Finding Morality and Unity with God in Dantes Inferno Essay -- Alighi

Finding Morality and Unity with God in Dante's Inferno Throughout the fast-paced lives of people, we are constantly making choices that shape who we are, as well as the world around us; however, one often debates the manner in which one should come to correct moral decisions, and achieve a virtuous existence. Dante has an uncanny ability to represent with such precision, the trials of the everyman’s soul to achieve morality and find unity with God, while setting forth the beauty, humor, and horror of human life. Dante immediately links his own personal experience to that of all of humanity, as he proclaims, â€Å"Midway along the journey of our life / I woke to find myself in a dark wood, / for I had wandered off from the straight path† (I.1-3). The dark wood is the sinful life on earth, and the straight path is that of the virtuous life that leads to God. Dante’s everyman, pilgrim character represents all of humanity, and endures much adversity and temptation through squalid conditions in a nightmarish vision of hel l, in his search to find the soul’s true path in life. While he stands in peril, Dante wishes that each individual would put themselves in the same position as the aforementioned, as all of mankind knows some form of sin, and also wanders lost in a dark wood. Before achieving moral redemption, an individual must take a hard look at evil both in the world and in himself. Only by confronting inner evil can people achieve self-knowledge, which is the first step toward redemption. Dante feels hell is a necessary, painful first step in any man’s spiritual journey, and the path to the blessed after-life awaits anyone who seeks to find it, and through a screen of perseverance, one will find the face of God. Nonetheless, Dante aspires to heaven in an optimistic process, to find salvation in God, despite the merciless torture chamber he has to travel through. As Dante attempts to find God in his life, those sentenced to punishment in hell hinder him from the true path, as the city of hell in Inferno represents the negative consequences of sinful actions and desires. Though the punishments invariably fit the crimes of the sinners and retributive justice reigns, the palpable emphasis of fear and pity that Dante imbues on the transgressors illustrates his human tendency to feel sympathy towards one who is suffering. For example, when Dante approaches the gat... ...a vice. The virtue of courage, then, lies at the mean between the excessive extreme of rashness, and the deficient extreme of cowardice. Reason often calls for us to take sides on moral issues, however, Dante illustrates the extremity of moral demands that Christianity makes on human beings, who are perpetually fallible. He reflects that the world beyond the present one, is, like reality, rational and orderly, and the poem allows us to view this certain, orderly world. Dante makes himself everyman, and the journey that God decreed through hell is one man’s personal transcendent journey from deep intellectual moral confusion to a sound and steadfast faith and hope, in which Dante renews his faith. Dante awakens our hope, and warns against moral complacency by peeling away the dangerous illusions of adequacy, leading one upward, toward the eternal heart of reality. Dante compels the reader to share his growing abhorrence of sin and his obligation to uphold God’s will. The poem’s purpose is to re-awaken Dante, and, by extension, the reader, to the reality of sin and the accompanying need for confession and repentance, to return to the straight path that leads to eternal salvation.

12th Night Essay

Did Shakespeare’s characters get what they deserve? To what extent? The majority of Shakespeare’s characters did not get what they deserved in the end, there definitely is a strong scent of injustice that hangs in the air around Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. This, however, does not mean that it made life harder for his characters. In quite a few cases, it actually leaves them better off. Nevertheless, this is not to say that they are not punished for their wrong deeds, sometimes in ways that are completely unfair.Shakespeare shows us painful truth of the injustice that exits within humanity. In the case of Malvolio, we are quick to act, but not to investigate. We also learn that love can fix many things, but it can also tear them apart, as we see with Olivia, Orsino, Sebastian and Viola. Also, as seen through the character of Antonio, bad things can be forgotten if a good enough deed replaces it. As many of us know, humanity is infamous for their willingness to ju dge and act against a person before they fully investigate the situation; Malvolio is just one example of this.We are aware that Malvolio did treat others in a derogatory manner, â€Å"Go hang yourselves all! You are idle, shallow things; I am not of your element,† – Malvolio, Act 3 Scene 4. He never actually incapacitated anyone; he never broke the law or strayed from his duties. He was simply just a spiteful individual and did not deserve to be imprisoned in a cage for however many hours of his life. I feel that this was an extreme measure and in the end, it may have inflicted more anger and discourtesy towards Sir Andrew, Sir Toby and Maria, reversing the entire effect their ‘plan’ was intended to make.When the truth was eventually exposed, and Malvolio freed after facing an invalid punishment, he was understandably furious, proclaiming, â€Å"I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you! † – Malvolio, Act 5 Scene 1. Perhaps this was a harsh act of karma, all we know is that Olivia was quick to accuse him without further evidence, proving that for once and for all that humanity is unjust. Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy, and romantic love is the play’s main focus. Despite the fact that the play offers a happy ending, in which the various lovers find one another and are married, Shakespeare shows that love can cause pain.Many of the characters seem to view love as a kind of curse, a feeling that attacks its victims suddenly and disruptively. Various characters claim to suffer painfully from being in love. At one point, Orsino describes love miserably as an â€Å"appetite† that he wants to satisfy and cannot, Act 1 Scene 1; at another point, he calls his desires â€Å"fell and cruel hounds,† Act 1 Scene 1. Olivia more bluntly describes love as a â€Å"plague† from which she suffers terribly, Act 1 Scene 5. These metaphors contain an element of violence, further painting the love-struc k as victims of some random force in the universe.Even the less melodramatic Viola sighs unhappily that â€Å"My state is desperate for my master’s love,† Act 2 Scene 2. This desperation has the potential to result in violence, as in Act 5 scene 1, when Orsino threatens to kill Cesario because he thinks that Cesario has abandoned him to become Olivia’s lover. Love is also exclusionary: some people achieve romantic happiness, while others do not. At the end of the play, as the happy lovers celebrate, Malvolio is prevented from having the objects of his desire.Malvolio, who has pursued Olivia, must eventually face the realization that he is a fool, socially undeserving of his noble mistress. Love, therefore, cannot overcome all obstacles, and those whose desires go unfulfilled remain no less in love but feel the sting of its absence even more severely. Sometimes in life, we can make up for our crimes, merely by doing respectable deeds instead. This is what Shakesp eare demonstrates for us through the character of Antonio. We become conscious that Antonio’s past is shadowed with unlawful activity when he voices to Sebastian of â€Å"many his enemies in Orsino’s court,† Act 2 Scene 3.Nevertheless, he still follows Sebastian, showing courage and loyalty. He then defends Viola (Dressed as Cesario but identical to Sebastian) from Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, bringing himself to the attention of the officers, who recognise him from his shady past and drag him away. Yet it is when Orsino sees him and Viola takes Antonio’s side, reimbursing the favour he did for her, that Orsino concludes that Antonio is free to go, insisting that he is a, â€Å"Notable pirate† and wonders how he, â€Å"Hast made thine enemies? Act 5 Scene 1. So he is pardoned of all of his corrupt deeds, purely because he was kind and displayed courage and determination. As a result, it is quite clear that no one in Twelfth Night truly gets what he or she deserves. Shakespeare’s plays are just as unjust as the world itself, perhaps this is why we love to read and watch his works, we can relate to them. Twelfth Night has helped to show me just how one-sided life can be, but also that that unfairness can also work in my favour.

A Beautiful Planet in Pakistan Essay

Planet 94 is the first 24/7 English radio frequency, entertaining listeners of Islamabad/ Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi with all genres of music; from Techno to Hip Hop, Grunge to Indy rock, Jazz to Metal and many others. Planet 94’s is primarily to promote quality music and to encourage and represent youth by being a platform to raise their voice and be heard. It was established in the capital in 2009 under the umbrella of Radio Pakistan. Planet 94’s is primarily subjected to the young blood. This channel is specially created for youth, for example for the universities and colleges student. If they have talent then they should come forward and show their skills. This channel is completely in English. All the programs are held in English in addition, this is the first Pakistani Radio channel which is freely available on American telephones. The programs which are run by channel they all are really very interesting and sweet to listen. All radio jockeys talk in English. Now the question arises: â€Å"Why Planet 94 is in English language?† Because English is a popular language and it is very well spoken and understood. It is the language in which there is a lot of scientific knowledge. I think English language is the national language of the world. That’s why planet 94 started its broadcasting in English. People are very much interested in this channel because it provides all the fun which people are in need of. Planet 94 also accepts feedback of their programs. Planet 94 also gives commentary of different sports for example cricket matches and football matches etc. The thing I love the most about the channel is that they call different celebrities from Hollywood and give them invitations to join the program as a guest. See more: Sleep Deprivation Problem Solution Speech Essay Most of the celebrities accept the proposals and listeners enjoy their gossips and also call them via mobile phones or PTCL when the celebrities come as a guest. As I said before that this channel is specially created for the youth of Pakistan. There are many programs which are related to youth and young boys and girls feel pleasure when they listens the programs. People get many benefits when they listening planet 94. The main advantage is improvement in English language, especially development of listening skills. English is the language that is very important for ordinary citizens as it is the mode of communication in many fields. This program provides an opportunity for the  audience to develop their skills in the English language. This channel gives proper and authentic information. Before the arrival of this Planet the people who preferred to listen to English transmission only, had lost interest in radio. But after this channel was introduced, the situation completely changed and people once again begin to lend their ears to radio broadcasting. The programs which are shown by planet 94 are unique and different and the names of the programs are Celebrity at 10, Club Fanatics, Soothing Sundays, Party Starter, The awakening, the break, night creatures, these all programs are wonderful programs. People listen to radio on their cell phones and also on internet. In the end I would like to say that may God give more success to this channel and it may flourish more.

Basic French Politeness Vocabulary and Expressions

Basic French Politeness Vocabulary and Expressions After you master your French survival phrases, the very next thing you need to conquer in French is politeness. Do Smile in France You may have heard that it was not OK to smile in France. I dont agree. I am Parisian born and raised, then lived 18 years in the US, then came back to France to raise my daughter among my (also French) husband family. People smile in France. Especially when they interact, ask for something, are trying to make a good impression. In a large city like Paris, smiling to everybody may make you look out of place. Especially if you are a woman and are smiling to each guy that looks at you: they may think you are flirting.   However, that doesnt mean you shouldnt smile, especially when you are talking to someone.   Lots of French students are afraid to speak French, and therefore have a very intense facial expression: its not nice. So try to relax, breathe in, and smile! Tu Versus Vous - The French You There is MUCH to say on this subject which is deeply rooted in French history. But to sum it up. Use tu with one person you are talking to: a child, a close friend, an adult in a very relaxed setting, a family member, anyone who uses tu with you (unless they are much older than you).Use vous with everybody else you are talking to. An adult you are not close to, a colleague, a person much older than you... and with a group of several people (whether you say tu or vous to them individually. The choice between tu and vous also depends on social class (this is very important and the main reason why French people use tu or vous to talk to one person), geographic region, age, and... personal preference!   Now, each time you learn a French expression using you - youll have to learn two forms. The tu one and the vous one. French Politeness Essentials Monsieur - SirMadame - Lady, MadamMademoiselle - Miss, to be used with younger (too young to be married) women When addressing someone, it is much more polite in French to follow with Monsieur, Madame or Mademoiselle. In English, it may be a bit over the top, depending where you come from. Not in France. Oui - Yes.Non - No.Merci - Thank you.Bonjour - hi, hello.Au revoir - Bye.Sil vous plaà ®t - please (using vous)/  Sil te plaà ®t - please (saying tu)Je vous en prie - youre welcome (using vous) / Je ten prie (saying tu)Dà ©solà ©(e) - sorryPardon - sorryComment ? - Excuse me - when you couldnt hear someone.Excusez-moi (for vous) / excuse-moi (for tu) - excuse-me vos souhaits (for vous) / tes souhaits (for tu) - bless you (after someone sneezes) Of course, there is much more to say about French politeness. We  suggest you check out look at the  downloadable audio lesson on French Politeness to master the modern French pronunciation and all the cultural nuances linked to French politeness and greetings.

List of All Elements Considered to Be Metals

List of All Elements Considered to Be Metals Most elements are metals. This group includes the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, basic metals, lanthanides (rare earth elements), and actinides. Although separate on the periodic table, the lanthanides and actinides are really specific types of transition metals. Heres a list of all the elements on the periodic table that are metals. Alkali Metals The alkali metals are in group IA on the far left side of the periodic table. They are highly reactive elements, distinctive because of their 1 oxidation state and generally low density compared with other metals. Because they are so reactive, these elements are found in compounds. Only hydrogen is found free in nature as a pure element, and that is as diatomic hydrogen gas. Hydrogen in its metallic state (usually considered a nonmetal)​LithiumSodiumPotassiumRubidiumCesiumFrancium Alkaline Earth Metals The alkaline earth metals are found in group IIA of the periodic table, which is the second column of elements. All of the alkaline earth metal atoms have a 2 oxidation state. Like the alkali metals, these elements are found in compounds rather than pure form. The alkaline earths are reactive but less so than the alkali metals. Group IIA metals are hard and shiny and usually malleable and ductile. BerylliumMagnesiumCalciumStrontiumBariumRadium Basic Metals The basic metals display the characteristics people generally associate with the term metal. They conduct heat and electricity, have a metallic luster, and tend to be dense, malleable, and ductile. However, these elements start to display some nonmetallic characteristics. For example, one allotrope of tin behaves more as a nonmetal. While most metals are hard, lead and gallium are examples of elements that are soft. These elements tend to have lower melting and boiling points than the transition metals (with some exceptions). AluminumGalliumIndiumTinThalliumLeadBismuthNihonium: probably a basic metalFlerovium:  probably a basic metalMoscovium: probably a basic metalLivermorium: probably a basic metalTennessine: in the halogen group but may behave more like a metalloid or metal Transition Metals The transition metals are characterized by having partially filled d or f electron subshells. Since the shell is incompletely filled, these elements display multiple oxidation states and often produce colored complexes. Some transition metals occur in pure or native form, such as gold, copper, and silver. The lanthanides and actinides are found  only in compounds in nature. ScandiumTitaniumVanadiumChromiumManganeseIronCobaltNickelCopperZincYttriumZirconiumNiobiumMolybdenumTechnetiumRutheniumRhodiumPalladiumSilverCadmiumLanthanumHafniumTantalumTungstenRheniumOsmiumIridiumPlatinumGoldMercuryActiniumRutherfordiumDubniumSeaborgiumBohriumHassiumMeitneriumDarmstadtiumRoentgeniumCoperniciumCeriumPraseodymiumNeodymiumPromethiumSamariumEuropiumGadoliniumTerbiumDysprosiumHolmiumErbiumThuliumYtterbiumLutetiumThoriumProtactiniumUraniumNeptuniumPlutoniumAmericiumCuriumBerkeliumCaliforniumEinsteiniumFermiumMendeleviumNobeliumLawrencium More About Metals In general, metals are located on the left-hand side of the periodic table, decreasing in metallic character moving up and to the right. Depending on conditions, elements belonging to the metalloid group may behave like metals. In addition, even nonmetals may be metals. For example, in certain situations, you may find metallic oxygen or metallic carbon.

Russian Lit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Russian Lit - Essay Example This is the tragedy of their love. The Theme of Love in The Lady with the Little Dog. The Lady with the Little Dog is one of Anton Chekhov’s most popular short stories and also one of the greatest love stories in literature. The entire narrative revolves round the theme of love. The protagonists, Dmitri Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna, are married and have their own separate, routine family lives that are not particularly cruel or intolerable. As such, their passion is not something which automatically deserves approval. However, the compassion and tenderness with which the author delineates the love between Dmitri and Anna arouses the reader’s sympathy and justifies their common search for a meaningful relationship. Their passion transforms the cynical Dmitri into a true lover and a more compassionate man. The Lady with the Little Dog is a story of illicit passion and the conclusion is ambiguous. There is no ‘they lived happily ever after’ at the end. Their inab ility to overcome the clandestine nature of their meetings lends a tragic note to the narrative. They are doomed to live apart. The protagonists’ love arises from a shared need, transforms Dmitri’s cynicism into true passion, and leads to their living double lives which cannot be reconciled with social norms. Dmitri and Anna come to Yalta with the shared experience of loveless married lives. Both have been married early in their respective lives: obviously in marriages which have been arranged for convenience, according to the custom in the Russia of those days. Dmitri is afraid of his wife and does â€Å"not like to be at home† (Chekhov, p. 361), while Anna despises her husband for being â€Å"a lackey† (Chekhov, , p.365). Both of them are obviously in search of romance and have come to Yalta prepared to actively seek out and enjoy new experiences and pleasures. Dmitri is lured by the â€Å"tempting thought of a swift, fleeting love affair,† (Chek hov, p.362) and Anna yearns for â€Å"something better --- a different life† (Chekhov, p. 366). Anna is aware of Dmitri’s motive in pursuing her, but does nothing to discourage him. In spite of her moral qualms, and the comparative innocence of her character, she voluntarily surrenders to her passion. They deliberately embark on a one week fling, which they fully expect to be a temporary indulgence. However, contrary to their expectations, the beautiful surroundings, their common needs, and their shared celebration of â€Å"this sweet delirium, this madness,† (Chekhov, , p.368), take root as enduring love. Dmitri enters into his relationship with Anna in the same spirit of cynicism with which he has always dealt with women in the past: despising them as â€Å"an inferior race!† (Chekhov, , p.362). Being unfaithful to his wife is nothing new to him. He is bored and irritated by Anna’s remorse and her continuous fear of being despised by him for bein g a â€Å"trite, trashy woman† (Chekhov, , p.366). He admits that she is deceived in thinking him to be â€Å"kind, extraordinary, lofty† (Chekhov, , p.368). He is ready to put Yalta behind him and move on with life in Moscow. He is totally unprepared to find that his memory of Anna â€Å"followed him everywhere like a shadow and watched him† (Chekhov, , p.369). What begins as just a search for another conquest ends with making a new man of him. He realizes that â€Å"there was no person closer, dearer and more important to him in the whole world† (Chekhov, , p.372). He complacently thinks it is she who loves him and continues

Intercultural Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Intercultural Communication - Essay Example International students are an increasingly significant presence in our educational programs, and thus it is important to understand how they make the transition from their culture education to new constructs for learning, socializing and communicating. Hence, we need to enhance our understanding of the difficulties faced by international students and construct learning environments that facilitates intercultural communication among international students and host students. In order to critically evaluate the article, it is essential to read it through carefully made make important points as for the consistency and structure, also to discuss in details the parts that were included in the article, review the literature concerning intercultural communication of international students and the difficulties they face while studying internationally and the reason they limit their interaction with students who are culturally different, discuss findings and design of research, consider views of other authors and make sure the article corresponds to other recent research. Finally, come up with conclusion about article's credibility and views on how the article might be improved. When looking for books, articles, journals in the libraries (both university library and online libraries) and searching the world wide web the following keywords were used: intercultural communication; ethnic students; international education; language barriers; cross-cultura... a. Kijima, M, 'Schooling, multiculturalism and culture identity', International Education Journal, ERC2004 Special Issue, 2005, vol 5, no.5, PP.12-136 b. Doria, C, 'The truth about being an international student', Globally United, 2005 c. Dalglish C, Chan A, 'Expectations and reality: international student reflections on studying in Australia', Opportunities in a challenging environment, the Australian International Education Conference 2005'. d. Asmar C, June 2005, 'Internationalising students: reassessing diasporic and local students difference' Studies in Higher Education, v.30 n.3 p.291-309 e. Prescott A, Hellsten M, 2005 'Hanging together even with non-native speakers : the international student transition experience' 'Internationalizing higher education : critical explorations of pedagogy and policy' edited by P Ninnes and M Hellsten, pages 75-95. Hong Kong : Comparative Education Research Centre, University of Hong Kong p 75-95 f. McNamara D & Harris R 'Overseas Students in Higher education: Issues in Teaching and Learning, Routledge, 1997 3. Findings The following books and journals will be used to critically evaluate the article: a. Dalgish C, Chan A, 2005, 'Expectations and reality: international student reflections on studying in Australia', Opportunities in a challenging environment, The Australian International Education Conference, Education Australia. This item can be found in Southern Cross University library/ library database/A+ Education.This paper will be useful in assessing the article as it explores international students expectations, and difficulties faced studying overseas. b. Tomich PC, McWhiter JJ & Darcy MJA, 'Personality and International