Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 22

Reaction paper - Essay Example As he toured Auschwitz, Cole described humanitarian structures such as a â€Å"disinfestation complex,† theater and swimming pool inside of the camp. These structures call into question the function of the prison. If prisoners were sent to Auschwitz to be murdered, why should the Germans provide hygiene, entertainment and exercise to them? Coles interview with Dr. Franciszek Piper, curator of the Auschwitz State Museum, is the focus of the video. Cole disputes the Holocausts existence because there is no proof, â€Å"theres no picture, plan or wartime document dealing with homicidal gas chambers or a plan to exterminate Jews† (Cole). He tries to provide a â€Å"perfectly normal explanation† for the materials and exhibits which define the Holocaust (Cole). Poison gas was used for disinfection, dead bodies were caused by a Typhus epidemic and discarded clothing came from naturally deceased prisoners. The interview with Dr. Piper is primarily concerned with the Auschwitz gas chamber. Cole questioned the function of this building because it had been changed since the end of the war. While Piper believed that four holes were drilled in the ceiling of this building for the purpose of killing prisoners, Cole believed that these holes were drilled after the camp was liberated by Soviet forces during the camps reconstruction. Cole points to aerial photographs as evidence of the new construction. Cole also cited the lack of Zyklon B residue in the chamber as proof that it was never used to kill humans. Cole then turned from the institution to the numbers. Traditionally, the Holocaust is stated to have killed eleven million Jews and non-Jews. These figures are based on Soviet claims made after the war which Cole does not accept. Cole compared it to American prison camps where, â€Å"anywhere from several hundred thousand to over two million† Germans died (Cole). To him, this was e vidence that all camps of this era were

A & P Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A & P - Essay Example While it is logical that we need to conform to modernity and all its package, Sammy is one young man whose attitude towards fashion is still backward. The ladies are dressed fashionably in conformation with the modern trend. On the contrary, Sammys attitude towards their kind of dressing considers them an embarrassment. Sammy finds this kind of dressing to be appropriate only when people visit the beach: "You know, its one thing a girl in a bathing suit down on the beach†¦" (2). Well, it is true that people used to put on decently in cloths that covered all their body-part long ago due to tradition. However, modernity has come with fashion and society has been forced to embrace this change. Sammy, and some few young men like him are still living in the past and do not want to accept the change. Sammys actions seem very immature for his age. It is not normal in the modern world to find a young man destructed just by the way of dressing of young ladies. Young ladies in the modern society are known to dress fashionably, especially when they go for outing, date and even just strolling around. On the contrary, Sammy shows immaturity when he gets destructed by these ladies to an extent that he even forgets his duties and almost drops the jar on his hand: "The jar went heavy in my hands. Really, I thought that was so cute" (3). Sammy is a clear example of those conservative, old fashioned and traditionally young men who only knows that money should be carried on ones hands. The author shows how amazed Sammy is when he saw one of the ladies without any money in her hands and was wondering where the money was going to come from: "Now her hands are empty, not a ring or a bracelet, bare as God made them, and I wonder where the moneys coming from" (3). This left Sammy wondering about where these ladies get their money from. It is only traditional to

Theory of Social Darwinism and the Impacts on Indigenous Australians

Theory of Social Darwinism and the Impacts on Indigenous Australians Social Darwinism is a social theory that Natural Selection in Darwins Theory is used to human society. Social Darwinism is evaluated from Darwins Theory. However, Social Darwinism is a belief and it is popular in the late Victorian ear in England, America and elsewhere. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the theory of Social Darwinism and its impacts on indigenous Australians. This essay will firstly have a brief introduction. Following it, it will discuss the theory of Social Darwinism. After that, it will explain the impact of Social Darwinism on indigenous Australians. Finally, it will be a conclusion of the essay. Theory of Social Darwinism The theory of Social Darwinism was put forward by Herbert Spencer in 19th century. Social Darwinism is the general term which applies to several different ways in which people (not biologists) tried to apply a distorted and narrow interpretation of the concept of natural selection to human cultural systems. (Peter, 2003) The popularity of Social Darwinism lasted from 19th century to World War II. Some people even think modern biology can be classified into Social Darwinism. The concept of Social Darwinism firstly appeared in American Historian Richard Hofstadters book in 1944> (Thomas, 2009) Social Darwinism is a kind of concept. This concept thinks that the core of Darwinism-natural selection is a common phenomenon in the human society. Theory of Social Darwinism thinks that natural selection plays an important role in the human evolution and development. Social Darwinism has ever been used by its supporters to name on the social inequality, racism and imperialism. Social Darwinism itself is not a political tendency.Some Social Darwinists use this concept to illustrate the social progress and inevitable change. Some Social Darwinists think that human degradation is inevitable. As the same as Theory of Evolution, Social Darwinism is usually involved in the debate on Eugenics. Social Darwinism also derived some concepts, including competition, eugenics and racism. Competition A simplified view of Social Darwinism is that people, especially for men, have to compete to survive in the future. They can not give any assistance to the poor because they must feed themselves. Most of Social Darwinism in 21st century supports the improvement of working conditions and higher wages in order to give the poor the opportunity to feed themselves, so that self-sufficiency is better than those who are lazy, weak or poor. Eugenics Another social interpretation of Social Darwinism is Eugenics. This theory is developed by Darwins cousin, Francis Galton. Galton believes that peoples physical characteristics are significantly from generation to generation. Therefore, the human brain qualities (genius and talent) have the same principle. Then the community should have a clear genetic decision to improve eugenics. Racism The racial superiority and competition ideology in the end of 19 century and early of 20 century are associated with Social Darwinism. The basic race concept of Social Darwinism is that white race should educate other races of people in the world by a civilized way. Darwins Evolution Theory divides the race on the basis of Genetic Bifurcation and Natural Selection Theory. Genetic Bifurcation is a group of genetic material which isolated with each other, so they can develop its own unique genetic characteristics. This theory is applies to all living organisms. Because of gene bifurcation, people have different races and ethnic groups. Impacts on of Social Darwinism on indigenous Australians Theories of Social Darwinism brought the disaster to indigenous Australians. Australian continent appeared before 60, 000 years ago. Most of the indigenous Australians were isolated from the rest of world before Europe settled in Australia. After the settlement of British, population of indigenous Australians reduced by 90%, which is also influenced by Social Darwinism. In the early of the twentieth century, Social Darwinism was also popular in Australia. The Racial Theories of Social Darwinism were used to justify settler treatment of the indigenous Australians, as subhuman, primitive and an inferior race. Social Darwinism accelerated the death of indigenous Australians. As the skin color of indigenous Australians is similar to black, people are easy to link them to Blacks. Racism discrimination emerged with the popularity of Social Darwinism. The Aborigines Protection Act 1909 established camps to provide a place for the doomed race to die off as indigenous Australian would inevitably become extinct. (Eleanor, 2002) Even cruel is that indigenous Australians were treated like experimental animals, which were allowed by settle policy. Between 1920 and 1930, thousands of indigenous Australians were used to scientific investigation into brain capacity and cranium size. Australian fascination with eugenics is similar to the obsession of Nazi Germany so ciety in relation to the Jews in the 1930s and early 1940s. (Geoffrey, 2004) Eugenics Theory of Social Darwinism also impacted on indigenous Australians. Children of mixed indigenous Australians and Europeans descent were called half-castes and a threat to so-called racial purity. (Dickens, 2000) According to the Eugenics Theory, the policy took these children far away from their parents to breed the blackness out of them. Based on Eugenics Theory, about 100,000 children with indigenous blood were taken away from their families. Parents did not know where they children were and were not allowed to trace them. At the same time, these children did not know who were their parents and thought they were orphans. The racist government thought the problem could be solved if indigenous Australians were dying out. As a result, these children were called Stolen Generations. Settler policy believed that white, Christian families and boarding schools was the best environment in which to raise Aboriginal children. They believed they were doing what was protecting them and was best for them, whether the children or their parents liked it or not. (Read, 2001) Conclusion Conclusively, Social Darwinism is a popular social evolution theory in 19 century. The theory itself did not contain any political position and it has ever been linked with politics. Influenced by the theories of Social Darwinism, many indigenous Australians were treated cruel and populations of indigenous Australians were reduced very much. Today, indigenous Australians share equal rights with other racial people in spite of existence of racial discrimination. It is wished that the world could eliminate the racial discrimination in future and every person could be treated equally.

Essay Outline for Conflict in Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun :: Raisin Sun essays

Conflicts in A Raisin in the Sun – Essay Outline I. Conflicts in the Play - There are many types of conflict evident in this play. Some are as follows: A. Man vs. Man - Mama is the matriarch of the family, and she is very much in control of her children's lives. She is driven by a strong sense of pride and a strong faith in God. Her ideas conflict with three other characters: 1.   Walter - His dreams of owning a licquor store conflict religiously with Mama's value system. The conflict between Mama and Walter is amplified by the fact that it is Mama's apartment in which the family lives and Walter is unable/unwilling to make decisions because Mama is so domineering. Ironically, it is the one decision that she eventually lets Walter make which nearly destroys the family. 2.   Beneatha - Mama is angered and confused by Beneatha's views on religion. 3.   Ruth - Mama is unable to accept the fact that Ruth might find it necessary to have an abortion. B. Man vs. Nature 1. Living Conditions - five people in a small apartment 2. The neighborhood - ghetto-itis 3. Economic Conditions 4. Job Dissatisfaction 5. Society's Racism    III. Individual Dreams Vs. Family Responsibilities - A central conflict in the play arises when there is disparity between the individual's dreams and his/her familial responsibilities A. Walter's desire to own a liquor store B. Beneatha's dream to be a doctor    IV. Character Contrasts A. George Vs. Asagai - George is trying to deny his heritage. His family has prospered in America and he sees no need to celebrate his African heritage. He illustrates the blandness and shallowness of a life rooted in the quest for wealth and status. Asagai contrasts with George. He is an idealist. He is intelligent, perceptive, and dedicated to helping his country in its quest for liberation. These two men embody the two forces that operate on and within the family: materialism and idealism. B. Mama vs. Walter - Mama's desires for the family contrast with Walter's. Mama wants to use the insurance money to buy a house, a symbol of stability. Walter would rather spend the money on a high risk investment. Mama represents the wiser generation.      V. Important Props A. The plant - This is representative of Mama's ability to endure despite harsh surroundings, and her tenacity in keeping her dream alive.

Both Curley’s Wife and Crooks Essay

Steinbeck’s novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† was set in the Great depression in 1930s America. The characters reflect the struggles and harsh times many working Americans faced in that era. Isolated, lonely, marginalised and mistrustful, people had to create new lives for themselves. In the novel Steinbeck describes several characters that are vulnerable due to the social context of that time; Crooks and Curley’s wife face particular hardship which result in them being outsiders in the place they consider home. Steinbeck implies early on in the novel the views other characters have of Crooks and Curley’s wife may differ from the modern reader. Though both women and black people had progressed in their rights by the time of the setting of the novel, old attitudes and mistreatment of black people and to an extent women were still present. Steinbeck immediately emphasises Crooks and Curley’s wife’s low status via their introduction. They are both introduced in such a way to highlight their low regard by others and how they are viewed by society. Steinbeck describes Crooks’ low status very early in the book through the â€Å"old swamper† Candy. Candy describes how Crooks gets abuse from the boss for things that are beyond his control. â€Å"An’ he give the stable buck hell too.† â€Å"Ya see the stable bucks a nigger.† The initial comments depict Crooks as an outsider as he is the only character described to have been getting abused by the boss. It also shows how Crooks is used as an outlet of the boss’s frustration. Candy then describes Crooks using a racial slur. This represents Crooks’ isolation further as Candy’s initial description of Crooks is through his colour and not his personality or other features. The use of the racial term reflects also how society sees Crooks and that this type of language was acceptable to the people of these times. Steinbeck uses a similar ploy when initially introducing Curley’s wife, as he introduces her again through Candy. We see early on how Curley’s wife is regarded on the ranch and this gives us an early view of why she is isolated as such. â€Å"well- she got the eye† â€Å"well I think Curley’s, married . . . a tart† Candy’s initial remark about Curley’s wife elicits the potential idea that she behaves in a flirtatious manner towards other ranchers, which has caused the ranchers to avoid her and therefore caused her segregation. The second remark by Candy suggests the opinion of her by other ranchers. The use of the strong derogatory term for her evidently suggests that she is isolated out of hatred towards her coquettish attitude. We see early on the Curley’s wife’s body language backs up what is said about her by Candy. She is described as trying to gain attention via her body. â€Å"Leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.† It shows the vainness of Curley’s wife which can easily lead to her exclusion due to her being self-obsessed and unable to relate to the other workers. The line also shows how she is more inclined to use her body to gain attention from the others and this shows how she has become desperate for attention due to her isolation. The language used in the line about how her body is â€Å"thrown forward† which allows Steinbeck to clearly illustrate the extent of which she is going to gain attention, depicting early on the effects of her loneliness. In the novel we see how Steinbeck suggests Crooks also demands self-segregation, we see this when Lennie initially tries to talk with Crooks. â€Å"You got no right to come in my room†. This conveys how Crooks being subjected to so much isolation has become accustomed to it, possibly suggesting he has become an introvert. It also shows how Crooks puts on a defensive front due to his marginalization on the ranch. Crooks talks about his â€Å"rights† on several occasions. â€Å"Nobody got any right in here but me† The first comment shows how Crooks claims instant owner ship of his quarters, this reflects how his constant seclusion on the ranch and society has made him need to protect and claim things that are his. Steinbeck in the novel symbolizes through Crooks’ possessions how he seeks a way of removing his isolation. â€Å"A tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905† The use of the dictionary and civil code allows Steinbeck to convey to the reader how Crooks is a learned man and also is not someone to quickly accept being excluded. It evokes sympathy and a degree of empathy for Crooks as we see how he tries to find a way for him to be accepted and also we see he is not a simple a rancher but a man of slight intellect. The use of the civil code also suggests how Crooks may not have initially understood the reasons for his segregation. Both Crooks and Curley’s wife are seen to feel as though no-one understands their situation of being alone. Steinbeck does this through the use of rhetorical questions in their dialect. â€Å" S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you like that?† This remark by Crooks explores how he understands that his seclusion is due to his colour. Steinbeck by using a rhetorical question also allows the reader to sympathize with Crooks and also picture what he describes. Steinbeck’s reference to the word â€Å"black† as opposed to â€Å"nigger† also shows how Crooks though secluded tries to maintain his dignity and self-respect. When Curley’s wife is talking with Lennie, Steinbeck does the same thing as he did with Crooks. â€Å"Aint I got a right to talk to nobody?† The use of language in this remark also allows us to sympathize with Curley’s wife as it allows the reader to empathize how frustrated she may feel from being shunned on the ranch. Steinbeck shows how Curley’s wife’s attitude and derogatory remarks about the ranchers has led to her being disliked and shunned on the ranch in chapter 4 when she is in the stables. â€Å" Standin’ here talkin’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs- a nigger an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep- an’ likin it because they aint nobody else.† This quote shows her low regard for certain ranchers and how she is forced to try and socialize with people she doesn’t like out of desperation. It also shows how her remarks about the ranchers â€Å"bindle stiffs† may have caused her to be isolated and marginalized by the workers. It also evokes the idea she lacks the ability to communicate with the other workers in a way where they respond in a positive manner. The quote also indirectly suggests Curley’s wife is not really meant on the ranch as she says â€Å"they aint nobody else† which illustrates how she has no-one, with whom she can properly relate to. Both Curley’s wife and Crooks are partly subjected to isolation due to the social context of the time period in which the book is set. Crooks being a black man in 1930s America would have suffered large amounts of seclusion and racial violence. Steinbeck conveys this through the threat made to him by Curley’s wife, â€Å"I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny†. The use of the threat allows Steinbeck to explore and clearly depict how Crooks can’t escape that in this society he will also be second class and looked upon as different and an outsider. The line shows explores the idea that due to him being classed as different, he is susceptible to being lynched or suffer some sort of violence so easily as it is accepted in society. The use of such a powerful image paves the way for Steinbeck to show the reader the extent of Crooks’ seclusion. Similarly he does same for Curley’s wife, as being a woman in 1930s Americ a she would have not had many rights. Steinbeck however when conveying this message uses more subtle imagery as a white woman had slightly higher regard than a black man. Steinbeck references how women were usually meant to be in the household, â€Å"she wore a cotton house dress† and â€Å"Think I like to stick in that house alla time?† the first quote describing her attire allows Steinbeck to suggest early on that her marginalized on the ranch is partly due to her gender, the use of the house dress implies that she is not meant to be on the ranch and is out of place. It secondly suggests that she constantly tries to avoid being isolated at home and is further out-casted for not fully compelling her role. The second remark also implies how society was such that people were meant to accept their place and, she is shown to not accept her place and therefore caused her to be shunned because it. The marginalized characters in the novel have several things in common and, ironically, if these characters could look beyond their own issues they might find some mutual trust and support. Steinbeck portrays Crooks and Curley’s wife (alongside George and Lennie) as having dreams of a better future. Curley’s wife wanted to be a film star â€Å" Coulda been in the movies† and Crooks desires a better life as represented by the civil code. However as with the American dream it only happens for a few and it consists of loneliness and despair. At the end of the novel there is not apparent freedom from isolation for Crooks, yet Curley’s wife gains some freedom in death. â€Å"the meanness and the planning’s and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face†

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

The novel Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, is set in turn-of-the-century New England, in the fake town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. During this time, both men and women were torn between duty and morality, and personal desire. People were expected to follow the societal norms, which although plagued them, were deemed as correct and proper. This social constraint placed on individuals cause them to make the decision of whether to be accepted by society, or whether to be happy. During this time, society was trapped in a web of their own formed ideas and opinions. It is this constant struggle between desire and what is socially acceptable that drives the main theme of Edith Wharton’s novel. In the novel Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome is faced with conflicts that cause him to make a decision between social morals, and the fulfillment of his desires to establish Wharton’s theme that society and conformity acts as a restriction on happiness. Ethan’s sense of responsibility first comes into conflict with his strong desire to leave Starkfield and pursue a career in engineering. But with the recent death of his father, he is forced to return to Starkfield and run the family farm while continuing to provide for his ailing wife. This becomes apparent in the prologue, when the Narrator’s discovery of his interest in the sciences indicates that Ethan had dreams that were never fulfilled. His inner need for knowledge and learning, almost â€Å"frozen† under a shroud of a life of simplicity and staticity, is without a doubt a consequence of â€Å"†¦ too many winters. †(13) spent in Starkfield. This negation of his aspirations causes him to live with a sense of regret that plagues him, and drastically effects his future decisions. During the prologue, Harmon Gow tells the Narrator that â€Å"Most of the smart ones get away. † (13), and immediately starts to wonder as to why Ethan Frome is still residing in Starkfield. The truth is that Ethan, being as intelligent and as motivated as he is, did try to leave Starkfield in the pursuit of a fulfilling career in engineering, but was trapped by the harsh grasp of conformity in the form of the Frome Farm. This failure to accomplish his ambitions gives his persona a tone of remorse, and by extension, the entire novel. The conflict strengthens the theme in the way it shows that if he would have followed his dreams of studying engineering, his life would have played out much differently. It is best put in the words of the famous poet John Whittier (1807-1892) when he said â€Å"For of all the sad words of tongue or pen/The saddest are these: ‘It might have been! ’†. Ethan Frome’s conflict between running away with Mattie and staying and caring for Zeena is the main factor that drives Wharton’s theme that conformity to society acts as a restriction on happiness. Wharton depicts Zeena as old, cold, and insensitive while Mattie is warm, loving, kind, and most importantly, a much more fitting wife for Ethan. Symbolism is used in the form of Mattie’s red scarf to give Mattie a sense of life and loving warmth, while at the same time giving Zeena a colder appearance. Therefore, Wharton makes Ethan’s desire to leave his ghastly wife for another woman considerate in the eyes of the reader. Yet, just like in the case of his engineering career, Ethan cannot bear to leave Zeena, on the account that society would severely frown upon a husband that abandons his sickly wife. He is torn between following what he knows is the â€Å"right† thing to do, and following what he knows will make him happy. It is important to note that his love for Mattie never falters—The conflict is external, not internal. He is afraid of what people would think, and not whether or not he loves Mattie. Although he has one night alone with Mattie, he cannot stop thinking about all of the responsibilities placed on him. His strong desire for Mattie eventually leads to the shattering of his marriage, which is symbolized by the shattering of Zeena’s prized wedding red pickle dish. Time and time again, Wharton shows how society has oppressed Ethan to neglect his aspirations. Even when Ethan has the opportunity to elope with Mattie to the west, his morals keep him from lying to his neighbors to secure the sufficient amount of money to go. These failures in following his own desire weaken him, and force him to live a life of submissiveness to the wills of society. His desire to conform restricts his happiness. He felt as if he would never be able to escape the clutch of society, and be with Mattie. In the end, Ethan can no longer deal with the troubles of life and makes the rash decision to abandon life entirely when he decides to go â€Å"Right into the big elm† (130) with Mattie. As they are coasting down the side of the slope, he becomes mentally encumbered with all of the responsibilities that he would be leaving behind, and becomes distracted. Again, implying that even Ethan’s greatest attempt to escape from the clutches of society has failed. Instead, he severely cripples both himself and Mattie, forcing them to return to the farm and live like Zeena. In a way, he did succeed in killing both himself and Mattie. Mattie got her wish to go down in the sled â€Å"So’t we’ll never come up any more† (130), because they did not come up anymore—At least not in spirit. Society did not allow them to die that day, instead, suffer through a forming of living death that will never grant them the happiness they desired in death.