The Theme of Nostalgia In Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway
Hills Like White Elephants is a short story by Ernest Hemingway written in 1927 that offers a glimpse into the lives of expatriates following the post-World War I. The story is in the form of a dialogue, between the two main protagonists, it also begins by describing the setting as rural Spain. The girl’s view of the distant hills as white elephants brings about the first nostalgic instance as it can be interpreted as her attempt to reflect on the sensuous beauty of their love relations that is on the verge of deteriorating as a result of her lover’s selfishness. Hills Like White Elephants can be described as an accurate piece of literature that has been based on the experiences that were common among expatriate of that generation that lived in the wake of WWI. This story contains many trends that were popular among expatriates who traveled to Europe during the post WWI. Through more than enough words and by letting the reader unearth the true meaning of his work, Hemingway shows the depth that can be achieved by men in their pursuit of adventure, happiness, and excitement.
The opening scene gives the reader a glimpse of the setting and where the characters are traveling. The start of the story sets the scene for the reader, “The hills across the valley of the Ebro’ were long and white. On this side, there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm shadow of the building and a curtain made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door into the bad to keep out files” (Hemingway, n.p). The River, Ebro is in Spain and the Northeast of Madrid. The two main characters the man referred to as the American and the girl are traveling towards Madrid, where they could find a solution to their problem (Hemingway, n.p). It is towards the end of the story that the reader realizes that the problem they are discussing is the possibility of carrying out an abortion, which was considered illegal in the 1920s. Abortion would be regarded as a religious crime in a catholic country such as Spain. To understand the life of the characters in the story, the reader needs to understand the life expatriates l ived in the 20th century. Also, Ernest Hemingway was an expatriate and this makes experiences recorded in his story accurate.
Hemingway was born in 1899 in Illinois. He was sent to France during WWI as a Red Cross driver at 18years of age. His experience during this time helped him develop his works later in life. The reason Europe had many expatriates in the 1920s is because of WWI and the exposure of many young Americans. Hills Like White Elephants arouses the curiosity of a reader. The setting of story plays an important role in showing the dilemma the girl is in (Hemingway, n.p). The American can be is realistic, and shows the typical behavior of an American expatriate.
Works Cited
Bolton, Matthew J. “An American in Paris: Hemingway and the Expatriate Life.” Critical Insights: The Sun Also Rises, edited by Keith Newlin, Salem, 2010. Salem Online.
Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Ed. R.V. Cassill. New York: Norton & Co
The Use of Animals and Animals Imagery in The Shining and The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Shining is a horror novel by Stephen King that was published in 1977. The novel focuses on the main protagonist Jack Torrance who is an aspiring writer and a recovering alcoholic who has been recently hired as the caretaker of the historic hotel, the Overlook hotel located in the Colorado Rockies. After accepting the job he is accompanied by his wife and son Danny who has a psychic ability “the shinning” that allows him to see the hotel`s horrible past. The Hound of the Baskervilles was authored by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and was published in 1902. The novel revolves around an old legend curse that runs in the Baskerville family and dates back to the English civil war. The novel features detective Sherlock Holmes whom Dr. James Moretimer asks for help from when his close friend Sir, Charles Baskerville is found dead, and when his death is attributed to a heart attack he finds conspiring evidence that proves otherwise. His dead friend had an expression of horror and not too far away from the place his friend had died there were footprints of a gigantic hound. These two novels share a common theme of animals and animal imagery, King in his novel attaches a symbolic meaning to topiary animals and on the other hand, Doyle attaches meaning to the legendary hound. These two authors have utilized animals and animal imagery to further the development of their stories and as well as to give deeper meaning to concepts and to connect the supernatural to the psychoanalytical aspects of the monstrous characters that are discussed by the two authors.
The topiary animals used by King are a subtle representation of the wealthiness and the power of the Overlook and its clients. Topiaries demand constant attention and maintenance and apart from that, they can only be maintained by individuals with patience since they demand a lot of time. Overlook’s management and clientele are in the hotel for good leisure time and pay huge amounts of money for their maintenance (King, 89). The topiary animals only serve as a demonstration of wealth and power. On the other hand topiary animals in normals circumstances are supposed to be whimsical and cute. In theme parks, they are responsible for creating a sense of wonder and magic and appeals to children therefore they were meant to appeal to young Danny. Contrariwise young Danny finds the animals threatening when they become hostile and threaten him in the playing field. Again King uses the topiary animals to symbolize the corruption of the Overlook (King, 89). They should have served as a representation of innocence however they served the character of threatening creatures, the Overlook has corrupted their representation, this symbolizes malice since they corrupt the young innocence of Danny to show that innocence and good-natured individuals have no place in the Overlook’s world.
In an attempt to further his storyline Doyle uses the legendary hound as a gothic symbol of the untamable, uncontrollable, and supernatural. The creature is a representation of all that is dangerous and terrifying and unless counteracted by human interference it can lead to danger. The hound also serves as a symbol of death, the footprints of the beast have been found around dead members of the Baskerville family, apart from Sir, Charles’ body, Sherlock acknowledges that “uncle and nephew have been murdered-the one frightened to death by the very sight of the beast” (Doyle, n.p). This shows the connectedness of the beast to murders of characters throughout the novel.
The use of animal imagery in the Hound of Baskervilles is introduced following the demise of the family progenitor, Sir Hugo who has been described as a vile character, his death is depicted as bone-chilling and horrific, “ a foul thing, a great black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon stood over Hugo and plucked at his throat” (Doyle, n.p). This introduction helps Doyle bring out gothic elements in the story that influences the fear of the unknown in the readers. Subsequently, after this the Baskervilles’ live in fear of having to face a death similar to that of Hugo’s. Sir Charles becomes the most recent member of the family to die from an attack from the supernatural creature, the mysterious circumstances that explain his death, confirm to the reader as well as encourages the reader to consider that a monstrous creature maybe murdering members of this family, “ Mr, Holmes they were the footprints of a gigantic hound” (Doyle, n.p). The use of animal imagery has been used to further the development of the readers' suspicions and the storyline.
King uses animal imagery of a dragon to solidify the boiler’s symbol of hellish inattentiveness, “There was a giant hiss of steam, dragon’s breath. A warm tropical mist rose from beneath the boiler and veiled him. For a moment he could no longer see the dial but thought he must have waited too long; the groaning, clanking sound inside the boiler increased, followed by a series of heavy rattling sounds and the wrenching screech of metal ” (King, 36). The animal imagery connects the boiler to a dragon which in many instances can be referred to as demonic creature and in this case, the animal imagery has been used to portray the boiler as a creature of hell that lurks beneath the Overlook. Towards the end of the novel, Jack turns into an unrecognizable creature that has been described by King using animal imagery, “He was up on his hands and knees now, his hair hanging in his eyes, like some heavy animal. A large dog… or a lion” (King 416), Jacks representation as an animal shows his likeness to the topiary animals and his identification with the hotel, through his transformation he is now part of the Overlook.
To illustrate how some of the characters felt trapped, Doyle appeals to the use of animal imagery. Stapleton has a hobby of trapping butterflies using a net. Sherlock and Watson use the trapped net and butterflies to metaphorically illustrate how they will hoax or were once hoaxed by someone. Watson tries to show how he is constantly being fooled by someone, “Always, there was this feeling of being fooled...entangled in its meshes”(Watson, n.p). Doyle successfully manages to convince the reader to see Watson as a trapped butterfly. Also, the butterflies are a representation of Stapleton, “the nets are in all place...he has got through the meshes” (Watson, n.p), by referring to him as a butterfly Sherlock is informing Watson that they have evidence to pin the murders on Stapleton but they have to wait to see his reaction.
King has used animal imagery to bring out the concept of gothic double is very prevalent throughout the Shining, the duality of the characters is seen from the beginning of the novel. Jack’s behavior as an alcoholic is why the Overlook manipulates him and finds a chance to bring out an animalistic side. The inconspicuous supernatural events taking place in the hotel play an important role in making Jack susceptible to the monster to take over. In an attempt to describe the concept of the gothic double of Jack King appeals to the use of animal imagery, in one instance from the book Danny refers to his father`s double using the “it” pronoun that is used to describe animals, “It wore many masks, but it was all one. Now, somewhere, it was coming for him. It was hiding behind Daddy’s face, it was imitating Daddy’s voice, it was wearing Daddy’s clothes. But it was not his daddy. It was not his daddy” (King 466).
Conclusively, through the use of animals and animal imagery, King and Doyle are able to illustrate the inhuman aspects of their morally depraved characters. King appeals to the use of animal imagery in The Shinning while Doyle applies it to The Hound of Baskervilles to shed light on the monstrous and inhuman behaviors that lie beneath their character. Both King and Doyle's use of animal imagery helps bring out the gothic storytelling tactic that inspires fear in the reader. Also, King has symbolically used the topiary animals to describe the rotten core of the Overlook. King and Doyle have successfully used the animals and animal imagery to further their respective plots as well as to give deeper meaning to concepts in addition to portraying the monsters that lurk behind their characters.
Works Cited
Doyle, Arthur C. The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1902. Print.
King Stephen. The Shining; Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, June 2008.
The Gathering of Manna by Poussin differs a lot from the drama and the violence of the Italian and the realism and precision of the Dutch manner of the time. His work rejects the seductive attractions of Baroque paintings which include the use of lustrous colors alongside vibrant brush works. Instead, his works adopt a style that was cerebral and that delineated. With this portrait, Poussin took an intellectual approach that aimed at capturing a complex sequence of events into one static image. He abandoned the Baroque style that was much prevalent in Europe at that time and turned to the Classical style. The scene painted is based on biblical events that took place when God provided food to the Israelites in the wilderness. Poussin synthesizes the classical worldview and the Christian morality in paintings by accepting the rules and norms that defined the classical period. The painting manages to be a true representation of what happened in the provision of manna in the wilderness while at the same time respects the proper sequence of narrative moments.
The irony in Watteau’s Pilgrimage to Cythera can be detected from how the painting idealizes courtship. In the painting, courtship is illustrated as a game that seems to be mutual, convectional, and where both parties find pleasure. Watteau’s idealization of the process of courtship can be seen through his use of symbols to include flowers, music, and statues as well as through the use of non-verbal communication signaling in which the subjects of the painting engage in. This painting is ironic and does not serve as a representation of courtship and marriage in the 18th century where marriage in most instances was attached to economic purposes instead of love. Most of the marriages during this time were arranged marriages and there was no time to lure each other in the courtship period. The painting is an illustration of growing intimacy seems as the characters proceed women hold on to the men to show that they are not being forced into anything but are doing so on their own free will. However, intimacy was not a consideration in this period. The satirical thrust expressed in Marriage A-la-Mode is about patronage, marriage morals, and aesthetics. Also, Hogarth satirizes the skewering of the 18th-century society through the illustration of disastrous results in an ill-considered marriage.
"Is that all you got". This is my inner mantra, my cerebral soliloquy that repeats whenever I try something new. In truth, nothing is impossible and I believe in myself. I have gone through many milestones mentally and physically to ensure I enjoy sweet victory continually. There is doubt that my personal growth has been sparked and fuelled by my 'never say die attitude'.
No thrill without the butterflies. As a child, some of my earliest fondest memories were about horrible acts. Jumping off the tallest diving boards 20 meters high only to hit my head on shallow waters. Maxing out the speed limit on racing carts, and slamming right into brick walls. Mom would tell me to try again or that there's no 'wrong' answer. "The fun came from not knowing what might happen" she would often say. She instilled an adventurous spirit in me whether it was trying new foods or riding the tallest scariest rides in the amusement parks with the most loops and twists. She was my partner in crime when it came to trying new things. When I got a bit older, we became roller coaster junkies, always riding the scariest rides first. We knew that if the scariest rides were the first to go, the rides that left our hearts racing, our legs trembling, the ones that gave us the rush we so desperately desired, absolutely nothing else could pale in comparison afterward. I thought everyone grew up loving adrenaline and nursing countless injuries just like me.
It never occurred to me not to try. Even during my earliest days in elementary school,
I constantly sought out new challenges including getting flustered trying to put together puzzles that consisted of more than 5000 pieces, taking on science experiments that were meant for the older kids and failing miserably at them. I even built a human-sized hut made of bamboo that collapsed at least 10 times on me in the process leaving bruises on my arms as well as broke several ribs. Later on, in middle school, I came to learn that mistakes were simply part of the process. I remember spending hours on end trying to program a game sacrificing the free time I was supposed to use playing with friends. Each time I failed I slouched on my desk and cried from frustration. It took me two months to successfully program that game and it only ran for less than an hour, regardless I was proud of myself. In 7th-grade, I burnt my fingers trying to bake a cake, which turned out delicious and my classmates loved it. The smiles and admiration from my peers made the pain from getting burnt worth it. I came to realize that failure and sacrifice were part of the learning process, an opportunity to find better ways of doing something.
My adventurous mind-set carried on to high school and became one of my greatest assets. Entering my freshman year of high school I became even more reckless with my ventures. I craved newer more exciting experiences that challenged my limits and abilities. I learned how to drive at the age of just 14 years old and joined the local boxing gym to participate in all kinds of contact sports and I loved it despite all the hurdles. Also, I ran cross-country despite being overweight and chubby and I did my best not to be among the last to finish the race. Often, whenever there were fights at school, I would be the first one on the scene to break it up. My friends would avoid anything that could end in disaster. I on the other hand did the exact opposite. I intentionally stepped out of my comfort zone to experience new things and grow.
I was never fond of public speaking, I always hated talking in front of large crowds. Nevertheless, I was determined to be a risk-taker and at one point I joined the annual school science fair where students presented various projects. I admit I was a little tense while presenting my project but it was worth it and afterwards I found my confidence to stand and present in front of a large crowd. In 11th grade, I pitched the business venture I had worked hard on over the summer in front of dozens on entrepreneurs, performed a solo piano piece in front of huge crowds at music concerts, and participated in plays for my English class. It was in my nature to neglect fear and step out of my comfort zone. People often told me that it was impossible to overcome my fears and that I would fail but they were all narrow-minded. I knew all too well that failure was part of learning. They didn’t see the value stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. Growth came from new experiences and stepping out of your comfort zone. I was unintentionally following my instincts. Sure, I’ve had a lot of skinned knees, bruised egos, and wasted Saturdays, but I’ve also had a lot of great days. Memorable victories where I overcame mental barriers and learned valuable lessons. New Experiences that helped me grow and overcome fear and I don’t regret it.
Hardships and stress have shaped my life and have enabled me to achieve growth and well-being. My experience in elementary, middle school and high school pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to be better. Unequivocally, I've gained new understandings and perspectives. I have gathered that predictability isn't an excuse for narrow mindedness. Sometimes 'normal' isn't good enough, if you want to be special you can't think like everybody else. Being special means being open to spontaneous inspiration and following it. After all creative problem solving is usually a result of trial and error. Know that while you have a special mindset others may not. They may look at you with disapproval and call you crazy but don't let that disappointment stop you from achieving your goals. When you fall rise up with more determined to reach your goals than before. As the saying goes, no pain no gain. Easy means stagnation. So dare me please - I'm ready to see what more I can do.
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and good.”
This text caught my attention because the Lord watches all our actions. This text expresses how he is omniscience, He has perfect knowledge about his creatures and things and nothing can be hidden from him. He sees the most distant and secret places in the world and has control over them (Lennox 2009). The Lord is the ruler of heaven and earth and therefore watches everything and everywhere at all times. This means that we should always feel safe and protected wherever we are and in whatever we do because he watches over us. Whenever you feel like doing that that is not according to his will we should also know that he is still watching however much we try to hide. This text is a clear indication that nothing can be done in secret before the Lord.
The significance of “Hall of Fame” is that it represented the works of faith. This is where weak people trusted in God to do mighty things for them (Hebrews 11). Their hope and trust were not as a result of performing their religious duties but from the promises of God to keep them and award them through the hardship they went through. It is through faith that they obeyed and trusted in God for his promises. They did not question God’s promises but obeyed his commands. Even in the time of their death they still trusted in God. They did not get to receive the things that they were promised but saw them from a distance but God kept the promise of preparing a city for them which is heaven. It is by faith that all these people were able to even bless their children before they died.
Joshua was obedient and had so much humility. He had so much respect for Moses as his servant and that is how he rose to become the greatest leader of Israel. He succeeded Moses and led the people of Israel into the Promised Land. Following his obedience, he was instructed by God to a battle in Jericho where the Israelites won the battle. Because of his obedience, God performed a miracle where he instructed the sun not to move for a whole day. This was to enable the Israelites to kill all their enemies (Joshua 1, 4). Under the leadership of Joshua who was obedient to God, the Israelites possessed the Promised Land. His confidence, loyalty, and faith in God made him have great accomplishments. When the Israelites got to the Promised Land, Joshua gave a portion of land to each of the twelve tribes.
As a leader, being obedient, respectful, and loyal would be significant in leadership. Listening to the people above you is also important. It is important to be confident and believe in achieving our goals. Joshua was confident that they would reach the Promised Land and they did. Staying focused in life leads to great accomplishments. As a leader, one should be able to be accountable for everything like when the Israelites got to Canaan, Joshua gave each of the twelve tribes’ portions of land (Joshua 4). Good character, loyalty, obedience, respect is rewarded not only by people but even by God and these are things that I would emulate from Joshua.
Talking to God
Dear Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Listen to my prayer of thanksgiving and praise
Thanking you for the week ahead of me
Asking for protection
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
Put in me a pure heart, O Lord and renew a faithful spirit in me
Guard my life throughout the week and grant me favor in all my endeavors
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Works Cited
The Bible. King James Version.
Lennox, S.J. (2009). God with us: An introduction to the Old Testament (2nd ed.). Marion, IN: Triangle Publishing
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee” (Act I, page 4)
Speaker- Tybalt
Meaning/interpretation- Tybalt is trying to counter Bonvolio’s efforts on stopping the fight between the servants. Tybalt is angered by the fact they have taken swords and they trying to assert on the need of peace. For him he does not like the term peace as well as Montague and he believes they should go ahead and fight instead.
Importance to the story- Tybalt’s violent trait is revealed as a person that loves to fight over peace. The statement highlights the relationship of hostility that exists between Benvolio and Tybalt.
Literary device- Foreshadow
“Examine other beauties” (Act 1, page 6)
Speaker- Benvolio
Meaning/interpretation- While trying to comfort Romeo after Rosaline rejected him, Benvolio attempts to make the suggestion that to forget to get over the heart break and eventually get over Rosaline he should try to see other females.
Importance to the story- The statement is important in highlighting the tragedy of Romeo’s romantic life.
Literary device- Imagery
Act II
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name
Which is no part of thee take all myself” (Act II, page 1)
Speaker- Juliet
Meaning/interpretation- The statement means that the thing that matters most is the actual nature of something rather than its name. In other words, a sweet name does not necessary imply that something is as sweet.
Importance to the story- The quote is important as it helps the reader to understand that the name of someone or something does not determine the character. People are not always as they seem and should not be judged based on their names or appearance.
Literary device- Metaphor
“Hence will I to my ghostly father’s cell,
His help to crave and my dear hap to tell” (Act II, page 3)
Speaker- Romeo
Meaning/interpretation- When Juliet fell asleep Romeo then turn to Lawrence Friar his favorite minister. Frair is the holiest man in throughout the play and he means well for both Romeo and Juliet but in return is subjected to the blame based on the tragic ending for the two lovers.
Importance to the story- Romeo and Friar are trying to fight on the plan for the wedding between Romeo and Juliet. Friar tries to warn Romeo about his fate urging him to love in a moderate manner but he does not listen. It is rather ironic that while Frair is intention are good and all he wants is to help the two lovers he fails at reconciling them and he is blamed as the source of miscommunication between the two leading to the tragic ending.
Literary device- Irony
ACT III
“Methinks I see thee,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:
Either my eyesight fails or thou look’st pale.” (Act III, page 6)
Speaker- Juliet
Meaning/interpretation- Juliet foresees a tragic ending for them. She sees a dead body but she questions whether her eyes have let her down. In general, Romeo on the other hand believes that their life together is likely to be particularly sweet.
Importance to the story- The quote is important as Juliet foreshadow a tragic death that of Romeo. Juliet of course foresees how would see Romeo for the last time at the bottom of the tomb.
Literary device- Foreshadow
“Hang thee young baggage! Disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what: get thee to church o’ Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face.” (Act III, page 7)
Speaker- Capulet
Meaning/interpretation- Juliet’s dad is angered by his daughter’s decision not to get married to Paris. He treats Juliet as a property which he can conveniently sell to another man.
Importance to the story- Juliet’s father originally believed that she should get married for love but when she refuses to marry Paris he threatens her that she should never face her. The quote represents the masculinity of men where women are considered as inferior and men’s property.
Literary device- Metaphor
Act IV
“What if this mixture do not work at all?
what if it be a poison, which the friar hath subtly
hath minister’d to have me dead, lest in this marriage he
should be dishonour’d?” (Act IV, page 2)
Speaker- Juliet
Meaning/interpretation- Juliet is afraid that Frair’s portion might not actually work and might a poison that is aimed at killing her. She fears that he might be afraid of being disgraced if she decided to get married to Paris even after he had already married her to her lover Romeo.
Importance to the story- The quote is important because while Juliet doubts the portion she still trusts Frair by highlighting that he is a holy man. In her thoughts he foreshadows nothing but struggle and darkness, which illustrates that something tragic, is likely to occur.
Literary device- Foreshadow
“Heaven and yourself had part in this fair maid;
Now heaven hath all, and all the better it is for the maid.” (Act IV, page 3)
Speaker- Friar Lawrence
Meaning/interpretation- As the blame is being rained on Julie as they wind up, Frair adds a positive statement by holding that she is in a much better place. When they all wanted her to make the right choice with regard to marriage and move to a higher class, as a heaven for her, the external life is the heaven that was meant for her.
Importance to the story- The quote is metaphoric in nature as it represent the contrast between the heaven in which her father wished for her and the external one that turns to be her fate. The ending is tragic because she does not enjoy happiness but to Frair the external life is a safe place for her.
Literary device- Metaphor
Act V
“I could not send it, nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
so fearful were they of infection.” (Act V, page 2)
Speaker-Friar John
Meaning/interpretation- Friar blames the tragic luck for blocking Romeo from receiving a message explaining that Juliet was not actually dead.
Importance to the story- The statement is important as it demonstrates how miscommunication resulted in the tragic dead of Romeo thus hindering the two lovers from enjoying a happy life.
Literary device- Metaphor
“Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man!” (Act V, page 3)
Speaker- Romeo
Meaning/interpretation- Romeo refers to himself as a desperate man and considers Paris as a gentle youth. When Paris tries to confront him after opening the tomb where he had come to see his beloved Juliet he warns him not to dare a desperate man.
Importance to the story- The quotation demonstrates that Romeo will stop at nothing to achieve his goal which is to commit suicide to be with his lover. Romeo comes to the realization that unlike Paris he cannot live without Juliet and therefore decides to take the portion.
Romeo and Juliet depict a story of conquering love despite the unfavorable circumstances that existed. It is a story that takes place amidst two families that were fighting. Both Romeo and Juliet came from the two separate families that despised each other. They met at a party and Romeo falls in love at once. He is saddened by the fact that Juliet is from his rival family. By this time Juliet is in love with another person and the father expects them to get married.
Romeo decides to risk his life trying to speak to Juliet and sneaks to Juliet’s bedroom window. He learns that Juliet is in love with him too when he watched and listened to her. They even make plans to get married secretly as they conversed through the window. On the following day, they both went to the cleric who agreed to marry them believing that it would bring peace to the two families. Romeo is forced into a fight and in the process he kills someone. He is advised to run away so that he could not be sentenced to death. Juliet is very sad to hear of the news that Romeo has to flee. Juliet’s father is forcing her to marry the person he wanted. Juliet seeks advice from the cleric and he offers her poison that is supposed to make her go on deep sleep and people will think that she is dead.
The cleric plan is to send a message to Romeo to come back and meet Juliet when she wakes up in the tomb. Things did not go as planned because the message never reaches Romeo and he hears of Juliet’s death. He buys poison and goes to Juliet’s tomb from where he takes it and dies. Juliet wakes up just to find Romeo dead and takes his dagger and kills herself too. When both rival families learn what happened to their children, they agreed and ended the years of fighting and lived peacefully.
I have always been fascinated by cold cases. This is because of the new information and evidence that keeps coming up in the cases. Studying and reviewing true crime cases is something I am passionate about. Cold cases make me want to dig a little more to try and know what the consequences would have been. Perhaps it is because I am obsessed with investigative movies like CSI that portray criminal masterminds who nearly escape the investigation. As you can guess, crime thrillers are my favorite movie genre with an extra investigative element. Cold cases make me think hypothetically and view the world from a different perspective. Cold cases have made me find it effective to look at the situation from both sides, which are the law, and the criminal.
Most of the cold cases make you shiver or have chills just by the thought of them. You are left wondering what tactics the criminals use while committing these crimes. Cold cases criminals must be very smart and intelligent because they are never caught. Most of them die without ever being arrested or arraigned in court. Sadly sometimes their criminal mind-orientation provides them with the necessary knowledge to go around the law and get their way, at the cost of others. Regardless, the ingenuity of criminals is what fascinates me in cold cases and how inventive they can be in hiding evidence and covering their tracks. Because of this, cold cases are the most difficult to handle because they lack evidence, and enough resources to support them (Davis et al 1). However, this is not to say that I intend to become a criminal because I value a free life and respect the law. But, respecting the law has nothing to do with my passion for unsolved cases. I find reviewing true cold cases captivating, and to me, it is more than a hobby. Cold cases enable me to think for myself, piece evidence together, and come up with possible conclusions that may or may not be factual.
Because of reviewing many cold cases, I have come to the point of believing that I cannot trust a person fully. This is because even the so-called relatives can make you become a victim of a cold case. This gets me thinking of the reason that could drive a family member to harm another member that they are related to. Every day I look at apartments surrounding me, wondering what goes inside, what conflicts there are, and what secrets people hide behind their black windows. Doing this makes me reflect on most people’s misconceived ideas that others possess the same values as they do. Notions such as no one in their right mind would do to another what they would dread to be done to them. Also, regardless of the provocation, no one would result in violence unless in an attempt to protect themselves. Such notions attribute to the belief that people close to us cannot result in a crime. But we still wake up to numerous crimes happening around us and it is unfortunate that sometimes, the perpetrators of such cold acts are people we are related to. It, therefore, becomes hard to comprehend why people who seem innocent and clear-minded to us would act so inhumanely. It is sad to even think that the perpetrators don’t think of the impacts that the act will have on the people that care about them. Such acts leave the survivors with trauma, which never ends because they keep following up on the cases. The media too constantly reminds the survivors of the acts that may have caused the deaths of their loved ones (Wellman 1). This causes more emotional turmoil making the afflicted party feel more devastated, and their need to seek justice increases. Such alignment of thoughts is what led my fascination with cold cases, attempting to solve unsolvable crimes if only to get a peace of mind and getting a thrill while at it.
One of the fascinating cold cases to me was the one on “Jack the Ripper.” It is said that the mysterious murderer killed five different prostitutes, all found within a mile of each other. Their throats were slashed ear to ear (Anderson 6). Though this case is from 1888 Whitechapel, London, it is one of my favorite cold cases. The crime in itself is indeed inhumane, but the ability of “Jack the Ripper” to die with his secret portrays creativity. Lead investigators speculated that the killer was left-handed, speculation I concur with since the victims were slaughtered from right to left. The consistency and precise nature of the cuts suggest a professional, and most probably a surgeon (Anderson 26). This is because a post mortem was done on one of the women and a uterus was missing and how it was done, only a surgeon could. Based on his specific targets, it is clear that the killer hated prostitutes.
To my understanding, the killer was a self-righteous person who saw prostitutes as abominations and the epitome of moral degradation. Given the period, prostitution was an unaccepted “profession” at the time, and as such, some may have viewed his acts as just to the society (Anderson 19). Jack even dared to write a letter to police officers teasing them of his activities and speculating the murders that would happen. It is like he was too sure that the police would not find him and knew he would play games with them. According to some speculations, he was said to be the grandson of Queen Victoria. This makes me think maybe that is the reason he was too confident and crafty in his acts because the royal family would protect him.
The case on "Jack the Ripper" is one of the few that illustrate my enthusiasm for cold cases. As shown, cold cases make me think outside the box, piecing out evidence based on facts about the time and society the crime occurred. Jack’s case and who he was speculated to be shows that a criminal could be anyone and this makes it even more thrilling to me. He was speculated to be a surgeon (Anderson 26), meaning if that was true he was learned and if so why would he be involved in such acts. Things like this make me want to be involved more and find the missing pieces of the puzzle. Not to go ahead of myself, but I believe that this could make me a detective. Perhaps I am destined to solve a crime that had escaped authorities and shed light on cases that have often been dismissed owing to lack of evidence. Certainly, I would be honored to have brought the truth to the light, however late it might seem. Rest assured, my interest in cold cases is not popularity-oriented. It comes out of the need to know the truth of why and how something happened. I have always craved the truth. It does not rest well with me, knowing that someone has escaped punishment after doing some of the world’s worst crimes. I believe that criminals, however inhumane they might seem do make errors as any person would. Therefore, there are clues that, when pieced together, would provide a conclusive answer as to what happened and why it happened. My persuasion of the truth originates from my honest nature and belief injustice. Therefore, solving cold crimes fulfils my desire to seek justice for all afflicted by criminalist individualistic acts.
Cold cases are the ultimate human dramas. They are the real-life depictions of fictitious movies and films. Moreover, to me, they are one of the terrifying horror stories. When it comes to fiction, they are people’s speculations of what would happen, attempting to depict the human condition. However, cold cases are the speculations brought to life. It is, therefore, understandable why cold cases are such a fascination to me and why it means so much for me to solve some of them. Cold cases speak to me differently, offering a new perspective to the human condition. They reveal the harsh truth of life in what we hope might not be but is. I am sure that my feeling concerning the topic aligns with most people’s fears, which they are afraid to confront. Such reflections incite feelings of curiosity and need to view cold cases afresh as if the victim was someone related to me. With this, empathy further increases my fascination with cold cases. It might be paranoia but regardless, cold cases remain to be an intriguing subject to me that might impact my career path.
Works cited
Anderson, Jennifer J. Jack the Ripper. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Pub. Company, 2012. Internet
resource.
Davis C. Robert et al. Cold-Case Investigations: An Analysis of Current Practices and Factors
Associated with Successful Outcomes. March 2012 Retrieved from
In the story Between the Lines, adolescents can learn multiple lessons, which include the essence of friendship (Nijkamp, 47). Judging from the story, Delilah becomes a bookworm owing to the fact that the outside world has pushed her to the edge. This was after accidentally injuring a popular girl in the school who was known as Ally McAndrew’s. It is for that reason that Delilah is isolated and named a loner, thus she has to come up with ways of dealing with her loneliness. On the other hand, Delilah is also wondering about his father who left the family, thus she uses books as a means of dealing with loneliness.
This is an example of a lesson which young adolescents can learn from the story. The human is mind accustomed to believe what one focuses, thus in order to be happy, one should think about things which bring happens. Children can therefore use books as a means of shifting their minds from family issues, and any other external factors which may affect their wellbeing. In so doing, they may be able to not only forget about the past, but to also improve their performance in class work.
On the contrary, children also learn the meaning of friendship and its importance. For instance, as Delilah reads through the story, she becomes connected to Oliver who is a fictional character. Due to their connection, Oliver begins to talk, and shares with Delilah the problems he faces (Nijkamp, 47). Delilah tries to figure out ways of helping him so that they can support each other in struggles of being fatherless, but she cannot, since Oliver is trapped in a book. Delilah symbolizes a true friend, one that would be there in times of need. In as much as Delilah knew Oliver was trapped in a book, she looked for ways of saving her friend but she could not. Thus children tend to learn the importance of true friendship. Finally, the popular culture consequently uses books as a means of opening children’s minds, thus enabling them to think critical and to also develop ideas which may be of significance to them in the future. For instance through changing the way they play, as well as the way they read (Guins & Omayra, 424).
The book was interesting due to the flow of events which were systematic, with one action leading to the other.
Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to "get into it"?
It took a while to get engaged into the book, as it focused on poverty in the beginning but later on the results of hard work and determination were evident.
How did you feel reading it—amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?
I was amused after reading the book, owing to the fact that despite of the challenges that Chris Gardner went through, in the end he was rewarded.
Rate the experience of the book on a scale of 1-10 (highlight range):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What is the setting? When and where does this take place?
The setting of the book is in San Francisco, in a Lodging House, in the Glide Memorial Church, inside the bus as well as in the Stock Broker office where Chris worked as an intern, in 1981 to 1987.
Talk about the book's structure. Is it a continuous story...or interlocking short stories?
The book features a continuous story which has different themes with poverty as the main theme.
Does the timeline move forward chronologically...or back and forth between past and present?
The story moves chronologically forward, from the moment Chris Gardner has a small family to the point where he is left by his wife due to the lack of finances, and finally when he finally lands the job after years of suffering.
Does the author use a single viewpoint or shifting viewpoints?
The author uses single viewpoint, whereby the main character only focuses on his work.
Why might the author have chosen to tell the story the way he or she did—and what difference does it make in the way you read or understand it?
The story is written in chronological order since it provides an understanding of how things change in life from one point to another if one becomes determined.
Describe the main characters — personality traits, motivations, inner qualities. Why do characters do what they do? Are their actions justified? Do you admire or disapprove of them? Do they remind you of people you know?
Chris Gardner, is a loving and caring father, who is hardworking as well as determined. He loves and takes care of his son even after being left by his wife (Gardner, Troupe, & Rivas, 2006). He works so hard to make both ends so as to take of his son as well as himself even though he is homeless. Due to determination, he is able to land a job at a place where he worked as an intern for six months without pay. I strongly admire his actions, as he is focused on achieving his goals regardless of what comes his way, he reminds me of most of the people I know.
Is the plot engaging—does the story interest you? Is this a plot driven book: a fasted paced page turner? Or does the story unfold slowly with a focus on character development?
The plot is engaging as the story unfolds slowly with a focus on character development.
Were you surprised by the plot's complications? Or did you find it predictable, even formulaic?
I was surprised with the plots complications as the flow of events were not predictable.
What is the main conflict? What do the main character(s) want? Person v. Person? Person v. Self? Person v. Environment (or society)? What main ideas—themes—does the author explore? (Consider the title, often a clue to a theme.) Does the author use symbols to reinforce the main ideas? (In a single sentence, what is the book about?)
The main conflict is between Chris and his wife Linda, who is not impressed when his husband does get enough money to support the family, making her to leave him with their son (Gardner, Troupe, & Rivas, 2006).
What passages strike you as insightful, even profound? Perhaps a bit of dialog that's funny or poignant or that encapsulates a character? Maybe there's a particular comment that states the book's thematic concerns? Include a description of the most significant scene.
The author explores the theme of poverty, which eventually leads to the theme of happiness in the end. The author uses symbols to reinforce the main ideas, thus creating an understanding of the challenges that people go through in real life situations.
The most significant scene is when Chris is about to finish his internship, and being the last day of the six month internship, he decides to dress casually knowing that he will not be picked as an employee. Nevertheless, he is eventually picked as an employee, a moment which makes him happy as he finally achieves his goal of getting a job (Gardner, Troupe, & Rivas, 2006).
Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? If not, why not--and how would you change it? Explain (3-4 lines).
The end is satisfying for the reason that Chris is able to regain what he had initially lost. Chris had lost his lifetime savings after investing in bone scanner machines which he was not able to sell. Nonetheless, after acquiring the job, he was able to raise enough money to start a stock broker company.
If you could ask the author a question, what would you ask? Have you read other books by the same author? If so how does this book compare? If not, does this book inspire you to read others like it? (5-6 lines)
I would ask the author how he felt after acquiring the job and later on starting his own stoker broker company. This is because the book is based on author’s real life story. The book inspires me to read others like it, as it encourages me to forge forward regardless of the challenges I may be facing. It also makes one to think critically based on the flow of events. In addition, Chris Gardner’s success comes after suffering which explains the significance of determination (Gardner, Troupe, & Rivas, 2006).
How has this novel changed or affected you, or broadened your perspective? Have you learned something new or been exposed to different ideas about people or a certain part of the world? (This is not merely a yes or no response; you must glean something from reading this that adds to your knowledge. 5-6 lines
From the book I have learned the importance of remaining focused on the cause. Similarly, I have also understood that money is the cause of most marriage problems. Linda left Chris with his son because of financial issues (Gardner, Troupe, & Rivas, 2006). Furthermore, nothing is impossible through hard work and determination. One we focus on what is important, we tend to achieve our goals. Lastly, success is determined by the effort one puts in, in whatever he or she desires to achieve.
Reference
Gardner, C., Troupe, Q., & Rivas, M. E. (2006). The pursuit of happyness. New York: Amistad.
I have always been fascinated by cold cases. Studying and reviewing true crime cases is something I am passionate about. This is because of the new information and evidence that keeps coming up in the cases. Cold cases make me want to dig a little more to try and know what the consequences would have been. Perhaps it is because I am obsessed with investigative movies like CSI that portray criminal masterminds who nearly escape the investigation. As you can guess, crime thrillers are my favorite movie genre with an extra investigative element. Cold cases make me think hypothetically and view the world from a different perspective. Cold cases have made me find it effective to look at the situation from both sides, which are the law, and the criminal.
Most of the cold cases make you shiver or have chills just by the thought of them. You are left wondering what tactics the criminals use while committing these crimes. Cold cases criminals must be very smart and intelligent because they are never caught. Most of them die without ever being arrested or arraigned in court. Sadly sometimes their criminal mind-orientation provides them with the necessary knowledge to go around the law and get their way, at the cost of others. Regardless, the ingenuity of criminals is what fascinates me in cold cases and how inventive they can be in hiding evidence and covering their tracks. Because of this, cold cases are the most difficult to handle because they lack evidence, and enough resources to support them (Davis et al 1). However, this is not to say that I intend to become a criminal because I value a free life and respect the law. But, respecting the law has nothing to do with my passion for unsolved cases. I find reviewing true cold cases captivating, and to me, it is more than a hobby. Cold cases enable me to think for myself, piece evidence together, and come up with possible conclusions that may or may not be factual.
Because of reviewing many cold cases, I have come to the point of believing that I cannot trust a person fully. This is because even the so-called relatives can make you become a victim of a cold case. This gets me thinking of the reason that could drive a family member to harm another member that they are related to. Doing this makes me reflect on most people’s misconceived ideas that others possess the same values as they do. Also, regardless of the provocation, no one would result in violence unless in an attempt to protect themselves. Such notions attribute to the belief that people close to us cannot result in a crime. But we still wake up to numerous crimes happening around us and it is unfortunate that sometimes, the perpetrators of such cold acts are people we are related to. It is sad to even think that the perpetrators don’t think of the impacts that the act will have on the people that care about them. Such acts leave the survivors with trauma, which never ends because they keep following up on the cases. The media too constantly reminds the survivors of the acts that may have caused the deaths of their loved ones (Wellman 1). This causes more emotional turmoil making the afflicted party feel more devastated, and their need to seek justice increases. Such alignment of thoughts is what led my fascination with cold cases, attempting to solve unsolvable crimes if only to get a peace of mind and getting a thrill while at it.
One of the fascinating cold cases to me was the one on “Jack the Ripper.” It is said that the mysterious murderer killed five different prostitutes, all found within a mile of each other. Their throats were slashed ear to ear (Anderson 6). The crime in itself is indeed inhumane, but the ability of “Jack the Ripper” to die with his secret portrays creativity. Lead investigators speculated that the killer was left-handed, speculation I concur with since the victims were slaughtered from right to left. The consistency and precise nature of the cuts suggest a professional, and most probably a surgeon (Anderson 26). This is explained by a post mortem that was done on one of the women and a uterus was missing. The removal of the uterus was done professionally only in a way that a surgeon could. Based on his specific targets, it is clear that the killer hated prostitutes.
To my understanding, the killer was a self-righteous person who saw prostitutes as abominations and the epitome of moral degradation. Given the period, prostitution was an unaccepted “profession” at the time, and as such, some may have viewed his acts as just to the society (Anderson 19). Jack even dared to write a letter to police officers teasing them of his activities and speculating the murders that would happen. It is like he was too sure that the police would not find him and knew he would play games with them. According to some speculations, he was said to be the grandson of Queen Victoria. This makes me think maybe that is the reason he was too confident and crafty in his acts because he had the protection of the royal family.
The case on "Jack the Ripper" is one of the few that illustrate my enthusiasm for cold cases. As shown, cold cases make me think outside the box, piecing out evidence based on facts about the time and society the crime occurred. Jack’s case and who he was speculated to be shows that a criminal could be anyone and this makes it even more thrilling to me. He was speculated to be a surgeon (Anderson 26), meaning if that was true he was learned and if so why would he be involved in such acts. Things like this make me want to be involved more and find the missing pieces of the puzzle. Not to go ahead of myself, but I believe that this could make me a detective. Perhaps I am destined to solve a crime that had escaped authorities and shed light on cases that have often been dismissed owing to lack of evidence. Rest assured, my interest in cold cases is not popularity-oriented. I have always wanted to know the truth and ensure that justice has been served. At the same time I also have an urge to know how the criminal minds work because their intelligence is on another level. It does not rest well with me, knowing that someone has escaped punishment after doing some of the world’s worst crimes. I believe that criminals, however inhumane they might seem do make errors as any person would. I believe that sometimes these criminals are not in their right senses or may be having mental problems and may be in need of professional help. Maybe if I had the opportunity I would get all this answers and offer help to those that may need it. My persuasion of the truth originates from my honest nature and belief injustice. Therefore, solving cold crimes fulfils my desire to seek justice for all afflicted by criminalist individualistic acts.
Cold cases are the ultimate human dramas. They are the real-life depictions of fictitious movies and films. Moreover, to me, they are one of the terrifying horror stories. When it comes to fiction, they are people’s speculations of what would happen, attempting to depict the human condition. This is what makes cold cases so fascinating to me and the reason I am passionate about solving them. Cold cases reveal the harsh truth of life in what we hope might not be but is. I am sure that my feeling concerning the topic aligns with most people’s fears, which they are afraid to confront. Such reflections incite feelings of curiosity and need to view cold cases afresh as if the victim was someone related to me. With this, empathy further increases my fascination with cold cases. It might be paranoia but regardless, cold cases remain to be an intriguing subject to me that might impact my career path. I would feel very satisfied to know that I put pieces of speculations and evidences together and came up with a meaningful conclusion that helped to solve a cold case.
Works Cited
Anderson, Jennifer J. Jack the Ripper. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Pub. Company, 2012. Internet
resource.
Davis C. Robert et al. Cold-Case Investigations: An Analysis of Current Practices and Factors
Associated with Successful Outcomes. March 2012 Retrieved from:
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about my professional goals
Part I: Visual Aids
Ways in which they inform the audience:
The purpose of visual aids is to make the speech better and more interesting
It enhances credibility
It ensures that the audiences stay on track and understand the topic
It communicates complex information
Ways in which they label information:
The audience can label information using PowerPoint. I will avoid unnecessary images
Details or cluttering:
I will avoid cluttering and overwhelming slides. The information should be simple and clear
Use of white space and color:
People love the color. I will provide a color presentation to attract the audience. I will use contrasting colors. I will use white space
Use of type face/size:
I will use Arial font
Part II: Speech Introduction
Attention-getting statement: the purpose of my professional goals is to help me improve job satisfaction and career progression
Establish credibility: I am trustworthy, competent, and accountable
III. Relevancy statement: the professional goals will motivate me in day-to-day tasks and help me achieve my desired future (Greco, 2016).
Central idea: every individual needs to set professional goals to achieve milestones and great things in life.
Body
First main point
I will expand professional knowledge and become more productive
Taking online courses
Building relation with mentors
personal development skills
problem-solving
Work ethic
Second main point
I will strengthen business connections and build social and professional contacts
Sharing challenges- this will help come up with solutions to the problems and ensure that all employees increase morale. Sharing challenges will also boost innovation and growth since workers will work toward a common goal.
Being a resource to others- I understand that employees are resources as my professional goal is to create close contact with other workers and customers.
Join groups to foster professional development
Workgroups- I will join workgroups within the organization
Social groups- I will join social groups and meet individuals with different professional backgrounds.
III. Third main point
Intern with companies
Larger company- the purpose of getting an internship is to use tools and information, understand policies and processes, and gain real-world knowledge
Smaller companies- I look forward to making greater contributions and help workers in various projects.
Professionalisms
The internship will provide soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving
I will also increase confidence while working in the field
Part III: Conclusion
Summary of main points
I understand that to be successful in my career I must set goals and work hard toward achieving them. These goals help me realize my dreams and I focus on making these dreams come true. These goals will not only benefit me but the organization will grow and improve. The above goals will help me complete organization tasks since I will be able to solve problems and apply skills.
Memorable closing statement
The last memorable statements that when setting goals, it is important to make sure that goals are clear and detailed, relevant, and achievable.
Part IV: References
Greco, L. M. (2016). Professional identification and career goals: goal setting in the role transition process. University of Iowa,
Ender’s Game is a fictional story which is based an invasion of the earth by aliens known as Buggers, and everyone is ready for a third invasion. The military embarks on a mission to breed the eventual military genius to be in charge of the fleet in a proactive attack against the Buggers home world. Kids are consequently trained from the age of 6 years, in far of world facility which is known as Battle School, and their training is majorly based on games. The protagonist Ender Wiggins is the probably the child they are focused on. He is focused, determined, empathetic, and anguished, he is actually the best as compared to other kids in the games. The adults who run the school are focused wiping out the entire species and will stop at nothing to see their goals being achieved, their hope lies on the kids as a means of bringing to an end the species. For that reason, this paper will analyse the book thus providing an analysis and evaluation of the book.
The book majorly focuses on the abilities of children, which is among the main themes, empathy and alienation, the quality of leadership as well as technology and virtual reality. The kids are intelligent and creative, and as read in the book, Ender’s who is also the protagonist is creative in the sense that he is able to come up with strategies of being the best at the game (Car & OverDrive, 2013). This basically makes him the best as compared to other kids. In addition, due to his strong sense of empathy, he becomes a capable strategist who is able to win the game. Alienated from others and being treated like an adult, Ender’s gains skilful traits through careful observation which eventually makes him an active leader. Finally, Ender’s is able to outperform adults through showing them his reasoning is better than that of adults, which consequently makes them to believe him. On the other hand, Peter and Valentine write articles necessary to influence the country’s political direction through obtaining false identity in order to succeed.
The author achieved his purpose of writing the book, in the sense that he was able to depict the abilities of children if given the chance to be leaders. In addition, the writing is powerful as it clearly illustrates the power that children possess, and how successful they can be if they are not constrained from achieving their purpose in life. According to my point of view, I found the book interesting in the sense that its aim was to educate parents on how they should treat their children, hence allowing them to make critical and significant choices which may of great importance to the world. I would highly recommend the book to other for the reasons that it showcases the ability that children have if given the chance, in addition, it encourages parents not to limit their children because of the abilities they possess.
Conclusion
The book just as discussed, is focused on improving the way children are viewed in the society, thus allowing them the opportunity to make decisions concerning the country. On the other hand, through the book, children can also learn the significance of being empathy and having good traits in order to be the best. The protagonist in the book is an epitome of success due to the skills he possess, which eventually make him to stand out hence being selected as the leader of the military.
Reference
Card, O. S., & OverDrive, Inc. (2013). Ender's game. New York: Tom Doherty Associates.
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