Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay Example for Free

Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay Compare and Contrast the characters of Ralph and Jack and comment on their roles in the novel? Lord of the Flies is an allegory, a simple adventure story that also has deeper meaning. Golding uses the characters of Ralph and Jack to illustrate the battle between right and wrong within society. Both have dominant characters but use methods that contrast in many ways. They have different expectations of others and of the island itself, and have opposing priorities and objectives. It is necessary to examine their different character traits in detail, in order to understand how these influence the development of life on the island. At Jacks first appearance in the novel, we recognise him as a natural leader. Jack is the head of the choir and a strict disciplinarian. Choir! Stand still! However, throughout this encounter, he maintains control and dignity. Jack has complete confidence in his decisions. He cannot be accused of worrying people by being indecisive as he always has clear and definite opinions. I ought to be chief I can sing C sharp. However, his black cloak and red hair are hints of a dark and fiery side to his character. These were the main colours of the Nazi Party flag. Gradually we see Jack changing from an authoritarian leader into something much more ruthless, casting him as a type of Hitler. In contrast, Ralph first appears fun-loving and carefree, sounding like a typical public school boy, wacco wizard golly. He is excited at the prospect of an adventure at the beginning, not considering the implications of being alone and coping on the island, standing on his head when he does not know what to do. Forced at last to believe in the reality of the island, laughed delightedly again and stood on his head. Ralph is an instinctive person who has a tendency to rush into things before considering the consequences. This shows his immaturity. Ralph is therefore quite childish and naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve at times. Later in the novel Ralph looks back with regret at that first enthusiastic exploration as though it were part of a brighter childhood. Despite this, Ralph shows himself to be a strong character who often displays clear authority during the novel. He desires order, calling assemblies and using the conch, the symbol of democracy and civilisation, Ralph felt a kind of reverence for the conch. This shows Ralphs belief in democracy. He tries to treat people as equals, including characters like Piggy. He cares for others and is compassionate, especially to the littluns. Ralph also shows his assertiveness when dealing with Piggy, Better Piggy than Fatty, he said at last, with the directness of genuine leadership. He is also courageous confronting the tribe when they steal Piggys glasses calling Jack a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief. Ralphs physical appearance also favours him. He is tall, agile, a good swimmer with a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaim no devil. This is a clear indication of Ralphs character. However, he does not convey as much confidence as Jack. Ralph can appear the weaker of the two by depending on Piggy for advice. This is probably because he has had no experience of leadership and therefore lacks confidence. Simon suggests Ralph needs to be firmer youre chief, you tell em off However Ralph could also be seen as open-minded. He is always prepared to listen to both sides of an argument without forcing his own opinions. Ralph has an optimistic character, never questioning that rescue will come. Ralph earns the respect of the boys and gains their trust. Jack rules through fear. It is a sign of Ralphs good judgement that he delegates responsibility and trusts Piggy, having respect for his advice. Although like everyone else he becomes more savage in order to survive, unlike Jack he does not take this to extremes. Ralph becomes aware of his filthy appearance with a little fall of his heart. After Simons death he says, Im frightened of us. In contrast, Jack becomes a good keen hunter and relishes this role. Increasingly he begins to adopt animal-like methods down like a sprinter as if he is ready to sniff out the scent. Jack can be very determined, and will persevere. At first, Jack is unable to kill the pig, but he shows promise of completing the task in hand I shall! Next time! Soon his obsession with killing the pig takes over and he can no longer keep his basic instincts under control. There are hints that Jack finds it harder to keep a clear head. Jack frowned in an effort to attain clarity, showing that he was beginning to lose concentration and control. Jack forgets about home and has no wish to get off the island. Soon, he has no priorities, other than to hunt and kill. Jack becomes increasingly tyrannical towards everyone. The longer the boys are on the island the worse he becomes. At first Jack targets most of his aggression at Piggy. This seems to be a coping mechanism when things are going wrong. Jack uses Piggy to vent his frustration physically. He seems to feel his only way of control is through violence. Jack shows himself to be a bully, and respect is not given to Jack voluntarily, he demands it. The reason why people obey him is through terror. His followers become known as the Tribe symbolising their loss of individual identity. As Jacks dictatorial style develops he shows himself to be very narrow-minded and expects people never to question him. He will not listen to anyones opinion. Bollocks to the rules! the phrase Jack uses to dismiss democracy. From the beginning, Jack is consistently rude to Piggy. He is a very judgmental person, and he takes Piggy at face value. Jack does not look for the best or show any sign of accepting people for who they are. He has no consideration for peoples feelings. Eventually any suggestions given to Jack are taken as a threat. Jack shows no remorse. A good example of this is the incident concerning the fire. The fire is the symbol of safety and of destruction of power and of hope. The Hunters whom Jack leads can be viewed in the same way. A symbol of safety when obtaining food, but of destruction when blindly killing. By neglecting the fire, Jack shows himself to be unreliable, forsaking the group in favour of his own interests and priorities. He does not admit to being at fault or apologise, but retaliates with aggression. It is easy to understand why Jack is viewed as the obvious leader. He came to the island with experience of holding a responsible position. Ralph, however, has a more spontaneous approach. He is less rigid and seems able to adapt to the changing circumstances. Throughout their time on the island we see Jack and Ralph changing due to their environment and the pressures which they face. Often Ralph rises to the challenge with fairness and clear thinking, but the weight of responsibility causes extreme stress. A strange thing happened in his head. Something flittered there in front of his mind like a bats wing, obscuring his idea. Jack however becomes increasingly violent and degenerates into an overpowering dictator. Lord of the Flies was written by Golding to highlight some of the relevant issues of the day. Published in 1954, there was a strong worldwide movement against dictators and fascism following the Second World War. The division between Ralph and Jack highlights the gulf between good and evil, two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate. Jacks role symbolises fallen mankind, degenerating as the novel progresses into ultimate sin and savagery. Ralph also becomes aware of the darkness of mans heart. Ralphs failure to maintain democracy symbolises mankinds failure to deal with our own sinful natures. Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of mans heart and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.

The Urban Legend of the Backseat Murderer Essay -- Urban Legends Ghost

The Backseat Murderer A good urban legend is like a good movie. It unfolds perfectly and it appeals to the audience’s hopes, fears, and anxieties. The urban legend I am about to describe was told by a first year female biology major at the University. She is of Indian descent and both her parents work in the biotechnology field. I collected this story on a Sunday night in the dorm. The fact that it was nighttime helped create the proper mood for the story. It was told in a dimly lit dorm room. The story was told with an eerie tone of voice, with emphasis and excitement during certain parts. The final part of the story was told in a mysterious fashion, which helped with the delivery of the ending. I heard this story a while ago from a friend. It starts out with a woman who is driving late at night in the middle of nowhere, trying to get home from a long road trip. She is exhausted and is having trouble staying awake and paying attention to the road. Next, the â€Å"low gas† light on her car comes on and the car needs gas. The woman doesn’t know where the nearest town or gas station is, but she keeps driving. Eventually she comes upon an old rundown gas station. She doesn’t want to stop there since it’s so quiet and she feels unsafe, but the car needs gas so she decides to pull in. An attendant walks out to help fill her car up with gas. He is very shady looking and creeps her out. She did not like the whole situation at all and felt very uncomfortable. As soon as he is done filling her car with gas, she pays him. Next, the attendant tells her he needs to talk to her inside. She refuses, but he keeps on insisting that it is very important. When she r efuses again, he grabs her arm in an attempt to get her to come inside, but the wo... ...er. She is unwilling to obey his requests. This shows society’s view of strangers and how they should not be trusted. However, the fact that she did not trust the stranger led to her ultimate demise. The overt moral of this story is don’t be quick in judging someone that you don’t know, they may be trying to help you. Works Cited Brunvand, Jan Harold. Too Good To Be True. New York: W. W. Norton, 1999. (pp. 97-100). Joyce, Darrel A. â€Å"Modern Folklore: Cybermythology in Western Culture†. The AnthroGlove Journal. http://www.anthroglobe.ca/docs/cybermythology.htm Mikkelsen, Barbara. â€Å"The Killer in the Backseat†. Urban Legends Reference Pages. http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/backseat.htm Smith, Paul. The Book of Nasty Legends. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1983. (pp. 95-96). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. http://www.wikipedia.org.

Philosophy of Health Education

The world that we know today has come a long way since the 1900’s. If we think about the number of philosophers and psychologists that have made discoveries and hypothesis about the things around them in connection with their ideals, principals and values, we can all clearly explain that the world is ever changing as a result of holistic approaches and expression of intelligence. With this being said, it is with certainty that I believe in the idealism philosophy. Life is about knowledge. Life encompasses internal meaning and spiritual reality. Humans exhibit this knowledge through internal thoughts of the world around them. All humans are born with an inner-good. The inner good can take something so ordinary and boring and turn it into spectacular ideals. In life, it is important to hold values, education, spirituality and creativity in the highest regard. The most valuable of these characteristics is that of education and spirituality. Holding these two characteristics of utmost importance can enable in human being to think outside the box of life itself and make all things possible. With education, one can learn and collectively approach life with understanding and competence. With spirituality, one can connect themselves with something with bigger meaning and create values. I believe that seeing everything in this world as something more than what it is in plain sight creates an attitude and understanding that is so powerful and meaningful that nothing can stop you. I believe that knowledge is the most powerful weapon in the world. Holding this near and dear to my heart I believe that anything is possible and there is nothing or no one that can stop you from learning and believing. The purpose of life is to gain knowledge and turn that knowledge into something extraordinary. It is about letting our minds take control and create something new. Life is meant to be about discovery and meaningful experiences especially with the people around us. In relation to my personal philosophy of life, health is very similar. Dictionary. com defines health as, â€Å"the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor: good health; poor health†. In my own words and thoughts, I think a large portion of health encompasses a certain emphasis on the mind and well being as a result of good mental health. This is all made possible though health education. However, health education does have to include all dimensions of wellness; emotional, occupational, physical, spiritual, intellectual and social. With this knowledge of health and utilizing all six dimensions of wellness each individual can successfully place their self on the wellness continuum. The wellness continuum is very simple. When you have signs or symptoms of bad health, you are placed on the side of bad health with a treatment plan. However, if you are aware of your health, continue your education on your health and look forward to growth, you are placed on the good health side. It all begins with health education; a learning opportunity to see the dangers one can face that can negatively affect their health and the positive choices one can make that can prolong their life expectancy. The purpose of health is self promotion, well-being. Health is a life of knowledge, spiritual and social connections intertwined with well being that creates a long, prosperous journey. Health education in my own words is the knowledge about personal well-being, physically, mentally and socially that encompasses a number of philosophies to truly exhibit understanding. The predominate health education philosophies are behavior change, cognitive-based, decision-making, freeing and functioning and social change. All five of these philosophies should closely be tied into health education. Wikipedia defines health education as â€Å"the profession of educating people about health. [1] Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health. 2] It can be defined as the principle by which individuals and groups of people learn to behave in a manner conducive to the promotion, maintenance, or restoration of health†. Being an idealist, with an emphasis on knowledge and the mind, I think health education is of major importance. Giving people the knowledge about good health, best practices and an understanding of why it is so important to take care of ourselves is of significant importance. With this knowledge of health education, people are able to ration ally think about the choices they make that can affect their health, good or bad. The benefits of health education are endless. People living longer, healthier, happier lives are just one of many benefits of health education. In my mind, especially as an idealist, there are no limitations to health education. Our minds are endless when it comes to creativity and with that being said; there is nothing that cannot be solved using a little creativity and healthy thinking power. However, this is only possible when we carry out all aspects of health education, from understanding and teaching the back lying hilosophies, to the predominate health education philosophies and the dimensions of wellness and everything they encompass can this take place. When society meets the ongoing goals and objectives facing health issues now and creates new goals and objectives, we know that we are achieving positive health education. Health education is ever changing and new health issues are always arising; it is overcoming these issues and setting out a template to take on the next is sues that keep our society moving in the right direction towards positive health. The purpose of health education is to promote positive life experiences, touching all dimensions of wellness. Health education creates healthy people who in return create healthy communities that stand together and fight for healthier lifestyles. A person is well educated if health education when they can describe what health is by notion of philosophies and all aspects of life that health effects. This person can also describe current health issues and can create a solution to help fix the heath issues. References Cohen, LeoNora M. 1999). Section III- Philosophical Perspectives in Education. OSU- School of Education, Section II.Retrieved from http://oregonstate. edu/instruct/ed416/ PP2. html Six Dimensions of Wellness Model (2011). National Wellness Institute.Retrieved from http://www. nationalwellness. org/index. php? id_tier=2&id_c=25 Works Cited Health Education. (2011). WikipediaRetrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org /wiki/Health_education Health. (2011). Dictionary. com. Retr ieved from http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/health

Augustines Concept of Politics Essay - 2417 Words

Augustines Concept of Politics For Augustine, political life is a necessary evil. Why is it evil and why is it necessary? How then, does his claim influence his political theory? Introduction It is probably prudent to begin by discussing some of the fundamental beliefs of St. Augustine in order to better tackle the question. We must remember that St. Augustine is first and foremost a theologian, and thus his beliefs are firmly rooted in the teachings of Christianity. He accepted the doctrine of the Bible, i.e. the world and everything in it was created by God. Men were initially living in relationship with God, but after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they `fell, and effectively condemned their genealogy with the†¦show more content†¦This is not only due to our limited ability of reasoning, but also due to our weak and distorted will that often overrides our reason. Since we are unable to live by perfect reasoning, we are unable to rationally perfect ourselves in a perfect historical city/state. Finally, Augustine states that peace and harmony are the foremost desires of the human heart; however, the `grip of destructive impulses and passions in the human heart prevents the establishment of such order. Furthermore, God is punishing Mans original sin by making human life in this world penal. Man is unable to achieve perfect peace, which can only be found in Augustines City of God, a divine city to be ruled by God after Jesus second coming. Augustines Interpretation of the State Augustine believes that the State exists as a consequence and a manifestation of sin. It is unlike the Aristotelian and Platonian definition of the state, which is naturally part of human life; or a natural forum for the development and expression of the human character. 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