Looking At The Rocking Horse Winner Essay

Looking At The Rocking Horse Winner Essay Growing up in a capitalist society and living with his mother who showed no affection were only a few of the tasks David Herbert Lawrence mentions in his story The Rocking-Horse Winner. Did these negative aspects influence him or did they break him? We are sure of one thing: the characters included in this short story symbolize and show relation to the life of this particular author. The nostalgia for a mothers love and acceptance was what brought this story to its peak of interest through the character of Paul, a child. For example, Lawrence states, That [when] you fight is only a sign that you want in yourself, the child knows that; your own soul is deficient, so it fights for the love of the child( qtd. in Davies 124). Lawrences tragic and obsessive relationship with his mother led to neglect, along with money-dominated capitalism which he presents in his story The Rocking-Horse Winner, and Lawrence enforces the harmful impact that money can have on a family household. Lawrence uses a wide description of irony in The Rocking-Horse Winner. For instance, Lawrences wondrous feeling towards Pauls prediction of horse races and making money is dampened by Hester being ungrateful and wanting more money. The author furthers a sorrowful resolution for the cause of Pauls death. Furthermore, tragic irony is used in this story when Paul predicted so many winning horses, but ended up losing his life in the end of the story. Furthermore, Pauls death of course makes the story a tragic one; but just as tragic is the death of innocence and love, symbolized by Paul, in his unfortunate mother (Koban 396). In addition, situational irony occurs when we as the readers thought the outcome of the story will end with Paul and his family being affluent, but they end up with a loss that could not be brought back. Furthermore, another problem that Lawrence portrayed in The Rocking-Horse Winner is that capitalism dominates within the society. On the other hand, Lawrence links The Nature and Logic of Capitalism written by Robert L. Heilbroner in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Heilbroners view of capitalism is that, Capital is not a material thing but a process that uses material things as moments in its continuously dynamic existence (qtd. in Watkins 296). Capitalism initiated the obsession, tragedy, and neglect money caused within the household. For instance, The desire for money pervades the home, the withdrawal of the child into his private fantasy world (Watkins 296), and also the power relations of a capitalistic society. D.H. Lawrences use of capitalism within The Rocking-Horse Winner is portrayed through the characters in his story: [Paul] is a laborer for his mother, to whom he gives all of his money, only to find that the more he gives the more she needs (Watkins 297). To sum up, the capital istic society that Lawrence was brought up in as a young child and how it causes financial burdens is applied within this story. In addition, money was the powerful force which cause Hester to become such an greedy and ungrateful soul. For example, money is an issue with Hester because she tried to live on a social scale that she couldnt afford to be on. As a result, There must be more money! (Lawrence 366) signifies the insecurity that Paul and his sisters experience due to the withered love between Hester and her husband. Money, on the other hand, must be kept in perspective and not romanticized into a substitute for love, as it is in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Money initiates obsession and neglect; for example, Hester shows more significance and love for materialistic objects than showing it for her own children. Furthermore, Lawrence used his personal relationship with Lady Cynthia Asquith to influence the role of Hester in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Asquith was a longtime friend of Lawrence and influenced his stories: Biographical materials will show the striking similarities between the Asquith family and the family in the story (Davies 123). For instance, Lady Cynthia lost her capacity to love her son, although she struggled not to do so (Davies 125). In addition, Lawrence also changed the age and sex of the children; Lady Cynthia had three boys, in which Hester having two girls and one boy instead There were a boy and two little girls (Lawrence 365). Moreover, it was the poor social and personal situations in Lady Cynthias life including the other associates that D.H. Lawrence met in England that influenced the blatant and blithe moral in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Through the life influences of D.H. Lawrence comparison to The Rocking-Horse Winner, from growing up in a money-dominated society and dealing with a neglectful mother, Lawrence portrays his life through Paul. Lawrences childhood as an unloved young man and his own personal fantasies are portrayed in a short story in which riding the horse is what the author had in his possession, but the magnificent supernatural gifts were not present in reality. These supernatural gifts were given to the character Paul. Lastly, the contemporary life situations of D.H. Lawrences life gave The Rocking-Horse Winner morality, theme, and most of all the tragic events that money can bring.

The Life Of Kurt Cobain

The Life Of Kurt Cobain Throughout the history of pop culture there is one unmistakable truth. Change comes gradually until someone or a group of people make their presence known. Then the change happens almost overnight. In the early 90s a Seattle band known as Nirvana hit main stream music. Kurt Cobain was the lead singer, lead guitar, and a founding member of this very band. The purpose of this essay is to understand how he shaped our musical culture from his very own experiences in life. How he died and the questions surrounding his death. First lets look over his life. Kurt Donald Cobain was born February 20, 1967 to a cocktail waitress named Wendy and an auto mechanic named Donald. He grew up in the town of Aberdeen, Washington. At a young age his family noted he had promise in art and music. Unfortunately for his family, money was tight. When he was eight years old his parents divorced. He lived with his mom at first, but would later live with his dad. His dad would later marry and Kurt had a real personality shift. He was a sweet and caring child but this drove him to become very defiant. On his 14th birthday an uncle of his gave him a choice. He could either have a bicycle, or a guitar. Kurt chose the guitar. At this point he stopped focusing on school almost entirely and just played music. Another activity of his was to watch his favorite punk rock band The Melvins. This is the first band he credits for influencing his work. He would eventually drop out of school 2 weeks prior to graduation due to not having the credits to graduate. Like we all have a tendency to do, he became an adult and was given an ultimatum from his mother. He had to either find a job or move out. After neglecting to find a job, he came home to all of his belongings packed away on her front porch. After some moving around someone named Krist Novoselic offered him a couch to sleep on. Cobain actually met Krist while both were hanging out at a Melvins practice. They would form Nirvana together in 1989 and constantly go through new drummers. Eventually they would record a demo and get signed with Sub Pop records, a local record label. They released the album Bleach which sold 35000 copies. While touring Kurt found an addiction in heroin. In 1991 Nirvana signed with a new record label, Geffen. They also finally found their drummer, David Grohl. They would release the album Nevermind, which sold around 4 million copies in the first year. He also met his future wife, Courtney Love, lead singer of the band Hole. They had much in common, from bad childhoods to their current drug habits. It seemed like an endless cycle of drug abuse until Courtney found out she was pregnant. They would have a daughter in 1992, named Frances Bean Cobain. 1993 was the year In Utero was released. The following year they performed on MTVs unplugged set. It is around this time that his drug addiction took a turn for the worse. On March 2nd, 1994, he overdosed on rohypnol, a date rape drug more commonly known as ruffies. He was found unconscious by his wife and survived after going to the hospital. But on April 5th, 1994 he died. He injected a dose of heroin that was about three times the lethal limit. And while on the high, he shot himself with a shotgun. Questions tend to be raised when successful people commit suicide, and then conspiracy theories are born. There are many who believe that Kurt Cobain was murdered. The evidence is pretty convincing. For one, there are no clear prints anything in the room he should have touched. None on the bullets or gun but where he held it. None on his drug box. As noted earlier, he injected more than 3 times the lethal limit of heroin with a blood level of 1.52 mgs per liter. This is a dose that can kill hardcore addicts in seconds. It would be nearly impossible for someone to handle a shotgun in their mouth. It is possible he could have done it, but it is highly unlikely. Another conspiracy is a man named Eldon Hoke. He has claimed that Courtney tried to pay him 50000 to kill Kurt. Eight days after an interview about it he was found dead on a railroad track. It should also be noted that Courtney Love was around every other time Kurt overdosed. She hired a Private Investigator to find a missing Ku rt 2 days before he killed himself by the name of Tom Grant. Grant is certain Courtney had something to do with Kurts death due to motive. They were talking about divorce and there was a prenuptial agreement. She would get very little, but get everything if he died. He also found it suspicious that she couldnt leave Los Angeles when her missing husband was on the loose. While its not damning evidence, this is still convincing. It does leave room to question. Another autopsy will never happen. Kurt was cremated and in 1999 his ashes were spread out in Lake Olympia by his daughter in a final ceremony. While Kurt was alive he was one of the most important musical figures of that era. One of the most notable changes was popular music. Michael Jackson and other pop musicians dominated the air waves. The Nevermind album knocked Michael Jackson out of the number 1 spot. It was the album that showed you can make something that sounds like you played it in your garage and still outsell more established artists. In the last 16 years since he died there are bands that list his band as a musical influence. It is also significant that he grew up poor and what he perceived as a troubled household. He used the feelings he learned from this to write his music filled with angst. The problem was he wrote the music hoping it would appeal to people who were like him in school. Those that didnt fit in. His biggest fans turned out to be like those who beat him up in school. The music movement he was a part of also affected fashion. Flannel, torn up jeans, and wearing plain long sleeve shirts under your awesome t-shirt. Stores started selling jeans already with holes. Most of the clothing assossiated with grunge was cheap. But of course major retail stores have a knack for taping into what is fashionable and sell it for a higher price. Three of their most popular albums were popular because of the music on them obviously. From the Nevermind CD tracks include Smells like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, and Lithium. From the In Utero CD, we have Heart Shaped Box, Dumb, and All Apologies. Finally we have their MTVs Unplugged in New York by Nirvana album. Most of the songs were on previous albums, but some others played were Lake of Fire, a cover of The Man Who Sold the World (Originally by David Bowie), and Where did you sleep last night. These are not the only good songs per CD. Being in one of the most popular bands at the time its easy to see how Kurt Cobain was one of the most popular people shaping our culture. His music encouraged people to question what is considered right or normal. He showed people you dont have to fit in to be one of the cool kids. And in the end, even the popular can fall to their outlook on life. People like Kurt dont come very often. When they do, they leave a lasting footprint on us all. From the music people make to our outlook on our past experiences. The early to mid 90s owes Kurt Cobain recognition for how it was shaped by him. So do the people who were alive during that time.

How to Babysit Four Kids :: Process Essays

How to Babysit Four Kids   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My mom, who skillfully manages four children, works Tuesday evenings - she calls it time out. As I walked in the house on a recent Tuesday evening, I hear Meghan screaming. Tim is mercilessly teasing her by hiding her teddy bear.   Pat is hollering from the basement at Tim; and the phone is ringing.   The ringing stops, which means Maura got it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Meghan hears me enter she runs crying "Tim's teasing me and I'm hungry."   I ask the kids, "Why didn't you feed her?"   Tim responds, "she didn't say she was hungry."   Pat runs up from the basement and reminds me I have to take him to guitar practice now or he'll be late.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Maura bounces down the steps, pokes her finger in my ribs and shouts, "I need help with my Algebra but give me the keys 'cause I have to run to school to get my history book and Mom says give Meghan a bath before you put her to bed and have the kitchen looking as nice as it did when she left, which was spotless."   I won't tell you how I reacted that evening.   As married-with-children typically means both partners are working, the need to cope with such situations has become a daily necessity.   For you fathers, who haven't acquired the natural mothering instincts, here are some pointers I've learned the hard way to ease the pressures of work and family: Don't think that by ignoring the family they'll go away.   If pressures at home build because of schedules, personalities, etc. deal with them.   Rather than react to events like I did, create the action.   Be prepared for those evenings or weekends when you're the only cook, cleaner and ente rtainer.   On my fateful Tuesday, I should have phoned home before leaving work to discuss plans for the evening. Plan family schedules in advance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Have a large calendar hung prominently in the busiest room in the house and preferably near a phone.  Ã‚   Schedule activities immediately on the calendar.   My mom has informed me of major family plans while I was watching Pitt play on TV.   Because I didn't tune into the discussion, when the time came for me to be at whatever event she was talking about at the right time and place, and with the right kid it didn't happen. Have a few tricks up your sleeve.

The History of the Rise Essay -- American History, Slavery, Clarkson

In 1808, Thomas Clarkson published his two-volume text, The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave Trade by the British Parliament, after the prolonged campaign to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire. Within this text, Clarkson inserted his own map of the path to abolition, consisting of the efforts by prominent intellectuals, politicians, and religious organizations. This essay will argue that Clarkson’s map neglects the informal abolition activities that coincided with the official abolition campaign both within and outside the map’s timeframe; it in fact ends twenty years before the passage of abolition legislation in 1807. This argument will also examine the role of marginalized groups, including women, blacks, and public opinion, in the non-informal activities involved in the crusade to abolish slavery. Recent scholarship and some primary texts will be utilized to posit that various informal activities are absent from Clarkson’s map and need to be examined for their contributions to the crusade. The map examines the activities and individuals missing from the current timeframe, ending in the year 1787, and so this study will explore the post-1787 activities that should have been included on the map. A point of conflict on the map is the twenty year gap between 1787 and 1807, arguably a critical period on the eve of abolition. The map fails to display the contributions that finally provoked Parliament to pass legislation to abolish the slave trade. Within this gap, Clarkson additionally neglects the important contributions made by marginalized groups to abolition. Historians have steered away from traditional scholarship of the abolition of the Trade to focus ... ...de. They served as a device to generate popular sentiment against the slave trade. Drescher argues this media was significant in the first national mobilization. For example, organizers of the Manchester petition advertised for the abolition of the slave trade by submitting their petition to all major newspapers in England to promote the creation of other petitions by readers (Drescher, 49). The Manchester Committee disseminated the info from their petition to others. Advertised to all major English newspapers to promote readers to submit/ organize similar petition (Drescher, 49). Manchester serves as a model petition. The published Manchester petition was critical to the public agitation of the slave trade. Ten days after newspapers first reported of the Manchester petition in the General post, public agitation/ attack of the slave trade (Drescher, 49).

Pictures of War that Wilfred Owen’s Poems Create :: Anthem for Doomed Youth Disabled Essays

Pictures of War that Wilfred Owen’s Poems Create Wilfred Owen was born in Shropshire in 1893; he grew up in the north of England. Doing successfully well in school Wilfred wanted to go to university. As a consequence of his farmers job he could not afford to participate in university. His father was a railway worker and therefore didn’t earn much money. Instead of spending his next few years in college, Wilfred immigrated to France to take up a career in teaching at his time in Berlitz School, the Great War, commonly known as World War 1, was undergoing its ‘birth’ and war was later declared in 1914. Two years after settling in France Wilfred decided to sign up in training to be an army officer. And later joined the regiments in 1916 posted at the River Somme. In March 1917 he was temporarily discharged from the front line because of concussion. Owen re-joined the battalion soon after the accident. Unfortunately he was once again seized from the front line as a result of ‘shell shock’. In June 1917 he was transferred to a hospital called; Craiglockart, near Edinburgh. Here he met a poet named Siegfried Sassoon. As Wilfred had already started drafting poems, Sassoon helped Owen re-draft them to improve them immensely. More than a handful of poems were produced by the two. Wilfred’s first work was published in 1918, just before he returned to the front line. In September, Owen was awarded the military cross. Wilfred later dies on an attack on the Oise-Sombre canal. I am going to analyse and show incite to his three most famous poems; Anthem for doomed youth, Dulce et decorum and disabled. ‘Anthem for doomed youth’ is a relatively short poem, but the saying ‘less is more’ is definitely relevant in this case. The title alone represents an ‘anthem’ a song or prayer, for the futile soldiers. The main technique used is the question and answer method. The first line is the question; ‘What passing bells for these who die as cattle?’ This is comparing the soldiers to cattle and stating that in the battlefield the soldiers die in such great masses that they can be easily compared to cattle who get murdered in slaughtered houses. ‘Only the stuttering rifles rapid rattle’ This line contains onomatopoeia; ‘Stuttering rifles....’ This represents the sound the guns make when fired. Also this line has alliteration; ‘Rifles rapid rattle.’ This helps you set the scene of the massacring battlefield. The poem has personification within it; ‘Only the monstrous anger of the guns’ This illustrates that the gun has anger, a personality if you will. Which theoretically speaking is incorrect.

Book Report (the Titans Curse by Rick Rordan)

Percy Jackson The Titans Curse In this Percy Jackson and the Olympians book, it starts out when Thalia daughter of Zeus, Annabeth daughter or Athena, and Percy son of Poseidon set out to help Grover who found two really power full half bloods escort them back to camp have blood. But then they run into trouble when this really power monster shows up that works for Cronus try’s to take Bianca and Nico the two really powerful other half bloods. Before there group was about to be defeated Artemis goddess of the hunt and the moon sun of Apollo shows up and rescues them with her huntresses. Also Annabeth saved them but in the process she falls off the cliff and they could not find her, little do they no that she was really just captured by Luke and Cronus, Bianca joined the hunt with Artemis and left Nico at camp half blood to train to become stronger. Artemis left her huntresses to go find the one monster that could destroy Olympus, while trying to find the monster she was captured by Cronus and needs to be rescued before the winter solstice so that she can convince the council that they need to go to war to prevent the titans rise. So a quest was given to Zoe who was the leader of the huntresses that they should go save Artemis before the winter solstice and when she went to go consult the Delphi Oracle it said â€Å"five shall go west hunters and campers combined will not fail one shall be lost in the land without rain and another shall parish by a parents hand. † So since Zoe was the quest leader she got to choose who goes with her, she chose three hunters and two campers but one of the hunters got sick so she couldn’t go so only four of them left for the quest Zoe Bianca, Thalia and Grover but then Percy wanted to go save Annabeth so he snuck off to save her. He ends up meeting up with and saves them from the monster that tries to kill them early. When the got to New Mexico (which is a land with out rain) they go into the gods junk yard and this giant mechanical robot thing comes to life and then Bianca jumped into the robot and defeated it but she was lost and could not be found. They had to go all the way from camp half blood which is right out side New York all the way to California. When they finally go to California the had to go up the mountain of the titans so it is really dangerous also the general is back which is cronus’s number one warrior you no the guy who holds up the sky atlas. When they get up there they see Annabeth laying on the ground over where you hold up the sky and Artemis holding up the sky they also see Luke and Atlas and an army behind them Percy Jackson did the naturally stupid thing and charged Atlas but cause of this curse that was put on Percy his weapon riptide failed him and so he ran over to where Artemis was holding up the sky and took the sky for her so that she could fight Atlas, While that was happening Thalia was fighting Luke after he was defeated by her, he tried to jump at her but her reflexes was to fast and she kicked him off the cliff with was like a 30 foot drop so he should have died but didn’t when Artemis was fighting Atlas she was defeated and before she was about to get seriously hurt Zoe jumped in the way and saved her, which gave Artemis enough time to get up and ready to fight again. In the mean time Zoe was seriously hurt and was about to die and everyone else was about to get defeated but then Artemis kicked Atlas under the sky again and so Percy jumped out of the way and so Atlas was stuck once again under the sky, but there was still a giant army that was surrounding them but out of no where Annabeth’s dad which owned a plane came out and started shooting all the monsters with Celtic bronze bullets which gave Artemis enough time to call down a chariot and so they jumped in to get away. Zoe was still really injured and on her death bed. She ends up dieing and then they find out that Atlas was Zoe’s dad so she perished by a parents hand. When they get back to camp half blood Nico found out his sister died so he got really angry and ran off which on his way finds out he is the son of Hades. Up on mount Olympus on the winter solstice they end up finding the monster which was a harmless cow sea serpent and so if you sacrifice a harmless monster you g ain the power to over throw the gods, Artemis convinces the gods that they need to go to war with the titans.

Product life cycle Essay

Identify and assess the relevance of the ‘product life cycle’ to the notion of employee engagement. Employee engagement can be viewed through the four stages of the product life-cycle Step one is the introduction of the concept of employee engagement, its principles, strategy for enhancing engagement and involving employees, process of change to ensure engagement is fully embedded into the organisation. Step two is growth and growing the concept of engagement through a number of mechanisms: * Support from senior and line managers * Development of line managers in engaging staff * Clear communication and involvement strategy * Involving staff in organisational and job design * Encouraging self and career development planning * Identifying mechanisms for continuous staff feedback * Evaluating and adapting engagement strategies. Step three is reaching maturity and embedding and maintaining the above factors through continuous involvement, participation, communication, evaluation and action And finally, step 4 is the inevitable decline, even though there is a decline it is still important to retain key employees, and their skills and knowledge, and therefore to continuously involve them in managing the change and future strategy. The employee engagement life cycle is an important tool for HR professionals to use to assess how the engagement product fits with the business’s objectives and strategy. Evaluate the future for employee engagement in the UK and global economic context. Future action plans include: * Involving workers in identifying factors that will engage them further * Consideration of the demographic data and identification how to engage staff from all backgrounds at different levels * Further evaluation of the link between engagement practices and performance * Development of managers that can motivate and inspire staff Monster (2011) the online job advertising website conducted an international survey on employees’ views of their line managers and uncovered the following results: * Only 10% described their manager as ‘brilliant’ * 73% feels their manager does not invest in their self-development * 70% believe that they could do their manager’s job to a higher standard * 41% of UK workers felt their managers were totally incompetent Line managers are pivotal to enhancing engagement through empowering, motivating, inspiring, coaching and helping the employee develop themselves to enhance performance. Key areas where managers require further development include: * Responding to grievances and confronting issues * Empowering and involving workers on decisions that impact on them * Treating all team members equitably and with respect and providing constructive feedback * Recognising and appreciating efforts (particularly discretionary effort) * Being driven to deliver on commitments and promises made. Assess the future role of the HR professional and the HR function so far as the sustainable implementation of employee engagement practices is concerned. In order for HR to become more strategic, they need to ensure the HR strategies and the business strategies are aligned and both contribute to the overall business aim and objectives. If this is achieved then HR can be a driving force for creating an organisational strategy for competitive advantage. HR practitioners can determine organisation capability and engagement levels to flexibly adapt to changing environmental and customer needs through an evaluation of: the current resources in terms of skills, knowledge and behaviours; and organisation design and development. Once the HR practitioner is vertically integrated within the business, they will be able to take advantage of future opportunities by becoming a key player in the strategic decision making process through providing extensive knowledge in terms of organisational capability in taking the opportunity to grow into new markets, or determining future strategies and actions required.