Person Vs Human: What Makes A Man?

Person Vs Human: What Makes A Man? What makes up a man? This is the philosophical question mainly explored in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, entitled The Measure of a Man. In this episode, a formal hearing is held to debate whether or not Lieutenant Commander Data, an android who has been a long-time member of the Star Fleet, has the right to refuse undergoing a risky scientific experiment. The scientist who wishes to perform the procedure, named Bruce Maddox, claims that Data is not entitled to the right to refuse because Data, simply put, is a piece of technology. As a result, he claims that it would be absurd to entitle a thing to the same rights that a human being has. On the other hand, Captain Picard, a fellow crew member who sees Data as an equal, argues otherwise. He states that despite how Data technically isnt human, he is entitled to the same rights because he demonstrates the core qualities of human being, such as intelligence and self-awareness. A difficult decision must now be made: to all ow Data to refuse the procedure by acknowledging that he has the right to be regarded as a sentient being like a fellow human being, or to simply see Data as a piece of property without any rights and all of his human-like acts as being mere imitations and a complex system of if-then clauses. Though Data, being an android, is obviously not a human being, the episode ultimately raises the question of to what extent must an individual, or even a piece of technology, exhibit to be seen as an equal-a level that we, as human beings, recognize in each other? Captain Picards arguments focus more on how Data is a person rather than how he is not a biological human being, and that persons maintain certain rights. Commonly, most people today use the terms human and person interchangeably. However with deeper examination, it can been acknowledged that a person and a human being are not entirely same. A human being refers to people in a more a biological sense; being a human being merely implies that you are of the species homo sapiens. On the other hand, being a person signifies that you are a sentient being with a level of conscience. As a result of demonstrating these qualities, a person is to be regarded as one who is entitled to certain rights, a level of moral respect, and, ultimately, a right to life. And since being a person is different from being a biological human, it can be assumed that anyone, even an android such as Data, may be entitled to the rights that a person has; just because of the fact that one is not a homo sapien does not mean he is disqualified from the holding the moral respect a person deserves. Furthermore, it should be noted that not all human beings are persons, for an individual must have a level of rationality or consciousness to be regarded as a person. Maddox points out that a debate would not be taking place if it had been a computer or a toaster that had refused to undergo the procedure. But he failed to consider the fact that a toaster or a computer does not maintain a level of rationality or consciousness, hence not entitling it to the moral rights that a person is accorded with. Things that have failed to demonstrate these qualities, including certain human beings, are not viewed as persons, hence not entitled to these rights. For instance, a boy who is stuck in a permanently vegetative state and does not demonstrate any signs of brain activity may be regarded as a human being, but not a person. As a result, if it were decided that he would euthanized, there would be as much uproar as there would be if it had been boy had been severely injured, but still consciou s, because he would still be regarded as a person. Hence, it becomes evident that being human is not what determines whether or not someone like Data is a person, but the level of consciousness that one, whether he is a human or android or Klingon, exhibits. Captain Picard argues that it does not matter that Data is an android because the species of an individual does not determine his personhood. During his argument, Picard states three characteristics that determine whether or not an individual is to be regarded as a person: intelligence, self-awareness, and consciousness. The trial ends in Picards favor because Data demonstrates to a degree all of these traits, and the fact that Data is an android does not work against his favor. It is ruled that as a result of demonstrating these characteristics, Data is ultimately deserves the moral respect that every person does. Conclusively, it becomes clear that being human does not automatically entitle an individual with the rights of a person, but the level of rationality or consciousness.

Stylistic Means

All stylistic means of the English languages can be divided into expressive means (EM) and stylistic devices (SD). â€Å"The expressive means of a language are those phonetic, morphological, word building, lexical, preseological or syntactical forms which exist in language as-a-system for the purpose of logical and various dictionaries. Among lexical EM we must mention words with emotive meanings, interjections, polysemantic words, vulgar words, slang etc. The fact that polysemantic words retain their primary and secondary meanings is of great importance for stylistics. It is quite easy to understand the meaning of the following phrases; He grasped the main idea; a burning question; pity melted her heart. The italicized words are used in their secondary transferred dictionary meanings. But the primary and secondary meanings are realized simultaneously. The expressiveness of these words becomes obvious when compared with neutral equivalents; He understood the main idea; an important question; pity softened her heart. According to Prof I. R. Galperin`s definition Stylistic Devise is a conscious and intentional intensification of some type structural or semantic property of a language unit promoted to a generalized status and thus becoming a generative model. SD must always have some function in the text, besides they bring some additional information. The conception that words possess several meanings gives rise to such SDS as metaphor, metonymy, irony, epithet and others. Thus, a metaphor is a conscious and intentional intensification of typical sema ntic properties of a word: â€Å"Oh, Rain†-said Mor. He enveloped her in a great embrace. (I. Murdoch). The dictionary meaning of the verb â€Å"envelope† is â€Å"to wrap up, coer on all sides†. The contextual meaning is â€Å"to embrace† The typical features of proverbs and sayings serve as the foundation for an SD which is called epigram, i. e. brevity, rhythm and other properties of proverbs constitute a generative mo0del into which new content is poured A thing of beauty is a joy for ever. (J. Keats) Sweet is pleasure after pain (J. Dryden) What the eye does not see, the stomach doesn’t get upset (J. K. Jerome). These phrases are not proverbs; they are the creations of individual writers and poets. When such phrases are used in the text they accumulate great emotive force and function. They acquire a generalized status and thus easily become an SD while proverbs remain EM of the language. The some may be said about syntax. The typical structural features of oral speech (violation of word order, omission of some parts of the sentence, repetition of certain words etc) may be intensified and promoted to a generalized status. Such SDs as inversion, parallel constructions, chiasmus is the result of these stylistic transformations. It is important to know that the stylistic use of EM must not necessarily lead to the formation of an SD. For example, repetition is widely used in folk song and poetry and in oral speech to make our speech emotional and expressive, but we can’t say that in such cases we use a SD. When the weather is wet We must not fret,- When the weather is cold We must not scold When the weather is warm We must not storm. Thus we may draw the conclusion that EM are the facts of the language, while SDs are the property of the speech. They are the creation of individuals (writers and poets) and are based on the peculiarities of existing EM of the language. This is in short the difference between EM and SD. While speaking about SD we must always remember: the force of one and the same SD may be different. In some cases the emotive charge may be very strong, in others it may be weak. It depends on the use of a SD in one and the same function. Due to the overuse of the SD it may become hackneyed, trite and looses its freshness and brightness; 1. The best pens of the world A sweet smile 2. with his mousing walk Speaking about SDs we must mention the cases when two or more EM or SD meet at one point, it one utterance. Such clusters of SDs are called convergence. â€Å"Together each SD adds its expressivity to that of the others. In general, the effects of these SDs converge into one especially striking emphasis† (M. Riffaterre) For example: When everyone had recovered George said; â€Å"She put in her thumb and pulled out a plum†. Then away we were into our merciless hacking-hecking laughter again. (S. M. Maugham). In English examples we find the convergence of several SDs: decomposition of a proverb (to put one’s thumb into smth), a bring case of an onomatopoeia in the function of an epithet (Hacking-hecking), inversion (adverbial modifier stand before the subject). â€Å" †¦ and heaved and heaved still unrestingly heaved the black sea as if its vast tides were a conscience. Here the convergence comprises repetition, inversion and simile†. [1]

Power Corrupts in Animal Farm

Power is authority and strength, which is any form of motive force or energy, ability to act, or control. When too much power is given, a dictatorship government can form, in which all decisions are made by one authority. In the book Animal Farm, by George Orwell the author portrays how â€Å"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely†. From the death of Old Major, Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer replaced him. At first things started off pretty well; the harvest was very good the first year and the reading and writing system had helped some, but had limited success on others.In time, the leaders of animal farm started to have mixed feelings. Snowball and Napoleon were in constant disagreement. An important meeting that was held ended with an astonishing outcome. One decision that was made was concerning the windmill project and the most important decision made was who would be the head animal. Snowball and Napoleon each gave their input on what needs to be done around the farm. â€Å"Snowball stood up and, though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep, set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill.Then Napoleon stood up to reply. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it†. At this time, Snowball jumped back up to convince the people that it was a good idea to build a windmill. Then Napoleon sent his dogs after snowball and they chased him off the farm. Since Snowball had been expelled, Napoleon took over â€Å"The Manor Farm† which led to food shortage, hard labor, and deaths. He used his knowledge and education to take over the farm.With all the pigs and dogs on his side Napoleon had absolute power. The pigs were the brains of the farm and the dogs were the military force of the farm. Napoleon had complete control over the farm. Napoleon’s power corrupted the whole idea of Animalism & The Seven Commandments, which the farm fi rst started with. The power that the three pigs obtained had corrupted them and, then Napoleon received absolute power, which corrupted the society as a whole. Throughout the story Napoleon’s power continually increases, but he’s never quite satisfied.Napoleon is always greedy for more power. Napoleon's standards are that he must have complete power and rule over everyone, though he becomes corrupt because he gains absolute power over everyone on the farm. Stalin loses power because he is always hungry for more power, and is never satisfied with the power that he has. As Stalin dies Russia is completely corrupt because the power was not evenly distributed, and the citizens did not count as people. No power is given to the people under Stalin’s rule.Only him, and a few other privileged individuals live with power and respect in the community. In conclusion, history has proven that power is the root of all evil in a communism style government or congregation. In A nimal Farm, the animals tried to be equal, but in time, some animals had certain views and different opinions and some gradually became more powerful. No matter how hard in society we try, equality will never truly be reached by mankind for the reason that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely† (Lord Acton).

Capital Punishment And The Death Penalty - 1643 Words

In today s world, terrible crimes are being committed daily. Watching the news, listening to the radio or reading a newspaper shows proof of this cruelty. So what can be done about these criminals? Capital punishment has been exposed throughout history; â€Å"In the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608, Captain George Kendall was hanged for the capital offense of treason. Among other serious capital crimes in colonial times were murder, rape and witchcraft† (Fridell). The death penalty has been under discussion for some time. While there are many supporters, some still disagree. Currently, â€Å"there are thirty-one states in which the death penalty is enforced, and nineteen states that have abolished it† (Death Penalty Information Center). The Death penalty is a form of punishment that involves executing a person after he or she were found guilty of a major crime by the legal system. Should the death penalty be used for murderers, rapists, and serial killers and no oth er crimes? Research shows that â€Å"the major reasons why people support the death penalty is because of deterrence, retribution, and incapacitation† (Booker, Renee, and Hubbard). Racism also can play a part of capital punishment. The death penalty is an effective tool for reducing violent crimes and eliminating the costs of supporting violent offenders in the prisons. The death penalty’s effectiveness is based on its ability to deter, promote retribution, and ultimately to incapacitate violent offenders. Deterrence ToShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment : The Death Penalty1482 Words   |  6 PagesMrs. McElmoyl 12/12/14 Capital Punishment As stated by former governor of New York, Mario M. Cuomo, Always I have concluded the death penalty is wrong because it lowers us all; it is a surrender to the worst that is in us; it uses a power- the official power to kill by execution- that has never brought back a life, need inspired anything but hate. (Cuomo 1) This is one of the main arguments against capital punishment (also known as the death sentence.) Capital punishment is the ability for a governmentRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Capital Punishment931 Words   |  4 Pageswritten down (Robert). The death penalty was applied for a particularly wide range of crimes. The Romans also used death penalty for a wide range of offenses. Historically, the death sentence was often handled with torture, and executions, except that it was done in public. In this century, the death penalty, execution or capital punishment, whatever you’d like to refer it as, is the result for committing capital crimes or capital offences and it is not in public. The death penalty has been practiced byRead MoreCapital Punishment : The Death Penalty1410 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment in America In 1976 the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled the Death Penalty constitutionally permissible. The debate over capital punishment has always been a topic of great controversy. Before the Supreme Court ruling in 1976 America had been practicing capital punishment for centuries. At the current time some states enforce the death penalty, while some do not. There are differences of opinion’s relating to whether or not the death penalty is the proper wayRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty991 Words   |  4 PagesCapital Punishment Imagine your having a normal morning, eating breakfast doing your normal routine. Suddenly your phone rings and when you answer you hear the worst news possible. One of your family members has just been murdered in cold blood. You cry, mourn, then become angry. You attend the court hearing and you sit less than 20 feet away from the murderer. Do you truly believe this person deserves to live? Or should they face a punishment that is equal to their crime? Some may say CapitalRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Capital Punishment1569 Words   |  7 Pagesthe death penalty also referred to as capital punishment. The death penalty is both useless and harmful to not only criminals but also their potential victims. This paper uses these horrific facts to try and convince the reader that the death penalty should be done away with before it is too late, although that time may have already come. With supporting evidence to support my cause, I hope that the following information sways at least one reader to see the harm of keeping the death penalty an activeRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1235 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is capital punishment? Why do people support it, but yet people cherish lives? Is it a moral thing to do? Should one be for or against the Death Penalty? Let’s take a look deep into the world of justices and why capital punishment still exists in today’s society. Capital punishment or the death penalty is a feder al punishment given to criminals who are convicted of murders. It is the highest law punishment available that can prevent future murders by developing fear within them. Capital punishmentRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1017 Words   |  5 PagesName: Lucas Falley Topic: Capital Punishment Background: Capital punishment, or the death penalty, has existed for thousands of years. For as long as there has been organized society, the death penalty has existed in numerous cultures and civilizations. Throughout the years the methods have changed, but the use of capital punishment is becoming a pressing matter. Amnesty International reports that there are 140 countries worldwide that have abolished the death penalty, while over 50 countries stillRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is A Capital Punishment1271 Words   |  6 Pages What is the death penalty? The death penalty is a capital punishment that is punishable by death or execution. This is usually given to people that have committed serious offences or capital crimes. There are 31 states in the United States that are for the death penalty. Crimes that are punishable by the death penalty, vary from state to state. Examples of such crimes are; first degree murder or premeditated murder, murder with special circumstances, such as: intende d, multiple, and murder whichRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1539 Words   |  7 PagesCapital punishment, otherwise known as the death penalty, has been the center of debate for a long time. Capital punishment may be defined as the â€Å"[e]xecution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense† (Capital Punishment). Up until 1846, when Michigan became the first to abolish the death sentence, all states allowed legal practice of capital punishment by the government (States). Currently, there 32 states still supporting the death penalty and 18Read MoreThe Death Penalty Of Capital Punishment1480 Words   |  6 Pagesjustice system, such as the death penalty. Capital punishment has been used many times in history all around the world, and it was quite popular. Many people argue that capital punishment is useful in deterring crime and that it is only fair that criminals receive death as punishment for a heinous crim e. On the contrary, others see the death penalty as a violation of the 8th amendment. It restricts excessive fines, and it also does not allow cruel and unusual punishment to be inflicted upon criminals

Elizabeth The Forgotten Years Essay - 1577 Words

Often considered by historians as one of England’s greatest monarchs, Elizabeth Tudor’s life and prosperous reign have inspired numerous historical works including books, biographies, and visual media representations. Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years, written by John Guy, is an exquisitely detailed biography of the Tudor queen, which encapsulates her not only as an authoritative figure but also as an independent woman. Guy focuses on the trialling years of Elizabeth’s rise to prominence, as she faces issues of asserting her own authority, war abroad, political crisis at home, and widespread religious reformation all while challenging the patriarchal nature of English society. The book reveals the challenges Elizabeth faced as a female monarch such as overcoming traditional gender roles, immense pressure to marry, preoccupation with her gender rather than her rank, presumed military inadequacy of women, and establishing herself as a ruler in a country mastered by me n. Due to early-modern English society’s highly patriarchal nature in terms of attitudes, structure and laws, Elizabeth’s role as a monarch was destined to be characterized by issues regarding gender from the start. Women were overall seen as weaker than men in terms of emotions and intellectual capability and had little power in a marriage. It was universally accepted that women were to be submissive to male relatives, and it was not expected for them to uphold any independent authority; each woman was defined byShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Jane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1313 Words   |  6 Pageshim. Charlotte is well aware of her indifference for Mr. Collins; but, she is able to justify accepting his proposal because her age is considered very old to be unmarried, and because he can provide domestic comfort. When telling her best friend, Elizabeth, about the proposal, Charlotte admits that she is â€Å"not romantic† and that she â€Å"ask[s] only a comfortabl e home; and, considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, [she] is convinced that [her] chance of happiness with himRead MoreAnalysis Of Elizabeth I s Speech975 Words   |  4 PagesThe subject of gender appears as one of the main topics these three samples of Elizabeth I’s speeches. While she commonly mentions gender to sound humble and motherly, she also combines her gender with her knowledge to drive her points when explaining or avoiding topics, influencing the people’s opinion, and rallying the people. Some of these ideas have been captured in her portraits. Elizabeth uses her gender and knowledge to make herself appear as a humble queen who knows she does not deserveRead MoreHenchard in The Mayor of Casterbridge Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagesdue to the unlikely coincidences that occur many times through the book. The book takes place in rural England, in Wessex, Hardy’s made up county. It starts off with Michael Henchard and his wife Susan, both young, with their baby daughter Elizabeth Jane looking for employment in the small town of Weydon-Priors. The Michael Henchard Hardy first introduces is a bitter man who appears to have little respect for his wife and little care for his daughter. Although he isn’t a nobleman he stillRead MoreThe Importance of Character and a Good Name in The Mayor of Casterbridge735 Words   |  3 Pagescharacter and reputation. The story is centered on the life of Michael Henchard and his struggle with the consequence of a decision made as a young man in an inebriated state. The novel begins with Michael, his wife Susan, and their young daughter Elizabeth-Jane arriving in the town of Weyden-Priors on Fair Day. Michael drinks too much and in a fit of temper auctions off his wife and child to a sailor for five guineas. Michael awakens the next day only to regret his intemperance and the behavior thatRead MoreThe Forgotten Founder : Alexander Hamilton1196 Words   |  5 Pages3M Mr. Claxton December 10, 2015 The Forgotten Founder Alexander Hamilton was one of the founding fathers of the United States, but little to no people recognize the accomplishments he made. As a young man he fought in the Revolutionary War under the command of George Washington and later went on to become the first Secretary of the Treasury. With a multitude of other achievements under his belt, it’s hard to comprehend how this amazing man became a forgotten figure in American history. However,Read MoreBiography of Roger Sherman Essay543 Words   |  3 PagesRoger Sherman Roger Sherman is someone that you may say is the forgotten founding father, so let’s change that. Roger Sherman was a very influential politician and lawyer, being admired by some of greatest and brightest men of this time. Roger Sherman was born in Newton, Massachusetts on April 19, 1721. When Sherman was two, his family left Newton to go a small town called Stoughton. This town was and still is about 21 miles from Boston, Massachusetts. Sherman’s father farmed some land in StoughtonRead More Biography of Queen Elizabeth Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesBiography of Queen Elizabeth Despite being unwanted by her father, King Henry VIII, Elizabeth managed to overcome obstacles and become one of the most powerful woman leaders of her time. Some of her accomplishments were to defeat the Spanish armada, restore peace between Catholics and Protestants, and lead England to prosperity (Ross 146). The period of time during her reign, fifteen hundred and fifty eight to sixteen hundred and three, is often called the Golden Age since it wasRead MoreWhining Children Need For A Problem Solvers By Scott Turansky1044 Words   |  5 Pagessolution as well. Elizabeth is twelve years old. She often complains that she doesn t have the clothes that she wants to wear. Mom is in the habit of helping her find something but most of the time Elizabeth is still unhappy about the choice. Mom realized that her daughter had developed an attitude that the clothes problem was Mom s to solve, so she decided to make some changes. Mom took Elizabeth out clothes shopping and they bought a couple new outfits. Then she helped Elizabeth organize her closetRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Crucible 1162 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish 11 Dowling Per. 0 October 27 2014 Crucible Short Answer Questions Act 1 The irony in this statement is that they created this civilization in order to have religious freedom, but they only want religious freedom for themselves The witch-hunt years were a time of general revenge because the grudges that were present in the town turned into witch accusations. It gave people with grudges an opportunity to hurt the people they were against Tituba is the slave of Parris, who is from Barbados. AbigailRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1579 Words   |  7 Pageswhen the United States government blacklisted accused communists. The Crucible contains quite a few important characters who play in the tragic events that occurred those many years ago- the characters who had the greatest impact and character transformations would be the tragic hero; John Proctor, the blameless victim; Elizabeth Proctor, and the villainous; Abigail Williams. John Proctor s character changes drastically from the beginning of the play to the end, and it is possibly the most important

William Shakespeare s Macbeth And Othello

A clear view of the relationships established in Macbeth and Othello can be seen through the inferior partner s views on the other person in the relationship, and also their balance of power. Lady Macbeth rarely addresses Macbeth with his real name, but instead with titles such as Great Glamis! and Worthy Cawdor - referring to his positions. However Iago refers to Othello with titles such as The Moorship, which is a play on Lordship - including a reference to his race. The use of titles instead of their proper names implies what the other (Lady Macbeth and Iago) thinks about the protagonist. Iago is rather cruel but also intelligent with the titles he names Othello with, where Lady Macbeth honours her partner; although positive, Lady Macbeth also objectifies Macbeth for her own ends. Iago s title could be seen as offensive as Moor directly refers to a person of colour. People of colour in Jacobean society were linked with devilry, darkness and black magic, seen to worship a s trange god, and to represent a living image of the many black devils they beheld in contemporary religious art. This can be linked back to the relationships as Iago uses this attitude to play on Othello s vulnerability (particularly with Brabantio), and as an easy way to demonise Othello. Even though Othello technically has the power, Iago crafts his words so he can use Othello s power for himself and ultimately to get revenge. We are introduced to two inferior charactersShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And Othello1417 Words   |  6 PagesHello, I’m William Shakespeare, the famous and historically known playwright of plays such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello and Macbeth. Today I will be talking to you all about two of my plays, Othello and Macbeth. I will also be talking to you all about the social, political and historical themes in my plays and my intent for writing them. I wrote Macbeth and Othello during the reign of King James the 1st of England. Events that were occurring during that time period and the feeling of theRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And Othello1984 Words   |  8 PagesExplore the ways in which characters emotions are manipulated in Macbeth and Othello The way that Shakespeare implements manipulation into Othello and Macbeth leads to significant emotional change in the majority of characters in both plays. This leads to protagonists’ eventual downfall in many cases, due to the language and imagery that Shakespeare creates in the tragedies. The schemists tend to exploit weaknesses in the victims, such as ambitions. This can be witnessed by the audience at a veryRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth, Othello, And King Lear1479 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth, was the last of four great tragedies, including Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear, written during the Elizabethan Era. Herbert Courson states the play as, â€Å" â€Å"a powerful even for the mature Shakespeare. [which]... demands that we share its experience intensely, that we fell the strength of Macbeth’s thirst for kingship, the force of Lady Macbeth’s persuasions, the anguish of Macbeth’s struggle before the murder, and the im pact of nature’s retribution after the murder†Read MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Vs. Othello1006 Words   |  5 PagesNadia Chilcoat Macbeth vs. Othello Period: â…š 12/12/2014 Macbeth vs. Othello Ancient Greeks believed that a tragic hero must be admirable but flawed, someone the audience can sympathize with, and someone capable of good and evil. The main character must also have a doctrine of free will, in which they are able to redeem themselves, but they continue to fall freely in a downward spiral from a position of superiority. The audience must also be able toRead MoreThe Literary Genius Of William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliette, Othello, King Lear, And Macbeth1953 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is an intriguing and well-known playwright and is considered to be the face of literature. Through the brainstorming of his greatest plays Romeo and Juliette, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, just to name a few, Shakespeare’s most famous play seemingly enough is Hamlet. This play is mostly evoked for its intrinsic worth however, it has its imperfections. Shakespeare will forever live on as the literary genius of the century because of the internal tragedie s he endured that gaveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hometown Of The English Language And The World s Best Dramatist1266 Words   |  6 Pages Although many knew him as a keen businessman in his hometown of Stratford, William Shakespeare is recognized as the greatest writer in the English language and the world s best dramatist. (www.goodreads.com) He wrote hundreds of songs, plays, books, and poems. During his time, his plays were well under-appreciated and a lot of his work did not appear until seven years after his death. Without Shakespeare, the English language would have never expanded at the rate it did, erasing many common wordsRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s King Lear, Hamlet, Othello And Macbeth1206 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish 3.7: Achievement Standard 91478 Introduction Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor. Through analysing four tragedy texts by Shakespeare, I have noticed he uses the fall of the main character as the primary focus in his tragedies as this creates good suspense and climax as an added attraction for the audience. A Shakespearean tragedy, is a five-act play and they usually revolve around a similar idea of conflict. This is the Internal and external Conflict within the characterRead MoreDoes Othello Meet The Standards Of A Tragic Hero?2171 Words   |  9 PagesMay 2015 Does Othello Meet the Standards of a Tragic Hero? William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest play writers who ever lived. Students throughout the United States continue to read his sonnets and plays today. His style of writing and his use of metaphors are what truly make him a great writer. Shakespeare wrote many comedies such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew. Shakespeare also wrote many tragedies such as Macbeth, Hamlet, and RomeoRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1887 Words   |  8 Pagesdisaster. â€Å"Macbeth’’ is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and is considered one of his darkest and most powerful works. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford -upon -avon, in Warwickshire and was baptized a few days later on 26 April 1566. William Shakespeare was educated at the local King Edward grammar school Stratford and is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time.(Bio.) In Macbeth, William Shakespeare used ambition to show us Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and theirRead MoreEnglish Feature article on Shakespears Macbeth with reference to both play and Polanskis adaptation. Title: Windows changed through time.1199 Words   |  5 Pageschanged through time. A way to see the world through different eyes... In late 1606 or early 1607, The last of Shakespeare s four great tragedies was written. Macbeth has been said by many to be Shakespeare s darkest work, A Reflection through Shakespeare s mind giving us a window into Elizabethan ways of politics, Human violence and Human nature. Quiet relevantly Shakespeare would never have guessed that over 400 years later the basic morals and characteristics that were used to shape

The Assistant Character Analysis Essay Example For Students

The Assistant: Character Analysis Essay The Assistant is a novel written by Bernard Malamud. It is a story set during the Depression. This story involves several key characters. The two protagonists are Frank Alpine, a drifter, and Morris Bober, a Jewish grocery store clerk. Morris’ wife Ida and daughter Helen are also heavily involved in the story. Frank Alpine is the protagonist of The Assistant. He is a typical Malamud character. Frank is real and memorable. Malamud knows this character well, like he knows all his characters, and he keeps them free of theatrics and sentimentality. These qualities add to the character’s sense of realism and simplicity. Frank is looking for a new life and finds it on the East Coast. It is there where he becomes a criminal. Frank and his friend Ward Minogue break into a grocery store, attack the aged clerk, and rob him. This is where we find Frank at the novel’s opening. He is not a good person, he is a criminal; but he feels guilty about his short life as a criminal. Frank wants atonement for his sin and he feels the only way to achieve it is to work for the man he robbed. Morris Bober, the clerk, finds Frank living in his basement. Frank has been stealing milk and rolls for sustenance. Morris gives Frank a job as his assistant, which starts Frank’s character growth. He does not become a good person right away. Frank steals from the register and even watched Morris’ daughter, Helen, take off her clothes in the bathroom. However, character change takes time and Frank is willing to do what he must to change. Living with an honest Jewish family is a great influence on him. He works hard in the store when Morris is not feeling well. Frank Alpine defeats himself after he has gained so much. One night Frank and Helen meet in the park. Helen is early and finds herself confronted by a rapist. Fortunately, Frank arrives in time to fight off the attacker but he ruins things for himself by picking up where the rapist left off. Again Frank seeks atonement for his sin. Morris has passed away and Frank sacrifices himself for the Bobers. He takes over all the responsibilities of the store and works off his sins against the family. Frank could be seen as anything but a hero. He lacks the virtues that a hero should have and instead has virtues of a villain like cowardice, ignorance and, dishonesty. Malamud dispels this image by creating greatness from within Frank. He evokes sympathy from the readers and succeeds in creating a hero in Frank. Morris Bober is the other protagonist in The Assistant. He is a Jewish shopkeeper, an old man, and a good man. The grocery business is his life; he rarely leaves the store. Morris is a decent man. His calmness and inner peace are his only qualities that let him survive. He endures all the misery that befalls him. The poverty and the desperation around him do not change his steadfastness and honesty. The grocery store is Morris’ destiny. He could have sold it but he let that opportunity slip away. Any opportunity for change he let slip away. He let them pass because he wanted them to pass. Morris sees the store as his tomb but he cares for it and would not want to miss it. The best way to understand Morris’ character is by observing how he reacts to the people and events around him. When he finds Frank in the basement, he willingly gives Frank food and shelter. When Morris begins to understand what kind of person Frank really is, Morris doesn’t give up on him. Instead, he tries to transform Frank into a better person. .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .postImageUrl , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:hover , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:visited , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:active { border:0!important; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:active , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The adjective melodramatic EssayHe tries to bring out the good in Frank that he knows is there. Morris fires Frank when he finds out Frank was stealing from him. He doesn’t do this out of anger, but out of disappointment. Morris helps Frank more than he knows. He offers Frank spiritual guidance and assistance on matters of humanity. Morris does this with subtlety, so much so that he doesn’t even realize that he is doing it. Morris is a living example of honesty and goodness. Morris dies shortly after firing Frank. Against his wife’s will Morris shovels the sidewalk in front of the store. He dies with an inner peace and happiness. Karp, the liquor storeowner next door, offers to buy the grocery store. Morris is happy and financially well off because of this. He has prevailed against the forces of darkness and his suffering has not been in vain. Helen is the daughter of Morris. She is attractive and instantly catches the eye of Frank, much to the dismay of Ida. She is a lonely person and doesn’t know what she wants for herself. She is trapped in her situation because her family does not have the money to give her more than they have. She is a good-hearted person and a bit stubborn. Helen’s past boyfriends have all been disappointments. Instead of doing anything for her, they have either taken from her or just did nothing but talk. Helen did not want to settle for any of these people, she wanted much better for herself. So she waited. Her senses have been sharpened because of these past boyfriends and she is careful when it comes to selecting a future mate. At first she feels Frank is the same way the other boys, but then she realizes he is different. He sacrifices his evenings to work a second job. Frank uses this extra income to put money back into the store. This helps make up for the money he took out of the register, but Helen doesn’t know that. Frank is different than other people, there is a good person struggling to get out and Helen sees this. This good person does not always come out. When Frank saves her from the rapist, he could have won her for life. Instead, he ruins all future chances with Helen by raping her himself. Ida Bober is Morris’ wife and Helen’s mother. She has acted as Morris’ assistant in the past when it came to running the store. She is able to run the store, but she let Morris take care of it. Morris would not stop her from helping him unless he thought it was too much for her. She has a very strong influence on Morris, as any wife should. Ida was against Frank’s presence in the store as soon as he arrived. He was stealing milk and rolls from them. Morris had to lie to Ida and tell her the thief had stopped just so she would stop nagging him. She was against Frank sleeping in the back room of the store. Ida was sure all the merchandise would be gone in the morning, and when it wasn’t she still did not trust him. Ida tried very hard to keep Helen away from Frank, and she did a good job of it too. She gave Frank dinner before Helen got home in the evening. She let Frank have the nights off so he would not be around when Helen was. But her efforts could only go so far. A determined young male will always find a way to be with the woman he wants. Ida was crushed when she saw Frank and Helen kissing on a door stoop one night. Malamud did a wonderful job in creating these characters. Frank Alpine is a believable and simple character, even with all his flaws. Everybody has flaws and can relate to him. .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .postImageUrl , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:hover , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:visited , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:active { border:0!important; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:active , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Everyday Use Walker EssayBy following his example we can strive to be good people even in the midst of our sins. Morris is also a simple man. He is a moral and does his best to help out his fellow man. He does not look for rewards for his actions; just knowing he did a good deed is reward enough. Helen has been hurt in the past and those wounds define who she is. She is careful of who she dates in case she would be hurt again. Ida is a realistic person, more concerned with the well being of her family than doing the right thing. She is a good wife and mother. Malamud used the right characters in telling his story, The Assistant.