Oedipus Rex Essays (948 words) - Operas, Oedipus The King

Oedipus Rex Was it that the gods were poking at him like a goldfish in a small glass jar? Was Oedipus's life actually foretold by a prophet before he was ever conceived? Or was it mere happenstance that Oedipus's life had fallen perfectly in place with the words of that prophet? Did fate play a major role in the life of Oedipus Rex, or was it just coincidence? Ah, fate and coincidence, destiny of chance, two totally opposite concepts. Yet one may just be the largest determining factor of life. Which one determines the events of Oedipus Rex all depends upon the views of the reader. Both ideas are strongly established as the drama unfolds. The ironic thing about it however is that the evidence which proves one to be present also proves the second to be present, and visa-versa. Meaning, most of the facts which support one of the concepts, are also the facts that support the other concept. For example, before Oedipus was born, a prophet of the god Apollo told King Laius that he and Jocasta would bear a son who would, among other things, marry his mother. Hoping to avert this, the King and Queen asked one of the shepherds to take their son to a mountain and leave the baby to die. Oedipus did, in fact, not die that day. He grew up, and by some strange coincidence, or through fate married the woman who was years ago told by a prophet that she would marry her son child. This child being of course Oedipus. One might assume that the words of that prophet were destiny, they were the unconditional future and nothing could run from them. However, it may also appear that the baby, who was given up to die, survived and by some strange coincidence grew up and found a wife who just happens to be his mother. This is not the only ironic happening we see in the play. When Jocasta and King Laius were being told of the future they were also told that their first-born son would grow up and kill his father. This is perhaps the main reason they attempted murdering the boy. In order for the reader to understand how coincidental these situations are they must first understand a little of the story's plot. When Oedipus is born King Laius tells his wife to kill the boy. Jocasta, not being able to do it herself calls upon a shepherd to do it for her. The shepherd out of pity gives the infant to a slave from the Greek City of Cornith. Oedipus grows up in Cornith believing that he is the son of King Polybus and Queen Merope. One day Oedipus receives a message from a prophet which declared that he will kill his father and marry his mother. In fear of the prophecy he decides to leave Cornith, never to see his parents again. After leaving Cornith Oedipus kills an old man out of rage and continues on his way to Thebes. There he meets the monstrous being known as the sphinx. The Sphinx has a great power over the town of Thebes. This power can only be broken if a tricky riddle is solved. Oedipus solves the riddle and is hailed as savior of the city. He is appointed king and is granted marriage to the former Queen of Thebes. This Queen is the wife of the old man Oedipus killed early in his journey and is also the mother of the boy who was sent to Cornith. Oedipus is that boy, King Laius is the old man, Oedipus's father, and The Queen is Queen Jocasta, Oedipus's mother. After a few golden years as the king of Thebes, Oedipus must again save the city's people from a deadly plague. He believes that the solution or cure to this wild fire like affliction is finding the murderer of the former King Laius. Oedipus develops such rage for this killer that he will stop at almost nothing to find him. He states in his proclamation to Thebes: " As for the criminal, I pray to God- Whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number- I pray that that man's life be consumed in evil and wretchedness And as for me, this curse applies no less If it should turn out that culprit is my guest here, Sharing my hearth. " Little does he know that this hatred is directed to himself. In his search for the killer he

How to Manage Finances after College

How to Manage Finances after College Youve finished college and now you can learn the true meaning of adulthood: working hard and paying the bills. Its easy to think that youve recently graduated and may start worrying about money later. The problem with later, though, that it may never come. Soon youll find out that your life is far from that financial paradise you awaited. To avoid this situation, you need to know how to manage money after college. Here are some great tips that will help you stay on the right track. Have a Clear Sense of Monthly Expenses After college, youre going to have a lot of new expenses. Usually, they include the rent, food, clothes, utilities, transportation, and entertainment. You need to conduct some research to find out the cost of living: Figure out the average rent in your area and find information about how much it costs to share an apartment with a friend. Estimate how much money you need on food. Take your dietary habits into account. Determine the transportation costs. If you have a car, you do know how much money you need to use it every month. Think about what it costs to live in general. Consider purchases, gifts, cell phone, entertainment, etc. Once you have a clear understanding of where you stand and your monthly expenses, you can start creating a budget. 2. Make a Budget and Stick to It Getting used to living on a budget is a great habit for future. Creating a budget is the first step to your financial responsibility, thats why you need to take it seriously. Mapping up a budget will allow you to live within your means and avoid impulsive purchases. Once you have a list of your monthly expenses, you can start cutting some of them and find cheaper options to save some money. Remember that in creating your budget, it is important to start with the most essential things. Its always wise to limit entertainment and eating out if you feel that you cant stick to your financial plan. 3. Take Your Student Loans Seriously Paying off student loans can be daunting, but you shouldnt ignore these expenses. It is important to pay at least a minimum amount every month, and even a bit more if its possible. The secret is: the more you pay now, the less youll need to pay later! If you struggle with payment, think about choosing another payment plan. You can also ask a lender if it has forbearance program or can offer you another payment plan. There is always a way out, just make sure to pay your student loans on time and include these expenses into your monthly budget. 4. Save Money to Cover Unexpected Expenses You may think that you plan your expenses and try to stick to your budget, so you are set for life. But then something happens and you need an extra thousand dollars. Car crash, illness, moving costs the reasons can be various. How to get that much- needed cash? The answer is to save money in advance to have an emergency fund if necessary. Most people think that saving is something they can do later. But if you start saving right after college, you would be surprised at how much youll have in a couple of years. Therefore, make certain to have a room in your budget to be ready for any situation in future. 5. Plan for Your Retirement Wait, you just finished college and found a job and you need to think about your retirement? It may sound a bit weird, but yes. Retirement plans are crucial when you are still in your 20s. The earlier you begin saving, the better your future will be. Make sure to take this aspect of financial planning seriously and start contributing right away. Its never too early to start saving for retirement. The last advice to help you manage finances: Never spend more than you earn and always live within your means. May the wind always be at your back!

Should Police Be Armed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Should Police Be Armed - Essay Example In the present scenario the rate of violence is crossing all limits. The cops are risking their lives in order to save the lives of public. Crime is uncontrollable nowadays, how can we expect the police officers to confront the criminals without themselves being properly equipped with arms and protection. So, it’s the duty of the government of nations to provide adequate firearms and protective equipment to the police officers. We are now living in an era where a criminal has more privileges than the common man. The rate of attacks on the police officers has increased to a great extent. In absence of firearms with the police, the fear of police in the minds of the criminals will surely be insufficient. Also, when people who have been employed to protect the public can no longer protect themselves, the confidence of public in them will not substantially down. The police should be armed, and with this they should have decision making ability and the courage to shoot the criminals if the lives of public are in danger. Firearms are necessary to maintain that fear for the cops in the minds of the terrorists. The criminals have no respect for the law of the nation and no fear for the police. Arming the police will teach the criminals a lesson. If the police are armed, criminals will think twice before hurting any police officer. Only making the police armed would not do. Not only should the cops be armed, but along with this, they should also be given adequate training for dealing with the situations effectively. The equipments provided to the police should work, because in most cases, old equipments provided to the police have proved to be of no use when actually needed. The opponents to this view say that arming the police has more disadvantages than advantages. The opponents say that every officer cannot be trusted with a gun. Making the police armed has increased the number of

Science for Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Science for Energy - Essay Example As such, individuals, societies, and governments can play significant roles in changing the way we use energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This paper will establish the distinct strategies, policies, or roles that individuals, societies, and governments can play to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In absence of government policies and change in individual actions, the world will continue experiencing adverse effects from greenhouse gas emissions, which include carbon dioxide, sulfur hexafluoride, methane, nitrous oxide, PFCs and HFCs. However, carbon dioxide and methane is the most dominant greenhouse gas emissions since they emanate from burning fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas, and coal. As such, the global society must focus on reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane since their effects are equally synonymous. To this effect the federal government through the relevant agencies should develop and adopt energy efficiency audits in all sectors to establish the amount of energy used and the resultant gas emissions (Herz et al 16). This will help in developing mitigation measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The government should also increase building efficiency standards in the commercial sector to ensure that we reduce energy in setting up buildings and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The government can reduce energy by modifying existing production methods for the industrial sector. Indeed, some productions methods consume a lot of energy and emit dangerous gases like carbon dioxide. The federal government should also cogenerate facilities for the industrial sector by using electricity-generated heat or water generated heat to make steam for the industrial process or for cooling purposes (Herz et al 16). This saves a lot of energy and minimizes the chances of using coal or petroleum energy, which reduces greenhouses gas emissions. Waste reduction and recycling equally reduces waste and have the potential of reducing energy consumption and methane generation from landfills (Herz et al 17). Moreover, the review of existing production methods for the industrial sector may have an overall effect of reducing waste and thus minimizing greenhouses gas emissions. However, buying and using more recycled resources in all sectors can derive huge benefits by reducing waste, using less energy in production, and thus conserving the environment. As such, the government should encourage the use of recycled materials in all sectors. To achieve this, the federal government should develop and implement a state recycling and waste reduction plan, which should also entail water conservation, and planning for future resources (Herz et al 17). On the other hand, since methane and carbon dioxides are the most dominant greenhouse gas emissions, the government should reduce methane and natural gas emissions from transmission leaks and from coal mining operations by recapturing leaking methane/natural gas from distribution pipe lines and refineries (Herz et al 18). The transport sector is arguably one of the sectors, which emit a significant amount of greenhouse gases. As such, the government and individuals should ensure the auto maintenance for old and newer cars. This will improve the energy consumption efficiency of the vehicle thus saving energy and reducing emission of the combusting gases. To reduce the gas emissions, which emanate from burning petroleum or oil,

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Essay Example for Free

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Essay Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is recommended by the NICE guidelines as an effective treatment for many mental health problems, specifically depression and all of the anxiety disorders. But is it a therapy open to all? When Professor Lord Layard wrote his paper: â€Å"Mental Health: Britain’s Biggest Social Problem? † in 2005, he noted that: â€Å"16% of adults of working age have a mental illness† Of these 16%, he stated that, only a quarter were utilising any type of treatment. It was this sort of finding that lead to his recommendation to increase accessibility to proven therapies such as CBT. This was achieved with the roll out of the Improved Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) programme. The diagram below shows how the IAPT programme has been divided up into 3 steps: It is this stepped approach that will contribute to overcoming some of the barriers that societies diversity may have with accessing CBT. What might these barriers be? One of the first barriers an individual faces may be around the concern of being stigmatised. It may be too hard for them to think about accessing CBT therapy for fear of what others may think. They may not want to take time off work to attend sessions for fear of it impacting negatively on their career prospects. The stepped care model means they are able to receive the lowest appropriate service tier support. This may mean that an individual is able to access therapy using guided self-help, allowing them to work through the programme in their own time and at their own pace. Online programmes such as â€Å"Fearfighter† and â€Å"Beating the Blues† allow the individual to access therapy where and when they like. Not only do these sort of programmes overcome the fear of stigma but they also overcome the issue of long waiting lists meaning that the individual can access treatment on their terms almost instantaneously. Only if this level of support proves unsuccessful will the individual then be â€Å"stepped up† to the high intensity support. These internet CBT programmes also overcome geographical difficulties, as long the individual has access to the internet and phone. In my opinion the internet is one of the main ways in which barriers may be removed. Morland et al (2011) conducted a study on the effectiveness of CBT delivered via video conferencing compared to the â€Å"traditional in-person†. The results indicated that the outcomes were just as effective. A promising move for those that are unable to access traditional CBT as a result of their location or possible mental health issue, for example those suffering agoraphobia. At the core of CBT is the individual’s motivation to learn and change. This in itself can lead to difficulties, especially in children and young people. Often this â€Å"group† is being taken to therapy rather than choosing to go. Hudson (2005) found that large numbers of youngsters were not responding to the CBT treatment that they were receiving. As far as children and young people are concerned there seems to have been limited research onto the success of CBT treatment. The first controlled trials did not take place until the early 1990s and the majority of research has focused on the impact of CBT on adults. Even so the NICE guidelines on Depression in Children and Young People recommended the use of CBT, firstly, rather than pharmacological interventions. So how has CBT been adapted to incorporate children and young people, whose very cognition and emotional stages differs from that of adults? There have been some creative adaptations to the CBT model such as â€Å"Think Good Feel good†. Here the concept of CBT is broken down into easy to manage bites. There is also a lot of use of cartoons and speech bubbles, allowing the young person to access their thoughts and feelings in a safe way. The need to use more non-verbal techniques to help the young person to engage in the process such as, storytelling, drawing and games is also highlighted in this book. O’Reilly et al (2009) have also developed an interesting approach to using CBT with children and young people. They have created a game called â€Å"gNAtenboroughs Island† which is played by the youngster alongside a therapist. Each session introduces another core CBT concept to the young person, such as the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. These are presented in a non-threatening way and also a way that may be more engaging to this age group. Cerangolu (2010) found that video games could enhance the therapeutic experience. They could help facilitate the therapeutic relationship as young people may be more willing to relate to a therapist that is ready to engage and understand their normal way of playing. Also sitting side by side rather than at the conventional â€Å"ten to two† setting also may make the young person relax. How the game is played can also reveal the young person cognitive style. As technology develops so do the opportunities to engage young people in therapy. Apps for smartphones are constantly being developed that allow the young person to access their homework in a more user friendly way, to record their thoughts and emotions instantaneously. To allow them to engage in therapy in the same way that they engage in their life. Homework may be a part of CBT therapy that causes a young person to disengage, especially as the very word may cause them to have negative connotations. Gaynor et al (2006) found that compliance toward completing homework dropped the further into therapy a young person was. It is important that the therapist and client work together to agree the homework and that the young person is encouraged to set their own, as this may encourage a â€Å"buy in â€Å"to its importance. It may be that the therapist stays away from using the language of school and calls it â€Å"practise work† or â€Å"work for self†. Initially I saw CBT treatment as regimented and unmoving, but the more I have researched the barriers that different people may encompass when thinking of embarking on treatment the more I realise that CBT is indeed structured but there is an innate flexibility about how it is delivered. It is this flexibility that allows people from different backgrounds to engage in a CBT approach that sees them as an individual rather than specific disorder.

Daniel Millers Material Cultures: Why Some Things Matter Essay example

In the introduction to Material Cultures: Why Some Things Matter, Daniel Miller describes the book as part of the second stage of the development of material culture studies. The first stage was the recognition by writers such as Appadurai and Bourdieu as well as Miller that material culture is important and worthy of study. The second stage is the argument made in this book: that it is crucial to focus on "the diversity of material worlds" without reducing these material worlds to symbols for "real" social processes nor cloistering them in sub-studies of like objects. That things matter has already been ascertained; this books intends to investigate "why some things matter" more than others and in particular contexts. Miller claims a focus on objects themselves that does not however "fetishize" :What we may regard as unique to our approach is that we remain focused upon the object that is being investigated but within a tradition that prevents any simple fetishization of material form. Indeed we feel that it is precisely those studies that quickly move the focus from object to society in their fear of fetishism and their apparent embarrassment at being, as it were, caught gazing at mere objects, that retain the negative consequences of the term ‘fetishism.’ It is for them that Coke is merely a material symbol, banners stand in a simple moment of representation or radio becomes mere text to be analyzed. In such analysis the myriad diversity of artefacts can easily become reduced to generic forms such as ‘text’, ‘art’, or ‘semiotic.’ In such approaches it is not only the objects that remain fetishized but also, as Latour (1993) has argued with resp ect to the fetishism within debates about science, it is the idea of ‘society’ as ... ...usic is a good example. Besides the aural experience of listening to music, there is the physical experience of the bass vibrating your body; that feeling is directly related to the nature of the medium by which you are listening. The stereo with four foot speakers or the kitchen radio are things that matter too. CDs come into one’s possession bearing, besides music, artistic cover art, printed lyrics, and the thanks to families and deities by the musicians involved. Things are polyvalent, and things are made up of other things and attached in literal and figurative ways to still other things. And I think it is worth gazing a bit more intently at those objects and all their physical, sensual attributes. That fear of objects does not seem to be entirely gone; there is still a tendency to switch rapidly to the social and symbolic valences of those sensual experiences.

Cleopatra Leader

Cleopatra VII was a remarkably intelligent woman with great charisma and political astuteness. The ancient historian, Plutarch, stated that â€Å"to know her was to be touched with an irresistible charm. Her delightful manner of speaking was such as to win the heart. † (Bradford 14). She utilized these assets to win over the favor of two of the most powerful man of Ancient Rome, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Cleopatra is portrayed as being manipulative, conniving; and accused of utilizing her relationships for the advancement for power and the expansion of her empire.Although this is true, there were stark differences in the two relationships Cleopatra had with each man. She reached out to Caesar in her time of no power and continued to be submissive to him throughout their relationship. Even though there was a speculated love connection between the two, Caesar never lost sight of his priority as a politician and did not concede to every one of his mistresses’ requests .While a reversal of roles occurred with Marc Antony, she had the upper hand and he eventually became fiscally and emotionally dependent on her. In addition, he was easily manipulated, thus Cleopatra frequently got her way. Overall, the territorial gain and the power she had over him proved that Cleopatra’s relationship with Marc Antony was more politically beneficial than with Julius Caesar. Firstly, Cleopatra’s submissiveness and political dependency on Julius Caesar proved to be less beneficial in contrast to her relationship Marc Antony.In 48BC, she was a young 22 year old trying to regain her Ptolemaic throne from her brother, she knew he was the most powerful in the world and understood that that the Roman Consul was the only one who could aid her. Bradford noted that Cleopatra realized the â€Å"only one weapon that her brother, back by his powerful advisers, did not have [was]-her sex. † (70) The speculation that she was sneakily presented to him rolled up in a carpet displayed her submissiveness to his authority and beckoning for his help in regaining her throne.Caesar managed to initially appease Cleopatra’s desire for power by reading her father’s will and forcing her brother, Ptolemy XIII, and herself to rule together. Later he gained managed to gain more power for her by commanding her to â€Å"marry† her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, for she would hold all of the power due to his age. This pretense was set up in order to make her complacent but still remained a superior force with his diplomatic choice. By having both the siblings rule he abided to Egyptian law and did not panic the people and cause them to rebel.