Symbolism in Desire Under the Elms free essay sample

The drama Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O’Neill is a tragedy that is full of symbolism. The themes of the drama are brought about through the use of symbols that exist within various elements of the play, especially in the setting and the plot. Such themes include a power struggle among the major characters, human greed, and humanity being controlled by the fates. Ultimately, however, symbols such as the elm trees, the farm, the parlor, and the baby help characterize the protagonists, provide tone, explain the conflict and expose the characters’ weakness as humans who fall to their emotions. The first major symbols, described in the introduction of the setting, are the two massive elm trees. These trees are symbolic of the two dead wives of Cabot. Their omnipresent location looms over the house, signifying that the deaths of the two women still affect the lives of those living in the house. O’Neill himself describes the elms as, â€Å"[brooding] oppressively over the house†¦like exhausted women resting their sagging breasts and hands and hair on its roof, and when it rains their tears trickle down monotonously and rot on the shingles. † [i] Aside from establishing a conflict for the characters of dealing with accepting the loss of the wives, the elm trees establish a gloomy tone right from the play’s commencement. Eben mourns his mother throughout the play, and is sour towards Cabot for working her to death. His objective of inheriting his mother’s farm, and his internal struggle of whether to be with Abbie are influenced by whether he feels his mother’s presence in the house. His primary objective is to win back his mother’s farm, and he becomes blinded by his ambitions; so much that he is quick to accuse Abbie, the woman he loves, of plotting to steal his mother’s farm. Similarly, Cabot is affected by the memory of his dead wives. A central theme of the drama is being powerless to the fates, and for Cabot, his fate is the product of killing his first two wives. There is an element of karma in the conclusion of the drama, in which Cabot reflects on his loneliness; however, it was his own doing that caused him his loneliness. Aside from the elms, the farm itself is a symbol of security and possession. The struggle over ownership of the farm is the most prominent conflict in the play. For Cabot, the farm symbolizes his supremacy and life’s purpose. It is very significant that he controls the farm, for it means that he controls the lives of those who live on it. To Cabot, as long as he is in possession of the farm, there will be people around working on it, and waiting to inherit it. It is also symbolic of his legacy, and what he worked in his life for. The farm symbolizes his sense of ignorance, for never changing his way of life. It reflects his primitiveness, or his lack of wanting change, and for making his life and the lives of those working on the farm stagnant. His control of the farm is significant, as it means no one else, like Abbie and Eben, has control of their own fate. For Eben, the farm is symbolic of the love of his mother, and of getting what is rightfully theirs. Therefore, it is ultimately a symbol of Eben’s pride and independence. By inheriting the farm, Eben is avenging his mother’s memory and establishing himself as an individual with property rights. His possession would show that he is a man good for the word he gave his mother, and a good son to his father; in spite of the fact that Cabot himself never showed Eben affection. For Abbie, the farm is security, and something she can call her own. Because she had never had control of anything that was hers, the farm is a tangible representation of herself. It is also a manipulation tool for Abbie to get her way with Eben and Cabot, and is physically something she controls. Her need to control something that is hers, whether it is the farm or Eben, is the objective for Abbie throughout the play. Similarly to both the trees and the farm itself, the parlor is also a symbol. Where the elms symbolize the presence of the dead wives, and the farm symbolizes possession, the parlor is symbolic of Eben’s mother and her control over the farm. Because it was where she was laid after her death, the room had been considered her room, as Eben himself describes, â€Å" it [hadn’t] been opened since Maw died and was laid out thar. [ii] Therefore, the room itself is characterized with a mood of fear, vulnerability, and gloom, as it is a room that is filled with the presence of Eben’s mother. The scene in the parlor is the climax, as it is symbolic of a power struggle between Abbie and the mother. Abbie uses the parlor as a manipulation tool to control the entire house, as she herself states, â€Å"I’m a-goin’ t’ make all oâ₠¬â„¢ this hum my hum! They’s one room hain’t mine yet, but it’s a goin’ to’ be tonight. † [iii] Eben himself struggles to let Abbie into his life, because he does not want to upset his mother by having Abbie replace her. In the scene, Eben continually pleas to his mother and asks her if he should submit to Abbie’s seduction. Therefore, when Abbie successfully seduces Eben in the parlor, she achieves her objective in controlling Eben. At the climax, the room changes from being the mother’s room to being Abbie and Eben’s room. During the falling action, Eben no longer strives to fulfill his mother’s dying wish, as even in the resolution of the play, Eben goes with Abbie to jail and does not stay to inherit the farm. The last major symbol in the drama is Abbie and Eben’s baby. It is symbolic of the love of Eben and Abbie. Theirs was a love that could never live; a love that was doomed to end. The baby is a tangible representation of what was theirs. Just as their love could not grow in the traditional sense of a relationship: for example, no courting, no marriage, or no public affection, the baby could not grow to its full potential. The baby is also a representation of the battle over property between Cabot, Eben, and Abbie. Such a power struggle is evident in the lack of O’Neill providing it with an identity: the baby remains nameless throughout the duration of the part three. Therefore, the baby was merely an object to the three characters. The baby, for Cabot, represents his heir and the means by which his legacy and name would carry on after his death. For Abbie, the baby was symbolic of her hold over Eben. Because it was Eben’s child, she had a physical way to prove that Eben did love her. However, for Eben, the baby was just a tool to get back at Cabot for his mistreatment of Eben through the years. It was his revenge for Cabot stealing his mother’s land and for Cabot working her to death. The symbols in the drama Desire Under the Elms serve many purposes; most prominently, to bring about themes, characterization, conflicts, and tone.

Secret Crimes of Compassion Essay Example For Students

Secret Crimes of Compassion Essay To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice which may cause death. -Oath of Hippocrates This phrase alone supports the very battle cry of those who oppose euthanasia. Their efforts have gone as far as to help make laws forbidding doctor-assisted suicide, including strict procedures for medical staff to determine the competency of an ill patient. But then there are those who wish to make it easier on themselves and even the family and friends, and choose as alternative route the their suffering. Extremely difficult problems arise surrounding the issue of euthanasia: What is the difference between killing someone and letting someone die? Who determines the competency of a terminally ill patient? If a patient is incompetent, who then makes the decisions for him? Most importantly, do we even have the right to die? The question of whether this is a moral battle or a legal battle has yet to be determined. Ever though the issue of suicide may consist of both factors, if one commits suicide successfully, they live neither with the moral guilt nor the face the legal consequences. So then if a second party is involved, it changes the whole story. What is the difference between killing someone and letting someone die? To get a little more technical, these phrases are also known as active and passive euthanasia. If one were to evaluate both of these, he would probably say that letting someone die were a better choice than killing someone. After all, most medical practices in the U.S. allow for the legally. One may be preferred over the other but is that one better than the other? In an example, lets say that a doctor decides to withhold treatment of a patient who is to die in the next couple of days. He does this because he finds it helpless to prolong his suffering. But in actuality, when the doctor withdraws his treatment, the patient takes a lot longer to die and is in more agonizing pain. Once this decision is already made, speeding up his death through active euthanasia looks more preferable over passive euthanasia. So the point is that allowing someone to die may take longer and be more painful, where giving them a lethal injection might be quick and painless (Rachels, 428). Even in todays society, people think it is morally wrong to kill someone rather than letting someone die. But is it really worse? To help answer this question, there is another example that will help illustrate the issue. There was a guy named CJ who was to inherit a lot of money if anything were to happen to his three-year-old nephew. One day his nephew was swimming outside in the pool when CJ came along and drowned him and made it look like an accident. Then there was another guy named Joe who also was to inherit a lot of money if anything was to happen to three-year-old nephew. Well Joe, who decides to kill his nephew, went outside where his nephew was swimming in the pool. To Joes surprise, he saw that his nephew had slipped, hit his head and fell face first into the water. Joe is excited and stands by to watch him drown and does nothing to save him. Did either one of these guys act any better than the other? If one were to look at it from a moral aspect, one would say that CJs actions were morally worse than Joes because CJ actively killed his nephew. But both of these guys had the same intention, goal and personal gain from the incident. CJ may look like the terrible guy for his actions and Joe may be regarded as a sick individual for watching. But didnt Joe do something? Any way you look at it, these two men committed an act, whether it was passive or active, one is no better than the other. .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 , .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .postImageUrl , .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 , .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69:hover , .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69:visited , .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69:active { border:0!important; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69:active , .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69 .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u41c9f3a3377b51e8e842077f31b15e69:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Docking With Mir Essay In medical practices today, doctors may not necessarily try to destruct their patients with the same intentions as CJ and Joe. But the possibilities of active and passive euthanasia may be because the doctor may find a patients life of no use or it .

Week Individual Work free essay sample

In 1845, the first women to be hired by the New York City Police Department were called matrons. In 1985, Penny Harrington of the Portland Oregon Police Department became the first female Chief of Police. In 2004 women accounted for only 12. 7 percent of all sworn law enforcement positions in large agencies and the numbers are declining. The percentage of sworn female officers In smaller agencies is even lower. There are many possible reasons for the decline in the number of women In law enforcement.Research shows that woman can be Just as effective as men; uneven hiring practices; selection processes and recruitment policies keep the number of woman artificially low. Often women are screened out early as a result of certain entry level tests that favor upper body strength or previous life experiences. Most women never even consider a career in law enforcement to begin with, due to their misunderstanding of the nature of the Job and the aggressive and authoritarian Images portrayed in the media. We will write a custom essay sample on Week Individual Work or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Once hired women still face discrimination, sexual harassment or even peer intimidation and they often lack the necessary role models or mentors to help them move up the ranks. The under-representation of women at all levels In the modern police agency negatively Impacts the culture and operational efficiency of law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Rookies, because they are the new recruits and are the less experienced offices they tend to be given the grunt Jobs until they have proven themselves at least.They must prove loyalty and knowledge of their Job. It really depends on what police department these rookies Join. Some departments may require rookies to put up with petty Indignities such as public humiliation, being yelled at, and being ordered around. The older officers that do not have a college degree might be Jealous of the rookie officers knowledge and youth and probably treat him unfairly. Rookies should show respect for the older officers. Respect will be earned over time but they have to prove themselves.

Hate Language in Rap Music essays

Hate Language in Rap Music essays Hate Language in Rap Music In a recent survey of Americans, 75% reported believing that exposure to violence in popular music, television shows, and movies, inspires young people to act aggressively (Lacayo, 1995; Smith et al., 2000). The consumption of media containing heterosexist and homophobic languages, by young adults and children, harbors aggression and sexual confusion. Jung and Smith (1993) define heterosexism as, a reasoned system of bias about human sexual orientation...rooted in a largely cognitive constellation of beliefs about human sexuality (Hecht, 1998, p. 113). The constant exposure to hateful lyrics found in some of todays most popular music desensitizes the young to violence against and mistreatment of gays and lesbians. It may also instill a fear in those young adults who may be confused about their own sexual orientation, causing extreme frustration and emotional pain. With the recent success of rapper Eminems sophomore release entitled, The Marshall Mathers LP, much attention had been drawn to this topic. There has been a tremendous backlash against Eminems music and the messages he delivers to the millions of listeners he has acquired. The most audible criticisms have been those of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation, or glaad. In a media release from glaad, the organization stated that: The hatred and hostility on (Eminems) CD have a real effect on peoples lives as they encourage violence against gay men and lesbians. At time when hate crimes against gay people are on the rise, these epithets create even more bias and intolerance toward an entire community. The real danger comes from the artists fan base of easily influenced adolescents who emulate Eminems dress, mannerisms, words and beliefs (glaad.org, 2000b). Some of these words and beliefs include the following lyrics from the song Criminal&quo...

New Ideas and Techniques in Intervention with Children With Essay

New Ideas and Techniques in Intervention with Children With Communication Disorders in Early Language Development - Essay Example In other words the developing brain is best able to absorb any language, during the initial three years of their life. Some of the main reasons of speech and language disorders include hearing loss, neurological disorders, brain injury, mental retardation, drug abuse, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, and vocal abuse or misuse. However, in many cases the real cause is unknown (National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, 2004). As the years pass by the ability to learn a language will be more difficult, and perhaps less efficient or effective, if these critical periods pass without early exposure to a language (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2001). This research paper focuses mainly on the new ideas and techniques in intervention with children with communication disorders in early language development. Communication disorder is a common term that encompasses various problems in language, speech, and hearing. To be more specific, speech and language problems comprise expression or verbalization problems, voice disorders, fluency problems which include stuttering, aphasia which is generally caused because of brain injury, and hearing problems. Today there are several interventions designed particularly for each of the above mentioned problems and the best treatment is prevention and early intervention (Sanchez, 1991). There are also several other communication disorders that result from other conditions such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or cleft lip or cleft palate. Therefore, it becomes very important to understand the need of each and every child before the treatment begins. Speech and language disorders in general can have an impact on the way a child talk, understand, analyze or process information. Speech disorders include the clarity, voice quality, and fluency of a child's spoken words. Language disorders include a child's ability to hold meaningful conversations, understand others, problem solve, read and comprehend, and express thoughts through spoken or written words (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2005). Early intervention for the treatment of apraxia is intended to teach effective communication strategies and improve volitional control of the oral musculature. During the course of the treatment exercises mainly focuses on teaching sound s equencing, programming sound patterns, and improving rhythm in speech. It is only with the advent of computed tomography (CT) scan and MRI several medical conditions can be detected easily including the ability to identify small subcortical lesions as causes of aphasia. Successful treatment of aphasia depends on the knowledge of a child's cognitive and linguistic strengths and weaknesses obtained from the formal testing batteries. While the traditional treatment strategies focused on syndrome-specific approaches, where treatment is based upon the diagnosed aphasia syndrome, recent strategies promote getting a message across by any means, through language, gestures, drawing, or any other expressive method (Melfi, 2006). A child with speech or language delays may exhibit a number of characteristics including the inability to follow directions, slow and incomprehensible speech, and

Apitalism in the ourse of the 16th Century Essay

Apitalism in the ourse of the 16th Century - Essay Example Protection of private property was never so legally simplified before the advent of capitalism and the legal implications of private ownership suggested greater independence of private property owners and provided clear protected ownership that could be legally validated. Capitalism brought in the standardization and integration of property rules increased trust in economic transactions and laid down the risks of ownership with possibilities of insurance against such risks. Loans and borrowing became easier as personal credit history could be checked and there was an increased standardization and transferability of statements documenting ownership of property (Levi-Faur et al, 2005). This specification of property limits and rules and regulations of ownership indicated a smoother flow of property between individuals and enabled a well-defined role for companies so that they could easily operate in national and international markets. The concept of capitalism has often been criticised by the fact that ownership of enterprises shows the division between the employer and the employee as the profits seem to go to the employer and is not shared by the employees. The growth of multinational companies is thus a direct influence of capitalism and the changing global economy has also been directly shaped by the spread of capitalism across society and nations. In fact, the world today could never have been the same without capitalism and considering this, it is important to examine why and how capitalism first emerged in the 16th century and what are the social, historical and political implications. Capitalism is often contrasted to feudalism on the one hand where a monarch has ownership of property and socialism or communism on the other in which means of production are owned by the community collectively (Sweezy et al 1976).

Asthma Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Asthma - Research Paper Example In the US childhood incidence had increases fro 3% to 9% since 1980. Among different ethnic groups in the US, Puerto Ricans have the highest incidence of asthma. African Americans also have a high incidence of this disease. Irish Americans and Hawaiians also have a high incidence of asthma. The lowest incidence is found in the Mexican population. Although the incidence of pediatric asthma is higher in males than in females, the occurrence of this disease is much higher in adult females, who are twice as likely to die of this disease as males. Moreover, the incidence of asthma is higher in lower socioeconomic groups who reside in urban centers. There are two primary forms of this disease: acute and chronic. The acute form of the disease is characterized by the occurrence of in worsening symptoms and unstable bronchial function. The chronic form of the disease is a stable, non-progressing condition (Adam 10). Many patients with asthma vary over time between the two disease states. Asthma can be distinguished from several other major forms of lung disease by means of differential diagnosis. Unlike emphysema which affects the structure and function of the alveoli, the primary site of gaseous exchange in the lung, asthma affects the airways or conductance passage that transport air between the lung tissue and the external opening of the body. Likewise, COPD is an irreversible deterioration of the primary lung tissue; in contrast at the inflammatory manifestations of asthma are reversible (Adam 20-23). Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disorder characterized by inflammation of the major airways of the lungs and has a complex etiology. The recurring inflammatory episodes result in hyper-responsiveness of airway vessels that causes tissue swelling with many physiological consequences (Adam 44). These episodes cause symptoms of wheezing, tightness of the chest, coughing and restricted airflow that result in