Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Merchant of Venice Coursework Essay Shylock; Victim or Villain Example For Students

The Merchant of Venice Coursework Essay Shylock; Victim or Villain On the first reading of Shakespeares play, The Merchant of Venice, the character of Shylock the Jew seemed to me to be that of a villain. Because it is a play, an audience in Shakespeares time may well have thought the same and, indeed, may have been expected to do so. The reason for this is that Elizabethan audiences expected to be shown stereotypes and it is down to the skill of the dramatist to keep them guessing. As the play unfolds, the character of Shylock develops so that he can also be seen, by more discerning audiences, as a victim. Exploring this contrast between the two views is something I find very interesting. We will write a custom essay on The Merchant of Venice Coursework Shylock; Victim or Villain specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Throughout that part of the play in which he features, Shylock gives us many opportunities to see different aspects of the character that Shakespeare portrays, as I intend to show. Three thousand ducats. From Shylocks first words, Shakespeare shows him to be focussed on his job as a moneylender, which was one of the very few professions that Jewish men could have had in a Christian city. From the very beginning, an Elizabethan audience would have seen Shylock as a business man, driven by the unwavering desire for profit at the expense of the Christians whom he despises. When Bassanio comes to take out a loan in Antonios name, Shylock shows immediately that he will grant it I think I will take his bond. , but not for the reasons he gives to Bassanio. Although the Jew pretends friendship to the pair, I would be friends with you, and have your love, he is all the while plotting some way of ridding himself of Antonio, who, besides being a Christian, is a personal enemy of Shylock, How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian. This hatred, however, is not without a past. Shylock tells the audience how, by Antonios actions, his profits as a moneylender have been damaged, He lends out money gratis, and brings down the rate of usance. , and of how he has suffered on account of Antonios harsh words, You call me a misbeliever, cut-throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gabardine. So even though Shylocks villainous side is on view, his hatred is not entirely without reason and with a thirst for vengeance such as his, you can see why he would feel the need for revenge. Shylocks apparent good humour lulls the two gentlemen into a false sense of security, so that when he insists on charging no interest, Antonio at least is not suspicious. Instead Shylock jokes with the pair saying that If you repay me not on such a day .. let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh. Even though his blood-thirsty bond shows Shylock to be both cruel and vindictive, I think that Antonios past actions are some justification for Shylocks attitude. Before Shylock leaves his house to attend Bassanios dinner party, he seems ill at ease. He calls for his daughter, Jessica, with strict instructions over her duties and her behaviour during his absence. Shylock seems unsure whether he should attend the supper, for he fears that in his absence something awful will happen, There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, for I did dream of money bags tonight. , nevertheless he decides to go. The situation is made worse when Lancelot, who has recently left his job as Shylocks servant and has no reason to be afraid of him anymore, starts teasing the Jew about his premonitions and his wariness about leaving the house. It seems to me that Shylock leaving the house of an evening is a rare occurrence. Hear you me Jessica, lock up my doors. Shylocks obsession over every single detail shows his protectiveness of both his money and his daughter. Although this makes him seem very miserly, his reasons are understandable. As without his money he has no security nor any means of maintaining his social status. Shylocks attitude towards Jessica can be seen as either cruelty or over-protectiveness. I think it is the latter, mainly because in those days, it would be normal for a Jewish father with a daughter of marriageable age. On reading the play we can assume, because Jessica is the one managing the house and the fact that there is no reference to her mother being there, that she has had only her fathers attitude to relate to. In his turn Shylock would have had only the role-model of a traditional Jewish father to guide him. When he hears about the masque, Shylock immediately instructs Jessica to Stop my houses ears .. let not the sound of shallow foppery enter and not to thrust your head into the public street to gaze on Christian fools demonstrating his knowledge of how drunken young men might behave. Shylocks concerns however, are wasted on Jessica, who later that night plans to elope with Lorenzo, taking most of Shylocks money with her O Lorenzo .. I shall end this strife, become a Christian and thy loving wife. This dramatic irony may have proved entertaining to an Elizabethan audience, but it is really one of the worst things to happen to Shylock. To my mind, Act 2 Scene 8, where Shylock realises that Jessica has not only eloped, but taken a great deal of his money as well, seems to be one of the most tragic scenes in the play. This, however, is not its main purpose. In this scene the plot is moved forward, and the device used is two unimportant people, like a Greek chorus, telling us what has happened. The famous speech, My daughter! O my ducats! that is reported by Salarino and Solanio, serves to deflate Shylocks character, that had dominated the play before. Shylock had become hysterical. I never heard a passion so confused. As a result he has been made a public figure of fun, taunted by the boys of Venice as he wanders the streets, searching for his daughter. The way it is reported to the audience, is one that reinforces the Jewish stereotype: that he would value his money more than his daughter. Throughout this part of the scene, Shylock is never referred to by name, merely as the dog Jew or the villain Jew which is dismissive. The scene now looks forward to the parting of Antonio and Bassanio, as the two of them are separated. The reference to how deep the love is between them, and with affection wondrous sensible he wrung Bassanios hand, and so they parted. I think he only loves the world for him. , was added to lighten the mood, and to try to lift the doubt that has been set in the audiences mind after learning that a shipwreck has occurred in the Narrow Seas. This increases the dramatic tension, because if the ship belongs to Antonio then he will not be able to pay for the bond. This is especially worrying, as with Shylock raging for his lost daughter and money, he will have no qualms about exacting the penalty of a pound of flesh. This scene was used, I think, to create more of a contrast between the Jews and the Christians, and to increase the audiences dislike of Shylock. However, although Solanio and Salarino are trying to make Shylock look even more like a villain, the way they make fun of his loss and his grief, make him seem to me more a victim than ever. In Act 3 Scene 1, where Shylock next appears, his true character shows through most clearly. At the beginning, Solanio and Salarino confirm, that it was indeed one of Antonios vessels that was wrecked in the English Channel, and that they are concerned for him. When Shylock enters, the two men immediately begin to taunt and bait him, How now, Shylock, what news among the merchants? . .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 , .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .postImageUrl , .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 , .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03:hover , .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03:visited , .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03:active { border:0!important; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03:active , .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03 .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6732f70f74d5087701b4df98026eef03:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How would you direct Act3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet for a contemporary audience at the Globe Theatre EssayFirst they try to get him to react to Jessicas flight, I for my part knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal,. Then they press him on the fact that he appears to have lost his investment in Antonios ship, not realising that it is really the pound of flesh he desires, It will feed my revenge. . Knowing that Shylock is feeling vulnerable, they persistently harass him until he loses his temper. When Shylock does react, the duo get a lot more than they had bargained for. Beforehand Shylocks obsession with his bond has been showing through, underlining his thi rst for Antonios blood. He says repeatedly, Let him look to his bond. . When Shylock can stand it no longer, he makes one of the most famous speeches in the entire play, beginning I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? It is a speech that, to an Elizabethan audience, would have been years ahead of its time, looking at racism from an almost modern perspective. The effect was that although Solanio and Salarino managed to achieve what they had wanted in provoking Shylock, they actually ended up looking like fools, with Shylock as the more powerful character. When the pair leave, it is the signal for Shylocks associate, Tubal, to enter, bringing yet more bad news. After searching for news of Jessica, Tubal returns with what he has found, I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her. The way Shylock reacts to these tidings is to curse Jessica, I would my daughter were dead at my feet, and mourn the loss of his money and jewels, rather than her flight. I think that this is mainly because Shylock is still coming to terms with Jessicas betrayal and his mind is in a state of turmoil. Another reason however, could be that with the blow to his pride and the way he sees money as equal to status, he is covering up the hurt he feels inside by trying to give the impression to his fellow Jews that it is the money that is the greater loss. Tubal is an interesting character because you cannot tell whether he is on Shylocks side or not. Throughout the conversation he appears slightly two-faced, sometimes coming out with a piece of good news, other men have ill luck too. Antonio as I heard , at which Shylock becomes jubilant, I thank thee, good Tubal: good news a ha, and sometimes being very spiteful, Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night four score ducats. Which instantly depresses Shylock again, Thou stickst a dagger in me. This scene initially shows Shylock as victim, owing to Salarino and Solanios taunts. This is emphasised by Tubals snide comments, more surprisingly as he is also a Jew. However the villainous aspect of Shylocks character also emerges. His words reveal his deep hatred of Antonio and the reason for them, I will have the heart of him if he forfeit, for were he out of Venice I can make what merchandise I will,. After it is found that all of Antonios ships have been wrecked, taking with them the means to repay Shylock, Antonio is taken to a prison to await trial. By way of the jailor, Antonio has managed to arrange a meeting with Shylock in the street, in the hope of reasoning with him, I pray thee hear me speak. Shylock of course is on the defensive, and as he believes that attack is the best form of defence, he is lashing out at any attempt of Antonios to reason with him, I will not hear thee speak in order to hide the vulnerability that he is feeling inside. In Solanios words, Shylock is an impenetrable cur and will not be moved from his resolution to have his pound of flesh. His reason well I know: I oft delivered from his forfeitures many that have at times made moan to me; therefore he hates me. This scene really sets out, the reasons why Shylock has such a hatred of Antonio. At this point, an Elizabethan audience would really see Antonio as the suffering martyr and would support him for his goodness and his bravery coupled with dry humour in the face of death, These griefs and losses have so baited me that I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh tomorrow to my bloody creditor. The reason that both Shylock and Antonio are so sure that the Jew will win his case is because in Venice, justice comes above even the Doge (or Duke) and that it is not prejudiced towards the many different races that flock to the City. The Duke cannot deny the law since that the trade and profit of the City consisteth of all nations. So even though Shylocks fixation on his bond is outwardly very villainous indeed, he is just trying to carry out the law, and his attitude is due to him being victimised in the past. Set in the courtroom of the Dukes palace in Venice, Act 4 scene 1 is the longest and most complex scene in the play. It brings together all the different characters and stories that have been developing throughout the play. Before Shylock has even entered the court, there is prejudice forming against him from the Duke and the friends of Antonio. Thou art come to answer a stoney adversary, an inhuman wretch. This should not have been allowed to happen as not even the Duke can go against the law and his judgement is supposed to be unbiased. I do oppose my patience with his fury and am armed to suffer with a quietness of spirit. Again Antonio is ingratiating himself with the audience and the people around him, in his portrayal of the goodly Christian. Whether or not he is sincere, it is hard to tell, but I am of the opinion that he is not as virtuous as we are led to believe, trying to get more support for his cause. This means that the people around him, as well as the audience, are bound to see Shylock as even more of a villain than they would in other circumstances. When Shylock does enter the courtroom, the Duke immediately begins to patronize him, I think so too, that thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice to the last hour of act giving the Jew a chance to drop the charges against Antonio, releasing him from the bond. This is the Dukes way of saying, all right Shylock, youve made your point, now let Antonio go and well say no more on the matter but as he had said a moment before, Shylock is Uncapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy and so will not be swayed from his decision, and even if he did, it would be admitting that the Christians have won, which he would never do. The Duke then goes on to say, insensitively, Glancing an eye on his losses that have of late so huddled on his back not sparing a thought for the fact that Shylock too, has recently lost money and jewels. Here, although feeling sorry for Shylock as the victim of the Christians words, I feel repelled by the answer he gives to the Duke, Youll ask me why I rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive three thousand ducats. Ill not answer that but say it is my humour. Also, if he just gives in, his pride will be damaged, and it goes against his instincts to just allow the Christians total victory. .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e , .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .postImageUrl , .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e , .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e:hover , .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e:visited , .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e:active { border:0!important; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e:active , .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u32faf6cce9aed816e45c9e33cf9e651e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Great Expectations an exciting opening to the story EssayAntonio at this point, has realised that it is fruitless to try and change Shylocks mind, You may as well do anything most hard as seek to soften that . his Jewish heart and does not want to satisfy Shylock by begging. Even when Bassanio offers the Jew six thousand ducats instead of three, Shylock replies that if the six thousand ducats were multiplied by six, he would still have his bond. Shylock also compares his bond with slavery, saying that if he told all those gathered there to Let them be free! Marry them to your heirs! that they would not, saying only that The slaves are ours. . His point is that he has bough t the bond, and it belongs to him, so why should their words make him give it up, arguing that If you deny me, fie upon your law I stand for judgement and that to deny him the bond would be breaking the law and going against all Venetian principles. So essentially, Shylock sees the advantages of hiding behind the law, which could be interpreted as the action of both a villain and a victim, but to me it is merely a tactical decision. The Duke decides that, unless a doctor that he has sent for to determine the matter comes, then he will dismiss the court. Nerissa, dressed as a lawyers clerk, then enters, bringing with her letters from Bellario. While the Duke reads these letters, Shylock, so confident of winning his case, is sharpening his knife in anticipation. This is a very threatening gesture, and to do that in the middle of the courtroom, in front of all those people, he must have known that with the law on his side, there was no way that he could lose. Gratiano especially takes great offence at this, and asks in anger and desperation Can no prayers pierce thee? Shylocks calm and collected reply, No, none that thou hast wit enough to make is unpleasant. Portia, in the guise of the lawyer Balthazar, then asks that Shylock be merciful, but is silenced by Shylocks On what compulsion must I? . Her silence however is short-lived and she immediately launches into her famous speech, beginning The quality of mercy is not strained, This speech, for Shylock, is the ultimate test of character and draws heavily on what Portia sees to be the values of Christianity. She tells how Mercy is above this sceptred sway meaning that mercy is a God-given gift, rather than the privilege of kings, and that we are most like God when we are being merciful, It is an attribute to God himself, and earthly power doth then show likest Gods when mercy seasons justice. Although this is a highly compassionate speech, it falls on deaf ears, My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond, which has an echo of the trial of Jesus Christ. When Shylock says the line, An oath, an oath. I have an oath in heaven! Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice he is bound to be seen as either victim or villain by different people, as to break an oath to heaven would be perjury, but might also be seen as an excuse. Shylock continues to show the villainous side of his character throughout the scene, saying such things as, By my soul I swear there is no power in the tongue of man to alter me. Also, from the moment Portia has arrived in the courtroom, she has given Shylock the opportunity to be merciful, Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, to stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. but every time Shylock has thrown it back in her face, I cannot find it, tis not in the bond always, completely fixated on the bond. Tarry a little just as Shylocks knife is about to enter Antonios chest, Portia comes out with her master-stroke. In the bond there is no clause that allows, in the taking of the forfeit, the spilling of any of Antonios blood. At this, Shylock suddenly becomes quite afraid as he sees that his case is failing, and we begin to see the stronger side of Portia, and the cruelty with which she intends to thwart Shylock, Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirest. Shylock realises that he must renounce his claim, but Portia uses his own words against him, pushing him so that he loses both his revenge and the money Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, to be so taken at thy peril, Jew From a gloating man, triumphant in the prospects of revenge, Portia has stripped Shylock of all he hoped to gain, and still she is not satisfied. Finally, Shylock is forced to become a Christian. This is the worst possible thing that could happen to Shylock. Even though Antonios action is supposedly merciful I dont think he realises that he has just destroyed the very essence of who Shylock is. Now, not only his daughter and much of his money have been taken from him, but his religion and his pride. When he utters the words I am content I feel so much sympathy for him as a victim, and he leaves the courtroom humiliated, a broken man. The difference between the views of a 16th century audience and a 21st century audience is that first and foremost, we in the 21st century have had the opportunity to read and study the script, whereas in Elizabethan times, the audience would have been swung first one way then the other as the plot unfolded. Nowadays we also have very different views on how to behave, for example, racial prejudice is recognized and controlled by law, unlike then, where it was acceptable for people to make racist comments. Portia herself openly says of Morocco Let all of his complexion choose me so. From a 16th century audiences point of view, not much would actually be known about other races, therefore Shylock as an outsider, would be seen as more of a villain. Overall I think that Shakespeare intended Shylock to be seen as a villain, because he knew that that was what would please his audience, but he has written a complex character, that is bound to raise questions from the more thoughtful members of any audience, for instance, when Antonio sentences him to become a Christian, he knows that Shylock will no longer belong to the Jewish community, but will never be able to belong to the Christian community either a paper Christian. What is interesting is that those who compel him to conform, in this case Portia and Antonio, are as much paper Christians as he is, for example, in her long speech, Portia talks at length of the quality of mercy, yet when she might have shown mercy to Shylock, she carried on, until she had taken from him all he held dear. In my opinion, I believe that it is impossible to separate victim and villain as they are not opposites. They overlap, and so I cannot define the character of Shylock as one or the other, as there is evidence of both, although I think that is what Shakespeare himself was thinking when he wrote the part.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Rules and Usages for Reflexive Pronouns in English

Rules and Usages for Reflexive Pronouns in English Reflexive pronouns are used much less often in English than in other languages. This explanation provides an overview of reflexive pronoun use in English with explanations and examples. English Reflexive Pronouns Here is an overview of reflexive pronouns matched with subject pronouns.   I: myselfyou: yourselfhe: himselfshe: herselfit: itselfwe: ourselvesyou: yourselvesthey: themselves The reflexive pronoun oneself  is used when speaking in general about a situation. An alternate form is to use the reflexive pronoun yourself to speak about people in general: One can hurt oneself on those nails over there, so be careful!You can enjoy yourself by simply taking the time to relax.   Reflexive Pronoun Use Explained Use reflexive pronouns when the subject and the object are the same with reflexive verbs:   I enjoyed myself when I was in Canada.She hurt herself in the garden.   Here is a list of some of the most common reflexive verbs in English: to enjoy oneself:  I enjoyed myself last summer.to hurt oneself:  She hurt herself playing baseball last week.to kill oneself:  Killing oneself is considered a sin in many cultures.to market oneself as something:  Hes trying to market himself as a consultant.to convince oneself:  Peter tried to convince himself to move on with his life.to deny oneself:  Its a bad idea to deny oneself the occasional scoop of ice-cream.  to encourage oneself:  We encourage ourselves to learn something new every week.to pay oneself:  Sharon pays herself $5,000 a month.to make oneself something: George makes himself a sandwich. Reflexive Verbs That Change Meaning Some verbs change their meaning slightly when they are used with reflexive pronouns. Here is a list of some of the most common verbs with changes in meaning: to amuse oneself to have fun aloneto apply oneself   to try hardto content oneself to be happy with a limited amount of somethingto behave oneself to act properlyto find oneself to learn about and understand yourselfto help oneself   to not ask for help from othersto see oneself as something/someone to think about yourself in a specific manner Examples She amused herself by playing cards on the train.  They helped themselves to the food on the table.  Ill behave myself at the party. I promise!   As an Object of a Preposition Referring to Subject Reflexive verbs are also used as the object of a preposition in order to refer back to the subject: Tom bought a motorcycle for himself.They purchased a round trip ticket to New York for themselves.We made everything in this room by ourselves.Jackie took a weekend holiday to be by herself. To Emphasize Something Reflexive pronouns are also used to emphasize something when someone insists on doing something on their own rather than relying on someone else: No, I want to finish it myself!   I dont want anyone helping me.She insists on talking to the doctor herself.   She didnt want anyone else talking to the doctor. Frank tends to eat everything himself.   He doesnt let the other dogs get any food. As the Agent of an Action Reflexive pronouns are also used following the prepositional phrase all by to express the subject did something on their own: He drove to school all by himself.My friend learned  to invest in the stock market all by herself.I chose my clothing all by myself.   Problem Areas Many languages such as Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Russian often use verb forms which employ reflexive pronouns. Here are some examples: alzarsi:  Italian / get upcambiarsi:  Italian / change clothessich anziehen:  German / get dressedsich erholen:  German / get betterse baigner:  French / to bathe, swimse doucher:  French / to shower In English, reflexive verbs are much less common. Sometimes students make the mistake of translating directly from their native language and adding a reflexive pronoun when not necessary. Incorrect: I get myself up, shower myself and have breakfast before I leave for work.  She becomes herself angry when she doesnt get her way.   Correct: I get up, shower and have breakfast before I leave for work.She becomes angry when she doesnt get her way.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Muslim Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Muslim - Annotated Bibliography Example This article explains the in-depth knowledge on the experience the Muslim youths in Canada who wants to maintain their Islamic culture face from the dominant culture. The article also shows how Muslim students are able to negotiate and maintain their religious culture within secular public schools. A 22 year old student by the name Karim from Pakistan who were educated in Canadian school explains the struggles between conformity and resistance as a process of maintaining its identity. He explains that ‘it is challenging to live in a white society trying to be accepted while at the same time struggling to practice Islam, in his experience he found out that it takes many years to build up. The article contains information on the challenges the Muslim students goes through in Canadian schools and how they are able to negotiate and maintain their culture within the secular institutions. The author of this article explains the ethno-religious oppression facing the Muslim girls studying at gender segregated Islamic schools, how the young girls reside at the nexus of dual oppression, confronting racism and Islamophobia in the society, also withstanding the patriarchal types of religious oppression in their communities. One example that supports this oppression is banning of hijab in public schools in France. The article contains the information on gendering Islamophobia, the politics of veiling, and veiling in public and Islamic schools, and their challenges. The article talks about postcolonial and transnational theories and post 9/11 disposition as frameworks for finding out the live experience of Muslim immigrants youths in US public schools, and how Muslims youths are viewed after the 9/11 attack. The 9/11 attack has had a repercussion on the lives of Muslims students in US. The attack led to islamphobia hysteria and provoked the war on terror, this has led into the formation of Islamic

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 20

Reflection - Essay Example Writing has helped me discover myself about my high points from a self-evaluated point of view. I strongly rely on spoken vocabulary. I write what I can say aloud making my writing direct and easily understood by others. Right from grade1 days I was told reading a lot builds our vocabulary and the greatest speakers in the world are equally chronic readers. At a personal point of view, my reading habit has greatly helped create the writer in me since it not only nurtures my grammar but also gives me a diversified approach to different situations. In addition, I constantly listen to my writing as if it were spoken aloud. This gives rhythm to my writing. Truth is highly compromised especially where the consequences that come with telling the truth are adverse making it subjective and objective and hence will now be propaganda and not factual. As a writer, I do not subscribe to such beliefs among people since I believe a writers duty is to tell the truth no matter how gross the circumstance is or whoever forms part of the story. I have a memory strong on recognition. I am not outstanding on recall but when someone or something triggers a memory, I retrieve it all a fresh with a new enticing version of it. I regard this rather advantageous as opposed to photographic memory, which impedes the imaginative process, which is why I am glad I do not have one. For a writer I suspect that recognition is more important than recall since when a memory of an individual is buried, all types of interesting links are formed in your mind. No machine is a hundred percent efficient, and as humans our efficiency is relatively lower than that hence I greatly embrace my weaknesses as I strive to work on them. Reluctance to edit is a major hiccup I face. When I am done with my writing, my mind drifts to something else and thus not unless I am willing I end up not editing the work. I have a phobia about fiction. When it comes to creating

Monday, November 18, 2019

A Brief Review of Creativity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Brief Review of Creativity - Essay Example The idea that creativity is a result of brain function is based on observations of patients who experienced the split-brain operation (in them, corpus callosum was cut completely). The authors of the article present brief descriptions and examples of how patient with split brain behave in different situation. Then, the authors describe the fundamental finding that the hemispheres can function both independently and simultaneously. In this regard, Bogen and Bogen present their views on creativity and lack of creativity in the end of the article. More specifically, they state that corpus callosum plays an important role in creativity for it transfers information between the two hemispheres. For creativity, a partial hemispheric independence is important as well due to the fact that it is responsible for the dissociation of different stages creativity goes through in its development. While the above-mentioned stages of creativity take place in different hemispheres, corpus callosum passes the information obtained at these stages from one hemisphere to another, and it is this transfer which results in creativity. Bogen, J. E., and J. M. Bogen. "Split-Brains: Interhemispheric Exchange in Creativity."California Institute of Technology. N.p., 2003. Web. 18 May 2015.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Philosophy of artificial intelligence

Philosophy of artificial intelligence State and explain Lucass argument against the possibility of AI. what do you think is the best reply to Lucas argument? GÃ ¶del suggested that the mind was a computerised mechanism. He suggested that the mind was merely a formulation of logic that was associated with a system and structure of language as representative of the world. This implied that intelligence was a learning process that was based upon accepting and rejecting hypothesis about the world through a set of formula that was deemed either provable or un-provable within the system of logic (GÃ ¶del, 1934). This idea was backed up by cognitive research based upon the human capacity and nature of learning. Bruner et al, devised a test to see how it was the human mind constructed categories of logic, believing it to be by way of GÃ ¶del’s hypothesis acceptance and rejection (Bruner et al, 1956). He used a variety of shapes in a variety of conditions some sharing the same number of shapes, some sharing the same colour of shapes and some sharing the same number of borders surrounding the shapes. From the results of his experiment, B runer claimed that ther were two forms of learning that were apparent. These were regarded as successive scanning, which entertained one hypothesis at a time and conservative scanning, which sought to eliminate classes of hypotheses such as border, number of shapes and colour similarity and dissimilarity (Bruner et al, 1956). This growing belief in the mind as a mathematic translator of the meaning of experience provided the foundation for Turing who surmised that artificial intelligence was a form of intelligence that could learn according to the coded principles of mathematic equations and could be understood as mimicry of human behaviour. He subsequently suggested that responses through a rejection and acceptance of truths that accords to the conceptual framework were all that the human mind consisted of. This idea of the mind as a programmed agent, rejecting the truths of logical and mathematic equations was fundamental to GÃ ¶del. To GÃ ¶del, the structural reality that an in telligent being saw before i implied that Artificial intelligence could be created in accordance to that structure and that human life, or perhaps experiential living, was merely a reaction to certain stimuli based upon a structural code of predetermined logic just as it is with a computer simulation. Unhappy at this model of the cognitive mind or with the notion of intelligence as being founded upon formula and theorem, J.R. Lucas, argued that GÃ ¶dels theorem posed many problems in his view that the mind was like a computer. Speaking of the limitations that the quantitative artificial brain may encounter in terms of acceptance and un-acceptance of certain truths according to its programming, Lucas suggested that ‘All that GÃ ¶del has proved is that a mind cannot produce a formal proof of the consistency of a formal system inside the system itself: but there is no objection to going outside the system and no objection to producing informal arguments for the consistency either of a formal system or of something less formal and less systematized. Such informal arguments will not be able to be completely formalized: but then the whole tenor of GÃ ¶dels results is that we ought not to ask, and cannot obtain, complete formalization.’ (Lucas, 1961) Rationale was provided for Lucas’s approach with the development of the Chinese room experiment by Searle. Searle indicated that even though an artificial intelligence could recognise, incorporate and subsequently mimic the external behaviours required to appear human (or emotionally intelligent) that this did not necessarily indicate any evidence of an awareness of what this behaviour meant or symbolised to other humans in essence, it did not understand the true human meaning. He used the example of an English speaking human going inside the mechanical mind of a robot and using certain symbols as a coded ’representative’ for the instruction of an unknown language i.e. Chinese (Searle, 1980). He then indicated that although the human had a form of code to illicit a response to the language of Chinese he did not actually know what the meaning or significance of what he was doing related to. Essentially, it was simply a response according toa pre programmed code. Following this criticisms of artificial intelligence as a mechanical process involving a pre programmed innate knowledge of the environment and of human behaviour which had led to Searle‘s Chinese room experiment, Lucas reasoned that, ‘Complexity often does introduce qualitative differences. Although it sounds implausible, it might turn out that above a certain level of complexity, a machine ceased to be predictable, even in principle, and started doing things on its own account, or, to use a very revealing phrase, it might begin to have a mind of its own. It might begin to have a mind of its own. It would begin to have a mind of its own when it was no longer entirely predictable and entirely docile, but was capable of doing things which we recognized as intelligent, and not just mistakes or random shots, but which we had not programmed into it.’ (Lucas, 1961) This seems to define what is human and what is machine. For Lucas, he does not dispute the theoretical idea that artificial intelligence can become as like humans. However, he does make the distinction between a mechanical automaton and an autonomous mind that thinks free of systematic code that perceives experience through an acceptance of logical truths and rejection of unfounded abstraction. Bringing into context the notion of the human mind as being a determinant for the structure of knowledge rather than a logical interpreter of that knowledge, Lucas reasoned that if, unlike Turing had suggested, a mechanical mind could begin to think free of it‘s programmed code then, ‘It would cease to be a machine, within the meaning of the act. What is at stake in the mechanist debate is not how minds are, or might be, brought into being, but how they operate. It is essential for the mechanist thesis that the mechanical model of the mind shall operate according to mechanical principles, that is, that we can understand the operation of the whole in terms of the operations of its parts, and the operation of each part either shall be determined by its initial state and the construction of the machine, or shall be a random choice between a determinate number of determinate operations’ (Lucas, 1961) However, although his argument backed up by Searle’s Chinese room experiment gave reasonable rationale for a rejection of a mechanical intelligence based upon the ability of the subject to see outside of a logical structure, which was not necessarily pre determined or pre programmed, it did accord to the sentimental notion of liberal humanity. In reaction to this notion French philosopher Jean Baudrillard noted some crucial factors in the reality of humanities cultural condition that could be seen as contradicting this liberal freedom that Lucas prescribed. Suggesting that the current moral reality that figured as so crucial to Lucas’ rationale, was being replaced by ‘a hedonistic morality of pure satisfaction, like a new state of nature at the heart of hyper civilisation’ Baudrillard prescribed the notion of the hyper real as being a simulation that was beyond that of a logical code that applied to a structure of knowledge and instead deterred from idelogi cal frameworks that informed a notion of liberal humanity (Baudrillard, 1968, p.3). He suggested that, ‘A whole imagery based on contact, a sensory mimicry and a tactile mysticism, basically ecology in its entirety, comes to be grafted on to this universe of operational simulation, multi-stimulation and multi response. This incessant test of successful adaptation is naturalised by assimilating it to animal mimicry. , and even to the Indians with their innate sense of ecology tropisms, mimicry, and empathy: the ecological evangelism of open systems, with positive or negative feedback, will be engulfed in this breach, with an ideology of regulation with information that is only an avatar, in accordance of a more flexible patter.’ (Baudrillard, 1976, p.9) However, what Baudrillard does is implement the idea of a simulated code that works by replacing the notion of humanistic ideology that once informed the gap sophisticated and complex gap between the subject and the environment, such as social exchange and communal ideas. By doing this Baudrillard then shows gave example of how this simulated code informed a new humanity and shaped intelligence to be un-conformist to a life according to the meaning supported by the notion of humanity, but instead created an imaginary life that was understood and identified with by its relationship to the values apparent within an external code being communed essentially, placing life itself as a simulated relationship of the subject and his / her own choice of object. This meant that essentially the human emphasis on the mysteries of the human mind emphasised by Lucas were just as questionable and as determinist as the artificial intelligence that GÃ ¶del prescribed. This can be seen as the fundame ntaly crucial contemporary reply to Lucas’ argument for artificial intelligence. Bibliography Baudrillard, J., (1976) Symbolic Exchange and Death Taken from: The Order of Simulacra (1993) London: Sage. Bruner, J, S., Goodnow, J, J., and Austin, G, A., (1956) A Study of Thinking New York: John Wiley and Sons. GÃ ¶del (1934) Original Proof Applies Taken from his Lectures at the Institute of Advanced Study, New Jersey: Princeton. Lucas, J, R., (1961) Minds, Machines, and Godel Philosophy, 36, 112-127. Searle, J, R,. (1980) Minds, brains, and programs. Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 3, (3), 417-457. Turing, A, M., (1950) Computing Machinery and Intelligence, Mind, pp. 433-60, reprinted in The World of Mathematics, edited by James R. Newmann, pp. 2099-2123.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Tobacco Advertisements Essay -- Marketing, Legal Issues, Smoking

Tobacco advertisements have been a sensitive subject in America especially among parents who do not want their children to become smokers. I know from personal experience that tobacco is extremely toxic and can do major bodily harm. My grandfather was a chain smoker for over twenty years. He started smoking in his late teens and he died from lung problems that were caused by his addiction to cigarette smoking. My father is also a chain smoker and he started smoking when he was sixteen. He is starting to experience the same problems that my grandfather had due to his chain smoking. This history of smokers in my family has struck a cord in me. It has caused me to look further at the history of tobacco advertisements aimed to people under the age of eighteen, past precedent in court that was passed based on these advertisements, and current trends in tobacco advertisements today. The first print tobacco advertisements that used celebrities as the main focus of the advertisements came about during the 1950’s in America. Huge celebrities such as Phillip Morris would endorse cigarette smoking in print advertisements. This type of marketing technique involves many social psychological theories. One theory is the Social Impact Theory. According to three authors the Social Impact Theory is, â€Å" . . . interprets â€Å"social pressure† quite literally: people experience psychological forces pressing on them, just as they experience physical forces such as sound and weight† (Breckler, Olson, and Wiggins 431). One sub-category of this theory is the Liking Technique. According to Steven Breckler, James Olson, and Elizabeth Wiggins the Liking Technique is, â€Å" A strategy to increase compliance, based on the fact that people are more likely ... ... that they must â€Å"spend $500 million a year on anti-tobacco advertising† (397). The problem with this is that some people such as McLaren question if these â€Å"anti-tobacco advertisements† really have an effect on the consumers in specific, consumers under the age of eighteen. (See exhibit B). Language in tobacco advertisements have certainly evolved and adapted itself since the 1950’s. It is under constant watch by the FDA, which was made possible by class action suits that ultimately led to legislation such as the Tobacco Control Act, and the FDA Tobacco Regulation Bill. If people under the age of eighteen become more informed on the facts of language in tobacco advertisements, then they will probably be less likely to smoke a cigarette. So hopefully future generations will be the solution to this controversial subject of language in tobacco advertisements.