Interpreting Gender Roles, By Jeffrey Eugenides Essay

Interpreting Gender Roles The concept of gender roles is a system that has been created and enforced by tradition. Society has discovered a way to categorize and condemn those who do not fit or pertain to the characteristics of their gender. In Middlesex, a novel written by Jeffrey Eugenides, characters dilute the idea of being predisposed to gender roles by challenging them and generating the idea of â€Å"loosely defined† gender superiority in the era of the American Revolution. The American Revolution when being observed from a gender conformity point of view may be seen as unruly towards those of the female gender. Women were stripped of any and all rights or freedoms that they may have had and were forced to engage in a patriarchal society which by definition is a family, society, or government ruled by male dominance. According to an article entitled â€Å"Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Women† published by the Independence Hall Association, this tyranny ov er women was so atrocious that even the law did not recognize women as independent and allowed them no say over their civic, political, and economical constituents. In Middlesex, the American Revolution and the modern day attitudes toward women and gender formality can be blatantly seen, but characters such as Sourmelina â€Å"Lina† Zizmo, Desdemona Stephanides, Lefty Stephanides, and Calliope â€Å"Cal† Stephanides challenge these pretenses through the use of: disobedience, rejection, and self-establishment. Lina’s character

Essay on Christian Elements in Beowulf - 1568 Words

Beowulf is one of the great heroic poems in English literature. The epic follows a courageous warrior named Beowulf throughout his young, adult life and into his old age. As a young man, Beowulf becomes a legendary hero when he saves the land of the Danes from the hellish creatures, Grendel and his mother. Later, after fifty years pass, Beowulf is an old man and a great king of the Geats. A monstrous dragon soon invades his peaceful kingdom and he defends his people courageously, dying in the process. His body is burned and his ashes are placed in a cave by the sea. By placing his ashes in the seaside cave, people passing by will always remember the legendary hero and king, Beowulf. In this epic the presentation of the story telling†¦show more content†¦The frequent allusions to the power of fate, the motive of blood revenge, and the praise of worldly glory bear testimony to the ancient background of pagan conceptions and ideals. However, the general tone of the epic and its ethical viewpoint are mostly Christian . There is no longer a genuine pagan atmosphere. The sentiment has been softened and purified. The virtues of moderation, unselfishness, consideration for others are practiced and appreciated. The author has fairly exhaulted the fights with Grendel, his mother, and the dragon into a conflict between powers of good and evil. The figure of Grendel, while originally an ordinary troll is conceived as an impersonation of evil and darkness, even an incarnation of the Christian devil. Grendel is a member of the race of Cain, he is a creature dwelling in the outer darkness, a giant and cannibal. When he crawls off to die, he is said to join the route of devils in hell. The story of a race of demonic monsters and giants descended from Cain. It came form a tradition established by the apocryphal Book of Enoch and early Jewish and Christian interpretations of Genesis 6:4. Many of Grendels actions are unquestionable epithets of Satan such as enemy of man kind, Gods adversary, the devil in hell, and the hell slave. His actions are represented inShow MoreRelatedChristian and Pagan Elements in Beowulf926 Words   |  4 PagesMarà ­a Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN ELEMENTS IN BEOWULF The poem Beowulf is full of Pagan and Christian elements, this combination gave place to many discutions about the origin of the poem. On the one hand some scholars have said that this is the result of a transcription made by some monks where they added the christian elements, on the other hand it is believed that the poem was written in a period in which the Anglo-Saxons were being converted from their worship of GermanicRead More Epic of Beowulf - Contradictory Christian Elements in Beowulf1964 Words   |  8 PagesContradictory Christian Elements in Beowulf  Ã‚        Ã‚   In Beowulf the Christian element, which coexists alongside the pagan or heathen, sometimes in a seemingly contradictory fashion, is many faceted.    Certainly the Christian element seems to be too deeply interwoven in the text for us to suppose that it is due to additions made by scribes at a time when the poem had come to be written down. The Christian element had to be included by the original poet or by minstrels who recited it inRead MoreTheme Of Christian And Pagan Elements In Beowulf978 Words   |  4 PagesPagan and Christian elements Beowulf was written during the time that society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. Early Christianity developed in the Roman Empire, where many religions were practiced and formed into paganism. Paganism is commonly used to refer to various, largely unconnected religions and beliefs from that time period. Beowulf was written in England between the 8th and 11th century. The name of the author is unknown, but referred to as the Beowulf Poet.Read MoreTheme Of Paganism In Beowulf1179 Words   |  5 Pageslongest epic poem ever written in the genre of Old English is â€Å"Beowulf†, it has been composed in the native language as spoken during the Anglo-Saxon reign in England, preceding the Norman Conquest. Beowulf is regarded as a classic tale which relates the defeat of evil and triumph of good. The poem is divided into three acts. Christian and Pagan Influences in Beowulf: The Pagan deities, rituals as well as pagan ideas influenced Beowulf, when it was being created, though the passing down of the epicRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Epic Of Beowulf937 Words   |  4 PagesIn the story Beowulf, his actions portray him, indeed be an epic hero. Both Christianity and Paganism are both portrayed throughout the epic Beowulf. Beowulf frequently speaks of God throughout the story, while there are also many Pagan elements that are evident throughout the story as well. In addition, It s hard to ignore the Christian and Pagan elements in Beowulf. These types of elements are what define the heroic warrior in the epic Beowulf(Vengeance the Pagan and Christian Inspiration).Read MorePaganism In Beowulf953 Words   |  4 PagesPaganism in Beowulf Beowulf was composed when England was transitioning from a pagan to a Christian culture. In chapter 3 of A Little History of Literature, it is said that Beowulf was likely written by a Christian monk who inserted Christian themes into the story. This is why Beowulf reflects both Christian and pagan views. These two religions and their elements affect the story in different ways. There are pagan views of fate and fame in Beowulf, but there are also Christian themes of humilityRead MoreBeowulf: the Pagan Christian Epic Hero1569 Words   |  7 PagesBeowulf has both pagan and Christian influences. Throughout the story there are many elements of Christian teachings: that man survives only through the protection of God, that all earthly gifts flow from God, and that the proper bearing of man is to be humble and unselfish (csis.edu, 2011). While many pagan influences appear in the poem, Christian overtones are more prevalent, exhibiting many elements of Christian heroism in the po em. An example is when Beowulf says â€Å"God must decide who will beRead More Beowulf: Christian Vs Pagan Influence Essay1652 Words   |  7 Pages The European epic, Beowulf, was written sometime in the eighth century in England. This time period provides us with an idea for the mixture of Christian and pagan elements because of an English society that was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. Examples of Pagan and Christian traditions are presented all throughout literature. Many of the influences deal with what it going on in the world, when the piece is written. When Beowulf was written, St. Augustine had just comeRead MoreBeowulf : Christian Or Pagan Epic?865 Words   |  4 PagesMichael Smith Waterman English 12 24 September 2015 Beowulf: Christian or Pagan Epic? Believe it or not, Thor was not just a fictional superhero that appeared in comics created by Marvel. Ultimately stemming from Proto-Indo-European religion, Thor is a prominently mentioned god throughout the recorded history of Germanic mythology and paganism. Pagans, a member of a community observing a polytheistic religion, dominated Southern Europe society and literature until Christianity slowly drove out paganismRead MoreThe Battle Against Grendel s Mother890 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf sets his sights towards Grendel s mother shortly after the second attack on Heorot. Grendel s mother is similarly linked to Cain just as her son was. According to the selection, it is said that after Cain was cast away by God, his mark of murder followed him. Everywhere Cain walked, monsters and shadows arose from the ground in which Grendel s mother is a result of. It is interesting to note that the story of Beowulf effortlessly contorted the Christian story of Cain by adding Pagan

Sand Dust Storm in China Free Essays

Global Conference on Natural Disasters | Sand dust storm in China | Focus on China | | Contents 1. 0 Introduction2 2. 0 Sand Dust Storm in China2 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Sand Dust Storm in China or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1 Definition2 2. 2 Location2 2. 3 When did it happen? 2 2. 4 What caused the event? 2 2. 5 What areas were affected? 2 3. 0 Effects and Damage of Sand Dust Storm2 3. 1 Short and long term effects2 3. 2 Extent of the Damage2 4. 0 Historic Records and Extent of effects of Sand Dust Storm2 4. 1 Historic Records of Sand Dust Storm in Beijing2 4. 2 Main damage ways of Sand Dust Storm2 4. 3 Damage of Sand Dust Storm2 . 0 Prevention and Positive effects of Sand Dust Storm2 5. 1 Causes of Sand Dust storm2 5. 2 Prevention2 5. 3 Positive outcomes from the disaster2 6. 0 The End2 Conclusion2 Recommendations2 Reference list2 1. 0 Introduction This report is authorised by the attending of a global conference on natural disasters. It focuses on one of main problems of China and uses a descriptive statistical method to analyse the historical overview of global natural disasters to ascertain the influence of sand dust storm on China. 2. 0 Sand Dust Storm in China 2. Definition â€Å"A sand storm i s basically a wind storm that carries sand through the air, forming a relatively low cloud near the ground† (Coenraads 2006, 234). â€Å"Most sandstorms occur in the sandy areas of deserts. Some occur on beaches; dry riverbeds; or deposits of gravel, sand, and silt called alluvial fans† (Dirks 2010, 110). â€Å"Dust storms form in semi-arid and arid regions where small dust and sand particles are blown into the air† (Coenraads 2006, 234). â€Å"A dust storm may occur hundreds of miles and rise to a height of more than 305 meters. It carries as much as 875 metric tons of dust particles per cubic kilometre of air† (Dirks 2010, 392). 2. 2 Location Strong dust storms hit Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan. (2010 China drought and dust storms 2010) 2. 3 When did it happen? It happened on March 22, 2010. (2010 China drought and dust storms 2010) 2. 4 What caused the event? Beijing meteorological offices director GuoHu said, â€Å"This influence of Beijing’s dust source is in Mongolia and in middle Inner Mongolia region. The dust was wafted from thousands of meters altitude by the conveying of strong winds. From the perspective of meteorology, this is unstoppable climate phenomena† (Xinhua NET 2010). 2. 5 What areas were affected? The other areas were affected where were â€Å"South Korea, North Korea and Japan by March 22, before being carried across the Pacific Ocean by the jet stream, with some dust reaching the West Coast of the United States† (2010 China drought and dust storms 2010). 3. 0 Effects and Damage of Sand Dust Storm 3. 1 Short and long term effects â€Å"The dust storm in late March spiralled around a strong low pressure system. Many areas recorded an extremely rare level 5 â€Å"hazardous† rating for air quality. Many flights in Beijing were also delayed or cancelled. Air pollution readings in Hong Kong reached a record high, reaching at least 15 times the recommended maximum levels by the World Health Organization. Taiwan also reported a new record for worst sandstorm conditions. A strong sandstorm tore through Turpan in Xinjiang on April 23, sparking fires that killed two people and forcing a shutdown of rail and road traffic for six hours† (2010 China drought and dust storms 2010). . 2 Extent of the Damage According to the news releases of the state forestry administration desertification monitoring centre of China on March 28 2010, Extent of the Damage of Sand Dust Storm affected 304 counties of 11 provinces and the air of 6 key cities was severely Polluted. The affected area is about 1. 20 square kilometres, the affected population is about 70 million people, and cultivated land area was a ffected more than 6. 4 million hectares, garden area was more than 1. million hectares, grassland area was more than 65 million hectares. (2010 new composition in the exams preparation material: climate and environment 2010) 4. 0 Historic Records and Extent of effects of Sand Dust Storm 4. 1 Historic Records of Sand Dust Storm in Beijing Sand Dust Storm does not only appear in the present times, it has already appeared since ancient times. The Sand Dust Storm has appeared since 1425 in Beijing. It normally mainly appeared in Beijing from January to April in Chinese calendar. The probability is 83. 6%. It has appeared almost annually since 2000. (Dr. Mars 2010) 4. 2 Main damage ways of Sand Dust Storm Firstly it is the strong wind. The strong wind uses sand and dust to destroy buildings and public facilities and cause the casualties of people and livestock. Secondly it is sand buried. The wind-drift sand causes a lot of events they are farmland, channel, cottages, railway and pasture were sand buried, and especially cause serious threat for transportation. The third way is wind erosion, and the last way is air pollution. Dr. Mars 2010) 4. 3 Damage of Sand Dust Storm The sand dust storm mainly causes 5 results. They are ecological environment deterioration, damage of production and life, losses of lives and property, damage traffic safety and harm to human health. (Dr. Mars 2010) 5. 0 Prevention and Positive effects of Sand Dust Storm 5. 1 Causes of Sand Dust storm The causes of sand dust storm might be degeneration of grassland and vegetation and excessive reclamation. 5. 2 Prevention The Sand Dust Storm has not been prevented yet. Beijing meteorological offices director GuoHu said,† As long as the sediment sources exist, sandstorm will not disappear† (Xinhua NET 2010). 5. 3 Positive outcomes from the disaster Although there is much harm of sandstorm, but the whole process of sandstorm is a part of natural ecosystem. It can slow the damage of greenhouse effect and slow the acid rain or soil acidification. (TT Aixuan 2010) 6. 0 The End Conclusion The sand dust storm is caused by degeneration of grassland and vegetation and excessive reclamation. Although it is a part of natural ecosystem, it causes lots of damages like: ecological environment deterioration, damage of production and life, losses of lives and property, damage traffic safety and harm to human health. We should try to prevent it with the ways like establish forecast system of sandstorm and improve environmental governance and environmental protection. Recommendations From this research report, we can find a nature rule that is if human cannot protect earth and make the ecological balance ourselves; earth will use its own way to make the balance. But here is a problem that is normally the method of earth uses is more harmful for human than our own way. Reference list 2010 China drought and dust storms. 2010. Wikipedia. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/2010_China_drought_and_dust_storms#cite_note-21 (accessed November 24, 2010). 2010 new composition in the exams preparation material: climate and environment. 2010. http://peng99. com/zuowen/Article/2852_2. shtml (accessed November 25, 2010). Coenraads, R. 2006. Natural disasters and how we cope. Victoria: The Five Mile Press. Dirks, A. 2010. Dust storm in The World Book Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. Chicago: World Book. Dirks, A. 2010. Sandstorm in The World Book Encyclopedia. Vol. 17. Chicago: World Book. Dr. Mars. 2010. Beijing sand dust storm. http://baike. baidu. com/view/3381041. htm (accessed November 26, 2010). TT Aixuan. 2010. Sand duststorm. Bai Du Encyclopedia. http://baike. baidu. com/view/2097. htm (accessed November 24, 2010). Xinhua NET. 2010. Meteorological experts: as long as the sediment sources exist, Beijing sandstorms will not disappear. http://news. sina. com. cn/c/2010-03-20/114119905302. shtml (accessed November 26, 2010). 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Al Capone Essay Example For Students

Al Capone Essay Mr. MaclayUnited States History II- CP8 May 1999Al Capone in the 1920sOrganized crime was not so organized up until the 1920s. When the 1920s arrived, the American lifestyle changed dramatically. People started investing money in home appliances and automobiles, womens skirts became higher and drinking became very popular. Also, organized crime came to a rise in the 1920s. And in the high ranks of organized crime was Al Capone. Al Capone ran many illegal businesses including bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and murders. There were many gangs in the world of organized crime and Al Capones was at the top. Al Capone was the most infamous gangster in the 1920s. Being a big time gangster was big business. Money was made fast and very easily. Bootlegging alcohol was by far the most profitable in the 1920s, this was because of the prohibition. Gambling was another business that paid off. Gambling stations were set up all over cities. Prostitution and Murders were also crimes that made gangsters money.Alphonse Capone was the biggest force in organized crime. He started his career of crime in Boston, as an apprentice to Johnny Torrio. That is where he earned the unforgettable nickname Scarface. It was in a bar when Capone made some rude comments about a woman. Minutes later, the womans brother sliced Capone in the face. D. VanGorder 2This man was a friend of Charles Lucky Luciano. Al Capone was punished and forced to apologize. Al Capone did not become a leader until he went to Chicago. At the time he was still an apprentice to Johnny Torrio. In the midst of the gang violence and bootlegging was Chicago. Chicago was a great place to start a ring of organized crime. The government was very weak which made it easier to do crime. Capone entered the city of Chicago in 1920. At the time, Big Jim Colosimo ran things. He made about 50,000 dollars a month. Torrio and Capone started their business with four gambling joints/whore houses in Chicago. These underground places were known as deuces. In Chicago Capone met a man who would be his friend for life, Jack Guzik. Guzik was Jewish. His family lived off prostitution. Al Capone never worried about racial issues, his wife was even Irish. After Jack Guzick was roughed up by a Joe Howard, Capone let out his temper. It did not help when Howard called Capone some rude names. Soon after, Capone shot him down. There was no conviction, it was clear that Capone was becoming more and more powerful. He had to have connections in the law to not be convicted. Al Capone finally got a taste of leadership after a few years of partnership with Torrio. Torrio left Capone in control of their areas to take his sick mother back to Italy. Capone was at the top of a Chicago suburb known as Cicero. At the age of 25, Capone was one of the most powerful men in Chicago, but being such a force also made him a target for rival gangs. D. VanGorder 3In New York, Arnold Rothstein was the man. He was a bootlegger, he also sold narcotics, and he started off many big names in crime such as Charles Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello and Dutch Shultz. Rothstein made friends with as many bootleggers and gamblers as he could. He never wanted anything to go wrong. He was sort of paranoid but Rothstein was a very powerful man. The most incredible act ever made by a thug just may have been the fixing of the 1919 World Series between the Reds and the White Sox. Many of the White Sox star players wanted higher wages, owners of the club refused. But Rothstien changed that. I t was said that he paid off eight of the White Sox players 10,000 dollars each. The Reds would have lost but with a little help from Rothstein the White Sox did lose and Rothstein got back all of his money winning bets. .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d , .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .postImageUrl , .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d , .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d:hover , .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d:visited , .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d:active { border:0!important; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d:active , .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub05f4677e0318c559e06c095170cf90d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Similarities between war in Iraq and Vietnam EssayCharles Lucky Luciano was another one of the most successful gangsters during the 1920s. His place of crime was New York. Luciano started under a man named Maranzano as Capone started under Johnny Torrio. Luciano was one of Maranzanos