Books write our life stories

Books write our life stories “Books wrote our life story, and as they accumulated on our shelves (and on our windowsills, and underneath our sofa, and on top of our refrigerator), they became chapters in it themselves. How could it be otherwise?” -Anne Fadiman, in the preface to her essay collection Ex Libris * * * There are 37 days before graduation, so I decided that Room Cleaning must begin. I started with my bookshelf, since that seems to be where clutter ultimately accumulates. I unfolded a cardboard box, switched on my desk lamp, and sat down cross-legged on the carpet. I pulled out loose papers. What if I need those vector calculus equation sheets in six years?! Anna, you have them now and you still look everything up on Google. Recycling bin. What if, in ten years, getting a job hinges on having my notes from organic chemistry lecture freshman spring?!? Um, right. Recycling bin. At some point, I took a break to refill my mug, pausing on my way out the door to switch off the desk lamp. One night during the summer before tenth grade, I put a similar lamp and mug on the floor of a dorm room closet at Franklin Marshall College. I dutifully turned off the room lights (my summer camp had a strict lights-out policy) then crawled into the closet, pulled the doors shut behind me, and read the newly-released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from cover-to-cover while crouching underneath my t-shirts. When I shut the book, I cried. That series had been a steady companion. * * * First into the cardboard box were the books I forgot I owned, followed by the books I had no intention of revisiting. Three categories of books survived the cull: used â€" but still useful â€" textbooks, books I haven’t yet read but am eager to read, and books I regard as old friends. The first category includes Shankars  Principles of Quantum Mechanics  and the second includes Le Morte d’Arthur and The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (I owe Prof. Bahr for much of my current reading list.) The third category fills a half-shelf that I would gladly haul across the globe. On the far left is Plato’s Gorgias. There is a convoluted flowchart opposite the inside cover, in some previous iteration of my handwriting. “Callicles” points to “pleasure” and “Socrates” points to happiness. “Pleasure” and “happiness” are boxed and connected, and labeled “Callicles mistakenly assumes that they are the same.” There is an arrow from “happiness” to “orderliness,” and another from “orderliness” to “cosmic order.” On the top of page 105 I wrote “what is the ultimate goal of the good life?” and on the very last page I underlined “to such a degree of lack of education have we come!” I read Gorgias in 11th grade, in a semester elective called Early Classical Thought. Mr. Potchatek stood at the window gazing at passers-by while we students sat around an oval table and grappled valiantly with the following question: what the heck is Socrates talking about? I could tell that Mr. Potchatek was listening intently because every now and then our conversation made him smile or frown, and occasionally he wandered over to pose new questions that stunned us all into silence. He never answered his own questions; he let us sit in silence until one of us answered. One day, at the end of class, he told me that the text was still confusing him. He handed me a board marker and asked for my help. I got up at the board while he sat on the table, and together we drew a flowchart that I very happily copied into my copy of Gorgias. Sometimes, when the psets are getting me down and I need a boost, I peek at that flow chart and remember how that moment felt. * * * In July, my annotated Gorgias will travel with me to Marburg, Germany, for an intensive German language course. Then we’ll head south to Heidelberg, and Gorgias will live in my new apartment for a year while I commute to and from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. My research question is “how did the Milky Way form?” and my approach will be to measure and calculate the ages of stars and watch the process unfold. I decided to try out astronomy research during my sophomore year at MIT, partly because I was captivated by a book called First Light. First Light resides two books away from Gorgias, separated by The Language of God by Francis Collins (a gift from a friend as part of our ongoing discussion about whether religion can be reconciled with science) and The Invention of Love by Tom Stoppard (which I read in Prof. Diana Henderson’s wonderful Studies in Drama course at MIT). First Light was written by Richard Preston, a science writer who spent many months with a group of astronomers, like (in his own words) “Jane Goodall among the chimpanzees”. The book is an intimate portrait of obsession: of the kind of person who can be an astronomer, of marching to the slow pace of scientific progress, of the persistence required for discovery. Exaclty how this came to pass is a long story and Ill skip it here, but Preston autographed and mailed me this copy of the book, writing: “For Anna Ho, Good luck in all your adventures â€" keep looking up.” One of the main characters in First Light is Jim Gunn. Preston describes him as a professor at Princeton University overflowing with awards and prizes, but most comfortable in a brown sweater drilled with moth holes and glasses padded around the nose with a wad of electrical tape. I met Jim Gunn a little over a month ago. Actually, it’s probably more accurate to say that I hunted Jim Gunn down, a little more than a month ago. I was on a graduate school visit and asked Prof. Jill Knapp (his wife) where he was. She led me down to the basement, explaining that “he hides behind the vacuum tube.” Knock, knock. “Jim?” Jim Gunn peeked out from behind the metal monstrosity. “This is Anna Ho. She’s on a graduate school visit and wants to meet you.” And just like that, I was sitting with Jim Gunn behind an enormous vacuum tube. I asked what it was used for, and he said that it’s not used for anything and it’s just too big to get out of the room. We spent the next twenty minutes chatting about First Light, what good science writing is, our favorite science fiction authors, and the importance of having breadth as a scientist. Finally, I asked him for his signature and now “best of everything! Jim Gunn” is taped next to Preston’s note. * * * Much of First Light takes place at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory, so there will be something deeply romantic and satisfying about taking the book with me when I move from Heidelberg to Pasadena in order to begin pursuing my astronomy PhD at Caltech. When Im banging my head against the wall fitting datasets or writing telescope proposals, Preston and Gunn will remind me of the big picture. I love astronomy and doing astronomy research, but I’m a little nervous about becoming a graduate student. In his book Awakenings, the neurologist Oliver Sacks describes the feeling as follows: “we are over-developed in mechanical competence, but lacking in biological intelligence, intuition, awareness; and it is this, above all, that we need to regain, not only in medicine, but in all science.” For Sacks, a doctor, the point is that “treating or curing a human being is a lot more than wielding a syringe. It can and should involve compassionate listening and emotional support. We risk forgetting that as we become more technologically advanced. I’m not a doctor and my science is less obviously related to human beings, but as an undergraduate Ive happily engaged with people through teaching and public outreach, and enjoyed pursuing a variety of interests through classes. At MIT, surrounded by the very highest mechanical competence, I feel like I was rescued by my humanities classes and my various extracurricular activities: I became a much better teacher and writer and speaker, and learned about cultures and civilizations in addition to scientific ideas and numerical techniques. All that said,  I’ve been told that the goal of graduate school is to “focus” and I’m not sure how to best stay in touch with other interests and values.  Awakenings reminds me of all of this, so it sits on my bookshelf, leaning on  First Light. * * * I spent the first semester of senior year frantically trying to make plans for the future: interviews, phone calls, essays, applications, letters of recommendation, presentations. This semester, those plans are set and my task is to transition out of here. The hardest part is deciding what should come with me and what should stay behind.  It took me two hours spread over three days to trim down my bookshelf, and Im still not feeling comfortable about all those old psets Next up are my clothes. I just took out a new cardboard box, and tossed in a pair of sweatpants that I want to donate. While I work on that, go take a look at your bookshelf (if you havent already) and tell me (Im curious): which books have kept you company for a long time?

How to Improve Your ACT Score By 10 Points

1KIf your score on the most recent ACT has you down, dont worry. Tons of students have improved their scores after retaking the ACT. All it takes are some amazing tips, an awesome study schedule, and some helpful ACT prep. Good luck, and let us know if you have any questions! Howdy, Magooshers! Today we’re going to cover a very important topic: How to Improve Your ACT Score By 10 Points. According to Google, that exact phrase was one of the most common searches after the last ACT, so it’s near and dear to a lot of you! Start improving your ACT score today with Magoosh! The problem with answering this particular question, though, is that, no matter how strong your Google-Fu, you’ll never find the answer that way. Improving your ACT score largely depends on who you are. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What do you need to improve? Trying to improve your score by reviewing content when you’re having trouble with time management is, obviously, not going to help you. Generally speaking, these resources can’t hurt any student preparing for the ACT, so I’ll put them first. Read them, love them, and use them: Top Ten Ways to Prepare for the ACT Exam, 10 Tips for Smooth Sailing on ACT Test Day, and Free ACT Practice Test. Now, let’s talk about you. If your score isn’t where you’d like it to be, take a look and see if any of these common troubles sound like ones you’re having. When you look at a question, do you often think to yourself, â€Å"I have no idea how to answer this?† If so, you would probably benefit from some content review. Look at the sections where you seem to be making a lot of random guesses. Since the ACT is a high school content-based test, look through your class notes and textbooks. You may just find something. We at Magoosh also have some articles that can help you. You should identify which sections you’re having the most difficulty with and read whatever we have on the subject. Here are good places to start, separated by section: ACT English, ACT Math, ACT Reading, ACT Science, and ACT Writing. Do you find that you have lots of time left over at the end of each section, but your score isn’t where you want it to be? If so, you may be rushing and making silly mistakes. Slow down. Although the ACT is timed, it is not a race. Try taking timed practice sections until you’re familiar with the pacing. Take a look at this article: The Complete Guide to ACT Pacing and Time Management And remember: always make sure to double-check your answers if you have time left at the end of a section. Alternately, do you find that you have no time left at the end of each section, and there are still questions left unanswered? If so, you’re probably taking too long. You would also benefit from taking some practice tests with a timer until you’re familiar with the timing. Remember, if you’re going to answer every single question, you have 36 seconds per question on the English test, 1 minute per question on the Math, 52 seconds per question on the Science and Reading tests, and 30 minutes for the essay. Make sure you’re not wasting your time. If you find yourself struggling with a question, make a guess and move on. You can come back to it later if you have time, and the ACT doesn’t penalize you for wrong answers. When you read a question, do you have trouble understanding what is being asked? Do you think to yourself, â€Å"what do these people want me to do?†Ã‚   And do you have a lot of trouble with the Reading section in particular? Then you may have some trouble with reading comprehension. Some quick tips to help you with that can be found here [see if there is an article about reading comprehension]. Use the format of the test (particularly in the Reading section) to help you. The main idea will likely be found in the first paragraph; each body paragraph will usually have one piece of evidence to back up the main idea; etc. Jot down quick notes in the margin, summarizing the main idea of each paragraph. This will help you keep track of everything when you’re answering questions. Read actively. Ask questions as you read. It works on every section! â€Å"How does the author feel about this? Did the author mean ‘denigrate’ or ‘degenerate’? What conclusion can I draw from this data? Could I use the quadratic formula to help me solve this problem?† Does the thought of taking the test just make you feel nervous in general, making it difficult for you to concentrate? If so, test anxiety may be getting in your way. Take some practice tests, if you can. Make sure to time yourself. If you can do it at home, you won’t be so afraid on test day. Learn everything you can about the ACT and what will be on it. If you know what will be tested, you probably won’t be as nervous. Give these articles a read: Dont Let ACT Anxiety Get You Down and ACT Tips for Test Day. For everyone taking the ACT, please remember: you got this. If you start to feel anxious, take a few deep breaths and remember that the ACT is testing you on things you already know. You may need to brush up here and there, sure, but you’re being tested on high school content. You got this. Pssst. Bonus hint: If you want to see a huge improvement in your ACT scores, start early and study for the PreACT.

Descartes’ Arguments for the Real Distinction of Mind and...

Descartes’ Arguments for the Real Distinction of Mind and Body Descartes argues has three main arguments for minds and bodies being two different distinct types of substance. These are known as arguments for substance dualism and are as follows. * The Argument from doubt : Descartes argues that while he could pretend or think that he had no body and therefore did not exist in any place, he could not think or pretend he had no mind, as merely having a doubt that he had a mind proves that he does. * The Argument from Clear and distinct understanding: Descartes argues that if two things can be separated even if only by god then they must be two different things. Descartes†¦show more content†¦Further more the mere doubt that you exist is proof that you in fact exist as how can you doubt something unless you are existing. â€Å"I assuredly existed, since I was persuaded. But there is I know not what being, who is possessed at once of the highest power and the deepest cunning, who is constantly employing all his ingenuity in deceiving me. Doubtless, then, I exist, since I am deceived; and, let him deceive me as he may, he can never bring it about that I am nothing, so long as I shall be conscious that I am something. So that it must, in fine, be maintained, all things being maturely and carefully considered, that this proposition (pronunciatum ) I am, I exist, is necessarily true† (Descartes Meditations, II, p16,17). Descartess also says that clear perceptio n, clarity and distinctness are present in the cogito, he says that these qualities are essential in being sure of anything. Clearly perceiving something might mean that you think you are sure of it but you could be wrong, Clarity and distinctness of perception means that you recognise the reasons for the claim made by clear perception for what you believe to be true being true, Descartes called this the mark of knowledge. Together the cogito and the mark of knowledge set a firm foundation for all of Descartess conclusions by showing that he and all of us exist and that we can be certain about things weShow MoreRelatedHow Successful Are Descartes Arguments for the Real Distinction of Mind from Body?1659 Words   |  7 PagesHow successful are Descartes arguments for the real distinction of mind from body? Upon which problem would you put the most weight? Descartes says the mind is distinct from the body, or anything physical for that matter. He says, a thinking substance is nonphysical or spiritual in nature (mind), and an extended substance is physical, but not capable of consciousness or thought (body). However, this very claim is also his biggest problem as his mind Ââ€" body interaction has many critics and toRead MoreRene Descartes: Cartesian Dualism Essay example1625 Words   |  7 Pageslasting legacies of Rene Descartes’ philosophy. He argues that the mind and body operate as separate entities able to exist without one another. That is, the mind is a thinking, non-extended entity and the body is non-thinking and extended. His belief elicited a debate over the nature of the mind and body that has spanned centuries, a debate that is still vociferously argued today. In this essay, I will try and tackle Descartes claim and come to some conclusion as to whether Descartes is correct to sayRead MoreDescartes’ Mind an d Body Distinction817 Words   |  3 PagesDescartes’ Mind/Body Distinction This paper will attempt to explain Descartes’ first argument for the distinction that exists between mind and body. Dualism is a necessary aspect of Descartes’ metaphysics and epistemology. This distinction is important within the larger framework of Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) because after doubting everything (body, extension, senses, etc.), Descartes comes to the conclusion that because he doubts, he must be a thinking thing and therefore exist (p.43)Read MoreThe Mind / Brain Identity Theory1718 Words   |  7 PagesA person relates to the world through different mental and corporeal experiences. The former is associated with one having a (non-physical) mind, which contains beliefs, desires, feelings and so on, while the latter involves having a (physical) brain. The Mind/Body problem questions whether the mind and brain are the same or different objects. For a long time, the interpretation of these experiences has been much debated by philosophers and s cientists. One influential interpretation is Descartes’sRead MoreHow Does Descartes Argue That Mind And Body Are Distinct?986 Words   |  4 PagesTopic: How does Descartes argue that mind and body are distinct? Is he right? Am I real, or imaginary? In the First Meditation, Rene Descartes presents the main falsehoods in which he believed during his life, and the subsequent faultiness he experienced concerning the body of knowledge. The philosopher considers that it is never too late to rethink the knowledge about his personal being from the very foundations, and builds his thoughts on a certain ground starting from common things. It would beRead MoreDescartes and the Real Distinction Essay1809 Words   |  8 PagesDescartes formulation of what he calls the â€Å"Real Distinction† has proved foundational to our modern concepts of being and consciousness. His contention has irreversibly influenced the fields of psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and others while cem enting into the popular consciousness the notion of a definite dichotomy between the mind and the body. In this paper, I will flesh out what Descartes meant by the term â€Å"real distinction,† discuss the arguments he uses in its defense, and then argueRead MoreDualism In Descartes : The Mind And Body Dualism1039 Words   |  5 PagesMind and body dualism can be regarded as one of the most profound segments of Descartes’ legacy. His assertion was that the mind and the body were not the same thing, and that there was a real distinction between the two. For instance, he believed that the mind was indivisible and the body was actually divisible. His reasoning for that contention was simply put. He explained that when the mind imagines, the whole thing does. Not just a certain part. On the other hand, when the body moves, it is notRead MoreDescartes Dualism Proposal Is An Interesting Concept1251 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes dualism proposal is an interesting concept due to its simplicity. Yet, being so simply makes one more and more want to dismiss. His argument begins with what is known as Real Distinction. This is the term used to describe a substance or non-physical object that exists on due to the help of a higher being or power—be it God or science, though Descartes would likely argue for God. The mind, in Descartes view, can only exist because of this higher power. One knows the mind exists simply dueRead MoreEssay on Meditations on First Philosophy by Rene Descartes1561 Words   |  7 Pages In his work, Meditations on First Philosophy, Renà © Descartes writes to rid pre-conceptions, and disprove all belief in thoughts that are not certain, accepting only what can be known for sure. In his Meditation VI: Of the Existence of Material Things, and the Real Distinction between the Mind and Body of Man, he discusses his belief that the mind and body are two separate substances, claiming that the nonmaterial mind and the material body, while being ontologically distinct substances, causallyRead MoreThe Nature of the Human Mind and the Human Body1095 Words   |  4 PagesIn his book Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes talks about the nature of the human mind, and how the mind relates to the human body. With his famous declaration, I am, I exist, Descartes claims that â€Å"I† am â€Å"a thinking thing†, and therefore â€Å"I† exist (17-18). He also argues that the mind is better known than the body. In the Sixth Meditation, he further argues that t here must be a clear distinction between mind and body. However, there is surely some connection between these two. In The Treatise

Slave Trade and Colonialism - 1306 Words

The Atlantic Slave Trade and Colonialism The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade began when Portuguese interests in Africa moved away from the legendary deposits of gold to a much more readily available commodity – slaves, around the mid-fifteenth century. The plantation economies of the New World were built on slave labour. Seventy percent of the slaves brought to the new world were used to produce sugar, the most labour-intensive crop. The rest were employed harvesting coffee, cotton, and tobacco, and in some cases in mining. By the seventeenth century the trade was in full swing, and at its height towards the end of the eighteenth century. It was a trade which was especially fruitful, since every stage of the journey could be profitable for†¦show more content†¦Nearly all the leading people in Liverpool, including many of the town s mayors, were involved with the slave trade. Several Liverpool MPs invested money and supported the trade in Parliament. It was highly unpopular to speak out against the slave trade. William Roscoe and William Rathbone were two of the few who did. Roscoe went further and joined with the Quakers, and the political leaders like Fox and the political reformer, William Wilberforce, to challenge the slavery laws. In 1787 and 1788 he published tracts and poems attacking the inhumanity and evil of slavery. In his poem The Wrongs of Africa are lines which retain their strength and poignancy to this day: ‘Blush ye not, to boast your equal laws, Your just restraints, your rights defended, your liberties secured, Whilst with an iron hand ye crushed to earth the helpless African; And bid him drink that cup of sorrow, Which yourselves have dashed, indignant, From Oppression’s fainting grasp? (Chandler, 1992) African’s didn’t just sit back and simply watch the horror which was unfolding there was great resistance. Ships records have uncovered many accounts of slaves rising up against their captors refusing to do what was asked of them, committing suicide, and once captives reached their destination and learned or their fate many attempted escapes. In letters written by the Manikongo, Nzinga Mbemba Affonso, to the King joao the 3rd of Portugal, he writes: Each day the traders areShow MoreRelatedColonialism And Its Effects On African Americans1241 Words   |  5 Pagesthe African people because they looked different from them as of skin tones. Moreover, Africans had lost all of their rights, along with their freedom as a result. Colonialism has referred to when a country takes over another country in order to replicate their society (Settles and McGaskey, 1996, p. 6). In other words, colonialism is the expansion of a territory. It is the exploitation of a territory and the territory being colonized has no say in the matter and in history for most of the timeRead MoreThe Decline Of The Slave Trade900 Words   |  4 Pagesto colonialism was not economically isolated from in the rest of the world. African states had traded goods from Ancient Egypt, and West Africa. More specifically had developed extensive international trading systems during the eras of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. These huge empires relied heavily on the taxing of foreign trade. These nations were dependent largely on the trade in gold and other various resources, but also on imposing of import customs and taxes. Further to the rise colonialism is theRead MorePolitical And Economic Colonialism Legacy948 Words   |  4 PagesEarly in the 16th c entury, colonialism has started with the discovery of new continents across oceans. Since then, European countries conquered large extensions of lands and established trading systems for developing their empires and colonizing this new world. By the 19th century, the scramble for Africa, led by western imperialism, caused 90 percent of Africa continent was under European control (Baker, 2014). When those European countries were benefited from colonialism, the colonies were experiencedRead MoreColonization of Africa1542 Words   |  7 PagesConquests, colonization, the slave trade, and the spread of consumerist society have shaped and formed the grounds for which developing countries find themselves today. The countries of the developing world subjected to colonialism have been faced with a number of impediments throughout the years which have hindered social and economic growth, and laid the foundation which bred cultural conflict. Colonialism, however, too bought Western civilizat ion and all its attractions to underdeveloped countriesRead MoreColonization Of The Colonial System1473 Words   |  6 PagesEuropean imperial powers of Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Italy. Adu Boahen is a Ghanaian historian who wrote African perspectives of Colonialism in which, he analyzed the ninetieth and the twentieth century colonialism from a variety of African and European views. He examined the influence of the slave trade, the mood of the Africans at the eve of the colonial system, evaluated the colonial system and how it works and finally evaluated the impact of colonization uponRead MoreEssay about Colonialism1566 Words   |  7 PagesThe way society is structured today, it is difficult to understand Colonialism for what it truly was. For example, A Stranger walks into a house and claims it is his, while he enslaves the real owners and demands they follow his rules. It might seem like an unlikely scenario, but about 400 years ago, this was re ality. European countries such as Spain and England wanted to expand their territories and become the world powers. Explorers like Christopher Columbus, soon started declaring regions thatRead MoreEssay about The making of modern Africa1393 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿The Making of Modern Africa: Colonialism Take a look at the past, our history; although there is only one factual outcome, there are an infinite number of opinions, perspectives and almost always more than one side to a story. I will be taking a look in to the novel, Colonial Africa, written by Dennis Laumann, as well as, African Perspectives on Colonialism, by A. Adu Boahen, and hopefully through this, we can gain a stronger understanding of Colonialism in Africa and how Boahen and Laumann compareRead MoreMEMORIES OF THE SLAVE TRADE1000 Words   |  4 PagesMEMORIES OF THE SLAVE TRADE (Rosalind Shaw) â€Å"Memories of Slave Trade† challenges recurring claims that Africans felt and still feel no sense of moral obligation concerning the sale of slaves, Shaw traces memories of the slave trade in Temne-speaking communities in Sierra Leone. While the slave-trading past is infrequently recollected in explicit verbal accounts, it is frequently made vividly present in such structures as rogue spirits, ritual specialists visions, and the symbolism of divinationRead MoreSlavery, Colonialism and Capitalism783 Words   |  3 PagesSlavery, Colonialism and Capitalism, it can be said that there is a relationship between these three systems. There are many different views on this topic, the main views being the Liberal-pluralists and the Radical revisionists who understand this relationship from different perspectives. To prove the connection between these three systems that impacted many countries this essay shall make close reference to a number of sources. Cedric Robinson (1984: 57) discusses the fact that slavery lead toRead MoreThe Different Impact Of Colonialism968 Words   |  4 PagesThe Different Impact of Colonialism Africa has been impacted many ways throughout history such as the struggles of the slave trade, independence from colonialism, economic and political development. The colonization of Africa played many roles when it came to the impact of Africans. Erik Gilbert, Jonathan Reynolds, A. Adu Boahen have addressed the impact and issues of Africa in books such as Africa in World History and African Perspectives on European Colonialism. The Scramble for Africa became such

An Analysis Of O Connor s A Good Man - 941 Words

6/03/2015: O’Connor’s short story â€Å" A Good Man Is Hard To Find† symbolizes a theme of religion which questions me to think how O’Connor was raised? In my intention of this story every character seems to play a key role of religion. As for the Misfit can be seen as Satan himself as he encounters the family and kills them all. Yet he does it so politely saying â€Å"he is not a good man†, and how he only shoots just 3 bullets into the Grandmother. This gives me a sense of how O’Connor is conveying a message in this short story by implanting key points throughout this story. This story almost teaches by a negative example, for instance The Grandmother is conveyed as a Self-righteous character, and for the Misfit is carried out as the Grim reaper. I say the Grim reaper because the Misfit is characterized as the meaning of death. According to Kacie Regale â€Å"O’Connor’s fiction story carries out a sense of religious endowment and all the characters, especially the Grandmother are concerned only with their wants and desires†. This statement supports my ideas of how O’Connor is conveying a message in â€Å"A Good Man is Hard To Find† because it s stating that desires and wants are just the lavish sense of pleasure, but rather O’Connor is announcing love and affection towards others. This is shown towards the end of the story when the Grandmother tells the Misfit â€Å"You’re one of my own children!† and recognizes her own mortality, her own sinfulness, and her relationship to other â€Å"children ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of O Connor s A Good Man Essay1522 Words   |  7 Pages In my analysis of â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find†, I will examine the different elements of this piece of literature and break the subject down into its component parts. I also plan to provide evident that O’Connor uses religion as the theme for her short story using several examples of foreshadowing and symbolic throughout her story. After reading the story more than once, I notice some interesting quotes that will back-up my claims that O’Connor’s story is about something that must do with spiritualRead MoreAnalysis Of O Connor s A Good Man 869 Words   |  4 Pages My first reaction to â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to find† was that of sadness and I felt that it was tragic of what happened to the family in the story. I felt really bad for the grandma because no one seemed to be pleased with her or listen to her. I felt like the son was almost tired of dealing with his own mom, or that is the feeling I got from his reactions to her. Even the children did not seem to respect the old lady. O’Connor’s story was very descriptive. Throughout the whole story there wereRead MoreAnalysis Of O Connor s A Good Man Essay1201 Words   |  5 PagesFlannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find tells the story of a family from Atlanta, Georgia as it makes it way to Florida for a vacation. The five members of the family include the grandmother, her son Bailey and his wife. Among the passengers are three children, one of whom is still a baby. There fatal deaths in the end illustrate the belief that everybody has their own unique flaws. The grandmother plays a pivotal role in the story considering the fact that she selfishly convinces the familyRead MoreAnalysis Of O Connor s A Good Man893 Words   |  4 PagesIn O’Connor’s short story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† the definition of what it takes to be a â€Å"good man† is very misconstrued. In the beginning of this story a â€Å"good† character does not exist. The family is habitually mean to the grandmother, and the grandmother is a conceded, selfish human being. The misfit, another main character, is a criminal and is not a morally good person either. The central theme of the entire story is the concept of the word â€Å"good,† and what it takes to meet this expectationRead MoreAnalysis Of O Connor s A Good Man1467 Words   |  6 Pageshappening in the South. She has put the issues that they have in different scenarios or situations that people could understand in her short stories, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard To Find† along with â€Å"Everything That Rises Must Converge.† O’Connor has various characters in her stories that have characteristics that make them damaged, delusional or broken. In â€Å"A Good Man,† The Misfit is a broken character. He does not know the difference from right and wrong by cause of his father never being punished for the thingsRead MoreAnalysis Of Flannery O Connor s A Good Man Is Hard Essay1426 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Analysis for A Good Man is Hard to Find Flannery O Connor s A Good Man is Hard to Find is certainly a surprising work of literature. With this story having a not so happy ending, it goes against all of the conventional ideas on what a typical storybook ending should be. Another unusual thing about A Good Man is Hard to Find is the use of the term good. It is thrown around excessively through the entire tale by the grandmother and even the Misfit seems to use this word as wellRead MoreAn Analysis Of Flannery O Connor s A Good Man1425 Words   |  6 PagesBakane Franca Dr. Lorna Wiedmann English 202-025 December 12, 2014 The Devious Grandmother Have you ever noticed that, many individuals never awaken to reality unless they are exposed to violence? In Flannery O’Connor’s short story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† his main character, the grandmother is a master manipulator. In the story, a family is destroyed not only because of accidents caused by the grandmother, but also because the grandmother is inconsiderate and self-centered; they are all killedRead MoreAn Analysis Of Flannery O Connor s A Good Man933 Words   |  4 PagesIn Flannery O’Connor’s short story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find†, the fate of the family is foreshadowed within the very first few paragraphs. The grandmother in the story tries to convince the family that going to Tennessee would be much more suitable for the family vacation not only because had the children been to Florida before, but there is a criminal who has escaped from federal prison and is headed that way (1076). She tries to inform her so n, Bailey, and his wife of the convict who claimsRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of O Connor s A Good Man 1166 Words   |  5 PagesFlannery O Connor is a writer who is well known for stories like A Good Man Is Hard To Find and The Life You Save May Be Your Own. Although both stories rely heavily on theme and foreshadowing, she uses these elements to pick at a larger meaning. Whether her stories depict violence and or redemption, there is always a lesson in the end. O Connor uses irony in order to foreshadow to readers her inevitable endings. In A Good Man Is Hard To Find, a family vacation suddenly ends violently.Read MoreRhetorical Analysis Of O Connor s A Good Man Is Hard And Find 1245 Words   |  5 PagesAdria Corral English 1302 MWF 8:00 A.M. Religion and Morality In â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find†, Flannery O’Connor uses grotesque and flawed characters to reflect her own faith on the Roman Catholic Church. Set in the rural South during the 1950s, O’Connor takes readers on a journey from a satiric family comedy to a brutal cold blooded murder. An analysis of O’Connor’s use of religious symbolism and foreshadowing through characters and setting will be conducted in order to better understand her views

The Body Ritual of the Nacirema Essay - 615 Words

The Body Ritual of the Nacirema It is human nature to describe ones own culture as the most advanced and most intellectual. Unfortunately, it is also common practice to look down upon the practices of another culture because they are not similar to ones own traditions. The ability to do this can sometimes be a damaging characteristic for society as a whole. Horace Miner realized the implications of egocentric views and wrote a groundbreaking essay to open societys eyes to their biases. The Body Ritual of the Nacirema was written by Horace Miner for shock value. The article describes the rituals of a people which on the surface seem to be barbaric and highly out of date for that time at which the article was†¦show more content†¦Other practices described seemed so nonsensical like that of a people the believed in witchery, or rituals of putrid or outlandish that a readers stomach could turn from learning of some of the rituals these people partake in. In a reflection of this essay one would think of how undeveloped this culture is, yet on further investigation the reader would come to discover the true identity of the people being described. This barbaric, unruly, and unsophisticated society Horace Miner had just described in such detail was the American people! Knowing the true meaning of the article upon rereading it once more the ideas and traditions click. The somewhat fabricated or concealed details of all those traditions make sense and one can understand exactly what Miner is describing. In fact, one probably participates in these practices himself! Miner?s creative writing style in this essay was critical to the effect it had on his readers. The disdain the reader felt at first when reading the description of this people soon turns into an embarrassment of sorts because one realizes that he has been fooled. Miner tricks his reader so well that there really should be no feelings of resentment for the way Miner presents the information he has gatheredShow MoreRelatedThe Body Ritual Among the Nacirema737 Words   |  3 PagesHRM582 The Body Ritual Among the Nacirema The Body Ritual Among the Nacirema As an individual coming to investigate American civilization through the observation of cultural activities, I find the ritual of medicine men and women (doctors, psychiatrists and pharmacists) very interesting. â€Å"Medicine man or medicine woman are  English  terms used to describe  traditional healers  and spiritual leaders among  Native American  andRead MoreNacirema - Body Ritual in Anthropology757 Words   |  4 Pagesprofessor from the University of Michigan, Horace Miner, wrote an article in The American Anthropologist that has become a mainstay of learning for anthropology students. Miner published the article to show a fictional exotic society called â€Å"Body Ritual among the Nacirema† as an example of how one’s own limited perspective might affect the perception of a foreign culture (Miner, 1956, p. 503). The article uses subtle humor to make the reader more comfortable in examining cultural behaviors, physical appearanceRead MoreBod y Ritual Among the Nacirema1031 Words   |  5 PagesBody Ritual among the Nacirema Name Course Sociology Date 6/12/2013 Body Ritual among the Nacirema Horace Miner in the article, Body Ritual Among the Nacirema depicts a society that is growing naturally, but which has transformed itself into a ritual tribe. In this article, the tribe, Nacirema, is a tribe that has transformed itself naturally and which has incorporated a lot of beliefs and religious tendency forRead MoreBody Ritual Among the Nacirema948 Words   |  4 PagesJanuary 26, 2013 Horace Minor applied satire in his article â€Å"Body Ritual among the Nacirema.† to the culture of the American people. Several ways in which â€Å"Body Ritual among the Nacirema† relate to the core concepts of sociology are through the use of sociological imagination, ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. The American culture is described by Minor in a very unique and humorous way. The author uses satire to examine the rituals that are every day in American culture. The reader thinks atRead MoreBody Rituals Among the Nacirema1097 Words   |  5 PagesBody Rituals Among the Nacirema Abstract This study examines Horace Miner’s essay â€Å"Body Rituals Among the Nacirema. While using the participant observation approach, he gives us a new perspective on the daily behaviors within this group of people. Exploring ethnocentrism and how we view cultures outside of our own. Horace Miner was a professor for the University of Michigan. He sought out to teach young people the importance of cultural anthropology. (Horace Mitchell Miner - Wikipedia, theRead MoreBody Rituals Among the Nacirema Essay925 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Body Rituals Among the Nacirema, â€Å" by Horace Miner, is an essay written about the Nacirema, or American people, from an outsider’s perspective. Miner gives an insight on the Nacireman people, which he describes in his essay as an unknown tribe, and the completing of the Nacireman’s magical beliefs and practices, which involve daily, involuntary body rituals that cause much pain and discomfort. Miner shows how an outsider’s perspective can affect the way a culture is seen. In his essay, Miner usesRead More Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Essay699 Words   |  3 PagesBody Ritual Among the Nacirema What is the precise geographical location of this strange tribe, the Nacirema? The Nacirema is a North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles. Little is known of their origin, though tradition states that they came from the east. What are the private and secret shrines of the Nacirema? In the Nacirema, the belief is that the human body is ugly andRead MoreBody Ritual Among the Nacirema Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesWould you want to live among the Naciremas? Why or why not? After reading Horace Miner’s Body Ritual Among the Nacirema I cannot say that I would want to be part of the tribe. A huge reason would be that I could never go from my own Christian faith to the religious practices of the Nacirema. My second reason for not wanting to be part of the tribe is that I could never be subjected to the horrific medical practices and â€Å"magical potions† used on every citizen in the tribe. One of the fundamentalRead MoreBody Rituals Among the Nacirema Tribe421 Words   |  2 PagesBody rituals among the Nacirema tribe The story relates to how we seek perfection on our bodies. It demonstrates how people will perform extreme procedures to achieve perfection, and even after this they will still feel they are ugly and not perfect. The rituals performed by the Nacirema tribe may seem inhumane, but if compared to our current culture and the procedures people perform on their bodies there is no much difference. I viewed the things they did as bizarre, but on close analysis of ourRead MoreSummary of Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Essay726 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Body Ritual Among the Nacirema† Summary In the essay â€Å"Body Ritual Among the Nacirema†, anthropologist Horace Miner depicts a group of people known as the â€Å"Nacirema†, but is referring to Americans, whose cultural beliefs are deeply rooted in the perspective that the human body is prune to sickness and disfiguration. Consequently, a substantial part of their lives is spent on unusual rituals and customs to improve conditions of the body that are filled with magical components. Moreover, Miner uses

Bildungsroman in Huckleberry Finn Free Essays

According to Merriam-Webster, a bildungsroman is â€Å"a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character. † Huckleberry Finn is an ideal example for this type of character. Just from his simple changing perception of slaves, especially Jim considering that he lives in such a racist and restrictive society. We will write a custom essay sample on Bildungsroman in Huckleberry Finn or any similar topic only for you Order Now Huckleberry Finn is an illustration of a bildungsroman because he overcomes many stereotypes and preconceived notions about slaves and blacks. His changing and growing personality is displayed throughout the novel and shapes the theme of tolerance that is shown. Huckleberry Finn’s view of Jim at the beginning of the novel is very typical of what any perception would be of a slave during this time period. He thinks of Jim just as Miss Watson’s slave; not a person and definitely not a friend. However, when he and Jim find each other and go out to the island, this is when Huck begins to see Jim as a person, not just a slave. This was a major step because Huck grew up with the notion that slaves were less than him, and he reversed that stereotype within his mind. When he must make the decision whether to reveal the whereabouts of Jim, Huck states, â€Å"It was a close place. I took . . . up [the letter I’d written to Miss Watson], and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: â€Å"All right then, I’ll go to hell†Ã¢â‚¬â€and tore it up. It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming. He could have done what he was supposed to and make Jim return to Miss Watson, but instead he goes against what is considered ‘right’ in his society, and does what is right, which is a massive step and this displays how Huckleberry Finn is a bildungsroman. At the beginning of the novel, Tom Sawyer convinces Huck that in order to become one of the ‘robbers gang,’ he must also become â€Å"siv ilized† by the Widow. Huck goes along with this situation for some time, until he decides that just because Tom and the Widow want him to, doesn’t mean this is right for him. He goes against the grain of society and leaves, which was quite a bold move for a young boy to make. This is not only an example of bildungsroman, but also is a loss of innocence. Throughout the novel, Huck is constantly exposed to concepts and decisions way past what he should be able to handle. At the end of the novel, Aunt Sally makes an attempt to â€Å"sivilize† him, which Huck rejects after the attempts that the Widow and Miss Watson made. He says, â€Å"I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before. He instead decides to keep exploring, but instead go west. Huck defies everything that he knows about society of the time and does what he thinks is right for him, which is monumental for not only a young boy, but any person in general. Bildungsroman is one of the key aspects of Huckleberry Finn and it drives the novel as well as the charac ter. Huck Finn develops and matures throughout the novel in his perception of Jim and his decision to go against the grain of society in the Southern 1830s and 1840s. Huck Finn is an exemplary piece of literature to display bildungsroman and its impact on a story and its characters. How to cite Bildungsroman in Huckleberry Finn, Papers