Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau :: essays research papers

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were both born in Massachusetts. Emerson was born in Boston in 1803. Thoreau was born in Concord in 1817. Emerson attended Harvard and then became a Unitarian minister just like his father had been. Thoreau also attended Harvard but upon graduating, became a teacher and opened up a school. Both Emerson and Thoreau gave up their careers to pursue Transcendentalist philosophy. Emerson was one of the first to start the Transcendental Club. Thoreau became Emerson's student after he had moved into his house. Thoreau simplified his needs and began to experiment with Transcendentalism through experience. Although Emerson's writings achieved national recognition during his lifetime, Thoreau did not see such fame during his own life. They were both active Transcendentalists, but their philosophies and methods differed slightly. Emerson believed one should live in harmony with nature. One of his essays, appropriately titled, "Nature," was the first published essay on Transcendentalist philosophy. Emerson theorized that man was one and the same with nature and he wrote about his experiences with nature. In "Nature," Emerson wrote that, "In the woods, we return to reason and faith. "Although he was the one to write this, it was Thoreau who went to extremes and took this literally. Though Emerson and Thoreau both believed in living in harmony with something, they differed on what it was they were to live in harmony with. While Emerson lectured about Transcendetalist philosophy, Thoreau thoroughly practiced it. Emerson believed in living in harmony with nature. Thoreau believed in living in peace and harmony with ourselves. Thoreau took Transcendentalism to the extremes. He simplified every aspect of his live and went" back to nature" to test the experiences of Transcendentalism. He focused on how he could live in peace and harmony with himself in nature while Emerson lectured about living in harmony with nature. Thoreau took Emerson's teachings and expanded on them. Emerson played his role as teacher and Thoreau played his role as student. They did this both whle living in the same household and throughout their lives. Emerson taught Transcendentalist philosophy and Thoreau not only expanded on those teachings, he used them for experimenting with Transcednetalism.

Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Vonneguts Slaughterhouse-Five :: comparison compare contrast essays

Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five That we, people, are "bugs in amber" is one of the main themes of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five; or Children's Crusade. Tom Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is, in my opinion, very similar to this book. While Slaugterhouse-Five is an American novel, a mixture of the author's Second World War experiences and science fiction genre, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is a British play set into William Shakespeare's Hamlet. What are these two literary works similar in, then? It is the central theme. Both works show that we are physically stuck in this world, our future is already given, and we have no way of escaping our destiny. Both writers provide a little room for their character's imagination which is, in my opinion, crucial item of both literary works. In this paper I will try to use Kurt Vonnegut's novel to help me point out the major theme of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and to explain and clarify the theme's meaning and main message. The main theme of Slaughterhouse-Five is expressed several times throughout the novel. One of the examples is the passage which shows (from the view of the Tralfamadorians -- alien beings) that the future is given and that one cannot change it. "All moments, past, present, and future, always have existed, always will exist. The Tralfamadorians can look at all the different moments just the way we can look at a stretch of the Rocky Mountains, for instance." (Vonnegut:27) Another passage of the novel describes the theme more directly. It is the part when the Tralfamadorians kidnap Billy Pilgrim and he asks "why?". "Have you ever seen bugs trapped in amber? Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this

The Issue of Lowering of Legal Drinking Age

Cody Schisnewski Final Draft 09/29/09 Period 1 A number of States in the U. S. are considering legislation to lower the legal drinking age from the current age of 21 to 18. The move would defy a generation of federal law and public opinion in America which is strongly opposed to lowering the drinking age. In 1984, congress set the legal drinking age to 21 from 18, threatening to cut highway funding to states which did not comply, mostly to cut down on drunk driving deaths caused each year by drinking and driving. But advocates argue teenagers are going to drink anyway even if changed. Should the drinking age be lowered? In my opinion, the drinking age doesn't need to be reduced to 18, the drinking laws need to be changed completely. I think there should be a public drinking age of 18, and a private or supervised drinking age of 12. This way, children (young adults) can be taught how to drink socially and responsibly from a young age, so alcohol isn't such a mystery and there would be less attraction or desire to being able to drink when they turn 21 with there friends. Children need to be taught how to drink responsibly by there parents, and not by some irresponsible friends. And most parents wouldn’t have to worry about criminal charges or D. U. I. ’s because they chose to teach there children about drinking responsibly when they where younger. I have two very different opinions from two different people. Joel who is pro Age 21, from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD states â€Å"Back in the late 1960s and early 70s a number of states lowered their drinking age from 21 to 18. In many of these states, research documented a significant increase in highway deaths of the teens affected by these laws. After the law changed back to 21, many of the states were `monitored to check the difference in highway fatalities. Researchers found that teenage deaths in fatal car crashes dropped considerably in some cases up to 28% when the laws were moved back to 21. † (redblueamerica. com) Another person, Ben who is pro Age 18, from Radley Balkdo/Reason Group, has his own opinion, stating â€Å"It makes little sense that America considers an 18-year-old mature enough to marry, to sign a contract, to vote and to fight and die for his country, but not mature enough to decide whether or not to ave a beer. People that are for the drinking age of 21 primary argument is the dramatic drop in the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities since the minimum age first passed Congress in 1984. † (redblueamerica. com) In conclusion, drinking, no matter what age, needs to be treated responsibly. To keep you and the life’s of others out of harms way. And never to drive while under the influence which can lead to serious property damage, other or self injury or in some cases even death. And like I said in the beginning, why don’t we look more into just changing are drinking laws to something completely different, if anything schools should start classes teaching students the danger of underage drinking and driving. This is a very complex argument and both side state very strong opinion and facts, who knows which one is right and which one is wrong, but what I do know is deaths cause by irresponsible drinking is very wrong and we should put all of are minds together to try and stop it from happening.

My Son Changed My Life Essay

Before my son had arrived, I was in complete shambles. My life was spiraling down a one way tube into darkness. I had become everything that I had only wished I wouldnt. I was known as nothing better then â€Å"white trash†. I thought that I had it all. I was only 17 and I was free. I left home to be with my ex- boyfriend, and I was free! No rules, No boundaries, just freedom. I thought life couldnt get any better. Although, as time went on I realized how much I missed my family, and how things were starting to turn sour in my relationship. We had no money. For weeks, we had nothing. We were living off of our friends who were gracious enough to take us in. I started doing drugs, and drinking every chance I got. I stole items to pawn them for money. Most of the money went twords food, drugs, or alcohol. I was lucky I was underage when I pawned stuff becasue word had gotten around to the cops that it was stolen, and every person who did it was thrown in jail. Thankfully, I was only put on probation for 6 months. Things started to look up for a little when my ex and I moved back in with his parents. It was a hell hole, but it was a place to stay without living off other people. We started to hang out with friends every night, driving around the town, drinking, starting fights, just waiting to get in trouble. We didnt realize it at first, but the person we were driving around with was what most would call â€Å"bi-polar†. It only took one night to realize it, and that would be the end of that. We were driving around with this friend when she had gotten so mad at this person, that she circled the block, and tried to hit him with her car. Thankfully we were on the same block as my ex’s parents, so we called it a night. I was worried that I pregnant in the begining of December, but I didnt take a pregnancy test until 4 days before christmas. I can remember it just like it was yesterday too, I was sitting in a local resturaunt with my friend and I had went into the bathroom to take the test. I remember screaming for my friend to come in, and she couldnt beleive it. I took a second test to be 100% sure, and in deed I was pregnant. We didnt tell family until Christmas Day. Most of my family was happy for me, but some of them were a little doubtful that I would stop the nonsense I had gotten myself into. And indeed I did. I moved back home with my parents, and I started my life all over again. I was a brand new person, and in less then 8 months, my life was going to change even more. On August 9, 2006 my son was born. He was the most beautiful baby boy I had even layed eyes on. He was so special, and he had to be sent from heaven. I had moved in with his father in March and we were doing really well. My son had only brought us closer together, and he was our pride and joy. He still is til this day. My son changed my life in many ways. Before he was even here he had changed my life. I realized that I had to grow up and be a better person. I wasnt just going to be taking care of myself, but a baby too. I had be responsible. I had to be the best mother I could possibly be. After he arrived, I realized that I wouldnt have to sit around and think about alcohol or drugs, and wish to do them. My son kept me occupied enough for me to understand that there was more to life then drugs and alcohol, that there was more to it then having freedom. It wasnt about me anymore, It was about my family, and I would do anything for them. My son was my lifesaver. I tell him everyday that he is an angel. I just hope that when he’s old enough, he’ll understand exactly why he is my angel. He turned my life upside down, which in reality, had turned me back to the person I was supposed to be.

Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay

According to Shakespere, â€Å"All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players†. Some people, in their daily lives, do more intentional acting, or decieveing, than others. The terms â€Å"Friday Muslim† or â€Å"Sunday Christian† have been coined to describe people who appear to be devout to their religion when they attend their weekly religious gathering, but otherwise do not display any moral connections to it. These people put more importance on appearing as a good and richous person rather than actually thinkning, speaking, and acting according to the religious documents they claim to follow. Living this sort of life proved to be fatal for the Grandmother in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find. The Grandmother’s religious hypocracy caused her to corrupt the thoughts of her grandchildren, manipulate events onto a negative path, and ultimately cause the death of her and her family. Studies done by the National Child Study indicate that children’s views are larely shaped by â€Å"caregiver/child interactions throught childhood†(â€Å"Measuring†). John Wesley and June Star’s mother and father seem to be very passive and quiet with thier views. In comparison, the Grandmother is outspoken, opinionated, and presents herself as a religiously knowledgable, and there for trustworthy, person. The children seem to have picked up on her racist views as their normally argumentitive resopnses are absent when she makes condesending comments about an ovbiously poor â€Å"Negro child standing in the door of a shack†(O’connor) they pass on their trip. The impression of the grandmother’s views into the children is also aparent when, rather than being appalled at her racist story about a suitor bringing her watermelon, â€Å"this story tickled John Wesley’s funny bone and he giggled and giggled†(O’connor). Also, June Star shows signs of the same materialistic shelfishness of the Grandmother when she states that she â€Å"wouldn’t marry a man that just brought her a watermelon on Saturday†(O’connor). The grandmother replies that she wishes she would have married him because he â€Å"had died only a few years ago, a very wealthy man† (O’connor), as if wealth is the most important factor in deciding whom to marry. Nearly everytime the chirdren speak their comments reak of the condescending, corrupt influence of their grandmother. Had the Grandmother put more emphasis on actually practicing Christian values than just appearing to be a godly person she would not have had the relaxed attitutte towards lying which led her to her death. Fearing her cat ,Pitty Sing , â€Å"might brush against one of her gas burners and accidentally asphyxiate himself†(O’connor), she sneaks the cat into the car. She knows that her son Bailey has good reason for not wanting the cat to accompany them on the trip and would not allow it, but this does not stop her. The Grandmother later tells a story to the children about a plantation she used to visit when she was younger. She believes he house to be a little way down a dirt road they passed on the highway. She begins to have a burning, almost childish, desire to revisit this landmark and so lies to the children. Knowing it will manipulate the children into helping her persuade their parents to visit the house, she tells them â€Å"there was a secret:-panel in this house†(O’connor) which â€Å"all the family silver was hidden in†(O’connor). As expected, the children begin whining untill their father, Bailey, agrees to make a â€Å"one and only time†(O’connor) exception to the trip itenerary and visit the plantation. The Grandmother’s deception leads to Bailey wrecking the car. The cat becomes statled leaps onto his neck, causing him to jerk the wheel in firght and lead the car into a ditch. Due to the Grandmother’s lack of morals, the family is left helpless and injured on the side of a near abandoned road. As exzibited in devout priests, nuns, and missionaries, selflessness is highly valued in Christianity. The Grandmother would like for people to think of her as a selfless christian role model, but her actions prove her to be quite the opposite. Before the family sets out on the trip she attempts to manupulate them into going to Tennessee instead of Florida. She actually wants to go visit some old friends in her former home state, but she attempts to scare the family into changing their destionation. Had she not been so selfish, she would not have so clearly noted and remembered that â€Å"The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida†(O’connor), and therefor would not have clearly recognized him when he stops to help the family later in the story. The Misfit made the decision to kill the family in order to cover his tracks only after the grandmother verbalized that she identified him. Her selfish attitude kept her from realizing that it was likely not in her families best interest to blurt out this realizatioin. It clearly shows that even in the most dire of situatioins no one else’s well being was even close to the forfront of her toughts. The Gandmother’s pattern of selfishness is not cohearent with her claimed Christian ties, and unwittingly led her and her family to be massacred. The politition who claims everyone should be â€Å"green† in order to save the planet but continues to travel in a private jet, The religious leader who preaches meantal purity and is found to have a drug habit, or even the parent who tells their child â€Å"do as I say, not as I do†; hypocracy in all forms has its victims. O’Connor was known to be a devout Roman Cathloic and likely resented people who, like the Grandmother in this story, were good at pretending to be religious but had no actual commitment. Unfortuantly for the Grandmother her first selfless act came to late.

Performance Management Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Performance Management Systems - Essay Example The tools to help manage and track performance management across organizations have been in place for considerably less time. In fact, most of the oldest of those in use today have only been on the market a little longer than five years. Systematizing the performance management systems has its benefits. Taking into account the case of Saba's Enterprise Performance solutions, it offers the following advantages: First, it focuses people on strategic initiatives, such as responding to new competitors, launching a product, or investing in a new line of business. The identification of strategic initiatives and making it visible across the organization shapes the goals and the competencies required for each individual in the organization. Beneath these are operational objectives that focus on what you need to do to achieve strategic aims. Prioritizing these will identify key areas of activity and areas where additional effort or resource will be directed to deliver improvement. Operational priorities will influence the decisions that managers make on a yearly, monthly and even daily basis. Second, it helps organizations execute on their business strategy by focusing people on strategic initiatives resulting to goal alignment of individual activities and organizational goals. One of the biggest challenges that organizations face in developing their personnel for maximum business gains is aligning development efforts with the organization's goals. In a recent survey by Bersin & Associates, 60% of training managers indicated that their biggest challenge was to be sure their efforts were aligned with the company's business strategy. In fact, the idea of performance management is to combine the viewpoints of the organization, the individual, and the environment. Third, it offers performance assessment capabilities designed to increase the productivity of individuals and the overall organization. Top performing organizations combine performance and improvement in a single agenda, often establishing a senior management group with responsibility for both. These groups, sometimes including executive portfolio holders, take responsibility for: regularly monitoring and acting on key performance indicators that reflect corporate priorities, setting standards for performance and expectations of when action needs to be taken identifying tolerances for performance , asking challenging questions about performance , ensuring that there are robust action plans to address under-performance, redirecting resources where necessary , following up planned actions, ensuring they have led to improvement , and sending out a clear signal that performance and improvement are being taken seriously at the highest level. Lastly, it focuses learning resources on organizational and competitive goals. To be successful today, organizations must focus on understanding who they are and where they want to go (the vision and mission), setting clear expectations of the outcomes to be achieved by the organization (goals and objectives) and describing how people should perform their roles to deliver the vision, mission and goals (the competency system). Having a clear direction and defined outcomes doesn't seem to be sufficient to drive

The Music of Josquin des Prez Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Music of Josquin des Prez - Research Paper Example that he did not compose what his patron wished – he composed when and what he wanted and that the reason as to why he frequently changed his jobs was that compared to his counterparts, he demanded a higher pay. Josquin was mostly celebrated for his motets and chansons and was very particular about his songs – if anyone tried to alter them, he became very furious. His contemporaries admired his composing skill greatly. These included Cosimo Bartoli a Florentine mid-century composer who asserted that Josquin’s standing was equivalent to Michelangelo’s stature in sculpture, as well as Martin Luther who confessed that the mastery that Josquin had was so great that it defied comparison with the endeavors of his counterparts. Additionally, Heinrich Glarean, a theorist and humanist from Switzerland, in his judgment of Josquin, confessed that Josquin’s skill was utterly versatile, so endowed with a natural vigor and acumen that he was able to do anything pertaining music. Glarean adds that this polyphonist’s songs gracefully and fluently expressed the moods of the heart matchlessly (Knighton & Fallows 15). In their commentary on Josquin’s artistic and historical position in music development, Davison and Apel compares him with Raphael, his contemporary in painting history (225). Another writer by the name Charles Joseph gives a commentary on Josquin’s inventiveness arguing that what has made his music to be so popular is its intriguing compositional logic. Josquin expertly integrates the simplest motivic cells into great melodic compositions of architectural perfection. Consequently, composition and analysis teachers have always advocated that their students examine his works thoroughly (Judd 299). Another person who praises Josquin is Henricus Glareanus. While analyzing his melodic structure and modal mixture, Glareanus pays tribute to Josquin praising this prince of the perfect art for his handling of the modes producing profound pathos, sonorous beauty