Jane Eyre: An Orphan’s Success Story Essay -- Charlotte Bronte Jane Ey

Jane Eyre: An Orphan’s Success Story       In Victorian literature, the orphan can be read as an unfamiliar and strange figure outside the dominant narrative of domesticity (Peters 18). They were often portrayed as poor children without a means of creating a successful life for themselves. Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, however, is a portrayal of a female orphan who triumphs over almost every environment she enters. Therefore, Jane’s ability to overcome the hardships that she encounters is a fictional success story. By discussing Jane’s early life as an orphan at Gateshead and Lowood, and also her relationships with Helen Burns and Adele Varens, one can see how Bronte’s novel is an escape from the familiar predestined fate of at least one orphan in the novel—Jane. Jane becomes an orphan after her father, a poor clergyman, is infected with typhus fever while visiting among the poor of a large manufacturing town. Jane’s mother becomes infected from him, and both die within a month of each other (37; ch. 3). Because Jane is still a young child when this occurs, she knows no other life but of that as an orphan. Mr. Reed, her uncle who informally adopts her, wants Jane to be brought up in a positive familial environment. After his death, however, Mrs. Reed makes certain that this is not possible. Through her character, Bronte draws on the archetypical literary figure of the wicked stepmother (Nestor 35). Although Jane now lives with the Reeds, a financially well-off family, she is still treated like a poor, working-class orphan. While at Gateshead, Jane is constantly reminded of her lower-class, orphaned status. Jane’s position in the Reed household is inferior and intolerable. Even the Reeds’ servant, Miss Abbot, tells her,... ...ops. Along with these experiences, she is involved in relationships with other children of orphaned status. Both Helen Burns and Adele Varens play a significant role in helping Jane become a successful governess and the eventual wife of her true love. Because of these experiences and relationships, Jane’s past as a passionate, oppressed, insignificant, orphaned child is buried by her ability to overcome it. Her ability to overcome this sentence for failure is, indeed, like a fairy-tale.       Works Cited Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Beth Newman. Boston: St. Martin’s, 1996. Hochman, Baruch, and Ilja Wachs. Dickens: The Orphan Condition. London: Associated UP, 1999. Nestor, Pauline. Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. New York: St. Martin’s, 1992. Peters, Laura. Orphan Texts: Victorian Orphans, Culture and Empire. Manchester: Manchester UP, 2000.

Bhagavad Gita Critique

Well I would first like to start off by saying that after I let go of my personal beliefs for a moment, and actually let myself be open to the ideas of the Bhagavad-Gita I rather enjoyed it and I feel like I actually can see how the â€Å"ways of life† (for loss of a better term) that are expressed in this make a lot of sense. I can actually sit and think about what kind of people today would possibly be categorized as Tamasic, Rajasic and Sattvic. I also can see some very similar concepts in the book that follow modern Christian beliefs and values which made it a lot more interesting. For example from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed I thank God and Jesus for the blessings and positive moments in my life. I pray throughout the day when things are good or bad. I also try to live a â€Å"good Christian† life as well as just trying to be a good person. I guess my ideas of a good person stem from my influences and morals, as well as my new found belief in God and Jesus. I try to worship, pray and give thanks everyday. I try to read my bible as often as I can, seeing I’m so busy all the time it has been hard to even find the time to pick it up, but I do try to think before I act, speak and think. I think â€Å"what would Jesus and God and all my loved ones think of the thing I am about to do† or â€Å"what would Jesus say if I completed that not nice thought about that person†. Seeing how I believe every one of us is a child of Gods and that God knows everything we do, say, think and so on; I try to keep my life to a pure as I can standard. I think about all that I have been given and the least I can do is try my best to be my best for Jesus, God and all that I am connected to in this lifetime. This brings me to my topic, spiritual beliefs. There are so many different types of religion. Catholicism, Hinduism, Christianity, etc. They all have various ways of â€Å"being† when it comes to being a member of the church or religion. No two parties are alike that is why no two peoples beliefs are the same completely. Yet when you read the Bhagavad-Gita it puts it so simple. Do your life this way you are worthy of finally passing on into the next life for eternity. Do your life that way you come back and suffer a circle of never ending lives. Try but not quit there you come back to life but in a higher level of caste so you can start off close to where you left off. It is all pretty simple. In the book it is basically Arjuna asking guidance from Krishna. At first it is whether he should fight or not fight, then it turns into a â€Å"how do I live my life for you in your way† topic. Krishna basically starts out very slow in explaining that all life is connected and is stemmed from his existence. That life is here in the body form but continues into the spirit world with him, and that life is a never ending circle until you reach the highest point of understanding and are worthy of being with him in the spirit world forever. That when you realize that life never truly ends, that it is just the body that dies you cannot feel sad for such things as fighting wars and killing men. Then he explains such things as the importance of ceremony and living a pure life, then about the Brahmas and literally tells him the secrets of life. Krishna reveals his true great form to Arjuna and covers all the possible topics you could think of when it comes to being Hindu. The story is so filling that you literally wonder how it could possibly have an end to it. The main point I got from the book was that it is important to live your life according to first what you think is right and then second to what you believe Krishna and the other Gods (which are Krishna and they are him) say is the way to live. In the book it speaks of how to perform ceremonies and the importance of not just performing them but to perform them with heart. You are to serve good foods and give great offerings to your God. You yourself are to eat good foods and take care of your body for the Gods as well. You are to drink and perform the ceremonies the way the scriptures say and to keep your heart and mind on God (Krishna). Then it sort of ends weird; It says that you are to live your life well and good and pure but that you have to follow the path you think is the right one. And that when you think you have reached that level of true knowledge you are to try to share that with others. So I guess what I got out of it is just that; live your life to the best you think you can. Don’t be a selfish, greedy, rude, etc. person. Don’t have false beliefs even if that means you have none. And to try to give your heart over to the beliefs you do have. If they were the right ones then you win the ultimate prize, eternity with Krishna. If it was the wrong one you just have to keep trying until you get it right. I read this book and I pretty much decided that it is great to help guide you no matter what religion you believe in. Just the base principles and sort of guide it lays out for the individual, so you can clearly see the different ways and the different options is so clear and simple it cant not make sense. And I love the fact that the idea is that everything comes from one God initially even if there are other gods now everything is God and he is everything, even if you are not in god, he is in you. I am so happy I had the opportunity to be exposed to such a great experience. It will stay with me forever.

Impact of Technology on Young People

As a kid I would beg and beg to use the computer. †No. I'm on Facebook†, my sister would say in exasperation as I moaned at the unfairness of it all. She would sit in the corner of the room for hours upon end, her expressionless face lit up by the bright screen of the family computer. Always sulking with anger and frustration, yet enthralled by the on-goings within the world of the web. I wondered how something she enjoyed so much could affect her mood in the way it did. I would soon learn to understand this and experience the same teenage angst; a feeling that is certainly maximised by the negative effects of technology.Teens of the 21st century have grown up in a society where technology is constantly developing and upgrading. Its use in everyday life is becoming ever more prominent and it is used to such an extent that it is bound to have a considerable impact on the lives of the young. Mobile phones, games consoles, laptops, iPods. We are encouraged by giant corporati ons to demand the latest gadgets, often without considering their importance to us. As The Black Eyed Peas recently said, ‘this is the NOW generation’.The most popular application of modern-day technology is undoubtedly the internet. Young people are particularly keen on using social networks. Websites such as Facebook and Twitter are fantastic in the way they allow us to keep in touch with our friends. But what impact do these sites actually have on us? Well, I’ll begin telling you by dismantling the name ‘social media’. Ironically, these sites have more of an anti-social impact on teens than they do a social one. Their use is addictive by nature. Users often find themselves glued to the screens of their phones and laptops, while communicating with their friends online.Some teens don’t understand that you can actually have a real conversation with these ‘friends’ by getting off your ass and meeting up with them in the real world! It is laughable that a large number of teens genuinely believe social networking suffices as a form of real social activity. You can send people as many messages as you want, it won’t improve the people skills that you will need later in life. As entertaining as social networks may be, I believe that addictive technology like them is isolating individuals from society and nurturing a new generation of young adults with substandard social abilities.When I was originally introduced to Twitter, I saw it as a wonder of the internet. It was and still is a wonderful website. You can carefully tailor the information that is supplied to you by choosing who you wish to ‘’follow’’ and it works by bombarding you with a constant stream of information in a matter of seconds. Believe me, it has a very rich entertainment value. However, it can become extremely addictive and is often used excessively. I experienced this for myself last year. Very frequently, I wou ld come home and spend my time scrolling through my twitter feed for the remainder of the day.By over-using it, Twitter became a hindrance to both my school work and social life. So when I realised that I had to control my usage, I decided to take a break from all forms of social media. The 6 months that followed were hugely refreshing. I began to feel a lot happier and generally more energetic when I wasn’t glued to my laptop. Without a doubt, I advise other students to try out a similar solution. The cold turkey made me realise how technology impacts adversely on young people. For the first time in my life, I felt fortunate to still possess my ancient, battered Sony Ericsson. I was and am no longer jealous of those who flash about their expensive touch-screen whatever megapixel phones. I am glad that I’m unable to download the latest ‘’ios4 update’’. I use my phone to ring people because that’s the function that Alexander Graham Bell decided it would have.Children growing up today are immersed in technology while they are developing and still experiencing the joys of childhood. Many believe that it is vital they are taught about I.T. from an early age as it is such an integral part of modern society. As the internet is becoming ingrained in our lives, computer skills are clearly becoming vital. However, can we justify the encouragement of technology in a child’s life when the long-term effects of its use are yet to be uncovered? I don’t think so. Experts believe that technology can elevate a child’s exasperation, diminish their patience levels and hinder their writing and communication skills. I would go as far to say that parents who encourage and allow their children to use technology excessively are morally in the wrong.When we think back to our childhood, what memories stand out for us the most? For me, it is those long summer days that were spent outside. Being active. Exploring. Racin g go-karts. Building tree houses. Playing sports. These activities shaped us and built our characters. Without them we would be boring. And the truth is that overindulging in technology halts an active life. This technological generation endangers children from missing out on an important stage of their development. No one says ‘’remember that time I shot a load of Nazi zombies on Call Of Duty’’ .It is seriously worrying that a child would choose to confine him/herself to the realms of a virtual world rather than experience childhood as it should be. The impact of an unfulfilled childhood can be devastating in later life. This is another reason why the influence of technology should be controlled and moderated, especially in relation to young people.I expect the impact of technology on the young generation to become clearer at a later date. A divide may well emerge between the characteristics of those who were brought up under a technological influence and those who were shielded from technology during their childhood. A neurological divide, to be precise. In a survey released in 2011, 55% agreed with a statement that in 2020 the brains of young people would be â€Å"wired† differently from those over 35.The excessive use of technology may effectively cause this to happen. Because internet access is becoming increasingly efficient, we are constantly gaining a thirst for instant gratification. Online, we have access to innumerable content at incredible speeds. Our concentration span must be deteriorating as we now rely on a constant feed of information to satisfy our shallow brains. It’s quite sad that the immediate reaction to our problems is often simply ‘’I’ll google it’’ or ‘’Yahoo Answers will know this’’. We’ve stopped thinking about these problems ourselves. What’s the point? The answers are already there, on the internet. Perhaps, the deep thinking skills our ancestors once possessed are becoming lost upon the youth of today. Computers have begun to re-wire us with different intellectual capabilities.The same 55% in the survey of 2011 predicted that the youth of today would excel in mental processing and in searching effectively for information online. I would label these qualities as traits of a robot. Technology takes away our spirit and our ability to think for  ourselves. And by glancing around a typical group of students, you may observe a certain lack of atmosphere. You will notice some students who choose not to interact with each other, instead, all attention fixed on their phones. The sad reality is that these devices are responsible for de-humanising our society.Despite this, technology is constantly developing and often for a good outcome. But some might say that we were better off in the days when apple and blackberry were just fruit.

Determining Ticket Prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Determining Ticket Prices - Essay Example prediction made before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos in Northeast of super bowl influenced the macroeconomic condition in New York. This paper attempts to analysis, economic implications of favourable weather condition during this match. According to Seat Greek, search engine, an average resale price of a ticket increased because of the prediction made that there was to be a favourable weather condition on Sunday, the D-day. Before the match kick-off, the value of one ticket increased by ten times over the original cost. The price increased because of increasing demand for tickets thereby validating the law of supply. However, the increase in the price of tickets had a trickle down effect in the economy. Consumers increase their spending on tickets due to high prices. It reduced the amount of income consumer devotes for other expenditure link directly with growth of gross domestic product (GDP). These components include investments, consumption, and export. To this end, this price changes caused a slight decline in gross domestic product of New York (Song et.al, 2008, p. 88). However, the change in gross domestic was small and unnoticed since the price increase resulted to increase government spending. On the other hand, ticket prices increased the amount of government revenue through a tax on the profits. The government reacts to changes in the economy by stimulating the economy through government spending. The government increased its spending to stabilize economic activities and to maintain inflation rate. The government undertook infrastructural development and other programs to increase money supply thereby lowering prices to a normal level. In retrospect, favourable weather condition increased demand for restaurant rooms and food. Hospitality industry experienced a major boost as customers increased, thereby mounting hotels and restaurant spending. In this perspective, investment in hospitality industry increased due to

American Governemnt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Governemnt - Essay Example On the other hand, the Federalists were comprised of people who were quite well educated and resided in the regions alongside the eastern coastline. Moreover, they were also quite wealthy, and it is possible that their main motivation was to protect their newfound leadership of the federation at all costs. On the other hand, the Anti–federalists represented the people who were not so well off as well as those who lived in the interior, away from the seaboard; these were campaigners for the ascendancy of the individual states over the federal administration. When one considers the different arguments put forward by these two factions, one realizes that the arguments made by the Federalists are much more convincing than those made by the Anti– federalists are. Therefore, in this paper we shall discuss some of the ideas proposed by the Federalists as opposed to those presented by their opponents. The Federalists believed that the power of the confederation was too weak to function effectively either domestically or when dealing with foreign powers. They felt that a strong federal government would be able to take care of the needs of all the states in matters of foreign policy and would be able to control the states from taking steps, which were deemed excessive. It can be argued that the stance of the Federalists was exceedingly much aware of the advantages that could be brought to the United States if it indeed had a strong national government. One of the benefits that happened in later years was when President Jefferson ordered the United States navy to deal with the Barbary pirates. Not only did the navy do so, but it also managed to break the power of these pirates, hence ensuring that the American trade in the Mediterranean was secured. The Anti vehemently opposed the proposal for a strong federal government – federalists who believed that the Federalists, who were made up of the propertied class, wanted to monopolize power in the new nat ion. Instead, they proposed that the power of the federal government be kept weak and that state power was to remain supreme (Howe 1383). If such proposals had been implemented then the United States would have been just a loose federation, without a single military force to defend it, and a leader who was not decisive because he would have been at the mercy of the state governments. Among the proposals made by the Federalists, concerning the new state was that it was to be governed by men who had talent and experience. They felt that if the government were to be placed in the hands of just anyone, then it would jeopardize the security of the state as well as the lives and property of those within it. Men with experience in governance would be more appropriate because they would know how to handle different situations as they occurred. It would therefore, be better that the government remained in the hands of the educated and propertied class because they had the experience to lead the nation wisely. This turned out to be a true assessment of the situation as the first presidents of the United States came from this class. The success of this young nation can be attributed to them for it is because of their strict management of its affairs that the foundation was set for its

Why is liberal art important and necessary Research Paper

Why is liberal art important and necessary - Research Paper Example The liberal arts subjects are drawn from the major branches of the liberal arts. These include the social sciences which cover such subjects as sociology, geography, economics, political science, and anthropology. Another branch of the liberal arts is known as the humanities which cover literature, languages, history, and philosophy. The third branch is the creative arts – theater, fine art, creative writing and others. All these broad subjects are what are known as the liberal arts and they are, as you can see, quite wide and varied. They are usually available to students at an undergraduate level right at the beginning and at more advanced levels as we move up the higher education chain (Sigurdson 14). Why do I think these subjects are important? Liberal arts are not designed to equip you or enable you to specialize in a specific profession. Rather, they are there to prepare the students for life in the working world. Liberal arts equip you with the ability, first and foremo st, to have lifelong learning. Learning does not just end in the classroom or after graduation. It is a process through which we acquire knowledge skills and expertise throughout our life. It is, therefore, necessary for one to have courses that equip you to do exactly that – essentially be a student for life, learning and adapting to new knowledge, new aspects of life and learning how to adapt, live and even thrive with change. The liberal arts also give one the ability and capacity for free thinking. It teaches the student how to think, how to question and how to expand your horizons. The liberal arts also enable one to communicate effectively. It is not just a matter of learning how to speak a foreign language or two – though that is also covered in liberal arts – but how to interpret nonverbal communications, how to communicate in cultures other than your own, and how to express yourself in contexts that are different from your traditional ones (Sigurdson 18 ). The liberal arts give students a chance to not only explore and get their head round a large variety of subjects but also an ability to look at the world, themselves and others in a totally new light. It gives students an appreciation of different points of view and different modes of thought. It is an opportunity to learn about the evolution of human society, how it started out, how it came through civilization, what civilization is all about and what in the world has changed and how it has changed since this civilization came about. In liberal arts one learns what previous generations have learned, thought and experienced. What questions did they ask? What answers did the great philosophers seek? Liberal arts give you an opportunity to wrestle with abstract concepts and ideas. There arose questions such as: What is beauty and how does one decide that something is beautiful and the other one is not? Does this colour or make-up look good on me? How did our history shape us and ou r thinking? How did we interact with the environment and what impact has it had on us and us about it? What acts constitute sexual harassment in the workplace and why and how should they be reported? Thus, liberal arts result in a person who has a more rounded appreciation of himself, others and his environment. A classic story is told to explain the importance of the liberal arts.Three blind men who were told to touch an elephant and then describe what it looked like. The first one touched the elephant’s main body and decided because it was so big, this creature must be like a wall. The second blind man touched the elephant’s tusk and after racing it all the way to the tip, decided that the elephant must be shaped like a

Senior Class Gift Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Senior Class Gift - Essay Example Finally, in September 2006 the Young Alumni Trustee was named but the reorganization had left the members of the Senior Class Gift Committee with no clear responsibility The Young Alumni Trustee is a position on the Board of Trustees that is granted to a graduating senior each year. The successful program had been in effect since 1996 and each member that is awarded the position serves a three-year term. By April 2006, the selection committee had settled on two finalists, Cathleen Doan and Brian Levin. The winner was to be announced at commencement ceremonies on May 20. On April 25, 2006, students received an e-mail re-opening the application process and encouraging students to reapply. The selection committee justified their actions based on low student interest and lack of diversity among the applicants. Doan and Levin were still considered finalists, but Laurie Musgrove, Vice President of University Advancement, said they were seeing if "other students should be joining them as finalists". Robin Warde, Interim Director of Alumni Relations, said the concern was the small number of original student applicants. Warde noted that only 5 members of the class of 2006 had been interviewed and said, "something different needed to be done". It was apparent that the board had been remiss in addressing this problem sooner. According to Warde, they had been concerned over lack of participation in previous years. Musgrove and Warde, however, waited until the finalists had been selected to make the last minute changes. Musgrove had some misgivings and expressed the "wish that timing could be different". She continued to encourage Doan and Levin to stay in the process and viewed their withdrawal with "disappointment and dismay". Before commencement ceremonies, the Board of Trustees took control of the nominating process after overriding the previous decisions made by the nominating board. President Ronald Machtley and BOT Chairman Thomas Taylor headed the new selection committee. No winner was announced at that time. In September 2006, the Bryant University Board of Trustees (BOT) named Saddi Williams as the 2006 Young Alumnus Trustee at their annual meeting during Homecoming Weekend. The BOT also established the Bryant Senior Advisory Council (BSA), a 30 member committee comprised of students that will be the pool for next year's applicants. Warde has made a commitment to working with students all year and promoting a wide representation on the BSA. The controversy that began in April 2006 had not gone away by September. The creation of the BSA created another debate over the Senior Class Gift program. During the summer of 2006, Shannon Maldonando and I (Amr Zawawi) worked to develop a "comprehensive plan for the 2007 Senior Class Gift". However, on September 22, 2006 the President's office released a press statement that said, "The Bryant Senior Advisory Council shall also act as a core group to engage the senior class in developing a plan for their class gift". This resulted in confusion and further divisiveness surrounding the role of Moldanado and I in the gift selection process. The controversial changes that began in April 2006 had continued to linger and in attempting to correct past problems resulted in creating new controversies. Summer Plans The Senior Class Gift Committee had made a decision to begin working on the project at the earliest possible date. We all