The different themes in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. What Research Paper

The different themes in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. What message was Mark Twain trying to relay to the readers - Research Paper Example It was highly criticized and scrutinized because of its over adventurous nature to the racial content, but anyone who reads and understands will not have any doubt about the intention of the novelist or the novel itself. Even after 200 years of its publication it is still considered as an important part of the American literature which is thought to have been shaped by the presence of it. Huckleberry Finn is described by Twain as â€Å"a book where sound heart and a deformed conscience come into collision and conscience suffers a defeat† (Twain, 1992 p xvii). The novel portrays Huck’s moral development as he ends up in different circumstances but is able to maintain his freedom and security The author wants to impose the importance of freedom for every human being and tries to justify it as a basic necessity. However, the novel is also criticized on its racism by few critics because of the use of the racist slur â€Å"nigger†, but author clearly tries to show tha t Jim is a very loving and caring person. Even Huck is also confused sometimes by the voices of his inner conscience that tells him to like Jim but the socially accepted treatment for the slaves at that time, told him to do otherwise. In this way this novel also conveys an idea about the effect of the society in a person’s acts and decisions (Alberti, 1995). Twain’s novel brings into consideration this very important point that one’s opinion must not be influenced by that of society. Twain also demonstrates the psychic struggle going on between the morally right and legally and socially enforced decisions. In the beginning, Huck also considers himself as a slave because he is oppressed by the ideals of society. He is a freedom loving person and enjoys his less restricted life style. He acquires it by means of escape; this is what satisfies Huck (Jarnow, 2004 p 41). In the course of the novel two seemingly opposite people become friends and their friendship prosp ers in the rest of the novel. Their relationship becomes as important as that of a father and son which seems like impossibility in reality. By this portrayal the aim of author was to show the absurdity of the idea that was felt by the society and the reader. It also shows the misjudgment prevailed in the society. Regardless of immorality and inhuman behaviors of white people, they were considered superior and virtuous than black. This is shown when Huck’s drunkard father gets his custody legally. This decision of the society shows its instability in regard of equality and logic. Society’s criteria or priority was laid for only white skin people. The fact was clearly ignored by them that beneath skin, they all are human with same will and passions. Huck realized this after meeting Jim and he wanted to treat him as a person and not as a slave whose only fault was his dark skin (Jarnow, 2004 p 51). The most important dispute in the novel was the use of the word nigger be cause of the sensitivity of the African American towards it. However inhibiting the use of a word for its emotional aversion will only increase its offensive power, although banning a literary novel over this cause while media is embracing the same word is an unjust act. Not only media or modern culture but a lot of other literary novels contain coarse language but still they are a significant part of the literature.

Etty Hillesum & Religion & Holocaust Research Paper

Etty Hillesum & Religion & Holocaust - Research Paper Example The theory that it was God's fault, Etty explained, was an easy way out. Man created this world (1940's) and its atrocities, because of lack of faith in God. Her faith and belief in God helped many get through the horrible times before being transferred to Auschwitz. She did feel life was absurd though there were things each individual person could gain. Religion was not wishful thinking. She had a special religious vocation which was beyond the understanding of the times and a little bit more comprehensible today. "Fear created the first Gods". Perhaps, Etty considered that fear also took spirituality away from most. "Moreover, life itself contradicts the most basic of human aspirations: to live without suffering and cruelty because most are not prepared in "healing the soul". Life require work on the soul. This sound trite as a phrase but it was her aspiration in turning suffering and cruelty into an experience where some benefit could begotten. She made a transition in 1943, as sh e actually felt it was not fair that she did not share the suffering of others and volunteered to be transferred.. There are different explanations of the Holocaust but non like Etty Hillesum. Her diaries written from 1941-1943 give an incredible outlook to how one young women dealt with the atrocities from looking within. She shared her inspirations with others. She inspired many. Ester Hillesum was born in the Netherlands January 15, 1914. She died in Auschwitz November 30 1943. One of the most influential person in her short life taught her the value of looking within for the necessary answers of one's problems . Julias Spier, a psycho-chirologist, studied with Carl Jung the technique of analyzing the lines of the hand. Etty met him in 1941 at a conference and then in therapy. He showed her the value of writing as a part of her therapy. In her letters, she refers to him as .S. Etty became his good friend and secretary. She continued writing her diaries for 3 years. They are writt en in the forms of letters representing a spiritual journey. She wished to become a journalist 'if she made it after the war'. S woke the God in her. She saw that God was omnipresent in all aspects of life. She had two tendencies in her letters: to write of the God within her; and to write of the God of creation and creatures. Towards the end of the diary she converges these two thoughts. "For once you have begun to walk with God, you need only keep on walking with Him and all of life becomes on long stroll ...such a marvellous feeling....(14/07/1942). She continued writing about God until the end of her life. God is within man. Because God could do nothing with what man was doing at this time in life (WWII), she said it was time for man to help God. Take care of his presence. Don't just offer him your tears and sadness but make his time he has with you as agreeable as possible. Hatred and anger are the easy route to take though you have every right to do so. Any element of moral in dignation touches the soul. One element of hatred, one atom more of hatred added to this world renders it even more disagreeable. Life is absurd, but man still has libre-arbitre over his proper soul. "This hatred and animosity which exist in others is also in us. I don't see any other solution other than cleaning our souls of this rot. We cannot improve the outside world without having made progress within ourselves. There is one lesson that can be learned from the war, the need to look within". A lite comparison done in 2011 would be going to a cancer waiting room, seeing everyone with sour faces. Bring a box of chocolates, or tell a joke for

Indelible Marks :: Personal Narrative Writing

Indelible Marks There was a small fish house, thick with the paint of a thousand whitewashes, sinking into the soft earth near the lake. The roof sagged a bit after a lifetime of carrying the crystalline blanket of Minnesota winter. Inside was a wooden counter-top, its surface cold and glossy after witnessing the murder of a million fish. Their life and blood was ingrained in the counter-top, preserving forever the memory of each fish. Perch, Bass, Bluegill, even Northern Pike had come to know death in this small room. Their colors could be seen reflecting in the wood of that counter-top. At night, the small light would cause the wet counter-top to shine like scales flashing against the sun. It was a place of beauty, and a place of horror. I was young, perhaps six or seven when my dad taught me to clean our catch in the small fish house. We never knew what we would catch, but we persistently threw in our lines anyway hoping to hook a keeper. I loved fishing. It was the battle with the fish that intrigued me. Each cast reeled in a new experience. I went in blind with only a hope that what I'd catch would be something I wanted. During the fight with a fish, I never knew if it were a prize Northern or a hefty Bullhead. A big Northern meant dinner, but a fat Bullhead just meant another smelly carcass on the beach for the ants and raccoons to take care of. Dad taught us to fish for Northerns. We were camping that trip, just my brothers, Dad and I. Dad got one of those great big green surplus army tents that you could park a motor home inside. He hung a Coleman lantern in the middle, and at night we would talk and play games. Every night Dad would check me for ticks, little black and red bugs that would embed themselves into your skin and drink your blood. Dad said that if you let a tick get under your skin, it will just sit there and eat away at you. We all loved the lake, especially my second oldest brother Garrett. He could fish with the best of them, and would keep everything he caught. For him, nothing was too big or too small to take to the fish house and add another stain to the counter.

How does Virgil deviate from Homer in the underworld, and why Essay

When comparing â€Å"The Aeneid† to â€Å"The Odyssey†, it is impossible not to notice the similarity between Homer and Virgil’s poems. Both heroes leave Troy, granted one barely escapes and the other leaves victoriously, and both in one sense or the other are trying to reach their home, whether it is the old or future home. The adventures of the two heroes are incredibly similar on a number of accounts with the trip to the underworld being most intriguing. First of all it is important to understand that Homer and Virgil wrote their poems for different reasons; Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† was written for entertainment purposes, while Virgil’s â€Å"The Aeneid† was written in order to subtly praise Augustus and promote the glory of Rome. This could in fact explain most of Virgil’s deviations from â€Å"The Odyssey†. The two poems present us with very clear similarities; both heroes have to travel to the underworld in order to continue their voyage; both meet friends, foes and most importantly a parent. Besides that, both Odysseus and Aeneas are guided by a god without whom they may have not been able to enter the underworld, and would definitely would not have been able to leave it. Even with these similarities however, the tasks of Odysseus and Aeneas are entirely different and the underworlds which they become acquainted with are also not explained in the same manner. Therefore, while the basic idea of the underworld seems to be the same for both poets, their description of Odysseus’s and Aeneas’s trips make these passages entirely different. One of the most obvious comparisons of the poems is Aeneas and Odysseus’s meeting with old friends and family; both for example meet one of their parents. In this case, Odysseus may be sympathized with more for he did not know of his mother’s death and in the underworld had learnt that she died because of his absence and her longing for her son. Aeneas on the other hand does know that his father is no longer alive, but that does not stop both characters from crying when seeing their parent and both trying to embrace him/her three times. The gender of the dead parent also makes a point; Aeneas’s dad could be referring to the all-knowing Caesar and the male dominance in Rome. Odysseus’s mother on the other hand, once again for the purpose of entertainment, could be representing Penelope, Ithaka and all the love Odysseus has for his home. Besides the meeting with their parent, both heroes are undermined through their treatment of the spirits. For example, both are captains and both have managed to miscount their sailors not noticing that one of their men has died. This is crucial for Aeneas’s story for if he is the founder of Rome and cannot keep count of a handful of men, how is he to establish and control a new city? Besides that, another interesting point is Odysseus’s meeting with Ajax and Aeneas’s meeting with Dido. Here, the similarities are bewildering; both of these characters die because of the heroes, both of them die by thrusting a knife into their chest and both of them are still angry with Odysseus and Aeneas. As interesting as their actions may be, Odysseus and Aeneas both blame their actions on the gods, Aeneas more than Odysseus. Once again this undermines the founder of Rome for he cannot take responsibility for what he has caused and expects the gods not only to help him get to Italy, but also to be able to blame his mistakes on them. Even the reason for Odysseus and Aeneas’s trip to the underworld creates confusion as to what is similar and what is not. For example, they both enter the underworld because they need to in order to complete the voyages but also because they have been told to do so by the gods. Odysseus enters Hades in order to find the prophet Teiresias to guide him back to Ithaka, even though by going to this meeting he is risking his life, and Aeneas enters the underworld to see his father who tells him of the future of the city he is about to found. One of the main contrasts of the two poems is that Odysseus focuses more on the past of his life; he is trying to get home where he was before, in the underworld he sees his fallen friends from Troy, he is trying to get back to his wife and son etc. Aeneas on the other hand is much more focused on the future; he is also trying to get home, but that home does not exist yet, besides that, while seeing his old friends he also finds out about the future of his generations and yet even more about the city he is on his way to establish. This could bring us to the point of Homer’s vs. Virgil’s reasons for writing their poems; as mentioned earlier,  Homer wrote his poem for entertainment purposes. This explains why the majority of book eleven is made up of Odysseus meeting his old friends and great warriors of the war; through telling their stories, Homer entertained the readers and the audience by letting them imagine how the heroes act after their death (what still matters to them, which quarrels have not been forgotten etc.). Virgil on the other hand skips most of the greetings of Aeneas with old friends and focuses instead on the meeting with his father. There, while including sentimentality, the main point of the meeting is for Aeneas and the readers to find out about where the rulers of Rome came from. Aeneas in the underworld gets to see, although not speak to, his future son, the future Caesars and learns all about the glory of the future empire. Even the description of the underworld itself may fall under the same entertainment vs. glorifying Rome purposes. Homer’s Hades is filled with darkness, screams and blood; even in order to get the spirits to talk to him, Odysseus has to give them fresh blood to drink (â€Å"whom you allow to enter where the blood is will speak to you† 164). That image going alongside the terrifying dark description of Hades shows how brave Odysseus was; despite the fact that he does confess â€Å"†¦I grew sick with fear.† (46). This is an entirely different perception of the underworld Aeneas enters: even though on the outside it is surrounded by the souls of the unburied who incite fear, once Aeneas has gone through the darkness and the souls he meets his father in a â€Å"†¦places of delight†¦ green park land† (855). This is an interesting description because it suggests to the readers that once you pass through the darkness and hardship, you are rewarded with happiness and freedom. Through this Virgil could be describing not only everything Rome’s founder had to do for the city, but also glorifying Augustus by describing that none of the benefits of Rome have come easily. Even small remarks such as â€Å"Some train on grassy rings, others compete In field games† (860) could be referenced back to the how strong and hardworking the Roman nation is. While glorifying Rome and Augustus, Virgil also includes some subtle criticisms or questions about the founder of Rome. First of all, while Odysseus was able to enter Hades alone, Aeneas had to be shown the way by the prophetess and servant of Apollo: when following her heels Aeneas walked with determination and pride, but without her fear overwhelmed him. This could suggest that Aeneas is not in fact as great and fearless as he may seem. Besides that, one of Aeneas’s main tasks was to retrieve the golden bough (would the whole notion that it was golden signify that the Romans are now a â€Å"golden† nation?) which only those who are destined by fate can take down easily. Aeneas however could not even find the bough himself, his immortal mother had to send doves to lead the way. Afterwards, when his mother did show him where the golden bough was, â€Å"†¦though it clung, [he] greedily broke it off,† (298). The fact that the bough clung could be interpreted in two ways; for those who were reading it to see the glory of Rome, it could suggest the battle between Juno and Venus with Aeneas caught in between them, and the fact that he does take it down in the end suggests that the gods are in his favor after all. For those who are open to the criticism of Rome, it could be interpreted as the fact that Aeneas was not entirely brought their by fate, that maybe he specifically did not have to be the founder of Rome, but Venus made it happen. Furthermore, the word â€Å"greedily† is interesting to have been used in this context: when reading about a hero who has established one of the greatest empires one would not expect him to be greedy, rather fearless but calm and level headed; Aeneas greedily ripping off the bough does not create and image of a hero. In conclusion, Virgil’s â€Å"The Aeneid† greatly resembles Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† and this is seen clearly through the poets’ descriptions of the underworld. However, while â€Å"The Odyssey† was created for entertainment purposes, Virgil has managed to subtly praise and criticize his city, its ruler and its founder making his poem, and book six specifically, full of surprises.

Tips for Working With Students With Severe Handicaps

Typically, children with severe handicaps have behavior concerns and minimal ability or cannot perform or havent yet learned many of the basic self-help skills. Some sources of research estimate that somewhere between 0.2-0.5% of school-aged children are identified as having a severe handicap. Although this population is low, times have changed and these children are rarely excluded from public education. They are, in fact, a part of special education. After all, with the incredible growing technologies and trained professionals, we can hold higher expectations than previously possible before. Handicaps Usually, children with severe handicaps are born with it, some of the etiologies and causes include: Chromosomal abnormalitiesPostnatal difficultiesGestational (prematurity)Maldevelopment of the brain and or spinal cordInfectionsGenetic disordersInjuries from accidents Problems With Inclusion There are still major issues related to inclusion of students with severe handicaps. Many teachers dont feel they have the professional training required to meet their needs, schools are often not adequately equipped to meet their needs, and more research needs to be done to determine how best their educational needs can be met. However, the reality is that these children have a right to be included in all aspects of society. Teacher Tips for Working with Children with Severe Handicaps Prior to supporting the specific goal, it is important to make sure you have their attention. Typically, youll be using a very direct teaching method.As much as possible, use grade appropriate materials.Identify some clear goals/expectations and stick with it. It takes a great deal of time to see success in most cases.Be consistent and have predictable routines for everything you do.Make sure that everything is relevant to the child you are working with.Be sure to track progress carefully, which will help you define when the child is ready for the next milestone.Remember that these children dont often generalize, so be sure to teach the skill in a variety of settings.When the child has reached the goal, be sure to use the skill regularly to ensure mastery of the skill continues. In summary, you are a very important person in this childs life. Be patient, willing and warm at all times.

Deciding to Visit the Greek Orthodox Chuch Free Essay Example, 1750 words

My decision to attend Greek Orthodox Chuch was partly based on what I knew of it from the outside. It is a beautiful mostly white structure built on a rectangular frame. Facing the street is a great inset arch highly decorated with carvings, a set of small circular windows and masking the main doors, which appear tiny by comparison. Just in from each corner is a tower. These are topped by domes in the front and more traditional sloped roofs in back. The main dome rises from the center of the building in the back and the roofs are covered in green. The emphasis is always on the vertical and the church seems to be attempting to reach up to God on its own. Inside, the church is just as beautiful. There are many wall paintings that depict the stories of Jesus for people walking in. There is also a very large painting of the church s patron saint, Saint Sophia, placed near the front of the church. Although this was a beautiful painting, very well executed, it made me somewhat un comfortable. I felt as if she were watching over me the entire time I was there and this feeling was a bit intimidating. Otherwise, it was decorated with gold fixtures and painted glass windows, obviously very well maintained and everything in place to emphasize the glory and majesty of God and his people. The church maintains a very busy schedule, but I opted to attend the 10 AM Divine Liturgy service because my friends had told me this was one of the more sacred services the church offers. When I arrived, I discovered that the church community was almost all white, I presumed most of the Greek origin, and that they tended to attend church as part of a large family group. At first, it seemed the congregation was comprised of a great number of young couples with small children, but then I noticed there were several people who seemed to have come alone and many old couples. What surprised me was that even though this is considered a more important service, there were very few y oung couples who did not also have children with them and the people did not worry about arriving on time. We will write a custom essay sample on Deciding to Visit the Greek Orthodox Chuch or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now

The Philosophy Of Human Nature - 1423 Words

1st is about Evil, 2nd is about Good, 3rd is about Every Man for Themselves and 4th is about experience. We are going to learn about four men known and revered for their philosophical teachings on human nature, unfortunately all four have very different opinions. Human Nature what is it? Where does it come from? Why, after so many years do we still not know the answer? The philosophers Mencius, Husun Tzu, Hobbes, and Locke are all very passionate in their beliefs and have written different arguments trying to prove their philosophy is the correct one. My job is to figure out who is the most convincing and who has the strongest argument. Which philosopher will be the winner of this debate. Mencius is a student of Confucius, a well-loved and followed leader in the philosophy of human nature. Mencius understood Confucius’s teachings as, â€Å"humans [are] inherently good and, with proper training, could become perfect† (MA 78). What does that mean? Per Mencius â€Å"human nature is inherently good, just like water flows inherently downhill† (Mencius 79). Therefore, naturally water flows downhill. Does that mean naturally humans are good? The example he gives is questioned by another philosopher making a very good point, â€Å"[water] only [responds] to the forces around it† (Mencius 79). Meaning water is only doing what it is molded to do, flowing free if unobstructed, it stands still if on level ground and if pressure is applied it will spill over. Mencius comparison for inherently orShow MoreRelatedThe Philosophy Of Human Nature1534 Words   |  7 PagesThe Philosophy of Human Nature For centuries, the world’s most brilliant philosophers, anthropologists, and theologians have curiously pondered the origins of humanity, and posed the tantalizing question: What does it mean to be human? In 1758, Carl Linnaeus, father of taxonomy, biologically classified human beings as Homo sapiens, the last surviving species of the Homo genus. Linnaeus’ distinction was based primarily on physical similarities in the bodily structures of humans and primates, but wouldRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Human Nature1140 Words   |  5 PagesJack Dufresne Prof. Brandon Philosophy of Human Nature 1 December 2015 Freedom of the Will The will, in its simplest form, is the ability for one to control one’s own actions. Through the will, the morality of the action is entirely decided by the doer. Augustine professes the will simply permits the doer to do evil. In Socrates’ assertion, free will is contingent on self-control because without it, one can find oneself enslaved to a material thing or desire. Based on reading and prior knowledgeRead MoreSchiller ´s Aesthetic Philosophy of Human Nature799 Words   |  4 Pagesthat is essential for all human beings. In other words, the part’’ is missing the whole’’. 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