Literary Criticism Essay Example for Free

Literary Criticism Essay Biographical criticism begins with the simple but central insight that literature is written by actual people and that understanding an author’s life can help readers more thoroughly comprehend the work. Anyone who reads the biography of a writer quickly sees how much an author’s experience shapes—both directly and indirectly—what he or she creates. Reading that biography will also change (and usually deepen) our response to the work. Sometimes even knowing a single important fact illuminates our reading of a poem or story. Learning, for example, that Josephine Miles was confined to a wheelchair or that Weldon Kees committed suicide at forty-one will certainly make us pay attention to certain aspects of their poems we might otherwise have missed or considered unimportant. A formalist critic might complain that we would also have noticed those things through careful textual analysis, but biographical information provided the practical assistance of underscoring subtle but important meanings in the poems. Though many literary theorists have assailed biographical criticism on philosophical grounds, the biographical approach to literature has never disappeared because of its obvious practical advantage in illuminating literary texts. It may be helpful here to make a distinction between biography and biographical criticism. Biography is, strictly speaking, a branch of history; it provides a written account of a person’s life. To establish and interpret the facts of a poet’s life, for instance, a biographer would use all the available information—not just personal documents like letters and diaries, but also the poems for the possible light they might shed on the subject’s life. A biographical critic, however, is not concerned with recreating the record of an author’s life. Biographical criticism focuses on explicating the literary work by using the insight provided by knowledge of the author’s life. Quite often biographical critics, like Brett C. Millier in her discussion of Elizabeth Bishop’s â€Å"One Art,† will examine the drafts of a poem or story to see both how the work came into being and how it might have been changed from its autobiographical origins. A reader, however, must use biographical interpretations cautiously. Writers are notorious for revising the facts of their own lives; they often delete embarrassments and invent accomplishments while changing the details of real episodes to improve their literary impact. John Cheever, for example, frequently told reporters about his sunny, privileged youth; after the author’s death, his biographer Scott Donaldson discovered a childhood scarred by a distant mother, a failed, alcoholic father, and nagging economic uncertainty. Likewise, Cheever’s outwardly successful adulthood was plagued by alcoholism, sexual promiscuity, and family tension. The chilling facts of Cheever’s life significantly changed the way critics read his stories. The danger in a famous writer s case—Sylvia Plath and F. Scott Fitzgerald are two modern examples—is that the life story can overwhelm and eventually distort the work. A savvy biographical critic always remembers to base an interpretation on what is in the text itself; biographical data should amplify the meaning of the text, not drown it out with irrelevant material.

Classifications of Snakes and Reptiles

Classifications of Snakes and Reptiles Reptiles are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet and made their first appearance some 300 million years ago. It is believed that the first species of snakes contained limbs which became more and more reduced through great periods of time, this phenomenon can be seen as a clear indicator just how evolution took place within a group of organisms. Today vestigial structures occur in certain serpent families such as Pythonidae and Boidae, and are remnants of structures they once possessed. Spurs which occur in the posterior position opposite the cloacae in Boas and Pythons is a clear example of vestigial structures that formed through time. Snakes are carnivorous reptiles that belong to the order Squamata (Lepidosuaria), which is regarded the most important assemblage, as far as snakes are concerned. Squamates is a very diverse group of ectothermic (organisms that rely on their external environment to obtain the energy needed to facilitate metabolic and other processes crucial for life), amniote vertebrates which contain the distinct characteristic of being elongated and covered in overlapping scales. Squamata is subdivided into three distinct suborders: Ophidia or Serpentes, containing snakes, Sauria containing lizards and Amphisbaenia containing worm- lizards. The suborder Ophidia contains 15 families which are subdivided into 456 genera that consist of more than 2900 species. Snakes have one of the widest distributional ranges in the animal kingdom, covering the whole planet except Antarctica (Figure 1.1). In South Africa alone there occurs 166 species and subspecies of snakes, 101 of these species have enlarged fangs to deliver venom of which only 15 are regarded as very dangerous and potentially fatal to man. This means that of all our snake species only 8.5% are classified as dangerous, where administration of antivenin is deemed necessary. The remainder of venomous species is of no medical importance to man, in fact in some species the toxicity of their venom is less than that found in bees and wasps. There are a few morphological characteristics of Ophidia which distinguishes them from the other two suborders e.g. the lack of eyelids, external ears, the lack of limbs and the occurrence of a single row of ventral scales, whereas lizards and amphisbaenas differ in the sense that they have various patterns of scales that do not occur in specific rows. Amphisbaenians scale formation is atypical in the sense that scales are arranged in rows around the body of the animal thus supposedly mimicking the resemblance of an earthworm. The skulls of Serpents are very unique in the sense that their upper jaw bones arent united/interconnected at snout of the animal, this enables the two jaw bones to act separate form one another and enables the snake to swallow large prey items. In contrary to popular belief snakes can however not dislocate or unhinge their jaws to swallow large prey items, the two upper jaws are simply connected to each other through connective tissue which is highly elastic a nd serves as the binding factor between the jaws. Snakes fulfill a crucial role/function in nature and can be seen as an integral aspect of our environment both as key predators and as prey. They assist in regulating rodent numbers and are good indicators of the natural balance of the environment (bio-indicators). In addition to this, research and development is being done on the properties of venom in the medical field. Research is being conducted on the applications of venom in fields such as high blood pressure, mental disorders and diseases of the central nervous system to mention but a few. Such is the complexity of venom that further studies, beneficial to man, are essential. It is there for imperative that we conserve our snakes not only for the preservation of our environment, but also for the wellbeing of mankind. Evolution that took place within the Class Reptilia Reptiles evolved from prehistoric amphibians called Labrynthodonts (Flank, 1997), and according to paleontologists made their first appearance in the Pennsylvanian era some 300 million years ago. They were also the first vertebrates to escape dependency on water. The earliest forms of reptiles suggested a mixture of both amphibian and reptilian characteristics, and diversified greatly over the next 200 million years. Reptiles were the dominant animal group on earth during the Mesozoic period, and were represented by 15 major groups. Only 4 of these orders survive today. Extinct are the fishlike Ichtyosaurus, sail-backed Pelycosaurs, flying Pterosaurs, Mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, well-known dinosaurs like Brachiosaurs and many others. The dinosaurs included the largest animals ever to walk on earth-the Sauropods, some of them reaching lengths of nearly 27 meters long. Many of the less familiar dinosaurs were no longer than chickens. (Carr,1963) Several basic advances made possible the rise and wide distribution of reptiles on land. Most important was the amniote egg, with its tough outer covering and protective membranes, and a cornified skin that protected the animals from drying out. The positioning of the limbs also made it possible for reptiles to move more easily on land, and an improved circulatory system ensured that oxygen rich blood reached the animals. In their Mesozoic heyday, Reptiles dominated the land, seas and air, and the reason for their dramatic decline during this period is still not clear, although there are some speculation by biologists that the decline was probably caused by a meteor shower which altered a dramatic change in climate and giving rise to the so called Ice Age. Warm blooded vertebrates (Birds and Mammals) began to expand by the end of the Mesozoic period. By the time the Cenozoic period arose only 4 orders of reptiles still existed, and these same four have persisted to this day. The order Rhynchocephalia is represented by only one species, the lizzardlike, granular scaled Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) confined to New Zealand where its survival is now threatened. The remaining 3 orders have representatives throughout the world. The order Testudines (turtles) is the most ancient, appearing about 250 million years ago and remaining virtually unchanged for the past 200 million years. The order Crocodylia (cro codilians) is slightly less ancient and is traceable to the Permian thecodonts. The order Squamata refers to scaled reptiles that include lizards, amphisbaenids and snakes. This is the most recent order and was not common until the late Cretaceous times about 65 million years ago. In order to classify snakes or other organisms it is necessary to understand the origin and evolution of the species and place them into specific genera and families (Figure 1.2) Scientists believe that modern day snakes evolved from the family Varanidae, a group of lizards that belong to the genus Veranus. The fossils of Lapparentophis defrennei (Figure 1.3) was found in North Africa as we know it today, and it represents the earliest member of the suborder Ophidia. This species however shows no direct link between earlier snake like reptiles, and its origin continues to boggle biologists. Lapparentophis defrennei appeared on the earth around 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period and were around for about 35 million years, were after it got extinct by the end of the Cretaceous period. Boidae was one of the seven families of snakes that arose after the Cretaceous period and was at its peak of speciation during this time. Colubridae in modern day times is the family that contains the largest amount of different snake species, and first emerged some 36 million years ago during the late Eocene, and the beginning of the Oligocene period. During this time Colubrids started to diversify at an immense rate and eventually gave rise to more new species during the Miocene period. This diversification led to the disappearance of some of the more primitive lineages of snakes because they could no longer compete with the better adapted species that was starting to evolve. Viperidae (vipers, rattle snakes and adders) and Elapidae (front fixed fang snakes generally cobras and mambas and their relatives) originated during the Miocene period and belongs to the infraorder Alethinophidia. The family Viperidae is by far the most advanced evolved species of snake in the world and contains highly specialized structures that enable them to be a very successful hunters e.g. heat- sensitive pits that developed on the upper labial and a brightly colored tail tip that occur in Agkistrodon sp. This is just one example of how specialized this family of serpents is to survive. Distinguising features of the suborder Ophidia All snakes are elongated, lack eyelids, external ears and osteoderms. Snakes poses a forked tongue which can be retracted into a sheath (Figure 2.1) All have along backbone. (Some have in excess of 400 vertebrae), with many articulated ribs used predominantly for locomotion and maintaining body shape. The lower jaw is not fused, which allows the snake to engulf large items. They do however not dislocate their jaw. Prey is subdued either by constriction or by the injection of venom. In the case of venomous snakes small prey items are bitten and held in the mouth until paralysis or death occurs, whereas large prey items are bitten and released to ensure that damage do not occur to the snake. The majority of species have only the right lung but more primitive species such as Pythonidae and Boidae also contains a rudimentary left lung. Unlike lizards the tail cannot be regenerated. All snakes shed their skin. All snakes hatch from eggs, some are Oviparous (eggs hatch outside the females body), and some are ovoviviparous (eggs hatch inside the mothers body thus giving birth to live young). Classification of snakes Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Ophidia (Serpentes) Infraorders: -Alethinophidia -Scolecophidia The classification of snakes are based on different morphological structures The general morphology of snakes is a crucial factor used in their Taxonomy. Factors such as the arrangement of bones in the skull and other parts of the skeleton, especially the presence or absence of a pelvic girdle are used to distinguish between separate and subspecies of snakes. The hypapohyses (vertebrae with downward pointing spike like projections), the coronoid bone (a small bone that occur in the lower jaw), structures of the hemipenes (Figure 2.2, Jadin, 2000) and microscopic and biochemical material such as chromosome arrangement and protein analyses are also used in classification of snakes. The presence or absence hypapohyses, especially in the lumbar region of the spine, is used as one of many diagnostic characters when classifying snakes. The hypapohyses is very prominent in the genus Dasypeltis which use them too saw trough egg shells. There occurs much variation in the shape and size of the coronoid bone. It is particularly large in primitive snakes such as Typhlopidae, Leptotyphlopidae and Anomalepididae. The coronoid bone is very small or absent altogether in advanced snake species. A hemipenis is the sex organ of male Squamates. Male snakes has two hemipenes probably for the reason that when one is damaged or injured, it still left with a spare one which can remain to work and carry out its normal function during copulation. This ensures that the males genes dont get lost and can still be carried over through copulation with females. Hemipenes, under normal conditions are used in an alternating fashion when copulation occurs with female individuals. Sperm is carr ied through the sulcus spermaticus (which is the line running through the middle of a males hmipenis) to the female during copulation. By examining the tail of an individual we are able to distinguish its sex. Males usually have a long tail which contains prominent bulges of where the hemipenes are situated and females usually have very short tails without the occurrence of any prominent bulges. The shapes of hemipenes differ greatly from species to species and contain different cranial structures thus forming a very important method for taxonomists to classify snakes into different species and subspecies. Relationships that occur between different species of Squamates as a result of evolution is best explained through the examination hemipenal characteristics of the different species. The function of the spines and ridges that occurs on hemipenes of different species of male snakes, serves as an adaption to ensure that copulation lasts long enough for egg fertilization to occur. Biology Hearing and Vision Snakes cannot hear airborne sounds due to the fact that they do not posses external ears. Snakes do however have an auditory nerve enabling them to hear sounds travelling through a dense medium. They are extremely sensitive to vibrations and can thus detect someone or something approaching them. For this reason people seldom see snakes whilst walking in the bush, the snake senses the vibrations created by footsteps and beats a hasty retreat for cover. There is however snakes that do not retreat when approached and this is a direct result of the morphological attributes they contain. Bitis arietans, Bitis atropos and, Bitis gabonica, are species of snakes that rather rely on their camouflage to conceal them from potential predators and dangers than to move away, and it is not surprising to find out that Bitis arietans is responsible for 60% of all snake bites in Southern Africa. Contrary to popular believe snakes do have good vision. How else would they safely navigate through the bus h except of course via smell? Their vision however is used mainly for detecting movement. Most snakes have monocular vision (unable to distinguish depth of field) whilst some snakes have binocular vision (able to distinguish depth of field) e.g. Thelotornis capensis and Dispholidus typus. Snakes do not have movable eyelids, instead they possess a fixed transparent shield which covers the eye and is shed during sloughing. Sense of smell For this function the snake uses its tongue. The tongue is flickered; picking up minute airborne particles which when retracted back into the mouth is deposited onto organs situated in the roof of the mouth. These organs are known as the organs of Jacobson. Studies have shown that snakes enjoys a similar sense of smell as we do, the epithelium of the organs of Jacobson works in exactly the same way as the olfactory epithelium we as humans possess. The tongue is forked so that the snake can detect the differences in strength of smell and thus enabling it to locate its prey very accurately. Snakes diet consists of quite a few prey items such as: rats, mice, small mammals, birds, frogs, toads, insects, lizards, fish, small antelope, eggs and other snakes, which is swallowed whole usually head first. Shedding Shedding of skin depends primarily on the growth rate. Juveniles for example shed their skin more often than adults for the simple reason that they are growing faster. Juveniles may shed their skin as often as twelve times a year whereas an adult may only shed its skin three to four times a year. During this process the entire skin is shed from the tip of the snout through to the tail including the eye shields. During this time the snakes eyes become opaque, restricting the snakes vision and therefore making the snake not only more vulnerable, but also more aggressive. A snake may often go into hiding during this period. You may also find snakes basking for longer periods prior to shedding, the reason being higher temperature speeds up the development of new skin, thus reducing the vulnerability period. Cold Blooded (Ectothermic) and Hibernation All members of the order Squamata are so called cold blooded (exothermic) organisms. This simply means that unlike mammals and birds which generate heat internally (endothermic), reptiles obtain their heat externally, usually from the sun. All reptiles will bask in the sun absorbing heat from their environment until their bodies reach the correct optimal temperature (ÂÂ ± 30Â °C) which allows them to function at their maximum potential. The advantage of ectothermy is that it is fuel efficient. Mammals on the other hand convert 90% of what they eat into heat in order to maintain biochemical and muscle efficiency which allows mammals the opportunity to function at colder temperatures. This method demands a constant intake of food. Reptiles however become temporarily dormant at colder temperatures and thus waste no energy. A snake can survive and grow on ten to fifteen meals a year. Reptiles will go into hibernation when their optimal body temperature cannot be achieved from the e nvironment. In areas where there is a significant fluctuation in temperature snakes will go into hibernation. The correct term used is topor. Areas such as the lowveld where there is no significant temperature variations will see reptiles not going into true hibernation but rather into a state of burmation. During hibernation snakes live off the body fat accumulated during the warm periods of the summer, and will exhibit very little signs of activity, thus becoming sluggish. A snake will use anything that will offer it protection against the elements and predation. Sites which are used by Squamates during the winter or cold times of the year for hibernation include deserted termite mounds, hollow logs and rock crevices. Reproduction Sexually active males will approach any snake they come across. The reaction of the approached snake will determine how the encounter develops. If the approached snake is a male and reacts aggressively it may give rise to a battle between the two parties. Battles vary according to species, Vipers and Elapids generally engage in a form of ritualistic wrestling, but refrain themselves from biting each other. Colubrids however react violently and bite each other severely. In some species of snakes several males group together amicably and follow a receptive female. Should there be no reaction from the approached snake the sexually active male uses its Vermonasal organ to chemically determine the species and sex of the snake it has approached. It does so with the use of its tongue interpreting the pheromones emitting from the other snake. Should it be of a different species, the male then seeks out a new mate. All reptiles have internal fertilization. The male places his head on the back of the female and winds his tail around the females and attempts to join their cloacas together. This is seldom achieved at the first attempt. It sometimes takes hours, even days, for successful copulation to take place. The sexual organs of the male consist of two penises, referred to as the hemipenes. Each hemipene is equipped with flexible spines which inflate once penetration has occurred making it difficult for the male and female snakes to become dislodged. Sperm is transferred to the female via a single penis in Crocodilians and Chelonians, and paired penises in lizards and snakes (although only one penis is used at a time). Once mating has taken place the male will often stay with the female for a few days to mate again. Fertilization of the ovule and spermatozoid takes place high in the oviduct, then the egg gradually moves down into the oviduct where the uterine glands secrete a substance which surrounds the egg. The length of the embryonic development depends on the species and also within the species depending on climate (temperature), and ranges from 2-5 months. As stated before all snakes hatch from eggs. The method of incubation however does differ between some species. The majority of snakes lay eggs andleave them to be incubated externally (oviviparous) with no parental care whatsoever. Species such as Python natalensis coils around their eggs throughout incubation. This not only protects the eggs but also regulates the temperature to help assist with incubation. In other species such as Hemachatus haemachatus the female retains the eggs inside her body to produce fully developed live young (viviparous). Between four to eight weeks after mating the female selects a suitable site to deposit her eggs. The site chosen is usually a suitably protected place in the form of rotting vegetation, hollow tree trunks or any other suitable location. The number of eggs deposited depends on a variety of circumstances for example, species, size of the female, habitat (availability of food), age and climate. Eggs laid vary between one and two to as many as 60, sometimes more, depending on factors mentioned above. Eggs usually have soft leathery shells which require a specific amount of heat and humidity in order to ensure that hatch. Once the eggs have been laid there is often no parental care with the exception of a few species. In South Africa the young of Python natalensis may stay with the female for several days after hatching, leaving the burrow by day and returning to the female at night. In most reptiles the sex of hatchlings is determined by temperature, for example outer eggs (cooler) will be female while the inner eggs (warmer) within the nest will be male. The eggs usually hatch between one to three months after the female has deposited them. In the case of some species of chameleons eggs might take up to a year to hatch. The young are equipped with an egg tooth consisting of a sharp ridge on the tip of the snout which allows the young to slit open the eggshell thus freeing itself. The young that emerges are exact replicas of the adults, and the hatchlings of venomous snakes are equipped with fully functional venom glands and fangs, and are thus venomous directly from birth. Egg mortality is quite high. Reasons for egg mortality range from predation to unsuitable nest sites chosen. Giving birth to live young may be an evolutionary process to assure the success of a species, reducing the risk of egg mortality in particularly cold areas where the temperatures wont be adequate enough for incubation. Movement (Locomotion Speed) The ability to function at speed and endurance is directly related to the supply and amount of oxygenated blood to the body. Reptiles, unlike mammals and birds, do not receive as good supply of oxygenated blood. Directly translated, this means that reptiles tire more easily and are incapable of endurance. Based on these facts it is doubtful that the speed of a snake would exceed 20km/h which is much slower than the average human. The two fastest snake species world occur in Southern Africa and belongs to the genus Psammophis and Dendroaspis. There are four basic modes of locomotion in snakes: Sepentine This is the more familiar method of locomotion that most snakes use e.g. the family Elapidae which makes use of this method. The body undulates from side to side while the hind part of the snake makes contact with the surface and the rest of the body is pushed in the direction the snake wishes to go. Caterpillar These are usually heavy bodied snakes e.g. Bitis arietans. The snake progresses in a primarily straight line using its ventral scales to propel it forward. Concertina This is when a part of the body is anchored whilst pushing forward. The snake may anchor its head and then drags the rest of the body towards the head. This is often seen in arboreal species when negotiating between smooth braches of trees. Snakes that make use of this type of locomotion usually contain the characteristic of keeled ventral scales, and include species of the genus Philothamnus. Sidewinding This method is most seen in desert species. It is the most effective method of locomotion on loose unstable surfaces such as sand. Only one or two sections of the body are in contact with the surface at any given time. A section of the body is thrown sideways and is followed by the next section. This way of locomotion can be seen as a specific adaption for desert species e.g. Bitis peringueyi, to ensure that they dont get burned by the hot desert sand when moving. Scales Most people refer to snakes as being wet or slimy, which is quite the contrary. In fact if you touch a snake you will notice that it is in fact dry. Scales are horny skin that originates from the snakes epidermis. The primary function of scales is to prevent rapid water loss, an evolutionary process which has allowed snakes to move onto land. Scales can be smooth or keeled. Some snakes use their scales as a warning mechanism. By rubbing them together this creates a rasping sound that serves as a warning to would be predators. Dasypeltis scabra is a species of snake that occur in Southern Africa and which use this specific defensive mechanism to ward of predators. The North American rattlesnakes rattle is also an example of modified scales that formed through evolution. Scales also help in the locomotion of snakes. Scale counts remain one of the main methods in the identification and classification between different species of snakes. There are four methods which can be used to correctly identify a species via scale counts: Head scales This is done by counting the upper and lower labials on each side, taking note of which scales are in contact with the eye. Examine the nasal scales (single, semi-divided or fully divided). Count the number of preocular and postocular scales and check whether a loreal shield is present. There should also be taken note of the arrangements of scales that occur on the temples, and the presence of any fused scales. Observe the relative sizes of internasals, prefrontals, frontal and parietals, and also note the proportions and shape of the rostral scales at the front of the nose. Dorsal scales Note whether the scales are smooth or keeled. And one head length away from head and in front of the cloaca Subcaudal scales The first scale is the single or paired scale that meets the lateral scales on both sides. Count back along the tail towards the conical tip. Note whether scales or anal shields are single or divided as this forms a crucial part of the identification between different families of snakes. Internal Anatomy of Snakes A snakes skull is specifically designed to suit their specialized feeding habits. Because a snake cannot chew its food and must swallow it whole it is important that the snake be able to open its mouth very wide. For this reason the fifty odd bones in the skull are not fused together, instead they are loosely connected to each other by ligaments which allows the snake to produce an enlarged gape allowing it to swallow prey much larger than its head. The concept is similar to an elastic band. Often after a snake has eaten it will seem to yawn, this is done simply to relax the ligaments and bones t their original shape. The structure of a snakes brain is very similar to that of a bird, but unlike birds and mammals snakes lack the enlarged cerebral hemispheres. In mammals (and birds) the cerebral is the part of the brain, which acts as the learning center of the organism. For this reason, although snakes are perfectly adapted to the environment, it is correct to say that snakes are not very intelligent. To allow snakes to engulf such large prey whole the stomach has to be very strong and elastic allowing it to expand greatly once prey is engulfed. Powerful digestive juices allow the snake to digest bone and teeth. Because a snake is for the most part long and cylindrical, the shape of the lung must be somewhat different in order to fit inside the snakes body. The right lung is usually the largest and extends for 1/3 of snakes body length. The left lung, in most cases is absent, or very small. Snakes have in effect only one lung. During feeding the snake is able to extend a muscular extension of its windpipe (epiglottis) from the bottom of its mouth allowing it to breathe while prey is being consumed. Most reptiles have a primitive three chambered heart which is not as effective as the four chambered heart found in crocodiles (and mammals). In snakes oxygen depleted blood gets pumped into one of the top chambers while oxygenated blood gets pumped into the other top chamber, both chambers get emptied into the bottom chamber and then circulated through the body. This is the main reason why snakes tire easily. In proportion to their body size snakes have very large kidneys. The left kidney is situated behind the right kidney in the abdominal region. The function of the kidney is to filter the waste products from the bloodstream and pass them on to the cloaca for excretion. Unlike mammals which excrete nitrogen waste in the form of water soluble urea, snakes excrete these body wastes as crystals which forms a dry white paste which is excreted along with the feaces. This allows reptiles to be extremely efficient in their use of water. Mammals have a separate urinary, reproductive and a nal opening. Snakes however do not. Instead they have a common chamber known as the cloaca which performs all these rudimentary functions. Waste material is stored in the cloaca until eliminated. The claoca opens to the outside through a transverse slit at the base of the tail. It is often possible to tell the difference in sexes between species by looking at the length from the cloaca to the tip of the tail. The longer the distance between these points would signify the snake as being male whereas a short distance between these points would indicate the snake as being female. The reason behind this is that during reproduction, as mentioned earlier, the male wraps his tail around the females. Some snakes, like the Pythonidae family, have special glands which also empty into the cloaca, these glands contain a foul musky scent which can be ejected when a snake is threatened, frightened or stressed. Venom There is no easy describing venom. Simply put, snake venom is highly modified saliva which is produced by modified saliva glands. Venom is a combination of different enzymes, or proteins, that act on other chemicals and proteins thus altering them or simply breaking them down. Many of these proteins are harmless, but some are toxins. The makeup of these toxins varies widely from species to species. Snakes venom can therefore be best described as a cocktail of hundreds of different proteins and enzymes, this complexity alone accounts for widely differing effects of snakebite. In essence venom affects the protein and chemicals of the immune system and the blood, transported through the body via the lymphatic system. The venom glands are situated in the skull slightly behind the eyes. In order for venom to be effective it has to be injected into the circulatory system. It is therefore quite safe for a normal healthy person to drink venom without any consequences. Venom cannot be compared to poison, and are totally different entities. Venom has to be injected (circulatory system) Poison has to be ingested (swallowed) The functions of venom are numerous: Prevents the putrification of prey prior to ingestion. Immobilizes prey thus preventing the snake from being injured. Digestive properties within the venom begin the digestive process prior to ingestion. Snake venom is also antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiprotozoal which protects the snake from microbial diseases which it may contract from prey. As a last resort, self defense when the snake is threatened. There are three types of snake venom: Neurotoxic nerve acting venom (Elapidae). Cytotoxic cel destroying venom (Viperidae.) Haemotoxic blood acting venom (Colubridae). Fangs (Dentition) All snakes have teeth, but not all snakes have fangs. Most snakes have teeth on the upper and lower

Relationship Between Food And Society Media Essay

Relationship Between Food And Society Media Essay Introduction Food is any substance containing nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, that can be ingested by a living organism and metabolized into energy and body tissue. (food- definition of food by free dictionary)It is one of the most important thing needed by human body to survive.It is one of the important basic needs of human.One cannot survive without having food.United Kingdom(UK) is a country with diverse culture.In UK we can find people from all around the world.So we can find the multicultural nature of food and drink over here.The eating and drinking habit of the people are influenced by various factors such as cultural, geographical and historical influences.As the time changes the eating and drinking habit of people also changes.The current trends affect the way people eat and drink.The trends in food and drink consumption may differ from place to place.Thus there is an integrating relationship between the food, society and culture. Relationship between food and society There are different determinants of basic eating habits.Some of them are biological, economical, physical, social etc.The biological determinants are hunger, desire to eat etc.People eat in order to satisfy their hunger and due to desire of eating food.Another determinant is physical needs.Physical needs are like education, cooking skills, availability of time to cook etc.If people know how to cook and have time to cook they eat the food.If they are well educated they eat the nutritious food and balanced diet.Similary another determinant is social needs such as cultural influences, influences of people living around etc.They eat according to the culture they belong to and also according to the people they live nearby. Abraham Maslow brought forward a Maslows Hierarchy of needs which determines the physical needs,safety needs,social needs, self esteem and self actualisation.Maslow theory suggest that the basic need of human is food, water etc.After satisfying the basic needs it is human nature to want for more so they have the sense of security.So they want the safety needs to be fulfilled.In this way they move up in the hierarchy fulfilling one need after the other thus achieiving the maximum level of hierarchy i.e. self actualisation. In order to understand the complex relationship between the food and society it requires a multi-disciplinary approach.The eating and drinking habits of people depends upon the society.People usually tend to eat the food which they are familiar with.The culture is the main dominant of the way people eat.The food which can be eaten in one religion may get offended in the other.So we need to take care of the potential religious and spiritual connotations in order to prevent getting offended.We need to know more about the society where we live so as to maximise the offering we may provide to it.If we have the knowledge of the society then we can have improved customer service, effective menu planning, knowledge of the religious and spiritual connotations, fulfillment of customer requirements and expectations etc.Due to people from different backgrounds living in uk we can have diversity of culture.Therefore, we can take the advantage of what people eat during such festivities. Current influences on societies eating and drinking habits United Kingdom is made up of four nations i.e. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.As it is made up of four nations we can imagine how diverse is culture over here. There are many influences on the current eating and drinking habits in the society.Cultural influences can make difference in the consumption of the food and drink.Most people eating habits are inspired by the eating habits of the local people in that place.The eating and drinking habit of people in UK are influenced by various factors such as hectic lifestyle, climate, seasonal availability, age group, health issues, budget, advertisements and promotions of food and drinks through media, current market trends, cultural backgrounds,religious issues, awareness of health, influences of abroad, legislation etc.The current influences on food and drink in UK are mainly influenced by above mentioned factors. Hectic lifestyle is the main factor which influences the eating and drinking habits of people in UK.People are mainly busy and do not have time to cook for them properly.Thats why they eat fast food or the ready to eat meals.Climate is also another important factor for the people living in UK.The climate over here is very cold during the winter.Snowfall takes place at the winter so climate is very cold.So people tend to eat more hot foods like soup, coffee etc.Seasonal availability is also another factor because all the foods are not available throughout the season like strawberries.People in Uk love to eat strawberries and it is available only for few months.It is also influenced by the advertisements and promotions done at the tv, radio, newspaper etc.Mainly the small children are more influenced by the advertisements at the media.Moreover, the cultural backgrounds and the religious issues also play an important role.We can find people from various culture and religious backgrounds .For e.g. Muslims they dont eat pork and any items related to it.On the other hand Hindus they dont eat beef.So there are big taboos over here.Budgetary constraints is also one of the important factor which influence the eating habits.We can find high income people, middle class people and lower level.So the money spend by the people on the food depends upon the class of people. Geographical and historical influences on multi-cultural nature of food and drink In UK we can find people from all around the world.So we can find multi cultural nature of food and drinking habits.There are geographical and historical influence on the multi cultural nature of food and drink. Britain is an island country and the surrounding sea gives England a varied climate.The main influence on the climate of is our close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, our northern latitude, and the warming of the waters around the land by the Gulf Stream (a warm current of the northern Atlantic Ocean). (climate and temperature britain).Britain has very cold winter and mild summer.Therefore people in UK tend to eat more hot foods like soup and drink more coffees and teas. Britain has also a long historical background for the food and drink.British cuisine has always been multicultural, a pot pourri of eclectic styles. In ancient times influenced by the Romans and in medieval times the French. When the Frankish Normans invaded, they brought with them the spices of the east: cinnamon, saffron, mace, nutmeg, pepper, ginger. Sugar came to England at that time, and was considered a spice- rare and expensive. (British Food- British culture, customs and traditions).British cuisines started to take a new look after the 1980s.British food are inspired by the French and the Romans.The east india company also brought some traditional indian cuisine which is mostly renowned as curry.Today we can find the different dishes such as chinese, indian, italian, greek , spanish etc which explains the multi cultural nature of food and drink in the UK.It represents the ethnic diversity which influences the way people eat or drink.The british food was not considered as good like this before 30 years ago.But now the modern british cuisine inspired by the european countries is considered one of the best cuisine in the world along with the best chefs and the renowned restaurants. There are also different logistics regarding the food.People eat the food that is easily accessible or that is locally available to them.For e.g. people living in the coastal areas tend to eat more seafood whereas inland people eat more red meats.Those eating seafood will have the maximum consumption of white wine whereas the red meat goes with the red wine.The legislation of the country also restrict the production of certain food.The extreme climate is also one of the factor that determines the way people eat.In cold places people prefer to eat soups, coffee etc whereas in the hot countries they tend to drink cold drinks, cold coffee etc.Moreover different ethical considerations like whether to eat whale, elephant ,dolphin, dogs, cats etc or not is also one of the logistics.Similarly, alcohol may also be considered as a drug by some people. Analysing menu of an organisation in association and relationship with food drink I would like to take menu of theThe cafà © restaurant of Ibis hotel Heathrow.There are lot of guest coming from different countries to Ibis for stay.So, we can find guest from different cultural diversity.According to the Appendix 1 the menu of The cafà © restaurant focus on the people from all cultural diversity.The restaurant is situated in the heart of london so we can find the people from different countries.Therefore, due to the multicultural diversity the menu is not focusing on a particular group. There are different accompaniments of food and drink.Accompaniments are such type of food which are served together with the main dishes.There are various accompaniments given in the restaurant such as bread and butter,beef with horseradish sauce, roast lamb served with mint sauce, fish served with lemon and tartare sauce , steaks served with peppercorn or bearnaise sauce, Gammon served with apple sauce, , curry served with rice or nan bread, pasta served with grated cheese, desserts served with whipped cream or custard,cheese and biscuits etc.Usually these are the things which goes together with each other.One of the latest trend in UK for the food and drink combination is Beer and curry.The food trend in UK especially in london is changing since past few years due to the various cultural influences. Not only the food there are different accompaniments for the drink as well.There are various type of drink which are taken with some other things like gin and tonic with slice of lemon, whisky with coke, white wine with lemonade(sprintzer), tonic water with lemon etc.These are the drinks that are served with the accompaniments.Some of the food is very popular among the people of London. Influence of developing trends in food and drink consumption UK food and drink consumption is changing since past few years.People are interested towards organic food and the genetically modified food.Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering.(wikipedia)People are being more conscious about what they eat.They are more attracted to the healthy food.Despite of their hectic lifestyle they try to eat the healthy foods.There are various trends in regard to food and drink consumption.The trends of organic foods, ready to eat meals, energy drinks, smoothies etc have increased recently.The food and meat grown at local level, wine and beer made locally,nutritionally balanced food, cuisines from the regional ethnic backgrounds, cocktails, mocktails, flavoured water ,branded food etc are the food which are mostly consumed by the people.Moreover, taste has also become a major choice for people to eat.They t end to eat the food which has good appearance and texture. The organic food has become the choice for the people.They try to buy the food that is grown naturally without using any chemicals.Moreover, they also try to buy the branded food like Marks Spencer, Waitrose etc.They are more influenced by the fruits and vegetables that are grown locally.Similarly they are also interested in newly cut and fresh meats.They have started taking more healthier options of food.Nutritious and the healthy food are their main priorities.Ready to eat meals is also one of the popular trend in UK.People have a busy schedule over here thats why they are inclined to ready to eat meals.They just reheat it in a microwave for few minutes and have it.It saves their time and effort.But we cannot guarantee for the nutrition of such foods.Such meals are ready to make but cannot have all the nutrients needed by the body.So we need to pay attention towards our health as well. Ethical issues There are also various ethical issues in the food industry.For e.g killing of animals for the purpose of fulfilling the need of human, catching of fish that are very rare which can cause harm to the other sea creatures , making of a foie grass by feeding the geese forcefully, slaughtering of animals etc. (Bernard davis, 2008)The animals and other creatures are killed mercilessly in order to fulfill the basic eating habits of man.Thus, the ethical issues should be addressed carefully in order to have balance and harmony in the environment. Conclusion In UK we can find people from all over the world and variety of cuisines which represents the multi cultural nature of food and drink.There are various factors which affect the nature of food and drink in UK.They are cultural, religious, geographical, historical etc.The food which is eaten by people of one ethnic origin may be the taboos for other religion.They may get offended due to the food.There are many influences in the eating and driking habits of the people.Some of the influences are budget, availability of the food round the year, hectic lifestyle, health awareness, age groups etc.People are also adopting current trends in their eating and drinking habits such as organic foods, ready to eat meals, energy and sport drinks, smoothies etc.Mostly the new generation like to be trendy by adopting the new trends of the society.As the time is changing the eating and drinking habits of the people around the UK is also changing constantly.Thus, the expectations of having quality food and health awareness of the people has also increased significantly in past few years. The cafà © Menu Soups :- Soup of the day  £3.50 Starters:- Caesar salad  £ 5.45 Potato skins with bacon and cheese  £6.10 Garlic breaded mushrooms  £4.95 Feta, olive and tomato salad  £4.50 Marinated greek olives  £5.00 Main course:- Chicken penne pasta  £7.95 Chicken kebab thai noodle salad  £8.50 Malaysian Beef Rendang  £7.95 Chicken tikka Masala  £8.50 Beef Burger  £8.50 Beef fillet  £13.95 Beer battered cod and chips  £8.50 Spinach, button and squash risotto  £7.00 Salmon, Tuna and red snapper  £9.00 Dessert:- Chocolate fondant  £4.50 Ice cream selection  £3.50 Strawberry tart  £4.95 Toffee apple sponge  £4.00

Summary of Beowulf Attacks Grendels Mother :: Anglo Saxon English Literature Essays

Summary of Beowulf Attacks Grendel's Mother The epic story of Beowulf is about a young hero who fights in battles against the monster Grendel and his mother and later concerns Beowulf's final fight with a dragon. Beowulf is the prince of the Geats. He is also the son of Ecgtheow, who travels to Heorot where the great mead hall of Hrothgar king of the Danes, is located. Hrothgar, is the great grandson of Scyld Scefing. In this passage Beowulf goes underwater and fights with Grendel's mother in a cave. During his descent to her lair, Beowulf is attacked by Grendel's mother and dragged to her cave. He tries to hit her with his sword but he does not succeed in piercing her skin. In rage and frustration Beowulf attacks her with his bare hands. He manages to knock down Grendel's mother, however, she is swift and manages to fight back and ends up sitting on top of him. With her dagger she desperately tries to kill Beowulf, but his armor protects him from her attacks. Beowulf then spots a large sword made by giants on the wall of the cave and throws Grendel's mother off him and grabs the sword. The sword Beowulf finds is amazing. It has a very ornamented handle called a hilt and the blade is bigger than the average sword. Beowulf strikes Grendel's mother with the sword slicing her in two and splitting her collarbones. After the attack, a light illuminates the cave, "just as from the sky heaven's candle shines clear." (Norton 47) Beowulf notices Grendel's body and he instantaneously cuts off the monster's head to present it to Hrothgar. The blade of Beowulf's new sword then begins to melt because the blood is too hot and poisonous for it. Beowulf notices all the great treasures in the cave but he does not take any of them. He swims to shore with Grendel's head in one hand and holding the hilt with the other. He is then received by his fellow warriors who are waiting in hope to see Beowulf again. Four warriors carry Grendel's head to Heorot where the victory will be celebrated. The head is carried around as a trophy for all to view in the great mead hall of Hrothgar. Summary of Beowulf Attacks Grendel's Mother :: Anglo Saxon English Literature Essays Summary of Beowulf Attacks Grendel's Mother The epic story of Beowulf is about a young hero who fights in battles against the monster Grendel and his mother and later concerns Beowulf's final fight with a dragon. Beowulf is the prince of the Geats. He is also the son of Ecgtheow, who travels to Heorot where the great mead hall of Hrothgar king of the Danes, is located. Hrothgar, is the great grandson of Scyld Scefing. In this passage Beowulf goes underwater and fights with Grendel's mother in a cave. During his descent to her lair, Beowulf is attacked by Grendel's mother and dragged to her cave. He tries to hit her with his sword but he does not succeed in piercing her skin. In rage and frustration Beowulf attacks her with his bare hands. He manages to knock down Grendel's mother, however, she is swift and manages to fight back and ends up sitting on top of him. With her dagger she desperately tries to kill Beowulf, but his armor protects him from her attacks. Beowulf then spots a large sword made by giants on the wall of the cave and throws Grendel's mother off him and grabs the sword. The sword Beowulf finds is amazing. It has a very ornamented handle called a hilt and the blade is bigger than the average sword. Beowulf strikes Grendel's mother with the sword slicing her in two and splitting her collarbones. After the attack, a light illuminates the cave, "just as from the sky heaven's candle shines clear." (Norton 47) Beowulf notices Grendel's body and he instantaneously cuts off the monster's head to present it to Hrothgar. The blade of Beowulf's new sword then begins to melt because the blood is too hot and poisonous for it. Beowulf notices all the great treasures in the cave but he does not take any of them. He swims to shore with Grendel's head in one hand and holding the hilt with the other. He is then received by his fellow warriors who are waiting in hope to see Beowulf again. Four warriors carry Grendel's head to Heorot where the victory will be celebrated. The head is carried around as a trophy for all to view in the great mead hall of Hrothgar.

Love in Othello Essay examples -- Othello essays

Love in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello, love comes in many colors. Consider Othello’s love of Iago; the ancient’s so-called love for Emilia; Desdemona’s spotless love for the general; Bianca’s love for Michael Cassio; Brabantio’s love for his daughter. This essay will explore the various types of love as portrayed in this tragedy.    Initially the play presents a very distorted type of love. Act 1 Scene 1 shows Roderigo, generous in his gifts to the ancient, questioning Iago’s love for the former, whose concern has been the wooing of Desdemona. Roderigo construes Iago’s love for him as based on the ancient’s hatred for the Moor. Thus the wealthy suitor says accusingly, â€Å"Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.† And Iago responds, â€Å"Despise me, if I do not.† Partly out of hatred for the general and partly out of proving his faithfulness to Roderigo’s cause, Iago asserts in detail the reasons for his hatred of Othello, who has given the lieutenancy to Michael Cassio, a Florentine. Secondly, Iago suggests that Roderigo and he awake and disturb Brabantio, the father of Desdemona:    Call up her father,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As it may lose some colour. (1.1)    Thus a hue and cry is raised in front of the senator’s residence – partly for the sake of Iago proving his love for Roderigo so that the financial rewards will continue coming to the soldier. Once the senator has been awakened, Iago makes a series of loud... ...  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   They do not point on me. (5.2)    The Moor straightway suffocates his innocent wife. Shortly, Emilia comes upon the scene, and Desdemona revives just enough to tell her friend that she dies a guiltless death. Her final words are ones of kindness for Othello, â€Å"Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!† Emilia exonerates Desdemona and accuses Iago of causing the murder. She actually gives her life for her lady since Iago stabs her to death for revealing the truth. Othello, grief-stricken by remorse for the tragic mistake he has made, stabs himself and dies on the bed next to his wife, his sorrow being as deep as his love for Desdemona prior to Iago’s machinations.    WORKS CITED    Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.

Dear Diary Essay

I’ve lived on this here ranch for many years now, and as a coloured man, I feel my life is nothing but the lowest of all. A white man’s loneliness and hardship is nothing compared to a black man’s isolation. I live here, all alone in my own room. The other men say that it’s good to have your own room, where there ain’t nobody else to disturb your own privacy. But, it’s not like that. There ain’t nothing good about it at all. A lonely life is what I live. By my own self, in my own bunk, with no one. I’m kept away from all the other men on this ranch, because of the prejudice against my coloured people. I have complained too many times about this injustice, but nobody would listen to the nigger speak. But, something funny happened today. Everything was the same as it always is on a Saturday evening. The white fellas out to town, leaving everything else silent, except the quiet echo of the horses, moving about restlessly. As usual, my crippled back, injured from that darn horse, began to throb with pain once again, so I took out my liniment and slowly began to massage the ache with my hands. My mind wandered, and wondered about the reasons I have for staying here. I have many. I can’t leave this place, even though it is the one place where I am always unhappy. It’s just the fact that I’m a black man, I suppose. I haven’t got any choices. It’s either here or nowhere. It was silent as hell. I gazed up from my thoughts and realised Lennie, the new guy was standing in my doorway. I heard things like he was a big fella and everything but by god! That guy is huge. I just thought that there must have been something wrong with his head. How dare he, a white man, who should know about a black man’s privacy, should come and invade my territory? I’m not like them other white men. Seeing as I ain’t allowed in their bunk house, well, why should they be allowed in mine? He stood there, smiling with his great mouth. I told him that he shouldn’t be in here, still stunned at his daring. He smiled even more at that. Then he replied, only talking about his darn pups. But I realised, as the conversation grew on, that the man didn’t understand about prejudice and all those things. I began to feel at ease and even liked his company. Of course I did, anyways. There can’t be any man on earth who likes being on his own all the time. We talked and we talked. And I surprised even myself when I told him about my past, when I was a boy. When my old man had his own chicken ranch and the white kids would come and play. I used to play with them sometimes too, my old man didn’t like that but I didn’t find out why ’til I was older. Wish I could go back to them days. It was nice talkin’ to the big fella though. Normally, If I say something, why it’s just a nigger saying it. When he next spoke, I realised the boy weren’t taking in anything I say. All he was concerned about was the damn pups. God, a guy could talk to him and be sure he won’t be going off telling everyone else. He was stupid as hell. And I took advantage of him. Advantage of all the dumb things I thought about him. I’d been put down one too many times, and this time, this time, I was the one in power. I suppose I just wanted to scare him, that’s all. Didn’t mean no harm. I threatened him with the thought of his pal, George Milton, who Lennie seemed to be fond of, leaving him behind. Of course, all that’s unlikely to ever happen, but I dunno†¦ It got his attention though. He was scared. God, I was enjoying it, but now, I realise how stupid I was. I enjoyed every moment of this torture, but it was okay. It wasn’t me, or so I thought. I carried on, saying stuff like, supposing George can’t come back, say if he died or something. What would Lennie do then? I was full of glee with the thought of the hurt I was inflicting on Lennie. But I just suppose I was jealous. Too jealous. How come this dumb guy, Lennie, could get a friend, a companion, when I couldn’t? I’m smarter than him. I could’ve been more of a better person to talk to. But I know why. It’s always the same reason. The prejudice white folks have for us black folks. So I kept tormenting him, with all the rage and anger I had kept within myself for a lifetime. Suddenly, Lennie stood up and I realised how big he was. It scared me. This towering ogre, shadowing me with his great body. I stopped teasing him, and tried to be more gentle and reassuring. I know I’m never gonna mess around with that big boy any more. We settled down once again, with comfort and ease among us. It was a nice feeling. Probably better than the feeling of being in power. I suppose power isn’t always everything. Lennie was now talking a lot more than before. About their â€Å"dream† of owning their own land – the same dream every man has before they lose their entire stake to the cat houses in town and finally give up. Too many men I’ve seen have given up. There’s no reason why this dream won’t be the same. But†¦ for some reason, I believe it could come true. It’s just the enthusiasm I saw in Lennie when he was talking about it. Of course, I didn’t hear much about the dream from Lennie. All he was on about was the animals and how he’d be taking care of them. Then, from outside, the sound of a horse whined, and halter chains clinked. I moved to the door painfully. I didn’t realise my back hurt so much. I figured it could have been Slim. He sometimes comes into my room. It turned out to be Candy, the swamper. He old man is older than me, but in less pain. Lucky him. I invited him in though. Might as well anyways. Since everyone else was coming in. And also because I enjoyed the company†¦ He came in and suddenly, it seemed as though all we were talking about was their dream. I was amazed at how real all of their hopes were. I masked my thoughts and pretended to be not interested. I questioned them about the dream, about the land and where would they get it. But they answered with flawless answers. I even tried to put them off the dream, telling Candy how he’s just a swamper, and that’s all he’d ever be. Another act of jealousy. But the two men, with feelings so strong for what they believed in, did not fall for any of my traps. Could it be true? Could they really be doing the impossible? I admit, I ain’t ever seen a guy really do it. Achieve their dreams and own their own land. Nope. Not one person. I suppose that’s why I let my defences down. All my pride collapsed with the entrancing dream†¦ It took a lot of guts to say this, but I offered to work for them for nothing. Just so I could be with them, and perhaps be even†¦ happy†¦ I dunno†¦ It felt like it was worth it at the time. Giving up all this loneliness for a bit of happiness. Who would refuse? Who could refuse? Being part of a dream such as theirs. With their own land, own house, own animals, own everything. It was only a dream – ’til they came along and made it come to life. The moment was spoiled when Curley’s wife entered without my saying so. I couldn’t tell her to leave though. Even as a woman, she still has more power than a nigger. She came looking for Curley. As if she didn’t know already. I asked her politely to leave, but she responded with her loneliness. I suppose I haven’t really paid enough attention to her, to wonder about her feelings, but why should I? If the way she treated me today was just a smack of reality, then I shouldn’t care for anyone but myself. My anger built up and was eventually released. The anger I built whilst listening to her threats, freed themselves in the form of words. I should’ve kept to myself though. I know I didn’t do anything except make things even worse. She didn’t have any rights to be in my room. A coloured man’s room. No rights to be messing around in here at all. And that’s what I told her. Told her to get out. She then turned against me, and threatened me, like I have been for everyday of my life. But this time, it was worse, much worse. She threatened me, telling me that if I told anyone she’d been here, she could get me hung. She knew she could get me killed. A black man ain’t got any power over a white woman even. She threatened to kill me and the painful part was†¦ that I knew she could. And I accepted it. Because I have accepted the prejudice all my life. My body froze and I sat there perfectly still, my eyes in one place, turned away. It’s the position I use to create the wall protecting me from the cruel, white world. Where I can imprison the pain and the hurt from a lifetime of hatred and prejudice. These feelings who crave to scream and shout. Yet, they have no say in this world. Like I don’t have any say. I was grateful towards Candy at that moment. He stood up for me, going up against the bully. But she did the same to him as she did with me. But I appreciated it, I did. It was only when Candy said that he thought he had heard the other men coming back, when she left. I’m not very sure if he was telling the truth, but it did its job. She was gone in a flash, leaving her emotional footsteps behind imprinted upon us. It was time for Candy and Lennie to leave. I would have loved for them to stay for just a little bit longer†¦ but I knew they couldn’t. In the background, George yelled for his friend, Lennie. A friend I envy. As they left and turned their backs on me and my sanctuary, I shouted back for Candy. I told him to forget everything I said about hoeing and doing odd jobs. I didn’t mean it. To him I didn’t. But I really did. It’s just a secret I have to keep to myself now. I felt unwanted, my pride gone, all lost to the hands of that woman. I wish I could go back and ask Candy for another chance, but I know I can’t. I’ve already rejected the offer, and even told him I would have never liked a place like that anyway†¦ I wonder why I said it now. I suppose I didn’t want to seem desperate, even though I really was. I had to rebuild another barrier, and in doing so, I abandoned my only escape out of here. I didn’t think before I acted. But those words were the only thing on my mind at the time. And still I wonder why. I should probably forget about it though. I won’t have another chance. Unless they asked me to†¦ but that isn’t really likely. White men asking a black man to work with them? Perhaps†¦ but just not these men. Now, I’m rubbing my back once again, with the pink palm of my left hand, covered in liniment. With the desire to soothe the pain on the outside, as well as the pain inflicted inside. I’m thinking about this past night, this past year, my past life. I realised I ain’t never been truly happy, have I? Never on this ranch, where I’m always singled out from everybody else, only ’cause I’m the only black man. I don’t like anything on this ranch. Only ’til tonight I found one thing I liked. Friendship. But I don’t have it. Not now, anyways, and probably not ever. I do like it though. I know I do. But all I can do is just sit here night after night, wondering about it. How it’s like, how it’d be, but never experiencing the joy. Just†¦ wondering.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Computers Essay

Computers are a mainstay in most homes, allowing individuals and families to access the Internet from home and complete a myriad of other tasks through the use of computer software. There are advantages and disadvantages to using home computers depending on how you use them. As computer hardware becomes faster, easier and more cost effective to develop, home computers also become more affordable for consumers. It is constantly becoming easier to put computers in the average American home, since both desktop and laptop computers come in such a wide range of price points. One of the greatest advantages of home computers is that they are affordable by the average family. A great advantages of home computers is that they allow individuals and families to achieve a variety of tasks at home. Families can use word processing programs for homework, spreadsheets to manage bills, and the Internet for social networking and entertainment. While students can use computers at home, and adults at work, the convenience of being able use a computer at home is a great advantage in itself. Many businesses also allow their employees to work from home via computer, thus saving travel expenses to and from the office, as well as saving company resources. Disadvantages With use of the Internet for online shopping and Internet banking, home computers offer the potential for identity theft. If you share your information online, such as your name, address, phone number or banking information, then there always is a chance that your information is at risk. This is an important consideration to make if you plan on using your home computer to access the Internet. The technology industry is constantly changing and evolving, and technology can become outdated quickly. If you are only looking for a system that will get you online and let you do basic tasks, then this is not as much of a concern. If you are looking for a comprehensive gaming system or one that can handle a variety of tasks at once, then it can become expensive to keep up with the latest hardware advances, making some computer systems a money drain.