Themes Of Social Mobility Through Marriage - 1655 Words

This paper critically analyses the theme of social mobility through marriage in Shakespeare’s play ‘Twelfth Night’. In addition, the paper highlights how different characters in the play got into higher social classes or desired to be in higher social classes through marriage. This paper holds that in a highly stratified society such as that presented in the Shakespeare’s play; marriage plays a significant role in in social class mobility. As opposed to some traditional society where marriage was only permitted along an individual’s class, Shakespeare presents a literally liberal society with marriage and other relationships permitted along all the classes within the society. In fact, marriage is more of a person choice, contrary to the perception in the tradition society. How Marriage leads to Social Mobility in the Play ‘Twelfth Night’ According to Chris, Shakespeare’s play ‘Twelfth Night’ touches on sensitive concepts within the society (1). Similar to the majority of his literary works, Twelfth Night captures the concept of love and how individuals use love through marriage to achieve power or a higher social status. Throughout the play, there is an apparent struggle for social status by the key characters. Lindheim asserts that there are some characters in the play, such as Antonio who would do everything within their means in order to achieve their sexual desires (2). For example, in a more traditional society or contemporary setting, Antonio could never hope ofShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1347 Words   |  6 Pagessociety as much as socioeconomic status. An individuals social status not only supersedes their apparent values or intellect - characteristics that truly attest to the worth of an individual in the context of social membership - but also seemingly establis hes a societal dichotomy, one that divides the population into that of the rich and the poor. Whether it is due to increases in inequality or the poor status of the economy, social mobility does not seem to be occurring at high rates, with the poorRead MoreThe Reform Of Hammurabi s Code896 Words   |  4 Pagesleads to the stratification of social classes and mistreatment of minorities, among others. The establishment of Hammurabi’s code helped bring order and equality into society through the attempt to implement a moral standard. An eye for an eye is a fair punishment for the committed crime. But not all of Hammurabi’s codes follow suit. The codes enforced the social stratification that was already in place in Babylonia, intensifying the division between the various social groups. Although Hammurabi’sRead MoreMarriage And English Society Within The 1800 S1322 Words   |  6 PagesJane Austen provides her readers with insight into marriage and English societ y within the 1800’s. In Emma, the story establishes the idea that society could not function without marriage and how the institution of marriage defined one’s social status. Marriage, a broad theme in this book, can be broken down throughout. Emma’s sister has gone off after getting married and left her alone. After her sister’s marriage, Emma proclaimed that she was not destined for love and made herself the town’sRead MoreEmma Clueless915 Words   |  4 Pagesbe conveyed, many of the themes within the original text must remain the same, it is the context and the values inherent within these themes that change. o Both texts present, deluded central character living in own upper-class microcosm. †¢ Emma living in C19th England ( ‘handsome, clever and rich’ woman of ‘one and twenty’ with ‘nothing much to distress or vex her’. ââ€" ª Lives in a world based around inheritance, breeding, manners and respectability as means for social valuing. †¢ Cher is aRead MoreThe Taming Of The Shrew By William Shakespeare1181 Words   |  5 PagesHindu Puranas, ancient Indian literature about myths and legends, like Mahabharata teach the society about deed, religion, respect, knowledge, and royalty. Kalidasa can use Shakespeare’s play to reteach Mahabharata’s values, since the play presents themes of wealth, gender role, religious belief, respect, status, and fashion, which are very closely ideal with the Puranas’ concept and teachings. Along with the Puranas, Kalidasa’s name means the â€Å"servant of Kali† which can suggest he was a followerRead MoreThe Social Hierarchy Of Jane Eyre By Charlotte Bronte1262 Words   |  6 PagesIn Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre, Bronte seemingly condemns the existing social hierarchy. Not only are the characters who are most concerned with the allure of fortune and rank portrayed as either deceitful or unethical, but even characters who’ve accepted their means of poverty and demonstrate honest moral natures are mocked. Rather than use the normal class structures, the book suggests that a person of impoverished means can be viewed as socially respectable with the condition that theyRead MoreSocial Class in Jane Austen997 Words   |  4 Pagesessay , I will be looking at the theme of social class in Jane Austen’s work  ; critically analysed by Juliet McMaster, a chapter taken from ‘The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen’, edit ed by Edward Copeland and Juliet McMaster. Jane Austens novels at first glance tell a story of romance, set within the landowning society amidst country estates, and their cultivation of tea parties, social outings, and extravagant balls; ladies frolicking in flowing gowns through decorated rooms, and men deliberatingRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1619 Words   |  7 Pagesis â€Å"social class† and â€Å"social standing† is a motif seen all throughout American literature with no absence from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. Although at times overshadowed by the blatant themes of love, hope, and loss, Fitzgerald addresses the concept of social mobility, social standing, and social precedent continuously throughout his novel beginning as early as the first chapter. However, what separates The Great Gatsby from other novels addressing the perceptions of social classRead MoreAnalysis Of Othello By William Shakespeare Essay1606 Words   |  7 PagesThe theme of power is explored in various ways throughout ‘Othello’, Shakespeare uses the vulnerability of characters’ flaws to allow power shifts to occur through manipulation. The Elizabethan value consensus highlights the difference in gender roles, with societal expectations being defined by the divine order. The limitations of social mobility provide a strong platform for the theme of power to be embedded upon, with characters such as Desdemona and Emilia representing the struggle that womenRead MorePride And Prejudice Essay1074 Words   |  5 PagesPride and Prejudice In Pride and Prejudice Austen offers up commentary on a variety of themes — prejudice, family, marriage, class, and so on. Of all the themes, perhaps none is better developed than that of Pride. Pride and Prejudice is regarded as a brilliant piece of social commentary, offering a vivid peek into the British Regency life in 1813. The social milieu of Austen’s Regency England was particularly stratified, and class divisions were rooted in family connections and wealth. In her work

Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark - 1869 Words

ABSTRACT I, with all my interest and will decided to do my term paper on one of the most controversial yet diversely analysed work of literature that is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark written by the ever greatest man in history of English literature, William Shakespeare.The aura of this play is not at all questionable. The essence it captures down throughout every single scene and dialogues is undeniably recommendable. But in spite of these the play, according to may of the critics is somewhere an artistic failure when it comes to define the over all boundaries of work as an art.The play revolves around the theme of Revenge and it is believed that somehow it is an adaptation as most of the scenes are parallel to that of Spanish Revenge Tragedy by Thomas Kyd. Hamlet as a work of art denies certain rules like that of very important one that is Objective Correlative, the theory given by an American painter Washington Allston in 1840 but revised and was popularised by the famous literary critic, T.S Eliot in 1919. Then and there he discussed the flaws in Hamlet and specifically the concept of objective correlative. In his essay Hamlet and His Problems, he discusses all the major points he found superfluous. KEY WORDS: Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Artistic failure, Revenge Tragedy, Objective correlative, Hamlet and His Problems. HAMLET AS AN ARTISTIC FAILURE. Hamlet, Prince ofShow MoreRelatedHamlet, Prince of Denmark825 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet, Prince of Denmark By William Shakespeare Submitted by: Tariq Khan Dated: Monday, 24th September, 2012 Hamlet as a Tragedy by William Shakespeare 1.1. Brief Introduction to Tragedy: Greek and English: Elizabethan tragedy is traced back to Greek tragedy, since Greeks are said to have pioneered the Western knowledge, be it Science, Arts, or Humanities—not necessarily Technology. The rich contribution of Greek dramatists like Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus and AristophanesRead MoreHamlet, Prince Of Denmark1798 Words   |  8 PagesHamlet, Prince Of Denmark is by far one of the best known of William Shakespeare’s works and, may well be the most famous English-language play ever written. Categorized as one of Shakespeare’s â€Å"later tragedies,† it has developed a reputation as a difficult work to analyze. The Character of Hamlet is, perhaps, one of the most compelling characters to ever rise from the pages of English literature. He has been subjected to numerous interpretations and studies over the centuries, his actions thoughtsRead MoreHamlet, The Prince Of Denmark1891 Words   |  8 Pages Hamlet is one of William Shakespeare s most iconic plays about a tragedy. The play begins with Hamlet mourning the death of his father and ends with a hefty amount of corpses. The cause of the multiple deaths may be from Hamlet s decisions that formed from questioning that which is unknown to him. Throughout the Shakespearean play, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, as well as the audience, are placed in a constant state of uncertainty.While Hamlet grieves his father s death many things start toRead MoreHamlet, Prince Of Denmark, By William Shakespeare941 Words   |  4 PagesThe famous tragedy entitled Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often abbreviated to Hamlet and written at the turn of the seventeenth century, was the playwright William Shakespeare’s longest play and among the most influential works to exist in English literature. The play dramatizes the poisonous intents of the demonically brilliant king of Denmark, Claudius, a man so driven by greed and lust for his brotherâ€⠄¢s, King Hamlet’s, throne, wife and supremacy that he commits the ultimate act of fratricide, consequentlyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark1740 Words   |  7 Pages Shakespeare’s tragedies are filled with many commonalities: violent murders, treachery and revenge. However, while Hamlet, Prince of Denmark portrays these same ideas, it effectively fights against the traditional expectations of a Shakespearean tragedy. The play centers on Hamlet’s attempts to avenge his father’s murder, yet his greatest struggles are against himself. Stemming from his constant desire to plot a perfect revenge, Hamlet’s obsessiveness often leads to frustration. Shakespeare usesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark1584 Words   |  7 Pages The drama Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is a renowned play that was written by William Shakespeare, it portrays love, tragedy, gluttony, and of course vengeance. Hamlet is a character that was perhaps the best dramatic person to be created in such a play. He is, in fact, irresponsible, however careful, polite, yet rude, affectionate, but cruel. People may, in fact, feel that this play is troubling, or maybe overwhelming, on the other hand, William Shakespeare possibly wrote this play over an incidentRead MoreQuestioning the Sanity of Hamlet in Shakespeares Hamlet, Prince of Denmark987 Words   |  4 Pages In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, we, as readers, increasingly question the sanity of the protagonist, Hamlet, as the play continues. His seemingly psychotic banter with the other characters of the play begins to convince us that Hamlet is, indeed, insane. Hamlet, however, states, â€Å"How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself, as I perch ance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on† (1.5.171). He specifically tells Horatio and Marcellus that he will be actingRead MoreThe Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare1230 Words   |  5 Pageswrote his longest, most influential and powerful tragedy, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play stages the revenge that a young prince seeks against his uncle for murdering his father, inheriting the throne, and subsequently marrying his mother. Prince Hamlet, a university student, is an extremely philosophical and thoughtful character. When his father the King of Denmark dies, Hamlet returns home only to be presented with evidence that suggests his uncleRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet, The Prince Of Denmark985 Words   |  4 Pages William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark has remained to be the most astonishing of William Shakespeare’s tragedies. It is widely known to be considered as a philosophy or drama based play, but moral center is universally acknowledged. The characters in Hamlet persistently struggle with the power of their consciences, as they are tempted to satisfy their innermost desires. Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark, is bestowed upon the strenuous task of taking justice into his hands to avenge hisRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark884 Words   |  4 Pagescharacters and situations. The writer creates these characters with personality to fulfil their story with drama. The play â€Å"Hamlet, Prince of Denmark† by William Shakespeare consists of many dramatic characters. The main character, Prince Hamlet, is a troubled college student who is mourning the death of his father and disagreeing with the marriage of his Uncle to his mother. Hamlet be gins to seek revenge on his Uncle, and new step-father, but his madness begins to show Hamlet’s motives. Analyzing Hamlet’s

Antigone (495 words) Essay Example For Students

Antigone (495 words) Essay AntigoneAnd LawsA crucial question in Antigone is, When someone makes a law that is known bythe public to be morally wrong, should the public break his/her law? Or shouldthey collaborate with that person by obeying? Antigone felt that the law (no onewas supposed to bury her brother Polyneicies) should be broken so she took whatshe thought to be appropriate measures. This is called Civil Disobedience. Another question is Is Civil Disobedience morally and ethically correct?The Nazis say one thing, and the Vietnam war veterans say one thing. The Nazisdid not believe that Civil Disobedience was ethically or morally righteous,because of there inhumane acts upon the Jews in the 1940s probably led someNazi officials to think about Civil Disobedience, after all the were told to doa job and if they didnt they would have been killed. As Adolph Hitler showedthe world, just because one idiotic person thinks something is right thatdoesnt make it right. The Nazi officials parallel Ismene, because there is alaw that they both knew to be wrong but they are so afraid to step up that theyjust collaborate with it. Another parallel is that the Jews and Polyneiciessoul. The Jews were caught up in the middle of the officials, the liberatingnations, and Adolph Hitler. As was Polyneicies soul caught in between Creon,Antigone, and Ismene. Also, in that they both had to undergo extreme pain,torture, and horror. Lastly the invading nations parallel Antigone in that theyboth fought against the law in both their times. Antigone fought to save herbrothers spirit, and the invading nations fought to save the Jews. Civildisobedience is wrong even though it might not go with any religious beliefs,but for Christians, laws are established by governments, governments areestablished by God, so what is there to go against besides Gods own law? Lawsare made for the communities own safety, or own good. If a law was passed not tostay outside because of serial killings how many would stay outside late atnight, not to many. A law was passed not to steal, how many people are arrestedand convicted every week because they stole something. So laws are for thebenefit of that area, in order to uphold that law there must be a price ofpunishment. During the Vietnam conflict there was a military draft, some ran toCanada in order to save their own life. Our dear President William BillClinton ran to Canada to avoid having to go to war. If you live in a countrywith equal rights you at least owe that country something. The Vietnam veteransthink this example of Civil Disobedience, is exceptionally wrong. Whensomeone makes a law that is known by the public to be wrong? Then they shouldbe collaborated with. The Jews would say it is alright to break this particularlaw. The Vietnam veterans would say it is not acceptable to break that law. Thereal answer is that there is no real answer, because some say it is alright, andsome say it is not right.

The Characteristics of an Amateur Dectective Essay Example

The Characteristics of an Amateur Dectective Essay The Characteristics of a Armature Detective Why are we so fascinated with detective fiction? Is it because we are simply interested in the crimes themselves? Or is it because we are drawn to the characters within the stories that have characteristics that we desperately wish we could portray ourselves. The armature detective is one that we follow more often and have characteristics that pull us in more. As said in The Longing Anthology of Detective Fiction they may be armatures, but they triumph over the professionals and discover the criminal. They pursue the truth with courage and tenacity, often at the risk of their own lives. In these detectives can be found the best of human qualities: a genuine concern for other and that Justice must prevail. (Mansfield-Kelly. 26). The armature detective is the underdog that we all root for. There are two different types of armature detectives; the armature-armature and the professional armature. The armature-armature detective described in The Longing Anthology of Detective Fiction as the elegant aristocrat who pursues crime for a hobby. (Mansfield-Kelly. ) the professional detective is described as doctors and lawyer and other career professions that allow the detective to fall into the crime but their profession allows them to have an upper hand on the law enforcement and solve the crime. Detective Lord Peter Whimsy and Deborah Knott are two completely different amateur detectives. Lord Peter Whimsy is more an amateur-amateur detective considering the fact that his career has nothi ng to do with criminal Justice and in the story the hunted police man, it was only by coincidence that he fell upon the mystery. We will write a custom essay sample on The Characteristics of an Amateur Dectective specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Characteristics of an Amateur Dectective specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Characteristics of an Amateur Dectective specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer On the other hand you have Deborah Knott who is a lawyer and solves crimes for a living. What brings these two different detectives together is that they both share a characteristic of an amateur detective. They often blunder into situations that are unforeseen or unexpected. (Mansfield-Kelly, 26). Though Deborah Knott is a lawyer and deals with murder and crime on a daily basis, the crime she fell upon one Sunday afternoon was much unexpected. In Margaret Morons Deborah Judgment Deborah Knott is going over to a family members house for dinner after church one Sunday when she shocked to find her uncle laying shot on the floor and her aunt dead outside. In Dorothy L. Assayers the haunted police man lord Peter Whimsy, who has Just witnessed the birth of his first child, is having a drink at a bar when walks in a policeman who appears to be shaken up. The men share a few drinks and the police men begins to tell Lord Peter Whimsy about a so called murder he Just witnessed. Though the two are very different kinds of amateur detectives they still share some similar characteristic. Another similarity that these two share can also show how they differentiate from one another. They are often eccentric, but each possesses his or her own particular type of intelligence. (Mansfield-Kelly. 26). The two detective are both very intelligent but each detective has a different kind of intelligence. In the story the Haunted Policeman lord Peter Whimsy solves the case just by simply listening to the drunken officer tell his story. And also with his backgroun d. Being an aristocrat Whimsy enjoys obtaining knowledge and looking at Deborah Knott takes a different approach. Deborah Knott I a very intelligent women and a very successful lawyer. Though she does look at the facts of her case she tends to be more street smart than book smart. Instead of finder her answers in a book she does some digging and isnt afraid to get her hands dirty when getting to the bottom of a case. Not only are these two detectives different but their differences are what make them similar. A similarity that they both share is their interest in the crime. Their interest in the crime is generated because of a friend, a relative, someone associated with the crime, or because or sheer curiosity or the need for intellectual stimulation. (Mansfield-Kelly. 26). They both fall into this characteristic. Deborah Knots interest in the crime was driving by the fact that it was her family that was involved in the murder. While Lord Peter Whimsy fell into the case by pure coincidence and the need for amusement. Both Deborah Knott and Lord Peter Whimsy are brilliant armature detectives. Even though one is an armature-armature and the other is a professional de tective they both share qualities that bring them OTOH into the same category.

Samwise Gamgee Essays - Forest Ecology, Biology, Botany, Ecology

Samwise Gamgee Essays - Forest Ecology, Biology, Botany, Ecology Samwise Gamgee What exactly is a rain forest, you say? Well, on the outside, a rain forest has a wall averaging 20 feet thick that is made of a tangle of vines that love light. This wall seals off the interior creating the illusion that the whole jungle is this thick. But if you find an animal path or stream to follow, you can slip through and enter this mysterious world. Once you're inside, you can look up and see a tree canopy that's as high as a 17 story building! And it's pretty dark too, a perpetual twilight. Only 1% of the sunlight ever actually touches the floor of the forest. And moonlight, even a full moon, doesn't get through at all. You'd better have a flashlight with you if you plan on reading any comics. Rain forests have different layers that support different animals and insects. Some plants and animals occupy specific layers, while others live and feed wherever they can. I live in the lower canopy of the South American rain forest because a lot of the fruit I like to eat is found there. The tallest trees in the canopy layer grow up to 200 feet high. Some of the trees that poke through (called the "emergents") have been known to grow as high as 270 feet. It is not uncommon for the expansive umbrella crown of an emergent tree to cover an entire acre. Now there's a good spot for a treehouse. Many types of indigenous people live in rain forests. The environment is perfect for tribes of hunter-gatherers. Local materials are used to make their blow guns, spears, and arrows. The forest also provides building and roofing materials, wild cotton for clothing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and more. In fact, just about every need can be met by the rain forest. For these people, the rain forest is like living in a gigantic mall. Amazonian deep-forest Yanomamo are a group of forest people that can literally run up heavy trunked emergent trees (over 200 feet) without breaking a sweat. It's because of their remarkably wide feet, which also have advantages running around the muddy rain forest floors. The Pygmies are a tribe of honey gatherers that rely almost exclusively on the help of a bird called the Greater Honeyguide to direct them to the beehives. This little bird leads the Pygmies with its rasping, churring chatter and its white outer tail feathers to point out the proper tree. The bird lives on beeswax, so after the Pygmies climb the tree with a bundle of smoking leaves to put the bees to sleep, they take the honey and leave the beeswax behind as a reward for the bird. Here you'll find bats with wingspans up to 5.5 feet, moths with wingspans of 12 inches, frogs so big they could eat rats, and rats themselves weighing up to 100 pounds. Let's take a closer look at just a few of the interesting animals and insects that live in the rain forrest. Piranha, The piranha is a small fish that is activated into a feeding frenzy by the smell of blood. Their teeth are so sharp that they can strip a 100 pound animal to the bone in a minute. No telling what they could do to a person unlucky enough to go for a swim at the wrong time! Large electric eels live in tropical rivers. Their bodies can generate enough electricity to knock a person senseless and, in some cases, can cause drowning. "Shocking" ... but true. Anacondas can even swallow a crocodile. The anaconda is a water boa and it is the largest snake in the world at 37.5 feet long and weighing over 500 pounds. They've been known to eat people now and then, although they don't make a regular diet of humans. Boa, oh boa that's a lotta snake! In every rain forest there are many kinds of plants. Many, many, many kinds of plants. In fact, inside a single hectare (2.47 acres) you can find up to 750 types of trees and 1,500 types of plants! But this entire range of species can easily be broken down into four categories, grouped by how they

Rhubarb is not just a Vegetable

Rhubarb is not just a Vegetable Rhubarb is not just a Vegetable Rhubarb is not just a Vegetable By Maeve Maddox Reader Nancy was puzzled by a headline in her local paper: Colton code stirs ethics rhubarb. †¦ I have never seen rhubarb used this way. Any thoughts? NOTE: Colton is a town in California. It has a new ethics code for City Council members, one of whom has refused to sign it. My mother was a baseball fan so I knew the term rhubarb in the sense of a an argument between a player and the umpire before I ever tasted the vegetable. The figurative use of rhubarb also occurs in contexts outside baseball. Here are three definitions from the OED. rhubarb: n. A murmurous background noise, an indistinct conversation, esp. the repetition of the word ‘rhubarb’ by actors to represent such a conversation or the noise of a crowd. Usu. reduplicated. rhubarb: n. slang. Nonsense; worthless stuff. rhubarb: n. U.S. slang (orig. Baseball). A heated dispute, a row. Here are some examples from the web: Wedge, umpire Davidson laugh off Fridays rhubarb Its Rhubarb Time at the Ballpark Camera and Science Settle the Old Rhubarb (headline for an article about the disputed trajectory of a curve ball.) [a baseball player] and his 22-year-old brother were allegedly involved in a rhubarb in the lounge area of U.S. Airways Center †¦ The Dickson Baseball Dictionary offers several possible etymologies for the term, some more fanciful than others. Sports announcer Garry Schumacher is credited with its first use in a baseball context, but Red Barber (1908-1992) is the one who popularized it, both on the radio and in the title of the book Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat. In the context of background noise to suggest the presence of a crowd, rhubarb has a rival: walla, According the the Wikipedia article on the word, In American radio, film, television, and video games, walla is a sound effect imitating the murmur of a crowd in the background. A group of actors brought together in the post-production stage of film production to create this murmur is known as a walla group. Miles Kington: I say rhubarb, you say walla walla walla Apart from its baseball and theatrical uses, rhubarb is widely used in the general sense of dispute, disagreement, or altercation. Central Park Safari for Tasty Weeds Stirs Up Rhubarb (Park officials object to human foragers harvesting the vegetation [the woman] rushed to retrieve it, and a rhubarb ensued. Police hauled away both individuals from the meeting†¦ Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn runs a feature called the Rhubarb Patch in which controversial social topics are argued by opposing advocates. A much-repeated explanation that traces rhubarb meaning background noise to Shakespearean stage practice seems to be an urban legend. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†Try to vs. Try andPredicate Complements

Medicare in 1965 to the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 Essay

Medicare in 1965 to the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 - Essay Example The current stakeholders view healthcare as justice and health, unlike the then stakeholders who saw it from a social standpoint. Finally, the current stakeholders have made more positive changes to enhance an efficient healthcare. The politics have changed since the endorsement from John Kennedy in 1965. By now health care has been transformed to find a common ground with private health care providers. During the first session of Congress, Affordable Health Care bill was passed. The bill had been introduced back on October 29, 2009. The similarity between the current stakeholders and the then stakeholders is that they both wanted a better healthcare to their people. The Affordable health care is different from the Medicare and Medicaid in the sense that Affordable care has provided more nurses to take care of the rising number of patients. One of the lessons learned is that, the issues we are facing today can be solved by employing more nurses to take care of the rising number of patients. Health care should never be politicized but should remain as a health issue. In conclusions, Affordable Healthcare has revolutionized the health care industry for American people. More people can afford better healthcare, at a very low cost rate compare to the earlier available options. Emanuel, E. (2014). Reinventing American health care: how the Affordable Care Act will improve our terribly complex, blatantly unjust, outrageously expensive, grossly inefficient, error prone system. New York: Public

Business Failures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Failures - Essay Example This does not necessarily means that the organization needs to keep the money locked up in bank or in hand. Instead the organization should invest the money in assets and investment options that can be easily converted into case when required. For example the company can invest the money in a bank’s saving account to earn returns on this amount of money (Whittington, 2012, p.631). Another issue that organization may fail in relation to financial management is overestimation and underestimation of budgeted revenues as well as expenses that the business may incur in future. In order to ensure that the company continues to operate successfully and the company has the required financial resources to pay off its loan, the company should indulge in underestimation of the sales of the company (Etzel, 2007, p.175). In order to estimate the sales the company can conduct interviews with the customers regarding their intention to purchase the goods and services and how often they may do so (Jenster, 2009,

Islam and the Challenge of Democracy Essay Example for Free

Islam and the Challenge of Democracy Essay Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl is the most prolific of the Islamic thinkers of today’s world. He is a great Islamic jurist and scholar, and is now a Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law giving the students knowledge of Islamic law, Immigration, Human Rights, International and National Security Law. His Islam and the Challenge to Democracy is the quest to find out numerous questions and varied answers in establishing the relation between the principles so enshrined in Democracy and Islamic political and religious tenants. To propound the relationship between the Islam and democracy is not a straightforward as it involves the deep and thorough understanding of the religious and political structures of the Islamic world and Democracy in its entity. Dr Khaled says that issue of democracy in the Islamic world of today is being hotly debated and there are both pro and anti versions to this issue that compete with each other and the biggest challenge before the advocators is to promote the vision of social justice and faith. The very first section only of his most profile book Islam and the Challenge of Democracy straight forwardly says that he does not believe as what other Muslim advocators say that Islam has given birth to Democracy but various elements of Democracy are very well present in the Islam and we can say that Islam too supports Democracy. In this endeavor, he defied the view of radical Islamists as well as hardened Islamophobes who say that as God is sovereign master of whole Universe, therefore the principles of Democracy do not hold true for the Islamic world. El Fadl poises that there is no doubt of the fact that the God is the sovereign power in the Universe yet this is God who has bestowed upon the humans, the power to envisage the right to form rules to govern themselves in the form of deputies or khulafa. In-fact Islam also believes in a form of government, that gives power to the people, transparency in the decision making through shura’ and there is a toleration for any disagreements and disputes arising out of any rule and rules are accountable to his subjects for any actions. El Fadl believes in the formulation of the basic ethical values, and rights for all human beings on this Earth. He focuses that Islam should formulate the laws through ijtihad on which shari‘ah doesn’t have anything to say. He emphasized on the importance of formulating the maslaha or the ‘public good’ and ahkam al-shari‘ah or ‘expediency laws’ to envisage new thought process to develop the understanding of giving equal rights to every one. He admits that any interpretation of Islamic tenets, which has been construed by Islamic religious heads or Islamic religious leaders cannot be held as mere will of the divine power or God. He vehemently opposes the formation of the Islamic state that has all the rights to form the Shari’ah, because he is fully aware of the fact that no human being can interpret the will of the God or divine power. If this is done, it will lead to misunderstanding or very limited understanding of the link or relation between the Islam and will of God and this in turn would mean trying to become equal to God and that’s the biggest sin. This will further lead to authoritative and oppressive state. He said that although Muslim jurists defined and formulated number of political systems, yet there is nothing specific mentioned in Qur’an about any form that Government wishes to take. But Qur’an does recognize social and political values which form the basis in an arena of Muslim politics. Three values that are so enshrined in the Islamic testament: â€Å"Are: pursuing justice through social cooperation and mutual assistance (Qur’an 49:13; 11:119); establishing a non-autocratic, consultative method of governance; and institutionalizing mercy and compassion in social interactions (6:12, 54; 21:107; 27:77; 29:51; 45. 20)†. (El Fadl, Democracy and Divine Sovereignty, 2) Overall Muslims should form the government that would help in endorsing these values. As he said, â€Å"Qur’an says that God has bestowed all human beings a divine power by making them viceroys of God on this earth: He says, â€Å"Remember, when your Lord said to the angels: ‘I have to place a vicegerent on earth,’ they said: ‘Will you place one there who will create disorder and shed blood, while we intone Your litanies and sanctify Your name? ’ And God said: ‘I know what you do not know’† (2:30). (El Fadl, The Case for Democracy, 3) Institutionally it can be pointed out that the ulama, or Jurists can act as interpreters of the words of God and define what is moral and what acts are immoral for the humans. Every word of them is the voice of the God. But the law of the state demands that no religion can be imposed on the working of the state because laws of the state have been formulated by the humans according to their own whims and state itself. And therefore in his own words, â€Å"Democracy is an appropriate system for Islam because it both expresses the special worth of human beings—the status of vicegerency—and at the same time deprives the state of any pretense of divinity by locating ultimate authority in the hands of the people rather than the ‘ulama†. (El Fadl, Shari‘ah and the Democratic State, 20) Finally he says that educators try to enthuse in the soul of the people the moral values of Qu’ran and induce the society to turn towards will of God. But in this world of today, if a person is morally strong but cannot imbibe by full majesty of God but still believes in the fundamental rights of individuals, still have to be answerable to the will of God. It’s not just the mirage of the El Fadl’s views but also the vision of the several scholars on the most crucial and complex subject, Islam and the Challenge of Democracy. The second section of the book consists of short responses to El Fadl’s essay by several scholars. Nader A. Hashemi says that the most prominent aspect to El Fadl is his belief that Democracy can be possible in Islamic countries, with this he proved false, the wildly held belief that Islam is not compatible to democracy. He further said that this idea has gained immense popularity after September 11. He states that biggest challenge in front of the Islamic nations is the choice that they have to make between the modernization and fanaticism and the future of the Middle East all depends on which of them will go for a longer period. John Esposito espoused that El Fadl indicates complex and multiple manner by which Qur’an can be interpreted by the religious fundamentalists, fanatics and politicians to fulfill their various social and political motives. Jeremy Waldron appreciates El Fadl’s study of the theory of the Islamic democracy. Jeremy says that El Fadl conceptualized in the most articulate way the issue of the Islamic tradition and the way in which he poises about the politics and the rule of law in the milieu of the medieval age and how these thoughts were so prevalent in the early modern thought in the Christian era. Also, how the moral and ethical values in the context of good governance had to struggle to make its place in front of scriptural authority and theocratic rule. The most enduring thing was that these ideas not only grew out of the abased environment but also actually kept on presenting itself by religious ideas and ecclesiastical practices. Muqtedar Khan talks about the â€Å"Pact of Medina†, which was signed between the Prophet and Jews and the pagans of the town. This pact he said could be utilized to give the Islamic world the model for democracy and pluralism. In this pact, all the parties were guaranteed equal rights and equal responsibilities. Echoing El Fadl, he pinpointed that Islam should be made a symbol of ethical values and moral principles and should solve all the problems from the new outlook and new democratic perspective. But Saba Mahmood criticized Fadl on the point of liberalization. She says that very concept of liberalization is full of contradictions and the limitations that follow. She further says that he focused more on rights of individuals than on community as a whole. El Fadl also ignored the human rights violations that follow liberalization, which are most popular in the most liberalized states like United States of America. Even Kevin Reinhart revokes same voice as Saba Mahmood by saying that El Fadl ignored the vital point of what the Western nations learned from their liberalized approach in their relations with the other countries including Islamic nations. The whole liberalized approach depends on polices of Westernized nations and the military interventions of the USA in Islamic countries jeopardized whole concept of democracy and liberalization. William Quandt too said that the absence of democracy in the Islamic countries do not lie in their religion perspective but the problem lies in the presence of monarchical or dictatorial regimes in these countries, which partially or all are backed by the Western powers. In William Quandt views lie the whole thrust of the problem in the Islamic countries. The requirement is the political and structural changes in the Islamic world that would bring about social and economic upliftment from the vision of democracy, which El Fadl, all the intellectuals and scholars agree won’t be welcomed by either the ruling regime or the Western allies. All in all, Islam and the Challenge of Democracy is the most thought provoking book ready to be explored and pondered in every religious and political arena of the Islamic world. WORKS CITED El Fadl, Abou Khaled. Islam and the Challenge of Democracy: Can individual rights and popular sovereignty take root in faith? Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004.

Brown v. Board of Education v. Today :: Comparative Essays Papers

Brown v. Board of Education v. Today Whenever I walk into Foellinger Auditorium, it’s usually to attend my econ lecture, but this time is different. I’m not going to listen to a lecture about how the economy works, but instead to listen to a family that caused the nation to rethink the educational system. The famous Brown family was going to give a talk about the famous case that carried their name and forever put them in history. The Brown v. Board of Education decision eliminated segregation in public schools, an injustice that so many African-Americans fought to end not only in public schools, but also public places. The Brown v. Board of Education decision was a step into the future where African-American and Caucasians could intermingle rather than be separated just because of race. Segregation in the early 50’s had finally reached the end of its journey and a new law was made to ban segregation and promote integration. Walking into the auditorium, conversations about the excitement of the Brown sisters giving a talk about the historical decision, politics, sports, and other everyday conversations could be heard. The auditorium filled with people of different ethnic groups, mainly Caucasians but several African-Americans came to hear the true story behind Brown v. Board of Education. I would have to say about 60 percent of the people were Caucasians, 25 percent African-Americans and the other 15 percent were either Asians or Hispanics. People of all ages came to hear what the Brown sisters had to say; some as young as the age of seven and some as old as in their late 60’s. Children, undergrad students, grad students, professors, as well as people with other professions filled the auditorium, with undergrad students making up most of the people who attended. However, the auditorium was not full or as filled as one would expect knowing that the Brown family was going to discuss the Brown v . Board of Education decision, a disappointing reality. The long awaited talk finally started a few minutes after four. Susan Fowler, co-chairman of the Brown v. Board commemoration, started by introducing the ten winning students who wrote to Linda Brown expressing their feelings about the Brown v. Board trial and decision. She then talked about how Project 500, established in 1968, recruited African-American students to the University of Illinois campus as a way to make the campus more diverse; project 500 was a direct result of Brown v.

Difference Between Freud vs Erikson

In this essay, I am going to compare and contrast two famous theorists Erik Erikson and Sigmund Freud. I will be talking about each of these theorists and their famous theories of psychosocial and psychosexual, since they both are well known development theories. I will provide enough information about both and explain the differences of each, as well. First off, Freud had inspired Erickson who had theories that were in a number of ways different than Freud’s. Freud and Erickson have similarities and differences in the things that do or explore within their theories and the way they do things. Freud was the most well known person to be called The Father of Psychology. He is the one who had introduced his theory of psychoanalysis that gave psychology a new name for the future or the new era. Freud used psychoanalysis as the method to understand how our minds work, as well as the way they grow and develop throughout the stages of development. Psychoanalysis is the behavior, feelings or personality that we try to be understood in order to help with mental problems. Freud’s theory tries to explain the determination of the complex relationship within the body and mind that helps explain the unconscious and roles of emotions that need to be understood. So basically, Psychoanalysis is the part where it tries to explain the how, what, and why we behave towards ourselves and others. Erik Erikson, on the other hand, was famous for his theory of psychosocial development and to learn about the identity crisis back in that time. Erikson’s theories are one of the most used theories throughout the world, as of today. Erik Erikson had believed that his theory development had an impact on personality and that it grows in stages. That is why; Erikson came up with the Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. His theory had described that lifespan was at an impact in an experience in socialism. Erikson was a man who learned from Freud and became a better person and made a living out of helping determine personality, behaviors and so much more. Freud’s Psychosexual Stage is of the human development that began in the early 19th century. He developed such a general theory for psychosexual development that starts from infancy and goes to adulthood. As for Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage of Development which impact the human development in humans. Erikson takes the importance of placing the social and cultural components of a human’s development experiences. Each of these theorists had various stages that went from just being born to adulthood. And I will compare and contrast each one, as well. The first stage is birth to 1 years old and between Freud and Erikson it seems to be about the same, but different. For instance, Freud’s stage is of Oral in which the child has a primary source of pleasure that comes through their mouth from tasting, eating and/or sucking. As for Erikson’s stage is the trust vs. mistrust stage that has the child to learn to gain the trust or mistrust of their parent’s or caregivers. The second stage is 1 to 3 years old and in the Freud stage it is the anal stage. In the anal stage for Freud, the children get a sense of power to control and learn how to potty train themselves to become masters at a sense of growing up. In Erikson’s stage it is Autonomy vs. Doubt. Autonomy vs. Doubt contributes to children controlling their activities like going to the bathroom, eating, talking, and so much more. The third stage is from ages 3 to 6 years old and in Freud’s stage it is the phallic stage that brings the focus of energy on the genitals where children start to identify their sex of the same parent. In Erikson’s stage it is Initiative vs. Guilt stage that the child takes on more control of their environment atmosphere. The fourth stage is from ages 7 to 11 years old and in Freud’s case it is the latent stage. In the latent stage the child is focused on activities that have to do with school, hobbies or friends, instead of something important. In Erikson’s stage it is the Industry vs. Inferiority where the child or children develop a new sense of mastering new skills on their own. The fifth stage is from the adolescence stage. In the adolescence stage for Freud it is the genital stage that the children become explorative within their bodies, as well as in relationships. In Erikson’s stage it is the identity vs. Role confusion stage. In this stage the child onfirms to find their sense and identify their personal self. Within the sixth stage it has to do with adulthood and Freud had believed that this stage was to balance out throughout all areas of our lives. Erikson’s stage was intimacy vs. isolation where young adults would find their companionship, as well as their soul mates. Erikson also in this stage had Generativity vs. Stagnation that was toward middle aged adults who had the ability to nurture other middle aged adults and help within our society by giving back. The integrity vs. espair by Erikson was the stage that reflected on older adults in their 50’s and up to look back on their life and get the sense of their years of growing up in fulfillment and bitterness of the good and bad. In conclusion, I have compared and contrasted on two well-known theorists Freud and Erikson and also went through each stage of their developments they have created within psychology. They have taught a lot of people the way our personality, mind and behaviors work, as we grow into adults from infants. I know that I have learned a lot from them, as well and will inspire others to know the same information that I know today.

Honesty In Advertising? Insanity!

Advertising is surely the most common art we see today. We have to go out of our way to see offensive movies or works of fine art, but advertising images are everywhere. We see them whether we want to or not, on billboards as we drive to work, on the walls of stores when we shop, in magazines and newspapers, on television, and on the products we use. We even get them in the mail. Everything gets advertised. Advertising industry is the biggest one today. But what is happening inside of advertising world? â€Å"The characters in this film do not depict people with real mental illness.Mental illness is a serious disease that affects millions of people. † Thus begins †Crazy People†, schizophrenic comedy that is very funny when it's a satire on modern advertising. Film talks about two types of nut cases: ones that are committed to institutions and the others who think they are normal and live on the other side of the wall. There are some targets of satire throughout a f ilm. First, this is the job itself and way of living of admen. †Let's face it, Steve,† says Emory Leeson, main character of the film to his associate, †you and I lie for a living. † Emory is a Madison Avenue burned-out adman suffering a breakdown.His wife has walked out of their suburban house, taking the furniture with her. Emory is suffering from writer's block. †Novelists have writer's block,† screams his partner, Steve. †All you do is write little slogans to go with the pictures. † (Canby) In a manic burst of energy, Emory creates a dozen new ad campaigns for everything from Volvo (†Boxy but good†) to United Airlines (†Most of our passengers get there alive†). He calls it †truth in advertising. † Actually, the ads are not so much truthful as they are crass. But Leeson feels they will tap into the everyday mindset of the common man.This is funny stuff, but Emory’s boss doesn't think so. Ste ve gently carts him away to a private mental hospital. Another target of satirizing is the advertising itself. Whether it is truthful or dishonest, consumer †eats† catchy slogans. You can say the right thing about a product and nobody will listen. You've got to say it in such a way that people will feel it in their gut. Because if they don't feel it, nothing will happen. Emory's †truthful† campaigns somehow reach all of the national magazines and appear on television, where they become instant hits. Leeson’s instincts are proven to be correct.People love them and sales zoom. But his boss and his crew can't grasp this â€Å"truth† concept. So they ask Emory to come back. He agrees to do more ads only if his friends – his fellow asylum inmates – can help. Soon the asylum turns into a productive business center. They are energized and inspired by Emery, who unwittingly wins back his former company's interest after an accidental truthf ul ad campaign makes headlines. One more satirized point, which depicts clearly that there are no big differences between admen and clients of mental hospitals at all, is that both of them making their job very well.Moreover, advertising ideas of insane people turn out to be more effective. Using the theme of sanity and insanity, film achieves the satire in comical situations, which articulate erected issues of modern advertising. â€Å"Crazy People† is equivalent to those commercials that pretend to be sending themselves up. Its upside-down ad campaigns wouldn't rate a smile in a college humor magazine, at least in part because they knowingly celebrate the system they are supposed to be satirizing.The concept is high but fraudulent. Interesting, that the director of film, Tony Bill said in interview he is counting on the controversy that is sure to be stirred up over †Crazy People† because of the fact that all the advertising in the film was used without permissi on or consultation. (Babbis) Conclusively, one trend in advertising, around no doubt for years that has become particularly shameless of late is to say exactly the opposite of what a company or product actually does.The implication is that nowadays people will accept anything you tell them. Pioneer of advertising Leo Burnett said, †Regardless of the moral issue, dishonesty in advertising has proved very unprofitable. † But perhaps everybody knows, consumers and advertisers alike, that anything anyone says doesn't matter any more. Finally, I think film accomplished with its goal and if it was ridiculing modern advertising, †Crazy people† have done it in a very funny and humorous way.

Definition of sociology of religion and its imperativeness

Definition of sociology of religion and its imperativeness Introduction Studies on sociology of religion have been gaining prominence in the contemporary society. This is attributable to the increased need for explicit understanding of the role of religion in enhancing the development of noble social practices. Indeed, sociology that studies human origin, societal setting and interaction capacity has credible connection with religion.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Definition of sociology of religion and its imperativeness specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is evident since religion provides individuals with basic moral and spiritual incentives or principles that shape their decision-making ability. Religion also inculcates structure-oriented principles that influence individual’s social, economic and cultural practices or actions. According to scholars, there is a strong relationship between religion and sociology. The relationship is based on principles and oper ating guidelines that cannot be isolated. For instance, religion enables individuals to acquire basic ethical and moral values that are essential for social growth. The scholars also relay diverse classical and contemporary theories of sociology that gives clear understanding on how sociology relates to religion. The theories that centers on secularization, civil religion and multiculturalism shows how sociology of religion is significant. This shows how religion has a bearing in shaping social capacity and wellbeing of persons. It also aids the understanding on why most leaders are advocating for the cohesiveness of religion in the context of globalization. Definition of sociology of religion and its imperativeness As defined, sociology of religion studies beliefs, practices and organizational forms of religion that influence individual’s decision-making. The concept adopts the tools and techniques that are applicable in the discipline of sociology (Furseth Pal 1). The defi nition focuses mainly on the key interactive elements and life ideals that take place between individuals in social perspectives. It recognizes the role that religious beliefs, practices and ethical guidelines play in shaping individuals social set up. Another school of thought defines sociology of religion as the study of religion in the social context that applies the same theories that facilitate studies on economics and social phenomena. This affirms the idea that, the construction of human beings is under social ideals and principles. It also explains the notion that, religion has no significant or inherent difference from general philosophy. Imperatively, sociology of religion has immense interest in religion and its effects to societal development. Sociology also has interest on the society’s influence on individual’s religious lifestyle (Furseth Pal 4).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More That is most individuals are keen to understanding how religion and sociology compliment each other in ensuring holistic advancement of individuals. This is vital in enhancing social, economic and cultural integration especially in the contemporary society. Indeed, the definitions aim at enhancing the understanding of secularization, civil religion and globalization that are key issues affecting social integration. Discussion on sociology of religion Scholars affirmed that, religious principles and values form key ingredients that influence social integration and understanding. They stated that, societies that operate without embracing religious ideals are at the verge of collapse or disintegration. Such societies or individuals cannot cope with the noble social demands and expectations that require immense human understanding and complete eradication of secularism. It is imperative to note that, building a cohesive society under social ideals is dependent on the human values that people share. It is also dependent on the individual’s choices and actions. These influences how well they are able to interact and record exemplary growth socially and economically (Furseth Pal 6). The standards that are vital in ensuring social growth are part of religious principles and ethical values that demands respect for human dignity. The principles shape up individuals thinking capacity and perception on various issues. In the contemporary society, religion presents various norms and principles that individuals are under expectation to conform to (Cipriani 2). The principles vary in various faithful groups, for example, Christians and Muslims due to their different beliefs. The beliefs and principles under the categories affect individual’s action plans on diverse issues that affect their lives. This is evident since a good number of people tend to adopt their religious practices and operate under the set norms. These p ractices influence how they relate, interact with others, execute duties and coordinate activities. The subject’s importance The study on sociology of religion is of great value to various individuals in the contemporary society. Firstly, it aims at equipping individuals with credible information on the interrelations between sociology and religion. This is fundamental since societies are evolving no more, and social practices are expressly dependent on individual’s actions or decisions (Cipriani 3). The actions that are influenced by religious, cultural and economic ideals define individual’s wellbeing. Consequently, the study is important, as it will enable individuals to understand how religious practices and principles influence their social growth. This is essential since religious values and ethical standards facilitate mutual understanding.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Definition of sociology of religion and its imperativeness specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They foster peace and cohesiveness that is crucial for social and economic advancement in the contemporary society. It also seeks to facilitate the need for embracing civil religion ideals as material virtues for societal growth. Cipriani (4) noted that understanding of the concept would help in cushioning the spread of secularization that threatens to erode the splendid gains made in the social sector. Secularization whose practice is in the increase does not embrace religious beliefs. The worrying practice adopts secular norms that lack moral and ethical values that are critical for social growth. Due to this, sociologists affirm that it could get worse unless religious leaders get into spirited campaigns for spiritual awakening (Johnstone 6). The leaders need to reaffirm the importance of religious guidelines that appertains to dress code, communication and choice of entertainment. They also need to creat e awareness that key religious virtues that include love, kindness, honesty and generosity are central elements that contribute in the enhancement of social stability. These elements are vital if meaningful gains are to be made in the social sector in various nations. These will inculcate a sense of togetherness and the need for adoption of noble practices in life. Rational of the Theory The study rationally provides credible information on sociology of religion in the contemporary societies where secular humanist beliefs are gaining prominence. This is vital in ensuring the restoration of structure oriented religious beliefs. This will foster cordial engagement and interaction with others (Johnstone 9). The information focuses on key issues that affect social integration in most settings that include secularization, civil religion and multiculturalism. The issues are critical since there is a belief that they form the key forces that shape human action. Conclusion Indeed, religion ideals are elements that focus on developing individuals spiritually by inculcating noble Christian ideals that include love, care, understanding and peace. It aims at eradicating secular and unethical social practices that does not foster peace through systematic spiritual awakening. This explains why the two elements are regarded as related concepts.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Cipriani, Roberto. Sociology of Religion: An Historical Introduction. New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 2000. Print. Furseth, Inger Pal Repstad. An Introduction to the Sociology of Religion: Classical and Contemporary Perspectives. Aldershot [u.a.: Ashgate, 2007. Print. Johnstone, Ronald L. Religion in Society: A Sociology of Religion. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.

1984 Vocabulary

'1984' Vocabulary George Orwells 1984   tells of a dystopian future where the totalitarian government (called the Party) seeks to control not only language, but thought as well. Orwell created a whole new set of language rules with his Newspeak in 1984, showing how by reducing the ability to express oneself creatively, the Party could control how people spoke, and ultimately, know their thoughts. Instead of very good instead one using Newspeak would say plusgood and doubleplusgood. Orwell was particularly interested in nuances in language, and bemoaned what he viewed as   the loss of critical thinking and metaphor. 1984 - Terms and Vocabulary Heres a list of some unusual vocabulary words from 1984, by George Orwell. Use these terms for reference, study, and discussion. inscrutable: of an obscure nature discountenanced:  embarrassed gamboling:  playing boisterously or loudly multifarious:  having many aspects venerate:  regard with feelings of respect and reverence aquiline:  curved down, as an eagles beak stratum:  layers of material or divisions, or social classes in society palimpsest:  a manuscript on which more than one text has been written fulminate:  cause to explode violently and with loud noise anodyne:  capable of relieving pain sinecure:  an office that involves minimal duties niggling:  petty, trivial proletarian:  belonging to or characteristic of the working class wainscoting:  decorative paneling or woodwork fecundity: fertility, or cleverness (as in a fertile imagination) spurious:  not genuine, inauthentic oligarchy:  a form of government in which all power is in a few people or a dominant class truncheon: a club carried by a law enforcement officer forlorn: unhappy or miserable, hopeless More 1984 Resources Questions for Study and Discussion On 1984:Orwell Review

The characteristics of a growing and a mature product market Essay

The characteristics of a growing and a mature product market - Essay Example Under this phase, there are rapidly rising sales volume and profit, and the overall-growth is at a very fast-paced manner (Kotler, 2002, p.173). For example, consumer electronic markets, particularly entertainment devices, are in the growing product market. Portable DVD player is the hottest, trending category and â€Å"derives its popularity from its portability and compact size† (Atico International, n.d.). It also constitutes an annual growth rate of 25% in the hi-fi product market together with turntable, amplifier and digital radio tuner, MP3 players, four-unit speaker and wi-fi capability. During this stage, the average production cost of portable DVD player is being assessed as to what the company could sustain. Samsung Electronics is one of the prominent manufacturers of consumer electronic devices, but because it is not the first-mover, it needs to do extensive research to enhance the quality and features of its product. It has launched the world’s smallest por table DVD with a tiniest DVD format, quality screen format and a good battery life. In addition, the high production cost during the introduction stage is initially recovered in the growth phase because of scale economies or increased output. Customers at this stage are early adopters and old-users because the former will become aware of product benefits and participate while the latter will increase their consumption level or usage rate. This phase is very attractive to new entrants because profitability and market share are certain; thus, the business must expect a growing competition. A higher sales volume and profits that Samsung have gained from its portable DVD players make competitors such as Sony, Philips and LG to emerge. For the product to compete and obtain superior sales rate and market share, its product features should be unique and different, and the cost of promotion should be increased. Strategies. Sales and marketing strategies should be strengthened by providing t he market segment with the necessary information about the product. The product quality, feature, style, and design should be improved to increase the usage rate and brand identity. It is also an advantage if the business will involve in new market segments such as first-time buyers or non-users to widen its distribution coverage as demand increases. Furthermore, the original price should be maintained because the demand is rising, and it should use an informative promotion to attract a wide market audience. 1.2 Mature Product Market The mature product market is the third product life cycle phase. During this level, the rate of sales and profits is high, but starting to level-off because the overall growth is at a very slow manner (Kotler, 2002, p.174). For instance, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola are the two well-known competitors in carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) market wherein the former is the leading sales and market shareholder in the early years of competition. However, in the most recent soft-drink sales, Pepsi has total sales of $43.23 billion while Coca-Cola has $30.99 billion (Dlugosch, 2010). The

Radon Indoor Air pollution Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Radon Indoor Air pollution - Term Paper Example Is it really possible to develop a fatal disease, such as cancer, just by inhaling air indoors? It is sad to say, but this is in fact true. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), low indoor air quality within buildings and houses is especially dangerous to an individual’s health, with radon being determined as the leading pollutant that can cause lung cancer (Neira, et al., 2009, p. ix). Although the radioactive nature of radon and its harmful effects to people have drawn attention since 1979 and it has been formally labeled as a human carcinogen in 1988, â€Å"a unified approach to controlling radon exposures† to manage health risks was enacted just in the year 1993 (Neira, et al., 2009, p. ix). Radon research has taken thirteen years to be quantified and be made official for the WHO to establish the International Radon Project, which, based on solid and indisputable data, aims to create and increase public and political awareness against the destructive effects of continued radon exposure indoors (Neira, et al., 2009, p. ix). This year, the International Radon Project has gained much ground in raising awareness of the seriousness of the issue and radon testing has slowly evolved into a necessity for many American businesses and homeowners. Indeed, creating and maintaining high indoor air quality has become a requirement for many states in the U.S. But what really is radon; how is it radioactive; and how can it cause cancer? These are just some of the questions that this paper will answer in the hopes of providing an understandable and clear discussion of radon indoor air pollution. Radon (222Rn) is formed when the element radium (226Ra) decays (Otton, Gundersen and Schumann, 1995). Radium is produced when uranium (238U), a naturally radioactive element, decomposes (Otton, Gundersen and Schumann, 1995; Neira, et al., 2009, p. 1). Both radium and

Lab report paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lab report paraphrasing - Essay Example According to Experiment 1 observations, the T value of the signal when increased to 2 seconds from 0.5 seconds in 0.5 increments, the Fourier Transform accuracy also rises. Consequently, it is also evident that when the value of T is 0.5 seconds, the graph appears exceptionally different from the other 3 graphs since the period is not a big number to show the 2 tasks. These roles are actually the ones indicated on with line with the other one being made from the size of the troughs and peaks. This can clearly be seen when T=2 seconds in the graph in experiment 1. A correct value could not be displayed by the power spectrum because T value was too tiny. As illustrated, whenever the value of T rises, the power spectrum begins to exhibit the 2 co-sinusoids. When the experiment is over, it becomes clear that the magnitude of code required to solve the FFT is much shorter and simpler than the substitute DFT code. The other point to put into consideration would be the results obtained in section 3 of experiment 2.Thus, these results showed the time consumed to determine the DFT as well as the FFT, something that demonstrates that the FFT is quicker and realistic for determining the Fourier Transform. Consequently, FFT can be utilised in different methods through the entire electrical engineering comprising of researching on audio waves as well as the technique involving the audio signals, especially in recognition of pattern in instances where an engineer is searching for definite similarities or points, in addition to medical imagery like MRI scans etc. The above are just a few of numerous uses that electrical engineers are provided for by FFT at

Filming People Without Permission

Filming People Without Permission People use their cellphones to record a moment when they find it amusing, it can be somebodys birthday, can be an event that they like, or for fun. But when used in the wrong way, it can lead to bad luck for the subjects who were filmed without their consent and can lead to major consequences. Its important to know whether we should and we shouldnt, why do we do this? For a prank? To go revenge on someone or sell someone out? These kind of situations can mean a lot of other things. Nearly 85% of all teenagers who own a installed camera electronic (Smartphones, Digital Cameras, etc.) record an individual who has been recorded without his or her authorization. This can cause a big privacy problem to those who dont want themselves to be filmed by another person and submit them to the public/ social media networks. As these acts can lead to the victim getting bullied, harassed, or ruin their reputation. There are such laws regarding these acts in some parts of the U.S.,   a person who commits a crime like this will demand the violator to pay a huge amount of money, up to $100,000.00 fine. Many questions have been asked. Why bother filming others without their consent? There are many reasons why teenagers do this, one reason is to record a fight between two guys just because for entertainment. This act is very dangerous, yes there were two people fighting, but no permission was given. Fighting in public is prohibited as many people will record this horrid action and will motivate others to do the same thing. As many videos online are being uploaded to the internet for about 6000 videos per second, all it takes is one video. That video will be shared, re-uploaded non-stop until it meets the maximum amount of people online. Once anything is online, it cant be erased if deleted. Be very cautious when filming the right subject to avoid the consequences it holds. Another unanswered question is why film? Many people dont realize this isnt a game when they are filming another individual fighting another individual. Entertain themselves is the reason, many teenagers share this info to one another in order to spread rumors and other remarks, ordering everyone to attack the one who lost the fight. Which spreads also controversy to the media determining on protecting someones privacy to avoid being filmed and bullied from others. People have already violated the people who dont want to expose themselves to the public in social media, not that its okay to be popular, but this can make thousands of people despise the victim depending on the situation. If not careful, this can lead the victim to bad luck. Its important that parents need to know what their teenagers film when not present. Even though they are already grown up, they still need to learn the right and maturity way to handle these acts. Even if their parents dont expect these acts, they must teach their teen how to respect peoples privacy. Other reasons are not common, but can happen at anytime. Another reason is to spy or eavesdrop another person. Its another way to give out the truth to another individual and show what the person you spied on is doing and what is their next motive to move on to. This reason is practically not important but its another way to give out the truth, just like how a News Network handles the news; they cover for it, send out the facts on the story they want to cover, and talk on a serious note. The next reason is for fun. People love to have fun especially when they have the freedom to do so. But for this kind of filming, some people love to secretly capture / take a picture of someones face and try to edit them in a silly way. This is another common reason why people film others, even though the topic is Filming another person, Filming also counts as taking a photo of someone without their permission. When people take a photo of themselves, they call it a slang term for it, a selfie. and a fter that, they edit their photos in a more hilarious and weird way to produce laughter within themselves. Then, at other times they would jokingly take a picture of a friend of theirs and edit their face in a hilarious way, even though he didnt want his face to become in the social network media. Many things can go wrong if taking photos are not taken seriously, some people dont care if they are filmed without their permission and seem okay about it. But note that this can also affect on your reputation and your current job too! Your manager does not want to see your face edited in a inappropriate manner/way so make sure nobody is using your privacy rights in a bad situation. Now how can this hurt you and others if you dont take this seriously and still disrespect someones privacy. EVERYONE needs privacy to continue progressing to their established goal for the day. When its been treating itself badly, it cannot help you in any sort of way, and your goal will mean nothing to you, so be careful when dealing with people who can easily publish your face in the media. In one by one, this will show you why to be extra cautious about being filmed. (Get Hired by Manager for a job) Your boss at work wants to learn about you, they are not people to confide if you are not cooperating as this is a requirement. They want people who are confident and always cooperating, even if you didnt post the edited pictures. (To prevent bullying to the victim) You could be in trouble depending on how the picture they have taken of you represented. Be sure to check with an adult if this situation happens, this is common, but can be controlled. If you think privacy is not a big deal, think about the consequences, anything can happen. (To avoid conflict) Even if you didnt film someone or if YOURE the victim, you can avoid any problems you didnt commit. And finally (To stay safe online and everywhere) everybody in the world is not nice, so make some good and kind friends who trust you to become yourself and most importantly, to straighten your charisma and your social life. This isnt a PSA about not using electronics, but teenagers should be very careful not to mislead technology as a way to ruin other peoples lives. Theres not much to go on other more facts about recording other people but its a major problem adults have to face through. 15% of people who were filmed by another person committed suicide due to excessive amount of bullying and harassment the people gone through by their bad luck. One person was filmed when he was sleeping in class and he was drooling while not noticing hoods drool. One student filmed him sleeping on his desk for five minutes until he woke up, checked his phone for new messages and one message had the video one of his friends had sent him, of course it was him, drooling and sleeping and during the video, one person approached him and drew inappropriate drawings on his face and laughter filled the room. The video ends, then later in the day he met a group of 12 people gathering around him and calling him a name I cannot ty pe here, he was beaten up and sprang home which was his last place to visit. A true story, later on the student who filmed the suicidal kid never cared about the kid, and the school he went to, suspended everyones phone. Which no one followed this rule. I believe no one should film other people for entertainment because it puts yourself and the victim at risk and can suffer the consequences, adults should be aware of what their own kids are up to and what are they dealing with as ignoring this can lead to another victim, then another, then another, and so on

Comparing Death of a Salesman and The American Dream Essay -- comparis

Comparing Death of a Salesman and The American Dream   Ã‚  Ã‚   In Arthur Miller’s Death of A Salesman and Edward Albee’s The American Dream, Willy Lowman and Mommy possess the trait of superficiality. Their priorities are to look good and be liked, and this contributes to their misguided paths to reach success. This attribute is one of many societal criticisms pointed out by both authors. Arthur Miller criticizes society for perceiving success as being liked and having good looks. He illustrates society’s perception through Willy, who thinks the keys to success are being popular and attractive. Willy transmits this philosophy to his sons by ignoring their education and personal growth and setting an example that popularity is most important.   Edward Albee criticizes society for the same thing. He points out the wrong priorities in life such as emphasizing good looks and the wish to be liked at the expense of deeper ethics and morals. Through Mommy’s incident with the hat, which showed she wanted to be liked, and her problems with her own son’s physical and mental faults, which showed she cared too much for good looks, Albee shows how society is misguided in its methods to achieve success. Miller’s Willy shows many times that his idea of success goes no deeper than the superficial by teaching his sons the wrong path to a successful life. When Biff was in high school, Willy had already started to teach his son the false values in which he believed. When Willy found out Biff had stolen a football and was caught by his coach, who did not get angry, Willy responded by using the incident as an example of the importance of his philosophy. "That’s because he likes you. If somebody else took that ball there’d be an uproar." (... ...ve path in the form of Bernard, who unlike Biff and Happy, does well in school, is not well liked by others, and is a relatively unattractive man. However, his goals are more within reach because he is prepared to work hard and is less concerned with the opinions of others.    Works Cited and Consulted Albee, Edward. The American Dream. Toronto: Plume, 1997 Baym, Franklin, Gottesman, Holland, et al., eds.   The Norton Anthology of American Literature.   4th ed.   New York: Norton, 1994. Costello, Donald P. â€Å"Arthur Miller’s Circles of Responsibility: A View From a Bridge and Beyond.† Modern Drama. 36 (1993): 443-453. Hayashi, Tetsumaro.   Arthur Miller Criticism.   Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1969. Martin, Robert A., ed. Arthur Miller.   Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1982. Miller, Arthur.   Death of a Salesman.   New York: Viking, 1965.

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 27. Deadlock

Warm, sweeping, glorious, relief, the most powerful emotion that had hit me in days, more forceful than my anger, my agony†¦my pain, rushed over me. This emotion was so full of an alleviation and ease that all of the anguish and distress was leaving my body as I saw the emotions in Bella's eyes again. At the sight, I realized that I never truly appreciated her beauty. My eyes looked up as I silently prayed to whatever entity that kept her alive, letting them know how devoutly thankful I truly am. Looking back at her, the deep depths, the windows to her soul, continued to move in quick irregular motions as she reached up to pull the oxygen tube from her nose. â€Å"No, you don't.† I reached over to stop her hand. My chin was resting only inches from her face when her eyes finally met mine. She was disorientated. â€Å"Edward?† Her voice was hoarse, drained, like she was fatally wounded. A tiny pucker formed between her brows. She tried to focus on my face. â€Å"Oh, Edward, I'm so sorry!† She was sorry? What did she need to be sorry for? â€Å"Shhhh.† I attempted to stop her insanity. â€Å"Everything's all right now.† I tried to speak bracing words of comfort. She needn't be so anxious with her frail body being in such a broken state. â€Å"What happened?† Her words were slurred slightly, almost like she was drunk. Memories of the events that happened that fateful morning, which brought her to this place, rushed across my mind. My stomach bubbled with a sickening acid. â€Å"I was almost too late. I could have been too late,† I whispered, torment lacing each syllable. â€Å"I was so stupid, Edward. I thought he had my mom.† Of course, she would try to put the blame on herself. â€Å"He tricked us all,† I said, trying to ease her mind. She really should be resting. â€Å"I need to call Charlie and my mom,† worry was present in her eyes†¦always worried about someone else, anyone else, but herself. â€Å"Alice called them. Rene is here — well, here in the hospital. She's getting something to eat right now.† â€Å"She's here?† She tried to sit up, her body swaying slightly. I couldn't let her hurt herself anymore so I lightly pushed her back down onto the pillows. â€Å"She'll be back soon,† I promised. â€Å"And you need to stay still.† â€Å"But what did you tell her?† Her voice was panicked. â€Å"Why did you tell her I'm here?† Even in her drugged stupor, she was still trying to protect our secret. Without effort, my love radiated out of me along with the agony that rippled through me at the thought of what actually happened just those two days ago. â€Å"You fell down two flights of stairs and through a window.† You were tortured by a vicious vampire and I was nearly too late. â€Å"You have to admit, it could happen.† I tried to lighten the mood with this small joke. She sighed at my bad humor and I could see her wince slightly at the pain it caused. Her eyes finally left mine to roam over her broken and mangled body. â€Å"How bad am I?† She asked, curious. This time I sighed. The damage was extensive. â€Å"You have a broken leg, four broken ribs, some cracks in your skull, bruises covering every inch of your skin, and you've lost a lot of blood. They gave you a few transfusions. I didn't like it — it made you smell all wrong for a while.† I took in a deep breath at the luxurious scent that now filled the small room, letting it sting my throat with the pleasurable burning sensation. â€Å"That must have been a nice change for you,† she half smiled. She had it all wrong though. To imagine her without the palatable scent was almost unbearable, like I had drank all the goodness from her body and it was being replaced by some cheap imitation. â€Å"No, I like how you smell.† â€Å"How did you do it?† Her voice was strained. I knew what she was asking. Many memories stirred from that horrible morning. Blood was coming out of her in torrents, flooding the floor. The blood†¦how did I stop? I remembered the pleasure and the pain that consumed my body at just the mere thought of her warm blood in my mouth, my burning throat with the accompanied obsessive longing finally being quenched. The thought tore at every nerve in my body. The disgust I felt didn't stop me though; I still brought her wrist to my mouth and drank from her. Even when she yanked around in my grasp, thrusting against my hold, screaming, I didn't let go. I didn't even know how I did it. â€Å"I'm not sure,† there was the tiniest quiver in my voice. Gently, I lifted her hand which was wrapped in white gauze, examining it carefully. Along with the ache that seared deep inside me, there was this new indication of what I was. A monster. A creature that should have no part in this angel's life. Lightly caressing her hand I shivered at this sick souvenir that would always be on her wrist which made my dead heart shatter. The wires that connected her to all the monitors were just another vivid reminder on top of everything else at how fragile and breakable she was. Each passing second felt like borrowed time. I sighed. â€Å"It was impossible†¦ to stop,† my voice was low, a whisper. But I did stop; I was able to keep her alive. â€Å"Impossible. But I did.† My eyes met hers, a smile creeping up my face; a great rush of affection washing over me. â€Å"I must love you.† â€Å"Don't I taste as good as I smell?† She returned my smile. The satisfaction†¦the gratifyingly warm blood in my mouth ?C it was beyond delicious. It coursed through my body, sweeter than life. â€Å"Even better — better than I'd imagined.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† she apologized. She was†¦sorry? Again, what was with the apologies? If it wasn't for my stupidity in the first place she wouldn't have even been in the situation to have her blood sucked by me, of all creatures. I looked up to the ceiling in exasperation before returning my gaze to her. â€Å"Of all the things to apologize for.† â€Å"What should I apologize for?† For a moment I was lost in desperate speculation, thoughts consuming my mind momentarily. Only one thing came to mind. â€Å"For very nearly taking yourself away from me forever.† If her life had ended that day†¦I shuddered†¦I too, would have died. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she apologized again. â€Å"I know why you did it. It was still irrational, of course. You should have waited for me, you should have told me.† At this, I realized maybe she didn't trust me as much as I thought. She shouldn't trust me. Because of me, she was here in this hospital bed, for several days, fighting to regain consciousness. â€Å"You wouldn't have let me go,† she explained, like I should have known this. â€Å"No,† I replied in a stern tone. â€Å"I wouldn't.† She shuddered and then slightly winced. My eyes roamed over her to find the culprit of her obvious pain, my nerves being pulled tighter at her discomfort. â€Å"Bella, what's wrong?† I pleaded She ignored me, wanting more answers. â€Å"What happened to James?† James, I growled internally; the enemy being brought to the forefront of my mind. â€Å"After I pulled him off you, Emmett and Jasper took care of him,† I said with clenched teeth. Bella needed me, I knew that, but regardless, jealousy still rippled through me at the thought that it wasn't me who got to pull him apart – it wasn't me who burned him. Her eyebrow furrowed. â€Å"I didn't see Emmett and Jasper there.† â€Å"They had to leave the room†¦ there was a lot of blood.† Everyone's actions that night caught me off guard; all of them behaving like there was not a single drop of blood spilled in the building. Luckily, we all have no need for oxygen. â€Å"But you stayed,† she stated with a deep fervor, her face smoothing. â€Å"Yes, I stayed.† Obviously, I stayed. She needed me†¦she would have died. Preventing that was most important. â€Å"And Alice, and Carlisle †¦Ã¢â‚¬  she said in conjecture. Of course they stayed, too. They consider her part of our family. â€Å"They love you, too, you know.† â€Å"Did Alice see the tape?† She asked anxiously. â€Å"Yes,† I gritted my teeth. I remembered watching the tape through Alice's mind, the things he did to Bella ?C the way he taunted me on the video. â€Å"She was always in the dark, that's why she didn't remember,† Bella explained, distracting me. I nodded. â€Å"I know. She understands now,† I said darkly. That was all James did; hurt people and their families, only leaving reminders of his presence. Bella's hand came up to reach for my face, but the IV stopped her from moving far. â€Å"Ugh.† She winced. My head came up from her pillow, concerned. â€Å"What is it?† I asked anxiously, the image of James still in my view ?C anger still coursing through me. â€Å"Needles,† she explained, looking up like she was going to be sick. She took several deep breaths. Instantly, the anger left my body as humor replaced it. The absurdity of it all ?C she was beaten by a vampire, yet this†¦needle, of all things, makes her sick. â€Å"Afraid of a needle,† I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. â€Å"Oh, a sadistic vampire, intent on torturing her to death, sure, no problem, she runs off to meet him. An IV, on the other hand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She rolled her eyes. â€Å"Why are you here?† She asked. Instantly, I felt a chill in my stomach. I just stared at her, surveying her face, confusion sweeping over me. Then, it hit me. Maybe she didn't want me here, which is understandable, but it still made my heart ache, my body shriveled in pain. My eyebrows pulled together as a frown replaced my previous amusement. â€Å"Do you want me to leave?† An obvious grimace appearing on my face. â€Å"No!† She protested as loudly as she could. â€Å"No, I meant, why does my mother think you're here? I need to have my story straight before she gets back.† â€Å"Oh,† I breathed, once again, relief burst through me; understanding replacing confusion. She still wants me here! Happiness swelled inside me like a balloon. â€Å"I came to Phoenix to talk some sense into you, to convince you to come back to Forks.† I fixed my face, like I was trying to convince her myself, proving this lie was convincing. â€Å"You agreed to see me, and you drove out to the hotel where I was staying with Carlisle and Alice — of course I was here with parental supervision,† I infused innocently, â€Å"but you tripped on the stairs on the way to my room and†¦ well, you know the rest. You don't need to remember any details, though; you have a good excuse to be a little muddled about the finer points.† Looking into her eyes I could see her mental processes whirling around before she spoke. â€Å"There are a few flaws with that story. Like no broken windows,† she said matter-of-factly. â€Å"Not really,† I chuckled lightly under my breath. â€Å"Alice had a little bit too much fun fabricating evidence. It's all been taken care of very convincingly — you could probably sue the hotel if you wanted to. You have nothing to worry about,† I assured her, caressing her cheek with the lightest of touches, letting her warmth envelope me. â€Å"Your only job now is to heal,† I ordered. I continued to trace my fingers around her magnificent face. Her heart began to jump around wildly, the monitor echoing the erratic palpitations. â€Å"That's going to be embarrassing,† she muttered. This could be more amusing than I realized. Now her heart was beating loudly enough for both of us to hear with all of this equipment magnifying it. I chuckled. â€Å"Hmm, I wonder†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I leaned in, deliberately trying to hear her reaction; the beeping noise hammered quickly along with her heart before my cold lips even reached her warm ones. Her heart continued to beat a little faster as I slowly moved in for the kiss. Gently, I reminded myself; placing my lips upon hers, sending a spine tingling sensation through me as she lightly moaned in pleasure. Her heart was racing before it gave a huge bound and then it stopped altogether. Panic hit. I pulled back instantly as the light beeping noise started again. Relief, a feeling that seemed to be recurring over and over today, swept over me. â€Å"It seems that I'm going to have to be even more careful with you than usual,† I grimaced. â€Å"I was not finished kissing you,† she grumbled. â€Å"Don't make me come over there.† Affection gushed up inside me and against my careful stature; a smile crept up my face at her obvious love for me. It was amazing that she still yearned to be with me like I craved to be with her. After everything I had done to her she still wished for a proximity that I was still reluctant to give her; I was filled with a trepidation that I would hurt her, break her, kill her somehow. Despite my thoughts, I still bent down to press my lips lightly to hers. The heat crept up my face and down my veins as it brought warmth to my cold heart. In the hallway, I could hear a discussion being whispered. â€Å"How long will it take before she wakes up?† Rene asked the nurse. Soon, please tell me soon! â€Å"It's up to her, Mrs. Dwyer.† â€Å"Well, thanks anyways,† she sounded defeated. Edward is still in there I bet ?C they have had enough time alone. Who knows what those crazy kids were up to before this accident happened. I pulled out of our kiss. â€Å"I think I hear your mother,† I smiled. â€Å"Don't leave me,† she cried irrationally. Terror was obvious in her deep brown eyes. â€Å"I won't,† I promised solemnly, and then I smiled serenely. â€Å"I'll take a nap.† I jumped from the stiff plastic chair by her side to the turquoise artificial-leather recliner at the foot of her bed, leaning it all the way back, and closing my eyes. I became a statue. â€Å"Don't forget to breathe,† she whispered mockingly. Going along with her humor I took a deep breath, my eyes remained closed. Rene's light echoing footsteps moved towards the door before she lightly pressed against it, causing the door to crack open. She's awake! Rene thought excitedly. Her eyes peeked through the space, hoping to sneak a peek at a possible conversation, eavesdropping before she opened the door all the way to rush towards Bella's open eyes. â€Å"Mom!† Bella croaked out, her voice relieved. Oh, my baby girl, Rene's mind was easing slightly. Through her eyes I could see my still form feigning sleep. Ah, he's asleep†¦but still here. Her annoyed thoughts became verbal. â€Å"He never leaves, does he?† she muttered. â€Å"Mom, I'm so glad to see you!† Bella ignored her mom's spoken thought. Rene's expression cleared, her eyes returning to her daughter. Forget Edward†¦my baby. My beautiful baby girl. She's awake. Tears flowed down Rene's cheeks as she bent down to hug Bella awkwardly. â€Å"Bella, I was so upset!† Rene spluttered through her tears and other inarticulate sounds. I should have never, ever let her go to Forks. What was I thinking? I'm such a fool. â€Å"I'm sorry, Mom. But everything's fine now, it's okay,† Bella tried to reassure her. She's sorry? I'm sorry! Everything's not okay. Look at her†¦all the bruises. At Rene's thoughts, my stomach tightened sickeningly with pain. I felt a pang of unease. The bruises†¦the broken bones†¦they were my fault, no one else's. Sick images swam in my head and continued to come at me relentlessly. Every part of me ached with my idiocy ?C my ignorance ?C at what my clandestine existence ultimately brought to Bella. Thoughts of leaving her echoed through my head, but my love continued to pulse in my heart, my inability to leave her growing stronger. The ongoing battle continued to ensue inside me. â€Å"I'm just glad to finally see your eyes open.† Rene sat down at the end of Bella's bed. Her eyes are so sparkly. To think that there was a possibility that they could never open again†¦she grew sick at the thought, letting it trail off to images of coffins and people dressed in black. Struggling, I tried to push her images from my mind fiercely. My lurking doubts started resurfacing in my mind. I should leave Bella to her life, stop destroying her future. â€Å"How long have they been closed?† Bella gasped, her mouth forming a little O of horror. â€Å"It's Friday, hon, you've been out for a while.† â€Å"Friday?† Her voice was full of stunned disbelief. The two worst days of my life. I had to agree with Rene's thoughts, except they were the worst two days of my entire existence. â€Å"They had to keep you sedated for a while, honey — you've got a lot of injuries.† â€Å"I know,† Bella winced. â€Å"You're lucky Dr. Cullen was there. He's such a nice man†¦ very young, though. And he looks more like a model than a doctor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  If I wasn't married†¦ â€Å"You met Carlisle?† Bella interrupted her fantasy. â€Å"And Edward's sister Alice. She's a lovely girl.† The whole family is breath taking. What kind of food are they feeing them? Only if she knew of the consequences of having our beauty and the blood we drink to continue our deplorable existence. â€Å"She is,† Bella agreed sincerely, unstinting devotion, love emitting from Bella's eyes in rays of emotion. Suddenly I was in Rene's vision. Wow, she really does feel strongly for this family. But, what about this boy? He seems to be around much more than the rest. â€Å"You didn't tell me you had such good friends in Forks,† Rene said suspiciously, turning back to Bella but continuing to steal glances of me over her shoulder. I wonder what their deal is†¦ Rene was busy stealing another glance over her shoulder when Bella moaned in pain. The lamentation of grief reached Rene's ears, her eyes quickly found Bella's. So did mine, flashing open as soon as her mom's attention was no longer on me, panic coursing through me. â€Å"What hurts?† she demanded anxiously, voicing my same concerns. Her thoughts were full of a deep motherly concern, one full of love. â€Å"It's fine,† she tried to relieve our tension. â€Å"I just have to remember not to move.† Her words eased some of my panic. Closing my eyes again, I focused on her through Rene's thoughts. Never again. She's not going back to Forks. Thank god for Phil's contract. She'll be so excited. â€Å"Where's Phil?† Bella blurted out, almost as if she were reading her mother's mind too. â€Å"Florida– oh, Bella! You'll never guess! Just when we were about to leave, the best news!† â€Å"Phil got signed?† Bella interjected. â€Å"Yes! How did you guess! The Suns, can you believe it?† She can finally move back home! Deep down I could feel the hollowing of my insides along with the burning of my heart at the thought of Bella moving away, but it was the best thing she could do. She should leave, graduate high school, college†¦get married and have kids. Not stay with a vampire who could offer her no future. â€Å"That's great, Mom,† she replied in a questioning enthusiasm. I knew what was going to come next. The borrowed time was lessening. Instantly, I became increasingly nervous. â€Å"And you'll like Jacksonville so much,† she jabbered while Bella stared at her vacantly. â€Å"I was a little bit worried when Phil started talking about Akron, what with the snow and everything, because you know how I hate the cold, but now Jacksonville! It's always sunny, and the humidity really isn't that bad. We found the cutest house, yellow, with white trim, and a porch just like in an old movie, and this huge oak tree, and it's just a few minutes from the ocean, and you'll have your own bathroom –â€Å" â€Å"Wait, Mom!† Bella interrupted. â€Å"What are you talking about? I'm not going to Florida. I live in Forks.† My heart, my cold, dead, unbeating heart†¦I swear, it just started beating again. She wanted to stay in a place she hated, and I knew it was because of me. What? Maybe she doesn't understand. Rene smiled. â€Å"But you don't have to anymore, silly,† she laughed. â€Å"Phil will be able to be around so much more now†¦ we've talked about it a lot, and what I'm going to do is trade off on the away games, half the time with you, half the time with him.† â€Å"Mom.† Bella hesitated for a second. Automatically I tried to hear her mind, the space between us silent as ever before she spoke. â€Å"I want to live in Forks. I'm already settled in at school, and I have a couple of girlfriends† — suddenly I was in Rene's vision. It's because of him, I know it. — â€Å"and Charlie needs me. He's just all alone up there, and he can't cook at all.† I wasn't sure why, but it was clear that she didn't want to go to Florida with Rene, and I was all for that plan. Even though it wasn't a good plan. Forks†¦Rene's thoughts were babbling inarticulately. â€Å"You want to stay in Forks?† She spluttered. Again, I was in her vision, my face tense with the conversation. This boy†¦Does she love him, too? Still†¦Forks. Insane. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I told you — school, Charlie — † she shrugged â€Å"ouch!† Bella ?C how do I comfort her? Her hand fluttered uselessly over Bella's body. Her eyes narrowed in on an un-bandaged spot and patted lightly. Seriously, though ?C school? Charlie? I don't believe it. â€Å"Bella, honey, you hate Forks,† she stated firmly. â€Å"It's not so bad.† Well, that wasn't the response I was hoping for. Oh, come on. Rene scoffed. Again, I saw my face flash in front of her eyes before she turned back to Bella. â€Å"Is it this boy?† she whispered. Bella opened her mouth and then closed it. What was she thinking? â€Å"He's part of it,† Bella finally spoke nonchalantly. â€Å"So, have you had a chance to talk with Edward?† â€Å"Yes.† He's quite mysterious†¦ â€Å"And I want to talk to you about that.† How stupid to even consider someone approving of me for their daughter. â€Å"What about?† Her lips pressed together tightly. â€Å"I think that boy is in love with you,† Rene alleged, keeping her voice low. â€Å"I think so, too.† Despite the situation we were under, I grinned at the memory of our time in the meadow, the first time I confessed my love for her. â€Å"And how do you feel about him?† She was pushing for details, which means Bella will have to lie. I cringed internally at that thought. She was a horrible liar. A small gush of air swept in and out of Bella's lungs before she spoke. â€Å"I'm pretty crazy about him.† This made me happy. I nearly took her life, yet, she was still ‘crazy about' me. â€Å"Well, he seems very nice, and, my goodness, he's incredibly good-looking, but you're so young, Bella†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I was hoping that I wouldn't have to have ‘the talk' with her until she was older. She sighed. What was I expecting? She is seventeen after all. â€Å"I know that, Mom. Don't worry about it. It's just a crush.† Crush? Just a crush? Her words burned more than my thirst. Deep down I knew she was perpetrating a farce, but still, just like at her house before we left for Phoenix, the words caught me off guard. Crush†¦I can handle that. Then it's not too serious after all. â€Å"That's right,† she agreed. Then she sighed and glanced guiltily over her shoulder at the big, round clock on the wall above my head. I need to get home†¦Phil. He'll be worried if I don't answer the phone. Seeing the time for myself I was disheartened that my time with her was slowly passing by. Sooner than I'd like, I would have to leave her forever. Was I brave enough? Did I have enough will power†¦enough strength? â€Å"Do you need to go?† Bella interrupted my reverie. â€Å"Phil's supposed to call in a little while†¦ I didn't know you were going to wake up†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No problem, Mom.† Bella said indifferently. â€Å"I won't be alone.† That's right. I'll be here. She was just so soft and vulnerable. It seemed foolhardy to let her out of my sight, where anything could happen to her. And yet, the worst things that could happen to her would result from being with me. Deep down, I wished that she wasn't better off being away from me. I bet you won't†¦not with Edward keeping an eye on you. â€Å"I'll be back soon. I've been sleeping here, you know.† â€Å"Oh, Mom, you don't have to do that! You can sleep at home — I'll never notice.† The words were slurred slightly, the drugged stupor still not completely worn off. â€Å"I was too nervous,† she admitted sheepishly. â€Å"There's been some crime in the neighborhood, and I don't like being there alone.† Her eyes darted to the newspaper next to the bed. â€Å"Crime?† Bella asked, thunderstruck. It was awful. The building was in ruins. Rene was picturing the remains of the ballet studio. â€Å"Someone broke into that dance studio around the corner from the house and burned it to the ground — there's nothing left at all! And they left a stolen car right out front. Do you remember when you used to dance there, honey?† â€Å"I remember,† her voice quivered slightly under – what I would expect to be ?C bad memories. She looks scared. Maybe I should stay here†¦ â€Å"I can stay, baby, if you need me.† â€Å"No, Mom, I'll be fine. Edward will be with me.† Edward, again. That could also be a good reason to stay. â€Å"I'll be back tonight.† I hope he heard that. She glanced at me again as she thought it. â€Å"I love you, Mom.† â€Å"I love you, too, Bella. Try to be more careful when you walk, honey, I don't want to lose you.† I never realized her clumsiness would come to this though. Seriously ?C a coma in the hospital. I remembered Carlisle looking over Bella's X-ray at the hospital after the van nearly crushed her to death. She had many healed fractures. Trying to suppress laughter, I could stop the grin that spread across my face. I wonder if that hot boy will be in the room. I heard the nurse's thoughts that checked on Bella yesterday. She came bustling in then to check all of the tubes and wires. Rene watched the nurse for a minute. I better get going. I don't want to miss Phil's phone call. He'll be elated to hear that she is awake finally. She kissed Bella's forehead, patted her gauze-wrapped hand, and left. The nurse was checking the paper readout on the heart monitor. Hum†¦I wonder if this is because of him. The nurse pictured my face. He makes my heart do funny things, too. Maybe she is just worried or nervous. I would be if I woke up from a coma, too. â€Å"Are you feeling anxious, honey? Your heart rate got a little high there.† After Rene left I opened my eyes, watching the nurse interact with Bella, pushing her thoughts from my mind. â€Å"I'm fine,† Bella assured the nurse. I'm sure you are. I'd be fine too if he was at my bed side. â€Å"I'll tell your RN that you're awake. She'll be in to see you in a minute.† The nurse turned on her heals and strode quickly out of the room. It took me less than a second to move to her side, so quickly that she didn't see me move from point A to point B. Instead of her being surprised, her tiny eyebrows rose in humor. â€Å"You stole a car?† Duh, I wanted to say. Instead I just smiled. â€Å"It was a good car, very fast,† I refused to apologize; she didn't seem to mind. It had to be fast, my only purpose was to get to her as quickly as I could†¦to save her life before James had the opportunity to take her away from me forever. I was too late, but just in time to barely reverse the effects of the venom that had rushed down her veins. â€Å"How was your nap?† She smirked. â€Å"Interesting.† My mind was wondering, remembering her plea to stay in Forks and her word crush. My eyes narrowed slightly and she noticed the change in my facial features. â€Å"What?† Honestly, I was happy with her response to stay in Forks, but disappointed all the same because now I had to find the courage to tell her to go, that she would be better off without me in her life. Was I brave enough? Was I that self sacrificing? By the look on her face she had already read too much into my face so I looked down. â€Å"I'm surprised. I thought Florida †¦ and your mother†¦well; I thought that's what you would want.† The many nights I watched her sleep, as her worries and thoughts were spoken freely, let me know how much she truly cared for her mother. Also, when she talked about Rene it was if a parent were talking about a child. Was she just tired of the responsibility of her mother? That was uncharacteristic of her, so probably not the culprit to her reasoning to stay in Forks. The word crush rang through my mind again and so I couldn't be the reason, either. When I finally looked up she was staring at me uncomprehendingly. â€Å"But you'd be stuck inside all day in Florida. You'd only be able to come out at night, just like a real vampire.† A real vampire? What am I, chopped liver? The humor quickly passed. It was time to convince her to go back home†¦to Florida. â€Å"I would stay in Forks, Bella. Or somewhere like it,† I explained.† Someplace where I couldn't hurt you anymore.† She stared at me with a blank expression, like she was having trouble processing my words. Was it the drugs? Maybe this conversation should wait until she was more aware and alert. I was just making excuses. Her lips turned down into an unfathomable expression as the monitor magnified her heart beats which were quickly increasing. The beeping nose and the pounding in her chest were reaching a dangerous point, going so fast I was nervous. Her breathing picked up along with her heart. Soon, she was gasping, hyperventilating. Her eyes began to water as her face contorted into a horrible grimace of pain. The soft lines of her face were suddenly sharp and defined. I didn't know what to do, what to say. That beeping doesn't sound good. I better go check it out. A different nurse came marching into the room. Maybe she had a remedy that I didn't. She looked over the monitors to see that her regular heart beat, and the insane palpitations that were pulsing wildly through her, were not the same. Wow, she looks like she is in a lot of pain. Jeesh, what a tortured face. . â€Å"Time for more pain meds, sweetheart?† she asked sweetly, tapping the IV feed. â€Å"No, no,† Bella choked out, the pain still clearly in her tone. â€Å"I don't need anything.† Of course, she didn't want to seem weak. â€Å"No need to be brave, honey. It's better if you don't get too stressed out; you need to rest.† The nurse waited, but she just shook her head. â€Å"Okay,† she sighed. â€Å"Hit the call button when you're ready.† This better not be his fault or I'm going to kick him out of the room so she can get some rest. The nurse's stare bore into me, like she was trying to burn a hole through my skull before she glanced at the machinery like she was warning me she could hear it. She left the room. I'll be listening. Ignoring the overly observant nurse I placed my hands on Bella's face to bring her attention back to our conversation. Her eyes were full of moisture, the look in them wild with unease and anxiety. Her heart was still bounding wildly ahead. â€Å"Shhh, Bella, calm down.† I tried to soothe her. â€Å"Don't leave me,† she begged me, her voice cracking with the pain. Her pupils dilated in terror as her lips trembled uncontrollably. When she begged like this, how could I deny her anything? All my plans, all my thoughts†¦every second of deciding to leave her crumbled into little pieces. â€Å"I won't,† I promised. â€Å"Now relax before I call the nurse back to sedate you.† Still, her heart continued to thunder along, not relaxing one bit to my words. Great, I was going to give her a heart attack. All my efforts to keep her alive and just the mere thought of my absence would send her over the edge. A second was all it took to change everything: the atmosphere in the room, my mission here, the reason I leaned toward the glorious soul in front of me†¦ What had been for one purpose before was now for another. To stay. To keep her alive. To prevent her heart from exploding with the pain that I was feeling too. â€Å"Bella.† I lightly brushed her face apprehensively. â€Å"I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here as long as you need me,† I promised. â€Å"Do you swear you won't leave me?† She whispered a small splutter of terror. She was gasping for air as her heart continued to beat out of control, her pulse continuing to reach a danger point. Her reactions robbed me temporarily of breath. It was oddly disembodying trying to understand her fear, because it was me who couldn't live without her. It shouldn't be the other way around. Before the nurse decides to kick me out of the room I had to calm her down. I took her face between my hands. Her warmth crept up my body slowly as I brought my face only inches from hers before whispering to her, â€Å"I swear.† Her breath was filling the air between us. It was very appealing, but in this moment I was too worried about her heart and her breathing. Each second the rhythmic motion of her breath and her heart slowed. I refused to let go of her until she had calmed down. When the monitors had quieted I sighed in relief. â€Å"Better?† I asked, surveying her face. â€Å"Yes,† she answered, her voice sounded guarded. Under my breath I began muttering so low she wouldn't hear me. â€Å"Beautiful, insane, overly sensitive girl. What an overreaction.† I shook my head. â€Å"Why did you say that?† She whispered. At first, I didn't know if she actually heard what I had muttered. â€Å"Are you tired of having to save me all the time? Do you want me to go away?† Again, insane. With increasing desperation I tried to explain to her that I did want her, that it would literally kill me if she went away. â€Å"No, I don't want to be without you, Bella, of course not. Be rational,† I added sensibly. â€Å"And I have no problem with saving you, either — if it weren't for the fact that I was the one putting you in danger†¦ that I'm the reason that you're here.† â€Å"Yes, you are the reason,† she interjected with a frown. â€Å"The reason I'm here –alive.† I had less resolution than ever. â€Å"Barely.† I choked out. â€Å"Covered in gauze and plaster and hardly able to move.† I stared down at her like it would force her to mend. â€Å"I wasn't referring to my most recent near-death experience,† her voice was slightly irritated. Staring at her, I tried to read her eyes. Yes, I saved her in the past, but that had nothing to do with the present. She was still in this hospital bed because of me. The silence tautened and strained. She finally spoke. â€Å"I was thinking of the others — you can take your pick. If it weren't for you, I would be rotting away in the Forks cemetery.† Her voice was like an angry drunken titter from all the drugs in her system. The memories made me wince several times. The van, Port Angeles†¦my thoughts trailed off, not wanting to think of where she would be if I wasn't there to intercede on her behalf. Then I realized I had already made my decision. I wasn't going to let her leave. If she did I would follow her, even if she was unaware of it. No matter what, I would watch over her, keep her from harm, for as long as I could justify it. Luckily, I don't see how she would ever not need me to keep her safe. I suddenly found myself wishing that her clumsiness would never go away. I looked at her gauze covered wrist, my original thoughts surfacing. â€Å"That's not the worst part, though,† I continued, ignoring her previous words of comfort.†Not seeing you there on the floor†¦ crumpled and broken.† The words caught in my throat. â€Å"Not thinking I was too late. Not even hearing you scream in pain — all those unbearable memories that I'll carry with me for the rest of eternity. No, the very worst was feeling†¦ knowing that I couldn't stop. Believing that I was going to kill you myself,† my voice tailed away feebly as the memory of her blood in my mouth, swirling sweetly down my throat, surfaced. â€Å"But you didn't,† she pointed out. â€Å"I could have. So easily.† Her breath came a little quicker again. Panic was obvious in her eyes. Did she finally understand that she should fear me? â€Å"Promise me,† she whispered. â€Å"What?† â€Å"You know what.† She gave me an insolent stare. I was wrong; she didn't fear me, just the opposite. How can I promise to never leave when I know one day I will have to? Not now, though. I can't leave her now when she needs me. Still, I gazed uncertainly towards her, my eyes automatically tightening. A lurking doubt resurfaced in my mind. She's here because of me. This is my fault. If I stay ?C this might happen again. I couldn't have that. I could feel the warmth of her pulse in the air and on my skin. Trying to master myself I realized that my time with her was ticking away. Hearing her voice – an extraordinary tonic, I might add – after the two days of complete and utter silence, settled my thoughts. â€Å"I don't seem to be strong enough to stay away from you, so I suppose that you'll get your way†¦ whether it kills you or not,† my tone growing more forlorn with each word. â€Å"Good.† She stated firmly. â€Å"You told me how you stopped†¦ now I want to know why,† she demanded. â€Å"Why?† I repeated warily, I hadn't recovered from the shock of the question. â€Å"Why you did it. Why didn't you just let the venom spread? By now I would be just like you.† Her words fell oddly upon my ears and were an unpleasant surprise. Words I didn't expect to hear come out of her mouth. Where did she learn this? In that precise moment it hit me like a bolt of lightning. Alice. A scathing noise escaped my lips as I thought about this. She was a bit sneakier than I realized. But telling Bella about vampire transformations was crossing the line. I couldn't suppress a shiver of loathing. I could feel my nostrils flaring as my lips grew tighter together. I didn't respond, not knowing if Alice really told her, or if it was another one of those legends she read about and was merely guessing how the conversion worked. Bella broke the silence. â€Å"I'll be the first to admit that I have no experience with relationships, but it just seems logical†¦ a man and woman have to be somewhat equal†¦ as in, one of them can't always be swooping in and saving the other one. They have to save each other equally.† It seems her knowledge is not as extensive as I first thought. Of course, in movies and books vampires had to bite their victims to turn them. It was easy for her to deduct these things. Instead of getting angry, I folded my arms on the side of her bed and rested my chin on my arms. Still, I will have to have a†¦talk†¦with Alice. I thought about what Bella said though, about saving each other equally. She doesn't realize how much she has saved me, how she pulled me out of the deepest depression that even Jasper has ever seen. My whole family has fallen in love with Bella merely for what her presence has done for me. â€Å"You have saved me,† I said quietly, letting her in on my revelation. â€Å"I can't always be Lois Lane,† she insisted, ignoring me. â€Å"I want to be Superman, too.† Her statements still had me utterly bewildered. She wanted to be a vampire. Of all things in the world that she could ask for, she asks for the one thing I refuse to give. I was unsure of the best way to approach the subject. Bella, I might kill you in the process and you will burn for three days and beg for death before you finally turn into a vampire who never sleeps and is always aching to quench ones thirst. No, that is too much information. â€Å"You don't know what you're asking.† I stared at the edge of her pillowcase, afraid she might see my thoughts displayed across my face. â€Å"I think I do.† â€Å"Bella, you don't know. I've had almost ninety years to think about this, and I'm still not sure,† I tried not to succumb to the rage I felt bubbling under my skin. Why was she pushing this subject? â€Å"Do you wish that Carlisle hadn't saved you?† â€Å"No, I don't wish that.† I used to, but now I realize my fate included Bella, and I would have never met her without Carlisle's rash decision to turn me. â€Å"But my life was over. I wasn't giving anything up.† â€Å"You are my life. You're the only thing it would hurt me to lose,† she admitted, not the least bit embarrassed. No matter how much she pleaded with me, I would never take her soul. It wasn't up for debate. â€Å"I can't do it, Bella. I won't do that to you.† â€Å"Why not?† She croaked. â€Å"Don't tell me it's too hard! After today, or I guess it was a few days ago†¦ anyway, after that, it should be nothing.† I glared at her. A positively dangerous look crept across my face. â€Å"And the pain?† I asked, curious. She flinched, obviously remembering the fire that burned through her veins. â€Å"That's my problem,† she said coolly. â€Å"I can handle it.† Insane. â€Å"It's possible to take bravery to the point where it becomes insanity.† â€Å"It's not an issue. Three days. Big deal.† Shock so huge it rooted me to the spot and roughly burst through me. Three days. This was something that could have only been told by another vampire. It wasn't Jasper, he respects other's wishes. Alice, on the other hand†¦the very nosy, annoying, short vampire that receives visions, has been pressing the ‘turn Bella into a vampire' campaign for a while now. I wonder what vision she is seeing now. It must be flickering, I haven't decided how I am going to get even with her for telling Bella about this. Venom was thundering through my veins. Enough was enough. I didn't want to flat out tell her no. I wanted her to want to be human. Maybe she needed reminders of why she should stay human. â€Å"Charlie?† I asked curtly. â€Å"Rene?† A blank silence greeted my words. She was opening and closing her mouth like words wouldn't form. I waited for her response, but obviously, she didn't have one. Did she finally reach her senses? â€Å"Look, that's not an issue either,† she finally muttered an obvious lie. Apparently she hasn't reached her senses. â€Å"Rene has always made the choices that work for her — she'd want me to do the same. And Charlie's resilient; he's used to being on his own. I can't take care of them forever. I have my own life to live.† Was she missing the key words here? If she were to stay human she would have a life to live. If she were a vampire, on the other hand, her life would just become this limitless existence that I refused to make her be a part of. â€Å"Exactly,† I snapped. â€Å"And I won't end it for you.† My careful composure was slipping. â€Å"If you're waiting for me to be on my deathbed, I've got news for you! I was just there!† Lame justification. â€Å"You're going to recover,† I reminded her. She took a deep breath at my words, returning my stare. There was no compromise in her face, and I wasn't budging either. â€Å"No,† Bella said slowly. â€Å"I'm not.† Anger vanished, fear replaced it. Was something else wrong with her†¦like cancer? Was she not telling me something? No, her life couldn't be like one of those sad stories you read about. My forehead automatically creased with worry. â€Å"Of course you are. You may have a scar or two†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You're wrong,† she insisted. â€Å"I'm going to die.† No! She was not going to die, she was going to live. I would fight for her, keep her alive. A sense of hopelessness engulfed me. My mind was lost in a desperate speculation. Panic flared within me. â€Å"Really, Bella.† Anxiety broke through my voice. â€Å"You'll be out of here in a few days. Two weeks at most.† She glared at me like I was an idiot. â€Å"I may not die now†¦ but I'm going to die sometime. Every minute of the day, I get closer. And I'm going to get old.† Relief, glorious relief. I frowned at her as her words finally released the tension that built so suddenly. My fingers found my temples as I began to rub them, trying to soothe my troubled mind, closing my eyes. â€Å"That's how it's supposed to happen. How it should happen. How it would have happened if I didn't exist — and I shouldn't exist.† She snorted. I opened my eyes in surprise. â€Å"That's stupid. That's like going to someone who's just won the lottery, taking their money, and saying, ‘Look, let's just go back to how things should be. It's better that way.' And I'm not buying it.† She might have made a point if she used something besides the lottery as an example. â€Å"I'm hardly a lottery prize,† I growled, anger returning. â€Å"That's right. You're much better,† she pointed out. I rolled my eyes and my lips grew tight. It doesn't matter what else she says, she's wasting her breath. To take her soul would be the last thing on earth I would do. She will stay human. Even if Alice tries to take a bite I will tackle and kill if I must. â€Å"Bella, we're not having this discussion anymore. I refuse to damn you to an eternity of night and that's the end of it.† Now stop, I added internally. â€Å"If you think that's the end, then you don't know me very well,† she warned me. â€Å"You're not the only vampire I know.† I will stop her by any means. â€Å"Alice wouldn't dare,† I growled aloud. â€Å"Alice already saw it, didn't she?† She guessed. â€Å"That's why the things she says upset you. She knows I'm going to be like you†¦ someday.† Dammit! I slipped up. Bella is just too perceptive. I'm going to have to be doubly careful what I say around her, choosing my words more carefully. It's just so hard in a heated argument. â€Å"She's wrong,† I barked angrily. â€Å"She also saw you dead, but that didn't happen, either.† â€Å"You'll never catch me betting against Alice,† she retorted. We glared at each other for several long minutes. The regular intervals of the machines continued into our silence. Bella's heart was weirdly steady considering the heated discussion we just had. She was lying down but her chin till jutted out, her forehead was creased with thought and her lips pursed. My angry expression cleared at her beauty. It was heard to stay upset with such a glorious creature. â€Å"So where does that leave us?† She wondered. I chuckled darkly. â€Å"I believe it's called an impasse.† She sighed. â€Å"Ouch,† she muttered. â€Å"How are you feeling?† I asked. My eyes found the button for the nurse. I wanted to bring my original threat back into play if she didn't behave ?C sedation. â€Å"I'm fine,† she lied, her pain was breaking through the pretense. â€Å"I don't believe you,† I said gently. â€Å"I'm not going back to sleep,† she argued, refusing to let anyone think she was weak. â€Å"You need rest. All this arguing isn't good for you.† â€Å"So give in,† she suggested. â€Å"Nice try.† She wasn't behaving. Time for impulsive action. I reached for the button. â€Å"No!† Her eyes saw my hand reach out. I ignored her. â€Å"Yes?† the speaker on the wall squawked. â€Å"I think we're ready for more pain medication,† I said calmly, ignoring her furious expression. â€Å"I'll send in the nurse.† â€Å"I won't take it,† she said vehemently. Pills? Doubtful. I looked toward the sack of fluids hanging beside her bed. â€Å"I don't think they're going to ask you to swallow anything,† I smiled ruefully. The thundering of her heart jumped up into a faster face. Looking into her deep eyes I read the irrational fear. She needs rest, and medication will make the pain go away so she can do just that. It isn't like there are going to be sticking her with needles. I sighed in frustration. â€Å"Bella, you're in pain. You need to relax so you can heal. Why are you being so difficult? They're not going to put any more needles in you now.† â€Å"I'm not afraid of the needles,† she cried out. â€Å"I'm afraid to close my eyes.† It was hard to be frustrated at her when she said those words. Jubilation doused my previous anger. I smiled. She was just worried that I wouldn't be here. Hadn't I made it clear that I wasn't going anywhere? Her thoughts were completely irrational. I took her face in between my hands so she had to look at me. â€Å"I told you I'm not going anywhere. Don't be afraid. As long as it makes you happy, I'll be here.† She smiled back. â€Å"You're talking about forever, you know.† Then, I remembered her words to Rene. â€Å"Oh, you'll get over it — it's just a crush.† She shook her head in disbelief. â€Å"I was shocked when Rene swallowed that one. I know you know better.† One day she will outgrow me, though. My worst fear, yet I prayed she was right, that she would want me forever. â€Å"That's the beautiful thing about being human,† I whispered. â€Å"Things change.† Her eyes narrowed. â€Å"Don't hold your breath,† she retorted. I laughed. I could hold my breath forever if I had too, though I would never do it for something as stupid as wanting Bella to leave me. The nurse came into the room brandishing a syringe. Get out of my way. â€Å"Excuse me,† she said harshly to me. I got up and crossed to the end of the small room, leaning against the wall. I folded My arms and waited. Bella kept her eyes on me, still apprehensive. I met her gaze calmly. â€Å"Here you go, honey.† The nurse smiled as she injected the medicine into Bella's IV. â€Å"You'll feel better now.† â€Å"Thanks,† Bella mumbled, unenthusiastic. It didn't take long. Bella's head already began to lull from side to side. â€Å"That ought to do it,† the nurse muttered as Bella's eyelids drooped. The nurse promptly left the room, eyeing me suspiciously. Even though she was obviously losing consciousness I rushed over to Bella to place my hands on her face, to hold her head still. â€Å"Stay.† Bella slurred. â€Å"I will,† I promised. â€Å"Like I said, as long as it makes you happy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated, not long enough for Bella to notice. â€Å"As long as it's what's best for you,† I added to my statement. â€Å"‘S not the same thing,† she mumbled more inarticulate words. Watching her trying to beat off the medication was kind of†¦hilarious. I laughed. â€Å"Don't worry about that now, Bella. You can argue with me when you wake up.† A cheesy grin spread across her face as her eyes became small slits. ‘†Kay.† I continued to try and suppress laughter. I was very glad Emmett wasn't here, the jokes would never end. Looking down at my now drunken beauty, I brought my lips to her ear. â€Å"I love you,† I whispered. â€Å"Me, too.† â€Å"I know,† I laughed quietly at my joke, remembering her saying that when I finally sucked the venom out of her wrist and told her I loved her. Again, I tried to suppress laughter as her head lulled sideways, her lips puckering at a funny angle, facing the opposite direction of my face. I shook my head and brought my lips to hers. â€Å"Thanks,† she sighed. â€Å"Anytime,† I chuckled. She went limp in the bed, but was still struggling to reach reality. â€Å"Ed..war?† she tried to say my name, but it came out all wrong. â€Å"Yes?† I smiled down at her â€Å"I'm betting on Alice,† she mumbled, her words clearer this time. My humor vanished, a frown replaced my smile. This argument was far from over, but no matter what, our deadlock would remain. I kissed her forehead and sat down next to her to hold her hand until she wakes again.