Personal Statement Personal Identity Research - 831 Words

Personal Identity Research Paper I classify my race, ethnicity, and culture as a white, Irish-Italian- American, woman. My mother was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and my paternal grandparents are from Sicily, Italy. I imagine being first generation Irish and second generation Italian makes me relate more with my ethnicity. My maternal grandfather impacted my development of my ethnic and cultural identity. He instilled a pride and an understanding of my Irish roots. Specifically, he brought me over to Belfast to learn and experience the culture. At the time, the hostility between the Protestants and Catholics was clear. People were living under the threats of terrorism, bombing, propaganda graffiti, and under a police state. In addition, I saw families torn apart because a mother was one religion and the father another. Yet, I developed a love for the country, its people, and heritage. In the same manner, my paternal grandmother taught me about my Italian heritage. She would cook specialties from Sicily and tell me stories of her homeland. My grandmother made sure I appreciated Sicilian traditions, superstitions, and the language. I am grateful to both my grandparents for exposing me to their cultures. My identity matches the way others view me; but, other races fail to recognize there are many white cultures and ethnicities. To emphasize: Irish culture differs from Italian culture; which differs from Swedish culture; so, white is not one big homogenousShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement : Personal Identity Research Paper Essay916 Words   |  4 Pages Personal Identity Research Paper I chose to interview my nephew, Jeremy for this paper. Jeremy and I are members of the same family; but, have different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. My family is a very large family and consists of; six brothers, sister in- laws, and fifteen nieces and nephews. My brother, Joe, married an African-American women (Sandra) and had two sons; but, they look nothing alike. Surprisingly, Jeremy’s appearance is African-American and Anthony looks CaucasianRead MoreIdentity Theft Essay832 Words   |  4 PagesThe problem most Americans face in today’s society is stolen identity. Stolen identity can ruin the life of every citizen in the United States and foreign countries. According to Ballard, a journalist, who recognizes the Federal Trade Commission for capturing identity theft as the number one rank of consumer complaints (21). Out of ten million people, there will be one person who has been a victim of stolen identity. At birth, a child is given a social secur ity number to distinguish them from otherRead MoreHow Personal Branding And Maintenance Of One Is Crucial For The Development And Success Of Future Careers1615 Words   |  7 PagesThis study focuses on the various aspects of personal branding and how the development and maintenance of one is crucial for the development and success of future careers. With today’s tough and competitive job market, jobseekers are struggling to stand out from their peers and are used to being passed over and forgotten about by potential employers. Developing a personal brand ensures that individuals are not left behind and that they develop the competitive advantage that positions them for theRead MoreThe Impact Of Service Learning On Residency Interviews1547 Words   |  7 Pagesresidency personal statements. The aim of the study is to investigate how a narrative focused on the benefits of service learning in residency personal statements influence the resident selection process. METHODS Senior medical students completed a voluntary, confidential on-line survey to measure perceived influence of service learning on residency interviews. Student also uploaded their residency personal statements as part of the survey. Content analysis was conducted on the personal statements toRead MoreIdentity Theft Is Improving With Time1216 Words   |  5 Pages Identity theft is improving with time! Really. It is. Honestly, if I were to become a victim, better it be today then five, ten or even 100 years ago. The common perception is that identity theft is a computer generation crime, which is increasing by the day. Truth is, identity theft dates back before the Internet, computers, the digital age at all. Mobsters may have brought it to an art form decades ago, and its title was quite literal derived. In that era, identity theft was not a financialRead More Identity Theft Essay examples1315 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There is currently a huge growing number of criminals that now do greater and more widespread damage to their victims without ever meeting them. Identity theft surfaced in the early 1990s and turned peoples everyday transactions into a data gathering game. Bits of personal information such as bankcards, credit card accounts, income, social security numbers or just someone name, address, and phone numbers are now collected and could be used illegally by theseRead MoreThe Effects Of Routine Activities On Happiness Essay1348 Words   |  6 PagesIt has been argued that happiness demonstrates significant variability across time, age, and contexts. Little research has examined the combined effects of behavior, attitudes, and lifespan development on happiness. The purpose of the study carried out by Bailey, Kang, and Schmidt (2016) was to determine the influence of leisure routine, locus of control, wisdom, and age on happiness. Leisure routines compromised social media, reflection, physical activity, time outdoors, and friends. In additionRead MoreCritical Appraisal And Its Impact On Nurses Essay1325 Words   |  6 Pagessystematical assessment of the outcome of a scientific research to judge its trustworthiness, dependability, confirmability, value and relevance in a particular context. Qualitative research is a methodical subjective approach used to explain lived experience, report the significance and nursing implications for Evidence-based Practice (EBP) Grove, Gray and Burns (2015). This writing will focus on identifying the components of a qualitative research process and attempt to determining the strength andRead MoreAdolescent Females And Self Esteem1262 Words   |  6 PagesThe concept of self-esteem is discussed in depth in the proposed group program. Adolescence is a crucial time in developing a sense of self and strong self-esteem. Adolescent females experience low levels of self-esteem and have conflict with their identity d uring this time. The group proposal is designed to increase self-esteem and to teach new skills to have a stronger sense of self. Keywords: Adolescent, females, self-esteem Group Proposal for Adolescent Females to Build Self-Esteem AdolescentRead MoreSocial Constructionism, Identity and the Concept of Deviance Essay1409 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Constructionism, Identity and the Concept of Deviance Social constructionist use the term social construction to imply that our understanding of the world in which we live is constructed from the social interactions we have on a daily basis. In reference to identity, social constructionist theory (SCT) proposes that we as social beings actively construct our identities using social tools as the means in which to construct our identities, the foremost one being language. This particular

The Impacts of Dams on the Hydrologic Regime Free Essays

The earliest remains of dams that archaeologists have unearthed date back to around 5000 A.D.They were constructed as part of a domestic water supply system for the ancient town of Jawa in Jordan. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impacts of Dams on the Hydrologic Regime or any similar topic only for you Order Now Over the next few millennia, the building of dams for water retention spread throughout the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Southern Asia, China, and Central America. Later, as technologies increased and industrialization took hold in Europe, dam mechanisms advanced to incorporate watermills. With the advent of the water turbine in 1832 and developments in electrical engineering, the first hydropower plant began running in Wisconsin in 1882 (IRN n. pag.). Over the next few decades, while structural engineering techniques improved, dams multiplied in size, strength, and numbers worldwide. Today, although the construction of new dams is halting ( albeit with less vigor in underdeveloped countries) (de Villiers 146; Pielou 206), they are still being built around the globe for a multitude of social and economical reasons: flood control, hydroelectric power production, river navigation, irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, emergency water reservation, tourism, and flat-water recreation (e.g., NPDP n. pag.; Trout Unlimited 11). For all the benefits that dams provide, however, there are adverse effects and concerns that arise from manipulating the environment in such an unnatural manner. Impacts of Dams on the Hydrologic Regime Dams are ultimately created as a water reservoir. This impounding of water impedes the circulation of a river and subsequently changes the hydrology and ecology of the river system and its contiguous environments. Behind a dam, the rise in water level submerges the landscape; often displacing people and engorging culturally valuable ruins. Furthermore, biodiversity of the region is constrained by the destruction of vegetation and loss or extinction of wildlife (Power et al. 887-895). In essence, both the aquatic and land-based ecosystems are damaged by the advent of a dam (Pielou 209). Upstream of the barricade, the once flowing water that housed the riverine habitat becomes still, oxygen depleted, deepens into darkness, temperature stratified, and susceptible to enhanced evaporation which adjusts the entire hydrologic cycle (e.g., Pielou 207, 210; Ocean Planet n. pag.; Leopold 157). Moreover, drowned vegetation in the stagnant water is subject to rotting and may thereby pollute the atmosphere and reservoir with methane and carbon dioxide (Leopold 158; Pielou 208). Another change in the water chemistry that alters many river-based systems is the inclusion of heavy metals (and minerals) such as methyl mercury due to reactions between the reservoir bed and the standing water (Pielou 114, 207). If undetected, these toxins may bioaccumulate by moving through the trophic levels of the food web, eventually reaching humans. Aside from the changes in the chemical constituencies of the water, a dam will also physically augment the river by modifying the shape of the channel. This is primarily due to the retention of sediments behind the dam wall. Water that was once entrained with silts has the increased erosive power to degrade the riverbanks downstream while upstream, the deposition process is shallowing and narrowing the river reaches (e.g., Moffat 1116; Pielou 210). These alterations in channel shape can also shift the elevation of the groundwater table and can amplify the severity of the floods that the dams may have been built to prevent (de Villiers 155-56; PCFFA n. pag.). The silting process, though, can have other effects on riverine environments. With the deprivation of sediments, valuable nutrients are withheld from the floodplains and the delta of the river. Ultimately, agricultural land suffers from fertility loss and coastlines recede (e.g., DRIIA n. pag.; Pielou 212). In addition to the above noted deterioration of wetland environs, major fish spawning and nursing grounds are harmed by the lack of continual silt and gravel replenishment (e.g., Chambers n. pag.). Fish species, nevertheless, are not simply affected by the decreased deposition that occurs below a dam. These, and other aquatic based biota adapted to the natural pulsations of seasonal flooding, can be strained by the regulation of stream flow afforded by a dam (Pielou 145; Leopold 156). Furthermore, moderating the flow may actually retard the entire regime of the river by delaying spring break-up (Pielou 212). Apart from the precipitous effects on the hydrologic cycle and river-based ecosystems thus far noted, there are an extensive number of further reasons to remove a dam. Briefly, a few of these are (Ocean Planet n. pag.; Pielou 208-09; Trout Unlimited 17; Leopold 156): Æ’x the restoration of anadromous fish migration and subsequent reliant fisheries Æ’x ameliorate conditions associated with damming which promote epidemics such as bilharzia and milaria Æ’x damming has accelerated the rate of earth ¡s rotation, displaced the axis of the earth, changed the shape of earth ¡s magnetic field, increased the occurrence of seismic events, and influenced sea level changes Æ’x dam removal has been shown to improve recreation, tourism, and aesthetics to the associated riverside communities Æ’x amend the river and groundwater quality Yet for all of the reasons that a dam may be removed, it is often economic and, in part, safety purposes that prompts the decommissioning of a dam. Whether the reservoir has filled with silt, wear-and-tear has taken its toll, or the dam has become obsolete, the benefit of removal may outweigh the cost of maintaining dam operation (PCFFA n. pag.). Consequences Associated with Dam Removal: A Case Study of the Elwha River Early in the 20th century, two hydroelectric dams were built on the Elwha River within the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. The Elwha Dam, the first to be constructed (1910), created the Lake Aldwell reservoir 4.9 miles from the mouth of the Elwha river [fig. 1]. Respectively, 8.5 miles upstream, Lake Mills is contained by the Glines Canyon Dam (1926). Despite their continued success as a viable resource for Bonneville Power Administration (Meyer n. pag.), the existence and utilization of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams causes detrimental besetment for the ecosystem and native anadromous fish populations of the Elwha River basin (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1995, n. pag.). Thus, per restitution stipulations, the 1992 Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (the Elwha Act) authorized the Secretary of the Interior to appropriate the two dams (e.g., Winter n. pag.). Measures to remove the dams will be undertaken as sanctioned from the Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIS) that followed in 1995. Fig. 1. Map of the Elwha River, Clallam County, Olympic Peninsula, Washington. (Olympic National Park n. pag.) In an effort to remove the dams in a  ¡Ã‚ §safe, environmentally sound and cost effective manner ¡ (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.), various procedural alternatives are being considered prior to the implementation of the scheduled 2004 deconstruction. Under the River Erosion alternative, which is the proposed action, the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams would be incrementally removed in succession over a two year period with the controlled regulation of natural sediment erosion (e.g., U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). A dredge and slurry system, a further method of sediment disposal, is an action alternative that has also been analyzed by the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Team (e.g., U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.). Between the inauguration of the Elwha River dams and 1994, it is estimated that 17.7 million cubic yards of sediments has become trapped in the Lake Aldwell and Lake Mills reservoirs (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). Of that total deposition, some 4.8 to 5.6 million cubic yards of fine-grained alluvium (silts and clays less than 0.075 m in diameter) and 1.2 to 2.6 million cubic yards of coarse grained sediments (sands, gravels, and cobbles greater than 0.075 mm in diameter) will be reintroduced into the Elwha River system through the proposed action (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.; U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). In comparison, approximately 6.9 million cubic yards of the fine-grained sediments stand to be directly pumped via a pipeline into the Strait of Juan de Fuca if the dredge and Slurry alternative is undertaken (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). Incremental removal of the dams will be the primary regulation on the rate of sediment withdrawal and will partially effect the resulting term of biological and physical impacts felt on downstream reaches of the Elwha River (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). An increase of alluvium transport will renew the natural sediment distribution and hydrological flow patterns to their pre-dam character while new channels and wetland habitats will be created in the freshly drained areas (Foster Wheeler 17). Aggradation of stream load materials will be most prominent in the low-lying and less circulating shoals, including a revitalization of the Ediz Hook [fig. 1] and estuarine beaches (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). In response to these raised river beds, water elevations are expected to rise, thereby threatening the resources that fall within the 100-year floodplain (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.). Surface water quality is likely to be hampered for two to six years after dam abstraction as turbidity, suspended sediments and dissolved solids flow through the system. Furthermore, water temperatures, dissolved oxygen concentrations, and pH levels will be affected for the interim of dam removal (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.). Turbidity, in turn, will be the chief cause of groundwater contamination by infiltration into underlying foundations or well and septic systems (removal (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.). The implementation of either the Proposed Action or Dredge and Slurry alternatives will also impact the native anadromous (indigenious?) and resident populations on the Elwha River. The high sediment regimes, especially those of the River Erosion Alternative (the proposed action), will encumber the migrating fish over the deconstruction process. However in the long term, runs will improve with the staged delayed of dam destruction, fisheries management (including the supplementation fish stocks through hatchery intervention), unrestricted passage up the full stretch of the Elwha River, and the formation of quality spawning grounds and rearing habitats from the released sediments (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). (steph, this last paragraph seems akward) Moreover, apart from the obvious economic profits of salmon run restoration, the heightened decomposition of dead fish after spawning will significantly enrich nutrients cycling through the riparian area (Munn et al. n. pag.). Magnified numbers of anadromous fish will, too, eventually increase the biotic diversity down the length of the Elwha Basin. In the future wildlife will be drawn to the decaying remains of dead fish and their young even though the immediate disturbances during the removal period may ward off certain animals (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.). Vegetation and marine organisms will benefit from the circulation of organic remains; those primarily adapted to sandy substrates will flourish after the initial strain of post-dam sediment conditions (Winter, 2000, n. pag.; U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Aug. 1996, n. pag.). Prospective temporary consequences to the environment will also include air, traffic, and noise pollution in conjunction with dam destruction and debris conveyance (U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Apr. 1996, n. pag.). This Elwha River case study exemplifies the foremost probable impacts on the hydrologic cycle and the environmental ecosystems which it encompasses. Successful removal of a dam can, in the end, rehabilitate a region to its natural state. Recovery, however, is not without adverse consequences to the existing regimes and full restoration may take many years. How to cite The Impacts of Dams on the Hydrologic Regime, Essay examples

Federalism Is The Best Policy Essay Example For Students

Federalism Is The Best Policy Essay Like Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, I undoubtedly believe that a strong central government is the only means of a correctly functioning democratic government. The United States government is constructed of many systems and ideas which, when bound together, create the Democratic government utilized by our country. All of the different things, in most cases compliment each other and therefore, work together. One example of this is the system of federalism. Federalism makes up some of the most important aspects of the government and its operation. Federalism is the system the United States uses as a frame for our governments power distribution when it comes to policies and procedures. It is what maintains the power between the different levels of government, whether it be the National, State, or Local governments. It also defines and separates each of these governmental levels, while protecting each of their powers as well. This would not be true of an anti-federalist government. An anti-federalist government would greatly weaken the central government, while strengthening all of the state and local governments. Thus, the country, as a whole, would become dangerously weak, and most likely not succeed. I think James Madison says it best in Federalist #10, Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable. There are many opinions and theories concerning the success of such a system, depending on a persons outlook on the subject. However, despite its pros and cons, it can be said that if nothing else, it at least gets more citizens involved in politics. That is an important aspect it brings, especially when dealing with a country the size of the United States and the political diversities involved at the time (federalist and anti-federalist views). Depending on the situation of each person and community, they will have their own views and beliefs of how the government should be doing things. Federalism is the system that unites these diversities and allows them to work together. James Madison in Federalist #46 states, It has been already proved that the members of the federal will be more dependent on the members of the State governments, than the latter will be on the former. Like Madison, I strongly believe that federalism gives these different political views an outlet to be heard and to be useful. In many other systems of government, political diversity is obsolete because the peoples ideas are not taken into consideration as they are with Federalism. Without political diversity, the idea of federalism is, in a way defeated. It is put there for the people and if those people do not voice an opinion, Federalism has a hard time serving its purpose of aiding the people. Clearly, it is undeniably true that a federal government system is the best policy when dealing with the United States. It is also true that federalism unites the person as one, which in return, makes a fiercely strong country. For these reasons, I strongly make a stand, along with James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, for a Federalist system of government. Bibliography: .

Sickness is Health free essay sample

I am a modern medical marvel. Since birth, I have been afflicted with hyperacquirosis syndrome; a permanent state of an insatiable thirst for knowledge. While there is no cure, I’ve discovered that school and reading do ease the eagerness to learn and suppresses the fear that I’m incapable of learning all I want to in my lifetime. Certain locations offer me immense relaxation and comfort when the symptoms come on strong, such as the library or the bookstore- where I volunteered because of my affliction. Constant intellectual stimulation is necessary for my well being for without it I feel completely lost and am subject to a bedridden state. But that’s not all that plagues me. My senses are askew. I have a rare case of body dysmorphic disorder- I perceive things differently than you do. For me, my scars are stars, my bruises are simply shadows, my swollen, sprained ankle is just an ankle with a temper, my eyelashes whisper, my mind is a sponge. We will write a custom essay sample on Sickness is Health or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I’m blind to the bad in people sometimes and just can’t see why everything has to be so hard. Due to my blindness, my sense of hearing and touch are highly developed. I hear everything: inner voices, the souls hopes, whispered desires, mumbled yearnings, muffled pain. This provides for a wholehearted understanding of the human mind and heart and allows me to relate to everyone I meet. I also feel everything; compassion for the human beings whose innermost thoughts I hear, the burning passion to help them, the anger towards those that don’t, and the overwhelming awareness of my existence. Being so sensitive to touch as I am, it’s hard to forget that I’m inextricably linked to this earth and to humanity. Couple that with my severe case of â€Å"altrukemia†, the over production of altruism cells in my body, and you get my inability to spend one day in which I don’t help someone. This particular disease affects others the most I believe, the people I help and my grandmother who has to drive me to all the fundraisers, walks, charity events, soup kitchens, etc. She is appeased though, when I offer to cook dinner that night or clean the house. To add to my list of medical anomalies, I am subject to epileptic bursts of ideas. This occurs on a daily basis, when nerve cells in my brain fire electrical impulses at a higher rate than normal, resulting in my innate ability to spew witty counteracts to someone’s logic before they are done with their sentence. This is also the cause of my irregular torrential outpour of ideas at any given time and doctors believe it is the core of my spasmodic creative visions and impulsive whims. A side effect of this are my spastic fingers, constantly grabbing at paper and pens in a frenzy to write, write, write. My most recently discovered malady is pneumonia. You see, Ive got liquid poetry in my lungs, I expel prose with every breath, I release vaporous sonnets that dissolve into the atmosphere. The doctors don’t know what to call it yet- during one of my erratic epileptic episodes I came up with lyrical respiration. I like it, they don’t- I guess that’s just a side effect of my dysmorphic disorder. I really find it quite amazing that I’m able to live such a normal life with all these ailments. I mean, I’m glad that no one treats me any different because of them, although I really should be in some sort of museum. Hmm, I like that idea, being imprisoned in a museum. Oh, no I think my epilepsy is acting up, I can see the coldness of prose in every exhalation and so I write, write, write once more.

Pledge of Allegiance essays

Pledge of Allegiance essays The pledge of allegiance is by definition a solemn swear of allegiance to the United States. But recently, it has been under attack by some for its use of the phrase one nation under God. This case was brought up by an atheist from Sacramento who didnt want his second-grade daughter to have to hear the pledge of allegiance. He took it federal court. After a self fought case to the Ninth Appellate Court, the court ruled that the phrase under God is an endorsement to monotheism, thereby in conflict of state and church separation. This ruling came at a tough time in America when everyone was still trying to find an answer to September 11. But, I do believe this to be the right decision. The state-sponsored use of one nation under God is a subtle, but intentional endorsement of religion. In so doing, the government is in breach of the First Amendment to the Constitution. The people who are fighting against the Courts decision to ban the phrase seem entirely to forget about the Constitution. A senior judge who disagreed with the ruling said there was only a miniscule risk that the use of the phrase under God would bring about a theocracy or suppress someones belief. Does something in there sound wrong to you? The judge implies the phrase could and would suppress small portions of Americans. Thats unacceptable. A Harvard professor predicted that the Supreme Court would overturn the decision. Our House of Representatives and the Senate were disgusted by the courts decision. The senate passed a resolution 99-0 showing support for the pledge of allegiance. The lawmakers of the United States are simply playing politics to appease the majority of Americans. We put our trust in these people's hands to represent us and defend the Constitution, not to appease constituents who support sta ...

Essential Things to Know About Shakespeares Sonnets

Essential Things to Know About Shakespeares Sonnets The collection of 154 Shakespeare sonnets remains some of the most important poems ever written in the English language. Indeed, the collection contains Sonnet 18 – ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?’ – described by many critics as the most romantic poem ever written. It is strange that, considering their literary importance, they were never supposed to be published! For Shakespeare, the sonnet was a private form of expression. Unlike his plays, which were written expressly for public consumption, there is evidence to suggest that Shakespeare never intended for his collection of 154 sonnets to be published. Publishing the Shakespeare Sonnets Although written in the 1590s, it wasn’t until 1609 that the Shakespeare sonnets were published. Around this time in Shakespeares biography, he was finishing his theatrical career in London and moving back to Stratford-upon-Avon to live out his retirement. It is likely that the 1609 publication was unauthorized because the text is riddled with errors and seems to be based on an unfinished draft of the sonnets – possibly obtained by the publisher through illegitimate means. To make things even more complicated, a different publisher released another edition of the sonnets in 1640 in which he edited the gender of the Fair Youth from â€Å"he† to â€Å"she†. A Breakdown of Shakespeare's Sonnets Although each sonnet in the 154-strong collection is a standalone poem, they do interlink to form an overarching narrative. In effect, this is a love story in which the poet pours adoration upon a young man. Later, a woman becomes the object of the poet’s desire. The two lovers are often used to breakdown the Shakespeare sonnets into chunks. The Fair Youth Sonnets:  Sonnets 1 to 126 are addressed to a young man known as the â€Å"fair youth†. Exactly what the relationship is, is unclear. Is it a loving friendship or something more? Is the poet’s love reciprocated? Or is it simply an infatuation? You can read more about this relationship in our introduction to the Fair Youth Sonnets.The Dark Lady Sonnets:  Suddenly, between sonnets 127 and 152, a woman enters the story and becomes the poet’s muse. She is described as a â€Å"dark lady† with unconventional beauty. This relationship is perhaps even more complex than the Faith Youth’s! Despite his infatuation, the poet describes her as â€Å"evil† and like a â€Å"bad angel†. You can read more about this relationship in our introduction to the  Dark Lady Sonnets.The Greek Sonnets:  The final two sonnets in the collection, sonnets 153 and 154, are completely different. The lovers disappear and the poet muses on the Roma n myth of Cupid. These sonnets act as a conclusion or summing up to the themes discussed throughout the sonnets. Literary Importance It is difficult to appreciate today how important Shakespeare’s sonnets were. At the time of writing, the Petrarchan sonnet form was extremely popular †¦ and predictable! They focused on unobtainable love in a very conventional way, but Shakespeare’s sonnets managed to stretch the strictly-obeyed conventions of sonnet writing into new areas. For example, Shakespeare’s depiction of love is far from courtly – it is complex, earthy and sometimes controversial: he plays with gender roles, love and evil are closely entwined and he speaks openly about sex. For example, the sexual reference that opens sonnet 129 is clear: The expense of spirit in a waste of shameIs lust in action: and till action, lust. In Shakespeare’s time, this was a revolutionary way of discussing love! Shakespeare, therefore, paved the way for modern romantic poetry. The sonnets remained relatively unpopular until Romanticism really kicked in during the nineteenth century. It was then that the Shakespeare sonnets were revisited and their literary importance secured.

John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism - Essay Example He argues that the principle of utility should be seen as a tool for promoting general happiness. Most of our actions, according to him, should be judged according to this principle. In his illustration of the utility theory, Mill thinks that we should appeal to the principle of utility only when we face a moral dilemma between two secondary principles. The basic assumption of the utilitarian theory, as advocated by Mill, is that "we should each act so as to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people." These important ethical views of Mill can be applied in almost all fields of our lives. That is, a utilitarian advocate may judge any act or behavior according to the amount of happiness or sadness it will produce for the greatest number of people. While this seems a claim that would be approved by all people, the question that emerges here is: "who are the persons to whom the actions should promote happiness?" According to the utilitarian theory, in order for any action to be right and ethical, it should promote happiness to the maximum number of people involved (Cain). ... Utilitarianism, as a form of the consequentialist theory, can be defined as a moral theory according to which an act is right if it conforms to the notion of usefulness or utility of the group. That is, an act conforms to the notion of utility if its performance will result in the maximum pleasure for the maximum number of people. So, the value of the consequences of an act, according to utilitarianism, is determined entirely by the welfare of everyone concerned in the action. On the other hand, a non-consequentialist theory judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on properties intrinsic to the action, not on its  consequences. Relevant to the non-consequentialist theory is the categorical imperative approach, advocated by the eighteenth century German philosopher Immanuel Kant. According to the categorical imperative theory, an action is moral only if the rule that governs it can be generalized to all human beings on earth. That is, the will should be influenced only by universal considerations, and not by subjective considerations, identified by the one involved in action. Therefore, ethical egoism and utilitarianism are two classical contradictory philosophical theories that attempt to explain the behavior of individuals, families, and governments. According to utilitarianism, an act is ethically right if it conforms to the notion of utility, and an act conforms to the notion of utility if its performance will result in the maximum happiness for everyone concerned (Mill). That is, utilitarianism maintains that the ethical standards of each action is to be determined according to the favorable or unfavorable consequences of that action. In Mill's words, utilitarianism refers to "the creed which accepts