Canto 8 of Dante’s Inferno Essay -- Dantes Inferno Essays

In recent discussions of Canto 8 of Dante’s Inferno, many scholars have argued about Dante the pilgrim’s controversial abuse of one of the wrathful sinners of the fifth circle, Filippo Argenti. The altercation between the two is viewed in numerous lights. From one perspective it is seen as unjustified (ira mala) because Dante is seen as guilty of the sin being punished for in this circle, but also because his response was wrongly motivated. Others state that Dante’s anger was righteous (ira bona) because there was proper reasoning behind it. Kleinhenz, one particular scholar, argues that Dante’s outburst at Filippo Argenti is a result of the praise Dante received after initially criticizing the sinner. In his book, Inferno 8: The Passage Across the Styx, he maintains that Virgil’s praise â€Å"is perhaps wrongly motivated and consequently, that Dante’s reaction to Fillipo Argenti in this canto is equally erroneous†. Kleinhenz allude s to this point in his interpretation of Luke 11:27, where a woman who is praising Jesus is correct in her exaltation of the Mother and Son, but her praise is inappropriate to the situation. By analyzing the parallels between Virgil’s praise and the biblical verse, Kleinhenz argues that both Virgil and Dante’s actions are inappropriate and therefore ira mala. John A. Scott, however, views Dante’s outburst as being justified. In his book,Understanding Dante, Scott argues that Florence was very much a part of Dante’s life and that Filippo Argenti was an ostentatious man whose â€Å"arrogance and insolent display of wealth† as well as â€Å"corrupt nature† is viewed synonymously with Florence’s decline. Therefore Scott argues that Dante’s rage was appropriate because it was inspired by the new decadence of Fl... ...is anger can be viewed as ira bona and ira mala simultaneously. Wishing further pain upon Argenti in order to receive further praise from his mentor is an unreasonable excuse, but trying to become a better pupil and person by doing as his mentor says is reasonable. Becoming furious as a human instinct is rational, whereas doling out punishments while you are only a human is not. Dante did not react to the sinner in the way that he did for only one reason, instead he had many reasons to respond as he did. Works Cited Alghieri, Dante. Inferno. New York: Oxford UP, 1996. Print. John A. Scott’s Understanding Dante, Univ. of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, 2004 (210-11) Kleinhenz, Christopher. â€Å"Inferno 8: The Passage Across the Styx.† Lectura Dantis. Brown University. No. 3 Fall 1988 21 pars: 21 Sept. 2009 .

How the Theme of Kinship Is Dealt with in Macbeth

Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth contains an ellaborate exproation of the theme of kingship. The main character's evil plan aims at overthrowing the current ruler and assuming power over Scotland. Based on this the playwright profoundly analyses which qualities are the most important in a king and the divine right of kings. Before carrying out his plot Macbeth weighed up all the reasons why he wanted to proceed with it and all the arguments against his terrible murder plan. One such argument is that â€Å"this Duncan has been so clear in his great office. Duncan is portrayed as a wise ruler who feels strongly abou the security of his country in the ongoing war with Norway. However, our encounter with this noble man is very brief. Macbeth, once he became king, did not know how to rule a country. His major concerns are for his own safety and for te security of his own power. He doesn’t even consider the welfare of the Scottish people before going ahead with the regicide. This show s that no matter how dedicated you are to your country, even as a great warrior and â€Å"Bellona’s bridegroom† – as an ordinary person you may not rule a country.This message is reflective of the prevailing belief in the divine right of kings that existed in Shakespeare’s day. Macbeth is not fit for the task: with his Scotland is â€Å"bleeding. † The tyranny is reflected by the weather and bizarre supernatural events (pathetic fallacy). The playwright’s use of language in Macbeth is probably the brightest example of his ability to develop striking images. The enormous amount of heart-stopping gruesome references to blood and violence emphasise the consequences of the inadequate regime for which Macbeth is responsible.However, the Bard of Avon not only condemns the bad ruler but he explores the good qualities that a king should possess. Desperate and helpless, Macduff arrives in England to see Malcolm, the legitimate successor to Duncan's t hrone. Malcolm is almost an embodiment of all the positive qualities of kings. He, along with his brother, immediately decide to rely on themselves to preserve their dynasty by leaving Scotland despite the obvious and inevitable suspicion that it raises and their own bereavement. They handle the situation with wisdom and courage, all for the sake of their kingdom.When Malcolm meets Macduff we see more of his wisdom. He adopts the personality of a man who is â€Å"not fit to govern and not even to live. † Malcolm makes sure to not jeopardise his own life and the welfare of Scotland by â€Å"testing† Macduff. Malcolm, unlike Macbeth, is able to tell appearance from reality in his superiority as king. The main aspects highlighted by Malcom that are absolutely incompatible with a decent king are lying, voluptuousness and greed. He plans to â€Å"cut the nobles of their land, desire his jewels and this other's house†¦ our wives, your daughters, your matrons and your m aids may not fulfil the cistern of my lust. † Satisfied with Macduff's reaction Malcolm opens up: â€Å"All I am is thyne and mine country to command† and admits that he is not ridden with vices are he pretended. We find out Shakespeare's vision of king-becoming graces: â€Å"Justice, Verity, Temp'rance, Stableness, Bounty, Perseverance,Mercy, Lowliness, Devotion, Patience, Courage, Fortitude † The return of the rightful king is marked by the delight of he army. Nature reacts positively when Malcolm returns.Macbeth, on the contrary, is full of bravado anf feels invincible one minute and then left thinking about â€Å"all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death†¦ a poor player that struts and frets his hours upon the stage† as Scotland, Lady Macbeth and his soul are all deteriorating around him. In conculsion, the theme of kingship is well developed in the play, with illustrations of the difference between a noble king and anoble man t urned incompetent tyrant and the principles behind kingship.

Sally Jameson

To: Prof. Chalmers From: Travis Ramme and Meghan Smith Date: April 26th, 2007 Re: Ms. Chalmers’ Compensation Choices 1. Ignoring taxation and other constraints, Ms. Jameson is better off taking the options. The stock currently trading at $18. 75 and the exercise price is $35. This may seem drastically far away. However, 5 year T-Bill rates are currently at 6. 02%. Combined with a current stock volatility of approximately 42%, this allows each option to be valued at approximately $4. 93. At this amount, Ms. Jameson’s options would be presently worth $14,790 were she to sell them. Where she to hold them instead, Ms. Jameson’s potential upside is limitless. Her possible gains would be equal to her number of options multiplied by the difference between the stock price and her exercise price of $35, assuming that the stock price is higher than $35. There is risk involved, however. If Ms. Jameson decides to hold onto the options and not sell them, it would be possible for her to earn nothing. If the stocks price where to stay below $35 dollars, Ms. Jameson’s options would be worth nothing. Comparatively, the $5000 cash bonus, where it to be invested over the 5 years at the risk free rate of 6. 02%, would yield only $6697. 44. 2. If Ms. Jameson was not allowed to sell her options before the allotted 5 years, the choice to take the options would have much more inherent risk. The current value of the options is derived from their market value. This market value means nothing if Ms. Jameson cannot sell the options. If this where the case, Ms. Jameson’s potential profits would be created solely by the Telstar stock rising to a price that was greater than $35 by the end of 5 years. In fact, to equal the $6697. 44 value of the bonus she could have chosen instead, the stock would have to reach a price of at least $37. 23. This value would allow the 3000 options to be exercised for a profit of $6697. 44. This, however, is ignoring the fact that Ms. Jameson would have to pay taxes and transaction fees. If Ms. Jameson was not allowed to sell her options, she should choose the $5000 up front bonus. It represents a less risky asset. 3. Companies are often inclined to use stock options to compensate employees rather than exhausting cash flow. It does not directly cost a company anything in terms of â€Å"accounting costs. † There is, however, an implied economic cost equal to that of outside investors’ costs. The cost of a stock option is more or less a perceived cost, as the true value is not concrete and is virtually unknown at the time of issuance. This is due to the length of the option and specified strike price being of possible value at expiration date. The current value of an option is dependent on the performance of the company and its stock price, that is, in the future. Executive stock options help align an executive employee’s monetary compensation with both individual performance and the overall performance of the firm. In this sense, an executive is encouraged to act in the best interests of the firm and to also to take some risks to grow the company in which they work for and thus, increase the company’s stock prices. Stock options are an effective way to correlate performance and compensation, but mainly only for employees that are in positions that can have an affect on the company’s performance. Employees in executive, decision-making positions have the ability to impact the profitability and growth of the organization, whereas administrative assistant positions would not be as likely to improve performance due to being compensated with stock options. Companies could better individualize compensation packages for different positions. Executive positions fit the stock options benefit plan while administrative assistants may prefer stock purchasing rights rather than options. Other employees that fall somewhere in the middle would be better suited for a combination of monetary compensation, stock options and stock in the firm. In addition, stock options with a lessened length of time to the expiration date may prove to drive option-holding employees to set short-term, achievable goals. Employees would be given successive stock options to promote their care for the company without feeling as though they are being forced to stay with the organization. This set up of granting stock options would also help to encourage performance of employees to lead to both the short and long term success of the firm. . If Ms. Jameson decided that the option was a better deal, but was concerned with being too committed and reliant on the fortunes of Telstar, she could modify her compensation package to better suit her individual needs. Ms. Jameson would be taking considerable risk by keeping all of her bonus in Telstar for stock options with such a lengthy expiration date a nd also due to the historical data of Telstar showing that only stock prices reached $35 (the exercise price) only once. Instead of holding on to all 3,000 issued stock options, Ms. Jameson could keep a portion of the stock options and trade some in the market. Keeping some Telstar stock options would help keep her tied to the company without making her feel that she is bound to the company for the next five years or that she is facing enormous risk of losing her bonus altogether. By doing this, Ms. Jameson would provide herself with the opportunity to make investments outside of Telstar, and thus, better diversify her investments.

Short Story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Short Story - Essay Example The journey represents a necessary testing of his faith, but the fear expressed by his wife Faith indicates there is a hidden peril in undertaking such a journey. Her warning, â€Å"may you find all well when you come back† (293), seems to indicate the peril does not apply strictly to Goodman Brown as he sets off on his journey, but for Faith as well as she is left behind in the darkness. In this solitary journey, Hawthorne indicates that the doctrine of purposefully seeking challenges to a faith already weakened by church dictates is a highly dangerous proposition with the capability of leading many men and women to their dooms rather than their salvation. This concept that the experience is leading to doom rather than salvation is defined more as the story progresses and Goodman Brown goes deeper into the darkness of the forest. The people that Young Goodman Brown sees and hears as he makes his way to the heart of the forest proves to him that the human soul is beyond redemption, regardless of their good works performed in the light of day, such as â€Å"a female figure on the path, in whom Goodman Brown recognized a very pious and exemplary dame, who had taught him his catechism in youth, and was still his moral and spiritual adviser, jointly with the minister and Deacon Gookin† (295). It is witnessing of the meeting between the woman and his companion who is presented as the devil, that first opens Young Goodman Brown’s eyes to the idea that the people he has considered so good in his lifetime are as full of sin and corruption as anyone. Throughout his journey, he loses some heart, but determines to hold fast to his Faith and return home. However, when he hears the voices of the villagers in a passing cloud, along with the sound of his own Faith being carried along with them, he gives in altogether and determines to find out what lies at the end of the path. Crying â€Å"my Faith is gone!†,

Movie Review - The Hurt Locker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Movie Review - The Hurt Locker - Essay Example Kathryn Ann Bigelow is an American film director, producer; TV plays director as well as a screenwriter. Her famous movies and screenplays include Near Dark (1987), Point Break (1991), Strange Days (1995) and the Hurt Locker (2008). Bigelow is famous in print and electronic media community for inconceivable visuals and heart-pounding action sequels. Her unique concepts depicted in movies make her different and stand out from many other directors of Hollywood. Being one of the today’s most enthralling directors, she started her film career with a short movie The Set Up in 1978 in which she focused on violence in the society. In 1989, she made her first studio project public, Blue Steel. Though the movie received criticism for weak plot and violence by some of the critics at the same time, it gathered a lot of praise for its imagery and real time screen effects (Deborah and Sean 65). Bigelow tried TV screen as well in 1993 and directed a number of television crime dramas/serials like Homicide; Life on the Streets and The Weight of Water. Her later project was The Hurt Locker which won numerous awards including BAFTA Award for best director and best film. After having a complete success in Hurt Locker, Bigelow directed her next movie Triple Frontier which was a joint venture of Bigelow and Mark Boal.The story was originated by Mark Boal, who was a freelance journalist, paid by American Govt to cover/accompany an American Bomb Squad operating in Iraq after the war had ended.

Theoretical concepts Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theoretical concepts - Research Paper Example y was to examine the effects of selected person-environment variables as they influenced psychological adaptation in home hospice patients† (Dobratz, 1993, p. 712). Based on the PowerPoint slide, â€Å"The world of research theory: Building the theoretical framework,† a purpose statement clarifies the direction of research, the relationships among the concepts in the study, and often provides the most information about the intent of the research problem. In addition, according to the PowerPoint slide, a purpose statement should clearly state why the researcher is conducting the study. These â€Å"entities† are present in Dobratz (1993) but not all of them are wholly present in the purpose section of the article (p. 712). However, considering the article in its totality, the elements of purpose statements are fully there. Proposition 1: person-environment variables positively influence psychological adaptation to dying. This proposition relates the concepts â€Å"person-environment variables† and â€Å"psychological adaptation to dying†. One conceptual definition is on psychological processes. It is conceptually defined in the article as those â€Å"used by individuals to adapt both to self and to environmental influences (Dobratz, 1993 citing Hann, 1969, 1977). Another conceptual definition is â€Å"physical function† or the â€Å"degree of dependence on other persons for assistance as measured by Karnofsky, Abelmann, Craver, and Burchenal† (Debrotz, 1993, p. 713). The dependent variable is â€Å"psychological adaptation to dying† as indicated by the â€Å"state of well-being related to life satisfaction† as measured by the Affect Balance Scale described in Dobratz (1993, p. 713). The independent variables are age, length of illness since diagnosis, gender, social support as perceived by the ill (perception of value, group belonging, provision of attachment/intimacy, chance for nurturance, etc.), and pain intensity as developed by Melzack (1975). Consistent with

Ethical reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical reflection - Essay Example Although it is unclear with respect to whether or not one or both of the twins could have survived if more timely action had taken place, it is affirmatively clear that the likelihood of one of the twins surviving could have been maximized if the hospital had the potential to perform the abortion when it was immediately required. Sadly, because of the ethical interpretation that such institutions hold onto, a baseline of help that would have been available to the patient was non-existent; further restricting the potential resources and means of address that this particular situation required. A further ethical reflection reveals the fact that even though an element of the Hippocratic Oath requires the medical professional to do no harm, they are also required to address the healthcare needs and promote life whenever possible. As can be seen, these two requirements of the Hippocratic oath, into conflict with one another with regards to the case in question. Rather than abandoning the Hippocratic Oath and attempting to forge and new ethical consideration that could address the situation at hand, it must be understood that the unique case represents a situation in which definitive action must be taken as a means of preserving the potential life that existed within the womb (Raghavan 1). By refusing the act in a time of need, the ethical burden is not only on the hospital and its staff with respect to not performing the abortion in conjunction with the parent’s wishes, it is also at fault for seeing the situation, prescribing a solution scenario, and then not addressi ng this scenario in the correct way. A further level of understanding and ethical analysis can be had with respect to the fact that the medical professionals intimately knew what was required in order for one of the fetuses to have a chance at viability; however, due to