The moon and the sixpence free essay sample

The writers life and creativity Theme , motive , symbol 2. The main character 3. Conclusion 4. . The writers life and creativity: William Somerset Maugham was born in the British Embassy in Paris on 25th January, 1874. Williams father, Robert Ormond Maugham, a wealthy solicitor, worked for the Embassy in France. By the time he was ten, both Williams parents were dead and he was sent to live with his uncle, the Rev. Henry Maugham, in Whitstable, Kent. After an education at Kings School, Canterbury, and Heildelberg University in Germany, Maugham became a medical student at St. Thomas Hospital, London. While training to be a doctor Maugham worked as an obstetric clerk in the slums of Lambeth. He used these experiences to help him write his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897). The book sold well and he decided to abandon medicine and become a full-time writer. Maugham achieved fame with his play Lady Frederick (1907), a comedy about money and marriage. We will write a custom essay sample on The moon and the sixpence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page By 1908 Maugham had four plays running simultaneously inLondon. On the outbreak of the First World War, Maugham, now aged forty, Joined a Red Cross ambulance unit in France. While serving on the Western Front he met the 22 year old American, Gerald Haxton. The two men became lovers and lived together for the next thirty years. During the war Maugham was invited by Sir John Wallinger, head of Britains Military Intelligence (M16) in France, to act as a secret service agent. Maugham agreed and over the next few years acted as a link between M16 in London Human Bondage (1915) was published. This was followed by another successful book, The Moon and Sixpence (1919). Maugham also developed a reputation as a fine short-story writer, one story, Rain, which appeared in The Trembling of a Leaf(1921), was also turned into a successful feature film. Popular plays written by Maugham nclude The Circle (1921), East of Suez (1922), The Constant Wife(1926) and the anti- war play, For Services Rendered (1932). In his later years Maugham wrote his autobiography, Summing Up (1938) and works of fiction such as The Razors Edge (1945), Catalina (1948) and Quartet (1949). William Somerset Maugham died in 1965. 2. Plot The Moon and Sixpence The Moon and Sixpence tells the story of Charles Strickland, a conventional stockbroker who abandons his wife and children for Paris, not dreading the tongue of scandal. Mrs Strickland asked the author to go to Paris for the sake of removing misconceptions and throwing light on this story. It turned out that Strickland decided to be a painter, being a forty-year old man without any special education . After this talk the author went back to England and told Mrs Strickland about everything . Five years later the author made up his mind to go to Paris and to live there for a while; he settled down and went to meet his old friend Dirk Stroeve, a painter. Stroeve knew Strickland and his paintings, he worshipped him, considering his paintings to be a sensation . Some time later Strickland got ill; Stroeve and the author brought Strickland to his house and Blanche Stroeve took care for him . Strickland and Blanch ad a love affair. It all lead to her death, because she was willing to live with him, but he didnt need her anymore after hed got what he wanted . Some time later Strickland left for Marseilles. After travelling a while the author came to Tahiti, a lofty green island, where Strickland painted the pictures on which his fame most securely rests and where he spent the rest of his life . Strickland was living a poor life, without money, Job, food, when at last he found a shelter at her hotel. There he got acquainted with a native girl, Tiares relative, Ata . They married and went to the forest where Ata had a house; he bore two children . Then it turned out, that Strickland was ill with leprosy, he wanted to leave the family but Ata didnt let him do it. Some time later his eyesight got worse, but he continued painting in spite of it . Due to the fact that Ata couldnt go to the town and buy canvases to him he used the walls of his house . Strickland got rid of some strong irresistible obsession imprisoning his soul with the help of those paintings . Soon he died. The most tragical thing in his death was the destroying of his masterpieces burning of the house to prevent spreading of leprosy. 3. Theme, motive , theme, motive, symbol Theme- The story is told in episodic form by the first-person narrator as a series of glimpses into the mind and soul of the central character, Charles Strickland . Symbol-. Presumably Stricklands moon is the idealistic realm of Art and Beauty, life. Main character- Describing Charles Strickland, Maugham begins with what is a super ordinary man: He was null. He was probably a worthy member of society, a good husband and father, an honest broker; but there was no reason to waste ones time over him Conclusion- Global Message Some people can think that it was a fool thing to do to leave such a convenient life or uncertainty. But for Strickland money made no difference, the goal of his life was above all. He chose the path of poor life, but did what he felt like doing. He Just was honest with himself and did what his soul made him do. Why should you think that beauty, which is the most precious thing in the world, lies like a stone on the beach for the careless passer- by to pick up idly? Beauty is something wonderful and strange that the artist fashions out of the chaos of the world in the torment of his soul. And when he has made it, it is not given to all to know it. To recognize it you must repeat the adventure of the artist. It is a melody that he sings to you, and to hear it again in your heart you want knowledge and sensitiveness and imagination. The quote given above reveals all the sense of art and its being understandable not to all people. The life of Charles Strickland is similar to the lives of practically all the great painters: their paintings were appreciated only after their death, while during their lives they were criticized, they lived forgotten, under conditions a simple man wouldnt survive. But still they continued painting instead of taking some other Job, which would provide them with better conditions .

A Brief Biography of Princess Diana

A Brief Biography of Princess Diana Who Was Princess Diana? Princess Diana, the wife of British Prince Charles, endeared herself to the public through her warmth and caring. From her picture-perfect wedding to her untimely death in a car accident, Princess Diana was in the spotlight nearly at all times. Despite problems with so much attention, Princess Diana tried to use this publicity to bring attention to worthy causes such as the elimination of AIDS and landmines. She also became truly a princess of the people when she publicly shared her struggles with depression and bulimia, becoming a role model for those who suffer from those ailments. Dates July 1, 1961 - August 31, 1997 Also Known As Diana Frances Spencer; Lady Diana Spencer; Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales; Princess Di; Diana, Princess of Wales Childhood Diana was born in 1961 as the third daughter of Edward John Spencer and his wife Frances Ruth Burke Roche. Diana grew up in a very privileged family that had a long history of close ties with the royal family. When Dianas paternal grandfather passed away in 1975, Dianas father became the 8th Earl of Spencer and Diana gained the title of Lady. In 1969, Dianas parents divorced. Her mothers affair helped the court decide to give custody of the couples four children to Dianas father. Both of her parents eventually remarried, but the divorce left an emotional scar on Diana. Diana attended school at West Heath in Kent and then spent a short time at a finishing school in Switzerland. Although she was not an excellent student academically, her determined personality, caring nature, and cheerful outlook helped her through it. After returning from Switzerland, Diana rented an apartment with two friends, worked with children at the Young England Kindergarten, and watched movies and visited restaurants in her free time. Falling in Love With Prince Charles It was about this time that Prince Charles, in his early 30s, was under increasing pressure to choose a wife. Dianas vibrancy, cheerfulness, and good family background caught the attention of Prince Charles and the two began dating in mid-1980. It was a whirlwind romance for on February 24, 1981, Buckingham Palace officially announced the couples engagement. At the time, Lady Diana and Prince Charles seemed truly in love and the whole world was awed by what seemed like a fairytale romance. It was the wedding of the decade; nearly 3,500 people attended and approximately 750 million people from around the world watched it on television. To the envy of young women everywhere, Lady Diana married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981, at St. Pauls Cathedral. Less than a year after the wedding, Diana gave birth to William Arthur Philip Louis on June 21, 1982. Two years after William was born, Diana gave birth to Henry (Harry) Charles Albert David on September 15, 1984. Marriage Problems While Diana, now known as Princess Di, quickly gained the love and appreciation of the public, there were definitely problems in her marriage by the time Prince Harry was born. The stresses of Dianas numerous new roles (including wife, mother, and princess) were overwhelming. These pressures plus the extreme media coverage and post-natal depression left Diana lonely and depressed. Although she tried to maintain a positive public persona, at home she was crying out for help. Diana suffered from bulimia, cut herself on her arms and legs, and made several suicide attempts. Prince Charles, who was jealous of Dianas extra media attention and unprepared to handle her depression and self-destructive behavior, quickly started to drift away from her. This led Diana to spend the mid- to late-1980s, unhappy, lonely, and depressed. Dianas Support of Many Worthy Causes During these lonely years, Diana tried to find a place for herself. She had become what many describe as the most photographed woman in the world. The public loved her, which meant that the media followed her everywhere she went and commented on everything she wore, said, or did. Diana found that her presence comforted many who were sick or dying. She dedicated herself to a number of causes, most especially to the elimination of AIDS and landmines. In 1987, when Diana became the first famous person to be photographed touching someone with AIDS, she made a huge impact in dissolving the myth that AIDS could be contracted merely by touch. Divorce and Death In December 1992, a formal separation was announced between Diana and Charles and in 1996, a divorce was agreed to which was finalized on August 28. In the settlement, Diana was given $28 million, plus $600,000 per year but she was to give up the title, Her Royal Highness. Dianas hard-won freedom did not last long. On August 31, 1997, Diana was riding in a Mercedes with her boyfriend (Dodi Al Fayed), bodyguard, and chauffeur when the car crashed into a pillar of the tunnel under the Pont de lAlma bridge in Paris while fleeing from paparazzi. Diana, age 36, died on the operating table at the hospital. Her tragic death shocked the world. Initially, the public blamed the paparazzi for the accident. However, further investigation proved that the primary cause of the accident was that the chauffeur had been driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol.

Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Cancer - Essay Example This often typically leads to a lump or a mass called a tumor, which are usually benign. Malignant cancers are capable of spreading to other organs as in the case of lymphoid vessels. In blood tissue, cells such as the erythrocytes or leucocytes get affected and cause leukemia. This is often characterized by an increase in the viscosity of blood. In this paper, I would like to discuss the commonly occurring types of cancers, causative factors, chemotherapy and radiation as treatment options, expenses and adverse effects associated with these treatment regimens, and the role of a healthy diet to minimize the occurrences of this disorder. Common types of cancers: As stated in the thesis outline, the most frequently observed sarcomas or cancers are those of the liver, breast, colon, prostate and lung, and has been the leading cause of death in the past five decades. Breast cancers are typically observed in post-menopausal women, and thus, it is extremely essential for periodic screening . Mammography is the technique used in this case and is usually recommended annually. Recent trends include biopsy of the breast tissue, followed by analysis for RNA content, as this biotechnology procedure sheds light on the expression of the gene responsible for cancer. A subtle marginal increase in these biological indicators, could suggest the initial phases of breast cancer. (1Popat and Smith, 2006) Prostate cancer, which is exclusive to men, is observed beyond the age of 50. Early detection is key, as the cancer could be prevented from metastasizing by surgical removal of the gland. Diagnostic procedures for liver, lung or pancreatic cancers usually entail a measurement of enzymatic levels in the body, by biochemical assays. For example, the presence of serum based prostate specific antigen (PSA) or Kallikrein indicates the possibility of prostate cancer in men or ovarian cancer in women. Or, elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein are typical in liver cancers due to cirrhosis. ( Ullah and Aatif, 2009) Thus, biomarkers are excellent tools in the early diagnosis of various types of cancers, which help the clinician in designing the appropriate treatment protocol. Chemotherapy and radiation: The management of cancers by the administration of cytotoxic chemical agents is termed as chemotherapy. There has been a surge in the discovery of various chemical classes of cytotoxic compounds in the past few decades. Recent methods of treatment for certain rare forms of cancers include administration of a novel category of biological drugs called monoclonal antibodies. In some conditions, chemotherapy alone cannot control rapidly growing tumors and cancers. In such cases, radiation therapy is often used, either standalone, or in combination with chemotherapy. (Verweij and de Jonge, 2000) Radiation, as the name suggests involves targeting the affected tissue with high-energy electromagnetic rays (beta or gamma rays), which, on account of their short wavelength, have high penetrating powers. The energy associated with this radiation kills cells on contact. A major drawback of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation is their non-selectivity. They cannot differentiate the cancerous from the healthy cells, which results in damage to viable cells, although precision techniques such as the gamma knife are employed. Other unpleasant effects such as hair

Hw Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Hw - Assignment Example The unique factor about Kiva.org’s organization that distinguishes it from other businesses is its role as an agent instead of a party to the lending business. The organization’s role in its empowerment objective is to link different stakeholders towards ensuring that potential entrepreneurs whose major challenge is capital receives help into starting their desired small scale businesses. It only facilitates the lending process and does not lend from its finances, a contrary approach to other businesses that are parties to lending agreements. The organization’s model would not work for larger loans and large-scale business. This is because the types of loans and businesses would entail higher risks such as loss of large amounts of money in defaults. This would have impact that is more significant on the organization and challenge its success as compared to risks in small-scale loans. Lenders would also be unwilling to offer money for large loans because of the nature of the model in which lender have limited control over involved

Shifting Genres Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Shifting Genres - Essay Example Peter answered the man by telling him they were going to Fargo in U.S.A. shockingly the man told them that they must be joking because they can not survive in that place since it is too cold. The man laughed, but Peter Dut did not know the reason beyond the laughter. Having lived at Kakuma refugee camp the boys had not experienced cold climate since Kakuma is 1000C. By that time, the temperature in Fargo had dropped below 150C. The boys had only experienced cold from a frozen bottle of water given to them by aid worker in the refuge camp. Peter and his brothers belong to a number of 10,000 boys in Kakuma refugee camp from Sudan, who went to seek refuge in 1992 during the civil war in the southern part. The lost boys were given names after Peter Pan’s orphan’s posse. A report from America showed that over 17,000 boys left Sudan and separated from their families in 1987 during the war. They fled to Ethiopia and then back to Sudan then finally to Kenya. They arrived in Kenya parentless, homeless and throng having walked over 1,000 miles. The boys were between the age 8 and 18 from the Dinka tribe. Many of the boys did not know their age and the aid workers gave them ages depending on their sizes. On the way to the camp, the number of boys reduced by half. Most of the boys died on the way because they were attacked by bandits, lions, swept away by river water and others attacked by crocodile. After living in a camp for 9 years without being governed the three brothers’ decided to move to America. The boys in the refugee camps were sponsored by the UN to study in America while others were to be released to start their own live because after five years they were 21 years. The time when the three brothers were to land in Fargo, snow was flowing in the streets and roads. Later, Peter with his brothers, Riak, 15 and Maduk 17, arrived at their home apartment which was fully furnished by the

What’s in a Name? :: Research Papers

What’s in a Name? Throughout his book Virtually Normal, Andrew Sullivan explains how people of all different kinds of beliefs think about and treat homosexuals and homosexual behavior in society. He labels the four most commonly held viewpoints on homosexuality (liberationist, conservative, liberal, and prohibitionist) and poses his own politics of homosexuality. According to Sullivan's labels, gay and lesbian activist Urvashi Vaid would be considered a liberal. Vaid is a liberal because even though she may support some aspects of the other four viewpoints, the main points that the other four entail clash considerably with her own beliefs. Vaid is not a prohibitionist, a conservative, a liberationist, or a believer in Sullivan's own politics; she is a liberal under Sullivan's classification. Prohibitionists, according to Sullivan, are those who â€Å"wish to cure or punish people who prac ­tice homosexual acts, and to deter all the others who might be tempted to stray into the homosexual milieu† (Sullivan 22). These people believe that homosexuality is a choice, and that homosexuality violates a natural law. This natural law is the prohibitionist view that heterosexuality is the normal, natural form of human sexuality and that all other deviance, inducing homosexuality, is not normal and not natural. Scripture, and this natural law philosophy, are some of the intellectual ammunition prohi ­bitionists use. They want to stop tolerance of homosexuality at all costs. Urvashi Vaid, on the other hand, wants complete tolerance for homosexuals. She argues against these â€Å"evils† for equal rights for gays. She desires liberation of gay people, so they do not have to live in closets or in gay ghettos, and she wants the end of discrimination against gay and les bian people. She will not settle for virtual equal ­ity, and her goal of complete equality is against all a prohibitionist stands for. Andrew Sullivan describes his conservatives as people who are inconsistent, people who have a hypocritical stance on the issue of homosexuality. These people â€Å"combine a private tolerance of homosexuals with a public disapproval of homosexuality. While they do not want to see legal persecution of homosexuals, they see no problem with the discouragement and disparagement of homosexual sexual behavior† (Sullivan 97). They believe that people's private lives are their own, but in public the heterosexual form is the right form, and anything publicly against that norm will hurt society. So if homosexual people keep quiet about their homosexuality and let heterosexual dominance continue, then all will be well.

How Religion Positively Influence The World Essay

Religion has played a very significant role in human life right from the moment the individual could realize the fact of his existence and made an effort to understand it in relation to the vast, outer nature. Whether we like it or not, religion has wielded immense influence on the individual life and the society constituted by him. August Comte has stated that the evolution of mankind took place through three stages, which he has described as theological, metaphysical, and positive states. Scholars have made efforts to understand the origin of religion in their own ways. For example, Hegel and James Frazer thought that religion is born out of magic; E. B. Taylor on the other hand saw the origin of religion in animism; Herbert Spencer expressed the opinion that religion came into being because of cult of ancestor worship; Max Muller propounded the view that a feeling of awe towards nature was responsible for the birth of religion; Emile Durkheim came out with a view according to which religion is a product of rights and rituals characterizing a society. Religion is the phenomena, which is accepted by the people of the whole world. Weather directly or indirectly. Each and every person of the world have accepted religion because it only the religion by which whole world is controlled. If the religion is not there no body would control him/herself by the evil deeds. Only the mane of God controls the human being by doing evil deeds. Before doing the wrong deed every person feels that God is looking at him/her. Religion influences society but happily the street is many bible-quoting Christians vehemently opposed two ways the abolitionist movement of mid nineteenth century . And we cannot say that these sincere believers were merely citing passages out of context. It must be admitted that the whole biblical era and the writers of holy writ condoned gross inequality included slavery Similarly Christianity and the other world religions were obviously founded in and influenced by a common sexist past, one which unfortunately continues in varying degrees to live in and through them. So society has and can positively influenced religion. This is necessary unless religion is to retreat to pre rational forms of argument and support absolutism that today claims limited respect. John Cobb jr. shows insight in his modest contention that â€Å" in addition to grounding and motivating the ethical concern it shares with secular humanism, religious faith provide an ethos and a world view and it affects the people and communities involved. † Americans Struggle with Religion’s role at Home and Abroad: As a religious people, Americans are unsure about how to judge a world that seems increasingly in conflict along religious lines. The public overwhelmingly sees religion’s influence in the world and the nation as a good thing. And by 51%- 28%, Americans think the lesson of September 11 is that there is too little, not too much religion in the world. But the public does not see all of religion’s effects as positive. A 65% majority believes that religion plays a significant role in most wars and conflicts in the world. Further, while most say that Islam is no more likely to encourage violence than Other religions, a plurality of Americans believes that, in general. â€Å" Some religions† are more likely than others to encourage violence. Those who think that some religions are more violent than others are more likely to see widespread anti America n sentiments among Muslims. The Christian writer Paul wrote, â€Å" God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and the law will judge all who sin under the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them). Young People More Influenced Positively: A majority of those under age 30 express a favorable view of Muslim- Americans, Muslims, and Islam alike (57%, 57% and 51% respectively). Other Americans generally have a favorable opinion of Muslim-Americans; however, they express more skepticism toward Muslims and Islam. Americans age 65 and older in particular express mixed views when it comes to Muslims and Islam. By 43%- 25%, members of this group say they feel favorably towards Muslim Americans, but seniors who were asked about Muslims rated them less positively (30% favorable 30% unfavorable). Just one- in- four has a favorable opinion of Islam, while 37% express an unfavorable opinion. College- educated Americans also express more favorable views of Muslims and Islam than those who did not attend college. Education has particularly strong effect on perceptions of the Islamic religion. While about half (52%) of college graduates have a favorable view of Islam, just 29% of those who never attended colleges agree. Among religious groups, white evangelical Protestants have the least favorable view of Islam. Fully 45% of white evangelical say they have an unfavorable opinion of Islam, compared with just 29% who rate religion favorable. White evangelicals also are most likely to say they have an unfavorably view of Muslim-Americans. As many as three- in ten feel unfavorably toward Muslim-Americans, compared, with about two-in ten among other major religious groups. Still, this is less than the 38% of white evangelicals who rated Muslim-Americans unfavorably a year ago. Modern Reasons for Adherence To Religion: 1. Authority: Most religions are authoritarian in nature, and thus provide their adherents with spiritual and moral role models, who they believe can bring highly positive influences both to adherents and influences both to adherents and society in general. 2. Supernatural connection: Most religions postulate a reality which includes both the natural and the saupernatural. Most adherents of religion consider this to be of critical importance, since it permits belief in unseen and otherwise potentially unknowable aspects of life, includeing hope of eternal life. 3. Moderation: Many religions have approaches that produce practices that place limitations on the behaviour of their adherents. This is seen by many as a positive influence, potentially protecting adherents from the destructive or even fatal excesses to which they might otherwise be susceptible. Many people from many faiths contend that their faith brings them fulfillment, peace, and joy, apart from worldly interests. 4. Fulfillment: Most traditional religions require sacrifice of their followers, but, in turn, the followers may gain much from their membership therein. Thus, they come away from experiences with these religions with the feeling that their needs have been filled. In fact, studies have shown that religious adherents tend to be happier and less prone to stree than non-religious people. 5. community ans culture: Organized religions promote a sense of community among their followers, and the moral and cultural common ground of these communities makes them attractive to people with the same value. Indeed, while religious belief and practices are usually connected, some individual with substantially secular belief still participates in religious practices for cultural reasons. Conclusion: Religious belief refers to a faith or creed concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine. It may concern the existence, nature and worship of a diety or deities and divine involvement in the universe and human life. It may also relate to the values and practices based on the teaching of a supernatural leader. Unlike other belief syatems, religious belief tends to be codified. While often used synonomously with religion, according to this religious belief wikk be assumed to refer to ideas rather than practices. Religion cannot add or subtract any thing from the plausibility of any scientific theory. But this does not mean that religion has no connection with science. Our proposal, perhaps appearing a bit audacious in tone but actually quiet modest in motivation, is that religion, properly understood, confirms the entire scientific enterprise. It does so by justifying g the fundamental trust that nourishes all scientific in query. Our conviction is that we can go beyond conflict, contrast, and even contact in formulating religions relationship to science. Here we are claiming specifically that faith in a personal god has a unique capacity to confirm our trust in reality’s endless intelligibility, a trust without which scientific in query is hopelessly crippled Religion is a phenomenon, which is propagated in the whole world. Each and every person has adopted and positively influenced with it. Whether a person is male or a female they make prayers and always feel his appearance they have accepted the existence of God, who always looked after them. Most of the people spiritually and psychologically come into contact with God, truth and spiritual power. They feel that the religion frees them from deception, sin and spiritual death. Religion has its own significance in the life of human being. References: 1- The Divine Religion; Bhagawat Dharma and Culture; R. N. Vyas; Cosmo Publication New Delhi;1984. 2- What is a Person? An Ethical Exploration; By James William Walters; Published by university of Illinois . Press;1989. 3- http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Religious_belief 4- science and religion from conflict to conversation; John F. Haught; Paulist Press;1987. 5- http://p eople-press. org/reports/display. php3