Monday, January 27, 2020

The Inheritance Of Sins In Sophocles Antigone English Literature Essay

The Inheritance Of Sins In Sophocles Antigone English Literature Essay Inheritance plays a very dominant role in the peoples lives. In both the books, Antigone written by Sophocles in the late 5th century in ancient Greece and The House Of Spirits written by Isabel Allende in the late 20th century, inheritance of sins form one of the major themes. Antigone is the protagonist of Sophocles Antigone. This play takes place in a society where the gods were highly worshipped. To understand this, it is important to know about Oedipus. Oedipus was a man of quick action and extraordinary insight. But, this habit of his eventually turns against him.He saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and became the king overnight,he murders his own father without knowing it, He marries his own mother Jacosta without realizing it, he stabs his own eyes, and then he himself demands to be exiled. He does all of this without knowing that one day, his curse will also befall on his family. The Greeks believed, that the entire family would be destroyed because of some crime committed by their forefathers because the god send them pain and suffering on order to avenge them. This is brought out in the very opening of the play when Antigone says:My own dear sister, Ismene, of all the sufferings bequeathed by Oedipus, can you think of one that Zeus has not given the two of us in our lifetime?  [1]  .. Antigone is very similar to Oedipus. She begins the play with almost the same characteristics that Oedipus did. But Antigone had one thing Oedipus didnt, she knew her past very well. She was not afraid of the approaching fate of the her life.When a house has been shaken by the gods, The ruin never leaves them, but creeps on Through generations of the family2., The chorus sing of the curse, the sins committed by the forefathers, which can brutally destroy a family, generation by generation.. One generation does not free the next, But a god strikes them down3., Antigones lif e revolves around the sins committed by her father due to which she lost her mother, brothers and finally she is going to lose herself. She is continuously haunted by the distortion that has destroyed her family. But she is aware of the fate that has been fixed for her and she feels that she has nothing to lose. The thrice told doom of my father, the entire destiny has come to us, to the famous children of Labdacus4., this quote signifies the reflection of Antigone on her family curse again. She keeps talking about the many grieves that Oedipus handed down to his children. In her emotional confusion, she sees herself doomed because of the crimes committed by her father that has brought ruin to their family. By the thrice told doom she keeps repeating her future. Through this we come to know that even though the Greeks believed in that the supernatural power will destroy the families, they also believe on the fact that even the humans are responsible for the choice they make. Antigo ne, though not afraid, moans her awaited destiny and is continually haunted by her family past. The girl is the violent child of a violent father5. At this point of the story, Antigone is being irrational and being impulsive. She does not know what she is saying or doing. Now, she is in the same position as her father, Oedipus, was except for the fact that Antigone is in complete control of her fate which Oedipus wasnt . Unlike Antigone, where there was the society that believed in supernatural powers and beliefs, The House of Spirits takes place in a modern society where the ancient beliefs are not mentioned, still . Yet, the inheritance of the sins completely changes the course of the life of Alba.Alba is the granddaughter of Estaban Trueba. Estaban Garcia is the grandson of Estaban Trueba and Pancha Garcia. He pours all his hatred into Alba to take revenge.. This is so because Estaban Garcia wants to take revenge on his grandfatherby torturing his granddaughter. Hehates his grandfather for not acknowledging him as. In the epilogue of this book, we also find out that Alba becomes the narrator  [i]  of the story. The epilogue of the story plays a major role as it is spoken by Alba herself and it helps her realize the reason behind these painful incidents. In The House of the Spirits, Alba suffers significantly because of her past..Estaban Trueba is the most prominent character in this book and he is the only character who stays from the beginning to the very end of the book. From the very beginning of the story, he makes a lots of mistakes without realising that one day it will bounce back at him through Alba. He forbade anyone to talk to him and could not tolerate opposition; he viewed the slightest disagreement as a provocationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the peasants hid their daughters and clenched their fists helplessly because they could not confront him6.. The peasants hated the ways Estaban treated them. He considered the workers and the peasants inferior to himself, so he did not give any importance to them. He was a representative of the conservative attitude. He believed that the peasants do not deserve a share in the wealth of the upper class. Estaban is a person who craves for power, and because of his attitude and the state of the gov ernment at that period of time, he became one of the richest person in the region. He treated the peasants and the lower class people with disrespect without understanding that these mistakes will affect his family too.I am beginning to suspect that nothing that happens is fortuitous, that it all corresponds to a faith laid down before my birth7, realization dawns on Alba that she is not going through all of this because of her fault, in fact she is suffering this pain because of the sins and misdeeds committed by people in her previous generations, especially by her grandfather.Because my revenge would be another part of the same inexorable rite8, Alba decides not to seek for revenge because, the sins committed by her in avenging herself will affect not only her, but also the future generations. She also realizes that this is a chain of events and if it does not stop, will continue forever. Estaban Trueba raped Pancha. And now the same sin is being committed by Estaban Garcia to th e granddaughter of the rapist. Alba has a burning desire to stop this circle of sinful incidents that will cause the future generations to suffer. Due to the suffering she had undergone in the hands of Estaban Garcia, Alba andher grandfather to write their familt story in order to , reclaim the past and overcome the terrors of my own9. By writing this story, both Estaban Trueba and Alba are able to let go of their anger and their yearning to take revenge. In both these books, it is seen that the course of the lives of the characters is determined through the sins committed by their forefathers. In Sophocles Antigone, it is brought out through Antigone. In The House of the Spirits, it is brought out through the youngest living character, Alba. In both these books, these characters realize that their life is shadowed by the sins that their ancestors committed in a very painful way. Antigone is tortured to death while Alba is physically and mentally tortured by Estaban Garcia. In Antigone, it was believed that Antigone suffered because the gods bring ruin to the family that has committed sins whereas in The House of the Spirits, Estaban Garcias desire for avenge became the consequence for the sins committed by the Estaban Trueba.In The House of the Spirits, we also see that the government and the political situation also plays an extremely important role in Albas life. It is because of her grandfathers power than gave rise to so many riv als and it was because of the political situation that Alba was tortured. We see that unlike Antigone, Alba realised that the mistakes she does today will affect her upcoming generations. This is what changes her life forever. Antigone dies whereas Alba lives. Though both these books have different places of origin and different timelines, they depict the same theme through these books. Mans life is truly determined by the sins committed by their ancestors in their previous generations.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Breaking Dawn: Between the book and movies Essay

There are many differences between breaking dawn the book and breaking dawn (parts 1 and 2) the movie. Some are blatantly obvious while others you have to know where to look to even be able to spot them. I’ll start with the book and part one of the movie. Edward and Bella had talked about her staying human for a full year before she turned so she could attend Dartmouth, But in the movie there was no talk at all about collage. In the movie Edward shares with Bella his rebellious vampire period the night before the wedding while in the movie it is only told is the book Twilight. The day of the wedding comes and it goes on quite beautifully. Many speeches were given in the movie yet none were described at all in the book. After the wedding Edward and Bella leave to go to the place where they were said to have their honeymoon. They were their 17 days after the wedding when belle discovers she was pregnant. In the movie it had only been 14 days since the wedding. She had decided to keep the baby and becomes very ill and forced to have the baby removed from inside of her because if she wasn’t Bella would have died. Edward roomed the baby and had no other choice but to turn her. Bella awakes from her transformation in the book wearing a silk blue dress and stiletto heals. In the movie she is wearing a blue dress but is also barefoot. She is then presented to her daughter which they names Renesmee. Edward showed Bella Renesmee’s powers and got to hold her for a bit. It was suggested she should hunt so Edward and Bella left. In the movie Bella encounters a mountain lion and a deer at the same time. After she had smelled a human and went after him. Edward stopped her. In the book the animals were hunted separately and she never goes after the human she smells. They get back and soon after Jacob arrives and Bella gets into a fight with him because of the fact that he had imprinted on her daughter and had given her the nickname Nessie. Which means Lock-Ness monster. Seth tries to stop them from fighting as a wolf and Bella pushes him hard into a tree with her new vampire strength, injuring his shoulder. In the book she injures him enough that Carlisle had to treat him for the broken shoulder. In the movie it isn’t bad enough for medical attention at all. A couple of weeks go by and Christmas arrives. Bella goes to her dads house with Edward and Renesmee. Renesmee is given a shiny golden locket theta day while in the movie it in given to her the night before the confrontation of the Volturi. The day of the confrontation came and Bella had Jacob ready to take Renesmee away if a fight breaks out. Well in the book the confrontation with the Volturi is almost peaceful. Alice and Jasper arrive just in time to present Nahual and Huilen. The Volturi see that Renesmee isn’t a threat to them and leave soon after. In the movie Alice arrives at the beginning and a huge battle scene occurs. Many people lose their lives including Carlisle, Jasper, and Aro. However it was only a vision of what would happen if the volturi decided to stay and fight. Nahuel and Huilen emerge from the woods and tells their story and then leave. Soon after Aro decides to leave because he doesn’t want to stay and fight only to die in the process. So as you can see this is only a few of the differences between Breaking Dawn the book and parts 1 and 2 of Breaking Dawn the movie.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Should You Speak Your Mind on an Important Point If You Know It Will Upset Your Manager

Should you speak your mind on an important point if you know it will upset your manager or should you hold back your thoughts in the name of making a good impression? Explain your answer. Response: Speaking from experience, as I am currently a consultant and have been a Fielding Director, Program Manager and a team lead as well as spending 20 years in the U. S. Navy; this question hits very close to home. I have made a living on speaking my mind and being completely honest.I am well known for always telling the truth whether it gains me something or not. However, I have learned in the last 10 years since I have retired, speaking your mind is great but there is a time and place for it. The first and foremost is don’t ever embarrass your boss. It’s ok to speak your mind but make it the correct time and place because if you embarrass your boss, even if you are correct in what you are saying, you are wrong for doing it.I have learned over the years that speaking your mind, while it may upset your boss at the beginning, if you do it with professionalism it will always work out. You also have to learn to sometimes agree to disagree. Meaning if they heard what you said but still are not going to go in the direction you feel it should go, learn to let it go. So my response is yes; it’s ok to speak your mind at the risk of upsetting your boss but learn to pick your battles and never embarrass your boss.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Charles Henry Turner, Pioneer Animal Behaviorist

Zoologist and educator Charles Henry Turner (February 3, 1867—February 14, 1923) is known for his work with insects and numerous animal behavioral experiments. Turner was the first to demonstrate that insects can hear and learn. He was also the first to demonstrate that honey bees have color vision and distinguish patterns. Fast Facts: Charles Henry Turner Born: February 3, 1867 in Cincinnati, OhioDied: February 14, 1923 in Chicago, IllinoisParents: Thomas and Addie Campbell TurnerSpouses: Leontine Troy (m. 1887-1895) and Lillian Porter (m. 1907-1923)Children: Henry Owen, Darwin Romanes, and Louisa Mae (with Troy)Education: Turner was the first African American to receive a graduate degree from the University of Cincinnati (M.S. in biology), and to earn a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of ChicagoPublished Works: The Homing of Ants: An Experimental Study of Ant Behavior (1907), Experiments on Color Vision of the Honey Bee (1910)Key Accomplishments: First to discover that bees see in color and recognize patterns. Early Years Charles Henry Turner was born in  1867 to Thomas Turner and Addie Campbell Turner in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father worked as a custodian in a church and his mother was a nurse. The couple were avid readers, who owned hundreds of books and encouraged their son to learn and discover more about the world around him. As a young boy, Turner was fascinated by insects and was curious about their behaviors. After graduating as class valedictorian from Gaines High School, he enrolled in the University of Cincinnati in 1886. Turner married Leontine Troy in 1887. The couple had three children during the marriage: Henry, Darwin, and Louisa Mae. While at the University of Cincinnati, Turner majored in biology and went on to earn his B.S. (1891) and M.S. (1892) degrees. In doing so, he became the first African American to earn a graduate degree from the University of Cincinnati. Career and Accomplishments An educator at heart, Turner gained employment at several schools and an assistantship at the University of Cincinnati. His ultimate desire was to head an African American institution of higher learning. After reportedly contacting Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute about potential teaching opportunities, Turner landed a position as a professor at Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. He also served as chair of the Department of Science and Agriculture at the college from 1893 to 1905. During his time in Atlanta, his wife, Leontine, passed away (1895). Turner continued to pursue education and earned a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1907. He became the universitys first African American recipient of such an advanced degree. That same year, he married Lillian Porter and taught biology and chemistry at Haines Normal and Industrial Institute in Atlanta. The couple later moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after Turner acquired a position at Sumner High School, where he continued to teach African American students from 1908 to 1922. Groundbreaking Research Charles Henry Turner is most noted for his groundbreaking research in animal behavior. He is reported to have published more than 70 papers in scientific journals, including the Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology, American Naturalist, Journal of Animal Behaviour, and Science. Despite his impressive degrees and numerous published works, he was denied employment at major universities.   Turners research focused on the behaviors of various animals, including birds, ants, cockroaches, honeybees, wasps, and moths. One of his most notable research discoveries focused on the navigation of ants and was the subject of his doctoral dissertation, entitled The Homing of Ants: An Experimental Study of Ant Behavior, published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology. Turner designed controlled experiments and mazes for testing the navigational abilities of ants. His experiments demonstrated that ants find their way by learning about their environment. He also identified a specific type of behavior in some ant species that later became known as Turners circling, as was referred to by French scientist Victor Cornetz. This circling behavior was observed when the ants returned to their nest. His later experiments with honey bees contributed to the better understanding of invertebrate animal behavior. These studies established that bees see in color and recognize patterns. His two papers on these studies, Experiments on Color Vision of the Honey Bee and Experiments on Pattern-Vision of the Honey Bee, appeared in Biological Bulletin in 1910 and 1911 respectively. Unfortunately, Turners contributions to the study of honey bee behavior were not cited by his contemporaries, such as Austrian zoologist Karl von Frisch, who published works concerning honey bee communication several years later. Turner conducted many other experiments and published papers that elucidated insect phenomenon such as hearing in moths, insects that play dead, and learning in cockroaches. Additionally, he published studies on bird and crustacean brain anatomy and is credited with discovering a new species of invertebrate.   Death and Legacy Throughout his life, Charles Henry Turner was an advocate for civil rights and argued that racism could be conquered through education. He published papers on the subject in 1897 and 1902. Turner retired from Summer High School in 1922 due to failing health. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he lived with his son Darwin until his death on February 14, 1923. Charles Henry Turner made lasting contributions to the fields of zoology and animal behavior. His experimental designs, observational methods, and investigations of vertebrate and invertebrate learning elucidated new ways of studying animal life. Sources Abramson, Charles I. Charles Henry Turner: Contributions of a Forgotten African-American to Honey Bee Research. Charles Henry Turner, Oklahoma State University, psychology.okstate.edu/museum/turner/turnerbio.html.DNLee. Charles Henry Turner, Animal Behavior Scientist. Scientific American Blog Network, 13 Feb. 2012, blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/charles-henry-turner-animal-behavior-scientist/.  Turner, C. H. The Homing of Ants: An Experimental Study of Ant Behavior. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology, vol. 17, no. 5, 1907, pp. 367–434., doi:10.1002/cne.920170502.  Turner, Charles Henry. Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Encyclopedia.com, www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/turner-charles-henry.  Vincze, Judit. Turner, Charles H. (1867–1923) JRank Articles, encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/4485/Turner-Charles-H-1867-1923.html.