Ethical Decisions Scenario Analysis Essay Example for Free

Ethical Decisions Scenario Analysis Essay Reflection Question: Discuss whether you generally make ethical decisions using a traditional or a modern ethical model. Provide an example using an experience you have had in your daily life. I would have to say that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. Being true to oneself is ethically speaking. I used to get detention in HS and being an honor student really hurt me. Peer pressure was another feeling that couldn’t be surpassed. Stress and anxiety are add-ons to one’s life experience. I have both. Depression is yet another I have not really dealt with. These feelings are not mutual and do not come easily. Ethics are the study of moral standards and how they affect conduct, by definition. Traditional ethics are from the past and are from the way that people thought about morals and the way that life should be lived back then. Modern ethics came from traditional ethics, but were revised a bit to fit in with new times and with new ways of thinking. Ethics are a part of everyone’s lives. Both are similar, but I believe that the development with the two came from within a person. Someone did not just make up how a person feels inside. A person knows right from wrong from being taught. With that  being said, a person would know that stealing is wrong and that there would be something inside of them saying something like if you take that money from that person that is wrong and you will feel bad if you have good morals. Both forms of ethics have changed through the years and are now at what is called the modern ethics that we have adjusted to fit into today’s society. I would think that the biggest connection between the two forms of ethics is that it is based on morals and how a person feels deep down inside. I feel that it is based on what your heart tells you.

Parkinsons Disease Essay -- Brain Aging Diseases Papers

Parkinson’s Disease (from hereon PD) is an extrapyramidal disorder characterized primarily by massive idiopathic degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in greatly decreased levels of dopamine in the striatum. The diagnosis, which is essentially a clinical judgment due to the lack, thus far of a simple diagnostic test, has historically been on the basis of the presence of at least two of the three main features of PD: bradykinesia (or akinesia or hypokinesia), rigidity, and resting tremor. In addition to these symptoms, most PD patients also show postural disturbances, impaired righting reflexes, and abnormal ocular movements. The extent of the disease and its symptoms can be quantified by one of a few similar scales, including the motor examination of the Unified Rating Scale for Parkinson’s Disease, in which each of 14 motor aspects are scored from 0 to 4 and the scores totaled. The items in this particular scale are as follows: 1) spee ch; 2) facial expression; 3) tremor at rest; 4) action or postural tremor of hands; 5) rigidity; 6) finger taps; 7) hand movements; 8) rapid alternating movements of hands; 9) foot agility; 10) arising from chair; 11) posture; 12) postural stability; 13) gait; and 14) body bradykinesia or hypokinesia. In addition to the typical idiopathic PD, PD-like symptoms may be seen in a variety of other disorders, such as striatonigral degeneration (which I will mention later), Parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam, supranuclear palsy, and occasionally Alzheimer’s Disease. The resting tremor usually seen in PD primarily affects the digits, hands and arms, head, and lips, and ceases during voluntary movement and sleep. This tremor characteristically has a high amplitude a... ...n Implants on Primate MPTP-Induced Parkinsonism. J Neurosurgery; 72: 231-244. 19. Apuzzo, M. L. J. et. al. (1990). Utilization of Unilateral and Bilateral Stereotactically Placed Adrenomedullary-Striatal Autografts in Parkinsonian Humans: Rationale, Techniques, and Observations. Neurosurgery; 26: 746-757. 20. Lieberman, A. et. al. (1989). Adrenal Medullary Transplants as a Treatment for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease. Acta Neurol. Scand.; 126: 189-196. 21. Nakai, M. et. al. (1990). Autologous Transplantation of the Superior Cervical Ganglion Into the Brain of Parkinsonian Monkeys. J. Neurosurgery; 72: 91-95. 22.Wolff, J. A. et. al. (1989). Grafting Fibroblasts Genetically Modified to Produce L-Dopa in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci., USA; 86: 9011-9014. 23.Carpenter, M. B. Core Text of Neuroanatomy (?). Scattered pages. Parkinson's Disease Essay -- Brain Aging Diseases Papers Parkinson’s Disease (from hereon PD) is an extrapyramidal disorder characterized primarily by massive idiopathic degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in greatly decreased levels of dopamine in the striatum. The diagnosis, which is essentially a clinical judgment due to the lack, thus far of a simple diagnostic test, has historically been on the basis of the presence of at least two of the three main features of PD: bradykinesia (or akinesia or hypokinesia), rigidity, and resting tremor. In addition to these symptoms, most PD patients also show postural disturbances, impaired righting reflexes, and abnormal ocular movements. The extent of the disease and its symptoms can be quantified by one of a few similar scales, including the motor examination of the Unified Rating Scale for Parkinson’s Disease, in which each of 14 motor aspects are scored from 0 to 4 and the scores totaled. The items in this particular scale are as follows: 1) spee ch; 2) facial expression; 3) tremor at rest; 4) action or postural tremor of hands; 5) rigidity; 6) finger taps; 7) hand movements; 8) rapid alternating movements of hands; 9) foot agility; 10) arising from chair; 11) posture; 12) postural stability; 13) gait; and 14) body bradykinesia or hypokinesia. In addition to the typical idiopathic PD, PD-like symptoms may be seen in a variety of other disorders, such as striatonigral degeneration (which I will mention later), Parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam, supranuclear palsy, and occasionally Alzheimer’s Disease. The resting tremor usually seen in PD primarily affects the digits, hands and arms, head, and lips, and ceases during voluntary movement and sleep. This tremor characteristically has a high amplitude a... ...n Implants on Primate MPTP-Induced Parkinsonism. J Neurosurgery; 72: 231-244. 19. Apuzzo, M. L. J. et. al. (1990). Utilization of Unilateral and Bilateral Stereotactically Placed Adrenomedullary-Striatal Autografts in Parkinsonian Humans: Rationale, Techniques, and Observations. Neurosurgery; 26: 746-757. 20. Lieberman, A. et. al. (1989). Adrenal Medullary Transplants as a Treatment for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease. Acta Neurol. Scand.; 126: 189-196. 21. Nakai, M. et. al. (1990). Autologous Transplantation of the Superior Cervical Ganglion Into the Brain of Parkinsonian Monkeys. J. Neurosurgery; 72: 91-95. 22.Wolff, J. A. et. al. (1989). Grafting Fibroblasts Genetically Modified to Produce L-Dopa in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci., USA; 86: 9011-9014. 23.Carpenter, M. B. Core Text of Neuroanatomy (?). Scattered pages.

Development of Complex Societies Essay

In the early stages of the development of complex societies, many different factors had a powerful impact on the way the societies developed. In some areas of the world, religion was the primary force that led to the creation of organized societies. Other areas developed on trade routes that made it necessary to develop complex societies to incorporate the growth of different economic classes and the wealth they generated into the structure of the government. In each part of the world where complex societies emerged, the communities were responding to different types of challenges and the complexities each society created forced them to confront new challenges which then led to the great, complex societies of history. The urban society of Mesopotamia developed because of the engineering discoveries that allowed residents of the area between the Tigris and Euphrates to increase food production, while the predictability of the Nile River allowed the Egyptians and Nubians to build large , complex societies around their commercial and religious activities. Many simple early societies were based around farming. Through cultivating crops and the land, people learned they could settle down in one place instead of being nomads and support a larger population of people. These villages needed a social structure, but their sizes were limited by the amount of food they could produce. In Mesopotamia, especially Sumeria and Babylon, there is not much rainfall, but farmers learned they could artificially irrigate their crops using the fresh water in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers[1]. The large-scale engineering projects required greater social organization than the simple farming communities that came before, but they also resulted in increased food production that allowed them to build cities. The urban centers that resulted required more sophisticated organization to make sure that the population was productive: that building projects could be completed, that resources were distributed fairly, and that the city could continue to grow[2]. The division of labor also created different economic classes, which resulted in various social classes as well. Some merchants grew wealthy catering to customers who came to the city from other places, and community building projects required supervision, organization, and funding[3]. Such a large society could not exist as small farmers trading with one another. Political authority was needed to maintain order between the citizens and protect the interests of the entire community, especially the cropland that existed outside the city walls. An example of the way that authority influenced society is the codification of laws by Hammurabi, especially as they related to family relationships and how husbands could treat their wives. Upper-class people whose marriages represented political and economic alliances were subject to the same law, so that even if a husband had a right to punish his wife for a suspected affair, he could not do anything to her unless he caught her in the act. If he did act out on his jealousy, he would be punished. Hammurabi’s laws treated women like the property of their husbands and fathers, but they also described certain standards of behavior that citizens should be expected to follow for the sake of stability and to reign in people’s behavior[4]. The innovation of urban development also led to the Sumerian creation of military power, as each city-state had to protect its farmland and irrigation projects from one another and from outside invaders. Once the city-states had organized themselves into relatively peaceful social organizations united under a single government, their growing populations often led them to go out and try to conquer other city-states or areas with more resources to increase their wealth[5]. In Mesopotamia, the social organization created in the first cities led to the establishment of the first empires. Along the Nile River in northern Africa, small city states also emerged due to the increased production of food that agriculture made possible. Agriculture first developed in Sudan, where people first cultivated wheat crops and domesticated animals that roamed the grassland. The growing populations made these cities into cultural and commercial centers, as well, and they also required political authority to keep the peace and maintain the functioning of all of the complex institutions of a city: dividing up resources, keeping the peace, and protecting their resources from other city-states[6]. These cities were often ruled over by Kings who were not only thought of as political authority but were also considered to be divine themselves, so they also held a great deal of religious authority[7]. Over time, the grasslands became desert and agricultural activity centered along the floodplains of the Nile River in Egypt and Nubia. Egypt, particularly, had a very wide and predictable floodplain which attracted immigrants and allowed the population to grow. United under one ruler, who was also considered to be divine, Egyptian society became increasingly complex. Massive amounts of resources, especially wheat from the fertile harvests, had to be dealt with, marketplaces had to be managed, and armies had to be raised to protect the fertile land from invaders. The main organizing force in Egyptian society was its strong religious component. The Pharaoh was considered a god as well as a king, and the religious power he held was just as important as the political power. The colossal building projects that the Egyptians embarked on, such as the pyramids and temples, required a very complex society and highly skilled workers and engineers[8]. They developed a very complex writing system not only to keep commercial records, but also to record their spiritual beliefs and the history of their empire. Harkhuf used it to document his exploration of Nubia and opening of trade routes there, showing the high levels of complexity that each of those societies had risen to[9]. Both the African and Mesopotamian civilizations developed out of small farming communities who practiced small-scale agriculture. In both areas, advances in agriculture led to increased populations living in densely-populated cities, which allowed the people to divide labor and specialize in different things. The division of labor led to advancement in almost every area: from engineering and agriculture to art and, especially, the political organizations that organized the whole society and made all of those things possible. Both civilizations developed writing systems, originally developed to keep records, but soon used to express imaginations, beliefs, and to write down the histories of their nations. While Mesopotamian cultures were organized around the complex building projects needed to irrigate their fields, societies in the Nile River had other pressures. Their cropland was regularly fertilized and irrigated, so their complexity developed out of a need to organize the wealth of the city-state and the empire that came as a result. Without the pressure of constantly trying to keep their crops irrigated, the Egyptians organized around religious beliefs, which they expressed in their greatest building projects and influenced almost everything they did. The pressures that led smaller societies to develop more complex structures were different in each case, but they both resulted in the building of the first great cities which are necessary for the political, social, and technological innovations of complex society. Although the places they lived were very different, the Sumerians and the Egyptians both developed writing to record their progress, political innovations to maintain control of growing populations, and laid the foundations for great building projects and the great civilizations that would come after them. Bibliography Bentley, Jerry H. and Ziegler, Herbert F., Traditions and Encounters Vol. 1 from The Beginning to 1500, 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010 ———————– [1] Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler, Traditions and Encounters Vol. 1 from The Beginning to 1500, 5th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010), 25 [2] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 27 [3] Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions, 33 [4] Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions, 36 [5] Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions, 29 [6] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 50-51 [7] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 52 [8] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 53 [9] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 56

Ab221 Customer Service

Running head: On-Time Technology Products Complaint On-Time Technology Products Complaint Kaplan University AB221 Customer Service Tina Engle March 30, 2011 On-Time Technology Products Complaint On-Time Technology Products (OTTP) sells products related to time, and Mark MacGibson is the new President of OTTP. OTTP has seldom had any customer complaints because the companies top priority is customer service. Mary Graff, the supervisor for the Customer Service Representatives plans was to take OTTP to an innovative level of excellent customer service. Unfortunately, one day the President received a complaint in written from a disabled person, that has prompt his immediate attention. The complaint was in reference to the treatment given by a sales representative (Joanne) during the persons visit to the store. The complaint read, â€Å"Today I was at your store and wanted to purchase a new laptop computer. I never write companies when small incidents occur (relative to my disability of being in a wheelchair), but I feel that today’s behavior by your sales staff was over the top and warrants this letter. I chose to inform you, the President, so that others in my circumstance at your place of business will not be so offended. I felt very patronized when, after asking a question of your service/sales representative Joanne, she responded in an almost childlike voice – not once, but three times! Then she proceeded to lean on my wheelchair as she was demonstrating the laptop to me. I felt it would have been more appropriate for here to use a chair, but when I suggested she do so, she said, â€Å"Oh this will only take a minute or so† and then continued to lean over me for another five minutes! I am incensed enough to write this letter! By the way, after leaving your store I will purchase my laptop from another store within the hour. † After reading this person written complaint I have come to the conclusion that this complaint is legitimate because Joanne did not serve the disabled customer properly. Joanne’s communication with the customer was inappropriate because she spoke in a child like voice, and leaned on the customers’ wheel chair. Where in actuality, Joanne should have spoke to the customer in a normal tone voice (instead of a childlike voice), sat in a chair at eye level to the customer in the wheel chair (instead of leaning on the persons wheel chair), and continuing to lean on the customers wheel chair after the customer told her what they would prefer for her to do. In my opinion, the President Mr. MacGibson should call (if their telephone number is available), or communicate with this customer personally, and offer his sincere apology as well as compensation for what took place in their store. What I think Mr. MacGibson responds should is; â€Å"Hello Sir. /Mama, I am Mr. MacGibson the President of On-Time Technology Products and I would like to give you my sincere apology for what took place at our store during you visit. I would like to inform you that the mannerism Joanne showed during your visit is unacceptable, and was not the protocol of OTTP. To assure that this does not happen again I will personally make sure that all of our employees are well trained, and aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In closing, I would also like to offer you compensation for what took place at our establishment although you stated â€Å"you have purchased a laptop from another business. I would recommend that Mr. MacGibson put into play extensive training at OTTP with understanding disabled customers, customer behavior, and exceptional service, and that should assure to keep up OTTP’s reputation of seldom complaints. I say this because as a customer coming into an establishment they need to be understood, welcome, important, and comfortable with the sales representative. References The World of Customer Service, 2nd edition Pattie Gibson-Odgers (2008).

Macbeth, Tragic Hero Essay Example

Macbeth, Tragic Hero Essay Example Macbeth, Tragic Hero Paper Macbeth, Tragic Hero Paper Essay Topic: Macbeth Trifles Macbeth gives us a classic example of the literary definition of a tragic hero. The title character is a Thane, of high birth, and an influential leader whose decisions affect many others. He possesses a number of admirable qualities, among these honesty and conscience. Along with these positive attributes, he also possesses a fatal flaw, namely ambition. And like so many other tragic heroes, he rapidly falls from grace before encountering a moment of enlightenment. The first indication of Macbeths moral demise is plainly illustrated from the very first scene of the play, where the three witches are gathered amid an ominous backdrop that of stormy weather, signalled by thunder and lightning. The tempestuous weather serves as an indication of change and upheaval of a negative nature, so that from the outset, it is evident that all shall not run smoothly during the course of the life of the title character. The witches final words of the scene, Fair is foul and foul is fair, are eerily echoed by Macbeth later on, when he remarks, So foul and fair a day establishing a subconscious link between them. Macbeth can be described as a tragic hero since he possesses certain attributes of character and circumstances, which conform to the traditionalistic view of the literary tragic hero. Some of these characteristics are shown to us in the second scene through the eyes of Ross and the Sergeant. The latter ironically describes the Thane of Glamis as brave Macbeth well he deserves that name. Macbeth is portrayed as a noble and valiant fighter, and along with Banquo, is proclaimed the man of the hour. The Sergeant creates an immaculate picture of Macbeth, one that is larger than life. Shortly afterwards, the same man is described by Ross as the husband of Bellona, the goddess of war. The witches first encounter with Macbeth and Banquo is where the first seeds of ambition are planted in Macbeth. They use their prophetic words to seduce Macbeth into pondering the advantages of kingship, whilst Banquo remains sceptical and distant. The imperatives that Macbeth uses to try to stall these vindictive creatures reflect his perplexity. He uses words such as Stay, tell and Speak. When Ross and Angus appear and hand Cawdors title to Macbeth, Banquo remarks silently, what! Can the devil speak true? showing that, unlike Macbeth, he has associated the witches with evil. The encounter on the moor signals the beginning of the protagonists downfall. Banquo then advises Macbeth wisely, saying that: The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betrays In deepest consequence. The message Banquo is trying to get across is that in order to bring about our destruction, sometimes the forces of evil tell us simple truths, leading us to trust them. They then deceive us when it matters the most. Macbeth does not heed this warning, and later he and Lady Macbeth will sacrifice all they have for something that they think will make them happy. They do not count the blessings that they already have, and, consequently, fall into a trap of evil, deceit and despair. From then on Macbeths thoughts are set on kingship. He will become obsessed with the imperial theme. By professing that nothing is/But what is not we are fleetingly shown his single-mindedness, as he only desires the one thing which he does not have. Yet for the moment he adopts this sensible attitude: If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. Subsequently, we encounter an event where Duncan is to bestow upon Macbeth his new title of Thane of Cawdor. Speaking of the traitorous Cawdor, he makes an important and meaningful statement, saying, Theres no art To find the minds construction in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust. Duncan has already started to build An absolute trust upon Macbeth, the new Thane of Cawdor. Here the irony lies in that Duncan has made the same mistake twice he has twice put his faith in a backstabber. Later on, Duncan makes an important statement, which is the turning point in Macbeths fall from grace it is his first plotting of murder. As soon as Duncan proclaims Malcolm as heir to the throne, Macbeth realises that he must kill both the king and his successor so that the third prophecy may be fulfilled. In order to magnify the horror of what Macbeth will do, Shakespeare establishes an almost father-son relationship between Duncan and Macbeth. This is why Macbeth asks that light not see his black and deep desires. It is an ominous wish, and it is uncannily similar to the language used by the three witches, the representatives of the evil in all of us. We then come to our first introduction to an encounter with Lady Macbeth, where she is reading Macbeths letter, in which he calls her my dearest partner of greatness. This reflects the ambitious nature of the couple. Lady Macbeth has guessed what it is that Macbeth is considering in order to gain the crown. Yet she has a very profound psychological understanding of Macbeth, and says that his nature is too full of the milk of human kindness/To catch the nearest way. She knows that Macbeth has a conscience, and that it will not be easily dispelled. She is also aware that he is morally upright and too sensitive to do something that is wrong. Lady Macbeth, nevertheless, is unlike her spouse. She is the decision-maker: domineering, manipulative and smooth talking. She abounds with self-confidence and has no qualms whatsoever. The latter is especially evident when, in the same scene, a messenger has just been to see her to tell her of Duncans arrival at their home that very evening. She invokes evil spirits, so that they may take away her maternal instincts, love and tenderness all that makes her a woman so she can have the determination and coldness to carry off the intended evil deeds. Lady Macbeth then asks that her evil deeds be hidden and obscured from all that is good and right. The foreboding image of darkness plays a prominent role throughout the play as a force closely attached with horror and malice. Upon Macbeths arrival, his wife tells him that [His] face, my thane, is as a book where men/May read strange matters. The eye is the mirror of the soul, and through this medium, Macbeth is plainly expressing his feelings. He must put on a false pretence if he wishes to succeed in his crusade. Lady Macbeth further utters words of advice to Macbeth, when she tells him that his hand and his tongue must look like the innocent flower/But be the serpent undert. The hand is that with which you convey sincerity or acceptance of a decision, whilst the tongue expresses your inner emotions. He must revoke all his honest feelings and give way to ruthlessness, malice and heartlessness. Duncans arrival at Macbeths castle follows, and both he and Banquo paradoxically describe the castle as something resembling paradise. Macbeth is not upon hand to greet the king, under Lady Macbeths orders. She is now in charge. Speaking on behalf of all present, Duncan tells Lady Macbeth that they love him highly. He, ironically, is referring to the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeths first soliloquy is presented to us at the end of the first act. It is the first opportunity he has had to carefully deliberate murder. He is presented as a man about to succumb to temptation; yet from the outset, he is acutely aware that if he escapes temporal judgement, he shall not escape divine justice. He wishes that there could be no negative consequences resulting from the proposed assassination, but he knows that this is well nigh impossible. Macbeth also knows that there is not a single justifiable reason why he should kill the good man who has treated him as his own. The only purpose he can find for which to kill Duncan is Vaulting ambition, which he knows only preludes a fall. Ambition is Macbeths tragic flaw. After his deliberation, Macbeth tells his wife that he does not wish to partake in the proposed deed, having realised that he does not want to risk anything. Lady Macbeth, however, has her mind made up, and uses her husbands sense of masculinity, male independence and power to push him manipulatively towards committing murder. Macbeth finally agrees, fully aware of future consequences and the callousness of the deed. There is no compelling force driving him he will kill a man for selfish, materialistic reasons. He is to commit an indefensible crime, since there is no moral, political or personal reason for it that is justifiable. He is a tragic hero because he knows what he is doing is wrong, yet he fails to realise that his future happiness will rest on the outcome of that fatal night. Macbeth is waiting for the signal to murder Duncan at the outset of the second scene. Speaking with Banquo, whom he encounters, Macbeth is nervous and jittery in both speech and manner. He begins to hallucinate, seeing a dagger in his hand, proving that his imagination is beyond control. He wonders if the vision proceeds from the heat-oppressed brain, showing that he is both feverish and under pressure. Macbeth is dealing in ambiguous terms. Part of Macbeths soliloquy is as so: Now oer the one half-world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtaind sleep; witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecates offerings; and witherd murder, Alarumd by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howls his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquins ravishing strides, toward his design Move like a ghost. All the images in the above extract come from the world of the occult and the supernatural, showing that Macbeth is indeed possessed by the idea of kingship, and is set on fulfilling the third prophecy. He is adopting a machiavellian attitude, believing that the end justifies the means. Shakespeare is rapidly revealing the murder in its full horror, with the emphasis being on the despicable nature of the act. The moment after the murder is the beginning of the aftermath. Macbeth has committed the deed, because Lady Macbeth says that Had he not resembled/[Her] father as he slept, [she] had donet. Macbeth has undergone a horrifying, haunting and harrowing experience that will leave him emotionally scarred for life. Macbeth says of himself: I had most need of blessing, and Amen/Stuck in my throat. He is beyond forgiveness and redemption. Glamis hath murderd sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more! These words, uttered by Macbeth, are a prediction of the insomnia he shall suffer as a result of what he has done. By killing Duncan, Macbeth has also killed his own conscience and peace of mind, and so gained a guilt-ridden conscience. Macbeth has forfeited all chances of happiness. Sleep is innocence; therefore, Macbeth covets sleep because when you sleep, you do not think. Being awake makes him relive that fatal night repeatedly in his mind to the point of madness. He wishes only for his death, so he can be rid of his sins. Macbeth has lost his zest for life life is hollow and meaningless after the murder and until his own death. At this point, Macbeth is rapidly falling from grace. He will become ignoble, cynical and ruthless, stopping at nothing to hide his crime. Macbeth goes on to murder many more possibly innocent men in order to determine that the blame for Duncans death should not fall upon him. The honest, noble, morally upright hero we were introduced to at the start of the play is now an unrecognisable monster set on keeping the one thing which has destroyed his life and those of many others. Macbeths perception of the magnitude of the crime is such that he thinks his hands will stain the waters of the sea with his blood. Yet Lady Macbeth states that A little water clears us of this deed; showing that she is confident and is unrepentant. Her husband, in stark contrast, says of the knocking at the castle entrance, Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I wish thou couldst! This reflects the level of Macbeths regret he has discovered a side of himself he wishes had remained undiscovered. The Porters oration in the third scene is a revealing and interesting one. By mentioning a hell-gate, he subconsciously creates a parallel between Dunsinane and hell. Macbeth initiates many atrocities there, which makes hell a fitting label for Dunsinane. He refers to a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty a story which is parallel to Macbeths life. The Porter also identifies greed and avarice as destructive forces, and he shows how easily man can be equivocated. Macbeth should know that he can equivocate people on earth, but never in heaven. Lennoxs description of storms, wind and strange screams of death reinforces the Elizabethan concept of hierarchy, where the king, is divine, holy and infallible. If regicide is committed, then it will shake the foundations of Nature itself. The unruly weather is due to Nature manifesting itself because of this perversion of order. When Macduff comes with news of the murder, it profoundly affects Macbeth. Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had livd a blessed time; for, from this instant, Theres nothing serious in mortality, All is but toys; renown and grace is dead, The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of. Macbeth believes that if he had died an hour before the murder, his life would have been blessed; as it is, he shall be tormented for all his living days thereafter. He compares the earth to a wine cellar from which the best wine has been drawn, so that it can boast only of the dregs. Further on, we find that Macbeth is quite inept at lying and covering up, since he unnecessarily goes on about what a good man Duncan was, and how unjust and cruel the killer must be. He speaks so unconvincingly that Lady Macbeth finds herself being forced to faint to take the attention away from her spouse. As the scene closes, and Malcolm and Donalbain are considering fleeing the country, the latter utters a perceptive and intensely relevant metaphorical truth: Theres daggers in mens smiles. We then arrive at an ominously frightening prologue to Macbeths reign. He has committed a metaphysical crime, so Nature is topsy-turvy, and chaos reigns. Ross tells us that by the clock tis day, /And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp [the sun]. For the rest of the play, Scotland will be in a state of perpetual darkness, which brings home the abominable nature of Macbeths deed. The roles of predator and prey have been reversed, with news of a falcon having been eaten by an owl. Horses have become carnivorous and have begun to eat each other. It is ironic that the hero who saved Scotland at the start of the play is now the one who is bringing about its destruction. The third act opens with Banquo pondering the recent mysterious event, in particular how the witches prophecies all came true, yet he suspects Macbeth of receiving the crown through dishonest means. Macbeths once good name is in disrepute. Macbeths ambition is insatiable, and therefore he wants to control time and destiny. He feels inferior to Banquo, as he tells Lady Macbeth: There is none but he Whose being I do fear; and under him My genius is rebukd, as, it is said, Mark Antonys was by Caesar. Speaking of the witches, Macbeth says, Upon my head they placd a fruitless crown / And put a barren sceptre in my gripe. He feels that his kingship is worthless if it is to be that Banquos children will inherit the crown, and not his own. His ambition keeps him yearning for more when he has already achieved his objective. Evidence of Macbeths blind ambition is the notion that he believes that he cannot change the witches prophecies; yet, he believes that he can change those given to Banquo. He will twist the prophecy round to suit himself, and so further upset the balance. At this point, Macbeth is increasingly becoming a lonesome, solitary creature. Perhaps we, the audience, could have removed some blame from Macbeth for Duncans murder, since Lady Macbeth was the driving force, and pushed her husband into committing regicide. Macbeth, however, cannot be forgiven for Banquos murder because it is he who initiates it, without any help from Lady Macbeth. In fact, Lady Macbeth knows nothing of her husbands scheme. Ironically, Macbeth uses the same intimidation tactics that his wife used on him in order to convince the murderers that Banquos murder would be a beneficial one to them all. At this stage, it may occur to us that we have yet to see a scene where Macbeth is happy. He has obtained the one thing that he desired the most, yet he is miserable because of it. He blames Banquo for his problems, yet he should be blaming himself. Macbeth is sick, unhappy and spiralling into the realms of evil. This is clearly evinced by his making use of low-life characters for his dirty work. A particularly cruel move on the central characters part is ordering that Fleance, along with his father, also be killed. Macbeth despot, tyrant and dictator is sending ruthless adults to kill an innocent child. What little heart there was in this man is now practically extinguished. The second scene is there to show us how far apart Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have grown. Macbeth has an empty title; he is unpopular and unloved. Lady Macbeth, addressing her spouse, realises that Noughts had, alls spent, /Where our desire is got without content. They have both spent their happiness, marriage, peace of mind, sleep and friends in exchange for nothing. She continues: Tis safer to be that which we destroy /Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. She has declared that the devil you know is better than the one you dont. There has been a breakdown in communication between the pair, as Lady Macbeth asks why her husband keeps alone so much. In his reply, is the following: Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; After lifes fitful fever he sleeps well; Treason has done its worst: nor steel, nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further. He envies Duncan, his predecessor because he is in an eternal slumber. He now sees life as a succession of obstacles, something to be endured, and not enjoyed. Ironically, he tells Lady Macbeth: We must make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are. There has been a role reversal, since this is what Lady Macbeth used to say to him. They must have hard, impenetrable looks. Macbeth also tells her: Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill /So, prithee, go with me. He has convinced his wife by telling her that deeds that are started by evil become stronger with more evil. Macbeth is now in possession of a contaminated mind that has been poisoned by the witches. In what he thinks and says are references to the world of the occult and the supernatural, such as scorpions. He is obsessed with crime and evil. Banquos murder does not tell us much of Macbeth, only that he has sent another murderer to make sure that the job is done. He trusts no one. Fleances escape creates yet another problem for the unhappy king. Subsequently, upon hearing the news of the boys escape, Macbeth says: But now I am cabind, cribbd, confind, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. He feels trapped in by intruding thoughts, those that he has created himself. Macbeth is afraid of consequence, which is why he becomes distracted at the news. The murderer tells Macbeth that Banquo is dead, with twenty trenched gashes on his head. Banquo has been hacked and torn apart brutally and extremely violently. This horrendous picture shows the violent and ruthless nature Macbeth has developed of late. Then we witness the second time Macbeths imagination plays tricks on him, when he sees the ghost of Banquo sitting at the dinner table. In Shakespeare, ghosts are seen when the main character has a guilty conscience. Lady Macbeth chastises and mocks her spouse to rouse him out of his stupor, again asking him, Are you a man? More evidence of Macbeths poisoned mind surfaces when he says, If charnel-houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites. Shortly afterwards, Macbeth toasts Banquo thus: I drink to the general joy of the whole table, And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here! to all, and him, we thirst, And all to all. He is being hypocritical and lying through his teeth, yet he still manages to keep face after Banquos murder, unlike during the aftermath of Duncans murder. When he sees the ghost again Lady Macbeth mocks him, but he replies, What man dare, I dare, meaning that he is not afraid of physical danger, but he is afraid of the supernatural. Macbeth is a dictator who is paranoid, insecure and apprehensive. He suspects everyone, and trusts no one. He feels as if he is constantly under threat, yet if Macbeth fears no physical danger, then occult forces intimidate Macbeth. He has sunk so low that he has a spy in every mans house. He is losing all the humanity that he ever had inside of him. He is also worried about Macduff, as evinced in these lines: For mine own good All causes shall give way: I am in blood Steppd in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go oer. He resolves to visit the witches, and in the closing line of the scene, he utters a frighteningly ominous assertion: We are yet but young in deed. The former Thane of Cawdor has just begun his catalogue of horrors. Succeeding this declaration, we behold Hecate and the witches, who are on the moor To trade and traffic with Macbeth / In riddles and affairs of death. This is yet another example of their cold and unfeeling nature they are toying with Macbeth. However, Hecate makes an astute comment describing Macbeths character, saying that he Loves for his own ends. That is to say, that he does not love evil for its own sake, but only for what it can do for him.

Basic Info and Attributes of Hermes Greek God

Basic Info and Attributes of Hermes Greek God Hermes is familiar as the messenger god in Greek mythology. In a related capacity, he brought the dead to the Underworld in his role of Psychopompos. Zeus made his thieving son Hermes god of commerce. Hermes invented various devices, especially musical ones, and possibly fire. He is known as a helpful god. Another aspect of Hermes is fertility god. It may be in connection with this role that the Greeks sculpted phallic stone markers or herms for Hermes. Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia (one of the Pleiades). Offspring of Hermes Hermes union with Aphrodite produced Hermaphroditus. It may have yielded Eros, Tyche, and perhaps Priapus. His union with a nymph, perhaps Callisto, produced Pan. He also sired Autolycus and Myrtilus. There are other possible children. Roman Equivalent Romans called Hermes Mercury. Attributes Hermes is sometimes shown as young and sometimes bearded. He wears a hat, winged sandals, and short cloak. Hermes has a tortoise-shell lyre and the staff of a shepherd. In his role as psychopomps, Hermes is the herdsman of the dead. Hermes is referred to as luck-bringing (messenger), giver of grace, and the Slayer of Argus. Powers Hermes is called Psychopompos (Herdsman of the dead or guider of souls), messenger, patron of travelers and athletics, bringer of sleep and dreams, thief, trickster. Hermes is a god of commerce and music. Hermes is the messenger or Herald of the gods and was known for his cunning and as a thief from the day of his birth. Hermes is the father of Pan and Autolycus. Sources Ancient sources for Hades include Aeschylus, Apollodorus, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Diodorus Siculus, Euripides, Hesiod, Homer, Hyginus, Ovid, Parthenius of Nicaea, Pausanias, Pindar, Plato, Plutarch, Statius, Strabo, and Vergil. Hermes Myths Myths about Hermes (Mercury) re-told by Thomas Bulfinch include: ProserpineGolden Fleece - MedeaJuno and Her Rivals, Io and Callisto - Diana and Actaeon - Latona and the RusticsMonstersPerseusPrometheus and PandoraCupid and PsycheHercules Hebe and GanymedeMidas - Baucis and Philemon

Arabic Loanwords In English

Arabic Loanwords In English Arabic Loanwords In English Arabic Loanwords In English By Sharon The Arabic language has contributed hundreds of words to the English language by many different routes. Thats partly because in what my daughter likes to call the olden days (from around 700AD to the Middle Ages), the Arabic kingdoms had a great influence on Europe and the world. In part this was through colonisation, but there were also many great mathematicians, alchemists and astronomers. Of course, language development is not that simple. Not all the words that have entered English via Arabic originate from that language. Linguistically speaking, the Arabs borrowed as freely as they lent and their language included words originating from Spanish, Latin, Greek, Persian, Hebrew and many others. Many of the words start with the Arabic definite article al, which also appears in silent form without the l in words such as admiral. Heres a list of some of the common words that the Arabic language has bequeathed to English. admiral adobe alchemy via Greek alcohol the quintessence of earthly substances, originally from alchemy alcove algebra restoration of missing parts, later used in a 9th century mathematical book written by a Persian scientist whose name gave us algorithm almanac amber apricot arsenal factory assassin hashish user artichoke aubergine burnoose via Latin caliber carat via Greek checkmate coffee possibly from the name Kefa, where the coffee plant originates cotton divan elixir medicinal potion, via Greek gauze from the Persian for raw silk gazelle genie giraffe harem hashish henna jasmine from Arabic via French kohl lilac, from Persian for indigo lime loofah lute magazine storehouse mocha named after a city in Yemen monsoon mummy via Persian muslin nadir orange safari from Arabic via Swahili saffron sequin sugar tamarind tariff typhoon zenith zero Theres a fun quiz on Arabic loan words here and more words can be found here. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsAbstract Nouns from AdjectivesPreposition Mistakes #3: Two Idioms