Hispanics In Governme Gs-13 And Above Essay Example for Free

Hispanics In Governme Gs-13 And Above Essay The federal government is the largest employer in the nation and does not only have the responsibility of serving all segments of society, it also has the added responsibility of treating the Federal employees who come from the various segments of the society in a fair and unbiased manner. In order to oversee such a process is implemented fairly, without any bias, there are boards such as the U. S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) in place and are required by the federal government to make periodical assessment, in order to ascertain the employees of the federal government are treated equitably. The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 stipulates that merit should be the cornerstone of evaluating every employee, where the federal government should recruit and promote employees according to their ability, knowledge, and skills they acquired. Another point that is highlighted here is discrimination of any kind and preferential treatment should not be part of the procedure of any of the federal agencies are using in hiring, training, advancing, and retaining employees who could originate from the various segments of society. There had been instances of discriminatory practices in the employment scene in this century that makes it permissible to claim that there had been a negative impact on the representation of minorities in the workforce in proportion to their number. Starting from the year 1978, the employment statistics reveals that there was advancement, as far as the employment status of minorities was concerned. Especially, at the higher grade levels, as well as at administrative positions the area this paper is studying, the promotional process treats everyone, more or less, the same. Yet, it is difficult to say that minorities including Hispanics have attained an equal status with their counterparts the non-minorities despite their equal education level, experience, and according to various merits that are measurable. What this means is the employment and the advancement process is not yet completely free of bias when considering what takes place among the various minority groups and the non-minority groups. The MSAP board had conducted a survey where it claimed to find out that many employees from the minority ethnic groups believe that they had been discriminated and this outlook might be true as the non-minorities who were surveyed had also admitted that there is still some discrimination based either on sex, race, or color used as a determining factor when it comes who to hire, train, advance, or retain, revealing that it is not yet a plain level field for everyone (Morrison, 1992). The statistics, however, shows that there had been some advancement attained in all segments, including the higher grade levels. This paper will present the statistical findings of the stands the Hispanics have in comparison with the other ethnic groups in the nation, especially at the higher GS-13 level and above in proportion to their participation in the overall federal workforce. Chapter I Introduction What is possible to observe in today’s workplace in the U. S. is diversity management is bringing in more Hispanics into the Intelligence Community, although the number of Hispanics in upper management, GS-13 and above might not be representative of the percentage of Hispanics in the workforce. That could be the case even if the civilian workforce in the U. S. could surpass two million. In light of that this research paper will try to find out what the reality is, as there are conflicting findings that are emulating to show why the number of Hispanics in GS-13 and above might not be representative of their number in the federal workforce. It had been a while back, at least several decades since the federal government had started to be fair and equitable in its hiring process, so that what takes place will be representative of the reality, where national origin, race, or sex will not be the cornerstone of the hiring practice. The fact that minorities have become a larger proportion of the workforce that makes up the federal government employees has attested this fact. There is documentation that reveals women used to encounter special barriers in their effort to attain advancement, in spite of their qualification, an area where the other minorities were also suffering from the same fate. Awards and important assignments were skipping them simply because they were member of any of the minority groups that includes African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. The Hispanic population has to compete with these groups fairly and equitably so that their stand should be clearly established and to enable the evaluation of whether the Hispanics are getting what they deserver according to the proportion of their number in the federal workforce. One good source where to see what kind of discriminatory practices had been taking place is to look at ongoing protests and lawsuits claiming that some kind of disparate treatment had taken place. One such finding was a government survey made in 1992 where 34 percent of African Americans, 30 percent of Asians of the Pacific region, 19 percent of members of the Hispanic community, and 11 percent Native Americans had claimed that they had experienced discrimination at various degree, where they had either been denied jobs, promotions, or benefits that go with jobs because of their race. This could be true because of the fact that it is recently the government had declared that it had become an equal opportunity employer that demonstrates it was not a leader in that endeavor earlier. What brought about a statuary protection for minorities was due to the enactment of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972. The Act had enabled the government to keep its own house in order, simply because it is the largest employer in the nation. President Nixon’s government had come up with the â€Å"Sixteen Point Program† designed to avail equal opportunity participation for the Hispanic population. Among the efforts introduced, there was intensified job recruitment in the Southwestern U. S. , at metropolitan cities where there is high Hispanic concentration, and colleges where there is a large Hispanic enrolment. There was also effort to reach out in communities where there is a concentration of Spanish speaking population and publicize the availability of federal employments. In addition, there were programs intended to enable Hispanic students to stay in school longer, as well as the establishing of special hiring authorities that will tend for the need of the Hispanic population. The focus had been the recruiting and the upward mobility of the Hispanic workforce once they are under the federal employment. In the year 2000 President Clinton had also come up with an executive order similar to the 16-point plan and this one was OPS’ 9-point plan whose goal was to eliminate barriers that prevent the recruitment of Hispanics into the workforce, as well as to promote them in the managerial and leadership programs. Another Act passed in 1978 was the Civil Reform Act whose claimed policy was to make certain that the federal workforce would reflect the nation’s diversity. What this would introduce in the nation’s workforce arena is the prevalence of a diverse civil service that could be made up of divergent outlooks, possibly accompanied by diverse skills and talents that will put it in a position to handle various problems that come into existence and originate from various groups better (Thomas, 1996). In addition, when there is a diverse workforce in place it is possible to share the social responsibilities equitably making the various policies the government comes up with widely acceptable. Similarly, when the government avails any kind of the various services, such as health care, education, housing etc. the perception would be every member of the society was part of the consideration applied in the process of the decision-making. In the absence of a representative workforce, it will be difficult to instill a positive social conduct on the overall society, in such a way that a particular segment of the society could feel that it is not included fairly in what is accruing and it is possible that the youth could be discouraged when it comes to investing in education or other requirements that will qualify them for federal jobs. If such a practice persists it is possible to introduce in the society a cycle of exclusion where the outcome could be more costly, where adhering to the rules and regulations could also suffer deterioration. The other key point that will bring what this paper is researching on into light is taking the mentioned measures alone where offering equal employment opportunity only is not enough. In order to make it effective there is a need to introduce similar equal opportunity in the training, retaining, and advancing employees who originate from the minority groups. In order to arrive at what is happening in the highest and more influential positions such as GS-13 and above, it is important to look at those who should be allowed to advance into such positions should have to pass through. Because as some of the statistics highlights, there has to be some level of service and experience in place before anyone attains those higher positions. It is also important to examine the hiring procedure in the nation since it is complicated. The age structure of those who are on supervisory and managerial position reveals that there are various factors that would have to come together in order for them to make it to such level, such as the individuals should have been at a particular line of work or other similar work arrangements for at least 20 years before achieving the higher position, as those who are attaining those positions are mostly above 45 years age, where most mangers are between 50 and 54. Hence, there should have been various preparation phases that require surpassing in order to make it to the higher levels. One other point to raise there are exceptions where in the administration and profession job classification it is possible to be hired at the higher level of GS-13 and above, but the requirement would be very stringent as those who are hired for such positions would become supervisors or managers from the outset.

Illusion in The Tempest

Illusion in The Tempest Throughout his thirty-six works which frequent stages around the world, Shakespeare was able to explore not only the human psyche and characteristics of humanity, but he also investigated the natural and unnatural world. In one of his more original plot lines, The Tempest, Shakespeare experimented with many themes, such as power, love, revenge, and pride. Shakespeare also explored the relationship between reality and illusion. Throughout the piece, Shakespeare portrays that illusion may be used to veil reality, but in the end, reality always makes itself apparent through the characters actions. The veil of illusion and unnaturalness can be centered around the character, Prospero. Prosperos whole life has been dedicated to the achievement of magical abilities. In the first act, Prospero tells his daughter, Miranda: I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated to closeness and the bettering of my mind with that which, but by being so retired, Oerprized all popular rate, in my false brother awaked an evil nature. And my trust, like a good parent, did beget of him a falsehood in its contrary as great as my trust was, which had indeed no limit, a confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded, not only with what my revenue yielded but what my power might else exact, like one who having into truth, by telling of it, made such a sinner of his memory to credit his own liehe did believe he was indeed the duke, out o th substitution and executing th outward face of royalty, with all prerogative. Hence his ambition growing. (1.2.89-105) Prospero reveals to his daughter that while he was caught up with perfecting his mind and his ability to control the unnatural world, he gave his brother, Antonio, the power to run the state in his absence. Antonio then betrayed him and took Prosperos title, and had him and Miranda marooned on an island. This is just one of the many clues given to the audience in the second scene that there is something unnatural about Prospero and his island. Later in the scene, Prospero reminds the spirit, Ariel, that, It was mine art, when I arrived and heard thee, that made gape the pine and let thee out, (1.2.345-347). As the story progresses, Prospero has the spirit, Ariel, conjure a large illusion of a storm, and wreck the crew of a nearby ship, which included his treacherous brother, on the island. Prospero has much control of the island, and through his various spirits, he controls much of the action in the play. In this way, Shakespeare creates a world of illusion. The characters go into most situations with an altered sense of reality. One example of this is when Prospero has his daughter meet the young prince, Ferdinand. Prospero leads the prince to believe that he is the only survivor of the wreck, and that his meeting Miranda is completely by chance, and he takes her to be a goddess and unnatural being. In reality, Prospero wishes Ferdinand to marry his daughter, so he leads them to each other. Another example is when the slave, Caliban meets Alonso, Sephano, and Trinculo. Although in reality, they are there, he believes them to be spirits of Prospero come to torture him: His spirits hear me and yet I needs must curse. But theyll nor pinch, fright me with urchin-shows, pitch me i th mire, nor lead me like a firebrand in the dark out of my way, unless he bid em. But for every trifle are they set upon me, sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me, and after bite me, then like hedgehogs which lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount their pricks at my footfall. Sometime am I all wound with adders who with cloven tongues do hiss me into madness. Lo, now, lo! Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me for bringing wood in slowly. Ill fall flat. Perchance he will not mind me. (2.2.1-17) After Caliban is given wine by Stephano, he believes them to be gods more powerful than Prospero, and he convinces them to overthrow and kill Prospero, and to rule the island in his stead. But Prospero uses illusion to cloak himself, and travels around the island invisibly. He unavoidably discovers the treacherous plan, and puts an end to it. The story ends with Prospero unveiling the reality of the island. His illusions are ready to be exposed. In the last act, Prospero claims, Now does my project gather to a head. My charms crack not, my spirits obey, and time goes upright with his carriage, (5.1.1-3). He confronts his brother, Antonio, saying, Flesh and blood, you brother mine, that entertained ambition, expelled remorse and nature, whom, with Sebastian, whose inward pinches therefore are most strong, would here have killed your kingI do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art, (5.1.78-83). Prospero later admits that the island was enchanted, You do yet taste some subtleties o th isle, that will not let you believe things certain, (5.1.124-126). Prospero then reveals that Ferdinand is not dead, and a veil rises, revealing him and Miranda, yet the King is slow to believe, if this prove a vision of the Island, one dear son shall I twice loss, (5.1.179-181). The last thing Prospero reveals is that the ship is not, in fact , wrecked on the shore, but merely harbored on the other side of the island: The best news is that we have safely found our king and company. The next, our ship which, but three glasses since, we gave out split is tight and yare and bravely rigged as when we first put out to sea! (5.1.229-233) The group then prepare to leave the island, and Prospero vows to leave his magic on the island, promising clear reality for the future. While Shakespeare portrays that illusion may be used to veil reality, in the end, reality always makes itself apparent through the characters actions. The relationship between reality and illusion is explored throughout this work, as well as a few of his other works. Shakespeares search to understand the world and the human being has led to a chapter of literature educational for all audiences. The world is lucky to still be frequented by his works, especially The Tempest.

A Justification Of The Caste System Bhagavad Gita Religion Essay

A Justification Of The Caste System Bhagavad Gita Religion Essay People in Hindu society are born into different castes with different qualities and their responsibility of fulfilling their dharma, which means scared duties, is inevitable. A passage In the Bhagavad Gita reveals that mankind is created into four classes: I created mamkind in four classes, / different in their qualities and actions; (The Bhagavad Gita 53). This indicates that born caste are not changeable, since they are set when individuals are created. The text then describes that each caste has its specific dharma and emphasize the restricted dharma on the idea that dharma is fixed by birth, as the text continues: The actions of priests, warriors, /commoners, and servants/ are appointed by the qualities/ born of their intrinsic being (The Bhagavad Gita 141). Such restricted social expectations are reflected in the caste system in Hindu society. Furthermore, we can see this restricted expectation when the Lord Krishna convinces Arjuna to perform his duty as a warrior: Look to your own duty; / do not tremble before it; / nothing is better for a warrior/ than a battle of sacred duty (The Bhagavad Gita 36). The lord Krishna wants Arjuna to perform his duties even if doing so is against his will. We can see that personal goals and emotions are suppressed when one performs dharma against ones will, and no matter what one is forced to perform caste duties. This strictness of caste duty is state clearly in the text: No one exists for even an instant / without performing action; / however unwilling, every being is forced / to act by the qualities of nature (The Bhagavad Gita 43). This describes the absoluteness of the caste system and that caste duties are the highest priority in ones actions. By creating such strict order, the Bhagavad Gita reinforces the hierarchy structure of the caste system. In addition, the Bhagavad Gita uses fear to further ensure that people follow their caste duties, by stating that failure to act accordingly to ones duties is considered sinful and will create disorder in family and society. Such idea is stated in the text: When the family is ruined, / the timeless laws of family duty / perish; and when duty is lost, / chaos overwhelms the family (The Bhagavad Gita 29). This creates a fear that is one does not follow than one will bring chaos to the family. More ove the text continues to describe the consequences of misbehavior. The text states:The sins of men who violate/ the family create disorder in society/ that undermines the constant laws/ of caste and family duty (The Bhagavad Gita 29). The text attach the word sin in order to attach the quilt to the wrong doings. This passage alsosets the definition of good and bad by warning not to violate the law of caste and by setting such definition the society is further restricted to confined social cl asses. Furthermore, since individual disobedience can bring disorder to the society as a whole, social pressure will be stressed on the individual who refuses the follow. This brings mutual responsibility in such a way that everyone needs to make sure everyone else follow the rule, so that the society as a whole can avoid disaster. The Bhagavad Gita creates great psychological pressure that concretes the caste system. According to the Bhagavad Gita, the ideal way to perform caste duties is by detachment: Always perform with detachment / any action you must do; performing action with detachment, / one achieves supreme good ( The Bhagavad Gita 45). By detaching from ones emotion, it is easier to endure the suffering of performing caste duties especially in the lay caste since their duties are the most miserable. We see this idea of detachment when the lord Krishna tells Aryuna to fight and not be influence by his own emotions. Moreover, this idea of detachment creates an indifference to the good and bad, poor and wealth. According to the text, when one views things with detachment, one will not see the materialistic inequality between them. We see this state of detachment in the passages: Self-reliant, impartial to suffering / and joy, to clay, stone, or gold, / the resolute man is the same / to foe and friend, to blame and praise ( The Bhagavad Gita 24). This reduces the anger of the lower caste pe ople who are not satisfied with the caste system. Therefore, this detachment promoted in the Bhagavad Gita strengthens the caste system by making each castes focus on their caste duties The idea of equality in all living beings is briefly discussed in the Bhagavad Gita, but one should not take it as indication of that social equality is promoted in Hindu society, since it does not reflects in the structure of Hindu society but only in a spiritual way. One may interprets certain passages in the Bhagavad Gita to argue against the caste system. For instance, the lord Krishna says to Arjuna: Learned men see with an equal eye / a scholarly and dignified priest, / a cow, an elephant, a dog/ and even an outcaste scavenger (The Bhagavad Gita 61). The word equal eye mentioned in this quote describes one of the key ideas in the Bhagavad Gita that every individual are originally in the brahmin caste and has the same spiritual quality. However, this spiritual equality does not reflects in the societal structure and it even reinforces the caste system by reducing the oppressiveness of the caste system because it makes the people in the lower caste feel that they are equal with t he people in the higher caste. This spiritual equality comes from the idea that every living thing is created from the Lord Braham. This oneness of all living beings is also mentioned in one of the passage: Arming himself with discipline, / seeing everything with equal eye, / he sees the self in all creatures/ and all creatue / see in the self (The Bhagavad Gita 69). Therefore, even the Bhagavad Gita mentions equality in some way, it only serves as a reinforcement of the caste system. In addition, another reinforcement of the caste system mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita is that by focusing on ones scared duties every individual can achieve the ultimate goal which is escaping from the cycle of rebirth. The state of being free from the cycle of death and rebirth is called moksha and can only be attained through fulfilling ones own caste duties (Bentley and Ziegler 184). This idea is conveyed when the Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to do what he must do in order to attain the everlasting peace. Moreover, the idea of devoting ones self to caste duties to attain moksha not only further defines the differentiation of each caste but also comforts the suffering of the lower caste by telling them that they will be able to achieve the final goal if they devote to their own caste: Each one achieves success / by focusing on his own action; / hear how one finds success / by focusing on his own action (The Bhagavad Gita 142). Furthermore, this quotes mentions own actions which indica tes the specific duties in each castes and that every castes has different paths toward attaining moksha. Such indication promotes greater separations of the classes in society. The idea of reincarnation in the Bhagavad Gita provides a promise for the people in lower caste that if they devote them self to their caste and endure sufferings from their lower social status, they will be able to attain a better next life. This idea of reincarnation rewards people who follow the caste and punish people who do not. According to the text, a person will continues to suffer until he is reborn to a higher caste:Fallen in discipline, he reaches / worlds made by his virtue, wherin he dwells / for endless years, until he is reborn / in a house of upright and noble men (The Bhagavad Gita 41). However the only way to be reborn into a higher caste is to accept the sufferings in the current life and devote to ones caste duties. As the text continues, it states that one needs to be purified his sins with effort and it is not a simple task: The man of discipline, striving / with effort, purified of his sins, / perfected through many births, / finds a higher way (The Bhagavad Gi ta 45). Therefore, this idea of reincarnation not only gives the people in the lower caste a purpose to endure their sufferings but also provides them psychological supports that comfort their inferiority in Hindu society. Through this, we can see how the Bhagavad Gita reinforces the caste system by providing spiritual supports that reduce the oppressiveness in the caste system. All the emphasis on duty, moksha , caste separation, and reincarnation in the Bhagavad Gita show the intension to justify the Hierarchically ordered caste system in Hindu society. Bhagavad Gita creates strict order that solidifies the caste rules, and set out a final goal, moksha to unite the castes but separates each castes path toward moksha to further differentiate each caste. While the Bhagavad Gita does mention equality, it does not apply in the materialistic sense. However, the equality is applied in a higher sense that does not contradict the caste system but reinforce it instead. The Bhagavad Gita with no doubt plays a key role in the Hindu society, since it is so closely related to their social structure and caste life. Through those previous discussions, we are able to see that the Bhagavad Gita not only creates strict rules and fears that endure the obedience within the system, but also uses religious goal and philosophy of detachment to further brain wash the people in th e Hindu society. It is clear that the ideas and philosophies presented in the Bhagavad Gita reinforces the caste system and justifies the inequality in the hierarchical social structure of the Hindu society.

A Clockwork Orange - Calculated Captivity :: essays research papers

Calculated Captivation "Goodness comes from within, 6655321. Goodness is something to be chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man." In Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, a sadistic adolescent of the not-so-distant future is ‘rehabilitated’ of his violent nature by a special conditioning treatment. This fifteen year-old hoodlum Alex McDowell is ‘cured’ of his savage activities but when released back into a still violent society, he is a misfit. Anthony Burgess’ skillful art of manipulation is able to change the reader’s opinion from hating Alex for his malicious ways, to feeling captivated by him, as he becomes a ‘victim of a modern age’. To understand how this deception is accomplished it is important to examine the major turning points in Alex’s life, and how Burgess presents them. To begin, Burgess displays Alex’s villainous disposition, which causes the reader to hate and resent him. Through the aid of the State’s treatment Alex is reformed, at which point Burgess allows the reader to determine and develop an opinion of whether this treatment is morally acceptable or not. In the end however it is obvious that Alex has become a true "Clockwork Orange’ and despite the previous opinion of the reader, Burgess reveals the outcome in a way that causes a sense of relief and is pleased to see Alex back to ‘normal’. It is fascinating to consider that Burgess may have written A Clockwork Orange as a prophetic view of warning to future societies. He was a peaceful person who didn’t want the stark consequences of the fictional Alex to become a grim reality. Through the first of three parts in the novel Burgess displays Alex as the embodiment of all that society would like to ignore or eliminate - but can’t. This first person narrative is told by Alex a youth of fifteen, who spends his nights with his "droogs", terrorizing the public with their bits of "ultra violence" and engaging in the old "in-out in-out". He beats the elderly, fights other gangs with his "britva", robs stores, breaks into houses, rapes young girls, drinks milk laced with drugs (moloko) and is eventually convicted of murder. Burgess portrays the immature Alex, as a mixture of good and evil possibilities with evil taking the upper hand. As the reader is taken deeper into Al ex’s morbidly exciting world, he/she begins to feel complete hatred towards Alex. Not only does Burgess permit Alex to commit such heinous crimes, he describes them in a very disturbing manner.

self mutilation Essay -- essays research papers

Main Entry: self–mu†¢ti†¢la†¢tion Pronunciation: -"myà ¼t-&-'lA-sh&n Function: noun : injury or disfigurement of oneself Psychological characteristics of self-injurers Hate themselves, feel inadequate Tend to suppress rage Are usually angry , most of the time at themselves Are very sensitive to rejection Have aggressive feelings which usually get turned inward Are anxious and irritable Tend to be depressed suicidal and self destructive Are bad at controlling impulses, and do things for how they feel at the time Tend not to plan for the future, and do not put effort into excelling at work or school Tend to be avoidant Feel as if they have no control 97% are women 57% overdose on drugs along with the injuring Self mutilation is a subject that we are all aware of, but don’t usually try to learn more about. When you think of self mutilation you think of cutters and suicide attempts right? Well that is right to some extent; Yes Cutting is the most common self injuring method , but other severe forms of self mutation include†¦burning , self hitting , interference with wound healing hai...

Alfred Lord Tennyson †The Charge Of The Light Brigade Essay

Discuss the poets’ different attitudes to war, as presented in The Charge Of The Light Brigade and Exposure A more experienced poet known as Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote the Charge Of The Light Brigade. He was born in 1809 and died of old age in 1892. He wrote The Charge Of The Light Brigade in response to a Newspaper Report from the Times, which was written by W.H.Russel, so his understanding of the war was from second hand knowledge, he was removed from the action. Unlike Wilfred Owen, who wrote Exposure. Owen was born in 1893 and died at a very young age in 1918. The reason for his young death was, he was a participant in the war and died during battle, so his was writing from his own experiences. Although Owen was a less experienced writer, his poems only really became known after his death, as he had a less authorative voice. The main similarities between the two poems is that they are both writing about wars, however both wars are from a different time and so are fought in completely different ways. Tennyson wrote The Charge Of The Light Brigade about the Crimean war, which was originally between France and Russia but Britain joined because she worried about her security. The Crimean war was fought on horseback, which meant that it would be over fairly quickly. I think this because it would have been one charge, this battle would then have gone on until all the soldiers in one side were injured or dead. He was very far removed from the action, as he didn’t even witness the war, so his poem written is third hand. Where as Owen wrote Exposure from first hand experience. For these reasons I may be able to place more value on Wilfred Owen’s poem. The First World War was fought over several years and the soldiers spent a lot of that time in trenches. The mood, tone and language in each poem are completely different from the other. In The Charge Of The Light Brigade the mood is very light and gives the feeling that all the soldiers, were excited about what they were doing. This is helped by the fact that Tennyson doesn’t go into the atrocities of the war, instead writing of â€Å"When horse and hero fell†. Here he is basically saying that they have been shot down, but the way Tennyson puts it, it’s like it’s not that dramatic, when it is. In The Charge Of The Light Brigade it doesn’t really distinguish those soldiers that died in battle and those that lived, â€Å"Then they rode back, but not the six hundred†. This is what I think plays a big part in making the mood of the poem so light, as it avoids death, which is upsetting. Where as in Exposure the mood is very depressing and dismal as Owen is constantly saying how the soldiers were being attacked in different ways. He mentions the weather attacking them, which can be seen from â€Å"in the merciless iced winds that knive us†. As well as things like the barbed wire in front of the enemies trenches, â€Å"Like twitching agonies of men amongst its brambles†. However the poem doesn’t mention soldiers attacking them, which may indicate that the weather and other things were more threatening and chilling, then the enemy. In Exposure Owen speaks of the soldiers’ pain and this is what I think makes the poem so disheartening to read, because he is trying to show how war causes suffering and reduces the soldiers. Unlike Tennyson who is trying to honour and glorify the soldiers and so making the poem seem more pleasant. However in some ways the poems are similar as the language used indicates that poets generalise and universalise all the men in the war. The Charge Of The Light Brigade is a lot more structured then Exposure. This is because in Tennyson’s poem he talks about the different stages of the battle, where as Owen doesn’t really mention battle, it’s more about the soldiers’ suffering. In The Charge Of The Light Brigade Tennyson goes through each stage of the battle, within each individual stanza. So in the first stanza the soldiers have been ordered to start their charge. The second stanza is quite an important part of the poem, as we discover that the soldiers had been given the wrong order. However because they are so disciplined and loyal to their country, no one questions it. Tennyson is trying to glorify and honour the soldiers so he simply says, â€Å"Not though soldiers knew, someone had blundered†. In the third stanza the soldiers are in range of the enemy’s guns and in stanza four, the soldiers are forced to turn back because so many men have been killed. Even though at this point the British soldiers are being defeated Tennyson emphasises their bravery. That takes the readers attention off the fact that they are losing so badly. An example of this is, â€Å"Sabring the gunners there†. The word sabring has been used very cleverly as it gives the reader the impression that the British soldiers were hacking away at the Russians, because Tennyson was writing the poem to honour The Light Brigade. In stanza five the British soldiers are still not out of danger despite turning back, as more Russians have come in behind them, so even more soldiers get killed. Stanza six is simply Tennyson reflecting on their bravery. In Exposure there isn’t such an obvious structure. In stanza one Owen talks about the soldiers being attacked by the weather and in stanza two they are being attacked by the enemy’s barbed wire and it goes on like this. The weather is continually being described in different ways, one very effective way is when Owen uses alliteration, † Dawn massing in the East her melancholy army†. There is no real progression to the poem because it mirrors what is going on in the war, as they are stuck in trenches. The rhythm in each poem is completely different form the other. The Charge Of The Light Brigade has a very lively and energetic feel to it, this is due to its incredibly fast pace. In contrast Exposure has a very slow rhythm like the progress of the war. However in the third stanza there is a change in pace and it picks up just a little bit. This is due to the rhythm sounding like the bullets being described in the stanza, â€Å"Sudden successive bullets streak the silence† like the shells being shot in The Charge Of The Light Brigade. But the pace returns to its gloomy rhythm in the next stanza. In The charge Of The Light Brigade the rhythm of the poem sounds very much like the rhythm the galloping horses would make, this can be seen from â€Å"Half a league, half a league onward, all in the valley of death rode the six hundred†. I also think that the discipline of the British soldiers shows in the discipline of the rhythm. Each poem gives a completely different image of war, because they were written for different purposes and from different points of view. In The Charge Of The Light Brigade Tennyson uses a lot of similes and metaphors to create tension in the poem. He also uses similes to give the reader a better image of the battle and to show how heroic the soldiers were. Where as in Exposure Owen uses similes and metaphors to show how much the soldiers around him have been reduced, and the only thing they have to keep them going is happy memories. In The Charge Of The Light Brigade the first noticeable and most repeated image is â€Å"All in the valley of death†. I think that Tennyson choose to describe the charge like this because death is a very moving word. The word â€Å"all† unites the soldiers and due to the image of the extreme danger, given by the word death, shows the soldiers bravery, it also gives the idea of a big sacrifice. Not only do we get the feeling of danger, but Tennyson also discreetly describes sounds, through the use of onomatopoeia, â€Å"Volleyed and thundered†. I think that this is really clever, as it adds realism to the poem. When Tennyson uses alliteration, the words he uses sound like the hissing of the artillery on the battlefield. An example of this is â€Å"Stormed at with shot and shell†. Tennyson uses euphemism to describe the British soldiers killing the enemy; he uses words like â€Å"flashed† and â€Å"sabring†. The British soldiers are basically killing people, but the way Tennyson describes it, it’s as if they are doing it elegantly and almost gracefully. All of these images give the main picture that the war was glorious. The reason we get this image of the war is because Tennyson hides the realities behind euphemism, unlike Owen who shows the war for what it really is. Right from the first word â€Å"our† we immediately know that it has been written from the point of view of the narrator. Owen gives a very chilling image to the war because he has experienced it, he can say what he has seen and felt. The use of personification shows how the soldiers looked on the outside: â€Å"Attacks once more in ranks, on ranks of shivering grey†. Here Owen is talking about the weather attacking the soldiers, because the soldiers looked so grey and dull. Owen also adds â€Å"shivering† to the sentence, which could show that not only were they shivering because they were cold, but because they feel cold in their hearts like they’ve been forgotten. Owen uses alliteration to emphasise that the men have no luxuries, unlike Tennyson who used alliteration to show the excitement of the war. In Exposure the uses of alliteration gives the reader the image that it’s as if the weather is trying to find them to put them through more distress, this can be seen from â€Å"Pale flakes with fingering stealth come feeling for our faces†. However I think Owen saves the most moving image for the end, unlike Tennyson who reflects on the heroism of the men during the battle, Owen shows just how terrible it is. In the final stanza Owen creates a very strong image, â€Å"Pause over half-known faces. All their eyes are iced†. To begin with it seems as though Owen is talking about the dead soldiers eyes being iced, because they are dead, but he is also talking about all the soldiers who are still alive and have to look at them. Owen is saying that in order to cope with what the soldiers have to face out in the trenches their eyes have also iced over, as they have no feeling any more. In Exposure we get the impression that it is probably easier to be dead, as you have gone to a better place and the pain and suffering stops, as soon as your spirit leaves your body. When I read Charge Of The Light Brigade I didn’t feel very much inside, because the images that were given through the use of personification and other things were glorious. In Exposure the image seemed very real, because the poet was really writing from the heart and it made me feel quiet and lonely inside. Exposure and The Charge Of The Light Brigade both use repetition to show the reader that there have been casualties in the war. In The Charge Of The light Brigade different words are repeated to highlight different things. To emphasise the courage of the charge Tennyson repeats, â€Å"Forward, the light brigade† and â€Å"The valley of death†, which gives the idea that there is no turning back. In stanza two, three lines begin with â€Å"their†. This is used to show the discipline of the soldiers, that not one of them is questioning the wrong order. At the end of the first three stanzas Tennyson is still repeating, â€Å"Rode the six hundred†, this use of repetition gives the idea that the soldiers are still alive. However the final line of stanza four, â€Å"Not the six hundred† shows that not all the soldiers were going to come back from the valley of death. In stanza five some of the lines from stanza three are repeated, â€Å"Cannon to the right of them†, this gives the idea that even though they are on their way back the danger still surrounds them. At the end of stanza five Tennyson has said, â€Å"Left of six hundred†. He is still repeating â€Å"six hundred†, but has changed the words in front of it, to give the idea that the number of losses was more then the number of survivors. Exposure doesn’t have has much repetition in as The Charge Of The Light Brigade, but it too has the majority of its repetition at the end of each stanza. The repetition of â€Å"But nothing happens† in three of the stanzas and the final stanza, give the image that the soldiers are almost waiting to die. The use of repetition in this ways indicates that they feel forgotten, because they have gone out to the trenches to do a job, and they are unable to do that job properly. In stanzas five, six and seven Owen repeats, â€Å"dying† at the end of each stanza. By doing this I get the impression that not only are the soldiers dieing because they are being attacked, but their spirits are dying as well as their love for things, it’s like they have lost themselves in the strong winds that surround them. So in both poems the use of repetition sums up the casualties of war, in Exposure they are shown in a more harsh way, then in The Charge Of The Light Brigade. Both poems are completely different in the way they portray the war, in that Exposure uses realism and The Charge Of The Light Brigade uses euphemism. The reason for there being such a lot of euphemism in The Charge Of The Light Brigade is because Tennyson wants to praise the soldiers. He also uses euphemism to hide behind the grim realities of life. A very good example of euphemism in the poem is, â€Å"Sabring the gunners there†. It is basically saying that the British soldiers were hacking away and killing the enemy, but it isn’t described like that because the aim of Tennyson’s poem was to honour the soldiers. The word â€Å"sabring† makes the British soldiers sounds elegant and sophisticated, as if they aren’t doing anything wrong. So in order to honour the Light Brigade Tennyson hides behind euphemism. In contrast Owen uses realism in his poem because he wants to show war for what it really is. In everything he says he is very blunt and relates even the simplest things to every day horrors. By using realism Owen shows the reader that the only thing the soldiers have to keep them going are memories, an example of this is, â€Å"Slowly our ghosts drag home: glimpsing the sunk fires glozed†. This emphasises that the soldiers have no luxuries and how now they take nothing for granted, because they now realise it isn’t always going to be there for them. The reason for The Charge Of The light Brigade using euphemism and Exposure using realism, is because each writer is trying to give a different image of the war, for different reasons using these methods. In conclusion both poems appear to be very similar when I first looked at them, however the only thing they have in common is that they are both about wars. The reason they only have this in common is for two reasons. The first reason is that both wars were completely different types of wars. The second reason and the most important, is that the writers show different attitudes towards war. In Charge Of The Light Brigade Tennyson wrote the poem to honour and glorify the soldiers that fought in the war. So the way he presents the poem, it’s as if Tennyson is saying that war is good thing to part of. I think the other reason for him putting such a positive image on the war was because he didn’t fight in it, therefore there are no feelings included in his poem. So because Tennyson approves of the soldiers loyalty there are no signs of irony. Where as in Exposure Owen, who fought in the war, is able to include feelings. Due to having such a horrible time in the trenches, these feelings are sad and seem painful, putting war in a completely different light. Unlike Owen, Tennyson believed that no good could come from war, and although Owen is against war Exposure isn’t an anti-war poem. However the one attitude that both writers show in their poems, is that you have to fight sometimes to preserve what is good.

Kite Runner Essay

In Khaled Hossenis tale of the vindictive pressures borne by those with antagonistic motives, ? The Kite Runner’ illustrates that for one to be relieved from their negative actions, they must undertake the support of heroic qualities. The novel suggests that for one to become closer to self realization they must adopt the use of altruism. Such trait can help lead the characters away from past horrors and grievances. In addition to such quality alone may not be enough, one must also utilize being brave and loyal towards the surrounding world, evoking these personalities allows one to be alleviated from and obtain a conscience free from guilt. However, the novel also displays the possibilities that if one does not enlist the support of such heroic qualities, they will be forced with vehement ramifications which will be burdened upon them, taking them away from a state of tranquillity. To grow closer to self realization, altruism must be evoked. A perfect example of such suggestion is Baba. Trying to be alleviated of his sins, Baba took in Ali and Hassan in order to hide from the pain and disloyalty caused by his earlier mistakes. Utilizing altruism as a positive trait Baba created an orphanage in order to help others in a quest to atone for his sins. Amir going older, had reached a certain stage of realization, he took in the fact that he had to be unselfish and had to sacrifice himself when saving Sohrab from the terrible Afghanistan. Sanaubar had also sought altruism, after coming back to Afghanistan to see her son who she had neglected after birth. â€Å"I have walked long and far t Even more† By obtaining such trait, it becomes easier for one to become closer to godliness. However altruism alone may not suffice. Evoking a since of strength and loyalty, Baba had been brave despite what others thought and their negative reactions, he still undertook the creation of the orphanage on his own. â€Å"Sceptics had urged him to stop . Of course, Baba refused. † Being brave Baba was also willing to sacrifice his life in order to save an innocent woman from being shot and rapped. â€Å"Tell him ill take a thousand of his bullets?.. Indecency take place† Bravery in Amir was unsought for until he was older. He flew back to the troublesome Afghanistan, and fought a once lost battle with the Neo Nazi Assef. Realising that Hassan was a true friend; Amir committed himself to being a loyal friend, and took in Sohrab, Hassans Son. Sanaubar had faced her inner demons and her acts of disgrace by showing up returning to the discrimination of Afghanistan to be with her son and spend her last dying days with him and his family. However, not reaching realization and being away from positive traits may lead to horrific consequences. Such acts include, Amir betraying his loyalty to Hassan, abusing such friendship, each betraying motif had lead to a new lie which soon enough being entrapped under the tangle of lies, being in that sort of state forever haunts him, disallowing him to even hear the words Hassan. Sanaubar could not achieve redemption by fleeing the new born Hassan to save her Reputation, leaving behind her life and her own flesh and blood. Baba had faced a difficult ? bear’ when being forced to commit extraordinary acts in order to admit to his actions and to receive true realization. ?The Kite Runner† has conveyed many possibilities that one may explore for them to redeem for their sins. The Novel illustrates and highlights the relative importance of facing burdensome obstacles and achieving a state of godliness. Without pursuing these demons one may be faced with many ramifications which may sooner or later change their life forever.