Role of the Gods in the Odyssey - 1181 Words

Religion has always been an important part of culture, in present times and even dating back to the times of the Trojan War and before. No matter what religion a person practices or believes in the role of the certain gods believed in has always been important. In three separate pieces we have read we have seen the importance of the gods, or God, play a key role in the development of the literature. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, the gods are key in Odysseus’ return to Ithaca after twenty years. Whether it is helping Odysseus or delaying him, they play a major role in the development of the story. In Psalm 139, the scripture passage taken from the Bible, God is a very obvious factor. Even in the poem by William Owen â€Å"Dulce et Decorum†¦show more content†¦Much like the gods of Ancient Greece sitting high above everyone on Mount Olympus, they see everything that is happening below them. Another powerful comparison is the unseen god factor. God always see s us, as humans though we never see him, much like when Odysseus and Telemachus see Athena; she is always disguised, never showing her true form. Zeus never appears, he sends his messages in forms of eagles, as signs to be interrupted by humans, much like God uses miracles to show his presence and existence. We are presented with two separate pieces of literature that have very similar comparisons in religion. Wilfred Owen’s famous poem â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est† actually makes no mention of religion in it, but it is obvious to see that whatever god you pray to has no part in wars and stopping the death and violence. It brings us to ask ourselves the question of why would any god let these atrocities happen? British citizens not fighting in World War 1 thought that these men were dying heroic deaths, but Owen gives us an insight into how badly these men suffered when they went off to war. The gruesome deaths, the never ending violence and having to watch a comrade die are just a few of the horrible things that are seen in this poem. It leads us to belive that war is not worth it, in any sense, and that a sensible god would not allow it. Odysseus, after ten years of fighting the Trojans and seeing many ofShow MoreRelatedThe Role of the Gods in Homers Odyssey Essay1936 Words   |  8 PagesThe Role of the Gods in The Odyssey In the ancient world, the gods of the Greeks had been predominately confined to cosmological deeds prior to the works of Homer. As Hesiod laid out the roles of the gods in his Theogony and the Works and Days, it is apparent that though the gods were active in the creation of the cosmos, natural phenomenon, and cyclical events such as seasons, they were not however, functioning in any historical way(Bloom 36). This strictly cosmological view of the gods wasRead MoreRoles of the Greek Gods in the Odyssey of Homer1174 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the epic of The Odyssey of Homer, Odysseus, the main protagonist, receives help, and is frowned upon by the gods. There are many gods, and goddesses who play significant roles in Odysseus’ journey back to his homeland of Ithaca. Athena, the gray-eyed goddess, or the daughter of Zeus, is the most predominant goddess in the epic. One of Athena’s roles is to act as a guardian towards Telemachus. In the beginning, Athena travels to Ithaca in the guise of Mentes, and states to TelemachusRead MorePersonal Responsibility and the Gods’ Role in the Odyssey Essays1019 Words   |  5 PagesThe gods play an important part in Odysseus’ journey home, bringing him closer and farther from his homeland. They constantly intervene in the lives of the many characters in The Odyssey. Though Odysseus is a hero, the gods control his life. It is as if he were the main character in a video game and the gods are fighting over who controls his life. Personal responsibility is overshadowed by the gods’ eagerness to grab the controller. Homer disregards personal responsibility by showing how the godsRead MoreThe Iliad and the Odyssey1510 Words   |  7 Pagesand the Odyssey are two classic stories told by Homer. Within these two stories the roles of the gods are very important to the story line and how they affect the characters throughout. In the Iliad, more gods are involved with the characters whereas in the Odyssey there are only two major gods that affect two major characters. The roles of the gods in the Iliad are through two different stances of immortal versus immortal and mortal versus immortal. The roles of the gods in the Odyssey are throughRead More Iliad Essay1253 Words   |  6 PagesThe Iliad and The Odyssey are two epic poems with both similar and different styles to the structure of the poems, as well as each poem having the same gods incorporated into the stories intervening with the day to day lives of the mortals. Greek poetry before Homer was all composed orally; therefore it is assumed that Homer’s works are the first written works of art (Joachim Latacz, page 15). Scholars who have spent extensive time researching the origin of Homer’s work cannot verify a specificRead MoreDivine intervention dealing with Greek myths, especially The Odyssey and The Iliad.1474 Words   |  6 Pagesa feature of ancient Greek literature. One is amazed and even dumbfounded by the magical myths so frequently referred to. In Greek literature, the gods play an immense role in the lives and fates of the mortal dwellers of the earth. As one examines the gods throughout the myths and epic poems of the Greeks, one recieves a strong impression that the gods play with and manipulate mortals and each other. One goddess who exemplifies this is the great goddess Athena. This daughter of Zeus impacted everyoneRead MoreThe Role Of Fate In Greek Mythology1288 Words   |  6 PagesWhen we look at Greek Mytholog y we often run into the gods of that era. Sometimes they are merely backdrops to the human element of the story but in stories such as The Odyssey the gods play a prominent if not vital role to the central themes of the story. Fate has a place in the Greek world but is place is not the same as it is in other scenarios or worlds. It is important to understand the word before we discuss it. Fate as far as Greek mythology goes is not just fate, by most standards fate isRead MoreExamples Of Archetypes In The Odyssey1291 Words   |  6 PagesArchetypes in The Odyssey All humans have ideals and patterns in common. Humans from a thousand years ago and humans in modern times have archetypes. Archetypes are characters, actions, or situations that are repeated in all human life. Archetypes are found in myths, legends, dreams, films, music, literature and several other forms of entertainment. In fact, The Odyssey, a prominent piece of writing, contains many archetypes. The Odyssey is a 3,000 year-old epic written by Homer in Ancient GreeceRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Odyssey And The Inferno Essay1574 Words   |  7 Pages Although in both works human suffering is a key part of the story, the different characters of the divine in the Odyssey and Inferno result in a unique take on the role of suffering. We see that people who suffer in the Odyssey sometimes do not deserve their punishment, whereas in the Inferno we see that the people who suffer are suffering justly. Suffering is a very important topic when it comes to writing tragedies or similar genres. It is a topic that authors take very seriously and are meticulousRead More The Gods in Homers The Iliad and The Odyssey Essay1393 Words   |  6 PagesThe Gods in Homers The Iliad and The Odyssey The stories told in the Iliad and Odyssey are based on stories handed down over several generations, for they preserve (as we have seen) memories of an already quiet far distant past. The two pomes show clear connection in their language and style, in the manner in which their incidents presented, and in the combination of agreement with level, which distinguish their creation. The work was written by one author but gave two diverse views on the

Human Resource Development ( Hrd ) - 1324 Words

Human Resource Development (HRD) is a function of an organization aims to provide the benefits to stakeholders especially to employees, society and organization or employer. The purpose of establishing HRD department within the organizations is to provide the personal development opportunities to staff for their career by offering them mentoring, personal planning, professional training, education, and so on, which could contribute in their personal development and ensure proper functioning of the organization (Swanson Holton, 2001). On the other hand, HRD sometimes creates tensions between the stakeholders. Here, tension means a problematic state or a situation that could lead to dissatisfaction of any stakeholder (Autio, 2005).. However, in this essay, HRD benefits and effects i.e. tensions are discussed in context of the selected stakeholder i.e. employees, employers and society. It focuses on finding the effects on others while meeting the interests of any one of these stakeh olders. Finally, by providing the outline of benefits provided by HRD, the conclusion is expressed. The accomplishment of HRD benefits to the employees, employer and society may also create some tensions because of the lack of integrity among them. Moreover, the provision of these benefits also results in increase the cost or expenses of an organization, which could lead to diverse concerns and challenges. There are many other reasons which create the tensions are discussed here according toShow MoreRelatedHuman Resource Development : Hrd1607 Words   |  7 PagesHuman resource development well known as HRD, is a rough draft for helping employees mature their individual and organizational skills, knowledge, and abilities. Human Resource Development contains many opportunities for â€Å"employee training, employee career development, performance management and development, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, key employee identification, tuition assistance, and organization development.† Human resources take the part of a vital role in developing a business’sRea d MoreHuman Resource Development ( Hrd )1415 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Resource Development (HRD) is the process of providing training and learning, for both career and organisational development, to improve overall effectiveness (Noe and Winkler, 2012). Business today is achieved in a highly networked world, where employees are a vital asset (Balakrishnan Srividhya, 2007). HRD is concerned with the development of human capital for the benefit of both the employees and the organisation (Balakrishnan Srividhya, 2007). It is inevitable that different levelsRead MoreHuman Resource Development ( Hrd )1039 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION Coaching is a purposeful connection with another human that supports immediate change and stimulates long term sustainable results (Mann, S., Smith, S., 2015, p.36) Many organizations are turning to coaching and mentoring programs to develop talent. These programs connect the value of internal employee resources to develop others, which saves time, cost, and increases overall employee satisfaction and productivity. However, it can really help engage individuals and develop their agilityRead MoreHuman Resource Development ( Hrd )2136 Words   |  9 PagesHuman Resource Development (HRD) is the driving force behind any prospering business. It is the compass that calculates the direction in which the business will need to take based on the available resources, people, and short and long term goals to achieve its mission. HRD gives the organisation guidance on how to create strategic advantage over competitors in the market through the use of training and development provided to its employees to increase their knowledge, skills, education, and abilitiesRead MoreHuman Resource Development (HRD) which is any process over the activity that is of a sh ort term or800 Words   |  4 PagesHuman Resource Development (HRD) which is any process over the activity that is of a short term or over the long term. It has the potential to develop the work-knowledge, expertise, productivity, and satisfaction of the adults. It focuses on benefiting the personal as well as the group. Additionally benefits the organization, community and the whole of humanity. In the Human Resource Development framework, there are four stages which consisted of Need assessment, Design, Implementation and lastlyRead MoreDescribe the Human Resource Development (Hrd) Process and Critically Examine How Hrd Programmes Can Help Organisations and Its Employees to Remain Competitive in Their Business.2719 Words   |  11 Pagesinvestment in human capital. In a speech by Lee, Y.S (2007) he mentioned that an Economist’s article survey showed that attracting and retaining talent is the number one priority. Many organizations having realized that, in order to be ahead of their competitors, they have to constantly learning how to maximize out from the employees to achieve the organization strategic business objectivities. With the realization of the importance of the employees, it has made a significant impact on the human resourceRead MoreHistory of Hrd in India1112 Words   |  5 PagesHistory of HRD in India    | It was 25 years ago that our country witnessed the emergence of a new HRD culture in our country with Prof Udai Pareek and Prof T.V.Rao heading the movement.    What started as a Review Exercise of the Performance Appraisal System for Lamp;T by two consultants, Prof Udai Pareek and Prof T.V. Rao from the Indian Institute Of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), resulted in the development of a new function - The HRD Function.      In the early seventies, this companyRead MoreHuman Resource Development Essay1671 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Resource Development (HRD) is often seen to be a central feature of SHRM. Discuss the role and importance of HRD in achieving SHRM organizational outcomes. Introduction Learning and development in the context of organizational development is having an essential role in achieving strategic human resourcing outcome. From attraction and retention, to development and utilisation of human capital, Human Resource Development (HRD) is the centre of strategic focus in HRM. This essay aims to presentRead MoreThe Relationship Between Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development976 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Relationship Between Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development Diana Williams National American University Understanding the Relationship Between Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development Human resource management (HRM) is the umbrella under which all other human resource activities are found. Some of the major activities under the umbrella are: benefits and compensation, health safety and security, human resource planning, staffing, equal employmentRead MoreThe Similarities Of Adult Education ( Ae ) And Human Resource Development819 Words   |  4 PagesEducation (AE) and Human Resource Development (HRD) out weigh the differences. Both AE and HRD seek learning that advances the ability of individuals to improve and progress, which is the main objective of both. The fact that both seek to advance the abilities of individuals through learning there is no doubt in my mind that AE can provide a foundation. An important foundation that HRD can take from AE is the control it provides a learner over his or her own self-determination instead of HRD only focusing

Humans and Parasites Free Essays

string(134) " a much better grasp of healing and inhibiting bacterial infections and we no longer required the use of maggots to heal open wounds\." Parasites and Humans: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? Introduction The definition of a parasite is: â€Å"an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment. † (Dictionary. com,2012) There are several kinds of parasitic relationships in the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Humans and Parasites or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mutualism is one of them. This occurs when each member of the association benefits the other. Can humans and parasites have a mutualistic relationship in medicine? Dating back to the B. C. era it has been believed that parasites, most commonly leeches and maggots, were the cure for various maladies. Leeches at one time were thought to cure everything from obesity to mental illness. In the early 20th century there was no longer a need for parasites with the medical and technological advances we were making. Their popularity has begun to grow since the 1980s and is seen more often in medical practice. Thesis Statement Some parasites, over the course of history, have proven to hold a symbiotic relationship with the human body in medical applications. Prior to the days that we think of as modern medicine, parasites were used for many things in medical practice. One example is leeches. The use of leeches in medicine started around 2,000 B. C. with the Greek and Roman physicians. During the medieval times they were very prevalent in the household medicine cabinets as they were used on a regular basis to treat many different ailments. (Jaffari, M. 2012) As modern medicine emerged parasites were viewed as a bad thing. Things we did not want inside us or around us. We discovered many ways to eradicate them from our bodies, thus also eradicating them from medicinal use. In more recent years testing is being done especially with the helminth (worm) species of parasites. These parasites are being used to treat medical conditions such as ulcerative colitis, vascular diseases and allergies, just to name a few, with very interesting results. It’s beginning to seem as if humans and parasites in some applications can benefit each other after all. The use of parasites to treat ailments has been around for centuries. It is thought to date back as far as the Stone Age. The first written reference of this was in a medical poem by Nicander of Colophon (185-135BC). This poem referenced leeching (bloodletting) in particular. It is believed that all ancient civilizations used bloodletting in their medical practice. In ancient Greece they believed in the Humoral Theory. This theory stated that the body was made up of four humors; these were blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile and you became ill because these humors were out of balance. The leeches were used to keep these humors in balance; thus, keeping the patient healthy. During the early nineteenth century in Europe it was not uncommon to find leeches in people’s medicine cabinets. The use of leeches during this time was very prevalent and they were believed to be almost a â€Å"cure all†. Bloodletting became so popular in Europe, that the commercial trade in leeches became a major industry. France during this era suffered such a shortage of leeches that they had to import 41. 5 million of the parasites. Due to the extremely high demand for this product, the medicinal leech almost became extinct in Europe. When the numbers being harvested from the wild became insufficient, some countries started the practice of leech farming. (El-Awady, 2003) Leeches were not the only parasite that received high acclaim for medical uses. The maggot has been known for its healing ability since the 16th century. In 1917, Dr. William S. Baer made an incredible observation while working as a physician during World War I. Two soldiers were brought into the hospital, both having compound fractures to their femurs and very large wounds to the abdomen. It was discovered that these two soldiers had been wounded in battle seven days prior but because of the over growth in the area the two men were over looked when the wounded were first recovered. At that time the mortality rate for people with compound fractures was as high as 85%, even with the best medical care. Despite the lack of food and water, being exposed to the elements during those seven days, and the severity of the wounds, the doctor found that the men had no fever, and there was no evidence of sepsis. When their clothing was removed the doctor discovered that the wounds were filled with blow fly maggots. The maggots were washed from the injuries to find that the exposed bone and tissue were in perfect condition. Cultures were taken with very few bacteria still present. Ten years later Dr. Baer would use this theory on four children with osteomyelitis which is a disease causing inflammation of the bone and bone marrow usually caused by reoccurring bacterial infections. (Dictionary. com, 2012) All four children had had several surgeries for this, all of which had failed to heal. The doctor obtained maggots from his neighborhood and trying to copy most of the conditions that he observed with the soldiers he attempted his experiment. He used no chemical antibiotics, no iodine to clean the area, surgery was done bare handed and using only water. This way if the wound healed it would be strictly due to the maggots. Dr. Baer continued his treatment of maggot therapy to find that in six weeks the wounds these children suffered from had healed completely. In the spring of 1929 more cases were submitted using this form of treatment with the same results. (Baer, 1931) During the early to middle 20th century the technological and medical advances we had made took the place of â€Å"medieval medicine† and along with it the use of parasites in medical practice. Maggots were removed from medicinal use in the 1930s. With the introduction of new antibiotics and better surgical techniques we found that we had a much better grasp of healing and inhibiting bacterial infections and we no longer required the use of maggots to heal open wounds. You read "Humans and Parasites" in category "Essay examples" Although, in 1989 there were findings that maggot therapy was superior in certain cases to antibiotic therapy for eradicating a bacterial infection. The first modern clinical studies of maggot therapy were started at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach, CA, and at the University of California, Irvine. The results of these studies showed that the use of maggots today is still an effective and safe treatment for certain types of wounds. The reports also stated that there is no reason to use maggots as a last resort. There are published reports of a limb salvage rate of over 40% in pre-amputation maggot therapy. When this therapy was used even earlier in the course of treatment the results were even more dramatic. Sherman, 2010)   Leeches have always had their place in history as we have seen. Leech therapy was used up until the 1960s when it too was removed from medical practice. Bloodletting of sorts was taken over by modern day phlebotomy. So we again saw no need in using the old practices with the advances we had made. In the 1980s, leech therapy made a big comeback by plastic surgeons that used leeches to reliev e venous congestion. If this congestion was not treated, the blood would clot and arteries that bring the blood and nourishments to the tissues would become plugged and the tissues would die. This is where the leech therapy would come in handy. Once they were applied to the site, the leeches sucked the excess blood, which helped to reduce the swelling in the tissues and promoted healing by allowing fresh, oxygenated blood to reach the area until normal circulation could be restored. The leeches also assisted in the healing by the secretion of an anticoagulant known as hirudin which would keep the blood in the area from clotting. The present day medical world is once more looking towards some parasites as very useful tools in certain areas of medical practice. The leech’s saliva contains a number of chemical compounds that are very useful in medicine. We already mentioned the anti-coagulant hirudin. This has been studied for use in helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The leech naturally secretes a local anesthetic that it uses when attaching to the host to avoid detection. This has proven helpful to lessen pain in some patients. Doctors and patients have seen the benefits of the vasodilator and a prostaglandin secreted by this parasite as it is known to reduce swelling in situations of inflammation. The leech’s gut harbors a bacterium known as Aeromonan hydrophila which aids in its digestion of ingested blood and produces an antibiotic that kills other bacteria that can cause tissue decomposition. The most present day uses for leech therapy are digital replants, skin grafting, hematomas, and some leeches are being raised specifically for pharmaceutical uses. Leech therapy is proving to be useful for a number of other conditions including osteoarthritis, ophthalmology and dermatology. As with any treatment there can be side effects. Leeching is no exception. A few of the side effects associated with leech therapy include infection, excess blood loss that may require blood transfusion, and allergic reactions. Science has developed a â€Å"clean† leech which helps to lessen the number of bacterial infections. These are leeches specially raised to not carry the normal bacteria that regular leeches carry. As an alternative to real leeches, Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a mechanical leech. This invention mimics the action of the live leech allowing for fresh blood to flow through the wound. (El-Awady, 2003) Maggots have also found their niche in today’s medical world. These often thought of as â€Å"icky† parasites are used in some wound care applications. This therapy even has a name, maggot debridement therapy or MDT. Maggots are very efficient healers of wounds as we have seen. The reason for this is that the maggots eat only the dead tissues and leave the healthy, living tissues intact. They also excrete compounds which inhibit and may even kill bacteria. This is extremely useful in areas where there is poor blood supply; these areas are unable to benefit from antibiotic therapy as it is unable to reach the required area in high enough concentrations to do what was intended. The most common uses for maggots today are wound debridement and diabetic foot ulcers. The side effect patients are most at risk for is bacterial infections. As with the leeches scientists are able to raise â€Å"clean† maggots, lowering the number of infections. More recently added to the list of helpful parasites has been the hookworm. These parasites live in your gut and thrive on the nourishment that you take in. Hookworm infection is actually known to have a beneficial effect on health. There are published studies that show hookworms can lessen or even cure allergies such as inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies and even asthma. The saliva that the worms produce changes the immune system and keeps your body from overreacting to the substances that cause the allergies. (Sifferlin, 2012) There are several uses for hook worms being studied presently. These are; ulcerative colitis, allergies and asthma control. Some of the outcomes have been very positive. Because the worms feed from the same nutrients that you are taking in the largest risk with hookworm infection is anemia. In third world countries this can be a devastating side effect but, in the western world there is less concern about this issue. Conclusion Parasitic mutualism occurs when each member of the association benefits the other. Our ancient ancestors seemed to have made good use of the human parasite relationship. As technology increased we turned from the â€Å"old way† of doing things and disregarded any use of parasites in medical practice. But, did our ancient ancestors know something that we are just now starting to grasp once again? With the testing we are seeing more recently it seems that it is possible for these creepy crawlies that make us feel so squeamish could be very helpful to us and our health. Even with the positive results of the use of parasites in medicine there are still many mysteries regarding the symbiotic relationship between parasite and man. How to cite Humans and Parasites, Essay examples

Short Paper free essay sample

President Jackson was tasked with a difficult decision: leave the Indians be, avoiding conflict but hampering progress and growth, or force them to move west of the Mississippi so that settlers, merchants, and other trailblazers can take their place, allowing for a greater degree of expansion. Obviously, Jackson chose the latter option. This decision was not Jacksons alone, however. As president, his responsibility was to implement policies that properly reflected the attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments of the American people at the time.Thus, the decision of the Jackson administration to move these Cherokees and other Indian tribes west was able to be morally justified y both himself and the majority of the American people at the time, even if the decision garnered a great deal of criticism, especially today. The most famous and sweeping of these relocations was aptly named the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears, essentially, was the path taken by most Indians to get to their homes on reservations across the Mississippi River (Wallace 221-223). This Trail of Tears led to almost 2,000 deaths for the Cherokees alone, which were the largest of the Indian tribes and, thus, one Of the most affected by the Trail of Tears (Purdue and Green 139). The Trail of Tears, therefore, was just as much of a political and emotional plight for the Cherokee and other Indian tribes as it was a physical one, especially in terms of the sheer body count, in addition to being forced from their homes.However, while the decision to relocate the Indians was a difficult and unfortunate one, it was not, necessarily, taken without cause. The prevailing reason for believing this is because Jacksons decision to move the Cherokees west, along with many other native American tribes, resulted from necessity, rather than mere politics. As such, this decision was viewed as a generally favorable one, even if a number of people were saddened that these Native Americans were being uprooted. However, just as Jacksons decision to relocate the Cherokee had implications for his own administration, it would also have implications for every citizen of America at that time, both in direct and indirect ways. For example, if the Cherokee leave their currently inhabited land, more farmers can use that land to grow crops and raise cattle, and as a result, the price of goods will, theoretically, be reduced, allowing for easier living (Purdue and Green 47-48). This is just one of many reasons that the decision to relocate the Cherokee was made, and it was not made lightly.Even though it was a regrettable decision, it was one that America stood by. The removal of the Indians was symbolic for the American people as well, however. Although many Cherokee and Indians from other tribes died on this trail, Americans considered this removal of the Indians, for better or worse, to only be the start of American colonization of the country, and, as a result, many Americans took this philosophy to an extreme after the Indians had been ousted from their native homelands.This change of sentiment seemed to occur practically overnight, because although the Jackson administrations decision to relocate the Cherokee reflected popular notions at the time, these notions changed even more after they had been relocated, making the relocation something of a spark that ignited pro-American sentiment in much of the population. These actions, initially, were a response to increasing conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, yet, by the end of the relocation of the Cherokee, the sentiment itself had been reformed to that of devout manifest destiny.The Jackson Administration ;s decision to relocate the Cherokee was indeed more of a reformation of national policy and sentiments. The simple reason for this is that there are clear differences in both policy and sentiments prior to, during, and after the relocation, and this shift in sentiments and policy are what greatly contributed to an increase in Native American relocation efforts during this general time period (Pierce 22-25).This state of mind is considered by many to be callous and has led to a great amount of criticism as to the actual methods utilized to remove the Indians. Counter-arguments o this mode of thinking cite the increasing tensions and conflicts that were arising between settlers and Indians prior to their removal. In many respects, the removal of the Indians was done for their own good, in order to prevent continued casualties on both sides.In any case, the morality, or lack thereof, of the Trail of Tears, along with all other Indian removal and relocation efforts, will be debated for centuries to come. What cannot be debated is the tragedy that was the Trail of Tears. Relocation or no, the death toll for what should have been a simple relocation was far too high. Obviously, alternative solutions should have been more seriously considered, such as segmenting the trail, as well as the exodus itself, into more manageable and regulated groups, minimizing deaths and improving (if only slightly) relations with these Indians.As it is, the Trail of Tears is considered to be one of the deadliest events in the 1 9th century, and, ironically, there was little blood actually spilled by other men. The prominence of the Trail of Tears within American history is almost more of a philosophical inclusion, as it reflects many of the worldviews held by Americans during this mime, especially regarding manifest destiny, xenophobia, and the superiority Of the white man.

Hamlet - Mad Essays - Characters In Hamlet, English-language Films

Hamlet - Mad? Fake and Real: The Difference In the Portrayal of Madness A very controversial topic exists in regarding to Shakespeare's Hamlet. Many of those that read Hamlet argue that Prince Hamlet was mad, his actions guided by his ill feelings and weak emotions. Had William Shakespeare been around to answer the question Was Hamlet mad, he would most likely answer that Hamlet, the product of his imagination and creativity, was portrayed in such light as to create this controversy on purpose. However, Hamlet is perfectly sane, guided indeed by his emotions and feelings, which are, in fact, very healthy. Hamlet was not crazy, and this can be shown by the real madness of the one that he loved, or, at least, seemed to--Ophelia, whose craziness, especially in her final hours is unmistakably obvious. The actual reason as to why the audience is easily convinced that Hamlet was sane while Ophelia was mad, is simple: it is the brilliantly skillful way that Shakespeare portrays them that makes it clear, though not obvious, as to who is really the insane one. Hamlet, the young, strong, full of revenge prince is constantly talked about as insane. Most of the characters in the play Hamlet, except for Hamlet's good friend Horatio and a few others believe that Hamlet has lost his marbles. Yet, there is no real evidence which convinces the audience of this--there's no facts, nothing other than the characters' opinion of him. Hamlet commits certain acts which seem irrational and unexplainable to the antagonists in the play, however, to the audience, all of these acts are perfectly explainable and rational. This is because the audience knows the situation that Hamlet is in, having had his father murdered and his mother marrying the murderer of his father. The voiced opinions of the characters are what really clouds the audience's judgement. There are many instances of that. Polonius, for example, attributes Hamlet's insanity to the disappointed love for Ophelia. His hypothesis, which he believes deeply and tries to convince the king and the queen of, is that Hamlet is insane without Ophelia. In fact, Polonius is the one who ordered his daughter to break off any relationship that she might have with Hamlet, believing that would drive Hamlet to frustration, anger, and eventually cause him to loose his wit. Polonius's idea coincided well with the common at the time idea that frustrated love causes melancholy, which is, in itself, fairly close to madness. Shakespeare expresses this idea in many of his works, an example being the frustrated Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Another instance where this occurs is when the king has a good reason to convince others of Hamlet's insanity: he suspects that Hamlet knows something about the murder of his father, and if Hamlet were to spread this around, people would believe him. However, if everyone was convinced of Hamlet's madness, no one would believe him. This, the king expresses in his speech to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Act 3, Scene 3, lines 1 and 2: I like him not, nor stands it safe with us?To let his madness range? . The only act in the play that Hamlet performs that can be called irrational is when he is in the queen's chambers, having just killed Polonius. Alas, he's mad!, says the queen in Act 3, Scene 4, line 105, seeing Hamlet talking to something that isn't even there. However, Hamlet's rational, sane acts by far outweigh the things that he has said and done that make him look as if he's crazy. There are some plots that he has devised that a madman would never be able to figure out. How would a madman that is planning to assassinate the king ever comprehend that if he kills the king while the king is praying, the king will go to heaven? How would a madman ever have the sense to wait for the right moment? Not only is Hamlet perfectly sane, but his insanity scheme is ingenious. Ophelia, on the other hand, performs certain acts which show the audience first hand that she is not in the right frame of mind. The audience is not told by any of the characters that Ophelia is mad. Shakespeare leaves

Biography of Fidel Castro, Cuban President for 50 Years

Biography of Fidel Castro, Cuban President for 50 Years Fidel Castro (August 13, 1926–November 25, 2016) took control of Cuba by force in 1959 and remained its dictatorial leader for nearly five decades. As the leader of the only communist country in the Western Hemisphere, Castro was long the focus of international controversy. Fast Facts: Fidel Castro Known For: President of Cuba, 1959–2008  Born: August 13, 1926 in the province of Orient, CubaParents: ngel Maria Bautista Castro y Argiz and Lina Ruz GonzlezDied: November 25, 2016 in Havana, Cuba  Education: Colegio de Dolores in Santiago de Cuba, Colegio de Belà ©n, University of HavanaSpouse(s): Mirta Diaz-Balart (m. 1948–1955), Dalia Soto del Valle (1980–2016); Partners: Naty Revuelta (1955–1956), Celia Snchez, others.  Children: One son Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart (known as Fidelito, 1949–2018) with Diaz-Balart; five sons (Alexis, Alexander, Alejandro, Antonio, and ngel) with Soto del Valle; one daughter (Alina Fernandez) with Naty Revuelta Early Life Fidel Castro was born Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz on August 13, 1926 (some sources say 1927) near his fathers farm, Birn, in southeast Cuba in what was then the Oriente Province. Castros father ngel Maria Bautista Castro y Argiz came to Cuba from Spain to fight in the Spanish American War and stayed. ngel Castro prospered as a sugarcane farmer, eventually owning 26,000 acres. Fidel was the third of seven children born to Lina Ruz Gonzlez, who worked for ngel Castro as a maid and cook. At the time, the elder Castro was married to Maria Luisa Argota, but that marriage eventually ended and then ngel and Lina married. Fidels full siblings were Ramon, Raà ºl, Angela, Juanita, Emma, and Agustina. Fidel spent his youngest years on his fathers farm, and at the age of 6 he began school at Colegio de Dolores in Santiago de Cuba, transferring to the Colegio de Belà ©n, an exclusive Jesuit high school in Havana. Becoming a Revolutionary In 1945, Fidel Castro started work on a law degree at the University of Havana, where he excelled at oratory and quickly became involved in politics. In 1947, Castro joined the Caribbean Legion, a group of political exiles from Caribbean countries who planned to rid the Caribbean of dictator-led governments. When Castro joined, the Legion was planning to overthrow Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic, but the plan was later canceled because of international pressure. In 1948, Castro traveled to Bogot, Colombia with plans to disrupt the Pan-American Union Conference, when country-wide riots broke out in response to the assassination of Jorge Eliecer Gaitn. Castro grabbed a rifle and joined the rioters. While handing out anti-U.S. pamphlets to the crowds, Castro gained first-hand experience of popular uprisings. After returning to Cuba, Castro married fellow student Mirta Diaz-Balart in October 1948. Castro and Mirta had one child together, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart (known as Fidelito, 1949–2018). Castro vs. Batista In 1950, Castro graduated from law school and began practicing law. Retaining a strong interest in politics, Castro became a candidate for a seat in Cubas House of Representatives during the election of June 1952. However, before the elections could be held, a successful coup led by General Fulgencio Batista toppled the previous Cuban government, canceling the elections. From the beginning of Batistas rule, Castro fought against him. At first, Castro took to the courts to try legal means to oust Batista. However, when that failed, Castro began to organize an underground group of rebels. Castro Attacks the Moncada Barracks On the morning of July 26, 1953, Castro, his brother Raà ºl, and a group of about 160 armed men attacked the second-largest military base in Cuba- the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. Confronted with hundreds of trained soldiers at the base, there was little chance that the attack could have succeeded. Sixty of Castros rebels were killed; Castro and Raà ºl were captured and then given a trial. After delivering a speech at his trial which ended with, Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me, Castro was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released two years later, in May 1955. The 26th of July Movement Upon his release, Castro went to Mexico where he spent the next year organizing the 26th of July Movement (based on the date of the failed Moncada Barracks attack). There he became involved with Naty Revuelta, a Cuban fellow fighter against Batista. Although the affair did not last, Naty and Fidel had a daughter, Alina Fernandez. The affair also ended Fidels first marriage: Mirta and Fidel were divorced in 1955. On December 2, 1956, Castro and the rest of the 26th of July Movement rebels landed on Cuban soil with the intention of starting a revolution. Met by heavy Batista defenses, nearly everyone in the Movement was killed, with merely a handful escaping, including Castro, Raà ºl, and Che Guevara. For the next two years, Castro continued guerrilla attacks and succeeded in gaining large numbers of volunteers. Using guerrilla warfare tactics, Castro and his supporters attacked Batistas forces, overtaking town after town. Batista quickly lost popular support and suffered numerous defeats. On January 1, 1959, Batista fled Cuba. Castro Becomes Cubas Leader In January, Manuel Urrutia was selected as president of the new government and Castro was placed in charge of the military. However, by July 1959, Castro had effectively taken over as leader of Cuba, which he remained for the next five decades. During 1959 and 1960, Castro made radical changes in Cuba, including nationalizing industry, collectivizing agriculture, and seizing American-owned businesses and farms. Also during these two years, Castro alienated the United States and established strong ties with the Soviet Union. Castro transformed Cuba into a communist country. The United States wanted Castro out of power. In one attempt to overthrow Castro, the U.S. sponsored the failed incursion of Cuban-exiles into Cuba in April 1961 (the Bay of Pigs Invasion). Over the years, the U.S. has made hundreds of attempts to assassinate Castro, all with no success. Fidel was rumored to have had many partners and illegitimate children over his lifetime. In the 1950s, Fidel began a relationship with the Cuban revolutionary Celia Snchez Manduley (1920–1980) which lasted until her death. In 1961, Castro met Cuban teacher Dalia Soto del Valle. Castro and Dalia had five children together (Alexis, Alexander, Alejandro, Antonio, and ngel) and married in 1980, after Snchezs death. During his presidency, Vilma Espà ­n de Castro, a fellow revolutionary and the wife of Raà ºl Castro, acted as First Lady. Cuban Missile Crisis In 1962, Cuba was the center of world focus when the U.S. discovered the construction sites of Soviet nuclear missiles. The struggle that ensued between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the Cuban Missile Crisis, brought the world the closest it has ever come to nuclear war. Over the next four decades, Castro ruled Cuba as a dictator. While some Cubans benefited from Castros educational and land reforms, others suffered from the food shortages and lack of personal freedoms. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled Cuba to live in the United States. Having relied heavily on Soviet aid and trade, Castro found himself suddenly alone after the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991; many speculated that Castro would fall as well. Even though the U.S. embargo against Cuba was still in effect and damaging Cubas economic situation throughout the 1990s, Castro remained in power. Retirement In July 2006, Castro announced that he was temporarily handing over power to his brother Raà ºl while he underwent gastrointestinal surgery. Complications with the surgery caused infections for which Castro underwent several additional surgeries. Rumors of his death appeared frequently in news reports for the next decade, but they were all proven false until 2016. Still in ill health, Castro announced on February 19, 2008, that he would not seek nor accept another term as president of Cuba, effectively resigning as its leader. The handover of power to Raà ºl raised more anger among  United States officials, who characterized the transfer as the prolonging of a dictatorship. In 2014, President Barack Obama used his executive powers to attempt to normalize diplomatic relations and exchange prisoners with Cuba. But after Obamas visit, Castro publicly denigrated his offer and insisted that Cuba needed nothing from the U.S. Death and Legacy Fidel Castro was in power through 10 U.S. presidential administrations, from Eisenhower to Obama, and he sustained personal relationships in Latin America with political leaders such as Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and literary leaders such as the Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, whose novel The Autumn of the Patriarch is in part based on Fidel. Castro made his final public appearance to a congress of the Cuban Communist Party in April 2016. He died of undisclosed causes in Havana on November 25, 2016. Sources Archibold, Randal C. et al. Decades in the Making: Fidel Castros Obituary. The New York Times, November 29, 2016.  Arsenault, Chris. Obituary: Fidel Castro. Al Jazeera, November 26, 2018.  DePalma, Anthony. Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary Who Defied U.S., Dies at 90, The New York Times, November 26, 2016.  Meet Fidel Castros family: torn by bitterness, rows and dysfunction. The Telegraph, November 26, 2016.Sullivan, Kevin and J.Y. Smith. Fidel Castro, revolutionary leader who remade Cuba as a socialist state, dies at 90. The Washington Post, November 26, 2016.

Image edge detaction - Sobel Method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Image edge detaction - Sobel Method - Essay Example aim of the whole ‘Edge Detection’ process is the conversion of 2D Images into Curves or a collection of curves; this in turn highlights the boundaries of the objects that tend to produce specific changes in colour intensity. Hence all the information (geometric information) in an image; more commonly termed as objects such as the Colour, hue and brightness is attained by the properties of intensity changes in images. The history of Image Edge Detection includes not only the basic methods that like Gradient Method and Laplacian Method but also those methodologies that were based on these two techniques. The time-period of 1960 – 1980 was specifically significant for the formulation and the development of the Discrete Gradients and Laplacians where as another method was introduced in the 1980s and was known as Marr – Hildreth; Laplacian of Gaussian. In the year 1983 Canny Edge Detectors and their basic principle of working surfaced and joined the lists of Image Edge Detectors. ‘Linear and non – linear Scale Space’ was another mode that surfaced in the year 1985. ‘Morphological Gradient and Laplacian’ is yet another term that represents an image detection method; originated in 1979. What history the process of Image Edge Detection has, saw a boom in the research work applied to the field and the development it made in the late 20th century and still is underway in the 21st century. This boom had its peak displayed magnificently in the late 1980s and the level of research is maintained till the current day thus enabling progress and expansion in the field. Edge Detection procedures not only identify but also point out the location of the Discontinuities in a subject image which are fundamentally based on the difference between the intensity levels of ‘Pixels’, which determine the limits or, to be more precise, ‘Edges’ in the constituents of an image. Edge detection operators employ the use of different variables to which they are sensitive