To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Good morning/afternoon Executives of the Board of Studies. In the topic of powerful to powerless, To Kill A Mockingbird is a classic novel that is relevant and appropriate. It possesses many admirable qualities that prove its worth to be on the new curriculum. The novel explores many ideas regarding the use and abuse of power, different forms of power, the consequences of power, and how the composer has used language to portray power. To Kill A Mockingbird explores a number of different types of power throughout. There are four types of power: personal, instrumental, projected and official power. One clear example of power is that of Atticus Finchs regarding his children. As their father, Atticus has official power over Scout and Jem. He also has instrumental power as he provides a home, as well as other basic necessities for his children. Another example of power, although it is negative, is the projected power that Bob Ewell possesses over Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson highlights his fear of Bob as he testifies Mr. Finch, if you was a nigger like me, youd be scared too. Bob Ewells power demonstrates that power can be taken and abused by others. Despite whether if you have an abundance of power of you are miserably lacking so, there will always be certain consequences that follow. Bob Ewell, as an example, believed that he was better than the African Americans despite the fact that he was considered the lowest class in white society. Bob Ewell abused his power, although it was still lacking. Ewell, was too prideful, that after being humiliated in court and stripped of dignity by Atticus, he decided to attack Atticus children. Furthermore, Arthur Boo Radley can depict a lack of power. Boo Radley had lived most of his life trapped inside his home by his oppressive family members. He was feared because of the negative connotations that surrounded him. The stories that were told of him portrayed his character as a monster, or something to fear. Furthermore, another figure in the novel that lacked power was Tom Robinson. In society, African Americans were looked down upon by the white society. Tom Robinson was racially discriminated against by Bob Ewell, who framed him for a crime he did not commit. As white people were the superior race, they had power over the African Americans. As Tom Robinson lacked power, he also lacked the ability to act against the threats of Bob Ewell because of his fear. Even though Tom Robinson was a man of great stature, and seemed adequate to engage in a physical brawl despite his injury, he was still afraid. Harper Lee employs a range of language techniques in order to convey ideas about power. Lee has described Arthur Boo Radley as having cheeks that were thin to hollowness, gray eyes that were colourless and hair that was dead and thin. It has been acknowledged that Boo is considered one of the novels most powerless figures. His name is an aptronym, it portrays his character and highlights his mysterious nature. It is also an example of onomatopoeia, hinting at negative connotations. Additionally, there are other aspects that can also assist the portrayal of his character. The author describes the Radley house as droopy and sick, this parallels to the descriptions made of Boo. Harper Lees many descriptions of Boo Radley creates a vivid picture in the readers mind, the reader is immediately drawn to the connotations that surround Boo. It is because of ideas explored previously that prove To Kill A Mockingbird to be a worthy contender on the new school curriculum. It explored the concept behind power and powerless and therefore is relevant.

Man + Woman = Family :: same sex marriage, argument

Man + Woman = Family   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Catholic bishops of Alaska have urged their people to approve a state  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   constitutional amendment declaring that a valid marriage may exist between one man and one woman.† A decision made last February by Supreme Court Judge Peter Michalski opened the door to change the nature of marriage. It dismisses male and female sexuality as an important role in marriage. It eliminates the possibility of the procreation of children. It changes also the meaning of family (National Catholic Reporter, 1998). If same-sex marriages are legalized, we will soon forget what a real family should consist of†¦.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is very important to realize the importance of a man and a woman’s sexuality when in wedlock. When God created man and woman, he made a special contour of the two bodies to come together and interlock in a comfortable position. When the opposites do come together a child is soon after born. This is not possible with two of the same sex.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To have a child come into the world is one of the greatest things in life. When two people share equally, this phenomenon of childbirth, it naturally bonds a husband and wife together forever. If you married the same sex and adopted a child you would never experience that type of a bond.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the beginning of time a family tree has had a man and a woman resting at the peak. Sexual relations between a man and a woman will keep the tree full of branches for many years to come. When the same sex get married it will eliminate the growth of new branches. Eventually, the roots will be gone and the tree will die. Fortunately for me, my family tree is full of strong branches, and it gets bigger and bigger each year.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In my short time on this Earth, I have found out why it is important for a man and a woman to be united as one. There are a lot of differences between the two sexes. In a same-sex marriage, the opportunity to enjoy those differences will cease to exist. I know this because I am married to the opposite sex myself. Together we have found out just how different a man and a woman really are.

Free Enterprise in United States

â€Å"Work hard, save your money, and you can become wealthy – or, at least, â€Å"independent! † This is the motto of old-fashioned, â€Å"free enterprise. † It expresses the idea that everybody in a capitalist society can participate and compete on the same terms with similar chances of success. It implies that the working class is just a collection of individuals who have not yet established their independence (worked their way up) through â€Å"individual initiative,† rather than a being permanent class. In the early 19th Century, most Americans (including Abraham Lincoln, for instance) believed this. They thought opportunities under capitalism would keep expanding forever. But what is the reality behind this capitalist thinking? In the past, working people in America have had more opportunity to go into business or to get land for farming than anywhere else in the developed world. At the time the U. S. Constitution was written, it was generally assumed that only property owners should have the right to vote and participate in government. The â€Å"Free Labor† thinking of the Republican Party before the Civil War was basically a form of the capitalist work ethic. It meant that if 1) you were free yourself; 2) your country was â€Å"free†; and, 3) there was no slave labor to take your livelihood, you could â€Å"make something of yourself,† and become a capitalist or, at least, an independent producer, professional or artist. Americans in the North at that time were influenced by this capitalist â€Å"work-ethic† to under-estimate the energy of the South. They thought (as the capitalist â€Å"work-ethic† would lead them to believe) that the poverty and economic decline of the South were probably due to laziness and that this indicated that the North should be able to easily defeat the South. But the Civil War proved that Southerners were not â€Å"lazy;† it was the slave system (lacking science and industry) that caused many of the economic problems there. The capitalist â€Å"work-ethic† also caused Northerners to overlook the only chance for real progress in the South during the â€Å"Reconstruction† — taking of the lands of former slave-owners, and their distribution to Blacks and poor Whites. They assumed, as did Abraham Lincoln, that anyone with ambition would simply work his way up. They could not understand that capitalism naturally limited opportunities, because the majority would have to be workers, not capitalists. With no land or other economic basis to start from, most workers in the South would have no way of lifting themselves from poverty. Strong competition with other capitalists, who are constantly trying to gain a larger market by offering a cheaper product, forces the beginner to keep putting everything back into his business. He must invest in more modern equipment in order to be able to produce more cheaply with higher quality, and on a larger scale. He must do this in order to improve his product or services, and also capture a larger share of the market, until he has reached a level where there is no immediate threat of being put out of business by his competition. This means having the most modern machinery and getting the most productivity out of his workers. This huge need for capital also forces the capitalist to rely more and more on third parties. Making the capitalist borrow from banks to keep his capitol at a safe amount. They simply hire employees to make all the management decisions, design and develop the product, etc. Free enterprise† thinking forgets that a worker has only his labor-power to sell in order to earn his living. He competes with other workers to sell his labor-power at the cheapest price. The average price of labor-power (the worker's wages) is the amount that it takes to â€Å"make ends meet† under the given social settings in a country. The laws of economics determine that if the worker works faster, he creates a cheaper product. But this eventually cheapens the amount which the capitalist must pay him in wages because there are always unemployed workers somewhere willing to work for the bare necessities. Working faster increases competition without increasing their earnings. Because of these realities, workers learn to â€Å"work smart† according to their own understanding. Working smart for the worker means withholding his labor power, working more slowly and learning the tricks of the trade, better known as bargaining. These things raise the price of his labor-power. This in turn forces the capitalist to concentrate more on improving productivity through better machinery and production processes in order to increase his profits.

Essay Russian Revolution and Orwell - 526 Words

Russian Revolution and Orwell Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution have many similarities and ideas. The characters, settings, and the plots are the same. In addition Animal Farm is a satire and allegory of the Russian Revolution, George Orwell meant for it to be that way. My essay will cover the comparison between Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution. Also it will explain why this novel is a satire and allegory to the Revolution. First of all the characters of the farm have a special role in Russian Revolution. The farm itself represents Russia, with its poor conditions and non-responsible leaders. Napoleon, the evil pig who plays Joseph Stalin in real life. Snowball, the leader who gives aid and information to Napoleon and†¦show more content†¦Both the novel and Russian Revolution cover the same ideas because of these reasons. In the Russian Revolution an non-responsible leader name Nicholas the second or how people those days refer to him as the Czar was overthrown by a new leader with better ideas and ways to keep Russia alive. Stalin ruled for a great period of time, and so he got kicked out too, this time by his own people. In Animal Farm an old pig named Old Major has a dream about a world where animals rule, there are no differences, all equality, a dream about communism. This same thought applies with the idea of Stalin and his plan in ruling Russia. So when Snowball hears this he and his comrades get ready to attack the government, Mr. Jones (also known as the Czar). When he is overthrown Snowball becomes the leader and is betrayed by Napoleon. This event is w hen Stalin kicks out Lenin. Mendez 3 Animal Farm is a great example of a Political Satire. In Chapter one it tells how the author, George Orwell, feels about the novel. Also it gives reference to the farm and how it relates to Russia. But you can see all the irony in chapter two. Human nature cant handle communism. We are too devious and too demanding for the things we want, we are bossy. From chapter two to the last chapter shows how the novel is irony and in theShow MoreRelatedBased on the Russian Revolution, Animal Farm by George Orwell672 Words   |  3 Pagespower, but many times power overcomes them, and they become hideous and cruel. In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, we see a terrible dictatorship based on the Russian Revolution. The pigs on Animal Farm instantly became the leaders of the farm. â€Å"The pigs did not actually work, but directed the others with their superior knowledge it was natural to assume their leadership (Orwell 19). After Jones leaves, the animals work together trying to make the farm a better place for animals. Shortly afterRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell1397 Words   |  6 PagesAn important quote by the influential author of Animal Farm, George Orwell, is, â€Å"Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism.† George Orwell, a Democratic Socialist, wrote the book Animal Farm as an attack on the Communist country of Russia (â€Å"The Political Ideas of George Orwell,† worldsocialism.org). He had a very strong disliking of Communism and the Socialist party of Russia. However, he insisted on finding the truthRead MoreAllegory Of George Orwells Animal Farm And The Russian Revolution749 Wo rds   |  3 Pagescalled Animal Farm demonstrates that the story is an allegory for the Russian Revolution. The story explains about power and how is the society being ruled. At first, it has been nice, until there is power and nobody is actually equal to each other. Mostly, the animals or people do not accept anything like that, but the society has changed and it will never be the same. Therefore, the book, Animal Farm, and history, Russian Revolution, have similar connections of what do the animals and people have aRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell1263 Words   |  6 PagesIn the book Animal Farm, Orwell tried to get many points across to his readers with his novel. One of his goals in this book was to portray the Russian Revolution of which resulted in a totalitarian, and more deadly government than the government of which had been overthrown. In doing this, Orwell made his characters parallel to those of which played major roles throughout the Russian Revolution. For exam ple, Manor Farm represents Russia, while Snowball, Old Major, and Napoleon represent the leadingRead MoreAnimal Farm by George Orwell1175 Words   |  5 PagesAn enthusiastic participant in the Spanish civil war in 1936, George Orwell had a great understanding of the political world and made his strong opinions known through his enlightening literary works, many of which are still read in our modern era. Inspired by the 1917 Russian Revolution and the failed society it resulted in, Animal Farm by George Orwell is an encapsulating tale that epitomises how a free utopian society so idealistic can never be accomplished. The novella exemplifies how influencesRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1361 Words   |  6 Pagesfarmer, but of late he had fallen on evil days†(Orwell 38). In Animal Farm George Orwell describes life for the animals on a farm in the english countryside during the mid to early 20th century before, during and after a revolution against their master Mr.Jones in order to represent the russian revolution and describe to people throughout the free world how leaders in both capitalist and communist societies oppress the working class as a result Orwell s tone throughout the novel is concerned. TsarRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1463 Words   |  6 Pagesbut of late he had fallen on evil days†(Orwell 38). In Animal Farm, George Orwell describes life for the animals on a farm in the English countryside during the mid to early 20th century before, during and after a revolution against their master, Mr.Jones. Orwell does this to represent the Russian revolution and describe to people throughout the free world how leaders in both capitalist and communist societies oppress the working class. As a result Orwell s tone throughout the novel is concernedRead MoreAnimal Farm Literary Analysis710 Words   |  3 PagesGeorge Orwell, a writer of many novels and other literature, one of his most known is Animal Farm.This book is where Orwel l’s political style as well as other techniques he used in his writing were used most. Animal Farm is about farm animals who are being neglected by their owner, and they decides to overthrow him and take control of their farm. However, that is only the the outer layer of the story, looking under the surface, this is an allegory detailing the Russian Revolution. The author wroteRead MoreAnimal Farm, By George Orwell, Uses Real World Examples1106 Words   |  5 PagesAnimal Farm, by George Orwell, uses real world examples to link a specific purpose to the unfortunate society. This novel is relevant to the world because in today’s society. Power is often misused and abused. Today’s world if full of scandals by people misusing funds, abuse of power, and taking advantage of the innocent.. To link this novel even more to the real word, Orwell compares Animal Farm to the Russian revolution, which leads to symbols throughout this novel. Authors today are extremelyRead MoreHow Has George Orwell Used Animal Farm to Present His View of Human Nature?789 Words   |  4 Pageseffectively to expose the issues of injustice, exploitation and inequality in human society. Orwell uses the allegory, Animal Farm, to present the story of The Russian Revolution and essentially express his opinions on the matter. By plainly exposing the unjust and corrupt system that is communism, Orwell is ultimately presenting his pessimistic view of human nature. It is evident through the text that Orwell believes that in theory everybody wants equality, hence the concept of communism, yet it