To what extent can Lord of the Flies be considered a Marxist piece Free Essays

string(208) " savage aspects are an inherent part of man’s nature \(there is an overriding will to survive in humans\) nevertheless in most instances this is suppressed to acceptable levels by the mores of society\." Lord of the Flies centres on a group of boys stranded on a tropical island when their plane crashes en route from England to Australia as part of an evacuation during an atomic war (hypothetical war.) The story is essentially an allegorical tale of the innate evil of man – good versus evil. Of the book, Golding said that he wrote it to illustrate how political systems cannot govern society effectively unless they take into consideration the inherent defects of human nature. We will write a custom essay sample on To what extent can Lord of the Flies be considered a Marxist piece? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Marxism is seen as the development from an oppressive capitalist society to an equal and classless society. Golding tries to set a utopian world within the island devoid of adult, societal constraints but in the end the innate animal characteristics of man come to the fore. Golding based his story on the 19th century novel ‘The Coral Island’ written by R M Ballantyne. Whereas Ballantyne’s novel, an adventure story of three boys stranded on a desert island, was optimistic, Golding’s is terrifyingly pessimistic. The novel was written shortly after World War II , in the early days of the Cold War when paranoia about communism was at its height. In the early 1950s many people were accused, often falsely, of being communists (the McCarthy era in the USA at this time is a good example of this.) It is within this context that Golding wrote Lord of the Flies. The battles between Ralph and Jack, the struggles between the Conch group and the Savages and above all the fight of good versus evil, originate in a degree of paranoia typical of the era in which the novel was written. Lord of the Flies’ reflects elements of Golding’s own life – his experiences during the war made him second guess the traditionally held belief that while society might be evil, man was inherently good. Golding had witnessed the evil in man, not just in the enemy but in his own allies (he was on the ship that sank the German ship Bismarck.) Golding said in his essay ‘Fable’ – originally given as part of a lecture series in 1962 – â€Å"My book was to say: you think that now the war is over and an evil thing destroyed, you are safe because you are naturally kind and decent. But I know why the thing rose in Germany. I know it could happen in any country. It could happen here.† The breakdown of order and discipline is prominent throughout the novel. This idea was drawn from Golding’s experiences as a school master (his father was also a school teacher.) Golding taught in an English public school so much of his insight was drawn largely from this. Golding felt that at the time, the education system lacked a balance between discipline and creative freedom. By placing the boys on an island without adults, free from the constraints of society, he allows the boys freedom to indulge their desires and impulses. But by setting the story in a tropical paradise, Golding allowed the boys’ downfall to come not through a basic struggle for survival but instead from within themselves and commented â€Å"If disaster came, it was not to come through the exploitation of one class by another. It was to rise, simply and solely, out of the nature of the brute . . . . . the only enemy of man is inside him.† (Fable, 1962.) Golding uses the varied characters in the novel to symbolise the varying degrees of savagery exhibited by man and their rift with organised civilisation. For example, Piggy demands that the boys stay within the parameters of organised society – his frequent references to his ‘auntie’ represent the only adult voice throughout much of the novel. Jack, on the other hand, is more interested in satisfying his own desires and is of the belief ‘if it’s fun, do it.’ Ralph, however, is caught somewhere between the extremes exhibited by Piggy and Jack. It is in the clashes between Ralph and Jack that the conflict between a civilised society and a savage one are dramatised and it is in their differing attitudes towards authority that these differences in ideology are portrayed. Ralph is eager to establish order – using the conch to assemble the boys – and although as Golding says â€Å"what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy while the most obvious leader was Jack† it is Ralph who is chosen as the ‘chief.’ There is something about Ralph that has set him apart from the others, an innate quality; but it is his hold on the conch that seems to determine his election as leader of the group. The conch symbolises the old, established adult order the boys had been used to – it represents the rules and regulations or law and order of civilised society. Ralph is representative of government and authority and uses his own authority as chief to try and establish rules (for example, you can only speak if you are holding the conch) which are for the good of the group as a whole – he strives to enforce the moral rules of the society they are stranded from. Jack is the antithesis of this – seeking to gain control of the boys to satisfy his basic instincts (Ralph in fact recognising Jack’s disappointment at not being chosen as leader is consolatory in announcing that Jack is in charge of the choir or ‘hunters’ as they quickly become.) Jack’s shift or decline towards savagery is marked throughout the novel. In the early chapters, his eagerness for killing pigs is really a show of bravery but is intertwined with the need to obtain food for the group. In this sense, Jack conforms to society’s rules. It is only later in the novel when Jack no longer recognises Ralph’s authority and forms his own splinter group with the hunters that Golding shows the reader Jack’s true and more dangerous character. In this way, Golding is able to highlight the fact that to a degree certain savage aspects are an inherent part of man’s nature (there is an overriding will to survive in humans) neverth eless in most instances this is suppressed to acceptable levels by the mores of society. You read "To what extent can Lord of the Flies be considered a Marxist piece?" in category "Papers" Golding himself does not see the novel as a Marxist piece, but as an illustration of â€Å"the darkness of man’s heart†. Whilst the novel wasn’t about class differences, Golding cleverly uses the language of the boys to highlight the fact there are indeed differences. For example at the beginning of Chapter 1 when Ralph meets Piggy and he asks â€Å". . . What’s your father?† When responding Piggy asks â€Å"When’ll your dad rescue us?† Alternate explanations from critics seem to come to the conclusion that the events of the novel were a result of circumstance and not of the evil within man. But Golding dismisses the idea that the actions of the boys were not inevitable. He suggests that the violence occurs â€Å"simply and solely out of the nature of the brute.† Modern critics will argue that the meaning of the text is individual to each reader. â€Å"I no longer believe that the author has a sort of patria potestas over his brainchildren. Once they are printed they have reached their majority and the author has no more authority over them, knows no more about them, perhaps knows less about them than the critic who comes fresh to them, and sees them not as the author hoped they would be, but as what they are† (Golding, Fable) Golding is suggesting that the meaning of a text is not always governed by the author, so although he clearly did not intend for â€Å"Lord of the Flies† to be a Marxist piece, it could be argued that it has become one. It could be argued that given Golding’s life experiences and his father’s influence, this was inevitable. Roger’s sadistic manner was only stopped by the taboos and laws of society, but without these constraints he is unable to unleash the â€Å"id† that is caged by society, but is a demonic feature of the human psyche. In the chapter ‘Painted Faces and Long Hair’ Roger is seen along with Maurice to destroy the ‘Littluns’ castle. Then Roger throws stones at Henry, although deliberately misses – in this sense his action is controlled by the presence of the rules of society. Later in ‘Castle Rock’ Roger, feeling that all aspects of civilised society have disappeared is now free of the constraints imposed by society and so unleashes his true savagery by throwing a stone at Piggy – this time deliberately aimed to harm. It can be argued that Golding uses Roger, who becomes the epitome of savage when he murders Piggy, to embody the central theme of the novel. The conflict between desire and moral obligation is a central theme of the novel. Golding uses the different personalities of the boys to indicate the varied degrees of savagery that humans demonstrate. Piggy juxtaposes Roger as he exhibits no animalistic qualities and adheres to society’s rules. Golding expresses that this vehemence is a more natural aspect of human behaviour and that civilization forces compassion onto us rather than it being a natural human instinct. Even the naval officer recognises that the boys have become out of control – his comment to Ralph that they might have been able to â€Å"put up a better show than that . . . â€Å"illustrates this; Ralph recognises that in the beginning they were a cohesive group, a society. The signal fire’s purpose is to hopefully attract the attention of a passing ship so that the boys may be saved. Metaphorically, indicates how savage the boys have become and how far they have moved away from socially acceptable behaviour. The boys start the fire using Piggy’s glasses in an attempt to be rescued .This suggests that they still long for the order of civilisation. As the fire diminishes, we notice decay in the moral obligations the boys feel and they become more savage. The signal fire allows the reader to gauge how much of society is left on the island. Golding uses dramatic irony at the end of the novel when the officer arrives on the island. Ironically the fire is the antithesis of society at this point in the novel; it has now become a metaphor for the ferocity that man is capable of. The boys ask for some sign of the beast – the sign sent by the grown-ups is the dead parachutist; the beast is a dead pilot – Golding uses this to signify the chaos of an adult world at war. In chapter 5, Simon says â€Å"What I mean is†¦ maybe it’s only us†. Simon suggests that â€Å"the beastie† is just a creation of the boys. It is the fear of the unknown that brings the beast to life. Simon’s idea is one that links with Golding’s views of humanity’s savagery. Simon is the only boy on the island who does not abandon his morals, but he is savagely killed when he tries to help the rest of the boys. Simon’s morality is overwhelmed by the other boy’s amorality, so while Golding does not claim that mankind doesn’t exhibit kindness, he does make the point that it is powerless when the rest of the world is evil. The island is a microcosm of society, and the boys represent different political ideologies. Ralph represents democracy, whilst Jack, with his symbolic red hair, represents communism. The boy’s influence on the island itself can also be seen as a metaphor for human corruption of the planet. The forest scar created by the crashing plane symbolises the encroachment of corrupt civilisation onto the island. NOTES â€Å"What makes things break up like they do?† is the poignant question Piggy asks Ralph. Golding himself blames the breakdown of the island’s democracy on the innate greed and ferocity that is an occupational hazard of being human. In a lecture at the University of California in 1962 he said â€Å"So the boys try to construct a civilization on the island; but it breaks down in blood and terror because the boys are suffering from the terrible disease of being human†. The fire is diatronically opposed to hunting which is the activity of anarchy. Ralph portrays democracy and the role of government in any modern society. He strives to satisfy the demands of the public at large but recognises that certain rules of behaviour must be followed in order to prevent anarchy. Anarchy eventually defeats order – Golding believed that government is ineffective in keeping people together. No matter how logical or reasonable government is, it will in the end give way to anarchical demands of the public. How to cite To what extent can Lord of the Flies be considered a Marxist piece?, Papers

Culture of America During the 1920s free essay sample

This Great War destroyed the beliefs of Americans on reform and self righteousness. During the 1920’s the Americans began to grow out of the influence of Europe and create their own culture to become their own people. This newly developed culture expressed more freedom and changed the ways of life for many people. There was more time for leisure activities. They called themselves the â€Å"Americans. † Education, one part of this new change, improved greatly during this time period. Before the 1920’s, there were 1 million student enrolled in high school. High schools catered to college bound students and there was more focus on the lower levels such as the elementary grades. There was a limited variety of courses you can take in school. The number of immigrants increased to 1 million immigrants and school costs doubled. During the 1920’s, there was a significant increase in the students enrolled, from 1 million to 4 million. There was more of a broad range of courses developing, such as, vocational training for those interested in industrial jobs. Trades and industrial education was promoted in the city while agricultural education was promoted in rural areas. The number of immigrants increased significantly as more people arrived to America. There were a total of 2-4 million immigrants and the immigrant children filled the city classrooms. However, they did not have the capability to speak English which put teachers in a predicament. In 1926, the school costs doubled again to 2. 7 billion a year. Education became a more important part of a person’s life. Popular culture in the 1920’s was developing as more people had higher wages ($5 a day) and therefore more leisure time. Radios and magazines became increasingly popular. Radios became the most powerful communications medium. Before, radios were only used for important messages and speeches about World War I, but during the 1920’s, radios increasingly became more commonly used for news, entertainment, and even advertisements. By 1930, 40% of the U. S. owned a radio. As for magazines, mass circulations magazines flourished. Magazines would summarize the week’s news, both foreign and domestic. By the end of the 1920’s, there were 10 magazine companies which sold 2 million copies each, including the â€Å"Reader’s Digest,† and the â€Å"Time. Sports stars gained widely fame and were glorified as â€Å"superheroes of the media. † Athletes, such as, Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim on the English Channel, Andrew â€Å"Rube† Foster, the â€Å"Father of Black Baseball,† who founded the first Negro National League, and Babe Ruth, a legendary hitter for the â€Å"New York Yankees,† gained massive popularity. Movies were the most popular leisure activity during this period. Students would go enjoy a movie after school and watch productions like â€Å"The Jazz Singer,† and â€Å"Steamboat Willie,† which was the first animated film with sound. As for music, black people expressed their culture through jazz, thus, creating the Jazz Age. Jazz flourished and gained widespread appeal with its improvisational and spontaneous characteristics. Among the famous jazz musicians were Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, a self taught jazz composer, and Bessie Smith, a female blues singer. As popular culture became increasingly popular, so was the sense of rebellion of the youth. The people became more â€Å"loose† and lost sight of self-righteousness and morality of things. During this time period, there was a certain restlessness of the people and a lack of respect for the moral restrictions and laws. The youth, especially the college students, challenged the traditional beliefs of proper behavior by rebelling against their restrictions. They would throw wild parties, drink illegally, and commonly had premarital sex. Sex became less of a taboo than before, thus, became more openly spoken in public. Males wore less stuffy clothing and tried to look younger. Soon, the older generations adopted the youth’s social changes. As Prohibition was enforced in 1920, the lack of respect for the law increased. This Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the manufacturing, selling, and transporting of alcoholic beverages. This amendment, however, faced great opposition by cities all over America and caused the formation of bootleggers, who would smuggle in liquor illegally, and speakeasies, an illegal drinking joint. However, 81% of Americans believed that prohibition caused worse damages than the initial problem. Gangs arose, such as, Al Capone. The women went through a big change in terms of their social and political life. Women changed their fashions drastically more than men. They wore shorter skirts and had shorter hair. The flapper, a symbol of a fashionable, pleasure seeking woman of the decade, represented the rebelliousness of this period. A flapper had a tomboyish look with short bobbed hair, knee-length skirts, and rolled stockings. More women enjoyed the freedom to smoke and drink in public and the freedom to get jobs. Women wanted jobs as nurses, teachers, or librarians. More women went to college and got their education. Back at home, the wife had more power in the household than before and there was more equality between the husband and wife. The wife would not be as dependant on their husbands anymore. As America tried to get away from European influence and â€Å"drama,† they created a new culture for themselves which represented a period of more freedom and also rebellion. This newly found culture produced a significant change in the people’s social and political lives. As people had more leisure time, popular culture developed, where the people were able to enjoy and spend their time with sports, music, literature, and movies. This popular culture became widely influenced. Although there was a positive change in culture, there was also this tension as a new part became added to it. A sense of rebellion among the youth was established, which was later adopted by older generations also. As Prohibition was enforced, more people developed this lack of respect for morals and the law. Also, women went through drastic changes as they created an outrageous fashion and as they developed a desire for more freedom. They were able to do things, such as, get jobs, openly talk about sex, smoke, and drink. America’s own sense of pride was established as a result of trying to become their â€Å"own people. †

Shakespeare Hamlet

Introduction The play Hamlet depicts a tragedy written by the author in the period between 1599 and 1601 (Shmoop 1). The story of the play is about the prince Hamlet whose father was the king of Denmark. The king was murdered by Hamlet’s uncle Claudius who also married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude. The play is centered on Hamlet’s anxiety and indecision on how to avenge his father’s death.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare: Hamlet specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Following his father’s death news emerges of a ghost that roams the castles battlements that looks a lot like the dead king. Hamlet hurries to meet the ghost and receives news that his father was murdered by Claudius who poisoned him while he was sleeping (Shmoop 3). The ghost orders young Hamlet to remember him through seeking revenge for his untimely death. In response to this, Hamlet devises a plan to act like a madman while scheming to avenge his father’s death. With the intention of ascertaining whether the ghost is telling the truth, Hamlet decides to make a play in which a king is murdered in the exact fashion his father was killed. As he continues with the preparations he often plays the madman throwing wild accusations to all women. He even suggests committing suicide in a speech to further convince his audience of his insanity (Shmoop 3). Upon watching the play his uncle admits guilt for the crime and Hamlet decides to kill him to avenge his father’s death (Shmoop 5). The scene that is the subject of this report refers to a scene in the play that takes place at the graveyard following the death of Ophelia (Shmoop 23). In this scene the author depicts Hamlet’s observations on life from the perspective of the grave. In light of the events that unfold at the graveyard Hamlet encounters the skull of a childhood accomplice and is forced to stare death in the face as he reminisces on his childhood. It may even be argued that events that surround the scene play a significant role in the actions that preceded it and those that will follow. In this report an analysis will be presented of this scene and how it was affected by previous actions and how it affects scenes that follow in the play. Discussion As it has been mentioned the scene in the graveyard is the result of the death of Ophelia. In earlier scenes of the play we are introduced to Ophelia who is a sister to a young lord known as Laertes (Shmoop 7). The images in this scene indicate a strong relationship to what preceded due to the fact that the young lady’s death was the result of an accident that resulting from hamlet’s plot in the play. It has been established that the murder of her father that prompted her suicide was an accident as hamlet intended to murder King Claudius. It appears that Ophelia’s adamant position following her brother’s censure and fathe r’s advice may have prompted her hasty decision to take her own life (Shmoop 7). This point is based on evidence of her father’s address following his intervention on a discussion between Ophelia and her brother.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is therefore possible to assume that her disappointment overwhelmed her given that both her loved ones had warned her about hamlet. Her eventual suicide that leads to the scene at the grave suggests she possibly held herself responsible for the death of her father and was tormented by guilt. This supposed guilt appears to emanate from the scene when Hamlet begins his plan to act mad and bursts into Ophelia’s room startling her in his disheveled state (Shmoop 9). In the confusion Hamlet grabs Ophelia by the wrist and appears to express frustration over love for her. In this scene it is suggested that the young lady w as taken by feelings of love suggested by hamlet. It is evident given that both the father and daughter are both convinced by this display and appear to reconsider their judgment (Shmoop 9). The graveyard scene further draws reminders to the bond between Ophelia and her father given her repeated assurances of her fidelity. The eventual suicide draws us to conclude on the bond between the two that the death of her father so seriously affected. At this point it is wise to note the accident that leads to the scene in the grave is the result of a failed murder attempt as hamlet finds the King deep in prayer. (Miller Shakespeare 8). Hamlet is then forced to reconsider his plan and makes a hasty decision to hold on a while before completing his mission. Following the reconsideration the King instructs his wife to meet hamlet. It was during the meeting that accidentally hamlet stabs Polonius and prompts Ophelia’s death (Miller Shakespeare 8). Based on the events in this scene it i s clear to see the significant role they play in the drama as a series of events unfold soon after. Without the events depicted in this accident scene it is unlikely the graveyard scene would have been included in the play. The graveyard scene also has a major impact on the events that follow in the play as is seen in the delivery of the news of Polonius death by Gertrude. In the events immediately after receiving news of her father’s death and Hamlets departure Ophelia goes insane and commits suicide. The news of Ophelia’s death is presented to Laertes by Gertrude as an accident but it later emerges that it appears to have been a suicide (Shmoop 23). It may be suggested that these attempts to shroud the news further aggravate the situation. Already angry her brother promises to revenge the murder and a match to facilitate the murder of hamlet is arranged (Miller Shakespeare 8). This anger and plans for revenge are all made to appear useless in the graveyard scene whi ch depicts how valueless life becomes after death. Hamlet is shown a head of an old acquaintance and realizes how little value life has after death.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare: Hamlet specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The question of life after death becomes evident as Hamlets sees the gravediggers throw up two skulls as they dig and ponders on the lives of these men. He is astounded by the fact that a man’s life and work come to the exact same thing upon conclusion, nothing (Shmoop 23). It would appear that Hamlet in fact questions the purpose behind his quest given the nature of treatment the dead receive. However, the anger that precedes this scene has already set in motion events that hamlet can no longer avoid. It would appear the author is throwing a question to the viewer and the scene acts as evidence of the futility of life pursuits. This appears to be depicted when hamlet collect s a skull handed to him by the grave digger and is informed the skull belonged to a childhood friend of his father. He remembers the good times he had with him as a child and is astounded by the events that surround death (Shmoop 23). As already mentioned the anger that precedes the scene plays a major role in the events that follow as Hamlet and Horatio happen upon the grief stricken Laertes and a fight almost ensues (Miller Shakespeare 8). With Laertes seeking revenge hamlet is left in a position where he must fight to save his own life and avenge his father’s death (Miller Shakespeare 8). This is a position that occurs only as a result of the events just before the graveyard scene. In this duel that now must follow both Hamlet and Laertes are mortally wounded. In the process, Hamlet’s mother also dies after mistakenly drinking from a poisoned cup meant for Hamlet (Miller Shakespeare 8). These deaths all appear the result of events that precede the graveyard scene . In addition to that Hamlet manages to murder King Claudius and avenge his father’s death. The grave yard scene for this reason appears to play a pivotal role in the play. This is based on the fact that the entire beginning of the play has scenes that direct us toward the scene at the grave and the death of Ophelia. At the same time the entire play after the graveyard scene is the result of the events that must come to be based on the anger and betrayal that are caused prior to Ophelia’s death. However, it is worth noting that despite these events Hamlet manages to name a successor and is buried with dignity. This can also be related to the grave yard scene given that a decent burial was among the things Hamlet sought when he began to plot revenge. Works Cited Miller, Joanne K. and William Shakespeare. Hamlet. Printed in the USA, Research Education Association, 2002. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Shmoop. Hamlet. Printed in the USA, Shmoop University Inc., 2010. Print. This essay on Shakespeare: Hamlet was written and submitted by user Johanna J. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Review of Online Learning Platform Instructure Canvas

Review of Online Learning Platform Instructure Canvas Canvas Instructure is an online learning platform that allows students to integrate their accounts with social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. It is one of the top online learning platforms available. Best of all,  students and instructors acting individually (not subscribing  as  an entire school) can use the program for free. Canvas offers some unique  Web 2.0  features. However, Canvas Instructures best attribute is its ability to convey information intuitively. Canvas Instructure makes it easy for students and instructors to navigate the well-designed site. The platform isnt without its faults, but overall, Canvas Instructure simply feels better to use than most other online learning platforms. Using Canvas Instructure as an Instructor Canvas Instructure solves a lot of problems for instructors. For example, it allows assignments to be quickly created from several places on the website. Information about each assignment is automatically parsed into the course calendar, syllabus, or grade book without any additional action from the instructor. Grading is simple and weighted grades can be created with ease. A speed grader allows instructors to grade more quickly and without the dreaded load time that many other learning platforms require. Using Canvas Instructure as a Student Students can keep track of their progress in the class, complete assignments, and participate in discussions with ease. The grade book allows students to see both their grades for individual assignments and their overall grade. Students can even enter in alternative scores for assignments to project how their overall grade would be impacted by a higher or lower score. They can choose to connect their accounts to multiple email addresses, text-receiving phone numbers, and social media pages. Drawbacks fo Canvas Instructure Canvas Instructure does have a few drawbacks. The platform was  known to be a bit buggy, and edits sometimes changed back to older versions of a document. Occasionally, the system does something unexpected and leaves instructors worrying about how to fix the problem. Most instructors rely on the dependability of their online learning platform and little issues can end up making a big difference. It would also be helpful if modules could be viewed on stand-alone pages and could be included in the design-your-own front page. Pros and Cons It may be helpful to view a quick guide to the pros and cons of Canvas Instructure Web 2.0, as well as the programs overall features: Basic Information: Its an online learning management system.It offers Web 2.0 integration.It is free to use for individuals. Pros It has an intuitive, easy-to-use formatThe design is clean and simple.It makes grading and viewing grades easy.It offers easy social media integration. Cons The site can be a bit buggyThere is no simple way to add one-sentence reading assignments to a calendar.It is not easy to find online information on how to use the platform. Overall, Canvas Instructures Web 2.0 platform allows for real-time collaboration through a variety of social media platforms such as blogs, Google apps (such as Google Docs), and even via smartphones.

Advantages Of Vegetarian Diet Biology Essay

Advantages Of Vegetarian Diet Biology Essay Vegetarian diet, in the last twenty years, has become a way of life for millions of people around the world. This paper, based on secondary research, describes history and discusses aspects of vegetarian diet. Particularly, three aspects are mentioned, including a brief history of vegetarianism, benefits and drawbacks of vegetarian diet. The findings of this research indicate that vegetarian diet has positive impacts to health, environment and animal life; however, it also brings negative effects such as nutritional deficiencies and changing in lifestyle. Overall, based on the findings, the paper draws conclusion that vegetarians should build a balanced diet to keep a healthy body. Introduction Albert Einstein was a vegetarian in the last years of his life, in the letter written to Hans Muehsam on March 30 1954, he wrote: â€Å"So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivoreâ €  and vegetarian diet is believed that to be good for health. Vegetarianism, as stated in ‘Medical Dictionary Online’, â€Å"the voluntary abstinence from eating meat† and the term â€Å"vegetarian† is used to show diets that include essential plant foods and avoid animal foods. According to the Vegetarianism (Uttara, 2011), there are five main kinds of vegetarian diet: lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (includes eggs, honey, dairy products and plant foods), lacto vegetarian diet (includes honey, dairy products and plant foods), ovo vegetarian diet (includes eggs, honey and plant foods), vegan diet (includes only plant foods) and fruitarian diet (includes fruits, nuts and seeds). There are many kinds of vegetarian now that vegetarianism becomes more and more popular in over the world. A recent study (Thich 2007) found that from 1970, the number of vegetarians increases about 30%. The survey of The Vegetarian Times in the State of Illinois in the United States in 1992 among 12.4 million people, there were 8 million vegetarians. In Vietnam, W&S Company about research information online made a quick survey on 659 people in August, 2012, as a result, the popularity of vegetarians accounted for 59%. The reason why the number of vegetarians is increasing is that they believe vegetarian diet helps prevent them from diseases such as obesity, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease and other diseases. However, vegetarian diets also bring us some of drawbacks. Thus, this paper updates a brief history of vegetarianism and discusses about some advantages and disadvantages of vegetarian diet. 2. Discussion of finding 2.1. A brief history of vegetarianism According to Wikipedia, based on the earliest documents, historical development of vegetarianism started at the 6th century BC in ancient India and ancient Greece. The diet was closely hooked up to the idea of unharmed animals and was encouraged by religious groups and philosophers in both insta nces. During the ancient time, vegetarian diet was sprawled along over India, South East Asia and other areas, the overwhelming majority of vegetarians were Hindu, Jain and Buddhist. Nordqvist (2004) stated that â€Å"The conversion to Christianity of the Roman Empire virtually eliminated all traces of vegetarianism from Europe†. To the  Renaissance, vegetarianism re-emerged and became more popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. Spencer pointed out that the Vegetarian Society was first set up in England in 1847 and German, Netherlands and other European countries followed equivalent societies. The establishment of the International Vegetarian Union in 1908 made the wide development of vegetarian in Europe. Many people have changed their lifestyle by selecting vegetarian diet because of the rise in health consciousness (Null, 1996). The number of vegetarians keeps rising although it is small in comparison to the citizens in the world.

Oppurtunity Cost Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Oppurtunity Cost - Term Paper Example The articles also indicate how the country has decreased revenue generated from local consumption. The change in energy sources are triggered by the fact that most of the countries are embracing green energy and attributes to the future benefits the energy could have to the environment (196). The environmental benefits according to the article are of environmental benefits are far more important than economic benefits. The country has two energy alternatives. The choice to use renewal energy rather than the natural oil and gas are based on environmental factors rather than the economical value. The natural oil contributed largely to the national income. The country being among the largest producers of oil, the government’s decision to cut off their second largest source of revenue and invest on other sources indicates how choices where triggered by other factors. The decision has nothing t do with the economic benefit but the environmental factors. The decision is triggered by the world millennium development goals. The initial investments may be high and the country may take a longer period to realize the economical benefit to their planned investment. New infrastructure could consume half of the revenue invested by the government towards the sector. Choosing the option would mean that the governments revenue on oil and natural would dwindle. The country depends on agriculture and oil export to contribute to the national revenue. The elimination of natural oil will mean that the country depend mostly on agriculture as their main economic activity. The national expenditure will increase meaning resources allocated to national development. This means their opportunity cost would be the revenue collected from the renewable energy subtracted from the income that would otherwise be collected from exports of natural oil and gas. The result is the sacrifice foregone by the government to ensure a sustainable environment. The new investment

An Ideal Classroom in an Ideal School Assignment

An Ideal Classroom in an Ideal School - Assignment Example The paper will then discuss Stewart’s ideas about the purpose of effective systems of schools with regards to bringing about high quality education to all children, relating this to what obtains in Nigeria and considering how the existing system compares to the designed ideal classroom in an ideal school.  Tthe paper presents ethics and ideologies around the designed effective systems in an ideal school and classroom, in addition to its underlying principles, highlighting the key features and values that underpin the belief in effective systems in schools. The will also consider innovations to be considered by educators, governments in order to improve their systems. Finally there will be a presentation of succinct statements with a summary of the proposal.  This discussion highlights that  the justification of what forms part of the curriculum has its connectivity to the school system that is purposeful, practical and handy, designed to positively impact the existence o f an all-inclusive learner. Stewart believes in visiting schools because they act as microcosms of the nearby society. He also held the conviction that one can understand the past struggles, current tensions besides glimpsing an immense hope of what is in store for them. This paper agrees that it is this strong assertion that provides a driving force and desire of parents from both economic spheres as well as the government for children to get a good school. What comes to mind is what constitutes a good school.