Charles Dickens Hard Times Essay - 1717 Words

Today in British society, class systems are still as prevalent as they were in the 19th century, there are seven social classes, ranging from the elite at the top to the extreme poor at the bottom. Typically in English society social class was always defined by occupation, wealth, and education with an addiction of social and cultural classes added. Social classes is a prevalent aspect of British society since before recorded history, it was the addition of money, land and title that increased the division of the classes. As the industrial revolution swung into full force, the division of classes strengthened. Social mobility became a common occurrence as society developed and moved forward towards the twentieth century. This holds true in the novel Hard Times, written by Charles Dickens in the Nineteenth century, examines the British class system through examples of social relationships and the labor force. (4) Class systems throughout British society are visible in each book of Hard Times. In book one: Sowing, the first distinctions of class discrepancy are evident in the relationship between the schoolmasters and students. Education and educators were deemed higher up in society than most people. The school masters of Coketown, being Mr. and Mrs. Chokeumchild, and Mr. Gradgrind. The children who were the focus were Louis, Tom, Sissy, and Bitzer. The relationship between the students and schoolmasters is predominantly based on the parents social status as well as wealthShow MoreRelatedCharles Dickens Hard Times1494 Words   |  6 Pages May 1, 2015 Mr. Johnson Literature Dickens Calls for Desperate Measures in Hard Times â€Å"I want to change the world.† How many times is that line heard from small children, aspiring to be someone who achieves their maximum potential? If a child is asked how they might go about doing so they might respond with an answer that involves a superhero or princess who helps people for the greater good. As one grows and adapts to their surrounding society, the art of seeing the big picture includingRead MoreCharles Dickens Hard Times Essay1746 Words   |  7 PagesClass systems sadly are an institutional part of society since biblical times and are still prominent in all cultures today. In British society, class systems are still as prevalent as they were in the 19th century, there are seven social classes, ranging from the elite at the top to the extreme poor at the bottom. Typically, in English society social class was always defined by occupation, wealth, and education with an addition of social and cultural classes. Social classes is a prevalent aspectRead MoreCharles Dickens Hard Times971 Words   |  4 PagesIn Hard Times, Dickens presents life philosophies of three men that directly contradict each other. James Harthouse sees one’s actions in life as meaningless since life is so short. Mr. Gradgrind emphasizes the importance of fact and discourages fantasy since life is exactly as it was designed to be. Mr. Slearly exhibits that â€Å"all work and no play† will make very dull people out of all of us. He also proclaims that one should never look back on one’s life and regret past actions. Dickens is certainlyRead MoreHard Times By Charles Dickens1502 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel, Hard Times by Charles Dickens, concentrates on the Gradgrind family; of Mr. Thomas Gradgrind, his daughter Louisa, and son Thomas Jr. A major theme of friendship is portrayed in the books through the character of Mr. Gradgrind as he struggles with the idea of friendship between other characters. According to the Nicomachean Ethics, b y Aristotle, it explains a detailed account of friendship and what it is to be a friend to others. In comparing the character Mr. Gradgrind in Hard Times, to theRead MoreHard Times and Charles Dickens1845 Words   |  8 PagesThe novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens is a fictitious glimpse into the lives of various classes of English people that live in a town named Coketown during the Industrial Revolution. The general culture of Coketown is one of utilitarianism. The school there is run by a man ready to weigh and measure any parcel of human nature . This man, known as Thomas Gradgrind, is responsible for the extermination of anything fanciful and integration of everything pertinent and factual into the young, pliableRead MoreCharles Dickens Hard Times For These Times1074 Words   |  5 Pageselse, only to constantly find yourself memorizing empty facts over and over again? In Hard Times for these Times, Charles Dickens embodies the consequences of an absolutely factual world: blindness, imbalance, and nonfulfillment. Through the convoluted stories of the opposite worlds, Sissy’s journey to becoming a jewel of balance, Louisa’s tragic fight for fulfillment, and the harmonious character Sleary, Dickens defines the urgency for the proportional combination of fact and fancy. Gradgrind’sRead MoreIndustrialization in Hard Times by Charles Dickens1626 Words   |  7 PagesThe industrial revolution was an era of mechanization. During this era, in 1854, Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote Hard Times to comment upon the change within society and its effect on its people. Dickens points out the flaws and limitations of this new society in his eloquent and passionate plea on behalf of the working poor (Charles Dickens Hard Times, 2000). The novel shows presents to readers the authors perspective of life during the nineteenth century and makes comments on the central themeRead More Charles Dickens Hard Times Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesCharles Dickens Hard Times There are a huge variety of characters in Hard Times, ranging from the good to the unnaturally cruel. The novel is full of extremity in its characterisation; cruel, bitter and selfish characters such as Mrs. Sparsit contrast dramatically with characters such as Stephen Blackpool and Rachael, who are benevolent and altruistic. Among the cruellest and most villainous characters in the novel is James Harthouse, who is completely ammoral, and therefore renderedRead MoreAnalysis: Hard Times by Charles Dickens1807 Words   |  7 PagesHard Times as a Social Commentary with Parallels in the Modern Era The novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens is clearly an incitement of the economic and social burden associated with economic and social disparity. The work is set in a small fictional mill town, Coketown, where the challenges of the newly emerging industrial revolution were fundamentally being set at the footsteps of the poor, who had little if any opportunity for upward mobility. During this period the alternatives for those withRead MoreEssay on Charles Dickens Hard Times2066 Words   |  9 PagesCharles Dickens Hard Times The book Hard Times was written in 1854. It was written in weekly instalments in a magazine called Household Words. This is like a normal soap but was weekly. The magazine was owned by Charles Dickens as he was a journalist. The book was written at the time of the Industrial Revolution. This was when factories were being built near major towns and cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. The Industrial Revolution was a time when there were big

Incorporating Tibetan Buddhism into Modern Psychotherapy...

Incorporating Tibetan Buddhism into Modern Psychotherapy As the world moves into the twenty first century, Western civilizations are witnessing a surge of new technology, ideas and economic success. Urbanization is spreading rapidly and Western society’s push for progression is becoming more apparent. However, this obsession with advancement has begun to take its toll on the happiness of the citizens. Studies have shown that in 2002, up to 13 percent of U.S. citizens suffered from mental disorders and that this number has only increased since then (Rinpche 60). As a result of our push for new technology, more techniques and medication are evolving and being used in psychotherapy. We must, however, wonder if it is time to try†¦show more content†¦To prove the benefits of incorporating Buddhist philosophies into Western psychotherapy, I will examine three specific Buddhist ideas: the connection of experience and meaning, the idea of emptiness and the loss of the ego, and the true nature of the mind. In order to examine the benefits of incorporating Buddhist ideas for psychotherapy patients, we must first move past the common Western idea that Buddhism is too culture-bound and religious-oriented to be incorporated into Western societies. While many Eastern cultures do consider Buddhism as their primary religion, the philosophies behind the religious practices are psychologically based (Michalon 203). The Dalai Lama, one of the Buddhists primary religious leaders, agreed to this when he sad, â€Å"It is possible for people to adopt various Buddhist meditative techniques or mental training without being a Buddhist (Gay 172).† It is of no threat to the religion of any psychotherapy patient to be able to understand and incorporate Buddhist ideas into his or her way of life. In order to progress to a happier lifestyle, we must be able to open our minds to examine other philosophies and how we may benefit from them. Tibetan Buddhism offers a very philosophical approach to a happier and more compassionate way of thinking. Meaning and the Experience Many patients suffering from depression, as well as several other psychologicalShow MoreRelated Meditation Essay4138 Words   |  17 PagesDao, and later, Buddhism are responsible for its development. Its practice has permeated almost all major world religions, but under different names. It has become a practice without borders, influencing millions with its tranquil and healing effects. Western medicine has recently discovered the powerful affects of meditation, by allowing doctors to treat the body and the mind. In reality, the mind is a very misunderstood and unexplored region of the human existence. Modern science knows more

Repetition of Consonant Sound System †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Repetition of Consonant Sound System. Answer: Introduction: In the poem Forms of Innocence, the poet has used the swan as the major symbol- reversely. The girl in the poem has been compared with a black swan- a symbol to point out that she is an outcast in her kind of society where sexuality is not brought out in the light, and a girl exploring her sexual desire is considered a taboo. The girl did not abide by the norms society had chosen for her, and she had broken boundaries to engage in a sexual encounter with a man. She chose to enjoy the act as it was and did not take it as if she lost her virginity. The black swan marks her apart from the masses of white swans, or women who abide by repressing social norms. In his masterpiece The Prelude, T.S. Eliot justifies the title as this plays as a curtain raiser for the themes of his later works, especially The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock and The Waste Land. The stanzas have been written as if they are time slots dividing a day into four parts. With each line, the poet has expressed his hopelessness. The readers are compelled to drown in the desolate and filthy description of a crippling civilization management. To make things more real, he has experimented with the rhyme schemes with fragmented and cobbled up words to put emphasis on living a worn out day. The rhyme pattern used in the first stanza is ABCB, DDEFE- something that is scattered. He has used iambic tetrameter here. In the poem The Yachts by Williams he employs the most important figure of speech is the comparison rare as the light of a happy eye.. Here the main subjects are the ships which face power and wrath of the sea for sailing through the waves. As the waves look as happy as a mans twinkling eyes, they break against the sailing ships, ready to rip them apart. They look gay, only to devastate. Alliteration is used to show repetition of consonant sounds within a single line in a poem. Assonance shows repetition of vowel sounds in a line. Consonance is the amalgamation of both- it is the repetition of similar sounds when they are in close proximity. Higher pitched sounds are rough on the ear while softer sounds are soothing. In Epithalamium loud sounds are used to describe the abusive marriage of the woman. The woman ends the attack on the man with softer sounds. In the poem Vancouver Lights by Earle Birney, there are a few metaphors which have been used to enhance the theme of the poem. Quilt of lamps here has been referred go the number of lighthouses which work together looking like a blanket of lights from afar. They provide safety like quilts as they watch over the coast. Another one used is We the unique glowworms. By this, he denotes that humanity has been responsible for its own condition, much like flies and worms. Conclusion The poem Bushed by Earle Birney presents a time sequence, and written from an observer point of view. The poem stands for two different meanings, where the first denotes that the narrator is tired or bushed. The second meaning denotes a bush, or stretches of wild land originating beyond human settlement. The poet talks of a man who has succumbed to natures intimidating force. He lacks the power to counter with the nature or even be scheming anymore. He has come to that stage where he speaks from his philosophical detachments and emotional fatigue.

Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour free essay sample

Wow. What’s a better word for it? High. The concert, the people, the music, the stage presence, and the high of it all. Dancing, jumping, yelling, wishing, and finally just being happy. Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte, The Maine, and Metro Station rocked stages all over the country in the summer of 2008. Together they played music and made their fans happy. Some concerts that you go to are just about the money or the mosh-pits or who can get drunk first and you can’t even get close enough to the stage to feel like you’re there, but not this one. When I attended the Soundtrack of Your Summer tour at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, it was more than I could’ve wished for. The way that the bands acknowledged each other and made amazing transitions made it go just that smoother. Parents might not understand why we spend all our money on concert tickets, but that’s only because they aren’t like us. We will write a custom essay sample on Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We feed off of being different, but when we’re all interested in the same thing and we’re all together in one place, it’s like uncreated magic. The bands rocked the stages and they got the crowd moving. We were singing along with them while packed in with a bunch of other smelly, sweaty kids. What parents don’t see is that, those smelly, sweaty kids are just like us. They love the same bands and music we love. When were ramming into them and yelling lyrics into their ears, we’re happy. We’re in pain and our voice boxes are about to explode, but we’re happy. That’s what these bands embraced. They treated us like a group of fans just wanting to hear them play, and that was exactly the truth. It al started with a great opening set from The Maine. Like an opening band, they got us warmed up and even though I didn’t know whom they were or what they were playing, I was jumping and yelling and feeling on top of the world. Especially when their cover of Akon’s â€Å"I Wanna Love You† started, we were going. Then Metro Station came on. They played loud and they threw water at us. They just made every moment more memorable. Their songs were amazing and once â€Å"Shake It† came on, we were out of breath, but breathing in the concert high just that much more. Next was Good Charlotte. They brought a new vibe to the venue and got people wishing they’d worn more perfume of cologne. We didn’t care though, because as â€Å"I Don’t Wanna Be In Love† came on, we were already too happy to stop. The high filled the venue and the crowd was bonding as one. They rocked us off our feet with new songs and old songs that we all loved like â€Å"Little Things†. Then Boy Like Girls made their entry. They really were just perfect on stage and they rocked slow and fast. â€Å"Thunder† and â€Å"The Great Escape† got us all together. Whether it was raising our mobile phones or jumping until our bodies rejected, they had us heels over head. All in all, the concert was an amazing experience and anyone who loves concerts should have been there. But look out for the brand new tours coming up just so we can breathe in that drug of music again.

Nietzsche Vs. Hobbes Essays - Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Hobbes

Nietzsche Vs. Hobbes ANDREW LANGILLE GRADE 13 PHILOSOPHY COURSE, How are the philosophies of Nietzsche and Hobbes different on topics of Christianity, Human Nature, and Morality. The philosophies of Nietzsche and Hobbes' are radically different, Hobbes' philosophy is dominated by loyalty to the crown, riddled with references to the Christian scriptures, and a belief that life is ?nasty, brutish, and short?(Leviathan, 133); while Nietzsche's philosophy was dominated by the pessimistic Schopenhauer, a belief that the human race was a herd, and that ?God is dead?(Thus Spoke Zarathustra, S. 13). Hobbes and Nietzsche look at the world completely differently. Hobbes was a Christian who defended the bible, while Nietzsche called ?Christianity the one great curse?(The Anti-Christ, s. 62). On the topic of human nature Hobbes thought life to be a ?warre...of every man, against every man?(Leviathan, 232) while Nietzsche took a nihilistic approach and declared that ? human nature is just a euphemism for inertia, cultural conditioning, and what we are before we make something of ourselves...?(Human, all to Human, 67). On morality these two philosophers have opposing views, Hobbes views on morality were straight out of Exodus, while Nietzsche holds that ?morality is a hindrance to the development of new and better customs: it makes stupid [people]?(Daybreak, s. 19). These two philosophers lived at different times, in different locations, and their differing philosophies reflect the lives that they lived. Thomas Hobbes was born into an English upper class family in 1588, his father was the parish priest. Thomas was educated by his uncle until he was fifteen, when he was sent to Oxford to continue his studies. In 1608 he finished his formal education and took up with the son of Lord Cavendish, they undertook an adventure which saw them travel across Europe. Hobbes remained in England until the start of the English civil war when he fled to France. The civil war took place from 1642 till 1649, this conflict had a profound affect on Hobbes, particularly the execution of Charles I in 1649. All his writings after this event reflect Hobbes' quest to find a peaceful, stable form of government. Hobbes died in 1679. Fredrich Nietzsche was born into a upper class family in Germany, on 15 October 1844, his father was tutor for the royal family and also a priest. Nietzsche father died when he was twelve, this had life-long impact on him. At age eight-teen he discovered the philosopher Schopenhauer, the basis for much of his early work, and gave up Christianity. He was educated at the University of Bonn, at the age of twenty-five Nietzsche was appointed Professor of Philosophy at the University of Basle. He became close friends with composer Richard Wanger, who's work he enthusiastically supported. Nietzsche most productive years were to be his last, he drove insane by syphilis and died at the dawn of this century. Nietzsche declared in that ?modern Christian civilization is sick and must be overcome?(The Anti-Christ, 156), Hobbes would have found that excerpt to be repugnant having declared that ?God...when he speaks to any subject...he ought to be obeyed? (Leviathan, 492). Hobbes was a Christian, while Nietzsche was a atheist, their views on Christianity are completely opposite. Nietzsche held the belief throughout his life that ?Christianity has taken the side of everything weak, base, ill-constituted, it has made an ideal out of opposition to the preservative instincts of a strong life; it has depraved the reason even of the intellectually strongest natures by teaching men to feel the supreme values of intellectuality as sinful, as misleading, as temptations,?(The Anti-Christ, S. 5) Professor Howard Rainer of Davis University states that ?Nietzsche was uncompromisingly anti-Christian, for Christianity was the most potent force against those values which he prized most highly.? Nietzsche felt that Christianity would hinder the emergence of the ?overman?(The Will to Power, 546), a human being that follows their own path and not the herd's. Hobbes while being a Christian to the end, had a rather pessimistic view of it; Professor Ian Johnston of Malaspina University states that ? Hobbes believed the public religion of the artificial state must serve the need for security to protect the selfish economic interests of the individuals composing it.? Hobbes view of Christianity was quite radical

Nationalism in Europe essays

Nationalism in Europe essays Patriotism and nationalism mean essentially the same thing, only with different obvious connotations. When one thinks of patriotism in America, one thinks of the Fourth of July, fireworks, hamburger cook-outs, flags, war-heroes, and the Republican Party. When one thinks of nationalism, images are quickly brought to mind of the IRA, Al-Qaeda, Spanish Basque Countrys ETA, WWII concentration camps, nearly every war in history, and the Republican Party. It is interesting to observe how this notion is viewed in Europe as compared to the United States. In the United States, pride in ones country is regarded as a virtue. It shows honour, dignity, courage; even moral character. American pride is synonymous to the things America is founded upon: democracy, freedom, pursuits of happiness, and apple pie. It is in turn a reaction to a world in which dictators rule and terrorist groups threaten the lives and safety of innocent people. American patriotism actually becomes a reaction to foreign nationalism which these other groups are based upon, interestingly enough. There are far more flags flying over front yards in American homes than there are in Europe. In Venice, as a matter of fact, I remember seeing more PACE (peace) flags hanging out of peoples windows than I saw Italian flags or, even less, Venetian flags. Europeans seem to be a bit more sceptical of the idea of patriotism and might regard ones pride in his country as nationalistic. Bitterness toward national pride could be a reaction to the conflict between the US and Iraq, where third parties might view both sides motives as nationalistic. There are also the aforementioned examples of the separatist groups of Northern Ireland and Spain, also with which nationalism might be associated. All this makes sense in todays Europe where it almost seems like states are trying to forget their differences in order for everyon ...

Essay on a set topic - choose ONE of the below questions as your

On a set topic - choose ONE of the below questions as your topic. Indicate which one you have chosen - Essay Example In the recent years there have been efforts to try and address the issue of climate change. Countries are being advised to adopt anti-climate change policies. In this context, they are actually required to address the key issues in the society that have prevented the adoption of the strategies. The study would discuss on how the social and cultural processes have impacted while addressing this issue of climate change. How values affects the decisions and actions with regard to climate change, what role culture plays in the strategies for adopting to climate change, and in the process overcoming the barriers to change. The study would also highlight the irreversible losses of cultural and natural heritage as a result of climate change, and finally, what cultural practitioners contribute to the search for creative solutions to the negative impacts of climate change. Discussion Climate change is caused by a variety of factors which include oceanic processes like oceanic circulation, var iations in solar radiation that is received by Earth, volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics, and lastly, human induced alterations of the natural world; the latter effects are currently resulting in global warming, while climate change is often used to describe the human specific impacts (Rothwell, 2006:56). The factors that shape climate are referred to as climate forcings. They include processes like variations in solar radiation, continental drift, mountain building and, variations in earth orbit, and changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases. There are arrays of climate change feedbacks that can either diminish or amplify the initial forcing (Barnett & Adger, 2003:134). The human factors that cause climate change include: an increase in the carbon (iv) oxide concentrations as a result of emissions from fossil fuel combustion, followed by the aerosols and then cement manufacture. The other factors include the following: animal agriculture, deforestation, ozone depletion, an d lastly, land use. They are also of concern in the roles that they play, both separately or in conjunction with the other factors, in affecting the climate, microclimate, and measurement of climatic variables. On the other hand, according to Jones (2009:101) asserts that culture in the context of climate change, refers to the common manner or way a community of persons make sense of the world. Culture has social, material, ideological, and artistic dimensions, all which have an impact on what people think, believe and value, and how they respond to the call of action The determination of knowledge from the social settings requires social constructivism. The term social constructivism is referred as a sociological theory of knowledge that is usually applied to the general philosophical constructivism into social settings. Whereas groups construct knowledge for one another, they collaboratively create a small culture of shared artefacts with shared meanings (Grant, 2007:167). When on e is completely immersed within this culture of this sort, one is all the time learning about how to be part of that culture on various levels (Barab, Dodge, Thomas, Jackson, & Tuzun, 2007: 268). As a consequence, strong social constructivism as a philosophical approach suggests that the natural world has very small and/or non existent role in the construction of scientific knowledge. Recently, scientists have been struggling to comprehend the past and the future climate by utilizing observations and