Ambiguous Language as an Opportunity for Mental Development Free Essay Example, 1500 words

The statement seems to imply something negative at first considering that language is supposed to unify people by having similar interpretations. But if one thinks very deeply about it, he will realize that it is but logical to get different kinds of reaction to the same material basically because no two people are the same in the first place. Take for example the sentence, Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as is his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart (Fitzgerald 15). Showing this statement to two or more individuals and asking them to interpret it would undoubtedly result in unique answers that have varying sparks of interest. However, it would be inappropriate to declare one person as correct in his or her analysis over the other because of their essential individuality. Each person has his or her own family background, education, past experiences, social interactions, and exposure to literature that these factors are going t o certainly affect the way the person will give the meaning to this statement. In this way, purposely ambiguous language gives a wide room for all individuals to freely allow their thoughts to travel to places where they have never been. We will write a custom essay sample on Ambiguous Language as an Opportunity for Mental Development or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

The Effects Of Creole Culture In The Awakening By Kate Chopin

The psychological theory of nurture states that an individual’s environment affects who they are. One’s environment includes factors such as early childhood experiences, how they were raised, and the society in which they live. This theory was tested in Albert Bandura’s social learning experiment, in which he demonstrated that people learn by observing others. He did this by showing children can learn aggressive behaviors by observing another person acting aggressively. On the other hand, one has the ability to change these learned behaviors or traits if they choose to. In the novel The Awakening, Kate Chopin demonstrates society’s ability to influence how one is viewed, but if one finds they do not fit the persona they have assumed, they†¦show more content†¦Along with living up to this towering expectation they were presumed to â€Å"live their lives largely homebound, taking care of the cooking, cleaning, and child rearing,† (Sallus) whi ch restricted a woman of this time’s value to what she could do and how she could serve others. Edna says her children’s absence was a relief in a sense because â€Å"It seemed to free her of a responsibility which she had blindly assumed and for which Fate had not fitted her.† (Chopin 25). This reveals that Edna feels as though she does not fit the role of the mother, nor does she want to. Edna later argues to Madame Ratignolle, the epitome of a motherwoman, that she would give up the unessential for her children, for instance money or even her own life, but she would never sacrifice herself. Madame Ratignolle demonstrates the values of a woman in their society when she replies with: â€Å"... but a woman who would give her life for her children could do no more than that--your Bible tells you so. Im sure I couldnt do more than that.† (Chopin 64). This shows that Edna differs from the women in her society because she places herself above her family and focuses on her own happiness rather than tending to her children and husband’s every last need or want. From even the first few chapters of the novel it is evident that Edna is becoming aware of her concealed wants and desires as she begins to distance herself from the society that she considers herself to be an outsider in. While walking in town EdnaShow MoreRelated Kate Chopin’s The Awakening Essay4153 Words   |  17 PagesKate Chopin’s The Awakening Kate Chopin’s The Awakening should be seen as depicting the discontentment that comes from self-gratification rather than the glorification of delighting in one’s fantasies. Chopin describes the central idea of one who is seeking to please her personal needs and desires and, in the process, neglects to notice how her actions affect others. The protagonist, Edna, is not able to find peace or happiness in the accepted daily life that a woman of her era and socialRead MoreThe Awakening Feminist Analysis1270 Words   |  6 PagesThe influence of culture within society may lead to detrimental outcomes. Oppression is not the intention of society, though through harsh political and social standards one will feel compelled to make brash decisions. Kate Chopin, author of The Awakening, provides feminist criticism of traditional motherhood, marriage, and conformity. Edna Pontellier, the female protagonist within the novel, grows to desire independence and control over her life. Throughout the story, Edna epitomizes a feministRead MoreKate Chopin s The Awakening Essay1617 Words   |  7 PagesIn 1899, Kate Chopin had published The Awakening, an American literature classic. Set in Victorian Louisiana, Chopin presented a world where woman are often given a limited amount of options in the many difficult choices we face today in life and bounded to a certain status. Stephen Greenblatt proclaims that the â€Å"beliefs and practices that form a given culture function as a pervasive technology of control, a set of limits†¦ to which individuals must conform† as well as that â€Å"literature†¦ has been one

American Invovment in Vietnam Essay - 881 Words

In American History, the nineteen sixties and the nineteen seventies were extremely turbulent and controversial times. Protest rights were being tested and occasionally suppressed, new moral and political values began to develop, and the Vietnam War dominated the twenty-year period. Vietnam invited many young activist people to begin a huge movement of anti-war protesting denouncing the war, the government, and even the soldiers who were picked against their will to fight. Reasons for American entry into the Vietnam War are controversial, and everyone has a different opinion on why we got into the conflict. Multiple reasons contributed to the entry in Vietnam from support of allies who were fighting their battles, to the fact that the†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Another reason for American entry into the Vietnam War was the commitment that had formerly been made by the French and the Americans into the fight or the support of the fight in Vietnam for the Fr ench colony. The French had been fighting for an Indochina colony after World War Two to benefit them, but at the same time had been struggling with domestic costs and issues. American support to the French in the form of millions of dollars to support the war failed, but officially committed to Americans to a cause in Vietnam in the American governments eyes. In 1954, at Dienbienphu the French military forces came into conflict with the North Vietnamese forces, called the Vietminh after their leader Ho Chi Minh, being defeated and leaving the Communist Vietnamese the victors. The French negotiations left a border at the 17th parallel making North Vietnam the communist half of the country while the Southern half was the democratic portion. An election was set up to decide whether the government was to become communist or democratic. American officials would not stand for this agreement realizing that it would fall to the communist, so they replaced the French in South Vietnam and began to train the South Vietnamese Army. This would soon lead us into the actual cause

The Alien Tort Statute

Question: Write a summary of the case under The Alien Tort Statute perspective? Answer: In the year 1992, Myanmar oil gave license to Total S A (French corporation) to produce, transport and sell natural gas from Yadana fields in Myanmar. The project involved extraction and transportation of natural gas from interiors of Myanmar to Thailand. Unocal Corporation, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Oil Company of California, entered into joint venture with 28% stake in the gas production. The production and transportation of the natural gas was assisted by the Myanmar military known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which was responsible for protecting the pipeline. Despite being aware of the history of human rights violation of SLORC, Unocal and Total entered into an agreement with SLORC for clearing the pipeline route and ensuring security of the pipeline. SLORC soldiers forced relocation of the natives, confiscated their property and forced them to act as laborers and even tortured and murdered. Villagers lost their homes and were dispossessed of their crops and livestock. They had no means to earn their livelihood and were forced to work for SLORC. The SLORC officials also raped the village females, while imposing forced labor in relation to the pipeline, on the male members of the family. Villagers filed a suit under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA), against Unocal against the atrocities committed by the military, in the process of providing security to the pipeline. There are three basic requirements for a claim under the ATCA (i) claim by an alien; (ii) allegation of tort ; and (iii) violation of international law. The third requirement was under dispute before the court and it was held that actions of forced labour, torture, murder are jus cogens violations and hence violative of law of nations as was also observed in the case of United States v. Matta-Ballesteros, (1995). Barrington (2002) suggested that forced labor has been included in the definition of slavery by the 13th amendment of the constitution and is also prohibited under the law of nations, wherein individual liability is attributed and it does not require state action. In Doe v. Unocal Corporation, (1997), the District court had concluded that Unocal knew that tort of forced labor was conducted and benefitted by the joint venture. The Court of Appeals for 9th Circuit relied on the principle propounded in the case of Siderman de Blake v. Republic of Argentina, (1992) that in ATCA cases, domestic law is not to be applied because violations of the international law are alleged, which are binding on the nations even if they do not agree to them. It was also held that practical assistance to the Myanmar Military for torts was provided by Unocal and there was no requirement to prove that Unocal controlled the military. Accordingly, mens rea and actus reus for imposing liability under ATCA to ai d and abet forced labour, murder and rape could be attributed to Unocal. The matter was referred to en banc panel of 11 judges at 9th Circuit Court and trial was to begin from June 2005. In the interim, Unocal settled the matter in March 2005 and agreed to pay compensation to the plaintiffs. References United States v. Matta-Ballesteros (1995) 71 F.3d 754, 764 n.5 (9th Circuit). Barrington T (2002) The Thirteenth Amendment and Slavery in the Global Economy. Columbia Law Review, 102, 973-1050. Doe v. Unocal Corporation ( 1997) 963 F. Supp. 880 (C.D. Cal.). Siderman de Blake v. Republic of Argentina (1992) 965 F.2d 699, 714-15 (9th Circuit).