Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun - Money :: Raisin Sun essays

A Raisin in the Sun - Money Where money is but an illusion and all it brings are nothing but dreams, one family struggles to discover that wealth can be found in other forms. In the play "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry uses the indirect characterization of the Younger family through their acquaintances to reveal that money and materialism alone are worthless. Living in a society where the fulfillment of dreams is based upon material wealth, the Younger family strives to overcome their hardships as they search for happiness. As money has never been a way of life for the family, the insurance check's arrival brings each person to see the chance that their own dreams can become reality. Whether in taking a risk through buying a "little liquor store" as Walter wishes to do or in -"[wanting] to cure" as Beneatha dreams, the desires of the family depend upon the fate of Mama's check. In the mind of Walter Lee Younger, the check is the pinnacle of all, dominating his thoughts, as he does not wait a second before "asking about money "without" a Christian greeting." He cannot see beyond the fact that he "[wants] so many things" and that only their recently acquired money can bring them about. The idea of money and being able to hold it "in [his] hands" blinds him from the evils of society, as he cannot see that the Willy Harris's of th e world will steal a person's "life" without a word to anyone. When money becomes nothing but an illusion, Walter is forced to rethink his values and his family's future, realizing that there is more to living that possessing material riches. When Walter loses his "sister's school money," the consequences are widespread and Beneatha sees that dream diminish before her eyes. She sees her slipping through Walter's fingers and finds her lifelong goals changing. From the days of her childhood, she has longed "to be a doctor" and "fix up the sick." While her family and friends do not understand Beneatha's dream, she continues longing for the education she needs to create a successful life she desires rather than one where she is waiting "to get married.

A Shifting Self of a Postmodern Detective in City of Glass

The main character in City of the Glass has a split subjectivity and is presented to the readers at the first beginning as having multiple identities. â€Å"In the triad of selves that Quinn had become, Wilson served as a kind of ventriloquist. Quinn himself was the dummy, and Work was the animated voice that gave purpose to the enterprise† (Austere, 6). Quinn publishes under the pseudonym William Wilson and lives through Max Work, the novel hero he creates. William Wilson is only â€Å"an invention† that serves as the â€Å"bridge† for him to walk into Works detective voice (Austere, 4).Quinn is solely the puppeteer â€Å"dummy' – an empty husk. His thinking and Interior voice Is substituted by Max Work, who gives life to Quinn In his solitude. As Is written In the novel, â€Å"the writer and the detective are interchangeable† (Austere, 8). The â€Å"private eye† looks into objects and events in search of ideas, in order to make sense of th em, leading to an ultimate truth. For Quinn, the â€Å"private eye† holds â€Å"a triple meaning† (Austere, 8). Throughout the story, we as readers are engaged in the split of ‘l' when we look into the case with the three eyes.One is of an â€Å"Investigator†, probably Max Work who discerns details and traces of facts; two is room the lifeless â€Å"self† wealth Quinn, who keeps a distance from the outer world; and the last eye from the writer or narrator of the story that appears In the end when the case dissolves. The destabilize of subject challenges the readers, as the detective drifts from one identity to another, we also lost a stable detective eye to scrutinize the case. The imaginary figure Max Work is present in the world of others – the fictive outside world.For this reason he is more real and powerful than Quinn. â€Å"The more Quinn seemed to vanish, the more persistent Work's presence In that world became† (Austere, 9). HI S vanishing Inclination Is perhaps due to his alienation In actual world. After the death of his loved ones, he is no longer the ambitious part of him that published a number of works. He hides behind his pseudonym to be in touch with his agent, publisher and readers on the surface. Having no friends and family, he â€Å"no longer exists for anyone but himself† (Austere, 4).This isolation of himself from others accounts for his desire to replace a unified Quinn with multiple Identities, since there Is no connection with others that anchors his subjectivity. And afflicted with all the devastating experience and traumatic memory. Max Work, on the other hand, is an â€Å"aggressive† and â€Å"quick-tongued† (Austere, 9) detective figure whose consciousness Quinn relies on throughout the investigation. Though he has no knowledge of any crime, he attempts to draw relations between events Just like Max would do.Max embodies a modern detective notion of attaining truth through one's rationality and consistency, yet Quinn represents a deciphering subject without a coherent self. A classic detective novel hails the power of reason, and a traditional detective's observation to uncover mysteries is associated with seeking transcendent truth in a modernist perspective. Quinn's desire to lose himself, or to assume alternative identities are incongruous with a traditional detective, who generally has a coherent and consistent self (Sourpuss, 76). The quest for Peter Stallion Sir. s identity is also an attempt to find Quinn himself, which is revealed in his putting down his initial, Q in his red notebook that records the case. However, indulged in the case, Quinn easily shifts himself into the role of detective â€Å"Paul Austere†, an author in the novel mistaken for a detective. â€Å"To be Austere meant being a man with no interior, a man with no thoughts†, â€Å"If his own inner life had been made inaccessible, hen there was no place fo r him to retreat to† (Austere, 61). By being Paul Austere, Quinn empties his inner life and takes up the consciousness of another imaginative figure, a role shaped after detective models.Quinn becomes a mere husk and has nowhere to go back, which shadows his final destiny of disappearing from the scene. Towards the end, the death of Peter Stallion and Quinn's encounter with the real Paul Austere makes him realize his inability to uncover the truth. He is â€Å"nowhere† and â€Å"he knew nothing† (Austere, 104), which is the beginning state of being nowhere he desired. This detective story seems a circle returning to the original point, compared to a linear structure of a conventional one with a definite solution.Without solving the puzzle, Quinn loses himself eventually. Sourpuss wrote that the detective must be a consistent person that enables him to concentrate on the mystery outside of him. Therefore, a degree of ambiguity involved in the detective's very iden tity will interfere with his ability to tackle the mystery at hand (76). As this applies to Quinn, a writer-detective who gets lost in the labyrinth in search of his own identity, it explains he failure of the investigation with no solution in the end.

Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse

The topic I chose for this project was the link between domestic violence and substance abuse. From the research that I did, there is a definite link between domestic abuse and substance abuse. According to the National Coalition against domestic violence, â€Å"Regular alcohol abuse is one of the leading factors for intimate partner violence. † Approximately 61% of domestic violence offenders also have substance abuse problems. Domestic violence is the use of intentional emotional, psychological, sexual, or physical force by one family member or partner to control another.These acts can include, verbal abuse, threats, physical abuse, sexual abuse, destroying the victim's possessions, slapping, punching, kicking, burning, stabbing, shooting, or killing the victim's. A woman is beaten every 15 SECONDS in the United States, 30% of female trauma patients have been the victim of domestic violence. The medical costs for women who have been injured by their partners total to more th an 44 million annually. Researchers have found that one-fourth to one half of men who commit acts of domestic violence also have substance abuse issues.A study conducted by the â€Å"Department of Justice† of murders in families found that more than one half of defendants accused of murdering their spouses, as well as almost half of the victim's, had been drinking alcohol at the time of the incident. Alcohol and drugs may be used to cope with the physical, emotional, and/or psychological pain of family violence. â€Å"Regular alcohol abuse is one of the leading factors for intimate partner violence, also men who batter frequently use alcohol abuse as an excuse for their violence.They attempt to rid themselves of responsibility for their violence by blaming it on the effects of alcohol. † (NCADV) The effects on children of substance abusing parents is also great, â€Å"Children of substance abusing parents are more likely to experience physical, sexual, or emotional ab use than children in non-substance abusing households† (NCADV) In fact 80% of child abuse cases are linked with the use of alcohol and other drugs. These children are also at a greater risk of not only developing domestic violence issues of their own, but also substance abuse issues. An estimated 3 million children witness acts of violence against their mothers every year, and many believe that violent behavior is an acceptable way to express anger, frustration, or a will to control. † (Recovery Network) Common myths about domestic violence are as follows: domestic violence is caused by substance abuse, this is not true, domestic violence and substance abuse are two separate problems and must be treated separately.Two, substance abusers cannot control their violent behavior, contrary to that belief, it had been proven that batterers know how to hide the violence they inflict, even under the influence of alcohol or drugs. And three, treating the substance abuse issues wil l end the domestic violence, this is also a myth because there is no guarantee that successful treatment for substance abuse will stop the domestic violence. The evidence between the link in domestic violence and substance abuse is great.In fact, â€Å"About 40% of children from violent homes believe that their fathers had a drinking problem and that they were more abusive when drinking. † (Recovery Network) Also, when a child is subjected to physical abuse, they are more like to develop drug abuse later in life. Another interesting fact is that â€Å"teachers have reported a need for protective services three times more often for children who are being raised by someone with an addiction than for other children† (Recovery Network)Other connections I learned about while doing my research are that many times alcohol and other drug abuse may be used to cope with the physical. Emotional, and/or psychological pain of family violence. Often times the behavior is learned, be cause we learn in our families and social groups that certain events or behaviors are connected and expected. Denial often is a major factor in domestic violence too, because an abusive individual excuses their violent behavior and, are often excused by their partners and other family members because they were drunk and â€Å"not in control. Also, â€Å"Research supports the connection between substance abuse and domestic violence. Members of families in which one or both parents abuse substances are considered to be at high risk for physically abusing and neglecting their children. † (Recovery Network) The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse found that as many as 80% of child abuse cases are associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs, and the link between child abuse and others forms of domestic violence is well established.As far as treatment, the treatment for domestic violence and substance abuse needs to be approached separately. Because, in most cases sub stance abuse treatment does not address the anger management problems that are associated with domestic violence. â€Å"Effective treatment for domestic violence offenders includes cognitive therapy, which helps the offender develop alternate ways of reacting to anger, and skill development, which helps the offender learn how to establish loving relationships that are free from violence. (Sober living by the sea) I learned a lot from doing this paper. As a woman who has been through domestic violence myself, it was intriguing to learn about the links between domestic violence and substance abuse. When I was married to my ex-husband, we both did marijuana, he had a lot of mood swings and violent tendencies. Now that I look back and now that I know what I know about the connection of domestic violence and substance abuse, I can see where he maybe would have thought his actions were â€Å"justified. Also, knowing what I know now, I think it would be a tai assessment that although he received treatment with his substance abuse issues and has been sober for about 7 years, he never received treatment for the anger issues and I can still see those types of behaviors in him today. Living with someone for that long ,you get to know aha their moods are, and I still know to this day when I can and when I cannot approach him about something, basically, I know what kind of mood he is in as soon as I see him.His anger is written all over his face, it is days like that when I realize that I am happy I was able to walk away from the relationship. The fear of never knowing how someone is going to react and always having to walk â€Å"on eggshells† is a heavy burden to live with everyday. Also being a recovering addict, I know that a lot of my own anger came from my guilt, resentments, and self-loathing, working on those issues and learning to love me for me and also working with the counselors at the Shock program and in treatment, helped me to be able to control my a nger and take a â€Å"timeout† if I need to.Now that myself and my ex-husband are sober, I can only hope that we will have broken the cycle of addiction and domestic abuse so that our children do not have to experience the same thing. Domestic violence and substance abuse are two huge problems that, I think, is becoming more and more of a problem in the world today. Being able to recognize the link between these two, I hope that I as a counselor, will be able to help more of my clients who are experiencing the same kind of situation.

Boys vs Girls

Guys vs. Girls Vive always been the kind of person who has more guy friends than girl friends. Girls tend to cause unnecessary drama, pick people apart and run their mouths. In truth, guys make better friends because they are lenient, arent as Judgmental and know how to be straightforward. Its always enjoyable spending time with people who are laid-back and relaxed. When hanging out with guys its about having a good time no matter how you look or what youre doing. Girls on the other hand are always checking to see if they look Kay and try to attract the most attention. Secondly, when it comes to disagreements guys argue and move on whereas girls hold grudges for months. More specifically, girls overbalance everything and get offended very easily. For this reason, it is preferable to have guy friends because guys dont take anything to heart. When theres a difference of opinions guys state their point of view and let it go whereas girls will bicker to tears and start unnecessary drama. Lastly, girls beat around the bush and sugarcoat the truth. When wanting an onset opinion guys arent afraid to say it like it is and tell you what they truly think. Girls tell you what you want to hear to attempt at saving your feelings even if it meaner telling a white lie. As a result guys make better companions because they dont avoid the truth and make situations easier to work out and communicate. Ultimately, when looking for a loyal, fun and honest friend choosing a guy over a girl is a better choice because you can be yourself, confide in them and have a drama-free friendship that lasts a lifetime.

Security for Credit Card Fraud in E-commerce Essay

Security for Credit Card Fraud in E-commerce - Essay Example It has provided the world with innovative modes of communication from one end of the globe to the other [7]. Another area which has witnessed ground-breaking revolution is the conception of e-commerce; an idea which would have seemed unattainable for a man in the past. E-commerce encapsulates the concept of buying and selling products online, which involves money transactions from around the world. Since these transactions are usually done through credit cards, therefore this raises a need to authenticate and verify the customers who are involved in purchasing goods online. Their location, personal information, and account information need to be verified so that the chances of fraud can be minimized [2]. There are over 1.2 billion internet users all over the world [14]; Cheskin Research & Studio Archetype/Sapient concludes some internet users pose threats and some pose opportunities [3]. One of the major threats prevailing in the modern age is the validity of the transactions that take place online [16]. This mistrust in business owners is the product of the thousands of fraud cases witnessed in the past and this has led the companies to deploy extreme security measures to tackle this threat [4]. The goal of e-commerce sites is as follows; one is to reduce the degree of fraudulent activities, try to lower the number of rejections for legitimate orders as much as possible and minimize the number of manual reviews of transactions which prove to be costly for the company [5]. From these three objectives, it can be seen that fraud is their topmost concern and due to this they spend a large part of their resources in overcoming this challenge. The mode of payment in e-commerce transactions is through ‘credit cards’; which have established more opportunities for businessmen but at the same time introduced new problems in the whole process of selling goods [10].  

Self evaluation learning and action plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Self evaluation learning and action plan - Essay Example This section will offer the progress report which will be only limited to the first three capabilities. The first three capabilities are communication, team work and problem solving. Hence the identification and evaluation process will be confined to these segments only. In the first segment, I have tried to enhance my communication skills, skills required for successful team work and also expertise required for solving various problems. Now in order to develop the aforementioned factors, I believe that elements such as listening & understanding, clear speaking and sharing information, working across different ages, identification of the strengths of the team members and offering creative and innovative solutions for various problems are important as well as essential. I have developed the skills mainly by following my teachers and the persons whom I admire. Apart from those, specialized trainings also facilitated learning for me and enhanced my skills. Moreover, feedback from the tu tors has helped to serve the purpose. I also feel that my communication skills, problem solving skills and team work skills have indeed developed. In order to cite an example, a few months back, when I took admission for the masters, I used to feel the nervousness when events such as individual presentations took place. However these days I feel confident and do not undergo any kind of nervousness. A few days back I was to give a presentation on ‘stakeholder’s role on developing a brand value’ and did not sense any nervousness within myself. This demonstrates that my communication skills have developed. As an example of successful team work I will share my experience about the market survey project. I was in a group of 5 people where there were students from USA, Australia and also from Asia. I get along with them very well, irrespective of the cultural differences and we worked as a team and formulated a successful project report. Finally regarding my skills as a problem solver, I have been praised by my friends a number of times. Recently, there was an incident that took place where our college assigned us a project of market survey, which requires substantial amount of money. Being students we could not afford to spend a significant sum of money, still we had to complete the assignments for securing good grades. I took the matter to the higher authority and they provided us the money required to conduct the project. This is how I solved the problem. However I also feel development is a continuous process and it should run as a chain. In future I would like to develop these skills by applying them in professional fields. In the aforementioned categories I believe my communication needs further development in the form of establishing and using networks, independent reading and writing exactly according to the requirement of the topic. Furthermore to enhance my skills I need to interact with the teachers frequently. Hence on the basis of th e skills and expertise, I intend to become a successful businessman in the near future. I believe that using communication skill, I can interact efficiently with my clients and employees. This will also help me in the long run. Also my problem solving skills will hugely assist me in the process of

An ethical analysis of the September 11 attacks Essay

An ethical analysis of the September 11 attacks - Essay Example These attacks were however carried out by Muslim extremists whose ideals were not representative of the Muslim sentiment as a whole. Nevertheless, this attack created a significant rift between the US and the Muslim community. There are various explanations which have been suggested in order to make sense of this attack. These explanations always return to the core issues of terrorism and Muslim extremism. This analysis shall now consider two approaches (Marxism and Realism) to the incident, evaluating the ethics of the situation. The US policy in relation to the developing world soon after the 9/11 attacks shall be the main focus of this analysis, utilizing Marxist and Realist approaches to ethical assessment. The 9/11 terrorist attack and the subsequent War on Terror and the Iraqi War led to instances of western bigotry against the east (Bai). Based on the need to react to the atrocities perpetrated by the Muslim followers, the attacks might be understandable, however, such racism is often carried over to designate Marxism (MacGregor and Zarembka). Some analysts have mentioned, without any sufficient reason for religious fundamentalism in the East, they labeled such religions and practices as the source of crazy fundamentalism, labeling Marxism with the same negative connotation (MacGregor and Zarembka). The 9/11 report on the attacks also established similar connotations, and blamed all the problems on the underachievement and jealousy issues of eastern working class citizens. There are arguments which hold Marxism to task for being too western a philosophy (MacGregor and Zarembka). Edward Said (p. 153) claims that Marxism views Asia as a group entity, not as a plurality of individuals with varying and diverse identities. He does not acknowledge that Marx seems to apply the same ideals to England and India (Said, p. 154). Such criticism may also be based on Marx’s perception of the working class and the bourgeoisie of England where they are grouped to gether based on class. While Said might justifiably accuse Marx with an overall view of class struggle, Marx would likely agree to these same precepts (Said, p. 153). The Marxist theory often supports leftist ideals and has always acknowledged that states operate to protect the interest of the economic working class (Owusu, p. 3). Marxist commentators agree to the outcomes of the 9/11 attacks, most of them are not willing to agree that 9/11 in a manner which was not validated by the US officials; in effect, they discount the possibility of conspiracy of capitalists (Owusu, p. 3). Although the attack established a means for the US to undertake military action, no thought was given to the fact that the attack may have been based on state actions (Owusu, p. 3). However, in general, the Marxist connotations do not support a planned and convoluted action by the US. Marxism is based on economic and sociopolitical ideals which highlight the materialist evaluation of history, and a critique on the development of capitalism (Callinicos, p. 5). In reviewing the 9/11 attacks, terrorism was built on economic hardships, mostly exacerbated by the dominance of capitalism and Western capitalism in the developing countries (Carmody, p. 85). These terrorists believe that their economic