Monday, August 24, 2020

Imperialsim †proper and legitimate course Essay

Have you at any point needed something since you believed you merited it? Since forever individuals have needed to extend and take what they needed. It is human instinct to need things and set objectives to obtain those needs. Dominion was an appropriate and genuine game-plan for the U.S. Colonialism is the best possible thing for America to rehearse. Reverend Josiah Strong composed Our Country expressing, â€Å"The most elevated human progress will spread itself over the earth. â€Å"This implies that Americas are better than all the individuals who we took the place where there is. Alfred T. Mahan composed The Interest of America in Sea Power which says, â€Å"The developing creation of the nation requests it.† This implies America needs to extend to permit more individuals to buy our items. President McKinley stated, â€Å"we couldn't leave them to themselves they were unfit for self government.† This implies our method of government is such a great amount of better than theirs in our eyes that we should assume control over them to enable them to flourish. Albert Beveridge, a Republican congressperson from Indiana stated, â€Å"Almighty God He has stamped us as His picked people.† This implies it’s our inherent option to seek after mor e land. Henry Cabot Lodge expressed â€Å"Taking Philippines doesn't disregard the standards of the Declaration of Independence, yet will spread them among a people who have never known liberty.† This implies he need us to drive opportunity on the Philippines and in the end more individuals. Colonialism is real and appropriate anyway a few people can't help contradicting this announcement. Congressperson George F. Hoar says â€Å"under the Declaration of Independence you can't administer an outside region, a remote people, another individuals than your own†. This being said implies that numerous things America has done conflicts with the statement which is baseless. Against Imperialist League stated, we hold that the strategy know as dominion is antagonistic to freedom and inclines toward militarism, a shrewdness from which it has been out brilliance to be free.† This is fundamentally saying that colonialism is detestable and conflicts with freedom. Taking everything into account, Imperialism was an appropriate and authentic game-plan forâ the U.S. Dominion is a dubious point that can end up being simply or not from numerous points of view. At long last if America expanded we would of squandered or genuine potential to be what we are presently. In the event that one this dominion isn’t exactly how ever, at that point for what reason will there choice issue in light of the fact that without land there would be overpopulation and absence of regularly utilized assets.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Tips on Parenting College Essays

Tips on Parenting College EssaysParents writing college essays are often put in a strange position. You want your child to do well, but you're only able to give them advice because your child already knows how to write well. The better the student, the harder it is to write the perfect essay. So where do you start?For a writer who understands how he or she writes, however, the decision is easy. They can start by imagining themselves writing the essay, which may be the easiest method of learning for a good writer. However, if you're not that kind of writer, chances are you will have trouble with the perfect college essay at first. All you need to do is to find the best approach and write the essay the way you imagine it to be written. There are plenty of resources online to help you get started.There is one essential thing to remember when writing an essay. The topic of the essay should make sense to the student. What does 'stem cells' mean to a biology major? How does taking a psycho logy class relate to writing an essay about parenting? These questions help to set up the perfect essay.College students need not worry about learning how to write a perfect essay when they are working on a project related to a certain topic. What they need to be worried about, though, is failing to learn how to learn. There are many ways to learn how to write a perfect essay. If you want to learn how to write the essay on their own, you need to be more active in your child's writing process. Try writing for a while and see what you can come up with.Lastly, don't ever think that writing should be one-sided. You should not assume that your child's viewpoint is as important as yours. Encourage all students to write at least one essay related to their topic. It will help foster their confidence in their own ability.Teaching your child how to write a college essay is not an easy task. But it doesn't have to be impossible either. There are many resources available online for teaching dif ferent aspects of the writing process.Take time to get to know your student. It's helpful to get to know the student's writing style. What style do they tend to use? Once you know how they write, you can start the process of helping them find their voice.Don't underestimate the power of looking online to help you teach your student how to write an essay for individual college needs. Although many students are very good writers, there are many who struggle with this skill. But with proper instruction, a student can get past their struggles and be a great writer.

Friday, July 17, 2020

The Best Fresh 100 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

The Best Fresh 100 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics As a college student, you will always find yourself handling essays that require you to compare and contrast objects or ideas. These essays are not hard as long as you know how to find an appropriate topic for them. This article will show you how to find the best and most suitable topics for compare and contrast essays. It will also furnish you with the best 100 compare and contrast topics you can use to sharpen your essay writing skills. Why it’s hard to choose a topic for a compare and contrast essay Even though finding an ideal essay topic is not rocket science reserved for a few chosen geeks, many students still find it challenging. The first dilemma comes in when student are faced with two things or ideas that are different and yet very similar. As a smart student, you need to tap into your critical thinking reserves and extract your potential to look at things critically and analytically. Additionally, you need to engage proper planning because if you don’t find what to write about, all you other efforts and sharp researching skills will be wasted and useless. Need Help? List of compare and contrast essay topics 1. Renaissance Art vs. Baroque Art 2. Antebellum Era vs. Reconstruction Era in American History 3. Similarities and differences between Star Wars and Star Trek 4. Cats vs. dogs: Which ones make better pets? 5. Communism vs. Capitalism 6. Socialism vs. Capitalism 7. Greek vs. Roman Mythology 8. Roman Empire vs. British Empire 9. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona â€" Which club is more influential? 10. Differences between Mediterranean diets and Western diet 11. Poetry vs. Prose 12. Fiction vs. Nonfiction 13. City life compared to country lifestyles 14. Books vs. Movies â€" Why a film adaptation will never match books 15. How rap music has changed compared to the way it was two decades ago 16. Tea vs. Coffee â€" Which one is better for your health? 17. The similarities between religious practices and cultural ones that shows that they both stem from the same source 18. A non-gluten diet compared to a gluten-filled diet 19. Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton â€" Who’s a better politician? 20. The Vietnam War compared to the Korean Conflict 21. Compare Hobbes’ philosophies to Locke’s philosophies 22. Compare and contrast emailing someone to writing them a letter 23. Apple vs. Microsoft 24. Coke vs Pepsi 25. Renaissance Art vs. Baroque Art 26. Antebellum Era vs. Reconstruction Era in American History 27. Childhood vs. Adulthood 28. Biology vs. Chemistry 29. Astrology vs. Astronomy 30. American Government vs. British Government 31. Fruits vs. Vegetables 32. Dogs vs. Cats 33. Ego vs. Superego 34. Christianity vs. Judaism 35. Republican vs. Democrat 36. Monarchy vs. Presidency 37. US President vs. UK Prime Minister 38. Jazz vs. Classical Music 39. Red vs. White 40. Soccer vs. Football 41. North vs. South before the Civil War 42. New England Colonies vs. Middle Colonies 43. Cash vs. Credit Cards 44. Sam vs. Frodo Baggins 45. Gandalf vs. Dumbledore 46. Fred vs. Shaggy 47. Rap vs. Pop 48. Articles of Confederation vs. US Constitution 49. Henry VIII vs. King Louis XIV 50. Stocks vs. Bonds 51. Monopolies vs. Oligopolies 52. Communism vs. Capitalism 53. Socialism vs. Capitalism 54. Diesel vs. Petroleum 55. Nuclear Power vs. Solar Power 56. Saltwater Fish vs. Freshwater Fish 57. Squids vs. Octopus 58. Mammals vs. Reptiles 59. Baleen vs. Toothed Whales 60. Seals vs. Sea Lions 61. Crocodiles vs. Alligators 62. Bats vs. Birds 63. Oven vs. Microwave 64. Chinese vs. Japanese 65. Comedy vs. Drama 66. Renting vs. Owning 67. Mozart vs. Beethoven 68. Online vs. Traditional Education 69. North vs. South Pole 70. Watercolor vs. Oil 71. Emily Dickinson vs. Samuel Taylor Coleridge 72. Strawberries vs. Apples 73. Airplanes vs. Helicopters 74. Hitler vs. Napoleon 75. Paper vs. Plastic 76. Italy vs. Spain 77. Baseball vs. Cricket 78. Jefferson vs. Adams 79. Thoroughbreds vs. Clydesdales 80. Spiders vs. Scorpions 81. Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere 82. Hobbes vs. Locke 83. Friends vs. Family 84. Dried Fruit vs. Fresh 85. Porcelain vs. Glass 86. Modern Dance vs. Ballroom Dancing 87. American Idol vs. The Voice 88. Reality TV vs. Sitcoms 89. Antique vs. New 90. Public vs. Private Transportation 91. e-Mail vs. Letters 92. Facebook vs. Twitter 93. Coffee vs. an Energy Drink 94. Toads vs. Frogs 95. Boys vs. Girls 96. High School vs. College 97. Offense vs. Defense 98. Roses vs. Carnations 99. Lion vs. Tiger 100. Vampires vs. Werewolves Writing compare and contrast essays is easy. The only challenge is selecting a suitable topic. This article has shown you how to overcome those difficulties and the best compare and contrast essay topics. If you follow them carefully, you will have a better head start to jump start your journey towards mastery in this area.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

An Analysis of Macbeths Ambition

Ambition is the driving force of  William Shakespeares tragedy Macbeth. More specifically, it is about ambition that goes unchecked by any concept of morality; this is why it becomes a dangerous quality. Macbeth’s ambition inspires most of his actions, and that results in the deaths of numerous characters and the ultimate downfall of both himself and Lady Macbeth. The Sources of Ambition in Macbeth Macbeth’s ambition is driven by a number of factors. For one, he has a deep internal desire for power and advancement. However, that is not exactly why he turns to crime. It takes two outside forces to ignite this hunger and push him to take violent action to obtain power. Prophecies: Throughout the play, the Macbeth witches make a number of prophecies, including that Macbeth will become king. Macbeth believes them each time, and often uses the predictions to decide his next actions, such as killing Banquo. While the prophecies always turn out to be true, it is unclear whether they are preordained instances of fate or self-fulfilling via the manipulation of characters like Macbeth.Lady Macbeth: The witches may have planted the initial seed in Macbeth’s mind to act on his ambition, but his wife is the one who pushes him to murder. Lady Macbeth’s persistence encourages Macbeth to put aside his guilt and kill Duncan, telling him to focus on his ambition, not his conscience. Controlling Ambition Macbeth’s ambition soon spirals out of control and forces him to murder again and again to cover up his previous wrongdoings. His first victims of this are the chamberlains who are framed by Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan and killed as â€Å"punishment.† Later in the play, Macbeth’s fear of Macduff incites him to pursue not only Macduff but also his family. The unnecessary murder of Lady Macduff and her children are the clearest example of Macbeth losing control over his ambition. Balancing Ambition and Morality We also see a more honorable take on ambition in Macbeth. To test Macduff’s loyalty, Malcolm pretends to be greedy, lustful, and power-hungry. When Macduff responds by condemning him and crying out for the future of Scotland under such a king, he shows his allegiance to the country and refusal to submit to tyrants. This reaction from Macduff, along with Malcolms choosing to test him in the first place, demonstrates that moral code in positions of power is more important than the ambition to get there, especially blind ambition. Consequences The consequences of ambition in â€Å"Macbeth† are dire—not only are a number of innocent people killed, but Macbeth’s life also ends with him being known as a tyrant, a significant downfall from the noble hero he begins as. Most importantly, Shakespeare gives neither Macbeth nor Lady Macbeth the opportunity to enjoy what they have gained—perhaps suggesting that it is more satisfying to achieve your goals fairly than acquire them through corruption. Does Violent Ambition End With Macbeth? At the end of the play, Malcolm is the victorious king and Macbeth’s burning ambition has been extinguished. But is this really the end to over-reaching ambition in Scotland? The audience is left to wonder if Banquo’s heir will eventually become king as prophesied by the trio of witches. If so, will he act on his own ambition to make this happen, or will fate play a part in realizing the prophecy?

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Reaction Papers - 2273 Words

THE GOOD CITIZENSHIP VALUES CLUSTER PAGKAMAKA-DIYOS →Faith in Almighty in action Participants may choose to integrate the value of faith in God in their subject areas/lessons, in their family life through the arrangement of stronger faith practices in the home (e.g. praying before having meals, praying of the rosary, encouraging children to develop a habit of prayer and reflection especially when faced with moral discernment), and, their daily lives by always attributing one’s effort to God and making Him a part of the choices and decisions that one makes. Personal Resolution: Considering the significance of my prayer in my life and in my country’s history, I am more fully aware of the things I can accomplish when I live a life of faith.†¦show more content†¦Community leaders may develop more positive outlook and attitude towards the value of work among their peers and subordinates by highlighting the importance of each other’s unique community function or assignments as well as the integral role each plays in the success of community undertakings. Personal Reflection: I am a person who has been endowed with gifts that allow me to continually work for a better life. I shall continually strive to develop my talents and gifts and learn to be self-reliant. I am productive member of society and I do my share in improving the quality of life of the people I serve and those whom I indirectly affect. I believe in the value and benefit of hard work, quality work and honest work. Hence, I shall strive to always use sound moral principles in my dealings and apply my God-given gifts in my work and settle for nothing less than excellent results. I am a discerning individual whose priorities are motivated by an unwavering faith and conviction in doing what is moral, honest and just. →Concerns for the family and future generations in action Students may choose to evaluate their own family life more deeply. They can specifically look into how their own family cultivates love, understanding and mutualShow MoreRelatedreaction Paper692 Words   |  3 Pagesand the Beanstalk: The Real Story, this movie was related to our last topic in management 5. Instead of having a formal meeting in our subject in Social Responsibility and Good Governance, we need to watch because after that we need to have a reaction paper regarding the movie. In the beginning, the story makes me feel bored of watching and listening because the audio and the cast of the movie speak very fast and I don’t understand what they saying. And another reason is somebody caught my attentionRead MoreReaction Paper1873 Words   |  8 PagesREACTION PAPER It is said that effective teacher will use both assessment and evaluation regularly to improve student learning and to guide instruction. Indeed, both have pivotal roles in the teaching-learning process yet, somehow they do differ in many ways. Assessment and evaluation measure whether or not learning and/or learning objectives are being met. One could look at assessment and evaluation as the journey (assessment) versus the snapshot (evaluation). (Sue Watson, 2009) Assessment requiresRead MoreReaction Paper852 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Thin† Reaction Paper â€Å"Thin† a documentary about women facing their eating disorders. â€Å"Thin† focused on four particular women Polly, Shelley, Brittany, and Alisa. These women were all brave enough to realize they had a problem and wanted help with the exception of Brittany. Sometimes when I hear about women with eating disorders I can be unsympathetic. I just feel there are so many things in life to think about other than what people think of you. Then I had to realize media has a lot to do withRead MoreReaction Paper1157 Words   |  5 PagesNovember 4, 2011 Sociology 101 Reaction Paper #1 In selection â€Å"Sick out of Luck, The Uninsured in America† by Susan Starr Sered and Rushika Fernandopulle it discusses the many uninsured people in our society and the extreme measures they go to in order to receive health insurance and also the difficulties of not having health care. In this selection the author’s don’t really have an argument but in the beginning of the selection they talk about the interviews they have had with uninsured AmericansRead MoreReaction Paper1523 Words   |  7 PagesReaction Paper The Short Bus CON 712 Counseling Children and Adolescent Adrianne Green October 19, 2010 Before I began reading this book, I took a moment to think about the title: The Short Bus a Journey beyond Normal and what this book might entail. The term short bus brought back memories to me as a kid, people who were not smart enough to ride the long bus; or people who attended a special school because they were mentally retarded or mentally challenged. I felt connected to some of theRead MoreReaction Paper1370 Words   |  6 PagesElizabeth Cooper MGT-106 Ball May 20, 2010 Self-Assessment Reaction Paper Summary It is not easy to describe yourself and to be truly honest. The way you think of yourself and how another person might think of you could be completely different. This class has helped me to understand myself better and accurately describe me. If I had to describe myself, I would say that I am very laid back and easy going. I do not let small things bother me. I feel you should â€Å"pick your battles† sort ofRead MoreReaction Paper675 Words   |  3 PagesWhen studying in the field of Sociology each person is going to approach topics in a different manner. Not everyone is going to have the exact same view on a particular subject. There are however, three major categories in which people might choose to approach topics. The approaches are known as sociological perspectives and are the functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives. These perspectives name other ways in which different people choose to analyze a subject, and how they lookRead MoreReaction Paper2211 Words   |  9 PagesREACTION PAPER on HULING PRINSESA (Last Princess) by Kara David of i-Witness by: Carmina N. Milallos BSSW 1-1 Stories of princess were part of our childhood memories. We dream of becoming one during those times. But in Tumandok tribe in Tapaz, Capiz, Philippines, there were women, who were treated like a princess. They are known to be the binukot. Before seeing the documentary of Huling Prinsesa (Last Princess), I was really excited because who knew that a 3rd world country like the PhilippinesRead MoreReaction Paper1879 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"Slice of Life’s Unique Design† â€Å"No man is an island† --- an almost clichà ©d saying everyone knows. I can’t completely say I’m an island, I can’t say I’m not either. It usually depends upon the situations raised by life’s unique design. I was brought up by my parents to be a respectful, justice-wise, humble person. But in every person’s lives lies the process of making one’s own personality. My life during the days when I was still ignorant of the world around me wasn’t the type of life I can beRead MoreReaction Paper3394 Words   |  14 PagesREACTION PAPER on GOD IS DEAD The lines, â€Å"God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him,† can be true in literal sense. Subjectively, the lines presented are very agnostic and atheistic. Those are against my will and belief as a Roman Catholic faithful. The three shorter mentioned lines are three important points to be clarified about. The first line says, God is dead is true in literal sense. In the Scriptures, it written that Jesus became man and so he died as a human. Yes, I believe

Major Problems Faced by Indian Agriculture Free Essays

Major Problems Faced by Indian Agriculture The major problems confronting Indian agriculture are those of population pressure, small holdings, depleted soils, lack of modern technology and poor facilities for storage. (a) Population Pressure: India has a huge population of over one billion and it is increasing at a very fast rate. According to 2001 census figures the over all density of population is 324 persons per sq. We will write a custom essay sample on Major Problems Faced by Indian Agriculture or any similar topic only for you Order Now km. This is likely to increase further in future. This has created great demand for land. Every bit of land has been brought under the plough. Even the hill slopes have been cut into terraces for cultivation. (b) Small and Fragmented Land Holdings: The pressure of increasing population and the practice of dividing land equally among the heirs has caused excessive sub divisions of farm holdings. Consequently, the holdings are small and fragmented. The small size of holdings makes farming activity uneconomical and leads to social tension, violence and discontentment. (c) Inadequate Irrigation Facilities: By and large the irrigation facilities available in India are far from adequate. So for half of the total area under food crops has been brought under irrigation and the remaining half is left to the mercy of monsoon rains which are erratic in time and space. (d) Depleted Soils: Indian soils have been used for growing crops for thousands of years which have resulted in the depletion of soil fertility. With deforestation the sources of maintaining natural fertility of soil has been drying out. Lack of material resources and ignorance of scientific knowledge have further depleted the soils of the natural fertility. Earlier only animal waste was enough to maintain soil fertility. e) Storage of food grains: Storage of food grains is a big problem. Nearly 10 per cent of our harvest goes waste every year in the absence of proper storage facilities. This colossal wastage can be avoided by developing scientific ware-housing facilities. The government has taken several steps to provide storage facilities. (f) Farm Implements: Although some mechanisation of farming has tak en place in some parts of the country, most of the farmers are poor and do not have enough resources to purchase modern farm implements and tools. This hampers the development of agriculture. Challenges agriculture sector challenges will be important to India’s overall development and the improved welfare of its rural poor: 1. Raising agricultural productivity per unit of land: Raising productivity per unit of land will need to be the main engine of agricultural growth as virtually all cultivable land is farmed. Water resources are also limited and water for irrigation must contend with increasing industrial and urban needs. All measures to increase productivity will need exploiting, amongst them: increasing yields, diversification to higher value crops, and developing value chains to reduce marketing costs. 2. Reducing rural poverty through a socially inclusive strategy that comprises both agriculture as well as non-farm employment: Rural development must also benefit the poor, landless, women, scheduled castes and tribes. Moreover, there are strong regional disparities: the majority of India’s poor are in rain-fed areas or in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains. Reaching such groups has not been easy. While progress has been made – the rural population classified as poor fell from nearly 40% in the early 1990s to below 30% by the mid-2000s (about a 1% fall per year) – there is a clear need for a faster reduction. Hence, poverty alleviation is a central pillar of the rural development efforts of the Government and the World Bank. 3. Ensuring that agricultural growth responds to food security needs: The sharp rise in food-grain production during India’s Green Revolution of the 1970s enabled the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food-grains and stave off the threat of famine. Agricultural intensification in the 1970s to 1980s saw an increased demand for rural labor that raised rural wages and, together with declining food prices, reduced rural poverty. However agricultural growth in the 1990s and 2000s slowed down, averaging about 3. 5% per annum, and cereal yields have increased by only 1. 4% per annum in the 2000s. The slow-down in agricultural growth has become a major cause for concern. India’s rice yields are one-third of China’s and about half of those in Vietnam and Indonesia. The same is true for most other agricultural commodities. Policy makers will thus need to initiate and/or conclude policy actions and public programs to shift the sector away from the existing policy and institutional regime that appears to be no longer viable and build a solid foundation for a much more productive, internationally competitive, and diversified agricultural sector. Priority Areas for Support 1. Enhancing agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and rural growth Promoting new technologies and reforming agricultural research and extension: Major reform and strengthening of India’s agricultural research and extension systems is one of the most important needs for agricultural growth. These services have declined over time due to chronic underfunding of infrastructure and operations, no replacement of aging researchers or broad access to state-of-the-art technologies. Research now has little to provide beyond the time-worn packages of the past. Public extension services are struggling and offer little new knowledge to farmers. There is too little connection between research and extension, or between these services and the private sector. Improving Water Resources and Irrigation/Drainage Management: Agriculture is India’s largest user of water. However, increasing competition for water between industry, domestic use and agriculture has highlighted the need to plan and manage water on a river basin and multi-sectoral basis. As urban and other demands multiply, less water is likely to be available for irrigation. Ways to radically enhance the productivity of irrigation (â€Å"more crop per drop†) need to be found. Piped conveyance, better on-farm management of water, and use of more efficient delivery mechanisms such as drip irrigation are among the actions that could be taken. There is also a need to manage as opposed to exploit the use of groundwater. Incentives to pump less water such as levying electricity charges or community monitoring of use have not yet succeeded beyond sporadic initiatives. Other key priorities include: (i) modernizing Irrigation and Drainage Departments to integrate the participation of farmers and other agencies in managing irrigation water; (ii) improving cost recovery; (iii) rationalizing public expenditures, with priority to completing schemes with the highest returns; and (iv) allocating sufficient resources for operations and maintenance for the sustainability of investments. Facilitating agricultural diversification to higher-value commodities: Encouraging farmers todiversify to higher value commodities will be a significant factor for higher agricultural growth, particularly in rain-fed areas where poverty is high. Moreover, considerable potential exists for expanding agro-processing and building competitive value chains from producers to urban centers and export markets. While diversification initiatives should be left to farmers and entrepreneurs, the Government can, first and foremost, liberalize constraints to marketing, transport, export and processing. It can also play a small regulatory role, taking due care that this does not become an impediment. Promoting high growth commodities: Some agricultural sub-sectors have particularly high potential for expansion, notably dairy. The livestock sector, primarily due to dairy, contributes over a quarter of agricultural GDP and is a source of income for 70% of India’s rural families, mostly those who are poor and headed by women. Growth in milk production, at about 4% per annum, has been brisk, but future domestic demand is expected to grow by at least 5% per annum. Milk production is constrained, however, by the poor genetic quality of cows, inadequate nutrients, inaccessible veterinary care, and other factors. A targeted program to tackle these constraints could boost production and have good impact on poverty. Developing markets, agricultural credit and public expenditures: India’s legacy of extensive government involvement in agricultural marketing has created restrictions in internal and external trade, resulting in cumbersome and high-cost marketing and transport options for agricultural commodities. Even so, private sector investment in marketing, value chains and agro-processing is growing, but much slower than potential. While some restrictions are being lifted, considerably more needs to be done to enable diversification and minimize consumer prices. Improving access to rural finance for farmers is another need as it remains difficult for farmers to get credit. Moreover, subsidies on power, fertilizers and irrigation have progressively come to dominate Government expenditures on the sector, and are now four times larger than investment expenditures, crowding out top priorities such as agricultural research and extension. How to cite Major Problems Faced by Indian Agriculture, Papers

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Walking Across Egypt Essays - English-language Films, Films

Walking Across Egypt Walking Across Egypt Mattie Rigsbee is the main character in Clyde Edgerton's southern style novel, Walking Across Egypt. Mattie is a seventy-eight year old widow with two middle-aged children. Living alone in a small house, she makes sure that everything is taken care of. She cooks, cleans, mows the lawn, and takes up numerous responsibilities with the church. She is a very caring person with many friends and a family that loves her dearly. At the time this novel takes place, Mattie is at a turning point in her life. Confusion disturbed her, because the things that people are telling her are not the words that she is ready or willing to hear. Although begins to display some signs of aging, and her family is trying to convince her to slow down her lifestyle, Mattie's character and mind setting prohibits her from becoming the stereotypical elder. She must make a decision in which direction to turn. As Mattie grows older, she notices that she is beginning to display some signs that people in her state of North Carolina associate with the elderly. These signs are influencing her decisions about what she thinks she can and cannot do. She displays typical, elderly forgetfulness as she washes the toilet seat with mouthwash rather than with alcohol. And again displays it as she falls through the bottomless rocking chair. Later she displays physical inability when she asks her son Robert about helping with some yard work, which she had always taken care of before. "I'm too old to keep a dog," (20) she says to the dogcatcher as he is leaving with a brown fice that showed up on her doorstep. "Besides, I'm slowing down," she says to her son during lunch. The stereotypes of the elderly are influencing Mattie's life. She is telling herself not to do things because of her age whether or not she is physically able to do them, simply because people associate age with inability and dependence upon others. Her family and friends are expecting and encouraging this dependence. Elaine and Robert, Mattie's two unmarried children, along with other family and friends, are encouraging her to be what they expect a seventy-eight year old woman to be. They talk about how she needs to get rest because she is slowing down and can't keep going as steady as she seems to think. When she decided to try and help a young juvenile, Wesley Benfield, become a better person by taking him to church and offering him to stay the night with her, Robert thought that Mattie was sick. "Robert was thinking about the symptoms. What condition was his mother entering? Was it a phase of some sort? Was she having some of those tiny strokes they talk about? Or Alzheimer's? .... Maybe she needed a long rest. She was slowing down." (177-178) He would have to tell Elaine about this incident, because she is having the same fears as he. Pearl Turnage, Mattie's older sister, has given in to the stereotypes that are now plaguing Mattie, and insists that she do the same. In fact, she invites Mattie to accompany her to the funeral home where they will each pick out a casket that they are to be buried in. Pearl pushes the subject, as if to force Mattie into realizing that she doesn't have much time left to live. Pearl also begins talking to Mattie about the past and the fun that they once had, as if to tell Mattie that those days are over and that it is time for her to begin a new chapter in her life. The future that Pearl has planned for herself, however, is totally contrary to the lifestyle that Mattie has chosen to pursue. Mattie wants more of those good times to talk about. Mattie has grown up with the same expectations of elderly people as everyone else, however, she chooses not to live her life based on these expectations, but rather on how her feelings lead her. At the beginning of the novel, she is unsure about what direction she wants to take in life. She turns down the dog, and says that she needs to slow down, but at the end she makes a realization about the person that she wishes to be. She makes the comment at the beginning about how she is "too old" to keep a dog, yet at the end, she asks whether or not he is still in the pound. She even is laughing about falling through the bottom of the rocking chair even though she was