The Courageous Soul that Dares and Defies Naturalism in The Awakening

The Courageous Soul that Dares and Defies Naturalism in The Awakening Critic Donald Pizer understands literary naturalism as the artistic result of unremitting hardship, both personal and social. Taken one step further, literary naturalism laments humankind’s lot through its focus on characters that attempt to break free from their suffering, only to suffer more in the attempt. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"The Courageous Soul that Dares and Defies†: Naturalism in The Awakening specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A naturalist author, in Pizer’s mind, â€Å"grounds his fiction in the social realities of his historical moment and he therefore cannot help being especially responsive to social reality when that reality impinges cruelly on the fates of most men†¦[T]he naturalistic ethos, which views man as circumscribed by conditions of life over which he has no control, appears to be confirmed during periods of social malaise and individual hardship† (Pizer 153). Kate Chopin’s The Awakening is one such work. Set in turn of the century New Orleans, The Awakening details the futile attempts of the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, to realize a modicum of personal freedom amid the socially constrictive Victorian era, wherein the roles allowed to females consisted exclusively of wifedom and motherhood. Where the novel differs from other naturalist novels of its time, however, is in its treatment of the artist. This essay will show that The Awakening is best understood less so as an example of naturalist fiction and more so as a manifesto that highlights the intense social sacrifices that the pursuit of art demands. Chopin’s nod to naturalism in The Awakening focuses wholly on the conundrum of freedom faced by women like Edna, who long for personal freedom, yet feel biologically bound to their children, and unable to leave them as a result. In Pizer’s words, â€Å"though Edna may reject†¦the socially-constru cted role of a mothers total absorption in her children, she has not escaped the biologically essentialist act of giving birth to children and thus finding within herself the protective emotions of a mother† (Pizer 6). We see this especially toward the end of the novel, once Edna has struck out alone. Though for all intents and purposes she has achieved her aim – she is free of her husband and painting regularly – she suffers agony at the loss of her children. â€Å"It was with a wrench and pang that Edna left her children. She carried away with her the sound of their voices and the touch of their cheeks. All along the journey homeward their presence lingered with her like the memory of a delicious song† (Chopin 248).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Critic Peter Ramos understands The Awakening as a â€Å"subtle but compelling critique o f†¦naturalism† (Ramos 148). Through Edna, says Ramos, Chopin â€Å"implies that in order for women like Edna to survive, the philosophical boundaries and consequences associated with these literary genres can and must be overcome. By†¦presenting women who seem to have a modicum of agency and autonomy, as well as a protagonist who mistakenly comes to believe that she has no say over her own fate, it undermines naturalisms claims of determinism† (Ramos 148). However, the more distinct means by which Chopin deviates from naturalism occurs through the character of Mademoiselle Reisz, a woman who has transcended biological determinism through the commitment to her art. The independence and sacrifice that Reisz the artist embodies stands in stark relief to Edna, the mother posing as an artist. Chopin’s novel states in no uncertain terms that there are two reasons why Edna fails and ends her own life: she cannot be alone, and she cannot move beyond her iden tify as a mother, expect through death. We see this most poignantly illustrated immediately before Edna’s suicide, when she imagines â€Å"the children appeared before her like antagonists who had overcome her; who had overpowered her and sought to drag her into the soul’s slavery for the rest of her days. But she knew a way to elude them† (Chopin 300). Similarly, Edna’s inability to truly embrace her art and simultaneously, her aloneness, appears in the following passage: â€Å"Despondency had come upon her there in the wakeful night, and had never lifted. There was no one thing in the world she desired. There was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert; and she even realized that the day would come when he, too, and the thought of him would melt out of existence, leaving her alone† (Chopin 300). Edna’s final thoughts envision the derision that Mademoiselle Reisz would heap upon her suicide, were she a witness to it.  "How Mademoiselle Reisz would have laughed, perhaps sneered, if she knew! â€Å"And you call yourself an artist! What pretensions, Madame! The artist must possess the courageous soul that dares and defies† (Chopin 302). Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"The Courageous Soul that Dares and Defies†: Naturalism in The Awakening specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chopin’s message appears to be that though women such as Edna may delude themselves into thinking it is the fault of biology that they cannot strike out on their own, the true fault lies in their inability to free themselves from their identity as â€Å"mother-woman† (Chopin 19). In Chopin’s mind, it is Edna’s inability to fully embrace her art that keeps her at the mercy of patriarchal social restraints. In a similar vein as other turn of the century naturalist novels, Kate Chopin’s The Awakening â€Å"illumi nates the socio-economic and cultural realities women like Edna faced, as well as the physical desires and social needs society denied them† (Ramos 148). However, the novel diverges from the form in the relationship that develops between Edna and Mademoiselle Reisz, and through Reisz, Chopin delivers her ultimate message: the artist must accept the social consequences of her calling. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Herbert S. Stone Company, 1899. Print. Pizer, Donald. American Naturalism in Its Perfected State. The Theory and Practice of American Literary Naturalism. Southern Illinois University Press, 1993. 153-166. Web. Pizer, Donald. A Note on Kate Chopins The Awakening as Naturalistic Fiction. The Southern Literary Journal 33.2 (2001): 5-13. Web. Ramos, Peter. Unbearable Realism: Freedom, Ethics and Identity in The Awakening. College Literature 37.4 (2010): 145-152. Web.

How Litter Trashes the Environment

How Litter Trashes the Environment Environmentalists consider littering a nasty side effect of our convenience-oriented disposable culture. Just to highlight the scope of the problem, California alone spends $28 million a year cleaning up and removing litter along its roadways. And once trash gets free, wind and weather move it from streets and highways to parks and waterways. One study found that 18 percent of litter ends up in rivers, streams, and oceans. In particular, the issue of microplastics is particularly dramatic in some parts of our oceans, including the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Cigarettes a Major Cause of Litter Cigarette butts, snack wrappers and take-out food and beverage containers are the most commonly littered items. Cigarettes are one of the most insidious forms of litter: Each discarded butt takes 12 years to break down, all the while leaching toxic elements such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic into soil and waterways. Litter Typically Viewed as a Local Problem The burden of litter cleanup usually falls to local governments or community groups. Some U.S. states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia, are taking strong measures to prevent litter through public education campaigns, and are spending millions of dollars yearly to clean up. British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland also have strong anti-litter campaigns. Keep America Beautiful and Litter Prevention Keep America Beautiful (KAB), the group known for its â€Å"crying Indian† anti-litter TV ads of bygone days, has been organizing litter cleanups across the United States since 1953. KAB has a strong track record of success in litter prevention, though it has been accused of doing the bidding of its industry founders and supporters (which include tobacco and beverage companies) by opposing many mandatory bottle- and can-recycling initiatives over the years and downplaying the issue of litter from cigarettes. Nonetheless, 2.8 million KAB volunteers picked up 200 million pounds of litter in KAB’s annual Great American Cleanup last year [2007]. Litter Prevention Around the World A more grassroots-oriented litter prevention group is Auntie Litter, which started in 1990 in Alabama to help educate students there about the importance of a healthy and clean environment. Today the group works internationally to help students, teachers, and parents eliminate litter in their communities. In Canada, the nonprofit Pitch-In Canada (PIC), founded in the late-1960s by some hippies in British Columbia, has since evolved into a professionally run national organization with a tough anti-litter agenda. Last year 3.5 million Canadians volunteered in PIC’s annual nationwide Cleanup Week. Only You Can Prevent Litter Doing your part to keep litter to a minimum is easy, but it takes vigilance. For starters, never let trash escape from your car, and make sure household garbage bins are sealed tightly so animals can’t get at the contents. Always remember to take your garbage with you upon leaving a park or other public space. And if you’re still smoking, isn’t saving the environment a compelling enough reason to finally quit? Also, if that stretch of roadway you drive every day to work is a haven for litter, offer to clean it up and keep it clean. Many cities and towns welcome â€Å"Adopt-A-Mile† sponsors for particularly litter-prone streets and highways, and your employer might even want to get in on the act by paying you for your volunteer time. Edited by Frederic Beaudry

Compare and contrast the OSHA noise standard and the ACGIH noise Essay

Compare and contrast the OSHA noise standard and the ACGIH noise exposure recommendations - Essay Example That is why every year they developed new research and study to protect the workers towards its environment. Recently, one of the standards that they have developed was the noise standard. OSHA releases the reasons why they believe that workers should be protected from noise. According to them, noise creates a fatal effect to people. Those who are exposed to too much noise results to common hearing impairedness, which is more often ignored because the symptoms occurred in the later stage of the illness. What is distinct about the OSHA noise standard was that it aims to protect the workers from the noise pollution. They provided guidelines on the required â€Å"safe† maximum exposure of a person in a noisy environment. Also, they mentioned that workers should wear ear protective devices that fits the ear perfectly as to no sound shall go in (plain cotton is not advisable). Also, they proposed that industries should provide safety measures on controlling the noise they create especially to industries that are heavy on construction and production. On the other hand, ACGIH proposed the same principle. They also aim to secure and protect the citizens (not only the workers and employees) on controlling the noise pollution that is created everyday. Like OSHA, they also require to regulate noise and encourage the industries to take charge in protecting the ears of their employees. For instance, they require (as noise exposure limit): So technically, both organization aids the sole purpose of noise standard. The difference now lies on how each organization provides a more in-depth assistance in noise safety and health hazard towards the employers. ACGIH have the entire Part 7 for these purpose, entitled, â€Å"Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature†. In this part, it enumerated a concrete provision on noise standards. It included exemption of noise control for workers, also with engineering noise control. They provided a hearing protection and warning signs

Critical Discussion of the View that Religion is a Major Cause of Essay

Critical Discussion of the View that Religion is a Major Cause of Terrorism - Essay Example Terrorism is defined as an act of violence which is committed to fulfill political reasons. In other words terrorism is done to gain something in response to the actions committed. It can be noted that the rate of terrorism has increased since the 1950s and the main reason behind the increase can be said to be the critical thinking of the religious scholars or the religious individuals. Mark Juergensmeyer and other authors like Mahan and Martin give particular views on these acts of terrorism and their link to different religions. According to Mark religious violence has increased all over the world and different people who follow these acts defend them accordingly. Mark gives a brief review about the individuals and their acts of terrorism and how they defend their acts. Furthermore authors like Griset and Mahan give an overview of the link between religion and terrorism. They conclude that the â€Å"best way to understand terrorism is to examine the social, economic, political and religious conditions and philosophies existing at a particular time and space† (Griset and Mahan 2003). Moreover the logic behind the committing these acts can be said to be religiously affiliated. As the world comprises of different people with different religion and perspectives, these people tend to interpret their own meaning out of their religion. Some people tend to indulge in terrorist activities because of this interpretation. This essay would further discuss and analyze the logics of affiliating terrorism with religion and would conclude if it has an overall affect on terrorism or not. Acts of terrorism all over the world are done to sow a seed of fear amongst the common individuals. They are done to get the demands of the individuals accepted by the government. According to Juergensmeyer religion and terrorism has a deep relationship which pushes the individuals who believe in their religion to move towards terrorist activities. Mark Juergensmeyer in his book tells the readers that religious violence is an act which is theatrical and performance oriented. Religion has an underlying effect on individuals and due to the beliefs people tend to deny the reality and get into acts which are not accepted within the society. Cosmic war has been led by the very reason of the relationship between terrorism and religion. Terrorism is an act of violence committed only to fear individuals and to get certain demands accepted which are of the ones who commit the acts of terrorism. The basic aim of the organizations is to sow a seed of fear amongst individuals when committing th e acts of terror. If certain individuals who see or suffer from the act of terrorism portray the act as of being lethal and deadly, then the aim of these organizations is fulfilled. It shows that terrorism is basically done to achieve public recognition in terms of terror. This follows the definition of religious violence as being theatrical and performance oriented. This shows that the acts are done to achieve such theatrical and performance oriented purpose. As explained by Mark Juergensmeyer in these words , "When we who observe these acts take them seriously- are disgusted and repelled by them, and begin to distrust the peacefulness of the world around us- the purpose of this theater are achieved" (J. pg. 128). It can be said that these acts though cannot disrupt the whole national government but they can disturb the people around the whole scene. Through these acts symbols are being left onto the civilians so they can fear the terrorists. Furthermore the terrorists also tend to set out a particular important date in the nation to target a certain place. This makes the civilians fear the acts of terrorism and consider the world as a non-safe place. This makes the media monitor the whole scene and portray it to the individuals as being a very threatening and deadly attack. Thus the attacks are even getting advertising for free just like other performance orien

Report Card Essay Example for Free

Report Card Essay The discovery of the computer was the great function of modernity for different to make work easier, more capable, and more adaptable for the humanity. It has brought a new level of knowledge that became the new standard in the industry. It made the school more efficient for students and provided path to communicate to entire earth. Nowadays, computer base system is commonly used by every company and institution and one of this is computerized report card system. The grade of a student is a scale which determines students who need more improvement and require more assistance which will help teachers in guiding them towards their development. It also shows where students excel most so they can be honed and encouraged to continue their good work, improve more, and aim higher. At the end, it will be the reference for the judgment of whether a student can step up to a higher level of learning or remain to be polished. From these reasons, it is clearly concluded how important it is to make sure that the grades of the students are accurately calculated and safely stored in a well-founded database. It is understood that in the traditional grading system, where only calculators and papers are present, it is very difficult and time-consuming to compute grades. Errors are more likely to occur and papers are not very reliable form of database. It is very stressful to calculate grades and check them repeatedly from one record to another. With the use of the Report Card Inventory System, the teachers will only have to input the raw grades of the students and the system will be the one to do the storing of files. This Report Card Inventory System can provide the good service of accurate and secured compilation of grades to those hard-working teachers.

Chemistry Term Paper :: essays research papers

Organic chemistry is the study of essentially all substances containing carbon. Organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons. The simplest hydrocarbons are the alkanes which contain only single covalent bonds. Methane is the simplest alkane. It is also the major component of natural gas. Methane contains only 1 carbon in the molecular formula and the structural formula. There is ethane which is 2 carbons, propane that is 3, butane which is 4, pentane which is 5 and so on. There are also alkenes. Alkenes are hydrocarbons containing carbon-carbon double covalent bonds, and last but not least there is the alkynes which are hydrocarbons containing carbon-carbon triple covalent bonds. They also have different names. Alkanes end with –ane. Alkenes end with –ene, and alkynes end with –yne. In organic chemistry there are also isomers, isomers are One of two or more compounds that have the same chemical formula but different arrangement s of the atoms within the molecules and that may have different physical/chemical properties. For example, CH3OCH3 and C2H5OH are isomers. They both have the same amount of carbon atoms but are arranged differently. Organic chemistry is used EVERYWHERE. For example methane, which is a gas produced by flatulence, that gas is also found in marshes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An acid is a compound that produces hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Therefore, the chemical formulas of acids are of the general form HX, where X is a monatomic or polyatomic ion. When the name of the anion ends in –ide, the acid name begins with the prefix hydro-. The stem of the anion has the suffix –ic and is followed by the word acid. Therefore, HCL is named hydrochloric acid. When the anion name ends in –ite, the acid name is the stem of the anion with the suffix –ous, followed by the word acid. Thus H2SO3 is named sulfurous acid. When the anion name ends in –ate, the acid name is the stem of the anion with the suffix –ic, followed by the word acid. Thus HNO3 is named Nitric acid. A base is a compound that produced hydroxide ions when dissolved in water. Ionic compounds that are bases are named in the same way as any other ionic compound—the name of the cation followed by the name of the anion. For examp le, NaOH a base used in making soap and detergents is called sodium hydroxide.

Aims and Objectives Essay

Hypothesis: Shopping centres in the Central Business District area are better in the sense that they provide a higher level of quality and variety of goods than the shopping centres in the residential areas. Aims and objectives: * Our general objective is to compare and contrast two shopping centres in the Central Business District (CDB) against another two shopping centres in the residential areas. We are also keen to investigate the various factors that influence the people’s decision to patronise the particular shopping centres. For example, the shopping malls in the CDB areas might be a better place to shop in terms of shopping quality and variety but on the other hand, the shopping malls in the residential areas might appeal to the public better in terms of close proximity to their homes and convenience. Our studies will intend to find out the link that exists between the shopping centres of our choice, and uncover a pattern that we will be going in further detail in our results and findings according to public opinion through means like surveys and in addition, our own feelings on the contributing factors or reasons. Our main focus would be the quality of shopping provided by the shopping mall. This includes the services, accessibility and the facilities provided that improves the shopping experience for the patrons. We will be taking surveys of the patrons there to find out their feelings about the shopping mall and its quality. We would also go there and do general analysis of the mall ourselves. This is to give us a base of comparison between our ideas of good quality compared to the peoples’ idea of good quality observed in a shopping mall.