Herbert Butterfield Essay

In this book, the author focuses more on the works of Herbert Butterfield rather than his personal life and explores Butterfield’s influence that reaches beyond what he perceived as â€Å"presentmindedness†. McIntire uses Butterfield’s private papers giving the reader a very close accounting of this historian’s thoughts and writings. His career in the academic field was impressive. Graduating from Cambridge in 1922 he went on to become regius professor, master of Peterhouse, and serve as vice-chancellor of the university. He grew up in the industrial town of West Riding where he and his family came from a Methodist background. His first job offer that he applied for after graduating was at the secondary school in Lampeter. He did get the job, but turned it down because he believed the teaching position would have been a dismal and uninspiring job. Butterfield believed, according to the author, that it would not have helped his writing. He had previously considered becoming a Methodist preacher, like his father. Even discussing the matter with the principal of Wesley House, and together decided he did not have the qualities of a preacher. He had aspirations of Knighthood and becoming president of the Historical society, this and all that was just part of McIntire writings of the man, Herbert Butterfield. The author takes the reader through each step of Butterfield’s careers throughout his life. In 1979, McIntire had his own encounter with Herbert Butterfield while he was editing and publishing part of the historian’s essays on Christianity and history. McIntire is able to use secondary sources with friends, critics, colleagues and family that do fit into his writing quite well. Butterfield had an early exposure to Harold Temperley and his writings reflected this, McIntire wrote in his book. Butterfield’s experiences inspired his first academic publication on the minutiae of Napoleonic diplomacy. Butterfield explained that the research technique he used as free of religious, ethnic, and ideological partisanship. A scientific history approach was his theory, but there is an interesting fact that Butterfield did not write another book from 1929 to 1968 on that subject or anything to enhance that topic. Another interesting fact was in the next fifty years of his life he kept assuring everyone that he was working on a book about Charles James Fox, but that book never came about. In addition, it caused guilt throughout Butterfield’s career, McIntire wrote. Soon though with Butterfield’s love of the legacy of Lord Action, his attentions focused from technical history towards the broader questions of historical thought. McIntire shows how all of Butterfield’s major works came from â€Å"The Wig Interpretation of History† and out of that came his numerous other writings â€Å"The Origins of Modern Science†, â€Å"Man on His Past† and his inaugural address as Regius Professor, â€Å"The Present State of Historical Scholarship†. In the book, the author points to Butterfield’s status as an outsider that influenced his behavior as being a dissenter. â€Å"His idiosyncratic Methodism reinforced his sense of self as a clever lower middle class grammar school boy with a funny Yorkshire accent immersed in an academic environment filled with Anglican gentlemen bred at exclusive public schools. The result was a reactive compulsion to every rule; an attitude that did not always serve Butterfield well for it contained elements of the childishness. As J. H.  Plumb noted, deep down he loved to shock† (McIntire 86). McIntire portrayal is more of a shy and humble man, instead of what many viewed him. They considered his views as more of a moral and intellectual vanity of a self-centered person. In addition, believing that â€Å"his own views as the wave of the future in historical study† (McIntire 151) once again showing his complex problem. At one point, Butterfield publicly praised Marxist historical method but many believed he did not know what he was talking about when he said it. In the 1930’s Butterfield publicly praised Marxist historical method, although it is not clear from the author’s writings if Butterfield, a devout Christian, really understood the core of Marxism. During the era of appeasement, Butterfield criticized any moral judgments directed at Nazi Germany, wishing instead â€Å"that the enemies of the Fascists could be gentler† (McIntire 105). He never lived down his foolish decision to undertake a lecture tour of Germany after the 1938 Munich Conference. The question he gave seemed to blame Britain for the conflict. â€Å"What did we do wrong? What could we have done to prevent the Germans from feeling that they must turn to Hitler? † (McIntire 112). Butterfield admitted proudly that he almost never voted. Political quietism supposedly came from Butterfield’s principled insistence upon the segregation of history from moral and political questions, the core of his argument in â€Å"The Whig Interpretation of History†. In the 50’s and 60’s, Butterfield vocally denounced U.  S. foreign policy, while demanding with Soviet Russia and unilateral disarmament by the West. He denied any inconsistency saying, â€Å"I am as an historian against all governments† (McIntire 170). I felt the book was more of the moral standings of the man. Butterfield did write on science, religion, and historiography, but I felt the author lacked showing the connection it had to events in Butterfield’s life and how the connection was to the academic or scientific community. The reader swims through explanation after explanation of the same concept as McIntire analyses a succession of publications in chronological order, with not enough of Butterfields’s own words to support. Maybe that way some light on the thoughts of the man instead of McIntire’s interpretations. The book was difficult to follow and the length of the book made it tough to read. I was not impressed with the book, but I did get to know another viewpoint of another historian, on a subject I knew nothing about.

A Fools Manual to Ielts Essay Conclusion Samples

A Fool's Manual to Ielts Essay Conclusion Samples The Basics of Ielts Essay Conclusion Samples These documents can help you be more familiarized with what an evaluation essay is and the way the details present in this sort of essay needs to be arranged and presented. Sure, it is possible to find a great deal of essay conclusion examples on the net, but in the event that you really need to ace the ending of your paper, you should invest a little time and effort into attempting to comprehend what features make the last portion of any paper worth reading. How to end an essay might be a tricky question, particularly if your academic grade is dependent on the paper you're working on. Students often believe they've stated everything they know in the start and middle portions of the essay so the conclusion isn't important. Many students face a writer's block from the start, and it makes sense they wish to learn how to initiate a research paper. To compose an effective essay, you want to compose a conclusion that would leave a long-lasting impact even after somebody has read your essay. Attempt to make symmetry between your essay topic and the person that you are quoting. Keep in mind, it ought not incorporate any information that wasn't discussed in the paragraph. Becoming in a position to present details, comments, and information that's directly associated with the sort of evaluation essay that you're writing can help you make a highly-usable output. Though it may be treated as a roundup of each of the bits which didn't fit in the paper earlier, it deserves better treatment than that! In addition, there are links to model answers for a few of the essay questions so you are able to observe the ideal approach to answer the question. The first thing which you have to do when writing an evaluation essay is to be knowledgeable concerning the topic you will write about. What can set apart an evaluation essay from various sorts of academic essays is that it may also be utilised in various undertakings within the corporate and skilled atmosphere. Financial literacy is just one of the most crucial things an individual should understand as a fully functional adult. With busy schedules and quick accessibility to so much media, it's problematic for parents to be in a position to oversee everything which their children are exposed to. Students must bear in mind 3 big differences. Without having a good idea of the manner introduction a nd the remainder of the work's pats should look like, a student is not going to succeed with the assignment. Though it's easy for some to believe that homelessness is brought on by mental difficulties or standard laziness, there are different components to look at. There are different types of evaluation essays and you ought to bear in mind that each one of them have differences based on the goal of their creation. Cyber bullying, which is increasingly turning into an issue, is also likely to be a risk once your child has unlimited accessibility to a sensible phone. The objective is to take a particular position on the subject. What Is So Fascinating About Ielts Essay Conclusion Samples? Looking at ielts sample essays is a great approach to understand how to improve. If you'll properly recognize the criteria which will best fit your needs for the particular evaluation, then you may make your evaluation essay stronger and more effective. You may also just browse through sam ples and begin your evaluation essay from scratch. Evaluation essays can cover a good deal of topics that is the reason why it is employed in a selection of industries and processes.

The Science Courses Needed for College Admission

When applying to college, youll find that requirements for high school preparation in science vary greatly from school to school, but in general, the strongest applicants have taken biology, physics, and chemistry. As you might expect, institutions with a focus in science or engineering often require more science education than a typical liberal arts college, but even among top science and engineering schools, the required and recommended coursework can vary significantly. What Science Courses Do Colleges Want to See? Some colleges list the science courses that they expect students to have completed in high school; when stated, these courses usually include biology, chemistry, and/or physics. Even if a college doesnt specifically outline these requirements, its probably a good idea to have taken at least, two, if not all three of these courses, as they provide a strong general foundation for college-level STEM classes. This is especially important for students hoping to pursue a degree in fields such as engineering or one of the natural sciences. Note that earth science does not tend to be on the list of courses colleges hope to see. This doesnt mean it isnt a useful class, but if you have a choice between, for example, earth science or AP biology, opt for the latter. Many colleges stipulate that high school science classes must have a laboratory component in order to fulfill their science requirements. In general, standard or advanced biology, chemistry, and physics courses will include a lab, but if youve taken any non-lab science classes or electives at your school, make sure youre aware of the specific requirements of the colleges or universities you apply to in case your courses dont qualify. The table below summarizes the required and recommended science preparation from a number of top American institutions. Be sure to check directly with colleges for the most recent requirements. School Science Requirement Auburn University 2 years required (1 biology and 1 physical science) Carleton College 1 year (lab science) required, 2 or more years recommended Centre College 2 years (lab science) recommended Georgia Tech 4 years required Harvard University 4 years recommended (physics, chemistry, biology, and one of those advanced are preferred) MIT 3 years required (physics, chemistry, and biology) NYU 3-4 years (lab science) recommended Pomona College 2 years required, 3 years recommended Smith College 3 years (lab science) required Stanford University 3 or more years (lab science) recommended UCLA 2 years required, 3 years recommended (from biology, chemistry or physics) University of Illinois 2 years (lab science) required, 4 years recommended University of Michigan 3 years required; 4 years required for engineering/nursing Williams College 3 years (lab science) recommended Dont be fooled by the word recommended in a schools admissions guidelines. If a selective college recommends a course, it is most definitely in your best interest to follow the recommendation. Your academic record, after all, is the most important part of your college application. The strongest applicants will have completed the recommended courses. Students who simply meet the minimum requirements will not stand out from the applicant pool. What If Your High School Doesnt Offer the Recommended Courses? Its extremely rare for a high school to not offer the basic courses in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics). That said if a college recommends four years of science including courses at an advanced level, students from smaller schools may find the courses simply arent available.   If this describes your situation, dont panic. Keep in mind that colleges want to see that students have taken the most challenging courses available to them. If a certain course isnt offered by your school, a college shouldnt penalize you for not taking a course that doesnt exist. That said, selective colleges also want to enroll students who are well prepared for college, so coming from a high school that doesnt offer challenging college preparatory classes can be a detriment. The admissions office may recognize that you took the most challenging science courses offered at your school, but the student from another school who completed AP Chemistry and AP Biology may be the more attractive applicant because of that students level of college preparation. You do, however, have other options. If youre aiming for top-tier colleges but coming from a high school with limited academic offerings, talk to your guidance counselor about your goals and your concerns. If there is a community college within commuting distance of your home, you might be able to take college classes in the sciences. Doing so has the added benefit that the class credits might transfer to your future college. If a community college isnt an option, look into online AP classes in the sciences or online science classes offered by accredited colleges and universities. Just be sure to read reviews before choosing an online option—some courses are much better than others. Also, keep in mind that online science courses are unlikely to fulfill the lab component that colleges often require.   A Final Word About Science in High School For any college or university, you will be in the best position if you have taken biology, chemistry, and physics. Even when a college requires just one or two years of science, your application will be stronger if youve taken courses in all three of those subject areas. For the countrys most selective colleges, biology, chemistry, and physics represent the minimum requirements. The strongest applicants will have taken advanced courses in one or more of those subject areas. For example, a student might take biology in 10th grade and then AP biology in 11th or 12th grade. Advanced Placement and college classes in the sciences do an excellent job demonstrating your college readiness in science.

Relationship Between The Father And The Son - 850 Words

The relationship in the middle of Gregor and his mother is similar to a typical mother-child relationship, him expecting to accommodate her and the family, her cherishing him. At the same time, when he started to go under the metamorphosis their relationship took a wide change into a delicate and distressed, the mother is torn between her adoration for Gregor and her frightfulness at Gregor’s new state. Grete and Gregor’s father seek to shield her from the full reality of her child’s transformation. She demonstrated sympathy for him later in the story, yet soon she forgot all about him, just like the rest of the family. The relationship between the father and the son is unusual. It is certainly strained, however it is likewise complex. His father loves him, but his love appears to be difficult to discover. Despite the fact that tears inevitably came, his initial reaction to his son s transformation is not sadness or pity, but anger. The twisted part about their relationship is that the son basically gets sick while conveying his father s financial burden, yet the father, instead of being sympathetic, he rejects and assaults the son for becoming the vermin that he has become. He hurts his son, physically, and scars him. This is deeply ironic, in light of the fact that the change of the son seems to occur as a result of the work that he does on his father s behalf. The father ought to be giving him adore, but instead detests the despicable creature he has become and wantsShow MoreRelatedRelationship Between Father And Son855 Words   |  4 PagesThe relationship between a father and son take center s tage in two unique poems that center on family situations. Each poem is a snapshot in time that exhibits striking similarities and vast differences in the interaction between father and son. For instance, â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† from Theodore Roethke, clearly demonstrates a fun loving father that really enjoys his liquor. To his wife’s chagrin, he truly lives in the moment and loves to rough house with his young son. â€Å"Those Winter Sundays’ fromRead MoreThe Road: Relationship Between the Father and Son1442 Words   |  6 PagesThe Road: How does the father and son’s relationship change through the book? One theme in The Road is paternal love; this is the relationship between the father and his son. Their bond plays a powerful part in the novel and impacts the decisions made during their journey. The two protagonists remain unnamed in the book, giving their familial relationship their full identity. This makes their relationship relatable to any parent and child bond outside of the novel. It is clear that they onlyRead MoreRelationship Between Father And His Son Essay815 Words   |  4 PagesThe relationship between a father and his son is one of the most important things in life. Also, it is not solely filled with love but one that can create pain and the sense of longing. This relationship assists in making a boy recognize right from wrong. Normally in life, we look up to our father to be the care taker and to encourage us to make our own decisions on what is right and what is wrong. The relationship between a father and his son can be articulated as the most significant relationshipRead MoreThe Relationships Between the Father and the Son Essay1392 Words   |  6 Pagesrelatioships between charcters in the stories we have studies one of them is Anil. in Anil the writer presents confilct in relationship between the father, Appa, and the son, Anil. Anil is very uncomfortable and scared with his father, we know this because in the story it says his father was a b urly man, a bully to his family this explains that the relationship between the father and the son is unsual and unsafe. the word Bully is used to show negativity and the harmful relationship between Anil andRead MoreRelationship Between Fathers and Sons Essay916 Words   |  4 PagesWinter Sundays† by Robert Hayden are poems in which the speaker (a son in both cases) attempts to explain his complex relationship with his father. It seems that the two poets are reflecting back in their early lives as young boys and showing different appreciation toward their father. In my interpretation â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† is about a boy and that is excited that his father got home to play with him. Only problem is the speakers father is drunk and it hard to enjoy himself but he held on because theRead MoreRelationship between Father and Son in Elie Wiesels Night972 Words   |  4 PagesElie Wiesels Night: Fathers and sons Over the course of Elie Wiesels novel Night, the protagonist Eliezer gradually begins to lose his faith in God. He sinks deeper and deeper into the evils of the Holocaust, first in the ghetto, then in the Nazi concentration camp. As Eliezers views on religion begin to change, so does his relationship with his father. He begins the novel still a young boy, and regards his father as powerful and full of strength. Gradually, he is stripped of his boyhood illusionsRead MoreHamlet Essay, Loyalty Between Father and Son Relationships1297 Words   |  6 PagesLoyalty between Father and Son Relationships â€Å"O cursed spite,/ That ever I was born to set it right!† (Hamlet 1.5.197-198). These words of Hamlet set the tone for the theme of revenge in the play Hamlet. This reoccurring theme arises through the father and son relationships in the course of the play. The characters Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras all experience the loss of their fathers, and all, as loyal sons, must avenge them. In each case, the execution of their plans is different, andRead MoreA Relationship Between Fathers And Sons Being Broken By Selfish Acts1234 Words   |  5 PagesRough times can turn a dysfunctional relationship into an unbreakable bond, however, they can also shatter the sturdiest of relationships, forever. In Elie Wiesel’s legendary book, Night, Wiesel vividly describes his and his father’s lives in the concentration camps during the Holocaust. During the book, the connection between Elie and his father, Shlomo Wiesel, slowly transitions from a broken father-son relati onship to the point where they would risk their lives for one another. Initially, whenRead MoreThe Relationship Between A Father Gouichi Takata And His Son Kenichi892 Words   |  4 Pagesabout the relationship between a father Gouichi Takata and his son Kenichi. Throughout the film, Mr.Takata is a wordless person. He does not like to speak with people and does not like to express his emotion. That is also the reason why there is a barrier between him and his son Kenichi. At the end the father and the son finally understand each other. Instead of directly communication between both of them, the director nicely arranges Takata travels to China and follows the paces of his son. He doesRead MoreThe Relationship Between Father And Son in William Faulkners short story Barn Burning713 Words   |  3 PagesNormally in life, you look up to your father to be the care taker and to encourage you to make your own decisions on what is right and what is wrong. You figure your father should have your best interest at heart and to show compassion for you. In William Faulkners short story Barn Burning, Abner is the opposite of the normal father figure you would see. Rather than encouraging his son, Sarty, to make his own decisions on

Assertiveness Paper Free Essays

Assertive Paper When faced with a dilemma at work or at school the way you handle and voice your opinion is crucial in communicating your level of assertiveness. There is a proper way of being assertive rather than seeming aggressive. It takes practice in order to properly accomplish a comprehension of this technique. We will write a custom essay sample on Assertiveness Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Becoming better at speaking your mind verbally and nonverbally will allow you to interact as a leader amongst your fellow workers and colleagues. I can be an assertive person when the time is right and the surroundings ask for a certain level of assertiveness to be needed. If I am with a group of people and I disagree with someone’s opinion or point of view of a certain issue I will allow myself to speak my mind without attacking what the other person said. The most important part of being assertive to me is not being aggressive towards others when expressing thoughts. An example would be during my senior year in high school when we were placed into groups and had to discuss our opinion on gay marriage. The conversations were at the most very educated until a person bluntly stated that they believed gay people should never get married because it was disgusting. Surely this person was entitled to their opinion but the was they phrased their response was in an aggressive manner towards anyone who believed otherwise. I responded right away without directly referring to that person with the word you rather than spoke my mind using the word I. My opinion was that people should be allowed to do what they think it is best for them no matter what others might think. If their decision is not affecting anyone else then they are entitled to their own actions and decisions as human beings. Once I said that the person became angry in a way but not because I disagreed with them but rather in the way I formed my response they could not say I was directly meaning it towards them. The verbal messages I tend to always give out when being assertive has to be for the most part to seem sure of what I am saying backing it up with support but at the same time not sounding like I am attacking anyone’s ideas or opinions. Beginning my words with I makes people feel less threatened and allows them to also have an opinion. When the situation requires me to give an order I will be serious and communicate what needs to be done. The nonverbal messages that I give off when being assertive is to maintain eye contact with the person. This is really important to me because it lets the other person know you are serious and expect what you are telling them to be understood and also taken into consideration. My body posture when doing so is standing upright without moving around or making a lot of hand movements. I try to keep a steady posture which allows the person to stay focused on my message. What I consider to be doing well while being assertive are speaking with a direct tone to the subject in matter while maintaining eye contact. When beginning my message the first word I tend to use is I in order to stay away from people believing they are being blamed or accused. I refrain from telling people your wrong or that is not the way to do something unless it is required of me to do so in certain situations. The way that works the best when communicating a solution to a problem or an approach is to have a sense with the person that what your are saying is a good way but leaving the window open for them to have an opinion as well. I would like to improve myself in the area of giving speeches in front of people to seem very confident. I am not a bad public speaker but I tend to get nervous when doing so for a long period of time. I have tried practicing in front of the mirror speaking and it works out great but it is not the same as actually being in front of many people. That’s what I need more practice in order to be looked at as very assertive when giving a speech. Assertiveness is a learned trait that we all must be aware of and practice in our everyday lives. This quality will help you all through out school and work. It will also better your relationship with friends and family. Being confident and believing in yourself is an important attribute that must go hand in hand with being assertive. Communicating with proper grammar and adjacent nonverbal cues will allow you to be taken serious and provide a level complete with the perfect balance of a great assertive person. How to cite Assertiveness Paper, Papers

The Gift of the Magi free essay sample

Gifts given don’t matter, the love does James and Della were happy of the other’s love and company even after realizing that the biggest sacrifice they has made became futile. The love and the affection were still there. While some see gifts as only a matter of material and money, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† suggests that gifts that are given dont matter as much as the love behind them does, because gifts are a sign of love between people O’Henry mentions there wisdom in the story as â€Å"†¦ let it be said that of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are the wisest. They are the magi. † (Last Paragraph, lines 9 – 11) Theme 2: Sacrifice Sacrifice is an important theme of the story â€Å"the Gift of the Magi†. The story revolves around it and it is this theme that appeals the readers the most. O’Henry has deftly used poverty and love to make sacrifice. It also gains importance by the ‘O‘Henry twist’, where it becomes futile. Some may believe that sacrifices that are futile are completely wasted, but the love between James and Della in O’Henry’s story â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† shows that the love in the sacrifice stops it from becoming futile. One point also worth mentioning is that from the point of view of the reader, the sacrifice and its turning futile is what gains his attention the most. But from the point of view of the characters in the story, namely James and Della, their love for each other gains their importance the most. The sacrifice doesn’t hold any importance except conveying happiness to the person they love, and thus they dont hesitate much in doing it. Della just â€Å"faltered for a minute†¦ tear or two splashed†. But she had â€Å"Eyes shining brilliantly†Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦ with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes she fluttered† to sell her hair. Also, at the time of the sacrifice, she did not think of herself, but only of James and instead of having second thoughts, she demanded the price of her hair â€Å"Give it to me quick! She was not for even a moment sad of her loss, but was â€Å"†¦ ransacking the stores for Jim’s present. † At the end of the story, when they realized that their sacrifices had turned futile, they were still content with their love for the other and Jim, to enjoy the Christmas, suggests Della to â€Å"†¦ put the chops on. † This theme shows that sacrifices made in love never go futile, for the love always gets exchanged. We often see people sacrifices what they had till valued the most, for who they now value the most. Take the example of Odysseus and Penelope, who, getting separated after war and a shipwreck, with the least possibility of meeting each other, had sacrificed the innumerable opportunities the had got to lead a lavish and well settled life, which turns King Odysseus to a beggar, still lingering on the hope of meeting her wife. Theme 3: Love Love is another important theme that fills up a major portion of â€Å"The Gift of the Magi. † It is love that made their sacrifices, and it is love that held them together when they realized that there sacrifices were in vain. It is love that is of most importance to the characters in the story – James and Della. O’Henry’s story â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† portrays that love gives happiness which conquers all the difficulty and misery of one’s life. O’Henry has mentioned the thoughts in Della and Jim’s minds that convey love. Della, even after losing her greatest treasure, is still thinking about Jim and she goes to buy him a gift â€Å"†¦she knew that it must be Jim’s†¦ Jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company. Della has a high regard for Jim, as she wanted to gift him†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim† Jim also loves Della, an unconditional love that is shown when Jim says, â€Å"†¦I dont think there is anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less† There is also childishness in love. Bot h Jim and Della could have been more careful while buying the gifts for the other, because of their harsh financial conditions. But O’Henry mentions the foolish childishness in love which does not allow either of them to act that way. He relatesâ€Å"†¦the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. † Thus O’Henry has very skillfully shown the happiness love gives despite any trouble Theme 4: Poverty and Happiness O’Henry, through his story â€Å"The Gift of the Magi†, demonstrates that when in love, happiness is impervious to poverty. James and Della still live a happy life, despite their poor financial conditions. Even poverty does not have the power to interfere with the love and happiness of James and Della. For Jim’s present, Della only had â€Å"One Dollar and eighty-five cents†¦sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one or two at a time by bulldozing the groceries and the vegetable man and the butcher†¦one’s cheeks burnt with the silent imputation of parsimony. Jim’s â€Å"†¦income was shrunk to $20 a week†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Their house was â€Å"†¦a furnished flat at $8 per week†. Della had â€Å" her old brown jacket old brown hat † and Jim, â€Å"â€Å"He needed a new overcoat and was without gloves. † But still the couple is happy together. It is seen that Poverty forces wisdom upon the sufferer. OHenry compares the protagonist of the story with the magi who had wisely invented the art of giving presents that could have been exchanged. But in this situation, no duplication or exchange was possible. Love was untouched by the natural consequences of poverty, something that may not be seen in affluence. Thus O’Henry’s â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† is a masterpiece that revolves around Gifts, Sacrifice, Love, poverty and Happiness. O’ Henry has very correctly compared the characters of the story with the Magi- the wise men that gave gifts to the babe and invented the art of giving and receiving gifts in Christmas, for James and Della had gifted each other with their utmost thought and love.

Oppression Essays - Nawal El Saadawi, Circumcision, Islam And Women

Oppression Evil, sinful, lover of Satan and weak are just a few adjectives to describe women through history. Nevertheless, women were not always portrayed as so. Women once held a strong and dominated figure within the society. In the ancient Egyptian society, women were equal to men in status and prestige. Within the XVIIIth Dynasty, women such as Nephertiti and Hatchipsoot reign the country. In that period, Pharaonic women laboured in textile and carpet manufactory, traded in markets and shared in hunting side by side with her husband (El Saadawi. 1980, P. 108-1). Furthermore, women played sports, drank, held positions of government, worked, etc. However, as time past and countries began to flourish, there was a shift in the socio-economic status in women. Women began reducing in standing. What happened? Nawal El Saadawi, author of The Hidden Face of Eve, strongly believes that circumcision is the cause of womens oppression and feeling of powerlessness. However, many within the society belie ve that conditioned oppression is supported due to religion, landowership and the patriarchal system and they are utilized as in instrument of fear, oppression and exploitation. Circumcision is still practiced in many Arab countries because a womans virginity and hymen is extremely important. Behind circumcision lies the belief that, by removing parts of girls external genital organs, sexual desire is minimized (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 33). This procedure is not performed by a doctor but someone similar to a midwife. It is believe that deep incisions must be done in order to remove all the remains of the genital. Consequently, this may result in infection and even death. Furthermore, sexual frigidity is one of the after-effects which is accentuated by other social and psychological factors that influence the personality and mental make-up of females in Arab societies (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 33). Due to Circumcision, girls are subjected to a series of pain humiliation because of the notion of how virginity is valued. Many girls believed that the genital was a root of all evil. El Saadawi had many patients, bleeding from infection but happy to get rid of the source of their desire. For example: I did not know anything about the operation at the time, except that it was very simple, and that it was done to all girls for purposes of cleanliness and purity and the preservation of a good reputation. It was said that a girl who did not undergo this operation was liable to be talked about by people, her behavior would become bad, and she would starting running after men, with the result that no one would agree to marry her when the time for marriage came. My grandmother told me that the operation had only consisted in the removal of a very small piece of flesh from between my thighs, and that the continued existence of this small piece of flesh in its place would have made me unclean and impure, and would have caused the man whom I would marry to be repelled by me. Did you believe what was said to you? Of course I did. I was happy the day I recovered from the effects of the operation and felt as though I was rid of something which had to be removed and so had become clean and pure (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 35). El Saadawi knew from experience what many of these girls are going through because she went through the same experience. She could never forget the painful experience that made her lose her childhood once and for all, and that deprived me during my youth and for many years of married life from enjoying the fullness of me sexuality and the completeness of life that can only come from all round psychological equilibrium (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 9). Nawal El Saadawi believes that religion is used as an instrument in order to justify why the girls in the Arab societies are forced to go through circumcision. Once religion was formulated as a monotheistic one, the three main religions of the world developed Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The world begins with Adam and Eve and this story is shared within all three religions. The story of Adam and Eve is the first sign that women are portrayed as less than a man. The Bible takes away a factor that