Honour and Fidelity Varies for Men and Women in the play Much Ado about

The theme for honour and fidelity apply for both men and women in Shakespeare’s play ‘much ado about nothing’. Honour and fidelity is represented very differently for men and women as it would have been for the people in Elizabethan times. In this first section of the essay, I will be exploring double standards and Shakespeare’s awareness of the double standards between sexes and his feminist approach, the differences of honour and fidelity for men and women and upper class and lower class comparisons. In order for men to be honourable, they should do great deeds in war which gives them good recognition. From the very beginning of the play we see evidence of this when Leonato says in act 1, scene 1. Leonato: ‘I find here that †¦bestowed much honour on†¦.Claudio’. Deeds in war of course come hand in hand with reputation and a good name which plays an important role in the play. Another quotation showing the importance of a good name is where Hero talks to Ursula about Benedick in the garden scene in Act 3 Scene 1. Hero: ‘Indeed, he hath an excellent good name’. Another important aspect of honour and fidelity for men are friendship or comradeship. The men’s loyalty to their friends was very important as it showed that they were trustworthy and could bestow that trust upon each other. In 1:1:64 Beatrice says ‘He hath every month a new sworn brother,’ at this point Beatrice and Benedick aren’t getting on so well she states this as to mock him and later says that ‘He wears faith as the fashion of his hat.’ For women, honour and fidelity meant very different things to what it did for a man. In order for them to gain honour and fidelity, they had to do very things in order for it to be achieved. Women do not expect fidelity from men... ...s many times as he likes ‘the more the better’ in a man’s world however if a women was to sleep around then she would be considered a ‘whore’ and would be slated for it. This shows that although women have a lot more rights in the modern world, the rules in sexuality and honour have not changed a great deal since Shakespearean times. In conclusion, Shakespeare has used the concept of honour and fidelity throughout the play. He shows many different aspects of honour and fidelity through his characters, the contrasting differences between men and women. He shows us what how important these traits are to Elizabethan society and if honour was ever lost in the upper classes the consequences were never too pleasant. Shakespeare even shows us the true loyalty between Benedick and Beatrice which gives and insight to his feminist views which were quite modern for the time.

Big Brother is Watching: Get Over It! Essay -- essays research papers

Big Brother is Watching: Get Over It!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In George Orwell’s book, 1984, the very existence of every person is scrutinized by their form of government called the Party. The main character, Winston Smith, is constantly monitored throughout his daily life by the telescreen, â€Å"an oblong metal plaque like a dulled mirror† (1), placed strategically so that it can see and hear everything that is going on around him. In America society today we are seeing a movement that can be classified as â€Å"Orwellian† as it relates to this very subject of surveillance, the Internet. The similarities between the telescreen and the free access of the Internet cannot be ignored and as our country is dealing with terrorism, we must be willing to endure some lose of independence that we have gained through the World Wide Web.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One similarity easily noted between the telescreen and the Internet is that they both can not be turned off. The telescreen â€Å"could be dimmed, but there was no way of shutting it off completely† (2). On the other hand, you may think that you are turning off the Internet when you shut down your computer, but in fact it stays on twenty-four hours a day. They are both viewed through a monitor, whereas the telescreen is forcibly two-way where you can be seen and heard, the computer gives you a choice. Some people invite others into their homes via the internet with the use of webcams, cameras that are attached to your computer and...

Orientalism: Defined and Shown Through The Work of Henry Kissinger :: Orientalism Said Kissinger Essays

Orientalism: Defined and Shown Through The Work of Henry Kissinger Edward Said first published Orientalism in 1978 and the book has continued to open readers' eyes to the true effects of biased thought. Said carefully examines what he calls 'Orientalism' in an attempt to show how different cultures view each other and depend upon other cultures to define their own. This essay will include a brief definition of Orientalism as well as how Henry Kissinger has an Orientalist view upon developing countries, shown through numerous examples from Said's book. Given on the first few pages of his book, Edward Said allows his readers to absorb the concept of Orientalism early on in his book, adding to the definition throughout. Said presents his definition of Orientalism in three "interdependent" fashions, the first shown through the Orient's place among Western European culture: The Orient is not only adjacent to Europe; it is also the place of Europe's greatest and richest and oldest colonies, the source of its civilizations and languages, its cultural contestant, and one of its deepest and most recurring images of the Other. In addition, the Orient has helped to define Europe (or the West) as its contrasting image, idea, personality, experience. [pp. 1-2] Simply put, Said claims that Orientalism represents how Europe has defined themselves against Oriental characteristics. A second form of Orientalism comes from the academic world and is still prevalent in today's society. Said states that "anyone who teaches, writes about, or researches the Orient [regardless of field of study] is an Orientalist, and what he or she does is Orientalism. In a more general sense, this can be seen when academics make the "ontological and epistemological distinction made between 'the Orient' and (most of the time) 'the Occident'" (p 2). Said states that while this form is not as common as in years past, Orientalism will exist so long as these ideas are taught. As the first of the two definitions deal with the "academic and imaginative meanings of Orientalism," the third meaning is derived from the combination of the first two. Said believes that Orientalism can also be thought of as "the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient- dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it: in short, Orientalism as a Western style, for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient" (p 3). Orientalism: Defined and Shown Through The Work of Henry Kissinger :: Orientalism Said Kissinger Essays Orientalism: Defined and Shown Through The Work of Henry Kissinger Edward Said first published Orientalism in 1978 and the book has continued to open readers' eyes to the true effects of biased thought. Said carefully examines what he calls 'Orientalism' in an attempt to show how different cultures view each other and depend upon other cultures to define their own. This essay will include a brief definition of Orientalism as well as how Henry Kissinger has an Orientalist view upon developing countries, shown through numerous examples from Said's book. Given on the first few pages of his book, Edward Said allows his readers to absorb the concept of Orientalism early on in his book, adding to the definition throughout. Said presents his definition of Orientalism in three "interdependent" fashions, the first shown through the Orient's place among Western European culture: The Orient is not only adjacent to Europe; it is also the place of Europe's greatest and richest and oldest colonies, the source of its civilizations and languages, its cultural contestant, and one of its deepest and most recurring images of the Other. In addition, the Orient has helped to define Europe (or the West) as its contrasting image, idea, personality, experience. [pp. 1-2] Simply put, Said claims that Orientalism represents how Europe has defined themselves against Oriental characteristics. A second form of Orientalism comes from the academic world and is still prevalent in today's society. Said states that "anyone who teaches, writes about, or researches the Orient [regardless of field of study] is an Orientalist, and what he or she does is Orientalism. In a more general sense, this can be seen when academics make the "ontological and epistemological distinction made between 'the Orient' and (most of the time) 'the Occident'" (p 2). Said states that while this form is not as common as in years past, Orientalism will exist so long as these ideas are taught. As the first of the two definitions deal with the "academic and imaginative meanings of Orientalism," the third meaning is derived from the combination of the first two. Said believes that Orientalism can also be thought of as "the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient- dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it: in short, Orientalism as a Western style, for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient" (p 3).

Why Might The Enron Collapse Make A Good Play Accounting Essay

Question 10:Fix a concern study ( as if for senior direction ) on two of the followers. Use the Internet as a resource. Length about 200-300 words each excepting any appendices. Use right referencing and include a bibliography. a. Digital Dashboards. Include in your study definitions, types, history, benefits, disadvantages, and screenshots of illustrations and an account of how splashboards could be used to show corporate societal duty. OR b. Bounded reason in determination devising. OR c. Critically measure ‘predictably irrational ‘ ( Dan Ariely ) OR d. Why might the Enron prostration make a good drama ) ( Google Enron – the Play )Question 1:15-35:Formula position:In this exercising, we do n't cognize precisely how $ 78,000 in dealing ( a ) was paid. In this instance, we assumed that this money is account collectible. If it is paid by hard currency, the operating income for Cash BASIC would be $ 56,800 – $ 78,000 = $ -21,200, a loss of $ 21,200.2.From my position, the accrual footing should be considered as the step of Dr. Sanchez ‘s public presentation in 20X1. Because it includes all assets and liabilities looking in all minutess, while the hard currency footing contains merely hard currency which was used in this twelvemonth. So the accrual footing can reflect the efficiency of Dr. Sanchez ‘s concern more precisely than the hard currency BASIC. For illustration, in dealing ( vitamin D ) , $ 20,000 fee billed have been earned and we can merely see this money in the accrual footing but non in the hard c urrency footing. The authorities normally uses accrual footing for the income revenue enhancement intent in companies. In instance the authorities uses hard currency BASIC, it will be better for the companies in which hard currency BASIC is less than accrual basic. Normally these companies have little concern and different intents.Question 2:15-1, 15-3, 15-4, 15-13, 15-1615-1:The income statement ( besides called a net income and loss statement ) replies inquiries about company ‘s fiscal public presentation during a period of clip. The income statement provides information about a company ‘s net income or loss. The balance sheet ( or a province of fiscal place ) replies inquiries about concern ‘ fiscal position at a specific minute in clip. A balance sheet encompasses assets, liabilities, and proprietors ‘ or shareholders ‘ equity.15-3:A company ‘s income statement shows the net income or loss over a span of clip, while balance sheet is a snapshot of the fiscal position at an blink of an eye of clip. Therefore, the income statement is the major nexus between balance sheets. In add-on, the income statement = hard currency flow statement + balance sheet.15-4:â€Å" Net income is the difference in the ownership capital history balances at two points in clip † . This statement is erroneous because net income is the surplus of grosss over disbursals. There are other factors which affect the ownership capital history but non the net income, such as dividends or ownership investing.15-13:â€Å" Dividends are distribution of net incomes † . This statement is no n truly precisely. Although profitable operations create the ability to pay dividends, dividends are distributions of assets to shareholders.15-16:Ethical motives and unity are of import to comptrollers because they are the hallmark of the accounting profession. Accountants have to do users rely on their information. Furthermore, assurance in fiscal statements depends on the competency and unity of comptrollers and hearers.Question 3:16-A1:Formula ViewQuestion 4:15-42:Formula View:Inventories: $ 10,895.1 – $ 315.1 – $ 1,057.4 – $ 2,661.6 – $ 6,141.3 = $ 719.7 Entire Stockholders ‘ equity: $ 173.2 + $ 1,995.8 = $ 2,169.0 ( degree Celsius ) Entire liabilities: $ 2,317.8 + $ 681.7 + $ 4,507.0 + $ 1,219.6= $ 8,726.1 or $ 10,895.1 – $ 2,169.0 = $ 8,726.1Question 5:16-4:â€Å" Accrued depreciation is a amount of hard currency being accumulated for the replacing of fixed assets † . I think this statement is non rather precisely. Depreciation is an allotment of an historical cost to write off ( Horngren, 2008, p754 ) . Accumulated depreciation sum expresses merely the expired value of an plus and it is non hard currency or any other assortment of assets that can be used to purchase another plus.16-7:â€Å" To capitalise an sum spent means that it will non be charged as an disbursal † . I do n't hold with this statement. â€Å" To capitalise an sum means to enter it as an plus instead as an disbursal † ( Horngren, 2008, p732 ) . Therefore it will non be immediately charged as an disbursal but it will be charged as an disbursal when capitalized plus is used.16-8:â€Å" Good will may hold nil to make with the personality of the director or employees † . I agree with this statement. Harmonizing to Horngren ( 2008, p733 ) , â€Å" good will is the surplus of the cost of an acquired company over the amount of the just market values of it identifiable single assets less its liabilities † .16-16:The statement of hard currency flows illustrates alterations in hard currency grosss and hard currency payments of an organisation during a period. This statement shows the relationship of net income to alterations in hard currency balances. Furthermore, it reports pas hard currency flows in order to foretell future hard currency flows, evaluate direction ‘s coevals and usage of hard currency and find whether company can pay involvement, dividends and debts on clip ( Horngren, 2008, p740 ) .16-29:â€Å" Depreciation is an built-in portion of a statement of hard currency flows. † I do non hold with this statement. Depreciation is added to net income to calculate hard currency flow but it does non impact hard currency and it does non imply a cu rrent escape of hard currency ( Horngren, 2008, p754 ) .Question 6:16-56:Formula ViewQuestion 7:What went incorrect at One Tel?One Tel failed because of an expensive error, they failed to pull off receivables and liabilities. They spent excessively much clip on advancing and spread outing One Tel but non adequate clip concentrating on operation of the concern system. In 2000, One Tel spent $ 525.6 million on buying Australia spectrum licence in order to spread out their web and take the market from Optus. However there was a job with their system so they could non sell this web at its existent value, and it did non do net income. One Tel was cleared bank bill of exchange in 2001.What are the major fiscal studies?The major fiscal studies are: – Statement of finance public presentation – Statement of finance place – Statement of hard currency flow. – Mugwump Audit Report.3. Why are net incomes of import? Why is hard currency flow of import?Net incomes are of import because the function of capitalist economic system is to do a net income or travel out of concern. Net incomes show how a company operates efficaciously and productively every bit good as the return of investing. Cash flow is of import because it is one of the most primary grounds which make the concern fails. If companies want to better their concern and net incomes, they have to guarantee precise hard currency flow to do right fiscal programs.4. How did One Tel show a positive hard currency balance?One Tel showed a positive hard currency balance by the wages on sale volume. By advancing the selling, One Tel wanted clients to utilize more profitable services One Tel offered them.5. What are the features of a good internal control system?Harmonizing to the COSO ( Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ) , internal control can be defined as â€Å" a procedure, effected by an entity ‘s board of managers, direction and other forces, designed to supply sensible confidence sing the accomplishment of aims in the undermentioned classs: effectivity and efficiency of operations, dependability of fiscal coverage and conformity with applicable Torahs and ordinances. â₠¬  ( Internal Control-Integrated Framework, Executive Summary, 1992 ) The features of a good control system consists five cardinal constituents: The Control Environment: the most of import one because if sets the tone for the organisation, and contributes the ordinance and construction for the other constituents. Hazard Appraisal: used to place, analyse and manage relevant hazards to the accomplishment of aims. Information and Communication: used to place, gaining control, and exchange fiscal, operational, and conformity information in a timely mode in order to enable people to transport out their duties. Control Activities: included policies and processs that make certain direction directives are implemented. Monitoring-processes: used to measure the quality of internal control public presentation over clip. ( Internal Control-Integrated Framework, Executive Summary, 1992 )Question 8:17-11:â€Å" It is better to acknowledge good will than to compose up assets to their just market values † . In a amalgamate statement, we have to compose up assets to their just market values at the clip of the acquisition. However if it is possible, acknowledging good will can cut down the depreciation of the single assets.17-15:The two ratios which are multiplied together to give the pretax operating rate of return on mean entire assets are runing income per centum on gross revenues and entire plus turnover. The pretax operating rate of return on mean entire assets = runing income per centum on gross revenues * entire plus turnover.17-19:â€Å" If IBM had been forced to write off ( the package development cost of ) $ 785 million, its net incomes would hold been cut by 72 cents a portion. With IBM selling at 14 times gaining, write offing the cost might hold knocked over $ 10 off IBM ‘s portion monetary value. † The citation assumes that the ratio of monetary value net incomes is fixed. If the package development cost of $ 785 million, it means that there was a lessening in net income about $ 785 million, so the net incomes per portion was cut by 72 cents. Price gaining ratio is calculated by the market monetary value per portion / net incomes per portion. IBM monetary value gaining ratio is stable at 14 times and the net incomes per portion was cut by 72 cents are the grounds why the IBM ‘s portion monetary value reduced $ 10.17-20:Suppose the president of your company wanted to exchange depreciation methods to increase reported net income: â€Å" Our stock monetary value is 10 % below what I think it should be ; altering depreciation method will increase income by 10 % , therefore acquiring our portion monetary value up to its proper degree † . From my position, altering the depreciation methods is non a good manner. It can do income addition but it will make a incorrect value of the assets in the hereafter. Furthermore, we can non be certain that increasing reported net income will do the stock monetary value to lift, because the stock market does non wholly depend on the reported net income.Question 9:17-36Formula ViewQuestion 10:Digital splashboardsExecutive Summary This study provides inside informations about digital splashboards, includes the definition, types, history, benefits and disadvantages of digital splashboards. In add-on, it gives an illustration of digital splashboards screenshot every bit good as how splashboards could be used to show corporate societal duty. Introduction Digital splashboards play an of import function in direction information system as they are really utile to find the departmental public presentation of a company. Definition A splashboard is described as an executive information system which is easy to be read. Digital splashboards can be known as † existent clip visual image tools of critical concern indexs that help in determination devising † ( Dursteler, 2004 ) . They are the direction of all informations base within an organisation, so they can mensurate the departmental public presentation. Types There are three chief types of digital splashboards: stand entirely package applications, web-browser based applications, and desktop applications. History The thought of digital splashboards was based on the survey of determination support systems in 1970s. However, digital splashboards were appeared in the late of 1990s, with the rush of the web. Digital splashboard is one portion of Digital Nervous System concept which was developed by Microsoft in the same this period of clip ( From Wikipedia – Splashboards ) . Benefits There are many benefits of digital splashboards as they help directors command the varied sections in their companies. These are the other maps of digital splashboards: – Ocular presentation of public presentation steps – Identify and right negative tendencies – Measure efficiencies/inefficiencies – Generate elaborate studies demoing new tendencies – Brand determinations based on concern intelligence – Align schemes and organisational ends – Save clip over running multiple studies – Addition entire visibleness of all systems immediately ( From Wikipedia – Splashboards ) Disadvantages Digital splashboards measure the public presentation based on input informations of companies. Therefore, if the information is non precisely, there will be a bad consequence in the measuring of digital splashboards and it will do a bad determination. Companies have to pass money to keep their information system in order to guarantee that digital splashboards can roll up available informations from all sections. Screenshot As we can see, this is the screen shooting of digital splashboards, which illustrates the day-to-day gross revenues of an organisation in October 2003. We can see the sum of day-to-day units sold every bit good as the day-to-day cargos ( Dursteler, 2004 ) . How splashboards could be used to show corporate societal duty Splashboards monitor the public presentation of an organisation so it could be used to show corporate societal duty. Splashboards reflect the duty of an organisation which has to run into the community aspirations. Decision and Recommendations In decision, based on available informations, digital splashboards are really utile for organisations to supervise their concern public presentation and doing determinations. Digital splashboards should be used loosely in companies in order to assist companies develop in the right manner.d. Why might the Enron prostration make a good drama?Executive Summary The dislocation of Enron is really celebrated over the universe and there is a drama about this dirt. This study gives information about the history of Enron and the Enron drama, the accounting job which made Enron autumn and the lesson we can larn from this company. Introduction Enron Corporation used to be the most powerful American energy companies in Houston, Texas. However, the rapid prostration of Enron created a large dirt in the fiscal history. In 2009, the drama – Enron was written by the British dramatist Lucy Prebble, based on the Enron dirt. It won many awards for best new drama every bit good as best manager and best histrion ( From Wikipedia – Enron, the drama ) . So why might the Enron prostration make a good drama? History Enron was established in 1985 by the amalgamation between Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth. There were about 21,000 employees in this company and it was one of the universe ‘s taking in electricity, natural gas, mush and paper. In 2000, it reported the grosss of $ 111 billion dollars. However, in the terminal of 2001, it collapsed so rapidly in an incredible manner. ( Healy and Palepu, 2003, p4 ) The prostration of Enron The autumn of Enron was started in August 2001, when CEO Jeffrey Skilling resigned for unrevealed grounds. After that, it fell into loss and debt. Finally, on December 2, 2001, the company declared bankruptcy. The accounting job One of the chief grounds why Enron collapsed is the accounting issues. Mark Jickling ( 2002, p3 ) , Coordinator Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division, mentioned in his study that Enron ‘s operations and fundss position were non been shown clearly in the fiscal statements to stockholders and analysts. In late 2001, Enron recognized that some new concerns were non runing every bit good as expected. It had to sell its electric power works, Portland General Corp. , at a loss of $ 1.1 billion on October 5, 2001. ( Healy and Palepu, 2003, p12 ) With these accounting jobs, the Enron ‘s stock monetary value was halved while its adoption costs were increased. On November 28, Enron ‘s accepted to be acquired by its rival, Dynergy, in order to avoid bankruptcy. On November 28, Enron ‘s public debt was dropped to debris bond position, so Dynergy drew back. ( Healy and Palepu, 2003, p12 ) As a consequence, on December 2, 2001, Enron led for bankruptcy with its stock monetary value at merely $ 0.26. ( Healy and Palepu, 2003, p12 ) Lesson from Enron dirt The autumn of Enron in a short-time created a lesson for all companies in the universe. One of the most of import for all companies to do a concern viable is the direction of their fiscal coverage so companies can guarantee everything is right. The lesson from many fiscal errors of Enron made a good drama, Enron – the Play.Mentions:Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Committee ( COSO ) . ( 1992 ) . Internal Control- Integrated Framework, Executive Summary. www.coso.org. Juan C. Dursteler ( 2004 ) . Digital Dashboards. The digital magazine of InfoVis.net.Retrieved April 12th 2004 from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.infovis.net/printMag.php? num=143 & A ; lang=2 Horngren, et Al. ( 2008 ) . Introduction to direction accounting ( 14th Ed. ) . Pearson: Prentice Hall Wikipedia – Splashboards. Retrieved from: hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboards_ % 28management_information_systems % 29 Wikipedia – Enron, the drama Retrieved from: hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENRON_ % 28play % 29

Cypcore positive outcomes

Identify the positive outcomes for children and young people that practitioners should be striving to achieve. In 2003 the I-JK government for England and Wales launched one of the most important policies, partly in response to the death of Victoria Climbie, in relation to children and children's services.It was produced as a result of a review of children and young people's services, it had two main findings; one was for all services to work together and share information and it identified five positive outcomes for children and young people. As a practitioner working with children I am aware that the upport I give the children to achieve the five positive outcomes is crucial in their development.Be healthy; Physically healthy Mentally and emotionally healthy Sexually healthy Healthy lifestyles Choose not to take illegal drugs Parents, carers and families promote healthy choices Stay safe; Safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation Safe from accidental injury and death Safe from bullying and discrimination Safe from crime and anti-social behaviour in and out of school Have security, stability and are cared for Parents, carers and families provide safe homes and stability Enjoy and achieve; Ready for schoolAttend and enjoy school Achieve stretching national educational standards at primary school Achieve personal and social development and enjoy recreation Achieve stretching national educational standards at secondary school Parents, carers and families support learning Make a positive contribution; Engage in decision-making and support the community And environment Engage in law-abiding and positive behaviour in and out of school Develop positive relationships and choose not to bully and Discriminate Develop selt-contldence and successtully deal witn signitlcant lite Changes and challenges Develop enterprising behaviour

P&G Research Essay

Does the company rely primarily on a customer intimacy, operational excellence, or product leadership customer value proposition? What evidence supports your conclusion? What business risks does P&G face that may threaten its ability to satisfy stockholder expectations? What are some examples of control activities that the company could use to reduce these risks? (Hint: Focus on page 28 of the annual report. ) What were P&Gs quarterly net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005? What were Federated Department Stores quarterly net sales for 2004? Hint: see page 79 of its 10-K. ) How does P&Gs quarterly sales trend compare to Federated Department Stores quarterly sales trend? Which of the two quarterly sales trends is likely to cause greater cash budgeting concerns? Why? Describe the scope of P&Gs business in three respectsphysical facilities, products, and customers. More specifically, how many manufacturing facilities does P&G operate globally? What are P&Gs three Global Busine ss Units (GBUs)? Which of P&Gs 17 billion dollar brands are included in each of these GBUs? How many brands does P&G offer in total and in how many countries do they sell these brands? How many countries does P&Gs Market Development Organization operate in? Describe five uncertainties that complicate P&Gs efforts to accurately forecast its sales and expenses. P&Gs annual report briefly discuss the acquisition of Gillette (see pages 10-11). It acknowledges that Gillette has some different cultural norms in terms of how it defines accountability and communicates internally. Although not discussed in the annual report, how could differences in two organizations budgeting practices be responsible for these types of divergent cultural norms?

Gothic Literature: the Fascination with Terror

Traci L. Pugh Dr. Amber Reagan-Kendrick ENG 45023-SU-2012-OA Seminar in American Literature 8 August 2012 Gothic Literature: The Fascination with Terror People have an intrinsic fear of the dark and the unknown. While each person’s level of anxiety and object of terror are different, the fascination to reveal them has inspired Gothic authors such as Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and Stephenie Meyer for three centuries. Subjects of these classic tales include vampires, reanimation of the dead, ghosts, murder, witches, and love.These stories and poems can terrify audiences because they can encompass reality of things people cherish with a twist of the impossible. Gothic writers use terror, mystery, and excitement to probe the dark aspects of life by exposing inner human fear. Mary Shelley was a Romantic Gothic author, and it is speculated that Frankenstein symbolizes â€Å"internal conflicts and life experiences with what may have been their manifestations in the fictionalized characters she created† (D’Amato 117). She was orphaned at an early age, and death was no stranger to her due to the deaths of her sister and her husband’s first wife.Mary feared giving birth, mainly because her mother died eleven days after giving birth to her, but D’ Amato proposes that she â€Å"may have believed any child she produced would inherit the repressed, hated, and destructive parts of herself† (122). Shelley’s work may have mirrored her life, but it was common for Gothic authors of this time to write about â€Å"the nation’s dreams, and their own† (â€Å"Gothic Undercurrents†). The early nineteenth century was a time of fear due to rapid changes in the nation: abolition, the Great Depression, war, and the bank crisis.These events gave Americans the feeling that â€Å"life was an experiment that had gone horribly wrong,† and these writers explored this fear with prose (â€Å"Gothic Unde rcurrents†). This newfound style of writing exposed the dark side of humanity, but it also questioned the mystery of unsolvable problems. These works probed the demons of the nation and the writers. Frankenstein began as Mary Shelley’s dream in 1816, and her tale of loneliness, reanimating the dead, murder, guilt, and revenge has been dubbed a literary classic.The main character, Victor Frankenstein, believes he has discovered the secret of life and proclaims, â€Å"Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a church-yard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm† (Shelley 79). Once the monster is created, it feels abandoned and starts killing. The creature inadvertently causes the death of an innocent girl. Victor realizes his creation is lonely, and nothing more than an abomination, so he decides to destroy it.A journey into the mountains ensues, but a crack in the ice divides their paths. When Frankenstein dies, the monster comes to see him and says, â€Å"Blasted as thou wert, my agony was still superior to thine; for the bitter sting of remorse may not cease to rankle in my wounds until death shall close them for ever† (Shelley 244). This story reveals the idea that the dead, once reanimated, are like an angry child who lashes out at a parent who has betrayed them. The feeling of abandonment was what Shelley tried to capture in this morbid tale of love and loss, and this theme would continue with future authors.Edgar Allan Poe, considered a Victorian Gothic, was also an orphan whose life seemed to be full of disaster. He suffered an unmerciful surrogate father, was kicked out of the University of Virginia, dropped out of West Point, married his thirteen year old cousin, and lived in poverty with his freelance lifestyle (Doctorow 241). The driving force behind his work was that he embraced his own misery because he believed that his s uffering was natural. His stories were written in the mid-nineteenth century, and people were still afraid of their uncertain futures.Poe used this to his benefit in what he called, â€Å"Imp of the Perverse – the force within us that causes us to do just what brings on our destruction† (241). This kind of thinking was the basis for many of his stories, and most of his characters were the reason for their own problems and demise. Poe â€Å"worked hard at structuring his tales of aristocratic madmen, self-tormented murderers, neurasthenic necrophiliacs, and other deviant types to produce the greatest possible horrific effects on his readers† (Baym 674).He was quite successful in this endeavor, as most people associate Poe’s name with dark, horrific, murderous tales. His â€Å"Philosophy of Composition† tells of his belief that â€Å"the supreme subject for a poem is the death of a beautiful woman† (Doctorow 242). This is evident in one of his most famous poems, â€Å"The Raven. † Possibly one of Poe’s most maddening poems, â€Å"The Raven† is rhythmic and could be set to music with constant mention of the door, Lenore, evermore, and nevermore. The use of vivid imagery causes the reader to see this black raven sitting on the door pecking at it.The main character is a man grieving for his lost love, Lenore, and he believes the knocking sound is her returning. The raven says but one word, â€Å"Nevermore. † The man wonders what this means, and asks the bird if it is a messenger from God or the devil. Again the Raven says, â€Å"Nevermore. † Spiraling into madness and grief, he begs the bird, â€Å"Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door. Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore’† (Poe 74). The Raven stays at the door and forever torments the man with his repetitive call.This uncertainty about death was a Gothic specialty, and the introduction of animals and their mysterious qualities would prove to inspire future writers. A century later, tales of Modern Horror would build on their macabre roots and incorporate popular culture to terrify readers like never before. Stephen King, often named the master of horror, has petrified audiences with tales of demonic cars, possessed children, undead pets and people, aliens, and the inherent evil in all people. King’s inspiration stems from â€Å"his own life experiences and fantasies, popular culture, and his reading of archaic burial lore† (Nash 151).Even though most literary critics do not agree with his writing style, horror fans are mesmerized by the images he creates. King and Shelley both play on fears â€Å"such as the problematic nature and popular fear of science and technology† (151), but King is â€Å"more willing to tackle explicitly cultural issues as opposed to the traditional Gothic preoccupation with personality and character† (152). Many of Kingâ⠂¬â„¢s stories concentrate on a fear of the dead, but they also raise the question of whether the dead want to come back and the consequences that follow.Love is a powerful thing and people never want to let go of a loved one, but at what expense are they willing to have that person back? Stephen King’s scariest tale, Pet Sematary, asks and answers this very question by illustrating a modern family and the horrific, yet normal, happenings that tear the family apart and invoke the need for the supernatural. The Creeds move to a new house in Maine to start a new life. Mr. Creed is a doctor at the University, and he befriends the old neighbor next door. The neighbor tells of an Indian burial ground beyond the pet cemetery where the dead can come back.The family cat, Church, is killed by a truck on the busy road in front of the house, and Mr. Creed desperately buries the body in the â€Å"magic circle† of the burial ground to keep from telling this horror to his daughter. The cat comes back to life, but is â€Å"changed, if not psychotic† (Nash 156). Soon, the youngest son, Gage, meets the same disastrous fate as the cat. The father is consumed with grief and frantically buries the little boy in the same place. Gage comes back in the same fashion as the cat and kills his mother and the neighbor.Even though the father is a doctor, and knows what the monster that resembles his son is capable of, he again makes a journey to the burial ground to bury his wife. He sits and waits for her to arrive. Love makes people desperate and willing to cross unrealistic boundaries in order to escape pain. Writers have used the connection between love and death to explore new avenues in horror. Stephenie Meyer has spellbound audiences with her Twilight series by introducing us to a world of supernatural beings, jealousy, ancient pacts, and love.Much like her Gothic predecessors, Meyers uses her dreams and popular culture to inspire her tales. Her vampires differ from the earlier versions in that â€Å"our vampires reflect our fears of new, changing or dissolved boundaries† (Mutch 76). New topics, such as â€Å"violent intolerance in the U. S. and elsewhere† are revealed by her characters going â€Å"to great lengths to hide their true identity† (78). This new generation of creatures reflect the thirst for blood and supernatural strength of the original monsters that began this era, but a regard for human life sets these apart.The overall view of the Twilight series, by Stephenie Meyer, is that love conquers all, even death. Much like Gothic literature itself, this story involves centuries of vampires hiding from the light to maintain existence among their prey. The human girl, Bella, is in love with a vampire, Edward, and they know that being together is impossible. She is willing to end her life and join his dark world, but he is unwilling to claim her mortality. In the same spirit as Frankenstein, Edward sees his cre ator as a father figure, but laments his own vile existence.It is revealed that her best friend, Jacob, who is also in love with her, is a werewolf. The vampires and the werewolves have a pact, but it will be breached if Bella joins the vampires. There are constant struggles between the humans, vampires, and the werewolves, but the undying love between Bella and Edward is unyielding. The two finally marry, and a baby is conceived that almost kills Bella. Although he has fought it diligently, Edward is forced to ferociously inject his venom into her lifeless body to save her in childbirth.The baby is half vampire and human, and instantly demonstrates supernatural powers, and captivates Jacob, which ends the battle between the coven and the clan. The book ends with a glimpse into the beauty of becoming a vampire when Bella remembers the first moments after she wakes as a newborn vampire: â€Å"his face when I’d opened my eyes to my new life, to the endless dawn of immortality . . . that first kiss . . . that first night . . . † (Meyer 753). The Twilight series is a love story with interjections of paranormal powers and the desire to want the things that cannot be obtained.This tale has consumed many and launched the â€Å"Twihard† generation. Meyer made vampires and werewolves vicious and bloodthirsty, but beautiful; unlike their nineteenth century counterparts, who burst into flames in the sunlight and transformed into hideous, drooling monsters, these beautiful creatures glitter in the sunlight and resemble overgrown dogs. Although Meyer made this less horrific than older horror stories, her series encouraged younger generations to discover the beauty of literature again. Stephen King once said, â€Å"Death is a mystery, and burial is a secret† (9).Although it is often grotesque, demonic, and depraved, people have an inherent need to explore the divide between good and evil, the known and unknown, and this world and the next. These tales have endured, yet changed, over the last three centuries. Future writers of the macabre will most assuredly follow in their predecessors’ footsteps and adapt to cultural changes in their own style. As long as people have inner demons, there will be a need for writers to expose them. Even though these horror classics are classified as fiction, what makes them terrifying is that they mimic the reality of everyday life. Works CitedBaym, Nina, ed. â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7th ed. Vol. 1. New York: Norton, 2008. 671-674. Print. D’Amato, Barbara. â€Å"Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: an orphaned author’s dream and journey toward integration. † Modern Psychoanalysis. 34. 1 (2009): 117-135. Web. 7 Aug 2012. Doctrow, E. L. â€Å"Our Edgar. † Virginia Quarterly Review. 82. 4 (2006): 240-247. Web 7 Aug 2012. â€Å"Gothic Undercurrents. † American Passages: A Literary Survey. Annenberg Learne r, n. d. Web 7 Aug 2012. King, Stephen. Pet Sematary. 1st ed. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. , 1984. Print. Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. st ed. New York: Atom Books, 2009. Print. Mutch, Deborah. â€Å"Coming Out of the Coffin: The Vampire and Transnationalism in the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse Series. † Critical Survey. 23. 2 (2011): 75-90. Web. 7 Aug 2012. Nash, Jesse. â€Å"Postmodern Gothic: Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. † Journal of Popular Culture. 30. 4 (1997): 151-160. Web. 7 Aug 2012. Poe, Edgar Allan. The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe With Selections From His Critical Writings. Expanded. New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc. Alfre A. Knopf. Inc.. 1992. Print. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 2nd ed. Ontario: Broadview Press, 1999. Print.