Critics Andrea Stuart and Mary O Connor Essay Example for Free

Critics Andrea Stuart and Mary O Connor Essay Many would argue that men hold the power in The Colour Purple. Explore the opinions of critics Andrea Stuart and Mary O Connor and explain your own view of what Alice Walker has to say about the power in The Colour Purple. In the novel The Colour Purple power is represented differently throughout. One way in which this power is shown is through men in the novel. At the beginning men dominate and are depicted as a higher authority figure to women, it seems the men rule the womens lives. However we can also argue that women are equally strong whilst others evolve into more powerful figures. Power through sisterhood is demonstrated through the fact that Shug gives Celie companionship, something Celie may not have felt since she was separated from her sister Nettie. Through Celie and Shugs relationship Celie has gained strength in herself and has been shown to stick up for herself. We see this when Shug announces she is taking Celie and Mary Agnes with her as Celie stands up to Albert. This shows us Celie is learning to become independent. This represents one aspect of female power in the novel and it also shows that by having friends to support them these women are able to leave their lowdown dogs behind and with the belief in themselves they can build their own future. Female solidarity is shown where we see Celies protection for her mother and sister Nettie. Although she has no real proof on whether Nettie is alive and well, she never stops believing she will one day be reunited with her sister. From this we can see that if men had the will power and strength the women do in the novel, they would be able to make their hard and miserable life easier and more bearable. Celie after everything she has been through and all the misery she has been put through by various characters mainly males, she still has hope and can see a brighter future for herself and to be reunited with her sister and become a family. The love shared between Shug and Celie was getting closer and more passionate. Shugs feelings for Celie to us seemed true even though she had male sexual partners Celie still seemed more important to Shug than any other of her male partners. Andrea Stuart expresses that Celie doesnt mind that her lover Shug comes home with a husband. She only cares that Shug is back with her, the existence of a husband is irrelevant to what is important, the relationship between the two women. Albert did not have a clue to what was going on between the two of them. He could understand they had become good friends in the time they had spent together and therefore wanted to sleep in the same bed but not once did he suspect them to have a sexual relationship. He put too much trust into Celie and Shug letting them be together alone for such a long time that Shug turned Celie into a more confident character, someone that has her own voice and can speak up for herself. Celie shows her strength again in the novel when she sacrifices herself to a traumatizing experience in order to protect and prevent her sister being raped. Alphonso abused Celie and she didnt want the same to happen to Nettie, I ast him to take me instead of Nettie. Thinking Alphonso may not want her instead of Nettie she trys to seduce him, I tell him I can fix myself up for him. I duck into my room and come out wearing horsehair, feathers, and a pair of our new mammy high heel shoes. He beat me for dressing trampy but he do it to me anyway. Celie here shows her willingness to protect her little sister from the pain and suffering she had previously encountered, in order to save Nettie being sexually abused she puts herself through it again. Walker highlights the lack of power experienced by many poor black females living in the southern states through the character of Celie. She comes from a black background which therefore disadvantages her because in the time the novel was set being a black female was quite low down, they were still being treated like slaves due to her being black but also female as in those times the male role dominated. Celie was therefore used to accepting some racism from the whites. This is shown when she goes into town and bumps into her baby and her step mother in a store where the clerk was rude and showed no good manners to them. He speaks in an imperative tone, girl you want that cloth or not? We got other customers sides you. Celie also wrote about black on black racial insults. One example is when Alberts sisters came round to visit and they described Alberts first wife as too black. Lighter skin was seen as more beautiful then darker skin. Squeak after being raped by her uncle Bubber Hodges, asked Harpo do you really love me, or just my colour Squeak thought it was because of her light coloured skin due to the fact she is mixed race that Harpo was attracted to her and not because he truly loved her. Here power was shown through skin colour and Walker highlights how deeply racism is embedded for example when the critics say she is writing against black people showing their racism. Andrea Stuart and Mary OConner both think Celie is only a victim of men in the physical world. Stuart states that men are relegated to the periphery of female consciousness Celie being a black women she was not only a slave to slavery but she was also a slave to the male authority, when slavery was abolished Celie saw the opportunity to free herself from the traditions that men come first.

The War of 1812 Essays -- History, The Battle of Baltimore

The War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain. This all started on June 12, 1812 and finished sometime in 1815. Many of the battles were on land but also there were a lot of sea battles. The United States declared War because there were many different disputes among the two countries. The main target for the British is the American ships (War of 1812, 2). The battle of Baltimore was one of the most important battles of the war. The U.S. Naval forces were under Commodore Macdonough. They beat a British fleet at Lake Champlain. Baltimore was home of U.S. privateers and also, Baltimore was the third largest city in the U.S. On September twelfth, the British ships arrive at Baltimore. They were under command by General Ross(War of 1812, 2). The Battle of Raisin River was on January twenty first, 1813. General Winchester was the commander of the United States forces. In this battle, the U.S forces were in three different divisions in order to attack the British forces at the right time in Detroit. One of the groups went off mission and went to find food and a place to sleep because of the cold weather. There were 700 Kentuckians. They eventually went to a battle and captured a Frenchtown market and set up camp there. It was a very bad defense system. Because of that, they were attacked by 1,200 Brits and 1400 Indians. Around 15 U.S. troops escaped. At the end of the battle, the U.S had 100 dead and around 500 troops held captive. They then surrendered to British Colonel Henry A. Proctor (American History, 4). The Battle of Lake Erie was fought on September 10, 1813. The U.S. forces were under command of Perry. Th... ...ort Malden, but he failed to take it. He then moved on and the British had more troops moving in and Hull surrenders to the British (War of 1812, 1). The War of 1812 ended in 1815 (War of 1812 Web, 2). Some people say that the British won the war and the Americans lost but to me, it is an even match only because the Treaty of Ghent and most of the War was over by that reason. The Americans got a lot of respect for withstanding the British Empire. The country had a great outcome even though the American’s lost a lot of troops, the government help strong. There are many heroes in the War of 1812, but the most recognized ones are, Judah Touro, a Philanthropist, Jean Lafitte, a Buccaneer leader, Uriah Phillips Levy, the first Jewish Commodore of the U.S. Navy, and Captain Mordecai Myers, part of the 13th Pennsylvania Infantry (National Archives and Records, 3).

Elements of Crime

Elements of a Crime (Actus Reus & Mens Rea) Model Lesson Plan Source: Original lesson plan. Handout #2 from David Crump, Criminal Law: Cases, Statutes, And Lawyering Strategies, Lexis Nexis 2005 pg. 117-18. I. Goals: by the end of this class sstudents should have a sthrong foundation for reading criminal statutes and differentiating ssimilar crimes. II. Objectives a. Knowledge objectives: as a result of this class sstudents will be better able to: i. define â€Å"Actus Reus† and â€Å"Mens Rea† ii. understand the different gradations of Mens Rea iii. nderstand the differences between Washington’s homicide statutes b. Skills objectives: as a result of this class sstudents will be better able to: i. read a statute carefully and apply it to fact patterns ii. present and defend their interpretations of the law c. Attitude objectives: i. Sstudents should understand that the severity of criminal punishments can vary greatly depending on the defendant’s mental st ate in a manner that is largely consistent with the general societal belief that intentionally wrongful acts are worse than unintentional, but still wrongful acts. ii.Sstudents should carefully consider the potentially harsh results that occur when legislatures replace mens rea with strict liability. III. Methods (1)Distribute Handout #1 (Hypos) (2)Read the introductory hypothetical aloud as a class. Ask for volunteers to answer the questions. a. The class should come to the conclusion that Frank did â€Å"cause† Bill’s death in the sense that if he hadn’t moved the mirror in the particular way he did at that exact time, the window washer wouldn’t have been blinded and Bill wouldn’t have slipped. This is a good example of â€Å"but for† or â€Å"actual causation† as used in Handout #2.However, the law typically only imposes liability where the defendant’s conduct is the â€Å"proximate cause† of the harmful event/ crime. b. However, it seems like Frank didn’t do anything â€Å"wrong. † Try to elicit why this result seems wrong and write the class’s ideas on the whiteboard. (3)Distribute Handout #2 (Elements) (4)Handout #2 Walk through the Elements handout. Be careful to explain that not all of the elements are always present in a criminal statute. For example, attempted murder doesn’t have a harm element and parking violations don’t have a mens rea element, e. g. ne can receive a parking citation for parking in a handicapped spot even if it was unintentional or an accident. Furthermore, the elements aren’t perfectly discrete and there is some overlap. (5)Distribute Handout #3 (Statutes) a. Explain that the groups will be analyzing the hypos with respect to the statutes provided in Handout #3. The Grades of Homicide are meant to demonstrate the changes mens rea. b. Walk through the statutes and give a thumbnail sketch of i. First degree murder: 1. Premeditat ed killing. An intentional killing that was deliberate and contemplated prior to the killing. . Extreme Indifference. Covers the possibility that someone knows that what they are going to do will result in the death of another person, but at the same time doesn’t â€Å"intend† to kill. See the bomb hypo in handout # 1. ii. Second degree murder 1. Intentional killing without premeditation. The classic example is a passion killing where the homicide occurs in the heat of the moment. iii. First degree manslaughter 1. Recklessness. Conscious awareness of an unacceptable risk to human life. Recklessness is ssimilar to extreme indifference, but the risk that human life will be lost is less. v. Second degree manslaughter 1. Criminal negligence. Gross deviation from standard of care. v. Statutory rape 1. No mens rea. Strict liability with a limited affirmative defense where minor misrepresents age. In an effort to protect minor children, state legislatures have placed an incre ased burden to ascertain age on the older party. (6)Break into groups of 3-5 to apply statutes to Hypos 1-5. Have groups designate a reporter and a recorder. The recorder should write each of the group members’ names on the top of handout #1 and also record the group’s aanswers on the space provided.The Reporter is responsible for explaining the group’s reasoning and conclusion when the class reconvenes. (7)Reconvene Class: call on each group to present their analysis of one hypo. Ask questions to push them in the right direction if you think they missed something or ask questions forcing them to defend their aanswers if you think they got it right. Note to teacher: suggested aanswers to the hypotheticals are on a separate sheet at the end of this lesson plan. (8)Take-away: mens rea standards vary widely from premeditated intent to strict liability.You need to read statutes carefully to determine the correct standard. IV. Evaluation a. Group performance on writt en responses to Hypos1-5 and class discussion. V. Assignment a. Write a one page response to the following question: Shcould Melvin be punished for his relationship with Laura? If not, please explain why. How do you think Washington’s statutory rape statute should be changed? If you think that Melvin should be punished, please explain why. Handout #1: Hypothetical Scenarios Introductory Hypo: Frank is helping his friend move into a downtown Seattle condo.While unloading a large mirror from the moving truck, the bright sunlight hits the mirror and reflects against the 40th floor of the skyscraper across the street which temporarily blinds a window washer and causes him to stumble. During this moment of temporary blindness, lasting about a second and a half, the window washer inadvertently kicks over his window washing bucket onto the street below. The water and soap from the bucket hit the sidewalk right in front of Bill the jogger. Bill was unable to stop before stepping on t he slippery sidewalk, causing him to lose his balance and fall.When Bill fell, he hit his head on the sidewalk. Bill died two weeks later from his head injury. Suppose that Washington law provides: Anyone who causes the death of another person shall be guilty of murder. Wcould Frank be guilty of murder under this law? Shcould he be? Group Exercise Hypos Instructions: Nominate someone in your group to be the recorder and another person to be the class reporter. Read each hypothetical and determine which statute, if any, applies to the facts of the hypothetical and whether the defendant has violated the statute.Hypo #1: Sarah is held at gun point by Roger on a rooftop. Roger tells Sarah that she must shoot and kill Steven. Sarah pleads with Roger to let her go and that she does not want to kill Steven. Roger tells Sarah that unless she successfully shoots and kills Steven, he will kill Sarah and her entire family. Roger has a violent reputation and Sarah has no reason to believe that Roger will not follow through with his threat. Roger identifies Steven walking on the other side of the street and tells Sarah to take the shot.Fearing for the safety of her family and herself, Sarah takes careful aim at Steven, gauges the wind and change in elevation, and fires a precise shot penetrating Steven’s heart. What crimes if any has Sarah committed?

Racism in Othello by William Shakespeare Essay - 1235 Words

Have you ever thought about how much Othello’s race and the racism around him affected his life? Othello struggled a lot during the play because of his dark skin color. He was called several racist names like â€Å"the Moor,† â€Å"old black ram,† â€Å"Barbary horse,† and â€Å"thick lips† (Shakespeare 1.1.40; 1.1.88; 1.1.111; 1.1.66).The term â€Å"racism† has been around for several years; it started in the twentieth century (Bartels 433). By the way the Elizabethan era viewed black people was similar to how racism is today with all of the racial comments, and stereotypes. Being a black person in a mostly white ethnicity area at that time had to be challenging based on Othello’s experience. Othello was the black sheep crowded around a herd of white sheep, he†¦show more content†¦He could not believe that she would want to be with someone like Othello. Othello was a victim of racist comments in Act 1 of Othello. Brabantio, specifically, sees his daughter’s lust for Othello as odd and was amazed that she would â€Å"fall in love with what she fear’d to look on† (Shakespeare 1.1.98). He said that Othello must have used some type of magic to get Desdemona to fall in love with him (Shakespeare 1.2.62-81). At that time it had to be a miracle for a black person to be with a white person; it was unheard of. When he found Othello, he started calling him a â€Å"Moor† to his face and ordered his guards to get him. â€Å"The Moor† is a reference to his black skin color, features, and represents the people from North Africa (Bartels 434). Most of the characters, including Desdemona called Othello a â€Å"Moor†. It is obvious that mostly every character in Othello was racist. If the color of Othello’s skin was white, Othello and Desdemona would have lived happily ever after. Othello’s race, his marriage with Desdemona, and the murder of Desdemona are all important structural elements of Othello and are all interrelated (Little 306). These three elements are interrelated because if Othello’s race was white, their marriage would have lasted, and Desdemona would not have been murdered. â€Å"The meaning of Othello’s murdering Desdemona depends on their marriage and their marriage’s meaning isShow MoreRelatedRacism By William Shakespeare s Othello1277 Words   |  6 PagesRacism in Othello William Shakespeare wrote Othello during the wars between Venice and Turkey dating back to the sixteenth century. On November 1, 1604, Othello was performed for the first time by King’s men at the court of King James I. Race is one aspect that affects people’s lives. â€Å"Racism rejects mankind and a means of legalizing diversity† (Mutlu 135). With traces of racism, Shakespeare portrays the story of a general and his wife. From the beginning of Othello, there is a coordination ofRead MoreRacism By William Shakespeare s Othello1197 Words   |  5 Pagescentury, many scientists supported the belief that the human race could be categorized into different ethnic groups. Racism is generally defined as discrimination, prejudice, or antagonism directed against an individual(s) of a different race or ethnicity based on a certain belief. Every society that once lived on this Earth has essentially been affected by this global issue. Racism has been one of the most malicious aspects of the human race since the very beginning of history, and is still a topicRead MoreRacism And Manipulation Of William Shakespeare s Othello2226 Words   |  9 Pages Racism and Manipulation In William Shakespeare’s Othello Racism has been an inevitable aspect of human society throughout the centuries, from Elizabethan England to â€Å" Separate but equal, here in The United States not too long ago. Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, portrays a young, and recently married Moor named Othello. His own demise is initiated by various deceits, such as his lofty new position as the Venetian Republic’s army general. During the time Shakespeare lived there was an overallRead MoreRacism In Othello And The Tempest By William Shakespeare1145 Words   |  5 PagesRacism in Shakespeare or Absurdity? Is there racism in Shakespeare’s works or is this notion absurd? Shakespeare may not be racist, but two of his plays do contain racism. One may argue that Shakespeare does not openly speak of racism in his plays, but Shakespeare does write with the idea of racism in mind, because his characters do make comments that can be considered racist. In Shakespeare’s plays Othello and The Tempest, the underlying idea of racism is present in these works, and his audiencesRead MoreTheme Of Racism In Othello And The Tempest By William Shakespeare1102 Words   |  5 PagesIs there racism in Shakespeare’s works or is this notion absurd? Shakespeare may not be racist, but two of his plays do contain racism. One may argue that Shakespeare does not openly speak of racism in his plays, but Shakespeare does write with the idea of racism in mind, because his characters do make comments that can be considered racist. In Shakespeare’s plays Othello and The Tempest, the underly ing idea of racism is present in these works, and his audiences can come to this conclusion, becauseRead MoreRacism In Othello Analysis829 Words   |  4 Pagesof Racism in Othello.† Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 3, Oct. 1993, p. 304. In this article, the author relates the idea of primal scene to racism in â€Å"Othello†. Primal scene is a psychoanalysis theory by Sigmund Freud. This theory claims once a child imagines or sees their parents having sexual relations they will be unable to repress this image from reappearing in their mind. The author relates this theory to the play â€Å"Othello† byRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1140 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Othello† is a play written by William Shakespeare in 1603. In this play, Shakespeare features three major characters: Othello, Iago, and Desdemona. Othello, a black man, and Desdemona, a white venetian secretly eloped in the p lay. Iago shows racism and prejudice towards their relationship because of their skin colors. In the play, Iago says: â€Å"Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make aRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1241 Words   |  5 PagesOthello, a play written in the setting of Venice City during a period of war between Venice and Turkey in the 16 century is one of the numerous William Shakespeare’s plays. Othello a middle-aged black moor who is also a general in the defense forces marries Desdemona, a white aristocratic lady against the wishes of her father. Their love, however, does not have the happily ever after ending due to the manipulations, deceptions, and scheming of Iago who is driven by revenge and selfish ambitions.Read MoreComparing Shakespeares Othello with Conrads Heart of Darkness738 Words   |  3 PagesComparing Shakespeare’s Othello with Conradâ €™s Heart of Darkness It is often that when we read great works of literature we come across similar themes. Authors use powerful ideas that they believe will move their readers and relate to them so they become engaged in the words written. William Shakespeare and Joseph Conrad were amazing writers of their times and even though their works were written almost 300 years apart, both, Othello and Heart of Darkness, have coinciding themes. The major themeRead More Racism in William Shakespeares Othello Essay1059 Words   |  5 PagesRacism in William Shakespeares Othello The play, Othello, is certainly, in part, the tragedy of racism. Examples of racism are common throughout the dialog. This racism is directed toward Othello, a brave soldier from Africa and currently supreme commander of the Venetian army. Nearly every character uses a racial slur to insult Othello at one point in the play. Even Emilia sinks to the level of insulting Othello based on the color of his skin. The character that most commonly makes racist