Dignity in Ivan and the Sound of Waves Essay Example for Free

Dignity in Ivan and the Sound of Waves Essay In the novels, One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn and The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima, the characters value their dignity and take many actions to preserve it. First of all, in One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, Shukhov attempts to maintain his human dignity in the face of oppression. As Shukhov begins his daily routine, he â€Å"quickly finished up the job. There’s work and work If you’re working for human beings, then do a real job of it† (Solzhenitsyn 33). Shukhov is imprisoned in a gulag, one of the worst possible places to be, but he still maintains his human dignity by keeping a good work ethic. Shukhov knows that if he works well he will be treated well, but beyond that, the fact that he is working for another human being gives him reason to maintain a good work ethic, and his self-respect. Furthermore, Shukhov always preforms many small, but meaning full actions in order to maintain his dignity. While eating his rations, Shukhov â€Å"removed his cap from his shaven head—however cold it was, he wouldn’t let himself eat with his cap on† (16). Shukhov still maintains his manners, even when he is forcibly kept in a gulag prison. His manners are very important as they allow him a way to remain human and keep his dignity, rather than deteriorating to the state of an animal, like some of the other prisoners. While the characters in One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, attempt to maintain their dignity as a means of refuge in the gulags, the characters of The Sound of Waves, retain their dignity as a means of protecting their status in society. To begin, the characters in the Sound of Waves do not tolerate any embarrassment or loss of respect to their peers. When Shinji’s mother visits Terukichi Miyata’s home he ignores her visit and she replies, â€Å"[s]o you say you won’t see a poor widow†¦Well let me tell you something†¦ never in life will I ever cross [Miyata’s] damned threshold again† (Mishima 128-129). Shinji’s mother vows never to cross paths with Miyata’s home after he insults her by refusing to meet with her. Shinji’s mother takes a hit to her pride and retaliates in a way that would imply her intolerance for disrespect. Moreover, the characters in the novel are virtuous and refrain from committing any acts that would call into question their morals and self-respect. While resting naked with Shinji in the shrine, Hatsue says, It’s bad. It’s bad! It’s bad for a girl to do that before she is married† (76-77). Although the urge to engage in a sexual relation with Shinji is strong, Hatsue knows it would hurt not only her self-respect but also defile her father’s reputation in the village. Although characters in both novels take actions to preserve their respective dignities, in One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, It is done to maintain their humanity and sanity when they are treated like animals. While in The Sound of Waves, the characters preserve their dignity to uphold the respect of the village and their peers. Overall, the characters in both novels value their dignity and take many actions to uphold it.

Comparison of Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov in Crime and Punishment Essa

Comparison of Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov in Crime and Punishment In his book Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky explores the paths of two men, Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov. These two men encompass many similar problems and obstacles throughout their lives. Both commit murders and are faced with the long and mentally excruciating journey of seeking redemption. They also share many characteristics of their personalities. The reason that the outcomes of their lives are so drastically different is due to the fact that they have completely different perspectives on life. Raskolnikov is obsessed with his â€Å"superman theory†. He is constantly trying to prove that he is part of the 10% of extraordinary people in the world. He wants to become an eminent figure such as Napoleon. At first he believed that the murders he committed would make him part of this elite class. Once he realized that he had made mistakes during the crime he began to question his theory. After much frustration he decided to go to the scene of the crime. This gave him a rush that made him feel invincible. He believed that this would prove if, or if not he was â€Å"super†. Once he realized that he wasn’t part of this class, he suffered a mental breakdown. This pushed him to confess his crime to Sonya. She helped him rationalize his crime and admit his guilt. The outcome of this conversation was that it helped him admit his fate. Svidrigailov contains many similar traits of that of a â€Å"superman†. Due to his egoc...

Are There Advantages to Home Schooling? Essay

â€Å"Many people turn their nose up at me and make a face of disproval when I tell them I home school my children. It really doesn’t bother me though. I feel there are a great number of advantages to home schooling my children.†Ã¢â‚¬â€œMargaret Schiner. Many parents have often pondered on which type of educational setting would be better for their children. The most common way for children to receive their basic K-12 education is by attending a public school. However, there is one very different option, home schooling. The advantages of home schooling are starting to be realized by more and more parents each year, evident by the growing number of children being home schooled. So, are there advantages to home schooling? With today’s society, this seems to be growing truer all the time. Of course, there are disadvantages to just about anything; home schooling is no different. Although, there seems to be many more advantages to teaching children from home, versus s ending them to a public school. The home schooling process seems to be much more efficient than that of public schools. Lawrence Hardy of American School Board Journal asked Yvonne Bunn, a home schooling mom, to comment on her thoughts of how home schooling matched up with that of a public school, academically. Ms. Bunn replied saying, â€Å"Academically, home schooling is like a tutorial, a one-on-one relationship. That is every teacher’s dream† (18). She went on to comment about how she thinks home schooling is â€Å"the quickest, most comprehensive way of covering a subject† (18). Home schooling seems to be the best way to speed up the learning  process because of the lack of other students. Ms. Bunn told of how one of her daughters was able to complete the entire kindergarten curriculum before Christmas, and this was in just two  hours of â€Å"school† a day. She described how this is possible by saying, â€Å"We accomplish the curriculum in two hours a day because we’re not lining up,  we’re not dealing with troublemakers in the classroom† (18). Many people feel as if the sheltered environment of learning in the home will often hurt a child when he or she decides to leave home to pursue a college education. However, this might not necessarily be true. Margaret Schiner has recently sent her home schooled son off to college, and he is now doing very well in the college setting. She said she believed that â€Å"he is at an advantage because he has learned to study independently and not rely on others so much, which is similar to how you learn in college.† Lawrence Hardy also discusses this issue. He indicates that they (home schooled children) â€Å"are naturals for post-secondary work because of their experience with the kind of independent study that college requires† (19). There is another advantage to home schooling; although, this is an advantage that is often debated for moral reasons. Since most parents who home school don’t keep their student’s grades, when asked by a college to assign a grade for such things as dual-enrollment college classes, the parents often assign the highest grade possible. Rebecca Talluto, dean of educational services at Brevard Community College discusses this topic. She tells how when a home schooled student wants to be part of dual-enrolled college classes, he or she do not go to a principal or guidance counselor to get the proper documents signed. â€Å"Instead they must submit a notarized affidavit that says they are at least sophomores. Their parent, in lieu of a high school guidance counselor and principal, sign a form from us stating that the student meets minimum  GPA requirements. And this is where the problem shows up: when we explain this form to the parents, they usually reply that they do not keep grades. Then they go ahead and sign the form, assigning their child a 4.0 GPA† (20). Unfair? Yes, but it’s definitely an advantage for home schooled students. Just about every critic of the home schooling process will use the â€Å"loss of socialization† point when debating why home schooling is a bad choice.  Yvonne Bunn was asked about whether she was worried about socialization. Ms. Bunn had a very interesting reply, almost flip-flopping the question. She stated, â€Å"We had better be concerned with socialization, because socialization is one of the best reasons to home school. Just look at society today† (18). She went on to say that â€Å"home schooled children have lots of opportunities for socialization–from church groups, scouting, 4-H, and community organizations, to name few† (18). Ms. Bunn feels like her children don’t necessarily need school in order to gain the basic, essential socialization skills needed for life. However, Bob Chase, President of the National Education Association, feels differently. He feels as if the socialization skills picked up from interaction with children of your own age while in public schooling is essential. He says, â€Å"Public education represents a slice of reality that goes beyond participation in 4-H activities, ballet classes, and church socials† (qtd. in Hardy 15). Many parents feel as if they should be more concerned about what kind of socialization their child is receiving, rather than how much. By knowing just what activities a child is involved in, for instance a church youth group, there is a better understanding of just who they are interacting with, as well as a little more control over whom they socialize with. In a public school setting there just isn’t this type of knowledge or control. Ms. Bunn agrees with  this type of philosophy stating, â€Å"Parents should be concerned about the quality of social contracts, rather than quantity † (qtd. in Hardy 18). Before really looking into the issue, most people turn their nose up at the idea of home schooling their children because of the negative remarks often made about this alternative to public schools and the common myths that have developed over time such as: the loss of socialization and poor success in post-secondary schooling. However, if one takes the time to really sit and evaluate which choice would be better for their children, receiving an education in a public school or at home, home schooling has a lot of strong advantages that cannot be ignored. A very small percentage of people who  home school their children give the practice up, and either start their children in a public school for the first time or send them back to the public schooling system. The education that home schooled children are receiving today is often better than that of a public education, and is now starting to show up in society more and more. Richard Hardy discusses this by saying, â€Å"It’s hard to argue with the advantages of one-on-one instruction, of extensive parent involvement, and of a curriculum tailored to every child’s needs. Home schooled children are winning spelling and geography bees and going on to top-notch colleges† (19). It’s obvious there are definite advantages to home schooling, just ask an experienced home school mom like Margaret Schiner. Works Cited Hardy, Lawrence. â€Å"Learning Without School.† American School Board Journal 188 (Aug. 2001): 14-19. Schiner, Margaret. Personal interview. 4 April 2004. Talluto, R. â€Å"Accountability for Home Schoolers.† American School Board Journal 188 (Aug. 001): 20-21.

Langston Hughes, An American Born Writer During The Harlem...

Langston Hughes was an American born writer during the Harlem Renaissance era. His work shed light on issues that white Americans turned their backs to. Racism and segregations was, at one time, a very large issue in our country. Hughes addressed that issue throughout poetry and in doing so, became the most popular writer of his time. He opened the eyes of many, while accurately portraying African American culture in such a way that everyone couldn’t respect. The passion that Hughes had for his topics is easily identified in his poems. A great majority of his poems relate back to African American customs, struggles, heritage, and music. For that reason, Hughes became listed among the greatest versatile writers of his time. Langston Hughes supported equally then, and today his work is remembered as such. â€Å"Mother to Son,† is the first poem that I read by Hughes. Just by the title alone, I knew that this work was going to be heavy. Throughout the story, Hughes’ mother references crystal stairs, stating that â€Å"life for me ain’t been no crystal stairs.† The stairs that she is referring to would be the stairs that lead to equality and freedom. She also states that the stairs she took were splintered and torn up. To me, that symbolizes slavery and the troubles she endured throughout her life thus far. Knowing that, the term â€Å"crystal stairs† then becomes a bit easier to grasp. White people are given the crystal stairs, meaning that their path is smooth and paved. Where as blacks ofShow MoreRelatedThe Harlem Renaissance : The Rebirth Of African American Arts1708 Words   |  7 PagesHarlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural, social, and artistic movement that took place in Harlem, New York. This mainly took place starting from the end of the First World War until the mid-1930s. Harlem, at this time, was the center of the African-American culture, and Harlem appealed lot of black artists, writers, scholars, musicians, poets, and photographers. Lots of these artists had fled from the South because they needed to get away from their oppressive caste system so thatRead MoreLangston Hughes : Jazz Poetry And Harlem Renaissance1212 Words   |  5 PagesLangston Hughes Jazz Poetry and Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes was an African American poet who was born on 01 February 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His parents separated and later divorced during his childhood. Subsequently he was raised predominantly by his maternal grandmother. His grandparents were politically active and supporters of the abolition of slavery. They were activists in the movement for voting rights for African Americans. Through their active involvement in his upbringingRead MoreImpact Of Langston Hughess Contribution To Harlem Renaissance1697 Words   |  7 PagesLangston Hughes contribution to Harlem Renaissance Harlem was founded back in the 17th century as a Dutch outpost. Harlem adjoins New York City and host a large population of the African American Community. The blacks found New York City to be more accommodative to their culture and ideologies, during the great migration of the early 1900s, Harlem became the major destination and it became home to many African Americans. [1] Harlem received over time, Harlem developed from a farming village to becomeRead MoreEssay on Journey to the Harlem Renaissance1282 Words   |  6 PagesJourney to the Harlem Renaissance As America moves into a more cultural and diversified era, more people are taking the time to learn about the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was the foremost form of freedom for African Americans. It showed blacks that they were becoming equals in American society. The talents of African Americans soared in art, music, literature and especially poetry. The main writers embodying the Harlem Renaissance were Claude McKay, Langston Hughes and Countee CullenRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance with Langston Hughes1676 Words   |  7 PagesHarlem Renaissance with Langston Hughes The Harlem Renaissance brought about uniqueness amongst African Americans; everything was new. The visual art, the jazz music, fashion and literature took a cultural spin. During this time writer Langston Hughes seemed to outshine the rest with amazing works. The Harlem Renaissance brought about many great changes. It was a time for expressing the African American culture. It is variously known as the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Literary RenaissanceRead MoreThe Poetry Of Langston Hughes1001 Words   |  5 Pagesbackground and past experiences to eloquently formulate their thoughts. Langston Hughes was no exception. Famous for his contribution to the embracement of African American culture in America during the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes began forming his thoughts into poetry early in his life. From growing up in segregated American and his involvement in the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes accounts the celebration of African American culture as well as the fears and struggles, including his own, facedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Langston Hughes 1451 Words   |  6 PagesMay 2017 Langston Hughes The â€Å"Poet Laureate of Harlem† as they called him was a very influential writer during the Harlem Renaissance (DISCovering Multicultural America, par. 2). He showed what life was like from his eyes and hoped that racial prejudice would stop once people understood what life was like for him. This is the story of Langston Hughes, who stood up for what he believed in and always fought for African American rights. Langston Hughes was an author during the Harlem Renaissance and heRead MoreLangston Hughes : The Face Of Harlem Literacy1147 Words   |  5 Pages The Face of Harlem Literacy James Mercer Hughes, most commonly known as Langston Hughes, was a notorious writer during the Harlem Renaissance period. The Harlem Renaissance is considered a cultural explosion of African American cultures during the 1920’s. Hughes was an important figure and supporter during the Harlem Renaissance era. Through Hughes literature and activism during the 1920’s he created a positive change within the black community. The Harlem Renaissance coincided with theRead MoreLangston Hughes and Jesse B. Simple1109 Words   |  5 PagesLansgton Hughes and Jesse B. Semple In the early 1940s an African American writer by the name of Langston Hughes, who flourished during the Harlem Renaissance in New York, had established a character in his short story writings named Jesse B. Semple. Through these short stories he used this character to represent the black man of his times. However the question remains, is Jesse B. Semple an accurate representation of the black man of 1940s? This question can best be answered by looking at theRead MoreEssay on Langston Hughes and Jesse B. Simple1074 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Lansgton Hughes and Jesse B. Semple† In the early 1940s an African American writer by the name of Langston Hughes, who flourished during the Harlem Renaissance in New York, had established a character in his short story writings named Jesse B. Semple. Through these short stories he used this character to represent the black man of his times. However the question remains, is Jesse B. Semple an accurate representation of the black man of 1940s? This question can best be answered by looking at the