Monday, January 27, 2020

Gothic in Wuthering Heights and Dorian Gray

Gothic in Wuthering Heights and Dorian Gray The duplicity or sometimes called the Doppelganger is a common theme in gothic fiction works such as The Picture of Dorian Gray or Wuthering Heights. While in the first novel, this theme regards the division of the main characters into two different bodies, in the latter, the self is no longer divided into different embodiments, but it can be found in the same character having the same appearance while portraying one self or the other. In other words, Dorian Gray has a certain different figure when they display the other self, while Cathy and Heathcliff have an inner other self not an outer one and are completely unaware of its existence. While in The Picture of Dorian Gray, the depiction of self is related to realism and the depiction of other self relates to gothic representation, in Wuthering Heights, when talking about Catherine it is the other way around. The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of a young man who decides to make a Faustian bargain in order to gain and preserve eternal beauty. The novel can be interpreted as classic gothic horror fiction in which the reader can easily spot the Narcissus myth and the theme of duplicity which presents Dorians two selves: the public one constructed in a realist way and the private one, constructed with gothic means. On the other hand, Wuthering Heights is a gothic novel in which the protagonists are, unlike other novels, anti-heroes. The main character, Heathcliff is a man whose desire of revenge destroys both himself and the other characters of the novel. He is depicted at first as a loving person but in the end as a violent revengeful man. The female protagonist, Catherine Earnshow is a woman who finds herself in crisis of identity. Both characters need to make a division in themselves in order to express their feelings for each other. The division in The Picture of Dorian Gray is made with the help of a portrait, an outer body which guests the other self of the main character, whereas in Wuthering Heights, there is no need for another body. Dorian Gray is presented in the first chapter as a young man of extraordinary personal beauty, unspoiled by sins and failure. The picture as it is presented in the first chapter reveals Dorians first and true image: he is young, handsome, and innocent, without stain. However, Dorian Gray will not remain this way throughout the novel. He will change and not in a positive way. This is where the author brings to light the duplicity theme. Similar to Dorian Gray, Heathcliff is depicted in the beginning of the novel as a positive character. Although he lacks Dorians looks, he is a boy, and then a man capable to love and give. The audience is assured that Heathcliff does love Catherine and the way in which the author describes the brutal treatments Hindley applies to him can cause the reader pity for Heathcliff. In the first chapters of the novel, before Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights, the entire atmosphere is one which abounds with gothic elements. The author presents here the first nature of Heathcliff, while entire passages describe the manor as a dark, bleak, unfriendly place. The main character can be interpreted as of pure gothic construction. He is a mysterious man whose past nobody knows, but on the other hand, he is presented as romantically involved with Catherine, thus as a positive character. Exactly like Heathcliff, Dorian from the end of the second chapter is no longer Dorian from the beginning. The reader faces in just a few pages Dorians transition. His naivety and his purity disappear when he realises the importance of his beauty and the fact that he will lose it someday. Henry Wotton manipulates his mind and turns him into a person ready to sell his soul in order to preserve his beauty. In the moment when he sees the portrait, he is as fascinated by himself as Basil is and acts as if this is the first time when he sees himself. This passage comes similar to the moment when Narcissus sees his reflection in the water for the first time and brings the idea of self-worship which will finally lead to self-destruction. Infatuated with himself, Dorian becomes a Machiavellian person, wanting to preserve the moment, no matter the costs. Dorian loses his innocence but, despite the fact that his soul is unceasingly deepening into the negative way of living, he is admired for his beauty and intelligence, for his talents. This leads him to plays with peoples minds hiding his true shape and making them believe that his appearances are similar to his inner self. This outer self, the one he displays in front of anyone is in total opposition to the self which he prefers to cover. On the other hand Heathcliff does not feel the need to cover his other self. There is a certain moment in the book when Heathcliff changes his attitude. Feeling abandoned, Heathcliff feels the desire for revenge which brings up the other self in Heathcliff. He becomes a violent person who seems incapable of good feelings and begins acting like a demonic character, destroying everybodys lives. His actions seem to be results of the distortion in his natural personality. Dorian changes too. Dorian loses his innocence but, despite the fact that his soul is unceasingly deepening into the negative way of living, he is admired for his beauty and intelligence, for his talents. This leads him to plays with peoples minds hiding his true shape and making them believe that his appearances are similar to his inner self. This outer self, the one he displays in front of anyone is in total opposition to the inner self which he prefers to cover. In order to construct the other self, Oscar Wilde refers to gothic imagery. He creates the key element, the picture and develops its image as the one of different character of the book. The first gothic element of the book is the Faustian theme. Dorian unconsciously sells his soul to the devil in order to obtain eternal youth and beauty. Henry Wotton plays the part of devils advocate, devils representative without even knowing it. He inspires Dorian to make the fatal wish: the paint should age instead of him. The fact that the portrait ages in Dorians stead cannot be logically explained, thus it is the supernatural element which lead to the development of the plot. From the very beginning presented as a fantastic element, the picture represents the embodiment of Dorians other self. His sins, his mistakes and his other nature are revealed on the canvas. Knowing that, Dorian wants to protect this image, wants to hide it and locks the portrait in the attic so as no one should see the im age of his soul. Although he is aware of the fact that his soul is dark and stained with sins, he continues to live as before because he thinks he can no longer be forgiven and his soul saved. The moments when Dorian is possessed by his other self, abound with gothic elements. So are the moments when Heathcliff becomes violent and the author presents his inner sense of revenge and hatred. In Wildes novel, the scene of the murder is presented in a dark atmosphere with the lamp casting shadows on the wall and the blowing wind. Moreover, Dorian kills Basil only after he looks at the portrait and seems to be captivated by something hiding beneath the canvas. Violence breaks through and he stabs the painter without any sense of remorse. The way in which he decides to make the body disappear is a result of his mad ego that seems to have no feelings and to be totally detached from the realist life. Science is here presented it its negative part. With science, Dorian finalises the murder, making the evidence disappear forever. His other soul has become a malicious and manipulative person. He confides in the book Henry gives him and takes it for granted, as a way of living. It is a poisonous book, symbol of his degraded life. Moreover, the gothic atmosphere appears again when Dorian visits the opium den which is the reflection of Dorians state of mind. The den is a place of lost souls where Dorian finds comfort, he cures his soul by means of senses, because he suffers not only physical but also mental. Catherine, on the other hand does not change in a negative way. She is ashamed of her natural self and decides to make a step further, to change and to embrace another self in which she will finally feel uncomfortable. In childhood she is her true self, without carrying about her future as woman and as a wife. She has internal conflicts which intensify her psychological complexity. She suffers from a self-divided personality, regarding what she truly desires and what she thinks she should become as a woman. This is a point where one could speak of her id, what she desires, her instinctive impulses and her super-ego, what she thinks she should become as a woman, her moral ideas, and the expectations of the patriarchal society. After returning from Thrushcross Grange she is different because, not only does she act differently but she struggle to refrain from her usual behaviour. Nelly actually realises what has happened to Cathy and even says that she adopt(ed) a double character without exactly intending to deceive anyone. Catherines conversation with Nelly is the final evidence that she has a divided self. She tells her that she loves Heathcliff, that she is Heathcliff, suggesting that her real self is the one which complements Heathcliff, which makes her like him, turning them into the figure of an androgynous. She is able to refrain from her true self until Heathcliffs returning. Now she suffers again from an identity crisis. She looks in the mirror and says that the image is not hers, it is in fact the reflection of the part she had to play in order to be a respected woman, to fit in the bed of Procrustes the society showed her. Once Heathcliff is back, she is unable to live in this way anymore and thi s destroys her. There is the interpretation which says that Heathcliff, being Catherines matching person, actually is her doppelganger, her dark hide, which she wants to hide, exactly like Dorian Gray. This is suggested several times when the main characters say that the other is part of their lives, oh themselves à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾I cannot live without my life! Cannot live without my soul!; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾I am Heathcliff. The ways in which the protagonists are firstly presented is a romantic one with characters relating to nature who rebel against the world they live in. The gothic atmosphere is intensified by supernatural elements and melodrama. But Bronte created two different places where Catherine leaves, suggesting her split personality. The first one, the Wuthering Heights identifies with her true self and it is presented with gothic constructions such as the description of the moors, the manor, the atmosphere, the, wind, the storm or the rain. On the other hand, Thrushcross Grange is depicted in a positive manner, in a realist way, with all the elements of the common life representing Catherines other self. There is a striking difference between these two as it is between Catherines sides. The realist depictions in Wuthering Heights are somehow related to the other part of the novel, starting with the first scene where the reader encounters Young Cathy. Her and Haretons story is depicted in a realistic way, especially because of the happy ending. In the second case, the realism of the novel is depicted from Wildes representation of the Victorian world. Dorian is after all, an aristocrat living in a rich world where dines and opera are something common. His first self, the one everyone knows, the one Basil has painted at the beginning of the novel is the one living in this world. He is a rich art connoisseur; he likes parties and luncheons and attends theatre and opera. The Victorian society presented in the novel is one where people live from undeserved inheritance and enjoy gossiping and judging the world around. Dorian lives a secret life within an apparently respectable society. While a beautiful forever-young man in his public life, Dorian is presented as a debauched, violent person. The atmosphere in the next chapter is completely different from the one in the previous. The life at the countryside seems idyllic but Dorian is uncomfortable here because he feels he is stalked by James Vane. James presence is like a ghost haunting Dorian throughout the novel, being the embodiment of Dorians conscience. In the other book, the main character is not haunted by feelings or remorse, but by Catherines ghost who has not find peace. This idea brings another gothic element to both stories. In both novels, the theme of the divided self dominates the entire atmosphere, but in The Picture of Dorian Gray is easier to observe. However, the three characters that experience this kind of mental or physical division are presented as tormented souls, unable to find their rest.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

The Articles of Confederation :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. The Articles took place from March 1, 1781 to June 21, 1788. At the time of the American Revolution, the Articles were written by a committee of the Second Continental Congress. John Dickson was the head of the committee. He presented a report on the proposed articles to the Congress on July 12, 1776. He wanted a strong central government, control over the western lands, equal representation for the states, and the power to levy taxes. A powerful central government was feared by the thirteen states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Dickson’s articles were drastically changed before they sent them to all the states for ratification. The Continental Congress had been careful to give the states as much independence as possible and to specify the limited functions of the federal government. Many years passed before the states ratified the articles. Disagreements were made over boundary lines. Decisions were made by state courts, on differing tariff laws, and trade restrictions between the states. The small states wanted equal representation with the large states in Congress, and the large states were afraid they would have to pay an excessive amount of money to support the federal government. The states continued to disagree over control of the western territories. The states wanted the government to control the sale of these territories so that all the states profited. The bordering states wanted to control as much land as they could. The states eventually agreed to give control of all western lands to the federal government, paving the way for final ratification of the articles on March 1, 1781.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The articles created a loose confederation of independent states that gave limited powers to a central government. The national government consisted of a single house of Congress, where each state would have to vote. Out of thirteen states, three would have to give consent so the Congress could borrow money as well as declare war and enter into treaties and alliances with foreign nations. The federal government had no judicial authority and Congress only had the judicial authority to arbitrate between states. The Congress denied the power to levy taxes. The new federal government was financed by donations from the states based on the value of each state’s lands. Any amendment to the articles required the unanimous approval of all 13 states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Second Continental Congress wanted to limit the power of the central government so

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Eassy on Imac

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Friday, January 3, 2020

Activation Energy (Ea) Chemistry Definition

Activation energy is the  minimum amount of energy required to initiate a reaction. It is the height of the potential energy barrier between the potential energy minima of the reactants and products. Activation energy  is denoted by Ea and typically has units of kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol) or kilocalories per mole (kcal/mol). The term activation energy was introduced by the Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in 1889. The Arrhenius equation relates activation energy to the rate at which a chemical reaction proceeds: k Ae-Ea/(RT) where k is the reaction rate coefficient, A is the frequency factor for the reaction, e is the irrational number (approximately equal to 2.718), Ea is the activation energy, R is the universal gas constant, and T is the absolute temperature (Kelvin). From the Arrhenius equation, it can be seen that the rate of reaction changes according to temperature. Normally, this means a chemical reaction proceeds more quickly at a higher temperature. There are, however, a few cases of negative activation energy, where the rate of a reaction decreases with temperature. Why Is Activation Energy Needed? If you mix together two chemicals, only a small number of collisions will naturally occur between the reactant molecules to make products. This is particularly true if the molecules have low kinetic energy. So, before a significant fraction of reactants can be converted into products, the free energy of the system must be overcome. The activation energy gives the reaction that little extra push needed to get going. Even exothermic reactions require activation energy to get started. For example, a stack of wood wont start burning on its own. A lit match can provide the activation energy to start combustion. Once the chemical reaction starts, the heat released by the reaction provides the activation energy to convert more reactant into product. Sometimes a chemical reaction proceeds without adding any additional energy. In this case, the activation energy of the reaction is usually supplied by heat from the ambient temperature. Heat increases the motion of the reactant molecules, improving their odds of colliding with each other and increasing the force of the collisions. The combination makes it more likely bonds between reactant will break, allowing for the formation of products. Catalysts and Activation Energy A substance that lowers the activation energy of a chemical reaction is called a catalyst. Basically, a catalyst acts by modifying the transition state of a reaction. Catalysts are not consumed by the chemical reaction and they dont change the equilibrium constant of the reaction. Relationship Between Activation Energy and Gibbs Energy Activation energy is a term in the Arrhenius equation used to calculate the energy needed to overcome the transition state from reactants to products. The Eyring equation is another relation that describes the rate of reaction, except instead of using activation energy, it includes Gibbs energy of the transition state. The Gibbs energy of the transition state factors in both enthalpy and entropy of a reaction. Activation energy and Gibbs energy are related, but not interchangeable.