Voice Viewpoint How to Choose the Right Narrator for Your Novel

Voice Viewpoint How to Choose the Right Narrator for Your Novel How do you choose the right viewpoint and narrator for your novel? Last updated: 07/10/2017We have the chance to work with some exceptionally talented and experienced editors at Reedsy. Kristen Stieffel is one of them: a writer, editor, and writing coach, she specializes in speculative fiction. Today, she shares  her expert advice on viewpoint and narrators. Ever wondered whether you should write your book using first or third person? You need to read this!Viewpoint, also known as point of view or POV, is one of the most complex facets of fiction. It is confusing and misunderstood, so viewpoint errors are among the most common errors editors see in new writers’ manuscripts. Confusion about viewpoint stems from the very words we use to describe it: close third person, limited third person, middle third person †¦ what do they mean? â€Å"Third person† doesn’t say anything about viewpoint. It only says you’re using he and she instead of I. "Viewpoint is not about pronouns. Viewpoint is about character." Think of viewpoint as a camera. Who’s carrying it? You have two choices: give it to a narrator, or give it to one or more characters.The omniscient narratorThe omniscient narrator knows everything and can share anyone’s thoughts at any time. He can, and often does, make value judgments about the characters in the story.Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern; and having read all the newspapers, and beguiled the rest of the evening with his banker’s-book, went home to bed. He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner. They were a gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again.- Charles Dickens, A Christmas CarolThe girl stood up and walked to the end of the station. Across, on the other side, were ï ¬ elds of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro. Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the ï ¬ eld of grain and she saw the river through the trees.â€Å"And we could have all this,† she said. â€Å"And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible.†- Ernest Hemingway, Hills Like White ElephantsThe narrator’s camera is mounted in the room, so we see and hear what’s going on, but we don’t know what the characters are thinking. Just as if we were waiting in the train station with this couple, all we can know is what we see and hear. If this scene were written from the viewpoint of either character, we would know that person’s thoughts. Revealing the thoughts of either one would reveal too much, so Hemingway chooses the impartial objective narrator. This style of narrator is also useful if the writer needs to show something happening- a volcano erupting, a bomb ticking, an asteroid hurtling through space- when no person is there to observe it. Any narrator may hold the camera. But only the omniscient and limited narrators provide commentary, though to differing degrees. The objective narrator is a silent observer, with an unremarkable, almost invisible, prose style. In omniscient viewpoint, and to a lesser extent in limited viewpoint, it’s possible for the narrator to have a distinct personality. I would go so far as to say that in omniscient viewpoint, it is necessary that the narrator persona have a distinct personality, like the narrator of A Christmas Carol.The drawback to all of these is that any narrator puts psychic distance between the reader and the character. The advantage is that you can reveal information not known to the characters, or known to one character but not another. The narrator of A Christmas Carol, for example, tells the reader what other people think of Scrooge- things he cannot know.Remember that your protagonist is not the viewpoint character. He is not carrying the camera. Your narrator h olds the camera, but he’s not a character in the story. He is a persona observing the story.On this other post, we look  at what it means to give the viewpoint completely to the characters.Check out Kristen Stieffel’s profile on Reedsy here! And don’t forget to follow her on Twitter:  @KristenStieffelWhat is your narrator preference when writing (or reading!) fiction? Let us know your thoughts on this, or any question for Kristen, in the comments below!

8 Things to Write About What to Write About When You Lack Inspiration

8 Things to Write About What to Write About When You Lack Inspiration 8 Things to Write About: What to Write About When You Lack Inspiration Youre struggling with finding things to write about- that much is clear.And you’ve decided to make that jump. Youve finally worked up the courage to write a book. Congrats!Now the daunting question of what you’re going to write rears its ugly head. What on earth can you write? What would people want to read?You find yourself at the first stumbling block, also affectionately (not) referred to as writers block.Here are 8 ways to find things to write about:Write about your passionsFiction or nonfictionWhat youre an expert inWrite about your experiencesGet ideas from friends and familyFind inspiration to write about onlineBrainstorm what to write about for a day or twoCollect a large list of ideas to write aboutNOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Self-Publishing Program. Learn more about it here8 Things to Write About and How to Find Writing InspirationWell the good news is that all of us could write a book or two about something!Each one of us has our own unique set of experiences that others could learn from, not to mention the plethora of writing prompts and story ideas online. Figuring out what to write about simply takes some self-reflection, brainstorming, and research.Follow these next steps and you will surely find at least one future book topic!#1 Start with your passionsThe best place to start is with what brings you joy. After all, you’re going to enjoy writing your book a lot more if you enjoy the topic.Furthermore, you are more likely to really sell an idea and convince your audience of something if you’re passionate about it.Here are a few questions for finding what to write about:Whats one thing you enjoy most?What do you lose track of time doing?Where do your thoughts go when youre not paying attention?What do people describe you doing often?These things to write about could be as simple as bike riding, home organization, or cooking. It could be something more technical or complex.Take out a pen and paper, and make a list of all the things that you really love. Write them all down, whether they’re big or small. You will draw inspiration from this list, so write down everything that you can think of.#2 Choose to write fact or fictionOnce you have a good, working list of all the things you love, you need to decide something important: will your book be fact or fiction?There are so many different book genres out there that it can feel overwhelming. Hence, it’s best to get an idea of this before you start the writing process.Your passions list will really help you narrow this one down. Perhaps your love of cats could make you want to write a fiction novel about a cat who goes on adventures. Perhaps your love of home gardening could make for a great how-to book to help others who want to grow their own food. Maybe your love of ghosts could make for a good horror book. Whatever it is, your passions are th ere waiting to be turned into a book idea.Your specific genre can be modified as you begin to write. However, deciding whether your book will be fiction or about your real life, like writing a memoir, is something you need to decide before beginning the brainstorming and writing process.#3 What you’re an expert at/inEverybody is an expert in something. Do you believe me? Most people when they hear this go â€Å"oh no, not me!† After all, we are often our own worst critics.However, that’s where everyone is wrong. Each of us is an expert in something. The truth is that you don’t need a million trophies or some fancy title to be an expert. Furthermore, books written by experts don’t always sell. People love getting advice from ordinary people just like you! After all, if you can write and publish a book, so can they.You can find your expertise through a brainstorm.Much like your passion list, make another list! On this one, I want you to write down a ll of your work experience from the last 5-10 (or more!) years. I’m talking everything that you can think of such as employment, volunteer work, hobbies, and unique experiences. After you’ve spent some time on this list, start to look at the patterns: What things keep popping up?What do these things have in common?Are these things related?This list might help you see that you really are more of an expert in something that you can write about.You might not have been the boss of the company, but you might have learned more than you think working in public relations or even answering phones.#4 Pull things to write about from your experiencesYour future book inspiration doesn’t solely come from professional experience. It can come from personal experiences as well. With this, you’ll want to create another list.However, this one will be more of a brainstorm of different life experiences you’ve had.If you can’t just start making a list, start by mapping out your life.Jot down a few of these ideas to write about:Where do you live?Where are you from originally?Who are your family members?Who are your friends?Where have you traveled to?If you answer all of these questions, you will surely start to think of â€Å"that one time I †¦Ã¢â‚¬  or other memories. Write down all the words, thoughts and images that come to mind. Write down how you felt in these moments and how they affected you and youll have plenty of things to write about.When you brainstorm, let your creativity flow! Don’t worry about writing the words in a perfect list. If you feel inspired to draw, draw.These brainstorm sessions are for you and you only, so let them be as crazy as you want!#5 Get writing ideas from friends or family memberThose who know us best often see things about us that we cannot. They have the perspective of seeing our lives from the outside. If you’re thinking of writing a book, speak with someone you’re close to .They simultaneously know you best and want the best for you.Take them out for a cup of coffee and tell them that you want to publish a book. If you already have a few things to want to write about, you could run them by this person.If you don’t, you could simply ask them what they think you should write about. You might get responses like â€Å"I would love to read about your experience with _____† or â€Å"I think you could really tell this story well.†You’ll either narrow down your list of ideas or have a few new ones to add to the list!#6 Turn to the InternetThe Internet is a great place to find inspiration for what to write about. First and foremost, you want to ensure that someone hasn’t already written about what you want to write about.If it’s a broad topic such as â€Å"how to travel the world,† surely at least several people have already beaten you to the punch! However, this isn’t the end of the world.When searching , you can see how these people have written their books and think about how yours would be different. Since no one on earth is exactly like you, you certainly will have your own unique perspective to bring to the table! Only you can be you!In addition to a general Google search, use both Instagram and Pinterest to your advantage.These two social networks will bring your inspiration for what to write about- not to mention give you book marketing opportunities when you do write the book. When searching on Instagram, make sure to look at related hashtags such as this #writerinspiration one.#7 Leave all the brainstorming and discussion for a day or twoAfter you’ve brainstormed and talked with a close friend or family member, put it all down.Simply go about your life as normal going to work or school or whatever your normal routine is. You are sure to come up with more ideas or more details to add to your existing notes at the most random times. When something comes to mind, reco rd it right away!It might be good to have a notebook with you at all times or start a note on your phone. You can actually use an app like Evernote for this very purpose.After a few days of a break, come back to all your notes and decide on what you want to write about.#8 Create a list to work fromA lot of authors feel like pressure when picking their book topic. It is kind of scary to pick an idea and then write several hundred pages on it.However, remind yourself that choosing an idea to write about does not obligate you to write an entire book about it. You might start by writing the outline or the first few chapters and realize that you’d rather write about a different topic. That’s okay!Creating a large list of ideas will help you when youre just not feeling one idea anymore- whether youre writing a book or simply a blog post.Get out that notebook and get to work!The best time to get started brainstorming your perfect idea is now! Don’t wait around and let fear get the better of you.Get out your notebook and start making these lists. Write down every word, thought or image that comes to your mind!Are you ready to move forward with your idea?Weve got your next steps!If you want to take your book from idea to full outline to published book (in as little as 90 days), we have the process for you right here

Against Abortion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Against Abortion - Research Paper Example Whether the fetus has life or not, pregnancy shows the woman had some level of maturity. The woman has ethical obligations towards the fetus as pregnancy occured knowingly (Cline, 2010). The second reason is the religious values. Christianity and Hinduism believe that all human beings come to earth with a definite purpose. Almost all religions are against abortion except special circumstances. Women want abortion because of social stigma or financial reasons. Each one’s destiny is clearly defined and killing would amount to the process of evolution of that soul (Christianet, 2008). Abortion can be traumatic for a woman which could impact her life at a later stage. Her own conscious would nag her and living with the aftermath of aborting can be devastating for a woman (Christianet, 2008). Abortion is immoral, abortion is unethical, abortion can impact the woman physically, mentally and emotionally and hence under no circumstances should abortion be

An Analysis of the Current Developments in International Advertising Essay

An Analysis of the Current Developments in International Advertising Regulations - Essay Example In their efforts to be competitive, international firms have emulated various strategies. Some of the notable marketing aspects include e-marketing, social media marketing, product diversification, repositioning of brands among others. In order to enhance product awareness and customer’s loyalty, global companies such as Coca-Cola, Toyota, General motors, Honda, Apple Incorporation, Pepsi among others have taken wide range of advertisements through satellite television, newspapers, internet and other avenues. This paper gives the analysis of the current developments in international advertising regulations and the impact on international marketing practise and consumption. International advertising International advertising involves spreading of messages that are related to a product or a service with an aim of propelling the demand from the existing customers or with the purpose of attracting new consumers. It is important to note that due to the cultural diversity and social aspects in various countries, the way customers perceive or react to an advertisement campaign differs. In this regard, international advertising entails the communicating process that takes into consideration the consumption patterns of the audience, multiple cultures and forms of communication. In the same way, international advertisement has been recognized by international agencies as a profitable business in terms of creating adverts on behalf of organizations. Development of international advertising One of the major causes of heated discussion among the advertising managers and academics is advertising standardization. According to the advertising managers, establishment of a comprehensive advertisement campaign entails the identification of local, intrinsic and firm factors that manipulate global advertising. In order to effectively serve the firms that were aimed at operating at an international level, advertising agencies established themselves in various countries. This was based on the high returns that they anticipated by treating the advertising campaigns as business practices. One of the major aspects that led to development of international marketing was the end of the communist regimes in 1990’s. As a result, companies who were eager to provide new products and attract large number of consumers positioned themselves in the Eastern Europe market. Based on the high number of firms that were scrambling for the available consumers, the global advertising became a priority. According to Grein and Ducoffe (1998), most organizations especially those from US emulated the services of advertising agencies leading to high advertising revenues. For instance, in 1991 the top ten advertising agencies in US earned more than 60% of their income from international billings. To find the solutions and share the plight that hindered advertising in the global market, companies that were focused at international advertising formed organizations such as Unit ed Kingdom Institute of Practitioners and US Association of National Advertisers. As companies progressed in their advertisement strategies, innovations in the information technology led to the enhancement of international marketing practice through the introduction of internet. This ensured that international companies targeting customers from various place in the world could now advertise their

The education system Essay Example for Free

The education system Essay Assess the view that ethnic minority pupils are discriminated against in the education system There are currently significant differences in the educational attainment of ethnic minority pupils compared to their white peers, as shown in the statistics from Social Trends. There are many possible factors that may account for this and for the purposes of this essay I will explore the idea of discrimination against ethnic minority pupils. Some pupils may be treated differently either due to racism or inaccurate views made by the teachers which lead to labelling. The Swan Report was done in 1985 in Britain after it was felt that research should be conducted into the differing attainments of ethnic minority pupils. This report concluded that there was not much racism in Britain at that time and if there was, it may have been from resources such as books so is consequently dying out. Due to the age of the Swan Report, its findings may not be as valid today, so this would indicate that the amount of racism, if any, would have decreased dramatically. It would therefore, be fair to say that the changes in the attitudes of people in society has lead to ethnic minority pupils no longer being discriminated against. However, Coard felt that there was racism being put through the ethnocentric education, it focused on white people, so it caused racism from the teachers and peer groups. This view argues that ethnic minority pupils are being discriminated against, but I feel it is difficult to state whether this is knowingly happening. For example, there is a wide range of ethnic minority pupils from a range of backgrounds in Britain today so it would be impractical to include work that is related to all of the cultures. As we all live in England it seems natural to give slightly more attention to the history of this country. Also, an explicit criticism of Coards work would be that it is not scientific as it is only based on his views. Overall, I feel that what Coard has described is not discrimination, but he has simply looked at the education system from a negative angle. By the 1980s, Troyna and Carrington found that there was not overt racism, but covert racism. By this they meant that people were saying, Im not racist, but This indicates that at this time, people were aware that it was wrong to be racist, but they still had views against ethnic minorities. This shows that there may have been discrimination against ethnic minorities, but it was not intentional. They felt that schools needed to do Anti-Racist Education, this would involve more strategies to deal with overt racism and would completely remove any barriers that were apparent between the cultures. From this, it can be said there is very little or no discrimination against ethnic minorities as schemes have even been introduced to reduce the small amount of covert racism.

Tragedy In Drama Essay -- essays research papers

Tragedy and Drama In a range of dramatic works from Agamemnon to Hamlet, one sees the range of development of the tragic form, from the earliest Greek to the later Shakespearean tragedies. There are two basic concepts of tragedy: the concept introduced by Aristotle in his Poetics, and the concept developed by Frederick Nietzsche in his "The Birth of Tragedy." Many dramas can be reviewed to reveal the contrast between these two concepts of tragedy, and demonstrate the development of the tragic form over time. The idea of Greek tragedy stems from Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. In Aristotle’s definition, the tragic hero must be a person of high standing so their fall from glory will be all the more horrible. The hero’s story must evoke pity for the hero and fear of his fall, so the hero cannot be completely evil. Also, the hero must have a tragic flaw, a characteristic that, in excess, causes him to bring some disaster upon himself, and because of this, he cannot be completely good either. It is important to note that the root of the term tragic flaw is the Greek word â€Å"hamartia†, which is actually better translated as an error in judgement. Often this flaw or error has to do with fate  ­ a character tempts fate, thinks he can change fate or doesn't realize what fate has in store for him. In Agamemnon, the classic Greek drama, Aeschylus demonstrates the concept of the tragic flaw in the character of Agamemnon. While on his journey to the battle at Troy, Agamemnon has to make the choice to sacrifice his daughter for the sake of his fleet. It is this choice that begins the cycle of tragedy. Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra, sees her husband’s act as unforgivable, and upon his return from battle, she murders him in an act of vengeance. However, this is not the only revenge taking place. Clytemnestra’s lover, whose father Thyestes was tricked by Agamemnon into devouring his own children, also justifies Agamemnon’s murder as revenge for the acts committed against his family. So while Agamemnon is heralded as a hero in the battle of Troy, his less admirable side is also revealed. In keeping with the Aristotelian concept of tragedy, Agamemnon is seen as neither entirely good nor entirely bad, thus invoking pity. But his decision to sacrifice his daughter for the good of his fleet and his acts against Thyestes demonstrates the fatal error in judgem... ... influence over the events of the tragedy. Similarly, in Hamlet, the other characters are much more complex than in Greek tragedies, and the interactions of the characters, which may represent their communities as a whole, greatly impact the eventual outcome. From Agamemnon to Hamlet, we have discovered the progression of the form of dramatic tragedy. We can see the evolution from the earlier Greek tragedies, that focus on divine intervention and vindication for acts that displeased the gods, to the very humanly emotional Hamlet, whose eventual realization of his own responsibilities introduce an entirely new concept to the tragic form. This dramatic range demonstrates the differences between the concepts of tragedy as defined by Aristotle, who believed all tragedy stemmed from some fatal flaw in the character of the hero and that of Nietzsche, who believed the concept of tragedy focused more on the community than on the character of the hero alone. These dramas also represent the evolution of the art of dramatic writing from the earliest Greek authors through Shakespeare, who virtually reinvented tragedy and elevated the art of dramatic writing to the form we know it as today.

The Psychological Effect of Abortion on Women?

{draw:g} Natasha Joseph Ms. Powell College Writing 2 Thesis: The psychological effect of abortion on women? What is Abortion? The termination of an early pregnancy. Is it a health risk? Why do many have abortions? Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice When life does begin? Should abortion be illegal? How does abortion affect your health? Signs of complications after abortion Physically and Mentally The Psychological effect of Abortion on women. Conclusion What is Abortion? One of the most controversial issues in the United States is abortion. Abortion is the termination of pregnancy after twelve weeks of gestation (Wikipedia. com). Some miscarriage and stillbirths can be defined as accidental abortion. There are many different methods in having an abortion. Some induced abortions are performed using one of several methods. The safest and most useful and appropriate method is determined by the age of the fetus, or the length of pregnancy, which is calculated from the beginning of the pregnant woman's last menstrual period. Most pregnancies last an average of 39 to 40 weeks, about 9 months. So abortions are performed in the first trimester of the pregnancy because it is easier and safer because the fetus is much smaller. When terminating a pregnancy they are often health risk such as breast cancer, Cervical or ovarian cancers and could cause labor complication later in life if you decide to have a child. The more abortion you have the more it increases the change of health problems. So before you have an abortion you should look at other choices like adoption. The majority of abortions are mostly due to the fact of teenage pregnancy. There are many reason people have abortions. Some of the reasons are they are unable to take care of a child financially, not ready to raise a child, have a abusive relationship with their partner and they don’t want to bring a child into the kind of atmosphere, have been a victim of rape and finally having a child would have serious health complication. Pro-life vs. Pro-choice Abortion has been a conflict between the pro-life and pro-choice movement. The question is when does life begins? Life begins at the conception when the egg is fertilized by the sperm. The pro-life moments considers undeveloped human life is sacred and must be protected by the government. They want abortion to illegal everywhere regardless of the circumstances. When groups of the pro-life and pro-choice debate on abortion they overlook the fact the many women who have abortion have no choice in the matter. There are many who have abortions just to do so but most have no other options available to them but to terminate a life that they may not want to. A lot of people are debating whether or not abortion should be illegal but who have the right to tell you what to do with your body. Many believe that abortion is murder no matter when a person believes life becomes official. There are many reasons abortion should be illegal including the descriptive and disturbing stories about how aborted babies sometime scream as they come out and the looks of pain on their faces. The health threat to the mother after going through with the procedure as well as the lifelong health risks that remain should be good enough reasons abortion should be illegal. With the rising healthcare costs and instance of disease greater than the medical ability to solve the problems, continued health remains important to all people. Self induced problems such as voluntary termination of pregnancy leads to complications for future pregnancies, reproductive disease, and depression. There many couples available for adopting these children by way of impotence by one or both people this is another option beside having an abortion How abortion does affect your life? Abortion is a life changing event for most women not just a medical procedure which can cause physical, spiritual and emotional consequences. When you get an abortion some risk are involved as with any operation. Some of the risk include heavy bleeding with is cause when the cervix is being torn or punctured after the operation. Any risk is an infection that is caused when some of the fetus is left inside of the womb and cause you to have a pelvic infection. Sometimes you can have an incomplete abortion where unwanted fetal parts left inside the uterus and this can lead to a hysterectomy which is the removal of the uterus. After abortion at least 50% of women are affected by breast cancer. Many women suffer with emotional and psychological problems after experiencing abortion. Some of these problems are depression; acute feeling of grief and fear of disclosure, eating disorders, suicide tendencies, anxiety and also increased consumption of alcohol and drugs. These are some of the risks involved in abortion. So think before you go for an abortion surgery. Avoid abortion, unless and until it is obligatory in terms of your health and you were a victim of abused. The psychological effect of abortion on women Most women feel some relief immediately after the abortion procedure, though there is often sadness as well. Natural hormonal changes related to pregnancy can cause a woman to feel more emotional than usual. Post-abortive women may experience a variety of feelings, including sadness, anger, regret, guilt, or even numbness. Women who have experienced abortion often report symptoms typical of depressive and anxiety disorders, such as sleeplessness, tearfulness, anxiety, hopelessness, irritability, and an inability to concentrate. These problems can be confounded by relationship difficulties that are often both a cause and effect of the abortion decision. The disorder of having negative effects after an abortion is called Post Abortion Syndrome or PAS. (Allied Action Inc. 996, 1). Although many women experience these problems for only a short period, many others have emotional difficulties for a long period after the abortion. These may manifest as clinical depression, an anxiety disorder, substance abuse, an eating disorder, or sexual difficulties. Women who already have problems such as these before an abortion may have a worsening of symptoms as a result of the abortion. Such difficultie s can last for months or even years. (Allied Action Inc. 1996, 1). Conclusion Many women have an abortion for different reasons. The majority of abortions that occurs within the United States are that of Teenagers and single young adults. Abortion is one of the most controversy topics today in Society and Politics. Abortion is a women right to choose what is best for her. Although at time I think there should be some restrictions on Abortions; whereas abortions should only be given to women in serious cases such as if your health is at risk or you have been a victim of rape or any form of abuse. You should think seriously before you have an abortion because it is a life altering decision. Works Cited Hutchison. â€Å"A Feminist Approach to Post-Abortion Counseling†. Herizons, June 1997: 23-24 Reardon, David c. Abortion Risks and Complications, (1997), 2000 Elliot Institute. Retrieved July 28, 2009. http://www. afterabortion. org/physica. html Stacey, Dawn, Abortion Procedures, (July 09, 2009) Retrieved July 28, 2009. http://contraception. about. com/od/contraceptionfailure/a/aboutabortion_2. htm Allied Action Inc. Post Abortion Syndrone, 1996 The National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing Impact of Abortion on the Family; IRLF Newsletter, 1993

Joining the Leader in Death Phenomenon Essay

1. Introduction History is replete with incidences of group or mass self inflicted deaths following the demise of powerful leaders. In such instances followers, in varying numbers, chose to die, of their own will, either after or on foreseeing the death of their leader. While group or mass deaths of this nature have occurred at historically different times in dissimilar cultures and globally diverse locations, and have been appropriately recorded in historical documents, the evolution of anthropological studies in the last century has led to significant research into the subject. Researchers have delved into the traditions, social customs, mores, behavioral motivators and demotivators of people of different civilizations and regions to locate commonality and establish reasons for this kind of uncommon, if not deviant behavior. These studies have become increasingly relevant in the current social and religious scenario where instances of mass suicides have occurred in cults, involving hundreds of members, who, along with their leaders, have chosen to die painful and self inflicted deaths for illogical, inexplicable and emotional reasons. The Jonestown suicides of 1978 and the deaths of the members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God in 2000 were particularly tragic and gruesome episodes, in which hundreds of people along with their leaders, died. It is evident that such irrational tendencies still exist, even in advanced western societies. Anthropologists and historians firmly believe that serious and detailed investigation into such incidents, with particular emphasis upon the then prevailing social, environmental, political, economic, and historical conditions, could well provide clues to the reasons behind such uncommon behavior and help in preventing such tragedies in future. (Wessinger, 2000) This paper aims to examine the historical precedents of such incidents and takes up one particular incident for detailed social and anthropological analysis. 2. Historical Overview Psychiatrists commonly think of potentially suicidal people to be unhappy about their current physical and emotional situation and undecided about the path to be followed to resolve the crisis. Suicide is resorted to as a simple and easy solution to their problems and plays the role of a convenient exit. Individual suicides accompanied or preceded by such reasoning is exceedingly common, and though tragic, is, in a number of societies, a routine occurrence among disturbed and underprivileged people. Its incidence, in the developed nations, is still high in certain segments like mentally ill individuals, prisoners, prostitutes, drug addicts and HIV patients. Mass or group suicides following the death or defeat of a leader, while being far more uncommon than individual suicides, have, nevertheless occurred on a number of occasions, more particularly so in specific cultures. While historical instances of groups of people joining their leaders in death, have occurred periodically there is very little to connect these disparate incidents apart from defeat and dishonor in war and, in the case of women, the desire to avoid consequent rape and molestation. During the closing years of the 2nd century BCE, the Teutons, after a series of bloody battles were defeated by the Roman General Gaius Marius, (in 102 BCE), near Aix-en-Provence, and their leader Teutobod captured. The captured women, thinking their king dead and certain of being ravaged by Roman soldiers committed suicide. Ironically the Teutons were the cause of a similar episode in 1336 at the siege of Pilena. The defenders, besieged by the marauding Teutons, joined their leader, Duke Marqueris in death when they realized that the battle was lost. The defenders set the castle on fire and committed mass suicide along with their leader rather than be captured by the invaders. (Purkiss, 1996) In India, both men and women of the warrior classes of the Indian region of Rajasthan have traditionally adopted to commit suicide after the death of their leader. Women, especially, the wives and concubines of the king have, until recent times followed the ancient tradition of immolating themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands. The custom, known as Sati, while illegal, is still followed in particularly backward areas of the region. Chittor, now an abandoned fortress in West India became famous because of three separate incidents in which hundreds of men and women killed themselves after the death of their leader. Chittor has been overcome thrice and each time the outcome was Jauhar, when women along with their children immolated themselves on huge funeral pyres on the death or capture of their leader, while the men, wearing ochre robes attacked the enemy and faced certain death. Alauddin Khilji overpowered Chittor in 1303 A. D. , overcome by an obsessive longing to own the regal beauty, queen Padmini. Myth has it, that he saw her face in the reflection of a mirror and was struck by her gripping exquisiteness. The queen, along with her attendants, however chose to follow her dead king rather than accept the invaders proposition jumped on to a huge funeral pyre lit in the middle of the castle and burned to death. In 1533 A. D. , during the rule of Bikramjeet, Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, attacked Chittor and once more Karnavati, the then queen, along with more than a hundred women preferred to die following the death of the ruler. The final episode occurred more than 30 years later when the Mughal emperor Akbar attacked the fortress. In Rajasthan such incidences of joining the leader in death had certain particular features. Episodes necessarily commenced with the siege of a force by an invading army and ended in mass death only if the invading army was successful. Once it was certain that the war was lost and the king was dead or would certainly die the warriors and their wives decided to end their lives, the men through suicidal attacks on the enemy and the women by leaping into enormous funeral pyres. The women were led in this effort by the queen of the fortress. It is important to understand that this practice was restricted only to the warrior classes and did not extend to the priests, the traders, the farmers or the other classes. Tales of invading armies entering deserted and lifeless stories are apocryphal and baseless as warriors and their families did not account for more than a quarter of the total population of a city. It also needs to be pointed out that acts like these had very little mythical precedent and ancient Hindu scriptures, like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, do not contain any such incidents. Incidentally the opposite appears to be more true and there are various instances in the Ramayana of the wife of the King choosing to marry the invader after the defeat and death of her husband. (Harlan, 2003) This paper attempts to recreate the social and cultural scenario within the fort when Queen Padmini and hundreds of other men and women chose to die after the death of the King Rawal Ratan and the fall of Chittor. The following section on Chittor is written in the present tense and from the perspective of an active observer of the complete episode. 3. Chittor a. Society Chittor, today, (in the early fourteenth century), is one of the many Hindu kingdoms that dot the desert plains of Rajasthan in the North West region of the Indian subcontinent. Orthodox Hinduism, over the first ten centuries of period that commenced after the birth of Jesus Christ, has succeeded in eliminating Buddhism from the land of its birth only to see it replaced by an aggressive Islam beating at its doors with unabated fury. Waves of Islamic soldiers have lashed at the borders of the Indian states for the last five hundred years until the establishment of Islamic rule at Delhi. Despite Islamic sovereignty a number of small Hindu kingdoms continue to exist, mostly in the west and south, often waging protracted battles with the rulers of Delhi. While a certain amount of integration between Hindus and Muslims has taken place with time, it is still too early for any such constructive rapprochement to occur in Chittor. Years of siege, first from an ever expanding Buddhism, and then from a militant Islam, has made structured Hindu society insular, orthodox and inward looking. The caste system has become rigid and religious laws and rules govern every aspect of society. Hindus are prohibited from marrying outside their castes and even the glimpse of a Muslim is considered sacrilege, requiring inflexible and strict penance. The Muslim practice of†purdah† has been adopted comprehensively by the Hindus, ironically to protect Hindu women from male Muslim eyes and women remain indoors most of the time. While every city has its share of courtesans, women do not work. They are deprived of economic or political power, being content to be glorified as mothers, sisters and wives. Society is structured into four main castes, the priests, warriors, traders and lower classes. Political and military power lies with the warriors and to a certain extent with the priesthood who are consulted by the kings and nobles before important decisions. The traders, despite their lower status, are economically powerful and kept in good humor by both the nobles and the priests. The warriors are bound by a strict code of honor, which in fact has been the main causal factor behind hundreds of members of the warrior community choosing to die after defeat in battle and the death of their leader. b. Politics and Religion Chittor, in the early years of the fourteenth century is one of the smaller Hindu kingdoms resisting the Islamic emperors occupying the throne at Delhi. The warrior classes of Chittor trace their lineage for centuries and, apart from being engaged in ongoing strife with the Delhi throne, constantly wag war against the other Hindu kings in the region. It is also not uncommon for Hindu kings to form alliances with the Muslim emperor and wage war against each other. The political scenario is extremely fluid, (much like medieval Europe), and with numerous kings and noble existing in uneasy alliances, war often breaks out over trivial reasons. While the official religion of the Delhi court is Islam, and correspondence is usually in Arabic, migration of traders, artisans and workers ensure that Hindus and Muslims coexist, albeit with a certain amount of resentment and antagonism. Sati, the practice of self immolation by women on the death of their husbands, is a common practice in Hindu states. The practice is prevalent more among the priestly and martial classes and is practically absent in the other castes and the aboriginals. The prevalence of Sati among the priests and warriors is due to the traditionally inferior status of women and their uselessness to society in the absence of child bearing potential. As such while wives are looked upon as necessary because of their capacity to bear children, widows are thought to be non contributing burdens. (Harlan, 2003) A widow’s unwanted status is also because of religious taboos that prevent her from participating in domestic chores as her touch, her voice, and even her appearance is thought unholy, impure and to be shunned and abhorred. The sanctification of virginity in brides also makes it practically impossible for them to remarry after the death of their husbands. As such the practice of immolation is an extreme but logical outcome of these circumstances. The priests and the warrior classes of Rajasthan have also perpetrated the tradition by providing it with a halo of honor and deifying women who chose to take this route. The episode that occurred in Chittor before my eyes in the early years of this century (the 1300s) and involved hundreds of men and women joining their leader in death needs to be analyzed in light of the existing social and political environment in order to obtain an appropriate perspective. c. Joining the Leader in Death The ruler of Chittor, Rana Rawal Ratan married the young Padmini, the daughter of a Rajasthani prince, when he was in his early teens, and she was yet to enter her adolescence. In accordance with existing tradition the bride continued to live in her paternal home until she reached puberty and Rawal Ratan brought her to Chittor with much fanfare on her fourteenth birthday. Padmini was an acknowledged beauty and became a much appreciated princess as she grew up, known in princely circles for her exquisite looks, aristocratic breeding and regal demeanor. When Rawal Ratan succeeded to the throne of Chittor in the closing years of the thirteenth century she took her place by his side in an extravagant ceremony attended by princes from all over India as well as nobles from the Delhi throne. It was this ceremony that led to further speculation and gossip about Queen Padmini and aroused the curiosity of Sultan Alauddin Khilji at Delhi. Rawal Ratan was known to be a fair and just king and, apart from his well known love for Padmini, was a patron of the arts. One of his court musicians, banished from Chittor because of his involvement in witchcraft, ingratiated himself with Alauddin Khilji, and persuading the Sultan of the ethereal beauty of the queen Padmini incited him to attack Chittor and take the queen for himself. On reaching Chittor, Alauddin found the fort to be heavily defended. Desperate to see the legendary queen he sent a missive to the King that he thought of Padmini as his sister and wished to make her acquaintance. While the unsuspecting king did not find any reason to doubt Alauddin’s intentions, the wiser queen refused to meet the sultan personally and instead agreed for him to see her reflection in a specially constructed mirror. The wily sultan came to the fort with his selected warriors, and after the meeting with the queen, managed to kidnap the king even as he was escorting them back to the gate. On the following day when the Chittor generals heard about the ransom demand, that of the hand of the queen for the sultan, in exchange for the safe release of the king, the Chittor generals went into a huddle, and with the assent of the queen, sent word that the queen would come to the sultan the next day along with a hundred and fifty attendants. At the crack of dawn the next morning a hundred and fifty palanquins, each carried by four strong men wound their way to Alauddin’s camp and stopped in front of the tent where the king was being held prisoner. As the sultan rejoiced a hundred and fifty armed men rushed out of the palanquins before his astonished eyes, freed the king and along with the bearers galloped back to Chittor on horses seized from the sultan’s stables. A furious Alauddin ordered his army to storm Chittor, Brutal resistance from the defenders of the fort led to the decision to lay siege to the fort, an operation that carried on for many months until dangerously low supplies forced the honor bound warriors to take a decision to storm the vastly larger sultan’s armies in what could only lead to certain death. The queen, who was party to all the confabulations, decided that as the army, led by her husband rode out to certain death, she, along with the wives of the warring soldiers and all the children would jump into a huge fire lit in the centre of the fort and end their lives, thus joining the king in death. Rawal Ratan and his warriors, though immensely saddened agreed to this to be the most fitting and honorable denouement. At the end of a brutal and bloody battle fought between the troops of the Delhi Sultanate and the suicidal warriors of Chittor, Alauddin entered the fort only to find the ashes of the queen and the wives of the warriors, a pyrrhic victory, if ever there was one. (Bose, 2000) 4. Conclusion The instance of Padmini, her female attendants and the wives of the warriors of Chittor, joining the leader in death has been chronicled a number of times by various historians for it to be reasonably accurate. While the case of male warriors following the leader into certain death has taken place on many occasions, instances of women dying en masse are rare, and occur because of specific historical and environmental reasons. Anthropologists feel that in most such cases the persona of the leader, his mesmeric hold over his followers, and the accompanying trauma and desolation felt at the death of the leader induce the followers to embrace death and join their leader. A number of instances, including the suicides of some of Hitler’s trusted generals, provide some evidence that the argument could hold some merit. In the case of Padmini while legend and myth continue to pay obeisance to her love for her husband, the mass deaths, especially of the attending ladies, necessarily needs to have a more significant historical and social reason. The decision to embrace mass death at the fall of the fort and the certain death of the king Rawal Ratan is most probably due to a number of reasons, chief among them being the prevalent practice of sati and the halo of honor that the act had acquired over the centuries. This halo of honor has to be seen in the light of the compulsions of Islamic rule in India during the medieval ages and is essentially logical and in accordance with social patterns and expectations. From the 13th century until the establishment of the British Empire, the position of women continued to remain insecure due to the arbitrary power structure associated with the feudal society, and the compulsions of perpetuating a male dominated inherently unequal society. Even though the Mughals tried to bring in a modicum of gender equality the subservient status of women continued to exist until the middle of the twentieth century. It was most probably this craving for honor, accompanied with a genuine fear of the treatment that the women would receive at the hands of the furious invading soldiers that tilted the scales in favor of the decision to embrace death to that of joining Alauddin’s harem. In any case the episode remains one of the more abiding instances of joining the leader in death phenomenon and continues to intrigue historians and anthropologists. Pages: 10 Word Count: 3000 References Bose, M. (Ed. ). (2000). Faces of the Feminine in Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India. New York: Oxford University Press. Harlan, L. (2003). The Goddesses’ Henchmen: Gender in Indian Hero Worship. New York: Oxford University Press. It’s All the Raj; Travelindia. (2005, December 14). The Daily Mail (London, England), p. 45. Maaga, M. M. (1998). Hearing the Voices of Jonestown (1st ed. ). Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. Metcalf, B. (2005). David Chidester. Salvation and Suicide: Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple, and Jonestown. Utopian Studies, 16(2), 335+. Purkiss, D. (1996). The Witch in History: Early Modern and Twentieth-Century Representations. New York: Routledge. Wessinger, C. (2000). How the Millennium Comes Violently: From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate. New York: Seven Bridges Press.

Explain how carter uses language to change the voice of the narrator throughout the bloody chamber Essay Example

Explain how carter uses language to change the voice of the narrator throughout the bloody chamber Essay Example Explain how carter uses language to change the voice of the narrator throughout the bloody chamber Essay Explain how carter uses language to change the voice of the narrator throughout the bloody chamber Essay Essay Topic: There Will Be Blood Carter uses language devices to reflect change in the narrators voice throughout. For example, most pornographic of confrontations this is metaphorical imagery. As pornography is sex from a secondary perspective this shows the narrators reaction to the prospect of sex, an element of self detachment, as pornography is the act of sex as viewed from an outsider. This shows that the narrator feels vulnerable and uncomfortable with the proposed sexual act. It could suggest that she is using metaphorical imagery to emotionally distance herself from the situation, as to describe a potential sexual encounter using language other than what is literally occurring could suggest that she is trying to remove her feelings from it. However, the mention of pornography could outline the feeling of shame the narrator feels, as it is affiliated with social taboos and embarrassment. This would show that through her materialistic intent she is begrudgingly in a sexual situation, with the man she is only with for his fortune. She might feel like a prostitute through this, and therefore shameful for her choices. Carter uses this device to express that sex should be entirely consensual, not just through acceptance of it, but for both partners to want to under no pressure or feeling of shame. Later, the theme of sex is furtherly explored and language is used again to represent change in the narrators voice. For example, her cunt a split fig this is heightened language. This could indicate an imitation of the marquiss attitude towards sex, confrontational and desensitized. Therefore showing that through a self realization of shame through her materialistic intentions and for where they led her, she may believe that she is no better than him, and therefore is acting like him. The juxtaposition of reaction towards sex in the novel could indicate that she perhaps is mentally damaged to an extent of which is relative to mental illness, and therefore could suggest that her account lacks reliability. Also, because the voice is referring to the past tense this could indicate that her taboo language is expressed through spite and discontent presently, and therefore because it is spoken retrospectively it defies the happy ending clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ evident in generic fairytales. Cart ers intention here was to emphasize the current emotional state of the narrator, and to therefore make the reader question her reliability as a source. Also, her intention could be to corrode the happy ever after fairytale ending, because bluebeard featured this, through using intertexuality she brings a sense of realism into the story. Carter uses language devices to depict change in the narrators voice. For example, lamb chop appetite artichoke are all words relative to the semantic field of food. Food is a necessary and regular requirement, and therefore the narrator feels that this is parallel to her husbands libido. Also, food is something that is bought and owned by the buyer, this could questionably be relative to the narrators position, as what she wanted from him was purely materialistic and so her love has been bought by him, and she may feel like his possession and therefore obligatory to his needs. This implicates his needs, but her passion isnt evident and therefore the sexual area of their relationship is entirely his lust. Carters intention here was to show that men generally see and treat women as inanimate objects, and therefore when a womans opinion and attitude towards sex, among other things relative to a relationship is ignored, the relationship is unequal. And therefore Carter is emphasizing th at unequal relationships are wrong.

Dog Whistles, Whistle-Blowers, and Whistle-Stop Tours

Dog Whistles, Whistle-Blowers, and Whistle-Stop Tours Dog Whistles, Whistle-Blowers, and Whistle-Stop Tours Dog Whistles, Whistle-Blowers, and Whistle-Stop Tours By Mark Nichol Several idioms based on the word whistle are associated with politics. This post discusses the origins and meaning of â€Å"dog whistle,† whistle-blower, and â€Å"whistle-stop tours.† A dog whistle is any one of various devices that emits a high-pitched sound audible to canines but out of the range of human hearing that is used to train and summon dogs. In a political context, however, â€Å"dog whistle† has a pejorative connotation; the analogy is of a word or phrase that has a given literal meaning but also has a subtext to it that means something else to certain audiences. For example, in certain contexts, the invocation of the phrase â€Å"states’ rights† in assertions of the right of states in the United States to determine their own laws and policies without interference from the federal government is said to mask tacit advocacy of the perpetuation of racism. Meanwhile, a whistle-blower is someone who exposes a secret or an act of wrongdoing at a government agency or in a business or organization, with the notion that the person calls attention to something as if he or she were a referee at a sports event alerting athletes to halt play because of a penalty (or had blown a whistle to summon help in an emergency). Whistle-blowers, especially employees who publicize an entity’s crimes or unethical behavior, have risked termination, litigation, and threats of physical harm, and laws have been passed to protect them from such forms of retribution. A whistle-stop tour, traditionally, is a form of travel in which tourists make multiple brief stops at various sites; the phrase dates from the nineteenth century, when trains were a dominant mode of travel. It is, however, also associated with political campaigns: A train carrying a candidate would halt briefly in turn at numerous small-town stations, and the train’s whistle would alert residents of its arrival, at which point the candidate would give a speech to those who gathered. The term is still used, albeit figuratively, to describe a stop, often at a public venue, along the campaign trail at which a candidate will give a speech and meet supporters. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Fly, Flew, (has) FlownFlied?3 Types of HeadingsPersonification vs. Anthropomorphism

Discrimination Against African-Americans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discrimination Against African-Americans - Essay Example As a result, the lives of the Negros adopted inferiority complex, lower class status, oppression, and lack of basic resources to build their lives. This paper will thus reflect on the topic discrimination against the African- American in this period stipulated in the book, The Souls of Black Folk  by Du Bois, W. E. Burghardt. The paper will reflect and discuss the various forms of discrimination against the Negros as shown in this book. There was utmost discrimination regarding the accordance of education between the African- American youths and the American youths. Indeed, the whites qualified Washington submissions to have a narrow education background. The Negros youths education basis was reliant on industrial training, as they could not access higher education. In light of this, there was steady withdrawal of financial aid meant for higher training of the Negros1. Washington advocates for a common school and industrial training. Actually, Negro- common schools only existed whe re teachers got training from Negro colleges or by their graduates. Similarly, the Negro slaves could not access basic education and would live in separation from their relatives. This is because the whites believed that basic or formal education would help the slaves to know their rights and would possibly revolt or escape. This segregation in the provision of education amounts to discrimination. Where Negros could not access higher education and were only reliant on industrial training, this limited them to normal jobs and provision of hard labor in the white farms. The Negros could not access formal employment since their education background was narrow and not relevant in the white color jobs. This called for provision of education to the youths on basis of ability, common schools, enough well- equipped colleges, and universities. This would enable the adequate training of the Negro youths as teachers, political leaders, and professionals. In absence of this, the Negros would re main in hard labor, low wages, no access to formal jobs and political leadership. Indeed, the denial to equal chances of education is the primary source of all other discriminations on African- Americans. There was discrimination in according the civil rights2. This was evident in the distinct way the whites treated the Negros. The Negro slaves got severe treatments that included capital punishments from their white masters. Indeed civil rights were subject to race, economic class, and political power. Where the Negros suffered civic inferiority, belonged to the lowest economic class, and had no access to political power, their civic rights were subject to jeopardy3. Actually, they faced discrimination in registering for citizenship where stringent measures against them were present and even getting legal representation was still challenging. There was abuse or denial on most of their basic human rights like right to education, equal resources, citizenship, representation, and assoc iation. The rights of the whites were more favored. Hence, they did not enjoy civil equality and thus missed on the equal share of resources. As a result, they lost their self –respect and dignity, were intimidated, could not venture in meaningful opportunities, and got rare representation in the national government. This accordance of civil rights in relation to race and class was the strongest discrimination that