Saturday, January 25, 2020

Walt Whitman and Dostoyevsky: The human identity

Walt Whitman and Dostoyevsky: The human identity The portrayal of the human identity in the poems of Walt Whitman and Dostoyevsky: Literature plays an important role in the society that is not only related to the level of entertainment. Through the various genres of literature, we can represent ideas to the society through the specific thematic issues raised within the fabric of the texts. Poetry serves the same purpose in the society. Through the use of beauty in the language such as the symbolic sound give the genre an entertaining perspective. Aside from the entertainment, the ideas of the poet about the society are equally presented. The opinions of the writer about a specific subject such as the personal identity and its implication in a society are possible views that can be intertwined in the themes texts. The poems of Walt Whitman and the novella by Dostoyevsky are no exceptions. It is possible that the authors' use of the thematic issues is a portrayal of their opinions about the society. Here, I examine the possible difference or similarity in the portrayal of human identity in the works by the tw o authors. Specifically the works that are selected for this analysis are the poems A noiseless patient spider, the song of myself and A Sight in Camp all by Walt Whitman. Notes from the underground are the work by Dostoyevsky that will be looked at here. Thesis: Non-conformity and independence are used as the major formulators of personal identity in the works of Walt Whitman and Dostoyevsky. Non-conformity is taken in this paper to mean the lack of respect or appreciation for societal expectations. It means that the social obligations and the desire to be free from societal expectation will make a person have the propensity to be independent. This independence is the key factor that will shape the identity of persons in a society. When a child asks the persona about grass in the poem song of myself, the persona could not give an answer about the same question. This sends him wondering in thought in a journey that takes him through the continent of America (Whitman, 56). His epic journey in thought makes him fall in love with nature and he does believe that there is nothing bad that will not contribute to a positive outcome in the system that is nature. Transcendental philosophy and the freedom of thought, in this case, is what informs the persona's identity. The persona develops an opinion of the world through the examination of the different aspects of the society in thought. the cause this is that it is easier to construct the possibilities of the society through the mind. In notes from the underground, the author's intent is to show that through the use of conscious thinking, the personality of an individual can be formed. The narrator, in this case, informs us that the ability to take revenge is in fact not a possibility to him. This is driven by his ability to construct and analyse the possibilities of the action. He believes that the consequences of his actions could lead to other disasters that can be of even more consequences. As a result, the persona opts to do simply nothing but imagine things in the society. This makes him unable to confront his colleagues despite the fact that they have clearly shown that they despised him. The norm in any society is that if anything is wrong, the obligation is on the people living in this society to make changes to the same effect. The use of imagination and the resultant utopia created by the imaginations can also be seen as shaping the identity of the persona in notes from the underground. The persona believes that he could escape from the overall boredom created by work and interpersonal relation through the use of a mental process or imagination on the same. This position can be taken from the fact that the main desire of the persona is to be independent of any external forces that shape the relationships that he had in society. In the poetic works of Whitman especially the A Noiseless Patient Spider, the persona envisions his soul wandering in a vast open space of the ocean while he stands on a promontory (Whitman, 405). The idea that is being projected in the text here is the independence and the lack of influence of any other societal factors like interpersonal relationships. In reality, the possibility of the existence of no factors to influence the thinking or the actions of an individual is a societal impossibility. The author, therefore, uses a level of lack of conformity and adherence to societal norms in these works. The only possibility of the lack of any interference in the society is if there is no individual living with the persona in the same society. A Sight in Camp is also a poem that is used by Whitman to further the ideal of wishful thinking and independence from the social norms. In this poem, the author knows that it is possible for members of different ages and sex to experience suffering occasioned by disease. Still, the author deliberately talks of a faceless perfection and lack of suffering even in a medical camp (Whitman 276). The author's intent is to make us imagine that there is a society in which all the suffering is not present and that people do not recognise each other from a physical perspective. The assumption that the author is also driving here is that there is a possibility of achieving the level of equity that appreciates all beings as perfectly similar regardless of age and social standings. In notes from the underground, the author takes a different approach to dealing with the society, suffering and utopia. The author opines that it is possible that the level of suffering brought about by the different factors in a society could be the norm. However, the use of science and the rationality is a major cause for the deviation of the norm. The persona argues that through suffering, it is possible to have an individual to receive honour or ennoblement. This ennoblement or honour could be what the normal individual would want for themselves and identity. The deviation from this normal point and the lessening of suffering by scientists and rationalists is the cause of a strive towards a utopian society. The argument that the author proposes here is also related to the independence of choice. In a society that the realists and the scientists are constantly working towards making life better, the common man is left with no other choice. The desire to experience anything in life like work and social life is constantly challenged by the idea that are floated by the members of these bodies. The result is that everyone is whipped away from what they so desire and instead moved towards what other people think is ideal. The result is that their personal identity is changed through conforming to these norms but their independence to choose is denied. In conclusion, the main area of discussion in this article concerned the use of non-conformity to societal norms and the level of effect of independence in the creation of personal identity. A review of the works by the two authors reveals a level of similarity in approaches given to the subject of identity in the texts. In all the works, transcendental philosophy underpins the formation of the identity of the persona of the work. According to Dostoyevsky, the use of imagination or conscious thinking has led the persona not to act in any way to change the situation that is prevailing. Despite him realising that it could be wrong or the situation is not right, the consequences of the action hold the persona back. It also affects the level of independence that the author has regarding the ability to make choices on the actual desires like escaping from boredom. Whitman also uses the same philosophy in determining the identity of the persona in most of the works. According to the author , the epic mental journey that is provoked by a Childs question about grass (Whitman 56) has led to a lot of discoveries. The nature of the personal self is among the things that the persona has discovered in the process. Much of the idea that, therefore, shapes the identity of the persona are therefore brought out in a transcendent way. The only difference is in the way the authors handle the concept of the ideal society and the independence to choose a personal identity. In notes from the underground, the persona opines that the choice of the members of the society is not independent. It argues that the choice is as a result of the scientific view of a utopian society. Whitman in contrast feels that it is highly necessary to have a utopian society where everyone is equal, there is no suffering. This idea is explicitly projected in A noiseless patient spider (Whitman 405). It is, therefore, important to conclude that both the authors employ the use of non-conformity and independence as the major formulators of the identity of individuals. Works cited Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Notes from the Underground. Broadview Press, 2014. Whitman, Walt. The Complete Poems of Walt Whitman. Wordsworth Editions, 1995.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Growing Number of Kindergarten Franchises to Drive Revenues of China Preschool Industry: Ken Research Essay

The preschool market is the fastest growing sector of the education industry in China presently. Over the span of last seven years, the industry has grown at an annualized rate of 10. 3% from 2006. The industry showcased increasing revenues in the period of 2006-2012, owing to the inflating tuition fees charged by the growing number of the private kindergartens. The enrollment figures have also shown a progressive trend throughout the years, instigated by the growing market presence and awareness about the importance of the pre-primary education amongst masses. Kindergartens in China are responsible for providing both childcare and preschool education to the children aged 3-6 years. The transition of Chinese economy from publicly administered to market-run has put a great impact on the kindergarten market of the country. Private sector funded kindergartens have gained increasing hold over the overall market and had accounted for a dominant share in 2012. Rural areas of China host the maximum of the kindergartens which are primarily run by the education department or are publicly funded. However, with a rising number of private entities adopting the franchised business model to operate in the underpenetrated market of China preschool industry, the urban areas have showcased an increasing share of enrollments over the years. The preschool industry of China is characterized by a high degree of fragmentation with increasing number of players implementing acquisition expansion strategies to build on their market shares. RYB Education, Oriental BabyCare, Gymboree Play and Music are some of the chief brand names operating in the market. Other emerging players include Noah Education holdings, Beijing Hongying Education group, I Love Gym etc. A significant number of publicly led kindergartens also are prominent in China which includes players such as Huijia Kindergarten and Hong Huanlan Education Group. Increasing number of working mothers has led to an increasing demand for the kindergartens in the country. Additionally, the large population base of the country promises an increasing cohort of children aged under- six, which presents huge opportunities for the foreign and domestic investors to attain growing levels of revenues in coming years. Additionally, the talent-based trainings provided in the kindergartens of China, has also welcomed a growing number of children to participate in the preschool programs. However, the trend of bilingual kindergartens is being most prominently witnessed in this sector, stressing the growing importance of early language training, as preferred by parents. The report â€Å"China Pre-primary Education and Childcare Industry Outlook to 2017† provides detailed overview on the preschool industry from various perspectives. The report encloses a comprehensive analysis of the various segments of the market reflecting the present scenario and future growth affected by changing industry dynamics in coming years. Additionally, the report also entails information about the government rules and policies, rational analysis of the macroeconomic factors, along with the competitive landscape of the pre-primary education and childcare industry. The report will help industry consultants, companies and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to ongoing and expected trends in future. For more information on the industry research report please refer to the below mentioned link: http://www. kenresearch. com/education/pre-school-education/china-pre-primary-education-market-research-report/401-99. html.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Ninteen Years Gone Using DNA Testing to Catch the Crimals...

Nineteen Years Gone Nineteen years seems like a long time to the average person, but for those in jail it can seem like an eternity. Nineteen years for a wrongly convicted man would be devastating. That happens way too often in this world, people are coerced into a confession for a crime that they did not commit. So how, with all of our technology now are they still locked away behind bars? How can people just sit by and let innocent men rot away in prison while the true perpetrator of the crime is still at large? DNA, that is how. DNA testing is a fairly recent development that has allowed many wrongly convicted men to walk free after spending decades of their life in a cell. For Frank Sterling this is exactly how it happened. He†¦show more content†¦The case ran cold for lack of proof for more than two years. (The National Registry of Exonerations, 2012) In 1991 a new investigative team attempted to tackle this case in hopes of obtaining justice. Sterling agreed to an interview with police just after finishing a 36 hour long haul trucking shift. Sterling insisted upon his innocence. The interrogators attempted to utilize several unorthodox methods including hypnosis and suggestion of details in order to solicit a confession from who they thought was the culprit. After more than 8 hours of these types of tactics and being shown photographs of the scene, Sterling was arrested after he shouted, â€Å"I did it, I need help.† (The National Registry of Exonerations, 2012) After a very inconsistent videotaped confession, Sterling was charged with and convicted of second degree murder. This conviction was based solely on the confession with no evidence presented. He was convicted on September 29, 1992 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. The only other suspect in the case was a man named Mark Christie, of Rochester. He provided the police with a false alibi that they believed and did not question him any further. (The National Registry o f Exonerations, 2012) It was not until 2004 that DNA testing was conducted at the insistence of Sterling and his lawyers. This result showed that Christie, who was in prison for the murder of a 4 year old girl in 1994, was the true culprit of this heinous crime. This DNA evidence

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Abigail Adams A Revolutionary Woman - 1382 Words

Charles W. Akers. Abigail Adams: A Revolutionary Woman. Third ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. Charles W. Akers’ Abigail Adams: A Revolutionary Woman is written about Abigail Adams whom is the wife to the second president of the United States, John Adams. Abigail begins by describing the role of women during the colonial time when the US only consisted of the 13 colonies. Starting with her birth on November 11, 1744 to her death on October 28, 1818 Abigail describes the role she played as an American Woman in that she was able to experience the wide range of duties that American women were allowed at the time. The events connecting with the monograph had a wide range of her own personal opinions and mainly took place in the†¦show more content†¦Abigail was admitted into the Weymouth church in 1759 in which she embraced the faith wholeheartedly. Colonial New England did not take female education very serious which comes to show why many females turn out to be illi terate. Education that females received mainly came from their central household or if they could afford it, they were sent to private academies in a larger central town. Abigail was not able to participate in school due to her poor health. Abigail was also not taught the rules and purpose of punctuation. Due to the low population of women in the colonies and the serious lack of labor the importance of women in America increased while the functional value of wives and mothers had only moderately increased their economic independence without weakening the authority of male dominance. Abigail knew that in marriage she would lose her legal identity and take on a new life. On her 17th birthday, she assumed a half-serious attitude towards find the right husband. Towards the end of 1761, John Adams began to think of Abigail and their relationship strengthened during the following year. In the year of 1763 Abigail went on a journey with John and by winter time the made an effort to arrange a wedding date to get married. Abigail and John were married in the Weymouth parsonage on the year of 1764, which was a month before her 20th birthday. Following theirShow MoreRelatedAbigail Adams: a Revolutionary American Woman Essay1391 Words   |  6 PagesAbigail Adams: A Revolutionary American Woman Abigail Adams married a man destined to be a major leader of the American Revolution and the second President of the United States. Although she married and raised men that become such significant figures during their time, her herself was played an important role in the American society. The events that happened in her life, starting from childhood and ending in her adult years, led her to be a Revolutionary woman. 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