Sunday, January 26, 2020
Development of Independence From Colonialism
Development of Independence From Colonialism Ghana was the first country in black Africa to achieve independence, on March 6, 1957. It showed the way to the rest of Africa to free themselves from the colonization which was spread everywhere on the continent. Kwame Nkrumah was the one who inspired by India’s independence came out with the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and brought imperial Britain to leave the Gold Coast (Ghana before the independence) only thanks to political means. After this victory, Kwame Nkrumah became the symbol of a generation as the anti-colonialist struggle, recognized by the most as the first real African activist victorious over the colonialism. The independence of Gold Coast had a magnitude all over the continent and was at the basis of the many nationalist actions realized afterward. After the independence of Ghana : No one doubted about the bright economic future of Ghana as it is the first cocoa exporter worldwide and was producing big quantity of gold (about one tenth of the world’s production). Ghana was also full with crops, forests and even gemstones.Finally, many in Ghana were well-educated and a quarter of Ghana ’s population was literate. Besides, Nkruhmah was becoming more and more appreciated by people thanks to the inspiration he provided to them. He got the heavy responsibility of rebuilding again this country, to unit its habitants although they shared very few things in common and still, the colonization ended up recently. Indeed, in this year, many groups still remain hostiles toward each other from the hundreds of years of wars and of slave trade. Tensions were still present as Ghana was trying to change its face. The country wasn’t stable yet, the population could have been influenced by others therefore Nkrumah decided that all the political parties whether regional or tribal oriented were forbidden in order to prevent any internal problems caused by feelings of nationalism. 1958 was a dark year for Ghana which was no longer the world’s largest cocoa supplier. Unfortunately, the country was facing an economic downturn which created a social crisis. Nkrumah’s government lost its popularity toward the mass and the rural population. The government’s response makes the situation even worse: Indeed, Nkrumah became dictatorial and took many hard measures against the manifestations and to anyone who disliked his government. While, he said once: â€Å"If we get self-government, we will transform the Gold Coast ( Ghana ) into a paradise in 10 years†[1] Strikes were considered illegal and severely punished. He implemented of a law which without trial allowed to arrest anyone suspected being against the state for five years which turned to be ten years later on. All political parties were prohibited. As a result: Nkrumah declared himself president for life; Ghana as a one-party state and finally achieved to turn his country as hell on earth for Ghana ’s workers. In 1960, Nkrumah is designated president of republic. The president had high expectancy for Ghana and started many expensive and ambitious projects without unfortunately getting profit from them. As a matter of fact, Nkrumah wanted to use the resources of Ghana to promote the industry development and the economic growth for the country. Ghana had a lot of bauxite and that could assure a good rise of the sector especially thanks to the manufacture of aluminum, by exporting worldwide. However to start these projects, the need for electricity became a necessity. As a consequence, the process of industrialization began, leading to the Volta Dam project. The project was only half successful as many others Nkrumah had run but nobody could doubt the good intentions behind them. The agricultural sector remained unheeded whereas it represents the basis for a developing country and overall for Ghana as it disposes of a lot of natural resources. As a consequence, the economy started to turn bad and Ghana contracted a debt which was increasing highly. The positive mood in the recent past years which tend to stay confident in Ghana ’s development ended and provoked a big change in the political climate. Later on, in 1962, the economic situation evolved so badly that all foreign investors and industry were in the obligation by law to invest again more than 60 percent of their gains within Ghana . The president had no choice than to force his investors as he did with the population to continue providing money to its system that no one else believed in any more. As if the fall was endless, in 1964, one year after W.E.B died; (he was the first African American who graduated at Harvard and to earn a doctorate. He was also known as an activist against racism and the segregation. After the independence of Ghana , he was invited by Nkrumah to live in Ghana ); the president Nkrumah suspended the constitution and therefore the democracy. Ghana was finally officially recognized as a one-party state ruled by a dictator. Again, the West reacted after realizing to what situation Ghana fell after the Independence . Criticised by western societies, Nkrumah began to work with communist countries such as principally the Soviet Union . At that time, Ghana ’s economics’ crisis has reached its climax: The country is out of control and the people keep getting poorer. The dictator is totally unpopular because of its previous actions against his people. The economy is out of control and the population is getting poorer. Nkrumah is no longer a popular leader as he hits hard on demonstrations and arrests anyone in opposition. The first coup On the 24thof February, 1966: A military takeover occurred in Ghana, it didn’t make any big losses as it was planned to happen while Nkrumah was away from the country visiting his friend President Sà ©kou Tourà © in Guinea. The military coup was realized by British-trained officers who had the ambition to stop the hard rule of Nkrumah and his government. Therefore, while the president was away every of its statues in Accra were taken down by the people. The new military government called itself the National Liberation Council (NLC). They declared that their intention was to fight off corruption and to make some change in the constitution so that Ghana could come back one more time to a democratic system. Unofficially, Britain was intervening in Ghana because of the orientation the country was undertaking during the last years of Nkrumah’s dictatorship towards the communist countries. Indeed, it was the cold war, the world was divided in two and the tentatives to attra ct countries to one side or the other weren’t rare; overall in these underdeveloped countries. As a consequence, the NLC’s council tended to be rather more conservative than socialist and therefore, it kept under a strict control all politicians and ideologues whether they were either socialists or communists. All connections to the Soviet Union were broken and technicians from USSR and China were expelled in order to get rid of any influences that could lead Ghana to communism. Ghanawas having his chance another time, to the eyes of the West, Ghana was taking a new way, a proper one to democracy and self-sustainability. After three years of provisional leading: The NLC legalized another time the participation of multiples political parties. Finally, new elections were announced for September 1969 which marked the beginning of the second republic. A new civilian government is created by Dr. Kofi Busia and the Progress Party. His party got a good start as the national economy regained strength thanks to the high prices on the cocoa market. Very quickly, prices drop again, the economic situation of Ghana go from bad to worst in 1971. Indeed, a political decision has been made to devaluate the Cedi which led to higher prices and to demonstrations, conflicts with violence by the population. In 1972, Kwame Nkrumah dies, despite his political failure, African masses still see in him a brave activist, the symbol of the struggle anti-colonialist and as the founder of Ghana . On the 13thof January, 1972: Once again a coup occurred, realized by forces of the army, for a change of government. This time, The National Redemption Council decided to impose a leader for Ghana . So, they chose Colonel Ignatius Acheampong to rule the state. However, the head of the state doesn’t have enough experience in any domains whether they are political or economical. A lack of vision from Acheampong led to a rise of corruption from the basis to the top of the society and the government. As a consequence, big strikes are organised by the youth in the country to claim their disappointment toward the critical situation the country was conducted. One year later, the economy was almost falling to pieces and no agreement could have been found with NRC-government.Acheampong took the initiative to put an end to the government and implemented the Supreme Military Council (SMC) constituted of a little group of seven persons chose by himself. The SMC ruled the country in a very roughly way: Any opposing to the regime was victim of multiples persecutions and even jailing without any sentence. On the 5thof July, 1978, Acheampong was in the obligation to resign while the general William Akuffo was taking the command of the â€Å"Supreme Military Council II†. He engaged himself to reform a civilian government, to allow for another time the political parties in Ghana . Finally he declared that he would set a date for new elections. Later on, on the 4thof June in 1979, after a first failed coup in the same year, Jerry John Rawlings a flight Lieutenant planned a takeover some days before the planned election. He was finally victorious, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council achieved to take power. His ideas were principally inspired by socialism whether they are political or economical. His goal was to find an issue to corruption and the economical situation in which the country remained. Rawlings’ intention was to settle democratic elections but in a first time to stop the generals of the â€Å"Supreme Military Council II†from running away wealthy whereas they turned the country in chaos. Two weeks later, Dr. Hilla Limann leading the People’s National Party succeeded the election. As a result, the party got only 71 of the 140 seats in parliament making them a bit powerless to undertake decisions to free the country from the problems it faced until now. Rawlings understood that the PNP couldn’t rule properly Ghana as long as corruption, order and justice are not restored. In this sense, he strongly encouraged and helped the AFRC to put an end to all these problems before letting Ghana coming back to democracy. Finally, in the same year, thanks to the AFRC, all the persons linked to the SMC government and who were accused of corruption was tried. As a result: Hundreds of businessmen are sent to prison as well as government officials and the leader of this former government: Acheampong, Akuffo and Arifa were sentenced to death. The third republic In September 1979, the AFRC gives power to Hilla Limann. Rawlings and his soldiers came back to the army. Unfortunately, this news government didn’t help Ghana to solve its economical problems. During two years, the PNP have been trying but without any success: They haven’t been able to leave the country from the economic stagnation. Indeed, many economic reforms haven’t been applied or the government renounced to them in order to avoid a new takeover. Indeed, all economic changes proposed by the PNP’s government presented hard terms for Ghana ’s people but they were declared as necessary for the rise of the country. In 1980, the corruption came back and brought many violent conflicts in the country which put a definitive end to the PNP’s government. At the end of 1981, on the 31st of December. Rawlings took again the command of Ghana thanks to the military, he took over the country. He formed the Provisional National Defence Council of which he became the chairman. This time, Rawlings established that the country would be a one-party state for a temporary time, to make of Ghana a stable country and to ensure in the long-run a real democracy.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Macbeth: Reasons For The Development Of Insanity Essay
Insanity, as defined as an inability to act rationally, develops most commonly in individuals as a response to conditions with which the mind is unable to cope. Prolonged or intense, sudden psychological trauma always results in denial or repression in some form or another, both of which cause the individual to gradually lose their grip on reality. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, as the chaos and guilt caused by their immoral actions increases, the prevalent characters deteriorate into insanity. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Macduff slip into delusion and desperate acts as an outlet for their growing disgust with both themselves and the consequences of their actions. The play opens with a description of gruesome war, in the thick of which is Macbeth, alluding to the dangerous internal conflict going on within him- he is at once consumed by ambition, yet completely lacking in the self-confidence to support it. Macbeth†‘†s weak character, marked by his inability to make decisions that are not black and white in nature and his susceptibility to persuasion, is clearly displayed in his constant need for reassurance from outside influences and his expression of desire that his actions could have no consequence, ‘†‘If it were done when â€Å"‘†tis done, then â€Å"‘†twere well twere done quickly. If th†‘†assassination Could trammel up the consequence and catch With his surcease, success, that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all – here.'†‘ (I.vii.1-5) Since this is obviously impossible, he attempts to break the murder of Duncan down into the most basic and acceptable cause and effect- his ambition. If there are no tangible affirmations for the immoral actions that Macbeth†‘†s ambition prompts he invents them, such as the bloody dagger he imagines leads him to kill Duncan. In any case, Macbeth attempts to evade the consequences of his morally ambiguous decisions by shifting their perceivable source to either his wife or the supernatural world, in his mind effectually making him only a pawn to the whims of fate. As Macbeth contemplates Duncan†‘†s virtues and other compelling moral reasons for aborting the crime, ‘†‘His virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damnation of his taking-off,'†‘ (I.vii.18-20) morality seems to be the most complicating factor in the decision to commit murder and thus, is also the biggest obstacle to his ambition. So, to simplify things, Macbeth allows his moral arguments to be rejected. However, once he sets his morals aside, he cannot regain them, ‘†‘I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o†‘†er. Strange things I have in head that will to hand, which must be acted ere they may be scanned.'†‘ (III.iv.136-140) At this point Macbeth admits that his actions are too horrific to ever be forgiven, therefore the only avenue of action left to him that he perceives is to continue along the path he is already following. He can no longer tolerate being a walking contradiction; feeling immense guilt for the murders he commits, but all the time plotting more to salve his paranoia of being found out. To remedy this, Macbeth resolves to suppress his conscience completely, turning him irrevocably evil from this point on, possibly with the aid of a hard whack to his forehead1. Macbeth†‘†s abrupt turn of mood, from paranoid depression to manic delusion, is directly related to the prophecies of the weà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rd sisters that give him the false confidence he needs for affirmation of his actions and therefore solidifies his denial. Previously, as Macbeth begins to doubt that hiring murders to kill Banquo and Fleance will absolve him of the guilt, he subconsciously vents his horror at his action through the hallucination of Banquo†‘†s ghost, while at the same time trying desperately to convince himself otherwise, ‘†‘Thou canst not say I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me!'†‘ (III.iv.50-51) These fits of paranoia are products of Macbeth†‘†s feelings of guilt that only compound as Macbeth tries to suppress them, surfacing in hallucinations that threaten to expose him and a violent defence mechanism of murdering anyone that could be perceived as a threat. Macbeth seems to sense that it is only a matter of time before lying himself into an illusion of security fails. As everyone, including his wife, continually abandons him, Macbeth sinks into a mood of nihilism that follows his psychological pattern of denial and justification by allowing him to claim that if life is ultimately without consequence then his crimes are also meaningless, ‘†‘Life†‘†s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.'†‘ (IV.v.23-27) Against all rational logic, Macbeth concludes that he is innocent of any permanently damning acts, but also that life holds no further purpose for him. Like her husband, Lady Macbeth learns that there is such a thing as guilt by association. She is plagued by the knowledge that she herself did not kill Duncan, but is directly responsible for his death. Before the murder of Duncan, she has a misguided impression of aggression and violence as inherent male traits, and draws the conclusion that anyone truly masculine should be able to commit murder without repercussions on their conscience. Her compulsive need to wash herself clean of imaginary blood indicates that, unlike her husband who can respond to the nagging of his conscience by pushing it away completely, she cannot forgive herself, nor force herself to forget her culpability. Also, unlike Macbeth who nullifies his guilt, she magnifies her own to the point where it consumes her. Perhaps Lady Macbeth can sense the irony of her inability to cleanse herself of Duncan†‘†s imaginary, yet permanently staining blood, ‘†‘Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood on him?'†‘ (V.i.33-34) when earlier she scolds Macbeth for making the same claim, ‘†‘A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!'†‘ (II.ii.70-71) Indeed, Lady Macbeth†‘†s decline into insanity is marked most sharply by her contrast to both her earlier character and the character now being taken up by her husband, suggesting that if she listens to the his reservations, she can avoid the mental turmoil that she experiences later. However, Lady Macbeth expects that the amount of urging Macbeth requires to kill the first time is indicative of an inability to plot further murders. Instead she is constantly reminded of the atrocity she instigated by Macbeth†‘†s insistence to raise the body count as high as possible. Disillusionment more than anything else is what pushes her over the brink of insanity and into an agony of anxiety and despair; gaining the throne does not bring her happiness, nor does it justify Duncan†‘†s death. Accompanied only by Lady Macbeth, Macduff is the only other character that admits responsibility for their actions. Macduff†‘†s sanity is severely shaken by the sudden shock of learning that his entire family has been cruelly murdered at Macbeth†‘†s orders. He responds with passionate grief and regret for leaving them at Macbeth†‘†s mercy, while he himself flees beyond Macbeth†‘†s reach. When compared with the reactions of Ross and Malcolm, Macduff seems almost hysterical, but justifiably so. It is Ross and Malcolm that seem to have disproportionate emotion. Malcolm†‘†s claims that Macduff should avenge the murder of his family by challenging Macbeth are fraught with hypocrisy, since Malcolm himself flees when his own father is murdered instead of taking his own advice. His urgings to Macduff seem to come from selfish means, (he needs an army with which to defeat Macbeth) instead of any real concern for the grief that Macduff is feeling. Macduff expresses his exasperation at Malcolm†‘†s disregard and his feelings of culpability for provoking the tyrannical Macbeth†‘†s wraith, ‘†‘But I must also feel it as a man; I cannot but remember such things were That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, They were all struck for thee.'†‘ (IV.iii.224-228) Eventually Macduff does agree to Malcolm†‘†s requests as it becomes increasingly apparent that he will not receive the sympathy he seeks from anyone. Indeed Macduff throws himself into the aim with obsessive vigour, having nothing left to live for. Macduff†‘†s frantic charge to meet in a fight to the death with his nemesis seems to mirror his Macbeth†‘†s own nihilistic mood- however, Macduff†‘†s willingness to die originates from despair rather than apathy. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main characters stew in guilt upon realization of the aftermath of their actions, driving them to insanity. In that neither Macbeth, nor Lady Macbeth, nor Macduff can escape the mental anguish as consequence of their actions, Shakespeare effectively hits home the idea that one should thoroughly check their conscience before they act.
Macbeth: Reasons For The Development Of Insanity Essay
Insanity, as defined as an inability to act rationally, develops most commonly in individuals as a response to conditions with which the mind is unable to cope. Prolonged or intense, sudden psychological trauma always results in denial or repression in some form or another, both of which cause the individual to gradually lose their grip on reality. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, as the chaos and guilt caused by their immoral actions increases, the prevalent characters deteriorate into insanity. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Macduff slip into delusion and desperate acts as an outlet for their growing disgust with both themselves and the consequences of their actions. The play opens with a description of gruesome war, in the thick of which is Macbeth, alluding to the dangerous internal conflict going on within him- he is at once consumed by ambition, yet completely lacking in the self-confidence to support it. Macbeth†‘†s weak character, marked by his inability to make decisions that are not black and white in nature and his susceptibility to persuasion, is clearly displayed in his constant need for reassurance from outside influences and his expression of desire that his actions could have no consequence, ‘†‘If it were done when â€Å"‘†tis done, then â€Å"‘†twere well twere done quickly. If th†‘†assassination Could trammel up the consequence and catch With his surcease, success, that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all – here.'†‘ (I.vii.1-5) Since this is obviously impossible, he attempts to break the murder of Duncan down into the most basic and acceptable cause and effect- his ambition. If there are no tangible affirmations for the immoral actions that Macbeth†‘†s ambition prompts he invents them, such as the bloody dagger he imagines leads him to kill Duncan. In any case, Macbeth attempts to evade the consequences of his morally ambiguous decisions by shifting their perceivable source to either his wife or the supernatural world, in his mind effectually making him only a pawn to the whims of fate. As Macbeth contemplates Duncan†‘†s virtues and other compelling moral reasons for aborting the crime, ‘†‘His virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damnation of his taking-off,'†‘ (I.vii.18-20) morality seems to be the most complicating factor in the decision to commit murder and thus, is also the biggest obstacle to his ambition. So, to simplify things, Macbeth allows his moral arguments to be rejected. However, once he sets his morals aside, he cannot regain them, ‘†‘I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o†‘†er. Strange things I have in head that will to hand, which must be acted ere they may be scanned.'†‘ (III.iv.136-140) At this point Macbeth admits that his actions are too horrific to ever be forgiven, therefore the only avenue of action left to him that he perceives is to continue along the path he is already following. He can no longer tolerate being a walking contradiction; feeling immense guilt for the murders he commits, but all the time plotting more to salve his paranoia of being found out. To remedy this, Macbeth resolves to suppress his conscience completely, turning him irrevocably evil from this point on, possibly with the aid of a hard whack to his forehead1. Macbeth†‘†s abrupt turn of mood, from paranoid depression to manic delusion, is directly related to the prophecies of the weà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rd sisters that give him the false confidence he needs for affirmation of his actions and therefore solidifies his denial. Previously, as Macbeth begins to doubt that hiring murders to kill Banquo and Fleance will absolve him of the guilt, he subconsciously vents his horror at his action through the hallucination of Banquo†‘†s ghost, while at the same time trying desperately to convince himself otherwise, ‘†‘Thou canst not say I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me!'†‘ (III.iv.50-51) These fits of paranoia are products of Macbeth†‘†s feelings of guilt that only compound as Macbeth tries to suppress them, surfacing in hallucinations that threaten to expose him and a violent defence mechanism of murdering anyone that could be perceived as a threat. Macbeth seems to sense that it is only a matter of time before lying himself into an illusion of security fails. As everyone, including his wife, continually abandons him, Macbeth sinks into a mood of nihilism that follows his psychological pattern of denial and justification by allowing him to claim that if life is ultimately without consequence then his crimes are also meaningless, ‘†‘Life†‘†s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.'†‘ (IV.v.23-27) Against all rational logic, Macbeth concludes that he is innocent of any permanently damning acts, but also that life holds no further purpose for him. Like her husband, Lady Macbeth learns that there is such a thing as guilt by association. She is plagued by the knowledge that she herself did not kill Duncan, but is directly responsible for his death. Before the murder of Duncan, she has a misguided impression of aggression and violence as inherent male traits, and draws the conclusion that anyone truly masculine should be able to commit murder without repercussions on their conscience. Her compulsive need to wash herself clean of imaginary blood indicates that, unlike her husband who can respond to the nagging of his conscience by pushing it away completely, she cannot forgive herself, nor force herself to forget her culpability. Also, unlike Macbeth who nullifies his guilt, she magnifies her own to the point where it consumes her. Perhaps Lady Macbeth can sense the irony of her inability to cleanse herself of Duncan†‘†s imaginary, yet permanently staining blood, ‘†‘Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood on him?'†‘ (V.i.33-34) when earlier she scolds Macbeth for making the same claim, ‘†‘A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!'†‘ (II.ii.70-71) Indeed, Lady Macbeth†‘†s decline into insanity is marked most sharply by her contrast to both her earlier character and the character now being taken up by her husband, suggesting that if she listens to the his reservations, she can avoid the mental turmoil that she experiences later. However, Lady Macbeth expects that the amount of urging Macbeth requires to kill the first time is indicative of an inability to plot further murders. Instead she is constantly reminded of the atrocity she instigated by Macbeth†‘†s insistence to raise the body count as high as possible. Disillusionment more than anything else is what pushes her over the brink of insanity and into an agony of anxiety and despair; gaining the throne does not bring her happiness, nor does it justify Duncan†‘†s death. Accompanied only by Lady Macbeth, Macduff is the only other character that admits responsibility for their actions. Macduff†‘†s sanity is severely shaken by the sudden shock of learning that his entire family has been cruelly murdered at Macbeth†‘†s orders. He responds with passionate grief and regret for leaving them at Macbeth†‘†s mercy, while he himself flees beyond Macbeth†‘†s reach. When compared with the reactions of Ross and Malcolm, Macduff seems almost hysterical, but justifiably so. It is Ross and Malcolm that seem to have disproportionate emotion. Malcolm†‘†s claims that Macduff should avenge the murder of his family by challenging Macbeth are fraught with hypocrisy, since Malcolm himself flees when his own father is murdered instead of taking his own advice. His urgings to Macduff seem to come from selfish means, (he needs an army with which to defeat Macbeth) instead of any real concern for the grief that Macduff is feeling. Macduff expresses his exasperation at Malcolm†‘†s disregard and his feelings of culpability for provoking the tyrannical Macbeth†‘†s wraith, ‘†‘But I must also feel it as a man; I cannot but remember such things were That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, They were all struck for thee.'†‘ (IV.iii.224-228) Eventually Macduff does agree to Malcolm†‘†s requests as it becomes increasingly apparent that he will not receive the sympathy he seeks from anyone. Indeed Macduff throws himself into the aim with obsessive vigour, having nothing left to live for. Macduff†‘†s frantic charge to meet in a fight to the death with his nemesis seems to mirror his Macbeth†‘†s own nihilistic mood- however, Macduff†‘†s willingness to die originates from despair rather than apathy. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main characters stew in guilt upon realization of the aftermath of their actions, driving them to insanity. In that neither Macbeth, nor Lady Macbeth, nor Macduff can escape the mental anguish as consequence of their actions, Shakespeare effectively hits home the idea that one should thoroughly check their conscience before they act.
Macbeth: Reasons For The Development Of Insanity Essay
Insanity, as defined as an inability to act rationally, develops most commonly in individuals as a response to conditions with which the mind is unable to cope. Prolonged or intense, sudden psychological trauma always results in denial or repression in some form or another, both of which cause the individual to gradually lose their grip on reality. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, as the chaos and guilt caused by their immoral actions increases, the prevalent characters deteriorate into insanity. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Macduff slip into delusion and desperate acts as an outlet for their growing disgust with both themselves and the consequences of their actions. The play opens with a description of gruesome war, in the thick of which is Macbeth, alluding to the dangerous internal conflict going on within him- he is at once consumed by ambition, yet completely lacking in the self-confidence to support it. Macbeth†‘†s weak character, marked by his inability to make decisions that are not black and white in nature and his susceptibility to persuasion, is clearly displayed in his constant need for reassurance from outside influences and his expression of desire that his actions could have no consequence, ‘†‘If it were done when â€Å"‘†tis done, then â€Å"‘†twere well twere done quickly. If th†‘†assassination Could trammel up the consequence and catch With his surcease, success, that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all – here.'†‘ (I.vii.1-5) Since this is obviously impossible, he attempts to break the murder of Duncan down into the most basic and acceptable cause and effect- his ambition. If there are no tangible affirmations for the immoral actions that Macbeth†‘†s ambition prompts he invents them, such as the bloody dagger he imagines leads him to kill Duncan. In any case, Macbeth attempts to evade the consequences of his morally ambiguous decisions by shifting their perceivable source to either his wife or the supernatural world, in his mind effectually making him only a pawn to the whims of fate. As Macbeth contemplates Duncan†‘†s virtues and other compelling moral reasons for aborting the crime, ‘†‘His virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damnation of his taking-off,'†‘ (I.vii.18-20) morality seems to be the most complicating factor in the decision to commit murder and thus, is also the biggest obstacle to his ambition. So, to simplify things, Macbeth allows his moral arguments to be rejected. However, once he sets his morals aside, he cannot regain them, ‘†‘I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o†‘†er. Strange things I have in head that will to hand, which must be acted ere they may be scanned.'†‘ (III.iv.136-140) At this point Macbeth admits that his actions are too horrific to ever be forgiven, therefore the only avenue of action left to him that he perceives is to continue along the path he is already following. He can no longer tolerate being a walking contradiction; feeling immense guilt for the murders he commits, but all the time plotting more to salve his paranoia of being found out. To remedy this, Macbeth resolves to suppress his conscience completely, turning him irrevocably evil from this point on, possibly with the aid of a hard whack to his forehead1. Macbeth†‘†s abrupt turn of mood, from paranoid depression to manic delusion, is directly related to the prophecies of the weà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rd sisters that give him the false confidence he needs for affirmation of his actions and therefore solidifies his denial. Previously, as Macbeth begins to doubt that hiring murders to kill Banquo and Fleance will absolve him of the guilt, he subconsciously vents his horror at his action through the hallucination of Banquo†‘†s ghost, while at the same time trying desperately to convince himself otherwise, ‘†‘Thou canst not say I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me!'†‘ (III.iv.50-51) These fits of paranoia are products of Macbeth†‘†s feelings of guilt that only compound as Macbeth tries to suppress them, surfacing in hallucinations that threaten to expose him and a violent defence mechanism of murdering anyone that could be perceived as a threat. Macbeth seems to sense that it is only a matter of time before lying himself into an illusion of security fails. As everyone, including his wife, continually abandons him, Macbeth sinks into a mood of nihilism that follows his psychological pattern of denial and justification by allowing him to claim that if life is ultimately without consequence then his crimes are also meaningless, ‘†‘Life†‘†s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.'†‘ (IV.v.23-27) Against all rational logic, Macbeth concludes that he is innocent of any permanently damning acts, but also that life holds no further purpose for him. Like her husband, Lady Macbeth learns that there is such a thing as guilt by association. She is plagued by the knowledge that she herself did not kill Duncan, but is directly responsible for his death. Before the murder of Duncan, she has a misguided impression of aggression and violence as inherent male traits, and draws the conclusion that anyone truly masculine should be able to commit murder without repercussions on their conscience. Her compulsive need to wash herself clean of imaginary blood indicates that, unlike her husband who can respond to the nagging of his conscience by pushing it away completely, she cannot forgive herself, nor force herself to forget her culpability. Also, unlike Macbeth who nullifies his guilt, she magnifies her own to the point where it consumes her. Perhaps Lady Macbeth can sense the irony of her inability to cleanse herself of Duncan†‘†s imaginary, yet permanently staining blood, ‘†‘Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood on him?'†‘ (V.i.33-34) when earlier she scolds Macbeth for making the same claim, ‘†‘A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!'†‘ (II.ii.70-71) Indeed, Lady Macbeth†‘†s decline into insanity is marked most sharply by her contrast to both her earlier character and the character now being taken up by her husband, suggesting that if she listens to the his reservations, she can avoid the mental turmoil that she experiences later. However, Lady Macbeth expects that the amount of urging Macbeth requires to kill the first time is indicative of an inability to plot further murders. Instead she is constantly reminded of the atrocity she instigated by Macbeth†‘†s insistence to raise the body count as high as possible. Disillusionment more than anything else is what pushes her over the brink of insanity and into an agony of anxiety and despair; gaining the throne does not bring her happiness, nor does it justify Duncan†‘†s death. Accompanied only by Lady Macbeth, Macduff is the only other character that admits responsibility for their actions. Macduff†‘†s sanity is severely shaken by the sudden shock of learning that his entire family has been cruelly murdered at Macbeth†‘†s orders. He responds with passionate grief and regret for leaving them at Macbeth†‘†s mercy, while he himself flees beyond Macbeth†‘†s reach. When compared with the reactions of Ross and Malcolm, Macduff seems almost hysterical, but justifiably so. It is Ross and Malcolm that seem to have disproportionate emotion. Malcolm†‘†s claims that Macduff should avenge the murder of his family by challenging Macbeth are fraught with hypocrisy, since Malcolm himself flees when his own father is murdered instead of taking his own advice. His urgings to Macduff seem to come from selfish means, (he needs an army with which to defeat Macbeth) instead of any real concern for the grief that Macduff is feeling. Macduff expresses his exasperation at Malcolm†‘†s disregard and his feelings of culpability for provoking the tyrannical Macbeth†‘†s wraith, ‘†‘But I must also feel it as a man; I cannot but remember such things were That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, They were all struck for thee.'†‘ (IV.iii.224-228) Eventually Macduff does agree to Malcolm†‘†s requests as it becomes increasingly apparent that he will not receive the sympathy he seeks from anyone. Indeed Macduff throws himself into the aim with obsessive vigour, having nothing left to live for. Macduff†‘†s frantic charge to meet in a fight to the death with his nemesis seems to mirror his Macbeth†‘†s own nihilistic mood- however, Macduff†‘†s willingness to die originates from despair rather than apathy. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main characters stew in guilt upon realization of the aftermath of their actions, driving them to insanity. In that neither Macbeth, nor Lady Macbeth, nor Macduff can escape the mental anguish as consequence of their actions, Shakespeare effectively hits home the idea that one should thoroughly check their conscience before they act.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
The Brand Of Adventure Sandals - 988 Words
A product I bought recently was a pair of adventure sandals (as I call them) for my three year old daughter. She was in need of a pair of shoes for various types of play and outdoor activities for the summer season. My family participates in a lot of outdoor activities in the summer such as hiking, boating, biking and various beach activities so she needed a pair of shoes that are durable and have good traction. There were three brands of adventure sandals I considered for this need; Keen, Chaco and Teva. The three brands are similar in product attributes and price. The other factor was if my daughter liked the way they looked and felt which is a big deal with a three year old. This purchase was a medium involvement purchase. It was a not a low involvement purchase like purchasing a drink or food for dinner but not high involvement either like buying a car or a house. It is a product that we will be using for my daughter for one year, since she will grow out of them. Functionality is very important to me for her shoes since I want her to be safe and have fun in them then we can donate or sell them, worst case scenario throw them away if they are really beat. I evaluated my options based on cognitive evaluation and habit. In other words, two of the brands I chose (Keen and Teva) as alternatives were brands I was familiar with (habit) and the other brand had the same product attributes. In addition, I bought these shoes for the way they looked, considered each sandalShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of Using A Hybrid Lifestyle1550 Words  | 7 Pageswould be a shoe, such as their famous Newport sandal.  The actual product is the Newport featuring the Keen brand name, Keen’s quality manufacturing and design, Keen’s own packaging, and any customizable features that the customer may have requested, such as uniquely colored straps.  This image is what most consumers would picture when they think of Keen shoes; it is the finished physical product.  Finally, the augmented product is the completed Newport sandal plus home delivery of the product (if orderedRead MoreInnovation Club Med3659 Words  | 15 PagesBasically, busines s strategy of Club Med was concentrated on its original members - young adults. Year by year Club Med made technological internal and external developments. 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This allows the shoe to become snug enoughRead MoreCrocs Marketing Plan14993 Words  | 60 Pagesstarting in August 2009 and will cover the period until December 2012. In the short term, changes in Crocs’ brand portfolio and new footwear products should attract new segments and increase the target market. Rather than entering new markets, Crocs should stick to its core business of creating quality footwear and use its Croslite material for the new types of footwear. A new fresh and cool brand called Gators will carry sneakers, athletic shoes and casual shoes to attract the teenager segment. FurtherRea d MoreLux Marketing Mix9703 Words  | 39 Pageswith one of its premier brands LUX. HUL leads the market in the toilet soap category with 54.3% market share. Lux has inched up to be on par with Lifebuoy in HULs soaps portfolio. The Lux brand now has an almost equal market share as Hindustan Levers largest selling soap brand - Lifebuoy. This report gives an overview of the history of the company and the brand Lux, the various strategies adopted to survive in the market for over 75 years and the various competing brands. The promotional activitiesRead MoreMarketing Strategies of Godrej6674 Words  | 27 PagesJasani Company, V3 Engineers, PSL Modular Furniture, etc. According to one market survey home improvements (38%) and leisure holidays (37%) as the two pursuits Indian consumers are willing to indulge in. Many of the worlds leading home fashion brands are available in India through domestic retail outlets. Interior decorating is a burgeoning industry in India. Though formerly seen as a facet of architecture, the growing middle class has caused an increased demand for custom-designed decor and furnishingsRead MoreAdvertising and Reebok6354 Words  | 26 Pages Executive summary The objective of the study was to assess the Reebok communication strategies and various means used for creating awareness among its masses. Reebok International, a subsidiary of Adidas quite successfully communicated its brand among the people. Its has created a mark in the market and has a good hold on it. Reebok India is also successful. Overview of the Sector The footwear sector is a diverse industry which covers a wide variety of materials (textile, plastics, rubberRead MoreReebok Marketing Plan11312 Words  | 46 Pages(Reebok, 2011). The company was founded on one important value in the 1890’s, helping athletes run faster (Reebok, 2011). Since then the main vision has been to help athletes fulfill their potential (Reebok, 2011). Reebok is an American- inspired global brand, which celebrates individuality of the athlete while also helping the athlete to obtain goals they once thought unattainable (Reebok, 2011). Reebok is a subsidiary of Adidas Sportswear. Current Marketing Mix Product and Pricing: RealFlex Footwear
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
An Expanding World Population And A Degrading Earth
An Expanding World Population a Degrading Earth The world is currently home to around 7 billion people, but only a century ago there were only about 1.6 billion people living on it. It is estimated that the world population will soar to approximately 9 or 10 billion within the next forty years (Lambert 6). Along with the increasing global population, climate change and water scarcity are also burdening the survival of our planet (Lambert 5). The FAO has warned that agriculture must produce 70% more food within the next 40 years to feed our expanding population, but the world’s resources and land are dwindling as quickly as the population is expanding (Lambert 5). The world urban populations have been increasing consistently and are†¦show more content†¦A balance must be achieved as agriculture accounts for 30% of income in developing countries and without food production, the current world population could not survive (Munesue 9). How is humanity supposed to fee d its future self of 10 billion people without destroying itself through overuse of its Earth? Is Food Security a Human Right? There are more hunger related deaths each year throughout the world than AIDS malaria, and TB combined (Lambert 4). 25,000 people die everyday due to hunger related deaths (Lambert 4). The International Conference on Nutrition in 1992 and the World Food Summit in 1996 emphasized the importance of access to safe and nutritious food being recognized as a fundamental human right (Lusamba 3). It has been an established principle that a country s rate of food insecurity is directly related to system of governance (Lambert 7). Democratic societies have much lower rates of food insecurity than those countries with more authoritarian governments (Lambert 7). In this paper, food insecurity is defined as a condition in which an individual or population does not have access to safe culturally appropriate food that meets their caloric and nutritional needs. This paper is a study of the current state of food insecurity in four different countries throughout t he world. A brief section is devoted to the U.S. as a tool for
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