The Great Gatsby Essays (733 words) - The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby

The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby F.S. Fitzgerald, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925. pp 182 This novel is in general about middle and upper class american citizens and their lives a few years after the first world war had concluded. The author, a World War I veteran himself, shows insight into the lives and minds of American soldiers who fought in Europe during the conflict and the interesting experiences some may have had in the years following their return. Through written conversation, the novel deals with many of the social attitudes and ideas which prevailed during the early 20's. Historical facts are cleverly infused into the body of the novel that gives the reader an authentic and classic impression of the story. A clear view of the discrimination that existed in that time period against non-whites and women was evident by the time the conclusion of the book was reached. For instance, a conversation takes place between characters in the novel in which civilization is said to be going to pieces as a result of "The Rise of the Coloured Empires". Women are also constantly referred to as "girls". Also incorporated, was an interesting but sometimes uneventful and boring sub-plot of a man's extreme love for a woman and the catastrophic events that take place as a result. This was indicative of many people of the day who had a spouse but often had someone else on the side. Although this book is not the kind that exciting motion pictures are made of, It was regarded as one of the masterpieces of American literature. The plot centres on a fictional World War I army veteran named Nick Carraway. After his involvement in the war on the allied side with a machine gun battalion, he returned to his home in Chicago. With no clear direction of what he wanted to do with his life, he decided to move to New York to enter into the business of selling bonds. He settled down on an area of Long Island called West Egg, directly beside a more fashionable area of Long Island called West Egg. Across from him lived a rich man named Jay Gatsby who also was a World War I vet. Not far away lived a married couple Daisy and Tom Buchanan which he knew relatively well. It was at their residence that he met a woman, Jordan Baker, who was to become his good friend and later his girl friend. Carraway soon became a good friend with his rich neighbour next door, Gatsby, and soon was exposed to many rumours about this man which caused him to question his relationship with him. A rumour that explained why he was so rich was that he was German Kaiser Van Wilhelm's relative. Carraway later found out from Jordan, that Gatzby was once in love with Tom Buchanan's wife, Daisy. In fact the only reason that Gatzby had moved into the large mansion on West Egg was to be close to his lost love. Daisy soon rekindles the love between her and Gatsby and it turns into a secret affair that only a few, including Carraway, are aware. However, Daisy's husband soon finds out and this is when the trouble begins. As Daisy and Gatsby are driving, they accidentally hit and kill a woman named Mrs. Wilson who's husband suspects that she is cheating. Mr. Wilson wrongly accuses Gatzby of having an affair with his wife based on information from Tom Buchanan and subsequently kills him. So the story ends. This novel was not overly exciting but it was well written. The author conveyed the main character's thoughts and emotions in a manner that was both fascinating and clever. The vocabulary and choice of words used enhanced the style. The plot followed a simple pattern and built up to a climax at the end. The novel also proved to be a fitting reflection of some minute aspects of American life at the quarter of the century. Historically, the book was correct. For instance, the fact that the Americans fought in World War I in 1917 and turned out to be a factor in the defeat of Germany and it's allies during the war was written. References to other aspects of the war were limited although there were the occasional mention of places and names that related to it such as the Argonne Forest and the German Kaiser Van Wilhelm. Racism and sexism, which were also a integral parts of life back then were also included in the novel. The

Multiple Burden Essay Example

Multiple Burden Essay Example Multiple Burden Essay Multiple Burden Essay Apart from the social stigma, perhaps the most difficult aspect of being a single mother is the stress of carrying the host of domestic and work-related responsibilities as well as sorting out relationship issues with the father/s of their children. These women often have to mind household chores and at the same time come up with the money to pay the rent and take care of the bills. Some of them also face difficulties from irresponsible ex-partners, as revealed by Melody’s account from the yahoogroup AfAmersinglemoms or African American single moms: â€Å"It’s hard doing it by myself, but you know what the good Lord doesnt give us more than we can handle. Right now I am working independently from home in the area of entertainment, so that keeps me going. I love my kids to death, and it pisses me off that there dad only wants interaction with them when it is convenient for him. Like you alot of people are after him for money, but somehow they havent caught up with him. You know every other state takes child support seriously, the men get behind they get lock up. But here in Illinois its like they protect them and that is a bunch of crap. I am looking to connect with other african american moms and talk about our trials and tribulations. Also to get to know one another and form possible friendships. It wouldnt hurt to get together and have a girls night ocassionally. † (http://groups. yahoo. com/group/AfAmersinglemoms/message/7) African American single mothers thus faced tremendous pressure from solely shouldering child raising responsibilities, accomplishing duties at home, solving problematic relationships, and having to juggle work at the same time, as shown by Melody’s experience. Other women, however, could be considered not to be as lucky in terms of opportunities; these women often do not have enough resources and access to send their children to school or put food on the table. Nevertheless, the strength and resilience of African American women can be surprising. In the face of such problems as dual discrimination and the multiple burdens that come with single motherhood, some of them do not feel regret over their decisions and in a way even feel justified and empowered in it: â€Å"I am the same way I dont harbor bad feelings or ill will but it just upsets me when our brothas dont take care of there responsibilities. I find it to be sad, but nevertheless I have to keep it moving and continue to be both mother and father. You are so right about Karma, what comes around goes around. Yes, there are alot of us out there struggling to do for our children on are own. † ( http://groups. yahoo. com/group/AfAmersinglemoms/message/20) Alternative Action While there is a tendency for many African American women to feel a sense of empowerment from proving to society that they are able to support their children, Davis (1998) notes that an increasing number of African American women are experiencing depression. (Davis 494) Fortunately, most of these women often receive strong social support networks from their families, especially other women, and from the African American community, which gives them a sense of connectedness and value. The growth of the internet has also given these women the chance to build virtual communities with which they can meet and interact with women whose situation and issues are in some way similar to their own. It cannot be denied, however, that something has to be done to alleviate the already difficult situation of African American single mothers- and the situation of mothers of different racial identity- since racial and gender-based inequalities often hinder them from actively participating in their own development and holistic growth. The National Organization for Women (NOW), for instance, challenges women to get involved in the commitment to â€Å"continue to fight for equal opportunities for women of color in all areas including employment, education and reproductive rights. † ( now.org) In seeing the realities of African American women, I find that many of their issues resound with my own, that indeed, I am as much a victim of dual discrimination as they are. Although many of our experiences and encounters with the forms of oppression may be different due to the fact that we come from diverse cultures, our realities as women struggling to gain control over our bodies, our thoughts, and our destinies are what binds us, and I think that nobody else will work towards our freedom from racial and gender discrimination except for women themselves. : Boyd, Julia A. In the company of my sisters. New York: Dutton, 1993. Davis, Ruth E. â€Å"Discovering Creative Essences in African American Women: The Construction of Meaning around Inner Resources. † Women’s Studies International Forum, 21, 5: 1998 Dickerson, Bette J. African American Single Mothers: Understanding Their Lives Families. Sage Publications, 1995. Reid, Lori L. â€Å"Occupational Segregation, Human Capital, and Motherhood: Black Women’s Higher Exit Rates from Full-time Employment. † Gender Society, 16: 2002. Roberts, Dorothy. â€Å"Race, Gender, and the Value of Mother’s Work. † Social Politics: 1995. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/AfAmersinglemoms/conversations/topics/20.

Secular and religious expression in israeli performing arts Essay

Secular and religious expression in israeli performing arts - Essay Example Modern arts have developed in various directions. They include expansion of fork dance style, which accompanied early frontiers in the construction of their old homeland and organization of the art dance that led to stage production produced by trained choreographer. Professional dancers performed it. Currently more than ten professional performing art companies came up with varied collection throughout Israel and abroad. Israel is today vibrant reflection of sounds, ideas, tastes, sights, cultures and people. They focus on events and facts, neglecting intense living standards and dynamics that existed. They integrate the ideas of culture and arts; however, they explore the exciting vision of Israel. Performed culture and arts reflect the pulse of the society and the heart of the Israelis. They show the ideas and themes that may not be expressed in other ways. They mostly serve as an explanation of particular arts and cultures by featuring on various circumstances at a given place an d time. The artists comment on society and culture of Israel through visual arts poetry, literature, music, film, theater performance and various artistic expressions gave educators resources to dig into Israel society in a way that explore the minds of the students and also to their souls and hearts it is by the common communication by art that appreciation of the art and society in deep sense. The education reformers and philosophers stated that culture and art expresses life of a society. In order to explore the distinctive identity of Israeli, legendary Israeli-born sabra is studied. The initial native Israeli in a current land view themselves as different type of Jews. They believed that they are patriotic, direct, young, and innocent group of Jews. The famous symbolic and representation of the sabra was available in newspapers. Many bloggers and editors gave various views of how typical Israeli. Because of the subjectivity in their discovery of the multiplicity and

Retirement Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Retirement Planning - Essay Example While there are many courses of action one can take to retire, some have greater risk while others offer security. For those of us wanting to retire in the next fifteen to twenty years, risk should be tempered through proper management, diverse investing, and proper estate planning that includes a will, estate plan, and life insurance if one is not self insured through a high net worth in personal property (FINRA, 2011). How Much Does one Need to Retire? Retirement goals most often deal with time and money. In order to retire by a certain time, one must have a certain amount of money. This amount can be in a stock account, coming in as passive income, or cash flow, or be a combination of both. In order for me to maintain my current lifestyle in retirement, I will need to have an income of $4,500 with a margin of growth that meets or exceeds inflation. While many people’s expenses go down in retirement, I do not want to take any chances when it comes to matters such as healthca re, which is the reason that many senior citizens end up broke and living off of social security and, in some cases, the equity in their home through a reverse mortgage. So, while some of my current expenses, such as paying for my mortgage, will not be an issue when I retire, I want to maintain the same level of income to allow for a lifestyle that goes beyond living, and allows me to have a life so that I can travel, give money to organizations I feel are important, while having more to leave behind to loved ones. This will be accomplished through proper asset allocation in a diversified portfolio that will come to approximately three-million dollars. Asset Allocation My current asset allocation is split between individual stocks that I manage through Scottrade, a company matched 401(k), and real estate. My equity is split evenly between the stock market and residential properties, but over the next fifteen to twenty years I expect my real estate holdings to be approximately two-th irds of my portfolio. The reason for this forecast is the properties’ appreciation and growing equity. In addition to the properties’ gains, I will also acquire more properties when good deals are available along with the cash to purchase. Owning property is extremely attractive because the investment can grow while paying at least partially for itself if not in full by way of payments made from tenants. In addition to this, owning property allows investors to receive tax breaks from losses even in years when money has been made. This is done after mortgage interest and depreciation is taken into account. For example, if a piece of property is worth $124,000 with mortgage payments of $1,000 per month, and a tenant occupying the home is paying $1,150 in rent for the whole year, then the profit at the end of the year is $1,800. However, the mortgage interest amounted to $9,000, and depreciation on a piece of investment property is incurred over thirty-one years. In the c ase of this property, the depreciation is $4,000 a year. Rather than paying taxes on $1,800, a loss is shown in the amount of $11,200, resulting in a larger tax return, or lower tax burden, at the end of the year (Pascale, 2010). The advantage to being in a 401(k) is that the company I work for matches my contributions up to 3%. If my 401(k) is cut in half from a

Feminism is for Everybody Essay Example for Free

Feminism is for Everybody Essay Feminism is a social, cultural, moral and political advocacy encompassed on gender issues such as inequality. In this regard there are several writings that concerns the principles of feminism. The contents of literary works about feminism vary, some writers intend to advocate for the very cause of feminism blindingly, some authors, conversely, intend to provide information about feminism in a non-political or non-equalitarian manner. One such notable content can be found in Bell Hooks publication, Feminism is for Everybody. Hooks book gives the reader a whole different perspective on the radical feminist theory. The primary intention of her book is to bring the feminist point-of-view to non-believers, apathetics and unfamiliar. Hooks also counters the popular notion regarding feminism as she feels that these notions should be given proper attention and correction. In this manner, the common misconception on the ideas of feminism will be clear to society. In the book, Feminism is for everybody, the author rejects the usual beliefs connected to feminism and considers such belief as nothing more than a myth. Hooks puts the arguments and advocacies of feminism in a summarized manner in order to provide a simpler context to readers as well as well as a new concept of what feminism should be. Hooks new concept of feminism suggests a fight against stiff sexism in a benevolent society, thereby ultimately advocating for an inclusive movement. In Feminism is for Everybody, Hooks traces the roots of the feminist movement and gives detail on what it has achieved so far. an advocacy minus the associations of anti-sexism (Hooks, 2000). The historical background of feminism is given in order to put emphasis on the misconstrusion that happened along the way and to give way to the new concept of the movement. Hooks raises the question is feminist a philosophical belief or a political cause, given that the author tackles the arguments of the radical feminists. The debate whether feminism is a philosophical belief or a political cause can also be caused by one of the books chapters tackling gender oppression. The basis may be seen on the idea typecasting male as the enemy, the categorization of man as the oppressor and woman is the oppressed is the primary reason behind feminisms second wave, however, Hooks also does not take away the fact that females are also responsible for such opression given that it took time for the supposed oppresed to spearhead for change (Hooks, 2007). Hooks furthers this by giving the past mistakes of feminism and the misleading beliefs that feminists associated themselves with. This is on the account that most feminists focus on the problem and not on the solution. In a personal account, I am taken to a different world as far as feminism is concerned, primarily because Bell Hooks gives a different appraoch in discussing the cause of feminism. It is also notable that the author diminished the complexities of the feminist thought but still detailed enough to get me educated. The book caused me to reconsider my prior beliefs regarding the arguments presented by feminists. The non-traditional manner of Hooks presentation eliminated my angst towards feminists and made me realize that it is time for change, Hooks compelled me to believe that it is time to dispose of the misleading conventional feminist beliefs of the past and focus on the current issues, moreover, Hooks made me believe that feminism is indeed for everybody. References Hooks, B. (2000). Feminism is for Everybody. Cambridge: South End Press.

Uniform Knowledge Attributions Essay -- Philosophy

There is a philosophical tradition going back at least to Gilbert Ryle’s 1948 The Concept of Mind of distinguishing â€Å"knowledge how†from â€Å"knowledge that†, in which the latter is taken to be a kind of propositional attitude, while the former is taken to be a kind of ability or capacity. Paradigm examples are, respectively: Sally knows how to ride a bike. (1) Sally knows that she owns a bike. (2) More recently, this distinction has come under renewed scrutiny, notably with [Stanley and Williamson, 2001] arguing that there really is no such distinction, and that â€Å"knowledge how†is really a species of propositional knowledge, though the proposition is known under a different â€Å"mode of presentation† than the types of knowledge typically expressed by â€Å"knowledge that†attributions. Their suggestion is that all knowledge claims are syntactically and semantically uniform, so that philosophical argumentation would be needed to support Ryle’s distinction. In addition, they show that Ryle’s argument was flawed, and provide an account that deals with many other philosophical worries, while giving prima facie evidence that, contrary to what one might expect, (1) is not actually talking about an ability. They argue first that Ryle’s argument in favor of a distinction was incorrect. Then they suggest that linguistic evidence recommends a uniform analysis for all uses of the word â€Å"know†. Finally, they consider various philosophical arguments that might motivate a departure from the linguistic structure, and find them wanting. Thus, they suggest that we should stick with the uniformity of knowledge ascriptions that is suggested by the linguistic data. I will argue that the linguistic data are not as clear-cut as they suggest. ... ...y and Williamson allege for (1). (Interestingly, I haven’t been able to come up with any such counterexamples with â€Å"how†, â€Å"whether†, or â€Å"why†, just with â€Å"who†, â€Å"when†, and possibly â€Å"where†.) This different structure can then give rise to a different sort of meaning. Thus, although some attributions of â€Å"knowledge wh- to†are similar in kind to attributions of â€Å"knowledge that†, I suggest that the linguistic evidence does not immediately imply that all of them are. References [Lahiri, 1991] Lahiri, U. (1991). Embedded Interrogatives and the Predicates that Embed Them. PhD thesis, MIT. [No ¨e, 2005] No ¨e, A. (2005). Against intellectualism. Analysis, 65:278–290. [Schaffer, ] Schaffer, J. Knowing the answer. Unpublished manuscript. [Stanley and Williamson, 2001] Stanley, J. and Williamson, T. (2001). Knowing how. Journal of Philosophy, 98(8):411–444.

Discussion About Multimeter Essay

Discussion. 1. When we want to measure voltage reading, the multimeter must be parallel with the component that we want to measured. The red on the high voltage side, and black on the lower. When measuring current, amperes, the multimeter must be in series with the component. Remove one side of the component and connect the black multimeter lead to the board where the component was plugged in and the red lead connects to the loose component. The difference between the two is that if we measure the voltage, the internal resistance of the multimeter is set to what is essentially infinity. If it was anything less then it would be acting as a resistor and drawing its own current which would reduce the current on the component being tested, which would in turn reduce the voltage reading we get. When we measured current, the internal resistance of the multimeter is set to almost 0. This is to ensure that it does not contribute to the resistance of the series it is in. Increasing the resistance of a series of components can cause current further â€Å"upstream† to flow into other branches which throws off our current reading.In short, for voltage tests the mm is placed in parallel with the components and acts as an open line to take a reading. For current readings the multimeter is placed in series with the component and it acts as a simple piece of wire with zero resistance. 2. There are many types of errors that maybe encountered in the measurement process and measures to minimize it. For examples random error, systematic error and gross error are static error (i) random errors Random errors are ones that are easier to deal with because they cause the measurements to fluctuate around the true value. If we are trying to measure some parameter X, greater random errors cause a greater dispersion of values, but the mean of X still represents the true value for that instrument. (ii) systematic error A systematic error can be more tricky to track down and is often unknown. This error is often called a bias in the measurement. In chemistry a teacher tells the student to read the volume of liquid in a graduated cylinder by looking at the meniscus. A student may make an error by reading the volume by looking at the liquid level near the edge of the glass. Thus this student will always be off by a certain amount for every reading he makes. Systematic error can be classed by three different error such as: -instrument error -environment error -observational error (iii) gross error Gross error is usually made by human mistakes. As example, error when taking measurement reading, incorrect recording and improper use of instrumentation. We can minimize this error by taking at least three separate readings and take proper care in reading and recording. 3. The significance of using the correct range for measurement are to get the more accurate and precise reading and to reduce the percentage of error when taking a reading.