Flowers, herbs and willows Essay Example for Free

Flowers, herbs and willows Essay Also, the fact that Shakespeare did not add any stage directions to the play helps the director portray the protagonists in the light they see fit. This has granted directors the licence to portray Ophelia as either virginal or sexually knowledgeable. Brannagh uses the device of flashbacks to perfectly show his audience that he sees Ophelia as being less than innocent and that she and Hamlet have previously been sexually active. He does this without taking anything away from the script and gets his point across using a dialogue-less scene. However in the most recent silver screen version of Hamlet directed by Michael Almereyda, Ophelia is portrayed as being virginal and innocent as no sexual references appear during the film. This shows how different the character of Ophelia can b portrayed, almost as they were two separate individuals. The lack of stage directions not only makes it simpler for directors to portray her the way they want, but also for the audience, as they dont have to decide whether she was innocent or not for themselves, but have it done for them. The third interpretation of Ophelia is that if her being sexually active. The scenes in which she goes mad strongly suggest her sexual knowledge comes from her own experiences with Hamlet, as she acts in a sexual manner. The songs she sings during her madness are also of a sexual nature, which further points to her being sexually active. There is evidence of sexual activity in Branaghs production, during the previously mentioned flashback scenes. Richard Corum also supports the view that she was sexually active, however Shakespeare never states whether she was a virgin or not Her conversation with Hamlet in act3 scene2 strongly suggest that she and hamlet have had sexual relations, you are keen, my lord, you are keen. The keenness may be that of his sexual lust and she teases him by pointing it out. However much this may point towards the idea that they both have had sexual relations, Shakespeare still never specifically says whether she is a virgin or not. Richard Corum investigates the symbolism and significance of the flowers, herbs and willows, that Ophelia talks off in chapter nine. Corum implies that through the flower imagery that Ophelia uses, it is undoubtedly obvious that she is not innocent. The flowers symbolize Ophelias wishes to regain her lost purity and to once again become an innocent flower. The fennel that is mentioned represents the fickleness of love. Folklore of the time also suggests that fennel and rue were abortion-inducing agents. The willow which Ophelia was holding when she was found dead, was also thought to hold the same properties, which means that Ophelia attempted to abort a pregnancy before the died. Furthermore, the term flowers was used at the time as a term for menstruation, which suggests that Ophelias interest in rosemary was a way of her trying to tell herself that her menstruation cycle continued as is normal, meaning she was trying to convincer herself that she was not pregnant. Corum also states that rue supposedly made men impotent and that in handing it to Hamlet, Ophelia was trying to prevent a situation that is now perhaps unpreventable Corums examination of the flowers in Act 4, Scene 5, seems to be viable. This is mainly due to his study being based on folklore that existed in Shakespearean times. The ideas themselves are plausible as they clearly fit into the character of Ophelia and can be related credibly to her apparent affair with Hamlet. Instead of outright stating Ophelias sexual knowledge Shakespeare uses this symbolism and imagery as subtle undertones to incorporate the idea of her sexual exploits. Shakespeare has always had strong-minded female protagonists in his plays, which means that the assertion that Ophelia is a character of considerable aptitude is not a new phenomenon. Lady Macbeth for example is the driving force behind her husbands ambition and influenced him to kill the king. Juliet is another astute and determined character despite her young age, her character proves that women can challenge the authority of the men, as she does with her father by marrying Romeo. Taking the conception of Ophelia being a strong minded and autonomous character would by no means be extreme, as the examples I have given surely provide enough evidence that Shakespeare has presented female characters as being of a significant standing.

My Philosophy on Education Essay -- Educational Teaching Essays

My Philosophy on Education Throughout history there have been many philosophies on education, they range in content, from subject area to disciplinary measures. I do not believe that one should completely follow someone else’s example, but instead form their own personal theories based on their current knowledge base. Philosophies are ever changing and often redundant in their statements, yet still allow others to learn something they may not have ever considered before. I believe students, children, are naturally curious. They are not good or evil as many philosophers believe, but instead very open to new experiences that can shape their developing personality. The nature of knowledge is very relevant to what point they are at in life and at what particular place. If a young child is placed in an environment full of harsh criticisms, he to will learn to criticize himself and others. On the other hand, if a child is placed in an environment that emphasizes independence, that child will learn to do things on his own. I believe this must be done in the first years of life, before age ten, or the ability to pick up the new behavior is more difficult. Children should be taught to read by the time they are in the first grade. I believe that education should start before that with the parents or with the day care workers. A small child can learn the alphabet and get a head start in life without even knowing about it. Knowing the letters and sou nds that they make makes reading simpler than not knowing them. Whether you teach a child through songs or writing, any thing they are taught prior to school, subject wise is an advantage. As a teacher I don’t want anyone to leave my classroom without at lea... ...he child’s ability. Different styles of teaching should be incorporated into every classroom so each child can reach his potential. Certain subjects should be emphasized, even on the preschool level, but every subject should be taught. All in all, I feel the best philosophy is to put my students first, without bias, teach them that most everything is possible if you try hard enough. Professional Development Plans: I plan to teach at an elementary school or a preschool while I am attending college to get my masters degree in psychology. I have a passion to work with children and whether it is through psychology or teaching, I want to aid in shaping their developing future. The only professional group I would take into consideration at this point is the NEA, mostly to keep current with school issues and in case a court matter would ever arise.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage is a non-fiction historical novel, whose main purpose is to show the surprisingly pervasive influence of certain drinks on the course of history. Then it takes the reader on a journey through time to show the history of mankind through the lens of beverages. The thesis of the novel is that through history certain specialty beverages have affected more than just the diet of people and changed political aspects, economic standings, religious ceremonies and social views throughout human history. Standage clearly favors the subject written about and offers no information or analysis to disprove the thesis of the novel. Tom Standage is an author of 3 other novels, which are also historic analyses, which support his information and research provided in this book. Standage’s professional background gives novel its authority. A History of the World in 6 Glasses is broken down into six sections, one for each drink, the first of which is beer. Man's first civilizations where founded after the adoption of farming and the domestication of cereal grains. This improvement in lifestyle helped the â€Å"emergence of administrators, scribes, and craftsmen.† [1] Not only did beer nourish man’s first civilizations, but also â€Å"their wages and rations were paid in bread and beer.† [2] Wine, the next beverage, played a major role in the flourishing Greek and Roman cultures. Wine initiated vast seaborne trade, which spread their philosophy, politics, and literature. The book points out how these advancements originated and grew at formal Greek drinking parties. The Romans, who absorbed much of Greek culture, continued the strong use of wine. After the middle ages, Europe was awakened by the discovery of ancient knowledge, safeguarded by Arab scholars. The Age of Exploration/Colonial Period was improved by the knowledge of distillation, which made new drinks. The novel describes how these condensed forms of alcohol (Brandy, Rum etc.) were so popular, especially in the American colonies, that â€Å"they played a key role in the establishment of the United States.† [3] The fourth beverage presented is coffee. Coffee quickly became the drink of intellect and industry being known to sharpen the mind. Taverns were replaced with a more sophisticated meeting place, the coffeehouse. These â€Å"led to the establishment of scientific societies and financial institutions, the founding of newspapers, and provided fertile ground for revolutionary thought.† [4] Once established as England's national drink, tea imports from first China and India led to massive trade. The book describes the power of the British East India Company, which â€Å"generated more revenue than the British government and ruled over far more people,† wielding more power than any other corporation in history. [5] This imbalance of power had an enormous effect on British foreign policy, and led to the independence of the U.S. Like most of the drinks discussed in this novel, Coca-Cola was originally devised as a medical drink. More than any other product, Coca-Cola has stood as the symbol of America's â€Å"vibrant consumer capitalism.† [4] Rather than shrink at the challenge, Coca-Cola took full advantage of the challenging times it found itself in, gaining ground through the depression, and then traveling alongside our soldiers into WWII, becoming a global phenomenon. A History of the World in 6 Glasses is very useful and beneficial to the AP World History curriculum. In a teaching course, the teacher could assign a chapter of reading as homework in each unit. For example, the beer chapter would be in Unit 1, wine at the end of Unit 1 or beginning of Unit 2. Spirits and Coffee could be assigned in Unit 3, Tea in Unit 4, and Coca-Cola in Unit 4 and 5. Teaching the kids through a different view of the world would be its unique contribution to the program. Tom Standage, the author, was successful in proving his thesis throughout the novel. The thesis is clearly stated in the introduction, then supported throughout each chapter and then reiterated in the epilogue. There was plenty of evidence in the book, including quotes, poems, statistics pictures, maps etc. The book was not bogged down in a specific part, though it sometimes went into too much detail of the process of making the beverage. I have to confess that when I first picked up A History of the World in 6 Glasses, I did not expect to enjoy it. Firstly, I was wondering how a book could to sum up world history in less than 300 pages. Second, I do not drink 4 of the 6 beverages discussed in this book. Therefore, I was not keen on learning about their histories. However, I quickly learned that this book is more than just how and when these 6 drinks were made, but how it affected our modern world. A History of the World in 6 Glasses makes it clear that the history of mankind is a history of our consumption. Whether we are pondering revolution in a Coffeehouse in Paris or throwing tea leafs into the ocean in Boston, these drinks have had an impact on who we are. I highly recommend this book to anyone thirsty for knowledge! As Standage says, â€Å"They survive in our homes today as living reminders of bygone eras, fluid testaments to the forces that shaped the modern world. Uncover their origins, and you may never look at your favorite drink in quite the same way again.† [6]

Smoking Cigarettes Essay - 2823 Words

Smoking The first article for review is titled Self-efficacy, Health Locus of Control, and Smoking. This article studies how the participants confidence levels and health locus prior to entering treatment predicts results of the quitting program. The program is called quot;Fresh Startquot; and was conducted in Victoria, Australia. It consisted of three groups: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(A) those who made an attempt (Stop for one day), nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(B) those who met criteria in A, and did not smoke for duration of program, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(C) those who abstained for six months.†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;4)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Boredom Susceptibility subscale (BS) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;After the evaluation of multiple questionnaires was completed, results of the subscale analysis was as follows: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(a)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Smokers score higher in sensation seeking regardless of sex, than non- smokers. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(b)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Women scored higher scores than men in the ES subscale (trend). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(c)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Men scored higher on AIS and TAS scale than women. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;(d)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ES and BS subscales had a significant main effect for smoking status. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This study concludes by showing quot;that smokers score higher on measures of sensation seeking than do non-smokersquot; (p. 224). 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The inspiration behind making the electronic cigarette came after Lik’s father passed away from lung cancer due to him also being a heavy smoker. â€Å"A Hist orical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes.† cassia.org. Consumer Advocates