’s drawing and Theodore De Bry engravings was written and submitted by user Lee Ellison to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Compare the Representation of Women in Hamlet Essay Example

Compare the Representation of Women in Hamlet Essay Example Compare the Representation of Women in Hamlet Paper Compare the Representation of Women in Hamlet Paper The men completely misread the women and in Aphelia and Gertrude situation, the consequences are very tragic. In order to address this issue, it is necessary to explore the characters of Gertrude and Aphelia in Hamlet and the characters of Hero and Beatrice In Much Ado about Nothing, and In addition, how they are treated by other characters. This will then enable me to pass my own Judgment, as to how the women are represented in the two plays Hamlet and Much Ado about Nothing. Shakespearean Division of Experience by Marilyn French describes and examines gender roles in a way which is applicable to literature. This provides the theoretical framework from which the female characters in Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet can be analyses. According to Marilyn French, men and women are most generally seen as two extremely different entities with diverse characteristics and Imposed roles within society. There are two different aspects of the feminine principle, the inlay and the outlaw. The inlay aspect, portrays natures benevolent side, which includes the ability to give birth, as well as compassion, while aiming to maintain the importance of community above that of the individual. On the other hand, the outlaw aspect represents natures malevolent side, as well as darkness, turmoil and sexuality. From the first glance, one could say that there are predominantly two inlay characters, Hero and Aphelia, and one main outlaw character, Gertrude. Conversely, it is possible to believe that Aphelia behaves in some ways like an outlaw character, rebelling and standing up for herself. Although Aphelia is not the focal character in Hamlet, the audience Is Intrigued by the subtleness and also complexity of her mind. Aphelia Is seen as an Innocent character In the play that Is denied the freedom of peach and forced to surrender to the domineering men in her life. Aphelions actions are derived from other characters advice and this inevitably supersedes her own self-assurance and confidence. Aphelia is a female character in a kingdom of controlling and overprotective and so Aphelia must define herself by male judgments that may be entirely misconstrued. From Aphelions first scene on stage, Alerts warns nerd Tanat Hamlet Is merely trilling Walt n nerd near Ana Tanat seen Is not AT a high enough rank to deserve his true affection. It becomes clear that although Alerts must love his sister, in my Judgment he does not have a very high opinion of her. Some have maintained that Aphelia is seen as an innocent character in the play that is denied the freedom of speech and forced to surrender to the domineering men in her life. Aphelia could be perceived as one of the weaker characters in the play, portrayed as a puppet of all other characters in the play. As David Leverage said, [Aphelia] is a play within a play, or a player trying to respond to several imperious directors at one. Everyone has used her; Polonium, to gain favor; Alerts, to belittle Hamlet; Claudia, to spy on Hamlet; Hamlet to express rage at Gertrude; and Hamlet again; to express his feigned madness with her as a decoy. She is valued only for the roles that further peoples plots. This quote certainly illustrates the weakness and frailty of Aphelia, which can be supported in parts throughout the play. One can suggest that Polonium has a reasonably low opinion of his daughter, Aphelia. The first aspect to point out is how Aphelia is treated by her father in Act I Scene Ill, in which Polonium assumes she is likely to lie about her relationship with Hamlet and in addition calls her a green girl and a baby. Polonium is so sure that he is always right and so forces his self assurance on Aphelia. He forbids Aphelia to see Hamlet again and has so browbeaten her that, as David Leverage has said, [Aphelia] has no choice but to say l shall obey my Lord. This supports the point that Aphelia is seen to give way to Polonium and also suggests that the women were expected to surrender to the men in their lives. In some respect, as women were deemed to be inferior, this meant that Aphelia was expected to comply with Polonium advice and end her relationship with Hamlet. As this was the norm for women in the medieval period, it would have been aberrant for Aphelia to disobey her father. It could be said that Aphelions actions are derived from other characters advice, for example Alerts warning her that Hamlet is merely trifling with her heart, and that this inevitably supersedes her own self assurance and confidence. Not allowed to love and unable to be false, David Leverage points out, Aphelia breaks. She goes mad rather than gets mad. Even in her madness she has no voice of her own, only a discord of other voices and expectations, customs gone awry. By the end of the play, Aphelions insanity has completely overcome her and it could be argued that this is caused by the overpowering advice of others that has such controlled her life. One may see that this continually breaks her down so that she is no longer a character able to deal with her own Judgments and thoughts, she is merely pawn commanded by the voices of others. Elaine Saltwater has reinforced this view in her essay Representing Aphelia: Women, Madness and the Responsibilities of Feminist criticism. According to Elaine, The mad Aphelions bawdy songs and verbal license, hill they give her access to an entirely different range of experience from what she is allowed as the dutiful daughter, seem to be her one sanctioned form of self- assertion as a woman, quickly followed, as in retribution, by her death. It may be said that this illustrates how the restrictions and limits of Aphelions life has resulted In nerd Insanity As panels mall source AT palace NAS Eden slain Day Hamlet, seen NAS lost her ability to reason, she is therefore drawn to madness as her life has now become a time where decisions are no longer made for her and insanity is her only option. Aphelia had for so long repressed her feelings and her life had become so chaotic that there was no escaping this, thus turning her mad, as her madness was the only way to express herself as a character. This can be referred to in David Leverage essay, in which he puts across his view that [Aphelions] history is an instance of how someone can be driven mad by having her inner feelings misrepresented, not responded to or acknowledged only through chastisement and repressions. Such is Aphelions case. The men (Hamlet, Alerts and Polonium) make assumptions and then they make demands based on those assumptions, but there is o way Aphelia can meet the demands because the underlying assumptions are flawed. The example of this is concerning Hamlet; he believes that he can involve Aphelia in his plans without her suffering, which inevitably, in the end, she does. Furthermore, Alerts and Polonium are sure that they can take control of Aphelions life and steer her in another direction that does not involve her with Hamlet, but this cannot be followed through as it can be perceived that Aphelia is very much in love with Hamlet. On the issue of Aphelions madness, one should consider the problem room another angle. As seen in Elaine Shelters quote above, one could view Aphelions madness from a different perspective; the fact that Polonium is forever keeping watch on Aphelia and trying to control her, may have resulted in her rebelling against her father in order to achieve some freedom, which she has been seen to accomplish in her madness. Polonium close watch on his daughter may have caused her to rebel in other ways also. One cannot deny that there is evidence in the play to suggest that Aphelia has had sexual relations with Hamlet. Take for example, he sexual comments made during Aphelions madness, including the line, before you tumbled me, you promised me to wed. However, we should remember that this quote was not recited directly to Hamlet so it may not be aimed at him, it could be directed to men in a more general sense. We could perhaps take this to mean that Aphelia has risen up against her father, which illustrates unquestionably that Aphelia has therefore not given way to Polonium. In Elaine Shelters words, we have had a feminist discourse which has offered a new perspective on Aphelions madness as protest and rebellion. For many feminist theorists, the madwoman is a heroin, a powerful figure who rebels against the family and the social order. This can be seen to agree with the view that Aphelia has not given way to Polonium and as such has remained in control. There is strong evidence in the text to suggest that Aphelia has committed suicide. Although Gertrude maintains that the branch broke and swept Aphelia down the river, the church denies her a Christian burial on the grounds that she killed herself. We are encouraged to believe that without a struggle, Aphelia surrendered to the water singing snatches of old tunes. More evidence to support Aphelions suicide can be found in Act V Scene l, Is she getting a Christian burial, even though she willfully took her own life? During the medieval era, suicide was a mortal sin in the eyes of the Church and those who committed suicide were prohibited from being buried on consecrated ground. Is Aphelia driven mad by her love for Hamlet, or is she the victim of a society that has created impossible expectations Tort Its women? En cannot any Tanat panel NAS no alternative out to throw herself into the river to drown. In the end, one can say that the issue of Aphelions death represents the action of Aphelia rising up against her father and other domineering men in the play by taking control of the one aspect she truly had power over; her life. While on the one hand it can be said that Aphelia can be portray both Inlay and outlaw aspects, Hero i s considered to portray the ultimate example of the inlay aspect of the feminine principle; she does not challenge the masculine principle in any particular way. Thus, she remains within the stipulated boundaries imposed on women by society, regarding the way the men believe women should behave. In this way, Hero can be linked to Aphelia in the way that they both conform to society and are controlled by the men in their lives. Hero dutifully accepts her role as an exemplary daughter to her father, Leona, by acting in accordance to his wishes and complying with every one of his requests: [Leona] Daughter, remember what I told you. If the Prince do Solicit you in that kind, you know the answer Therefore, her exemplary behavior, shown by the way in which she unquestioningly respects her fathers desires and attends to each of his requests, leads her to become the presentation of the ideal female behavior, which consequently heightens her fathers pride and reputation. In addition, this can be likened to the way Aphelia accepts her fathers request to send back Hamlets love letters and be used in his plan to become friendly with the King. It could be said the amount of lines a character has is directly related to how developed that character is. In this case, Hero comes across as being extremely shy, mainly due to the fact that she remains silent through most of the play, speaking only when she is spoken to. On the other hand, he has a very weak disposition, as she does not have the strength of character to stand up for and defend herself against the attacks and accusations. An example of this is Claudio accusation of her at their wedding, give not this rotten orange to your friend, implying that Hero is unchaste and therefore spoiled. This metaphor also leads the reader to explore how the men regarded the women in the play; as an object or a possession. This portrayal of women can be compared to courtly love, how lovers were expected to behave. Only when Claudio and the rest of the men have left, does she intend to explain her innocence to her father: They know that do accuse me. I know none. Oh my father. Prove you that any man with me conversed At hours unmet, or that I heightening Maintained the change of words with any creature, Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death! (V, l, 183) Even at the time when Hero should have put aside her courteousness in order to prevent her reputation from being tarnished, she maintains her submissive attitude towards men. I northbound ten play, mainly Owe to Herds lack AT presence Ana sell-assurance, nerd image is mould and built upon the opinions of the surrounding men, similar to the ay that Aphelia bases all her personal decisions on information she is told from the men around her. Therefore, although her personality is unchanging, as she will always act respectfully and submissively to men, her image varies as the plot unveils. At first she is regarded as the representation of the perfect wife and daughter, which suggests that she has a passive and caring nature. According to Jane Mills Womans Words, A Dictionary of words about women, wife specialized to mean a woman joined to a man by marriage Wife, I. E. A woman who belongs to a man. The evidence for this can be observed in the way she relates to and obeys the demands of men, always making use of courtly language, as expected: [Don Pedro] And you too, gentle Hero? Hero] I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my cousin too good husband (II, l, 343) We learn more about Heros notion of love from her conversation about Beatrice and Benedict than from her own thoughts about her marriage to Claudio. Hero seems to realize that in order to love another, one must sacrifice some self-love. She has rationalized that love is not about self-indulgence, but self-sacrifice, which explains mom of her willingness to love Claudio even after he has wronged her. In ab solute contrast to Hero and Aphelia, Beatrice personality could be said to belong to the outlaw part of the female principle. Although on the whole she accepts her condition of submission, it could be stated that she accepts formal but not true submission. This refers to the facts that she complies with the basic impositions resulting from her circumstance as a woman and yet does not refrain from taking advantage of any situation in which she has the possibility of taking control and expressing her opinion, within an acceptable scale. Therefore, regardless of her supposedly subdued condition, utterly unlike Hero and Aphelia, she does not hesitate to actively participate in discussions and conversations. It is important to take into account that Beatrice does not enjoy being confined into her subdued role as a woman and in turn she could be seen to try and be a part of the male principle. She firmly desired to gain as much independence and freedom of speech, opinion and thought as any man has. This is evident when she wants to seek revenge for what was done to her cousin: O that I were a man! O God that I were a man! I old eat his heart in the market-place. (lb, l, 309). Here, Beatrice desires to have the same power as men can be seen and she strives at any attempt within her reach to make herself respected. Beatrice constantly states that she will most surely remain an unmarried woman, as she has no intention of committing to a lasting relationship, in which her only role is to attend to the needs and respond to the orders of her husband. She believes that if she did marry, the implications of this would most probably force her into submission. Concurrently, she relentlessly discards all possible partners, as she does not seem o De Seattle Walt any particular type AT person Tort nerd NASDAQ. I Norton nerd indecisiveness at selecting any possible candidate, she undoubtedly displays the fact that she has no intention of marrying, consequently revolting against society and the role she has to play as a woman: [Beatrice] He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him [Leona] Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband [Beatrice] Not till God make men of some other metal than Earth In Much Ado About Nothing it could be perceived that Beatrice contrasts other female characters in that play, in addition to the female characters of Aphelia and Gertrude. Whereas Hero is polite, gentle and respectful, Beatrice is feisty, cynical and witty. The play is transgression in that the female characters refuse to comply with stereotypical notions of femininity and thus do not conform to patriarchy. Consider Beatrice for example, as she is used in the play as a main character, and is consequently a more developed character than other the other females. This can be en immediately by looking at the differences in the amount of lines each of the female characters have. Beatrice behaves more like a modern woman of these times, refusing to marry and refusing to cave to the standards that society has set for her. But, even Beatrice lapses into the general female role when she is forced to ask Benedict for help in avenging her cousin. Although Aphelia can be seen as the major and more iconic character in Hamlet, one must also consider Gertrude and her behavior towards Claudia. Many views about Gertrude can be seen in the essay A Heart Cleft in Twain: The Dilemma of Shakespearean Gertrude by Rebecca Smith. According to Rebecca [Gertrude] has traditionally been played as a sensual deceitful woman. As Gertrude only appears in ten out of the twenty scenes in Hamlet, even in these scenes she speaks very little, it is difficult to come to a conclusion about her character. Some have maintained that Gertrude is a weak character, defined by her frailty, who, in addition, is blamed for causing much of the violence and conflict in the play. However, to elaborate or disagree with this point one need only refer to Rebecca Smiths point that Gertrude lives that quiet women best please men, and pleasing men is Gertrude main interest. Considering this, it is possible to believe that Gertrude major concern is to maintain a strong relationship with the two men, Claudia and Hamlet. However, another aspect to point out is that of Gertrude death. Gertrude refuses to comply with Claudia, King Gertrude, do not drink Queen- I will, my lord, I pray you pardon me It is richly ironic that the time that Gertrude chooses to assert herself the most, it happens at the most inconvenient time and in fact causes her death. In the words of Rebecca Smith, In fact, Gertrude death is symbolic of the internal disharmony cause by her divided loyalties, which illustrates Gertrude main concern is to please toners, Tort In order to mourn nerd son Hamlet, seen NAS to Loosely Clauses Tort ten first time. In some respect, one could suggest that this displays Gertrude contravening Claudia, therefore in this situation, she does not give way to him. Overall, Aphelia can, in many ways be seen to give way to Polonium. But taken as a whole, Aphelia can be seen to overcome Polonium by rebelling against him in her allegations with Hamlet. In Hamlet Aphelia is denied the freedom of speech and as such she cannot survive in the cruel world that Shakespeare has highlighted. Throughout the play Aphelia is represented by the floral motif; beautiful yet fragile. Being a female in a kingdom filled with chaos and deceptions, the innocent Aphelia is forced to keep silent and obey the domineering men in her life. Had she the license to think for herself, Aphelia might have reasoned through her dilemma, but, caught as she is between her fathers and brothers restrictive instructions and Hamlets rushing demands, she is trapped in a choice-less existence. In my opinion, both these characters, in some instances, overpower the men in their life and refuse to conform. However, the way these characters are driven towards their deaths are very different. In addition, the way they rebel against their men are dissimilar of each other. For example, Aphelia rebels against Polonium by in her madness and hysteria and again in her suicide. However, Gertrude opposes Claudia so they she can please her son and by disobeying him, this leads to her death.

Report of what I did last week Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Report of what I did last week - Essay Example This communication was critical because it enhanced the speed of activities and ensuring that each group member was aware of his or her role. Project development was characterized by discussion of the outline discussion and preparation. An outline is crucial in any project because it ensures that participants cover all the necessary parts without leaving necessary parts out. I decided to do opening statement and purpose. The opening statement will enable potential clients to identify project benefits in addition to attracting and maintaining their attention. I suggested and designed a help page for the project. A help page is the page in an application that enables clients to find assistance from the administrators of the application through asking questions. The primary purpose of the help page is to enable clients fully comprehend how the tool works. I volunteered to design this page. Customers will have more interest in using our application tool because they are guaranteed of help when they need it. During project commencement this week, I persuaded group members to create time for more meetings sessions than normal. I believed that the more the number of meeting sessions, the faster would be the duration for project completion. Through encouraging group members to meet regularly, I made vital contribution particularly ensuring that the project was completed within the predetermined period of time. The tool we are currently developing is new and unique; no one within our group has the idea of its components. My friend John had the original idea of this application. I supported him in understanding and developing the main components of the tool. We decided to divide the work among the group members. Division of work is important in any project because it enhances the speed of completion. Division of work will also encourage specialization with its associated perfectionism, motivation to work, and improved quality since each group member will be