Readers of Huck Finn Free Essays

The ending of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is indeed puzzling. On the surface, the story looks a perfect happy end – more or less, everybody seems satisfied with the new order of things: Jim is now a free man, Tom is fully recovered, and Huck gets rid of his father and receives a chance to move West to start an independent life free of â€Å"civilizing† efforts of well-meaning adult women. This looks like a perfect American ‘happy end’ which so often ends Hollywood movies even if the previous course of events had seemed unlikely to bring about such a happy combination of circumstances. We will write a custom essay sample on Readers of Huck Finn or any similar topic only for you Order Now Perhaps the sympathetic treatment of the runaway slave on the part of Huck seemed idealized to many of Clemens’ contemporaries and later critics. At the same time, the ending contains one very important message that makes it less ideal than it may seem on the surface. This is the whole behaviour of Tom Sawyer who had known all the way that Jim was in fact a free man, yet had chosen to withhold this information from his friends simply to have a spectacular liberation. In doing so, he had subjected Huck and Tom to many trials and dangers that are surely exciting to read about, but overall so difficult that few of us would like to repeat it on their own. This callous and insensitive action on the part of Tom, although he tries to justify it with a lame excuse that he had meant to repay Jim with money for his troubles, vividly demonstrates that his treatment of Afro-Americans is less idealistic. In showing Tom’s lack of sensitivity for the feelings of another human being simply because this human being happens to be a black slave brings home to the readers of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the real situation of the relationship between slave-owners and slaves. To a great degree, such attitude puts Huck’s heroic deeds in context and reveals that many people would probably choose to imitate Tom’s behaviour rather than Huck’s especially if this promised them an opportunity to have fun. True, the readers realize that Tom is not a typical white male as there is probably no such thing as a purely stereotypical person who simply follows all the norms of his class without showing any individuality. Tom does have a very bright and outstanding individuality, and he is notable for his love of a good prank. Thus, he is going to take liberties with the lives and need of other people, including those of his own class, as he had shown during his school jokes. However, would he be willing to make a white person from a respectable background undergo such hardship as Jim did? The question remains unanswered, and the readers can very well suspect that Tom can be doing many things to have fun with things that are life and death to other people, less empowered than himself. Therefore, the ending of the book does reveal the inhuman attitudes of white slave-owners toward their black slaves. The author does show that the life of a black person is no bed of roses even after the basic question of personal freedom is solved. This freed person finds oneself in the setting in which the white majority are taught to see their black fellow citizens as worthless individuals in contrast to themselves – as people whose human value is at least slightly less than that of their own. As to Huck’s kind treatment of the runaway slave, this does not seem so improbably even one considers the wide scale of the abolitionist movement in the nation. Huck is shown to experience pangs of conscience when he conceals a runaway slave, feeling affinity with his own class and race. Yet, like many people in theory born to be slave-owners, he oversteps the prejudice the society imposes upon him and manages to become a moral person by helping a human being. Summing it up, the ending of Huck Finn does not seem to contain any improbable elements that would confirm that Twain cheated. The closure of the book does show that white people often tended to see slaves as inferior, and that many were able to rise above prejudices to help slaves. Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 13 Jan. 06 http://www.bibliomania.com/0/0/54/99/frameset.html.       How to cite Readers of Huck Finn, Essay examples

Dickens Sense of Theatre Essay Example For Students

Dickens Sense of Theatre Essay Dickens seems to have a highly developed sense of theatre, and this is proven countless times in his works. The three stages of Pips life could also be called Acts, because if you were to make Great Expectations into a play, the three stages would most certainly be divided into Acts 1, 2 and 3. Dickens brings down the curtain at the end of the first stage with a few very powerful paragraphs. These paragraphs illustrate Pips feeling of loss, lonliness, and even dejection, and describe the parting between Pip, Biddy and Joe. It also describes the way Pip keeps questioning himself as the carriage pulls away from the town; he constantly is debating whether or not to jump out and walk back, but by the time he decides to, he has journeyed too far to walk back. It almost seems that Dickens is trying to shut the door on the first stage of Pips life, and showing that he can never go back. The final paragraphs describe Pip as he walks away, fighting back tears. He realizes that if he had cried in front of Joe and Biddy, he would have stayed for just one more night, but that one night would have turned into two, then three, and he would have become increasingly reluctant to leave the comfortable setting of the forge, even if it was his dream to go to London and become a gentleman. These last few paragraphs clearly illustrate Dickens wonderful use of language to create a mood.

Paintball The Safe Sport Essays - Paintball, Outdoor Recreation

Paintball: The Safe Sport So, your son, daughter, or husband is begging for your okay to buy the latest paintball equipment. It's surprising, but after only one or two trips to the paintball field, folks just get hooked! While you'd like to share their enthusiasm for the sport and give your much needed go ahead, you are concerned with your loved ones shooting paintballs at other players and being shot at. Don't feel like you're alone. These are common and serious concerns that deserve a thoughtful response. The following paragraphs will hopefully explain why our sport is the fastest growing sport in the world and that it doesn't have anything to do with people hurting one another. Paintball has had an astounding safety record. Medical and insurance statistics show that paintball is safer than bowling! This is a strong testimony to the game and they players who play it. Paintball is a safe sport as long as rules are followed. Insurance statistics also show that paintball is much safer than golf, jogging, downhill skiing, snow boarding, tennis, swimming and many other more common sports. Safety is highly stressed at most fields. The majority of fields require goggles be worn at all times unless in designated areas. In addition to this fields also require that barrel plugs (plastic inserts that prevent projectiles from leaving your gun's barrel) be used while players are in certain areas. Ignoring safety is a good way to get yourself ejected from a field. Men and women of all ages and life-styles play paintball in over 30 countries. From schoolteachers or high school students, professionals or technicians, all paintball players share a love for adventure and a strong competitive team spirit. Paintball is similar to the childhood games of tag and hide and seek, but much more challenging and sophisticated. There are various game formats. Usually, a group of players will divide into two teams to play capture the flag. The number of players on a team varies from four or five players, to as many as 100 players on each side, limited only by the size of the playing field. The object of the game is to capture the other team's flag while defending your own flag station. Players compete to eliminate opposing players by tagging them with a paintball expelled from an airgun. Games usually have a time limit of 20 to 45 minutes. Between 10 - 15 games are played during one day. Between games, players may check their equipment, reload paintballs or have a snack and share stories about the thrills of victory and the usually funny agonies of defeat. Win or lose, everyone has a great time! A paintball is a round, dime-sized gelatin capsule with colored liquid inside. Paintballs are similar to large round vitamin capsules or bath oil beads. The liquid is non-toxic, non-caustic, water-soluble, and biodegradable. It rinses out of clothing and off skin with mild soap and water. Paintballs come in a rainbow of colors. When a paintball tags a player, the gelatin ball opens and the liquid leaves a paint mark. A player who is marked is eliminated from the game. Paintball guns come in a variety of styles. Some are small stock pistols, powered by small 12-gram CO2 cartridges that need to be changed after 15 to 25 shots. Other paintball guns are rifle-like, with shoulder stocks and longer barrels. These are powered by larger, refillable CO2 cylinders that supply hundreds of shots. Some paintball guns are pump-actions. Each time you shoot, you must first cock the paintball gun by using a pump. Other paintball guns are semi-automatic, which re-cock automatically. Just squeeze the trigger! Paintballs won't hit hard enough to cause an injury as long as proper safety procedures are followed. Protective covering with multiple layers of clothing is recommended. To protect their eyes, all players must always wear approved-for-paintball goggles in every area where shooting is allowed, even at the target range. Barrel plugs are required anywhere off the playing field. Professional referees on the playing field control the games, enforce the rules of fair play, and monitor safety rules. Most paintball fields have a staff of trained referees that allows them to conduct several games simultaneously. Paintball is a sport where women and

Kate Chopins The Awakening

Kate Chopins The Awakening Introduction In the novel â€Å"The Awakening† by Kate Chopin, the author depicts Edna as a woman who is unable to hide sexual desires. Moreover, Edna juggles her private life with the life she is expected to lead by the society. According to Baym (2008;10-12), Edna struggles to assert the individual identity of a woman beyond the limits set by the patriarchal society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The novel cannot reconcile the public and the private self because of societal expectations that severely curtail freedom of choice. Edna’s sexual escapades are synonymous with the art experiments, which remains a vital part of her life. The changes articulated in Chopin’s novel elucidate the confusion and lack of reconciliation between the role of Edna as a female artist and her sexual inclination. This conflict culmin ates in the death of Edna. Discussion Conflict between Public and Private Life The start of â€Å"The Awakening† depicts Edna as an epitome of the American ideals of the 19th century. She is a young woman married to an attentive and wealth husband. By the social standards of the 19th century, Edna is leading a perfect life. The social picture of this woman is that of a perfect mother and a happy woman. The marital tag â€Å"Mrs. Pontellier,† introduces the reader to the picture formed by Edna’s husband and the society that expects every woman to be respectful. This picture comes with responsibilities that curtail Edna’s freedom. Henceforth, she is referred to as Edna after casting aside the fictional role of the woman to lead a carefree life. Edna has a love for the arts, although her main interest is in accomplishing a woman’s dream. Edna is not fully committed to the societal role of a wife, which is against the expectations of the public. Moreov er, she undertakes motherly duties with discontent and constantly asserts her position. She thinks that women have no choices in their private lives. Moreover, they are compelled by the patriarchal society to assume their responsibilities of bearing and rearing children (Baym 15). Edna cares for her children although she cannot match the prowess with which Adele performs her societal duties. Edna’s husband reprimands her for her laxity in taking care of their sick son. Moreover, her response on the issue evokes fury and the husband is on the blink of insanity.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The husband does not expect such a response from the wife and rebukes Edna for neglecting children, a feat unheard in a perfect patriarchal society, where the woman is supposed to be submissive and attend to the needs of the husband and the children (Baym 105). Edna†™s husband was attentive and loving as any American husband in the 19th century. The century depicts women as objects for the gratification of the men rather than subject determining their free will as would be the wish of Edna. Edna embraces modernity in a peculiar way by failing to settle into the designated societal roles that she deems inappropriate and a form restriction. Edna offers a satirical description of her friend’s predicament as a perfect assimilation into the mother role. To Edna, Adele’s situation depicts colorless existence, which fails to emancipate the possessor from the domain of blind contentment (Baym 257). The Awakening When Edna starts to experiment with art, painting surpasses important activities. Painting sparks Edna’s repressed desires to purpose beyond the societal and public roles given to her. Concisely, she wants her private life to be devoid of any form of interference. This forms the genesis of Edna’s awakening. Edna ha s realized realizes the position she has in the Universe as a human being. She also recognizes that her relationship with others as an individual is preceded by painting. Edna attempts to decipher the lifestyle led by Adele via painting (Baym 280). Ironically, Edna feels the need to connect with the maternal figure notwithstanding that she is determined to dismiss her maternal role of supporting her children. Her art depicts connotations reserved for the private life, which should not enter into the public domain. She focuses on women in a sensual manner. The desire evokes argument that she has a homosexual-maternal aspect. Edna is oblivious that such private matters are not encouraged in the public but she admits that her art is socially acceptable as it depicts the life of Adele. Edna’s art is disrupted by her romantic ardor. She burns with desire when painting Adele. This desire is homosexual and is opposed in such a society. Edna strips away from restrictive aspects in he r life. These aspects are social rules, marriage, and clothing (Baym 145).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Conflict Between Private and Public Life After fuelling sexual desires through exploration of painting, Edna recognizes another life. She is conscious of the lack of satisfaction her domestic and social relationships provide her with. Her friends and the family physician fail to recognize what may be happening to her. The doctor claims that the cause of Edna’s unhappiness is her sexual escapades with men. Despite being inscribed with maternal instincts unavoidable after pregnancy, she cannot subject herself to the life led by Adele. Adele is obsessed with her social and maternal duties and can only get fulfillment after caring for the children. Nevertheless, in the attempt by Edna to forge a different life with differen t roles, Edna leads a life that is different from that of her friend. Moreover, the desire to create a different role and life for herself, emanates from the struggle against social stereotypes (Baym 487). Edna’s aims at becoming conscious of the full potential she has. Notwithstanding that emotional satisfactions are requisites to a full life, the society in which Edna lives in is marred with chauvinistic tendencies. In the light of this, the women are not expected to be self centered. This simply means that the women cannot focus on their happiness and the first priority is family preservation. Edna voices her dissatisfaction with her husband’s views on Victorian ideals. She views the ideals as a form of oppression because her husband determines her choices. She distances herself from the husband through art. The income from these sales gives her a feeling of independence. On the other hand, this move gives the husband a feeling of threat (Baym 452). As opposed to ma ny respectable women who are shy around a doctor, Edna is comfortable. She does not gesture or glance when touched by the doctor. Edna also shows no emotion when she refuses to attend the wedding of her sister. She insists that her husband should attend the function alone because it reminds her of her own marriage. The refusal to attend the wedding reveals that Edna is determined to distance herself from all possible societal roles. By watching her sister become a subservient wife meant for serving her husband, she cannot think of a worse experience. Edna’s father reminds her of the bad experiences she has had in life. Edna’s father and Margaret’s life are perfect examples of patriarchal forces dominating the life of Edna.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As she extends the distance between the husband and her, her art increases in force and reality. Edna goes against the societal norms by moving into a house away from their matrimonial home. She does this thinking that she will evolve from an amateur artist to a professional artist (Baym 278). Conclusion In summary, Edna is a hard working woman torn between leading a public or a private life. She uses Adele as a perfect example of the effects of a patriarchal society on the freedom of a woman. This is because Adele is a loving and caring mother. Moreover, Adele is a model of in the 19th century’s woman. The submissiveness of Adele is a source of concern for Edna who views that the woman should emancipate herself from the societal and familial roles and pursue a free life. Edna has no stand. She admires Adele but ridicules her submissiveness. She cannot be like Adele but she worships and idolizes Adele’s children. Through her awakening, there is a further conflict betwe en her personal choice and the choices determined by the public. Beauty, social, and sexual issues also characterize this awakening. This is a difficult way of trying to bring out the private life of an individual in a patriarchal society. Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Beginnings to 1865. New York: W W Norton Company Incorporated,2008.

The Many Meanings of Mean

The Many Meanings of Mean The Many Meanings of Mean The Many Meanings of Mean By Maeve Maddox A reader from Brazil wonders about the word mean: It has many meanings, such as as evil or significant. Could you help me and others with this word? It’s not surprising that a non-native English speaker would have difficulty assigning a sense to this word. Apart from many discarded definitions, mean continues to be used in numerous senses. Ignoring the word’s use as noun or verb, I’ll look at mean as an adjective. How can mean denote both median and unkind? The word comes from two etymological sources that have jostled together through the years. From its Anglo-Norman source, mean has the sense of intermediate, middle, middle-sized. Our adverbs meantime and meanwhile come from the sense of something occurring between two points of time or between two events. Later on, from the idea of being â€Å"in the middle,† the word took on the sense of ordinary or mediocre. Scientific language yields these terms with mean in the sense of median: Astronomy mean moon mean solar day mean time Ballistics mean point of impact Mathematics mean diameter mean distance mean motion mean temperature mean-value theorem Physics mean free path Statistics mean deviation mean square Typography mean line From its Germanic sources, mean had the meaning â€Å"possessed jointly,† â€Å"belonging equally to a number of persons.† We all know that a Rolex has more cultural value than a Timex; it was only a matter of time before the meaning of â€Å"common ownership† evolved–as did the Anglo-Norman word–to mean ordinary. From ordinary it came to mean â€Å"inferior in rank or quality,† â€Å"of low social status,† â€Å"inferior in learning or ability.† The sense â€Å"of low social class† took on the added sense of â€Å"characterized by poverty, shabby.† Everyday speech gives us these uses of mean: inferior in rank: â€Å"Leave him. He’s but a mean clerk; I demand to speak to his superior.† of low social status: Catherine I of Russia came of mean origins. inferior in ability, learning, perception: â€Å"The truth of my statement ought to be clear to the meanest intelligence!† characterized by poverty: â€Å"Down these mean streets a man must go† vicious or hard to control: â€Å"Don’t make me ride a mean horse.† violent: â€Å"He’s nice enough ordinarily, but he’s a mean drunk.† stingy, miserly: Scrooge was mean with his money. unkind: That boy is mean to his little sister. Finally, as if all these uses weren’t challenging enough, mean can also indicate that something is admirable: He plays a mean saxophone. (i.e., He plays saxophone extremely well) He packs a mean punch. (i.e., He hits really hard.) Winning the Iditarod three years running is no mean achievement. (i.e., Winningis an admirable achievement.) For the non-native English speaker, mastering the many meanings of mean is no mean feat. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One SpellingTry to vs. Try andWriting a Thank You Note

Foreign and Domestic Policy Issues from the 60's and Today Research Paper

Foreign and Domestic Policy Issues from the 60's and Today - Research Paper Example The first issue that president Obama needs to deal with is terrorism. Although terrorist threats on the US reached their height during the reign of George W Bush, Obama needs to devise new strategies of dealing with the problem. Terrorism is a global issue since it is still a problem in other parts of the globe. This indicates that the president needs to deal with the problem as a global issue and not an American issue. It is difficult for America to deal with terrorism without support from other countries. Although America has the military capabilities of dealing with any form of terrorism, the country still require collaboration with other nations (Koontz 107). For instance, the tactical arrest of Osama bin Laden proved America’s capabilities of dealing with terrorist criminals. However, the issue raised questions concerning lack of Pakistan involvement in the arrest. Thus, Obama needs to establish diplomatic relationship with leaders from other countries in order to solve t he current problems related to terrorism. President Obama also needs to address the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since it is affecting America’s credibility on the global stage. George W Bush was behind the war in his efforts to stop terrorism. These wars have similarities with the Vietnam War in the 1980s. Wars have no benefit to a country. In addition, there is no an absolute victor from a war. Thus, the president needs to reconsider America’s position on these wars. Like in the Vietnam War, America is losing millions of dollars due to its involvement in the war (Ellen web). In addition, the war has resulted into massive destruction of lives and property. America has lost hundreds of its soldiers in the wars. The latest incidence is increasing number of suicide cases among soldiers fighting in these countries. The continued involvement of America in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is contributing to the problems been experienced by the country. America needs to create a systematic withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan and Iraq within the shortest time possible. The role of regime change that America has played in the two countries should be left the UN. The US also needs to separate its war against terrorism from war against Islam. Although most terrorist have an Islamic background, Islam and terrorism have no relationship. There have been allegations that America is fighting Islam through its global efforts to eliminate terrorism. President Obama has an obligation to free America from these allegations by ordering the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, America needs to be accountable for the crimes committed by its forces in the two countries (Brook web). This will free America from accusations of double standards in dealing with crime against humanity. Gay marriages and gay rights have also remained a controversial issue in America. Although America is a multicultural society, it has a global socia l obligation. In addition America is been looked upon by the rest of the global population. Thus, mistakes committed by Americans are likely to be repeated by the rest of the globe. Gay people have the rights to live as other ordinary individuals do. In addition, they have the rights of upgrading their relationship into marriages. America has high social standards and integration than the rest of the world. Thus, Americans needs to reconsid

Importance Of Agriculture Policy For European Union Essay

Importance Of Agriculture Policy For European Union - Essay Example European Union region possesses a large export market for agricultural goods. Its exports value for 2010 amounted to more than 90 billion Euros (European commission 2011). European Union has become the leading exporter of agri-products. Its agricultural exports superseded that of US in 2003. In 2003 the EU exports of agricultural products amounted to $66 billion and that of US amounted to $64billion (European commission 2007). European Union also imports agricultural products that worth many billion Euros. However its exports have been significantly higher than its import of agri-goods in the past decade. The balance of trade of EU in agricultural product has also been improved in the past decade. The following table shows the European Union Exports and Imports from 2000 to 2006. The balance of trade was negative in 2000 through 2004. It, however, improved in 2005 and amounted to $6 billion in 2006. EU exports of agricultural products amounted to $135 billion in 2010 (Wall street jou rnal 2011). European Union has Common agricultural policy (CAP). CAP came into existence in 1950’s after the destruction of World War II. CAP was formulated with the vision of avoiding any possible food shortage that EU countries might face due to the massive destruction in World War II. A budget was decided to support, invest and regulate agricultural market in EU region. Initially CAP claimed around 50% of European Union Budget (Visegrad 2010). CAP aims at such regulations and action plans that ensure the safe, healthy and competitive agri-products to be consumed inside the region and exported as well. Primarily, the CAP’s focus has been on the subsidies given to farmers to ensure high production but now due to several factors the CAP’s focus, in its new proposed policy, has been on the policies for agriculture that ensure a farming that meet the standards of environmental security as well as provide competitive products to the EU region and International comm unity. Common agricultural policy takes a very high bite of the EU budget. In 2009 its budget amounted to 55 billion EUR which is about 44% of the total budget of European Union (European commission 2010). This paper will discuss the agricultural policy of European Union, its inception and primary objectives at the time of its formulation. The paper will discuss the importance of agricultural policy of European Union by referring to the important agricultural policies and discussing therein the importance of such policies. Moreover the paper will also discuss the new proposed policies for agriculture and their importance in the changing world scenario for European Union specifically and International community at large. Initial CAP and its importance In its early years, CAP adopted a policy where it provided the subsidies and had a system where the farmers were assured of high prices for their commodities. It also provided a policy for substantial financial assistance to improve and restructure farms and to implement new technological developments in the agricultural production. The underlying objective of CAP at the time of its establishment was to take such measures so as to avoid a possible food shortage in the region, to increase productivity of agricultural sector, to stabilize markets and to ensure price competitiveness of products (Stead 2010). These policies played a very important role. These helped EU region to get out of the fear