Story Of An Hour By Chopin Essays - The Story Of An Hour

Story Of An Hour By Chopin The Story of an Hour" Louise Mallard indulges in a liberating mental journey after receiving news of her husband's accidental death. Ultimately, her hour of unfettered exhilaration precipitates her own sudden death when her husband, Brently Mallard, returns home alive and well. Chopin intimately reveals Louise's internal emancipation, therefore illuminating the chasm between human perception and reality. Louise's joyful contemplation of personal freedom directly contradicts the feelings our culture would expect from a newly widowed woman, thus highlighting the irony of her doctors' assumption as well as the poignancy of her untimely death. Louise's doctors pronounced that she died of "heart disease-of joy that kills," a misperception that she was overjoyed at her husband's safe return (Chopin 440). While abrupt cessation of joy caused her death, not its return, there is insight to be ascertained from the doctors' pronouncement. If Louise had not entertained such liberal and self-centered thoughts during her hour of freedom, she would not have experienced lethal disappointment when her husband ultimately appeared. Indirectly, her joy did facilitate her death. Without an iota of concern for her husband's possible suffering prior to his death-or for his life lost-Louise focused solely on how his death would affect her. She did not think of the impending bereavement of his family and friends; compassion for others never entered her mind. Louise only pondered the depth of her own feelings toward her dead husband for a moment, concluding them to be of no import. Her internal query regarding whether or not it was a "monstrous joy" she was experiencing "was dismissed as trivial" (439). Her sybaritic selfishness could be considered a monstrosity. As defined by Webster's Dictionary, a monstrosity is "the state of being unnatural in form or character; out of the common course of nature; shocking; frightful; horrible" (Webster 620). Louise's train of thought might well be considered any of the above. On the other hand, her train of thought during that hour may have been the only instance that Louise indulged her feelings regarding her marriage and her indifference toward her spouse. Described as "young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength," Chopin's word choice alludes to Louise's self-suppression of her own awareness and the requisite strength needed to maintain the faade (Chopin 439). Considering the era of the story is late nineteenth-century America, it is likely that Louise believed there was no way out of her confining existence. Consequently, she would see no point in harboring elusive thoughts of freedom that would only serve to increase her unhappiness. Written in 1891, "The Story of an Hour" with Louise's unusual desire for individual freedom may well have been influenced by Chopin's own frustration with "social ostracism and negative criticism" (Encarta 99). Chopin was criticized roundly following the publication of her novel, The Awakening, for emphasizing previously unmentionable and unrecognized female needs such as "independence and passion" (Encarta 99). She was known as a regionalist with a flair for "local color" and was involved in literary discussions and exchanges in St. Louis. She had returned with her six children to St. Louis after her own husband's illness and 1882 death of swamp fever in Louisiana (Drabble 194). It is likely she was aware of the suffragettes and their goals through news and discussion groups in St. Louis, another potential influence on Louise's character and on her novel attributes of finding freedom and deliverance in her husband's accidental death. That may have been Chopin's feeling regarding her own husband's death after which she may have felt a personal liberation and exuberant freedom while attaining independence and becoming a published author. Chopin's character, Louise, whose feelings would be extraordinary in our own society, was downright appalling in the 1890s. Many influences could have inspired Chopin's creation of Louise more than a century ago, but the heart condition of her character can be interpreted fairly clearly. The mentioning of Louise's heart condition in the first sentence clearly foreshadows her imminent and dramatic demise. Her weak heart may be interpreted literally as an actual medical condition, but it could also be an analogy for her weakness of character. If Louise had been strong of heart, she would have faced her miserable reality long ago and changed her own circumstances. Being "afflicted with a heart trouble" could be an implication that Louise lacks not only the fortitude necessary to try to change her life, but lacks even the honor to allow herself awareness of her own unhappiness with her life and marriage-until her last ephemeral hour of unbridled

Free Essays on The Truth About Abortion

The Truth about Abortion Abortion, the termination of a pregnancy, is a highly controversial issue in today’s society. The 1973 court case of Roe verses Wade ruled that women have the right to terminate a pregnancy by abortion within the first six months. What the Supreme Court considered in this case was the 14th amendment and a woman’s right to privacy. However, they did not consider the moral side of the issue or the damaging affects abortion has on a woman. Do women really need the freedom to kill a baby inside of them because of their own selfishness and do the risk factors out weigh the goal? Terminating a pregnancy is not only morally wrong; it causes physical and psychological problems for women as well. The fifth commandment that God has given us is â€Å"thou shall not kill.† There are women that will argue that life doesn’t begin until birth. Obviously these are the women that have never felt the joy of a baby kick inside them or the wonderful sound of the heartbeat of an unborn child. An embryo’s heart begins to beat at only 22 days past conception, before most women even know they are expecting (Willke, 1998). The fact that life begins at the moment of conception is not an opinion; it’s the truth. For this reason, unborn children, like all citizens of the United States, should be protected by the â€Å"Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness† amendment in our constitution. Pope John Paul II once stated "To destroy these innocent unborn children is an unspeakable crime. Their right to life must be recognized and fully protected by law." Unborn babies have just as much potential as anyone walking the earth. To deprive them of that chance by murdering them is not only a crime against them, but against our entire world. To kill someone who could have been as great of a leader as Pope John Paul II or Martin Luther King, Jr. is an outrageous act that must be stopped. The second reason abortion... Free Essays on The Truth About Abortion Free Essays on The Truth About Abortion The Truth about Abortion Abortion, the termination of a pregnancy, is a highly controversial issue in today’s society. The 1973 court case of Roe verses Wade ruled that women have the right to terminate a pregnancy by abortion within the first six months. What the Supreme Court considered in this case was the 14th amendment and a woman’s right to privacy. However, they did not consider the moral side of the issue or the damaging affects abortion has on a woman. Do women really need the freedom to kill a baby inside of them because of their own selfishness and do the risk factors out weigh the goal? Terminating a pregnancy is not only morally wrong; it causes physical and psychological problems for women as well. The fifth commandment that God has given us is â€Å"thou shall not kill.† There are women that will argue that life doesn’t begin until birth. Obviously these are the women that have never felt the joy of a baby kick inside them or the wonderful sound of the heartbeat of an unborn child. An embryo’s heart begins to beat at only 22 days past conception, before most women even know they are expecting (Willke, 1998). The fact that life begins at the moment of conception is not an opinion; it’s the truth. For this reason, unborn children, like all citizens of the United States, should be protected by the â€Å"Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness† amendment in our constitution. Pope John Paul II once stated "To destroy these innocent unborn children is an unspeakable crime. Their right to life must be recognized and fully protected by law." Unborn babies have just as much potential as anyone walking the earth. To deprive them of that chance by murdering them is not only a crime against them, but against our entire world. To kill someone who could have been as great of a leader as Pope John Paul II or Martin Luther King, Jr. is an outrageous act that must be stopped. The second reason abortion...

Dr. Francis Townsend, Old Age Public Pension Organizer

Dr. Francis Townsend, Old Age Public Pension Organizer Dr. Francis Everitt Townsend, born into a poor farm family, worked as a physician and health provider. During the  Great Depression, when Townsend himself was in retirement age, he became interested in how the federal government could provide old age pensions. His project inspired the 1935 Social Security Act, which he found inadequate. Life and Profession Francis Townsend was born on January 13, 1867, on a farm in Illinois. When he was an adolescent his family moved to Nebraska, where he was educated through two years of high school. In 1887, he left school and moved to California with his brother, hoping to strike it rich in the Los Angeles land boom. Instead, he lost almost everything. Dejected, he returned  to Nebraska and finished high school, then began to farm in Kansas. Later, he started medical school in Omaha, funding his education while working as a salesman. After he graduated, Townsend went to work in South Dakota in the Black Hills region, then part of the frontier. He married a widow, Minnie Brogue, who worked as  a nurse. They had three children and adopted a daughter. In 1917, when World War I began, Townsend enlisted as a medical officer in the army.  He returned to South Dakota after the war, but ill health aggravated by the harsh winter led him to move to southern California. He found himself, in his medical practice, competing with older established physicians and younger modern physicians, and he did not do well financially. The arrival of the Great Depression wiped out his remaining savings. He was able to obtain an appointment as a health officer in Long Beach, where he observed the effects of the Depression, especially on older Americans. When a change in local politics led to the loss of his job, he found himself broke once again. Townsend’s Old Age Revolving Pension Plan The Progressive Era had seen several moves to establish old-age pensions and national health insurance, but with the Depression, many reformers focused on unemployment insurance. In his late 60s, Townsend decided to do something about the financial devastation of the elderly poor. He envisioned a program where the federal government would provide a $200 per month pension to every American over the age of 60, and saw this financed through a 2% tax on all business transactions. The total cost would be greater than $20 billion a year, but he saw the pensions as a solution to the Depression. If the recipients were required to spend their $200 within thirty days, he reasoned, this would significantly stimulate the economy, and create a â€Å"velocity effect,† ending the Depression. The plan was criticized by many economists. Essentially, half the national income would be directed to the eight percent of the population over the age of 60. But it was still a very attractive plan, especially to the older people who would benefit. Townsend began to organize around his Old Age Revolving Pension Plan (Townsend Plan) in September 1933 and had created a movement within months. Local groups organized Townsend Clubs to support the idea, and by January 1934, Townsend said 3,000 groups had begun. He sold pamphlets, badges, and other items, and financed a national weekly mailing. In mid-1935, Townsend said that there were 7,000 clubs with 2.25 million members, most of them older people. A petition drive brought 20 million signatures to Congress. Buoyed by the immense support, Townsend spoke to cheering crowds as he traveled, including to two national conventions organized around the Townsend Plan. In 1935, encouraged by the massive support for the Townsend idea, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal  passed the Social Security Act.  Many in Congress, pressured to support the Townsend Plan, preferred being able to support the Social Security Act, which for the first time provided a safety net for Americans too old to work. Townsend considered this an inadequate substitute and began angrily attacking the Roosevelt administration.  He joined with such populists as the Rev. Gerald L. K. Smith and Huey Long’s Share Our Wealth Society, and with the Rev. Charles Coughlin’s National Union for Social Justice and Union Party. Townsend invested much energy in the Union Party and organizing voters to vote for candidates who supported the Townsend Plan. He estimated that the Union Party would get 9 million votes in 1936, and when the actual votes were less than a million, and Roosevelt was reelected in a landslide, Townsend abandoned party politics. His political activity led to conflict within the ranks of his supporters, including the filing of some lawsuits. In 1937, Townsend was asked to testify before the Senate on allegations of corruption in the Townsend Plan movement. When he refused to answer questions, he was convicted of contempt of Congress.  Roosevelt, despite Townsend’s opposition to the New Deal and Roosevelt, commuted Townsend’s 30-day sentence. Townsend continued to work for his plan, making changes to try to make it less simplistic and more acceptable to economic analysts. His newspaper and national headquarters continued. He met with presidents Truman and Eisenhower. He was still making speeches supporting reform of old age security programs, with audiences mostly of the elderly, shortly before he died on September 1, 1960, in Los Angeles. In later years, during a time of  relative prosperity, the expansion of federal, state, and private pensions took much of the energy out of his movement. Sources Richard L. Neuberger and Kelley Loe, An Army of the Aged. 1936.David H. Bennett. Demagogues in the Depression: American Radicals and the Union Party, 1932-1936. 1969.Abraham Holtzman. The Townsend Movement: A Political Study. 1963.

Why is the subject of water so prevalant in T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland Essay

Why is the subject of water so prevalant in T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland - Essay Example Is Eliot speaking of the human soul as a wasteland In this paper I will try to address this question, and thereby also explain why the concept of water is so prevalent in the poem; if one interpretation of the poem is that he is trying to show humanity and its spiritual beliefs have become a wasteland, that it has lost its spirituality, its connection to the divine, then we can look at water as a metaphor for that spirituality and thus the lack of water throughout the poem assumes a greater significance. In terms of religion and spirituality, water has been given an extremely important status, and has been used to denote many things. Broadly speaking, water has been used to represent four major concepts - life, purity, power and death or punishment (Broome, The Bible). Eliot appears to have interwoven all these meanings into his use of water, which seems to imply that he is speaking of humankind's loss of its humanity and its connection to God. To examine the question of how and why water is used so liberally in the poem, I will take each concept and examine it with respect to the poem. Scientifically too, water has been predicted to be the bearer of life; theories on the evolution of life generally agree that life arose from the thick soupy oceans in which the world was covered. Water itself is necessary for the propagation of life. Eliot would also have been aware of these theories as the period in which he lived was one ripe for science. His deep study of religion (Bush) is reflected in the references to the Bible and Hindu texts scattered throughout the poem. Within the very first part of the poem itself, the reference to water as a life-giver becomes evident: ".stirring dull roots with spring rain" and again from the lines of verse beginning at line 19 the landscape is described as dry, and therefore, dead and forbidding : A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief, And the dry stone no sound of water. Only There is shadow under this red rock, The lack of water is striking. There appears to be no water, no relief from the burning heat. Perhaps this is a reference to the lack of spiritual strength, the fact that there is no spiritual life as opposed to physical life. If we look at the Wasteland as a metaphor for the soul, then this interpretation is valid. This appears to be borne out later too, as Madame Sostrosis predicts the future from a pack of Tarot cards - "Fear death by water." She says. This could be a punishment for lack of belief, as water has often been used to bring punishment and the wrath of God. For example, the Great Flood in which Noah escaped in his

Freedom of Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Freedom of Speech - Essay Example The essay "Freedom of Speech" highlights that the call to convention for the purpose of devising and discussing all provisions for a constitution went out on October 16, 1786. The citizens of the new country knew that they had to have something in place that would provide for a free government instead of the loose confederation they had in place. It was realized that most of the problems being experienced by the new federation or union of states were of an economic nature and could be solved only by a common venture or government. James Madison for one read the tenor of the times and knew it was time to preserve the union they now enjoyed. A representative government was the only thing that would solve the collective problems of the union. The entire concept of a free government would have to be protected by a constitution created by elected representatives. The whole concept of a free government would have to be based on the will of the citizens who would choose representatives to a two house government which would provide for the governmental needs of the union. Something had to bind the people together for a fee government to work and that one thing turned out to be the separation of church and state. (Joseph Smith, 1987).

Herzs Theory of Political Realism

Herzs Theory of Political Realism Focusing on one of the key tenets of political realism, Herz emphasizes that in modern international relations, power was, and remains the ultimate means of solving problems and settling contentious issues. Sometimes, however, occur deviations from this principle when elements such as, for example, the economic interests of a particular group or religious consideration, moral, or even a personal plan of government policy gone clean power, mechanical, linear relations. In this case, for example, a Catholic country can join the union, contrary to their own interests, the other Catholic country, or state decides to intervene in the affairs of another state not for reasons of Realpolitik, but only because in that other State infringed the interests and rights class or minorities that the first state is seeking to protect. Nevertheless, despite the occasional deviations of this kind, in the international arena is dominant it Realpolitik. Just as economic competition within the state led to the emergence of economic man and the dominance of economic incentives, competition for power, force, power (power) led to the emergence of powers (powers) and to dominate the relations between states factors force power. Once power has appeared in international relations, all other considerations are superseded. Attempts to base its policy on any other principles would weaken and ultimately destruction of the state. Speaking of the international system Herz indicates that in general terms they can be understood as the distribution or concentration of military power, economic wealth, the other elements of power, but treat them as objective factors that determine the views of the management of foreign policy decisions on is not realistic. Herz earlier believed that the policy of the balance of forces determines the requirements of contemporary (modern) state system, but now it has come to the conclusion that in fact the existence of a balance of power depends on the views of the leaders of member states of the system. Even in the XVIII and XIX centuries, which are considered the heyday era policy of balance of forces, the balance of power system, according to Herz, existed only in the minds of British statesmen who practiced maintaining balance in international politics. For most public figures other European powers foreign policy was soon arena of struggle for dominance, in which the balance wa s only a passing episode in the dynamic process of constant change. In 1914, Germany finds himself surrounded by superior forces of the three countries, while these countries felt that Reich breaks for hegemony. As demonstrated by the end of the war, namely, that the Allies had to seek assistance from the United States, the latter view was more correct, that is, more in line with reality of international politics. Herz considers it necessary to emphasize that a different understanding of the international system and led to the outbreak of war. Similar differences, in his opinion, there are today. Some researchers suggest the existence of a bipolar balance between the two nuclear units, while others say that there are three, or even five poles. Some see the emergence of Soviet hegemony, whereas immediately after the Second World War, the international system was evaluated as the American empire. Other scientists say that should not be seen as a system of international relations of traditional unions powers competing in a force field, they argue that this understanding of the world is out of date and highlight the importance of factors such as the economic power groups such as OPEC, the power and influence of transnational actors ( such as transnational and multinational corporations ). Such differences indicate Herz, and there on the concept of force, which is the fundamental, but also the most difficult to define the concept of realism. Most realists do not adhere to a narrow, limited understanding of force only in terms o f military power. Power is seen as a number of factors and conditions from the economic resources to the morale of the population. As a rule, however, stipulated Herz, realistic perception ignored the subjective factor : the elements of the image, status and prestige. Power depends on perception. What they think of one other State itself may increase or decrease the force. Herz believes that the power of France in the period between the two world wars overestimated, which gave her considerable leeway in the international arena. The strength of the Soviet Union, by contrast, was underestimated, which consequently reduced the freedom of action of the USSR in world politics. Therefore, concludes Herz is necessary to study the role played by the images and their creation, the role of status, ranking diplomatic symbolism, recognition and non-recognition. Perception of form views, views of the flow of action. Herz believes that power politics in the modern world largely consists of image-making, the role of creating an image more increases with the importance of the people in the foreign policy. At the moment, says Herz, can hardly be called aspect of foreign policy, which would have been deprived of propaganda tones, designed to create the appropriate image for the allies, enemies and neutral states, and for the population of their own country. Huge bureaucracies busy representative functions. Herz also believes that the traditional understanding of the power becomes more relative. Nuclear superpowers are increasingly helpless when faced with blackmail terrorist groups and governments, while the tiny pseudo- sovereign country in which, according to Herz, there is nothing but sand and oil, can cause trouble sizable mightiest states in the traditional sense. Conceptual link between the notion of power and other basic concept of political realism, the national interest, is the concept of security. However, the safety indicates Herz, even more difficult to determine than the force as it is to an even greater extent is based on the feeling, perception. Neo-isolationism, according to Herz, it is very convincing because in traditional approaches is difficult enough to justify the need for a global advocate of U.S. national interests. According to Herz, the Americans feel they can not take Israel, West Berlin, Norway or New Zealand. And not only because the bound ( stick to their means to maintain the image and break them means losing face ), but because it would otherwise be lost soul foreign policy goal. In the nuclear age, said Herz, foreign policy objectives and interests of the state must be defined in such a way as to preserve the world recognize the important interests of all. This implies the need for deterrence, the need to delineate the dividing lines that separate spheres of influence. Division of the world into spheres of influence reduces the chances of the West to spread liberal democratic principles into the country under the control of the Soviet Union, but also reduces the chances of the spread of communism to liberal- democratic countries. The proposed combination of foreign policy objectives with the fundamental principle of the conservation of the world, according to Herz, is the direct opposite ideologies crusade in the spirit of both Woodrow Wilson and Lenin. Such ideology emphasizes Herz always condemned political realism. Herz expresses its full agreement with the statement by Robert Jervis ( which traditionally referred to neoidealistam ) that explain human actions can not be out of touch with their worldview. In addition, this also applies to the future. According to Herz, our future is the way we understand it ( It is noteworthy that the key to social constructivism of Alexander Wendts article, written in 1992, called Anarchy is how it is understood by the state ). Actions based on the perception of the past, present and future, determine what kind of future will materialize out of the chaos of possibilities. On the other hand, anyone claiming to be realistic prediction of the future must come from the givens of the current situation. The main thesis Herz now granted indeed interdependent global world in which happens in one place affects the people and processes worldwide. Ultimately, concludes Herz, globalist worldview is the closest to reality, and the development of global communication and information networks makes a similar outlook for its increasingly growing number of people. Information and images can still be manipulated. Nevertheless, it is hoped that global problems are so urgent that the traditional limited, parochial views give way to such views that recognize the interdependence of nations and peoples, as well as common problems. One can hope Herz believes that governments and peoples are aware of, except for the threat of nuclear annihilation, the gravest threats to the triad : demographic problems caused by avalanche population growth, economic problems related to the depletion of scarce resources, environmental issues extinction liveable space. In other words, we must recognize that, for the first time in human history, the very existence of the human species is endangered. Herz, making characteristic of political idealism conclusion concludes that it is necessary to change the international order to ensure the cooperation of national and subnational actors with international and multinational organizations. States should transfer part of their sovereignty to supranational agencies and thereby give them more power. Radical changes should move away from the traditional approach to disarmament and security issues, to radically change corporate social and economic structures, the dominant reality in most ind ustrialized nations, transform prevailing in developing countries militarist alliance plutocratic elites with multinational corporations, which leads to exploitation population of these countries, change the international order, which is still determined by the tendency of States to preserve its sovereignty at all costs. Thus, despite the fact that he J. Herz still considers himself a realist, in fact his position combines the basic elements of constructivism in the form in which it expounded Alexander Wendt, and neoliberal institutionalism. Apparently, the only reason to attribute these views to the paradigm Herz classic American political realism can serve only its own statement that these views reflect objectively existing reality.

The Rise of the Aztec Empire

The Rise of the Aztec Empire Aztec empire was one the most successful empire during the 14th and 15th centuries it is said to be the most lucrative and powerful Mesoamerican kingdoms at that time. The Aztec community began in the middle of a lake but later became the capital of an empire. Aztec was consisting of a diversity ethic group that lived in the area which stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf coast. The Rise of the Aztec Empire and its aptitude to be so successful and powerful dominance and their quest was founded on their religious beliefs that were embedded within everyone.These teaching drove them to conquest, to develop regions and building into temples. The Aztecs also called themselves, the Mexicans, but rose to power in a very short time as they searched for their promise land. The cities trade, agriculture, religion and societies were one of the major factors in the ability to survive and build a strong foundation for their leadership and livelihood. During th e fall of the Teotihuacan and the Mayan civilization was full of grate expectation in every aspect. This is said to be one of the most advanced group of ancient American as they proved the system of the calendar and the system writing.History reiterated that the Aztec came from the north which is called Aztian. The Aztecs built their city of Tenochtitlan on the site, which is now located in the center of Mexico. The Aztecs Empire comprised of two social classes. The lower classes were called Macehalli and the upper classes were called Pilli. These social classes were not defined by birth because a person could rise of the Pilli if they had great skills. All male children in the Aztec Empire were called Telpachalli. The women regard as subordinate to their man.Above everything else, they were required to behave with sexual abstinence and high moral. The religion of the Aztecs was very in distance downwards which was partially due to the fact that they had inherited many religious bel iefs from people they previously conquered. The Aztecs believed that the sun and the earth had been destroyed in a cataclysm and recreated four times. The Aztec laws were simple be harsh. They were very few times that result of a crime resulting from adultery to stealing was not punished by death. Other major offences were handling by the courts.In 1426, the old ruler Tezozomoc died and was replaced by his son Maxlatzin. He was fretful that the Aztecs had been growing too strong under the Tepanec’s protection. He therefore sought to reduce the Aztec’s power in 1427. At this time, the Aztec’s third king died and was replaced by Itzcoatl, who chose Tlacaelel, a brilliant military strategist, as his chief adviser. The two of them decided to resist and fight rather than submit to Maxlatzin’s threats and pressure. Within a year, the Aztecs had crushed the Tepanec and destroyed their imperial city. So now the Aztec had become the greatest state in Mexico.