Essay on Women in the Plays of William Shakespeare -- Biography Biogra

Women in the Plays of Shakespeare      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By paying close attention to the woman's part in Shakespeare's plays, we can see his works with a new perspective. But we must remember that we are examining a male dramatist of extraordinary range writing in a remote period when women's position was in obvious ways more restricted and less disputed than in our own period. Sandra Gilbert writes in The Madwoman in the Attic that literature is defined as a mirror held up to society and nature, "the mimetic aesthetic that begins with Aristotle and descends through Shakespeare implies that the poet, like a lesser God, has made or engendered an alternative, mirror-universe in which he actually seems to enclose or trap shadows of reality" (Madwoman 5). While some artists do not necessarily duplicate in their art the "realities" of their culture, they may exploit them to create character or intensify conflict, or struggle with, criticize, or transcend them. Shakespeare, it would seem, "encompasses more and preaches less tha n most authors, hence the centuries-old controversy over his religious affiliation, political views, and sexual preferences" (Lenz 4). His attitude toward women are equally complex and demand as much examination.       As we begin to study the female characters, we must overlook the male superiority that patriarchal misogyny implies in the literature of his era, as evidenced in many studies. In "Shakespeare: on Love and Lust", Charney explains the stance taken by critics such as Janet Adelman in "Suffocating Mothers: Fantasies of Maternal Origin in Shakespeare's Plays, Hamlet to The Tempest", and Kahn's "Man's Estate: Masculine Identity in Shakespeare". He claims that these two authors, as many others do, view Sh... ... mother, wife, nor England's queen" The Roles of Women in Richard III". The Woman's Part: Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare. Ed. Carolyn Ruth Swift Lenz, Galye Greene, and Carol Thomas Neely. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1980. Park, Clara Claiborne. "As We Like It: How a Girl Can Be Smart and Still Popular." The Woman's Part: Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare. Ed. Carolyn Ruth Swift Lenz, Gayle Greene, and Carol Thomas Neely. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1980. Schoenbaum, S. "The Life of Shakespeare." The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare Studies. Ed Stanley Wells. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women. Sandra Gilbert. New York: Norton and Company, 1996. www.adfl.org/ade/bulletin/N087/0087015.htm            

Oedipus the King

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once identified the key ingredients of the tragedies that his culture is so famous for. These ingredients include a character with a fatal flaw, the realization of the fault for a particular problem and the final sudden reversal of fortune. For many tragedies, the fatal flaw is demonstrated as excessive pride, which usually serves as the driving force of the play’s action. It is common, even beneficial, to have pride in oneself, but when it becomes expressed as arrogance or in defiance of one’s fate, it is considered excessive and often leads men to engage in activities that will lead to their downfall. Aristotle (1998) stated â€Å"the tragic hero falls into bad fortune because of some flaw in his character of the kind found in men of high reputation and good fortune such as Oedipus. † This attitude, commonly found in men of high station is not specifically identified as pride in the case of Oedipus and, indeed, different readings can place Oedipus’ great flaw in a number of areas. It seems as if Sophocles intended to emphasize the more common interpretation of Oedipus’ flaw being excessive pride, but other interpretations, such as Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1967 film Oedipus Rex, present other possibilities as the main character is brought through the three primary elements of tragedy. In both the play and the film, Oedipus is quickly demonstrated to have a fatal flaw. In the play, the action opens as Oedipus is approached by plague-stricken masses asking help from him as king. He responds to their appeals saying, â€Å"What means this reek of incense everywhere, / From others, and am hither come, myself, / I Oedipus, your world-renowned king† (4-8). In this statement, Oedipus’ pride in his social position is clear. In the film, though, he is seen as somewhat insecure, even as a child when he cheats at a game, and then as a haunted man with a burning mystery searing his dreams, both showing him to be a man of deep passions. Throughout the remainder of the action in the play, Oedipus’ personality clearly reflects excessive pride in his ability to force things his way. When Oedipus learned of the prediction that he was doomed to kill his father and marry his mother, he was full of self-pride to defy the fates and leave Corinth. The film depicts this as a heart-wrenching decision to never go near his parents again in order to save them followed by a time of desperate wandering through barren wastelands. While both versions indicate extreme passion involved in the killing of Laius and the claiming of Jocasta, the Oedipus in the play greets his subjects with almost concealed disdain and the Oedipus of the film greets them with sorrow and deeply shared concern. While Sophocles sets his character up to battle pride, Pasolini prepares him to come face to face with the consequences of passion. It is easy to see the irony in both play and film that if Oedipus had not been so determined to escape and prevent the prophecy, he would have not unwittingly fulfilled it. This is foreshadowed by Creon in the play just before the truth of the story is realized. Creon tells Oedipus, â€Å"You are obstinate— / obviously unhappy to concede, / and when you lose your temper, you go too far. But men like that find it most difficult / to tolerate themselves† (814-819). In this one short statement, Jocasta’s brother sums up the entire tragedy. He points to Oedipus’ stubbornness and pride in being unwilling to consider the possibility that he might be the murderer he seeks. As a result of his own impatience and driving desire to bring honor and further pride to his name, Oedipus becomes excessive in his proclamations regarding motives and punishments to be handed down and then suddenly realizes that he cannot escape the horror of his crimes. This horror is demonstrated in the film to great effect as the confused Oedipus slowly becomes overwhelmed with the possibilities, finally screaming out his confession in a now-customary burst of passion. By the end of the story, Oedipus has come to realize that everything he has done has only served to bring him closer to his evil destiny. In the process of trying to avoid fate, he has committed some of the greatest sins imaginable to him – defiled his mother’s bed, murdered his father and spawned monstrous children born of incest. Rather than face the truth and unable to take the severe wound to his pride, Oedipus stabbed out his eyes with broaches and walked away from Thebes forever, thereby sealing his doom through further prideful actions. The sudden reversal of fortune has Oedipus walking away from Thebes a blind, homeless beggar rather than the respected king he should have been based upon his more noble qualities. While this is a surprise, it is nevertheless a logical possible conclusion to the events that have taken place. This concept is brought out to greater extent in the film through the change in setting. Pasolini begins and ends the film in a contemporary setting to when the film was made. While the play suggests that Oedipus went wandering into the desert a self-blinded beggar man, the film indicates that he has been wandering a tortured individual for much longer than a normal lifespan. Thus, the elements of classic tragedy are carried throughout both play and film to slightly different interpretations. In both, a fatal flaw within the character of Oedipus drives his actions that eventually seal his own doom. Seen as it is throughout the various elements of the classic tragedian format of first demonstrating a noble characteristic to tragic proportions, then becoming aware of it and then suffering as a result of it, it cannot be missed that Sophocles was trying to illustrate to his audience the dangers of an absence of humility and common sense when he highlighted Oedipus’ excessive pride. Pasolini seems to have been more interested in warning his audiences about the sins of excessive passion. This is, in some sense, what Aristotle was trying to communicate regarding the purpose of tragedy, which he describes as â€Å"an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play †¦ through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions† (Aristotle cited in Friedlander, 2005). By illustrating the various things that can go wrong when one believes they have no flaws, Sophocles and Pasolini hoped to encourage a closer connection with truth as a means of avoiding Oedipus’ fate. Works Cited â€Å"Aristotle. † Critica Links. (1998). The University of Hawaii. May 21, 2007 Pasolini, Pier Paolo (Dir. ). Edipo Re. Perf. Silvana Mangano, Franco Citti, Carmelo Bene, Julian Beck & Ninetto Davoli. Arco Films, 1967. Sophocles. Antigone, Oedipus the King, Electra. Oxford World’s Classics. Ed. Edith Hall. Oxford University Press, 1998.

Review of Continental Airlines organizational structure Essay

1.Does the organizational design of this corporation help or hinder it in achieving its organizational goals? Continental Airlines utilizes a divisional structure relative to the management of its various entities. This structural design is due to the complex nature of the aviation industry as well as the autonomy required in operating a twenty-four hour a day, seven day per week worldwide business. In my opinion, the structural design of this organization with the exception of Continental Express and Continental Micronesia can really not be structured in any other way, and therefore should be considered helpful. The airline business is an incredibly tough business as it is. The costs of operations in relation to profit per passenger mile are very low. This airline and its management team have emerged from bankruptcy and now fly the newest fleet of aircraft in the sky today. Chairman and CEO Gordon Bethune with his years of experience in the aviation industry have afforded the opportunity for Continental to receive more awards for customer satisfaction than any other airline. Obviously, this is a far cry from the pre-bankruptcy days of this airline which now proudly stands as an industry leader. (No, I do not work, nor have I ever worked in the airline industry). The organizational structures leadership includes various notables that have grown up within the industry filling various leadership positions for other airlines. It seems as though Mr. Bethune has installed an incredibly capable team to steer this company into the future. I carved out Continental Express and Micronesia since they are basically licensed businesses that fly under the Continental flag. Their existence within the Continental family does provide routes to smaller and far-eastern destinations but are independently managed and therefore not considered (by me) as anything more than a profit center on the organizational chart. 2.If you were to change this organization, what issues would you need to consider and why? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of organizational change? If I had the ability and experience to effect change for this organization, the first issue I would consider would be consolidation of the airlines in  general. I address this issue because I do not necessarily feel that consolidation is all that it’s cracked up to be. Bigger airlines mean bigger bureaucracy and smaller profit potential. Both of these translate to decreased customer satisfaction as well as the potential for employee dissatisfaction. Mr. Bethune prides himself in being â€Å"one of the people†, he is often seen walking in the terminal, shaking hands and recognizing employees for doing an outstanding job. As a rated company pilot, he is also seen on the flight deck of the occasional 757 or 777. It is hard to imagine how the current structure could be improved beyond what it already is. He is leading by example as a leader should. Should airline consolidation continue, the main advantage would be for the traveling public. The customer could potentially book a trip around the world simply by calling the Continental reservation line. Until that customer shows up for the trip to commence, he may not even realize that he’s not even on a Continental flight. That’s the beauty of â€Å"being big†. The trip might be made up of legs flown by Northwest connecting to Varig connecting to Delta connecting to Qantas, etc. This â€Å"seamless† travel experience for the customer should be considered as an upside to consolidation. The main disadvantage might possibly be that the customer has no idea who to call when things go wrong. He might be stranded in a foreign land after his connection with China Airlines cancelled and he’s not sure of whom to contact to get back on track. The second issue I might consider would be mandatory retirement of pilots once they reach their sixtieth birthday. Organizationally, this federally mandated policy weakens the organization. My best and most experienced pilots are being forced out of my company. If this policy is unchangeable, I must find a way to keep this incredible resource happy and employed in some form or fashion that augments my existing infrastructure. This disadvantage to my organization structure is a hurdle that is out of my control but directly affects the bottom line relative to people and organizational power. Reference: www.continental.com/company/investor.governance.asp

Overview of 12th Grade Math Curriculum

Overview of 12th Grade Math Curriculum By the time students graduate high school, they are expected to have a firm understanding of certain core mathematics concepts from their completed course of study in classes like Algebra II, Calculus, and Statistics. From understanding the basic properties of functions and being able to graph ellipses and hyperbolas in given equations to comprehending the concepts of limits, continuity, and differentiation in Calculus assignments, students are expected to fully grasp these core concepts in order to continue their studies in college courses. The following provides you with the basic concepts that should be attained by the end of the school year where mastery of the concepts of the previous grade is already assumed. Algebra II Concepts In terms of studying Algebra, Algebra II is the highest level high school students will be expected to complete and should grasp all core concepts of this field of study by the time they graduate. Although this class is not always available depending on the jurisdiction of the school district, the topics are also included in precalculus and other math classes students would have to take if Algebra II were not offered. Students should understand the properties of functions, the algebra of functions, matrices, and systems of equations as well as be able to identify functions as either linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial or rational functions. They should also be able to identify and work with radical expressions and exponents as well as the binomial theorem. In-depth graphing should also be understood including the ability to graph ellipses and hyperbolas of given equations as well as  systems of linear equations and inequalities, quadratics functions and equations. This can often include probability and statistics by using standard deviation measures to compare the scatter of sets of real-world data as well as permutations and combinations. Calculus  and Pre-Calculus Concepts For advanced math students who take a more challenging course load throughout their high school educations, understanding Calculus is essential to finishing off their mathematics curriculums. For other students on a slower learning track, Precalculus is also available. In Calculus, students should be able to successfully review polynomial, algebraic, and transcendental functions as well as be able to define functions, graphs, and limits.  Continuity, differentiation, integration, and applications using problem-solving as the context  will also be a required skill for those expecting to graduate with a Calculus credit. Understanding the  derivatives of functions and real-life applications of derivatives will help students to investigate the relationship between the derivative of a function and the key features of its graph as well as understand the rates of change and their applications. Precalculus students, on the other hand, will be required to understand more basic concepts of the field of study including being able to identify the properties of functions, logarithms, sequences and series, vectors polar coordinates, and complex numbers, and conic sections. Finite Math and Statistics Concepts Some curricula also include an introduction to Finite Math, which combines many of the outcomes listed in other courses with topics which include finance, sets, permutations of n objects known as combinatorics, probability, statistics, matrix algebra, and linear equations. Although this course is typically offered in 11th grade, remedial students may only need to understand the concepts of Finite Math if they take the class their senior year. Similarly, Statistics is offered in the 11th and 12th grades but contains a bit more specific data that students should familiarize themselves with before graduating high school, which include statistical analysis and summarizing and interpreting the data in meaningful ways. Other core concepts of Statistics include probability, linear and non-linear regression, hypothesis testing using binomial, normal, Student-t, and Chi-square distributions, and the use of the fundamental counting principle, permutations, and combinations. Additionally, students should be able to interpret and apply normal and binomial probability distributions as well as transformations to statistical data. Understanding and using the  Central Limit Theorem  and normal distribution patterns are also essential to fully comprehend the field of Statistics.

How to Land Your First Teaching Job

How to Land Your First Teaching Job Landing your first teaching job is not easy. It takes time, hard work and a lot of patience. Before you hit the ground running make sure you have the appropriate degree and credentials for the position you are applying for. Once thats all in order, follow these tips to help you get that dream job. Step 1: Create a Cover Letter Resumes have always been the most important piece of getting an employers attention. But when an employer has a stack of resumes to look through, how do you think yours will stand out? That is why a cover letter is essential to attach to your resume. It makes it easy for an employer to see if they even want to read your resume. It’s important to tailor your cover letter to the specific job you are applying for. Your cover letter should highlight your accomplishments and explain things that your resume cannot. If you have a special teaching certificate this is where you can add that. Make sure that you request an interview at the end of the cover letter; this will show them that you are determined to get that job. Step 2: Create Your Resume A well written, error-free resume will not only grab the attention of the prospective employer, but it will show them that you are a qualified contender for the job. A teacher resume should include identification, certification, teaching experience, related experience, professional development and related skills. You can add extras like activities, memberships, career objective or special honors and awards you received if you wish. Some employers look for certain teacher buzz words to see if you are in the loop. These words can include cooperative learning, hands-on learning, balanced literacy, discovery-based learning, Blooms Taxonomy, integrating technology, collaboration and facilitate learning. If you use these words in your resume and interview, it will show that you know what you are on top of issues in the education field. Step 3: Organize Your Portfolio A professional teaching portfolio is a great way to introduce your skills and achievements in a hands-on, tangible way. Its a way to showcase your best work to prospective employers beyond a simple resume. Nowadays its an essential component of the interview process. If you want to land a job in the education field, make sure you learn how to create and use a teaching portfolio. Step 4: Get Strong Letters of Recommendation For every teaching application you fill out, you will have to provide several letters of recommendation. These letters should be from professionals that have seen you in the education field, not from a family member or friend. The professionals you should ask can be your cooperating teacher, former education professor or instructor from student teaching. If you are in need of additional references you can ask a daycare or camp that you worked at. Make sure that these references are strong, if you think they do not do you justice, don’t use them. Step 5: Be Visible by Volunteering Volunteering for the school district you want to get a job in is the best way to be visible. Ask the administration if you can help out in the lunch room (schools can always use extra hands here) the library or even in a classroom that needs extra help. Even if it is only once a week it still is a great way to show the staff that you really want to be there and are making an effort. Step 6: Start Subbing in the District One of the best ways to get the attention of other teachers and the administration is to substitute in the district that you want to teach in. Student teaching is the perfect opportunity for you to get to your name out there and get to know the staff. Then, once you graduate you can apply to be a substitute in that school district and all the teachers that you networked with will call you to substitute for them. Tip: Make yourself a business card with your credentials and leave it on the desk of the teacher you subbed for and in the teachers lounge. Step 7: Get a Specialized Certification If you really want to stand out above the rest of the crowd then you should acquire a specialized teaching certification. This credential will show the prospective employer that you have a variety of skills and experience for the job. Employers will like that your knowledge will help enhance students learning. It also gives you the opportunity to apply for a variety of teaching jobs, not just one specific job. Now you are ready to learn how to ace your first teaching interview!

Envisioning America & What Caused the Pueblo Revolt Essay - 3

Envisioning America & What Caused the Pueblo Revolt - Essay Example The Spanish and English colonists were similar in the sense that they viewed themselves as someone who is superior whereas the Pueblo people and the American Indians were inferior people which made them a victim of the colonists’ superiority complex. Considering the English colonization, the English colonists viewed the native tribes they had encountered in North America as a group of people with well-established economic activities and relations related to agriculture and hunting. With regards to North America, the English people viewed the country as a nation that has a lot of natural resources that could contribute to the economic success of the English people. In fact, it was in North America where the Europeans found new foods including potatoes, tomatoes, and squash (Mancall, 1995, p. 5). Using religion as a strategy to colonize the Pueblos, the Spanish colonists viewed the Pueblos as a group of people who is weak and can be easily forced to follow the Spanish religion. On the contrary, the American Indians and Pueblos viewed the English and Spanish colonists as abusive and dangerous intruders. Frontiers of inclusion means that the act of intermixing and dealings between the races is allowed whereas the frontiers of exclusion means that settling took place in such as way that people are not allowed to intermix with other race and culture (Hutchison, 2003). Upon reading the books written by Mancall and Weber, it is safe to conclude that the â€Å"frontiers of inclusion† and â€Å"frontiers of exclusion† play a part in the ways that the English and the Spanish conducted their settlements in a foreign land. In the case of the English people, they use of frontiers of exclusion when settling in another country or territory. This is the main reason why the group of English people who colonized North America viewed their native tribe Indians as a group of individuals not equal to their own people but of a lower race (Hutchison, 2003, Mancall,

Bridget Jones Diary as the New Feminism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Bridget Jones Diary as the New Feminism - Essay Example Her lack of a love interest is the primary concern of her mother and the dominant thought in her mind. She spends the entire movie trying to work out her life in an acceptable fashion, working to try to choose between two men that continue to enter her social sphere. However, it is only when she is under the right male influence that she is able to achieve any kind of the stability and direction necessary to move forward in her life. Her greatest challenge, then, is to determine which man is the right one to help her move forward. All of her other accomplishments to that point have amounted to virtually nothing as a result of her flighty, feminine ways. Although one of the men in the story turns out to be just as flighty and directionless, this fact doesn’t emerge until near the end of the story, allowing both men throughout much of the movie to appear as though they are the quintessential man, strong and sturdy in their differing beliefs and goals and equally capable of provi ding Bridget with her needed stabilizing influence. Seen in this light, it is difficult to understand why the book and subsequent film became so popular with a contemporary audience. This paper is an attempt to explain this popularity and examine its significance in context of the ‘second wave feminism.’