Saturday, August 22, 2020

Canterbury Tales Essay: Immorality and the Friar -- Canterbury Tales E

Unethical behavior and the Friar in The Canterbury Talesâ â It is a dismal analysis on the ministry that, in the Middle Ages, this class was answerable for profound quality was frequently the class generally set apart by debasement. Not many works of the occasions satirically feature this marvel just as The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer’s General Prologue acquaints us with a cast of ministry, or Second Estate society, who run in nature from devout to degenerate. The Friar is by all accounts an incredible case of the degenerate idea of some low-level ministers of the occasions while his exercises were not sinful or offensive, his conduct is positively not as per the sacrificial good lessons he should uphold. As indicated by the Narrator’s account, he is a pretender, tainted by insatiability, and acts in very un-Christian ways. Plainly he is a man of low good principles. At the point when we are first acquainted with the Friar, we are informed that he has a degree of decent behavior far over his station throughout everyday life. We are informed that in the four asking orders, there is nobody as educated in reasonable language and friendliness as he (lines 210-211, Norton), and that he is an exceptionally ceremonious individual (line 209). This appears to be conflicted in relation to a man who should get by asking, a man who should experience existence without a rooftop over his head. This degree of reproducing and partiality for service has likely originated from a highborn birth-frequently, the more youthful children and little girls of nobles who couldn't be accommodated just entered the church. This added to a huge group of ministry individuals who went to the congregation not on the grounds that they felt a perfect calling, yet essentially on the grounds that that is what was anticipated from them (his kindred explorer, the Prioress, als... ...th cash from the individuals who can scarcely bear the cost of bread. This Friar’s ethics are a lot nearer to bad habit than ethicalness; any questions that he is a man of low ethics are currently totally cleared away. Chaucer’s General Prologue is astounding in that it permits us to see what characters may profess to speak to, yet in addition how they truly are inside. Chaucer’s portrayal of the Friar, who ought to take care of business of upstanding devotion and ethicalness, makes it promptly obvious that he is a remarkable inverse. The Friar’s elitist foundation and conduct, his asking bolstered covetousness, and the indecencies that restrict genuine Christianity demonstrate that he is a man of low good gauges. Unquestionably, Chaucer paints an awesome differentiation of picture versus reality. Book index The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Sixth Edition, Volume 1. M.H. Abrams, et al, Editor. W.W. Norton and Company. New York: 1993.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Rambling in the London Library

Rambling in the London Library Since I moved to London, I have been hearing quiet tales of the London Library. Nestled in the heart of a leafy square just a few streets from the bustle of Piccadilly Circus, the library hosts a million books, the overwhelming majority in the stacks and shelves that bear the weight of the hefty collection. It’s been a dream of mine to join for quite some time, but my persuasive introversion concerned me. What if I couldn’t work out how to check out books? What if I looked like a total dope wandering the aisles? What if, wait for it, I broke something, or got lost, and everyone looked me like I’m some sort of tragedy? Anxiety is hard, and that means doing new things is hard too. The other thing that set me to pause was the cost. The London Library is a private charity, so it’s sustained by the fees of its members. There’s a definite air of elitism about a library that’s not open access, but there’s a spreading dearth of even public libraries now. In my view, spending my money to maintain a brilliant resource that offers me a silent and inspiring working space is a fair deal. Not everyone can wander into the Library, but its collection is safe and protected for generations to come. I can’t know what the future holds, but at least I do know I’m trying my best to protect an immense resource. Last year I started writing my first novel and have been working on personal essays along the way with great input from my MA group at Birkbeck, University of London. Birkbeck of course has a library, and I’ve been in plenty of libraries around London. But the London Library kept calling, and eventually I booked a tour to see if it was really as delicious as it looked. Reader, it was. I made my way across Leicester Square and down Haymarket to the library on a sunny Wednesday afternoon to spend my lunch hour on a free tour before making any decisions. I stopped at reception to sign in for the delight ahead, and waited just a few minutes before a member of staff came to find me and lead me through the labyrinth. We started by walking through the main hall and entered the back stacks, floor after floor of narrow walkways and towering shelves, chock a block with books of every description, all carefully labelled and sectioned according to the library’s own filing system. I had asked to see books about bees on my trip, and was led directly to a lovely collection going back centuries. The flooring in the back stacks is grated, so with a quick look down you can see the floors beneath you- a somewhat exhilarating experience that might freak some people out. Me, all I could think of was how many books were beneath me, and how many more above. After the back stacks we moved into the centre part of the library at St James Building, to see the Reading Room (where even laptops are disallowed), with its ceiling height cases full of pages, and then to the Writers Room, with its hardy desks, golden lamps and giant window. I recall some elevator and stair magic and then saw the Members room on the top floor, with its places for phone calls and café for snacks, then down into the Central Stacks, six floors of endless routes through topics including Biography and Religion. At the bottom, we emerged near the Art Room, flooded with light and full of books and manuscripts that have absolutely no meaning to me as an art philistine, but there was no denying the peace and inspiration of the space. I finished my tour in the issue hall, my decision already made. Though I’ve joined the library only in the last month, and I’m still getting used to the place (and yes, getting lost) as well as occasionally turning a corner and finding something new that I didn’t know was there at all. The London Library is like the Narnia of books, where even dark corners hide big secrets. Rioters, what are your favourite libraries, and where are they?

Thursday, May 21, 2020

The Existence Of Shakespeare s Macbeth - 1554 Words

Predating the existence of Shakespeare s Macbeth, the supposed natural characteristics of both men and women were viewed as having an inverse relationship with each other. A notion that is still widely held, albeit sometimes subconsciously, to this day. According to this belief, each gender by nature possesses very specific character traits that are both equal and opposite of that of the other gender. Ideas such as strength, power, and dominance are believed to be naturally male attributes. While concepts such as compassion, nurturing, as well as submissiveness are traits typically viewed as strictly belonging to females. These arbitrary archetypes were set in stone even during the time of Shakespeare. However, Shakespeare challenges these notions in in play Macbeth by having both male and female characters display innate traits that are typically not associated with that of their sex and then illustrating how that attribute affects them. Shakespeare is suggesting that these widely a ccepted ideas of what it means to be a man and a woman are merely a human construct and that there are no such set rules as to what personality traits are predispositioned that are based solely on gender. Femininity is defined by fragility, kindness, sensitivity, and gentleness yet the female characters in Macbeth negate this perception by either providing evidence that refutes this claim or turns the entire concept on its head. Most notably Lady Macbeth, whose very first appearance in theShow MoreRelatedMacbeth Final Soliloquy828 Words   |  4 PagesMan s natural ambition is to thrive and achieve power. This ambition tends to be realized through wealth, relationships, social class, or faith. Ultimately, the goal to succeed is simply reflective of the underlying desire to justify one s existence. Without justification, life becomes meaningless and one becomes numb to the world that surrounds. This numbness is what depresses humans of essential emotions and commonly leads to suicide. In Act V., Scene V., lines 20-31, Macbeth s final soliloquyRead MoreThemes in Macbeth742 Words   |  3 PagesWithin Shakespeare s famous Macbeth there are many different themes that make the play th e captivating masterpiece that it is. The role of the supernatural is a very important element of Shakespeare s Macbeth. Just as important, the theme of masculinity is very dominant. Both themes contribute to the play s unique and powerful nature, overall creating a very effective storyline, strong characters, and unexpected twists and turns throughout. In the time of William Shakespeare thereRead MoreUnchecked Power in Shakespeares Macbeth and King Lear1458 Words   |  6 PagesIn many of the plays by William Shakespeare, the central character goes through internal and external changes that ultimately shake their foundations to the core. Numerous theories have been put forth to explain the sequence of tragedies Shakespeare wrote during this period by linking it to some experience of melancholy, anger, despair, and the antagonist s ultimate fall from grace in their lust for power. But such theories overlook the fact that it is in this very same period and in the same tragicRead MoreMaccbeth the Role of the Witches in Act 1743 Words   |  3 PagesAct 1 The play Macbeth starts with the meeting of the three witches in a deserted heath. One reason why Shakespeare starts the play in this way is that in his time people believed in the existence of witches and blamed them for all unnatural events that happened. The people believed that witches had contact with the devil and animals, that they could fly on broomsticks, cast spells by chanting and making potions and that they had the ability to fortell the future. Shakespeare starts the playRead MoreStructuralism In Macbeth1232 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction Shakespeare s play Macbeth follows the downfall of an already great hero Macbeth, a valiant warrior, who allows himself to be so intoxicated in his own ambition that he descends into a mad and thoughtless killer. Character archetype, Hamartia As a character archetype Macbeth is a tragic hero, in the play he is both a protagonist and an antagonist. His hamartia, tragic flaw, is his ambition and greed for power. Macbeth is consciously aware of his actions and the consequences to followRead MoreShakespeare and Chopin1095 Words   |  5 Pagesone of the William Shakespeare’s greatest plays, Macbeth, we can see an influence years later in Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening. At the end of the tragedy Lady Macbeth folds under the pressure paralleling some the burdens Edna Pontellier suffers from. Many of Lady Macbeth’s personalities are reflected in Edna. Through the suicidal acts taken by both characters at the conclusion of the books, we can see the how Lady Macbeth influenced Chopin. Macbeth also has a great influence upon the personalityRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth - The Three Weird Sisters1267 Words   |  6 Pagesriots circumventing performances, the imprecation of Macbeth is one of the mos t enduring superstitions of the stage. Macbeth has an outlandish and hazardous past. This imprecation, so goes the tale, has its roots in the play s occult storyline of witchcraft, murder, and ghosts (Dunning, B). It all commenced when Lady Macbeth’s actor died suddenly in 1606 forcing Shakespeare to find a replacement actor at the last minute (History.com). In Macbeth the three weird sisters known as the witches reflectRead More Comparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeares Hamlet and Macbeth 921 Words   |  4 PagesComparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeares Hamlet and Macbeth  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   In the time of William Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the supernatural. Therefore, the supernatural is a recurring theme in many of Shakespeares plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an insight into character, and an augmentation of the impact of many key scenes. TheRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And The Human Condition1292 Words   |  6 Pagesso much relevance in modern society? Hello and welcome to today’s public forum; Shakespeare – its relevance in our world today. Shakespeare’s ability to capture the essence of the human condition, the key characteristics and ideals that compose the essentials of human existence, in his works is a testimony to his own successes. Today, we will be looking at how the themes and concepts presented in Shakespeare’s Macbeth are able to transcend time and place, maintaining relevance in the 21st centuryRead More The Supernatural in Shakespeares Works Essay1747 Words   |  7 PagesSupernatural in Shakespeares Works No one questions the fact that William Shakespeare is a pure genius when it comes to creating immortal characters whose characteristics transcends those of the normal supernatural beings, but most students of literature agree that his uses of the supernatural aren’t merely figments of his creative imagination. Every man, woman, and child is influenced by the age into which they are born and Shakespeare was no exception. Not only does his use of supernatural elements within

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

A Research Study On Calcium Dependent Cytosolic Rat Brains...

Calpain was first discovered within the brain, lens of eyes and other tissues by Gordon Guroff in 1964. This was done by isolating enzymes in both rat brains and skeletal muscles. These findings concluded that Calpains are calcium-dependent cytosolic cysteine proteinases. With further research, it was noted that Calpains are found in nearly all eukaryotes as well as some types of bacteria but, not within archaebacterial domain. Structurally, Calpains contain four functional domains with two domains that serve as regulatory subunits. In general, Calpains have multiple functions such as cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, membrane fusion, signal transduction, membrane fusion, apoptosis and myogenesis (Khorchid Mitsuhiko, 2002).†¦show more content†¦Only a few classical Calpains have been identified within invertebrates. Specifically for human Calpain genes, there are nine classical Calpains and six non-classical Calpains, giving a total of 15 Calpain genes for human s. For human Calpain genes, there two genes for regulatory subunits and one specific inhibitor protein. Classical Calpains, especially those found in humans, are ubiquioltly expressed and are controlled through the inhibitor of Calpastain (Trinchese et al., 2008). Although the role of calcium inducing change to enable Calpastatin to bind to Calpain is unknown, it is seen that Calpain 2 is bounded by inhibitory domains of Calpastatin which are inhibiting Calpain from both sides of the active site cleft. From this it was assumed that Calpastatin not only recognizes that there are multiple lower affinity sites but, that they are only present in the calcium-bound form of the enzyme which results in the interaction between Calpain and Calpastatin to be tight, specific and calcium dependent (Hanna, Campbell, Davies, 2008). Aside from Calpains causing cells to migrate, differentiate, proliferate and die, activation of Calpains have been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease. 5 million individuals have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease with an increase of 68 percent from 2000-2010, making it the sixth leading cause of death within

Fifth Business †Reaction to Adversities Free Essays

Adversity is the most important factor in shaping character and/or identity. Assess the validity of this statement with reference to Fifth Business. Identity is individual characteristics by which a person is known or recognized. We will write a custom essay sample on Fifth Business – Reaction to Adversities or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Fifth Business, a character’s reaction to adversity is the foundation to shaping identity. Others may not know what the adversity is but they observe the way a person is acting. The composure held in rough situations allows people to formulate opinions based on these reactions. This is shown through the challenges of dealing with guilt, trying to achieve being better than others and trying to escape their past identities. A main adversity faced in Fifth Business is guilt. The guilt that the characters Dunstan and Boy feel mainly revolve around the snowball incident with Mrs. Mary Dempster. Everybody had heard about the snowball incident however only Dunstan and Boy knew the truth about who threw the snowball. Although Dunstan was truly not at fault he felt responsible because the snowball was meant for him. His mother then began making him invest time into caring for the Dempster’s and he did it without protest because he felt he need to make the situation right. â€Å"We knew your Ma must have sent you. She couldn’t do anything publicly, of course, but she sent you to look after them. Everybody knew an’ honoured her for it. † (p99) The people saw that his mother and his actions were honourable. As Dunstan ages, people’s perception of his dealings with Mary Dempster changes and his link to her makes him seem queer. Eventually even his mother was upset with Dunstan’s obsession with Mrs. Dempster. She was very upset that Dunstan would bring this woman into their home. â€Å"What under Heaven had possessed [Dunstan] to turn to that woman, not only to their home but to the very beside of a boy who was dangerously ill? † (p55) Then, Dunstan had â€Å"insisted that Willie had indeed died. No pulse; no breathing. † (p. 55) He had expressed how he felt about Willie’s â€Å"death† and was disregarded by people telling him to let it go. Dr.  McClausland says to Dunstan â€Å"I think you may safely leave it to me to say when peopled are dead, Dunny. † (p55) Milo Papple even says â€Å"Do you remember when you said that Mrs. Dempster raised Willie from the dead? God, you used to be a crazy kid†¦ â€Å" (p99) He continued on to find 2 more miracles by Mary Dempster. This revelation guided him to begin studying saints and in turn his reputation was jeopardized. â€Å"It’s this saint business of yours. Of course your books are splendid. But if you were a father would you want to send your son a school headed by an authority on saints? (p187) That is what Boy had said to Dunstan regarding why he was being let go from being Headmaster. Alternatively, Boy’s key role in making Mrs. Dempster simple forced a different reaction from him. Boy as a kid chose to ignore the fact that it was his fault. Dunstan views him as a coward and ruthless. â€Å"I knew that he was afraid, and I knew also that he would fight, lie, do anything rather than admit what I knew. † (p17) He spends so much energy on pushing the situation out of his mind that by the time he is older, he has no recollection of her all together. [Dunstan] could hardly believe he spoke the truth, but as we talked on I had to accept it as a fact that he had so far edited his memory of his early days that the incident of the snowball had quite vanished from his mind. † (p251) Boy’s indifference to the situation benefited him in a sense that because he knew that if he acted like he had no connection with Mrs. Dempster that his identity would not be compromised. The reactions from Dunstan and Boy are almost completely opposite and so people viewed them differently. Paul Dempster also treated his guilt differently than the other two. As Paul Dempster he ran away from home and people saw this as something that was prone to happen because his mother was simple. Although they did not recognize that it was because â€Å"[his] father thought it was his duty to tell [Paul], so [he] could do whatever possible to make it up to her. † (p251) As he created a new persona for himself he also found a new way to cope with his guilt by sending her money and Dunstan â€Å"was able to transfer Mrs. Dempster from the public wards of that hateful city asylum to a much better hospital near a small town. (p220) This shows that he is a good person and with success he still holds composure. Another challenge in the novel involved trying to be better than others. Boy Staunton was the golden boy from Deptford. He was always very successful and recognized. During the first war he became an officer and â€Å"was wearing a few medals, the admirable D. S. O. but otherwise minor things. † (p93) Boy went on to pursue a very successful career in the sugar business. As well, he struggled to pursue a career in politics although unsuccessful he did later become Lieutenant Governor. Old Doc Staunton’s annoyance at being outsmarted by his son had given way to his cupidity.. † (p142) All his successes sprung out of wanting to be better than his peers and his father and he succeeded. Another part of his image involves Leola being as educated and cultured as she possibly can. â€Å"She had learned to curtsy very prettily†¦ and do other courtier things required by Boy. † (p119) Yet still he still faced the challenge of her not being able to keep up. â€Å"She was trying hard but she could not keep with Boy’s social advancement. (p143) People see Boy as the golden Boy and Magnus Eisengrim even says â€Å"I remember you very well. I always thought of you as the Rich Young Ruler. † (p249) In the end, he took the challenge of being more successful and dominated it and in the end he was known and respected. â€Å"[Denyse] did achieve a very fine turnout of important people, and others who were important because they represented somebody important. † (p243) This refers to Boy’s funeral and this shows how he had finished his life as a successful man. Paul was constantly teased by kids because they would say things like â€Å"’Hey Paul, does your Ma wear pants? and stuff like that. † (p99) Milo Papple tells Dunstan that Paul ran away with the circus and â€Å"it made him kind of a hero after he’d gone. † (p99) He became a very successful magician and people thought he was magnificent. They never knew that his success came from him trying to erase the image of him being simple Mary Dempster’s son because â€Å"[he] could call up in an instant what it felt like to be the child of a woman everybody jeered at and thought a dirty joke† (p 251) Paul had to get away to ensure that he made a better name for himself. Their success is attributed to their obstacle to be better than others. Lastly, the challenge of separating their past identities also shapes their current identities. The three central characters use a name change to represent their new identities. They try to change the person they are and in turn people do view that as different people. Dunstan was originally named Dunstable Ramsay but after the war he met a Diana, a nurse whom he had his first real relationship with, who decided to change his name. Diana said â€Å"it’s hard to say for one thing and it sounds like a cart running over cobblestones for another. You’ll never get anywhere in the world named Dumbledum Ramsay. † (p85) She felt that his name didn’t represent the successful person that he could be with a better name. Diana said that he represented the Saint Dunstan in many ways because â€Å"St. Dunstan was a marvellous person and very much like [Dunstan] – mad about learning, terribly stiff and stern and scowly, and an absolute wizard at withstanding temptation. † (p85) He likes this persona of himself and â€Å"the idea of a new name; it suggested new freedom and personality. (p86) Boy Staunton, formerly known as Percy Boyd Staunton also changed his name. Somewhere along his army career decided that Boy Staunton was a name more fit for him. The name Boy represents the stellar and young gentlemen that he is. â€Å"He was boy Staunton because he summed up in himself so much of the glory of youth in the postwar period. † (p102) His name shows his success in his glorified youth. â€Å"He seemed to have made himself out of nothing, and he was a marvel. † (p103) Another name change that denotes an air of eloquence is Paul Dempster’s name change to Magnus Eisengrim. As Paul Dempster he had many misfortunes and zero success. As Magnus Eisengrim he has a wonderful show that awes the public. He says â€Å"My name is Magnus Eisengrim that is who I am and that is how the world knows me. † (p249) His reaction to escaping his past identity when he changed his name â€Å"he did not present himself as a funny-man but as one who offered an entertainment of mystery and beauty, with perhaps a hint of terror as well. † (p192) Dunstan had it right when he said â€Å"[they] had all rejected [their] beginnings and became something that their parents could not have forseen. (p252) The characters past identities did not satisfy how they viewed themselves and their challenge to erase who they were allowed them to create a new name that characterized a new identity. The characters in Fifth Business shape identities when they react to adversities. The way they are recognized is due to the actions they take to face these challenges. The most prominent challenges in Roberson Davis’ novel are the challenge of a guilty conscience, being better than others and escaping past identities. People react to one adversity differently and a good or bad identity depends on their reactions. How to cite Fifth Business – Reaction to Adversities, Essay examples

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Sphere Essays - Sphere, Still, Beth Greene, Adam,

Sphere Sphere is about a futuristic sphere that gives a group of scientists a special and unusual power- the power of being able to turn fantasy into reality. The group of scientists are kept in total wonder as to why they were being sent to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The scientists consisted of Norman Johnson, a psychologist; Beth Halpern, a zoologist and biochemist; Harry Adams, a mathematician; and Ted Fielding, an astrophysicist. Each scientist played an important role- Norman was to watch the team because no one had ever seen an alien and they didn't know how people would react. Beth was to assess any life form that the team might come across. Harry was there because math is the universal language and Ted was there to determine where in the universe the aliens came from. The story begins as Norman is being transported in a Sea Knight. After Norman arrives at the site, he is directly escorted to his quarters until Captain Barnes came and retrieved him. On their way to the submersible, he explained to everyone in the group what was going on. He told them that there was a titanium fin found 1,000 feet under the ocean and that it is over 1/2 mi. long. He also informed them that the spacecraft had been in that location for almost 300 years (they could date the time because of the coral growth- coral grows at 1 in. a year). When they all arrived at the underwater habitat, they were sent to a compression chamber to bring them to the right pressure. The reason for the habitat is that it has the weight of air plus the weight of water pushing down on it. If the habitat had the same pressure as the surface, it would implode. After compression, the team was sent to their quarters for some rest before they set out to the spacecraft. When the crew was all rested and refreshed, they suited up into insulated suits and jumped into the water. They then proceeded to the airlock. After passing through the airlock and into the ship, they split up into two teams. Norman and Beth were teamed up while Barnes, Harry, and Ted went another way. While they were exploring, Beth and Norman were accidentally transported to the control room. There they found out- with the help of the ship's computers and a suit on a dead body- found a surprising discovery- the ship was American. It must have been transported back in time through a black hole from the year 2043 all the way back to 1743 and landed in the ocean. While Beth and Norman were in the control room, the other group stumbled upon a gargantuan golden sphere. After Norman and Beth had caught up to them, they were running low on air and set up a video camera. As they were about to leave, they noticed that there was no entry into the sphere- no door, no hatch, nothing- but Norman noticed that the sphere reflected everything- except image of the team. As most of the team was sleeping, Harry slipped on his suit and went to the sphere. As he was standing there, the sphere somehow took him inside itself. By the time that Norman reached him, he was unconscious. After they got him back to base, one of the crew members was outside doing some work when she was attacked by jellyfish and was killed because the animals had made miniscule holes which leaked extensively and she drowned. No one left the confines of the habitat because they were cut off from the ship up top- supposedly there was a severe storm and they missed their ride because of Harry's little stunt. As the days went by they were forced to talk to each other and entertain one another. Harry was reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and was quite enjoying it. Since the crew member that was killed by the jellyfish, Norman and Beth took on the responsibility. What they had to do was take video footage that was stored and take it to a sub on a timer. If no one reset the timer in 12 hours, the sub would float to the surface with the videos inside. That way, if anything happened, there would be some idea of what went wrong. As Norman and Beth were coming out of the sub, Barnes warned them of a giant object coming towards them. They scrambled for the hatchway and just