Thursday, November 28, 2019
Essay On The Jacket Article free essay sample
In my opinion, the Jacket Sotto continuously mentions is more than an article of clothing to him; I feel it signifies a life of poverty. He hates the green Jacket his mother bought him and blames his mother for her bad taste in clothes. He describes the jacket as big and ugly and wishes it belonged to his siblings instead of him. He defines his cool leather dream Jacket to his mother but he never gets It Sotto becomes aggravated with his mothers cheap ways; because he knows It will be a long time before he can get a new Jacket. As much as he despises the Jacket, he thanks his mother and wears it to please her. The first day Sotto wears the Jacket to play In his backyard; his dog tears the Jacket In the sleeve, he becomes upset with his dog when he tries to do It again. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay On The Jacket Article or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He wears the Jacket to school and Immediately gets teased by his schoolmates and teachers. Sotto continues to wear the green Jacket for 3 years to school and Is convinced the Jacket Is bad luck. For those 3 years he blamed his green Jacket for his years of disappointments Like his low grades on exams, being bullied by boys, and never having a girlfriend. He blamed his mother for purchasing ugly clothes because they were low-priced.He ends up losing his friends and starts to hanging out with the ugly guys. He is embarrassed and ashamed of his appearance; he allows a piece of clothing to define him. Sotto thinks of getting rid of the jacket many times, but doesnt since he knows he will have no jacket for the cold weather or any money to buy a new one. He outgrows the Jacket and has no choice but to wear the worn and torn green Jacket because his mother will not buy a new one. I believe Sotto Just wanted to fit in and impress his peers at the same time he did not want to seem ungrateful to his mother.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Uniquely Monstrous Professor Ramos Blog
Uniquely Monstrous From an anthropological point of view, monsters in every culture display many of the fears of the individuals living in said culture. While itââ¬â¢s true that monsters instill a cultural anxiety, they also hold alternative purpose under the surface. In many ways, theyââ¬â¢ve teach much about ourselves in their trail of fear. In this analysis, Iââ¬â¢ll be reviewing the monsters from a series called Parasyte: The Maxum. Ive wholeheartedly enjoyed this series several times over and plan to do so again sometime in the future. Whether its for its animation, philosophy or well thoughout plot, there are plenty of reasons to give this show a try. This series premiered in the spring of 2016. Before that it was created as a (Japanese Comic) Manga issued in 1988! The monster in this series comes from an unknown origin, presumably outer space. When the eggs float down from the sky and hatch they have one goal in mind, and that is to find a host. One article by Mick Joest on geektyrant.com states it perfectly when he compares the show to being an ââ¬Å"Alien meets Bodysnatchersâ⬠crossover. In the series the parasites subtlety become an epidemic as more parasites take over human brains and adapt to ââ¬Å"hide in plain sightâ⬠amongst the humans. They slowly mend into the hierarchy of human society where they become increasingly difficult to spot. Most of these parasites resort to eating humans for sustenance. The main character of the series ââ¬Å"Shinichi Izumi,â⬠along with a couple of other characters he meets along the way, have a special case in where their parasites didnââ¬â¢t reach the human brain. This due to the fact that the parasites upon hatching from their eggs only have a minute amount of time to find a host. So in the case of the main character Shinichi, the parasite had to settle with his right arm. This sets up an interesting dynamic that forces the two to work together as they both start affecting each otherââ¬â¢s personality as the story progresses. As many people know, many books that get adapted into films, for some reason, have a hard time keeping true to their source material. Many of the fans from this series have little to say as far as what was changed from the mediums. The most common points made in many of the online forums was that clothing and technology was modernized to fit the time the show aired. This monster is quite unique due to the fact that rather than pertaining directly to the fears or the Japanese culture from which it came. Much of the fears are very universal. This idea is also cemented in an interview with the creator (Hitoshi Iwaaki) found on kodanshacomics.com, when he is asked how he came up with the idea for the story. He said ââ¬Å"I used to watching a lot of documentaries about the food chains in nature as a kid. I remember wanting to write about the ââ¬Å"egotism of the human race over this planet,â⬠but I didnââ¬â¢t want to look down on humans. I just wanted to tell the story from an ordinary personââ¬â¢s point of view.â⬠When he uses the word human, heââ¬â¢s automatically thinking more objectively than subjective, which much of this series focuses on the fact that the world is more connected than ever, its relatively easy to see the connectivity. No matter where youââ¬â¢re from, the idea of a parasite is not unique to one culture. Although the effects of these parasites are amplified to that of reality, it stems from the same root of fear. This monster is not without its subjectivity. In the same interview on kodanshacomics.com, Hitoshi is also asked how he came up with the main characterââ¬â¢s parasite ââ¬Å"Migi.â⬠Hitoshi stated ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t remember exactly how I came up with it. But in Japan, there are a lot of monsters in traditional folk tales that are just a hand with eyeballs or, like, a talking tumor.â⬠One of the monsters he could be talking about is the Tenome of Japanese folklore. The name literally translates to ââ¬Å"eyes on hands.â⬠According to yokai.com, this faceless being stalks his prey in open fields and graveyards, using only the eyes on his hands to find its next victim. After reading the description from this creature, its easy to see why this could of inspired Hitoshi to create such a monster. The show doesnt just dazzle with its distinctive monster design, it also brings forth thought provoking senarios. One of the biggest questions this story is ââ¬Å"What does it mean to be human?â⬠One scenario that comes to mind is when Shinichi and Migi are going over the recent killings that the parasites have been committing around town. After Shinichi presens his concerns, Migi voices his confusion when he says ââ¬Å"Your logic is a bit difficult to understand, my kind are just simply eating to stay alive and nothing more.â⬠This moment shines an objective light on how Migi views the scenario. This is an important role the character continues to play throughout the story. Migi then contiues to say ââ¬Å"You just find it unpleasant that it is your own kind thats being eaten.â⬠This statement further drilling in his total lack of empathy. Shinichis then unconfidently says ââ¬Å"of course, human life is a precious thing, isnt it?â⬠This controntation of ideals early in the series marks the tone of existentialism throughout the story. This is also an important metaphorical backbone to the monsters that the parasites are. Theres a point in the series when the dynamic duo take care of the ââ¬Å"final boss,â⬠so to speak. They accomplish this feat only at the cost of Migis life. However this wouldnt be the last of Migi. He ends up reaching out to Shinichi in his dream. And tells him of how hes not dead but will be sleeping and not to worry about anymore parasites. The next day he finds himself in a predicament with another monster. Only this time it was another human. So rather than the parasite monsters hes been fighting with inhuman abilities, hes now facing one of his own kind. In a sense the monster escaped though the reflection on human kind. Not that we are all that way, just the fact that ââ¬Å"not all monsters have tentacles.â⬠I wish you were more self-reflective. Stories and plots where modern humans are pinned up against the ââ¬Å"unknownâ⬠Tend to push the boundaries of the human psyche. Whether that be a monster or supernatural event. Whatââ¬â¢s compelling about this monster, being the parasite, is that there is a forced relationship between the monster and its host, similar to Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. So in that light, the viewer is also forced into a relationship with the parasite. Many thought provoking situations and questions are brought up along their journey. Overall, the parasites from this series is such an interesting case of a monster that reflect to become one with the perceiver to question the view of one self. So if youââ¬â¢re in to syfy, existential crises and are looking for a great new show to watch, I highly recommend this 25 episode psychological thriller! Annotated Bibliography Jeffery Jerome Cohen (1996). Analyzing monsters and their significance.Monster Theory: Reading Culture. Joest, Mick. ââ¬Å"Review: PARASYTE THE MAXIM.â⬠GeekTyrant, GeekTyrant, 25 Mar. 2015, geektyrant.com/news/review-parasyte-the-maxim-mjgt. Kido, Misaki. ââ¬Å"Creator Interview: Hitoshi Iwaaki on Parasyte.â⬠Kodansha Comics, 9 Dec. 2016, kodanshacomics.com/2016/11/02/creator-interview-hitoshi-iwaaki-parasyte/. Meyer, Matthew. ââ¬Å"Yokai.com.â⬠Tenome ââ¬â Yokai.com, yokai.com/tenome/.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Are Genetic Explanations of ADHD faulty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Are Genetic Explanations of ADHD faulty - Essay Example tatistical Manual of Mental Disorders -IV-TR defines ADHD as a developmental disorder that occurs in childhood, invariably prior to the age of seven, and is characterized by ââ¬Å"developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention and/or hyperactive-impulsive behaviorâ⬠, which causes impairment to one or more than one of major life activities, like family, peer, educational, occupational, social or adpative funtioning. This lack of a single acceptable definition provides indication of the division of the interpretation of the evidence available on ADHD, and is acceptable as knowledge. Children with ADHD display inattentiveness, impulsive behavior, and restlessness. They find it difficult to maintain attention in particular to activities that do not appeal to them or is non-rewarding. This behavior is often combined with the problem of responding to distractions that make it difficult to focus on tasks at hand. Adults with ADHD often have difficulty with time management, procrastination, organization, risk taking, careless behavior, and distractible and impulsive behavior, which leads to poor structuring of their lives, and inability to plan and execute complex daily tasks. (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). The original manner in which children with ADHD was looked at was to treat them as children with learning difficulties, and that provide them with special education as a means to make them all right. Thus making it essentially an issue of nurture. Present day psychologists tend to question this understanding of ADHD, and have brought a new perspective of ADHD from the nature angle, in the form of a biological or neurochemical problem, as an explanation for ADHD. Support for this comes from psychologists, who believe that the mind and body are more closely intertwined than was earlier believed, and that the body could cause problems of the mind. These beliefs are founded or the findings that Downs syndrome and cancer could have a genetic basis.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Digital Marketing Strategies to promote Fashion Antidote Website Essay
Digital Marketing Strategies to promote Fashion Antidote Website - Essay Example The essay "Digital Marketing Strategies to promote Fashion Antidote Website" discusses digital marketing strategy to be used by Fashion Antidote. Fashion Antidote Facebook page is a well-established fashion company that has many customers both in the field and in online. The group has the feeling that Fashion Antidote needs to upgrade its website and especially their Facebook page to be able to be at purr with current fashion trends. As well, with increased innovation at the fashion school, there is need to expose all these to customers so that the company can grow. This means that if Fashion Antidote Facebook page has a fashion show or unique fashion taste it wants to share, the Facebook page is the best way to share all these. Understanding the concept of digital strategy in this case is very vital if a good strategy must be developed. Digital strategy is that overall approach that a company takes after making a decision that they want to invest in online business in order to achie ve their goals. It can involve building the reputation of the business online especially with the focus of being a leader in the area of business. This can also extend to overarching digital strategy of a business in order to migrate the major sales transaction from online to offline. In the development of such a strategy, a company is required to have one major goal as opposed to numerous goals even though there is no much restriction in this. For the Fashion Antidote Facebook page is to be able to capture the latest fashion trends.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Gloal corporate strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Gloal corporate strategy - Essay Example It has been estimated that Asia will witness the highest growth in the retail food market. To become market leaders, Walmart, Carrefour and Tesco have adopted several innovation strategies which have ultimately helped them to become global leaders. Walmartââ¬â¢s growth under the leadership of Lee Scoot needs special mention as the company has made significant breakthroughs after he became the companyââ¬â¢s CEO in 2000. Kapner S., February 2009, Changing Of The Guard At Wal-Mart, Cable News Network: A Time Warner Company, [Online], Available: http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/17/news/companies/kapner_scott.fortune/index.htm, [2 May 2009] 21 The Unending Woes Of Lee Scott, January 2007, Cable News Network: A Time Warner Company, [Online], Available: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/01/22/8397972/ , [2 May 2009] 23 Carrefour has grown to become one of the global food retail giants by expanding both domestically and internationally. It started off by entering into joint ventures with the local companies. The company was the first to introduce the concept of hypermarkets and its first international foray was marked by setting hypermarkets in Brazil in the year 1975. (Holtreman A, n.d). Carrefour and Promodes merged forces in 1999 to form the largest food retailer within Europe. This merger made them the second largest global retailer with their presence stretched to cover almost 26 countries. (Merger Carrefour ââ¬â Promodà ¨s, n.d.) This merger promised to have an overall beneficial effect on the business of the two merged entities. The aftereffects of the merger were supposed to benefit the stakeholders of the company at large. Suppliers would be able to reap the advantages of increased export opportunities and customers would be able to get their hands on an array of new products. This deal was mainly drafted by Carrefour to save itself from falling prey to Walmart, the leading US food retail giant, as the latter
Friday, November 15, 2019
Comparison of Political Ideologies in the UK
Comparison of Political Ideologies in the UK Despite their different roots, the three main parties in Britain are now in broad ideological agreement Introduction Since the 1997 election victory of Labour commentators and academics have repeatedly said that there is now little ideological difference between the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Conservatives. This is based on the belief that although there are policy differences between the three, there is now a broad consensus in issues such as the economy and public services where previously there were clear ideological divides.[1] Recently however as a result of the global financial crisis, the parties have presented very different policies for economic recovery which reflect their ideological roots. Is this an indication that all three parties have reverted back to their ideological foundations, or does their still remain a broad ideological agreement between the three parties of Government? This essay will first briefly examine the partyââ¬â¢s historical and ideological roots, looking at the central principles which have defined the parties. We will look at the main ideological differences between the three up to 1997. In our second Chapter we will examine the evidence indicating that the three parties are in broad ideological agreement, firstly looking at how the three came to be in such agreement, as well as pointing out the similarities and common points of the three parties since 1997. In our final Chapter we will advance the argument that the recent economic crises has brought an end to the ideological agreement of the three parties, and that by putting forward three very different economic policies the parties have to some extent returned to their ideological roots. Chapter One The Labour party rootââ¬â¢s go back to the formation of the Labour Representation Committee in 1900, made up primarily of union members and left wing groups like the Fabians Society.[2] It was and remained, certainly until 1994, a party that represented the interests of the trade unions, its main financial backers to this day, and the working classes. Although it formed several Governments in the 1920s, it was the Labour Government of 1945 which best represents Labourââ¬â¢s ideology in practice.[3] The commitment to nationalisation, the creation of the NHS and the extension of the welfare State defined Labour ideology till the early 1990s. The idea that the State could and should intervene in and play a part in Society for the good of the nation, and regulate the excesses of Capitalism contrasted sharply with the traditional Tory ideology of free market, laissez faire policies where the State played a much smaller role. Labour ideology and policies gradually became part of the mainstream political world, as today the NHS and other ââ¬Å"Socialistâ⬠institutions are accepted as necessary and successful by even the most right wing politicians. The Conservative Party has its roots in the late seventeenth Century, traditionally the party of the Aristocracy and the Business Elite of Britain, the Conservatives have adapted their ideology and policies over the years to adapt to changing times and circumstances, however in the Twentieth Century they can be said to have several core principles despite the various factions and different types of Tories that have existed within the party.[4] Traditional Conservative ideology believes in law and order, a limited Government role in the economy and society, low taxes, continuity and family values. The election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979 radically changed Conservative ideology, leading it to promote monetarism and a free market program of privatisation, leading to rapid growth but increasing the gap between rich and poor and shifting the landscape of what was accepted as the mainstream to the right in social and economic terms. Conservative ideology can perhaps be encapsulated as giv ing power to individuals to participate in economy and society, whilst accepting that there will be inequality and claiming that an individuals actions rather than Society determines their opportunities and outcomes. [5] Although the Liberal Democrats have only existed since 1988, they can trace the roots back to the Liberal Party that existed from around 1846.[6] The Liberal Democrats do not have as firm an ideology as Labour or the Conservatives, but they can be broadly defined as believing in individual freedom in social issues, such as drugs and sexuality, socialist policies regarding education and welfare, a pro European stance and a general anti war ideology. One of the pillars of Liberal Democrat ideology has always been higher taxes to pay for increased investment in education and health, although the new leader Nick Clegg has recently made lower taxes for lower income groups a central policy in the re-branding of the Liberal Democrats. Chapter Two The turning point for the broad ideological agreement of the three parties came with the election of Tony Blair to the Labour party leadership in 1994. In order to make Labour electable Blair set out to change much of the Labour ideology which voters clearly believed was too left wing, specifically its commitment to nationalisation and its policy of higher taxes and public expenditure.[7] He shifted Labour from being a left wing party to being more centre left. The change worked, and New Labour was elected in a landslide victory in 1997. Since this time there has existed the broad ideological agreement of the three parties on the central issues of Government, most notably the promotion of free market policies and a commitment to economic growth over the redistribution of wealth. The Conservatives did shift to the right on issues such immigration, crime and social policies, but remained committed to the free market policies that were now being pursued by the Labour Government.[8] This ideological convergence is not a solely British event. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union many left wing parties in the West, and in Eastern Europe, have gradually abandoned their Socialist roots and principles, accepting the free market as the only viable way in which a State can achieve sustainable economic growth and future prosperity. It is not just the Labour party which has adjusted its policies and ideology to conform to the new global economic consensus. The Liberal Democrats recently abandoned their commitment to higher taxes, stating that if elected they would reduce taxes for those on low incomes, a significant swing to the centre. On many issues the Liberal Democrats have also shifted to the centre ground, although they are certainly left wing on social issues, such as law and order and drug policy, the Liberal Democrats economic policy remains committed to free market policies and a limited role for the State in Society.[9] This is not a recent development for the Liberal Democrats, who have long presented themselves as a moderate, centrist party often in stark contrast to the ideological inflexibility of Labour and the Conservatives.[10] Although Labour has certainly moved to the right, abandoning its foundational principles regarding nationalisation and the redistribution of wealth, the Conservative Party itself has also been forced to adjust its policies, moving into the centre ground from its increasingly right wing position under the leadership of Michael Howard.[11] Following several election defeats the Conservative Party decided to match Labour spending plans, stating that if elected they would not cut taxes, and would continue to invest heavily in health and education. Does this commitment indicate that the parties share an increasingly Socialist ideology in regards to public services? No, as the ideological commitment to free market economy remains, as does the commitment to economic growth over equality, however this is matched by higher spending in institutions like the NHS and schools, which are seen as assisting economic growth by training the future workforce and providing for its medical needs. On all the major ideological issues then it would appear that there is a broad consensus. On Law and Order, all parties compete to sound the toughest, promising harsher sentences, more prisons and more police. On the welfare State all three parties have policies to decrease those on unemployment benefit, reform welfare and cut payments to the long term unemployed. Before the economic crisis, privatisation was accepted as necessary, the free market was sacred and any party suggesting a return to the days of the State planning the economy or controlling prices would have been committing political suicide. In summing up then, whilst all three parties had different policies, styles and approaches, their existed a broad ideological agreement between the three that any future Government should minimise its direct role in the economy, should not intervene in the free market or over-regulate but at the same time should be committed to public services . As we will demonstrate in the next chap ter however, the recent economic crisis has led to many predicting that the era of ideological agreement has now passed. Chapter Three In 2008 an economic crisis which started in the United States quickly spread throughout the world. Several large British banks, such as Northern Rock and HBOS, risked going bankrupt, so an unprecedented nationalisation of the banks by the British Government went ahead, similar nationalisations also went ahead in the USA and other European Countries. [12] The Government, in a move which many would have thought impossible months before, gave billions in taxpayerââ¬â¢s money to the banks in order to keep the economy moving. The Government now plans to borrow heavily and play a more direct role in the economy, although this is to support Capitalist institutions the Labour Party is seemingly moving back towards its Socialist roots, propping up failing industries to save jobs, putting taxpayerââ¬â¢s money into the economy and even considering joining the Euro.[13] The Conservatives however have opposed this move, and have drawn up radically different, ideologically opposed economic p lans which favour a cut in public spending, and a continued commitment to Government not directly putting cash into the economy to prop up failing businesses.[14] Both parties have been returning to their ideological roots since the crisis began. The Conservatives have claimed that Government spending and high taxes are the problem; although they have condemned bankerââ¬â¢s greed they continue to support de-regulation, the free market and the creation of wealth over policies of regulation and equality. Their recent welfare policies reflect their ideological beginnings, promoting individualism, responsibility and the family and marriage as the primary means to tackle poverty. Labour has found a renewed self confidence in traditional left wing policies, Ministers talk of a renewed effort to tackle social inequality, of distributing wealth and tackling the huge gap between rich and poor that exists in British Society today. The era of Labour tax and spend seems to be re-appearing, and although the old left and the trade unions have not taken over the party, there has been a definite ideological break from the centre ground and a renewed belief in the power of the State to intervene positively in the economy and society. The Liberal Democrats look set to take their traditional role as the moderate centre party, positioning themselves between the ideologically separated dominant parties. Conclusion This essay has demonstrated that as far back as 1994 there has existed a broad ideological consensus between the three main UK parties. Although there were differences in policy, with the Conservatives venturing to the right in issues of immigration and Europe, there has been agreement about the role that Government should play in the economy and the role of the free market in generating wealth. The recent economic crisis has for the first time in over a decade, threatened the long term future of that agreement, as the two main parties return to their ideological roots and the Liberal Democrats position themselves as the party of moderation and social reform. Bibliography Bentley, Roy ââ¬Å"British Politics in Focusâ⬠(Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) Elliot, Larry ââ¬Å"The financial crisis has exposed the bankruptcy of New Labour economicsâ⬠(The Guardian, 08/10/2008) Jones, Bill ââ¬Å"Politics UKâ⬠(Harlow, Pearson, Longman, London, 2006) Leonard, Dick ââ¬Å"A Century of Premiers: From Salisbury to Blairâ⬠(Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005) McCormick, John ââ¬Å"Contemporary Britainâ⬠(Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2007) Milne, Seamus ââ¬Å"Now we see what the return of Tory Britain would be likeâ⬠(The Guardian, 30/08/2007) Liberal Democrats ââ¬â UK Politics ââ¬â accessed 01/12/2008 http://www.solarnavigator.net/embassies/liberal_democrat_party_politics.htm Rentoul, John ââ¬Å"Tony Blair: Prime Ministerâ⬠(Time Warner, London, 2001) 1 Footnotes [1] Elliot, Larry ââ¬Å"The financial crisis has exposed the bankruptcy of New Labour economicsâ⬠(The Guardian, 08/10/2008, p.35) [2] Bentley, Roy ââ¬Å"British Politics in Focusâ⬠(Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) p.152 [3] Leonard, Dick ââ¬Å"A Century of Premiers: From Salisbury to Blairâ⬠(Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005) pp30-42 [4] McCormick, John ââ¬Å"Contemporary Britainâ⬠(Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2007, p.134) [5] Jones, Bill ââ¬Å"Politics UKâ⬠(Harlow, Pearson, Longman, London, 2006, pp.21-33) [6] Bentley, Roy ââ¬Å"British Politics in Focusâ⬠(Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) p.163 [7] Rentoul, John ââ¬Å"Tony Blair: Prime Ministerâ⬠(Time Warner, London, 2001, p.56) [8] McCormick, John ââ¬Å"Contemporary Britainâ⬠(Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2007, pp.132-134) [9] Bentley, Roy ââ¬Å"British Politics in Focusâ⬠(Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) pp.165-166 [10] Liberal Democrats ââ¬â UK Politics ââ¬â accessed 01/12/2008 http://www.solarnavigator.net/embassies/liberal_democrat_party_politics.htm [11] Bentley, Roy ââ¬Å"British Politics in Focusâ⬠(Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) pp.170-173 [12] Elliot, Larry ââ¬Å"The financial crisis has exposed the bankruptcy of New Labour economicsâ⬠(The Guardian, 08/10/2008, p.35) [13] Leonard, Dick ââ¬Å"A Century of Premiers: From Salisbury to Blairâ⬠(Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005, pp.201-213) [14] Milne, Seamus ââ¬Å"Now we see what the return of Tory Britain would be likeâ⬠(The Guardian, 30/08/2007, p.40)
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
How War was Portrayed in Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays
How War was Portrayed in Beowulf The anonymous author of Beowulf can easily be construed as either arguing for or against war in its basic form. However, on a deeper level, the author is giving a profound and perhaps comforting view of war during this time period. The author we know has a great respect for wyrd or fate. We know that the outcome of any engagement of war is already pre-ordained by the Almighty so how could one argue for or against war when the general consensus was that there was really nothing to be done about it? The author is trying to say that war is a fact of life and no more in the command of man than the weather storms or rising and falling of the tides. In ââ¬Å"The Wandererâ⬠the author says of the warrior that ââ¬Å"fully fixed is his fateâ⬠(Norton 100). There can be no meandering on the path of oneââ¬â¢s fate, no matter his mindset or resolve. Beowulf also echoes this sentiment in the line ââ¬Å"Hrothgar was given success in warfare, glory in battleâ⬠(Donaldson 4). Glory in battle is not something that is won or achieved. The virtues of success in battle and glory are not given out by lords, save but One. Only the Almighty may bestow the honor and glories of battle. Another passage in Beowulf further reveals this idea. ââ¬Å"Then may Almighty God assign glory on whichever hand seems good to him.â⬠This reinforces the idea that fate controls all things but further asserts that the strength of both combatants has no real relevance to the outcome of battle which is decided by the Almighty. This is not to say that any man on any day who is favor of God may achieve glory and renown by haplessly throwing himself into battle. We are shown in Beowulf that the only part of the battle left up to man is his courage and bravery. These virtues, which were held in such high esteem, can bring a man to the brink of victory and glory. His steadfastness seems a prerequisite to Godââ¬â¢s favor. God does not reward cowardice as we see in the case of Unferth and the thanes of Beowulf save for Wiglaf in his final battle with the dragon. God rewards those who stand tall in the face of evil. Here is a passage to illustrate this point found in Beowulf.
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