Free Essays on Mr. Savo’s Epiphanies

Mr. Savo presents many thoughts on life by the comments he makes during events happening in Reuven’s stay in the hospital. His comments can relate to events that Reuven experiences. Mr. Savo’s comments on life can be broken down into three categories. His comments are based on life’s difficulties, life’s lack of remorse, and the people in life out to get you. Chaim Potok uses Mr. Savo as a foil character for Reuven to explore the challenges and difficulties that life can throw at anyone. After Danny visits Reuven, Mr. Savo asks who Danny was. Reuven tells him that Danny was the boy who hit him and that he, Reuven, could of ducked. Mr. Savo has a comment on people that are out to â€Å"clop† other people, â€Å"Anyone out to clop you doesn’t want you to duck, kid, I know†(76). This comment shows the reader that Mr. Savo is familiar with clopping people. Mr. Savo is one of the people out to clop people and he doesn’t want the people to â€Å"duck†. Even though Mr. Savo’s comment is false in Danny’s case it is found to be true in general. The comment relates to Reuven’s experience with Danny. Mr. Savo’s comment is like a foreshadowing for Reuven because it turns out that Danny did not want to hit Reuven. Danny explains to Reuven that, he hits straight to the pitcher because of his hitting style. Danny’s close call with the pitcher before Reuven was also unintentional. Mr. Savo’s introduction seems rough and the reader perceives the idea that Mr. Savo is a fighter and is tough, â€Å" ‘Chicken’ the man to my left said. ‘Who can do a ten rounder on chicken?’ †(43). This comment, from Mr. Savo, shows that he is looking to â€Å"clop† someone. The reader sees that Mr. Savo is the kind of person in life that is out to clop people. Mr. Savo also tells Reuven, â€Å" ‘Tough as a ring post,’ Mr. Savo said, grinning at me. ‘But a great heart.’ †(44). This comment from Mr. Savo can be int... Free Essays on Mr. Savo’s Epiphanies Free Essays on Mr. Savo’s Epiphanies Mr. Savo presents many thoughts on life by the comments he makes during events happening in Reuven’s stay in the hospital. His comments can relate to events that Reuven experiences. Mr. Savo’s comments on life can be broken down into three categories. His comments are based on life’s difficulties, life’s lack of remorse, and the people in life out to get you. Chaim Potok uses Mr. Savo as a foil character for Reuven to explore the challenges and difficulties that life can throw at anyone. After Danny visits Reuven, Mr. Savo asks who Danny was. Reuven tells him that Danny was the boy who hit him and that he, Reuven, could of ducked. Mr. Savo has a comment on people that are out to â€Å"clop† other people, â€Å"Anyone out to clop you doesn’t want you to duck, kid, I know†(76). This comment shows the reader that Mr. Savo is familiar with clopping people. Mr. Savo is one of the people out to clop people and he doesn’t want the people to â€Å"duck†. Even though Mr. Savo’s comment is false in Danny’s case it is found to be true in general. The comment relates to Reuven’s experience with Danny. Mr. Savo’s comment is like a foreshadowing for Reuven because it turns out that Danny did not want to hit Reuven. Danny explains to Reuven that, he hits straight to the pitcher because of his hitting style. Danny’s close call with the pitcher before Reuven was also unintentional. Mr. Savo’s introduction seems rough and the reader perceives the idea that Mr. Savo is a fighter and is tough, â€Å" ‘Chicken’ the man to my left said. ‘Who can do a ten rounder on chicken?’ †(43). This comment, from Mr. Savo, shows that he is looking to â€Å"clop† someone. The reader sees that Mr. Savo is the kind of person in life that is out to clop people. Mr. Savo also tells Reuven, â€Å" ‘Tough as a ring post,’ Mr. Savo said, grinning at me. ‘But a great heart.’ †(44). This comment from Mr. Savo can be int...

Free sample - Finding the place in the sun. Single but not alone.. translation missing

Finding the place in the sun. Single but not alone.. Finding the place in the sun. Single but not alone.It would be a fair statement to claim that each person is brought into this world with a goal to obtain. To put it in other words, we, the humans, are born to put in spoke, to make a contribution, and at last to leave an imprint in the history, however loud it may sound. In this tight connection there arise the questions like where do I live? why do I have to do this? what do I need to live a decent life? Such issues can’t but touch anyone who is an indispensible part of the society. Naturally, the social environment can’t be perceived as just the medium we live in. Rather, it is a highly advanced system that comprises normal and moral principles and values, rights and responsibilities to follow and fulfill. The face and the inner nature the society has are conditioned by its integral parts being the humans. Moreover, we can judge the level of development of a particular country or a state considering the social indicators of well-being. Needless to say, with the aim to find one’s niche in social structure, everyone is passing a certain route of socialization process, from micro to macro entities. Thus, the initial environment of a child’s world outlook formation is the family. The second step of â€Å"evolution† is represented by educational institutions such as nurseries, schools, colleges, universities. But still, not everyone can take his or her place in the sun. So, what hinders the road to a cherished wish and self-actualization? Actually, the list of the factors can appear to be endless. Here, different social issues can be viewed and addressed, among which are juvenile delinquency, one-parent or disadvantaged family, etc. Up to a point, one of the above mentioned sore points is the problem of a young single mom, who happened to be in the struggle for the opportunity of getting education. Such destiny lot fell upon me, a young mom with a three year old child. Indeed, the situation is disagreeable. Whether such moms would feel in the lurch or not depends on the existence of some protection. Clearly, for the individuals not to be left high and dry, the social system is supposed to envisage the elaborated programs. In case of young moms to assist in their education a sort of subsidizing should be foreseen. A scholarship, for instance, will provide me a chance to get proper education. In addition, it will to some extent prevent the negative perception of my child as an obstacle for career. Thereby, a scholarship would also alleviate the stressful situation of simultaneous work-and-study hectic life flow, since it at least guaranties a precondition of further higher education involvement. Besides, we can’t deny the fact, in order to achieve a grant a candidate is obliged to demonstrate a corresponding level of knowledge. For now I am currently a student of a school, but aspire to major in administration of justice, which is the sphere of my interest. Hence, not of the least importance are preparatory high school extra courses and also some financial support for young moms and I am convinced they are really helpful. Why are the scholarship and financial aid so substantial? Virtually, it is one of the key factors of problem solutions. Think only, how much a young girl in the role of a mom can earn if she even didn’t get a college or university degree. The answer is obvious. As my experience shows, not too much. Therefore, in attempts to earn for a living being a mom I am left with little if no time for my education. So, a scholarship will help avoid the probability to leave school at all. Being the only breadwinner in a family by means of getting scholarship I have a true chance to save the earned money and use the scholarship to pay for tuition. I think when a young mom is forced to be out of school or college education stream, it mustn’t completely and totally deprive her of the possibility to get back and continue studying. In fact, it is the scholarship called for to meet this need. Even though, I am aware of and ready for the routine I am going to encounter. I will have to start looking for an appropriate grant what can take a lot of time. Still, the benefits can’t be neglected. After all, no sweet without sweat. A baby for a young single mom should be an incentive rather than a burden.   There is an amazingly vast scope of programs for young mothers to select from. Concerning myself, I am in the search of the scholarships to match my particular situation, my professional inclination, abilities, level of knowledge. What also matters, I’ve learned the lesson of life – a mom must never give up and lose heart but rather pluck it up. In any confusing and hard situation a life may prepare for us, we mustn’t twiddle our thumbs and give way to despair. To put it briefly, diverse factors contribute to or on the contrary encumber a person’s socialization and development. It is my firm belief, that nothing seek, nothing find and a wise proverb ‘proof of the pudding is in the eating’ is worth adding to the armory of everyone’s life.

Diversity Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Diversity Identity - Essay Example They are very friendly, helpful. They do not bother about religion and are highly cultured persons. I remember my first contact with different religion person when I lived in turkey and joined a French school. We soon became friends; the encounter was very pleasant as we shared our thoughts on our cultures. I was brought up in a very diverse culture, religion. So when I grew up, I learnt that there is no religion created by god, only man started religions and god is one. It is really foolish to distinguish ourselves by our religions. Religions should be teaching unity, but that is not what happening. However, there are situations in my life that make me conscious of my religion even today. The terrorist attack on America on September 11 2001 is one of the worst nightmares in my life. I can still remember my neighbors were afraid to speak to us. It was a week before when I and my friends were talking about different religions; there were two Hindu friends of mine and a Christian one. The discussion just aroused out of curiosity in knowing other religions by my friend. We talked about Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism. These talks were very interesting as we could know the practices of different religions. As a part of our friendship, we all go to church and temple. Religion has never been a barrier for me to make friendship; I won't consider religion while making friends. So I love to make friends of any religion. I never felt like I was an outsider, as I was brought up in diverse culture, I never this sense of insecurity. Religion may affect me at my workplace, however, as I am experienced in such kind of culture, I am confident that I can tackle the situation and move forward. Interview 1: I was born in a Muslim family, my neighbors were Muslims. My family and friends all belong to the same religion. When I joined elementary school, I encountered a completely diverse group of children. However I didn't care about it at that tender age. This is a nice teaching for me as I still feel that this diverse culture had made me adaptable to any culture. My schooling was also of the same scenario. My co-workers were of different backgrounds as I work for a multinational company. It is my way of life to work with people of other religion as almost everyday I work with persons of different religions. I feel excited to work with them as they are from different cultures and there is a sort of cultural exchange among us. I don't really remember my first contact with a person of other religion. That person could be my elementary school mate. The contact should definitely be pleasant. I learned many things from people of different culture. The main thing I learned from Hindus is their readiness to accept any religion. The Christians have keen interest in studying other religions. Situations or topics like marriage make me conscious about my religion. My family wants me to marry only a Muslim boy. This makes me feel insecure and obviously is a negative experience for me. The topic of religion aroused when I and my friends were discussing on different cultures of the world. The talk was all about Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Islam. I was shocked when my Sikh friend said "it is ultimately your religious friend who will rescue you when the time arrives". There is no regular talk about it; it may arise once in a while. My friend group consists of 3 Muslims, 2 Hindus, 1 Sikh. I would love to add my friends list with different

SLP Time Warp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

SLP Time Warp - Essay Example Strategic position After analysis of the market performance of the products, recommendations for price changes amongst the three products seems the most viable course of action to be taken. In this line, since the market reflected little wavering on the X5 product, its price needs to be kept constant until a well cut out market trend is observable. The market performance of the X6 reflects a steady performance and market dominance in its category. In this view, an increasing in its market price will be a wise step in maximizing its profits. The market performance of the X7, on the other hand, is not as impressive. In a bid to compete favorably with other market brands, it is in order to price it more competitively. In this regard, I would recommend a price reduction as the most workable strategy (Beverland, Napoli, & Farrelly, 2010). A detailed explanation of the decisions is only able to be explained via an in-depth analysis, at the individual level, of the three new products offere d by the company, the X5, the X6, and the X7. Product X5 The X5 has had three years run in the market and so far exhibits the lowest cost in pricing amongst the three products offered by the business. This reflects a case of plasticity on the side of the product. This translates in minimal interests in the products performance and hence the customers interest. This focuses the strategy not on an increment of the current market price but rather on the exposure and rebranding of the product so at to make it more profitable. While the current market price of $ 250 seems a reasonably fair market price, it is uncompetitive, not due to in affordability, but the reason may lie on its branding or on other factors that control consumer choices (Bivainiene, 2010). Product X6 Since its market debut 2 years back, the market performance of the product X6 has been relatively impressive. The case of the product can be described as being flat metal. Its smooth market performance is not attributable to its price but rather on the overall usefulness and performance as judged by the customers. The relative stability in the market has made the products price be quoted as $420, a figure that can be raised, albeit by a minimal margin, in a bid to maximize the profits attainable via the use of the product. The risks involved in having a large increase in price are that some customers may be willing to compromise on quality if only to have a cheaper, more affordable product irrespective of its performance. As such, any price increment needs to be done discreetly and with enough consideration to the customer if its continued good performance is to be sustained (Slotegraaf & Pauwels, 2008). Product X7 Given that the product is relatively new in the market; its market reviews may not be concrete enough from which to draw conclusive findings. The case for this product can thus be described as colored, in contrast to the plastic case of X5, and the metal case associated with X6. The relat ive immobility of this product in the market is attributable by hesitant customers who opt for better established products of the same caliber. The un-ease that results is not so much a factor of the price but rather based on the anticipated performance of the product in the market in comparison to the other already established products. The initial price, quoted at an approximate $200 serves as an entry price

Parenting Children with Severe Difficulties Essay Example for Free

Parenting Children with Severe Difficulties Essay Becoming a parent needs some planning and preparation—mentally, socially and financially. Depending on various circumstances, parents may not be completely prepared when they have children. Still, having a child with severe disabilities could be shocking for some parents. In such cases, the child will need special care and attention from the parents, as well as from medical practitioners such as doctors and therapists. Parents need to be aware of the condition of the child and look for various ways to help the child become healthy and well. As the child grows up, the nature of stress and difficulties faced by the parents will also change. In addition to the physical needs of the child that the parents must look out for, they will also need to face several psychosocial struggles. According to Hastings and Beck (2004), parents of children with special needs, especially those relating to intellectual disabilities are subjected to stress and mental health-related problems because they need to adapt to social situations. They may experience different emotions depending on the behavior of their child, which they may or may not have control over. Feelings of embarrassment, annoyance and social discomfiture may be felt by the parents in various social settings. 1. Psychosocial Difficulties of Parents of Children with Severe Disabilities Raising a child requires significant investment in time, money and, more importantly, love, tenderness and caring! For a child with severe disabilities, parents may feel overwhelmed with the responsibility they have to bear. Oftentimes, people in the society may view children with disabilities unfairly and may unknowingly look with pity at the children’s parents. Among the psychosocial difficulties of parents are anxiety, depression and anger among others. Some parents find it really difficult to accept that their child has severe disabilities. This denial, then, would backfire and manifest in many ways. In a sense, denial is an escape from responsibility. Parents feel hopeless and unwilling to reconcile what went wrong with the pregnancy or with the disabilities of young children (Lavin, 2001). Anxiety and guilt can also be manifested by parents of children with disabilities. They may blame themselves for what happened and for not loving their children more. They may become conflicted internally—they hover between hating the responsibility thrust on them by their child’s disabilities and at the same feeling guilty that they feel that way. At some point, they may even get angry at the child at the world or at themselves for their child’s situation. Depression may also occur, depending on the gravity of the situation, the social connections of the parents and their ability to cope with the situation. When they are in social situations such as at the mall or in public places, the disabilities of the child may be highlighted and they may feel â€Å"special† as well. If parents are not able to accept the situation of their child and deal with it, they may find it difficult to adjust normally and raise their child well (Olsen Fuller, 2003). 2. Perception of the Child, the Parents and the Specialists Perceptions and mindsets are powerful. The way that parents view their child with special needs will affect how they treat such a child. While the broader society expects parents to love their children unconditionally, this may be more difficult for some parents. There are parents who may view a child with special needs as a nuisance and an unwanted burden and responsibility. Naturally, such an attitude and perception will resonate in the way that they treat the child. Trained medical practitioners and therapists are able to look at a child with special needs objectively and deliver all the necessary care the child needs. Such caring, however, were arrived at through years of training. This is the reason why parents of children with disabilities sometimes need to go to counseling so as to adjust their perceptions and their view of the situation. The perception of parents are also important for practitioners, special education teachers and other professionals to work with the parents in providing the necessary care and services for the growth and development of the child with disabilities (Bruns Mogharreban, 2008). If parents and practitioners have the same perception of the child, then it becomes easier for them to work together. As the child grows and interacts with more people in his immediate surroundings and in the broader community where he or she belongs to, collaboration between the parents and the professionals that deliver services for children with special needs becomes even more important. 3. Recommendations for Early Child Intervention Early intervention for children with special needs is necessary so that they, too, could enjoy a normal life. Not because they have disabilities means that they could not contribute meaningfully to the society. In fact, there have been great artists and craftsmen who managed to excel in what they do even with disabilities. Diagnose early. Early diagnosis of the child’s actual situation is very much needed. While a couple may have trouble accepting the reality of their child’s situation, knowing exactly what their child faces will help them get prepared and able to cope with the situation. Consequently, parents should enhance their attitude and perceptions toward the child. If needed, they should seek counseling so that they could better sort through their emotions and deal with any denial, guilt or anxiety they may be feeling. Following such counseling, the parents need to learn how to teach the right behavior to their child. Special education teachers may be able to bring out the best out of children with special needs. Yet, the role of the home and of the parents is still very important in the life of a child with special needs. It is inside the home where behavior is first mimicked, learned and reinforced. Without such learning inside the home, the child will find it difficult to adapt to his world and to the different kinds of people around him. Seeking out schools for children with special needs will also be a good move for the family so as to regulate the child’s behavior early on. 4. How I relate with a child with special needs. It is difficult to imagine myself in the shoes of a child with severe disabilities. But I am sure that I would still have curiosity because of what I see, hear, touch, smell and taste. I would be able to use all of these senses with verifying efficacy. While I may be limited by certain disabilities, that will not take away my senses. As such, I will still manage to use my curiosity to explore my world. As a child, I have felt the warmth of love and care from my parents and from the people that I am close to. Although the parents of a child with disabilities may find the situation of their child difficult, most of the time, they still want the best for their child. If I were growing up as a child with special needs, I would also learn that I have a sense of limitation. Everyone has different kinds of limitations in their lives. The limitations, however, are greater for children with disabilities. I would not help but compare myself with other children since that is a natural part of growing up. That might also be a source of frustration for a child with disabilities. As I put myself in the shoes of a child with disabilities, I could not help but appreciate what I have now. This is not to say that I pity those children with special needs. But it can be difficult—for the child and for the parents. This is why intervention is much needed at an early age when the child’s body and consciousness can be molded rather easily. Any child—with or without disabilities—will always appreciate sincere love and affection, first from parents and then from people around him. Hence, in providing care for them, there should always be a tinge of love and tenderness. Reference Bruns, D. A. Mogharreban, C. C. (2008). Working With Young Children With Disabilities: Perceptions, Skills, and Training Needs of Head Start Teachers. NHSA Dialog, 11 (1): 54-66. Hastings, R. P. Beck, A. (2004). Stress Intervention for Parents of Children with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45 (8): 1338-1349. Lavin, J. L. (2001). Special Kids Need Special Parents. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group. Olsen, G. Fuller, M. L. (2003). Home-School Relations: Working Successfully with Parents and Families. New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

Beloved: Analysis :: essays research papers

From the beginning, Beloved focuses on the import of memory and history. Sethe struggles daily with the haunting legacy of slavery, in the form of her threatening memories and also in the form of her daughter’s aggressive ghost. For Sethe, the present is mostly a struggle to beat back the past, because the memories of her daughter’s death and the experiences at Sweet Home are too painful for her to recall consciously. But Sethe’s repression is problematic, because the absence of history and memory inhibits the construction of a stable identity. Even Sethe’s hard-won freedom is threatened by her inability to confront her prior life. Paul D’s arrival gives Sethe the opportunity and the impetus to finally come to terms with her painful life history. Already in the first chapter, the reader begins to gain a sense of the horrors that have taken place. Like the ghost, the address of the house is a stubborn reminder of its history. The characters refer to the house by its number, 124. These digits highlight the absence of Sethe’s murdered third child. As an institution, slavery shattered its victims’ traditional family structures, or else precluded such structures from ever forming. Slaves were thus deprived of the foundations of any identity apart from their role as servants. Baby Suggs is a woman who never had the chance to be a real mother, daughter, or sister. Later, we learn that neither Sethe nor Paul D knew their parents, and the relatively long, six-year marriage of Halle and Sethe is an anomaly in an institution that would regularly redistribute men and women to different farms as their owners deemed necessary. The scars on Sethe’s back serve as another testament to her disfiguring and dehumanizing years as a slave. Like the ghost, the scars also work as a metaphor for the way that past tragedies affect us psychologically, â€Å"haunting† or â€Å"scarring† us for life. More specifically, the tree shape formed by the scars might symbolize Sethe’s incomplete family tree. It could also symbolize the burden of existence itself, through an allusion to the â€Å"tree of knowledge† from which Adam and Eve ate, initiating their mortality and suffering. Sethe’s â€Å"tree† may also offer insight into the empowering abilities of interpretation. In the same way that the white men are able to justify and increase their power over the slaves by â€Å"studying† and interpreting them according to their own whims, Amy’s interpretation of Sethe’s mass of ugly scars as a â€Å"chokecherry tree† transforms a story of pain and oppres sion into one of survival.

The Golden Lily Chapter 20

GETTING TO TREY was easier said than done. A girl getting into the guys' dorm at normal hours would've been difficult enough. But after curfew? In the middle of the night? Nearly impossible. I had to resort to creative options and called Eddie while I was driving Adrian home. One thing I never had to feel guilty about was calling Eddie at any hour. He kept his ringer on (much to Micah's delight, no doubt), and I suspected he slept with the phone next to his pillow. â€Å"Yes?† Eddie's voice was alert and ready, as though he hadn't been asleep at all. That was just how he was. â€Å"I need you to go see if you can wake up Trey,† I told him. â€Å"Sonya's been kidnapped and is being held at some weird compound with a logo like Trey's tattoo. We need to find out what he knows.† This was the first time Eddie was hearing about Sonya's kidnapping, but he didn't ask for further information – or how I'd known her location. He knew she'd been in danger recently, and this quick message was enough to get him going. I didn't exactly know what would happen when Eddie did find Trey, seeing as there was no way I'd be able to talk to Trey myself until morning. Still, we had to start somewhere. â€Å"Okay,† said Eddie. â€Å"I'm on it. I'll call you back.† We disconnected, and I stifled a yawn. â€Å"Well, here goes nothing. Let's hope Eddie can find out something.† â€Å"Preferably without beating up Trey in the process,† said Adrian. He snuggled against the passenger seat, the only sign that he too was feeling tired from our late night. He'd long since converted from a vampire's nocturnal schedule. â€Å"Since that might limit how much we can find out.† I made a face. â€Å"If Trey's somehow involved with this, I'm not sure I want to take it easy on him. And yet†¦ I just can't believe he is.† â€Å"People fool each other all the time. Look at you. You think Trey knows you're part of a secret society helping to keep vampires hidden from the world?† â€Å"Actually†¦ yes.† I stopped at a red light and thought back on some of Trey's weird behaviors. â€Å"He knows Jill's a Moroi, I'm almost certain of it. He didn't notice right away, but when he did, he kept telling me to keep her hidden. Then after Sonya was attacked, he told me to stay safe.† A horrible realization was dawning on me. â€Å"He knew. He knew I was friends with Sonya. He probably knew about the attack and never said anything!† â€Å"Not a surprise if his group's working counter to yours.† Adrian's tone softened. â€Å"If it makes you feel better, it sounds like he was kind of conflicted if he was trying to warn you.† â€Å"I don't know that it does. Oh, Adrian.† I pulled up in front of his building and saw the yellow Mustang illuminated in the streetlight. â€Å"You left the car out. You're lucky it didn't get towed.† â€Å"I'll move it,† he said. â€Å"And don't look at me like that. It's within a half-mile radius. I'm not breaking your rules.† â€Å"Just be careful,† I muttered. He opened Latte's door and glanced back at me. â€Å"You sure you want to go back to the school? You'll be locked in until morning.† â€Å"Not much I can do until then anyway. I want to be there the instant I can get access to Trey. I'll trust in Eddie for now.† Adrian looked reluctant to leave me but finally nodded. â€Å"Call if you need anything. I'm going to keep trying to see if I can find Sonya in her dreams. Didn't have much luck earlier.† One of spirit's more disconcerting powers was the user's ability to intrude on the dreams of other people. â€Å"Is she just not asleep?† â€Å"That, or drugged.† Neither option made me feel any better. He gave me one last, lingering look before leaving. I returned to Amberwood where a sleepy student aide waved me in without comment. Mrs. Weathers had long since gone home, and her overnight coverage didn't seem particularly concerned about my comings and goings. As I was walking up the stairs, my phone rang. Eddie. â€Å"Well, it took forever, but I finally woke his roommate up,† he told me. â€Å"And?† â€Å"He's not there. I guess he wasn't last night either. Some kind of family emergency.† â€Å"No word on when he'll be back?† I was beginning to think all of Trey's â€Å"family stuff† might be more insidious than I'd guessed. I was also willing to bet he wasn't the only one with a sun tattoo. â€Å"No.† I DRIFTED IN AND OUT of sleep that night. My body was exhausted from the magic, but I was too on edge about Sonya to fully give in to the fatigue. I keep waking up and checking my cell phone, afraid I'd missed some call – despite the fact that it was on its loudest setting. I finally gave up and got out of bed a couple of hours before the cafeteria's breakfast began. By the time I'd showered and dressed – and put my coffee maker into high gear – I was back into open hours on campus. Not that it did me much good. I made two more calls after that, first to Spencer's to see if Trey was working. I didn't expect him to be, but it was a good excuse to see if he'd been there in the last couple of days. He hadn't been. My next call was to Stanton, reporting Sonya's disappearance. I told her we had a lead that connected one of my classmates to the vampire hunters and that Sonya was likely being held at a compound outside of town. I didn't elaborate on how I knew, and Stanton was distracted enough by the kidnapping in general to ask much more. At breakfast, I found my â€Å"family† sitting with Micah over at West's cafeteria. Eddie, Angeline, and Jill's troubled faces told me they all knew about Sonya. Micah was cheerfully chatting about something, and I had a feeling his presence was preventing the others from discussing what they really wanted to. When Micah turned to ask Eddie something, I leaned over and murmured to Jill, â€Å"Get him out of here.† â€Å"Tell him to go?† she whispered back. â€Å"If you need to. Or go with him.† â€Å"But I want to – â€Å" She bit her lip as Micah's attention returned to her. She looked unhappy about what she had to do, but soon put on the resolved expression that recently I'd often seen her wear. She nodded toward Micah's plate. â€Å"Hey, are you about done? I need to check on something with Miss Yamani. Will you come with me?† Micah brightened. â€Å"Of course.† Once the two of them were gone, I turned to Eddie and Angeline. â€Å"Any sign of Trey?† I asked. â€Å"No,† said Eddie. â€Å"I checked in again this morning. His roommate's starting to hate me. Can't say I blame him.† â€Å"This is driving me crazy!† I said, feeling like I could beat my head against the wall. â€Å"We're so close and yet helpless. Every minute that goes by is another that Sonya doesn't have.† He grimaced. â€Å"Are we sure she's alive?† â€Å"She was last night,† I said. Both Eddie and Angeline looked at me in amazement. â€Å"How do you know?† she asked. â€Å"Um, well, I – no way!† My jaw dropped as I stared past Eddie. â€Å"It's Trey!† Sure enough, a bleary-eyed Trey had just entered the cafeteria. Damp hair indicated a recent shower, but there were bruises and scrapes all over him that I could no longer attribute to football. Eddie was in motion before I could say another word, and Angeline and I were quick to follow. I half-expected Eddie to tackle Trey then and there. Instead, Eddie walked right in front of Trey and blocked him from entering the food line. I was just in time to hear Eddie say, â€Å"No breakfast today. You're coming with us.† Trey started to protest and then saw Angeline and me. Jill suddenly appeared as well, having apparently lost Micah. A sad look crossed Trey's features – almost defeated – and he gave a weary nod. â€Å"Let's go outside.† As soon as we'd cleared the door, Eddie grabbed hold of Trey and shoved him against the building. â€Å"Where's Sonya Karp?† Eddie demanded. Trey looked understandably surprised. Eddie was lean and muscled, but most people underestimated just how strong he was. â€Å"Eddie, back off!† I hissed, glancing around uneasily. I had the same urge, true, but our interrogation wouldn't get very far if a teacher came by and thought we were roughing up another student. Eddie released Trey and stepped back, but there was still a dangerous glint in his eyes. â€Å"Where's the compound you're holding her at?† That seemed to wake Trey out of his sluggish state. â€Å"How do you know about that?† â€Å"We'll ask the questions,† said Eddie. He didn't touch Trey again, but his proximity and posture left no question he would go to extremes if needed. â€Å"Is Sonya still alive?† Trey hesitated, and I almost expected a denial of knowledge. â€Å"Y-yes. For now.† Eddie snapped again. He grabbed the front of Trey's shirt and jerked him close. â€Å"I swear, if you and your messed-up associates lay one hand on her – â€Å" â€Å"Eddie,† I warned. For a moment, Eddie didn't move. Then, reluctantly, he released Trey's shirt, but stayed where he'd been standing. â€Å"Trey,† I began, keeping the same reasonable tone I'd just used with Eddie – after all, Trey and I were friends, right? â€Å"You have to help us. Please help us find Sonya.† He shook his head. â€Å"I can't, Sydney. It's for your own good. She's evil. I don't know what trick she's played on you or how she's got this illusion going on that hides her true identity, but you can't trust her. She'll turn on you. Let us – let us do what we need to.† The words were all correct, right in line with the Warriors' propaganda. But, there was something in the way Trey spoke, something about his posture†¦ I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was that made me question him. People teased me about my inability to pick up on social cues, but I was almost certain he wasn't entirely on board with whatever this group wanted him to do. â€Å"This isn't you, Trey,† I said. â€Å"I know you well enough to know. You wouldn't kill an innocent woman.† â€Å"She's not innocent.† There it was again – that mix of emotions. Doubt. â€Å"She's a monster. You know about them. You know what they can do. Not ones like her.† He nodded toward Jill. â€Å"But the others. The undead ones.† â€Å"Does Sonya look undead?† asked Eddie. â€Å"You see any red eyes?† â€Å"No,† Trey admitted. â€Å"But we have other reports. Witnesses who saw her in Kentucky. Reports of her victims.† It was hard to keep a calm face through that. I'd actually seen Sonya when she was Strigoi. She'd been terrifying, and given half a chance, she would have killed my companions and me. It was hard to accept that when one turned into a Strigoi, they weren't in control of their senses or soul. They lost touch with their humanity – or whatever Moroi had – and weren't the same as they'd once been. Sonya had done terrible, terrible things, but she was no longer that creature. â€Å"Sonya changed,† I said. â€Å"She's not one of them anymore.† Trey's eyes narrowed. â€Å"That's impossible. You're being deceived. There's some kind of†¦ I don't know†¦ dark magic going on.† â€Å"This isn't getting us anywhere,† growled Eddie. â€Å"Call Dimitri. Between the two of us, we'll get him to tell us where this compound's at. I've broken into a prison. Getting into this place shouldn't be that much harder.† â€Å"Oh, you think so?† A humorless smile crossed Trey's features. â€Å"That place is surrounded with an electric fence and packed with armed men. Plus, she's heavily secured. You can't just walk in there.† â€Å"Why is she still alive?† asked Angeline. She seemed to realize how weird that sounded and was quick to elaborate. â€Å"That is†¦ I mean, I'm glad she is. But if you think she's so evil, why didn't you finish her off?† She glanced at my friends and me. â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"It's a good question,† Eddie told her. Trey took a long time in answering. I had a feeling he was torn between keeping the group's secrets and wanting to justify his actions to us. â€Å"Because we're all being tested,† he said finally. â€Å"To see who's worthy of performing the kill.† â€Å"Oh my God,† said Jill. â€Å"Hence all your bruises recently,† I said. My fears of domestic abuse weren't far off, really. â€Å"You're competing to kill a woman who's done nothing to you.† â€Å"Stop saying that!† Trey cried, truly looking distraught. â€Å"She's not innocent.† â€Å"But you're not so sure,† I said. â€Å"Are you? Your eyes aren't telling you what your hunter friends are.† He evaded the accusation. â€Å"My family expects this of me. We all have to try – especially after we messed up the alley attack. We lost our authorization to kill her then, which is why the council ordered these trials to redeem ourselves and prove we were up to it.† Getting â€Å"authorization† to kill someone was sickening, but it was the rest of what he said that made me do a double take. â€Å"You were there,† I said in disbelief. â€Å"In the alley, and – and it was you! You're the one who grabbed me!† It came back to me now, my assailant's surprise and hesitation. Trey's face confirmed as much. â€Å"I knew you were friends with them. I can tell by looking at all of you, although I didn't figure you two out right away.† That was to Eddie and Angeline. Trey turned back to me. â€Å"I recognized your tattoo the first time we met. I just ignored it because I didn't think you were involved in anything that I was. I thought you only hung out with harmless vampires, so I didn't expect you to be there that night. I never wanted you to get hurt. I still don't, which is why you need to let this go.† â€Å"I'm tired of this,† said Eddie. It was a wonder he'd been patient this long. â€Å"We need to bust down the doors of that place and – â€Å" â€Å"Wait, wait.† An idea was forming in my head – and it was another crazy one. â€Å"Trey, you said Eddie couldn't just walk into that place. But could I?† â€Å"What are you talking about?† asked Trey, a mix of suspicion and confusion on his face â€Å"You know what I am. You know what I do.† Trey nodded. â€Å"Our two groups used to be united. Those guys who stopped me on the street even said they thought we should all be working together. The Warriors want Alchemist resources.† â€Å"So, what†¦ you want a trade?† asked Trey, frowning. â€Å"No. I just want to talk to this council of yours. I want to explain why Sonya isn't†¦ er, why she doesn't look the way she used to. There's a Moroi who uses a certain kind of magic who could even show you – â€Å" â€Å"No,† said Trey immediately. â€Å"None of them would be allowed inside. They're tolerated, but that's it. You hybrids wouldn't be allowed either.† Again, he spoke to Eddie and Angeline. I'd never heard the term hybrids used, but the meaning was clear. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Only humans. I'm human. Your group wants to work with my group. Let me go with you. Unarmed. I'll talk to your leaders and – â€Å" â€Å"Sydney, no,† protested Eddie. â€Å"You can't go there alone! They tried to decapitate Sonya, for God's sake. And remember what Clarence said about radicals stalking him?† â€Å"We won't hurt humans,† said Trey adamantly. â€Å"She'd be safe.† â€Å"I believe you,† I told him. â€Å"And I know you wouldn't ever let anything happen to me either. Look, aren't you curious about why Sonya is the way she is? Can you take the chance your people are making a mistake? You said you tolerate Moroi. She's one of them. Let me explain. I'm not asking for anything else except a chance to speak.† â€Å"And a guarantee of safety,† added Angeline, who looked almost as outraged as Eddie. He nodded at her words. â€Å"You guys are big on the honor stuff, right? You'd have to promise she'd be safe.† â€Å"Honor's what makes us do what we do,† said Trey. â€Å"If we promise she'll be safe, she will be.† â€Å"Then ask them,† I urged. â€Å"Please? Won't you do this for me? As my friend?† A pained look crossed Trey's features at that. He'd hinted before that he owed me for helping end the illicit tattoo ring last month. That would obligate any friend, let alone one instilled with a rigid sense of honor. I knew then, too, that more than honor was on the line here. Trey and I were friends – with more in common than I'd ever realized. We both were part of groups that wanted to control our lives, often in ways we didn't like. We also had domineering fathers. If Trey and I didn't have such opposing goals, we might have laughed about all this. â€Å"I'll ask,† Trey said. Something told me he too was thinking of our similarities. â€Å"Because it's you. But I can't make any promises.† â€Å"Then ask now,† growled Eddie. â€Å"We don't have time to waste. And I'm guessing Sonya doesn't either.† Trey didn't deny it. I hesitated, suddenly wondering if this was a smart choice. What would happen if we let Trey out of our sight? Would it be better if we really did drag him to Dimitri? And Sonya†¦ how much time did she have left? â€Å"Now,† I reiterated to Trey. â€Å"You have to get in touch with them now. Don't go to class.† It was probably the first and only time I'd say those words. â€Å"I swear,† said Trey. â€Å"I'll call them now.† The bell rang, ending our meeting. Although, if we'd had the chance to save Sonya at that moment, I knew each of my friends would have walked off campus then and there. We let Trey go, and he headed back toward his dorm, not toward our classes. Angeline – newly free from suspension – departed with Jill while Eddie and I walked to history. â€Å"That was a mistake,† he said, face grim as he stared at where Trey had gone. â€Å"For all we know, he's going to disappear, and we'll have lost any chance we had at getting Sonya back.† â€Å"I don't think he will,† I said. â€Å"I know Trey. He's a good person, and I could tell that even if he thinks Strigoi need to be exterminated, he's not 100 percent sure of Sonya. He'll do what he can. I think he's feeling torn right now, caught between what they've told him his whole life and what he's starting to see with his own eyes.† Sound like anyone else you know? an inner voice asked. I'd sort of hoped that Trey would give me an answer right away – say, by chemistry. But he wasn't there either or anywhere else at school the day. I supposed these things took time, and my patience and faith were rewarded at the end of the day with a text from him: Still checking. Some are willing to talk. Others need convincing. Eddie didn't take Trey's message as concrete proof when I showed it to him, but I didn't think Trey would've said anything if he'd skipped town. Eddie wanted to get together with Dimitri and discuss strategy on this new development. So, we decided to take a group trip downtown. I sent the summons to our family to meet outside the East dorm in a half hour. Jill was the first one to arrive, and she came to a halt when she saw me. â€Å"Wow, Sydney†¦ your hair.† I glanced up from where I'd been answering a text from Brayden, telling him I couldn't hang out this weekend. â€Å"What about it?† â€Å"The way those layers are styled. They perfectly complement your face.† She was looking at me in that weird way again. â€Å"Well, yeah,† I said, hoping to change the subject. â€Å"It's a, um, good haircut. Sorry we had to get rid of Micah earlier.† It took her a few seconds, but my distraction snapped her out of the hair-induced trance. â€Å"Oh, no. It's okay. I mean, things are getting weirder between us anyway.† â€Å"Oh?† Micah had seemed as chipper as ever, the last time I saw him. â€Å"You guys are still having problems?† â€Å"Well†¦ I guess I am. I really like him. I love hanging out with him and his friends. But I just keep getting reminded of how nothing can happen with us. Like, this morning. There's a whole other world we have going that he can't be a part of. And I can't stand the thought of lying to him or keeping him out of my life. I might have to do it†¦ for real. End things. I know I've kind of said that before, but now I mean it.† â€Å"We're here for you if you do,† I said. I technically meant it, but if Jill came sobbing to me afterward, I wasn't entirely sure what I should say. Maybe I could find a book on appropriate breakup counseling techniques before she did the deed. A wry smile crossed her face. â€Å"You know what's silly? I mean, I don't want to go jumping from one guy to another – and I do still care about Micah – but I'm starting to notice what a really good guy Eddie is.† â€Å"He's a great guy,† I confirmed. â€Å"Moroi and dhampirs being together are discouraged when they're older, but now†¦ I mean, I knew some who got together at St. Vladimir's.† She gave an embarrassed laugh. â€Å"I know, I know†¦ I shouldn't even be thinking like that. One guy at a time. But still†¦ the more I see Eddie – he's just so brave and so confident. He'd do anything for us, you know? He's like some storybook hero in real life. But he's so dedicated, he'd probably never be interested in someone like me. No time for dating.† â€Å"Actually,† I said, â€Å"I think he'd be very interested in you.† Her eyes widened. â€Å"Really?† I wanted to tell her everything. Instead, I chose my words carefully, unwilling to give away his secrets after he'd spoken to me before about letting him handle his own personal affairs. â€Å"He talks all the time about how smart and competent you are. I think he'd definitely be open to something.† He also talked about how he wasn't worthy of her love, but that resolve might fade if Jill actively went after him. She grew lost in thought, and no more was said on the topic when Eddie and Angeline came walking up. We drove into town, and I dropped Jill and the two dhampirs off at Adrian's while I ran a few errands. Waiting for Trey was agonizing, and I needed distraction. Plus, I was low on some Alchemist supplies and wanted to make sure I was up to full strength before any venture into the Warriors' camp. My phone rang as we were wrapping up. It was Trey, and I stepped outside an herbal store to take the call. â€Å"Okay,† he said. â€Å"You're good to go. They'll meet with you tonight – just you.† Anxiety and excitement raced through me. Tonight. It seemed surprisingly soon, yet that was exactly what I wanted. We needed to get Sonya out of there. â€Å"I'll take you there at seven,† Trey continued. â€Å"And†¦ well, I'm sorry†¦ but you'll have to go blindfolded. And I'll be checking to make sure no one follows us. If they do, everything's off.† â€Å"I understand,† I said, though a blindfold certainly made the venture scarier. â€Å"I'll be ready. Thank you, Trey.† â€Å"Also,† he added, â€Å"we want the sword back.† I made arrangements for him to pick me up at Adrian's, since I had a feeling Dimitri and Eddie would have a lot to say to me beforehand. In fact, I called them as soon as I was off the phone with Trey, to give them a heads-up. I also called Stanton to give her an update. It occurred to me I should have checked with her sooner, but I'd wanted a definitive answer from Trey first. â€Å"I don't like the idea of you going alone,† she said. â€Å"But it does seem unlikely they'd hurt you. They really do seem to stay away from humans – us in particular. And if there's a chance to get Karp out of there†¦ well. That would save us a lot of fallout with the Moroi.† Stanton's tone told me, however, that even if she thought I'd be safe, she wasn't so optimistic about Sonya. â€Å"Be careful, Miss Sage.† Adrian's apartment was filled with tension when I arrived. Dimitri, Eddie, and Angeline were clearly agitated, probably because they were being left out of the action. Adrian, surprisingly, looked upset too, though I couldn't figure out why. Jill watched him with concern, and they kept staring at each other, unseen messages undoubtedly passing to her through the bond. At last, he averted his gaze, like he was ending a conversation. Jill sighed and walked toward the others in the kitchen. I started to speak to Adrian, but Eddie beckoned me forward. â€Å"We're debating on whether to give you a weapon or not,† he said. â€Å"Well, the answer is ‘not,†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ I said immediately. â€Å"Come on, they're blindfolding me. Do you think they won't search me for weapons too?† â€Å"There must be a way,† said Dimitri. Since we were in air conditioning, he wore the duster. â€Å"I can't let you go in there defenseless.† â€Å"I'm not in danger,† I said, feeling like I'd been repeating the same thing all day. â€Å"They might be crazy, but Trey says if they give their word, they'll stick to it.† â€Å"Sonya doesn't have those guarantees,† Dimitri pointed out. â€Å"No weapon is going to help me save her,† I said. â€Å"Except for my reasoning. And I'm armed with that about as well as I can be.† The dhampirs still didn't seem happy. They went back to arguing amongst themselves, and I left them to find some water. Adrian called to me from the living room. â€Å"There's diet pop in there.† I opened the refrigerator. Sure enough, it was stocked with all kinds of pop. And, in fact, it had more food than I'd ever seen. Another benefit of Nathan Ivashkov's generosity. I grabbed a can of Diet Coke and joined Adrian on the couch. â€Å"Thanks,† I said, opening the can. â€Å"This is the next best thing you could have to gelato.† He raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Gelato? Sounds like dessert to me, Sage.† â€Å"It is,† I admitted. The mundane topic was comforting amidst all the tension. â€Å"It's kind of your fault for bringing it up yesterday. Now I can't stop thinking about it. I wanted some at dinner last night, and Brayden talked me out of it – which is probably why I'm even more obsessed with it. Ever had that happen? Once you can't have something, you want it that much more.† â€Å"Yes,† he said bitterly. â€Å"It happens all the time.† â€Å"Why are you so down? You think I should have a weapon, too?† With Adrian, it was really hard to guess where his moods would go. â€Å"No, I get your point, and I think you're right,† he said. â€Å"Not that I like the idea of you going there at all.† â€Å"I have to help Sonya,† I said. He studied me and smiled. â€Å"I know you do. I wish I could come with you.† â€Å"Oh yeah? You going to protect me and carry me out of there like you threatened to do last night?† I teased. â€Å"Hey, if that's what it takes. You and Sonya. I'll toss one of you ever each shoulder. Pretty manly, huh?† â€Å"Very,† I said, happy to see him joking again. His amusement faded, and he became serious again. â€Å"Let me ask you something. Which is scarier: walking into a den of crazy, murdering humans or being with safe – though kind of wacky – vampires and half vampires? I know the hang-up you Alchemists have with us, but is the loyalty to your own race so strong that†¦ I don't know†¦ that the people themselves don't matter?† It was a surprisingly deep question for Adrian. It also echoed my trip to the Alchemist bunker to see Keith. I was reminded of how Keith's father hadn't cared about his son's moral character so long as it meant Keith wasn't on good terms with vampires. I also thought back to the alley and how obstinate the Warriors were about hearing any truth but their own. And finally, I looked over at the dhampirs arguing in the kitchen, continuing to brainstorm covert ways of keeping Sonya and me safe, no matter the risk. I turned back to Adrian. â€Å"I'd take the vampires. Loyalty to one's kind can only go so far.† Something in Adrian's face transformed, but I hardly paid it any attention. I was too struck by the realization that the words I'd just uttered were akin to high treason in the Alchemists. Eddie and Angeline left later to get us dinner, and I let them take my car, so long as Eddie drove. While they were gone, Dimitri tried to drill in some more self-defense techniques, but it was hard to learn very much in so short a time. I kept thinking of Wolfe warning us to avoid dangerous places. What would he say about me walking into a den of armed vampire hunters? Eddie and Angeline were gone for a while and finally returned, angry at how long the restaurant had taken. â€Å"I didn't think we weren't going to be back in time,† said Eddie. â€Å"I was afraid you wouldn't get food before your mission.† â€Å"I don't even know if I can eat,† I admitted. Despite my earlier brave words, I was starting to grow nervous. â€Å"Oh, you can keep those in case you need the car.† He'd walked over to my purse with the keys and dropped them in anyway. â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"Positive.† He shrugged and then fished the keys out again. Adrian, to my surprise, watched him with narrowed eyes and seemed upset about something. I couldn't keep up with his moods today. He stood up and walked over to Eddie. After a few moments, they moved even farther away and seemed to be having a whispered argument, one that involved a few glances at me. Everyone else looked uncomfortable and suddenly jumped in with any conversation topics they could find. I could only stare back and forth, feeling like I had missed something important. Trey called me at seven on the dot, saying he was waiting out front. I rose from my chair and picked up the sword, taking a deep breath. â€Å"Wish me luck.† â€Å"I'll walk you out,† said Adrian. â€Å"Adrian,† warned Dimitri. Adrian rolled his eyes. â€Å"I know, I know. Don't worry. I promised.† Promised what? Nobody elaborated. There wasn't far to walk since he lived on the ground floor, but when we stepped outside, he caught hold of me, his hands resting on my arms. A jolt went through me, both at the touch and the unexpected gesture. His only displays of tenderness were usually with Jill. â€Å"Sage,† he said. â€Å"For real. Be careful. Don't be a hero – we've got plenty of them back there. And†¦ no matter what happens, I want you to know that I never doubted what you're going to do. It's smart, and it's brave.† â€Å"You sound like it's already happened and failed,† I said. â€Å"No, no. I just†¦ well, I want you to know that I trust you.† â€Å"Okay,† I said, feeling a little puzzled. I again had the feeling that I wasn't being told something. â€Å"Hopefully my plan will work.† I needed to walk away, out of Adrian's grasp, but couldn't quite do it. I was hesitant to go, for some reason. There was safety and comfort there. Once I left, I really was walking into the lion's den. I lingered a few moments more, safe in the circle we made, and then reluctantly slipped away. â€Å"Please be careful,† he repeated. â€Å"Come back safe.† â€Å"I will.† On impulse I took off my cross necklace and pressed it into his hand. â€Å"This time, keep it for real. Hold onto it until I return. If you get too worried, look at it and know that I'll have to come back for it. It goes really well with khakis and neutral colors.† I worried he would give it back, but he simply nodded and squeezed the cross tight. I walked away, feeling slightly vulnerable without it, but hoped it reassured him. My discomfort suddenly seemed like a small thing. I wanted Adrian to be okay. I got into the passenger seat of Trey's car and immediately gave him the sword. He looked about as miserable as he had earlier. â€Å"You sure you want to go through with this?† Why did everyone keep asking me that? â€Å"Yes. Absolutely.† â€Å"Let me see your cell phone.† I handed it over, and he turned it off. He gave it back, along with a blindfold. â€Å"I'll trust you to put this on yourself.† â€Å"Thanks.† I started to slip it on and then, on impulse, looked back toward the building one last time. Adrian was still standing there, hands in his pockets, face concerned. Seeing my gaze, he managed a small smile and raised one hand in†¦ what? Farewell? A benediction? I didn't know, but it made me feel better. The last thing I saw was the flash of the cross in the sunlight, just before I covered my eyes with the blindfold. I was plunged into darkness.

In the bed department by Anne Enright Essay

Anne Enright is a modern Irish writer who vividly portrays destiny of women and their life troubles. In the short story â€Å"In the Bed Department† Anne Enright creates a bright character of a modern woman depicting her grievances and life hopes. Thesis The short story portrays the role of fate and destiny in the life of an ordinary woman, her expectations, loosing hopes and life struggle. The story is related to life and struggle, portraying a woman who has survived the illusions that marriage and motherhood would provide lifelong companionship and identity, and who has come to recognize the existential solitude of all human beings. The main character of the short story, Kitty, is a middle age woman. Anne Enright portrays the development of the character through life chances and grievances faced by Kitty. Her husband had left her and â€Å"the judge avoided him the house† (Enright). She was depressed and her sons did everything possible to look after her, and then â€Å"they had made their way here, to outer suburbs and a decent life† (Enright). Through minor characters, the author shows that life chances and fate has a great impact on human happiness and social status. Her sons, a mother, a stranger who calls, Dublin men and a lover are aliens who cannot understand and support Kitty. For instance, the character of Tom symbolizes the last chance for her to be happy and loved. Although, â€Å"They [her sons] did not expect their mother to seduce old geezers in the front mom, and neither did the geezer (Enright). Desperation and depression are the main themes prevailing in the short story. Events and life experience is described through woman eyes which adds tension and emotional coloring to the story. A specific point of view helps readers to understand grievances and low status of women in modern society. The point of view shapes readers response forcing them to sympathize with Kitty. A point of view helps readers to feel that that the woman is suppressed by life grievances and lack of money. The tone of the short story reflects personal peculiarities and worldview of many women who cannot go beyond low social status and class. The story is full of symbols which help readers to understand the hardship and the role of fate in our life. For instance, a baby can be interpreted as a hope, new life and expectations: â€Å"At first she thought it was the change of life† (Enright). The main symbols of fate and loosing hopes are: number ‘thirteen’ and miscarriage. Using these symbols, Enright forces readers to rethink and reevaluate the role of life chances and misfortune an ordinary woman cannot resist. The surface of her story is limpidly clear and beguilingly placid, but her use of it is to enforce by close logic an impossible and often very shocking proposition driven with distinct and startling imagery (Fabb 2002). The setting of ‘a bed department’ can be compared with life of a human: â€Å"Nothing happened in the Bed Department. People bought a bed, or they did not buy a bed† (Enright). This setting depicts the gap between expected, traditional, usual things and reality people (readers) try to escape. Using this literary device, Enright shows that readers perception of the world is limited by traditions and values imposed by their society. â€Å"A bed† is a contextual symbol (Fabb 2002) which means family life and great expectations, hopes and life changes for the good: â€Å"Most people buying a bed were in love† (Enright). ‘Escalators’ is the main setting of the story which symbolizes ups and downs of Kitty’s life. This symbol represents destiny of an ordinary person: â€Å"The up escalator always mounting itself stir over stair; the down escalator falling like syrup, burying itself slowly in the flatness of the floor† (Enright). They can be interpreted as a life chance of every character that marks the significance of the events. Enright pays a special attention to the settings in the story which unveil inner psychological state of the characters, follow plot development and conflict resolution, and help the readers grasp the idea of loneliness and solitude (Cusk, 2004). The use of stylistic devices and expressive means supports vivid imagination and colorful visional representation of the story. Metaphors and similes help the author to appeal to readers’ imagination and feelings. The author uses such similes as â€Å"like a film†, â€Å"falling like syrup†, like â€Å"tombstones in a giant graveyard† to shape the atmosphere and underline important of all events and things depicted in the short story. In sum, Enright portrays that an ordinary woman is a passive victim of life circumstances and fate. Imagination is the main technique used by Enright to unveil the main message and support plot development. There are no lengthy descriptions in this story, but symbolic representation is aimed to appeal to imagination of readers and force them to create a picture of modern existence. Enright depicts that in our ordered and organized world one feels sometimes the need of a change, but she is weak and helpless to change her life suppressed by life circumstances and losing hopes. Works Cited Page Cusk, R. Mum’s the Word: The World Has Many Mothers but Little Sense of What It Might Be to Become One, Thanks to a Dearth of Serious Writing on the Subject. Rachel Cusk on a Sphere of Female Silence and Servitude. New Statesman, Vol. 133, August 23, 2004, p. 34. Enright, A. In the Bed Department. Fabb, N. Language and Literary Structure: The Linguistic Analysis of Form in Verse and Narrative. Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Harpers Ferry Raid - The Harpers Ferry Raid John Brown

Harpers Ferry Raid - The Harpers Ferry Raid John Brown Conflict Dates: John Browns raid on Harpers Ferry lasted from October 16-18, 1859, and contributed to the sectional tensions that led to the Civil War (1861-1865). Forces Commanders United States Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee88 US Marines, various local Maryland Virginia militia Browns Raiders John Brown21 men Harpers Ferry Raid Background: A noted radical abolitionist, John Brown came to national prominence during the Bleeding Kansas crisis of the mid-1850s. An effective partisan leader, he conducted a variety of operations against pro-slavery forces before returning east in late 1856 to raise additional funds. Backed by prominent abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Theodore Parker and George Luther Stearns, Samuel Gridley Howe, and Gerrit Smith, Brown was able to purchase weapons for his activities. This Secret Six supported Browns abolitionist views, but were not always aware of his intentions. Rather than continue small-scale activities in Kansas, Brown began planning for a large operation in Virginia designed to start a massive slave insurrection. Brown intended to capture the US Arsenal at Harpers Ferry and distribute the facilitys weapons to rebellious slaves. Believing that as many as 500 would join him on the first night, Brown planned to move south freeing slaves and destroying slavery as an institution. Though prepared to commence his raid in 1858, he was betrayed by one of his men and members of the Secret Six, fearing their identities would be revealed, forced Brown to postpone. The Raid Moves Forward: This hiatus resulted in Brown losing many of the men he had recruited for the mission as some got cold feet and others simply moved on to other activities. Finally moving forward in 1859, Brown arrived in Harpers Ferry on June 3 under the alias of Isaac Smith. Renting the Kennedy Farm approximately four miles north of the town, Brown set about training his raiding party. Arriving over the next several weeks, his recruits totaled only 21 men (16 white, 5 black). Though disappointed in the small size of his party, Brown commenced training for the operation. In August, Brown traveled north to Chambersburg, PA where he met with Frederick Douglass. Discussing the plan, Douglass advised against capturing the arsenal as any attack against the federal government was sure to have dire consequences. Ignoring Douglass advice, Brown returned to the Kennedy Farm and continued work. Armed with weapons received from supporters in the North, the raiders set out for Harpers Ferry on the night of October 16. While three men, including Browns son Owen, were left at the farm, another team, led by John Cook was dispatched to capture Colonel Lewis Washington. The great grandnephew of George Washington, Col. Washington was at his nearby Beall-Air estate. Cooks party succeeded in capturing the colonel as well as took a sword presented to George Washington by Frederick the Great and two pistols given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette. Returning via the Allstadt House, where he took additional captives, Cook and his men rejoined Brown at Harpers Ferry. Key to Browns success were capturing the weapons and escaping before word of the attack reached Washington and receiving the support of the local slave population. Moving into the town with his main force, Brown sought to fulfill the first of these goals. Cutting the telegraph wires, his men also detained a Baltimore Ohio train. In the process, African-American baggage handler Hayward Shepherd was shot and killed. Following this ironic twist, Brown inexplicably allowed the train to proceed. Reaching Baltimore the next day, those on board informed the authorities about the attack. Moving on, Browns men succeeded in capturing the armory and arsenal, but no rebelling slaves were forthcoming. Rather, they were discovered by armory workers on the morning of October 17. The Mission Fails: As the local militia gathered, the townspeople opened fire on Browns men. Exchanging fire, three locals, including Mayor Fontaine Beckham, were killed. During the day, a company of militia seized the bridge over the Potomac cutting off Browns escape route. With the situation deteriorating, Brown and his men selected nine hostages and abandoned the armory in favor of a smaller engine house nearby. Fortifying the structure, it became known as John Browns Fort. Trapped, Brown sent out his son Watson and Aaron D. Stevens under a flag of truce to negotiate. Emerging, Watson was shot and killed while Stevens was hit and captured. In a fit of panic, raider William H. Leeman attempted to escape by swimming across the Potomac. He was shot and killed in the water and the increasingly drunken townspeople used his body for target practice for the rest of the day. Around 3:30 PM, President James Buchanan dispatched a detachment of US Marines under leadership of US Army Lieutenent Colonel Robert E. Lee to deal with the situation. Arriving, Lee closed the saloons and took overall command. The next morning, Lee offered the role of attacking Browns fort to the local militias. Both demurred and Lee assigned the mission to Lieutenant Israel Greene and the Marines. Around 6:30 AM, Lieutenant J.E.B. Stuart, serving as Lees volunteer aide-de-camp, was sent forward to negotiate Browns surrender. Approaching the door of the engine house, Stuart informed Brown that his men would be spared if they surrendered. This offer was refused and Stuart signaled Greene with a wave of his hat to start the assault Moving forward, the Marines went at the engine house doors with sledge hammers and finally broke through with the use of a make-shift battering ram. Attacking through the breach, Greene was the first to enter the engine house and subdued Brown with a blow to the neck from his saber. The other Marines made quick work of the remainder of Browns party and the fighting ended within three minutes. Aftermath: In the attack on the engine house, one Marine, Luke Quinn, was killed. Of Browns raiding party, ten were killed during the raid while five, including Brown, were captured. Of the remaining seven, five escaped, including Owen Brown, while two were captured in Pennsylvania and returned to Harpers Ferry. On October 27, John Brown was brought to court in Charles Town and charged with treason, murder, and conspiring with slaves to rebel. After a week-long trial, he was convicted on all counts and sentenced to death on December 2. Turning down offers of escape, Brown stated he wished to die a martyr. On December 2, 1859, with Major Thomas J. Jackson and cadets from the Virginia Military Institute serving as a security detail, Brown was hung at 11:15 AM. Browns attack served to further heighten the sectional tensions that had plagued the country for decades and which would culminate in the Civil War less than two years later. Selected Sources West Virginia Division of Culture History: John Brown the Harpers Ferry RaidPBS: Raid on Harpers FerryNational Park Service: Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned In Sport Health Research Paper

Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned In Sport Health Research Paper Free Online Research Papers Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned In Sport Health Research Paper For an elite athlete winning is the drug of choice. Being the best however is addictive and can lead some to take performance-enhancing drugs. Sport being the business of athletes is defined as ‘conforming to set of rules for the activity while aiming to achieve excellence,’ with one of the universal ‘rules’ being the prohibition of performance-enhancing drugs, and with good reason. Doping, the colloquial term for athletes taking such drugs, is banned as it creates an uneven playing field. Doping is also quite dangerous to an athlete’s long-term health. Performance-enhancing drugs need to therefore remain banned in sport to keep the playing field level and also for the future health of athletes. Different performance-enhancing drugs cater for different purposes, as do drugs used medicinally. There are a whole range of different drugs existing for those wanting to improve their performance by increasing muscle mass and strength, increasing delivery of oxygen to tissues, masking pain, stimulating the body, relaxing, reducing weight or even masking the usage of other drugs. Despite some drugs providing the possibility of a higher level of competition, most drugs are banned outright at elite levels unless a legitimate clinical reason exists. On the surface performance-enhancing drugs simply assist and benefit the physical performance of athletes. By looking deeper it is clear that every drug has its downfall. Amphetamines for example act as a stimulant enabling athletes to stay alert longer, minimise fatigue and maintain aggressiveness. They work by making the heartbeat faster, the lungs breathe faster and the brain think faster. The negative side of this is that while the body is working at a faster rate, it is under a much higher level of stress. As a result, athletes may suffer nervousness, high blood pressure or convulsions. In extreme cases sudden death is also a possibility. Amphetamines overload the body, making it work unnaturally fast, and in some cases it is found the body is simply unable to cope. Similar dangers exist with athletes taking drugs to increase oxygen flow to tissues. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a popular drug exemplifying this. A naturally occurring protein hormone, EPO is made by the kidneys in low oxygen conditions. It acts by stimulating bone marrow cells to make more red blood cells, effectively increasing the delivery of oxygen to the kidneys. Theoretically EPO sounds beneficial to athletes, particularly endurance athletes, but once again places extra strain on the body. By increasing the production of red-blood cells EPO thickens the blood, forcing the heart to work harder. Use of EPO as a performance-enhancing drug can be linked to an increased likelihood of heart attack or stroke. Amphetamines and EPO are both a real threat to the legitimacy of athletic competition and the long-term health of the athletes themselves. They are not however very publicly well known. Androgen-anabolic steroids or AAS are by far the most infamous performance-enhancing drug. Derived from testosterone, steroids are notorious for their muscle building capabilities. They work by enhancing the transcription of specific genes. They act by binding with the androgen receptor within a cell. The complex is then translocated into the nucleus before binding with the DNA. The mRNA is then processed with an increased protein synthesis. The major anabolic affect of steroids, attractive to strength or power athletes, is an increased muscle fibre area. To achieve such effect however athletes must combine steroid use with strength training. Contrary to popular belief, steroid use on its own has a limited impact. Androgenic or negative effects of steroids are many. In both sexes jaundice and liver damage is common due to an increased metabolic load. Other side affects include fluid retention and high blood pressure. In males, increased levels of testosterone can act as negative feedback to the pituitary gland, decreasing spermatogenesis, natural testosterone and the luteinizing hormone. Males also experience baldness, gynecomastia and infertility. In females, steroid use can cause growth of facial hair, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, breast atrophy and a thickening of the vocal chords (deepening the voice). Steroids also negatively affect the mental state of both genders and can lead to increased aggression, psychosis or depression. Comparing the anabolic to androgenic effects of steroids, it is surprising that athletes are still prepared to risk their health by taking steroids. The ends justifying the means, is a possible reason for athletes to take drugs, despite all the ready information on the dangers of drugs. An elite athlete is driven to win by a number of driving forces. A passion for their sport and a competitive spirit may be the initial motivating reason behind competing. Further down the track, the lure of prize money and lucrative sponsorship deals generally play a part. In some cases, the lure of fame and fortune become to strong, or too addictive, and athletes find themselves turning to illegal substances to get over the line. By investigating just three specific performance-enhancing drugs; amphetamines, EPO and steroids, it is clear that in general they impose dangerous long-term health risks. Drugs in sport however are not simply a biological dilemma. Ethics come into play where some believe that it is an athlete’s prerogative to choose whether or not they take drugs. But is it? As soon as one drug cheat enters the sporting arena all ‘clean’ athletes are immediately disadvantaged. Clean athletes are thus left in the position that they too must take drugs to remain competitive. To keep competition legitimate athletes must therefore take an ‘all for one and one for all’ stance on maintaining anti-doping laws. If the long-term health dangers are not succinct enough to prevent them from taking drugs, the impact it can have on their credibility should be. Professional sport needs to uphold its anti-doping laws or risk becoming a sad spectacle of simply who can pop the most pills. There are many substitutes to drug taking that athletes can employ to increase their performance. Diet, medicine, technology and coaching, already provide athletes with advantages, without endangering their long-term health. If nations or institutions wish to invest in sports sciences it should be to help athletes reach their individual peak physical condition, rather than push them beyond their natural limitations. Performance-enhancing drugs are dangerous to sport in reference to both health and reputation and therefore must remain banned. Bibliography http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Sports debatabase.org/details_print.asp?topicID=28 www.ausport.gov.au/asda http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/steroids.html www.musclebuilder.com/ drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/messagesteroids305.html http://muscle.ucsd.edu/musintro/steroids.shtml http://muscle.ucsd.edu/musintro/stereff.shtml#anabolic http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/athletic-drug-test1.htm http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/athletic-drug-test3.htm http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/athletic-drug-test6.htm http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/athletic-drug-test7.htm Research Papers on Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned In Sport Health Research PaperThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseGenetic EngineeringTrailblazing by Eric AndersonBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementThe Hockey Game

Story Structure and Meaning of Mulholland Drive Movie Review

Story Structure and Meaning of Mulholland Drive - Movie Review Example The film tells the story of young, naà ¯ve Betty, who arrives in Hollywood to become a famous actress. Betty is tangled up in a mystery involving another woman who is suffering from amnesia after a car accident, Rita, and a film director, Adam. Towards the end of the film it becomes apparent that Betty is actually an actress called Diane who is tormented by nightmarish visions after she ordered her ex-lover Camilla to be killed. Diane's guilt and dark visions become unbearable and in the end she kills herself. Main character Betty Elms is introduced at 1.40 minutes during the pre-title sequence. The first act starts after this sequence, at 2 minutes. The 2nd main character, Rita (Camilla), is introduced at 4.20 after the title sequence. Antagonist number 1- the monster behind the dinner Winkie’s is introduced in the 16th minute. ... The first act is therefore 38 minutes long. From now on, little hints that seem to lead to the answer of the main question are given. First, it is revealed that Rita's purse is full of money and it also contains a mysterious blue key. Then, Rita remembers the name 'Diane Selwin' in the 48th minute. This realization triggers a whole new set of obstacles for Rita and Betty. They find Diane dead in her apartment. Then it is revealed that the contract killer is looking for Rita. Adam meanwhile has multiple conflicts to deal with as well: he gets sacked from his own film, his wife cheats on him, and he is broke. A mysterious cowboy tells him to cast Camilla Rhodes in his film in order to sort out all his problems. When he does, Adam seems to be safe and doesn't need to fear the reappearance of the threatening cowboy any longer. I believe the climax to be the scene when Diane splits up with Camilla (120 minutes), as this is the turning point in Diane's life: her jealousy will drive her to commit murder. So the 2nd act would be from the 40th to the 120th minute, making it 80 minutes long (consequently, the 3rd and final act is 20 minutes long.) Therefore, Mulholland Drive's 40-80-20 structure fulfills the usual 3 act structure formula for screenplays perfectly. The general formula for screenwriters states that the first act is usually twice as long as the last act and that the 2nd act makes up the biggest part of any movie (usually two thirds). The ending is tragic-the main character Diane kills herself as she can't cope with her guilt and nightmares any longer. From the moment she made the decision to hire the killer, her tragic fate was sealed. The main subplot is Adam's struggle to make his movie. It starts when Adam’s character is introduced in the 26th

Economic Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economic Development - Essay Example It is only by setting up and effectively executing proper economic development plans that these are achieved. New Jersey State employs a complex economic development plan. This encompasses both government initiatives and private sector initiatives. They all work in tandem towards the realization of a common goal which is uplifting the economy of the state. It is an intricate development plan that has so far worked out perfectly well. One of the arms of the intricate development plan of New Jersey State is the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This is machinery for protecting and enhancing the environment of the state. The environment is a very key aspect of the economy. Economic development would come to a halt if the environment is not protected. Industries would pollute the air with toxic gases; the water bodies with lethal effluents; there would be unbearable noise; there would be uncontrolled deforestation among others. All these have dire consequences for the develop ment of the state. The state would lose its work force due to the death or ailment of its citizens. All sectors of the economy would thus be poorly managed. There would be poor schools, poor hospitals, and poor transport systems just among others. In short, there would be no development. In order to guard against this the state employs the use of a principal development plan, the Department of Environmental Protection. The BEDI program is seen as possible way to spur the return of brownfields to productive economic use through financial assistance to public entities in the redevelopment of brownfields. It as well enhances the security and improvement of the viability of a project which has the financing of section 108 guaranteed loan authorities. Hence, due to this, the BEDI grants must be used in conjunction with a new section 108 guaranteed loan commitment. Section 108 is the loan guarantee provision of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Another key economic dev elopment plan that the state of New Jersey uses is the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). The private sector contributes to the environmental development of the state through this program. It is an initiative that allows any interested parties to take part in a cleanup program of the state. This helps to alleviate filthy spots in the state. Any interested party that feels they are in a position to foot the challenges that come with cleaning up an identified site are welcome. They should have the will and the ability to conduct the exercise. There is a cleanup Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the state. The interested party enters into a cleanup Memorandum of Agreement with the state. This works out the modalities of the exercise. Through these cleanup programs, the state is capable of enhancing the hygiene of its ambience. By so doing, a stimulus to economic development is inevitable. It is a proper economic development plan. The Brownfields Economic Development Initiative is another major economic development plan from which the state of New Jersey benefits. This could very well be the most outstanding of them all. It is used for the sake of promoting and stimulating economic developm