The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Example

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Example The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Essay Topic: poem This poem is set in a big, dirty city, and its speaker is a very unhappy man who Is afraid of living and therefore bored all the time. The epigraph of this poem is a six- line quotation from Canto 27 of the Inferno by the Renaissance Italian poet Dante Alighieri. The Interno tells the story ot how a guy (Dante) who has messed up his lite badly enough to require some help from heaven. In order to scare him away from sin nd other bad things, heaven sends another poet named Vlrgll to give Dante a guided tour through the horrors of Hell (known as Inferno In Italian). Along the way he meets a lot of evil and misguided people. The quote from this epigraph is said by one of the characters in the eighth circle of Hell (which has nine circles), where some of the worst of the worst are stuck for eternity, This persons name is Guido da Montefeltro, and when Dante asks to hear his story, heres what he says: If I thought that my reply would be to someone who would ever return to earth, his flame would remain without further movement; but as no one has ever returned alive from this gulf, if what I hear is true, can answer you with no fear of infamy. What does this quote mean? Dante is really curious to know why Guido ended up so far down In Hell. But Guido Is selfish. Hes afraid that people back on earth will find out about the horrible stuff he did hes concerned about his reputation. On the other hand, Guido knows that no one has ever entered Hell and made It out again, so he figures that Its safe to tell his story because Dante is stuck here. nfortunately for Guido, Dante Is the first human ever to be allowed to pass through Hell and return to earth, so people do eventually find out about Guidos reading the Inferno. One other thing we should mention: Guido doesnt even have a body in Hell † hes not worthy of that so his entire spirit is just a flame that moves when he talks, When he says, this flame would remain without further movement, he means, l would shut up and not talk to you anymore. Why does Eliot choose this epigraph for his poem? Well, It suggests a couple of things. First, that Prufrock might not be a the poem is a kind of hell. Second, it tells us that this fellow Prufrock, who is singing his love song, might be concerned about his reputation like Guido. In other words, Prufrock is going to tell us things because he thinks we wont have a chance to repeat them to other people. Who are you? This is the question Prufrock will not answer, but responds, do not ask, what is it (11-12)? Prufrock is afraid that his true identity will be exposed to the ladies at the tea party he will attend. He is consistent n wondering how-and-why he can begin to talk about his boring life in lines (54, 60, 61, 68, and 69). He desires to present himself as significant, but what can he possibly say if a lady is anticipating him to converse about himself. Whatever Prufrock reveals about himself could induce a state of unexpected rejection. He is confident though the ladies will not care about the butt-ends of my days and ways, fearful of the fact that if he reveals part of himself to one of the ladies, she may find his life uninteresting (60). As Prufrock looks within himself, he is fearful of being disclosed at he tea party. He is afraid that the ladies will mock his thin hair and his thin legs, both symbolizing his unimpressive mind and body. What is so ironic is that Prufrock is self-conscious because he goes unnoticed mostly by the ladies at the tea party. The women come and go/Talking of Michelangelo (13-14; 35-36), and miss out on Prufrocks moment of excellence, which turned out to be only a flicker (84). Eliots intense description of Prufrocks life portrays one of imperfection. As Prufrock recognizes his days and ways are only butt-ends, like wasted cigarettes 60), he admits he has measured out my life with coffee spoons asserting that in his small world, tea parties are his only means of entertainment (53). Even Jesus would find his life a bore as he implies he has seen the eternal Footman hold my coat and snicker (85). Eliot alludes to John the Baptist when Prufrock states that l have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in upon a platter/ I am no prophet (82-83). John the Baptist was killed because he was bold enough to tell King Herod that he was living corruptly. He died because he told the truth. For Prufrock, revealing his true identity to others would kill him, so he will not. He is no prophet because he doesnt have the courage (83). He holds no banners of greatness. Prufrock shields himself within a protective shell that seems harmless to the casual reader and himself. His reluctance to answer the overwhelming question at the beginning of the poem is differentiated by the peaceful yellow smoke that acts like a cat in the soft October night, surrounding the house (symbolizing Prufrock) and resting there (21-22). However the smoke is not as harmless as it appears. It eems calm, but is more like a cloud of mustard gas that chokes life. Prufrocks shield hides his flaws and prevents any realization of his emotional needs, especially the need for love. While in this shell, he cannot find love and acceptance at this tea party. In the past, he has unsuccessfully attempted to meet his intimate desires by sexual excursions. He has spent times with prostitutes, for he has known arms already (62). Yet, these experiences have not met his emotional needs. He needs to be able to share himself with someone who will accept him as he is, but is afraid to do so, ecause physical intimacy with a lady at a tea party will not bring emotional intimacy, and wondering if she will, as she is settling a pillow by her head, casually reject him (96). air of ragged claws/ Scuttling across the floors of silent seas (73-74). This imagery shows Prufrock admitting that he should have been a crustacean. Like a crab, he is trapped in a protective shell, and there are at least three sides to our speaker, Prufrock. On one side we have the sneaky trickster, who invites us on a romantic walk only to lead us down windy roads and point out that the evening looks like a patient bout to undergo surgery. He keeps stalling and leading us away from the main subject (his overwhelming question) as if he had something to hide. He constantly confuses the time of day and even the past versus the future. On the other side we have Prufrock the Fool, whose desperate attempts to make us think hes a cool, confident ladies man is comically transparent. Finally, we have the sad, honest man who realizes the Jig is up and cant even convince himself of his own stories. This Prufrock, who only lets his mask drop for a few lines at a time, is the ne who admits that he should have been a pair of ragged claws and that he has seen the moment of [his] greatness flicker (lines 72, 84). Like a Juggler, the poem keeps a delicate balance between these three personalities, so that one never gets an upper hand other the others.

Concerning as an Adjective

Concerning as an Adjective Concerning as an Adjective Concerning as an Adjective By Maeve Maddox If hearing the word concerning used as an adjective to mean â€Å"causing anxiety† gives you a chalkboard moment, you may as well get used to it. The usage has yet to make its way into all the dictionaries, but it has hit the mainstream and it won’t be turned back. For about 200 years, concerning has been functioning quite happily as a preposition to mean any of the following: regarding relating to with reference to referring to with regard to as regards with respect to respecting dealing with on the subject of in connection with re apropos of Supporters of the adjectival use of concerning point to the definition in the OED: â€Å"that gives cause for anxiety or distress.† The one citation given for this usage is from Pamela (1740), the overwrought epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson. Pamela is a virtuous young maidservant resisting the overtures of her employer. Here is the passage in which concerning means â€Å"anxiety-producing.† The words not in quotations belong to Pamela’s narration: â€Å"Well,† said he, â€Å"if you won’t eat with me, drink at least with me.† I drank two glasses by his over-persuasions, and said, â€Å"I am really ashamed of myself.† â€Å"Why, indeed,† said he, â€Å"my dear girl, I am not a very dreadful enemy, I hope! I cannot bear any thing that is the least concerning to you.† Elsewhere, Richardson uses concerning conventionally, as a preposition: â€Å"Mrs. Jewkes has directions concerning you.† I hope, whatever be your honour’s intention concerning her, you will not be long about it. Have mercy on me, and hear me, concerning that wicked woman’s usage of me. To perform a Google Ngram search, I used the phrase â€Å"very concerning† to get an idea of the adjectival use of concerning. The phrase is effectively flat-lined in American English until 1972; it begins to take off in the late 1980s. My guess is that political writers and other media manipulators rediscovered adjectival concerning as a useful euphemism for words that might frighten voters or consumers. Compare: Increased juvenile drug use is disturbing. Increased juvenile drug use is concerning. The possibility of more terroristic attacks is a cause for concern. The possibility of terroristic attacks is concerning. The rise in global temperatures is troubling. The rise in global temperatures is concerning. It seems to me that concerning has the effect of distancing a perceived threat by making it seem to be a matter to be watched, but perhaps not one to get too excited about for the present. Whatever the reasons for the current popularity of concerning as an adjective to describe anything that causes concern, it has certainly caught on in American speech. If you find yourself looking for an alternative, here’s a list of possibilities: alarming bothersome disquieting distressing disturbing nerve-racking perturbing scary troubling unsettling upsetting worrisome worrying Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business LetterFive Spelling Rules for "Silent Final E"How to Send Tactful Emails from a Technical Support Desk

Homeland Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Homeland Security - Essay Example While larger agencies are more likely to utilize computers for data retrieval as well as communications, the smaller agencies lag behind (p.25). Third, data sharing among agencies at all levels has become a critical component of an effective and efficient system. Again, there needs to be a focus on funding and "substantial federal assistance for technology enhancement" aimed at the smaller local agencies that may lag behind in this area (p.26). Fourth, advances in technology have made the recognition of individuals increasingly possible and important. Biometrics such as face recognition or iris scans can serve to discourage false identities and uncover deceptive practices. 2.) The ability and need to share information between the various agencies, from the federal level to the local, is a key factor in maximizing the efficiency of the system. Information sharing serves to insure that the information available is comprehensive, current, and complete. Information sharing serves a number of vital functions such as eliminating redundant processes and procedures, and identifying patterns in criminal or terrorist activity. These functions make law enforcement more efficient and the elimination of redundant activities can be a cost saving process. A key consideration for information sharing is the cost of system, which includes installation and maintenance. In addition, as with all technology based products, it may have a relatively short life span. In the past, systems such as the Wide Area Network (WAN) and Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) have been used with success in numerous locations (Russo and Labriola, 2003, p.31). The major drawback to t hese systems has traditionally been their reliance on large amounts of computer and networking hardware that incurred a significant cost (Russo and Labriola, 2003, p.31). Russo and Labriola (2003) suggest the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) as a means to emulate a Local Area Network (LAN), Intranet, or WAN at a fraction of the cost. Because the VPN utilizes the existing Internet structure, it is easy install and operate. In essence, the VPN is a highly secure Internet connection, and most facilities already have the equipment required to establish a VPN. In addition, modern encryption techniques can assure the safety of the data and can "shift many aspects of community policing from a reactive to a proactive mode" (Russo and Labriola, 2003, p.31). 3.) A community must continually evaluate the threats that they are exposed to, and constantly update their relationship to these threats. Flynt and Olin (2003) have developed a threat assessment model that can provide a cursory assessment for use by communities and organizations. The Flynt and Olin (2003) model uses a Venn diagram to illustrate whether the relevant threats are being adequately addressed. Plotting the threats, and the policy response, will reveal if all threats are being adequately addressed, as well as if threats are being addressed that do not exist (Flynt and Olin, 2003, p. 35). The model uses three colors, red, blue, and gray to indicate the threats, the self, and the environment. The threats would include known threats and threat actors. These threats need to be analyzed in regards to their "motive, means, methods, and mission" (Flynt and Olin, 2003, p.36). This will help managers develop a greater understanding of the threat and how the self will address the threat. The

Your Lot in Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Your Lot in Life - Essay Example Research studies indicated that the period following divorce could result in serious disorders that could affect the child emotionally as well as psychologically. However, generally, a higher majority of adults do not exhibit such risks. Adult mental health was impacted upon by the negative effects of divorce because of lower levels of achievement at school, economic status of the family at 16 years of age and other problems related to the adolescent’s feelings and emotions. [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Though the pain and trauma of divorce cannot be totally done away with, the use of the right interventions at the right time could help a great deal in minimizing this impact and encouraging good coping strategies. According to (Gardner, 1985) Guidance and support from other family members and developing skills that help us cope with life is of prime importance. Erik Erikson, (1902 – 1994) a great child psychologist explains that a child passes through 8 stages from an infant to an adult in relation to a divorce in the family and if guided in the right manner will help the child to adjust better in a shorter period of time. 2. Effects of Alcoholism A happy family is one where every member fulfills their duties to each other in the right manner. ... greatly impacts upon the growth and development of their children that leads them to early bouts of depression in their childhood which in turn grossly lowers their IQ and cognitive skills. Our contemporary society is faced with the scourge of one of the greatest menaces being Alcohol and Drug abuse. The addiction creeps upon them so insidiously that at most times people are not even aware of it. The adverse effects of Alcohol abuse are far reachable and deteriorating especially within families where children have to face the ugly brunt. Studies have shown that abused children of alcoholic parents suffer immensely with low confidence and self esteem and never seem to get over it even in their adulthood. While some research studies show that children of Alcoholics (COAs) do suffer a lot of negative consequences. Detecting such problems at an early stage would help to prevent them in the school and later on in life as the child matures which include depression, anxiety and in turn subs tance abuse. 3. Safety of children in unsafe communities The safety of children is of prime importance for any devoted parent and more so when they are aware that they live in an unsafe neighborhood or community. Such surroundings necessitate heightened vigilance by the parents because it poses a hindrance to their daily activities. According to the ((U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000) families living in a large number of communities have neighborhoods that are rampant in violence and crime and both children and parents are exposed to robberies, murders and assaults either directly or indirectly. (Veenema, 2001) In trying to ensure the safety of their children many parents have taken an active part in the community and are trying to make it a much safer place for the

Reflections on The Tao Te Ching Essay -- Ancient World Culture

Reflections on The Tao Te Ching When the early Christians had to keep their faith against the persecutions of the Roman Empire, they had -- obviously -- a visible enemy. Once their religion was legalized and established, however, they had new questions to ask concerning who they were, what could hurt their souls and their way of life. Some of them, at least, concluded that the materialism of the dominant Roman way of life was a non-agressive, but equally corrosive force that would destroy them -- not physically, but spiritually. These Fourth Century Christians, men and women, then left their societies and withdrew into the desert to be able to find true "paradise," not in a safe, secure niche in society, but in their relationship with God. That is, they had to escape the values that so comprehensively enveloped them that they could not think or feel clearly about deeper matters. Thus "freed" in the desert, they could know what a full human life was in practice. These spiritual discoveries of a "way" to live, to be, could then be used to challange the complex and tempting materialism that seemed to dominate the culture of the time. In a much briefer, easier, and less focused way, Henry David Thoreau, someone better known to our own time, tried his "experiment" by living for two years in the woods by Waldon Pond in order "to drive life into a corner" and find out just what it really was worth and what it essentially meant. According to Thoreau, people too readily accepted one already established set of ideas or another, good or bad assessments of life, and didn't seek answers for themselves. He too in his course of events wanted to make known what he learned, wanted to "publish," as he said, the essential "goodness" or "meanne... ...ind hits it. Those who by the age of eighteen have thick calendars organizing their too-complicated lives, those who have learned that a branch does not have real meaning, those whose religion tries to teach simplicity but does not get heard ("consider the lilies of the field, they do not spin nor toil, yet Solomon in his glory was not so brightly arrayed") -- can we enter the vision of the writings of one of us who lived 2500 years ago and left the city of confusion to find wisdom? Can we find in the tensions of his writings -- as they are the shapes of the tensions of living in a confused world -- the "way" of life that is most natural? Can we be at home in the universe that produces us and mirrors so readily what we are when we stop and look, wary as those crossing the ice, listening for cracks that might freeze them before they drowned, we see and hear the signs?

Ethical Lens Essay

Ethical Lens Inventory Results for DESIREE Your preferred lens is: Rights and Responsibility Lens You use your reasoning skills (rationality) to determine your duties as well as the universal rules that each person should follow (autonomy). Your Core Values: Autonomy and Rationality You prioritize the value of autonomy over equality. Your primary concern is protecting individual rights. You believe this is the best way to assure that everyone in the community is treated fairly. You prioritize the value of rationality over sensibility. You believe universal rules exist that apply equally to everyone and that the best results are achieved through consistent application of the universal rules. Your Classical Values: Temperance You value individual balance and restraint in the desire for pleasure as you seek to satisfy your duties. You also know who you are, so you can act with integrity in the exercise of all the virtues. Your Key Phrase: â€Å"I am responsible.† Because you value autonomy and rationality, you tend to assume that your own definitions of what a responsible person should do apply to everyone. Your Definition of ethical behavior: Fulfilling duties You define an ethical person as one who fulfills their duties and does the right thing as an autonomous, fully-responsible adult. For you, this is the fullest expression of fairness and justice. Your Tools for analyzing problems: Reason Using your critical thinking skills is your preferred method for learning and problem-solving. You tend to think through a problem carefully and research options to find the one that will allow you to fulfill your duties. You focus on gathering and analyzing all the available data so you can make a fully informed decision. Your Gift: Self-knowledge Because you are concerned with figuring out your duties, when you are at your best you know yourself – you know both what you are doing and why. Because of this, when you say that you will do something or care for someone, you follow through. You are also able to live in the present, to determine what you need to do at any given moment to fulfill your responsibilities. Your Blind spot: Belief that motive justifies method Because you are so clear about your reasons for acting, you tend to believe that the motive justifies the method. You may unintentionally cause people upset and pain because you are so focused on your good motive. You tend to believe that ethics is a set of universal rules that everyone must follow, just as you do. You follow the rules – everyone should. Your Risk: Being autocratic (bossy) Without self-knowledge, you run the risk of becoming autocratic. You require everyone to do things your way in order to measure up ethically. You tend not to consider other interpretations of the facts or listen to other approaches once you have made up your mind. Your Temptation: Excuses If you are not paying attention, you can be tempted to excuse yourself from following the rules. You insist that you really are being true to your core values, even when you are not. You’ll convince yourself that the rules were meant for other people or that the action you want to take really does meet your responsibilities – even though your â€Å"Responsible Self† tells you otherwise. Your Vice: Becoming judgmental and legalistic Without self-knowledge, you can become overly rigid in your expectations, leading to legalism as you obsess over minute details. You will also become judgmental and when others do not fulfill (what you believe are) their duties, you will be quick to label them as unethical. Your Crisis: Becoming exhausted Unless you develop the practice of mindfulness and reflection, at some point you will become exhausted. No one can meet all of the obligations that your â€Å"Responsible Self† has on your to-do list. If you have few friends, it could be because you are so judgmental that you drive everyone away. Your Seeing Clearly: Listen to your heart To see more clearly, check to see whether your intuition, your heart, agrees with your head. To find balance, explore the gifts of the other lenses – flexibility and a concern for the whole community. As you consider what your duty is, remember that others may see the situation differently or need different supports to fulfill their duties. Also remember to think about the impact of a decision on the whole community. Sometimes an individual actually benefits by restraining autonomy for the good of the community. As you learn to consider the perspectives of others in your decision making process, you will live out the best of your ideals with compassion and care for others.

Who Invented Electronic Cigarettes

Next time you see someone smoking in a nonsmoking area, and you are just about to ask them to put it out, well here is one reason to do a double check first. An electronic cigarette looks almost exactly like a real cigarette, and it is easy to mistake someone using an electronic cigarette for smoking a real cigarette. However, it is a battery operated device that allows one to inhale vaporized nicotine and simulates the experience of smoking a real cigarette. How Electronic Cigarettes Work Unlike a regular cigarette, you dont need matches to smoke an e-cig, they are powered by a rechargeable lithium battery. Hidden inside the e-cig is a chamber that contains miniaturized electronics and an atomizer. The function of the tiny atomizer is to vaporize the liquid nicotine turning it into an aerosol mist, and it is activated by the inhaling action of the user, by taking a puff. The liquid nicotine is hidden inside another refillable chamber that on the outside looks like the filter of a cigarette, where the smoker places their mouth to inhale. When a person smokes an electronic cigarette, they look exactly like they are smoking a tobacco filled cigarette. By inhaling, the smoker pulls the liquid nicotine into the atomizer chamber, the electronics heat the liquid and vaporizes it and passes the vapor on to the smoker. The nicotine vapor enters the smokers lungs, and voila, a nicotine high occurs. The vapor even looks like cigarette smoke. Other features of the e-cig may include an LED light at the end of the cigarette that emulates the flame of burning tobacco. Invention In 1963, Herbert Gilbert patented a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette. In his patent, Gilbert described how his device worked, by replacing burning tobacco and paper with heated, moist, flavored air. Gilberts device involved no nicotine, smokers of Gilberts device enjoyed flavored steam. Attempts to commercialize Gilberts invention failed, and his product fell into obscurity. However, it deserves mention as the earliest patent for an electronic cigarette. Better known is the invention of Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, who patented the first nicotine based electronic cigarette in 2003. The following year, Hon Lik was the first person to manufacture and sell such a product, first in the Chinese market and then internationally. Are They Safe? Electronic cigarettes are no longer considered a smoking cessation tool as they were once promoted as being. Nicotine is addictive. However, e-cigs do not have the harmful tars that regular commercial cigarettes do contain, but unfortunately, they might have other harmful chemical ingredients included. The toxic substance found in an examination of e-cigs by the FDA included things like diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze. There is also controversy over how to regulate electronic cigarettes, age restrictions, and if they should or should not be included in smoking bans. Secondhand vapors could be just as bad as secondhand smoke. Some countries have banned the sale and marketing of e-cigs entirely. In September 2010, the FDA issued some warning letters to electronic cigarette distributors for various violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act including â€Å"violations of good manufacturing practices, making unsubstantiated drug claims, and using the devices as delivery mechanisms for active pharmaceutical ingredients.† A Booming Business If electronic cigarettes do continue to remain legal in the United States and other countries, there are huge profits to be made. According to Forbes.com manufacturers make between $250 million to $500 million estimated annually and while that is a small portion of the $100 billion US tobacco market, a government survey found that 2.7% of U.S. adults had tried e-cigarettes by 2010, up from 0.6% a year earlier, the kind of statistics that potential trends are made of.