Saturday, October 5, 2019

Cultural Relativism and Improving the Lives of Women Essay

Cultural Relativism and Improving the Lives of Women - Essay Example However, as demonstrated by the overwhelming number of reservations to CEDAW there is an underlying reluctance to part with social and cultural traditions.4 This study assesses the problem of cultural relativism as a barrier to improving the lives of women by reference to the weakness of the implementation and enforcement mechanisms of CEDAW. Cultural relativism takes the position that there is no universally accepted standard for judging all cultures. This is especially unfair to feminists who attempt to draw attention to all forms of gender discrimination and oppression among diverse cultures.5 Cultural relativism is characterized as a â€Å"doctrine† that recognizes that there are some moral codes and social institutions are different and are â€Å"exempt from legitimate criticism by outsiders† and such a doctrine is â€Å"supported by notions of communal autonomy and self-determination†.6 There are two diametrically opposed views on cultural relativism. One view is referred to as radical cultural relativism and this view holds that culture provides the only validity for proffering a moral rule. The other view is radical universalism which takes the position that culture is not relevant for validating moral rules because they are â€Å"universally valid†.7 †¦people are categorized and identified by social identity, especially as it is expressed in religious, ethnic, or tribal terms. These group-based identities often help determine our position in the social and political hierarchy of a society and also condition people’s attitudes and perceptions toward us as we go about our daily business.8 For a number of women, they derive their respective identities from their experiences within specific settings that are dominated by males. Even so, the way that they perceive themselves emanates from how women are treated and quite often they confront levels of discriminatory treatment within their social settings.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Why every child should attend all-day kindergarten Essay

Why every child should attend all-day kindergarten - Essay Example There is immense importance which is given to this subject. The basis is backed up with sufficient data and research which goes a long in establishing the fact that child development indeed owes a lot of attributes on the part of the people who are related with the child – the parents and/or its guardians. Having said that, it is also imperative to understand that children need training and education even from a very small age and this is just similar to the love and care that its parents provide day in day out. The aspects of love and training at the same time holds true for their balanced bringing up regime and this without a shadow of a doubt is a significant thing to comprehend in the related discussion. Now we move further ahead and pinpoint our essay on the issue of whether a child should attend an all-day kindergarten or not? The answer to this question is in the affirmative as the parents have to comprehend that admitting a child in an all-day kindergarten is for their own good as well as for their young ones. The kids start learning from a very young age and it is understandable that no parent would want his or her child to lag far behind the other children in the society or city for that matter. The all-day kindergarten ensures that the kids learn the basics of schooling right from the very beginning and they are taught the most basic of activities, habits and manners right from the start. This also guarantees that the parents are lessened of their responsibilities, though to a small extent since they have to look after the chores of their homes as well. On the part of the child who is being looked after and taught at the all-day kindergarten, it is made sure that he starts interacting with the young ones of his age and friends are created all this while, which when seen in the proper perspectives, is something of a healthy exercise. The all-day kindergarten makes sure that the young ones get to learn easily and in a quick manner without any such

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Trajectory of US Foreign Policy Essay Example for Free

Trajectory of US Foreign Policy Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The credo for â€Å"strong America and secured world† re-echoes the vision for retaining global alliances yet draws future challenges to US foreign policy in re-aligning socio-political confidence in the contemporary shift of political power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The rise of third forces is critically perceived in the interplay of emerging political powers that may desolate convergence to US foreign policy. The perceptive basis of power shifting may in itself central to the change of US interstate (domestic) leadership and the clamor of the American people to reform the US foreign policies.    In contrast, the US economic, financial and military establishments can possibly absorb the vacillating pressure upon the change of political leadership.   The reconfiguration in the trajectory of US foreign policy may absorb the vacuum of power within the confines of socio-economic-political individualism. This individualism may be depictive to walking down a narrow road that is less traveled, as there goes an excerpt from the song ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (Elton John; in Taupin, B., 1973): â€Å"†¦So goodbye yellow brick road where the dogs of society howl, you cant plant me in your penthouse, Im going back to my plough†¦Ã¢â‚¬  From this pretext, what holds America’s foreign policy is to maintain the yellow brick road of economic and financial convergence ensuring the American people never to go back in the 1890’s US’ experience of great economic depression, in which today the US government controls its economic and political interests in a global landscape. This may be a classical overture leading to the contemporary challenges of US foreign policy, but an annotation to the modern political genre and re-structured geopolitical archetype in US’ shift of power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This paper will discuss the contemporary interstate (domestic) political interactions and the intrastate (foreign) shifting of political powers relating to the trajectory and future challenge in US foreign policy. Methodology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The review of literature will guide the overall discussions of issues and will be the basis of analyzing the situation. The method will adopt a 2-prong approach in examining the trajectory and challenges of US foreign policy to situate (2) interstate factors, and (2) intrastate responses. Rationale   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This section of the paper will present, review and discuss the January 2008 State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President George Bush in order to situate the interstate factors effecting the character-role of US executive, legislative, judiciary and military branches of government, and the intrastate affairs or foreign policy agenda.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   President Bush’ 2008 SONA emphasizes the credo for â€Å"strong America and secured world†. The credo calls on the critical character-roles of US’ governmental agencies in advancing the socio-economic-political-cultural well-being of the state from domestic to foreign abode. As quoted from the speech of President Bush, he implored â€Å"expanding opportunity to protecting the country, as the US government have made good progress, and yet it has unfinished business in which the American people expect to get it done† (The White House, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The quotation highlights the empowerment of US economy to which has been faced with uncertainties as indicated by job shortage, depleted market in housing, hurdled distribution of healthcare benefits, and reduction of revenues from increased government spending. Basically, President Bush refers both private and public financial incapability and the global economic recession. As further emphasized, the economic agenda is to draw a more empowered financial establishment and labor market, in which Bush stressed out the making of top quality American product as what he calls to be proudly labeled as â€Å"Made in the USA†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Science and technological innovations were also critically addressed by investing on research ingenuity and the unlimited development of scientific inventions and discoveries which aimed to create and provide â€Å"energy security.† Current technologies of adversaries must comply with human and environmental protection. President Bush reiterated the passing of the â€Å"No Child Left Behind Act† as encompassing the state immediate domestic need to education and urged US Congress for $300 Million scholarship budget.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On top of the domestic social-economic agenda for labor market, education, healthcare and revenue generation [through tax rebate package], President Bush cited the additional deployment of 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan, as he concluded that   â€Å"homeward bound† soldiers out of the 20,000 troops deployed in the Middle East must be replaced to ensure maintenance of peace and security.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The rationale of President Bush 2008 SONA was founded on recouping domestic uncertainties and pursuing the unfinished business in Middle East. Literature review: the shaping of US foreign policy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As presented and discussed in the rationale section of this paper, the literature review will examine the variety of â€Å"actors† and â€Å"factors† that relates the shaping of US foreign policy. The rationale section will also form part of derivatives to the overall discussions. The traditional foreign policy elites As an overview prior to discussing the topic, we may cite a quotation from the Director of Policy Planning Richard Haas of the US Department of State that may similarly define the traditional foreign policy elites: â€Å"Of the many influences on U.S. foreign policy formulation, the role of think tanks is among the most important and least appreciated†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (US Department of State, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to the electronic journal, ‘US Foreign Policy Elites in a Post-Cold War Information Age’ published by Mark P. Lagon in 1996, the â€Å"special expertise† inside and outside of government that absorbs academics, quasi-academics, journalists, and polemicists becomes political appoint ­ees and career bureaucrats are referred to as â€Å"elites†. The â€Å"elites† creates the â€Å"inner circle† or sphere inside and outside of government.   Another representation correlated to the definition, the media has a crucial role in binding the â€Å"elite grouping† by providing medium of communication (or forum) for setting agenda (Lagon, 1996).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The 21st century â€Å"elites† may be also categorized or defined as a â€Å"political technocrat† because they have the capability to analyze or study a political-economic situation and influence the pre-condition effect or scenario of a situation. The elites may be also representing the â€Å"power brokering† between the governmental affairs and the social groups in a civil society. In domestic and foreign relations, most of business men and affluent academicians are the most likeable appointee or delegate to represent governmental functions. One that may exemplify the â€Å"representation† is by appointing a diplomatic functionary. The diplomatic function works within a â€Å"script† of function effective to carry out the mission at diplomacy level. In other words, the diplomacy level could only be functional in mediation and arbitration, in which the role of a â€Å"middle man† patterns the diplomatic functions. We may also refer the â€Å"at large† elites as belonging from the top social hierarchy [categorized by its family wealth and social academic status], in which may be â€Å"enticed† or drawn by political-economic sentimentalism [merely sympathetic to a cause, social conviction and plain beliefs] that allies with national advocacy and lobbyist groups or political activism. The capability of â€Å"at large† elites may have a â€Å"vacillating tendency† at crucial political standpoint, wherein to â€Å"toss coin† meant knowing both sides (pros and cons) of a national issue. In poor and undeveloped countries, like the Philippines in Asia, it has become a common knowledge that the traditional elites [mostly represented by disgruntled politicians, adventurous soldiers, government retirees, and idealistic academicians] have its own political grouping [even maintaining bureaucracy] inside and outside the government. In this case, the capability to be well-integrated in both â€Å"camps† and political grouping (opposition and government) attributes the ability to situate, adapt and formulate political configuration, in which the prognosis equates to being a â€Å"think tank†. In the US, the traditional elites are those belonging from a confederate political backing [that is also known as interest groups] that carry out a â€Å"national interest† agenda may it be through electoral processes, lobbying and issue advocacy. From that point of view, the capability to create impact could be publicly supported. Moreover, the special scholastic skill to substantiate political issues or able to expand prolific deductions or analogies could influence the policy making initiatives. The affiliation between elites and the gen ­eral public in a democratic processes of policy-mak ­ing is involving mobilization and ratification, wherein the elites configures the outline of a pol ­icy and mobilizes public convergence in which the framing of a policy is set at the dispensation of the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government [and even the military establishments] for interstate (domestic) or intrastate (foreign) implementation. US political culture and mass public opinion In a joint lecture in year 2006 conducted by Bruce E. Gronbeck, A. Craig Baird from the University of Iowa and John D. Lees from Manchester University in England, they defined the contemporary political culture and mass public opinion under two categories; popularity and populism. Accordingly, popularity is more central to the personalities and characters involving the issues (be it social, economic and political). On the other hand, populism is drawn as an action-oriented response invoking the right to redress grievances and holding of assemblies. Combining both popularity and populism as a public response or action toward an issue is considered a relevantly critical public interest undertaking. The significance of political culture and mass public opinion which compose popularity and populism flows in the typologies of â€Å"information† and constructively appears in the public life. One example is the flow of information of economic uncertainty [as communicated by media] is the indication of depleted housing market, scarcity of healthcare benefits and shortage of labor markets, which was outlined in the political-economic agenda of President Bush’ 2008 SONA.    In contrast, political and economic analysts believe that government indecisiveness draws more â€Å"hostile popularity† of political leadership, in which populism resort to civic action or civil defiance. Like any other countries (poor and rich), the political culture and mass public opinion is focus at the governmental leadership and performance. The civil society [as composing various groupings] is the bulwark of indispensable opinion and perception consistent to the so-called â€Å"participatory or popular democracy†. The political culture and mass public opinion therefore refers to the existence of democratic processes that describes the type, category and classification of framing a public policy. The interest groups and the ‘military-industrial complex’ The interest groups being generally defined and perceived as grouping of individual types and stakeholders for socio-political interest or convictions are not representing the government neither functionaries of a government office. The interest group has varied classifications, such as endorser and financier of political candidates, advocates and lobbyist for legislative policy agenda, social work composing the non-governmental organizations and political activists. These classifications of interest groups are also described as â€Å"pressure groups† in a civil society. The US-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) found that the â€Å"pressure groups† are vulnerable to collaborating with â€Å"domestic extremists† being classified as hate groups that allies with â€Å"left-wing† radical activists motivated by religious-racial-cultural conservatism. To cite, the incident on April 1995 truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that accounted 168 deaths and wounded about 500 people has attributed to domestic terrorism, and suspected by the FBI as multi-perpetuated and politically motivated actions linking the â€Å"interest groups† of radical political activists opposing the World Trade Organization (WTO; in Fletcher, H., 2008). On the other hand, the military-industrial complex refers to the established institution of the US Armed Forces. However, a group of stakeholders [that are also classified as interest groups] acts as brokers, traders and suppliers of weaponry and armaments to the US Armed Forces. These stakeholders or interest groups also serve as a â€Å"pressure group† in dealing with the passing or enactment of a policy concerning homeland defense and most especially foreign security policy. The US war on Iraq and the continuing anti-terrorism campaign of the US government favors the stakeholders, in which the demand for supplying weaponry and armaments to the US Armed Forces categorically defines â€Å"profitable business in war†. The traditional and new media Based on the journal, ‘The Interaction of Traditional and New Media’, authored by John D. Leckenby and Everett D. Collier from the Department of Advertising, College of Communication at the University of Texas, the medium of communication has evolved the typologies of media outfit. The type of traditional and new media is classified in terms of technology, in which the information delivery and access through the Internet has typified the â€Å"traditional† and â€Å"new† medium of communication and updating to social developments. However, the classification does not necessarily feature the newest approach to bringing information and accessibility to consumers. As cited, the televisions broadcast and print media although classified as traditional [in the cyber age] still captures and captivates impact to public interest (Leckenby Collier, 2003). It maybe recalled that the coverage of television, broadcast and print media in Iraq has kept abreast the development of war around the world. It may be also a fact that the electronic or cyber media outfit relies from the â€Å"feedback information† of correspondents in Iraq. Otherwise direct satellite connection to the Internet could be most promptly delivered. At hindsight, a significant number of consumers to information are inaccessible or inadequate [and do not have computer facility] to use the Internet. To compare and contrast, the â€Å"new† media is based on the above definition on the use of cyber-technology that differentiates â€Å"traditional†, but not yet totally recognized as a habitual utility in a society. The societal significance of the â€Å"new media† outfit [using the Internet] may only be considered as an added feature to bringing about interactions of affluent group of people, financially supported political campaigns, and the attempt of the government to develop online transactions. In addition, the cyber-technology that pertains to E-commerce may be remotely attributed to â€Å"new media† with regard to journalism. What is then more significant [aside from classification] is the emerging venue or medium of both traditional and new media that bring about and reach out the development and trends of governance and public interest. Examining the White House and executive agencies The â€Å"White House† symbolizes the seat of power of the President of the United States. Political analysts even put satire to the white house as the home of many kitchens and chefs, wherein what is cooking inside the white house might be sourly, distasteful, and spoiled. The parallelism of this political satire may be referring to the consistent, efficient and effective role-modeling of the Chief Executive being the symbolical figure head of the White House. What is then bestowed upon the mandate of the President must be retained to the sovereign will of the people; the vox populi. Therefore, the mandate shall immerse in the life of the Executive Cabinet. Department of State The US Department of State (USDS) emanated from the year 1789 establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Its primary mandate is to protect the global interests of the US government by managing about 250 US embassies and consulates throughout the world. The functionaries of USDS represent the US government to the United Nation (UN), NATO (North American Treaty Organization), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), and the European Union. USDS also manages the issuance of travel advisory to its citizens at home and in abroad. In sum, the USDS may be referred to as a fortress of the US foreign relations, in which it accesses and reach out international boundaries. Through that, it serves as a pipeline and breadth of US’ foreign policies and diplomatic partnership. The USDS plays a vital role in US’ global governmental functions. Thus, the trajectory of US foreign policy can be substantively achieved at intrastate domains. Department of Defense Mandated to secure and protect the domestic abode, the US Department of Defense (USDOD) has expansive role in protecting the foreign interest of the US government. The claim for â€Å"soldier-heroes† has been brought in the US war to Iraq. President Bush addressed the USDOD as â€Å"champions† of restoring democracies from adverse governments around the world. In early 1960’s towards mid-1970, former President Nixon mandated the USDOD in deploying troops to Vietnam as â€Å"mandamus duty† of the President to participate in domestic war. However, it has proven the saying â€Å"not to fight an enemy in his own backyard†, wherein an approximate 58,000 US soldiers died in related combat operations. Today, the war in Iraq has accounted 20,000 US troops deployment, aside from the most recent calling of President Bush [in his 2008 SONA] to deploy 3,200 Marines. The USDOD maintains its â€Å"military-industrial complex† in collaboration with various international governments upon the US foreign policy to â€Å"secure the world† in pursuit of war against domestic and international terrorism. Intelligence Community The intelligence community (commonly called as IC) is described by Military experts as â€Å"eyes and ears† of the US government, wherein it gathers information, process information and package information as a derivative or aid for policy legislation. The labeling of â€Å"spying† has graduated from the post-cold war competition of mice-and-cat espionage activities of CIA to Russian KGB. The contemporary strategic approach is focusing on the open-source information gathering that uses the method of HUMINT (human intelligence). The IC reform has been outlined in the enactment of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004. The creation of the Office of the Director for National Intelligence (ODNI) empowers the strategic and tactical approaches to processing the global information. Upon enactment of IRTPA, the Executive and Congress has accessed the â€Å"transparent undertaking† of the CIA and put the work into a new â€Å"twist† of domestic and foreign intelligence and enforcement that synergize and harmonize working relationship with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the USDOD. Economic institutions   The Department of Treasury holds the coffer of the State. Just like the â€Å"yellow brick road† [partly discussed in the introductory section] that symbolizes the commercial district in New York, wherein the former seat of monetary transactions happens at Wall Street, it ensure and protect the financial wellbeing of the State and the US government financing of domestic and foreign projects. The role of the Department of Treasury is not limited to revenue generations, printing of receipts, bank notes, federal reserves, debt collections and banking. The versatile character of the Department of Treasury is to determine the financial viability of US foreign investments, in which fiscal management form part in shaping a feasible and optimal policy that protects the US interest. The US Congress and the Courts The legislative and judiciary has commonalities in policy undertaking. The only difference is the characterization of policy in terms of ratification and interpretation of law [with jurisprudential values] effecting and affecting the enforcement. The passing of the IRTPA of 2004 is regarded as a comprehensive policy enactment in US history of law enforcement. First, the reform in IC through establishment of ODNI has carried out significant enforcement in arresting â€Å"domestic terrorist†. Second is the empowerment of the President to enact on Executive Orders [as presidential decision] to harmonize the homeland defense system. And, third, the juridical justification of continuous deployment of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Public Law endures the pursuit of foreign interest in a â€Å"witch hunting† expedition against the terrorist. The foreign ally governments receives the support to law enforcement, supply of weaponry and economic projects, somehow, the burden of vulnerability from so-called enemies are translated into committing of human errors in enforcement resulting human rights violations and domestic economic disturbance. It may be perceived that while US foreign policy instigates the war on terrorism, the host country or government suffers socio-economic-political derailment. Critical analysis on the character-role of shaping US foreign policy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This critical analysis is pertaining to the Executive branch of government that holds the key actors and factors relating the character-role of shaping US foreign policy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Executive Cabinet generally contains the governmental leadership. It may be said that the â€Å"office† itself is being protected and preserved but the â€Å"personality† (being the President) calibrate and spearhead the role-modeling. This means, the â€Å"political will† emanates from the personal character of a President. In the event of â€Å"changing the guards† as characterized by a governmental revamp, reorganization for new sets of political appointees and the change of leadership itself [through election], the reconfiguration process may take time to re-establish the political will.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Within the confines of the White House, the Defense, Treasury and ODNI are the three vital â€Å"guardians† of presidential decision [although Congress and the Courts of law collaborate]. It may be noted from the 2008 SONA of President Bush that the key elemental features of emphasis in delivering immediate governmental actions focuses and addresses selective governmental agencies, such as (1) the Treasury to handle the tax rebates and other fiscal management of economy; (2) the unfinished business in the Middle East as afflicted by political-economic reconstruction in Iraq, maintenance of security in Afghanistan and reconnaissance in Iran and Jordan for a potential stockpile of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), and mediation of conflict in North Korea; and (3) above all is the call for continuous   empowerment of domestic and foreign policies being aligned to contemporary global challenges. Conclusion The trajectory of the US interstate and intrastate policy is may be perceived to be aligning the shift of political powers. One that describes the shifting is the domestic or national political leadership in 2008. From the point of view of election campaign in the US, political groupings and individualism may surface and is carried out upon racial equation. Although it is only a perception, the shifting of leadership [or changing of the guards] is earlier been held to be re-aligned in the overall governmental function contingent to protecting and preserving the US foreign interest. Second that describes the shifting is the emergence of â€Å"third force† political power at the global perspective. The third force may not be categorized likened to US but the proliferation of technologies in advanced weaponry and armaments may interchangeably interact in the global power sharing. The lull of silence in Iran and North Korea is yet unfolding much discoveries of the US.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As what the US being envisioned for â€Å"strong America and secured world† is a perseverance of its hero-in-history model at the global perception, in which recouping gaps and assessing unforeseen factors may supplant political indecisiveness amidst contemporary challenges. It may be therefore concluded that the trajectory of US policy widens the roadmap with symbolical trail as a cornerstone of gaining foreign alliances that shall keep America strong. References Fletcher, H. (2008). ‘Militant Extremist in the United States’. Council on Foreign   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Relations. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www.cfr.org/publication/9236/#10. Gronbeck, B.E., Baird, A.C. and Lees, J.D. (2006). ‘The Twenty-First Century   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Reconstitution of American Political Culture’. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/faculty/gronbeck/21st_reconstitution.pdf. John, E. and Taupin, B. (1973). ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’. MCA Music. Retrieved 10   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   May 2008 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.eltonography.com/songs/goodbye_yellow_brick_road.html. Lagon, M.P. (1996). ‘US Foreign Policy Elites in a Post-Cold War Information Age’.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Questia Electronic Journal Vol. 158. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LmRRTn5L9B6QHgvqf161MJQzGmPyt0yV65zLljpZzy4TGkvYDppP!1427019383?docId=95865979. Leckenby, J.D. and Collier, E.D. (2003). ‘The Interaction of Traditional and New Media’. Department of Advertising, College of Communication, University of Texas. http://www.ciadvertising.org/studies/reports/measurement/newmedia_chapter_print.pdf. The White House (2008). ‘Pres. George Bush State of the Nation Address’. Retrieved 10   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   May 2008 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080128-13.html. US Department of State (2002). ‘US Foreign Policy Agenda’. Electronic Journal Vol.7,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   No.3. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from    http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itps/1102/ijpe/ijpe1102.pdf.

Adventure Or Just Another Holiday Tourism Essay

Adventure Or Just Another Holiday Tourism Essay Adventure or just another Holiday? Holidays these days are not a luxury. They are a necessity. Every year people wait for that time of the year when they can shut off their laptops and head off to a place where they can forget about appointments and deadlines. The more people work the more is their need to get away from it all. Owing to lesser and lesser time people have on hand, holidays are a way to be together with families.   Ã‚   Recently the recession has brought about changes in the way people travel. Recession has created a new set of travelers called flashpackers. They are actually backpackers who are on a budget trip who do not share their sleeping space but opt for private rooms. People mostly these days go for all inclusive holidays which are a great help. They let you help your budget yourself; let you keep a check on your food, drink, entertainment and accommodation. The question is with little time on hand and lots of holiday agencies out there to lure you what would you go for? Is it a usual shopping-sightseeing-hogging type of a holiday or wellness treat that you look for? Does a yoga course soothe your senses or a rigorous trekking tour does it for you? According to official statistics families prefer to go on the predictable leisure holidays whereas youngsters and singles opt for adventurous trips. A general myth about adventure travel is that it is full of risks and not everyone can do it. This draws a lot of people away including families. General trend in travel has constantly shown that when parents and children decide to holiday together they always prefer beaches and mountains where they can laze around in hotels, go sight seeing and eat dinners together. If observed closely adventure travel lets you do all of it and much more. Adventure travel can be fun when the entire family is involved in doing a task together. And why just families group of friends or colleagues can have a good time on adventure travels. They are probably one way you can experience nature, be together, spend time and also learn about nature. Talking about nature, eco tourism is a new trend in travel these days which has been beautifully blend with adventure vacations. If you care for the environment which you should, and want to do something about conserving it you should try an eco tour. You get a chance to travel the remotest of the places which have very less human presence and nature at its wildest best.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Some statistics here can give you a better idea about the growing demands of adventure tourism and why you should be a part of it. Extreme Adventure vacations:There are many out there who have made a list which they call Ultimate 5 Lifetime Adventures. This one sorts out the adventures one must do before they die. Skydiving, Rappelling, A ropes challenge course supervised by the army trainer, Bike racing and Hot Air Ballooning. Family adventure holidays:Families have started choosing theme parks and all inclusive resorts more genuine nature-based, cultural, and education and learning excursions, says Doyle. Theses holiday trips came forth owing to the increasing demands of people to have holidays where they can be closer to families and nature.   Soft adventure vacations:There is an increase in number of people who wish for theme based holidays. The theme can be eco tour or Yoga course with a short trekking trip.   Infact Yog is a favorite and is combined with a lot of activities such as snow boarding or wind surfing.   These kinds of holidays are quiet popular among women.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Essay --

Witchcraft was practiced and believed in, ages before Christianity first appeared. However, it did not fade away with the introduction of Christianity in the sixth century. Even though it was presented and seen as a crime it was not treated as one. The existence of witches and their terrifying abnormal powers in the Elizabethan-Jacobean period prompted the belief in superstitions like: Witches can fly, which clarified how they could get immediately to the desired and far destinations in a blink of an eye, they were also admitted to preserve Crows, Bats, and Mice in order to use them for malicious spells. Anne Boleyn, mother of Queen Elizabeth was surprisingly blamed for witchcraft because most people at that time believed that a sixth finger was developing on her fifth finger. Also, she had a noticeable and strangely looking mole on her neck. In the age of Shakespeare, witchcraft started to be considered more seriously as the authorities penalized anyone connected to this evil deed, viewing witchcraft as an insult to their Christianity. Scot Reginald defines witchcraft as â€Å"witchcraft is in truth a cousening art, wherin the name of God is abused â€Å" ( scot 397) During this time a lot of witches were tortured and killed as a model for society and undiscovered witches, to prevent any future attempts to practice this evil deed and eventually ... ...ainly for his different way and style in addressing and incorporating the supernatural along with the Greek myths in his writings. To Seneca is usually attributed the introduction of the ghost and the chorus, the division of the play into five acts, as well as the introduction of various themes, such as revenge...but in the general management of his subjects, Seneca makes many of (Boyer 13-14) This illustrates the importance and influence of Seneca on the Elizabethan literature and especially his various contributions in the division of the play into five acts and the incorporation of various shocking yet familiar themes for the Elizabethans, mostly of the supernatural into his literary work. The most remarkable association between Seneca and most of the Elizabethan writers is the revenge tragedy, which is presented with a character; Essay -- Witchcraft was practiced and believed in, ages before Christianity first appeared. However, it did not fade away with the introduction of Christianity in the sixth century. Even though it was presented and seen as a crime it was not treated as one. The existence of witches and their terrifying abnormal powers in the Elizabethan-Jacobean period prompted the belief in superstitions like: Witches can fly, which clarified how they could get immediately to the desired and far destinations in a blink of an eye, they were also admitted to preserve Crows, Bats, and Mice in order to use them for malicious spells. Anne Boleyn, mother of Queen Elizabeth was surprisingly blamed for witchcraft because most people at that time believed that a sixth finger was developing on her fifth finger. Also, she had a noticeable and strangely looking mole on her neck. In the age of Shakespeare, witchcraft started to be considered more seriously as the authorities penalized anyone connected to this evil deed, viewing witchcraft as an insult to their Christianity. Scot Reginald defines witchcraft as â€Å"witchcraft is in truth a cousening art, wherin the name of God is abused â€Å" ( scot 397) During this time a lot of witches were tortured and killed as a model for society and undiscovered witches, to prevent any future attempts to practice this evil deed and eventually ... ...ainly for his different way and style in addressing and incorporating the supernatural along with the Greek myths in his writings. To Seneca is usually attributed the introduction of the ghost and the chorus, the division of the play into five acts, as well as the introduction of various themes, such as revenge...but in the general management of his subjects, Seneca makes many of (Boyer 13-14) This illustrates the importance and influence of Seneca on the Elizabethan literature and especially his various contributions in the division of the play into five acts and the incorporation of various shocking yet familiar themes for the Elizabethans, mostly of the supernatural into his literary work. The most remarkable association between Seneca and most of the Elizabethan writers is the revenge tragedy, which is presented with a character;

Solar System Essay -- Science Astrology Planets Essays

Solar System Humans live on a small planet in a tiny part of a vast universe. This part of the universe is called the solar system, and is dominated by a single brilliant star-the sun. The solar system is the earth’s neighbourhood and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are the Earth’s neighbours. They all have the same stars in the sky and orbit the same sun. Scientists believe the solar system began about 5 billion years ago, perhaps when a nearby star exploded and caused a large cloud of dust and gas to collapse in on itself. The hot, central part of the cloud became the sun, while some smaller pieces formed around it and became the planets. Other fragments became asteroids and comets, which also orbit the sun. The early solar system was a turbulent mix of hot gas and rocky debris. In the solar system everything is affected by the sun’s gravity. The planets and a variety of other objects, including comets, move the way they do because of the sun’s gravitational attraction. Our planet, Earth, is the third out from the sun. The planets are all different. Their differences are largely the result of their different distances from the sun. We call the planets that are closer to the sun, including the Earth, the inner planets. They are small rocky worlds. The outer planets are much larger and are made from much lighter materials. All but two planets, Mercury and Venus, have moons in orbit around them. The Moon The explorers found a dead world. There is no air and no water. Without an atmosphere, the sky is black at midday and the temperatures swing by hundreds of degrees from day to night. No rivers or oceans have eroded the surface; no volcanoes are rebuilding the boring landscape. The surface has survived unchanged for billions of years. Smooth plains and lava flows that froze on the Moon long before life arose on the Earth. Elsewhere, the Moon still bears the scars of every rock that has hit it from space, both large and small. The footprints of the visiting astronauts will survive for millions of years. Crash and splash Astronomers now believe the Moon is the remains of a giant cosmic traffic accident. In its very early days, the Earth was hit by a runaway planet the size of Mars. White-hot molten rock were splashed into space, and solidified into a ring of rocks around the Earth. These th... ...ut beyond Neptune. Then the surprises began to appear. First, Pluto follows a very elongated path rather than a neat circle around the Sun. Its orbit crosses over Neptune’s more circular route, so that sometimes Pluto is actually closer to the Sun than Neptune is. Its orbit it also tilted up more than any other planet. Double planet With better telescopes, astronomers found that Pluto is far smaller than any other planet-only half the size of Mercury is. And it’s not alone. In 1978, a moon was discovered orbiting very close to Pluto itself: only a powerful telescope can show them apart. This moon, Charon, is half Pluto’s own size, so that the two look more like a double planet and its moon. Charon lies so close to Pluto that it looms large in the sky. Pluto and Charon always turn the same face to each other as they orbit: from one side of Pluto Charon is always visible, while an imaginary inhabitant on the other side would never see Charon at all. In the 1990s, astronomers started finding many smaller worlds orbiting the Sun in this region, rather like the asteroid belt further in. Because they are made mainly of frozen water and gases, they are called â€Å"ice dwarfs†.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Marriage-Comparison Essay

Marriage, the union of two people, is satirically presented by Evelyn Waugh in the novel ‘A Handful of Dust’ and by Edward Albee in the play ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ Both authors adopt a chilling approach to demonstrate the endemic of negative attitudes and pressures of 1930’s London and 1960’s American society placed on to moral institutions such as marriage, with the central protagonists exposed under a powerful ‘microscope’ to reveal the detrimental effects of society. Albee illustrates the emotional strains inflicted on to individuals and couples aspiring to the American Dream and more importantly the result of failing a dream that is unreachable by the majority. In Albee’s play, George and Martha are metaphysically exposed to the ‘peeling away’ of the illusion that surrounds their marriage to reveal the ‘murky opaque depths’ of reality. Waugh on the other hand shows the corrupt and barbaric upper class London society at the time of the Great Industrial Depression, evoking a story of Tony and his manipulative, ‘cat like’ wife Brenda’s failing marriage, and that of the culture and civilisation Waugh so admired. Both Albee and Waugh employ the use of irony in their chosen settings. In ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ as ‘large, boisterous’ Martha turns on the light the audience are subjected to an emotional battlefield. Set in a success driven university campus which is a microcosm of society, it is soon made clear it is not a place of learning, achievement and sophisticated culture, one of lust, deceptions and sadness, a place where ‘musical beds is the faculty sport’. People like Martha are motivated by greed and self interest; this indicates the threat of America being New Carthage, destroyed not by another country but by internal corruption and spiritual emptiness, as George reads from ‘The Decline of the West,’ Albee’s Cold War subtext is clear. In contrast Waugh gently eases the reader in to the amicable setting of rural England, with an absence of ‘harsh words’ and ‘scenes of domestic playfulness’ between the Last’s, indicating an external picture of a content marriage. The setting is an extended metaphor of their marriage. Set in Hetton Abbey, named after Arthurian Legend, indicates their marriage is similarly illusionary. With irony, Brenda is appropriately placed in to the bedroom, Guinevere, wife of King Arthur burnt for adultery; this gives the reader an ominous feel from the outset about the subsequent events. The novel depicts Tony’s love for the ancestral, primogeniture home, which like his marriage is ‘devoid of interest.’ Tony is trapped by the ‘huge and quite hideous house’ as Brenda is in the marriage, suggested by Waugh’s use of death imagery used when describing the house ‘like a tomb.’ The ‘damp had penetrated in to one corner’ further indicates the internal decay of the Last’s ‘not in perfect repair’ marriage. The fact Brenda resents Hetton as she has moved there and left her family home- ‘I shouldn’t feel so badly about it if it were a really lovely house- like my house for instance,’ quickly weaves a negative undercurrent to their apparent happiness. Illusions versus reality feature in the marriages in both Waugh’s and Albee’s works. In ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ George and Martha’s illusionary son provides escapism, acting as a ‘bean bag’ cushioning their tempestuous, ‘crushing’ marriage from reality. However as the son has been talked about the illusion has become reality too the extreme that the illusion now controls them. The son highlights the pretentious society in which George and Martha live, forced to create a son to fill societies illusions of perfection. The son is for Martha to feel she has fulfilled her role as a woman. However the ‘child’ is not only a desire for fecundity within their relationship but also a projection through which they expose their personal desires, needs and problems. Ironically the son that was supposed to bring the couple closer has become a reason to fight being used as a tool to undermine one another. By ‘killing the son,’ George is realising that the illusion has become out of control, Martha has broke the ‘rules’ by telling Nick and Honey, the ‘pawns’ in their games. The ‘child’s’ death signifies a milestone in their understanding of marriage, George no longer has to compromise his world of reality and Martha is no longer in danger of losing herself in a world of ‘Ilyria’. Symbolically this happens the day before the child would turn 21. Through the child, Albee as an absurdist is illustrating his view that a life of illusion was wrong because it created a false content for life. George and Martha’s empty marriage can clearly only survive if they abandon their illusions. Nick also embodies the illusion in ‘Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf.’ Nick represents the Arian race with his ‘blondie’ hair and blue eyes are initially seen as†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ However his marriage to the slim- hipped ‘mouse’ is based upon pretence as the child they married for was only a phantom pregnancy. Added to this monetary gain, just as in the Polly Cockpurse of Waugh’s Belgravia, lies at the core of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Waugh’s ‘A Handful of Dust’ similarly is based on illusion. The barbaric characters and emotionless buildings provide the reader with an external falsity. Mrs Beaver represents the destructive forces of modernity with her suggestion of ‘chromium plating.’ Mrs Beaver’s character conflicts with Tony’s as she destroys old buildings, Tony clings to every ‘glazed brick or encaustic tile’ at Hetton. Tony’s nostalgic ‘feudal’ nature is arguably one of he main reasons for the breakdown of his marriage. Described as ‘stiff white collar’ suggests he has a refusal to change and ironically at the end is left reading Dickens showing inevitable he is stuck in the past. Tony has been blinded by Hetton which provides him with ‘constant delight and exultation,’ however is ‘formerly one of the notable houses of the country’ and not in ‘perfect repair’ therefore ‘dev oid of interest’ to anyone except Tony. Romanticism dominates through Tony, his search for ideals that his parents possessed ‘inseparable in Guinevere’ are unattainable by Tony. Similarly George and Martha can not reach the ideals set by the American dream. George is symbolic of the past who simply ‘sift(s) everything’ plunging him in to a world of history which is as important to him as Tony’s ‘shining city.’ He is a ‘bog in the history department’ unable to compete with the ‘direct threat’ imposed by ‘well- put- together’ Nick who represents ‘the new wave of the future.’ As a scientist he signifies clinical facts and evidence; he is emotionless like his marriage. At ‘twenty eight’ Nick is successful and a high achiever unlike George at ‘fifty something’ who is still ‘in the History department’ and only ran it ‘for four years, while the war was on, but that was because everyone was away.’ Albee seeks to emphasise the sense of alienation, in modern men. George thus attacks the decay of individualism: ‘You’re the one who’s going to make all that trouble†¦making everyone the same.’ History presents a cynical view, George prophesises as he reads out ‘the west must†¦eventually fall’ materialism dominates over culture resulting in sterile intellectualism. However George bares one key element that Tony realisation does not. George recognises the flaws in his ‘dump’ of a marriage whereas Tony similar to Honey is blinded and does not grasp the ‘sad, sad, sad’ truth embodying his marriage. Tony refuses to accept how ‘warped and separated’ he and Brenda have become. The illusion of George and Martha’s marriage is portrayed through language, for when language stops reality exists. George and Martha’s continual battle of incessant banter and ‘total war’ masks a more sinister and damaging reality and therefore, their fear of silence. Truth is shown through non verbal, theatrical devices ‘throwing flowers’ and the use of a toy gun, creating desperate humour through deep anxiety and expectations. Speech is used to gain power and control in order to deceive others. Ironically George comments ‘Martha’s a devil with language’ showing she is manipulative with her acerbic speech and has dominance in the relationship, ‘(Martha) wears the pants in this marriage because someone has to.’ This use of clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s shows a loss of capacity to speak the truth, ‘Your in a straight line†¦.and it doesn’t lead anywhere†¦.except maybe the grave’ underlined by t he root of terror in the play, the notion of life being meaningless. The regressive language is symbolic of the Martha and George being trapped by their childhoods and therefore they acquire attacking roles in a childish manner. However in contrast the callous Martha uses beautiful language when talking about their child, ‘And his eyes were green†¦green with†¦if u peered so deep in to them†¦so deep†¦bronze†¦bronze parentheses around the irises†¦such green eyes’ showing that when sincerity and love exists the aggressive language stops. At the end the simple, basic language, stripped of all metaphors and clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s reflects the simple, basic reality that George and Martha now face. In contrast to Albee’s use of vibrant and destructive language, in ‘A Handful of Dust’ conventional, banal and ordinary language dominates. Similarly to George and Martha, Brenda and Tony are shown in scenes of childlike playfulness. The alphabet diet is cute and endearing, but has an underlying tension as they are confined by the constraints the diet creates. The emptiness of the emotionless, large dining room they dine in which ‘even today mild elsewhere, it was bitterly cold in the dining hall’ further shows a lack of warmth between characters. The reader’s first encounter of the Lasts boosts a content marriage ‘While he ate breakfast Brenda read to him from the papers’ however the reader is aware of the negative undertones of the monotonous marriage ‘These scenes of domestic playfulness had been more or less continuous in Tony and Brenda’s life for seven years.’ Waugh stylistically and subtly reveals problems through his use of setting ‘There seemed to be no way of securing an even temperature in that room.’ The reader is also lead to question the stab ility of the Lasts marriage through Mrs Beaver comments ‘everyone thought (Brenda) would marry Jock,’ and ‘(Tony’s) a prig. I should say it was time that she began to be bored.’ George and Martha, the quintessentially dysfunctional couple are emotionally trapped by their respective childhoods, as a consequence they both are exposed to low self image and esteem. The history of the couples past is slowly revealed by Albee to the audience. Martha tells Nick and Honey in Act One that her mother died when she was young and she became very close to her father, she married briefly but her father had the marriage annulled. After college she fell in love with George which she thought would please her father. However George is not the high achiever that would satisfy her father. Martha is a lost ‘Daddy’s girl’ who hasn’t left behind the prospect of his unconditional love. George is also revealed to have had a troubled childhood. The revealed plot of his failed novel where a teenager kills both his parents is later publicised by Martha that George was in fact the teenager in his novel. Although the audience doesn’t know whether this is true it does explain George’s guilt about his parents. Albee is suggesting through these parental bonds that human relationships stem from human vulnerability. In ‘A Handful of Dust’ parental roles do not strive in adultous ‘fashionable’ London. Brenda and Tony are ineffectual as parents and as John Andrew reveals he prefers the groom ‘Ben far more.’ Waugh uses John Andrew as a satirical tool to expose the falsity of upper class society. He also reveals Tony’s ineffectualness in disciplining his son and the emotionless Brenda as a direct contrast to Jenny Abdul Akbar who John Andrew is ‘infatuated’ by the attention she provides him with. John Andrew’s death acts as a watershed in the novel. For Brenda the death symbolises her last link with Tony and a chance to escape the world she is trapped by and ironically highlights Tony misjudgement as he does not ‘know Brenda so well’. As Brenda ‘burst in to tears’ this is arguably the realisation that she has thought of John Beaver over her own son and goes to the extremes of immorality of ‘Oh thank God ’ when she is told her son has died, not a reaction expected from a mother that has been told her son has died. The death simply signifies the end of the Lasts marriage ‘Don’t you see Tony, its all over.’ Brenda with her manipulative, ‘cat like’ ways who utilises her female charms to her full advantage and is arguably more responsible for the breakdown of her marriage. As she applies her make up it acts as a symbolic ‘mask’ to cover up the reality of the deceit. In order to get her flat she ‘sat close to Tony on the sofa and ate some sugar out of his cup’ and ‘rubbed against his cheek in the way she had,’ this seductive way highlights the weakness of men. By getting the flat Tony is compromising the repairs he wants to make to Hetton. On the other hand Waugh suggests that it is Tony that it is pushing Brenda in to a society of adultery. Portrayed as an ‘imprisoned princess’ in a castle as though a character in a fairytale, Brenda is frustrated by her limited role and Beaver acts as a lifeline to get her out of the ‘big house.’ She is clearly eager for information of London and ‘jokes that have been going around for six weeks.’ Brenda however stays in control of the marital breakdown. The letter that Brenda leaves is merely a pencil note showing her lack of commitment and respect for Tony. The pencil is symbolic of the marital vows that can easily be erased and irretrievable like death vows ‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ Waugh uses Tony’s search for a ‘hidden city’ to show Tony’s transition from one period of his life to another. Similarly Brenda moves to London in search of a new chapter in her life. Although we can argue that Tony’s decision to go on the exploration shows courage and strength, someone else has planned the trip therefore it is ineffectual. His journey to enlightenment is made in intellectual darkness symbolically leading to his worst nightmare. Added to this the fever he acquires on his journey is representive of his whole life being a grotesque hallucination. Tony ‘had a clear picture in his mind’ that the city he was searching for would be like a ‘transfigured Hetton’ illustrating that Tony is still trapped in the past, inspiring pathos from the reader. When Tony is faced with the harsh reality of life, his real world is destroyed. Romanticism can not save Tony from reality, it is not a refuge and cannot save a near innocent man from being sacrificed because of his complacency. Arguable through a number of short scenes in the jungle and London, Waugh is trying to show similarities of the two settings ‘her ladyship has gone to live in Brazil’ both uncivilised worlds are ‘oceans apart’ yet are both uncivilised and animalistic, inhabited by ‘savages’. Religion is an occurring theme in both Albee’s play and Waugh novel. Albee uses blasphemy ‘Goddam’ at both the start and end of act one. The audience may not be surprised at this language in the godless environment we are introduced however we are more concerned about Martha’s comment that she was an atheist at school and furthermore the uncertainty of whether she still is. Marriage as a religious bond makes the audience doubt the importance of religion when presented with a ‘sewer’ of a marriage. Religion is represented through Honeys father although it is corrupted by the mention of him having money which further questions Nicks motives for marrying Honey. At the end of the play the mystery of religion begins when language ends through the use of ‘Jesus Christ.’ Injuxtaposition Waugh makes little references to religion. Tony attends church on Sundays from which he gained ‘great satisfaction.’ ‘On days of exceptional clearness, the spires of six churches’ could be seen from Hetton instigating that it is Tony who includes religion in to his life not Brenda. Hetton is a city of romantism and fantasy rather than a city of God. Animal imagery is referred to in both texts, to emphasise the moral crudity of events taking place. As Nick ‘mount(s) (Martha) like a goddam dog’ in order to gain status, it shows the need to succeed overcomes morality. Martha an ‘earth mother’ is tolerant of the ‘lunk heads’ who strive for promotion using her in ‘totally pointless infidelities.’ Waugh however uses animal imagery to further his satirical approach and emphasise the farcical characters. Polly Cockpurse is referred to as being similar to a ‘monkey’ by John Andrew. Money orientated, she is a predator only acting for her own interests, after rich men for their money. Mrs Beaver similarly extends the satirical animal imagery by suggesting she like a beaver, digging for gossip. Both of these characters are deliberately ridiculous, highlighting the absurdity of the glamorous Belgravia backdrop in which these people are created. Similarly Waugh uses pathetic fallacy to emphasise characters’ emotions and relationships. Directly after commenting on the Lasts’ marriage, Waugh makes references to the weather around Hetton ‘mist in the hollows and pale sunshine on the hills†¦..the undergrowth was wet, dark in the shadows’ which directly suggests an ominous feel surrounding the Lasts’ marriage. When Tony goes ‘In search of a city,’ Waugh is suggesting that similar to the waves, Tony is ‘plunging†¦in to the black depths.’ In the same way ‘the sky- over head was neutral and steely with swollen clouds’ symbolically showing that Tony is ‘exposed’ in a world that is unclear. However when Tony has a liaison with Thà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½se de Vitrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ there was ‘A week of blue water that grew clearer and more tranquil daily, of sun that grew warmer’ presents the idea that Tony is happy although with no clear blue skies he is vulnerable and ‘lost.’ Likewise as Thà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½se de Vitrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ ‘said goodbye to Tony’ the ‘Blue water came to an end’ and ‘rain fell continuously’ showing Tony’s emotions are as changeable as the weather. The ‘light breeze’ and ‘brilliant, cool sunshine’ at Tony’s funeral represents that the turbulent emotions have come to an end. In one ‘liquor ridden night’ Martha and George have been forced to face their worst fears. As Martha ‘chews on her ice cubes’ the faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade in which surrounds there marriage has been chipped away leaving inner truth and emotion that has previously been undisclosed. In the closing scene to the play, the audience endure a feeling of pathos for Martha and George, encouraged by the pace of the dialogue slowing down and the decrease in volume allowing the audience to reflect. The final images are of George and Martha left ‘just us’ in a state of unity. George sings at the end ‘Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ and Martha replies ‘I am.’ As the song represents being scared of life without illusion this response shows Martha is scared of a life of reality. In contrast ‘A Handful of Dust’ ends with a change of owner and the ending of the regime of tradition at Hetton that controlled Tony symbolising the end of Brenda and Tony’s tumultuous marriage. I agree with Rosa Flannery who suggests the breeding of silver foxes is ‘representative of the new breed of savages that roam England,’ Waugh is presenting a landscape of deceit and greed which prevails in a materialistic world; ‘They lived in pairs; some were moderately tame but it was unwise to rely upon them.’ It is not without sharp irony that Brenda survives, whilst Tony languishes in a†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. In both texts the marriages presented are encapsulated by society’s expectations that they are blinded by illusion. When faced with reality Martha and George can unite, however Tony and Brenda Lasts marriage is as unsubstantial as ‘A Handful of Dust.’