Essay --

During the Meiji Restoration, Japan transformed into a strong industrialized nation by adopting the Western political, cultural, and technological ideas. Japan was the â€Å"only non-Western country to industrialize in the nineteenth century and that, moreover, she did so in an extremely short time† (Sugiyama 1). Japan’s social, political, and economic aspects were all affected by the Western technologies to transform Japan into an industrialized nation (Wittner 1). By adopting the Western ideas during the Meiji Restoration, Japan has turned into a powerful industrialized nation by becoming an â€Å"international political player in the 1880s† (Wittner 1). Prior to the Meiji Restoration, the Western powers viewed Japan as the backward nation because â€Å"in terms of military strength and economic development, Japan was indeed far behind the Western nations† (Hane and Perez 84). The Meiji government feared that Western nations would colonize Japan because they had already done it to other Asian countries by using military forces (Hane and Perez 84). The Meiji government’s fear came out to be true when the Western powers imposed unequal commercial treaties on Japan. Because of these unequal treaties Japan was â€Å"deprived of the right to regulate tariffs, and Western residents in the treaty ports were granted the privilege of extraterritoriality† (Hane and Perez 84). However, these unequal treaties were significant to the Meiji Restoration because they became the foundation of Japan’s industrial revolution by providing Japan with the access not only to Western technologies but also to political, cultural, and social ideas (Hane and Perez 82). Moreover, the treaties were important to Japan’s economic future because they increased the Japan’s econom... ...Restoration was the telephone. Iwadare Kunihiko established Nihon Denki (Nippon Electric Co., also known as NEC) by teaming up with the Western Electric (WE) of the United States (Odagiri and Goto 161). Kunihiko and NEC adopted WE’s technology and communication equipment, which helped expand the production of telephones (Odagiri and Goto 162). The telephone production was important for Japan’s industrialization because communication became easier. Many people were able to keep in touch with their friends and families who live far away by simply calling them. The telephone was also important for business because it sped up the commercial transactions. As more people are using the telephone, more private owned telephone companies were operated to raise profits. The American telephone technology brought industrialization in Japan by increasing the telephone production.

A Marriage Agreement

Marriage, as they say, takes two to work. Gender roles should not exist in marriage because it would only bring conflicts to the relationship. Couples need to become partners while still maintaining their individuality. They need to learn how to make decisions with the other person in mind. If not, the marriage will most likely turn into a divorce with the couple thinking that this is the best solution.Alix Kates Shulman, in her essay entitled A Marriage Agreement, believes that everything can be worked out if couples only knew how to work around each other. She proves this by presenting the audience with their Marriage Agreement in which both she and her husband explicitly detail each other's chores and responsibility.The author admits that the agreement was a little formal; however, it worked for their marriage (p. 181), and this is what is important. The couple decided to make an agreement after realizing that they have grown too accustomed to their everyday chores wherein the wif e did everything from taking care of the children to cleaning the house while the husband spends time away from his family to make some money.This is what most couples have become, which makes their marriage fall apart. Shulman writes how verbal agreement to delegate tasks and share duties will not work and that a written agreement will make it easier for couples to adjust to the new divisions of their responsibilities.However as good as the author’s narration of how they delegated the tasks, for overall effectiveness of convincing readers of the effectivity of such delegation the author must present proof and comparison of the advantages of such agreements. The essay simply indicates in passing the effectiveness of such delegations without further proof or solidification and therefore, becomes weak in persuading its readers.The main article starts off with introducing the current situation of marriage life in America. It starts off by imprinting an image to the readers on ho w overworked and lopsided the delegation of domestic responsibilities is towards women. It was presented in a way that is very academic stating statistics and quoting researches.This acts as a clear introduction of the featured author’s feminist view of how household responsibilities must be shared among spouses. The article then goes on saying how better it is for families that do not follow the traditional delegation of household work than those who are not willing to share the duties and responsibilities of taking care of home and family (p.179). All these up to this point were presented in a very clear manner with the intent of the author to convince her audience of how sharing responsibilities is beneficial to marriage life introduced smoothly.However, from this academic level of argumentation, the article presents an essay that is a personal account of a marriage life. This essay is supposedly the main argument of the article but for some reason, it does not provide muc h strength to the stated arguments. Rather, it simply gives a glimpse of how to spread evenly responsibilities without much proof of its effectivity. This is the main flaw of the essay as it does not strengthen the main article.

Superstition Of Science, Religion, Harmful Superstition

Superstition in the, â€Å"Joy Luck Club,† is a method used by the mothers to provide comfort and guidance to their daughters, or to scare the daughters into submission. In the book, many times do the mothers resort to using superstition to keep their daughters in line. For example, in page 164, Lena says,†Ã¢â‚¬  Aii, Lena,† she had said after that dinner so many years ago, â€Å"your future husband have one pock mark for every rice you not finish.†Ã¢â‚¬  This of course scares Lena into finishing the rest of her rice because she fears that her future husband will have many pock marks because of her failure to eat the rest of her rice. In the article,† In Age of Science, Is Religion Harmful Superstition’?† religion is a harmful way to keep people in the dark†¦show more content†¦Religion isn’t just about people worshipping a god. It’s about following a faith and its morals. Throughout history, people of religious b ackgrounds such as James Prescott Joules have made significant contributions to science despite the Church condoning it. Superstition is also used to provide a sense of comfort and clarity to their daughters. To illustrate, in page 206, Rose said,† I used to believe everything my mother said, even when I didn t know what she meant.† Whenever her mother said something she would pass it on as true no matter how fallacious it sounded. This is because humans usually accept the truth that benefits them the most. Now one day in kindergarten I learned that our house was near the Gulf of Mexico, so I was pretty scared about a tsunami engulfing the house in water so I asked my mom and she said, and I quote,† That would never happen, the U.S. has a forcefield around the country to protect us from that.† It wasn’t till around second grade when I figured out that she was lying but I now understand why she did that. Mostly because she wanted me to stop crying but also to comfort me and hide my innocence from the reality of the world. The mothers of the Joy Luck Club have good reason t o use superstition and lie to their daughters. It usually makes life easier and makes the daughters somewhat comforted, but it should not be confused with actual religion because religion is more than just a ‘coping’ method. – 650 words TheShow MoreRelatedMedieval Medicine, Illogical and Superstition Essay1746 Words   |  7 Pagestaxes and making laws. The Bubonic Plague spread to Europe, the plague killed about 75 million people of world died from one single cause. Many superstitions were created cause of the Black Death, generate idea that were thought to prevent the plague but really did. Medicine was also not being studied carefully and correctly at the time. Not a lot of science was being use to conduct and create medical procedures and medicinal drugs. Medicine in the middle ages was primitive caused improper practiceRead MoreSuperstition Informative Speech1490 Words   |  6 PagesInformative Speech Specific Goal: To inform my audience about the myths and mysteries surrounding Superstitions and how they have transitioned through time. Thesis Statement: In this essay I will uncover the history and origin of superstitions, common superstitions and what their meaning, and religion superstitions in todays society. Introduction A. Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to You. Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Read MoreGandhi s Theory Of The Indian Subcontinent s Enslavements1067 Words   |  5 Pageseducation. The Vedas is the major text for the Hindu religion. In this fashion, Tolstoy builds on his argument that the Hindu religion sets law of love at the centermost part of it, in addition to demonstrating that he is fairly familiar with the Hindu literature. In the letter, Tolstoy deduces that religion and â€Å"lack of a reasonable religious teaching† is the cause behind India’s invasion by the British. He infers that Christianity or the religion of the English is inferior to Hinduism in terms ofRead MoreEssay about On the Existence of God1753 Words   |  8 Pagesas an atheist (the absence of belief in God), I have to say, like he did when he was alive, that religion is little more than superstition. Despite any positive effects that religion might have in societies, it is mostly harmful to people. Religions and religious outlook serve to impede human knowledge (science) and to foster fear and dependency on other (clerics) which are supposed to know. Religions are responsible for much of the human war, oppression, and misery that are besetting our world todayRead MoreThe Witch s Hammer : A Treatise On The Prosecution Of Witches1742 Words   |  7 Pagestreatise on the prosecution of witches, written in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer, a German Catholic clergyman. The book was first published in Speyer, Germany, in 1487. (3)Malleus Maleficarum is Latin for The Hammer Of The Witches. Maleficarum means harmful magic, or Witchcraft. Hexenhammer† in German is one of the most famous medieval treatises on witches. It was written in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, and was first published in Germany in 1487. (3) Its main purpose was to challengeRead MoreThe Understanding of Medicine of the Ancient Romans1364 Words   |  5 PagesRoman’s based their medical practices on science along with their religious beliefs. This resulted in a system of effective treatments and transcendental practices. Not only did the Ancient Romans base their medical practices off of their sacred religion and their scientific theories, but they also incorporated it with superstition. A man named Tacltus, who was not only a historian, but a senator of the Roman Empire, spoke of Rome as a city where superstition interpreted everything, and said thatRead MoreThe World And Various Religious Phenomena1363 Words   |  6 Pagesand various religious phenomena are based on false premises. In a real sense, there are two significant threads which religion has followed, since the ancient times. ; The line of Shem and the priesthood, and that of Nimrod and the Babylonians. Three mystery cults were developed, and the basis of the Babylonian system was animism (Meyer, 2010). In general, the history of religion refers to different compositions of systematically written religious experiences and ideas from humans. The earliest evidenceRead MoreEssay on Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804)1093 Words   |  5 PagesMet aphysics of Morals (1785). The Enlightenment was a desire for human affairs to be guided by rationality than by faith, superstition, or revelation; a belief in the power of human reason to change society and liberate the individual from the restraints of custom or arbitrary authority; all backed up by a world view increasingly validated by science rather than by religion or tradition. (Outram 1995) In the eighteenth century, people started questioning the authority and knowledge of the churchRead MoreReligion and its Effect on Society and Individuals Essay1603 Words   |  7 Pagesof life have also changed. However, the one aspect of life that has stayed constant has been religion. The impact of a constant religious opinion on a changing society has detrimental and benign effects on the populace of such a society. Religion was partly created in an effort to answer the questions that couldn’t be answered in any other way; to provide an explanation for the unexplainable. Each religion in turn has it’s own version of a higher being in which to believe. Giving this higher beingRead MoreThe Age of Enlightenment Essay2088 Words   |  9 Pagesphilosophers of the time and eventually being shared with the common people. The Enlightenment was a way of thinking that focused on the betterment of humanity by using logic and reason rather than irrationality and superstition. It was a way of thinking that showed skepticism in the face of religion, challenged the inequality between the kings and their people, and tried to establish a sound system of ethics. The ideas behind the Enlightenment were shared through multiple media such as literature and art

Betrayal in Julius Caesar - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 467 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/03/26 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Julius Caesar Essay Did you like this example? We saw a lot of betrayal in the movie of Julius Caesar, the main point in the movie was the plot to kill Caesar by Brutus, who was once thought to be his friend. This wasn’t the only instance of betrayal there are many more such as, Cassius, who was jealous of Caesars power, and Marc Antony, who stayed true to Caesar but was disloyal to Brutus. Betrayal was a big part of the whole movie and showed what it had been like to have power back then. Another instance of Betrayal I didnt mention before is when Caesar betrayed his wife Calpurnia when he had an affair with Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen. When Pompey fled to Egypt Caesar followed him to make things right, but when he arrived there, he found that the Egyptians had cut off Pompeys head and put it in a box. Caesar was disappointed, while he was in his room, a servant came and asked to speak to Caesar, the servant was actually Cleopatra in a disguise; she seduced Caesar and thus began the affair. Soon he and Cleopatra had a son named Caesarion, he and Cleopatra returned to Rome and started his short-lived life with Cleopatra. Leading into Brutus’s Betraying skills. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Betrayal in Julius Caesar" essay for you Create order Upon caesar’s return, he was warned to beware of the ides of march by a soothsayer,; he dismissed the warning, but soon after his ex-wife Calpurnia had a dream he had been killed, she went to warn Caesar. Although still he dismissed it. He should have listened to all the warnings because, Cassius had started a plot against the dictator and Brutus had joined in on it gathering as many other Senators as they could. Caesar going into the meeting had dismissed his guards, the Senators approached the Caesar to supposedly take care of a manner of business but soon after the assassination began. The senators took turns stabbing Caesar, the last person was Brutus, who Caesar thought was his friend, Caesar died in front of a statue of Pompey. This was the worst Betrayal of all, Caesar knew the Senators had hated him but, he never expected them to take it this far. In conclusion Friendship and Betrayal were at the center of everything in the movie. Many people in Ancient Rome wanted to have more and more power which made them do selfish things which almost always ended badly. So, I believe a betrayal is one of the worst things you can do to a person once you gain their trust; it shows that you care more for your own desires than others. Everyone has friends and enemies but just like the saying says keep your friends close and your enemies closer, always watch your back and have others backs when they need you most.

Nike Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil...

Nike started its empire as a company to distribute a Japanese running shoes, Tiger, in the United States with the name Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1964. Its founders have a very good coach-student relationship back in the days where both were still at University of Oregon; Bowerman was Knight’s coach seeking a better running shoes and Knight loves athletics so much that he could not live without it. The good relationship continues to start a business together, Blue Ribbon Sports. After the success of Tiger shoes, Nike is invented in 1971. Nike is actually the name of the winged Greek goddess of victory and the SWOOSH logo represents the wing of the Greek Goddess NIKE. The original logo was invented by Caroline Davidson and trademarked in 1971. Fast forward, they introduced the new slogan â€Å"Just do it† slogan in 1988. Nike, Inc. aims to deliver value to their shareholders by establishing profitable products. They focus on Nike Brand and Brand Jordan that are divided into seven major categories: running, basketball, football (soccer), men’s training, women’s training, NIKE Sportswear, and Action Sports. Despite the seven major categories, they also produce products for kids, athletic, and recreational uses. Among all of that, NIKE Sportswear, Running, Basketball, Football (Soccer), and kid’s shoes are the top selling products. Their strategy it to create personal deep connections between the consumers and their brand, and to deliver compellingShow MoreRelatedNikes beginning history and success.1356 Words   |  6 PagesNike: The Beginnings The Nike Corporation originated from two sources, Bill Bowermans quest for lighter, more durable racing shoes for his Oregon runners, and Phil Knights search for a way to make a living without having to give up his love of athletics (Hincker 1). Their ideas and actions within Nike have radically changed the way sports, business, and popular cultures interact. This influence is seen best through the history of Nikes formation in its beginning years. The concept that wouldRead MoreNike Background966 Words   |  4 PagesBackground information: Iconography Explanation Nike Heritage NIKE, pronounced NI-KEY, is the winged goddess of victory according to Greek mythology. He sat next to Zeus, king of the Olympian pantheon, in Olympus. A mystical presence, symbolizing victorious encounters, NIKE presided first battle in history. A Greek saying: When we go to battle and win, we say it is NIKE. Synonymous with honored conquest, NIKE is the twentieth century footwear that lifts the world s greatest athletes to new levelsRead MoreEssay on Nike Informative Speech1023 Words   |  5 PagesOutlines Guide Complete this form. Copy the entire contents of the form. Name: Chris Bell WORKING OUTLINE Complete this outline using complete sentences. Topic: Nike Specific purpose statement: To inform my audience †¦ How the Nike brand was formed and became a household name. Thesis statement (central idea): Nike brand is a well-known household name because the companies founders were able to capitalize on a logo paired with celebrity sponsorship and representation. OrganizationalRead MoreTarget Market of Bata1441 Words   |  6 PagesBata Shoe Limited, the countrys largest shoe manufacturer, will start marketing world famous Nike shoes and sportswear next month as it aims to grab a slice of the fast-growing branded footwear market, a company official said Wednesday. Nike has already made Bata the licensee for Bangladesh, allowing the multinational shoe company to market its products all over the country. Initially, we will market Nike products including shoes, apparel and lifestyle items in five of our top stores located inRead MoreNike Inc.4013 Words   |  17 Pagesis Nike Inc. I chose to do my research on Nike because I am for one, very much interested in Nike, and secondly I am very interested in Nike s clothing, shoes, and accessory line. br brBasketball players want to be like Mike, but shoe companies want to be like NIKE. NIKE is the worlds #1 company and controls more than 40% of the US athletic shoe market. The company designs and sells shoes for just about every sport, including baseball, volleyball, cheerleading, and wrestling. NIKE alsoRead MoreEssay about Analysis of Nike3792 Words   |  16 PagesAnalysis of Nike Basketball players â€Å"wanna be like Mike†, but shoe companies â€Å"wanna be like NIKE.† NIKE is the worlds #1 company and controls more than 40% of the US athletic shoe market. The company designs and sells shoes for just about every sport, including baseball, volleyball, cheerleading, and wrestling. NIKE also sells Cole Haan dress and casual shoes and a line of athletic wear and equipment, such as hockey sticks, skates, and timepieces. In addition, it operates NIKETOWN shoe Read MoreNike : A Global Fashion And Sport Icon1632 Words   |  7 Pages Nike a global fashion and sport icon to the world is branded as one of if not the best athletic company in the world. Nike produces athletic gear for every sport imaginable. They are known as well for there one of a kind products but as well as the brand that the best athletics wear and advertise for. The founders of Nike Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman meet when Bill Bowerman was the training coach for Phil Knight when he ran track for Oregon. It was there at the University of Oregon where Bill BowermanRead MoreNike, Clothing, Fashion Accessory, Foot Wear, Sports Equipment824 Words   |  4 PagesName: Nike, Inc. Industry: Clothing, Fashion Accessory, Foot Wear, Sports Equipment Internet address: www.nike.com Primary SIC code: 3021 - Rubber and Plastics Footwear Primary NAICS Code: 316210 - Footwear Manufacturing Major Products and Services: 1. Nikes major products are; athletic shoes and apparel for soccer, basketball, tennis, football, Running, golf, the Jordan brand, Men’s Training, Women’s Training, Action Sports. 2. Equipment: Nike produces sporting equipment which include sports ballsRead MoreTaking a Look at Nike Inc.974 Words   |  4 PagesOverview Nike, Inc. is a multinational corporation that designs, develops, markets, and sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for a variety of sports and fitness activities. In 1964, it started its empire as a company that distributed Japanese running shoes, Tiger, in the United States with the name Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964. Nike founders—Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight—had a great coach-student relationship when both were still at University of Oregon; Bowerman was Knight’sRead MoreNike s Impact On The World s Leading Athletic Footwear, Apparel And Equipment Company Essay872 Words   |  4 Pagesand equipment company, NIKE, Inc. is dedicated to inspiring every athlete to reach their full potential. Nike was previously known as Blue Ribbon Sports (RBS) founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Phil Knight was a middle distance runner from Portland who trained under track at the University of Oregon and field coach Bill Bowerman. It initiall y operated as a distributor for the Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger (now known as Asics). It officially became Nike Inc. in 1971 with just $1

The Secret Circle The Divide Chapter 2 Free Essays

Cassie and Adam barely said a word the whole drive back to Cassie’s house. She was still shaken up by Faye’s words, and Adam, sensing that, just quietly held her hand while he drove. She clicked on the radio for a pleasant distraction and fiddled with its dial till she found a song she liked. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Divide Chapter 2 or any similar topic only for you Order Now She couldn’t remember the song’s title, but it triggered a feeling of nostalgia in her heart, a memory of a time when her life was much simpler than it was now. She had been in New Salem less than a year, but it felt like forever and a day. Instead of watching the spring night drift by her window, Cassie closed her eyes. She let the music wash over her and tried to remember what it felt like to be not a witch but just a girl. Then she opened her eyes for a little peek at Adam. He was beautiful. In the pale moonlight, his hair appeared auburn and his eyes darkened to a deep navy that matched the night sky. How was it possible that this boy was in love with her, and only her? The Cassie from last year would never have believed it. She glanced at her own reflection in the car’s side-view mirror. She didn’t even look like the self she knew in California. Back then, she’d always felt so average. Average height, average build, ordinary brown hair. But now Cassie noticed her own multicolored highlights, and how big and round her grayish blue eyes were. And most importantly, she recognized how she’d matured into her power. She was confident now in a way she never could have imagined. When they pulled up to Number Twelve, the last house on the bluff, Cassie remembered the first time she’d seen it, how frightening and old it appeared to her with its sloping roof and weathered gray clapboard siding. Was it a good thing that she’d grown so used to it, and to all the old houses on Crowhaven Road? Everything that had struck her as odd and a little creepy before had become normal to her – it had become her life. Adam cut the engine and turned to Cassie with eager eyes. â€Å"Just ignore her,† he said. â€Å"Who?† â€Å"Faye. What she said about you winning the battle but her winning the war – you can’t let that get to you. She’s always saying that about everything. If there were a Faye doll, when you pulled its string that’s what it would say . . .† He made his voice husky like Faye’s. â€Å"Win the battle, lose the war.† Cassie had to laugh at this. Adam took her hands into his, obviously pleased he’d gotten her to smile. â€Å"You came up with a great solution for the Master Tools,† he said. â€Å"How did you think of it?† â€Å"I don’t know. It was weird,† Cassie said. â€Å"It just came to me out of nowhere.† â€Å"Not out of nowhere,† Adam said. â€Å"From here.† He pointed to her heart. â€Å"And here,† he said, pointing to her head. â€Å"That’s why we voted you leader. When are you going to get used to it, Cassie? You’re special.† At that moment, Cassie was so grateful to have Adam at her side. Sure, he’d voted with Diana earlier, but when Cassie spoke up, he supported her, and that’s what mattered. She leaned in for a kiss from his full red lips. Kissing him never got old. But he interpreted this one sweet kiss good-bye as an invitation for another make-out session. He hurriedly undid his seat belt and tossed it aside. â€Å"No,† Cassie said. â€Å"Not again.† Adam raised his eyebrows like a sad puppy. â€Å"The light’s on in the dining room.† Cassie tousled his hair and then pushed him away. â€Å"Which means my mom is probably watching us right now.† Adam grabbed for her playfully with a look of mischief in his eyes. â€Å"One day, my love, you will care less about what people think.† She gave him one last kiss on his smooth cheek and ran for the house before she changed her mind. Once inside, Cassie found her mother seated at the large mahogany dining room table. There was a soothing warmth to the dimly lit room. For once, Cassie appreciated her grandfather’s ancient electrical work, shoddy as it was. The golden maize-colored walls would have appeared yellow under the unforgiving brightness of modern lighting. Her mother’s dark head of hair shot up, and she smiled wide with surprise. Apparently she hadn’t been watching them in the car at all, thank goodness. â€Å"Cassie, I didn’t expect you home so early,† her mom said. â€Å"Care to help?† Cassie surveyed the scattered piles of colored tissue paper strewn across the vast table. â€Å"What is all this?† Her mother raised up both hands like she was in over her head. â€Å"Daffodils and cranes. Decorations for the spring festival. I volunteered, but I have no idea why. Now I’m drowning in tissue paper.† After seeing her mother sick in bed for so long, night after night, watching Melanie’s great-aunt Constance feed her healing herbs and rub her down with medicinal poultices, it was a pleasure to find her mother so worked up over such an inconsequential task. And it was good to see her getting involved in a community event, too. Cassie wanted her mom to feel at home here in New Salem and to have friends, especially now that Grandma wasn’t around. â€Å"Where do I begin?† Cassie asked as she joined her mother at the regal table. She gathered stacks of yellow and green tissue paper, figuring the daffodils were easier to make than the cranes. As she began folding and fluffing the fine paper into petals, she thought to herself: There’s probably a magic way to get this done much faster. But she was so happy and relieved to have her mom back to her old self that she didn’t mind if it took all night. â€Å"So,† her mother said, focusing her eyes fully on Cassie at last. â€Å"How’s Adam?† Cassie felt her cheeks get warm. â€Å"He’s good.† â€Å"And your friends?† â€Å"They’re good, too.† Her mom dropped the silver crane she’d been struggling with and studied Cassie’s face. â€Å"You know, I’m really proud of you,† she said. â€Å"You recovered so quickly from . . .† She paused. â€Å"From all the drama?† â€Å"The drama, yes, I guess you could call it that.† Her mother tried to smile. Cassie hesitated for only a moment, but it was enough to catch her mother’s attention. â€Å"Something’s wrong,† she said. â€Å"What is it?† Anxiety flooded Cassie’s stomach. She was enjoying this bonding time and didn’t want to ruin it. But her mother seemed genuinely open to talking tonight. For the first time in Cassie’s life, it seemed like all the secrets between them were finally out in the open, and their relationship had a clean slate. A new beginning, Cassie thought. That’s what they were celebrating, right? That’s what all these dumb paper cranes and daffodils were for, after all. Cassie took a deep breath and looked carefully into her mother’s eyes. â€Å"I’ve been wondering about my dad,† she said. Her mother immediately stiffened. Cassie noticed her jaw tighten, and then she took a long sip of her tea. The cup shook almost imperceptibly in her hand. Cassie was instantly sorry she’d said it. But when her mother set her cup of tea back down, she seemed to have recovered from the shock of the question. Or at least, she was trying to the shock of the question. Or at least, she was trying to appear as though she’d recovered from it. When she finally spoke, the words came out stilted, but patient and kind. â€Å"I’m happy to tell you anything you want to know,† she said. â€Å"All you have to do is ask.† Relief settled into Cassie’s shoulders. It occurred to her how long she’d been keeping her worries and questions tightly wound up within her body. She pushed herself to continue talking. â€Å"I know he – I mean, Black John – was evil,† Cassie said. â€Å"But he’s a part of me. And it’s a part I feel I need to understand. Is there anything you can tell me about him?† There. She said it. It was out in the open. Her mother focused hard on the paper crane in her hands. â€Å"You’re absolutely right,† she said, but she didn’t answer the question, and she didn’t look at Cassie when she said it. Cassie watched her mother in careful silence. She honed in much too closely on the silver crane she was holding, folding and refolding it several times. â€Å"The problem is that they make this paper much too thin and flimsy,† she said. â€Å"It falls apart the second you touch it.† Right before Cassie’s eyes, her mother had completely checked out of their conversation. But Cassie was determined to not give up that easily, and after a few minutes of heavy staring on Cassie’s part, her mother stopped ignoring her and briefly looked up. â€Å"Is there something you want to ask me right now?† she asked, with a feigned nonchalance. The look in her mother’s eyes revealed a fear Cassie The look in her mother’s eyes revealed a fear Cassie hadn’t seen in her since she’d fall en ill. Her face turned pale and ghostlike, like she’d aged twenty years in those five seconds of silence. And, Cassie noticed, the silver tissue paper she held in her hand wrinkled and cracked beneath the crushing tension of her fingers, like she was squeezing it for dear life. It was all too much for Cassie to handle. Her mother had just started feeling better. She’d just started to participate in life again. Cassie couldn’t afford to wreck all that with her selfish questions. Her mother was fragile, far more fragile than Cassie ever would be. â€Å"Never mind,† Cassie said. â€Å"We can talk about all that another time. We have a lot to get done here.† It had always been this way. Cassie was always the one who had to be the adult in their relationship, the one to keep her questions to herself because her mother couldn’t bear the answers – or the truth. She was a fool to think it could be any different. How to cite The Secret Circle: The Divide Chapter 2, Essay examples

Final Speech free essay sample

Through the new King Henry V’s speech to his brothers after their father’s death Shakespeare deals with the realities of succession, the difficult negotiation between governmental stability and a confused power struggle, and the death of a king while trying to keep his character true to their personality. This speech touches on everything from politeness and external observation, to the fear that naturally comes in a shift of power, to different kinds of mourning. Hal, newly King Henry V, must take his place as king and reassure everyone of the continuing stability of the kingdom, demonstrate a proper degree of public mourning as both a subject and the son of the former king, and deal with his own grief. When he says â€Å"this new and gorgeous garment, majesty, sits not so easily on me as you think† (Henry IV, Part 2, 5. 2. 44-45) he is not just simply trying to dismiss any jealousy or thought of resistance amongst his brothers, but he is also telling the absolute truth. Just like he did with the eulogies of both Hotspur and Falstaff in earlier parts of the play, Hal continues to use honesty in order to lend a more genuine tone to his otherwise fairly formal words. He reassures them of his intention to support them by bluntly telling them that he knows they fear what he may do, implying even that they might fear for their own lives, but that it â€Å"is the English, not the Turkish court, not Amurath an Amurath succeeds, but Harry Harry. † (Henry IV, Part 2, 5. 2. 7-49) He introduces and dispels the comparison between himself and a ruler who literally strangled his brothers, addressing the most extreme possibilities quickly. By the end, he assures them that not only will he not harm them; he will protect them and do well by them â€Å"I’ll be your father and your brother too. Let me but bear your love; I’ll bear your cares. † (Henry IV, Part 2, 57-58) In that, he additionally introduces the potentially uncomfortable issue of personal relationships. Once their brother, he is now also their king; once his brothers, they are now his subjects. He works with this beautifully, referring to their mourning and sadness for the death of their father as â€Å"a joint burden laid upon them all† (Henry IV, Part 2, 5. 2. 55) before he moves on to the things he promises, connecting himself with them in one way even as he has to separate himself from them in another. In this speech Hal starts off responding to a greeting by the chief justice by saying that his new robe doesn’t fit him as comfortably as the justice might think. Then turning to his brothers he tells them he knows that their sadness over their father’s loss is now mixed with the fear of him now being king. He mentions to them that they are in an English court, not the Turkish one and unlike the Turkish king, Amurath, he is not going to have his brothers killed when he inherited his father, King Amurath’s, crown; he explains saying he is â€Å"but Harry Harry† (Henry IV, Part 2, 5. 2. 49) basically saying he is a Harry, following another Harry and they have no reason to worry. He tells his brothers to be sad because being sad truly suits them. He explains that they look so regal in their sorrow that he too will put in the sense of sadness, saying he will also wear it in his heart. He warns them to yes be sad, but don’t let it become anything more than a burden that they all share jointly. He assures them that as far as he is concerned, he will be both their father and their brother now. That they are to just trust him with their love, and they can trust him to care of them. He concludes his speech by saying they should keep weeping for Harry, who is dead and he will keeping mourning also, but he says one Harry still lives, and he will convert those tears one by one into hours of happiness. This speech is important for Hal to give because it is not only Hal talking to and reassuring his brothers but also introduces him as the new King Harry V. Hal defines and explains his newly adjusted relationship with his brothers, explains that the kingdom is stable and there is no worrying over if anything bad would come out of the shift in power, and finally he tries to battle with how he wants mourn his father and what is the correct way to mourn him according to his new position as king. Hal was motivated to give this speech after the death of his father as he explains to his brothers that he must take his place as king keep the kingdom stable, and explaining to them the appropriate amount of public mourning for them as the sons of the former king. His final motive is subtle but he dismisses any jealousy or thoughts of confrontation amongst his brothers. Hal flawlessly and eloquently delivers his speech that maintains the balance between a familiar conversation with family and the regal words of a king. Revealing ultimately that the wild rebellion he previously upheld was truly an act and has so far worked in his favor going from a pub-crawler with the drunks to a newly regal king who would never be suspected of having such a rebellious past. In an earlier version of Hal’s speech there is not much change from that version to the newer version of the speech. In the older version of the speech something’s that have changed is the grammar and spelling. Many of the words in the older text are spelled wrong either with different letters or extra letters added to the end. In total there are thirty one misspelled words with either different letters or extra addition of letters. Most of the different letters include an ‘f’ where an‘s’ should be in most words or the addition of an ‘e’ at the end of the word. There are also more parentheses around more words in the old text versus the new. In the newer version these words are part of the text rather than in parentheses where they could potentially be excluded depending on the preference of the actor or director. Although many of the words are misspelled the meaning between the older version and the regular text are extremely similar. The true meaning and the imagery and meaning of the words in the speech have not been affected by the different in the different versions of the text. Throughout the speech there is recurring imagery both in his words exactly and some underlying imagery. The underlying imagery is centered on atonement, and the burden of leadership and duty. Atonement is an underlying image specifically for Hal, who has spent most of his time hanging around with the pub-crawlers, atonement has to become part of his new reign. He has planned all along to become a responsible king and at his fathers deathbed, he promises that his reign will be great. After he is crowned, and again during his speech to his brothers he promises those assembled that his actions as king will atone for his past. Also underlying in the speech Hal speaks of the crown as a burden. The duties of kingship come first, surpassing friendship. Hals crown will make the betrayal of Falstaff and the Eastcheap crowd a necessity. Even more important than the underlying imagery is the imagery of his exact words centered mostly on brothers and sadness. Hal refers to his brothers as a whole addressing them as ‘good brothers’. He addresses them as brothers at key parts in his speech giving the imagery that they are a united, unchanging force. He seems to use brothers to give a slightly personal feel to his regal words and to show that even though the dynamic of their relationship has changed they are still and always have been brothers. In Shakespeare’s other plays brother is used almost the same way. It is used to show a close relationship between people or showing the personal unity between or amongst a group. Shakespeare has also used the imagery of brothers when someone in power is addressing a group of people he needs something from or in a speech before battle. The other imagery of sadness and of loss is also important in his words, mostly the sadness and loss of losing his father but also the loss of more than life itself but also the loss of old friends through circumstance like when Hal loses his friends when he accepts his new role as king, though Falstaff still believes himself to be Hals friend, they rarely interact. The time is past for Hal and Falstaff; Hals throne demands it, and Henry V will betray the man who has been his surrogate father and friend. The speech that the new King Henry V delivers to his brothers after their father’s death touches on many different topics, emotions, and has hints of imagery that effect everyone he is speaking to. Hal must now take is fathers and show to everyone that his rebellious days are behind him. In the speech Hal has to desperately balance the familiarity of his family with the new responsibility as king and to make sure everyone knows that no one will be harmed and there is no need for jealously. By the end of the speech it is clear that Hal realizes the burden that has now been put on him but he makes his intentions clear as he ends his speech with â€Å"But Harry lives that shall convert those tears by number into hours of happiness.