Dover Beach Essays - Rhyme, Dover Beach, Matthew Arnold,

Dover Beach How can life or anything be so wonderful, but at times seem so unbearable? This is a question that Matthew Arnold may have asked himself one day, while writing "Dover Beach". This is a poem about a sea and a beach that is truly beautiful, but hold much deeper meaning than what meets the eye. The poem is written in free verse with no particular meter or rhyme scheme, although some of the words do rhyme. Arnold is the speaker speaking to someone he loves. As the poem progresses, the reader sees why Arnold poses the question stated above, and why life seems to be the way it is. During the first part of the poem Arnold states, "The Sea is calm tonight" and in line 7, "Only, from the long line of spray". In this way, Arnold is setting the mood or scene so the reader can understand the point he is trying to portray. In lines 1-6 he is talking about a very peaceful night on the ever so calm sea, with the moonlight shining so intensely on the land. Then he states how the moonlight "gleams and is gone" because the "cliffs of England" are standing at their highest peaks, which are blocking the light of the moon. Next, the waves come roaring into the picture, as they "draw back and fling the pebbles" onto the shore and back out to sea again. Arnold also mentions that the shore brings "the eternal note of sadness in", maybe representing the cycles of life and repetition. Arnold then starts describing the history of Sophocle's idea of the "Aegean's turbid ebb and flow". The sea is starting to become rougher and all agitated. Also the mention of "human misery" implies that life begins and ends, but it can still be full of happiness, and unfortunately, at the same time, sadness. "The Sea of Faith was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore." The key word in that stanza is once, because it implies that he (Arnold) used to look at the sea in a different way than he does now. Throughout the whole poem, Arnold uses a metaphor to describe his views and opinions. Now he only hears its "melancholy, long, withdrawing roar." It seems as though Arnold is questioning his own faith. The whole poem is based on a metaphor - Sea to Faith. When the sea retreats, so does faith, and leaves us with nothing. In the last nine lines, Arnold wants his love and himself to be true to one another. The land, which he thought was so beautiful and new, is actually nothing - "neither joy, nor love, nor light". In reality, Arnold is expressing that nothing is certain, because where there is light there is dark and where there is happiness there is sadness. "We are here though as on a darkling plain, swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, where ignorant armies clash at night". Arnold uses much alliteration in the poem. For example, in line 31, "To lie before us like a land of dreams", repeating the letter L at the beginning of three words. Also, in line 4, "Gleams and is gone...", repeating the letter G. The usage of assonance and consonance is not widespread in "Dover Beach". In line 3 - "...on the French coast the light" - the repetition of the letter T is shown, as an example of consonance. Other literary techniques, such as onomatopoeia and hyperbole, are not used in the poem, besides the metaphor for "Faith" being the Sea. The diction Arnold uses creates a sense of peacefulness and calmness. It is fairly easily understood vocabulary, with the exception of a few words, such as cadence and darkling. From reading Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach", one realizes that there is no certainty in life. When everything is going perfectly, something unfortunate may happen at any given time, with no forewarning.

Free Essays on Waning Of Affect In White Noise And The Crying Of Lot 49

A recurring theme in post modern literature is the anesthetization of feelings also known as â€Å"waning of affect†. In the novels The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon and Don DeLillo’s White Noise both authors have a common theme. The idea that the waning of affect develops as a result from the influence of television and signifiers are portrayed as themes in both novels. The elements of simulacra prevent genuine feelings, thoughts and ideas to develop. This intern causes the deterioration of relationships. The main characters in both novels, Oedipa Mass in The Crying of lot 49, and Jack Gladney in White Noise, are examples of how both authors felt the direction of future generations were headed in regards to waning of affect. A generation where feelings are learned from signifiers and outside influences not by genuine feelings or thoughts. As a result of their idealistic mentalities the characters live with fears and insecurities and are on a quest to find tr ue meaning in there lives. In Don DeLillo’s White Noise, Jack Gladney is the protagonist in the novel. Gladney lives with a fear of death along with his wife Babette. Gladney speaks of a dream had where he felt he experienced death and states: Is this what death is like, abrupt, peremptory? Shouldn’t death, I thought, I thought be a swan dive graceful white winged and smooth, leaving the surface undisturbed?(18) Jack Gladney has a misconception of death. Jack does not realize that death is inescapable and tries to keep his mind on insignificant things so he does not have to think or face reality. Jack and Babette both fail to realize the human affect that comes with accepting death. Pynchon delivers the same message in The Crying of Lot 49. Oedipa Maas is the protagonist in the novel who like Jack Gladney struggles with many personal issues. Oedipa does not have a sense of reality. Oedipa is constantly questioning herself and begins a quest ... Free Essays on Waning Of Affect In White Noise And The Crying Of Lot 49 Free Essays on Waning Of Affect In White Noise And The Crying Of Lot 49 A recurring theme in post modern literature is the anesthetization of feelings also known as â€Å"waning of affect†. In the novels The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon and Don DeLillo’s White Noise both authors have a common theme. The idea that the waning of affect develops as a result from the influence of television and signifiers are portrayed as themes in both novels. The elements of simulacra prevent genuine feelings, thoughts and ideas to develop. This intern causes the deterioration of relationships. The main characters in both novels, Oedipa Mass in The Crying of lot 49, and Jack Gladney in White Noise, are examples of how both authors felt the direction of future generations were headed in regards to waning of affect. A generation where feelings are learned from signifiers and outside influences not by genuine feelings or thoughts. As a result of their idealistic mentalities the characters live with fears and insecurities and are on a quest to find tr ue meaning in there lives. In Don DeLillo’s White Noise, Jack Gladney is the protagonist in the novel. Gladney lives with a fear of death along with his wife Babette. Gladney speaks of a dream had where he felt he experienced death and states: Is this what death is like, abrupt, peremptory? Shouldn’t death, I thought, I thought be a swan dive graceful white winged and smooth, leaving the surface undisturbed?(18) Jack Gladney has a misconception of death. Jack does not realize that death is inescapable and tries to keep his mind on insignificant things so he does not have to think or face reality. Jack and Babette both fail to realize the human affect that comes with accepting death. Pynchon delivers the same message in The Crying of Lot 49. Oedipa Maas is the protagonist in the novel who like Jack Gladney struggles with many personal issues. Oedipa does not have a sense of reality. Oedipa is constantly questioning herself and begins a quest ...

Government Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Government Policy - Essay Example I learned about this â€Å"don't ask, don't tell† policy (DADT) from reading it in the news but I learned more about it when one of my relatives who is serving in the military service had come back home on a furlough for the holidays. It was a bit of a shock at first but I realized it had more to it than just the simple issue of allowing gays to serve openly in the U.S. military. A fellow soldier had committed suicide because when he came out in the open about being a gay soldier, the other soldiers in his unit ganged up on him, sort of in a psychological way and not physically. He was ostracized and suffered some humiliation and told he was a disgrace. The topic is important to me because it exemplifies how all people should be treated equally, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Gay soldiers perform quite well on the battlefield despite some misconceptions regarding their conduct in actual combat.   Homosexual soldiers (gays and lesbians) serve the country with distinction and courage in all situations and they deserve recognition and respect from their peers and the public. Part of the reason why people are fighting for the repeal of the DADT policy is to get the same benefits.

Educational Loans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Educational Loans - Essay Example To support my college expenses my plan is to obtain influx of cash to cover my educational expenses. The influx of cash to support all expenses include savings, work income, scholarships, and student loans. My college fund entering college is $20,000 from savings and family contributions. The $20,000 will be divided into $5,000 for each college year to cover expenses. My expected net income from work on a 20 hour part time job at $8 is $7,482 yearly. My scholarships are expected to be $7,500 per year. I plan on mortgaging my future by requesting student loans. My student loan debt will be $18,500 per year. The total yearly influx of cash towards my college education is $38,482.Tuition costs are the largest cost factor of the educational budget. The yearly tuition cost is $23,000 per year. For the four year term of the bachelor's the total tuition is $92,000. Each year I will spend about $1,000 on books and supplies. After four years my total costs on books will amount to $4,000. Room & Board will account to $6,000 per year for a grand total of $24,000 after four years. To reduce transportation costs instead of paying a for a new car I will purchase a $3,000 used car. Insurance costs amount to $1,000 per year. Flight time, exams, and certificates total $2,000. My total yearly expenses on my college education are $37,000. Since my inflows of cash total $38,482 my yearly budget has a surplus of $1,482. The total costs of my education to complete the bachelor's degree is $139,000.

Discuss the role of inanimate objects in The Rape of the Lock Essay

Discuss the role of inanimate objects in The Rape of the Lock - Essay Example Actually the theme of this satirical epic came in Pope’s mind when an incident was narrated to him by one of his friends John Caryll. This poem is a satire and mockery on contemporary aristocratic society in England. To enhance the poetic beauty as well as the humour, Pope has used inanimate objects. Rape of the lock is the poem which narrates a circumstances associated with a theft of a lock of a young woman’s hair. This act was done by one of her admirers. The incident taken by the poet is very petty and he has given a heroic as well as ironic touch to this epic and for that he has used a typical elevated language such as the language of John Dryden, Milton etc. One of the most interesting things in this epic is the use of inanimate objects while describing the theme. The inanimate objects used by Pope are Lock of hair, cosmetics such as puff and powder, jewellery, playing cards, pair of scissor, hair pin etc. The divine figures such as sylphs, spleen and the other Go ddesses are also are referred by Pope. The paper is a thorough discussion of these inanimate objects used in â€Å"The Rape of the Lock.† Keywords: mock heroic satire, epic, inconsequential, squabble, aristocratic, inanimate objects. The first and most important inanimate object used here by Pope is the lock of hair. The protagonist of the epic is Belinda who is a typical Victorian damsel with ethereal beauty and she had been protected by some divine body guards. The bodyguards in fact was not keen to protect her but to her belongings such as earrings, watch, locks and the most humorous thing was when the Sylphs were assigned to guard her petticoat. The sylphs in this epic are shown as taking interest in mundane things. The air in which they are flying is associated with vanity. They are the symbol of the superficial vanity of the contemporary women of aristocratic society. Pope highlights the constant efforts of women to preserve and exhibit their outer beauty. The epic†™s turning point is when Belinda’s lock of the hair was cut by one of her admirers. Cutting of lock is a very petty incident but it has been taken very seriously and thus it resulted into a battle. Hair is an inanimate object which plays very crucial role in the entire epic. It is the symbol of beauty of the contemporary damsels and how the physical beauty of the woman was given pompous importance. Through the act of rape of the hair lock, Pope here wants to depict the picture of contemporary aristocratic class in England which was inclined towards making serious issues out of small things. If analyzed the poem from feminist point of view, the hair and the locks stand for the feminism and the women’s intellectual evolution. The gender equality is represented her and the men, due to their male ego are attacking on this equality by proving their superiority over women. The Rape of the Lock, apparently looking, is just cutting of one of the locks of hair of Belinda. But this inanimate object represents something else. The lock was the symbol of Belinda’s honour and virtue. By cutting it, the Barron had attacked on her honour and her pride. Locks were associated with the physical beauty of the women in those days and Baron has spoiled her by cutting her lock. It is also associated with the virginity. Perhaps by spoiling it, Pope wants to point out that the Baron indirectly attacked on her virginity. Clarissa, another female character in â€Å"

Ethics Of Pre Implantation Genetic Testing Philosophy Essay

Ethics Of Pre Implantation Genetic Testing Philosophy Essay Humanity revolves around procreation. We need to reproduce in order to produce future generations. In the past few years, science and medicine has gained an immense amount of knowledge about pregnancy and the underlying developmental stages of how it works. Furthermore, science is progressively improving, resulting in our ability to diagnose, manipulate and sometimes treat genetic abnormalities. Procedures such as the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) were developed as a means to avoid selective abortions by detecting that the embryo is free of terrible lethal genetic diseases such as Huntingtons disease. However, recently PGD has been raising some ethical questions as people began using this technology for medically unrelated and unjustified reasons. Vanity and secondary motives of patients who use PGD for the creation of designer babies and savior siblings violates the fundamental principle of morality. Using PGD for reasons other than justified genetic testing is impermissi ble because it treats the potential baby as a means not as ends in itself; therefore, it violates Kants second categorical imperative. Scientific Background PGD works through a process of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). In this procedure, multiple eggs are produced, retrieved from the ovaries and [manually] fertilized with the husbands sperm in a laboratory, outside of the female body3. As the embryos develop in vitro, embryo biopsy is performed by removing a single cell from each three day old embryo4. These cells are analyzed-by a variety of methods-for particular chromosomal or genetic abnormalities in order to distinguish which embryos are free of genetic disease. Normal, healthy embryos are then transferred into the uterus where they can grow and develop into a healthy child. Arguments Kant Immanuel Kant came up with a moral philosophy that was based on a theory of the Categorical Imperative. These are valid principles based off of the concept of duty that must be obeyed by all and are good in and of themselves. The second categorical imperative states that one should Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end2. In other words, one has perfect duty to not use someone as a means to achieve a personal goal. This principle of rationality formulates the core of moral law and requirements that rational agents must follow. Furthermore, each rational being has autonomy, or a free will to define their own law. However, possession of autonomy by each being implies that all persons should be treated equally, with the same amount of respect and one cannot infringe on the others rational will. The intuitive essence of humanity, therefore, objects to usin g others as a mere tool because it overlooks ones integrity and humanness. So, one cannot assert a moral right to own a person-like a piece of property-because proprietary right over a person denies any existence of a free rational action; furthermore, it denies the person a right to be an end in themselves. But, humans have value and worth; hence, they require to be respected. Each person deserves to be respected for his/her integral being (of who they are). While PGD is performed on fetuses, its use is still unjustified because fetuses are potential persons and therefore, require the same amount of respect as any other person. Furthermore, the use of PGD in creating designer babies and savior siblings violates Kants second categorical imperative. Designer Babies A very compelling argument against PGD arises out of its questionable potential use in creating perfect designer babies. The technology behind PGD would allow parents to select specific and nonessential traits (such as eye color, height, athletic ability, even intelligence) that they want their child to express. Such technology is reminiscent of the Build-a-Bear Workshop but for grown-ups. Using PGD as a means for eugenics is fallacious and unjustified in many ways, such as its violation of the second categorical imperative. Parents have abused PGD use in order to have it cater to their individual conceited expectations of creating a perfect child. They vainly pick and chose the traits they find beneficial and get rid of ones they find unhealthy or unperfect so they could satisfy their goal of not having a financially and socially burdensome child. Not only is this wrong because it discriminates against the disabled but also because it violates the core value of humanity by infringing upon the childs autonomous will by treating him/her as a means to an inappropriate end. The parents social and economic ends are being pursued while the childs ends are being neglected. In designing a child, parents destruct the childs will (in a few different ways) therefore, they fail to treat them as an end in themselves. Physically, parents annihilate certain features their child would naturally possess (not to mention the obliteration of unwanted fetuses). By doing so, parents fail to treat the child humanely. Also, al tering mental abilities of a child is deceptive and confuses their will. Hence, it overlooks the rational ability of a-potential-rational agent and his/her end in himself/herself. Finally, parents restrict their childs will by altering their whole mental and physical being and not allowing them to pursue their individual goals as they see fit4. In order for the mental and physical humanity to be treated as an end, ones will must exist. However, when parents select traits for their child, they overlook their childs dignified and humane right to be how they were naturally meant to be. They use their child as a means to reach some vain, social or economical end, therefore, violating Kants second categorical imperative. Every human being is a rational agent (even the fetus which is a potential person) and has autonomy; therefore, one should not be treated as a means to an end. Because the use of PGD allows parents to use their children as a means to an unjustified end, its use is imperm issible. Savior Siblings Another issue with using PGD rises out of its unjustified creation of savior siblings. A savior sibling is a child created by tissue typing and help of PGD in hope of providing a perfect HLA-match for the seriously sick sibling in order to save his/her life. While the engineered child does not benefit or is harmed, the implications of such procedure are morally unethical. It objectifies the child, viewing him/her as a mere commodity, disregarding the childs humane right to equality. Treating such child as a tool to cure another violates an ethical principle of treating a person as an end in himself/herself (violates the second CI) because it uses the child as a means for which to treat the unhealthy older sibling. Such applications of PGD resemble slavery, where the savior child is a slave and the parent is a slave-owner. The parent would possess a right to own the slave child affirming the child as a commodity. But a child is not an object to have possession over; the child is a per son who requires respect and possesses an autonomous will to be an end in himself/herself. Therefore, creating a slave or savior sibling would violate the categorical imperative due to the demolishment of the childs free rational action. Thus, use of PGD for the creation of savior (slave) siblings is unjustified because it strongly violates Kants second categorical imperative. Furthermore, creation of savior siblings leads to other problems. In addition to being unethical, there is a strong belief that a childs profound identity would be impaired. They would be viewed as a secondary gain, a tool solely designed for the purpose of saving another life. This impaired will of the child would lead to countless psychological problems. The mental aspect of the childs humane nature would be compromised-the child would lack self-esteem and self-rescpect-as he/she would not be praised for his/her individual value but rather as a means to a particular end. Parents, by using PGD for instrumentalization of their children, would violate the childs autonomous will and individual personal value by using them as mere means to parental ends and limit[ing] a childs right to an open future4. In sum, PGD promotes unjustified creation of designer babies and savior siblings. The use of this technology allows parents to use their children (or potential children) as a means to satisfy their parental end; therefore, neglecting the childs autonomous will to be an end in himself/herself. Thus using PGD to create designer babies and savior siblings is impermissible because it violates Kants second categorical imperative. Opposition PGD is argued to be unethical in this paper; however, others view its use acceptable and nothing more than a legitimate autonomous right of parents to produce healthy children. They believe that because parents are the most socially and economically affected by the birth of a child, then they should have the right and freedom to choose the identity of their offspring. Having a healthy child is in the parents interest because it is less socially and financially constraining and burdensome. Besides, being healthy is in the best interest of the child as well. The child would want to live a happy and healthy life, free of disease. If PGD can provide a tool for removing such lethal and stigmatizing disease form society, then it should be perfectly plausible to be able to use it. Parents have a right to choose what it best for their children and family; therefore, using PGD as a means that will allow them to select for traits they see best fit for their child would be perfectly justified. Rebuttal However, while these are plausible reasons for the use of PGD, they are not strong enough to justify its immoral applications. Every single individual-even the potential person and the disabled-has a right to autonomy. No one can or should be able to define what life is worth living; furthermore, no one can impose the quality of life of principle on another. As previously stated, we can not say that the disabled lead a good or a bad life; it is simply not for us to decide. In fact, values of good and bad are of human conception and will vary from person to person. Parents need to take responsibility, financially and mentally for their child regardless of its physical well-being. Good parent do not choose; furthermore, they do not use their child as a means to appease their interest of having a less socially and financially constraining life. Using PGD for vain reasons is never morally justified. Using PGD for medicinal reasons is appropriate; however, using it for designer babies and savior siblings violates the fundamental principle of ethics (Kants second categorical imperative) and therefore, can never be morally justified. Conclusion In conclusion, PGD has revolutionized reproduction. It has granted access into a remote realm by allowing persons to select favorable genetic characteristics of offspring before implantation. However, while its promising view of the world without suffering and disease sounds appealing, moral justifications of PGD and its policy raise many concerns. More specifically, some of the issues with the use of this technology deal with the unjustified creation of designer babies and savior siblings. These are serious issues, the implications of which can have destructive and irreversible consequences on the present and future generations. While some of the applications of PGD may be accepted; nevertheless, as of now, the risks outweigh the benefits. It is not medicines role to make one more socially accepted or be better-off. Those are not the types of standards for us to decide. Intentional destruction of potential human life is never justified. PGD runs on a dangerously thin line of potenti al medicinal benefit and playing God. It also violates Kants second categorical imperative by treating fetuses as a mere means to an end. Therefore, until clear, strictly medicinal and ethical applications of PGD are established, the use of this technology can not be justified.

Euthanasia Essay -- Ethical Issues, Physician Assisted Suicide

It is the principle of conduct which requires us (healthcare workers) to act in a way that benefits others (patients) by preventing or removing harm, or more directly acting to produce a good Due to the nature of the job, it can be said that nurses often have to deal with the situtaion of ethical dilemas. Because we live in a culturaly diverse society, our values are not necessarily the same. This often gives the leeway for ethical dilemas such as, whether euthanasia and assisted suicide are moraly right or wrong. Euthanasia is defined as "a deliberate intervention or omission with the express intention of hastening or ending an individual's life, to relieve intractable pain or suffering" (Sanders, 2007). Assisted suicide refers to making available to an individual the means (for example, pills or a weapon) to take his or her own life† (Michele, 2004). Euthanasia and assisted suicide are argued to be done to relieve a patient from pain and suffering, however that can be countered. It is important for one to consider the reasoning behind why people ask for euthanasia or assisted suicide. In the case of Mr. Maxwell, who is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis for m ore than 10 years and is requesting for euthanasia. Morally, I do not support his request to remove his ventilator because it is unethical. This paper focuses on why euthanasia and assisted suicide are wrong from the perspective of autonomy, nonmaleficence and rule-utilitarianism. Very good ï Å  Autonomy Autonomy is usually used to justify the act of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Autonomy is said to be the right to self-government. "Within the contexts of moral and bioethical philosophy it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced d... ...st cases, they are not well informed about other options they might have. It is the role of the nurse to provide the patient with other alternatives other than suicide. "The autonomy of the patient is important, but not absolute.† (Quadhebeur, 2009) Realizing that the nurse's role is not to do harm is as well important, because when nurses are seen as both care givers and killers, it makes it hard for patients to put their trust on nurses. As the rule utilitarian will argue, it is important to do what is morally right. Not killing an innocent human being is right in this situation, and this theory should be adhered to. Finally, it can be argued that "euthanasia is too drastic an intervention to be used for patients at the end of their life; this is because it makes dealing correctly with death almost impossible and it is also irreversible" (Quaghebeur, 2009).