Othello: Racism Essay examples -- Othello essays

Othello: Racism  Ã‚        Ã‚   Just how serious is the problem of racial prejudice in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello? Is it pervasive or incidental? This essay intends to answer questions on this subject. Blanche Coles in Shakespeare’s Four Giants maintains that the racial discrimination in the play may be overstated by critics: In the first scene, Roderigo has referred to Othello as â€Å"thick lips.† No other character in the play attributes any such negroid features to Othello, and it should be remembered that Roderigo has a half-insane prejudice against and hatred for Othello. Brabantio refers to his â€Å"sooty bosom,† but may he not have meant his hairy chest? Some rather fair men have black hair on their chests. The word â€Å"sooty† seems to apply more aptly to this interpretation than it does to a mere black body. All other characters refer to Othello respectfully as â€Å"the Moor† or â€Å"the valiant Moor.† (80) In the opening scene, while Iago is expressing his dislike, or rather hatred, for the general Othello for his having chosen Michael Cassio for the lieutenancy, he contrives a plan to partially avenge himself (â€Å"I follow him to serve my turn upon him†), with Roderigo’s assistance, by alerting Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, to the fact of his daughter’s elopement with Othello. Roderigo shares Iago’s prejudiced attitude toward Othello: â€Å"What a full fortune does the thicklips owe / If he can carry't thus!† The word thicklips is a disparaging reference to a facial characteristic of many members of the dark-skinned race. When, by loud shouting, Brabantio is awakened, Iago commences with a series of racial epithets: Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   your gown;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Your heart is burst, you have lo... ...e.   EMILIA. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil! (5.2)    Following Iago’s murder of Emilia, he is captured; Lodovico addresses Othello, who is so dejected at having been deceived by his ancient:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   O thou Othello, thou wert once so good,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fall'n in the practise of a damned slave,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What shall be said to thee? (5.2)    Needless to say, damned slave has racial overtones. Shortly thereafter, the hero, in remorse for the tragic mistake he has made, stabs himself and dies on the bed next to his wife, his sorrow being as deep as his love.    WORKS CITED Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos. Coles, Blanche. Shakespeare’s Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire: Richard Smith Publisher, 1957.   

Ancient Calendars Essays -- essays research papers

Time Keepers Celestial bodies - the sun, moon, planets, and stars - have provided us a reference for measuring the passage of time throughout human existence. Ancient civilizations like: China, India, Babylon, and Greece relied upon the apparent motion of these bodies through the sky to record and determine seasons, months, and years. We know little about the details of timekeeping in prehistoric eras. However, records and artifacts usually uncover that in every culture, people were preoccupied with measuring and recording the passage of time. Stonehenge, built over 4000 years ago in England has no written records, but its alignments show its purposes apparently included the determination of seasonal or celestial events, such as lunar eclipses, solstices and so on. As time has passed so has the evolution of the calendar, a device created to track our time and seasons from the earliest recordings in Babylonia to the Gregorian calendar the history of this transformation is and interesting journey. The earliest know calendar to keep track of the cycles of the celestial bodies was an Egyptian calendar that was based on the moon's cycles and is thought to have been created in 4236 B.C.E. Many cultures and societies have embraced the idea of tracking time and seasons as they pass for a myriad of reasons, â€Å"Seafarers needed to navigate their vessels, and farmers had to know when to plant their crops.† (Chaisson / McMillan p.30) The Chinese are credited with having invented the second oldest method of time keeping; Emperor Huangdi implemented the Chinese legend in 2637 B.C.E.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Babylonia (where modern day Iraq can be found) is attributed with having some of the earliest surviving records of astronomical observations. It is believed, ‘†¦Babylonian astronomical knowledge spread far and wide – to the East, to Persia, and to the Mediterranean.† (Richards p. 38) However, the knowledge that was disbursed was not treasured by all that received it, in the Mediterranean the Greeks improved upon the theories of the Babylonians. The Greek’s theories were recorded; however, when Rome over-took most of Europe the records fell into the hands of the Christian church. When Constantine was Emperor of Rome he declared Christianity to be the official religion of the empire; thus, giving the church officials the power to decide the validity of the recordin... ...ius (1537-1612), he signed a papal bull and that was followed by, â€Å"The actual change over to the new calendar took place the following year on 4 October. After 350 years or more the reform had at last been accomplished.† (Richards p.246) Furthermore the rule for leap years (which said that years divisible with 4 should be leap years) was changed so that years, at the end of the century, should be leap years only if they were divisible with 400 (e.g. 1600, 2000, 2400 etc.) In the Gregorian Calendar there is then 303 years with 365 days and 97 years with 366 days, which gives a mean year of 365.24250 days: 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes and 12 seconds. Related to the mean interval between vernal equinoxes this corresponds to a slippage of less than one hour in every 300 years for the foreseeable future - until circa 4000 AD. Chaisson, Eric and Steve McMillan. Astronomy Today. New Jersey: Prentice   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hall, 1999. Evenson, A.E. About the History of the Calendar. Canada: Regensteiner   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishing, 1972. Richards, E. G. Mapping Time, The Calendar and its History. New York: Oxford   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  University Press, 1998. Ancient Calendars Essays -- essays research papers Time Keepers Celestial bodies - the sun, moon, planets, and stars - have provided us a reference for measuring the passage of time throughout human existence. Ancient civilizations like: China, India, Babylon, and Greece relied upon the apparent motion of these bodies through the sky to record and determine seasons, months, and years. We know little about the details of timekeeping in prehistoric eras. However, records and artifacts usually uncover that in every culture, people were preoccupied with measuring and recording the passage of time. Stonehenge, built over 4000 years ago in England has no written records, but its alignments show its purposes apparently included the determination of seasonal or celestial events, such as lunar eclipses, solstices and so on. As time has passed so has the evolution of the calendar, a device created to track our time and seasons from the earliest recordings in Babylonia to the Gregorian calendar the history of this transformation is and interesting journey. The earliest know calendar to keep track of the cycles of the celestial bodies was an Egyptian calendar that was based on the moon's cycles and is thought to have been created in 4236 B.C.E. Many cultures and societies have embraced the idea of tracking time and seasons as they pass for a myriad of reasons, â€Å"Seafarers needed to navigate their vessels, and farmers had to know when to plant their crops.† (Chaisson / McMillan p.30) The Chinese are credited with having invented the second oldest method of time keeping; Emperor Huangdi implemented the Chinese legend in 2637 B.C.E.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Babylonia (where modern day Iraq can be found) is attributed with having some of the earliest surviving records of astronomical observations. It is believed, ‘†¦Babylonian astronomical knowledge spread far and wide – to the East, to Persia, and to the Mediterranean.† (Richards p. 38) However, the knowledge that was disbursed was not treasured by all that received it, in the Mediterranean the Greeks improved upon the theories of the Babylonians. The Greek’s theories were recorded; however, when Rome over-took most of Europe the records fell into the hands of the Christian church. When Constantine was Emperor of Rome he declared Christianity to be the official religion of the empire; thus, giving the church officials the power to decide the validity of the recordin... ...ius (1537-1612), he signed a papal bull and that was followed by, â€Å"The actual change over to the new calendar took place the following year on 4 October. After 350 years or more the reform had at last been accomplished.† (Richards p.246) Furthermore the rule for leap years (which said that years divisible with 4 should be leap years) was changed so that years, at the end of the century, should be leap years only if they were divisible with 400 (e.g. 1600, 2000, 2400 etc.) In the Gregorian Calendar there is then 303 years with 365 days and 97 years with 366 days, which gives a mean year of 365.24250 days: 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes and 12 seconds. Related to the mean interval between vernal equinoxes this corresponds to a slippage of less than one hour in every 300 years for the foreseeable future - until circa 4000 AD. Chaisson, Eric and Steve McMillan. Astronomy Today. New Jersey: Prentice   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hall, 1999. Evenson, A.E. About the History of the Calendar. Canada: Regensteiner   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishing, 1972. Richards, E. G. Mapping Time, The Calendar and its History. New York: Oxford   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  University Press, 1998.

The British Politics

Structural-Functionalism in politics states that the political system is composed of different institutions which includes interest groups, political parties, government bodies and a bureaucratic machinery. In nature, this political model is conservative as it is not responsive to political changes. It’s first objective is to ensure its own survival (London). In British politics, its root for survival had been visible over time.Its parliamentary development over the centuries, and the emergence of the two-house parliament is a way of coping to the changing political calls intended for survival. Interest articulation and aggregation in this light has been effective because the citizens of the country and the parliament as well is anchored on the basis of their â€Å"shared sense of justice†. One which is believed that they are accountable for the laws that are being enacted. The parliament system has gone through many changes over time.A strength in the system can be att ributed to the fact that since it has gone through many eras, changes has occurred and in a way, those changes have improved the system as a whole. The system is now well-established and it since leadership in the higher level goes from generation to generation, it is stable and the government form and leaders will not change as often as other political systems do. However, its weaknesses lie on the same thing that its governance is being inherited.It may be the case that the next heir for the position will not suit perfectly to become a leader. Or that the leaders shall use their powers and family prestige in pursuit of their own interest. Thus it is inevitable that future leaders may make a mistake due to incapacity or selfishness that the hereditary process of leadership entails. Works Cited A Parliament for England. October 9, 2007 London, Scott. On Structural Functionalism. October 9, 2007

Pulse and Heart Rate Essay

1. Determine your heart rate by taking your radial pulse and then your carotid pulse. What was your heart rate in each instance? For my radial pulse my heart rate was 86 beats per minute. For my carotid pulse my heart rate was 90 beats per minute. Explain which artery you found easier to use and why. The artery that I found easier to use was the carotid artery and my reason for that is because the pulse felt stronger. 2. Which two websites did you use to determine your target heart rate? The two websites I used to determine my target heart are www.active.com/fitness and www.webmd.com/body-bmi-calculator 3. What was your target heart rate zone on each of these websites? Were the zones the same? According to Active.com my target heart rate is between 101-131 beats per minute. Webmd.com determined my target heart rate to be between 101-131 beats per minute. Yes, the heart rate zones were very similar. 4. Do you think the range for your target heart rate zones identified by these websites is reasonable? Why or why not? Yes, I do think that the range of my target heart rate zone is reasonable because my heart rate should be faster when I am exercising. 5. How does understanding your target heart rate zone help you improve your physical fitness? Understanding your target heart rate zone can help improve your physical fitness because it can help you maintain your intensity level when exercising. 6. Describe a physical activity you have done before when you have failed the talk test. What would you change about that activity in order to pass the talk test? One physical activity that I have done before where I had failed the talk test was when I had to swim out to a marking point in a lake. What I would change about that activity so I can pass the talk test is to practice more on my swimming.

Bystander Effect

The bystander effect is the name given to a social psychological phenomenon in cases where individuals do not offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present. It is a situational ambiguity; when we are confused about a situation and unconsciously interpret the event as if nothing is happening unusual. Some researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to intervene if the situation is ambiguous. We usually develop an illusion of normality. Because of the ignorance of other people in emergency situation; we also feel that nothing is so serious and it will be fine. One major factor of bystander effect is busy life and too much introvert behaviour. We rarely give a thought to stop and judge the situation and react accordingly. Some researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to intervene if the situation is ambiguous. There are couple of more reasons which are cause of bystander effect. One of them is feeling of being unqualified to interfere in such situation.We think that our knowledge for such situation is not enough to jump into and a fear arises inside which pushes us away from the situation. Because in first place we always want to put ourself in safe place. Also, we generally try to look the behaviour of other people to get tan idea of seriousness of the situation , other people’s reaction or action in emergency situation usually effects our thinking . This is called as social proof which we look for before getting into the situation. Social influence on our mind is the factor which plays critical role in our life.There are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect. First, the presence of other people creates a diffusion of responsibility. Because there are other observers, individuals do not feel as much pressure to take action, since the responsibility to take action is thought to be shared among all of those present. The second reason is the need to behave in correct and socially acceptable ways. When other observers fail to react, individuals often take this as a signal that a response is not needed or not appropriate.The importance of taking responsibility explains why behaviours consistent with the bystander effect can be observed in situations even outside a typical crowd situation, such as a series of passers-by in a public place. Even though they may be alone at the time, the knowledge of others who are likely to pass by also can negate responsibility. In the case of Kitty Genovese, many of the 38 witnesses reported that they believed that they were witnessing a lovers quarrel, and did not realize that the young woman was actually being murdered.

My Electronic Dictionary is Very Important to Me Essay

My Electronic Dictionary is Very Important to Me - Essay Example Chomsky continued that he â€Å"can find definitions for four or five words in one minute†. As an international student, the author understands and agree with Chomsky love of words. Knowing the meaning of various new words is essential for learning proper English. It is impossible to carry around a huge dictionary with me all the time. However, an electronic dictionary is something that helps me avoid all of the inconveniences. Everyone can benefit from the use of an electronic dictionary because â€Å"students and scholars of language, the electronic versions open up to our possibilities for the exploitation of dictionary texts that the print versions could not begin to offer". The reporter highlights that  "I use it to learn new words and I am not shy about using it in the conversations. How can I communicate effectively with people around me if I do not know the meaning of the words they say? I am very happy that I finally purchased an electronic dictionary. The dictionary is my constant companion and is always with me always. In many conversations, it helped me to find the right terms to use and not to make a fool of myself by saying something inappropria te. While my electronic dictionary is easy to use, the purchase of it was not quite as easy One day, when I went shopping with my parents to one of the department stores in our neighborhood, I saw an electronic English dictionary that was destined to be mine. It was well designed and offered amazing features. These characteristics caught my attention immediately. The dictionary, literally, mesmerized me with its smooth silvery case. I could not divert my eyes from it. I went closer to the shelf where it laid to have a better look at it. The list of available features in the dictionary was no less astonishing than its looks."

Creating a Diffusion Line For the Stella McCartney Brand Essay

Creating a Diffusion Line For the Stella McCartney Brand - Essay Example The paper "Creating a Diffusion Line For the Stella McCartney Brand" discovers the supply base of the Stella McCartney brand. Chung et al (2001) and Malhotra (1986) explain that brand personality can also be helpful in creating customer loyalty in the saturated domestic market, and this has been true of Stella McCartney. This is achieved through interaction with positive associations with the personalities of the consumers. Abedania (2010) states that this interaction helps a company to gain deeper understanding of the perception of consumers towards the brand. Stella McCartney has been able to tap into the value of its organized value chains to increase its profit margins, and reduce its expenses like transportation. A retail structure should enable a company to reach more target customers with the product and give an insight to their perceptions. An analysis of the company’s retail organizational structure indicates that it serves the needs of the organization. The company o perates 17 freestanding McCartney stores situated in Milan, New York, Los Angeles and London’s Mayfair, Manhattan’s Soho, Paris’ Palais Royal, LA’s West Hollywood, Rome and Miami. Currently, her collections are distributed in more than 50 countries through a network of 600 wholesale accounts including department stores and specialty shops. There is also an online shop for customers to purchase products online. This retail structure does not allow the company to have a total control on the delivery of its products. An overview of the supply base of the Stella McCartney brand From the above discussion, it is clear that Stella McCartney has an extensive supply chain. This supply chain serves the needs of the proposed diffusion brand and its proposed buying strategy in various ways. First, the extensive supply chain ensures that high-end designs more and easily accessible to the public. The customers are to be allowed to access lowly-priced but specially desi gned products for a limited time. Information from IBISWorld (2012) revels that offering products that are moderately priced than the original line will ensure that the devised buying strategy captures customers from less wealthy and younger demographics. This is a group of budget-conscious buyers and thus this strategy is important in ensure that customer demand is sustained all through the business periods, especially when the value of once-elite brands fades and they no longer sell as they used to. There is room for improvements that will help in ensuring that the existing supply chain serves the needs, and buying strategy of the proposed diffusion brand to a better level. One of the recommendations is to enter into lower-priced designer collaborations with many fast selling fashion retailers. Although the products will be offered at different price ranges, this step will result to increased sales and thus a general increase in revenue. The company is able to interact and communi cate with customers through various ways through its supply chain. For for example, it uses brochures and direct customer service which ensures that the needs of the customers are always taken into accountability when coming up with new designs. Global distribution strategy for taking the product forward to both the B2B and B2C consumer The company’s distribution strategy for taking the product forward to both the B2B and B2C should be formulated from a multichannel perspective.