Thursday, September 19, 2019

Animal Testing (speech Outline) -- essays research papers fc

Specific Purpose – To persuade my audience that animal testing is wrong and how other safer alternatives should be taken. Central Idea – By going the extra mile in using safer alternatives when experimenting with animals will not only prevent conflicts from pro-life activists, it will minimize lawsuits and morals will be preserved. Introduction I. Okay I got a riddle I made up for the class. A. What was once cute and furry but becomes a bloody rotted mess? B. You guys give up? C. Well the answer to this question is an animal that has undergone chemical testing. II. I know that wasn’t too funny but I needed some sort of attention-grabber and this hit home on the question of my topic; whether animal testing is right or wrong. A. After all, the question whether animals should be tested is often hotly debated. B. Through intense research I have discovered that the issue on whether animals should be experimented upon, or â€Å"vivisection†, has cropped up in history as early as the 17th century. III. Although animal testing is much less frequent today than in the past, I will reinforce the idea that alternatives to animal testing should be preserved today. A. I will first explain the conflicts in the past where animal testing caused many problems. B. Then I will reinforce the solution to animal testing by discussing the various alternatives that can be taken. (Transition: Let us first look at the problem of animal testing.) Body I. As I have mentioned, the question on animal testing was posed even as early as the 17th century, according to the All For Animals Newsletter. A. According to this newsletter, Philosopher Jeremy Bentham rejected philosopher Rene Descartes’ theory that because animals have no reasoning that humans have, they therefore cannot feel pain or suffering. 1. But Bentham went further in this issue, rejecting Descartes’ idea because the idea of reasoning was irrelevant on the moral issue whether animals should be tested. 2. Bentham’s philo... ... be tested upon by dangerous chemicals? Bibliography Smith, Taylor. â€Å"Animal Testing - Alternatives - Cruelty-Free Living.† All For Animals Newsletter. Issue #1, March 1998. Grigg, Bill. â€Å"NIH News Release.† 28 Dec. 1999 [last revision]. < <a href="http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec99/niehs-28.htm">http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec99/niehs-28.htm > 1999. Adams, Johnathan. â€Å"Animal Welfare Act and Regulations.† August 22, 2000 [last update] < <a href="http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm">http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm > 1996. â€Å"USDA Agrees to Regulate More Research Animals, Including Mice.† October 3, 2000 [last update] < <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/10/03/research.animals.ap/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/10/03/research.animals.ap/index.html > 1990. â€Å"Cruelty Free Companies—Choose to Be Cruelty-Free†. < <a href="http://www.allforanimals.com">http://www.allforanimals.com > 2000. â€Å"ANIMAL TESTING†. May 12, 1999 [last update]. < <a href="http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-205.html">http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-205.html > 1996.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Power of Ping-Pong Balls :: essays research papers

The Power of Ping-Pong Balls Being assigned an I-Search paper, I was to acquire a question that was appealing to me, and that I did. It all started after mindless searches via the internet and some procrastination, to which I found myself to be in front of the television. While I knew I should be looking for a suitable question, I still sat there watching on. I happened to be flipping through the channels when a commercial for the Mythbusters brought about the question if one can raise a sunken vessel with ping-pong balls, to which I thought, â€Å"Why would anyone want to use ping-pong balls to raise a- hey, that could be my question!† It was so hilariously stupid that it caught my attention, so I used it. I started my search by contacting my grandfather, John Walker, whom has been a boating enthusiast for his entire life. I asked him if he thought it was possible to raise a boat with ping-pong balls, to which he replied, â€Å"Why in the [world] would you want to use ping-pong balls?† He went on to tell me that he had heard a myth saying that a man raised his unfortunate ship using ping-pong balls, made from a factory he worked at. He also told me that to do so, one would have to use a ton of ping-pong balls and that all of the openings would have to be sealed to prevent any balls from escaping. It seemed possible, but I still didn’t have a definitive answer to my question, so I kept on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After my not-so-definitive interview with my grandfather I used msn.com to search the internet for anything related to the question I had chosen. Doing so lead me to a site which told of a Danish engineer, Karl Kroyer, that had tried to patent such and idea but was denied by the German Patent Office because of an American comic strip which described his idea of using ping-pong balls to raise a ship. This really didn’t answer my question but it did give an idea to where the myth came from. So I went to aj.com where I found a site for The International Starch Institute in Denmark, where it told of Karl Kroyer but not what the first site I visited told of. The site for I.S.I. says that Karl Kroyer was enlisted to raise a two-thousand gross-ton freighter of the Persian Gulf floor and he decided to use a method described in a Donald Duck comic strip.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

How Your Diet Is Influenced by Religious Essay

Since the beginning of time, dietary practices have been incorporated into the religious practices of people around the world. Some religious are prohibited from consuming certain foods and drinks. Practices such as fasting are described as tenets of faith by numerous religions and several incorporate some element of fasting. The diet influenced by religious beliefs does have numerous benefits in our daily life but it also has some disadvantages. Some religions have dietary restrictions which are observed by their followers as part of their religious practice. Such like Islam has laws permitting foods classified as halal. Which is means pork and alcohol are not allowed. Meanwhile, most hindus are vegetarians and must do not eat cow. There are reasoned why every religion have dietary restrictions in their daily meal and it is because of food safety. According to Wisegeek (2012) religious dietary restrictions protect the followers of the religion which is allowing them to grow fruitful and multiply healthy meal. Furthermore, every religions has it owns preferences and culture. In culture of religions, they do have their own eating patterns and behavior. Cultural also provides guidelines regarding of the food in their religions. If the religions had a good eating patterns in their daily life it will give a benefit on their diet. It depends on how many amount of food that their takes in one day. As we know, some religions have some acceptable foods and unacceptable foods. For religions that have a bad food combinations it can have negative effects on their health, especially when it comes to their digestion. In addition, food combinations can also give harmful effects to their body. While this may be true, we should also consider the fact exposure to food by religions local cuisine does influence their diet. Basu (2011) states that for a person that more exposed to a food, it more encourage for them to eat it. Foods that are commonly and easily cook within a specific religion frequently become a part of the local cuisine. For example, other religions cook such an oily dish but there are other religious cook their dish with grilled or boil it. It is based on how the followers of the religions cook in their daily life because the followers are only more exposed to the foods that are easily for them to get it. It does influence their diet when they are eating based on their local cuisine. In conclusion, certain religions are at high risk of nutrition-related disease. With understanding and adjustment it is possible to change their diets so they are easily followed a current healthy eating habits. It is very important to us to take the best possible care of our body and develop healthy cooking and eating habits in order to help our live life. REFERENCES Conjectour Corporation. (2012). Religions Dietary Restrictions. Retrieved September 1, 2012, from www.wisegeek.com/why-do-some-religions-have-dietary-restrictions.html Basu, O. Julia. (2011). The Influence of Religion on Health. Retrieved September 2, 2012, from http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/367/the-influence-of-religion-on-health

Monday, September 16, 2019

Cocept Analysis: Adaptation

The Concept of Adaptation Using Sis. Callista Roy's Model of Adaptation A Concept Analysis St. Augustine's College Exploring the Concept of Adaptation Adaptation has long been described as one of the mean tools of human and animal survival. A chameleon changes its color to hide from a predator, a child becomes withdrawn to deal with the death of a loved one or a soldier learns how to walk with a prosthetic limb after the traumatic amputation of a leg due to injury.All of these situations describe a form of adaptation on behalf of the individual in order to deal with a stressful situation. According to Sister Callista Roy (2009)† adaptation is the process and outcome whereby thinking and feeling persons as individuals or in groups use conscious awareness and choice to create human and environmental integration† (McEwen & Wills, 2011). The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of adaptation in the hope to bring clarification to the use of the term in nursing resea rch and practice. This will be done in the form of a concept analysis.A concept analysis is the rigorous process of bringing clarity to the definition of the concepts used in science (McEwen & Wills, 2011). The concept analysis process of Walker and Avant (2005) includes selection of a concept, determining the aims or purpose of the concept, identifying all the possible uses of the concept, determining the defining attributes, identification of model cases: identifying borderline, related, contrary, invented and illegitimate cases, identifying antecedents, consequences and lastly defining the empirical referents (McEwen & Wills, 2011).The concept analysis process is important because most of nursing theory has been based on concepts adopted from other disciplines, so it is necessary to explore these concepts to discover their relevance to the nursing profession (McEwen & Wills, 2011). Aim of the Analysis The aim of this concept analysis of adaptation is to discover what descriptors of this concept make it more relevant to nursing practice and research.As pointed out by Rodgers and Knafl (2000) the value of discussing concepts is to promote the clarification and refinement of an idea that is intended to contribute to the problem solving efforts of a discipline (Holden, 2005). Literature Review of the Theory Adaptation Taylor’s (1983) cognitive adaptation theory states that individuals use positive thought processes as a form of adapting to stressful circumstances. Engaging in mildly positive self-relevant distortions enables an individual to maintain an optimistic outlook, enhance self-esteem and encourage a sense of mastery when facing a threatening event (Henselmans et al. 2009). Taylor proposes that these positive thoughts give an individual a sense of control which will then force the individual to take constructive action when dealing with a stressful situation. Schkade and Schultz (1992) in their occupational adaptation theory proposed that there i s a normal process that individuals go through as they strive for competency on their jobs. There is an interaction with the environment that drives the individual to attain mastery over work related challenges.In this process the individual evaluates their responses to the challenges based on an internal sense of effectiveness or satisfaction. The self-assessment phase is the only means of evaluating the level of adaptation in this theory. Charmaz (1995) proposed that adaptation for most people is a gradual process of evolution where an altered individual changes to accommodate bodily and functional loss (Livneh & Parker, 2005). The changes in the individuals result from a recognition of a loss of their former self -image and the adaptation only comes about after that realization.Yoshida (1993) believes that adaptation through identity reconstruction only comes about after the individual struggles between their identity as a disabled person and their identity as their former self ( Livneh & Parker, 2011). There is a constant internal struggle to which the outcome cannot be predicted. Lewin speaks of a reciprocal, interactive process of adaptation that involves the individual and the environment (Livneh & Parker, 2011). The environment consists of internal and external factors that influence the adaptation process.The internal factors can include type and severity of illness and/or the individual’s concept of self. The external factors include variables such as physical, social and vocational aspects of the external environment. The level of adaptation will depend on the interaction between the individual and these environmental factors. Uses of the Concept Adaptation as defined by Merriam-Webster (2013) is the adjustment to environmental conditions, adjustment of a sense organ to the intensity or quality of stimulation. Synonyms for adaptation: acclimation, accommodation, acclimatization, adjustment and conformation.Charles Darwin theory of natural sele ction states that organisms adapt to their environment to become better fitted to survive and that they pass these genes on to the next generation ( ). According to Natural Resources Canada (NRC) adaptation includes activities that are taken before impacts are observed (anticipatory) and after impacts have been felt (reactive). Both anticipatory and reactive adaptation can be planned as a result of deliberate policy decisions and reactive adaptation can also occur spontaneously (NRC, 2008). Defining Attributes Two defining attributes of adaptation are interaction and environment.A common theme that emerged during the review of information researched for this topic was that adaptation occurs after interaction between the individual and the environment. The Roy adaptation model (Roy & Andrews, 1999) viewed the individual as a holistic adaptive system who responds to different stimuli in the environment, he/she processes changes in the environment through emotional channels that involv e perception, learning, judgment and emotion (Cunningham, 2002). Model Cases Walker & Avant (2010) state that a model case illustrates or exemplifies the concept and includes demonstrations of all defining ttributes (CCN, 2012). A model case of adaptation could be a previously withdrawn 45 year old female patient with a new colostomy. The patient Mrs. X shied away from learning how to care for her colostomy, refusing even to look at the colostomy during colostomy care. Subsequently Mrs. X now asks appropriate questions, has become more involved even to the point of changing her colostomy appliance. During this process the nurse encourages the patient by asking open ended questions about her feelings, the nurse also assures the patient that when she is ready to talk or learn someone will be available to answer her questions.Mr. L is a 35 year old newly diagnosed diabetic, who is open and receptive to diet and lifestyle changes that has become necessary to control his blood glucose le vels. The adaptation can be seen by the patient taking part in the discussion with his nutritionist, asking appropriate questions and requesting information about resources that will be available to him should he need more support in adjusting to his new lifestyle changes. A contrary case is an example that does not display the attributes of the concept. Ms.B a 25 year old that received a right lower limb amputation due to a car accident refuses to take part in physiotherapy. In fact, she is somewhat hostile to the healthcare team and does not take part in any discussion about her plan of care and her rehabilitation. Attempts by the nurses to build a therapeutic relationship by asking open ended questions and sitting with the patient to offer comfort and support are not acknowledged. Related cases, according to Walker & Avant (2010), include most but not all of the attributes that relate to adaptation (CCN, 2012).Safety in many cases can be related to adaptation. Nurses find that th ey will have to step in and modify a patient’s environment to aid in the adjustment to an ongoing ailment. This may include dimming the lights, providing a quiet atmosphere and limiting visitors for a patient that has a dissecting aortic aneurysm. The nurse understands that it is important for this individual to have a calm quiet environment he/she also knows the importance of administering antihypertensive medication and sedative as needed to achieve an internal environment that is conducive to this person’s health.Providing safety may also come in the form of providing a clutter free environment for all patients. This includes ensuring that the bed is in the lowest position, all electrical cords are secured properly and the patient’s belongings and the call light are within the patient’s reach. These little changes go a long way in helping people adjust to the strange environment of a hospital room and by performing these tasks the nurse is fulfilling h is/her role of promoting adaptation according to Roy’s Adaptation Model. Antecedents and ConsequencesAccording to Walker and Avant (1995), antecedents are the events or incidents that happen before the concept (Cheng, Foster & Huang, 2003). An antecedent to adaptation is stress, stress which can affect the body as a result of an accident, infection or an illness. The onset of a physical trauma or the diagnosis of a life threatening illness can set into motion a chain of psychosocial experiences, reaction or responses (Livneh & Parker, 2005). The goal of nursing at this point would be to promote adaptation (McEwen & Wills, 2011).The needs of the patient will be assessed and the plan for an appropriate intervention should be formulated. Control over the situation maybe beyond the scope of nursing practice however, the goal is for the patient to try to achieve integration with the environment, external or internal. Consequences are the events or incidents that happen as a result of the concept. A consequence of adaptation is that a change has taken place, a change in mindset or behavior. A patient that was not able to ambulate without assistance may now be able to walk around their home using crutches or a cane.The newly diagnosed breast cancer patient is no longer fearful because she has developed a positive outlook about her disease. She has started to look for support groups and researching natural intervention to help battle her illness. Taylor (1983) proposed that self -generated control perceptions prevent helplessness and promotes constructive thought and action (Henselmans et al. , 2009). Empirical Referents Walker and Avant (2010) define an empirical referent as a measurement tool or mechanism for the demonstration of the existence of the defining attributes of a concept (CCN, 2012).Cognitive adaptation is measured by the individual’s feelings of control or mastery over the illness as well as the individual’s positive outlook relatin g to their illness. One of the tools used to measure optimism is the Life Oriented Test (LOT). It consists of eight items and yields a total score between 0 and 32. An example of a question is: ‘I always look on the bright side of life’. The participants are asked to rate this statement on a 5 point scale, ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The Pearlin and Schooler’s Mastery Scale is used to assess feelings of control over events.Seven items are used to assess global beliefs of perceived control rather than events being controlled by fate. Five items are phrased in a positive way and two items in a negative way. An example of a statement is ‘I have little control over the things that happen to me’. A five point scale is used here also 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Higher points on both scales, indicates a higher level of perceived control or optimism which points to positive adaptation. Conclusion Adaptation is a n innate basic function that all humans and organisms must have to overcome different stressors in life.How one adapts is closely related to our coping strategies. Adaptation can be positive which results in human and environmental integration (McEwen & Wills, 2011). The nurse’s role in this process is to adapt to the patient’s needs by performing a thorough assessment to be able to provide the tools needed for the individual to positively adjust to complications that they are experiencing. References Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2012). NR 501 Theoretical basis for advanced nursing practice. Concept Analysis: Directions with Scoring Rubric.St Louis, MO: Author Chen, S. F. , Foster, R. L. , & Huang, C. Y. (2003). Concept analysis of pain. Tzu Chi Nursing Journal 2:3 Cunningham, D. A. (2005). Adaptation of Roy’s adaptation model when caring for a group of women coping with menopause. Journal of Community Health Nursing 19(1), 49-60 Henselmans, I. , Sanderman, R. , Helgeson, S. V. , de Vries, J. , Smink, A. , & Ranchor, A. V. (2010). Personal control over the cure of breast cancer: Adaptiveness, underlying beliefs and correlates. Psycho-Oncology 19: 525-534 Holden, L.M. (2005). Complex adaptive systems: Concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing 52 (6) 651-657 Honoch, L. , & Randall, M. P. (2005). Psychological adaptation to disability: Perspectives from chaos and complexity theory. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin 17-28 Lorre, G. A. , Schkade, J. K. , & Ishee, J. H. (2004). Content validity of the relative mastery measurement scale: A measure of occupational adaptation. Occupational, Participation and Health 24 (3) McEwen, M. , & Wills, E. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (3rd ed. . Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health. Merriam-Webster. com. (2013). Adaptation. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/adaptation Stiegelis, H. E. , Hagedoorn, M. , Sanderman, R. , Van der Ze e, K. I. , Buunk, B. P. , & Van den Bergh, A. C. M. (2003). Cognitive adaptation: A comparison of cancer patients and healthy references. British Journal of Health Psychology 8 303-318 What is Adaptation? (2008) Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved from: www. nrcan. gc. ca

Sunday, September 15, 2019

A Birthday Suprise

It was 31st May of 2013 and it was my father’s birthday. He is the type/kind of person who prefers simple dinners with his own family instead of noisy celebration with relatives and friends. It was Friday and after we wished him happy birthday, he went to work. Well my father thought that we were just going to have a dinner as always. But this is what he knew while my mom and I had organized a birthday surprise. My mom had invited all his close friends and family for a party in the evening. Everything was prepared. Even I passed all the day shopping to buy a present for my father. I couldn’t wait till my father came home. Anyway he arrived sooner, I began to get dressed. I was extremely excited. My mom had the most difficult ‘task’ if I can say so. She had to convince him to wear a suit and she made it up. I think that my dad understood that he had missed something. So he began to ask where are we going and why is he wearing a dress. I told him we changed the reservation. But finally we arrived and everyone was waiting for him. When my father entered in, all began to sing the happy birthday song. I remember the look on his face, extremely surprised and indeed flattered. He had teary eyes as we ran to embrace him. Everyone had a wonderful time during father’s birthday bash. Time by time I have a look to those photos we had. It really was a special day. 2 terbilang Bab 9 : Juara Songsang (Sabrina Halid) Ahli-ahli Pasukan Zamrud II tidak menyangka bahawa Pasukan Aura Suci bertindak jahat dengan merampas buah cempedak aneh tersebut . Mereka sungguh kecewa . Tiba-tiba Adeen memberitahu mereka bahawa cabaran Pasukan Zamrud II belum berakihir dan mengarahkan mereka mencari pasu emas itu di atas lantai terowong . Pasukan Aura Suci telah dibatalkan penyertaan mereka kerana didapati menggunakan kaedah tidak bermoral terhadap Pasukan Zamrud II. Para ahli Pasukan Zamrud II segera berpatah balik dan mencari pasu emas itu . Pauline menemukan pasu emas itu . Dengan itu , pasukan Zamrud II telah berjaya ke pusingan kedua . (Danisha Rai ) Para ahli pasukan Pertandingan Avatari untuk bersedia untuk memulakan pusingan kedua . Semasa pertandingan baru berlangsung, Adeen mendapat salah satu cip mikroelektrik penting mesin Avatari sudah hilang. Anggota apsukan Zamrud II mula resah . Adeen yang lebih tertekan . Tiba-tiba Adeen teringat akan Pak cik Tan ada membawa papan litar gentian dan cip yang sama pasti ada di atas papan litar tu . AAdeen bernasib baik kerana papan litar itu masih ada lengkap dengan cip mikroelektrik, Adeen segera memasang cip itu. Para ahli pasukan Zamrud II sudah bersedia untuk berjuang . Mereka telah mendapat jawapan kepada teka silang kata iaitu â€Å" buaya† . Jawapan itu tepat dan avatar Pasukan Zamrud II memasuki kawasan padang pasir . Mereka berada dalam zaman Mesir purba, iaitu pada zaman Firaun. Setelah melepasi halangan daripada ulat besar, mereka akhirnya berjaya sampai ke kawasan bangunan luas. Di situ mereka berjaya menemukan buaya emas. Adeen mengarahkan ahli pasukkanya pergi ke Kuil Abu Simbel untuk mengutip lebih banyak harta karun . Pasukan Zamrud II berjaya ke pusingan ketiga. ( Diana Syazhanny) Dalam pusingan ketiga, cabarannya ialah bertanding permainan tradisi . Setiap pasukan akan bertanding dengan pasukan lain untuk menentukan pasukan mana yang layak ke pertandingan akhir . Setaip pasukan mesti menguasai sebanyak mungkin permainan . Pauline memilih memanah . AIna memilih congkak . Anas memilih catur . Anjali pula memilh mahjong . Apabila pusingan ketiga tamat, Jepun menduduki tempat pertama , Rusia di tempat kedua , Australia di tempat ketiga dan Amerika Syarikat di tempat keempat . Malysia berkongsi markah dengan Thailand dan Republik Rakyat China . Oleh sebab terdapat tiga pasukan yang layak , maka satu pemecah seri akan diadakan . Halim muncul untuk menetukan pasukan mana yang mendapat tempat kelima untuk ke pertandingan akhir . Setiap pasukan akan diberi satu peluang untuk meneka apa yang ada di dalam genggaman Halim . Thailand meneka guli. China meneka wang syiling . Malysia melalui Aina meneka belalang. Tekaanya tepat . Pasukan Zmrud II layak ke pertandingan akhir .

Saturday, September 14, 2019

How does Shakespeare make Lady Macbeth into such a Dramatic Character Essay

Creating a character like Lady Macbeth who is ahead of her time, domineering and so far away from the 16th and17th century stereotypical women, is a fantastic achievement for Shakespeare. Lady Macbeth’s character is not too dissimilar to that of a witch as many aspects of the things she does and the language and imagery she uses have led me to believe that she may well be one. This could well have been the response if a Jacobean audience, There are also frequent times when she appears to call on spirits. At the time when Macbeth was written the public were becoming increasingly pre-occupied with witchcraft. A law was even put in place to ban it. It was also estimated that at least a staggering 8,000 witches were burned at the stake just in Scotland between 1564 and 1603 (which would have supported the Jacobean view at the time). As witches were used in the play it would have made it all the more intriguing to the audience and to James I. Another point of attraction is the fact that Lady Macbeth appears to have some witchlike features, or that she could be working in sync with them. This only adds another fascinating dimension to her character and so would have broadened her appeal as a dramatic character at the time. When Macbeth was written, women were believed to be inferior to men. Lady Macbeth contrasts to this belief in numerous ways. She, for example, has more control over Macbeth than he has of her. She also seems able to manage and manipulate effectively and uses these skills in act 1 scene 7 she does a great job of persuading Macbeth to go through with the murder of Duncan and in act 3 scene 4 when she attempted to stop Macbeth from giving away that he murdered Duncan. I also believe that the impact of the witches, especially at the very beginning of the play provides an excellent building block for her to manipulate, control and domineer him. One of the most important factors in being able to control Macbeth are the witches. Without the information and ambition that the witches feed him, Lady Macbeth’s persuasive powers wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective. In addition Lady Macbeth seems to be undecided whether she is good, evil, somewhere in between or indeed what ulterior motive she has. Maybe she acknowledges she is human after being taken over by spirits, but ultimately she cannot defeat her humanity. Lady Macbeth’s portrayals in the Polanski and ‘Estate’ film version contrast greatly. In the Polanski portrayal, Lady Macbeth is seen to reflect the way Shakespeare intended her to manifest. She also is seen to be devious and conniving just as Shakespeare intended. However in the ‘Estate’ version, Lady Macbeth gains sympathy from the audience and we are certainly more sympathetic towards her, because as the film indicates she lost her child earlier in life. This is also why many characters in the film look upon her differently in comparison the Polanski version. The evidence we have of Lady Macbeth being portrayed in two different ways shows what an impressive, dramatic and intriguing character Shakespeare has created, and I’m sure that numerous other interpretations can be made, and will be made in the future. The very first time we are introduced to Lady Macbeth is when she has received a letter from Macbeth informing her about what the witches had told him. What is interesting is that she never dwells on the letter for a moment. She just gets straight into devising a way of how to get Macbeth to be king (and of course herself queen) by killing. She immediately knows he isn’t capable of committing the murder as she says â€Å"It’s too full of the milk of human kindness†. Using the work milk means she views Macbeth as young or inexperienced and definitely incapable of murdering Duncan. Also it initiates a sense of images connected with motherhood and femininity. She then does on to say â€Å"I pour my spirits into thine ear† which is a reference to the fact that she’ll have to use her persuasive powers to influence him. It is immediately clear Shakespeare intended to give her power, and the way she has already started to devise a plan instantaneously in her mind is astonishing. She clearly thinks she is powerful already when she says â€Å"Under my battlements†. In Lady Macbeth’s mind the Macbeth’s castle is hers. This view is completely in contrast with events at the time as any normal stereotypical woman in this time period would never claim to own her husband’s property. We as an audience already know that Lady Macbeth is an extraordinary powerful woman. But she thrives for more power. When she says â€Å"Unsex me here† this means that she feels restricted and wants to have mens’ power. She may also believe that a woman can only have so much power and to gain more she would have to become a man. I believe she feels jealous of Macbeth’s power and longs to feel what it is like to me a man like him. Immediately when Macbeth has met his wife after sending the letter, barely any pleasantries are exchanged and she quickly sets upon overwhelming him. Lady Macbeth’s sharp innovative thinking has already devised a plan to kill Duncan and she wastes no time in unleashing it upon Macbeth Duncan â€Å"That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan†. She has concocted that the murder will be covered up â€Å"And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell† and that the murder will happen under the â€Å"Blanket of dark†. She also tells him that she will poison the guards in order for him to get to Duncan â€Å"And take my milk for gall†. The way Lady Macbeth has already pieced together a plan of how to get herself into the powerful position of queen so rapidly is a prime example that power and domination are the main features of her existence. She clearly thrives on power and her last statement in act 1 scene 5 only underlines this fact â€Å"Leave all the rest to me†. She is telling Macbeth that she has complete control over the situation and that instead of her relying on him, he can rely on her. This would be shocking to the audience as it challenges beliefs about society’s roles at the time. Although Lady Macbeths plan seems convincing, Macbeth is still a bit wary of it. He puts forward the view that doing more than what is natural for a man to do, no longer makes him a man. In other words it would make him unnatural as it could almost be construed that Lady Macbeth is trying to mould Macbeth and make him into a somewhat supernatural character. Although we know Macbeth kills Duncan, he may not have done so if it had not been for his love and affection for his wife, as in the letter he wrote to her he called her â€Å"My dearest partner of greatness†. We also know that he trusted her with his life, as if the letter he had written to her had been seen by anybody else; it may have been seen as treasonous. Without Macbeth’s love and trust for his wife Lady Macbeth may not have been able to persuade him to commit the murder. In act 1 scene 7 Lady Macbeth hits her husband where she knows it will hurt by making him feel like a coward when she continues to â€Å"Pour my spirits into thine ear† and she says mockingly â€Å"Poor cat†. The image of the cat is designed in to re-inforce the fact that Macbeth is being cowardly for having second thoughts over the murder of Duncan. Another even more damaging persuasive technique Lady Macbeth uses is to insult Macbeth’s manhood. When Lady Macbeth says â€Å"When you dur’st do it, then you were a man† it appears to demolish Macbeths futile attempts to convince himself that he shouldn’t murder Duncan by mocking his masculinity and contrasting it to her commitment to him. Anxiety Lady Macbeth seems hell-bent on persuading Macbeth to murder Duncan, but could she have done it herself? She claims Duncan looked like her father so she couldn’t do it. But she also said she would kill her own baby if she had to â€Å"I would while it was smiling in my face†. I think she isn’t quite as powerful as she appears on the surface and she is too scared herself of the consequences of killing a king. Although if this was the case it would be ironic as the guilt of Macbeth killing Duncan affects her a lot more. On waiting for Macbeth to commit the murder, Lady Macbeth is triumphant and bold and is confident having played her part by drugging the guards. Here Macbeth makes a foolish mistake by bringing the two bloodstained daggers back from the scene of the crime. Lady Macbeth quickly notices his mistake and decisively orders him to put the daggers beside the drunken guards. Macbeth is too overcome with the fear of guilt to do this, which forces Lady Macbeth to carry out the deed for him. Without Lady Macbeth’s readiness of mind and strength of purpose, Macbeth may have been exposed. We see Lady Macbeth has the initiative and grasps the situation; however after persuading Macbeth to murder Duncan she has turned a great warrior into a guilty wreck. After Duncan’s death Macbeth kills the guards in a false display of loyalty, however Macduff questions this and although Macbeth justifies his actions it still seems unconvincing. Lady Macbeth conveniently faints after seeing the dead bodies. I believe she fakes to faint as she is afraid that Macbeth wasn’t convincing and this provides the perfect way to draw the attention away from Macbeth. Nevertheless I believe that Lady Macbeth may be genuinely shocked by her husband’s quick ruthless actions and maybe before she thought that he wouldn’t be capable of murdering again. She may be shocked at what he has turned into, and not realize how omnipotent she has been. Also, with Macbeth acting so spontaneously this could be conceived by her as him challenging her power Lady Macbeth becomes uneasy as her husband seems to spend his time alone â€Å"Desire has got without content†. She is also not enjoying her new found role as queen. It seems the position she so wanted in life hasn’t lived up to her high standards. When Macbeth eventually does see her she pretends she is at ease with the current situation. In addition in this scene Lady Macbeth begins to lose her power over Macbeth and from her being so dominant now the situation and balance begins to shift. He is beginning to formulate a plan without her, but he won’t tell her what it is. Macbeth despite calling her â€Å"Dearest chuck† clearly feels he doesn’t need her. Whereas in the first act, Lady Macbeth is overpowering Macbeth, now their roles have changed. In act 3 scene 4 Lady Macbeth grasps control over the situation for one last time. Banquo’s ghost ironically occupies Macbeth’s seat as Banquo’s descendants will do the throne. Only Macbeth can see the ghost and he is terrified. Lady Macbeth’s quick thinking to draw the banquet to a close and dismiss everyone is another example of how much influence she has had throughout the play, and without her Macbeth surely wouldn’t be in the position he now currently finds himself in. However he seems to only talk of himself alone â€Å"For mine own good†. He even admits that he wants to visit the witches again. Lady Macbeth results in keeping â€Å"Her state† which means she is going to remain and sit on the throne. On the throne is where she should be able to enjoy her role as queen but it somehow feels hollow and empty for her without Macbeth by her side. And maybe it is no wonder that Lady Macbeth begins to question what has become of her. In Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinaine a doctor and a waiting gentlewoman discuss their patient, Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and it must finally dawn on the audience that she has lost all control and is on the verge of insanity as sleepwalking was seen as a supernatural sign of being possessed. Earlier in the play she said â€Å"What’s done is done† meaning she is suggesting that killing Duncan would not be of concern once it had been accomplished. However now what’s done is not in the past put present in her mind. She now goes on to say â€Å"What’s done cannot be undone† Which is the complete opposite to her earlier statement. She says â€Å"Who would have thought the old man would have so much blood in him?† while in her dream-like state. I think this means that she didn’t realize so much guilt would overwhelm her after Macbeth had murdered Duncan, also that she didn’t think there would be so many deaths after they had killed Duncan. What is fascinating about Lady Macbeth’s situation now is she set about trying to influence Macbeth and it appears she has influenced herself into her own death. Lady Macbeth’s death could almost be viewed as a sacrifice for Macbeth. She may have felt that she was becoming a burden for him and that he would do better without her. Furthermore she could have killed herself as she had lost control over herself and more importantly over Macbeth, who seemed to be acting spontaneously without her dramatic impact over him. Macbeth’s reaction may also come as a surprise to the audience as when he says â€Å"She should have died hereafter† it feels like he is being offhand and has more important things to worry about than his wife’s death. Or does the word hereafter suggest he may dwell and mourn over the matter later? In conclusion the dramatic power of Lady Macbeth is at first influential and rewarding to her and her husband, but then spirals out of control. Shakespeare has created an iconic and revolutionary character and one who seems to have numerous personalities on-the-go at once. At first she seems supernatural with her uncompromising desire for her husband to take the throne, but then she shows aspects of humanity- she would have killed Duncan herself if he hadn’t have reminded her of her father. Finally, it seems that Shakespeare created the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to compliment each other. As when Macbeth is weak and hesitant, Lady Macbeth is strong and dynamic; when Macbeth is diligent and determined, Lady Macbeth is tormented and slowly disintegrates. Without the relationship they provide for each other they wouldn’t have got to the stage of their downfall.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Bikin for Bruises

â€Å"Oh man,† my friend moaned. â€Å"Look at her bike!† He motioned towards a girl in a bright yellow running shirt, obviously one of the more experienced bikers. She was walking a shiny, expensive blue bike through the parking lot. But the entire left pedal was shattered†¦completely gone, except for a stub of black metal. â€Å"Geez†¦are you sure we’re up for this?† I ask. It was our first time mountain biking. We had no idea what we were getting into. â€Å"I dunno, man,† he said. â€Å"Let’s try it out. How hard could it be?† I climbed into the back of his beat up, silver pickup to unload the bikes. â€Å"I think we might need these,† he said, emerging from the truck with our helmets. â€Å"Haha, I hope not.† After making sure the strap was tight enough, I climbed on my green Trek and set off down the beaten path. The forest rushed past as we bumped along the dirt trail. For a half-mile, my eyes were set on my friend’s back tire and the occasional rock. Then, the trail got narrower and the turns became sharper. The first hill rose ahead, its top barely visible through the foliage. But after sweaty palms and burning thighs, we finally clambered to the summit. â€Å"You ready for this?† I ask, observing the trail ahead. It was no more than two feet wide and followed a slight curve with rocks, roots, and squirrels all over. â€Å"No turning back now, bro. Ladies first.† â€Å"Ha, funny,† I said sarcastically, â€Å"See you at the bottom†¦if you’re lucky.† I pushed of the forest floor and started down the slope. The trees raced past as I picked up speed. I felt every rock and root through my bike, through the seat and through the handlebars. Suddenly, I was jamming the brakes the whole way, doing everything in my power to not wipe out. Standing o n the pedals moved my center of balance forward, so every bump threatened to buck me off. Finally, the end of the hill approached. The ground flattened and I stopped accelerating. I could hear shouts of adrenaline as my friend started the decent. In the middle of the path, about 20 feet ahead, there was a stone. Three inches in diameter, it was no different than all the others on the way. I ignored this particular rock, because I figured I could handle it. It was just another bump. But this was a BIG MISTAKE. I hit the rock, still crouching on the pedals, close to the end of the hill. And then I went right over the handle bars. The world spun as my bike vanished beneath me. Somehow I ended up clearing the bike and landing on my feet—perfectly fine, but shaken. My friend cheered. â€Å"Hey, you okay?† he asked. â€Å"That looked nasty from back here.† He sounded concerned, but I can tell he’s still laughing on the inside. â€Å"Yeah, I’m alrigh t. Let’s do it again.† Whether on the mountain bike course, in the classroom, or at work, I bring a strong work ethic, adventurousness, and, most importantly, the ability to get back on the bike and keep going.