Jane Eyre By Charlotte Brontë :: English Literature

Jane Eyre By Charlotte Brontà « Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontà « was published in 1848, under the name of Currer Bell. Although the novel is over 150 years old, there are still themes that we can relate to today, such as bullying, prejudice and hypocrisy. In this essay, I am going to discuss the three themes mentioned and also consider admirable characters from the novel; the authors narrative technique and the part that I found appealing. The first issue that I will discuss will be on the bullying that Jane received at Gateshead Hall: the home of her Auntie and cousins. She is bullied by not just her cousins, but her aunt as well. In Chapter one, it shows the bullying from her cousins and aunt, when she has begun reading and John Reed, her cousin, throws the book at her head, and she retaliates. But because she retaliated, John's sisters ran up to their 'mamma' and blamed the fight on Jane. She was then escorted upstairs and locked in the red room. This could be counted as a form of bullying, as she only puts her in the red room as a punishment for attacking John, but we, the readers, already know that John started all of the commotion. Verbal bullying is also used in chapter one, where John Reed calls her names for throwing a punch at him (QUOTE: CHAPTER1/LINE 16: "I don't very well know what I did with my hands, but he called me 'Rat!, rat! ') During Jane's First term at Lowood, Jane is bullied out of food, when there was very little and the older girls wanted some more food to devour. Jane Eyre is a first-person narrative, related in the voice of the protagonist, or heroine. Jane Eyre is the "I" of the story, the person whose voice we hear as we read, and everything that happens is seen from her point of view. Nowhere in the novel does the author break the flow of the narrator's voice to give us an objective view of her main character. However, she does remind us once in a while that the story is being told by Jane as a mature woman, looking back on events that happened some years earlier. The mature Jane occasionally comments on the younger Jane's reactions to those events, and sometimes she even addresses you, the Reader, directly. You'll also find occasions where her narrative includes long stories told to Jane by other characters (such as Rochester's accounts of his past), conversations that Jane overhears between other characters, and even accounts of Jane's dreams. These not only add variety to the style but give the reader a Jane Eyre By Charlotte Brontà « :: English Literature Jane Eyre By Charlotte Brontà « Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontà « was published in 1848, under the name of Currer Bell. Although the novel is over 150 years old, there are still themes that we can relate to today, such as bullying, prejudice and hypocrisy. In this essay, I am going to discuss the three themes mentioned and also consider admirable characters from the novel; the authors narrative technique and the part that I found appealing. The first issue that I will discuss will be on the bullying that Jane received at Gateshead Hall: the home of her Auntie and cousins. She is bullied by not just her cousins, but her aunt as well. In Chapter one, it shows the bullying from her cousins and aunt, when she has begun reading and John Reed, her cousin, throws the book at her head, and she retaliates. But because she retaliated, John's sisters ran up to their 'mamma' and blamed the fight on Jane. She was then escorted upstairs and locked in the red room. This could be counted as a form of bullying, as she only puts her in the red room as a punishment for attacking John, but we, the readers, already know that John started all of the commotion. Verbal bullying is also used in chapter one, where John Reed calls her names for throwing a punch at him (QUOTE: CHAPTER1/LINE 16: "I don't very well know what I did with my hands, but he called me 'Rat!, rat! ') During Jane's First term at Lowood, Jane is bullied out of food, when there was very little and the older girls wanted some more food to devour. Jane Eyre is a first-person narrative, related in the voice of the protagonist, or heroine. Jane Eyre is the "I" of the story, the person whose voice we hear as we read, and everything that happens is seen from her point of view. Nowhere in the novel does the author break the flow of the narrator's voice to give us an objective view of her main character. However, she does remind us once in a while that the story is being told by Jane as a mature woman, looking back on events that happened some years earlier. The mature Jane occasionally comments on the younger Jane's reactions to those events, and sometimes she even addresses you, the Reader, directly. You'll also find occasions where her narrative includes long stories told to Jane by other characters (such as Rochester's accounts of his past), conversations that Jane overhears between other characters, and even accounts of Jane's dreams. These not only add variety to the style but give the reader a

Low Pressure Atmospheric Systems

Low pressure atmospheric systems are also known as depressions or cyclones and they form in mid- and high-latitudes. They are formed by the mixing of cold and warm air, the warm air is lighter, so it rises above the denser, cold air and forms a centre of low pressure. High pressure atmospheric systems are also known as anticyclones and have very different characteristics to depressions. Anticyclones are large masses of subsiding air, which produces high pressure at the surface.There are a variety of difference between anticyclones and depressions, including the weather conditions, the length of time they last and the impact they have upon diverse countries and areas. Low pressure atmospheric systems can cause hazards because of severe weather such as blizzards and heavy snowfall, as well as high winds and heavy rainfall. This can have harsh impacts among individuals, being a lead cause of hypothermia, and frostbite, especially those vulnerable, such as the elderly. Also, these depres sions can cause crops to be destroyed, and a high mortality rate throughout the spring lambing season.Extreme cold spells can have a massive negative effect on a global scale, but also in a specific country or region. High pressure atmospheric systems affect the globe, especially the southern hemisphere, as it is nearly always continuous, although in places such as Australia and South Africa, this is broken throughout their summer. With anticyclones, there are few winds, so maps usually have circular spaced out isobars. Also, these atmospheric systems block depressions, which mean that their impacts are usually long-term, because they are constant. Weather associated with anticyclones differentiates depending on the time of year.In summer, anticyclones produce long periods of dry, hot, sunny weather, which can then cause heat waves and drought. However, in winter the cloudless nights mean that temperatures drop, and does not recover the next day because of weak sunshine and lingerin g fog. The impacts of anticyclones and depressions vary, as does the period they remain and the effect they have. The North American blizzard of 2003 lasted for five days throughout February and occurred on the East Coast of the USA and Canada. It was a record-breaking blizzard, which caused 27 deaths and over $14 million worth of damage.The cities in America were bought to a standstill, as there was a range of 38-76cm of snow covering the ground. The cause for such an unusually extreme blizzard was the fact that the conditions were favourable, with moisture from the Atlantic Ocean enhancing precipitation and a high pressure system over Canada, allowing cold air to be brought down coastal areas. This meant that the precipitation was mainly snow, hence the record-breaking statistics. The effects this storm had were mainly short-term, but the roof of the historic Railroad Museum collapsed and 27 people lost their lives.Additionally, transport infrastructure was brought to a halt, and three major airports were also closed. So, the impacts of depressions are mainly short-term, although the destruction can be horrendous, whereas, anticyclones usually cause long-term impacts on a country such as the Drought in Britain and Europe in 2003. This drought effected many locations, but the main focus was on the UK, France and Portugal. Not all impacts are negative, as the heat wave did boost the tourist industry in most countries and sales for summer items such as barbeques and sun cream increased, but this positive outlook is short-lived.In the UK, an estimated 200 people lost their lives due to poor air quality, and this figure was 10% higher than the average. Furthermore, transport was disrupted because of roads melting at such high temperatures, and the London Underground was 37Â °, which is over the legal limit to transport animals. Finally, in the UK the cost of people taking days off work to enjoy the hot weather was between ?7. 5million and ?10million per day. In France, the death toll was as high as 30,000 and harvests were down by 30 to 50% on 2002.Additionally, the nuclear power plants could not produce the soaring demands for energy, which was used for refrigerators and air conditioning, because there was less water available for cooling. Portugal declared a State of Emergency after the worst forest fires in 30 years. Approximately 35,000 hectares of forest, farmland and scrub was burned, and 1300 people died. 80 families were forced to abandon their homes, and arsonists begun deliberately causing fires, to gain compensation. The impacts of anticyclones on all of these countries had a massive effect, and it lasted over a month, with the hottest temperatures for up to 500 years.This demonstrates the long and short term impacts that anticyclones have on regions, countries and on a global scale. Location does have a result on the impact of low and high atmospheric pressure systems because they can be underdeveloped or have a lot of technolo gy that can be damaged or ruined. MEDC’s usually lose fewer lives than LEDC’s, no matter if it is a depression or a cyclone. Also, the evidence seems to suggest that depressions have a shorter impact on an area than anticyclones, but this is not necessarily true.Long-term secondary hazards can be a large issue after a depression, as the damage from flooding or heavy snow can be excessive and highly damaging. I conclude, low pressure atmospheric systems do usually have shorter-term impacts on a location, rather than high pressure atmospheric systems, but the secondary hazards can be a long-term issue for both of these hazards. Furthermore, the impact they have, may be different, depending on location, because a LEDC will be severely affected by both of these hazards, and will most likely have long-term consequences.

The Progressive Period - 1544 Words

In 1901, America welcomed the youngest president to ever rule, President Theodore Roosevelt. At forty-two years old, the former New York governor dominated the news unlike any previous president had done. His many exploits, such as boxing and horseback riding, led the press to gain interest in him. Known for being very outgoing and likable, Roosevelt used his personality and popularity to advance in his programs. â€Å"His leadership and publicity campaigns helped create the modern presidency, making him a model by which all future presidents would be measured†(524). He felt that the government should take control when states show incompetence in dealing with problems. Roosevelt saw the presidency as a â€Å"bully pulpit.† He believed he could use†¦show more content†¦Pinchot advised Roosevelt to keep large tracts of federal land exempt from private sale. By doing this forests and grazing lands would be conserved. Making agriculture possible, under Rooseveltâ⠂¬â„¢s federal water projects, some dry wilderness areas were transformed. In 1902 the National Reclamation Act, also known as the Newlands Act, established the precedent that the federal government would manage that precious water resources of the West. Although Roosevelt failed to support civil rights for African-Americans, like most other progressives, he did support a few individual African-American rights. Even though some opposed, he appointed an African-American as the head of the Charleston, South Carolina, customhouse. When Roosevelt made a decision, he stuck with it. For example, he appointed a black postmistress. Even though some whites refused to accept the postmistress, Roosevelt chose to close the station rather than give in. However, in 1906, â€Å"Roosevelt angered many African-Americans when he dismissed without a question an entire regiment of African-American soldiers accused of conspiracy in protecting others charged with murder in Brownsville, Texas†(530) . Roosevelt even invited Booker T. Washington, who was then the African-American leader most respected by powerful whites, to the white house as a symbolic gesture. In 1905 a civil rights conference in Niagara Falls was held. The goal for this conference was to create complete equality between blacks andShow MoreRelatedHow Successful Were Progressive Reforms During the Period 1890-1915 with Respect to the Following? Industrial Conditions, Urban Life, and Politics2257 Words   |  10 PagesOver 32,000 soldiers and armed policemen crossed into the Rhineland. The Tydings-McDuffie Act - approved on March 24, 1934 was a United States federal law which provided for self-government of the Philippines and for Filipino independence after a period of ten years. Anschluss - was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. El Alimein - Two important World War II battles were fought in the area. At the First Battle of El Alamein (July 1 – July 27, 1942) the advance ofRead MoreThe Progressive Era Of America1297 Words   |  6 Pages The Progressive Era was a period that changed America greatly due to political reforms and social activism. This era brought forth many changes in America and almost all Americans were involved in this movement somehow. This period began in the late 1800s and lasted until the mid-1900s. The Progressive Era was one of the biggest movements in America. The main point of this movement was to purify the government. Several historians have wrote excerpts on their perspective of the Progressive Era. GeorgeRead MoreThe Contributions Of The Progressive Era1294 Words   |  6 PagesTaking place in the United States between the 1890s and the 1920s, the Progressive Era was a period characterized by political reform and social activism. Due to the popularity of the Progressive ideals during this time period, American citizens elected for president candidates, such as Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, who subscribed to these ideals. Of the three Progressive presidents, Wilson was the most effective w hen it came to addressing the major issues of the late 19th and early 20th centuriesRead MoreLessons Learnt From the Great Depression and Progressive Era1386 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Great Depression Progressive Era Lessons from the Great Depression Progressive Era The Progressive Era in American history began slightly before the turn of the 20th century and continued into the second decade of the 20th century, ending around the beginning of World War I. The Great Depression of 20th century American occurred in 1929 and the more intense short-term effects lasted up and through World War II. The paper will scrutinize specific events of this period providing insight, elaborationRead MoreThe Progressive Era Of The Gilded Age1455 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the progressive era there were many reform movements due to the abundance of political, social, and economical corruption in America in the gilded age as seen by political machines like William Marcy tweed and American financiers like J.P. Morgan. Some of the many issues that made themselves present in the gilded age include the large wealth gap, child labor, women’s lack of rights, influx of immigrants, Urbanization, Indian wars, monopolists, political machines, and alcoholism. All ofRead MoreEssay on A Progressive Movement1538 Words   |  7 PagesA Progressive Movement Much of a historian’s job is to read what their colleagues have written on their subject of interest at the moment. Often, they then go on to write their own opinions on the subject, thereby influencing the historians of the future. The famed historian and teacher Richard Hofstadter wrote The Age of Reform in 1955 about the late 19th century and early 20th century movement of Progressivism. In turn, other historians that include Paula Baker, Richard McCormick, andRead MoreProgressivism And Progressivism925 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States. Progressivism is defined as a movement that is to limit the social destructiveness effects of capitalism. Progressives look at capitalism as unhindered. That they need to extract from the markets in a capitalist system and to counterbalance the tasks that capitalism leaves such as terrible social effects. They wanted the public well being to be better off. Progressives overall did not want to other throw capitalism, but they wanted th e government and policies to be constrained to be inRead MoreThe First Midterm Assignment During American History1500 Words   |  6 Pagesprolonged time period in American history and also what the bloodiest. Many violent events occurred that gave the 19th century its name, such as, profound labor conflicts between boss and workers, the Indian wars that was an extended battle for peace and a benefit in their lifestyles, the Jim Crow law which was established to separate races throughout the city, and also the fight for the American Empires power. These were the major issues that made the 19th century an important time period in AmericanRead MoreThe Gilded Age : A Powerhouse Rose From The Ashes Of The Civil War871 Words   |  4 PagesProgressives in the Gilded Age The Gilded Age: A powerhouse rose from the ashes of the Civil War. From the Civil War until about 1896, the Gilded Age was born. The United States was going through an era of governmental, fiscal and societal restructuring. Gilded Age got its name because Mark Twain seen as a period where everything seemed to be well on the surface but beneath was a scheme of political dishonesty and self-indulgence. Around this time, the affluent upper class was created due to theRead MoreWomen, African Americans And Literature1747 Words   |  7 PagesWomen, African-Americans Literature in the Progressive Era One of the greatest turning points in American history was the Progressive era due to the advancements and social responses led by women and people of color. Many depictions of this era through secondary sources can be used to see the conflicts faced by the individuals of the time period and the political movement that ensued right after. Many favorable outcomes resulted from this time period including the start of reformation from women

Image-based Advertisement Analysis Free Essay Example, 1250 words

The logos of the image-based advert is however ineffective, considering the fact that it does not appeal to the reasoning of the targeted African audience. The use of a white woman-model to advertise the Air France brand in Africa is the first element of the advert that goes against all logic. The more logical appeal would have emanated from the use of an image of an African woman-model since the audience would be able to reason that Air France does not only embrace the African culture but is also more comfortable using Africans as its brand ambassadors. The structure of the image-based advert is very simple. The image-based advert simply presents the image of a woman model adorning an African attire and headscarf as the central part of the image, with the brand name Air France , advertisement message, France in the air and the destination, Dakar being sidelined to the very edges of the image-based advertisement. Despite this simple structure applied by the advert, the message is clearly delivered, since the advert simply seeks to inform the African air-travel clientele that Air France is already in the air, and serves destinations that include the African continent. We will write a custom essay sample on Image-based Advertisement Analysis or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

British Imperialism In George Orwells Shooting An Elephant

Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell portrays the fictional life of Orwell during his time as sub-divisional police officer in Moulmein, Lower Burma. The essay unveils the identity crisis as a British man, where rising imperialism of British in Burma is becoming more dominant. The essay started off identifying who George Orwell was. A sub-divisional police officer of Moulmein, who developed a feeling of being anti-European towards the Burmese people. By claiming that no one is courageous enough to raise a riot against the British, Orwell basically told us how dominant the imperialist was. Even the Buddhist priests, who are well respected amongst the Burmese were being jeered by the British. Orwell furthers mentioned about the†¦show more content†¦First of all, the British Imperialist is controlling the Burmese people with autocratic approach that disallow the Burmese to voice their thoughts and opinions. The example shown when Orwell questioned several Burmese locals, wher e each of them answered him differently. We can see that the locals were scared to answer Orwell because answering him falsely will lead to public punishment by the Imperialist. It seems that the superiority of the British Imperialist dominates the Burmese so much that they have any rights to say and act in their presence. The decision of Orwell changing his weapons to an elephant rifle was when he saw the corpses of a dead Indian, black Dradvidian coolie being stomped by the elephant. As aforementioned, Orwell had no intention of shooting the elephant, especially a working one. Orwell valued the assets of working elephant by claiming that it is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery. The only reason he brought a rifle is to defend himself. With the assumptions that the elephant calmed himself down, Orwell decided not to shoot it and thus wait until the elephant walked home. On the other hand, he also realized that there were thousands of people, all happy and excited over this bit of fun, waiting and watching the elephant to be shot down by himself. The pressure from the crowd convinced Orwell to shoot the elephant. With the futility of the white man’s dominion in the East, this was the moment forShow MoreRelatedBritish-Imperialism In George Orwells Shooting An Elephant718 Words   |  3 PagesThe essay â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† by George Orwell tells about the life of the narrator in a time of British-Imperialism. He tells the story of himself being a sub-divisional police officer in a town that was against the occupation of the British. The narrator worked in an aimless and lack of control area. The essay often tells of the anger that Orwell feels about the natives. The narrator’s attitude toward the natives is anger because the natives made his job difficult, they ridiculed him, and pressuredRead More George Orwells Shooting an Elephant as an Attack on Colonialism and Imperialism842 Words   |  4 PagesGeor ge Orwells Shooting an Elephant as an Attack on Colonialism and Imperialism    The glorious days of the imperial giants have passed, marking the death of the infamous and grandiose era of imperialism. George Orwells essay, Shooting an Elephant, deals with the evils of imperialism. The unjust shooting of an elephant in Orwells story is the central focus from which Orwell builds his argument through the two dominant characters, the elephant and its executioner. The British officer, theRead MoreThe Evil Of Imperialism In George Orwells Shooting An Elephant1023 Words   |  5 PagesShooting An Elephant In George Orwell’s narrative, â€Å"Shooting An Elephant,† Orwell recreates his experience as a soldier trying to end imperialism in the country of Burma by shooting an elephant. George Orwell recreates this experience of imperialism being evil through the use of literary devices. Orwell opens his essay by reflecting upon the evil of British imperialism before shooting the elephant. Orwell’s hatred for imperialism is exemplified when he mentions â€Å"was hated by large numbers of peopleRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 1272 Words   |  6 PagesRhetorical Analysis of George Orwell’s â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† George Orwell, a journalist and an author of 1903 through 1950, is not only the author of â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† but surprisingly, he is also the narrator and the main character. Orwell’s narrative essay of 1936 takes place in squalid, British-occupied Moulmein, lower Burma. To begin, in the opening of his piece, Orwell describes himself as a young, British police officer who, ironically, despises the British imperial project in BurmaRead MoreShooting an Elephant938 Words   |  4 PagesGeorge Orwell’s â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† is an essay written by George Orwell and published in 1936 (Orwell 66). Orwell was born June 25, 1903, as Eric Arthur Blair and passed away January 21, 1950, in India (â€Å"George Orwell Biography†). Orwell was known for his journals, novels, and essays published about his own political views (â€Å"George Orwell Biography†). Orwell traveled to Burma after not doing good enough in school to earn a scholarship and decided to join the imperialRead MoreAnalysis Of Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell988 Words   |  4 Pagescommonly known as George Orwell, is the author of many compositions. Blair, the author of two of the most famous novels of the 1920s; Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, was born in Eastern Indian. He joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma but resigned in 1927 to become a writer (BBC). Orwell’s style of writing can be described as bold and vivid. He puts the truth in his writing. Orwell’s novel, â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† was published in 1936. In the novel, a colonial policeman in British Burma is calledRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Shooting An Elephant1165 Words   |  5 PagesIn George Orwell’s story ‘Shooting an Elephant’, insight is given into the life of an oppressor in the British Empire. Orwell, having undergone a significant personal experience, illustrates his experience of imperialism and the resounding effects is has on the ethical conduct and ideals of man, not only of the oppressed but also in regards of the oppressor. Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Elephant’ attempts to convey the sacrifice of one’s morality in service of imperialism. Through the spread of the BritishRead MoreEssay on Imperialism: Shooting an Elephant635 Words   |  3 PagesIn George Orwells â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† deals with the evil side of imperialism. The shooting of the elephant in Orwells story is the c entral focus from which Orwell builds his argument through the two dominant characters, the elephant and the British officer. The British officer, acts as a symbol of the imperial country and the elephant is the victim of imperialism. Together, the solider and the elephant turns this into an attack on the evils of imperialism. The shooting of the elephant showsRead MoreLiterary Analysis of â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† by George Orwell1152 Words   |  5 PagesIn â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† George Orwell achieves two achievements : he shows us his personal experience and his expression while he was in Burma; he use the metaphor of the elephant to explain to describe what Burma looked like when it was under the British Imperialism. The special about this essay is that Orwell tells us a story not only to see the experience that he had in Burma; he also perfectly uses the metaphor of the elephant to give us deep information about the Imperialism. By going throughRead M oreGeorge Orwells Essay Showing Regret for Shooting an Elephant880 Words   |  4 Pagesrepresentation of George Orwell’s perception of British imperialism around the world. It is a firsthand account of how imperialism affects both rulers and the oppressed using a short story. The author shows how imperialism is a prison to not only the Burmese, but also the British. The message can clearly be seen though Orwell’s regret in being forced to kill an elephant. The purpose of this essay is to explain Orwell’s true message of anti-imperialism using the nature of tyranny and the British Empire as

Assess Different Sociological Explanations of SuicideAnomie free essay sample

Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess different sociological explanations of suicide. (21 marks) Suicide is the  intentional  taking  of  ones  own  life and sociologists over the years have tried to put forward various explanations for why someone may do this. Within sociology there are many different views on suicide on the causes and explanations for it, these come from two main methodologies which are Positivists who believe that sociology is a science and they should aim to make causal laws on suicide rates, compared to Interpretivists who believe that they should look for meaning behind occurrences and certain individuals experiences before the suicide. Other perspectives also put in their views on what they believe to explain suicide for example, Realists. Item A references to Durkheim’s Structural Functionalist view on suicide, as stated Durkheim believes that due to sociology being a science with the topic of suicide it is very easy to make causal laws or as said in Item A ‘social facts’. Due to the fact Durkheim believed that there were a number of causes behind suicide he form four types of suicide from a Positivist viewpoint. Egoistic suicide which is when individuals are not integrated well enough into society for example people who live alone compared to those who live with family. Secondly Altruistic suicide which is when individuals are felt to be too integrated into society causing suicide, for example members of the armed forces were said to have greater suicide rates than civilian personnel as they were too strongly integrated into a united body. Durkheim also put forward the idea of Anomic suicide, this is when the norms and values in society become unclear or confused in times of great social change and an individual is not taught to adapt to changes well enough. For example an unexpected death of a family member is sudden social change which can cause Anomic suicide. Lastly, he suggested Fatalistic suicide. Fatalism is the thinking of the individual that they can do nothing to affect their situation and individuals find their future blocked and oppressed due to society over regulating them. For example slaves and prisoners may have this mindset when they take their own lives. Durkheim said that his work on suicide had several merits as it correctly revealed that suicide is a social rather than psychological occurrence and proved his methodology that you can establish laws and show that sociology is a science. However his theory on suicide has been met with some criticism. Douglas claimed that Durkheim’s work relied too heavily on the use of official statistics on suicide and he incorrectly assumed that these were representative of the real truth. Douglas notes that official statistics are socially produced and can be distorted in many ways, for example via concealment and varying definitions of suicide by coroners meaning that the validity of the statistics is doubted. So Douglas himself put forward an explanation for suicide. Douglas adopted a Symbolic Interactionist perspective, along with a interpretive methodology which is opposite to that of Durkheim. Some would argue that Douglas selected to look at suicide as an area of investigation as he thought it would illustrate the beliefs of Interactionists and highlight the short comings of the Structural Functionalists positivist approach. Douglas used psychiatrists reports and newspaper accounts to come up with his four patterns of social meaning for suicide and within his study he took a very subjective approach looking at meaning and motives. In Douglas’ view suicide could be due to four reasons, the first to gain release from the cares of the world to find happiness, to change the opinion of others in the suicides favour, to achieve a state of fellow feeling creating a climate of sympathy or to simply get revenge towards those who are causing pain towards them. Douglas believed that his work highlighted that suicide is a rational act rather than an automatic response to the environment as people are active not passive, and also to show that sociology is not a science and we should look into meanings over statistics. Obviously this was highly criticised by Structural Functionalists such as Durkheim who believed that Douglas’ work was too unscientific and that he incorrectly assumed that the nature of man is active rather than passive. Another sociologist who takes an Interpretivist methodology is Atkinson, believing that social meaning and context is more important in finding root causes. However unlike Douglas, Atkinson is a Ethnomethodologist which has a central belief of showing that each individual use their own members methods to work out what they see. This is why Atkinson decided to study suicide, also to show how official statistics are not enough. Atkinson focused on a Coroner’s report and underwent participant observation at an office to see what methods they used to decide whether a death was suicide or not. Atkinson stated that they used ‘common sense’ theories of suicide so if certain information were to fit the theories it would be called a suicide. They would look at clues to help decided, Atkinson named a few to which he believed was important within their decisions. Firstly was there a suicide note left, this clearly is a big clue to whether or not the individual meant to kill themselves. Secondly how did the individual die as certain ways such as hanging point towards suicide, also the location of the body, usually if it is hidden away out of sight then the person is indicating that they did not want to be found. Finally did the individual have any past mental illnesses or life history that could lead them towards suicide. Atkinson therefore stated that a suicide verdict reflects the assumptions and interpretation of the clues by the coroner rather than reality and facts. Atkinson’s study was said to have some merits as it did identify what clues coroners use to arrive at a suicide verdict, but also shows that positivists use of quantative data such as official statistics is not valid as they are produced by coroners who base the label of suicide on their own social assumptions. Hindess put forward a criticism for both Douglas and Atkinson, arguing that although Interpretive researchers have maintained that suicide statistics can be misleading they haven’t stated to what extent they distort people’s ideas, so therefore it may only be slight and still be possible to make accurate causal laws from a Positivist viewpoint. Taylor has put forward his view on suicide, taking a Realist approach which is very different from the explanations already stated. Taylor has tried to combine both Interpretivist and Positivist methodologies to come to a verdict on suicide. Taylor underwent a study on the London Underground and people who had died from falling underneath a train asserting that causal factors are important in considering suicide especially that of significant others such as family. In his investigation over half of the 32 who had died were said to have committed suicide although they were no actual evidence, coroners just based this on history of mental illness. Ignoring such factors of suicide and focusing on coroners is unrealistic, so looking at causal factors is from Taylor’s view a valid approach. But it is also important to gain a fuller understanding of suicide by finding a synthesis between the causes of the occurrence which is the Structural Functionalist side but also the exploration of the social meanings behind it, showing the Interactionist approach. Taylor therefore identified a category for suicide which is Sacrifice suicide, where it has occurred by the conduct of other people towards the suicide, for example family members have made the individuals life so unbearable this is the only way out. An advantage of Taylor’s approach to suicide is that it attempts to show how both positivist and interpretive methods are useful in trying to understand suicide, however certain sociologist have criticised it for being too one sided. It has been stated that Taylor focused more on the Interactionist failing to achieve ‘Structuralism’. Another criticism from Durkheim is that Taylor’s cause of suicide that he put forward seems unimportant compared to the large scale of the structural causes central concern such as sudden social change which is a more widespread reason. To conclude many sociologists have differing views to try to explain suicide and why they think individuals do take their own lifes, however these are just theories because no one will ever know the real root cause of why someone has ended their lives unless they leave a note explaining why and in many causes this does not happen.

Fine white sand clung on to my damp feet as I ambled along the beach Essay Example For Students

Fine white sand clung on to my damp feet as I ambled along the beach Essay Fine white sand clung on to my damp feet as I ambled along the beach. It was a lovely afternoon and the sun was shining brightly above the horizon, with the sea soaking up some of its radiant rays, reflecting the others, and shimmering vibrantly under the sky. I could see dark outlines of birds flying way over the mountains, flapping their wings and soaring higher and further away until they were so small that they could hardly be seen. I walked towards the edge of the water and small waves collapsed gently against my feet, reaching up to my ankles. A pleasant feeling of relaxation poured over me, then the wave gently pulled back, drawing the sand from under my feet and making it seem like the ground beneath my feet was moving. I turned around and scanned the rest of the beach. The sand was glistening brightly under the suns rays, and a tender and slightly humid zephyr had picked up and rustled gently through my hair, sending a brief shiver down my spine. I turned back and walked up the beach, more sand particles sticking to my soggy, wet feet and making a depression in the sand as I took each step. I sat myself down beside a small pile of deposited coral and stared as far out as my eyes could see. As the afternoon moved on, nearing evening, before the sun was about to set, the firmament was a blend of colours. There was a mÃÆ' ©lange of pinks, oranges and reds scattered across the sky. The sea itself was tranquil and serene, mirroring the shades of the sky and forming lively reflections in its waters and the sand still slightly glimmered in the gentle light of the sun. As evening took its place, the waves were getting bigger by the hour as the wind picked up speed. The sun began to set more quickly now and soon enough, it disappeared behind the mountains, leaving only faint rays to be seen just above the horizon. Then, they too vanished. The sky was growing darker was filled with the sound of thousands of birds chirping, making their way home. Soon enough, darkness poured itself over the entire beach and the sounds of the birds vanished as quickly as they had come, and nothing but the sound of thick silence, so palpable that I could almost taste it was present, but with the occasional swash, as the waves came in every few moments. As night fell over the beach, the waves were more powerful and sizable with great intensity, crashing recklessly against the rocks and boulders, leaving white foam to slowly slip off. The wind was stronger now, as it whipped my hair against my face and tangled it hopelessly into difficult knots. The mountains poking above the horizon were towering across the beach, casting dark, eerie shadows in the waters, making the whole scene a lot less welcoming. I turned around and walked up the beach, and  felt the smooth sand disappear from under my feet as I stepped onto the rough road, which would take me back home, away from the beachà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦