Free Essay on Homers Odyssey: Order vs. Chaos :: Homer Odyssey Essays

Order vs. Chaos in The Odyssey In The Odyssey, Homer portrays the reoccurring theme of order versus chaos. This theme is particularly evident within the first twelve books of The Odyssey. Homer shows the importance of instilling order where there is chaos or confusion. To eliominate chaos and regain order, a strong hero is needed along with the intelligence to find a solution to the problem. In the first twelve books of The Odyssey Homer shows the need for a cunning hero in order to restore peace where there is chaos through the suitors, the storm off the coast of Scheria, the Kyklopes, and Scylla and Charybdis. The first and most evident example of chaos in The Odyssey is the presence of the suitors. Since Odysseus never returned form the Trojan War, many suitors who sought to marry Odysseus' wife, Penelope, were disrespecting Odysseus' house. The house was filled with the chaos that the suitors caused. They were there for so long because Penelope was resistant to remarry. While they were there, they continued to consume all of Odysseus' possessions. His wife is besieged with suitors and his entire house is threatening to fall. With the absence of their king, Odysseus, in Ithica his house was being overrun by the greedy suitors. Although order is no restored in Ithica until the end of Odysseus' journey, it is hinted at what is needed to end the confusion within the first four books, or the Telemacheia. Since Telemakhos is still too young and not fully matured enough to restore order in his father's house, it will take Odysseus' return. Even the goddess Athena recognize s the need for Odysseus' warrior strength and intelligence when she says, " bitterly you need Odysseus, then! High time he came back to engage these upstarts. I wish we saw him standing helmeted there in the doorway, holding shield and spear, looking the way he did when I first knew him. (The Odyssey, Homer, Robert Fitzgerald's translation, pp. 9)∝ The rest of the books in this section are dedicated to Odysseus' journey home so that he can restore order to his homeland and be with Penelope. Homer also shows that a cunning hero is needed when faced with chaos in the episode where Odysseus is stuck in a storm off the coast of Scheria.

The Paradox of the California Dream

â€Å"More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth. † – Napoleon Hill Dreaming something is very different than trying to accomplish it. The famed author Napoleon Hill puts it so wisely: many more people dream and try to become rich and successful than the small percentage that actually accomplish that goal. In the article â€Å"California: A place, A People, A Dream,† James Rawls argues that the California dream consists of five main factors. These factors are Health, Romance, Opportunity and Success, Warmth and Sunshine, and Freedom.People come from all over the world to live this dream, which sometimes turns into a nightmare instead. Based on texts such as The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, The Republic of East L. A. , by Luis J. Rodriguez, California travel guides, and others, the California dream is perceived and lived differently by different people. The California dream is not how it seems; it is a paradox to the l ower class but a reality for the wealthy. The California dream changes drastically depending on your level of income. As we see in the majority of Luis J.Rodriguez's stories, opportunity and success is what lower class families are focused on. â€Å"Pigeons† is about a young, poor couple who are doing whatever it takes to support their family. â€Å"Although apprentices were called oil greasers†¦ it was a Job that promised up to 15 dollars an hour within two years†¦ What more could a young, poor, married couple living in East L. A. ask for? † (109). For a typical poor couple like that, Jobs like these are very common. For them, the California dream is being able to support a family and live happily.While this can be thought of as a dream, it is what is expected everywhere and is not unique to California in any way. If you compare this definition to Rawls' definition, it is nowhere near the full California dream. In fact, it is only one fifth of it, which does n't really make it a dream. In contrast, the California dream changes a lot for upper and some middle class families. For wealthy families, all of James Rawls' five factors play into the picture when deciding to move to California or not. Romance, Warmth and Sunshine, andHealth are all added benefits that California has. These added benefits are some of the main things that wealthy people are focused on. Being wealthy, they most likely have or had some sort of well paying Job/source of income, inheritance, etc. The climate, health, and Romance of California are not things that a single person can control. They are more or less unique to California and very attractive to people with disposable income. California Travel guides are generally directed towards the upper class. â€Å"California Dreaming?Travel deals to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego,† is a travel guide for wealthy people out of state. It highlights some of the main things people think of when they think o f California. â€Å"Want to feel like a celebrity while you are at it? Indulge in a spa day at the Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel and Spa($99, a low by $101; expires June 29). † While this sounds attractive to many people in all financial classes, the question is if someone can afford it without losing a meal or electricity for their family. Unfortunately, many lower class people cannot.Too often, neducated, lower class families come to California with the dream of living a lavish lite like the wealthy; this is a tar tetcned dream. California's lofty cost of living makes it hard for a lot of people to think of living here as a dream. With California housing prices two times the national median, it takes much perseverance that many people think isn't worth living in the new, overcrowded California. Maribel Vazquez Lemus is one of those people. In an article published on CNN, she talks about her situation. â€Å"[she] skips two meals a day so she can afford to feed her kids†¦S he wants to move East–perhaps out of the state–so she can find better employment and lower rent. Right now she pays $400 for a single bedroom in someone elses house. She and her two daughters all sleep together in that room. † Believe it or not this is quite a common situation for young families. The amount of single parents are growing at a constant rate, adding to the difficulties of raising one or more children. In a recent study done by the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA), the cost of raising a child is the highest it has ever been. The verage middle-class family who had a child in 2011 will shell out $234,900 to keep it fed and a roof over its head for the next 17 years†between $12,290 and $14,320 per year. † This is one fifth of the $51 ,017 national median income and it has to be over two fifth with two kids. By moving somewhere else where the cost of living is much cheaper, like Maribel Vazquez Lemus wants to, this number can be reduced significantly. With California being the most populous state since 1970(1970 California Census)–and the population still rising–the cost of living has nothing else o do but rise as well.The California dream is a paradox; an idea that is very attractive thinking about it, but very opposite living it. California is perceived as the place to make easy money, meet a partner, and get a tan. These things simply aren't realistic. It is Just as hard, if not harder to earn a living in California. And the inflation Just adds to the trouble. We see this example of the paradox of the California Dream is The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, when living in California is much different than the main character, Baba, anticipated. Baba loved the idea of America.It was living in america that gave him an Clearly, living in Fremont, CA did not live up to their expectations. At all. Hearing so many positive things about it, they don't know how they can be experiencing these negativ e things such as the the lack of trust. â€Å"No one trusts anybody! † Baba says. Later in the book, we see more negative reasons why the state is not living up to expectations. â€Å"The Bay Area's smog stung his eyes, the traffic noise gave him headaches, and the pollen made him cough. The fruit was never sweet nough, the water never clean enough, and where were all the trees and open fields? (l). More and more things that seem like they should all be here but clearly aren't. At the moment Baba and his son are very disappointed, as are many other people that came to California to live the dream but have failed to get that opportunity. Maybe the paradox stems from the old California. From the 1970's when the California dream for all classes, not Just the upper class, was actually a realistic thing. Or maybe it stems from the countless celebrities such as Steve Jobs and Tiger Woods ho nave emerged trom Calitornia.Either way, the old Calitornia dream, where an overwhelming nu mber of people came to California with nothing and left with something, is dying out. Whether it is because of the decline in education, the high cost of living, or the unrealistic perception that outsiders have on California, the old dream is being replaced by new, tougher times in California. The California Gold Rush days are long gone. Getting rich so easily Just does not happen anymore. Luck is a main reason why people still move to California, and a main reason why they fail, too.The future is still bright for the Golden State, though. Many of the problems that have caused this end to the dream have fixes that aren't too complicated. Soon, in the near future, it will be clear for most people that there is no such California dream anymore. Hopefully sometime after that it won't be as clear. And hopefully soon after that it will be clear that the California dream is back. But for now, the California dream is â€Å"fizzling out. â€Å"As James Rawls' stated, the California Dream is â€Å"quite impossibly everything–and quite possibly nothing at all. † A paradox for many, a reality for few.

Sexual Identity And Gender Expression - 1399 Words

To conceptualise sexual identity and gender expression, Judith Butler (1990) proposes a poststructuralist perspective; that gendered behaviour (masculinity and femininity) is learned, a performative act, and that gender is constructed through a ‘heterosexual matrix’. She describes this as [A] hegemonic/epistemic model of gender intelligibility that assumes that for bodies to cohere and make sense there must be a stable sex expressed through a stable gender (masculine expresses discursive male, feminine expresses female) that is oppositionally and hierarchically defined through the compulsory practice of heterosexuality (Butler, 1990; 151). She proposes that one is born a particular sex, which in turn dictates one’s gender, which in turn†¦show more content†¦Reality, from the realist perspective, is seen to have a stratification of existence, which Bhaskar (date) outlines as the ‘empirical’, the ‘actual’ and the ‘real’. The empirical is the experienced, a sub-set of the actual; the things and events in their concrete historicity, and these are both a sub-set of the real; the structures, the internal relations of the actual parts. Socially, realists distinguish the ‘empirical’ reality of social life from the ‘real’ objects whose causal powers effect social change through ‘actual’ mechanisms. This ontological depth has bearing when exploring the sex-gender relationship, where there are real anatomical sex differences, and empirically real gender differences. Rather than â€Å"deterministic†, sex categories are â€Å"causa l† to result in a particular gender. One born to a particular anatomical sex tends to be a particular gender; the outcome is probable. That is because of the actual mechanisms, the cultural, religious, historical truths, that create a tendency between the ‘real’ and the ‘empirical’. This is what Butler somewhat fails to portray: the influences of race, class, and time. â€Å"Heteronormativity† is the term coined to define the systemic and pervasive belief, structurally, socially and somewhat unconsciously, that heterosexuality is the normal and inevitable sexuality, it ‘makes sense’. It is grounded in determinism; that one’s anatomical sex must compliment their partner’s ‘opposite’Show MoreRelatedSexual orientation is the preferred term used when referring to an individuals physical and or1100 Words   |  5 PagesSexual orientation is the preferred term used when referring to an individuals physical and or emotional attraction to the same and or opposite sex. Heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual and pansexual are all sexual orientations. An individuals gender identity and expression is distinct from their sexual orientation. Throughout life as the individual explores the world around them, they are shaped by the unique experiences and influences that are imparted upon them. All people experience life s ubjectivelyRead MoreSexuality And Gender : Social Constructs Essay1366 Words   |  6 PagesSexuality and Gender are social constructs. They are more like fluid concepts. Both are on spectrums. Why could they be considered controversial topics, more specifically the spectrum? Well, the idea of sexuality being more than just heterosexuality has been challenged by conservative types and others alike for years. They may even deem anything other than heterosexuality as something abnormal and immoral. For some, it can be quite difficult to understand that sexuality is on a spectrum. EspeciallyRead MoreSexual Orientation Within America s Most Controversial Topics1058 Words   |  5 Pages Sexual orientation can be considered as one of America’s most controversial topics. Although the rationale and choice differs from person to person, and is considered to be a private matter of personal preference, many people have experienced negative backlash and harsh criticism due to their individual likings. In general, sexual orientation is defined as: a person s sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.Read MoreAge Groups And The Lifecycle1432 Words   |  6 PagesChildren (Ages 3-12). Gender labels are placed on children prior to and after birth as we are taught about gender binary in an â€Å"either/or† fashion (Janssen Erickson-Schroth, 2013) during early years of development. For example, the newborn is either a boy or a girl and this predisposes children to gender specific ideologies. Gender revealing parties and baby showers are notorious for continuing traditional societal viewpoints of binary assumptions – girl or boy. Gender roles are established atRead MoreThe Issue Of Sexual Orientation1090 Words   |  5 Pagesregarding sexual orientation is vast, and a lot of different definitions of the concept have been introduced throughout time. Nevertheless, although homosexuality is fairly common in the United States, many people still misunderstand it. The different types of sexual orientations and their difference from other sexual-related terms, such as gender role and gender identity, are all confused by the general population. Sadly, even to day, there are people that believe in a right or wrong sexual orientationRead MoreThe Issue Of The Canadian Immigration Act1399 Words   |  6 Pageswas death, which later on moderated and became imprisonment for a period of 10 years. Through 1947-1961, many amendments were made to the criminal code, which further criminalized the idea of trans genders. During the 1960s, the British Parliament deiced to decriminalize some of the offences of Tran genders. In the May of 1969, following the prime ministers elections, after Pierre Elliot Trudeau was elected as P.M., his government passed Bill C-150. This bill decriminalized gay sex for the first timeRead MoreGender Differences Between Sexuality And Gender888 Words   |  4 PagesIn sociology, we make a general distinction between sexuality and gender. Sex is the biological trait that we use to determine whether or not a person is a male or a female, whether it be through chromosomes, genitalia, or some other kind of visual physical de scription. When society talks about the obvious differences between men and women, they are often drawing on sex rather than gender, which is now an understanding of how society helps to shape our new understanding of these biological categoriesRead MoreGender Identity : Then And Now1553 Words   |  7 PagesGenders: Then Now In today s world there are more than two genders. Believe it or not there are (unofficially) eight genders, and according to Facebook, there are fifty-eight genders to choose from. It is not simple anymore. There are four main terms that make up how you show your gender; Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Gender Role, and Sexual Orientation. Your Gender Identity is how you perceive yourself and what you call yourself. One’s gender identity can be the same or different thanRead MoreGender Identification : An Exploration Of The Transgender Group1625 Words   |  7 PagesGender Identification: An Exploration of the Transgender Group and Their Relationship in Society Gender identification and expression of transgender individuals has become controversial in America because of lack of knowledge and societal acculturation of this group. As society continues to connect gender identity with sexual identity, those who identify as transgender are forced to conform to the cultural norms of society or choose not to openly portray their gender expression. Although the mediaRead MoreSexuality Is A Social Identity That Goes Beyond The Objectivity1636 Words   |  7 PagesSexuality is a social identity that goes beyond the objectivity of the title and into the subjective scope of the personal lives of individuals, which in turn fabricate the social constructivism of a nation. Classism, heterosexism, and cisgenderism are further reinforced within the institutionalization of heteronormativity, being the promotion of the gender binary and heterosexuality as the only valid form of gender expression and sexual orientation. The normalization of this system is not enforced

Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 761 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/10/10 Did you like this example? According to the author pop culture is mostly depending on the audiences to purchase the products containing it .The makers have it in mind that it is the white people who are going to watch or use the products. A nonwhite consumer of white culture will be not satisfied with the current situation. Similarly, I have watched the show Fresh Off the Boat. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by  Chuck Klosterman" essay for you Create order In   Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs  Ã‚   Klosterman situates pop culture within a larger conversation about race and consumption,   class and use .According to Klosterman   Eddie is the eldest son of Jessica and Eddie feels disgraced and not loved by his family. As it is evident in the show he is not happy when the family moved to Orlando, he is thinking to be desperately belonging to the family (Klosterman). This is because he could somehow feel unsatisfied and unfit in the new society, for instance, we could see that this character feels belonging when he attends school and gets disappointed when he is made fun of having Chinese food. This shows how representative is the people in his new environment. This character feels rejected and not respected. By being a lover of hip hop the only solution to this challenge comes as Eddie is getting inspired by the hip hop music, it motivates him concerning the current situation he is undergoing. For he has a plan to improve change and overcome this situation. According to Klosterman, I   feel that pop culture is failing non white, and those who are not privileged enough to find real ground with the characters in this show. This show is focusing on the issue of race and how the characters take it. Eddie the main character has migrated to Orlando from DC’s China town together with his parents, he loves hip hop. In this show, we can see that immigrant family is experiencing a culture shock as far as it is trying to achieve the American dream. The two character Louis and Jessica are having a conflict when raising their kids and unable to manage the restaurant in the foreign state. Jessica makes sure that their children get the best in school to ensure that there is no much difference between them and the American parents kids. The same approach is made at the restaurant to ensure that they achieve their best. In this show, there is a plan for a family to make new friends in an event Louis is requesting the family members to make new friends. It is somehow not effective to Jessica as she feels not fitting in this society when he gets in an affair with the trophy wife that many people do not respect. As this happens, Eddie is trying the best to familiarize himself and make friends and get recognized by the neighborhood kids.   We as well could see a family rival in the show when Connie Jessica’s sister and her husband visited the family. Huang lies that they are doing well financially, during this time Eddie appreciates being reunited with his cousin who introduced him to the hip-hop later to learn that she has a grudge. According to Kightley, Some of the nonwhite consumer face challenges as they try to fit in the white culture and forget their cuture. We could see that Eddie is experiencing a hopeless life because there is a new video game named after his idol, he goes to work at the family restaurant. Funny enough he is not treated as the son of the owner of the restaurant he has to work because he is in a foreign state his father is making him work for money. Meanwhile, Jessica looks for a job. Culture is much influenced here as we can see in the movie number 4 is bad luck, according to Chinese culture, but Jessica an immigrant sells a   house having an address with 44.   Kightley, explains in the shows how they have lost their culture to fit tin the whitish culture. Eddie challenges racism by running for president in the school despite the white lies. Jessica is getting worried that the family has lost their culture and Chinese identity. I believe that the characters are also convinced that t hey have learned a lot of the American culture. Throughout their life, at Orlando, they have assimilated a lot, and it is their high time to get reconnected with their culture by getting involved in activities strengthening their culture. I think that from the above show the pop culture is connected to race as it is attached to the whites.

The Influence Of The European Age Of Exploration - 1149 Words

Europeans in the 15th through 17th centuries were conquerors as they conquered the world. They engaged in intensive exploration and early colonization of many parts of the world, and they established direct contact with Africa, the Americas, and Asia. The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration was during this period of time. The Age of Exploration was when the Europeans traveled around the world in search of different things. This is when Europeans conquered different parts of the world. Europeans were conquerors because conquerors are defined as a person who conquers (takes over) a place or people, and that is what Europeans in the 15th through 17th century did. Even though Europeans did explore unfamiliar areas and traded†¦show more content†¦They would explore that piece of unfamiliar land. Many lands previously unknown to Europeans were discovered during this period of time, though many were already inhabited (a person or group live in or occupy a place o r environment). Europeans who explored the new areas would conquer that new area and take it as theirs. European immigrants would do anything to conquer new land, including killing people or groups that lived there and manipulating natives into trusting them, so that they (Europeans) would have more power. With all of that said, the best way to describe the European immigrants is describing them as conquerors. The best way to describe the first wave of European immigrants is describing them as conquerors. The Europeans in the 15th through 17th century were conquerors because they wanted to expand their empire before their competition expanded to these new lands. In this period of time, Europeans conquered about eighty-four percent of the world. Also, Europeans started to â€Å"rise to the top† even when they weren’t as advanced as some of the other countries like Asia. Some of the reasons they â€Å"rose to the top† was because they were one of the first to in dustrialize (develop industries in a country or region on a wide scale), and they were immune to diseases such as smallpox. They were motivated to travel and conquer the world because inShow MoreRelatedEffects Of European Exploration On The World1252 Words   |  6 PagesEffects Of European Exploration By the late 1400’s into the 1500’s, European countries began to expand into the rest of the world. This resurgence of trade interest resulted in a demand for foreign goods and exploration of water routes. This Age of Exploration united the Americas with Europe, Asia, and Africa. The exchanges were plentiful and stabilizing for many communities. However, along with the positive influences, came the negative aspects, which impacted cultures and civilizations aroundRead MoreCcot Europe 600-1750 Essay1003 Words   |  5 PagesCrusades. Another major change was the socioeconomic impact of the Age of Exploration circa 1500, which would establish European Hegemony. While economic transforma-tions occurred throughout Western Europe, the influence of the Roman Catholic Church was continuous despite fluctuations in its authority. After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE, Western Europe became divided into the Germanic Kingdoms that characterized the Middle Ages. Trade languished during this time as a result of the constantRead MoreAge Of Exploration : The Promise Of Glory1188 Words   |  5 Pages Age of Exploration: The Promise of Glory I have fully upheld Delbarton’s honor code in letter and spirit. Signature: Hunter Macy Hunter Macy October 19, 2015 European History Mr. Manno Delbarton School The Age of Exploration, during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, led to a myriad of expansion for European countries, namely Spain and Portugal. The rush to the New World by Portugal and Spain during the Age of Exploration, led by men such as Hernan CortesRead MoreThe New World During The European Age Of Exploration Essay1615 Words   |  7 Pagesduring the European Age of Exploration. It is considered just a subsection of the Columbian Exchange (a term coined by Alfred Crosby as well), which denotes the exchange of a number of varied items between Europe and the New World after 1492, including infectious diseases like smallpox, chicken pox, the plague, yellow fever, and the flu (Marr, Cathey 2010), but it seems that it could be and vital aspect of understanding how Europe and America existed and developed during the Age of Exploration, how theyRead MoreChristopher Columbus s Voyage Preparations And His Religious Beliefs1401 Words   |  6 Pagesand his religious beliefs, th e iconic Genoese explorer harbored many pre modern convictions. The chronology of Europeans exploration dates way back before Columbus and the Age of Exploration in the 15th century. In actuality, the Age of Exploration started with the iconic Venetian explorer Marco Polo and his own exploration in the East. Evidence indicates that in the late Middle Ages, the Venetian explorer Marco Polo voyaged to Asia (1271- 1290) in hopes of discovering a route into Asia’s silkRead MoreEuropean Colonization Of Europeans And Native Americans1503 Words   |  7 Pagescatastrophic epidemics from the European conquest. The spread of diseases between Europeans and Native Americans led to a demographic calamity. The earliest explorations from European countries introduced a plethora of diseases; these diseases hindered the Native’s population and way of life. Not only early explorations of European countries impacted the indigenous people, but the settlement and encounters with Europeans in the twentieth century did as well. Before Europeans voyaged to the New World,Read MoreThe Colonization Of China And Portugal1495 Words   |  6 Pagesmany ways, nations can be defined by their trade relationships. Before the Age of Exploration, European nations remained isolated, with most of their trade coming from neighboring countries. Similarities between nations in close proximity to one another limited the amount of influence each culture had on the other, as their proximity allowed the cultures to blend regardless of trade relations. However, as the Age of Exploration unfolded, western nations rapidly came into contact with eastern nationsRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World1641 Words   |  7 Pagesthis paper I will examine the changes and improvements in European ship design that allowed for the first transatlantic voyage to the New World. Though the Europeans were not the first to develop the concept of the ship, they were the first to take this concept and use it to cross the Atlantic. Even before Columbus sailed across the Atlantic to the New World, Europe had a long maritime history. Before the 15th and 16th century European ship design had been relatively slow to advance from itsRead MoreThe Compass: How a Small Navigational Instrument Changed the Face of the Earth1595 Words   |  7 Pagescomponent that aligns itself with the Earth’s own magnetic pole, allowing the user to know the directions of North and South, and subsequently East and West. Due to the ease of use, and the efficiency of the compass, it played a major role in the Age of Exploration, and ergo played a major role in the shaping of today’s world. Due to its high importance, the compass was the most significant advancement in the field of navigation before 1350 A.D. Before detailing the reasons for the importance of the compassRead MoreImages Of America The European Writers902 Words   |  4 PagesImages of America the European writers constructed to promote colonization and settlement European exchanged cultures with North America when Leif Ericsson’s arrived at the new land at the year 1000. However European settlement started to spread after Columbus first voyage in 1492. In 16th century America became the golden arena for Europe and renaissance attracted adventures and opportunities for colonial aspirations of rival empires. Explorations in America increased fast and grew and by the time

The Adoption Option free essay sample

When was the last time you had the opportunity to significantly change or even save a life? If you answered â€Å"never,† but had the chance to, would you take the opportunity? There are thousands of lives out there that are in need of saving every day; some of those lives are as close as in your own town or neighborhood. If lucky, these poor souls may eventually end up finding homes; however, many end up confined to shelters or hospitals, while the rest remain homeless, hungry, and alone. These desperate and desolate individuals are none other than our animal companions. Ironically, while the plight of homelessness and abandonment continues around us, animals, particularly dogs, are being brought into this world solely to be sold to people such as your neighbors and friends. The desire for purebred or pedigree pets means that many animals exist solely to breed even more of their kind. I firmly believe that people should adopt homeless or sheltered pets rather than continue to support the practice of breeding and selling animals. To begin, I would like to be clear on the fact that not all breeders neglect the needs of their animals. This is good to know because, according to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.org), 26% of dogs in American households were purchased from breeders. Along with that fact, Americanhumane.org recognizes that there are responsible breeders who breed one litter at a time, as opposed to operating â€Å"puppy mills† solely to rake in larger profits. Reliable breeders physically care for their animals and make an effort to ensure they are sold to â€Å"good homes.† A responsible breeder will first screen and possibly meet potential buyers prior to selling their animals. Americanhumane.org further states that reputable breeders provide adequate veterinary care for their animals. While it is assuring to know that these accountable breeders are supplying basic physical care, what about the emotional needs and well being of these animals that are bred and then sold like commodities? A startling truth is that most stray and shelter animals were once someone’s â€Å"beloved† pet that either became lost or was abandoned by their owner. ASPCA.org supports that fact by saying that many stray animals are pets that became lost because they either were not securely kept indoors or did not have proper ID. That same website also states that over 20% of the people who surrender their dogs to shelters, originally adopted them from shelters; how ironic is that? Even more disturbing is the ASPCA.org statistic that, although many people spend a lot of money to buy pedigree animals from breeders, 25% of dogs that end up in shelters are purebred to begin with. Nationally, around 5 to 7 million companion animals are brought into shelters each year, many grieving the painful and bewildering loss of their home, family and life as they knew it. Of these shelter intakes, between 3 and 4 million are euthanized due to overcrowding and the inability to find permanent or â€Å"forever† homes. Tragically, there are almost as many animals surrendered by their owners as there are ones brought in by animal control. Adding to the overpopulation problem is the reality that only 10% of animals received by shelters were spayed or neutered prior to arrival. As a result, and not counting dogs, there are a staggering 70 million stray cats roaming throughout the United States in need of shelter, love and care. PETA.org emphasizes the sadness of the animal overpopulation crisis by stating that, for every time a puppy or kitten is purchased, a sheltered or stray animal loses a chance at life. Yet, the practice and business of animal breeding continues. One does not have to look far to see the magnitude of the pet overpopulation crisis. Just a few miles away, the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (HSHA) serves our local and surrounding communities, areas that produce a large amount of unwanted pets. For example, HSHA currently houses a significant number of pit bull terriers, a loveable yet misunderstood breed of dog. Due to discriminating legislation and the countrywide stigma against their breed, high numbers of pit bull terriers are regularly surrendered to HSHA, further increasing their already overpopulated shelter. Many of these dogs were originally purchased from breeders, and are now sitting in cages, much like their shelter mates, waiting and hoping for someone to give them a loving home. Last fall, my family and I welcomed a new member to our household when we adopted our cat, Ted, from the HSHA shelter. Ted came into the shelter as a local stray; however, the fact that he was already neutered and declawed upon arrival leads us to believe he was once someone’s pet. Too often, shelter animals like Ted once belonged to a family, but then, through no fault of their own, ended up on the streets. It is hard for many of us to imagine how baffling, frightening and heartbreaking it would be to suddenly lose the love and security of our home and family, especially if not equipped to survive outdoors and on our own. Thankfully, Ted is one of the lucky shelter pets who got his fairytale, happily-ever-after ending by getting a second chance at a good home. What I want from people everywhere is to help diminish the population of homeless animals. To accomplish this is to refrain from purchasing pets from breeders, and instead take in strays or adopt those in shelters. Here’s your opportunity to be a hero in your local community and feel good at the same time. According to HSHA, nearby Lancaster, Pennsylvania has become known as the â€Å"U.S. Eastern Capital of Puppy Mills,† a title that our state and surrounding community should not take pride in. Instead, we should do everything we can to squash this title, and replace it with something we can be proud of, such as the â€Å"U.S. Eastern Capital of Homeless Animal Rescuers.† If people were willing to adopt pets, as opposed to supporting breeders, more overlooked animals would get a chance at a better life. There would be less of an animal overpopulation, because the act of breeding would eventually become less lucrative and appealing as a business. You might thin k you cannot help because there are too many lives that need saving, but believe me you can. Be one of those people to step up, take initiative, and help end the needless suffering of our animal friends; it will literally give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, both on the inside and the outside. Annotated Bibliography American Humane Association | Home. American Humane Association | Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2013. . This website helped in my research by giving me the point of view as to why people should adopt animals from shelters instead of buying purebred animals from breeders. The point of view from the article was that, although it is very nice to buy newborn animals; most animals in shelters were products of neglect and abuse from their owners. The article encourages people to adopt shelter animals in order to give them a second chance at life and give them a nice home. Animal Rights Uncompromised: Theres No Such Thing as a Responsible Breeder | PETA.org. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): The animal rights organization | PETA.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2013. . This article was helpful to me because the article completely supported my argument that people should adopt pets from shelters instead of buying them from breeders. Plus the article went more into depth about irresponsible breeders as well. Home Page. Humanesocietyhbg. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2013. . This article was really helpful to me because it gave me the points of view of a local agency. Ive adopted a cat from this shelter, so it was nice to see what they thought about adopting pets from shelters instead of buying them from breeders. The website also gave me some local pet statistics as well. Pet Statistics. ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2013. . This website was helpful in my research because it gave me up-to-date statistics about animal shelters. More specifically, the article gave me (estimated) statistics of how many animals in shelters are purebred. That helped my research by showing how people could, and therefore should, adopt purebred animals from shelters, instead of buying newborn ones from breeders. Top Five Reasons to Adopt : The Humane Society of the United States. RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2013. . This website was helpful simply because it gave top five reasons to adopt animals. It was not the top five reasons to adopt animals as opposed to buying them from breeders specifically, but it was top five reasons to adopt them as opposed to buying them nonetheless. Some of the website articles reasons for adopting animals were a little opinionated; for instances, the article said that the person would feel better because of adopting animals as opposed to buying them. Although, every other reason the article gives are statistics and logical reasons. Plus the organization has a good reputation around the United States.

The Tempest Bringing It All Together Essay Example For Students

The Tempest Bringing It All Together Essay The Epilogue of the Tempest by William Shakespeare is an excellent-if not the best-example of Shakespeares brilliance. In 20 lines Shakespeare is able to write an excellent ending to his play, while speaking through his characters about Shakespeares own life and career. Even more amazingly, he seemlessly ties the two together. In the context of the story Prosperos monologue makes perfect sense. He has lost his magical power, so his charms are oerthrown, and what strength Prospero haves his own, which is most faint. He is now confined on the Island, for his other choice would be to go to Naples and reclaim his dukedom, but he doesnt want to do that because he has already pardoned the deceiver who took his position many years ago. Prospero then says something a little strange, but it makes sense in the context of the story, he ask us to release him from his bands with the help of your good hands. In other words, clap so that the sails of the boats his friends are riding in will be safely returned and Prospero can be relieved by prayer of the audience. We will write a custom essay on The Tempest Bringing It All Together specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now All of what Prospero has said is very nice cute, but the most interesting part of this monologue is what Shakespeare himself is saying. Now that my charms are all oerthrown, and what strength I haves mine own means, now my plays are over, and its no longer my characters speaking. The Island or stage Shakespeare is on is now bare and it is time for you the audience to release Shakespeare and his actors from this play with the help of your good hands. Shakespeare was not only being released for the performance of the play, he was being release from his career as a playwright. But there are more reasons to clap besides the obvious reason that the play is over, Shakespeare could not allow his final play to be bad, his project was to please. He reiterates this point by saying and my ending is despair unless I be relieved by prayer, or the clapping of the audience and it frees all faults and allows Shakespeare to indulge the clapping and joy of the audience. Finally, after we seperate the two different perspectives, we can step back and see how Shakespeare magically works them together. The first such pun is on the word faint, in the third line. Prospero uses faint to describe his strength, but Shakespeare makes it a pun on the pun he is making! Let me explain, faint means light (amoung other things), which means light hearted, or fun. As if you thought this wasnt confusing enough already, you could put a pun on the pun on the pun! Again, let me explain, faint can also mean hard to see, like the pun on the pun! That might be pushing it a little, though. The thing about Shakespeare is anything is possible. Another, less obvious but more significant double meaning is on the word please on line 13. Prospero is literally saying his goal was to make the people on the Island happy, Shakespeare is saying his goal was to please his audience. Shakespeare was without a doubt is one of the greatest authors of all time, this Epilogue clearly shows u s that.