The Character Ophelia In William Shakespeares Play Hamlet Plays A Ver

The character Ophelia in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet plays a very interesting and important role in the elaboration of the plot. In the beginning, she starts off in a healthy state of mind, in love with her boyfriend Hamlet, yet controlled by her father in regard to their relationship. During the play she encounters several troubling experiences involving Hamlet which cause her to become distressed. Near the end, the death of her father leaves Ophelia mentally unstable and in a state of madness that eventually leads her to death. So, due to all of the unfortunate events that took place with the people she loved the most in her life, Ophelia gradually becomes mad, and in the end passes away. Ophelia's and Hamlet's love for each other in the beginning was very real. Following the death of his father Hamlet falls in love with her, and is much attracted by her beauty. It is not uncertain, however, that Ophelia is very much controlled by her father. She is the daughter of Polonius, the chief advisor to the new King Claudius, and a highly respected man. Her father demands that she tell Hamlet at once that she can no longer be with him and tells her \"I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth have you so slander any moment leisure as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to't, I charge you. Come your ways.\" (I.iii.132-35). It is clear that here Polonius is making decisions for his daughter, regardless if she really loves Hamlet or not. She feels very unimportant and helpless now, and because of this develops a lack of emotional confidence and strength. All she can reply is \"I do not, my lord, what I should think.\" (I.iii.104). She is used to relying on her father's direction and has been brought up to be very obedient. As well, her brother Laertes agrees with what their father is saying. He also tells Ophelia that Hamlet is no good for her \"Perhaps he loves you not\" (I.iii.16). He thinks that Hamlet only loves her because he wants to sedu ce her, and demands his sister to never see him again. Ophelia can only accept her father and brother's beliefs and writes Hamlet a letter which informs him that she can no longer see him. As a result, she begins to feel alone with very little independence. At this point in the play Ophelia's emotions are what help contribute to her madness. There are a few other incidents in the play which help in the course of Ophelia's madness. When Hamlet receives the letter from Ophelia he is affected terribly by her words. The next time she sees Hamlet she is surprised and even a bit frightened by his behavior. He did not look like he usually does, and he acted very strange towards her. He held her by the wrists and stared deeply into her face, long and hard, then storms out, leaving her intensely troubled and saddened. After that she tells her father, and he believes that Ophelia's love is what made him mad. \"That hath made him mad\" (II. i.110). Polonius then goes to tell the King and Queen of Hamlet's strange behavior and plans to spy on Hamlet to prove he's gone mad. Ophelia now is left feeling guilty. When she sees Hamlet later on she tries to speak with him, but is rejected coldly. He does not listen to her and screams harsh words leaving her feeling worthless and embarrassed. \"...I loved you not.\" (III.i.119). \"Get thee to a nunnery.\" (III.i.121) \"... you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nickname God's creatures, and make you wantonnes your ignorance. Go to, I'll no more on't;\" (III.i.146-48) This incident causes Ophelia to become slightly disturbed. She sits weeping while her father and the King practically step on her weak body to find out more reason for Hamlet's actions. In this depressed state all she can say is \"O! woe is me, to have seen what I have seen, what I see!\" (III.i.163-64) So, because of Hamlet's rudeness and rejection through this part of the play, Ophelia is driven even more closer to insanity. Perhaps

Free Essays on Gay Marriage Should Be Denied

SAVAGE, TODD A., MARC E. FRISIELLO, and SHARON SCALES ROSTOSKY. "Gay Parents." International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. Ed. James J. Ponzetti, Jr. Vol. 2. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. 720-723. 4 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Thomson Gale. Camden County College. 17 February 2005 . Document links: 4 PDF Pages | How to Cite eBook links: About this Publication | eTable of Contents | eBook Index | List of Illustrations Library links: Full Text: Page 720 GAY PARENTS Research has consistently demonstrated that heterosexual adults retain consistently and overwhelmingly negative attitudes toward lesbians and gay males. Heterosexual adults commonly view this negativity as acceptable despite political rhetoric lauding the contributions and multiple perspectives of an increasingly diverse citizenry (Kite and Whitley 1996). The stigma, prejudice, and discrimination directed at people who identify themselves as homosexual are not confined to individual acts, but have been institutionalized and systematically perpetuated throughout the various levels of the culture. For example, the U. S. legal system does not recognize unions between same-sex partners, nor does it protect relationships between lesbian and gay male parents and their children (Patterson, Fulcher, and Wainright 2000). Despite such obstacles, lesbian and gay male individuals successfully create meaningful family relationships that not only prosper, but thrive (Patterson 2000). Gay Relationships and Legal Matters Legal recognition of unions (i.e., marriage) between heterosexual males and females has a longstanding history in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world influenced by Western cultures. Such recognition has set the standards for acceptable relationships and the benefits that they are believed to bring. One common benefit of marriage relates to the establishment of families and the rearing of c... Free Essays on Gay Marriage Should Be Denied Free Essays on Gay Marriage Should Be Denied SAVAGE, TODD A., MARC E. FRISIELLO, and SHARON SCALES ROSTOSKY. "Gay Parents." International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. Ed. James J. Ponzetti, Jr. Vol. 2. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. 720-723. 4 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Thomson Gale. Camden County College. 17 February 2005 . Document links: 4 PDF Pages | How to Cite eBook links: About this Publication | eTable of Contents | eBook Index | List of Illustrations Library links: Full Text: Page 720 GAY PARENTS Research has consistently demonstrated that heterosexual adults retain consistently and overwhelmingly negative attitudes toward lesbians and gay males. Heterosexual adults commonly view this negativity as acceptable despite political rhetoric lauding the contributions and multiple perspectives of an increasingly diverse citizenry (Kite and Whitley 1996). The stigma, prejudice, and discrimination directed at people who identify themselves as homosexual are not confined to individual acts, but have been institutionalized and systematically perpetuated throughout the various levels of the culture. For example, the U. S. legal system does not recognize unions between same-sex partners, nor does it protect relationships between lesbian and gay male parents and their children (Patterson, Fulcher, and Wainright 2000). Despite such obstacles, lesbian and gay male individuals successfully create meaningful family relationships that not only prosper, but thrive (Patterson 2000). Gay Relationships and Legal Matters Legal recognition of unions (i.e., marriage) between heterosexual males and females has a longstanding history in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world influenced by Western cultures. Such recognition has set the standards for acceptable relationships and the benefits that they are believed to bring. One common benefit of marriage relates to the establishment of families and the rearing of c...

Santas Reply - A Funny, Comedic Male Monologue

'Santa's Reply' - A Funny, Comedic Male Monologue This stand-alone comedic male monologue features Santa trying to win back Mrs. Claus. If you want to know how this happy couple fell apart, read Mrs. Clauses piece in our list of comedic female monologues. It may be used by students, actors, directors for educational or professional purposes. But remember, it is purely a work of fiction. In reality, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are happily married! Santas Reply SANTA: Dear Mrs. Claus... Ever since you left me for the Easter Bunny, my life has become utterly meaningless. Without you, the North Pole truly is the loneliest place in the world. Without you by my side, there has been no one to keep me on my diet. Ive gorged upon cookies and milk. I even stole Rudolphs carrots. I gobbled up the gingerbread house next door. The neighbors are furious. Ive gotten so big, the reindeer have developed back problems. Thanks to me, the sled now exceeds its maximum capacity. I dont think Ill be able to clear the Rockies this Christmas Eve. And I cant stop drinking. Ive been going to Eggnog Anonymous meetings, but they just arent helping. And I hesitate to mention how devastated the elves have been. They keep asking about you. So, as you can tell, without you, my life is ho-ho-horrible. Please come back to me. I dont care if youre naughty or nice. Theres no one else I want underneath my mistletoe. Please come home.

Comparing and Contrast of the Leadership Styles Research Paper

Comparing and Contrast of the Leadership Styles - Research Paper Example Participative leaders are those who believe in democracy, â€Å"This style involves the leader including one or more employees in the decision making process (determining what to do and how to do it). However, the leader maintains the final decision making authority. Using this style is not a sign of weakness; rather it is a sign of strength that your employees will respect.† (Leadership Styles) Leaders who delegate authority always take a risk but it endears them to their employees because employees want to be a part of the decision making process. This has pros and cons but works out well because employees put in extra when they realize that they are wanted and an important part of the organization. â€Å"Jon Howell in an interview with Sun-News (January 29, 2001: 7) states "A leaders' behavior must match the situation, and the news of his or her followers." And his summary is very appropriate here: Leader effectiveness is determined by what people do, not by some inherent personal characteristic... I'm not saying personal characteristics don't help; they certainly do. But leaders have to adapt their behavioral styles to fit the situations in which they find themselves" (p. 7).   Howell says the good news is most people can learn leader behaviors and learn to recognize situations in which certain behaviors are most important.   Howell and Costley (2001) argue for the match of leader behavior, leader traits and characteristics, follower characteristics, and the situation at hand.   And there are seven leader types, fit for various behavioral processes and situations in my read of their leader theory: 1. Supportive Leaders (those considerate, people oriented leaders). 2. Directive Leaders (fit for repetitive or work spread between sites and for cultures such as Mexico that prefer status well defined. 3. Participative Leaders such as Dwight Eisenhower who could tame the Primadonna generals and politicians of WWII, and by careful listening to many v oices craft an alliance.   4. Reward and punishment leaders (transactional). 5. Charismatic (heroic) leaders 6. Boundary spanning (network) leaders 7. Leaders who build and forge social exchange (also networkers).   And now we have left the obsession with one best style of leadership. There is no universal style. There is as I have suggested, a dimension of behaviors running between Transactional and Transformational. The behavior school to this point is fixated on the transactional. To find transformational we must sail to the Isle of Situation.† (Howell and Costley). The same principles of Howell and Costley are elucidates in the paper. Core leadership behaviors Every behavior pattern has its own pros and cons. But the behavior pattern which works out the best is undoubtedly participative leadership. In this the terms and conditions are made very clear to the employees, any breach of these terms and conditions result in punishment, on the other hand if the employee perfo rms well, he/she is rewarded suitably for his/her work. This is probably the best behavior pattern, simply because everything is made crystal clear to the employees. The harder the employee works more will be his/her chances of getting rewarded. This pattern also has some risks involved like if an employee is punished for some mistake, the employee may leave the organization or

Advertisements Should Be More Responsible Essay

Advertisements Should Be More Responsible - Essay Example However, when this influence of the advertisements starts to have adverse effects on people’s life, it is important for the business organizations and importantly their advertising companies to take key responsibilities. That is, as advertisements are persuasive to the potential audience, it needs to be non-emotional but logical, truthful, objective, impartial, accurate, avoids causing public harm, and does not dubiously target children. Otherwise, they are prone to opposition from consumers, consumer bodies, governmental agencies, and general public. The focus will be on how certain advertisements have irresponsible content and message thereby necessitating advertising industry or sector along with businesses to be more responsible while reaching and persuading its audience base. An advertisement, being a powerful medium, can effectively reach millions of people living in every nook and corner of the world. The reason for the advertisements to be a valuable communication platform is their effective persuasion and influential capabilities. However, advertising companies can seize this opportunity with a commercial motive, and so that can have many adverse effects on the viewers and the society as a whole. Advertisers seem to utilize the customers’ attitude and behavior to their discreet advantage by creating captivating images, providing inaccurate information, and misleading claims. Though it might be the free will of consumers to choose the products and brands which they want, it is a fact that advertisements can directly or subtly persuade them in doing so by creating an emotional trigger. â€Å"An ad succeeds at making us feel something—whether its good or bad—and that emotional response can have a profound effect on how we think and the choices we make† (Dachis). This clearly implies that success of any brand is solely defined by the consumers attitude towards the product or

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Essay Example for Free

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Essay 11. a. Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Before-tax cash flow $(500,000) $52,500 $47,500 $35,500 $530,500 Tax cost (7,875) (7,125) (5,325) (4,575) After-tax cash flow 44,625 40,375 30,175 525,925 Discount factor (7%) .935 .873 .816 .763 Present value $(500,000) $41,724 $35,247 $24,623 $401,281 NPV $2,875 Investor W should make the investment because NPV is positive. b. Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Before-tax cash flow $(500,000) $52,500 $47,500 $35,500 $530,500 Tax cost (10,500) (9,500) (7,100) (6,100) After-tax cash flow 42,000 38,000 28,400 524,400 Discount factor (7%) .935 .873 .816 .763 Present value $(500,000) $39,270 $33,174 $23,174 $400,117 NPV $(4,265) Investor W should not make the investment because NPV is negative. c. Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Before-tax cash flow $(500,000) $52,500 $47,500 $35,500 $530,500 Tax cost (5,250) (4,750) (8,875) (7,625) After-tax cash flow 47,250 42,750 26,625 522,875 Discount factor (7%) .935 .873 .816 .763 Present value $(500,000) $44,179 $37,321 $21,726 $398,954 NPV $2,180 Investor W should make the investment because NPV is positive. 16. a. Opportunity 1: Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Taxable income (loss) $(8,000) $5,000 $20,000 Marginal tax rate .40 .40 .40 Tax $(3,200) $2,000 $8,000 Before-tax cash flow $(8,000) $5,000 $20,000 Tax (cost) or savings 3,200(2,000) (8,000) Net cash flow $(4,800) $3,000 $12,000 Discount factor (12%) .893 .797 Present value $(4,800) $2,679 $9,564 NPV $7,443 Opportunity 2: Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Taxable income $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Marginal tax rate .40 .40 .40 Tax $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 Before-tax cash flow $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Tax (cost) or savings (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) Net cash flow $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 Discount factor (12%) .893 .797 Present value $3,050 $2,679 $2,391 NPV $8,120 Firm E should choose opportunity 2. b. Opportunity 1: Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Taxable income (loss) $(8,000) $5,000 $20,000 Marginal tax rate .15 .15 .15 Tax $(1,200) $750 $3,000 Before-tax cash flow $(8,000) $5,000 $20,000 Tax (cost) or savings 1,200 (750) (3,000) Net cash flow $(6,800) $4,250 $17,000 Discount factor (12%) .893 .797 Present value $(6,800) $3,795 $13,549 NPV $10,544 Opportunity 2: Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Taxable income $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Marginal tax rate .15 .15 .15 Tax $750 $750 $750 Before-tax cash flow $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Tax (cost) or savings (750) (750) (750) Net cash flow $4,250 $4,250 $4,250 Discount factor (12%) .893 .797 Present value $4,250 $3,795 $3,387 NPV $11,432 Firm E should choose opportunity 2. c. Opportunity 1: Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Taxable income (loss) $(8,000) $5,000 $20,000 Marginal tax rate .40 .15 .15 Tax $(3,200) $750 $3,000 Before-tax cash flow $(8,000) $5,000 $20,000 Tax (cost) or savings 3,200 (750) (3,000) Net cash flow $(4,800) $4,250 $17,000 Discount factor (12%) .893 .797 Present value $(4,800) $3,795 $13,549 NPV $12,544 Opportunity 2: Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Taxable income $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Marginal tax rate .40 .15 .15 Tax $2,000 $750 $750 Before-tax cash flow $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Tax (cost) or savings (2,000) (750) (750) Net cash flow $3,000 $4,250 $4,250 Discount factor (12%) .893 .797 Present value $3,000 $3,795 $3,387 NPV $10,182 Firm E should choose opportunity 1. 1. a. (1) Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Before-tax salary/income $80,000 $80,000 $80,000 Marginal tax rate .25 .40 .40 Tax on income $20,000 $32,000 $32,000 After-tax cash flow $60,000 $48,000 $48,000 Discount factor (8%) .926 .857 Present value $60,000 $44,448 $41,136 NPV of salary received by Mrs. X $145,584 (2) Before-tax payment /deduction $80,000 $80,000 $80,000 Marginal tax rate .34 .34 .34 Tax savings from deduction $27,200 $27,200 $27,200 After-tax cost $(52,800) $(52,800) $(52,800) Discount factor (8%) .926 .857 Present value $(52,800) $(48,893) $(45,250) NPV of salary cost to Firm B $(146,943) b. (1) Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Before-tax salary/income $140,000 $50,000 $50,000 Marginal tax rate .25 .40 .40 Tax on income $35,000 $20,000 $20,000 After-tax cash flow $105,000 $30,000 $30,000 Discount factor (8%) .926 .857 Present value $105,000 $27,780 $25,710 NPV of salary received by Mrs. X $158,490 (2) Before-tax payment /deduction $140,000 $50,000 $50,000 Marginal tax rate .34 .34 .34 Tax savings from deduction $47,600 $17,000 $17,000 After-tax cost $(92,400) $(33,000) $(33,000) Discount factor (8%) .926 .857 Present value $(92,400) $(30,558) $(28,281) NPV of salary cost to Firm B $(151,239) c. Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Before-tax payment /deduction $140,000 $45,000 $45,000 Marginal tax rate .34 .34 .34 Tax savings from deduction $47,600 $15,300 $15,300 After-tax cost $(92,400) $(29,700) $(29,700) Discount factor (8%) .926 .857 Present value $(92,400) $(27,502) $(25,423) NPV of salary cost to Firm B $(145,325) This proposal is superior (has less cost) to Firm B than its original offer. d. Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Before-tax salary/income $140,000 $45,000 $45,000 Marginal tax rate .25 .40 .40 Tax on income $35,000 $18,000 $18,000 After-tax cash flow $105,000 $27,000 $27,000 Discount factor (8%) .926 .857 Present value $105,000 $25,002 $23,139 NPV of salary received by Mrs. X $153,141 Mrs. X should accept this counterproposal because it has a greater NPV than Firm B’s original offer.

George Bush :: essays research papers

GEORGE BUSH The votes were in; the election was over. On the 20th of January 1989, Republican George Herbert Walker Bush became the forty-first president of the United States. After serving two previous terms as Ronald Reagan's Vice President, he defeated Governor of Massachusetts Michael S. Dukakis to earn his new title. Bush had become President at a time when many Americans were uncertain about their country's future. The federal government was intensely in debt due to prior years of budget deficits. Imported foods were more valuable then exports which questioned the United State's economic standing. Foreign policy was also a topic well discussed by Americans. Bush seemed to be doing a good job with it all and in the midst of his presidency a second term seemed to be a sure thing for him. However, the 1992 election marked the end of his reign; he lost by a great margin to democrat William J. Clinton who may I add was later impeached! George Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts to Prescott Sheldon Bush and Dorothy Walker Bush. Prescott Bush worked in an investing firm, but ended up moving his family to Connecticut where he later on developed a strong interest in politics which led to his position as Senator of Connecticut. Bush had three brothers and one sister who were all brought up strictly and well-mannered. He attended private Greenwich Day School and exclusive Phillips Academy where he was indeed popular. Along with his good grades, Bush was president of the senior class, captain of the baseball and soccer teams, and also played varsity basketball. After graduating prep school in 1942, his original plans of attending Yale University had been delayed due to the U.S. interest in World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. National Reserve where he received flight training and became the Navy's youngest pilot. In 1942, he flew the U.S.S. San Jacinto in the Pacific Ocean where he took part in d angerous fighting. His plane was shot down, but luckily, unlike his two crew members, he was rescued by the U.S.S. Finback, a U.S. submarine. Bush was recognized for his brave, heroic efforts by receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, and after recovery served at the Oceana Naval Air Station until the end of the war in August of 1945. Shortly before the end of the war, George Bush married Barbara Pierce, a lady he once met at a Christmas dance.

The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Two

â€Å"And that's all I remember,† Bonnie concluded as she and Meredith walked down Sunflower Street between the rows of tall Victorian houses. â€Å"But it was definitely Elena?† â€Å"Yes, and she was trying to tell me something at the end. But that's the part that wasn't clear, except that it was important, terribly important. What do you think?† â€Å"Mouse sandwiches and open graves?† Meredith arched an elegant eyebrow. â€Å"I think you're getting Stephen King mixed up with Lewis Carroll.† Bonnie thought she was probably right. But the dream still bothered her; it had bothered her all day, enough to put her earlier worries out of her mind. Now, as she and Meredith approached Caroline's house, the old worries returned with a vengeance. She really should have told Meredith about this, she thought, casting an uneasy sideways glance at the taller girl. She shouldn't let Meredith just walk in there unprepared†¦ Meredith looked up at the lighted windows of the Queen Anne House with a sigh. â€Å"Do you really need those earrings tonight?† â€Å"Yes, I do; yes, absolutely.† Too late now. Might as well make the best of it. â€Å"You'll love them when you see them,† she added, hearing the note of hopeful desperation in her own voice. Meredith paused and her keen dark eyes searched Bonnie's face curiously. Then she knocked on the door. â€Å"I just hope Caroline's not staying home tonight. We could end up stuck with her.† â€Å"Caroline staying home on a Saturday night? Don't be ridiculous.† Bonnie had been holding her breath too long; she was starting to feel lightheaded. Her tinkling laughter came out brittle and false. â€Å"What a concept,† she continued somewhat hysterically as Meredith said, â€Å"I don't think anybody's home,† and tried the knob. Possessed by some crazy impulse Bonnie added, â€Å"Fiddle-dee-dee.† Hand on doorknob, Meredith stopped dead and turned to look at her. â€Å"Bonnie,† she said quietly, â€Å"have you gone completely through the ozone?† â€Å"No.† Deflated, Bonnie grabbed Meredith's arm and sought her eyes urgently. The door was opening on its own. â€Å"Oh, God, Meredith, please don't kill me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Surprise!† shouted three voices. â€Å"Smile,† Bonnie hissed, shoving the suddenly resistant body of her friend through the door and into the bright room full of noise and showers of foil confetti. She beamed wildly herself and spoke through clenched teeth. â€Å"Kill me later-I deserve it -but for now just smile.† There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the coffee table. There was even a flower arrangement, although Bonnie noticed the orchids in it matched Caroline's pale green scarf exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. She'll end up wearing one of those orchids in her hair, I'll bet, Bonnie thought. There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the coffee table. There was even a flower arrangement, although Bonnie noticed the orchids in it matched Caroline's pale green scarf exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. She'll end up wearing one of those orchids in her hair, I'll bet, Bonnie thought. â€Å"Nothing I can't break with an iron crowbar,† Meredith replied. But she smiled back with wry warmth and Bonnie relaxed. Sue had been a Homecoming Princess on Elena's court, along with Bonnie, Meredith, and Caroline. She was the only girl at school besides Bonnie and Meredith who'd stood by Elena when everyone else had turned against her. At Elena's funeral she'd said that Elena would always be the real queen of Robert E. Lee, and she'd given up her own nomination for Snow Queen in Elena's memory. Nobody could hate Sue. The worst was over now, Bonnie thought. â€Å"I want to get a picture of us all on the couch,† Caroline said, positioning them behind the flower arrangement. â€Å"Vickie, take it, will you?† Vickie Bennett had been standing by quietly, unnoticed. Now she said, â€Å"Oh, sure,† and nervously flicked long, light brown hair out of her eyes as she picked up the camera. Just like she's some kind of servant, Bonnie thought, and then the flashbulb blinded her. As the Polaroid developed and Sue and Caroline laughed and talked around Meredith's dry politeness, Bonnie noticed something else. It was a good picture; Caroline looked stunning as ever with her auburn hair gleaming and the pale green orchids in front of her. And there was Meredith, looking resigned and ironic and darkly beautiful without even trying, and there she was herself, a head shorter than the others, with her red curls tousled and a sheepish expression on her face. But the strange thing was the figure beside her on the couch. It was Sue, of course it was Sue, but for a moment the blond hair and blue eyes seemed to belong to someone else. Someone looking at her urgently, on the verge of saying something important. Bonnie frowned at the photo, blinking rapidly. The image swam in front of her, and a chilling uneasiness ran up her spine. No, it was just Sue in the picture. She must've gone crazy for a minute, or else she was letting Caroline's desire for them â€Å"all to be together again† affect her. â€Å"I'll take the next one,† she said, springing up. â€Å"Sit down, Vickie, and lean in. No, farther, farther-there!† All of Vickie's movements were quick and light and nervous. When the flashbulb went off, she started like a scared animal ready to bolt. Caroline scarcely glanced at this picture, getting up and heading for the kitchen instead. â€Å"Guess what we're having instead of cake?† she said. â€Å"I'm making my own version of Death by Chocolate. Come on, you've got to help me melt the fudge.† Sue followed her, and after an uncertain pause, so did Vickie. The last traces of Meredith's pleasant expression evaporated and she turned to Bonnie. â€Å"You should have told me.† â€Å"And that makes it all worthwhile?† â€Å"Well, it helps,† Bonnie said, with an air of being reasonable. â€Å"And really, it probably won't be so bad. Caroline's actually trying to be nice, and it's good for Vickie to get out of the house for once†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It doesn't look like it's good for her,† Meredith said bluntly. â€Å"It looks like she's going to have a heart attack.† â€Å"Well, she's probably just nervous.† In Bonnie's opinion, Vickie had good reason to be nervous. She'd spent most of the previous fall in a trance, being slowly driven out of her mind by a power she didn't understand. Nobody had expected her to come out of it as well as she had. Meredith was still looking bleak. â€Å"At least,† Bonnie said consolingly, â€Å"it isn't your real birthday.† Meredith picked up the camera and turned it over and over. Still looking down at her hands, she said, â€Å"But it is.† â€Å"What?† Bonnie stared and then said louder, â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"I said, it is my real birthday. Caroline's mom must have told her; she and my mom used to be friends a long time ago.† â€Å"Meredith, what are you talking about? Your birthday was last week, May 30.† â€Å"No, it wasn't. It's today, June 6. It's true; it's on my driver's license and everything. My parents started celebrating it a week early because June 6 was too upsetting for them. It was the day my grandfather was attacked and went crazy.† As Bonnie gasped, unable to speak, she added calmly, â€Å"He tried to kill my grandmother, you know. He tried to kill me, too.† Meredith put the camera down carefully in the exact center of the coffee table. â€Å"We really should go in the kitchen,† she said quietly. â€Å"I smell chocolate.† Bonnie was still paralyzed, but her mind was beginning to work again. Vaguely, she remembered Meredith speaking about this before, but she hadn't told her the full truth then. And she hadn't said when it had happened. â€Å"Attacked-you mean like Vickie was attacked,† Bonnie got out. She couldn't say the word vampire, but she knew Meredith understood. â€Å"Like Vickie was attacked,† Meredith confirmed. â€Å"Come on,† she added, even more quietly. â€Å"They're waiting for us. I didn't mean to upset you.† Meredith doesn't want me to be upset, so I won't be upset, Bonnie thought, pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though we've been friends since first grade and she never told me this secret before. pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though we've been friends since first grade and she never told me this secret before. Then Bonnie shook her head determinedly. She couldn't think about this right now; she had a party to think about. And I'll make sure it's a good party and we all get along somehow, she thought. Strangely, it wasn't even that hard. Meredith and Vickie didn't talk much at first, but Bonnie went out of her way to be nice to Vickie, and even Meredith couldn't resist the pile of brightly wrapped presents on the coffee table. By the time she'd opened the last one they were all talking and laughing. The mood of truce and toleration continued as they moved up into Caroline's bedroom to examine her clothes and CDs and photo albums. As it got near midnight they flopped on sleeping bags, still talking. â€Å"What's going on with Alaric these days?† Sue asked Meredith. Alaric Saltzman was Meredith's boyfriend-sort of. He was a graduate student from Duke University who'd majored in parapsychology and had been called to Fell's Church last year when the vampire attacks began. Though he'd started out an enemy, he'd ended up an ally-and a friend. â€Å"He's in Russia,† Meredith said. â€Å"Perestroika, you know? He's over there finding out what they were doing with psychics during the Cold War.† â€Å"What are you going to tell him when he gets back?† asked Caroline. It was a question Bonnie would have liked to ask Meredith herself. Because Alaric was almost four years older, Meredith had told him to wait until after she graduated to talk about their future. But now Meredith was eighteen-today, Bonnie reminded herself-and graduation was in two weeks. What was going to happen after that? â€Å"I haven't decided,† Meredith said. â€Å"Alaric wants me to go to Duke, and I've been accepted there, but I'm not sure. I have to think.† Bonnie was just as glad. She wanted Meredith to go to Boone Junior College with her, not go off and get married, or even engaged. It was stupid to decide on one guy so young. Bonnie herself was notorious for playing the field, going from boy to boy as she pleased. She got crushes easily, and got over them just as easily. â€Å"I haven't seen the guy so far worth remaining faithful to,† she said now. Everyone looked at her quickly. Sue's chin was resting on her fists as she asked, â€Å"Not even Stefan?† Bonnie should have known. With the only light the dim bedside lamp and the only sound the rustle of new leaves on the weeping willows outside, it was inevitable that the conversation would turn to Stefan-and to Elena. Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fell's Church, every girl had wanted him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most unapproachable girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after she'd gotten him that she realized the danger. Stefan wasn't what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more mysterious and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, loving Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damon's wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to redeem their love. Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fell's Church, every girl had wanted him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most unapproachable girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after she'd gotten him that she realized the danger. Stefan wasn't what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more mysterious and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, loving Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damon's wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to redeem their love. â€Å"I still can't believe she's gone,† Sue said quietly, shaking her head and shutting her eyes. â€Å"She was so much more alive than other people.† â€Å"Her flame burned brighter,† said Meredith, gazing at the patterns the rose-and-gold lamp made on the ceiling. Her voice was soft but intense, and it seemed to Bonnie that those words described Elena better than anything she'd ever heard. â€Å"There were times when I hated her, but I could never ignore her,† Caroline admitted, her green eyes narrowed in memory. â€Å"She wasn't a person you could ignore.† â€Å"One thing I learned from her death,† Sue said, â€Å"is that it could happen to any of us. You can't waste any of life because you never know how long you've got.† â€Å"It could be sixty years or sixty minutes,† Vickie agreed in a low voice. â€Å"Any of us could die tonight.† Bonnie wriggled, disturbed. But before she could say anything, Sue repeated, â€Å"I still can't believe she's really gone. Sometimes I feel as if she's somewhere near.† â€Å"Oh, so do I,† said Bonnie, distracted. An image of Warm Springs flashed through her mind, and for a moment it seemed more vivid than Caroline's dim room. â€Å"Last night I dreamed about her, and I had the feeling it really was her and that she was trying to tell me something. I still have that feeling,† she said to Meredith. The others gazed at her silently. Once, they would all have laughed if Bonnie hinted at any-thing supernatural, but not now. Her psychic powers were undisputed, awesome, and a little scary. â€Å"Do you really?† breathed Vickie. â€Å"What do you think she was trying to say?† asked Sue. â€Å"I don't know. At the end she was trying so hard to stay in contact with me, but she couldn't.† There was another silence. At last Sue said hesitantly, with the faintest catch in her voice, â€Å"Do you think†¦ do you think you could contact her?† It was what they'd all been wondering. Bonnie looked toward Meredith. Earlier, Meredith had dismissed the dream, but now she met Bonnie's eyes seriously. â€Å"Is that the only way to communicate with dead people? What about a Ouija board or something?† Sue asked. â€Å"My parents have a Ouija board,† Caroline said a little too loudly. Suddenly the hushed, low-key mood was broken and an indefinable tension filled the air. Everyone sat up straighter and looked at each other with speculation. Even Vickie looked intrigued on top of her scaredness. â€Å"Would it work?† Meredith said to Bonnie. â€Å"Should we?† Sue wondered aloud. â€Å"Do we dare? That's really the question,† Meredith said. Once again Bonnie found everyone looking at her. She hesitated a final instant, and then shrugged. Excitement was stirring in her stomach. â€Å"Why not?† she said. â€Å"What have we got to lose?† Caroline turned to Vickie. â€Å"Vickie, there's a closet at the bottom of the stairs. The Ouija board should be inside, on the top shelf with a bunch of other games.† She didn't even say, â€Å"Please, will you get it?† Bonnie frowned and opened her mouth, but Vickie was already out the door. â€Å"You could be a little more gracious,† Bonnie told Caroline. â€Å"What is this, your impression of Cinderella's evil stepmother?† â€Å"Oh, come on, Bonnie,† Caroline said impatiently. â€Å"She's lucky just to be invited. She knows that.† â€Å"And here I thought she was just overcome by our collective splendor,† Meredith said dryly. â€Å"And besides-† Bonnie started when she was interrupted. The noise was thin and shrill and it fell off weakly at the end, but there was no mistaking it. It was a scream. It was followed by dead silence and then suddenly peal after peal of piercing shrieks. For an instant the girls in the bedroom stood transfixed. Then they were all running out into the hallway and down the stairs. â€Å"Vickie!† Meredith, with her long legs, reached the bottom first. Vickie was standing in front of the closet, arms outstretched as if to protect her face. She clutched at Meredith, still screaming. â€Å"Vickie, what is it?† Caroline demanded, sounding more angry than afraid. There were game boxes scattered across the floor and Monopoly markers and Trivial Pursuit cards strewn everywhere. â€Å"What are you yelling about?† â€Å"It grabbed me! I was reaching up to the top shelf and something grabbed me around the waist!† â€Å"No! From inside the closet.† Startled, Bonnie looked inside the open closet. Winter coats hung in an impenetrable layer, some of them reaching the floor. Gently disengaging herself from Vickie, Meredith picked up an umbrella and began poking the coats. â€Å"Oh, don't-† Bonnie began involuntarily, but the umbrella encountered only the resistance of cloth. Meredith used it to push the coats aside and reveal the bare cedarwood of the closet wall. â€Å"You see? Nobody there,† she said lightly. â€Å"But you know what is there are these coat sleeves. If you leaned in far enough between them, I'll bet it could feel like somebody's arms closing around you.† Vickie stepped forward, touched a dangling sleeve, then looked up at the shelf. She put her face in her hands, long silky hair falling forward to screen it. For an awful moment Bonnie thought she was crying, then she heard the giggles. â€Å"Oh, God! I really thought-oh, I'm so stupid! I'll clean it up,† Vickie said. â€Å"Later,† said Meredith firmly. â€Å"Let's go in the living room.† Bonnie threw one last look at the closet as they went. When they were all gathered around the coffee table, with several lights turned off for effect, Bonnie put her fingers lightly on the small plastic planchette. She'd never actually used a Ouija board, but she knew how it was done. The planchette moved to point at letters and spell out a message-if the spirits were willing to talk, that is. â€Å"We all have to be touching it,† she said, and then watched as the others obeyed. Meredith's fingers were long and slender, Sue's slim and tapering with oval nails. Caroline's nails were painted burnished copper. Vickie's were bitten. â€Å"Now we close our eyes and concentrate,† Bonnie said softly. There were little hisses of anticipation as the girls obeyed; the atmosphere was getting to all of them. â€Å"Think of Elena. Picture her. If she's out there, we want to draw her here.† The big room was silent. In the dark behind her closed lids Bonnie saw pale gold hair and eyes like lapis lazuli. â€Å"Come on, Elena,† she whispered. â€Å"Talk to me.† The planchette began to move. None of them could be guiding it; they were all applying pressure from different points. Nevertheless, the little triangle of plastic was sliding smoothly, confidently. Bonnie kept her eyes shut until it stopped and then looked. The planchette was pointing to the word Yes. Vickie gave something like a soft sob. Bonnie looked at the others. Caroline was breathing fast, green eyes narrowed. Sue, the only one of all of them, still had her eyes resolutely closed. Meredith looked pale. â€Å"Keep concentrating,† Bonnie told them. She felt unready and a little stupid addressing the empty air directly. But she was the expert; she had to do it. â€Å"Is that you, Elena?† she said. The planchette made a little circle and returned to Yes. Suddenly Bonnie's heart was beating so hard she was afraid it would shake her fingers. The plastic underneath her fingertips felt different, electrified almost, as if some supernatural energy was flowing through it. She no longer felt stupid. Tears came to her eyes, and she could see that Meredith's eyes were glistening too. Meredith nodded at her. â€Å"How can we be sure?† Caroline was saying, loudly, suspiciously. Caroline doesn't feel it, Bonnie realized; she doesn't sense anything I do. Psychically speaking, she's a dud. The planchette was moving again, touching letters now, so quickly that Meredith barely had time to spell out the message. Even without punctuation it was clear. CAROLINE DONT BE A JERK, it said. YOURE LUCKY IM TALKING TO YOU AT ALL â€Å"That's Elena, all right,† Meredith said dryly. â€Å"It sounds like her, but-† â€Å"Oh, shut up, Caroline,† Bonnie said. â€Å"Elena, I'm just so glad†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her throat locked up and she tried again. BONNIE THERES NO TIME STOP SNIVELING AND GET DOWN TO BUSINESS And that was Elena too. Bonnie sniffed and went on. â€Å"I had a dream about you last night.† TEA â€Å"Yes.† Bonnie's heart was thudding faster than ever. â€Å"I wanted to talk to you, but things got weird and then we kept losing contact-â€Å" BONNIE DONT TRANCE NO TRANCE NO TRANCE â€Å"All right.† That answered her question, and she was relieved to hear it. CORRUPTING INFLUENCES DISTORTING OUR COMMUNICATION THERE ARE BAD THINGS VERY BAD THINGS OUT HERE â€Å"Like what?† Bonnie leaned closer to the board. â€Å"Like what?† NO TIME! The planchette seemed to add the exclamation point. It was jerking violently from letter to letter as if Elena could barely contain her impatience. â€Å"Danger?† Vickie repeated, looking as if she might jump off the chair and run. WAIT LISTEN FIRST THE WHOLE TOWN IS IN DANGER â€Å"What do we do?† said Meredith instantly. YOU NEED HELP HES OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE UNBELIEVABLY STRONG NOW LISTEN AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS YOU HAVE TO DO A SUMMONING SPELL AND THE FIRST INGREDIENT IS H- Without warning, the planchette jerked away from the letters and flew around the board wildly. It pointed at the stylized picture of the moon, then at the sun, then at the words Parker Brothers, Inc. â€Å"Elena!† The planchette bobbed back to the letters. ANOTHER MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSE â€Å"What's happening?† Sue cried, eyes wide open now. Bonnie was frightened. The planchette was pulsing with energy, a dark and ugly energy like boiling black tar that stung her fingers. But she could also feel the quivering silver thread that was Elena's presence fighting it. â€Å"Don't let go!† she cried desperately. â€Å"Don't take your hands off it!† MOUSMUDKILLYOU, the board reeled off. BLOODBLOODBLOOD. And then†¦ BONNIE GET OUT RUN HES HERE RUN RUN RU- The planchette jerked furiously, whipping out from under Bonnie's fingers and beyond her reach, flying across the board and through the air as if someone had thrown it. Vickie screamed. Meredith started to her feet. And then all the lights went out, plunging the house into darkness.

Philosophy of Human Nature Essay

Evil can be used in two ways- when someone has done evil and when someone has suffered evil. Since God is good, God does no moral evil; however, because God is just, God punishes the wicked and thus causes the evil of punishment. People are the cause of their own evildoing. Furthermore, because learning is good a thing, we do not learn evil. It is people’s inordinate desires that drive their evildoings. There are two laws- eternal law and temporal law. Both laws are good and guarantee people to live perfectly. To live perfectly and well, we need to know that we are alive, that we live with reason and understanding. And when the impulses of the soul are guided by reason, a person is perfectly ordered- eternal law. However, it is possible that the reason or mind does not rule. According to Augustine, this can only happens if a person’s own will and free choice make the mind a companion of cupidity. It is up to us to decide whether we want out will to be good or bad, and whether we desire things we can lose or we can’t lose. Thesis (What is the central point of the reading? Use no more than three sentences. ): Augustine claims that people do evil by the free choice of our will. Your questions So if God is all good and omnipotent, then why will God allow anyone to do evil by the free choice of their will? If we are images of God, and God is all good and omnipotent, shouldn’t we be all good and not act in ways that conflicts with God’s image?

Compare and contrast the sisters in “Sense and Sensibility” to the sisters in “The Daughters of the Late Colonel.”

Compare and contrast the sisters in â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† to the sisters in â€Å"The Daughters of the Late Colonel.† British Literature Examination 8Gilbert Lainez Student Number 1053244Compare and contrast the sisters, Elinor and Marianne, in Sense and Sensibility to the sisters, Josephine and Constantia, in "The Daughters of the Late Colonel." Be sure to consider the personalities and priorities of each sister, how the sisters interact with each other, and what their status is after the death of their fathers.Difference among sistersIn Jane Austen's s novel, Sense and Sensibility, we have two main characters which are Elinor and Marianne, who are very different in personalities but have common things between them. In The daughters of the late Colonel, which Katherine Mansfield wrote, we also have two sisters, Josephine and Constantia. They also have some resemblance as sisters, however if we compare these two pair of sisters that come from different families we can find great differences, even though the four of them are women.Constantia, New YorkThe Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, complem ent each other. Each sisters is different from the other, they differ much in personality. Genius001, author of a review on sense and sensibility, says that Elinor is "sensible, competent and thoughtful", and that Marianne is "impetuous, immature"; each sister has her virtues and vices. As sisters they are both perfect, the oldest is more mature than the youngest. Josephine and Constantia are very much alike, they almost agree in everything, but act in a very girlish way. Between these sisters and the Dashwoods there is not much that makes them similar.Josephine and Constantia are not young at all, they are middle aged women. When their father dies they are totally lost. They really don't know what to do, contrary to the Dashwood sisters who loose their father and decided to move somewhere else and move along in life.

Britains Role in the War Against Germany 1939-45

The role of the British in the war with Germany 1939 - 45 UK played a very important role during the Second World War. It is the longest ally in warfare and can make many contributions to ensure Hitler's fall. The influence of England began on September 3 when Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war against Germany. Why is this so special? This is because he made Hitler the enemy of the West. In fact, Hitler was surprised by the change in the incident and was looking forward to avoid the conflict in the UK. Introduction World War II began when the German army invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. On the night of September 3, 1939 two days later, both the UK and France entered a war with Germany. Because they failed in the First World War and created restrictions, Germany has the smallest naval power among the great powers. These limitations of the 1922 Washington Treaty restricted the German Navy's limit on the number of its fleets, tonnage and mortality. - History of Bismarck Bismarck's history began in the spring of 1941. It started a Rheinà ¼bung strategy with two ships and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau returned from Berlin operations. It was thought that Bismarck was sent with the sister ship Tillpitz, but decided not to shorten the training. They will also be sent with Shane Horst and Grenau, but they are not used for the British air strikes. So they sent it along with heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. Germany invaded Poland in 1939, eventually leading to the declaration of war between Germany and the UK. However, the Allies adopted a defensive position rather than initiating a massive attack. This is known as the British Phonie War or the French Dora Des degal - an interesting war. It did not prevent the German army from conquering Poland in its innovative electric blast fight within a few weeks. It also helped the Soviet Union to attack Poland. When Germany began attacking the west, the fight of France began in May 1940, and the tactics of the same electric battlefield were found to be devastating there. IDF bypassed the Maguinot line through the parade of the Ardennes Forest. As a shift to this main force, the second German army was sent to Belgium and the Netherlands. In the six weeks of a brutal battle, the French lost 90,000 people. When British and French leaders declared war with Germany on 3 September 1939 they announced they did because the German army attacked Poland and threatened Polish independence. In the war with Germany, the British and French leaders turned the two-day geographically restricted conflict between Germany and Poland into a continental European confrontation. It soon became clear that the reasons for prosecution in English and French are not sincere. After two weeks, the British and French leaders did not declare war against the Soviet Union when Soviet Russian forces attacked Poland from the east and finally occupied more Polish territory than Germany.

The Lisbon Treaty and the Development of the European Union Essay

The Lisbon Treaty and the Development of the European Union - Essay Example As the discussion highlights the principal objective of the Lisbon Treaty is to make the EU a single legal entity. The other objectives of the Treaty are aimed at the protection of the environment and enhancing security to the energy sector. Under the principles laid down by the Lisbon Treaty, the Member States can leave the EU voluntarily. The Lisbon Treaty suggests an amendment procedure to the EU Treaties of the future; without having to convene a meeting of the Member States for that specific purpose. Moreover, it brings about new changes to the EU system. At the proposal stage itself, there was intense debate between the drafters of the Treaty. It makes the fundamental rights charter of the year 2000 legally binding. The Member States treated this charter as a political declaration in order to formulate the rights of EU citizens and to pronounce them with greater emphasis. The Lisbon Treaty renders this charter binding on all the Member States; and this charter consists of 54 ci vil, political, economic and social rights. All these rights are applicable to the citizens of Europe. In addition, residents in the EU are provided with the right to life, the right to marry, the right to strike and the right to conduct business within the EU.