Women in Greek Mythology Essay Example for Free

Women in Greek Mythology Essay A myth is a legendary traditional story, usually concerning a hero or an event, and typically involving supernatural beings and events. Informally, the term is also used to describe false stories, due to the usual lack of determinable basis or fact in most myths, but the academic use of the word has nothing to do with truth or falsity. Myths are stories woven from the need of having models for behavior. They are sacred stories revolving around sacred events and sacred characters idealized perfectly to be the suitable role-models in the eyes of the society from which they spring, which makes myths a valuable resource for explaining how the human race came to what it is today. Ancient Greek society had very specific gender roles, where men were expected to be controlling and domineering, and women passive and obedient. It was believed that if women were busy in their domestic homes, then they will not turn to their evil nature in which men of that time strongly believed in. â€Å"From her is descended a great pain to mortal men† (Leftowitz and Fant, p25). In Homer’s Odyssey, one of the oldest and most fundamental works of literature to western canon, the importance of women in the poem’s plot lies in their roles as seductresses. When Odysseus crew arrives on Circes island, they are attracted to Circes house because of the alluring voice of the beautiful but monstrous goddess. Homer describes her as singing in a sweet voice, as she fared to and fro before the great web imperishable, such as is the handiwork of goddesses, fine of woof and full of grace and splendor. (Homer, 850 BC) But evil seductresses was not the only portrait of women offered by Greek Mythology. Penelope, the wife of the main character in the Odyssey, Odysseus, is a prime example of what an ideal wife was in Ancient Greek society. She has only one son by Odysseus, born just before Odysseus was called to fight in the Trojan War. Penelope remained faithful to Odysseus for 20 years as he was away fighting, doing all she can to curb the unwanted attention of many suitors and their requests for her hand. She has devised many plans to delay an answer, one of which was pretending to weave a burial shroud for Odysseus’ old father, and promising to choose which to marry of her suitors when she finishes it. Every night for three years she undid a part of the shroud until her trick was exposed. She is a symbol of fidelity in marriage, even though she begins to get restless and ambivalent, due mainly to Athena’s encouragement, after 20 years of waiting. As Irene De Jong comments: â€Å"As so often, it is Athena who takes the initiative in giving the story a new direction Usually the motives of mortal and god coincide, here they do not: Athena wants Penelope to fan the Suitors desire for her and (thereby) make her more esteemed by her husband and son; Penelope has no real motive . . . she simply feels an unprecedented impulse to meet the men she so loathes adding that she might take this opportunity to talk to Telemachus (which she will indeed do)† (De Jong, p.44) But as Odysseus comes back disguised as a beggar, Penelope vows to marry whoever can string Odysseus Bow and shoot an arrow, which leads to Odysseus and Penelope reuniting together. Penelope’s story shows what Greek men expected from women, undying fidelity and a good, sharp and reliable mind. And albeit the fact that Penelope starts longing to show off for her suitors and eventually agrees to marry whoever strings her former husband’s bow, she is still shown in a good light in Greek myth. On a high contrast to the passive Penelope is Medusa, the gorgon female monster, who is well known for hair of snakes and her horrifying glare that turned onlookers to stone. She was born an exceptional beauty, the jealous aspiration of many suitors, with her hair being her best feature, but after she was ravished in Athena’s temple, the goddess was so enraged she punished her by turning her hair into snakes and whoever looked at her into stone. She was later killed by the hero Perseus, who beheaded her and used her head as a weapon, then gave it up for Athens. Medusa has become a symbol of feminine rage, she was punished for being a victim of rape, while the man escaped with no consequence, and she had spread terror and fright as her revenge for the unfairness of the world, and later is beheaded, and her murderer is labeled a hero, giving her head to the goddess who had started it all with her curse. Interestingly enough, her name means the protector, or the guardian. The most interesting Greek mythical woman in my opinion is Pandora, the beginning of it all. Her name means â€Å"The giver of all†. She was Zeus punishment to mankind after Prometheus stole the secret of fire, the symbol of education. Zeus ordered her to be mould out of the earth, and he and all the other gods joined in offering this â€Å"beautiful evil† all manners of seductive gifts. It is said that she had opened a jar, known in modern days as Pandora’s Box, out of curiosity, and unintentionally released all the evils of mankind, disasters and illnesses and malaises, leaving only hope inside after she hastened to close it. The curious part is how women were viewed not just as a punishment, but a punishment for man’s attempts to broaden his mind and satiate his curiosity, and how the evils of mankind all came to be, not as a result of malice or malevolence, but that same innocent curiosity, which is one of the natural attributes of the human race. It appears as though the Greek did not approve of snooping around, especially of women, which brings to mind the modern stereotype of nosey idle housewives. Her other name is Anesidora, which means â€Å"She who sends up gifts†, implying her lower status as a female. In conclusion, while myths might not describe real events, they are nonetheless one of the most valuable tools to understanding human nature and ideals, they are fantasies that man had created and they reflect his thoughts and theories and explanations and hopes and ideals. Women had took up major roles in the Greek mythical world, as villains and victims, but rarely as heroines, which shows that the society at the time and place of the creation of those legends was dominantly ruled by men, with women staying to their homes and looking after their families. These gender stereotypes have continued for many years after the downfall of the Greek Empire, and are still popular throughout the world even today. References Bulfinch, T. , and Goodrich, N. (1995). Bulfinchs mythology: The age of fable. Plume. De Jong, I. (2001). A Narratological commentary on the odyssey. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved Dec 6, 2009 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Penelope Definition of Myth. Dictionary. com unabridged. Retrieved (2009, December 6) from http:// dictionary. reference. com/browse/myth Gender in Odyssey. Bookrag. Retrieved Dec 6, 2009 from http://www. bookrags. com/ essay- 2005/11/23/13450/292 Graf, F. , and Marier, Thomas. (1996). Greek mythology. Johns Hopkins Univ Pr. Hesiod, Schlegel, C. , and Weinfield. (2006). Theogony and works and days. University of Michigan Pr. Homer (fl. 850 B. C. ). The Odyssey. The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.. Bartleby. Retrieved Dec 6, 2009 from http://www. bartleby. com/22/10. html Homer, Fagles, R. , and Knox, B. (1998). The Iliad. Penguin Classics. Katz, M. (1991). Penelopes renown: Meaning and indeterminacy in the odyssey. Princeton University Press. Lefkowitz, M. R. , and Fant, M. B. (2005). Men’s Opinion. Women’s life in Greek and Rome. USA: The John Hopkins University Press. Pandora, by Jules Joseph Lefebvre(1836–1911), Oil on Canvas.

Emily dickinson Essay examples -- essays research papers

Emily Dickinson’s poetry powerfully indicates values of society of the time. It does this through its conciseness, its simplicity and its control. Indications of society’s values are seen in many of Dickinson's poems, but they are especially noticeable in ‘It was not Death’, and ‘Because I could not stop for Death’. In Dickinson’s poem ‘It was not Death’, she demonstrates how restricting and stereotyping society can be on an individual, and how society values the conformity of the whole community, even though they may not want to. In Dickinson’s poem ‘Because I could not stop for Death’, she is questioning society’s values on religion and everlasting life. Emily Dickinson’s poems analyze her perception of the world and society, which is different to that of the commonly accepted, objective perception. The reader sees this perception in her poem ‘It was not Death’, where Emily appears to perceive a world full of confusion and chaos. She also observes that society tries to place people into stereotypes, and feels that she herself is restricted to one. The Figures I have seen Set orderly, for Burial, Reminded me, of mine – Dickinson shows in these lines that her own life reflects that of a dead persons – it appears to be a living thing, but lacks something that makes it alive. It seems that life is a convential pattern, and she is conformed in society just like the people in the coffins. She resents the way that in her society people were heavily placed into stereotypes. As if my life were shaven, And fitted to a frame These lines express Dickinson’s thoughts about the restrictions of her life in her society. The fact that her life was ‘shaven’ seems to give the image of being cut down to size with a razor to fit her frame, and this is a very sharp image. It also seems to hold connotations to the times of torture and the methods they used, and she may be suggesting that the rest of society make her life torture. It is as if her whole life has been shaped and trapped, which is not by its own nature, and from which it can not escape. Emily Dickinson also gives the impression of confusion and chaos through the verse techniques employed in her poem ‘It was not Death’. There are a mixture of images which give the impression of confusion and chaos. In the poem there is action (‘I stood up), sound (‘Bells’), frost, heat (‘Siroccos’, ‘Fire’), shipwreck (‘Without a Ch... ...else, it just simply stops, whilst you are still aware of it. Since then – ’tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses’ Heads Were toward Eternity – The lack of punctuation in the last stanza is to show breathlessness and panic as the woman realises that she has come to a state of eternity, and also emphasises that this is a long time – forever. This is how Emily Dickinson shows her theory of eternity after death, which contradicts the values of the rest of society. Values of society of the time can be seen through Emily Dickinson’s poetry. She powerfully shows society’s values of conformity in her poem ‘It was not Death’, as well as how she and many others were expected to fit into stereotypes, even if it meant sacrificing their natural state. This is shown through the form of the poem and the poetic devices that are used. ‘Because I could not stop for Death’ powerfully shows some of society’s values by contradicting them. Emily Dickinson displays her own beliefs on what comes after death, and they are certainly not to do with an afterlife in Heaven, or other religious beliefs. These are examples of how Emily Dickinson’s poems are powerful in

Dawn of the (Evil & Symbolic) Dead Essay

Over the past decade, interest in zombies in pop culture has sky rocketed. There have been over 100 games and movies featuring the living dead. George Romero’s 1978 film Dawn of the Dead, sequel to Night of the Living Dead, gives its audience insight into these evil symbolic structures known today as zombies. In this film, there are four survivors that take refuge in a huge shopping mall, sealing the doors and creating a zombie-free hideout. This movie is often referred to as one the best horror films of its time and a door way to today’s interest in zombies. Throughout the film, the four survivors deal with hundreds of zombies and at the climax are also having to deal with a biker gang. Although not all four of these characters survived, the mall was a perfect spot for the movie to take place according to a review done by the Spinning Image Company. â€Å"The mall is a brilliant location, not just for the satirical possibilities it offers Romero, but also for creating some clever, unsettling imagery,† said Daniel Auty in his review. Auty is speaking of the several times throughout the film where Romero would cut to a scene of just zombies roaming random parts of the mall. These zombies were different than what we see today however. â€Å"[The zombies] look silly, they fall over a lot, and Romero mostly shoots them in either broad daylight or the stark fluorescence of the mall† (Auty). The zombies in Dawn of the Dead appeared from the first minute without Romero giving any sort of insight on how it happened. So in order to understand the body in its monstrous state, one must know the origins of the zombie. Many scholars agree that the term zombie originated from the voodoo religion in Haiti. In â€Å"Slaves, Cannibals, and Infected Hyper-Whites: The Race and Religion of Zombies†, writer Elizabeth McCalister discusses these origins in great detail. â€Å"The word zonbi appears in writing as far back as colonial Saint- Domingue, glossed by travel writer Moreau de Saint-Mà ©ry as the slaves’ belief in a returned soul, a revenant†(3). The Haitians still heavily believe that this is a part of the spiritual world. They say that these entities separate the body and the soul and compel one to work without the other, in this case the body without the soul. Over the years, however, these origins have begun to vanish due to new forms of the zombies. In the early 20th Century, films began to show Eurocentric ideas that created African-Americans to be viewed as these zombie creatures. Films such as White Zombie (1932) and I walked with a Zombie (1943) â€Å"invariably cast black sorcerers plotting for conquest of and control over white women, and blackness is unmistakably linked with primitive menace, superstition, and the diabolical† (5). These views began to change by the time Romero’s films came out. Now this monstrous creature is as simple as â€Å"a ghoul who lumbers around trying to eat people.† Today’s society is used to seeing these ghouls in pop culture. Because of the more than 100 shows, movies and video games on the market now, people are more accepting of this idea of a â€Å"zombie apocalypse.† In many places, they have held events, such as 5K races and obstacle courses, that center around a zombie theme. In Muskegon, Michigan they held a zombie apocalypse day where civilians dressed as zombies and chased after those that were dressed as civilians. â€Å"Zombie participants got creative and tore up and stained their clothing. They also added scars and bloody makeup,† said an article in the Muskegon Chronicle. This goes to show how immune today’s society has become to the idea of these flesh-eating monsters. Not everyone is taking it lightly though as some have plans set in stone for when the apocalypse may happen. The CDC, Center of Disease Control, has its own website dedicated to a zombie outbreak. The blog includes a brief history of the creatures, a list of survival tools for a kit and their own plan for survival if it would ever happen. â€Å"If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak.† The CDC tells us that it would be taken just as seriously as any other disease, and thanks pop culture and today’s society in helping to prepare for that day. Christopher Moreman takes a look past the plan in his book Zombies Are Us: Essays on the Humanity of the Walking Dead. The author looks into a world that is already ruled by the dead and sees how society would have to live to survive. He speaks for society as a whole through one line by referencing the graphic novel The Walking Dead: â€Å"In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living† (5). The creatures in Romero’s Dawn of the Dead may not be the scariest or deadliest of monsters, but it is when they are in large numbers that they can cause havoc. It is hard to deal with hundreds of flesh eating monsters at once no matter how fast or intelligent they may be. Much of the films’ audience saw Romero’s zombie as a symbolic structure of other things that could take down America. McCalister analyzes all of Romero’s films on the living dead and the time frame that they were made. â€Å"Night of the Living Dead attacks the nuclear American family, patriarchy, and racism; Dawn of the Dead fastens its attention on the deadening effects of rampant consumerism; and Day of the Dead offers an indictment of militarism and American misuse of science and technology† (17). These things were on the minds of Americans in the time the movies were made. Now they can be related to something different such as the events going on in the Middle East. Stephen Asma takes a look into the torturing of Iraqi soldiers and how the Americans may be the ones viewed as the evil creatures. In his book On Monsters, Asma references Dr. Philip Zimbardo and his theory called The Lucifer Effect. This idea helps to explain how good people can become evil in specific ways. He focuses on the torture of Iraqi soldiers. â€Å"The fact that seemingly normal American soldiers engaged in torture and degradation techniques on Iraqi detainees offers more evidence, Zimbardo thinks, for his view t hat abuse and aggression are not the results of inner character flaws† (Asma 413). He goes on to explain how Zimbardo believes these soldiers were not just a case of just one spoiled apple, but a bad barrel that spoiled anything put into it. In the case of the zombies, one can make the case that everyone on this planet will eventually fall to the disease and it is not because of the one zombie who started it all, but because everyone is infected to begin. These kinds of ideas are what bring the monstrous view of zombies into society. Kyle Bishop writes in his book American Zombie Gothic about how the use of the zombies in Dawn of the Dead creates a connection with the audience. He says that because the zombies look very similar to just another regular human being, it can make the audience feel terrified of the creatures. However, the way that the zombies act can tell the audience obvious differences between one that is still human and one that has turned. â€Å"Romero’s monsters are primarily ‘othered’ creatures, possessing virtually no subject ive, human qualities and encouraging almost no psychological suture with the audience† (Bishop 159). The comparison of zombies to human qualities can go on forever. Asma continues to analyze the psyche of the monstrous through the Id. â€Å"Rage is a powerful force that, along with other socially deleterious impulses, lives like a frustrated virus in the dark cellars of the Id† (354). The Id is the part of the personality that can make decisions unconsciously based off of desire and instinct. In the case of the zombies, all they want and need is food and in this case, the flesh of the protagonists. The zombies in Romero’s film were often times the ones being killed, whether it is a gunshot to the head, a bat to the head, a car hood to the head or a screwdriver through the ear. However, Romero kept scenes where humans were eaten by these creatures to give the audience a clear understanding of what to expect from the movie and who would be the good guys. In David Gilmore’s Monsters, the author discusses of ways on how to approach the monster. â€Å"Mythologistsâ € ¦ have written much about the theme of the Epic Hero who goes out to fight monsters in order to rescue maidens or to save society as a whole† (12). The monster is obvious in film but no Epic Hero is there to save the day. Taken this perspective into Dawn of the Dead, the audience can tell that it is society as a whole trying to fight the monsters to save the world from the dead. There are several ways to see why Romero’s Dawn of the Dead was up for awards. Much of it was not based off the effects and acting but what thought and background was put into the project. The study behind the zombies was thorough and began giving more meaning to the story. The symbolism of these creatures and how the good human being became an evil, flesh-seeking monster were just two of the things to write about. When all is said and done, the zombies may never come, but if they do, it is because of films like this that could help with survival. Works Cited Asma, Stephen T. On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2009. Print. Auty, Daniel. â€Å"Dawn of the Dead.† Rev. of Dawn of the Dead. n.d.: n. pag. The Spinning Image. Web. Bishop, Kyle William. American Zombie Gothic: The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Walking Dead in Popular Culture. Jefferson, NC: McFarland &, 2010. Print. Gilmore, David D. Monsters: Evil Beings, Mythical Beasts, and All Manner of Imaginary Terrors. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2003. Print. â€Å"Haiti and the Truth about Zombies.† Www.umich.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. . McCalister, Elizabeth. â€Å"Slaves, Cannibals, and Infected Hyper-Whites: The Race and Religion of Zombies.† Anthropological Quarterly 85.2 (n.d.): 457-86. Web. â€Å"Public Health Matters Blog.† Public Health Matters Blog RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. .

The Arab Uprisings Improved Human Rights - 3403 Words

Chapter 1: Origins (Intro) How have the Arab Uprisings improved human rights in Egypt? MUBARAKS GOV BAD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MORSIS GOVERNMENT WORST IS THERE HOPE NOW (WITH NEW GOV) 1. Where did uprisings begin? Which rights existed? DEFINE -Muslim Brotherhood -Sharia Chapter 2: Women’s rights in Egypt There is a widespread belief in Egypt that gender equality is an attack on Egyptian culture and a foreign agenda imposed by the West rather than a basic human right. All successive Egyptian governments, since 1952 onwards, have used xenophobia to create a sense that there is a conspiracy in Egypt, according to Hossam Abdalla, an Egyptian political commentator and activist speaking to Al Ahram weekly, an Egyptian newspaper. However, this has not silenced Egyptian civil society on the issue of women s rights, with the Arab Spring helping many women find their political voices. For example, the National Council for Women and other NGO’s in Egypt have worked tirelessly to defend the legal status of women and their place in society. The Arab Uprisings have made popular the belief that change is possible, and many established organizations have united with younger volunteer-led organizations in fighting for fundamental change. The most important recent development for Women s Rights in Egypt is the new constitution which was approved in January 2014, with 98.1% of people voting in favour of it. This constitution is tailored to the freedom of its all its citizens asShow MoreRelatedIn This Part Of The Essay, Tunisia And Libya Are Discussed1716 Words   |  7 PagesIn this part of the essay, Tunisia and Libya are discussed in terms of freedom, whether it is political or social and how former ruling systems facilitated the process of recovery after Arab Spring. 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What Do We Call An Ethical Dilemma - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1171 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/05/13 Category Society Essay Level High school Topics: Ethical Dilemma Essay Did you like this example? Introduction An ethical dilemma is a moral situation where one has to choose between two equal undesired alternatives. When an ethical dilemma occurs in the field of medicine, there is a need to find a practical solution. There are different ways to approach a moral dilemma. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "What Do We Call An Ethical Dilemma?" essay for you Create order The first step is determining the situation that causes the dilemma. It is challenging to identify an ethical dimension in a problem. Discussing the dilemma with seniors or colleagues is important although learning to make a reasonable decision in the face of the dilemma is critical. The main factor influencing an ethical dilemma is behavior or attitude. Examples include organizational goals, personal character, and conflict of individual-based values. The purpose of the study below is to identify the way ethics apply to deal with different issues. The following is a case study of a woman who had an emergency in stomach pains. The physician performs a CT scan and diagnoses her with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which upon stretching can burst and cause death. The patient is advised to have surgery as soon as possible. She refuses the surgery giving an excuse that she is an erotic dancer and the scar left could affect it. The physicians try to pressure her on the importance, but she refuses. The physicians feel the woman needed assistance but could not make the right choice. The ethical dilemma in the case occurs when the doctor has to decide on the best action to take to help the patient. The caring response, in this case, is making sure the patient receives treatment where the six steps result to the final decision of performing the surgery. Step 1 It is advisable to gather all the relevant information from the patient before making a decision. After analyzing the ethical issue in a situation, it is easy to identify the critical aspect of the problem. It involves identifying the questions that need an answer and searching for the relevant principles that should apply. The appropriate source of information is from the patient, the field experts, and also from fellow staff. Its relevance is to ensure that the main issue is addressed. From the gathered information, one can decide whether to perform an act or not. There are various types of information that can help to analyze the patients situation in the case. They comprise the number of sources of income, her responsibilities, and status information. Among the questions to ask the patient include: the number of sources of income she has, her duties, how flexible she is to adjust to the change of occupation, availability of anyone to assist her in the responsibilities, and whethe r she has a spouse. Step 2 Different types of ethical problems comprise type A, type B, ethical dilemma, locus of authority, and moral distress. Type A focus on internal and external barriers, and type B deals with truth. Moral distress focus on whether something is wrong as well as negative consequences. Locus of authority asks whether somebody could be influencing the decision, while moral distress deals with personal behavior. Therefore, type A ethical dilemma is more relevant in this case since it involves two aspects of care. The woman is afraid of losing the dance work that helps her in raising income, and the situation is demanding for a surgery. The surgery is a barrier to the work she does as it can burst if stretched and dancing involves a lot of dancing. Step 3 Three theories can help in analyzing the situation. They include utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. To start with, the utilitarianism deals with outcomes such as performing an act that is more beneficial. Then, deontology is based on the duty to help in decision making. The most relevant question to ask in this theory is whether to focus on duties as a guide in making choices. Lastly, virtue ethics focus on the character of an ethical person. Therefore, the approach that fits in the case is utilitarianism. The approach applies when the physician convinces the woman on the importance of the surgery despite losing her job. The benefit of the physician is that she can be able to do other types of work after it heals. However, failure for the surgery will not enable her to work. Step 4 Generating a working strategy that ensures that all patients receive assistance is crucial. Hence, it is essential to look for information and brainstorm all the ideas from the answers given by the patient. The characteristics include an ability to generate information fast, put the information in an orderly manner, and offer the participant equal opportunity and find significance in all ideas. The case indicates that the patient has to receive surgery to survive. The following are three quality alternatives in the case. The first option is the failure to do the surgery upon which the patient dies. The second alternative is performing the operation and losing the work. The third alternative is to leave the patient alone to decide on what she wants. However, it is more appropriate to convince the patient to accept the surgery. The reason is that there are other work opportunities she can get after recovery. Step 5 It may be difficult to convince the patient about the advantages of performing the surgery. However, the doctor has to apply the utilitarianism theory to assist her. There are hindrances on deciding to do it such as lack of patients agreement and a risk that can occur when the surgery leads to more complications. The steps to ensure the process is successfully done is being positive about the outcomes and convincing the patient on the possibility of getting another job. However, when the information acquired from the patient indicates more harm after the surgery occurs, it may not be necessary to take action. Step 6 Self-evaluation is essential in making the right decision and achieving expected results. It offers a possibility to assess the advantages and disadvantages that result from decision making. Nursing, which is my future profession, is more demanding regarding self-evaluation. It is important to review the past evaluation method results and do a self-evaluation. In case there are hardships in making the decision, it is ethically right to do some consultation from my team or more experienced persons. Conclusion The case study illustrates the relevant aspects of a decision-making process. There are specific ethics that apply depending on the case study. The first thing when deciding on what ethics apply in a particular case and the way to approach it is gathering all relevant information and analyzing it. The issue of analysis, in this case, was the reason for declining surgery. On ascertaining the information, the idea of the physician to perform the surgery was more applicable. The fifth step is the most difficult in dealing with this case. It is the final decision which comprises making a step where the best ethical choice has to take place. The analysis can be useful in my future nursing career when gathering information and assessing a moral dilemma.

Taking a Look at Huntingtons Disease - 1686 Words

In 1892, George Huntington described this disease in the following quote: The hereditary chorea, as I shall call it, is confined to certain and fortunately few families, and has been transmitted to them, an heirloom from generations away back in the dim past. It is spoken of by those in whose veins the seeds of the disease are known to exist, with a kind of horror and not at all alluded to except through dire necessity when it is mentioned as â€Å"that disorder†. George Huntington was not the first to describe the disease, but he was the first to present an account in concise clear detail. After Huntington’s research, the disease was known as Huntington chorea. Chorea meaning sporadic, involuntary movements. As time has progressed, research has as well, and this disease has come to be known as Huntington’s disease (HD). Huntington’s is a neurodegenerative disorder that is autosomal dominant, meaning the defective gene needs only be inherited from one parent. The cause of HD is a defect that occurs on chromosome 4 and as mentioned above is hereditary. This disease affects the cognitive, motor and emotional functions of the brain. Oliver Quarrell put in simpler terms the actions of the brain cells in a book he wrote stating the known facts of Huntington’s disease. Quarrell (1999) described a person with this disease to have, â€Å"some nerve cells, in specific areas of the brain, die back early† (p.2). The act ion of cells dying prematurely leads to two forms of Huntington’s; AdultShow MoreRelatedHuntington s Disease : A Genetic Disorder1121 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract: Huntington’s Disease- Huntington s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder. It affects the muscle coordination and decline in cognitive that leads to dementia. It affects both males and females in their middle age (J.D, 2015). Huntington’s disease is most common in genetic causes the leads to abnormal involuntary movement also called Huntington’s chorea (J.D, 2015). Epidemiology: Huntington s disease is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder it occurs in aRead MoreGenetic testing is a class of medical testing that recognize changes in chromosomes, gene or1300 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic testing is a class of medical testing that recognize changes in chromosomes, gene or proteins. This type of test look for abnormalities in DNA or RNA that is collected from a person’s blood, body fluids or tissues. Genetic testing scans the genes looking for large or small change that occur to gene. These changes to the genes could have missing or addition parts that could change the chemical base within the DNA strand. 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Campbell Psychology 210 October 31, 2015 Malvereen Harris Alzheimer’s Disease: The Neurological Thief It is a wicked disease that slowly steals our loved ones memories, independence and eventually their lives. While no one knows the exact cause of Alzheimer’s Disease, it is the leading cause of dementia related deaths to date. It was first described in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, a German psychologist and neurologist. Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurologicalRead MoreForest Conservation Of Long Island, New York1092 Words   |  5 Pagesextensive suburban development in the few decades, a fact that has made forest conservation a critical issue. This is important because god forest cover can go a long way to benefit the industries and local communities in Nassau County, Syosset, Huntington and North Shore and other areas in Long Island. According to the New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation, the total forested area in New York state is about 19 million acres or about 63% of the total acreage available. The forestRead MoreThe Human Genome Project Is A Scient ific Program1357 Words   |  6 Pagesdivision is taking place as the new cell has to have an exact copy of the DNA that was in the old cell. DNA is also important because it transfers hereditary information from generation to generation; it even helps determine the structure of a cell, for example it can be a muscle cell or a blood cell. Method of DNA testing The information from the project helps scientists to find out exactly which parts of the DNA, on which chromosomes, are responsible for the variety of inherited diseases. (WJEC A2

European History free essay sample

Analyze attitudes toward and evaluate the motivations behind the European acquisition of African colonies in the period 1880 to 1914. Prior to the European takeover of colonies in Africa, Europe had been going through the Industrial Revolution. While European nations had been focusing on building up themselves to become stronger, they began sending missionaries and explorers such as Stanley and Livingston deep into central Africa. European nations soon discovered that there were vast amounts of resources to be found and harvested, and with a different motivation for each nation, they saw that taking over colonies in Africa would give them either a political or economic advantage in Europe. Many of the European nations had different reasons for wanting to control parts of Africa. Chancellor Otto von Bismark of Germany, speaking to his explorer that returned from Africa, says â€Å"My map of Africa is in Europe. Here is Russia and here is France, and we are in the middle. We will write a custom essay sample on European History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page That is my map of Africa† (Doc 3). He argues that he is focusing on Europe and he is only willing to establish colonies because France and Russia are doing it as well. For Britain, Joseph Chamberlain, a politician and reformer, explains during his speech, â€Å"to reduce the British Empire to the dimensions of the United Kingdom, half at least of our population would be starved† (Doc 4). Chamberlain claims that developing colonies in Africa is necessary for British population survival. In the book, The Master of the Sea, Eugene-Melchior de Vogue, French diplomat, describes how the European balance of power is now becoming a world balance of power (Doc 10). This means that in order to keep the balance of power, other nations would need to establish colonies in Africa in order to stay important. Out of those reason there were some European nations that believed would gain a political advantage by taking territories in Africa. Prince Leopold, future king of Belgium, during a conversation said â€Å"history teaches that colonies are useful, that they play a great part in that which makes up the power and prosperity of states, let us strive to get one in our turn† (Doc 1). Leopold believes colonies in Africa would make Belgium more powerful. Leopold being an heir to the throne would want to become a great leader by making Belgium stronger through colonies. Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister, speaking to the House of Commons, in regards to Suez Canal, states that he never recommended the canal as a financial investment, but as a political transaction to strengthen the empire (Doc 2). He argues that the canal can be seen more as useful towards political aims by making it easier to travel to and control the African territories. Another British political speaker, Archibald Philip Primrose, politician and foreign secretary, in his letter to the London Times, expresses that Britain as its first condition requires to be an imperial race and that â€Å"survival of the fittest is an absolute truth in the conditions of the modern world† (Doc 8). Britain use imperialism in Africa is needed to survive in the modern world ruled by Social Darwinism. As a British citizen, Primrose knows that Great Britain relies on exports from their colonies for food and income, so he would want to promote imperialism into other countries. In the book, The Master of the Sea, Eugene-Melchior de Vogue, French diplomat, states that because of European balance of power becoming world balance of power, â€Å"any country that does not wish to become less important must obtain as much new territory relatively as our rivals are doing† (Doc 10). Vogue shows that some countries would see colonizing Africa as a way to keep up with their enemies and not become overpowered. Like those that believed Africa would give a political advantage, others thought that its resources would be economically beneficial. George Washington Williams, lawyer, historian, and legislator, in a letter addressed to King Leopold II of the Belgian, tells about the progress of the Independent State of Congo, explains how Henry M. Stanley was able to deceive the natives into handing over their villages to Belgium (Doc 6). King Leopold II and Stanley created the Independent State of Congo in hopes of making a big profit off of Africa out of the natives and their resources. German Social Democratic Party Congress, in Resolution, argues that the discontent of the bourgeoisie for more money and ever-increasing capital are the reasons that Germany colonizes Africa (Doc 9). The bourgeoisie look to Africa to expand their markets because they are discontent exploiting their home markets. With the party being democratic they would be a liberal group and not wanting to colonize and enslave others. Over the European takeover of Africa, those European nations would begin fighting over their new territories. European History free essay sample How did Bismarck’s system of alliances help maintain peace? Bismarck’s system of alliances was the goal of keeping France isolated and not to have any military allies. Also, he wanted to keep Russia and Austria-Hungary from going to war. France was still bitter over the losing Alsace-Lorraine from the Franco-Prussian War. Both Russia and Austria-Hungary desired territory from the weakening Ottoman Empire, which was the Balkans. The Three Emperors League was an alliance with Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia. This was against radical movements. With the Congress of Berlin, Austria got Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Balkan states ended up becoming independent. The Triple Alliance was Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy was a defensive alliance protection against Russia. The Reinsurance Treaty was between Germany and Russia. If one of them were to be attacked, they promised neutrality. Germany was concerned about war between Austria and Russia. Plus France and Russia being allies. We will write a custom essay sample on European History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page William II ended this treaty and dismissed Bismarck. 2) What were the reasons for Britain and Germany’s love-hate relationship? Between the 1700 and 1800’s, Germany and Britain had a common enemy, which was France. Their racials ties of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic people as well. The rivalry was of course power. Germany was on the rise to power. Economic wise was the colonie and the world market. For the military component, Germany expanded their navy with battleships. Great Britain is known for its naval supremacy and it was threatened by Germany. It ended up being a naval race between the two nations. For the political factors, Great Britain wanted alliances with France, Russia, and the United States. At the Algeciras Conference, Germany attempted to break the friendship between Great Britain and France. They failed and brought them closer. 3) Why was the Moroccan crisis of 1905 a turning point in European diplomacy? France and Great Britain agreed over North Africa. Britain got full control over Egypt and France got full control over Morocco. The Anglo-French Entente was closer relations between France and England. Germany as always wanted to try and break the treaty between France and England. Germany didnt act diplomatically though. They were now viewed as an international bully. Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States saw Germany as a common threat. These four nations became closer. Austria became Germany’s main ally as well. 4) What impact did the Congress of Berlin (1878) have on the Balkan area? What were the origins and causes of the â€Å"Third Balkan War†? With the Congress of Berlin, Austria-Hungary had power over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Romania and Serbia won independence. Bulgaria won a somewhat say in their government. Austria-Hungary and Russia wanted to control the Balkans. With nationalism, Serbia wanted to expand by gaining Bosnia and Herzegovina. Austria-Hungary ended up annexing both of their wanted territories. Serbians were furious. The First and Second Balkan Wars consisted of fight within Serbia, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire about territorial gains. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was on a visit to Sarajevo and ended up getting assassinated by Serbians. It was the Black Hand which was a Serbian terrorist group. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia which was the start of the Third Balkan War. Austria-Hungary wanted to stop nationalism that threatened their empire. 5) Which of the major powers do you believe were most responsible and least responsible for the war? Explain. Austria-Hungary had imperialism in the Balkans and declared war on Serbia. They were also Germany’s main ally. Russia had total support of Serbia. They allied with Serbia and France. All three of them mobilized against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany wrote a â€Å"blank check† to Austria-Hungary. William II’s poor control of international diplomacy lead to the Moroccan crisis and naval build up. In addition, Germany invaded France through Belgium. France became permanently mad at Germany and seeked for revenge. They ended up allying with Russia. This meant the support from Russia meant also from Serbia. Great Britain had a naval build up and entered an alliance with France. This disrupted the balance of power and made it point toward France now. 6) What impact did the war have on the economy and the people at home? How cooperative was the population? The economy changed from a free market system to a state run economy. The government organized price and wage controls, quotas, production and what to be produced. The food and resources vital for war had to be rationed. Due to nationalism, the population was supportive of the â€Å"total war† efforts of their governments, in the beginning of the war. 7) Did the war have any effect on the power of organized labor? On women in society? The labor unions cooperated with governments on production and wages. The government gave back by allowing labor leaders in policy making councils. The unions were accepted in the European countries as legitimate organizations. Women were now in demand for labor because men were off at war. Women became a more visible part in society and this gave a boost for the modern women’s rights movement. 8) What evidence is there that the strain of the war was beginning to take its toll on the home front in Russia, Austria, France, and Germany by 1916? Russia had a lot of war casualties. The population was vital of the czar’s leadership. Nicholas II went to the front to lead the troops. While he was away, Alexandra and Rasputin were in charge. Austria’s chief minister was assassinated. Frances Joseph died as well. The Czechs and Yugoslavs called for autonomous democracies. France and their troops refused to fight. There were labor strikes during the war. Clemenceau ruled practically as a dictator. Germany had Karl Liebknecht, who was a radical social leader, spoke out against war. This had the radicals to protest. There was an expanding anti-war legislation in the Reichstag and massive break strikes in Berlin. 9) What were the reasons for the Russian Revolution in March 1917? Who were the Soviets? The war demoralized troops which led to mass desertions. Many peasant soldiers returned home and angry with weapons. Also the war produced massive food shortages and there were bread riots in St. Petersburg. These riots spread like wildfire. Nicholas II ended up stepping down and leaving Russia. The Soviet and the provisional government ended up trying to rule Russia. The social classes were going for political liberty. The upper middle class were expecting better results from the war. Workers demanded better wages and good. Peasants asked for land reform. The Soviets was a political organization in St. They were against the czar’s government and operated separately from the Kerenskys provisional government. For example, Army Order #1. 10) What were the reasons for the Bolshevik victory in the civil war? The democracy ended up turning into an anarchy. Not one individual group or person had clear dominance to take power. Lenin and Trotsky were talented leaders who competed for power. Trotsky created an organized and centralized army that was able to outperform the whites. While Lenin was able to appeal to the urban workers and soldiers who were for socialism, successfully. The Bolsheviks ruled the center of Russia while the white were scattered out over thousands of miles. There was a secret police and the use of terror. The â€Å"White Armies† were decentralized and didn’t organize movements. They didn’t have a clear political objective that rallied the enemies of the Bolsheviks into an united front. Foreign military aid was too late and little and rallied nationalistic Russian against the whites. 11) What happened to the Austro-Hungarian and Turkish empires after 1918? Austria-Hungary became Austria. They lost land to Italy which was Tyrol. They became independent states which were Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. Austria ended up becoming a small, militarily insignificant European nation. The Ottoman Empire ended up becoming Turkey. France got Lebanon and Syria. While Britain received Iraq and Palestine. The empire was diminished and Turkey’s borders were the Anatolian peninsula and the Bosporus. Both of these nations were once dominant in power and now were put down to secondary status, which is ironic. 12) What were the goals of Wilson, Lloyd George, and Clemenceau at the Versailles Peace Conference? President Wilson of the United States created the Fourteen Points. He wanted national self determinations, rights of small countries, and League of Nations. David Lloyd George was focused on restoring Germany to a reasonable economic strength. He perceived that Germany could be a balance to the communist Russia. Georges Clemenceau seeked revenge against Germany for the two invasions in the last forty years. He wanted to create a buffer state between France and Germany. He wanted protection against future attacks and permanent demilitarization of Germany. Germany had to pay large war reparations and it weakened them, yet gave France a chance to rebuild.