Saturday, September 7, 2019
Website for a Specified Organisation Essay Example for Free
Website for a Specified Organisation Essay Business Objectives Websites are used in many different businesses nowadays, yet they arenââ¬â¢t exactly needed in some. They will benefit a business if they are put in place in order to achieve their aims, which generally is to make a profit. The ways in which they can achieve their aims is done by ensuring that the business analyse how exactly they will achieve their aims on a whole and identify the certain objectives that they have in order to be a successful business. The business that I am going to study is Kells Lane Fish Bar, which is located on Low Fell in Gateshead. The business has been up and running for 21 years now and was put there in order to offer a traditional fish shop menu to anyone who entered the shop. The business offers to sell products to many customers, in which this means they will respond to the demand of the customers and therefore are part of a business to consumer relationship. At this current time the fish shop doesnââ¬â¢t actually have a website for their business however there are plenty of ways on the internet to which you can find the number for the shop. I feel that it would be very beneficial to the business if they were to open up a website as it allows for a lot more customers to see the existence of the business and as well as this I feel that if they were able to put on an ordering service for example then the shop would be flowing a lot easier and would perhaps again lead to more customer attention. -Explain business objectives -Describe smart objectives (GET THEM LATER ON, OFF OTHER DOCUMENT) There are a few key objectives for the fish shop, the first being survival, since the business has been running for 21 years it has seen many different economic reactions by the UK, for example being in a recession and a boom. The business will have been through bad and good times over the years but as more and more fish shops begin to run it means that Kells Lane fish bar will have to then offer a few more products or do something different to other fish shops in order to attract the customers. I Feel by having a website it would help assist the business in order for it to survive and keep running, the reason I believe this is because if the business had a website then it would mean that more people would know about the business, therefore attracting a lot more customers. In addition to this I feel that with an online service in which the customer could place their order it would then make the process of collecting the food a lot quicker, the reason for this being that instead of having to wait in a queue for your food you could order online and then be ready to go and pick up your food whenever its ready. Profit maximisation is yet another objective that I feel is used efficiently at the business, I feel that the fish shop needs to sacrifice some of their short term profits in order to gain a long term profit. Therefore when the business buys batches of stock to sell to the customers, they should do this all at once so that they donââ¬â¢t need to keep getting stock delivered to them which will save the many delivery charges they would get. I feel that this is a perfect reason to open up a website as although it may be expensive to set up in the short term, the impact it will have when people place orders etc. on the site will give the business a massive long term profit, which is a great way to show profit maximisation.
Friday, September 6, 2019
African American Literatury Essay Example for Free
African American Literatury Essay African-American literature can be defined as writings by people of African descent living in the United States of America. The African-American literary tradition began with the oral culture long before any of the materials in it were written on. Throughout their American history, African-Americans have used the oral culture as a natural part of black expressive culture. They are very powerful voices that give fuller meanings to words on a page. The America South is an important landscape in African-American literature. The South was a primary port of entry for slaving vessels. Most black slaves remained in the Southern states. The South was an important place for the African-American literature because the South was served as the site of hope and change for the black slaves but there were also horrors. The majority of African captives entered the New World from the Southern ports and remained in the Southern states. They relied heavily on the African cultural heritage and belief systems familiar to them. During their 300 years of slavery and servitude, black slaves and their descendants developed a complex relationship with the South. Amiri Baraka concluded that the South is a part of the scene of the crime, a land that is about the site of hope and the scene of the crime. For many African Americans, the South serves as the site of hope and change. The South has given birth to many African-American cultural practices, such as literature. This is the spiritual and ancestral home for African Americans and plays a dominant role in African-American literature. Before the American Civil War, African-American literature primarily focused on the issue of slavery, as indicated by the subgenre of slave narratives The most noted authors were all incited and inspired by the goings on in the south. Frederick Douglass was one of the most important African-American authors from the literary landscape in the South. He chronicled his life from bondage to freedom in his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself (1845), which helped the American public to know the truth about the institution of slavery and dismiss the myth that slaves were happy and treated well. He said, the South was not only a notorious site of slavery, it was also a landscape of racial terror and widespread violence. The biggest crime the South ever committed is the institution and perpetuation of slavery. But the Southern landscape is more than just the ââ¬Å"scene of the crimeâ⬠in African-American literature. It has multiple personalities that demand multiple treatments. Many 20th-century African-American writers, whether born and raised in the South or not, have used the southern landscape in their works to explore the complex relationships African-American communities have with the South. In her poem ââ¬Å"Southern Song,â⬠Margaret Walker (1915 ââ¬â 1998) sings a praise song to the southern suns and southern land despite the ââ¬Å"mobsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"a nightmare full of oil and flame. Southern Song I want my body bathed again by southern suns, my soul reclaimed again from southern land. I want to rest again in southern fields, in grass and hay and clover bloom; to lay my hand again upon the clay baked by a southern sun, to touch the rain-soaked earth and smell the smell of soil. I want my rest unbroken in the fields of southern earth; freedom to watch the corn wave silver in the sun and mark the splashing of a brook, a pond with ducks and frogs and count the clouds. I want no mobs to wrench me from my southern rest; no forms to take me in the night and burn my shack and make for me a nightmare full of oil and flame. I want my careless song to strike no minor key; no fiend to stand between my bodys soutnern songthe fusion of the South, my bodys song and me. Margaret Walkerââ¬â¢s poem characterizes the complex literary representations of the South in a great deal of African-American literature, for the speaker at once basks in the beauty of her homeland (ââ¬Å"I want my body bathed again by southern sunsâ⬠). Yet at the same time experiences a homecoming complicated by the threat of Southern violence (ââ¬Å"I want no mobs to wrench me from my southern restâ⬠). The theme of the southern home and its layered history is a prevalent one throughout the tradition of African-American literature. In conclusion, 90 percent of African-Americans lived in the South, it is no wonder that this landscape has taken on a great deal of cultural and historical significance. Literature from the South is complex and often absurd, as the region emerges repeatedly as a site of home.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Differences Between Puritanism And Franklins Deist Views Religion Essay
Differences Between Puritanism And Franklins Deist Views Religion Essay In the mid to late 17th century, New England settlers were attempting to break away from Britain and begin a new society. They wanted to reinvent their own culture, govern themselves, and begin what they hoped would one day become a prosperous nation. One thing they wanted to have the liberty of practicing was religion, and having the choice of which particular religions they wished to follow. Puritanism and Deism were two different religions that were practiced in 17th century New England, and the differences between them sometimes were grounds for confrontations and conflict. The Puritan standpoint depicted in the works of John Winthrop, Michael Wigglesworth, John Dane, and Mary Rowlandson, and the Deist views of Benjamin Franklin differed in how they viewed their respective Gods, the way in which He created human beings, the view of life after death, and how God interacted in their everyday lives, while also holding the similar belief that God created everything in the universe wi th a purpose. The first difference between Puritanism and Franklins Deist views can be analyzed through their various views on how God created each individual human being. Puritans held the belief that all humans were inherently evil, so to speak, and that no one was worthy of eternal salvation from God. This view can also be called original sin, and the only way that Puritans could begin to fathom being rewarded through salvation was by living for the glory of God and serving Him in everything they do. In a word, Puritans held the belief that humans were not created equal, and certain individuals were destined for heaven, while others were not to be as fortunate. On the other hand, Deists were strong believers in the concept that every individual was created equal. In Benjamin Franklins piece entitled A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain he writes, If He is all-powerful, there can be nothing either existing or acting in the Universe against or without his Consent; and what H e consents to must be good, because He is good; therefore Evil doth not exist (Franklin, 26). This statement shows Franklins view of our Creator, which is the belief that no evil existed in the world, so humans were not created with the notion that they are unworthy and undeserving of Gods grace. Franklin goes on to say, And therefore every Creature must be equally esteemd by the Creator (Franklin, 27). According to Deists, their God was not a biased God, and every human was created equal, with no one having a better chance to make it to heaven than others. The Puritan and Deist views on afterlife are also an area where these two religions are not in sync with one another. Puritans believed in the concept of predestination, meaning that it was determined whether one was going to spend afterlife in heaven or hell at the time of their creation. In Day of Doom, Michael Wigglesworth, a minister in Massachusetts during the 17th century, explains how there will come a day when Christ returns to earth to judge who will be destined for heaven or doomed to hell. He writes that Christ explains to those who are being sent to hell deserve their eternal punishment, despite the fact that it was a foregone conclusion due to the fact that it had been predetermined. He also explains that in order to accept the offer of Gods salvation, one must be able to comprehend the meaning of such an offer. This puts certain members of society at an obvious advantage over others. For example, a middle-aged white male who has had some degree of education would surely have a greater understanding of the Bible than a new born baby would. A baby lacks the mental capacity to understand simple terms such as Mommy and Daddy, so attempting to gain an understanding of something as complex and powerful as the Bible would be far outside the realm of possibility. Due to this fact, babies fall into the category of those who are predestined to hell, an assumption that is sickening to think about. Deism is based on the grounds that the concept of afterlife does not exist. This view is mainly based on another belief that the Deist Franklin holds, which is pain and pleasure are always in perfect balance with each other throughout ones life. Every pleasure someone experiences will be followed by a pain of the same magnitude, and vice versa. Since there is no possibility of experiencing an excess of either pain or pleasure, then an afterlife would have no effect on a person because they would not be able to experience the immense joys of heaven or the pain and s uffering that is to be experienced in hell. Another difference among these two religions is the ways in how they view God interacting in everyday life. Both religions have stances on the role God plays in each persons life, however, they are quite different. On the Puritan side, their stands the belief that God tests individuals through trials and tribulations. By doing this, Puritans believe that God is showing that he loves them and cares for them. In a piece entitled A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, Rowlandson writes, Affliction I wanted, and Affliction I had, full measure, (I thought) pressed down and running over; yet I see when God calls a person to any thing, and through never so many difficulties, yet he is fully able to carry them through, and make them see and say they have been gainers thereby (Rowlandson, 20). Rowlandson experienced many hardships in her life, such as enduring a raid by a group of Indians, and even having to deal with the deaths of her children. However, Rowland son knew that this was only happening because her tough love God was only testing her ability to cope with these tragic events. She believes if she puts all her trust in God, then she will have the strength to overcome these obstacles and be a stronger person by it. On the other side of the spectrum, Deists believe that no evil actions can be done by God, and that because of this, God will not test humans by making them suffer through pain and sorrow. An all-powerful God is also an all-good God, and whatever is done by Him must be good. Franklin writes, For whatever an infinitely good God hath wise Ends in suffering to be, must be good, is thereby made good, and cannot be otherwise (Franklin, 26-27). According to Franklin, it is not possible for God to put one through pain and suffering, because these are evil things, and whatever God does must be good. This point relates back to the pain versus pleasure concept. Since pain and pleasure are always in balance throughout ones life, th ere is no way that one would suffer through these so called trials and tribulations that the Puritans believe in. The excess of pain that is surely to result from this is something that the Deists simply do not believe in. One of the few similarities between Puritanism and Franklins Deism was the belief they shared in that God created the world and universe, and that everything that He put on this earth was here for a reason. Puritans believed that God created the universe, and he held a more active role in the day-to-day lives of humans. Franklin also believed God indeed created the universe and everything it encompasses, but God was more distant from his creatures and that He did not intervene with peoples lives. Both Puritans and Deists also believed God had a reason for creating everything and everyone that is on this earth. They learned not to question the actions of God, because they knew Him to be an all-powerful and all-knowing God. Puritanism and Deism were two of the main religions practiced in 17th century New England, yet they clearly had their differences in beliefs in how God interacted with His world. The Puritan views captured by the works of Winthrop, Wigglesworth, Dane, and Rowlandson emphasized a strict following of the Bible and serving Him in everything you do. On the other hand, Franklins Deist belief was that God was more distant from the goings on of the everyday lives of human beings. He held a more loosely interpreted understanding of the Bible, yet still believed that as humans, you were still dependent upon God. One belief that was common to Puritanism and Deism was that God had an intended purpose behind everything he put on earth, and followers of both of these religions learned not to question His actions. The freedom to practice religion was one of the principles this country was founded on, and the practice of Puritanism and Deism during 17th century New England was an influential period that eventually helped lead to declaring independence from Great Britain.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Public Sector Agencies are Best Equiped to Fight Social Injustice Essay
Public Sector Agencies are Best Equiped to Fight Social Injustice With a new President, in came the rush of a new agenda. Gone were the days of the Clinton era, a time of continued investment in big government programs and a commitment that the federal government would assist in healing societal wounds. With President Bush in office, the social work community knew it was in for big changes. Armed with an agenda consistent with his conservative beliefs, President Bush came forth with policies that attempted to downsize the federal role in social issues and social work, to return power to the states in the form of block grants, and to increase reliance on the market as a solution to problems. Like his father before him, Bush wanted a return to a time when helping a neighbor was something one did out of the goodness of the heart. To make the tax cuts he promised happen, Bush had to shave dollars from the welfare programs administered by social workers to the nationââ¬â¢s most downtrodden citizens. With support for faith-based social service agencies, a taste for private school vouchers, and an incessant urge to privatize what is known among policy analysts as the ââ¬Å"third rail of politicsâ⬠(Social Security), President Bush was able to stir up a long-standing debate within the social work community (Zastrow, 1999). Social workers began to ask, once again, what was the most effective, most emblematic type of delivery to the needy: public-sector services or private-sector services? The debate over public and private social services is a constant in the social work profession. To truly understand the debate, the definitions of such agencies must be clear. Barker defines private social agencies as ââ¬Å"nonprofit agencies that provide ... ...re program of the NewYork Charity Organization Society.â⬠Social Service Review. 71:634. Barker, Robert L. The Social Work Dictionary. 4th ed. Washington D.C.: NASW, 1999. Berkowicz, B. (2001). ââ¬Å"Prospecting Among the Poor: Welfare Privatization.â⬠Welfare AdvocacyResearch Project (WARP). Retrieved from the World Wide Web:. Karger, H.J. & Stoesz, D. (2002). American social welfare policy: A pluralist approach (4th ed.).Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Lurie, I. (1998). Welfare Reform in New York State. Poverty Research News. Retrieved from the World Wide Web: . NASW Code of Ethics. Retrieved from the World Wide Web: . Reisch, M. (1999). "Public Social Services." Encyclopedia of Social Work. (19th ed.) New York: NASW Press.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Family and Medical Leave Act Essay -- essays research papers
Family and Medical Leave Act à à à à à The Family and Medical Leave Act was enacted by Congress on February 5, 1993, and it is public law 103-3. This law allows for a person to leave work in certain situations without losing his/her job. An eligible employees must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and at least completed 1250 hours of service. An employee is able to leave work for up to 12 weeks for any of the following reasons: the employee expects a baby in his/her immediate family, the employee expects an adopted child in his/her immediate family, the employee has to take care of an ill family member which includes spouse, parent or his/her own children, and/or the employee has a serious medical condition which makes him/her unable to carry out his/her job function. The employee has to provide legitimate certification stating the reason of the leave (e.g. doctorââ¬â¢s note). The law states that the employer does not have to pay the employee. Therefore, depending on the employer, the employee might or might not get paid. Some employers might require the employee to use up his/her vacation, sick or personal days. Others compensate the employee for the duration of absence, while some employers do not compensate at all. However, in all circumstances, the employee does not lose his/her position, benefits, pay and seniority in the company/organization. Also, during the time of leave, the employee is still protected under his/her health plan (DO...
Monday, September 2, 2019
Suicide In Jails :: essays research papers
Suicide In Jails The United States is plagued by a countless number of social dilemmas. Although not in constant public scrutiny, suicide is a serious problem which has seemed to have lost importance. When suicide is coupled with arrest and incarceration it becomes an increasingly complex situation. In fact, research indicates that the jail suicide rate ranges from 2.5 to 13 times greater than the rate of the general population (Winkler 1992). Motivation, prediction, and prevention of suicidal behavior are grossly unclear, which only adds to the already existing complexity. Many factors involved with arrest and incarceration only serve as a catalyst of suicidal tendencies. Suicide is the primary cause of death in this country's jails. In 1986 there were 401 successful [jail] suicides (Winkler 19992). There are many general assumptions made in regard to suicide. Most believe suicide to be caused by mental illness such as major depression or bipolar disorder. Another belief is that the emotional escalation leading to action takes place over a long period of time. Such is not the case in jail suicides. Much of the research shows that "of all [jail] suicides occur within the first twenty four hours of incarceration, and an overwhelming number of these take place in the first three hours of isolation which is referred to as the ââ¬Å"crisis period" (Hess 1987). The crisis period is reflective of arrest and incarceration as producing extreme confusion, fear, and anxiety. The crisis period is also the result of isolation. Isolation causes an individual to lose all social support systems. Placing an individual in isolation may be a form of protection, but this gives the individual an opportunity to concentrate on feelings of hopelessness (Winkler 1992). Hopelessness can be defined as the presence of despair and negative feelings about the future (Shneidman 1987).Isolation can also produce a severe threat to those inmates who have difficulty with coping abilities as this only encourages future deterioration. Undoubtedly, isolation is often necessary to contain a person, or to prevent injury to the individual and, or other inmates. Individuals who are experiencing obvious mental stress should certainly not be held in isolation for obvious reasons. According to Hess (1983),many facilities have regulations which state,ââ¬Å"The action taken must be responsible under the circumstances and represent a good- faith judgment that the action was the least restrictive alternative available.â⬠Regulations such as this not only serve as a guideline for officers, but as a preventive measure against legal action as a result of isolation. Aside from these emotional factors of the physical environment which are impetus of suicidal attempts. Isolation cells more often than not tend to have poor
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Fate decides how you are born Essay
As with all Shakespearean tragedies, King Lear, lays bare all the possible permutations and combinations in human relationships. It is not uncommon to hear modern writers to lament the fact that Shakespeare has not left untouched any aspect of human interaction. The sub plot of Gloucester and his two sons, the legitimate Edgar and the bastard son Edmund is a curious complement to Learââ¬â¢s own follies of trusting the outwardly affectionate and as a consequence alienating the sincerely loving child. The lesson of human nature this sub plot provides is about knowing when the bitterness towards an accident beyond your control takes primacy of purpose in your life. Edmund let his illegitimate status drive him to indulge in all villainous acts only to further the depravity of his soul. You might not be able to help certain circumstances that stigmatize your existence but the best way out of it is to lead a life of virtue and not resorting to illegitimate acts to get back at the world and the society that condemns you for no fault of yours. The essential difference between Lear and Gloucester is the motivation of the usurpers of their kingdoms. In the case of Lear, they are just greed and ambition. It is not quite that simple with Gloucester. He does love his illegitimate son Edmund and acknowledges his status as the young manââ¬â¢s father openly and publicly. But, every kind word and every single attempt at showing Edmund that he is loved by his biological father translates into a sting aimed at the circumstances of his birth. His entire personality is defined by the antipathy that kindness evokes in him. Through Edmundââ¬â¢s characterization, Shakespeare shows the readers that the stigma that affects any person and changes his personality traits need not necessarily be external. The stigma attached to any person tends to color his judgment, his motivation and actions for all his life and he continues to see the world and its actions through the refracted light of his yearning for legitimacy. Though it might be known to Edmund that whatever he achieves, legitimacy is one thing he shall never achieve as his status is indelible for all future. This drives him to a state where he wants to snatch things from his half brother, usurp his fatherââ¬â¢s crown and also help others in similar quests. One thing he fails to cultivate in all his life is a relationship based on trust. He can trust nobody and become trustworthy to no body in return. Failure to accept oneââ¬â¢s station in life can be a great factor that evaporates any kindness and nobility from the soul which is what happens in the case of Edmund. The paradox of a mind consumed with one single purpose ââ¬â retribution- aimed at world at large is brought forward elegantly in the soliloquy of Edmund before he sets up on his decided path of deceit. He wonders why he is not worthy in the worldââ¬â¢s eyes and laments the fact that he can never be accorded the tag of legitimacy. EDMUND ââ¬Å"â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? â⬠(1. 2. 11-12) But he fails to recognize the veil he is allowing to grow in his soul as he proclaims ââ¬Å"â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦. Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper: Now, gods, stand up for bastards! â⬠(1. 2. 20-22) Such evil intentions are enough to provide proof to Edmund that his mind is playing games with him and making him the slave of his deep rooted stigma of irregular birth and his yearning for legitimacy. But he fails to see them or perhaps, he wants to fail to see them. In the same context, Shakespeare also tries to invoke the belief held by man that stars and celestial events have a bearing on the behavior and relationships of man. GLOUCESTER ââ¬Å"â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects: love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide: in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked ââ¬Ëtwixt son and father. This villain of mine comes under the prediction;â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦.. â⬠(1. 2. 101-108) It is an attempt by a father to hang on to his last vestige of love for his son by claiming that un natural or non-regular celestial events like eclipses had something to do with his son turning against him. In private, Edmund completely rubbishes any such possibility and laughs at the weakness of his father for attributing his misfortunes to stars and nature. In support of his argument he says that his nature would have remained the same even if he had been fathered under the auspices of the luckiest celestial combination EDMUND ââ¬Å"when we are sick in fortune,ââ¬âoften the surfeit of our own behavior,ââ¬âwe make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars:â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ (1. 2. 118-120) ââ¬Å"â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦. Tut, I should have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizingâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ (1. 2. 132-134) The treachery of Edmund and his subsequent blinding at the hands of Cornwall, alienation from his son Edgar all lead to a decidedly defeatist philosophical outlook in Gloucester and he tries to explain his misfortune by saying that Gods inflict pain and suffering on humans for fun and as a pastime. He laments GLOUCESTER ââ¬Å"As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport. â⬠ââ¬Å"(4. 1. 37-38) He then decides to take his and asks the mad man (his son Edgar in disguise) to lead him to a cliff and let him jump from the heights to give up his life. Edgar cleverly takes him to a flat bit of land and pretends that he has let him jump, then quickly changes the way he speaks to make Gloucester believe that he has survived a fall from a great cliff because he was led by some angel posing as the mad man. Though far younger in age and having endured infamy and difficulties galore, Edgar had wisdom beyond his years and whenever his father falls prey to despair, he helps him out of it by explaining the meaning of lifeââ¬â¢s journey. When Gloucester decides that he shall go no further and shall prefer rotting in the same place, Edgar tells him that manââ¬â¢s duty is to endure and the journey can not be cut short for despair. Ageing, losing one faculties, suffering reversals are all part of life and shall not impede the journey. The success of a life well lived lies in the times that one has fallen and in spite of his fall, has managed to stand, dust himself off and started moving forward again, with hope in his heart that good shall overcome evil. It is well captured in Edgarââ¬â¢s entreaty to his father EDGAR ââ¬Å"What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure Their going hence, even as their coming hither; Ripeness is all: come on. â⬠(5. 2. 9-11) After several trials and tribulations Edgar finally accosts his half brother Edmund when he is invited for a duel and vanquishes him without identifying himself. When there are questions all around about the accusations he hurled at Edmund ââ¬â as the chief perpetrator of cruelty and brutality against his own father Gloucester ââ¬â Edgar finally reveals that he is the originally noble blooded son of Gloucester and he explains the difficulties he had to endure and the compulsion of his to act like an almost naked mad man, the attempted suicide of his father Gloucester and how he managed to save him with most implausible of stories. In the midst of all this exchange one more facet of Edmundââ¬â¢s villainous treachery bears its evil fruit. EDMUND ââ¬Å"Yet Edmund was beloved: The one the other poisonââ¬â¢d for my sake, And after slew herself. â⬠(5. 3. 272-274) Edmund managed to manipulate even the love of two married ladies for him and this ends in tragedy when Goneril poisons Albany and subsequently kills herself. Misery and tragedy is what results in every venture that Edmund starts out on because his heart is so corrupted with wanton revenge and retribution but it is directed not at any person but at the circumstances of his birth and his burning desire to camouflage it with a magnitude of achievements that border on fantasy. As he senses the end of his life, Edmund suffers a conscience attack and wants to do some good. He finally realizes that ambition coupled with treachery ca take one only thus far and no further. Nobility of soul and purpose always manages to carry the day and it is evident from the fall from grace and favor of Edmund all so suddenly in the last act of this tragic play. Just before he is challenged to a duel by his half brother Edgar, he issues an order to kill Cordelia and King Lear. He also plans to pass it off as an apparent suicide. When he finally sees the mayhem he has created and the result of his treachery leading to two sisters dying, one by poison and other by her own hand, his conscience beseeches him to do at least one good deed before he is dead. He entreats the gathering to send some one to stop King Lear and Cordelia being killed as per his orders. EDMUND ââ¬Å"I pant for life: some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send, Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia: Nay, send in time. â⬠(5. 3. 276-280) The sub plot of Gloucester launches the main villainy of Edmund on to the main stage of the play and holds his evil nature central to all misfortunes, well helped by the human infirmities of King Learââ¬â¢s two daughters. But it also cleverly counters the numerous noble characters of the play ââ¬â Albany, Kent, Edgar- and the like. Evil wins several battles but ultimately loses the War. Good suffers several trials by fire but manages to hold its own at the end. Two kings who let flattery and suspicion take over their better judgments suffer the moist implausible of consequences and in this, Shakespeare leaves a lot of lessons for all future generations. He almost seems to list out some commandments about human nature 1. Thou shalt not fall prey to flattery ââ¬â King Lear 2. Thou shalt not allow suspicion to encroach your judgment but shall seek out complete facts ââ¬â Gloucester 3. Thou shalt not let bitterness pervade your soul, in acting with bitterness you invite bitter ends ââ¬â Edmund Apart from all these, Shakespeare seems to ask us to evaluate at every step if our intentions and actions have the desired effect on the people who are affected by it. If you love, let not the love patronize or smother the loved ones. And as one learned professor confessed to a student conversationally ââ¬Å"When in doubt about how to go about life, read Shakespeare. You might very well find the answer you needââ¬
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